“A Notion of Access”

A conventional perception of the public towards ‘gateway’ in a poetic description. Being the leader of the wisdom of the nation, it is more than a tangible presence to the public but an exquisite message that is to be conveyed to the public. Gateway is more than an artery of destination, it is the symbolic messenger of our University to convey their vision to the public.

Traditionally, a gateway functions as the passageway across a tangible boundary that is used by the public, specifically, vehicular transport in our local context. “Environmental determinism”, the theory being argued by Amos Rapoport in his book “Human Aspects of Urban Form” where he believed that the physical environment shapes human behaviour, followed by the “Possibilism” of constraining people’s decisions. Finally, the “probabilism” whereby the current view of the impact that the physical environment does on human behaviour in the urbanology context.

“The Artery of Destination”

A gateway possesses more than a visual and perceptual connector between the compound and its surrounding public. Reverting the conventional perception of access, the attempt emphasis the pedestrian over the vehicular notion. Along the artery axis of the gateway heading to the university, a mutual public space is placed between the egg-crate reinforced concrete walls frame towards the axis to the campus. Inspired by the significant art movement which witnesses the glory of the University, Brutalism is the art that humbles yet reacts to the environment seasonally from a chronological perspective.

“Design environmental determinism has been a belief that changes in the form of an urban can lead to a major change in the public’s haviour,” Amos (1945). The proposal redetermines the functionalism of the traditional gateway to an artery plaza upon the arrival, followed by the “Possibilism” of creating a scenery of activities, and “Probabilism” of shaping the public perception towards the gateway, ultimately.

UM Gateway Idea Design Competition

axis to the artery