Design In Print 4.2 Leisure

THE LEISURE ISSUE

IN DEPTH

RIVER SAFARI

AN IMMERSIVE JOURNEY

ADDIRIYAH GATE

BRIDGING THE MODERN & HISTORIC

RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA WEST ZONE AN AQUATIC-THEMED DESTINATION

www.dpa.com.sg

NEW LEADERSHIP

IN DEPTH

MICA (P) 012/10/2012

UPDATES DP GROUP OF COMPANIES

VOLUME 4 NUMBER 2 2013 SINGAPORE

In 2017, DP Architects will celebrate its 50 th anniversary. During the last five decades, DPA has undergone several organisational transformations.

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

NEW LEADERSHIP AS DP MOVES TOWARDS ITS 50TH YEAR

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In the early 1980s, our office had 120 staff with its main vision being the search for new directions in architecture in the Singapore context. The partnership strived to be the best design firm that could be, and it was at this time that the philosophy of the office was formulated and crystallised. This philosophy remains with much relevance today.

To sustain growth on a long term basis, accompanied by the Architects Act of 1991, the

1 Chan Sui Him, Chairman | 2 Francis Lee, CEO | 3 Ti Lian Seng | 4 11 Lee Shee Koeng | 12 Suneeth Changaroth | 13 Jeremy Tan | 14 To 19 Yeong Weng Fai, DP Green | 20 Goh Yong Ping, DP Engineers | 21 26 Ian Liew, China | 27 Rida Sobana, Indonesia | 28 Yeoh Tok Jew, M

firm was subsequently restructured to become DP Architects Pte Ltd with a more corporate form of architecture practice and management.

To stay meaningfully relevant, the firm continues to evolve through a constant process of selfrenewal with in-house specialist teams formed as necessary. Today, the DP group – comprising DP Architects, DP Consultants, DP Design, DP Engineers, DP Environmentally Sustainable Design, DP Green and DP Infrastructure – provides a comprehensive range of services from architecture, urban planning, interior design, project management, sustainable design, landscape architecture to engineering, with over 1,200 staff in 12 offices worldwide.

In addition to enabling our clients with a larger pool of resources under the DP umbrella, the firm’s design work has also benefited from the synergy among the various disciplines to ensure timely and smooth delivery of projects, as our track records in the recent past have quickly proven. Also importantly, this multidisciplinary approach reinforces the firm’s continued commitment and deep concern for the built environment and the desire to create architecture of excellence that enriches the human experience and spirit.

needs towards our 50th year and beyond, I take great pride in announcing several critical promotions to enhance the current leadership.

The new leadership offers a kaleidoscope of professionals; this diversity of strengths, special talents and skills creates goal-directed niches within the DP group, firmly positioning us to face the challenges ahead and reach new heights. This promotion will, of course, mean additional responsibilities and I am confident that all our newly promoted leaders will discharge them efficiently.

To strengthen our multi-disciplinary practice and to make certain that our various offices continue to produce exemplary works to meet our clients’

The Board of Directors joins me to congratulate the newly promoted introduced in this issue of Design In Print.

Chan Sui Him

Angelene Chan, Deputy CEO | 5 Teoh Hai Pin | 6 Wu Tzu Chiang | 7 Chin Thoe Chong | 8 Vikas Gore | 9 Lesley Lim | 10 Dadi Surya oh Sze Chong 15 Tong Bin Sin | 16 Mike Lim, DP Design | 17 Neil Johnson, DP Infrastructure | 18 Steven Gan, DP Infrastructure Tan Yew Chai, DP Engineers | 22 Lee Boon Woei, DP ESD | 23 Wu Zhi Wei, China | 24 Neo Chen, China | 25 Niew Pey Ran, China Malaysia | 29 Hoo Chuen Piew, Malaysia.

Vo l u m e 4 N u m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 3 , S i n g a p o re

CONTENTS Letter from the Guest Editor

The latest happenings in DP

DP Architects announces Appointment of Titleholders

Dear Readers, With increasing career demands, striking a balance between work and leisure has become more important. To compensate for having lesser leisure time, greater emphasis is now placed on the quality of leisure activities.

Correspondingly, the demand for recreational developments such as integrated resorts, theme parks, and attractions with nature, sports, wellness and entertainment activities has risen steadily.

With information readily available on the Internet, clients’ expectations and demands for a wider range of distinctively different leisure attractions have also increased. They are constantly seeking exciting ’wow’ features in their new developments to differentiate their products and stay ahead of the competition.

An example of such a shift can be seen in the development of retail malls.

No longer built just for shopping, the retail mall has become a lifestyle product, a one-stop entertainment and recreational centre that houses a diverse range of functions and facilities, including atypical provisions such as performances, sporting activities and the arts. Some of the unusual features that DP Architects has designed for retail malls include skating ring, largescale aquarium, indoor waterfall, snow park and retractable fashion catwalk.

As the nature of leisure developments evolves, it is important to keep up to speed with prevailing trends and be innovative. It is part of the design process to research widely on the latest recreational developments and leisure ideas in other parts of the world and learn from the success stories.

This issue of Design in Print highlights the design and features of several recently completed and in-progress leisure-centred projects including River Safari, Resorts World Sentosa West Zone and Downtown East in Singapore; and Addiriyah Gate in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

We hope this issue will inspire you to head out for some leisurely fun.

Toh Sze Chong Director, DP Architects Pte Ltd

Short takes on new & notable projects

01 Tampines Town Hub 02 Changi Cove Hotel 03 Dulwich College 04 Stephen Riady Centre 05 Singapore Dance Theatre 06 Infinite Studios 07 Lippo Plaza Beijing 08 RMZ Ecoworld

Featured projects

River Safari Downtown East Addiriyah Gate Resorts World Sentosa West Zone

IN FOCUS Sustainable Design

Design Optimisation

Awards & events

BIM Strategies Asia Pacific Property Awards 2013 BCA Awards 2013 Dolphin Plaza Wins First Prize DPA Is Top Ten Firm Yangon’s Architectural Heritage

DP personalities

Interview with David Liauw & Ng San Son

SAFRA Resorts & Country Club, 1994

Chan Hui Min Nartano Lim Toh Bee Ping

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

Graphics

Writing

Editorial

Celebration of past projects

Leanne Lim Leong Wei Lin

Tong Tong

Loh Yew Cheng Fu Tingting

Additional contributors: Lee Boon Woei, Lek Noonchoo & Stephanie Yong

Cover image: River Safari

| The latest happenings in DP DP Architects announces

Appointment of Titleholders DP Architects announced its annual appointment of titleholders and key positions for the firm and its subsidiary companies on 1 July 2013. The Board of Directors would like to extend its congratulations to all promoted staff members and wish them continued success in the years ahead.

