1. Problem Framing
• To provide a “linkage” between all the museums
around the area, which includes Singapore Art
Museum, Singapore National Museum and
Peranakan Museum.
• Target Audience: Tourists and visitors to the
museums.
2. Scenario
• John Frank, from England, is in Singapore for his
holidays. He is interested to visit the museums among
the other places of interests in Singapore. On a fine
morning, he began his trip by first visiting the
Singapore Art Museum. After visiting the Singapore Art
Museum, he took a rest and had some refreshments at
the cafe. He now wanted to visit the other 2 museums,
namely National Museum of Singapore and the
Peranakan Museum. However, he felt lost as he did
not know how to move from the Singapore Art
Museum over to the National Museum of Singapore,
or to the Peranakan Museum.
5. Basic Route Layout with Important
Landmarks
Bras Besah Traffic light
SMU open
MRT Station SAM connecting to
area
(Exit A) SMU
Traffic light Traffic light
SMU school
connecting to National connecting to
of
shop houses Museum National
accountancy
beside Museum
and law
Peranakan
Museum
Shop houses Peranakan
Museum
6. Observations made
• The route from SAM to National Museum has more
green while the route from National Museum to
Peranakan Museum is filled with olden architecture.
• It is not easy to find the way from National Museum
to Peranakan Museum (observation from tourists).
• Bras Besah Mrt Station’s exit A is just directly beside
SAM.
• Not enough shelters along the route taken.
• Route shows a transition from modern to olden
architecture.
7. Design Considerations
• The linkages have to be able to blend in the
surroundings of Dhoby Ghaut.
• Way-finding should be made easy for the tourists to
find their way through the 3 museums.
• Engaging linkages while going from one place to
another to minimise boredom.
• Providing enough space for tourists to walk through
the linkage against sun and rain.
8. Design Constraints
• Linkage has to allow tourists to move to and fro.
(user freedom)
• The route consists of 3 traffic lights that will “break”
the linkage and thus way-finding has to be clear to
guide the tourists to the next part of the linkage.
• The linkage has to be able to suit the different
themes of each museum with different surroundings.
9. Ideation
• Linkages made of hedges.
• Skypark + sky-hedges.
• Exhibition park + exhibition linkages.
• Hanging exhibits (acting as way-finding elements.)
• Engaging way-finding elements.
• Linkages designed to look either modern
architecture feel or olden architecture feel explaining
history of the area.
• Roof of linkage designed with relation to Bras Besah
Mrt Station.
10. Main Design Concept
• An exhibition park to be created at the open green
area of SMU campus, making use of the wide green
space with the seats and can be a meeting point and
resting spot for tourists (see next slide for more
details).
• Linkages will be made along the routes to provide
shelter for the visitors and also being designed to
create clear way finding for the visitors.
12. Exhibits will be
either hanged on
the trees or
placed under the
trees.
Linkages along this
area to guide
visitors to SAM or
National Museum
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23. Comparison between the designs
Criteria Design 1 Design 2 Design 3
Being able to blend in Yes Yes Yes
with the surroundings
Way finding Yes No No
Engaging Yes Yes Yes
Space No Yes Yes
-Design 1 will not be able to provide too much space for the tourists due to
the “leaves” which are not as long as compared to shelters.
-Design 2 and 3 will not be able to enhance way-finding due to them blending
into the surroundings compared to Design 1 which can attract and help
visitors with the “leaves lightings”.
24. Further usage of designs
• Design 1 will be placed at positions which requires
very clear way finding and direction (eg. traffic lights)
because of the very distinctive “tree with leaves
growing sideways” view, plus the lighted leaves at
night to guide visitors.
• Design 2 will be mainly focused more on the
walkways and pavements to provide shelter.
• Design 3 will be used at the exhibition park and
National Museum so that visitors can easily access
the place.
28. Arrow sign on Design 2 to show the
tourist the way towards National
Museum.
29. Walking in the direction of the arrow
sign, he can also enjoy the hanging
exhibits.
30. He will reach a traffic light where Design 1 on either
side of the road will guide him to cross the road over.
31. He will reach the exhibition park area located at the open area in
between Li Kah Sheng Library and SMU School of Info System.
32. He can choose to walk along any path in the Exhibition park
(Design 3) which in the end will lead to the same end, but he will
see different displays and exhibits (in black) on different paths.
33. He can also choose to rest at the benches located at different
areas of the exhibition park to enjoy the scenery and the exhibits
too.
34. This is where the 2 linkages connects and joins into 1 path so he
will not be lost with either path that he took.
35. When he reach the end of the linkage, he will be able to see the
National Museum across the road.
36.
37. The new view of national museum with the linkages and the
outdoor exhibits (in black).
38. After he finished his visit at National Museum, he can follow the arrow
indication of the modified Design 2 (to allow to and fro for tourists) and
go to Peranakan Museum.
39. While following the linkage to Peranakan Museum, he can enjoy
the exhibits placed on the linkages and also the outdoor exhibits.
40. He will continue to follow though the linkage and also enjoy the
outdoor exhibits and also exhibits on the linkage or also choose
to rest at the benches.
41. He will be led to a traffic light where Design 1 will lead him to
cross the correct side of the road to Peranakan Museum.
42. After crossing the road being guided by Design 1, he continues
to follow the linkage while enjoying the exhibits.
43. After walking past the linkage he will reach a sheltered pavement
linking all the way to Peranakan museum.
