Arch Series III | NUS M.Arch II Thesis Part 1 of 2: Design Research Report by Sherry Goh

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Abstract The unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic has brought about significant detrimental ramifications to the social fabric, economic aspect and psychological wellbeing of people in every part of the world. As a major transportation hub, it was inevitable for Singapore to remove itself from the equation. The highly dense city state with a population of 5.69 million (Statistics, 2020), occupying a mere land area of 726 km2 (SLA, 2020), sprung into pandemic-response mode when the first case arrived on its shores late January 2020. As cluster-cases proliferated the local community, stringent social distancing measures infiltrated the neighbourhoods. Soon enough, residents found themselves subjected to the confines of their homes as work-from-home and movement restrictions were enforced during the Circuit Breaker (Adrienne, 2020). The pandemic has undermined the meaning of public spaces which were intended for social cohesion (Stevens, 2018). On the otherhand, residents living in the public housing development also known as HDB flats were mostly affected due to the fact that they lack access to immediate outdoor spaces and gardens in the form of balconies and terraces, otherwise seen in landed properties and condominiums (Hong, 2020). The time of isolation has also urged us to rethink the urban environment, emphasizing the eminent human need for open air spaces, parks and gardens. This episode has certainly highlighted the inadequacies of the built environment pertaining to the outdoor public spaces and the home.

As such, this thesis seeks to explore how urban vibrancy can be recalibrated and shall address the pressing need to rethink the role of home gardens and outdoor spaces in a post-pandemic world. Consequently, one advocates that the future of public spaces and homes should be designed with greater generosity with regards to space provisions (Casicci, 2020).

Key words: Pandemic, Public Spaces, Homes, Gardens, Well-being

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Prologue Fast forward to August of year 2025, The nation has just celebrated its 60th birthday. We have been streaming the NDP programme on our devices in the comfort of our homes for the fifth time now; this has been a recurring activity for the past few years ever since Covid-19 struck the world.

Most of us have been working from home for up to 4 days per week.

Working remotely meant that the home-offices environment has to be highly productive spaces with minimal disruptions. Planned periods of social contact and stimulation are added onto the home-working schedule. To combat the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, the health-conscious have included workout/stretching sessions in their daily routine. Others unwind with a glass of wine and even resort to ‘green therapy’ - growing plants as a form of leisure which also helps to regulate emotions.

Food, groceries and parcel deliveries by unmanned drones are no longer a pipe dream; they are here to stay. As mentioned above, ‘green therapy’ might not just be cultivating plants for aesthetic purposes; Ever since the pandemic, people also saw the benefits of growing edibles, herbs and microgreens in their homes.

The retail experience has evolved to the extent that we no longer need to visit the apparel shops to try on new apparels; we have embraced the ‘phygital’ via the means of AR and VR. Decentralized in-store shopping is still available for those who crave that visceral experience but at a time-based basis.

One major difference between the present and pre-pandemic is that we now treasure the human touch and connection even more. The public realm has become the focal point for unique ways of gathering. Public spaces are now curated and designed with social distancing considerations in preparation for the future...

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Acknowledgements

Methodology

First and foremost, I would like to express my deep and sincere gratitude to my research supervisor, Dr Joseph Lim, Associate Professor with the Department of Architecture, NUS, for providing invaluable guidance throughout the thesis project thus far.

This paper is constructed upon qualitative research through literatures by distinguished writers such as Jane Jacobs and Italo Calvino, literature reviews, and secondary sources.

I would also like to thank my fellow JLEM studio mates, Azriel, Max, Justin and Bernie for their camaraderie; bouncing ideas off each other during scheduled zoom meetings and face-to-face home-studio sessions. I certainly look forward to the second semester with all of them.

Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to my understanding and loving family who have been supporting me throughout my Architectural education.

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Throughout the year, numerous insightful webinars on the pandemic were held and these sessions have enabled the thesis to leverage on the insightful knowledge of the working and practicing professionals in the industry. The webinars include the Future of Residential Developments by Mr Lee Wai Fong of DP Architects; Rethinking the Future by Ms Hwang Yu-Ning of the Urban Redevelopment Authority and other distinguished speakers; and Reimagining the Future of Cities as Healthy Cities

by Ms Nayan Parekh of Gensler.

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C h a p t e r Content

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Background and Issues

The Impact of the Unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic on the Built Environment Shortfall of public spaces in residential estates highlighted by the Circuit Breaker Rethinking work-from-home Rethinking home quarantine The New Normal Research questions and hypothesis

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Spatial and Social Implications on Public Spaces in Residential Estates

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Recalibrating urban vibrancy: New typologies of public spaces

Key findings

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Spatial and Social Implications on the Residential Product

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Home as space of urban refuge and retreat Phenomenological and Metaphorical Characteristics of the Secret Garden Home gardens as extensions of living spaces Key findings

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Research & Exploratory Studies

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Size of public spaces and circulation patterns determined by distancing rules How can restorative spaces be manifested in the Architecture?

How might the future pandemic-resilient home look like?

