The Social Sculpture

Final project

Felix Lim S10179082 SS/2020 ©

The Social Sculpture.

abstract

The final project provides the opportunity to explore architectural spaces and experience(s) instilled in the societal life. Specifically, under the initiatives from Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), the proposal for the Life Experience# Hub +Hybrid aims to inspire inclusive and active social engagement and participation. This new placemaking is for partaking, identifying, learning, and creating social space typologies that offers “innovative, socially conscious, sustainable and spatial design solutions.”* The architectural design must take into consideration of the building’s programmes, the building’s formal expression and spaces that involve and revolve the social life of a community.

The Life Experience Hub +Hybrid is the host to a diversified range of social events, workshops, programs, demonstrations and essentials to nurture a sharing and caring culture. A social-driven centre that reflects a collegial ethos based on an understanding of the spatial and experiential connections by Planting Social Sanity – a centre for planting Social Engagement & Empowering Development (SEED) for the community to correspond with the architecture in the context of contemporary Singapore.

The challenge is to re-imagine an all-embracing and empowering composition of human experiences with the site of Life Experience Hub +Hybrid.

- Alexis Chua, course head

finale

The Social Sculpture serves as a communal kiln that fosters and fortifies familial ties through its various workshops, solemnization ceremonies and event opportunities.

Location plan

The community

Reinterpretation

Site plan

A proposal for an integrated Registry of Marriages which nurtures inter-generational family structures through Singapore’s existing arts & cultural scene. The project seeks to monumentalise its ties of sociology and arts through its architectural intent and the extensive use of red terracotta, an extension of its ceramics program.

Aside from its regular R.O.M.(M) functions, the building also serves as a dynamic gallery space for exhibitions, ceramic workshops and pop-up events.

Floorplans

detailing

Designed to encapsulate visitors within its enchanting labyrinth of terracotta and arches, the project also uses its park location to allow visitors to explore the open lawns for pop-ups, picnic spots and community events, keeping the surroundings ever-changing, dynamic and engaging.

B

A

sections

Study models Title: The Perception of Roughness To question the perception of an acceptable built space in this modern age would mean to challenge “4 walls and a roof”. The ‘defining’ factors of a room to common man.

Here, abstract geo spaces blur these principles, offering a seemingly walkable space amidst large drop offs, rough floorings and steep slopes. The difference between the two models is literally how one perceives roughness vs smoothness

Felix Lim 13 Feb 2020 SM 01 ©

Study models Title: Of Weaves & Rounds From room to room corridors were conditioned to be efficient, minimising travelling time and number of directions. However, in the case of the curved walkway, the direction is constantly changing but the pace remains the same due to the lack of angular turns.

These efficient corridors can then also be enhanced as a feature of the building being the journey.

Felix Lim 13 Feb 2020 SM 02 ©

Study models Title: City & Nature Form making properties for a sculptural building derived from the two views of the site; cityscape and heritage tree canopy.

Simple gestures of man made vs organic were borrowed, sculpted and compared. The resulting models exemplified a mix of both factors with little geometric complexity. Gestures were translated into the final building form.

Felix Lim 13 Feb 2020 SM 03 ©

Final models Scale 1:150

+

Massing Model 1:400

Materials Used: Faux Leather Paper (White) Paper Board (Crimson) Paper Board (White) Corrugated Board x 15 Dried Baby’s breath Wooden Rods 3D Print Plastic

Presentation board

Final thoughts

This was definitely the most interesting project so far for me. It’s a miracle I didn’t have a single sleepless night. The digital works were very fun to produce as well. As for my final critique, the speechlessness of the judges really was expected due to the extreme exploratory nature of my works.

The comments that followed were not largely impactful and only a few could be useful, the rest was just for them to make an effort in having input.

As for my growth, the project really exempliďŹ es my tasteful approach in sourcing and creating imagery, storytelling and visual communication. My concerning lack of technical software skill forced me to think of ways to create an interesting building with the most basic of modelling commands which I do think went well.

Friends, family and spotify has supported me relentlessly, Special thanks to Yijing, Sabrina, Philip, Mr Lem, Ms Alexis, my brother and Red Velvet.

Stream Psycho <3

Felix Lim S10179082 SS/2020 ©

The Social Sculpture.