Summary 

Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) converts a void deck space into a social living room for residents. The design intervention creates an inviting and inclusive environment, while providing opportunities for various programs, and also empowering seniors to take charge of their learning and health.

Description

Situated within Bukit Merah HDB fats, an existing void deck space is repurposed into a 300 sqm communal space for lifelong learning headed by Montfort Care, a social welfare organisation. Recognizing the importance of tapping into subjects that seniors are familiar with, such as craftsmanship, the centre is subdivided into 3 zones to be suited to 3 learning studio settings. Kayu, which means wood in the Malay language, is often used colloquially to describe making a mistake. Recognizing that seniors may face physical limitations as they age, the main studio, Kayu Artisan, offers a fun and light-hearted environment where they can freely express themselves, understand that making mistakes is a normal part of the journey, normalising imperfections along the way. In this dynamic setting, the more experienced senior artisans will become stewards of the learning community, allowing a continuation of wisdom and knowledge while forging meaningful camaraderie among peers.