THE SPORTS HUB ISSUE
BRIDGING SPORTS AND COMMUNITY
A COLLABORATIVE DELIVERY
UPDATES
IN FOCUS CONNECTIVITY AND INCLUSIVITY
SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB THE BIM JOURNEY DP TITLEHOLDER APPOINTMENTS 2014
HUB ECOLOGY
MICA (P) 081/08/2014
IN DETAIL
www.dpa.com.sg
IN DEPTH
VOLUME 5 NUMBER 3 2014 SINGAPORE
| The latest happenings in DP
DP GROUP ANNOUNCES
APPOINTMENT OF TITLEHOLDERS The DP group has announced its annual appointment of titleholders and key promotions on 1 September 2014. The Board of Directors would like to extend its congratulations to all promoted staff members and wish them continued success in the years ahead.
Seated from left: Rida Sobana, Senior Associate Director | Seah Chee Huang, Director | David Liauw, Senior Associate Director Standing from left: Richard Wood, Director (DP Healthcare) | Tan Chee Yong, Director (China) | Tan Chee Kiang, Senior Associate Director Chan Hui Min, Senior Associate Director | Tania Wee, Director (DP Healthcare) | Foo Chai Yee, Director (Myanmar) Lisa Hui, Director (DP Consultants) | David McLeod, Director (DP Healthcare)
DP ARCHITECTS Director Seah Chee Huang
Senior Associate Director Chan Hui Min David Liauw Rida Sobana Tan Chee Kiang
Associate Director Chua Zi Jun Gani Wijoyo Lee Wai Fong Paul Appasamy Paul Byungdon Yoo
Associate Director, Contracts Elizabeth Lee Fong Siew Hui Liz Tan
Associate Director, Technical Angela Ng Chow Kok Pan Elsie Ong Karen Yeo Pinson Lim Yong Chin Hwei
Senior Associate
Andhy Susilo Arief Budi Ariyanto Arjun Rosha Asep Darmana Binh Wong Bowo Widi Carlo M Calleja Chong Sing Keat Christina Yogiaman Doddy Prastyono Ephraim Baluyot Gaelle Godfroid Hazem Elmeshad Ho Siong Teck Jennifer Fiona Joanner Catiis John Alejandro Laurence Yap Liao Xiji Low Chin Win Mochamad Herman Irfany Peach Phiengphis Phong Chong Teng Tristan Padong Wellington Kuswanto Yap Woon Hwee (Interior Design)
Associate, Contracts Chong Pei Shan Wayne Goh
Allan Wang Anthony Ting Charmaine Wong Chin Li Nah Firman Saleh Iman Ashar Kesmar Silalahi Krisnamurti Lumenta Lau Su Leen Michael Tan Noel Evardone Sze Hock Thong Tan Boon Ken Terrence Chua Trecia Lim Wang Ying Woon Chung Yen Yvonne Yeo Zhai Jian Gang
Associate, Technical
Senior Associate, Contracts
General Manager
Leong Peck Kay Marisa Pua Shirley Tan
Senior Associate, Technical Oliver Venegas Richard Galang Teoh Siew Hong Wong Hao Jan
Associate Aileen Lim Alvin Arre Alvin Liau Amirullah Hartono
Alvin Foo Chin Mee Leng Hong Siew Foong Joey Chua Muthukumar Markandan Ryan Tilao Wong Shan Shan
DP ARCHITECTS CHINA Director Tan Chee Yong
Senior Associate Luo Hao
Associate Tong Wen Wen Wendy Law
DP ARCHITECTS INDIA Associate Director Charles Chandra Putera Smruti Divker
Senior Associate Sandeep Deshmukh
Associate Eram Ansari Roopa Gangadhar Vivek Sinnarkar
Senior Manager, Finance & Admin
DP ENGINEERS
Sathi Nair
Norvin Ocampo
Manager, Human Resources & Admin
Associate
DP GREEN
Anita Raju
Associate
DP ARCHITECTS MALAYSIA
DP HEALTHCARE
Associate Director Nafisah Nasid Nartano Lim Steven Liew
Senior Associate, Technical Hwang Lek Siong
Zaldy Andaya
Director David McLeod Richard Wood Tania Wee
Senior Associate Director Loh Hai Yew Paulino Evangelista
Associate Ellina Rahman Lee Kar Fung Zain Nur Naim
Associate Director
Manager, Office Admin
Associate
Suziana Mohamed
Alfred Chuah
DP ARCHITECTS MYANMAR
Associate, Technical
Christopher Hardaker Quek Fion Nah
Jojit Reyes
Director Foo Chai Yee
Associate Director
DP INFRASTRUCTURE Associate
Yong Foong Mei
Ricard Gonzalvo Todor Enchev
DP ARCHITECTS U.A.E.
Associate, Technical Susan Co
Associate Director, Contracts Satish Rajan
DP CONSULTANTS Director Lisa Hui
DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Senior Associate Tang Chin Hock
Associate
Leonard Cheok
Dino van Deijzen Shruti Pilare
Senior Associate, Technical
CORPORATE SERVICES
Associate Director, Contracts
Selvarajan Pandian
DP DESIGN
Chief Financial Officer Siau Kai Bing
Associate Director
Director, Human Resources
John Tan
Raymond Chan
Senior Associate
Deputy Director, Human Resources
Ada Sim Christine Pascual Peeradet Kangsadalkun
Associate Florian Lei Cunanan Leong Wei Lin Marlon Sua Sherry Rivenburgh
Linda Choo
Deputy Director, Information & Communications Technology Jackson Keung
Assistant Manager, Human Resources Sharon Chai
Vo l u m e 5 N u m b e r 3 , 2 0 1 4 , S i n g a p o re
CONTENTS The latest happenings in DP
Letter from the Guest Editor
DP titleholder appointments A+U Ti Lian Seng issue
Dear Readers, Alongside large-scale works like The Dubai Mall and Resorts World Sentosa, I am very glad that another DP project, Singapore Sports Hub, has firmly established our leading position in the realm of mega developments. It is a very special feat for DP, a homegrown firm, to design such an important national icon. The team and I thoroughly enjoyed and treasure the experience of working on this once-in-a-lifetime project. However, it is not just the idealistic association and patriotism that matters; Sports Hub is unique. There has never been a sporting facility of this nature, with this complexity and of this magnitude. It is not just a National Stadium, it is a large-scale integrated sports, lifestyle and entertainment community hub for everyone. The journey in designing such a project was both experimental and fascinating as there were simply no prior references. DP has grown closely in tandem with the nation-building of Singapore. As the country primes for greater achievements in its next half-century, DP correspondingly is preparing for the same. The successful completion of Sports Hub has further strengthened the position of DP and other local architecture practices to design complex, mega, world-class structures internationally.
Short takes on new & notable projects
01 Bedok Town Hub 02 Opera Grand 03 Temasek Club 04 Sofitel So Singapore 05 Melaka Gateway 06 The Cape 07 Claymore Link 08 Waterfront Gold 09 Project Bus Stop
Featured projects
Singapore Sports Hub: Bridging Sports and Community An Inclusive and Active Destination
Featured projects
This issue of Design in Print presents a glimpse of the eight-year journey in the making of Sports Hub – how the master plan was conceived, the design of the facilities and the innovative use of BIM. I hope you will enjoy reading it.
