Design In Print 6.4 - Chan Sui Him Issue 2016

THE CHAN SUI HIM ISSUE

IN FOCUS

PASSIVE DESIGN

THE KEYSTONE OF DP’S DESIGN

CHAN SUI HIM

FORGING FIRM FOUNDATIONS INDUSTRY SUNRAY HEADQUARTERS WINS

DESIGN OF THE YEAR

www.dpa.com.sg

KEY APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS

IN DEPTH

MCI (P) 058/08/2015

UPDATES DP ARCHITECTS ANNOUNCES

VOLUME 6 NUMBER 4 2016 SINGAPORE

MESSAGE FROM

CHAN SUI HIM

In my 50-year career, beginning from the time I was a student intern, the unique thing about DP has always been its emphasis on partnership. The origin of DP was an establishment of an equal ‘Design Partnership’, true to the spirit of architecture – a creative profession that shapes and is shaped by society, culture and the economy; a profession that thrives on collaboration and the sharing of a common goal or vision. Just as a building stands tall because it is the sum of many parts, the creative contribution of each team member matters in the final realisation of an idea.

DP’s focus on the human spirit – in designs that uplift the urban dweller’s experience, and in cherishing every DPian as a family member – meant that we have and will continue to weather crises in the economy. DP has been resilient in five recessions, optimistic that if we keep the firm together through cost-saving measures and use the lull period to grow our capabilities, the firm would be ready to take on bigger jobs when the tide turns. I am happy and confident about entrusting the DP group of companies and its rich legacy to the new Chairman, Francis Lee and new CEO, Angelene Chan.

Just as we believe in collaboration within the firm, we also believe in forming partnerships with clients and consultants. We believe in the importance of working hand-in-hand with our partners to deliver excellent service in architecture. Every project we take on is with the long-term journey in mind; a never-ending journey of learning and discovery with the client and industry partners. It is through strong partnerships that we continue to refine and raise design and delivery standards.

lifelong practice and journey of knowledge. It is my chosen profession and a way of life; you never really stop being an architect, or think about an official retirement age – especially when you feel you still have so much experience and knowledge to share with those eager to learn, and also to learn from those with passion and creativity who can energise you. The future will see new challenges that require unprecedented, innovative design solutions; and I am wholeheartedly diving into it.

The never-ending journey is an analogy that I extend to my personal practice. Architecture is a

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DP Architects Directors 1 Francis Lee, Chairman | 2 Angelene Chan, CEO | 3 Chan Sui Him, Senior Director | 4 Ti Lian Seng | 5 Teoh Hai Pin 6 Wu Tzu Chiang | 7 Chin Thoe Chong | 8 Vikas M Gore | 9 Lesley Lim | 10 Dadi Surya | 11 Suneeth Changaroth | 12 Jeremy Tan 13 Toh Sze Chong 14 Tong Bin Sin | 15 Seah Chee Huang | 16 Mike Lim | 17 Tan Chee Kiang | 18 Chan Hui Min

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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Singapore just celebrated its Golden Jubilee, and as a homegrown firm formed just two years after Singapore’s independence, our growth story is intricately tied with Singapore’s past, present and future. With our own 50th anniversary coming up next year, we have, with the support of our clients and industry partners, many milestones and projects to be proud of. We stand now at the threshold of transitions that the world economy, the industry and our firm are going through. Yet we have much to be optimistic about. Embracing the spirit of change, we are refreshing the organisation with new leadership that will staunchly steer the firm, our clients and partners towards greater growth ahead. I take great pride in announcing the promotion of Angelene Chan to CEO. DP will be re-energised under her leadership, together with the newly promoted directors, senior associate directors and associate directors. In my new position as Chairman, I will focus on the expansion of our overseas reach, effective succession planning and the grooming of future leaders, as the firm’s sustainability will be shaped by their collective vision. They will join me in bonding, communicating and connecting with their teams to inspire every DPian to become high

