The food court nearest to the studios in my old school, Singapore Polytechnic holds lots of fond memories for me. It was where all of us, architectural slaves, gathered to lament about unsolved design issues, engage in intellectual architecture conversation, mindless gossips or plain good old chit chatting to get away from projects for a few minutes. The food court is spacious with an open plan, completely open on all 4 sides with no internal obstructions and thus allowing prevailing winds to ventilate the space. The mechanical fans on the ceiling also help in promoting wind flow.
Apart from being naturally lighted by the 4 sides, the top façade and the roof have wide glass panels to ensure sufficient day lighting. It was never a problem to find seats, to encounter congested queue lines or to have difficulty getting through to your tables, even during lunch hours, thanks to the generous spatial planning. In my second year of study in SP, new benches were installed outside in the food court on timber decking, complementing the existing trees and shrubs, which also help to shade the area, providing a cool and relaxing outdoor place for meals and conversations. The design strategies, simple yet effective, have indeed created a gathering place worthy of praises. Every visit has brought it closer to my heart and I will, as clichéd as it may sound, remember every piece of memory collected there.
Lim Wei Ling
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