QUEENIE WONG architectural portfolio 2011 - 2020
QUEENIE WONG I am an architecture graduate who grew up in Kuala Lumpur, studied and worked in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and completed my master in TU Delft, Netherlands on affordable housing in suburban Mumbai. Throughout my journey in the architectural field, I have worked on academic and professional projects in India, the Netherlands, Ghana, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and I have learnt the importance of understanding the existing context, especially in terms of identifying living patterns, and how it is similar, or different, across geographical locations, cultures, religions, and climate. I believe that the human aspect, and its harmony with the surrounding, is of utmost importance when it comes to designing the built environment. I am particularly interested in the fields of heritage and global south developments, while working on social engagement art projects and graphic design on the side.
03
RESOCIALIZATION Adaptive reuse of a historical prison into a university and a gathering space for the city in Haarlem, Netherlands Masters Academic Work
04
pg: 28-33
SECTECH HQ Adaptive reuse of a factory and trading headquarter in Shanghai.
01
Professional Work pg: 34-37
BRIDGING REALITIES
02
Urban redevelopment and affordable housing project in suburban Mumbai, India
GREEN CONNECTION
Masters Final Thesis
Urban redevelopment and affordable housing in Tema, Ghana
pg: 4-19
05 REDEFINING TERRITORY Integration of structure and public spaces into housing design in Singapore
Masters Academic Work pg: 20-27
Undergraduate Final Year Project pg: 38-43
06
07
08
1:1 Installation designs done in Hong Kong
Research Projects and Academic Papers
Social Engagement Art Projects and Graphic Design Work
Undergraduate Academic Work
Professional and Academic work
Personal and Freelance Work
pg: 44-47
pg: 48-51
pg: 52-53
INSTALLATIONS
RESEARCH
OTHERS
01 BRIDGING REALITIES A response to spatial inequality in Nalasopara, Mumbai Urban redevelopment and affordable housing design Location: Mumbai, India Masters Final Thesis 2018 September - 2019 October
The project responds to spatial inequality in Mumbai and Nalasopara, which is a result of its widening income gap, and aims to encourage appropriation and participation of the inhabitants while softening boundaries among income groups, bringing The Right to the City to the people. Using Sriprastha, an existing deteriorating cooperative housing as a starting point, I have proposed three new housing typologies that cater aspirations of different income groups, while being relatable to the existing buildings and urban fabric. Ultimately, the project hopes to propose an alternative scenario from the current situation of complete exclusion of the urban poor, creating borders that act as “zones of exchanges�, rather than harsh boundaries.
Existing Condition
In Situ Redevelopment on the North and new development on the South
Site - Sri Prastha Sri Prastha is a deteriorating cooperative housing. It consists of three-storey housing blocks arranged in a tight grid, whereby two neighbouring blocks would often come together and form a society. There are two models in executing the project: a new development on the new plot at the South of the existing Sri Prastha, and voluntary in-situ redevelopments of the existing Sri Prastha, which is decided by the residents on a case by case basis..
Sri Prastha Existing Buildings Number of dwelling per two buildings: 36
Mid rise - Slab Typology
High rise - Tower Typology
Number of dwelling per two buildings : 38 - 80 (depending on unit combination)
Number of dwelling per two buildings: 76 - 104 (depending on unit combination)
Number of dwelling per two buildings: 40 (+5 commercial spaces)
Unit sizes : 22-50m2
Unit sizes : 31-57m2
Unit sizes : 54-68m2
Low rise - Chain Typology
Unit sizes : 35 - 48 m2 Plot FSI: 1.4 Plot FSI: 2.64
Plot FSI: 3.5
Plot FSI: 2.5
Storeys: 4 (with mezzanine)
Storeys: 7
Storeys: 10-12
Target Group: EWS, LIG, Lower MIG
Target Group: LIG, Lower MIG, Middle MIG
Target Group: Middle MIG, Upper MIG
Storeys: 3 Target Group: Lower MIG
Typological Mix Responding to the aspirations of the different income groups, I have proposed three typologies. The low rise (chain) typology caters for the lower income group (LIG) and economically weaker sector (EWS). The mid rise (slab) typlogy, caters for the lower middle income group. The high rise towers cater for the upper middle income group. A typological mix breaks the rigid grid of the existing Sri Prastha and introduce variety and hierarchy in urban spaces. 7
1. Shared Terrace 2-4 households
2. Rooftop Terrace 10-20 households
75% AGREEMENT TO MOVE CHAWL DWELLERS
CHAWL SOCIETIES
NEW LOWER MIG BUYERS
ELECT MEDIATE
BOARD OF DIRECTOR
CONVEYS DESIGN WISHES HOUSING COOPERATIVE
GENERAL BODY
MEDIATE
3. Courtyard 40-80 households
4. Square approximately 200 households
PROVIDE LAND WITH CONDITIONS PRIVATE DEVELOPER
ARCHITECT
DESIGN & BUILD ON NEW PLOT
CROSS SUBSIDIZE HIGH RISE
Frame of Conditions: - FSI Range (depending on context) - % of each income groups (depending on context) - Design decisions must be undertaken in conjunction with feedback from Housing Cooperative
APPOINTS
HANDOVER UNIT PUBLIC AUTHORITY
PAY EMI / LUMP-SUM
TRANSFERRED
MID-RISE & LOW RISE
SOLD TO
NEW HIGH-END BUYERS
Model 1: Cross Subsidized New Development
5. Community Spine approximately 600 households
6. Urban Center approximately 1800 households
On the empty plot, a Public-Private Partnership model of Mixed-development Cross-subsidized Housing is introduced, in which the high rise apartments and affordable housing cross-subsidize each other. The low and mid rise buildings are mainly located on the South of the plot, while the high rise buildings are located on the North, planking the border of the highway and the plot. A community spine goes through the plot diagonally and connects the housing compounds to the central open space. The urban plan emphasizes on the hierarchy of communal spaces, starting from the terrace shared among 2-4 households, up untill the urban center shared among 1800 households approximately.
