Learning Disability is a condition faced by a number of individuals, mainly children, where they would not be able to learn or to develop their language and literacy skills very well. This disability or difficulty may be in a form of Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dysphasia, Dysgraphia, or Dyscalculia.
Conditions mentioned above may affect the quality of learning and personal growth of children if not treated as early as possible. “Sensory Sensitive Space” was the main idea of Esplorare that was applied throughout the design. Our goal is to build a stimulating and interesting environment so that every individual would be able to explore and understand themselves better both by interacting with others as well as the built environment. This encouraging settings would surely be helpful for anyone struggling with a usual or ordinary classlike learning environment.
The main idea inspires the designer to create multiple masses that would be categorized as high stimulus mass, medium stimulus mass, and low stimulus mass as the building serves as a therapy centre that needs focus and attentiveness in every activity that was held. The main circulation that actually connects these masses is a semi-outdoor grand ramp and terraces that encourage exposure to nature.
Responses to learning difficulties may come as hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity. Therefore, every space or zone is designed to have a transition area from one to another. So that when they transfer from one room to another, it will not cause any other disturbances.
Aside from the stimuli zoning (high stimulus mass - intermediate stimulus mass - low stimulus mass), the transition area were also helpful for children with certain conditions resulting gradual and progressive adaptation of space.
These transition areas connects main access and function rooms. They also act as foyer, waiting room, and informal playing spaces that children and families can enjoy while waiting for their therapy sessions, or while waiting to be picked up.
Waiting rooms and playing spaces become a point of importance because children or other main users will spend a considerable amount of time here. Therefore, the sensory sensitive method would be necessary to also be applied in these areas.
Pictures shown above are the examples of highlighted interior properties such as form , colour, and space design that would enhance exploration of space.
Architecture should let the user interpret and explore their surroundings based on their understanding and imagination, only by then architecture will truly speaks.
INDOOR PALMS AGLAONEMAS
Children aging < 11 years have distinctively sensitive senses in receiving stimuli from their surroundings. As a place to learn and to explore, Esplorare applied the “Positive Distraction” method in designing the interiors.
These method was applied through a number of concept.
1. Windows in every therapy room to improve productivity and health for every individual.
2. Indoor vegetation with considerably low maintenance but interesting colour and shapes.
3. Stimulating but suitable colours to be used on walls, floors, and ceiling.
4. Movable properties to ensure that the users would be able to interpret their environment based on their interest and understanding.
Still in accordance to positive distraction, the concept was not only applied in the therapy rooms, but also in the waiting rooms mentioned before, and also the sensory garden that will discussed on the following section.
Indoors are undeniably efficient for doing any kinds of activites, therapy included. But outdoors are just as incredible. The southern part of the site has a perfect area for garden and landscape planning since it was partly secluded from the busy main roads but facing a valley that allows great air circulation. This area was designed exceptionally to function as a Sensory Garden that would be used by children and families.
A few interesting elements that can only be acquire in the outdoors are the breeze of fresh air, the sound of nature whispering, and the organic interaction between the user and the ever-changing conditions of their environment. The motion of the shadows, the rustle of leaves and branches, splash of water, and so many more interaction to explore.
Sensory Features
The garden was devided into a number of areas with particular stimulating elements. For Example, the picture on the left shows the crawling tunnels and shaped walls. This area is actually a “visual” area since these elements would surely stimulate their visual senses. But of course as a human being , we are incapable to seperate our senses individually and because of that, we can only amplify particular senses without dismissing the others.
The tunnel would create a narrow experience for the children, also supported by the medium-height grass that surrounds the area. But when they crawl out of the tunnel, they would surely experience a different environment with brighter sunlight, wider borders and more various elements. The shaped walls would caught the attention of children who are interested in exploring shapes and geometry
On the other side of the garden, we put some outdoor musical instruments for the user to play as a way to expose the users to stronger audial experience.
The site itself gives us the opportunity to bring the outside as the major part of the activity. The main circulation, situated in between the buildings and act as a semi-outdoor ramps that is exposed to nearby trees and plants. Different height and aerial experience gives children and users a distinctive exposure to nature, for example the wind and air circulation that would gradually change. We know that there are users who are not possible to be exposed to heights so there are elevators and stairs in every mass to be used. But this ramp still is the main connecting circulation.
URBAN DESIGN: DENSITY AND FORM
Urban Design and City Planning Project | UCL
Referring to London Plan 2021, optimising the potential to intensify the use of land to support additional homes and workspaces, promoting higher density development is in favor. In turn, this development has to consider important aspects such as connectedness to jobs, services, and amenities. This analysis aims to explore how different growth of each area could enhance or dismiss the experience of the residents, leading to collective living quality. The explored areas include networks, accessibility to amenities, building typologies, movement experience, and overall experience including sense of community and sustainability.
BUILDING HEIGHT BUILDING USE
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
AREA
19.8km2
POPULATION DENSITY
12.900/km2
BUILDING TYPOLOGY
It is visible from the map that the northern part of Canary Wharf is dominated by skyscrapers, or high-rise buildings, reaching up to 200 metres tall. Where further to the south, in the Island Garden Ward, the buildings are dominated by low-rises, with an average of 10-20 metres tall.
The significant height difference could be infleunced by building uses, where in Canary Wharf, the tall buildings are mostly used for office, which some are mixed with retail purposes. Meanwhile, in the southern part of Canary Wharf, and ultimately in Island Gardens, building uses are mostly residentials.
BUILDING TYPOLOGY FOUND IN CANARY WHARF AND ISLAND
Building typology in the immediate area of The Newfoundland is dominated by high rise and mid-rise solitaires, shaping the skyline of the financial district. Overall, the buildings have certain prominence in the area by having large and tall masses.
In Island Garden Ward, to the south of Canary Wharf, although the area is heavily dominated by a certain use, which is residentias, they have more various typologies. The building footpirnt and plot areas are smaller, creating seemingly flexible pattern in terms of buildings and streets.
BUILDING OVERVIEW
Ward Boundary
A Roads
Minor Roads
Local Roads
Pedestrian
Ward Boundaries
The immediate area is surrounded by A roads, local roads and pedestrian paths. Particularly, the paths along the middle dock is redeveloped and decorated with art installation. On the southern side of the site, there is a pedestrian access to the Thames Path.
The Newfoundland is well connected to the public transport services in the area. There are 7 bus stops available within a 5-minute walk. Additionally, underground and DLR stations are within 5-10 minutes walk DLR Station
Immediately in front of the entrance, there is a 280 m2 greenspace, which is highly used only by residents of the Newfoundland. It is visibly insufficient to cater to all of the residents.
BUILDING IN DETAIL
Ward Boundary
A Roads
Minor Roads
Local Roads
Gated local road
Pedestrian
Ward Boundaries
The area is surrounded by local roads and Thames path at the south western side. There are denser local roads, ing the needs of the area dom inated by residential buildings. The pattern of the road is dominantly perpendicular to the A road the residential buildings.
Catchment area within 10 minutes of walking.
The courtyard houses are connected to the public transportation service, especially buses. There are 6 bus stops available within a 7-minute walk Mudchute DLR station is available within 10 minutes walk, and the Island Garden DLR within 14 minutes
Each of the building has its own paved perimeter with partial greenspaces. However, since Maritime Quay is closed off to public, this area could be considered as their privately-shared openspace, that also connects them to the Thames Path. Although the addition of the greenspace makes the experience more pleasant, one of the residents stated that they would go to Millwall park to enjoy larger greenspace
The greenspaces surrounding the residential areas are private gardens. Ultimately, there is large greenspace, the Mudchute Park and Farm, and Millwall Park. These park contribute to the wider public by providing space for outdoor activities. Mudchute Park and Farm is also one of the largest inner-city farm, offering educational and recreational activities.
Ground
Surface permeability: 20%
Occupant density : 0.11 unit/sqm
Although the ground floor area of the solitaire typology is slightly smaller than the courtyard (1724m2 < 1976m2), its Floor Area Ratio is far larger than the courtyard type (32.84>2.49).
As the tower is built for residential purposes, its habitable space is larger compared to the courtyard type, which is also shown by the difference of dwelling density or estimated residents in the building. As a result, a building footprint is not always directly proportional with occupant and/or dwelling density
Low Sky Visibility
shaded area
navigation
Rigid and defined blocks, separated by wider roads, streets, and squares.
intimidating tall buildings and fast vehicles very good public transport connectivity
The nature of the road bounding the block has significant effect as well. The Westferry Road in the northern part of Canary Wharf is relatively busier, since it is close to road junctions, coming from the northern part of Westferry Road (A1206), Limehouse Link Tunnel (A1203), West India Dock Road (A1261). Even though the Westferry Road stretches until Island Gardens Ward where the courtyard block is located, the experience of the road is substantially different. It feels safer to walk through the footways on the southern part of Westferry Road (in Island Gardens Ward), where vehicles move slower, and the existing buildings are smaller not overshadowing, hence clearer navigation.
