MAArC AC5009 Studio Report AY21-22

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Options Design Studio 1/ Advanced Architecture Studio/ Design for Adaptive Reuse

AR5801/ AR5805/ AC 5009

AY2021-22, Semester 1

Studio Leader: Nikhil Joshi

Constructive Conservation Designing a Sustainable Future for the Past

1 Ratnam, Niru, and Name *.

“Could Contemporary Art Be Less Wasteful?” Apollo Magazine, January 27, 2020. https://www.apollomagazine.com/contemporary-artwaste-kate-mcmillan-niru-ratnam/.

2 Audouin , Alice, and Philippe Osset. “What Are the Main Environmental Impacts of a Contemporary Work of Art?” Artofchange21, September 29, 2020. https://artofchange21. com/en/what-are-the-mainenvironmental-impacts-of-acontemporary-work-of-art/.

3 Audouin , Alice, and Philippe Osset. “What Are the Main Environmental Impacts of a Contemporary Work of Art?” Artofchange21, September 29, 2020. https://artofchange21. com/en/what-are-the-mainenvironmental-impacts-of-acontemporary-work-of-art/.

Images © Individual Contributors, 2020-2021 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means. electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not warrant or assume any legal responsibility for the publication’s contents. All opinions expressed in the book are of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National University of Singapore.

Foreword The rapid transformations experienced by many contemporary Asian societies have radically challenged their built environments’ cultural integrity and cohesion. Several historic buildings and neighbourhoods are erased in the name of the ‘development’ (read ‘economic benefits’). It consequently disinfects the place of its identity and leaves it bland and out-of-date after a while.

Wilke argues that “a sense of continuity does not have to stop new ideas – just the opposite. The deeper the root, the greater the range of nutrients”. In this vein, this studio advocates critical thinking and understanding of place/ building, understanding of change, and stewardship as part of continuing evolution. Applying conservation principles to assess the scope for a new intervention, students will strategise and deliver innovative ways to actively managing change to our historic urban landscape by protecting and adapting historic buildings/ places to achieve a balance that ensures that their significant cultural values are reinforced rather than diminished by change.

Nikhil Joshi akinj@nus.edu.sg

Contents Foreword 3 Acknowledgements 12 Studio Focus 16 Part I - Research and Analysis

Art Echo

96

The Artsy Fartsy Student Hotel When Historic Preservation meets Space Intensive Arts and Accomodation

102

Garg Atul (MArch Y5)

Yuen Wing Ching (MArch Y5)

Site and Immediate Surroundings 18 Photographs

Sleep & Meditation Centre Jiao Yiying (MArch Y5)

108

Architectural & Aesthetic Value 22 Su Yung En, Chee Jia Xin, Chen Zhuolin, Leong Siew Leng, Xu Jiaqi

Post-COVID Performance Space Leong Siew Leng (MArch Y5)

114

Contextual Value 24 Guan Qin, Garg Atul, Zhang Yijie, Zhao Zechuan, Xu Xin

Sex Education Center Valerie Chang Jui Li (MArch Y5)

120

Communal & Social Value 26 Valerie Chang Jui Li, Jiao Yiying, Xiong Shuying, Hao Jiayue

The Purrfect Co-Existence

126

Historial Value 28 Chooi Chuen Wai Keefe, Ling Min Yi, Wong Xiao Tong, Tan Hui Ching

Understanding Values 30

Empowering and Elevating Eldercare

132

Part II - Case Studies Assessment 31

Part III - Design Proposals

The Healing Place 60 Su Yung En (MArch Y4)

Youth Hostel and Cat Welfare Society Chen Zhuolin (MAArC)

Transforming Heritage into a Contemporary Nursing Home

Hao Jiayue (MAArC) Building Aroma as the Catalyst for the Human-Food Interaction

138

Xiong Shuying (MAArC)

Youth Co:Lab – The Social Plug-in for Built Heritage Xu Jiaqi (MAArC)

144

Transforming Past as Our Shared Future

150

Historic Buildings as a Place for Experiential Learning Xu Xin (MAArC)

Scrapping Singapore’s Art & Heritage District Ling Min Yi (MArch Y4)

66

The Untold Stories - Museum of Alternate History 156 Zechuan Zhao (MAArC)

The Spectrum 72 Guan Qin (MArch Y4)

The Revival of Middle Road Hospital as a Community-friendly Garden Medical Centre

162

Zhang Yijie (MAArC)

Urban Sanctuary 78 People, Nature and Wellness

Wong Xiao Tong (MArch Y4) The Food Project 84 Chee Jia Xin (MArch Y5) Transition Home for the Youth 90 Chooi Chuen Wai Keefe (MArch Y5)

Site Visit 168

Studio Focus The buildings could tell the history of a city and its people. For a land-scarce country with a brief history of nationhood, Singapore has so far done somewhat well in its efforts to conserve its ‘monumental’ built heritage. However, Singapore’s continually evolving urbanscape means that several ‘humble’ historic buildings are in a constant threat of either being erased or changed beyond recognition by commercial and tourism imperatives that prioritize money over the ‘spirit of the place.’ Only retaining facade or complete rebuilding of an old building does not need to be the option to save buildings. This must change urgently, and the students, through their design project, script that change.

This studio tackled issues of the contemporary heritage of Singapore using the Middle Road site as a case study. The design research project responded and reassessed the existing urban heritage conservation regulations and approaches and developed eighteen design projects that supported the protection and adaption of historic buildings, allowing sustainable growth, which is illustrated in this publication.

Part I Research and Analysis

Through guest lectures, workshops and field trips, the students accessed some of the best experts in the field, armed with the skills, knowledge and conviction to design a solution that is architecturally and commercially deliverable and ensured the important qualities of the site are reinforced rather than diminished by change.

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Site and Immediate Surroundings 250 & 252 Middle Road, Singapore 188 983

The Middle Road is part of the Arts and Heritage District in Singapore’s Civic centre. It was already in existence in early Singapore, appearing in Coleman’s Map of Singapore in 1836. The area around Middle Road was the original settlement of the Hainanese immigrant community, a community noted for its active role in Singapore’s food and beverage history.

From the late nineteenth century until WWII, the area around Middle Road was also a bustling Japanese enclave known for its brothels of Karayuki-san and traditional shops run by Japanese immigrants.

The historic building on 250 Middle Road started its life in 1940 as the Doh Jin Hospital, a property owned by the Japanese, to serve what was a growing Japanese community in the area. After WWII, the hospital was known as the Middle Road Hospital and served the community until 1988. Until 2020, the site was used by various private colleges.

Currently, the buildings are vacant, waiting for its next tenant to move in 2023.

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Architectural & Aesthetic Value

Building Typologies

Su Yung En, Chee Jia Xin, Chen Zhuolin, Leong Siew Leng, Xu Jiaqi

Scale

• •

250 Middle Road has high aesthetic and architectural value due to the fusion of simple yet elegant Art-Deco and five-foot shophouse style, unique to Singapore. The building has a few Art-Deco architectural elements like a flagpole and stepped parapet, simple geometric

• •

other contemporary Art-Deco buildings, 250 Middle Road also has a much more plain and simple facade. The building is also a testament to the adaptive responses of Art-Deco to the local climate (monsoon rain, high humidity and temperature) through architectural

Original use: Hospital Last known use: Educational Institution

Once a hospital building, it was last used as an education centre. Main users were students,

adaptation in a tropical country (e.g. extended brise soleil, large ventilation openings).

ventilation and a circulation route with a wide staircase corridor.

3-storey building with linking bridge connected on second and third floor.

Use-type

shape. Yet, it presents itself as a shophouse typology with a pitched roof. Compared to

It was built as a hospital that demands certain architectural qualities such as natural

Total GFA: 2284.96 sqm

educators and staff.

Material

Art-Deco Style

Horizontal Lines Horizonta l Lines

Stepped Parapet and Flag Pole Step p ed Pa ra p et

Fla g Pole

Art-d ec o Arc hitec tura l Elem ents

Sharp Angles Sha rp Ang le

Geometric Shape Clea n Clean Geom etric Sha p e

Art-Deco Style Comparison Wall material

• • •

Brick with cement plaster

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Rounded Edges Rounded Edges Emphasis on horizontal lines, but overall Window canopy is broken down to smaller elements composition is more balanced

Exterior finish paint over Shanghai

Flooring material

• •

•

Red terracotta tiles

Interior finish paint plaster

Sharp Edges Strong emphasis on horizontal lines and continuous lines

Roofing material

Interior- Ceramic tiles

Decorative material

•

Billboard, plastic, iron bracket, oil decoration color painting protection

Door Material

•

materials

Wodden frame with alumnium handle

Window material

•

Wodden frame with glass

Exterior- Porcelain tiles

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Physical link

Contextual Value

Hertitage area

Guan Qin, Garg Atul, Zhang Yijie, Zhao Zechuan, Xu Xin

Mrt station Place of worship

Historically link to its surrounding

•

Cultural significance.

Buildings Amenities

Physically link to its surrounding

• •

Site location (road junctions and topography).

Axis, roads, landscape/plants and trees, squares, road junctions, surrounding sight analysis.

Functionally link to its surrounding

• • • •

Program (previous use/ program and significance, current use, within the two blocks timeline and photography).

Commercial and cultural type distribution.

Public spaces.

Population classification based on typology: residents, commercial, tourists and students of SMU

Function link

Visually link to its surrounding

• •

Block building height, building time, building storeys, building roof, city skyline, building

Residential

materials.

Axis, roads, landscape/plants and trees, squares, road junctions, surrounding sight

Residential with Commercial at 1st storey

analysis.

Commercial & Residential Commercial Hotel

E

Education Institution

W Place of worship Civic & Community Institution

H Health & Medical Care Reserve Site Park

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1

Visual link 1. Wilkie edge

10 2

2

5

9 3

Medium to large-scale developments

1

Small, stand-alone developments

Historical Link

2. Shophouse

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3

6

4. Prinsep street Presbyterian church

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8

4

5

5. LASALLE and SMU Residences’ at Prinsep Street 6. David Elias Jewish

7 4

3. Automated mechanized vertical car park

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7

conservation building 7. Singapore Pools Main Branch 8. Shophouse 9. Student Living Campus

Early 19th 25

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1940

1988

2020

Now Constructive Conservation

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Social Continuity to the Building from Educational Aspect

Communal and Social Value Valerie Chang Jui Li, Jiao Yiying, Xiong Shuying, Hao Jiayue

Timeline of the building and its social context 19

Social Continuity to the Building from Medical Aspect Stansfield College (Singapore Institute of Commerce) The building housed Stansfield College, a private college, associated with a previous occupant, the Singapore Institute of Commerce (SIC) in 2010.The building is fully air-conditioned consist of 14 classrooms, one library, one computer lab, one auditorium and 3 board rooms.

