The Collaborative Grounds — Kenyalang Park Collective Memories I

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Kenyalang Park was the first large-scale affordable public housing project developed by the Borneo Development Company in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and it was also the first satellite city in Kuching. The community’s commercial area is centred around the community centre, while the surrounding buildings showcase residential developments from different periods.

Eight second-year architecture students from Chung Yuan Christian University explored the area’s collective historical memories and its current spatial state through a series of drawings, presenting their findings from two perspectives.

The Combination of Traditional and Modern Techniques

Modern architectural drawing techniques are used to depict the spatial layout and floor plans of the Kenyalang Park area, highlighting the details of local building structures and spatial characteristics. Additionally, contemporary architectural and environmental analysis methods are applied to visualise potential future development directions, illustrating the area’s prospects for growth.

Expressing Emotional Texture through Hand-drawing

In another set of drawings, students used hand-drawing techniques to convey the textures and emotions of the space, particularly when illustrating local traditional shops and their items. They emphasised the texture variations and unique atmosphere created by these objects. For example, the arrangement of goods such as pastries, clothing, and medicines reveals how these items transcend their physical space, becoming carriers of distinctive textures and memories.

The drawings not only reflect the students' understanding of the local space but also highlight how to make collective memories visible. They capture not just the physical architectural spaces and structures but also offer a visual representation of local lifestyles and community memories. These memories serve as a foundation for future design development.

 
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陈宣诚

Associate Professor Eric Chen | Architect

Chung Yuan Christian University | Taiwan

Through long-term exploration of developing an alternative architectural scale that redefines the relationship between the body and the landscape, this approach aims to use genuine sensory experiences to repeatedly contemplate the fundamental values of things and re-examine the role of human-made structures. Regarding the natural ecosystem, how can we avoid being destructive and solely focused on human use, and instead actively understand and repair the environment? Through construction, we explore and respond to the coexistence and succession of life. The patterns of life accumulate into various kinds of knowledge during this process, becoming a means to mend oneself, life, and the land. This also transforms architecture into an environment that connects both human and non-human elements.

Key curatorial practices include: Chief Curator of the 2019 Madou Sugar Industry Art Triennial; Curator of the 2022 Matsu Biennial “Listening to the Sounds of the Island”; Chief Curator of the 2022 South Link Arts Festival; Curator of the 2023 Matsu Biennial “tuong tshuo” Project; and Curator of the 33rd Anniversary Exhibition of the GALERIE PIERRE Art Center “Collaborations with the Land,” among others.

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Kenyalang Park Collective Memories Exhibition