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05 Site | Woodlands North Coast 06 Conclusion 07 Appendix 08 Bibliography 5

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01 background:issues

The Impact of the Unprecedented

background and issues

Covid-19 Pandemic on the Built

l i v e- p l ay :

Sh ortfa ll of p u b lic s p a c es in res iden tia l es ta tes h igh ligh ted b y

Environment

th e Circ u it B rea k er

The pandemic has brought about seismic shift in how we live, work and play. Neo-hybrid relationships and lifestyles have been established, calling for the need to redefine the meaning of live-play, live-work and the conundrum of being together yet separated. How well equipped is the built environment, specifically the outdoor public spaces and the home in adapting to the new notions? The time of isolation has also urged us to rethink the urban environment, emphasizing the eminent human need for open air spaces, parks and gardens. As such, this paper begins by investigating the effectiveness of the present-day built environment pertaining to the aforementioned dynamics with social distancing and well-being considerations.

The peculiar sights of public spaces and surfaces bandaged in rolls of caution tapes as temporary physical and visual deterrence sprung up across the country as Singapore entered into the twomonth circuit breaker ordeal. Overnight, they seemingly became artefacts in the urban museum, cordoned off from the human touch. Along came the Covid-19 Temporary Measures Bill which was implemented to restrict the movements of individuals and to urge members of the public to remain at home (MOH, Speech by Mr Gan Kim Yong, 2020). One could only exercise around the immediate neighbourhood in open and uncrowded spaces. Access to major parks and nature reserves was controlled, following the closure of all car parks within the areas (NParks, Tightening of safe distancing measures at parks, gardens and nature reserves, 2020). This meant that the public was subjected to the confines of their homes with the reduction of spaces of enjoyment and urban relief. (fig 1. in appendix)

1 Cordoned off swing in Yishun Source: Ooi Boon Keong/ TODAY 2 Taped-off playground and seating area in Sengkang Source: Ong Wee Jin/The Straits Times 3 Badminton court at Joo Seng Source: Justin Zhuang, Eye on Design

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4 Movie screening at Our Tampines Hub Source: Lim Yaohui/The Straits Times 5 Boston Dynamics ‘robot’ dog Source: Roslan Rahman 6 Outdoor seating at Star Vista Source: Gideon Kong

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Public spaces and amenities such as playgrounds, void decks and fitness facilities are meant to be nodes of cohesion that facilitate social interaction among residents. The spatial layout of stratified public spaces of the newer HDB developments are

Located on level 26 of the Pinnacle@Duxton is the residents-only skybridge (Chahine, 2010) which consists of a narrow double lane jogging track circuit (one per direction) with a total width of less than 2m. For one, this could potentially result in human traffic congestion which increases the risk of transmission. To get from one point to another, residents have to walk on the pedestrian path that is situated adjacent to the jogging track which branches into activity nodes such as the intricate playgrounds which were also not designed for social distancing. In the case of Skyville@Dawson, one observes the lack of variety of spaces on the roof garden level, dotted only with fixed hardware of tables and chairs. The play areas are confined to the ground level and the rooftop of the multi-storey carpark. Nevertheless, there are design merits such as the humanizing of scale by creating secondary garden datums shared by a smaller number of residents. In addition, there is a conscious effort in creating vistas towards green spaces beyond the development, providing the residents with the extended visual refuge.

Beyond the static spaces and typical amenities, the pandemic has emphasized the need for varied high-value active spaces as public spaces have become important extensions of the home, attributing to the notion of the “city as an urban living room” (Dive, 2017) and giving the “city as playground” (Jacquette, 2016) a whole new meaning. subjected to the confines of their homes with the reduction of spaces of enjoyment and urban relief.

The phase 2 re-opening also saw other temporary social distancing measures such as the demarcation of space using alternating furniture placements in the plaza of Our Tampines Hub during a movie screening, duct-taping of outdoor amphitheatre concrete seats, and the robot dog – a mobile surveillance machine that patrols the park. All these to remind the public to stay within their boundaries. This shows the spatial limitations of public spaces as they require the human intervention for passive measures and crowd control. Instead, public spaces should be designed with activity density considerations and with more varied spaces to disperse crowds evenly as a form of passive design (Tan S. , 2020).

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Pinnacle@Duxton Level 26th Sky Bridge Source: Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism

Skyville@Dawson 1 Rigid street furniture on the roof garden 2 Extending the visual connection to nature

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3 Humanising the scale 4 Visual spectacle: pruning of the greens Source: Author’s own

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background and issues

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liv e - w o r k :

background and issues

Re t h ink ing w ork- from- home A survey conducted by employee engagement platform - Engage Rocket concluded that the top 2 concerns pertaining to work from home are as such: people are working longer hours than usual; and they are also concerned about the practical aspects (ie family presence, distractions, space constraints). The study also shows that only 10% of the respondents do not wish to work from home, while 67% would like to work from home at least half of their usual working time (Rocket, 2020). During the Future Cities webinar, Ms Nayan Parekh of Gensler also affirmed the need for hybrid working and that the future of home life is one that integrates personal life into working hours.

Therefore, spaces for retreat will become significant, providing moments of relief from the busy home environment. However, majority of the HDB flats in Singapore do not have balconies or terraces (Hong, 2020). During the circuit breaker, we have also witnessed the importance of such threshold spaces as social balconies and as extended “breathing space” beyond the four walls of the house (PS, 2020).

