Academic Portfolio 2012-2014

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by Kara Yong

Year 2012_2014

Exhibition Commercial Furniture Residential Conceptual Design

Category Exhibition Design

Project The Changing Face Of What is Normal Exhibition Year 2014

The Changing Face Of What is Normal Exhibition

prompts visitors to use the understanding of mental health as a lens to examine their perceptions of themselves and of others.

Normality is a constantly evolving concept, and by placing themselves in the shoes of others, visitors are given an opportunity to reflect on the idea of normal.

The Exploratorium is a museum of science, art, and human perception located in san Francisco, california. Founded by Frank Oppenheimer in 1969,the museum aims to provide exhibits that promote learning by interacting directly with real phenomena.

By expanding the exhibition space and creating spaces that would be easier for the public to navigate, the exhibition design would not only attract more visitors, but also open up people’s minds to mental health and social constructs.

The Merdeka Square is located at 27, JLN RAJA, DATARAN MERDEKA, 50050 KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, exactly opposite the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and right beside the Royal Selangor Club.

Merdeka Square is a historical site where Malaya declared its independence on the 31st of August 1957.

Surrounded by museums, galleries and heritage buildings, Merdeka Square is known to be one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest heritage sites.

Clustered

Constraints CONCEPT Breaking Constraints Of An Order The concept of the exhibition is about breaking society’s conctructs on what is considered normal.

This exhibition brings awareness to mental health and breaks boundaries of education, as intended

by Exploratorium. The site itself is also a symbol of independence, hence the name “Merdeka Square”.

My design will be based on Deconstructivism whereby the design will be breaking against the constraints of the structure by being irregular and clustered

Mentality

Exterior View

Perception Interactive Exhibit

Dsm - Diagnostic Statistics Manual Graphic Text Room

The first exhibition held is the Perception Exhibit which is an open public space accessible to all visitors. It consists of 10 interactive displays imported from the Exploratorium Mind Exhibit, that experiments with users’ sensory and mental perceptions.

The Diagnostic Statistics Manual was a reference for psychologists and doctors in the past when it came to diagnosing mental patients. Among the criteria for a mental patient were characteristics that are considered part of the norm today.

This space is the entry to the paid exhibit for visitors, with illuminated texts from the Diagnostic Statistics Manual that visitors would find relatable to themselves.

Mental Patients’ Personal Items Display The main exhibition area is where the mental patients’ personal items are displayed, showcasing the normalcy of each patients’ characteristics from their belongings that were brought during their admission into mental institutions.

Lightboxes with black and white photography prints display the portraits of mental patients, highlighting the humanity of each patient, and that their mental illness does not set them apart from

Mental Patients’ Photo Display At the centre, a mirrored exhibit is filled with the photos of previous mental patients and portraits of normal civilians. Visitors find themselves staring at their own reflection amid portraits of people relatable to themselves.

Laminated wood storage panels were lined up against the walls, consisting of letters, documents of past patients in previous psychiatric hospitals, depicting their lives and their personal details.

Portable Tunnel

Category Restaurant Design

Project Brushstroke Restaurant Year 2013

Objectives

Brushstroke Restaurant, located at 30 Hudson Street, opened in April 2011, is a combined effort between Bouley and the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, to share Japanese food culture and products while integrating American ingredients.

. To enhance the interior space . To extend a larger space for customers . To create relation of concept to interior space

Brushstroke Philosophy In our main dining room, the kaiseki cuisine is designed to be an expression of “Ichi-go Ichi-e,” taking the unique ingredients of the season and preparing them in a way that is just right for the person at that time.

Site Analysis Oasis Waterfront Ara Damansara

. To produce a space that doesn’t function only as a typical restaurant, but a “performance theatre” or gallery for the chefs to portray their cuisine as a form of art.

The Main Dining Room can accommodate 75 seated guests.

The Lounge can accommodate private cocktail receptions for up to 25 people.

Using the elements of the kabuki theatre from the Edo period, the chefs and waiters become the performers on stage whereby they apply brushstrokes of transition from the initial ingredient to the final dish, just like performers moving through each different scene to create the final performance.

Brushstroke is a Japanese restaurant that focuses on customizing each dish for each individual customer to produce pleasure for customers. This relates to the Edo period during the Japanese era which focuses on pleasure.

To apply my concept to the design I used the symbolism of a stage to create the environment of being in a theatre. The rippling flow of elements against the walls resemble the curtains onstage, and the backdrop of my restaurant consists of wood, like a stage. To create the essence of drama, I enriched certain areas with the bright colours of the Ukiyo-E (also from the Edo period), and created a flow from each room as though floating through different scenes.

Category Furniture Design Project Division Cabinet for Pentagram Studios

Year 2012

Category Residential Design

Project Walk-in Wardrobe for Pavilion Apartment Year 2012

APARTMENT WALK-IN WARDROBE

“ The curvature of the furniture signifies transition as people pass through this area for their daily needs �

Lightbox display of accessories

Material

Light bamboo laminate for wardrobe surface

Category Residential Design

Project Mock-up Bungalow Design Year 2011

Category Conceptual Design

Project 3D Visualisation with Alice in Wonderland Bedroom Theme Year 2012

Category Furniture Design

Project Talk Play Love - Paper Floating Seat Year 2012