community & placemaking
Continuing an interest in how design has shaped our spaces at the interior and urban scales, Feranda has co-founded and executed a range of ongoing projects into how third places can be shaped to support stronger communities.
Workshops @ the void deck (2024-2025)
Recognising the loss of third spaces in Singapore, the project seeks to activate void decks as third spaces through social gatherings. Skill-sharing workshops were conducted, such as:
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Zine-making workshop by Feranda
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Book binding workshop by Kristin Low
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Coptic stitch workshop by Kristin Low
Gatherings were kept intentionally small, allowing for the casual interaction between visitors, and new relationships to form.
A pioneer project by Our House Downstairs, co-created by Rachel Cheang and Feranda Chua, with support from Kristin Low.
Chinatown as a third place: a heritage walk + linocut experience (2025)
Participants were led on a walk around People's Park by Feranda, learning about its rich history as one of the oldest parks in Singapore, whose legacy was cemented in the design of of People’s Park Complex in the 1970s. The tour engaged with ongoing conversations about everyday communities, intangible culture and the building's conservation.
Moving to Pearl’s Hill Complex, participants were introduced to the history of the old police building and its modern renaissance as an organically grown arts enclave by Rachel Cheang. Referencing photos taken on a short exploration of the People's Park Complex, participants were guided make linocut stamps of common motifs and to reflect on the tour.
Revenue from the tour supported Strangers’ Conversations’ crowdfunding efforts.
A project by Our House Downstairs, co-created by Rachel Cheang and Feranda Chua. Venue partner: Stranger Conversations
Third spaces & ground-up communities in Holland Village (2025)
Co-created in collaboration with Terence (groundupstories), a guided tour and zine workshop experience introduced participants to the Holland neighbourhood.
Participants were led on a tour of community landmarks: from a Hakka cemetery, to OHD’s void deck homeground, a Holland neighbour’s home, HV Little Library and Wellie Batik. A narrative was weaved by Terence, highlighting Holland’s past as an area for Hakka Chinese, to its rich living heritage today. Themes of the dichotomy between the past and present, traditional and modern, were brought forth throughout. Along the tour, various residents and community builders shared their stories with the participants (Thanks to waffleflat, Kae Chee at HV Little Library and Wellie Batik!).
The tour ended with a zine workshop held by Feranda at Wala Wala, where participants were invited to reflect, note and share about the various stories and histories heard on the tour.
A project co-created by Feranda Chua (Our House Downstairs) and Terence (groundupstories), with support from Kristin Low
Partners: waffleflat, HV Little Library, Wellie Batik, Wala Wala