Queenie Wong - Architectural Portfolio 2011 - 2021 - HKU & TU Delft by Queenie Wong

QUEENIE WONG architectural portfolio 2011 - 2021

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. At the moment I am a part-time lecturer at Malaysian Institute of Art in the BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design Program. 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 climate science communication interface, social engagement art projects, and graphic design on the side.

RESOCIALIZATION Adaptive reuse of a historical prison into a university and a gathering space for the city in Haarlem, Netherlands Masters Academic Work

pg: 28-33

SECTECH HQ

LITTER BY LITTLE Local school design in Marsassoum, Senegal Competition

Adaptive reuse of a factory and trading headquarter in Shanghai.

Professional Work

BRIDGING REALITIES

pg: 44-49

pg: 34-37

Urban redevelopment and affordable housing project in suburban Mumbai, India

02 GREEN CONNECTION

Masters Final Thesis pg: 4-19

Urban redevelopment and affordable housing in Tema, Ghana

05 REDEFINING TERRITORY Integration of structure and public spaces into housing design in Singapore

Masters Academic Work

Undergraduate Final Year Project

pg: 20-27

pg: 38-43

1:1 Installation designs done in Hong Kong

Research Projects and Academic Papers

Social Engagement Art Projects, User Interface Design, Graphic Design, and Illustrations

Undergraduate Academic Work

Professional and Academic work

Personal and Freelance Work

pg: 50-53

pg: 54-57

pg: 58-65

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.

4500

3430

4500

3430

4500

4000

3430

6 5

5 4

VOID

4 3 2 1

1 UP

2640

2170

4830

6 VOID

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

4580

4030

4200

2930

3140

3170

720

2170

4030

Mid Rise Typical Floor Plan 1:250

Beer

leoville

HENKE

D D

300

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

6.2m2

High Rise Typical Floor Plan 1::250

High Rise Section 1:300 15

Unit sect 1

Building Stru 1 RC Column 2 RC Embed 230 x 400m 3 Claypot Fil 4 RC Embed sub-beam

2 5

2 1

6 7 8

6 7

Interior 14 Fly ash bri 110mm 15 Plaster / t 16 Screed 17 Ceramic ﬂ

18 4

Facade 5 Drip edge 6 Main timbe 7 Interchang window frame 8 Adjustable 9 Accordion 10 Awning w 11 Chain 12 Recycled drying rack / 13 Concrete w

9 10

Possible Add 18 Bamboo d 11

14 15

6 12

16 3

17 6

Building Structure

Roof

1 RC Column 230 x 230 mm

1 corrugated bamboo sheet

2 RC Embedded beam

2 bamboo roof trusses and purlins

230 x 400mm

3 concrete ring beam

3 Claypot Filler Slab 150mm

2 4

4 RC Embedded mezzanine

sub-beam 200 x 200 mm

4 concrete roof gutter 5 modular water tank 6 rainwater downpipe

6 Facade 5

5 Drip edge 6 Main timber frame 7 Interchangable timber window

Building

frame

7 concrete skeleton

8 Adjustable palmyra louver

8 filler slab

9 Accordion insect screen

10 Awning window shutter

9 stabalizing walls (fly ash brick or AAC blocks)

11 Chain 7

12 Recycled steel bar as drying rack /

10 fly ash brick walls with jali as stabalizing walls

security grill 13 Concrete window sill

12 Interior 14 Fly ash brick partition wall 110mm

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

14 concrete foundation slab

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

6m2

2025

12m2 6m2

6m2

12m2 6m2

6m2

17m2

10m

12m2

6m2 2 2 17m 17m

10m

12m2

44m2

22m2

12m2 6m2

6m2

17m2

12m2 6m2

22 44m 17m

22m2

6m2

10m

10m 44m2

10m 2 2 44m 17m

22m2

Units are built with basic structures provided

Narvel, his brother, and his mother received a replacement unit. They chose their own combination of facade elements and internal configurations. +

2027

6m2

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

44m2

17m222m2

17m2

+ +

12m2 17m2

17m2

6m212m

3.5m2 44m2

12m2

6m2 17m2

+ 22m2

44m2

17m2

+ 17m2

3.5m2

12m2

6m2

+ 2 10m 3.5m2

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 +

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

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

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

17m2

2 2 44m 17m

22m2

12m2 6m2 6m2

2 6m2 12m

6m2

17m2

10m

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

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

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

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

3 Vertical windows

4 Narrow slits

5 Dark cell

6 Glimpse of light - Ticket counter

7 Wide & bright - koepel

Library

Loading Backyard Lecture Hall

3 Gym

Court

Central Space Startup incubator

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.