DP ARCHITECTS Deputy CEO Angelene Chan

Director Lee Shee Koeng Suneeth Changaroth Jeremy Tan Toh Sze Chong Tong Bin Sin Lee Boon Woei, ESD Wu Zhi Wei, China Niew Pey Ran, China Neo Chen, China Ian Liew, China Rida Sobana, Indonesia

Associate Director Ng San Son Tania Wee Toh Li Chuin Charles Barguirdjian Li Jian, China Chai Ming Kuang, Malaysia Lim Wei Liang, Malaysia Sonya Kundi, MENA

Senior Associate Andria Adiputra Ang Guo Zi Chan Farn Sheng Charles Putera Daisy Layadi Goh Wei Kiat Jessica Chow Lim Sheau Miin Lionel Leow Ngata Tapsell Seetoh Khan Pang Tan Yean Tsui Chow Li May, China Zhao Man Li, China Smruti D Divker, India Lim Su Yeong, Malaysia Steven Liew, Malaysia Nafisah Nasid, Malaysia

Senior Associate (Technical) Chia Wee Hou Laura Smagin Pao Ven Yuen Paulino Evangelista

Associate Andi Anggoro Carina Tang Foong Wei Jiet Fransiska Wongso Gan Xing Yun Goh Yonghui Gwee Tong Mui Hamish Winstanley Ho Yi Pei Indra Arif Rachman Jeffrey Ang Joee Ong Juliana Chan Kailas Moorthy Lau Sze Yee Lim Su Ching Mae Seetha Dauth Maggie Tan Matthew Yeo Maureen Chan Nassar Bin Mohamad Zain Ng Ching Hsiung Ng Wenjun Noer Ucen Hong Phang Chiew Li Raden Andhini Sarah Lim Serine Chan Tan Zhi Liang Tay Chin Nyap Ting Ying Ying Trecia Lim Wong Jet Wai Yii Yeong Ginn Yvonne Yeo Bryan Chow, China Ding Chuan Dong, China Goh Yong Qin, China Wu Xin Chun, China Zhang Fan, China Sandeep Kumar, India Liang Lok Mei, Malaysia William Chua, Malaysia Satrio Dradjat, MENA

Associate (Technical) Cleofer Malijan Dennis Bock Ding Hao Hanafi Kasnan Hasanah Bte Ahmad Noor Jeyachandran Varadharajan

Joe Koh Kam Yau Fat Lardizabal Serrano Ng Ting Yu Ong Shen Sien Ramir Rosario Poyaoan Ian Soliva Yeo Bee Lay

Associate (Contracts) Jaslyn Chang Julia Gwee Lam Lee Chuen Mabel Tan Michael Chim Nur Alina Bte Mohamed Ali Nur Atiqah Bte Ahmad Nor Tan Cheng Pei Teo Sheng Leong Teo Shuh Shin Wendy Tan

Associate (Model Making) Wu Yan CORPORATE SERVICES

Director Raymond Chan, Human Resources

Chief Financial Officer Siau Kai Bing

DP CONSULTANTS Associate Director Lisa Hui, Contracts

Senior Associate Tan Teng Siew Bernard L Tapang, Technical

Associate Kwek Soo Hwee, Contracts

DP DESIGN Director Mike Lim

Associate Zita Carrillo

DP ENGINEERS Senior Associate Kong Kian Hau Leslie Khuan Louiechito Ni単o Renee Cheong

Associate Thiam Bee Choo Walter Parcero

DP GREEN

Senior Manager

Director

Jacqueline Chua, Office Admin June Soon, Finance Linda Choo, Human Resources

Senior Associate

Michael Wong, Information & Communication Technology Toh Bee Ping, Corporate Comms

Manager Fu Tingting, Corporate Comms Stephen Cheok, Information & Communication Technology Wong Chuin Hun, Information & Communication Technology Linda Chin, Project Admin Irene Lim, Finance, Malaysia

Assistant Manager Rena Chong, Finance

Yeong Weng Fai

Varit Charoenveingvechkit

DP INFRASTRUCTURE Director Neil Johnson Steven Gan

Senior Associate Debashish Mondal Mohammed Ahmed Zakair

Associate Earl Rebosura Jimmy Apolonio Pramod Gangolli Winnie Wang Goh Hui Yen, Technical DP 03

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Short takes on new & notable projects

recreational & civic

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Changi Cove Hotel Singapore

hotel

Situated near Changi Village, Changi Cove Hotel is located on a 4ha heritage site that comprises a conservation building, a convention centre and two hotel blocks with 112 modern-style guestrooms. The new hotel is built around the lush greenery, conserved heritage trees and natural topography of the site. The sensitively restored Command House on Fairy Point Hill, originally built by British architects in 1935, provided a further 13 guestrooms. Careful attention was paid to underline the building’s rich colonial heritage and to retain the essence of the bucolic setting: the conserved external corridors retain the original neoclassical style, while the deep verandahs with terracotta tiles are typical of colonial architecture.

Courtesy of Changi Cove Pte Ltd

Singapore

Tampines Town Hub (TTH) is a 120,000sqm development that will combine recreational, sporting, community and culture facilities under one roof. Situated at the bustling suburban centre of Tampines, the building is designed with a highly porous ground floor that connects seamlessly with the streetscape. Key public nodes within TTH link to different key zones in the surrounding context.

Externally, TTH is primarily organised as interlocking clusters of spaces, depicting different thematic zones, facilities and settings, linked by a network of elevated community streetscapes and programmes. These clusters are made up of a dynamic range of arts and cultural, sports and recreational, lifestyle, and F&B components.

Various façade treatments are used for each cluster, including louvres, mesh panels, green terraces, green walls, glazings, rendered wall surfaces. The array of envelope designs adds richness to TTH’s outlook and its purpose as a vibrant and meaningful gathering place for the Tampines community.

institutional

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Dulwich College Singapore

The Dulwich College Singapore campus was designed to cater to students of varying ages. From planning, interior design, landscaping to material selection, the concept revolves around the size and needs of the children from early years, through junior school to senior school. Shared facilities such as an indoor sports centre, future performing arts centre and boarding school are designed for all ages. The focus of each school is its own library, designed as a huge ‘window to the world’. Brick finishes distinguish the school walls, while the main circulation paths are characterised by brick-inspired patterns. A boulevard spanning north to south serves as the main connector linking the schools and shared facilities.

institutional

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Tampines Town Hub

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Stephen Riady Centre Singapore

The Stephen Riady Centre at NUS University Town (UTown) is a three-storey, mixed-use complex that houses a range of facilities for learning, performing arts, sports, retail and dining. These include a 466-seat auditorium, dance studios, music rooms, two multipurpose sports halls, an open-air swimming pool, and a gym that overlooks a large recreational field known as Town Green. An open plaza lies at the heart of the building and provides a central gathering point for students and visitors. With covered connections to the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) hub and the Education Resource Centre, Stephen Riady Centre forms a strong focal arc for student activities at UTown. On the whole, it supports a holistic education experience and promotes experiential learning among its students.

institutional

05 Singapore Dance Theatre Singapore

The new 2,000sqm campus of the Singapore Dance Theatre, located on the seventh floor of Bugis+, houses four professional dance studios and supporting facilities. A spacious corridor facing the roof garden leads to the site. With the aim of attracting and educating the public on dance as a performing art, huge perforated sliding doors are located at the entrance.

