Design My Place

Group 8

School: Anderson Junior College

Proposal: REVIBE!

Our design proposal is titled REVIBE! The Ophir-Rochor area is worth a whopping hundreds of million dollars and our site consists of HDB flats flanked by the Jalan Besar stadium, the Jalan Besar Community Centre (CC), Kitchener Complex and City Light Condominium.

The problems we have identified from our site were namely the lack of vibrancy and activities for the elderly as well as the under-utilisation of the Jalan Besar Stadium, especially during sports’ off-season. Hence, we feel the need to inject life and vibrancy into the region, promote active aging, and maximise the usage of the stadium so as to not waste the space and money.

We decided to construct a system of park connectors which work on both the micro and macro scale. On the micro scale, the park connectors serve to integrate the estate by providing leisure activities for the residents along with increasing the vibrancy of the area. This is done by launching a series of new and exciting activities suitable for both the young and the old. On the macro scale, we will link the connector to the surrounding areas by connecting the routes to the Kallang Park via the Rochor Canal with the aim of attracting more young people.

To further enhance our project, we introduced two corridors to display the rich heritage and aesthetic aspect of the area. They are known as Artscapade and Looking Glass respectively. Artscapade will feature a winding trellis feature that centres on three pillars. It will be a platform for performing artists to showcase their talents. In addition, mosaic pieces of local artisans will be exhibited through glassed surfaces on the ground at certain points. We hope to give a much needed boost to the otherwise dull and lifeless façade currently. Looking Glass is a sky bridge, which is an extension of the current bridge between Kitchener Complex and Block 808. It will re-live the beginnings of the hardware industry in Jalan Besar and give tourists a visual and sensory experience to help them appreciate the unique characteristic of the area.

In addition, to maximise the utilisation of the stadium, we decided to build a row of alfresco restaurants circling the stadium circumference, above the grandstands. With this, spectators can have meals while enjoying the ongoing events in the stadium simultaneously. The restaurants will be enclosed in a glass area, adding to the overall visual experience in the stadium. We also propose to organize activities on the stadium field during sports’ off-season. Examples of such could be bocce or taiji in the morning to cater to elderly residents, and movie screenings at night for families.

In conclusion, we look forward to a more bustling neighbourhood for both visitors and residents. To quote an American politician, Coleman Young, “We need to dream big dreams, propose grandiose means if we are to recapture the excitement, the vibrancy, and pride we once had.”