As tele-working becomes more entrenched, we may see a resurgence of home-office which are designed as micro-offices, featuring optimal daylighting, biophilic design, acoustics and outdoor space considerations (Stewart M. , 2020). Separate study-work areas for each family member should be implemented to allow them to work or study concurrently. With family members confined at home, the home will become a contested space where “one person’s activity become every person’s activity” especially in smaller homes and

developments. The single tiered gardens situated

homes with open/semi-open plan (Garber, 2020).

Instead, residents living in the typical HDB flats could only escape to the small gardens on the ground floor or roof gardens of multi-storey carparks, found in the newer public housing near the ground level meant that residents living on the higher floors would lose the visual connection to the greens. In order to get to the garden, they will have to take a trip down the elevator and head towards the rooftop garden with the carpark decks clearly in sight. The transition is abrupt and the experience of tranquility is minimal due to its small scale, of which is limited to the foot print of the infrastructure. As such, Chapter 2: Public Spaces in Residential Estates explores ways to integrate near-home spaces of retreat, strategies to incorporate greenery more effectively and the human experience.

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se pa r a t e d y e t to ge t h e r According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) Singapore, when the Quarantine Order (QO) is issued to an individual, he or she will have to be separated from and must refrain from any physical contact with others within the household. As such, the person will require a dedicated room and bathroom (Gov.sg, 2020). Due to the nature of the typical flat which features only one en-suite bedroom, the family member(s) occupying the master bedroom will have to be decanted into other spaces within the home.

On the other hand, upon the issuance of the Stay-Home-Notice (SHN), the person will not be allowed to leave the house, let alone to buy daily necessities (Gov.sg, 2020). Both of the situations have highlighted the need to relook into the housing design, one that would allow for human interaction while isolated from the family members and the rest of the world. Isolation and lack of interaction have serious implications on the health and wellbeing. Aristotle once wrote in his treatise Politics, that:

Thus, the future dwelling should comprise of a reconfigurable room that can be easily transformed into a “quarantine habitat”, featuring a private outdoor terrace and an en-suite bathroom. This space has to be integrated into the general living space to allow visual connection with family members. At the unit level and as mentioned previously, integrating the outdoors into the home in the form of gardens and urban social balconies will enable a better home quarantine experience.

The benefits of the outdoor porches and gardens shall be further elaborated in Chapter 3: Residential Product.

“man is by nature, a social animal”.

Indeed, studies have shown that people who experience prolonged isolation tend to have lower cognitive performance and would develop depressive and negative attitudes which is harmful to one’s mental well-being (Hawkley, 2009).

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background and issues

Rethink ing home q ua ra nti ne

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background and issues

th e n e w n o r m a l According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the new normal is a period before the effective vaccine or treatment is made available (WHO W. , 2020). Essentially, this is the period when everyone is stuck in a limbo - a status quo, where social distancing measures will still be enforced (MOH, 2020). The unpredictability, the sudden lockdown and the gradual return to normalcy got us questioning the future characteristics of public spaces and amenities. As Singapore threads cautiously towards a new normal, working from home will remain as a default and the spaces of refuge and retreat will take centre stage.

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research questions & hypothesis

recalibrate urban vibrancy and has implored us to rethink the roles of home gardens and outdoor spaces in a post pandemic world.

As such, this thesis posits the following questions:

How can vibrancy be interpreted in more granulated urban entities with diminished risk of crowd infections?

How will distancing rules inform the design of future public spaces, pertaining to size and circulation patterns?

How can gardens and outdoor terraces improve human mental and physical wellbeing in order to make home quarantine more bearable?

The thesis hypothesizes that in order for Singapore to be more pandemic-resilient, changes has to be made to public spaces and residential provisions, so as to maintain the public’s physical well-being and sanity in a constant state of normalcy. It is only then can lives be enriched and safeguarded against future adversities and the recurrence of unprecendent pandemics.

How can gardens and outdoor terraces be integrated into the home?

How can restorative spaces manifested in the Architecture?

be

How might the future pandemicresilient home look like?

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background and issues

The pandemic has highlighted the need to

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0 2 S p a t i a l a n d S o c i a l Implications on Public Spaces in Residential Estates Re c alib r at ing urba n vi bra ncy: N ew t yp o lo gie s of publi c spa ce s How can vibrancy be interpreted in more granulated urban entities with diminished risk of

implications on public spaces in residential est at es

crowd infections?

The pandemic has necessitated the need to reconfigure public spaces by negotiating between the forging of human connections while ensuring safety. In her book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, Jane Jacobs explains that vibrancy is an important attribute of “lively, diverse (and) intense cities” as these cities “contain the seeds of their own regeneration, with energy enough to carry over for problems and needs outside themselves” (Jacobs, 1992). Relating to the public realm, specifically sidewalks, Jacobs drew parallel between a vibrant street and the “intricate sidewalk ballet” act, vividly depicting the crisscrossing of paths by strangers and residents.

The “dancers and ensembles” are manifested as users and programmes which activate the street at different times throughout the day, contributing to the street vibrancy and diversity (Jacobs, 1992).

However, the pandemic has challenged the notion of urban vibrancy as we know it.

1 Future Towers: Golf scoop Source: MVRDV 2 Future Towers: Swing scoop Source: Dezeen

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No longer are the occurrences of crisscrossing of paths encouraged due to risk of crowd infections when streets become highly activated. According to Sociologist Francesco Morace, he emphasized that there is a need to redesign for spaciousness.