These doors, when fully opened, maximise the luxury of space and merge the public space with the foyer, drawing visitors in to witness the hard work and dedication of professional ballet dancers at practice.

Infinite Studios Singapore

Infinite Studios, located at Media Circle, sits strategically at the heart of Mediapolis, Singapore’s first digital media hub. The development houses a five-storey office block above a five-storey podium, a single-storey annex block, an adjoining block of production offices, and up to three fully operational soundstages.

commercial

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The impressive height of the site made it ideal to demonstrate the interplay of volumes. In addition to the use of stacked walls, shipping containers are positioned high above the ceiling level – compressing and decompressing the space along the corridor. Lastly, mirror panels were strategically placed on the container walls to create the illusion of an endless expanse of space.

The bold design of the façade is expressed through the creative use of industrialchic materials and graphic projections. Littered with interstitial spaces to encourage communal interaction, a distinctive campus atmosphere pervades the development.

Supporting media production facilities are integrated into the public zone, which results in an interesting dichotomy. A park is nestled within the development to encourage interaction between the community within and the public.

commercial

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Lippo Plaza Beijing China

Located in Beijing Economic and Technology Development Area, the 175,000sqm integrated mixed-use development consists of a 4-storey retail podium, a 17-storey office tower, three 13-storey office towers, and nine blocks of residential and SOHO towers.

RMZ Ecoworld India

The 2.6ha RMZ Ecoworld development comprises 11 office buildings located over four plots within a master plan. The architecture was conceived to enhance the skyline, and adds visual interest and legibility to the environment. With the silver exterior, the buildings appear light in contrast with the surrounding masonry structures. The façade treatment includes stone cladding, doubleglazed high-performance curtain wall, and architectural devices such as sun screens and fritted glass panels that allow natural light into the buildings while reducing thermal heat gain. Lush gardens with water features, sculpture courts, outdoor resting areas and plazas create a unique sense of place. The design and planning is in line with the developer’s commitment to develop sustainable business parks. master plan

The residential and commercial activities are seamlessly blended without compromising the physical needs of each component. Maximising the retail footprint, four office towers are positioned above it yet maintaining their appearance as stand-alone offices with dedicated drop-offs. The retail podium is wrapped with a distinct screen pattern that unifies the entire development. A wide, fully landscaped, street-front plaza encourages social activities and interaction. A central promenade lined with cafés and restaurants connects the north and south zones, leading pedestrian traffic to the mall. Every residential and SOHO tower is carefully planned to obtain unobstructed views towards the surroundings, achieving maximum exposure to southern light and warmer temperatures.

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Featured projects

RIVER SAFARI AN IMMERSIVE JOURNEY

By Tong Tong

While a modern metropolis such as Singapore offers many amenities and conveniences, there are times when people seek respite from urban life and a chance to interact with nature. River Safari is the first and only river-themed wildlife park in Asia, hosting Southeast Asia’s largest panda exhibit and the world’s largest freshwater aquarium. It is not just a collection of wildlife exhibits, but blends the animal habitats into a natural setting – immersing guests and animals in the same landscape. It allows people to observe how animals live in the wild and to establish an open, authentic connection with the animals, yet offering the same safety benefits of a more traditional enclosure.

Top: A series of twostorey huts at the entrance plaza provides human scale. Functioning as a village, the entrance plaza is designed for resting and socialising.

Above: Sketch of the huts at the entrance plaza.

Sited along the Upper Seletar Reservoir and nestled between Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, this 12ha attraction features animals representing eight freshwater habitats from around the world – Amazon, Congo, Ganges, Mekong, Mississippi, Murray, Nile and Yangtze rivers.

On arrival, visitors are led by a covered walkway to the entrance plaza. In response to the need to provide human scale, the architects incorporated a series of two-

YEAR: 2013

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SITE AREA: 894,400 SQM

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SINGAPORE

storey huts at the entrance. The plaza accommodates services and facilities including a gift shop, nursing rooms and a restaurant on the second storey; offices, a function room and first-aid station on the first storey.

Functioning as a ‘village’, the entrance plaza is intended for meeting, socialising, resting and exchanging greetings before visitors move through to other destinations.

The structure and appearance of the huts are informed with an awareness and respect for the natural landscape. Views and natural light are two important considerations in the genesis of the form. This collection of multifunctional spaces over two storeys is unified by a dog-legged spiral staircase carved out of the structure. The staircase is wrapped with dark brown vertical aluminium trellis that sensitively filters daylight and views into the inner spaces. As one traverses the veiled spiral staircase, direct views to the surrounding nature and reservoir gradually unfold.

Above: Sited along Upper Seletar Reservoir, the setting of River Safari is an attraction unto itself.

Left: The multi-storey

A focus on fine detailing and the use of local materials when designing the huts created a structure that is both modest and unique.

car park is designed to bring in natural light and provide views towards the surroundings.

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Featured projects

Team Members: (Sitting left to right) Yeo Bee Lay, Angela Ng, Lim Sheau Miin, Maria Rizalina L Laforteza, (Standing left to right) Tan Kok Ming, Ng Ching Hsiung, Ng San Son & Yeong Weng Fai.

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Legends: 1. Transport Hub 2. Ticketing Plaza Extension 3. Entrance Plaza 4. Rivers of the World 5. Giant Panda Forest 6. Bridge over Upper Seletar Reservoir 7. Amazon River Quest 8. Amazon Flooded Forest

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THE ENTRANCE PLAZA IS DESIGNED WITH AN AWARENESS AND RESPECT FOR THE LANDSCAPE, WITH VIEWS AND NATURAL LIGHT AS TWO KEY CONSIDERATIONS

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Featured projects

Applying extensive treated bamboo screening underneath, the otherwise solid metal roofs of the huts are transformed into a lightweight canopy.

Each of the four metal roofs are supported with a cluster of twisting structural steel columns that terminates at the apex with a circular skylight – a mimicry of the existing perimeter trees that are reaching towards the sky.