TMC Academy The school provides educational resources for the community: classrooms, a library inside the building, sufficient teaching resources (teachers and other facilities).

Various Communities around the Middle Road The Hainanese (1840s) Hainanese immigrant community were noted for its active role in Singapore’s food and beverage history. Food business brought them most regional fame.

The Japanese (1890s) The building started its life in 1940 as the Doh Jin Hospital, a property owned by the Japanese, to serve what was a growing Japanese community in the area.

From the late nineteenth century until WWII, the area around Middle Road was a Japanese enclave (called the Little Japan) known for its Karayuki-san (Japanese brothels) and traditional shops run by Japanese immigrants.

The Jewish (1900s) The Mahallah was a “place” where many working-class Baghdadi Jews had arrived in Singapore around the turn of the century and called it a home, a sort of Jewish Quarter. Since the early 1900s, Aaron Elias, the patriarch of the Elias family, had acquired a vast fortune through the opium trade. A holiday villa in Tampines gave Elias Road in Pasir Ris its name, and the Jewish family was noted for its elegant mansion by the sea on the East Coast.

•

The building was remembered by many as Middle Road Hospital (also called Social Hygiene Hospital) and was the FIRST hospital designated to handle venereal diseases

• • •

(STDs) and dermatology (Skin disease) from 1945 to 1988.

It was notorious as Singapore’s centre for the treatment of AIDS. During the 1970s, it was also an institution for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

The National Skin Centre first opened its doors on November 1, 1988. Middle Road Hospital became a throwback to the past from then on, and a new chapter in Singapore dermatology began.

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● Architect ○ Kwan Yow Luen ■ Self taught architect

Historical Value

History of 250 Middle Road

Ling Min Yi, Wong Xiao Tong, Yuen Wing Ching, Chooi Chuen Wai Keefe Year

Building Name

Building Function

1940

Doujin Hospital

Private hospital for local Japanese community along Middle Road

1942

Middle Road Hospital (unofficial)

WW2 first aid post for civilian war casualties

1945-1988

Middle Road Hospital (official)

“Social Hygiene Hospital”; known for treatment of skin and venereal diseases

1988 Nov

-

Middle Road Hospital ceases treatment; National Skin Centre at Outram

1990

Singapore Institute of Commerce (SIC)

Change of Use. (Education) Private school for business courses

1993 Jun

Stansfield College (under SIC)

Private school for business, law and humanities courses

2017

TMC Academy

Private school for full time/ part time diploma

1940s-1980s Medical Institutes: Doujin Hospital, Middle Road Hospital

1990s-2010s Educational Institutes: SIC Academy, TMC Academy

2021 To be Continued..

Historical Mapping of Middle Road + District

Historical Value Analysis of Middle Road (Street) Middle Road is historically noteworthy because of its geographic location, which connects many historical enclaves. It has inherent value as part of Singapore’s early municipal center prior to WWII, and it serves as a link between the numerous preserved sites along the route today.

Middle Road, however, has low Historical Value as part of the wider Bras Basah. Bugis Precinct celebrates Arts and Heritage because it does not serve in any capacity to improve the value of Arts and Heritage along the road. Aside from the rare arts center along the road, the majority of the buildings provide programming that does not correspond to the precinct’s narrative.

Even historically, the road has had little impact on Singapore’s arts culture.

Historical Value Analysis of 250 Middle Road (Plot)

Today: Art and Heritage District

Despite its historical significance as a medical center for the Japanese enclave in Singapore,

Civic District

its conversion to an educational institute further decreases its historical value, which was

Where Singapore’s historical, architectural and cultural heritage

already low following the abdication of Japanese citizens during WWII.

started; “Birth of Modern Singapore”.

Bugis Precinct has low Historical Value because it serves the public as neither an arts institute

Art and Heritage District

nor an important heritage site. Nonetheless, its closeness to numerous Arts/ Education

Concentration of art spaces, community nodes and presentation

facilities offers potential, as it enables for applications that can tap into and connect with the

venues in the Bras Basah, Bugis Area and Civic District.

“The branding of the Arts and Heritage District provides a valuable and strategic year-round platform to advocate the arts, heritage and creative industries in Singapore. Each year, over 8,000 related events are held in 26 arts groups’ premises, performance and exhibition venues, museums, tertiary institutions and arts schools in the District. This highly-visible branding initiative will help generate synergy among the multitude of activities and stimulate greater audience participation among Singaporeans and tourists alike,” said Lee Suan Hiang, Chief Executive Officer, National Arts Council.

local creative scene.

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Architectural

Historical

Social

Contextual

2

3

2

2

The building has a few typical Art-deco architectural elements like flagpole and stepped parapet, with simple geometric shape.

It has intrinsic value as part of Singapore’s early civic centre before WWII, and acts as a connection to the various conserved sites along the road.

Formally a hospital, the site was restricted to vulnerable diseases and specific students when turned into an academy.

It was a landmark.

1

2

1

1

Stansfield College

3

2-3

To embrace and elevate its form, proportions, massing and views and keeping art deco style

Increase in Historical Value based on proposed design.

Type of Intervention

Criteria

Values

Middle Road Hospital

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TMC Academy

3

1-3

New symbolic value to connect with community around.

Increase in Contextual Value based on proposed design.

Design Proposal

TMC Academy

Aesthetic & Architectural

Aesthetic & Architectural

Aesthetic & Architectural

Communal & Social

Communal & Social

Communal & Social

Contextual

Contextual

Contextual

Historical

Historical

Historical

Cultural Continuum

Cultural Continuum

Cultural Continuum

Socio-economic, Development need

Socio-economic, Development need

Socio-economic, Development need

Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability

Technique and materials

Technique and materials

Technique and materials

Spirit of place

Spirit of place

Spirit of place

Significance of place

Significance of place

Significance of place

Adaptive-reuse

Adaptive-reuse

Adaptive-reuse

New-built / Extension

New-built / Extension

New-built / Extension

Restoration

Restoration

Restoration

New Design

New Design

New Design

Constructive Conservation

Part II Case Studies Assessment

As per individual design aspirations

Future 1

Now

Then

Values

Understanding Values

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Framework for Case Studies Assessment 1. How well the project contributes to the local community’s socio-economic well being, cultural continuum and development needs?

2. How well the project contributes to the environmental sustainability of the project?

3. Application of appropriate techniques and materials with respect to the original building 4. How well the project convey/express the spirit of place?

5. How well the project reflects a sound understanding of the significance of the place?

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Gin Distillery for Bombay Sapphire, UK Before

After

Original Use:Banknote paper mill Built: 1724 Architect: xxx

New Use: gin distillery Year : 2014 Architect : Thomas Heatherwick

Values

Aesthetic & Architectural Communal & Social Contextual Historical Cultural Continuum

Criteria

Socio-economic, Development need Environmental sustainability Technique and materials Spirit of place Significance of place Type of Intervention

Interior Photos

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Adaptive-reuse New-built / Extension Restoration

Two curving glass greenhouses form the major new additions to the site. Hot air is channeled into the greenhouses through large pipes clad in strips of metal, picking up heat produced during the distillation process and carrying it out through openings in the red-brick walls of one of the existing buildings.

The site has more than forty buildings that are in very poor condition, many of historical significance. The buildings were later abandoned and left derelict until the complex was bought by Bombay Sapphire. with the architectural intervention and conservation, a new landmark is established.

New Design

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Part III Design Proposals

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The Healing Place Su Yung En (MArch Y4)

250 & 250 Middle Road was used as a hospital treating HIV patients in the past.

Due to the misinformation and rumours of how HIV transmits, this hospital became

a place that the community shunned and attached to many negative stereotypes.

This brings up how this building with so much ‘negative’ historical burden can be adapted and

reused. And thus, a youth suicide prevention centre with the aim of destigmatising mental health can constructively conserve this place and reverse the stigma attached to this building

by introducing a new perspective on healing.

The shape of the additional roof takes respect to the pitched top of the original building and the surrounding shophouses and church. The warping of the roof is also to continue the horizontal element of the old building facade and thus create harmony between horizontality and pitched roof typology while creating a new building without disrespecting the old. The two roofs are shaped like a set of wings that invite anyone to come and seek refuge inside.

Original Building

SHORT STREET

MIDDLE ROAD

MIDDLE ROAD

PRINSEP STREET

New Addition

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Plant Therapy Plant or horticultural therapy has

a plant that belongs to them, it gives

them a reason to live because they

feel that there is something in their

life that they are taking care of.

that as the clients plant and nurture

the traditional approach. The idea is

shown effective when leveraged with

The Honest Cafe The café, where the counselling

session occurs, blurs the boundary between client and non-client and does not give the client a feeling that they are a patient that needed to be quarantined or segregated like what a

­

­

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hospital does in the past.

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Scrapping Singapore’s Art & Heritage District Ling Min Yi (MArch Y4) The project brings light to the primarily overlooked construction and installation waste issue in Singapore’s Art & Heritage district, questioning what happens to art installations after the end of its life in exhibitions and the possibility of renewing disposed materials into new forms for future use.

Taking into consideration the complementing needs and potential impacts of different communities in the Art & Heritage District, museums that generate installation waste and

Scrap /skrap/ noun noun: scrap; plural noun: scraps; discarded material (metal) for reprocessing; any waste articles or discarded material.

students from neighbouring art institutions with the need for coursework materials, the

verb

project serves as a vassal to encourage and facilitate a circular economy that sustains itself

verb: scrap; 3rd person present: scraps;

in the long term through meeting said conditions.

discard or remove from service (a redundant, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), especially so as to convert it to scrap

In return, these communities help 250 Middle Road move beyond being simply conserved

metal.

and grow and morph over time, reflecting the project’s spirit of constant change and up-cycle that ensures its longevity.

rePairing

materials and replacing parts in different areas of the building that have been damaged overtime 3 rd

Lif

integrating

es

pa n

reUsing

materials that are no longer part of the building as secondary workshop materials for public use

2 nd L i f

e s pa

n

materials into existing 250 building and updating its new extension features with adapted parts

ProCessing

UP-CyCling

adapting materials into different forms through research allowing for more diverse uses

workshop materials to be reintroduced/ double as spare materials for users in the Arts & Heritage District

Dismantling scraps into raw primary materials for immediate/eventual use for spaces and programs in 250 st

1

Life

s pa

n

ColleCting waste materials from Art Schools and Museums around Arts & Heritage District

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The production of contemporary art can clearly be seen as wasteful. There are obvious parts

A Carbon Emissions report for the Harold Ancart Exhibit at David

of the processes of making it that have a negative environmental impact; from the electrical

Zwirner revealed that building energyforaccounts for 49% (15.32 tons the artist and the packing materials purchased the trip. Although

19,

94% of which was accounted for by the air freight of artworks,

contemporary art building energy use and business travel by staff. The Kate and acrylic paints. Then there is the environmental impact of specific works or their conditions as wasteful. There are obvious parts of the processes of making it that MacGarry Gallery, saw its carbon footprint reach 23,959 kg of CO2 in for exhibition, particularly large-scale installation pieces”¹. What are the main environmental “the production of

requirements of large, brightly through to the toxic by-products of using certain oil can clearlylit bestudios seen

have a negative environmental impact; from the electrical requirements of large, the same period.”3 brightly lit studios through to impacts the toxic byproducts of using certain oil and acrylic of a contemporary work of art? “To start with, they are distributed throughout the life A Carbon Emissions report4 for the Harold Ancart Exhibit at David Zwirner paints. Then there is the environmental impact of specific works

cycle’ of an artwork- from design to production, then when it is being exhibited, conserved,

or their conditions for exhibition, particularly large-scale installation pieces.”1 revealed that building energy accounts for 49% (15.32 tons and impacts if there one, at itswork end-of-life.