The BIM Journey
Architecture Issues
Hub Ecology
Teoh Hai Pin Director, DP Architects
Awards & events
DP personalities
Writing
Editorial
DPA co-leads Pre-Project Innovation Consortium DPA is Top Ten Firm Guest lecture on CDL Green Gallery The Whiteboard Dialogues BCA awards 2014 Sports Hub media tour
Graphics
Interview with Seah Chee Huang & Phillip Wang
Celebration of past projects
Kallang Sea Sports Centre Chan Hui Min Nartano Lim Toh Bee Ping
Leanne Lim Leong Wei Lin Tong Tong
DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM
Loh Yew Cheng Lee Hui Yee Fu Tingting
Additional contributors: Jackie Poh, Jazelle Ang, Lek Noonchoo, Seah Chee Huang and Wong Hao Jan
Cover image: Singapore Sports Hub
| The latest happenings in DP
A+U dedicates issue to
Works of Ti Lian Seng The design works of DP Architects director Mr Ti Lian Seng is the focus of the September issue of A+U, an internationally acclaimed Japanese architecture magazine. A design leader at DPA, Mr Ti has been involved in many of the firm’s significant projects around the world, including The Dubai Mall and the revitalisation of several malls on Singapore’s renowned Orchard Road district which transformed the retail landscape. Mr Ti’s passion and commitment to design excellence are revealed in his designs that successfully respond to the urban context and strike a balance between creativity and functionality. Through interviews, essays, photos, diagrams and drawings, the issue offers a glimpse of his works and the legacy he has built.
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Short takes on new & notable projects
01 Bedok Town Hub
02 Opera Grand
Singapore
recreational & civic
United Arab Emirates
Opera Grand is a prime residential tower in The Opera District, a vibrant cultural hub situated at the heart of Downtown Dubai. It is in close proximity to famous landmarks such as Burj Khalifa and The residential Dubai Mall. The 67-storey tower adopts a sleek, slender form that reflects timeless elegance. It is wrapped in a highperformance curtain wall that reduces heat gain while maintaining visual transparency, culminating in a series of modest setbacks. Protruding glass balconies puncture the entire length of the façade and create an overall textured look. Units offer generous living spaces and sweeping views of Downtown Dubai and the city’s skyline, complemented by communal amenities such as a rooftop pool and health club terrace.
In the revitalisation of Bedok Town Centre, the proposed design for this community hub presents a refreshing typology that synergises multiple programmes and facilities under one roof, creating an inclusive place where residents can interact and bond. With a vastly different nature and sense of scale, the town hub aims to retain the essence of the old, yet differentiate itself as a distinctive new destination that further enhances key qualities and spirit of this heartland site. A simple, unique gesture of folding the landscape resulted in a series of layered greenery, transforming an otherwise two-dimensional park to a three-dimensional vertical park and allowing the design to achieve a 4.2 green replacement ratio. DP 01
Short takes on new & notable projects
recreational
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04 Sofitel So Singapore Singapore
hotel
Located at the junction of Boon Tat Street and Robinson Road, the project involves the restoration of a four-storey conservation building and the erection of a new five-storey extension. A historical air well, reinterpreted as a skylight between the two buildings, allows natural light to permeate the interior. Guestrooms are planned with a continuous corridor that connects the old and new structures. The original grey Shanghai plaster finish that was hidden beneath layers of paint was exposed and treated to strengthen the façade. The new extension is expressed as a clean glass box, forming a distinctive contrast with the original building while staying connected to its urban contemporary setting.
03
Temasek Club Singapore
master planning
The new clubhouse for Temasek Club is located at a green site abutting the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Situated amid an idyllic setting, the new building intends to be a sanctuary where club members can relax, have fun and engage with nature. The simple, unostentatious design responds well to the club’s natural surroundings. A colonial-era, military barrack-style design bestows a sense of formality on the building, while keeping with the intention to provide a recreational retreat. The clubhouse will accommodate a host of sports, family, entertainment and business facilities, including a 38-lane bowling alley. Designed to be energy-efficient, the clubhouse is targeted to achieve Green Mark Platinum rating.
05 Melaka Gateway Malaysia
Located along the coast, the Melaka Gateway master plan is made up of 12 distinctive precincts that include entertainment, leisure, retail, hospitality and residential facilities, highlighting the heritage wealth as well as the commerce and trade nature of Melaka. The master plan proposes to capture visitors’ imagination with spectacular features and create a strong sense of place for the local community. With ‘The Past Presents the Future’ as the overarching design intent, the historical city will embark on an evolutionary journey to reposition its maritime significance for trade and commerce, transforming the coastal state into a progressive international tourism destination.
residential
07
Claymore Link Singapore
retail
The design strategy for the addition and alteration works to Orchard Hotel’s retail podium embraces site constraints, revamping the podium into a vibrant, family-friendly mall. The overhaul of the façade includes a grand entrance with a feature ceiling that stretches over the entire Claymore Road frontage and alfresco spaces for the street-fronting cafes and restaurants. Sculptured boxes made of fritted glass showcase dining and retail displays and glow with LED lights at night. The previous street-fronting commercial spaces on the third storey were displaced to lower floors, and are replaced by a landscaped communal deck flanked by shops and manicured plantings.
06 The Cape Singapore
Nestled along Amber Road in Singapore’s East Coast, the luxury condominium is expressed as two key 13 and 16-storey towers juxtaposed vertically in a dynamic fashion to reveal key communal programmes that respond to its surrounding context. The towers are staggered to create a green enclave at the rooftop of one of the towers with a view that opens out to the sea. One tower is also prominently elevated to create a triple-volume landscape terrace. An intricate lattice of louvred screens that wrap the east and west-facing façades offer privacy while reducing heat gain; at the same time, creating an animated façade that changes throughout the day. Vertical bands of glazing accentuate the towers’ sleekness and lustre, providing an alluring contrast with these screens. In a bold yet delightful statement, a series of vertical green walls wrap the key vertical cores of the towers, along with several creatively crafted feature walls at the entry, lobbies and sky terraces.
