A R C H I V E S // VOL .1 [Diploma Series]

VOLU ME 1

A R C H I - V E S

LIM WEI

S I N G A P O R E P O LYT E C H N I C D I P LO M A I N ARCHITECTURE.

DIP LOMA 2014 - 2 017

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I nt r o d u c t i o n

LIM WEI Born in the year 1997, Singaporean.

Graduating batch of 2017.

As a chapter comes to an end.

Three years has flown past in a blink of an eye.

In all honesty, the architectural journey was a rough start. As an individual originating from an arts background, the adaptation to a “restriction” based course was tough. However, architecture started to grow on me.

The three years could be categorised into three phases, beginning with : blindness, assimilation and growth.

Blind during my first year, I struggled to understand, to grasp a meaning of architecture and its purpose.

I needed to find a connection between it and the world.

Crippled by the first year, I started to read on the “masters” in hope to enlighten myself, Le Corbusier in general. Awed and drawn in by his theories, I started to dream about his visions and implementing it to my second year project. I was able to draw links to Corb’s theories to Singapore, be it city planning or the remnants of modernist buildings throughout Singapore.

The relationship between architecture and me started to grow.

Upon transitioning to my third year, an encounter with an architect urge me to move on, to explore the developments we have made from the modernist era, to grow. In which I did, I started to read on tropical architecture, critical regionalism, philosophies

and more. Not forgetting the additional experiences from the Ozetecture masterclass, our internship experiences. All of which added to this “growth” I so deeply felt. It wasn’t just about my abilities, it was also the passion and love I had for architecture. As cheesy as it may sound, it is nothing but raw honesty.

The following pages are the honest works accumilated in the past years.

Without any editting.

A display of an honest progression.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

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C o nte nt s

contents

year 3

the hidden city ozetecture Re-envisioning the kelong

Internship

bintan farmer ’s village beauty world foodcourt

year 2

sky park residences URA competition [forgotten spaces]

year 1

project 1 [dwelling] primer two primer one

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Earliest conceptual sketch on the site, Cross street / club street. An abstract interpretation of the atmospheric entirety of Cross street / Club street.

A play of positive and negative spaces.

Blue // Positive Red // Negative

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

The Hidden City

The contemporary urban-scape of today has evolved into a technologically driven urban-scape. Where architectural entities are increasingly mechanized, the being of human begs a closer relationship to the Earth.

“Is the inordinate mechanizing of architecture really necessary?”

With that as the main question in mind, an attempt is made to re-humanize buildings through utilizing the manifestation of “phenomena” within architecture.

In Chinatown, the very concept of “conservation” has been distorted through the act of superficial preservation. While the pre-existing phenomena of the shophouse dissipated, the entry of new inhabitants and activities morphed into a new phenomenon. The edifice of the old is now masked by new projections, possibly suggesting new explorations within the site.

The Hidden City acts as an extension to this phenomenon- a modern reinvigoration of the conservation area.

The Hidden City encourages movement and exploration, evoking mystics and sustaining wonder.

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Earlier conceptual sketch on the elevation. The idea of a village rather than a massive building mass.

Where light would glow out from the paths / tunnels which are exposed.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Earlier conceptual sketch on the “relieve spaces”.

Where the negative spaces forms a “pocket”, a relieve space between the positive spaces.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Right // Further studies on abstract massing configuration in accordance to the site.

Bottom // Modularization of abstract massing configurations.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

Site plan [with The Hidden City]

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Right // Conceptual working sketches on the 1st storey planning. Scaled plan 1:300

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Right // Conceptual working sketches on the 2nd storey planning. Scaled plan 1:300

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Right // Conceptual working sketches on the 3rd storey planning. Scaled plan 1:300

Bottom // Diagramatic section of vertical spatial zoning.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Right // Conceptual working sketches on facade material development.

The zoning of the differing variations of material qualities. Scaled elevation 1:300

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Diagramatic illustration of the two main facade systems.

Left // Double mesh system Right // Perforated brick system

T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Above // Diagramatic illustration on double mesh facade.

Right // Initial sketch details on double mesh facade system.

Opposite page // Final developed details for final design review.

