Design Portfolio 2012 - Current
WONG CHI KHAY B.A.(Architecture) Undergraduate National University of Singapore
WONG CHI KHAY Singapore Polytechnic, Diploma in Architecture, 2012 - 2015 Singapore BCAA, Specialist Diploma in Interior & Landscape Design, 2016 S A CHUA Architects, Architectural Assistant, 2015 - 2017 National University of Singapore, BA(Architecture), 2017 - Current wong.chikhay@gmail.com http://issuu.com/wongchikhay
IN-PROGRESS FOLIO The collection of works in this book showcases my architectural journey thus far, marking my growth since 2012 to the present. Different projects may feature different styles and approaches as I seek to explore and develop a design language and philosophy of my own.
CONTENTS YEAR 3 01 02 03 04
B.A.(Architecture)
YEAR 2 05 06
Diploma in Architecture
07
Wonder Lodge Creative Loop Symbiosis: Living || Art OGE2
Pilot House Shadow Residences Joo Chiat Centre
Specialist Diploma in Interior & Landscape Design 08 09
BCAA Roof Garden Hort Park Extension
01 WONDER LODGE
SEPTEMBER 2017 | DAIRY FARM QUARRY NATURAL NDUCED SENSE OF AWE Driven by the breath-taking views of cliff faces within the site, the designed Eco-lodge aims to capture a ‘hole in the Earth’ quality of the former quarry to invoke a sense of awe amongst its users. Juxtaposing and amplifying the perceived closeness and farness of cliff faces with a series of spaces, users’ perception of their surroundings are tweaked and enhanced to better appreciate the magnificence & enclosed quality of the quarry. Through this naturalistic induction of awe which diminishes the sense of self, users will also learn to situate themselves within broader ecological contexts and enhance collective concerns for the environment.
OVERALL SITE SECTION B-B
1
2
3 3 2
4 1
4 5
5
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECTION A-A
SECTION C-C
AMPLIFYING MAGNIFICENCE OF ROCK CLIFFS There were two powerful moments the design aimed to capture. Firstly, the experience of being intimidated by the sheer height of the cliff faces while standing directly under it, up close enough to touch the rock faces, and secondly, the experience of being surrounded by rock cliffs all around the quarry, to be able to appreciate the beautiful shadows cast on them during the golden sunrise & sunset hours.
SECTION B-B
FRONT ELEVATION
STRUCTURE & MATERIALITY Concrete retaining walls are used for all the sunken areas in contact with earth, while the above ground areas are to be constructed with wood stud framing and cladding. The overall form treatment is a true reflection of the structure & materiality used. Within each accommodation unit, there is also a semi-outdoor green area to be planted with low ferns and the shared toilets are located beneath these green slopes.
PHYSICAL MODEL
02 CREATIVE LOOP
JANUARY 2018 | ALONG KALLANG RIVER UPCYCLING FOR SUSTAINABILITY In the face of climate change, the design critiques the unsustainability of our current consumeristic lifestyles by advocating for a model of creative upcycling. Designed as a venue that collects pre-loved items and provides spaces for the public to upcycle these items into new products, the centre seeks to alter public’s perception of material obsolescence. The concept of upcycling is also carried through to the architectural expression of the building, where disused building components are incorporated and designed for disassembly to secure their prospect of being further upcycled in the future.
ENTRANCE APPROACH VIA SERANGOON ROAD
SITE PLAN
1 IMPOSING IDEA OF LOOP ON SITE
2 TRIPLE LOOPS TO CREATE CENTRAL GATHERING POINT
3 CONSIDERING PROGRAMMATIC SPACES
4 ARTICULATION OF MASSING AROUND A CENTRAL VOID
5 DOWNSCALING TO SUIT BRIEF’S CONSTRAINT
6 READJUSTMENT OF PROGRAMMES ACCORDING TO CIRCULATION
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
PHYSICAL MODEL
UPPER FLOOR PLAN
SOUTH ELEVATION (E1)
SPATIAL LOOP
UPCYCLED WORKS DISPLAYED AT THE GALLERY
DONATED ITEMS STORED AT RESOURCE GALLERY
Situated at an unused parcel of land along Kallang River near Bendemeer, the project seeks to upcycle the unutilised site into a positive public space through the introduction of a ‘loop’ to lengthen visitors’ journey through the stretch. The ‘loop’ is used as a spatial organisation tool to illustrate ideas of a circular economy where resources are recirculated, reflecting the essence of the proposed centre.
