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Project 2 Genius Loci - Site Analysis and Concept Development

Project 1 Journey for the Five Senses

ARC 2118 - Architecture Design Studio 3

1A - PRECEDENT STUDIES: Analysing spatial poetics & spatial typologies in architecture

This studio emphasizes on the poetics of place and the experiential qualities of space in architecture. This invloves exploration of spatial typologies in architecture in the contexts of the neighbourhood and community.

In this introductory first project, we are required to do two precedent studies of buildings with their spatial poetics in a group of five. The two precedent studies have to be of different spatial organisation: linear organisation and concentric organisation.

The second part of this project requires us to design a "walk" themed "Journey for the Five Senses". We had to design a linear organised "walk" and a concentric organised "walk" based on a poem given to us. The designs should be a translation of the poem.

1B - THE JOURNEY FOR THE FIVE SENSES

Death

by Kahlil Gibran

You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

Death can be interpreted in many ways. Kahlil Gibran defined death as a part of life that it is unavoidable, and should be accepted. Some people live life being afraid of the end. Instead of being afraid, we should live life filled with dreams and purpose, and embrace death when it arrives.

Our themes for our walks reflect our interpretation of Kahlil Gibran's poem. We do not define death, as we do not know what or how death really is. Our designs that are engaging with the five senses reflects life, hopes, dreams and desires in life.

Through this project, I've had a better understanding of precedent studies analysis and to use the analysis for my own design. I have learned how different spatial organisations affect spatial experiences. I have also learned how to design to engage with the five senses and stimulate different emotions of the user with the considerations of natural lighting, human scale, materiality and textures. Lastly, I have learned how to produce drawings and use of verbal presentation to communicate and present ideas.

Project 2 is the starting point for the final project, which is to build a Visitor Interpretive Centre (VIC) at a given site. There are 2 parts in this project. The first part of the project requires us to do a site analysis in a group of 5. We have visited our site at Labrador Park, Singapore for the site analysis and took note of the surrounding of our site and also the pros and cons of the site.

The second part of the project is a concept development project. Students were required to do a historical research on the site for inspiration that connects to the past. While on site, we are also required to take note of the surroundings of the site like sounds, textures or any significant characteristic of the site to be sketched and considered for our design.

2A - SITE ANALYSIS

2B - CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Site Sketches

Concept Drawings

Labrador Park is located at the Southern part of Singapore. It is a place with rich history. There are forts and gunposts built by the British during the 1930s to defend Singapore from the Japanese. However, the Japanese outsmarted the British by invading Singapore from the North, leaving these forts and gunposts unused. Since then the defensive structures are preserved and it is now opened to public as an attraction.

I have picked up a few themes from the history of the site. These themes are expressed in the sketches and have been considered while developing my concept.

The concept of my design is to remember our roots. Singapore has gone through tough times to be where they are. Everyone should know, understand and remember their roots and appreciate the past which brought them to the present.

The VIC has three different entrances leading to the same common space. This is to tell the different stories of the soldiers that fought for their own cause during the Japanese Invasion. The British fought for their colony, the Japanese fought to expand their empire, and the local soldiers fought to protect the people of Singapore.

The common space leads to a ramp that brings visitors to a bright exhibition space that overlooks the sea. This bright space reflects the current Singapore, developed and prosperous. The main exhibition space is underground. A staircase connects the first exhibition space to the main exhibition space. This staircase "brings people back in time" as it signifies the time when Singapore was invaded and the soldiers fought for their freedom.

This design tells the story of Singapore and also to engage the visitors with the story of Singapore so that the people know and remember the past.

Through this project, I understood the term "Genius Loci". I am able to analyse the character of a place and present it visually and verbally. I have also learned to use the history and memory of a place and translate it into a design concept.

Project 3 is a continuation of project 2. In this project, the design brief calls for an architectural response to design an interpretive centre emphasising a strong engagement and relationship to the site, spatial experiences and programmatic requirements. The VIC should provide a physical point of reference with visual significance that keeps alive the memory of the site. The VIC is also used to house and display relevant material and interpretive material for public access and information.

Locating at the edge of the Labrador Park, the site I have chosen overlooks the sea. There is heavy circulation around the site I have chosen. In response to the circulation, I have designed an amphitheatre facing the gunpost for gathering of visitors. Connecting the open space and the exhibition spaces is the reception. The entrance to the reception is made semi-opened and the reception counter is angled in a way that it faces the amphitheatre. This way the visitors will feel invited towards the reception and then directed into the exhibition spaces.

The exhibition spaces are developed from the previous project. The walls of the first exhibition space are made curved and slanted to enhance the feeling of being more open as the visitors move through the space. This reflects the people in current days that are moving forward and are more detached from the past. A staircase leads to the core of the building, a tall space with skylight above shining into the dark underground space. This space gives a feeling of emptiness to the visitors. The emptiness reflects the loss of the soldiers' lives. From this space another staircase brings the visitors back up to a mezzanine floor. On this mezzanine floor there is a continuous glass panel that allows visitors to have a good view of the sea and part of sentosa island. The view shows the current developed Singapore which came after the battle. An outdoor staircase eventually brings visitors back to the souvenir shop and amphitheatre.

Materials used for the VIC is mainly concrete and bricks. Materials chosen reflects the existing structure, the gunpost, which is made of bricks on the inside and concrete on the outside. Hence, the shell of the VIC is made of concrete and the tall underground space is built with bricks.