NUS | BA.Arch Year 2 Semester 2 - Community Circle

PORTFOLIO Y2S2 LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN TUTOR LOOI CHEE KIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

(e) lowgavin93@gmail.com (m) +65 9151 9573

PORTFOLIO CONTENT

01 SITE ANALYSIS

02 DESIGN EXPLORATION: COMMUNITY CIRCLE

03 STRUCTURE & TECTONICS

04 SNAPSHOT OF SEMESTER

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

SITE ANALYSIS BEACH ROAD

01 A unique demographic exists in the site - a mix of locals and blue collar Thai migrant workers.

With Golden Mile Complex just across the road, a prominent Thai Hub, the site invites a significant flow of the Thai community into its communal areas looking a place to gather and to drink.

Since 1973, with the stretch of Beach Road in front of the complex serving as a terminal for coaches operating the Singapore-Haadyai (Southern Thailand) route, the Thai community had only increased with time. However, till today, the Thai community has yet been acknowledge as part of the community in Beach road, instead they were being ostracized, shunned and excluded. One of the many ways to keep them out were the placement of cisco officers in the neighborhood.

With the existence of the Thai population, it creates a interesting social phenomena. The social phenomena and relationship between the locals and Thais were studied in the site analysis

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

Predominant movement patterns by the locals.

The locals generally gathers and moves about the communal spots.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

Predominant movement patterns by the Thai migrant workers.

The Thai mostly comes from a bus station that lies along North Bridge Road, and crosses the site to Golden Mile Complex. A Thai enclave sprout along that path within the HDB estate.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

A natural state for the locals.

A mapping of the locals and Thais social pattern on a weekday morning is defined as a ‘natural state’ for locals as this is the natural pattern of how the locals uses the space with a minimum Thai community around.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

Influx of Thai migrant workers in the evening.

A mapping of a weekday evening shows an increase of Thai activities. The Thai activities can be observed to be displacing some of the locals activities.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

Proliferation of Thai activities = Displacement of locals The displacement pattern becomes more apparent on a weekend morning when the Thai migrant workers get their days off. Due to their large numbers, the presence of the Thai community become too dominant and uncomfortable for the locals - forcing them out from their ‘natural state’.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

A natural state for the Thai migrant workers.

This mapping was completed base on the recount of the residents of Beach road, on how it was previously on a weekend. The Thai migrant workers proliferate within the neighborhood. The Thai community displaces most locals’ activities. They come mostly in big groups with food and drinks. Feeling of tension and unease could be felt on ground due to the displacement. This is defined as the natural state for the Thai community.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

An anomaly An anomaly and interesting social phenomena could be observed on a weekend evening. Contrary to what was previously define as a natural state for the locals and what was a natural state for the Thai, the mapping on a weekend evening shows otherwise. In this mapping, the Thai and locals could be observed to have their own zones - not displacing one from the other. The locals occupy the interiors and the Thai occupying the exterior. It is seemingly peaceful just base on the mapping.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

The anomaly is a result of a ‘controlled state’ - Cisco Officers The anomaly is a result of a social intervention. Cisco officers were dispatched in the vicinity to prevent any form of overlap of activities between the locals and Thais. The duty of the Cisco officers were to prevent any Thai from loitering in the voidecks of the HDB estate creating a local exclusive zone in the interior, effectively forcing the Thais outwards. The mapping done on a weekend evening is a result of a ‘controlled state’. While the mapping suggest a calm and peaceful atmosphere, ironically there were more tension due to the cisco officers that were stationed there - dressed in a bright green vest in groups of 3 to 4.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SITE ANALYSIS

Conclusion As a conclusion for the site analysis, the relationship of the Thai and local is akin to the relationship of oil and water whereby one constantly displaces the other and they don’t meet. What is different is that what separates oil and water is their natural properties whereas in the case of the locals and Thai, it is the placement of cisco officers that stomp them apart in a forceful and brute manner. As a result of the cisco officers there is no possibility of the local and Thai mixing together. In addition, contrary to what the cisco officers were there for, it is instead creating more tension in the community. On hindsight, take a look when oil and water mixes together – it is beautiful. Similarly – if we allow or create possibility for the locals and Thai to mix it can be too.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

DESIGN EXPLORATION COMMUNITY CIRCLE

02 The brief is to design a community museum at a chosen site within the Beach Road Public Housing precinct.

What is a community museum? At the most basic level, it could be understood as an architecture that facilitates or even catalyzes the production and consumption of community art, an architecture that is deeply embedded within the social fabric and spatial structures of the community.

The primary spaces of producing community art include formal spaces such as the apartment and studio for the artist-in-residence and the workshop that he or she collaborates with the community.