1. The existing edge of the buildings are homogeneous, meaningless, and abandoned spaces.
ESTABLISH
2. If one society is being replaced, the street like condition on its edge gives the in between space a little bit of definition.
COMMUNITY FUND
APPLY FINANCIAL LOANS
ELECT
SRIPRASTHA DWELLERS
75% AGREEMENT TO REPLACE EXISTING BUILDINGS
BOARD OF SOCIETY
MAKE DECISION ON LOW RISE
MID RISE
HIGH RISE
CONVEYS DESIGN WISHES LOCAL BUILDER
ARCHITECT
CONSTRUCT PROFITS USED TO REPAY
TRANSFERRED NEW BUILDING
EXTRA UNITS SOLD TO
NEW BUYERS
3. If two societies have been replaced, they could be in dialogue with each other, and the corner could be further activated.
Model 2: Redevelopment of the Existing The first phase would act as a reference material for the existing residents of Sri Prastha, to help them make a better judgement of the desired typology. They could decide if they want to redevelop their own society, and choose the preffered typology on a case by case basis. 4. If three society have been replaced, the edge of the buildings could infect each other. More commercial and social activities might spill out onto the in between space.
The replacement of existing buildings would improve the physical quality of the building, increase the diversity of income groups, define the edge of the street, provide a courtyard space and strengthen the hierarchy among open spaces. 9
Low rise - Chain Typology The low rise chain typology caters for the lower income group. It mainly consists of two types of components: the corner modules and the middle modules, connected by semi-outdoor platforms that can be utilized for activities like preparing food, beading, or doing homework. This configuration allows it to be extended or shortened like a chain, depending on different site conditions. Two buildings come together to form a courtyard in between. In this typology, because the units are small, a mezzanine will be provided for storage or sleeping, and the user could choose to extend the mezzanine by themselves later.
3430
4500
4500
3430
4500
4500
3430
4500
2640
2170
4830
4000
4500
Low Rise Typical Floor Plan 1:250
Low Rise Section 1:250 11
Mid rise - Slab Typology The Mid-rise typology, also known as the slab typology, is catered towards the Lower segment of the Middle Income Group. It also consists of a corner module and a middle module, connected by a platform, but here the middle module has a corridor so that the users could access staircases on both sides. The threshold area in front of the apartment in this typology is also larger, allowing some personalization of the entrance. The middle module consists of two studio units, while the corner module consist of two 1-bedroom units.
4200
4580
4990
4990
4580
4030
4200
2930
3140
3170
720
2170
4030
Mid Rise Typical Floor Plan 1:250
Beer
leoville
HENKE
D D
300
D
D
D
D
Mid Rise Section 1:250 13
1F communal podium
GF public void deck
High rise - Tower Typology The high-rise tower typology is catered towards the upper middle income group. Two towers are connected by a podium with a communal playground area. By elevating the common area to the first floor, it makes this area more exclusive. The ground floor will be used completely for public and commercial activities. There is a higher degree of privacy in this typology, with only two units per floor. Instead of shared connecting terraces, private balconies would be provided.
Beer
leoville
4100
4600
HENKE
3000
2 units: 2 BHK 68m2 (+ 6.2m2 balcony) 1 BHK 54m2 (+5.3m2 balcony)
3320
-
reeB
Beer
ellivoel
leoville
HENKE
3000
2400
EKNEH
5.3m2 leoville
Beer
reeB
HENKE
EKNEH
ellivoel
2400
54m2
reeB
4570
EKNEH
Beer
ellivoel
leoville
HENKE
68m2 D D
300
D
D
D
D
6.2m2
High Rise Typical Floor Plan 1::250
High Rise Section 1:300 15
2 5
2 1
6 7
2
8
6 7
3
18 4
9 10
11
14 15
6 12
16 3
17 6
13
7
Unit section 1:20 1
Building Structure 1 RC Column 230 x 230 mm 2 RC Embedded beamStructure Building 230 x 400mm 3 Claypot Filler Slab 150mm 230 x 230 1 RC Column 4 RC Embedded mezzanine RCxEmbedded beam sub-beam2 200 200 mm
Roof mm
1 corrugated bamboo sheet 2 bamboo roof trusses and purlins
230 x 400mm
3 concrete ring beam
