Shannon Yeong Undergraduate E-Portfolio

/prologue

The process in which that happens tends to follow a slower, methodical and branching path of ideas that cannot be simply driven down to one point. Just like a story, there exists multiple angles and paths towards an ending that can be drawn through personal interpretation; but still I find myself resorting to the consolidation of contextual ideas to form the ‘right question’ in which my other ideas are built upon. It is a collaborative effort between architect and community working within existing constraints that symbiotic architecture begins to take form.

Shannon Yeong Xen Jie Bachelors of Science (Hons) Architecture Taylor’s University

Oftentimes, well-intentioned initiatives jump ahead looking for the right answers instead of understanding the right issue beforehand. It is in assuming conclusions that the role of the architect remains unfulfilled in creating improvements for public life.

I believe a building is nothing without its inhabitants, and a project is only successful when it lives and sustains off the community it houses. Every individual project comes with its own sets of parameters, challenges and opportunities. However, my initial positions are always informed through a thorough understanding of that specific relationship of time and place and how it affects the people.

In its development, I allow myself to be open minded and imaginative, drawing fresh inspiration from the context while dealing with the intricacies and complexities of the relationships at play within it. On top of that, I retain a strong public conscience to make considered contributions to the built environment through socially engaged design processes. I constantly challenge myself in a match to push boundaries, rethink fundamentals, pursue interesting ideas and synthesize a timeless solution.

With the rate of new technology and innovations being introduced almost daily, new frontiers are being breached for solving current urban issues and global crisis. Architecture may not have the ability to be an ultimate solution, but it does provide the most optimal physical framework in which these issues may be addressed. My expressions of architecture are undoubtedly aligned with the themes and identity of our times, but the solution I aim to provide is a humanitarian architecture that has an impact beyond itself.

/content

01

02

03

04

mar/ sept 2018

aug/ dec 2018

mar/ sept 2019

aug/ dec 2019

Visitor Interpretive Centre

Single Parent Community Center

Performing Arts Centre

City Lobby

Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

Kinta River, Ipoh.

Kajang Town, Selangor.

Johor Bahru, Johor

01 Sungai Buloh, Selangor

/visitor interpretive center: mar/ sept18

/brief The design brief calls for an architectural response to design an interpretive center emphasising a strong engagement and relationship to the site, spatialexperiences and programmatic requirements. total floor area: 450sqm 2 storey microsite: shophouses behind dewan orang ramai, sungai buloh leprosy valley of hope

The interpretive centre will serve two purposes:  - To provide a physical point of reference with visual significance that keeps alive the culture/history/memory/essence of the site  To provide accommodation to house and display relevant material and interpretive material for public access and information.

Abandoned cottage in the settlements

The Sungai Buloh Leprosy Center was the second largest leprosarium opened in 1930 to house the quarantined victims of leprosy.

Leprosy patients do not anticipate their diagnosis as they will be forcibly pulled from their family and loved ones to sustain and grow up in a foreign environment. As more patients culminated in the center from all over the British colony, a micro-community was set which allowed for jobs, education, fostered friendships and even marriage. However, each one of them still longed for the day they would be cured and return to society.

“How can we make a statement through framing the memories of our past?�

Now, leprosy was cured and most of the original settlers left the valley, but the history of the site crumbles along with it, the original walls have since grown with age with “spots” and “scars” and the site is devoured by the lush greenery around it. When walking through the decrepit neighbourhoods, the mind begins to wander and think about how the frames of the now abandoned homes once saw a knit community that shared together in their tribulation yet still found a hope to look forward to.

Framing various times in memory

2

1

The architecture of the Visitor Interpretive Center intends to capture the emotive journey of a new settler within the leprosarium while paying homage to the deeply feared lepers, empathizing with them and celebrating their history of healing. As such, the typology of repeated frames were selected to play with scale and the way lights and shadows interact with it to create an atmosphere of oppression and release which terminates in a perch that overlooks the entire settlement, allowing for the recollection of memories and deep empathy.