performers that work with trust and a relentless sense of purpose. These new leaders must set the example for DPians to work with responsibility, integrity, self-renewal and excellence – core values established by DP pioneers that are now keystones of our work culture – to bring DP to greater heights. As projects become more complicated with tighter timeframes, fully integrated design services will ensure more efficient delivery; we will continue to build on the expertise and growth of our subsidiaries to ensure projects by DP are well coordinated and cohesive. It is our priority to strengthen our multidisciplinary practice and foster the expansion of our subsidiaries’ portfolios. Despite the slowing economy, 2015 ended on a positive note as we increased our global presence with projects in Georgia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and an office in London to pursue opportunities in the European market. We will continue to drive greater changes in 2016 as we step up engagement in our existing markets and open an office in Istanbul to raise awareness of DP’s capabilities beyond Asia. We ask for your continued confidence in the DP legacy, as we embark on a renewed, rewarding journey to grow from strength to strength. – Francis Lee

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S MESSAGE I am humbled by my new appointment as CEO, and the responsibility to build on the 50-year legacy of DP’s unique culture, values and design excellence. Just as architecture is a lifelong learning and creative process, so is leadership. Running a firm like ours is a big responsibility. I did not do this on my own. As a wife, mother, daughter and architect, I am fortunate to have the unfailing support of two families – my family at home and the DP family at work. With 25 years of strong mentorship, personal friendship and kindness at the firm, I have always felt the generosity of colleagues in sharing valuable knowledge, experience and help on my DP journey. Serving as CEO, my primary focus is to drive the ‘D’ in DP – Design First. DP has always been valued for our high standards of design and service. Now, we will focus on even higher design and service delivery benchmarks that are transformative; that are truly world-class. As a home-grown firm, we not only fly the flag for DP, but also for the Singapore brand around the world; we will consistently strive for better, inspirational, award-winning design. While we have success stories in the past five decades, we must keep learning and be hungry to do more. The architecture industry is one born not only of tradition, but of constant innovation; it is an ever-dynamic industry that demands restless, creative imaginations. That brings me to the ‘P’ in DP – People Empowerment. Just as a landmark cannot be created without individual building blocks, a firm cannot succeed without its people. It is through enhancing and empowering our greatest assets that the firm can scale new heights, to serve our clients better. We will ensure every DPian is valued for the ideas they contribute and confident of their role in design and delivering good work. For this reason, we are launching DP Academy to continuously update everyone’s skills through technical courses, and to ensure the well-rounded development of every individual through workshops that enhance important values. For nearly five decades, DP has created landmarks in Singapore that shaped the nation’s identity, and has worked on global projects of immense scale and diverse functions that expanded the DP brand internationally. We will be celebrating our golden jubilee in 2017. As we approach this milestone year and reflect on our journey so far, we are thankful of the collaborative relationships we have with our clients and partners. Looking forward to DP50 and beyond, we will continue to strengthen these meaningful partnerships, as we continue to shape the built environment and empower lives through architecture. – Angelene Chan

| The latest happenings in DP

DP Architects publishes book on

the evolution of Marina Bay

Vo l u m e 6 N u m b e r 4 , 2 0 1 6 , S i n g a p o re

CONTENTS The latest happenings in DP

DPA publishes book on Marina Bay DP Architects announces Key Appointments and Promotions DP Design celebrates book launch

Short takes on new & notable projects

01 Dulwich College 02 Fuk Tak Chi Museum 03 Serini Melawati 04 Biji @ Section 17 05 Pelican Paradise Resort and Golf 06 Sheraton Danang 07 Mall of Dilmunia

DP Architects has published its fifth book, Evolution of a Civic Downtown: DP Architects on Marina Bay in January 2016. A sequel to 2012’s Evolution of a Retail Streetscape: DP Architects on Orchard Road, the book establishes a historical account and the firm’s role in the evolution of another important urban area of contemporary Singapore – Marina Bay. The book outlines the development of the Marina Bay waterfront area through Singapore’s land reclamation strategies, and compares that with land reclamations in the port cities of Boston, Tokyo and Hong Kong; as well as presents a selection of projects completed by the firm in and around the bay area since the 70s. Each project has a vital public component that contributes to the connectivity of Marina Bay and its success as the nation’s civic core. The latest book in DPA’s publication catalogue shows how the firm has shaped Singapore’s skyline over the past five decades.