What are the main environmental of aiscontemporary of art? “To Only an overview can identify where the main impacts CO2) of the associated emissions of the project, transportation at

originate from”, allowing us to understand and in turn reduce these impacts². “For instance,

start with, they are distributed throughout the ‘

life cycle’ of an

Thomas Dane Gallery’s carbon audit revealed that the gallery consumed over 200,000 kg

38%(12.06 tons CO2) and material emissions at 13%

(4.16

artwork – from designof toCO2 production, then when it is of being exhibited, in 2018-19, 94% which was accounted for Additionally, by the air the freight of artworks, building tons CO2). precautions and actions taken by the artist due to conserved, and if there is one, at its end-of-life. Only an overview can identify energy use and business travel by staff. The Kate MacGarry Gallery, saw its carbon footprint where the main impacts originate from”, allowing us to understand and in turn the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact instance, Thomaskg Dane carbon auditperiod.”³ reduce these impacts. 2 “Forreach 23,959 ofGallery’s CO2 the same

revealed that the gallery consumed over 200,000

kg of CO

2

in 2018-

on the overall emissions of the project, accounting for 33%

of overall

emissions. This is due to the extra cross-country travel required of

CO2) of the associated emissions of the project, transportation at

material use only accounts for 13% of total emissions in the exhibition, material selections are by the artist CO2).

Additionally, the precautions and actions taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the more easily changed than behavior in the other categories.

As such the judicious about reusing overall emissions ofstudio the isproject, accounting for 33% of overall emissions.

This is due to the extra cross-country travel required where possible and limiting materials of the artist and the packing materials purchased for the trip. their waste, thereby reducing the overall footprint without Although material use only accounts for 13% of total emissions in 38% (12.06 tons CO2) and material emissions at 13% (4.16 tons

changes to the art itself.

the exhibition, material selections are more easily changed than behavior in the other categories. As such the studio is judicious about reusing materials where possible and limiting their waste, thereby reducing the overall footprint without changes to the art itself.

1 Ratnam, Niru, and Name *.

“Could Contemporary Art Be Less 1. Ratnam, Niru, and Name *.

Wasteful?” Apollo Magazine, January "Could Contemporary Art Be Less 27, 2020. https://www.apolloWasteful?" Apollo Magazine, Janmagazine.com/contemporary-artuary 27, 2020. https://www.apollo waste-kate-mcmillan-niru-ratnam/.

magazine.com/contemporary-art

2 Audouin , Alice, and waste-kate-mcmillan-niru-ratnam/.

Philippe Osset. “What Are the Main Environmental Impacts of 2. Audouin, Alice, and Philippe aOsset.

Contemporary of Art?” "What Are theWork Main EnvironArtofchange21, 29, mental Impacts of aSeptember Contemporary 2020.

Work ofhttps://artofchange21.

Art?" Artofchange 21, com/en/what-are-the-mainSeptember 29, 2020. https:// environmental-impacts-of-aartofchange 21. com/en/what-arecontemporary-work-of-art/. the-main environmental-impact of-a

The Growth of building Contributes to the development of an Extended Rooftop space

Visual Relief through the Integration of greenery into User Spaces

An Appreciation of the Existing Site Alongside New Developments

3 contemporary-work-of-art/.

Audouin , Alice, and Philippe Osset. “What Are the 3. Audouin, Alice, and Philippe Main Environmental Impacts of "What Are theWork Main EnvironaOsset.

Contemporary of Art?” mental Impacts of aSeptember Contemporary Artofchange21, 29, Work ofhttps://artofchange21.

Art?" Artofchange 21, 2020.

September 29, 2020. https://artofcom/en/what-are-the-mainchange21. com/en/what-are-theenvironmental-impacts-of-amain environmental-impacts-of-a contemporary-work-of-art/.

contemporary-work-of-art/.

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01

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The Spectrum

Iteration massing

Guan Qin (MArch Y4) The site, 250 Middle Road is located in Singapore’s central civic district region. By analysing the site’s significance, the contextual and historical values of which served as a hospital - a place of healing and a private education centre are relatively high.

The user group chosen for this project is primarily youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) due to its rising number of diagnoses and the overall negative stigma associated with this group of differently-abled people. With the surrounding educational institutions which primarily specialise in Arts, it would be ideal for forming a certain level of collaboration with the new program and the user groups through Arts. My project aims to create an inclusive and therapeutic environment for the public and the people on the autism spectrum through interaction and understanding. It also serves as an education and learning institution for youth with ASD, enabling them to transit to the workplace. Using art and art psychotherapy as a medium to bring differently-abled people together. It aims to help youths with ASD develop social and vocational skills in students and promote a positive, productive image of autism to the community at large.

Program

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sensory garden art therapy studio cafe & art gallery cafe & art gallery training & education admininstration multi-purpose hall

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Design for people on the Spectrum

Transitional spaces

They are meant to help better integrate youths on the spectrum into the learning environment to reach maximal independence, a sense of security, and their fullest integration into society. Inclusion and respect in society gain importance with rising numbers of children diagnosed with ASD. The necessity to provide communitylinked services to support families and individuals but also to afford the opportunity for student interaction with society should be considered.

The separation between individual zones or compartments does not need to be abrupt. In many cases, more fluid but still clear transitions are preferable. It has been found helpful to distinguish the sensory qualities of each space clearly.

Circulation

Acoustic

While the fixed physical space can offer security and safety in many situations, the lack of a comprehensive organisation and anticipated logic behind the organisation of space can easily confuse.

Empirical researches have shown that by reducing noise levels and echo in educational spaces for children with autism, their attention spans, response times and behavioural temperament, are all improved.

Escape spaces & Sensory room

Light

Secluded retreats are important features in educational facilities to provide relief for the autistic user in case of overstimulation through their environment.

Spatial Sequencing Considering the affinity of individuals with ASD to routine and predictability, it is sensible to organise spaces logically and involve sensorial compatible function.

75

Constructive Conservation

Natural and artificial lighting needs to be well-orchestrated throughout educational facilities. Like acoustic stimuli, visual stimuli and adjusted lighting levels can create active and calm zones throughout the schools.

Compartmentalization The sensory environment should be clearly defined and limited so that each activity is organised into discrete compartments within shared spaces, a classroom, or even an entire building.

Constructive Conservation

76

77

Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation

78

B

Urban Sanctuary

PRINSEP STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

People, Nature and Wellness

through the help of Shinrin-yoku, also ‘forest bathing’. This is achieved by creating an urban forest integrated with amenities that encourages and

A

DAVID ELIAS BUILDING

The proposal seeks to reconnect people with nature and themselves

A

PRINSEP STREET

Wong XiaoTong (MArch Y4)

engages with the local population.

B

The building’s significance is embodied in its rich architectural and historical

MIDDLE ROAD

value as healthcare and educational institute. In both cases, it provided its users with a safe space without any judgement: As a hospital, it allowed

L1

the sick to be treated for illnesses; As an educational institute, it nurtured

PROGRAMMES AND SPATIAL ORGANISATION ALL RELATE BACK TO THE CENTRAL CORE ACCESS THROUGH 3 POINTS: FRONT, SIDE, BACK, MAIN ENTRANCE FACES THE NORTH SOUTH AXIS.

L2

L3

students through the provision of learning opportunities. Therefore, the continuation of the building’s legacy is achievable by providing i) a refuge for healing and ii) a place of learning.

Today, 250 Middle Road is situated amongst the hustle and bustle. The 4-lane traffic road; the beep of the traffic cone; the rumble of engines as cars whizz by; a contributor to the rising numbers of stressed-out individuals,

DAVID ELIAS BUILDING

PRINCEP STREET

the freneticism of the city is captured by the constant motion and noise of objects, suggesting a need for an escape into the calm and quiet.

SECTION A-A’

As such, the proposal aims to provide an Urban Sanctuary for its inhabitants, a place of respite away from the city’s hectic hustle and bustle. The existing building is reused with an additional facility to provide co-hostel, cohabitating and co-working spaces for tertiary students and young working adults. The buildings are encased and showered with lush greenery, promoting healing and wellness by integrating the built with the natural environment.

PROGRAMME 1 Co-Living: Lodging MIDDLE ROAD

SECTION B-B’

COHABITATING SPACES TARGET USERS: AGED 18-35 YEARS 1) Students (NAFA, LASELLE, SOTA, SMU) 2) Working Professionals (25-30yrs) PROGRAMME 2 Co-Learning: Study Spaces

URBAN SANCTUARY

PROGRAMME 3 Co-Working: Office Workspaces

A PLACE OF RESPITE FROM THE CITY’S HECTIC RUSH

NATURE AS A HEALING TOOL: ECOTHERAPY Shinrin Yoku = Forest Bathing Decreases Stress Levels, Heart Rate And Blood Pressure

79

Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation

80

DESIGN PROCESS

DESIGN STRATEGY 02

REMOVAL OF ANNEX BUILDING

03

ADDITION OF NEW BLOCK

04

PROTRUSIONS TO INTERACT WITH EXISTING BUILDINGS

05

ADDING INTRUSIONS FOR INTERNAL INTERACTIONS

06

MORE ITERATIONS FOR CURVES AS RESPONSE TO NATURE

ics

ha Site C

E

tute Communal Healthcare Insti and Wide Spaces

titute re Ins titute lthca s 1) Hea ational In uc 2) Ed

te stitu

nal In

atio duc

1) Naturally Ventilated (Corridors and Rooms)

EXISTING SITE

rist racte

DESIGN STRATEGY

Characteristics

01

ities

ll

for a

tics opportun nts eris tude re s ract f learning whe Cha no ing arn visio ss-le er 1) Pro r cro togeth rm fod learn n latfo 2) P ingle a rm inte

Present Day Vacant Lot

Heritage Values:

2) Treatment of the sickly

Aesthetic & Architectural Value - High Unique Art Decor facaden and shophouse typology Communal & Social Value - Low Stigma associated with it being a Hospital; original community is no longer around Historical Value - Moderate Does not engage nor enhance the Arts and Heritage District

1940-1945

1945-1980s

1940-1945

Doh-Jin Hospital

Middle Road Hospital

SIC/TMC Academy

Treated patients with skin and venereal diseases.

Private school for business, law and humanities courses.

School for aspiring medical practitioners.

Provision of full-time/ part-time diplomas

Served

local Japanese Community

Contextual Value - Low Does not define nor drives the character of the area.

Site Potential: Significance - Healthcare Institute & Educational Institute To serve as a place providing refuge and also a center of learning.

PROGRAMME SELECTION MENTAL WELLNESS

81

Constructive Conservation

NATURE AS THERAPY

Constructive Conservation

82

ENTRANCE

ACCOMMODATION

COURTYARD GREEN

COLLABORATIVE WORK SPACES

GREEN PLANTERS

VIEWING DECK

83

Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation

84

The Food Project

Relationship between users and place

Chee Jia Xin (MArch Y5) 250 & 252 MIDDLE ROAD

User Type

FUNCTION

Singapore has come a long way from the tense political climate and social tensions of the 1960s. Today, despite differences in ethnicity, religion, and culture, we live together as one

Doh Jin Hospital

people, with remarkable harmony among the nation. Three principles ensure social balance in

Hospital serving the Japanese community

Outsider/ Foreigner

Singapore, including multiculturalism, secularism, and meritocracy. However, based on CNA

Community Minor community: Immigrant issue of foreign workers

newspaper with the title of “More than 6 in 10 feel immigrants not doing enough to integrate into Singapore Survey.” Although the government always encourages people to remain open “newcomers.” To address these problems, I would like to ask can we take a little step to do

Ab-normal/ Prejudices

Hospital serving the venereal diseases (VD) LGBTQ community

Middle Road Hospital

to newcomers, somehow, at some point, people are still keeping some bias towards those something that we can minimise the perceptions about each other due to stereotypes, fear of rejection, and lack of trust? The program also aims to enhance the social status of these “newcomers,” evoking pride and confidence as they are not the “outsider,” we are all the same as human beings.

Operation Mode Weekday Culinary School Restaurant Gathering Communal Kitchen

Attachment to the place

Commercial Sustainability Weekend Workshop Restaurant Gathering Market Communal Kitchen

Fixed Income Culinary School Restaurant Retail Shop

Design Concept

Others Rent-a-Kitchen Event Market

decompose to become fertilizer Food Waste

Hydroponic farming system

Food Processing

What’s next?

Food Bank Community Care Market

harvesting

Design Strategies The building then housed Education College from 1988-2019.

1988: Singapore Institute of Commerce 1993: Stainfield College 2008: TMC Academy

Historical Building

After WW2 ended in 1945, the hospital became the Middle Road hospital, or Social Hygiene Hospital. It was the first hospital designated to handle venereal diseases (STDs) and dermatology (Skin Disease)

New Building

Old and new: Contrasting old and new, respecting the site’s historical past, establishing a contextual connection with its history and local culture.

Expansion into Public Space: Fencing are removed to return the open space to the public. Retains the “soft” core of communal significance, the people, networks and social interaction.

Blurring the boundary: Creating’s unique spatial experiences by blurring the boundary between the exterior and interior and between the public and private realms.

Opening : More opening and skylight are provided to ensure the natural lighting of the spaces.

Improved Walkabillity: More entrance provided to the public and user.

Pasive Climate Mitigation: Sun Shading elements likes textule canopies, combined with vegetation for cooling and natural ventilation.

New Built Space: Adaptive structures are developed in different levels to create new space and expand the programs. Using the translucent, lightweight material to avoid disturbing the original building.

Expansion into building: Connecting the space to the adjacent buildings and including new activities.

Doh Jin Hospital was built in 1940, serve a growing Japanese Community in the area, especially to serve The Japanese Consulate that was housed nearby

Conceptual Model

85

Constructive Conservation

Food genuinely has the power to connect people of different cultures and backgrounds.

Constructive Conservation

86

Axonometric

VEGETABLE COLLECTION PLATFORM

FOOD WASTE PROCESSING ROOM

VIEW FORM DECK

MARKET PLACE

ENTRANCE

VIEW FROM COURTYARD

87

Constructive Conservation

HYDROPONICS FARM

CULTIVATION ROOM

VEGETABLE CARRIAGE

Constructive Conservation

88

The Components

The Spaces

3F public use from hydroponic farm

2F commercial use

1F packaging area vegetable carriage system

digestated slurry digestion

collection point

to marketplace

to main building

marketplace food waste processing room

digestate slurry collector to hydroponic farm

meeting room to hydroponic farm

toilet and m&e communal kitchen

pump

dehydration

dry food storage

fertilzer ball outlet (to hydroponic farm)

office

automatic fertilization system

Middle Road Elevation

dining space vegetable collection point

communal kitchen lounge

toilet and m&e

restaurant dining space

commercial kitchen

semi-outdoor communal kitchen

viewing deck

community care warehouse

vegetable collection point viewing deck

Sectional Perspective @ Princep Street toilet and m&e retail shop food bank

production, packaging spaces

cultivation farm

89

Constructive Conservation

marketplaces hydroponics farm

Constructive Conservation

90

Transition Home for the Youth

Rochor MRT

Chooi Chuen Wai Keefe (MArch Y5) The plight of homeless youths in Singapore is hidden and transitory, much like the heritage home for homeless youths to re-house and re-integrate them. It is integrated with public

LASALLE S T R E E T

values of these seemingly ordinary buildings. This proposal seeks to establish a transitional

homelessness and piece them back to the broader urban fabric.

Prinsep Street

The reason for a transitional home in 250 Middle Road can be summed in three reasons:

Prinsep Street Presbyterian

firstly, the social and historical values of the building embodied in its taboo history as Middle

Tamil Methodist

Road Hospital, inspiring the programme to carry on the building’s social and humanitarian spirit. Secondly, the urban fabric of the Arts and Heritage Precinct the building sits within can help with overall wellbeing, and lastly, the surrounding local youth population to alleviate the

David Elias Building Nanyang

P R I N S E P

spaces and amenities that engage the local population to dismantle the stigma of youth

M I D D L E

R O A D

Sunshine Plaza

there is a sizable number that rather not stay in such shelters due to the perceived lack of autonomy, dignity and privacy.

Parklane

G L E S E

force them to live outside. However, shelters in Singapore are not well-fitted for youths, and

Peace Centre

I E

Homeless youths typically face unfavourable, abusive or neglected housing conditions that

R O

A

D

disenfranchisement of the youths.

GRID

As such, this proposal aims to: Re-settle, Re-integrate and Rehabilitate. Accommodations encourage independent living and a sense of ownership, with a series of activity spaces that engender interactions with each other and engage the public and alleviate their conditions via

School of the Arts

self-expression and healing.

The design proposes an extension at the perimeter of the site boundary, creating a central

Singapore Management

atrium that functions as the main activity space. The ground plane is opened to the public, with social enterprise shops along the edge to draw people. The upper floors are the accommodations and a series of voids and social spaces. Accommodations range from short-term multi-bed rooms to longer-term single rooms. To foster ownership and agency, woodworking and construction workshops are weaved into the site to allow residents to build and design their own spaces. This adds another built layer to the heritage and life span of the building.

The home is arranged around the central atrium that grows out of the original building, which

RESETTLEMENT

provides physical and visual connectivity between the residents. The original building forms the framework of the new extension building, creating a raw and DIY nature to the interior of the site, contrasting the ordered and ordinary facade. Overall, the site’s heritage acts as a refuge for these homeless youths, promotes healing and wellbeing, and creates a series of public and social spaces that activate the street and re-integrate this community into the

The main axis of the site was established to bisect the site between the two buildings. The axis from the main traffic junction was also recognised.

The massing of the new extension responds to the axes and entry points into the site. A central atrium is created as a result.

broader fabric.

REHABILITATION

Original building

91

Constructive Conservation

New extension massing

Breaking up of massing

Elevation of new extension

Articulation of inner atrium

Original building

Proposal to remove the floor slabs and inner facade of the buildings, retaining the facade, structure and roof of the buildings.

RE-INTEGRATION

Constructive Conservation

92

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9

SHOPS CAFE CO-WORKING SPACE MEETING ROOMS RECEPTION

10 11 12 13 14

LOUNGE AND LAUNDRY OFFICE WOOD WORKSHOP TWO-BED ROOM

15 16 17 18

SHARED-TOILET SINGLE-BED ROOM BUNK BED ROOM SINGLE ROOM HOUSEMASTER APARTMENT FOCUS PODS

WORKSHOP COMMUNAL KITCHEN GYM ART STUDIO

9

8 7

15

14 9

1 8

12 9

12

9

6

9

14

12

14

8

14

9

9

12 9

15

12 10

10 5 A

A

A

10

12

14

2

16

A

A

10

12

A

14 3

10

10

4

1

1

10

11

10

10

17 18

11

FIRST STOREY PLAN

93

Constructive Conservation

13

14

13

14

10

11

10

10

11

SECOND STOREY PLAN

THIRD STOREY PLAN

Constructive Conservation

94

SECTION A

SECTION OF ROOMS

95

Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation

96

Art Echo Garg Atul (MArch Y5) The Middle Road has a multicultural past that spans decades. It is historically noteworthy because of its geographic location, which connects many historical enclaves. It has inherent value as part of Singapore’s early municipal centre prior to WWII, and it serves as a link between the numerous preserved sites along the route today.

250 Middle Road began as a special-diseases hospital and has evolved into an academy.

Through the years, the building’s worth has plummeted. The structure is designed in an ArtDeco style with a simple geometric shape, and it is surrounded by institutions that dominate its contemporary values. I identified the site’s aspirations by understanding and studying the context and current Singapore Goals.

The analysis informed me to increase social and architectural value while also holding on to its institutional values to preserve the memory and spirit of the place. In addition, a future integrated cycle hub is identified, where the program can strengthen the building’s values in relation to its surroundings and play a critical role in the future. As shown in the diagram, a new heritage trail will be created along the Middle Road, connecting it with existing ones. In the former building, the cycling hub will have a Cycle Museum, and in the new addition, it will cater to cycle stores. People can also enrol in the e-sports cycle training institute, a 100-seat auditorium for international competitions. A rooftop restaurant will add value to the proposed program.

