NUS M.Arch Class 2023/24 Grad Book by NUS Department of Architecture

CONTINUUM

National University of Singapore

M.Arch 2024

National University of Singapore

Time

Space

M.Arch 2023 / 2024

Identity

Being

Systems

NUS M.ARCH GRADUATION 2024 EXHIBITION SPONSORS Venue Sponsor

Major Sponsors

Official Sponsors

FOREWORD

PROFESSOR HENG CHYE KIANG Head of Department, Architecture Provost’s Chair Professor Deputy Dean, CDE Acting Head Director Of The Centre For Sustainable Asian Cities (CSAC)

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

It is with great pleasure that I accept the editor’s invitation to pen the foreword for this precious volume. This is particularly so since this comprehensive compendium showcases the design thesis projects of our students; for most, it is also the culmination of a journey of five arduous years of development at NUS Department of Architecture to become skilled and critical designers. Within these pages, readers will encounter a rich tapestry of diverse concepts, inspired by a multitude of influences that have shaped the students’ perspectives. From sustainable designs that harmonize with the natural environment to bold, futuristic structures that challenge conventional paradigms, the creativity and imagination displayed herein are nothing short of inspiring. Our students comprehend that buildings transcend mere brick and mortar; they are vessels for human experiences, catalysts for positive transformation, and collectively, they form the stage upon which multifaceted aspirations are fulfilled and memories are crafted. NUS Master of Architecture (M Arch) is a singular and comprehensive programme that seamlessly integrates studio research, exploration, and fabrication with a broad-based education. It recognizes architecture as a cultural practice that demands both speculative intelligence and practical execution. The programme fosters the acquisition of knowledge and the cultivation of perspectives among students, equipping them for future creative endeavours that address the contemporary and forthcoming challenges of the built environment. At the NUS Department of Architecture, our faculty and students engage in rigorous investigations spanning a broad array of social, political, technical, and aesthetic concerns related to design. The design studios are instrumental in training students to think both critically and materially, as they adopt exploratory design methodologies characterized by iterative processes. In their final year, students dedicate themselves to their individual design theses, culminating in projects that reflect their personal interests and aspirations, as well as their critical engagement with both local and global contexts. These thesis projects encompass a variety of scales, typologies, and themes, ranging from urban interventions to cultural institutions, from sustainable housing to adaptive reuse, and from digital fabrication to social innovation. My colleagues and I are immensely proud of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by our students throughout their academic journey, particularly given the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic that affected much of their long learning journey here at NUS. The disruptions to life, the added stress, and the pervasive uncertainty tested their resolve. Despite, or perhaps because of, these trials, our students have emerged stronger, exhibiting remarkable resourcefulness and creativity that will undoubtedly serve them well in their professional careers. Their passion is infectious, and their potential, boundless. On behalf of the Department of Architecture, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of M Arch 2023/24 for reaching this significant milestone. This compendium stands as a testament to your resilience, imagination, and unwavering commitment. As you embark on your professional journey, I urge you to continue pushing boundaries, challenging conventions, and shaping a world that is just, sustainable, functional, and beautiful.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

FOREWORD

TSUTO SAKAMOTO Programme Director, Master of Architecture Associate Professor (Educator Track)

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS Master of Architecture Programme has evolved over the decades by situating design thesis as the final architectural design project, the culmination of the students’ entire architectural education journey. Recognizing architecture as a cultural practice that involves both speculative intelligence and practical execution, the thesis was pursued in two modules; Architectural Design Research Report in Semester 1 and Architectural Design Thesis in Semester 2. The former providing students opportunities to deep dive into close investigations of their preferred themes and the latter, a production of architectural design based on the investigation. In Academic Year 2023/24, 153 students participated in the design thesis, under the supervision of 37 academic staff. The themes and design that the students tackled are diverse; domestic, urban, cultural, social, political, technological, historical and philosophical, while the design proposed are rich in variation; environmental, sustainable, systemic, urbanistic, AI driven and aesthetical. The plethora of voices are essential to our community tied by a passion for new ideas in architectural design. As much as the thesis themes strive for diversity, and interdisciplinary approaches were encouraged, the thesis attempts re-evaluate its own discipline, architecture, which is essentially premised on material practice and critical thinking. Investigating a material world and constructing ideas through behaviors of materials, students are involved in design by examining it through the production of numerous models and drawings. These works exhibited in the Grad Show are not a mere representation of the final proposal, but also a trajectory of their critical thinking and generation of ideas. For students, the thesis is a distinctive experience where they bring their inquiries and pursue them through their own intensive research and creative design. Its passage is full of obstacles and ramifications. A series of decisions that they make impacts the destination of their projects. Overcoming such predicaments make them independent and critical thinkers who produce new ideas for future. Finally, I would like to congratulate all the students who shared the thesis experience and their achievements. Hopefully, the students’ thesis is a place where they return to confirm and reflect on the origin of their thoughts in the years to come. Furthermore, I would like to express my appreciation to all the Thesis Supervisors, External Reviewers, Guest Reviewers, academic and administrative staff who are extremely dedicated to supporting the students.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

CONTINUUM ; a coherent whole characterized as a collection, sequence, or progression of values or elements varying by minute degrees.

THEME

M.Arch Gradshow 2024 unpacks themes of discourse in areas of thought. Within this collection of thesis projects, each student has delved deep into the fabric of Continuum, meticulously weaving together a coherent whole from the myriad of values, elements, and sequences inherent in their architectural explorations. Spread over 5 themes, each thesis pushes the discourse over a range of scales, subjects and perspectives.

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Time

Projects centered around time as a dimension of architecture. Thoughts of memory, temporality, mortality.

Space

A critical re-examination of space as we know it. From functions to attitudes, expansive landscapes to the domestic condition.

Identity

Embedded in cultural sensitivities, what are the rituals, customs and traditions that shape our cognisance.

Being

The matter of existence in both concious and non-concious beings. Questions on the agency of living beings, materials, and objects.

Systems

An inspection on the uses and opportunities of technological tools that are embedded in the contemporary everyday.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

all about

TIME Projects centered around time as a dimension of architecture. Thoughts of memory, temporality, mortality.

CONTINUUM

Aloysius Goh Jun De

Ang Yi Heng

Cao Ke

Chen Jiaxin

Dynamics of an Overexploited Territory

The Pulse of Space

Among Families

Towards Integrated Resident-tourist Ecology

Chen Rui

Chen XIaoang

Chew Shi Cheng

Cui Yanlun

Cultural Continuity in Modern Heritage Conservation

Timber Multiplication

The Urban Bypass

Symbiosis with Nature

Daryl And Sheng Kong

Declan Fu Ze Xing

Deng Ziyue

Fan Yuqiao

Unveiling the Veil

Immersiverse

The Continuation of Context

The Story of Chen Clan

Foo Jing Xi

Gu Feng

Jeremy Tan Zheng Xin

Jin Yongxuan

Shifting Sedimentary

The Hidden Path

Architecture That Learns

Singapore Airborne Gateway 2050

PROJECT REPOSITORY

Kee Yoke Choon

Liang Xiaoxuan

Koh Mei Qi

Lee Si Jia

Growth

Extension beyond Boundaries

Beyond Boundary

To the Bricks that Built Us

Li Zeyi

Liu Dian Cong

Liu Xuanyi

Loh Jia Min, Abbrielle

Nuclear Metamorphosis

Architecture of Sedimentation

Home Letter From Chinese Workers

Silver Lining Horizons

Lyu Lurui

Matthew Goh Xinzhi

Munifah Wani bte Abdul Rahim

Navinkumar Palani

Vineyard Special Forces Fortress: Belt and Road Security Center

In Search of Alternate Time

Under Construction

Petrol, Out of Station!

Ng Wei Liang

Phoebe Chua Lin’Er

Phoong Zhia Wen

Poh Yong Yi

The Architecture of Memory

Weathering With You

The Wayward Play

Rethinking Migrant Worker Dormitories

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Seah Xie Liang

Sheares Quek Ning Xuan

Shuang Jiawei

Suo Yuying

Sundarbans Floating Settlement

Happily Ever After

Drifting Towards the Periphery

Green Harmony

Tan Jia Jun Joseph

Tara Anne Sreenivasan

Vikram Kannappan

Wang Weida

The Floating Archiplexus

Intersection

Cyber Urban Lifestyle Park

Boundary City of Airport

Wang Zheng

Xie YuWen Cheryl

Xu Kailin

Yan Zhanlin

Food Factory

The Amnesiac Neighborhood

Unveiling Ambiguity: Exploring the Shadows of Fraud & Human Trafficking

The Belts Singapore

Yap Ting Ting

Yee Yook Mun

Yeoh Kai Zheng

Zhang Jiayu

Roots and Routes

In Pursuit of Autonomy

Shibuya’s Radical Sponge

Avian Circuit

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Zhou Yaru

PROJECT REPOSITORY

Seasonal Life in a Periurban Peach Grove Village

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Aloysius Goh Jun De

thesis supervisor Tsuto Sakamoto

Sea of Bangka, Indonesia

Bangka, an island located South of Sumatra, entrenched in the state of “resource curse” is fuelled by modernization that heighten the demand for tin, pushing mining operations offshore. This demand is evident in the the rapid growth of the semiconductor industry. Indonesia, a crucial global producer of tin, plays a central role in supplying this versatile metal. However, the extraction process poses complex challenges, spanning ecological, socio-economic, and political dimensions. In the region, artisan fishing communities are contending with the consequences of offshore tin mining with sedimentation traversing fishing territories, causing the reef biome to degrade. The seduction of a ‘better life’ impelled villages towards illicit maritime mining, offering elevated fiscal returns albeit at the cost of substantial health risks. Therefore, dubbed the death metal in the region, anthropogenic activities have caused the destruction of both the ecosystem and man, upsetting the island’s ecological equilibrium, encapsulating a complex

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narrative. The formation of geological features acts as a catalyst for resource exploitation on the island and the intricate interplay between external milieu and the development of island cultures. This exploitation, triggers human migration and the introduction of new traditions, ultimately shaping a distinct way of life through the cultivation of habits and acculturation. Bangka serves as a microcosm of this phenomenon, where external influences converge. These influences lead to the adoption of dual occupations – fishing and tin mining – by the local population. The thesis presents a multi-programmed scheme that evolves to meet its seasonal programmatic needs. Navigating a sensitive landscape, the thesis delves into the functional usage of simple technology and wood of the loci, carving spaces with reveration to the spirits and gods, translating into physical symbolic spatial markers that does not resist nor concede to weather, allowing architectural resilience and the continuation of mining and fishing to exist without smothering out the other. The architecture evolves from the traditional use of raw timber to carve its expression of redundancy, expressed in its vernacular built by non architects but the age-old knowledge of the sea and its spirits.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Engaging with an issue of water pollution around Bangka Island, Indonesia, caused by off-shore tin-mining, the project proposed an alternative way of mining. Learning from a local fishermen’s illegal yet environmental-friendly practice, it proposed numerous pontoons harvest fish and tin depending on the different seasons, while the both harvests are collected, processed and sold at an offshore market located 50 km away from the island to reduce fuel consumptions of the pontoons. The challenge for the ‘offshore market’ is in its own sustainability. The structures, mostly constructed with local wood, are highly vulnerable to the monsoon winds and waves. Instead of aiming at solidifying and resisting against these natural forces, the project attempted to accommodate them by allowing structures to be disperse and disassembled by the forces, while the disassembled parts are collected and reassembled after the monsoon. This entire process was further integrated with the life and religious belief of fishermen and their families in the village by providing a heat treatment facility to the island and enshrining Mazu in the offshore processing structure. With his meticulous studies using models and drawings, Aloysius sublimate this highly resilient architecture to a piece of art that expresses strength and ephemerality at the same time.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 20

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Ang Yi Heng

thesis supervisor Ar. Khoo Peng Beng

THE PULSE OF SPACE Temporal Dynamics of Urban Space

Today, time is subservient to the ideals imbued by the technocracy. In Rhythmanalysis, Henri Lefebvre posits that capitalism “kills nature. It kills the town, turning itself back against its own bases. It kills artistic creation, creative capacity...It delocalises humans”. The hegemonic mechanical repetition of production and consumption, which undermines the diversity and allure of pure, unadulterated time. The Pulse of Space reimagines the site as a tapestry of time, woven from multiple rhythms of the city. The concept of Kairos is woven into the fabric of this project, embodying the essence of marking significant moments and defining the opportune junctures for their occurrence. Above ground, autonomously operated modules shift their configuration to accommodate different activities. Time is intensified, creating a mesmerising, ever-changing composition. Quiet

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and meditative spaces are situated underground, juxtaposed against the ever-changing spaces above it, creating a heightened awareness of spirituality and the passage of time. The modules move through the site in different configurations to accommodate different programs. They raise in height to form tables, seating areas and has attachments to create stalls, exhibition zones, and sleeping areas. Umbrella like structures extends from the modules and has multiple types of openings for different uses.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yi Heng’s project explores the dynamic relationship between space-time and architecture. He developed his own methodology for capturing the rhythm of the city in a subjective reading based on a specific moment or state of consciousness. From there he explores the possibilities of a dynamic state of flux that produces various tectonics. Using Chinatown as an experimental site, Yi Heng’s proposal juxtaposes a dynamic field with a slower, more silent subterranean space. Using a simple grid and a set of small kinetic architecture, the dance of the architecture is mirrored onto the ground that then mediates light into the dark subterranean space. This creates a space-time relationship that produces a continuous polyphony between the city, architecture, the subjective and the objective time.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME

Quam re nos eium nim nihil illuptam asped et officient ea volorib usanto dollore, et quodit vid quamus, conserorit omni que vid et, conse re con

Quam re nos eium nim nihil illuptam asped et officient ea volorib

illuptam asped et officient ea volorib usanto dollore, et quodit vid

usanto dollore, et quodit vid quamus, conserorit omni que vid

quamus, conserorit omni que vid et, conse re con corerum eatecabo.

et, conse re con corerum eatecabo. Ut earumqu iscipit, conecto

Ut earumqu iscipit, conecto rempos dolest, solendae nonsequas int

rempos dolest, solendae nonsequas int mi, sit, officiusdae perit

mi, sit, officiusdae pere strume quati quided eveliantiis molecuptatia

dolest, quis res nima dolorerro mos molore possi si resed eveliantiis

autatendem que dolescit, cullis most, tem hitatis ex et quid quis am

molecuptatia autatendem que dolescit, cullis most, tem hitatis ex et

ellatiossin consere strume quati quidunt eosantur si odi.

quid quis am ellatiossin consere strume quati quidunt eosantur si odi solores sequis dolor remo comni tet Quam re nos eium nim nihil

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Cao Ke

thesis supervisor H. Koon Wee

Among Families “ We do not live in one city, but many.”

In today’s capitalist society, the commoditised nature of modern housing has led to a pattern of construction and purchase that is divorced from the needs of citizens. Top-down urban planning is to some extent more concerned with the efficiency of social functioning, but neglects the warmth between people and the city. China’s traditional social networks, based on kinship, have weakened. The help and support once provided through familial relationships have become more commercialized, reducing the possibility of bridging the wealth gap through family efforts. To better understand the mismatch between urban development and the spiritual needs of its inhabitants, I’ve turned to the classic Chinese novel from the feudal era, “Dream of the Red Mansion,” as a starting point. The aim is to identify variations of the large family society in modern social relationships. Five categories are extracted from the book, the Dreams of the Red Mansion, and been used as a basis to divide citizens in modern metropolises into five types of

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citizens, to study the social problems they face and the possibilities for solutions. As a city of significant strategic importance in Chinese history, the target city Nanjing is chosen as a typical case. Nanjing has a clear division between the old city and the new city. The street network in the old city shows a natural layout, and medical and educational resources of various scales are much richer than those in the new city. The constant influx of outsiders, those who stay and those who leave, those who run and those who put down roots. People are connected and disconnected throughout the day, week, month and year of the city. This project aims to explore how the warmth of human relationships can be reawakened in new modes of urban functioning.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS There is an incredible elegance in the way this project began with a literary form that could encapsulate a society of past epochs far better than any architectural representation could. In anticipating the problems of housing and rapid urbanisation in China, this thesis returned to one of the four great classical novels in Chinese literature, entitled the Dreams of Red Mansion by Cao Xueqin. The hypothesis lies in whether our highly individualised society today can still draw upon clues of social truths and norms in the past, whether they are questions of social capital and power, familial bonds and hierarchies, ownership and debt, migrancy and identity, and many more. The careful extrapolation of these social relations within a particular built environment from the 18th century led to an urban analysis of the city of Nanjing. Subsequent observations of the growth and decline of the city revealed that one could find a correspondence between the past, present and even future of China. Sites of housing, food and healthcare were identified in order to further explore just how contemporary social problems be resolved, in part, by the continuity and rupture of ideas of a past civilisation.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Next Door (Xue’s mansion)

I Xue Baochai: Migrant White Collar Both good at Social & keeping Privacy

PRIVACY IN PUBLIC

Neighborhood Relatives

Get Married

Childhood Sweetheatrt

II Jia Baoyu: The Next Generation of Native

V Granny Liu: Floating Population Ambivalence: curious and inferior

PUBLIC SPACE

MORE PRIVATE SPACE

Close Relatives from Hmoetown

Diverse relationships, need freshness

Nuclear Family

IV Lin Daiyu: Migrant Worker

Time Flies...

PUBLIC / PRIVATE

Isolation State & sensitive feeling

III Granny Jia: The Native

Main center and start of relationships in family

PUBLIC IN PRIVACY When poor/

Village

Relatives Seldom Contact

V Granny Liu:

Community spirit of mutual assistance

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Next Province ---- (Lin’s mansion)

When rich/

FLEXIBLE SPACE & BASIC HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

Botanical Terrace

New Street

Fence

RENT A ROOM

CARETAKING

CUT THE BOUNDARIES OF BLOCKS

Health Care

GOING TO SCHOOL

New Neighborhood /EMOTIONAL LINK

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Scenario B-1

Streets lose original natural scale, the walls of gated communities restrict free paths, and uniformly planned green spaces and streets become impersonal.

INTROVERTED

EXTROVERTED

Scenario A2

Old Neighborhood I / HOUSING The floating population face the situation of having to move at any time. MOBILE HOME / PLUG-IN

Urban Village

Scenario C

SHARING SPACE & COHESION

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SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

ACQUISITION & CONSOLIDATION

MOVE OUT

Children tend to take the native to live in the new district for ease of care.

UNOCCUPIED

/HEALTH CARE

Original

Day

Night

Scenario A1-2

Daycare Older Persons & Children

Scenario B-2

Old Neighborhood II /HEALTH CARE /EDUCATION /HOUSING

Unwilling to leave the area where they have lived for so long. Flats in the old district often correspond to better school. Occasional stay over night, but no spare bedroom. i

B2-2 a)

RENTED SELF-OCCUPIED

/FINANCIAL / FOOD

a) rented The bedroom can be rented out independently, and can be used as a whole studio.

/ HOUSING

b) self-occupied The bedroom is connected to the main body of the apartment.

B2-2 b) PROTECTION

PEDESTRIAN FLOW & MONEY

No business license, easy to be caught by the police.

Alley

Space in urban village units is often used for multiple purposes.

Old Street

Scenario A1-1

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Chen Jiaxin

thesis supervisor Victoria Jane Marshall

Towards Integrated Resident-tourist Ecology Shuanglang Town, Dali , Yunnan Province

My narrative starts with the social ecology and policies of Dali. During the process of society transformation over the past three decades, the impact of these natural resources on resident livelihoods has also been continuously changing. First, the rise and fall of fisheries and agriculture and the thriving and subsequent restructuring of the tourism industry plunged residents’ livelihoods into chaotic transitions. Second, policies aimed at protecting the environment, coupled with the development efforts of outsider entrepreneurs, resulted in the political and economic disempowerment of the residents who have long inhabited this area. In my project, I proposed a new ecology to integrate the tourists and residents. In my field trip, I found that when residents’ incomes increase, they tend to rebuild new houses, which live on higher floors such as the second or third, while ground-level spaces remain leftover. New communities emerge by connecting the vacant spaces of neighbours for joint production. Production spaces also develop horizontally as both density and production scales expand. The new intentional communities act as patches located in the unenergetic space in

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Shuanglang Town. Housing spaces are developing vertically. The vertical and horizontal growth pattern of buildings serves as a reference for the future development of new peri-urban forms. According to the location of the communities, I proposed three kinds of industries. In the fishery community, Empower the residents living by Erhai Lake with the authority of the fishery. Meanwhile, residents collaborate with technology companies to restore the ecological environment of Erhai Lake. For residents who neither have access to mountain fields nor live near Erhai Lake they can develop the rose cultivation industry. These roses create new landscapes and enhance residents’ income by selling fresh flowers and related by-products. Residents living at the foot of the mountain can increase their income through harvesting, collecting, and selling potatoes. My project is not to promote society to go back to a state without tourism, It’s about building new intentional communities including residents, tourists and technology associations, that rebuild the connection of the lake, mountains and humans.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The MArch thesis project by Chen Jiaxin offers a successful example of how an architect can support local residents to imagine an alternative future. I enjoy the many spatial scales at play here. First, the project sustains Erhai Lake as a spectacle for touristic attraction. More importantly, the project re-situates the lake environment as the setting for residents’ everyday life. Second, in an interpretation of the household courtyard house and through a close reading of underused ground-level spaces, the project imagines three types of locality-level, enclosures. Each enclosure supports an emergent public realm. As well as, a scaled-up version of existing cultivation and manufacturing practices, namely fish rearing, rose petal products, and sweet potatoes produce. Third, the project imagines a patchy density change, whereby locality-level decisions are made about where to site vertical growth. Such careful decisions allow for prosperity to stay in place, while ground -level production and play can be sustained in light-filled spaces. Overall, this is a beautiful vision, for it creatively diversifies the touristic view with intimate eco-social encounters, sustains the resident’s livelihood and lifestyle year-round, and offers a tactical planning strategy to shape future periurban form.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 32

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Chen Rui

thesis supervisor Johannes Widodo

CULTURAL CONTINUITY IN MODERN HERITAGE CONSERVATION Preservation and Renewal of Tiesha River along the Hangzhou Railway Station Banks

My project focuses on the conservation and renewal of the Tiesha River environment along the Hangzhou City Station Train Station. In my paper last semester, I explored the current issues faced by the Hangzhou City Station Train Station and the riverbank. The main issues include the inability of the station, which only supports slow trains, to attract a significant number of tourists due to rapid technological advancements, and the degradation of the Tiesha River’s environment. My design primarily addresses these issues through the opening of traffic flows at the station and the first-floor space leading to the riverbank, as well as improvements and conservation efforts along the riverbank.3. Based on the site conditions and my design philosophy, I’ve crafted a narrative for this transformation. During the

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Southern Song period, people’s relationship with the river deepened. Su Dongpo, who was the governor of Hangzhou, achieved the best integration of nature and culture in Hangzhou. The Tiesha River also carried Su Dongpo’s will and the culture of Hangzhou. With the modern construction of the City Station, the railway developed along the Tiesha River, completely isolating the two sides of the river and once again disconnecting people from it. I decided to reconnect people with the river. Around the City Station, a historical and cultural district of the Tiesha River begins to take shape. Redirecting the Tiesha River into the district allows people to reconsider the relationships between the river and people, the river and the city, and people and the city. Opening the first floor and basement of the City Station to bring the river into the city, transforming it into a cruise terminal. In the future, the City Station will gather people here through cars, trains, and cruise ships, becoming a place of cultural fusion. People will not only be able to experience Hangzhou’s long history but also enjoy the convenience of modern urban transport.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Chen Rui’s project adeptly employs a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategy, transforming an underutilised railway station into a vital transportation nexus. This hub integrates various modes of transport—water, land, car, and rail—enhancing connectivity across the region. Furthermore, it cleverly links to ancient historical sites via riverine and lake routes and land trails. This holistic approach promises to stimulate economic growth and catalyse urban regeneration around the station, potentially revitalising the entire area and enriching its cultural and historical landscape.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

SITE ANALYSIS I n t h e a r e a a r o u n d t h e o l d H a n g z h o u R a i l w a y S t a t i o n , t h e r e d s e c t i o n i n d i c a t e s t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e C i t y S t a t i o n . Yo u c a n s e e t h e r a i l w a y l i n e s d i s t r i b u t e d a l o n g t h e l i g h t b l u e T i e s h a R i v e r. Tw o d a r k b l u e s u b w a y s t a t i o n s a r e l o c a t e d n e a r t h e C i t y S t a t i o n , o n e o f w h i c h d i r e c t l y c o n n e c t s t o t h e B 1 l e v e l , f o r m i n g a v a s t u n d e r g r o u n d n e t w o r k t h a t l i n k s t h e t ra i n s t a t i o n w i t h t h e s u b w ay s t a t i o n . T h i s fa c i l i t a t e s t ra v e l fo r r e s i d e n t s . A d d i t i o n a l l y, i t ' s w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t t h e r e a r e t h r e e g ray- m a r ke d C l a s s A h o s p i t a l s a r o u n d t h e C i t y S t a t i o n a n d a l a r g e n u m b e r o f b l a c k- m a r ke d r e s i d e n t i a l a r e a s . A c c e s s i b i l i t y a n d s o u n d i n s u l a t i o n a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i m p o r t a n t i n t h i s a r e a .

HO S P I TAL RES I D EN T SU BWAY RIVER STAT I O N

STORYLINE

Since the construction of the protective moat by the King of Wuyue during the Five D y n a s t i e s a n d Te n Kingdoms period, Iron Sand River has served as the protective moat for the city wall of Hangzhou. This continued into the Southern Song Dynasty when the capital moved to H ang zhou.

With the development a n d i m p ro ve m e nt o f t h e Grand Canal (BeijingHangzhou), Tiesha River took on the role of transportation, d e e p e n i n g t h e connection between p e o p l e a n d t h e r i v e r. S u D o n g p o , w h o once served as the governor of Hangzhou, ex p e r i e n c e d t h e p e r fe c t fusion of natural and c u l t u ra l e nv i ro n m e nt s i n t h e c it y.

W it h t h e constructi on of t h e m o d e r n c i t y stat i o n , the railway developed a l o n g T i e s h a R i v e r, completely isolating b o t h s i d e s o f t h e r i v e r. People once again lost their connection w i t h t h e r i v e r, a n d t h e cultural continuity of Hangzhou seemed to be inte rrupte d.

In pursuit of cultural c o n t i n u i t y, I d e c i d e d to re-establish the connection between p e o p l e a n d t h e r i v e r. A Tiesha River Historical and Cultural District is being established at the location of the city station. Redirecting Tiesha River into the district, it prompts p e o p l e to ref l e c t o n t h e relationships between the ri ver and the ci ty.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Opening up the first floor of the city station, we bring the river into the urban environment. Reviving water transportation, we connect the river to We s t L a ke , e s t a b l i s h i n g it as the starting point fo r to u r i n g We st L a ke . The underground space of the city station is opened up to become the m ai n e ntrance.

In the future, the underground space of the city station will co n n e c t va r i o u s p a r t s o f the city, ser ving as a hub for cultural convergence. People will not only experience Hangzhou's rich history but also enjoy the convenience of modern urban life in this vi brant cul tura l center.

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FLOOR PLAN

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

TRANSPORT EXPLODE DRAWING

R A I LWAY SHIP BUS VI S ITO R

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Chen Xiaoang

thesis supervisor Shin Yokoo

Timber Multiplication The Greater Tai Kooli Plan

From Mass engineer timber structure research and design, the double beam performance in some area better than single beam, based on the calculation, one concept is that can we use one size beam and pillar to build a city? The site is near the city CBD area, due to the development gap, the site appears to be the "poor" in the city center, the government is going to conduct the whole site into a new commercial area, design start point is from the original city texture analysis, Chengdu city can be subdivided into specific size of grid, under each grid consist of multiple programs, through the research of these spaces and structures, conduct a common factor :1.8m, the minimal factor of the city, which means duplicate this factor can achieve different functions of the city program.

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Base of this logic, the site also applied with this grid system but in urban scale, to coordinate with this, must modular the span and the structure: the site original building material was recycled for construction, production of one size of the beam and pillar for building, how to integrate these element to achieve different span and space, meanwhile applied with the sutiable pragram is the key process of this design. Under the calculation and research, the beam are decided can be duplicated as 2-times double beam, 4 times, the pillar also can be 4, 9 times thicker (Timber multiplication). Applied to the 5.4m, 7.2m, 10.8m (1.8m span multiplication), these three types of the span has its unique structure and joint transformed from the original site building to sustain the space prototype. This thesis design is a practical research on how the structure can intergreted with the space and the city scale, and a claim of timber structure real applying how it fight against with the urbanization of the concrete, metal and others.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Overview

Residence

Office

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Residence A

Residence B

Taikoo Li

Teahouse

Temple

100m*100m grid

Program

14.4m

Layout 10.8m

7.2m

2m 3.6m

19.8m

5.4m

Structure

Texture 1.8m

Floor 1. HotelPlan room B 2. Hotel Reciption 3. Preparing room 4. Public activity 5. Instruments exhibition 6. Coffee 7. Public music experience 8. Music class 9. Toilet 10. Retail

3. Grid City System-Minimal Factor

Structure Type: Residence Residence

Teahouse

Pillar multiplication: 30cm*2 Beam multiplication: 15cm*4

Temple

30cm*2 45cm*1

Grid: 7.2m Units population: 160 Main elements (Per unit): Pillar(x)*32 Beam(x)*48

Reference

Site Analysis

8m 21.6m

28.8m 21.6m

100m*100m

Common grid

2. Proposal and Research

7.2m Site road

Combination

28.8m "City grid "

Floor 1. HotelP 2. Hotel 3. Prepa 4. Public 5. Instru 6. Coffee 7. Public 8. Music 9. Toilet 10. Reta

4. Grid City Design-The City Grid Value

21.6m

5.4m*5.4m grid system

TIME

Double beam 3 mutiplication

7.2m*7.2m grid system

10.8m*10.8m grid system

Structure Type: Temple Pillar multiplication: 30cm*1 Beam multiplication: 15cm*2

Pillar element: 30cm*30cm

30cm*1 H 45cm*1

Grid: 5.4m (Hybrid) Units population: 16

Beam element: 15cm*45cm Green

Texture extension

Ritual axis expand

Pillar 3 mutiplication

Structure Type: Teahouse

Structure Type: Temple, Shophouse

Material Resuse

Structure translate

Temple

Shophouse

Residence

Origin timber building

5. Structural Approach

Shops

Co-workings

Urban Design

Teahouse

7.2m Grid

Structure Type: Office Pillar multiplication: 30cm*3 Beam multiplication: 15cm*4

Theater

Exhibition Grid: 5.4m Units population: 16 Main elements (Per unit): Pillar(x)*5 Beam(x)*24

30cm*3 45cm*2

Grid: 10.8m Units population: 96 Main elements (Per unit): Pillar(x)*18 Beam(x)*16

Grid: 5.4m Units population: 16 Main elements (Per unit): Pillar(x)*5 Beam(x)*20

Structure Construction Shop

Exhibition

This page is the design process, from site analysis to proposal,

proposal is also setting one goal that using the timber to

to urban design approach and architecture approach, the whole

build one city, enhance the construction convenience,and

proposal is trying to recycle the local deconstructed original

some general sustainable issues, respect to the original of

building’s timber material, produce one size of beam and one size

the site building society history, also a claim or imaginatioz

of pillar element, then use this two element to achieve a urban

of timber structure real applying how it fight against with the

design. It requires a delicate grid size system to fit the structure

urbanization of the concrete, metal and others.

size, different space span to coordinate different programs. The

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Ground Floor Plan

Office (10.8m) Office (10.8m)

Temple (5.4m-7.2m)

Residence (7.2m)

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Chew Shi Cheng

thesis supervisor (DR) Cho Im-Sik

THE URBAN BYPASS Synchronising systems, activating communities

This thesis envisions the integration of urban communities with rail infrastructure through an infrastructure bypass strategy. Land speculation, retail dominated transit spaces and an insular mammoth urban edifice reveals a disconcerting disingenuity between the expected and derived outcomes of Transit Oriented Development. It runs afoul to the community centric aim of this development model, to which many East Asian cities pride their urban development on. The risk of this infrastructural-community gap, fuelled by a supply-side orthodoxy of excess capacities, does not necessarily imbue urban resilience per se. Instead it nooses cities with greater capital maintenance, plagued them with physical obsoleteness that adds to an ecological and social deadweigh loss borne by urban communities.

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This thesis therefore seeks to harness architecture spatial organisational qualities to facilitate communities to coordinate, share and claim spaces in the rail infrastructure. The assumption being that an activated community can become the much needed agents to deliver urban resilience for urban transit infrastructure. By grafting a rail based food logistics infrastructure onto existing mass transit, it can enable a more communitycongruent ecosystem to infiltrate and find areas for integration with an otherwise insular infrastructure. This

thesis

extending

hopes

beyond

to mere

start

discussion

numerical

our

quantifications,

expectations but

and

definition

urban

recognize

resilience

resilience,

process-driven

metric, that involves synchronising systems of differing peaks and trough, across scale and time.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS An outstanding thesis that questions the conventional approaches to urban development and envisions a future where urban infrastructure is reframed to strengthen social capital and restore community agency. A systematic and logical process that involves research on multi-scalar planning issues is proposed, which opens up new possibilities of developing comprehensive and resilient urban interventions that address imminent and future challenges. This resulted in a compelling project that is not only spatially innovative and complex, but also conceptually strong and visionary.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME

Food Logistic Infrastructural system integrating with communities

The architectural design strategy aims to bridge the infrastructural-

aligned to Calthrope’s original vision.

community gap through a design prototype that can facilitate the

self-organisation of urban communities. In the upcoming Jurong

Resolving the infrastructural-community gap shall support the larger

Town Hall MRT site, a food logistics rail infrastructural system shall

vision of achieving urban resilience. Through a design prototype

be integrated with urban communities. The expected outcome of

that can mobilise an operationally-ready urban citizenry to fend

an activated urban community that is well integrated with the rail

out urban challenges, it shall serve as a more durable approach to

infrastructure, is one where an urban spillover is made possible. This

acheiving urban resilience, as opposed to the top-down hardware

can catalyse a Transit-oriented development, that shall be more

strategy currently employed.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Cui Yanlun

Thesis supervisor YUAN CHAO

Balancing Urban Development and Nature Conservation —By Adaptable Design Strategies

This project investigates adaptive development strategies for architectural design that find a balance between urbanisation and nature in the Singapore context. With Singapore’s rapidly growing population and limited natural resources, the need for sustainable urban development has become particularly pressing. Limited national land resources, rapid population growth and economic development have led to an inevitable conflict between urban development and nature. In the context of this conflict, this thesis assesses existing ecosystems, categorises them and proposes appropriate design strategies through a case study of Dover Forest. By analysing sites at different ecosystem levels, it proposes design strategies applicable to ecosystems at levels A, B and C, including edge development , spaced development, horizontal development and vertical development. These strategies play a key role in balancing ecological conservation and urban development.The core results include a comprehensive

TIME

assessment and categorisation of existing ecosystems and corresponding design strategies. The target site is A-Level Ecosystem. The purpose of the project is to explore how to achieve coexistence and symbiosis between nature and urban development in the above context. The concept of the project is inverted city , not only the relationship between the urban and nature in the general architecture, but also the pedestrian system and the simple transportation system. Through the deliberation and continuous generation of the volume, the final form of the building attempts to express the narrative of the building itself in respect of nature and concessions to nature. In addition, through the introduction of ecological columns, facade framework and connecting links and other strategies, a complete community system is formed within the site, which not only narrows the relationship between people, but also narrows the relationship between people and nature, in order to express the balance between urban development and nature conservation.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Cui Yanlun’s master thesis presents an innovative approach to balancing urban development with the preservation of urban ecosystems. Her work specifically addresses how to construct residential buildings on sites with varying ecological quality, a complex challenge in rapidly developing cities. Yanlun’s thesis is grounded in a thorough survey where she recorded bird calls to classify the quality of ecosystems in Singapore. This methodological approach is particularly impressive for an architecture student and highlights her interdisciplinary skills and dedication. The eco-system classification Yanlun developed from her survey results provides a crucial foundation for her design work. By integrating this ecological data, she ensures that her designs are not only sensitive to the environment but also enhance it. Her thesis moves beyond theoretical exploration, culminating in a practical design showcase that demonstrates how her innovative strategies can be applied in real-world scenarios. Yanlun’s design exemplifies how urban development can harmoniously coexist with natural ecosystems, providing a model for sustainable architecture. Her work is notable for its originality, thorough research, and practical application. It stands as a testament to her ability to blend scientific inquiry with architectural creativity,

resulting

designs

that

are

both

environmentally

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

conscious

and

aesthetically

pleasing.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 48

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Balcony view

Forest view

Community Center view

Rail Corridor view

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Daryl Ang Sheng Kong

thesis supervisor Bobby Wong Chong Thai

UNVEILING THE VEIL Exposing Disguised Terrains

This thesis critically examines the waste management practices of the Semakau landfill in Singapore, highlighting the efficiency and invisibility of current disposal methods. It proposes a novel approach through the integration of haptic architecture, aiming to create a unique and immersive experience that challenges conventional perceptions of waste. Central to the proposal is the concept of “living with waste,” where the architectural landscape embraces the haptic and grimy conditions of composting. This includes features such as falling soil particles, the heat and humidity from compost, and the presence of food waste. By creating an environment that directly engages the senses, the project aims to provoke thought and foster a deeper understanding of the implications of waste production. The design also explores the dimension of time, considering memory, temporality, and mortality in the context of waste management.

TIME

By incorporating elements that evoke thoughts of impermanence and renewal, the project invites visitors to reflect on their own relationship with time and the environment. Situated between Lazarus and St John Island, the design seeks to reclaim the waterway and offer a dynamic landscape that confronts visitors with the tangible realities of waste management. It adopts a modular spread using a Voronoi pattern, allowing for controlled expansion and adaptation over time. Additionally, the intervention includes infrastructure for transporting and processing waste, as well as recreational areas to engage the community. Through this approach, the thesis seeks to not only address the practicalities of waste management but also provoke a broader discourse on our relationship with waste in the urban environment, considering both the temporal and spatial dimensions of architecture.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Daryl’s project is driven by a lack in the Singapore landscape, a desire for nature that evokes wilderness, roughness, and at times danger. Daryl’s project attempts several things. It aims to be an elevated land mass and park linking Lazarus and St. John Islands. While doing this, it also serves as an apparatus for recycling food waste into compost. By doing the latter, it hopes to reduce the amount of incinerated ash deposited on Pulau Semakau, thus prolonging Semakau’s useful life. Behind these objectives, hidden from view, is a desire to create what I term the inverse of Vietnam’s “Ha Long Bay,” Daryl’s imagery of the wilderness. Underneath that land mass is a cavernous space formed from an aggregation of surface polygonal shapes, both physical and virtual. The physical ones are supported by vertical columns, while the virtual ones are the result of negation. Gigantic fabric sacks in the form of “placenta,” or variations of it, fill these void or negated spaces. The sacks are sutured and suspended, protruding into the cavernous space filled with organic waste. They form an interior space quite unlike anything one can find, at least in Singapore.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME The genesis of this project originated from a critical examination of waste management systems in Singapore, particularly focusing on the paradoxical nature of their efficiency. While these systems excel in the swift disposal of waste, this very efficiency renders the process largely invisible to the public eye, creating a disconnect between waste production and its environmental repercussions. This lack of visibility results in a populace largely unaware of the tangible consequences of their waste, leading to a diminished sense of responsibility and interaction with the waste management process. This critique highlighted the urgent need for a paradigm shift in waste management practices, one that not only addresses the logistical aspects of waste disposal but also engages the community in a more profound and meaningful manner. The project was thus conceived as a response to this challenge, envisioning a transformative approach symbolized by the metaphor of an “iceberg” city, where the visible portion represents the immediate waste management infrastructure, while the submerged bulk symbolizes the hidden, yet critical, aspects of waste processing and environmental impact. This concept serves as a poignant reminder of the depth and complexity of waste management, urging viewers to contemplate the unseen consequences of their actions on the environment.

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The project exposes the consequences of waste production by unveiling the processes of transforming food waste into organic fertilizer through composting. This is achieved through a haptic landscape that immerses visitors in smells, humidity, and falling particles, creating an engaging environment. By transforming the composting site into eco-tourism, the project encourages contemplation and reflection on waste generation and disposal, sparking a dialogue on consumption, waste, and sustainability.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Declan Fu

thesis supervisor Tan Teck Kiam

IMMERSIVERSE A Journey Through Hyperreal Dimensions

Immersiverse is an amusement of vast collages, here strange and often shocking juxtapositions await on every corner. The future folded into the past, and vice versa. Spaces are like compost heaps; just layers and layers of stuff. The vertigo of accelerating change, the dizzying spectacle of globalized media, the feeling of being drowned in consumer goods with barely a shelf life before obsolescence. Disjointed imagery always has the power because life is disjointed and because we are. Immersiverse turns those messy feelings into a place, where its no longer necessary to resist the splintering pressures of society because the fight’s over and we lost. All that’s left is to submit to the carnival of sensations... The chosen area for expansion is Old Kallang Airport. Considering the historical significance of the surrounding

TIME

region, this area has a deep-rooted association with recreational activities. Regrettably, due to new demands for land and infrastructure requirements, the site has lost much of its former airport grandeur, although faint echoes of its past linger amidst the distortions caused by time and the changing environment. This intriguing situation provides a unique opportunity to explore the challenges outlined earlier. The selected location holds historical significance as Singapore’s inaugural commercial airport.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis titled “Immersiverse” invites readers on an exhilarating journey akin to a roller coaster ride through an amusement park located at the historic Old Kallang Airport. Along this journey, the author explores various themes such as authenticity, virtual reality, the interplay of fast and slow consumption, cyberpunk aesthetics, hyperreality, dystopian elements, serendipity, and capriciousness. A significant aspect of the thesis involves a critical examination of Disneyland and Dismaland (Banksy), which poignantly contrasts distorted realities and raises the question of what is real and what is perceived reality. The choice of the Old Kallang Airport site is particularly apt, encapsulating feelings of anticipation, novelty, and excitement liken to arriving in a new country, while also evoking the thrill, movement, and unpredictability of an amusement park experience. The remnants of old airport structures, including hangars and traces of the former runway, blend seamlessly with new additions, creating an ambiance that blurs the boundaries between utopian ideals and dystopian cyberpunk urbanism. The author refrains from making judgments and instead presents a scenario where individuals can immerse themselves in the amusement park’s amenities, fun, and games for what is worth. However, beneath these enjoyable experiences lies a deeper inquiry into the contemporary state of human identity and perception.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME This thesis aims to challenge preconceptions and provoke

question mark, compelling us to reconsider the direction in which

contemplation. The constructed realities of Disneyland and its

our society is hurtling—a direction marked by unpredictability and

reflection in Baudrillard’s hyperreality theory, juxtaposed with

an embrace of the unpredictable.

Banksy’s subversive critique in Dismaland, it dissects the cultural phenomena echo and intensify the uncvertainties prevalent in our daily lives. The impact of social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where the boundaries between authentic expression and curated personas are increasingly ambiguous. It presents a

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Deng Ziyue

thesis supervisor Johannes Widodo

THE CONTINUATION OF CONTEXT The Past and Future of the Xixiang River

This project delves into the exploration and restoration of the symbiotic relationship between the local area and the water system, particularly the historical significance of the Xixiang River and its interplay with the surrounding region. By delving into the historical context, I aim to comprehend the evolving dynamics between the river and its inhabitants, thus informing the creation of public spaces that unveil the intrinsic connection between the Xixiang River and the broader Xixiang area. Key features include: 1)Waterfront Platform (approximately 1.6m from the shore): Adorned with landscape strips and lush greenery, this platform not only enhances connectivity with the Xixiang River but also prioritizes convenience for the elderly through the installation of ramps. Functional blocks, encompassing rest areas, convenience stores, green

TIME

spaces, meeting rooms, and reading nooks, further enrich the experience. 2)Modular Platforms (measuring 4x4 meters): These versatile platforms are strategically placed to curate leisure and entertainment spaces, amplifying the allure of the riverfront. 3)Framework Structure Integration: Seamlessly blending with the original architecture, the framework structure bolsters connectivity between the market and surrounding structures along the Xixiang River, fostering a cohesive pedestrian system that encourages exploration of spatial diversity. 4)Central Courtyard: Designed to promote spatial transparency, the central courtyard serves as a focal point for communal gatherings and interaction, further strengthening the bond between the river and the built environment. 5)Semi-Underground Parking Lot: By optimizing space utilization, the semi-underground parking facility liberates land above ground, facilitating the creation of a verdant park. This green platform directly links to the market’s second floor, seamlessly integrating nature with commerce.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Deng Ziyue’s thesis proposal meticulously analyses the city’s long historical evolution and dynamic waterfront expansion. Her pilot project aims to rejuvenate the riverfront by choosing to adaptively reuse an old market building, serving as a template for broader urban regeneration. This “acupuncture” approach intricately reconnects the city with its riverfront, infusing life into a once-neglected area. The project envisions creating a vibrant hub that pulsates at the core of the city’s heartbeat, establishing a seamless blend of history and modernity that promises to transform the urban fabric and enhance community engagement.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME

The Growth of Xixiang

Historical development of Xixiang

Changes in the Coastline (1979—2024) As the coastline developed southwards, this had a significant impact on the development of the city. Not only did the docks gradually move south, but the economic centre of gravity of the city also shifted with the development. The prosperity of the Xixiang is closely related to the Xixiang Wharf. Located at the mouth of the Xixiang River, Xixiang Dock was one of the most important commercial centres in the old Xixiang. Over time, the location of Xixiang Ferry Terminal has been changing. With the advancement of land reclamation, the Xixiang Wharf gradually moved southwards. With the development of the local economy, the function of the “Xixiang Wharf” underwent a complete transformation and the Wharf and cargo yard almost disappeared. 2002 saw the closure of the Xixiang Wharf, which gradually disappeared into history.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Exploded Axonometric_Beside the Water System

Exploded Axonometric_Market

Install modular platforms measuring 4x4 meters to establish leisure and entertainment spaces.

Framework Structure. Integration of the platform structure with the original structure. Install functional blocks (rest areas, convenience stores, green spaces, meeting rooms, reading rooms).

Platforms are set up to strengthen the connection between the market and the structures along the Xixiang River, creating a pedestrian system to allow people to experience spatial diversity.

Establishing Ramps for Elderly Convenience in Travel

Enhance connectivity with the Xixiang River A central courtyard is constructed to achieve spatial transparency.

landscape strips and planting of greenery

The ground floor continues to be used as a wet market, but the facade along the river will be set back and relatively open.

Waterfront Platform (approximately 1.6m from the shore)

A semi-underground parking lot ,to free up space above ground for creating a green park. The green platform can directly access the second floor of the market.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Fan Yuqiao

thesis supervisor Ar. Richard Ho

THE STORY OF CHEN CLAN

The story takes place in the heart of Yulin, Guangxi, a city rich in history and cultural heritage. The area, once an ancient walled city, has evolved into a bustling ring road lined with shophouses. The Chen clan, a prominent local family, has resided adjacent to the southern wall for centuries, and their Earth Deity temple stands as a testament to the region’s spiritual and cultural identity. Despite the modern encroachment and the exodus of the younger generation, the temple remains a beacon of tradition, with the Earth Deity festival drawing people back to their roots. The project seeks to revitalize the Chen clan’s Earth Deity temple, celebrating its historical and cultural significance while fostering a sense of community and pride among the Chen clan’s descendants. By integrating traditional materials, respecting the site’s heritage, and creating spaces for cultural exchange, the design aims to ensure the

TIME

temple’s enduring relevance and the preservation of Yulin’s rich cultural tapestry for future generations.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yuqiao started research on the city of Yulin in the province of Guangxi where she was focusing on a row of shophouses located on the south-west of the city which were built over where the old city wall was. While conducting research on the crumbling, poorly built post-1947 row of shophouses, she stumbled upon a closely-packed village behind. Her research revealed that this village belongs to the Chen clan where they have their ancestral memorial hall and a centuries old temple dedicated to the Earth Diety. She returned to this village for extended periods where she interviewed the inhabitants and discovered their worship and cultural practices in honour of the Earth Diety which persist till today. The elderly village folks she interviewed revealed the temple was originally surrounded by fish ponds but these were filled in and new houses were built, crowding out the temple. They also lamented that their cultural traditions and practices are dying out as the ignorant younger generations do not feel any belonging nor pride in their village and the Earth Diety which has blessed the Chen clan for centuries. Yuqiao’s thesis project sought to unearth the cultural and religious practices of the Chen clan and reinforcing them by reviving the old temple. What’s admirable is her light touch - doing just enough to be a catalyst for revival and all the time with a deep respect for what’s extant, its history, its cultural practices and the Chen clan.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Commun y a m a oo op

Site 1960s

Historical Map

1970s

Geographical Connection

1970s

Historical Photo

GEOGRAPHICAL CONNECTION P oposed apa men b ock w h 8

North Facade

2 bed oom apa men

Large Pond ( 大塘 )

P oposed

Accessability Analysis

bamboo pav on

The demolished city wall

Urban registration

Deep Pond ( 深塘 )

o wo sh ppe s

Chen Clan Ancestral Temple

Housing

Rural registration

1960s

1980s

2024 Housing

The Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, is commonly known as the New Year, the New Year, the New Year's Day, etc., and is also known orally as the New Year, the New Year's Day. The Spring Festival has a long history, evolved from the ancient times, the first year of the year prayers and sacrifices.

Chinese New w Year

100 (m)

1960s

Earth Deity ( 社日节 )

have the custom of organising "Land Clubs", wherealsofamilies poollamps", theirto money known as "send sacrifice to to the congratulate gods and pray for the GodAncestral Temple

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龙抬头 Dragon Heads-raising ) of different of all, the and melon washed and peeled, melon billetpattern. to remove the flesh, according to the need to cut out the billet base, than a dozen, Day through(the burin incision shapes curvature, burin carved out the designed sharing a good year. only selected near the skin of the harder part of the burin engraving. General burin commonly used tools have more 社日节 Earth Deity ) burin shaped, but also When the( tea bubble billet through the soaking andthe washing, sifting and sunshine than a dozen, through burin sugaring, incision of different shapes and curvature, burin carved out the designed pattern. and other processes, the production of a batch of tea bubble often need nearly half a month. Complex handmade techniques and uncontrollable weather variables have made it difficult to produce the tea bubble commercially on the the teadevelopment bubble billet burin but also through a large scale, and with very limited production When each year, of the tea shaped, bubble's legacy is facing a the soaking and washing, sugaring, sifting and sunshine

- Banyan Tree

kinds of temple platforms: one is built in the patio in front of the temple hall, the temple platform is facing the statue; the second is built in the temple door of the water stage, or "water stage", the audience can sit on the boat to watch the play. Social theatre is usually performed for three days, and as many as 10 days or 10 days.

The Rattan and Bamboo m W Weaving

Lantern Festival

Ex s ng emp e bu d ngs

and other processes, the production of a batch of tea bubble often need nearly half a month. Complex handmade The Earth Deity Festival, the day to worship difficult situation. the god of the earth, is a traditional Han techniques and uncontrollable weather variables have made it difficult to produce the tea bubble commercially on Chinese festival. Ancient no fixed date, a large scale, and with very limited production each year, the development of the tea bubble's legacy is facing a times, the Festival has dominated by the warm and pre-Qin, Han, Wei, Jin dynasties choose The man's family is Lantern also required tobeen present a Tea Soaking of Craftsmen use bamboo and mango as raw materials, and after scraping the green, dissecting the gabion, peeling, The selection of wax gourd for tea soaking is particularly delicate. or so of black-skinned wax gourd with an difficult15kg situation. festive custom of watching lanterns. The formation of the Lantern different days. Since the Song Dynasty, the same size to the woman's "bridegroom". During the Spring stripping the core, drying and other processes, they weave a variety of daily necessities and works of art on a model even, straight shape and smooth surface, and a brittle sound when tapped, is the best choice for tea brewing. First Festival has a long process, rooted in the ancient folk custom the fifth e day after the spring for the social of all, the melon washed and peeled, melon billet to remove the flesh, according to the need to cut out the billet base, Festival, Yulinoffolk often serve Tea Soaking to their guests. to pray day. Ancient China's social festival twice a using techniques such as interlocking, pressing and twisting. Yulin Tea Soakingopening ( 茶泡lanterns ) is a sweet tastefor of blessings. tea dessert,Lights but to pray for only selected near the skin of the harder part of the burin engraving. General burin commonly used tools have more blessingsornamental usually in the firstYulin month the fourteenth year, divided into soaking "spring earth diety day" delicate. The Deity The selection of wax gourd for tea is particularly 15kgEarth or so of black-skinned wax gourd with an also a fine engraving, crafts. TeaofSoaking i has night to start China has a long history of weaving craft, for thousands of than a dozen, through the burin incision of different shapes and curvature, burin carved out the designed pattern. Chen Clan theSong "test Dynasty. light", theTo fifteenth night for '"lights', "autumn earth diety day", Deity Temple even, straight shapeand and smooth surface, and aEarth brittle sound when tapped, is the best choice for tea brewing. First appeared in the the Qing Dynasty, Yulin'sfolk richto point lamps, years, the working people will be bamboo, mango grass, vines Ancestral Temple The rattan grass is peeled, cored and dried by hand to obtain a soft and tough rattan-like core, which is soaked in known of as a"send lamps", sacrifice to toast the gods Festival in peeled, spring prayers, praying for the the flesh, according to the need to cut out the billet base, families, in thealso marriage woman with to Tea Soaking all and pray for of all, the melon washed and melon billet to remove When the tea bubble billet burin shaped, but also through the soaking and washing, sugaring, sifting and sunshine and other plants woven into baskets, baskets, plates, baskets, blessings. to offer sacrifices to the gods and pray for blessings. gods blessing, a good harvest. water for about 10 minutes before weaving to make it soft enough for weaving. relatives and friends, commonly known as "newcomer tea". In the only selected near the skin of the harder part of the burin engraving. burin toolsofhave more often need nearly half a month. Complex handmade and otherGeneral processes, thecommonly production used of a batch tea bubble woks and other kinds of living utensils and exquisite crafts. groom to the woman's family "welcome" or "back to the door", the than a dozen, through the burin incision of different shapes and curvature, burin carved out the designed techniques and uncontrollable weather variablespattern. have made it difficult to produce the tea bubble commercially on woman's family must be large and exquisite Tea Soaking gifts. a large scale, and with very limited production each year, the development of the tea bubble's legacy is facing a Compared to the core, the bamboo is more complicated. The local danzhu is used, and after scraping the green, The man's family is also required to present a Tea Soaking of difficult situation. When the tea bubble billet burin shaped, but also through the soaking and washing, sugaring, sifting and sunshine Guangxi has a warm and humid climate, and bamboo and rattan the same size to the woman's "bridegroom". During the Spring breaking the bamboo, drying and dissecting the gabions, the gabions are obtained for weaving. and other processes, the production of a batch of tea bubble often need nearly half a month. Complex handmade Festival, Yulin folk often serve Tea Soaking to their guests. resources are abundant and widely distributed. Folk weavers

The Tea soaking

of tea dessert, but Tea Soaking i has ynasty, Yulin's rich a Soaking toast all wcomer tea". In the ck to the door", the Tea Soaking gifts. a Tea Soaking of During the Spring eir guests.

2000s

of all,most the melon to cut out the billet base, The Deity Opera (Shexi, "社 In the countryside, of the washed and peeled, melon billet to remove the flesh, according to the need 戏 ") refers to a kind of near the skin of the harder part of the burin engraving. General burin commonly used tools have moreto worship the god theatre activity in the society altars are locatedonly underselected the banyan a dozen, through the burin incision of different shapes and curvature, burin carvedofout designed thethe society andofpattern. customs, with the meaning of tree at the head ofthan the village, while The Deity Opera (Shexi, " 社戏 ") refers to a kind rewarding the god and praying for blessings, culture in the streets, they are located at activity in the and society to worship the god and entertainment. Shexi originated from the rituals the end of the alleys. When In thethe teacity, bubble billet burin shaped, but theatre also through the soaking washing, sugaring, sifting and sunshine of of theteasociety and need customs, the meaning celebrations ofofancient governmental or private there are also altars the foot of and at other processes, the production of a batch bubble often nearly with half aand month. Complex handmade the door wall of techniques one's own house, societies, and with the diversification of theatre rewarding the god and to praying forthe blessings, culture and uncontrollable weather variables have made it difficult produce tea bubble commercially on where "the god of the eartg of the forms, the forms of Sheju are also becoming more and entertainment. Shexi originated the legacy ritualsis facing a a large scale, and with very limited production each year, the development of the tea from bubble's and more diversified, because of the subdivision door official" is written on red paper difficult situation. and celebrations of ancient governmental or private and specialisation of various theatre forms, such as and enshrined. On the day of the acrobatics, opera and other forms of theatre have social day, the main content of the societies, and with the diversification of theatre become independent and mature rituals held in the social altar and forms, the forms of Sheju are also gradually becoming more the gathering of social feasts. On and more diversified, because of Shexi the subdivision is usually performed on temple platforms or the same day, a pig is slaughtered and specialisation of various theatregrass forms, such(temporary as platforms structures). There are two for the festival, and after the meal, of templehave platforms: one is built in the patio in the remaining pork is distributed acrobatics, opera and other formskinds of theatre front of the temple hall, the temple platform is facing to each household, which is called gradually become independent and mature the statue; the second is built in the temple door of "sharing social meat", meaning the water stage, or "water stage", the audience can sit sharing a good year. Shexi is usually performed on temple orthe play. Social theatre is usually on theplatforms boat to watch performed three days, and as many as 10 days or grass platforms (temporary structures). Thereforare two 10 days.

Worship Dragon Heads-raising Day ( 龙抬头 )

- The Earth Deity

The Earth Deity Temple

The Banyan The Earth Deity Opera The Tree selection of wax gourd for tea soaking is particularly delicate. 15kg or so of black-skinned wax gourd with an

The Banyan Tree

Dragon Heads-raising Day ( 龙抬头 ) Earth Deity ( 社日节 )

Yulin Tea Soaking ) is a sweet taste of tea dessert, but 茶to offer 泡 gongs blessings. sacrifices to the gods and pray for blessings. to( beat and drums and set firecrackers. also a fine engraving, ornamental crafts. Yulin Tea Soaking i has Lantern Festival In the 2nd" the custom of sacrificing to the community (earth deity), such appeared in the Song Dynasty. To the Dynasty, Yulin's richfollows Yulin Tea Soaking ( south, )"February isQing a sweet taste ofstill tea dessert, but 茶泡 families, the engraving, marriage of aornamental woman with Tea Soaking as in Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi also ainfine crafts. Yulintoast Tea all Soaking i has and other areas, there are similar customs to the Dragon relatives and friends, commonly known as "newcomer tea". In the appeared inHead the Song Dynasty. To the Qing Dynasty, Yulin's Raising Festival, alsothethe newrich "February 2nd" custom of sacrificing to the community as the groom to the woman's family "welcome" or "back tobut the door", families, in the of aexquisite woman with TeaisSoaking toastworshipped all woman's family mustmarriage becustom, large and Tea Soaking gifts. main and the south generally as a god of the earth. relatives andThe friends, commonly knowna as "newcomer In the The man's family is also required Tea Soaking of istea". fifteenth day of to thepresent first month of the lunar year the first full the same size tomoon the woman's "bridegroom". During the Spring groom to the woman's family "welcome" or "back to the door", the of the year, which is why the fifteenth day of the first month Festival, Yulin family folkofoften serve Tealarge Soaking tothe their guests.Festival". themust lunar be year is called "Lantern Since ancient woman's and exquisite Tea Soaking gifts.

o wo sh ppe s

e pu posed as k chen and

The Earth Deity

The Tea soaking

TheFestival, Earth Deitythe day to worship The Earth Deity Temple the god of the earth, is a traditional Han Chinese festival. Ancient no fixed date, pre-Qin, Han, Wei, Jin dynasties choose different days. Since the Song Dynasty, Old Buildings the fifthThe e day after the spring for the social day. Ancient China's social festival twice a year, divided into "spring earth diety day" and "autumn earth diety day", Earth Deity Festival in spring prayers, praying for the gods blessing, a good harvest.

