Design in Print 15.1 | DesignFUTURE Conference 2024 Special Issue

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INDUSTRY DRIVING DESIGN EXCELLENCE

CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE

ADVOCATING SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION IN BRIEF OUR RECENT PROJECTS IN DEPTH DESIGNFUTURE CONFERENCE: FUTURE(SET)

ISSUE 15.1

DESIGNFUTURE CONFERENCE 2024 SPECIAL

RESET FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Dear Readers,

An end-of-year publication is always one for reflection and aspiration. FUTURE(SET) serves as both the theme and tone for DP’s biennial DesignFUTURE Conference, held late last month as our hallmark event to close 2024. In response to the uncertainties, climate crises, and complexities confronting our world, the theme resonates with the urgent calls for transformative action and systemic change to ensure a more viable and equitable shared future.

Venturing beyond the traditional architecture domain, for the 2024 conference, we curated a dialogue among multiple disciplines. The line-up featured a climate scientist, a medical doctor and biodiversity researcher, a computational-design specialist, a fine-arts-trained architect, and a tech-driven certified planner. Through their varied expertise and intersections with built environment disciplines, Dr Winston Chow, Prof Teh Bin Tean, Dr Sam Conrad Joyce, Ar. Ong Ker-Shing, and DP’s own Chan Hui Min provided refreshing and incisive perspectives on pressing socio-urban and environmental issues. This special issue of Design in Print captures the highlights of their compelling discussions and panel exchanges.

In celebrating the power of good design, we also extend our heartfelt thanks to our friends in practice, academia, and media–

Ar. Khoo Peng Beng, Ar. Belinda Huang, Prof Jeffrey Hou, and Ms Chantal Sajan–who generously lent their time and expertise as judges for the DP Inspire Awards, to recognise design excellence amongst DPians.

In the same light of celebration, this year-end edition also reflects on the achievements of an eventful 12 months – from completed projects, design competitions won and awards received to partnerships forged, and the meaningful conversations we have had. We also wish to celebrate the remarkable contributions of DPians, from emerging talents to seasoned team members advancing in their careers and achieving new milestones.

A major highlight this year was the publication of our Sustainability Plan, paving the way for our inaugural Sustainability Report in 2025. Both milestones underscore our steadfast commitment to achieving net-zero whole-life carbon across all projects by 2045. These reports are critical benchmarks to measure our progress and deepen our positive impact on the environment and communities.

This is also a special year that saw the relaunch of the iconic Golden Mile Complex as Golden Mile Singapore, 50 years after its original completion and three years after being gazetted for conservation. As appointed architects for its rejuvenation, we are

honoured to preserve its architectural legacy while modernising the building to meet contemporary needs and standards. This effort was made possible through our strong partnerships with Far East Organization, Perennial Holdings as well as agencies like URA and other stakeholders who share our vision and commitment.

As with all other likeminded partners and collaborators at home and abroad, we extend the same gratitude and appreciation. As we embark on the journey of resetting for the better, our design, projects and works continue to be shaped by shared values and the collective pursuit of progress. As Robert L. Peters aptly stated, “Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future.”

On behalf of DP Architects, I wish all our partners and friends a joyful year-end season filled with reflection and exciting renewal. May 2025 bring purpose, health, and prosperity to all. We eagerly look forward to this journey together with you, in an even stronger and more inspiring year ahead.

Warmest regards,

INDUSTRY & UPDATES

05 DP Architects’ Annual Promotion

06 Driving Design Excellence

24 Celebrating Our People

30 Advocating Sustainability & Innovation

74 Fostering Community & Culture

IN BRIEF

40 The Standard Singapore | 42 The Golden Mile

44 Pullman Singapore Hill Street | 46 Singapore Island Country Club

48 Punggol Regional Library | 50 Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei)

52 Goodlife Studio (Bedok) | 54 Punggol Green

56 Singapore Pavilion | 58 GET SPACE

60 Chengnan Riverfront Urban Complex

IN DEPTH

66 The Challenges of Designing A Climate-Resilient Future

68 Biodiversity Medicine

70 Considering Human Anti-Fragility in Social-Spatial Temporal City

72 Healing Our Planet A Place at A Time

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

EDITOR IN CHIEF Seah Chee Huang | EDITOR Belle Chung | CONTENT Belle Chung, Jobelle Tee

GRAPHICS Amelia Agustine, Buena Tan, Kirsten Wong | CONTRIBUTORS Lai Ann, Toh Bee Ping

PHOTOGRAPHERS Amelia Agustine, Chua Qi Feng, Finbarr Fallon, Mazterz, Dion Robeson, Buena Tan, Jerome Teo, Kirsten Wong, Ye Ganghua, David Yeow

STRENGTHENING OUR DESIGN LEADERSHIP & CAPABILITIES

The path of growth towards being better-than-sustainable in our projects and practice requires a strong and dynamic design core. We have, therefore, made strategic additions and appointments of key titleholders across our architecture practice, specialist firms and business support departments. This includes two new directors Ar. Darren Yio in DP Architects and urban planner Anandan Karunakaran in

DP ARCHITECTS

Director

Darren Yio

Associate Director

Amirullah Hartono

Fransiska Wongso

Iman Ashar

Qiu Wenhao

Tay Kai Loong

Zic Chen

Senior Associate

Ein Chang

Felicia Thenardijaya

Jehan Nair

Lew Chin Kwan

Lim May Ling

Loh Zhu Ping

Yanuar Kristanto

DP ARCHITECTS MALAYSIA

Senior Associate

Leland Soh

Khairunnur Shakri

Associate

A’ina-Mardhiyah Mohd

Farah Mohd Jais

Khoo Chia Venn

Raihaini Yusof

Stephanie Wong

DP FAÇADE

Associate Christopher Anoso

Mitchell Napenas

DP Urban and a new head for our Human Capital Management department, Lina Poh; all of whom recently joined DP Architects and its group of companies.

Collectively, they add depth and diversity to our multidisciplinary competencies, typology offerings and whole-of-DP approach, elevating DP’s quality of design and delivery.

Associate

Bob Lee

Christian Sumpena

Glenn Loh

Jacqueline Tjen

Law Kai Xiang

Lee Ping Fuan

Lucas Sentis

Surush Sangworawanna

Timothy Ou Wu Wenwei

Senior Associate, Contracts

Laura Lye

Associate, Contracts

Jasslyn Chua

Senior Associate, Projects Fan Rui Ern

Senior Associate, Technical Ian Soliva

Sanrica Suner

Franco Santiago

Head, Human Capital Management Lina Poh

Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications

Jobelle Tee

DP ARCHITECTS MENA

Senior Associate

Perry Manalo

DP DESIGN

Associate Director Kyitha Khin

Associate

Irwin Yong It

Seah Ying Qi

Goh Jia Min

DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Associate Nhu Pham

DP URBAN

Director Anandan Karunakaran

DRIVING DESIGN EXCELLENCE

EVERY YEAR, WE RELENTLESSLY PURSUE EXCELLENCE, CONTINUOUSLY ELEVATING OUR DESIGN STANDARDS AND DELIVERY TO NEW LEVELS. THE AWARDS WE WIN TESTIFY TO THE GOOD WORK WE DO.

DP PROJECTS ACCORDED PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABLE AND WELLBEING DESIGN

We have advocated for improved sustainable design and better integration of wellbeing principles in our projects. Notable examples include The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), the first Net Zero private institutional building in Singapore; SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse (Singapore), which creatively drew inspiration from its lush park surroundings to deliver a fitness-first, community-centric sports and recreational development; and Bukit Canberra (Singapore), a community, sports, and lifestyle hub that adopts regenerative design principles.

Each has become a well-loved place for the community it serves and has received notable design accolades, which testifies to DP’s commitment to architecture of excellence that uplifts the human spirit and a better-than-sustainable urban future:

12 TH ARCHITIZER A+ AWARDS

• SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, Sustainable Sports and Recreation Building, Jury Winner

ARCHITECTURE MASTERPRIZE 2024

Bukit Canberra, Architectural Design –Conceptual Architecture, Winner

BCI INTERIOR DESIGN AWARDS 2024

• The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), Commercial, Merit

SGBC-BCA LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 2024

• Bukit Canberra, Building Project in Sustainability Leadership –Community Engagement, Winner

SAFRA CHOA CHU KANG CLUBHOUSE SINGAPORE
THE GREENHOUSE AT DULWICH COLLEGE (SINGAPORE) SINGAPORE

THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM: GREEN GOOD DESIGN AWARD

• Bukit Canberra, Green Architecture, Winner SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, Green Architecture, Winner

• The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), Green Architecture, Winner

THE CHICAGO ATHENAEUM: INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD

• SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, Honorable Mention

WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL (WAF) 2024

• Bukit Canberra, Future Projects–Civic, Shortlist

• SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, Completed Buildings–Sports, Shortlist

WORLD DESIGN AWARDS 2024

• The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), Institutional Building (Built), Winner

• The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), Sustainable Design (Built), Winner

WORLD GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL: ASIA PACIFIC LEADERSHIP AWARDS IN GREEN BUILDING

• Bukit Canberra, Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance Award–Institutional Project, Highly Commended

READ ABOUT BUKIT CANBERRA, SAFRA CHOA CHU KANG CLUBHOUSE AND THE GREENHOUSE AT DULWICH COLLEGE (SINGAPORE) IN DESIGN IN PRINT VOL. 14.1.

BUKIT CANBERRA SINGAPORE
CHINA-SINGAPORE
PUNGGOL

HONORABLE MENTIONS AT ARCHITECTURE MASTERPRIZE 2024

Amidst the stiff competition in this cycle of Architecture MasterPrize, DP took home honorable mentions in multiple categories, which affirms our pursuit of design excellence across different building typologies.

1. DAIRY FARM RESIDENCES, SINGAPORE

Residential Architecture–Multi-Unit

The condominium development was designed to offer homeowners ideal luxury living in the tranquil Hillview Estate in Singapore. With 460 units across its four towers, Dairy Farm Residences presents 16 distinct unit types achieved through the deployment of 42 different Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) modules, totaling 1,500 PPVC units integrated into the construction process.

2. TIANJIN ECO-CITY GREEN INNOVATION PARK MASTER PLAN, CHINA

Urban Design

The master plan was conceived in response to China’s “Dual Carbon” policies and aims to pioneer a sustainable development model guided by Ecocity’s planning framework and Singapore’s sustainability experiences.

3. PULLMAN SINGAPORE HILL STREET, SINGAPORE

Hospitality Interior

The design scheme combines modern luxury with historical charm, inspired by the George Pullman train car. Carefully curated, the hotel’s spaces feature warm tones, elegant details, and timeless elements, delivering a unique and immersive hospitality experience that embodies the Pullman brand (Full design narrative on page 45).

4. GET SPACE, CHINA

Mixed-Use Architecture

Pulling focus on the needs and wellbeing of the people, the design for GET SPACE prioritises an expansive public realm and a flexible mix of functions. This is achieved through the exploration of the “horizontal” skyscraper concept and the interplay of volumes. The resulting form is an interesting dialogue between mass and voids, creating opportunities for continuous open-street blocks, multi-level platforms, and sky decks that support social activity and encourage interactions (Full design narrative on page 59).

5. CHINA-SINGAPORE GUANGZHOU KNOWLEDGE CITYKNOWLEDGE TOWER, CHINA Conceptual Architecture

The Knowledge Tower presents an unconventional architectural design for super-tall office buildings. It features a clover-shaped plan and a three-tower structure linked by a central “life-spine” of stacked atriums. A multi-core configuration based on a modular cluster aims to maximise operational and programmatic flexibility while integrating five uniquely programmed communal atriums to realise the vertical village concept.

6. THE WOODLEIGH RESIDENCES AND THE WOODLEIGH MALL, SINGAPORE

Mixed-Use Architecture

The development integrates with an existing train station and offers 28,000sqm of retail space, a 6,000sqm community club, a 2,100sqm Neighborhood Police Centre, and 11 residential towers, each with 11 stories. Delivering the ideal urban lifestyle, the design scheme leverages the concept of borrowed landscape to seamlessly integrate the surrounding landscape elements, including the adjacent Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake, into the mixed-use development.

7. PUNGGOL REGIONAL LIBRARY, SINGAPORE

Interior Design–Public Spaces

The project was recognised for its use of sensitive programming and universal design strategies to create a community library that embraces diversity and contributes to the development of inclusive knowledge societies (Full design narrative on page 49).

THE INLET BLOCK 2 & ZHIXIN TOWER WINS INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD 2024

Zhixin Tower, located within the Nanjing Jiangbei Industrial Technology Research and Innovation Park (NJITRIP) in Jiangsu, China, and The INLET Block 2 in Shanghai, China, were announced winners, and SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse received an Honorable Mention at the coveted International Architecture Awards. The prestigious award, organised by The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, is dedicated to recognising excellence in architecture and urbanism.

Zhixin Tower, a modern workplace development, is outstanding for its distinct building exterior inspired by the Chinese character ‘流’ (liu). Visualised as the “flow” of data information, its architectural form features a beautiful curvature achieved through bevel processing and façade displacement and accentuated for a three-dimensional visual effect using twodimensional lines. Juxtaposing this is its landscape design which has been thoughtfully integrated to provide breakout zones and shared spaces that promote employee wellbeing and facilitate the “flow” of communication and collaboration within the

workplace. Zhixin Tower was among the eight winning projects under the Corporate Building category.

Awarded in the Mixed-Use Buildings category, The INLET Block 2 features an intentionally simple form and employs keen design strategies that deliver sensitive but effective urban interventions to recreate a sense of place within a historical site and reinvigorate its locale. Located along North Sichuan Road, it stands as a gateway and a mirror to the cluster of century-old “shikumen” buildings.

For its creative response to site and sensitive design strategies, The INLET Block 2 is a multi-award-winning project

In 2023, it clinched the Golden Pin Design Award under the Spatial Design category, the BLT Built Design Award under the Architectural Design–Commercial category, the Third Award under the Mixed-Use (Built) category at the Global Architecture & Design Award, and an Honorable Mention in the Commercial Architecture category at Architecture MasterPrize.

ZHIXIN TOWER CHINA
THE INLET BLOCK 2 CHINA

TWO DP PROJECTS AWARDED BCA PROJECT OF THE YEAR 2024

Beating the competition this year at the BCA Awards (formerly known as the BCA Built Environment Transformation Award), two of our projects emerged as Project of the Year Award winners of their respective categories. The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore) won under the Institutional category for its bold feature, an eco-envelope comprised of BIPV Panels, and is the first building of its type to attain Green Mark’s (GM) Platinum Zero Energy certification under the revised GM:2021. The Woodleigh Residences and The Woodleigh Mall won under the Residential category. Built using PPVC modules, the project was a unique opportunity and exercise in DfMA and construction productivity.

The recognition accorded to our projects by the Building and Construction Authority is a testament to DPA’s commitment to positive change and transformation, and to our capabilities in achieving impactful outcomes within our projects and practice. This acknowledgment has further inspired our design practice to pursue innovation in sustainable design and excellence in our design and delivery efforts through our Green-Well-Tech initiative.

The BCA Awards celebrate outstanding projects and achievements in the Built Environment sector. They also recognise those who have embraced and demonstrated transformation at project and enterprise levels to impact their value-chain partners positively. The award ceremony was held on 6th September during the annual International Built Environment Week (IBEW).

THE WOODLEIGH RESIDENCES AND THE WOODLEIGH MALL SINGAPORE
THE GREENHOUSE AT DULWICH COLLEGE (SINGAPORE) SINGAPORE

CREDAWARDS 2024 GIVING MERIT WHERE MERIT’S DUE

Mondrian Singapore Duxton and One Punggol were awarded Merit in the Comprehensive Commercial Project–City Hotel and the Social Public Project–Community Center categories, respectively.

The jury recognised the design efforts made in Mondrian Singapore Duxton to incorporate the site’s colonial history by abstracting common decorative elements as architectural features to derive a contemporary form, and for its respectful reinterpretation of the traditional shophouse typology in its façade design, which mirrors their datum of scale and proportion. They were also impressed by how the design scheme, through an axial avenue of interesting multi-level spaces, maximised the opportunity to reconnect the famous Keong Saik Road with the vibrant heart of Duxton Hill, effectively reinvigorating the locale.

One Punggol was praised for its design strategies to enhance community togetherness and strengthen the resilience of the Punggol community. Designed to be accessible from all directions at ground level, it invites end-users into the central atrium, which connects all floors and stakeholders. The open floor plan allows freedom of movement, facilitating opportunities for chance encounters and interactions within the community. In this way, the development effectively communicates inclusivity through connectivity and fosters unity through interaction.

ULI ASIA PACIFIC AWARD 2024

GOODLIFE MAKAN DELIGHTS JURORS

Completed in 2015 and refurbished in 2021, Goodlife Makan represents an initiative by Montfort Care to address the isolation experienced by elderly individuals living alone. Designed by DP Architects, it introduces an innovative approach to the senior care centre typology in Singapore, exemplifying the transformative power of design to effect positive societal change by reshaping our environment.

Cheerfully designed with a communal kitchen as its centrepiece, this active ageing centre, located at a void deck in Marine Terrace, is the first to foster interaction and promote social support among elderly individuals living independently through culinary programming within a community-based support network. Its design scheme takes advantage of the porous setting of the void deck to create an open, fenceless area that seeks to reduce the social stigma frequently associated with elder-care facilities. The shift from a conventional model is also expressed in the intentional application of rich, vibrant hues, reflected in its zoning areas as well.

The modest 160sqm active ageing centre’s impact and capacity for good were recognised by the esteemed jurors of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence. It was one of the twelve winners honoured at the ULI Asia Pacific Summit 2024 in Tokyo, Japan, and among the finalists in the ULI Global Awards for Excellence 2024.

GOODLIFE STUDIO (BUKIT PURMEI) WINS MULTIPLE AWARDS

The success of Goodlife Makan led to a second iteration. Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) similarly converts a void deck space into an inclusive social living room for the residents. Headed by Montfort Care, various programmes aim to empower senior citizens to take charge of their learning and health (Full design narrative on page 51)

For how its thoughtful and community-focused design strategies meaningfully reconfigured an under-utilised public space and empowers active ageing and lifelong learning among our senior citizens, the project was recognised at the Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Awards (SIA ADA) 2024 with the Merit Award in the Special Category–Social and Humanitarian Architecture. It also emerged as a Spatial Design (Public Space)

category winner and the Public Building Interior (Built) category winner at the 2024 Golden Pin Design Awards and World Design Awards, respectively.

Three other DP Architects projects were shortlisted as finalists at SIA ADA 2024.

They are Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore in the Industrial and Utility Buildings category and Punggol Regional Library and The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore) in the Educational and Community Buildings category.

GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN AWARD 2024 MIDWOOD & HMGICS RECOGNISED

Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) and Midwood are projects that demonstrated innovation in their design and construction process, with high-quality outcomes.

Midwood is the first productivity-based tender awarded by the BCA and URA. It emphasises efficiencies in design and construction alongside overall development design. The project utilises Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) with advanced integrated digital delivery (IDD) processes. It features two 29-storey residential towers with 564 units in 14 types, utilising 1,601 PPVC modules and was sensitively approached to ensure compliance with privacy requirements and orientation away from the nearby Ministry of Defence. Midwood won the Housing (over 5 floors)—Built category.

An industry-changing smart urban mobility hub, HMGICS received the Second Award in the Industrial—Built category for its use of TSC, PSRC, and HCS systems. These systems allow for both material and construction efficiencies, eliminating the need for staging by serving as self-standing permanent formworks. The outcome is a spacious, column-free environment with a high ceiling that perfectly suits the needs and supports HMGICS’s high-tech but human-centred manufacturing process.

SGBC-BCA LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD 2024

DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN MAKES AN IMPACT

Our Environmental Sustainability Design (ESD) arm, DP Sustainable Design (DPSD), received the Business Leadership in Sustainability Award in the Impact category as part of the 2024 SGBC-BCA Leadership in Sustainability Awards for its commitment to advancing sustainability in the built environment industry.

DPSD was established in 2013 as a full-fledged ESD specialist consultancy and has since grown to include architects, engineers, and in-house assessors proficient in Green Mark, LEED, WELL, WiredScore, and SmartScore certifications. Pushing for innovation and excellence in sustainability, they deliver forward-thinking, environmentally conscious projects with better-than-sustainable outcomes, including The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), the first net-zero private institutional development in Singapore; Bukit Canberra, an integrated lifestyle hub designed as a living building; and SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, a Green Mark certified super low-energy sports and recreation development with exemplary performances in the areas of health and wellbeing, and whole life carbon.

“DPSD is honoured by this recognition,” says Er. Yong Siew Onn, DPSD director. “It is affirmation that we are headed in the right direction. We remain committed to combating climate change through holistic and innovative sustainable design solutions that address environmental impacts and create exceptional built projects for our clients.”

MIDWOOD SINGAPORE
HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP INNOVATION CENTER SINGAPORE SINGAPORE
BUKIT CANBERRA SINGAPORE

CHENGNAN RIVERFRONT URBAN COMPLEX AND PUNGGOL GREEN EXCEL AT BLT BUILT DESIGN AWARDS 2024

Our design teams at DPA China and our landscape architecture arm, DP Green (DPG), were proud recipients of the recently concluded BLT Built Design Awards.

Chengnan Riverfront Urban Complex, designed by DPA China as a regional lifestyle hub for commercial and social activities in NJITRIP, China, is among 11 winners in the Mixed-Use Building category. The project was recognised for its clever, human-centric design strategies to address the challenging site condition, effectively unifying two plots separated by the existing river and an intrusive pump station and transforming the under-utilised riverfront into a dynamic, multidimensional central courtyard (Read more on page 61).

The BLT Built Design Awards is an annual global awards programme that aims to identify and promote outstanding projects in the building industry.

Punggol Green emerged as one of two Landscape Architecture— Park & Garden category winner and was also named the Jury Favourite. Collaborating with government agencies and the local community, DPG presented a design scheme that completely converted a 500-metre-long, unutilised space under a Light Rail Transit (LRT) viaduct in Punggol, Singapore, into a delightful social spine while promoting ecological sustainability and connectivity (Read more on page 55).

CHENGNAN RIVERFRONT URBAN COMPLEX
CHINA
PUNGGOL GREEN
SINGAPORE
PUNGGOL GREEN
SINGAPORE

PENN COLOR TECHNOLOGY CENTER: A

MULTI-AWARD-WINNING

DESIGN, INCLUDING WAF INSIDE AWARD 2024

Penn Color Technology Center, designed by our interior design and spatial planning specialist–DP Design–won in the Workplace (Small) category at the recently concluded World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2024 INSIDE Awards. This marks the fifth accolade that the project has received, a testament to DP Design’s bold design vision and decision to break away from conventional templates of industrial spaces to realise a formidably simple and beautifully user-centric workplace.

Articulated through material and form, it strategically employs untreated raw concrete screeded flooring, exposed ceiling, and minimally treated plywood. The materials, unembellished and prosaic, communicate qualities of Asian hospitality–warm, unassuming, and honest–which are befitting of Penn Color’s first Asia Centre and its brand vision. Complemented by greenery and natural lighting interjections across its thoughtfully planned private and shared spaces, the design displays sensitive consideration for end-user wellbeing and brand experience.

The creativity and mastery with which DP Design has executed this design scheme have also been recognised at the 2024 Singapore Interior Design Awards where it received the Silver Award and Luminary Award in the Best in Workspace Design (Floor Area ≤ 500sqm); at the 2024 IFI Design Distinction Awards where it received Bronze in the Work category; and at the 2023 IDCS Design Excellence Awards where it received Gold in the Best Workplace Design (≤ 2000sqf) category.

Three other DP Architects projects were shortlisted as finalists at the 2024 WAF Awards.

They are Bukit Canberra in the Future Projects–Civic category, SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse in the Completed Buildings–Sports category, and Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) in the INSIDE–Health and Fitness category.

SIA SILVERKRIS LOUNGE AT PERTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WOWS WITH ITS BRAND REFRESH AT SIDA 2024

Envisioned as a ‘Home away from Home,’ DP Design created a lounge prioritising passenger wellbeing while establishing the Singapore Airlines brand experience.

The design team achieved this by blending nuances synonymous with Singaporean culture with distinctly Australian elements. These are captured in the vibrant batik motif reflective of the brand, providing a sense of familiarity and connection, and the native Blackbutt Timber in the interior furnishings. In combination, the rich contrast of materials delivers a luxurious and timeless ambience, echoing SIA’s brand heritage and experience while celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of the two countries.

Despite its open-concept floor plan, thoughtful zoning for both group and solo business travellers beautifully enhances the space’s quality. Signature wingback chairs and productivity pods mark each area, maintaining visual and mobile accessibility.

The design outcome of the SilverKris Lounge at Perth International Airport is classy, contemporary, and luxuriously comfortable, winning it the Bronze and Luminary Awards in the Best in Public Space Design–Leisure and Entertainment category at the Singapore Interior Design Awards (SIDA) 2024.

TRIPLE WIN FOR DP DESIGN AT SINGAPORE GOOD DESIGN AWARD 2024

DP Design has been elevating its design standards. From the workplace to retail typologies, it has delivered beautifully bespoke, deeply human-centric projects that positively transform culture, create unique experiences, and contribute to a sense of place. Noteworthy examples are The Work Suite, A Verdant Workplace, and the F1 Paddock Club (2023 Edition), all of which received accolades at the 2024 Singapore Good Design Award in the Spatial Design and Experience Design categories, respectively.

Both The Work Suite and A Verdant Workplace leverage DP Design’s cross-disciplinary expertise for a transformation proposal that re-imagines the office from a back-of-house model of siloed workspaces into a hub of collaborations and connections. The Work Suite features a hotel-inspired design scheme, while A Verdant Workplace creatively applies a walk/work-in-a-park concept—two different approaches with similar design goals of transforming corporate culture and elevating employer branding through spaces that prioritise employee wellbeing, facilitating community-centred experiences, and improving productivity.

The design of the F1 Paddock Club curated the ultimate immersive and exclusive F1 experience. Circuit-inspired, the space was crafted

as an extension of the Grand Prix spectacle, manifested in the ceiling design, three-storey LED wall feature in the atrium, and reflective surfaces that complemented the graphic art show and enhanced the immersive experience. The spatial layout was also improved to better augment the capacity of the F1 Paddock Club as a social space while accommodating proper operation workflow. Every design detail was carefully threaded together to elevate the Paddock Club’s entertainment value and foster a comfortable atmosphere for patrons to dine, mingle, and enjoy panoramic views of the race.

DP Design is pushing its creative boundaries in workplace design and have received recognition in other award programmes.

A Verdant Workplace is among the Mark Winners in the Spatial Design (Office Space) category at the 2024 Golden Pin Design Award. Simultaneously, The Work Suite received an Honourable Mention at the Singapore Interior Design Award 2024 in the Best in Workspace Design (Floor Area ≥ 500sqm) category.

F1 PADDOCK CLUB SINGAPORE
F1 PADDOCK CLUB SINGAPORE

LOTTE FLAGSHIP STORE AT CHANGI AIRPORT AND CONRAD SINGAPORE ORCHARD TAKE HOME BRONZE AT DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2024

Further testifying to the strength and quality of DP Design’s work, our interior design specialist arm swept five awards across different categories at the recently concluded Design Excellence Awards gala dinner, organised by the Interior Design Confederation of Singapore (IDCS). Among them are the new LOTTE Flagship Store at Singapore’s Changi Airport Terminal 2 and the refurbished Conrad Singapore Orchard projects, which clinched a Bronze in the categories of Best Retail Design (≥ 5001 square feet) and Best Hospitality Design (≥ 201 rooms), respectively. The design of the duty-free flagship store for LOTTE was awarded for its bold integration of technology to elevate the retail experience and create a memorable brand impression, while the refurbishment of the main reception and amenities of the hotel development was recognised for its timeless interpretation of the brand refresh from the Regent Hotel to the Conrad Singapore Orchard.

