Background information
Circuit Road, Macpherson has been around for half a century. Due to its age, it has become iconic. The place is known as “Aljunied Chap Lao” which is “Aljunied 10 storeys” in Hokkien.
The buildings in our site (42-52) are all of the same height (10 storeys) and architecture, as the government wanted to move people in fast in the past.
Also, the place is also known for illegal activities such as drug dealing, fights and gambling.
Circuit Road is a senior citizen area as the majority of the residents are elderly.
Data
The wind ventilation is from North East to South West and the buildings are strategically located to allow wind to pass in between the narrow corridors and open spaces, making it naturally ventilated.
Places where the residents hang their clothes are suitable to dry clothes from the sun.
SWOT
Strengths
Being highly accessible and having a hawker centre and a market nearby are strengths of the place. There are also small pockets of green amongst the area, making the surrounding less dull. Pavilions are located near blocks to allow elderly and youngsters to gather and rest. CCTVs are located at sheltered walkway too. Overall, the place gives off a nostalgic feeling and a homely atmosphere.
Weaknesses
However, it has low maintenance and there are illegal gatherings at night; making noises and disrupting the peace of the neighbourhood. The lightings are poor and the place lack activities. There is also insufficient pedestrian crossing, community engagement and recycling facilities. The humidity is relatively high due to huge amount of space covered in concrete. The ‘backyards’ of the residents on the ground floor can cause fire and some are unsightly.
Opportunities
From this, we developed opportunites such as commercial facilities to improve the place, making it a safer environment for users. Cycling paths, wider walkway and corridors and pedestrian crossing to deal with jaywalking, activity nodes to increase the quantity of programmes and senior citizens corner for mingling between the elderly.
Threats
We have also identified several threats such as the abundance in pigeons and cats, dealing of drugs, gang fights at night, gambling activities, high rise littering and drunkards loitering in the neighbourhood at night. The personal backyards on the ground floor are fire prone too.
Forecast
Our vision is for Macpherson road to be the tallest building, having an underground carpark, a public kitchen to allow the bonding between residents to fix a meal together and create community engagement and having a school to continue the knowledge of the old folks.
Improvements
The site will be separated into 3; Residential, Commercial and an area purely for hostel.
The residential area will have underground carparks to as to save ground space and increase the height of the buildings. The commercial area will have facilities that can bond both the young and the old together; to minimize the generation gap, such as schools and nursing homes. The hostel is for foreigners and to provide a shelter for the homeless.