SITE

97

Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation

98

Process

Section bb

Exisiting structure restrored.

Existing Grid system

Re-configuring the grid by moving the cores

Adding a ramp for the cycle museum

Section aa

Retaining the wall structure

Extending the core to place building above

Adding a frosted glass facade to dimnish the astetics of extention

Adding bands to the new building to match exsting building visual language.

99

Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 100

Axonometric

3d view of museum (Old Building)

101 Constructive Conservation

3d view of cycle shops (New Building)

Constructive Conservation 102

The Artsy Fartsy Student Hotel When Historic Preservation meets Space Intensive Arts and Accomodation

Yuen Wing Ching (MArch Y5) 250 & 252 Middle Road had an educational background since the 1990s, from the SIC to its most recent TMC Academy. Many art institutions are within a 1km radius from the site, making it a spot surrounded by students. It’s context-setting nearby the Bras Basah Arts and Cultural District also attracts many young designers and artists to the area. However, there are only three student hostels nearby, and the other budget hotels that students may afford are mostly unhygienic with minimal facilities.

The Artsy Fartsy Student Hotel is a modern hostel for arts and design students from Laselle College of Arts and NAFA, two art schools nearby that are planning to tie up for a new private institution. It aims to provide long term, flexible stay near the school and essential art facilities to work after school hours. This is because art students require much space to work, which is found to be insufficient in school, especially during the pandemic.

To maximise the floor area to accommodate students, the irregular spaces and gaps of the existing buildings are filled into blocks of optimal usage. An extension block is added as a student block for media design students, while the existing two buildings will hold the fine arts & fashion and 3D design students, respectively. The new block will be built with contemporary style and modern materials to celebrate the old meets new since 3D media is a modern form of art and will be connected to the existing through moving the original bridge that connects 250 & 252 Middle Road. A narrow building will then fill the bridge as a connected living space

Student room 21 sqm

between buildings.

Lobby Reception 3D Workshop 35 sqm 73 sqm

Wood Workshop 3D Workshop 73 sqm 36 sqm

Wood Workshop Art shop 36 sqm 36 sqm

Art shop 36 sqm

Sewing Workshop Sewing Workshop Textile Workshop Textile Workshop 20 sqm 20 sqm 20 sqm 20 sqm Lobby Reception 35 sqm Screen Printing Workshop 20 sqm

To lower the energy usage, environmentally friendly design strategies like roof rainwater Ceramics Workshop 27 sqm

collection, zinc metal roofing, ceramic tube facade cooling system, double facade ventilation,

Ceramics Workshop 27 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm Filming Studios 90 sqm

and cross ventilation are used.

LEGEND Student Rooms Transition Space (Gallery space) Cafeteria Studio Space

Studio space 120 sqm

Screen Printing Workshop 20 sqm

Student room 25 sqm

Student Student roomroom 21 sqm 13 sqm

Student room

19 sqm Student room 13 sqm

Student Student roomroom StudentStudent room room 19 sqm 19 sqm 17 sqm19 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 25 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

room room StudentStudent room roomStudent Student room roomStudentStudent 21 sqm21 sqm 21 sqm21 sqm 21 sqm21 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Student room Student Student roomroom Student Student room room Pantry Pantry Student room Student room Student room 19 sqm 19 sqm 19 sqm 17 sqm19 sqm 10 sqm 13 sqm 10 sqm 13 sqm 21 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

Filming Studios 90 sqm

Blocks

Student Student room room StudentStudent room roomStudent Student room room 21 sqm 21 sqm 21 sqm21 sqm 21 sqm 21 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 25 sqm

Student room 25 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Cafeteria 120 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Cafeteria 120 sqm

Flexible open space

Studio space 80 sqm

Studio space 80 sqm

Existing block: Student rooms +Essential Arts & Design Facilities

Media Production Student Block

Student room 21 sqm

Art shop 36 sqm

3D Workshop 73 sqm

Wood Workshop 36 sqm

Lobby Reception 35 sqm

Sewing Workshop Textile Workshop 20 sqm 20 sqm

Screen Printing Workshop 20 sqm

Ceramics Workshop 27 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

LASELLE COLLEGE OF ARTS Student room 21 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 25 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

1 km Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Pantry 10 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

Existing and new Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 19 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 25 sqm

Student room 17 sqm Student room 21 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Filming Studios 90 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

1/F plan

G/F plan

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Pantry 10 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Screening room 75 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 27 sqm

Student room 21 sqm Studio space 120 sqm

NAFA

Studio space 120 sqm

Gallery 35 sqm

Gallery 35 sqm

GREEN STRATEGIES CROSS VENTILATION

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 17 sqm

Student room 23 sqm

ROOF RAINWATER COLLECTION A rainwater storage tank of 85 cum will be provided for collecting rainwater for the Bio-skin cooling facade

Cafeteria 120 sqm

SOLAR ENERGY

Student room 13 sqm

Studio space 80 sqm

Student room 13 sqm

Roof top has 15 kWp solar PV cells to generate Studio space 21,874 kWh (6/17% of estimated annual llighting 40 sqm and air conditioning consumption

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

Student room 21 sqm

BIO-SKIN (CERAMIC PIPES)

3/F plan

103 Constructive Conservation

Student room 21 sqm

StudentStudent room roomStudent Student room 21 sqm21 sqm 21 sqm21 sq

Studio space 120 sqm

Studio space 120 sqm

3D Design Student Block

Fine Arts & Fashion Student Block

Student Student room room StudentStudent room r 21 sqm 21 sqm 21 sqm21 sqm

4/F plan

Constructive Conservation 104

Elevation from North-West

Exploded Axonometric of Student CIrculation

Elevation from Princep Street

Perspective of Entrance from Princep Street

105 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 106

Plan View

Perspective from Middle Road

Perspective from Middle Road

Framing towards Middle Road

Elevation from Princep Street

Scenario inside studio space 1

Elevation from Short Street

107 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 108

Sleep & Meditation Centre

Sleep & Meditation Meditation Centre Centre Sleep &

Jiao Yiying (MArch Y5)

by JiaoYiying Yiying

by Jiao

Built in 1940, 250 Middle Road is a conserved building with high architectural values. The

Built in 1930s, 1930s, 250 Middle Road isaaconserved conserved building with high Builtsignificant in 250 Road building with high ar-armost period forMiddle the building wasis when it was used as the Middle Road Hospital. values.

The mostsignificant significant periodfor the building when The most period the building isis when Achitectural new program,values.

Sleep and Meditation Centre, is introduced infor this project.

It acts as a wayitofit

was used the Middle Middle Road Hospital. this project,there new program, the Road Hospital.

InInthis a anew healing, whichascorresponds to its past role as the hospital.

Inproject, addition, is a program, predominant Sleep Meditation Centre introduced.

Itacts actswith wayofof healing & Meditation Centre isisthe introduced. asasan a away sleep disorder issue in Singapore, being most fatiguedItnation average ofhealing 6.8 hours which corresponds to the roleofofpast past the hospital. addition, thereis is corresponds the role asasthe InInaddition, there of sleep for Singaporeansto and a significant proportion ofhospital. people suffer from sleep difficulties.

a predominant predominant sleeptrend disorder issueininand Singapore, being the mosteven fatigued disorder issue Singapore, being the most fatigued However, there is a sleep rising in meditation, it is becoming more popular during

nation with average 6.8 hours sleep for Singaporeans and asignificant significant hours ofofsleep for Singaporeans and Covid-19 due toaverage increased6.8 stress.

Moreover, much research has shown thatameditation will proportion of people people sufferthis from sleep difficulties.

However, thereis is from sleep there help to improve of sleep quality. suffer Hence, project aimsdifficulties. to address theHowever, above issues.

a rising trend trend in in meditation. meditation.ItIt isisbecoming becomingmore morepopular populareven evenduring during due to increased stress.

Moreover, many research has shown Covid-19 due to increased stress.

Moreover, many research has shown The design concept uses nature as the healing element for people to feel peace and calm. that meditation will help to improve sleep quality.

Hence, this project meditation will help to improve sleepscales quality.

Hence, thisindividuals project Different meditation spaces are designed on multiple to accommodate to groups. address the issues. aims addressDesign the above above issues. and large strategies are employed in this project, such as the reflection of water on the ceiling, crafting skylights for natural sunshine, and creating an outdoor deck to

The design concept is using nature as the healing element for people to feel peace and calm.

Different types ofofmeditation spaces are Different types meditation aredesigned designed the experienceand of thecalm. journey.

For example, a narrow pathway leadsspaces to the hidden entrance in multiple scales to accommodate individuals and large groups of scales to accommodate individuals and large groups ofpeopeoto symbolize escaping from the fast-paced reality. Changing room serves as the crossroad ple.

Design strategies are employed in this project such as the use strategies are employed in this project such as thesurrounds useofof to link the different programs together through bridges.

Lastly, the water courtyard reflection of water on the ceiling, crafting skylights for natural sunshine reflection of water on the ceiling, crafting the new extension to enhance meditation mood further.skylights for natural sunshine and creating an outdoor deck to bringing and creating an outdoor deck to bringingpeople peoplecloser closertotothe thenature natureinin the urban setting.

Spatial allocation is rationalized through the the urban setting. Spatial allocation is rationalized through theexperiexperience of journey.

For example, a narrow pathway is leading to the hidden ence of journey. For example, a narrow pathway is leading to the hidden entrance to entrance to symbolize symbolize the the escape escapefrom fromthe thefast-paced fast-pacedreality. reality.Changing Changing room serves as the crossroad to link the different programs together room serves as the crossroad to link the different programs together through bridges. through bridges.Lastly, Lastly,water watercourtyard courtyardsurrounds surroundsthe thenew newextension extensiontoto further enhance the mood of meditation. further enhance the mood of meditation.

Thepeople designcloser concept is using nature as the healing element for people to bring to nature in the urban setting.

