Designs from a studio assignment on the adaptive reuse of the housing blocks of Bras Basah Complex indicate that generic public housing types allow for more adaptability to changing and diversifying forms of co-habitation than originally conceived for. The hypothesis is that a given primary structure – following Habaraken’s Open Building paradigm understood being a ‘support system’  – does in combination with particular strategic prerequisites allow the adaption to different concepts of living together as ‘infills’. Dwelling concepts for at least six tenants were to be developed. Three existing units were to be combined horizontally and vertically, keeping the three entrances, load-bearing structure and service ducts intact. 

Presented at: ENHR Belfast, June 2016 European Network of Housing Research 

Oliver Heckmann, ‘Operative Design Strategies for High-Density Living in Asian Cities’ 

(The case study diagrams on Bras Basah Complex have been curated by Dicle Uzunyayla and the SUTD students Zhang Ke Er, Chloe Tan, Koh Xian Zhe, Tan Yen Lin and Audrey Chin Mian Yee)