Design in Print Vol 11.1 - The Residential Issue

M C I ( P ) 0 4 1 / 0 8 / 2 0 1 9 | V O L U M E 11 N U M B E R 1 | 2 0 2 0 S I N G A P O R E | W W W . D P A . C O M . S G

IN DEPTH DESIGNING PPVC ACROS S DIFFERENT ENVIRONS H A B I TAT F O R C O M M U N I T Y

INSIGHTS A HOME OF ONE’S OWN

IN PERSON C O N T E M P L AT I N G RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

Dear Readers, Are you staying home and staying safe? As the world goes to war with COVID-19, our homes have become safe houses. Staying home has taken on a new shade of meaning and provided food for thought on the idea of home and how housing design plays a part in it. More than a physical construct, the spaces we inhabit are inseparable from our life experiences and personal histories. The ultimate design consideration is the creation of a space that resonates emotionally as a place of belonging, comfort and safety.

Urban housing has evolved along with shifts in household structures and family size, standards of living, and lifestyle needs and aspirations. Singapore’s public housing, in which over 80% of the country’s population live, has certainly come a long way; from affordable social housing to alleviate the overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions in the city centre in the 1960s, to high-rise homes that rival private-owned condominiums in design and amenity offerings, to vibrant estates that boast state-of-the-art smart and sustainable technologies. In this issue of Design in Print, we draw as examples three public housing developments – Marsiling Heights, Khatib Court and Tengah’s Plantation Village – to showcase the features that deliver on HDB’s promise of quality homes and vibrant communities, that make Singapore’s social housing such a success story.

Responding to Singapore’s push for Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) processes to raise construction productivity, DPA’s Residential Typology Group is seeking to overturn the thinking that Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) is all about repetition and uniformity.

In this issue, we explore the connection between design, fabrication and construction through four on going PPVC projects: The Midwood, The Woodleigh Residences, Dairy Farm Residences and Bernam.

Complementing this In Depth feature on Residential Typology Group’s practice-based research on PPVC, the In Focus section takes a look at the group’s areas of focus and the investigations it has carried out.

In Insights, we turn our attention to the shortage of affordable homes in London, and discuss a variety of architectural proposals that address the housing and lifestyle needs of the millennials and the Z-Generation.

Finally, In Person asks six architects about their thoughts on residential design, the pertinent issues and challenges of this typology, and the export and application of DP’s approach and expertise in housing design in the overseas markets.

I hope you enjoy reading the different topics that we have put together in these pages.

Angelene Chan Chief Executive Officer

CONTENTS 03 U P DAT E S

Living Lab: DPA’s testbed for sustainability and wellness in design Tingkat: A portable furniture collection by Mike Lim

04-05 IN BRIEF

01 Affinity at Serangoon 02 Mayfair Gardens 03 The Verandah Residences 04 Parksuites 05 Boulevard 88 06 Opera Grand 07 Boulevard Point

06 INDUSTRY

01 The SGH Elective Care Centre 02 Providing Clarity on Glass 03 Façades and Fire Performance 04 DP Architects Design Excellence Awards (Master’s)

07-24 IN DEPTH

01 Designing PPVC across Different Environs 02 Habitat for Community

25-28 INSIGHTS

A Home of One's Own

29-30 IN FOCUS

In Search of Buildability, Aesthetics & Wellness in Housing

31-38 IN PERSON

Contemplating Residential Design

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF Angelene Chan | EDITORS Ng San Son, Belle Chung | CONTENT John Utanes, Josy Koh, Luke Wee, Chia Zhao Hui GRAPHICS Amanda Lin, Rebecca Jin | CONTRIBUTORS Toh Bee Ping, Bai Jiwen, Pocholo Mauricio

T H E L AT E S T H A P P E N I N G S I N D P

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UPDAT E S

LIVING L AB

DPA’S T ES T BED FOR SUS TAINABILIT Y AND WELLNESS IN DESIGN Earlier this year, DP Architects launched its ‘Living Lab’ concept in conjunction with the official opening of its recently renovated headquarters in Marina Square, Singapore. The setup of the Living Lab is part of the design firm’s commitment to combat climate change. It will function as a space to testbed the synergies between technology and design in the actual built environment for sustainability.

Working in collaboration with tech firms, SenSING and Eutech Cybernetics, DP is leveraging on the power of technology and data to inform consumption patterns, effect design change

and push for sustainability. The firm aims to collate smart data analytics through energy and wellness markers. The collated real-time data will then be used to formulate design strategies for sustainability.

If a seemingly insignificant shift such as optimising room temperature can lead to energy savings when translated into actionable data, DP believes that at a large corporate level, much can be done to mitigate carbon emissions and improve end-user well-being.

TINGK AT

A PORTABLE FURNIT URE COLLECTION BY MIKE LIM Woven from bamboo, tingkat is a traditional basket which was a staple of Southeast Asian households. The basket was typically used for carrying and transporting food or products. Depending on the occasion (such as weddings) and the recipient it was gifted to, the tingkat also held social significance.

The Tingkat collection is inspired by Mike’s socio-cultural roots.

Designed for the Singaporean showcase at the Milan Design

Week, the director of DP Design had the collection crafted from locally and sustainably sourced materials from Southeast Asia.

It comprises two stools and a table, which are lightweight and carefully detailed with weave patterns, in a single stackable unit.

Reminiscent of Southeast Asian aesthetics yet minimalist in form, the collection was crafted to be the perfect, affordable addition to the modern home.

IN BRIEF

S H O R T TA K E S O N N E W & N O TA B L E P R O J E C T S

D PA

D PA + D P E

Affinit y at Serangoon

MAYFAIR GARDENS

Affinity at Serangoon is a residential development comprising seven 14-storey apartment blocks, two 3-storey blocks and one 2-storey block of strata-landed houses, with a total of 1,052 units and five shops. The architectural planning and design sensitively integrate Affinity at Serangoon with its neighbouring low-rise houses.

Situated along Rifle Range Road, Mayfair Gardens is a development comprising 215 residential units housed in four towers. The elegant contemporary design is inspired by the development's namesake in affluent London. The regularity of fenestrations keeps the faรงade in classical proportions. In addition to having clear design distinction between the crown, torso and pedestal, the use of wall groove lines, window mullions, and Juliet balconies on each tower bring out the design character of Mayfair Gardens.

SING A P ORE

Minimalist and contemporary, its faรงade articulates a sophisticated image that is carried throughout the design of the development.

This aestheticism is complemented by the tropical theme for the development. With features such as a lush landscaped deck of unique plant species, a firefly boardwalk and a spice garden, Affinity at Serangoon emanates luxury resort-living.

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SING A P ORE

D PA

D PA + D P S D

THE VER ANDAH RESIDENCES

PARKSUITES

Situated along Pasir Panjang Road, The Verandah Residences is a development of 170 units in four 5-storey blocks and three townhouses. Aesthetically and architecturally, it is a modern take on the neighbouring clusters of early 20th-century blackand-white colonial villas. This is reflected in the distinctive colour scheme of the development; the generous balcony verandah spaces and full-height windows encouraging natural air circulation throughout the units; and vertical screens, generous ledges and roof eaves providing shade from direct sunlight. Each of these design elements are also characteristic of vernacular architecture for the local tropical climate.

Parksuites is designed as a village with both residential and retail components. The buildings are structured as discrete blocks of different scales with paths of circulation interwoven throughout, creating pockets of communal open-to-sky plazas with a variety of landscape and views.

SING A P ORE

SING A P ORE

Residential blocks, comprising SOHO and triplex units, sit above the private landscaped Level 2 deck which demarcates the residential zone from the commercial spaces on the ground level. This deck creates the illusion of new elevated ground, tectonically extruded from the adjacent Henry Park.

It is further complemented by the faรงade design with its tactile surface and articulated barn roof form. Together, the various elements of the architectural scheme create a village-like atmosphere.

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S H O R T TA K E S O N N E W & N O TA B L E P R O J E C T S

IN BRIEF

D PA + D P S D

D PA

BOULE VARD 88

OPER A GR AND

Boulevard 88, located at the highest point of Orchard Boulevard, is the epitome of luxury residential living. The twin 28-storey towers comprise 154 luxury residences including four exclusive penthouses. Spanning the top of the two residential towers is the Sky Boulevard, which serves as a dramatic urban window while creating a striking skyline silhouette visible from the surrounding city.

Opera Grand is a 67-storey high-end residential tower in the prestigious Opera District of the Burj Downtown Dubai area. Its timeless glass façade and sophisticated architectural form stand impressively within the city skyline, reflecting the affluence of its location.

SING A P ORE

DU B A I, UA E

Due for completion in late 2020, it features a two-storey retail and F&B podium connected by a bridge to the residential tower. Six luxury 5-bedroom triplex townhouses with private gardens also sit within Boulevard 88 offers residents panoramic views of Orchard Road, the lush the landscape of the podium roof. The Opera Grand retail podium has greenery of Nassim Hill and Bukit Timah, as well as the verdant haven of a shaded arcade fronting the boulevard and is home to an exclusive Singapore Botanic Gardens — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. selection of retail and F&B, with spill-out seating in the landscaped The project is designed by Safdie Architects in collaboration with DP Architects. courtyard and along the boulevard.

D PA

BOULE VARD POINT DU B A I, UA E

Boulevard Point is the fourth tower in the Fountain Views project.

Located at a pivotal position, it is nestled at the junction between the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard and Dubai Fountain Street.

The project includes 72 residential units with 7,800sqm of GFA located in the adjacent podium as well as six townhouses located within the landscaped podium roof and pool deck.

The design breaks away from the tower-on-podium typology by anchoring the tower to the site at street level. Gently stepped terraces at the lower levels form a saw-tooth profile and create larger floor plates towards the bottom of the tower, giving the impression of greater stability. The façade design features vertical fins that accentuate the slender proportions of the tower. In response to the harsh climate, it also incorporates sun-shading and protruding glass balconies.

Boulevard Point is strategically oriented to maximise and offer spectacular views of the surrounding cityscape. It also offers direct access to The Dubai Mall via a retail link bridge over the boulevard and an internal access through the podium.

INDUSTRY

AWA R D S & E V E N T S

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THE SGH ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE

MEETING SINGAPORE’S RISING HEALTHCARE DEMAND

Designed by DP Architects, the Elective Care Centre (ECC), located within the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) campus, held its groundbreaking ceremony on 21 January 2020. Slated for completion in 2026, the ECC will focus on non-emergency surgery, thereby freeing up resources in the main hospital for emergency cases and complex surgical procedures. The ECC will also house the new National Dental Centre that uses new technologies to give patients better treatment with increased efficiency. With the ageing population in mind, it has also been designed to better serve the needs of elderly patients.

PROVIDING CL ARIT Y ON GL ASS

MATHIEU MEUR SPEAKS AT SIA SEMINAR ON GL ASS

Mr Mathieu Meur, director of DP Façade, was invited by Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) to share his extensive knowledge on glass in the seminar, Use of Glass in Buildings and What You Need to Know.

During his keynote, he covered the diverse types of glass and their unique properties while also pointing out the different types of defects that may occur in glass and their causes. Mr Meur further elaborated on how and where the different glasses may be used appropriately in different situations and buildings for the best results while fulfilling the Building Construction Authority’s stringent requirements .

The seminar was held at the institute on 16 January and was part of SIA’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities.

FAÇADES AND FIRE PERFORMANCE

FIRST FIRE PROTECTION OF STRUCTURES CONFERENCE

Mr Meur also delivered a keynote at Elipyka-Hellenic Institute in Athens for the First International Conference for the Fire Protection of Structures.

During his keynote “Façades and Fire Performance”, he covered three main topics: the need for a comprehensive testing regime for the fire performance of façade systems and elements; how to correctly structure curtain-wall fire stops and cavity breaks; and lastly, the need to respect minimum fire separation distances between buildings. The comprehensive keynote was well received by an audience of 500 attendees.

The conference was held from 7 to 8 February with the purpose of educating the built industry on Fire Protection of Structures and Protection on a global stage.

DP ARCHITECT S DESIGN E XCELLENCE AWARDS (MAS TER’S)

PROMOTING LEARNING EXCELLENCE IN ARCHITECTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AT SUTD

The DP Architects Design Excellence Award (Master's) was established to promote learning excellence among students in the Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD) pillar at Singapore University of Technology and Design. Its latest recipient is Masters Student, So Jing Wen of Class 2019 for having achieved the highest GPA with her thesis project on bamboo architecture and construction. Her thesis "The Poetics of Construction: Reinterpreting the Bamboo Architecture of Simon Velez" deeply examines how bamboo construction in existing architecture can be translated into new construction techniques with digital technology such as 3D printed joints; thereby, providing new innovative ideas for future construction methods.

Committed to design excellence, DP Architects believes that nurturing young talent and encouraging learning contributes to the future of architecture.

IN DEPTH

F E AT U R E D P R O J E C T

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DESIGNING PPVC ACROSS DIFFERENT ENVIRONS

By Ng Wei Qi and Porndee Chua

IN THE PAST DECADE, NOTHING HAS REVOLUTIONISED THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LIKE THE ADVENT OF PREFABRICATED PREFINISHED VOLUMETRIC CONSTRUCTION (PPVC).

With it, buildings are constructed in a modular manner similar to Lego. These modules are manufactured in an off-site facility before being transported to site. The obvious advantage PPVC presents is building efficiency and its related cost-savings without compromising on quality of the build. The ability for faster assembly means shortened duration of construction, which in turn means reduced man-hours and therefore, manpower costs.

Simultaneously, its modular assembly system allows greater quality control.

That is not all. Less obvious and immediately tangible is the eco-benefit of PPVC. Research has shown that the largest proportion of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions comes from embodied emissions of building materials. A comparison of GHG emissions between a semi-prefabricated project and a conventional construction project conducted in China revealed that the former produces approximately 32kg/m² less carbon emissions than the latter.¹ This combination of a cleaner construction environment, enhanced productivity and improved build quality has resulted in increasing traction for this technology in Singapore.

¹ Statistics from Comparative Study of Greenhouse Gas Emissions between Off-site Prefabrication and Conventional Construction Methods: Two Case Studies of Residential Projects.

Article was published in Energy and Buildings 66:165-176, Nov 2013; www.researchgate.net

FACING PAGE DPA PARTNERED SUTD IN THEIR CAPSTONE PROGRAMME. TOGETHER, THEY CONDUCTED A RESEARCH THAT CHALLENGED THE DESIGN POSSIBILITIES AND PERCEPTION OF PPVC.

In fact, spurred on by an industry push and with a record number of URA PPVC land sale sites – 13 out of 17 residential land sales – in the past two years, the demand for PPVC expertise can only intensify. Thus, it is necessary for the design sector within the built industry to become acquainted with the technology so as to produce unique design solutions that are catered to the purpose of the project and the needs of the client and end-user. Among those at the forefront with experience designing with this technology is DP Architects.

To date, the design firm has been awarded four PPVC condominium projects, comprising a total of 2,041 housing units; which it is seeing through from design concept to completion. They are Woodleigh Residences, Midwood Residences, Dairy Farm Residences and Bernam. The experience allowed the design teams to witness how PPVC has the potential to reduce overall on-site manpower by 40% and halve the cycle time for each tower floor from approximately two weeks to one week. More importantly, though, the projects provided DPA’s residential design team the opportunity to explore and apply volumetric construction across varying conditions from integrated design delivery to challenging site conditions.

Looking at three out of the four projects, In Depth dives into the design and construction experiences that DP’s residential design team has accrued over this broad range of environs and parameters.

IN DEPTH

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THE WOODLEIGH RESIDENCES & THE WOODLEIGH MALL PPVC in an Integrated Mixed-Use Development Following the popularising of the live-work-play concept, the government has been pushing for more efficient and effective planning of land-use as well as enhanced construction productivity. From this, integrated mixed-use developments are increasingly prevalent across Singapore’s cityscape; including The Woodleigh Residences and The Woodleigh Mall which marries a multi-use podium with residential towers.

DP’s experience from projects such as Centrium Square, NEWest and Connexion, meant that its design team possessed the know-how in designing integrated mixed-use developments.

The challenge with The Woodleigh Residences, however, was its use of PPVC within such a building typology. The podium of The Woodleigh Mall integrates with the existing Woodleigh MRT Station, and houses approximately 28,000 square metres (sqm) of retail, a 6,000sqm community club and 11 towers. Each tower has 11 storeys contributing to a total of 667 dwelling units, which would then consist of 2,360 PPVC modules. What this translates to is the use of different module types to achieve 18 unique unit types throughout The Woodleigh Residences.

