NUS-Tsinghua Joint Studio: Sharing Cities | 2018 | NUS studio
We Participate! We Share!
While coming up with a solid definition of the sharing economy that reflects common patterns of a great diversity of activities is nearly impossible, standing at the core of sharing economy is clearly people’s participation in different online and subsequently offline platforms. Empowered by information and communication technologies (ICTs), people participate in sharing economy for low-cost access to goods and services (in comparison to the market alternatives), reduction of carbon emission and ecological footprints, various social connections and interactions, increase creativity and economic production, and finally social transformation. Despite that the evidences of the above-mentioned benefits of sharing economy are mixed, we are now nonetheless at the crossroad where users’ organising is critical in nurturing a collective form of sharing and further realising its potentials.
In view of the boom of sharing economy in Singapore, we envision the future Tanjong Pagar harbour as an experiment neighbourhood for testing, analysing and evaluating different forms of participation and sharing that can be promoted in the high-density, tropical urban environment. Everyone in the neighbourhood, including residents, workers, visitors, etc., are seen as a potential participant in certain activities that will ultimately produce meaningful sharing.
The key questions to the design studio is 1) how does sharing practice challenges the present conceptions of architecture and urbanism? And 2) what kind of new architecture and urban environment can effectively accommodate and facilitate new forms of sharing? Our aim is to imagine how different forms of participation and sharing can be related and orchestrated to create a coherent community.
While coming up with a solid definition of the sharing economy that reflects common patterns of a great diversity of activities is nearly impossible, standing at the core of sharing economy is clearly people’s participation in different online and subsequently offline platforms. Empowered by information and communication technologies (ICTs), people participate in sharing economy for low-cost access to goods and services (in comparison to the market alternatives), reduction of carbon emission and ecological footprints, various social connections and interactions, increase creativity and economic production, and finally social transformation. Despite that the evidences of the above-mentioned benefits of sharing economy are mixed, we are now nonetheless at the crossroad where users’ organising is critical in nurturing a collective form of sharing and further realising its potentials.
In view of the boom of sharing economy in Singapore, we envision the future Tanjong Pagar harbour as an experiment neighbourhood for testing, analysing and evaluating different forms of participation and sharing that can be promoted in the high-density, tropical urban environment. Everyone in the neighbourhood, including residents, workers, visitors, etc., are seen as a potential participant in certain activities that will ultimately produce meaningful sharing.
The key questions to the design studio is 1) how does sharing practice challenges the present conceptions of architecture and urbanism? And 2) what kind of new architecture and urban environment can effectively accommodate and facilitate new forms of sharing? Our aim is to imagine how different forms of participation and sharing can be related and orchestrated to create a coherent community.
Co-production:
- The crowd contribute food waste to produce fresh crops for the community
- Engage the crowd to test new ways of urban farming and food production
- Promote community farming and cooking to strengthen bonding
Co-creation:
- Crowdsource ideas to revitalise the tradition of making
- Share resources and facilities to encourage entrepreneurship
- Engage the crowd to test new prototypes and products
Co-working:
- Create a project-based working environment to nurture collaboration
- Provide various opportunities for the Precariats
- Capitalise on enterprises for open education and continuous learning
Co-living:
- Create customisable spaces of different scales to encourage shared living
- A live and rich ‘test-bed’ for a variety of prototypes and products
