SuperStudio | the CAPITOL loop

SuperStudio_Nixon_Ghilic|Tyler Lim AR3101 Design Studio,Year 3, 2018/19 Semester 1 ( Portfolio )

the CAPITOL loop @ BENCOOLEN n PRINSEP

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the CAPITOL loop

the CAPITOL loop

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the CAPITOL loop

by Lim Hock Siang Tyler

The proposed urban insertion area is a back alley between the two customary MRT stations of Downtown line which the urban acupuncture is to exemplify the potential of airspace above the back alley bounded by the city blocks between the Prinsep Street and Bencoolen Street. As such, the proposed architectural intervention shall be a connector that intensified the whole district and promote a better connectivity and spatial experience for the users.

The design strategy is derived from the three key factors such as (I) Its position as a central core between the MRT stations which frequent used by the commuters, (2) The richness of Arts and Culture within the district, and (3) The changing perspective and functions of back alley in an urban context.

The desktop research and on-site analysis on the macro-scale displayed a clear distinction between the different urban streetscape which the Nolli Mapping and Circulation Mapping (Figure) shown that the back alley is often bounded by the city blocks and solely meant for the service vehicle. Looking at the programme and facilities within the macro site, the site generally has a vast diversity of land-use which consists of the mixed-used podium block between Residential, Commercial, Hotel or Offices and the generic block for Arts Institutions, Temples and Civic & Cultural Centres. (Figure) Further analysis on the micro-scale also revealed that the nodes and landmarks within the site are mainly the Singapore Life Church, Burlington Square and the 3 Arts Institutions - LASALLE College of Art, NAFA Campus 1, NAFA Campus 3. This would then informed as to the precedent of Factor (2) which the cultural richness of the site highlights the diversity of music, art, recreation, traditions and religion or beliefs.

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the CAPITOL loop

The uniqueness of this micro-site is that it sits as a core between the two MRT stations along the Downtown Line and there is actually a Walking Train Map (WTM) (Figure) which proves to the commuters that walking across these two MRT stations can actually save time on their commute. As such, the routes along the Bencoolen Street and Prinsep Street are frequently used by the pedestrians which it becomes Factor (1) as this pedestrianized network has formulated a “Planned”-characteristics of the site.

Despite having all the prevalent routes, some pedestrians still choose to passage through the city blocks or even the back alley merely out of convenience (Figure). Hence, this regularity on the usage of shortcut forms the “Unplanned”-characteristics of the site. However, these alternative routes are not demarcated on the map and they are usually not a commercially attractive and visually pleasing space due to the fact that commonly in an urban context, the back alley is only used for services by the service vehicle or driveway to the multi-story carpark.

The culmination of Factors (1) and (2) further drives the design intervention of enhancing the overall spatial experience of the back alley and connectivity of the district by capitalising this connector with the arts and cultural programmes that interweaves with existing city blocks.

Henceforth, the nature of this architectural intervention would then intensify the whole arts vicinity, promote the usage of the urban corridor and breathe a new life into the old back alley with a new energy. Thus, responding to Factor (3) by having a pragmatic design that fills up the leftover space in the Urban Context and demonstrates the projected future of the back alley.

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SuperStudio_Nixon_Ghilic | Tyler Lim, Year 2018 Department of Architecture School of Design and Environment