DP Design

celebrates book launch

Featured projects

Chan Sui Him: Forging Firm Foundations

IN FOCUS Sustainable design

Passive design: The keystone of DP’s building design

Awards & events

Sunray wins President’s Design Award DPA pioneers lauded for design contribution DPA supports URA’s CUBE programme DP Green wins landscape design awards Green Building Individual Awards

DP interview

Chan Sui Him

Celebration of past projects

Century Square 1995

Graphics

Content

Editorial

Cover photo of Chan Sui Him by Sean Lee

Angelene Chan Chan Hui Min Bonnie Oeni Toh Bee Ping

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

Fu Tingting

Loh Yew Cheng Lee Hui Yee

Writers: Anwar Rashid, Lee Boon Woei, Leong Wei Lin & Taib Shabbir. Contributors: Jackie Poh & Pocholo Mauricio.

DP Design celebrated the launch of its book DP Design | Designing Spaces with a party held on 30 October 2015 at the Singapore Dance Theatre, one of the projects featured in the book. Director Mr Mike Lim kicked off the party with a welcome address; followed Mr Janek Schergen, artistic director of SDT, whose speech recalled the client-designer relationship and the compliments SDT has received from overseas visitors for its home. Over 100 invited guests attended the party, including clients, partners and members of the media.

DP Architects announces

Key Appointments and Promotions The DP Board of Directors is pleased to announce new senior management appointments and key promotions, with effect from 1 January 2016. Mr Francis Lee has been named Chairman, taking over the reins from Mr Chan Sui Him who has assumed a mentorship role as Senior Director. Ms Angelene Chan has been named Chief Executive Officer. The members of the Board of Directors remain unchanged.

The board has also promoted Ms Chan Hui Min and Mr Tan Chee Kiang to Directors of DP Architects, and Ms May Chan to Director of the firm’s operations in the Middle East. Besides the two newly-appointed top management positions and three director promotions, the board has also announced the promotion of 108 titleholders and key positions.

New Appointments and Promotions:

DP ARCHITECTS

Associate

Francis Lee

Alexis Chan Danilo J Alvarez Margaret Lau

CEO

Associate

DP ARCHITECTS INDIA

Chairman

Angelene Chan

Director Chan Hui Min Tan Chee Kiang

Senior Associate Director Chua Zi Jun Clyde Uriarte Lee Siat Kiat Loh Hai Yew Ng San Son Tai Chooi Mee Tan Jiann Woei Toh Li Chuin Wang Tse Lip

Associate Director Ang Guo Zi Catherine Lo Charles Chandra Putera Chin Li Nah Jacqueline Pong Ng Swee Hong Pulvy Iskandar

Senior Associate Angela Lee Dwestri Wikansari Frederick Chico Estacio Heri Darmawan Sidik Jeffrey Ang Ching Yang Kazi Nayeb-Ul-Ahad Lau Sze Yee Lim Yin Chao Mae Seetha Dauth Michelle Lim Pui Ling Pramod Gangolli Raden Andhini Sahng O Lee

Senior Associate, Contracts

Achmad Nanang Maulana Aileen Koh Alvin Sutoko Armando F Arino Diong Fuhan Doreen Wong Elaine Thian Emily Lim Eugene Del Mundo Dizon Goh Chee Haw Harvey Lukman Ho Wai Kit Indra Karsono Kyle Fulton Kiki Raditya Kwong Wan Huay Lee Yong Hoe Leong Soon Yuan Low Si Ni Mark Chen Guanwu Meltiades Alog Ng Ruilin Ng Wei Qi Olive Millan Ong Hoay San Rully Adrian Rully Heriawan See Phei Khee Sharon Hee Songchai Puksakul Tan Kok Ming Wayne Lim Widari Bahrin

