Honorable Mention in Bukit Merah Town Centre Placemaking Challenge 2024
The blood of the heroic young boy, Hang Nadim, who the jealous King Raja murdered in the legend “Attack of the Swordfish” was not spilled in vain. There is “life” in the blood—this “life” is why the heroic spirit and the innocent death are told through the decades and given name to Bukit Merah. This placemaking of Bukit Merah Town Centre—“Merry in the Merah”—seeks to celebrate this profound life in the blood with a series of design strategies to not just revitalize the town centre, strengthen the identity, but also create an invigorating presentation/stage for the community to come together, recollect, and retell the origin story of Bukit Merah once again.
红欢乐庆：共叙起源的社区舞台
本项目荣获2024年红山市镇中心翻新企划案挑战赛（Bukit Merah Town Centre Placemaking Challenge 2024）的荣誉提名奖（Honorable Mention）。
在神话传说“剑鱼袭城”中，那位年少机智却遭国王拉惹（King Raja）嫉妒而被害的英雄哈南·纳丁（Hang Nadim），他的鲜血从未白流。这血中蕴藏的“生命力”使得他的英勇精神与无辜之死被世代传颂，并赋予“红山”（Bukit Merah）这个名称深刻含义。本次对红山市镇中心的设计“红欢乐庆”（Merry in the Merah），正是为了致敬这份“血中生命”，通过一系列设计策略，为市镇中心注入新活力、强化认同，构建出一个生动鲜活的社区舞台，让人们在此相聚、回忆、并再度讲述起专属于红山的起源故事
The Stage of the Story
The beauty of the blood is depicted as a gradation of different shades of red floor tiles, creating a dramatic flow effect throughout the Town Centre, drawing people from the surroundings towards the centre—the sheltered event plaza—where the intensity of red is the highest. Fitting into the narrative, the large level difference between the existing upper and lower deck is capitalized - the upper deck is characterized as Land Zone, while the lower deck introduces two shades of refreshing turquoise tiles to characterize as the Sea Zone. This sets the ‘stage of the origin story' for various leisure, commercial and play activities for the local community.
故事舞台
血之美在设计中以渐变的红色地砖体现，层层递进，流动贯穿整个市镇中心，在视觉上形成引导性，将人们从周边空间吸引至中心红色最浓烈的活动广场，为整个场所注入了足够的戏剧张力。顺应传说故事叙事，本设计巧妙地利用现有的上下层高差，将上层平台塑造为“陆之域”（Land Zone），而下层平台则铺设两种清新的青绿色瓷砖，象征海域，构成“海之域”（Sea Zone）。这样的空间分区使整个市镇中心成为一座承载本地神话的故事舞台，为社区居民提供一个融合休闲、商业与游乐的多功能共享空间。
The Land Zone (Upper Deck)
The Land Zone (Upper Deck) is designated with a myriad of swordfish-themed integrated play and social spaces that are suitable for all demographics and abilities. An adventurous necklace of obstacle course for older children and youth is specially crafted to fit into the origin story theme.
“陆之域”（上层平台)
陆之域的设计是以面向不同年龄层与能力水平的使用者打造剑鱼主题的游乐场与社交空间为核心。其中，一条以传说内容为灵感设计的冒险障碍挑战场，专为青少年打造，融入故事叙事与动作挑战，鼓励孩童探索、协作并考验勇气，使传说中英雄少年的英勇精神在游乐体验中得以延续与重现。
Everyone would notice the abstract climbable and Instagrammable swordfish sculpture at the starting point of the obstacle course facing the bus interchange. In stainless steel mirror finish, the larger-than-life fierce collision of the swordfish and banana trunk is an iconic place marker that everyone would recall. After the swordfish sculpture, the children and youth alike would have to maneuver through the banana tree trunk-inspired army of fun poles. These fun poles are like ‘trunks' that kids can climb, youth can challenge to jump from one trunk to another with rock-climbing-like toe grips, and people in wheelchairs can challenge themselves to traverse around some of them skillfully. On top of that, the fun poles are integrated with LED lights to illuminate the play area and possibly mist emitters to spray cool mist to bring about better thermal comfort to users at the plaza in the day.
民众一进入障碍挑战区，最先映入眼帘的，便是我们设计中面向巴士转换站矗立的最具标志性的视觉焦点，那座抽象造型、可攀爬又极具打卡感的剑鱼雕塑。这件以镜面不锈钢打造的巨型装置艺术，演绎了传说中“剑鱼与香蕉树干猛烈相撞”的瞬间冲击力，让每位民众都直观地面对生动定格的神话场景。紧随其后，儿童与青少年将进入一片由香蕉树干为灵感设计的“趣味柱阵”。儿童可以尝试攀爬上这些趣味柱，探索身体的灵活性，而青少年则可挑战从一根“树干”跳跃至另一根，借助柱面上的攀岩脚点锻炼勇气与技巧，轮椅使用者也能尝试穿梭在柱阵之中，在不失乐趣的前提下体验无障碍参与的包容性设计。更贴心的是，这些柱子顶端内嵌了LED 灯光系统，在夜间为游乐区增添活力光影，日间则通过配备的喷雾系统，释放清凉水雾，为在广场活动的使用者带来舒适的体感体验。
Next, the overcomers would climb up a hill made with a labyrinth of ropes. At the peak of the hill, one might notice that the sea of teardrop-shaped lightweight shades is actually radiating out from the peak, reminiscent of Hang Nadim’s blood splashing over the hill. From here, one would step up the elevated adventure walk to be up close to the crown of the existing raintree. At this height, one can either roam around the circular path, find visual vantage points all around the plaza or lie down on the lazy net for a moment of tranquility. The last part of the obstacle course is the adrenaline-pumping slide that brings one down to the ground and possibly starts another loop again.
接下来，挑战者将攀上一座由绳索编织成的“山丘”。在绳丘之巅，抬头望去，会发现整片具有泪滴状遮阳图案的遮蔽正从山顶向外辐射开来，宛如传说中哈南·纳丁（Hang Nadim）鲜血飞溅山头。从此处出发，挑战者便可踏上架高的冒险步道，与现有雨树的树冠近距离接触。在这一高度，人们可沿着环形步道漫步，欣赏广场的开阔视角，或躺在置于高处的网上，享受片刻的静谧时光。在障碍挑战的最后，是一段令人肾上腺素飙升的滑梯，将挑战者快速带回地面，或许这也是他们新一轮游戏体验的开始。
The inclusive and accessible outdoor elderly fitness machines are welcoming to all. Studies show that People with Disabilities prefer to train together in the same environment as others. This is achieved by reducing barriers and including a variety of exercise opportunities accessible from a wheelchair or even used directly from a wheelchair. The bright colors create contrast for users with visual impairments and help guide them in their movement for a safe and effective workout.
这一区域设置了极具包容性的无障碍户外乐龄健身设施，向所有人敞开欢迎的大门。研究表明，身心障碍者更倾向于在与他人共享的空间环境中锻炼，因此本设计通过降低空间与设备的使用门槛，提供可供轮椅使用者使用甚至让他们直接从轮椅上操作的训练器械，实现真正的共融健身体验。此外，健身设施采用明亮的高对比色彩设计，不仅能帮助视力障碍者清晰辨识器械边界与功能，也能引导安全的运动路径，提升训练的信心与效果。
Several sheltered gathering pebble-shaped pavilions with tables and chairs are nestled idyllically among existing mature trees, yet are well connected to adjacent buildings in case it rains. The tables and chairs can be used separately as 2, 4 and 6 seaters for dining, studying or playing chess during good weather; or they can be easily rotated to come together to form a large gathering table for a large group that is more than 10.