09 Project Bus Stop Singapore
This concept shelter in Jurong East Central is a test-bed for the reinvention of bus stops as meaningful social nodes. Designed as a kit of parts, the bus stop integrates slices of distinctive environments such as a garden, library, gallery, bike park, playground, kiosk, energy farm; and offers civic services such as media boards, WiFi connectivity, phone charging, wayfinding and more. The array of social and environmental plug-ins at the bus stop provides the community with diverse possibilities and opportunities for appropriation, to purposefully reshape the bus stops in their own neighbourhoods, and to respond to each of their surrounding contexts, unique settings and evolving needs.
residential
08
Waterfront Gold Singapore
This suburban condominium located along Bedok Reservoir Road is the third in the Waterfront Collection designed by DP Architects. The site planning maximises the number of units facing the reservoir by adopting small, narrow units as the module. At the same time, it also maximises the units facing inwards towards the pool by having L-shaped blocks at the rear. The development is also one of the first to adopt the scissorstaircase shelter concept. A sky park in the form of a 90m-long roof terrace sets it apart from its predecessors. Accessible via a glass observation lift, the sky park allows residents to engage in recreational activities while soaking in the panoramic views of the reservoir. community
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Featured projects
SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB
A HUB ECOSYSTEM THAT BRIDGES SPORTS AND COMMUNITY By Tong Tong Lower Peirce Reservoir
Hougang
Upper Peirce Reservoir
Serangoon
Bishan
Defu Industrial Estate
MacRitchie Reservoir
Toa Payoh
Bukit Timah
Novena
Kallang Park Connector
Geylang Kallang
Botanical Gardens
SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB
Orchard Queenstown
Mountbatten
City
Kent Ridge Park
Bukit Merah
Outram
Mt Faber Park
The Singapore Sports Hub master plan exemplifies how a unique centralised mixeduse ecosystem can be successfully developed, integrating sports, leisure, entertainment and lifestyle destinations. It is a unique take on sports legacy, with a huge emphasis on the everyday and creating a sense of place. The master plan is deeply informed by the specifics of Singapore’s context, climate and culture. A key project in the Singapore’s urban redevelopment and sports facilities master plan, the Sports Hub closely stitches together the sporting facilities, various public spaces and the adjacent neighbourhood, generating active public life in this ecosystem. It is nestled between the Kallang-Geylang district in the East, Tanjong Rhu area in the South, as well as the Kallang Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station and future Kallang commercial region towards its north.
Gardens by the Bay Marina City Park
Park Connector Network Waterway Network Green Network
The Sports Hub is not just a key part of the city, but an integral part of the surrounding community and residential fabric. It also links to local pedestrian and cycle networks and to Singapore’s island-wide park connectors, making it a destination for active Singaporeans, a focal point that links East Coast Park, MacRitchie Reservoir and the Marina Bay loop. The Sports Hub creates a series of facilities and public spaces, providing amenities for everyday public participation and activating the space throughout the day and night. Above: The Sports Hub is integrated with the city’s network pf park connectors and riverways. Right: The Sports Hub stitches together sporting facilities, various public spaces and the adjacent neighbourhood.
YEAR: 2014
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SITE AREA: 35 HA
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SINGAPORE
A KEY PRINCIPLE WAS TO DEVELOP A DYNAMIC SPORTSDRIVEN HUB ECOSYSTEM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE PURPOSEFUL EVEN WITHOUT MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS
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SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB
LONDON OLYMPIC PARK
OITA SPORTS PARK
35 hectares
226 hectares
250 hectares
1 Football Field
1
Football Field
5
Football Fields
1 8-lane Running Track
1
8-lane Running Track
1
8-lane Running Track
6 Multipurpose Courts
1
Velodrome
1
Baseball Field
1 Dance Studio
1
Multipurpose Centre
1
Throwing Field
1
Football Field
BEIJING OLYMPIC PARK 315 hectares
10
Tennis Courts
11
Tennis Courts
1
8-lane Running Track
4 Fencing Pistes
2
Boxing Arenas
1
Gateball Field
1
Multipurpose Stadium
2 Sports Practice Room
1
Competition Pool
2
Multipurpose Fields
2 Boxing Arenas
1
Diving Pool
1
Diving Pool
2
Competition Pools
1 Competition Pool
1
Water-Polo Pool
1
Waterpolo Pool
1
Water-Polo Pool
1 Training Pool
1
400m BMX Track
1
400m BMX track
1
Diving Pool
1 Diving Pool
2
Hockey Pitches
2
Hockey Pitches
2
Hockey Pitches
1 Elite Athlete’s Gymnasium
16
Tennis Courts
INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING Located on a 35ha waterfront site, the Sports Hub occupies a strategic position adjacent to the heart of Singapore, an unusual location for a sports infrastructure. To justify the use of the prized land, one of the key principles was to develop a dynamic sports-driven hub ecosystem that will continue to be purposeful even without major sporting events. The old Kallang stadium was largely unused except for an average of five events a year. The Sports Hub aims to fuse the experience of a world-class sports centre with everyday participation and to celebrate openness and public engagement.
Top: The master plan successfully integrates
A major challenge is the compact site. The design team had to conceive the best way to fit the diverse programmes, comparable to the range in an Olympic park, into the tight site, but also to provide recreational opportunities for a vibrant environment on non-event days. To achieve that vision, all venues and facilities are designed to be flexible for major games and community-scale events.
the diverse programmes, comparable to the range of an Olympic park, into the compact 35ha site. Left: The key components are organised circumferentially around the new stadium to engage with the waterfront, Singapore Indoor Stadium and the MRT station.
The hub is designed to be people-centric, shaped by careful arrangement of different elements and striking a balance between the identity of a national icon and viability of a public-private partnership. The plan comprises the National Stadium as the nucleus, complemented by two other competitive sports venues – the OCBC Aquatic Centre and a multi-purpose sports hall, the OCBC Arena. With the stadium as the new centre, the components are organised circumferentially to engage key
elements such as the community and recreational facilities, the waterfront, Singapore Indoor Stadium and the MRT station.
Left: The social plinth connects all the facilities within the hub and provides a human-scale setting to
In addition, the Sports Hub incorporates 41,000sqm of retail space, an integrated leisure waterpark, rock-climbing walls, office space for Sport Singapore and National Sports Association, the Sports Hub Library, the Singapore Sports Museum and a diverse range of community sports facilities such as hard courts, a skate park, jogging tracks and beach volleyball court. These different programmes closely connect with the surrounding landscape, activating the urban space. The close integration of the various components frees up valuable land for public outdoor spaces – over 12 hectares of the 35ha site – and allows the design team to create a key entrance outdoor plaza at each end of the Stadium MRT station – OCBC Square and Arena Park (under construction) – to provide a great sense of arrival to the hub. Starting here, visitors are able to visit other facilities under shelter through an extensive network of canopies. NATIONAL STADIUM Within the overall master plan for Sports Hub, the design comprises buildings which address two different scales. From a city scale, the centrepiece of the site is the new National Stadium, a monumental dome structure with a movable roof and retractable seating that can be adapted to host a variety of events. The movable roof ensures the spectator experience is comfortable in all weathers. The roof opens towards the waterfront and the city skyline, providing a spectacular view to the city as a backdrop for events. The rest of the site’s functions are arranged around the National Stadium.
the city-scaled dome. Below: The stadium roof opens towards the city skyline, providing a spectacular view as a backdrop for events.
Social plinth
THE ACTIVE SOCIAL PLINTH IS A UNIFIER OF THE SITE-WIDE FACILITIES, PROVIDING SHELTER AND HUMANISED CONNECTIVITY THE SOCIAL PLINTH The master plan devises a low-rise social plinth to integrate various functions into three connected levels and to act as a social connector space. This 2km-long human-scale structure which the dome sits on, is designed to harmonise with the scale of the surrounding communities, creating an intimate atmosphere from up-close.