Associate, Special Projects Victoria Yoong

Associate, Technical Norliza Binte Salleh Marican Tham Ai Ling Wang Aiting

Teo Sheng Leong

DP ARCHITECTS CHINA

Senior Associate, Technical

Senior Associate

Ahmad Iskandar

Bryan Chow

Ni Kun Xing Xiang Xi

Senior Associate Narayanan Srinivasan

Associate Harish Joshi Shilpa Srinivasaiah Yashaswini Apte

DP ARCHITECTS MALAYSIA

DP GREEN Senior Associate Tan Sze Wei

Senior Associate, Technical Ong Siew Leng

DP HEALTHCARE Associate Director Priscilla Chow

Senior Associate Shane Tan

Associate

Rachel Chin

Ng Pei Yun Rizal Hamdani Sharmini Rae James

Senior Associate

DP INFRASTRUCTURE

Associate Director

Ting Ying Ying William Chua

Senior Associate, Technical Dennis Bock

Associate Hasrin Hashim Zulkifli Bin Mohd Yusof

Associate, Technical

Associate Director Debashish Mondal Edwin Arokiyam

Senior Associate Chandra Endah

Associate John Ferrer Mark Anthony Montano Carolino Shaju Nanukuttan

Lim Foong Ting

DP ARCHITECTS U.A.E. Director

DP SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Associate Taib Shabbir

May Chan

Associate Syed Mashhad Abbas Shah

DP DESIGN Senior Associate Bhavna Singhal Kapur Zita Carrillo

Associate Jamond Boo See Ling Win Le Htun

CORPORATE SERVICES Deputy Director, Information & Communications Technology Michael Wong

Manager, Human Resources Kaitlyn Chan

Manager, Admin (U.A.E.) Norazizah Bte Hassein

Manager, Finance (China) Maggie Yao

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Short takes on new & notable projects

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Fuk Tak Chi Museum Singapore

conservation & heritage

institutional

Dulwich College Singapore

Dulwich College Singapore is an international school occupying a fivehectare site in Bukit Batok. From planning, interior design, landscaping to material selection, the concept revolves around the size and needs of the children: Small (S) for the early years, medium (M) for the junior school, large (L) for the senior school, and free-size (F) for shared facilities such as the Performing Arts Centre, the Indoor Sport Centre and the boarding school. The use of brick references the parent college in London and marks the main boulevard axis. On the upper floors, the individual buildings are linked by bridges, creating a seamless flow for the students as they progress up the years. Colours of natural materials such as wood and copper accentuate the libraries which are presented as ‘Windows to the World’. At the heart of the campus is the Performing Arts Centre, its frontage a re-creation of Dulwich College London’s façade.

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First established as a temple in 1824 by the early Hakka and Cantonese migrants, Fuk Tak Chi was converted into a street museum in 1998. Ravaged by Singapore’s tropical climate with high humidity and abundant rainfall, the Fuk Tak Chi museum closed for a second restoration at the end of 2014. The restoration work was driven by two factors – continuity and authenticity. Roof repair works constituted the major part of the restoration work. Rotting purlins were replaced, and new technologies of roof waterproofing systems were adopted to ensure the longevity of the museum with minimal damage from weather elements. Damaged decorative elements that required replacement were handcrafted by artisans in China. In addition, rising damp treatment was carried out on the parti walls, and special plaster and mineral paint were used to achieve long-term durability.

Serini Melawati Malaysia

Serini Melawati is a 38-storey serviced residence strategically located at the heart of Taman Melawati, a soughtafter suburban area along Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road and easily accessible to Kuala Lumpur City Centre via major highways. The development consists of 528 units within two identical towers with a shared car-park podium. The façade is articulated with various carefully

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Biji @ Section 17 Malaysia

The mixed development is located in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, next to the famous open-air wet market and night hawker, one of the five main commercial centres in the city. The development consists of three zones: commercial, studio apartment and serviced apartment. The commercial zone comprises retail spaces on the first two storeys, of similar scale to a neighbourhood mall. The commercial component will generate opportunities

for future socio-economic growth in the area. Sitting above a seven-storey car-park podium, the residential zone is made up of two 17-storey towers: Tower A consists of 136 units of three-bedroom serviced apartments; and Tower B holds 289 studio units. The facilities deck is located between the towers and the podium block, and includes a swimming pool, wading pool, gymnasium, landscape garden, nursery and multipurpose hall.

