(ION)ic PhyGital Collective

This thesis seeks to envision a ‘Phy-gital’ consumer-civic ecology for Ion Orchard through the subversion of the mall syntax model. It seeks to build upon existing civic synergies of the site, providing a win-win investment strategy where physical infrastructure stays relevant in the age of digital commerce. The research investigates the fundamental logic of the Mall’s spatial syntax, its resulting mechanisms, and opportunities for subversion with its Social Condenser antithesis.

To allow for knowledge exchange to revitalise the existing commercial model, the development of a consumer-civic ecology is proposed to revitalise commercial infrastructure as a phy-gital “Collaborative Economy”. Given the pre-existing arts program within Ion Orchard, a key mall within Singapore’s commercial district, the mall was therefore selected for the demonstration of a new consumer-civic ecology. The commercial model is optimized through subverting existing affective synergies borne from syntax mechanisms, through adapted spatial principles of collective civic architecture from the Social Condenser. The civic addition seeks to involve a larger scope of patrons and tenants, ultimately allowing for vacancies throughout the mall to be filled up with civic-centric tenants.

The project stance on ensuring the continuity of commercial infrastructure is rooted within the heart of the mall, how affective syntax components can serve as a seed of growth for a consumer-civic ecology; thus serving the changing needs of its patrons in the post digital age, before malls can be connected internally, externally and to its urban surroundings.