ASEAN Sculpture Garden and Typology of Space: An Evaluative Study of The Park's Failure

Utilizing spaces for awareness could be superficially noble. However, the typology of spaces played an important role in addressing the awareness of translating the messages through tangible forms, which in this context are sculptures. Assuring the efficacy of the typology of the spaces that is compatible with the content is important to ensure its timelessness to the dynamic demographical change of viewers. Therefore, the study proposes an investigation of the efficacy of typology of public urban space; garden that accommodates memorial sculptures. The study intends to analyze the features and flaws of ASEAN Sculpture Garden, as a mediatory role of ASEAN in instilling awareness of unity between ASEAN members to the public. The objective of the study is to analyze the efficacy of the garden to accommodate the rich memorial sculptures. The body of the research is formed by theoretical and case study research. It is projected by three methods; archival research, semi structured interviews and site documentation; direct observations and site visit. The qualitative data then will be analysed using Actor Network theory, keyword coding and site findings. Findings showed that as the main objective of the garden is to exhibit the sculptures, it could be summed up that it has failed to meet the apparent intention based on the site analysis conducted by the researcher. The typology of the space should be able to communicate the project's aims continuously rather than serving the function temporarily. The variables, which are space and time factors are debatable, as the neighboring tourist spot, National Monument residing the wide square managed to attract public attention due to its great efficacy of typological space regardless the time factor. As a conclusion, the typology of space is a huge factor to ensure the park's success.