mixed development

mapped planes that are rendered with tones of greys, giving the perception of enhanced depth and creating an interplay of light and shadow. Lush landscaping at the ground level creates a welcoming haven as one approaches the elevated double-height arrival plaza and foyer at each tower. Shared communal facilities, including a swimming pool, gymnasium and children’s play room, are located on the podium roof.

hotel

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Pelican Paradise Resort and Golf East Timor

The resort development at East Timor comprises 464 rooms, 4 speciality restaurants, a 1,400-person ballroom and conference hall, an exhibition hall, 13 villas and a golf clubhouse; and caters to different groups of hotel guests, such as families, golf enthusiasts, seasport lovers and newly-weds. The resort’s tropical architecture design is most prominently presented in the enormous roof structure of the main building, with its high ceiling and generous roof overhangs. The form of the hotel wings respond to the natural curve of the site. A large swimming pool that spans the length of the hotel wings sits at the centre of the development. The landscape design features lush greenery, strategically positioned around the expansive swimming pool and the entire development to create an idyllic and peaceful atmosphere.

retail

Vietnam

hotel

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Sheraton Danang

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Mall of Dilmunia Bahrain

The Mall of Dilmunia is a family-oriented shopping mall, estimated to open in 2018. It is located on the reclaimed Dilmunia Health Island in Bahrain, which was master-planned by DP Architects. The mall is sited along a bend that follows the Grand Canal on the island.

The Sheraton Danang, located along Danang Bay, comprises several low-rise blocks that surround an extended stretch of water features and attractions. The two keystone blocks of the establishment, the Reception Block and the Ballroom Block, are fronted by a lushly landscaped forecourt. These blocks house amenities such as restaurants, lounges, retail spaces, a gym and spa, business and meeting areas, and event spaces. The two six-storey hotel blocks are oriented with views to the sea. These blocks are surrounded by intricately landscaped terrain and features, including play areas for children and manicured gardens, to create a charming and luxurious environment.

Taking advantage of the waterfront location, steps and terraces are integrated into the promenade landscape design as informal social spaces. Restaurants and alfresco areas are strategically located to overlook the waterway. The building façade plays with the curve of the waterway, through a series of staggered façade portals. Internally, the dumbbell circulation design places anchor tenants and attractions at the two ends of the mall to induce maximum pedestrian activity. Circulation spaces are also designed to have distinguishing features, such as a boulevard-style atrium, a central main atrium and souk quarters, to differentiate various shopping zones and facilitate wayfinding. The mall integrates a number of family entertainment areas under one roof, including an ice-skating rink, indoor theme park, roof gardens and children play-areas, to attract different age-groups. DP 03

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Featured projects

CHAN SUI HIM

FORGING FIRM FOUNDATIONS “It takes ten years to grow trees but a century to nurture a generation of good men.” – a favourite quote of Mr Chan’s

Mr Chan Sui Him joined DP Architects in 1968, right after architecture school. Moving through the ranks as architect, associate, partner, CEO and Chairman over the years, he has been instrumental in building the success the firm enjoys today. His love of architecture history, respect for the greats, and understanding of the various building disciplines made him a respected and insightful design mentor in the office; a role that came naturally to him and which he has assumed since his early days as an architect. The course of Chan’s career, the high-lows and turns, reflected the industry and economy shifts, and DP’s growth trajectory. In his 50-year career, Chan has designed notable projects of different typologies; but a common thread connects all his projects – the idea of circulation, continuity and community. In the following articles, Design in Print examines some of the notable works in his considerable oeuvre: the pedestrian malls, award-winning residential developments, and community projects that promote continuity. We also take a look at his works that have shaped two urban landscapes, that of Marina Bay and Changi.

Left: A photo from 1982 taken at DP’s old office in Golden Mile Complex. Standing next to Chan is DP director, Vikas M Gore. Below: Chan (left) heading a design review session.

