Y2 Architecture Portfolio | Goh Yifan

Y I FA N PORTFOLIO

2019

GOH -

2020

W O R K S CRESCENDO

FANTASIA

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ARKT

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CRESCENDO REVITALISING XINYAO

2019

Xinyao - a musical movement that was popular in the 1980s yet became obsolete in recent years due to intrusion and influence of Western music. Thus the intention of this project is to recover the popularity of the local mandarin composition scene, through informing more people about this distinct form of local art and culture, as well as creating a space where people can play and share music with one another.

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CONCEPT

The concept behind the design of the information centre is metamorphosis - the transformation of colours and rhythmic qualities and tempo from various songs in the Xinyao genre. The intention is to generate excitement and engage potential vistors through various nodes of movement and transformation, including kinetic facades and flying fabric, bringing the songs and the architecture alive.

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EXPERIMENTATIONS

The initial concept of the metamorph is being experimented and tested through light and shadow studies to determine the ideal facade design. Colours of windows are also used as a parameter as they reflect different moods as well.

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EDUCATIONAL

MUSEUMS

COMMERCIAL

TRANSPORTATIONAL

VEHICLE CIRCULATION PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

AREAS OF ACTIVITY

SITE

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METAMORPH

SITE

Surrounded by educational and commercial facilities, situating the metamorph at Cathay Green, Dhoby Ghaut is deemed to be the most ideal location to inform potential users and raise awareness about Xinyao.

The pedestrian circulation around the area has also been taken into consideration, such that users can enjoy the changing mechanism of the metamorph, and enter/leave the information centre with convenience.

AXIS

HEARTH

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The metamorph responds to the local climatic conditions through its orientation - exploiting light from the eastern and western Sun. The opening of panels vary depending on the songs played and projected. The songs in the Xinyao genre have varying emotive qualities - some are sad and melancholic, some give a certain feeling of nostalgia, while some have exciting beats and accompaniment supporting the main melody.

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These different emotions and feelings of music are thus translated into the experiential portion of the information centre - users get informed about these songs and the movement’s history through digitally projected information panels and flying fabric - they experience and get captivated by these songs via their own senses - sight, hearing and touch.

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MUSICAL HUB The information centre also features a plaza, which is integrated together with the cafe and terraced seats. This creates performance opportunities for the locals and thus attracts people to sit in and listen, rekindling the community spirit that is so much emphasised in the past. The terrace also acts as an area for visitors to relax through watching performances, as well as share, create and compose music with one another.

Cathay Green thus becomes the hearth of Dhoby Ghaut where sense of belonging and community spirit can be formed and reignited through plenty of interaction and engagement opportunities.

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STRUCTURAL COMPOSITION & DETAIL

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02 F A N TA S I A CHOREOGRAPHING KALEIDOSCOPE

2020 in collaboration with Tasya Graciela

Our bodies are always in dialogue with the built environment; we move to experience architecture, and we are moved by its presence. As such, there is an intrinsic link between motion and our experience with architecture.

This project explores the argument that architecture has to physically move and transform in response to people’s movement; we saw the possibility that architecture can engage and interact with the user by moving him/her while itself being static. In that way the end result becomes dynamic that infuses and conveys motion; the perspective from the human eyes and the human dimension are embraced and the images projected in perspective are in constant change and motion as the user within moves. The perspective from our eyes thus serve as our overriding theme of our project, using light penetration as a parameter.

Through the visual interactions with the installation, as well as engagement between the two bodies, it is hoped that the users will be able to awaken their imagination through their movement; and that their kinesthetic experience within will be a unique and memorable one.

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CONCEPT

Calm and chaotic, diffused and exposed, ordered and disordered. Despite the two distinct environments, the intent is similar - to trigger certain movements of the body upon experiencing within.

We were first intrigued by movements in choreography and dances, thus we investigated and explored them, together with the interaction between the bodies.

More importantly, the interaction with the surrounding site are also taken into account as part of our preliminary studies. Rhythm, motion, senses utilised and produced by the bodies are taken note of and translated via analytical and notational diagrams. We believe that through this our understanding of relationship between architecture and our body can be enhanced, thus giving ourselves a clearer design direction.

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visual and touch

exploration of materiality

contact

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synchronisation (mirroring)

synchronisation

MOVEMENT, SENSES AND MATERIALITY

Architecture is the background for performance. It initiates atmosphere even before the dance begins. It is static, yet it stimulates movement.

One of the motion shots we studied is dancers expressing themselves in (still in construction) Parc des Ateliers. Similarly there are moments of synchronisation, juxtaposition and support (and thus physical contact), but there is also a transition from exploration through physical touch and visual connectivity with one another, towards communication through exploring materiality in context of the building - producing sound from the sandy texture of the floor, which contrasts from the darkness and stillness of the surroundings.

