2. RECREATIONAL AREA
Site analysis
Introduction:
The site that has been chosen is located at the balcony on Level 2 Block E.
The balcony as shown on the picture above is an open area with an empty space that has not
been used or utilised for any sort of purpose. This open balcony has been left here without a
purpose. Therefore, this space is rarely used by any of the students to carry out any of their
activities.
From the balcony, you will be able to have a view of the staff carpark followed by the futsal
court. That makes the northpoint of the site facing towards the staff carpark and the futsal
court.
The floor of the balcony is covered with flat cement. There are also railings surrounding each
end of the balcony. As illustrated on the picture above, less than ¼ of the space at the balcony
is shaded with a roof and the remaining space is not shaded or covered. There is a view of the
sky when you look upwards from the site.
3. At east, there is a view of roads leading cars to the staff carpark. And at west, there is a view
of the open area staff carpark.
Students have access to this site from all levels of the building. This is possible because of the
elevators provided at each block of the building. These elevators allow students to move up
or down to level 2 at Block E from other levels or they can enter this site even on Level 2
itself. Other than that, there are also staircase provided linking each level to level 2. This also
gives access to students from other levels to level 2 and into this site.
Location of site: Level 2 Block E (above Lecture 20)
- From level 1, take the stairs at Block E, turn left, go straight, turn left again and walk
towards the end.
The picture shows the part of the balcony that has been shaded with an awning.
The picture shows the part of
the balcony where there is an
empty space that is open and
uncovered with any awning.
The reason why this site was
4. chosen is because it has not been utilised and it has supporting elements that allows us to
propose a recreational area.
Type of development: Recreational area
The objective of this development is to create a space that can be fully utilised by the students
of this institution. This is to ensure that the balcony is no longer left as a space with no
purpose. This development will be able to provide a proper place for students to chill and
hang out during their break hours. Students will be able to interact with the space developed
at this site and appreciate the space given. The development of this site will also bring about a
lively yet calm ambiance where students are allowed to relax and calm their minds. In order
to achieve this kind of development, a mixed development of a playscape conjoined with a
indoor breakout space is proposed.
Plan of the proposed recreational area:
The picture above represents the zoning of the development proposed.
At the left of the entrance, there will be a climbing wall that goes up to approximately 4m. In
front of the climbing wall, there will be a playscape that will take over the spot at the balcony
where it is not shaded with any awning. The indoor breakout space will take over the spot of
the space covered with awning.
Playscape
Indoor breakout
space
Climbing wall
Entrance to the site
5. The climbing wall
Climbing wall is a wall at a sports centre or a gym fitted with attachments to stimulate a rock
face for climbing practice. By constructing a climbing wall, students will be able to improve
their cardiovascular health, tone their muscles and even lose weight if they utilise this
climbing wall. It is considered as a place where students can exercise after they end their
classes. The site is located near to all the classrooms and studios and is easily accessible.
Thus, students will not need to walk all the way to the sports centre to exercise. Climbing
wall built in this site has provide an alternate route for students to exercise.
The climbing wall is about 4 m high, therefore for safety, old mattresses are placed below the
wall to ensure that the climbers can fall safely from the wall and prevent injuries such as head
injury. Thick, old mattresses ensure that the shock of a fall is fully absorbed. To ensure
safety of the climbers, the climbing wall will be built away from the railings so that climbers
will not fall from the wall to the levels below. Besides, the holds on the climbing wall will be
tightened and inspected from time to time so that the holds will not go loose which causes
injuries to the climbers. A safety sign will be placed beside the climbing wall to warn the
students that only 3 person are able to climb the wall at a time.
Climbing wall components : Holds
To allow climbers to climb the wall
6. Playscape
A playscape refers to a social/relational space that adults or teenagers create in the present
moment, in the midst of solo or collaborative creativity, learning and engagement. This
playscape is a space where students are allowed to carry out different types of activities with
their companions, communicate and interact with each other, and enter their comfort zone
through engaging with the playscape. This playscape will provide a calm yet playful
atmosphere where students can socialize in their own groups and enjoy each other’s
company.
There are various types of elements in this space where students can interact with to have a
good time. The types of elements suggested are swings, hammocks, recycled tyres, a mat
grass, glass railings and a wooden pavement platform.
Ideas and inspiration:
1. Mat Grass
Instead of a cement ground, mat grass will be used as a substitute to cover the ground. To
create a green atmosphere and a small outdoor environment ambiance, mat grass will be an
excellent element to suit this purpose. This mat grass only applies to the ground surrounding
the playscape and the climbing wall.
7. The picture above illustrates how the ground will look like after laying the mat grass over it.
The mat grass will add to a garden-like atmosphere and this will give students a fresh feeling.
2. Recycled Tyres
Recycled tyres can be used for different types of purposes as an element in a playscape. One
of the many purposes it can serve is as a seat. This can be done by laying the recycled tyres
randomly around the ground. The recycled tyres can be arranged in piles or individually
placed around the playscape to be used as seats. Other than that, swings can be made as an
element using recycled tyres; recycled tyres can also be used as a decoration around the
playscape.
8. Recycled tyres used as seats on the ground.
As shown in the picture above, this is one of the illustrated perspectives of how the playspace
will look like with recycled tyre seats and swings. As the tyres are not permanently fixed to
the ground, students can interact with it by moving it around and putting it in groups in order
to sit with their friends. This enhances a social bond within their group of friends and easily
allow students to hang out together.
9. Recycled tyre swings.
Recycled tyre used as decorations for the playscape. Greeneries are added into the playscape
to create nature within the site. Flowers are planted for students who love gardening. This
allows them to enjoy themselves in our proposed site. Also, medium height trees are planted
to provide shade for the students to stay underneath.
3. Wooden pavement platform
An addition to a relaxing and calm environment such as a wooden pavement platform
provides a space for students to carry out various activities. Students can choose to lie back
and relax on the wooden pavement platform; carry out activities such as yoga, morning
exercises or even use this space just to take a short nap during their break. Students can also
utilise this platform to have short gatherings with their friends in between class times to chill
and relax. By using a wooden pavement as a platform, students will feel more have an
environmental-friendly ambiance.
10. The picture on above illustrates an example of what the wooden pavement platform proposed
will look like.
4. Hammocks
Hammocks are one of the elements proposed in this playscape. These hammocks allows
students to comfortably lie down and relax at the playscape. Hammocks can be used as
swing-seats or a swing-bed. With this, students can choose to either lie down or sit on the
hammocks. Therefore, this also allows students to relax and take a short nap in between their
classes on these hammocks.
The pictures above show how hammocks can be used as swing-seats.
The picture on the left illustrates how hammocks
are used as a platform for students to lie down and
take a nap.
11. 5. Glass railings
Glass railings are proposed to substitute steel railings. This gives the students the ability
to view the futsal court and the surrounding environment from the balcony. Students can
also see the activities carried out at the futsal and basketball court from the balcony with
glass railings.
Benefits of the playscape:
With a playscape, students get to enter their comfort zone and take a break from studies. They
are able to release their stress and enjoy themselves either solitarily or within their group of
friends. At this playscape, they can take short naps, enjoy long conversations with their
friends and create an intimate bonding session with their course mates by socializing among
themselves. Besides just building a space for students to interact with each other, this place is
designed for students to calm their minds and relax their souls as they are allowed to lie
around the playscape and get into their comfort zone. Lastly, this playscape will also give
students the opportunity to perform their own activities like yoga as there is a platform
provided for this purpose. This then allows students to take care of their physical health and
maintain a good lifestyle.
12. Indoor Breakout Space
An indoor breakout space is a space introduced for students to rest and carry out their own
activities. The indoor breakout space plays almost the same purpose as the playscape. The
difference between the playscape and the indoor breakout space is that, the playscape is for
outdoor activities and the indoor breakout space is proposed for indoor activities. In this air-
conditioned indoor breakout space, students can play music, rest, play board games, and take
short naps.
There will be shelves for books and board games; bean bags, lazy sofas and chairs for
students to relax on; tables for students to play board games; an instrument corner or students
to play music; shoe racks for students to place their footwear before entering and speakers
surrounding the breakout space for relaxing music to play.
Ideas and inspiration:
1. Shelves
The picture above illustrates the proposed wall shelf that can be utilised to store board
games and books at the indoor breakout space. With this element, students can have easy
access to the board games and books whenever they need it. Wall shelf also saves space
as it is built onto the wall.
2. Tables
Multiple tables will be provided at the indoor breakout space to
allow students to play board games or study together. The table
proposed will have a built-in shelf at the bottom of the table in order
to save space and store books or board games under the table itself.
This allows easy access to the board games as students can just take
them from the shelf below the table and start playing immediately.
13. Built-in wall tables for private use or interactive use are proposed
as one of the elements in this indoor breakout space. This built-in
wall table is proposed in order to fully utilise the space of the wall.
3. Bean bags, lazy sofas and chairs.
These pictures above of bean bags, lazy chairs and sofas are proposed to allow students to
have a comfortable ambiance. With these elements, they are able to relax and lie onto the
bean bags/sofa/lazy chairs. The purpose of these elements is to allow students to rest where
they can take naps on these or just sit back and calm their minds as they communicate with
their friends.
4. Interior of the indoor breakout space; the instrument corner
The pictures above are inspiration and ideas of how the proposed indoor breakout
space will roughly look like. Completed with sofas and the ground covered in carpet,
14. the indoor breakout space will provide a comfortable environment where students can
simply relax at any corner or spot in the room.
The instrument corner: There will be a corner of the room where students can play
their musical instruments to calm their minds and relax. Students can bring in their
own musical instruments to play if they wish; there are also musical instruments
provided at the indoor breakout space for student’s use. However, not all varieties of
musical instruments are allowed as this will cause too much sound pollution and
disturb the calm ambiance at the indoor breakout space. Therefore, only common
musical instruments like the guitar and ukulele are allowed in the indoor breakout
space.
5. Speakers surrounding the indoor breakout space
These wall speakers are proposed to play calm and soothing
songs at the indoor breakout space in order to provide a
relaxing ambiance for the students resting there.
6. Shoe racks
Rows of shoe racks will be provided so that students can
place their footwear orderly and nicely at these shoe racks
before entering. These shoe racks are proposed so that
students enter the indoor breakout space without their
footwear and this ensures the cleanliness of the breakout
space as the floor of the breakout space is carpeted.
7. Football game tables
Multiple football game tables will be provided along with board
games to allow students to have an interactive and fun time among
themselves.
Benefits of indoor breakout space:
The indoor breakout space allows students to either have a fun and interactive time with each
other or relax and chill out. This space provides a calm and relaxing ambiance for students to
rest and take their minds off things; students can take short naps or play board games and
15. musical instruments here. They can also meet new people through this place as this is also a
platform for students to be interactive with each other instead of a platform to rest.