T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Above // Diagramatic illustration the perforated brick facade.

Right // Initial sketch on the spatial relationship it has with the main structure.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

Bottom // Conceptual sketch details on the perforated brick wall facade.

And design intentions which the facade would display.

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Top Right // Diagramatic section depicting the zoning through lighting atmospheres.

Bottom // Main section render of The hidden city.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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030 Right // Main entrance into the building. The descend into darkness. The space was suppose to evoke the feeling of being underground, however, the actuality of the space is that is resides on the ground level.

Bottom left // Reference as to where the render was taken from the main section.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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Secondary entrances into the building. Where the focused would be on ascension. The space was purposed to evoke the feeling of ascending into the shophouse spaces.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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034 Right // The entrance from the connection between the first and second floor.

The ascension from darkness to twilight. Emphasising on the relieve space, the main courtyard.

Bottom left // Reference as to where the render was taken from the main section.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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036 Right // The corridor spaces which runs throughout the artisan’s village [the smaller buildings masses].

The pinnacle of the twilight zone and a canvas for the shadows.

Bottom left // Reference as to where the render was taken from the main section. The corridor spaces which lies behind the perforated brick facade.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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038 Right // The Co-working office spaces. A garden space which celebrates the arrival and departure of the inhabitants. As evening approaches, the shadows of the tree will be casted on the translucent sunshade partition, signaling the end of the day.

Bottom left // Reference as to where the render was taken from the main section.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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040 Right // The main events space. Serving as an exhibition space and a fashion show space. A celebration of light.

Bottom left // Reference as to where the render was taken from the main section.

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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T h e h i d d e n c i ty

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The Hidden City

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The Hiding Place

Located hidden in the dense vegetation of Pittwater, the Hiding place serves as a place of gathering for both the community and visitors arriving at morning bay.

The project aims to preserve and blend in with the vast nature of the site, keeping the sense of arrival to nature from morning bay jetty intact.

A place of gathering.

The hiding place provides a series of meeting spaces which are multifunctional. The project is tucked aside from the main path of circulation and is constructed with as little local materials as possible. This allows the project to blend in with the landscape and stay hidden away from boats on the water. A variety of spaces of gathering is provided for both the community and visitors of the place. A central sheltered space which can play host to various events and two open to sky meeting decks which can function as a look out. A fire place is also provided so the outdoor spaces can still be used in the cold weather. The project also acts as a place of storage, allowing unused canoes and the buggy used for maintenance of the site to stowed away leaving a clear and uncluttered view of the landscape.

o z e te c t u r e

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Final model for the hiding place.

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o z e te c t u r e

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Our first task on the ozetecture class, was to sketch our journey to Pittwaters.

Left // A sketch on the ferry before reaching Pittwaters.

Right // A sketch upon the arrival on Pittwaters.

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o z e te c t u r e

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Left // An abstract sketch on main jetty at pittwaters.

Together with the initial few diagramatic zonings.

The horizontal lines within the sketch is the hiding place’s initial idea. Which was to make a structure that doesn’t exist.

Right // A sketch of the main entrances towards the YHA hostel which we were staying in.

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o z e te c t u r e

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Top // Sketched section Right // Sketched plan, overlayed over the topo sketch plan. Which our team surveyed from scratch with a measuring tape and string. Going analog.

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For sentimental purposes.

They are ‘archived’ for the memories and learnings we shared. Thank you.

Middle // Ozetecture 2016 full group.

Bottom right // The hiding place group.

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o z e te c t u r e

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Top // Richard Leplastrier Middle // Lindsay Johnston Bottom // Peter Stutchbury

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Main render for the Sea Hive cluster.

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Re-envisioning the kelong

Sea Hive

The purpose of the Sea Hive was to modernize and improve the current kelong. It was designed to be flexible and easily expandable with multiple adaptable modules to cater to the user’s needs. It aims to improve the living quality of the contemporary fisherman and to make it appealing to the current / future generation.

The Sea Hive is a self - sustaining body that provides the three basic necessities of human survival. Food, water, and electricity.

It is self - sustaining through the implementation of the closed looped concept. It makes use of each element in a cycle to sustain each other.