A similar approach is reiterated in the unique semi-outdoor bathrooms throughout the entire development. The central skylight with a wooden trellis veil enlivens the interior of the bathrooms in the entrance plaza zone, while preventing rainwater from splashing into the space. Another example is found in the Amazon River Quest zone. The open-air wash basin area

Clockwise from left: The solid metal roof is transformed into a lightweight canopy by applying extensive treated bamboo screening underneath.

Vertical aluminium trellis filters daylight and views into the staircase and inner spaces.

The 165m-long bridge over Upper Seletar Reservoir.

KNITTING TOGETHER ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE, NON-EXHIBIT SPACES ARE DESIGNED TO CORRESPOND WITH THE SURROUNDINGS is surrounded by natural greenery and bamboo detailing, generating a pleasant microclimate by tempering the immediate environment. These distinctive design elements not only give the bathroom interiors an identity, but also foster the interplay between openness and privacy.

The park brings together four distinct zones – Rivers of the World, Giant Panda Forest, the Amazon River Quest ride and Amazon Flooded Forest. The paths are carefully orchestrated to give visitors different experiences at each of the thematic zones. The charm of River Safari lies beyond the traditional static animal observation; the journey is planned as a kind of promenade designed for both lingering and dynamic viewing. For example, one of the key features is a 165m-long bridge which is built over the reservoir and offers a panoramic view out to the east. Along with the animal enclosures and attractions, the setting itself becomes another attraction as the visitor can experience vistas which are unique to this part of Singapore.

Above: The central skylight with a wooden trellis veil enlivens the interior of the bathrooms in the entrance plaza zone, while preventing rainwater from splashing into the space.

Right: The bathrooms within the entire development are designed as semi-outdoor spaces with a focus on detailing and the use of local materials.

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Left: The glazed dome structure of the Giant Panda Forest encloses a temperature and humidity-controlled space that maintains a strong connection with the changing patterns of daylight.

Below: Preserving the site’s natural topography, the panda enclosure is served by an elevated walkway that allows encounters with the pandas at eye level.

Facing page: Amazon Flooded Forest. The attention to light and volume of the space imparts a true sense of discovery.

Undoubtedly, the Giant Panda Forest is one of the highlights of the journey. In order to minimise the physical impact to the topography, the panda enclosure capitalises on the existing sloping terrain. From the entrance, visitors are led by an elevated walkway so that they can encounter the pandas at eye level. Looking into the species’ living environment, the architects designed a glazed dome structure that encloses a temperature and humidity-controlled space.

The space maintains a strong connection with the changing patterns of daylight, and at the same time avoids direct sunlight. The pattern of bamboo leaves on the glazed dome imitates the effect of bamboo trees casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Another immersive attraction is the Amazon Flooded Forest towards the end of the journey.

The visitors pass through an underwater tunnel and emerge into a rich underwater universe.

One of the first experiences after the tunnel is the encounter with the giant river otters. The barriers between the animals and visitors are well disguised so the experience is much more intimate than would typically be expected.

Another darkened tunnel leads visitors to gently descend into a river environment; the dramatic control of the ambient lighting from light into darkness enhances the sense of arrival and experience. Walking in front of acrylic viewing panels of more than 22m in length and 4m in height, visitors are treated to a panoramic view of the underwater environment.

The manatees and numerous schools of fish practically envelope the viewers, while stingrays swim in a fan-shaped tank in the ceiling above.

Natural light permeates this space and plays off the surface of the water while penetrating the depths to create an almost ethereal scene below the surface. The careful and detailed attention to light and volume imparts a true sense of discovery to the visitor.

The priority in the design of River Safari is to place an emphasis on the visitor experience and to challenge conventional thinking of zoo interaction. Visitors are guided on a rhythmic journey that offers intimate observation of the exhibits in a setting that is an attraction unto itself.

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Featured projects

DOWNTOWN EAST A SUSTAINABLE LEISURE DESTINATION

By Leong Wei Lin

Team Members: (Sitting left to right) Yeo Bee Lay, Angela Ng, Lim Sheau Miin, Maria Rizalina L Laforteza, (Standing left to right) Tan Kok Ming, Ng Ching Hsiung, Ng San Son, Yeong Weng Fai, Varit Charoenveingvechkit & Thun KongSub.

YEAR: 2014

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AREA: 90,100 SQM

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SINGAPORE

Far left: View of the overall master plan.

Left: Festival Walk – consolidated dining, entertainment and retail options.

Below left: View of the multi-storey resort accommodation block.

THE NEW DOWNTOWN EAST IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AFFORDABLE RESORTSTYLE AMENITIES FOR SINGAPOREANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

Downtown East was first developed in 1986, and has seen several sporadic additions over the years which resulted in a lack of cohesiveness of the overall development.

The new master plan seeks to integrate and update existing amenities and extend new areas to create a comprehensive and harmonious development with a sense of place and identity.

The objective of the new Downtown East master plan has a three-pronged approach of Engagement, Universality and Sustainability.

The revitalised and integrated development will provide a variety of venues of different scales and settings for a wide range of community engagement opportunities. These venues and amenities will be designed with a conscious understanding of the needs of all demographics in terms of affordability for the masses as well as universal access for all potential users. The master plan also takes into consideration three key aspects of sustainability: environmental, economic and social sustainability.

The master plan zoning consists of four main nodes – the E-hub; the Members, Union and Community Engagement (MUCE) facilities; the Wild Wild Wet theme park and the Costa Sands Downtown East Resort – with the nodes connected across the site via a new pedestrian network.

various elements within the site, which helps visitors to easily orientate themselves in this extensive development. Dedicated drop-offs planned for the different components serve to create a sense of arrival for visitors, as well as to divert the potential heavy numbers to manageable levels. This reorganisation of pedestrian and vehicular circulation ties together the disparate components under a coherent master plan while allowing for the unique expression of each part.

The master plan also considers the site context where the surrounding developments are primarily residential, with the developments north of Pasir Ris Drive 3 being low to medium-rise, and the high-rise developments located towards the south. The new large MUCE centre will be situated along Pasir Ris Drive 3 to form a strong urban front with the existing E-hub. Further up north, facing Pasir Ris Park and Beach, will be the new Costa Sands chalets. This allows the chalets, which are multi-storeyed to minimise the building footprint for greater conservation of existing trees, to also have views towards the mangroves of Sungei Tampines at the west.

In particular, Wild Wild Wet will see a doubling of land area, with four additional rides, and is set to become the heart of the new Downtown East. Costa Sands will also have brand new chalets and more amenities for resort guests.

