INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION

INDUSTRY

FINAL PROJECT

Group members:

1. Low En Huey (0317889)

2. Tee Su Ann (0318414)

RECREATIONAL AREA

Site analysis

Introduction:

The site that has been chosen is located at the balcony on Level 2 Block E.

The balcony as shown on the picture above is an open area with an empty space that has not

been used or utilised for any sort of purpose. This open balcony has been left here without a

purpose. Therefore, this space is rarely used by any of the students to carry out any of their

activities.

From the balcony, you will be able to have a view of the staff carpark followed by the futsal

court. That makes the northpoint of the site facing towards the staff carpark and the futsal

court.

The floor of the balcony is covered with flat cement. There are also railings surrounding each

end of the balcony. As illustrated on the picture above, less than ¼ of the space at the balcony

is shaded with a roof and the remaining space is not shaded or covered. There is a view of the

sky when you look upwards from the site.

At east, there is a view of roads leading cars to the staff carpark. And at west, there is a view

of the open area staff carpark.

Students have access to this site from all levels of the building. This is possible because of the

elevators provided at each block of the building. These elevators allow students to move up

or down to level 2 at Block E from other levels or they can enter this site even on Level 2

itself. Other than that, there are also staircase provided linking each level to level 2. This also

gives access to students from other levels to level 2 and into this site.

Location of site: Level 2 Block E (above Lecture 20)

- From level 1, take the stairs at Block E, turn left, go straight, turn left again and walk

towards the end.

The picture shows the part of the balcony that has been shaded with an awning.

The picture shows the part of

the balcony where there is an

empty space that is open and

uncovered with any awning.

The reason why this site was

chosen is because it has not been utilised and it has supporting elements that allows us to

propose a recreational area.

Type of development: Recreational area

The objective of this development is to create a space that can be fully utilised by the students

of this institution. This is to ensure that the balcony is no longer left as a space with no

purpose. This development will be able to provide a proper place for students to chill and

hang out during their break hours. Students will be able to interact with the space developed

at this site and appreciate the space given. The development of this site will also bring about a

lively yet calm ambiance where students are allowed to relax and calm their minds. In order

to achieve this kind of development, a mixed development of a playscape conjoined with a

indoor breakout space is proposed.

Plan of the proposed recreational area:

The picture above represents the zoning of the development proposed.

At the left of the entrance, there will be a climbing wall that goes up to approximately 4m. In

front of the climbing wall, there will be a playscape that will take over the spot at the balcony

where it is not shaded with any awning. The indoor breakout space will take over the spot of

the space covered with awning.

Playscape

Indoor breakout

space

Climbing wall

Entrance to the site

The climbing wall

Climbing wall is a wall at a sports centre or a gym fitted with attachments to stimulate a rock

face for climbing practice. By constructing a climbing wall, students will be able to improve

their cardiovascular health, tone their muscles and even lose weight if they utilise this

climbing wall. It is considered as a place where students can exercise after they end their

classes. The site is located near to all the classrooms and studios and is easily accessible.

Thus, students will not need to walk all the way to the sports centre to exercise. Climbing

wall built in this site has provide an alternate route for students to exercise.

The climbing wall is about 4 m high, therefore for safety, old mattresses are placed below the

wall to ensure that the climbers can fall safely from the wall and prevent injuries such as head

injury. Thick, old mattresses ensure that the shock of a fall is fully absorbed. To ensure

safety of the climbers, the climbing wall will be built away from the railings so that climbers

will not fall from the wall to the levels below. Besides, the holds on the climbing wall will be

tightened and inspected from time to time so that the holds will not go loose which causes

injuries to the climbers. A safety sign will be placed beside the climbing wall to warn the

students that only 3 person are able to climb the wall at a time.

Climbing wall components : Holds

To allow climbers to climb the wall

Playscape

A playscape refers to a social/relational space that adults or teenagers create in the present

moment, in the midst of solo or collaborative creativity, learning and engagement. This

playscape is a space where students are allowed to carry out different types of activities with

their companions, communicate and interact with each other, and enter their comfort zone

through engaging with the playscape. This playscape will provide a calm yet playful

atmosphere where students can socialize in their own groups and enjoy each other’s

company.

There are various types of elements in this space where students can interact with to have a

good time. The types of elements suggested are swings, hammocks, recycled tyres, a mat

grass, glass railings and a wooden pavement platform.

Ideas and inspiration:

1. Mat Grass

Instead of a cement ground, mat grass will be used as a substitute to cover the ground. To

create a green atmosphere and a small outdoor environment ambiance, mat grass will be an

excellent element to suit this purpose. This mat grass only applies to the ground surrounding

the playscape and the climbing wall.

The picture above illustrates how the ground will look like after laying the mat grass over it.

The mat grass will add to a garden-like atmosphere and this will give students a fresh feeling.

2. Recycled Tyres

Recycled tyres can be used for different types of purposes as an element in a playscape. One

of the many purposes it can serve is as a seat. This can be done by laying the recycled tyres

randomly around the ground. The recycled tyres can be arranged in piles or individually

placed around the playscape to be used as seats. Other than that, swings can be made as an

element using recycled tyres; recycled tyres can also be used as a decoration around the

playscape.

Recycled tyres used as seats on the ground.

As shown in the picture above, this is one of the illustrated perspectives of how the playspace

will look like with recycled tyre seats and swings. As the tyres are not permanently fixed to

the ground, students can interact with it by moving it around and putting it in groups in order

to sit with their friends. This enhances a social bond within their group of friends and easily

allow students to hang out together.