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THINNER TRANSPARENT MODULE, REFLECTIVE GROUND

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TRANSPARENT MODULE, REFLECTIVE GROUND

REFLECTIVE MODULE, OPAQUE GROUND

OPAQUE MODULE, OPAQUE GROUND

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LIGHT STUDIES

Lightness and darkness, contrast and integration, are the key concepts we took away from the studies. We then attempted to use light as a climatic parameter to control the two environments. We explored the light effects, using a cylindrical module as part of a system at the roof portion of the structure. Various properties of the module are considered, including opacity, reflectivity, and transparency, which will impact the experience within.

From the explorations we learnt that reflective and transparent modules are the main contributors towards chaotic effect within. When the diameter of the modules is decreased, more light is diffused regardless of transparency, providing a soothing and calm setting within.

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KALEIDOSCOPE & PERSPECTIVE

Inspired by the properties and the effects projected within a kaleidoscope, our project also aims to create these familiar effects within the unfamiliar environments. Instead of a person having to rotate the kaleidoscope for changing effects, he/she becomes the rotary device; the catalyst for the dynamic kaleidoscopic effects projected onto the eye of the user. The modules used can act as both a screen and filter, similar to a kaleidoscope, for projecting images to the users’ eyes and filtering out external light.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we also decided to use cardboard cores as the main system for our project. We felt that they are often neglected and disposed by many, and using them as a system will help to trigger awareness on how such a system can be useful and meaningful as well.

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DISTANCE FROM EYE

ARRANGEMENT

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ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE TESTS

Several parameters are considered in the perspective view tests, such as length, depth of modules, as well as the arrangement of them.

It can be observed that longer modules will result in a more diffused effect, while shorter modules will result in exposure to light. The random arrangement of the modules also helps to create a slightly more unexpected effect as opposed to the ordered arrangement of modules.

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ITERATION 1

From the explorations two separate environments are created - the concept is about deconstructing the kaleidoscope among the two separate bodies. The calm environment acts as the lens of the kaleidoscope; the longer straw-filled modules help filter and diffuse light from the outside.

The chaotic environment, on the other hand, acts as the mirror component of the kaleidoscope. Due to the modules’ reflective nature, the effect becomes unexpected, and the user experiences greater contrast from direct and reflected light.

As a result of the one-point perspective viewed by both users, the familiar motion of swaying and tilting of their heads is achieved to explore different perspectives within their own environments. As they sway and move their heads around, the effects reflected on the mirror and witnessed by the users will then change, resulting in an engaging experience between the two bodies.

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ITERATION 2

Instead of having two separate wearable structures, the two environments are integrated together that consists of one system and one interface for the users to interact with. Both environments are domic in shape to achieve larger vision field, achieved by a secondary module; but the arrangment of modules vary - in the calm environment, length of modules are consistent, while in the chaotic environment, modules are of different lengths, resulting in varying sizes in view of the eye. The reaction through movement will thus differ movement in the calm side will be more gradual as compared to movement in the chaotic side.

As they reach a central interface where they are able to see a glimpse of one another, the interface, while maintaining the same environment on both sides, can be a venue for interaction between the two bodies.

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INSERT

STRAIGHTEN

CURVE

CALM COMPONENT

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INSERT

STRAIGHTEN

CHAOTIC COMPONENT

CURVE

INTERFACE COMPONENT

SLOT

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03

ARKT

ART & CRAFT GALLERY + MARKET

2020 in collaboration with Liu Yijiang, Shaun Mak & Megumi Chua

The programme is an art and craft gallery and market, with the aim to enhance connectivity of the public gallery and its upper floors to the surroundings. The design strategies thus include a sloping/stepped back typology, terraced floors and a central light well. The result, together with the use of glass walls and railings, is a natural-illuminated, wellventilated, and transparent space.

The tectonics of the building is mainly a steel brace structural system. This would help to reduce the number of columns needed to support the structure. Compression braces and diagonal columns are placed harmoniously to support and reinforce the terraces and the roof.

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SITE

TERRACE

Entrances and exits will be created on all four sides of the site for convenient circulation to nearby facilities.

A sloping typology is utilised; terraces along each floor allow views of the exterior from within.

VOID

BRIDGE

A central light well is created for visual connectivity from upper floors to lower floors; space also becomes naturally illuminated as a result.

Bridges along each floor allow varying circulation from floor to floor, while maintaining visual connectivity.

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SPACE STUDY MODEL

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COLUMNS

GIRDERS

Steel columns are arranged in a 6x6 grid format. Diagonal columns are also utilised to support the overhangs from the terraces.

50cm x 20cm H-shaped steel girders are welded to the steel columns.

BEAMS

BRACES

30cm x 20cm H-shaped steel beams are welded to the columns and girders to strengthen support on for the slabs.

Compression braces are constructed in between the columns as well as between beams for the bridges for more structural stability.

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STEEL BRACE STRUCUTRAL MODEL

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