The richness of site opportunities gives rise to the design of a wide range of environments within the development. Other design strategies aim to make the development as inclusive as possible, by creating an elevated all-weather landscape deck at the second storey which promotes safe and pleasant pedestrian conditions by separating the human and vehicular traffic flows. This landscape deck is also connected to the first storey via gently sloping ramps, keeping to the tenets of universal design.

On the macro level, a main north-south planning axis is established after accounting for existing components that were to be retained from the client’s brief. Major elements and zones were then oriented along this main axis, defining the main circulation system and view corridors linking up the

With a consistent focus on providing affordable family-oriented activities in a resort-style setting, the enhancements to the infrastructure, new clarity of the circulation networks and improved amenities to cater to increasing demands, the new Downtown East will be the leisure destination of choice for Singaporeans.

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ADDI R I YAH GATE BRIDGING THE MODERN AND HISTORIC

By Leong Wei Lin

Team Members: (Left to right) Eugenie Royo, John Alejandro, Anna Narciso,

Riyadh is an area that is rich in culture and has a mixture of both vernacular and contemporary architectural landmarks. The development site spanning 1km in length connects the modern and historic parts of the city. Taking into consideration Saudi Arabia’s hot and arid climate as well as the cultural and social context, the mall’s design objective is to provide avenues for visitors to

Toh Sze Chong, Andhie Wicaksono Ahmmad Trisyarahman,

Rahmanto Darma,

Dimas Satria,

Vera Purnomo,

Taufiq Rusdi,

Ryan Tilao,

Located in Riyadh, with close proximity to the recently restored Wadi Hanifah wetlands and the historic Addiriyah ancient city site, Addiriyah Gate will be the first mega-scale mixed-use development of its kind in Saudi Arabia, incorporating retail, dining, family entertainment, theme parks, convention space, hospitality and residential components. Significantly, the design of the 28 exclusive residential villas facing the heritage site of Addiriyah responds sensitively to the site context and echoes the traditional architecture of the area, connecting the historic and modern aspects of the site. The design premise is to create a family and lifestyle destination for the local population, and a global city attraction that can rival the best the region has to offer.

Francis Lee,

Karlota Nunez,

Clyde Uriarte,

Ricky Cahyadi &

Ti Lian Seng,

Maureen Suryani.

enjoy the different attractions in a comfortable sheltered environment.

There are three main thematic zones in the development, namely, the Wadi Walk, the Aquatic Walk and the Arctic Walk. With the large variety of programmatic functions and massive development scale, emphasis was placed on the design of clear access routes and simplicity of the internal circulation paths. The tropical, aquatic and arctic themes designed for the three zones serve to clearly demarcate space, and create a juxtaposition of the external environment to the climate-controlled interiors, thereby generating a memorable and distinctive experience for visitors.

Taking advantage of the proximity to the Wadi Hanifah, which is popular with families to gather on its banks on weekends, the mall will also offer external programming to link the mall experience to the wadi. In addition, designed to be reminiscent of the natural landscape of the Wadi Hanifah, the 380m-long Wadi Walk integrates water landscape design with the commercial components in the form of pavilions and islands. Patrons are greeted by

a 10m-wide meandering waterway, where they can enjoy a unique sensory experience as they stroll through the mall sheltered by the skylight and the green canopy overhead.

The Aquatic Walk, which is also the central spine of the development, will lead visitors through an urban streetscape to the 2.5-storey aquarium and indoor amusement park; while the key feature along the Arctic Walk is the Snow Park, set to become one of the best theme parks in Saudi Arabia. The park is sited such that guests in the adjacent hotel and dining patrons can also enjoy the snowscape from their hotel rooms or the fine dining establishments in the vicinity. Another main feature located in the basement is The Bazaar, a grand 20m-wide boulevard that stretches half a kilometre. Its design reflects the scale, flavour and charm of a traditional souk.

Addiriyah Gate is a reflection of the growing economic progress and increasing modernisation of the country. It addresses the needs of a modern society and celebrates the diversified activities that can be enjoyed by the local and international community, while paying respect to its native culture and roots.

YEAR: 2013 (DESIGN)

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AREA: 496,300 SQM

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SAUDI ARABIA

ADDIRIYAH GATE WILL PROVIDE A UNIQUE MALL EXPERIENCE WHICH IS A DELIGHT TO THE SENSES, AND SENSITIVE TO THE LOCAL CLIMATE, CULTURE AND CONTEXT Top: Wadi Walk, a 380m-long sensory experience, is a continuation of the stunning landscape of Wadi Hanifah featuring waterways, waterfalls and lush greenery.

Left: View of the overall development.

Consisting of a 4-storey high snow slope, Snow Park provides a scenic backdrop for hotel and dining patrons.

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YEAR: 2013

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SITE AREA: 142,200 SQM

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SINGAPORE

AN AQUATIC-THEMED DESTINATION

RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA WEST ZONE

By Tong Tong

With an active beachfront and a lush tropical backdrop, Sentosa has been a hot spot for outdoor activities since its redevelopment started in the early 1970s. Resorts World Sentosa’s aquatic-themed West Zone encompasses the latest attractions on the island and the final phase of the Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort which, spanning 49 hectares, boasts a range of hotels, entertainment and recreation developments including Universal Studios Singapore, a gaming facility, MICE spaces, and a plethora of retail and F&B outlets. A design principle shared throughout the entire development is the concept that the visitor should always be aware of the natural environment of Sentosa. This results in large, naturally ventilated plazas and boulevards which are shaded to ensure thermal comfort, while all vehicular traffic is moved to the basement levels to create a truly pedestrian-friendly environment.

West Zone is designed to blend with its natural surroundings while acting as a complementary programme to the existing resort. It joins Universal Studios Singapore to the east and Central Zone with a host of accommodation and entertainment facilities. West Zone’s unique take on leisure is to create a wholly aquatic-themed experience. It presents both wet and dry leisure facilities, including the Marine Life Park which comprises a waterpark and the world’s largest aquarium, and is connected to the Maritime Experiential Museum and two distinctive hotels.

Meandering walks divide West Zone, extending from the open spaces of Central Zone and ending where the Beach Villas and ESPA at Resorts World Sentosa are located. One of the planning strategies is to condense the more public entertainment activities towards the more accessible areas of the site; this is why Maritime Experiential Museum is located just off the shoreline and adjacent to The Bull Ring in Central Zone.

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1,4 & 10: S.E.A. Aquarium, the world’s largest aquarium with more than 800 species of marine animals.

10 2 & 7: Maritime Experiential Museum houses a theatre, gallery, open exhibits, shopping areas, museum cafĂŠ and souk.

6: ESPA, a wellness sanctuary located in a private corner away from the bustle of the main resort.

