GSA Showcase 2021

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PART II – WORK

THE WAY WE WORK/HOW DO WE WORK?

This booklet continues with part 2 of the Project : “Work with Plants”. This project deals with the work side of “LIVE, WORK AND PLAY” and the idea of working from home while being around nature and plants.

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many of us had to stick with the mandatory “work from home” setting which entailed us to having our work life even at home. This caused a major disruption in many of our lives, having to juggle personal and work life in the same place. In this part, I will be creating a space where residents can comfortably work/study all whilst being around nature and having the elements of outdoors all whilst being indoors.

 

DESIGN INTENTION

The intention is to integrate the idea of “outside” into indoor workspaces. The design is mainly for working adults and studying children/adults (those who need a workspace). The intervention is having a “work from home” type of situation, but instead it is “work near home” with workspaces being available on two floors of the HDB. The reason for this “work near home” idea came out from the pandemic’s “work from home” movement.

However, instead of working from home and being cooped up in the same four walls every day, the work near home allows residents to leave their homes and work in other spaces near their homes. The work near home also prevents far travelling for the residents when in need on conducive workspaces other than their own homes. Nature and plants will be present throughout the building. This the allows residents to be near or cross paths with nature and the outside, even when working.

Workspace area for residents to use, the furniture are of wood material to emphasise on the natural aspect and are mainly of warm tones to allow the green colour of the plants to light up the space instead.

The once residential units will be converted into workspaces for both adults and student residents to work and study. The space will be easy access as it is located in the HDB flat itself. The exterior walls are replaced with full windows to allow direct visual connection to the surroundings which includes the Punggol Park and the Serangoon River. The double volume space allows those on the second floor to be able to have visual connection to the lower floor and the plants that are growing on the floors.
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A green wall is also placed in the space and covers the entire double volume, from the floor to the ceiling. This provides more greenery in the space apart from the urban farming and the tree canopy.
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Office/Study area in the HDB for residents to use. The office area allows direct views to the tree and plants in the space. Having visual connections to plants/greenery is extremely beneficial and allows residents to be less stress and more relaxed with the amount of nature in space.

A tree is grown in the space to encourage greenery in the surrounding and promote well-being. How does this work (with reference to the case studies below): The type of tree used is a Willow Fig Tree; this tree type can grow with limited soil amount in a soil container and grows well in an indoor space. The soil container is also of appropriate depth to ensure well growth of the tree in the space.
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The bridge space consists of hanging chairs made of twigs and branches, allowing residents to sit and use their laptops, read, study or even simply just taking a break and looking outside. The full-scale window provides a sense of openness and a great view to the Punngol Park and also ample sunlight into the space.
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Resting bridge space that residents are able to sit and read or even take a break and enjoy the outside scenery

The enclosed bridge space has plants all-over the walls and potted plants in the space. Referring to NBBJ’s Amazon Spheres, this office space is airconditioned and enclosed with devices that changes the temperature and humidity in the space. NBBJ had devices installed in their enclosed spaces as well, in order to keep the plants in their spaces well and alive. The temperature and humidity changes with the device, to fit and cater to the needs of the plants in the space, allowing them to grow well and comfortably.
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Resting bridge space that residents are able to sit and read or even take a break and enjoy the outside scenery

There are plants on one side of the space and none on the other. The plants on one side of the space lies against the window that faces the interiors of the HDB, whilst the other window left bare faces the Punggol Park that is just beside the block. Doing this allows the residents to experience both ends of the ‘Living with Plants’ scale (refer to introduction booklet) - controlled and uncontrolled biophilia. The plants in the space being controlled as it is manicured and carefully curated for the space. And then the park on the outside being uncontrolled where the plants are able to go freely and widely. The residents simply just need to turn their heads left and right to observe this change.
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Referring to the drawing on the left, Indoor urban farming is introduced in the office space to allow the residents to be a part of the plant life cycle. Residents can aid in the growing of plants of even grow their own plants in the space. Even if residents do not wish to farm, just by looking and seeing the plants growing already includes the green idea into their daily lives. And looking at plants brings major benefits especially in aiding stress relief and boosting creativity and focus - qualities that are essential and helpful in a work environment.
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The residents will be facing the tree and the plants growing from the urban farming areas. Residents sitting on the second floor are also able to view the tree canopy on the first floor with the given direct visual connection. The large double volume atrium space allows the space to feel more open. The tree canopy also provides casual seating space for those who wish to work in a less rigid area.
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