Remaking Singapore

Seaside Urban Environments Ashley Phillips

Transport - Connecting The PeopleDaniel Felton

Meditation RoomHenry Wijaya

Remaking the Body - UNIB200152014 S1 1

Seeding Health For A New SingaporeFabiane Santos

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Connectivity In CitiesLester Goold

Social Entertainment SpheresSarah Gillies

A 3D Printed Recyled FutureSebastian Owen

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1Seaside Urban Environments Ashley Phillips

When we begin to think about how space affects surroundings, do we think about the space itself, or how the objects we intend for the surroundings will affect that space?

In Recife, Brazil, it seems that the coastline has been ignored as space, and has become the victim of, admittedly stunning, visions of its 2D existence; what it provides as a landscape for sunrises and sunsets, as if it were an environment which existed specifically for a postcard. What now remains is a city, and a beach, lurking in the shadows of sky-high eyesores, and locals petitioning to save the last remaining ‘natural’ coastline area within the metropolitan district from the same fate. An abandoned train station and harbour setting, still with a natural charm, are being occupied by protesters to prevent yet another peaceful, coastal region casting further shadows.

Ignoring the flagrant politics and economics, although they are of course important, this is interesting with regards to how a natural location can become so transformed in a short timespan. Architecturally and socially, there seems to be something strangely entrenched in the way we approach the coastline as both an enemy of human synergy, and a promoter of natural synergy with environment; its ability to contain the structures located with respect to its innate formations. A great deal of the most popular and profound modern architecture finds itself in such settings: but what makes a Sydney Opera House, and what makes a Millennium Dome? And how much of it starts with the body of water, and the surrounding environment?

Environmentalists the world over will continue to throw stones at Dubai for its manufactured of 'synthetic' islands, and the fashion by which it has, quite literally, paved new grounds in order to cater for fanciful investment and unique landmarks. Of course, there is certainly reason to argue against the 'realness' of any city, as degrees of legacy and sincerity in development confer a uniqueness and artistic quality in any respect. But one might have to ask the question: will other cities not eventually be forced to follow suit, not out of economic and political, or even artistic, discourse, but out of a need to respond to quirks of the environment we have been responsible for creating?

Ideally, of course, we would want to pick a location where we wouldn't have to create new land, but the limited foresight of the human consciousness inevitably leads us to creating new ways to manipulate the environment to solve problems. Consider New York City: a place which, should it continue to grow, could well find itself needing to restructure the drainage system of Manhattan from the ground up. Already it is an enormous upkeep, and borderline crisis in times of natural disasters like storms and floods, to manage the sewer system of the city, whilst continuing to enable water to drain back out from certain areas. In the future, with consideration to population increase, the decay of old structures, and climate change; aspects of even greater burden placed on such a small area, there is the distinct possibility that human manipulation of surrounding underwater gradients of the earth's surface will simply have to be considered. If this is the case, what criteria must be implemented in order to make the process of synthetic creation of new land, in an area of great national and environmental importance, tasteful, agreeable, and functional to the neighbourhood? One vision for a potential reclamation of Singapore's East Coast

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Currently in Melbourne, the Docklands Harbour is being re-developed. The idea is that the area will be 'the digital hub', but already it seems that there are more plans for new chain hotels than anything specific in terms of technological imagination. Local governments have sent out questionnaires which identify many different aspects which local residents have flagged as being important regarding what happens in the re-development, namely making sure that it stays true to its original purpose when it when the are was was founded by aboriginals as a fishing community.

In a city built around a vast coastal region like Singapore, consideration needs to be made with regards to coastal viewing from a multitude of different vantages and angles. This is not a New York, a Los Angeles, or a San Francisco: there are few Westernised cities, similar in size, which are positioned so closely and so persistently around the coastal area.

The argument will reasonably persist, as in Melbourne's Docklnds case, that these dense urban areas near the water need to be scaled back, to an extent, so that the legacy of the area has room to breathe. While we may accept this, this doesn't necessitate a lack of density in habitation. There are consistently new methods of creating space, and increasingly with regards to the value of both commercial and residential spaces in city areas; it is not size that matters, but location, visibility, and scarcity.

This is why one proposal I find interesting for those parts of the coastline of Singapore, which are still thriving with green landscapes, is the potential to manipulate the gradients of earth to allow for multi-story structures to be literally built into the coast. Slight hills, with large, cascading windows built into the coastal-facing side, that from the vantage point of the huge residential and office buildings facing the coast, appear to be nothing but a slight manipulation in the natural environment. Not only do structures of this kind meet all kinds of environmental targets with regards to conserving energy use, but most such designs are founded with a consideration for building into the environment with recyclable materials. Such a project could create a sincere debate within the environmental community. The buildings would also provide excellent locations for exhibition centres, galleries, and leisure hideaways from the beach-front.

There are more and more examples of these designs being taken as serious solutions to problems of transcending issues of coastal space preservation, and the vast majority also meet the modern standards of architecture and the increased want of energy efficiency. Perhaps an interesting slant on the project, too, could be a realisation of the idea that we ought only to use materials local to the environment which is being renovated to improve it. Not only would this provide an authenticity to the manipulation of a natural area, but it might also create greater continuity with regards to the design meshing with the personality of Singapore.

