2024 - The Apricus

[0. Reinterpretation] Reimagining the historically significant shophouses of Chinatown, the design draws inspiration from atmospheric archways that mediate daylight.
“A great building must begin with the unmeasurable, must go through the measurable means when it is being designed and in the end it must be unmeasurable.” – Louis Kahn
[1. Unmeasurable] The process commences with a study of the dynamic, unmeasurable interplay of diverse daylit spaces in a traditional shophouse. Spaces engender a plethora of illuminating qualities, where distinct ambiences are shaped, befitting their functions.
[2. Measurable] The zoning was then formulated in relation to the circulatory experience of the shophouse. A series of study models were also conducted to explore opening positioning, lighting quality (direct or diffused light) and fenestration proportion. These were completed in relation to the positioning of the shophouse openings, expressing them as curved openings and skylights.
[3. Unmeasurable] The study of the traditional shophouse in Chinatown highlighted a sequence of varying daylit atmosphere that affects one’s mood. The envisioned healing centre, Apricus, seeks to orchestrate these ephemeral daylit atmospheres as an experiential healing journey with varying lighting conditions that subconsciously affect the patrons’ well-being as they traverse the building.