To address this, one has to consider how best to minimise the impact of both retail and residential components on each other during construction. Simultaneously, the design must not compromise on the demand to maximise views of its landscaped surrounds from the residential towers. The 11 towers were, thus, strategically planned in a horse-shoe configuration which left the central portion of the podium clear of buildings. This forward planning of towers and podium facilitated future construction as a tower-free central zone allowed precious space for temporary PPVC storage and critical manoeuvring of crawler cranes to safely launch and install the PPVC modules while the rest of the podium is under construction.

CROSS SECTION OF THE WOODLEIGH MALL.

PROGRESSIVE INSTALLATION PPVC MODULES ARE INSTALLED ON SITE IN A MODULAR MANNER.

CLIENT KAJIMA DEVELOPMENT PTE LTD SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS LTD CONTRACTOR KAJIMA OVERSEAS ASIA (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD TIONG SENG CONTRACTORS PTE LTD

PPVC SPECIALIST TEAMBUILD ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION PTE LTD

DESIGNING PPVC ACROSS DIFFERENT ENVIRONS

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MIDWOOD RESIDENCES Leveraging technology for an Integrated Design Delivery with PPVC With Midwood Residences, DP had the exciting opportunity to fully integrate PPVC and Integrated Design Delivery (IDD) technologies in its design and construction. The residential development is the first PPVC project of its kind in Singapore to have won in a two-envelope productivity-centric tender. Located at Hillview Rise, the project will comprise two 29-storey residential towers that are made up of 1,598 PPVC modules forming 564 dwelling units. In total, 34 different module types are deployed to achieve fourteen different unit types in both residential towers.

PPVC 3D MODEL OF A 3-BEDROOM UNIT

INSTALLATION PPVC MODULES ARE MANUFACTURED IN AN OFF-SITE FACILITY BEFORE BEING TRANSPORTED TO SITE.

CLIENT HONG LEONG GROUP SINGAPORE CONTRACTOR KIMLY CONSTRUCTION PTE LTD

The two, PPVC and IDD, form a natural and inevitable pair. The two facilitate more efficient design coordination as well as downstream logistics management of off-site prefabricated components during construction; and the Midwood Residences project really allowed DP’s design team to demonstrate that. As part of the project submission, the team prepared a Productivity Concept Implementation Plan (PCIP) to demonstrate how digital tools and prefabrication allow for more efficient design workflow and higher construction productivity. Then, throughout the project, partnering consultants and contractors committed to keep their models live and accessible on demand so that design changes and coordination are seen instantaneously by all parties involved. The model is developed solely on one software with layers of information conscientiously added, which resulted in a highly accurate model. In this manner, real-time 3D viewing of the design was also made possible for design presentations to the client. This truly ensures that the entire PPVC design is well-coordinated prior to full-scale off-site prefabrication.

On the construction front, the contractor integrated a custom-built construction management system (CMS) software into their workflow to track the production status of PPVC modules. The information input into the CMS, made accessible to the whole project team, allows for in-progress monitoring, defects tracking and monthly valuation. This was particularly useful as the PPVC modules were made up of components manufactured in different locations by different parties.

IN DEPTH

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DAIRY FARM RESIDENCES PPVC across a Sloping Terrain Dairy Farm Residences is a condominium development that is designed to offer its homeowners the ideal luxury living. Located within the serene Hillview estate, Dairy Farm Residences comprises four towers made up of 1,500 PPVC modules forming 460 dwelling units. A total of 42 different module types are deployed to achieve 16 different unit types throughout all the residential towers.

At a glance, the project build would seem like its other condominium counterparts. However, feasibility studies revealed otherwise as its site terrain slopes down to a level difference of seven metres. The challenge then was to navigate the design and construction of the development out of PPVC modules that would be suitable for the terrain. To do so, it was pertinent to consider how PPVC modules are stored and subsequently installed in such a sloping site without backfilling or excavating too extensively, and the way about it was to capitalise on the site’s sloping terrain.

By tucking the basement car park within the slope, the design team was able to minimise excavation and provide a flat datum for the installation of PPVC modules on the podium roof. Oriented north-south, the residential towers are laid out to have optimal views towards Bukit Timah Nature Reserve while offering sufficient spacing between towers for manoeuvring of tower cranes during PPVC installation.

The undulating terrain was both the challenge and the beauty of DP’s design experience for Dairy Farm Residences. It has not only pushed the team’s site planning capabilities and greatly influenced the spatial sequencing of the development to create a distinct but natural segregation of commercial and residential spaces; more importantly, it has also enabled the team to develop a deeper know-how of PPVC construction methods.

From executing a PPVC condominium in a heartland setting to integrating a PPVC building in a mixeduse setting, DP has accrued a good breadth of experiences and depth of capabilities. The design practice will continue to scale up in both expertise and ambition for PPVC projects of increasing complexities. As it does so, the excitement of working with this building technology is, in a simple comparison, similar to one’s experience with Lego.

Combining architectural creativity with technological innovation, the design possibilities we are presented with are endless – and DP is only just beginning.

SECTION VIEW OF CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

MONTH 11-13 LEVEL 1 & PPVC CONSTRUCTION

DESIGNING PPVC ACROSS DIFFERENT ENVIRONS

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IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE DESIGN SECTOR WITHIN THE BUILT INDUSTRY TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH PPVC TECHNOLOGY SO AS TO PRODUCE UNIQUE DESIGN SOLUTIONS THAT ARE CATERED TO THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT, AND NEEDS OF THE CLIENT AND END-USER.

DAIRY FARM NAVIGATES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OUT OF PPVC MODULES THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THE CHALLENGING TERRAIN.

CLIENT UNITED ENGINEERS LTD, A MEMBER OF THE YANLORD LAND GROUP

DAIRY FARM RESIDENCES ENVISIONS LUXURY LIVING AMID A RUSTIC ENVIRONMENT.

CONTRACTOR QINGJIAN INTERNATIONAL (SOUTH PACIFIC) GROUP DEVELOPMENT CO., PTE LTD

IN DEPTH

F E AT U R E D P R O J E C T

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HABITAT FOR COMMUNITY

By Elim Lau and Shiela Carelnina

SINGAPORE’S LIVEABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND WELLNESS-CENTRIC SOCIAL HOUSING As cities undergo unprecedented rapid urbanisation, there is increasing emphasis to not only maintain but enhance the quality of life for their dwellers. In Singapore, this has given rise to the concept of mixed-use thought-out ‘live-work-play’ environments which are increasingly designed with a growing emphasis on wellbeing and community ties. Applied to Singapore’s social housing model, it is exciting to see how the Housing Development Board (HDB) and architects come together to create housing estates that effectively cater to the myriad of homeowners’ socio-economic needs while facilitating social bonding, addressing wellness in everyday living and developing eco-consciousness within the community.

To design such people-centric spaces, one needs to go beyond satisfying a design brief. It is about purposing space to address the needs of its end-users and designing it to uplift their spirits. This is a design principle that DP Architects adhere to and apply across a variety of building types.

In the case of residential typology projects, DP’s exploration of design methodologies and innovative solutions are carefully developed in tandem with government initiatives. Combining this with its wide pool of knowledge and expertise, the design practice is able to deliver well-calibrated designs that create ideal ‘live-work-play’ environments.

Through DP’s HDB projects, In Depth traces the changing demography and needs of Singaporeans so as to understand how the country’s social housing model is evolving and its impact on design. The article will also look at the strategies incorporated into each project to address the notion of community and wellness.

IN DEPTH

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GOLDEN MINT ONE FOR THE GOLDEN YE ARS

THE COSY CORNERS ARE UNCOMPLICATED. A SIMPLE, FUNCTIONAL BENCH WITH A QUIET VIEW OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD BECKONS RESIDENTS TO SIT AND CHAT; EFFECTIVELY CREATING A DEEPER SENSE OF BELONGING.

THE PRECINCT PAVILION FUNCTIONS LIKE A MINI COMMUNITY CENTRE AND THE HIGHLIGHT IS ITS ROOFTOP GARDEN. DESIGNED BY DP GREEN, IT INTEGRATES AN URBAN FARMING PLOT; MUCH TO THE DELIGHT OF GARDENING ENTHUSIASTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

YE A R 2017 GFA 19,160SQM | SINGA PORE

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HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BOARD (HDB) PROVIDES HOMES TO 80% OF SINGAPORE’S RESIDENT POPULATION, AMONG WHICH SOME 15% COMPRISES SENIOR CITIZENS AGED 65 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE¹.

According to Statista, a leading provider of market and consumer data, this 15% is set to rise to approximately 32% by 2035 as the nation’s fertility rate hits an all-time low of 0.83 children per woman in 2017². Thus, improving the lives of elderly has become one of the top priorities of the government, as employment alone will not be enough to sustain Singaporeans in their twilight years.