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3, 9 & 11: Adventure Cove Waterpark, a fun and educational attraction that offers thrilling rides and a chance to learn about marine life.

5, 8 & 13: Equarius Hotel, a 172-room property that offers stunning views of the surroundings.

12: Beach Villas, an

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idyllic retreat located at the western end of Resorts World Sentosa.

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RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA’S AQUATIC-THEMED WEST ZONE, THE FINAL PHASE OF THE INTEGRATED RESORT, ENCOMPASSES THE LATEST ATTRACTIONS ON SENTOSA 12

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Team Members:

Ariel Yambao,

Leonard Cheok,

Francis Lee,

Bernard L Tapang,

Lisa Hui,

Angelene Chan,

Chai Ming Kuang,

Maggie Tan,

Tai Chooi Mee,

Charmaine Gamboa,

Maureen Chan,

David Liauw,

Christian Tjan,

Mercedes Saldana,

David McLeod,

Chow Kok Pan,

Michael Manlapaz,

Leo Mauricio,

Harvey Lukman,

Nestor P Tiangco,

Goh Yong Ping,

Jimmy Apolonio,

Oliver Venegas,

Tan Yew Chai &

Joe Koh,

Pauline Lau,

Chan Shelt Tsong.

John Tan,

Rajendran Vembalagu,

Joy Bautista,

Selvarajan Pandian,

Adrian Cheong,

Koh Chua Lian,

Shirley Tan,

Allan Wang,

Kwek Soo Hwee,

Stefanie Pangestu &

Andy Tan,

Lau Sze Yee,

Teo Shuh Shin.

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LEGENDS: 1. Beach Villas 2. ESPA 3. Marina Life Park including Adventure Cove Waterpark and S.E.A. Aquarium 4. Equarius Hotel 5. TreeTop Lofts 6. Maritime Experiential Museum

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Beach Villas and ESPA are carefully situated on the western end, being the most private tip of the site to ensure that the tranquility of the retreat would not be affected by the influx of visitors from the other attractions. The second strategy is to incorporate a number of sandy beaches on the site. The beaches create a series of soft boundaries that allow people to pass through freely while reinforcing the natural assets of the island. In this way, the planning allows for a multiplicity of activities instead of restricting them, and encourages spontaneous and intuitive exploration.

Marine Life Park offers two key attractions at its ‘wet experience’ and ‘dry experience’. The former is Adventure Cove Waterpark which is both an educational and leisure attraction.

CENTRAL ZONE

Above: Zoning and circulation sketch.

Much of the planning is centrally located for VIPs and attractions. Public circulation is limited to

The Adventure River lets visitors float down a meandering river through fourteen different settings including a tropical garden, a mysterious grotto and an underwater tunnel. This 620m-long river is one of the longest man-made adventure rivers. Besides a wave pool and water slides, including Riptide Rocket which is the region’s first hydromagnetic coaster, the waterpark also incorporates several attractions for viewing and interacting with sea animals, such as Rainbow Reef where guests can snorkel with coral fishes, and immersive programmes at the Ray Bay where guests can feed more than a hundred rays, as well as get up-close with sharks at Shark Encounter.

For visitors in search of entertainment, variety is essential. Maritime Experiential Museum provides a variety of experiences with a multi-sensory theatre for interactive learning.

It presents Asia’s rich maritime history and tells the story of the ancient Maritime Silk Route. One of the key exhibits chronicles the journey of one of the great Chinese explorers, Admiral Zheng He. The exhibit includes a full-sized replica of the bow of his treasure ship. It also recreates the sounds and scents of the bustling bazaars of the Maritime Silk Route where Zheng He traded. Responding to the site’s close proximity to water, an ellipse creates the museum’s footprint and evokes the symbol of a boat. At a maximum span of 65m and a height of 20m, the building form itself is highly unique and resembles a hull with visible ribs painted red. Indirect daylight elevates modest materials of steel, aluminium and glass.

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WEST ZONE IS DESIGNED TO BLEND WITH ITS NATURAL SURROUNDINGS WHILE ACTING AS A COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMME TO THE EXISTING RESORT

Top: The form of Maritime Experiential Museum resembles a hull.

Above: S.E.A. Aquarium has the world’s largest acrylic viewing panel.

The large, open-span area inside the hull is a collection of different spaces – theatre, gallery, open exhibits, shopping areas, museum café and souk – and highly developed as a community space. The different exhibits and gallery open to a common concourse to ensure a smooth flow. At night, the interior glows like a lantern through the hull form and acts as a beacon to the adjacent shoreline. The museum is connected to the water by way of a 10m-wide waterfront promenade which provides visitors a view of the ocean. This promenade also serves

Apart from the numerous attractions, West Zone also offers unique hospitality amenities.

The Equarius Hotel has 172 guestrooms that overlook Marine Life Park to the north and Sentosa’s natural tropical forest to the south.

One of the key attractions of the hotel is the restaurant Forest 森 which boasts a canopy of intertwined branches and leaves supported by four columns at the centre of the room.

They mimic massive trees influenced by the abundant rainforests of Sentosa.

The Beach Villas hotel comprises 11 unique Ocean Suites that take advantage of their adjacency to the Open Ocean habitat of the S.E.A. Aquarium. The upper level of these double-storey suites consists of an open-plan living area which opens to an outdoor patio, while the lower level offers one of the most unique design features of the entire resort – guests are afforded a private, underwater view into the massive habitat and its 50,000 marine animals.

as a passage from the Festive Walk in Central Zone to West Zone. Attached to Maritime Experiential Museum, the underwater journey of S.E.A. Aquarium follows the oceans and seas along the Maritime Silk Route. S.E.A. Aquarium serves as the largest showcase for ocean creatures in the world. It is officially the world’s largest aquarium with more than 800 species of marine animals and aims to educate and enrich the understanding of the oceans.

Another unique hospitality offering is the TreeTop Lofts. Nestled in a canopy of heritage trees, two exclusive loft suites are perched on top of four thick columns, standing at a height of seven and twelve metres above the ground.

The lofts disappear into the surrounding foliage and offer a truly unique experience of being fully immersed in nature while having the luxurious comforts of a top resort. The lofts feature large terraced decks with views of Mount Faber to the north and a backdrop of dense trees to the south.

Along the site’s western coastline, ESPA is a wellness sanctuary in a private corner away from the bustle of the main resort. The existing landscape with lush trees inspired the architect to create a modern tropical design that suits Singapore’s climate. Discreetly planned around

a man-made ‘eco-pond’, the relaxation lounge of the villas, spas and café sit directly at the water’s edge to create a true oasis for rest and calming rejuvenation. All treatment rooms offer views of the pond or the heritage forest adjacent to the site. Internal garden courts with filtered natural light represent the semi-private areas for this village-like complex. The sloping roof, the reflecting pool and the verandahs reflect the tropical style. Natural materials such as wood, clay tiles and stone; warm colours; and subtle patterns and textures complement the landscape setting. Local materials such as bamboo, grasscloth, driftwood and shells are employed to reinforce the sense of place.

The glass façades combined with the timber verandahs give the impression that the entire structure is floating on water with a serene, minimalist aesthetic. Bamboo is used in its natural form in flooring and ceiling coves in the treatment rooms. Nature-inspired artefacts such as twisted roots are installed in a display niche in the treatment rooms celebrating its natural beauty. A relaxing environment of reflecting pools and dense tropical greenery create a contrast to the excitement of the attractions which are conveniently near, but sufficiently separated to ensure exclusivity and privacy.

As the final stage of the Resorts World Sentosa development, West Zone offers an amplification of what makes the integrated resort so exciting – a wide range of family-friendly leisure and entertainment options that are truly unique in Singapore. While the existing Central Zone and Universal Studios Singapore bring world-class amenities and attractions, West Zone’s aquatic theme brings a combination of edu-tainment, leisure, hospitality and resort-style amenities to what is already one of Singapore’s most exciting and diverse attractions.

West Zone’s numerous and unique hospitality amenities include (clockwise from top) Equarius Hotel, TreeTop Lofts, ESPA and Forest 森 restaurant at Equarius Hotel.

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Awards & events

Winning insights

DPA clinches four

DP Architects was invited to share its BIM experiences with the industry at a session organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA). Representing the firm, senior associate Ms Laura Smagin explained DPA’s winning strategies in the past Singapore BIM Competitions organised by the Building and Construction Authority.

She also discussed DPA’s journey to integrate BIM in its design process, including the implementation of Revit training programme for staff, the lessons learnt, key success factors and upcoming challenges. The Are You Ready for BIM Competition 2013 session was held at the SIA building on 22 May 2013.

At this year’s Asia Pacific Property Awards, four projects designed by DP Architects were awarded for their design excellence in a combination of categories. OUE Bayfront won a Five-Star award for ‘Best Office Development’ and earned a Highly Commended accolade in the ‘Commercial High-rise Development’ category. In addition, Twin Peaks and Orchard Central bagged Highly Commended accolades in the ‘Residential High-rise Development’ and ‘Retail Architecture’ categories, respectively. The awards ceremony was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on 10 May 2013. The awards are part of the International Property Awards, and the winning projects were judged on their concept, finishing, sustainability, innovation and location.

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Asia Pacific Property Awards 2013

Clockwise from top left: Orchard Central, OUE Bayfront and Twin Peaks.

Sustainable Design

Design Optimisation

within the boundary conditions and constraints.

The certification process is certainly not a mere documentation process. Green certification benchmarks environmental performance and is the product of the sustainable design process rather than the process itself.

By Lee Boon Woei

RESOURCES NEEDED TO OPERATE THE BUILDING

BUSINESS-AS-USUAL BUILDING ENERGY SYSTEM DESIGN

Our current Green Mark Office Interior certification process revealed a few interesting learning points.

Unlike Green Mark for new Non-Residential Buildings which has a total point allocation of 190, Green Mark Office Interior only has 115. This implies that the ‘opportunities’ to score Green Mark points have greatly reduced. On top of this, Office Interior requires a Green Mark point of 95 to secure the highest rating of Platinum while NonResidential Buildings only require 90 points.

ESD PROCESS

OPTIMISED DESIGN

If we were to use a leaking barrel as an analogy of a design that is suboptimal, the design optimisation process is to eliminate potential inefficiencies within the system – plug the leakages; work within the constraints of the project – produce a similar barrel but at an ideal size; and achieve a lower running cost – a smaller tap with slower flow.

These two conditions imposed some challenges to the team in the certification process. A SWOT analysis of the ‘environmental friendliness’ of the office was conducted, and tangible improvements to achieve our Green Mark objectives were identified and implemented.

The optimisation process is now made possible with the availability of powerful computers and simulation software that provide designers accurate information on the interactions of the physical geographic conditions encountered by the site, identifying the site’s inherent strengths and weaknesses, so that designers could fully explore the passive design potentials of a development and generate an environmentally sensitive and responsive design that will help mitigate its carbon footprint.

This exercise has deepened our appreciation that sustainable design is a process that optimises the environmental performance of a design

The columnist is the director of DP ESD, a subsidiary firm of DP Architects that specialises in environmentally sustainable design.

DPA wins 12

BCA Awards 2013 DP Architects has garnered 11 awards at the 2013 Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Awards which honour building excellence in the areas of safety, quality, sustainability and user-friendliness. In addition, associate Ms Jaye Tan was conferred the Green Building Individual Award for her outstanding contribution in shaping a sustainable built environment. The ceremony took place on 16 May 2013 at the Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre.

Green Mark Platinum: - MediaCorp’s new campus at Mediapolis@one-north - Ngee Ann Polytechnic Blocks 51 and 58 Clockwise from top left: H2O Residences, CREATE and MediaCorp’s new campus.

- Singapore Institute of Technology at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Universal Design Mark Award: - H2O Residences - 368 Thomson

Vietnam National Architecture Award

Dolphin Plaza Wins First Prize

Green Mark GoldPlus: - Paya Lebar Square - VivoCity - Century Square Construction Excellence Award: - The Fullerton Bay Hotel - Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE)

Director Mr Jeremy Tan (right) receiving the Top Ten Architects Award on behalf of DP Architects.

Dolphin Plaza, located in Hanoi’s outlying district of Tu Liem, beat 140 entries to win first prize in the 2012 Vietnam National Architecture Awards, marking the first victory by a luxury residential project. The jury praised the design for its originality and environmentally friendly design, and referred to it as ‘the focal point of new Hanoi’. The biennial awards, held on 26 April 2013, was organised by the Vietnam Association of Architects, the Ministry of Construction, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to honour outstanding architects and architectural works throughout the country.

DPA is Top Ten Firm for eighth year running

Associate director Mr Tan Jiann Woei (left) receiving the award in Hanoi.

DP Architects has been named one of the top ten architecture firms in Singapore for the eighth year running at the BCI Asia Top Ten Architect Awards. The award recognises the most commercially significant architecture firms in Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The awards ceremony took place at Conrad Contennial Singapore on 14 June 2013.

Professional expertise to help conserve

Yangon’s Architectural Heritage At a press conference held on 30 April 2013 in Myanmar, DP Design director Mr Mike Lim gave a presentation on The State House Hotel, an adaptive re-use project of a prominent colonial building in Yangon. Mr Lim shared DPA’s award-winning experiences in architecture conservation with the 100-strong audience. He also presented the schematic design for The State House Hotel, which incorporates design elements inspired by motifs, materials and handicrafts unique to the Myanmar people.