In the category of Best Workplace Design (≥ 5001 square feet), both The Verdant Workplace and The Work Suite were accorded Silver, and in the Best Public Design category, Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge at Perth International Airport was awarded Silver; making the evening a proud one for DP Design.

At the IDCS Awards Gala, DPA’s founding partner, Mr Koh Seow Chuan, was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of his illustrious career as one of Singapore’s pioneering architects and his lifelong work in helping to shape the urban development of modern Singapore.

“I believe so much in teamwork that whatever award I receive, it is the team that worked with me who are receiving this award,” said Mr Koh in his speech. “And tonight, I remember so many of my colleagues at DP Architects. This award should go to all of DP so that DP sees this as only a milestone and the best is yet to come.”

LOTTE FLAGSHIP STORE AT CHANGI AIRPORT T2 SINGAPORE
CONRAD SINGAPORE ORCHARD SINGAPORE
CONRAD SINGAPORE ORCHARD SINGAPORE

DP INSPIRE AWARDS 2024: ENCOURAGING

A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND CELEBRATING DESIGN EXCELLENCE

On 23rd October, DP held its biennial DP Inspire Awards. In its 4th cycle, the awards programme saw 24 shortlisted entries from across the design practice’s global offices and specialist companies. It was a full-day, open-door affair conducted at its headquarters in Singapore that invited all DPians to join in person and online, both in support of colleagues presenting their projects and to learn from the design crit by an independent panel of guest jury of esteemed experts. This year, the jurors included Ar. Belinda Huang and Ar. Khoo Peng Beng, co-founders of ARC Studio and the President*s Designer of the Year for 2020; Prof Jeffrey Hou, who is a provost’s Chair Professor and the Head of the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore; and Chantal Sajan, a Senior Correspondent for Design and Architecture at The Straits Times.

DP Inspire Awards was first established by the now-Chairperson of DPA, Ar. Angelene Chan, to encourage design excellence and innovation across the practice’s 16 global offices and eight specialist arms. It comprised three categories: Building of the Year which recognised built architecture of excellence, Design of the Year which is awarded to any unbuilt, under construction or non-architecture project that displays excellence in design, and Research & Innovation which celebrated creativity in design thinking in an unbuilt project or research.

Shortlisted entries undergo a live round of presentations and are assessed by an external panel of guest jury, made up of respected experts from the design profession, academia and media. This dynamic format, which rounds off with a Q&A session for each presentation, not only elevates the competition but also offers a unique learning opportunity through the invaluable exchange of design thinking between our project teams and thought leaders. Winning projects receive prize money that project teams will use for study trips only, to advance their knowledge of architecture, design and/or related fields.

This year, the award criteria were refreshed in alignment with DP’s Green-Well-Tech thrust and Attributes of Purposeful Design (APD)

List of Winners

BUILDING OF THE YEAR | BUILT

WINNER

GET SPACE | Guangzhou, China

SPECIAL MENTIONS

Singapore Island Country Club | Singapore

The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore) | Singapore

BUILDING OF THE YEAR | UNBUILT

WINNER

Heng Long Exotic Leather Tannery | Singapore

SPECIAL MENTION

Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple | Singapore

framework, emphasising people-focused and value-oriented designs for life-centred, climate-resilient, better-than-sustainable outcomes. The categories were also slightly revamped for a more comprehensive award programme with the Building of the Year split into two sub-categories–Built and Unbuilt–and Design of the Year revised to encourage more submissions from our specialist companies. Research & Innovation category remained unchanged, allowing entries that range from research papers to design innovation in projects.

Competition day was filled with laughter and rich dialogue around what design excellence entails. The jurors commended DP for how deeply it has cultivated a core human component in the work we do and established a standard of excellence that cuts across all project types and scale through its APD framework which, in the words of Ar. Khoo, “serves as a compass for the design teams.” They likened DP to a fleet of vessels aligned toward a common purpose, propelled by a shared vision that embraces technological, social, and architectural advancements. The guest jurors also commended DP’s courage towards challenging norms, prioritising sustainable and impactful designs, and a strong cultural foundation. Poised to lead transformative change, DP embodies a spirit of resilience and inspiration for the global architectural community.

Concluding the day, DPA CEO Ar. Seah Chee Huang extended gratitude to the judges for their insightful feedback that enriched all attendees. He further highlights the profound impact of design and architecture in shaping communities, making the session a deeply rewarding experience for all involved.

Winners and special mentions were revealed at DP’s biennial DesignFUTURE Conference 2024 (read more on page 64) on 22nd November. Jurors Ar. Belinda Huang, Ar. Khoo Peng Beng, Prof Jeffrey Hou and Ms Chantal Sajan, graced the awards ceremony and presented the winners with their winning certificates and prize money.

DESIGN OF THE YEAR

WINNERS

Punggol Green | Singapore

Punggol Regional Library | Singapore

Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) | Singapore

SPECIAL MENTION

Pullman Singapore Hill Street | Singapore

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

WINNERS

OKA-Y | Singapore sid | Singapore

OUR 2024 DP INSPIRE AWARDS JURORS (FROM LEFT) AR. BELINDA HUANG, AR. KHOO PENG BENG, MS CHANTAL SAJAN AND PROF JEFFREY HOU.
DIRECTOR AR. TEOH HAI PIN RECEIVES BULDING OF THE YEAR (BUILT) FOR GET SPACE PROJECT.
PUNGGOL REGIONAL LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE DESIGN OF THE YEAR WINNERS.
RESEARCH & INNOVATION WINNER: OKA-Y.
DP GREEN’S PUNGGOL GREEN TEAM RECEIVES DESIGN OF THE YEAR.
SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ANG GUO ZI, RECEIVES BUILDING OF THE YEAR (UNBUILT) FOR HENG LONG EXOTIC LEATHER TANNERY ON BEHALF OF THE TEAM.

CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE

UNITED WITH A SINGULAR DEDICATION TO DELIVERING ARCHITECTURE OF EXCELLENCE, OUR PEOPLE REMAIN THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO. WE CELEBRATE THE BRILLIANT MILESTONES OF OUR PEOPLE WHILE FOSTERING A SUPPORTIVE CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND GROWTH.

OUR YOUNG ARCHITECTS RECOGNISED AT PERSPECTIVE 40 UNDER 40 2024

Two of our young DPians were awarded PERSPECTIVE Global’s ’40 Under 40’ award in 2024.

Senior associate, Ar. Joanne Gay and associate Ar. Tan Zi Hua were both recognised for their contributions to the built environment and dedication towards sustainable design, further demonstrating their commitment towards creating thoughtful spaces that positively impact communities. This also marks their second recognition. Both Ar. Gay and Ar. Tan were featured in Singapore Business Review ’s most outstanding architecture professionals under 40 in the year 2022 and 2024 respectively.

An annual award, PERSPECTIVE 40 Under 40 recognises and celebrates talented professionals under the age of 40 across fields of architecture, interior design and product design, highlighting those who are shaping the future of the industry.

STUDY ON MENTAL HEALTH & DESIGN SPOTLIGHTED AT IPS 2024

In September, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) held its biennial Young Singaporeans Conference (YSC) where it gathered young Singaporeans below the age of 30 to discuss issues of national interest and public policy. Two young DPians, associates Glenn Loh and Law Kai Xiang, were nominated to participate in this one-day conference, based on the theme of mental health.

The conference further focused on two individual yet interconnected aspects-mental health across early life stages and mental health provisions-which were explored in group discussions, panel discussions and a dialogue session with Guest-of-Honour, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of Digital Development and Information and Ministry of Health, Dr Janil Puthucheary.

AR. JEHAN NAIR SPOTLIGHTED AS ONE OF SP’S OUTSTANDING ALUMNI

DP Architects senior associate Ar. Jehan Nair was featured in Singapore Polytechnic’s (SP) alumni campaign. Spotlighted for her passion for social architecture, her community-focused project works also garnered Ar. Nair’s recognition in Singapore Business Review ’s most outstanding architecture professionals under 40 in 2023. The campaign, themed ‘Define Your Possible’, centres around the authentic success stories of each of their alumni and looks to inspire ambition across various pathways of success, shaped by the institution.

GLENN LOH ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS
LAW KAI XIANG ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS
AR. JOANNE GAY SENIOR ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS
AR. TAN ZI HUA ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS
AR. JEHAN NAIR SENIOR ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS

SINGAPORE OFFICE TOP ROW (FROM LEFT):

AR. MARCUS QUEK, AR. WU WENWEI, AR. STEVEN HARSONO TJOKROKENTJONO BOTTOM ROW (FROM LEFT): AR. CHEN YILI, AR. KWONG WAN HUAY

DPA’S NEWLY REGISTERED ARCHITECTS

This year, DP Architects is delighted to welcome 17 newly registered architects across its global offices. From its Singapore headquarters, they are Ar. Marcus Quek, Ar. Wu Wenwei, Ar. Steven Harsono Tjokrokentjono, Ar. Chen Yili and Ar. Kwong Wan Huay.

From our Shanghai and Guangzhou offices in China, the newly registered architects—Zhao Chuan Shi, Wei Li Qi, Zhang Xiao, Sun Li Li and Li Jun—have all acquired the accreditation of Class 1 Registered Architect (中国一级建筑师 ). This is the highest level of certification awarded to architects with advanced expertise, allowing them to work on larger and complex projects.

From our Kuala Lumpur office, they are Ar. Farah Haseenah Binti Mohd Jais and Ar. Nurul Farhana Binti Rapai Kasini. From our India office, they are Arch. Srishti Sarkar, Arch. Darshan Abhang, Arch. Mohamed Nadeem Sha, and Arch. Karthick Palaniyandi; and, from our Vietnam office, KTS. Ngo Phat Tai.

This achievement is a testament to DPA’s dedication to nurturing talent and fostering professional growth within the architecture industry, enabling them to bring diverse perspectives and make lasting contributions to the global built environment.

SIX DPIANS AMONG THE FIRST BATCH OF SICP GRADUATES

The inaugural Singapore Institute of Certified Planners (SICP) ceremony saw six professionals from our multidisciplinary practice receive their certificates and were the first cohort of the Singapore Institute of Certified Planners (SICP) certified planners.

Of the graduating cohort, they were DPA directors, Chan Hui Min and Ar. Tan Chee Yong, DP Green director Yvonne Tan, and DP Urban directors, Djoko Prihanto and Anandan Karunakaran, along with principal planner, Esther Chai.

Held in July 2024, the inaugural ceremony was opened by Mr Prihanto, who is also the president of the Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP). The Guest-Of-Honour for the evening was the CEO of URA, Mr Lim Eng Hwee, who congratulated SIP on the successful roll-out of the programme and extended his congratulations to the pioneer graduating batch of SICP Certified Planners.

OVERSEAS OFFICES FROM LEFT: ZHAO CHUAN SHI, WEI LI QI, ZHANG XIAO, SUN LI LI, LI JUN, AR. FARAH HASEENAH BINTI MOHD JAIS, AR. NURUL FARHANA BINTI RAPAI KASINI, ARCH. SRISHTI SARKAR, ARCH. DARSHAN ABHANG, ARCH. MOHAMED NADEEM SHA, ARCH. KARTHICK PALANIYANDI, KTS. NGO PHAT TAI
DPA SCHOLARSHIP

DPIAN RECOGNISED AT BARTLETT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Senior associate Tan Wen Jun’s deep interest in kinetic and experiential architecture led him to further his interest and subsequent enrolment in the Bartlett Prospective (B-Pro programme, led by Bartlett School of Architecture in University College London through the firm’s scholarship programme. A post-professional course in architectural design, this programme explores computational design, artificial intelligence, and digital fabrication with an emphasis of disruptive technologies and research.

During this year-long programme, Wen Jun was able to work with leading researchers in these fields and developed a design project that was awarded the Gold Medal during its exhibition opening day. Within his group of three, they designed and developed an autonomous lightweight shape-shifting structure that uses the rhythmics of breath to synchronise sounds, atmosphere and even emotions.

Underpinned by the firm’s people-first approach, DPA actively commits towards nurturing young talents within its firm by providing opportunities for growth through scholarship opportunities. A part of DPA’s human capital development programme, upskilling programmes have been in place with in-house conducted courses, lectures and training sessions that are delivered group-wide, to all of its global offices.

DP ACADEMY CELEBRATES DPA’S TOP 10 LEARNERS

At the biennial Blueprint event, held in the morning of the DesignFUTURE Conference 2024, DP Academy, a department committed to fostering the professional development, continuous upskilling and training of all staff, honoured the Top 10 Learners for the year 2024.

These participating DPians have accumulated the highest number of credit points, acquired through the completion of courses conducted within the DPA headquarters. These courses range from Green-Well-Tech design sharing sessions and personal development courses to trade talks.

This recognition underscores our commitment to nurturing a culture of lifelong learning and exemplifies the values of professional excellence and a proactive approach to personal and collective growth. Looking forward, it serves to reinforce the significance of knowledge-sharing and the ongoing pursuit of innovation in design and architecture.

FOUR DPIANS LISTED AS MOST NOTABLE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSIONALS

Four promising DPians under the age of 40 were featured in Singapore Business Review ’s annual list of 20 ‘most notable architecture professionals. They are Ar. Tan Zi Hua, Ar. Jenabi Ling, Ar. Eugene Fong and Ar. Tay Kai Loong.

All registered architects, they were recognised for their contributions towards the sector, along with a collective and conscious effort to prioritise sustainability through their various project works. Spanning across residential, infrastructure and civic typologies, their works for various user groups and scales showcase the diversity of projects, talents and capabilities of DP as a multidisciplinary practice.

DP WELCOMES FIVE NEWLY ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS

DP Architects and its group of companies are pleased to announce the addition of five new green Accredited Professionals (APs) from the past and current years.

From DP Sustainable Design, director Er. Yong Siew Onn attained the Living Future accreditation, senior ESD analyst; Foo Kai Ting is accredited with SmartScore AP, WiredScore AP (Development) and WiredScore AP (Occupied) and associate Nhu Pham, was conferred the WELL AP in 2023. From DP Design, associate director IDr. Dessy Budhianto was accorded the WELL AP credential and DP Green’s senior associate, Thun KongSub received the Active Beautiful Clean (ABC) Waters Professional certification.

