Under_Line: Community Care Hub at Marine Parade Subway

Studio Instructor

Dr. K.H. CHONG, Associate Profeesor, ASD, SUTD

Studio Collaborator

Ar. Michael LEONG, Deputy CEO, SAA Architect

Teaching Assistants

Natasha YEO, Ci Min LUN

Overview

This Option Studio builds upon the Architectural Core Studio sequence and explores sustainable design in urban public spaces with a particular focus on social infrastructure.

While contructing the new MRT station, new underground spaces would be created adjacent to the station. Instead of filling in with the typical commercial or retail spaces, could this also be an opportunity to reimagine such new urban space that is centrally located within a housing estate, and to address some of the emerging social needs faced by the residents?

The chosen site is the underground space next to the new Marine Parade MRT station. Besides being a transportation hub, the location is also in close proximity to Marine Parade Community Centre and Public Library. As Marine Parade is one of the older towns with rapidly ageing population, while being an attractive coastal neighbourhood to live in for younger families, the proposal is to envision a “Community Care Hub” at this new underground space.

Based on earlier engagements, the community envisions that the hub comprise of three key elements: 1) A Community Care Hub for social service agencies (SSAs) to serve the residents of Marine Parade and Joo Chiat constituencies; 2) Shared Spaces for community use; and 3) Enabling Enterprise Village to support employability of persons with disabilities. Some of the principal considerations for the hub include being a vibrant space in attracting members from the immediate vicinity and beyond, being inclusive in serving residents from all walks of life and circumstances, and to be fiscally sustainable in that it is able to operate without any fiscal deficit, even in the absence of government funding.

Led by MSF Enabling Business Team and Marine Parade Community Space Ltd, there are already a number of programmes proposed by SSAs and companies participarting in this initiative, such as a senior wellness centre by Monfort Care, a youth drop-in centre by TOUCH Community Services, adults caregiver clubhouse by We Care Community Services, social enterprise outfit by NTUC, children indoor playground by StarChamps, as well as commercial retail space by Don Don Donki. The challenge of the studio is thus to develop synergetic planning and spatial design that promote exchanges between the different stakeholders and empower the users, especially youths, so that they would be the main volunteers running the new Community Care Hub.

Objectives & Expectations

• As a studio, conduct site analysis and community asset mapping to appreciate urban context and social programmes in order to further enhance the overall masterplan of Community Care Hub.
• Work in groups to conduct precedent analysis on underground spaces and care facilities, and work with selected stakeholder to develop in-depth understanding of their social-spatial needs and aspirations.
• Propose design concepts individually for selected programme in response to both masterplan and stakeholder’s vision and requirements, considering/integrating experience design or product design proposed by NUS studio.
• Produce coherent architectural representations and models at sufficient levels of detail, and communicate convincingly sustainable design propositions in the form of renderings, drawings, simulations, models and/or VR.

Schedule

* Note: Capstone review week

¹ Stakeholders include social service agencies (Monfort Care, TOUCH Community Services, We Care Community Services), commercial companies (StarChamps, Don Don Donki).
² Time and venue to be confirmed.