Primer Two | gjw-archi-portfolio

Primer Two Scars In The Ground

My post-museum studio is a place of reconciliation, where visitors come to interactively learn about the history of World War Two in Singapore. Where a historian will come in the morning and afternoon to conduct sharing sessions and to answer visitors' questions about the war.

A Studio For Reconciliation

Introdution

Design Concept

The concept was derived from a documentary about the Sook Ching Massacre. Where a witness remembered a scene where japanese soliders transported chinese men to the East Coast Beach and from 9a.m to 11a.m, machine gun fire will be heard non stopped. From this, I decided that my studio should express Singapore's darkest time. Where the compass will be used as a clock face. North being 12, East being 3, South being 6, West being 9 and North north West being 11. The form of the studio will point towards the West and North north West. Thus it shows Singapore's darkest time.

Journey Of The Interior Space

The three emotions are Hostility, Confusion and Peace.

After visiting the museum, the visitors will be greeted by the entrance's wall. First zone (Hostility). The walls are tapered in, the visitors will feel like the walls are moving into them. This creates a narrower space for them to walk through, expressing a sense of hostility. Descending down the tapered stairs, the visitors will keep looking and be aware of the steps, as the tread has different dimensions. This keeps the visitors to mind their surrounding as if in a hostile environment. While walking through the basement, the visitors will feel the emotions of what Wong Aii Wen felt when she was a spy. Feeling of being watched. There is a protrusion of zone 2 to the basement. At the edge of the protrusion is made of glass. This allows visitors in zone 2 to watch people in the basement.

As the visitors climb up to zone 2 (Confusion), they will be greeted by two spaces. They will soon have to make a decision to choose an area to sit. When one is confused they are unable to make a decision or reach a conclusion due to the lack of understanding. Inevitably they will have to make a decision either by studying all options or choosing randomly. At the transition of zone 2, peolpe will have to analyse the space and reach a conclusion to sit there, or choose randomly. At the west section, there is an opening however the opening is being covered by a wall, incompletely. This leaves a small slit and both sides, allowing little light to go through. This express the emotions felt by prisoners of war, their freedom is being blocked. At the north north west section, there is an opening that is being cover by glass. This allows plenty of light to go in, but this obstructs anyone to go through. This express the feeling of some citizens after the war. There future is open for them, but the memories of the war obstructs them from going forward.

Moving to the third zone (Peace). After the staircase up. What awaits the visitors are stepping stones on still waters. This help to give a senese of peace to the visitors as the waters are calm. Walking further on the stepping stones, a sight of a lone tree will appear, free from disturbance, it shows that it is at peace.

Material and Loading

The studio has a steel frame structure. The beam will spread the load to the columns. Then the columns will transfer the load down to the ground. The facade of the studio uses aluminium panel. Aluminium panal offer a large range of shape that it can be formed, which is very suitable for my studio.

Conclusion

In conclusion my studio is a place of reconciliation where visitors come to interactively learn the history of World War Two. The architecture of the studio's exterior and interior expresses the emotions and feelings the civilians, prisoners and war heroes felt during the war.