Group 15

School: Serangoon Junior College

The Problem:

Being an old estate, a large proportion of residents are in their senior years. Our preliminary observations have highlighted a lingering problem that the inhabitants are facing – A dire lack of elderly-friendly facilities has resulted in a large amount of people sitting around aimlessly and idling around void decks. As such, we feel that it is imperative that this issue should take highest priority in being addressed through in our plans to revamp this area.

After interviewing several residents living in the area, we have observed a strong sense of belonging to this area after living there for many years. However, there is a general consensus that they feel lonely and neglected by society. Therefore, we plan to re-organise the utilisation of the urban landscape in that area by converting unused and underused spaces into fun, new and practical landscapes and facilities, orientating and catering them towards addressing the needs the old-folks.

Strategies:

We plan to encourage the elderly to get out of their homes and lead an active lifestyle by creating engaging and interactive opportunities whilst preserving the identity of the site as much as possible. We plan to interconnect the various areas of the estate with nature-covered walkways which adds to the vibrancy and greenery of the estate, calming and cool environment for residents strolling around as well as increasing the accessibility to the elderly and especially the wheel-chaired. Gardens and bird-posts will be set aside which helps them achieve an active lifestyle as well as giving them a greater sense of belonging and more interaction opportunities. Pavilions and parks will be constructed at key intersections and nodes which provide spaces and infrastructure for activities and events organised for the general public such as getais, movie screening and other activities which brings people and communities together. Water features will be infused along with the greenery to create an even more tranquil environment for the elderly to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy.

We have also identified this area as a strategic locality for a medical centre which specifically caters to the elderly. Physiotherapy, aquatherapy and other reflexology features will be integrated throughout the nature walks and park connecters which compliment this area as a medical hub for the seniors.

The shop houses in that area can be revamped, expanded and given a face-lift to make it a cleaner, more convenient and enjoyable surrounding for the residents along with adding a green touch to roofs to reduce urban heating.

Further Developments:

The old office malls around the area are highly valued due to their good locality. As such, we also see much economic potential in converting existing textile warehouses and ‘karaoke’ lounges into SOHO units along with anchor clients such as supermarkets for the working population and budding entrepreneurs to add liveliness. Jamming studios and LAN shops for the youth can be built in order to promote more cultural integration as well as economic activity in that area, given its high accessibility after the completion of Nicoll Highway station.

A Muay Thai ring could also be set up near the Community Club which opens a controlled environment for the Thai Workers in the area to gather without posing a security threat to the residents as brought up by many people as they loiter around.

Group 14

School: Temasek Junior College

Overview of Proposed Project:

One of our primary aims is to use this area as a common platform for all ages to congregate and interact. At the same time, this allows a bridge in the age and generation gaps. In addition, we aim to curb or alleviate the issue of loneliness in most of the elderly residing in the area. We would also want to try to enhance vibrancy of the current dull-coloured, drab Crawford neighbourhood and also at the area adjacent to the ICA building.

Crawford Wave

The main architectural design will display a wave that is moving towards Rochor river and the rest of Crawford area. This will be an apt depiction of life, vibrancy, energy, yet it is still able to harmonise with nature and the tranquillity of surroundings. We propose to build a double-storey mall for this with multiple basement levels, thus this will be low-lying building. We will also like to emphasise on the uniqueness of the undulating roof-top garden, where people can also engage in more urban sporting activities like rock climbing and skate-boarding. Besides, a small carpark will be built and the customer base will be from MRT, buses, or they can walk or cycle to the mall. This demonstrates our green efforts and at the same-time, emphasizes the need to reduce environmental degradation. We would like to propose to build a sports-recreation based mall with special features like an acoustic multi-purpose platform, undulating roof garden, cinemas, supermarket, gyms and a miniature park at the entrance. With regards to the multi-purpose platform, it will be primarily used for band/orchestra performances and it will be open for public booking/functions. Foe the undulating roof garden, it will take on the shape of a wave and it will contour as our main roof design. Not only that, it will also be connected to the bicycle trail.

Bicycle Trails

The bicycle track/pedestrian path will link the garden outside the Crawford Wave to the gardens at the void deck in block 467. It will go over the Rochor Canal and there will be a platform for people to admire the scenery and have an overview of the area. This trail is also wheelchair-friendly as there will be ramps, creating a barrier-free environment. It not only attracts cycling enthusiasts, but also allows interaction between the young and the old. As it connects the more urbanised area with the MRT station and the ICA to the older HDB blocks opposite, the cyclists/joggers, mostly the youth, will be able to better appreciate the old and not forget their roots.

Café

The café will be a prominent sight along the Rochor Canal since it is elongated and rather expanded. It will be connected to 4 boardwalk-like bridges such that people can actually enter and exit the café with ease. In the café, cuisines that are catered for both the young and the old will be made available. In addition, given its close proximity to the multi-purpose platform, the café-goers will be able to view the live performances there, which is another form of entertainment for them. We believe that this will attract more people to come to the café and enjoy such a unique alfresco dining experience. This will then again be a focal point for our proposed project and it definitely allows them to interact with one another, thus alleviating loneliness in the elderly.

Void Deck

We propose to have a vegetable garden on the void deck, located at the third level of the Housing Development Blocks, where residents will be able to grow their own plants. The vegetable gardens will be able to elevate the liveliness of the area and to infuse a sense of home. Furthermore, it will serve as a basis in which neighbourly ties can be established or strengthened. The vegetable garden

not only enables the residents to pick up a new hobby, it too allows them to save up on some grocery money as they will now be able to obtain the vegetables that they need, from their very own garden. Apart from the above mentioned qualities, the vegetable garden will also be able to add to the greenery of the area, inadvertently inculcating the virtue of keeping the environment clean and green. Moreover, the elderly will be able to grow their own plants and sell them at their stores or to keep it for their own consumption; this helps to alleviate the elderly's boredom and loneliness as they now have a past time.