The contiguous, active social plinth is a unifier of the site-wide facilities, providing shelter and humanised connectivity throughout the site. The façade of the social plinth features a vertically louvred screen that creates a visually striking surface that changes depending on lighting conditions and viewing position. The façade treatment dematerialises the block, mitigating the scale of the setting designed to elevate the awe-inspiring stadium dome.
Photo courtesy of Arup
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SPORTS PROMENADE PROJECT CREDITS Master Plan DP Architects + Arup + AECOM Architecture | Sports Venues Arup Associates + DP Architects Architecture | Office, retail, leisure DP Architects Engineering Arup Landscape AECOM Main contractor Dragages Singapore DP Architects Team Members: Back row (left to right): Wong Jet Wai,
Eden Alegato,
Hasanah Bte Ahmad Noor,
Nur Alina Bte
Tanya Yeo,
Mohamed Ali,
Joann Wong,
Nirosha Abeywickrama,
Ephraim Baluyot,
Chan Farn Sheng &
Mayeth O Corpuz,
Joyce Law.
Phillip Wang, Jazelle Ang,
Front row:
Ng Ting Yu,
Albert Maniangap,
Teoh Hai Pin,
Amirullah Hartono,
Cai Wan Yan,
Ryan Canlas,
Seah Chee Huang,
Eric Yau,
Jennifer Gutierrez Nacional,
Wong Hao Jan &
Gwee Tong Mui,
Arthur Ungson.
Exemplifying the integration of sports and leisure is an unconventional circulation spine called the Sports Promenade which wraps around the stadium. It is the transitional space between the interior and exterior, allowing visitors easy access to all means of transportation while providing a rain and sunprotected space. Strategically, this 900m elevated and sheltered connector links the National Stadium to various key sports venues, lifestyle destinations, public rooftop
spaces and green spaces within the hub. It is a thoughtful response to Singapore’s tropical climate, and also offers breathtaking views towards the city and the waterfront. On event days, the Sports Promenade becomes the gathering space for before and after the game. On non-event days, it serves as an exercise area with a jogging track and fitness centres which are accessible all year round. It creates a new kind of urban and public space, and allows natural ventilation with maximum porosity and movement across the site.
Above: Beneath the dome of the stadium sits the lowrise active plinth. Extensive landscaping creates a tropical setting with a high-quality waterfront environment. Left: Sketch showing the holistic landscaping approach.
THE DESIGN TEAM HAS CREATED AN ICONIC DESTINATION THAT IS MORE THAN JUST A STATIC SET-PIECE, BUT ONE THAT ACTIVELY ENGAGES WITH THE COUNTRY DESIGNED FOR LEGACY Singapore Sports Hub is a key public destination in the nation’s sports facilities master plan. A contemporary iconic architectural expression for Singapore, the Sports Hub fulfills different sports, leisure and social functions. The urban design plan provides a framework for the
long-term – both for sporting events and daily use, and includes public transit stations that connect the hub to the larger network. It also successfully identifies a mixed-use environment so that it becomes a dynamic component of the Singapore city centre.
Singapore Sports Hub addresses the changing definition and role of sports in our society. It provides world-class facilities for sporting events, while at the same time encouraging interaction and engagement that transcend a purely spectator activity. The suite of spaces and functions creates a lively venue that endorses a multiplicity of activities year-round. In envisioning the role of a national sports hub to be more than just a single venue, the design team has created an iconic destination that is more than just a static set-piece, but one that actively engages with the country. DP 09
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3 4 2 5
1 5
10
9
7 17
8
11
6
12
15
16
14 13 18
AN INCLUSIVE AND ACTIVE DESTINATION INTEGRATED DYNAMIC PROGRAMMES FOR ALL
The Sports Hub is designed to be a symbol of sporting excellence and an active centre for Singaporeans. It embodies national aspirations and civic pride through the monumental dome of the National Stadium, and connects with the way Singaporeans live and encourages everyday participation through a dynamic range of programmes and facilities integrated throughout the site.
Above: 1. National Stadium 2. OCBC Aquatic Centre
10. Splash-n-Surf & Kallang Wave Mall (North)
3. Skate Park & multi-storey car park
11. Stadium Riverside Walk
4. Basketball Courts & multi-storey car park
13. Water Sports Centre
12. Beach Volleyball
5. OCBC Arena
14. Singapore Sports Museum & Visitor Centre
6. Arena Park
15. OCBC Square
7. Offices
16. Sports Hub Library
8. Kallang Wave Mall (South)
17. Stadium MRT Station
9. Stadium Roar
18. Singapore Indoor Stadium
SPORTS VENUES NATIONAL STADIUM
SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB EMBODIES NATIONAL ASPIRATIONS AND CIVIC PRIDE, AND CONNECTS WITH THE WAY SINGAPOREANS LIVE THROUGH A DYNAMIC RANGE OF SITE-WIDE PROGRAMMES
The National Stadium is the spectacle of the Sports Hub and the new icon for the city-state. The distinctive dome-shaped stadium anchors the extensive facilities and public spaces into a single and efficient whole. The dome, with a span measuring 310m wide, is the largest free-span structure in the world.
The dome form serves as a canopy to shield the venue from the sun and rain, ensuring that the spectator experience is comfortable in all weather. The ETFE-lids of the roof and bowl-cooling system – the 55,000 seats are individually cooled with renewable energy – provide comfort in the tropical climate and ensures minimal use of natural resources.
An engineering marvel, the state-of-the-art arena is air-cooled, features an ultra-lightweight retractable roof and designed to accommodate multiple seating configurations to host an array of events. It is the first stadium in the world customdesigned to host athletics, football, rugby and cricket in one venue, converting from one mode to another within 48 hours.
The seating bowl and roof open towards the city skyline and the waterfront, allowing the spectators a great view towards the city. From across the waters, the majestic dome of the National Stadium and the temple-like sloped roof of the Singapore Indoor Stadium form a distinctive silhouette and a unique identity for the Sports Hub.
Right: Sketch showing the dome sitting on a low-rise plinth. The dome structure serves as a protective canopy for the stadium and the Sports Promenade. Below: The National Stadium’s retractable roof and bowlcooling system ensure efficient energy use.
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OCBC AQUATIC CENTRE To provide flexibility in the programme distribution, OCBC Aquatic Centre comprises three formal pools: an eightlane training pool, a competition pool, a diving pool and platform. The design allows scalability – the seating capacity of 3,000 can be expanded to 6,000 with addition of temporary seating. The energy-efficient aquatic centre allows natural light into the space and utilises natural ventilation, providing direct connectivity with the outside. A courtyard between the training and competition pools connects to the Sports Promenade and provides an open space for the public to enjoy.
Right: OCBC Aquatic Centre allows natural light into the space.
OCBC ARENA Designed with flexibility in mind, OCBC Arena consists of six halls over two levels, providing a scalable space for multiple concurrent indoor sports events. Two multi-purpose volumes embrace the central public atrium, allowing simultaneous usage of the six sports halls. OCBC Arena can accommodate 3,000 people and an array of indoor sports including badminton, fencing, taekwondo, basketball, netball, volleyball, rhythmic gymnastics training and table tennis. In addition, the venue can be used for MICE and various indoor events. The halls have the option between air-conditioning for competition or a low-energy, natural ventilation system for everyday use. Like the aquatic centre, the arena’s form and massing complements the geometry and materiality of the stadium dome. The architecture and engineering design of the National Stadium, OCBC Aquatic Centre and OCBC Arena has been led by Arup.