Facade 3 Claypot Filler Slab 150mm 5 Drip edge 4 RC Embedded mezzanine 6 Main timber frame 7 Interchangable timber sub-beam 200 x 200 mm window frame 8 Adjustable palmyra louver 9 Accordion insect screen 10 Awning window shutter Facade 11 Chain 12 Recycled5steel baredge as Drip drying rack / security grill 13 Concrete6window Mainsill timber frame
2 4
3
4 concrete roof gutter 5 modular water tank 6 rainwater downpipe
6 5
7 Interchangable timber window Interior 14 Fly ash brick partition wall frame 110mm 15 Plaster / 8 tileAdjustable wall finish palmyra louver 16 Screed 9 Accordion insect screen 17 Ceramic floor tile
Building 7 concrete skeleton 8 filler slab 6
10 Awning window shutter
9 stabalizing walls (fly ash brick or AAC blocks)
Possible Additions 11 Chain 18 Bamboo deck
7
12 Recycled steel bar as drying rack /
10 fly ash brick walls with jali as stabalizing walls
10
security grill 13 Concrete window sill
8
12 Interior 14 Fly ash brick partition wall 110mm
9
11
Facade 11 flexible user defined facade system 12 removable panels for pipe shaft
15 Plaster / tile wall finish 16 Screed 17 Ceramic floor tile 6 Possible Additions 18 Bamboo deck
Ground 13 modular water tank
13
14 concrete foundation slab
14
Construction and Materiality All three typologies have the same construction method and materiality: concrete skeleton filled in with masonry and timber frame façade system, with a concrete foundation tank at the basement, and a bamboo roof structure. The facade consists of timber frame with interchangeable facade elements. User could choose façade elements in relation to the interior configuration of their choice. For the low-rise, users could choose to add their own mezzanine, perhaps a bamboo deck. The timber frame holds another layer on the inside, like an insect screen or a curtain for different levels of porosity, which is a common pattern in India. 17
The Chronicle of Narvel’s Home Housing Units that allow Flexible Configuration based on needs Built
2020
2022
12m2
12m2
6m2
6m2
2025
12m2 6m2
6m2
6m2
12m2 6m2
6m2
17m2
10m
10m
2
12m2
6m2 2 2 17m 17m
10m
2
10m
2
12m2
44m2
22m2
12m2 6m2
6m2
17m2
12m2 6m2
22 44m 17m
22m2
6m2
10m
2
10m 44m2
10m 2 2 44m 17m
22m2
Units are built with basic structures provided
2
Narvel, his brother, and his mother received a replacement unit. They chose their own combination of facade elements and internal configurations. +
2027
6m2
6m2
2
10m2 17m2 44m2
17m2
12m2 6m2
10m2 3.5m2
44m2 22m2
12m2
2 2 6m6m
6m2
12m2 6m2
+
+ 44m 22m22
44m2
+ 2 2 17m22m
Anuti’s cousin’s family from Gujarat moved to Nalasopara and stayed in the other half of the apartment. Both families shared a + larger dining and kitchen area together in the middle, while keeping other living spaces apart on both sides.
10m2 10m2
+
22m2
17m2
+ +
17m2 17m2
10m2
+
+
10m2 3.5m2 2 2 44m 17m
6m2 17m2
17m2
44m2
Narvel and Anuti had their first child. They added an extension to the existing mezzanine for +the child+ to sleep. Louvers ++ ++ were added to the top part of the facade for better ventilation for the child.
10m2
+
3.5m2
3.5m2
44m2
17m222m2
+
17m2
+ +
12m2 17m2
17m2
6m212m
3.5m2 44m2
2
12m2
6m2 17m2
+ 22m2
44m2
17m2
17m2
+ 17m2
2
3.5m2
12m2
6m2
+ 2 10m 3.5m2
17m2
17m2
+
10m2
3.5m2 17m2 44m2
Narvel and Anuti had their second child. The cousin moves out so that Narvel and Anuti could expand the unit . They also ++ + + extended the unit into the shared entrance area.
17m2
+ 10m +
2
10m2 44m2
17m2
+
+
10m
+
12m2
6m2
44m2
Narvel married Anuti. They decided to change some of the glass windows into drying racks to accomodate the increased amount of laundry.
6m2
3.5m2 17m2
44m2
+
17m2
17m2
2050
17m2
10m2 3.5m2 17m2
12m2
6m2
17m2
12m2
6m2 17m2
10m2 22m2
17m2 17m2
6m2 6m2
12m2 17m2
10m2 10m2 44m2
6m2
10m2
6m2
17m2
22m22 2 17m44m
+
12m2
17m2
44m 17m2 2 17m2
2035
6m2 6m2 17m2
+
2
44m2
17m2
6m2 6m2
10m 10m 2
Narvel’s mother passed away, and his brother decided to move to Mumbai. Narvel divided the apartment into two and rented the other half to another family for extra income. +
3.5m2 2 2 44m17m
17m2
22m2 17m2 44m2
22m2
+
12m2 2 6m 2 2 12m 6m
6m2 17m2
10m2
10m + 3.5m2
+
2029
12m2
12m2
17m2
2
2 2 44m 17m
22m2
12m2 6m2 6m2
2 6m2 12m
6m2
17m2
2
17m2
17m2
10m
2
3.5m2 44m2
6m2 17m2
17m2
44m2
Their children grew up and left for college. Narvel and Anuti uses the empty space to teach English to children in the + neighbourhood. Part of the windows are replaced to make space for the advertisement banners of the tuition service.
