Location

Fibonacci is a nature school for twenty students located within Ketam Quarry Mountain Bike Park, Pulau Ubin. The site’s proximity to the Black Diamond and Blue Square Mountain biking trails, and to the normal pedestrian and biking trails, allows for easy access into the site. Its location affords view of both the nearby mangroves as well as of the quarry.

 

Program

Beyond aesthetic appreciation, the great views provided by the choice of location also facilitates learning about the different natural habitats found on the island. The bird observatory facing a bird nesting area, where NParks is also currently placing artificial nest to encourage the growth of bird population. The tower provides spaces for instructional learning. The tower also seeks to provide different spaces for communal activities, such as the main activity area, as well as smaller spaces for students to congregate informally, such as in their sleeping spaces. The sleeping spaces are proportioned for four groups of five, for smaller group activities, from which the other spaces are arranged below. The name ‘Fibonacci’ refers to this top-down arrangement of spaces, similar to the mathematical arrangement of leaves that maximizes the plant's exposure to sunlight, of the same name.

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Access

Placed adjacent to a natural indentation in the slope, the tower can be entered by steps from the top of the slope, leading to the main floor of the tower where students will be first briefed when they arrive. After kayaking in the quarry, visitors can enter the tower from the first floor, where the kayak equipment storage area, drying off area, and bathrooms are located. Through the intentional placement of ladders and rope walls instead of the more conventional option of stairs, the building hopes to incite students to be more aware of their movements, as well as to provide delight in movement.

 

Material Use

The structure also responds to the site through the use of materials. While the majority of the structure is made out of timber, specific areas such as the drying off area, or the bathrooms and cooking areas, are intentionally made out of rock instead. This acknowledges the natural relationships between timber, water and fire. Beyond material, timber construction is highlighted through protruding beams and joists, as well as the exposed underside of each platform. Thus through the use of materials and exposed construction, the building allows for passive learning of simple timber construction.