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CONTENTS 5
Profile
Professional Works 6
Changzhou Mixed Use Development
12
Meijing Longtang
16
Tianjin Suning
18
Nanjing High-End Resi
Students Works 22
Weaving a (gigantic) Park in Singapore
28
Living in nature: Suburb Housing in Prague
32
Farm-Land-Scape: GK Farming Community Masterplan
34
Bamboo Place: The Farming Livelihood Centre
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|Bridge| A Traditional Chinese Medical Hall
42
Open Theater: Chinese String Puppet Theater
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Trash Beauty: Artist’s Housing at Dempsey
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Measured Drawing of Shophouse
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Seletar Recycled Art Centre
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PROFILE Keh Ni was born in Johor, Malaysia. She has been residing in Singapore since 2006, she graduated from National University of Singapore in May 2011 with Master of Architecture (MArch). In school, her interest lies on finding design solution to improve lives in the community. Her thesis project envisioning a park network that does not only change the Singapore landscape but also the dayto-day lives of people. During the course of study, she valued the opportunities given by the university that allow her to explore out of the familiar environment. In the first semester of year 4, she took part in the student exchange programme (SEP) and spent a semester in Prague, Czech Republic. Besides, she participated in the urban study workshop and community design workshop held in Kuching and Manila respectively. She joined DP architects soon after her graduation for a wider exposure of the industry. Presently, she is part of the design team working on a wide range of China projects. She travelled to China a couple of times for business. In the past two years, she has played different roles in the team in completing various design projects. She has design experiences in hotel, office, mall, residential from concept to design development stage.
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CHANGZHOU MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT 常州经济综合体
Project type Mixed use development (Retail, Office, Hotel & Residential) Location Changzhou, Jiangsu, China Area 1,270,493 sqm Client Yurun Group Project stage Conceptual to Design Development
The mix-used development consists of a retail podium, a landmark hotel/office tower, SOHO towers, residential towers above the retail podium. The retail podium contains a bus terminal, a bridge connecting two plots over a river which cuts across the site, multiple storey carparks and an indoor themepark. The project lasted for a year, I was involved in the design of the hotel/office tower, the podium facade, basements from conceptual to design development stage.
Top Overall Perspective Above Retail podium facade
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Front Elevation
Rear Elevation
Above Facade study
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13F
14F
15F
16F-26F
27F
28F
Top The landmark tower comprises offices from 8th to 30th floor and hotel from 31th to 39th floor. The top floor is a hotel sky lobby. Opposite Tower floor plans
29F
42F
31F-39F
40F
ROOFTOP
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MEIJING LONGTANG 美景龙塘
Project type Mixed use development (Retail & Residential) Location Zhengzhou, Henan, China Area 69,528 sqm Client Zhengzhou Meijing Group Project stage Conceptual to Schematic Stage
The initial design brief calls for a 3-storey commercial podium below the residential towers. As more commercial gfa were allowed for the residential site, it was converted to a mid-sized shopping mall. The podium massing expanded to fully occupy the site and rises to 5-storey high. In the design of the mall, strategies were considered to take advantage of the river view for commercial activities such as alfresco dining and street shopping. I was involved from the initial stage of design and attended client’s meeting several times in Zhengzhou, China.
Top The massing is punched through by a central courtyard. It creates a visual link out of the mall directly to the riverside. Above Outdoor shopping street is created alongside the river. Above, terraces are extended out to embrace the river view
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Top Moire pattern study Above View of the corner entrance Opposite Top Floor Plans Opposite Bottom Section
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TIANJIN SUNING 天津苏宁商场
Project type Mixed use development (Retail & Office) Location Tianjin, China Area 170,593 sqm Client Suning Group Project stage Conceptual to Schematic Stage
The design brief calls for a mixed use development on the Heping Road, the famous pedestrian shopping street in Tianjin. The city planning regulations requires the new building to follow classical western architectural style to preserve the historical identity of the city, also, they do not encourage the use of curtain wall hence the typical glass building. The elevation design is strictly defined in modules by the dividing ‘pilasters’. The towers are symmetrical to each other. The height of the frontage and the division of façade modules were taken into consideration in integrating the historical bookstore on the site into the design.
Top Front Elevation Above Entrance to commercial podium from the pedestrian street
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NANJING HIGH-END RESI 南京高端住宅
Project type Residential development Location Nanjing, China Area - sqm Client Yurun Group Project stage Conceptual Stage
The design brief calls for a ‘super high end’ residential development in Nanjing, the standard of which to be on par with the high end condos in Singapore, as suggested by the client, such as The Marq. Two main strategies were adopted to develop such ‘villa in the sky’ unit—1) duplex unit 2) single storey unit. By interlocking units of two consecutive floors, both of the schemes achieves high ceiling living room, a lap swimming pool fronting the living room and double volume sky garden in every unit.
Top Diagram showing how two duplex units interlocking with each other to achieve a double storey sky garden at the master bedroom (Above Right) Middle Sectional perspective to a typical duplex unit Above Left Unit upper & lower floor plan
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Top Diagram showing how two units interlocking with each other to achieve double storey living room and sky garden Middle Lap pool view Above Unit floor plan
Top Right Summer view Bottom Right Winter view. Pools are closed off from outdoor weather
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Weaving a (gigantic) Park in Singapore The Urban Future of Park Connector Network
Year 2011 Type Thesis (MArch) Tutor Mr Khoo Beng Peng Location Singapore Program Masterplan
The thesis seeks to extend the existing park connectors into a network that connects green patches on the island into one gigantic park, so to transform the urbanscape from one dominated by cars, to one promotes walkability, cyclability and biodiversity. The new park connector network is an alternative network system that complements the existing transportation system. From existing park connector network, it grows into an extensive network in stages based on the different level of urban nodes that is identified .One can start from first degree of network, then second degree, eventually to third degree and arrives to any point of the city. The thesis hopes to transform the whole island with new urban form and its intricate woven urban network that is both high performing and green.
Top Extensive park connector network is formed by connecting existing green land across the island Left A study on the existing park connector network
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Top Left Network at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree Top Right Progressive development of network Above Network through the neighbourhood Opposite Top The network exploits the unprogrammed patches in Toa Payoh Opposite Bottom Perspective view of the network in Toa Payoh
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Top, Bottom Network through neighbourhood Opposite Potential programs along the network
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Living with Nature SURBURN HOUSING IN PRAGUE
Year 2009 Type Forth year project (BA Arch, Czech Technical University, Prague) Tutor Ing. arch. Jan Sedlรกk Location Roztoky, Czech Republic Program Housing
The site is at a small town 30km away from Prague. It is proposed to be a suburb housing for those who work in Prague as it is possible to commute daily between Prague and the town as a train station just across the road at the site.
Above Site Plan
I was inspired by the city-living in Prague, where large tract of nature reserve/ parks are well-preserved , city dwellers are frequently in touch with nature. Thus, I propose a low rise housing which sets in the nature and appeals for a living with nature. The site is an old industrial area with several abandoned industrial buildings at site. The project preserve the existing industrial building to be the recreational facility for the residents. The hill at the back forms a beautiful backdrop for the site with the colors of autumn leaves.
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B2
B1
Right & Below View at the central courtyard Opposite Middle Unit plans Opposite Bottom Section Right-most Floor plans
L1
Four-room Flat Lower Floor Plan
Four-room Flat Upper Floor Plan
Two-room flat plan
L2
L3
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FARM-LAND-SCAPE GAWAD KALINGA FARMING COMMUNITY MASTERPLAN
Year 2010 Type Forth year project (BA Arch) Tutor Mr Tay Kheng Soon Location Bagong Silang, Philippines Program Masterplan 5
The intention was to encourage a new form of contemporary farming which allows social interaction to happen along these farm-land-scapes, therefore enticing the community to farm, in hope of poverty alienation and a self-sustainable livelihood. This is in line with how migration towards cities from the rural environment leads to the problem of informal slums and the continued problem of poverty. The main system of organization for the masterplan works around bringing more emphasis to the farming landscapes. This is achieved by having buildings like the library, multi-purposes hall and farming livelihood center brought to the foreground, while all other administrative buildings including livelihood center for crafts, souvenir shop and dormitories brought to the background. Within the buildings, the design has also been made to reveal how farming may occur with the buildings.
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8
1
7
4 2 3
1 Library 2 Office 3 Cafe 4 Souvenir shop 5 Livelihood centre for crafts 6 Dormitory 7 Main hall 8 Livelihood centre for farming
Top Existing conditon of the site Middle Masterplan I Bottom Masterplan II
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BAMBOO PLACE THE FARMING LIVELIHOOD CENTRE
Year 2010 Type Forth year project (BA Arch, NUS) Tutor Mr Tay Kheng Soon Location Bagong Silang, Philippines Program Farming Livelihood Centre
The intention is to converge the two user groups--locals and visitors in this farming livelihood centre. On one hand, the centre should be an inviting space for farmers to rest, socialise and sharing after work/during production, on the other hand, it is also a space for teaching to be shared by both farming learning and visitors’ training. The architecture is inspired by bamboo flooring. Bamboo floor allows air to ventilate through and light to diffuse in. It is envisaged to be able to create an inviting space for social gathering & teaching. Concrete structure is sought to integrate with bamboo as the building material gives a sense of security to the people. Bamboo softens the heaviness of concrete and create an airy atmosphere to visitors.
Above Left Bamboo roof structure Above Right Lecture area on third floor
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L2
L3
Roof Plan
Above Section, Elevation & Plans Top Right Ground Floor Plan Bottom Right Sectional Perspective
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|BRIDGE|
A TRADITIONAL CHINESE (TCM) MEDICAL HALL
Year 2008 Type Third Year Project (BA Arch, NUS) Tutor Mr Alan Woo Location Chinatown, Singapore Program Traditional Chinese Medical Hall
To the local residents, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple sits in front of them with its grandeur architecture and houses revered Buddha tooth, but it does not relate to their daily life. To them, their life happens at the square, the open air area where chit chat begins, where they watch people come and pass and where they play chess.