Instead of the concept of “social distancing”, public spaces should consider physical distance that does not deny social proximity (Casicci, 2020).

Social distancing measures suggest that the future of public spaces have to be granulated entities instead of a continuous belt of programmes, instigating the need to rethink activity density (Tan S. , 2020). Of interest are the following ways in which dispersed activity density can be achieved through space distribution and spatial layouts.

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i. Im p lem e nti ng more va ri e d p ub lic sp a ce s tha t va ry i n si z e s and p r o gra mme s to re d uce ma s s co ngr egati on a t a si ng ula r ce n tra l

In order to minimize the crisscrossing of paths and to provide residents with a space of refuge closer to their home units, these spaces should be dispersed and situated in different parts of the building. Completed in year 2018, the Amanora Future Towers by MVRDV features courtyards, terraces, “grottos and caves”, of which are also referred to as “scoops” of indoor and outdoor amenities (Pearson, 2018). These scoops puncture through the residential building’s façades as a form of wind breaks and the resulting voids were used for communal programmes.

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They can be found in all nine of the housing wings, providing a variety of spaces designated for different activities, such as yoga, coffee shop, amphitheatre and lifestyle sports (MVRDV, 2018).

They also vary in scales and capacities, allowing for moments of intimate conversations and large group gatherings.

In light of the pandemic, the spaces for large group gatherings could perhaps be reconfigured into smaller spaces to limit the number of people using the space.

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3 Location of the scoops and terraces on the 9th storey Source: MVRDV 4 Amenities Source: integrid design

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am enity

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i i . I mp lement ing di spe rse d ci r culatio n r o ute s or ci rcui ts: E x p er iencing spa ce throug h

implications on public spaces in residential est at es

m ovement and ‘soft d i sta nci ng” While we note the benefits of dispersed public spaces, the process of getting to the destinations are equally crucial in a pandemic. For instance, during the course of the circuit breaker, park visitors are constantly on the move as loitering at a spot along a highly-activated pedestrian path would garner unwanted stares and attention due to risk concerns. Therefore, the experience of space becomes dynamic; our eyes are constantly gathering the cues of the surrounding environment as we move through space. We become more hyper aware of the surrounding and what lies ahead of us.

The Parc de la Distance by Studio Precht was designed to “celebrate solidarity and isolation” where the park visitors would meander through the single-lane circuits within a labyrinth-like park. The fingerprint concept symbolizes the idea of human connection and was meant to be a place for selfintrospection. The undulating landscape and varied heights of the hedge would allow the individual to be fully immersed within the greenscape and other times one would surface above the hedge to get a paranomic view of the garden. The gravel tracks are spaced 2.4m apart and are separated by the 90cm wide hedge as a form of soft distancing measure. Gates at the exits and entrances of each path would indicate the availability of the particular route (Ravenscroft, 2020).

1 Parc de la Distance Source: Studio Precht 2 Each aisle accommodates one person at a time to maintain social distancing Source: Studio Precht 3 20 min walk Source: Studio Precht

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iii. Decen tra li si ng ne twork r esident ia l d e ve lopme nts to allow

1 Section of Kampung Admiralty Source: WOHA Architects

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2 Close proximity to nature Source: Author’s own

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The Kampung Admiralty is a public housing development by WOHA Architects which features a community park, comprising of a central courtyard and multi-tiered sky terraces. Contrary to the typical new housing developments’ multistorey carpark roof gardens mentioned in chapter 1, residents can access the park “as soon as they leave their apartments”. This is made possible as the blocks are ‘planted’ within the compounds of the park, enabling the close proximity to the lush vegetation. The tiered gardens also allow residents to establish visual connection with the greenery.

The park was designed with an intimate scale, featuring numerous narrow pathways lined with fruit and decorative trees, leading to the ‘summit’ (WOHA, 2017). There, one arrives at the community garden, albeit a rather small one. In line with the Landscape Replacement Scheme, Kampung Admiralty achieved 100% green replacement with a total green coverage area of 53% of the entire plot area. In 2018, it was found that the lush greenery had attracted 50 different species of birds and insects, making the development an urban biodiversity hotspot (Dreiseitl, n.d.). As Singapore moves towards being a city in nature (Hee, 2019), there will be an even greater emphasis on green replacement. The pandemic may accelerate the need for more stringent and unique greening methods under the Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (LUSH) programme (URA, Enhanced LUSH to take urban greenery to new heights, 2017).

K ey fin din gs

easier acc e ss for ‘da i ly d ose’ of

The new typology of post-pandemic residential developments should comprise of a combination of the points mentioned above to provide residents a holistic and safe living environment. Public spaces with varied sizes and programmes can be integrated with greenery which are then inserted into the residential development. The spaces may be connected by various interwoven networks and routes, creating moments of discovery and selfintrospection. This unique rhythm may be echoed throughout the building, giving rise to a new form of urban vibrancy of shared solidarity redefined by the neo-stratified public spaces.

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o f sm aller g re e n spa ce s i nto

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Kampung Admiralty Source: Author’s own

“We borrow from nature the space u p o n t h e w h i c h w e b u i l d ” - Ta d a o A n d o 19

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03 Spatial and Social Implications on Residential Product Home a s s p a c e of u rb a n refu ge a n d retrea t How can gardens and outdoor terraces improve human mental and physical wellbeing in order to

implications on residential product

make home quarantine more bearable?

