Designed by EHKA Studio, Singapore Children’s Society's 11th service centre, VOX @ Singapore Children’s Society caters to youth aged between 13 and 18 who live in areas including Kembangan and Chai Chee.
Its design is unlike traditional social services space which are often utilitarian and institutional. "We wanted to give the centre a vibe that youth can be inspired by." commented Hsu Hsia Pin and Eunice Khoo of EHKA Studio.
Vox has cafe-style interiors conceptualised based on market survey conducted by SCS, which concluded the youth's preference for cafe-like environments. The pantry space allows youths to bond and learn skills such as cooking and cleaning up. "We want to build a sense of responsibility in them. The pantry has basic ingredients such as rice and flour which requires basic cooking," shares, Amanda Zee, Assistant Director and Head of Vox @ SCS.
Based on horizon scanning of the current social services, Vox aims to be a place that meets youth's developmental needs by adopting a social work framework — building character, competence, confidence, connection and care. By doing so, the centre aims to reduce youth delinquency.
"We wanted to take a gamble on design, and by doing so, it helps communicate to the users of the space that they are important. This is an invisible message we try to convey with design," says Hsia Pin.
Adopting the language of hipster cafes, and meeting the brief of having more flexible spaces, EHKA Studio designed moveable shelves. "We wanted loose shelves to create a "discovery wall" where the youth can explore the various nooks," highlights Hsia Pin.
Interestingly, the youth responded creatively to the design, and even used the shelves to create a skateboard rail! Raw finishes like screed flooring, plywood, brickwalls, rebars, black metal frames, exposed electrical pipings helped reduce the finishing cost, while giving the space an edgier and casual ambience.
Loft-style nooks serve as breakout spaces for the youth, while keeping them connected to the surrounding environment.
The space is kept welcoming and cosy, with many pockets of spaces where social services workers can interact and engage the youth, making them feel a sense of belonging. Click here for more information about Vox.