They also include informal or unprogrammed spaces like those that draw the community to the museum and allow the artist to engage with the community. The spaces of consuming community art are those for exhibiting and discussing community art, such as the gallery and seminar room.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

POSITIONING COMMUNITY MUSEUM COMMUNITY CIRCLE

DESIGN PROCESS COMMUNITY CIRCLE COMMUNITY CIRCLE DESIGN INTENTION Design Intention

before

The community museum will replace the need for the cisco officers. Instead of an intrusive, forceful intervention and separation that alters the natural social pattern. The community museum explores 1 Predom possibility for a meaningful overlap and opportunity for the two community to mix.

2 Path th

cisco officer

3 Interven

4 Circula

5 Intentio

design intervention

6 Space o experience

7 Suppor

8 Size of community museum

9 Frame /unintentio

design concept

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

experience.

design intervention

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

DESIGN PROCESS

7 Supporting activities to the galleries were added.

8 Size of circle determined by function. community DESIGN PROCESS COMMUNITY CIRCLE museum

1 Predominant movement by local and Thai 1 Predominant movement by local and thai 2 Path that contains the most overlap and intersection between the two communities

9 Frame structure expands the path (2metres) to a space 9 Frame structure expands the path (2metres) to a space-(8me (8metres).

Allow for accidental /unintentional encounter /unintentional encounter - increased possibility increased possibility

2 Path that contains the most overlap and intersection between the two communities

design concept

“

3 Intervention along path.

3 Intervention along path.

The Thai migrant workers and local residence exist like a oil-water Circular communal asgalleries. galleries.

4 Circular communal nodesare aremanifold manifold as relationship where one constantly4 repel the other nodes 5 Intentional overlap with existing communal nodes.

5 Intentional overlap communal nodes.

The community museum explores possibilities for with theexisting two commu6 Double volume spaces overlaps onto path. These nities to meet and co-exist without the need ofgallery the ciso officers.

6 Space path. These spaces allowin theatwo communities to partake in a same spaces allowoverlaps the twoonto communities to partake same experience. experience.

The community museum seek to incubate/negotiate the relationship between the two

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7 Supporting activitiestotothe thegalleries galleries were were added.

7 Supporting activities added.

8 Size of circle determined 8 Size of circle determinedbybyfunction. function.

10 Museum spaces created by columns maintainexistexisting m 10 Museum spaces created by columns totomaintain ing movement and sight patterns

11 Due to high porosity created by using all columns, the spac

11 tween Due to created by using all columns, thehigh path porosity and the spaces providing no contrast - part wall the space was too homogeneous between the path and taken instead the spaces providing no contrast - part wall part columns approach was taken instead

12 Walls were used to encourage and channel a multi directio

12 Walls were used to encourage and channel a multi direction flow within the space,

13 With the use of wall the original visual porosity of the site wa the structural as a remedy, direct With the use frame of wallwas theelaborated, original visual porositytoof the the

13 site was inevitably affected. Hence, the structural frame was elaborated, as a remedy, to direct the users to their destination.

9 Frame structure expands the path (2metres) to a space (8metres). Allow for accidental /unintentional encounter - increased possibility

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

PARTII

1 Cylindrical spaces overlaps with existing paths 2

3

1

2 Visual scope between location A and B is unobstructed and maintained 3 The users will unknowingly walk into the cylindrical spaces (galleries)

4

5

4 The framed structure will blur the boundaries between the path and the cylindrical spaces 5 Essentially three elements that creates the architecture (1) the existing path (2) the framed structure (3) the cylindrical gallery spaces

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE FRAMING THE COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITY CIRCLE SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE S:1/50

SITE PLAN

MAINFOLD THE CIRCULAR COMMUNAL NODES SITE PLAN 1:500

ROOF GARDEN: GALLERY EVENT SPACE

EXISTING PLAYGROUND + GALLERY SPACE

GALLERY SPACE

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN GSEducationalVersion

FLOOR PLANS

COMMUNITY CIRCLE GROUND STOREY PLAN 1:100

SECOND STOREY PLAN (+1) 1:200

ROOF GARDEN STOREY PLAN (+2) 1:200

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10

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8 7

3

2

1

4

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5 6 8

10

3

9

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5

7 2 1

A

A

12 13 14

15 16

17 18

ARTIST STUDIO

2

10

12

9

8

4 5 6 7

11

3

A

GALLERY SPACE

1

18 17 16 15 14 13

MULTI PURPOSE ROOM

OFFICES 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9

8 7

6 5 4 3

2

1

GALLERY SPACE GALLERY EVENT SPACE (ROOF GARDEN)

STORAGE 1

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18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8

