Foodscapes & Footprints
BY Heather Khoo Hui Min
SUPERVISED BY Adj. Assoc. Prof. Hans Brouwer
STUDIO THEME IN PURSUIT OF OPTIMISM
Abstract
This thesis celebrates food as a bringer of joy and a medium of cohesion. Through weaving itself into the lives of Punggol residents, one is able to immerse, experience and appreciate the different stages of the food cycle more. Food goes beyond sustenance; it often holds meaning to us in ways we might not even realise. Food connects people, time and place. It plays a significant part in our lives not just because it keeps us alive, but because of how we enjoy it. In a food haven such as Singapore, we often take for granted the prevalence of food here that is readily available to enjoy, not knowing where it came from or how to prepare it. This project aims to be a knowledge sharing space, bringing together the community and forming a deeper relationship with food by gaining insight into the different stages of the food cycle and creating a living archival of food knowledge through guidance, interaction and documentation. Through this, our local cuisine can be shared and enjoyed for many generations to come.
Supervisor Comments
Whilst the project is based on the greater subject matter of food sustainability in Singapore, the design deals with more archetypal design issues, exploring the deconstruction of a building into a park and the natural into the man-made. By occupying an entire city block Heather takes the bold step to respond to the urban context with a singularity that belies the complexity of the design it contains. In a world where we are in search of our role as a species with regard to nature, this project looks aggressively at the idea that architecture can act as a host for nature and not a protection from it.
- Adj. Assoc. Prof. Hans Brouwer