Healthcare facilities and eldercare services aside, it means providing the nation’s senior citizens with a residential precinct that gives them quality of life. The key to this is prioritising community spaces for social bonding, recreational spaces for active living and green spaces for relaxing. One such precinct is Golden Mint, a housing estate located in Hougang, northeast of Singapore.

Golden Mint was envisioned to be a fully integrated community living enclave designed exclusively for residents aged fifty-five years and above. Awarded to DP, the design strategy was to create a development that would not only draw the residents outdoors where they can delight in communal activities; but would also be sensitively designed to offer comfortable living. Strategically, the two 16-storey residential blocks with 292 studio apartment units are oriented to afford privacy between the blocks and neighbouring buildings. Within each residential block, cosy corners are added adjacent to the lift lobbies on every floor. These function as spaces to encourage interaction, which foster neighbourly ties among residents living on the same floor.

Anchoring the communal facilities of the development is a two-storey block comprising a Precinct Pavilion on the first storey, a Senior Activity Centre on the second storey and a roof garden above. The communal block links the two residential blocks and forms the focal point of the precinct. The ease of accessibility from each level offers residents and visitors an opportunity to intermingle through recreational and community activities.

In land-scarce Singapore, HDB began integrating greenery on rooftops by means of landscaped decks, roof gardens and sky gardens in 2009.

DPA and DP Green (DPG), DP’s specialist arm in landscape design thus utilised this strategy in their design for Golden Mint. The centrally located, universally-accessible roof garden above the Senior Activity Centre is landscaped with shade trees and butterfly-attracting shrubs, with ample seating areas. It is designed to offer a sanctuary for the residents and neighbourhood community away from the public areas at ground level, as well as provide a glimpse of greenery to residential blocks facing it.

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND ELDERCARE SERVICES ASIDE, IT MEANS PROVIDING THE NATION’S SENIOR CITIZENS WITH A RESIDENTIAL PRECINCT THAT GIVES THEM QUALITY OF LIFE. DESIGN TEAM DP ARCHITECTS: CHIN THOE CHONG, HOO CHUEN PIEW, FOO CHAI YEE, OLIVIA TAY CHUI WOON, JEFFREY HANS MIRANDA, ALEXIS CHAN, AHMAD ISKANDAR BIN ABDULLAH, LEMUEL HERNANDEZ, JEYA CHANDRAN VARADHARAJAN (PROJECT MANAGER) DP GREEN: YEONG WENG FAI, SHIELA CARELNINA

CONSULTANTS & CONTRACTOR C&S ENGINEER: LBW CONSULTANTS LLP (C&S MEINHARDT SINGAPORE PTE LTD) M&E ENGINEER: MEINHARDT (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD QUANTITY SURVEYOR: LANGDON & SEAH SINGAPORE PTE LTD (ARCADIS) CONTRACTOR: HOCK GUAN CHEONG PTE LTD

¹ “Population Trends”, 20 Feb 2020 <www.singstat.gov.sg> ² R. Hirschmann, “Aging Population of Singapore – Statistics & Facts”, 5 Mar 2020 <https://www.statista.com/topics/5821/ ageing-population-of-singapore/>

IN DEPTH

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KHATIB COURT & MARSILING HEIGHTS GROWING COMMUNAL CULTURE

OVERVIEW OF KHATIB COURT

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2

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Y E A R 2 0 1 7 G F A 2 6 ,7 3 0 S Q M | S I N G A P O R E

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THE STRENGTH OF SINGAPORE’S SOCIAL FABRIC LIES IN THE SUCCESSFUL COMMINGLING OF DIVERSE CULTURES AND ETHNICITY OF ITS PEOPLE. KEY TO THIS SUCCESS IS THE CREATION OF A SENSE OF PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL RACES AND RELIGIONS CAN COME TOGETHER AND CALL IT THEIR HOME.

This is why HDB’s priority is providing such a living environment – one that focuses on the community and encourages social bonding.

With Khatib Court (Yishun) and Marsiling Heights (Woodlands), this was the design challenge that DP faced. Both residential precincts, located within mature housing estates, were envisioned as a home for a predominantly active community of working adults, aged 30 to 59, young families and aspiring young adults in their twenties. In the social mix too are senior citizens, most of whom are in their 60s. Thus, the design of these residential precincts must appeal and relate on a multigenerational level while also being a safe space for multi-racial groups to come together and nurture a communal culture that would be unique to residents of both Khatib Court and Marsiling Heights.

To do so, DPA and DPG transformed the public spaces throughout the estate into Community Living Rooms through careful spatial programming and the incorporation of greenery.

In Khatib Court, the two blocks of 14-storey development housing 310 dwelling units, comprising studio apartments and three-room flats, are planned in symmetry. A four-deck multi-storey carpark, with a rooftop garden that is linked to the fifth-storey of both residential blocks, sits at its core. The roof garden provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Here, residents at Khatib Court can look forward to relaxing amid the lush landscaping or to interacting with each other.

At the void deck of the residential blocks, Community Living Rooms are provided with seating areas where residents can spend time, chat and bond. These Community Living Rooms are located adjacent to open landscape spaces, which promotes social and emotional well-being of residents.

DESIGN TEAM 1-2. THE BEAUT Y OF PL ANTS AND NATURE IS THAT THEY ARE ADMIRED BY ALL, REGARDLESS OF YOUR BACKGROUND. TO CREATE A COMMON GREEN SUCH AS THIS ROOFTOP GARDEN, IS TO EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE A NEUTRAL SPACE THAT CAN BE ENJOYED BY ALL, ACROSS ETHNIC AND AGE GROUPS. 3. THE COMMUNIT Y LIVING ROOMS ARE SIMPLE, OPEN SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER.

DP ARCHITECTS: CHIN THOE CHONG, HOO CHUEN PIEW, FOO CHAI YEE, OLIVIA TAY CHUI WOON, TUA JIA MEI, DARLOU CARBAL, ALEXIS CHAN, AHMAD ISKANDAR BIN ABDULLAH, LEMUEL HERNANDEZ DP GREEN: YEONG WENG FAI, ONG SIEW LENG, SHIELA CARELNINA

CONSULTANTS & CONTRACTOR C&S ENGINEER: LBW CONSULTANTS LLP (C&S MEINHARDT SINGAPORE PTE LTD) M&E ENGINEER: MEINHARDT (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD QUANTITY SURVEYOR: LANGDON & SEAH SINGAPORE PTE LTD (ARCADIS) CONTRACTOR: HOCK GUAN CHEONG PTE LTD

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Marsiling Heights is a 31-storey development with three residential blocks providing 832 dwelling units comprising studio apartments as well as one-, twoand three-room units. As with Khatib Court, social harmony and communal bonds formed DP’s main design inspiration. Thus, the architectural scheme aimed to integrate this precinct into the fabric of the community while signifying the forward-looking aspirations of our society. In line with HDB’s protocol, the roof of the multi-storey car park features a lush greenscape with community garden and fitness areas. A good distribution of handicap-friendly planters at the rooftop provide a more inclusive social community space.

The creation of rooftop gardens across residential precincts has to do with a much larger national

directive. With the impending climate crisis and issues of wellness gaining greater momentum, Singapore needs to evolve from being a City in a Garden to becoming a City in Nature. This greening strategy goes beyond aesthetics; taking the entire masterplanning direction into design not just for liveability and wellness but also for sustainability. Applied to Singapore’s social housing model, HDB projects as of July 2018, must be designed in accordance to its Biophilic Town Framework. Under this framework, HDB seeks to create a ‘nature-centric neighbourhood so that residents can better connect with nature and enjoy its intrinsic benefits’. In other words, the green must be accessible to all and eco-consciousness must be nurtured at a communal level.

The five key elements of the Biophilic Town Framework are identified as Flora & Fauna, Outdoor

CENTRAL GREEN INTEGRATED WITH EXERCISE FACILITATES AND SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTRE

VIEW FROM ROOF GARDEN ATOP MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK

TIMBER TRELLIS AND HANDICAP FRIENDLY PLANTING AREAS

YE AR 2014 GFA 52,820SQM | SINGAPORE

Comfort, Water, People and Soil. Together with these five elements of the environment landscape are seventeen corresponding urban ecosystem services which serves to guide planning and design strategies.

The strategies, on a broad scale, encompass urban development goals such as sustainability, liveability and resilience. These guiding principles are reflected in the recently launched Plantation Village in the new Tengah housing estate.

