Studio's final year project brief was presented to us today with the expected outputs and projected schedules.The 14-week project gives us freedom to choose a topic to explore on and I've decided to focus on small living spaces.
Why the topic? Because everyone has a home. Everyone can relate to this topic. And perhaps, in one way or another, the project I'm going to embark on will be helpful, if not to all, to most people.
In some aspect, I have the same idea of home as curator Seckin Aydin:
Home, which has very close contact with the concept of family, is in charge with raising individuals for other institutions for the persistence and reproduction of society. This space where society is reproduced is crucial for determining the societal role of the individual. In this respect home is a “threshold” or “in-between” place for passing from private to public space. The individuals whose social roles are definite and competent for others might have to leave home temporally or permanently to accomplish his/her personal and social responsibilities.
In Singapore context, housing is a trending topic. Everywhere around Singapore, the little island is under going a major upgrade on housing where there is a rise in the construction of new dwelling places. Below is a leaflet I got while passing by an MRT station.
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This change is very evident. Especially for me, because there's a construction just right in front of the block where I stay. The views of majestic sunrise and vast green scenery have bid farewell to me just a year ago, and this saddened me.
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Besides the rise in numbers of housing constructions, there is also a concern on how the newly built houses are getting smaller. It's possible that developers are maximizing their profits, but we can't deny the fact that our little island need to fit in more people than before. Hence, with smaller homes becoming large in numbers, I feel that there is a need to address this current issue, that might prolong in the next generation.
As a designer, I'd feel accomplished when I help people have improved and better living. Design is always about the people. A few months ago, I went to an exhibition called Essential Eames: A Herman Miller Exhibition. Demetrios Eames, Charles and Ray Eames grandson, highlighted to us the importance of having a user-centered design, which is in the top of their company ethos.
"The more people understand that design is a part of everyday living, whether we are all officially designers or not, the richer our lives will be." - Demetrios Eames
Starting point
For my personal project, I started with the term 'constraint' to explore on different design approach and strategies. tbc
"Choice
is freedom and freedom is what we associate with a creative, liberated
individual."
