ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO V
PROJECT 1B. Architectural Design Strategy
Aim: to deduct a position for finding architecture and producing architectural design strategy.
By this time of the semester, the students should be able to find their positions to develop the Community Centre for the community. The students are to individually interpret the idea of Community Centre for the community in Brickfields and come up with an architectural design strategy for the same. This will be in-reflection to the issues and inspirations they found in Project 1a in order to offer to character, continuity and enclose, quality of public realm, ease of movement, legibility, adaptability, and diversity in the city.
SWOT Analysis What, Who and How ?
Sense of Place The Genius Loci of Brickfield's
The genius loci reveals the intricate art of relationship and interdependency that defines Brickfield's.
The interplay between architecture, cultural exchange, gastronomy, and religious coexistence forms a web of connections. These relationships are nurtured through shared experiences and mutual respect, reinforcing the unity in diversity that defines the community. However, at close interactions while experiencing this network, it is almost never-ending, and at times shadowing over one another.
Issue Statement
Brickfield's, grapples with multifaceted challenges that threaten its cultural identity and cohesiveness. Gentrification looms as a pervasive threat, with large-scale developments encroaching upon its traditional fabric. This perilous transformation has been exacerbated by self-imposed isolation, where Brickfield's is increasingly viewed as a transient passageway rather than a vibrant destination. Misfortunate happenings throughout history proven that the power of unity within the local community lacks solid gestures, hence the demolishment of 100 Quarters for a new residential development, despite protests and extreme objections by locals. Hence, the underlaying questions that we should further address :
(a) Are the locals really united? What is their symbol or identity ?
(b) How to solidify te bargaining power against gentrification ?
(c) What is the expected outcome upon ataining to these issues?
Design Theme
Bridging Cultures, Forging Identity
How can multiculturism be fused together into an identity originated from locals?
The Community Center is the vibrant heart of transculturation, a place where the colors of multicultural Brickfields blend into a unique and harmonious mosaic. It stands as the "third place," a sanctuary beyond borders, beckoning all weary souls away from the grind of work and the comfort of home; home away from home. Here, diverse activities take center stage as performers: culinary arts sizzle, crafts enchant, the cultural economy thrives, and the rich tapestry of cultures celebrates, echoing the tales of Brickfield's contented histories, from the clay of brick kilns to the lost spaces of Padang. The primary aim is to concentrate a local voice, an intangible cultural identity cherished and safeguarded by the community, uniting them in a powerful alliance against the shadows of gentrification.
.12 October 2023