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THE DESIGN OF RESIDENTIAL PRECINCTS MUST APPEAL AND RELATE ON A MULTI-GENERATIONAL LEVEL WHILE ALSO BEING A SAFE SPACE FOR MULTI-RACIAL GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER.

DESIGN TEAM CONSULTANTS & CONTRACTOR DP ARCHITECTS: CHIN THOE CHONG, HOO CHUEN PIEW, CHARLES JASON CHING WEE, OLIVIA TAY CHUI WOON, LEMUEL HERNANDEZ, WORAWIT LAVASUTANUN, YAP WOON HWEE, AHMAD ISKANDAR BIN ABDULLAH, ALEXIS CHAN DARLOU CABRAL (PROJECT MANAGER) DP GREEN: YEONG WENG FAI, TAN SZE WEI

A SIMPLE BUT DELIGHTFUL COMMUNAL GREEN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF MARSILING HEIGHTS.

C&S ENGINEER: LBW CONSULTANTS LLP (C&S MEINHARDT SINGAPORE PTE LTD) M&E ENGINEER: MEINHARDT (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD QUANTITY SURVEYOR: LANGDON & SEAH SINGAPORE PTE LTD CONTRACTOR: HOCK GUAN CHEONG PTE LTD

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PLANTATION VILLAGE BRINGING BACK THE K AMPONG SPIRIT

VIEW ACROSS COMMON GREEN (FARMWAY) TOWARDS PLANTATION VILLAGE. * PERSPECTIVE COURTESY OF HDB

DESIGN TEAM

CONSULTANTS

DP ARCHITECTS: CHIN THOE CHONG, FOO CHAI YEE, ANG GUO ZI, SERINE CHAN, KENNY FOO, MARCUS FOO, LEMUEL HERNANDEZ, AHMAD ISKANDAR BIN ABDULLAH, ELIM LAU, EMYDIATI BINTI MOHD AGOS, KHOR WAN XUAN DP GREEN: YVONNE TAN, SHIELA CARELNINA, IFFA ABU JALAL, FIKRI MAHMOOD, AKIF AZAMAN, HE YE DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN: YONG SIEW ONN, HELEN YAN

C&S ENGINEER: E2000 PTE LTD M&E ENGINEER: BELMACS PTE LTD QUANTITY SURVEYOR: ARCADIS SINGAPORE PTE LTD PROJECT MANAGER : ARCADIS PROJECT MANAGEMENT PTE LTD

YE AR 2022 GFA 191,200SQM | SINGA PORE

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PLANTATION VILLAGE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE LARGER PLANTATION DISTRICT WHICH SITS AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF THE GREATER TENGAH TOWN MASTERPLAN.

Awarded to DPA, the design of Plantation Village aligns with HDB’s aspiration to transform Tengah into Singapore’s first smart and sustainable town while retaining the core priority of facilitating social bonding within the housing precinct.

By doing so, the development is in line with the Tengah Forest Town ethos of designing with the community and nature in mind, thereby, delivering a quality living experience of being ‘At Home in Nature’.

The courtyard design concept for Plantation Village is presented in a series of communal courtyards in the development, defined by the urban form of the residential blocks that aims to encourage social activities and closer bonds among neighbours. Wide open spaces such as the Precinct Heart and elevated courtyards with landscaped deck over the three-storey (inclusive of one basement) car park, creates a diversity of experience and sense of enclosure with ample facilities for social activities. These courtyard spaces are well shaded and suited for casual activities. Additionally, with the provisions of benches and trellises, the space is a comfortable resting area for residents and elderly alike.

The community farmway functions as a recreational corridor that connects to the adjacent Park and Garden districts that are part of the five housing districts in the Tengah Master Plan. Also known as the Common Green, the farmway features an expansive network of tree-lined slow and fast pedestrian pathways that are universally accessible, and interspersed with tranquil rain gardens across three thematic zones. The Community Zone fronting the Neighbourhood Centre has ABC (Active, Beautiful, Clean) waters demonstrative garden, infiltration beds, pavilions and playscapes overlooking the central community lawn. The Play Zone has plantation themed playgrounds with rustic earth mounds and tall slender, vertical trees reminiscent of a plantation. Last but not least, the Third Zone is dedicated to urban farming with fruit trees and fragrant spice gardens – a tribute to the site’s agricultural heritage. Here, in the Third Zone, residents can bond through a shared loved for gardening.

SPECIALISTS & CONTRACTOR ACOUSTIC: AFFINITY ENGINEERING CONSULTANCY PTE LTD ABC WATERS: NETATECH ENGINEERING PTE LTD DESIGN FOR SAFETY: CN2E CONSULTANTS PTE LTD CONTRACTOR: CHINA CONSTRUCTION (SOUTH PACIFIC) DEVELOPMENT CO PTE LTD

The Community Quadrangle, designed as a tribute to Tengah’s agricultural heritage, will be a favourite among the residents. It features a sunken square grid of towering forest trees that are lined up in a manner reminiscent of trees in a plantation. At 800 square metres, this green pocket will provide opportunities for small-scale events and pop-up activities. At other times, it will be a welcoming space for residents to relax under the shade of the trees.

Within Plantation Village, a gateway marker frames and connects the urban park to the Precinct Heart. This is a design feature that is unique to

IN DEPTH

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OVERALL PROGRAMMATIC SCHEME OF PLANTATION VILLAGE

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YE AR 2022 GFA 191,200SQM | SINGA PORE

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THE RAINGARDENS, CLIFF PL ATEAU GARDEN AND THE STEPPED GARDEN FILTER RAINWATER RUNOFF WHILE ARTICUL ATING THE PASSAGE OF RAINWATER THROUGH CASCADING GREENERY.

THESE LUSH GARDEN SPACES ARE SPATIALLY PROGRAMMED TO CREATE EXTENDED VISTAS TO THE FARMWAY AND STRATEGICALLY ORGANISED AROUND A SERIES OF COURTYARDS OF DIFFERENT SCALES AND THEMES.

Plantation Village. Running through the core of the housing estate, the design intent is for the Precinct Heart to serve as an inclusive central courtyard and green oasis. The organic central void, which brings daylight and ventilation to the basement car park, is flanked by a pair of terraced raingardens and surrounded on all four sides by community living rooms.

From the Precinct Heart, Plantation Village is organised into two residential precincts – Nutmeg and Pepper; both are spices that were once grown in large farm concessions in Tengah back in the 1850s. Thus themed, the design of the blocks helps create a sense of place and fosters communal identity. The two precincts combine to offer 1,420 units of two- to five-room apartments in 15 residential blocks. Across, stepping gardens connect up to the neighbourhood parks situated above the multi-storey carpark. These green public spaces provide additional avenues for community interactions. To seamlessly assimilate the development into its surrounding site context, is the adoption of urban terracing to create maximum views of the gardens and extended vistas to the community farmway.

Infusing nature into the plantation-themed community spaces, the Neighbourgood Centre is designed to foster the kampong spirit. Its lofty well-ventilated community plaza is where weekend farmers’ market and other events can take place. These events can spill out onto the community lawn as an outdoor extension of this social plaza. Designed with deep tropical eaves, free-flowing spaces and breezeways on every floor, the Neighbourhood Centre has high visual porosity to the farmway.

Spaces around social housing estates which encourage social interaction, community bonding and wellbeing of residents have evolved alongside the complexities of our multi-cultural population and lifestyle needs.

From simple planting with minimal facilities in the past, residents today have a range of multi-generational and neutral public spaces such as playgrounds, fitness stations and multi-purpose courts set amid lush greenery. The strong emphasis on community wellness has culminated in HDB’s latest social housing developments, including Plantation Village.

Through experience, DP understands what is required to not just design residential developments that provide better living for residents; but also how to design social housing to be more sustainable and communitycentric, for the wellness of the community.

1. DISTINCTIVE RED AND BLACK PAVING ALLUDES TO THE STRIKING MACE OF THE NUTMEG FRUIT, KEEPING FAITHFUL TO THE DISTRICT IDENTITY. 2. COMMUNITY QUADRANGLE AT PLANTATION VILLAGE. 3. THE PRECINCT HEART IS A LANDSCAPED CORRIDOR FOR STROLLING, UNWINDING AND IMMERSING IN NATURE AMID FOREST TREE SPECIES. 4. A GENEROUSLY-SIZED SHARED COMMUNITY SPACE ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO MINGLE AND PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT PROMOTE WELLNESS. * PERSPECTIVES COURTESY OF HDB

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A HOME OF ONE’S OWN DESIGNING AFFORDABLE HOMES IN THE UK THROUGH SINGAPORE’S MODULARISED SOCIAL HOUSING CONCEPT.