Left: OCBC Arena provides scalable space for indoor events.
THE WATER SPORTS CENTRE IS A KEY DESTINATION NODE ALONG THE WATERFRONT, DESIGNED AS A DISTINCTIVE LANDFORM THAT ENGAGES THE WATERFRONT AND BLENDS WITH THE LANDSCAPE WATER SPORTS CENTRE The Water Sports Centre is one of the first purpose-built venues in the region that integrates competitive and community use of water sports facilities, boats and activities. It is a key destination node along the waterfront, designed as a distinctive landform building that dramatically engages the waterfront and blends with the surrounding landscape and green berms. Below: The two key activity decks of the Water Sports Centre dramatically engage the waterfront.
There are two key activity decks: the lower deck consists of a boat storage that extends to a key boat-staging and launching deck, connecting to a 150m pontoon and launch ramp for dragon
boats and safety boats; the upper level is a viewing deck with amphitheatre-like seating for daily use and can be converted to spectator facility on race days. The different types of water sports boats include canoe, kayak, dragon boat, rowing boat and safety boat. A 500m regatta course in the Kallang Basin is designated for competition and training. A tiered judging tower monitors the activities on the adjacent waters. Other facilities within Water Sports Centre include a visitor centre, waterfront restaurant, public and athlete changing rooms, training rooms, workshop and first-aid room.
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Photo courtesy of AECOM
EVERYDAY CIVIC SPACES SPORTS PROMENADE The Sports Promenade is a large, fully-sheltered outdoor civic space that circles the stadium. This 900sqm sports and recreational space physically links the public to the National Stadium, and to key surrounding programmes and green roofs, offering stunning views to the city and the waterfront. The Sports Promenade responds clearly and efficiently to Singapore’s tropical climate. It not only
STADIUM ROAR The main entrance of the National Stadium, this outdoor plaza forms a spectacular civic space for ceremonial arrival. It is a 5,000sqm open space which is aligned with the stadium roof opening and the axis towards the city’s skyline, providing spectacular views of the city. Stadium Roar, like OCBC Square, is one of many open spaces for the community to enjoy and also performs as a crowd holding area to manage pedestrian movement during event days.
provides shelter from rain and sun, but also acts as a central connector to all major facilities within the Sports Hub. On event days, it serves an all-weather
holding space for spectators; on non-event days, it is a vibrant recreation space for everyday use, with jogging path and fitness corners.
THE COLLECTION OF PUBLIC SPACES FOR THE COMMUNITY’S ENJOYMENT ALSO PERFORMS AS CROWD HOLDING AREAS DURING EVENT DAYS
STADIUM RIVERSIDE WALK Stadium Riverside Walk is a 250m unobstructed waterfront setting that links with OCBC Square, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Water Sports Centre and Stadium Roar. This picturesque promenade by the Kallang Basin serves as a playground for waterfront activities such as beach volleyball and picnic.
Facing page: The Sports Promenade is a key civic space that wraps around the stadium. Right: Stadium Riverside Walk provides an outdoor social and activity space.
OCBC SQUARE
Above: OCBC Square is one of the main entrances to the Sports Hub. Left: The grand steps leading to Stadium Roar outdoor plaza provides a
OCBC Square links to Stadium MRT station and is one of the main entrances to the Sports Hub and the waterfront promenade. This 16m-high sheltered space provides a sense of arrival with its spatial quality and forms a focal point and multi-purpose event plaza. From here, through an extensive network of canopies, visitors are led to other facilities under shelter. The space is flanked by the retail mall, Sports Hub Library and Singapore Sports Museum and has the capacity to hold 10,000 people.
setting for ceremonial arrival to the stadium.
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Featured projects
RECREATIONAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES SPLASH-N-SURF Part of the hub’s rooftop network of community sports and facilities, the water park is conceived as a fun and attractive destination. The venue provides various waterbased recreational activities and attractions, and is expected to be a popular stop for families and the general public.
ROOFTOP SPORTS AND LEISURE FACILITIES ARE CONNECTED WITH THE PURPOSEFULLY DESIGNED SPORTS PROMENADE TO CREATE VIBRANCY AND FULFIL THE SPORTS HUB’S AMBITION TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION Above: Splash-n-Surf water park. Right (clockwise): Playground, basketball courts and skate park.
COMMUNITY SPORTS FACILITIES Integrated within the network of the sports hub is a series of active rooftops that provide the setting for a diverse range of community sport facilities including hard courts, skate park, fitness corner, jogging track, lawn bowl pitch and children’s playground. These rooftop facilities are connected with the purposefully designed Sports Promenade to create vibrancy and fulfil the Sports Hub’s ambition to encourage participation.
Photo courtesy of AECOM
KALLANG WAVE MALL Kallang Wave Mall is a 41,000sqm commercial retail space integrated with sport, lifestyle and entertainment. The mall is a social space to shop, dine and play. Besides diverse retail offerings, it provides facilities for leisure activities including Singapore’s tallest indoor rock-climbing wall and a water park on its roof. Easily accessible by public transport and connecting pathways, the mall contributes to the overall vibrancy and sustenance of Sports Hub as a memorable leisure lifestyle hub for the community.
Above: The Kallang Wave Mall features Singapore’s tallest indoor rock-climbing wall. Right: Sports Hub Library, an information resource centre for sports enthusiasts.
SPORTS HUB LIBRARY & SINGAPORE SPORTS MUSEUM The Sports Hub Library is an information centre for sports professionals and enthusiasts, providing print, multimedia and online resources on sports, health and fitness. The library also hosts a variety of educational and interactive programmes. The Singapore Sports Museum is dedicated to the history and cultural significance of sport. It houses permanent exhibits that document the history of sports in Singapore as well as a collaborative space with Sport Singapore to showcase temporary exhibitions. The museum will feature education and engagement programmes to promote sports knowledge and learning. DP 17
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Design solutions
THE BIM JOURNEY A COLLABORATIVE DELIVERY FOR SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB By Wong Hao Jan
Top: 3D model of the canopy at OCBC Square.
The construction of Singapore Sports Hub had moved full-steam ahead when DP Architects, in mid-2011, made the decision to actively implement BIM (Building Information Modelling). The original goal was to capitalise on the visualisation and coordination benefits for this complex project. That goal quickly updated to include development of both design and shop drawings as coordinated documentation accommodated changes more easily.
the weekly deliverables while the other half built the Revit models. The design for OCBC Aquatic Centre and OCBC Arena were led by Arup Associates and the Revit models were handed over to DPA for further development. The whole process of converting all base drawings of plans, sections and elevations to the Revit platform took three months.
The largest sporting infrastructure development in Singapore, comprising nine primary components – National Stadium, OCBC Aquatic Centre, the OCBC Arena, Water Sports Centre, the information and resource centre, retail mall, office, car park and energy centre – the project had demanding delivery timeline. Sixteen BIM users from DPA were grouped into teams of one to three members, with each team assigned to one component. DPA undertook eight of the nine components and assisted Arup on National Stadium.
