IAN SOON ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO 2017-2021
SELECTED WORKS ACADEMIC
01
NEW OPERAISM
[p.04]
Cyborg Ecologies For The Post-Anthropocene
02
FRACTURED COHERENCE
[p.16]
High Density Urban Housing In Singapore
03
URBAN PUNCTURES
[p.24]
Multiagent Approach To Temporal And Punctual Redevelopment Of Urban Villages In China
04
FOUNDERS’ MEMORIAL
[p.30]
A Memorial For Singapore’s Founding Generation
05
SPORTSHOUSE
[p.34]
Sports Complex In A Shophouse
OTHERS/INTERNSHIP
06
CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE
[p.38]
iLight Singapore 2019 Bicentennial Edition
07
NEW FRONTIERS FOR MODULAR LIVING
[p.42]
Internship, DP Architects, Singapore
08
FUORISALONE MILAN
[p.44]
Internship, Balmond Studio, Colombo
09
COLLECTIVE MEMORY iLight Singapore 2021
[p.46]
01 M.Arch Thesis
NEW OPERAISM CYBORG ECOLOGIES FOR THE POST-ANTHROPOCENE SUTD M.Arch Thesis | Landscape Urbanism | 2020 | Site: Gulf Of Thailand Advisors: Eva Castro & Federico Ruberto
Awards
Accelerate The City Competition by Bubble Futures | Honourable Mention Superimpose Competition by Hybrid Futures (2021) | Editor’s Choice
Transboundary E-Waste
Drowning Waste Infrastrucutres
Exploited Workers
SOUTHEAST ASIA’S ANTHROPOCENTRIC THREAT New Operaism explores new ways that humans can operate within the deepening Anthropocene, challenging the ontological positions that take for granted a benevolent nature. Acknowledging that climate change is unstoppable, the project postulates a new form of living that adapts to the changing environment and embraces an aquatic future. Southeast Asia is the main focus of the project as e-waste is frequently mislabeled as scrap and exported to countries within the region to be processed by informal, low-wage labourers.
Freedom is a synthetic enterprise, not a natural gift.” -Alex Williams, Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work
Examining Global Transboundary Waste Flows 6
Landfills In Relation To Sea Level Rise
Landfills And Agriculture
Redefining The Exploited: A Hyperstitional Approach
THE WORLD’S FASTEST GROWING WASTE STREAM Focusing on electronic waste as the central problem and main material driver of the project, the project examines the flows of e-waste and its undesirable impacts of vulnerable communities in Southeast Asia. Given the vulnerability of Southeast Asia’s coastal waste infrastructures, the project attempts to transform a drowning landfill at the mercy of climate change into a thriving post-material community.
Coastal Waste Infrastructures In Southeast Asia 7
PROTOTYPING CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURES Examining the constituents of electronic waste, a material logic was developed to turn discarded e-waste into building materials and energy systems, laying the foundation of a new mode of habitation. Occupying the landfill, the unsortable waste material is extracted and processed by plasma gasification, converting the waste into plasmarock to be mixed with recycled constituents of transboundary e-waste.
Semi Automated Aquaculture Node On The Periphery Of City 8
MESHING THE GROUNDS The infrastructures around the landfill are organized based on the topology of the site. STORAGE
FURNACE CIRCULATION
SILOS
SORTING
HABITATION
AQUACULTURE
A Cyber E-Waste City In Constant Flux 9
PLASMA GASIFICATION The project leverages on existing technology such as plasma gasification to speculate on new spatial paradigms. Through this process, Plasma Rock is generated along with other precious rare-earth metals if e-waste is added, resulting in a chemically inert and non-toxic material.
HOISTING CRANE
TURBINE/ DESALINATION
WASTE/WATER CHUTES
FURNACE STACK
AEROPONICS
HYBRID INFRASTRUCTURES A hybrid tower was designed to take advantage of the gravitational logic of waste chutes. By stacking the plasma furnaces in a vertical configuration, the outputs of the furnaces were used to generate energy for the production activities, such as water desalination and aeroponics. AEROPONICS AGGREGATION
10
RULE BASED AGGREGATION Adhering to specific rules, the modules are aggregated to allow for different urban qualities to emerge. The rule-based logic allows for the city to be built up in phases, ensuring a time-based aggregation that is responsive to various urban logics. The aggregation comprises of a kit of parts of three main types of modules, mainly the living pods, the corridor modules for horizontal circulation and the stairs modules for vertical circulation.
