Muhammad Sufyan Kadir
Based in Singapore, Sufyan is carefree and curious designer, exploring what he wants no matter big or small.
Interested in architecture and small spaces, Sufyan ponders how spaces are created and what experiences goes through the minds of individuals.
Apart from design, Sufyan is interested in watching football, playing games, drawing and listening to music in his non-existent free time :’-)
Individuality in Micro-Spaces
Part I of III of my FYP Research Project regarding the topic of Micro-ness, this Volume researches upon how an creative individual might perform in a tight space given to fully utilise. Spaces often change as time passes whether it is by users or through age. As humans, it is our nature to have an individuality. What if that individuality is explored through the spaces we created? In this project I will be exploring how spaces changes through people and time by exposing them to raw structures and systems in tiny spaces.
A studio space is supposed to promote creativity through this open-studio concept that it has, but it seems to be just an wide open space fitted with tables and chairs. How is such a conventionalised/institutionalised space then supposed to promote creativity when the space of where we inhabit is plain? As students, especially in the creative field, I think it is vital and apparent that they have much creative juices and it is spread towards the spaces around them. A mess to one is haven to the other.
The space is constantly changing, to fit the student’s needs. It allows freedom in changing the form of the space to accommodate different activities such as having a small cubicle to do work, or a big space for a more communal gathering. Interaction with each other changes as well as the comfort levels of everyone differs and this allows a personalisation within the privacy of ones’ space.
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Moments in Micro-Communities
Part II of III of my FYP Research Project regarding the topic of Micro-ness, this Volume researches upon how pockets of public spaces just out of homes can be created into communities. was inspired by the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong and how such a large density could fit into such a small space. This such spaces sort of then creates a community within the community, or a micro-community. The idea of having a self sustaining space was interesting and I was wondering whether it could fit into the context of Singapore. However things would differ in terms of the how it was build due to the uncontrollable growth there versus here. This would be my theoretical framework in looking at how communities can be formed within small spaces.
Block 24 is a single room rental flat built in 1972. Currently being occupied by the aging population, with a very minute percentage of small families. This block is one of the three blocks that was built in that generation whilst the surrounding blocks was only built a decade or more later. The units are built facing each other with narrow corridors which makes the space feel tight and dense. Due to this personal belongings that are placed out of their homes clutter the walkway and some are pushed to the staircase where they would gather or place plants to grow. The site was chosen because of it’s miniscule space, which was similar to how the walled city was, structurally. The challenge for me was to figure out how to make the best use out of the tight space to create a community within it.
By recessing of wall in the corridor, it becomes a much spacious space for users to inhabit. The space created would be deep enough to add personal furniture into the space, without compromising their living standards within their homes. The recessed space creates a veranda for them and this unspoken line which acts as a personal space owned by the tenant of the space. It becomes a transition space for them in between the private space of their homes and the public space of the outside
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Dialogues in Micro-Objects
Part III of III of my FYP Research Project regarding the topic of Micro-ness, this Volume researches upon how furniture could be made into objects that enables interactivity between two or more users. Explorations towards objects in public spaces and how inhabitants uses them will be done. Whilst investigating the site for the previous project, these moments and personal paraphernalia were discovered. It made me wonder how users inhabit these public spaces and make it personal to them. Studies shown that people need to be invited to make a space their home. They will tend to insert events or programmes to make a space personal. (Regan Koch and Alan Latham, 2012) This is apparent in the space that I experienced as there were an abundance of personal belongings in places that were public, as though it made it seem like the spaces were belonging to a single person, and not a space for the public.
Block 24 was chosen again similar to the previous project, I felt that this was a good space to start due to it having already such a rich culture of inhabitation with their belongings and how they occupy these small spaces. The open space in the alternate floor was such a unique area of the block. A sort of public space, it’s been inhabited by what seem to be a single individual for each of the floors. Some of these spaces were occupied by so much boxes and unused items that the space became a storage for them. These spaces occupied are about the same size as their whole unit. Some of these spaces becomes their living room with the types of furniture that they place here. One of the floors had a refrigerator and dining table against the wall, turning the space into their dry kitchen. However, these spaces are only used by a single user even though it is a public space. I was then interested in how these spaces could then be inhabited by different users without sacrificing the space being personal for them.
The use of space isn’t defined by the space created but by how the users define them. By creating these modular furniture, many uses were uncovered and achieve but it is by how the users use them is how the space is defined. As beings of the older generation, they tend to stick with what they are used to and comfortable with, and are not keen on new things, thus these simple structures were made to be easily used and manipulate effortlessly. These modules can be reconfigured to be used for different programming such as Dwelling, Tai Chi, Gardening or even Bird Watching.
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