While we acknowledge the need to reconfigure the public realm within the built environment and is hopeful for the outcomes, there bound to be limitations and discrepancies in the allocation and usage of spaces pertaining to social distancing.

Hence, the next “line of defense” and yet most crucial aspect against the pandemic is the home unit. The following chapter dives deeper into the further fragmentation of green and grey spaces into the residential unit and their new roles in the post-pandemic world.

The effects on the home due to pandemic has proven to be an antithesis to the mechanical metaphor “a house is a machine for living in”, a phrase famously declared by the late Le Corbusier (Gallagher, 2001). Machines (specifically referring to the phrase) are proficient in performing a certain set of tasks but they have seemingly become obsolete in light of the pandemic as the notion of living homescape become more prevalent. The home environment has since taken on a new role of protection against external adversities, one that inspirits us, going beyond mere products of consumerism. Psychologist Anna Valentino argues that homes should be a space where we “inhabit, tend, care for and (to) love” (Kennicott, 2020).

Essentially, homes are crucial vessels that would serve to improve our well-being should the design permits.

Humans have innate connection with nature, as proven by various environmental psychology literatures such as the Stress Recovery Theory (SRT) and the Attention Restoration Theory (ART). Biophilic design helps to reduce stress, improve cognitive function and are effective mood boosters, ultimately contributing to better health and well-being (Kaplan, 1989). Therefore, spaces of refuge and retreat can be manifested as living homescapes in the form of home gardens that are designed to be restorative landscapes. The garden should allow the individual to escape from the contested home environment for moments of solitude.

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C har acteri sti cs of the Se cre t G a rden According to author and philosopher David E Cooper, “the garden is an epiphany of man’s relationship to the mystery of one’s existence”, a place of refuge and reverie – to daydream (Crawford, 2006). It is no wonder there exists numerous literature and texts by writers and poets depicting the innate relationship between man and nature. Alas, three inspiring works were singled out as part of the research exercise to interpret the hidden and sacred notions of the garden. The texts and descriptions are provided in the appendix.

th e g a r d e n a s a place f o r s e l f dis co v e r y a n d h e ali n g The book ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Garnett, 2019) illustrates a hidden, ethereal sanctuary that facilitates self-discovery and fosters strong relations among people through nature (plants and living creatures) and doing things together, thus enabling them to heal physically and emotionally. The book depicts the extreme polarity of spaces - darkness and lifelessness of the mansion and the bright and full-of-life secret garden, beyond the tall ivy-covered walls. The polarity allows for the dramatic change of moods and experiences. The mind quietens and awakens one’s consciousness as he or she transitions from the point of origin to the destination; The journey of getting there is equally as enlightening.

The poem ‘By the Old Walls of Kyoto’ by Harold Stewart (Stewart H. , 1981) depicts the garden as a place of contemplation that facilitates the phenomenological relationship between nature and man (himself), emphasizing the Zen teachings, that is to “see with our ears and listen with our eyes”.

The collage on the previous page depicts a person contemplating and he is seemingly “merging” with nature, as he becomes one with the environment...

Collage: by Author Original Source of human figure illustration: Titled: ‘Standing by for enlightenment’, from Arkories

the gard en as a confrontational s p ac e The poem ‘In Praise of Shadows’ by Jun’ichiro Tanizaki (Tanazaki, 2006) depicts the garden as a confrontational space that facilitates the exploration and discovery of the psychic landscape (fears and reality), confronting the reality of isolation, loneliness, and desolation.

For instance. when one looks at a lone rock rising from a sea of gravel or a lone bonsai in the middle of the lake, he or she is confronted by a sense of loneliness and is compelled into embracing solitude, like the lone man raking the gravel in his private Japanese garden; On the other hand, moss gardens “echo the disorientation and awe, engendered by the deep forest” (Walker, 2017).

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Pheno m en ologi ca l a nd Me ta p h oric a l

the gard en as a contemplative s p ac e

City of Octavia + Esmeralda Source: Author’s own

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Home ga rden s a s ex ten s ion s o f liv in g s p a c es How can gardens and outdoor terraces be integrated into the home? i. Vertic a l p a rk : s emi-op en c ou rty a rds & terra c es , in ters p e r se d with s k y s treets

The book ‘Invisible Cities’ by Italo Calvino (Calvino, 1997) features a mirage of ethereal and vivid recollections of dream-like cityscapes, which are truly mesmerizing and intriguing. Of interest are the depictions of two cities with surreal landscapes and notions of sense of space. In the city of Octavia, there is an emphasis on the verticality of space as the city is suspended in mid-air, between the sky (above) and the abyss (below). As an inverted city, there is a sense of uncertainty as the net can only hold that weight of the city for that long. While in the city of Esmeralda, the sense of space is enlarged due to the layered network of circulation routes and building surfaces which allow the inhabitants to weave in and out of hidden streets, leaping on and off rooftops and terraces. There is a sense of adventure and discovery.

Completed in 1985, the Bedok Court in Singapore

by Associates Group Architects was designed to intensify space utilisation via the stacking of “landed” property houses. “Streets” were translated into vertically-stacked walkways and common corridors while gardens, into staggered private yet open terraces and courtyards (Bedok Court Archetype, n.d.).