STAIRS
CORRIDOR
LIVING POD
11
CYBORG ECOLOGIES Through a process of continuous invention and hybridisation of our natural and synthetic systems, we could be truly able to organise our desires and aspirations into radically new forms of living together in the post-anthropocene.
Section Through City:
From Landfill To A Thriving Post Material Aquatic Community
12
13
Physical Models 1:250
14
16
02
FRACTURED COHERENCE HIGH DENSITY URBAN HOUSING Core Studio 3 | Public Housing | 2018 Instructor: Trevor Patt Site: Singapore
Fractured Coherence aims to stitch seemingly disparate elements from a complex urban housing environment in a coherent manner, promoting social cohesion. By using a bottom-up approach, various architectural systems are synthesized to form a cogent housing system that can be adapted to varying scales across the 7.5 ha site in Punggol Central. This project explores the usage of the fracture as an architectural tool to organise the various themes of the project such as connectivity, enclosure, program, circulation and privacy into a coherent living system.
17
MAPPING THE INVISIBLE: EMERGENT FIELD CONDITIONS
18
SYNTHESIZING NEW NETWORKS The existing pedestrian paths surrounding the site were mapped. By predefining the location of specific entry points into the site, a network of paths was generated by controlling parameters such as the number of arms (branches) in each node and the variable angle of each branch. Secondary and tertiary networks were also generated and subsequently used in the project to organize spaces around the circulation paths, fracturing the site yet increasing its connectivity across the three plots.
Highest Connectivity Extent of Connectivity
Tree Depth = 4 Max Arms = 4 Random Connection per Line Direction of Vectors = random
Delaunay Connectivity Layer 2 Layer 1 Original Network
19
20
FRACTURING THE GROUNDS
7
7
6
5
4 4
Existing site pathways open and unshaded
4
Generate new network of paths of shorter segments
Ground plane fractured to create a sunken plaza, distilling the crowd from the underground MRT station
9 8
4
2nd Storey Community Deck Plan Legend 1. Bicycle Parking 2. Playground 3. Fractured Pond 4. Retail 5. Badminton Court 6. Fitness Corner 7. Food Centre 8. Pre-School/ Childcare 9. Activity Plaza
Massing extruded according to new paths
Based on solar analysis, the external surface of the building was fractured to create more overhangs on the exterior.
Left images: Fractured ground plane opening up connectivity to the adjacent transit interchanges
21
STITCHING THE FRACTURES The residential units were fractured by a series of negative spaces throughout the entire level, serving as a stitch to knot neighbouring units together. Residents can enter their units in privacy and emerge from their service areas, interacting with their neighbours through the corridor. Sharp angles helped to maintain a sense of privacy among residents, while promoting social interaction through the corridors.
Typical Level Plan
22
Unit Sizes in square meters S = 65 2A = 100 2B = 90 3A = 125 3B = 115 3G = 130
Partial Unit Model
Interaction between residents at their 'back-of-house'
THE CORRIDOR REIMAGINED: ACTIVATING A DEAD SPACE Instead of being limited to a purely transitory role, the corridors at the residential level were explored as a tool for social interaction. The service areas of each unit were arranged to partially adjoin with the neighbouring units, allowing residents to strike conversations at the traditionally construed 'back-of-house'. These pockets of small activity are aligned to the detached corridor space, creating a lively 'streetscape' in the sky.
Duplex Apartment Plans
Studio Plan
The Corridor As A Space For Social Interaction
2 - Bedroom Apartment Plan
3 - Bedroom Apartment Plan
A Lively 'Streetscape' In The Sky
23
03
URBAN PUNCTURES TIME BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR URBAN VILLAGES IN CHINA Option Studio 2 | Urban Dynamics | 2019 Instructor: Trevor Patt Site: Xiaozhou Village, Guangzhou
The project launches from two points of departure: the near-constant transformation of the urban village through direct intervention and bottomup processes; and the possibilities opened up for the design process to also develop dynamically through agent-based modelling. The goal of the project was to produce punctual interventions (meant in both the spatial sense, inserted as points in a network, as well as a temporal ones, programmatically tuned to moments in time) that support new potentials or new ways of conceiving the organization of the village. The project attempts to create a secondary layer of circulation to the village, and in the process inject light into the dimly lit narrow alleyways through light wells.
26
Secondary Network Emerges From The Village
CHINA’S RAPID URBANIZATION Due to rapid urbanization, China’s formerly rural villages are swallowed up by the growth of their adjacent megalopoleis
AGENT BASED MODELING FOR INFORMAL URBAN CONTEXTS Originating from rural villages, the resultant morphology of the urban village hints an interesting discrepancy between top-down policy and its informal understanding and implementation by the individual actors or organizations in the village.