+
1000mm 700mm
Standardization 1. Similar appearance
Diversification 1. Typological Mix based on aspirations
- Same Pallette of Materials - Same Facade Module and Components
2. Flexible options for unit layout
2. Same Construction Method - Locally available construction techniques and materials - Same water management method
3. Room for addition / alteration
3. Similar Logic in Building Configuration - All units are corner units - Unit entrance are always ventilated
4. Building modules that could be extended / shortened to respond to different site conditions
4. Similar Consideration for Activation of GF - Raised floor and steps
Striving a Balance in Participatory Design Rapid urbanization has result in a loss of human touch in modern day “cookie-cutter housing�, and the underlying question behind my project is, how can we cater for individual human needs while fulfilling the demands of the realities behind the provision of mass housing? My aspiration to encourage participation and diversity in mass housing has led me into a struggle of balancing standardization, which is important for efficiency, and diversification, which caters for the different needs of the individual. The above diagram of standardization and diversification summarizes the main points that I have concluded throughout the year-long research and design. This would also be a guideline for myself, and hopefully others, in providing mass housing in consideration of individual needs. 19
02 GREEN CONNECTION Urban redevelopment and affordable housing in Ghana Location: Tema, Ghana Groupmate: Qingqing Li Masters Academic Work 2018 Mar - June
The site is located in Lebanon, Ashaiman, an area with ungoverned encroachment expanding towards the dam. We propose a wetland filtration layer around the dam to be preserved as public recreational landscape, which also extends into the urban fabric, bringing people from the main road towards the dam while acting as a public space for the neighbourhood. Existing housing will also be redeveloped in certain areas, and will be connected by the green strips.
Extension of green into neighbourhood There is no governance in the urban planning of Lebanon. Public spaces exist through encroachment and there are no planned public spaces in the area. As people continue to build in the area, the availability of open spaces decreases accordingly. Thus the proposed green strip around the dam extends into the urban fabric, bringing people from the main road towards the dam while acting as a public space for the neighbourhood. The green strip also separates the lower income housing on one side and the middle income housing on the other.
Phase 1 Start building on empty plot. Relocate residents near the empty plot to new buildings
Phase 2 Continue building on empty plot. Relocate residents near dam and some of the residents near the main road to new buildings
Phase 3a Build buildings near dam and set boundary for green area by the dam.
Phase 3b Build green strip and new commercial buildings along the main road
23
Possibilities of addition
Balcony spaces
Mezzanine spaces
Hierarchy of shared spaces Frontyard (~2 households) Corridor (~2-4 households) Platform (~8-15 households) Courtyard (~24 households) Green area (~24 households)
Spaces for personalization and socialization The upper units are provided with balconies allowing the user to create their own addition. The units on the groundfloor on the other hand have the oppurtunity to add a mezzanine floor and also convert the units into shops. The indents on the corridors also allow users to personalize them with their own furniture and objects, while the shared platforms and courtyard, both shaded and unshaded, allows for different social and domestic activities to occur, including outdoor cooking and clothes drying. 25
GF - Type A
1F - Type B
Possibility for added mezzanine and conversion into shop
Possibility for extension in balcony
1-4 people, suitable for single / couple / parents with 2 children / shopowners
3-5 people, suitable for middle income family with children
Type A before addition: 40.8m2 area for addition: 17.94m2 after addition: 58.74m2
Type B-1
Type B-2 (Corner unit)
before addition: 50.8m2 before addition: 56m2 area for addition: 4.2m2 area for addition: 4.2m2 after addition: 55m2 after addition: 60.2m2
2F - Type C Duplex with possibility of extension in two balconies 4-8 people, suitable for larger family with children and older generation
Type C-1
Type C-2 (Corner unit)
before addition: 72.3m2 before addition: 81.2m2 area for addition: 13.3m2 area for addition: 21.5m2 after addition: 85.6m2 after addition: 102.7m2
27
03 RESOCIALIZATION Adaptive reuse of a historical prison into a university and a gathering space for the city Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands Masters Academic Work 2017 Sep - 2018 Jan
“The genius thus denotes what a thing is, or what it ‘wants to be’, to use a word of Louis Kahn. ” - Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture. Christian Norberg- Schulz. The brief given was to convert an old prison dome building into a university. The challenge was to “resocialize” the old prison that was built based on the panopticon concept while retaining its “genius loci”. The main aim is to encourage social interaction and open up the original prison to the people of Haarlem. Thus, the design has to allow flexibility to cater for different university and city events.
1 Park with historical facade
1
Entering the Koepel When entering the koepel, the visitor first arrives at the entrance park with historical facade, and then enters the building. The openings on both side transforms from a horizontal panoramic window to a tiny narrow slit along the way, leading towards a dark cell of total darkness. The visitor has to go through the dark and narrow space before entering the wide and bright koepel, experiencing a contrast between the tiny cell and the bright center.
2 Horizontal windows allowing panoramic view to activities
1
2
2
3 Vertical windows
3
3
4 Narrow slits
4
5 Dark cell
5
6
6 Glimpse of light - Ticket counter
7 Wide & bright - koepel
7
31
Library
Loading Backyard Lecture Hall
3 Gym
Court
Central Space Startup incubator
2
Private Entrance
1 Student Housing
Restaurant Commercial Entrance Park (Public Entrance)
Courtyard
Lecture Hall + Flexible Black Box Theatre
2. Void deck as transition space
3. Uninterrupted view from the Center
Three edge conditions of the koepel
1. Street like condition with added movable structures
Activation of the Edge The roundness of the space is a distinct attribute of the koepel. After studying several round spaces including the Chinese traditional Tulou, Fuji Kindergarten in Japan, and Piazza dell’Anfiteatro in Milan, Italy, I have tried to design different edge conditions to create more intimate spaces. This would further activate the edge of the Koepel, as people tend to linger on the edge of a huge square.