The attainment of such credentials across various accreditation programmes is a testament to DP’s commitment and proactive advancement of our internal standards against these globally recognised benchmarks. This also further complements our multidisciplinary offerings while furthering our commitment to our Green-Well-Tech thrust and ethos, which underscores our stance to put sustainability and wellbeing at the baseline of everything DP does, elevating the firm’s ability to deliver better-than-sustainable outcomes.

AR. TAN ZI HUA ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS
AR. JENABI LING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, DP ARCHITECTS
AR. TAY KAI LOONG ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, DP ARCHITECTS
AR. EUGENE FONG SENIOR ASSOCIATE, DP ARCHITECTS (THAILAND)
YONG SIEW ONN DIRECTOR, DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
FOO KAI TING SENIOR ESD ANALYST, DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
DESSY BUDHIANTO ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, DP DESIGN
THUN KONGSUB SENIOR ASSOCIATE, DP GREEN
NHU PHAM ASSOCIATE, DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

ADVOCATING SUSTAINABILITY & INNOVATION

WE PAVE THE PATH TOWARDS A BETTER-THAN-SUSTAINABLE URBAN FUTURE THROUGH ADVOCACY AND ACTION IN OUR PROJECTS, PRACTICE AND PARTNERSHIPS.

sid: DPA DEVELOPS GenAI SOLUTION AND WINS TRANSFORMATION AWARD AT AI TRAILBLAZER 2.0 INITIATIVE

DP Architects (DPA) has developed a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), named sid (Spatial Intelligence for Design), that can plan residential spaces. The solution was developed during the AI Trailblazers 2.0 initiative, which was jointly organised by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, Digital Industry Singapore, and Google Cloud to drive generative AI adoption in Singapore.

Trained on actual residential unit designs, sid can intelligently translate development requirements into residential block designs and dynamically modify apartment layouts according to users’ instructions. The AI solution helps designers optimise the comfort and liveability of residential developments while maximising the development land area. Its key advantage is that it allows users to generate and manipulate the designs quickly and accurately without needing special tools.

“WE ARE EARLY MOVERS IN MACHINE LEARNING FOR SPATIAL DESIGN AND ARE EXCITED BY THE POSSIBILITIES AND THE BETTER-THAN-SUSTAINABLE OUTCOMES THAT Gen AI SOLUTIONS CAN BRING TO BOTH OUR PROFESSION AND OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT.”
CHAN HUI MIN, DIRECTOR AT DPA AND HEAD OF THE SMART SUSTAINABILITY UNIT

In a small, highly built-up city like Singapore where space is a constant and pressing challenge, sid can be applied to many space-planning challenges, making it a useful tool for more than architects. For instance, it could be used to optimise logistical space and data centre planning. With further development, sid may even benefit real estate developers and building owners.

sid was conferred the Transformation Award at the graduation of the first four cohorts of AI Trailblazer 2.0. The award recognises top teams that have displayed technical competency in harnessing GenAI to develop functional solutions with considerable impact and value.

“We are truly excited by the birth of sid , a GenAI solution that understands and augments space. It can potentially transform the way architects work by empowering us to shape and configure space at scale, on demand, and with precision,” said Ar. Seah Chee Huang, CEO of DPA. “sid also brings a fresh approach to expanding and developing our talent pool to drive transformation in the built environment industry.”

Encouraged by its success in the AI Trailblazers 2.0 initiative, DPA intends to extend sid’s capability with the help of strategic partners like Google Cloud.

sid IS DEVELOPED BY DPA’S SMART SUSTAINABILITY UNIT, HEADED BY DIRECTOR CHAN HUI MIN (THIRD FROM THE RIGHT).
‘THE

DREAM SPHERE’: DPA GROUP AND KINGSMEN EXHIBITS DESIGN THE SINGAPORE PAVILION FOR EXPO 2025 IN OSAKA, JAPAN

The DP Architects group is excited and proud to be part of the creative team behind the Singapore Pavilion for Expo 2025, in Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The first glimpse of the Singapore Pavilion was unveiled on 15th April 2024 at a press conference in Osaka, Japan. The design is conceptualised by DP Architects group comprising DP Design, DP Engineers, DP Façade, DP Green, DP Lighting and DP Sustainable Design, in conjunction with the Singapore Tourism Board and collaborators, Kingsmen Exhibits, KR+D, along with multimedia partners, Finding Pictures, Milla & Partner GmbH, and creative consultant, Presplay. In November this year, 10.5 months after construction began on 10th January 2024, His Excellency Ong Eng Chuan, Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Singapore Pavilion, announced the completion of the exterior shell.

Anchored in the theme of the Expo, Designing Future Society for Our Lives, the Pavilion is envisioned as a global call for a more sustainable and liveable future, and a connecting point, ‘Where Dreams Take Shape’. Aptly named The Dream Sphere, the Singapore Pavilion aims to inspire and invite visitors to explore the infinite possibilities of dreams and to shape a better future and a more positive world with the city-state. (Read more about the design on Page 57).

Inspired by the ‘Little Red Dot’, the design genesis is a physical manifestation of this term of endearment into a larger-than-life experiential sphere nestled in a dream like cloudscape. The

Dream Sphere is enveloped by about 17,000 recycled aluminum dream discs, presenting our collective aspiration. It is also our call to action as we invite the global community to join us on a multisensorial journey to imagine a world of endless possibilities, powered by dreams and determination to positively shape the lives of people and the planet.

The Expo 2025 Osaka, which will be held from 13th April to 13th October 2025, will be Japan’s third Expo, having hosted the Osaka Expo in 1970 and the Aichi Expo in 2005.

“INSPIRED BY THE ‘LITTLE RED DOT’, THE DESIGN GENESIS IS A PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION OF OUR COLLECTIVE ASPIRATION. IT IS ALSO OUR CALL TO ACTION TO IMAGINE A WORLD OF ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES, POWERED BY DREAMS AND DETERMINATION TO POSITIVELY SHAPE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND THE PLANET.”

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE SINGAPORE PAVILION, EXPO 2025 OSAKA.

DPA PARTNERS WITH KEPPEL’S REAL ESTATE DIVISION ON AEI AND ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC

DPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Keppel’s Real Estate Division on 10th September 2024 to collaborate strategically on Asset Enhancement Initiatives (AEI) and Adaptive Reuse projects in Asia Pacific. The MoU, signed by Ar. Seah Chee Huang, CEO of DPA, and Mr Louis Lim, CEO of Keppel’s Real Estate Division, is forged on both organisations’ shared goals of creating a more resilient and sustainable urban future through innovative green design solutions. They will leverage each other’s expertise to do so.

The design practice brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of how to revitalise urban spaces and enhance their architectural and economic value. Testament to this is DPA’s involvement in the Orchard Road Master Plan and the A&A works of its key retail developments such as Wisma Atria, Mandarin Gallery, and Paragon Shopping Centre; the redevelopment of Bugis Junction; the adaptive reuse of the then DBS Building to OUE Downtown Gallery; and more recently, the AEI of Lazada One and conservation of the iconic Golden Mile Complex.

DPA recognises the immense value that AEI and Adaptive Reuse projects deliver for environmental sustainability. In alignment with DPA’s broader Green-Well-Tech thrust and sustainability roadmap, the strategic partnership will enable DPA to push forward in its mission for and fulfil its commitment to better-than-sustainable outcomes in its projects and a regenerative built environment.

“DPA has always been invested in creating quality environments that enrich the lives of people, and as the practice continues to rethink

OUR ARCHITECTS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ON #MYCARFREEADVENTURE

In September 2024, senior associate director at DPA Ar. Wang Ying and senior associate at DPG, Thun KongSub volunteered as tour guides in the #mycarfreeadventure initiative that was conducted in conjunction with World CarFree Day. Stationed at Punggol Green and One Punggol, they brought participating members of the public on a guided tour to experience how footpaths and cycling paths are more than just an infrastructure. Through people-centric design and community architecture, they have the potential to transform into meaningful public nodes for people to meet and interact, fostering stronger community ties.

The month-long initiative was jointly organised by the Land Transport Authority, Health Promotion Board, Housing & Development Board, National Heritage Board, National Parks Board, Singapore Art Museum, Urban Redevelopment Authority, and public transport operators,

liveability in the face of the climate emergency, it is clear to us that regenerative practices and outcomes are our best hope for a sustainable future,” said Ar. Seah. “But this race against the clock requires change and collective effort at both enterprise and industry levels. This is why collaborations with developers and stakeholders across the Built Environment industry are more critical than ever. We embrace this strategic alliance with Keppel with great excitement and purpose.

Our whole-of-DP approach harnesses our collective multidisciplinary and typology expertise to bring greater sustainable design capabilities and leverages locally entrenched market experts to deliver effective and meaningful designs in existing brownfield projects. I believe that this coming together of asset managers and practitioners will be highly and mutually beneficial, for the immediate parties involved, the business and social communities–not forgetting Nature too, as a key stakeholder–as we deliver greener and more resilient environments.”

SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation to create greater public awareness about the benefits of walking, cycling and riding public transport as green and sustainable ways to travel.
CEO OF DPA, AR. SEAH CHEE HUANG (ON RIGHT) WITH CEO OF KEPPEL’S READ ESTATE DIVISION, MR LOUIS LIM (ON LEFT). IMAGE COURTESY OF KEPPEL (REAL ESTATE DIVISION).

SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2024: WoWDERING WONDERS BY

DPG CLINCHES COMMUNITY’S CHOICE AWARD

In response to the theme ‘Botanical Fun’ and with an emphasis on sustainability, our landscape executives from DP Green, Chong Yong Le and Qiyanah Azmi (pictured above) together with Azza Dina from the National Parks Board (NParks), explored the future possibility of living amidst nature in their landscape urban installation design for the Singapore Gardeners Cup at the 2024 Singapore Garden Festival (SGF).

‘WoWdering Wonders’, representing the North-East district, was one of the five featured urban installations from the five districts in Singapore. It was realised in collaboration with participants from Tampines Arcadia Residents’ Network, Chartwell Neighbourhood Committee, Greendale Primary School, Temasek Polytechnic, UWCSEA (East), Al-Mawaddah Mosque, Muhammadiyah Welfare Home, and Sri Darma Muneeswaran Temple—DMT Nandavanam (DMT Garden). The Implementing Partner for the installation was Develco Landscape.

The design simultaneously celebrated the interplay and explored the blurring boundary between nature and the urban environment. By juxtaposing an urban meadow and a naturalistic forest,

it showcased humanity’s complex relationship with nature through the themes of Wilding, Wandering, and Wondering. Also, a metaphor for the impact of urbanisation on wildlife, ‘WoWdering Wonders’ sought to inspire visitors to contemplate the potential for harmony between humans and the natural world through mutual embrace and adaptation. The installation was awarded Silver in the Community’s Choice Award.

In its ninth edition, SGF 2024 was held at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre from 3rd to 11th August. One of SGF’s many highlights is the Singapore Gardeners’ Cup, a friendly challenge for local community gardening groups to co-create thematic garden displays. Gardening groups from the five districts in Singapore partner with staff from the National Parks Board, landscape architects, and implementing partners to develop one garden for each district.

DP GREEN LANDSCAPE EXECUTIVES, CHONG YONG LE AND QIYANAH AZMI AT SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2024

DISCOURSE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

CEO of DP Architects, Ar. Seah Chee Huang, delivered two presentations in prominent conferences during the last quarter of 2024 to advocate for sustainable development and better-thansustainable industry practices.

The first, given at the International Built Environment Week (IBEW) on 5th September at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, was a keynote address on Regenerative Architecture in a Rapidly Urbanising World. He outlined five keypoints to support the shift towards regenerative design–Density with Enhanced Capacities, Adjacencies to Dependencies, Harmony of Systems, Engaged Citizenry, and City as Second Nature–using two architecturally and contextually distinct integrated community hub as case studies.

The second, delivered at the UIA 2024 International Forum on 17th November at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, followed

the event theme of “Diversecity: Humanity & Sustainable Growth”. Speaking on the topic of Designing for People and Nature in Mind, Chee Huang shared Singapore’s greening journey to set the context for the international audience before delving into strategies of integrating nature in three community-focus developments for urban, social and environmental rejuvenation.

The yearly IBEW, regarded as the most comprehensive Built Environment event in Asia Pacific, is organised by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority. The UIA forum by Union Internationale des Architectes is held triennially in different host countries; the 2024 edition was organised by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia and took place in Kuala Lumpur.

SYNTHESIS AND SYNERGY: ARCHITECTURE FOR COMMUNITY

We are excited to announce the upcoming release of a new publication titled, Synthesis and Synergy: Architecture for Community

The provision of community spaces has always been integral to Singapore’s urban planning. The book presents a collection of essays from experts and practitioners, exploring urban governance and spatial interventions that contribute to the development of inclusive and thriving communities.

This is complemented by a close examination of selected DPA’s community-focused projects across scale: including, Our Tampines Hub, the first integrated community hub; the recently launched Bukit Timah Integrated Development; SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, which was designed for the wellbeing of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) community; and Goodlife Makan, a progressive senior care centre situated within a void deck. The case studies serve as a documentation and reflection of our learnings about community-centric architecture over the last decade.

More details will be shared early next year on www.dpa.com.sg, LinkedIn and Instagram (@dparchitects).

OUR RECENT PROJECTS

SHORT TAKES ON OUR UPCOMING AND LATEST

PROJECTS

HOSPITALITY

THE STANDARD SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE | YEAR 2024 | GFA 5,400SQM

First opened on Sunset Strip, West Hollywood in 1999, The Standard has cultivated an unorthodox brand characterised by a casual, celebrity-studded ambience. In December 2024, The Standard Singapore officially launched, revealing architecture, landscaping, interior design, and hospitality that are anything but standard.