DP Design director Mr Mike Lim interviewed by the Yangon media.

Courtesy of Flying Tiger Engineering.

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DP personalities

An interview with

David & San Son IN PERSON celebrates the firm’s diversity by profiling members of the DP family.

The interview is conducted as a casual conversation between individuals.

Meet associate directors David Liauw and Ng San Son, respective designers of Resorts World Sentosa West Zone which includes the Marine Life Park, and river-themed wildlife attraction River Safari. They tell Design in Print about designing theme parks.

Interview by Toh Bee Ping

Where do you draw your theme park design inspirations?

D: We made a study trip to Cancun, Mexico to visit several theme parks

by Grupo Via Delphi where we got a lot of ideas for natural landscaping and designing within a natural marine environment. I had my first swim with dolphins there.

Designing a theme park is basically telling a story, and that needs time to develop. Fortunately, West Zone was the last in Resorts World Sentosa to be built, after Central Zone and Universal Studios, so we had a good amount of time for design development. Many highly-talented people like Kevin Barbee and Steve Ryan, who are both very experienced in this field and have worked on Universal Studios Singapore, put in the ‘magic’ in terms of creating a story as well as the fancy theming; we helped to bring the story to life in its built forms.

SS: We discarded all pre-conceived notions about theme park design and let the environment inform the design. I remember visiting the forested site before the design process began; the sun was setting and there were beautiful golden sparkles on the reservoir. The team stood mesmerised by the landscape, and looked towards where the entrance plaza would be and visualised in our minds what that would look like.

There were dead trees in the water that, to us, formed beautiful sculptures and indirectly inspired the look of the entrance plaza. The twisting and tilted structure supporting the entrance plaza appears to emerge from the undergrowth. The entrance plaza is the most important design element in a nature park as it is the start and end of the journey.

“For Marine Life Park, the process of working with sea life was a steep learning curve. There were a lot of firsts, for example, designing hotel suites that offer underwater views of the world’s largest aquarium from within.”

- David

How different was the experience of designing theme parks?

D: Especially for Marine Life Park, the process of working with sea life was a steep learning curve. Before this, the office had not designed an integrated theme park of this scale and complexity. There were a lot of firsts, for example, designing hotel suites that offer underwater views of the world’s largest aquarium from within.

Like any development, theme parks must meet building codes and comply with public safety regulations. In the case of Marine Life Park, another dimension in the form of international standards and certification to ensure the well-being of the sea life, such as water quality, must be engaged. Working with Aquatic Environmental Systems (AES) based in Queensland, Australia, who is in charge of the Life Support System, was also an eye-opening experience.

Additionally the Resorts World development is overseen by the government-appointed Integrated Resort Working Group which has a strong hand in controlling what we could or could not do.

SS: To be honest, it was a struggle initially. I found myself asking, how is this architecture design? Very often, theme parks are about iconographic designs and ostentatious theming. I found it an interesting juggle, working with the theming consultant and balancing the simulated visuals with pure architectural intent.

If you compare with, say, designing a mall where it is about the culture of constant consumption, we design for people to be integrated in the experience. Zoo exhibits, even in the most naturalistic environment, are essentially separated. When designing River Safari, we had to create an

immersive experience while keeping people and animals separate. For the non-exhibit spaces, such as the entrance plaza and the boardwalk of the panda enclosure, we provided the architectural experience via structures, architectonics and detailing.

Another crucial element was the circulation planning to provide a seamless journey. We worked closely with curators to orchestrate the visitor’s journey to create vivid serial visions and drama. The other challenge was to integrate the wildlife park with the landscape of Upper Seletar Reservoir. We left the rest to the theming consultant to wow visitors with the thematic visuals.

What do you do for fun?

D: I collect things. I have a good collection of porcelain produced during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, from 1966-76. I hope to one day donate the collection to an art museum. This way I enable the future generations to enjoy these pieces and learn about the history of the period. I also collect stamps from the same era. I collect watches too.

SS: I enjoy running. It calms me and helps me think better. When I’m running, I think of problems. Things get clearer after a run and I find better solutions. Another fun activity is having supper with my students.

I teach part-time at NUS and many of my students are now my friends.

It’s refreshing to hear their perspectives and sometimes naïve points of view. Plus I feel young when I hang out with them!

Tell us something about yourself that few people know about.

D: I cried when I watched Ah Boys to Men Part 2. I’m not a Singaporean and hence was never in the army; but the movie hit many right notes, underlining a lot of the values that I hold dear including love of country, loyalty and friendship.

SS: People think that I socialise and talk a lot, but I’m actually a shy person. I dislike talking for the sake of talking. I’m emotionally involved with people I work with; it affects me personally when they feel unhappy.

Also, I cannot sleep for more than seven hours a day. If I do, I get a bad headache and backache.

“For the non-exhibit spaces of River Safari such as the entrance plaza and the panda enclosure boardwalk, we provided the architectural experience via structures, architectonics and detailing.”

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DP Architects accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in Design in Print. Any opinions in Design in Print are solely those of the named authors of the article in which they appear. Unless named as author, DP Architects, Editorial Panel and other Contributors do not endorse any such views and disclaim all liability from their publication.

Copyright © DP Architects Pte Ltd MICA (P) 012/10/2012 Printed by SC (Sang Choy) International Pte Ltd L028/03/2012

- San Son

Published by DP Architects Pte Ltd 6 Raffles Boulevard #04-100 Marina Square Singapore 039594 T: +65 6338 3988 F: +65 6337 9989 E: ask_corpcomm@dpa.com.sg W: www.dpa.com.sg Photo Contributors: Chan Min Kang, Dessy Budhianto, Jeremy San, Loh Hai Yew, Loh Yew Cheng, Pocholo Mauricio, Rory Daniel, Sai Phone Htoo, Sean Lee and Wellington Kuswanto.

All photos are credited to the mentioned photographers unless otherwise stated.

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The 120ha site at East Coast Parkway accommodates a 27-hole golf course, a clubhouse and 40 chalets for the use of SAFRA members. The clubhouse is designed in a distinctive regional style.

Modular lattice work and tile patterns were derived from the designs of traditional basket weavings.

The materials used were predominately sandstone, timber and clay. The open verandahs and lobbies, punctuated by water features, create an atmosphere of a tropical resort.

Project Team: Gan Eng Oon, Lydia Fong, Yeong Weng Fai, Filemon Tutay and Zaiton Bte Khairon.

SAFRA Resort & Country Club

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