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.

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

Zinc panel

Bamboo panel

Bamboo flooring

Steel CH stud Sound insulation material

Plywood

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

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]

06 LITTER BY LITTLE School design with local waste Location: Marsassoum, Senegal Competition 2020 Nov

Litter by little, Bottle to castle. Cradle to cradle Empowering young people. We aim to provide learning spaces for children in Marsassoum, Senegal through crowdsourcing of household waste such as plastic bottles and glass bottles among the neighbours. Due to its remote location, we try to optimize the use of household waste that is readily available among villagers as our main construction material to minimize the import of materials into Marsassoum.

Crowdsourcing household waste from the neighborhood

Visual connection between covered walkway and courtyard with an orchard and a play area

Covered walkway with colourful fabric ceiling and classrooms built with ecobricks

Litter by Little Instead of spending most of our budget on construction materials from stores in Ziguinchor, litter by little encourages local villagers to create their own eco-bricks with plastic bottles and plastic waste in exchange for a small amount of fee. The process of creating eco-bricks with plastic waste is simple and manageable at a small scale, and could involve anyone including women and children. Thus, each villager would have the opportunity to participate in creating bricks for the school in the community, while removing household waste and gaining side income. The crowdsourcing also raises awareness among the neighbourhood of a new educational institution while fostering a sense of ownership, which in turn encourages them to send their children to school. Villagers could also easily replicate the new construction method with their own household waste if they were to build their own homes or other community infrastructure in the future. Taking a Cradle 2 Cradle approach, the eco-bricks used in this construction could also be re-used in case of demolition or alterations. Little by little, we foster a participatory circular ecosystem within the local community while tackling one bottle at a time.

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1. Entrance 2. Canteen 3. Director’s Room 4. Teacher’s Office 5. Meeting Room / Coworking Space 6. Library 7. Classroom 8. Orchard 9. Courtyard Play Area 10. Covered Walkway 11. Toilet 12. Sedimentation / Rainwater Storage Tanks

Spatial Planning The school is a perimeter block that provides protection and enclosure to the interior spaces of the school, while creating an open courtyard in the middle for students and teachers. The courtyard is divided into two parts: the orchard, and the play area where the existing tree stood. Each classroom is built with colour plastic bottles and has foldable doors that allows direct access to the courtyard, providing a view to the greenery while encouraging spill out of activities for different use, while the continuous covered walkway that surrounds the courtyard ensures comfortable access to different parts of the building during hot or rainy weather. The teacher’s office is placed close to the entrance and also has a direct vision of the entire courtyard to facilitate surveillance of the school compound. Common areas including the library and canteen are located at the corner, with benches made out of plastic bottle and cob that allows students to sit on it while enjoying their meal or book.

Setting up the school site as an Eco-brick crowdsourcing point. Inviting all community members to bring well-stuffed plastic bottles and glass bottle. Reimbursing the community’s collected bottles with the project’s budget in wall constructions. Organising the bottles and getting ready to build with it!

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To build other community buildings

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Participatory Construction In case of building alterations, transformations, relocations etc...

Decommissioning of buildings made with Eco-bricks...

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Facilitating a circular ecosystem 1. Remove cob from Eco-bricks with hammer gently. 2. Bring the Eco-bricks back to the collection point.

Community Construction Manual 1. Gather women and men, children and adults, students and teachers together. 2. Place tyres as foundation with columns in place. 3. Bury the tyres with soil for stability and level the ground. 4. Install drainage pipes directing water from courtyard to outside to prevent flooding 5. Applying a top layer concrete. 6. Assemble horizontal structural elements for structural stability. 7. Assemble exterior wall between columns using recycled glass bottles with cob as a gluing agent. Arrange patterns to builders’ preferences. Use of chopped bottles suggested for areas that want extra air flow and light. 8. Asseemble partition walls between columns using Eco-bricks with cob as a gluing agent. 9. Vary wall height during building to create window walls, with bambook sticks as security bars. 10. Create benches lower but wider walls for resting. 11. Place trusses and purlins for roof support. 12. Install bamboo weaved ceiling plane supported by bamboo sticks, and ceiling fabrics. 13. Install foldable doors made with bamboo sticks and frame. 14. Enjoy using the space!