In this project, the agents embody the logic of seeking out the large roof areas for the potential of creating common social spaces, whilst searching for the darkest alleys on the ground plane. By projecting a path between the two datums, a secondary layer of circulation and play scape is added to the village.
[Above] Agents Seeking A Path From Ground To Roof
27
EMERGENT NETWORKS Instead of a single, global diagram, the agents follow individual logics that are embedded in the flow of time
[Red] Connection Between The Roof And Ground Plane To Add Additional Circulation Layer To The Urban Village
[Yellow] Light Well To Puncture Narrow And Darkest Alleys Identified By Agents
[Green] Large Roofs Identified By Agents Will Develop Into Social Spaces Over Time
28
Light Well Interface With Secondary Circulation
Embedding Circulation Through The Facade Of The Buildings Within The Light Well
POINT LIGHTWELL
市广场 MARKET SQUARE
FACADE LIGHTWELL
城中绿洲 URBAN OASIS
29
30
04
FOUNDERS’ MEMORIAL PROJECTING THE IDEALS OF SINGAPORE’S FOUNDING GENERATION INTO THE FUTURE Core Studio 1 | Architecture | 2017 Instructor: Erwin Viray Site: Singapore
The Founders’ Memorial aims to offers visitors an opportunity to experience the different qualities of water through an immersive experience, and explore the vital role of water in shaping Singapore’s history. Situated in Bay East Gardens, the site offers panoramic views of the cityscape emblematic of the modern Singapore. Streams of water were interwoven across the site, gradually leading to the entrance of the underwater pavilion, enabling visitors to traverse through and emerge on the roof deck and be greeted by a view of the Singapore skyline once again.
Streams Eventually Culminate Into A Waterscape Feature At The Entrance Of The Submerged Pavilion
CHASING STREAMS Pondering Over The Source Of The Water
The site plan was conceived through a series of nodes, ensuring that the site remains continuously engaging to its visitors. From the visitors' arrival and drop-off point on the eastern end of the Gardens, water channels which traverse the entire site were created in the hopes of inciting curiosity amongst the visitors, allowing them to speculate where the water will lead them to. Pathways run alongside the streams of water, intersecting at predetermined nodes across the site. By following the streams of water, visitors will meander across the Gardens. Eventually, these streams will culminate into a larger water body and a fountain in a central piazza, denoting the entrance to the underwater pavilion.
32
Entrance Of The Submerged Pavilion
Underwater Rain Room
Immerse
CHANGING TIDES WITH CHANGING TIMES
At normal tide, the water level is tangent to the surface of the platform
When the tide rises, users can feel the ebb and flow of the water beneath their feets, leaving only the higher parts of the platform dry
Pavilion Model
Site Plan Depicting The Interweaving Streams
33
05
SPORTSHOUSE SPORTS COMPLEX IN A SHOPHOUSE
Core Studio 1 | Architecture | 2017 Instructor: Erwin Viray Site: Singapore
The project seeks to replace the existing Eng Choon Hway Kuan building on 105 Amoy Street, with a small neighbourhood recreation centre by responding sensitively to the negative space within and without. Sportshouse compacts a badminton hall, two squash courts and a bowling alley into the constraints of the long and narrow space of the shophouse. The proposed intervention seeks to utilize staircases as spectator stands, overlooking into the positive spaces of activity.
35
BALANCING NEGATIVE SPACES The sports programmes are layered to give ample negative spaces between each programme, enabling the placement of stairs for vertical circulation. The changing rooms are located on the ground floor, allowing users to prepare before heading up to engage in the various sports activities. As the biggest volume, the multi-purpose hall was placed at the top of the facility, freeing up the middle layer of the shophouse for smaller programmes such as the squash courts.
Multi-Purpose Hall
Squash Courts
Changing Rooms
Vertical Circulation
Spectator Stands
Bowling
Section Through 105 Amoy Street
63
Stairs Overlooking Squash Court
STAIRS: SPECTATOR + CIRCULATION Due to the spatial constraints of the long and narrow shophouse, staircases were used as both circulatory spaces as well as spectator stands, stitching the sports programmes together.
