CHUA HONG ZHI

BISTRO/CAFE 

JANUARY, 2014

Nestled within the old public housing estate of Macpherson Gardens, the N.O.M (No Other Meaning) Bistro at the Macpherson Community Club aims to integrate itself within the neighbourhood while offering a different take on local flavours – both the taste buds and the spatial experience.
 

The surrounding public housing (HDB) blocks are of older designs and are not raised on pilotis, hence lacking “void decks”, the common spaces on the ground floor that typify public housing across the island.
 

N.O.M reminds us of this peculiar space, a space devoid of meaning, fixed usage and interpretation. Using void decks as a spatial type for the design of the bistro not only appeals to surrounding residents as a space to congregate and organise events, but also reaches out to all who are familiar with void decks, thus positioning the bistro as a community club for all “void-deckers”.

 

Familiar elements of void decks are manipulated to challenge its seemingly static nature. The repetitive precast columns are expressed as wireframes, the openings that exposes hidden corners are interpreted as frames of void that frame void, the corner store turns into a bar counter and the mosaic tiled concrete furniture made light with plywood. We intend not merely to celebrate the existence of such common spaces but to open a dialogue on the possible appropriation and activation of our void decks.