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Publication HITS AND MISSES : GARDENS BY THE BAY(2014-09-19) GAN XIU PING SELENE; ARCHITECTURE; RAFFAELLA SINIOn 11 January 2005, Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, unveiled the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) targets to ensure that tourism remains as a key economic pillar. Within the plans of Tourism 2015, Singapore aims to be a destination of choice, a powerful tourism hub attracting visitors, businesses and talents from across the world by 2015. As such, the S$2 Billion Tourism Development Fund has been deployed to catalyze future initiatives and catapult growth in the tourism industry, out of which S$795 million to over S$1 billion were dedicated to the construction of Gardens by the Bay, which was opened on 29 June 2012. On 1 November 2010, Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, further disclosed the key roles of Gardens by the Bay, putting forth its strategic role in realizing the City in a Garden vision, and cementing the objectives and aspirations as penned in Tourism 2015. Though the Gardens by the Bay is a valid continuation of the governments’ efforts in securing a competitive edge amongst countries, the question lies whether it being such a hit, has also truly been a miss in the overall scheme of things, especially in attaining its acclaimed national identity. As such, the essay hopes to uncover the ‘misses’ that might have been overlooked, and how these ‘misses’ could better inform and enrich the existing scheme, perhaps even provide an alternative concept on how Gardens of the Bay can be envisioned. The essay is centred on uncovering the significance of this acclaimed national identity at Marina Bay, and whether the reasons for constructing this identity are necessarily compelling.Publication URBAN OASIS WITHIN THE MAXIMUM CITY(2011-05-26) NG RUILIN; ARCHITECTURE; LOW BOON LIANGThis thesis proposes an Urban Oasis in the Singapore Central Business District (CBD), which consists of a boutique hotel and spa, at the cross streets of Robinson Road and Mccallum Street. The project stems from a concern with the Singapore CBD, that despite its built up density and its location at the heart of Singapore’s Central District, the area essentially becomes dead after working hours. Maximum City is used as a framework to relook at the city, to examine the reasons for the lack of life within the CBD. Aspects of Maximum City such as people inclusiveness, optimum intensity of activity and a good quality of environment are seen as criterias for an ideal urbanized district. The design project is an Urban Oasis, one of three programmatic nodes proposed in the district strategy plan. The Urban Oasis is a space where people come to relax and enjoy elements of nature. It integrates itself with pedestrianised green streets and engages the public on the ground. This project demonstrates a new possibility of dealing with ‘prime’ sites in the city with high plot ratios, by conserving and working with an existing low rise building, (adding a high rise extension for economic viability) whilst providing a quality relaxing, green environment for the people.Publication GREENWAY GREENSCHOOL : BRIDGING BIODIVERSITY INTO THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT(2010-06-02T08:42:57Z) KOH HAU YEOW; ARCHITECTURE; CHEAH KOK MINGThe paradigm shift in world view from an anthropocentric perspective to an ecological one calls for the need to improve biodiversity in Singapore. The thesis investigates architecture as a medium that synergies with nature and ecology by marrying bio-remediation urban infrastructure, with an ecological program of a Greenschool that is based on outdoor environmental education, in order to create physical linkage between two forest patches as well as the social connection between public and biodiversity. The thesis explores how in regenerating biodiversity in our urban environment, the “heart-ware (inculcating ecological awareness and stewardship)” must be developed together with the “hardware (connecting fragmented landscapes with close-loop living machine technology) in order to provide an alternative co-species development.Publication INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION IN CHINA - A CASE STUDY OF �EASTERN SUBURB MEMORY � PROJECT IN CHENGDU(2013-11-14) LIU MINGXIAO; ARCHITECTURE; CHEN YUWith the post-industrial movement, major Chinese cities such as Chengdu are now undergoing the transformation of various industries. Since most of the old industrial factories lack economic values and create pollutions in the urban city, it is inevitable that the factories will be relocated and redeveloped, freeing up the land for new developments. In the case of Chengdu, most of the factories were demolished or relocated during the late 20th century, so there was not much of an industrial heritage left in the city then. However, with the appearance of “Wu Xi Suggestion” (无锡 建议)1 which approved the state protection on industrial heritages starting in 2006, together with the success industrial redevelopment such as Beijing 798 and Shanghai “the bridge 8” (八号桥), cities started to combine industrial redevelopment and new industries, in the hopes of achieving both economic value and industrial heritage conservations. Thus began the top-down industrial conservation project in Chengdu. This dissertation looks into the industrial heritage conservation movement in Chengdu, investigates the reason for the new movement and the current industrial heritages situation in the city. Through the case study of top-down conservation project “Eastern Suburb Memory” (东郊记忆), this dissertation will propose three key aspects (spatial quality, artifacts and value) of the industrial heritages as the key point of industrial conservations. With a thorough analysis of the three aspects in relation with the “Eastern Suburb Memory”, the government’s inability in leading the top-down projects will be further elaborated upon. The conclusion is that for the benefit of future industrial conservations, it is vital for the government to adopt the proposals in the three areas aforementioned.Publication TYPOLOGIES OF COMMON AREAS & THEIR IMPACTS ON SOCIAL INTERACTION AND BONDING IN SINGAPORE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES(2016-01-06) WONG SHI MEI MANDY; ARCHITECTURE; TAN BENG KIANGThe typologies of public housing in Singapore have constantly been changing to meet a variety of needs and aspirations. As more new flats are introduced, it is important to foster a sense of social