An In-Between Space

Juvenile delinquency and youth crime is a serious, complex and multi-faceted social issue.

This student project features a youth care centre—an in-between space to bridge the gap between at-risk youths and society by dissolving boundaries. Through the development of educational, vocational, social, emotional and basic life skills, as well as public participation and support, youths are rehabilitated and reintegrated back into society.

Based on the concept of mediation, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, a heritage site with a strong sense of ‘in-betweenness’, is selected for the centre. In the past, the station acted as a transition between Malaysia and Singapore, where people traverse from one country to the other.

The configuration of the spaces is developed with the railway track as the axis of the whole building and a series of overlapping linear spaces that respond to the existing site.

The spaces are divided into public zones, in-between spaces and private zones. The public zones cater to society at large, with a retail area, exhibition walkway and counselling area for parents, while the private zone has more enclosed spaces for youth counselling, as well as a showcase area and art and craft studio. The in-between space blurs the boundaries between public and private areas, bringing both sides together in a courtyard, where seminar and library facilities are located.

The proposed materials for this project include glass, concrete and sustainable timber, which are sustainable and can be easily procured locally. The use of glass for many of the walls bring about the idea of being ‘transparent, bright and open-minded’, contributing to the blurring of boundaries between people who are in different spaces.

PROJECT DATA
Student Name: Lo Yiin Shan
School: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
Programme: Diploma in Interior & Exhibition Design
Instructor: Tung Ching Yew
Project Name: An In-Between Space
Project Year: 2017
Location: Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, Singapore
Gross Floor Area: 1,573 square metres
Number of Rooms: 13
Building Height: 10.7 metres
Images: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts