By: Irene Chong Ai Ling
Detecting Human Activity at the Void Area Project
ABOUT
THE
PROJECT
ABOUT
THE PROBLEM
Target Audience:
Residents of Blk 802 and 805
Our Task was to conduct a field study for HDB blocks along 802, 803, 804 & 805 along Woodlands Avenue 2 for evidence of human activity in the void deck areas.
SOLUTION
We have decided to conduct Overt observation for blocks 802 and 805 to determine what types of activities are done by the residents under the void deck and differences between these two blocks to dive deeper.
UX Tools:
Overt Observation
My Role:
Observation for Blk 805 and also differences between Blk 802 and 805
01
PROBLEM
STATEMENT
TABLE
OF CONTENT
02
INTRODUCTION TO OVERT OBSERVATION
03
OBSERVATION OF BLOCK 802 (BY RUKSHAH)
04
OBSERVATION OF BLOCK 805
05
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLOCK 802 AND 805
History of Woodlands:
Comprising Woodlands, Admiralty and Marsilingestates, the town was named Woodlands as it gave the appearance of a heavily-wooded area when viewed from the Johor side of the Straits.
In the 1970s and 1980s,kampungsin the area were relocated to make way for industrialisation and the development of Woodlands Town.
Evolving through the Years:
The town grew rapidly in the 1990s, and Woodlands was earmarked for extensive development to transform it into a regional centre for the northern part of Singapore in 1997.
Today, Woodlands has grown to become a town with large open spaces, grasslands, parks, recreational facilities, and communal gardens.
In more ways than one, the void deck has come to be seen as a symbol representing community life in public housing in Singapore. However, this symbol has varied interpretations amongst a different demographic, where it means play space to kids, it is also a place of celebration and mourning to others. For some, it is also the extension of communal living, beyond one’s front doors. It can be seen as the front lawn without physical boundaries, where a commune of residents from the same block and precinct can gather on a daily basis to exchange experiences of life.
extract from “Communal Work for a Community” by Melvin Liew
While HDB has been designing the newer blocks of flats to have reduced void deck spaces, there are some people who feel that is a shame that these spaces for community activities are disappearing.
As a team, conduct a field study of the HDB blocks 802, 803 and 804 along Woodlands Avenue 2 for evidence of human activity in the void deck areas.
What to look
out for? :
-
Litter.
-
Signages.
-
Artefacts/ Objects used by people - signs of past or future events that has happen / physical objects in use at a site Outcroppings - noticeable physical traits that mark or characterize the site
Our Observation Details:
Observation Timing: 10:30am - 10:44am
Amount of people seen:
-
Blk 802 - 3
-
Blk 805 -1
Methods used for Observations:
01
Pure Observation
02
Photographs
Observations
Based on what we have seen, I was quite surprised space and quite clean the area. The bus is near to the block, people can just right away goes down and took the bus. Also I feel is good thing to have some people plants their own plants.
There is shelters for the residents to goes to bus stop. There is many signages of events/news for the residents. Even though there is one rubbish near the bin, it is not really near to people that when out/in the lift. The bicycles is not in a messy as is neat and in order.
Final
Observation:
I expected the place to be filled with people walking home and going to work and school. From afar, the buildings look clean and spacious. Since there is a secondary school near Blk 805 so I assumed there will be many secondary school students residing there or crowding there.
I expect the neighbourhood to be similar to mine. Having a peaceful vibes where resident who hang on void decks and converse with one another. And also provide shelter for residents to host events, weddings or funerals.
Initial
Assumption:
Observations
Based on what we have seen, I was quite surprised by how dirty the place was. There were litter around the place and the place is cluttered with bicycles.
There are quite a few pigeons spotted near blk 805 and no shelters seen that residents can host events, wedding and parties in. The place is not as spacious but enough space provided for residents to hang and relax.
Final
Observation:
Observation Comparison
OBSERVATION OF BLOCK 802 (BY RUKSHAH)
04
OBSERVATION OF BLOCK 805
05
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLOCK 802 AND 805