By Frven Lim

The UK’s urban-related economics are no different from many countries, with its greatest job opportunities still largely located in the nation’s capital. Projections show that if the urban migration trend persists, London’s population will rise by a further 1.6 million over the next 20 years to reach an estimated 10 million by 2030. As a response, the Mayor of London Sadiq Kahn, in his key directive called ‘The London Plan’, stated that "at least 66,000 new homes (would) need to be built every single year" to meet the demand.

To achieve this quota while ensuring affordability is no easy feat but not impossible. Housing shortage aside, the city also faces height restrictions and a government-imposed peripheral green belt. The way to finding new and alternative solutions to these growing urban issues may require policy-makers and urban planners to come together with architects, as initiators and innovators. Understanding this, DP Architects’ London studio has been tapping into its diverse knowledge and expertise, ranging from high-end luxury properties to modularised affordable housing, to develop a variety of unique architectural solutions to this urban conundrum.

Through utilising their extensive knowledge of Singapore’s modularised social housing system, DP Architects’ London team has developed its own conceptual housing proposal called HoTHoB¹ (Home over Tracks, Home on Bridges). In addition to this, the team has been working with developers to design two other affordable housing projects, District 34 and Cocoon Towers, both of which share the desire to solve London’s housing shortage.

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HoTHoB P RO P O S E S T H R E E- S TO R E Y H O M E S TO B E B U ILT OV E R R A IL T R AC KS W I T H E X IS T IN G B RID GE S A S M E A N S O F AC C E S S.

HoTHoB As its name suggests, this housing proposal takes the unconventional approach of exploiting locations that developers had overlooked. With land in London at a premium and few green field sites available, early research revealed that building over London’s 14 open rail lines outside Zone 2 could potentially yield a total of 7,500 flats in the outer London area.

The study identified 180 locations along the lines of over-ground rail where three-storey homes could hypothetically be built over the tracks with existing bridges as means of access. Using Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) technology, they could be rolled out efficiently to meet rising demand and effectively to provide quality housing at an affordable price.

This is because DfMA allows for the creation of a production line or system where the large fabricators could produce the skeletal frame of the house pods.

These, in turn, could be sold to smaller local building firms.

By combining good design with intelligent building methods and careful selection of localised materials, customisation and contextualisation of the housing units could be possible at lower construction costs.

DISTRICT 34 According to national statistics, the average house price within the borders of Greater London approximately equates to 10-15 times a typical Londoner’s annual salary, making it a lifetime ambition to become a home owner. The hardest hit by the country’s housing crisis are those who want to start a family and millennials; nearly a quarter of young adults in London live with their parents and one-in-three private rental households include children.

With the aim of re-addressing this imbalance, DP’s London studio recently collaborated with District 34², an independent Singaporean start-up company. The work plan was to leverage on District 34’s use of cutting-edge data science technologies to formulate the optimal location and devise well-designed high-density urban dwellings at affordable prices; ultimately, helping Millennial and the Z-Generation Londoners to get onto the housing ladder.

Each resident would get a slice of community life with elements such as a self-service open-plan lobby lounge, where food and beverage as well as events can be found around the clock. By transposing the concept of Singapore’s famed social housing

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POLAR ARRAY

DUPLICATE & ROTATE

STACK

REPEAT

1 Bedroom Unit

2 Bedroom Unit

3 Bedroom Unit

7.5 m 7.5 m One Module

T H E D E S I G N O F C O C O O N TOW E RS IS U N D E R PIN N E D BY T H E U S E O F D F M A M E T H O D S A N D F E AT U R E S A S TAC K D E S IGN O F CIRC U L A R H A BI TA B L E RIN G S T H AT IS C O S T E F FICIE N T A N D AC HIE V E S A S T RIK IN G A RC HI T ECT U R A L E X P R E S S IO N.

system into a London context and making it generationally specific, this project manages a careful balance between design quality and ingenuity with the practical requirements of repetition, cost and build-efficiency for affordable housing.

COCOON TOWERS Located in Bletchley, a short train ride from London, Cocoon Towers³ is another of DP London’s affordable housing proposals that is underpinned by the use of DfMA construction methods. Using a unique stack design of circular habitable rings, the proposal is not only cost-efficient but achieves a striking design expression. Programmatically, the buildings operate as clusters of vertical villages, designed through an in-depth analysis of energy consumption, solar gains and panoramic views, to produce housing with optimal performance for the resident/homeowner.

Only 60 years ago, Singapore suffered severe housing shortage; it now has approximately 90% home ownership. When one compares this to London’s housing crisis today, one wonders:

LOCATED IN BLETCHLEY, OUTSIDE OF LONDON, COCOON TOWERS OPERATE AS CLUSTERS OF VERTICAL VILLAGES AND FEATURE A UNIQUE STACKED CIRCULAR DESIGN.

A HOME OF ONE’S OWN

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RENDERING OF DISTRICT 34

can this be London’s statistics in the next 50 years? In reality, London’s housing sector is a much larger and slow-moving machine. It also has a much smaller financial pocket. However, through the collective efforts and ingenuity of individuals, policymakers, developers and architects, the wheels of change can slowly be turned to make a difference.

No two socio-economic and environmental issues in the world are identical; but DP’s One Global Studio ethos and framework enables cross geo-cultural design learning and adaptation to resolve the issues in other built environments. The success of this depends on two things: the tireless drive for design innovation and excellence by its architects, and the constant curiosity towards current conditions. Thus driven, DP London is able to produce research-based methodologies alongside its commercial commissions; effectively, finding new solutions for the future. HoTHoB has provoked academic thought and challenged the operating norms of the London house-building real estate sector; while District 34 is developing a new way of city living and ownership in an ever-changing technological world.

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DISTRICT 34’S USES CUTTING-EDGE DATA SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES TO FORMULATE THE OPTIMAL LOCATION AND DEVISE WELL-DESIGNED, HIGH-DENSITY URBAN DWELLINGS AT AFFORDABLE PRICES.

DEVELOPED THROUGH PRACTICE-BASED RESEARCH AND EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF SINGAPORE'S MODULARISED SOCIAL HOUSING SYSTEM PROPOSALS PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO LONDON'S HOUSING SHORTAGE. HoTHoB¹ is a self-initiated design research project that involved exploratory discussions with the Mayor’s office and Transport for London. It was presented as a public lecture in London Festival of Architecture 2018.

District 34² is a property technology firm that uses advanced techniques of data analysis to identify suitable potential sites for housing projects that Londoners can afford. The name “District34” carries the meaning of ‘the next district in addition to London’s existing 33 districts”.

Cocoon Towers³ is an early stage feasibility concept proposal for an outer London site, and serves also as a test-bed study for DfMA to push design boundaries.

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IN SEARCH OF BUILDABILITY, AESTHETICS & WELLNESS IN HOUSING A LOOK INTO DP’S RESIDENTIAL TYPOLOGY GROUP

By Shawn Teo

Design research, in practice, starts off with a hypothesis to a real, urgent problem and an eye on a near-future solution. As the physical living environment is never short of problems with its growing population, increasing urbanisation and worsening climatic conditions, architectural practices are recognising the importance and relevance of design research in re-engineering fundamental assumptions and conventional industry practices. DP Architects (DPA) shares this conviction in design research and through its unique designFIRST framework, organised our resources and expertise according to different building typologies. The mandate of each building typology group is to generate the toolset and

knowledge base for its respective building type, keeping the practice abreast of latest developments in the industry.

RESIDENTIAL TYPOLOGY Over the decades, DPA’s involvement in urban, high-rise living have enabled the practice to amass an extensive portfolio of residential projects both locally and overseas. We have developed experience in a whole spectrum of residential project delivery – design, documentation, tender, construction and handover. This experience is crucial in understanding the needs and nuances in delivering a residential project which is inherently a complex undertaking, given that we are dealing with stakeholders across different generations with varied expectations and needs. A residential project is also arguably one of the most regulated building typologies in terms of its design, sales, construction and handover processes.

