Clarke Quay Eco Roof - Inspirational Singapore

When I first step foot into Clark Quay, the only recollection that I could remember is that the Ministry of Manpower [MOM] is located just few minutes away from the MRT station where I would get my work permit, which reminds me, I have to renew mine soon. Cant believe it has been nearly a year working in Singapore. But what I failed to realised, there was a huge tree like sutrcture just around the corner on the other side of the MRT station, which happen to be an iconic feature. I just happen to bump into the location because my friend brought me around the place as it is a hot spot for drinking and hanging out by the river and incidently my company also had our Chinese New Year lunch around the area.

The major structure was design by Alsop and it was a dramatic redevelopment of the river district for Clarke quay, a mixed used scheme that is vibrant and an attractive destination which cost 45.3 million euro. The project was successful because the archtiect and engineer are able to manipulate the site's microclimate using sophisticated shading/cooling system. The system was integrated into the structure itself to enhance the visuality of the apce and its environmental agenda. The success of the space itself was confirm by the dramatic increase in foot traffic which increased by 4 fold.

The first picture is taken from the internet and the ones below are taken with my Iphone. Enjoy.

Stadium MRT & The Singapore Indoor Stadium

I got the opportunity to go to the Singapore Indoor Stadium to watch a basketball match between the Singapore Slingers and the Bangkok Cobras, and it was obvious who I was supporting, and it was even more obvious who won lol. Anyways, putting the game aside, the real opportunity that I had was to experience the SMRT 'Stadium' station which was design by my favourite firm, WOHA. Stadium MRT Station (CC6) is an underground MRT stationon the Circle Line in Singapore. The station was opened on 17 April 2010 along with the rest of Stage 1 & 2 of the Circle Line in Singapore and is operated by SMRT corporatiom. It serves the Kallang area and the future Singapore Sports Hub which comprises the new National Stadium, new Aquatic Centre and the existing Singapore Indoor Stadium, Leisure Park Kallang and the Tanjong Rhu area. The station is named after the sport centres/stadiums in the vicinity. It is expected to have a high amount of passenger usage when there is a significant event in the Sport centres nearby. This station is also within the vicinity of Kallang MRT station and Mountbatten MRT station.

As you walk out of the station, you will straight away come across the stadium which is design by Kenzo Tange, a renoun Japanese architect. It was completed in 1989 and the $90 million structure was officially opened by the Prime Minister at that time, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The building has a cone shaped roof and a pillarless arena. The full capacity of the building is 12,000 but it will vary depending on the occasion such as concerts and sport events.

The pictures above are taken from the internet, enjoy the picstures below as taken from my Iphone.

A fresh start to the year

A new year, a new start, hence the brighter and simpler set up, hoping for a great year ahead.

It has been quite a while since my last post, and many things did happen along the way. Time has been great and tough, but we all know its pretty much the norm to have it this way. My project is finally coming to an end, not exactly yet, but the transfer of responsibilities towards a project manager will be done when construction starts after Chinese New Year. I on the other hand, was also given the opportunity to do a few feasibility study which I was craving for months since I started as it involves a lot of design work, and damn, it was really time consuming and can be frustrating due to the fact that you might not get it. There were 2 feasi study which I did that had residential units on the top with commercial lots on the lower floors, while the 3rd was a hotel study. Unfortunately the clients has yet to reply on the calculations we made for them on all 3 projects. I am also currently doing a freelance design feasi for landed properties back at home, which I hope the developer will get.

Enough with the work talk, its at that time of the year where you would come up with a new year resolution. We all long to do better in life and to achieve something memorable. My new year resolution is to do something out of my comfort zone twice a month, so I wont have a boring life. To force start my resolution, I have sign up for a language class which will start soon and I have also bought two big painting canvas to draw and paint and will try to sell it LOL, truly inspired by the art gallery at the Marina Bay Sand shopping mall. I dont think I have the necessary skills yet but will definitely improve whenever I can.

Bumped into this article today and boy oh boy, it is not something we designers would like to see. Architecture graduates has the lower unemployment rate? Seriously? But obviously it is only a study that is applied to America, not sure how true the saying goes for other areas. I know UK had a pretty hard time when building development come to a temporary stall due to the cuts last year, hence moving on was my only option. Not sure about now, but projects are booming here in Asia, legally and illegally.

http://www.archdaily.com/197351/study-shows-architecture-graduates-with-highest-unemployment-rate/

The year ended quite pleasantly and here are just some photos my bro took while we where strolling around Marina Bay Sand the day before the new year celebration was held. There were a few rehearsals going on but the most interesting feature was the video show where water sprays were used as the background instead of a canvas. Please refer to the photos below for a better understanding.

 Here is a even better explanation on the water spray, a video of the 'thingy' itself.

I uploaded the wrong video, no wonder it was so quick lol. Will reuploaded the proper video tonight.

 

Simple is always the Better way

This is just a self preference, although complex structure like Zaha's can be mind boggling but that is not for everyone, most of us do not have the support from client to create something as daring. Even if you do have the support, challenging yourself to design something extraordinary with cheap materials that is simple is harder than it sounds. I am designing my 6 HDB blocks project's mail box and all I can play with is colours, but with some concrete to my disposal. I need to come up with a design that will convinced the main con to willingly do during the construction, without them just constructing based on the standard 2000x1650x500mm box. Why am I just designing a mail box? The main building has been finalised and currently we are just dealing with managing the Show Flat and submission drawings. I am trying to learn to incorporate the main design idea into a small scale feature, to allow the idea to flow around the site and tie the project together as a whole.

I am starting to understand why architects in past design their own door handles for the building, the doors etc. I have always thought facade is everything when I as younger, but that is just to naive. I am in a middle of my project where construction will start in a few months time, and we are suppose to select ironmongery for the building, and I feel those old gen architects had such a nice time designing their own doors or handle, as I am bound to a series of suppliers that is being proposed by the main con. Here are just some projects I came across which looks pretty nice in a very simple manner, playing with lights, materiality and transparency, which is something I am trying to learn when I get my own project in a few months time, hopefully shorter, I cant wait.

Inspirational SIngapore [4]

Things has been very difficult for the past few weeks with the internet down and the need to ship my stuff back home, I did not have the time to upload any pictures or do anything architectural. I feel that I am missing alot on design now that I am not really doing any competition work. I also find out that I may not be able to do any freelance work once my application to the MoM in Singapore is approved, hence the only way is either family work, ie house design renovation which is on the list requested by my mum, art work which is possible to propose towards the mayor of my hometown, Kota Kinabalu, although I have not done so due to my time limitation, and maybe I should take up a hobby, not considering sports as one of it like how we were led to believe when we were young. Maybe I should set up my own business, create products which I have always want to do and use my future housemates as guinea pigs. Anyways, the picture I have uploaded is an open theatre in Singapore near where I stayed. It is nothing unusual but it was a small project I saw in a magazine or a website few years ago and I was caught up in the moment to look at it. I would like to upload more pictures of a MRT station by WOHA in Bras Basah but coincidently it would not allow me to upload after this project. Would try again later on.