3F
Roof garden
Ramp
Student housing
GF & 1F
Framing Old Facade
Wide Lecture Halls
Glimpse of Vastness
Narrow Cell
Wide Koepel
Old and New Contrast One of the biggest challenge in terms of program was the need for huge lecture halls because the prison cells are narrow and small. A new structure made out of laminated wood that radiates from the cells is proposed to house the lecture halls. This design also allows the various lecture halls to be combined into one for flexible use. One has to go through a narrow cell before entering the wide lecture hall. On the other hand, a rooftop garden is also added on top of the lecture hall, allowing interaction from the roof garden to the student housing.
33
04 SECTECH HQ Adaptive reuse of a factory and trading headquarter Location: Songjiang, Shanghai Professional Work at SKEW Collaborative 2015 Oct - 2016 Dec
The project site is a generic warehouse building, with office space in the front and factory space at the rear end. Through the insertion of new tube, as a circulation and meeting space, new relations between the blue and whitecollar workers are generated, raising questions on traditional hierarchies in production facilities in China. The design innovates upon the purely utilitarian, simply-constructed shed building, thereby creating more humane working spaces. In this project, I was involved in both the earlier schematic design stage and the construction stage. I was also responsible for administrative and communcation work with suppliers, contractors, and the client.
Interlocking panel system Thermal, sound insulation, and waterproofing Drip edge Aluminium-coated steel sub-structure
Zinc panel
DROP CH +6.95
Steel structure Plywood Bamboo ceiling
Thermal and waterproofing INTERIOR
EXTERIOR
Plywood Wood skeleton Bamboo panel
Bamboo flooring Plywood FINISHED FL +4.25 6mm steel plate Steel angle Steel structure Drip edge
Exterior of the “Tube” The “tube” pops out of the building in certain areas, creating pockets of social spaces and circulation spaces including the entrance, an internal staircase, terrace, and several lounge spaces. A new staircase is is also added as part of the tube on the facade of the factory side. Openings on this facade are reconfigured to allow more physical and visual connection between the production and administration space. The outboard of the tube is covered with black zinc panels while the inboard is covered with bamboo. The distinction of materials was very crucial to the project, thus emphasis were given on the wall sections showing material layering on both sides of the wall, and details that show the material transition.
Caulk sealant EXISTING CEILING STUCTURE CH+7.70
Wood skeleton Plywood
DROP CH +6.95
Expansion bolt or nail 9+9mm Double Gypsum Board Calcium silicate board drop ceiling Plaster render + ceiling paint finish DROP CH +6.95
Bamboo ceiling
INTERIOR
INTERIOR
Zinc panel
Bamboo panel
Bamboo flooring
Steel CH stud Sound insulation material
Plywood
FINISHED FL +4.25
FINISHED FL +4.25
Screed concrete
Interior of the “Tube” The nature of the job of the office staffs requires spending a lot of time on a telephone. Thus they would often spend a lot of time standing in the original dark and narrow corridor to have a phone conversation. The new “tube” is a circulation space that not only connects the rooms together, but also provides pockets for informal meetings and more comfortable spaces for making calls. The tube also act as a route to display the works of the company for visiting clients. As a contrast to the existing working areas that have a colder monotone colour scheme, these spaces are covered in bamboo panels to evoke a warm and cozy atmosphere. 37
05 REDEFINING TERRITORY Integration of structure and public spaces into housing design Location: Rochor, Singapore Final project in undergraduate studies 2014 Jan - May
“That is a Communal Space!” “I’m a Public Space!”
“That is a Public Space!”
“I am a Communal Space!”
The brief is to design a housing project with a total of 21000 sqm, whereby 30% of it should be public spaces. From studies on housing in Singapore, it was observed that in some projects, the public spaces announce themselves explicitly, but seem isolated from its residents; while the existence of public spaces in other projects is not known to the public. Public spaces in both cases might end up underutilized. Thus, this project attempts to create public spaces that are both legible to the urban public but at the same time intimate to the residents in the building. Various types of split levels and truss patterns were explored in the project to create spaces with different degree of privacy.
Massing with program arrangment
Public and private programs shifted half a level, creating physical separation and visual connection
Full floorplate model with shifted levels
Shifted levels of balcony and corridor
Communal platforms are rotated Trusses are introduced to hold the platforms and varies as communal spaces rotates
Skin with hanging communal platforms shifted half a level from the residential units
Structural indication to hold the building and the platforms
Truss systems act as exoskeleton
Transfer zone becomes public space when both truss systems connect
Corridor Transfer zone (Public Spaces)
Balcony Transfer zone (Public Spaces)
Corridor
Balcony
Balcony
Corridor
Transfer zone: Corridor to balcony
Transfer zone: Balcony to Corridor
Trusses as separator on semi-private balconies
Public platforms
Truss Patterns Development The project aims to create spaces with different degree of privacy through the implementation of strategies like shifting datums and controlling the intensity of structure, to either connect or separate people. Therefore, the various types of split levels and truss patterns were explored in the process. On elevation, the trusses have different readings on corridors, balconies, and public spaces. The trusses vary along the elevation of the building while the transfer zone appears each time the communal platforms are rotated. Public spaces having a close relationship to the residents while being legible to the public. On the platforms, the trusses also act as a tool to separate or connect people, creating relatively intimate spaces in between. 41
Exoskeleton and free plan The periphery of the building consists of hanging balcony and corridor platforms, which are of half a level difference with the floor plates of the residential units, and work together with a truss systems to support the building, thus forming an exoskeleton that allows an open plan. It provides freedom in terms of unit configuration and customized furniture. Units can be designed freely, governed only by the position of the wet walls, and the accessibility to the balcony and corridor. Therefore, each floor can have a different floor plan.