SHELTERED SHOPPING STREETS EXPLORING THE PEDESTRIAN MALL By Leong Wei Lin

CIRCULATION, ACTIVITY GENERATORS, AND LINKAGES BETWEEN SPACES ARE KEY DRIVERS IN CHAN’S DESIGN OF THE MALL TYPOLOGY HOTEL TOWER

Left: Diagram showing the retail and hotel components of

GLAZED CANOPY

Bugis Junction. Below: Glass roof canopies unify

RECONSTRUCTED SHOPHOUSE

RETAIL

SHOP

a network of 63 reconstructed

RETAIL

SHOP

and preserved shophouses at Bugis Junction, transforming historical streetscapes into

SHOP RETAIL

RETAIL

enclosed air-conditioned

SHOP

shopping corridors.

OP

IL SH

RETA

G ARC

PPIN

SHO

ADE

OP

IL SH

RETA

There has been an enduring and constant exploration of the retail typology within DP Architects over the years. While the design language and strategies evolve with each project, there are constants that remain key drivers and linchpins in Mr Chan Sui Him’s design of this typology. These refer to the overall circulation of the mall, the presence of activity generators within the shopping environment, and linkages between such spaces. In all projects, Chan is always aware of the human factor that gives life to the built form. In retail malls, it is the comfort and enjoyment of the pedestrian user that designers need to cater to, whether in crafting new ways of experiencing retail spaces or bringing a sense of the familiar. Following are four projects that exemplify the concept of a pedestrian mall that makes use of the creation of ‘sheltered streets’ in different manifestations.

Bugis Junction was completed in 1994. It consists of a commercial complex, built among a network of 63 reconstructed shophouses, which engendered a transformation of historical streetscapes into enclosed shopping corridors. Reconstruction permitted the glass arcade to be structurally embedded within the shophouse forms, freeing space within the internal corridors, and unifying the old and new. The small scale of the old existing streets is retained, and the two and threestorey shophouses are reconstructed in a sympathetic manner to reinforce and enhance the local identity. The qualities of the preserved shophouses are celebrated and seen as dominant in the development. The historic memory is juxtaposed with large-scale, modern structures that bookend the site – a 16-storey, 400-room InterContinental Hotel, and a 15-storey office block. The result is an urban intervention that implants a 21st century network of public spaces, pedestrian-only and all-weather, within the city’s rooted fabric. DP 05

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In 1998, Chan completed Far East Square, a heritage conservation project located in a historic district which used to be an enclave for early Chinese immigrants, and contains many buildings of historical significance. Similar to Bugis Junction, the site was a tapestry of layers of history, with structures dating from different architectural periods. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) China Square Concept Plan, the area was to be transformed into a unique transition zone with a blend of old and new developments. Situated between the CBD and Chinatown, it consists of a vibrant and modern commercial centre with a combination of new infill and restored structures of different architectural roots. The Fuk Tak Chi Temple was restored and converted to the Fuk Tak Chi Musuem to preserve as much of its historic fabric as possible. A new cultural pavilion that serves as an arts and culture venue was constructed. The design is rooted in the five elements of ancient Chinese philosophy – fire, water, metal, wood and earth – and ties the different developments together. Far East Square received the URA Architectural Heritage Award in 1999 and the FIABCI Prix d’Excellence Award in 2001. The Central, which is located above the Clarke Quay MRT station, was completed in 2007. The Central’s SOHO units were the first purpose-built SOHO project to go on the market which garnered great interest and market response at that time. The site planning also created a 24-hour pedestrian access through the ground floor of the development, which complemented the train station at the basement. Retail and F&B outlets line this pedestrian ‘street’ which serves as an activity generating node for the residents in the area as well as a connector to the Central Business District. The development also encapsulated the example of how the concept of ‘Live, Work and Play’ could come together as a spatial construct. The combination of residential, office and retail typologies enabled the blurring of lines between office and after-office hours, and ensured a steady flow of user interaction throughout the day.

Top to bottom: Far East Square’s design rediscovers the arcade typology and is rooted in the five elements of ancient Chinese philosophy – fire, water, metal, wood and earth. The Fuk Tak Chi Temple within Far East Square was restored and converted to the present-day Fuk Tak Chi Museum. The Central was pivotal in the rejuvenation of the Singapore River along Clarke Quay.

