INHABITING "FICTION"//
Inhabiting Fiction identifies the buried footprints of war that still exist in urban landscapes to redefine the perspectives of these defensive architecture. Research presented through the website is used to understand the identity of warfare, reconsider perspectives, memories and relocate architecture to explore the possibilities of re-inhabitation through fictional narratives.
The project compares the creation, functions and subsequent modification of spaces during and after wars, analyzing the differences between these identities in Singapore and London, focusing on the dichotomy between recreational and defensive spaces.
Air Raid Shelter
(Void Decks)
This research through design approach is applied to “Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter”, a site in Singapore. In this old estate of Tiong Bahru exists pre-war public housing built by the government where many of the original apartments still stand relatively unchanged.
During the war, there were several air raid shelters built to anticipate the Japanese invasion. These air raid shelters were repurposed “void decks”, open community spaces underneath apartments. Reinforced walls were built around the structural bases of apartments, creating an enclosed labyrinth which citizens could hide inside. The aim here was to re-inhabit these defensive spaces with a comparison of the original usage of this space alongside.
Void Deck/Air Raid Model
Pillbox Forts
(Singapore)
The pillbox forts at Palawan Beach have been painted in bright hues, situated next to newly built playgrounds. I plan to highlight this strange relationship between this utilitarian architecture and the revamped “cute” image given to it, juxtaposing regular beach and leisure activities with its military past.
Contrasting these repainted forts with those in its original condition at Pasir Panjang further reinforces the strange relationship one can have with functionally similar spaces with different identities.
Air Raid Shelter
(London)
When applied to war architecture in London however, the functions of underground bunkers were built solely for defence during wars. As the original intent of these spaces was not repurposed, the approach would have to be different than that of Singapore.
The location is an air raid bunker located underneath Goldsmiths, a dark and cavernous space. With the same idea of “re-inhabiting spaces”, I came up with spatial interventions where I could design a response that shifts the perception of these intimidating and secret spaces, especially during a tumultuous political climate that promotes paranoia and fear.