interaction and bonding between neighbours and towards a stronger sense of belonging. Through the literature review, it is proven that common areas are primary spaces that offer highest opportunities for interaction and exchange. However, in the new typologies, there is less emphasis on the planning and design of common areas which can have an impact on residents when comes to social interaction and bonding. This study investigates the impact of the different typologies of common areas in affecting social interaction and bonding among residents. Apart from covering the different typologies, selected case studies were further analysed by qualitative and quantitative methods. These methods include assessing the spatial analysis and measuring social interaction and bonding through surveys and interviews with the residents.Publication CANOPIES IN TRANSIENCE: SHARED SPACES FOR A CHINESE BUDDHIST TEMPLE AND SECULAR CHILDREN'S LIBRARY IN PUNGGOL(2017-10-11) TEO EE; ARCHITECTURE; CHAN KOK HUI JEFFREYPublication LIQUID FRONTIER: REIMAGINING THRESHOLDS BETWEEN LAND AND SEA(2021-06-30) YOENG SHU HWEE; ARCHITECTURE; NIRMAL TULSIDAS KISHNANIThe sites of land reclamation are symbolic of Singapore’s appetite for growth over the past 200 years. Coastlines and marine ecosystems are traded and marginalised for the pursuit of land expansion. As a sea state, Singapore is trapped in the dilemma of development and ecological destructions. While the conservation of the original marine habitats is expedient, it is not always viable because land reclamation is never finished. Hence, we ask the following question. Must urbanism be always at odds with natural ecosystems? This thesis is a critique of the island’s reclamation regimes and years of static delineated masterplan planning that have led to an increasing artificiality and alienation of our cities from the natural environment. It seeks to reverse the trajectory of water edge hardening and posits for a blurred frontier between land and sea that allows natural submersion processes to act on it. This thesis recalls the role of the architecture as an ecological facilitator and mediator and looks to land as a partner in the remediation and restoration of lost marine ecosystems. By redistributing the armoured edge, the thesis proposes a new way of engaging the edge by creating a landscape activated by the dynamics of water. This new edge boundary will serve as the shared territory between two opposite presences – man and nature. A new framework will be developed to create edge conditions adept at accommodating and benefiting adjacent marine ecosystems while incubating new hybrid programs that are recreational and ecological. Keywords: Land reclamation, land, sea, marine ecosystems, ecotonesPublication FISHERY FACILITY AT SHAPOWEI: REVIVING SHAPOWEI AS A CULTURAL, LIVING FISHING PORT FOR ITS DYNAMIC COMMUNITY(2017-12-04) CHE SIEAU HUA; ARCHITECTURE; CHEN YUThe location for this thesis project is in Shapowei, Xiamen, China. The main issue that the masterplan address is to reactivate the edges of sheltered dock (), and to bring new life to the traditional culture in Shapowei, especially fishery culture. The thesis project is carried out within the framework of Shapowei masterplan. Through the introduction of fishery facility, it would help to resolve the disputes between the local fishermen and foreign fishermen, and to pass down the traditional technique, as well as to counter the commercialization driven by tourism. This project will also help to revive Shapowei as a cultural, living fishing port that reciprocates to the local community’s collective identity and memory.Publication SPATIAL JUSTICE IN LITTLE INDIA: A STUDY OF PUBLIC SPACES OF CONGREGATION IN AN ETHNIC ENCLAVE(2014-11-12) KONG KAH YEE; ARCHITECTURE; JUNKO TAMURALittle India has functioned as an ethnic enclave since before Singapore’s independence, and is well-known for the throngs of Indian and Bangladeshi foreign workers occupying the space on weekends. Xenophobic sentiments from the local population has resulted in spatial segregation in modern day Singapore, where the foreign workers employed in the construction industry are kept apart from the rest of society through the deliberate locating of workers’ dormitories and recreation centres away from residential estates and in industrial zones instead. This spatial injustice continues to manifest itself through the poor living conditions of the dormitories and the practice of implicitly encouraging the workers to keep their recreational activities to the designated centres or to the enclave of Little India. While Little India was not designated as a public space for congregation, it is without doubt that the foreign workers have been using and will continue to use the space on their days off, thus necessitating urban interventions to improve the spatial quality of the site’s public areas. This dissertation examines the injustices that arise due to the site’s lack of features for good public space, and attempts to find out if there is a difference in the spatial perception of urban planners and the foreign workers by interviewing the latter at the site and comparing their answers to research on ideal public space.Publication TRANSIENCY & LIMINALITY: A COEXISTENCE APPROACH TO RETHINKING FOREIGN WORKER DORMITORIES IN SINGAPORE(2021-07-08) WONG CHI KHAY; ARCHITECTURE; TAN BENG KIANGFollowing the outbreak of COVID-19, the thesis would like to push for a re-conceptualisation of foreign worker housing beyond the adoption of new pandemic resilient standards. The workers’ appalling living conditions were symptoms of deeper structural problems concerning Singapore’s immigration model that fuels economic exploitation. The construction of foreign worker infrastructures in far-flung locations also furthers a legacy of segregation that recreates the workers’ lowly societal status. Therefore, the thesis seeks to decentralise foreign worker housing into local neighbourhoods through a nomadic dormitory model. These heartland dormitories would temporarily occupy vacant lands that are waiting to be developed and relocate after 5 years. Besides being a worker dormitory, they are equipped with a wide range of programmatic attractors to build engagement with the local residents. Through a coexistence approach, the thesis aims to normalise the presence of foreign workers within Singapore’s society. It hopes to facilitate tolerance, understanding, and a more informed citizenry that would further public discourses towards a more balanced relationship with foreign labour.