Building upon the explorations in Project 1A: Neighbourhood Park Plan and Project 1B: Learning Pod, Project 1C advances the design process by focusing on the development of a Neighbourhood Learning Centre. This project serves as an extension of our earlier analyses, emphasizing the context and the needs of the Kebun Komuniti USJ14 community. The design process encourages us to consider how exposure to a gardening environment can benefit the community and how architectural design can sensitively facilitate and empower their participation in these activities.
The project prompts us to explore the relationship between indoor and outdoor learning environments, questioning the traditional notions of these spaces and their thresholds. It challenges us to determine which activities are best suited for indoor settings and which would thrive outdoors, perhaps under the shade of trees rather than in air-conditioned spaces. This inquiry into the integration of materiality, passive design, and environmental considerations from Project 1B will help create a communal atmosphere centered around learning. Additionally, the project asks us to consider sustainability strategies, such as composting, and how they can be incorporated into the design to enhance the user experience and the overall spatial quality of the Neighbourhood Learning Centre.
The objective of this in-class activity is to equip students with the ability to generate design ideas through free-hand sketches or drawings and to apply a basic structural system to a small structure. By the end of the activity, students will have gained hands-on experience in conceptualizing and visually representing their designs.
To achieve this, students will use drawing and sketching tools, butter paper rolls, and drawing tablets as their primary materials. Before starting the activity, students are expected to familiarize themselves with basic structural systems, including frame structures, solid structures, and shell structures. Additionally, they should watch the provided hand-drawn video tutorials to enhance their understanding.
The outcome of the activity will include freehand sketches or basic drawings of a learning pod, clear indications of the proposed structural system and materials, and preliminary ideas on how the learning pod will be assembled or constructed. This exercise aims to blend creativity with foundational structural knowledge, preparing students for more complex design challenges.
The objective of this in-class activity is to enable students to generate and communicate conceptual design ideas through the creation of physical conceptual models. By the end of the session, students will have developed the skills to articulate their design concepts and apply design strategies that are responsive to the site's environment and surroundings.
To accomplish this, students will use various model-making tools and materials such as cardboard, balsa wood, foam board, and polystyrene. Before the activity, it is essential for students to have their Project 1A site model available in the studio and to watch the provided tutorials on physical conceptual model making.
The expected outcomes of the activity include a 1:200 scale physical conceptual model of a neighborhood learning center and preliminary ideas on how the design will interact with and respond to its surrounding environment. This hands-on approach emphasizes the importance of model-making in exploring and refining design strategies that are contextually sensitive.
Nostalgia Nook is a learning center situated in a community-focused neighborhood park, surrounded by apartment blocks. The design aims to create a nearly zero-energy building where the elderly can reminisce, retire, andrelax, while children can explore, experience, and enjoy. The center is envisioned as a self sustaining ecosystem, continuously growing through its own resources and reliability. The concept is embodied in the center's fragmented structure and the alternating facades of folding timber panels and
aluminum-louvered curtain glass walls. These elements not only enhance the architectural appeal but also contribute to the building's green strategies. Trellises and a growing facade are integrated into the design,
creating spaces that thrive within healthy ecosystems. These features provide harvest, shade, and user comfort, playing a vital role in sustainability. The center includes various green strategies such as rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and natural ventilation to minimize energy consumption. The use of sustainable materials like Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) further supports the environmental goals of the project, ensuring a minimal carbon footprint while creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Nostalgia Nook is designed to be functional for all age groups, fostering a sense of community and connection with nature. The
thoughtful combination of sustainable practices and aesthetic elements ensures that the learning center is not only environmentally friendly but also a beautiful and comfortable space for everyone to enjoy.
Presentation Board
Building on the explorations of Projects 1A and 1B, Project 1C focuses on the design of the Neighbourhood Learning Centre, emphasizing the needs of the Kebun Komuniti USJ14 community. This project challenges traditional notions of indoor and outdoor learning environments, encouraging the integration of materiality, passive design, and sustainability. The design concept, embodied in Nostalgia Nook, centers around a nearly zero-energy learning center that caters to all age groups. With features like folding timber panels, aluminum-louvered glass walls, trellises, rainwater harvesting, solar panels, and natural ventilation, the center is envisioned as a self-sustaining ecosystem that fosters community and connection with nature. Sustainable materials, such as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), are used to create an inviting atmosphere while minimizing the building's carbon footprint. The thoughtful combination of green strategies and aesthetic elements ensures that the learning center is not only environmentally friendly but also a beautiful and functional space for everyone to enjoy.