MPH
Squash 2 Changing Room
Squash 1
Bowling
Basement Bowling Alley
L1 Lobby Changing Rooms Squash
L3 Multi-Purpose Hall Cafe
37 37
06
CONSTRUCTIVE INTERFERENCE iLIGHT SINGAPORE BICENTENNIAL 2019
Urban Lighting Installation | 2019 iLight Merit Award | Singapore River
Constructive Interference aims to bridge people together through the use of light and matter. Moments of unpredictability in human interactions are captured on both ends of the artwork, manifesting itself into an array of light and colours that converges towards the middle in a wavelike form. Spanning 15 metres across North Boat Quay, its unique manipulation of light translates the imperceptible kinetic energy of its users into a discernible physical manifestation, one that amplifies or diminishes depending on the actions of its users. Its dynamic structure and its ever-changing form are a testament to Singapore’s boom and bust.
Team: Fadhilah Nordin, Hendriko Teguh, Michelle Gouw, Tan Zhiwei
39
SINGAPORE’S BICENTENNIAL: BRIDGES OF TIME
As part of the Bicentennial theme "Bridges of Time", the installation explores how the intangible actions of individuals can result in a tangible manifestation in the form of lights, as a metaphor for the unquantifiable efforts behind the collective nation building of modern Singapore.
Interactions between a user at one end with another user at the other promotes a collaborative effort.
The interactions send out controlled colours along the length of the installation.
Depending on the actions of the users, different colours will emerge from both ends of the installation, converging towards the middle in a wavelike fashion.
40
2400mm
Angle Bracket 80x80
40mm
Polycarbonate tube 25x25
2320mm
40mm
2400m
T-Slot Aluminium extrusion 40x40
2000mm
300mm 600mm
WS2812b Led Strip with adhesive
2952mm 15000mm
Frame blow up
Diffusion lines T-Slot Aluminium Extrusion 40x40
2400mm
2400mm 0
40mm
Diffusion lines
133mm
15000mm
Scale 1:75
41
07
NEW FRONTIERS FOR MODULAR LIVING INTERNSHIP DP Architects | 2019 - 2020
As part of DP Architects’ ongoing research on prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction(PPVC), a research project was developed to push the boundaries of modular construction in Singapore.
Existing Unit Studies And Tower Configurations
Concept diagrams and drawings for the hypothetical research project were developed to reexamine the purmutations of prefabrication projects in Singapore. Such a project redefines the part-to-whole relationship of modular residential construction.
Various Construction Data Visualisation Such As PPVC HYPOTHETICAL PLAN Change In Unit Sizes, Configuration And Tower Layout
RESIDENTIAL TYPOLOGY|
42
TATION
NTIAL TY
Mould To Module Map
43
08
FUORISALONE MILAN INTERNSHIP Balmond Studio | Colombo | 2018 Competition | Client: Cartier
The brief was to design a temporary pavilion and an experiential exhibition space to showcase Cartier’s brand identity for the Milan Design Week on the neoclassical Arco Della Pace. Using NURBs modelling, an abstract geometry was developed into a leaping form, focusing on evoking the spirit of the panther, resulting in a pavilion seemingly floating above the plaza. The exhibition and pavilion concept is about the juxtaposition of energies. The former representing the concentration of energy and the panther’s intelligence, the latter the release of energy reflecting the animal’s kinetic qualities.
44
45
09
COLLECTIVE MEMORY iLIGHT SINGAPORE 2021
Urban Lighting Installation | 2021 Shortlisted | Site: Marina Bay
The installation explores the evolving significance of the CD through the information age - a common data storage product that is becoming increasingly obsolete with the inception of new technology. Utilizing recycled CDs as the main material, each CD is interwoven with others and transformed into a shimmering landscape across the breeze shelters. With each disk containing its own memory, they swarm and amplify into a collective whole, playing host to the creation of a novel spatial experience for new memories to be forged. The landscape of disks gradually lifts off the ground, peeling upwards into a pavilion, with its periodic surface representing the cyclic nature of time and material.
Team: Michelle Gouw, Tan Zhi Wei, Muhammad Syahid Bin Mustapa
46
47
Pavilion Spaces
48
THE TECHNOLOGICAL “OBSOLETE”
The installation seeks to examine the potential for “obsolete” technology to be upcycled into new objects and spatial experiences, a pressing agenda to address in the burgeoning information age, where the lifespan of our devices are shortened.
THE SITE - BREEZE SHELTERS
5mm Tension Cables
The main goal was to enhance the area of the Marina Bay breeze shelters, and complement the radial geometry of the existing structures.
The flat plane is pulled upwards by tension cables attaching to the breeze shelters.
A pavilion is created, allowing people to approach the installation as a gathering point. Benches will be placed along the installation.
Exhibition Space
49
Ian Soon | Selected Works | 2017-2021 Architecture & Sustainable Design