This was the very first project of my architectural studies at ALFA College, Subang Jaya, Malaysia. We were asked to create as many cubes of 30mm we wanted, and then to arrange them on a 100mm x 100mm base. None of us really knew what we were doing, to be perfectly honest. Our lecturer would introduce a new element each class: human figures of varying sizes, a white ping pong ball, coloured paper of our choice, sand paper and a mirror pieces (all 30mm x 30mm). Each class had us experimenting with different configurations, understanding basic principles such as scale and proximity, symmetry/asymmetry, rhythm, axis, and focal point. We then had to understand what the effects of different materials were on spaces. The model was then placed on a larger base where a landscape was introduced.

As a student who didn’t really know what she was doing, I thought this a fairly good method of introducing someone to architecture – most actions were based on instinct and our own responses to forms and spaces.