BREATHABLE SPACES
The brief for this studio was to design a local community health centre to deliver a range of intergrated health services supporting cultural, health and fitness, and commercial activities.
‘Health isn’t everything but without it, everything is nothing.’
This quote emphasizes the importance of health being a vital support system for our daily activities. Through this project, I would like to impart the qualities of a lotus rhizome into the spatial arrangement, interior qualities and program of this project.
This is how I dissected it.
IN / OUT
“呼吸” is the Mandarin word for ‘breathe’. The combination of these two characters explains the process of breathing,
where the word “呼”means exhale, and “吸”means inhale. With air moving in and out of bodies for survival, I wanted to
take this idea to the literal level, by forcing individuals in and out of the building as they move from one program to another.
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
Breathable spaces could also be interpreted as to how comfortable we feel in a space, which is evaluated by the distance
between user to user and user to the boundary walls. Spaces for heart-to heart conversation could not be used as spaces to
hold large scale community gatherings, and vice versa.
OPPORTUNITY TO PAUSE AND RELAX
To give relief to its users, single loaded corridors overlooking greenery are used. Spaces for activities such as painting, reading,
and yoga sessions are also introduced.
IN / OUT
Circulation between functions are all external, forcing staff members to conform to the rhythm of going 'in and out and in...' The doors are placed as far apart from each other to enhance the daily rhythm of activities.
OPPORTUNITIES TO PAUSE AND RELAX
The reflection of trees on the water multiplies the landscape, obscuring the view of the nearby cemetery. In addition, drawing inspiration from Ando's Row House, the external circulation forces users to be outside and enjoy the landscape before moving to the next destination
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
'Breathable' for staff members could also be reintepreted as isolating themselves from patients. For most privacy, staff amenities and healthcare records are located at the top floor.
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
The narrowing path to the west end acts a threshold, buffering other patients from entering . The path widens out as we reach the receptionist before it narrows again as patients move to their individual waiting areas. The pool of water guides their path and provides a calming effect.
Amongst all, mental patients require the most privacy, thus their consultation rooms are located to the west end of the second floor. They have a separate set of design requirements, such as an additional door for escape, the seating arrangement in consult rooms and its isolation from other patients. Nonetheless, they are placed within close proximity to other healthcare services to prevent them from being further ostracised.
IN / OUT
Users are exposed to vegetation and the outside world in a rhythm-like sequence
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
Though equally as private, GP patients would feel more comfortable knowing that they are not alone. Thus, the waiting area is designed in such a way that it allows patience to sit in their individual groups whilst having other patients in sight.
On the other hand, the right end is occcupied by the other healthcare services, which share a common therapy room. To receive treatment, the patients usually come by in the morning, thus the services are positioned facing the east. Perforated windows are used to obscure the views of the cemetery.
More public programs such as the public gym and the multi-purpose room are located to the left, which is served by a multi-purpose staircase.
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
Privacy is a reoccuring concern in this floor even though all the activities relate to the physique.
- Martin, the active 5 year old -
IN / OUT
"Out in the courtyard, jumping into the pool, attending classes about the outside world, hiding in the crevices of the caves, before finally getting out!!"
- Tim, the 29 year old bachelor -
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
" One lovely Tuesday afternoon, whilst grabbing coffee with Mark, I spotted her at the corner of my eye. Garnering all the courage I had, I went over, winked and gave her my number. Wish me luck. "
- Mara, the 45 year old housewife -
INTIMACY / DISTANCE
" I enjoy my Sunday private lunches with my 3 kids and my dearest husband. "
- Nancy, the 70 year old widow-
OPPORTUNITY TO PAUSE AND RELAX
"After sending the monkeys to school on a Monday morning, I'll often sit by here and paint. At times Laura and Patrick would come along and we I'll paint together, but sometimes it's just me. This lets me have my daily dosage of me-time before the monkeys come back. "
