Untouched...

P1 for our studio was so different. But I will not regret it.

Palmer Road had made me see things in another light. It is that which made the difference.


Indeed Palmer Road is a place not known to many Singaporeans. A small packet of land right in the heart of CBD. An initial idea of lost and forgotten is what one gets when one just get to know it. But when one gets to know it, it is not true.

The place is so full of historical and religious value. It witnessed the whole history of our little island, from a small fishing village to what it is today. It is exactly the representation of Singapore in just a small packet of land. It represents the community in Singapore. It displays the spirit of Singapore.

It is not always the big things that count but small things do matter as well. Like Palmer Road, although small but it is so important and contained so much in it. It is being overlooked. People going into CBD are simply passing by it, not taking a second look at it.


Like every other things in the world, simple things are being overlooked. But without all these simple, taken-for-granted things, the big things cannot work out.

Is the pace of our life too fast? Or are we simply just too concern with money? Or simply cannot be bother?

No matter what, I feel that it is really a pity to take things for granted and overlooking things that is happening around us. Slow down and appreciate the little things around us and we will find ourselves so much richer.

Palmer Road, a place to be untouched but not untold......


- JasOn

where Habib Nor lies. The inspiration of our programme.
Our site, the parking lot frequent by taxi drivers.
Juxtaposition of the historically rich hakka temple and the modern CBD area behind.


‘Saving Palmer road” is a project which calls for a great deal of sensitivity. Sensitivity to the present site, the history of the site and history of the prominent figures associated with the site.
Question, ‘how does one save the site?’ After much research and probing it was discovered that our site at Palmer road was a place laden with rich history. It would definitely be a waste for the government to reclaim that small pocket of land for future development. (It’s all about the money now isn’t it?)
The studio debated and discussed for weeks in search of an appropriate and sensitive solution. Should the site be glorified, and to a certain extent lose some of its integrity? Or should it be preserved wholly? Some felt we should built an architecture sensitive to the site and historical context while others felt that maybe the site should be left untouched. Maybe less is more in that sense.
A video clip was done to gain insight of the site. This was never explored before in our previous studio groups. However it certainly added another dimension to our understanding of the site and the formulation of our program. In particular, our program, a counseling centre for the neglected by the neglected, was heavily derived from the site’s history.
Ultimately I still feel strongly about our program as it is, in my opinion, very tied down to the site and relevant to its history. A counseling centre glorifies the history of the site, and, by nature of our design, offers minimal disruption to the fauna and floral there.

Project 1-Counselling house for the Urbanites at palmer road

This counselling house is designed by Cherie, Velle, Hui da and Chun Yen.We feel that this site is a neglected site in CBD yet rich in spirit.The existence of the two places of worship and the keramat hence play an important role in influencing our design and program of the counselling centre.The CBD Urbanites are tired and' spirit-less' depsite having material wealth.The keramat of Habib Nor-which carries the spirit of giving is lost. The very spirit of self-sustaining community in Singapore back in the 1960s when our ancestors first arrive here has also dimished with the coming years. How to save palmer road?Our intention is to relive this spirit of giving and identity, through a reciprocal dialogue between CBD and the site such that they support each other,and hence the program of a refuge to the mentally depressed among us, and urbanites, run by urbanites volunteer seeking spirit and wanting to play a role in this societydining area
night view over all
night view from dining area

birds eye perspective

the garden with water feature

On a personal note, i think the objective this time for P1 is very different from the past projects that I have done.Here, saving the site,reliving the spirit of the site was the primus of the porject.To be honest, i have never thought so much for a program, and how to select a program most appropriate to the site.Nonetheless, i think this thinking process was a enriching one.Now, we do not just do architecture but how architecture can enhance the site, how architecture can make a place a better place.
-chun yen

simple analysis (OBL)

Hi this is a simple analysis done by our sub group,dennis,Bo yan,Lui and brandon.(OBL)

Welcome to Environmental Studio

Hi
This will be a place for our Environmental Studio to share information, ideas and knowledge.