Additionally, it is made more complex by its fair share of emerging disruptions. With the advance of coliving, co-housing and home-offices, we are seeing a greater blurring of lines between private and communal living as well as short-term and longterm home stays. Modular housing also brings forth an urgent discourse on the need for a balance between aesthetics and construction productivity as well as the need for a balance between standardisation and choices for homeowners. Biophilia has also gained much

DATA DRIVEN RESE ARCH FOR PR ACTICAL DESIGN APPLICATIONS

A LOOK INTO DP'S RESIDENTIAL T YPOLOGY GROUP

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traction as a design strategy for wellness and sustainability. As a rising design movement, there remains much potential in how biophilic designs can be applied to residential developments.

modularisation of dwelling units. The study also looks into how this may result in a set of baseline dimensions for configurable residential layout permutations.

There are huge challenges designing in a building typology that is age-old, highly regulated and deeply entrenched amid the current age of disruption. Yet, this is perhaps what makes residential architecture exciting. To navigate the design and technical aspects of this building type, DPA established the Residential Typology Group to continuously practice in and deliver residential projects in collaboration with industry partners. This enables the design firm to remain at the forefront of the latest developments and find the appropriate balance in our design solutions for the residential market.

COLL ABOR ATIVE DESIGN RESE ARCH In order for knowledge to grow, it must be shared. With this in mind, we partnered with Singapore University of Technology and Design and participated in its Capstone Programme, which serves to bring together students from different pillars to work in design teams.

Together, professionals and students contribute their research, knowledge, expertise and skills to solve real-world challenges.

A KNOWLEDGE-BASED, DATA-DRIVEN PRACTICE The Residential Typology Group aims to create its knowledge base through a complete feedback loop of PRACTICE, DATA, RESEARCH and EXCHANGE. The objectives are to evolve the way DPA approaches its residential design process and enhance our project delivery.

To achieve this, we first set up an in-depth and comprehensive knowledge base of data, details, components and materials that make up residential design. These information are collated from two key sources – our extensive portfolio of residential projects and market surveys on industry-wide practices which we conduct.

They are then systematically collated, curated and communicated to raise the standards of residential design throughout the office.

To this end, the Residential Typology Group has formed different channels of communication, including an online knowledge portal, to reach out to the office.

The knowledge base functions as a library comprising 3D components and construction details, checklists of residential codes and good design practices, etc.; all of which are necessary for DPA’s design teams to adopt a data-based, performance-driven design approach and apply a certain degree of standardisation so as to efficiently deliver design solutions that are informed, relevant and meet a minimum threshold of design quality.

Beyond this, the database also forms the bedrock to our Learning and Research and development programmes. Data that have been conscientiously collected from built projects over the years, allows us to scan through the past and current residential design landscape as a starting point for our research undertakings and search for the next design frontier. A recent design research that the Residential Typology Group has been conducting is a study into streamlining trends of room dimensions to suit the downsizing and

PERMUTATION

1BR/S + 1BR + 1BR

1BR/S + 3BR

In 2019, the Residential Typology Group worked on the research topic “Bridging the Dichotomy of PPVC – Customisation vs Fabrication: on How PPVC technology can allow for Design Customisation in Residential Apartments”. The aim was to challenge the prevalent perception that the use of PPVC inevitably means design repetitions and uniformity, which runs counter to innovations and custom designs in architecture. The outcome of this eightmonth long research programme is a hypothetical residential tower that uses PPVC design modularity and construction technology to democratise the design process and pass the product sovereignty back to the home buyers in a high-rise residential project.

Concurrent to this research programme, the Residential Typology Group also collaborated with industry partners to develop this idea of a permutable high-rise housing design for near-future implementation. Future possible PPVC research topics may include designing digital scripts for PPVC designs and making PPVC design a greener construction technology. For the purpose of knowledge sharing, they also put together DPA’s very own in-house PPVC Design Guide to disseminate the design requirements behind a PPVC residential design.

IN SE ARCH OF BUILDABILIT Y, AESTHETICS & WELLNESS IN HOUSING Residential design is a slow but continuously evolving typology as it has to constantly juggle between deeply entrenched living habits and ever-changing demographics.

The Residential Typology Group, set up within DP’s wider designFIRST framework, studies the evolving changes and correspondingly research into innovative residential design solutions. Through a systematic and integrative process of practice, data, research and exchange, the group pursues buildability, aesthetics and wellness in its residential projects.

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CONTEMPLATING RESIDENTIAL DESIGN Interview by Belle Chung and John Utanes

FROM THE DEFINITION OF HOME AND WHAT IT TAKES TO DESIGN RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES, TO EVOLVING PROPERTY MARKETS, THEIR PROBLEMS AND THE VALUE OF THE ARCHITECT, OUR RESIDENT EXPERTS WEIGH IN. IN PERSON PRESENTS THEIR MARKET INSIGHTS AND DESIGN THINKING.

BOULEVARD 88 YEAR: 2021 | GFA: 34,900SQM | SINGAPORE DESIGNED IN COLLABORATION WITH SAFDIE ARCHITECTS

C O N T E M P L AT I N G R E S I D E N T I A L D E S I G N

AS ARCHITECTS, WE MUST OVERCOME THE MENTALITY THAT FUTURE-READY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN MEANS FUTURISTIC DESIGN. SMART DESIGN BEGINS WITH A DESIGN RESPONSIBILITY MINDSET, BECAUSE THE ACTION WE TAKE TODAY WILL DETERMINE IF WE ARE READY TOMORROW. – LEE SHEE KOENG HEAD OF RESIDENTIAL T YPOLOGY GROUP AND COO

BE FRIENDLY SHEE KOENG REFLECTS ON ‘FRIENDLINESS’ IN RESIDENTIAL DESIGN AND WHY WE MUST ACT NOW. Every residential design – whether it is a single detached bungalow or a township like Singapore’s HDB estates – is different depending on its location, neighbourhood, intent of the development, micro climatic conditions, etc. They, however, share in a single quality: friendliness.

Architecturally speaking, a 'friendly' design creates physical accessibility in terms of seamlessly integrated ergonomic features and physical essence in terms of what a home is – a haven designed with comfort, safety and privacy in mind. ‘Friendliness’ of design also refers to the creation of social accessibility and connectivity. It presents itself as an inviting space with amenities that appeal across age groups and common living rooms that facilitate the cultivation of neighbourliness among its residents.

Last but not least, residential design must be eco-friendly. This is crucial to delivering future-ready housing using responsibly sourced materials and taking into consideration a building’s life cycle.

After all, should we continue to live and consume irresponsibly, there will be no future to speak of. Design action for sustainability begins now with simple design solutions such as carefully thought-out orientation of residential blocks for access to good natural lighting and ventilation.

These passive design strategies reduce end-user reliance on mechanical means and therefore, carbon emissions.

It is important to recognise that residential architecture is not just about form and aesthetics. On this, I feel that DP’s biggest advantage is our passion for sustainable design. Our commitment to constantly look out for environmentally friendly products, our capabilities to utilise complex environment studies and simulation tools to inform design, and deep knowledge in waste-efficient, cost-effective construction methodology, combine with our belief that design considerations have to inspire human aspirations, are what empowers us to be future-ready in our designs.

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IN PERSON

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THERE IS AN INCREASING EMPHASIS ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN CHINA THOUGH IN VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS. SINGAPORE FIRMS CAN PARTICIPATE BY SHARING THE SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE IN SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND CITY PLANNING. – TAN CHEE YONG DIRECTOR OF DP ARCHITECTS

LA RIVA YEAR: 2020 | GFA: 97,700SQM | CHINA

NEW TOWN CHEE YONG EX AMINES HOW RESIDENTIAL ESTATES AND TOWNSHIPS IN CHINA ARE EVOLVING. With its economic boom, China is transforming its cities at a rapid pace and on a massive scale; all while taking cue from other cities around the world, including Singapore’s public housing model with respect to its hierarchy of precinct, neighbourhood and town centres. What makes Singapore’s township model stand out is the socio-economic vibrancy that our evolved planning of co-locating and co-sharing of community facilities has generated. Through the power of design, we have helped to strengthen the kampong spirit within the community.

By contrast, the provisions of communal facilities and amenities in China are still largely independent and functioning in silos. But this is changing alongside government efforts to consolidate cultural, educational and sports facilities in lieu of resource efficiency. More interestingly, different Chinese cities are trying different community models.

Take Zhejiang province for example. Through their model of Future Sustainable Communities, the provincial government is focusing on liveability. By incorporating existing developments with new in-fill developments, new towns aim to not only retain existing communities but also attract new residents who will inject fresh talent and skills. This along with improved transport infrastructure should provide social and economic sustainability. On top of this, China has in one way or another made notable progress in reducing carbon footprint, beginning with the development of their own green-mark accreditation standard, albeit limitations presented by prevailing codes and regulations.