EXPLODED ISOMETRIC
DESIGN FOR DISASSEMBLY Old materials like clay roof tiles, timber roof rafters and glass from windows were designed to be creatively reused to illustrate the concept of upcycling. Construction methods involving wet joints and adhesives are also avoided in favour of dismantlable fixing methods that will preserve the quality of the restored materials. These bespoked building facades and components contributes to the building’s unique character and greater narrative.
UPCYCLING CLAY TILES & GLASS PANES
INTERIORS OF RESOURCE GALLERY
03 SYMBIOSIS: LIVING || ART AUGUST 2018 | WATERLOO CENTRE
WHERE ART MIMICS LIFE & LIFE MIMICS ART Situated in a diverse urban site, where functions are stitched together like a patchwork with no apparent logic, the project seeks to develop meaningful connections in the city. It explores the introduction of art into a residential neighbourhood, centred on the theme ‘art mimics life and life mimics art’. The project is a reinvention of the commercial podium block of Waterloo Centre to facilitate interactions between residents and artists that can potentially push the creative expression of art to value-add to the area known as the arts and heritage district.
RESIDENT’S KARAOKE STUDIOS & ARTISTS’ MUSIC STUDIOS DESIGNED AROUND A COMMON SPACE
FOSTERING SENSE OF PLACE OWNERSHIP
REINVENTION OF WATERLOO CENTRE
INTERDEPENDENCY IN SPATIAL USAGE
EXTENSION OF ‘VOID DECK’ INTO PODIUM BLOCK BY INTRODUCING NEW FUNCTIONS E.G. DANCE
DESIGN PROCESS
study of existing circulation network within the building
insertion of new programmes in oblique angles to create ambiguous transition zones
introducing intranetwork between new programmes and inter-network to intercept the extg circulation paths of residents PROCESS MODELS
1ST STOREY PLAN
2ND STOREY PLAN
4TH STOREY PLAN
SECTION A-A
EXERCISE, PLAY & MUSIC Karaoke rooms for residents and music studios for artists are designed around a shared void with platforms overlooking one another to foster a sense of connection between the two groups.
THEATRE & PLAZA
SECTION B-B
MUSIC & DANCE
ACTIVITY CLUSTERS The various programmes introduced are connected across floors to create a sectional interdependency of spaces and they can be broken down into the 4 clusters as shown. DANCE & VOID DECK Void deck spaces from the 5th storey are ‘carried down’ to fuse with break out areas for the dance studio, adding new meanings to the original void deck to create a new spatial typoloy for both artists and residents to engage in activties in close proximity to one another.
04 OGE
2
NOVEMBER 2017 | 3D PRINTED FACADE REINVENTING OFFICE FACADE TYPOLOGY The common use of curtain walls for office buildings creates unfriendly interior spaces, resulting in occupants having to install secondary shading devices such as blinds to protect themselves from glare. The extensive use of glass also results in additional building heat gain, driving up A/C load and electricity costs. Through the use of 3D printing technology, the project seeks to propose an alternative facade solution to a modern office tower by studying the section of an ideal office working space.
NATURAL DAYLIGHT
LIGHT SHELF & SHADING
VIEWS
IDEAL OFFICE SECTION
STREET VIEW OF FACADE
MODULAR EXPLORATION
FACADE REACTS FLEXIBLY TO BOTH A/C & N/V SPACES
EXPLORATION WITH SCALE & SENSITIVITY TO BUILDING ORIENTATION The facade design consists of a single module replicated in 3 different heights to accommodate to the ground floor & topmost level. Keeping true to the original design intent, the designed module helps to achieve the ideal office working environment, incorporating the light shelf, while providing shade with its depth, without compromising occupants’ views out to the surroundings. In response to the building’s orientation and sun path, facade modules that are exposed to the east & west sun are orientated differently as compared to the north & south facade modules. This difference in orientation allows the modules to meet seamlessly at the corners, creating a coherent facade that wraps around the building continuously. The curvature of the module is also calibrated to create varied degrees of openings responding differently to the east & west sun respectively.