Underground homes are nothing new, but the increasingly complexity and beauty of these projects continues to ask the question: how can they be translated to a larger scale, and also meet modern redevelopment problems which cities with crowded coastlines are facing, to provide environments which are true to the nature they are found existing within?

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Singapore is considered to be a hub. The reason being is because it does not have anything which serves as its national identity. The main items that arrive in and out of Singapore are tourists and product imported from Malaysia only to then be exported to countries like Australia and the like. 3 in 1 coffee is a significant example of that. The product is imported from Malaysia and a label is stuck to the boxes before it is then exported. It is the soy products in 3 in 1 coffee that would make it impossible to declare if bringing the product straight from Malaysia, but there is no restriction from Singapore as Australia and Singapore has close relationships politically.

The political situation in Singapore has been very constraint at times due to having both a president and prime-minister. It has become a trend for the opposition of the current government to suddenly get sued in court just as they’re gaining political power for acts such as freedom of speech against the current government and made bankrupt. This problem has been an ongoing thing since the mind 1900’s.

Watch: Exiled Singapore Politician - Wong Soon Fong http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17UR_xHJ9Ac

Despite being a democratic country, differentiating between the rich and the poor, the workers and politicians, and that of different races seems to be more a communist outlook, and yet it takes place every day. The working and middle class are looked down upon by the wealthier and there is a large sense of discrimination. This is also coupled with the mix of Buddhist, Christian and Muslim people now taking residence there. With such a small country, it would be logical for the communities to be closer, but from the fear of freedom of speech, they cannot.

The size of Singapore is only 716 square kilometres. Even with all of the political issues, it is an ideal place to live. There is no chance of natural disasters there aside from heavy rain and its location near Malaysia makes it an ideal tourist destination. Because cars are not permitted within city limits, it is much safer for pedestrians and commuters rely on the public transport system as its main source of mass transportation for around the city and to Malaysia next door.

However, due to the number of people now moving to and finding work in Singapore, there has now become even more stress, strain and swelling on the public transport. As a result, the system is prone to break downs and malfunctions which can be an annoyance for a large number of people travelling from one side of the country to the other. My proposal is to expand on the already established public transport system and make it more accessible to people from any part of the country. This will make it easier for people to make the journey to the heart of the city and will bring people closer together.

The main source of the strain over the entire railway network is heavily on two stations. These are City Hall and Raffles Place. It is at these two stations that the North-South line and the East West Line connect and is the centre of the network. They are the equivalent to Flinders Street and Southern Cross station for Victoria.

Transport: Connecting the People Daniel Felton

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If either of these two stations became un-accessible due to malfunction or political terrorism, the entire rail network would be lost and the country would be at a standstill. Having more trains running through the network is not the solution because it won’t change the standstill if the line comes to a stop.

Since the centre is near City Hall, more line connecting the country should terminate in other places. Since the influx of people coming from the south of Malaysia is exponential, the line should continue through the woodlands and travel alongside the Bukit Timah Freeway until it reaches the city. This will reduce the number of buses and will prevent people from having to walk from the bus stops since road transport is not permitted in the city.

Since the centre is near City Hall, more line connecting the country should terminate in other places. Since the influx of people coming from the south of Malaysia is exponential, the line should continue through the woodlands and travel alongside the Bukit Timah Freeway until it reaches the city. This will reduce the number of buses and will prevent people from having to walk from the bus stops since road transport is not permitted in the city.

From Singapore Changi Airport on the East Coast to the North of the country, there no access except by road. An alternate would be a train line straight from the airport through Punggol, connecting with Seletar Airport and finally re- connecting with the North South Line at Sembawang.This will ensure that business people and tourists from Malaysia temporarily living on the north side can use that as a stop-over if the need to catch a train or plane to either Malaysia or Singapore Changi airport.

An extension between Jurong and Bishan is also possible. With the East-West and North-South lines connecting in two more places, the stress of the network will be relieved and commuters can travel with greater ease if a malfunction occurs.

The problem doesn’t end there though. The idea behind the new networks is for people to do the same. How do you take the dullness of public commuter and make it enjoyable. Since the music industry in Singapore is not as exposed, playing the compositions of local musicians would be a great way to promote local talent. This would work with events happening in Singapore. The culture of Singapore should be promoted not just to tourists, but to the people living in the country as well.

The nature reserve is also an important natural part of Singapore which contrasts to the suburban nature of the city, so it should remain untouched. But sing there are stations surrounding the nature reserve, extra walkways and bike paths can be installed for those who wish to relax there. The Night Safari is a popular tourist attraction, so extra paths would make it easier to get there by public transport. If these ideas come together, they will eventually start bringing people together and the country will naturally become a more accessible place with a sense of home and freedom. – by Daniel Justin Felton.

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Singapore is a country located in Southeast Asia, with a population of over 5 million habitants and pursues a very high Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.895 – a number that ranks the country as the 19th in terms of development and life quality. Also, Singapore holds the third highest per-capita income worldwide, comprising a wealthy population; moreover, the city-state is also a hub in many sectors: medical, commercial, educational, transports and logistic. While being a very wealth country, Singapore has a limited area and is very scarce with regards to natural resources. Given this, many products and services (such as electricity, water, food and labour) used by the population are imported, mainly from Malaysia.

This reliance on external resources has a negative impact in the sustainability of the country, in a broader sense – Singapore, as well as Dubai, for example, is an unsustainable city due to its inability to provide internal services. Therefore, the country ends up relying on other country’s resources, which can accelerate the depletion of those services to the population from where original products come. Also, sustainability can be seen from the economic point of view – importing goods is always more demanding than producing nationally; and to be on other government’s hands weakens the national power and independency, given that in case that an unexpected event happens in the provider country (for example, a natural disaster), Singapore is also extremely affected.

With these facts in mind, this assignment aims to show two different technologies that can help Singapore to become a more sustainable and independent country, even if its natural resources are scarce, in the aspect of food security and green areas.

Nowadays, agriculture sector represents only 0.5% of the dedicated land to this activity, produces less than 0.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), and local grown food represents less than 7% of Singaporean’s food consumption. That can be explained by the expansion of commercial sector to the detriment of agricultural sector – for example, Orchard Road was one of the main farming areas, and now is the most important shopping hub in Singapore. Also, the land value in Singapore has starkly increased over the decades, making the dedication of “valuable” areas to agriculture a pointless and expensive idea.

However, two projects can be remarkable to change this situation and can be easily adapted to the country current model without causing subtle changes to the modern architecture:

b. Designs of the project:

Dragonfly Building

Crop diversity in a single vertical farm

Seeding Health For A New Singapore Fabiane Santos

An example of vertical farming implementation in a dense city like Singapore

Modern shapes are integrated with farming

1. Vertical Farming in the City

a. The Project: Vertical farming is a technology based on mass cultivation of plants in a skyscraper greenhouse, which is a controlled environment. This method is especially appealing to places with little area available for agriculture like Singapore, since the skyscraper building itself has a “piled” shape, enabling plant cultivation in many levels, maximising the local food production. This technique has several advantages, including:

i. Being able to cope with the food safety challenge for the future, since it is estimated that, by 2050, the world population will reach 9 billion habitants and the present food productivity has to be increased in nearly 70% to ensure food security worldwide. Every year, less land is being dedicated exclusively to agriculture and the demand will surpass the food production, if the techniques used remain the same in the future.

ii. In a controlled environment, the crops are protected from external issues, such as natural disasters (floods, extreme rainfall, droughts, etc) and pest attacks, thus diminishing the use of herbicides and insecticides. This way, the agriculture is not only protected but also potentially organic.

iii. Vertical farming also allows a reduced use of resources, conserving more land that would likely be deforested to create area for traditional farming; also, the food is locally produced and it minimises transportation costs and fossil fuel use, which has a great impact in the final food price and environmental effects.

iv. Another sustainable factor of vertical farming is the low-energy use, and the ability to generate biogas from the methane released in organic scraps; generating energy to the building itself.

The project would aim to implement vertical farms in the heart of Singapore, providing the local population with fresh, healthy and safe food, originated from sustainable sources. The buildings’ structure are designed with modern shapes, attempting to incorporate new technologies in architecture, such as biomimicry, in combination with the use of solar energy panels in the façade, to allow a low-energy profile and also diminishing the amount of foreign energy imports.

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2. Green Roofs

The Project: The rapid increase of buildings and loss of green areas in big cities, just like in Singapore, is a major threat to the environment. Also, the creation of new areas for gardens would be very expensive, due to the shortage of non-occupied areas in the country. Green roofs are a modern and beautiful solution to this and it has several benefits, from domestic food production to wellbeing and social interactions. The project would aim to establish green rooftops in corporate and governmental buildings, and stimulating the creation of those gardens at home as well.

With this, the corporations would minimise the impact caused by the skyscrapers in Singapore’s CBD, which is extremely vertical and surrounded by concrete, through the reduction of temperature inside the building (an effect of the plants’ evapotranspiration); formation of new habitats to support the biodiversity; filtration of air pollutants; contribution to mitigation of urban heat areas; and also aesthetic benefits, creating socialisation areas for corporate people who are normally very stressed and focused on work and indoors environments.

Moreover, the Green Roof program would incentive the building of these gardens at home together by offering gardening workshops and creating a seed exchange programs in neighbourhoods, where people can get in touch with each other to obtain new species’ seeds. As a result, people would be able to interact with each other, creating new links and friendships; families would be able to grow their own food and gradually develop their interest in natural environments, good quality diet and health, improving the wellbeing in general. An economic impact on households would come from the economy on energy bills regarding cooling systems installed at home, which can be up to 80%.

Overall, this project would change Singaporean landscape utilising a soft however powerful, tool. The control over the own food produced by a family can bring many individual changes about environmental perceptions, interaction with neighbourhoods and wellbeing. On the other hand, companies and the government would be able to pay back, to some extent, potential hazards caused by the urbanisation in Singapore, as well as serving as models to the population locally and worldwide.

Singapore, unlike the high state of development presented, still needs to improve their existing methods to become a more sustainable city; safeguarding the freedom and independency of its population, while reducing the exploitation of other countries to suffice their own needs. Green rooftops and vertical farming are examples of achievable projects that could be developed in Singapore, guaranteeing food security and having many other positive consequences.

Green roof example

Singapore Rooftop Gardens

Green roofs in domestic buildings, creating areas for interaction with neighbours

7Meditation Room Henry Wijaya

Welcome to our meditation room, this room made for all Singaporean workers that already under stress because of their hectic and chaotic works. The purpose of this room is to make all workers in Singapore have a positive and relax mind from the hectic daily life. Steve Maraboli said “I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear“. This statement is an important point why this meditation room needed in Singapore. There are no greater things when people have relaxed and positive mind. With a positive mind it will influence how people work and their attitude in work place. That’s why this room made to make Singapore a better place without any stress people live in it.

This meditation room will be built in all office building in Singapore. This room will be placed in the lower ground near the lobby of the company. It is because this room need to be placed in a common area and lower ground is the best place for this room. Moreover, this room has time limitation about 15-20 minutes for each person. This time limit is needed to give chance for others worker to use this room. The capacity of this room is 15-20 people and this amount is the best amount for a meditation room. If it is too many people inside the room it will distract other people who are doing meditation. This room is a silent area and people who come to the room cannot talk and just meditate to relax their mind. This rule made to make others worker who are doing meditate doesn’t get disturb by any voice inside the room. In addition, this idea based on Google Company that gives 25% free time for the workers to work outside the building. Instead of give free time to the workers, this meditation room have more advantage for workers and also the owner. The advantage for the worker is they can relax their mind and get a positive mind and ready to work with a new mentality. The workers also can get close to each other’s after they done the meditation with chat with each other after done the meditation. However, the owner also gets advantage from this room. He or she can get close to the worker and enjoy the meditation room while he works in the company.

The picture above is the meditation room with minimalist style. This style used because it is a simple design with a simple colour and simple things inside the room. As the picture above shows, there are no other things inside the room just one long chair from corner to corner. This is the best meditation room because there is nothing inside the room so they can focus on the meditation and doesn’t distract by other things. This room also used dim light for the lighting inside the room. There is a purpose behind it because if it is too bright the workers cannot concentrate with their meditation and also if it is too dark, it will make the workers feels sleepy. That’s why dim light is the best lighting for a meditation room. This type of light makes the worker more concentrate when they are doing the meditation. This room also used white colour for the wall and also the chair. This colour has some meaning because there is some surveys in Europe and United States that white colour often defined as innocence, perfection, the good, honesty, cleanliness, the beginning, the new, neutrality, and lightness. That’s why this room used white colour for the wall and chair to make the workers more focus when they do meditation.

This room is a soundproof room with a classical music accompany the meditator. This soundproof is needed because this room is placed at the lower ground of the building and it is too much noise outside the room. That’s why this soundproof is an important thing for this room. The classical music also played inside the room and it will give the meditator more relax and positive mind. There is a research that classical music such as Mozart, Beethoven, and others classical composer can make a relax mind. Duke University Dr. Kevin Labar said that “listen to the classical music can improve your intellectual performance. Classical music can produce a calming effect by releasing pleasure-inducing dopamine and inhibiting the release of stress hormones, all of which generates a pleasant mood”. This research shows that classical music can give a relax mind for the mediator and it is one of the best way for the mediator to feel the relax atmosphere inside the meditation room.

There are others example of minimalist meditation rooms:

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Besides building meditation rooms in each office building in Singapore, 5 more meditation rooms will be built in each part of Singapore. This picture below shows that Singapore is divided into 5 parts. Every part will be built a big meditation room in the centre of the city. The style that will be used is the same with the meditation room above (minimalist style) but with a bigger capacity and no time limit. This meditation is free for all Singaporean citizens but the other citizen must pay to enter this meditation room. This big meditation room made to make all Singaporean become closer to each other’s. There are some researches that developed countries usually have more individualistic character in each people who live in that country. That’s why to reduce their individualistic and also reduce stress people in Singapore. This big meditation room is very effective for this country. The capacity of this room is around 200-300 peoples with the same rules. They must stay quiet inside the room and enjoy the big meditation room.

This meditation room hopefully can reduce stress people in Singapore and make Singapore a better place and better future.

There are others example of minimalist meditation rooms:

9Connectivity in Cities Lester Goold

A city can be looked at as if it is its own living, growing, evolving organism. The activities and patterns within the city can be seen to replicate how a human body functions or a tree grows. A city much like the human body requires a number of inputs of resources such as food. Food is then processed internally and then disposed of. Compartmentalized zoning of different areas, such as residential, commercial and industrial areas could be seen as different organs within the human body, each separate counterpart doing a particular job which effects the over all emergent outcome, that is the self, or the city that we perceive.

Growing a city: Planned growth vs. unplanned growthAs the population continues to rise it is important that cities provide Some educated planning structure to the direction of city growth.There are many factors affecting the growth of cities, such as economic, social, environmental but its important not to forget the landscape in which the city is situated, as this is fundamental to the way in which a city may grow.For instance the limitation of land may lead to things like overcrowding and congestion, over the many years of investigating city growth it has become evident that high density can lead to the creation of slums, and with poor facilities these places cannot maintain hygiene levels and a number of epidemics were the result of this type of growth in cities.On the other hand places like Melbourne that was seen to have no limitation on space is one of the fastest sprawling cities in the world. Residences are able to achieve a lifestyle, which separates them from others, with a big carportand back yard. But this is at the cost our nations recourse’s, as this is proven to be one of the least sustainable kinds of city growth.

So how to go about it?If we were to rebuild Singapore, are we to let it grow organically or are we to plan every detail?There have been many attempts at creating cities as a final product, which are perfect in theory such as Ebinezer Howard’s garden city and John Sulman’s Spiderweb city. The problem with these cities plans is that they are focused on a final outcome. Which doesn’t seem right as cities are living ever- ‐growing organisms. Some designs even suggested a fixed population, which doesn’t allow for any variability and natural growth. The other problem is getting people to move there. A local example includes docklands. A nice area, which in theory was to be a thriving new hot spot in metropolitan Melbourne. No one went there. I believe the problem was, that no one had any connection with the area. It was put there in the hope people would move to it. This is why the feedback system is so important. Using integrated community planning, we can get the local community having and input and by doing this they are developing a strong relationship with the area.

I believe that creating the solid frame work for a city is the ideal method, leaving room for organic growth to occur when the population demands it.

To recreate Singapore we would need to develop a physical environment to accommodate modern human activity. We will need to distribute function space strategically, incorporating mixed use zones and a number of small nodes, or activity centers to disperse traffic and density levels evenly around the cityscape. We need to remember Singapore cannot undertake sprawl to grow because of physical limitations of the land. Singapore is restricted in ground surface because it is on an island. There are land reclamation options, but I believe it would be best to create a template of organized road and pedestrian networks for the area of the island. and to allow growth and manipulation to occur in a vertical direction where there is no limitation of space.

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Human Nervous System When creating road networks we need to think about how it will connect each of the function spaces together, it needs to be easy to navigate, more that one travel route to get there, more than one mode of transport to get there. Using Melbourne CBD as an example, we can see the predetermined road network of the grid. This is known as the Hoddle grid and for functionality and maneuverability it is considered a great success. It is a solid core structure for the rest of the city.

Options for SingaporeWhen considering the above factors of functionality and connectivity, I came across this pattern, known as the flower of life. The Flower of Life is a name for a geometrical figure composed of multiple evenly spaced, over lapping circles. This figure, used as a decorative motif since ancient times, forms a flower- like pattern with the symmetrical structure of a hexagon.

Drunvalo Melchizedek, an author from the New Age movement, has called these figures symbols of sacred geometry, asserting that they represent ancient spiritual beliefs, and that they depict fundamental aspects of space and time. Melchizedek claims that Metatron's Cube may be derived from the Flower of Life pattern, and that the Platonic solids within it were "thought to act as a template from which all life springs."

This is a very ancient symbol with many interpretations. Considering the abovedefinition, I thought that this would be a perfect template for a transport network innew Singapore providing the framework for volumetric life to spring.

Honk Kong has developed new methods of which are in response to the ever- growing population and density in the city. The city is situated on an island in which the surrounding water acts as a physical barrier for the sprawling city. Because of this barrier, Infrastructure started to pile on top of itself. Hong Kong has produced an improbable vertical culture of congestion even beyond the densities of Manhattan (B. Shelton 2010). Hong Kong is now defined by volumetric metropolitan architecture that makes use of the space in the sky. Countless skyscrapers paint the cityscape that are connected by elevated Pediways (walkways) and Elevated roadways.

Elevated Pediways and elevated roadways both serve the same purpose, to transport something from one area to another. Categorized by speed of travel or mode of travel. The advantage of elevating these transport routes is that they become freed of all ground constraints and have ease of movement. Melbourne has an example of an elevated walkway at the back of Myer on Lonsdale St. although; this kind of thing is uncommon in the street of Melbourne. Melbourne has never had a physical barrier restricting its use of space instead Melbourne was seen as a place with the most space, resulting in the Urban growth expanding the perimeters of our city to a point where connectivity becomes difficult because of distance.

11Social Entertainment Spheres Sarah Gillies

Digital AddictionWithin 2014 modern society, internet digital technologies play a large role within social interaction and communication. This act of social interaction through digital platforms, has become so popular that it has become detrimental for the user and their community. As Cash outlined throughout her article, “studies are finding a strong correlation between depression and the amount of time spent online.”(Cash, 1), although it cannot be stated nor has been proven that digital software's create depression or other forms of psychological trauma, it can be concluded that these technologies create a source of socializing which heighten psychological issues. This can is concluded through the indifference of digital socialising and in person socializing, based on the role of “limbic resonance”. Limbic resonance is in relation to the “energetic exchange that happens between two people who are interacting in a caring and safe relationship.” (Cash, 1). This exchange is found to be non-existent through the act of digital socializing. This lack of limbic resonance throughout the act of digital socializing is detrimental to the user as in person socializing and its production of limbic resonance “stimulates the release of certain neurochemicals in the limbic region of the brain. Which are chemicals that are necessary for full emotional and physical well-being.” (Cash,1).

Link on Digital addiction: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/tech/Do_You_Have_a_Digital_Addiction__Philadelphia.html Test on Digital addiction: http://virtual-addiction.com/digital-distraction-test/ Singapore and Digital AddictionThroughout the last few years within Singapore there has been a lot of attention on the role of digital addiction within Singaporean lifestyle. Recently within 2014, it has been found that “Singaporeans spend an average of 38 minutes per session on Facebook, almost twice as long as Americans.” (IANS, 1) and that “About 87 per cent of Singapore's 5.4 million population own smartphones.” (SMH, 1). Although the act of owning a smart phone or device for digital social interaction, cannot be defined as negative nor detrimental for the owner, it is the overuse and development of dependence on these technological devices, that have authorities highlighting the danger of such products. Throughout Singapore this danger of dependence on digital social interaction has been deemed to now qualify as a form psychological illness, “Adrian Wang, a psychiatrist at the Gleneagles Medical Centre in Singapore, (now stating that) digital addiction should now be classified as a psychiatric disorder” (IANS, 1). Wang additionally recognizes that although dependence on digital social interaction could be a trigger alone for psychological illness, it is additionally the issue that “Patients (that are prior dealing stress anxiety-related problems) have the coping mechanism to go online, go on to social media.” (IANS, 1)

Singapore Case StudyThroughout 2014 and the recent media coverage of Digital addiction within Singapore, a individual experience of digital addiction has been released and publicized. The Digital Addiction was diagnosed based on the teenage boys’ reactions after he had “come to blows with his father after he tried to take away the young man's laptop computer. After the father cut off internet access in the house, desperation drove the boy to hang around neighbors' homes trying to get a wireless connection.”(SMH,1)This cut off from technology and digital social interaction, eventually led the boy to insanity and when he was admitted to hospital he was “unshaven, he had long hair, he was skinny, he hadn't showered for days, he looked like a homeless man," Dr Wang, (SMH, 1). Following treatment, counseling and anti- depressants the boy was discharged from hospital. Although it can be questioned that this boy’s mental instability may have been the result of prior or different forms of mental illness, this incident of mental illness, examples the negative role digital socializing and technologies, play within mental illness. This boys’ reliance and use of digital software's to cope with mental illness is an issue alone.

Past Singapore action against Digital Addiction in 2014Singapore throughout 2014 has taken minor action against digital addiction. So far they have set up “two counseling centers – Addictions Management Services and Touch Community Services – with programs for digital addiction.”(SMH, 1)” and there has additionally been a student organization against digital addiction. This was when “a group of undergraduates from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University launched a campaign late last year encouraging the public to put their smartphones in a face-down position when they are with loved ones.”(SBS, 1). This campaign was called "Put it on Friend Mode" campaign and drew strong support from students”(SBS,1). In addition, Singapore officials have spoken out about setting up a "cyber wellness" education program for pre-school children - and their parents, within 2014. Singapore’s Airport Facilities

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Treatment for Digital AddictionPsychologist's have recommended therapy and treatment for digital addiction. These being; 1. Setting Limits: “Set limits. “Having smartphones at our fingertips acts as a stimulus to our brains that screams, ‘check me,’ ” says Dr. Rosen, which can up your anxiety. Put your mind at ease with scheduled “tech breaks.” For example, at dinner tonight, allow yourself to check your messages for one minute before dinner. Then place your phone face down on the table on silent mode until your meal is done. Knowing you’ll be checking it soon will help keep your brain from obsessing (Corbett, 1).2. The induction of outdoors activities/ socializing without digital software's: “Go green. Our brains can handle only so many stimuli; being constantly distracted by technology negatively impacts everything from sleeping soundly to being productive at work”, says Dr. Rosen. “Keep your brain from becoming overloaded by taking a 15-minute walk outside or flipping through a book with photographs of natural environments,” he says. Known as the attention-restoration theory, the idea is that exposing yourself to nature helps restore your brain’s ability to focus by giving it a break” (Corbett, 1).

New Treatment within SingaporeSingapore because of their close proximity of buildings and infrastructure, lacks the land and space to build outdoor environments which could be used as methods to promote social interaction without the use of digital technologies. Thus treatment for digital addiction within Singapore, will need to be incorporated within there current infrastructure and design. It is thus a clever option to incorporate treatment for digital addiction within their MRT transport system, which runs across all of Singapore and used by a large portion of their population. The fact that the MRT is located throughout all locations of Singapore and is accessed and used by individuals who differ significantly in age, social economic and education, is great as it creates this treatment to reach a broad range of communities within Singapore. These treatment facilities would be placed through MRT stations and airport enclosures across Singapore

2015 introduction of Social spheres within SingaporeIt is proposed that within 2015 throughout Singapore there is the introduction of social entertainment spheres throughout areas of transport, in specific; MRT stations and airport enclosures. The act of placing these socializing spheres within close to proximity transport locations creates individuals to not only socialize with others without the use of technology, however also builds a sense of community for that individual. This is as through engaging in a social entertainment sphere located near the closest transport location of their home, individuals are meeting those who live around them and engaging within their community.

The circular sphere would be an open transportable space, that could be easily transported in and out of MRT and Airport enclosures. The sphere would remain translucent and open, as it would create the social activities taken inside to be constantly visible for the public. This would hopefully encourage and result in more individuals to participate in these activities and social interactive entertainment. This use of sphere and the basis that it is only a metal or plastic frame, with circular holes within it, will also create this social entertainment sphere induction to be cost effective for the government.

