Architecture at the edge: the cultural perception of water

Abstract

The conceptual framework of this report is based on the distinctions made by Sumet Jumsai in his book "NAGA-Cultural Origins in Siam and the West Pacific". Jumsai proposed the theory that there are two types of cultures, land-based cultures and water-based cultures. In his book he attempts to explain the origins of and the reasons for the many water symbols and aquatic attributes in the Asian cultures, relating them to the origins of civilisation in that region. He challenges the traditionally held view that Asian cultures,including art and architecture,have their roots in religious cosmology, the model of which he believes is based on aquatic symbolism. This cosmological model is a series of concentric rings of continents and oceans which fit nicely with the water symbol-the Naga. This aquatic symbol permeates the daily lives of people everywhere on the 'Asian waterfront', thus posing the hypothesis that the whole Asian culture is based on aquatic symbolism. According to Jumsai the land-based culture resulted in land-based architecture,water -based culture resulted in water-based architecture. I will discuss later what defines each type. The report is organised with the distinction between types of water conditions;the open sea,the harbour and the river. The water conditions have differing qualities which by their nature one would expect to produce varied architectural characteristics.Under each water condition I have tried to find examples of the land and water based cultures and their associated architectures.