Social Architecture

1. Project Books and Cubes

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Part I: Introduction

Initiated and crowd funded by IX Architects Pte Ltd, Project Books and Cubes is a learning space nestled quietly on a primary school campus, in a rural village in Siem Reap.  Project Books & Cubes is a pro bono work conceptualized and designed for the children of rural Cambodia. With this learning space, the underprivileged communities will get empowered through education.

Though small in stature, it is an incubator of big dreams for the children living there.  Nestled quietly on a primary school campus, students can use this library in all weathers and even during electrical shortages.  Despite being in a pure cube form, the library embraces the entire site and complements other school activities.

The design concept is to create an engaging library for children. The 3 movable cubes that form the library are transformable according to the user’s needs - when pushed and locked together, it is presented as a linear library in the form of shipping container; when pulled apart, the library instantly transforms into a multi-purpose space, which gives teachers the possibility of conducting lessons in the embrace of nature, as well as promoting the arts through staged performances. Furthermore, being an easily-replicable design, it is a new typology made with local rattan material that benefits many inaccessible parts of rural tropics.

Part II: Socially Responsive

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The library is not just a foreign architect’s philanthropic project in a rural community, but a product of community engagement and cultural exchange. Together with 5 other Singaporean families, we conducted the library’s opening ceremony and even put up a musical to demonstrate the flexibility of the design. For a community living under the poverty line, it is more than just a library.

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1. INTEGRATION OF LOCAL CULTURE

The project uses entirely locally sourced materials. The rattan screens were produced by the Rattan Association of Cambodia, the cushions were custom-made by the village women and the modular bookshelves were manufactured by the nearby village’s labourers. Whenever replacement of screens are needed, the village women can be engaged to produce replacement parts with rattan, thus boosting the local economy. By integrating the locals’ work, we hoped to instill a greater sense of ownership amongst them. This will also encourage better care of the library and help to increase the longevity of the library. This also celebrates the local handicraft culture.

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2. ELEVATING QUALITY OF EDUCATION

The library was designed to be a space of empowerment for underprivileged rural children. This new typology serves as a bridge between a lack of educational facility as well as the societal lack of interest to read. After the inception of the library, children are constantly drawn to the books and the villagers have also started to gather at the multi-functional space. It goes beyond just being a place for books, but also becomes an extended learning space and community centre for villagers. With the addition of this library, students can be better engaged and encouraged to remain in school, eventually graduating and being lifted out of poverty.

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3. INSPIRING SOCIAL INTEREST

Bringing people together has always been our core motivation in our giving projects. Our designs of spaces aims to draw people from different backgrounds together. Through this library project, we brought together various professionals, stakeholders, educational institutions and NGOs together and also raised general awareness of our cause amongst our partners. We aim to take the lead and pave the way for more Singaporean design professionals to step forward and contribute their design services to the underprivileged in the Asian region.

 

Part III: Sustainable

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1. PRE-FABRICATED AND MOBILE

The library is designed to be prefabricated, modular and easy to transport.  We envision that this new library prototype can be replicated and transported to any corner of the world using local materials and equipment. With its compact size, the main frame can even be transported using a small pick-up truck. The modular bookshelves can be fabricated off-site and readily installed on site in a day. Every single detail in the library is carefully thought through.  Bookshelves of various depths are designed to accommodate books and integrate child-sized reading pods.  The differences in depth also become footholds for children to scale up to the reading pods easily.

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2. TRANSFORMABLE

The design concept is to create an engaging and interactive library for children. The 3 moveable cubes that form the library are flexible and transformable according to the user’s needs. In normal mode, the three cubes are pushed together and locked in place to form a linear library the size of a shipping container. The spatial quality changes when the cubes are pulled apart. The library instantly transforms into a multi-purpose space. This spatial setup gives teachers the possibility of conducting their lessons in the embrace of nature, as well as promoting the arts through staged performances.

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3. INTEGRATION OF LOCAL CULTURE

The middle cube features two double pivoting rattan screen doors with 36 unique designs in between the 3 cubes.  These screens were produced by locals at the Rattan Association of Cambodia.  The cultural element in this contemporary library celebrates the rich local craft culture. The cushions were also custom-made by the village women and the modular bookshelves were manufactured by the nearby village’s labourers.  By integrating the locals’ work, we hoped to instill a greater sense of ownership amongst them. This will also encourage better care of the library and help to increase the longevity of the library.

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4. ELEVATING QUALITY OF EDUCATION

The library was designed to be a space of empowerment for underprivileged rural children. This new typology serves as a bridge between a lack of educational facility as well as the societal lack of interest to read. After the inception of the library, children are constantly drawn to the books and the villagers have also started to gather at the multi-functional space. It goes beyond just being a place for books, but also becomes an extended learning space and community centre for villagers. With the addition of this library, students can be better engaged and encouraged to remain in school, eventually graduating and being lifted out of poverty.

