Green Sanctuary by kenneth toh from singapore

Issue: The rate of volunteerism among senior citizen (above age of 55) was low in terms of involvement in voluntary activity. Therefore active volunteers have a stronger social support with friends and family as compare to inactive senior citizen. Consequently result in better companionship which lead to an optimistic outlook on stress and depress towards ageing.

Solution I: Design Hydroponic Farm, an engaging activity to offer provides opportunity for senior citizen to actively volunteer which will help to form social network. Agriculture serves as a source of food supply to the eatery outlet. In addition offer a place for both volunteers and beneficiaries to reminisce the olden day of agriculture in the modern context.

Solution II: Design an eatery outlet, an alternative safe gathering place for needy to interact with friends and family while enjoying a nutritional diet catering by the senior citizen who engage in agriculture. Eventually help to foster inter-communication through sharing of experience, knowledge and skills to others.

Site Analysis: Bedok Community Center located at New Upper Changi Road. Based on the analysis the strength is that it is strategic location situated near the Bedok Central, accessible with all mode of public transportation and also higher population of elderly living in the region. The opportunity will be introducing a new hangout Corner and urban farming which will encourage interactivity and volunteerism.

Design Concept: The project I am designing will be a communal space for the senior citizen. Therefore I have derived my concept from the social interaction when engage in voluntary work. Interlocking of space will be the main concept. Interlocking help connects the space together which creates a visual connection between different activities. The share space promote social bonding and foster inter communication between people and enhances their relationship. This relate back to my issue of encouraging active aging towards a healthy lifestyle.

Design Spatial Concept: The concept of interlocking space is derived from the social interaction of the people in the communal space when engage in voluntary work. Interlocking of space will be the main concept. Interlocking help to connect spaces together which will creates a visual connection between different activities. The share space promote social bonding and foster inter communication between people and enhances their relationship. This relate back to my issue of encouraging active aging towards a healthy lifestyle.

Functional Concept I: The space planning design an overall see-through layout where user will have a simple navigation. The main circulation of the space is in a loop and linear path which is to allow elderly to orientate and direction themselves with ease. While the repetitive columns help to create a sense of movement to lead them in the space.

Functional Concept II: Two group of users, mainly the senior citizen volunteer and the needy people. As a small scale farming, it does not require a large group to look after the farm. The farming activities ranging from preparation work to production and finally harvesting which responsible by the volunteers. The harvested crops supply as food to the kitchen for the volunteers to cook and prepare for the needy.

Functional Concept III: The beneficiaries able to come and enjoy a meal at the dining area mainly located at the front area where they enter through the entrance and also at the second storey. The second storey allows the user to experience dinning and farming activities that is happening below. The first storey is accessible for the wheel chair bound user as well. The user can pack all the harvested crops and make delivery to the other needy.