Spatial allocation is rationalized through

Design Process Design Process 1 1

Existing conditions of 250 - 252 Middle Road Existing conditions of 250 - 252 Middle Road

4 4

2 2

3

Conserve the main building and demolish part Conserve main building and demolish part of thethe building for new extension of the building for new extension

5 5

6

Overall Perspective Overall Perspective

3

Potential to add new extension to join the Potential add newasextension to join the buildingstotogether a roof deck buildings together as a roof deck

6

5

6

5 Introduce water courtyard

Introduce water courtyard

7 7

Re-organise massing to give the larger area for water landscape Re-organise massing to give the larger area for

Push forward the new extension and detached from the building and detached Push forward theexisting new extension

8 8

9

water landscape changing room

6

3

4

3

from the existing building

1

9

8

4 2

1

8 7

2

9

7

9

changing room

meditation hall Resize the massing to give respect for the neighboring church Resize the massing to give respect for the neighboring church

X Studio Title 109 Constructive Conservation X Studio Title

Program thehall new extension as changing room meditation which represents the intersection of meditation Program the new extension as changing room journeys which represents the intersection of meditation journeys

Create an outdoor deck for the worship of tree at the site Create an outdoor deck for the worship of tree at the site

Sectional Perspective Sectional Perspective

1. Pharmacy 1. Pharmacy 2. Consultation Room

2. Consultation Room

3. Student Lounge 3. Student Lounge 4. Counselling Room

4. Counselling Room

5. Meeting Room 5. Meeting Room 6. Recording Studio

6. Recording Studio

7. Meditation Hall 7. Meditation Hall 8. Outdoor Deck

8. Outdoor 9. Meditation RoomDeck 9. Meditation Room

Studio Title X Constructive Conservation 110 Studio Title X

Metal Frame with Glass

Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church Gym

New Extension

Prinsep Street

252 Middle Road

Metal Louvre Structure

Gym Reception Changing Room

Pitched Roof

Reception

Roof Structure

14m

Ceiling Plaster

Metal Frame with Glass

Pharmacy

3 4

1

250 Middle Road

Clinic Registration

2

Meditation Hall

Third Floor

5

Roof Metal Frame

Personal Room

1. Office 2. Recording Studio 3. Discussion Room 4. Meeting Room 5. Therapy Rooms

Consultation Room

Middle Road Cafe Beam Structure 4

6

Roof Construction

Second Floor

5 1

1. Meditation Hall 2. Outdoor Deck 3. Changing Room 4. Student Lounge 5. Counselling Room 6. Function Room 7. Yoga Studio

7

2 3

Site Plan

First Storey Plan

Scale 1:250 (A1)

Scale 1:100 (A1)

4

6

5

First Floor

1 2

Five-foot walkway

Water Courtyard

East Elevation X Studio Title 111 Constructive Conservation

Meditation Hall & Outdoor Deck

Linking Brdige

Reception & Changing Room

7 3

1. Meditation Hall 2. Meditation Room 3. Reception & Changing Room 4. Cafe 5. Consultation Room 6. Pharmacy 7. Gym

Entrance

Exploded Axonometric Studio Title X Constructive Conservation 112

When the night falls, the building illuminates in a warm tone, which could evoke a serene aura around the busy site.

113 Constructive Conservation

The warm glow invites users in the nearby area to experiencce the peaceful realm of the night.

Constructive Conservation 114

Post-COVID Performance Space Leong Siew Leng (MArch Y5) “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand. “ - Stevie Wonder Back in the early twentieth century, Middle Road was a region with a diverse community. It was the settlement area of various Chinese ethnic groups, the Jews and the Japanese. 250 Middle Road itself was a hospital built by the Japanese, which was converted to the ‘Social Hygiene Hospital’ post-WWII. It was a site that represented the spirit of understanding and embracing differences. Since the beginning of Covid-19 in early 2020, various communities in Singapore has been placed in isolation, some even wrought with discrimination and misunderstandings.

The project uses music to reconnect and reembrace the communities of Bras Basah and the larger Singapore.

The proposed architecture gives the community a public green space lacking in the whole Bras Basah region. The green rooftop will enhance the social value of the former Middle Road Hospital by embracing communities from all walks of life. The F&B outlets, music stores, livestream studios, and offices scattered across the site act as the anchor to support a continuous flow of human traffic. The rooftop, the courtyard and the former hospital building act as the three main performance spaces that are flexible and adaptable in our pandemic world today. With the ability to be flexible with the change in performance scale as the situation evolves, the architecture prompts a generation of musicians and music lovers who are resilient and creative.

115 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 116

ELEVATIONAL PERSPECTIVE FROM PRINSEP STREET

117 Constructive Conservation

ELEVATION FROM MIDDLE ROAD

Constructive Conservation 118

Old Vs new

LEVEL 1

Courtyard view from level 2

LEVEL 2

Rear facade of 250 Middle Road

LEVEL 3 Courtyard view from level 3

119 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 120

SEX EDUCATION CENTER

Elevation 1

Valerie Chang Jui Li (MArch Y5) D a v i d E l i a s Buidling

The current building was once notorious as a skin and sexual disease hospital in Singapore

250 Middle Road Existing Buildiing

New sion

exten-

Prinsep Street

Singapore’s Pool Building

after World War II. As the first sexual disease hospital to treat HIV patients, the Middle Road Hospital is still remembered by many Singaporeans today. Therefore, although the public may hold prejudice towards the building, there is still a continuation of the Middle Road Hospital’s social and communal value. The building is thus suitable to continue the legacy of the hospital through advocating proper importance for the public towards sex and diseases in Singapore.

Before advocating sex education, here’s its viewpoint through our program. Sex is a natural human desire, but it could be a double-edged sword. It provides pleasure, and from a biological point of view, it is essential to ensure the inheritance of the human species. Still, at the same time, it could result in crimes and cause harm physically and mentally to a person.

View from the Middle Road. The horizontal Art-Deco style beam is continued towards the new extension building as part of the window frame. The roof of the new extension building is inclined towards the end to ensure visual contiuity of theh monumental church from the street.

As applicable to both gender, sex education should prioritize self-protection and risk control of sexual diseases & unwanted pregnancy. Thus, the aim of sexual education focuses on bringing out awareness and teaching proper perception of sex to achieve better well-being in society.

As moving forward to education, what is precisely education at its core? Education is best

Elevation 2 New extension

Existing Building

Existing Ancient Tree

New extension

Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church

to be learned through different forms, whether it is to know through the Mind or Body. The proposed program focuses on three primary forms of education: General Education, Physical education & Mental healing. For General Education, the public could learn the conventional way of having lessons in the Mezzanine Classroom, Workshop, and VR digital learning.

Users can take up self-defence classes for physical education to learn about self-protection and respect for others. The program for mental healing includes counselling, art and music therapy.

121 Constructive Conservation

Vew from Prinsep Street. The materials of the new extension will be made of brick and concrete. The enormous existing tree could provide shade for the outdoor spaces. The design of perforated brick ensures the flow of the natural ventilation in some parts of the building.

Constructive Conservation 122

1st Floor Plan

3rd Floor Plan

2nd Floor Plan

Out building is located at the junction of Middle Road & Prinsep St. Next to our site is the Presbyterian Church, which was gazetted as a national monument in 2000. On the opposite of our site facing Prinsep Street is the Singapore Pools Building which was built in 1998, it is a 12-storey high building.

PRINSETP ST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

30

20

SINGAPORE POOL’S BUILDING

30

20

20

21 20

20

20

31

20

20

20

21

31

31

32

30

20

32

31

30

20

20

20 32

30

7 5

31

30

31

30

14

10

4

14

13

15

3

8

2

1

6

12

15

15

15

15

18

32

32

6

32 9

16

12

17

11

DAVID ELIAS BUILDING

SITE LOCATION

1

Mezzanine Classroom

6

Cafe

11

VR Learning Room

16

Self-checkout Pharmacy

20

Hostel Accomodation

30

Toilet

2

Self-defence Outdoor Class

3

Educational Escape Room

7

Outdoor Seating

12

Gallery & Educational Store

17

Clinic

21

Staff Common Space

31

Lift Core

8

Library

13

Art & Music Therapy

18

Roof Garden

32

4

Emergency Staircase

Admin Room

9

Study Space

14

Counselling Room

5

Lounge

10

Meeting Room

15

Pro Bono & Legal Service

21

14 21

8

10

9

20

1

The Mezzanine Classroom will be the main focus space of the building. It is designed to be an open classroom for the education learning int he topic of sex. The wall on Level 2 and 3 will serve as a white screen for the public to learn. It is located inside a big glass wall thus the space can be looked into from the outside, and also from all the other floor levels.

123 Constructive Conservation

When the classroom is not schedule for lessons, the public could sit and relax at the mezzanine classrom. From there, user can have a view of the self-defense located just outside the glass wall. The 252 building on the inner side is to cater for private uses, mainly for accomodation of the domestic sexual assault and the staff or volunteers from the institution around.

Constructive Conservation 124

125 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 126

The Purrfect Co-Existence Youth Hostel and Cat Welfare Society

Chen Zhuolin (MAArC) On my first visit to 250 Middle Road, I was not much impressed by its architecture. It used to be a hospital to cure people’s diseases. Later, it was transformed into various private schools to provide educational opportunities for young people. Its unchanging and straightforward facade lines are the most direct connection between the present and the past. What remains unaffected is its location at the intersection of the two main roads – Middle Rd and Prinsep St. So, I began t o explore its potential connection with the past and its new value in the present and future.

I found many stray cats nearby. I wonder if we can do something for them. Later, When I interviewed some students from nearby universities, they urgently expressed the need for dormitories because most of them were international students. Most of them are students majoring in design which need to co-work and stay up late to draw design. What resonates and attracts my attention most is that they often feel lonely. When I asked, do you like cats?

They all like it very much. Even some students were working as SPCA volunteers during their free time. Cats make them feel happy and less homesick. So I gave birth to the idea of a shelter where cats communicate with young people – the purrfect co-existence. The students will take care of stray cats, use their professional skills to obtain funds for public welfare sales and organise parties and exhibitions to help the physical health of stray cats.

Considering the economic issues to designing a sustainable shelter for both humans and cats that also preserve the overall significance of the historic building, I decided to use Singapore’s very distinctive containers as a design feature. Each small box is very like a cat house. It is considerably cheap and easy to assemble to create various interesting spaces. It is also helping the environment by reusing disused containers. When the epidemic has passed and more foreign students come to Singapore, we can easily stack containers to provide more cats, and students love nests. Moreover, the cats living here will accompany those homesick international students. My design is a building for cats and young people, love and peace, adding vitality to the whole neighbourhood.

127 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 128

6

5 4

1 2

3

3

1

2

129 Constructive Conservation

4

6

5

6

Constructive Conservation 130

Meow~~ Meow~~

Can I ask you to join the cat volunteer rescue activity next week Can I ask you to join the cat volunteer rescue activity next week

Let's discuss the cases the teacher talked about in class today.

Do you have any ideas about these views

I'm so homesick.

Fortunately, a kitten can comfort me I stayed up late to do design work again.

I'm so tired

This is really good for group discussion and co-working .

It is said that they have adopted some lovely stray cats yestiday.