Dragon Heads-raising Day ( 龙抬头 ) 2000s

1960s

Lantern Festival

sert, but ng i has n's rich oast all ". In the oor", the ng gifts. aking of Spring

Urban & Rural Registration

Chen Clan Ancestral Temple

The fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year is the first full The Sheri ( 社日 ) Festival, also known as the Earth Deity Festival, is an ancient Chinese traditional Yulin Tea Soaking ( 茶 moon a sweet taste of tea dessert, but 泡 ) ofis the festival, which is divided into the Spring Festival and the Autumn Festival. In the ancient times, the also a fine engraving, ornamental crafts. Yulin Tea Soaking i has Earth Deity the day to worship The fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year is the first full festival period was set according to the stem and branch calendar, and later on, due to theThe change of Festival, The Sheri ( 社日 ) Festival, also known asappeared the Earth Festival, is an ancient traditional In the countryside, most of the in Deity the Dynasty. To the Qing Dynasty, Yulin's rich moon of theSong year, which is why the fifteenth dayChinese of the first month the god of to the earth, is a traditional Han the calendar, the festival period was set according to the lunar calendar. Spring Society according of lunar year is called "Lantern Festival". Since ancient Chinese festival. Ancient no fixed date, festival, which is divided into the Spring Festival the Autumn Inwith theTea ancient times, families,and inthe the marriage ofFestival. athe woman Soaking toastthe all spring after the fifth e day projections, generally in the second month of the lunar calendar the around altars are located under the banyan times, the Lantern Festival has been dominated by the warm and pre-Qin, Han, Wei, Jin dynasties choose relatives and friends, commonly known as "newcomer tea". In the festival period was set according to the stem and branch calendar, and laterThe on, due to the changethe of second, autumn society according to the autumn after the fifth e day, about the new valley of the village, while debutdays. of tree festive custom of watching lanterns. formation of the Lantern different Since at the the Songhead Dynasty, groom toFestival thethe woman's "welcome" orSociety "back folk to according the door", the the has a longfamily process, rooted in the ancient custom fifth ewas day after spring for the social in the the streets, they are located at the calendar, the festival period was set according to lunar calendar. Spring to lunar calendar in August. In ancient times, the earth deity and the place where the earththedeity openingmust lanterns pray for blessings. Lights to Soaking pray for gifts. worshipped were called "She", and according to Chinese folk customs, every time when it day. was Ancient time toChina's social festival twice a woman'soffamily be tolarge and exquisite the spring after the fifth e day projections, generally in the usually second ofofthe lunar Tea calendar the end of the alleys. InThe the city, blessings in themonth first month the fourteenth night to startaround year, divided into "spring earth diety day" Earth Deity farmers would set up a society to worship and pray to or pay back the Earth Deity. man's family isthe also to present a Tealamps, Soaking sow of or harvest, Chen Clan theafter "test light", fifteenth nightabout for '"lights', to point diety are day", Earth there alsoDeity altars at the Temple foot of the second, autumn society according to theThe autumn the fifth erequired day, thefolk new valley debutAncient of people believed that the earth gave birth to all things, so the earth deity was one ofand the"autumn widely earth Ancestral Temple the samealso size to as the woman's During the known "send lamps", to"bridegroom". sacrifice to the gods and pray for Spring Festival in spring prayers, praying for the worshipped deities. It was believed that the god managed the growth of grains and the peace of the athe the lunar calendar in August. In ancient times, the earth deity and the place where the earth deity was offer sacrifices to theSoaking gods and pray for blessings. gods blessing, gooddoor harvest.wall of one's own house, Festival, blessings. Yulin folktooften serve Tea to their guests. worshipped were called "She", and according to Chinese folk customs, every time when it was timeplace. to February 2 is the Christmas of the Earth deity, the Earth deity is also known as Fude Zheng where "the god of the eartg of the Shen, in southern China, is the birthday of the Earth deity, called "land birth", in order to give the Earth sow or harvest, farmers would Lantern set up a society to worship and pray to or pay back the Earth Deity. deity "warm life", some places have organised a "land door official" is written on red paper will be In southern China, it isDay the birthday of the) Festival Dragon Heads-raising ( 龙抬头 Ancient people believed that the earth gave birth toTheallfifteenth things, so the earth deity was one of the widely enshrined. On the day of the Earth Deity, called "Land Festival", and in order to warm up the life of the God of The Land, placestheand day of the first month of the lunar year is the first full Earthsome Deity Festival, day to worship Earth ( 社日节 The fifteenth day of thedeities. first monthItof was the lunar year is thethat first full EarthClubs", Deity Festival, day topool worship have the custom of organisingThe "Land where the families theirDeity money to congratulate God moon of the year, is why the dayand of the the first month the god of) thethe earth, is a traditional Han the main content of the worshipped believed the god managed thewhich growth of fifteenth grains peace of the social day, moon of the year, which is why the fifteenth day of the first month thetogod the earth, is a traditional Han and offer sacrifices, of the lunar year is called the "Lantern Festival". Since ancient Chinese festival. Ancient no fixed date, of Land on his birthday, and go the ofTemple of Land to burn incense as well as rituals February 2 "Lantern is the Festival". Christmas the Earth deity, the Earth deity is also known as Fude Zheng held in the social altar and of theplace. lunar year is called the Sinceof ancient festival. Ancient no fixed date, times, the Lantern Festival has been dominated by the warm and pre-Qin, Han, Wei, Jin dynasties choose to beat gongs and drums and Chinese set firecrackers. festive custom of watching lanterns. The formation of the different days. Since the Song times,Shen, the Lantern Festival has China, been dominated the warm and pre-Qin, Han, Wei, Jin dynasties choose the Dynasty, gathering of social feasts. On in southern is thebybirthday of the Earth deity, called "land birth", in order toLantern give the Earth In the south, "February 2nd" still follows the custom of sacrificing to the communitythe(earth deity), Festival has a long process, rooted in the ancient folk custom fifth e day aftersuch the spring for the social different days. Since the Song Dynasty, festive custom of watching lanterns. The formation of the Lantern deity "warm life", some places have organised a "land will be In southern China, itLights is the birthday of the same as in Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and other areas, there are similar customs to theChina's Dragon of opening lanterns to pray for blessings. to pray for day. Ancient social the festival twice a day, a pig is slaughtered Festival has a long process, rooted in the ancient folk custom the fifth e day after the spring for the social year, divided into "spring earth diety day" blessings usually in the first month of the fourteenth night to start Head Raising Festival, but also the new "February 2nd" custom of sacrificing to the community as the The Earth for the festival, and afterDeity the meal, Earthlanterns Deity, tocalled "Land Festival", of opening pray for blessings. Lights toand prayin fororder to warm up the life of the God of Land, some places Chen Clan day. Ancient China's social festival twice a the "test light", the fifteenth night for '"lights', folk to point lamps, and "autumn earth diety day", Earth Deity Temple main custom, and the south is year, generally worshipped a god of the blessings usually in the first month of the fourteenth night to start divided into "springas earth diety day"earth. The Earth Deity

prayers and sacrifices.

Site Map

Lantern Festival

The Earth Deity

ring Festival, or the ew Year, is commonly as the New Year, the Spring Festival, or the ear, Year's r Newthe Year,New is commonly c., and also known n as the is New Year, the New Year's sYear, the the New Year, the etc., also known ar's and Day.is The Spring y as the New Year, the l has a long history, Year's Day. The Spring d valfrom has a the long ancient history, the from first the yearancient of the ved ayers s, the and first sacrifices. year of the

P oposed es pav ons

HISTORICAL MAP

The fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year is the first full moon of the year, which is why the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year is called the "Lantern Festival". Since ancient times, the Lantern Festival has been dominated by the warm and festive custom of watching lanterns. The formation of the Lantern The Rattan and Bamboo Weaving Festival has a long process, rooted in the ancient folk custom of opening lanterns to pray for blessings. Lights to pray for blessings usually in the first month of the fourteenth night to start the "test light", the fifteenth night for '"lights', folk to point lamps, also known as "send lamps", to sacrifice to the gods and pray for blessings. to offer sacrifices to the gods and pray for blessings.

Dragon Heads-raising Day ( 龙抬头 ) Earth Deity ( 社日节 )

techniques and uncontrollable weather variables have made it difficult to produce the tea bubble commercially on

here use their skilful hands to weave woven objects with local a large scale, and with very limited production each year, the development of the tea bubble's legacy is facing a characteristics. difficult situation.

The Rattan and Bamboo Weaving China has a long history of weaving craft, for thousands of years, the working people will be bamboo, mango grass, vines and other plants woven into baskets, baskets, plates, baskets, woks and other kinds of living utensils and exquisite crafts.

water for about 10 minutes before weaving to make it soft enough for weaving.

process requires patience and care, and it usually takes a few hours to make a simple piece, or a week or more for a

years, working people will be bamboo, mango grass, vines The the Rattan and Bamboo Weaving and other plants woven into baskets, baskets, plates, baskets, woks kinds ofofweaving living utensils and exquisite crafts. Chinaand has aother long history craft, for thousands of

2000s

years, the working people will be bamboo, mango grass, vines

here use their skilful hands to weave woven objects with local characteristics.

The Tea-picking Opera Tea-picking opera, a long history, is produced by the long-term tea-picking labour, resulting in the birth of one of this unique style of folk art tea-picking opera. Tea-picking opera is a category of theatre art, by the tea people's unique dance, songs, ditties, lanterns. Tea-picking lamps and other development of the opera of the general term to carry songs and dances to become the means of its performance; performances lively, sarcastic and witty, most of the content reflects the labour life of tea-picking, The Tea-picking Opera such as 'point of the tea', 'picking tea', 'frying tea The content mostly reflects the labour life of tea picking, such as 'pointing tea',Tea-picking 'picking tea', 'frying etc.isAll of thembyare opera, a longtea', history, produced thefigurative long-term compositions from the process tea-pickingextracted labour, resulting in labour the birth of one of of tea this production, unique style showing work ofopera. tea farmers and their joyful of of folkthe art hard tea-picking Tea-picking opera is a mood category getting a goodart, harvest. of theatre by the tea people's unique dance, songs, ditties,

The Tea-picking Opera

Tea-picking opera,lamps a long is produced the long-term lanterns. Tea-picking andhistory, other development of the by opera tea-picking labour, in the oftoone of this of the general term toresulting carry songs and birth dances become theunique style of itstea-picking performance;opera. performances lively, sarcastic ofmeans folk art Tea-picking operaand is a category most art, of theby content reflects the labour life of dance, tea-picking, ofwitty, theatre the tea people's unique songs, ditties, such as 'point of the tea', 'picking tea', 'frying tea The content lanterns. Tea-picking other such development mostly reflects the labourlamps life of and tea picking, as 'pointingof the opera oftea', the'picking general term to tea', carryetc. songs to become the tea', 'frying All of and them dances are figurative compositions extracted from the labour process of tea production, means of its performance; performances lively, sarcastic and showing the hard work of tea farmers and their joyful mood of witty, most of the content reflects the labour life of tea-picking, getting a good harvest. such as 'point of the tea', 'picking tea', 'frying tea The content mostly reflects the labour life of tea picking, such as 'pointing tea', 'picking tea', 'frying tea', etc. All of them are figurative compositions extracted from the labour process of tea production, showing the hard work of tea farmers and their joyful mood of getting a good harvest.

"Rattan weaving is about flat and even, tight and moderate, and flexible according to the style of the work in accordance with the curvature." Mo Chengzhen said. Skilled craftsmen can master the strength of bending and are familiar with the toughness of the bamboo and mango strips, which means that they do not damage the structure of the material and can make beautiful and durable products.

When the tea bubble billet burin shaped, but also through the soaking and washing, sugaring, sifting and sunshine to the handmade core, the bamboo is more complicated. The local danzhu is used, and after scraping the green, and other processes, the production of a batch of tea bubble often need nearly half aCompared month. Complex Craftsmen use bamboo and mango as raw materials, and after scraping the green, dissecting the gabion, peeling, thecommercially bamboo, drying techniques and uncontrollable weather variables have made it difficult to produce thebreaking tea bubble on and dissecting the gabions, the gabions are obtained for weaving. stripping the core, drying and other processes, they weave a variety of daily necessities and works of art on a model a large scale, and with very limited production each year, the development of the tea bubble's legacy is facing a using techniques such or asininterlocking, pressingThe and twisting. During the weaving process, rattan and bamboo can be used individually flexible combinations. weaving difficult situation.

The Rattan and Bamboo m W Weaving

Guangxi has a warm and humid climate, and bamboo and rattan resources are abundant and widely distributed. Folk weavers here use their skilful hands to weave woven objects with local characteristics. China has a long history of weaving craft, for thousands of

and other plants woven into baskets, baskets, plates, baskets, Guangxi has a warm and humid climate, and bamboo and rattan woks and other kinds of living utensils and exquisite crafts. resources are abundant and widely distributed. Folk weavers here usehas their skilful to weave wovenand objects Guangxi a warm and hands humid climate, and bamboo rattan with local resources are abundant and widely distributed. Folk weavers characteristics.

During the weaving process, rattan and bamboo can be used individually or in flexible combinations. The weaving process requires patience and care, and it usually takes a few hours to make a simple piece, or a week or more for a complex one.

Craftsmen use bamboo and mango as raw materials, and after scraping the green, dissecting the gabion, peeling,

The selection of wax gourd for tea soaking is particularly delicate. 15kg or so of black-skinned waxcore, gourd with an stripping the drying and other processes, they weave a variety of daily necessities and works of art on a model even, straight shape and smooth surface, and a brittle sound when tapped, is the best choice for tea brewing. First using techniques such as interlocking, pressing and twisting. of all, the melon washed and peeled, melon billet to remove the flesh, according to the need to cut out the billet base, only selected near the skin of the harder part of the burin engraving. General burin commonly used tools have more The rattan grass is peeled, cored and dried by hand to obtain a soft and tough rattan-like core, which is soaked in than a dozen, through the burin incision of different shapes and curvature, burin carved out the designed pattern.

Craftsmen use bamboo the green, dissecting the gabion, peeling, complex one. and mango as raw materials, and after The scraping rattan grass is peeled, cored and dried by hand to obtain a soft and tough rattan-like core, which is soaked in stripping the core, drying and other processes, they weave a variety of daily necessities and works of art on a model water for about 10 minutes before weaving to make it soft enough for weaving. using techniques such as interlocking, pressing and twisting. "Rattan weaving is about flat and even, tight and moderate, and flexible according to the style of the work in

accordance with the curvature." Mo Chengzhen said. Skilled craftsmen can master the strength of bending and are

The rattan grass with is peeled, cored andofdried by hand and to obtain a soft andto tough rattan-like core, which Compared themeans core,that the bamboo issoaked moreinthe complicated. familiar the toughness the bamboo mango strips, which they do notisdamage structure of The local danzhu is used, and after scraping the green, water forthe about 10 minutes before weaving to make it soft enough for weaving. material and can make beautiful and durable products.

breaking the bamboo, drying and dissecting the gabions, the gabions are obtained for weaving.

The Tea-picking O Opera

Food

Compared to the thedissecting bamboo is the more complicated. The local danzhu is used, and after scraping the green, Craftsmen use bamboo and mango as raw materials, and after scraping the core, green, gabion, peeling, bamboo, drying and the gabionsthe are weaving obtained for weaving. rattan and bamboo can be used individually or in flexible combinations. The weaving During process, stripping the core, drying and other processes, they weave a breaking variety ofthedaily necessities anddissecting works of the art gabions, on a model Tea-picking opera singing tunes, at first relatively simple, general singing is to "December tea-picking" as the main. process requires patience and care, and it usually takes a few hours to make a simple piece, or a week or more for a using techniques such as interlocking, pressing and twisting.

Rattan Weaving

The order of the first is to congratulate and worship. Actors in the beginning of the performance, to the playwright During the weaving process, rattan and bamboo can be used individually or in flexible combinations. The weaving complex one. process requires patience and care, and it usually takes a few hours to make a simple piece, or a week or more for a and the audience congratulate the auspicious celebration, in the content of the congratulations on the auspicious The rattan grass is peeled, cored and dried by hand to obtain a softone. and tough rattan-like core, which is soaked in complex water for about 10 minutes before weaving to make it soft enough for weaving. celebration of work the wind Tea-picking opera, a long history, is produced by the long-term "Rattan weaving is about flat and even, tight and moderate, and flexible according to the style of the in and rain, wishing for success and other auspicious words. "Rattan weaving is about flat and even, tight and moderate, and flexible according to the styleMo of the work in tea-picking labour, resulting in the birth of one of this unique style accordance with the curvature." Chengzhen said. Skilled craftsmen can master the strength of bending and are Compared to the core, the bamboo is more complicated. The local danzhu is used, and Mo after scrapingsaid. the Skilled green,craftsmen can master the strength of bending and are accordance with the curvature." Chengzhen Then is the thestructure openingofof the land. Actors perform with a hoe hoeing, sowing tea seed song and dance, healthy and familiar with the toughness of the bamboo and mango strips, which means that they do not damage of folk art tea-picking opera. Tea-picking opera is a category with toughness the bamboo and mango strips, which means that they do not damage the structure of breaking the bamboo, drying and dissecting the gabions, the familiar gabions aretheobtained forofweaving. strong movement, strong sense of life. the material and can make beautiful and durable products. the material and can make beautiful and durable products. of theatre art, by the tea people's unique dance, songs, ditties, Tea-picking singing tunes, at first During the weaving process, rattan and bamboo can be used individually or in opera flexible combinations. Therelatively weavingsimple, general singing is to "December tea-picking" as the main. lanterns. Tea-picking lamps and other development of the opera The order of the first is to congratulate and worship. Actors in the beginning of the performance, to the playwright process requires patience andmaterials, care, andand it usually takes athe few hoursdissecting to make the a simple or a week or more for a Craftsmen use bamboo and mango as raw after scraping green, gabion,piece, peeling, Then comes the tea exploration. Actors perform the appearance of visiting the growth of tea trees, burning tea of the general term to carry songs and dances to become the and the audience congratulate the auspicious celebration, in the content of the congratulations on the auspicious stripping the core, drying complex one. and other processes, they weave a variety of daily necessities and works of art on a model celebration of the wind and rain, wishing for success and other auspicious words. mountain paper, praying to the gods of the land to protect a good harvest of tea, with local characteristics. means of its performance; performances lively, sarcastic and using techniques such as interlocking, pressing and twisting. Then there is tea picking and tea frying. Tea-picking performance is a man and two women tea-picking dance, while witty, most of the content reflects the labour life of tea-picking, "Rattan weaving is about flat and even, tight and moderate, and Then flexible according the style of the work with in a hoe hoeing, sowing tea seed song and dance, healthy and is the opening oftothe land. Actors perform rattanaccordance grass is peeled, and dried byMo hand to obtain asaid. soft and tough rattan-likecan core, which is in withcored the curvature." Chengzhen Skilled craftsmen master thesoaked strength of of bending and are singing and dancing, beautiful and moving movements; tea frying performance of the process of tea production, such as 'point of the tea', 'picking tea', 'frying tea TheThe content strong movement, strong sense life. water for about 10 minutes before weaving to make it soft enough for weaving. familiar with the toughness of the bamboo and mango strips, which means that they do not damage the structure of enthusiastic and nervous, a man and two women while singing and doing, the joy of the harvest is expressed to the mostly reflects labour life of teamost picking, 'pointing In thethe countryside, ofsuch theas Compared The Deity Opera (Shexi, " ") refers to a kind of 社戏 the material and can make beautiful and durable products. Then comes the tea Actors perform the appearance of visiting the growth of tea trees, burning tea after scraping theexploration. green, fullest. tea', 'picking tea', 'frying tea', etc. All of them are figurativeto the core, the bamboo is more complicated. The local danzhu is used, and mountain paper, praying to the gods of the land to protect a good harvest of tea, with local characteristics. breaking the bamboo, drying and dissecting the gabions, the gabions are obtained for weaving. theatre activity in the society to worship the god altars are located under the banyan compositions extracted from the labour process of tea production, Then there is tea picking and tea frying. Tea-picking performance is a man and two women tea-picking dance, while Tea-picking opera singing tunes, at first relatively simple, general singing is to "December tea-picking" as the main. andisdancing, beautiful moving movements; tea frying performance of the process of tea production, the head of farmers the village, while ofbeginning the society and customs, with the meaning of flexible combinations. weaving Selling tea is the final procedure of the performance. After a lot of procedures, the tea is finally made successfully, so showingtree the at hard work of tea and their joyful During moodtheofweaving process, rattan and bamboo can be used individually or in The ordersinging of the first to The congratulate andand worship. Actors in the of the performance, to the playwright process requires patience and care, and it usually takes a few hours to make aand simple or acongratulate week more enthusiastic andornervous, aa man andcelebration, two women singing doing, the joy of is expressed to the the piece, audience theforauspicious in while the content of and the congratulations onthe theharvest auspicious the younger sister sends her brother to sell the tea, which is funny and delightful. getting a rewarding the god and praying for blessings, culture ingood theharvest. streets, they are located at complex one. fullest. Tea-picking opera singing tunes, at first relatively simple, general singing is to "December tea-picking" as the main. celebration of the wind and rain, wishing for success and other auspicious words. The whole singing of tea picking in December reflects the labour enthusiasm and harvest joy of the working people Theand orderentertainment. of the first is to congratulate andoriginated worship. Actorsfrom in the beginning of the performance, to the playwright the end of the alleys. In the city, "Rattan weaving is about flat and even, tight and moderate, and flexible according Shexi the rituals to the style of the work in Selling tea is final procedure of the performance. After a lottea of procedures, thedance, tea is healthy finally made so through the whole labour process of tea planting. Then is the opening of the the land. Actors perform with a hoe hoeing, sowing seedcongratulate song and and successfully, and the audience the auspicious celebration, in the content of the congratulations on the auspicious

The Banyan Tree

there are also altars at the foot of the door wall of one's own house, where "the god of the eartg of the door official" is written on red paper and enshrined. On the day of the social day, the main content of the rituals held in the social altar and the gathering of social feasts. On the same day, a pig is slaughtered for the festival, and after the meal, the remaining pork is distributed to each household, which is called "sharing social meat", meaning sharing a good year.

Tea - Picking Opera

The Earth Deity Opera

and celebrations of ancient governmental or private societies, and with the diversification of theatre forms, the forms of Sheju are also becoming more and more diversified, because of the subdivision and specialisation of various theatre forms, such as Selling tea is the final procedure of the performance. After aThen lot acrobatics, of procedures, thepicking tea is finally made successfully, so forms opera and other of theatre there is tea and tea frying. Tea-picking performance is a manhave and two women tea-picking dance, while the younger sister sends her brother to sell the tea, which is funny and delightful. Then is the opening of the land. Actors perform with a hoe hoeing, sowing tea seed song and dance, healthy and singing and dancing, beautiful and moving tea frying performance of the process of tea production, gradually independent and mature The whole singing of tea picking in December reflects the labour enthusiasm andbecome harvest joy of the working peoplemovements; strong movement, strong sense of life.

accordance with the curvature." Mo Chengzhen said. Skilled craftsmen can master strength of bending and are the younger sister sends her brother to sell the tea, which is funny and delightful. strongthe movement, strong sense of life. celebration of enthusiasm the wind and wishing forworking success and other auspicious words. familiar with the toughness of the bamboo and mango strips, which means that they doThe not whole damage the structure of singing of tea picking in December reflects the labour and rain, harvest joy of the people the material and can make beautiful and durable products. through theexploration. whole labour process of tea Then comes the tea Actors perform theplanting. appearance of visiting the growth of tea trees, burning tea

mountain paper, praying to the gods of the land to protect aThen good harvest tea, with of local characteristics. is the of opening the land. Actors perform with a hoe hoeing, sowing tea seed song and dance, healthy and Then there is tea picking and tea frying. Tea-picking performance is a man and two women tea-picking dance, while

Tea-picking opera singing tunes, at first relatively simple, general singing is to "December tea-picking" as the main. strong movement, strong sense of life. singing and dancing, beautiful and moving movements; tea frying performance of the process of tea production, The order of the first is to congratulate and worship. Actors in enthusiastic the beginning the performance, to women the playwright andof nervous, a man and two while singing and doing, the joy of the harvest is expressed to the and the audience congratulate the auspicious celebration, in the content of the congratulations on the auspicious Then comes the tea exploration. Actors perform the appearance of visiting the growth of tea trees, burning tea fullest. celebration of the wind and rain, wishing for success and other auspicious words. mountain paper, praying to the gods of the land to protect a good harvest of tea, with local characteristics.

through the whole labour process of tea planting.

enthusiastic and nervous, a man and two women while singing and doing, the joy of the harvest is expressed to the

fullest. Then comes the tea exploration. Actors perform appearance of visiting the growth of main. tea trees, burning tea Tea-picking opera singing tunes, at first relatively simple, generalthe singing is to "December tea-picking" as the The order mountain of the first is to congratulate and worship. Actors in thetobeginning the performance, to the playwright paper, praying to the gods of the land protect aofgood harvest of tea, with local characteristics. and the audience congratulate the auspicious in the content of the congratulations on the Then there is tea picking and teacelebration, frying. Tea-picking performance is a man and twoauspicious women tea-picking dance, while Selling tea is the final procedure of the performance. After a lot of procedures, the tea is finally made successfully, so celebrationsinging of the wind rain, wishing for success and other auspicioustea words. andand dancing, beautiful and moving movements; frying performance of the process of tea production,

Shexi is usually performed on temple platforms or

(temporary structures). There two thegrass youngerplatforms sister sends her brother to sell the tea, which is funny andare delightful.

enthusiastic and nervous, a man and two women while singing and doing, the joy of the harvest is expressed to theThe whole singing of tea picking in December reflects the labour enthusiasm and harvest joy of the working people

Then is the opening of the land. Actors perform with a hoe hoeing, sowing tea seed song and dance, healthy and fullest. strong movement, strong sense of life.

through the whole labour process of tea planting.

Selling tea is the finalActors procedure theappearance performance. After the a lot of procedures, tea isteafinally made successfully, so Then comes the tea exploration. performofthe of visiting growth of tea trees,the burning the younger to sell athe tea,harvest whichofistea, funny mountain paper, prayingsister to the sends gods ofher the brother land to protect good withand localdelightful. characteristics. Then thereThe is tea picking and tea Tea-picking performance is a man twoenthusiasm women tea-picking dance, joy while whole singing of frying. tea picking in December reflects the and labour and harvest of the working people singing and dancing, and moving movements; tea frying performance of the process of tea production, through thebeautiful whole labour process of tea planting. enthusiastic and nervous, a man and two women while singing and doing, the joy of the harvest is expressed to the fullest.

Earth Deity

Selling tea is the final procedure of the performance. After a lot of procedures, the tea is finally made successfully, so the younger sister sends her brother to sell the tea, which is funny and delightful. The whole singing of tea picking in December reflects the labour enthusiasm and harvest joy of the working people through the whole labour process of tea planting.

Opera

CULTURAL PRACTICES

EXPLODED V EW NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

AERIAL VIEW

TIME

OVERALL AXONOMETRIC VIEW

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE A-A

A B

FIRST STOREY PLAN PERSPECTIVES

PLAN OF TYPICAL APARTMENT FLOOR 64

ROOF TERRACE PLAN

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE B-B

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

BAMBOO PAVILION WITH RATTAN TIES

BAMBOO REST PAVILIONS FOR WORSHIPPERS

1. Local bamboo 2. To the site and rattan

3. Support local craftmenship

1. Bamboobending

2. Fixing to the concrete base

3. Bundling

SITE CONDITIONS

USING AVAILABLE LOCAL MATERIALS

The present site conditions are dismal - the original temple is

CONSTRUCTED OUT OF LOCALY AVAILABLE MATERIALS USING LOCAL ARTISANS

squeezed on all sides by new developments from the 60s and 70s that ignore the importance of the Earth Deity to the lives of the Chen clan.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Foo Jing Xi

thesis supervisor Neo Sei Hwa

A Narratives of Inhabitation

Muara Gembong, a coastal village, faces critical challenges like rising sea levels and resource depletion. This thesis, “Shifting Sedimentary,” tackles these issues with an innovative architectural approach focused on sedimentation management. The main goals are to use sedimentation as a resource and to forge a synergistic relationship between humans and the environment. Around the world, sediments are often seen as a threat, disrupting delicate ecosystems, endangering fishermen’s livelihoods, and threatening food security. The loss of biodiversity impacts coastal economies and global climate patterns. Yet, the potential benefits of sediments are frequently overlooked. What if we could harness sediment as a

TIME

vessel for restoration and creation, crafting new land and possibilities? The project incorporates sedimentation cages into daily community life. These structures accumulate and settle sediments, improving water quality and fostering aquatic ecosystems. As sedimentation stabilizes, mangrove growth is supported, reducing wave impact and boosting coastal resilience. This creates a positive feedback loop, driving ecological regeneration and community adaptation. “Shifting Sedimentary” leverages a nature-based architectural strategy, highlighting the mutual benefits for both ecosystems and humans. By promoting mangrove restoration and underwater habitat development, the project aligns human activities with ecological preservation, fostering sustainable coexistence. The design framework consists of four layers: static architecture, floating and static structures, oyster and mangrove programs, and wave breakers, each addressing specific aspects of sedimentation and coastal resilience.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS How do we grow land? By planting a seed, literally. Jing Xi’s explorations into how natural forces shaped our river deltas gleamed enough understanding to imagine a strategy of fighting nature with nature… with some help from human. The design attempted to recover a degraded coastline along river-mouth through the planting of various habitable built structures to interrupt as well as filter the seaward flow of river sediments. These structures are generated through a rippling pattern positioned at the river-mouth. This orchestrates a pattern of sedimentation accumulation, providing the foundation for both natural and managed mangrove regeneration, which in turn and progressively, generates land. Architecture and nature work in tandem to reverse some of the impact from climate induced coastal degradation. Filtration, in this context, acts upon both water and sediments, as well as form spatial filters to organise human activities within the final collection of built and natural.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Over the years, sediment accumulation transforms initial above-water structures into connected landforms. This natural progression, coupled with adaptable architecture, enables residents to respond swiftly to rapidly changing coastal climatic conditions, ensuring resilience and flexibility.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 68

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Gu Feng

thesis supervisor Johannes Widodo

THE HIDDEN PATH: Underground Endeavours for Architectural Heritage

The Luen Wo Hui Revitalization Project is a transformative initiative aimed at rejuvenating Hong Kong’s Luen Wo Hui district, anchored by the iconic Luen Wo Market. Since its establishment in 1951, Luen Wo Market has not only been a hub of economic activity but also a symbol of community identity. The project’s vision is to honor this heritage while creating a modern, sustainable, and inclusive urban environment. Central to the project is the preservation and enhancement of Luen Wo Market, which holds significant historical and cultural value. The market will serve as the focal point for the revitalization efforts, with surrounding areas undergoing comprehensive redevelopment. The project’s development strategy includes the strategic use of underground spaces, such as state-of-the-art parking facilities and pedestrian walkways, to optimize land use and enhance the

TIME

district’s functionality. The revitalization project is expected to have a profound economic impact, generating new employment opportunities and attracting investment to the area. By creating a harmonious blend of historical charm and modern amenities, the project aims to create a sustainable economic model that benefits both residents and businesses. Scheduled for completion in 2030, the project is planned in three phases, each focusing on specific aspects of the revitalization, including infrastructure upgrades, building renovations, and the development of new public spaces. The Luen Wo Hui Revitalization Project represents a bold and visionary approach to urban renewal. By preserving the past while embracing the future, the project seeks to create a vibrant and sustainable community that celebrates its history and welcomes the future.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Gu Feng’s proposal tackles the challenge of high land values in a dense, high-rise urban setting by innovatively using a single-storey historic building as the gateway to an extensive underground redevelopment. This strategy creates valuable new spaces and properties beneath the city while preserving the surface’s historical integrity. The project emphasises economic viability as a key to conserving historic sites by making minimal changes above ground. This approach protects the heritage and maximises urban land use, offering a sustainable and economically sound model for integrating historical conservation into modern urban development.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

SHOPPING MALL

FANLING GARDEN 14

SEMI-OPEN CAFE

SAINT JOSEPH'S CHURCH 15 UNION PLAZA 16

SUNKEN PLAZA

CINEMA

PUBLIC LIBRARY

SAUNA ROOM

CARDINAL INDUSTRIAL BUILDING 19

FITNESS AREA

KERRY WAREHOUSE 20

RECREATION AND LEISURE CLUB

GRAND REGENVILLE 21

COMMUNITY CENTER

VERTICAL GARDEN

UNDERGROUND ROADWAY

UNDERGROUND PARKING

UNDERGROUND NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLE PARKING

SECONDARY SCHOOL 17 G2000 WAREHOUSE BUILDING 18

4 2

9 13

8 AA'

BB'

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME

AA'

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

BB'

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Jeremy Tan Cheng Xin

thesis supervisor Roy Pang (Ar.)W

Architecture That Learns: Tanglin Halt beyond a single generation

“Architecture that Learns” investigates the inability of Singapore’s residential typologies to adapt to changing needs of the states and its inhabitants, which resulted in the need for the En Bloc scheme. As with Tanglin Halt, most HDBs reach the end of their presumed life cycle between 50 to 60 years. Within the next 20 years, 15% of the HDBs will fall into this category, which will trigger a cycle of island wide evictions. The prevalent adoption of the scheme causes a constant displacement of communities in this tiny island of Singapore as we are not able to set foot beyond a single generation. Buildings exist in time the same way we do. In time we learn – similarly in time buildings can learn. The thesis proposes an alternative future to Tanglin Halt where the estate can learn and reconfigure itself to new needs of its stakeholders (inhabitants, designer, and state) post-inhabitated.

Guided by Brent

TIME

Steward’s 6S of Site, Structure, Skin, Services, Space Plan, and Stuff, the thesis investigates the effects of different combinations of autonomy, power distribution and level of collaboration between the three stakeholders in the context of Singapore. By rethinking the predominant top-down design approaches, the thesis pushes for a more collective one - where buildings are adequately open-ended and weak, thereby allowing the inhabitants to garner changes of different scale as a collective and for the architect to be the facilitator of changes over time. The inert slab block is converted into an organic growth model through a series of additions and alterations

that

can

subsequently

learn

from

its

inhabitants.

The

additions

commons

skeletons of expansion and the use of affordances between interfaces of different scales results in a building that is built on relations between its constituent parts which can be re-interpreted post-inhabitation.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Despite the success of Singapore’s HDB housing program, the impending expiration of 99-year leaseholds poses significant challenges. Redevelopment pressures, driven by population growth and rising land-value, necessitate higher-density housing typologies. Consequently, land-efficiency often takes precedence over preserving social networks, communal identity, and the unique sense-of-place within such established estates. What sets Jeremy’s thesis apart from other attempts at rethinking the HDB typology is the appeal to the better judgement of the communities that live within them. Through engagements with the residents of Tanglin Halt and exhaustive site-mappings, Jeremy’s thesis focusses on the ‘weakness’ of architecture - exploring blurred thresholds, ambiguous boundary conditions, and marginal gains. The project seeks to balance density while proposing a series of multi-scalar strategies aimed at empowering residents and creating a flexible architectural framework which supports the continuous adapting and re-making of private and public spaces by users. It relies on existing communities to negotiate, compromise, and co-exist in place, enabling housing developments to evolve beyond the generation of residents they were originally built for. The thesis advocates for looser fits over tailored responses and possibilities over definitions, ultimately aiming to build community resilience, with the outcome being greater than the sum of its parts.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Analysis and Interventions into Growth Model

Reduction

Addition (Density)

TIME

Original

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Addition Of Commons

Interface Interventions

New roles of the Inhabitants & the Designer Form FUNCTION

Provide affordances through Structure and Site

Designer

follows

Inhabitants

1.Study Patterns and needs 2.Facilitator of collective change

Changes Space Plan and Stuff

BLOCK - STREET - RECREATIONAL

BLOCK - BLOCK

COURTYARD - BLOCK - PLAYGROUND

VOID DECK - GARDEN

RAILWAY CORRIDOR - ESTATE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Jin Yongxuan

thesis supervisor Prof Joseph Lim

SINGAPORE AIRBORNE GATEWAY 2050 DRONE INTEGRATED TOD AT WOODLANDS NORTH COAST

Situated adjacent to Woodlands North MRT station and the emerging Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, this multifaceted development stands as a model of cohesive urban planning, providing a combination of retail shops and offices underneath a state-of-the-art aerial taxi center. The project embodies a progressive outlook on urban transportation by incorporating an Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) drone terminal directly within the structure of the RTS Link, above the retail and office floors. This integration allows for the seamless transition of passengers from regional rail to aerial taxis, enhancing the overall flow and utility of the transport hub. It also features a direct conduit to immigration facilities in the RTS Link,

TIME

significantly enhancing the efficiency of cross-border travel. The unique architectural design of the podium, featuring inverted contoured buildings, optimally utilizes space to create an expansive and inviting central plaza. Above, the eVTOL facility is planned in two pier configurations to ensure streamlined drone operations. The complex also includes a dedicated tower that serves both observatory and telecommunications functions, underscoring the dual utility of the structure. Together, these elements unite to form a highly integrated and technologically advanced urban infrastructure, poised to redefine the standards of modern transportation and urban design.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS In 2026 the Woodlands to Bukit Chagar rapid transit system will connect with the Thomson East Coast Line. A passenger drone terminal for both domestic and international flights is proposed adjacent to the Woodlands RTS terminal. With its own CIQ, the new drone terminal will offer a futuristic intermodal transfer for commuters to Johor state and within SG. Commuter transfer pathways are punctuated by thoughtfully composed arrival and departure halls characterising place in a modern tropical language while activating retail streets in the circulation strategy of a transport terminal. The telecommunications tower is a functional landmark for drone pilots navigating the separate airspaces of Malaysia and Singapore and locating the TOL zones of domestic and international flights on the podium roof.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME

Sectional Perspective of Airborne Gateway and adjacent RTS Link

eVTOL Drones Flight path routes on Podium Roof

This diagram illustrates the various routes taken by commuters,

Conversely,

encompassing both inbound and outbound flows, tailored for local

accommodating an increased number of retail outlets to serve

as well as cross-border travel. The architecture adapts in height

passengers following their disembarkation.

across different segments; blocks nearest to the RTS Immigration link are designed with reduced height to expedite departures.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

the

blocks

the

arrival

podium

are

taller,

Drone Arrival Immigration Hall

Grand Staircase from RTS Link B1 to Open Plaza

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Kee Yoke Choon

thesis supervisor Neo Sei Hwa

Rediscovering and rebuilding memories and livelihoods with remnants

The ecological disaster along the coasts of Indonesia’s Muaragembong coastal region has resulted in the inundation and destruction of villages, including the public and social spaces within them. These spaces would have been vital to the identities of their former users and inhabitants, who now endure loss, poverty and psychological suffering. These spaces’ destruction often leaves behind ruins of significant structures - remnants of the built identity that had been lost, and associated with ‘ghosts’ and memories of what had been. Focusing on the mouth of a distributary within Kampung Beting, this thesis aims to investigate methods of restoring and reviving Kampung Beting residents’ identity, by restoring and reviving their relationship with spaces they lost. Through dissecting the lost ghosts of the remnants of this village, the sequence of spaces that typifies this village is reinterpreted through a series of changes in levels, porosity and scale. This is combined with a hierarchy of spaces

TIME

mirroring the significance of these spaces to the collective memory of Kampung Beting, and the creation of a system which allows the spaces to live beyond their original destruction, allowing for retention of place attachment. These spaces are allowed to grow from their original locations in the remnants, being progressively increasingly displaced yet remaining adjacent to the remnants which had characterized the village, which maintain a visual and spatial relationship with current programmes in a system of permanent and temporary spaces which, through the collection of ocean pollution, allows for the production and growth of land through the production of modular forms. This will all be in service of economic and social activities that engage both the traditional water-based way of life and future economic opportunities revolving around mangrove stewardship, knowledge-sharing with Jakarta, and local tourism opportunities, and would create a template for continued, long-term social and economic rejuvenation of Pantai Bahagia, eventually being applicable elsewhere.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS A pair of commonly associated words probably describes Yoke Choon’s project – lost and found. The degradation of Mura Gembong’s coastal environment displaced many communities. This displacement resulted in physical loss of properties, economic loss of livelihood, and emotional loss of identity. To address these different losses in unity, the design capitalised on the engagement with architectural remnants in the inundated context and built reinvented communities with these remnants. Sometimes carefully over, mostly strategically alongside, programs are introduced, and spaces are designed along deliberate lines of conversations between the old and new. An enigmatic relationship between what is physically present and what is otherwise invisible provides the context for villagers to form new memories without losing old ones. The invention of various floating modules offers conditions of change and changeability, reinforcing the freedom to decide how much is eventually lost, and how much is intentionally found.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 84

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Koh Mei Qi

thesis supervisor Prof Tan Teck Kiam

BEYOND BOUNDARY Reimagining Urban Cohesion and Inclusion

The perturbing instances of the Little India riot and the poignant COVID-19 outbreak within Singapore’s worker dormitories in 2020 unearth not merely issues of space, but underscore deeper, pervasive undertones of inequality and marginalization experienced by the migrant worker community. These incidents, stark against Singapore’s urban tapestry, have been the catalysts that propelled the central question of this research: How can we reconcile the celebrated facade of our urban landscape with the often-overlooked lives that play an integral role in its creation and sustenance? In response, the primary objective of this thesis emerges: to explore avenues that foster socio-spatial reconciliation, facilitate dialogue across societal divides, and champion a collective identity within a fractured urban landscape.

SPACE

The inquiry delves into the complex interplay of boundaries, lines, and territories, examining how various spatial constructs—whether intentionally designed or spontaneously evolved—articulate and reciprocally shape sociocultural, political, and economic phenomena, with a particular focus on migrant realities. Emerging from this exploration, a vibrant community complex is presented as a potential response, reimagined as a vibrant hub for community engagement and social cohesion. The complex employs strategies such as high accessibility, high porosity, and the encouragement of spontaneity to create an inclusive and cohesive space. By integrating these elements, the complex aims to dissolve socio-spatial boundaries and foster a sense of belonging, providing a platform for the free expression of diverse cultures and facilitating dynamic interaction between different community groups. This approach not only addresses the immediate needs of the migrant worker community but also contributes to the broader urban fabric, enriching the city’s identity and its residents’ quality of life.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis posits that beneath Singapore’s acclaimed urban landscapes and striking public spaces lies a profound dichotomy: the overlooked lives of the migrant worker. These individuals play a pivotal yet unnoticed role in Singapore’s economic progress. The critique is framed within theoretical constructs of “Boundaries, Lines, and Territories” drawing upon various critical social theories. Titled “Beyond Boundary”, the thesis illuminates the lack of accessible public spaces for foreign migrant workers in Singapore to enjoy. It envisions new public spaces with amenities that can be purposefully adapted to meet the needs of these workers, rather than providing segregated ‘foreign migrant worker’ spaces. The design narrative advocates for mutual sharing, acceptance, equal access, and enjoyment of public facilities by all sub-communities within Singapore. The chosen site at the boundary of Geylang and Paya Lebar was selected strategically to illustrate this vision. Each district boasts unique urban characteristics, socioeconomic profiles, and distinct sub-communities. The design concept bridges these differences through tailored programs focusing on sports, recreation, and fostering connections between diverse urban forms and social practices. It also includes the integration of green spaces, pedestrian pathways, and incorporation of Park Connector Networks and the Round Island Cycling Route into these precincts, creating a cohesive and inclusive urban environment.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

SPACE 88

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Lee Si Jia

thesis supervisor Simone Shu-Yeng Chung

Remembering Mang Thit’s Last Brickmakers

In the wake of Mang Thit’s fading brickmaking tradition, this thesis embarks on a journey to revive the melodies of traditional folk singing, Don Ca Tai Tu, transcending the obsolescence of the village’s brick industry. Seeking to breathe life into a shrinking town by reinstating its cultural heritage, it challenges the conventional paradigms of cultural tourism to bolster the economy. At its core lies a commitment to bring back purpose and meaning into the twilight years of the last generation of brick kiln owners, honouring their legacy. Through emphasis on the unique colour of Mang Thit’s red bricks and the different folk songs sung at each ritual, three temporal structures emerge, intricately woven into the fabric of the village’s landscape, anticipating the annual Don Ca Tai Tu festival. This celebration, steeped in tradition, becomes the heartbeat of the village, uniting its people

TIME

through age-old rituals housed within these structures. As the festivals unfold, this thesis speculates that after a full cycle of Hoi (60-year period), Mang Thit evolves into a sacred memorial ground, a testament to the pioneers and the vibrant culture of brickmaking. Embracing the natural decay of both culture and architecture, the village finds renewal in the passage of time, preserving its essence while welcoming change. The colour of Mang Thit’s brick becomes not just a physical presence but a narrative thread binding past, present, and future. With each festival, the spirit of Don Ca Tai Tu reverberates, echoing beyond Mang Thit’s borders to neighbouring villages in the Mekong Delta, igniting a renaissance of community and folk singing. Through this journey, this thesis envisions a future where tradition thrives, and the timeless melodies of Mang Thit resonate far and wide, a testament to the enduring resilience of culture and community beyond the physical realm of architecture.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS As an elegiac project, the temporal provocation set up in Si Jia’s thesis centred on Mang Thit, a fabled Vietnamese brickmaking community along the Mekong Delta, focuses on the convivial celebration of the end of life of a village as a counterpoint to heritage-driven tourism redevelopment. This heartfelt undertaking captures the beautiful aspects of civilisation and enfolds the posthuman perspective that villages can live beyond material limits. The combination of drawings, songs and storytelling constitute powerful media to atmospherically evoke the village’s cultural ambience and its palpable transformation into a dignified place of repose over one Hoa (a 60-year period). With the majestic rich cadmium red brick kilns dotting the landscape as vernacular landmarks and visual reference of local construction knowledge, these disused structures – either allowed to decay with grace or momentarily adapted for short-term functions – form the backdrop in which daily activities are woven together with ancestral worship, traditional rituals and a sonorous folk festival in a meaningful confluence of timelines and convivial gathering. This foregrounding of place-making and local wisdom at the centre of socio-cultural justice offers a temporally rich approach to conservation with/through architecture.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

The Meadows

06 Northern: Songs of Joy and Generosity A Medley of Songs: Love of My Homeland Author: Nhat Ngan & To Thanh Tung & Thanh Son Today, when I return to my hometown, I remember the beloved good old days. After many years away from the familiar rice fields, walking across the river, across the fields, there were moments of sadness. Green gourd trellis are blossoming. Outside the rice field, the rice blooms.

Shoulder Season (Low Tide)

Festival Season (High Tide)

Low Season (Low Tide)

Harvesting Area and Markets

Community Kitchen

Coffee Shop

At dawn every morning, neighbours gather at the nearby coffee shops to meet their friends from the brickmaking days, reminiscing the times of hustle and bustle.

Every day, the Mang Thit people tend to their crops in their orchards beside their homes, preparing for the harvesting season.

Some brick kiln owners with sufficient capital switched over to modern Hoffman kilns

Others who were unable to make the switch spend their days in the abandoned factories

Present, 2023 | Thay Cai Canal

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

The Flower Bed

04 O’an: Songs of Grief and Separation Let Me.... Author: Dinh Quang Trung

TIME

Let me die as a Vietnamese person. My soul floats in the Vietnam sky. Everyone lives once and then dies. What if I die to live forever? Please let me be like a very small flower. In the middle of the fragrant flower forest of the countryside.

Shoulder Season (Low Tide)

Festival Season (High Tide)

Low Season (Low Tide)

Wake

Brick and Bamboo Workshop

Memorial Garden At The Meadows, after the food is cooked, visitors and locals gather together to feast under the thatched structures, while songs of generosity plays in the background.

At The Meadows, the local community shares their love for communal cooking and Southern Vietnamese cuisine with visitors. During the festival, The Bloom’s central firepit is lit, and flower lanterns are sent on the river to usher in hope and peace.

During the festival, The Flower Bed becomes a brick and bamboo workshop, where visitors learn vernacular construction methods and recycle brick debris into fertiliser for the gardens

At The Flower Bed, visitors pay respects to the departed and sing along to songs of grief and separation, remembering those who have passed.

Festival | Thay Cai Canal Sending Full Faith Author: Lý Vũ Duy Phuong The river is eager to celebrate the big festival. The village is bustling to welcome the joyous glory. A festival where everyone joins hands to do their duty. Because a bright tomorrow awaits.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

The Bloom

03 Nam: Songs of Peace and Serenity My Love for Truong Chi Author: Pham Duy Once upon a yesteryear when the melody was in tune. Flora forgets to perish. A billow of white clouds flies in flocks. His soul weeps, awake in the shared room. Once upon a yesteryear listening to the old melody. Her spirit was taken on a boat to a new land, a new realm. The waves remind him of her being.

Shoulder Season (Low Tide)

Festival Season (High Tide)

Low Season (Low Tide)

Fishing Deck

Floating Hearth

Washing Basin

Visitors return and tend to the gardens.

Friends and family return by boat to the memorial ground of Mang Thit

Close family and friends returning to pay respects

After Full Cycle of Hoi | Thay Cai Canal

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Li Zeyi

thesis supervisor Simone Chung

NUCLEAR METAMORPHOSIS Decontaminate, Collaborate, Innovate

On March 11, 2011, the catastrophic wave of earthquake struck North-eastern Japan, causing one of the most severe nuclear disasters in history at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. One decade later, another wave of controversy spread internationally triggered by the wastewater discharged from the same nuclear plant. The remaining contamination and its transboundary impacts has redirected the public attention from the inevitable disaster towards the systematic failures in policy, community and ecology. In light of the global energy crisis, the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant holds critical significance in nuclear history. Nuclear Metamorphosis is an architectural statement of ecology, innovation and transparency to address the environmental, communal and political challenges in Fukushima.

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The proposal intervenes the nuclear plant as a strategic transformation into a Research and Development Centre powered by hydrogen energy, encompassing fuel debris retrieval equipment, decontamination facilities, laboratories and phytoremediation farms, enhanced with virtual accessibilities. Pivoting around the functions of decontamination, collaboration and innovation, the intervention acts as a rectification of environmental consequences, recollection of communal memories and reformulation of spatial narrative. It showcase an ideal paradigm of post-nuclear reconstruction, providing a platform for both visitors and researchers, and engaging the international attentions for supervision.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Student has managed to take on multiple information, which can be difficult to read and decipher, but manage to stitch them together in a clear narrative. However, the A+A details of the reactors are not fully explained. But the phytoremediation and building of trust objects are very clear. The idea of ‘hope’ set against the backdrop of phytoremediation for visitors to see and be part of will the most powerful gesture. Student has attempted a very difficult subject matter, and brave to tackle it. The plus point is the deliberate strategy to reuse some of the structures to really illustrate plausibility of post-disaster sites. This is a very specialised thing to do and the plausibility is in the attempt of suing architecture to deal with /confront something scary to many. The thesis project is successful in conveying the message that architecture may not have all the answers, but it is helpful for us, as a community of practice, to dwell on and imagine it as a conjecture or hypothesis to be test.

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NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 96

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Liang Xiaoxuan

thesis supervisor Ruzica Bozovic Stamenovic

Extension beyond Boundaries Spaces under bridges as new urban tube - the example of the site around the Labrador Park Mrt Urban linear spaces exhibit characteristics and spatial relationships that intersect with urban gray spaces, resulting in the emergence of a novel urban typology termed “urban linear gray space.” The hypothesis suggests that this overlap represents an untapped opportunity in urban design and planning, with the potential to transform cities into more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant environments. As purely functional infrastructures, expressways have many negative impacts on urban space, such as disrupting spatial continuity, creating boundaries, and exacerbating disconnections. The project intends to improve the linear space around the expressway, reconnect the destroyed complete urban space, break the boundaries, and transform it from an abandoned urban space to a green space of the future, thus eliminating the negative impression inherent in elevated tracks by urban residents. At the same time, the expressway is used as a transportation road, so that users can have a rich experience of movement and static in the same space due to different means of transportation or purposes.

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The project focuses on the under-bridge space of the West Coast Highway, and the program is based on the site around the Labrador Park Mrt station, incorporating elements of the Labrador Nature Reserve, and attempting to create a new urban space by using the under-bridge space as a connection. With the theme of Labrador’s natural elements, the project is centered around the lot, with additional public spaces designed in the commercial area, including the Labrador Museum and Exhibitions, Veterinary and Adoption center, Animal and plant sciences college/internships center, and other functions. The design of affordable housing, including Coliving hostel / Retirement apartment, close to the nature reserve, will provide healthier living space for more urban residents.

FEELINGS DURING TRANSPORTING

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Design research focused in this thesis on redefining the urban linear grey space and changing it from being the vague and invisible shadow of the highway line cutting through the city to becoming an urban entity with distinct character, utilitarian content and novel social context able to connect and influence the adjacent urban areas. The architectural translation of this intention, revealed that the naissance of new architectural typology comes with challenges, questions and need for unorthodox answers that may be surpass the frame of one academic semester. The pedagogical value of this search, however, could certainly inform and point toward the need for novel design research methods to be tested and implemented.

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INVERSION

MONOPOLIZATION

NUMBNESS

HORROR

CHAOS

VIOLENCE

PROCESS

HOPE

ELEMENTS OF THE WEST COAST HIGHWAY

COMPANIONSHIP

TRANSITION

GOAL

ADVENTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

TIME 100

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

101

by Liu Dian Cong

thesis supervisor Khoo Peng Beng

ARCHITECTURE OF SEDIMENTATION Water Cities and Living Ground

Sedimentation is a natural process of ground formation whereby organic matter and minerals deposit along eroded riverbanks and coastlines. Water-based settlements continually rely on sedimentation processes to replenish their grounds of inhabitation. Since Modernization, water cities have become seen as backward: this has to do with an eroded understanding of rivers and seas, which cities have stopped relying on for their growth. However, today’s river and coastal cities must learn to relate better to their water environments, to renew themselves. My thesis questions how sedimentation can be a new architectural process to replenish the eroding grounds of our water cities? My project looks at Boat Quay in Singapore’s Chinatown, a place that has long lost its relations to the river and the sea, boat life, and even its rich cultural sedimentation brought by inflows of water-based places, people, and their histories, that mingled in a single location across time and space. My design envisions a new Boat Quay for Singapore’s future,

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that restores the idea of a living ground that aggregates and sediments over time from an architectural kit of island parts. Central to my design explorations is an architectural taxonomy of “islands”, including (A) artificial/manmade “boat-islands”, (B) augmented natural “reef-islands”, and (C) floating connectors made of “jetty-islands”. (1) These “island” parts sediment into larger floating grounds, transforming land-based cities back into water cities. (2) Anchored to the shophouses on the riverbank, people and programs from the landward city merge and interact with tidal time, and reef-building activities, which over time become too a part of the city’s water cultures. (3) The site of Boat Quay also revitalizes into temporary districts—a hybrid “water city” that that crosses national and cultural borders—forming and unforming with the in and out-flux of boat cultures that travel from distant places and connect within the Quay. In conclusion, the thesis calls for a new way to look at the concept of ground. Instead of a fixed territory, water cities must see ground as a temporal process, sedimenting and eroding, forming and unforming.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Fascinated by the intangible relationship between ground, water, and the invisible hand of time, Diancong’s project explores the inter-tidal conditions and his memories of living in a boat house with experiments in drawings and models. This project is a methodical transformation of the sub-conscious readings into objective urban forms and infrastructure that is an inquiry of architectural sedimentation. The physical sedimentation of sand and silt forming new ground operates with cultural sedimentation and architectural sedimentation. Diancong reimagines an alternative development of Boat Quay via this process of sedimentation that captures the layers of time, culture, and architecture. Starting from the dynamic junk boats that then “sediments” via walkways and columns, Diancong imagines an entire city forming under and over the water, eventually creating a vibrant new architectural island that integrates the past, the various cultures and programs, nature and architecture.

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Top Left: When boat life comes back to Boat Quay Bottom Left: Research: What is missing in cartography maps and satellite maps Middle: Experimentation of water, ground, and sedimentation Top Right: How architectural sedi-

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mentation start with. Bottom 1: Speculation collage of sedimentation over time Bottom 2: Physical model of ground formation via sedimentation

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Taxonomy of Islands 01

Taxonomy of Islands 02

Taxonomy of Islands 03

Taxonomy of Islands 04

Sprawling for connections

Internalized Community

Fishing Farm + Residency

Living Ground

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

105

by Xuanyi Liu

thesis supervisor Victor Lee

HOME LETTER FROM CHINESE WORKERS Everyday Tourism inspired by internet-celebrity city

This project is based on the research of Hongyadong for my thesis. Hongyadong is a representative of Chinese internet-celebrity architecture, on the one hand, it has a strong visual impact; on the other hand, its visiting experience is mediocre. In my graduation thesis, a series of visual studies on Hongyadong were conducted, while introducing Chinese gardens as a supplement to its visiting experience. Combined with the theme of our studio, a series of studies on everyday tourism were conducted to seek a new form of iconicity, basd on an accumulation of everyday life that that different from traditional "monuments". Could applying the experience learned from Hongyadong to daily life possibly create an "everyday iconicity"? After researching and comparing different sites, this project chose Niucheshui, Singapore as its location. Niucheshui has historically served as a hub for Chinese workers. During that era, Nanyang symbolized a land of aspirations, while their homeland

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remained a distant memory close to their hearts. Chinese immigrants often exchanged letters to maintain ties with their families. Today, many Chinese individuals continue to migrate to Singapore for employment. However, due to immigration policy constraints, they(non-highly skilled individuals) still encounter exploitation in terms of work and living conditions. Additionally, the lack of opportunities to develop skills hampers their ability to enhance their living standards and integrate into local society. Inspired by the history of Chinese labor and informed by current labor realities, this proposal recreates the journey of ancestors "heading to Nanyang," focusing on Niucheshui. It comprises three zones: Zone 1 begins at People's Park Complex, leading to a pedestrian bridge journey through Niucheshui's shophouses in Zone 2. Finally, Zone 3 represents their "homeland". Here, visitors experience the Mail and Overseas Remittance Museum and engage with current Chinese laborers. Vocational skills training in Zone 3 aims to empower laborers and social integration. Residents can enjoy amenities like a three-dimensional garden reflecting Chinese aesthetics and sports facilities.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This thesis is centred on the question of whether our perception of two dimensional architectural space primarily as an image, commensurates to the actual experience of it in three dimensions. The topic is premised on the study of ‘internet celebrity cities’ referencing the rising phenomenon of Hongyadong in the chinese city of Chongqing as an icon and spectacle made popular by social media. However, it was also criticised that the more tangible yet lacklustre three dimensional experience did not measure up to its captivating two dimensional image and perception. The research focused on uncovering formal and spatial compositional techniques found in inter-related two and three dimensional practices as a parallel, such as anamorphic visual art and the touring experience of chinese gardens. With the site in Chinatown selected, a further comparative study with Hongyadong in terms of its topographical and typological analysis to derive common spatial and physical metrics was done such that a similar two to three dimensional pre-existing condition can first be identified, then configured to specifically locate the architectural design proposal. The outcome defines a form of touristic experience that begins from its two dimensional distant image to the choreography of three dimensional spaces set within the local condition. It presents a way to experience the everyday life of Chinatown, a productive step away from the more mainstream form of tourism characterised by themed attractions in Singapore.

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Starting Point Touring Area

Destination

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107

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As can be seen, the form generation has experienced stages of : Choosing advantaged viewing point and promote 2 axis, split the building massings, reorganize the location of massings, split the massing in small units, adjusting the structure correspondingly, arrange the small units according to sites, integrate units to larger spaces as responding to functions

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As can be seen, the profile generation has experienced stages of : Choose Ancestral Temple as key form (refering to Hongyadong), as it reflect Chinatown’s identity, abstract the form, split the form in small units, Adjust layer’s height to immitate the fluctuating roof, Repeat the specfic form, incorporating circulation, as immitate Hongyadong, Insert transparency and foot bridge

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thesis supervisor Assoc. Professor H. Koon Wee

by Abbrielle Loh

Reviving Urban Possibilities

My site of investigation is located at Tanglin Halt estate in Queenstown, Singapore. Set to be fully demolished in 2024 to make way for new HDBs and amenities, it is known to be Singapore’s oldest estates. With 31 residential blocks under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) and after the announcement of the scheme in 2018, all past residents have been vacated and relocated to the nearby Dawson Estate. Tanglin Halt was also one of the first few industrial estates in Singapore, housing many factories including the Van Houten Chocolate Factory. The smell of rich chocolate wafting through the air was a daily treat for most residents living in the estate back in those days. My proposal takes on alternative approach of 2022, where residents of Tanglin Halt would face a unique proposition. Instead of mandatory relocation due to governmental redevelopment plans, they were presented with a choice: to

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stay in their cherished homes or to move to new horizons. This reimagined Tanglin Halt project, dubbed “Silver Lining Horizons,” seeks to honor the voices and desires of its residents. It envisions a community where the echoes of the past meet the innovations of the future. This thesis requires indisciplinary collaboration between architects and urban planners to weave the rich tapestry of old Tanglin Halt with modern amenities and sustainable living solutions, ensuring that the soul of the neighborhood is not only preserved but revitalized.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This project has a long gestation period that goes back to an earlier inquiry on the question of time and space in a phenomenological sense, through an Options Studio entitled “The Modern Constitution: Society & Nature.” It is an exploration that raises philosophical and architectural questions about modernity and our incessant need to embrace modernisation, growth and improvement. According to Bruno Latour, to achieve the modern condition, humanity has to rationalise society and nature to be wholly separate and distinct. This backdrop serves to inform how this thesis project can be situated in Singapore under a relentless drive of renewal. This timely study embraced various notions of repair and beauty especially in preexisting cultural forms, like the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, where an elegant co-existence of the new and old can bring about new value. Hence, this project reimagines that the relocation of Tanglin Halt residents and the pursuant use of the old public housing fabric could have been done differently. The project persists to reestablish the presence of the old chocolate factory and other important sites of industry, commerce and employment, preventing gentrification from taking hold and eroding the hybrid spaces of the residents.

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TIME 112

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113

Bobby Wong Chong Thai

by Lyu Lurui

Vineyard Special Forces Fortress: Belt and Road Security Center Guardian of the Belt and Road

The Belt and Road Initiative, as a significant diplomatic policy of China in recent years, holds a prominent position. Pakistan, as an important partner of China's Belt and Road Initiative, is increasingly drawing attention. The construction site is located at the Gwadar Port in Gwadar City, Pakistan, as this port is the most crucial Belt and Road infrastructure project for China in Pakistan. However, in recent years, due to the actions of domestic terrorist groups in Pakistan, the Gwadar Port has faced increasingly severe security challenges. Over the past five years, there has been a rise in terrorist attacks, severely impacting the security of the port. China has gradually realized that relying solely on the armed forces of the local government is becoming increasingly inadequate in addressing this complex security situation. This design aims to explore an innovative approach to constructing a "protective military base" to

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safeguard China's vital Belt and Road projects in other countries. In this process, what I’m contemplating more is how to involve architects, how to adopt a more localized design language to make the military base more easily accepted by the local population. Based on this premise, the design incorporates three fundamental elements. The first element is the repurposed shipping containers from the port. As containers are one of the core elements of the port, they are used to form modular units of the military base and shape the form of various training systems. The second element is the traditional Middle Eastern architectural form of wind towers, which forms the lookout towers of the base based on Pakistan’s traditional architectural style. The third element is the local grapevines of Pakistan, integrating this landscape element into the entire military base.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Lurui’s thesis is an attempted foray into defensive structure and fortification in the age of drones, low earth orbit satellites and precision weapon systems. In part, it is also the result of China’s huge Belt and Road Investments where built infrastructure needs to be protected and defended. The site is at Gwadar Seaport where China has a stake in its operation and ownership. Located in Pakistan Baluchistan Province, close to the Persian Gulf where much of the world oil passes through, Gwadar Port is one end of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. That corridor has its beginning at Kashgar Xinjiang. Lurui’s citadel is an experiment in dispersal. The garrison of 120 men, all special forces operating in groups of 3 to 4 men, are dispersed throughout the port and the adjacent village. Together, they aggregated to about 2 square kilometers. The men come together only for centralized / specialized training and the refectory for their meals. The objective is to “spirit” them away into the various “crevices” found in the port and the village. As a result, the project is layered with trenches and barb wires, then boardwalk and canopies of grapes farm (as in Xinjiang). This helps to camouflage the citadel from view. Architectually, the buildings are modelled after Sou Fujimoto’s 3 shells house, one shell nesting in another with openings to allow urban warfare training.

