Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes special report study entitled: Compactness. Also available in print.

Architectural discourses related to portable buildings are largely positivistic and focused on structure, materials, and modern technology. Scholars profile small, prefabricated constructions as relocatable, adaptable, and reusable according to the user's contradictions. While romanticizing a unique lifestyle, portable house prototypes open the way for industrial mass production and low-cost housing. Intentionally designed as place-independent units, they can, and often do, remain in one place for a long time. This scenario impacts significantly the social and spatial contexts of a particular locality, as it confronts the territorial claims of special interest groups. What is the role of portable buildings in such a setting? Who are the decision-makers and decision-making agencies'? This thesis focuses on the difference between the declared design intention described in current architectural literature regarding portable houses and the political and social practice of placing them in one of the world's most contested territories — the West Bank.Methodologically, a discourse survey, developed with experimental, self-made portable and temporary dwellings in 2002, gives an overview of relevant categories of portable houses: prototypes, parasites, and developers. A fourth category, transformers, interprets portable buildings within the context of the West Bank. This is followed by a material culture study conducted on site in December 2004/January 2005. Finally, several interviews provide subjective perspectives of portable houses in the West Bank. In addition, the works of the scholars Kronenberg, Kozlovsky, Weizman/Segal, Rotbart, and Foucault provide the basis for much of this analysis.In the extreme case of the West Bank, it was determined that designed as site-independent, portable houses in the West Bank carry significant local and regional meaning. As they are industrially fabricated and quickly deployed in large numbers at various, elevated locations, they become instruments of spatial control (observation, psychological demonstration of Israeli power and intimidation, territorial gain, and presence). Furthermore, portable houses here are appointed a political role by various agencies: defining and extending the national boundaries in a state of political indefiniteness and negotiations. The particular construction technology of `portable house' is used by a culture within a well-considered strategy of war.The reality of transportable buildings outside the architectural discourses is based on mass production, clustered distribution at difficult places with the intention for territorial claim, while maintaining strategic flexibility. Ultimately, portable houses need to be redefined as active instruments--rather than neutral products—that create subjective place attachment and identity, actively influence a territorial conflict, and impact spatial order and control. Thus, it can be argued that portable buildings make a territorial claim permanent. / Department of Architecture

Thesis (Doctoral)--İzmir Institute of Technology,İzmir, 2004 / Keywords:Change, adaptability, responsive architecture, kinetic systems, kinematic. Includes bibliographical references (leaves. 86).

Thesis (M.Arch)--Unitec New Zealand, 2009. / Landscape format. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-72).

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes special report study entitled: Movable architecture: a study of movable environment in the past, present and future. Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

Lai Chi Lai Anthony. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2003-2004, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [113]). / Chapter 01. --- Qualities of Nomadism --- p.1 / Chapter 01.1 --- Temporary occupation of space --- p.1 / Chapter 01.2 --- Spatial Temporal --- p.2 / Chapter 01.3 --- Smooth Space vs Striated Space --- p.3 / Chapter 01.4 --- Undetermined Collective Planning --- p.5 / Chapter 01.5 --- Rhizomatic Structure --- p.6 / Chapter 02. --- "Precedent Study - New Babylon, a nomadic town by Constant 1974" --- p.7 / Chapter 03. --- Mapping HK --- p.10 / Chapter 03.1 --- Infrastructure --- p.10 / Chapter 03.2 --- Point & Path --- p.21 / Chapter 03.3 --- Demography --- p.34 / Chapter 04. --- Nomadism in Hong Kong - Peanuts in the city --- p.38 / Chapter 05. --- Picking Peanut --- p.42 / Chapter 05.1 --- Peanut 16 Viewing Tower --- p.42 / Chapter 05.1.1 --- Carpark --- p.42 / Chapter 05.1.2 --- "Parked, Parking, Parks" --- p.48 / Chapter 05.1.3 --- Utilization --- p.51 / Chapter 05.1.4 --- Transformation --- p.57 / Chapter 05.2 --- Peanut 06 Corridor --- p.60 / Chapter 05.2.1 --- Definition of Waste --- p.60 / Chapter 05.2.2 --- Types of Waste in the Site --- p.61 / Chapter 05.2.2.1 --- Time Space Residue - Car park --- p.61 / Chapter 05.2.2.2 --- Abandoned Buildings --- p.61 / Chapter 05.2.2.3 --- In-transit Place --- p.62 / Chapter 05.2.2.4 --- Physical residue space created by highway --- p.62 / Chapter 05.2.3 --- The problem - What to do with the waste in the site? --- p.63 / Chapter 05.2.4 --- Transform the residue space to open space --- p.63 / Chapter 06. --- Site Analysis --- p.64 / Chapter 06.1 --- The Context --- p.64 / Chapter 06.2 --- Site Aspects --- p.67 / Chapter 06.3 --- Daily Occupation --- p.68 / Chapter 06.4 --- Zoning --- p.69 / Chapter 07. --- Strategy --- p.70 / Chapter 07.1 --- The need of Open Space --- p.70 / Chapter 07.2 --- Transform residue space to open space --- p.73 / Chapter 08. --- Conceptual Design --- p.74 / Chapter 09. --- Design Development --- p.78 / Chapter 09.1 --- Stage 1 - Study of mobile unit --- p.78 / Chapter 09.1.1 --- Volume vs Surface --- p.78 / Chapter 09.1.2 --- Chart of Possibilities --- p.79 / Chapter 09.1.3 --- Test of material --- p.so / Chapter 09.2 --- Stage 2 - Testing of alternate option --- p.81 / Chapter 09.3 --- Stage 3 - Testing of alternate option 2 - Re-employ the residue --- p.84 / Chapter 09.4 --- Tides study --- p.90 / Chapter 09.5 --- Further development of mobile unit --- p.94 / Chapter 10. --- Final Design --- p.97 / Chapter 11. --- Bibliography --- p.113

Lam Fung Ping. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 2005-2006, design report." / Includes bibliographical references (leaf [185]). / INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND --- p.p. 1-4 / GENERAL LOCAL CASES --- p.p. 5-80 / STREET STUDIES --- p.p. 80-101 / DETAIL UNIT STUDIES --- p.p. 102-126 / TRANSFORMATION PRICIPLES --- p.p. 127-152 / SITE & PROGRAM --- p.p. 153-156 / CONCEPT & PROCESS --- p.p. 157-171 / MODULE DESIGN --- p.p. 172-184

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture