Occupy Padang: The New Narrative

OCCUPY PADANG Architecture for Activi s m i n Si n gapor e: The New N ar r at i ve

G a briel Ch ek

Masters of Architecture 2018 Thesis Booklet Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) Gabriel Chek gabriel_chek@sutd.edu.sg Mentor: Dr. Chong Keng Hua, Associate Professor, SUTD

Keywords: Activism, Architecture, Non-governmental organisations, Advocacy, Lobbying, Advising, Singapore, Padang

All images are by the author, unless stated.

OCCUPY PADANG Architecture for Activi s m i n Si n gapor e: The New N ar r at i ve

G a briel Ch ek

It’s 2040. Singapore celebrates another milestone - the 75th year of Independence, the Platinum Jubilee.

Technological, social and environmental changes have continued to be a constant.

Income inequality is at an all-time high.

In the past 22 years, many ideologies evolved and people have become more divided on issues about gender, religion, work, living and money.

All this while, the Government has taken a familiar ‘wait-and-see’ approach or attempt to create small-scale and private forums via a Select Committee on as many of these issue as they can.

The Singaporean Government continued to fund and carry out various tests behind the scenes before they pass any new policy, without any active engagement with her people.

The costs of running these experiments were never known - all that was said was that there was no need to worry about the costs as these were necessary for the improvement of technologies and the lives of the people.

Nevertheless, there will always the loud minority which tried to question every single ‘test’ that Government funded. All of these queries were left unanswered or swept by dismissive statements.

However, in 2035, for the first time, an anonymous release of governmental transactions showed that trillions of dollars were spent on these tests.

For the first time, millions of Singaporeans started to question the funding and occupied the Padang to demand for a Referendum to have a say in government funding for 2 weeks, stalling the country’s operations.

The Government, to appease the people, started to listen to her people. ever since the 2035 Referendum.

4

THE NEW NARRATIVE 5 years on seeing the positive outcomes for allowing her citizens to become part of the policy making process, she proceeded to relax laws against the continued clamping down of the freedom of speech and illegal assembly.

Singaporeans have developed a collaborative relationship with politicians and have made great progress in effecting positive social change.

Policies were made quickly and less money was wasted on administrative costs, resulting in the excess budget going to help people most in need, closing the wide income gap.

While one major problem has been solved, Singapore still faces many challenges ahead. If she wants to be ahead, she has to depend on her people who have started to speak out.

More spaces and opportunities needs to be created for effective dialogue, research and analysis on the root causes of these issues.

That being said, this is an appropriate time to rethink activism and the spaces for them.

It may seem that we need a larger space to hold these discussions and to no longer segregate the various non-governmental organisations and activists.

If only a place could restore the collaborative environment in nation-building and identity...

5

CONTENTS I ABSTRACT II ACKNOWLEDGMENTS III LIST OF FIGURES 1 ACTIVISM

1.1 Definition & Scope 1.2 Parties involved 1.3 Types 1.4 Causes and Target Groups 1.5 Past vs Present 1.6 Stages of Action 1.7 A Holistic Activism

2

ARCHITECTURE FOR ACTIVISM

2.1 2.2 2.2 2.4

3

CASE STUDIES

Why Architecture for Activism?

Activism and Public Urban Spaces Determining and Designing Spaces for Activism Architecture as ‘Hacker’

3.1 Yellow Umbrella Movement Hacourt Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong

3.2 Occupy Wall Street Zuccotti Park, New York, USA

3.3 Center for Community and Entrepreneurship Asian American For Equality (AAFE), New York, USA

3.3 Evaluation of Design Strategies

6

4

ACTIVISM IN SINGAPORE

4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

5

DESIGN PROPOSAL

Activism in Singapore State of the Art A New Site for Activism Causes of Activism

6 CONCLUSION IV APPENDIX

7

ABSTRACT This book consists of my research and proposal for the best way to utilise architecture in terms of spatial strategies and a programmatic framework to be located at the iconic Padang to successfully break through activism in Singapore.

Accessing the perceived definition on activism and understanding its other forms will be the first step.

Following which, an analysis on case studies will reveal various design strategies that were employed by the activists as our reference.

Finally, applying the new understanding of activism and employing corresponding programmatic zoning and spatial strategies within and around the Padang will allow a creation of centralised tangible spaces for change.

Through the spectacle of the disruptive nature of this intervention, at various scales, architecture can be used as hacker for activism in Singapore by becoming the field of interaction where intersections of communities can spark discourse and effect change.

8

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge the following people, for without their support, this thesis will not have been made possible: - My family, for supporting me during this period through the moral support given, with your encouragements and meals.

- My friends, especially those in my thesis group for your input when I was lost.

- Dr Chong Keng Hua, my mentor, for your guidance in my thesis. I am grateful for your assistance, especially in thinking about the narrative for the project.

- Lastly, to Almighty God for sustaining me throughout the project.

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LIST OF FIGURES (all images are drawn by author, unless stated)

10

FIG 1.1

A closeup of protesters at Ginowan in 2018 Kierin, N. (2009). Wikipedia Commons

FIG 1.2

A protest by high school students on lack of action on school shootings in Minnesota , USA (Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue)

FIG 1.3

Classification of the various types of activism

FIG 1.4 TO FIG 1.7

Various activism causes and changes (Earth Hour, Pink Dot, Occupy Wall Street, Yellow Umbrella) (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 1.8

Activism from Past to Present

FIG 1.9

Action Continuum Framework Wijeyesinghe, C. L., Griffin, P., & Love, B. (1997). Racism curriculum design. In M. Adams, L. Bell, & P. Griffin (Eds), Teaching for diversity and social justice: A sourcebook

FIG 1.10

Ideal activism via the action continuum framework

FIG 1.11

Discursive orientations and knowledge activism Donald Gillies (2014) Knowledge activism: bridging the research/policy divide, Critical Studies in Education, (pp. 272-288). New York: Routledge.

FIG 2.1

Spheres of Activism

FIG 2.2

Architecture, Activism and Human Behaviour

FIG 2.3

Union of interests and cause

FIG 2.4

Protesters at Women’s March 2017 in Washington D.C. (Photo credit: Ted Eytan)

FIG 2.5

Black Lives Matter closing down I-35 (Photo credit: Fibonaci Blue)

FIG 2.6

Progression through the Action Continuum

FIG 2.7

‘Debatable lands’, crossing the research/political divide to inform and persuade

FIG 2.8

The Fogg’s Behaviour Model Fogg, B.J (2001) - Core Motivators - Fogg’s Behaviour Model

FIG 2.9

Classification of the various types of transmission mediums for activism

FIG 2.10

Tools and organisation on the cooperation / evidence axes

FIG 2.11

Spatial framework for activism spaces

FIG 2.12 FIG 2.13

A rendering of the elevation and proposed social space at Eaton Workshop (Photo Credit: Gachot Studio)

FIG 2.14 FIG 2.15

The Playing Field by Assemble (Photo credit: Dezeen)

FIG 2.16

Serpentine Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto (Photo credit: George Rex)

FIG 2.17 TO FIG 2.19

Aerial of Black Rock City and an installation ‘Church Trap’ at Burning Man. (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 3.1

Hacourt Road, Admiralty, during the 2014 Yellow Umbrella protests (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 3.2

Site Plan of Hacourt Road(1:10,000)

FIG 3.3

Hacourt Road (Photo Credit: ceeseven via Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 3.4

Urban Form and Connections - Hacourt Road

FIG 3.5

Hacourt Road and its urban context (Photo Credit: Google)

FIG 3.6

Circulation - Yellow Umbrella Protest

FIG 3.7

Elevated Walkways (Photo Credit: Google)

FIG 3.8

Program Zones - Yellow Umbrella Protest

FIG 3.9

Programmatic Analysis - Yellow Umbrella Protest

FIG 3.10

Zuccotti Park, occupied by protesters during Occupy Wall Street in 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 3.11

Site Plan (1:10000) - Zuccotti Park

FIG 3.12

Photo of Zuccotti Park (Photo Credit: Google)

FIG 3.13

Urban Form and Connections - Zuccotti Park

FIG 3.14

Aerial Photo of Zuccotti Park (Photo Credit: Google)

FIG 3.15

Circulation - Zuccotti Park

FIG 3.16

Entrance to Zuccotti Park (Photo Credit: Google)

FIG 3.17

Program & Circulation - Zuccotti Park

FIG 3.18

Programmatic Analysis - Zuccotti Park

FIG 3.19

Exterior rendering of Centre for Community and Entrepreneurship for AAFE, New York (Photo credit: Leong Leong)

FIG 3.20

Site Plan (1:2500) - AAFE

11

FIG 3.21

Program Zoning - AAFE

FIG 3.22

Facade Transparency Levels

FIG 3.23

Floor Plans (L1, L2, L4 and L6) (Credit: Leong Leong)

FIG 3.24

Program Zones (in section)

FIG 3.25

Summary of Design Strategies

FIG 4.1

Locations of the various organisations in Singapore (from top) - Registered Societies, Volunteer Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Social Service Organisations (SSOs) (Credit: National Council of Social Service Singapore)

FIG 4.2

Classification of the various types of activism in Singapore

FIG 4.3

Social Service Ecology Map of Singapore (Credit: National Council of Social Service Singapore)

FIG 4.4

Pink Dot SG protest at Hong Lim Park, Singapore, 2017 (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 4.5

Site Plan (1:10,000) - Hong Lim Park

FIG 4.6

View of the stage with Parkroyal on Pickering Hotel in the background (Photo Credit: Laura Freeman)

FIG 4.7

Urban Form and Connections - Hong Lim Park

FIG 4.8

Surrounding Program (adapted from URA Master Plan 2014)

FIG 4.9

Circulation to Site - Hong Lim Park

FIG 4.10

Programmatic Analysis - Pink Dot SG, Hong Lim Park

FIG 4.11

View towards the stage during PinkDotSG (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

FIG 4.12

The Padang, with the Central Business District in the background.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons) Scale comparison between Padang and Hong Lim Park (1:10000)

FIG 4.13

12

FIG 4.14

View towards Padang (Photo Credit: William Cho)

FIG 4.15

Urban form and connections - The Padang

FIG 4.16

Surrounding Program (adapted from URA Master Plan 2014)

FIG 4.17

Circulation Comparison with Hong Lim Park - The Padang

FIG 4.18

Pathway cutting through Padang

FIG 4.19

Location of Vantage Points

FIG 4.20

Vantage Points (Axonometric)

FIG 4.21

Programmatic Analysis - The Padang

FIG 4.22

Surrounding programs (with overlay of underground walkway and train network)

FIG 4.23

Social Equality, Mobility and Identity in Singapore

FIG 4.24

Spatial requirements for the three types of general social causes

FIG 4.25

Possible spatial framework for activism spaces

13

Figure 1.1 A closeup of protesters at Ginowan in 2018 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

14

01

ACTIVISM

“

To work in architecture you are so much involved with society, with politics, with bureaucrats. It’s a very complicated process to do large projects. You start to see the society, how it functions, how it works. Then you have a lot of criticism about how it works.