Recycled tyre swings.

Recycled tyre used as decorations for the playscape. Greeneries are added into the playscape

to create nature within the site. Flowers are planted for students who love gardening. This

allows them to enjoy themselves in our proposed site. Also, medium height trees are planted

to provide shade for the students to stay underneath.

3. Wooden pavement platform

An addition to a relaxing and calm environment such as a wooden pavement platform

provides a space for students to carry out various activities. Students can choose to lie back

and relax on the wooden pavement platform; carry out activities such as yoga, morning

exercises or even use this space just to take a short nap during their break. Students can also

utilise this platform to have short gatherings with their friends in between class times to chill

and relax. By using a wooden pavement as a platform, students will feel more have an

environmental-friendly ambiance.

The picture on above illustrates an example of what the wooden pavement platform proposed

will look like.

4. Hammocks

Hammocks are one of the elements proposed in this playscape. These hammocks allows

students to comfortably lie down and relax at the playscape. Hammocks can be used as

swing-seats or a swing-bed. With this, students can choose to either lie down or sit on the

hammocks. Therefore, this also allows students to relax and take a short nap in between their

classes on these hammocks.

The pictures above show how hammocks can be used as swing-seats.

The picture on the left illustrates how hammocks

are used as a platform for students to lie down and

take a nap.

5. Glass railings

Glass railings are proposed to substitute steel railings. This gives the students the ability

to view the futsal court and the surrounding environment from the balcony. Students can

also see the activities carried out at the futsal and basketball court from the balcony with

glass railings.

Benefits of the playscape:

With a playscape, students get to enter their comfort zone and take a break from studies. They

are able to release their stress and enjoy themselves either solitarily or within their group of

friends. At this playscape, they can take short naps, enjoy long conversations with their

friends and create an intimate bonding session with their course mates by socializing among

themselves. Besides just building a space for students to interact with each other, this place is

designed for students to calm their minds and relax their souls as they are allowed to lie

around the playscape and get into their comfort zone. Lastly, this playscape will also give

students the opportunity to perform their own activities like yoga as there is a platform

provided for this purpose. This then allows students to take care of their physical health and

maintain a good lifestyle.

Indoor Breakout Space

An indoor breakout space is a space introduced for students to rest and carry out their own

activities. The indoor breakout space plays almost the same purpose as the playscape. The

difference between the playscape and the indoor breakout space is that, the playscape is for

outdoor activities and the indoor breakout space is proposed for indoor activities. In this air-

conditioned indoor breakout space, students can play music, rest, play board games, and take

short naps.

There will be shelves for books and board games; bean bags, lazy sofas and chairs for

students to relax on; tables for students to play board games; an instrument corner or students

to play music; shoe racks for students to place their footwear before entering and speakers

surrounding the breakout space for relaxing music to play.

Ideas and inspiration:

1. Shelves

The picture above illustrates the proposed wall shelf that can be utilised to store board

games and books at the indoor breakout space. With this element, students can have easy

access to the board games and books whenever they need it. Wall shelf also saves space

as it is built onto the wall.

2. Tables

Multiple tables will be provided at the indoor breakout space to

allow students to play board games or study together. The table

proposed will have a built-in shelf at the bottom of the table in order

to save space and store books or board games under the table itself.

This allows easy access to the board games as students can just take

them from the shelf below the table and start playing immediately.

Built-in wall tables for private use or interactive use are proposed

as one of the elements in this indoor breakout space. This built-in

wall table is proposed in order to fully utilise the space of the wall.

3. Bean bags, lazy sofas and chairs.

These pictures above of bean bags, lazy chairs and sofas are proposed to allow students to

have a comfortable ambiance. With these elements, they are able to relax and lie onto the

bean bags/sofa/lazy chairs. The purpose of these elements is to allow students to rest where

they can take naps on these or just sit back and calm their minds as they communicate with

their friends.

4. Interior of the indoor breakout space; the instrument corner

The pictures above are inspiration and ideas of how the proposed indoor breakout

space will roughly look like. Completed with sofas and the ground covered in carpet,

the indoor breakout space will provide a comfortable environment where students can

simply relax at any corner or spot in the room.

The instrument corner: There will be a corner of the room where students can play

their musical instruments to calm their minds and relax. Students can bring in their

own musical instruments to play if they wish; there are also musical instruments

provided at the indoor breakout space for student’s use. However, not all varieties of

musical instruments are allowed as this will cause too much sound pollution and

disturb the calm ambiance at the indoor breakout space. Therefore, only common

musical instruments like the guitar and ukulele are allowed in the indoor breakout

space.

5. Speakers surrounding the indoor breakout space

These wall speakers are proposed to play calm and soothing

songs at the indoor breakout space in order to provide a

relaxing ambiance for the students resting there.

6. Shoe racks

Rows of shoe racks will be provided so that students can

place their footwear orderly and nicely at these shoe racks

before entering. These shoe racks are proposed so that

students enter the indoor breakout space without their

footwear and this ensures the cleanliness of the breakout

space as the floor of the breakout space is carpeted.

7. Football game tables

Multiple football game tables will be provided along with board

games to allow students to have an interactive and fun time among

themselves.

Benefits of indoor breakout space:

The indoor breakout space allows students to either have a fun and interactive time with each

other or relax and chill out. This space provides a calm and relaxing ambiance for students to

rest and take their minds off things; students can take short naps or play board games and

musical instruments here. They can also meet new people through this place as this is also a

platform for students to be interactive with each other instead of a platform to rest.