The Spectrum

“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.”

ELEVATION SCALE:1:100

SECTIONAL DRAWING

SECTION SCALE:1:100

AXONOMETRIC DRAWING

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.

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 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 1930 1940 1945 1950 1988 1993 2017

Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church Boys Brigade Doh Jin Hospital Middle Road Hospital Girl Brigade Singapore Institute of Commerce Stansfield Colege TMC Academy [1] Conservation building

[5] Shape [2] Critical mass

[6] Connect [3] Set back

[7] Roof Garden [4] Divison

[8] Encounter & Extension

Diagram & Distribution Diagram & Distribution