Corrugated metal roof installed with water -filled bottles for light diffusion Gutter for rain collection A-shape skeleton for structure support and enable air flow Perforated bamboo weaved ceiling for air flow and light penetration enabling fresh air flow Colourful fabric ceiling bringing liveliness while enabling light penetration Courtyard block maximising area of school enclosure

Septic treatment tanks through sedimentation and filtration, demonstrating sewage water before public discharge Adequate toilet spaces for male and female respectively

Rainwater collection tanks connected with roof gutters

Veranda connecting classrooms, library, canteen and teachers’ office together around a courtyard Foldable doors facing the courtyard side, enabling flexible use of school spaces

Foundation made with tyres

07 1:1 INSTALLATIONS

Site study - Understanding patterns of inhabitation in the studio

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

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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

07 1:1 INSTALLATIONS

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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,

08 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.

08 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

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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

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 Challenges： 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

09 OTHER WORKS Social Engagement Art Projects @DudukRumahArtists https://drartistalliance.wixsite.com/

In the end of March 2020, a nationwide Movement Controlled Order (MCO) was enforced in Malaysia, and everyone was required to stay at home, except for those in the essential industries. The livelihood of many was disrupted, especially the marginalized groups in the country, who are often daily wage 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 we have launched the #portraitsformalaysia movement. We drew free portraits for anyone who had donated to Covid-19 relief efforts, to raise awareness towards marginalized groups in the country while expressing gratitude to those who have 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 impaired community, refugees, migrants, single mothers, b40 (low income) families, autistic children, orang asli (indigenous people) families, frontliners, the Ministry of Health, OKU children, etc. All of our artists work on a voluntary basis. We started from a group of 5, and Duduk Rumah Artists is now an artist community with 29 artists, which will continue to strive as a platform for social engagement and artist empowerment, bridging art with 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

User Interface Design for Co-creation and Gamified Climate Science Communication Workshop @time.to.rice timetorice.com Time To RICE is a series of Co-creating & Gamifying Climate Science Communication Workshops aiming to cultivate the general public’s proclivity to engage in climate crisis through the co-creation of modular and transferable science communication material. TimetoRICE workshops use rice as an entry point to brainstorm climate change-related events and actions in relation to food security, inviting participants on a fun, interactive, and collaborative mission to save Nasi Lemak. Through seven chapters of the gamified co-creation workshop, participants will be able to understand key concepts and develop possible actions that could be taken by these characters to address climate change. These workshops would help us to crowdsource ideas for a potential TimetoRICE board game in the future. I held the role as the framework manager in the team, responsible of designing the workshop framework, storyline, and interface for TimeToRICE workshops.

09 OTHER WORKS

Line Art Portrait and Fabrication @q.dezigns

Apart from drawing portraits for the #portraitsformalaysia movement, I’ve also tried to challenge myself to create portraits from one continous line. I have later collaborated 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 gifts for corporates.

09 OTHER WORKS

Graphic Design and Illustrations @q.dezigns I have worked as a freelance designer on branding designs including logos, name cards, thank you cards, and instagram template designs, product photography, as well as customized Illustrations and postcard design.

09 OTHER WORKS We are All In This Together #kitajagakita Drawn during first MCO, April 2020 @q.dezigns When we were in school, we used to draw people of different races in their traditional costumes for Malaysia day or national day to show unity in diversity. However, I have observed a different kind of unity during this MCO, a kind of unity that transcends race and religion, where everyone optimized their ability and resources at hand to ease the situation a bit, creating a better place for each other. Thus I’ve drawn unsung heroes like food providers, medical frontliners, police officers, charity volunteers, face shield making volunteers, food deliverymen, public transportation and logistics drivers, and janitors in one line, emphasizing that we are all in this together, and no one should be left out.

Yoga Indoor-ously Drawn during first MCO, May 2020 @q.dezigns

Yoga

Indoor-ously While the global pandemic has changed many things in our lives, it has also changed the way we practice yoga, and I try to illustrate my personal feelings through Ella’s story. During MCO, Ella, like all of us, could not attend yoga classes in studios. She found a comfortable spot at home which became her go to yoga corner. It is her safe space with no stress and no judgement, and she can just put on her favourite music and start to flow however she prefers. Sometimes when Ella feels like practicing yoga with teachers, she attends virtual classes online. There are many limitations to this new arrangement because she does not interact with the teacher face to face. Sometimes she struggles to receive clear instructions, sometimes the internet connection is bad, and sometimes the camera does not capture the whole body. It is not perfect but Ella and her fellow yogis try their best to stay connected and keep practicing with this new norm.

X . Dezigns

Yoga

Indoor-ously

. Dezigns