1

2

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MEETING ROOMS

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5 6

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10 11 12

8 9

15 16 17 18

WORKSH OP SPACE

WASHROOM A

A

THIRD STOREY PLAN (+3) 1:200

ROOF LEVEL PLAN (+4) 1:200

EXISTING SITTING AREA + GALLERY SPACE

LOBBY & TICKETING

ARTIST APARTMENT

1

5 4 3 2

1

5 4 3 2

A

A

EXISTING PLAYGROUND + GALLERY SPACE

GALLERY SPACE

GALLERY SPACE MUSEUM SHOP

A

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN A

A

GSEducationalVersion

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

SECTION

MULTIPLE VOLUMES INTERPERSE & OVERLAPS WITH EXISTING PATH SECTION AA (1:100)

EXISTING SITTING AREA + GALLERY SPACE

EXISTING PLAYGROUND + GALLERY SPACE

MUSEUM SHOP

WORKSHOP SPACE LOBBY + TICKETING

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN GSEducationalVersion

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

PHYSICAL MODEL

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

PHYSICAL MODEL

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

STRUCTURE & TECTONICS COMMUNITY CIRCLE

03 This was an opportunity to extend, elaborate and translate the cardboard model into a structural and constructional model that captures the tectonics of the design and shape`es the intimate bodily experiences of the proposed architecture.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

COMMUNITY CIRCLE curtain wall as building skin.

STRUCTURE AND TECTONICS

ring beam designed with an additional circular beam for skylight

inner parapet to support the skylight 500mm

structural concrete slab stainless steel coupling system secured to the ceiling 15mm groove to allow for the glass roof to sit on silicon seal to cover the gap between the frame and glass roof installed with a a 3 degree slant

glass panel stainless steel suspended rod =50 steel frame with bolt holes

steel hollow section 100x100 cast insitu concrete

6 sided joint bolting the structural frame together stailess steel railing bolted onto suspended rod = 100x60

rollers Walls on upper levels overlaps with walls on lower layer to allow for transfer of load.

ring beam depth is determined by cantilever length. 1/10 cantilever length

frame for artwork

A

AXONOMETRIC OF STRUCTURE S: 1/100

B

6-SIDED JOINT FOR STEEL STRUCTURAL FRAME S: 1/100

C

COUPLING SYSTEM FOR HANGING OF ARTWORK S: 1/10

GSEducationalVersion

cylindrical skylight thickness=5 width=500

coupling system for hanging of artwork rail width= 30 rail depth=150 suspended rod diameter = 20 suspended rod length = varies

cast insitu reinforced concrete liner for skylight width = 50

propose artwork location

COMMUNITY CIRCLE SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 1 : 25 curtain wall mullion spacing=500 mullion cross section=100x100 glass panels=3000x400

six-sided joint for steel frame structure

steel structural system cross section = 200x200

radial beam embedded in slab depth = 1/10 length of slab

roof slab = 380mm gravel finish=30 rainproof membrane=5 insulation=120 vapour barrier membrane=5 reinforced concrete=200 plaster gypsium=20

concrete column to support floor slab diameter=300

ROOF GARDEN: EVENT SPACE

MEETING ROOMS

GALLERY SPACE EXISTING PLAYGROUND + GALLERY SPACE cast insitu structural concrete wall = 300 plaster gysium finish=50 concrete=250

MUSEUM SHOP concrete floor insulated with 10mm tile = 300mm tile finish=10 concrete=50 insulation=30 reinforced concrete=200 plaster gypsium=10

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN GSEducationalVersion

COMMUNITY CIRCLE

DESIGN VISION

The Community Circle will replace the role of the cisco officer. It explores opportunities for a natural overlap of the two communities and create a possibility for the two to co-exist in the same space to partake in the same experience. The Community Circle is envisioned to be an incubator for a harmonious relationship between the locals and Thais – to allow the community to see the beauty in the diversity.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

SNAPSHOT YEAR 2, SEMESTER 2

04 As a rites of passage after every semester, to celebrate the challenge undertaken and the growth throughout this period. Thankful for all the advices given by my tutors along the way.

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

SNAPSHOT

YEAR 2, SEMESTER 2 DESIGN INTERIM 2 With Looi Chee Kin (Tutor), Esther Wong (Tutor), Ming Guang (Guest Panel)

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN

SNAPSHOT

YEAR 2, SEMESTER 2 DESIGN FINAL CRITIQUE With Looi Chee Kin (Tutor), Gyn Kong (Tutor), Ming Guang (Guest Panel)

COMMUNITY CIRCLE | LOOI CHEE KIN, Y2S2 | LOW BENG WEE, GAVIN