Part V: Climate Responsive

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The local climate is blazing hot in the day and there are seasonal floods Power shortages are common, therefore the library was designed to be used off the grid. As the site is with society living below the poverty line, the library is designed with sustainability, simplicity and maintenance free, in mind.

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1. GREEN SUSTAINABILITY

The library is designed to be naturally ventilated, making the library a comfortable place in all weather conditions. On top of acting primarily as a sunshading device, the 36 operable and centrally-pivoting rattan screens add a touch of cultural context to the space. ”More Than Just a Library” is totally natural ventilated and independent of electrical source. Large overhang helps to shield against rain and sun, while also allowing extension of space from the library.

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2. PRE-FABRICATED AND MOBILE

The library components are made of modular cubes that can be replicated and transported site using local materials and equipment. With its compact size akin to a 20-foot shipping container, the main frame can even be transported using a small truck. The modular bookshelves can be fabricated off-site and readily installed in a short period of time. Hence, the process of construction is efficient, minimal site disruption and minimal pollution to the environment.

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3. SITE INTEGRATION

The library cubes sit on a raised slab which touches lightly on group, hence causing minimal disturbance to the site. Existing trees are all retained, which in turn creates shade for the library cubes. As the cubes do not have deep interior space, it provides opportunity for effective natural ventilation. Visual and thermal comfort is ensured by having adjustable roof overhang to adapt to different sunlight angle throughout the day. Acoustic comfort can be improved by converting the roof overhang into wall enclosure, to shield off exterior noise. Screen materials are made of rattan, which is a low cost natural material found in abundant amount in the village.

Part IV: The Documentary

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Books and Cubes is a learning space designed for a non-profit organisation to inspire the children of rural Cambodia. Nestled quietly on a primary school campus, students can use this library in all weathers and even during electrical shortages. Despite being in a pure cube form, the library embraces the entire site and complements other school activities. Villagers had a part to play in fabricating the finishes for the library, thereby developing a sense of ownership amongst the overall community.

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This also celebrates the local handicraft culture. The biggest gift lies in the integration of the library into the campus - the cubes sit on a raised slab that doubles as a performance space. This activity space extends the learning space beyond the conventional classroom.

2. Project 2020

20 Architects, 20 Latrines, for 20 Families in Year 2020

Project 2020 is a social initiative by 20 Singapore architects and friends to design and build 20 latrines for 20 families of Village Bustatrav, Svay Chek Commune, Angkor Thom District, Cambodia. This project is in collaboration with the Cambodian Community Dream Organisation, Inc. (CCDO) under the WASH program. CCDO has identified these 20 families in Siem Reap province as beneficiaries for Project 2020. The project aims to raise awareness of the sanitation issue faced by villagers in the developing country.

More information can be read on the project's Give Asia webpage here.

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The Site

 

The site is located northwest of Siem Reap, Cambodia, and in the Village of Bustatrav. The houses in the village are less than basic and many lacked sanitary facilities.

Team

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20 architects, students from Cambodia and Singapore, as well as industry friends.

Our director, Ar. Chu personally brought together these parties to design and build the 20 latrines personally by hand. The project was not just a design project, but also a logistics endeavour especially since it was the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

20 Designs

The team of 20 architects came up with 20 different designs which were applied to the 20 latrines, and later on replicated over another 100 latrines. The designs were constructed with brick for both economic and aesthetic reasons. The architects wanted to use a local material familiar to the villagers so that they can replicate the designs and build on their own later on. Moreover, the bricks have infinite layout possibilities, and only limited by one’s creativity. The latrines showcase the natural profile of the local bricks, with its terra cotta colour complementing the sites, which are typically an open space of bare earth and greenery.

20 Hours

The project team got down to work for 20 hours and built the latrine entirely from scratch. Students from the two local universities, together with the Singaporean and Cambodian architects, worked hand in hand despite meeting for the first time. They readily took on the architect’s drawings and did the hard labour and laid bricks according to the designs. The latrines were successfully built after a solid 20 hours, complete with a working sanitary flush system. It was a wonderful cross-border collaboration project between Cambodia and Singapore.

   

100 Latrines

After the project team built the 20 latrines with the 20 unique designs, the local villagers took on the designs and replicated them across another 100 latrines in the same region. Project 2020 has demonstrated that good design is not just for the privileged few, but should and can also be a service for the poorer strata of society. Project 2020 aims to not just give the gift of sanitation and hygiene for the villagers, but to leave a long-lasting impression and inspire the greater community through the day-to-day use of the toilet facility.

