Design My Place

CUBE or Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment was a competition that re:ACT organised for the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) under its Architecture and Urban Design Excellence programme (A.UDE) as part of its 35th anniversary celebrations. We based the event on our usual DMP workshop framework but threw in a healthy dose of competition to spice things up a bit and to spur the different schools to come up with innovative ideas for the Chinatown area. The result was, we had one of the most creative and stimulating workshops ever with students trying to outdo each other, what with their dramatic presentations and out-of-the-box ideas!

Mr Khoo Peng Beng, priciple architect of ARC Studio and also a great friend of re:ACT was brilliant as usual in his role as Chief Facilitator. Leading a panel of architects and urban planners, he pushed, prodded, shaped and expanded the minds of the young padawans from different schools to come up with 10 awesome strategies to improve the built environment around Chinatown.

In the end, there could only be one winner. Hwa Chong Institution impressed the jury panel the most and walked away with the 1st Prize of $2,000 cash. This was presented to them and the rest of the winners (Temasek Polytechnic - 1st Runner-Up and Serangoon Junior College - 2nd Runner-Up) at the 2008 URA Corporate Plan Seminar on 17 April 09. More photos after the link.

Media Coverage:
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090511-140723.html
http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.com/2009/04/ura-to-spread-wings.html

A group of students from junior colleges and polytechnics, together with the assistance of aspiring architects and designers, were on a mission to ‘save’ Queenstown estate from its desolate present!”

Volunteering as facilitators for this edition of Design My Place, an urban design workshop organized by Really Architecture (re:ACT), we knew that it was going to be an unforgettable experience. Initially we felt scared and concerned, but at the end of the third day, we were extremely proud of the work that the student participants had produced. We were scared and concerned because they seemed quite lost at the beginning, but they managed to progress so much within a short period of time. Unpredictability is probably the best word to describe the workshop, as we were immersed in the company of wacky teenagers who called themselves either “12 funky bunnies in rugged jeans” or “we rock, pebble & roll!”.

Their ideas were shooting around like missiles in the air, but it was more hilarious than treacherous. They wanted to ‘zeng!’ (Their colloquial term for ‘inject life’) Queenstown in a number of radical ways. Below are two examples,

1. They proposed a cemetery in the estate since there were already so many old people who were approaching their afterlife. However, the cemetery was also meant to incorporate a restaurant or cafe as well. The older generation might like the idea of dining or hanging out with their deceased friends & family. The big plus was also that the living could be assured that after they had passed on, they would have visitors to their graves, assuming they had friends of course! Loneliness after life is cured.

2. They agreed that the older generation should still lead an active sex life, and even though the years were catching up with them, the old folks should not be deprived of a second chance in their love life. Thus, a dating agency for them was proposed, for the single or widowed amongst them of course! Having a mate keeps them happy & active.

The above is just the tip of the iceberg.

By the third day, the students had sacrificed probably a million brain cells, but they still persisted on despite the demanding requirements of the programme. They drew, they crafted, they argued & they acted to sell their ideas across; and were also able to withstand the harsh comments of the evil critique panel. It was indeed a commendable effort for these first-timers in urban design. We as facilitators felt that the objectives had been met, and we hoped that the student’s minds had been opened and their thinking challenged.

Finally, the best way to end off the workshop was watching a group of studious looking boys let their hair down, monkey around and practice their break dancing moves while we had our dinner. We (or rather, I) finally understood what it felt like when people say that old folks enjoy seeing children play.


Ong Sheng Hua

We have just finished the Design My Place (Urban Creativity Workshop) over the weekend. It was nothing short of an amazing experience for the students, the facilitators, the organisers, and our supporters. It was very encouraging to see at the end how well received it was not just by the students, but also by our sponsors from URA, our supporters from Design Singapore and other guests that we invited as part of the jury panel.

Our greatest thanks and appreciation certainly goes to Khoo Peng Beng, our Chief Facilitator/ instructor/ teacher/ Aikido instructor, without whom, the whole workshop would have been less energetic, less inspiring, less passionate and less successful. More on the workshop in the next few days. For now, enjoy some pictures.