1. Cooking classes: A cooking class would be set up and would demonstrate to individuals methods of cooking cuisines for social activities or using cooking as an activity to socialize and connect with friends.

2. Gym Classes: Low intensity gym classes would be set up and run within Spheres, creating people to incorporate exercise social activities within their transport planning. These classes would involve, Tai Chi, Basic Yoga, group walking tours and Exercise information sessions.

3. Movie showings: Educational and entertainment movies would be showed within the sphere using a projector and portable speaker system. These movie showings would involve a group selection of the movie chosen to watch for that showing and a group discussion at the end of the movie.

4. Meet and greets: Individuals will be provided the opportunity to partake in a meet and greet, based on their age, interests and skills. Examples; 18+ beautician meet and greet and 18+ Media students meet and greet. This social interaction within the sphere would example to individuals that they do not need to use or rely on digital technology to discuss their field of expertises.

5: Meditation: 10-15 minutes sessions or tutorials on meditation will be incorporated throughout the sphere timetable. This act of meditation will be positive as it will help individuals general well being and their journey to becoming less digitally reliant.

Non- Digital Sphere ActivitiesThese activities would be centered on a complete ban of personal digital technology within the Sphere. Interactive activities within a socializing sphere.

13A 3D Printed Recycled Future Sebastian Owen

Singapore is a booming metropolis with over 5 million people living on a small island, making it the third most populated nation on earth. It’s small area has resulting constraints on systems less denser nation take for granted, such as waste and landfill. The result is improved efficiency, such as a recycling system program which has just reached 60% re-usage and continues to grow.

To accommodate for a future populous Singapore has been expanding. Land reclamation throughout the years has added hundreds of square kilometers. Ambitious plans will continue into the future, resulting in huge expanses of area in need of construction.

By studying nature and its efficient use of materials I propose to use 3D printing as the solution to many of the challenges Singapore and others will face. This booming technological revolution we are currently living through can utilise these discarded materials and put them to use in a construction context, massively increasing efficiency.

An obvious feature of Singapore is it’s tiny land area. What’s not so not obvious however, are the extensive ramifications this causes, many of which larger nations take for granted. When less dense nations such as Australia need to dispose of an object they can simply relocate it, generally to landfill. Singapore, as the third most densely populated country in the world, physically cannot continue to dump mountains of rubbish into the ground and also support its growing population.

RecyclingInstead, the land-scarce nation has turned to recycling. This allows a huge reduction in land fill area, air pollution (from incineration) and particularly cost, the prime driver. With a 20% rise in the last 13 years, recycling has been embraced by manufacturing and households alike, and continues to grow. The statistics are truly impressive, especially from the construction sector with a 99% recycle rate in debris. This clearly illustrates the system is more economically viable than simply sending materials to land fill. What’s more impressive is that this is financially preferred when Singapore does not have a land fill tax. Ambitious recycling and waste management programs are planned well into the future. The government provides ample backing to allow such ventures as ‘ZeoWasteSG’ to hopefully reach their goal.

New technologies, processes and mind-set will be required to meet these goals however, thankfully they are already underway. Before we look at these let’s first explore another process in Singapore which is transforming the nation, quite literally.

ingapore has grown more than 20% of its original size thanks to land reclamation. Large-scale efforts began in the 1960’s when the island was around 580m2, growing to over 715m2 today. This is part of a wider Land Use Plan to factor in the growing population and it’s requirements.

While a dirty process, and often associated with negative environmental association, land reclamation can provide amazing results. This land epitomizes the attitude of the Singaporean, take the existing and improve upon it.

S uture planned developments are extensive to say the least. The Singaporean government has stated an increase to 766m2 is needed to sustain the 2030 population nearing 7 million. This is a huge increase of material, resources and technology. However, the question I ask is: What is the most efficient, most precise way of constructing the future?

This is a photo from East-Coast Park, a truly spectacular reclaimed zone of Singapore which I have spent some time at. It is the largest park in Singapore, covering 185 hectares of entirely reclaimed land.

F

original islands

present reclamation future

reclamation

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Learning from nature has proven to uncover some of the most efficient and interesting solutions to our issues. Many animals only take what is needed while producing as little waste as possible.

Octopus are famous for seeking shelter in discarded objects. The octopus simply alters an objects use, effectively remaking it.

This is an experiement between French artist Hubert Duprat and fly larvae. The larvae proects itself by manufacturing shea ths spun from silk however, Durprat has introduced foreign materials such as gold, opal, turquoise and other precious stones which the insect have transformed into not only amazing artwork, but functional protection.

This epitomises my objective: to use existing materials and waste in a new, functional, aesthetic and efficient process.

The birds nest is an amazing use of recycled materials, only taking what is discarded from others, including humans. This particular nest features discarded string , newspapers, paper clips and plastic.

“Need a part for your washing machine? As it is now, you’d order from your repairman who gets it from a distributor, who got it shipped from China, where they mass-produced thousands of them at once, probably injection-molded from a very expensive mold. In the future, the beginning of which is already here now, you will simply 3D print the part right in your home...or at your local fab’

Mark Fleming, Entrepreneur

Unless you’ve been living under a rock located in a bomb shelter near the earth’s core, you’ve probably heard of 3D Printing.