IT IS THE COMFORT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEDESTRIAN USER THAT DESIGNERS MUST CATER TO, WHETHER IN CRAFTING NEW WAYS OF EXPERIENCING RETAIL SPACES OR BRINGING A SENSE OF THE FAMILIAR

Left: Elevation diagram of Orchard Central. Clockwise from bottom left: An extensive, segmented external rain screen doubles as a canvas for nighttime performance of light and colour. Breaks in Orchard Central’s façade offer city views through glass enclosures and open-air routes. The design of Orchard Central injects commercial space with the public space of Orchard Road, activating all 11 storeys with street connectivity. A.30.02.dgn 6/11/2009 6:10:10 PM

Orchard Central, completed in 2009, is part of the evolution of URA’s plans for Orchard Road’s street-integrated mall architecture. It began with a simple question on the significance and implications of being the first high-rise mall within the Orchard Road corridor. It raised questions not just about architectural form, but also about social habits of shopping and other lifestyle-related activities. The activity of shopping was no longer confined to the simple act of consumption, and was fast moving away from an introverted experience. Orchard Central makes great strides in the extroversion of retail space, communicating a new mode of connectivity with its urban site and

environs. Traditionally, the cost of rental space is inversely related with floor height, as upper floors become unlikely destinations for shoppers. By hosting a series of dining spaces and gardens positioned to attract visitors to the uppermost level, the roof is transformed into a high-value space, coupled with the unique experience of travelling along the façade of the building, overlooking the rest of Orchard Road. The typical shopping mall model of inwardlooking space mediated by a large central atrium, and a flat dormant façade on the outside is reversed in this mall, defying mall-design conventions. By omitting a central atrium,

an extended ‘living room’ is formed to allow consumers to stroll, shop, rest, watch, wait, read. Clusters of different retail themes were designed with overlapping volumes and distinctive interior architecture to accompany this pedestrian spine. In addition to the porosity of the ground-level pedestrian space, the façade was also designed to be a surface for social interaction. The volumetric pop-outs, recessed façade and four superescalators facing Orchard Road create shaded verandah spaces. This movement of people from street level to the outdoor verandahs also challenged the notion of a traditional façade as well as that of the ground-level pedestrian street.

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Featured projects

CRAFTING QUALITY HOMES WINNING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS By Leong Wei Lin

Left: The interplay of building elements on the façade of The Bayshore creates a sculptured massing capped by a cantilevered trellis. Right: Heritage View’s three 20-storey towers are arranged to form an equilateral triangle; each tower has a three-sided plan with apartments arranged around a central court open to the sky. Far right: The façade of The Clift is composed of a tapestry of rectilinear lines of varying sizes, spacing and depth which visually induces the façade to reverberate with movement. Bottom: The planning strategy for River Place offered three different architectural forms within a single development.

The success of a development takes into certain account the working rapport between the architect and the developer. DP Architects’ emphasis on service excellence has brought the firm repeat clients. Seeing itself as an architect in service, DPA approaches every job, regardless of size, with the same dedication and regard; and this gave clients the confidence to entrust their developments to the firm. DPA’s association with Far East Organization stretches from the 1990s till today. Over the past two decades, a significant number of the firm’s residential developments with Far East Organization have won FIABCI and BCA Construction Excellence awards – including the four projects described in this article – a testament to the good rapport and working relationship between client and architect. The awards helped to enhance the developer’s reputation as a leader in the residential property field, and won DPA new jobs and clients. Mr Chan Sui Him recalled that DPA was in part buffered from the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis because it was working on several jobs for Far East Organization. This reinforced the importance of having a stable portfolio of work to sustain the firm in lean years, especially as the size of the firm grew with the increasing complexity of projects that it took on.