WEB:
www.reallyarchitecture.org

General Enquiries:
info@reallyarchitecture.org

Design My Place Workshop:
Joshua Teo joshua@reallyarchitecture.org
Chong Keng Hua kenghua@reallyarchitecture.org

Singapore Architect Magazine
Issue 243 - Design My Place
co-written by Cheng Sin Mei and Yu Sern Hong

Issue 249 - Participatory Processes in Revitalisation - Open Source Neighbourhood Design
co-written by Dr Chong Keng Hua and Ong Swee Hong

Five Foot Way Articles
Reimagining Chinatown - Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment, CUBE 2009
written by Adib
http://www.fivefootway.com/2009/03/22/reimagining-chinatown/#more-2394

YUP - Young Urbanist Programme
written by Lyn
http://www.fivefootway.com/2008/03/14/yup/

YOUTUBE Videos
YUP - Young Urbanist Programme
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDxr4vcFsss

Design My Place - Bukit Timah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grvi1KBxWH0&feature=related

We are constantly on the lookout for passionate fun-loving individuals who enjoy interacting with and inspiring youth to come join us on the Design My Place team! Do apply if you would like to be part of us in the following areas:

Facilitators
Writers
Video Editors

If you are interested or know someone who might be, feel free to contact Project Coordinator, Joshua Teo at joshua@reallyarchitecture.org

2009
Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment (CUBE)
http://designmyplace.blogspot.com/2009/05/cube-2009-with-ura.html

2008
Design My Place 2 (Queenstown)
http://designmyplace.blogspot.com/2009/05/design-my-place-2-god-save-queen.html?zx=cb506eb9d841bd95

The Young Urbanist Programme (YUP)
http://designmyplace.blogspot.com/2008/03/young-urbanist-programme-season-1.html

2007
Design My Place (Urban Creativity Workshop)
http://designmyplace.blogspot.com/2008/03/design-my-place-hci.html

About ReallyArchitecture

ReallyArchitecture (re:act) is a Singapore-registered society, established in 2006 by a group of visionary architecture enthusiasts who are interested in promoting architecture with a social conscience. We believe that architects have to stay relevant to the society by taking on additional roles and new approaches to make a positive impact in the communities. Through promoting interdisciplinary exploration by collaborating closely with government bodies, the community, educational institutions and various professions, we endeavour to raise public awareness about place, identity and creativity, which would in turn instil an appreciation toward good, responsive, and relevant architectural designs.

The organisation passionately believes in pushing boundaries and encouraging exploratory thinking. It hopes to achieve these objectives through activities like exhibitions, workshops, conferences, talks, films, publications, academic papers and actual built projects. It recently organised the Challenge for the Urban and Built Environment (CUBE), an urban planning and design competition for pre-university students initiated by the Architecture and Urban Design Excellence (A.UDE) Programme, URA as part of their efforts to reach out to the community. It was also one of the three teams commissioned to design and curate the Singapore pavilion, SUPERGARDEN, at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008. Other past projects include Seletar Film Project (2006), Small Eyes, Big Picture Photo-Travelogue Exhibition (2005), Asian Research Film (2005), Akha Way Expedition + Exhibition (2004-05).

Vision
REAL Architecture for the Community

Mission
Taking on holistic approaches to make the architectural profession relevant to the society’s development

Approaches
Xchange: Promoting real understanding
Interaction between architectural profession and public, promotion of design appreciation
Exhibition, workshop, seminar, talk, media, publication

Xploration: Defining real issues
Insights that inform new directions in architectural practice and aid in policy making
Research, experiment, travel, observation, issue, analysis

Xecution: Directing real movement
Sustainable design executions through social projects and international co-operations
Project, commission, expedition, experience

Introduction
The neighbourhoods of Singapore are the living and character development “nests” of the majority of Singaporeans. From the 1960’s rush to provide necessary housing for the common people, to the modernized and elaborate designs they have taken on today, neighbourhoods have formed an influential yet understated part of our lives.

At the same time, as the youths of our society embrace the fast-developing urban-scape, it is of great importance that they learn to see their surroundings at a slower, more discerning pace and consider:

What is my identity? What is the place that I grow up from? How can I contribute? What is the value of good design for the community in my neighbourhood?


Executive Summary
“Design My Place” is a 3-day workshop for students, organised by ReallyArchitecture, a society of young architects and architecture enthusiasts.

It aims to induct students into the mysteries of architecture and urban design. In the process, it aims to build new awareness in the students about their built environment and teach them to be sensitive to the needs of the community and how good design can be a tool to meet these needs.

We have shrunk the entire process of design down to three full action-packed days. From understanding a site, to making models, to presenting to “clients”, it all happens here, with a strong dose of quirkiness.

As an object lesson, the students will be study a neighbourhood that is close to their school. Based on what they discover, they will come up with designs that will help improve the area. Finally, they will get to present to the actual urban planning authorities!

These proposed interventions for that particular neighborhood then form a resource and an ideas-bank from which the authorities could consider translating into actual projects. In doing this, we are empowering and encouraging the youths in Singapore to be more proactive, making positive changes for the community.