The immediate benefits of using this new platform were evident in the weekly construction coordination meetings. Through sharing the BIM models with the consultants, the team was able to identify issues and resolve coordination problems faster than discussions over 2D documentation.
The first task was to generate the models from the existing 2D drawings. Half the team took on
HOW BIM HELPED
Building the BIM models greatly supported the visualisation of the interfaces between the components of this large, inter-connected development. Ultimately, with the sharing of the architectural, structural and mechanical native models from the BIM teams, the client and main builder Dragages was able to resolve conflicts
and initiate design changes from the coordination of the master model. With better coordinated drawings and information, more time can be spent on improving design than verifying drawings and clarifying discrepancies. Together with an external complex geometry consultant, Stylianos Dritsas, the team generated the concept façade model using RhinoGrasshopper. Once the design criteria were established, the Revit model was generated for further design development. This allowed the modularisation of a complex design into three permutable façade panels. The precise geometry of the façade for the Water Sports Centre’s elliptical sloping tower was also accomplished in Revit. Part of the appeal of a BIM model is the multitude of information contained within each object of the model. When more information can be processed in a single system, it makes data management easier. This allows for the generation of new and different formats that would have taken a lot more time and effort on a conventional CAD platform.
A HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE PROJECT LIKE SPORTS HUB, WITH MANY DESIGN PARTNERS AND CONSULTANTS, VALIDATES THE ADVANTAGES OF BIM We live in a 3D world. There is no question of the benefits of using BIM models to supplement traditional consultations. The authorities are more receptive to alternative proposals when they are presented in 3D views that convey the design effectively.
GROWING PAINS The BIM journey was not without pain as the learning curve for large-scale, complex projects such as this is often steep. Part of the struggle during the initial three months was organising the manpower to manage the production of two concurrent platforms before making the switch. Although contractual obligations were 2D printed copies, Dragages understood the benefit of drawings produced from a BIM model. The final switch occurred with the support of Dragages to postpone deliverables, allowing the team to complete the transition.
BIM as a key technology is capable of impactful changes to the construction industry. While it will take time to convert existing processes, a highly collaborative project such as Singapore Sports Hub, with many design partners and consultants, validates the advantages of BIM. The benefits of the BIM process and tools were experienced by every team member. Once set up, the regeneration of information and ability to process data in the form of documentation, schedules and models allowed the team to coordinate efforts with Dragages and Arup more efficiently. While there are drawbacks, such as cost of IT infrastructure, what remains true is the enhanced collaboration and improved project delivery.
Roof steelwork model
Architectural model
Structural model
Above: Revit models of OCBC Aquatic Centre. Sharing of models between Arup, Dragages and DPA saved considerable time in developing schemes that were performance-efficient and also robust in their compliance. Right: Revit model of Singapore Sports Hub.
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Architecture issues
HUB ECOLOGY CREATING AN ECOSYSTEM OF CONNECTIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY By Leong Wei Lin
Hub ecology is fundamentally about community interaction and community integration within the environment. This ecological framework that focuses on connectivity, accessibility and inclusivity will spread from the national level, to regional and town levels, to the smaller neighbourhood precinct level. The breadth and depth of the framework seeks to ensure that all collective needs of our population are catered for, and for social engagement and enrichment to be optimised.
(SFMP), which is a key initiative by Sport Singapore, under Vision 2030, to provide the community with greater access to a wider range of sports facilities and to enable Singaporeans to live better through sports while building community bonds. It is also aligned with Master Plan 2014, which is to build townships for all ages that are green, healthy, connected, accessible, strong in community interaction and spirit, and to bring quality jobs closer to home.
The Singapore Sports Hub development is a linchpin of the Sports Facilities Master Plan
In the SFMP, the Sports Hub anchors the sports infrastructure on a national level, while there are
Right: Artist impression of Tampines Town Hub. The 120,000sqm development is expected to open in phases from 2016.
plans to create other hubs on the regional and township levels, so as to garner a critical mass to support sports programmes and events at the regional scale as well as to reach out to residents at a heartland scale. Currently, many sporting and recreational spaces in our towns are standalone facilities which do not optimise their potential. Hence, by interweaving the libraries, sports facilities, community clubs and parks, and commercial activities – all important in ensuring a liveable, self-sufficient town – an integrated lifestyle hub can be
THE HUB ECOSYSTEM FOCUSES ON CONNECTIVITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSIVITY, AND SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT THE COLLECTIVE NEEDS OF OUR POPULATION ARE CATERED FOR, AND FOR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT AND ENRICHMENT TO BE OPTIMISED
Right: Conceptual sketch of Bedok Town Hub proposal showing the integration of
developed which will also relate to each town’s unique environment. The ecology of community space becomes more vibrant, and closes social distance through new interpretations and manifestations of common spaces. Beyond the integrated hubs, the branches of the framework reach into the heartlands and are deeply enmeshed within the fabric of the community, such that on a neighbourhood level, residents will enjoy greater accessibility to recreation spaces, and existing facilities such as school sports fields can be optimised for public use. The architecture of such spaces draws strong reference from the vision of an integrated community. Users will experience open and inviting groundscapes that bring people together, creating a balance of social, private and public realms. Just as Singapore Sports Hub will act as a catalyst for the emergence of sports in Singapore and will provide a stimulating
multiple programmes under
platform to elevate the Singapore sporting ecosystem on a regional and global scale, the integrated lifestyle hub ecological framework will herald exciting sustainable living environments in the near future.
one roof. Below: The hub-and-spoke network of proposed sites for future town hubs.
Woodlands Sembawang Punggol
Tampines Jurong East
Toa Payoh
Central Business District
Changi Airport
Bedok
Kallang
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Awards & events
DPA co-leads consortium To develop sustainable building solutions As part of the Pre-Project Innovation Consortium (PPIC) initiative to allow major building industry players to collaborate on integrative design solutions, DP Architects will co-lead a consortium with engineering consultancy Beca to explore lighting and cooling technologies for retail and healthcare use. The consortium leads will partner manufacturers of innovative building materials to develop solutions that are customised for Singapore’s tropical climate. The first of its kind in
the world, the PPIC initiative will allow sustainability to be incorporated at the early design stage, leading to cost-effective and high-performance green buildings. The resulting holistic blueprints can then be replicated in future building designs. The initiative was launched by the Economic Development Board of Singapore on 1 September 2014 at the Building Construction Authority’s annual International Green Building Conference.
Photo courtesy BCI Asia
DP Architects CEO Francis Lee (second from right) at the PPIC Initiative launch ceremony.
DPA is Top Ten Firm for ninth year running
DP Architects has been named one of the top ten architecture firms in Singapore for the ninth year running at the BCI Asia Top Ten Architect Awards. The award recognises the most commercially significant architecture firms in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The awards ceremony took place at Conrad Contennial Singapore on 6 June 2014.
DP Architects director Tong Bin Sin (second from right) receives the BCI Top Ten Architects Award.
