The proposal for the Republic Polytechnic aims to distinguish the new campus from the 4 other existing Polytechnics with the provision of a non-hierarchical green collective meeting space for the staff, students and public. Many well-known campus grounds have equally well known features e.g. Harvard Yard in Harvard University, Mills Yard in Cambridge University and the open Grounds in Oxford University. Likened to Thomas Jefferson’s LAWN in the University of Virginia, the Lawn in the Republic Polytechnic acts as a unifier and landmark to distinguish this new Campus.
The relative high-density of the space requirements leads to the subsequent displacement of nature. The Lawn thus effectively replaces the displaced nature to allow for the creation of a greener campus. The elevated Lawn is also a public green deck with excellent vantage points to the surrounding greenery and adjacent Regional Park.
Programmatically, functions that require greater accessibility and users who require greater mobility are placed on the Lawn. These include the staff and student Cafeterias, the facilitators’ Offices and public amenities. The compact plan of the main learning Pods and teaching facilities ensure minimal traveling time.
On the Lawn, we could also find elements that establish visual relationships with the Agora below. These elements include the opening at the sunken courtyards; the transparent glasses lifts and lift lobbies that penetrate the Lawn from the Agora, and the triple-volume glass enclosure for the library which is the main entrance to the library spaces at the mezzanine level and Agora.
The lawn is inclined according to the terrain, thus minimizing the use of stairs, creating better accessibility for the handicap.
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