The adoption of aquaponics allowed us to grow fresh crops which acts as a filter for the freshwater fish farm, allowing a clean and fresh environment for the freshwater fishes. All of which are viable sources of food.

Water is harvested by making use of the high moisture content present in the air above the sea, similar to the Warka Water Project.

Electricity is provided to the modules through rotational movement from the lateral movement caused from waves and tides of the sea, similar to the point absorber buoys.

The vision was a completely self - sustaining body, one which was lasting, affordable, efficient and unreliant on external elements. To be truly “Off The Grid� while providing the necessities for inhabitants. Striving for a more efficient farming approach with multifunctional modules.

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Main Section of the Sea Hive. Depicting the four main modules, storage, residential, net and hybrid. [starting from the left.]

Re-envisioning the kelong

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Re-envisioning the kelong

Bacteria in the water turns ammonia into nitrates, which is beneficial for the hydroponics system The hydroponics cleans the water in the tank by absorbing nutrients from the fish waste. The cleansed water is then channeled back to the fish tank

Larvae eat human feces within an hour or two after it is introduced. This is a powerful factor in eliminating odor, as well as used for fish food source.

Nutrient - rich urine is then channeled to the hydroponics plants.

Water is collected from condensation and the capturing of fog with a specialized net. Water is then filtered down the funnel and collected for future use.

Modules vare first tethered to a mooring on the seafloor. The generator in the module will then generate energy by spinning the flywheel as the waves rise and fall, providing a steady supply of energy between each wave. The energy generated is then stored in accumulators in the basements of the modules.

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I nte r n sh i p

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Internship [LAUD architects]

selected projects

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I nte r n sh i p

Bintan farmer’s village

This is a “charity” project and the cilent is a missionary from bintan. The cilent bought a huge plot of land and wanted to use it to help the poor and homeless. The cilent’s idea was to give the poor and homeless a chance to start a life of their own, by giving them a place to stay, where they would farm for their own food and sell the excess. All of which, was non-profitable to the cilent.

The brief given by Mr. Lau (Laud Architect’s Founder) was that the project was to be easily constructed and cost efficient. Preferably making use of steel intermodal containers.

The residential design was based on these basic keypoints, natural ventilated, natural daylighting, privacy, compact, temporary home, village spirit, modular & self sustaining mini modules. And later on the master planning/zoning was inspired by Le Corbusier’s Comtemporary City and followed his geometric planning. The last inspiration was actually based on Japanese architecture as the japanese faced overcrowding and were good at maximising space. Making use of Elevated ground floors(to avoid frequent floods), Outdoor sheltered corridors which encased the courtyards.

Bintan farmer ’s village

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Not to scale First storey master plan of the massive plot.

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I nte r n sh i p

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Bintan farmer ’s village

[Opposite page]

Top left // Massing and zoning development.

Top // Internal room space.

Middle // Conceptual sketches on individual module.

Middle // Top view of village.

Bottom // Bird’s eye view.

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I nte r n sh i p

[Opposite page] Top // Conceptual sketch of garden areas and communal areas.

Bottom // Basic render of corridor spaces and graden areas.

Village module plan [Not to scale.]

Bintan farmer ’s village

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I nte r n sh i p

Beauty world foodcourt

This project started off with the design direction towards creating a similar scheme as to Food Republic’s foodcourts. Rather than following conventional foodcourts whereas the food stalls are standard sized. We wanted a variety of stall types. Introducing the idea of counter seating to foodcourt dining experience, and a design aesthetic which is inspired by retro styled design, and followed a “food street” mood.

The foodcourt design tried to create small counter seating booths, further developing to multiple different stall modules which each served different purposes and stall types. The seating areas would be encased with low railings to separate pathways/queuing areas.

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A conceptual perspective on the interior of the extension.

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I nte r n sh i p

Foodcourt main plan [Not to scale.]

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Top // Conceptual perspective on the “food street”.

Bottom // Conceptual perspective on the “food street” facing the feature atrium.