几座鹅卵石形态的聚会亭坐落于现有成树之间，同时通过连廊与周边建筑相连，在雨天为民众提供便利的避雨通行。亭中配置的桌椅组合灵活多变，可根据使用需求拆分为2人、4人或6人座位，供居民在晴天时用餐、学习、下棋等日常使用。而在需要团体活动时，桌椅则可旋转拼合为容纳10人以上的大型聚会桌，满足不同规模与场景的社交需求。
The Shore
The proposed amphitheatre takes on a sinusoidal shape mimicking the waves on the seashore in the origin story. The seats for the audience during a performance are well integrated with planter boxes for casual sitting during other times. There are coral-like nooks that also invite children to whiz around while their parents sit by the side resting. Two meandering stairs admidst green pods are designed on the left and right for the public to travel between upper and lower decks, while a wheelchair lift is provided on the left side for wheelchair users.
滨海之境
提议的露天剧场采用海浪般的曲线造型，呼应传说中“海浪拍岸”的意象，赋予场地浓厚的故事氛围与视觉动感。观演座位与种植箱穿插，二者巧妙结合，不论是为观众还是日常社区居民提供舒适体验。周边布置有形似“珊瑚礁”的亲子玩耍角落，吸引儿童穿梭嬉戏，同时家长可以在一旁安心坐下休息。两侧蜿蜒的绿植阶梯贯通上下层平台，让步行者穿梭在绿意之中，在左侧则设有无障碍电梯，方便轮椅用户轻松通行，展现我们包容性的设计理念。
The Sea Zone (Lower Deck)
At the heart of the Town Centre, the large column-span canopy with tiers of clerestory windows and skylight apertures not only provides shelter from rain and heat of the day for event space but also allows adequate natural daylight to flow in. The lightweight metal canopy extends further to ‘embrace' the mature trees towards the south, creating an avenue of tree court, surrounded by sheltered area with ample benches for people of all abilities. The height of the shelter gently lowers to define the edge of the plaza along Jalan Bukit Merah, forming a sense of arrival, as well as becoming part of the connection to the existing bus shelter.
“海之域”（下层平台)
位于市镇中心核心区域的大型屋棚，通过层叠式高窗与天窗设计，为广场提供良好的遮阳避雨功能的同时，也引入充足的自然采光，营造明亮、舒适的活动空间。轻盈的金属屋顶向南延展，仿佛张开双臂拥抱周边成荫的老树，形成一条独特的树之大道。其周围设有众多遮蔽空间，配备大量座椅，为所有使用者提供平等、舒适的休息体验。遮棚的高度设计也颇富巧思，逐渐降低至Jalan Bukit Merah广场边缘，不仅在视觉上营造出归属感，也顺势衔接现有公交车站，强化区域整体联通性并营造出欢迎氛围。
Towards the north, the shelter hovers over the reconstructed wave-like amphitheatre (The Shore) and even peers over to be seen from the opposite end of the upper deck (Land Zone). On the upper tier of the canopy, viewing galleries are created to allow more people to stand around the main event space area. Altogether, the expanded shelter plaza can accommodate about 800 people for events, incorporating family-friendly sports, health-related programs, carnivals, flea markets, and movie screenings.
向北望去，屋棚笼罩着重建的波浪形露天剧场（滨海之境 The Shore），甚至从上层平台（陆之域 Land Zone）对面也能清晰望见，在视觉上构建出强烈的空间延展感。屋顶上层设有环形观景廊台，使更多人可以从高处俯瞰主活动区，形成多维度的观演与参与体验。整体扩展后的遮蔽广场区域将可容纳约800人，灵活应对多种大型社区活动场景，其中包括：亲子友好的体育赛事、体能挑战；养生健康类活动；社区嘉年华与跳蚤市场和户外电影放映。
Some of the seating modules along the sides of the plaza are designed to be innovatively rotatable. Elderly-friendly seating is well integrated with regular seating and greenery. Users can either rotate them into a linear formation during flea market events to free up more space for kiosks, or can rotate to form a C-shape configuration to chat with one another in small groups.
广场两侧的部分座椅采用创新可旋转设计，在满足日常休憩的同时，灵活应对不同需求。长者友善座椅与普通座椅及绿植景观融合布置在一起。使用者可以根据需求将座椅旋转至不同形态，例如：线性排列适用于跳蚤市场、展摊等活动，释放更多空间用于布置摊位而C形排列便于小组聊天、邻里聚谈，营造轻松友好的交流氛围。