WEST SUN
PLAN
light shelf view privacy light shelf
views light shelf NORTH EAST VIEW
view privacy views 2 MODULES PER LEVEL
light shelf
light shelf
views
view
light shelf
light shelf
view
1 MODULE PER LEVEL entrance
NORTH WEST VIEW
EAST SUN
SOUTH FACADE MODULE TO SLAB DETAIL
EAST FACADE MODULE TO SLAB DETAIL
FINAL 3D PRINTED MODEL
05 PILOT HOUSE
OCTOBER 2012 | TANGLIN HALT MASTERPLANNING: INVENTOR’S HUB The project brief called for the development of the empty Tanglin Halt site into a vibrant and creative hub, home to young inventors. Hence, our team focused on 3 aspects: environment, interaction and variations. Houses are sandwiched between communal areas, providing countless opportunities for interaction and facilities are specially picked to create a variety of experiences. An elevated green walkway also links residents to the green corridor behind the site, bringing them closer to nature. Highlighted in red is the plot later selected for my individual design project, Pilot House.
THE PILOT HOUSE Designed for a made-up, aspiring body jewelry inventor, the theme behind the house is transformation with flow. The inspiration came from the client’s fascination with the Wright Brother’s theory of wing warping, whereby the force applied by the pilot flows continuously through a system of pulleys, allowing the plane to twist and change its direction of flight, hence transforming. By manipulating a simple rectangle, planes were slanted, and volumes pulled out, twisted away from its axes to portray a sense of drastic change. The designed form depicts a still shot of the volumes originating from a common point, caught in transformation. PHYSICAL MODEL
ENTRANCE APPROACH TO PILOT HOUSE
SPATIAL CONTINUITY Along with the transformation suggested by the form of the house, another part of the concept deals more closely with the client’s experience around the house, the flow of spaces. Common spaces are deliberately grouped and connected on the first storey, allowing for a continuous flow of circulation, while private rooms on the second floor are placed with the consideration of the family members’ relations with one another.
SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B
FIRST STOREY PART PLAN
BLURRED BOUNDARIES The boundaries between interior and exterior are also blurred by maximizing openings and the use natural materials around the house, allowing the client to be able to live in an environment that blends in with nature, inspiring her to create beautiful works of jewel.
CONTINUITY OF KEY SPACES
06 SHADOW RESIDENCES APRIL 2013 | KAMPONG GLAM
REINTRODUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE Since Kampong Glam became gazetted for conservation in 1989, the various ethnic groups who previously lived there were relocated. This depopulation of the original communities and the government’s plan to repackage the area, has turned Kampong Glam into a mere showcase of its past culture and heritage, losing much of its Kampong days’ essence. The concept behind Shadow Residences thus celebrates the reintroduction residential life back into the conserved area through promoting and displaying interactions. Inspired by the traditional Malay art, Wayang Kulit, which revolves around storytelling, the design likewise focuses on creating platforms that enable stories of the residents to be told, capturing their interactions and movements to revive the spirit of communal living.
MAIN ENTRANCE VIEW ALONG SULTAN GATE ROAD
1ST STOREY PLAN CORRIDOR SPACES Corridor spaces are not simply viewed as circulation spaces, but treated as opportunities to promote interaction. In earlier design explorations, the corridors were brought out to surround the exterior of the building as a means of animating the building facade with movements and shadows. However, this would obstruct the views of the units. Thus, the design eventually takes on a centralized form to maximise views out, with corridors running internally to surround a central courtyard space.
2ND STOREY PLAN
3RD STOREY PLAN COMMUNAL FACILITIES To attract people into the site, a wider entrance was also created with layers of communal spaces stacked upon one another to form a point of attraction, greeting those entering the premise with a display of the various activities and interactions happening. These facilities include chat corners, barbeque pits, study lounge and rooftop garden.