DP Architects director speaks at
The Whiteboard Dialogues Photo courtesy of City Developments Limited
Guest lecture on
CDL Green Gallery DP Architects’ director Suneeth Changaroth and DP Sustainable Design’s director Lee Boon Woei were invited speakers at a guest lecture held at the National University of Singapore on 6 March 2014.
DP Architects’ director Vikas M Gore was a speaker at the opening session of The Whiteboard Dialogues held at the National Design Centre on 14 March 2014. The project director of the iconic Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Mr Gore shared his opinions on design with the audience, using a whiteboard for illustration.
The interactive session saw a spontaneous exchange between the speakers and audience that revolved around the question, what makes a design Singaporean? The event was conceptualised and organised by Shophouse & Co for DesignSingapore Council.
From left: Raddy Mahendran of DesignSingapore Council; Jackson Tan, creator of
Designers for the CDL Green Gallery, Mr Changaroth and Mr Lee provided insights on designing the gallery’s eco-friendly features, and shared the challenges and experience of working on Singapore’s first zero-energy green gallery. The project is an extension to the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum and showcases botanical and greening-related exhibits.
the SG50 brand identity; Winston Chai, originator of Singapore Souvenirs; Vikas M Gore, director of DP Architects; and Adib Jalal of Shophouse & Co. Photo courtesy of DesignSingapore Council
DPSD director
A champion of green design Mr Lee Boon Woei, director of DP Sustainable Design, has been recognised for his commitment to sustainable design in the BCA-SGBC Green Building Individual Awards 2014. Mr Lee was presented the Commendation Award at the BCA Awards Night held at Resorts World Sentosa on 22 May 2014. The award recognises professionals and practitioners from the built environment sector who have shown strong commitment and contribution in propelling a sustainable built environment in Singapore. Mr Lee was commended for advocating the adoption of computational simulation tools early in the building design process. As an engineer working in an architecture firm, he bridges the two disciplines and strives to ensure a seamless translation of passive design strengths to tangible energy savings in the building energy system. He was lauded for his effort to champion innovations that push building performance boundaries and pursue test-bedding opportunities. At the awards ceremony, DPA also received awards for projects that demonstrate construction excellence, universal design and sustainable design. Green Mark Platinum • CDL Green Gallery • SBF Center • Sengkang General and Community Hospitals • Singapore Institute of Technology @ SP Building & Sports Arena Green Mark GoldPlus • eCO • The Topiary • Resorts World Sentosa – Crockfords Tower • Resorts World Sentosa – Hotel Michael
Singapore Sports Hub
Media Tour
Construction Excellence Award • Double Bay Residences • Mi Casa • Residential College 4 and College of Alice & Peter Tan at NUS University Town (Merit) • Waterfront Key (Merit)
Held on 11 June 2014, the media tour for Singapore Sports Hub was jointly organised by the design team – comprising Arup, DP Architects and AECOM – with the support of SportsHub Pte Ltd and Dragages Singapore. Approximately 50 members of the local and regional media were given a sneak preview of the key facilities.
Universal Design Mark Award – Gold (Design) • Riverbank @ Fernvale
Mr Oon Jin Teik, COO of Sports Hub welcomed the media and Mr Ludwig Reichold, managing director of Dragages Singapore introduced the design team. DP Architects director Teoh Hai Pin began the tour proper by speaking on the design of the master plan, and also shared the philosophy behind key civic and community spaces such as OCBC Square, Stadium Riverside Walk and the Sports Promenade; Jonathan Rose from AECOM addressed the integration of landscaping for the site; while Clive Lewis from Arup Associates shared Top: A stop on the media insights on the architecture and tour, Sports Promenade is engineering design of OCBC one of the key public areas within Sports Hub. Aquatic Centre and the new National Stadium, the final stop Centre: DPA director of the tour.
DP Sustainable Design director Lee Boon Woei (right) receives a commendation award for his contributions to a sustainable built environment.
Teoh Hai Pin fielding
Photo courtesy Building & Construction
media queries at the end of the tour.
Authority
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DP personalities
An interview with
Chee Huang & Phillip Interview by Toh Bee Ping
Seah Chee Huang and Phillip Wang are key members of the Singapore Sports Hub team who, under the leadership of director Teoh Hai Pin, took the project from the start to the finishing line.
What was your role? What were some memorable moments on the job? SCH: The DP Architects team was led by HP (project director Teoh Hai Pin) who helped the client assemble the core design team. My main scope was to assist HP in the bid and competition entry, the design development through to the running of the job, helming especially on the design-related aspects. I recalled the excitement when the Invitation to Tender came in 2006. Sports Hub, a project of national significance, is in many ways an architect’s dream. The big question was, how do we create something truly unique and powerful to win the jury’s and Singaporeans’ hearts? That quest sparked off a rigorous research and design process. Due to the confidential nature of the project, a studio space in DPA’s headquarters was sealed off and converted into the main competition work space. About fifteen of us, three from Arup, spent ten intensive months inside that space, where key meetings, countless internal design charrettes and presentations to the consortium were held.
complexity of the project, often arising from the lack of relevant local precedents. One of the long-haul processes was the Design Advisory Panel (DAP) presentations to URA. We were told that Sports Hub holds the record for the highest number of DAPs for a single project, 13 in total. We had to clear the proposals in different stages, ranging from the master plan, to design of the building form and massing, identity and expression, to materiality and architecture detailing. The financial crisis in the later part of 2008 fatefully put the project on hold, but fortunately by end 2009, it was back in full swing. In 2010, we witnessed the emotional moment of the demolition of the old Kallang Stadium, but were thrilled to take a giant step forward from sketches to drawings, to cement and mortar on site.
“The big question was, how do we create something truly unique and powerful to win the jury’s and Singaporeans’ hearts? That quest sparked off a rigorous research and design process. ” - Chee Huang A memorable experience was the collaboration with Arup and Aecom. It was very enriching working with these highly skilled and knowledgeable professionals; I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange and discourse. One thing to note though – HP, Phillip and I, together with the team, worked extremely hard to reciprocate the knowledge exchange and design leadership; to play equal, if not more pivotal, role in this project. The aim was to depart from the common perception that local firms play second-fiddle to the foreign counterparts. That was demonstrated in our effort, beyond code and technical proficiency, to also champion key design ethos and thought processes in the master plan and architectural design. Another significant moment was winning the bid in February 2008, after spending almost two years on the competition. Then came the galore of design and technical submissions that had to be made to different agencies; many of which were challenging due to the scale and
PW: I came into the project six-and-a-half years ago, when we’d just won the bid. I am a design engineer by profession, so the project management role that I was asked to take on by HP was an unfamiliar one. But he recognised that delivery here is rigorous, formal and ordered, and the skills and traits I have as an engineer will work well for this project.
gave me some insight into how architects work, how to communicate in their language and tell them when an idea isn’t efficient. HP knew this job would see many non-Singaporeans and Westerntrained people, and wanted someone who can communicate in both Asian and western fashion. My bicultural background as a UK-born Chinese proved helpful. That’s very astute of him. As project manager, I made sure that resource planning, financial management, scope, fees, and all that were aligned so that we understood and fulfilled our contractual obligations. One of my tasks was to dissect the contract in DP’s interest. DP has a tendency to go the extra mile, sometimes even taking it right to the end, but that can be a killer for your staff, for your management, for your fee, and also in terms of your client’s expectations. It’s really about managing our resources so that we are not stuck doing something after we have delivered what we are supposed to. For me, a memorable experience was the clearing of TOPs during the last eight months of the project because of the client’s shift from opening the entire hub to opening the complex in parts. Understandably, with the integrated nature of the hub, the process became really complicated. I had to negotiate hard and mediate between Dragages and the authorities to ‘chop’ the project into different phases of completion. In total we had 11 TOPs to facilitate the contractor’s commitment to open in sections. We obtained the final and last TOP in June. It was an exhausting but fulfilling experience.