- Ai Weiwei

DEFINITION & SCOPE PARTIES INVOLVED TYPES CAUSES & CHANGES PAST VS PRESENT STAGES OF ACTION A HOLISTIC ACTIVISM

DEFINITION & SCOPE ‘Activism’ is defined as the efforts to promote, impede, or direct

social, political, economic, or environmental reform or stasis with the desire to make improvements in society.

Activism involves various forms of expression to get a point across.

Throughout history, social movements — small groups that are loosely connected but united by a shared purpose — have created transformational change. Women’s suffrage and civil rights in the U.S., Indian independence, the colour revolutions in Eastern Europe, and the Arab Spring all hinged on the powerless banding together against the powerful. [1] Activism consists of various activities that seeks to remove a collective threat or attain a collective benefit using public displays. Visibility and accessibility in a public space is crucial for the activist to get others to know and support in their cause.

In public space, activists carry out activities that leverage on their right of appropriation to display and spread the message of their causes.

[1] Satell, G. and Popovic, S. (2018). How Protests Become Successful Social Movements. [online] Harvard Business Review.

Available at: https://hbr. org/2017/01/how-protestsbecome-successful-socialmovements [Accessed 17 Jan. 2018].

Definition and Scope

17

Figure 1.2 A protest by high school students on lack of action on school shootings in Minnesota , USA (Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue)

18

Chapter 1 - Activism

PARTIES INVOLVED Activism starts usually starts from an individual (‘powerless’) who begins seeking a certain form of change – by expression of intent towards the target group consisting of bystanders (to join in the cause) and the ‘powerful’ (to allow the change).

TARGET GROUPS

The process of the banding of the ‘powerless’ against the ‘powerful’ is prevalent in activism.

- The passerby who chances upon the audio or visual information.

There are three kinds of activists we can identify:

- The supporters who are present at activist events, to engage and encourage them to be active messengers of the cause.

- The activist who constructs a voice through physical presence, expression and intervention.

- The lobbyist who constructs a voice by targeting sources of power directly.

Activist leaders, in general, focus on the following user groups that together construct a broad spectrum of participation:

- The ‘powerful/oppressor/people against’ willing to interact with the people by listening to their concerns and responding via a discourse.

- The journalists or blogger who constructs a voice through the sharing of information.

Parties Invovled

19

TYPES OF ACTIVISM With reference to the definition of ‘activism’ in Chapter 1.1, the promotion of a cause can be done in a variety of ways.

This is reflected in the means of transmitting a message through different mediums, participation and aggressiveness.

12 STANDARD TYPES OR METHODS OF MODERN ACTIVISM: [2] 1) Volunteerism – joining, either by yourself

6) Consumer boycotts – meant to show

grievances and problems with a particular company or institution by refusing to buy their products or support them. This can range from writing in to the executives, to call-ins, to demonstrations.

7) Selective purchasing ordinances

– using either the law or other powerful purchasing institutions to punish companies that engage in activities that your movement disapproves with.

or with a group, an organization or agency that deals with the issues you’re focused on. This could be political campaigns, to think tanks, to aid groups.

8) Ethical investing – if possible, limiting

2) Grassroots activism – increasing

9) Economic sanctions – encouraging your

the publicity and support for your cause by grabbing people negatively affected and organizing them.

3) Letter writing and petitions – sending

investment (whether on an individual or corporate level) to institutions and companies that don’t participate in unethical actions. government to impose economic restrictions on countries that are oppressive or dictatorial.

10) Demonstrate – protests aimed at

letters and petitions to government officials and representatives, designed to inform them of your views, demands, or get a response.

companies or institutions that propagate what your movement is trying to fight against.

Different forms of demonstration include marches, strikes, sit-ins, sleep-in, teach-ins, street theater, and hunger strikes.

4) Direct lobbying – meeting with your

11) Civil disobedience - ‘monkey

elected representatives (or their policy aids) to request support for your movement or pieces of legislation.

5) Litigation – utilizing lawyers and legal aid groups to enact justice, fight against harmful institutions, or bring more publicity to your movement.

20

Chapter 1 - Activism

wrenching,’ and other ‘direct action’ – this is the most confrontational form of activism, meant to directly confront unethical individuals and organizations.

12) Agitation – encouraging oppressed

groups to defend themselves or protest against their oppressors.

“Activism isn’t just about protesting.”

PRIVATE

PUBLIC

INDIVIDUAL

Letter-writing Direct Lobbying Ligation Selective Purchasing Ordinances Ethical Investing

Volunteerism Direct Lobbying

Consumer Boycotts

Grassroots Activism Demonstrate Civil Disobedience Agitation

GROUP

Figure 1.3 Classification of the various types of activism

[2] Watson, R. (2005). The Dictator Watch Guide to Social and Environmental Activism. [online] Activism 101. Available at: http://www.dictatorwatch.org/ A101/ [Accessed 2 Mar. 2018].

Types of Activism

21

CAUSES & CHANGES

Causes for activism can be classified into the following categories, each with differing requirements and group of people involved:

Environmental – Climate change, Lifestyle changes, Biological diversity

Social – Age groups, Communities, Culture, Faith, Heritage

Economical – Benefits for small and medium Enterprises (SMEs), corporations

22

Chapter 1 - Activism

Political – Policy changes, Law amendments

Each cause has a proposed change, beneficial change to specific groups of people or communities that can be classified, identified and have a distinct commonality:

The proposal typical consists an element of ‘disruption’, where there is an advocacy of an alternative view or lifestyle that is different from the status quo.

- Age Group: Children, Adults, Elderly - Gender: Male, Female, LGBT etc.

- Race: Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians, Locals vs Foreigners - Religion: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam etc.

- Views: Political, social, economical, environmental views.

Figure 1.4 to 1.7 Various activism causes and changes (Earth Hour, Pink Dot, Occupy Wall Street, Yellow Umbrella) (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

Causes & Changes

23

ACTIVISM IN THE PAST AND PRESENT

ACTIVISM IN THE PAST Word of Mouth

Protests, Petitions

ACTIVISM IN THE PRESENT Online petitions Global awareness

Figure 1.8 Activism from Past to Present

24

Chapter 1 - Activism

Virtual support

Organised, sitin protest “Occupation”

PRE WEB 2.0 Activism before the internet was limited in terms of the ease of organisation, transmission of awareness and the power the collective action for effective change.

This form of activism has the potential to build a community and share information quickly but has to accompany ‘offline’ activism in order to be fully productive.

People were only able to know about the cause for activism through word of mouth and handing out of flyers.

SLACKTIVISM

THE RISE OF DIGITAL ACTIVISM With the advent of social media and the Internet Age, digital activism has become more prevalent. The rise of online platforms such as change.org. allowed for the ease of anonymity, access and publicity that has resulted in the rise of this kind of activism.

All these forms of online activism are essentially designed to force change by putting political pressure on leaders and other powerful groups in the real world. But new kinds of digital activity are also attempting to change society more directly by giving individuals the ability to work and collaborate without government or corporate-run infrastructures. [3]

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, ‘Slacktivism’, is defined as the activity that uses the internet to support political or social causes in a way that does not need much effort, like creating or signing online petitions.

Forms of advocacy, particularly those related to social media, are often derisively referred to as “slacktivism” or “armchair activism”. These kinds of activism is becoming more prevalent recently because of the anonymity and ease of participation/support for the cause.

[3] Karatzogianni, A. (2018). Beyond hashtags: how a new wave of digital activists is changing society. [online] The Conversation. Available at: http://theconversation.com/ beyond-hashtags-how-a-new-wave-of-digital-activists-ischanging-society-57502 [Accessed 17 Jan. 2018].

Activism in the Past and Present

25

STAGES OF ACTION Action Continuum The Action Continuum framework helps us to better understand how people tend to view activism, and how we can see that through their actions.

From ‘Supporting Oppression’ to ‘Confronting Oppression’, we see the following stages [4]: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Actively participating Denying and ignoring Recognizing, no action Recognising, action Educating self Educating others Supporting, encouraging Initiating, preventing

Figure 1.9 shows the framework used in a racism context but it can be applied to activism, as we see stages 2-8 play out to see one’s stage of action towards a cause:

Stage 1 - Actively Participating:

The individual is putting down people from targeted groups, intentionally avoiding targeted group members, discriminating against targeted group members, verbally or physically harassing targeted group members.

Stage 2 - Denying:

Enabling discrimination and injustice by denying that targeted group members are oppressed. Does not actively discriminate or oppress, but by denying that oppression exists, colludes with oppression.

26

Chapter 1 - Activism

Stage 3 - Recognizing, No Action:

The individual is aware of oppression actions by self or others and their harmful effects but takes no action to stop this behaviour.

This inaction is the result of fear, lack of information, confusion about what to do.

Experiences discomfort at the contradiction between awareness and action.

Stage 4 - Recognizing, Action:

The individual is aware of oppression and injustices, recognizes oppressive actions of self and others and acts to stop them.

Stage 5 - Educating Self:

The individual is taking actions to learn more about oppression and privilege, and the life experiences affected by unjust social relations by reading, attending workshops, seminars, cultural events, participating in discussions, joining organizations or groups that oppose injustices, attending social action and change events.

Stage 6 - Educating Others:

The individual is moving beyond only educating self to questions and dialogue with others too. Rather than only stopping oppressive comments or behaviours, also engaging people in discussion to share why you object to a comment or action.

SUPPORTING OPPRESSION Actively Participating

Denying

CONFRONTING OPPRESSION Recognising, No Action

Recognising, Educating Action Self

Educating Others

Supporting, Encouraging

Initiating, Preventing

Figure 1.9 Action Continuum Framework

Stage 7 - Supporting, Encouraging:

Supporting others who speak out against injustices or who are working to be more inclusive of targeted group members by backing up others who speak out, forming an allies’ group, joining a coalition group.

This framework will be used to determine the people’s perception of the cause and help us understand the programs required to raise the awareness in order to effect change in the later chapters.

Stage 8 - Initiating, Preventing:

Working to change individual and institutional actions and policies that discriminate against targeted group members, planning educational programs or other events, working for passage of legislation that protects excluded groups from discrimination, being explicit about making sure members of historically marginalized groups are full participants in organization or groups.

[4] Wijeyesinghe, C. L., Griffin, P., & Love, B. (1997). Racism curriculum design. In M. Adams, L. Bell, & P. Griffin (Eds), Teaching for diversity and social justice: A sourcebook (pp.

82-107). New York: Routledge.

Stages of Action

27

ASSIMILATION

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

DISSEMINATION

IDEAL ACTIVISM

CURRENT ACTIVISM

Actively Participating

Denying

Recognising, No Action

Recognising, Educating Action Self

Educating Others

Supporting, Encouraging

Initiating, Preventing

PUBLIC SPHERE POLITICS

RESEARCH Knowledge exchange/transfer

KNOWLEDGE ACTIVISM

INFORM Private inquiry/ investigations

Exhibitions Conversations

INQUIRY

INTIMACY

PRIVATE SPHERE

28

Chapter 1 - Activism

Lobbying Advocacy Entrepreneurialism

PERSUADE

A HOLISTIC ACTIVISM SHIFT TOWARDS A GREATER KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND ACTION

CENTRALISED, ALL-ENCOMPASSING ACTIVISM APPROACH

The activities and intent of activism, when analysed in greater detail, involves knowledge dissemination, assimilation and production.

With the understanding of the larger definition of activism in Chapter 1.3, there should be space for all the new activist activities of varying scales and privacy.

In order to move towards a holistic activism, we should start to analyse the current stage of action for each specific cause using the Action Continuum framework.

By breaking down the rate of knowledge production, dissemination and assimilation for each cause, we can determine the required amount of program for action and dialogue, the types of mediums for information transmission and spaces for these programs.

Figure 1.10 shows a proposed quantifiable method to analyse each cause. The rate of knowledge transmission, assimilation and production correlates to the ratio of the number of people at stages 3 to stage 4-6.

Instead of the typically limited program at the activist site, the housing of all these new programs to facilitate a greater rate of knowledge transfer will eventually increase the intended action and dialogue amongst the various parties mentioned in Chapter 1.2.

In addition, there is also need to involve all citizens who can relate to a particular medium (visual, auditory, experiential) within the spectrum of mediums available at the activist site.

Figure 1.11 introduces the concept of ‘knowledge activism’ that is described by the bridging of the research-policy divide by which research evidence can be made operational in political terms in both the public and private sphere.[5]

Figure 1.10 Ideal activism via the action continuum framework Figure 1.11 Discursive orientations and knowledge activism

[5] Donald Gillies (2014) Knowledge activism: bridging the research/policy divide, Critical Studies in Education, (pp. 272-288). New York: Routledge.

A Holistic Activism

29

?

PHYSICAL SPACE

DIGITAL SPACE PRE WEB 2.0

WEB 2.0

INFORMATION AGE

EXPERIENCE AGE

HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

questions

ACTIVISM

results in

influences

occurs within

expresses

30

occurs within

ARCHITECTURE

02

ARCHITECTURE FOR ACTIVISM

“

Architecture arouses sentiments in man. The architect’s task, therefore, is to make those sentiments more precise.

- Adolf Loos

WHY ARCHITECTURE FOR ACTIVISM? ACTIVISM AND PUBLIC SPACES DETERMINING AND DESIGNING SPACES FOR ACTIVISM UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE WHEN ACTIVISM MEETS HOSPITALITY ARCHITECTURE AS ‘HACKER’

WHY ARCHITECTURE FOR ACTIVISM? Issue with Current Activism

Thesis Objectives

Despite the increased involvement in activism, there has been no real change in the many social issues.

This thesis envisions an architectural intervention that merges the rethinking of activism, the use of ‘disruptive’ design strategies that confronts and contradicts the current urban context with the characteristics and the necessities of spaces that facilitates knowledge production, dissemination and assimilation at various scales and privacy levels.

The potential for the complete and integrated use of digital vs physical spheres for activism has yet to be seen and experimented with.

The need for the increased and better use of the physical space is also crucial, as many have been relying on the digital space to spread their message and call to action. The emerging issue of the lack of accountability due to anonymity is a cause for concern especially with social and national security.

The utilisation of physical space to carry out meaningful conversations requires a complete rethinking of the physical spaces that revitalise activism and effect tangible change.

ENTITIES

The intervention in itself should become a conversational piece within the urban fabric and present a radical organisation of programmatic spaces that unite various nongovernmental organisations, activist groups and individuals to better effect a cause. It will also be important to provide various conditions for active and passive participation and discourse.

NETWORK

Figure 2.3 Union of interests and cause (on Page 28) Figure 2.1 - Spheres of Activism Figure 2.2 - Architecture, Activism and Human Behaviour

33

Figure 2.4 Protesters at Women’s March 2017 in Washington D.C. (Photo credit: Ted Eytan) Figure 2.5 Black Lives Matter closing down I-35 (Photo credit: Fibonaci Blue)

34

ACTIVISM AND PUBLIC SPACES WHY PUBLIC SPACES? The nature and motivations behind activism has resulted for activities to be held in public spaces with high visibility and accessibility.

A public space is, essentially, a social space that is generally open and accessible to people. [6] Public space typically consists of roads, public squares, parks and beaches, but not to be confused with a gathering space - though it can function as one.

Public sphere is an abstract term for all places where private individuals and authorities meet and where critical debates are formed.[7] A place does not have to be public in order to be used as a place for activism, as this could be done at other kinds of gathering places as well. However, the absence of public space would make social interaction extremely difficult.

According to Harb “many scholars argue that cities without vibrant, dynamic, interactive public spaces do not breed collective action, as they do not allow people to meet, exchange, disagree, debate, and make claims.[8] Geographer Don Mitchell also explains that public space and democracy are ‘inherently linked’. He adds that public spaces are ‘absolutely essential to the functioning of democratic politics.’ [9] Thus, current activism thrives in public spaces because of the desire to reach a wider audience to gather a collective demand for change.

[6] Mona Harb, “Public Spaces and Spatial Practices: Claims from Beirut”, 25 October 2013, http://www.jadaliyya.com/ pages/index/14710/public-spaces-and-spatial-practices_claims-from-be.

[7] Jürgen Habermas, The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry Into a Category of Bourgeois Society (MIT Press, 1991), XI–XIII. [8] Mona Harb, “Public Spaces and Spatial Practices: Claims from Beirut”, 25 October 2013, http://www.jadaliyya.com/ pages/index/14710/public-spaces-and-spatial-practices_claims-from-be.

[9] Don Mitchell, “The End of Public Space?People’s Park, Definitions of the Public, and Democracy”, Annals of the Association of American Geographers 85, nr. 1 (1995): 115.

35

DETERMINING AND DESIGNING SPACES FOR ACTIVISM ANALYSING THE ACTIVISM CLIMATE To better understand how we can determine spatial requirements for the architectural intervention, one can take steps to analyse the climate of people’s response to a particular activism cause.

1) DETERMINING THE STAGE OF ACTION

2) UTILISING DIGITAL ANALYTICS

One method to do so is to pinpoint the stage of action people are at on the Action Continuum framework.

The use of digital listening can also help activists understand the present perception of the topic at hand.

Figure 2.6 shows one’s progression from each stage to another, towards the ideal last stage where the people are beginning to initiating their own outreach for the cause.

Through the recording and categorisation of content online and offline (social media, blogs, forum letters, theatrem, satire etc.), the expression - be it to show dissatisfaction or ignorance, tells how the tone, intent and awareness of people towards the cause is.

A person closer towards the first stage has less propensity to act and will require more information and persuading while another at the last stage needs curated spatial conditions to initiate activities to raise awareness of that information through various forms of expressions.

For example, a search of a relevant hashtag on social media platforms can tell how the people are relating to the cause through the expression of their messages - phrasing of words, use of imagery or spoken anger.

Gathering the data requires a collation of responses to a questionnaire relating to their tendencies to do something for that particular cause.

[10] Donald Gillies (2014) Knowledge activism: bridging the research/policy divide, Critical Studies in Education, (pp. 272-288). New York: Routledge.

36

Raising Awareness

Actively Participating

Show impact of oppression

Denying

Instill the confidence to act

Recognising, No Action

Provide resources

Encourage, Provide opportunity

Recognising, Educating Action Self

Reinforce reasons to overcome barriers

Educating Others

Supporting, Encouraging

Initiating, Preventing

PUBLIC RESEARCH

Critical research

POLITICS Think tanks Lobbyists ‘Strategic’ research use

INFORM

PERSUADE

INQUIRY

INTIMACY

PRIVATE

BRIDGING DEBATABLE LANDS As people become more educated and aware of the various views and theories on social and political issues, there is a need for knowledge activism as seen in Figure 1.11.

The intent of informing and persuading within the public and private spheres has to be integrated for effective discourse to happen.

Figure 2.7 shows the relationship between spaces for research, politics, inquiry and intimacy is required to bridge the knowledge divide and persuasive power that could effect real change. [10]

Figure 2.6 - Progression through the Action Continuum Figure 2.7 - ‘Debatable lands’, crossing the research/political divide to inform and persuade

37

High

MOTIVATION

2

Low

1

Low

Action Curve

High

ABILITY

VISIBILITY & ACCESSIBILITY Word of Mouth

SCALE

Private

Town Hall

Lobbying Consumer Boycott

Social Media, Broadcast

Protest/ Demonstration/ Occupation

Exhibition/ Performance Art/ Written messages Banners, Billboards

Figure 2.8 The Fogg’s Behaviour Model Figure 2.9 Classification of the various types of transmission mediums for activism

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Chapter 2 - Architecture For Activism

UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOUR The propensity to action for individuals can be better understood with the knowledge of behavioural models such as the Fogg’s Behaviour Model, shown in Figure 2.8.

The change of behaviour can be seen as a data point within the Region 1, below the action curve. At this point, one has a low motivation or ability to take action to change his/her own behaviour.

For an individual to move towards action (into region 2), Fogg also suggests the following three ‘core motivators’: Sensation, Anticipation and Belonging. [11]

information transmission, space for the new programs – public to private and experiments with scale, accessibility, visibility, arrangement, zoning and program agglomeration based on specific cause should be explored.

In addition, all of the spatial requirements arising from the various types of activism, seen in Figure 2.9, should be integrated and weaved within the architectural solution.

Ultimately, the intervention, by itself, becomes a conversational piece within the urban fabric.

Designing spaces based on the intent of utilising the three ‘motivators’ is an important strategy to increase one’s motivation and ability to act.

PROGRAMMATIC AND ARCHITECTURAL STRATEGIES With the knowledge of the activism climate, there is a need to introduce design strategies that ‘contrast’ and ‘contradict’ the current urban condition.

The use of these spaces for exchange, collaboration – having to come together and confront one another has to be intended.

Strategies that facilitate a higher rate of knowledge dissemination and assimilation, action and dialogue, provide new mediums of

[10] Fogg, B.J (2001) - Core Motivators - Fogg’s Behaviour Model

Determining and Designing Spaces for Activism

39

EVIDENCE-BASED Private

Public

ADVISING

ADVOCACY

COOPERATION

CONFRONTATION

(“Inside track’)

(“outside track”)

LOBBYING

ACTIVISM

INTEREST/ VALUE BASED

NATURE OF ACTIVISM ACTIVITIES It is also important to understand the nature of activities that relate to activism.

Figure 2.10 shows twos sides of the spectrum of such activities.

Confrontation is usually the method of advocacy and activism strategies. It seeks to obtain change via pressure and seeks to point out problems rather than offer solutions. It works from the outside, rather than gaining an inside track in policy communities. [12]

Figure 2.10 Tools and organisation on the cooperation / evidence axes

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Chapter 2 - Architecture For Activism

Cooperation – the practice favoured by advising and lobbying – aims to build constructive, working relations with policy makers in order to develop solutions to complex problems.[12] The framework features four categories, namely lobbying, advising, activism and advocacy that depends on the option of influencing (confrontational/cooperative), and the role of rational evidence or an interestbased argument. [13] Both are required to fully effect change, but due to the lack of time and space, organisations tend to focus on one side of the spectrum.

SPATIAL FRAMEWORKS Moving forward, the framework for each overarching cause for activism can be used to determine the proportion and spectrum of public and private activities to inform and persuade visitors about their cause.

[12] Hovland, I, Start, D. (2009) Tools for Policy Impact: A Handbook for Researchers

One example of such framework is found in Figure 2.11, where the four areas of effecting change can be integrated in a certain spatial matrix based on each cause. This will aid us in deciding the proportion of public, semi-private and private spaces as well as the considerations of programmatic adjacencies.

[13] Hearn, S. (2012) Evaluating Policy Influence and Advocacy [online] https://www. betterevaluation.org/en/ themes/policy_influence_ advocacy (accessed on 23 May 2018)

This framework will be applied in Chapter 4.3, for social causes and agencies in Singapore.

ADVOCACY

(CONFRONTATIONAL X EVIDENCE-BASED)

public x private

public x public

ADVISING

ACTIVISM

(COOPERATIVE X EVIDENCE-BASED)

(CONFRONTATIONAL X INTEREST-BASED) private x private

public x private

LOBBYING

(COOPERATIVE X INTEREST-BASED)

Figure 2.11 Spatial framework for activism spaces

Determining and Designing Spaces for Activism

41

“A hub for journalists, pioneers and changemakers.�

Figure 2.12 and 2.13 A rendering of the elevation and proposed social space at Eaton Workshop Credit: (Gachot Studio)

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Chapter 2 - Architecture For Activism

WHEN HOSPITALITY MEETS ACTIVISM Eaton Workshop, Washington, USA One example of the employment of new programmatic typologies include the Eaton Workshop, an upcoming hotel located in Washington, USA, pioneering the way for activism spaces to be integrated into the hotel programmatic typology..

The hotel, opening in early 2018, is “a hub for journalists, pioneers and changemakers”. [13] Eaton will have 209 rooms, large enough for long-term guests, such as “artists and activists in residency”, with some being sponsored by the hotel, according to brand founder, Katherine Lo. Apart from the rooms, there will be a radio station on premises as well as artist studios, recording studios, and a 50-person movie theater. Lo says the hotel will host public art, music, and film festivals “exploring topics of social change.”

A separate co-working space, called Eaton House, will accommodate up to 370 members. And a wellness center will offer yoga, meditation, and “alternative treatments.” Eaton will also have a coffee shop and juice bar, a restaurant and rooftop bar.

This case study shows the promise of continually seeking new programmatic typologies that complement existing ones - which will result in a positive disruption in the activism industry.

[13] Eaton Workshop (2017) [online] https://www.washingtonian. com/2017/11/13/billionaires-daughterlaunching-resistance-chic-hotel-brand-dc

Determining and Designing Spaces for Activism

43

Figure 2.14 and 2.15 - The Playing Field by Assemble (Photo credit: Dezeen) Figure 2.16 - Serpentine Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto (Photo credit: George Rex)

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Chapter 2 - Architecture For Activism

ARCHITECTURE AS ‘HACKER’ The role of the architectural intervention and architecture’s ability to become a ‘hacker’, as a means to disrupt the status quo, for activism will also be tested in this thesis.

This can be explored at the various scales of the intervention:

Urban scale: The form and connections to the surrounding context of the site.

Building scale: The programs and spaces within the intervention in relation to one another.

Furniture scale: The nature of the tectonics that reflect the activist nature of the intervention.

With the introduction of the new activism activities and spatial requirements, a careful planning for the zoning, circulation and arrangement of the corresponding programs is crucial in creating effective activism.

A building with an activist nature adapting and activating public space can become a fields of interaction for people who are open to learning about and participating in activism.

The adaptation of ‘pop-up architecture’ in public space has the potential to intrigue the passerby and engage them to learn about activism through a curated spatial and programmatic configuration.

In Figure 2.14 to 2.16, we see how the porous facade and use of thin structural elements can create an accessible, yet enclosed space, in The Playing Field by Assemble and The Serpentine Pavilion by Sou Fujimoto.

Figure 2.17 to 2.19 shows an aerial view of the many installations and activity during the annual Burning Man Festival, which is an event where tens of thousands of people gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create Black Rock City, a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, self-expression, and selfreliance.[14] The Church Trap installation, in Figure 2.18 and 2.19, is an interactive wonderland for the religiously rebellious. A large-scale decaying church, tipped on its axis like a box trap.

Not only does it push participants to ask the question “why”, but it also invites the daring to take control of the many interactive features - like the church organ, ‘part central LED nervous system, part beautifully wicked installation art.’[15] When given the creative freedom to express themselves, the community will take the opportunity to question beliefs and views on issues via the construction of provocative visual forms and messages through the experiential design of the space.

That said, the thesis draws inspiration from the creative chaos that the provocative forms bring to the existing landscape.

[14] Burning Man | About the Event - http://burningman.org [15] Church Trap - http://www.churchtrap.com/

Architecture As Hacker

45

Figure 2.17 to 2.19 - Aerial of Black Rock City and an installation ‘Church Trap’ at Burning Man. (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

46

03

CASE STUDIES

“

Architecture never derived its force from stability of culture, but rather from the expression of those moments when that sense of stability slipped.

- Mark Wigley

PROTEST SITES 1 - YELLOW UMBRELLA MOVEMENT – ADMIRALTY, HONG KONG 2 - OCCUPY WALL STREET - ZUCCOTTI PARK, NEW YORK, USA BUILDINGS 1 - CENTER FOR COMMUNITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, NEW YORK, USA SUMMARY OF DESIGN STRATEGIES

Case Study 1 - Protest Site

YELLOW UMBRELLA MOVEMENT Admiralty, Hong Kong

49

50

HISTORY & NARRATIVE From September 26 to December 11, 2014, the Yellow Umbrella Movement occupied various sites in Admiralty, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay. It started when hundreds of students gathered in a courtyard in Central Hong Kong, demanding an end to Chinese oppression and control.

For more than 150 years, Hong Kong belonged to Britain. Then in 1997 Britain handed the thriving metropolis back to China in a political deal called “One Country, Two Systems,” which allowed Hong Kong to maintain some of the freedoms and independence mainland Chinese people do not have, such as freedom of the press and the right to assemble. The people of Hong Kong would even be allowed to elect their own leader in 2017. [16] But when China started to retract her decision by announcing to Hong Kong that those elections could proceed only if the Chinese government selected all the candidates, many people in Hong Kong were frustrated knowing that meant they wouldn’t have much control over their own government.

The students hit the streets, and thousands from Hong Kong rushed to join them in the days that followed.

Over the course of a few months, the people who occupied the site had activities such as studying and sleeping apart from the protest speeches and conflicts.

Figure 3.1 Hacourt Road, Admiralty, during the 2014 Yellow Umbrella protests (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

[16] Couric, K. (2014) Hong Kong’s ‘umbrella revolution’ explained [online] https:// www.yahoo.com/ news/katie-couricnow-i-get-it-umbrellarevolution-175949877. html (accessed on 23 April 2018)

History & Narrative

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Hacourt Road Central Government Building Tamar Park

Figure 3.2 Site Plan (1:10,000)

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200

THE SITE HACOURT ROAD, ADMIRALTY, HONG KONG The site, occupied under ‘Occupy Central’ from 26 September 2014 – 11 December 2014, is situated within the CBD area, along major governmental and financial buildings.

During the occupation, the people blocked off a stretch of road that goes under bridges that were used for hanging banners and for overhead watching when leaders gave their speeches.

The importance of the location is due to its proximity to the Central Government Building.

Protesters had to make do with the only public space left after the neighbouring Tamar Park is occupied by another rally.

Figure 3.3 Hacourt Road (Photo Credit: ceeseven via Wikipedia Commons)

The Site

53

Entrance from Metro Occupied site Park

Figure 3.4 - Urban Form and Connections

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200

URBAN FORM & CONNECTIONS Hacourt Road is an elongated stretch of major highway road along the front of major government buildings, such as the Central Government Headquarters - where the occupation took place.

Apart from that, shopping malls, office buildings and parks line the road network.

During the occupation, protesters entered the site from the nearby metro station on the Southwestern edge of the site.

Figure 3.5 - Hacourt Road and its urban context (Photo Credit: Google)

Urban Form & Connections

55

Footpaths Overhead walkways

Figure 3.6 Circulation

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Chapter 3 - Case Studies - Yellow Umbrella Protest

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100

200

CITY ABOVE GROUND Circulation to the site remains largely above ground with a series of connected elevated walkways passing through various high rise buildings.

This brings activity above ground and opportunities to view the site when walking through the bridges.

During the occupation, these bridges played an important role in allowing for government workers heading to work from the metro opposite the Central Government Building to see the chaos below.

The press also used the space above ground to cover the event, as shown in the next page.

Figure 3.7 Elevated Walkways (Photo Credit: Google)

Circulation To Site

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Central Government Building

ove rh

2

ead

brid

ge

4

3

1

Admiralty Centre

012

Tent

Speak, Hear, Congregate

Figure 3.8 - Program Zones

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5

10

20

Section Analysis (see page 58)

Chapter 3 - Case Studies - Yellow Umbrella Protest

Express

Rest

Work

PROTEST CITY Along the elongated stretch of Hacourt Road, various degrees of activity can be seen.

Occupying most of the site are an array of tents placed congruent to the axis of the road dividers for protesters to rest and take shelter. At the east side of the road, there are spaces for passive forms of expression through visual messages (sculptures, written notes and painting exhibits).

The spaces will lead towards the more active speech areas and communal study spaces, near the overhead bridges - where the government workers walk through to get to work.

1

VISUAL DISRUPTION

The varied colors break of the grey asphalt road, adding vibrancy to a once human-less space.

(Photo credit: Citobun)

3

VERTICAL EXPRESSION

The lack of walls led to the use of various (ingenious) vertical surfaces such as the parapets of footbridges in Admiralty for the hanging of banners.

(Photo credit: Wing1990hK, Citobun)

2

SPLIT LEVELS

The use of the footbridges as a mezzanine was crucial in allowing the leader giving a speech to be seen and heard by both protesters and government workers passing above.

(Photo credit: FX Pasquier)

4

ORGANIC CONSTRUCTION

Each space is constructed quickly with the use of tents and simple canopy structures to house the various programs.

(Photo credit: Ceeseven)

Protest City

59

2

SPLIT LEVELS

3

VERTICAL EXPRESSION

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Chapter 3 - Case Studies - Yellow Umbrella Protest

PROGRAMMATIC ANALYSIS Program along the occupation of Hacourt Road, were laid out in a street typology with pathways flanked by activities on both sides.

The public interface along the overhead bridge cuts along the congregation area, where speeches were made in view and targeted to the government workers who ply the bridge to get to work, taking advantage of the existing split levels.

The centrality of the speech zone signals its importance and expresses the occupants main intention in driving the message of universal suffrage for the people of Hong Kong.

The bridge, during the occupation, also became a passive actor with many banners hung from the parapets, maximising expression in the vertical dimension.

PUBLIC ART

STUDY CORNER

SPEECHES

OCCUPY Speak, Hear, Congregate Express Converse Work Public interface Figure 3.9 Programmatic Analysis

Protest City

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62

Case Study 2 - Protest Site

OCCUPY WALL STREET Zuccotti Park, New York, USA

Figure 3.6 to 3.9 - Design Strategies

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64

HISTORY & NARRATIVE On September 17 2011, a protest movement called Occupy Wall Street began in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City’s Wall Street financial district.

The protest was held to raise awareness for the global economic inequality against the “wealthy 1%”.

The park was a base for the Occupy Movement where the first ‘Occupiers’ had originally come to protest to Wall Street, where many major financial institutions and offices were, to claim that they had a role in economic collapse that caused the global recession. [17] Over the course of the two month emcampment at the park, a micro protest city has been created, where the community has gathered together to express their dissatisfaction at the situation.

[17] Occupy Wall Street http://occupywallst.org/ about/

Figure 3.10 Zuccotti Park, occupied by protesters during Occupy Wall Street in 2011 (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

History and Narrative

65

World Trade Centre

Zuccotti Park

Figure 3.11 Site Plan (1:10000)

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THE SITE Zuccotti Park is a site in New York’s Financial District, owned and managed by a commercial real estate company but accessible to the public under city law. [18] Damaged by the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the park was redesigned in 2006 by Cooper, Robertson & Partners.

It is also enclosed by major roads within the urban fabric.

[18] Massey, J. , Synder, B. (2012) “Mapping Liberty Plaza,” Places Journal, [online] https:// placesjournal.org/article/ mapping-liberty-plaza/ (Accessed 11 Apr 2018)

Figure 3.12 Photo of Zuccotti Park (Photo Credit: Google)

The Site

67

Park

Occupied site

Figure 3.13 - Urban Form and Connections

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URBAN FORM & CONNECTIONS The park is part of the network of the many privately-owned public spaces with the urban fabric.

Even though the park is one of the smallest, it was chosen due to proximity to the World Trade Center.

The rectilinear plot is surrounded by major roads, Broadway, which is one of the most busiest routes in New York.

Surrounding it are office buildings and retail spaces.

Figure 3.14 Aerial Photo of Zuccotti Park (Photo Credit: Google)

Urban Form & Connections

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Footpaths

Roads

Figure 3.15 Circulation

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0 20 50

100

200

CIRCULATION TO SITE The site can be accessed via pedestrian routes along roads that navigates between the high rise buildings arranged in a grid-like fashion.

This results in only four major entrances to the site, at the four corners of the plot.

Figure 3.16 Entrance to Zuccotti Park (Photo Credit: Google)

Circulation To SIte

71

media & outreach library

sanitation

ar

y pla

is td

1 assembly

3

sacred space

e

n & zo art ible x fle

en

kitch

2

rest area

l socia e c a p s assembly

3 4

Primary Paths

ar

Secondary Paths

Speak, Hear, Congregate

Figure 3.17 - Program & Circulation

72

y pla

is td

Chapter 3 - Case Studies - Occupy Wall Street

Express

Section Analysis (see page 72) Rest

Work

LIBERTY PLAZA In the park, pavers, benches and fixed two-seat tables are arranged in a skewed grid that runs diagonally across, segmenting space for various types of program.

The park is divided into several zones, with public programs placed along the edges of the site and private programs within.

Circulation within the park responds to layout of the existing benches and trees, with the main wider circulation path cutting diagonally from the open spaces on each end of the park. The smaller paths branch out perpendicularly to the program areas.

1

VISUAL DISRUPTION

The varied colors of the tents break the predominary green canopies above the grey tiled floors, while signaling activity involving large groups of people in the park.

(Photo credit: Noel Y. C.)

3

EDGES

Considering the urban conditions along the edges of the plot was crucial in the organisation of programs. Public programs such as outreach occurred along the Broadway edge due to its high visibility and accessibility.

(Photo credit: David Shankbone, Amanda Garque)

2

TREES AS GUIDE

The location of programs and circulation paths correlate to the diagonal axial configuration of the trees, allowing for easy navigation and segrataion of program within the park.

(Photo credit: Noel Y. C.)

4

LEVEL CHANGES

Level changes was considered with regards to the segregation of space. For example, a change in level defines a private and public space along the edge of the plot.

(Photo credit: David Shankbone)

Liberty Plaza

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3

EDGES

4

LEVEL CHANGES

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Chapter 3 - Case Studies - Occupy Wall Street

PROGRAMMATIC ANALYSIS Program within the occupation of Zuccotti Park were laid out in a grid like fashion aligned to the tree’s diagonal layout.

Along the public interface at both of the short edges and one long edge, high visibility activities like speeches, performances and public art were situated to garner support from people passing by.

The exisiting ground level changes at the short ends of the park provide opportunity to segregate the various public and private programs, such as resting areas and congregation areas.

Furthermore, the benches and parapets were also being appropriated to ‘maximise expression’ where posters can be pasted onto the vertical surfaces. in addition of its role to separate program.

PUBLIC ART

SPEECHES

ART, LIBRARY BROADCAST

SPEECHES

KITCHEN REST PUBLIC ART

Speak, Hear, Congregate Express Converse Work Public Interface

Figure 3.18 - Programmatic Analysis

Programmatic Analysis

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Case Study 3 - Building

CENTRE FOR COMMUNITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Asian American For Equality (AAFE), New York, USA

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ABOUT THE PROJECT Category: Mixed-Use Commercial Architects: Leong Leong, JCJ Architecture Status: Design Development, to be completed by 2019 Area: 90,000 sqft / 8361m2 No. of storeys: 7 Leong Leong, an architectural firm in New York, in association with JCJ Architects, has designed the Center for Community and Entrepreneurship, a new mixed-use community building for the non-profit organization Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). It is slted to open in 2019.

The 90,000 square-foot, seven-storey hybrid building at a corner of a intersection, will include a community marketplace, public event spaces, a new business incubator, administrative offices for AAFE, and commercial office spaces. [19]

[19] Leong Leong | AAFE (2018) [online] http:// www.leong-leong.com/ aafe/ (Accessed on 23 April 2018)

Figure 3.19 Exterior rendering of Centre for Community and Entrepreneurship for AAFE, New York (Photo credit: Leong Leong)

History & Narrative

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Center of Community and Entrenpreneurship

Figure 3.20 Site Plan (1:2500)

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Chapter 3 - Case Studies - AAFE Center of Community and Entrepreneurship

CONCEPT A VERTICALLY-INTEGRATED COMMUNITY

GRADIENT TRANSPARENCY

The building consists of four interlocking volumes with outdoor terraces give the building its distinct form. An outdoor plaza, designed as an interface to the surrounding neighborhood connects a large public market directly to the street.

The envelope of the building is a gradient of transparencies, maximizing visual connection at the street level while maintaining a distinct silhouette as an urban landmark from afar. The most transparent lower two floors contain the most public programs maximizing interaction with the neighborhood at street level.

On the second level, a multi-purpose event is open and flexible for different configurations like community programs, meetings, and performances.

On the third floor, an incubator will provide coworking space for small businesses and startups to collaborate and connect with. AAFE’s offices will be located on the fourth floor, and office spaces available to emerging and established businesses will occupy the fifth to seventh floor. [20]

As the programs become more introverted at the upper floors, the opacity of the curtain wall increases but still allows for views of the surrounding neighbourhood.

At night, the sculptural form of the interlocking volumes will be expressed in the varying luminosity of the facade. [21]

60% transparent Office Incubators Event Spaces Retail + Public spaces 100% transparent

Figure 3.21 Program Zoning

Figure 3.22 Facade Transparency Levels

[20] [21] Leong Leong | AAFE (2018) [online] http://www.leong-leong.com/aafe/ (Accessed on 23 April 2018)

Design Concept

81

Speak, Hear, Congregate

Express

Figure 3.23 Clockwise from top left: Floor Plans (L1, L2, L4 and L6) - (Credit: Leong Leong)

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Chapter 3 - Case Studies - AAFE Center of Community and Entrepreneurship

Work

Rest

PROGRAM VARYING LEVELS OF PRIVACY Programs within the building are organised based on varying levels of privacy, with a main staircase integrating and connecting the public and private program vertically at Level 1 to 3. Offices are located at the higher levels.

Public zones: Public plaza, retail marketplace, open three storey grand staircase

Semi-private zones: Gallery spaces, lecture theatres Private zones: Office, meeting rooms

1

VISUAL DISRUPTION

The geometry consisting of the four intersecting volume break the nearby predominary cuboid forms in the area, signaling a unique injection of activity.

3

EXPRESSION OF ENTREPRENUERSHIP Visitors meet the aspiring Asian American entrepreneurs at the ground floor retail marketplace, where the owners showcase their marketing ideas and products.

The expression of capability is best shown here and the spatial organisation has allowed for this to be successful in this building.

2

VERTICAL EXPRESSION AS EDGE

The vertical expression of the facade from the varying degrees of transparency speaks about the identity of the building and its role in people’s lives.

PROGRAMMATIC ORGANISATION

Urban conditions along the edges of the plot were considered in the organisation of the programs. Public programs were situated along the edges beside the major road as visibility and accessibility is highest.

(Photo credits: Leong Leong)

Program

83

2

VERTICAL EXPRESSION AS EDGE

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Chapter 3 - Case Studies - AAFE Center of Community and Entrepreneurship

PROGRAMMATIC ANALYSIS Program within the AAFE Building were stacked onto each other from the public to private activities connected via a central staircase.

As the only available public interface lies on the facade facing towards the main roads, all of the programs close to it form the vertical expression of the functions of the community to the passerby.

The facade thus become the a supporting actor where it showcases the various efforts that the community is invovled in.

INTERIOR

EXTERIOR

OFFICES

TERRACE

INCUBATORS

TERRACE

sib

(vi le co )

n tio

ec

nn

GRAND STAIRCASE

Speak, Hear, Congregate

MARKETPLACE

OUTDOOR AREA

Express Converse Work Public interface

Figure 3.24 - Program Zones (in section)

Programmatic Analysis

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SUMMARY OF DESIGN STRATEGIES

87

SUMMARY OF DESIGN STRATEGIES From the case studies, design strategies that engage the visitor observed will be applied to the architectural solution for this thesis:

PROGRAMMATIC ORGANISATION - Consideration of public to private activist activities

EDGES

VANTAGE POINTS

- Visibility and accessibility

SURFACE EXPRESSION

- Divide or engage

- Provision of surfaces for expression, through facades and banners

LEVELS

VISUAL DISRUPTION

- Establish or separate

MARKERS

- Taking advantage of existing pathways, trees and ‘urban furniture’

Figure 3.25 Summary of Design Strategies (clockwise from top left)

88

Chapter 3 - Case Studies

- Provide visual intrigue through the use of colors and form

Scanned by CamScanner

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Summary of Design Strategies

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Figure 4.1 - Locations of the various organisations in Singapore (from top) - Registered Societies, Volunteer Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Social Service Organisations (SSOs)

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04

ACTIVISM IN SINGAPORE

“

People ignore design that ignores people.

- Frank Chimero

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVISM IN SINGAPORE STATE OF THE ART - HONG LIM PARK SITE FOR A NEW ACTIVISM - PADANG COMPARISON WITH HONG LIM PARK A CAUSE FOR ACTIVISM SOCIAL EQUALITY, MOBILITY AND IDENTITY MOVING FORWARD - PRELIMINARY DESIGN STRATEGIES

OVERVIEW OF ACTIVISM IN SINGAPORE Environmental Cause

Social Cause

National Environmental Agency Public Utilities Board

Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth Youth Corps Singapore People’s Association onePeople.sg National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre

Nature Society Singapore Singapore Heritage Society Animal Concerns, Research and Education Society (ACRES).

The Working Committee ONE (SINGAPORE) Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) Participate in Design Humanist Society

1.

Earth Hour Climate Talks

1.

Ministerial Forums Festivals (Car-free Sunday, Parking Day)

2.

Bukit Brown Sharks Fin (2011)

2.

Pink Dot SG Repeal 377A Population White Paper

Government/ Governmental Organisations

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Individuals

1. Initiatives and Events 2. Conflicts/protests

Figure 4.2 - Classification of the various types of activism in Singapore

Overview of Activism Landscape in Singapore

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Political Cause

Arts and Culture

Ministry of Communications and Information

Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth

Political Parties

Singapore Arts Council Design Singapore

Institute of Policy Studies Singaporeans for Democracy (2010 to 2012) New Narratiff

The Design Cultivation Arts Engage

Chee Soon Juan Amos Yee Roy Ngeng

Theatreworks, The Necessary Stage, The Substation and Wild Rice

PJ Thum Jolovan Wham

1.

Ministerial Forums

1.

Festivals

2.

Population White Paper Presidential Elections 2017 Return our CPF

2.

Theatre, film - non mainstream media

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Chapter 4 - Activism in Singapore

DISTRIBUTED NETWORK As mentioned in Chapter 2.1, the thesis envisions an effective activism hub in the architectural solution situated at the Padang. This stems from the need to provide a centralised location to pool resources, such as time, manpower and logistics in order to have a greater capacity to reach out to citizens about the overarching social, economical, political and environmental causes.

Figure 4.1 shows the map of the locations of the various societies, Volunteer Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Social Service Organisations. While the spread of these entities enable a localised reach, the entities, due to the separation may have limited resources to have a greater impact in the communities there.

SOCIAL SERVICE ECOLOGY IN SINGAPORE At the national level, the government has outlined a social service ecology map, in Figure 4.3, that shows a holistic view of the environment has been researched and aims to innovate in. [22] By visualising the different stakeholders, agents, and touchpoints that affect a person with disability, we are able to see how each could potentially be related.

The service ecology map lets us investigate the various agents and relationships that affect all or part of the service and helps people understand the personal relevance of services.

STAKEHOLDERS

Create the promise or the service.

AGENTS

Deliver the offering to users.

TOUCHPOINTS & SERVICES

Final touchpoints to grow engagement.

ACTORS

Support users in internalising the value offering.

[22] Leong Leong | AAFE (2018) [online] http://www.leongleong.com/aafe/ (Accessed on 23 April 2018)

Distributed Network

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Social Services service ecology in Singapore

The service ecology map shows a holistic view of the environment we’ve researched and would like to innovate in.

By visualising the different stakeholders, agents, and touchpoints that affect a person with disability, we are able to see how each could potentially be related.

The service ecology map lets us investigate relationships that affect all or part of the service and helps people understand the personal relevance of services.

SG ENABLE

Community Psychology Hub

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

raiSE

SUN-DAC Christian Outreach for the Handicapped Singapore Cheshire Home

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Social Enterprises

Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled Singapore Red Cross Society Psychological Hub

Thong Kheng Welfare Services Society

HWA Transport

Therapy Hubs

TOUCH Community Services

Caring Fleet

Shared Services THK Homes & Hostel METTA Singapore Home Cheshire Home

Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities Limited

SPD National Council of Social Service

Bizlink

AWWA Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore

Association for Persons with Special Needs

Metta Welfare Association

SPD MINDS

AWWA Therapy Special Needs Trust Company THK Therapy HWA Social Service Offices Red Cross SPD Therapy Home Information Blue Cross Rehabilitation & Referral Thong Kheng Home Services Trust We Are Able!

TOUCH Services Bishan Home Hostel Accessible Residential Car Park Label Financial Services METTA TOUCH Assistance Centres Institute of Blue Cross Dedicated Eden Hydraulic Van Mental Health Thong Kheng Transport Centres Assistive SUN-DAC Tech Fund Bishan Home SPD Centre-based NUH Dental Clinic Centres Hospitals Therapy MINDS VWO transport Emmanuel Centres subsidy Residental Activity Centre Singapore National Bizlink Services Assistive Singapore THK Eye Centre Technology Transport Cheshire Home CPAS Centres Home-based Services Alternative Augmentative St Andrew’s Therapy Red Cross Communication Devices Autism Centre Interim disability Allied Health assistance program Day Activity Professional Report DDR ID Card Vulnerable for elderly AWWA Home Centres Adults Act Based Care Doctor’s Mental Code on Accessibility in MINDS Home Forms Assessment Capacity Act the Built Environment Based Services Adult Care CPAS Therapy Services Volunteers Rehab Home-based Health Home-based Services Foreign Domestic Services Therapy VWO Management Helper Tactile tiles

Autism Resource Centre Individual Open Employment Plan Employment THK Pan-Disability Centre MINDS CPAS Employment Centres GROW APSN SPD Centre for Adults Websites Bizlink Sheltered Workshops Individual SAVH Library CPAS Therapy Care Plan services Rehab Vision Rehabilitation SADeaf Hearing Programme Care Centre Forms Braille production AWWA Community Unit Integration Support Sign Language SMS Interpretation Service iC2 Prephouse Low Vision Clinic Very Special SPD Assistive Riding for Arts Tech Centre the Disabled SADeaf Community SPD MINDS Integration Support Tech Able Me Too! Club SPD Specialised case AWWA Management program Me Too! Club Individual Autism Association Support Education Plan Me Too! Club Services

Autism Resource Centre

St Andrew’s Mission Hospital

Autism Association Singapore Association for the Deaf

Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped

Canossian Daughters of Charity

Able Rehab

Transport Services

Training & Development

MINDSVille

Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore

Agency for Integrated Care

Family Service Centres

Peers

Psychologists

White Cane Club

MDAS Recreational Touch Service Silent club Guide Dogs Association DPA Support Services

Training Officers Doctors Therapists

Rainbow Centre, Singapore

Recreational Services

Awareness Days

Teachers

Public Education campaigns

Friends

Taxi Drivers

Disability Workshops

Family

Public Education Bus Drivers

Church

ACTORS

Accessible Bus

Handicap Income Relief PWD EZ-link card

Hydraulic Van

FDW Levy concession

Purple Parade Community events

Special Employment Credit

SPIRITUAL / SOCIAL SUPPORT

Singapore Disability Sports Council

Workfare Income Supplement

Transport Services

PWD Friendly ATM

Temple Synagogue

Open Employment

Appropriate Adults Service

Emergency SMS

Religious Organisations

Mosque

Sports Training

Inclusive Gym

Centres for expertise in disability sports

Special Olympics Museums

Community Development Councils

Open Door Programme National Heritage Board

London Cab

TOUCHPOINTS

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

OTHERS

Deaf Sport Association Deaf Dragon

Redefinition

Down Syndrome Enrichment Programme

Religious Leader

School Services

CPAS APSN Schools School METTA AWWA School School MINDS Singapore School Schools for the Deaf Rainbow St Andrew’s Mountbatten Centre Autism School Vocational Schools School Pathlight Eden School School Grace Orchard Lighthouse School School Canossian Special Education School Schools

TOUCH Silent Club

Running Hour

Recreational Services

Presbyterian Community Services

BCA

Very Special Arts

Sign Language Interpretation Services Able Respite

Social Workers

URA

Inclusive playground

Neighbours Nurses

Job Coaches

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

NPARKS

SportSG

SMRT Banks PWD Public Transport Concession pass

EK ANG Transport Silver Ray Transport

SCDF

VWO COE waiver Singapore Police Force

IRAS

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

Tote Board

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

Taxi Subsidy

Cultural / Ethnic Organisations

Transit Link

AGENTS

CPF

People’s Association

MINISTRY OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY & YOUTH

WSG

LTA

STAKEHOLDERS

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

KEY STAKEHOLDERS Create the promise or the service.

Active stakeholders

Non-active stakeholders

AGENTS Deliver the offering to users.

Agents

Schemes & Policies

TOUCHPOINTS & SERVICES Final touchpoints to grow engagement.

Services

Touchpoints

ACTORS Support users in internalising the value offering.

Updated February 2017 Map is non-exhaustive and may contain errors or omissions.

Actors

Figure 4.3 Social Service Ecology Map of Singapore (Credit: National Council of Social Service Singapore)

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State of The Art - Organised Protest

PINK DOT SG Hong Lim Park, Singapore

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HISTORY & NARRATIVE The Pink Dot SG is an annual, non-profit, free-for-all event which started in 2009, in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Singapore.

Organised by LGBT interest group Pink Dot SG, attendance for the concert-cum-picnic event increased from about 2,500 people in 2009 to 26,000 in 2014. Each year, participants of the event dress in pink to show their support for the organiser’s cause, which is to promote an inclusive society with the freedom to love, regardless of sexual orientation. [22] Activities that occur during the Pink Dot SG event include performances, speeches and other group activities to express the solidarity among the people present at the event.

In 2017, foreigners and foreign companies were not permitted to either attend or support the event. This was an initiative by the Singapore Government not to only allow citizens to be part of the conversation.

[22][23][24] Sim, C. (2014) Speakers Corner - National Library Board Infopedia [online] http://eresources.nlb.gov. sg/infopedia/articles/ SIP_515_2005-01-25. html (accessed on 23 April 2018) Figure 4.4 Pink Dot SG protest at Hong Lim Park, Singapore, 2017 (Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

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Hong Lim Park Parkroyal on Pickering

Figure 4.5 Site Plan (1:10,000)

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THE SITE Hong Lim Park, Singapore Set up in Hong Lim Park on 1 September 2000, Speakers’ Corner is Singapore’s first and only outdoor venue where its citizens are permitted to give public speeches without the Public Entertainment License.

It is Singapore’s first and only designated outdoor venue where its citizens can give public speeches without having to apply for the Public Entertainment License. [23]

Hong Lim Park, a popular venue for political rallies and speeches during the 1950s and 1960s, was selected as the location of Speakers’ Corner in view of its proximity to the Central Business District and Chinatown, which are areas with a high concentration of people and activities. [24]

Figure 4.6 View of the stage with Parkroyal on Pickering Hotel in the background (Photo Credit: Laura Freeman)

The Site 101

clarke quay mrt

Entrance from Clarke Quay MRT Park

MRT Stations Occupied site

Figure 4.7 - Urban Form and Connections

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URBAN FORM & CONNECTIONS The rectilinear park is situated within the intersection of major roads, such as Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Pickering Street.

Next to the park, separated by Upper Pickering Street, is a high-rise hotel, Parkroyal on Pickering. The hotel overlooks the park such that the guests can view the happenings from their room.

The site remains to be one of the smaller green areas in the city.

Open Space

Residential

Sports and Recreation

Park

Commerical

Hotel

Civic/Religious Institution

Figure 4.8 - Surrounding Program (adapted from URA Master Plan 2014)

Urban Form & Connections 103

Footpaths

Roads

Figure 4.9 - Circulation to Site

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CIRCULATION TO SITE Access to the site is situated at the four corners of the park, with pedestrian traffic beside roads.

The park is also connected by a underground entrance to a nearby MRT at the north corner.

The stage and open area is within sight when one enters the park via the MRT entrance.

Figure 4.10 Entrance towards stage (Photo Credit: NParks)

Circulation To Site 105

Community Area

Parkroyal on Pickering Hotel

3

Stage Security Camera

Police Post

1 2

Clarke Quay MRT Entrance

Shophouses

Speak, Hear, Congregate

Figure 4.11 - Programmatic Analysis

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Express

Main entrances during PinkDotSG

PROGRAM A clear divide of public open program and semiprivate spaces for expressions can be seen at Hong Lim Park for this event: The open field in front of the stage is used for public gatherings where participants get to meet other like-minded individuals, sit and watch the speeches, performances and partake in mass activities such as waving their signs, lighting up their LED lights for a photograph.

Behind the stage is the Community Area, where booths are set up by various organisations with similar causes for participants to learn more about the stories and volunteer opportunities they can be a part of.

There are also places to write their messages of encouragement and food stalls for those who are hungry during the event.

Figure 4.12 - View towards the stage during PinkDotSG

Program 107

DESIGN STRATEGIES 1

VISUAL DISRUPTION

The bright pink shirts participants wore at the event broke from the typically green field at the site. Concerts and speeches are performed during the event.

Photo credit: Coconuts Singapore

2

HARD EDGES

Due to changes in rules regarding how foreigners are not allowed to be part of the domestic events, fences have been put up to separate the event zone and its surrounding areas.

Photo credit: Chin Chia Poor

3

COMMUNITY AREA

Set up behind the stage are tents where participants can learn about the various organisations involved in the cause to fight discrimination against LGBTs as well as food and drink stalls.

Photo credit: Yahoo News and Humanist Society Singapore

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Proposed Site

THE PADANG Civic District, Singapore

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HISTORY & NARRATIVE The Padang (Malay for ‘field’ was where the people of Singapore gathered to mark the end of the Japanese Occupation on 12 September 1945 and to witness the installation of Yusof bin Ishak as Singapore’s first Head of State and the unveiling of the State Flag, State Crest and National Anthem on 3 December 1959.[25] The Padang was also the site of the first National Day Parade of newly independent Singapore on 9 August 1966, and the heart of Singapore’s Golden Jubilee National Day Celebrations on 9 August 2015.