Top The medical hall bridges the social place and the spiritual place Above The medical hall siting next to the everyday place to reach out to the population Right Site conditon & Preliminary sketches
The project seeks to reconnect the heartland with the temple; the spiritual place to social place. A TCM medical hall connects from the healing of the body to the healing of the mind, the two integral parts of traditional Chinese belief. In the social context, the temple able to reach out to the elderly population and help them.
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Plan 1
Plan 2
Plan 3
Plan 4
Top Floor plans Above Section Opposite Top Model images Opposite Middle Elevation
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OpEN THEATER
CHINESE STRING PUPPET THEATER
Year 2009 Type Third year project (BA Arch, NUS) Tutor Mr James Leow Location Armenian Street, Singapore
Left Site plan Below View from Armenian street
Program Chinese String Puppet Theater
The project started from the intention to create a theater that is accessible for the public, a theater open at the ground level, in view of that Hokkien string puppetry art is slowly vanishing in Singapore. Theater is protected from the climate but remain in contact with the surrounding and public at ground level. Underneath the large canopy, enclosed internal environment is created by individual ‘boxes’ and partially internal environment are decks in between and above the ‘boxes’. Continuing from the theater, spaces for public to learn puppetry art are at second level. When the double level high pivot doors are opened, the public activities become open to the theater. And that is when public can learn the art not only from front, but also from the ‘backstage’ in an informal way.
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Together with the roof overhang, louvered wall are provided with full height sliding windows facing outside aims to control the direct sunlight admission to the interior space
High ceiling of the theatre aims to encourage natural ventilation to the atrium. When the stack effects occur, it induces cross ventilation in the adjacent spaces.
The terracing roof form is designed to allow diffused sunlight and air flow at gaps.
Above Environmental strategies Below Exploded axonometric of the structural frame
Top Detailed section cutting across roof canopy, main stage and seminar room Above View of the theater when the pivot doors are open
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TRASH BEAUTY ARIST’S HOUSING AT DEMPSEY
Year 2008 Type Third year project (BA Arch, NUS) Tutor Kazuhiro Nakajima Location Dempsey Hill, Singapore Program Artist’s Housing Group members Gerry Chen, Tan Tiang Soon, Tan Shu Jun
The old military base saw an influx of new dining and new lifestyle culture being injected into this historical site. We see Dempsey hill as a form of acknowledging the intrinsic potential of an object, and granting new life to what is abandoned and forgotten. We propose a housing for Recycled art’s artist to encourage the culture of injecting new life to abandoned objects. It is also in line with the context of Singapore, in which the architecture is intended to revisit the traces of living culture of Singaporeans.
Top Left Site plan Left Model view
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Section
Elevation
75x150mm thk steel I-beam 75x150mm thk steel column Recycled steel drum fixed onto intermediate steel portal structural frame using bolts and nuts joints
Roof Plan
Fixing detail of steel drum
Recycled timber pieces mounted onto intermediate steel portal structural frame using bolts & nuts joints
Fixing detail of timber pieces First Floor Plan
Recycled windscreen fixed onto intermediate steel portal structural frame using rotatable rubber pad with bolts and nuts joint
Fixing detail of windscreen Basement Plan
Above Left Detailed section of the linear structure Above Right Fixing details of the recycled objects-steel drum, timber pieces, windscreen-as external envelope
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MEASURED DRAWING OF SHOPHOUSE CULTURAL HERITAGE STUDY IN KUCHING
Year 2008 Type Second year special term project (BA Arch, NUS) Tutor Ms Chan Yew Lih, Ms Davisi Boontharm Location Kuching, Malaysia Group Members Chai Ming Jie, Rosnizal Baharum, Cher Tong Qiang Gilbert, Ang Siew Teng
The ‘Chai Yick Trading Sdn Bhd’ shophouse at 43 Main Bazaar Street, Kuching is an early style shophouse built along the Kuching River. Structured using timber joints and beams bearing on 11-inch thick masonry and plaster party walls, the building is sound but suffers from insect damage to the wood and roof leaks. The building shows evidence of patchwork renovations by the owners, including new gutters, doors and roofs. This shophouse still retains part of its v-profile clay-tile roof, with parts replaced by cementboard and plastic roofing. Its airwell has been roofed over. The shophouse sitsback to back with another shophouse, with only a foot of gutter space in between.
Top & Middle Windows and Vent holes details Above Timber Model
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Exploded axonometric Top Floor Plans Above Section
Top Street Elevation Middle Section Bottom Timber model
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SELETAR RECYCLED ART CTR SLOW MOVEMENT IN SINGAPORE
Site plan
Elevations
Year 2007
Site analysis
Type Second Year Project (BA Arch, NUS) Tutor Mr Peter Sim Location Seletar, Singapore Program Recycled art center Floor plans
The site at Seletar reservoir is a place for retreat for a group of retiree. The place-making is through improvisation in respond to the immediate environment by the people. A recycled art centre becomes appropriate as it translates the improvisation process at site to the recycled art making process. It also inline with the slow movement as given in the design brief.
Above Model view Middle Right Perspective rendering Bottom Right Section
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End.
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