Its design scheme draws from the brand’s unconventional and quirky nature, and in harkening back to its origins, takes inspiration from the American billboard. This culminates in a lenticular façade that is static yet expressive. Simultaneously, its architecture seeks to represent the site’s duality. Located in proximity to the life and buzz of Orchard Road and the serenity of Nassim and the Botanic Gardens, it seamlessly weaves Nature and Urban together, creating a hidden gem and intimate sanctuary of sensory pleasures.

Where its design celebrates the brand’s culture, the spaces were delightfully fitted out with interior designs by the Ministry of Design and lighting designs by Klaasen Lighting Design under the guidance of The Standard’s design, operations, and investment teams. Reflecting the dichotomy of the site and bridging the East and West, The Standard Singapore is poised to jazz up the local hospitality scene. It will be the island city’s most attractive social club and, for landowner Invictus Developments, the first indelible step towards a burgeoning hospitality portfolio.

Structurally, the hotel development might seem simple, yet stringent building requirements from the respective authorities made the massive cantilevers and transfers challenging for the consultants and contractors. Key challenges include BCA’s Complex Structure Design Requirements, FSSD ESCS provisions, and the URA Sky Terrace Redefinition. The project team, which comprised DPA and its architecturerelated specialist arms–DP Engineers for structural and MEP consultancy, DP Green for landscape architecture, and DP Façade for façade-related works–had to devise many ingenious ways to maximise floor area for commercial viability while striving to achieve the design intent.

DP ARCHITECTS

(Design) Angelene Chan, Chua Zi Jun, Shawn Teo (Project) Leonard Cheok, Zulsairi bin Sarib, Chong Mei Yan

DP ENGINEERS

Jeffrey Ng, Rufino Carisma, Leslie Kwan, Tan Boon Heng

DP FAÇADE

Mathieu Meur, Christopher Anoso

DP GREEN

Yvonne Tan, Poornima Bargotra

VIEW ALONG NICOLL HIGHWAY
RETAIL
L9 SKY TERRACE
L18 SKY TERRACE

CONSERVATION

THE GOLDEN MILE

SINGAPORE

| YEAR 2029 | GFA 79,600SQM

In May 2022, DP was appointed the architect for the rejuvenation of the Golden Mile Complex (GMC). Renamed The Golden Mile, the iconic building’s next chapter draws on its original version as a mega-city room–a high density, human-centric structure. The conserved complex will be complemented by a new 45-storey residential tower, Aurea. Collectively, the two developments will be named Golden Mile Singapore.

The rejuvenation of The Golden Mile involved conservation and intensification, achieved through a sensitive approach that balances old and new. DPA worked in close collaboration with Far East Organization, Perennial Holdings, and conservation specialist consultancy Studio Lapis to express the building’s urban and architectural heritage and extend its cultural relevance for future generations. The design scheme, inspired by GMC’s original spirit, rethinks the integration of the livework-play model to enrich its offerings, improve economic viability, and enhance social vibrancy.

A foremost consideration is the identification and retention of character-defining architectural elements and features, such as the iconic stepped form, the naturally ventilated linear atrium on the first floor, the mid-zone atrium, the sky terrace on the 9th floor and, importantly, the quality of these spaces. Leveraging this opportunity, the revitalised complex will incorporate Garden Rooms, introducing biophilic elements that foster wellness and sustainability. The existing roof on Level 9, for example, will be converted into a new publicly accessible sky garden with views of downtown Singapore, and on Level 18,

garden rooms and meeting pods form an extension of the crown. Designed to be distinct from one another, they will provide unique, relaxing, and humanistic settings that support the wellbeing of office users.

The preservation of its architectural heritage is sensitively balanced with design edits for commercial value. Aside from the introduction of Aurea, a strategic part of the intensification process is the insertion of a four-storey crown office component, which took cue from SPUR’s archival materials on the vision and conception of a future city with a golden mile of developments. The crown component will enrich the offerings of quality workplace environments. It also provides significant relief from adding internal slabs within the atria of the complex.

Slated for completion in Q3 2029, the refreshed Golden Mile will comprise 156 office units, 19 medical suites, a two-storey retail component spanning approximately 11,000sqm, and a publicaccess architecture centre. A new streetscape along Beach Road will also further enhance accessibility and porosity, inviting people into the development through landscaped areas and activating the public realm for a new yet nostalgic visitor experience of The Golden Mile.

DP ARCHITECTS

Teoh Hai Pin, Seah Chee Huang, Kor Teck Poh, Ian Liew, Ang Guo Zi, Seow Lee Koon, Vincent Heryanto, Khor Wanxuan, Andre Lim, Jacqueline Tjen, David Ardiansyah

HOSPITALITY

PULLMAN SINGAPORE HILL STREET

SINGAPORE | YEAR 2024 | GFA 12,900SQM

Informed by its historically rich locale and brand, the design of Pullman Singapore Hill Street delightfully blends the old and the new, offering a holistic haven tailored to contemporary travellers. Its design scheme embodies inspiration from railways and George Pullman train cars, making it the first of the Pullman hotels to represent the brand through its design.

Architecturally, the hotel responds to its surrounding urban fabric by aligning its datum with the height of the adjacent conserved shophouses and incorporating a sensitive reinterpretation of urban history into its design elements. The terracotta-hued aluminium façade of the podium is reminiscent of the roof tiles that were once used on the shophouses while the vertical fins of the tower’s curtain wall is a nod towards railway tracks. Conceived as a U-shaped form, the hotel tower design expounds on the internal courtyard and is oriented towards the city skyline as if embracing the modern world with its stunning views of Marina Bay and the serene vistas of Fort Canning amidst old world charm. With 350 rooms, the internal courtyard and pool deck are integrated to create an urban oasis that balances past and future.

The interior design continues the train-inspired theme with warm tones that hark back to vintage locomotives. From the

lobby and lounge areas to the guestrooms, every space is designed to evoke luxurious train journeys with its walnut-coloured hardwood flooring and textured wall coverings resembling train cabins.

History and modernity are seamlessly blended to offer guests of the Pullman Singapore Hill Street hotel a unique and immersive hospitality experience inspired by the iconic Pullman train car.

DP ARCHITECTS

Ti Lian Seng, Wu Tzu Chiang, Lesley Lim, Jeremy Tan, Loh Hai Yew, Pinson Lim, Anwar Rashid, Jessica Chow, Indra Arif Rachman, Mahisa Narendra, Wu Wenwei, Ser En Min, Reynaldo Castillo

DP ENGINEERS

Goh Yong Ping, Leslie Khuan

DP GREEN

Yeong Weng Fai, Ong Siew Leng, Iffa Haziqah Abu Jalal, Akif Azaman

DP LIGHTING

Kevin Sturrock, Victor Valera

SINGAPORE ISLAND COUNTRY CLUB

Derived in response to the natural surroundings of the adjacent Lornie Reserve, the design and planning of Singapore Island Country Club harnesses nature as its backdrop and expands the definition of ‘sustainability.’

The site utilisation takes cues from the existing topography; beginning with leveraging the natural difference in elevation between the road and the site to create a new datum and space beneath it. This crucially allows the architectural scheme to integrate the green deck and car park without additional excavation, preserving the site’s ecological integrity.

This respect for nature and the preservation of ecology extends into the architectural programming, which sensitively establishes three key scales of connection to the natural environment. A courtyard visually links the three floors and informs the stratified layering of programs, which are each mapped to a spatial experience of the rainforest. The resultant programming places simulation rooms on level one in conjunction with the forest floor and the open-air all-day dining on the second floor, which levels with the canopy layer

of the rainforest. The third floor hosts the business centre, cafe and lounge. Here, club members find themselves at level with the crowns of the trees as if nestled within the emergent layer of the rainforest. Outside, the green platform accommodates landscape and water bodies such as the swimming pool and reflection pools, which help to reduce the urban heat island effect. This dialogue between the built and natural environment is enabled by compact zoning strategies so that the programmes in terms of operation and maximum green open areas for end-users’ enjoyment are tightly integrated.

The architectural scheme also future-proofs the clubhouse. Designed for maximum flexibility, the pavilions allow for a wide range of uses and can be easily configured in the future as the club’s spatial requirements and members’ needs evolve.

Tan Chee Kiang, Zic Chen, Songchai Puksakul, Refano Puspita, Pinson Lim, Joyce Law

INSTITUTIONAL

PUNGGOL REGIONAL LIBRARY

SINGAPORE | YEAR 2023 | GFA 12,000SQM

The Punggol Regional Library project was an exploration in how the shaping of the environment we occupy can engender positive change and social good. Its architectural scheme was derived in response to four key objectives: fostering inclusive knowledge societies, promoting cultural diversity, advancing sustainable development, and bridging the digital divide.

Expressed as a journey through the galaxy, the library’s five-storey layout mirrors the stages of learning and its programmes are strategically zoned to appropriate spaces of learning for different user groups and their needs. The first level, intended for infants and toddlers, is envisioned as a “launchpad” where their introduction to the world of books and reading begin. The second level is the “aurora”, designed to provide children a space that supports active learning through various activities and play. The third level follows the theme of the “atmosphere” where youths can find a conducive environment to study and communicate, and the fourth level, specifically catered to adults, is themed “space.” The fifth level is the “horizon”. Here, on the rooftop garden, program spaces are integrated to cater for organised events and quiet respite. Thus vertically zoned, the spatial programming thoughtfully considers the library’s spectrum of activities and end-users.

The interior architecture of the library echoes the galactic theme with its nebula-inspired form, iterated in the curved

corrugated perforated metal screen that visually connects all four levels of the library and soft curved edges across its interior. This distinctive use of curves and ramps also makes for easier mobility and safer circulation, ensuring universal accessibility for the various user-groups visiting the library. Further to this, the design applied materials with softer finishes to reduce sound reverberation and noise triggers, offering an atmosphere that allows for both interaction and deep learning.

Located within the One Punggol community hub, the Punggol Regional Library similar embraces diversity in community while encouraging each visitor to embark on their own unique learning adventure within the nebula.

DP ARCHITECTS

Loh Hai Yew, Wang Ying, Tan Wen Jun, Justin Cruz

DP LIGHTING

Christine Chan

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF GUAN HO CONSTRUCTION CO (PTE) LTD

GOODLIFE STUDIO (BUKIT PURMEI)

Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) is the second active ageing centre that DPA has designed for Montfort Care, a social welfare organisation dedicated to supporting the physical and mental wellness of Singapore’s elderly for well-rounded ageing through the provision of places where they may be meaningfully engaged.

In keeping with the original concept from Goodlife Makan, Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) converts a void deck space into a social living room. Its non-gated setup is similarly punctuated by bright, solid hues and muted timber tones, effectively breaking away from conventional active ageing centre design and challenging the stigma of ageing. It differs, however, in its offering to the elderly residents of Bukit Purmei. While its first iteration explored food as agency, Goodlife Studio seeks to reach out to and empower its elderly through learning-focused activities.

The repurposed void deck is subdivided into three zones to accommodate three learning studio settings, with “Kayu Artisan” as its main studio. Designed with the intention to engage male seniors who are more at risk of social isolation

than their female counterparts, Kayu Artisan offers the familiarity of craftsmanship to encourage them to remain active and connected to the community. The word “Kayu” is borrowed from the Malay language and used colloquially to describe making a mistake. Thus named, Kayu Artisan provides a fun and light-hearted environment where imperfections are normalised, and seniors are free to express themselves. In this dynamic setting, the more experienced senior artisans become stewards of the learning community, enabling a continuation of wisdom and knowledge.

Carefully designed and intentionally developed, this active ageing centre demonstrates how effective design can create spaces that empower individuals and facilitate graceful, healthy ageing in place.

GOODLIFE STUDIO (BEDOK)

Goodlife Studio (Bedok) is the third active ageing centre out of five, designed by DPA for Montfort Care. Its design and programming continue the model and philosophy of its predecessors–Goodlife Makan and Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei)–pushing back on existing stigma around elder care centres and providing an alternative, holistic healthcare option for the elderly.

Leveraging the spatial characteristics of the void deck for an open, porous and borderless fit out, full height glass doors dissolve the centre’s boundaries between its exterior and interior. Simultaneously, a neutral palette completes with natural wood furnishings lend it universal appeal.

Transformed into a social living room, tea brewing and tea appreciation workshops are the anchoring activities at Goodlife Studio (Bedok). These workshops are conducted by local brand Pétale Tea, the centre’s tea partner. The option to

craft their very own bespoke tea blends engages the senior citizens creatively and facilitates opportunities for social interactions, which helps to keep their minds active and support their emotional wellbeing. The studio is thoughtfully zoned into four areas for various usage, with the Tea Bar being the main event space. Extended from the centre’s borderless concept, the space is divided using operable panels, where the long void deck can now be opened up to create a continuous, uninterrupted space for larger gatherings and chance conversations.

Warm, contemporary and inviting, Goodlife Studio (Bedok) is an inclusive space for senior citizens to commune with fellow peers and the wider Bedok community.

DP ARCHITECTS

Seah Chee Huang, Jehan Nair, Chirag Hablani

RECREATION

PUNGGOL GREEN

SINGAPORE | YEAR 2022 | GFA 1.2HA

The Punggol Green project, conceived by DP Green in collaboration with government agencies and the local community in Punggol, conveys a simple but deeply impactful narrative about the power of design to transform spaces and generate good. Once an uninviting and unutilised space under the LRT viaduct at Punggol Central, the design reclaims the 1.2-hectare plot for the community, converting it into a delightful social spine and recreational nook for residents and visitors alike.

Biophilic design strategies, employed in conjunction with community architecture, introduce a rich ecological habitat that mimics the proximal coastline. The carefully curated mix of native and exotic plant species not only increased biodiversity but also beautified the space. Interwoven with recreational

amenities such as a children’s playground and a fitness area, the proximity to nature inspires appreciation for it while contributing to the emotional and psychological wellbeing of end-users.

Effectively transformed into a 500-metre linear park, Punggol Green offers residents a place to gather, dwell, and commune, fostering a sense of place and generating social value that contributes to greater community resiliency.