[1]
[2]
[1] Balconies and corridors are shifted half a level from the floorplates, and are rotated to form different combinations.
[2] Each hanging platforms are shared between two floors
[3] Two kinds of truss systems are introduced to the balconies and corridor as exoskeleton. This shows the transfer zone from the corridors to the balconies.
[4] Transfer zone from the balconies to corridors.
[5] At certain floors, transfer zones become spaces for public programs, and form public decks with shifted levels when they are connected
[6] The ground level is shifted as well to connect the public spaces within the building, inviting the public into the building
[4]
[3]
[5]
bus station
MRT Station [6]
43
06 1:1 INSTALLATIONS
Site study - Understanding patterns of inhabitation in the studio
Cooking
Cooking
Desk contraption added to facilitate easier storage
Foldable bed Screening to provide privacy when sleeping Changing area
Foldable bed hidden when unused
Site study- Tactics of Claiming Territory in the Studio
Adaptation of existing furniture
0000-0800 Sleeping:
Using different datums for different programs within a day
Screening to provide privacy for sleeping 0800-0810 Changing:
Screening to provide privacy for changing 0810-0900 Cooking:
Modified drawer to allow cooking 0900-0000 Working and Storage:
Social Contraption Adapting Existing Furniture to Personalizing the Individual Territory Groupmate: Andy Tam Location: Design Studio, The University of Hong Kong Undergraduate Academic Work This studio explores the history of domestic spaces through sociological and philosophocal perspectives. We are required to return to the basic premises of inhabitation through history, in order to tease out a possible innovation in the design of new spaces of inhabitation. In the first part of the project, we chose a text, identified critical ideas about domestic spaces, and then continue to translate the concepts into an installation that relates to domestic occupation. We then studied our immediate site - the architecture studio, where our installation will then be located. The findings and critiques established will then ultimately feed into aggregative and iterative models, towards new ideas of collectvity. The text that I have chosen is “I, Pierre Riviere, Having Slaughtered My Mother, My Sister, My Brother......” by Michel Foucault. Pierre Riviere’s parents moved from one place to another several times. Furniture thus becomes a constant point of contention, representing shifting modes of power in the family, The movement of human activities as well as the furniture is then plotted, annotated with time, places and reasons of movements. From previous studies and researches, the idea of claiming territory and sense of identity emerges as a main thread. Thus, with this idea in mind, we studied our site, which is the studio, and started to annotate tactics of claiming territory in the studio as well as student habitation in studio over a day. The studio desk as well as the residual space arround it was chosen as the site of our installation as it is the immidiate territory of the studio occupants. We tried to personalize the studio desk and its surrounding to allow a student’s 24 hour inhabitation.
Modified and added hinge on the table top to facilitate easier working and storage
Utilization of installation within a day
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06 1:1 INSTALLATIONS
SUPER SHELTER SUPER SHELTER
SUPER SHELTER SUPER SHELTER
SUPER SHELTER
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Super Shelter Installation design mapping body movement Groupmate: Lulu Zhang Location: Ladder Street, Hong Kong Undergraduate Academic Work Students were required to define our own 1m3 space on Ladder Street, study how the body occupies the space within the timeframe of a day, and then construct an installation that maps the body movement within the space. Two-dimensionally, our space is defined as the area between the balusters and the line that marks the boundary of light and shadow on the top three steps of the staircase. As the shadow line changes throughout different times of a day, the space changes accordingly. To maintain the volume of the space within 1m3, the height of the space changes as the two-dimensional area changes. The person stretches or compresses his/her body to fit into the space during different times of the day. The body is not only occupying the space, but also defining it. The body movement throughout a day is then translated into a wood structure, accompanied by a secondary layer made of strings, mapping general contours of the body throughout the day,
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07 RESEARCH PROJECTS & ACADEMIC PAPERS Singapore Railway Corridor Masterplan Delving into the history of the corridor Location: Railway Corridor, Singapore Professional work at SKEW Collaborative Collaborators: OMA, OLIN, Atelier Dreiseitl, Atelier Ten, Camphora, DPA, DPG,Langdon & SEh, Ramboll, MVA, Space Agency, Studio Lapis, XClinic
The site is a 24 km long railway corridor that streches across Northern and Southern Singapore. There used to be train services ran by a Malaysian railway company, but services are now terminated, and the ownership of this piece of territory was returned to Singapore. Interestingly, due to its political background, the corridor seemingly remains as the only natural green left in Singapore, where engineered green is prevalent nationwide. The competition looks for masterplanning ideas of populating and preserving the once abandoned strip of land. In this collaboration, our firm was one of the consultants and I was responsible of doing extensive research on the history and heritage value of the railway corridor. The information would later on feed into the design process.
“A Luxury We Cannot Afford”Exhibition Void deck - Planned Utopias Map Location: Toa Payoh, Singapore Exhibition Location: ParaSite, Hong Kong Professional work at SKEW Collaborative
A Luxury We Cannot Afford is an exhibition that explores how the term “luxury” is applied to personal and civil liberties in the futuristic language of Singapore’s last 50 years. In this promised future, the utopian personal and civil liberties—that of free speech, political ideologies and public space—are positioned for an undefined time when the members of the public are mature and ripe for such discussions. Toa Payoh is the first satellite new town designed and built from tabula rasa by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) of Singapore. With a plan comprising a town park and an industrial complex at its heart, and bounded by four major roadways in the cardinal directions, it beckons a utopic spatial analysis. In contrast to HDB’s centrally rationalized plan, an unrealized sketch plan of Toa Payoh in 1958 by the colonial Singapore Improvement Trust showed a large picturesque garden city suburb with no definitive centre or traffic boundaries, and housing blocks lined along the meandering roads oriented in multiple directions. We overlayed both plans on this 1.5m x 1m analytical drawing is an excavation of the urban social and technological ideologies behind Toa Payoh as articulated through the evolution of its plan, with moments of juxtapositions and collisions of public spaces narrated by the void deck.
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07 RESEARCH PROJECTS & ACADEMIC PAPERS Change in Pavement to Demarcate Private Space
Planter Box to Separate Unit Entrances
Obstacles in Alleys to Slow Down Bicycles
Physical Borders in Papendrecht, Netherlands
Book of Patterns A visual documentation of patterns of inhabitation through micro-ethnography Groupmates: Dennis Musa Lim & Sijia Wang Location: Papendrecht, Netherlands & Nalasopara, India Masters Academic Work
Change in pavement to demarcate private space
Material change in the pavement is a common way to demarcate communal and private spaces in the neighbourhood. The example shown above is the different pavement material of the entrance courtyard and the slight curb leading to the entrance of the units.
Planter box to separate unit entrances
Planter boxes were placed in between the entrances of different units, dividing the space in front of the entrance and allowing residents to privatize the space. Residents can also personalize the planter boxes in front of their units.
Obstacles in alleys to slow down bicycles
The obstacles in the alleys were not designed by the architect but were added later on to slow down or stop bicycles going through the courtyard, perhaps because fast bikes going through the courtyard bring disturbance to the residents, and is also dangerous for the children.
Privatization of Corner Unit
Gutter as Divider between Rows of Chawls Physical Borders in Nalasopara, India
The “Book of Patterns” exercise is inspired by “A Pattern Language” by Christopher Alexander. We were required to create a book that act as a catalogue of patterns of inhabitation that we have observed on site. The patterns of inhabitations consists of 5 categories: Social Spaces, Income Generation, Building Technique, and Domestic Spaces,
Compound Wall with Spikes
We have surveyed a site in both Papndrecht, Netherlands, and Nalasopara, India. The findings in India will then act as a collective knowledge base for the studio and will feed into our design process for the final thesis. The main strategy for the site survey was a combination of visual ethnography and literary writing, from a firstperson point of view. The examples included on the left of the page are borders that are observed in Papendrecht and Nalasopara.
Gutter as divider between rows of chawls
There were gutters that go through the communal area of the chawl. They divde the communal spaces into two.
Privatization of corner unit with grills
Compound wall with spikes
As we walked along the corridor we see another grill at the end. It is common for corner units to privatize part of the corridor with these grills for extra domestic space. It is commonly used for storage and drying clothes.
As we walked in the neighbourhood we came across high compound walls, separating the apartments from the neighbouring chawls. Some of the walls have pointed spikes, and some of them have pieces of glasses attached, to prevent others from climbing into the compound. We saw a child using the wide compound walls to dry larger pieces of fabric.
Religious Border Flexible Street Border
Gender Border
Social Borders in Nalasopara, India
Day
Evening
Gender border: male sellers and female buyers
At the market and in the shops, we realized that almost all of the shopkeepers and stall vendors are men, while all of the buyers are women. When we visited the houses in the day, most of the people we met were also women, while most of the men are working.
Flexible street border during different times of the day
When we were on the site in the morning, there were more vehicles and less space for pedestrians on the street. However, in the evening, the street transformed into a market. Space for vehicles was reduced and the vehicles were moving slowly, while the sides of the street were occupied by stalls and pedestrians. Therefore there was no fixed borders on the streets, but a rather flexible one depending on different times of the day.
Religious border: clothing, signs, decorations, and sounds demarcate areas inhabited by people from certain religions
When we spoke to people on the site, some of them told us that there is a Muslim area somewhere in the area, but no one could describe where the border of the Muslim community exactly is. We did not find a clear physical border between the Muslim and Hindu areas, but as we walked through the streets of Rahmat Nagar, there are moments when we feel that we have entered a Muslim area. We saw that the men had ‘topi’ on their heads, and women are either in burka or a combination of sarees and hijabs. There was a lack of Swastika flags on the streets, and most of the signboards are in Urdu instead of Hindi. When there is a mosque nearby, we can hear sound of the prayers. However, the Hindus and the Muslims are not completely separated, there are also Hindus staying in Muslim areas and vice versa.