4TH STOREY PLAN
INTERNAL COURTYARD SURROUNDED BY STRIPS OF CORRIDORS
KEY FEATURES The project’s main space is its central courtyard, designed with a green lawn for sports, a children playground and a meandering water feature to serve as a place for relaxation. Surrounding the courtyard are corridors covered with vertical screens and translucent glass used to distort movements along the continuous strips, providing people in courtyard with an interesting display of motion. As for facade design wise, the main consideration was to provide as much sun shading as possible to counter the building’s less than ideal orientation in conjunction with the Sun’s path. Thus, spaces were set back in, to create overhangs and heat buffer zones, while ensuring that each unit still have a nice view out. As a result, the facade reads as a continuous screen of boxes set back to different depths, framing the individual spaces and creating an open facade that displays the life within. It also evokes interesting, changing shadows along the facade during the day.
PHYSICAL MODEL
2ND STOREY PART PLAN
PRECAST FACADE MODULE
INTERIOR OF 3 BEDROOM UNIT WITH OUTDOOR DINING SPACE
07 JOO CHIAT CENTRE APRIL 2014 | COMMUNITY CENTRE A MEMORY MARKER & MAKER Joo Chiat, a residential conservation district in the eastern part of Singapore known for its old-world charm and Peranakan culture has undergone changes altering its identity. For long-time residents there, places that were fond memory markers of theirs have slowly disappeared over the years. In conjunction with the celebration of Singapore’s 50th year of independence, the design brief seeks to investigate the meaning of being Singaporean through the manifestation of its built environment. The proposed community centre tackles the importance of preserving the identity of a place, so that the community does not lose its identity in the face of Singapore’s rapid development. Joo Chiat Centre aims to serve as a physical memory marker that will preserve Joo Chiat’s identity by evoking a sense of familiarity among users and educating them about Joo Chiat’s past. DERIVATION OF FORM THROUGH THE STUDY OF JOO CHIAT’S STREETSCAPE
AXES AS GUIDING CIRCULATORY PATHS CREATING A CENTRAL GATHERING SPACE
TALLER VOLUMES PUSHED BACK TO MATCH SURROUNDING BUILDING HEIGHTS
MAIN APPROACH ALONG JOO CHIAT ROAD
CAREFUL SELECTION OF PROGRAMMES Joo Chiat Centre not only aims to be a physical memory marker but also a memory maker for its users. Programmes such as the Heritage Gallery, Library, Communal Garden and Kitchen are selected to educate visitors about the Peranakan culture while spaces like the Plaza and Playground are reinvention of the openair cinema and sandpit playground that residents of Joo Chiat and Singaporeans alike reminisce about.
KEY SECTION A-A
OVERVIEW OF JOO CHIAT CENTRE Each level takes on a slightly different character as programmes are grouped together to craft memorable experiences. The First level aims to draw visitors in with bright display of Peranakan costumes and artworks along with the fragrant smell of Peranakan dishes and spices from the Communal Garden and Kitchen. The Second level allows visitors to enjoy a quieter time as they learn about Joo Chiat’s history through the Library or experience a fine dining session of Peranakan cuisine. The Third level houses more active programmes such as the sports hall and performing studios, allowing parents to enjoy a session of traditional music and dance while their children play in the sandbox or are in the childcare. The section also illustrates how the building functions with considerations towards the use of lightweight steel construction to achieve daylighting, sun shading and natural ventilation. Crucial junctions are selected and studied in an exercise of technical detailing.
MOVIE SCREENING AT FEATURE PLAZA SPACE
EXTRACTION OF KEY GEOMETRY: AN OCTAGON
INSPIRATION FROM PERANAKAN TILES As the building form blends in with the surroundings, a more decorative facade is employed to draw visual interest and to reflect the essence of the programmes within. In an earlier design, patterns of the Peranakan tiles were directly translated onto the facade panels, resulting in an overly decorative facade. Thus, the tiles were reinterpreted in a more abstract, geometrical way with the key geometry of the tiles extracted and used as a basis for exploration.
PHYSICAL MODEL
FACADE EXPLORATION The extracted octagonal pattern is then experimented in different scales with different sizes of openings to achieve the desired natural lighting quality within each space. They are to be constructed out of GFRC, each panel supported by an octagonal subframe before being cladded onto the building’s horizontal frames via top and bottom restraints. As a result, each panel is sized at 4 x 4m to match the building’s beam to beam level.
