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Idea by

Yee Foo (Vincent) Lai; Douglas Lee

Temporary Office

New York City, United States of America
Under the design collective of ​Temporary Office,​ Yee Foo and Douglas, sometimes in collaboration with their friends and colleagues, have worked on several competitions crossing the boundaries of architecture, public space and preservation. With a strong focus on historic research and precedence, we seek to constructively respond to the ever-changing needs of our environment in a rational yet playful way.

Call for ideas 2021

Ritual of Cleansing


Cleansing as housing core

Ritual of Cleansing


Cleansing as housing core
Developing a ritual for cleansing as means to living
File under
Type of project
  • Systemic changes

Living in isolation during this pandemic has led to many to rethink the notion of communal spaces and importance of self cleansing spaces. In a residential setting, communal amenities such as multi-function activity rooms, gym, swimming pools, etc. will be closed off to stop the spread of the virus. Hence, what are the alternatives for inhabitants to live to the fullest during this isolation period? What is the hierarchy of cleansing spaces such as toilets in the apartments?

We introduced an open living concept where all unit types have full exposure to nature, creating a sense of respite from the introverted living space typical in small apartments. The act of cleansing will be an important ritual during this pandemic. Therefore, the morphology of the building is manifested in which spaces for cleansing (toilets and wash basins) are positioned in the building core. All living spaces revolves around the cleansing core.


Ritual of Cleansing


Cleansing as housing core

Ritual of Cleansing


Cleansing as housing core
Developing a ritual for cleansing as means to living
File under
Type of project
  • Systemic changes

Living in isolation during this pandemic has led to many to rethink the notion of communal spaces and importance of self cleansing spaces. In a residential setting, communal amenities such as multi-function activity rooms, gym, swimming pools, etc. will be closed off to stop the spread of the virus. Hence, what are the alternatives for inhabitants to live to the fullest during this isolation period? What is the hierarchy of cleansing spaces such as toilets in the apartments?

We introduced an open living concept where all unit types have full exposure to nature, creating a sense of respite from the introverted living space typical in small apartments. The act of cleansing will be an important ritual during this pandemic. Therefore, the morphology of the building is manifested in which spaces for cleansing (toilets and wash basins) are positioned in the building core. All living spaces revolves around the cleansing core.



Idea by

Yee Foo (Vincent) Lai; Douglas Lee
Temporary Office
New York City
United States of America
Under the design collective of ​Temporary Office,​ Yee Foo and Douglas, sometimes in collaboration with their friends and colleagues, have worked on several competitions crossing the boundaries of architecture, public space and preservation. With a strong focus on historic research and precedence, we seek to constructively respond to the ever-changing needs of our environment in a rational yet playful way.