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TIME 116

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by Matthew Goh XinZhi

thesis supervisor Tsuto Sakamoto

In Search of Alternate Time Negotiating Nomadism and Sedentarism

I have always been fascinated by the life of buildings. Not human’s inhabitation in them, ecology, or any other living thing but the building itself. A building’s relationship with time is often labeled as an antagonistic one, a battle of endurance of sorts. We do not often think of how it will endure the passage of time much less render concern for its mortality. Perhaps a by-product of operating under the mechanics of a sedentary world, whose concepts of time are anchored in a linear model. Thus beckons, how could a different conception of time change the way we conceive and construct architecture? To develop an architecture that addresses a different form of time I looked towards the cyclical model, evident in the nomadic lifestyle. More specifically the Bajau Laut, a group of sea nomads. A group that has been constantly disenfranchised by the formation of the sedentary state. Their livelihoods were encroached upon and by virtue of a nomadic lifestyle never gained citizenship. Statelessness is common amongst

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these communities, plaguing them as they seek new opportunities on land. The thesis speculates on an architecture that is formulated with the Bajau Laut’s sense of time, a negotiation between their nomadism and the sedentary state. The first act of the thesis was decolonising mapping, trying to understand the coast and the sea in its multiple states in contrast to its homogeneity in cartographic maps. From the series of drawings and models, a distinct relationship with the coast emerged, anchored around clear water. The design centres around first cleaning the water on the coast, an act that goes beyond sanitation into reclaiming their complex relationship with the ocean. As the water gets cleaned the architecture begins to submerge into the ocean, now operating distinctly on the sea nomad’s sense of time. Lastly, by acknowledging architecture’s mortality the design moves beyond its systems and investigates the value of architectural death as a landscape.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Through a close historical investigation of the Bajau Laut, the sea nomad, the project unveiled their life and perception of time that were closely related to a natural material process. A wooden boat constructed for a man upon his wedding was used as a house for his family, while being modified to a coffin when he passes. A state of the moon and tidal level dictate their activities – fishing, traveling and exchanging harvests. Unlike people living in a capitalist world, they lived a stateless world by integrating themselves with the material process in an extremely sophisticated manner. Selecting a site at Semporna, Sabah in Malaysia, the border of the two worlds, the challenge of the project was to design an environment that encourage Bajau Laut to modernize their life in an autonomous way without being subordinated or alienated by people in the capitalist world. To make the current slums sanitary, the project proposed small-scale interventions to their individual houses - rainwater collection devices integrated with their roofs, garbage collection system embedded on the water, and manure treatment system using compositing techniques. Furthermore, it provided markets, boat making facilities and schools that appear and disappear depending on the tidal differences. The wooden structures for all the facilities would contribute to the regeneration of natural habitats when they collapse into the sea. Matthew’s insight to the life of Bajau Laut and his thoughtful criticism against the capitalist world led the project to a small-scale intervention. Nonetheless, the accumulation of such interventions in a long run will organically generate a meaningful and distinctive land/seascape that are unique to the sea nomad.

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- A Sea Nomad’s Coast A non-cartesian documentation of the sea nomads coast

Colonial maps and literature have systematically homogenized the sea as a zone of the uninhabitable. Invoking the lens of the disenfranchised Bajau Laut (sea nomads), could we possibly unlearn notions of completeness and continuity. Through the medium of fragments, ethnographic text, analytical drawings and haptic models, a new understanding of imagining the site was conceived. Against the orthogonal modes of drawing these new mediums incorporates visual textures and the acknowledges the presence of rhythms and ephemerality. In an attempt to transcend modes of ocular-centric modes of seeing, the compilation of these fragments takes the form of a seemingly cartographic map that can be viewed both in low and high tide. Where the coast and its structures are redrawn in textures, amorphous zones and fragments.

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- “Map” of Semporna Town Weaving the textures of the ocean and re-rendering of built form

- Mortality of Architecture Acknowledging the dimension of time and architectural death as landscape

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by Munifah Wani

thesis supervisor Tiah Nan Chyuan

Reconstructing an affective landscape in Singapore’s landscape

The thesis is a critique towards Singapore’s city block development: how it displaces routines and events during its construction and after its construction. City block developments in Singapore takes months, even years and during this period (and after), a place is transformed into a temporary hoarded up site. These temporary hoarded up site affects the meanings people hold in place ; the sense of place people hold towards a place. Sense of place consists of no one meaning; it could be memories, routines, to name a few, that affects an individual’s emotional connection to a place. These hoarded up sites is a common constant in Singapore’s everyday landscape and ironically, it is the only constant in an ever-changing landscape.

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The question then arises : How is one able to form/have a sense of place if our landscape is ever-changing? The thesis delves deep into multiple perspectives and theories of sense of place and posits that sense of place is formed by an assemblage of things which is physical space, experience of space and mainly a set of various everyday routines and events. Using Golden Mile Complex as a testbed as it encapsulates the requirements of Singapore’s everyday landscape, routines and events of users in Golden Mile was scrutinized. The thesis then proposes how city block development decisions doesnt need to displace routine and events through 3 different acts. The first act retains everyday routines through the fragmentization of GMC, the 2nd discusses how events could occur behind the hoardings and the 3rd discusses a future thick hoarding where the hoarding becomes merely more than a protection barrier where over time, it nurtures new routine and becomes something beyond just construction activities.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis straddled between a very personal observational journey and deep research into the history and theoretical positioning of placemaking as a discipline. The control and exploration between the two modes of investigation was very successful as the thesis navigated towards the Golden Mile Complex as the site. The eventual architecture translation manifested into three different acts, each addressing a different user group and typology. While the project was ambitious and comprehensive in its thought and execution, perhaps the pursuit of the three acts negated the development of a common language or commonality between the three conditions, resulting in the perception that they are independent and not interdependent.

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TIME The city block development decisions displaces routine and event

Golden Mile Complex allows the continuation of routines to be

during its construction and after its construction, causing the loss of

more permanent, borrowing the temporal nature of hoardings as a

sense of place through loss of routine and events. The thesis comes

language.

in to propose how it doesnt need to be this way through 3 different acts. The first act discusses retaining the everyday permanent

The bodily experience of user’s routines and events were

routine through the fragmentization of Golden Mile Complex into

scrutinized in Golden Mile Complex and translated into fragmentized

the adjacent HDB site. This site was chosen as most of the routines

experiences into the adjacent site.

stem from users from this area. Fragmentizing the experience of

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The 2nd and 3rd act is put together in a category called “Behind

The 3rd and final act discusses about a future thick hoarding where

the hoarding scenes”. The 2nd act discusses allowing entry to the

the future identity of the hoarding becomes merely more than just a

construction site through safe means into an element of the building

protection barrier, but over time, as a ftureu development, it nurtyres

which is the balcony of Golden Mile Complex in this case. When

new routines and when people view these construction hoardings,

routine and events were studied, the balcony was an element that

they would see it as something beyond just construction activities.

becomes the most memorable for most users in the complex. With this in mind, the balcony becomes the point of gathering during events such as National Day and New Years.

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by Navinkumar Palani

thesis supervisor Cheah Kok Ming

PETROL, OUT OF STATION! speculating the future of petrol stations in singapore

In a world that has witnessed the pivotal role of petrol stations in the evolution of the transportation industry, these once-ubiquitous relics of the fossil age now stand at a crossroads of reinvention. As Singapore steers determinedly towards a green and sustainable future, the confluence of transportation history and sustainability goals emerges as a poignant paradox. This project embarks on an exploration of the future of petrol stations in the context of Singapore, envisaging their transformation into agents of environmental change. One pivotal facet of this vision involves the speculation of new conveniences that petrol stations could provide in the future. In a unique position to serve as community hubs due to their strategic locations, these transformed stations may offer a mosaic of services. They also allow for the exploration of plug-in architecture and looking into the revival of metabolic architecture allowing it to be everchanging. The architecture of these transformed stations becomes an

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artistry of sustainability. These innovative urban hubs represent a vision for the future of urban infrastructure – one that is adaptable, sustainable, and community-centric. As we continue to navigate the complexities of urbanization, let us embrace the opportunity to shape our cities into vibrant, resilient, and inclusive spaces for generations to come.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This thesis is about new lease of life for petrol station sites in a zero-carbon age. It imagines and explores architecture as a network or a service infrastructure. Understanding patterns, systems and mapping become so essential in its research to determine the developmental idea. It explores the petrol station sites in a region and recast them as new decentralised network for a range of amenities brought about by e-commerce, cloud food convenience, remote working, sharing and circular economy as well as Hometeam’s emergency and security support. Architecture in this thesis is not about a single entity but a network of service stations working together to provide multi-service coverage to a housing estate. And each architectural installation is conceived as a kit of equipment to facilitate deployment, assembly, disassembly and redeployment with little waste and environmental impact. A sample of these equipment list included e-vehicle storage tower, cloud kitchen pod, vertical goods shelving, delivery drone dispenser, rest capsule, logistic hoist etc.

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The hometeam hub maximizes its unique

The logistics tower serves as a central

The motel+car hub integrates mobility

site shape, featuring an open ground

hub for parcel dispatch, featuring an

services and accommodations, with

level for swift emergency vehicle access.

underground sorting area and parcel

separate sections for car dispensing

Stair and lift cores flank the structure,

delivery vehicles. The first floor hosts a

and motel facilities, alongside food and

leading to dormitories and facilities on

convenience store and parcel collection

bike amenities. Each area features stair

the second floor. The third floor hosts

lockers, with robotic arms and a goods

and lift cores, with coworking spaces

surveillance and control rooms, while the

lift facilitating efficient movement. Co-

on the top floor. Innovative features like

rooftop houses surveillance drones and

working spaces occupy the top floor,

bike rest points and food truck modules

an air ambulance for rapid deployment.

accessible via lifts and stairs.

optimize

space

convenience.

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and

enhance

user

The recycle+food hub facilitates drop-off

The

car

The logistics+recycle+gym hub near

and storage of recyclables, with dispatch

dispensing with cloud kitchens, enabling

car+food

hub

East Coast HDBs features gym modules

trucks collecting for redistribution. It

convenient

for resident use, alongside logistics

features a core with attached modules

resemble the recycle+food hub, with

facilities.

food

integrates

pickup.

Sections

Dispensing

towers

like cloud kitchens and walk-in coolers,

car dispensing towers replacing recycle

recycle and delivery storage, with a

plus a co-working space atop. Sections

storage. Dumbwaiters facilitate food

basement sorting unit and ground floor

highlight storage areas for recyclables

dispatch from cloud kitchens, with robots

convenience store. The top floor offers

and drive-in access for drop-offs, along

sorting parcels on the first floor. Outside

open space for co-working breaks.

with designated cooler modules.

the coworking space, areas allow for

Sections highlight the divide between

food consumption during breaks, with

recycle storage and delivery vehicles.

dumbwaiter delivery to floors. NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

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by Ng Wei Liang

thesis supervisor Ho Weng Hin

THE ARCHITECTURE OF MEMORY Schools as a Vessel for Remembering

In a rapidly changing urban landscape, the closure and merging of schools due to demographic shifts in Singapore raise significant architectural and cultural concerns, of the loss of identity, traditions and memories made in the school. This thesis delves into the intangible but profoundly meaningful aspect of school memories, which is often overlooked in heritage conservation practices, seeking to understand the value of memories associated with schools. Through oral and physical documentation, the research explores the memories held by students, educators, and families whose lives have been intertwined with their educational institutions. Thematic analysis of archival elements: dialogue, media and film, reveal a rich tapestry of experiences and sentiments that highlight the profound impact of

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schools on personal and collective memories of students, alumni and educators. The objective of this thesis is to establish a connection between ephemeral memories and tangible architectural elements, creating elements of memory (props) dispersed through an old site of Gan Eng Seng school. The memory props are used to trigger memory using the familiarity and routine of an old school, layering atop historical architectural elements. These props seek to compile and preserve memories while also unveiling sentiments, documents lived experiences, and encapsulates aspirations for the future generations.

The Architecture of Memory endeavours to enrich the discourse surrounding heritage conservation by infusing it with the emotional and psychological dimensions of memory, creating a framework for the preservation of these memories in the ever-growing scene of school mergers, fostering a deeper understanding of importance of school memories in an individuals’ memoryscape.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis proposal represents the culmination of a deeply personal journey that attempts to reconcile between the physical loss of school complexes that often follow their closure or merger, and their profound impact on the individual and shared memories associated with these formative spaces of learning, socialisation and personal growth. Through the medium of film, the author identifies significant episodes and settings in which memories form through the daily rituals of an individual going to school, during lesson time, and after school. Mapping these ephemeral elements onto the metaphorical framework of ‘Theatre of Memory’, memorable spaces across different scales - the assembly hall, parade square, the canteen, the classroom desk - are abstracted from the different school campuses of the author’s alma mater and juxtaposed onto the existing structure of the Raeburn Park compound, adapted as an arts education and practice incubator hub. These interventions serve to trigger a sense of nostalgia in visiting alumni, or prompt more open-ended interpretation by unintiated and unfamiliar visitors.

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by Phoebe Chua

thesis supervisor Nirmal Kishnani

decoupling sterility, staticity, and sustainability

An international news outlet famously described Singapore as being “scrubbed within an inch of its life”. Much of Singapore’s contemporary urban condition is deeply entrenched in the postcolonial belief that sanitised, painstakingly-maintained environments signal civility, modernity, and morality. Commonly citing the dramatically efficient Singapore River cleanup as a developmentalist miracle, this narrative is especially prominent in the Central Business District. This thesis thereby positions the early-stage integration of weathering as a potential solution to this sterility: the introduction of temporality serves to reflect a growing appetite for spontaneity and dynamism in the built environment, and urban life at large. Here, weathering is divided into two broad categories: ‘climatic weathering’, and ‘cultural weathering’, the latter coined by landscape architect Mikyoung Kim to encompass any impact, tangible

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or otherwise, that inhabitants exert onto a space. Two key architectural devices — porosity [of enclosure] and permanence [in materiality] — are employed to integrate weathering early into the design process. The project sites itself at Pearl’s Hill Reservoir, an austere concrete structure housing a still-functioning service reservoir. The intervention ropes in the creative capital of yo:HA, a hostel for tertiary students, and 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, formerly the upper baracks of a police station. artists’ residence. Once a symbol of surveillance overlooking the previously crime-ridden Chinatown district, the hill has become a symbol of “freedom and creativity”. The design outcome is a strategically porous intervention that juxtaposes enclosed with exposed, and legitimises axes of social activity. Through this demonstration of an architecture that quite literally weathers with you, this thesis hopes to expand the current template of architectural sustainability, amplifying both natural and cultural systems onsite to decouple aterility with sustainability.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Why do Singapore buildings aspire to high degrees of precision and control? Is this a functional necessity or a manifestation of mindsets about the relationship between people and their environment? This thesis postulates that it is the latter. It argues that if we challenge the mindset, and permit our buildings to weather, architecture becomes less resource-intensive and, ultimately, more pleasing. What is weathering and how does it become a design intention Environmental weathering is the consequence of a building’s interaction with natural systems. Rain, light and humidity leave a mark, over time. Likewise, plants and animals constitute an ever-changing ecosystem. Social weathering is what happens when people use a building and interact with its elements. It can be overt (say, graffiti) or subtle (say, wear and tear), and is often countered with maintenance regimes. The site chosen to test the premise of the thesis – can weathering be designed? – sits in the heart of a city on a hill that is biodiverse and yet inaccessible to people. Atop the hill is a large concrete water tank that is fast approaching obsolescence. The process started with questions of how the tank, and existing ecosystems, might give rise to new amenities and urban spaces. The proposal blends old with new parts, and situates this hybrid within a continuum of time, wherein the whole continues to evolve because weathering is permitted, with intent.

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plaza

retail-reservoir interface

makerspace

solar canopies + allotment garden

yo:HA hostel

pearl’s hill terrace

ELEVATION 60m 50m

AXIS OF SOCIAL WEATHERING

tembusu grove + allotment garden

yo:HA hostel

40m

courtyard

boardwalk

existing pond

ELEVATION 60m 50m 40m

AXIS OF NATURAL WEATHERING

30m

NUS NUS CLASS CLASS OF OF 2023/2024 2023/2024

135 2

01 | existing structure

06 | link to water + nature

MONTHLY

02 | removal of walls

03 | removal of floor + roof

07 | link to artists’ residence

05 | addition of glass roof

04 | carving of void

08 | insertion of retail extension

09 | public plaza + ramp

DAILY

ANNUALLYY

... this becomes apparent after two decades.

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some parts age faster than others...

sometimes the artists get busy...

in the rain,

the pools fill...

... must be the upcoming bazaar.

... a natural consequence of time.

136 3

The architectural intervention contains varying degrees of

The reservoir is framed as an architectural artefact, and the

interiorisation, and varying material palettes projected to age at

intersection point at which natural and cultural weathering converge.

different speeds. The water tank, once situated on the top of the

Once a forbidden space cordoned off from the general public,

hill, is relocated to the new extension’s underground basement as

the selectively hollowed structure can now be explored, utilised,

gravity is no longer a necessary condition for water transport. In

and celebrated. This change in use aligns with the transformation

its place, ephemeral swales now populate the reservoir grounds,

undergone by Pearl’s Hill’s other former military and political

celebrating newer, regenerative approaches towards water use.

infrastructure.

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137 4

by Phoong Zhia Wen

thesis supervisor

H. Koon Wee

Intimate Narratives, Architecture as Critical Fabulations

The identities of Architecture and Activists are both loaded, broad, and often overlooked. At first glance, both disciplines seem to belong to the work of a group of people, namely, the Architect and the Activist. Yet, when one probes deeper into the social networks of both identities, the works that they do, the people that they serve, the systems that they work under, we realize that Architects and Activists are not dissimilar – the goals largely align but the medium of interaction differs in finding methods of amplifying unheard voices, to push for social change in ways that are required. In a perspective titled ResponseAbility, Lokko argues that “race has been [architecture’s] subject matter all the time” (Lokko, 2005). This thesis furthers that stand in arguing that the Architect has always been the Activist for change – to desire social change and believe that their work can lead to greater social justice, they invest

IDENTITY

fully in the uncertainty of their influence in creating collective visions. In taking the step of enacting as one, they inevitably become the other. In attempts to find built forms to serve justice to the fringes, this thesis takes on the site of Pearl’s Hill, a landscape surrounded by marginalised communities in Singapore. Drawing their stories, and drawing their rituals became crucial, to uncover found habits and found spaces. The thesis rejects high design, and find ways of celebrating the literal theatrics of the fringe communities, a practice of performing that ties the marginalised together. Through the process of design, the intimate truths of the people fighting agaisnt the oppressive systems constantly serve as the design and narrative driver, where architectural design can facilitate the possibility of imagining a safe and humane future for them in real space. This is how the thesis defines the architect as the activist - the visualiser of intimate narratives, and designer of critical fabulations.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS There was broad appreciation for this project by external reviewers and critics because of its sensitivity to not only marginal communities in Singapore, but also a reinvigoration of underutilised spaces and parks. The project began with explorations of norms and values in society, from everyday practices to professionalised practices such as the codes and regulations that architects are required to conform to. Of course this line of inquiry would lead predictably to the age-old rhetoric -- “can there be architecture without architects?” The project went on to define the range of participants in the city of Singapore, from the art, cultural and family-oriented communities to queer, foreign workers and other fringes of our communities. Strategies of the mundane and the use of unspectacular scenography were deployed in the “design” of a section of Pearl’s Hill in an interest to avoid further emphasis on the “problems” of the city. A public deck, a theatre, an alleyway and other everyday spaces were selected for this experimentation. And true to form, even the drawings were made in illustration style, without seemingly professionalised tools and craft. This project invites the audience to engage as a regular participant, where you are a commuter, parent, grandparent, child, foreigner, local, or any given identity that you may possess any given time. It is a project that begs for greater tolerance, activity and anticipation

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IDENTITY 140

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by Poh Yong Yi

thesis supervisor Yuan Chao

RETHINKING MIGRANT WORKER DORMITORIES Adaptive Reuse of Underutilised B1 Industrial Buildings into Dormitories

In the face of Singapore’s growing reliance on migrant workers as manpower to fuel economic progress, the demand for dormitories has rapidly outpaced its supply, effectively stifling work in construction, manufacturing and maritime sectors. Consequently, worker dormitories are stretched thin to accommodate more workers, resulting in overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions. The outbreak of Covid-19 brought these issues to the forefront as the dormitories became hotbeds for spreading diseases. While dormitories are in dire need of additional space, quarterly reports reveal that the supply of available industrial stock is exceeding the demand, with an additional 297,715m² and 1,945,494m² expected by the end of 2023 and 2024 respectively. (JTC, 2023) Diverging from the usual practice of demolishing and rebuilding from scratch, adaptive reuse presents a unique opportunity to repurpose the vacant or underutilised industrial properties into worker

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dormitories. Thus, this paper explores the adaptive reuse of underutilised B1 buildings in Kampong Ubi and Eunos industrial estates into worker dormitories as a means to alleviate the housing shortage and to facilitate social integration into Singapore’s local population. B1 light industries are typically located close to residential and commercial zones requiring only a 50m buffer zone which makes these estates well-connected to the public transport network and highly accessible to basic necessities. The proximity to high-rise residential zones, private industrial buildings and offices make these spaces an ideal mixing ground for various demographics to socialise and interact in more meaningful ways.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yong Yi’s master thesis presents an innovative approach to balancing the living quality of foreign workers with carbon emission reduction. Her focus on retrofitting existing industrial buildings into residential spaces for these workers is both timely and relevant. By aiming to transform underutilized structures efficiently, Yongyi addresses a critical need for sustainable urban development. Her design methodology is comprehensive, extending beyond individual buildings to encompass the neighbourhood level. This holistic perspective ensures that the living environments are not only improved within the buildings but also enhanced in the surrounding community. Yong Yi’s commitment to elevating the quality of life for foreign workers to the standard enjoyed by Singaporean residents is particularly impressive, reflecting a deep sense of social responsibility. The excellence of Yong Yi’s work is further highlighted by the quality of her designs and drawings. They effectively communicate her vision and demonstrate her strong architectural skills. Her project exemplifies how thoughtful design can achieve sustainability goals while enhancing living conditions for marginalized communities. Overall, Yong Yi’s thesis offers practical solutions for retrofitting industrial buildings and presents a model for integrating social equity with environmental sustainability. Her work stands out for its depth, vision, and the potential for real-world impact.

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TIME 144

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by Seah Xie Liang

thesis supervisor Assoc Prof Joseph Lim (Dr)

SUNDARBANS FLOATING SETTLEMENT Combating climate change and rising sea levels in Bangladesh

The thesis aims to address the pressing challenges posed by floods, one of the most significant natural disasters worldwide. Through comprehensive analysis and strategic interventions, the team seeks to mitigate the devastating impact of floods on communities and economies. Highlighting the disproportionate vulnerability of regions like Bangladesh, where dense populations reside in flood-prone areas, the project underscores the urgent need for proactive measures. Central to the project is the Sundarbans mangrove restoration initiative, a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing resilience and mitigating flood impacts. By restoring coastal forests, particularly mangrove ecosystems, the project not only provides vital protection against climate-induced disasters but also contributes to carbon sequestration

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and biodiversity conservation. In addition to nature-based solutions, the project explores innovative architectural and habitat regeneration strategies. These include low-rise buildings designed to withstand floods and habitat regeneration efforts to improve water quality and ecosystem health. Crucially, the thesis emphasizes community empowerment, recognizing the agency of vulnerable populations in effecting change. Through local engagement and capacity-building initiatives, it seeks to mobilize communities to actively participate in resilience-building efforts. Overall, the project represents a holistic approach to flood management, integrating scientific analysis, nature-based solutions, and community engagement to address the multifaceted challenges posed by floods in the face of climate change.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Situated in the Sundarbans, this study is timely in an age of climate and political refugees seeking an alternative to NGO tents for post disaster shelter. Understanding that flood prone environments occur periodically and recovery operations may last for a much longer time than anticipated, the idea is for a quick deploying, fast assembling floating settlement. Made from a kit of parts on construction material which is familiar to the indigenous population, the arrangement of flexible spaces for accommodating farming, harvesting, celebration, play and communal cooking and eating takes into consideration the cultural sensitivities of the Bangladeshi people. Settlement infrastructure is contextualised in a water scarce mangrove forest in order for survivor-dwellers to subsist in a circular economy.

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TIME 148

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149

by Sheare Quek Ning Xuan

thesis supervisor Cho Im Sik

HAPPILY EVER AFTER Healing the Overlooked Child

This thesis takes a human-centric research and design approach, concerning the victims of childhood trauma whose wounds and scars are often left in the dark, and who are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent community in our world today. Specifically, the thesis focuses on persons who have hurt from the negative impacts of growing up in a broken family (identified as divorced, co-parented, or unhealthy married family types) lacking proper communication. Research has revealed that these individuals are commonly haunted by their unpleasant memories, and that they frequently develop bad behavioural traits as compulsive, defensive reactions to those recollections. A growing number of such characters in our world can be detrimental to the overall health of our social communities as well as productivity of our economic activities, which are reasons making this such an important issue to tackle. We should

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not let it continue to be undermined — But what does this have to do with architecture? Short answer: a lot more than your immediate imagination might suggest. The brain never just makes or stores a memory out of context. Experiences are always remembered through some kind of spatial dimension, real or unreal; Spaces are inherently informative of one’s experiences. The thesis research uncovers that many of the existing strategies of our industry labelled as “designs for childhood trauma” are superficial, over generlaised, and merely a response to manage the effect of the condition, rather than a product of true integration with the work of other disciplines that can liberate an overlooked child from his or her struggles. The goal of this thesis is therefore to devleop a possible method of design that can transcend these limitations. Through extracting lessons and strategies on how spaces have been designed (successfully to comfort traumatised inner child) in unreal mediums like in storybooks, video games, as well as other visual and aural media that individuals of this century commonly have the freedom to access and find an escape in, a matrix of favourable and unfavourable spatial qualities mapped to specific childhood trauma characters is derived for use to synthesise a design outcome. The result is a design (methodology) that has a heightened degree of specificity and sensitivity to various classifications of childhood trauma victims, and is multi-disciplinary and opportunistic, yet patient as time.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Based on a deep understanding of overlooked children, this thesis proposes possible ways to facilitate the process of overcoming childhood trauma, which is a highly relevant and critical yet frequently undermined topic in our contemporary world. The thesis adopts a multi-disciplinary, emotion-driven, bottom-up and abstract researchdesign methodology, which is creative and innovative. This resulted in a project that reimagines how everyday urban spaces can provide directed healing effects on various communities of overlooked children, which transcends the limitations of current practices pertaining to the topic.

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CHILDREN | Favoura

*Visual (V), Aural (A) and

c.V1: convergenc c.V2; repetition w

potential activites

c.V1

c.V4

Once Upon A Time

c.V4

c.A1, c.A2 c.A1, c.A2

c.V2

c.A5, c.A6

c.V5

c.V3

c.V2 c.A3 c.O3, c.O4

c.A1

Forging of Friendships

c.A3

c.O3, c.O4

c.O1

c.O1 c.O2

c.O2

Child (Private) Module 1 - Lure

Small Volume/Area of Play Space for Non-Overwhelming Outdoor Play

Child (Private) Module 2 - Trigger

Mechanically Interactive Panels (Sound-Sensitive) for an Element of Mystery/Hiding during Play

Child (Semi-Public) Module 1 - Lure

Child (Semi-Public) Module 2 - Trigger

Double Layer Weaving of Play Spaces to Maximise Area, Induce Excitement and Encourage Play with Others

Increased Porosity of Spaces and Play of Excess Material/ Elements for Intrigue

Module 1: (1-2 pax) Suitable Activity: Gardening, Small Play Area

Child (Private) Module 3 - Recovery Large Area Interactive Facade to Encourage Play with others

Child (Semi-Public) Module 3 - Recovery

Increased Porosity of Spaces to Maximise Interactions between Playing Children

Module 1: (1-2 pax) Suitable Activity: Collective Gardening, Large Play Area

Confidence Building through Simple, Collective Achievements

CHILDREN need grounds for nuturing; finding confidence & competence.

Confidence Building through Overcoming of Obstacles

Confidence Building through Friendship Building within Comfort Zone

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024 Chapter 1;

Child: “I’m Not a Weakling”

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CHILDREN | Unfavourable Spatial Conditions.

Spatial Conditions.

factory (O)

vantages variations

TEEN | Favourable Spatial Conditions.

*Visual (V), Aural (A) and Olfactory (O)

c.A1: energetic bursts c.A2: distinct rhythms

c.O1: harmonious blends c.O2: piercing, passing whiffs

TEEN | Unfavoura

*Visual (V), Aural (A) and Olfactory (O)

c.V3: inaccessible intrigues c.V4: infinity & endlessness c.V5: bareness

c.A3: sporadic, indiscernable disruptions c.A4: divergence & dispersal c.A5: silence c.A6: scarcity

potential activites

c.O3: clashing inconsistencies c.O4: inwardness

t.V1: focus & enclosure t.V2; chaos & disorder

*Visual (V), Aural (A

t.A1: directionless, quiet echoes t.A2: constant movement, trails

potential activites

t.O1: enclosing scents t.O2: subtle stneches

t.V3: barenes t.V4: volume t.V5: infinity & t.V6: corners

potential activites

t.V5 c.V2, c.V4

t.V1

t.V3, t.V6

t.V4 t.V2 t.A2 c.V5

t.A3

c.A2

t.A1

c.A1 t.A1

c.V1 c.V3 c.O4

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c.A3

t.A4

c.O1

t.O1

t. t.O3, t.O4, t.O5

Teen (Private) Module 1a, 1b, 1c - Lure / Recovery (Flexible)

Teen (Private) Module 2 - Trigger

Module 1a: (1-3 pax) Suitable Activity: Outdoor Dining, Couple Dates

Emotional Support and De-stressing from Common Leisure Activities Seating Along Periphery (Face out) of the Round Plan to Increase Privacy without compromising high Background Noise Levels

Child (Public) Module - Lure, Trigger, Recovery (Combined)

Increased Porosity between Layers of Spaces to Encourage Interaction between Playing Children

Module 1b: (3-5 pax) Suitable Activity: Outdoor Dining, Small Gatherings

Intentional Overlap of Enter/Exit Spaces for Intrigue and Increased Interactions between Playing Children

Child (Semi-Public) Module 3 - Recovery

Seating Along Periphery (Face in) of the Plan to Create Interactive Stage-Audience Like Setting

Module 1c: (5-15 pax) Suitable Activity: Outdoor Music Jamming, Small Parties

Non-Enclosing Facade to allow Noise to Spread & Create Lively Atmospheres

EMERGENCE OF A CONFIDENT CHILD

Perfectly Symmetrical, Unhappening Design to shock users (contrast with lively areas)

TEENS need grounds for support; finding companions & comfort.

Emotional Support and Comfort from Available Peers

Emotional Support and De-stressing from Lively Peers

Emotional Support from Extroverted & Positive Peers

Confidence Building through Influence of Adventurous Friends

Emotional Support and De-stressing from Indulgence in Common Hobbies

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Chapter 2;

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Teen: “All the Love I Need”

BAS

ADULT | Unfavourable Spatial Conditions.

urable Spatial Conditions. (A) and Olfactory (O)

*Visual (V), Aural (A) and Olfactory (O)

bounded but all-accessible tted radial array

a.A1: lively, constant background noise a.A2: quiet approach & emergence

a.O1: variation & independence a.O2: grounded consistency

a.V3: long, narrow, inescapable routes a.V4; infinity & endlessness

a.A3: silence a.A4: slits & leakages a.A5: forceful, clashing sounds

potential activites

a.O3: mundanity a.O4: trapped a.O5: inwardness a.O6: clashing inconsistencies

potential activites

t.A1, t.A2

a.V2

a.V1

a.V3, a.V4 a.V3, a.V4

t.A1

a.A1

t.O1 t.V1

t.V5, t.V6 a.A2 a.V2 t.O3 a.A4

t.O1

a.A4

a.A1, a.A2

a.O1

a.O1 a.O3, a.O5

a.O2

a.O3, a.O5

t.V1

Adult (Semi-Public) Module 1 - Lure / Recovery

Adult (Private) Module 1 - Lure / Recovery (Adjustable Radius)

Adult (Semi-Public) Module 2 - Trigger

Porous Panels to Shut out Surroundings but not completely Removing the Sounds

Intimate Space for few people; gives privacy and space for reflection / contemplation

Adult (Private) Module 2 - Trigger Ledge for surrounding park animals to rest and contribute to soundscape of (internal) designed space

Ledge for surrounding park animals to rest and contribute to soundscape of (internal) designed space

Emotional Processing (Self) Post Events in a Closed-Off, Private Space

Ceiling LED Screen to showcase childhood trauma-related media in the intimate space; encourages reflection and contemplation, especially for victims of childhood trauma

Heightened Sensitivity to Self in Closed-off, Private Space

ADULTS need grounds for awareness; finding closure & content.

Heightened Sensitivity to Self in Closed-off, Private Space

Chapter 3;

EMERGENCE OF A CONTENT ADULT

Emotional Support and Comfort from Friends during Sport

EMERGENCE OF A COMFORTED TEEN

ter for effect

Heightened Sensitivity to Surroundings in Closed-off, Private Space

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Adult: “No Bed of Roses... And That’s Okay”

Heightened Sensitivity to Surroundings/Life through observation & contemplation over relatable media (with close friend)

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by Shuang Jiawei

thesis supervisor Dr. Simone Shu-Yeng Chung

Ceramic Chronicles: Building Jing Drifters’ Community

This project delves into the Jing Drifters phenomenon, where individuals from China’s bustling cities have been drawn to Jingdezhen since 2010, lured by the allure of ceramics and the promise of a slower, more meaningful life. Yet, these newcomers find themselves adrift, their stays often brief. Meanwhile, old drifters, deeply intertwined with the town’s past, have seamlessly integrated into the community. They have risen to prominence in ceramics, monopolizing essential processes and forging strong kinship and guild-based connections. The study highlights stark contrasts between the old and new Jing drifters, underscoring the financial hardships, constrained urban freedoms, and identity crises that plague the newcomers. To weave the new drifters into the rich tapestry of Jingdezhen, the project proposes interventions at three levels:

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Urban Level: Revitalize infrastructure to breathe life into traditional ceramics production, mechanizing pivotal stages while sculpting communal spaces for gathering and creating. Reimagined alleyways become arteries of connectivity, pulsing with community and unity. Architectural Level: Use Chinese ceramics production techniques to inspire architectural interventions. Each structure is designed to facilitate handicraft ceramics production and recycling of discarded clay, blending the old and new, fostering urban and social harmony. Temporal Level: This layer stitches the urban and architectural visions into the historical and social weave of Jingdezhen. By threading traditional festivals and rituals through daily life, this intervention seeks to fortify bonds of belonging and identity among all drifters.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Jiawei’s thesis is a well-structured project with beautiful drawings inspired by “A Little Bit of Beijing” (2018). The project focuses on the “Jing drifters” phenomenon after 2010 and historical population migration in Jingdezhen, a city known for its artisanal legacy. The issues from rapid modernization and obsolescence following industrialization are as relevant in Jingdezhen as in other advanced countries. During the design stage, Jiawei proposed interventions on urban, architectural, and temporal levels. She uses different production techniques of Chinese ceramics as metaphors to inform the degree and type of her architectural and urban interventions, the placement of structures, and the desired effect on urban and social mixing. This approach emphasizes how the interventions integrate into the existing built environment and social fabric, embodying “an architectural reflection that reflects the ceramic process.” The diagram model effectively demonstrates how this coding translates into a strategic framework for human-scale interventions in Jingdezhen’s old quarter. This is complemented by detailed drawings that illustrate a narrative through microstudies of people using and occupying the spaces.

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155

TIME 156

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

157

by Suo Yuying

thesis supervisor Prof. Yuan Chao

By Passive Cooling Design Strategies

My thesis is about Singapore’s HDB, In my design, I attempt to integrate the community farm into the HDB through passive cooling design strategies. If I categorise the passive cooling strategies I adopted, they are mainly divided into three categories: “Greenery”, “Ventilation”, and “Sun-shading”. The greenery part mainly involves “community farm”, “vertical garden”, and “private balcony”; ventilation chiefly considers the wind direction, single-sided corridor, staggered building heights, wind catchers and wind tunnels; shading includes considerations for “multi-functional spaces” and “Extendable Blinds”. The site is chosen in Queenstown. The reason is that the residential area here occupies a large proportion but the area of green parks is relatively small, and the site is irregular, which can better verify the site adaptability of the design. My design is not a traditional architecture design that needs to be tailored to local conditions, but rather a

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more universal one. Its more important purpose is to explore the application of passive design strategies in HDBs. Therefore, the massing of the residences is based on an “L” shape, as it demonstrates strong site adaptability. This approach not only allows for more public space but also makes it easier to adapt to different site environments through combinations. The centre of the community is the community market, and the scene on the right shows the trading logic and process of the market. Residents can subcontract the community farm to grow different crops. Under the organisation of the community, residents transport crops to the market for exchange and sale, realising a self-production and self-sale model.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yuying’s master thesis adeptly applies long-discussed passive design strategies to public housing (HDB) in Singapore, a challenging endeavor given the dense urban context. Despite these challenges, Yuying excels, demonstrating a deep understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of passive design. Her comprehensive review of passive design strategies specifically tailored to Singapore’s climate and HDB context forms a robust foundation for her work. This thorough analysis showcases her ability to synthesize existing knowledge and identify opportunities for innovation in public housing design. It is not easy, since passive design is not new, having been discussed and applied several decades. In the design component, Yuying goes beyond technical solutions, exhibiting a strong architectural sensibility in managing space effectively. Yuying’s designs not only incorporate passive cooling and natural ventilation techniques, like wind catcher, but also thoughtfully address spatial organization, ensuring that the living environments are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The integration of these strategies demonstrates her capability to blend technical proficiency with creative architectural design, resulting in spaces that enhance the residents’ quality of life. Yuying’s project exemplifies how passive design can be effectively implemented in public housing, contributing to sustainable urban living. Her work stands out for its meticulous research, innovative application, and the harmonious balance between technical and architectural excellence.

158

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159

TIME 160

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

161

by Tan Jia Jun (Joseph)

thesis supervisor Florian Heinzelmann

The Floating Archiplexus Adapting to Climate Change & Future Developments

The Floating Archiplexus introduces a pioneering response to the intertwined challenges of climate change and urban development in Singapore. Positioned along the periphery of East Coast Park, this project confronts the rising sea levels induced by global warming while accommodating future inland expansion, exemplified by proposals like The Long Island Development. The foundation of this initiative rests on the findings of the 2020 IPCC report, which underscored the alarming rise in global temperatures, predominantly attributed to human-generated carbon dioxide emissions. This temperature escalation intensifies the expansion of seawater and accelerates the melting of polar ice sheets, ultimately elevating sea levels. Singapore, being situated along the equatorial line, faces an elevated risk from this phenomenon.

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Conventional urban planning and coastal defense strategies, such as natural and hard engineering, encounter notable limitations, including time, cost, and feasibility constraints. Moreover, land reclamation efforts, once deemed advantageous, now evoke environmental and political concerns. Consequently, the notion of constructing a floating city emerges as a pragmatic alternative. The architecture adopts a modular and adaptable design ethos, drawing inspiration from the organic interconnectedness of archipelagos with tetris-like modular structure design. Through this approach, the project envisions a cohesive network of living spaces capable of accommodating sea level rise and future developments seamlessly. This strategy not only addresses the immediate exigencies of climate change but also prioritizes the preservation of crucial biodiversity both on land and beneath the waves.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS I have known Jia Jun (Joseph) since he did his M.Arch. Options Design Research Studio “Pool Plus”. Since then, it appears his interest in architecture around water was triggered, resulting in this floating HDB thesis proposal at the future East Coast Park Polder extension. His design and project jump-started when discovering the local existing concrete caisson industry and tweaking this caisson technology into concrete floats similarly employed by Dutch floating architecture. This bottom-up design approach was then combined with lightweight mass timber cubic modules where the final form was subtracted from a larger volume to satisfy the needs of an urban configuration on a block scale, resulting in a form where the building is oriented mainly North-South (shading) while coming up with reasonable floorplans within the square grid for multiple apartment types. Joseph also considered public spaces within the block and on water and how they can be connected internally via bridges and to the mainland via public boat- buses or hailing boats.

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by Tara Anne Sreenivasan

thesis supervisor Nirmal Kishnani

INTERSECTION A Nexus of Food, Energy and Water

Intersection was bourne out of the interest in integrating the movements of Food, Energy and Water. Urban residential areas are often the biggest points of consumption of these three resources necessary to sustain human life. However with the densification of the urban condition, these processes are often left out of the urban grain, and relocated to lower density areas to make space for other programmes more directly associated with urban living. Intersection seeks to reconcile the disconnect between consumption and production of these three resources by harnessing upon the synergies of food, energy and water production, referred to as the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus. This thesis leveraged upon research of the FEW nexus to experiment with the ideas of integration of FEW processes within a chosen high density residential site at Tampines Central. The design approache involved identifying spaces underutilised spaces in Tampines that could be readapted for FEW production. The result was an two pronged

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approach: an urban infrastructure that integrated spaces of consumption with spaces of production, and an urban acupuntural response that reintroduced food production into the urban grain. The latter involved the conversion of multi-storey carpark rooftop spaces on site into vertical and solar farms. These carparks were tied together through a central distribution centre that also served as urban infrastructure for the public. This central building adjacent to the neighbourhood commercial centre comprised a bioenergy production plant, aquaponics facility and a rooftop farm. The central building is flanked by a public plaza and promenade, allowing these productive spaces to be designed as public facing, with parts of the facilities exposed above ground. This infrastructure then forms the backdrop upon which other social activities could ensue, such as farmer’s markets, sports activities as well as by simply creating new circulation paths between connecting buildings. As a result, an intersection is formed between the production and consumption patterns and processes of Food, Energy and Water.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS ‘An island city-state with no hinterland.’ Singapore policy-makers often make this argument to explain the country’s reliance on imports of food, energy and water. The country has limited land and many competing developmental needs. This thesis challenges this assumption. It makes the case that resource production can be embedded into the urban fabric – buildings and neighbourboods – by deploying technologies that are now available. Production need not be centralised; it can happen in and around the places where we live and work. But how do these insertions co-exist with everyday living? Are they pollutive? Do they look like unpleasant? Do they displace social space? The solution, it is argued, lies in new forms of micro-infrastructure that contribute to city life and urban quality. Can productive surfaces, say, solar roofs, offer secondary benefits, say, shading? How does waste management plant also become a social space? Can energy infrastructure be beautiful? Singapore has in the past tested this hypothesis with projects like the Marina Bay Barrage where water infrastructure meets public space in the city centre. This thesis brings the same proposition to the doorstep of citizens: nodes of acupuncture inserted into an existing public housing estate that aspires to self-sufficient.

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Market Stalls

Plaza

Promenade to Plaza

Exploded Axonometric

3. 6. 5. 12. 6.

9. 7.

8. 10.

11.

13.

1. Vertical Farm 2. Packing Area 3. Existing Carpark 4. Rooftop Farm 5. Biogas Tanks 6. Loading Unloading Bay 7. Packing Area 8. Aquaponics 9. Supermarket 10. Promenade 11. Plaza 12. Bridge to Temasek Poly 13. Biogas Equipment

Vertical Farm

Aquaponics Pond

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Rooftop Farm

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Ori Existing Carpark Roof Area: 315m2 Solar Output: 57,500 kWh

Existing Carpark Roof Area: 315m2 Solar Output: 57,500 kWh

Existing Carpark Roof Area: 260m2 Solar Output: 47,500 kWh

Ene Existing Carpark Roof Area: 315m2 Solar Output: 57,500 kWh

Carpark Roof Canopy Roof Area: 348m2 Solar Output: 63,500 kWh Existing Carpark Roof Area: 260m2 Solar Output: 47,500 kWh

Foo

Surrounding Shops Canopy Roof Area: 2030m2 Solar Output: 371,200 kWh

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Existing Carpark Roof Area: 260m2 Solar Output: 47,500 kWh

Urban Response

Long Section

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Existing Carpark Roof Area: 125m2 Solar Output: 22,800 kWh

Soc

Original Site Context

Waste-to-Energy Production

Aquaponics Pond

Energy Production Spaces

Water Storage Spaces

Short Section 1

Food Production Spaces

Rooftop Farm

Market Stalls

Social Spaces

Short Section 2

Vertical Farming

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by Vikram Kannappan

thesis supervisor Dr. Rudi Stouffs

Cyber Urban Lifestyle Park Reconstructing a heartland mall for a Mixed-Reality enabled future

In a future where our vision can be augmented, the spaces we inhabit become canvasses for virtual information. In an attempt to postulate the future of architecture in a virtualising world, the Cyber Urban Lifestyle Park incorporates mixed reality architectural design to create decentralised, modular spaces that host a spectrum of physical and virtual activities. In this immersive space, the boundaries along the reality-virtuality continuum blur, offering a glimpse into the future of urban living. This park aims to deconstruct the multi-storey heartland shopping mall back to the original community hubs which were locally owned markets and shops around parks or plazas by analysing its tenantable area, virtualising some of these spaces, and modularising the key components that cannot be virtualised. The virtualised and physical spaces

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are coherently intertwined through employing various mixed reality technologies. In doing so, the mall becomes far more efficient, allowing for spaces to achieve a high utility throughout the day. This system also allows for a more decentralised mall archetype, allowing for the mall to be built within a park, as opposed to the park being built within a mall.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Vikram Kasi Kannappan’s project explores the link between augmented or mixed reality and architecture. The outcome is the result of many explorative iterations trying to find the right balance between mixed reality and architectural design. This outcome emphasizes an immersive experience that extends over an entire shopping mall. The overall layout is optimized for the integrated immersive experience, while the furniture is designed for maximum flexibility. The result is at the same time agreeably odd and oddly agreeable.

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Mall in a Park

Decentralised programming | Courtyard Spaces | High efficiency

Wellness

Clinic | Fitness | Beauty

Transition

Lighthouse | Park | Discover

Retail

Social

Seating

Market

Fashion | Thrift | Exhibit

Dine | Work | Learn

Events | Exhibitions | Sandbox

Groceries | Essentials | Sales

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Furniture

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Work

Class

Dine

Study

Lecture

Collaborate

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Modules

Clinic

Retail

Office Market Scan QR code and download the app to interact with the module plans in AR

Retail

Kitchen

Toilet

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by Wang Weida

thesis supervisor Shinya Okuda

BOUNDARY CITY OF AIRPORT New Coexistence of City (Urban village) and BCIA Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has undergone many expansions over the decades, and at the same time, the environment around the airport has changed considerably. The airport became more and more closed for reasons of aviation safety and noise. Cut off from the city. This proposal attempts to bring the community and buildings face to face with the noise problem, instead of the usual practice: setting up isolation zones to avoid noise impacts. The overall layout follows the noise contours, and through the construction of landforms, roofing materials, façade design, reflective panels, and roofing angles, the neighborhood near the airport runway acts as a guardian barrier to the urban village and the city, while not being affected by the airport noise itself. In the design, different strategies are created by combining the characteristics of different frequency noise (attenuation, wavelength). Buildings or landscapes are created as barriers between the runway and the village according to the frequency and wavelength

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characteristics of aviation noise. Not only that, tall buildings and continuous complexes can act as obstacle that will create a large sound shadow zone at the back of these buildings. This sound and shadow zone can provide a good experience for people’s open public event space and agricultural landscape. In addition to this, my proposal focuses on breaking down the traditional segregated area. Reinventing this space while bringing jobs and creating a better space for activities. These spaces an agro-processing complex, a building that can provide work for the low income or unemployed in the surrounding area, for the processing of crops from the adjacent fields, greenhouses, and vertical farms on the upper floors, while the lower areas of the building are used as processing, transportation areas. The lower area of the building is the processing and transportation area. The processed produce is delivered to the adjacent produce market. The produce market is used to sell the produce produce.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Weida’s thesis addresses the complex urban issues of high-density urbanism and the inescapable noise generated by ever-busy airport traffic. I am particularly impressed by his ability to explore and express his ideas through meticulous line drawings, a rare trait in an era dominated by rendering-driven approaches. His commitment to his thesis is evident through his extensive historical research and practical field surveys.The result is a testament not only to Weida’s creativity but also to his ability to merge architectural innovation with functional design. By incorporating elements such as engraved facades and strategically designed inclined rooftops for noise mitigation and diversion, Weida has created unique residential districts adjacent to the airport, resulting in a distinctive functional roofscape. Furthermore, Weida’s unwavering commitment to his thesis project is commendable. His dedication to exploring these complex thesis demonstrates his passion for architecture and his desire to make a meaningful impact in the field in near future.

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by Wang Zheng

thesis supervisor Lam Khee Poh

From farm to table

Located at the former hawker center site in Tanglin Halt, Queenstown, Singapore, the project aims to redefine the relationship between food and people. By transforming the conventional model of food consumption, Food Factory aims to create a future food plaza that encompasses activities from farm to table, with the food lifecycle as its core. Across the entire lifecycle of food, there are four main steps: production and harvesting, transportation and trading, processing and cooking, consumption and disposal. However, this lifecycle is often opaque, and people typically only interact with one or two steps. This rigid and unsustainable system is a challenge faced by Singaporean society. Due to limited land availability—with only 1% usable for production—Singapore currently imports nearly 90% of its food, resulting in high transportation costs and energy consumption. Additionally, the daily generation of food waste presents a significant challenge. Singapore urgently needs to transition into a sustainable food resilient city to

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elevate its food culture to the next level. Based on the analysis from earlier research, I proposed the concept of a “Food Factory,” which is an integrated architectural complex encompassing the entire lifecycle of food. It aims to transform the traditional food consumption patterns and enable everyone to actively participate in the food cycle. Through this food system, the goal is to provide people with access to greener and more organic food in a more affordable and convenient manner. Our vision is to create a “well & green” habitat for humanity, fostering a community where healthy and sustainable living thrives.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Singapore’s “Hawker Culture” has been successfully added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Dec 2020. Meanwhile, as Singapore relies extensively on imported food supply, there is a need to strengthen its food security and resilience in light of various global uncertainties. The Singapore Food Agency has adopted a “30 x 30” goal to build up capability and capacity to sustainably produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030. This thesis aims to celebrate Singapore’s internationally acclaimed hawker culture while contributing to its 30x30 vision by introducing a new architectural typology of the hawker centre in the Queenstown Health District development. A series of large pitched-roof structures that deploy passive design strategies to create thermally responsive environment, accommodate a variety of programmatic functions, from the traditional to several new forms of interactive engagements between the immediate residential community, visitors and the service providers. These include, for example, communal farming facilities, the concept of “farm-to-table” offerings, periodic community cook-out festive events, and showcasing sustainable food waste recycling and management.

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by Xie YuWen Cheryl

thesis supervisor AR. Victor Lee

THE AMNESIAC NEIGHBORHOOD A Network of Moments

Walking through a seemingly endless underpass tunnel alone, void of any views of the outside. The quietness of the passageway, accompanied by the sole sound of your shuffling feet echoing through space. Suddenly, time feels incredibly long. Perhaps you have been transported into another dimension. The thesis began with an interest in dream-like moments in space in which our sense of perception is often tampered with. As the research developed, this phenomenon was found to be the workings of the physical and non-physical space, thereby establishing the dimensionality of space. The investigation of this dimensionality is explored through experimenting with a technique of reading the non-physical space, guided by Bernard Tschumi’s conception of

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“event-architecture”, as well as the observation of behaviors and effects in tandem with form. Site investigations realized the juxtaposition of the built form and subjective spatial experience, fueling the notion that space is a network of moments composed of constants and chance encounters. Tiong Bahru’s SIT flats provide a distinct context of both conserved and non-conserved flats, provoking the thought of how the non-conserved flats will see redevelopments in the future. The highly repetitive and rigid organisational layout of the site raises the question of the accuracy of form, and becomes a testbed for where the “in-between” spaces constitute the network of the site’s spatial experience, embracing the juxtaposition of the fixed built form and unpredictable encounters.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis seeks to address the bridge between spaces in the non-physical realm such as in our memory and how they relate to our experience in the physical space. It began with an interest in dream-like moments in space and puts forth the idea that our perception of space is through a network of moments in time that comprises of a series of planned constants and unplanned chanced encounters. In an attempt to quantify this bridged experience, the research looked at various forms of representations of space and time ranging from literature and text, music and sound etc. Eventually a tool for indexing the dimensionality of space was derived, through a representational technique on the reading non-physical spaces as various layers such as time, movement, events and behaviour. The design proposal gave rise to a graded scale that determines the extent of adaptive reuse to an existing cluster of low-rise apartment blocks in the district of Tiong Bahru. Highly repetitive and rigid in nature, the interventions attempt to shift the various forms of occupational patterns found by creating a new dialogue between the the new constants and chanced encounters. Through a nuanced and form-sensitive approach, the thesis outcome carefully calibrates the inevitability of change, yet allow the ebb and flow of daily life to remain unimpeded and uplifted.

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Early on-site and off-site investigations of reading the physical and nonphysical space through experimental methods involving intangible materials such as music and sound, and the discovery of juxtapositions of the built form and subjective site experience, following with keywords such as ‘Constants’ and ‘Chance Encounters’ that make up the Network of Moments.

Experimental form explorations investigated how every minor adjustment made to the same base form results in various behaviors and effects in relation to perception.

The Urban Scale: The Accuracy of Form, Paths

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Each block typology is a variant recomposition of the original block through a vocabulary of the manipulation of elements aligned with original porportions to open up more circulation paths, options, chance encounters, and interactions in an urban composition of various percentages. As opposed to an immediate redevelopment, the intervention seeks to introduce changes gently, with respect to the original SIT flats through phasing. This timeline encourages the opportunity for new chance encounters to emerge over time. NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

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by Xu Kailin

thesis supervisor Professor Wong Chong Thai, Bobby

UNVEILING AMBIGUITY: EXPLORING THE SHADOWS OF FRAUD & HUMAN TRAFFICKING In Borderland between China & Myanmar

The economic zones situated along the China-Myanmar border serve as crucial hubs for cross-border trade, characterised by lax regulation, corruption, and an economic model centred around China. This dynamic, coupled with ambiguous boundaries, has created an unstable grey area conducive to illegal activities. Since 2020, several Asian governments have enacted laws prohibiting online gambling, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation, causing multinational online gambling companies to lose their legal operating environments in Southeast Asia. To

compensate

for

the

significant profit losses

from traditional gambling operations, the gambling industry has turned to fraudulent activities. Criminal syndicates, using the “Belt and Road” initiative as a guise, have established fraudulent bases named

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“technology parks” in loosely regulated border economic zones, forcing victims into modern-day slavery. They are coerced into deceiving global internet users via social media and dating applications, including purchasing cryptocurrencies or withdrawing cash, under the threat of forced organ removal or prostitution. The surge in pandemic-driven illegal human trafficking calls for heightened awareness. Documenting this recent event is crucial to remind people of the atrocities in Southeast Asia. After analyzing formal and informal trade in border regions, the project proposes architectural interventions in border-free trade zones. Using “ambiguity” in design, it hints at hidden illicit activities. This underscores how capital exploits loopholes like the “Belt and Road” to conceal informal trade, aiming to preserve the memory of human exploitation and honor its victims.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The project is to mark architecturally a particular moment in time where online scams and trickery seem so prevalent in East Asia. Preserving an abandoned scam village may be one answer but it is not ideal as much of the content including torture apparatus, various victims’ fear, pain and living conditions are all made absent. Yet, institutionally, the actualization, even as a proposition of a working scam village is also a nonstarter. Ask yourself the question: how can an architectural project advocate the removal of a “mutinous / obstinate” victim’s body parts? Kai Lin’s answer to this dilemma is to take the film “No more bets” and proposing homological equivalences between what’s found so prohibiting in the film to those legitimate real-world possibilities, yet producing similar conditions and affects. For example: Homeless to scam victims’ bunks, market place butchering to torture dens for extraction of body organs, the casino computer center to online betting and so on. The project is sited in Jie Gao, Ruili, China. Ruili is a border town acting as a gateway between China and Myanmar. This is the area where many illegal scam villages are reported to have operated from. Yet, it is land of pagodas and stupas.

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Along the river’s edge, thousands of stupas rise, each bearing the essence of Baganstyle ‘s ancient charm. Their multifaceted nature guides visitors through a labyrinth of uncertainty, where holy and mystical landscapes above contrast with the bustling chaos below. Beneath the guise of sacredness, a clandestine black market thrives within the stupa cluster, adding a layer of intrigue to the seemingly tranquil surroundings.

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by Zhanlin Yan

thesis supervisor Rudi Souffs

The Belts Singapore Interactive Boundary Interface Generation

To understand and interpret the multi-dimensional nature of the implicit inequalities, we premise “inequality” as a neutral word and map the physical distribution of different elements related to everyone’s daily life by utilizing the strength of big data technology and machine learning. Using geo-located street view images and GIS data of points of interest, we analyse the “inequality” condition in multiple dimensions for one specific region in Singapore. We propose a new methodology to detect and analyse “inequality boundaries” in Singapore, revealed in the form of linear elements such as edges and pathways. The methodology functions by developing a scoring system of cells in a regular grid, that belongs to a uniform fishnet covering the whole Singapore region. The cell scores relating to contrasting measures are considered as the foundation for boundary detection. This research successfully identifies boundary locations where areas of opposing measures lay side by side and determines the specific “inequality

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boundary” as linear elements within the boundary locations.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yan Zhanlin’s project attempts at once to identify and to bridge the implicit urban boundary between areas mainly for locals and areas mainly for tourists. Identification is achieved through a process of data collection, data analysis, heatmap calculations, heatmap comparison, and the mapping of the resulting boundary on urban linear/edge elements; and uses both points-of-interest information and the semantic segmentation of street view imagery. Bridging is achieved through the generation of a linear structure inhabited by spatial units that serve to link both sides together, to offer complementary functions to either or both sides, or to provide spaces for tourist and locals to meet and “play” together. It is designed to be agile and transient with an important role for public participation. While the aim and the approach are very laudable, the question lingers whether the outcome accentuates or alleviates the urban boundary.

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by Yap Ting Ting

thesis supervisor ROY PANG

Reimagining Mobility Networks as Productive Food Landscapes

With the global elevated increase in demographics to 10 million in 2050, a higher demand for food is inevitable, foreseeing an emerging problem of food waste. In Singapore, a small nation with a big wastage, the lack of awareness throughout the food supply chain resulted in an ‘out-of-sight-out-of-mind’ attitude. With Singapore’s commitment to locally produce 30% of its food by 2030 as part of its “30 by 30” food security target, the existing farms in Lim Chu Kang urban agricultural sector play a vital role in the nation’s food supply. This initiative synergizes with the waste management and recycling initiatives in Sungei Kadut Eco-District. Identifying the only road connecting Lim Chu Kang to the city as a crucial supporting component in Singapore’s food waste management system, this design thesis thereby inserts a continous, productive urban landscape into

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the connecting road. A series of public green spaces reinforces the notion of a circular food economy lying at the confluence of production and disposal. Strategically placing the waste-to-energy plants outside of a stipulated safety radius from human habitation, it celebrates the technological process of WTE plants into a more humanistic architecture, creating an empathetic connection between human and food waste.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS

Ting Ting’s thesis serves as a critical commentary on our attitudes toward excessive food waste in Singapore - often feigned ignorance, deliberate ambivalence at best. Drawing on comprehensive research that included engagement with local waste-management company 800 Super, Ting Ting’s project posits that long-term solutions to excessive food waste hinge on public awareness and education. The project envisions a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant located along Kranji Way, currently a two-lane land-bridge that connects the upcoming Lim Chu Kang high-tech agri-food zone with the future Sungei Kadut eco-district. This proposal intricately weaves the various pulses and flows - logistics, energy, transportation, and ecology, etc. between these two precincts into a cohesive tapestry, with an educational facility at its core. The project’s location recognises the need for safe distancing from living areas and addresses immediate concerns by managing the negative externalities of industrial processes from the WTE plant. Simultaneously, it aims to foster long-term change by demystifying and celebrating the waste-to-energy process through the integration of educational and recreational public spaces within the facility. Ultimately, Ting Ting’s project seeks to reshape public perception of waste management, transforming an infrastructural facility into a dynamic platform for learning, engagement and delight.

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an important element to the site: ‘ecology’ is integrated carefully with the waste-to-energy plants, creating en eco-trail and softening the machines

21st century social spaces encourages people to break the

Spaces would revolve around kitchens, gardens, cooking, shared

technologically enabled solitude of the past in order to engage more

meals and community compost, and markets would flourish, and

regularly with the community. It collapses different food interactions

networks of small producers and suppliers would reconnect cities

offering options for sustainance: technologically enabled food

with the rural.

production, integrated within existing urban fabrics, directly connecting the production and consumption of food within a single venue.

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by Yee Yook Mun

thesis supervisor Ho Puay Peng

IN PURSUIT OF AUTONOMY Autonomy in Assisted-Living Geriatric Public Housing Singapore

In Northern Europe, 90% of older individuals live independently, a stark contrast to Singapore’s 30%, a figure steadily increasing. This disparity highlights challenges in Asian communities, where independent living is associated with health issues, isolation, and lower standards of living. However, promoting active, self-reliant aging can enhance physical, social, and mental well-being, fostering community engagement for a fulfilling life. Presently, Singapore’s options for independent and assisted living are limited, with a deficit in geriatric infrastructure. While some assisted living facilities exist, they are mostly privately supported despite the growing need for public funding. Responding to this demand, HDB introduced Assisted Living Flats with senior-friendly amenities, promoting

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safety and comfort while encouraging social interaction through cultural and recreational programs. Scholarly research emphasizes the importance of social connection, therapy, and healthcare in enhancing elderly living experiences. However, studies often lack direct insight from the elderly themselves, impacting decisions in geriatric healthcare and residence design. This thesis seeks to empower the elderly through architecture, prioritizing their experiences to inform technical requirements in assisted living facilities. By reversing the caregiver-care receiver power dynamic, a balance can be achieved. This study explores the perspectives of the average Singaporean elderly user through media, conversations, and observation. Architectural goals are derived and spaces are envisioned, integrating age-friendly design guidelines from geriatric architecture literature to create environments that prioritize autonomy and well-being.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS As Singapore faces the ageing social reality, Yook Mun is interested not just to provide suitable architectural and urban environment for the seniors, but more importantly focusing on the empowerment of the seniors in the sunset years. The integration of housing for the seniors into a shared space of sports and community facilities will allow the seniors to be in charge of their own everyday life, while at the same time giving many ‘chanced’ encounters between them and other members of the community. The architecture which houses the seniors and the common facilities was delightfully light and fit well into the 1940s SIT estate at Tiong Bahru.

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TIME This research delves into sub-objectives underlying autonomy, with

related perceptions and economic-driven marginalization of

social connection at its core - particularly challenging for reclusive

older individuals is crucial.

individuals. Their interests, rituals, and need for solitude enables the

A collaborative approach between top-down and bottom-up

design of programs to enhance their living experience, contributing

healthcare infrastructure is needed, aiming for productive

to design guidelines for technical requirements. The ultimate aim is

interdependence

to enable fulfilled, happy aging without imposing rigid boundaries.

provision in urban spaces. This optimistic vision emphasizes

A community supporting the socio-emotional welfare of older

the potential convergence of healthcare strategies where

adults (OAs) involves enabling them to pursue interests freely in a

community thrives.

neighborhood fostering love and communal spirit. Overcoming age-

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and

community-centric

healthcare

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by Yeoh Kai Zheng

thesis supervisor Tsuto Sakamoto

Shibuya’s Radical Sponge An Alternate Reality: Rethinking Subjugation in the Hyper Dense

Soil, Water, and emergence of Plants is the resultant force of nature which has existed on this planet for billions of years, surpassing the duration of human presence. As modernisation emerged, these natural elements, as well as other species, face annihilation. Modern Subjugation in the hyper-dense is a resultant force towards a post-humanist conundrum. The thesis speculates radical scenarios to a hyper-dense, post-humanist world, by rethinking the absurd as moments that re-condition our ideas of living with the harsh forces of the natural environment and its ecologies. In this imagination of subjugation in the hyper-dense, the drawings play up the new protagonists of underbelly Shibuya — the explosive re-emergence of subjugated natural forces of water, soil, and plants — to rework dominant

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narratives of the city though conventional consumerist lifestyle perspectives. The project speculates the marginal place of the city’s other (unusual) inhabitants, questioning how humanity would co-function with nature. Given the prevailing stance that there is no way out, speculating the radical scenario of exposing the soil therefore deals with this harsh environmental condition. The architecture aims to unveil the city’s complex underground system by reflecting its visibility through the flow of water (percolation rate), demonstrating co-existence through composting with soil, water, and plants, thereby serving as a reflection of inhabitants’ resilience to urban flooding. Additionally, during the dry season spanning from October to March, another spatial event emerges to engage the public.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Engaging with the recent urban flooding in Tokyo, the project investigated that excessive paving of lands in the urban area increased a chance of flooding, especially when a precipitation hits underground drainage system capacity. Placed in Shibuya station, the project attempted to increase the area with exposed soil to enhance water absorption capability, while allocating retention ponds to protect the station from flooding in future. The recent climate change and consequence of it is demystified and assumed by statistics and probabilities to a certain extent, although such an assumption is always understood without an experience of actual material process. Furthermore, the assumption is subjected to be betrayed by contingent factors. Taking them into consideration, the project exposed retention ponds to the eyes of commuters and visitors to the station deliberately to provoke a sense of anxiety. The soiled ground crowded with events may be suddenly covered with a massive amount of water under the torrential rain in the typhoon season, while people learn how to protect themselves from the disaster not through data but through an actual material process. By producing numerous physical models, and analyzing them meticulously, Kai Zheng understood Shibuya, the most complex station in the world spatially and functionally, and proposed the scheme that psychologically provokes people with an intensive natural force in the age of climatic crisis.

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Subjugation in the hyperdense of Shibuya reflects its inhabitants’

With the increasing emergence of modern approaches and issues

lifestyle struggling with harsh natural forces. Structures of immense

like global warming, such as torrential rain coupled with the elevation

scale, surpassing human dimensions, appear almost inhuman, as do

of sea levels, urban flooding has become a prevailing concern due

objects so small that we often find it challenging to integrate them

to water impermeability during the summer season from June to

with nature. In the modernist planning of the man-machine system,

July. Given the prevailing issue that there is no way out, speculating

nature is frequently viewed as conflicting polarities engaged in a

a radical scenario by exposing the soil therefore dealing with this

constant negotiation of speed and efficiency.

harsh environmental condition.

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by Zhang Jiayu

thesis supervisor Francois Blanciak

Avian Circuit Encircling Avian Research and Preservation

In the heart of Hindhede Natural Reserve Park lies a groundbreaking architectural endeavor that not only embodies innovation but also serves as a bastion of ornithological research and conservation – the Aviary Nexus. Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of this lush reserve, the Aviary Nexus emerges as a beacon of dedication to the preservation of avian life and the harmonious coexistence of human endeavor with ecological preservation. At its core, the Aviary Nexus is a testament to the seamless integration of architecture with nature. Comprising a series of interconnected structures, this architectural marvel is designed to blend effortlessly with the surrounding environment. The Aviary Circuit, a circular elevated corridor, forms the central artery of the complex, serving as both a protective barrier for the Hindhede quarry-turned-bird conservation area and a conduit linking the various

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components of the ornithology research complex. This circular design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the structure but also symbolizes the cyclical nature of ecological systems. Central to the ethos of the Aviary Nexus is its dedication to ornithological research and conservation. As a hub for scientific discovery, the complex provides researchers and enthusiasts with state-of-the-art facilities and resources to explore the mysteries of avian ecology. The integration of technology enhances the research process, while interactive learning areas promote collaboration and knowledge sharing. Moreover, the inclusion of exhibition spaces allows visitors to engage with the rich history of the site, from its primary forest days to the formation of the internal lake.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Stemming from an initial intention to create a “fortress,” the project engages with the idea of biodiversity protection by proposing the creation of a large circular boundary around a former quarry in the Hindhede Nature Park. This large circle serves not only as a major symbolic element within this natural and man-made landscape, but also as a means to restrict access to the area, to guide the visitors’ path throughout the site, and to connect the various parts of an ornithological research and conservation center scattered around the quarry. Grounded in a thorough urban analysis of its greater context, the project is successful in exploiting a simple geometry to bring together the various historical layers of the site, and adapting its components to the specific demands of a modern-day research facility.

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Monitoring Tower

Ornithology Library

Birdwatching Lookout Point

Ornithology Research Center

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Ornithology Research Center 1. Entrance 2. Reception 3. Lecture Hall 4. Meeting Room 5. Surgeries Area & Animal Washes 6. Intensive Care 7. Computer Lab 8. Ornithology Lab 9. Post Mortam Room & Cold Storage Room 10. Eco-toxicology Lab 3

11. Botonical Lab 12. Wet-dry Caring 13. Aviary House 14. Birdwatching Point 15. Office

16 4 15 1

16. Dinning Area 17. Courtyard

5 8

9 14

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In terms of materiality, the design principle emphasizes the use of natural elements such as stone and timber.

Furthermore, the program system adopts a circular layout,

In conclusion, the design principles of the Avian Circuit aim to

symbolizing unity and connectivity within the Avian Circuit. The

create a harmonious balance between architectural innovation and

circular elevated corridor acts as both a protective boundary

ecological preservation. By integrating advanced research facilities

and a circulation system, linking the various blocks of buildings

with natural elements and sustainable practices, the Avian Circuit

seamlessly. Each block serves a specific function, ranging from

sets a benchmark for avian conservation and scientific excellence.

research and administration to observation and education, ensuring efficient operations and optimal utilization of space.

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by Zhou Yaru

thesis supervisor Victoria Jane Marshall

Periurban Agricultural Education Stimulating Development

A village in a small city in northern China demonstrates ecology, society, and economy: a lived ecology. It is located near the capital Beijing, it has experienced four dramatic changes in the past fifty years of urban development: 1. The village’s original location is in the hill, growing grain; 2. The village relocates to the town to grow peaches, as the temperature difference across locations is large and more suitable for the growth of peach trees; 3. The new brick factory commences large-scale proudction, attracting a large number of workers. Agriculture is banned due to widespread ecological damage, destroying vegetation and terrain, and reducing bird populations; 4. The red brick factory was banned. Young people moved to the city, and old people started growing peaches again.

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This thesis envisions a future where youths stay in the village, transforming agricultural and industrial built infrastructure to support it ecologically and economically. Central to this is a school to spread knowledge of this process and training, learning agricultural techniques that can be used to participate in local life. Students will apply what they have learned and teach local farmers more scientific agricultural techniques. From an economic perspective, this thesis aims to create a sense of value of landscape, allowing city-dwellers to value the countryside. This thesis also proposes a model of intergenerational sustainability, as the villagers are all active participants in the village’s development, and their lives are the story of the entire project. We can therefore utilise the narrative of the four seasons for an immersive experience. However, from a wider perspective, the story of my village is not an isolated case: it is part of a large pattern affected by Beijing’s policy development and other factors. Overall, the project aims to represent and reframe the periurban. More importantly, it advocates for equity, biodiversity, and intergenerational sustainability.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The MArch thesis project by Zhou Yaru is a comprehensive proposal for a prosperous and meaningful future for her periurban hometown. The project brings together resident’s aspirations into a shared lifestyle and livelihood oriented by seasons. This is evident in the compelling way in which the project is rendered as four panels showing the same scene in spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In each scene certain features are emphasised - made larger to reveal their activation through adaptive reuse and landscape regeneration. In every viewing of the drawing set small elements emerge and merge, creating distinct moods of place. This atmospheric or energetic mode of representation was mobilised by several important creative research steps. The project started with a participatory study of everyday life, a survey of underused spaces, and an archival review of the social drivers of ecological change. It was found that while the land supports astonishingly sweet peaches, every element in the village and fields needs care. There was also a desire for young people to find work and stay. An important concept for thinking through this puzzle was centred in redesigning the pedagogy of the school. By aligning education with lessons in advanced cultivation practices and in setting aside time to cultivate, a future imaginary for a peach tree town was thus created.

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MACRO LINKS BETWEEN CITIES-Hebei ,China

SECTION DIAGRAM & INTERCONNECTION

City Center

100KM 100KM

Density Mountainous Terrain Periurban Power Infrastructure Supply

Agricultural education pilot program Attracting talent backflow Villages alleviating urban pressure

CITY PERIURBAN-Zhang Jiakou ,China

1KM

High-Density, HighPressure Urban Area

1KM Periurban Villages

Industry Factory

Farmland Water Attracting talent backflow Development Trends

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all about

SPACE A critical re-examiniation of space as we know it. From functions to attitudes, expansive landscapes to the domestic condition.

CONTINUUM

Amy Amelia Ahmad

Ashley Tay

Chan Wang Sheng James

Chen Yuwei

Harbourscape

Cultivating a Horticycle Plant

The Exchange City

Reconnecting Community

Cheryl Lam

Chiew Yi Ying

Chng Yoke Minn, Ashley

Cindy Koo Xin Yu

Microdwellink

Beyond Borders

Heat

Flexi Haven

Darien Wu Junhan

Desiree Loh

Fan Sizhe

Ho Tsui Yin Reuben

Urban Bricolage

Sustenance Street

The Phygital Mall

The Waste Experience

Iffah Rusyda binte Azmi

Jasmine Lim Jia Hui

Kelly Wong Yoke Mun

Lee Shi Pei Kylyn

Towards a New Wave of Climate Infrastructures

Symbiotic Rejuvenation

Nomad’s Land

Art of Resilience

PROJECT REPOSITORY

Li Peishan

Liang Weiheng

Lim Yen Hng Kennard

Ling Wei

Permeable Deinstitutionalization

Parking Oasis

Nature’s Atelier

The Soundscape of Queenstown

Lionny Tai

Liu Heng

Loo Jing Yu, Megan Nicole

Luo Tianhao

One Building, Three Lives

Extra Infra

Pseudoplaces

Herbal Riveria

Muhammad Syafiq bin Mohammad Hashim

Samantha Ang Xuan Lin Peninsula+

SHAUL HAMEED S/O MOHAMED SHARIFF

Beyond Carbon Neutrality

Tan Ee Joo Kelly

Tang Wei

Yen Tzu Yao

Zhang Yingzhen

Dispersing The Domestic

Ecology Practices for Periurban Ecotourism

Vertiscape

Achieving Xiaoyao

Cultivating an Ambiguous Habitat

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Healthscape

Sun Jianxin

Zhao Wangyue

Zhou Zijun

Embracing Hybrid-Religion The Multifaith Center

Revitalising Common Spaces in High-rise Public Housing

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217

by Amy Amelia Ahmad

thesis supervisor Dr Yuan Chao

HARBOURSCAPE Rethinking Coastal Industrial Development in Singapore

This thesis delves into the transformation of Singapore’s coastal industrial zones into high-density mixed-use developments. Aligning with Singapore’s vision and plan for land use efficiency, this thesis aims to rethink and transform coastal industrial areas which tends to be low dense. It challenges traditional notions by proposing coastal industrial areas as key elements of mixed-use typologies. Picking out migrant worker dormitories as a residential bed to inject into such areas, Harbourscape strives to question the typical one type use of coastal industrial areas. Beginning with a historical overview of Singapore’s Coastal Industrial Development, followed by an analysis of global mixed-use coastal zones, highlighting urban fabric and contradictions within these areas. It also addresses the impact of land reclamation on marine ecosystems and suggests ways to positively contribute to mixed-use coastal

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industrial areas.

Looking towards the future, the thesis outlines practical guidelines, strategies, and potential innovations crucial for realizing a visionary Singapore. It addresses environmental concerns and challenges such as noise and vibrational impacts that comes with the idea of living in coastal industrial zones. Ultimately, Harbourscape hopes to contribute to the discourse on urban development by unraveling the complexities of mixed-use coastal industrial areas. It envisions a Singapore that sustains economic vibrancy while promoting harmonious coexistence between industry, nature, and urban life. The aim is to set a precedent for global urban development, paving the way for a sustainable and vibrant future for Singapore’s coastal industrial zones.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Amy’s master thesis focuses on enhancing the living conditions of foreign workers in industrial port areas, presenting a well-rounded approach to urban development. By addressing the often-overlooked needs of these workers, her project aims to improve their quality of life significantly. Amy’s research is timely and necessary, considering the vital role these workers play in the global supply chain. Her project proposes thoughtful improvements to worker accommodations, ensuring they have access to comfortable living spaces, recreational facilities, and social infrastructure. This focus on human-centered design reflects Amy’s deep commitment to social equity and well-being. Additionally, she adeptly balances this human aspect with the broader goal of sustainable urban development. Her design strategies harmonize industrial activity with the preservation of coastal ecosystems, demonstrating a keen awareness of environmental stewardship. Amy’s work stands out for its holistic approach, integrating social, urban, and ecological considerations. By proposing solutions that cater to the needs of foreign workers while protecting coastal environments, she showcases her ability to think critically and design sustainably. Her thesis is a compelling example of how thoughtful architecture can address complex, multi-faceted challenges, contributing to more equitable and sustainable urban futures.

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PRELIMINARY STUDIES

Dormitory Strategy

Cargo Strategy

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EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC & PERSPECTIVES

VIEW FROM LEVEL 20 SKYBRIDGE

SPACE

ESTATE’S LEISURE AREA

ESTATE’S SHARED OUTDOOR GREEN SPACE

ESTATE’S PAVILION SHELTER

ESTATE’S LEVEL 5 SKYBRIDGE

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URBAN COMMUNITY STRATEGY

URBAN COMMUNITY TIME OF DAY

NIGHT

EVENING

DAY

In Harbourscape, community platforms act as sound buffer, shielding residential areas from industrial noise while allowing the cargo port to continue operations. During the evening, community platforms buzz with life, providing a vibrant atmosphere for migrant workers to connect. As dawn breaks, the hum of activity blends seamlessly with morning rituals, and the cargo ports are at full steam ahead for the day. With strategic placement and the use of timed technologies, a harmonious coexistence between industry and residential life is achieved.

Tuas TERMINAL PORT BIRD’S EYE VIEW

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221

by Ashley Tay

thesis supervisor Cheah Kok Ming

CULTIVATING A HORTICYCLE PLANT A permanent home for plant nurseries in Singapore

Horticulture is defined as the cultivation of plants in gardens or greenhouses. Singapore’s greening history from a being a Garden City to today’s City in Nature has shown how horticulture is central to meet national agendas, benefit the urban environment and the community . Plant nurseries that supply plants and horticulture services such as landscape maintenance and design are key players in the landscape industry that contributes to Singapore’s horticulture scene. On a smaller scale they also interact with the community to promote gardening via the sale of plants . However with land scarcity, plant nurseries are subject to short and expensive leases from the government which provides an inconducive environment for any business to consider automation and intensification of their plant nursery operations. With no permanent home for plant nurseries in the near future, the thesis explores the hybridisation of a

SPACE

food waste recycling plant with a vertical plant nursery. Intensified plant nursery operations requires large amounts of water and energy to support its operations. The hybridisation taps on the symbiotic relationship between a food waste recycling plant that helps to manage Singapore’s food waste whilst producing resources (fertiliser and energy) for vertical plant nursery operations, while the plant nursery is able to provide horticulture waste on top of the collected food and horticulture waste from the surrounding neighbourhood for recycling. The site is based in Bedok, where the interfacings between residential and industrial areas that are in proximity to industrial food manufacturers such as JTC Bedok food city. The project aims to soften the harsh edges between residential and industrial estates through the intensification of landuse by integrating a plant nursery, community facilities, park space and a food recycling plant on the same plot of land. It will provide for the surrounding community and urban environment, address the state’s national agenda to manage food waste and act as a platform to cultivate a gardening culture amongst the community.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS A lesson to take away here is that a thesis may start off with an attempt at solving a single problem but the eventuality is a solution that understands how a few problems are interconnected in a systemic relationship. This thesis functions across scales. It is a nexus for the regional green and blue systems, bridging biodiversity and amenities gap in the regional park connector network. It addresses the food waste issue within the 3km radius, converting it to energy for running an indoor horticulture nursery that supply plants to community plant enthusiasts and gardens. At the same time, the site sits at the intersection between public housing and an industrial estate, offering programmatic opportunity that could be unconventional and yet feasible. It is a waste to energy green infrastructure, a hybrid of energy production integrating with intensive plant growing and horticulture-centric community recreation. And the thesis began by only looking at the plight of the plant nurseries and their short lease land-use but developed into a holistic solution. It shows us that system-thinking approach and interdisciplinary solutioning are necessary at solving complex urban issues.

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223

SPACE 224

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225

by James Chan

thesis supervisor Tan Teck Kiam

THE EXCHANGE CITY Spatial Equity Within Urban Dichotomies

The thesis research initiates by examining critical theories proposed by Baudrillard, Lefebvre, Marx and Veblen, aiming to elucidate the underlying patterns within our urban landscape. Conspicuous Consumption, characterized by extravagant spending driven by the affluent class to distinguish themselves from the masses, and Capitalist Commodification, the process of transforming social spaces into commodities for profit, serve as focal points of analysis. The research concludes that our urban environment is marked by spatial dichotomies and inherent paradoxes. There exists a pronounced dependence on consumptive landmarks for economic gains. These attractions often depend heavily on the local demographic for financing its operations, yet remain largely inaccessible to the masses. Our island-nation’s key waterways, which was once the budding point and lifeline for local communities, often become victims of the growing forces of commercialisation and capitalist commodification.

SPACE

The thesis’ ambition probes at a new developmental typology that is deeply rooted in the historicity of our waterways. The new city preserves and reinterprets the palimpsest, fulfilling two key aspects of enabling a productive economy and fostering spatial equity. The exchange city advocates for a river sprawl strategy to promote spatial equity among the diverse sub-communities. Drawing from Lefebvre’s Spatial Triad and Baudrillard’s System of Objects, spatial equity is conceptualized as an interconnected system of accessible spaces, pulled together by a central resource, in this instance, the Geylang River. Each community utilises different parts of this network according to their needs and rhythms. Ultimately, the sprawl converges at the heart of the Geylang River, connecting the disparate communities through a common, but contrastingly-used resource. Situated at the Geylang River’s mouth, the exchange city serves as a vital entry point to Singapore’s extensive river network. The proposal takes on the role of an environmental filter, purifying the river water through its diverse programs and architecture.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis delves into the concept of equitable spatial urbanity in Singapore, exploring it through the lenses of capitalist consumption and conspicuous consumption. Through an analysis of Gardens by the Bay and East Coast Park, a fundamental disparity emerges: the issue of spatial equity. Gardens by the Bay, while an international symbol for Singapore, offers limited free public access, prioritizing its global image over accessibility for all residents. In contrast, East Coast Park stands as an inclusive space, open to everyone regardless of socioeconomic background, providing equal access to amenities like bicycle paths, coastlines, and recreational facilities. The thesis advocates for an urbanism that respects the historical and cultural significance of public spaces, emphasizing community well-being and envisioning a new model for equitable spatial urbanity. The choice of Kallang River as the project site holds significance due to its rich historical context in shipbuilding and maritime trade. Centered around the theme of water, the thesis design seeks to bridge the past with the present, aligning with contemporary social norms and aspirations. Overall, it promotes an urban environment that values its heritage, fosters unity among diverse communities, and supports long-term continuity.

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SPACE The exchange city accommodates a diverse array of programs that focus on enhancing the well-being of specific sub-communities surrounding the site. The diversified programmes is a critique to our commodifying approach to planning which has resulted in homogenized and monotonous districts. The problem with our top-down approach in planning is that it is often too easy to forget the differences between sub communities and that these differences matter. In contrast, the exchange city taps onto the unique differences between surrounding sub-communities. Through the celebration of water, these differences are reinterpreted into curated programmes that enhance the well-being of surrounding communities.

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by Chen Yuwei

thesis supervisor Ho Puay Peng

RECONNECTING COMMUNITY Reshaping the Outdoor Spaces of Shipai Village

In the novel Folding Beijing, a folding city is divided into three layers of space, with different classes of people living in different spaces, some enjoying a supreme life, while others have no right to choose and face a life at the bottom day after day. In urban villages, these “ folding cities”, the young tenants are more like people living at the bottom, but no matter what labels the outside world gives them, they still have dreams in their hearts, and they come to the city far from home to struggle and work hard, and they still have a hopeful heart for the future. However, in their eyes, the current urban village is nothing more than a transitional place, where they lack human interaction, and the connection between people and places, and where these individuals are reduced to isolated atoms with little or no connection to each other. They will have to move out of the village one day, because it cannot be their place of belonging.

SPACE

This thesis attempts to revisit and respond to this issue from the perspective of architecture, hoping to solve this problem through the approach of space. Since previous studies have focused more on a certain type of public space or a certain means of renovation, but lacked a holistic analysis of the public space of urban villages, I try to put forward my strategy for the activating of the public space in urban villages from the perspective of “loose space” and the 3D outdoor public spacel system of urban villages. The site in Shipai Village, Guangzhou, China, faces challenges due to a high proportion of migrant workers and an increasing dominance of young tenants. Limited outdoor public spaces contribute to feelings of isolation among young residents. This project aims to address these issues by revitalizing public spaces, starting with a experiment in a specific area on the west side of Shipai Village. The goal is to foster a stronger sense of community and belonging, where young tenants can find their identity and develop a sense of belonging.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The issue of inner-city villages is well researched in the southern Chinese megapolis, such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, when the cities expanded to include the villages that had been left untouched within the new city fabric. Yuwei was interested in the physical conditions of young people who rent a small unit within these villages, and their identity and well-being. The project demonstrates the possibility of improving the living conditions of the residents and in addition, provide them with the opportunity to co-create a community through additional facilities located on the roof of the tightly-knit village buildings. The solution is workable and well curated. The architectural form of the added spaces is rich and well connected.

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SPACE 232

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by Cheryl Lam

thesis supervisor Chaw Chih Wen

an alternative housing for the ‘new homeless’

Microdwellink was born from curiosity about Singapore’s homeless population and their resourcefulness in creating homes in unconventional spaces. It progressed to uncovering the root cause of homelessness, particularly among young adults. Public housing policies, which prioritize families and married couples, singles aged 21-35, unrecognised couples and couples waiting for their Build-to-Order (BTO) flats turn to the open market with expensive rentals, which can cost over 30% of their monthly income. If not addressed, this trend will threaten to redefine ‘homelessness’ in Singapore not as the absence of shelter but as the inability to achieve home ownership; especially amongst the younger generation -- the ‘new homeless’. The thesis poses the question of whether Singapore can maintain its high homeownership rate of 89.3% while addressing these challenges or if it needs to reevaluate its existing

SPACE

homeownership model and spatial arrangements. The MicroDwellink reimagines home ownership by drawing inspiration from blockchain technology and exploring the Decentralized Autonomous Organisation (DAO) structure, aiming to create an affordable and liquid alternative dwelling. The project dissects real estate into fragments and injects principles of the DAO for the purchasing and selling of properties to be more liquid and accessible than ever. It involves four key processes: MCST owners are selected as developers for their collective decision-making advantage, followed by a detailed field analysis to identify suitable “mothership” properties and a two-tier matchmaking process to pair them with space capsules. This is complemented by a phased development approach and a “sell ‘n’ convert” feature, providing flexibility and adaptability for both dwellers and owners.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis seeks to deconstruct the idea of home ownership to a primordial state of refuge and their intrinsic relationship to real estate values / community building. Inspired by the DAO structure, the design advocates a bottom-up approach with high degrees of agency and asset liquidity, thus provoking a re-evaluation of our housing policies beyond a simplistic solution on the “housing crisis” for young adults.

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PHASE 3

PHASE 2

PROCESS 01: FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP

PHASE 3

PROCESS 01: FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP

PROCESS 02: MATCHMAKING

The first step involves a detailed field analysis to locate appropriate "mothership" properties in MCST (Management Corporation Strata Title) buildings. These properties usually have unused spaces suitable for micro dwellings. The analysis takes into account factors like site context of vertical planes, intensification GFA ratio, and zoning rules to identify potential motherships.

PROCESS 03: PHASED DEVELOPMENT

After identifying motherships, they're matched with space capsules (WALL, FLOOR, CEILING) to form enclosed spaces, based on the site context ofhow many planes it is bounded by and the captain’s (owner’s) needs & tendencies.

PROCESS 04: SELL ‘N’ CONVERT

The project follows a phased development inspired by the DAO framework, pooling funds to reduce initial capital and enhance efficiency. Development expansion occurs gradually, with dwellers expanding space capsules based on demand and financial capabilities in thrive, unwind, and work units.

The sell 'n' convert" feature provides flexibility for dwellers and captains. Dwellers can sell their unwind or work units back to captains, who can then convert them into other unit types, leveraging the integrated sanitary pipe system for adaptability.

STRATA TITLED PROPERTY

matchmaking mcst motherships

CONSERVATION ZONE

Road

Rangoon

ohn Roa

Rangoo

PHASE 2 Road Course

Sing Ave

Race

n Lane

Tessehns

ohn Roa

Race

Road

Course

Roa

Tessehns

d Road

Road Rangoon

ohn Roa

tty

ohn Roa

Tessehns

Roa

Tessehns

n Lane

Rangoon

Road Rangoon

Rangoo

Bea

Rangoon

Road

Road Rangoon

Sing Ave

n Lane

tty

ohn Roa

n Lane

Bea

Tessehns

and work units.

CONSERVATION ZONE

Rangoo

n Lane

Sing Ave

Rangoon Rangoo

n Lane

The project follows a ph by the DAO framework, p capital and enhance effic

PHASE 1

Road

Rangoo

PROCESS 03 PHASED DEV

occurs gradually, with dw CONSERVATION ZONE based on demand and fin

PROCESS 01: FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP

INTENSIFICATION

Rangoo

n Lane

The project follows a pha 3 by the PHASE DAO framework, po capital and enhance effici occurs gradually, with dw based on demand and fina and work units.

STRATA TITLED PROPERTY

Rangoo

PROCESS 03 PHASED DEV

PROCESS 01: PROCESS 02: PROCESS FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP FINDING THE 01: MOTHERSHIP MATCHMAKING

microdwellink

PROCESS 01: FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP STRATA TITLED PROPERTY

PROCESS 02: MATCHMAKING

Race

Road

Course

Race

Road

Course

Race

Course

Road

Tessehns

Flan

ders

ohn Roa

Squa

reRace

Tessehns

ohn Roa

Road

Course

Flan

ders

Squa

Race

Road

Course

Roa d

in Roa

tty

Roa

Peta

Bea

tty

Roa

in Roa

Bea

tty

Peta

Bea

PHASE 3

Bea

tty

Roa

ders

Squa

re Flan

ders

Squa

re Flan

ders

Squa

Flan

Peta

Peta in Roa

in Roa

Flan

ders

Squa

re Flan

ders

Squa

Conserved Heritage Zone (Only A&A Allowed on Shophouse Service Rear En

Strata Titled Property

After identifying motherships, The project follows a phased development inspired they're matched with space capsules by the DAO framework, pooling funds to reduce initial (WALL, FLOOR, CEILING) to form enclosed spaces, capital and enhance efficiency. Development expansion based on the site context ofhow many planes it is occurs gradually, with dwellers expanding space capsules TAXONOMY OF THE MOTHERSHIPS bounded by and the captain’s (owner’s) needs & tendencies. based on demand and financial capabilities in thrive, unwind, and work units. Strata Titled Property

Conserved Heritage Zone (Only A&A Allowed on Shophouse Service Rear E

Race Course Road

2 0

2 8

3 2

Backlane

3 4

TAXONOMY OF THE MOTHERSHIPS

436

432 434

446

428

444

418 420

442

OWNER’S HANDBOOK

in Roa

PROCESS 03: PHASED DEVELOPMENT

PROCESS 01: FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP

TAXONOMY OF THE MOTHERSHIPS

Strata Titled Property Within Conserved Zone Intensified by Less than 99%

Conserved Heritage Zone (Only A&A Allowed on Shophouse Service Rear End)

in Roa

Strata Titled Property Outside of Conserved Zone Intensified by More Than 70%

Strata Titled Property

PROCESS 02: MATCHMAKING

Peta

PROCESS 01: FINDING THE MOTHERSHIP

3 6

Race Course Road

158 Rangoon Road

442-446

419 Race Course Road

11 Rangoon Lane

4 2 4

4 4

436

442-446

158 Rangoon Road

419 Race Course Road

158 Rangoon Road

419 Race Course Road

432 434

436

428

Race Course Road

446

418-420

418 420

4 3

69-71 Tessensohn Road

9 Tessensohn Road

6 4

2 4

Backlane

4 4 2 4

4 4

436

Race Course Road

CONSERVATION ZONE 444

3 2 4 8 2

3 4

4 3 6 4

428

YOUR MOTHERSHIP IS MATCHED WITH

YOUR PROPERTY’S INFILL SPACE IS BOUNDED BY

442

18 4

0 2

436

Race Course Road

STRATA TITLED PROPERTY

Backlane

418-420

0 WALL

446

432 434

444

428

442

418 420

MOTHERSHIP INFILL CONDITIONS

2A,2B & 2C Petain Road

bac

klan

418-420

428

436

442-446

Race Course Road

bac

klan

0 Wall

1 Wall

2 Wall

1 Wall

Sofit>3m

0 Wall Sofit<3m

2 Wall 0 Wall

0 Wall

1 Wall

Sofit<3m

0 Wall

1 Wall

2 Wall

Sofit>3m

THE CEILING CAPSULE

1 Wall

(UP IN SPACE)

1 Wall 2 Wall

klan

0 Wall

1 Wall

2 Wall

Sofit>3m Sofit<3m

PROCESS 02: MATCHMAKING Tesseh

PROCESS 02: MATCHMAKING

nsoh

2 WALL

MOTHERSHIP-SPACE CAPSULE MATCHING 0 WALL

MOTHERSHIP-SPACE CAPSULE MATCHING MOTHERSHIP-SPACE CAPSULE MATCHING Road

n Road

Race

Cours

Tesseh

THE EXPAT OWNER

e Road

2 WALL

nsohn

0 WALL

Race

Cours

CHARACTERISTIC OF MOTHERSHIP-SPACE CAPSULE MATCHING MOTHERSHIP

SOFIT <3M

Beatt

CHARACTERISTIC OF TYPE OF MOTHERSHIP SPACE CAPSULE

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TYPE OF SPACE CAPSULE RESULTANT SPACE CAPSULE EXPANSION

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PHASE 1 thrive + skeleton

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Conserved Heritage Zone (Only A&A Allowed on Shophouse Service Rear End)

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158 Rangoon Road

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MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

MOTHERSHIP-SPACE CAPSULE MATCHING 0 WALL

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PHASE 3

THRIVE UNIT

PROCESS 04: SELL ‘N’ CONVERT

PROCESS 03: PHASED DEVELOPMENT

PROCESS 04: SELL ‘N’ CONVERT

The project follows a phased development inspired 3 by the PHASE DAO framework, pooling funds to reduce initial capital and enhance efficiency. Development expansion occurs gradually, with dwellers expanding space capsules based on demand and financial capabilities in thrive, unwind, and work units.

UNWIND UNIT

The project follows a phased development inspired by the DAO framework, pooling funds to reduce initial capital and enhance efficiency. Development expansion

occurs gradually, with dwellers expanding space capsules ERVATION ZONE based on demand and financial capabilities in thrive, unwind,

INTENSIFICATION

and work units.

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Strata Titled Property Outside of Conserved Zone Intensified by More Than 70%

Conserved Heritage Zone (Only A&A Allowed on Shophouse Service Rear End)

d tial nsion apsules ve, unwind,

Strata Titled Property Within Conserved Zone Intensified by Less than 99%

Conserved Heritage Zone (Only A&A Allowed on Shophouse Service Rear End)

419 Race Course Road

Strata Titled Property Within Conserved Zone Intensified by Less than 99%

INTENSIFICATION

11 Rangoon Lane

69-71 Tessensohn Road

11 Rangoon Lane

69-71 Tessensohn Road

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Strata Titled Property Outside of Conserved Zone Intensified by More Than 70%

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2A,2B & 2C Petain Road

PHASE 2 dwell + rent

69-71 Tessensohn Road

9 Tessensohn Road

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2A,2B & 2C Petain Road

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NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024 SOFIT <3M

237

by Chiew Yi Ying

thesis supervisor Ar. Roy Pang

Reimagining the border condition of Shenzhen and Hong Kong

The premise of the project lies in rethinking the border condition between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The ShenzhenHong Kong border is defined by the Shenzhen River that runs between the two cities. Although the two cities are separated by a boundary line, they share a common watershed, signifying the river’s role as a geographical element that integrates and yet separates the two cities. In 1997, the Shenzhen River was realigned for flood management, which left behind a fragment of land that was previously under Shenzhen’s jurisdiction but now fell under the legal administration of Hong Kong. This site, Lok Ma Chau Loop, stands as an isolated icon within its environment, bounded by water on its sides and yet presents opportunity as a site for collaboration and cooperation between the two territories. Evidently, the creation of borders is a cartographical act used to define and separate space, but it is in

SPACE

constant flux, shaped and transformed by the territories on either side. The thesis thus fore looks at Lok Ma Chau Loop as a potential site for intervention, challenging its current masterplan that ignores the layers of economic and spatial juxtaposition present between the two cities; the border zone of Hong Kong is characterized by its untouched rural landscape as opposed to the bustling urban cityscape in Shenzhen. Consequently, the project operates on two intertwined scales: firstly, interfacing between the spatial juxtaposition of Shenzhen’s urbanized cityscape and Hong Kong’s rural landscape, and secondly, adapting to new social demands. In line with Hong Kong’s future plans to develop the Northern territory, the project envisions for Lok Ma Chau Loop as an subterranean educational institution and innovation hub, transforming the border to a vital centre of learning; bridging flows of knowledge and exchange between the two cities, and yet presents itself as a masterplan resilient to the varying rates of urban development across the dissolving border.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Through an exhaustive series of mappings across various scales, Yi Ying’s thesis seeks to uncover the intricate relationships between the border line - a purely political construct - and the riverbank conditions in the Shenzhen/ Lok Ma Chau district which initially helped to define it, but were subsequently shaped by it. At its core, the thesis serves as a critique of our unyielding approach to rapid, unchecked urbanisation. It also acts as a rallying call for new strategies to foster urban resilience and intermediation among fringe communities. Yi Ying’s analysis of the site - viewed as a series of evolving urban and waterscapes - acknowledges that the current border condition is a transient phenomenon in the long history of the area. This perspective allows her to envision a future urban typology that is integrated with and respects the delicate landscapes it inhabits. The outcome is an elegant and sensitive urban-architectural project that mediates between the visible and invisible forces on both sides of the border. It also provides a primer for future urban strategies that could infiltrate, permeate, and transform the extreme conditions along the banks of these two fringe cities and beyond.

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MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

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SPACE 240

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

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by Ashley Chng

thesis supervisor Erik L’Huereux

HEAT A Hot Hot City

Shrouded in Phnom Penh, this architecture thesis envisions an architecture driven by heat. The discourse on environmental heat is often shrouded in technocratic ethos, discretely shaping the urban landscapes in developing nations. The rich historiography and social realms of heat is disregarded, merely conforming to the regimes of colonialism, developmentalism, and class which have governed our understanding of heat for centuries. These regimes continue to distort our thermal perspectives on heat, trapping architecture in a cycle of thermal modernity sterile, controlled refrigerators. Yet, there remains a paradox in which cooling creates heat and the detrimental cycle of thermal modernity continues. The Cambodia National Cooling Action Plan reveals the country’s infatuation with thermal modernity and its

SPACE

capitalisation on the developmentalist narrative to achieve the socially accepted cool, temperate environment. The mechanisations of developmentalism and urbanisation have led to contests on rights to the city and exclusions in urban public spaces. As such, identifying environmental heat as a socio-politically embedded, historically contingent process that extends beyond the brief moments of heat waves is perhaps the first step towards (re)mediating its relationship with bodies and urban spaces in Cambodia. This raises questions on how environmental heat can be orchestrated as a medium in which all participated in, without exacerbating it – a social contract to heat. Hence, this project challenges the norm of designing out environmental heat. The architecture will explore the use of heat as an equaliser in a truly hot city. As a ubiquitous experiential reality in Phnom Penh, heat is the engine for a new architecture that contests the status-quo urban development in the city.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This design thesis project offers a compelling critique of contemporary discourse on environmental heat in architecture, particularly in the context of developing nations like Cambodia. By highlighting the socio-political dimensions, and cultural and historical narratives surrounding heat, it challenges the approach of treating heat solely as a problem to be understood and solved through technological means. Instead, the architectural design of a hybrid envelope proposes a paradigm shift towards embracing heat as an inherent aspect of the urban environment, suggesting that it can be harnessed as a medium for architectural innovation and social inclusion. The concept of high-rise, parasitic architecture that utilizes thermal dynamics to create hybrid spaces suggests a future where buildings seamlessly integrate with their environments rather than imposing artificial barriers through mechanical conditioning and sealed envelopes. Overall, this architectural thesis project probes the intersection between architecture, climate, and society, challenging us to reconsider our fundamental assumptions about heat and urban development as cultural constructs, not simple scientific measurements on a thermometer.

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SPACE 244

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

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by Cindy Koo Xin Yu

thesis supervisor Yuan Chao

FLEXI HAVEN Reimagining Urban Spaces for Resilient Living

In the wake of the global pandemic, reimagining architectural paradigms becomes imperative, particularly in the context of housing design. As communities worldwide grapple with the lasting impacts of COVID-19, the significance of resilient and adaptable living spaces has never been more pronounced. This thesis embarks on a transformative journey towards post-pandemic architecture, with a specific focus on revitalizing the conventional HDB (Housing and Development Board) model into a habitat capable of withstanding and thriving amidst future challenges. At the heart of this proposal lies the innovative concept of a rotatable house, a visionary integration of architectural design with cutting-edge systems and technology. This novel approach not only challenges traditional notions of static living spaces but also addresses critical needs for flexibility and functionality in the face of uncertainty. By envisioning dwellings that can rotate to adapt to varying circumstances and resident preferences, the project aims to redefine

SPACE

the very essence of home. The rotatable house concept offers multifaceted benefits. From a practical standpoint, it enhances quarantine measures by empowering residents to adjust their living spaces for optimal seclusion and social distancing as needed. This feature not only contributes to public health efforts but also promotes a sense of safety and control in uncertain times. Furthermore, by prioritizing mental well-being, the design fosters environments conducive to psychological resilience and overall quality of life. The vision goes beyond mere functionality, aiming to elevate housing to new levels of sophistication and sustainability by seamlessly integrating adaptability and technology. Every aspect of the rotatable house, from its structure to its interior, is meticulously crafted to harmonize with evolving needs. Ultimately, this thesis represents a proactive response to present and future challenges. By embracing innovation and resilience in housing design, the project aspire to usher in a new era of living that is enriching and empowering for all who call it home.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Cindy’s master thesis tackles the critical issue of improving residential design in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on enhancing the quality of life for residents during such crises. This topic is of great importance, as future pandemics are inevitable, making it essential to develop resilient and adaptable living environments. Cindy’s work addresses this need with insight and creativity, showcasing her excellent architectural design skills. Her thesis explores how design can mitigate the impacts of lockdowns and social distancing, ensuring that homes remain comfortable and functional under extended isolation. Cindy’s innovative solutions aimed at promoting physical and mental well-being. Her designs not only prioritize health and safety but also consider aesthetic appeal and user experience, demonstrating her ability to integrate functionality with beauty. Cindy’s project stands out for its relevance and forward-thinking approach. By anticipating future challenges and providing practical design solutions, she contributes valuable knowledge to the field of architecture. Her work exemplifies how thoughtful design can significantly enhance the resilience and quality of life in residential settings, preparing us better for future pandemics.

246

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

247

SPACE 248

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

249

by Darien Wu Junhan

thesis supervisor Randy Chan

The city is no longer a prison, but a pleasure ground.

A rigid, curated landscape rises and falls rapidly within this tiny island, its inhabitants detached and disenchanted with the ever-growing censorship and top-down husbandry of the national state. Skateboarding emerges, disrupting the stagnant, manufactured city. However, nothing escapes the claws of the Lion City, anything organic that contrasts the state’s aesthetics are regarded as “pollutants”, to be pruned and curated out of our sacred gardens. When the city does not provide for the marginalized, they learn to make + do. These misunderstood deviants are forced to improvise and create a home through foraging scrap materials and seeking out neglected, forlorn spaces to reclaim them. The longstanding hostility and discrimination of skateboarding has caused these “pollutants” to embody both the flâneur and bricoleur, enskiled with a new way of seeing, sensing and moving. Utilizing this “lens” and the subversive tactics of skateboarding, the paths one traces across the city is rewritten, giving new meanings and an “everyday hybridity”

SPACE

to mundane infrastructures and objects, allowing individuals to navigate and challange the dominant narratives while negotiating the power structures in the everyday, so as to engage with the city in a more personal and critical manner. Drawing upon the sacred imageries and context of religions to reframe the marginalized “pollutants” in a new light, the contestation between state and marginalized devotees of “polluted leisure” becomes a performance, and the constant displacement of the marginalized manifests as a parade and pilgrimage. The processions, rituals and theatrics are a metaphor for resistance, prompts one to inquire if it is a celebration or protest? (Demon)strations emerge within the city, shapeshifting and encompassing all, born out of the accumulated neglect and waste from the city’s destruction. This radical speculation of a new (ab)normal is one of resistance and subversion, where new performative interfaces and collaborations are enabled through ambiguous, autonomous devices that allow the everyday architecture to be granted new sacred meanings, giving the people their right to the city.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis begins with student initial interest as a skateboarder and how through architectural objects examine how parameter of the machine and various operatives of skateboard are deconstructed and mapped into architecture drawing . This in turn becomes a starting point for exploration of negotiate the city through a subversion and appropriation. The development of the program developed cleverly into site specific interventions. The result here is remarkable as the student has thoroughly support his work with compelling drawing and process models representation to support his cause.

250

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

251

SPACE 252

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

253

by Desiree Loh

thesis supervisor Ruzica Bozovic Stamenovic

SUSTENANCE STREET Exploring food security as an urban tube

Considering Singapore’s goals of producing 30% of food locally by 2030, this project introduces the possibility of integrating food sustenance into a continuous urban tube. As a connective and linear public domain, it runs throughout Singapore bridging food sources with the general population. Stretching into neighbourhoods, it begins to involve people in food processes to cultivate a more sustainable and inclusive attitude towards food production. Local produce is made accessible and delivered from farmers to consumers through this food carrier line. Here, farming no longer remains as an isolated practice but instead takes place alongside the community and its consumption. As one of the few areas zoned for high-tech agriculture and research, the site at Sungei Tengah is planned with farming systems and labs for food innovation. This extension of the urban tube builds food resilience through growing

SPACE

and aiding local food production. It encourages innovative food products and optimises food farms by housing food start-ups and research labs. Short-term home units are incorporated into the upper levels as a form of experimental housing, providing the opportunity for a lifestyle centred around growing your own food. The park-like level and series of food hubs allow the public to tour the farms and support local produce from farmers markets to eateries. As food production is decentralised through this urban tube, food security is brought to the everyday awareness of people and it invites one to be apart of the local food scene.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The topic of the urban tube as a linear domain trespassing macro, mezzo and micro urban levels is interpreted in this project as an independent urban entity centred on food resilience. Its main character is built upon the hypothesis that urban agriculture and IT boosted agrotechnology could not just provide food, but also generate new architectural language and urban morphology suitable for social connectedness and more resilient lifestyle. This linear public domain is primarily serving as distribution line for food and recycling, starting at Sungei Tengah and stretching further down to central parts of Singapore. At the micro scale the project focuses on rethinking traditional farming and turning food production into a friendly, accessible and inclusive community lifestyle engaging city dwellers and commuters alike.

254

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

255

SPACE 256

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

257

by Fan Sizhe

thesis supervisor Teh Joo Heng

THE PHYGITAL MALL Revitalisation of the Fu Lu Shou Complex

The over-success of online e-commerce has changed our ways of shopping as well as our perception of the livedspace of shopping malls. As a result, the old shopping malls are gradually losing vitality and many shop owners have vacated the malls. This is especially true for the old shopping malls in Bugis area. The network of old shopping malls in Bugis presents great opportunities to explore the transformation of physical retail spaces under the digital era. By locating the site in adjacent to the Albert market and the very busy hawker center, this project aims to embrace food as a part of the youth hang-out culture and also a vital element for the new shopping experiences. With the shifting of focus from the consumption of physical goods to various forms of spatial and experiential consumption, this project seeks solutions to the global trend of digitalization and aims to transform the excess shopping spaces in

SPACE

response to the ongoing transformation in the retailing industry. This project identifies WangHong Urbanism as a possible way of the future of shopping and tested the concept in Singapore with a site that is supported mostly by the local communities rather than tourists. This project leverages on the popular “Gaming” element and ACG culture that are attractive to both the youngs and the middle-aged generation, and combines the traditional retail activities with a series of attractive and novel experiences, such as VR technologies, gaming arena, Trading-Card-Games, Cosplay culture, DIY, Themed restaurants and Game Hotel. To transform the old shopping malls into a gamified lifestyle center, the project focus on these four elements (Entertainment + Food + Music +Technology ) to attract public attention and also to create a interactive dialogue with the surrounding urban built environment.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Many shopping centres built in the 80’s, including many new one are obsolete due to digitalization changing pattern of consumers’ behavior. Si Zhe’s thesis attempts to revitalize shopping centres by Introducing gaming and multimedia marketing approach is an interesting one. The concept is very much derived from Chang Sha Wang Hong phenomena where digital lifestyle, marketing, food and entertainment are intergraded together to create a new shopping experience. The existing Fu Lu Shou Complex is carefully crafted and integrated with the Albert Food Centre with a few strategically place follies to generate the architecture and urban space needed to support this new shopping phenomena. This thesis has laid interesting ground work for future shopping centres transformation.

258

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

The over-success of online e-commerce has changed our ways of shopping as well as our perception of the lived-space of shopping malls. As a result, the old shopping malls are gradually losing vitality and many shop owners have vacated the malls. This is especially true for the old shopping malls in Bugis area. The network of old shopping malls in Bugis presents great opportunities to explore the transformation of physical retail spaces under the digital era. The region is deeply connected with local-based, vibrant communities such as students, religious groups as well as the working population. By locating the site in adjacent to the Albert market and the very busy hawker center, this project aims to embrace food as essential part of the youth hang-out culture and also a vital element for the new shopping experiences. With the shifting of focus from the consumption of physical goods to various forms of spatial and experiential

NUS M.ARCH 2024

consumption, this project seeks solutions to the global trend of digitalisation and aims to transform the excess shopping spaces in the old shopping malls in Bras Basah Bugis area, in response to the ongoing transformation in the retailing industry This project leverages on the popular “Gaming” element and ACG pop culture that are attractive to both the youngs and the middle-aged generation, and combines the traditional retail activities with a series of attractive and novel futuristic experiences, such as VR technologies, gaming arena, TradingCard-Games, Cosplay culture, DIY, Themed restaurants and Game Hotel. To transform the old shopping malls into a gamified lifestyle center, the project focus on these four elements (Entertainment + Food + Music +Technology ) to attract public attention and also to create a interactive dialogue with the surrounding urban built environment.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

by Fan Sizhe thesis supervisor Teh Joo Heng

THE PHYGITAL MALL Revitalisation of Fu Lu Shou Complex

259

SPACE 260

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

261

by Ho Tsui Yin Reuben

thesis supervisor Dr. Cho Im Sik

THE WASTE EXPERIENCE Public Life amongst Urban Infrastructure

Receding into the background of our everyday life, waste management and its infrastructure has become invisible due to the nature of waste and its current perception as a nuiscane. Kept hidden and out of sight, the disappearance of waste creates an illusion that it has been taken care off, resulting in the unawareness and ignorance of waste and its disposal. The re-establishment of waste management and its infrastructure into everyday life hopes to raise awareness to the waste issue at hand and change perceptions towards waste. The project aims to create an experience through waste, not just waste itself but also the infrastructure involved in its management. Viewing waste as a resource, the transformation of waste is brought back into public life. Designed as an edifice of resources where spaces are planned around waste management infrastructure rather than being hidden and kept

SPACE

out of sight. The architectural expression seeks to emphasize the importance of the waste management system. Hiding and weaving the unsightly while exposing its resources. Celebrating the infrastructure related to waste as a spatial and programmatic experience. A new way of living and working with waste and its resources where the public is invited to participate and experience the transformation of waste and the infrastructure involved in its management creates new forms of public space which hopes to raise awareness to the waste issue and change the perception of waste management and its infrastructure.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This thesis challenges the conventional approaches to waste management and envisions a future where decentralised waste management infrastructures are integrated with high-density living environments. A new model of cooperative urban living is proposed where its inhabitants share the responsibilities of waste management and communal living, raising public awareness of the process involved in this critical aspect of managing the urban environment. This resulted in a project that provides a compelling vision of the future addressing various aspects of sustainable living, facilitated by a new community-based waste management ecosystem.

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MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

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SPACE

Waste Resource Experience. Electric Cafe

Waste Resource Experience. Ugly Food Street

264

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Various Housing Archetypes. Freegans, Eco-Living Enthusiasts, Entrepreneurs

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

265

by Iffah Rusyda Binte Azmi

thesis supervisor Wu Yen Yen

Visualizing meteorological data at the Marina Barrage dam through augmenting of climatic instruments

For all the latest technology in climate control, people living in Singapore simply cannot relate to climate data. Efforts aimed at escalating climate agency are limited. Many are not cognizant of the nature of this crisis beleaguering the city. Climate data in the form of numbers is simply not impactful enough. Perhaps architecture might find within itself an opportunity to retool existing climate infrastructures to new circumstances of tomorrow. There is a need to reflect the catastrophe of climate data in the realm of space, time and tectonics to change people’s perceptions. This is why infrastructures of climate control should be architecturalized. Currently toiling away in high security spaces, high-tech man-made infrastructures are silently shielding the city from climatic variations, fostering a false sense of safety. As mechanical parts designed by engineers, they are

TIME

passive registrars of climate data that cannot give affordances for emotions or provide meaningful encounters. Without any major visual examples of the climate crisis for locals, herein lies the power of weather-monitoring climatic infrastructures like the Marina barrage dam in evoking transformative change. This thesis depicts a future scenario of a long-term war with climate change, where there are more turbulent and unpredictable storms and rising tide levels to battle. Through studying the structure and daily operations of maintaining the Marina Barrage dam, the project speculates a re-design for this infrastructure and proposes that we need to curate experiences through visualizing, simulating & augmenting the workings of the dam in extreme weather. When the engineering marvel of the Marina Dam ceases, architectural spaces might be what propels us to see the dangers of ignoring climate data. Architects, in collaboration with climates scientists and engineers, can be at the forefront of initiating an atmosphere for agency against climate change.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Iffah’s thesis interrogation touches on how climate data can be spatialised and architecturalised in ways that can be relatable for people, and especially so, for architects as design methods. Surrendering the now-obsolete lens of unrelatable numbers as a design generating interface, Iffah explores how the act of actual climatic data being measured at meteorological stations, can simultaneously be augmented as micro-environments that are also spatial experiences. In so doing, Iffah’s thesis addresses the pertinent issue of spatialising climate data as public physical awareness and education, and proposes an alternative method of how data can be read and translated differently into a productive generator of form-space.

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MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

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TIME

Bottom image: A section cut through the model. Passerbys in their attempt to seek shelter from the rain enter the underbelly of the bridge and find themselves having access to the these spatialised climatic instruments. Hence, citizen access is climate-event based.

An architectural proposal for architecturalizing, spatializing and augmenting climate infrastructures for climate agency

In this investigation, it is up to the architect to devise a grammar of sensory engagements that enable people to ‘read’ and make sense of encounters with the qualitative aspect of meteorological

268

What do we stand to gain by shifting how we interact with weather

data. We might read such encounters by sensing how tirelessly

data? Beyond the obvious goal of climate agency, perhaps it is a

and violently the Marina Barrage dam tames water levels to keep

foray into how we can see data as physical forms of inhabitable

it constant within the reservoir. Perhaps only when people can

space, not through an analytics of extraction and separation in

engage and make sense of simulated climate data might they be

technology, not merely as meaningless numerical expressions.

beholden to think about the climate crisis beleaguering Singapore.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

HUMIDITY METER

WATER BASIN

CREST G A T E

T I D E GAUGE

PEACE

PANIC!

SPATIALIZING MECHANICAL SYSTEMS IN PEACEFUL AND PANICKED STATES, CREATING ENCOUNTERS THAT REVEAL METEOROLOGICAL DATA AT AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL OF SENSORIAL, BODILY PERCEPTIONS. NOT JUST ANY ENCOUNTER, WHEN THE SYSTEMS ARE IN A PANICKED STATE BATTLING CLIMATIC VARIATIONS, IT AIMS TO CREATE ENCOUNTERS THAT UNSETTLE AND FRIGHTEN PASSERBYS ON THE BRIDGE. HEIGHTENING EMOTIONS THROUGH DYNAMIC ACTION, COLOUR CHANGES AND SENSORIAL MEANS TO IMPRINT A PERSONAL PICTURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. A 1 DEGREE INCREASE IN GLOBAL TEMPERATURES IS SIGNIFICANT. EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF AT THE MARINA DAM WHERE METEOROLOGICAL DATA IS REIFIED AND AUGMENTED.

MISTED CORRIDOR A corridor that leads to the ideal sunrise spot passes through the generators that are being cooled by the morning dew. The high humidity of the morning means that the corridor fogs up through a series of archs, and users do not realise the generators atop glass floors above them until the humidity drops. It is a unsettling situation to see blocks of metal hovering over ones head.

Low tide vs high tide

While the floor is usually a constant, in this space, it is not. The pod offers access and a copious ceiling height at low tide. As the tide level increases, the access can be barred as the floating floor board reaches the top of the dome. Users reach closer to the oculus. Climbing or looking out, they are isolated at that point in time.

Water Tank & Water Basins, Both Envelopes of Water A water tank is always viewed from its capacity iethe volume it can hold. What if it also served to help users view an alternative surrounding urban landscape. Encased in tinted glass, it serves as a window with a glimplse of a flooded skyline, a world that we do not want.

Slashing through, attention-grabbing crest gates Previously relegated to the base of the pedestrian bridge in its original design, the crest gates here have found a way to make its presence heard. Extending its hydraulic cylinder to extreme lengths, the facade is sliced open when the gates are activated for an overflow, slicing through floor boards that fly out (and replaced), disrupting circulation and lifting facade screens, unintentionally letting rain in temporarily.

Low tide vs high tide

The view is not at the top. It is in the journey up. When the tide is low, markings of waterlines are seen left behind from previous days. As the tide level rises, colour envelopes the pod.

Marking and filling the tide A response to tidal gauge sensors, these pods respond to the tidal differences spatially. For this pod, a rise in tide affects user’s ceiling height, causing them to rise closer to the oculus and having no exit out.

Water is drawn in and out of the tank. During dry spells, the lack of freshwater in the reserovoir is supplemented by this basin, a key to maintaining salinity levels.

There is an interstitial space above the water tanks where maintance workers work.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

269

by Jasmine Lim Jia Hui

thesis supervisor Shinya Okuda

Revitalising senior living & combating social isolation in an aged high-density HDB

This thesis aims to achieve two objectives: revitalising ageing housing blocks and alleviating social isolation among elderly residents. In the 1960s, when our public housing flats were initially built, they aimed to offer practical and sanitary housing solutions. Nevertheless, with the passage of time and shifting needs, these residences now encounter fresh hurdles. These include insufficient amenities and communal areas, underutilised spaces, and dim, isolated corridors within rented flats. Additionally, the impending expiration of the 99-year land leases for numerous housing blocks built in the 1970s and 1980s is cause for concern. If left unattended, the demolition of these structures would contribute to carbon emissions and community displacement. Furthermore, there is a growing concern regarding the increasing trend of elderly individuals passing away alone at home.

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To address these issues, it is crucial to preserve the existing ageing HDB buildings and integrate them into initiatives that enhance older people’s living experiences, enabling them to age in place. This symbiotic design approach, which refers to a mutually beneficial relationship between the built environment and the community, presents an opportunity to refresh these estates and mitigate elderly social isolation by rejuvenating the built environment and implementing community programs. The first strategy involves infrastructure and amenity upgrades alongside density increases. The second strategy focuses on community programs to tackle social isolation. By integrating these strategies, the neighbourhoods can undergo comprehensive revitalisation that addresses physical infrastructure needs (hardware) and social well-being (software). Ensuring that housing solutions remain current and flexible to accommodate the evolving needs of ageing populations is crucial for enhancing older adults’ well-being, independence, and overall quality of life.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Jasmine’s thesis, which focuses on the rejuvenation of public housing blocks to better serve their elderly residents while upgrading their physical architectural space and infrastructure, addresses a crucial need in Singapore’s urban landscape. She has undertaken a rigorous approach to architectural rejuvenation, exploring multiple typologies including facade enhancements, rooftop additions, and inner court and car park conversions. This holistic intervention not only revitalizes aging public housing premises but also significantly improves the quality of life for their elderly residents. Jasmine’s dedication to her thesis is evident in her constant hard work and commitment. She has consistently maintained a positive attitude under frequent time pressures and has continually produced high-quality drawings, traits that are essential in contemporary architectural practice. Her work demonstrates a deep understanding of the unique challenges facing public housing in Singapore and showcases her ability to develop coherent and impactful solutions.

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VERTICAL GREEN EXTENSION

ALLOTMENT GARDEN

MICRO COMMUNITY

SOCIAL CORRIDOR WITH ADJACENT BALCONY SPACE

COMMUNAL KITCHEN

COHOUSING COMMUNITY

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

273

by Kelly Wong Yoke Mun

thesis supervisor Ar. Roy Pang

Reimagining future spaces for the nomadic shifts in the ways we communally work and live within the hospitality concept

The dichotomy between work and home has been a longstanding aspect of human society, both physically and ideologically, from the Industrial Revolution to the digital age. Historically, the 9-to-5 workday and urbanized settings defined the separation between these spheres, with workers leaving their homes to report to factories. However, with the advent of the digital age and technological advancements, this division has dissolved, accelerated further by the pandemic as homes started accommodating work zones and fostering freelancing opportunities. An embodiment of these shifts is the emergence of the digital nomad, who challenges conventional spatial and temporal structures by seamlessly integrating work and leisure. Digital nomadism, thus, represents a transformative

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force, reshaping traditional notions of work and home environments and catalyzing an evolving lifestyle. As the nomadic notion continues to evolve past current stereotypes, embracing individuals regardless of age, gender, or race, urban nomadism emerges as an adaptive and resilient model within the built environment. The project aims to celebrate the resilience and adaptability of urban nomads while addressing the complexities of their experiences within controlled environments. It embraces the changing dynamics of work and living, offering innovative solutions to accommodate and celebrate the nomadic lifestyle within the hospitality sector.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS In the wake of COVID-19 and the advent of the Information Age, traditional modes of working and living are fundamentally disrupted as more people become untethered from physical workspaces. This shift has created a growing divide between those who choose to remain rooted in-place and those who embrace rootlessness. Kelly’s thesis research, developed in collaboration with the hospitality group Lyf, delves into this phenomenon over an extended period. Her research investigates how digital nomads evolve as they age, forming family units, tribes, clusters, villages, and communities. These stratified nomadic groups expand and blur the definition of ‘roots,’ particularly as social structures grow. Kelly’s project situates this phenomenon within the context of a novel hospitality development. Here, social and cultural transactions, alongside economic ones, are recognized, valued, and commodified. This approach creates new opportunities for dynamic interactions among various groups, redefining conventional roles and transforming traditional guest-staff relationships into more fluid and reciprocal server/served roles. Kelly’s thesis demonstrates the potential for new modes of living and working, highlighting their profound impact on the urban landscape in the digital age and beyond. This thesis underscores the necessity of adaptable and resilient design strategies that accommodate evolving social structures and nomadic lifestyles.

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Exploring contemporary typologies of spaces inhabited by digital

These insights shaped the formulation of ‘programmatic lava’ –

nomads provided valuable insights into the inherent programmatic

a dynamic spatial design framework driven by negotiations of

activities, laying the groundwork for innovative configurations. The

communal spaces.The study also considered the potential impact

studies delved into the dynamics of these activities, elucidating

of nomadic families on programmatic development, emphasizing

the relationships between users and their built environments.

the need for holistic approaches. By integrating an in-depth analysis

Changi Airport Terminal 4 served as an apt context for

of typologies, programmatic activities, and spatial negotiations,

experimentation, recognizing airports as modern-day ‘no man’s

the proposed design seeks to enrich the nomadic experience and

lands’ relevant to the nomadic lifestyle.

redefine communal space design paradigms.

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277

by Lee Shi Pei Kylyn

thesis supervisor Dr Florian Heinzelmann

ART OF RESILIENCE Crafting cultural sustainability

Kylyn’s project focuses on the revitalization of traditional batik in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with a keen emphasis on its cultural and economic significance. Through extensive research and on-site investigations, she aims to address various challenges faced by the batik industry, such as fair employment practices, educational enhancements, and infrastructural improvements. Driven by a deep interest in traditional crafts, particularly batik, Kylyn embarked on a journey of exploration and discovery. Her research drew from studies in Japan’s Somemono and batik, providing valuable insights into the historical context and potential for sustainable development. vKylyn’s project goes beyond batik; it embodies a profound respect for identity, heritage, and community. It seeks to preserve and promote a traditional craft that is

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not only an art form but also a way of life for many Indonesians. By delving into the intricate process of batik making and examining its cultural significance, Kylyn hopes to inspire a renewed appreciation for this age-old tradition. Identifying key areas for intervention and improvement, Kylyn has proposed a comprehensive transformation project. This includes initiatives such as training centers, dormitories for artisans, dyeing and textile manufacturing facilities, as well as parking and food & beverage facilities. These efforts aim to expose and promote the original batik craft to local tourism, revitalizing the industry and ensuring its sustainability for future generations. Kylyn’s project is rooted in a genuine desire to preserve cultural heritage and foster sustainable economic development. Through her work, she invites us to reflect on the importance of traditional crafts in our ever-changing world and to consider the role we all play in preserving these traditions for the future.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Kylyn approached me with a larger interest in projects in developing countries and settled on a project to consolidate the batik industry’s outreach and education in the larger Region of Yogyakarta in Indonesia. She went to Indonesia for research, met with local stakeholders to figure out the processes and issues at hand, and had the honour of interviewing the local expert, Dr Laretna Trisnantari Adishakti, about Batik-related topics and their significance for the Bantul region. Kylyn strategically chose a site at the existing but defunct Gabusan Art Market along a North-South traffic artery connecting Yogyakarta to the Beach in the South. On an architectural scale, she designed a timber structure with Hypar roofs as a programmatic bridge connecting two parts of the site, thus forming a recognizable gateway to the project. Her proposed structures house training centres, dormitories for artisans, dying and textile manufacturing facilities, parking and food & beverage facilities to expose and promote the original batik craft to local tourism.

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279

Elevation view from the city A bustling urban road leading towards Jalan Parangtritis Beach, the

bridge

distinctive

icon

the

horizon.

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showcasing

Elevation view along Jalan Parangtritis Beach The structure stands as a barebone skeleton, symbolizing the essence of the batik process where fabric becomes the form of the building, seamlessly integrating traditional craft with contemporary architecture.

SITE PLAN

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281

by Li Peishan

thesis supervisor Shinya Okuda

PERMEABLE DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION A Humanity Centered Healthcare Facilities Planning and Design

In response to the high demands for chronic diseases nursing services and long-term care services after discharging patients from institution in Singapore, this thesis is aiming to develop a building prototype combining the functions of acute hospital (including operating theater), community hospital (rehabilitation center), polyclinic (consultation, treatment, etc.), inpatient wards, nursing home, and healthcare at home. Due to the aging population and inefficiency of current Singapore Healthcare System, this new healthcare prototype is to accelerate the whole healthcare process. Being emphasized with community-related nursing service and tele-medicine, the potential project is supposed to be duplicable, universally applied and would be chosen adjacent to residential areas. The twin-concrete cores are designed to allocate operating theater, special care unit, testing lab, radiology, and other functions of polyclinic, in which the hygiene conditions are strictly required while natural daylight is not necessary.

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The large curve-to-ground platform surrounds two cores is the rehabilitation center which is for the post-surgery patients and nursing home residents. Biophilic elements, such as grassland and trees, are spreading from ground to the platform, to create a vibe of non-institution. Above the rehabilitation center, the twin-wings hanging from the twin-concrete cores are nursing home and inpatient ward within acute hospital core. The curved facades of two linear cantilevers shaped the centralized visual contact with community and forest. Permeability stands for the nonisolated connection with community as well as the dynamic movement of circulation, biophilic natural elements which can cure patients psychologically, and visual contact. Deinstitutionalization aims to create a sense of community, such as the public ground or park inside project, easy way-findings for patients, visitors, delivery staffs for telemedicine at home, and free circulation which is in contrast with the centralized management in institution. Besides purely and rationally form follows function, the healthcare proposal for the thesis is an attempt to discuss the relationship between efficiency and humanity. The thesis is creating a harmonious environment for both the mostefficient-needed function, operating theatre, and the most-humanity-needed function, nursing home.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Peishan’s thesis tackles a complex and polemic societal issue: accelerating the deinstitutionalization process in Singapore’s rapidly aging society. Her ambitious concept of arranging a combination of acute and community hospitals alongside rehabilitation centres and nursing homes in relatively smaller clusters is both challenging and provocative. This approach not only addresses the practical challenges of deinstitutionalization but also promotes a more integrated and holistic approach to healthcare delivery. The design outcome of Peishan’s thesis is boldly unique yet functional, advocating for a delicate balance between efficiency and a human-centric approach. Her ability to handle complex issues with meticulous detail, navigating spatial configurations that foster healing, rehabilitation, and community integration, is commendable. Throughout her thesis process, Peishan has demonstrated a rigorous research methodology and a high standard of design representation quality. Her ambitious vision, thorough research, and design exploration position her as a unique blend of researcher and architect—capabilities that are much needed in a rapidly evolving society and environment.

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by Liang Weiheng

thesis supervisor Yuan Chao

PARKING OASIS Reimagine Multi-storey Car Parks in HDB Estate for the Elderly

In Singapore, there are over 1000 multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) in HDB estates, accounting for 47.7% of all car park types. These MSCPs often occupy a significant portion of the site area, exhibit considerable homogeneity in form, and serve a singular functional purpose. During the daytime, many residents commute to work, leaving almost half of the car park spaces empty. The interior quality of these spaces is generally poor, characterized by low ceilings and inadequate natural lighting, which makes them unattractive for other activities. Additionally, Singapore faces a significant aging issue. In planning areas like Queenstown, Outram Park, and Ang Mo Kio, the aging rate has reached 20% to 30%. These retired seniors have a strong need for social interaction and physical activities, but there is often a lack of appropriate spaces with good environmental performance for them. Therefore, MSCPs, during the daytime,

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can serve as ideal alternative spaces for such activities. In my thesis project, the first three storeys are primarily used for parking throughout the day. From the fourth floor upwards, some floor slabs that do not affect traffic circulation have been removed to enrich the functionality and appeal of the interior spaces, aiming to attract and encourage more people, especially the elderly, to engage in activities during the day. The central garden acts as the most important spatial node of the entire building, not only enhancing interior lighting and ventilation but also purifying the air with its plants. For the facade and canopy design, I started with an environmental approach. While ensuring ventilation, I minimized the radiation within the car park and the acoustical impact on adjacent residential buildings. The design of the eco-canopy complements the central garden, providing a more comfortable environment for the rooftop garden while also purifying the air and cooling the interior spaces of the parking structure.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Liang Weiheng’s master thesis presents an innovative approach to optimizing car park usage by repurposing underutilized spaces for community populations, particularly the elderly. This thoughtful reimagining of car park functionality not only addresses the inefficiency of empty car parks but also provides a valuable social service by creating accessible, safe environments for those in need. Weiheng’s meticulous survey work lays a solid foundation for his design, ensuring that the project is informed by real-world scenarios and community needs. His survey captures a broad range of perspectives, reflecting a deep engagement with potential users and stakeholders. The design developed from this comprehensive research skillfully integrates multiple critical factors. It considers the local climate, ensuring the repurposed spaces are comfortable and usable daily-round. The programmatic elements are well-thought-out, providing a variety of uses tailored to the needs of the residents like elderly, such as shaded sitting areas, exercise zones, and social interaction spaces. Furthermore, the aesthetic performance of the design is notable; it enhances the urban environment, making these spaces not only functional but also visually appealing. Weiheng’s project exemplifies how thoughtful, research-driven design can transform urban spaces to better serve the community, addressing both practical and social needs with elegance and efficacy.

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Quam re nos eium nim nihil illuptam asped et officient ea volorib usanto dollore, et quodit vid quamus, conserorit omni que vid et, conse re con

FORM GENERATION

Rooftop Radiation Intensity 1. Massing & links to MSCP

2. Design vehicle circulations

3. Add atriums

6th Floor CFD

4. Add vertival circulation elements

5. Design facades and add rooftop gardens

6. Add canopy

5th Floor CFD

COMPONENTS

Distances to Residential Buildings

stroll loop (daytime)

cultivate zone (daytime)

vehicle

greenery

vertical circulation elements

rooftop

Facade Radiation Intensity View Conncetion sports venues

288

central garden

structure

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Event Space

Badminton Court

Stroll Loop

Table Tennis Court

Facade

Rooftop Garden

Throughout the day, these spaces are dynamically repurposed for diverse activities, yet they seamlessly transition to accommodate parking in the evening. NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

289

by Kennard Lim

thesis supervisor Tan Beng Kiang

Through the Lens of Wildlife

In the face of rapid urbanization and the loss of natural habitats, the need to reshape Singapore to accommodate both humans and wildlife has never been more imperative. This design project envisions a Singapore where forests and wildlife are of priority. This project embraces wildlife and nature as our architects. We relinquish the role of sole creators and humbly invite the ecological world to guide us. The project pays close attention to the structure of a forest - the understory, canopy, and emergent layer. They act as guides that inform the eventual design as they house their own wildlife species respectively, causing the program and boundaries to differ by layer.

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Hence, the main theme of this project is rewilding - to create true co-existence between humans and wildlife by merging their two worlds. Re-wilding aims to return the habitats that humans took away from wildlife. Co-existence in this project refers to having wildlife as part of our daily lives, by observation and in close proximity, where humans will see them from their homes and on the streets. This project has three parts, the 1st being an estate master plan to demonstrate wildlife as priority. The 2nd is the design of a new block typology, where humans and wildlife co-live. The 3rd is the unit, where more intimate interactions with wildlife is observed.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS How do humans and wildlife coexist in a high-density environment? Kennard’s project explores this timely question as Singapore transitions from a Garden city to a City in Nature. Using a reclaimed golf course next to a nature reserve as his site for high density housing, he tackles this complex challenge through a rigorous understanding of habitats of wildlife and current human and wildlife conflicts in Singapore. His project offers a glimpse into the future, illustrating how humans and wildlife might coexist. It provokes us to rethink our relationships with the natural world, emphasizing the importance of harmony and rewilding our built environment. With additional time, his project has the potential to become truly excellent.

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by Ling Wei

thesis supervisor Dr. Lam Khee Poh

THE SOUNDSCAPE OF QUEENSTOWN Addressing Hearing Loss & Acoustic Comfort

This thesis, born from the seemingly ordinary fragments of living with my maternal grandmother, evolved into an exploration of an issue that resonates deeply with the essence of humanity - the unspoken struggle of hearing loss, a condition that is most deemed as a natural consequence of aging but has profound impact on the lives of our older loved ones. It was the unassuming reluctance of my grandmother to embrace a simple solution – hearing aids. The frustration that arose from the desire to provide the best for a beloved family member, coupled with the perplexity of their resistance, served as the catalyst for the exploration that culminated in this thesis. The crux of the matter became apparent - the insidious effects of noise pollution and a pervasive lack of awareness regarding the irreversible nature of hearing loss.

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Looking ahead to 2030, where one in four individuals will be over 65, the issue of hearing loss among the elderly becomes increasingly significant. In Singapore, like other rapidly aging societies, there’s a pressing need to support seniors who spend the majority of their time at home. This research aims to address the multifaceted challenges of hearing loss by integrating architectural and acoustic design principles to enhance acoustic comfort within elderfriendly environments. The thesis explores adaptive building design for elder-friendly environments in Singapore, encompassing physical safety, acoustic comfort, and the social and psychological aspects of hearing loss. Its goal is to enhance the quality of life for the growing elderly population while addressing the social barriers they face due to hearing impairment. Ultimately, this research bridges the gap between awareness and action through implementing safety and acoustic comfort in elder-friendly housing.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS In a high-rise high-density built urban environment, noise is inevitably generated by intensive traffic and human activities. Prolonged exposure in our living condition can potentially have negative effects on human health and well-being. This thesis takes on the challenge to develop an acoustically responsive housing scheme within the designated Queenstown Health District. Site analysis is conducted to ascertain the qualitative and quantitative noise characteristics of the site. Planning and design strategies include creating a buffer zone between the residential blocks and the main roads around the site, sculpting the terrain to form earth bunds as a noise shield, and orienting the blocks to avoid direct sound impact from the roads. Besides these mitigating efforts, this scheme also recognises that certain sound in nature can be beneficial to human wellness. Hence, one response is to implement purposeful landscape design by selecting tree and plant species that can attract a variety of bird species that will contribute to such a desirable acoustical environment for the community, especially those who are susceptible to hearing impairment over their life course.

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Did you know? The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests noise exposure should stay under 70 dB in a 24-hour span and 85 dB in just one hour to prevent hearing damage?

SLO-MO

VIDE O

PHOTO

PORTRAIT

PANO

Scan to Listen! The recorded sounds serve as an representation, granting a glimpse into Queenstown’s ambient soundscape. The seamless transition from bustling highway traffic to serene forest ambiance ensures an immersive auditory experience, prioritizing the comfort of the residents.

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Captures and treats stormwater runoff, promoting infiltration and reducing pollution.

Natural channel with sloped sides, planted with vegetation to slow and filter stormwater.

Bioretention Basin

Vegetated Swale

Lar tem sto

Controlled release of treated stormwater into a nearby water body or public waterway.

Pro hab and

Surface discharge to public waterway / canal

Underground Detention Tank

Stores excess stormwater underground, releasing it at a controlled rate to prevent flooding.

50dB

55dB

60dB

PRIVATE

Biotope Corridor

Noise Mitigation: Water features like ponds or streams absorb and muffle ambient sounds, bolstering the corridor’s noise mitigation efforts. Fruit trees attract birds whose natural songs and calls help mask unwanted noise, fostering a tranquil biotope corridor environment.

Landscaping as a Natural Barrier Dense vegetation covering the earth berm enhances its noise-absorbing properties and promotes biodiversity.

Utilizing Water-Purifying Flora for Stormwater Management

Strategically planted greenery acts as a barrier, absorbing and dispersing traffic noise, while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the surroundings.

80dB

Incorporating Stones for Stormwater Purification 66dB

>30m

296

Noise Mitigation:

Earth berm: A raised earthen structure strategically placed alongside roads to dampen and deflect traffic noise.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Large, open water basin to temporarily hold and detain stormwater. Provides flood control and habitat for aquatic plants and wildlife.

Allows for infiltration and groundwater recharge while reducing erosion and sedimentation.

Surface Detention (pond)

Vegetated Swale

Helps maintain water quality standards and prevents flooding in urban areas. Surface discharge to public waterway / canal

Underground Detention Tank

60dB

tigation:

spersing undings.

60dB

65dB

Helps alleviate pressure on drainage systems during heavy rainfall events.

70dB

PUBLIC

Landscaping as a Natural Barrier

Noise Mitigation: Emergent Layer

Canopy Layer

Javan Myna

Magpie-robin

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Koel

Black-naped Oriole

Squawks, whistle

Melodious whistles and chirps

Melodious whistles and calls

Loud and repetitive “ko-el”

Melodious and flute like

Rock Pigeon Soft, Cooing sounds

These native birds play a crucial role in maintaining balanced ambient noise levels and fostering ecological harmony within the area.

Avian Habitat Enhancement involves selecting specific native trees to attract birds known for their calming songs and calls, contributing to noise mitigation and promoting biodiversity. This approach fosters a quieter, more harmonious environment while simultaneously enhancing avian diversity and habitat conservation.

Understory Layer

Shrub Layer

Rain Tree

Yellow Flame

Sea Apple

Senegal Mahogany

Trumpet Tree

Golden Shower Tree

15-25m

10-20m

8-15m

20-25m

15-25m

10-20m

Selection of indigenous trees known for their noise mitigation properties. These trees absorb traffic noise while adding to the local ecosystem’s biodiversity.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Singapore Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) Deep tunnels for conveying wastewater over long distances to centralized treatment facilities. Enhances water quality and environmental sustainability by minimizing pollution and wastewater discharges.

297

by Lionny Tai

thesis supervisor Nirmal Tulsidas Kishnani (Dr)

ONE BUILDING, THREE LIVES: An Adaptive Architecture That Allows for Change of Use Over Time

This thesis seeks to create a new framework for an adaptable architecture that allows for change of use over time and the ways in which it transforms. The mixed-used building, containing offices and hotel with commercial areas beneath, stands over two existing buildings (an 8-storey shopping mall cum office & a 2-storey conserved shophouse) that are being reconfigured and retained. Over time, the mixed use building can be converted to a full residential, hotel and office typologies or other mixed-used configuration in its subsequent life cycle. Our buildings are designed in a very permanent way. When the use of a building is regarded to be outdated and no longer in need, it is quick to be demolished for utilitarian reasons. Addressing issues of functional obsolescence and

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environmental impact from the built environment, buildings can be designed with adaptability to extend its life with a ‘long life, loose fit’ mindset. They can be crafted loose enough to be able to accommodate and transform, while not being tightly fabricated for a specific function.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS There are two fundamental problems with obsolescence in buildings: the waste that is generated, and the embodied carbon that is lost. To construct and then demolish a building, massive amounts of resources are consumed and greenhouse gases emitted. There are two underlying reasons for obsolescence: change of use, wherein a building is no longer economically or functionally viable, and increased value of the real estate, i.e. it is more profitable to tear down and build again to higher densities than to retain. The thesis tackles the first reason by examining how, through design, a building can adapt from one use to another, thereby eliminating the need for demolition and extending the life of materials already in use. The approach started with three typologies that are common to Singapore: residences, offices and hotels. It investigated what each typology demands by way of structural systems, cooling and lighting strategies and spatial networks. It was found that the spatial cellularity of a residential floor plate, for instance, is akin to that of a hotel, but not the same as an office development. On the other hand, the need for centralised mechanical cooling systems in an office development is similar to that of a hotel, but not at all like a residential building where natural ventilation is often preferred and air conditioning is highly decentralised. The challenge was therefore to design a building that is at the sweet spot between conflicting demands, with plugand-play elements that can be easily swapped. Here, architecture is less an artefact, and more a scaffold of evolving conditions.

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Overhead connections from Hong Lim Park, Furama City Centre and Clarke Quay MRT Station towards podium level.

Located across from Hong Lim Park at the heart of Clarke Quay,

Triple volume structural decks allow for vertical expansion

the three slim towers are built up to match with their surrounding

of units and a variation of unit typologies. Meanwhile, the

buildings, assimilating to other neighbouring Commercial, Hotel,

lightweight

modular

structure

Residential and Office typologies, in density and functionality.

partitions

and

facade

Through time, the building transforms from one use to another

easily

through

internal

configured

through the design of its Structure, Space, Services and Skin.

300

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

within

presents

modules

that

‘plug-and-play’

options can

system.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

301

by Liu Heng

thesis supervisor Erik L’Heureux

EXTRA INFRA pump/pool plant/path wall/cove

Jakarta, home to over 10 million people, boasts diverse urban landscapes, from densely packed sprawls to gated estates and towering skyscrapers. Each element fits into the city like pieces of a puzzle, creating a myriad of interfaces, yet many of these interfaces resemble literal and metaphorical walls. From a boarder perspective, Jakarta faces a common threat, water. The sinking land and rising sea levels, compounded by historically inadequate canal systems and annual monsoons, foretell an escalating series of climate-related catastrophes. Discordant political agendas surrounding national development and disaster mitigation have yielded superficial, ineffectual remedies. This thesis adopts the stance of inevitability, envisioning a future where Jakarta undergoes a surge in water-related infrastructure development. Extra Infra questions the prevailing infrastructural paradigm, introducing spaces that

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either dominate or are invisible to the immediate locality, spaces that fragment communities, and spaces that, while logically and functionally designed, overlook potential cultural and natural opportunities beneficial to both communities and the city as a whole in the long term. Extra Infra explores three water-related infrastructures encircling a vital flood control reservoir in North Jakarta: a pump house, a purification plant, and a sea wall. It suggests either additions to or alterations of the existing structures, integrating the prevailing architectural vernacular while drawing from the colours and motifs of the local environment. This approach proposes a redefined, contextually sensitive model of infrastructural urbanism suited to the equatorial region.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS “Extra Infra” is a design research project focused on Jakarta’s urban fabric, analyzing the interaction between environmental challenges, socio-economic fragmentation, and architectural interventions. By extending the concept of infrastructural urbanism, this research addresses the city’s issues with land subsidence and political complexities, presenting a timely and innovative approach for equatorial cities in development. The thesis advocates for the adaptive reuse and enhancement of existing hydrological infrastructures along Jakarta’s land-sea interface. Traditionally, such infrastructure has been implemented through a top-down approach; however, this thesis challenges conventional methods by celebrating local cultures through architectural precision and programmatic planning. The design outcomes reflect Jakarta’s unique, multifaceted dynamics and propose strategies that resonate with the city’s identity. Focusing on three key hydrological infrastructures with escalating impacts—architectural, urban, and landscape scales—the thesis illustrates a nuanced understanding of water infrastructures and their relationship with their immediate context. Often overlooked, these infrastructures significantly influence the local environment. This thesis identifies this influence as an architectural opportunity, proposing that each piece of water infrastructure should integrate architectural and urban considerations, thereby bridging socio-economic differences, scalar disparities, and the dichotomy between hard and soft landscapes.

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pump/pool — Surrounding the original pump house is a series of huts that adopt the existing roof form, multiplying in a way that reflects the organized chaos of the neighbouring kampung. The ground level is an extension of the commercial impromptu, while the roof level is a public swimming complex that connects the mirrored typologies.

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wall/cove — By transforming the straight-line geometry of the existing sea wall into an undulating one, the previously contaminated land between the sea wall and the communities becomes a regenerative gradient. Tidal pools, mangroves, and original dwellers reclaim the space, except now with a little human intervention.

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by Loo Jing Yu Megan Nicole

thesis supervisor Victor Lee

PSEUDOPLACES Towards a Non-Genericity in the Retail Space

The word pseudoplaces is drawn from existing writing about the retail mall. Originally used by Wood in 1985 to refer to “places made over to be something they never were”, a pseudoplace refers to a space in the mall which is themed for the primary purpose of invoking nostalgia, existing as a disassembled version of the original space. This project utilises a similar notion of disassemblage to give definition to the place of social transaction in today’s retail space, with the aim of reintroducing informality and a sense of the Everyday to the retail environment. This project began with an investigation into the current phenomenon of genericity in malls. Various factors which could potentially be contributing to this genericity were studied, including the leasing model, planning guidelines, lack of architectural criticism regarding this typology, and an overall prioritisation of financial transaction over all

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else. As such, social transaction was studied as an alternative to financial transaction, in the hopes that informality and the Everyday could break this genericity. The second part of this thesis focused on research to define social transaction, informality, and the Everyday. The planning principles of Camillo Sitte, as well as the preference principles of Kaplan, and the basis of the retail leasing model, were utilised in this project.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The project describes a novel approach to redefining retail spaces through the ‘everyday space’ model as a counterpoint to prevailing retail practices driven largely by adherence to typical retail mix and topological models. The research dealt with the adaptation of ideas derived from the informal city (Sitte) as well as the behavioural theories (Kaplan) as a response to a state of observed ‘genericness’ in malls which was posited against. A formal matrix was used to differentiate the various units and modules of space developed and evaluated through the lens of mystery and coherence translated from Kaplan’s preference model, which sets up correlations between key visual indicators of the environment. Through a further process of aggregation, with reference to the dominant and conventional models in both plan and section, these were then developed and integrated into the proposal. Sited adjacent to Tiong Bahru Plaza - itself a site of generic quality - the proposal seeks to establish a connection with the existing mall yet signals a new possibility. Spaces for social transaction are developed as a counterpoint to pure financial transaction as a worthwhile alternative to the retail landscape, one that is premised on the value of social interactions as opposed to the transaction of goods, whilst being rooted in the realm of the everyday.

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by Luo Tianhao

thesis supervisor François Blanciak

HERBAL RIVERIA TCM-infused Hospice Overlooking the Yangtze

The Herbal Riveria Hospice is a novel palliative care institution that sits on the terraced bank of the Yangtze River. It utilises the readily available local Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) expertise to offer end-of-life patients a peaceful and tranquil stay. Despite China’s economic boom over the past few decades, the availability and quality of palliative care did not improve at the same rate. Picking the Chinese city Wuhan as an example of a typical Chinese urban center, 2 major problems are identified for Wuhan’s offering of hospices. Firstly, as surveyed in Wuhan, all existing hospices are either repurposed from hospital wards or elderly homes. Although their circulation is efficient, their spatial qualities remain sterile and stress inducing. Secondly, costs of staying in hospices like this remain prohibitively high, as imported

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medicine from multinational pharmaceutical companies remains expensive in china. This thesis seeks to address these 2 problems by utilising local TCM expertise, and speculates if any novel form may arise in the process. Specifically, the incorporation of TCM herb plantation terraces creates opportunities for a greener, more tranquil hospice environment. Utilising readily available local TCM expertise also makes such hospice more affordable, by driving down costs of medication. The interior of the hospice wards seeks to evoke a sense of comfort and familiarity by adopting layouts reminiscent of the pre-fabricated social housing, which was built in China as the sole housing solution for the entire urban population in cities after the Chinese Civil War and before Deng Xiaoping’s economic reform in 1978.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS At the core of this project lies the desire to propose a different approach to the treatment of the terminally ill. This idea translates into a radical reconsideration of the typology of the hospice, putting the cultivation of plants used in traditional Chinese medicine at the very center of the project, and blending the structure of the edifice to that of the agricultural facility. The project also stands out for its intention to recreate a sense of homeliness for the patients by devising living units that mimic, in terms of dimensions and configuration, those they lived in prior to inhabiting the hospice.

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Main Corridor with View Towards the Herb Plantations

View of TCM Herb Plantations underneath Wards

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Hospice Ward Commanding View of Yangtze River

Activity Node: Reading Corner

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by Muhammad Syafiq Bin Mohammad Hashim

thesis supervisor Dr Victoria Jane Marshall

CULTIVATING AN AMBIGUOUS HABITAT Rethinking Conserved Territories in South Sulawesi

In Southeast Asia, it is not uncommon to find rural villages operating within the confines of recently established national parks. Conflicts arise when new regulations for nature conservation, usually by government authorities, clash with livelihood practices of already existing native frontier communities. I bring a focus on the conditions of what I term frontier populations (communities or people living in conserved natural territories) because therein lies a hybrid puzzle that troubles a binary conception of spaces as either ‘for humans’ or ‘for nature’. I have observed that cultivation practices in frontier settlements create space, however the unmitigated nature of these practices have resulted in deforestation and losses in biodiversity. These practices are not typically thought of through the lens of architecture or as having public qualities, however they express important

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and powerful relations that could redefine the strict boundaries between human habitation and nature conservation, My design seeks to investigate an enmeshed, non-binary human-nature relationship within our increasingly contested spaces, in which I have entitled an Ambiguous Habitat. By situating this research within the social and physical contexts of the Maros Regency in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, I create a framework for the design of a model village that could address local settlement issues and, in its design principles, transgress binary labels of space. Overall, the model village aims toward developing a replicable settlement unit where human practices can co-exist with natural processes.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The MArch thesis project by Muhammad Syafiq Bin Mohammad is an exploration of an alternative settlement pattern for a “buffer zone” that sits between an official, conservation territory on one side, and a vast rural area on the other. In response to the prevalent linear, road-based settlement occurring in the “buffer zone,” the project proposes a scenario of clustering. The logic of the cluster is extension. First, extension is expressed in the form of a master planned kampung (village). The layout of the kampung is centred on a water flow design that accommodates distinct wet and dry seasons. Second, extension is expressed in the reach of cultivation practices of the kampung. Such practices extend up into the surrounding hillsides and down into the fields. Third extension is expressed in the creative recombination of familiar and unfamiliar technologies of land and water management and cultivation. Many of the proposed practices are vernacular to localities in South and Southeast Asia but are novel in the study area. The moral authority of the proposed mosque is important here, for it is one space where such practices might be introduced. Overall, the project creatively reimagines the authority to conserve. It shows how an institution charged with protecting “nature” can be innovative in periurban settlement design.

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SEQUENCE OF SYSTEMS

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CLUSTER DESIGN

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by Samantha Ang Xuan Lin

thesis supervisor Ho Weng Hin

PENINSULA+ The Revitalisation of the Strata Mall

“Life is nothing without shopping.” Famously proclaimed in 1996 by Singapore’s former prime minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, this statement showed the growth of Singapore’s consumption culture since its independence. Today, the proliferation of retail typologies is indicative of the people’s love for shopping. Reflected in the numerous type of mall developments, Singaporeans have moved beyond their need for bare necessities, into the pursuit of symbols and desires. Strata malls in particular, have created new grounds for entrepreneurs, allowing new communities to thrive and grow. Without wholesale physical redevelopment, retail spaces can be rejuvenated to create a new retail experience in the local landscape. Peninsula Excelsior has slowly developed a quiet community for the ‘Alternatives’. In music, fashion, and lifestyle,

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this strata mall has gained a following among those looking for unique products - trinkets out of the mainstream. Despite having its own group of supporters, Singapore’s competitive retail landscape has challenged its growth, and businesses face an imminent decline. This project approach in revitalisation taps into the mall’s emerging culture for music and thrift-related goods. The scheme intends to increase people’s attachment to the space by providing a series of public facilities that simultaneously support the mall’s commercial entities. Here, the mall extends beyond a space for retail, but into a third space in the urban fabric. Ultimately, this project hopes to arrest the strata mall’s decline while growing the existing community of strata mall lovers.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis scheme is founded upon a deep examination of the strata-titled mall and Reit-managed mall subtypologies, delving into their historical development and the social-economic forces that have shaped these quintessential Singaporean spaces of leisure and consumption. Building on the author’s extensive field research, the Peninsula Shopping Centre undergoes a bold transformation into a hub for contemporary indie music and thriftrelated goods, imaginatively inserting a network of public spaces and complementary programmes that scaffold and facilitate organic growth of the existing ecosystem. Sited next to the redeveloped Funan mall, the project presents a compelling case for the strata mall’s diversity and resilience, and identifies key strategies to ensure its continued relevance in the leisure landscape of Singapore.

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by Shaul Hameed

thesis supervisor Fung John Chye

HEALTHSCAPE Pioneering the Future of Community Healthcare

Embark on a visionary journey into the heart of health and well-being with our revolutionary architectural design, the Healthscape. This cutting-edge healthscape seamlessly integrates advanced technology to create a vibrant and accessible healthcare ecosystem within the community. State-of-the-art medical innovation coalesce with green spaces, fostering a holistic approach to wellness. Healthscape is more than just a urgent care center; it’s a community landmark designed to enhance the overall qua lity of life. With an emphasis on user-friendly technology, this scape redefines accessibility to medical services, making healthcare a personalized and efficient experience for everyone.

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Smart Healthcare Integration Experience healthcare like never before with integrated smart technologies that streamline patient care, from AIdriven diagnostics to personalized health monitoring. Green Wellness Zones Immerse yourself in lush greenery and tranquil outdoor spaces strategically integrated within the hub, promoting physical activity, relaxation, and mental well-being. Community Collaboration Foster a sense of community by providing spaces for educational workshops, fitness classes, and social gatherings, creating a supportive network for residents to share knowledge and experiences.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Healthcare is transforming through a paradigm shift towards community-based care. Yet, an integrated planning and design approach to support such a model is lacking. This thesis illustrates how community-based care could be introduced in future urban neighbourhoods. The project is a good effort at integrating the complex needs of healthcare delivery in a community setting. Its circular typology and highly accessible neighbourhood spaces clearly illustrate the potential of design as an enabler of preventive healthcare.

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The future population who would be more tech-savvy and starting to take ownership of their health journey can envision how the future of healthcare could be considered as a design principle for urban planning and embracing the future healthcare technologies within our daily life as we advance rapidly

Some of the possible scenarios in the future of healthcare and the way healthcare is delivered in the community with the support of healthcare innovation.

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HEALTHCARE USER JOURNEY MAPPING

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by Sun Jianxin

thesis supervisor Erick L’Heureux

BEYOND CARBON NEUTRALITY A new collective form for low-carbon kampung housing

Indonesia has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The site is Season City in West Jakarta. The extreme size gap between Superblock and Kampung is a physical manifestation of the difference in carbon emission and capital. Kampung residents face challenges due to limited living space and poor sanitation. Usual carbon-neutral methods won’t improve their lives and may even cut off their unstable income. Therefore, this project proposes a collective form different from Superblock and Kampung. In the context of carbon neutrality, the difference in carbon emission is used to drive capital flows to provide more housing for low-income groups. The Jakarta government has constructed numerous social housing units, but the remote location and insufficient facilities cut off residents’ income. As the result of increment under a squeezed condition, Kampung is a physical reflection of the residents’ lives. Would it be better to excavate enough space from the city to provide housing and

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allow incremental construction? The river is one of the few unoccupied areas in such a high-density area. Housings are arranged along both sides of the Ciliwung River, and the main public spaces are built across the river as bridges to provide more connections. However, incremental housing is uncontrollable, and communities often develop beyond the scope of architects. Therefore, the project begins by identifying the architect’s and residents’ portions. The engineered bamboo structural frame and infrastructure are put in first, with a continuous solar panel roof providing sufficient energy for the building. The CMU partition walls integrate the functions of electricity, water, and sewage and serve as the boundary of the unit to inhibit excessive addition. Through residents’ cooperation or arguments, the community slowly fills in flesh and blood incrementally and eventually integrates into the site. At this point, green building is no longer a cold numbers game; it goes beyond carbon neutrality and provides more regional housing solutions for Kampung residents.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Jakarta’s urban landscape prominently features two contrasting architectural forms: Superblocks and Kampungs, each embodying the city’s stark class disparities and environmental challenges. This thesis proposes a novel collective community form that addresses local class segregation and population growth within the framework of global carbon neutrality. Superblocks are sprawling modern structures representing centralized carbon emissions, while Kampungs are the organic, incremental settlements of lower-income residents, born out of necessity. This project envisions a hybrid architectural solution that combines modern infrastructure—such as roofs and pipelines—as a foundational framework, with incremental housing as adaptable infill. This approach offers a sustainable alternative that aligns more closely with the Kampung environment compared to the often rigid, mechanistic green buildings designed with pre-set carbon-neutral goals. By integrating modern structural elements with the flexible, community-driven nature of Kampungs, this project aims to foster a more inclusive and sustainable urban fabric for Jakarta’s diverse population.

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Street interfaces and residential layouts are developed incrementally by residents. The traffic function of the street limits the excessive construction of the house to some extent. The area next to the stairs provides common space for residents on each floor.

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Give functional properties to public Spaces, such as vertical traffic and water stations, to prevent over-occupancy. While the water tower serves residents, it also welcomes Kampung residents from outside, and the activities of the two are integrated.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

329

by Tan Ee Joo Kelly

thesis supervisor Ong Ker Shing

DISPERSING THE DOMESTIC Exploring opportunities in the public realm for moments of respite and retreat from the world when the home falls short.

Not all homes are sanctuaries. This thesis situates itself within the context of young people living in rental flats, many of whom experience the home as a crowded and cramped environment, with little room for privacy and personal space. Yet, going out because one needs ‘some space’ might not always been an option for many of them due to their heavy household responsibilities like caring for younger siblings and finishing household chores. Considering these, this thesis seeks out opportunities within public spaces close to the home that could prvide these young people with moments of respite, privacy, security etc. - the intagible offerings of having one’s own

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domestic space. It proposes a dispersal of room fragments reminiscent of the domestic within the public realm of neighbourhoods, like follies dispersed within an urban park. Situated in leftover public spaces along everday circulation paths, the fragments could help these young people to expand the domestic space available to them - by helping them to claim and use environments in the neighbourhood that might have been previously percieved as ‘unusable’ to them. This thesis re-contextualises ubiquitous urban elements in the neighbourhood and posists that there are opportunities in the public realm for spaces that toe the line between a domestic and an urban space, the private and the shared, for those struggling with a weak private sphere.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This thesis is prompted by a fascination with the ways in which shared public spaces in residential estates are appropriated by the homeless to fulfil domestic functions such as sleeping, resting and the keeping of one’s belongings. What followed was a search for other examples of compromised private spheres, with correlating opportunities in the adjacent public, to interrogate the assumed realm of the domestic. Could a dispersed model allow for the claiming of personal space, the assertion of ownership, and the forging of a sense of belonging beyond the confines of the “home,” within a neighbourhood?

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by Tang Wei

thesis supervisor Victoria Jane Marshall (Dr.)

Urbanisation through Everyday Practices

For the last three decades, ecotourism has been lauded as the gateway to urbanisation for many regions of Southeast Asia. Most notably, periurban communities that took on ecotourism business enabled revenue generation and establishment of local conservation organisations. Yet not all that was promised was delivered. Existing trends have seen communities that face loss of natural environments, income inequalities, that gives way for development that privileges foreign capital. More often than not, capital does not fully translate into the community that it operates within, but circulates between governments, ecotourists, and local stakeholders that each pursue their own interests. Situated within an ecotourism village in Lombok, Indonesia, the thesis critiques the adoption of ecotourism as a business model that inadvertently operates as an urban model. Taking charge of the landscape, it examines how

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periurban communities can resist existing projections of urbanisation with everyday tools, materials, and practices. Exploring the relationship of human, nonhuman, and landscape agencies, it projects an alternative future by building on existing networks of ecology practices. Understanding prevailing patterns of urbanisation as tied to the architecture practice, this thesis approaches the situated site through re-examining existing drawing methods, techniques, and practices. Borrowing from knowledge bases of geography, anthropography, and sociology, it presents an alternative architecture practice of redesign through a process of trial and error, re-representation of site as embodied knowledge and rethinking of drawings as operational rather than representational. A new narrative of Bonjeruk is weaved through a series of drawings, handbooks, maps, photos surrounding everyday tools, materials, and practices. In doing so, it presents possibilities for territorial spatial strategies to arrange and rearrange power to the people.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The MArch thesis project by Tang Wei is remarkable on four interlinked points. First, the project demonstrates the power of critical cartography, for it is meant to do work to open fresh imaginaries. Various mapping experiments are presented, each offering a different mode of representation and lesson. An important finding is the observation that the study area is shaped by “worlds within a world” through everyday practices. Second, the project advances this finding. Tang Wei carefully translates the imaginary of everyday practice from something small and unseen into a suite of shared actions for equitable change. The three worlds that the project focuses on bringing forward are the “backyard”, the market, and the “park”. The practices that are shared across each are care, repair, and maintaining. Third, such practices are thought of as more than social. Meaning, they are imagined and represented as humannonhuman ecologies that are shaped from and with their own embedded ecosystems. This can be seen in the strategic selection and precise spatial arrangement of plants in the project. Lastly, the project is a contribution to periurban future imaginaries. In looking closely at tourism related development across Lombok, the project allows the viewer to see anew. It shows a way that the flawed “ecovillage” might become something else - a more evenly prosperous and ecologically robust, periurban settlement form.

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ECOTOURISM IN LOMBOK

SEEING BONJERUK

The Jonggat District government building, built in 1886, used to be the old Dutch administration. It is a combination of Dutch colonial and local architecture features. The banyan tree on the corner has symbolic meaning, as does the corner itself, as it is thought of as the center of Bonjeruk. It is now used as the village government office.

Gedeng Beleq (big house) used to be the government centre of Central Lombok Regency in 1933. It is a town park founded in a walled, regency governance estate with historic buildings, wells, and an arboretum of unique trees. The park is used for picnics, recitals, gamelan concerts, and official events.

MARKET AND TOWN JOURNEY

2 4 3

Start Here!

3 LOCALS’ BICYCLE PARKING

TEBING PURBA

5 - Campsite 2 6 - River 7 - Campsite 3 8 - Swings 9 - Picnic Area

10 - Langkoq Cokem 11 - Bicycle Parking 12 - Bicycle Parking - Entrance Gate

DROP-OFF POINT

Points of Interest: 1 - Drop-off point 2 - Tebing Purba 3 - Locals’ Bicycle Parking 4 - Campsite 1

All three campgrounds have rules about waste management, use of fires, pets, and other practices. For example, monkey-friendly/safety practices are outlined on a sign. The campgrounds are planted with useful trees which has big leaves that can be used as plates.

2 Drop off point with parking lot for buses and scooters available for a fee. A shop for water, snacks, and a restroom is open. Walk down a stepped pathway through the kebon (jungle). A location map marks the entrance/exit to the 6-hectare Tebing Purba Geopark.

Points of Interest: 1 - Gedeng Beleq Historical Site 2 - Village Government Centre

Wooden swing with two seats located on an overlook where two streams meet. This is a breezy area with a quiet, calm mood.

The campground features three main spots. To get to campground #1 and #2 the river must be crossed. To cross the river, step across the stones that have been arranged to allow for this each season. If the river flow is high or the stones are in disarray, the visitor can then go across a restored wooden bridge.

CAMPSITE 3

SWINGS

CENTRAL MARKET BONJERUK OLD MARKET

Start Here!

The Cemara Market is a day and night market that features a new avenue of pine trees. During the day stalls from the market sell produce and basic goods. In the evening the stalls transform into a night market offering tasty meals for workers and visitors from the nearby hospital. There is a horse carriage stand for local deliveries and for touristic journeys. A modest bridge built by the Dutch marks the termination of this market street.

The Bonjeruk Old Market is a restored colonial building built in 1929. The façade is framed by two young Banyan trees. The market sells unique local produce and products. It is both a local and tourist destination.

1 GEDENG BELEQ HISTORICAL SITE

GENDANG BELEQ MUSIC CENTRE

CEMARA FOOD MARKET

edge of a stream and covered by a woven canopy of banyan tree roots. The well is intertwined with local beliefs. Many people visit here to collect well water for health, seek a successful harvest, and to be reminded that happiness comes from attention to self-sense.

PICNIC AREA

In Lombok practices of entrepreneurial gold prospecting, fishing by electricity, and more were banned in 2019. The quality of the river and the health of the fish has since improved. Thus, it is important that the river be cared for by the campers, for they are caretakers too.

3 - Mosque 6 - Cemara Food 4 - Central Langkoq Market Market (small “funnel Cokem 5 - Bonjeruk Old 7 - Gendang Beleq a spring on the Market shaped” well) Musicis Centre

Gendang Beleq (big drum) is a warrior dance used in earlier days to welcome and motivate troops during war. Now, they are used mostly for wedding ceremony and welcoming guests. This is the village center for dance, music education, and performance.

Get souvenirs here!

MOSQUE

Nice and cooling stream

RIVER

CAMPSITE 2

CAMPSITE 1

At the pedestrian crossing there is a small clearing for informal parking of scooters. A gate marks the entrance/ exit to the geopark.

The campground (and the geopark in general) is managed through bagi hasil (sharing profit), whereby there is delegated power by the government to the geopark caretaker community. This is an agreement that is held in place with a 10–25 year contract.

Tebing Purba is a geological feature where local people come to meditate for strength. There is a boardwalk where you can listen to the drip of water from the rock springs, read about the geological and symbolic features, and overlook the river.

GEOPARK JOURNEY

The Central Market is where local people come to buy produce and basic goods. It features a new roof that allows for ventilation, protection from the sun, and collection of rainwater to keep the market clean. The paved surface of the market steps down to a plaza that faces the mosque.

The mosque is the pride of Bonjeruk villagers. It is built in 1921 by R.N. Umas (which the mosque was named after) and the people of Bonjeruk during the colonial era.

VILLAGE GOVERNMENT CENTRE 1

2 3

This is the ending point for the Bonjeruk heritage tour. Head to Pawon 21 for lunch. Created by Victoria Jane Marshall (Dr), Chong En Ning Ruth and Tang Wei, 2023.

LANGKOQ COKEM

Flowers and butterflies!

12 BICYCLE PARKING

BICYCLE PARKING

Bicycle parking spot at the top of hill. A location map marks the entrance/exit to the 6-hectare Tebing Purba Geopark.

Intimate picnic spots with pavilions amidst butterfly fields. This is also a place for releasing pet birds into the wild. A gate marks the entrance/exit to the geopark.

Created by Victoria Jane Marshall (Dr), Chong En Ning Ruth and Tang Wei, 2023.

SCALE 1: 5000 0

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Roads Water Settlements Contour Built Up Area Built Changes Non-Agricultural Shrub Vegetation (Dec) Riceﬁeld Garden Plantation Peanut Vegetable Field Vegetation (July) Riceﬁeld Garden Plantation Peanut Vegetable Field Tour Routes Kampung Journey Cycling Journey Paddy Journey Geopark Journey Pawon 21 Journey Market & Town Journey

MICRO SITE 1: THE BACKYARD

5 3

MICRO SITE 3: THE FIELDS

MICRO SITE 2: THE MARKET

Amomum dealbatum

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Landscape Cultures

Pterocymbium tinctorium

Lansium parasiticum

Aphanamixis polystachya

Arenga pinnata

C. nucifera

Muntingia calabura L.

Ficus benghalensis L.

Salacia chinensis

A wild perennial herb commonly found in Bonjeruk. Kids would eat the fruits when they play together in the fields and gardens. It is sour and popular with the older generation. Most kids in the current generation does not carry this habit or memory.

A tree found next to the geological formation that locals meditate next to. It is tall and an endemic tree that is less commonly found in villages, but seems to be remnants of old geological formations.

A common fruit that is cultivated and eaten raw, there are two variations - the smaller Langsat and the larger Duku. The fruit can also be used to make syrup, and other parts as medicine. It is native to southeast Asia.

Native to Southeast Asia, the tree has multiple medicinal properties. The locals used to use it to wrap food as it has large leaves.

Commonly known as palm sugar or regionally as brown sugar, it is traditionally cultivated by locals and its sap is harvested as an ingredient for food and drinks. It is also used to make an alcoholic beverage, although less common as a practice now.

Coconuts are the most common palm trees in Bonjeruk. While coconuts can be a drink as well as a snack, its husk is also recycled by locals as a source for making fertiliser.

Locally called Singapura, it is a cherry tree that can be found on road sides. While the cherries can be eaten raw or processed as jam, its leaves can also be used for making tea.

Banyan trees are very common in Bonjeruk, and used to populate the entire of Bonjeruk. With development over the years, numerous trees have been felled to make space for other purposes. However, it still holds deep significance to many locals.

A critically endangered climber plant, it produces sweet plum-like fruits that are edible, and could be used to make ropes. It can be found in some homegardens of the locals.

Height: 1.5-3m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Half-shade Plant Morphology: Thrives in moist, humus-rich soils.

Height: 45-50m Ethnobotanical Uses: Plant care: Full sun Harvested as a source of fibre, wood Pollination: Seed or dyestuff. Fibre from bark can be Plant Morphology: Fast growing used to make rope. Light and soft tree, prefers sunny and wellwhite wood for pulp, construction, drained soils of tropics. and veneer.

Height: 15-30m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Seeds Plant Morphology: Thrives in humid rainforests with drained soils.

Height: 16-20m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Insects Plant Morphology: Moist, welldrained soils

Height: Up to 20m Ethnobotanical Uses: Plant care: Full sun Edible seeds, leaf sheaths can be used Pollination: Bees or animals by locals to make ropes. An important Plant Morphology: Solitary palm source of sugar thrives in moist, well-drained soils.

Height: Up to 30m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Seeds Plant Morphology: Adapts to wide range of soil types and conditions.

Height: 3-12m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Bee-Attracting Plant Morphology: Fan-like branches. Thrives in acid and alkaline conditions

Height: Up to 30m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Fig Wasp Plant Morphology: Versatile in dry, moist, and fertile soils.

Height: Climber shrub and Ethnobotanical Uses: ocassionally a tree Sweet plum-like fruits, can be eaten Plant care: Full sun raw. Roots can be used as astringent, Pollination: Insect or mammals and against amenorrhoea. Plant Morphology: Thrives in moist, well-drained or saline soil.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Sour fruit with seeds, traditionally used to cure stomach problems and digestive disorders. Flower buds used to make curry and dried seeds have similar taste and aroma to cardamom.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Juicy and sweet fruits, typically eaten fresh. bark and leaves can be concocted to treat dysentery, and its seeds has anti-fever properties.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Has medicinal properties, can be used to build furnitures or house-building.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Edible and drinkable, coconut oil can be extracted from flesh or squeezed for coconut milk, which is used in wide range of local food and desserts. Has a wide range of houshold utility.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Sweet edible fruits, can be eaten raw or made into jam and tarts. Flower infusions relieves headache and cold. Wood can be used for general carpentry.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Shade-providing tree, ornamental fruits with cultural significance in the village.

BONJERUK

SCALE 1: 5000 0

100

200 LEGEND

300 metres

MICRO SITE 1: THE BACKYARD

5 3

MICRO SITE 3: THE FIELDS

MICRO SITE 2: THE MARKET

Amomum dealbatum

1 9

Landscape Cultures

Pterocymbium tinctorium

Height: 1.5-3m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Half-shade Plant Morphology: Thrives in moist, humus-rich soils.

Lansium parasiticum

KAMPUNG JOURNEY 6

Aphanamixis polystachya

Arenga pinnata

C. nucifera

Native to Southeast Asia, the tree has multiple medicinal properties. The locals used to use it to wrap food as it has large leaves.

Coconuts are the most common palm trees in Bonjeruk. While coconuts can be a drink as well as a snack, its husk is also recycled by locals as a source for making fertiliser.

Height: 15-30m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Seeds Plant Morphology: Thrives in humid rainforests with drained soils.

Height: 16-20m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Insects Plant Morphology: Moist, welldrained soils

Height: Up to 30m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Seeds Plant Morphology: Adapts to wide range of soil types and conditions.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Juicy and sweet fruits, typically eaten fresh. bark and leaves can be concocted to treat dysentery, and its seeds has anti-fever properties.

Enjoy a traditional welcome drink at the drop-off point served by locals. This journey is focused on the intertwined role of plants and food in the space and life of women and children. Visitors will learn about infrastructures of care and cultivation and how the kampung (village) is shaped through these lived ecologies. 7

Ethnobotanical Uses: Has medicinal properties, can be used to build furnitures or house-building.

The name Bonjeruk comes from “bon” and “jeruk”. “Bon” means well and “jeruk” means lime. Bonjeruk village was founded around 150 years ago and named after the well because it had plentiful water and was surrounded by lime trees. This well is amongst many wells that exists in Bonjeruk. It provides locals with water for agriculture and everyday use.

Tenun Pusake is a group of women who do hand weaving in a family house. Learn about weaving techniques and purchase handmade textiles. Walk along the road and learn about taman (garden) plants and their everyday use.

Muntingia calabura L.

Locally called Singapura, it is a cherry tree that can be found on road sides. While the cherries can be eaten raw or processed as jam, its leaves can also be used for making tea. Height: 3-12m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Bee-Attracting Plant Morphology: Fan-like branches. Thrives in acid and alkaline conditions

Kopi Sangrai is the brand of the coffee produced in Kampung Presak. It is a traditional way of producing coffee in a local kitchen in Bonjeruk. Learn about varieties of local coffee and its production process. Walk along the road and learn about the plants that make up the garden (taman).

Ethnobotanical Uses: Sweet edible fruits, can be eaten raw or made into jam and tarts. Flower infusions relieves headache and cold. Wood can be used for general carpentry.

Ficus benghalensis L.

Salacia chinensis

A critically endangered climber plant, it produces sweet plum-like fruits that are edible, and could be used to make ropes. It can be found in some homegardens of the locals.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Shade-providing tree, ornamental fruits with cultural significance in the village.

Ethnobotanical Uses: Height: Climber shrub and Sweet plum-like fruits, can be eaten ocassionally a tree raw. Roots can be used as astringent, Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Insect or mammals and against amenorrhoea. Plant Morphology: Thrives in moist, well-drained or saline soil.

Height: Up to 30m Plant care: Full sun Pollination: Fig Wasp Plant Morphology: Versatile in dry, moist, and fertile soils.

Makam Beleq is the first historically significant cemetery in Bonjeruk, it is located on a hill and planted with magnificent frangipani trees. It is not only a cemetery, but also where locals can learn more about Bonjeruk historical ancestry, society, and culture, as it is observed in how elaborate the burial is arranged.

Pawon 21 is a restaurant tha food amongst green ricefield permaculture. It is managed women from the kampung. C journey here and enjoy a del

6 OMBAK FOOD

Head to Pawon 21 for lun PAWON 21

LEGEND

0 km

7.5 km

MAP IN LAYERS

15 km

5 4 3

LAND COVER SETTLEMENT ROAD

Points of Interest: 1 - Starting point 2 - Wakaf And Well 3 - Tenun Pusake Hand Weaving

WAKAF AND WELL

2 1

WATER WATER LINES COAST SWAMP LAKE SAND

6 - Ombak Food 7 - Pawon 21

MAKAM BELEQ CEMETERY

TENUN PUSAKE HAND WEAVING

Start Here! 4 - Kopi Sangrai Home Production 5 - Makam Beleq Cemetery

1 DROP-OFF POINT

Ombak Food is a shop that sells award-winning, homemade packaged products like ginger rolls and other snacks.

KOPI SANGRAI HOME PRODUCTION

Created by Victoria Jane Marshall (Dr), Chong En Ning Ruth

ADMINISTRATION SUBDISTRICT VILLAGE

FOREST AGRICULTURE RICEFIELD AGRICULTURE GARDEN AGRICULTURE FIELDS MIXED PLANTS REED SHRUBS DRY FOREST WET FOREST

BONJERUK

ROUTES AND REGIONS PERIURBAN REGION

BONJERUK

POPULAR TOURISM ROUTES PERIURBAN TOURISM ROUTES SETTLEMENT COVER WITH URBAN AND PERIURBAN REGION

PREVAILING TOURISM REGIONS POTENTIAL TOURISM REGIONS

ROUTES TAKEN BY TOURISTS

VILLAGES WITH TOURISMRELATED DEVELOPMENTS

ACTOR NETWORK PRACTICES

tourists

local cooking

cultural palms

drying produce

THE PARK mb to Lo

Craft Workshop

ok Ai rpor

Palm Gardens

Gardening Shed

Kitchen wheel barrow

Wood Working Store

Organic Farm Roadside Shop

organic produce

backyard kitchen

banana leaf wraps

Picnic Local Waste Management Service Compost Station

bamboo construction

Weekend Market

Plant Nursery

trash

convenience store bamboo trellis

THE MARKET Day Market

old water well composting

Backyard Ecotourism Headquarters

Trash Collection Point Backyard Kitchen recycled flower pots

Convenience Store

Bonjeruk Town Center

Compost Garden

Village Garden Bonjeruk Clean-up Organisation Children’s Hangout

women

Women’s Association

Garden Alley

THE BACKYARD

Night Market

Endemic Trees

Workshop Shed

parasol business

workshop shed

Pawon 21

cart sate

Homegarden

tree business harvested bamboo

hanging gardens motorbikes

stray dogs edible flowers and fruits

m atara to M

LEGEND

City

Flows within site Practices within site Practices across site Networks between sites

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SITE 1: THE BACKYARD

REPAIRING Economic Opportunities

THE BACKYARD NETWORK Continuing the practice of commoning, villages are connected through practices of care (of endemic trees), repair (of the environment), and growth (or new potentials for work and social interactions).

Every household has a backyard where they carry out various activities, from repairing farming tools, to growing crops or even using it as an extended kitchen. Thinking of backyards as commons, families share the utility of their backyards and make way for other activities.

Since the setting up of ecotourism, the village began to see increase in income opportunities and development of landscapes that cater to tourists. However, much of the revenue circulates between the few powerful individuals within or even outside the village, even excluding the locals who work within the ecotourism organisation. How do other villagers also benefit from the ecotourism initiative, or how can existing economic opportunities be rethought or reshuffled?

Meeting Space weekly interest group meet ups and business collaboratives

Changing Native Landscapes Most homes come paired with a homegarden, where trees and plants are cultivated as supplements to diets or sold for money. While endemic trees used to be common in the gardens, it has become less so with greater economic viability of other local or common trees. These valuable tree species are often tied to older histories of the village and lifestyle and might disappear entirely with changing everyday practices.

Gathering Kitchen

Pterocymbium tinctorium

cooking, sharing workload and exchanging information

Ficus benghalensis L.

a popular fruit eaten and processed as medicine

a tree of cultural significance, it is locally believed to protect the people

Lansium parasiticum

Elder’s Backyard

Each household safeguards the cultivation of a local tree in the homegarden, ensuring its care and growth.

Urban Problems With limited waste management on the village scale, many water channels are choked with rubbish.

gatherings and shared stories of trees, histories and culture

Social Expectations Women often work from their homes, cooking, preparing, weaving for the family. Yet, at the same time, they also aspire to do work beyond their household obligations.

CARING

Salacia chinensis

a versatile and culturally embedded tree, can be eaten, used as building material, or made into fertiliser

From the private homegardens of villages, households are connected through a network of local trees.

an endemic climber plant that produces fruits and can be used as building material

C. nucifera kampung clean-up organisation: watchers of local water network, a monthly village activity where the landscape is cared for

MAINTAINING

Muntingia calabura L.

Meeting Corner

local women’s association: a start-up business focusing on crafts and local specialties

Expanding from existing backyard utilities, urbanisation can thought through a network of shared facilities within the village.

Establishing proper care and growth of endemic trees, the village holds an annual harvest festival in the elder’s backyard.

edible fruits that can be made into jam

backyard ecotourism headquarters: tourism in the form of local ecology practices within the backyard

Library

Convenience Store

Arenga pinnata

Originally a convenience store, it is expanded into a library that accomodates other activities alongside its economic viability. Interest groups, other local businesses, and aspiring individuals make use of the kampung-established resource.

lining the street, the tapping of palm sugar signals the harvest festival

Playground construction and building improvement works for fields and homes children and teenagers get a separate space for themselves an endemic plant with fruits that are commonly eaten by children

Workshop Initially taking over small plots of land, the backyard expands over time as an alternative site of cultivation and urbanisation for the locals.

SITE 2: THE MARKET

REPAIRING

Amomum dealbatum

THE MARKET NETWORK Commoning the market through practices of care (of shared facilities), repair (of infrastructure), and growth (of social networks and garden).

Storage

Additional Storage

Resting Balcony

Restoring the old market

Due to open organisation of market, there is limited storage spaces for each storeowner. Only those who own the concrete shopfronts have a dedicated storage space.

water well for use by market goers and shopowners. using low-cost materials, a DIY biogas digester powers the lamps of the market at night Old colonial market building, maintaining the roof with more water resistant materials.

Biogas Toilet

Waste Sorting Station

Old Market Well

Compost Station

the storage corrid for drying prod

inorganic waste is transported to the local waste collection service while organic waste is processed into compost and fuel

Pond

Urban Problems

being the lowest elevation on market grounds, the channel directs rainwater to the pond

Limited waste management contributes to the market cleanliness. Waste is collected beside the old well and pilles up until the garbage truck picks them up.

the native tree prov shade with their lea

The main market’s roof system and structures are removed.

Lansium parasiticum

angled roof directs rainwater into the drainage channel Repairing existing concrete market floor to direct water flows.

monsoon seasons are marked by the biannual repair festival around garden alleys

Ventilation and Circulation A row of concrete shopfronts at both sides facing the road blocks ventilation to the market, and controls the circulation flow of the market.

SPACE

Drainage Water drainage issues often occur due to the market being on lower ground than the road. Water is often directed here from the busy main road.

Storefront

MAINTAINING Adding an additional level of storage, built with leftover materials from the concrete shopfronts.

tarp is used as temporary measure for preventing leaky roofs before the repair festival

Walkway

with the installation of lights, the day market is also a night market where locals can dine and shop

CARING

shade net provides growing plants and market goers with shield against the sun

bamboo poles support the connection of lamps to the power source

with the demolishing of the surrounding concrete stores, passerbys can see across the market compounds

Removing the existing concrete storefronts facing the road, improving ventilation and accessibility to the main market.

Storage Area Garden Alley

A centralised compost garden is organised

next to the water well, where storeowners can sort waste before they are rearragned to other recycling units.

tarp is also a privacy screen for goods and storeowners

the garden alley provides market goers with fresh air and ventilation, while providing a spot for cultivation, preparation, storage, leisure or socialising stalls are configured according to storeowners’ needs with poles, hooks, platforms and deckings

Using local knowledge of building and making, existing materials of steel, bamboo, wood, plastics are used to rebuild the market.

Using the drainage alleys between the stores as commons, storeowners can cultivate trees and plants to form a network of garden.

Ficus benghalensis L. Every monsoon season, storeowners repair their stores with materials from the garden alley and local fields. Locals gather round to celebrate the biannual repair festival of the market.

New stores are set up above the

existing concrete floors, raised above the main road to minimise flooding.

Banyan trees line the market periphery and act as a shelter for storeowners

With concrete walls removed, the market can be used at night by night hawkers and diners as a dining venue with the installation of lights.

Spillover Markets

Rainwater is directed to the grounds

through the downward sloping roofs of the new market.

The original concrete base is naturalised over time and gets overtaken by small plants.

Over time, the garden responds back to the market. Trees that were cared for grow tall and dense enough to mitigate weathering conditions.

SITE 3: THE PARK

REPAIRING

THE PARK NETWORK

climbing and harvesting fruits and sap of the palm sugar

Commoning the embedded landscape through practices of care (with local skills, knowledge, resources), repair (of periurban conditions), and maintenance (of local knowledge and landscape).

Arenga pinnata the tapping of palm sugar is usually carried out with a harvesting ritual to ensure good harvest

Waste Thinking of waste and hygiene within tourism, it is necessary to consider the rippling effects of tourism and manners of ecotourism. Undoubtably, there has been greater waste generated with the introduction of local products and hygiene that comes with plastics. At the same time, there has been existing waste management issues within the village. How can tourism be reconsidered with this in mind?

While the organic farm presents

a possibility for alternative tourism, it is limited in its involvement in the ecotourism industry, and acts much like a support to the existing ecotourism network through the provision of organic produce.

The Cultural Forest Expanding the engagement of tourists in the organic farm, the farm could be further expanded to be a periurban park.

a versatile and culturally embedded tree, can be eaten, used as building material, or made into fertiliser

C. nucifera Public Toilet

Benefits of Tourism

collecting fallen leaves and organising it for weaving as roofs and walls

While there is an increased employment opportunity, much of the tourism activities are transactional and forms a sort of “bubble economy” - little interaction with the locals themselves happen beyond the tourism landscape. How else can we think of tourism as beyond individual benefits and maximise the involvedment of both tourists and locals to ecotourism?

Compost Station collecting coconut husks to make fertiliser

Pavilion

Viewing Deck

Garden Construction Workshop

Growing Tourism One of the newer additions in Bonjeruk’s tourism is the organic garden “Bonjor”, which was relocated to a new location to accomodate the growing scale of the garden. Still in the beginnnings of setting up, how can it be utilised as an opportunity for rethinking social relationships of locals and tourists?

collecting fallen branches, learning local repair and construction methods

Building on existing organic farm is the organic shop, where tourists can purchase organic goods such as soaps and bags, and may opt for making handmade products themselves.

Tourism Landscapes With continued growth of tourism, the landscape of Bonjeruk have changed to include tourist-catering restaurants, tour routes around the village, and upcoming business convention locations. More recently, there have been talks of ATV activities around the village from some individuals of the village, contrary to the village’s branding of ecotourism.

CARING

Starting from the embedded landscape, the park introduces local businesses, practices of cooking, cultivating and construction.

Bonjor Gardening Shed

MAINTAINING

Responding to the site context of surrounding fields and the adjacent waste management service, the farm can be rethought as part of a bigger complex of “public spaces”, where tourists can engage in everyday leisure and practices, such as picnic, organic farming, waste management, and speaking to the locals

plants for sale! Plant Nursery sun-drying tamarind, rosells, butterfly pea

Engaging tourists through care, repair and maintenance of the local landscape and positioning tourists as part of the act of maintainance, tourist activities within the park surround practices of cultivation.

Bonjor Organic Farm

Using local techniques of building, the upkeep of the park is managed by the park entity together with locals and tourists. Tourists learn how to prepare construction materials from organic materials within the park, such as dried leaves.

roasting coconut flakes

learning methods of organic farming

Kitchen

processing coconut milk deveining and removing seeds from tamarind pods

making Dadar Gulung with shredded coconut and palm sugar

fried vegetables, ginger rolls and local produce local snacks for sale

Local Businesses

Bonjeruk Rubbish Mana

Eventually, the park is formalised by the government. Locals are formally employed to work in the park and cultural trees receive formal care, maintanance and management.

Parking

Collaborating with the rubbish management service next door, tours and rubbish clean-up exercises are offered, where tourists can explore the village through the process of caring for it.

Local Businesses

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Aphanamixis polystachya

Muntingia calabura L.

a cooling mid-day shade for farmers

ruits that can be de into jam

workshops held by local women to share their expertise in traditions and technology with one another

Backyard Ecotourism Workshop Gardening Shed tourists contribute to the care and repair of the environment, as well as the exchange of language skills and crafts

Cultivating plants, making fertiliser, organising harvests

the storage corridor can be utilised for drying produce and goods

the native tree provides good shade with their leafy foilage Lansium parasiticum

tarp is used as temporary measure for preventing leaky roofs before the repair festival

Old Colonial Market

tarp is also a privacy screen for goods and storeowners

Drainage Channel

Bonjeruk Rubbish Management Service

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by Yen Tzu Yao

thesis supervisor Joseph Lim Ee Man

VERTISCAPE Granulated Skycities of Tomorrow

As Singapore evolves, we are witnessing a departure from the traditional zoning practices that once strictly delineated areas for work and living. The introduction of more mixed-use developments signals a shift towards fostering closer integration of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, resulting in a more granulated urban fabric. Looking towards the future, the emergence of Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, exemplified by air taxi services in Marina Bay, heralds a new era of transportation. With its advanced three-dimensional mobility capabilities which transcends traditional two-dimensional modes of travel, VTOL has the potential to revolutionize urban mobility, thereby facilitating the creation of a more compact and interconnected urban environment.

SPACE

This thesis endeavors to explore the transformative potential of VTOL, envisioning it as more than just a means of transportation. From serving as flying camper vans for nomadic individuals, allowing them to dock at different structures and experience various room types and facilities, to enabling medical services to be delivered directly to residents’ doorsteps, bypassing the need to queue for long hours in hospitals, and integrating VTOLs as food trucks and mobile shops, which travel around and set up at different locations to provide exciting opportunities for dynamic and diverse urban experiences, VTOLs offer a myriad of possibilities for reshaping urban life. Through the exploration of the profound potential of VTOLs in fostering a more compact, interconnected, and vibrant urban environment, the thesis ultimately aims to contribute to the evolution of urban fabric in the years to come.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS In the future, decreasing household sizes need not translate to limited spatial choices for celebrations, staycations, and a full range of recreational activities that only larger dwellings can accommodate. With advanced air mobility, could housing precincts in the future be conceived as megatowers of mixed-use airspace for VTOL small units to dock? Can school and health provisions be transformed by airborne libraries, labs, clinics, rescue, and blood bank drones docking into designated zones in megatowers? If megatowers are designed with VTOL airspace parameters to support occupiable volumes in the air, then can roof and floor planes also be transformed into window surfaces? Can all apartment, hotel, and coworking units have panoramic views through sky-gardens? Can drone terminals be designed as the starting point of all clusters in an airborne-enabled sequence of urban spaces? The thesis also asks how airborne opportunities could transform the horizontal mindset of neighborhood precincts into a vertical one to change the future skyline of our island. How would the provisions of an entire housing precinct, viz recreation, education, transport, rescue, and emergency services, be integrated into a vertical spatial continuum to save land and enable reforestation? How would this thinking break the divisions of planning zones and permissible types of developments in a new architecture?

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VTOL Clearnace

Module Addition

Cluster - Residential

Cluster - Charging & Flight Control

Cluster - Mixed-Use

Cluster - Farming & Industry

Cluster - Retail

Cluster - Hospital

Modules Arranged Into Clusters While Ensuring The Necessary Clearance For VTOL Landing Pads Tunnel

Wall

SPACE

Scattered

Potential Layout of Proposed Megastructure, Exploring Expansion Options Closer Integration Of Live, Work And Play Spaces

VTOL As Flying Camper Vans For Digital Nomads

The Vertiscape design entails the creation of modules housing

A mirrored strip of clusters is positioned adjacent to the original

various urban programs, arranged into clusters while ensuring the

strip, forming a structurally stable composition with a central space

necessary clearance for VTOL landing pads.

designated as the VTOL markethall.

These clusters are organized in a zig-zag configuration to provide

The design approach focuses on fostering a sense of connectivity

unobstructed zones for each landing pad and to minimize the

and vibrancy within the urban environment, aiming to craft a future

building footprint. The terracing also affords each module skyward

city where work, live, and play seamlessly coexist.

views.

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VTOL Markethall Offers Diverse Experiences

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Apartment with VTOL Landing

Vertical Garden

Apartment with VTOL Docking

Link Bridge

Co-working

Retail

Farming

Religion

Hospital

VTOL Markethall

Community Centre

Police & Firefighting

Learning & Childcare

Industry & Services

VTOL Charging & Flight Control

Museum & Exhibition

Mirrored Strips Of Clusters Which Forms A Structurally Stable Composition & Modules Housing Various Urban Programs

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by Zhang Yingzhen

thesis supervisor Ho Puay Peng

Natural practices within the space

“Xiaoyao” — In Daoist philosophy, Zhuangzi describes it as the state closest to “Heaven,” referring to a natural condition aligned with the cosmic laws of the universe. Only those sages who fully comprehend and transcend these cosmic laws can achieve this ideal state of xiaoyao. Zhuangzi’s teachings not only resonate with sages but also offer significant insights to those engaged in the secular world, teaching them how to follow the visible natural laws and live more freely. In the modern reinterpretation of concepts, although there has been a process of disenchantment, people no longer blindly revere nature, Zhuangzi’s philosophy still profoundly guides those navigating the busy, noisy, and anxious modern life. The project focuses on how to modernize and translate Zhuangzi’s xiaoyao philosophy through the language

SPACE

of architectural spaces, aiming to enlighten and spiritually cleanse individuals. It is located at Hong Lim Park in Singapore, an area enveloped by skyscrapers and historical elements in the city’s center. Hidden within an underground space, this project naturally avoids the sharpness of the surrounding skyscrapers, embracing the complexity and contradictions of the area with a serene attitude. Utilizing fundamental elements such as light, rain, and wind, the project focuses on how to carve out natural spaces in a man-made country like Singapore, providing more opportunities for reflection and possibilities for nature, conveying the attitude of xiaoyao. Using nature as a medium, the architectural space offers a place for office workers commuting through the area and residents living in Chinatown to experience, reflect, and connect. As an extension of history, the building’s function translates and inherits the modernization of Former Thong Chai Medical Institution. Considering the protection of the original stories of Hong Lim Park, the architecture minimizes damage to the lawn, continuing its narration.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yingzhen proposed a very large research topic of Daoist approach to nature and I am glad that she is able to narrow the scope to the concept of xiaoyao, through physical and meditational practices to achieving oneness with nature. While there is no proof that this is union is achievable, Yingzhen is able to use the concept to create a meditation regime and the accompanying spatial conceptions. Located in downtown Singapore, she has designed interconnected underground spaces with various lighting conditions to support the functional programmes. This approach has safeguarded the historic landscape of the urban park while providing visual and spiritual links to the Chineseness of the early migrants.

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SPACE 344

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by Zhao Wangyue

thesis supervisor Tee Kian Eng Victor

Embracing Hybrid-Religion The multifaith center Using multi-faith as a bridge of mentality,a tool of secularization ,an alternative strategy

Singapore is a diverse country with different ethnic groups, cultures and religions - Muslims, Christians, Buddhists etc. A demographic study by Singapore Department of Statistics reveals that the population of different faiths is changing dynamically, with a significant increase in the number of Christians, Muslims and non-believers in the last 10 years due to the rapid penetration of Western cultural values. One of the social trends is that religions are becoming progressively secularised, meaning that religious buildings are placing more emphasis on the spiritual values within them rather than religious barriers. So the question to ask then is: what is the essence of religious architecture, is it symbolic decoration, or its spatial qualities, or is it the ability to engender a certain behavior of it human subjects to create a space in which one can stand in awe and look into one’s own heart. After enumerating the formal languages of various religious buildings as case studies, this investigation proposes the concept of hybrid religion as an

SPACE

innovative response to the sociological issue (Zhang.1991): a lack of communication between religions that co-exist in Singapore. The approach is to think about how to integrate the three religions into a spatial design that is both specific (ritual space) and neutral (everyday space) by understanding the possible tensions and conflicts, through understanding their specific spatial and programmatic requirements in terms of rituals, order, atmosphere, etc. ce). The essence of hybrid religion is the discovery of the commonality of spirituality through an architecture of hybrid forms to allude to a sense of being connected to something greater than oneself. The key is to speculate the advent of a new state of neutrality - of ritual, form and space that will be seen as compatible with different religious beliefs moving into the future.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis carried out the inquiry on icons through a research on symbols as propaganda and cultural communication through a historical study of how symbolisation was expressed in religious architecture, which established an emotional connection with people. The study touched on behaviours implicit to religious practices, largely underpinned by habit, routine and ritual, referencing Fog’s behavioural model - and questions their interchangeability in oscillating between the religious orders and that of the secular in the everyday. The research posits that different religious buildings have developed their own geometric language underscored by the arch - such as the pointed form of the church, onion-shaped motif of the mosque and the draped version found in chinese temples. Further analysis was distilled to 2 main elements - the inner and outer profiles, characterised by the ceiling and roof. These became instrumental in the derivation of hybridised formal modules which were then aggregated within the plan and sectional compositions of the design proposal, through a systematic application organised by an invisible grid of voids. Sited within the multi-cultural neighbourhood of Bugis, a site of convergence for worship and public life, this exemplary thesis fortifies the notion of multi-faith ideology as a tool of secularization to engage with the everyday. Through a form-driven approach exploration of symbolic abstractions and re-appropriations, the final outcome draws spatial delight from its inherent differences, choreographed through the rich intersection of site and program.

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SPACE 348

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by Zhou Zijun

thesis supervisor Tan Beng Kiang

REVITALISING COMMON SPACES IN HIGH-RISE PUBLIC HOUSING To create a better and more cohesive community where everyone grow together

Singapore’s rapid urbanisation has led to the proliferation of high-rise public housing, transforming the city’s skyline and reshaping neighbourhood dynamics. This vertical expansion has necessitated significant changes in the typologies, design, and allocation of common spaces within these high-rise developments. As concerns about loneliness and social isolation have grown, the significance of well-designed common spaces within these high-rise developments cannot be overstated as it serves as the glue that binds communities, offering opportunities for social interaction and community cohesion. Through several case studies in Singapore public housing, it is noted that there is a lack of semi-private common space, such as entrance porch, which is a vital buffer zone between the private and more public space to help residents establish

SPACE

a sense of personal territory, safety, and satisfaction. While efforts have been made to create vibrant community spaces at ground level and incorporate sky gardens on higher floors to encourage social interaction, these initiatives are not sufficient. There’s a need for more attention to semi-public communal spaces on residential levels to bring community life closer to residents’ home, especially for those who are hesitant or have difficulty going out. Primarily due to the lack of sense of familiarity and trust within neighborhoods, people today are so used to the individual concrete boxes that isolate us from one another in the name of privacy. We become strangers to our close neighbors. It is crucial to ‘penetrate’ those solid walls to reestablish connections within neighborhoods, fostering a cohesive and supportive community where everyone can thrive. By creating diverse common spaces across the different spatial zones within high-rise public housing precincts, this project aims to unite residents and engage them to contribute and form shared memories, eventually transforming these common spaces into meaningful places filled with precious memories.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Housing is a challenging thesis topic to innovate upon, especially in Singapore, where the public housing programme has been highly successful. Drawing from her own lived experience, Zijun courageously took on the challenge to enhance social interactions in high-density public housing. Her thorough firsthand research and meticulous documentation of how residents use common spaces in various typologies in Singapore is highly commendable. Combining this with global case studies and literature reviews, she developed informed design strategies. Her project offers a thoughtful scenario, demonstrating that high-density housing can be more than just a shelter—it can be an enabler for community building.

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SPACE 352

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all about

IDENTITY Embedded in cultural sensitivities, what are the rituals, customs and traditions that shape our cognisance.

CONTINUUM

Chan Jing-Ee Naomi

Chen Xingsheng

Chen Yanyu

Chiam Yong Qin

Rumah Anak Indonesia (RAI) Sumba

Green Supply

Village Tower: Ambiguity against Modernity

The Halfway Market

Chua Min Chi

Fan Zheng

Gregory Wong Jia Wei

Joel Lim Kuan

Everyday Ordinary-ism

Name Written on Water

Hybrid Craftsmanship

Regardless of Race, Language or Religion

Lam Wei Min Joel

Lau Kah Hui Sarah

Lee Yi Hao Gilbert

Lee Yong Soon

Chawl

Architecture With (Out) Permanence

Transcending Realms

Kampung Labour

Lim Si Ying Ynez

Liu Anyi

Manansala Danielle Bautista

Muhammad Akmal bin Moksin

Tradition Meets Modernity

‘Woven’ Community

/baha/y\

Re-Kereta!

PROJECT REPOSITORY

356

Nge Zhen Yang

Paranjpye Rutvik Kedar

Roy Weanna Clarisse Lipnica

Safiah Binte Noorhimli

Back Lane Oddysey

Beyond Metros

Coastline Convergence

Tracing the Familiar in the Foreign

Sarah Tan Shu Xian

Shawn Lee Soo Pang

Shawn Ng Xinwei

Shawn Peck Wee Ann

Roots & Roofs

The Rehabilitation of a Fragmented Nation

The Ambiguous Mosque

Striking a Balance

Siti Hazirah Binte Hassan

Syabil Bin Sarafian

Tong Man Yu Miranda

Ye Ganghua

Tales On Our Terrains

Grave Discoveries

Housing Ladder 2.0

Productive Nostalgia

Yin Pa Pa Soe

Zhang Chuwei

Zhang Tongxin

Theft by Authority Justice by Masses

Beyond The Real

Restart Cancer Street

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

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by Naomi Chan

thesis supervisor Florian Heinzelmann

Establishing an educational landscape in Indonesian Children’s Home

This thesis approaches design from a community-centric perspective, integrating the notion of the vernacular to design an educational landscape in a village in Sumba, Indonesia. The educational landscape in Indonesia still faces a gap in accessibility and quality of education in various regions, something which the region of Sumba faces particularly, given its mountainous geographical landscape. Cultural, social and geographical, and climatic aspects were analysed to see how existing approaches could be used to complement and improve the current educational landscape currently in and planned until 2030 for Rumah Anak Indonesia (RAI) Sumba, an Indonesian Children’s Home situated in the village of Lambanapu in Waingapu, Sumba. RAI Sumba’s intervention in addressing such a gap currently focuses on the main issue of accessibility by providing accommodation which allows the ease of access

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to various schools in the vicinity to children living in such mountainous areas. A 10-year master plan to integrate the home into the education system through establishing an education landscape has also been set in motion in hopes of possibly improving the quality of education provided in the area. However, the current progress and infrastructure tend to overlook the importance of certain aspects such as the relevance of community participation and existing local knowledge in establishing current measures, and the integral role of the vernacular in rendering the structure compatible with the local climate and ensuring comfort. Given the findings of the thesis research, this design proposes to help complement and support the current 10-year plan of RAI Sumba by supplementing current plans, albeit through an architectural lens. With reference to projects such as Farming Kindergarten, METI Handmade School and Fuji Kindergarten — the design strategy aims to incorporate elements of the vernacular, to curate an avenue for learning through a landscape whose architectural identity embraces a unique learning pedagogy in contrast to the current local educational landscape, fostering a stronger connection between the individual and their environment.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS I met Naomi for the first time during her undergraduate studies in the Design 4 studio. I was happy to take her on as a thesis student, especially since the topics she has chosen are dear to my heart, namely, education and social equity in Indonesia, specifically for a site on the underprivileged island of Sumba. Previously unknown to me, she had a lot of prior knowledge of the people and customs there because she had visited the place and her site several times and had already built up good communication and trust with the local boarding home and the head, Andrew Hendro. Her participatory research approach, which she has used to organize workshops and interviews with various stakeholders, is commendable. Naomi managed to handle the various complexities of the site, topography, local climate, available materials, construction techniques and stakeholder wishes and combined them into a coherent design for a future school. I’m looking forward to seeing how this turns into an actual project and hope she can realize it.

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The proposed school’s primary construction materials consists of bamboo, bricks and concrete, with the design ethos primarily expressed through materiality

Participatory workshops were conducted with the intention to gain

Repeated themes that were brought up were hopes for spaces such

a better perspective from a practical and contextualised point of

as music rooms, art workshops, gardens/farms, libraries and sports

view of the Sumbanese locals on what they deem might be fitting in

fields to better facilitate a child’s learning. Additional amenities

a school context situated in a village. Several workshops were held

hoped for ranged from having a big hall to wishes of having a

over a period of 2 weeks, such as simple brainstorming sessions,

swimming pool.

drawing and LEGO workshops with the children and RAI staff. Many of these hopes stemmed from the presence of the tropical, Currently schools in the region follow a strict formal system, which

warm climate of the Sumba Island and the lack of supporting

is often deemed inefficient in a kampung context, and are usually

infrastructure to facilitate a more conducive learning environment

only restricted to having programmes such as classrooms, a small

for the children amidst these challenges. Solutions suggested (e.g..

tuckshop, a big space for sports, and an traditional ikat workshop.

having a television or a pavilion) were ways which they thought can help them better cope with the weather.v

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Space Allocation Versatility of spaces

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by Chen XingSheng

thesis supervisor Cheah Kok Ming

Brewing Coffee urbanism

Coffee, like many other global commodity with roots in colonial expansion, experienced a historically oppressive production chain that stigmatised the present market. The combination of rural production originated from slave labour, and the cold chain transport created a disjuncture between consumer perception of price and producer efforts oriented towards quality. This thesis aims to catalyse a change in consumer value perception through integrating coffee with the urban environment. Carolyn Steele posits in Hungry Cities that physical distance between production and consumption can hinder one’s appreciation for the product. Coffee urbanism bridges this divide through an extension of New Industrial Urbanism,

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where cleaner industries can be integrated into the urban fabric, bringing new commercial opportunities to previously single-used premises. It also reflects upon the failures of Cafe Urbanism where increments in property value brought by gentrification displaces the original tenants. Coffee urbanism proposes a framework of partnership with existing industries on site (Toa Payoh Industrial Park), made possible by extracting value from by-products of the coffee industry. Integrating it with community oriented tactical interventions, and urban scale fixtures, it creates an environment geared towards a renewed understanding of coffee as a product. Resulting in a celebration of producer efforts, and ensuring a fair price is paid to ensure true sustainability (environmental, economic, and social),

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS One of the key factors that will shape the thesis favourably is the student’s penchant for the thesis topic. This thesis is fueled by the student’s enjoyment of coffee, his part-time role as a barista and his aspiration of owning a coffee business. Set in the context of Singapore, the thesis is concerned with economic fairness to the overseas smallscale coffee growers. They often receive the short end of the stick from the coffee pricing manipulated by the middle person before the commonalty reaches the consumers. The thesis is about a framework and a narrative of a business paradigm that does good to these farmers as well as for the locale, an opportunity to strengthen the community and consolidate local businesses by synergistic collaboration with various aspects of the coffee value chain. While “café urbanism” displaces local business as part of a gentrification process, the thesis’s proposition is “coffee urbanism”. The latter is about coffee business that forms alliance with existing commerce in the locale as well as forming partnership with the community to further grow social infrastructure and economic opportunities. The architectural outcome of the thesis engages several facets and raises insightful issues in urban interventions, adaptive reuse, community workplaces/industry and architecture for branding.

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Phased development of partnership, community, and celebration expressed through speculating posters of collaborative processes with economic benefit to both parties. Community oriented interventions will be implemented after accumulating sufficient capital through partnership

Tactical urban intervention in the form of a Rent-A-Bar system, which eases the public into developing their own expression of coffee urbanism. It serves as an extension of the coffee identity, allowing the insertion of such culture further into the urban fabric, reducing its site specificity. As proven in the thesis presentation, the cart is able to transform an atmosphere, as coffee culture is historically associated with social environments, serving as agencies that recalibrates consumer perceptions.

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by Chen Yanyu

thesis supervisor H. KOON WEE

Village Tower: Ambiguity against Modernity

Under the relentless march towards modernity driven by China’s economic reform, two architectural typologies have emerged as significant symbols of the nation’s urban landscape: urban villages and unfinished buildings. Both born from the chaotic influx of migration and rapid development, they stand as testaments to the complexities and ambiguities present in the modern Chinese environment. In the bustling metropolis, Guangzhou, you will find Shipai Village, surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers and bustling streets, a huge urban village full of energy. Here, amidst the labyrinthine alleys and crowded living spaces, a narrative

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unfolds—a tale of resilience, adaptability, and defiance against the rigid structures of modernity. In this context, my project stands out as a bold experiment, a daring exploration into blending of these disparate architectural forms: the Urban Village Unfinished Hybrid. I envision a space where the fixed structure of unfinished buildings converges with the organic growth and autonomy of urban villages, giving rise to a dynamic landscape where inhabitants, including landlords and tenants, carve out their own rules. The project challenges conventional notions of progress and development, urging stakeholders to reimagine these marginalized spaces as vibrant hubs of housing and cultural exchange. For every brick laid and every corridor traversed, the project serves as a reminder that under ruthless modernity, the echoes of history and humanity endure, waiting to be rediscovered and celebrated.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This is largely a utopian project using routine observational skills and knowhow in one’s survival in a Chinese city. There is a touch of nostalgia for the urban village, yet this project also possesses a high level of pragmatism one would associate with organic and self-organised systems such as the Kowloon Walled City. To some extent, the duality of informal settlements and modern visions of order and power has been the story of humanity since the beginning of time. But to embrace this by further emphasising its binary opposition is folly, hence this exploration begins by working out the philosophical bearings of hybridity, complexity and vagueness. While the initial study was dominated by philosophy of a Western canon, the work gravitated towards certain field-based observations of Chinese daily life. As the design phase begins, the project went on to posit certain economic realities occurring in China, from narratives of urban growth and decay, to the culture of self-help and self-made architecture, and the possibility of a weaker mode of governance. Within the illustrative vignettes, various scenes of an expectation of public safety and typical CCTV surveillance are recreated as the vantage points of presenting the architecture. There is a palpable sense of austerity and pragmatism throughout the work.

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Site Analysis

Timeline

Before Chinese economic reform Bungalow

After Chinese economic reform

CBD development plan released

RC 2-4 lvl Self-built House

Addition to 5-6 lvl

The city developed as metropolis Addition to 7-10 lvl

1960s

1980s

2000s

2020s

5,452 local

7,794 local

9,572 local

5,942 local

338 immigrant

2,374 immigrant

42,642 immigrant

109,283 immigrant

Section+Elevation

Personal Service

Grocery & Store

Dining

Healthcare & Clinic

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Collage

Plan

Bedroom Bedroom Bedroom

Bedroom

Scenario 1-Residential

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Scenario 2-Commercial

Scenario 3-Hybrid

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Scenario 4-Void

The Moments

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by Chiam Yong Qin

thesis supervisor Tiah Nanchyuan

the halfway market A study on the de-construction & re-construction of human behaviours.

This project begins with a phenomenon which transcends geographical boundaries. It involves the trafficking of humans into scam compounds, where they are forced to become a scammer. Referencing Foucault’s Theory of Dressage, it is as if the forced scammers enter into a body of machinery which explores them, breaks them down, and builds them up again. Through a system of curated education, targeted work, and enforced punishment, the forced scammer has been re-programmed. He now has a set of behaviours of a scammer. This study on the re-programmatization of behaviours is expanded to other institutions where the first change in

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behaviour is enforced. This includes the military academy and the prison compound. Interestingly, the laws in Hong Kong does not protect these returning forced scammers. Back there, this project then takes on a somewhat anti-thesis stance. To re-program the returning forced scammers back into society, it begins as a halfway house. As a platform for them to share their experiences, it is through work and educating others, that these returning forced scammers will “serve their time”. This is specifically targeted towards the elderly and police officers. However, instead of a regimentalised environment where classrooms and offices come into mind, this education would take place in informal settings, scattered across the market. The tension and relation progression between the users are considered and spatial conditions are created to encourage particular interactions. Along the interventions in the market, the returning forced scammers will take on roles, where they can work and educate others. Essentially, the market is an extension of the halfway house. The interventions are held together by a network of elevated and hidden access routes and a system of escape paths. It becomes the halfway market, where conversations happen.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis took a while to land on a viable translation as a project based in Hong Kong. Essentially as a critique or anti-thesis to the earlier research of highly structured and disciplined ‘schools’ offering an alternative learning environment that is organic, individual and highly variable. Set within the bustling market of Hong Kong, the context offered a myriad of vibrant situations and possibilities which the project tried to incorporate to create a multi layered experience. However, the opportunistic approach did not push the new interventions enough, resulting in the eventual spatial outcomes mirroring the existing too much to demonstrate the potential of the new ‘learning spaces’.

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Thesis - Regimentation in the re-programmatization of behaviours

Anti-Thesis - Informal settings in the re-programmatization of behaviours

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An overview of the interventions across the marketplace, access routes hidden within the bamboo scaffolding, and escape paths into the back alley.

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Cha Chaan Teng. Taking the roles of a cashier or a tray return worker, education here is hidden within the everyday conversations.

Backpackers’ Hostel. This serves as an optional accommodation and functions as the reception of the halfway market for these returning forced scammers.

Fortune Tellers’ Alley. Taking on the role of a fortune teller, this alley forewarns the elderly about potential scams and alert the police about these syndicates.

House of Mahjong. Taking on the role of a waiter, they integrate themselves in this 4-persons game, having intimate and long conversations with others.

Pawn Shop. Taking on the role of the pawn shop’s owner, they interact with police officers through the metal grills, offering them a safe space.

DVD Shop. Taking on the role of the DVD shop workers, education here takes place in a more remote manner, through the television.

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by Chua Min Chi

thesis supervisor ADJ. ASSOC. PROF. Ho Weng Hin

EVERYDAY ORDINARY-ISM Social Narratives of Public Spaces in Public Housing

Singapore’s modernisation has made public spaces — especially those in its public housing — sterile and dull despite their cleanliness and efficiency, in stark contrast to the bustling street life and close-knit communities that once permeated the cityscape. From a nostalgic history to the mundane present, this research began by charting a typological genealogy of public spaces in different housing types across Singapore’s history to study the relationships between architectural form and the political, economic, social, and cultural structures that shaped and continue to shape these spaces. In doing so, it derived a conceptual framework of public spaces — of their form, use, and meaning — as a matter of critiquing the pragmatic sterility of contemporary typologies, illustrating how the Modern high-rise form has fragmented communities into atomized units — disconnecting dwellers from one another and public social

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spaces; the result is a sterile living environment with no usage of public spaces despite high density. Developing the critique into form, studying vernacular and historical forms of public spaces has also provided a basis for a design solution; by adapting the formal and spatial qualities of public spaces and expanding upon their principles allows for the imagination of a new language of public spaces in the contemporary high-rise housing form. In the process, the application of these ideas is challenged by the high-rise housing form that demands reconsideration of public spaces once limited to the ground plane in vernacular settlements, as well as of the social and spatial scale of public spaces in a contemporary high-density environment. The approach was to study, accommodate to, and develop upon the everyday, ordinary cultural habits of inhabitation and socio-spatial practices of public spaces, recognising the role of the planner as one that adds to, and not abstracts from, these realities and identities in design.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This ambitious thesis critiques and interrogates the ‘empty void deck’ phenomena, a vast yet seemingly ‘disowned’ public space endemic in Singaporean public housing estates. Drawing from nuanced comparative studies of public spaces set in historic Singapore settlements - from the ‘kampung’ to shophouses, to early social housing - the thesis design proposes a ‘kit of parts’ that cater to estate-bound and non-estate-bound residents, visitors and users, taking in the daily rituals and rhythms in which these groups move through the different realms of public spaces. Beyond spatial reprogramming, this socio-architectural toolkit aims to instigate behavioural changes in its residents that could eventually foster commmunity stewardship of the public realm and enliven the urban fabric. On a more fundamental level, this layered-on and people-centric approach could present a less socially disruptive and environmentally sustainable alternative to the spectre of wholesale demolition-and-rebuilding of mature housing estates when their leases inevitably expires.

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Extending domestic spaces

Gathering for recreation

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Common spaces and efforts

INTERPERSONAL

COMMUNAL

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Extending social spaces

Estate-Bound Living

Differentiating every-“one”

In asking the question, “how did we get here?”, a typological genealogy studying vernacular and

pre-Modern

forms

and

relationships provides a basis for a design approach by teaching us to look at the interfaces between public and domestic spaces, the scales

different

socio-spatial

community

which

forms, and how to craft the relationship

between

people

Interventions on Site

and spaces. Underscoring this is an exploration of use, or sociospatial practices — how people respond to spaces and how spaces are designed for people’s response; the design framework seeks to reactivate these public spaces, reshaping the meaning and use of these spaces through an understanding of people’s PUBLIC

relationships with space.

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Envisioned Conditions

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by Fan Zheng

thesis supervisor Neo Seihwa

NAME WRITTEN ON WATER Reimagining commodities in Muara Gembong The Antifragile City

Nestled within the northern Java coast, behold the district called Muara Gembong – a microcosm of Indonesia’s many coastal regions. It is here, where land and water intertwine, that a story unfolds, chronicling the challenges and triumphs of a community that has become both the victim and the beneficiary of the maritime world. From its colourful festivals to its traditions of fishing and agriculture, this community’s identity is interwoven with the context of water. However, as climate change thrusts the world into uncertainty, coastal communities like Muara Gembong find themselves at the forefront of environmental challenges. Rising sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather events threaten to unravel their very existence and culture. With two of its villages already fully submerged by the

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ocean, a spirit of resilience to the enduring relationship between humanity and the environment is forged. The tale of Muara Gembong is one of antifragility and the relentless pursuit of harmony with the cryptic forces. Hence, we venture into the struggles of Muara Gembong and how it has driven us to re-imagine commodities. To challenge water as not mere possessions but to understand the ephemeral qualities of coastal dwelling in order to define what it is to have your Name Written on Water. In conclusion, the amphibious village attempts to preserve the livelihood of the residents in Muara Gembong by creating infrastructures that adapt to the once-threatening conditions. Additionally, the architecture also embodies the spirit of the fishermen where commodities are shared to serve a greater social purpose. Perhaps by leaving traces of your belongings around your village is how to have your name written on water.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS With water being almost omnipresent in different forms, Jason’s investigations into the nuances offered by occupying vs owning a piece of watery real estate led him to designing for a very different urban environment. The design creates brand new social conditions too in which villagers are confronted with varying degrees of how spaces are owned, shared, or even temporarily snatched. All these are facilitated by designing both with the dynamic as well as static bodies of water, each facilitating unique opportunities to test different architectural solutions. The village strategically occupies what little land outcrop not affected by coastal inundation and thereafter grows and colonise surrounding watery surfaces. The outcome is a mosaic of constantly transforming urban fabric, which in turn offers endless permutations of social and community interactions. Architecture draws reference from the vernacular while reinventing contemporary construction solutions that allows the villagers to craft their own designs.

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by Gregory Wong

thesis supervisor Shinya Okuda

The Synergy of Robots and Craftsmen

This thesis project delves into the innovative fusion of traditional craftsmanship with robotics, addressing the pressing issues of unsustainable global and Japanese construction practices and the socio-economic challenges faced by Japanese craftsmen. By introducing institutionalization to Japanese craftsmen and advocating for a structured paid work system that promotes job stability and friendly competition, this thesis aims to elevate the status of craftsmen while fostering sustainable construction practices. Concurrently, the project supports the integration of robots alongside human craftsmen to enhance productivity and efficiency. The core strategy of hybridizing craftsmen to utilize robots as extensions of their craft seeks to revolutionize the construction industry, serving as a sustainable

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role model for future projects. Through the adoption of controlled complexity as a design concept, the architectural process applies mathematical logic to create unconventional and aesthetically striking designs that have the potential to redefine skylines. Leveraging digital computation and robotic technology accelerates the design and construction process, welcoming efficient and innovative building solutions. Ultimately, this thesis project aims to showcase the transformative power of hybrid craftsmanship, where the synergy between robots and craftsmen not only addresses current construction challenges but also sets a precedent for sustainable and replicable architectural practices. This particular project is an extension of the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design, aiming to educate the public on the integration of robots and craftsmen. Through interactive exhibits, workshops and demonstrations, visitors will witness the collaborative efforts between man and robots, showcasing how this approach can revolutionize traditional craftsmanship and promote sustainable construction practices.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Throughout his thesis process, Gregory has demonstrated an exemplary level of dedication and commitment. His rigorous exploration, encompassing both theoretical research and hands-on experimentation, is evident in the impressive large-scale building model he has produced. This model serves as a tangible manifestation of his deep understanding and creative approach to addressing complex architectural challenges. What sets Gregory apart is his self-motivation and strong sense of purpose. He has shown unwavering dedication to his thesis topic, driven by a genuine passion for architectural innovation and cultural preservation. His ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge robotic technology showcases a forward-thinking mindset rooted in cultural tradition, which is essential in rapidly progressing today’s architectural construction landscape. His thesis is a testament to his talent, diligence and forward-looking vision. It has been a true pleasure to guide his thesis journey. Gregory’s innovative approach, combined with his strong work ethic and dedication, may make him a promising architect poised to make a significant impact in the field.

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Public landscape and crafts market

Robot-Craftsmen product gallery walk

Workshop, hybrid crafts market, exhibition

Shopping Mall

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Cultural Hub

Craftsmen Institution

Mixed Development R&D Facility

Residential

Museum

Pagoda/Shrine

Craftsmen Institution

By harnessing Controlled Complexity through the integration of low-tech materials, this thesis envisions a transformative shift in Kyoto’s cityscape, where traditional craftsmanship and modern robotics converge to create uniquely innovative architectural designs to suit a range of programs and functions. This approach can potentially inspire sustainable architectural practices on a global scale.

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SECTION A-A SCALE ::::

p r r

h f

Legend:

a Interactive Robot Exhibits Robot-assisted

b Craftsmanship Workshop c R&D Centre

Robotic Demonstrations/

d Outdoor Exhibitions

g c

f Robotic Bar/Cafe

g Hybrid Artisan Crafts Market

h Public Seating

Robot-Craftsman

i Product Displays

h a From KMCD

j Robotic Fabrication

p Amphitheatre/Viewing

m Discussion & Seminar

s Robot-Craftsman

Studios

Robotic Sculptural

k Gardens

Spaces/Symposium

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& Seating Gallery

Co-Working spaces/

r Oﬃces/Makerspace

manufactured sculpture

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by Joel Lim Kuan

thesis supervisor Teh Joo Heng

intersections of interfaith and architecture

The global interreligious climate of today is a complex series of tensions and sensitivities that is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. Intereligious conflict and religious persectution are both demonstrably on the rise as tolerance and compromise are eschewed during contestations of territory, rights and identity. Singapore’s position as both a multicultural and multireligious society reveals its vulnerability to the unstable tides of interreligious conflict, as the government and nation seeks to leverage on the value of ‘interfaith harmony’ as a vital means of mediating this threat. While the practice of interfaith manifests largely on a social or dialogic level, there is little within our built environment that offers a platform for interfaith interaction and engagement. This thesis investigates the potential value of creating shared interfaith spaces within the public built domain, with the aim of engendering a deeper connection

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and understanding towards our national religions. This thesis examines interfaith architecture within the Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precint, known for its rich religious history and Places of Worship, specifcally targeting the adaptive reuse of Waterloo Centre as a key connecting thoroughfare between Queen Street and Waterloo Street. Food was selected as the non-sacred yet common ground that connects the various religions within the space, through the creation of an interfaith food centre. Implementing a series of kitchen insertions into the central space, the centre allows for public and devotees alike to visit and participate in the acts of growing, preparing, consuming and donating food, all while learning about the significant shared values of each religion through the medium of food. A host of ancillary spaces such as auditoriums serve as common urban resources for public and Places of Worship to share, optimising the use of space within an already densified BBB. By kneading interfaith practice into the physical built space, this thesis seeks to move religion out of its silos to foster stronger interactions, and eventually a richer understanding and compassion for each other.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS There are many learning journeys Joel has gone through in this interfaith project. It is interesting to note that all religious spaces are considered sacred and are difficult to share. Therefore, interfaith-sharing possibilities are not found within the sacred spaces but in the common everyday spaces where daily activities are performed. With this understanding, food is adopted as a common platform where people can learn from one another to foster a better appreciation of different faiths and values. The idea of seeding the central area within the Waterloo Centre with essential activities is an interesting one, and allows the potential for the interfaith food centre to grow organically throughout the building.

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by Lam Wei Min Joel

thesis supervisor Cheah Kok Ming

Future of Alang: From “ship breaking” to “ship retrofitting”

Horrors of Alang // The Ship Breaking Industry accounts for the indestructible pollution of air, land and sea. Coupled with the lack of safety and proper equipment to dismantle these large hulking vessels, the workers face death on a daily basis and long-term tolls on their health. The Thesis unfolds the Story of Alang’s Future, turning the desolated lives of the ship breaker workers into an empowering new reality. With the opportunity of the Coastal Climate Crisis, these workers would turn the current condition from a ‘ship breaker’ into a ‘Floating Home Retrofitter’ which provides business opportunities for investors to support this maritime industry. Instead of tearing ship apart, the workers transform these ships to form floating

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settlements that would be tow-ed out to coastal and islandic regions affected by climate crisis. Ultimately, the Thesis sets out a framework to turn this exploited community into one that is empowered by the opportunity to provide homes to settlements affected by Sea Water Rising. The process uplift the lives of the workers of this new maritime industry. Empowerment // Their once desolated lives would see the lens of the new ‘Green Horizon’, PARADISE, where the industry transforms into a liveable state for these workers. Turning Waste into Luxury.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Alang is synonymous with environmental degradation and the punishing lives in ship-breaking. The thesis rethinks the entire toxic business of salvaging decommissioned ships for recycling steel in the impending seawater-level rise and imagines the potential of transforming these ships into floating villages for the displaced small island states and coastal settlements. The value proposition is how a new enterprise of upcycling and its upskilling process can eliminate the environmental adversity as well as elevate the quality of life for the ship-retrofitting workers and their families. Chawls are basic accommodation with meagre facilities for labourers in India. The thesis proposes a new paradigm of Chawl that uplifts the inhabitants beyond mere physiological and safety needs of the Maslow’s Pyramid into the realms of better liveability with opportunities to build community, economic advancement and selfdevelopment. Each pair of Floating Chawls is a compact nautical neighbourhood with amenities, communal spaces and commons, conceived from the study of social nuances found in the stepped well, dhoby ghaut, gully cricket ground, tiffin kitchen, shrine and domestic workspace. The tectonics is a poetic reference to ship-breaking, only this round, the salvaged parts are used for building the maritime community and their future.

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Top: Exploded Axonometric of the Spaces and Circulation of Ship Worker, Wives and Children. Middle: Catalog of Salvaged Parts. Bottom: Day vs Night Sectional Perspective

The Floating Village Settlement // Community Resilience, Rituals of

to grow and creates a functional environment to live, work and play.

Water, Epitome of the Shrine and the strengthening of families and

392

neighbours are key functionalities that drive the floating settlement.

The elements of the system of the floating settlement interwine with

Through the peer learning of the wives of these ship workers, they

the circulation of the Ship Workers, their wives and their children.

enable learning from one another, strengthening the economy within

Harmonizing the capabilities of the mending of tools and gears

this place. The children adopt building as a learning aid which allows

from the wives at the House Wives Bazaar, the Children’s Learning

the corridors on the ship to harness learning capabilities. This

Corridor Bridge that creates building as a learning aid and the single

close-knit between families and the community allows the economy

workers that enjoy communal kitchens in the ghats.

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Empowerment of the lives of the Workers, their Wives and Children: Daily Nuances of Tiffin, Living Quarters, House Wives Bazaar, Cricket Tournament and Long Boating Spaces

The Empowering New Reality of the Lives of the Workers //

The Epitome of the Salvager // Frugality speaks importance in

Juxtaposing the desolated ship-breaking life where they undergo

their daily activities. Salvaging decommissioned marine shipping

relentless unliveable living and working conditions, the new reality

containers allows the nomad to put a roof over their heads, and

presents a frugal depiction of their new lives at sea. Turning Waste

reusing WW2 components: floating pontoon blocks, landing crafts

into Luxury, capitalising on the glimpses of the sea in their everyday

and floating dry docks allows for a cheaper yet functional alternative.

lives, and slowly bringing their families to this new paradise realm that speaks of a better life.

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by Lau Kah Hui, Sarah

thesis supervisor Ar. Wu Yen Yen

Ownership, rootedness and territory through the lens of laundry

Singapore has a lack of formal social spaces for its transient workforce, specifically, the migrant and foreign domestic worker communities living on the fringes of our society. This thesis thus aims to create spaces for these marginalised communities to form permanent bonds of space ownership, through the act of constructing transient spaces with personal artefacts, empowering them with a sensibility of architectural tools and strategies and instilling a sense of ownership. This thesis began with an investigation into laundry and its processes, where I traced the architectural footprint of laundry across the shared common corridor and migrant workers’ dormitory. (1) Making of spaces with clothing - constructing and reconstructing spaces and boundaries over time In the shared common corridor, the assembly and disassembly of bamboo pole holders and drying racks are methods

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of claiming ownership over a space through the setting up and reconfiguration of temporal spatial boundaries, where various configurations are manipulated from a fixed set of spatial anchors. (2) Clothing as a transient marker of space / the setting up of armatures and frames In the migrant workers’ dormitory, the hanging and draping of clothing over bedposts are methods of claiming ownership in shared spaces by constructing territories and social boundaries with one’s possessions. This thesis foregrounds the temporal spaces constructed by a transient population, and the seasonal rituals of reconstruction that accompany these spaces. The Intangible Community Centre is a social gathering space where migrant and foreign domestic workers construct spaces with what they possess, in the form of a clothing catenary. Clothing artefacts unique to this community, like sarongs and singlets, become symbols of identity, as the site is transformed from a chessboard of strings into a series of iconic forms that serve as powerful cultural signifiers. The web of strings can be manipulated into a variety of spatial permutations for hosting different activities, and this knowledge is a form empowerment unique to this transient community.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Intrigued by the architectural footprint of the daily domestic chore of laundry, Sarah interrogates how spaciotemporal boundaries made from personal garments and artefacts can establish a sense of borrowed space. When recurring over extended periods of time imageably in the city, transient, temporal spaces and forms, can intangibly create even a sense of “contested” ownership and belonging through pattern and cognitive recognition. The redefinition of land ownership through this lens is enabled by the design use of lightweight, carnival-like structures that, in a larger scale, challenge the notion that architecture must be built and built robustly at all times. The power of this thesis lies in the possibility that these design strategies can empower migrant workers who can only work within borrowed spaces and on borrowed time, to form their own transient “buildings” and communities.

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Spatialising laundry - tracing the architectural footprint of laundry across different spaces in Singapore

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by Lee Yi Hao Gilbert

thesis supervisor Teh Joo Heng

TRANSCENDING REALMS Synthesis of tradition and innovation in the Hybrid Digital Arts Centre

As the world develops and advances into its new age, our infrastructure also takes suit to meet the ever-changing needs of our evolving community. Natural resources and human effort are used to create our built environment. Looking into the idea of change and transformation, we acknowledge that architecture is never stagnant and is always in motion. The same as in our Arts and Culture where there are not formally acquainted in or rather the public are not exposed to our arts. By doing so, it provides an opportunity to culturally regenerate Bugis, Bras Basah by creating a permanent sustainable solution for the established artistic community and encouraging public interaction

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and exchange with the arts. This architectural thesis delves into the innovative fusion of traditional artistic forms with digital and contemporary media within a hybrid digital arts center. Through an exploration of architectural design principles, technological integration, and cultural narratives, the center aims to bridge the gap between the past and the future, fostering a dynamic exchange between tradition and innovation. By creating spaces that seamlessly integrate physical and digital elements, the center seeks to offer immersive experiences that challenge conventional notions of art consumption and production.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Bras Basah, Bugis is an informal vibrant art district, dotted with many established art institutions such as NAFA, Lasalle and SOTA. Gilbert capitalizes on this strength and unique setting to attempt to elevate this precinct into a national arts hub status by insertion of very much needed and essential facilities such as large contemporary art exhibition space and a range of multimedia digital educational facilities. The insertion of these facilities into the existing NAFA Campus 2 further illustrates his capabilities to then be able to optimize the use of existing building while transforming it from an enclosed institutional building to an open welcoming building, bringing art closer to the general public. The result of his work is both logical and aesthetically pleasing and helps to open up a lot more new possibilities for this site.

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The

vision

for

the

arts

scene

BBB is to transform and create a holistic environment where buildings and stakeholders are able to pool resources

together

and

influence

their surroundings, helping to elevate partnerships through a collaborative effort. The business of the arts is as crucial as the art itself, involving financial, marketing, and strategic management of artistic endeavors to ensure the sustainability and growth of the arts sector. It provides financial stability, allowing artists and arts organizations to continue creating and presenting their work, contributing significantly to economic growth by creating jobs, attracting tourists, and generating revenue in related industries. Business strategies help in audience development, making art accessible to a broader audience, and ensuring that everyone has access to cultural enrichment.

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Main section of the NAFA Hybrid Arts Centre depicting the different programmes and block typology throughout the day.

Understanding the business side of the arts is crucial for the

By retaining existing programs, the historical and cultural

professional development of artists and arts managers, fostering

significance of the space is preserved, ensuring continuity and

networking, collaboration, and advocating for funding, support, and

connection with the past. Redundant programs should be removed

policies that benefit the arts sector. The arts play a significant role

to streamline operations and better allocate resources. Introducing

in cultural diplomacy, community development, and enhancing the

new programs is essential to adapt to changing trends and needs,

quality of life, making a flourishing arts business essential for the

fostering innovation, and attracting a broader audience. A balanced

health and happiness of society.

approach to program determination ensures the sustainability and growth of the arts space while maintaining its cultural relevance and fostering creativity and engagement.

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401

by Lee Yong Soon

thesis supervisor Erik L’Heureux

Kampung Labour Revitalisation of the arts and craft through labour

This thesis Builds on the arts and craft era, where its ethos acts as a resistance to the mass produced, unsympathethic and mundane industrialisation. It is Situated around the material and craftmanship of rattan works, derived from exploration trips to Indonesia, Cirebon where rattan production is in its prime. It seeks to inform how architecture and work should be driven. Beyond the economic value of labour, there is an intrinsic human need for purpose and meaning in work. For many people, their jobs not only food for the family, but provide a sense of identity, fulfillment, and contribution to society that goes beyond monetary compensation. Whether it’s pursuing a passion, making a difference in the lives of others,

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or leaving a lasting legacy, Adopting two main materials that is manifested locally from the factories located in Cirebon; Rattan and brick. Both material are known to be highly labour intensive and forms the basis of work as a driver in this discourse. The building pays homage to their way of life and aims to resist where the robotic world is abashedly heading towards where it seeks to displace the liveslihood of these Indonesian craftsman. In the near future, digital or robotic scene would wipe away what we need to do as a job. This interface between brick and rattan provides a joy and pride in making at the architectural scale of production. Even as industrailisation wiped out the hand of the aesthetician of architecture, it is the arts and crafts that kept the beauty in production. Technology will not be able to completely replace craft and the labourious task of creating it.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Information and technology advancements have created rapid changes in urban manufacturing. This project seeks to address the inevitable decline of labor-intensive industries by exploring rattan as a material choice and entry into manufacturing labor via architecture. Indonesia, a country abundant in labor resources, faces competition from neighboring countries that have transitioned to industrial, machine, capital, and digital-intensive industries. A proposed architectural ratan center counters the dehumanization and deskilling of labor associated with transformational technologies. It aims to resist the dominance of machines that dictate both the role and the pace of human labor and offers a model to resurrect human craft as an alternate model of development. Embracing the ethos of the Arts and Crafts movement, this project forges a connection between the rattan crafter and the rattan craft through architecture. Such a connection is deemed essential for fostering human fulfillment and producing aesthetically pleasing and practical items for everyday use while allowing pride and emotional value for the crafter.

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Clean segment of the factory where labour happens across the building at different scale and complexity

Sectional part model of the Clean segment at 1:50 scale

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405

by Lim Si Ying Ynez

thesis supervisor Ho Puay Peng

TRADITION MEETS MODERNITY Rediscover Hokkien Folk Culture

This thesis focuses on my identity through my family name - ‘Lim’ and looking at the journey of discovery by exploring the realms of national identity. The journey to visit places that holds importance to my family, to find and build a connection with my ancestral roots. Throughout the journey, the use of photographs played a crucial role in uncovering family traditions over the years, such as visits to temples and participation in school exchange programs. Investigating the correlation between cultural heritage, traditions, religion and practices, and their adaptability within the context of Singapore’s progression as a nation. The research seeks not only to uncover a personal embark on self-discovery but to provide an understanding of the Hokkien cultural fabric. To assess how the cultural heritage

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can evolve and thrive alongside the nation’s development, and the adaptation to societal needs. Exploring how Singaporean Hokkiens could embark on a personal exploration of their identity in Singapore. The project addresses the gap in heritage connection in the quest for identity. As street-level processions dwindled due to modern traffic flow along Telok Ayer, the project reimagines vertical processions through architectural intervention, with a thick facade drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese roof structures. This approach not only redefines rituals and procession spaces but also offers visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the sounds and vistas of the environment. By introducing new programs aimed at educating the public about Singapore’s Chinese culture and heritage, this architectural endeavor facilitates a reconnection with the city-state’s rich cultural roots.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The focus of Ynez’s thesis research is on the identity of Chinese Singaporean through the religious practices of her family. This is greatly admirable for this generation of Singaporean to be interested in the past and making the past relevant to who they are today. She picked the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan building on 137 Telok Ayer Street as the site serving her chosen religious and cultural programmes. The search for identity in this central site steeped in the history of Hokkien migrants to Singapore and expressing it in architectural terms had been very challenging for Ynez. However, she has managed to utilize some important identity markers, both tangible and intangible, and apply them to her design. The space crafted through the retention of the office building with additional deep façade is varied and engaging. It questioned the function of the façade in a building facing the iconic architecture of Thian Hock Keng. It was a journey of self searching and consideration of an architectural framework for making the traditional relevant.

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Reconnecting

重新连接自己的根 Through my journey of self-discovery, I have experienced a profound reconnection with my roots, delving into the depths of my family heritage. The surname I bear since birth holds significant meaning, forming the very essence of my identity. As I embarked on this exploration, I began to unravel the tapestry of traditions, rituals, and values that have shaped my family's legacy. In particular, my quest led me to rediscover the rich heritage of my Hokkien Chinese lineage, where the interplay of tradition and modernity is palpable. In today's fast-paced society, where time seems to slip through our fingers, the intention of reconnecting with our roots becomes all the more significant. It serves as an anchor amidst the whirlwind of modernity, offering a sense of grounding and a compass by which to navigate our lives. By embracing our cultural heritage and understanding the purpose behind the traditions and teachings imparted to us as children, we gain a deeper insight into our own identities and the values that shape us.

Thian Hock Keng Temple

Perspective Section

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Act of Rituals

仪

式

The Act of Rituals was inspired by the rich folklore of street-level processions that traditionally took place during festive periods of the Chinese Calendar at Telok Ayer. However, due to the nation's rapid development, these once-vibrant rituals and processions have become increasingly rare. In keeping with the building's historical significance as an education hub, the primary objective of this facade is to enlighten and educate the public about these fascinating rituals. By showcasing visually captivating and interactive displays, the facade serves as a gateway to a bygone era, offering a glimpse into the cultural heritage of Telok Ayer.

戏曲舞台 Tea Appreciation Room with a view

View of Thian Hock Keng Tea Appreciation Room with a view

View of Thian Hock Keng

Small Prayer Altar for Privacy

W a y a Pn rgi vSatt ae gRe i t u a l S p a c e

Small Prayer Altar for Privacy

Private Ritual Space

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by Liu Anyi

thesis supervisor Ho Puay Peng

William Davis

‘WOVEN’ COMMUNITY Riverside Experiential Handicraft Market

Attracted by the beautiful ritual objects, a study based on the rich religious background and traditions of Bali was conducted, focusing on the preparation process for festival rituals, which also includes the creation of craft objects. Handicrafts, as a part of ritual ceremonies, reflect the imagination and creativity of the Balinese people. It is a kind of activities for the Balinese to entrust their spirit; and handicrafts act as a bridge linking their daily life with their spiritual world. Under the significant impact of foreign tourists and modern technology, Bali has experienced a division between internal and external, traditional and modern. Therefore, this project takes handicrafts as a medium, placing

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experiential handicraft market within the community. The project renovates the parking lot of the Badung Market located in the center of the residential area of Denpasar by the river, utilizing the site’s unique elevation features and proposing the concept of a ‘woven’ community. Handicrafts, as an element of daily life, become the junction that links various daily life events of community residents. At the same time, this market will help rebind Bali’s religion with secular life, nature with urbanity, and offers foreigners an opportunity to deeply understand Balinese Craft Art and their philosophy of the life cycle - Creation and Destruction. The “Woven” Community not only refers to the organization of the space but also represents the integration of foreign and local populations. It serves as a convergence point for different communities and activities.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Anyi is interested in the ritual spaces and paraphernalia of Balinese religion. She has observed the ritual process and the objects contributed by the community to the various Balinese festivals. She selected a site in downtown core between the markets and the temple to create a complex for craft atelia and show spaces. By using the existing underground car park, she has successfully made the connection between the market and the temple, as well as the atelia and the river running next to the site. The everydayness of the religious practices and community craft production is well conceived. However, the resolution of the architectural scheme can be much improved to demonstrate celarly the issue of identity and everyday practices.

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Axonometric View

Buleleng Jembrana

Kalimantan Tengah

Bangli Karangasem

Maluku

Sulawesi Selatan

Tabanan Gianyar

Kalimantan Selatan

Klungkung Badung

Jakarta Denpasar

Nusa Tenggara Barat

Jawa Timur

Nusa Penida

Buleleng

Jembrana

Bangli Karangasem

Maluku

Sulawesi Selatan

Tabanan Gianyar

Kalimantan Selatan

Klungkung Badung

Jakarta Denpasar

Nusa Tenggara Barat

Jawa Timur

Nusa Penida

Kalimantan Tengah

Site Analysis Bangli

Klungkung

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Nusa Penida

Denpasar

Gianyar

Badung

Nusa Tenggara Barat

Tabanan

Jakarta

Karangasem

Maluku

Kalimantan Selatan

Jawa Timur

Buleleng

Sulawesi Selatan

Jembrana

Kalimantan Tengah

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I. Riverside Entrance Hall 412

II. Atrium Square MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Design Strategy

III. Riverside Walkway

Design Response

IV. Market of Handicraft NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

413

by Manansala Danielle Bautista

thesis supervisor Will Davis / Victoria Jane Marshall

/baha/y\ A Home in the Floods

The thesis explores the relationship between the ‘baha’ [flood] and the ‘bahay’ [home]: how floods cause disappearance and migration, and hence how this migration challenges the definition of what makes a home. It begins with the story of my grandparents’ ‘bahay’ [home], which holds great significance to my paternal family, and how the ‘baha’ [flood] gradually filled the ‘bahay’ , forcing my grandparents to move out, leading the thesis to the question, ‘What happens to the abandoned home?’. The question captures the idea of a home, which suggests a place that bears meaning and where change has occured, causing the home to be abandoned. Hence, ‘baha’ seeks to understand the disappearances caused by flooding, and subsequently the emergence of ways in which

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humans and non-humans respond to the rising waters. Secondly, ‘bahay’ looks at the home as more than just a physical building but as a collage of its elements and explores the subjectivity of memory creating a multiplicity of meanings that the home has, and finally leading to the understanding of the home as a network of spaces. With the understanding of the home as a network, ‘barangay’ looks to patterns of disappearance and emergence, building on the existing systems of the ‘tambak’ [embankment], ‘tulay’ [bridges], and ‘bakhaw’ [mangrove trees] to create systems of living on inundated lands in the village. Lastly, ‘/baha/y\’ imagines a village that prepares for the inundation of the mand over the next fifty years, calling for new ways of living in the new territories created by the mangroves trees on the fishponds and on the new vertical spaces created along the mainland. What happens to the abandoned home is that it becomes part of a network that preserves the memories and allows for the continuation of practices of the people in the village of Caingin.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The MArch thesis project by Manansala Danielle Bautista is an exploration of the idea of “home”. It was created through an intergenerational study with her family members. In the project, “home” is not just alive in stories told or recorded in objects like photographs. The “home” that is most often discussed and represented is alive in other ways, for the family house has literally moved many times in relation to inundation and flood. Incremental changes, like building a perimeter wall, raising a floor, or living upstairs are precursors to relocation, whereby a roof is moved to a new plot on higher ground and window and doors are recycled in a new house. The project translates such increments into a suite of built and cultivated infrastructures that address the future of the village and the wider locality. Overall, the project is aligned to a linear, trajectory of increasing inundation. At the same time, the project remains centered on participation. This can be seen in the physical model, which was co-constructed with family members. It is as an artifact that prompted a conversation in its making, rather than a vision of a future home. That is, it is a trace of a shared thought about “home”.

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by Muhammad Akmal

thesis supervisor Tsuto Sakamoto, Will Davis

Re-Kereta! Metabolising the Urban Vehicular Vernacular

The thesis settles itself within the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur and seeks to interpret the concept of urban vehicular vernaculars. Common discourse on the vernacular has been associated too fondly with ideas of tradition and the indigenous, whereby I argue for a different approach, one that is focused on the urban settings of the cityscape. Specifically, I push for the notion that the urban vernaculars in the city are complex and multi-dimensional, therefore requiring different mediums of observation and interpretation. I find the vehicular-dependent nature of the city intriguing and as such, determined that studying the urban vernaculars of Kuala Lumpur through the lens of the vehicle is imperative to dissecting the chaotic and disordered scenes of the city we observe today.

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Re-kereta therefore redefines the role of architecture within this urban vehicular vernacular by spatially manifesting the “life” and “death” of vehicles found in the sample site of Pudu Market, central Kuala Lumpur. The “life” derives itself from the messy vitalities of vehicular vernaculars exhibited among vehicles, while the “death” comes from the large prevalence of ghost vehicles - unwanted vehicles discarded in public. The architectural intervention therefore comes in the form of an automobile duplex, housing a vehicular scrapping facility and a makers market within the market site. While the former addresses the “death” with the disassembly of these ghost vehicles, the latter cultivates the “life” through re-assembly and modifications of existing vehicles. Ultimately, the “life” and “death” of the vehicle is just one of the many possibilities of urban vernacular systems and order. This thesis is perhaps not an end but a starting point for future discourse on such possibilities being expanded further in such cities, and finding a balance within this contradiction through architecture as a background, frame, and platform.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Focusing on a vehicular culture in Malaysia, the project investigated various utilities of cars: using it as a storage, remodeling it to a coffee stall, parking and turning to a vegetable market and customizing it to enjoy its appearance and performance. Particularly in Kuala Lumper, such phenomena are blended into everyday life of people and forming a part of distinctive culture of the city. At the same time, the city displays an alternative life of cars. Placed in Pudu Market in Kuala Lumper, the project expressed the ‘life and death’ of the cars by showing their material and cultural aspects separately. The front façade of the building is covered with a mechanical conveyers and disassembling shops without contribution of human labors, while the back-area is full of car-repair shops and markets where cars are closely integrated with human activities and a culture that arises from such activities. Akmal’s insight and expression for the vehicular culture immediately captivate our mind. The model of car parts, detailed dioramic models, and meticulously detailed architectural drawings somehow evoke a sense of nostalgia and everyday culture of Kuala Lumper. Furthermore, his objective analysis of the phenomena and diagrammatic expressions add immense value to the proposal.