This market expansion in China presents a very exciting time and opportunity for us architects and urban planners as we take well-tested design models and look at how we can adapt them suitably. We bring with us excellence in biophilic residential design, advance knowledge in prefabrication, experience in sustainable city planning and expertise in the application of the Hub Ecology.

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MEANINGFUL DESIGN FRVEN NAVIGATES THE ROLE OF THE ARCHITECT WITHIN UK’S COMPLEX SOCIAL HOUSING MARKET. For the longest time, UK’s property market has been waiting to self-calibrate; waiting for the surfacing of large house-builders to start a new era. Unfortunately, due to the diversity in the country’s approaches to the topic of housebuilding, complexities of policies and large privatisation of land, it has not happened. It has also made the choice of building on Brown or Greenfield sites a complicated one.

But, if market forces converge, and public and private sectors agree, creative solutions abound. The responsibility to meaningfully design houses for longevity and adaptability then falls on us architects. This is because our living habits, everyday routines and social lifestyles are changing at an unprecedented rate. Good design addresses these changes and achieves relevance on three levels:

allowing its residents to become a contributing component of the larger community; effectively generating social and economic capital.

2. Organisation of space which examines the way families form an inter-relationship with one another within spatial density and arrangement. It must facilitate social connectivity.

3. Dwelling unit which must be designed with longevity in mind. This will allow ease in adapting a space according to future needs; thereby, achieving sustainability.

Sustainability goes far beyond the notion of the building’s green features. Beyond designing with recycled materials and incorporating lush landscaping, the architect must care about the life-cycle of a building. After all, achieving sustainability in the built environment depends on our ability to optimise resources and land use through design.

1. Urbanism which looks at how a housing project integrates with its surroundings, thereby implicitly

I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS THAT EMBODY A WIDE RANGE OF IDEAS BLENDED AND INTERWOVEN TO FORMULATE A COMMUNITYANGLED HOUSING SOLUTION. COCOON TOWERS YEAR: 2018 | UNITED KINGDOM

– FRVEN LIM DIRECTOR OF DP ARCHITECTS (LONDON)

IN PERSON

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THERE IS AN INSEPARABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN PRIDE AND THE SENSE OF BELONGING. IF RESIDENTS ARE PROUD OF THEIR HOUSING ESTATE, THEY TEND TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF IT AND DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. – DAVID LIAUW DIRECTOR AT DP ARCHITECTS

THE CLIFT YEAR: 2016 | GFA: 20,400SQM | SINGAPORE

HOME-MAKING DAVID EX AMINES NEW LIFEST YLE TRENDS, RESIDENTIAL MODELS AND OWNERSHIP. The Clift is a favourite project of mine. It was a very early precursor in the development of what is known today as ‘shoe-box’ apartments that initially sprouted up within the Central Business District/Downtown Core areas but have since taken root in the heartlands as well. They made for interesting projects as architects and designers were forced to come up with innovative ways to utilise the limited spaces.

When you consider the floor area of such apartment-types, it challenges the standard concept and functions of a house – What is the new definition of luxury living? Which spaces and their functions are utilitarian? Which are 'nonessential'? What happens when we are able to do without them? Are they replaceable via a service in today’s cityliving? For example, the laundry yard can be substituted with a laundry service and social mingling can take place in a common living space. The only ‘essential’ space left are the private areas like the bedroom and bathroom. By

stripping away these utilitarian spaces, some have justified the liveability of small spaces and therefore, argue that apartments can afford to shrink in floor area.

Perhaps cynically, I see co-living as a by-product of driving real estate prices and the millennial’s pursuit for an experiential economy. In the face of rocketing prices, one would rather trade these non-essential utilitarian spaces for living in the city; a means to somewhere they can call ‘home’ without financial burden. That is not to say that traditional form of housing will become irrelevant. After all, needs change with every phase of life. What would be interesting to observe, however, is how the COVID-19 pandemic may alter perceptions of shared spaces, its design and this typology at large.

Till then, it is important to note that where there are common spaces, private and public, a house is nearly always made a home.

They facilitate communal bonding within family and between residents, and create emotions and memories that are tied to the space and its people. This forges a sense of belonging and pride in their estate and community; which, ultimately develops the feelings of ‘home’.

C O N T E M P L AT I N G R E S I D E N T I A L D E S I G N

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BEYOND BASICS JIANN WOEI WEIGHS IN ON HOW INDOCHINA’S ECONOMIC PROGRESS IS SHAPING ITS HOUSING AND DESIGN SCENE. When you look at The Galleria Residence and Opera Residence in Ho Chi Minh City, their modern appeal is a reflection of the city’s economic growth and successes as a regional and global contender. The country is undergoing transformation and with it, the evolution of the concept of home and ownership. More than a roof over one’s head, home ownership is increasingly about the acquisition of a certain lifestyle. The same is observed in Thailand, albeit differing economic dynamics and place-specific climate conditions, cultures and core values.

This makes for exciting times. The demand for 'updated' housing has brought about a boom in the property market of higher design standards. It has also created a more entrepreneurial outlook on housing where property value not only reflects the homeowners’ socioeconomic achievement, it also offers foreseeable gain in the future, purposed for facilitating trade within the community settings.

Community and communal identity within a housing estate is now less about the old spirit of neighbourly togetherness – what we colloquially refer to in Singapore as the kampong spirit. Rather, developers are looking to create unique brands of housing estates designed with the intention to affirm homeowners' aspirations.

Having experienced growth in tandem with Singapore's economic progress, DP understands both the upward mobility aspirations of homeowners and market intent of developers, and the symbiotic relationship between the two. As a foreign architect with a portfolio of public and private housing of varying scales, we are able to tap on our experience in Singapore while localising design sensitive solutions for place-specific interventions and implementations.

THE GALLERIA YEAR: 2020 | 60,000SQM | VIETNAM

THE RISING STATURE OF INDOCHINA AS AN ECONOMIC CENTRE, BY AND LARGE, HAS ACCELERATED THE REGION’S DESIGN TRENDS TO GLOBAL STANDARDS. – TAN JIANN WOEI DIRECTOR OF DP ARCHITECTS (THAIL AND AND INDOCHINA)

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C O N T E M P L AT I N G R E S I D E N T I A L D E S I G N

IN PERSON

HAVING A HOME THAT ONE OWNS PROVIDES DIGNITY TO THE FAMILY. – FOO CHAI YEE DIRECTOR AT DP ARCHITECTS

KASARA YEAR: 2011 | 9,000SQM | SINGAPORE IMAGE COURTESY OF YTL LAND AND ALBERT LIM KS

ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE. CHAI YEE REFLECTS ON THE ESSENCE OF RESIDENTIAL DESIGN. As architects, I think sometimes we forget two things make a home: inclusivity and ownership. These come before aesthetics and form. Ownership is made possible by affordability, especially within the context of social housing, and gives people a sense of security and provides dignity to the family. Inclusivity gives people a sense of belonging, thereby contributing to social cohesion. Singapore’s history, social housing policies, and urban and residential designs have shown how this can be achieved and maintained.

facilities and services are co-located and co-generative. Our role as architects is to design social spaces as common living rooms with access to lovely landscaping design and details.

Our design of each township must incorporate distinctive features that relates to the heritage of the precinct and unique spatial programming that breaks the monotony of the skyline.

Our designs must contribute to the greater master planning goal to make residential estates accessible to all – across multi-generations and multi-cultures.

So, the two considerations of inclusivity and ownership continue to remain at the core of our public housing design.

What has changed, however, is how HDB’s township urban planning policies now take into greater account urban design and evolving social dynamics. The layout and design of HDB townships have evolved from the basic provision of amenities like children’s playground, sundry shops under the residential block and separately located sports facilities. Today, these

This design vision, I believe, is also fundamental to the private housing typology. Every condominium development has its own brand identity. Articulated through design, it then creates a community culture unique to the complex. This, in essence, is what allows our design of houses to successfully translate a space into one that end-users can call home.

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IN HISTORY

THE BAYSHORE

RESIDENTIAL | 1997 | 123,000SQM | SINGAPORE

The sculptural elements that give The Bayshore its architectural identity were borrowed from the historical understanding of Babylon’s Hanging Gardens – a vast, terraced ecological complex constructed by a king to house the transplanted gardens of distant lands please his homesick wife. Woven into the modern city, The Bayshore adopts many of the spatial qualities described of the ancient wonder, such as articulated forms clad in stone, heavy architectural features and an abundance of greenery that has since become a standard for residential developments in Singapore.

The Bayshore was conferred the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence award in 1999.

1997