Like many secondary schools in Singapore, Bukit View Secondary School’s existing Block H was peculiarly typical; a rectangular concrete massing devoid of biophilia and opportunities for occupant respite. In this particular scenario, environmental affordances such as daylighting, ventilation and views are not fully capitalised upon too.
Taking conceptual inspiration from the name of its locality, where “Bukit” directly translates to “Hill” in Bahasa, the terraced proposal is an intervention introducing Cross-Laminated-Timber techniques to its predominantly concrete context.
As an attempt at an improved solution, passive design and wellness strategies related to biophilia and views take priority in informing the proposal.
Non-obvious but playing an important role, the overarching programme is maintained but flipped in its arrangement based on the concept of a hierarchy of power consumption — where HVAC intensive spaces are delegated to the bottom to reduce added cooling requirements because of natural thermal conditions.
Other spaces then stagger towards the top with spaces benefitting from natural daylight taking preference.
1 / Site Investigation and Planning Parameters
1.1 / Overview
1.2 / Neighbouring Context
1.3 / Vernacular Context
1.4 / Landscaping
1.5 / Circulation
1.6 / Sensory
1.7 / Environmental Factors
1.8 / Precedent Programme and Spatial Organisation
2 / Proposal
Envisioned Narrative
Sketch Vignette
2.1 / Macro
2.1.1 / Parti
Taking inspiration from the name of its context, where "Bukit" directly translates to "Hill" in Bahasa, the proposal is an amalgamation of 3 concepts: with its affordances for occupant interaction and respite additionally seeking to encourage the use of practicum as a method of teaching.
2.1.2 / Programme
Programmes that can benefit better from natural environmental exposure are located at the upper tier while those that have heavy consumption of AC are located at the lower tier.
2.1.3 / Massing
1 / Programme Hierarchy
Maximising the footprint for the required area schedule.
2 / Nudging for Environmental Benefits
Open roof spaces at all levels affording opportunity for daylighting and ventilation inwards of footprint length.
3 / Circulation
Programme and circulation as an inverted courtyard. Similar floor-to-floor height with the adjoining building to facilitate horizontal circulation.
4 / Insolation Mitigation
Cantilevered floors as horizontal sunbreakers. Vegetation as a means of insolation mitigation and reducing the localised Urban Heat Island effect. Consequently aiding in Stormwater Runoff management.
5 / Ancillary Activation
Breakout spaces integrated with terraced gardens. Primary roof for use as an intensive roof garden and for PV deployment.
6 / Spatial Organisation
Meeting required area schedules and having logic to the spatial programming. Limiting the length of the majority of rooms to reduce East-West radiation exposure.
2.2 / Micro
2.2.1 / Building Envelope: Exterior
2.2.2 / Building Envelope: Interior
2.2.3 / Rooftop
2.2.4 / Focal Circulation and Ancillary Breakout Spaces