     

3. Volunteer Training Centre

Swiss Knife-like Multifunctionality 

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The project is highly multifunctional, much like a swiss-knife. It can take on many forms and rearranged for many purposes. The greater aim of this void deck interior design project is to create such great flexibility so that residents can use the space freely to suit their business and social needs. It allows home-based entrepreneurs to face lower barriers of entry into doing businesses near to their homes. As an installation in a neighbourhood, the Centre is a social hub to promote a stronger sense of community amongst the residents by giving them a flexible space to conduct meaningful social activities and build neighbourly camaraderie. The need for a dedicated workspace, situated nearby yet separate from home, has become increasingly pronounced as people are spending more time at home.

Versatile Furniture

Despite a size restriction, the void deck can serve multiple uses of different nature simply with the smart use of furniture. With a simple, intuitive action, residents can quickly transform a piece of furniture to meet their programmatic needs. When closed, the cabinet is a whiteboard or even a projection screen. When expanded, the lightweight metal mesh frames form a multiple-aisle exhibition space for users to hang objects for an art display. During an art market, sellers can display their goods on it as well.

Users can also use the colourful Tetris wall as a display wall. The cushioned cube-shaped seats can be removed for use during a seminar, and be slotted back neatly into the Tetris wall once the event is over to continue its function as a feature wall. When the seats are removed, the gridded shelves can be used for display during an event.

Designed to Evoke Emotions

By default, the Centre is an empty canvas. However, once the transformations take place, the Centre can evolve into a space that is beyond just a place to hold activities. The space is equipped with smart lighting and colourful furniture that can be used for an exhibition or gallery for users to appreciate art. The space is small but powerful. It can transport people into a different world when the ambience and setting is adjusted to the right mood.

One day the Centre could be adorned with dim, warm light to create a lounge, and on another occasion, it could even turn into a virtual reality game room or a dark room for estate movie nights. The adjustable lighting also allows the operator to hold exhibitions which are meant to evoke emotions amongst the target audience.

Community Engagement

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The Centre was designed with the residents’ needs in mind. Surveys were done to find out about how much residents know about each other, and what they feel are lacking between them and their neighbours. The Centre holds programmes that involve collaborative work for all age groups in the community, creating an environment for social interaction. This project revolutionizes the concept of multifunctionality in community design, by maximizing the utilization of the abundant void deck spaces scattered across Singapore's heartlands. The Centre creates a central space that encourages residents to gather and engage in a diverse range of activities, while still maintaining individual autonomy of their own activities. With the Centre being so open and physically engaging with the community by having activities that can spill out of the Centre, a sense of cohesion is re-emerging, enabling Singaporeans to forge stronger connections.

 

Celebration of Local Culture

Part of the design process involved a group of residents coming together to personally paint the ceiling feature panels using 20 everyday household items familiar to Singaporeans. The process was enjoyed by the residents.

The architects deliberately opted for a design approach that harmoniously combined the vernacular and modern. By using items familiar to Singaporeans, the design stays relevant to the community. The architects ensured that the design is culturally relevant so that the Centre is timeless and can serve generations of Singaporeans to come.

 

4. The First Community Centre

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Our latest pro bono project is a proposed Community Centre located in Riau, Indonesia. It is our first social endavour in Sumatra and it is also an interesting opportunity for us. The project calls for a communal social space for a small village, with a focus on utilising ecologically friendly recycled building materials. The materials selected are building blocks made of upcycled plastic and panels crafted from recycled plastic items.

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The project is particularly challenging as there are no precedents for such initiatives in the region. Our design intent is to keep the build form simple and allow for community participation during construction. We hope that by doing so, the community will take ownership of the space and ultimately prolong its impact and lifespan.

Design with Recycled Materials

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Overall, our design approach is to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions that can be scaled and replicated across other communities. Despite being a pro bono social project, our team of designers conducted various experiments to enhance the design. We believe that a limited budget should not result in a utilitarian-looking project. Instead, it provides us with the opportunity and freedom to innovate.

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For instance, we explored on how the recycled plastic panels could be put together creatively to form sunshading screens, furniture and even roofing sheets. There is truly nothing more gratifying than seeing the profound impact that our humble built spaces have on both the beneficiaries and givers. We find joy in working on social projects and are constantly inspired to take the lead in the realm of giving.

Social Architecture 2020 Interview

Extracted from SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE 2020 – Architecture: Saving Our World

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What sparked your passion for social issues and using architecture as a medium?

Corporate Social Responsibility has always been part of our company's culture since its inception in 2004. We conducted a fundraising for an orphanage in Vietnam and visited the children as an office in the year 2008. This was followed with our involvement with our local Sun Love Home, as an event sponsor as well as helping out on food distribution on an ad-hoc basis.

We are thankful for the opportunities to work on projects in Phnom Penh city for the past 10 years. The humble library project is just a small way of giving back to the people of Cambodia. I just thought as an architect I could contribute in a meaningful way that also puts my skills to the best use.