The literatures mentioned above provoke metaphysical reactions with rather indistinct and imaginative notions of their respective contexts.

Hence, the following point serves to identify spatial qualities in the physical manifestations of outdoor spaces in residential projects.

Influenced by Jane Jacobs and her assertion for vital street life in modern cities, the units were planned to reflect the traditional semi-social events which took place in the kampungs such as cooking and eating. Therefore, the kitchen and dining rooms are situated adjacent to the courtyard, allowing visual and spatial connectivity to the external greenery and streets. This encourages outdoor living and social interaction among neighbours by establishing overlooking spaces. There is a sense of stewardship and individualism as residents are encouraged to plant in their terraces and courtyards, thus making the corridors a vertical park (Joo et al, n.d.).

The 280 apartments in Bedok Court range between 110-220m2 in gross area, enabling the generous provision of semi-open forecourts and balconies, not seen in any other apartment buildings. The Architect wanted to give each resident a “piece of green” and a “house in the sky”. Conceived as sky gardens, the terraces are staggered and set apart for maximum light and ventilation.

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Physical man i f e s t a t i o ns of su r r e a l lan ds c a p e s , se n s e o f s p a c e an d m o v e m e nt

1 Multi-level visibilty and comfort in forecourts Source: J.H. Bay

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2 Typical section of block 1 Bedok Court Source: J.H. Bay

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3 Typical plan, block 1 Bedok Court Source: J.H. Bay 4 2323sqft plan Source: Property Guru 5 Bedok Court Source: Robert J. Steiner

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The

Gre e n

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Exte rn a lis ed

Designed as a metropolitan reforestation prototype, the outward-facing terraces of the Bosco Verticale in Italy were designed to hold a total of 1 ha of forest, vertically. The 700 trees (up to 6m in height) present in both residential towers were potted in containers which are situated on cantilevered terraces with widths ranging between 3.3m to 15m (Valagussa, 2015). Every house has a terrace, some large enough to become dining room extensions.

The terraces are staggered and off-set from one another to create overlooking spaces while maintaining a sense of privacy. The canopies of the trees which are placed in the homes below become the view of the dwellings above, creating unique overlapping social ecological settings. Cloaked in nature, the layer of vegetation provides a filtered view into the busy streets of Milan (Coffman, n.d.).

K ey fin din gs The case studies have demonstrated the multifaceted character of gardens, with the ability to evoke different sensorial and emotional response.

Beyond mere landscapes, the relevance of gardens in the pandemic age is significant, as they are instruments in which can be used to enrich the lives of human beings in times of isolation.

Gardens in the form of courtyards and terraces interspersed with communal corridors or ‘elevated streets’ in the Bedok Court project presents the possible integration of private and dispersed public spaces within the future residential compound.

The “extroverted” gardens or gardens interfacing with the public realm will thus become important threshold spaces, contributing to the urban vibrancy.

1

Bosco Verticale, Modern Architecture Print, Urban Jungle, Vertical Forest, Residential Towers Milan Source: Radu Bercan

2

Scheme in section Source: Boeri Studio

1

2

25

implications on residential product

t er r aces

+

04 research & exploratory studies This chapter features the translation of key ideas mentioned in the previous chapters into design strategies. i . H o w w ill dista nci ng rule s i nform t he design o f future publi c spa ce s, p er taining to si z e a nd ci rcula ti on

research & explorator y studies

p at ter ns?

Applying key ideas mentioned in Chapter 2, section 2.1. Dispersing green and grey spaces of varied sizes and dispersing circulation routes S i z e o f p ub lic spa ce s Over the course of the year, social distancing has been a highly debatable topic among the experts, with countries adhering to different set of rules (Siddique, 2020). Singapore adheres to the 1m social distancing as recommended by the World Health Organisation, who states that we should keep a distance of “at least 1m from each other” (WHO, 2020). However, the discrepancy arose when the US Centres for Disease Control, CDC announced the need to maintain a physical distancing of at least 6 feet (1.8m). According to the US CDC, large particles typically remain in the air and will only “settle within 6 feet from the source” (CDC, 2020).

Physical Chemistry Professor, Jonathan Reid at the University of Bristol, states that droplets may very well be carried over a distance of 1-2m, with smaller droplets settling within 2m from the source (Science Media Centre, 2020). In addition, a study - partly funded by the WHO was conducted by The Lancet, who concluded that the 1m physical distance in “healthcare and community settings” would reduce the risk of transmission by 82%.

Even more so, the relative protection more than doubled with every additional 1m of distancing (Maclntyre & Wang, 2020). Thus, this shows that the social distancing of 2m would be preferred, as it can effectively reduce the risk of transmission even further.

However, the 2m (1m radius) is static as it only accounts for two persons standing side by side and does not take into account another person who has to pass through them. The American Institute of Architects proposed an enlargement of the distancing radius such that the distance between two people along a circulation path should be 4m (2m radius) to allow for the “dynamic movement of people” (The American Institute of Architects, 2020).