Home to the Singapore Cricket Club and Singapore Recreation Club since the 19th century, the Padang remains a popular social and recreational space.

Also surrounding the site are historic buildings and important landmarks such as the National Gallery (which occupies the former City and Supreme Court) and the Esplanade Park.

Current external uses of the site has always been top-down, planned by the government and other large organisations. For example, the Padang has been the site for the past few Formula One (F1) races, Car-Free Sunday (LTA) and Night to Light Festival (URA). [26] Thus, it will be interesting to see how activities by a bottom-up approach - a citizen grassroots movement can topple the status quo for the use of the field.

The site also forms part of the Civic District and the Jubilee Walk which highlights the importance of this landmark.

[25] The Padang - National Heritage Board

Figure 4.13 The Padang, with the Central Business District in the background.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons)

[26] Civic District: Our SG Heritage [online] https:// www.oursgheritage. sg/civic-district-linkingsingapores-past-with-ouraspirations-for-the-future/ (accessed on 23 April 2018)

History & Narrative 111

Figure 4.14 Scale comparison between Padang and Hong Lim Park (1:10,000)

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SITE COMPARISON PADANG VS HONG LIM PARK THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY PADANG IS A SUITABLE AREA: INCREASED SCALE As we discussed the need to incorporate new types of program for activism, a larger site area is needed for the continuity for space for new types of programs. The Padang is about 3 times larger than Hong Lim Park and is better able to accommodate the new spatial requirements.

INCREASED VISIBILITY & ACCESSIBILITY For a continued push to make activism causes known and welcome others to be a part of the activities, visibility and accessibility is key in order to provide more opportunities for people to encounter the site.

This can be determined by the increased number of vantage points available facing towards the Padang.

GREATER POTENTIAL FOR ACTIVATION OF SURROUNDING SPACES/PROGRAMS More open spaces, like the Esplanade Park are available to tapped for the expansion of activities In addition, the various cultural and social buildings, like the National Gallery, Singapore Cricket Club and Singapore Recreational Club that surround the Padang site can be connected to the proposed site.

HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The Padang is part of the Civic District, which is outlined by several colonial landmarks across the city. Many events took place at the field that formed an national identity. If there is a place that can bring about a new activist identity for Singaporeans, it is fitting for the field to be chosen.

Figure 4.15 View towards Padang (Photo Credit: William Cho)

Site Comparison 113

alk nw

ius

rad

i

5m

Entrance from underground walkway Park

MRT Stations

Site Boundary

Figure 4.16 - Urban form and connections

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VAST FIELD IN THE CITY The site is situated within the Civic District where various colonial landmarks mark the city.

Its rectilinear plot is surrounded by key buildings, Supreme Court, Raffles City, St Andrew’s Cathedral, National Gallery Singapore & Esplanade Park (which used to be Queen Elizabeth’s Walk) all within a five minute walking radius.

The Padang remains to be the largest open field in the city.

Open Space

Residential

Sports and Recreation

Park

Commerical

Hotel

Civic/Religious Institution

Figure 4.17 - Surrounding Program (adapted from URA Master Plan 2014)

Vast Field in the City 115

Footpaths

Roads

Figure 4.18 Circulation Comparison with Hong Lim Park

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PUBLIC SPACE & ACCESSIBILITY As mentioned in Chapter 4.3.1, The Padang is more accessible and is connected to more public spaces.

Figure 4.18 shows the increased number of path ways around Padang as compared to Hong Lim Park.

Pedestrians can access the site via pathways along roads from MRT stations,from Raffles City or from Anderson Bridge.

The path cutting through the Padang in the middle, splits the Padang into two, each belonging to the clubs that flank them. It also connects tourists to the National Gallery from the adjacent Esplanade Park.

In addition, the pathway remains a ‘no-mans land’ which could be the starting point for the new narrative for the Padang.

Figure 4.19 Pathway cutting through Padang (Photo by Author)

Public Space & Accessibility 117

Vantage Point (for Figure 4.14) High Rise Buildings

Figure 4.20 Location of Vantage Points

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Roads / Pathways

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VANTAGE POINTS The Padang can been seen from various vantage points around the city.

High rise buildings house potential target groups who can become voyeurs as happenings on the field pique their visual intrigue.

These buildings include offices in the Marina Central Business District area and hotels like the Swissotel and Marina Bay Sands.

As activism requires a high degree of visibility and accessibility, the high number of vantage points is favourable for effective outcomes.

Figure 4.21 Vantage Points (Axonometric)

Vantage Points 119

Esplanade Park

Singapore Cricket Club Supreme Court National Gallery St Andrew’s Cathedral

4 3

The Padang

2 Singapore Recreation Club

1

MRT nce Entra

Program Area

Extended Program

Figure 4.22 Programmatic Analysis

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Trees

ACTIVATION OF SURROUNDING PROGRAM Programs surroundings the site like Esplanade Park, National Gallery Singapore Cricket Club and Recreation Club can be activated for the expansion of activities, while Hong Lim Park does not have much public space for activities to spill over to.

Such areas include the space outside the National Gallery (along the steps), and Esplanade Park.

There is also opportunity to establish vertical connection with the existing underground walkways from City Hall MRT, shown in Figure 4.9 below.

Esplanade Park

The Padang

City Hall MRT

City Hall MRT

National Gallery

Underground Linkway

MRT Tunnel

Vantage Point (for Figure 4.22) Figure 4.23 Surrounding programs (with overlay of underground walkway and train network)

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SITE FEATURES 1

OPEN SPACE

The site is accessible and visible from all edges of the plot, with the city skyline in the background.

3

SINGLE PATHWAY

Also seen at the site is a pathway that currently cuts through the site separating two rectangular grass areas.

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2

FURNITURE

Portable furniture such as steps and fences can be seen at the site, meant for the use during sporting events.

4

SURVEILLANCE

Set up around the field are several CCTVs - similar to Hong Lim Park.

CAUSES FOR ACTIVISM

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Figure 4.24 to 4.26 Social Equality, Mobility and Identity

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SOCIAL EQUALITY, MOBILITY AND IDENTITY At a forum titled ‘Singapore’s Fourth Prime Minister: Aspirations and Expectations”, an open letter addressed to the 5th Prime Minister was narrated by a second-year undergraduate Tan Yang Long at Tembusu College at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The letter represented the student cohort from the college describing the three spheres of social causes or issues that they were concerned about - social equality, social mobility and social identity. It was then uploaded on Facebook on the same day, and well received by the public with 1,500 likes on the post. [25] The identification of the three broad causes allows for us to better tackle the corresponding issues.

ACTIVISM, ADVOCACY, LOBBYING & ADVISING As mentioned in Chapter 2, the thesis finds promise in pursuing a nonsilos method by situating a central home for the operations of activists and activist organisations as well as to effect dialogue amongst likeminded people.

Figure 4.27 shows how the three causes have differing spatial requirements. Each cause has varying ratio of public and private space requirement, in addition to the different nature of activities.

Moving forward, the design will take into consideration the abovementioned frameworks and the site context in order to present a suitable architectural solution for the new phase of activism.

[25] Yang Long T, (2018) A Letter to Our 4th Prime Minister [online] https://www. facebook.com/notes/tan-yanglong/a-letter-to-our-4th-primeminister/2057730451181986/ (accessed on 30 May 2018)

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SOCIAL EQUALITY

SOCIAL MOBILITY

SOCIAL IDENTITY

ADVOCACY

(CONFRONTATIONAL X EVIDENCE-BASED)

public x private

public x public

ADVISING

ACTIVISM

(COOPERATIVE X EVIDENCE-BASED)

(CONFRONTATIONAL X INTEREST-BASED) private x private

public x private

LOBBYING

(COOPERATIVE X INTEREST-BASED)

Figure 4.27 Spatial requirements for the three types of general social causes Figure 4.28 Possible spatial framework for activism spaces

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ACTIVIST ORGANISATIONS

A GOOD SPACE 2014 - Present

A Good Space is a community curated movement that aims to transform ordinary spaces into places of purpose. They bring together community catalysts to create innovative events, activities and projects that expand perspectives across a wide range of social issues.

The community is formed by Anthea Ong (social changemaker and founder of Hush Tea Bar) and Melissa Kwee (CEO of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre) who as friends came together to conspire A Good Space as a community-led efforts to invent, innovate, intersect and inspire communities.

Source: http://agoodspace.org/about-us

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HUMANIST SOCIETY 2010 - Present

The Humanist Society (Singapore) was formed in 2010 as a group of humanists, atheists, agnostics, skeptics and other like-minded people in Singapore. The society seeks to represent non-religious people in Singapore who pursue ethical and fulfilling lives. They are guided by reason, informed by evidence and driven by compassion.

Their events raise awareness of science, humanism and ethical living.

The society also gather for rational discussions and for finding friendship with like-minded people. They also hold workshops on humanism, ethics and science, and social events. Community service includes hot meals for the elderly and holding blood donation drives.

Source: https://humanist.org.sg/about/the-society/

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THE DESIGN CULTIVATION 2016 - Present

The Design Cultivation is a collective of youths exploring design as a medium for social change. They gather youths to share ideas and innovate solutions, through design and for the community.

The Design Cultivation (TDC): The Exhibition was held in 2017, showcasing booths related to design thinking, a creative mindset that focuses on empathising with people in the process of developing a solution, and the ideas of its 21 participants, which had been developed through a 2-month programme.

Source: https://www.thedesigncultivation.com/about/

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ONE (SINGAPORE) 2005 - Present

ONE (SINGAPORE) is dedicated to raising awareness and taking concrete actions to Make Poverty History and create The World We Want. They envision a just world where no one lives in poverty – be it overseas or here at home.

Programs that they work on include research and advocacy, public forums, education programmes in schools and award ceremonies to acknowledge the contributions to those who have helped make poverty history.

Source: http://onesingapore.org/who-we-are/about-us/

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