“Jobs like these are usually very interesting – the process, the collaboration, and the people you meet and the conversations you have.” - Phillip There were certain milestones to achieve with different authorities before construction kick-off in 2010. I worked heavily with Patrick Condon of Dragages on broad system planning; we did a lot of work on security infrastructure, bomb blasts, re-planning of roads, etc. My engineering background was definitely useful. HP understood that big projects have big personalities, so communication is critical. My previous engineering firm did a lot of work with many well-established architecture practices; that
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DP personalities
What is special about Sports Hub to you? SCH: As the largest public-private partnership set-up in the world to date, the unique part of Sports Hub is the scale and complexity of collaboration. From the design perspective, we had to creatively balance the numerous diverse stakeholder considerations such as construction techniques and economics of building, facilities management needs, the way the venue will be operated, crowd control, etc., to produce a design that not only works well during events, but is relevant and inviting when there is no event. The last major sports infrastructure projects in Singapore were the old Kallang stadium in 1973 and Singapore Indoor Stadium in 1989. The design team was effectively creating a new benchmark for the sports and leisure-based building typology in the region. To me, the power and potential of a project of this nature to positively reshape the sporting and social landscape also made it one-of-a-kind.
Describe your working relationship with each other. SCH: Phillip and I first met in 2000 in UK through his younger brother who was my colleague at Foster & Partners. We met again four years later. I had returned to Singapore and Phillip, who was with BuroHappold, had just completed the National Library project. During that time, in 2005, before the formation of DP Engineers, our chairman Mr Chan Sui Him was already advocating the integration of architecture and engineering as a more holistic way of design. Strategically, we invited Phillip to collaborate on some scheme proposals
“Managing DP’s team of 50 at the site office was in effect running a small practice. We can be proud of what we have delivered in spite of the manpower and time constraints.” - Phillip PW: Like Chee Huang, the big attraction for me was also the scale and the type of building; it’s a one-off. Jobs like these are usually very interesting – the process, the collaboration, and the people you meet and the conversations you have. This is probably one of the most satisfying jobs I’ve undertaken. I’ve picked up many things from many people I’ve met over these six-anda-half years. Managing DP’s team of 50 remotely at the site office was in effect running a small practice. HP understands my skill set very well and trusted me to manage the project, but he was always there when I needed his decisions. That relationship worked well and allowed me freedom to manage it my own way, which I appreciate a lot. We had changes in personnel over the years, but generally all who passed through the DP Sports Hub team worked well together, and we can be proud of what we have delivered in spite of the manpower and time constraints.
in our studio, to explore how structural and architectural design can be better integrated and refined. Phillip proved to be that engineer with an eye for design, and we continued to work together on several design schemes. In 2008, things fell in place when our team won Sports Hub; HP made Phillip an offer, and we began our journey on the project together. Our working relationship has always been very collaborative and discursive in nature. Mutual respect is the key to our successful teamwork under HP’s leadership. We were mindful to
constantly give each other space to do our stuff but, when needed, were also open to ideas and approaches that best value-add to the project. The partnership with Phillip on Sports Hub was dynamic, enriching and positive; one that I truly enjoyed. PW: In terms of roles, at the beginning of the project, Chee Huang led in the development of master plan, architectural planning and layouts, while I was fronting broader matters, such as overarching issues with Dragages as well as overseeing most of the authority submissions. Into the first year of the award, Chee Huang started to focus on refinement of the architectural components as well as developing key expressions such as the envelope and façade screen design. That’s one of the key areas where we worked well together – he generated the ideas and proposals, while I added further pragmatism and logic to it. I would put on my engineer hat and go, “Look, you need to consider this and this because we are trying to make this a reality”. As an engineer, I find that you need to let the architect have a certain amount of creative space and freedom. When the time is right to ask for practical advice to make the design a reality, that’s when Chee Huang has a discussion with me. By the same token, I would remind him to bear in mind certain considerations in design conceptions, so that the practical constraints don’t take away the heart of something he was trying to achieve. Most creative processes have that – how to simplify while staying true to the vision and not worry about the chaff. In this way, we work really well together.
Tell us something about you that few people know about.
Share with us your feelings on the completion of the project. SCH: It was quite overwhelming to witness our design ideas transformed into spaces and forms that are enjoyed by the community in such a massive way. We are very proud as a team to have achieved something meaningful. It’s not just about creating a landmark that has changed the cityscape, but a place that generates new possibilities of how the community can better interact, spend time and enjoy. In retrospect, this marathon of eight years is a great testament to our level of commitment to the project. It was a worthwhile effort as we know we have created something good.
SCH: My very first job was in a small bakery, during my Junior College days. I have always loved the smell of freshly baked bread, and so I decided to understand how bread was made while earning some pocket money. The work was long and hard, but unforgettable. I have learnt to appreciate the patience, care and love that go into the process of mixing, kneading, rising and baking, to turn the dough into a simple yet wonderful treat. PW: I’m a musician. I play bass, violin and guitar. I play in a band with Mel Ferdinand, who is quite well-known in the local scene. Beside music, I also run, play tennis and swim. When I was working on Sports Hub, I would go for a swim before the start of my long work day which would end only at eight or nine in the evening. Swimming was one of the things that kept me sane!
“This marathon of eight years is a testament to our level of commitment to the project. It was a worthwhile effort as we know we have created something good.” - Chee Huang PW: I think I need to get away to appreciate what we have done; it’s harder to do that when you’re still dealing with the nuts and bolts of things. But I remember the first time I saw people walking around in shorts and flip-flops, it was for a floorball event in the OCBC Arena in mid-June. Seeing people use the facilities made me forget the nitty-gritties, like ‘this is the wrong colour’ or ‘this piece of steelwork isn’t quite right’. Of course, all it will take for that to come back is complaints in the next few months (laughs).
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Photo Contributors: Alvin Foo, Arthur Ungson, Frank Pinckers, Jazelle Ang Liz Tan, Loh Yew Cheng, Pocholo Mauricio, Rory Daniel & Tong Tong.
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Commissioned by People’s Association, the project calls for the structure to be built under the historic Merdeka Bridge. A key planning consideration was the approach to the facility as the area under the bridge was largely inaccessible. Bright colours were used to inject vibrancy to the area. With a net floor area of 585sqm, the sea sports centre houses a boat-storage area for water-sports boats such as canoe and kayak, shower and changing rooms, and offices. Project Team: Chan Sui Him & Pao Ven Yuen
Kallang Sea Sports Centre
1988