GSA Showcase 2021

Menu
Interior Design School of Design Singapore

Sheryl Goh (She/Her)

Greetings, thank you for taking a look at my works. In this times of uncertainty, I hope you are safe and healthy.
My works revolves around people and how they use the space around them, contributing to their individual’s experience uniquely only to them. I’ve practiced in a variety of projects and works throughout my years of Interior Design Practice but my interest is more deeply in residential spaces. Residential spaces are where there is the most character of human identity and a more in depth user and space relation.

For more works that I have done in my years of interior design practice, please take a look at my online portfolio. Thank you so much for ready. Have a nice day.

Contact
sherylgoh19@gmail.com
Z.Goh1@student.gsa.ac.uk
sherylgoh19.wixsite.com
Works
Enclosure: Temporal and Permanence of HDBs

Enclosure: Temporal and Permanence of HDBs

The project focuses on questioning and redefining both the ‘void deck’ and the private domain (living spaces) using different levels of enclosure.

HDB is the main residential typology of Singapore. They are build and designed by the government, resulting in our lifestyle to be predetermined. This predetermined lifestyle does not suit everyone’s lifestyle and a change in HDB is needed.
The three different parts of the project, Temporal, Permanent and Infinite critiques on current HDB designs and brings up the possibilities on how different levels of enclosure might better suit to the needs of the different users.

 

 

Temporal Enclosure touches on how HDB’s Void Deck has too little enclosure and is a flat, cold and lifeless space, causing it to be a space of no human identity. It focuses on how it can enclose the void deck, yet being an open space and is able to physicalize the human identity of void decks into the spatial experience.

 

 

Permanent Enclosure touches on the aspects of how HDB is predesigned for 2 groups of users. Therefore, Singles and Families of 5 or more has many difficulties in finding a space suitable to them. Hence, Permanent Enclosure is the exploration on the possibilities on how HDBs living spaces can cater to these user groups and how it can also improve our spatial user experience through intangibles.

 

 

People are still in constant motion of seeking for a new home when there are changes in their way of living. Infinite Enclosure then focuses on how the concept is able to best possibly suit to the vast needs of different users and how the living space can grow together with the users.

Temporal Enclosure

String Materiality Exploration

Intangibles Sense of life through the wave shadows Subtle Enclosure A screen of wall but does not enclose the interior space visually.
1 of 35

Close
Temporal Enclosure

Plastic Materiality Exploration

Intangibles Creates direction and separates interior spaces on its interior surfaces Enclosure It encloses the spaces spatially but not visually
2 of 35

Close
Temporal Enclosure

Paper Materiality Exploration

Intangibles Softer lighting effect in the interior space Enclosure It encloses the space spatially and subtly in visual aspects
3 of 35

Close
Temporal Enclosure

String Installation

The soft texture creating life-like shadows brings out the fragile fleeting human presence that comes and goes in a void deck space
4 of 35

Close
Temporal Enclosure

Plastic Installation

The fine crossed shadows brings out the notion of people crossing paths in a void deck
5 of 35

Close
Temporal Enclosure

Paper Installation

The soft resulting lighting effect envelops the interior space, bringing out the warmth and comfort of having people in the void deck space
6 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

8 Units Floorplan Configuration 01

Homes designed and suitable for singles as users, with enhance private living spaces and open communal spaces.
7 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

8 Units Floorplan Configuration 02

Homes designed and suitable for singles as users. With communal spaces outside their house area at the common corridor, the users are able to 'escape' from their individual living spaces to use the outside space for other activities.
8 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

2 Units Floorplan Configuration 01

Homes designed and suitable for families of 5 or more. Instead of a centralized communal space, there are pockets of communal spaces around the house.
9 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

2 Units Floorplan Configuration 02

Homes designed and suitable for families of 5 or more. Communal spaces are different for every family, some may be a small reading room while others can be centered around their pets.
10 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

Threshold 01

Permanent enclosure also can be in the form of thresholds. With the threshold being foldable walls, controlling how much to open and enclose the space. This also thus serves as an emotional threshold as they are able to show how much they are willing to share when they are in the space.
11 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