Three-dimensional printing is fundamentally an ‘additive manufacturing’ process of using layers of material to form a 3D object, generally from a digital model. While originating in the late 1980’s, this manufacturing process has only recently become economically viable to the public; hence its explosion in mainstream media. This process deserves its fame in the media, it is truly the beginning of an industrial revolution. This now moves us away from the production line and toward one off, customizable production.

However, this industrial sift favours the individual far more than the corporation. It can be seen as part of a wider shift which incorporates the masses such as crowd sourcing, crowd funding and the very nature of start-up businesses.

The division of labour is the most fundamental aspect of this revolution. The models you see on this page were produced by my 3D printer from a 3D model capable of being shared around the world within a minute.

3D Printing

What happens when we take these scale models and increase the scale? This is the next question in the world of 3D printing. Many people around the world are attempting to, and have answered it. The answer is that we have the possibility to create fully functioning buildings.

Additionally, turning toward nature and its mass utilisation of discarded materials may increase efficiency in the small urban metropolis. Currently, this is the largest 3D print to date. A series of 200m2 offices built in China by an extremely large printer. This example shows what is currently possible and certainly foreshadows the possible future of this technology.

So you ask, how does this relate to Singapore, its growing population, its land reclamation, its recycling programs, the future? The first stage of accommodating and fulfilling the needs of the increasing population is to use land reclamation. In the future however, I believe that 3D printing may be a viable construction method.

http://vimeo.com/87843940

This is a project by DUS architects in Amsterdam. It combines social networking, online customization and 3D fabrication to produce a multistory canal house. They have used the same smaller 3D printers that I have used for their prototypes and once approved use a much larger printer to produce the final product.

Before 2030 Singapore will need 700,000 more homes.

In my lifetime I may witness this. As the earth’s resources deplete an increase in efficiency will certainly result. Technological breakthroughs will allow rapid advancements, and I, as do many others, suggest that 3D printing may be a serious game changer.

While this may seem a radical use of this technology, it is in the stages of doing exactly this. In the next few years we will witness even more improvements and eventually we may evolve to print our complete surroundings.

• Use recycled objects as construction materials.

• Use these materials for 3D printing.

• Print housing, urban areas, public spaces; the possibilities are almost endless.

Therefore, I propose to:

This print illustrates the flexibility and detail achieved by this process. This took 12-hours and is 150mm cubed.

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‘Singapore In Figures 2013’, Department of Statistics, Singapore, p.3

http://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/publications_and_papers/reference/sif2013.pdf

“Singapore”. The World Factbook. CIA. 1 September 2010. Transnational issues. “Disputes persist with Malaysia over extensive land reclamation works”.

‘A High Quality Living Environment For All Singaporeans: Land Use Plan to Support Singapore’s Future Population’, Ministry of National Development Singapore, January 2013, pp.1-80

http://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/e-book/index.html#/10/

National Environment Agency, Singapore, Waste Statistics and Recycling Rate for 2013 http://app2.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/waste-management/waste-statistics-and-overall-recycling

Seeding Health For A New SingaporeFabiane Santos

Social Entertainment SpheresSarah Gillies

A 3D Printed Recyled FutureSebastian Owen

ContentDana Meachen Rau (2004). Singapore. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 12. ISBN 9780761417279.

Despommier, D. (2008). "Vertical Farm Essay I". Vertical Farm. Retrieved from http://verticalfarm.com/.

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Vandermeulen, Valerie; Verspecht, A., Vermeire, B., Van Huylenbroeck, G., Gellynck, X. (November, 2011). "The use of economic valuation to create public support for green infrastructure investments in urban areas". Landscape and Urban Planning 103 (2): 198–206.

"Statistics Singapore – Latest Data – Population & Land Area (Mid-Year Estimates)". Statistics Singapore. June 2013.

Imageshttp://pavelpodolyak.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/21st-century-paradigm-shift-and.html

http://weirdcreative.com/astounding-nature-in-the-middle-of-big-cities-around-the-world-18-beautiful-rooftop-gardens-461/

http://weirdcreative.com/astounding-nature-in-the-middle-of-big-cities-around-the-world-18-beautiful-rooftop-gardens-461/

Figure 7: http://www.lushome.com/putting-some-green-urban-homes-greening-chicago-being-hip-austin-real-estate/53808

Cash, Hilarie. “Digital Addiction”. Published on December 4, 2011 by Hilarie Cash, Ph.D. in Digital Addiction,

<http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/digital-addiction/201112/the-online-social-experience-and-limbic-resonance>.

Corbett, Holly. Yes, You Do Need A Digital Detox. Published April 2012, Prevention online publication, <http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/tips-technology-addiction>.

Ians, “Digital addiction a psychiatric disorder: Experts” 15 June 2014, Khaleej Times. <http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?section=health&xfile=/data/health/2014/June/health_June20.xml>.

Ians, Digital addiction a psychiatric disorder: Experts 16th of June, 2014. Gulf news, <http://gulfnews.com/news/world/other-world/digital-addiction-a-psychiatric-disorder-experts-1.1347414>.

SBS, “Singapore grapples with phone addiction” 14 JUN 2014, SBS, <http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/06/14/singapore-grapples-phone-addiction>

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“Will digital addiction clinics be big in 2013?” 7 January 2013, <http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-20813371>.

References