THE DYNAMICS OF SPACE & PLACE IN ARCHITECTURE: A CASE STUDY OF MAQAM HABIB NUH, SINGAPORE

Abstract

While the notions of space and place are usually discussed within the geographical discipline, application of the principles of space and place within the discourse of architecture can lend depth to the understanding of architecture beyond its physical design and built form. They provide a structure and platform for identifying the multiple layers of spatial syntax of the building and its relationship with the site. Through the case study of a well-known religious tomb in Singapore, the Maqam Habib Nuh, this process of analysis will be able to exemplify, through the fluidity and reversibility of space and place, the resilience, adaptability and syncretism of architecture. This study will centre around 3 key aspects of architecture which have the capacity to greatly inform and determine how the spaces and places within the architecture are created and relate to each other; (1) the role(s) of the architecture within the larger societal framework, (2) the rituals and practices performed within the architecture, and (3) the users of the architecture. The objective is to study how space and place function and relate to each other within the different societal and ritual contexts, and ultimately to understand the importance of space and place in the development and sustenance of an architectural entity.