Smaller and denser blocks, tends to follow the orientation of local roads and streets, and more curved boundaries
if we are looking at the larger scale, people who move along in the Newfoundland are greatly diverse, making their way to the offices, commercial and retail buildings, including seasonal population such as tourists. In contrary, the majority of people who move along in the courtyard houses area has narrower range, presumably residents or local community members. This might contribute to the closeness of the community, fostering strong relationships between the members.
Although the immediate block or plot in the courtyard houses does not offer physical space to formally interact, the friendliness of the surrounding area is arguably impactful to the perceived characters of the neighbourhood, thus influencing its livability.
After further analysis on both tangible and intangible aspects of the chosen buildings, I found that how a building, or groups of building exist within an urban environment is heavily tied with theirwider context. In both of my cases, although the block is located considerably far away from each other, and even in different wards, they have rather similar proximity to water elements. Since the built form is essentially a physical element in the environment that has experienced transformation (Kropf, 2017), natural elements thus play a significant part in forming an impression of the site. This too affect the perceived density as it depends on a range of individual and sociocultural factors, that explains further why a person will evaluate and react differently to perceived density (Pont and Haupt, 2009).
It is no wonder for the courtyard houses to be perceived as a quiet, calm, and desirable neighbourhood, further reinforced by the expansive view to the river. But In similar fashion, the Newfoundland which in this case houses many more families, could be perceived in similar ways since it is located at the side of a dock, bringing sufficient distance between the viewer and the building. This further proves that strategic development could play a significant part in delivering high density in a pleasant way, moving away from the negative perception of crowding. Although the openspace is not included in the block itself, it is arguable that buildings and their immediate surrounding area is almost inseparable, creating a particular, individual perception of density.
Active Frontages
Stop and rest spots
Wayfinding and navigationease
Overview
The waterfront area is highly potential to accommodate collective activities, fostering a sense of community in the area.
Floating Deck
Floating decks may extend up to a maximum of 8 meters into the river, and should provide extensive views to the River Thames to enhance walking experience.
Street furnitures
Proposals should provide seating for the users to sit and rest. Sufficient lighting from the stores and street lightings to offer safety and security during the evening. Provide greenery as a buffer between circulation zone and active frontages, while still offering transparency. SIgnanges are to be installed to provide the users ease of navigation. Railings along the floating deck to increase feeling of safety, especially for children and seniors, as well as avoiding accidents
Street Activation
Street Activation includes the linear park in the centre of the development area, connecting the users while providing continuous linear greenspace.
Linear Park Function
The park acts as buffer between the vehicular circulation and buildings. Proposals should offer layered landscaping and appropriate and sustainable drainage system in the linear park.
Footways
Footway follows the Pedestrian Comfort Guidance, with the width of 4,2 meters including street furnitures. Essential Street furnitures includes wayfinding signages, benches for people to sit and rest, and street lamps as well as decorative landscape lighting to provide safety and legibility during the evening.
Shared space road
Shared space is provided for vehicular access while also cater to pedestrian and other active modes of travel, including wheeling
Linear Park as buffer
Wayfinding and navigationease
Mabiangseni is an on going private villa project that is situated in Ubud, Bali. The Designer decided to have a balanced area of outdoor and indoor. There are multiple masses that can accommodate various activities. The air circulation would also be very efficient since the site is situated almost at the edge of a small cliff, facing a wide scenery of trees and natural setting. Therefore, the area at the back of the site is a potential area for viewing deck and leisure area. There is an indoor and semi outdoor restaurant for the guests, as well as a prestigious infinity pool that is facing the scenery at the back. There is also a multifunction hall that could be used as a studio, workshop, or a dining hall.
Villa rooms
Section A
Freelance Project, 2021 : Mabiangseni Private Villa
Restaurant
Villa rooms
Villa rooms
Seating
Aglaonema
Colocasia
Ficus elastica
Areca palm
Livistona chinensis
Dracaena trifasciata
Cereus Peruvianus
Strealitzia reginae
Eragrostis
Pictures on the left are the backside of the site that is facing wide natural settings. The remaining space is designed to be a number of seating areas and leisures spots. The designer put lazy sofas, seat pads, pouffes, and bean bags instead of formal chairs to create coziness. The movable furnitures would let the guests decide which position is the best to enjoy the mornings and afternoons based on their own preferences.
The multifunction hall is also situated in this area, which would be very suitable to be used as a workshop, a yoga hall, or even a pottery studio. There might be a live music stage and other small performances in barbeque nights. the possibilities are endless in this strategic area.The sound of the leaves rustling, birds chirping, and water flowing would sure make the experience even better.