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Dissecting the “life” and “death” of vehicles found present within the Pudu Market, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

As part of the push towards architecture as a framework, centrally

These cultural habits stem from the everyday behaviours to the

the programmes and events become main spatial drivers within the

existing influences impacted by the communal living conditions

largely flexible form. In the case of Pudu Market, such programmes

found prevalent within the market. The studies are extensive in

can be analysed and studied through the cultural emblems found

nature, covering typical form typologies to human and vehicular

within the site itself. As such, 6 cultural habits were manifested in

circulations, logistical distributions to market stall compositions,

relation to the design development, and more importantly expresses

as well as the intangible knowledge nodes and conversational

the overall narrative of the life-death of the vehicle.

territories. All these elements play a vital role in shaping the crux of the design within the dual facility vehicular complex.

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Design components for the Scrap facility.

Design components for the Makers market

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by Nge Zhen Yang

thesis supervisor Adrian Lai

BACK LANE ODDYSEY Find Dining through Joo Chiat

The back lanes of present-day Joo Chiat are primarily service lanes supporting the commercial activities that reside within the rows of shophouses. It is generally devoid of life and inanimate, a stark contrast to what it once was - early generations of Joo Chiat residents reminisce about the times where it was once a space for activity to spontaneously take root. Some would be lined with street hawker stalls at night, crowded with people in search for good food set within a good atmosphere. Even now, the back lanes remain home to a series of little surprises, colour and texture that is almost completely removed from the “overly sanitised” streets of Singapore. In some instances, activity from the commercial spaces do

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spill out into the backlanes, albeit in a way that does not necessarily desire the attention of the public (washing and drying of utensils, drying of fish). Yet, it nonetheless offers a glimpse into the life within and the activity sustaining these commercial establishments - a view into a world that is discretely hidden from the front. As it stands, the back lanes, with it’s tighter physicality, offer a greater degree of intimacy than the public nature of the front-lanes. Instead of being a short-cut where people hastily transition, it has the propensity to slow down travelers, encouraging them to linger and even come into contact with unexpected finds by sheer happenstance, fostering a sense of serendipity. This introduces another dimension at the urban scale that complements the existing front lanes. Through the lens of “find dining”, this project re-imagines a series of back lanes in Joo Chiat using three architectural types, each distinct yet sensitive to its immediate surroundings.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Zhenyang’s take on Tabula Rasa Rasa Rasa draws on Singapore’s rich food heritage to lend identity and ambience to the Joo Chiat area. Low-lying, historical and enjoying privilege, the gentrified ‘high street’ is reimagined with a speculative backlane ‘shelter-form’. Responding to its immediate context and site conditions, the thesis proposes a handful of traditional rempah makers to anchor the backlane, designed so that ingredients could be grown and base sauces and traditional condiments could be made from scratch, lending the area the smells, sounds and sights of a food culture formed from the quintessential acts of cultivating, preparing, mixing and cooking. The thesis brings together the act of searching as a way to engage the city, by searching out remnant spaces left over from gentrification intensification. Working at the intersection of interior, architecture and urbanism, the proposal has potential to find balance between attractions for heritage places, enacting productive spaces that elicit connection between communities and a growing attachment to the origins of the food culture we consume. By introducing production back into the cycle between attraction and consumption, the thesis brings interesting possibilities to the ongoing conversation about identity, the culture of production and the production of culture

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425

by Rutvik Paranjpye

thesis supervisor Florian Heinzelmann

Socio-climatic blueprint for nation building in India

With India’s increasing reverse migration , we see a development trajectory in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India. Developers are currently utlising the same development model used in major cities like Mumbai and Delhi with high rise buildings and air-conditioned spaces. But how should development be done in smaller cities to balance the multiple needs of industries, agriculture and housing while maintaining environmentally sound landscapes. Beyond Metros takes the case of Hubli-Dharwad, a Tier-2 city in India and looks at alternate ways of housing strategies to address existing rural communities. As industrial - agriculture town, it has been brought on map with its trategtic location connecting multiple industrial corridors in India. This case takes the unique understanding to

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balance housing requirements, respecting existing communities, inclusion of agricultural spaces without alientating activities seen in these settlements. Critisising the current developer model of land haphazardly divided into linear plots of land, this project attempts to showcase an alternate housing model based on the ideas of social approaches pioneered by Indian architects in the 70s while showcasing needs of the contemporary society. Water is used as a strategic tool for masterplanning respecting the need for ground water and batrual terrain whike orientation and climatic strategies are key for design and various typologies of units. Thus the project aims to be one step towards understanding newer housing and urban strategy models in cities beyond metros in India.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS I got to know Rutvik as an inquisitive and questioning student who was always looking for a deeper understanding of the underlying forces that shape the current built environment in India. Be it architectural theory, local climate, way of life, or migration patterns stemming from recent policies that answer certain socio-economic pressures in India. With his project, he addressed these aspects to develop a local, affordable housing typology for a growing middle class trying to avoid the pitfalls of a modernist, generalist approach or a developer-driven profitability model but bringing it a step further in terms of environmental responsibility and climatic comfort while exploring specific communal aspects of living together and forming neighbourhoods for India’s new residential developments. By asking critical questions and carefully weighing different design parameters versus each other, he came up with a deep and mature project.

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Street Avenue

Doubling up as commercial streets these have landscaped areas that allow movement of vehicles whenever needed.

Garden Courtyard

Street Avenue

Narrow courtyards between units that act as backyards. These are spaces for gardening, soaical activities and as well as creating a microclimate shaded from hot sun while facilitating west wind.

SITE STRATEGY

Wider streets incroporated in the site that support movement of informal vendors, cycles, delivery and waste management nodes. They are designed to accomodate fire engine moevment at times of emergency.

TEMPLE AND PLAZA

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Developing on existing features on the site build a Connection existing and new settlements as a common plaza.

MARKET Market acts as a magnet between the existing communities and new additions. A common functional space that facilitiates inclusion of all.

PRESCHOOL AND LIBRARY The library and preschool at as facilitators for daily activity and gathering space. It’s roof is used as continous landscape for functions and festivals

BIOSWALE Understanding contours and respecting the water movement, a bio-swale or bio retention pond is introduced as spine for the new community. It creates an edge of farming and grazing patures for animals in this rural setting

Throughout Indian cities, we see vernacular strategies implemented as buildings spaces tackling climatic needs of the region. The case here is taken of courtyard house as seen in older settlements in India. The sketches are documentation of flexible spaces that transcend the indoor-outdoor boundary. Spaces are utilised as per day and time as a socio-climatic strategy.

Simulated Rainwater flow

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Water bodies

Road Network

Selected Site

Neighbouring rural settlement

SOCIO-CLIMATIC STRATEGIES

Terrace and Roof Terrace acts as an important part in various activities like drying chili, vegetable, flying kites during various times of the year. Balancing terrace and sloping roof scapes.

DETAIL PLAN - Temple / Market / Preschool

DETAIL PLAN - Housing + Bioswale

1RK + 1(+)RK - Temporary accomodations New developments need to tend to temporary users who are in the city for smaller time periods. Narrow and linear smaller units accomodate the need and ensure cross ventilation.

Living Areas Bedroom Dining Living room

Orientation and unit layout All units are designed to have North facing living areas and South facing utlity areas. This reduces the heat gain from harsh South sun to give indirect daylight from North throughout the day.

Utility Areas Kithcen Toilet Dry balcony / backyard

Elevated playscapes The units are arranged such that elevated playscapes are created where 2 buildings break and connect. This creates a series of east and west facing play and learning areas sheltered yet facilitating ventilation from terracotta jali walls.

1 13

Terracotta Jali wall

3 14

13 2

4 4

8 9 7

Raised streets

Corridors are not only potential social spaces but extension of interior space of the house blurring binaries between public and private.

13 11

SITE PLAN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Temple Complex School Market Housing Street Avenue Garden court Pedestrian Bridge Volleyball court Cricket / Multipurpose ground Bioswale-Biopond Community Farming Community centre Bus stop Multi-story Parking

Eyes on the street Having units instead of parking on the ground floor along the designed streets to facilitate more secure areas with Verandah, katta and city life.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

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by Roy Weanna Clarisse Lipnica

thesis supervisor Neo Sei Hwa

COASTLINE CONVERGENCE Utilising the Liminality Found in the Coastline

The fishermen and farmers of Muara Gembong lead distinct yet interconnected lives. Their daily routines and traditions are deeply influenced by the surrounding environment, with weather patterns and environmental changes directly impacting their livelihoods. Despite appearing as polar opposites on the surface—one prioritising land and the other the sea—they share many commonalities. Both take great pride in their respective domains, cultivating and deriving sustenance from them. However, this mutual regard does not extend to the coastline. The coastline, constantly shifting and highly vulnerable, renders it nearly unusable for consistent activities throughout the year. Consequently, this area remains unclaimed, underutilised, and undeveloped by the residents. This project

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seeks to explore the activities occurring in this neglected area year-round, both those already existing within the community and potential new initiatives. The aim is to revitalise this forgotten space, transforming it into a vibrant strip. The project used data from various programs occurring at different tidal levels (low, mid, and high tides) and then abstracted them to form the basis of the masterplan. This was done by first allocating where in the coastline and on the contour lines the activity can be placed, then it is a matter of organising and refining the abstraction to fit the different program requirements while still maintaining the pattern obtained. The idea of liminality is also broken down to what it can be manifested as architecturally, i.e. idea of repetition and thresholds. Hence, this manifested in using frames as the foundation and circulation for many structures. Overall, the project encompasses an analysis of these activities, creating a synthesis of frames and platforms adaptable for community use across different time periods. Keywords: Liminality,Tidal Changes,Tidal flooding, Utilising & Restoring the Coastline, Patterns, Livelihood, Identity, Vulnerability, Harmonious Balance.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The liminal is at the same time an abhorrence and an allurement. Understanding this condition along the degraded and ever-changing coastline of Mura Gembong, Clarisse overlaid existing patterns of usages along the coast and generated a visual scaffold upon which the design was shaped. What was once a challenged environment is transformed into collective and calculated sprawl of opportunities, colonised by both permanent and temporal events, as well as planned and incidental activities. The basic element of a ‘frame’, both potentially architecture and structure, is instrumental to the shaping and defining of degrees of anchors amidst a liminal context. A calibrated topography of frames over the coastline provides the framework upon which villagers will scaffold their adoption and adaption of spaces and conditions based on their ever evolving needs, echoing the ever evolving nature of the coastal environment.

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SECTION A-A SCHOOL AREA

SECTION B-B DESALINATION PLANT 1ST STOREY PART PLAN

2ND STOREY PART PLAN

DESALINATION PLANT 1 DESALINATION PLANT 2

EVENT,RECYCYLING & WORKSHOP FACILITIES

EVENT,RECYCYLING & WORKSHOP FACILITIES EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

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MASTERPLAN

DATA ABSTRACTION 1

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DATA ABSTRACTION 2

FUTURE OCCURANCE :

THE FRAMES COLLECTING SEDIMENTS OVERTIME,REBUILDIONG BACK THE COASTLINE

LIMINALITY

PRODUCTION

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ROUTINES

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DESALINATION PLANT

LOW TIDE : CLASSROOM

LOW TIDE : EVENT SPACE

LOW TIDE : FISHING PROCESSING

HIGH TIDE : CLASSROOM

HIGH TIDE : EVENT SPACE

HIGH TIDE : FISHING PROCESSING

EXAMPLES OF THE FRAMES & PLATFORMS USED TO MAINTAIN THE PATTERN FOUND IN ABSTRACTION

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by Safiah Noorhimli

thesis supervisor Adrian Lai

The scale of commuity- an architecture project

Of mental maps, familiarity and grandmother stories. This inquiry explores the impact of modern conditions on spatial sensibilities and community cohesion, focusing on urban landscapes’ increasing alienation and loss of familiarity. It traces the evolution of spatial sensibilities from traditional to modern societies. Architectural discourse is growing in tandem with modern science and its innovations, everything measured, portioned, calculated. Empiricism has become the leading agent in architecture, and encountering the familiar has been a civilising reminder of the humanising effect of architecture beyond the physical. Drawing on personal reflections and cultural narratives, the thesis critiques modernist architectural paradigms and advocates for a context-sensitive approach to urban design. Through narratives from Kampung Amber and reflections on traditional Javanese houses, it examines the role of

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culture, habits, and spatial arrangements in fostering communal identity. The thesis delineates two key dimensions: architectural and cultural. Architecturally, this is conceptualized through proximity maps, where distance delineates the sense of community, and duration defines the level of closeness. The architecture of a community extends beyond mere spatial form; it encompasses spatial practice. In communities that endure, there exists a robust sense of identity and culture. This sense of identity and culture is not merely inherited but actively cultivated through communal production. Therefore, the vitality of a community’s architecture lies not only in its physical structures but also in the collaborative activities and shared experiences that shape it identity and culture. Geylang Serai in Singapore serves as a contextual site for exploring these themes.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Safiah’s take on Tabula Rasa Rasa Rasa questions current practices of development, drawing attention to the inextricable link between form, space, and how they order the everyday lives in and around them. The idea of community is interrogated through different scales and time, via Kampung Amber, the demolished Malay Village, and the area around Geylang Serai, as we now know it. The scales of a home, the kampung, the urban arterial road, and land allotments are analysed and evaluated against each other to draw out possible diagrams of the everyday, the ritualised, and the eventful that constitute community and identity. Framed as spatial practices and spatial form, proximities and durations correlate to become measures of community and familiarity. These parameters, embedded within the diagrams, move from the analytical to the projective to speculate a developmental method premised on familiarity and community through the production of culture. The thesis is an ambitious attempt to bring together the tangible and the intangible in architecture. In the process of seeking answers, methods of observing and analysing intangible qualities were devised to enable speculative correlations of community, shared values, and emotional connection with quantifiable parameters like proximities, distances, and durations through the lenses of familiarity and frequency. These, when pursued with fervour and the courage of conviction, could plausibly be developed into projective mechanisms for architectural scales and systems of organisation of urban community forms and spaces.

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Kampung Amber Resident’s mental map, sketches of forms and spaces of kampungs

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(row 1-2) Mapping spatial practice and finding

(row 3-6) Gridding Method to Achieve Intimate Community Scales:

discrepencies between maps leading to insights:

By integrating voronoi diagrams and grids, the design achieves a blend of

The distances imagined based on familiarity and

structured clarity and fluid adaptability. Voronoi diagrams offer a nuanced,

regularity, the distances measured out in the

organic approach compared to traditional grids, creating spaces that better

overlay of imaginary and documented. Insights

respond to community needs. This approach calls into question the land

point towards the correlation between (1) familiarity

use allotment of Concept Masterplans and the standard building setbacks

and distances, and (2) the mental and the physical

from roads and drains as predominant measurements of Geylang Serai

as a basis for measuring out scales of community.

district communities and its buildings (inc. other developments in Singapore).

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by Sarah Tan

thesis supervisor Prof. Ho Puay Peng

“Celebrating a shared identity in food & culture”

F ood ,S elf - identity , H ome , I ntangible , H eritage , N ostalgia O ur modernizing world : E mbracing differences In our ever-evolving world, marked by globalozation and commercialization, the preservation and expression of intangible heritage within Singapore’s architectural landscape often take a backseat. The whirlwind of economic and political developments leaves us wondering what remains to be conserved. The oversight of the intangible is glaring. It is imperative that we consider the intangible aspects of heritage and how they shape our individual and collective identities. By delving into our roots, embracing our multi-culturalism, and celebrating our unique cultural expressions,

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we can preserve the rich history of intangible heritagethat defined us as Singaporeans. In doing so, we not only honour our past but also pave teh way for future generations to explore their own identities, finding their place within the ever-changing world. the embracing of smaller communties and “minority” groups would be key in helping to preserve such relationships across multi-cultural groups. Q uestioning my own identity : G rowing up My own journey into self-identity has led me to ponder the significance of dialect and multi-culturalism within my family. As a Teochew, I’ve sought to explore the essence of my “Chineseness” and roots. Old photographs and cherished family letters, have provided windows into the past , revealing the evolution of time and traditions. For me, “home” has always centered around food. It has been a cornerstone, offering solace, affection, and nostalgia; shaping diverse aspects of everyday life. Relationships in my family have woven themselves around the meals we share, highlighting the profound value of food in shaping our lives. This sentimental journey of self-reflection and reconnection became a catalyst for pondering how the younger generation might experience a similar awakening. Could food , as a cultural emblem, wield the power to mould self-identity and foster expression within local communities?

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Sarah approaches the issue of Singaporean identity through the discovery of the letters written between her parents when they were young and living apart. The site of Katong had been chosen as the parents’ memory of the time is centered in this eastern site. The theme and programme chosen are related to the production, community participation and consumption of food. The architectural style adopted fits well into the language of the conserved building and plays on different natural materials. The spaces are well articulated with a strong narrative. Given more time, Sarah will be able to craft the journey of the local community in preserving and promoting the identity marker of food in the larger context of the urban block.

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by Shawn Lee Soo Pang

thesis supervisor Khoo Peng Beng

THE REHABILITATION OF A FRAGMENTED NATION Politics of Expression and the Fragile Symbiosis

In the quest for greater power and control over the city, the state faces mounting pressures and increased interests in greater democracy and the call for freedom to its regulations. This everpresent tension in the city, between the state and its inhabitants results in the birth of a new mircro city model, utilising Chinatown as its testbed site for implementation. The thesis topic explores the social and political conditions of Singapore, through a speculative narrative that highlights the ever growing negotiation of power and control between stakeholders. The project is an investigation using an intermediary third space architecture that expresses the bridge between the state’s need for control and

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the people’s desire for freedom. A pluralistic landscape is thus created, using a contrasting architectural language that shows the tension and negotiation between the state and its people. This exploration into a heterarchical way of building and living, creating a defensive yet hopeful architectural assemblage, reflecting the needs and desires of its people. The symbiosis of the state and people controlled segments of the urban plan, mutually benefits and forges a new landscape in the heart of Singapore. By allowing the re-densification of the once populated Chinatown, whilst preserving its rich cultural architecture, it allows for an urban acupuncture that breathes life back into the city. This hopeful utopic project aims to repopulate the city centre, bringing back the life of the city and allow the championing of a higher democratic way of living.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS At the heart of Shawn’s project is a critique of the state of Power, control and the loss of agency. Shawn was troubled by the loss of personal freedom and identity where the State has become too successful in micro managing every aspect of the life of a citizen. His proposal explores the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between the State and the people. Instead of a chaotic free for all or a rigid top-down control, he imagines a code that produces controlled chaos. He proposes a holonic architecture that responds to a set of rules that is sufficiently open and at the same time sufficiently specific to create a state of “unity in diversity”. The small-scale citizen led architecture is contrasted with the large scale participative architecture orchestrated by the state. This eventually becomes a fully autonomous city that is grown over the existing city.

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by Shawn Ng Xinwei

thesis supervisor Bobby Wong Chong Thai

The Ambiguous Mosque A cautionary tale of the Green Wave

“The floods remind Muslims to return to Allah and to avoid his wrath.” – MP Pasir Mas, PAS’ Nik Mohamad Abduh. In Malaysia, the boundaries of politics and religion are closely intertwined and often ambiguous. By doing so, politicians shroud themselves with an invisible protection, a formidable force that knows no bounds. To criticize the party or the politicians, is to criticize Islam and God itself. The insistence of making the nation to be truly Islamic by PAS and the constant use of racial rhetoric in politics rooted in highlighting difference created a collective fear which threatens racial harmony on an unprecedented scale, further dividing the multi-ethnic collective.

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The thesis position expresses cynicism in the emerging green wave, speculating the fall of logic and reason when the majority of the Malay society surrender themselves to the domains of the divine, which will inevitably lead the country into a new Islamic age. As the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) identify itself as inscrutable beings without fault yet inseparable from the capitalistic activities and corruption. The project intervenes at KLCC park due to its strategic location not only as the point where temples of consumption meet but where the devout followers of PAS gather and stones the ‘Devil’. The research presents a series of anecdotes and the context of fear; how fear is imbedded in the urban fabric using the mosque to solidify the Malay power and islam’s status in Malaysia through the lenses of Jacques Lacan’s; The Symbolic, The Imaginary and The Real. Looking at the precedents of the old world; Stoning of the devil, Rajm; Mezquita Cordoba, the shift in empires; The mosque & its elements; how these elements were copied to sow fear among the non-believers whilst functioning as a sanctuary for the devout followers of PAS. Culminating the proposal of the New Grand Mosque of Malaysia where existing rituals are distorted for pious Muslim to ensure loyalty towards their faith while immersing itself with grandness, immensity that will long ensnare the faithful. The projects become a prophetic speculation, a cautionary tale of the dangers in this ambiguous state between politics and religion.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Triggered by fear and a disbelief, Shawn’s project arises from PAS’ (Parti-Islam Se-Malaysia) November 2022 election success. Many voted along ethnically and religious lines. There was a green wave, PAS identifying color, sweeping the northern states of Peninsula Malaysia. For many moderates, PAS is for them the Malaysian Taliban. At the time, there was certainly a disbelief that moderation and pragmatism has given way to extremism. The project takes the form of a mosque, sited in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, The mosque is framed by the two iconic bastions of consumptive culture, that of the KLCC and Pavilion, the other of extreme Islam. But it is a mosque of such a gigantic scale to suggest a chimera in the making and that there is an air of irrationality, unreality and disbelief about it. After all, does not its disposition within in the most expensive area in the national capital of Malaysia makes it an oddness.

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Stoning of the Devil, Rajm

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by Shawn Peck

thesis supervisor Neo Sei Hwa

Striking A Balance Growing Roots of Empowerment

Coastal communities in low-lying areas grapple with formidable challenges stemming from rising sea levels, coastal hazards, and pollution. These issues have dire consequences for their quality of life, survival, and economic well-being. To illustrate this, consider Muara Gembong as a case study. Here, unique coastal geography and government regulations have compelled the clearance of natural ecosystems such as the mangroves to make way for anthropogenic activities. This extensive alteration of land use and unchecked exploitation of natural resources has given rise to environmental problems, including land subsidence, coastal erosion, tidal flooding, and pollution. The livelihoods of the residents, who heavily rely on both the sea and land as fishermen and farmers, are at stake, leading to the loss of their traditional productive identity. The relentless impact of rising sea levels, coastal hazards,

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and pollution has resulted in the displacement of a growing number of residents, rendering them homeless and unemployed. Consequently, hundreds of individuals are compelled to seek resettlement in inland areas, distancing themselves from the vulnerable coastal zones. This thesis, guided by a shift from vulnerability to empowerment, aims to provide control to the vulnerable coastal communities over their livelihoods. Redefining empowerment within the realm of architecture and explores the potential of “tools” to enable the community to be empowered, enhancing the well-being of Muara Gembong’s coastal communities and facilitates economic growth while establishing a harmonious balance between nature and anthropogenic activities. Keywords: Tidal flooding, Coastal Hazards, Pollution, Mangroves, Livelihood, Identity, Vulnerability, Empowerment, Economic Growth, Harmonious Balance.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Water is indispensable to life. Yet, too much water makes life intolerable, as shown in how villagers in Mura Gembong have lost both lives and livelihood to extreme coastal inundation. Shawn’s appreciation of the mammoth challenges of global climate changes led to a decision to return to the villagers a sense of control over the environment, not by overpowering the force of nature but by working with the force of nature. The village is reimaged as a community of shapes and spaces on stilts, gently skimming the flooded surfaces. Buildings are either anchored or floated to avoid or engage the water as required. A tessellated spine of raised circulation bridges provides the basic infrastructure upon which the village grows organically. A collection of private dwelling spaces, shared community spaces, and contested production spaces are hierarchically rolled out along the spine. The clarity of organization, the sense of control, and the opportunity for choices together returns a climate of empowerment to the village and villagers. This empowerment is something desperately needed, and indispensable, like water.

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Production Cluster - Processing Facility

Community Cluster - Schools

Community Cluster - Homes (Shared Production Space)

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by Siti Hazirah Binte Hassan

thesis supervisor Adrian Lai

TALES ON OUR TERRAINS Unearthing History in Our Parallel Urbanscape

Tales on Our Terrain reimagines how we engage with national history, intertwining alternative Typology, Form, and Programme to cultivate a cultural shift in historical perception among the masses. Our initiative seamlessly integrates historical exhibitions and installations into the fabric of urban and natural landscapes, ensuring that encounters with history become both frequent and diverse, enriching daily life with its ubiquitous presence. My father’s tales of Bukit Timah serve as a poignant reminder of the power of personal narratives in shaping our understanding of the past. From the tree he sought solace in to the makeshift pool crafted with friends, these stories once woven into our journeys gradually faded with time and shifting routes. However, upon my enrollment in National

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JC, the heart of Bukit Timah, these narratives resurfaced with newfound vigor, triggered by the evolving architectural landscape. Through the curation of typological design choices and a programmatic approach, our project transcends conventional historical archiving methods. By departing from traditional monumental structures and creating an extensive sheltered corridor linking historical sites nationwide, we craft a collective journey of remembrance and appreciation for our nation’s resilience. In this fusion of architectural ingenuity and historical reverence, we aim to foster a deeper emotional connection to our past, igniting a sense of national pride among the populace. Beginning with a curiosity about architecture’s role in preserving and disseminating cultural heritage, this thesis embarks on a transformative architectural journey aimed at fostering a heightened sense of nationalism among the populace.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Hazirah’s take on Tabula Rasa Rasa Rasa unearths historical postal route maps, locates sites of in-situ fighting and draws up the possibility of future curators-citizens continuously reenacting this entire sequence themselves as an architecture of non-productive histories. Posited as a counter moment against a singular meta-narrative for the country, the thesis posits a future institution with an architecture-culture of archiving, storing and constituting artefacts in sequences and compositions that amount to quasi-narratives that elicit alternative and parallel histories. The architecture is explored in three ways – as fragments (requiring intellectual piecing together), referenced formal and assembled forms (that trigger apprehension) and the juxtaposition of these forms for alternative functions. Her choice of ubiquity yields very nuanced readings for the public housing corridor, used as covered linkway and museum corridor; yet is strangely powerful when integrating the vernacular ‘kampung house’ into the dimensions of the museum galleries and materialising the textures, assembly joints and interfaces as Rachel Whiteread’s sculptures suggests. The thesis proposes that the Town Hall is the locus of the new museum, with pop-ups of archived material pieced together in different narratives all over Bukit Timah as well as parts of the island where the Malay Regiment made the last stand in WWII. The situation of each citizen with full agency and freedom to enshrine future heritage and legacy poetically draws Singapore’s last stand in history and its evocation in to a full and complete circle.

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Map of Governance and Anomalies

Battle Plan of Bukit Timah

The National Gridway is an approach to connect scattered in-location historical exhibitions across the nation into a cohesive network- a nation-wide network of walking paths dictated by the curated artistic view of history.

As people embark on leisurely walks or bike rides along the Gridway, they encounter these exhibition stations organically, almost as if stumbling upon hidden gems in their own backyard. With no admission fees or restrictive opening hours, the Gridway democratizes access to history, inviting individuals of all ages and backgrounds to engage with their heritage at their own pace and convenience. Ultimately, the Gridway serves as a catalyst for building a shared sense of identity and belonging, as individuals across the nation come together to celebrate their history and heritage.

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Extracting selected architectural elements from the collective memories and identities of the people on the ground—elements that every Singaporean can relate to at least one point in their lives. Specifically, drawing inspiration from HDB buildings, recognizing them as integral components of Singaporean urban life. By integrating elements unique to our experiences in HDB for a sense of groundedness in our local flavor into our designs, we aim to foster connections to collective histories and create spaces where individuals can relate to and engage with their cultural heritage.

The Archival Hall

The Town Hall

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The PA Offices

The Scattered Stations

Our initiative embraces the multiple layers of our past, fostering a new

Each week, a program calendar is updated to inform the public about

culture that acknowledges the richness of diverse historical narratives.

forums focused on specific historical events in selected stations. These

Recognizing that everyone’s voice is valid, we believe that embracing

updates will be easily accessible to the public through the LED screens

widespread participation will strengthen our collective historical

plastered along the corridors and benches.

resilience. This approach broadens the scope of our historical research, inviting a wider community to engage with and contribute to our understanding of our non-productive history.

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Here, offficial stakeholders engage in spirited debates, carefully considering the fate of significant historical events. Should they be consigned to obscurity with other artifacts deemed unimportant, temporarily housed in the hallowed halls of the archival hall, or should they deserve a permanent solidified in-situ station? Each story and event is meticulously examined and debated, ensuring that our history is honored and preserved in the most fitting manner.

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by Syabil Sarafian

thesis supervisor Ho Weng Hin

Grave Discoveries The Rehabilitation of Jalan Kubor Cemetery as a Means for Knowledge Preservation and Conservation Legitimacy

This thesis explores the rehabilitation of the existing Jalan Kubor Cemetery into a museum-park with a park facility at ground level, and facilities for community and research collaboration such as a museum gallery, prep room, offices, and a library throughout the subterranean development. Drawing reference to the ancient citadel walls of Kampong Gelam, the project reimagines the wall from an element that divides to one that connects the urban landscape. The existing cemetery is preserved sensitively, with the monumental tombs guiding visitors through the revitalised cemetery park. The sunken museum architecture preserves the cemetery’s geography, guiding views into the formal elements of the cemetery such as the royal burial mound.

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The architecture also aims to connect the existing Kampong Gelam Historic District with the Rochor Canal Neighbourhood via the rejuventated cemetery park layer where visitors can appreciate nature in a solemn environment. As an historical cemetery park, the extant artefacts add to the historicity of Kampong Gelam, lending many important stories to the development of modern Singapore. At the subterranean layer, educational as well as research programmes guide visitors through the architecture, connecting them to the major city nodes. This thesis speculates that with the creation of a museum-park within a historical area, the perception of Jalan Kubor cemetery can be shifted from one that is shrouded in mysticism to one that is rich in historical, cultural, as well as scientific knowledge for our future generations.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis proposal advocates for the Jalan Kubor Cemetery to be recognised and safeguarded as a rare and intact heritage landscape that is an inseparable part of the ancient settlement of Istana Kampung Gelam. The serene cemetery grounds have been preserved as an archaeological setting for the interweaving of new public programmes in site interpretation, museology, research and community outreach housed in a subterranean complex that allows the site to retain its character-defining overgrown setting studded with funerary structures and artefacts. More importantly, this revitalised site now reconnects the historic Kampung Gelam historic quarter with the Rochor River and to modern public housing estate beyond, and serve as a new urban oasis.

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Kampong Gelam Urban Morphological Study

Architectural Concept

URBAN CONNECTION: Reimagining the citadel wall from one that divides, to one that stitches Kampong Gelam to the existing historical Rochor Canal. The formal gesture integrates itself sensitively within the historical cemetery compounds, creating pockets of activity.

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1820-1822 Beginning of the Royal Citadel at Kampong Gelam

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1823-1825 Incursion of Colonial Power on Sultan’s palace through new infrastructure (roads)

NEW DATUM: To respect and preserve the layer of historicity at the ground plane, the proposed architecture is sunken. The form of each building is sloped to preserve the views towards the historical cemetery elements.

1826-1829 Sultan’s diminishing power shown through further reduction in size of his compound

PROGRAMME STRATEGY: As a development targeted to the development of the community at large with research as a core component of its operation, the museum-park follows as 75-25% broad use quantum (75% community driven, 25% academic).

1830-1920 Eradication of Citadel. Beginning of Kampong Gelam’s urban grid.

INTEGRATED CIRCULATION: The layers of circulation is connected at various points to ensure seamless connectivity between the existing urban layer and museum-park development.

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

1. Overall Ground Level Plan

2. Research Storey Plan at -5m Level

2.1 1.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 1.2

3. Museum Storey Plan at +0 Level 1.5 1.3

1.6

1.4 1.6

1.7 1.7

3.1

1.8 1.9 1.10

1.11

1.1 Rochor Canal Waterfront 1.2 Library 1.3 Park West 1.4 Mausoleums 1.5 Park East 1.6 Royal Burial Mound 1.7 Extant Tomb 1.8 Workshops

1.12

1.9 Museum Shop 1.10 Cafe 1.11 Malabar Mosque 1.12 Kampong Gelam 2.1 Prep Room 2.2 Services 2.3 Seminar Room 2.4 Office 3.1 Museum Gallery

4. Site Section A-A

5. Site Section B-B

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by Tong Man Yu Miranda

thesis supervisor Dr. TAN Beng Kiang

T h e Ho us i n g Struggl e s i n H o n g Ko ng : A Fo c us o n Fam i l y D yn am i c s an d F l exi bi l i ty i n a n Affo rdabi l i ty B as i s T h i s t h e s i s ex p l o re s t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f h o m e o w n e r s h i p i n A s i a n c u l t u re a s a s y m b o l o f s u c c e s s a n d fa m i l y i n i t i at i o n , re eva l u at i n g a ffo rd a b i l i t y st ra t e g i e s . I t exa m i n e s h o u s i n g f l ex i b i l i t y a n d m o b i l i t y, c o n s i d e r i n g b ot h c o n c e pt u a l a n d p h y s i c a l a s p e c t s , a l o n g s i d e i n e v i t a b l e l i fe c h a n g e s a c ro s s va r i o u s s t a g e s . T h e c u l t u ra l n o r m o f yo u n g a d u l t s l e av i n g fa m i l y h o m e s i s q u e s t i o n e d , d i s c u s s i n g t h e p ro s a n d c o n s . T h e d i l e m m a o f st ay i n g i n ex i st i n g a p a r t m e n t s v e r s u s c o m b i n i n g n e i g h b o r i n g o n e s fo r i n c re a s e d f l ex i b i l i t y i s ex p l o re d , a l o n g s i d e t h e c o n c e pt o f h o u s i n g m o b i l i t y re s e m b l i n g n o m a d i c l i v i n g . T h e s e f l ex i b i l i t y a p p ro a c h e s o p e rat e o n d i ffe re n t t i m e f ra m e s a n d a d d re s s va r i o u s d e g re e s o f u n i t m o d i f i c a t i o n s , f ro m s h o r t- t e r m d a i l y c h a n g e s t o l o n g - t e r m t ra n s fo r m a t i o n s . Fa c t o r s i n f l u e n c i n g h o u s i n g f l ex i b i l i t y ove r

IDENTITY

t i m e i n c l u d e t h e d u rat i o n f ro m p u rc h a s e t o m o r t g a g e p a y m e n t , c h a n g e s i n fa m i l y d y n a m i c s , a n d s p a t i a l a d a pt at i o n s . T h e n e e d fo r m o v i n g o r c h a n g i n g a p a r t m e n t s c a n b e a tt r i b u t e d t o va r i o u s fa c t o r s l i ke s p a c e s h o r t a g e s , j o b c h a n g e s , s c h o o l q u a l i t y, c o m m u n i t y p re fe re n c e s , o r p rox i m i t y t o fa m i l y. T h i s t h e s i s a d d re s s e s t w o key h o u s i n g c h a l l e n g e s i n H o n g Ko n g : a f fo rd a b i l i t y a n d f l ex i b i l i t y. I t p ro p o s e s i n n ovat i v e st rat e g i e s t o s e c u re a ffo rd a b l e l a n d i n d e n s e l y p o p u l a t e d a re a s , i n c l u d i n g c o m m u n i t y l a n d t r u s t s . T h e s e a p p ro a c h e s a re c o m p l e m e n t e d b y c o s t - e f fe c t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d f i n a n c i n g m e t h o d s s u c h a s M o d u l a r I n t e g rat e d C o n st r u c t i o n ( M I C ) P re fa b r i c a t i o n , g o v e r n m e n t - s u b s i d i ze d h o u s i n g , a n d s p a c e - eff i c i e n t d e s i g n s . H o u s i n g f l ex i b i l i t y, a s ex p l o re d i n t h i s t h e s i s , re fe r s t o t h e a b i l i t y o f re s i d e n t i a l s p a c e s t o a d a pt t o c h a n g i n g n e e d s , l i fe s t y l e s , a n d h o u s e h o l d d y n a m i c s . F l ex i b l e h o u s i n g d e s i g n s e m p owe r re s i d e n t s t o re c o n f i g u re t h e i r l i v i n g s p a c e s , a c c o m m o d a t i n g e v o l v i n g d e m a n d s w i t h o u t c o st l y re l o c at i o n s . T h i s a d a pt a b i l i t y i n c l u d e s v e r s a t i l e f l o o r p l a n s , m o va b l e p a r t i t i o n s , a n d m u l t i - p u r p o s e a re a s . T h e c o m b i n at i o n o f a ffo rd a b i l i t y a n d f l ex i b i l i t y e n s u re s s t a b l e a n d a c c e s s i b l e h o u s i n g w h i l e re d u c i n g t h e n e e d fo r ex p e n s i v e re n o va t i o n s o r m o v e s . I t a l l o w s re s i d e n t s t o re m a i n i n t h e s a m e h o m e a s t h e i r n e e d s c h a n g e, p ro m o t i n g c o n t i n u i t y a n d c o s t - e f fe c t i v e n e s s . T h i s s y n e rg y o f fe r s a d a pt a b l e a n d economical solutions to urban challenges.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS T h e s i s p ro j e c t s c a n h av e va r i o u s st a r t i n g p o i n t s . M i ra n d a’s p ro j e c t b e g a n f ro m h e r o w n l i v e d ex p e r i e n c e a n d c o n c e r n a b o u t u n a f fo rd a b l e h o u s i n g , e s p e c i a l l y fo r y o u n g p e o p l e i n H o n g H o n g . S h e c o n d u c t e d t h o ro u g h re s e a rc h o n t h e ev o l u t i o n o f H o n g Ko n g ’s h o u s i n g , g l o b a l p re c e d e n t s t u d i e s , p re fa b t e c h n o l o g y, a n d fa m i l y l i fe c yc l e s p at i a l n e e d s t o i n fo r m h e r d e s i g n s o l u t i o n . T h e re s u l t i s a n i n s i g h tf u l v i s i o n t h at a d d re s s e s t h e n e e d fo r a ffo rd a b l e a n d f l ex i b l e h o u s i n g . H e r w o r k s i g n i f i c a n t l y c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e o n g o i n g d i s c u s s i o n o n t h i s i m p o r t a n t t o p i c . I l e a r n e d a g re a t d e a l a b o u t h o u s i n g i n H o n g Ko n g f ro m M i ra n d a’s w o r k a n d a p p re c i at e h e r d e d i c a t i o n a n d i n s i g h t .

462

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

T+1: T+1: HELPER HELPER (MAID/CONFINEMENT (MAID/CONFINEMENT NANNY) NANNY) SINGLE

MARRIED

MULTI-GENERATIONAL CARETAKER ACCOMMODATION

Age: 40 Salary: Family Dynamics: Tight knit Back Story: Close family, will take care of each other.

Owner Office Individ

T+1: HELPER (MAID/CONFINEMENT NANNY) OFFICE SPACE CO-WORKING

CARE

CO-WORKING OFFICE SPACE

Age: 29 Age: Age: 4035 Ownership Type: Rental Age: Age: 29 29 Age: Age: 30 30 Age: 40 40 Ownership Ownership Type: Type:Age: Rental Rental Age:30 32 Age: Age: 32 Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Office Space: Open Office with Pantry, and Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Office Office Space: Space: Open Open Office Office with with Pantry, Pantry, and and Salary: Salary: Salary: Family Dynamics: Intimate Family Dynamics: knit or sister to the Family Dynamics: Strict Parental Style Working Cubicles Family Family Family Dynamics: Dynamics: Intimate Intimate Family Family Dynamics: Dynamics: Tight Tight knit knit Family Dynamics: Dynamics: Strict Strict Parental Parental Style Style Individual Individual Working Cubicles Cubicles Back Story: Expecting the new addition to Working Back Story: AddingTight a brother Back Story: New addition Individual to the family, Story: Happily married but uncertain Back living at Close the parent's Back Back Back Story: Story: Happily Happily married married but but uncertain uncertainBack Story: Back Back Story: Story: Close family, family,house, will will take take care care ofof Back Back Story: Story: living living atat the the parent's parent's house, house, the family. eldestStory: child.Close family, will take care of need helper to help out the transition. Both about the future, welcomes any possibilities. each other. to other. move been about about the the future, future, welcomes welcomes any any possibilities. possibilities.been asked each each other. out before the age of 30. been asked asked toto move move out out before before the the age age ofof 30. 30. parents working, need a in house helper to take care of the household. Age: 29 Age: Age: 30 Age:Rental 40 Ownership Type: Rental Age: Age: 35 35 Age: 32 32 Ownership Ownership Type: Type: Rental Salary: Salary: Salary: Office Space: Open Office with Pantry, and Salary: Salary: Salary: Period Period ofof Stay: Stay:Salary: By By Day, Day, Month, Month, oror Year. Year. HELPER (MAID/CONFINEMENT NANNY) T+1: T+1: HELPER HELPER (MAID/CONFINEMENT (MAID/CONFINEMENT NANNY) NANNY) Intimate Family Dynamics: Tight knitCHILD Family Dynamics: Strict Parental Style Individual Working Cubicles Back Back Story: Story:P+1: Adding AddingNEW aa brother brother oror sister sister toto the the Back Back Story: Story: New New addition addition totoCHILD the the family, family, Family Dynamics: Helper Variety: Variety: Housemaid, Housemaid, Nanny, T-1: COLLEGE KID STAYS AT DORM P+1: NEW BABY Helper P+1:Nanny, SECOND CARETAKER P+1: NEW BABY BABY P+1: P+1: SECOND SECOND CHILD CARETAKER ACCOMMODATION T+1: GRANDPARENT ASCARETAKER HELPER T+1:ACCOMMODATION P-1: ADULT KID MOVING OUT ACCOMMODATION Back Story: Back Story: living at the parent's eldest eldest child. child. need need helper helper toto help help out out house, the the transition. transition. Both BothBack Story: Happily married but uncertain Confinement Confinement Helper, Helper, etc. etc. Close family, will take care of about the future, welcomes any possibilities. each other. been askedparents to move out before the age of 30. parents working, working, need need aa inin house house helper helper toto DEDUCTION PHASE take take care care ofof the the household. household.

Housing Ladder 2.0

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

租又貴，買又買唔起

Housing Ladder 2.0

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

1. CONNECTION BETWEEN 2 MiC

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

Housing Housing Ladder 2.0 Ladder 2.0 Housing Ladder 2.0

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

家

租又貴，買又買唔起

so expensive expensive to to rent, rent, but but buying buying is is aa million million times times worse worse so

買樓

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

要有得住，先可以留架嘛

Housing Ladder 2.0

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

Housing Ladder 2.0

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

租又貴，買又買唔起

Age: 60 Salary: Back Story: Time for the adult kid to move out and start his own family.

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

Age: 55 Salary: Back Story: Child goes to college for 4 years and stays at the school's dorm. The occupied room will be vacant.

家

買樓

3.5m

Age: 32 Salary: Back Story: Grandparent wanted to stay close to help out with their new grand kid for an extended period of time.

Housing Ladder 2.0 Housing Ladder 2.0

P-1: ADULT KID MOVING OUT

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

T-1: COLLEGE KID STAYS AT DORM

3.5m 3.5m

Ownership Type: Rental Period of Stay: By Day, Month, or Year. Helper Variety: Housemaid, Nanny, Confinement Helper, etc.

要有得住，先可以留架嘛

T+1: GRANDPARENT AS HELPER

Age: 60 Salary: Back Story: Time for the adult kid to move out and start his own family.

3.5m

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

Age: Age: 55 55 Age: 60 60 Age: 32 Age: Age: 55 Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Back Back Story: Story: Child Child goes goes toto college college for for 44 Back Story: Back Back Story: Story: Time Timewanted for for the thetoadult adult kid toto move moveBack Story: Child goes to college for 4 Grandparent staykid years years and and stays stays atat the the school's school's dorm. dorm. The The close to help out out and and start his his own own family. out start with their newfamily. grand kid for years and stays at the school's dorm. The occupied occupied room room will will bebe vacant. vacant. an extended period of time. occupied room will be vacant. Age: 32 Age: 55 Age: 60 Age: 32 Age: 35 Age: 32 Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Backaddition Story: Grandparent wanted to stay Back Story:toChild college forNew 4 addition toBack Story: Time for the adult kid to move Back Story: Expecting the new to Back Story: Adding a brother or sister the goes toBack Story: the family, close to help out with their newchild. grand kid for years and stays at the school's dorm. toThehelp out the transition. out and start his own family. the family. eldest need helper Both an extended period of time. occupied room will be vacant. parents working, need a in house helper to take care of the household.

家

Age: Age: 32 32 Salary: Salary: Back Back Story: Story: Grandparent Grandparent wanted wanted toto stay stay close close toto help help out out with with their their new new grand grand kid kid for for anan extended extended period period ofof time. time.

買樓

FLEXIBILITY IN APARTMENT LAYOUT BASED ON HOUSEHOLD GROWTH TIMELINE

You got got to to have have aa place place to to stay, stay, to to stay stay right? right? You

3.5m

CARETAKER ACCOMMODATION Housing Ladder 2.0

T-1: COLLEGE KID T+1: STAYS AT DORM HELPER (MAID/CONFINEMENT NANNY)KID MOVING OUT T+1: GRANDPARENT ASP+1: HELPER P-1: ADULT P+1: NEW BABY SECOND CHILD

要有得住，先可以留架嘛

Age: Age: 35 35 Age: 32 32 Ownership Ownership Type: Type:Age: Rental Rental Age: 32 Age: Age: 3255 Ownership Type: Rental Age:35 32 Age: Age: 60 Salary: Salary: Salary: Period Period ofof Stay: Stay: By By Day, Day, Month, Month, oror Year. Year. Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Period of Stay: By Day, Month, or Year. Salary: Salary: Salary: Back Back Story: Story: Adding Adding aa brother brother oror sister sister toto the theBack Story: Back Back Story: Story: New New addition toto the thetofamily, family, Back Helper Variety: Housemaid, Housemaid, Nanny, Expecting the addition new addition a brother or sister to theVariety: Back New the family, Helper BackStory: Story:Adding Grandparent wanted toHelper stay BackStory: Story:Nanny, Childaddition goes to tocollege for 4 Back Story: Time for the adult kidVariety: to moveHousemaid, Nanny, eldest eldest child. child. need need helper helper toto help help out out the the transition. transition. Both Both eldest Confinement Confinement Helper, etc. the family. child. need helper to help outschool's the transition. Both Confinement Helper, etc. close to help out with their new grand kid for Helper, yearsetc. and stays at the dorm. The out and start his own family. parents parents working, working, need need aa inin house house helper helper toto an extended period of time. parents needbeavacant. in house helper to occupiedworking, room 3.5mwill 3.5m take care care ofof the the household. household. take care ofType: the household. Age: 32 Age: Age: 35 take Age: 32 Age: 29 Age: 30 Age: 40 Age: 55 55 Age: 60 60 Age: Ownership Rental Ownership Type: Rental Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: PeriodPantry, of Stay: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Salary: Office Space: Open Office with andBy Day, Month, or Year. T-1: T-1: COLLEGE COLLEGE KID KID STAYS STAYS AT AT DORM DORM T-1:Story: COLLEGE KID STAYS DORM T+1: T+1:Story: GRANDPARENT GRANDPARENT AS ASStrict HELPER HELPER P-1: P-1: ADULT ADULT KID KID MOVING MOVING OUT GRANDPARENT HELPER P-1: ADULT MOVING OUTHousemaid, Nanny, Back Story: Expecting the new Back Story: Adding a brother orAS sister to theTightOUT New addition to theAT family, Helper Variety: Family Dynamics: Family Dynamics: knitBack Family StyleBack Back Story: Child goesDynamics: college for Back Story: Story: Time Time for foraddition the the adult adulttokid kidIntimate toto move moveT+1: Back Child goes toto college for 44 Parental Individual WorkingKID Cubicles the family. child. needtake helper Confinement Helper, etc. years and and stays staysBack theStory: school's dorm. Theparent's out out and and start start his hisBack own ownStory: family. family. years atat the school's dorm. The Happily marriedeldest but uncertain Back Story: Close family, will caretoofhelp out the transition. Both living at the house, parents working, need a in house helper to about the future, welcomes any possibilities. each other. to move out before the age of 30. occupied room roombeen will asked be vacant. vacant. occupied will be take care of the household. ～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

Age: Age: 32 32 Salary: Salary: Back Back Story: Story: Expecting Expecting the the new new addition addition toto the the family. family.

Owner Period Helper Confin

CARETAKER CO-WORKING OFFICE SPACE ACCOMMODATION so so expensive expensive to to rent, rent, but but buying buying is is aa million million times times worse worse

T+1: HELPER (MAID/CONFINEMENT NANNY) P+1: SECOND CHILD MULTI-GENERATIONAL

You You got got to to have have aa place place to to stay, stay, to to stay stay right? right?

P+1:ADULT NEW BABY MARRIED P-1: KID MOVING OUT

要有得住，先可以留架嘛

T-1: T-1: COLLEGE COLLEGE KID KID STAYS STAYSSINGLE AT AT DORM DORM

家

ntt wanted wanted toto stay stay heir eir new new grand grand kid kid for for me. me.

P+1: SECOND CHILD

買樓

ENT AS HELPER

Age: Age: 40 40 Salary: Salary: Family Family Dynamics: Dynamics: Tight Tight knit knit MARRIED MARRIED Back Back Story: Story: Close Close family, family, will will take take care care ofof each each other. other.

Age: 29 Age: 30 Salary: Salary: Family Dynamics: Intimate Family Dynamics: Strict Parental Style Back Story: Happily married but uncertain Back Story: living at the parent's house, about the future, welcomes any possibilities. been asked to move out before the age of 30. Ownership Ownership Type: Type: Rental Rental ADDITION PHASE Office Office Space: Space: Open Open Office Office with with Pantry, Pantry, and and Individual Individual Working Working Cubicles Cubicles SINGLE P+1:MARRIED NEW BABY CO-WORKING P+1: SECOND MULTI-GENERATIONAL MULTI-GENERATIONAL CO-WORKINGMULTI-GENERATIONAL OFFICE OFFICE SPACE SPACE CHILD

Housing Ladder 2.0

the he new new addition addition toto

Family Family Dynamics: Dynamics:SINGLE Intimate Intimate SINGLE Back Back Story: Story: Happily Happily married married but but uncertain uncertain about about the the future, future, welcomes welcomes any any possibilities. possibilities.

CO-WORKING OFFICE SPACE

～買樓？幫緊你幫緊你～

W BABY

Age: Age: 30 30 CORE Salary: Salary: PHASE

MULTI-GENERATIONAL

家

tt Parental Parental Style Style ee parent's parent's house, house, before before the the age age ofof 30. 30.

MARRIED

買樓

GLE

2. ASSEMBLING & DISSEMBLE METHOD

MIC (DFD) - MODULAR INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION - (DESIGN FOR DISASSEMBLY)

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

463

Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion.

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for? w can we predict what size of space we d? But if we buy for the current needs, re’s no space for expansion.

need this study room? ll it be vacant for?

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

!tneR t'noD !yuB tsuJ

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

700 萬安樂窩

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁 Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

Now Or Never!

How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion.

Do we really need this study room? How long willusing it be this vacant for?as the baby’s We’re finally room room! But is there space for a second one?

Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats?

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

gnidliuB tratS 萬 007 woN emoH ruoY 盤車上房一

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

CORE & DUAL KEY

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one?

How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion.

Now Or Never!

1500萬三房套廁

Small = Homey

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…?

1300萬百年機遇

Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? How can we afford?

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for?

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

yenoM ,esruoC fO !ssenippaH yuB naC

萬 007 窩樂安

萬0031 蓋上鐵港

rO woN !reveN

yuB tseB ruoY etal oot s'ti erofeb !revE tnemtsevnI

萬0001 1000萬兩房套廁廁套房兩

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

ll'uoY gnihtyrevE sihT nI deeN revE ecapS yniT

萬0051 廁套房三

yemoH = llamS

萬 007 700 萬窩樂安安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

gnidliuB tratS 萬 007 woN emoH ruoY 盤車上房一

yenoM ,esruoC fO !ssenippaH yuB naC

萬0031 蓋上鐵港

rO woN Now Or !reveN Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

!tneR t'noD !yuB tsuJ

寶走就買唔再喊好唔升市樓

萬0031 遇機年百

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

DGS noillim 7.1~ = DKH noillim 01 = 萬0001

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one?

PLUG IN

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

Do we really need this study room?

1300萬百年機遇

yemoH = llamS

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion.

700 萬安樂窩

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

DGS noillim 7.1~ = DKH noillim 01 = 萬0001

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

1000萬兩房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

萬0051 廁套房三

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats?

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1500萬三房套廁

ll'uoY gnihtyrevE sihT nI deeN revE ecapS yniT

1300萬港鐵上蓋

萬0001 廁套房兩

yuB tseB ruoY etal oot s'ti erofeb !revE tnemtsevnI

寶走就買唔再喊好唔升市樓

Small = Homey

萬0031 遇機年百

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

要有得住，先可以留架嘛 How long will it be vacant for?

樓市升唔好喊

兩房套廁

1000萬兩房套廁

...人凡平啲呢哋我

s’ybab eht sa moor siht gnisu yllanif er’eW ?eno dnoces a rof ecaps ereht si tuB !moor

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

Wewe buylimit 2BR,to 1one forchild? master,Because Why are the other for the baby how small thesereserve apartment are…? 1000萬兩房套廁

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁Buying is better in the long run, right?

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…?

esuaceB ?dlihc eno ot timil ew era yhW ?…買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... era tnemtrapa eseht llams woh

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

...人凡平啲呢哋我

We’re finallys’yusing bab ethis ht saroom moorassithe ht gbaby’s nisu yllanif er’eW You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? room! Butofisour ?there enosalary dspace nocto es for a roaf second ecaps erone? eht si tuB !moor Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage Does it worth it, paying 50% mortgage We are expecting, so month? we each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? each Should we buy smaller + affordable flats?We buy 2BR, 1 for master, How can we afford? either move or expand! 買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... ewtheos other ,gnitcreserve epxe eraforeWthe baby We are expecting, so we , r e t s a m r o f 1 , R B 2 y u b e W ?droffa ew nac w Wethis buyroom 2BR,as1the for baby’s master, Howwe can we afford? !dnapxe ro evom rehtie 要有得住，先可以留架嘛 How can we predict what size of space Buying is better in the long run, right? esuaceB ?dlihc eno ot timil ew era yhW ybab eht rof evreser rehto eht We’re finally using either move or expand! Why are we lim thespace for one? the baby need? But if we buy for the current needs, You got to place toother stay,for toreserve stay right? room! Buthaveis athere a second how small?tthes ?…era tnemtrapa eseht llams woh hg there’s no space for expansion. 有得住，先可以留架嘛 Buying is better in the long run, right? Using it as stora Do the helper stay with us? You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? such waste of m My parents wanted to come Or how can we squeeze in Do we really need this study room? will change if so stay for a couple month to adequate space for her? Why are we limit to one child? Because longwewill it be vacant for? 個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁 How can we predict what size How of space How can we predict what size of space we help out, but how? how small these apartment are…? need? But if we buy for the current needs, We are expecting, so we need? But if we buy for the current needs, ew os ,gnitcepxe era eW We buy 2BR, 1 for master, ?droffa ew nac How can we afford? ,retsam rof 1 ,RB2 yub eW there’s no space for expansion. there’s no space for expansion. either move or expand! !dnapxe ro evom rehtie g a uoy evig I Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage the other reserve for the baby ybab eht rof evreser rehto eht 買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... dna ezidisbus each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? smees ,su rof moordeb artxe /egarots sa ti gnisU 要有得住，先可以留架嘛 Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems ?thg is better in the longroom? run,with right?us? u htiwthis yatroom s replas eh the eht baby’s oD uoy pleh lliw Do we really need DoBuying we really need study We’re finally?nsusing Do this the helper stay scimanyd ylimaf eht tub ,yenom fo etsaw hcus ebe htthis hvacant tiwstudy laefor? d room? ew dluohs woH such waste of money, but the family dynamics You got to have a place to stay, toestay right? e m o c o t d e t n a w s t n e r a p y M i z e e u q s e w n a c w o h r O si tuo gnivom How long will it How long will it be vacant for? 個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁 room! But is there?respace My parents wanted to come 個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁 Or how can we squeeze in .ni evom esle enoemos fi egnahc lliw ?sraey 4-3 rof t租又貴，買又買唔起 nacav gnieb esuoh will change if someone else move in. ot htnom elpWe uocare a roexpecting, f yats so we h rofWe eforcabuy passecond et2BR, auqedone? a for master, rutam er’uoy 1 stay for a couple month to How can we afford? adequate space for her? so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse ?woheither tub ,tmove uo pleorh expand! the other reserve for the baby help out, but how? 要有得住，先可以留架嘛買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... Buying is better in the買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... long run, right? Why are we limit to one child? Because You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? We’re finally using this room as the baby’s We’re fi g a uoy evig I how small these apartment are…? 租又貴，買又買唔起 room!size Butofisspace there we spaceso expensive for a second one? room! B dna ezidisbus How can we predict what to rent, but buying is a million times worse smees ,su rof moordeb artxe /egarots sa ti gnisU ?su htiw yats repleh eht oD uoy pleh lliw need? But iftnwe buy for the current needs, scimanyd ylimaf eht tub ,yenom fo etsaw hcus 租又貴，買又買唔起 e h t h t i w l a e d e w d l u o h s w o H e m o c o t d e a w s t n e r a p y M n i e z e e u q s e w n a c w o h r O si tuo gnivom there’s .ni evom esle enoemos fi egnahc lliw raey 4-times 3 rofworse tnacav gnieb esuoh so expensive to rent, but buying is?asmillion ot htnnoomspace elpuofor c aexpansion. rof yats ?reh rof ecaps etauqeda erutam er’uoy ?woh tub ,tuo pleh Why are we limit to one child? Because Do we really need this study room? We are expecting, so we how small apartment are…? Us We these buy 2BR, 1 for master, Howwill canitwebeafford? How long vacant for? Do the helper stay with us? 個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁 either move or expand! suc the other reserve for the baby My parents wanted to come Or how can we squeeze in wi 要有得住，先可以留架嘛 stay for a couple month to adequate space for her? Buying is better in the long run, right? help out, but how? You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? 租又貴，買又買唔起買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse We are expecting, so we We are exp We’re finally using this room as the baby’s We buy 2BR, 1 for master, How can we afford?Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary either How can we afford? to mortgage room! But is there space for a second one? move or expand! either mov the other reserve for the baby each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? 要有得住，先可以留架嘛要有得住，先可以留架嘛 Buying is better in the long run, right? Buying is better in the long run, right? 租又貴，買又買唔起 1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

租又貴，買又買唔起

要有得住，先可以留架嘛 Do we really need this studyit,room? Does it worth paying 50% of our salary to mortgage How long willeach it bemonth? vacant for? You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? 個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁 How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, 買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... 租又貴，買又買唔起 there’s no space for expansion.

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

1300萬百年機遇

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for? How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion.

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats?

1000萬兩房套廁

要有得住，先可以留架嘛

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1300萬百年機遇

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

ing 50% of our salary to mortgage we buy smallerDoes + affordable it worth it,flats? paying 50% of our salary to mortgage each month? Should affordable flats? 要有得住，先可以留架嘛 Whywearebuywesmaller limit to+one child? Because You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? how small these apartment are…?

1000萬兩房套廁

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

700 萬安樂窩

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

Don't Rent! Just Buy! 1000萬兩房套廁

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one? Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one?

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for?

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

CO-WORKING OFFICE 要有得住，先可以留架嘛

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

三房套廁

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

We buy 2BR, 1 for master, the other reserve for the baby

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…? Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

How can we afford?

We buy 2BR, 1 for master, the other reserve for the baby

I give you a goal~ move out before 30, i will subsidize and help you get your first apartment~ i will help you get a government subsidized housing, moving out is for your own good, showing that you’re mature enough to be in your next step.

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years?

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her? 你而家逼我出去住？

30歲之前搬出去住

My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years?

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

uying is a million times worse

My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

adequate space for her?

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

We are expecting, so we We buy 2BR, 1 for master, 租又貴，買又買唔起 either using movethis or expand! We’re finally as stay the baby’s Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems Do theroom helper with us? using this room as the baby’s the other reserve for the baby room! But is there Or space one?finally such waste of money, but the family dynamics We’re My parents wanted to come howforcana second we squeeze in will change if someone else move in. room! stay for a couple month to adequate space for her?But is there space for a second one? help out, but how? Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…? Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…? 租又貴，買又買唔起 Does it worth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse Do the helper stay with us? each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats? Or how can we squeeze in We are expecting, so we adequate space for her? We buy 2BR, 1 for master, either move or expand! We are expecting, so we the other reserve for the baby We buy 2BR, 1 for master, either move or expand! the other reserve for the baby

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for?

Do the helper stay with us?

租又貴，買又買唔起 Or how can we squeeze in

is better in the long run, right? Why are we limit to one child?Buying Because how small these apartment are…?

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

百年機遇

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

要有得住，先可以留架嘛租又貴，買又買唔起

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right? so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

Buying is better in the long run, right? Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

so 700 expensive to rent, but buying million times worse Everything You'll is a1300 Small = Homey 萬 1500萬萬安樂窩

W e

How can we afford?

are we limit to one child? Because We buy 2BR, 1 forWhy master, the other reserve forhow thesmall baby these apartment are…?

租又貴，買又買唔起 Ever Need In This Tiny Space

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

for master, Why are we limitWeto buy one 2BR, child?1Because other reserve how small thesethe apartment are…?for the baby

How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion.

買又買唔起

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…?

Buying is better in the long run, right?

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

How can we predict what size of space we need? But if we buy for the current needs, there’s no space for expansion. 租又貴，買又買唔起

Don't Rent! Just1000萬 Buy! = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one?

How can we afford? Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

We buy 2BR, 1 for master,My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to the other reserve for the baby help out, but how?

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

How can we afford?

Buying is better in the long run, right?

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

IDENTITY

1300萬港鐵上蓋

How can we afford?

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

HELPER

Do the helper stay with us? We are expecting, so weOr how can we squeeze in either move or expand! adequate space for her?

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s Buying is better in the long run, room! right? But is there space for a second one?

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

How can we afford? e limit to one child? Because How can we afford? hese apartment are…? Buying is better in the long run, right? Buying is better in the long run, right?

1300萬百年機遇

租又貴，買又買唔起

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for?

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... How can we afford? 買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

Now Or Never!