26

arc hitectural thesis

+ Dynamic space

Static space

Not recommended

Physical distancing distance Dimensions were altered from imperial to metric

Exploration: Translating the parameters into space

research & explorator y studies

Original Source: The American Institute of Achitects,

Recommended distance

Strategies: Implementing multiple routes + 2m distancing at major nodes or junctions

4m

1m

4m

4m

4m

1m

4m

27

research & explorator y studies

+

C i r c ulat io n p atte rn The study of space syntax is useful when deciding the adjacencies and hierarchy of spaces. According to a microbe study on the bacterial communities, a strong correlation was found between the centrality of a space and its microbial diversity, and this correlation stems from the fact that high centrality increases human traffic through the space (Kembel et al, 2014). Thus, in order to limit the introduction of new microbes such as the viruses, which are the smallest of microbes, there is a need to consider the areas which have high centrality and paths taken by the public.

The space syntax illustration provided by the American Society for Microbiology depicts that a one-directional linear circulation would be the best configuration as compared to the radial and grid as it reduces the chance of passing by a common node, thus decreasing the risk of transmission (Dietz et al, 2020).

Design parameters: Size of public space determined by area per person within a circle with a radius of 2m; One-directional linear circulation decreases risk of transmission

28

arc hitectural thesis

+

Exploration: The linear park is integrated into the facade of the building.

The roofs of volumes (rooms) become garden plots for the circulation routes. There are varying degrees of thresholds between the public realm and the linear circulation route.

29

research & explorator y studies

Space syntax diagram Source: The American Institute of Achitects, adapted from the American Society for Microbiology

+

i i . H o w can r estora ti ve spa ce s be

research & explorator y studies

m a nif ested in the A rchi te cture ?

Applying key ideas mentioned in Chapter 3, sections 3.2. Phenomenological and Metaphorical Characteristics of the Secret Garden and 3.3.

Home gardens as extensions of living spaces H e a ling sp ace The pandemic calls for a revisit of the modernist sanatorium human-centric design principles, brought about by the rampant tuberculosis outbreak. The most prominent feature of the sanatoriums are the open-air terraces which allowed every patient to bask in the sun and enjoy the fresh air (Yuko, 2018). Every room within the Lovell Health House in Los Angeles was attached to an outdoor space or “sleeping porches”, also known as present day balconies, for occupants to “take (in) the sun and the air” in full nudity (ReinerRoth, 2020). The site context also played an important role as landscapes are seen as healing elements by the modernists (Yuko, 2018). They would bring the outdoors, indoors through strategic placements of fenestrations. Thus, not only were modernist architecture used as medical tools, they have also influenced how we experience nature, giving rise to the modern day biophilic design.

Design strategies: Outdoor spaces open to sky; Bringing outside, indoors; Visual connection to landscape

30

arc hitectural thesis

| Spatial relationships with the garden |

+

Con temp la tiv e s p a c e The 2011 London Serpentine Gallery is one of the many defining projects by Peter Zumthor which conveyed the notion of ‘atmosphere’ and poetics of space. Designed as a contemplative space, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the structure cladded in dark material – a “black box”, wrapped around an inner secret garden. The journey into the garden is cathartic as one meanders through the dimly-light corridors into a lush secluded garden, open to sky. The dark corridor was designed as a compressive space, enabled by the high ceiling and narrow width (Bayne, 2011).

This transition intensified the sense of awe upon arriving at the garden courtyard. The stillness of the garden heightens one’s senses. The acoustic of water also played a role in creating an idyllic and contemplative setting via the mono-pitch roof which guided the rainwater down to the edge of the garden (Dezeen, 2013).

Design strategies: Transition from a dark and compressive space to an open and bright space; Inner & secluded sanctuary; Stillness; Acoustics and visual effects of water

31

research & explorator y studies

| Spatial relationships with the garden |

research & explorator y studies

+

C onf r o nt atio na l spa ce The Jewish Museum in Berlin was designed to evoke emotions through distinct spatial qualities, which can be seen in various parts of the building. Since this project was based heavily on the site context and historical events, only the spatial qualities and outcome of emotions will be discussed. The puncturing of voids with specific slits of light was used to convey the feeling of emptiness and loss. The feeling of confinement, oppression and anxiety is conveyed in the “voided void”, a space which has a high ceiling, walls that converge at a sharp and narrow point and a thin slit of fenestration on the ceiling. This enclosed and silent space is separated from the main compound to symbolize isolation (Berlin Judisches Museum, n.d.). The Garden of Exile features fortynine concrete stelae on a slanting ground. Visitors could walk through the aisles from a higher end to the lower end, only to be engulfed by the towering structures. Visitors are overcome by a sense of disorientation and instability (Bonnie, 2012).

Design strategies: Voids enhanced by high ceiling; Slits of light; Convergence of walls at an acute angle; Scale; Repetition; Uneven depressed ground plane; Lone; Enclosed

32

arc hitectural thesis

| Spatial relationships with the garden |

+

iii. H o w mi g ht the future pa ndemic r esilient home look li ke ?

Res p on din g to v en tila tion is s u e s o n re-en tra n t a ir: Incidental creation of thresholds by staggering and alternating units According to the WHO, the coronavirus (SARSCoV-2) bears stark resemblance to the SARS (SARS-CoV) virus which occurred back in 2002 (WHO, Naming the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the virus that causes it, 2020). Numerous studies on SARS-CoV were conducted by various researchers and they found that airborne particles are transmittable via the combination of buoyancy force and wind flows in the upward motion into re-entrant spaces (Mao & Gao, 2015). Therefore, there is a need to re-examine the unit adjacencies and air re-entrant bays within the block to prevent such airborne transmission of pathogens in future housing configurations.

This will be shown in the retroffiting exercise on the Pinnacle@Duxton. Further refinement will be carried out in semester 2.

Other considerations: Rethinking home quarantine: Bridging distance between household members and person on quarantine Genkan (verandah) @entrance Home office acoustics Outdoor terraces

33

research & explorator y studies

Dualit y o f ga rd e ns: Pe rma cultu re Balconies and terraces could double up as permaculture spaces in response to Singapore’s food resilience, the ’30 by 30’ goal (Tan S. , 2020).

According to the Singapore Food Agency and using a household of 6 as an example, the total annual amount of leafy greens and carbohydrates consumption are 96kg and 49.5kg (SFA, 2019).

Three crops were selected, two of which are fast growing leafy greens (choy sum and “kang kong”, also known as water spinach) (June, 2020) and a carbohydrate (Sweet Potato) to aid in the calculation of total area required for the growing of crops. Fig.2 in the appendix depicts that by utilising the traditional growing method, a total of 43sqm of planting space is required. This is equivalent to 40% of the total area of a 5-room flat (110sqm). However, with alternative new methods such as the Skygreen system (Chow, 2015) and potato towers (Garden, n.d.), the amount of space can be reduced by 34sqm to a mere 9sqm, which makes up a total of 79% reduction from the 43sqm as previously mentioned.

+ Pi n n a l e@ Du x ton | Constant variable: 1848 households

research & explorator y studies

c urre nt pla n

34

retrofitted p la n

cur r en t e le va ti on

retrofitted elev a tion

cur r e nt se cti on

retrofitted s ec tion (p orous)

arc hitectural thesis

+

research & explorator y studies

H ow might the uni t a tta che d to th e P in n a c le@ Du x ton fa c a de look lik e?

35

site: woodlands nor th coast

+

M a p o f wo o d l a n d s

36

arc hitectural thesis

+

05 site: woodlands north coast woodlands regional centre

site

As a speculative thesis, the envisioned site of intervention is one that allows for free exploration yet rooted in the future planning developments in Singapore to a certain extent. Of interest is a site that has an idyllic setting and as much as possible, a naturalistic character. The home shall operate as extensions of the landscape, inserting itself into and contributing to the larger ecology. A site like this is hard to come by especially in the dense city of Singapore, let alone a site with a relatively large area to play with. Upon reviewing the future decentralization masterplan (Sim, 2019), it was decided that the new residential typology should be situated in one of the regional centres so as to leverage on the idea of exploration and reimagining what the future built environment could be.

The chosen site is located in the Woodlands Regional Centre, specifically within the Woodlands North Coast area. This particular area is set to be developed in the near future. The zoning for future housing is adjacent to the 20-ha Admiralty Park which features a unique blend of “secondary forest, mangroves, riverine and open grassland habitats” (NParks, 2020). The park connector along Admiralty Road is part of the Northern Explorer Loop which connects to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (Hee, 2019).

37

site: woodlands nor th coast

I den tify in g th e s ite

conclusion

+

38

arc hitectural thesis

+

By and large, the dichotomy of future housing and public spaces exists between density and privacy with an added health consideration. The notions of escapism, wellness, placemaking and community social bonding in everyday living will become ever more so apparent in the future to come. The process of rectifying and reimagining what the home and public spaces could be have already begun as we cruise towards the new normal. In order to accelerate change, relevant authorities and planners should review existing planning guidelines for space provisions that would enable drastic changes.

One is certainly hopeful that Singapore will emerge stronger, post pandemic.

39

conclusion

06 conclusion

+

07 appendix

appendix

F i g u r e 1 : Ma p showi ng re si de nti a l a rea s a n d p rox imity to p a rk s

Source: Author’s own Generated from QGIS

40

arc hitectural thesis

+

appendix

Fi gure 2: Pe rma cultu re

41

appendix

+

Source: Garnett, S. R. (Director). (2019). The Secret Garden | Full Audiobook [Motion Picture].

Image source: Front cover of the US edition by M. L. Kirk (US) and Charles Robinson (UK)

42

arc hitectural thesis

appendix

+

Source: Stewart, H. (1981). By the Old Walls of Kyoto: A Year’s Cycle of Landscape Poems With Prose Commentaries . Weatherhill. Retrieved from Kyoto Journal: https://kyotojournal.org/gardens/invitations-to-stillness-japanesegardens-as-metaphorical-journeys-of-solace/

43

appendix

+

Source: Tanazaki, J. (2006). In praise of shadows. London, United Kingdom: Vintage Publishing.

44

arc hitectural thesis

appendix

+

Source: Calvino, I. (1997). Invisible Cities. London, United Kingdom: Vintage Publishing.

45

appendix

+

Source: Calvino, I. (1997). Invisible Cities. London, United Kingdom: Vintage Publishing.

46

arc hitectural thesis

+

appendix

F i gur e 3 : In i ti a l e xplora ti on: Min dma p of th e Pos t-Pa n demic Home

47

+

appendix

F i g ur e 4 : Othe r e xplora ti ons: A naly s in g c ommerc ia l s emi-p u b lic s p a c es

48

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appendix

+

49

+

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