Landscape Planning
There are also vegetations added in every seating area so the guests would be shaded and feel comfortable spending their time lazing around. The vegetations added are the Strealitzia reginae, Cereus peruvianus, Livistona chinensis, Colocasia, and Bromelia, also a number of palms. The vegetations chosen are the ones who are considered fit the sun-exposed site and suitable enough to be put outside.
Area lighting is also important since this outdoor area would be a nice area to spend the afternoon or evenings. Lights used are the soft warm white light to support the ambience.
APictures above are the proposed landscape planning of Mabiangseni. The goal is to bring the landscape as the main attraction aside from the villa itself. Hopefully guests would experience the true tropical paradise within.
The site of this project is located in Puncak, Indonesia. This area is very popular for vacation or weekend getaways. That being said, it is guaranteed that Puncak is always crowded on holidays.
The main object of this project was to design a remarkable resort that would recharge the users’ energy throughout the stay, hence being refreshed and renewed after being tired and restless from the days before.
Inori Resort hopes that the users would reconnect with themselves, and also with nature, and The Creator. It is decided to design a space that is calm, serene, and may be enjoyed by all users. The resort includes: Hotel rooms, villas, restaurant and cafes, multifunction hall, wellness centre, and also open spaces to enjoy Puncak’s nature.
Hills and Valleys
One of the biggest objectives of this project is to work on the hills, valleys, and significant contours that is present on the site.
C
A B
Massing Plan
The inital plan was to have multiple masses in one area with various functions. Starting from the main entrance and parking area, and the first building to welcome the users are the public buildings : Lobby, Multifunction Hall, and the cafe.
Site Plan
Hotel and Villa area
Entrance, Lobby and Cafe
Hotel, Villa and Halls
Restaurant and Wellness Centre
View and Air flow
The aim for the main lobby is to let the coming guests see the overall beautiful landscape of the site. Hence, it is designed not to have massive walls. It also creates a great air flow and circulation
Entrance, Lobby, Cafe, and Multifunction Hall Plan
The experience I aim to bring is to create a peaceful space. Materials that are used are dominated by natural materials, such as wood, natural stone, and toned down colours, especially for the interiors.
Plants, vegetations and greeneries also play a significant part in this project. I also worked closely with the landscape architect to create a unique and contextual landscape design.
One of the featured mass is the main restaurant, positioned in the middle of the site, overlooking the river that flows through the valley. It is requested to be remarkable and be the centre of this project.
The ground floor consists of a bar, beach club and an infinity pool. On the first floor, you can enjoy the main restaurant and VIP rooms for more private events. Lastly, the second floor offers the 360 degree view seatings.
360 Restaurant
Ground
Fulltime Project, 2022 : Mosslife, Proposal
Architect in Charge, Accossa
Commercial Architecture
These 2 projects are different in every way, but they have one valuable thing in common. They both try to bring back the natural elements, them being the ground (plants) and water into their identity.
The first project, Mosslife Coffee (on the left), is a cafe interior project, located in Taman Literasi Martha Christina Tiahahu, Jakarta. This project wanted to underline the element water, identical with the transparent and blue-like ambience to bring a relaxing and refreshing experience. We also promotes sustainable design by choosing recycled materials for the furnitures.
Secondly on the right, hawker culture is actually an enhanced food court and coworking space, situated in Muara Karang, Jakarta. We tried to bring an oasis into a busy and packed neighborhood, with passive design being an important point We make sure there are plenty of openings that are effective for air flow and natural lighting.
Cafe Counter
Dining area
Sun study
Air flow
Section study
BAFulltime Project, 2022 : Cupola Project Architect in Charge, Accossa
Development in rural areas are amongst the topic that caught people’s interest these days. Eco-tourism was one of the development campaigns that were highly promoted in Indonesia. Located in one of the area that produces organic oil, we designed a space for the tourists to learn and be engaged in the whole production process. The vision of the project is to improve regional economic growth through active participation of the national and international tourists.
The complex functioned for the local people to process their oils with advanced technology, and at the same time, for the tourists to enjoy their trip. We aimed to promote inclusivity and support interaction between the locals and the comers, and uniting them through eco-tourism.
As such, there will be a set of interesting activities for the guests to enjoy their eco-tour. Each of the building will provide different attractions and facility.
Communal space
Lobby
Room cluster - communal space
The concept was to encourage interaction between the people and to make them closer to nature, hence the compact private rooms and spacious communal space in the middle of the cluster. The communal space also functioned as an activity space for the locals to introduce arts and crafts to the tourists. They could be engaged in making traditional ornaments and decorations .
