GSA Showcase 2021

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Interior Design School of Design Singapore

Ze Ming Lee

Having an interest in old buildings and the vibrant inhabitations they contain, my project looks at three different areas of People’s Park Food Centre, a historically valuable landmark: the Hawker Centre at level 1; the textile district at Level 2; and the residential area located on the top floors of the building. The project aims to articulate new situations where new memories can be generated.

“It is pure intention: if there is chaos, it is authored chaos; if it is ugly, it is designed ugliness; if it is absurd, it is willed absurdity. Singapore represents a unique ecology of the contemporary.” says Rem Koolhaas in Singapore Songlines.

Singapore is in a constant state of renewal ever since its independence which has no doubt improved the living standards of Singaporeans. However this renewal also signifies the loss of memories that are embedded in the physical buildings which serve as social and cultural anchors. Is there a way of re-engaging local spaces so that they can continue to generate value instead of being cleared for redevelopment?

 

 

Contact
leezeming@gmail.com
Photography
Projects
Pursuit of Follyness
Intimacies at the Textile District
Exploring Alternative Domesticities

Pursuit of Follyness

Collage

Rhythms of People's Park Centre

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Hawker Centre?

Is there any other forms of circulation or arrangement that can create a more meaningful spatial experience that reflects better the energy of the food centre?
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Circulation

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Alternative Permutations

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Materiality of the Hawker Centre

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Reconfiguring Site Materials

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Isometric View of Repurposed Hawker

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A Vibrant Courtyard

A spatial configuration that encloses the courtyard but not entirely visually where the slight rotations in layout allow different apertures to open up into the courtyard. Arousing curiosity as well as creating a more protective atmosphere for events to take place in it
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A Vibrant Food Centre

The mosaic configuration has certain perforations that allows the energy of the hawkers stalls to bleed out and be felt. The mosaic also reflects the light to create a certain kind of light spectacle.
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Intimacies at the Textile District

Reappreciating the Textile District, introducing new energy and revitalize this historically valuable space which will continue to generate memories for future inhabitants/visitors while still retaining some sense of historicity.

Breaking up the current hierarchy

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Explorative Model 1

Using the same idea of permeable materials, a circular form is introduced, allowing a more fluid circulation and different ways of entering and exiting the spaces.
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Explorative Model 2

This time the circular form is exploded into four quadrants, with each quadrant having a different opacity quality or porosity.
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Fabric as a spatial element

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Form Development

Circular forms were further explored in conjunction of the four main programs. Workshop Space, Public Space, Retail/Exhibition space and another smaller workshop space. to result in a S-like form that opens up towards the circulation paths that invites access.
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Weaving as a wall material

Fabrics/textiles are made out of many threads being woven together. Can the wall a solid surface, be able to emulate the soft qualities of textile by incorporating weaving into the fabrication of walls.
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Rejuvenating the textile district

The intervention houses a the different programs with the s-shaped form opening up to the textile district with its many access point. Curtains are also used as a divider to soften the boundaries between the different programsa and circulation paths. Modular furniture made from textile tubes allows visitors to shape their own rest spaces.
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Main workshop

This space holds workshops about textile crafts for visitors, it’s openness invites visitors to look in without feeling a sense of apprehension
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Retail/exhibition space

The retail/exhibition space allows hobbyists , students or professionals to display their works or products that allow a stronger recognition of local products. Allowing locals to be more invested in the textile industry
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Exploring Alternative Domesticities

Taking inspiration from Raimund Abraham’s 1972 poem “ the elements of the house” the house is reimagined with the various phenomena that happens in the home. Such as intimacies, dreams, niches and warmth which are usually adjectives not used to describe HDB spaces.

The Home

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The Single Parent

Single parent families stray away from the traditional family structure where much of Singapore’s housing is designed for. Facing many difficulties, emotionally and physically as they try to strive to provide the best for their kids.
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Relationship between core and home

With the Parent away from home for long periods of time due to work commitments. The child has to be home alone. Can the home then in the place of the parent be able to provide certain sort of warmth and embrace for the child. Experimenting with a core concept that the family life revolves around
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Exploring Forms with core concept

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Materials that embrace

Experimenting with materials that could produce an sense of embrace, making up for the absence of the parent.
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At Home

The ceiling is made from a series of paper-like translucent material with leaf shapes cut from it. As light pass through, it is filtered into soft diffused lighting almost as if sitting under the tree. Modular furniture that allows the child to reappropriate the space to their imagination.
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The central core is characterised by sliding doors made of paper as well as chalkboards that allows the parent and child to communicate especially when they have to leave early for work. It allows the space to be reconfigured with different levels of privacy to suit different occasions
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