3 An imbalance in relationship

4 5

The neighbourhood frames itself

7

6 8

Spaces: 1. Gallery 2. Balcony 3. Viewing Deck 4. Cafe 5. Old shophouses 6. Foyer

7. Exit to settlement 8. Entrance

View from settlements

Series of split levels

Interplay of light through frames

Perch overlooking the view

Spaces: Ground Floor 1. Entrance 2. Foyer 3. Old Shoplots 4. Cafe First Floor 5. Deck 6. Gallery 7. Balcony 8. Perch

7 6 5

8

1 Longitudinal section

2

3

4

02 Kinta River, Ipoh

/single-parent community center: aug/ dec18

/brief The design brief calls for an architectural response to design a community support center for singleparent families within an urban park context. total floor area: 900 sqm 2-3 storey microsite: open land by medan istana in front of kinta riverfront

The pressures of modernity have brought about many issues related to communities experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage; in particular the ‘marginalised’ single-parent families involving large number of children being brought up by women especially experiencing real economic hardship.

Within this context, we are required to ask questions pertaining to this particular marginalised community in terms of their hardship; what can be done to support them so that they can sustain their livelihoods; and how architecture can provide a setting for such support.

“How can we blur the boundaries between the fragmentation on site to aid single-parent families find acceptance in their lives?�

Blurring the boundaries – integrating different user groups together through architectural spaces that extend beyond itself for a social developmental programme.

Fragmentation can be seen in our site through an absence of overlap between the zones which cater only to user groups exclusive to each other; drawing a boundary between them. Likewise, single-parent family groups are often singled out of society due to negative preconceptions about them. How then does the center take leverage on the close proximity between the zones on site to create an open and safe environment for these single-parent families?

The concept thus brings forth ideas of opening up the architecture to the public and the single-parent user group through a language that “extends outwards”.

A subtracted horizontal plane was first considered to open up visual connection between floors but maintaining privacy and outward-looking views. A transitional quality was then formed through the permeability of space that allows for fluidity on the ground level.

Fragments of the site are cut and pieced together to blur the boundaries between the work-life divide

When considering walls, the aim was to limit the confinement of “rooms” and allow the interlock of planes to form the spaces. These planes also “stretch out” to the surrounding context of the zones through a progressive blur from the landscape towards hardscape, planes then volumes. This bleeding of exterior into interior spaces forms a contextual response to the natural context – developing courtyard spaces in between.

Ground Floor Plan

Spaces: Ground Floor 1. Main Entrance 2. Pedestrian Entrance 3. Public Courtyard 4. Private Courtyard 5. Private Entrance 6. Workshop 7. Child Learning Space

13 12

5

11

10 8 9

7 4 6

3 1

2

Exploded Axonometric

First Floor 8. Office 9. Hangout Space 10. Group Counselling 11. Child Learning Space 12. Private Counselling 13. Storage

First Floor Plan

Entrance

Hangout Space

Charity Market

Workshop

Private Courtyard

Corridors

03 Kajang Town, Selangor

/performing arts center: mar/ sept19

/brief total floor area: 1200-1300 sqm 3-5 storey microsite: Medan Sate Lot along Jalan Sulaiman, Kajang

The design brief calls for the interpretation of various possibilities of a Performing Arts Center in order to offer urban intervention that identifies the distinctiveness of place, without disrupting the locale character.

The KAC is a place for learning the performing arts with a public space impact and performing space as a public space. The objectives are to: - Attempt to respond the issue of displaced city - Remnant spaces to be effective public spaces.

- Programmatic aspects to be connecting to the urban communities.

- Faรงade and scale to be part of the urban block.

Kajang is a city of collage that has been defined by its amalgamation of buildings and the sequence of space that facilitates the public life within it. The often contradicting qualities of the physical framework becomes a character within Kajang, shaping its identity as a functional city. With uprising urban issues of safety, placemaking and lack of public life, how will a new building within Kajang adapt with its nature of collage as a driving design intention?

“How will a new building within Kajang adapt with its nature of collage as a driving design intention?�

The collage of streets The public life of Kajang happens along its streets – in which case is hosted by the 5-foot walkway, a typology often used for the osmosis between interior and exterior, blurring the boundaries between the public and private realm.

Overlap The permeable edge along Jalan Sulaiman demarcates the boundaries between the new and old district through the variations in function and demographic use. The opportunity then arises for the proposed site to act as a mediator, creating a space for all as a linkage between these ends.