DP ARCHITECTS

Wang Ying, Tan Wen Jun

DP GREEN

Thun KongSub, Ong Siew Leng, Akif Azaman, Nadzir Zainal

URBAN INSTALLATION

SINGAPORE PAVILION

JAPAN | YEAR 2025 | GFA APPROX. 1,700SQM

Singapore joins the global call to action at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, for a better and more sustainable future with a bold, tactile, and experiential pavilion designed in line with its theme, Designing Future Society for Our Lives.

The genesis of the Singapore Pavilion’s design stems from the concept of the ‘Little Red Dot,’ an expression that has, over the years, become synonymous with the nation’s spirit to strive big despite the size of the country. Distilling the aspirations of the Republic into unique experiences and spatial narratives, the pavilion hopes to be a catalyst for progress by inspiring dreams for the future, connecting shared aspirations, and sparking collective action toward realising a brighter, healther, and more sustainable future for all lives.

This is expressed in four key architectural components: a larger-than-life Dream Sphere that stands at 17m at its highest point, with about 17,000 discs that envelope the sphere, Dream Clouds within which the sphere is nestled, and a Dream Scape. The exterior shell of the Dream Sphere draws references from a traditional Japanese motif, the Seigaiha which is achieved through the three-dimensionally arrayed Dream Discs of varying sizes and textures. Designed as modular components for efficient assembly and disassembly, the mounting of the Dream Discs calls to mind the Japanese cultural practice of hanging up well-wishing plaques, Ema. The Dream Sphere, which completed construction of its exterior shell in November 2024, is a stunning visage of richness and tactility. Symbolically, it showcases the diversity and unity of the Singaporean society, representing the culmination of our dreams and imagination and, more importantly, the courage to turn these dreams into reality as one united nation.

The pavilion’s design and construction also capture the expo’s theme through the 4Rs of sustainability: Renew, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle for a more circular and low-carbon outcome. The Dream Discs, for example, are made up of aluminium with 70% post-consumer recycled content, which will contribute to a reduction of 70 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to

the amount of CO2 absorbed annually by approximately 2,500 trees. About 15,000kWH of renewable energy will be generated over the duration of Expo 2025 (six months) via the rooftop building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). This can power up to 77 electric vehicles for 1,000km each. In addition, the use of drip irrigation will reduce the amount of water used to maintain the landscape by 60%, which is equivalent to 2,800 half-litre bottles saved daily.

Realised through DP’s interdisciplinary approach, in conjunction with the Singapore Tourism Board and collaborators, Kingsmen Exhibits, KR+D, along with multimedia partners, Finding Pictures, Milla & Partner GmbH, and creative consultant Presplay, the Singapore Pavilion is poised to be a unique experiential vessel that invites the world to experience Singapore’s journey and share their aspirations towards a better tomorrow.

DP ARCHITECTS

Seah Chee Huang, Ang Guo Zi, Law Kai Xiang

DP DESIGN

Claudia Nam, Drishti Kulshreshtha

DP ENGINEERS

Tan Chin Hock (C&S)

Goh Yong Ping (M&E)

DP FAÇADE

Mathieu Meur

DP GREEN

Yvonne Tan, Thun KongSub, Syahirah M Shirhan

DP LIGHTING

Kevin Sturrock

DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Yong Siew Onn, Nhu Pham

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF THE SINGAPORE PAVILION, EXPO 2025 OSAKA

EXPO 2025, OSAKA, KANSAI,

GET SPACE

The first mixed-use, transit-oriented development within the core area of Guangzhou Science City, GET SPACE’s story centres on introducing a differentiated approach to land value maximisation and reimagining how a building relates to the city street to yield greater social capital.

GET SPACE is situated above an existing Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on two parcels of longitudinal land approximately 600m long and 30m wide, with a height control of 100m. The design began at this intersection of site constraints and mixed-use programming, exploring the concept of “horizontal” skyscrapers and varying iterations of the architectural form of the two towers. The interplay of volumes resulted in an interesting dialogue of masses and voids conjunct to its urban surroundings.

It also opened opportunities for creating continuous open street blocks, multi-level platforms, and sky decks that support social activities and replenish green spaces. This includes integrating

a 600m-long canopy shelter at podium level, which functions as an expansive semi-outdoor public realm—a “second ground floor” of the city with all-day accessibility. The semi-outdoor public realm harnesses landscaping as a passive solar design strategy to both provide comfortable shading and regulate the micro-climate of the retail spaces.

These community-forward design strategies combined with the flexible programming within the development lends GET SPACE flexibility and accessibility that appeals to both businesses and visitors alike, thereby generating social and economic value for the Guangzhou Science City district.

DP ARCHITECTS

Teoh Hai Pin, Tan Chee Yong, Ian Liew, Tang Jun Hao, Zhang Xiao, Sun Lili, Chen Mengru, Kuang Mingjun, Cai Hongyi, Uylee Bi Yu, Lei Zhaoxia, Zhang Weixian, Zhang Yijia, Huang Wei, Zhu Jindan, Zong Xiaopei, Dai Xiaoling, Luo Yucheng, Wang Ya

CHENGNAN RIVERFRONT URBAN COMPLEX

CHINA | YEAR 2023 | GFA 231,900SQM

An exercise in urban revitalisation, this design for a mixed-use development comprising retail, residential, and workplace components was equally concerned with placemaking, environmental wellbeing and creating commercial value.

Chengnan Riverfront Urban Complex sits by the riverfront within the larger Nanjing Jiangbei Industrial Technology Research and Innovation Park (NJITRIP). The site, divided into two plots by the existing Nannong River and an intrusive pump station, was unfriendly and under-utilised but rich in potential. To harness its advantages, the design strategically unified the plots, avoiding the segregation of its retail spaces while leveraging the riverfront as a key asset in placemaking and generating new community-centric spaces.

The architectural podium is central to achieving these. Its non-linear lines create a fluid form that embraces the river, and its layered, multidimensional programming creates expansive, public-access spaces that engage the riverfront. At its heart is the central courtyard, designed as a vibrant, all-day public hub. The innovative use of elevated commercial bridges enhances its accessibility, providing uninterrupted entry points and easily navigable circulation pathways. A musical fountain serves as the centrepiece of the central courtyard, enriching its character and strengthening its identity as a landmark destination. Open 24/7, the riverfront plazas offer expansive spaces that encourage diverse interactions and community bonding, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment

that accommodates a wide range of activities, from casual gatherings to cultural events and recreational use. These are complemented by a publicly accessible landscaped rooftop with alfresco dining options amidst landscaped greenery, further activating the development’s capacity to generate social capital.

With its proximity to the river and the decision to build across the 90m divide between the plots, care was taken to ensure the design and build of the development respected the ecological integrity of the site. The ‘Eco River Valley’ concept integrated landscaped spaces featuring local flora and fauna around the central courtyard and rooftop, which promotes biodiversity, improves air quality, fosters a microclimate, and helps mitigate urban heat. The design scheme also incorporates the river into the development, seamlessly bringing the built and natural environments together. The uninterrupted access to the river from Chengnan Riverfront Urban Complex also fosters a continuous engagement with the outdoors, contributing to end-user wellbeing while encouraging a more positive relationship between the urban and the natural.

DP ARCHITECTS

Wu Zhi Wei, Joee Ong Su Ee, Luo Hao, Wang Bin, Tristan Padong, Zhai Jian Gang, Ma Yue, Pan Hong, Li Wen Na, Xiang Yi Wei, Jorge Noel Zabala Ortega, Guo Jin, Altankhuu Jorgutyn, Ling Yan Fei, Zhang Wu Tao

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DP ARCHITECTS AND TAL

RAFFLES PLACE HILL PARK SINGAPORE

DPA is pleased to announce that its design proposal for the rejuvenation of the urban Raffles Place Park has been selected as the winning entry in a design competition organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the National Parks Board (NParks) of Singapore for the rejuvenation of the urban park.

Conceived in collaboration with our landscape architecture arm, DP Green, the design combines social and experiential architecture with green infrastructure to transform this strategic public node into an inclusive and lovable urban space for all. The design vision draws inspiration from the site’s rich layers of heritage: the hilly terrains in the 1800s, and the 1965 Raffles Place Garden–Singapore’s first urban park. Through an ecological corridor, it reintroduces not only biodiversity but also historical elements of the site.

The rejuvenation of Raffles Place Park aligns with Singapore’s broader City in Nature vision. With key stakeholders, relevant agencies and the community, our design team sought to craft a refreshed identity and fresh experiences, where modernity meets history, city blends with nature, and people connect with place. Rejuvenated as Raffles Place Hill Park, this familiar public node will be transformed into an accessible green heart for everyone.

ODEON 333 SINGAPORE

The AEI (Asset Enhancement Initiative) works for Odeon 333 respond to its urban context and incorporate contemporary design elements to lend the office development a necessary refresh. Architecturally, the iconic glass tower has a refreshed façade featuring dynamically sliding glass plates, vibrant contrast of form and colour, and the introduction of wellbeing-focused features. This includes cutaway corners that create verdant sky terraces and adaptable breakout spaces–a post-pandemic demand for a healthier and more delightful workplace environment.

At ground level, the design fosters a lively and engaging environment through bold red terrazzo paving, organic mounds with lush greenery and playful street furniture. These elements transform the Publicly Owned Private Space (POPS) into a vibrant and welcoming area, encouraging social interactions. The use of bright colours and playful forms contrasts with the sleek upper levels, creating a sense of balance and harmony.

Nature is seamlessly integrated into the building’s office components through verdant sky terraces, landscaped corridors, and adaptable breakout spaces. These green features promote sustainability and enhance users wellbeing, aligning with modern demands for a healthier and refreshing environment. The thoughtful blend of form, function, and greenery makes the Odeon 333 a contemporary and vibrant addition to the urban fabric.

BANGKOK ORANGE LINE WEST MRT PROJECT

BANGKOK, THAILAND

DPA is pleased to announce that it is the appointed architect to design and develop the latest addition to Bangkok’s rail and transit network, the Orange Line West Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project, which will consist of 11 stations and seven intervention shafts. Designed in collaboration with AECOM, it will be led by DPA’s Thailand office.

Currently underway, the entire Orange Line consists of two sections totalling 35.9km and will link east and west Bangkok upon its completion in 2030. It will look to bolster Bangkok’s connectivity and benefit the city’s commuters.

HOUSE OF TAN YEOK NEE

SINGAPORE

The House of Tan Yeok Nee is Singapore’s only remaining 19th centurystyle traditional Chinese mansion architecture. In March 2022, DPA was commissioned to conduct the initial rehabilitation report and feasibility study for it, and was subsequently appointed the architect for its full restoration and adaptive reuse.

Embarking on this challenging yet rewarding journey, the design firm worked closely with the Karim Family Foundation, heritage consultant Yeo Kang Shua, and a team of skilled craftsmen to uncover the rich history embedded within the House of Tan Yeok Nee, while ensuring the restoration of its architectural integrity and authenticity.

COMCENTRE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT

SINGAPORE

DPA has been awarded with the Comcentre Redevelopment project. Jointly developed by Singtel and Lendlease, the existing 34-storey commercial space at Exeter Road which served as Singtel’s global headquarters will be revitalised into a modern commercial hub. DPA is working alongside design architect Kohn Pederson Fox Associates to deliver a design that adopts a socially responsive approach, and looks to prioritise and maximise flexibility for future workplace needs, health and wellbeing of its users while integrating leading sustainability design. Envisioned as a car-lite development, it intends to leverage on Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) cycling infrastructure plans for the Orchard area to enhance pedestrian and commuter connectivity, and to facilitate better urban integration into the broader Somerset and Killiney area.

FUTURE(SET)

THIS DESIGNFUTURE CONFERENCE, WE GATHERED WITH EXPERTS AND ACADEMIA ACROSS THE FIELDS OF URBAN DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE RESEARCH FOR A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY INSIGHT ON HOW WE CAN COLLECTIVELY DESIGN FOR A BETTER-THAN-SUSTAINABLE URBAN FUTURE.

Threats such as extreme weather, biodiversity loss, the challenges of AI technologies, and growing societal polarisation loom, we are left to ask: Is our future predetermined, or do we still have time to course-correct? Can we, as a collective work together to transform these challenges into opportunities and accelerate an urban reset toward achieving net-zero carbon cities while fostering healthier, more inclusive communities for all? In the fifth edition of the DesignFUTURE Conference, DP Architects convenes thought leaders to discourse the compounding climate, socio-economic issues, while exploring the collective response approach we need to take to realise a better-than-sustainable future.

The panel of speakers featured, notable, distinguished experts in their respective fields, Dr Winston Chow, professor of Urban Climate and Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow, College of Integrative Studies at Singapore Management University (SMU) and the first Singaporean to be elected into the United Nations (UN) top climate body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) where he current co-chairs Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability; Dr Sam Conrad Joyce, Associate Professor (joint appointment) of Architecture &

Sustainable Design and Design & AI, and Head of Meta Design Lab, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), as the founder, he focuses on working on interdisciplinary research and AI using informatics applied to urban and architectural design.

The panel also include, Prof Teh Bin Tean, Deputy CEO (Research) National Cancer Centre Singapore; Founding Director, SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine (BD-MED); Professor, DUKE-NUS Medical School Singapore, where he leads healthrelated plant biodiversity and translational cancer research, and Chan Hui Min, director at DP Architects and Head of Sustainability Unit. Joining the panel of experts is Ar. Ong Ker-Shing, co-founder of Lekker Architects and Associate Professor (Practice) at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore (NUS) who moderated the panel discussion.

Held on 22nd November at Raffles Girls School (Secondary), DesignFUTURE Conference 2024 underscores the urgency of climate action which is intertwined with the complex challenges of biodiversity loss, technological disruption and societal changes. Most critically, it looks to spur collaborative action towards shaping a greener more resilient future for generations to come.

THE CHALLENGES OF DESIGNING A CLIMATERESILIENT FUTURE

Dr Winston Chow on the strategies and the need for collaboration to realise a green and thriving urban future.

As urban areas expand and climate risks intensify, the interplay between urban systems and the natural environment presents unprecedented challenges. Cities, while hubs of economic growth and innovation, also generate 70% of global carbon emissions and are acutely vulnerable to climate hazards. “We are living in interesting times,” said Dr Winston Chow in reference to the recent US election events, during his introduction. He is the first Singaporean to be elected to the United Nations (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as co-chair of Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability.