Threshold 02

The vertical threshold does not separate the space physically but visually. Users are still able to cross from one side to another. The emotional threshold comes in when lighting will affect the quality of the space beyond the threshold.
12 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

Threshold with Lighting Study

Exploring in depth how can lighting, the degree of darkness affects how we share communal space.
13 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

Private Space

Being a dark space, it is a personal space for the user in the space. This shows an emotional threshold of how the user do not want to share the space with other people.
14 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

Semi-Private Space

The brighter space, making it a semi-private space for the user in the space. This emotional threshold shows that the user in the space is willing to share the space yet he/she still wants to have a certain level of privacy.
15 of 35

Close
Permanent Enclosure

Public Space

The bright space, makes it a public space for the user. This emotional threshold shows that the user in the space is willing to share the space together with other people.
16 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

Introducing Infinite Boundary

Through the removal of the non structural walls of the HDBs, I will be introducing Infinite Boundary. Through spatial division, it helps to guide users on how they can buy and sell their space and plan their living spaces.
17 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

Spatial Growth with Users

By coming up with 7 variety of users, I layout them on the floorplan space based on how much space they need for living. That space itself can grow with the users, be it bigger or smaller over time. The way they live are hence not constrained by the structural design.
18 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

Spatial Growth 01

Through the implementation of flexibility in the walls, the spaces can be expanded or contract in the interior space.
19 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

Spatial Growth 02

The flexibility in the walls also allows for the choice to buy and sell spaces according to users' needs overtime.
20 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

User 5

Flexibility of the walls in between units does not only apply to buying and selling of space. There is also the possibility of users sharing a communal space by expanding and contracting certain spaces. Privacy can also still be maintain despite such flexibility in the walls.
21 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

User 6

In an interior space itself, the infinite enclosure, flexibility of the walls can also be in the form of using it to suit different activities. A open and breathable space for resting while a enclosed space for concentration during work.
22 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

User 2 Spatial Growth 01

User 2 is able to buy space from their neighbor to expand their house to fit the 2 new members of their family. Yet, since they're still toddlers, there won't be flexibility in terms of the walls for safety reasons.
23 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

User 2 Spatial Growth 02

With family's growth, their needs also changes. Their living spaces are now bigger (and smaller), where the flexibility of the walls also cater to their occasional needs.
24 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

01 Couple Communal Space

Current and 5 years later visual The originally bedroom and corridor is transformed into a couple communal space.
25 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

02 Open Concept Family Space

10 years later visual 01 This open concept space allows the parents to have a easier time to attend to their twin toddler daughters' needs when need to.
26 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

03 Family Communal Space

10 years later visual 02 The toddlers' room also function as a family communal space, where the parents can work in the same space when the toddlers are sleeping.
27 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

04 Siblings' Personal Communal Space

15 years later visual 01 The space that previously functions as a transitional corridor can be turned into a communal space for the siblings to spend time together.
28 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

05 Family Dining/Communal Space

15 years later visual 02 The open concept kitchen and corridor space can be turned into a dining and family communal space when needed.
29 of 35

Close
Infinite Enclosure

06 Private Foyer Space

20 years later visual With lesser people in the family, a family communal space is no longer needed and the space now occasionally functions as a private foyer.
30 of 35

Close
Site Context

HDB Site

Located at Mei Ling Street Block 160, it is the first ever Point Block build to solve the social and living issues of Singapore during the 1970. Privacy of personal living space is said to have improved in this Point Block Design.
31 of 35

Close
Site Context

Fleeting Presence of Human Identity

Mei Ling Street's void deck is usually quiet and empty. Occasionally, conversations happened only when neighbors saw each other, otherwise it functions as a transitional space.
32 of 35

Close
Project Context

Evolution of HDBs

Older point block HDBs are simple while newer Point Blocks have more complex layouts
33 of 35

Close
Project Context

Predetermined Spaces

Void deck spaces are too open, making it a transitional space. Whereas living spaces are too enclosed and spaces are already predetermined, causing us having to change our lifestyle to suit the HDB's design.
34 of 35

Close
Project Context

Programmed Spaces

However for void decks, when programs are introduced (Malay Weddings or Funerals), the space is enclosed and people gathers at the void deck. This brings out the human identity of the void deck that usually isn't present.
35 of 35

Close