6

5 4

3

2

1

Ground Floor Plan

Spaces: Ground Floor 1. Public Amphitheatre 2. Feature Stairs 3. Satay Restaurant 4. Kitchen 5. Kiosks 6. Kiosks

10

7

First Floor Plan

8

9

Spaces: First Floor 7. Costume Display 8, Percussion Display 9. Instrument Display 10. Instrument Showcase Theatre

12 11

Second Floor Plan

13

Spaces: Second Floor 11. Pocket Garden 12. Cultural Dance Theatre 13. Dance Practice Room

Alleyway View

View from Jalan Sulaiman

Informal Amphitheater Dance

Section

East Elevation

Spaces: 1. 5-foot Walkway 2. Satay Restaurant 3. Instrument Display 4. Costume Display 5. Dance Practice Room 6. Cultural Dance Theatre 7. Pocket Garden 8. Balcony

7

8 6 4

5

3 2

1 Sectional Perspective

04 Johor Bahru, Johor

/city lobby:

reconfigure the gap

aug/ dec19

/brief total floor area: 2000-2400 sqm 3-5 storey Basement carpark microsite: Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Johor Bahru

The design brief calls for the design of a city lobby - a gathering point where it offers the needs of the poeple in the city as well as opportunities for cultural exchange. It should create a positive impact to the public, engaging people to stay and connect.

The objectives would be: - Create a highly engaging design which appeals to all demographics, social status and ethnicity Incorporate elements of sustainability to give the city a green respite - Complies with buildability, safety standards and user requirements of the building guideline

“How can the gap which was formed in a city’s cycle of erasure and displacement be reconfigured to become a new civic space?”

The History of the Gap Life in Johor Bahru like many other early settlements was built around the river with vast fields of plantations. Through the passage of time, development ensued and caused an uptick in urban blocks that shifted according to cultural and social needs. With each decade, the voids in the city constricted along the invasive urban blocks that increased exponentially. Yet, the built environment that was meant to cater to the people was forsaken for the leftover gaps between them because they were the truly democratic space of the city; space that does not segregate through barriers of privatization and commercialization.

The Makeshift City Every corner of Johor Bahru is filled with public life. Pockets of temporary ephemera pop up through the gaps between buildings and facilitate a culture of lingering.

However, these pop-up programmes take place in afterthoughts of spaces in often rundown, unsanitary and overall poor conditions; yet the presence of community uplifts and reinforces the gaps to be filled with life. How then can we reconfigure and empower these afterthoughts of space into civic spaces shaped by the communities dependent on them?

Site Plan

Reconfigure the Gap The City Lobby aims to create a space for all regardless of background, empowering them through programmes that sustain and enrich their livelihoods through the use of landscaping and the familiarity of gaps. The intent is to draw in people to inhibit an empty canvas of space and begin the process of adding value to the space itself as well as its surroundings. Thus, the gaps will have qualities of place-making, sustainability of community and ecology and upholds values of equity through space.

1. Creating public frontage and connecting pedestrian corridors

2. Creating secondary axis by connecting minor nodes

4. Create topography in response to height difference

5. Cut through silent corridor according to historical axis

3. Green Spine and Link bridge created according to axis

6. Lift blocks off the ground to create public space

3.

9.

8.

5.

2.

6.

7.

1.

4.

Lower Ground Floor Plan (Jalan Wong Ah Fook Level)

1. Entrance to Basement Carpark 2. Refuse 3. M&E Room 4. Security (Loading Bay) 5. Quiet Corridor/ Gallery 6. Water Wall 7. Cafeteria 8. Charity Marketplace 9. Drop-off

12.

14.

17.

16.

15.

11.

10. Tree Planting Nursery 11. Tool Shed 12. Pocket Gardens 13. Community Soup Kitchen 14.Horticulture Workshop 15. Gallery 16. Child Learning Space 17. Garden Deck

Ground Floor Plan (Jalan Trus Level)

10.

13.

22.

18.

23.

21.

18. Link Bridge to Pesada Convention Center 19. Collaboratory Lounge/ Workshop 20. Community Resource Library 21. Green Spine 22. Cafe 23. Multi-purpose hall 24. Link Bridge to JBCS First Floor Plan

19.

20.

24.

25.

25. Collaboratory Office for NGO Second Floor Plan

View from Jalan Wong Ah Fook

View from Jalan Trus

View from Green Spine

Sectional Perspective through the Green Spine

View from Garden Deck

Elevation from Jalan Wong Ah Fook

Elevation from Jalan Trus

Perpendicular Section through Green Spine

10 2 5

8

9 11 10

12 15

13

14 16 17

18

19

24

20 21 22 23

26

25 27

28

29

1

3

4 6

7

“The correct question comes from a proper contextual response.”

Shannon Yeong Xen Jie Compilation of Undergraduate Works from his B.Sc. (Hons) Bachelor in Architecture in Taylor’s University (2017-2019) Contact me: 017-8995483 shannonyeong@gmail.com