WorkAbility Cafe: Empowering Abilities, Igniting Collaboration
For this project brief, students will explore the employment challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and marginalized communities in the food and beverage industry through research, interviews, and volunteer work. They will study co-working spaces and analyze the proposed site for a co-working space and café. Based on site and user needs analysis, students will design the 'WorkAbility Café' with unique programs and functions inspired by stakeholder aspirations. The project includes creating sustainable design concepts, structural systems, and finishes, culminating in a presentation with boards, technical drawings, and physical models.
This project consist of 2 stages; Design Research and Site Analysis, and Design Development into a low-rise co-working/ cafe spaces.
Stage 1 - Site Analysis
SINGAPORE
Gillman Barracks
26/06/2023 - 03/07/2023
My team and I went around Gillman Barracks to do site analysis around the area. We discovered many ongoing activities occurring around the site: Art Gallery and cafe in the morning, Night bar and festivals during the evening.
With this analysis we had discovered, I can determine the type of programmes I wanted to design, along with the client I am collaborating with (Fortitude Culina). Therefore, moving on to my Stage 2.
Stage 2 - DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Interim of the horizon Plaza
In designing the plaza, I focused on inclusivity and accessibility for visually impaired individuals. I am also tasked to use the existing building at Building 9A at Gillman Barracks in our design. The proposed programs, including cafes and co-working spaces, align with the needs of my Stage 1 clients, Fortitude Culina and The Hive. Additionally, I incorporated cooking workshops and night festivals to enhance the atmosphere at Gillman Barracks and meet the client's vision. Overall, these is to promote networking and collaboration opportunities for both the visually impaired individuals and the workers in the co-working spaces.
THE horizon plaza
The Horizon Plaza serves as an eco-friendly venue that encourages networking, inclusiveness, and empowerment. Simultaneously, it fosters a serene atmosphere, with a modern rustic and sustainable design, this enable individuals to connect with the surrounding natural environment.
The concept behind this establishment is to offer visitors a source of inspiration through interactions with differently-abled individuals, particularly those with visual impairments, while also fostering numerous networking prospects within the locale.