LIGHTWEIGHT METAL JACK ROOF WITH PLANTER BOX DETAIL
SKYLIGHT WITH ALUM FIN SYSTEM AND ROOF PLANTER BOX DETAIL
DETAILING In the exercise of material selection and detailing, a combination of suppliers’ systems and details were studied and applied to the various key junctions. Aesthetics (e.g. the extension of facade cladding to conceal the rooftop railing) along with functionality (e.g. waterproofing & soundproofing) were considered alongside in determining the methods of interfacing.
GFRC FACADE CLADDING WITH RAISED FLOOR AND SUSPENDED CEILING DETAIL
ILLUSTRATION OF DESIRED TOP LIGHTING EFFECT OVER FEATURE PLAZA
INSITU X SETOUCHI
SEPTEMBER 2013 Mesmerized by the beautiful sceneries of the islands, the collage mapped the experience of my journey in the three different islands by means of the islands’ characteristics. A long curving path with dark to light gradient was used capture the somber mood of the journey on our first day in Naoshima, which rained heavily. It was also a representative of the repetitive play of light in several art houses around the island. Appearing faintly next to it is the ghost of the mountain and paddy fields that dominated the view of the second island, Teshima, where the pace of life felt slow and carefree. A series of panels form the landscape of the last island, Ogijima, which ascends vertically up the mountains, where houses sprawl over to form a maze of streets. Imprinted onto these panels were copies of textures of wooden floor boards, trees and stones felt all around Japan. Other elements inspired by the artworks seen during the Setouchi Triennale were also drawn into the collage, arranged into a flowing, graceful manner, characteristic of the Japanese culture.
08 BCAA ROOF GARDEN OCTOBER 2016 | LANDSCAPE DESIGN GREEN CURRY THEMED Introduced as a creative starter project into landscape design, the task given was to transform an unused BCA Academy building’s roof into a beautiful roof garden, housing facilities like a yoga deck, outdoor dining cafe and loose seating areas. Based on one of my favourite dishes, the garden took on a green curry theme, featuring a design language of arcs and circles inspired by those of green curry leaves and the circular bowl it is typically served in. The selection of softscape also features plants with orange and purple, Thai colours accent and fragrant smelling leaves.
MUNTINGIA CALABURA Tiered tree form for shade
BAMBUSA VULGARIS Screening effect
PANDANUS PYGMAEUS Harmonize with bamboo
VALLARIS HEYNEI Bread flower, climber, fragrant
HELICONIA PSITTACORUM Ornamental orange flowers
NYMPHAEA CULTIVAR Aquatic plant
MURRAYA KOENIGII(L.) SPRENG Curry bush, edible, fragrant leaves
CALATHEA LUTEA Dense wall cover
CORDIA SEBESTENA ‘AUREA’ Ornamental orange flowers
LAWSONIA INERMIS Henna tree, fragrant white flowers
VIEW OF GARDEN UPON EXITING THE GYM
AERIAL VIEW OF OVERALL GARDEN DESIGN
09 HORT PARK EXTENSION NOVEMBER 2016 | LANDSCAPE DESIGN ONE STOP GARDENING RESOURCE CENTRE Located east of the existing Hortpark, the site is accessible via Alexandra Road and the Southern Ridges walking trail. As per the brief, half of the site shall be developed into a public park serving as Hortpark’s new entrance and extension, while the other half with an existing colonial building will be converted into a restaurant with al fresco dinning, BBQ grilling stations and organic farming space. In line with Hortpark’s vision as a one stop gardening resource centre, the project has two main concepts: Vertical Farming & Farm to Table. The half dedicated to Hortpark will feature vertical farming strategies, introducing this new concept to the public, challenging traditional farming practices in view of increasing global population and land scarcity. While the other half dedicated to the restaurant, will feature farm-to-table practices. The site also poses a lot of challenges in terms of terrain, with three 1m sharp drops, hence a lot of thought is put into the play with levels and planning of circulation spaces.
EXISTING SITE PHOTOS