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Sky park residences

Sky park residences

Amongst the bustling city of Singapore, lies the alienated neighbourhood of commonwealth crescent. It was a peaceful, quiet neighbourhood, breaking away from the ever changing fast paced city, seemingly staying unchanged and untouched by time. The locals were proud of the neighbourhood’s rich history and was unwilling of change. This resilient characteristic was due to its inhabitants, mainly consisting of the original residents when the neighbourhood was first constructed in the 1960s, being part of Singapore’s first satellite town. This led me to start out my design journey to preserve and enhance the existing site, preserving the people’s sentiments of the site.

The interview was one of the main drivers of my design concept. The interviewees (frequent users of the space) explained how they loved the illusion of a park like atmosphere which the matured huge trees created, how the leaves would litter the ground and how the shadows were casted on the ground. Leading to the conclusion that preserving this was the utmost importance in response to my earlier “design issue”. The residents to be of this development most probably would be new to this site, hence, the illusion of a park like atmosphere would be reciprocated into the residential spaces.

The Project started off with the problem that building a development would mean the elimination of the existing trees and that the building itself would disrupt the original atmosphere. In response to that, the lower part of the building was designed to break away from the rest the building. The lower part functioned separately, acting solely to preserve and enhance the original atmosphere. Whereas the residential part mellowed down and gave small fragments of the original atmosphere.

The building was also influenced by Le Corbusier’s theories and applications on the geometrical, the residential parts were designed with the straight line and the right angle, doing away with all abnormalities, attempted as a tribute to the period in Singapore which gave rise to the first few high rise developments.

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Sky park residences

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Left page // Initial sketch massing studies.

Right page // Conceptual Massing models.

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Sky park residences

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Left page // Developmental sketches on massing studies, integrating perspectives consideration.

Right page // Re-orientation of massing blocks according to view and prevailing wind direction.

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Sky park residences

Right page // More finalised perspective of the massing studies.

[Opposite page] Top & bottom // Perspective study sketches in relation to massing shapes.

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Sky park residences

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Left // Main section depicting the two building blocks. Featuring the staggering garden spaces and living spaces.

Bottom right // Facade detail

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Site plan [Not to scale.]

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Sky park residences

1st storey plan [Not to scale.]

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2nd storey plan [Not to scale.]

7th storey plan [Not to scale.]

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Sky park residences

3rd & 5th, typical storey plan [Not to scale.]

8th, 10th & 12th typical storey plan [Not to scale.]

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Sky park residences

Middle // Initial sketch perspective of the garden spaces linking the two units.

Bottom left // View from the lift lobby.

Bottom right // View from one of the units.

[Opposite page] Part plan of one of the upper floor block.

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Part plan of 2nd storey skyterrace.

[Opposite page] Top // Jogging path on 2nd storey skyterrace.

Bottom // Main path on 1st storey.

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Sky park residences

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The oasis

Located in the bustling central business district (CBD) area, our forgotten space is a white space between Commerce Street and Central Boulevard. The project serves as a place of rest away from the fast paced nature of the CBD area. The retaining of trees ,grass patches and addition of greens on site help soften the hard city scape. This project is targeted to both the busy white collar workers and people residing in the CBD area. Designed to be an oasis within the CBD area the project aims to help one escape from their hectic schedule.

The site is a green field located in between Commerce Street and Central Boulevard. It is a white space with no activities or functions. People do not cross the site however human circulation is high around the perimeter of the site. This white space has much potential as it is a big open space in a built up area.

URA competition [forgotten spaces]

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The rustic house

The Rustic House uses the concept of John CLang’s “Time” series. Following his concept of a disconnected connection. It was using the same concept of a timelapse, for example, every 5 seconds he snapped a picture. At the end of the shoot, he compiled all the pictures and started to shred them and recompiled them. Every shred was part of a different time.

His intent was to connect the disconnected. Although they were taken at the exact same spot, however, they weren’t at the same time, hence creating connection with the disconnected. Hence, a disconnected connection. Taking the philosophy of this art piece and applying it into architecture terms. And as the name suggest, the materials and feels of it is left raw and rustic.

Project 1 [dwelling]

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Fragmentated [a place of remembrance]

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Primer 2

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Orbit