The final outcome

This is the final outcome of our project regarding Lack of Social Spaces in School. In  my 16 weeks of Design Process lesson, I have learnt the right way to write a proper report, a case study and coming out with proper solutions to solve the problem.

With this A2 presentation board me and my group members came up with, firstly since we are doing research about cafeteria, we jot down the problems faced over there as shown on the top left hand corner of the board. Then, we came up with 101 ideas to improve the school's cafeteria.

Among 100 ideas, we choose the best 3 to improvise the school's cafeteria which is to install Multi-Purpose Furniture, WIFI and a Live Band(i feel that it's a good idea).  In addition, we want the school's cafeteria to have the ambience and atmophere as if we are in one of those cafes out there. As in you will tend to have this warm feeling and smell whenever you enter a cafe.

We did a sketch and render the final outcome shown on the top right hand corner of the board. From normal furniture, we planned to transform it into multi purpose furniture. We also want to put a live band on top of the school's fountain.

With this proposal, stakeholders will have this opportunity to be spending their free time at the school's cafeteria socializing and interacting with one another since it is one of the social spaces in school.

Multi Functional Furniture

I felt that by implementing multi-purpose furniture to the school's cafeteria, it would prevent from space constraint. I did a research regarding multi purpose furniture and so below here is idea that i would wish to put in the school's cafeteria. .

Bookcase designed by Sakura Adachi

This is a bookcase designed by Sakura Adachi. in between those furniture, you can put reading materials underneath it so you could add extra entertainment while you're eating. Dispersed it when in use and reassemble it when not in use. For those in pairs I feel it is a good idea to make full use of this for dining or reading. It is multi purpose furniture which offers a space saving solution and fulfills your everyday activities in small environment. 

http://www.designrulz.com/spaces-for-living/office/2010/11/bookcase-designed-by-sakura-adachi/

Problem with my school's cafeteria

Today, me and my group mates went to our school's cafeteria for our site investigation and we managed to spot some problems students like us are facing.

Firstly,

 Poor quality of furniture and easily stained.

 Unhygienic way of placing rubbish bin near the entrance of the cafeteria.

Poor arrangement of furniture.



*pictures are taken from both me and Bryan.

Case Study

Case Study

I am going to talk on how innovative design concepts can bring efficiency towards the
multipurpose activity zones to the school cafeteria.

Vincent is a NAFA student who is a big fan of the food in the school cafeteria but the problem is the cafeteria is always fully occupied by many other students and he always have a hard time hunting for seats. Furthermore, the cafeteria is too small and cramped. He knows he can really expand the cafeteria but he has to think  of something that would avoid space constraint. He feels that he needs to get something done once and for all. So he came up with solutions. 

http://www.chictip.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Full-Operation-Compressed.jpg

He did research on multi purpose furniture that could fit in the cafeteria and he came across this; a trans-formative furniture which is fold able and versatile. It could transform for having lunch for instance, working and even sitting down without the table.

Personally I think that he has a good idea of making the cafeteria less space constraint. The dining space will be enhanced by leveraging this space to more easily adapt and change from quiet seating to small group 

seating to large group seating.

Research: Sidewalk Cafes

Previously I have talked about the problems faced with students in cafeteria. Before I came out with solutions, the most important thing that needs to be done first is research!

I did research on various cafes in Singapore and get a better idea on how to revamp our school cafeteria to a campus cafe which makes student want to visit more often without having problems and complaints.

Here are the pictures of cafes I took...

Fig 1 eat@ red Antz, Prinsep Plaza (2014)

 Fig 1.1 Mr Bean's Cafe, Prinsep Plaza (2014)

Fig 1.2 Senor Taco, Clarke Quay (2014)

In today’s world, many people regardless of age and other significant people frequently visits cafe around their vicinity. Most of the cafes were situated close to the places where they congregated for leisure, dining in, studying or using (if it is available) the internet access which most of them have in cafes.

Typically in a cafe, there are tables and chairs placed both indoor and outdoor around the cafe. Most cafe’s furniture are designed in conjunction with the cafe’s outlook and it gives out a quaint atmosphere. 

My purpose of writing this is to suggest some obvious reflections on my thoughts and ideas of the social space me and my group members will be focusing about; our school cafeteria. Is our design concept of implementing multi-purpose furniture bring efficiency to the cafeteria? Does it create an interactive social hub among the people? 

Research: Survey on Social Spaces

I did a survey on what people think social spaces mean to them so here it goes....

Question : What is social space to you?

"A place for leisure" - Jannah, 19.

"A place to hang out and socialize with my friends!" - Narine, 21

"A place where people gather around and have fun!"- Bryan, 22

" You sit down one corner with your friend to chit chat. That is social space" - Li Shan, 24

Question : What do you think of the school cafeteria?

"So cramp! I cannot even find a seat to sit and eat! I am enraged!!" - Jannah, 19

"Shared among the 3 campuses? That is just ridiculous!" - Narine, 21

"The seating furniture are placed too near to the pathway, very uncomfortable when people want to pass by" - Andy, 20

Survey

Before we start off with our research, me and my group members did a survey regarding social spaces and below are the results we are able to analyze.