However, not at all demotivated, he shared that addressing these vulnerabilities requires a holistic approach to designing climateresilient urban spaces, focusing on adaptation, mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.

So, what makes for a climate-resilient city? It is one that adapts to climate risks, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, conserves biodiversity, and sustains economic and social development. Achieving these goals necessitates integrating robust architectural and planning strategies with effective governance and financing mechanisms.

Dr Chow further outlined the core elements of a climate-resilient city and mentioned that without these four key characteristics, resilience would not be able to happen. First, is adaptation; cities would need to be equipped to handle intensifying climate hazards, such as heatwaves, flooding, and rising sea levels. Some measures to consider include retrofitting urban infrastructure, enhancing natural buffers, and adopting innovative planning approaches. Second, is mitigation; the reduction of urban carbon footprints involves transiting into energyefficient buildings, sustainable transportation systems, and renewable energy sources. Third, is biodiversity conservation where we integrate and protect green and blue spaces within our urban areas to bolster ecosystem services, regulate temperatures and better our community’s wellbeing. Last but not least, sustainable development that ensures equity and inclusivity in urban planning, to minimise vulnerabilities and foster resilient communities.

He noted that cities inadvertently warm the local climate and microclimate through the urban heat island effect. Dense infrastructure, reduced vegetation, and increased energy consumption intensify warming in cities. For instance, in Singapore, temperatures in Orchard Road can be up to 7°C higher than in rural Lim Chu Kang at night—a vivid example of how concrete and asphalt amplify heat. As Dr Chow noted: “When you combine with global climate change, the unmistakable fact of urbanisation leads to a warming trend that exposes people in cities.”

Global climate change compounds these challenges. Rising sea levels threaten coastal cities, while more frequent and intense extreme weather events increasingly disrupt critical urban systems such as transportation, energy, and healthcare. Dr Chow explained:

“A SINGLE CLIMATE-DRIVEN EPISODE–LIKE INTENSE URBAN FLOODING–FREQUENTLY COMPOUNDS IMPACTS IN CITIES WHERE TRANSPORT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES ARE DISRUPTED, AND

PUBLIC SERVICES FROM HOSPITALS, LIBRARIES AND PARK SPACES ARE COMPROMISED.”

The vulnerabilities grow more acute in rapidly urbanising regions, where informal settlements lack basic amenities. “As more people move to cities, that rural poverty has been brought to settlements, and impacts are made worse by urban inequalities.” he added.

However, all is not doom and gloom. Dr Chow shared some steps and plans that can still be taken for a better, more resilient future. Since the Paris Agreement, there has been a big push to determine if climateresilient development can work across all regions and what broad enablers can assist them. He further shared that on aspects of climateresilient development, particularly on adaptation and mitigation, where architects and urban planners have a big say in implementation, and nature-based solutions can be one of the enabling factors.

Showcasing an exemplary model of climate-resilient urban design, the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park combines nature-based solutions and social policies, and demonstrates the potential of integrating natural and built environments. Formerly a concrete canal, the Kallang River was naturalised between the Ang Mo Kio and Bishan estates, as part of Singapore’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters initiative.

Now a 62-hectare park, it serves a multitude of functions including flood management. The naturalised river mitigates flood risks by absorbing surface runoff during heavy rainfall. In 2017, a rainfall event saw 70% of the area’s monthly rainfall in one day, yet the park’s design prevented flooding in nearby neighbourhoods.

It also helps to regulate temperature. Dr Chow’s study team concluded that on average, the park is 1.5 to 2°C cooler than surrounding neighbourhoods, offering a natural cooling effect. Biodiversity is also conserved, as the park also supports diverse wildlife, where fauna such as otters, butterflies, and migratory birds were also spotted.

Serving a catchment of 250,000 residents, the park also fosters social cohesion through recreational activities. An unintended benefit, he noted, that housing with proximity to the park has increased property values by 9-11%, demonstrating the economic viability of green infrastructure.

To build climate-resilient cities, we must embrace both physical and social solutions. Here he refers to the ‘ASI’ approach they wrote about at IPCC: Avoid, Shifting and Improve. He quoted that one can avoid designing dispersed cities, and instead realise a compact one

of walkable neighbourhoods; shift focus of consumption and behaviour from the individual to the collective to reduce urban carbon footprint and per capita emissions; and lastly, improve energy efficiencies, where energy usage in buildings adhere to Green Mark or LEED standards. Dr Chow encouraged: “It goes to my initial point that the solutions, especially broad adaptation and mitigation approaches, are well-known and can be successful for developing future climate resilient cities.”

While technological advancements and innovative design can drive progress, financial and political barriers often impede implementation. Achieving global climate goals, such as those outlined in the Paris Agreement, requires substantial investments. For instance, transitioning to a 1.5°C pathway necessitates annual funding of USD 1.3 trillion by 2030. Mobilising these resources demands international cooperation and mechanisms to ensure equitable distribution, particularly for vulnerable regions.

Singapore’s carbon tax exemplifies a policy tool to incentivise emission reductions. By pricing carbon at SGD 25 per tonne (set to rise to SGD 50 - 80 by 2030), the government encourages sustainable practices across industries. However, financing is only part of the equation—it is up to us to advocate for fair and effective use of these funds. “Without financing, even the best plans remain just that—plans,” he emphasised.

Despite the daunting challenges, a climate-resilient future is attainable. Cities must act as catalysts for change, leveraging their unique positions as innovation hubs. Collaborative efforts among architects, planners, policymakers, and communities are essential to designing urban spaces that are not only resilient but also vibrant and inclusive. By prioritising adaptation, mitigation, biodiversity, and sustainability, we can transform cities into resilient ecosystems capable of withstanding the uncertainties of a changing climate.

“It’s easy to slide into despair and to give up, but I need to stress that our future is still unwritten.” Dr Chow appeals in his concluding segment. As a collective, we can remain optimistic that while the solutions are within reach, time is of the essence and together, we hold the pen to write a future where cities thrive, not just survive.

BIODIVERSITY MEDICINE

Prof Teh Bin Tean on rekindling our relationship with plant biodiversity for health and wellbeing.

Prof Teh’s presentation opened with an unexpected insight. While investigating a particular type of kidney cancer that was 20 times more prevalent in Taiwan than in Western countries some 13 years ago, he and his team discovered its association with a certain herbal plant. Their research identified a mutation signature related to the plant and, through further cross-analysis of cancer patients’ genetic profiles, determined that the consumption of the herb, named Aristolochia, popular in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), produces a carcinogen within the human body, leading to cancer formation. A follow-up study revealed that the herb is also linked to liver cancer.

Findings from the intial paper were highlighted in a four-page article in the well-known business journal, Caijing. At first glance, the research findings challenge the health claims and seemingly undermine the practice of TCM. However, this was far from Prof Teh’s intent: “What dawned on me was that... our understanding of plants is limited.”

“WE MUST ALLOCATE MORE RESOURCES, TIME AND EFFORT TO STUDYING OUR PLANTS–THEIR BIOLOGY AND THEIR LIFE CYCLES. WHEN DISCUSSING CLIMATE CHANGE, WE MUST REMEMBER: HUMANS CAN ADAPT BUT PLANTS ARE UNABLE TO MOVE AND MUST ENDURE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO THEIR SUFFERING AND EXTINCTION.”

Poison and antidote are two sides of the same coin, and the key to harnessing Nature’s healing properties lies in knowledge of them. The climate crisis, however, puts us at risk of losing this rich, biodiverse store of medicine.

And so began Prof Teh’s journey into biodiversity medicine (a term he coined), leading to the establishment of the SingHealth DukeNUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine in 2021, where science and health make a fascinating intersection. The institute is primarily dedicated to translating biodiversity studies, particularly those focused on plants, into impactful advancements in medicine, health, and wellness through three major programs: Herbal Biodiversity and Medicine, Food Biodiversity and Nutrition, and Urban Biodiversity and Wellness. Each project starts with genomic studies, leveraging the wealth of genomic data generated for biodiversity conservation and to enhance disease research and treatment.

The quest for medical treatments in Nature’s abundant biodiversity is also a path to understanding the natural world. Prof Teh and his research team now find themselves at the forefront of plant research. They have established a pipeline to assemble the genomes and genes of local plants. It is important to note that more than 95% of these plants have never been studied at the genetic level. This presents a significant opportunity for both the scientific and medical communities to deepen their understanding of Southeast Asia’s flora and to act to conserve this precious resource.

Additionally, the genomic data collected can be integrated with other advanced technologies such as single-cell and spatial genomics, metabolomics, microbiome studies, structural biology, and artificial intelligence (AI). Another crucial aspect is the ability to conduct human studies and clinical trials, which are often lacking, particularly for natural products, and to investigate their medicinal or health impacts.

An example is a study on Singapore’s beloved national flower the Vanda Miss Joaquim. Genomic studies reveal that, at the genetic level, the flower belongs to a different group called Papilionanthe However, DNA had not yet been discovered in 1897 when the Royal Horticultural Society officially recognised and classified the plant.

Research from Prof Teh’s group has revealed that the national flower contains 32,000 genes. “By combining chemical profiling with genomic studies,” Prof Teh explained, “we can explore various molecular pathways and understand the chemicals responsible for the flower’s colours, among other characteristics... Additionally, we extracted a chemical from the flower that appears to have anti-ageing properties for the skin.” The study has yielded opportunities for cross-border collaborations with The University of Brunei on their national flower, which contains an impressive 34,000 genes; the flower’s roots exhibit anti-cancer properties. Further research may generate far-reaching benefits in cancer treatment.

The most anticipated study that Prof Teh and his team are conducting is one on durians and their health impact. Crowned the king of fruits and a local favourite in Southeast Asia, Prof Teh jested that this was likely the most popular clinical trial he would ever do: “The call for 50 healthy volunteers received an enthusiastic 800 applicants in just two days with queries on what type of durian would be provided and if whole families could participate. Of course, we told them it is black gold, top of the ‘Musang King’ durian range.” Blood and stool samples are taken for comprehensive metabolomic and microbiome studies during the clinical trial. His team is simultaneously studying the health of the durian trees, including their predisposition to cankers, a fungus-related infection, and informing their defence mechanisms against it. The aim is to increase plant resiliency and protect biodiversity while understanding how the fruit affects our health and wellbeing. Prof Teh and his team will complete the study in Q2 2025.

These are just the tip of the iceberg–the beginning–of the work that Prof Teh and the SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute

of Biodiversity Medicine are doing. In their pursuit of cracking the code between plant biodiversity and human health, they have also developed a deep appreciation for the study of botany and recognised the necessity of conserving plant biodiversity. Intensifying his research work, he has created the world’s first genomic garden, converting the Bicentennial Garden at Singapore General Hospital to the Bicentennial Genomic Garden. He shared that the intent is to educate the public as much as it is for the Institute to research and learn: “To date, we have cracked the genetic code of the Chiku Tree, Jambu fruit and the Curry Leaf plant, which you can read about when you scan the QR code in the garden. It provides you with the scientific, genomic, health, and some of the historical information.”

He has also set up a food garden on the hospital rooftop. The garden’s genesis lies partly in the food security experience during the pandemic lockdown in 2020. Today, the aquaponics facility has a production capacity of approximately 1.5 tonnes of vegetables per month, which will be supplied to the hospital’s central kitchen and used for nutritional studies. The food garden concept and its health impact have expanded into contemplative healthcare, with several medical institutions, such as Changi General Hospital, Sengkang Hospital, and the upcoming Eastern General Hospital, integrating therapeutic gardens into their development to support patient recovery and wellbeing.

Prof Teh’s pioneering work at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Biodiversity Medicine underscores the vital connection between biodiversity and health. By exploring the intricate relationships between local flora and their medicinal properties, his research not only seeks to revolutionise disease treatment but also emphasises the urgency of conserving our natural resources in the face of climate change. As the quest for understanding the genetic makeup of plants unfolds, it opens new pathways for innovation in medicine and wellness and reminds us of the untapped potential within our ecosystems. Harnessing this knowledge serves as a beacon for future advancements, bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern science while fostering a deeper appreciation for the natural world around us.

HERB & SPICE GARDENS AT SENGKANG HOSPITAL

CONSIDERING HUMAN ANTI-FRAGILITY IN SOCIAL-SPATIAL TEMPORAL CITY

Dr Sam Conrad Joyce on what anti-fragility is and exploring evolutionary paradigm in urban design for a more resilient future.

In architecture, the concept of evolution—where buildings gradually improve through iterative design—has long shaped our approach to the built environment. However, as natural resources become scarcer and the pace of technological and societal change accelerates, this paradigm reveals its limitations.

Dr Sam Conrad Joyce offered a compelling vision for the future of architecture, urging the field to move beyond static designs and evolutionary paradigms. Instead, he advocated for adaptive, data-driven methodologies inspired by natural systems, drawing on concepts of anti-fragility, and active inference, to re-imagine a new model that will positively affect the future of the built environment. His argument challenges architects to envision buildings and cities that actively learn, adapt, and thrive alongside their users and environments.

Referencing DP’s better-than-sustainable ethos, Dr Joyce drew on the idea of anti-fragility and potential actionable steps that can be taken to make change happen for the better:

“ANTI-FRAGILITY IS THIS IDEA THAT AS A SYSTEM, IN EXPERIENCING SHOCKS, GETS STRONGER AND BETTER, IT IS MORE ABLE TO RESPOND TO FUTURE INCIDENCES BETTER...
AS WE MOVE INTO A WORLD OF CHANGES, THINGS WILL HAVE TO ADAPT AND A LOT OF NATURAL SYSTEMS BENEFIT FROM SMALL LEVELS OF SHOCK AND STRESS BECAUSE INHERENTLY, THEY ARE DESIGNED TO BE IMPROVED AND TO GET BETTER; SIMILAR TO HOW A PERSON CYCLING 1,000 MILES WILL BECOME FITTER AND STRONGER.”

