VISITOR INTERPRETIVE CENTRE
The final project for Studio III is to design AN INTERPRETIVE CENTRE emphasising a strong engagement and relationship to the site, spatial experiences and programmatic requirements
Using the learnings from Project 1, this is to implement design elements and learnings into this assignment.
The interpretive centre will serve two purposes:
To provide a physical point of reference with visual significance that keeps alive the culture/history/memory/essence of the site
To provide accommodation to house and display relevant material and interpretive material for public access and information.
Divide means separation and defying a line in between two or more elements. Divergence happens which two things becomes different. Dividing in the past
-Lepers forced separation
-SorrowVS Hopeful
- Setting rules and orders
- Dividing from the outside community
- Enclosed VS Opensess
Brief History of Sungai Buloh
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Established in the 1930s
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second biggest leprosy settlements in the world. It was equipped with advanced facilities and became a research centre for leprosy.
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200 elderly former leprosy patients still live in the area, either in their own homes or in hospital quarters
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Houses were built in clusters
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The settlement was the only place where they were accepted as who they are and is not discriminated by the public.
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These patients were abandoned once, and should not be abandoned twice.
Sungai Buloh as a division to the lepers at 1930s, dividing them away from the norms.
Faced separation, that leads to sorrow and grief. Causes struggles, confinements trauma and fear of death.
In times, there was hope and finding happiness was not an easy route.
Contrast
Boundary
Duality
Balance the Imbalance
UNITE AND DIVIDE
Life does not stay consistent but changes every second. Same goes to the lepers where not everyone would be always in Sungai Buloh. Although separated, they come back together for reunions. Younger generations volunteer and understanding the past and history.
OPENESS
Inviting people into the unbounded space where it could be discovered and unfold mysteries and questions. Like the lepers of the past, they are welcomed into Sungai Buloh not because they want to but they are forced to
FADED
When cure is found for lepercy patients, they move out and slowly leave the place of Sungai Buloh where they once gathered and spent time with each other regardless of any background. Leaving open planes and gap in between, bond is no longer as strong.
CONFINED AND TRAPPED
With greater height and an exaggerated form of vertical exhibition. The emotion of fear and sorrow confined in a raw and exposed gallery. The steel roof shines glimpses of light into the building, like the lepers, hoping for miracle.