Dining room

131 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 132

Empowering and Elevating Eldercare Transforming Heritage into a Contemporary Nursing Home

Hao Jiayue (MAArC) Singapore is currently one of the most rapidly ageing societies in Asia. In 2020, residents aged 65 years and above made up 15.2% of the total resident population. United Nations estimate that by 2030, the number of that is 28%. Furthermore, by 2050, 47% of Singapore’s total population will be at least 65 years old. In the current scenario, apart from encouraging giving birth to increase the young population, it is urgent to consider the ageing population as the young would have to co-exist with ageing.

The two most significant issues of the elderly are loneliness and diseases. They may become lonely because of isolation from society, no longer being the hub of their family, leaving the workplace, the deaths of spouses and friends. At the same time, with ageing, their body will be prone to have various diseases. Hence, I wanted to create a place for elders to give them more powerful, meaningful, and satisfying lives and relationships. This idea gave birth to my design programme, including an activity centre, learning & workshop centre, and nursing home. Keeping an open mind to exploring new and meaningful activities can positively impact seniors’ physical and mental health. Studies have shown that continuous and lifelong learning helps maintain mental alertness and also enrich lives. The function of the nursing home is for those elderly who may have a poor health condition or have some illness and cannot be treated at home or in a hospital for some reason. So, the nursing home would pro-vide accommodation, professional care and treatment for them.

Our site location is lively, surrounded by businesses, shopping malls, schools and cultural centres, which could provide a living, vibrant community to make sure that this is a place where older people come to live and enjoy, not just wait to die. Everyone desires to live well and age gracefully. By staying physically and socially active, one can live life to the fullest.

Inspired by the heritage significance of the existing historic buildings and the immediate surroundings, my design would provide a place for empowering and elevating eldercare in Singapore.

133 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 134

135 Constructive Conservation

Reading Area

Communal Area

Courtyard

Drawing Classroom

Dining Hall

Room Constructive Conservation 136

137 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 138

Building Aroma as the Catalyst for the Human-Food Interaction Xiong Shuying (MAArC) Singapore is a fast-growing country, and this is not possible without the hard work of its people, which has led to a fast-paced city life where people lack or even lose the desire to explore and feel life.

The starting point for this project is two-fold. Firstly, most working people in Singapore are used to leaving early and returning late to their homes, which squeezes out the time that would otherwise be spent interacting with other people. It is sad but true that most neighbours do not know each other. Secondly, due to limited land resources, Singapore relies on imports from Malaysia for most of its food, especially under the influence of Covid, which has led to a crisis of food shortage a few times in the last two years.

Due to the influence of Singapore’s hawker culture, people are not used to cooking in their own homes and prefer to buy/ eat outside instead. With frequent visits to hawker centres/ restaurants, Singapore faces a problem of food waste, which eventually has to be shipped elsewhere to landfills.

Through the analysis of the original architectural values, it became clear to me that the existing buildings perpetuate not only the educational significance of the place for communal and social value but also a cure for the spiritual poverty of the people, which includes food wastage, environmental pollution, and lack of interaction between people. With its history and location, the site has the potential to attract people and raise their environmental awareness by experiencing the process of growing, harvesting, eating, and sharing food.

Thus, the significance of my design is the human–food interaction through aroma. People generally tend to only see and ignore that aroma is also a vital organ as well. When you walk past your neighbour’s kitchen, you will ask for the smell of the food, leading to human interaction. And this is something that I think is essential to society nowadays, especially in Singapore. So I wanted to evoke the ‘kampong (village) spirit’ through the sense of food aroma.

In this design, food aroma would act as a catalyst for human-food interaction. People would come here and explore the process of food production from growing to picking to processing and finally to selling, and at the same time gain the joy of harvesting and understanding the hard work that goes into growing. In addition, the whole circular process balances out the maintenance costs of the whole building due to the cultivation.

My design proposal also encourages openness at different levels by providing daily activities that increase opportunities for dialogue between individuals in the city centre. And when they harvest together, they also gain a sense of community and a spirit of community. The food that is close to its expiry date but harmless can be collected, processed, and shared with those in need, fighting food loss and waste. When the food is distributed, the aroma will

entrance

remain as a testimony of helping each other. entrance

EXPLODED VIEW

139 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 140

“Apart from the visual, what else can we perceive in the building? Aromas and human activities happen together and contribute to each other. Each space is a unique box of smells.”

141 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 142

ELEVATION SCALE:1:100

SECTIONAL DRAWING

SECTION SCALE:1:100

AXONOMETRIC DRAWING

143 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 144

Youth Co:Lab – The Social Plug-in for Built Heritage Xu Jiaqi (MAArC) After months of being trapped inside their homes, Singapore youths are slowly adapting to the “new normal” world where things are much restricted compared to the pre-COVID era. The pandemic has changed the way the youth play and work. So how will it change the design of the play and workplace in the present and future? How would these “new” designs foster connections and cultivate friendships among the youth to build resilient communities? Youth Co:Lab tackles these issues by integrating the past and the present to build a better future for Singapore.

Youth Co:Lab (YC:L) is designed to have 40% dedicated offices, up to 30% on-demand hot offices, free-standing desks, and several meeting and conference areas to facilitate small and large group discussions. Students and Gen Z entrepreneurs from around the site (as per my research, around 30,000 students are currently enrolled in six universities/ colleges, all walking distance from the site) will be the primary users. Various resources will be available at YC:L, which are not available in traditional institutions. The members of YC:L will be part of the regular social events and entertainment, such as craft workshops and monthly socials.

The design follows an open design concept that aims to reflect the endless possibilities of how the buildings can be used for learning, workshops, performances, digital recording studios, exhibitions, open spaces, and play areas. The spaces are designed to be playful and a fertile ground for exchanging interdisciplinary knowledge.

The layout of spaces brings a sense of flow to various functions. A central stage flanked by seating adjacent to the main pathway. The furniture extends from the café to the retail shop, with a view of the outdoor skateboarding area and a performance area. With such an open and visually striking design, the users’ eye will be drawn to the activities inside while complementing the open cityscape outside.

Youth Co:Lab is designed as a place where the old and new architecture comes together to create a social and communal space for the youths of Singapore.

145 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 146

147 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 148

149 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 150

Transforming Past As Our Shared Future Historic Buildings as a Place for Experiential Learning

Xu Xin (MAArC) Old buildings tell the history of a city and its people. The same is true for established organizations. When a historical building is repurposed into a place for experiential learning

[1] Conservation building

[2] Critical mass

[3] Set back

[4] Divison

[5] Shape

[6] Connect

[7] Roof Garden

[8] Encounter & Extension

for the youths of Singapore, it helps to continue the heritage. It also makes the youths worldready, passionate about acting on their dreams and serving and caring for the community.

Sustainability of environment and built-environment is vital for me. Hence, I decided to design a programme with deeper roots, which would provide more nutrients for heritage conservation to remain meaningful to the present and future generations. The proposed Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade Centre in a historic building adjacent to the site where the Boys’ Brigade was first established in 1930 will preserve and enhance the cultural significance of the existing historic buildings and further increase the vitality of the building the entire Civic District.

Designed spaces would encourage the youths to discover more about themselves, overcome challenges and broaden their perspectives through our exciting outdoor adventure activities, meaningful community projects and enrichment programmes. The Centre would also work closely with the adjacent Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church (a national monument) to extend its educational services. Sharing spaces, knowledge, and experience is the key to my design philosophy that would make it more meaningful for Singapore’s inter-generational communities.

1843 Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church

1930 Boys Brigade

151 Constructive Conservation

1940 Doh Jin Hospital

1945 Middle Road Hospital

1950 Girl Brigade

1988 Singapore Institute of Commerce

1993

2017

Stansfield Colege

TMC Academy

Diagram & Distribution

Studio Title 152 X Constructive Conservation

1

Section perspective view Section perspective view

153 Constructive Conservation X Studio Title

Shared Space

Studio Title 154 X Constructive Conservation

GroundFloor Floor Plan Plan Ground

FirstFloor Floor Plan Plan First

SecondFloor Floor Plan Plan Second

155 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 156

The Untold Stories — Museum of Alternate History Zechuan Zhao (MAArC) What if Raffles have not “founded” modern Singapore some 200 years ago. Would the nation’s history be different? What stories would historic artefacts in our national museums tell? What would they look like? Would they inspire us to critically re-evaluate our everyday life, society, history, culture, politics, and possibly our visions for the future?

The Museum of Alternate History (MAH) filters facts through biases. It explores the concepts of authoritative heritage and untold stories. Singapore’s brief history is varied and complex.

From the early settlements to the colonial period to post-independence, each node of history has dramatically influenced and even redefined the country. However, the official view of history is only one official version of Singapore’s History (with a capital ‘H’). However, these views may not be the authentic history of Singapore. Just as the history of the Pyramids is subject to revision with newly unearthed relics, Singapore’s history must settle and ferment to distinguish the authoritative histories from the stories – untold and retold.

From the early days of the Raffles Plan to Japanese pre- and post-WWII to the postindependence, Middle Road, along with its surrounding communities, has actively witnessed and participated in the development of Singapore. However, during the research for this project, many stories resurfaced, which are not told or retold in a different version to suit official narratives. The MAH is a place to tell unbiased stories. The more comprehensive the stories, the more complete it is, and the more complete it is, the more trustworthy it is. It could be argued that a pluralistic history is ultimately closer to the truth than a unitary one.

The MAH uses a diverse combination of exhibits and digital media, personal memoirs and

Contextual Value

Communal and Social value

subjective assumptions for four specific historical periods and events – early colonization, colonial substitutes, political party conflicts and racial tensions. It calls on people to discuss

RACIAL CONFLICTION PAST-FUTURE

Spirt of the Context Impression

Necessity Openess Usage rate Public Space N

Low

Medium

High

Condition

Intergration Comment Benefit

Function conection with context

Symbol of the History Contribution to community

Value

Architecture and aesthetic value

Identity Intergration Comment Benefit Low

Medium

High

History Representation

Identity

History Representation

Condition

Architecture element

Necessity

Facade

Material

157 Constructive Conservation

Integration

Ventilation

Structure

High

Building Typology

Necessity

Window

Medium

Identity

Function

Lighting

Low

Integration

Hue

Circulation

Value

Value

History Representation

Architecture style

Aesthetic

Condition

Historical Value

Style Openness

Doh Jin Hospital

Identity

Benefit

Middle Road Hospital

REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE 1965-PRESENT

Comment

TMC Academy

MERGE WITH MALAYSIA 1962-1965

Intergration

Integration Identity

1940s - 1942s

POST-WAR PERIOD 1945-1962

City Planning

Identity

1942s - 1988s

JAPANESS OCCUPATION 19421945

Architecture Typology

1988s - 2017s

EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD 1819-1942

Skyline

Visual conection with context

City Identity

Alternate History Timeline

History conection with context

and reflect upon various versions of history.