1500萬三房套廁

Small = Homey

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

How can we predict what size of space we買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... need? But if we buy for the current needs,

there’s no space for expansion. 要有得住，先可以留架嘛

Buying is better in the long run, right?

700 萬安樂窩

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one?

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

orth it, paying 50% of our salary to mortgage h? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats?

個男朋友要有樓先可以嫁

1000萬兩房套廁

Now Or 1300萬 Never! 港鐵上蓋 Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…?My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

How can we afford?

買樓靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人...

Do we really need this study room? How long will it be vacant for?

We buy 2BR, 1 for master, he other reserve for the baby

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate Does it worth it, paying 50% of ourspace salaryfortoher? mortgage each month? Should we buy smaller + affordable flats?

1300萬百年機遇

Buying is better in the long run, right?

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

樓先可以嫁

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years?

Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the familyUsing dynamics it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems will change if someone else move such in. waste of money, but the family dynamics My parents wanted to come will change if someone else move in. stay for a couple month to help out, but how? We’re Ifinally using this room baby’s30, i will give you a goal~ moveasoutthebefore room! subsidize But is there second andspace help for youa get yourone? first apartment~ i will help you get a government subsidized housing, moving out is for your own good, showing that you’re mature enough to be in your next step. 你而家逼我出去住？ Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…? 30歲之前搬出去住

My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

R/F - Crane Access

How should we deal with the house being 21/Fvacant for 3-4 years? How sho house be

Should we downsize our liv smaller unit? But we just fi

see how&much effort we pu 19/F - Office Co-living

Moving our & environment a imagine havin

16/F - Office & Co-living How can we afford?

要有得住，先可以留架嘛

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

We buy 2BR, 1 for master, the other reserve for the baby

Buying is better in the long run, right?

You got to have a place to stay, to stay right?

租又貴，買又買唔起

so expensive to rent, but buying is a million times worse

6/F - Transfer Slab

4-5/F - Void Deck & Care Spac 2/F - Helper Accommodation 1/F - Residential & Co-living G-M/F - Void Deck

+ 108m

Project locat proposed arc of additional utilizing the 464

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

Now Or Never!

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

PLUG OUT & DUAL KEY

CO-LIVING

?ne child? Because ment are…?

啲平凡人...

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her? 靠父幹，但係我哋呢啲平凡人... afford?

1000萬兩房套廁

700 萬安樂窩

Now Or Never!

1000萬兩房套廁

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

700 萬安樂窩

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

1300萬百年機遇

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second My one?parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how? Now Or Never!

Your Best Buy 再唔買就走寶 Investment Ever! before it's too late 樓市升唔好喊

Don't Rent! Just Buy!

Small = Homey

1500萬三房套廁

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

1300萬百年機遇

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

1300萬港鐵上蓋

Of Course, Money Can Buy Happiness!

Everything You'll Ever Need In This Tiny Space

Start Building 700 萬一房上車盤 Your Home Now

Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years?

1000萬 = 10 million HKD = ~1.7 million SGD

Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

We buy 2BR, 1 for master, the other reserve for the My babyparents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

Moving our & readopting a new environment at 60-70? I can't imagine having to do that…

你而家逼我出去住？

30歲之前搬出去住

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…?

My parents wanted to come We are expecting, so we stay for a couple month to either move or expand!Do the helper stay helpwith out, us? but how? We’re thisinroom as the baby’s Or howfinally can weusing squeeze room! Butspace is there space for a second one? adequate for her?

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years? Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

I give you a goal~ move out before 30, i will subsidize and help 你而家逼我出去住？ you get your first apartment~ i will help you get a government subsidized housing, moving out is for your own good, showing that you’re mature enough to be in your next step.

Should we downsize our living space by selling it and move into a smaller unit? But we just finished our mortgage after all these years, see how much effort we put in to renovate etc. can is can, but… Should we downsize our living space smaller unit? But we just finished our Moving our & readopting a new see how much effort we put in to reno environment at 60-70? I can't imagine having to do that… Moving our & readopting environment at 60-70? I imagine having to do tha

你而家逼我出去住？

30歲之前搬出去住

Why are we limit to one child? Because how small these apartment are…?

We’re finally using this room as the baby’s room! But is there space for a second one? How can we afford?

We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

e long run, right? We are expecting, so we either move or expand!

Wechild? buy 2BR, 1 for master, Why are we limit to one Because the other reserve for the baby how small these apartment are…?

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

My parents wanted to come stay for a couple month to help out, but how?

rents wanted to come r a couple month to ut, but how?

I give you a goal~ move subsidize and help you g will help you get a gove moving out is for your o you’re mature enough to

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years?

We buy 2BR, 1 for master, the other reserve for the baby Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics My parents wanted to come will change if someone else move in. stay for a couple month to help out, but how? Should we downsize our living space by selling it and move into a smaller unit? But we just finished our mortgage after all these years, see how much effort we put in to renovate etc. can is can, but… Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems waste of money, but the family dynamics Moving our & readoptingsuch a new How should we deal with the environment at 60-70? I will can'tchange if someone else move in. house Should we downsize our living space by selling it and move intobeing a vacant for 3-4 years? imagine having to do that… smaller unit? But we just finished our mortgage after all these years, see how much effort we put in to renovate etc. can is can, but…

Do the helper stay with us? Or how can we squeeze in adequate space for her?

storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems of money, but the family dynamics e if someone else move in.

Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years? Using it as storage/ extra bedroom for us, seems such waste of money, but the family dynamics will change if someone else move in.

I give you a goal~ move out before 30, i will subsidize and help you get your first apartment~ i will help you get a government subsidized housing, Do the helper stay with us? moving out is for your own good, showing that My parents wanted to come Or how can we squeeze in you’re mature enough to be in your next step. stay for a couple month to adequate space for her?你而家逼我出去住？ help out, but how? I give you a goal~ move out before 30, i will 30歲之前搬出去住 subsidize and help you get your first apartment~ i will help you get a government subsidized housing, How should we deal with the moving out is for your own good, showing that house being vacant for 3-4 years? you’re mature enough to be in your next step. 你而家逼我出去住？ 30歲之前搬出去住

Moving our & readopting a new environment at 60-70? I can't imagine having to do that…

R/F - Crane Access 27/F 25/F - Office & Co-living

22/F - Office & Co-living

Crane Access

Office & Co-living

2/F - Helper Accommodation 1/F - Residential & Co-living Transfer Slab

ransfer Slab

M/F - Core Space G/F - Void Deck

Void Deck & Care Space

+ 132m - Carpark (Upper Floor)

elper Accommodation

esidential & Co-living - Void Deck

+ 125m - Carpark (Lower Floor)

108m

CARPARK & HOUSING BUILT ON SLOPE ELEVATION oject located in the land-scarce Hong Kong, this project capitalizes on the topographical features of the site. The oposed architectural design leverages the steep slope terrain to optimize spatial utilization, facilitating the construction additional residential units. Furthermore, the slope serves a dual purpose by accommodating a multi-level carpark, lizing the natural gradient as a functional ramp system, thereby maximizing the efficient use of available space. NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

Ig su wi mo yo

How should we deal with the house being vacant for 3-4 years?

465

by Ye Ganghua

thesis supervisor Assoc. Prof. Cheah Kok Ming (Ar.)

Disappearance and Re-emergence of the Sungei Road Thieves Market Can the act of drawing reveal the intelligence and invisible networks of a “ghostly” and fleeting site? Tracing and layering photographs with ethnographic textual records, this mode of drawing challenges conventions of site documentation as “objective” processes of recording the site “as-it-is” from a distance. Rather, the argument here is that the act of making a field/site drawing already constitutes as a method of design—where designing is already in the making of a “site”, by collating (and collaging) drawings, photographs and texts to re-enact the temporal grounds between the multiple disappearances and re-emergences of Singapore’s (almost) obliterated thieves market. The architectural strategies follow the opportunistic nature of the vendors, hence a taxonomy of ‘how to steal the city’ is developed to renew the network of the market. Tracing the Infrastructural Voids To renew the ecology of the market, a combination of sites is derived from existing ecological remnants of the former

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market (memory void) and overlayed with present infrastructural voids (physical void) to renew the ecology of the market on an urban scale. The renewed network consists of a distributed set of sanitary, water, storage, rain refuge infrastructures, and resource supply. Extending Invitation The infrastructure of infrastructures taps on the existing transportation and gathering nodes to draw the crowds towards the market, leading from the adjacent nodes towards the canal where the main market stretch is located. Borrowing Banality Learning from the former Sungei Road Thieves Market vendors, the design of infrastructures adopts the same opportunistic attitude; ‘stealing’ or borrowing the underused and everyday objects in the city. Doubling Function The infrastructures adopt an alternative form of planning whereby spaces serve dual functions during different times of the day, even remaining ‘incognito’ at times.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Underpinning the process of this thesis is a forensic-like rigour to unearth every details of a buried past. The research coupled by intensive mapping and drawing revealed and connected several bits of information that contributed to a manifesto and design strategies for driving the idea of “productive nostalgia”. This thesis is about genius loci and is concerned about how the heritage of a place is selectively represented. Or in the worst case, like the defunct Sungei Road Flea Market had all its traces erased or obscured from its location. The thesis proposes “productive nostalgia” as a developmental approach that creates contemporary relevance without sacrificing historical authenticity to mere pastiche. The architectural outcome is thoughtfully curated, creatively restrained, has the appropriate scale and purpose. The intervention is an infrastructure of amenities that supports the street vendors, the community and visitors for reviving this market place of pre-loved goods and makers-fare. The graphical composition of the final drawings drew inspiration from the format of a forensic evidence board, reminding us of the investigative techniques that formulated the thesis.

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1860

1913

1932

2010

The mangrove swamps provided the raw materials andd fuel used in brick making; the waterways ways facilitated the transportation. Industrialization of the district began with the construction of the earliest brick kilns of Singapore in the 1830s. The fenced up area was at one time used to screen Hindustani shows on weekends.

Appropriating the floor and common corridor, the hardware shop spills over into the public relm, taking over the ground, the walls and the atmosphere

The black market trade continued even after the war since the scarcity of essential goods did not improve. Shopkeepers and wholesalers saved up substantial amount after selling to those who held the ration cards. The excesses were sold at exorbitant prices to those who needed them most.

One canal and four streets were critical in the urbanization of Jalan Besar. Rochor Canal was a waterway constructed in 1821 for transportation and drainage. Kampong Boyan, at the juncture of Rochor Canal and Syed Alwi Road, was an early 20th century Boyanese community that continued into the 1920s.

Come rain, vendors pack up and vanish as fast as they appear. Those who fail to be quick risk losing their goods when flood water turn Sungei Road into a real Sungei ( river in malay)

From steps to a concrete wall, the canal was transformed from an accessible waterway to one that delineates land and water. Efforts as such attempts to cope with the threat of flooding and drainage limitations.

The Mama shop in the void deck doubles up as a clothes repair shop, placed at the front of shop, offering different types of repair style to different jeans

The Jalan Besar abattoir and central abattoir in Pulau Saigon first opned in 1894, subsequently they replaced the slaughtering of live poultry at wet markets. After its renovation in 1932, the Jalan Besar abattoir slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats whils the Pulau Saigon abattoir only slaughtered pigs.

By superimposing the parasol over the elevated platform, a focal point is being created . The construction of Jalan Besar(the street) was completed in the 1880s. The end of Jalan Besar was lined with Kapor Trees (Ceiba pentandra) in the 1990s. Also known as Silk-cotton trees, they were planted for their commercial value including stuffing for pillows.

Borrowing the ground, the seats and the precinct pavillion as a place for dismantling of pre-loved goods

Under the Banyan Tree, the cobbler uses it as a storage, a shelter and a shopfront

The vendor remains stationary in his lounge chair, passively engage onlookers These swamps ... are filled and discharged by the rise and fall of the tide. Passing these swamps on a sultry night, especially at low water, and there is no moon, the sight is a very peculiar one ... the bushes literally swarm with fireflies, which flash out their intermittent light almost contemporaneously... as if lit up with electric sparks. --John Cameron, Our tropical possessions in Malayan India, 1865

The rochor canal acted as a transitory zone for patrons who travels from little india tram station to kampong gelam station

Being an informal market space, a vendor’s stalls is a combination of semi-permanent packing boxes, canvases, poles, chairs, and tables , that are able to be set up and packed quickly and efficiently

Along Weld Road, the road after Arab Street across the Kek Sng Kio bridge, on both sides were shops selling watches, leather goods, canvas goods, etc.

Moving from under the banyan tree to under the void deck, Ex-sungei road market vendor moved into a physical shop to continue his second hand goods trade

The municipal living quarters were built to accomodate the staff working at the municipal incinerator and abattoir. The spatial layout of the living quarters interestingly separated the kitchen from the living units, instead they are connected by a shared corridor to promoted interactions between household s through acts of cooking.

A group of compactly packed mobile stalls at the side of Kelantan lane

Queen Street Bus Terminal The terminal primarily serves as a terminating point for regular bus routes connecting to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, as well as a pick-up and drop-off point for private cross-border coach services.

In the 70s, after a series of fire, the government declared certain rows of houses out of bounds. The whole row on the left of Weld Road was declared out of bounds. Even with that declaration, the vendors still stole inside the building to store their ware and plied their goods outside the area.

The municipal incinerator acted as a source of supply for second hand goods since not all things can be burnt.

In the past, odd things were used as “markers” for vendors to unofficially book their spot for spreading out their wares. The Sungei Road hawking zone was reduced to half its regular space on 25 July 2011 with 1m-by-1m spaces marked out in red paint by the authorities for stallholders to fit their goods.

On weekday afternoons and weekend whole day, those rag and bone men (karang guni), scavengers, street sweepers, secondhand retailers, sailors, thieves, etc etc descended into the areas bounded by Sungei Road, Weld Road, Jalan Besar and Kelantan Road, placed their salvaged, discarded, obsolete, faulty, stolen or store clearance ware along the roadside with or without a groundsheet to make a living.

Where once a staggering array of goods were displayed, there were just planks, boxes and debris. And where once bustling crowds haggled, the only noise was from a group of workers demolishing the stalls and sheds.

Flattened Voided De-heritage

Many indian patrons were spotted at the market due to the close proximity of their living quarters, and work place; municipal incinerator and municipal abattoir.

Tucked at the peripheral of Sim Lim tower, a auto-mobile repair shop extends itself out from the back lane, offering quick fixes to cars and bikes

Disappearance and Re-Emergence of the Sungei Road Thieves Market

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

467

Doubling Function: A secret lookout point with toilet doubles up as shelter for the electonics market

‘Stealing ’ A View

Doubling Function: Extension of coffee shop as refuge po int during rainy days

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Doubling Function tree ring doubling up as anchors

Extending Invitation: The scaffolding follows the edges of the back alley and borrows the carpark ramp for support

‘Stealing’ The Limelight

468

Luggage Storage By Night

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Lookout Tower By Day

‘Stealing’ The Shelter

tealing’ The Shelter

Extending Invitation Senior Activities Corner doubling up as Repair Kopitiem Workshop which is adjacent to antiques market stretch

‘Stealing’ Time

Architectural Ethnographic Investigation: Re-emergence of the Sungei Road Thieves

Borrow Commun ing Banality itself to th ity Garden extend e public toilet, lend s its scent ing through the wind

nction Doubling Fu ling up railing doub nt as shopfro ‘Stealing’

‘Stealing’ The Scent

A Wall

Doubling Function Noticeboard doubling up as anchor

Salvation Army Donation Drive

‘Stealing’ Donated Resources

Doubling Function: Service Bridge for the vendors and water point for the visitors

Second-Hand Apparel Street

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

‘Stealing’ The Fire Hydrant

469

by Yin Pa Pa Soe

thesis supervisor Tiah Nan Chyuan

THEFT BY AUTHORITY JUSTICE BY MASSES

The thesis is in investigation of complexities of the multifaceted dilemma of the religion of buddhis between the Myanmar Military Junta and the People of Myanmar. The 2021 Military Coup had put the country on a setback through their greed for authority of the country backing their actions through buddhism. They view themselves as the protector of religion as it had been in ancient times. However their extremist view is a big contrast to the general population including harming the burmese people of the minority religion. The thesis is set on a duality between the contrast of the Buddhist identity perceived by the Junta versus how it is perceive by the people of Myanmar. The extention of the new masterplan of the new Maravijaya Buddha Complex

IDENTITY

(commissioned by the junta as the 2021 coup began) is a speculatiation of a mass complex religious site can be designed with both cosmology and battle field strategies in mind on the masterplan level. Using spatial conditioning of everyday users through their daily routines to the ways to move around in the event that a coup happens. Exploring through the different scale on the masterplan level and the detail level in the redefinition of the aincient pagodas to modern dual function uses as a day to day tourist spot of how people moves and gather. But also as a secondary use of as escape routes, deterence from the junta in coming in to capture.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The scope of the thesis was very clear from the start and the decision to situate the project at the Maravijaya Buddha was good. However the thesis stayed at the masterplan level for too long and did not allow time to develop the details, especially new possibilities from the overlay the three scenarios. Masterplan to thwart the Junta army movement during a coup, masterplan for tourism, masterplan for the everyday. The six architecture conditions were good but would benefit with more illustrations of how the architecture would respond to the three scenarios and showing the irony, the reality and layered meaning that exist in the topic.

470

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CRISIS

DAY TO DAY

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

MARKET PLACE

471

IDENTITY 472

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CRISIS

DAY TO DAY

Vehicles longer than 3m will not allowed to pass though the round about pagoda boulevard

OBSERVATION DECK PAGODA

MAIN BOULEVARD

In the overall the masterplan some key points of intervention includes the redesigning the typologies of the pagoda giving multiple uses other than a religious space. But its presence as a religious spaces prevents the junta from touching and destroying it. These interconnected web of pagodas serves as pathways for movements in daily life and rituals while acting as paths for escape during another coup.

CRISIS

DAY TO DAY

CRISIS

DAY TO DAY

HIDDEN ROOM

RUNAWAY BACK CORRIDOOR

SHOP FRONT

HIDDEN ROOM

MULTI LEVEL ACCESS PAGODA

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

WATER WELL

473

by Zhang Chuwei

thesis supervisor Tan Teck Kiam

BEYOND THE REAL 现实的重构 Hyperreality, Identity, and New Urbanity in Wanghong Cities

The Wanghong phenomenon (网红现象), associated with internet celebrities and influencers in China, represents a unique cultural and social trend with the widespread adoption of social media platforms. Intrigued by the phenomenon of the “Wanghong cities (网红城市) ” that is transforming several cities in China. This thesis explores the intricate dynamics of personal, community, and urban identity in the contemporary socio-technological urban landscape, where the coexistence of physical and virtual spaces introduces unprecedented fluidity. The second part of the thesis explores theoretical perspectives from critical thinkers. Drawing on the seminal works of Henri Lefebvre, Edward Soja, George Ritzer, Sharon Zukin, David Harvey, Jane Jacobs, and Guy Debord, to make sense of this visual phenomenon. Urban identity is reduced to picturesque settings and branded elements for easy

IDENTITY

online sharing, overshadowing its multifaceted reality. Algorithms and user-generated content further amplify social media’s power to shape public perception. This shift towards experiential consumption has redefined physical space as a social entity that is both physical and virtual. A new form of social practice has emerged, where social interaction is not confined to physical presence but extends into a “virtual thirdspace.” Each click allows engagement with spaces and activities digitally, turning every piece of content into a curated and reconstructed individual narrative. Examining the Wanghong phenomenon doesn’t entail complete acceptance or outright rejection. Instead, it involves adopting a critical stance, infusing elements of parody and satire. This thesis aims to speculate on the spatial configuration of a prospective “Wanghong city” within a hyperconnected metaverse and the era of 5G+. It encourages contemplation on the intricate interplay between hyperconnectivity, AI, spectacle culture and personal identity in a potential dystopian future.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis titled “Beyond the Real (现实的重构)” delves into the phenomenon of Wang Hong (网红) urbanity in China. At its core, this meticulously researched thesis seeks to explore the broader implications of urban spatial transformation driven by the influences of social media, emerging arts, and economic practices, evolving consumption habits, and shifting lifestyle patterns. A central question arises: are we now navigating a dual existence in a world where real and virtual realities intertwine? Individuals increasingly lead parallel lives across the realms of social media and physical reality, often embodying different personas. At times, the boundaries between the virtual and physical blur, prompting us to question ‘Who are we?’ and ‘Where are we?’. To articulate these complex concepts, the thesis situates its architectural design in an abandoned meat processing factory (肉联厂) in Changsha, Hunan. By repurposing the existing structures of the abandoned meat factory, residential buildings, and former railway lines, the design creates a multifaceted flow and movement system inside and outside. Within this hyperreal precinct, a new spatial urbanism emerges, characterized by layered interactions and diverse activities. The site becomes a convergence point for online celebrities, direct streaming sales personalities, logistical teams, movers, local farmers, food vendors, outdoor performers, and visitors from near and far. This fusion of past and present, along with the compression of diverse content layers, presents an intriguing peek into a new spatial urbanity.

474

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475

IDENTITY 476

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

477

by Zhang Tongxin

thesis supervisor Tsuto Sakamoto

Restart Cancer Street Rehabilitation center in the slum

As urbanization progresses in China, many rural areas have transformed into cities, yet numerous problems remain. A concentrated manifestation of these urban issues is seen in urban villages, also understood as China’s urban slums. However, the grassroots vitality and adaptability brought about by these slums are difficult for “planned” urban areas to achieve. Various types of urban villages in different cities and locations also assume different urban responsibilities. The location is in Changsha City, Hunan Province, China. It’s a urban village within the city, notable for its close proximity to the tumor hospital. This is a 500-meter-long street, with the tumor hospital located on the east side and the medical university on the west side. Due to uneven distribution of medical resources in China and severe shortage of hospital beds, many cancer patients come to the hospital and end up staying on Cancer Street while waiting for

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admission. Additionally, because cancer treatment is a long-term process, many patients also reside on Cancer Street and go to the hospital for regular check-ups every week. The formation of Cancer Street is caused by various factors, making it a malignant tumor within the city—dirty, chaotic, and a hub for illegal activities. However, Cancer Street, to some extent, mitigates certain urban issues. It’s evident that uneven distribution of medical resources in China results in medical overcrowding, coupled with insufficient hospital beds, leading to skyrocketing prices for accommodations near hospitals. Meanwhile, due to the concentration of patients in China’s public hospitals, these hospitals often fail to provide comprehensive care for cancer patients throughout their treatment process. Cancer differs from common illnesses; psychological and emotional treatment is equally crucial. The community on Cancer Street invisibly provides basic accommodation for the impoverished and serves as an extension of the existing medical system to some extent.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Placed in between a hospital specialized in oncology and a medical school, Cancer Street in Changsha, China, has been an enclave of cancer patients. Due to a shortage of beds in the hospital, these patients could not help but stay in hotels in an urban village that faces the street. The primary objective of the project was to renovate part of the hotels to make them more conducive for patients and their attendants, while maintaining their distinctive culture that defines the characteristics of the street. The architectural challenge for the project was to bring out the strengths of existing buildings. Instead of dismissing and redeveloping new, the project thoroughly investigated ‘alternative use’ and ‘odd circulations’ of the existing structure: corridors were constantly used as a kitchen and laundry areas, while patients’ attendants helped each other in such areas. Furthermore, the two doors in a windowless room were used for cross-ventilation. The maze-like space evoked a sense of Raum Plan proposed by Adolf Loose in the beginning of the 20th century. Adopting these, the new construction extended and developed the space for patients’ communities while allowing public to access some of the new programmes. Although it seemed sober in the beginning, Tongxin’s reiterative investigation and analysis of the existing buildings turned to be the most significant towards the end of process. His diligent observation of the facts and his passion for helping the patients are reflected in the work very well.

478

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479

IDENTITY 480

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Patients on Cancer Street participate in communal activities in corridors due to limited space. The building layout is mainly “H” and “T” shaped, with additional rooms added externally due to space constraints, enclosing communal areas. Propose demolishing these illegal structures and converting them into public spaces accessible to both residents and external visitors. This will open up corridor activities to outsiders, altering perceptions of the street.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

481

all about

BEING The matter of existence in both concious and non-concious beings. Questions on the agency of living beings, materials, and objects.

CONTINUUM

Clarabelle Pun Wan Yi

Daniel Ho Kin Kwong

Isaac Chua Peicong

Jan Nicole Betita Lota

Echoes of Existence

Bearings of the Heart

Walled Gardens

Beyond Shelter The Preservation of Identity

John Chew Geronimo Jr

Leong Yi Bin

Ng Lee Han, Joshua

Nur Hakim Bin Hairudin

The Tree was a Body in Space

The Itchy Transcripts

This Will Never Be Built

Liberation’s Odyssey

Richard Edrick

Tan Jia Xuan

Vivi Serelli Lee Wen

Yap Kai Jun, Aston

The Epigenetic Landscape

Nature’s Artifice

Oblivion

Sinful Leisures

Zhang Jingyun Claudia

Zhao Xinrui

Awaken Rotter-Dam

Serreal Tube

by Clarabelle Pun Wan Yi

thesis supervisor THOMAS KONG

Architecture As Land & Archive A Manifesto For Digital Legacy In A Phy-gital Nation

This thesis embarks on a poignant exploration of the interplay between humanity, post-humanism, and architecture amidst the backdrop of a nation’s slow demise due to rising sea levels. It delves into the intricate relationship between Life, digital legacy, and the preservation of heritage in a “phy-gital” nation rising through the tide. At its core, the thesis investigates how architecture serves as both a physical and digital medium—a land and archive—where inhabitants craft narratives that transcend the boundaries between the living nation and its eventual demise. It confronts humanity’s quest for permanence and legacy in the face of advancing technology, challenging conventional notions of death and proposing a digital afterlife where identity endures beyond the nation’s physical existence.

BEING

In this envisioned future, the memories and legacies of individuals and communities are archived for eternity, transcending mortal limitations. A caretaker oversees a memorial pilgrimage site, inviting inhabitants to annually revisit and experience the digitized life narratives, incorporating sensory elements to project them into physical space. Through thought-provoking inquiries about personal stories, desires, and legacies, the thesis prompts reflection on the essence of existence and the imprint we leave behind. It advocates for architecture as a catalyst for bridging the chasm between the living and the death of a nation, offering a collective cry for remembrance and legacy preservation in the digital age. Keywords: human, post-human, architecture, digital remembrance, legacy preservation, rising sea levels, phy-gital nation, sensory experience, digital afterlife.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Clarabelle Pun’s thesis is a bold, speculative project that believes in the twin powers of architecture and digitalisation. Set in the future, the project looks at the phygital archiving of Tuvalu’s tangible and intangible heritage. The archive, which consists of a floating structure surrounded by a cluster of smaller buildings, provides the setting for digitalising Tuvaluan’s cultural artifacts and way of life as the nation faces impending demise due to rising sea levels. As a building, the floating archive also serves as an essential symbolic centre for preserving the nation’s identity and maintaining its cultural legacy through annual pilgrimages. Clarabelle envisages a digital archive to complement its physical presence. Over time, it becomes the digital platform to connect the Tuvaluan diaspora and sustain the nation’s digital afterlife. During the review, critics raised questions about the role of architecture in a digital afterlife and the rapid obsolescence of technology, which may render the platform and equipment for documentation and retrieval obsolete. Despite these important questions, the thesis offers a timely and provocative future of the nexus of collective memory, legacy, and heritage conservation in a phygital society.

484

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

485

BEING 486

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

487

by Daniel Ho

thesis supervisor Ar. Wu Yen Yen

Blueprints of Negative Emotions: An Architectural Journey Through Feeling

BEING

The design explores the relationship between architecture and human emotions, focusing on how architectural spaces can facilitate and create the affordance for the expression and release of negative emotions, leading to catharsis. It delves into the potential of architectural design to shape and reflect occupants’ emotional states, identities, and complexities, with the aim of creating more inclusive and emotionally resonant environments. An Atlas of Emotions This design strategy delineates a sequence of emotional bearings - a constellation of landmarks within East Coast Park that resonate with specific emotional states. The design culminates in the form of an axial path that commences at the therapeutic garden, threads the park’s vibrant activities, and extends out into the sea’s vastness through the breakwater – signifying the continuum of the emotional spectrum. Each landmark emerges not merely as an intervention but also as an integral part of East Coast Park’s tapestry of programs. These are places where the language of architecture speaks the dialect of feelings. Constitution, Consequence, and Catharsis Through a dissection of the emotional spaces’ constitution, the design of the landmarks delves into the implications each space has on human experience, such as grief, anger, or sadness. Each landmark is a stage affording for catharsis, offering a place for reflection, release, and ultimately, emotional renewal. Case studies and personal narratives probe the interplay between spatial elements and human emotions, deciphering how formal qualities of architectural space and form correlate with emotional responses. This analysis culminates in a taxonomy of spaces that elicit specific emotions, charting a path for designs that intentionally address specific emotional needs.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Daniel’s thesis is a foray into finding methods that can relate form-space to emotions; how architecture can inform and provide spaces of respite, release and catharsis. Whilst human emotions are a web of complex relations, Daniel has attempted to relate emotional implications to architectural dimensions, tectonics, and atmospheric space, rather than taking a subjective, narrative-driven route. Beyond theme park rides and rage rooms, Daniel instead explores an architectural taxonomy of shape-form-space that is measurably calibrated, breaking away from socio-normative ways of self-expressions of despair in the public realm. Instead, he strives to provide depressed individuals who are looking for a space for expression in a public realm that is hegemonically used only to even-tempered individual expressions. This thesis bravely explores form-space as therapeutic; one that can give us sanctuaries and catharsis, made available to everyone.

488

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

489

BEING 490

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

491

thesis supervisor Ar. Victor Lee

by Isaac Chu

A Revival Of Personal Autonomy In The Public Realm

A phenomenon of Insidious Architecture has pervaded the contemporary urban fabric, silently curating what we think and what we do. Socio-economic pressures and institutional interests drive architects towards iconic yet meaningless architecture, dishonest in purpose and lacking in user-centricity and contextual sensitivity. However, the thesis views this insidious conflict between selfish value, stemming from non-architectural actors, and altruistic value of architecture as a place of shelter and refuge, as inherent to the practice of architecture itself. However, insidious architecture, as presently defined, encapsulates the challenge posed to all architects in design. It represents a complex balancing act between the self-serving values that drive the continued creation of architecture, and the humanistic qualities that are the very reason for it’s existence, a necessary evil inherent in program and function, not architecture itself. It is merely a reflection of a pervasive system of surreptitious influence

BEING

by non-architectural sources in modern society, as a vehicle through which selfishness is embodied, a product commercialised for profit to deceive and exploit the masses. The role of architects should thus be to seek to ‘soften’, and ‘dilute’ this insidiousness, rather than seeking to eliminate it completely. “Walled Gardens” highlights the role of the Speakers’ Corner and Hong Lim Park as insidious tools of institutional oppression, seeking to dilute its functional insidiousness by challenging socio-cultural norms of docile compliance, encouraging conscientious space-making behaviour within a formal system of walls, and reinstalling the public realm as an altruistic space of personal autonomy.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The notion of an insidious architecture that pervades the core of contemporary architectural practice underscores the key focus of this thesis. It acknowledges the selfish motivations present in architecture, and seeks to provide a counterpoint by providing altruistic value. Premised on the definition of architecture in Laugier’s primitive hut being primary to man’s natural environment, the project reimagines a new primitivity both in form and language, as a response to the modern social environment through the unmentioned 4th element of walls. The primitive hut of today can be viewed as a public space that deals with privacy in architecture as a modern construct, rooted in insidiousness permeating all aspects of contemporary life. As such, the thesis intends to create privacy (set within public spaces) to be engaged with by way of inciting spaceseeking behaviour, through one’s interaction with the various configuration of walls that significantly define the proposal. The site is set within the existing Hong Lim Park, which has a history of advocating autonomous free speech. The walls that organises the plan relates to the morphological grid of the surrounding fabric of shophouses. A more formal programmatic structure such as a town hall and associated municipal services, rises monumentally above in glassed, air-conditioned boxes, while the walled autonomous spaces holds it up. The alternating gardens return the architecture to the informality of the original park, now imbued with a more insightful purpose.

492

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

493

BEING 494

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

495

by Jan Nicole Betita Lota

thesis supervisor Dr. Tan Beng Kiang

A How-to Guide for a Customisable Homeless Shelter

The objective of this thesis is to investigate the specific needs of individuals residing in homeless shelters, focusing on both physical and psychological well-being. The paradigm of perceiving shelters merely as spaces to accommodate to as many as possible is no longer rational due to increased interpersonal conflicts. Instead, shelters should be reframed to become high-quality environments that enhance resident’s overall wellbeing, sense of belonging, self-efficacy, self-esteem and dignity. Through the participative process of engaging with an existing social service organistion, the thesis is grounded on the shelter’s residents’ and staffs’ needs. By understanding and addressing the multifaceted needs of the residents, shelters can evolve beyond mere temporary accomodations and emerge as transformative spaces that promote personal growth, resilience, sustainable financial

BEING

standing and successful reintegration into society. It starts from investigating the immediate personal boundaries of our own bodies, how our personal belongings are being displayed or arranged. This informs the design of the base furniture unit. In which the unit can configure itself to various shelter environments such as Safe, Sound, Sleeping Places and HDB units. The architectural intervention sheds light on the requirements and potential solutions to optimise small spaces as well as creating an empowering nature within the homeless shelters.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS

Jan Nicole’s study of the often hidden issue of homelessness in Singapore is highly commendable. Despite numerous challenges, she showed exceptional dedication. After I connected her with a social service organisation (SSO) that supports the homeless, she navigated extensive ethics clearance paperwork with NUS and the SSO due to the vulnerable population involved. Her research was rigorous and thorough adopting a community engagement approach. She participated in night walks with SSO volunteers and staff, visited shelters to understand the environment, and interviewed staff, shelter residents, and social workers. To ensure her design was both practical and impactful, she shared her designs with these stakeholders, incorporating their feedback. At the project’s conclusion, she presented her design to the SSO, where it was enthusiastically received. The SSO plans to pilot her furniture design in their existing shelter, demonstrating the potential real-world impact of her work.

496

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

497

BEING 498

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

499

by John Chew Geronimo Jr

thesis supervisor Ong Ker-Shing

Deepening our entanglement with urban trees

While we continue to insist on the inclusion of trees in our built environments, the relationships we have formed with them within architectural practice remain alienating at best and destructive at worst. Despite being fully complex living beings, architecture seems to continually flatten trees into devices, accessories or obstacles. This thesis seeks to question architecture’s current reductive relationship with existing urban trees, imagining instead the possible ways in which these trees may participate in its processes as complex, living beings. To this extent, this thesis also strives to push architectural participation beyond the forms we have taken for granted in the discipline, which depends heavily on the assumptions of human experience and relation. I propose instead that this notion of participation be expanded to become more receptive to non-human actants. This means constructing

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a way of building with such actants -- a back-and-forth process of reading and responding. In this project which centres itself around trees, the process of reading and responding grounds itself in other tree-centric practices such as arboriculture and botany, alongside theories of agential realism, vibrant matter, and plant ontology. This methodology is applied to select mature trees in Taman Ho Swee, an instance of an urban typology in Singapore where voluminous species of trees have been planted right next to residential apartment blocks. Trees in such places are typically reacted to with excessive pruning due to concerns about deadfall and safety. By setting up a system of reading and responding, what emerges is instead an infrastructure which negotiates the space between and among the building and the tree. This infrastructure has several uses and meanings; from a redistribution of the trees along their bodies and thus the multiplication of encounters with them, to the spatial memorial of the interaction between tree and building over time which survives its death and the redevelopment of its surroundings.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This thesis is a quest for a post-anthropocentric creative modus operandi, seeking ways to position trees beyond subjects of design to vital participants in a dynamic process. John proposes an act of design as a materialized conversation, a call and response, requiring mutual respect, care, and actualization—ultimately reframing architectural decisions in a benign and inclusive mode of creation.

500

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Pollarding // Installation: 0 years

Peak growth // Stable state: 20+ years

Death // Demolition: 50+ years

Inscription // Redevelopment: 100+ years

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

501

BEING Tectonics of porosity, support and inscription

502

Redistributing a rain tree beyond a singular “under the tree”

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

1600

650 1600

650

1600

650

1600

650

1600 650

650 1600

1600

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1600

Bonsai models

3000

3000 3000

3000

Tree body problem

3000

3000 3000

3000

3000 3000

3000

3000 3000

3000

Tracing the tree - reading and responding

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

503

by Leong Yi Bin

thesis supervisor Randy Chan

THE ITCHY TRANSCRIPTS Not Everybody Has Good Skin

Skin, psyche, and environment. Our Skins are the threshold in which we experience a significant portion of our world :temperature, touch, intimacy, and so forth, with many of our spaces tailored to tease these senses. But not everybody has good skin. This thesis explores the relationship between imperfect skin and architecture, focusing through a lens of eczema — a perspective deeply personal to me, as I have lived with this chronic condition since childhood. Atopic eczema is a chronic condition with no existing cures. The most universal form of relief — The Scratch — is an eventuality for most eczema sufferers. However, many contemporary treatments focus on rigid models that prevent the scratch,

BEING

sometimes to a degree that antithetically comes at the expense of personal wellbeing. The scratch is already an inevitable event in living a reality with eczema, to not acknowledge it is to fight the human condition, and resisting it can be more physically and mentally taxing than the act of scratching itself. Therefore, this thesis posits that the solution might not be a further discourse on prevention, but rather a two-way dialogue of control. It proposes to embrace the scratch, transforming it from a sporadic informal activity, hidden and unmoderated, into an activity that is formal, open, and controlled. My architecture seeks to develop an “itchy” vocabulary of spatial devices that legitimise and allow the scratch, whilst concurrently controlling the harm that is done to the skin. To give users a range of different ways to experience a scratch and relieve their itch, in a controlled, almost hedonistic (from current perspectives) manner. The insertion and morphology of these spatial devices are informed by my rendition of Bernard Tschumi’s “The Manhattan Transcripts”, The Itchy Transcripts, which catalogue day-to-day bodily and environmental spatial routines in relation to the event of scratching. Scratching therefore becomes a new permanent fixture of the architecture, a new ubiquitous routine; A scratch a day keeps the doctor away.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Yi Bin’s thesis presents a deeply personal and compelling exploration of the intersection between skin and environment through the lens of eczema. Reframing the problem to a more nuanced understanding that embraces the reality of chronic conditions, challenging conventional architectural design by incorporating elements that directly address the lived experiences of eczema sufferers. To create an “itchy vocabulary” of spatial devices is both imaginative and grounded in practicality. The project would further merit from deeper, bolder experimentation and a further negotiation within the meaning of skin.

504

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

505

BEING 506

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

507

thesis supervisor Will Davis/Ong Ker-Shing

by Ng Lee Han, Joshua

The Building School of Architecture

The development of sustainable architecture is largely incentivised through technoscientific analytics of building performance. The rhetoric goes, that to better our relationship with nature, we have to make better decisions as consumers, choosing ‘eco-friendly’ commodities which embody lower amounts of carbon. However our practices of consumption are never critiqued in the first place, thereby continuing the exploitation, or the cheapening (Moore, 2019) of Nature. The thesis seeks to imagine an alternative life-cycle of an architecture that locates its identity in the process of building, rather than built form. In doing so, the building (verb, following Kiel Moe) suggests a way of practicing architecture in the climate crisis which centers the relationship between humans, materials, and environment

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mediated through architecture as a labour of care and construction. To support the ongoing building, the project is nested within an architecture school. Sited at the existing School of Design and Engineering 2 (SDE 2) at the National University of Singapore, the adaptive reuse intervenes primarily through a ‘thick facade’ that students will have to construct and care for as part of their education. Bamboo was chosen due to its reputation as a ‘saviour of climate change’, a title earned due to its rapid speed of growth that allows them to match the pace of neoliberal consumerism. However, instead of subjugating bamboo, the thick facade was designed to honour the natural affordance of untreated bamboo to suggest a more empathetic way of designing with materials. Through this process of cyclical repair, maintenance, care, and reinvention, the thick, fuzzy facade grows and shrinks according to the needs of the school while students make kin with bamboo, each other, and the environment through the performance of building.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Burdened by the ethics of participating in a resource-intensive industry, Joshua asks us to rethink the very definition of what it means to build a piece of architecture. Using—tongue slightly in cheek—the eco-hero bamboo as a construction material, the thesis proposes a condition where the building is perpetually in process. Bamboo, bringing with it issues of lifespan, suitability of application, constructability… forces the contemporaneous orchestration of demolition, construction, and maintenance, all by the students of architecture that are supposed to make, inhabit, and look after this building.

508

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

509

Facade Conditions Cohort A

Cohort B

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Academic Calendar

510

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Cohort C

Cohort D

Sections

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

511

by Nur Hakim Bin Hairudin

thesis supervisor Khoo Peng Beng

LIBERATION’S ODYSSEY Heartfelt Diversity: Chinatown Reimagined

In The Architecture of Happiness, Alain de Botton argues that the establishment of Order, in exchange for freedom and autonomy, appeal to our rational minds. Order, a quality uniquely human, imbued us with a sense of control over nature. However, in pursuit of Order, Diversity, seen as disorderly and complex, became marginalised, resulting in an unbalanced power dynamic and a homogenous and monocentric Orderly modern city. Defined as “depending on the throw of a dice or on chance; random”, the idea of an aleatoric element alludes to the notion of Chance. Emotion is an aleatoric element because it is based on chance occurences. It is through these occurences that breeds Diversity as how we feel about a particular place at a specific point is determined by the situations that surround us at that given time and space. Therefore, based in Singapore’s Chinatown, the project

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follows an experimental zone which seeks to redefine our perspective of Emotion and Architecture, using Emotion as the primary tool for reintegrating Diversity back into the urban fabric. “In the distant echelons of time, Chinatown had transcended the realms of tradition and innovation, manifesting as a utopia suspended in the tapestry of the sky. Decades past, the Chinese Liberation Party had liberated this enclave, and its legacy had become an ethereal dream of liberation. Chinatown, no longer tethered to the terrestrial grip of the government, thrive in harmony with the celestial rhythms, where the past and future danced through the cosmos; it drifted like an iridescent constellation among the stars. Its labyrinthine streets, now constructred from luminescent materials, hummed with the songs of ancient wisdom and futuristic marvels. Chinatown had become a beacon of boundless possibilities, where the human spirit soared among the stars, and the verses of liberation were etched into the fabric of the universe itself, a testament to the enduring poetry of freedom.”

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Hakim imagines an alternate Chinatown that allows intensification while conserving the existing fabric through the integration of the new and old using a system of layering and superimposition. Hakim’s investigation started with the objectification of his emotions and readings of Chinatown. In response to his critique of a Chinatown that is frozen in time and becoming a shell of the old, he proposes a new city that develops over time in layers. He created a structural system that rises from the urban voids of the back lanes and courtyards of the shophouses. This supports a new network of mobility systems in the air space above the existing urban infrastructure that allows the new layers to form. The interplay of geometry, density and porosity of the new urban structures produces a new Chinatown that integrates the new and old in a dynamic way.

512

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

Happiness Me: Inner Child: Me: Inner Child:

Me: Inner Child:

WE HAVE MADE IT! YAYYY!! I am SOOO EXCITED!! Indeed you are! What do you want to do? HMMM... now that we ‘live’ here... we can do so much more!! I want to EAT ALL THE GOOD FOOD, visit all the museums and explore all the different temples and religious spots!!...THERE is SOOO much to do!! HAHAHA Hold your horse there! We have all the time in the world! Exciting!!!

Sadness Inner Child: Me: Inner Child: Me: Inner Child: Me: Inner Child:

Where is everyone? What do you mean where is everyone? There are people here. Yea... but why are there so many stalls closed? Oh ya that’s right... why aren’t they open? As we walk further down... I guess this is where everyone is! HAHAHA ya... it is pretty noisy too But there’s only bars and cafes... Pretty boring eh?

Fear Me: Inner Child: Me: Inner Child:

Me: Inner Child:

Hey there, why are you hiding here? I’m scared... Scared of what? I’m scared of the dark... and scared of being judged.There is no safe space for me to stay in. Even the quiet alleys feel unsafe because it is too dark and dangerous... What would help you ease yourself? I wish there was somewhere where I could feel safe and stay overnight without having to worry. So that I would not be vulnerable.

Anger Me: Chinatown: Me: Chinatown:

Me: Chinatown:

Me:

Chinatown:

Hey there, how are you? I’m weak... Barely a shell of my former self. What happened? I used to be a beacon for people, from all walks of life. But because I am not allowed to change and flourish, the Life that use to roam in my veins have left. But... there is plenty of life here if you’d ask me. You are not wrong... but what you see is a false image. A patched up image painted onto me for political and economic growth, made for the tourist and the web. I am old... and in dire need of a revamp. Hmmm... Ok if you could choose to be anything you want to be, what would you want to be? I would like to bloom like a radiant lotus... filled with opportunities and symphony.

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

513

BEING 514

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

515

by Richard Edrick

thesis supervisor Thomas Kong

THE EPIGENETIC LANDSCAPE arrested-animated forms in the architecture of/ for artificial life

Like life, architecture is always in the process of becoming. It manifests itself in states, systems, and conditions beyond the static, conventional form of a building. An ontological inquiry into architecture’s purpose underpins its intrinsic aim of designing a set of conditions to support life and ultimately unravelling the process of emergence. In biological life, natural selection determines the survivability and evolution of organisms based on the (exogenous) epigenetic conditions and limits of the environment. Yet, artificial life is not so different from its biological counterpart; a similar digital-epigenetic landscape would govern the combination and/ or permutation of computer code to allow for life to emerge in the digital realm. Thus, could the emergence of an architectural form be likened to the creation of

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an artificial being in the digital universe? The thesis is a search for a new architectural language and process of forming that is derived from the analysis and interpretation of artificial life born out of the Lenia universe, a continuous cellular automaton, which amalgamates the discrete and continuous at different scales. In line with the pseudo-random and time-based nature of this model, the dialectics between chance and contingency through states of arrest and animation begin to unfold. The thesis is based on the premise that architectural formation is unencumbered by a finite set of unquestioning prescriptions. Instead, it ought to be a process of becoming, through an emergence of possible states of configurations, and organisations of coded conditions that shape this new epigenetic landscape.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Richard Edrick’s thesis is an ambitious rethinking of form and formation, and the relationship between the discrete and the continuous in computational design. Eschewing the conventional process, expectations, and outcomes of an architectural thesis in the department, Richard’s work attempts to rethink the process of form generation as one of continuous evolution, which can manifest in diverse states, systems, and conditions. For Richard, the digital domain allows us to create new, artificial life forms from computer codes. Like biological life itself, these artificial life forms are governed by the constraints of the environment’s epigenetic conditions, which, in his project, is interpreted as a grid of tiles that receive signals to perform based on a set of codes derived from Lenia, a cellular automaton created by Bert Chan. The performance can continue perpetually or die in theory. Richard’s work offers a brave, alternative path for a thesis project. His assemblage of (fragile) things does not point to an end, and we have to suspend questions of application. Instead, the openness and indeterminacy of his work invite us to think and reflect deeply on questions of architectural beginnings and their telos. The thesis is a continuous search that will raise more questions than answers.

516

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

517

BEING

(Top Left)

Initial state of the landscape where all tiles are at their upright positions. The tiles are propped up by mechanical arms that rotate according to servo motors linked to an arduino board. (Bottom Left)

Arrested movement in the landscape captured

during

simulation

which

simultaneously showcases the different rotational axes of the tiles. (Top Right)

Extracted depth map dataset from a basic Lenia glider — Orbium unicaudatus — which is

subsequently

reparameterised

and

interpolated into rotational values fed (live) to the servo motors.

518

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

519

by Tan Jia Xuan

thesis supervisor Chaw Chih Wen

NATURE’S ARTIFICE A botanical refuge where humans are subject to the environment

This thesis project serves as a commentary on the relationship Singapore has with Nature and how it has controlled and created Nature since its nation building days. With Naprk’s obsession with repropagating native plants in Singapore, the project speculates a future where Nature will be created and manifested in its extreme form as a series of plant-artifactual hybrids as new natives that populate the sky terraces of Singapore. The project revolved around research of a list of ten plants commonly found in sky terraces, including their growth pattern, characteristics and environmental needs. These plants are then paired together with architectural elements that are commonly found across sky terraces based on compatibility between the inherent qualities of each element and each plant’s characteristics. In order to create the perfect, thriving sky terrace, these plant-artifact hybrids would result in overgrowth and the

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change in function from a human-centric one to an animal and plant -centric one. As a result of wanting to achieve the perfect picturesque City in Nature, humans become subject to the surroundings that they have created through using these plant-artifactual hybrids and start to behave in regressive, primative manners as they learn how to manuever these new spaces from the overgrown. Have we then truly mastered Nature ?

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This thesis posits Singapore’s City in Nature drive as an extension of her prowess in the mastery over nature. Taking cues from the national orchid breeding programme, the thesis hypothesizes a similar desire to synthesize the artificial and the natural in the form of architecture elements and plants to be deployed in our now famed typology of sky gardens. The design outcome not only challenges and probes the extent to which we are ready to surrender our territories in favour of this national agenda but also imagines a satirical outcome where we, as Singapore citizens, become part of a sophisticatedly cultured nature to be presented to the global lens.

520

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

521

sprawling growth pattern

trailing stems can produce roots when nodes come in contact with moist soil

bushy and compact growth habit forming dense foliage

starts to grow up to 2m

flowers in late summer and early fall and bears fruits

Shoebutton Ardisia Elliptica

Phase 1

Phase 2

Shoebutton Ardisia Elliptica

Phase 3

Chinese Violet

Phase 1

Phase 2

600-800

Chinese Violet

Phase 3

1200 2000

fonds grow in errect and upright manner

fonds start to elongate and droop overtime

Boston Fern

Phase 1

Boston Fern

Phase 2

Boston Fern

Phase 3

Dwarf Umbrella Tree

Phase 1

grows in a circular pattern

able to grow on surfaces of trees or mounted on a substrate

Bird’s Nest Fern

Phase 2

Bird’s Nest Fern

Phase 3

Red Trailing Bauhinia

Phase 1

Stem turns woody as it ages, older stems get support from short rootlets , younger stems use claw like tendrils

tendrils drop as plant grows higher leaving only leaflets

Phase 1

Dwarf Umbrella Tree

Phase 3

Red Trailing Bauhinia

Phase 2

Red Trailing Bauhinia

Phase 3

Creeping Fig

Phase 2

Creeping Fig

Phase 3

older fonds start to droop and harden

grows upwards till max height of structure first before branching out horizontally

three ponged claw tendril that catches on to surfaces at the bottom

Cat’s Claw Creeper

Phase 2

upright woody stems that can act as structures

new fronds grow from the centre

Phase 1

Dwarf Umbrella Tree

Aerial roots that are adhesive glueing plant to surfaces

Cat’s Claw Creeper

Phase 2

Cat’s Claw Creeper

Phase 3

Creeping Fig

Phase 1

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Plant growth patterns for the list of plants

Within each plant-artifactual hybrid also consist of the plant’s life support system - drainage, irrigation, lighting and structural support, systems that supplement these plants lives within the sky terrace and allowing them to thrive. Elements - stairs, wall, column, floor, bollard, louvers, canopy,seats and railings each function with inherent qualities. As the plants attached to each element start to outgrow the initial structures, humans are made to start crawling and climbing in order to move through the thriving sky terrace. Similar to how primates and animals move in the jungle, human behaviour has ironically regressed at the expense of creating these advanced hybrids that paint the image of a City in Nature.

522

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

523

by Vivi Serelli Lee Wen

thesis supervisor Randy Chan

Wage Slavery and the Dehumanisation of Man

In a society driven by progress, the individual’s autonomy may be overshadowed by the demands of a system geared for economic development. The pervasiveness of this phenomenon, prevalent in Singapore’s Central Busines District, has created a condition akin to ‘wage slavery’, characterised by the gradual erosion of wellbeing and an insidious numbness to one’s own condition. The ubiquitous nature of corporate architecture has fostered a culture of conformity and compliance, forcing the individual into becoming a mere product of society. This thesis exposes the underlying systems contributing to the dehumanisation of the worker. The worker navigates the work environment to find relief, a pseudo control that falls short of genuine autonomy. Their attempt to break free from the cycle of self-denial and conformity involves forms of controlled self-destruction to unleash their primal self. However, their efforts are retaliated by corporate powers through accelerated advancements of technology and machine learning,

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mimicking the way of the worker and adapting their attempts into means of automated surveillance. The power dynamic between the worker and corporate power for relief and surveillance disguises the exponential growth of a dehumanising machine - a factory to harvest energy and productivity in order to drive profits. The machine traps the worker, oblivious, in an endless cycle of work and rejuvenation to produce a highly efficient and productive system. The worker’s entrapment results in an artificially crafted lifestyle, suppressing the greatness of the human mind, and purely following instructions. The result of this is the loss of creativity and the system’s eventual diminishing productivity. This evolution offers a glimpse into the Orwellian future of the systems we gladly become part of today.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS This student’s thesis is a social commentary of projected future capitalist exploitation of workplace and politics. The speculative future is where corporate powers through architectural surveillance. This student has cleverly created a module that latches onto the route lines as a ‘dependency on worker’. The architecture here is a type of ‘hyperobject’ that morphs and expands on the idea of creating these routes of escape. It further explores through manipulation of routes interlocking and connecting at points which they create a certain dynamic to show this slavery, an alternate reality - a spectacle machine of the CBD.

524

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

525

BEING 526

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

527

by Aston Yap Kai Jun

thesis supervisor Chaw Chih Wen

SINFUL LEISURES a re-contextualisation of leisure as a state managed aspect of life in the digital age

In our networked age, the normalization and numbness towards the surrender of our personal data in exchange for perceived conveniences has subjected ourselves to voluntary surveillance through our data and devices. This has left us with altered brains and bodies that have become digitally exhausted. The project speculates that in this society, the state leverage data from our digital footprints to diagnose individuals with digital fatigue and prescribes a form of leisure modelled on the indulgence in the seven deadly sins as an antidote for this modern malaise. Riding on the paradox between desire and prohibition, this creates a leisure destination of allure and remorseless sinning.

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Ultimately, the project reveals an outcome that this indulgence in the seven sins would create a self-fueling economy that instigates a new form of leisure addiction in the contemporary digital landscape, subsuming itself in an alternative cycle of entrapment. The built proposition designs a new state-managed leisure destination that is spread across the island of Sentosa, replacing the traditional mode of leisure into a prescribed leisure modelled on the indulgence in the seven deadly sins as an antidote to the symptoms of digital fatigue. The Towers of sins are erected across the island, each distinct on its own and all connected by a dedicated cable car system. Each Tower of sin houses leisure activities that targets specific symptoms of digital fatigue and offers varying intensity of treatment. These Towers become different leisure rides that visitors participate in, producing a self-fueling leisure economy.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS The thesis responds to the trade-offs within the digital attention economy and postulates a national drive to overcome the Faustian bargain that one strikes with our cell phone. Taking reference from the 7 deadly sins, the intervention imagines a prescriptive physical leisure program rolled out by MOH in the form of 6 towers, with the last tower of Envy; an ironical collection of social media feeds about the other towers. While the thesis proposal seemingly provides a digital detox solution, it cynically alludes to an entrapment of sorts if the intervention proved to be successful; a sort of self-fuelling cycle that feeds off its own success.

528

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

529

BEING

The tower of pride takes the visitor

The tower of lust takes the form of

The tower of sloth is designed as a tower

through a journey of self improvement

a bathhouse that seeks to remedy

of wellness and relaxation that brings

and personal growth that seeks to

the symptom of social withdrawal by

the visitors into deeper states of sloth.

remedy the symptoms of low self-esteem.

introducing humanly connections.

It brings the visitor from external to

Through the stages of self appreciation,

Lust as a prescribed form of leisure

building self confidence and attaining

offers 3 levels of intensities that range

self fulfillment, visitors regain their self

from Desire, Infatuation, and climaxes at

It offers 3 intensities of sloth from dozing,

confidence

Ecstasy, allowing visitors to gain back

to slumber and lastly hibernation. Here,

their sense of social connection and

visitors are able to be induced and

humanly interaction.

indulge in rest.

internal, bright to dark, from activity to

through

the

mastery

specific skills in various aspects.

530

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

rest, as they move down the tower

The tower of Gluttony is designed as a

The tower of greed is designed as a

The tower of Gluttony is designed as a

tower of indulgence for visitors who have

library of knowledge and curiosity.

tower of indulgence for visitors who have

suffered weight loss and suppressed appetite from digital fatigue. It

offers

from

casual

intensities indulgence,

Gluttony to

suffered weight loss and suppressed Here, visitors are able to seek new

appetite from digital fatigue. It offers

knowledge and escape the information

3 intensities of Gluttony from casual

silo that the digital economy has trapped

indulgence, to social overindulgence and lastly compulsive overeating.

social

them in. Information is presented in a

overindulgence and lastly compulsive

manner that allows visitors to become

overeating.

greedy for more information as their wealth of knowledge is expanded. Tower of Envy NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

531

by Claudia Zhang Jingyun

thesis supervisor Bobby Wong

AWAKEN ROTTER-DAM Memories of the timber

In this project, i have delved into the profound narrative of traditional architecture in rotterdam, focusing particularly on the deterioration of timber piles—an outcome of strategies to combat rising sea levels. Timber piles are geographical markers and historical witnesses. I envision these structures transformed into vibrant spaces, combining a hostel with an art depot, integrated with the surrounding community. However, the imminent threat of land subsidence is pressing; by 2100, it is estimated to reach 8 meters below the ground. To confront this challenge, i have implemented a strategic intervention: replacing decayed timber piles with steel while preserving some timber piles. The selection of which piles to retain is informed by research and experimentation.

BEING

Beyond the existing ground level, the voids left by removed piles have birthed underground caverns, injecting new vitality into the structure of traditional residential. By 2100, these caverns, 8 meters below the river level, intertwining with neighboring canals to form an underground network. Transforming it into dynamic spaces for drama and leisure—a tribute to resilience and adaptability in adversity. This project not only showcases architectural ingenuity but also serves as a catalyst for societal dialogue, raising awareness of the urgent realities of climate change and the intricate interplay between human intervention and environmental balance. Through a synthesis of heritage preservation, structural innovation, and community engagement, i aspire to create a homage to the past, a sanctuary for the present, and a beacon of hope for the future.

SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS Claudia’s project is a conservation project centered in the Delfshaven district of Rotterdam. It attempts to restore 3 to 4 storeys pre-war buildings which have experienced differential settlement. Differential settlement has come about mainly because the timber piles on which these buildings sit on are in state of decay. This is a consequence of using polders as a form of land reclamation. The water table has receded leaving much of the timber piles unexposed to water. By observing the direction of the tilt, it was not too difficult to model where new steel piles are required to shore up the structure and where existing piles are performing adequately. Spatial mappings are made. Through which timber and steel are commingled together in proportion expressing the structural need of the immediate location. This commingling is extended into the various levels to mask facades and create partitions producing ambiguities and illusions among the various spaces. But also significantly, the need to intervene by excavation into the ground opens a new dimension to be thought. Existing canals can be extended under existing roads and their adjacencies turned into spaces of opportunities depending on the area prevailing demographics.

532

MASTERS OF ARCHITECTURE

AWAKEN ROTTER-DAM PILING STUDY 01 -SMALL SCALE

DESIGN STATEMENT

SITE ANALYSIS

ROTTERDAM CENTRAL

IN THIS PROJECT, I HAVE DELVED INTO THE PROFOUND NARRATIVE OF TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN ROTTERDAM, FOCUSING PARTICULARLY ON THE DETERIORATION OF TIMBER PILES—AN OUTCOME OF STRATEGIES TO COMBAT RISING SEA LEVELS. TIMBER PILES SERVE AS BOTH GEOGRAPHICAL MARKERS AND HISTORICAL WITNESSES, REVERED ELEMENTS WITHIN THIS ENDEAVOR. I ENVISION THESE STRUCTURES TRANSFORMED INTO VIBRANT SPACES, COMBINING A YOUTH HOSTEL WITH AN ART DEPOT, SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATED WITH THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THE IMMINENT THREAT OF LAND SUBSIDENCE IS PRESSING; BY 2100, IT IS ESTIMATED TO REACH 8 METERS BELOW THE ORIGINAL GROUND LEVEL. TO CONFRONT THIS CHALLENGE, I HAVE IMPLEMENTED A STRATEGIC INTERVENTION: REPLACING DECAYED TIMBER PILES WITH STEEL WHILE PRESERVING SOME TIMBER PILES. THE SELECTION OF WHICH PILES TO RETAIN IS INFORMED BY THOROUGH RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATION. BEYOND THE EXISTING GROUND LEVEL, THE VOIDS LEFT BY REMOVED PILES HAVE BIRTHED UNDERGROUND CAVERNS, INJECTING NEW VITALITY INTO THE STRUCTURE OF TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL AREAS. BY 2100, THESE CAVERNS, SUBMERGED 8 METERS BELOW THE RIVER LEVEL, TRANSCEND THEIR ORIGINS, INTERTWINING WITH NEIGHBORING CANALS TO FORM AN UNDERGROUND NETWORK. EMBRACING THIS NEWFOUND REALM, I IMBUE IT WITH PURPOSE, TRANSFORMING IT INTO DYNAMIC SPACES FOR DRAMA AND LEISURE—A TRIBUTE TO RESILIENCE AND ADAPTABILITY IN ADVERSITY. THIS PROJECT NOT ONLY SHOWCASES ARCHITECTURAL INGENUITY BUT ALSO SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR SOCIETAL DIALOGUE, RAISING AWARENESS OF THE URGENT REALITIES OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE INTRICATE INTERPLAY BETWEEN HUMAN INTERVENTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BALANCE. THROUGH A SYNTHESIS OF HERITAGE PRESERVATION, STRUCTURAL INNOVATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I ASPIRE TO CREATE A LEGACY THAT TRANSCENDS GENERATIONS—A HOMAGE TO THE PAST, A SANCTUARY FOR THE PRESENT, AND A BEACON OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

DELFSHAVEN

01 CONSERVED TIMBER PILES 02 STEEL PILES REPLACEMENT 03 SMALL SCALE STUDY RESULTS 04 RIVER SURRONDED 05 DRAIN SYSTEM SURROUNDED 06 PLANTATION SURROUNDED

PILING STURY 02 -LARGE SCALE

NUS CLASS OF 2023/2024

533

BEING Quam re nos eium nim nihil illuptam asped et officient ea volorib