The concept of anti-fragility is explored across all kinds of human scales, and draws parallels between human systems and natural systems, making a comparison between apex predators in the ocean, like sharks, and their less likely competitors, such as killer whales. While sharks dominate the seas, killer whales—closer genetically to land mammals— have developed unique advantages: higher metabolic rates, collective

intelligence, and the ability to work together to hunt even sharks. These attributes make the killer whale a prime example of nature’s adaptability, demonstrating how seemingly unlikely traits can lead to strength and resilience.

So, what can we learn from this? Should we build systems and structures that evolve and adapt, like the killer whale, or remain rigid and unyielding, like a shark? It is tempting to think of the built environment as a series of static, immovable structures, but this approach may be outdated in an age where change is constant. The challenge for architects and designers, then, is to create spaces that are not just adaptable but truly anti-fragile—systems that improve with use, feedback, and iteration.

For centuries, architecture has borrowed from evolutionary principles, refining designs through trial and error. It is a process, he explained, that involves a constant feedback loop between architects, designers, partnering consultants, stakeholders and clients that enables the production of better buildings. This refers to the evolutionary model of approach that outlines our current pathway.

Though it can be argued that there is a critical flaw in this approach, as Dr Joyce noted, “evolution inherently relies on the continued but

time and energy intensive destruction and recreation of things”, this perspective aligns with the argument presented in Buildings Must Die: A Perverse View of Architecture by Stephen Cairn and Jane M. Jacobs, where it puts forth the idea that buildings must be demolished first so that new growth can be promoted. Dr Joyce raised another important additional mechanism through How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand, where the focus shifts to how buildings can adapt over time by responding to users’ behaviours and changing to accommodate them. The emphasis is that we need both of these approaches: the radical demolition to create space for new buildings, effectively enabling evolutionary adaption as outlined by Cairn and Jacobs, and to foster more immediate approaches for building learning and adaptation, as Brand suggested. This is central to his perspective and vision for the future of architecture that balances renewal and adaption, ensuring that the built environment evolves dynamically to meet future needs.

In nature, even the simplest organisms, like single-cell lifeforms, demonstrate remarkable adaptability. They maintain a stable internal environment while sensing and responding to external changes, continually updating their understanding of the world. This principle, rooted in the free energy principle developed by neuroscientist Karl Friston, explains how living systems minimise surprise by predicting and adapting to their surroundings. The ability to evolve and learn is what makes humans and other organisms resilient, as they actively explore and adapt to unexpected conditions. Applying this to architecture, buildings too could benefit from systems that sense, learn, and quickly adopt changes in response to environmental shifts; much like sentient organisms, as opposed to the longer evolutionary route of making new buildings to adapt. “Buildings, like organisms, must work to maintain their internal environments—not just physically but socially and vibrantly.”

The theoretical framework of “active inference,” a principle rooted in neuroscience, is also closely associated with the free energy principle, where it describes how agents, like humans, all living systems undergo active inference to keep their internals in equilibrium, in avoidance of the second law of thermodynamics, the state of entropy and chaos. How they do so is through active sensing and searching of their environment; thereby, helping them to be anti-fragile and adapting to the environment.

While these ideas may seem futuristic, Dr Joyce’s team is already laying the groundwork in their current projects. Examples include tracking urban movement patterns in Kyoto, Japan, where researchers took to the analysis of 12 million geolocated tweets to map movement patterns and inform urban design decisions based on actual user behaviour. The other example he shared is one he is currently working on,

where sensors are machine-learning based and measure how users interact with nature versus urban elements, helping planners create more effective and immersive green spaces.

Last but not least, employing it onto health-centric design, where high-resolution mosquito count data from residential areas and of up to 500,000 data points, linked building design to dengue prevention, demonstrating how adaptive design can address public health challenges. Central to Dr Joyce’s proposal is the concept of “Bayesian buildings or city” which continuously update their internal models based on user and environmental inputs. These structures mimic the adaptability of natural systems. “We should aim for plasticity, things that change as we go along,” he explained.

He posits that Bayesian buildings could optimise energy usage by adapting heating, cooling, and lighting to real-time occupancy patterns. Using predictive maintenance to identify and address wear and tear before failures occur and even promote sustainable behaviours by guiding users toward energy-efficient and ecofriendly practices. While the potential benefits of adaptive architecture are immense, there are the complexities involved. Adaptive systems must remain user-centric, enhancing rather than hindering human experiences. Ethical questions and something for AI ethics to ponder is the question of whether users will be “bullied into being more environmentally friendly” as buildings gain greater autonomy.

Thinking forward, Dr Joyce proposed two compelling ideas for how architecture might embrace adaptive design. First, he encouraged a “DIY approach” to sensing environments more regularly. He highlighted the potential of accessible tools, such as apps and home devices, that can make small but impactful differences, like automatically turning off lights to conserve energy. “That can be like an adaptive system,” he suggested, though he acknowledged, “the question about how it learns is an interesting one... I think is yet to happen [and] hopefully, it doesn’t try to get rid of us.”

While delivered with a touch of humour, this vision underlines the importance of considering how adaptive systems might influence human behaviour—or even challenge it—to achieve greater sustainability. Adding on, he said: “We should think a little bit more about the way we can begin to embed neurological thinking into architecture.” By embracing such ideas, the built environment can shift towards a future where buildings are not only adaptive but actively engaged in shaping a better world for their inhabitants.

HEALING OUR PLANET A PLACE AT A TIME

DPA director Chan Hui Min puts forward the case for a regenerative approach to architecture and the need for climate action now.

Hui Min advocates for a regenerative approach to architecture, aiming for an urban future that heals our planet rather than just mitigating damage.

Earth Overshoot Day, which tracks carbon emissions and progress toward the 2050 net zero goal, marks the date when humanity’s resource use exceeds Earth’s yearly regeneration capacity. From 1971 to 2024, global consumption rates have worsened, with Singapore among the worst offenders despite sustainability efforts. If everyone consumed resources like Singapore, Earth Overshoot Day would fall on April 2024.

“We know we are in trouble,” she described. “[Because] it is not just a climate crisis that we are in [but] a poly crisis, where technological, political, and social crises are all interlinked and exacerbating each other… It is real, and it is here at our doorstep.” Addressing the regulations, codes, and standards, the challenge of decarbonising the built environment appears highly complex for the industry. However, the solutions that architects and built environment professionals seek are within reach. Just as scientists, researchers, and doctors find inspiration in nature, so should architects, designers, and engineers draw lessons of circularity and restoration from it.

Quoting experts on regenerative approach like Carol Sanford, Ben Haggard and Bill Reid, she proposed a shift to perceive space as a living whole with its character and peculiarities, and adapt our design approach and construction methods accordingly. In doing so, we become concerned with creating a place, not just a building or urban intervention; the project is the impact that we create from our intervention, which must seek to do good:

“WHEN WE PERCEIVE SPACE AS A LIVING WHOLE... WE BECOME CONCERNED WITH CREATING A PLACE, NOT JUST A BUILDING OR URBAN INTERVENTION. THE PROJECT IS THE IMPACT THAT WE CREATE FROM THE INTERVENTION... AND IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE RESTORATIVE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL VALUE.”

Hui Min emphasised that two factors facilitate the necessary shift:

1. Humility to recognise that if we are to evolve capacity for regenerative outcomes, design solutions cannot occur in a vacuum. They require a deep understanding of living systems and their dynamics.

2. Professional Integrity to avoid exploiting one for the other and, approach every living entity individually and support its unique potential instead.

DP is committed to transforming the way we design: “We have structured and aligned our Attributes of Purposeful Design (APD) framework to adopt a systems-based approach for achieving netzero, regenerative, life-centred outcomes.” The APD framework, divided into three sections with eight sustainability criteria, does not work in isolation, Hui Min explained: “Each section—whether addressing carbon, circularity, or people—is part of a larger goal, decarbonising buildings to benefit the built environment, ecological surroundings, and community.”

She cited six project examples, including Goodlife Studio (refer to pages 50 and 52) and Punggol Green (refer to page 54), in which DP seized opportunities to push for a better-than-sustainable urban future. Other projects are The Greenhouse at Dulwich College (Singapore), the first net zero energy private institution building in the Republic. Its success was in part enabled by the client’s vision to bring sustainability education to life for its students.

This alignment in vision and values culminated in a highly collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that in turn, resulted in an innovative façade design of building-integrated photovoltaic panels, tilted to maximise the exposure of the solar panels, and an open-air ravine-like atrium that cuts through the core of the building to invite natural light and air deep into its interiors.

The architectural design for the SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Clubhouse, a sports and recreation facility in Singapore, takes advantage of its location within Choa Chu Kang Park and is creatively designed to encourage movement and promote health and wellbeing. It also incorporates sustainable design strategies and harnesses green technology to achieve a low-carbon development. Applied in combination, the clubhouse generates renewable energy and maximises energy efficiency, achieving 42% in energy savings.

Can such green and community-centred outcomes be achieved outside of non-commercial building typologies? The answer is a resounding yes, as shown in her third project case study. The China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City - Knowledge Tower is a design exercise in redefining super high-rise workplaces through a sustainability-driven and human-centric approach to engender dynamic yet cohesive vertical communities and positive environmental impact.

DP’s design scheme boldly proposed maximising tower height and melding three towers into one to overcome the challenge of its small footprint and increase its economic viability. Sited on the nexus of a park connector and an urban connector, next to a lake, the design incorporates intuitive pedestrian pathways that lead to a central “life-spine” containing indoor atriums of social and collaborative spaces as well as places for relaxation and creating micro-communities within a larger vertical community. Across every design aspect, technical and material considerations were made to decarbonise the development. They include reduced concrete usage to mitigate embodied carbon emissions, roof gardens to counter the urban heat island effect, high-performance façade for improved thermal comfort and building energy consumption rate, and a system of 45 lift cars planned within 18 lift cores to minimise the lift cores, thereby, reducing embodied and operational carbon. The project was designed to meet the standards of the highest three-star rating under the China Green Building

Label and LEED Building Design and ConstructionPlatinum certification.

The issues of climate change, inequality, and technological disruption are immense, but this does not mean that a sustainable and liveable future is unattainable. Bukit Canberra project, Hui Min proposes, stands as both a testament to and hope for what a betterthan-sustainable urban future can look like. The architectural design was developed in response to three key considerations:

1. Urban economics - How can we accommodate a relatively large structure on the site without causing significant ecological harm?

2. Urban mobility - How can we improve it and enhance accessibility?

3. Site intensification - How can we develop shared programs and spaces that will strengthen social resilience while also enhancing the existing blue and green infrastructure on the site?

The outcome is a living building in which the environment as an equal stakeholder. The design adopts regenerative design principles and through strategies such as the use of nature-inspired hexagonal geometry, creates an architecture that establishes harmony between social and ecological systems. Every opportunity was taken to restore nature by increasing green-and-blue infrastructure, with over 460 native and healthy trees out of the existing 1,129 are retained and some 2,050 more native species to be planted. Stormwater management systems and water-sensitive design features are also integrated to provide conditions for native flora and fauna to thrive.

It is important to view our buildings not just for what they are in isolation, but in terms of their long-term effects on their surroundings and communities. By creating meaningful connections with these spaces, the impact we make can far outweigh our carbon footprint. On this note, Hui Min closed with a call to action: “When measuring our influence, we should strive for our “handprint”—the positive effects of our actions—to be significantly larger than the carbon we consume. There is a tremendous opportunity for impact if we examine each project individually and look beyond merely checking boxes. We should seek out opportunities for growth and evolution in our buildings. By doing so, we can contribute to healing our planet, one place at a time.”

THE GREENHOUSE AT DULWICH COLLEGE (SINGAPORE)
BRINGING SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION TO LIFE FOR THE STUDENTS.
CNY CELEBRATION
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
HARI RAYA CELEBRATION

FOSTERING COMMUNITY & CULTURE

It is the shared moments of work and play that build our collective identity and spirit.

At the heart of all that DP does, is our people. Their collective strength and spirit is what enables the firm to thrive and reach new milestones, and in every possible moment, we desire to uplift them.

The events that DP Life, a committee led by young DPians and responsible for cultivating workplace culture, had organised this year were focused on celebrating diversity, promoting togetherness and cultivating activism. They include cultural festivities such as office-wide Lo Hei in celebration of the Lunar New Year, delicious lunch spreads of local delights for Hari Raya and Diwali, and an evening of carols and feasting for Christmas, as well as milestone celebrations such as DP’s 57th anniversary which brought around 600 DPians together in a celebratory mass walk, #WalkforDP57 around the Marina Bay area. Another highlight of the year was the annual DP Family Day, which saw DPians and their family participating in a coastal clean-up, combining family bonding with environmental stewardship. The activity reflected DP’s commitment to sustainability, emphasising that caring for the environment is not only a professional ethos but a way of life.

Each of these events is underpinned by DP Life’s core ethos: Identity, which is about fostering camaraderie within the organisation; Community & Giving, which aims to ingrain a deeper culture of active contribution; and Health & Wellness, which is about promoting sustained mental and physical wellbeing among DPians. Beyond marking our achievements, they create moments of shared experiences, deepen interpersonal connections and nurture a sense of belonging that further strengthens DP’s collective identity and spirit.

DIWALI
CHRISTMAS
DIWALI

DPA PUBLISHES SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2024

READ OUR SUSTAINABILITY REPORT HERE:

Sustainability alone is no longer sufficient. With the global average temperature at 1.54 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, 2024 is the warmest year on record1. Cities around the globe face extreme and erratic weather events that are leading to devastating economic and human losses. As the climate crisis increasingly shapes conversations about future economies and urban development, the time for action and accountability is now.

We recognise that the Built Environment sector alone is responsible for over a third of global emissions and, therefore, has a collective duty to pave the way towards a cleaner, brighter future. The DPA group of companies is committed to being part of the climate solution and aims for our practices and projects to be better than sustainable.

The DP Sustainability Report 2024 is our voluntary act of accountability, signifying our dedication to achieving net-zero whole-life carbon for DP’s projects and net-zero carbon emissions for our business operations by 2045.

1 Measured between January and September 2024 by the World Meteorological Organization, https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/2024track-be-hottest-year-record-warming-temporarily-hits-15degc

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