My teammates and I tried to identify borders on different levels, including physical and social borders. Using ourselves as the objects of research, we went through different spaces to experience spatial borders. Personal encounters with these borders were very useful because it provides information of the actual condition that is otherwise unattainable if observed from afar. These findings were experienced, recorded, and then analyzed through drawings.
The many dimensions of Lin Huiyin A comparison of the architectural achievements and the many portrayals of Lin Huiyin from 1920s to present Lin Huiyin is the first female architect in modern China and has also established the basis of architectural education in China. Lin Huiyin and her husband Liang Sicheng were the pioneers in appreciating, documenting and preserving the ancient architecture in China. However, due to her gender, greater attention has been given to her physical beauty and the romantic affairs of her private life, followed by the cultural events that she has hosted. Even when the attention is on her work, her literature works, which she worked on as a sideline, were more appreciated and featured than her main achievements in the architecture field. This paper presents her architectural achievements which will then be compared to the many ways she was portrayed from 1928 till present day, By writing this paper, I intend to invite readers to rethink if she has been getting a fair representation over the past century.
Molenvliet, Papendrecht
Molenvliet, Papendrecht
Porosity, Flexibility, and Multiplicity: A Comparison of Physical Borders in Papendrecht and Nalasopara
Molenvliet, Papendrecht
Based on the findings in the “Book of Patterns�, I have compared the border conditions observed in the Netherlands and India, where my teammates and I roamed around the neighborhoods, using ourselves as the objects of research to experience and document the spatial borders. The chosen case study in the Netherlands is Molenvliet, located in Papendrecht, a town and municipality in the western Netherlands; while the case study in India is Rahmat Nagar, located in Nalasopara, a town to the North of Mumbai within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. I would start the paper by comparing the physical borders on the urban, street, building, communal space and unit level, and based on the comparison, I would conclude the paper by discussing these borders in three aspects: porosity, flexibility and multiplicity.
Dennis Musalim Sijia Wang Wong Quin Ee Queenie
Molenvliet, Papendrecht
The many dimensions of Lin Huiyin -
Visual Ethnography and Writing as a Tool Understanding Patterns of A comparison of the architectural achievements and the many portrayals of Inhabitation Lin Huiyin from 1920s to present The Strength and Challengesďźš Borders, Nalasopara
Borders, Nalasopara
This paper is my relection on the micro-ethnography research method that was used for my final thesis. I will first explain my problem statement, research question, and the site conditions, as well as a brief history of ethnography as a research method. Then I would also reflect upon the stregth and challenges of this method, the ethical dillemnas I have encountered, and propose additional research methods that could compliment the existing method that I have been implementing. June 2018 | by Wong Quin Ee Queenie
Borders, Nalasopara
Visual ethnography has its flaws. Since we are using oursleves as an participant observer, it might be too subjective and unsystematic. However, I think that it is a useful tool, especially in tackling a topic like housing, that is so close to the daily lives of human. The human perspective is of utmost importance and should always be thoroughly thought of in the research and design process.
Dennis Musalim Sijia Wang Wong Quin Ee Queenie
Borders, Nalasopara
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08 OTHER WORKS Social Engagement Art Projects @DudukRumahArtists #portraitsformalaysia In the end of March 2020, a nationwide Movement Controlled Order (MCO) was enforced in Malaysia, and everyone is required to stay at home, except for those who have worked in the essential industries. The livelihood of many people were disrupted, especially the marginalized groups in the country, who are often daily wage workers or freelance workers without the luxury of working from home. During the MCO period, I have founded Duduk Rumah Artists together with a few artist/designer friends, and have lauched the #portraitsformalaysia movement, whereby we draw free portraits for anyone who has donated to covid-19 relief efforts. This is to raise awareness of the general public towards marginalized groups in the country while expressing gratitude to those who has shown concern to these relief efforts. Through the “Portraits for Malaysia� movement which went on from 02 April - 13 Ma7 2020, we have raised a total of RM 19992.14 from the public for 24 organizations involved in covid-19 relief efforts, and the beneficiaries include the visually impared community, refugees, migrants, single mothers, b40 (low income) families, autistic children, orang asli (indigenous people) families, frontliners, the Ministry of Health, etc. All of our artists work on a voluntary basis. We started from a group of 5, and Duduk Rumah Artists is now an artists community with 29 artists, which will continue to strive as a platform for social engagement and artists empowerment, bridging art to different segments of the society.
Artists: Queenie Wong, Mich Hoo, Tessa Ang, KJ Ho, Cross San, Giselle Guan, Luqman Hakim, Aida Nurul, Christal Loh, Pei Wen Yee, Noryn Cheong, Oscar Lee, Celine Tan, Wen Yi Thye, Mellisa Carmen, Ai Xuan Gan
Line Art Portrait and Fabrication @q.dezigns
Apart from drawing portraits for the #portraitsformalaysia movement, I also accept private comissions for continuous line art portraits. The person is drawn in 1-2 lines. I am also collaborating with n.o.d, a laser cut home deco fabricating company, to create these customized laser cut art trophies. These trophies are often bought as gifts for loved ones or used as branding giftsfor corporates.
Graphic Design and Illustrations Yoga
Indoor-ously
@q.dezigns
X . Dezigns
I have worked as a freelance designer on branding designs such as logos, name cards, thank you cards, and instagram template designs, as well as customized Illustrations and postcard design.
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