Singapore Polytechnic ABE students champion social inclusion and sustainability in final-year showcase

Final-year students from Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE) gathered at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Centre on Thursday (Mar 9) to present their projects for the annual graduate showcase, Connect – End of Year Show 2023.

Revolving around the theme of connect, the mixed reality exhibition presented by the 2023 graduating cohort employed virtual reality (VR), 3D animation walkthrough and physical presentation of project models and boards to present their roster of creative work spanning architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture.

The projects were developed in close collaboration with industry experts and partners such as URA, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) and the Ministry of National Development (MND) to address the important environmental and social issues that impact the everyday lives of Singaporeans.

Here’s a brief look at some of the spotlighted works:

Tasked to curate a sustainable and active community for the Buona Vista housing estate, Ethan Foo came up with an “explorative and fun experience” for users by transforming the existing Ulu Pandan canal into an enchanting stream – Eco-creek.

The Diploma in Landscape Architecture (DLA) student intended for the creek to be an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to Ulu Pandan canal, offering more opportunities for biodiversity to grow in the area. Eco-creek can also hold a larger capacity of stormwater.

Intended to be adjacent to the MRT station, Ethan’s envisioned project also includes a bridge made of chengal timber, multiple pathways of varying textures such as crazy cut stone and pebble concrete, and Wingmark, a park shelter where visitors can come together to seek respite and learn more about Stream Prominence and Buona Vista.

He stated that the change could make Buona Vista a sustainable and cohesive neighbourhood for communities.

Under the guidance of LKYSPP, interior design student Tay Yun Jun studied the utility and functionality of the void deck and peripheral spaces of public housing in the Bukit Purmei and Cantonment estates.

By critically questioning the physical and social context of these areas, Yun Jun and 17 other batchmates uncovered the potential of these public spaces and their surroundings in curating a sustainable and active community for the elderly and youth.

ACCRESCENT Cantonment is an urban communal playscape for the elderly and children to relax, play and forge meaningful relationships through enhanced user experiences.

Her proposal includes a Rest & Relax area, a multi-generational playground, a scribble wall for children to be creative and a pavilion among many others.

In the world of economic development, sustainability initiatives are gaining prominence due to dwindling resources.

To design a sustainability-focused school, Shalynn Ng addressed key questions such as defining sustainability, exploring the school’s potential to drive urban sustainability efforts, and considering the school as a prototype for a “Green School” fostering micro-sustainability.

The Diploma in Architecture (DARCH) student’s design pitch is a preschool located in Chinatown, with interesting spaces and peek-a-boo openings for children to play and learn. She hoped to create a preschool children will want to attend every day, exactly like they would to a playground.

Spanning six storeys, the concept features outdoor play areas linked to classrooms, slides from classroom corridors to dining halls, and peek holes for students to look through.

Senior Director, Built Environment & Maritime at SP, Dr Faris Akbar Hajamaideen, expressed that he’s proud and inspired by what the graduands have achieved. He added that their works on communities and the environment are timely on two fronts.

“Firstly, as we ease out of the pandemic experiences of the last two years, the role and importance of communities has engendered much discussion, and is a critical area that demands a sensible and swift response. Secondly, our students have risen to tackle the challenge of the moment – sustainability.

“I believe that with the quality of work they have exhibited in these areas, our students stand in good stead to not only make a difference in their future careers, but more so as good citizens in society.”