Introduction
The contents of this article will be revolving around the Kelantan / Terrenganu Site Visit our Design
Studio 4 course organised and a topic the article “Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies
By Reyner Banham”, Ecology IV : Autopia.
The Site Visit was to a mansion in Terrenganu called Pura Tanjung Sabtu. Located in the suburban
areas, it is not easily accessible by motor vehicles and requires a 15-20mins foot travel to reach the
mansion as the routes are very narrow and within the site the roads are unpaved gravel tracks.
Views
The article by Reyner Bayhem talks about how the advancement in automobile technology impacts
each of us, making travelling from door-to-door much more efficient, and every side effects of it.
From the process of travelling to the impact on nature.
During the process of travelling, a car allows us to do daily routines or chores that couldn’t be done
before the invention of this metal vehicle. You could only do your makeup at a dressing table. But now
to save precious time, one can beautify themselves in the passenger seat with the built-in mini mirror
at the sun-shade.
But there are bitter side effects of prolonged usage of the fuel-powered automobile, the very first time
people took it seriously was after the Communal Trauma of the Black Wednesday (8 september 1943)
. A city-wide fog covered up the entire Los Angeles, blinding up any far-ranged vision to the eyes of
the people. They initially thought it came from a nearby indian island with persistent campfires, but
was put into shock when they found out the culprit was actually the thing they praised the most
during that era which was all the automobiles they held dearest.
It is entirely the opposite compared to the site we visited in Terrenganu. The Pura Tanjung Sabtu lies
on an open grassy field with tall trees surrounding it, there is a river surrounding the land and it is
free of any major motorways and freeways. The vehicular circulation within the area is very minimal.
The air is always fresh and refreshing.
Thoughts
Though vehicular advancement greatly improves our lifestyle, makes the world a lot more of a fast
pace community growing exponentially. There is a limit, a limit in which is crossed will bottleneck and
will not be easy to return to. Thats why up until today, people still are taking steps to reduce the
impacts of overusing fuel-powered vehicles on nature.
Life without the man-made transportation device can be somewhat calming even though travelling
far distance is no longer an easy task but taking a week off all the rush hour jam is therapeutic.
Taking a stroll around the neighbourhood and enjoying the outdoor air, greeting the residents as they
are performing outdoor house chores is what life is about in the neighbouring village community of
Pura Tanjung Sabtu. It is also something we all should look into these days. Doing this also
contributes to saving the environment from all the chemical by-products produced while travelling
long distance in a short time.
Critique
To conclude this article, I would say that evolution is a natural instinct and process. Every living being
learns to adapt change to provide what is necessary to survive and to grow. When the Car was first
invented the world spun differently, everyone’s lifestyle changed greatly for the better or worse.
If the car was to be permanently removed from existence, most people would not be able to survive
and provide for the family anymore. The world would fall back to an olden age.
There’s no taking away this advancement, may it be a curse or a blessing. But we can still take
measures to reduce the harm done to the environment. Take a step back to clear the mind as well.
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