Group 3 (Haina, Susila, Li Ying, Lye Teng, Jenevee)

Site

The HDB Opposite Temasek Polytechnic

Users

-          Toddlers from the sunflower kindergarten

-          Passer-by of the nearby paths

-          Residents of the surrounding blocks  

-          Temasek Polytechnic students

-          Badminton players using the court

-          Elderly taking walks

-          Carpark users

-          Kids

Strength

-          Regularly used by residents

-          Conveniently located between three blocks and a carpark

-          Nearby daycare uses the playground

-          Pavilion provides shade and seating for walkers      

Weaknesses

-          Sun hits the area in the morning

-          Too windy for racket games

-           

Opportunities

-          Potential for fitness corner and rocky path thing

-          Tables

-          More shelter

-          Element to attract the youth

Threats

-          The nearby field diverts the attraction from the court

-          Kindergarten is too near the carpark, dangerous

Circulation

Built Forms

Shadow at 9:30

Concrete seating around the badminton court

Badminton court

Pavilion outside kindergarten 

Playground

Seating around playground

Sketch of pavilion

Sketch of playground benches

View of adjacent soccer field from site

Activity 2

Task 1 : Case Studies

Passive:

Gazebo at Botanic Garden

- Provides shelter

- No use of walls allow cross-breezes to form and cool the area

- The use of wood as the main material also does not allow heat to be trapped

See Through Living in the Direction House by TNA

- Pillars are used as the main support hence there are more voids that allow the air cross ventilation to occur cooling the building

- Spaces between the void have either no or low built structures to ensure that air can always flow through

Task 2: Reflection on the Village Architect

Message:

Brief explanation of what vernacular architecture is and how it was used to design structures based on its surroundings. Examples were given such as Sliding House and Hill House.

Why is it relevant?

As architecture students, we learn to design structures. Most of the time, we have to design them based on the environment where the site is located at.

How does the theme relate to EECon?

Vernacular architecture is about designing based on local needs, construction materials and reflecting local traditions. Since the name of the class is called Environmental Elements and Control, We ought to learn about knowledge as stated before and the climatic conditions present, etc.

What did you learn?

We learnt that site context is really important when designing a structure.

What can you do with it?

We can use this new knowledge that we have gather and apply it in our future works.

Hill House – MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects

Its hilltop courtyard strangely responds to the traditional pattern of hilltop farms found throughout Lunenburg County. The house is aligned on the north south axis of the 250 year old agrarian pattern, while the diagonal path through the courtyard follows the long north-west axis of the drumlin left by the glacier 15,000 years ago. The hilltop siting underlines and resolves the desire for ‘prospect’ with the need for ‘refuge’. While the house acts as a 360° panopticon, its courtyard and battered haunches offer protection in a harsh Canadian climate. 

This ‘cultural sustainability’ is reinforced by hydronic in floor heating, the use of local, renewable materials and craftsmanship, resulting in an accessible and affordable architecture.