 

What are some social issues in Cambodia that could benefit from an architectural intervention? Can design solve some of these pressing issues developing countries face?

The majority of underprivileged people in developing countries do not have access to and any form of contact with an architect. The project we did was very much a modest but direct contribution to a small underprivileged community.

Yes, good design can definitely enhance the wellbeing of the people at large and allow for resources to be put to optimal use. Essentially, we wish that our humble intervention can raise awareness and inspire more of such improvements to be initiated.

 

What inspired your team to conceptualise the "More than just a library" project?

We are certain that education is a sustainable way for children to exit the vicious cycle of poverty. Having completed a few library projects in Singapore, we wanted to explore a library that could be fabricated off-site and transported to a remote rural place economically, quickly and readily to be used. In addition, we strive for a library that responds to the deficiency of a rural context and remains as a sustainable facility in the long term.

 

An interesting point posted on the firm's website is that 44 NGOs have been approached to sustain, operate and manage the Library in the long run. CCDO was then chosen as the primary beneficiary. We would love to know the selection process and what was performed to ensure a large extent of credibility as well as continued participation of stakeholders could be achieved?

The fact was the majority of the 44 NGOs did not respond to us, as probably it was unbelievable that an architecture firm so far away was giving away a library. I did a visit to the shortlisted organizations personally, to ensure that the chosen one was indeed in need of the proposed project. It was also necessary to make sure that the organization had the relevant support to run a programme and upkeep the library in future.

 

Were there difficulties trying to communicate with the local community prior to commencing the project, e.g. when interviewing children using the space? What are other challenges and constraints that cropped up/typically arise in social architecture projects and how were they combated?

The process was generally enjoyable and my regular visits to the site helped to put across the expectations of the delivery. However, even while operating on a comfortable pace we still faced a critical problem halfway through the construction phase. The builder, who had all along been very supportive of this project, got into financial difficulty. He avoided all communication despite the completion deadline drawing near and I had to make a personal visit to his place to resolve his personal problem together. Otherwise, we are thankful that our partner CCDO on the ground was very cooperative to facilitate the involvement with the school and community.

 

Could you please share more about your latest project? How it started and evolved over the course? What are some learning points to take away from it?

We are currently working on a tertiary educational complex in Phnom Penh. This is a formal and forward-looking institutional project. Our nature-centric design approach aims to allow the user to have a close connection with the environment, and we also injected programmes that encourage social interaction and growth.

 

Following the success of the More than just a Library project, how do you think the lives of the community will change with the introduction of the Library? How does one ensure architectural resilience, especially when it comes to trying to impact the lives of these children in the long run? Did you observe any new social behaviours that arose from the project implementation

We involved the school community during the process and hoped that they would take pride in their library. We were heartened to learn from the videos sent by the school that the children love the completed library very much. We gathered that many children prefer our library to the playground next to it. The school volunteers have also used the space as an outdoor learning space, rather than just a place for books. Besides the school community, the project has also benefited the 25 of us from Singapore who attended the handing over ceremony. Our group comprised of my colleagues as well as 5 young Singaporean families with 11 children in total. It was an enriching experience for all of us, and definitely a good exposure for all our kids.

 

The design fabrication of screens really stood out. As the implementation of the traditional craft was supported and performed by the locals, were there instances where certain designs were preferred over the other, and if so, how were these designs reconciled at the end? If not, how did all the designs come together to form the cube facade?

There was a strong intent to reflect the essence of the Khmer culture and give it an inspirational feel. Our team of designers came up with a few 1:1 scale mock ups using actual rattan in our office, in order to understand the nature and limit of the material. It was an exploratory process with reference to Khmer daily household items found in the rural area. We tested numerous designs and eventually settled with 36 designs that appear rich in texture, and yet could be achieved economically.

 

Will IXA continue to participate in social projects internationally? Do you see a possibility in extending the same value of community work in the context of Singapore? What might the reason for the lack of community work in Singapore be attributed to? How can the community actively contribute to social schemes apart from monetary contributions?

We certainly wish to continue to pursue social projects in the region and locally where possible. There are many community initiatives around in Singapore. However, works related to our built environment are regulated tightly and we wish there could be more room and support for ground-up initiatives. I feel we are generally better off than people in the developing countries. More attention could be channeled to the needy in our neighbouring countries that do not even have the fundamentals such as having a latrine in a house. I believe that collectively we can be a stronger team if we collaborate. We just have to spread the message and get it going. I am very glad that the library project has been an encouraging one and it motivated me to lead another humanitarian project on the provision of 100 latrines in early 2020. It was a project that brought together more than 20 Singapore architects and friends, as well as more than 100 Cambodian villagers and students. We faced challenges too but I have learnt that nothing can stop us if we do it wholeheartedly and persevere on. The truth is we take away far more than what we have given.