Necessity Low

Medium

High

Condition

Value

Constructive Conservation 158

IMPACT OF KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS AMONG DIFFERENT GROUPS EARLY COLONISTS

REPLACEMENT OF COLONIST

PAP VS OPPOSITION PARTY

EARLY COLONISTS Western: Low Population Base, High Engagement, Positive Impact, High Willingness to Confront Malaysian: High Population Base, High Engagement, Both Positive and Negative Impact, Low Willingness to Confront

Malayan

RACIAL CONFLICTION

Chinese

Indian

Western Colonist

High

High

High

Positive

Positive

High

Medium

Medium

Medium

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Low

Low

Low

Negative

Negative

Low

Japan Colonist

Chinese: High Population Base, Medium Engagement, Negative Impact, Low Willingness to Confront

Historical Engagement

Ethnic Population Base

Significance of the Event

REPLACEMENT OF COLONIST Japaness: Low Population Base, High Engagement, Positive Impact, High Willingness to Confront Malaysian: High Population Base, High Engagement, Negative Impact, Low Willingness to Confront

Malayan

Willingness to Confront a Event

Emotions & Attitudes

Impact of Historic Events

Chinese

Indian

Western Colonist

High

High

High

Positive

Positive

High

Medium

Medium

Medium

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Japan Colonist

Chinese: High Population Base, High Engagement, Negative Impact, Low Willingness to Confront

“Art can educate, liberate, and expand people’s horizons. People can leave with a nugget when their perception is altered.” – Tim Guthrie Low

Low

Low

Historical Engagement

Ethnic Population Base

Negative

Significance of the Event

Negative

Low

Willingness to Confront a Event

Emotions & Attitudes

Impact of Historic Events

17

PAP VS OPPOSITION PARTY

Malayan

Chinese

Indian

Western Colonist

Japan Colonist 11

Malaysian: Medium Population Base, High Engagement, Both Positive and Negative Impact, Medium Willingness to Confront Chinese: High Population Base, High Engagement, Positive Impact, High Willingness to Confront

High

High

High

Positive

Positive

High

5

16

STEP 1 PRESERVE & REMOVE

STEP 2 VOLUMN

The main body of the original building, including the façade and structure, is preserved. The original single-story warehouse and green space were removed, and the open space on the south side will be used to construct the new building.

The new construction is consistent with the original building in terms of volume to balance the new and the old. The overall form is symmetrical, with an enclosed layout.

9 UP

17 14

UP

6

13

Medium

Medium

Medium

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral 14

ENTRANCE

11 12

1

5

16

9

Low

Low

Historical Engagement

Ethnic Population Base

Negative

Significance of the Event

Negative

Low

STEP 4 PITCHED ROOF

Two axes perpendicular to each other bring the flow of people from both sides of the street. The openings are designed for a greater degree of pedestrian friendliness and openness.

The design of the sloped roof pursues harmony and unity with the surrounding environment. The roof height is aligned with the old building and lower than the church on the north side.

11

14

15

12

14

UP

15

Willingness to Confront a Event

Emotions & Attitudes

Impact of Historic Events

STEP 3 AXIS & COURTYARD

ENTRANCE

U

Low

3

13 4

14

UP

14

19

UP

UP

ENTRANCE

RACIAL CONFLICTION

Chinese

Indian

Western Colonist

Japan Colonist

7

8 3

High

Positive

Positive

High

15

STEP6 COLONADE

The loop circulation provides different journeys for visitors. The centripetal layout greatly emphasizes the significance of the central courtyard.

The original street-facing colonnade was preserved. The new building also incorporates a corridor on the first floor of the street level to bring the pedestrians closer to the building and respect the context.

1M 2M

Medium

Medium

Medium

Neutral

Neutral

12 15

1

3 14 5M

11

14

13 4

STEP 5 LOOP

UP

High

4

UP

High

UP

UP

10

N

Neutral ENTRANCE

8

Low

Low

Ethnic Population Base

Low

Historical Engagement

Negative

Significance of the Event

Negative

Impact of Historic Events

Low

Emotions & Attitudes

Willingness to Confront a Event

STEP 7 OPENING

STEP8 MATERIAL

The design of the openings greatly reflects the emotion of the interior space corresponding to the exhibition's content. The number and size of the openings provide different levels of light and air circulation in the interior.

The light-toned brick façade respects the site while not being overly dominant. The staggered brick façade design provides good ventilation and light to the interior as well.

1M 2M

5M

N

1 Information Desk 2 Lobby 3 3 Office 4 Exhibition (Early Colonial) 5 Exhibition (Replacement of Colonist) 6 Exhibition (Communism & Capitalism)

13 7 Exhibition (Racial Confliction) 8 Seminar 4 9 Workshop 10 Communication Area 11 Courtyard 12 Sharing Market UP

Ground Floor Plan

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Service WC 1 David Elias Building Intune Music School Presbyterian Church Middle Road Prinsep Street

UP

18

Indian: Low Population Base, High Engagement, Negative Impact, High Willingness to Confront

UP

Chinese: High Population Base, High Engagement, Negative Impact, High Willingness to Confront

Malayan

UP

Malaysian: Medium Population Base, High Engagement, Negative Impact, Medium Willingness to Confront

1

12

ENTRANCE

18

159 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 160

EXPLODED VIEW CEMENT MASONRY VENEER TIE 1

Rooftop Garden

1

Rooftop Terrace

2

2

The roof terrace is also at the end of the journey. It provides a space for meditation. When meditating or resting, the closed-loop flow of the courtyard is in full view. The visual connection deepens one's understanding and reflection on alternate history.

The roof garden becomes the endpoint of a closed-loop flow and the meeting point of different journeys. At the end of the trip, the roof garden gives space for communication and relaxing.

AIR SPACE FLASHING MEMBRANE WEEP HOLES SHELF ANGLE

WEATHERPROOFING MEMBRANE BATT INSULATION WOOD STUD

3

Exhibition Hall: Replacement of Colonist

3

The primary function is a space for communication, seminars and other activities. The exhibition hall gives freedom for people to communicate, to reflect. Here people discuss their subjective views on alternate history and exchange opinions for reflection.

4

Exhibition Hall: Early Colonists

5

4

Exhibition Hall: PAP VS Opposite Party

5

The primary function is a space for communication, seminars and other activities. The exhibition hall gives freedom for people to communicate, to reflect. Here people discuss their subjective views on alternate history and exchange opinions for reflection.

The primary function is a space for communication, seminars and other activities. The exhibition hall gives freedom for people to communicate, to reflect. Here people discuss their subjective views on alternate history and exchange opinions for reflection.

Exhibition Hall: Racial Confliction

6

DOUBLE GLAZING

6

The primary function is a space for communication, seminars and other activities. The exhibition hall gives freedom for people to communicate, to reflect. Here people discuss their subjective views on alternate history and exchange opinions for reflection.

LINTEL 7

Exhibition Hall: Replacement of Colonist

7

This layer gives space for a personal presentation. In contrast to the official interpretation of history on the first level, individuals can spontaneously explain their knowledge and opinions about specific historical events.

8

Exhibition Hall: Early Colonists

SKIRTING

9

8

Exhibition Hall: PAP VS Opposite Party

THIN MORTAR BED BACKER ROD AND SEALANT

9

This layer gives space for a personal presentation. In contrast to the official interpretation of history on the first level, individuals can spontaneously explain their knowledge and opinions about specific historical events.

This layer gives space for a personal presentation. In contrast to the official interpretation of history on the first level, individuals can spontaneously explain their knowledge and opinions about specific historical events.

Exhibition Hall: Racial Confliction

10

WATERRPROOFING I BEAM

10CM

10

50CM

100CM

This layer gives space for a personal presentation. In contrast to the official interpretation of history on the first level, individuals can spontaneously explain their knowledge and opinions about specific historical events.

11

Exhibition Hall: Replacement of Colonist

11

+14.0M

The first floor is the alternate history exhibition hall. It mainly exhibits officially recorded historical events. People will get an authoritative interpretation of history on this floor.

+10.5M

12

Exhibition Hall: Early Colonists

13

12

15

Outdoor Theater The outdoor theater offers an alternative way to learn.

Documentaries will be projected at night, and memory sharing sessions and other events will be held from time to time.

Exhibition Hall: PAP VS Opposite Party

13

The first floor is the alternate history exhibition hall. It mainly exhibits officially recorded historical events. People will get an authoritative interpretation of history on this floor.

The first floor is the alternate history exhibition hall. It mainly exhibits officially recorded historical events. People will get an authoritative interpretation of history on this floor.

+7.0M

15

14

Exhibition Hall: Racial Confliction

14

+3.5M

The first floor is the alternate history exhibition hall. It mainly exhibits officially recorded historical events. People will get an authoritative interpretation of history on this floor.

+0.0M

1M

2M

5M

+14.0M

+10.5M

+7.0M

+3.5M

161 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 162

The Revival of Middle Road Hospital as a Community-friendly Garden Medical Centre Zhang Yijie (MAArC) Restoration, reuse, and conservation are commonplace words in the built heritage vocabulary, and these terms are increasingly common in conversations about contemporary heritage conservation. With the imminent threat of climate change, it is necessary to safeguard our built environment and maintain a continuity of our heritage.

250 Middle Road was built as the Doh Jin Hospital in 1940. It was used as the Middle Road Hospital from 1945-88. Later, it was used as an education centre by various private institutions until 2019.

Historic buildings help us reflect upon the past and point us towards the architecture of the future; however, endeavouring to preserve an existing building can be immensely challenging.

Often, the costs and effort required to restore and revive far exceed the ease of demolition. This design proposal aims to celebrate the historical value of the existing buildings and enhance their social & communal, architectural & aesthetics and contextual value. Re-purposing the existing buildings as a medical centre with modern functional spaces will revive the building programme’s original function and continuity. The new building complements the old in form and function and sees the historic buildings as opportunities rather than obstacles The site is located on a crossroad with convenient transportation in a high-density area.

This makes it suitable for community healthcare buildings in the past and present. In the proposed design, the past, present, and future merge in a building that combines modernity with tradition, technology with sustainability, and innovation.

The new intervention aims to translate and express the existing buildings’ unique elements in a modern and straightforward language while establishing a dialogue between the old and the new. The existing buildings are repaired and conserved sympathetically using compatible materials and techniques. The new L-shaped addition built with modern materials completes the form, creating a naturally lit central space, vertical terraces, and a warm and relaxing atmosphere. This contemporary new addition, plain plastered wall, floating greens and double-height entrance bring juxtaposing modernity to the humble Art-Deco and feels unique and daring.

163 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 164

165 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 166

167 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 168

Site Visit (17th August 2021)

169 Constructive Conservation

Constructive Conservation 170