VOLUME 3
MY FIRST TASK ASSIGNED: In this project, I did renderings for levels B1 to 4 (ROOF). I learnt how to place shadow (inner, drop) and glows without affecting the other layers. I enjoyed doing this render as the person-in-charge gave me the freedom to choose the colours, type of trees and basically just present a render that I think is a render. I seperated the areas with different colours to annotate the areas that the client should look out for, especially the mezzanine as it is for a competition.
( COMPETITION )
THE CHALLENGE: I spent quite a long time trying to figure out how to put the shadows and glows accurately as I was afraid to ask for help as everyone seemed busy and youtube was my best friend. Also, time was quite constrain as I only have a few days to render everything and allow the person-in-charge to consult the boss for any other changes when there are also other tasks assigned later on.
SOFTWARES USED: PHOTOSHOP
REFLECTION/AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT: I should never be afraid to ask and maybe drop the person-in-charge a text whether he is free to teach. I should also learn to reject some colleagues politely if I know that all the current task’s dateline is very near and I am unable to rush everything, knowing that I will have to leave some time for any changes.
SOFTWARES USED: AUTOCAD
In this project, I did compartmentation for the first time for levels B4 to 4 and it was really exciting. My colleague was very patient in teaching me the different fire walls (1hr,2hr etc), the use of this, why is there a need for different fire walls as well as having to know what the different rooms for fire safety are. THE CHALLENGE: The only challenge is that I am afraid of being a burden to my colleague as there might be some that I miss out or have placed wrongly that might result in her redo-ing them. REFLECTION/AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: I think that other than familiarizing and asking for more reference as examples to prevent doing it incorrectly, this project has been one of the most exciting ones as I learnt and took down notes most. It surprises me that a small task like this can impact me so much.
SOFTWARES USED: AUTOCAD, RHINO, PHOTOSHOP, ENSCAPE AND LUMION
In this project, one of the most tedious one so far. Initially, I was really eager to get my hands on to making the bridge (linkway) linked from VivoCIty to Sentosa with precise measurements from autocad drawings till some problems caught up. Otherwise, this project was really fun as I get to use most of the applications I learnt in school and revising them with advancement. I learnt to use boolean split, closecrv in rhino and skewl and distort in photoshop. I wish I knew how to use them earlier. THE CHALLENGE: It due to the miscommunication between the person-in-charge and my colleague who gave the wrong instructions though I asked him if this or that was needed. I had to re-do the bridge from scratch several times and the autocad drawings were difficult to understand. I had to make the bridge according to the terrain heights where my colleague who gave instructions did not understand too. This made me reject some tasks as the request for the changes were too drastic at one go. REFLECTION/AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: I should learn to clarify after every step I do to maintain the efficiency of work done.
SOFTWARES USED: AUTOCAD, RHINO and PHOTOSHOP
THE SECOND COMPETITION PROJECT: In this project, I will first go through the phase of site visit and site analysis then the study of the unique trait of Lasalle being a school of arts and lastly, coming up with placement of areas to then laying out its function to its aesthetics. In this starting phase, it was very interesting to learn about the types of perfoming groups that can be in the concert hall and their different arrangements that will affect the level in which the concert hall will be placed. THE CHALLENGE: The challenge of site visit, analysis and the study of what makes Lasalle, the concert hall, is to transform these into the placement of the concert hall and undertanding the site context while following the brief. Also, having to think ahead to how this study of performing groups will decide the placement of the concert hall was tough. REFLECTION: Through this starting phase, I was hopeing that I can explore something from the performing groups that can shape the concert hall to a unique one that welcomes students everyday.
In this second phase where I am finally able to come up with some models from the site plan and experimenting the areas where the concert hall can be placed. The above plans are the changes from each consultation with my boss to which areas to plan for, laying them out with reasons to each and having to learn about the experience from the viewpoint of students when they enter the school to the usage of the open areas etc. After much changes in plans, I finally came up with this model of 12 levels of Lasalle extension with consideration of air flow, weight load in the middle and following closely to the brief.
RESEARCH similar context to Lasalle:
THE CHALLENGE: Is to think about the placing of the rooms/areas to their facualty, having to consider the area in sqm whether it will be suitable to be on this or that level and the width of walkway for the people should be comfortable with adequate natural lighting present.
Lastly, the THEORETICAL BACKGROUND which we did not show in the meeting for our grouped finalised ideas. I came up with this diagrams and understanding of how students will be able to feel welcome in the school and will want to go to school everyday just like their childhood. I brought in the topic of ‘ RE-LIVE THE CHILDHOOD’ where it is a recall of memories of everyone’s childhood and the school being a playground for the students. Most kids loves going to the playground and there should not have any specific age actually. Thus, I came up with the diagrams to show how a school can have the dramatic waves like the slide incorporating the trait of an art school, Lasalle building concept into a stretch from the conductor’s hands and level of rhythm to its facade etc. These all makes it a ‘playground’ school that anyone enjoys just by the look-feel of it like how a child spots a playground from afar. REFLECTION/AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: This project has led me to really understand what a school means to every individual and whether a mindset of a school can be changed by its appearance. A school having a hidden agenda of a learning environment revealled straight away will not do any help in learning but a school with a concealled face of student interest will trap the hearts of the students to learning unknowingly. I would like to improve this project by spending more time on having a survey of my own with how the student there feel about their school as well as their daily attendance.
( COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL ) SOFTWARES USED: AUTOCAD, RHINO and PHOTOSHOP
SITE STUDY AND ANALYSIS RESEARCH
Examples
Zoning and connectivity
Horizontality and Verticality
FIRST PHASE : Build-on or Demolish
This project is the longest project I work with during this internship. I seperated them into 8 phases that I worked on. Starting with the site study and analysis research was exciting as it is on a commercial residential context which is rare in Singapore. Furthermore, it is located in the CBD area. In this first phase, I get to experiment on the build-on or demolishing of the current site and see how it can transform. But ultimately, the main point is to convince the client to opt for the build-on instead. THE CHALLENGE: On the site study, I was not able to get to the site to see how it looks currently and I had to roughly estimate its appearance from the web and make judgements from there.
Fit in site example
( COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL ) FIRST PHASE : Build-on or Demolish
In this part where I get to suggest approaches in which we can consider if the client decides on the full-demolition. I feel that in order for someone to consider buying this area, it should have its unique features where attracts the eye of the people to feel its difference from it neighbours as this site is very enclosed.
SECOND PHASE : Re-build on site plan Secondly, I tried the full-demolition and utilising the site with a 2,400 sqm floor plate with the 60% residential and 40% commercial in consideration. THE CHALLENGE: It is my first time working on a scenario where I have to do much GFA calculations to ensure that it meets a certain GFA for each level so that it will not be too small in area but maintaining the high rise at the same time.
( COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL ) SECOND PHASE : Re-build on site plan; 2ND option
I tried out a 2nd option from the previous with the possible GFAs that I can consider for a 60% residential 40% commercial but a play around of levels. I also learnt to estimate if the sqm for each level is reasonable by adding rooms to make the comparison.
SECOND PHASE : Re-build on site plan; OTHER options These are other options will be the other possibilities that I tried to fit into the site with the same rule. THE CHALLENGE: It is difficult to come up with more ways of fitting it into site as there are too many constraints to take note of. E.g. how the MRT and bridge should link and how will people arrive at the site. REFLECTION/AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT: I will put the estimated MRT area into the site before making any other adjustments.
( COMMERCIAL ) THIRD PHASE : Considering curve glass
FOURTH PHASE : Research on what it means to have a welcoming office
In the 3rd phase, I suggested having the curve glass since the sqm for each level is quite small. Thus, I thought having curve glasses can help broaden the views for the users, making the space seem wider and also, cooling it down but it will be costly for the clients. In the 4th phase, will be the start of a new concept as the client decides to change its use to a full commercial instead. Thus, I went to research on what makes an office welcoming based on the current site context. I learnt that an office should have a feeling similar to home, commonly referred to as a second home.
( COMMERCIAL ) FIFTH PHASE : Re-form based on previous research Research & Inspiration
SIXTH PHASE : Final adjustment of plans to show its linear shape
In the 5th phase, I implied the research to a new model with after relevant research and inspiration. This model makes use of carved out spaces that can be utilised for balconies or green spaces where it will be more convenient for the workers to take some time off work. In the 6th phase, I made changes according to the comments from my boss that the shape should be of more linear and systematic. Thus, I followed his idea and helped in the process of explaining how the edged shape transforms to a smooth curve to the client with help of the diagrams.
( COMMERCIAL ) SEVENTH PHASE : Consider the link of upcoming MRT station Research on MRT
In the 7th phase, which was close to the end of the studies, I researched on the upcoming MRT and made an estimated one to the site model itself to show how the MRT is linked to the building. I was told to find out if the MRT station is linked underground or only from the ground level. THE CHALLENGE: It was difficult to get information on the upcoming MRT station and it was thus difficult to know if it can be linked underground. REFLECTION/AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: However, I was able to find some pictures that can help me to depict how it will look like and the direction it will be connected to the building. In order for the client to understand better, I went on to make a replica of the MRT station.
( COMMERCIAL ) EIGHTH PHASE : Renders
After completing the model in rhino, I went on to lumion to render. I had to re-render 3 times due to sudden changes from rhino such as removing of certain building, shifting of the plans and re-layering. However, I got to learnt how to fix my rhino with a plug-in as it used to not be able to allocate materials and the app always crashes since then. THE CHALLENGE: I did not understand the angles that my boss wants several times and time was running out before the next meeting before the end of my Internship too. REFLECTION: Thus, I sent several different views in all angles for him to select so as to move on to the last Artistic render in photoshop.
BIGGEST SUCCESS/FAILURE
This is byfar the biggest success this internship. Not only was I able to complete it in time, I did not expect myself to be able to do something like this. It is my first time adding so much details to a render after a lumion render. This render is the summary of this internship. I was afraid to start rendering this but excited at the same time, it tastes like a bitter sweet in sugar water, I can feel the success that I accomplished something and also a failure at the start to be afraid to try.
First idea of clip on coffee cup holders that was initially accepted but eventually rejected due to it not being able to comply with the 1 metre rule. As for my thought I think that people will naturally keep away from the cup holder as they might accidentally knock others cups down or even get burns. REFLECTION: I went on the doubling it and adding more functions to it like bag hanger and magazine holder etc but now drilling them on tables instead.
Then, I also came up with the designing of new tables and chairs instead. having legs extended to 1 metre or carved spaces and tables having a 1metre carved out and having a layer at the bottom to put items.
This is a really fun project for me as I get to design my so called, social-distancing furniture for offices, mainly for the company. This project allowed me to think out of the box to replicate how human behaviour will be when they see certain objects and naturally keeping the social- distancing rule without reminding themselves.