The restaurant brought an interesting concept. The dishes originated from the local area, while the ingredients were harvested from local farms. The open spaces inbetween the buildings were optimised for urban farms.
The factory, which the process takes place, has large openings to engage the tourists.
The layout plan was to guide the people from the beginning of the production process to the final stage - the products being packaged for different purposes. At some stages that were safe, there were workshop schedules to give the comers an opportunity to get involved in the production process. Additionally, At the end of the factory, there is a store to sell the local products.
The welcoming and open-plan lobby was to stimulate curiosity. Once entered, the people would be able to look across the beautiful view of the site.
South Elevation
Ground Floor
Processing room
Interactive Tour Route
Local Shop
Terrace
First Floor
Processing room Terrace
The Factory
The Restaurant
Ground Floor
Entrance
Shop and Cafe
Architect in Charge
Studying the potential and circumstance of the site, as well as the regulations of the housing complex.
Tropical Approach
The site of this project is located in Alam Sutera, Tangerang, Indonesia. Looking at the potential of the site, the team decided to optimize the passive design that integrates with tropical design approach.
There are lots of enquiries and requests that are very customized from the first meetings with the client. The essential starting point of this project is about the plan and system of this house.
1. How the open plan area would intigrate with the more private area.
2. How the indoors would integrate with the “outdoors” stairs and terraces.
3. Lastly, the personalized needs of rooms and other main elements of this house.
Culture
One interesting key points in designing Olivia House is how the client respects the Feng Shui of the Chinese Culture in Indonesia. Turns out the rules and conditions play a very consequential part in designing a house. There are major changes in room placements and furniture directions.
Analyzing and deciding the negative and positive space of the site, hence planning the massing of the house. It is decided to put the garden/pool side by side with the main building, in accordance to the site’s linear axis
Permeable Playfulness
The team decided to choose carefully between the outdoors and the indoors of this house. It would be such a unique concept to bring the interaction between them. One interesting idea was to put the main staircase “outside” of the building, to optimize the lightness and tropical approach.
A small but suitable space at each of the edge of the site is also prepared so there will be a good air circulation for the entire site. Massing and Planning
Pool
Main Mass
Main Staircase Air flow
Corridor
Ground floor consists of 1 bedroom, living area, kitchen, thegarden and pool, also several service areas such as storage and pump rooms.
We make sure the pool/garden has an interaction with the main mass/ building, so we design a corridor pathway in between. The pathway also acts as the pool’s decking. There is a foldable door connecting the deck and the inside of the living area. So when needed, the door would be able to be entirely opened and the user would enjoy a completely open plan, with the living area facing the pool.
Competition Entry, 2021 : PaktHause
In 2045, Indonesia is predicted to have 73% of its citizens live in the city (Bappenas, 2019). The number had been rapidly increasing since 1950, 1990, and 2020. The post-pandemic urbanization process had not been known for sure, but UN-Habitat ensures that deurbanization is not likely to happen. Cities will continue to grow, and thus compact and integrated housing are needed to ensure social and environmental qualities.
The compactibility of a living space reduces land use and allows other functions to operate alongside the housing, or even add more green spaces in the city. Compact living space is supported by the development of technology, which we depend on more during the pandemic or even postpandemic situation.
Technology indeed made life easier, but the comfort that came along allows us to also have a hard time defining our activity. Therefore, the main goal was to have a balanced space that would suit the users’ activities so that they would be stimulated to act and respond as fit as needed.
Compact Area
In response to the issue discussed, Pakt-Hause has 2 distinguishable main areas, the first level and the mezzanine level.
The first level contains the living areas, while the mezzanine is used for rather formal activities, especially working. With compact space arrangement in playful forms, the user would experience the efficiency in the space designed.
Environmental issues are concerned, so the compact house is build to support the green movements. The exterior of the building is living prefab concrete that is integrated with aluminium second skin that would filter the sunlight and allow better air circulation. Reusable baskets are also used to put plants vertically as a personal garden. Solar Panels are installed on top of the highest roof so it would operate effectively. The electricity was used to light the building and automated installations in this smart house.
Space Optimization
Limited space is optimized by using modifiable and integrated furniture.
OTHER WORKS :
Le-assure, 2020 (page 13)
Arcasia Competition Entry, Group Submission
- Le-assure is a space to learn, practice and promote healthier lifestyle in the midst of on-going pandemic. Activities includes urban farming, jogging and cycling tracks, and creative communal space.