The Bayshore, completed in 1997, was designed as an up-market condominium within a lush tropical setting, with good views towards the sea. With a high level of visibility along East Coast Parkway, the objective was to create an identifiable architectural statement. The condominium has a relatively formal layout with a strong symmetrical axis in the overall site plan. Two pairs of 30-storey blocks dominate the development, each pair linked by a 12-storey block. Articulation of the façade is created by the interplay of building elements, which results in a sculptured massing capped by a cantilevered trellis. Typical unit layouts are arranged symmetrically around the service core. The success of The Bayshore lies in the generous garden setting which provides ample outdoor space for the occupants. River Place, completed just two years after The Bayshore, is situated at a strategic location at the fringe of the downtown district. The site is bound by Havelock Road, Clemenceau Avenue and the Singapore River, as well as being adjacent to the historical district of Robertson Quay. The planning strategy responds to the variety of urban conditions present in the unique site location, offering three architectural forms within a single development, which was not commonly seen during that time. It consisted of a high-density slab block that contained the majority of the required apartment floor area lining the city edges, a

low-density block at a more intimate scale for the communal open spaces and the riverfront, and a taller point block as a focus. This design approach gave rise to more than a hundred different types of apartment layouts, dispelling any form of anonymity normally associated with large housing developments and catered to a varied group of potential buyers. This approach also offered each resident a unique sense of place and identity.

FAR EAST ORGANIZATION In 2000, Heritage View, a luxurious resort-style condominium located along Dover Rise in a suburban area of Singapore, was completed with three 20-storey towers holding a total of 618 units amid a large tropical landscape incorporating pools and water features. Each tower has a three-sided plan with apartments arranged around a central court open to the sky.

The modern tropical resort-style residential haven provides a relaxed, quiet and cool environment for families. Greenery and water features are used abundantly throughout the development, and pavilions are placed throughout the site, to create a tropical oasis as a welcome contrast from the city. Consistent with URA’s vision to inject vibrancy into the city centre, Far East Organization initiated the redevelopment of a commercial building in the Central Business District into residential apartments, the first developer at that time to do so. Now standing at the former Natwest Centre is The Clift, a 43-storey tower completed in 2011, which redefined a whole new identity of urban living. The Clift offers contemporary urban dwellers an integrated lifestyle concept, where living, working, leisure and connectivity come together in one address. Units are designed to be functional and compact, yet flexible enough

THE SUCCESS OF A DEVELOPMENT TAKES INTO CERTAIN ACCOUNT THE WORKING RAPPORT BETWEEN THE ARCHITECT AND THE DEVELOPER to suit varying lifestyles. For example, in the one-bedroom apartment, the partition wall at the living room and the master bedroom is a non-structural wall which can be easily removed to transform the room into a single large internal space for use as a home office. The open kitchen blends elegantly with the living and dining room, exhibiting spatial luxury. The development’s central location and architectural sensitivity to the surroundings are also the key reasons for its success.

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Featured projects

Top to bottom: In Jardin, extensive gardens extend from the loft units, serving as deep communal balconies. The typical floor plan of Jardin shows that each unit has access to a garden balcony. Various vertical greenery further accentuates Jardin’s garden-like atmosphere.

Today, many developments provide landscaping not just at the grounds, but also at sky terraces and gardens. Vertical greening has also become popular in recent years. The advent of sky terraces, gardens and vertical green can be attributed in part to URA’s and BCA’s urban and Green Mark guidelines. One example that demonstrates creativity in the use of greening and landscaping options is Jardin, completed in 2012. The design of Jardin incorporates two main ideas – a ‘vertical’ garden setting and the French notion of living. These concepts are pivotal architectural form-generators, and encapsulate new pleasures of high-rise living and modern lifestyles. In Jardin, where architecture and landscape merge into a living environment, the pleasure of living in a high-rise garden environment is realised. At each alternate level, extensive gardens extend from the loft units, serving as deep communal ‘balconies’. Besides functionally providing shade and buffer from city noise, these gardens connect the units’ living spaces, allowing for use as social spaces.

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SEEING ITSELF AS AN ARCHITECT IN SERVICE, DP ARCHITECTS APPROACHES EVERY JOB WITH THE SAME DEDICATION AND REGARD Also in 2012, DPA completed Floridian, a development situated along Bukit Timah Road that redefines residential living via a hospitalityoriented approach. The experience celebrates the daily act of returning home, taking reference from the coastal lifestyle of Miami, Florida. Comprising 11 ten-storey towers with a total of 336 units, the towers fall under different themes and, through subtle differences in architectural language, manage to have varying characters while still belonging to a collective whole. The Keys’ two towers are positioned like a promontory right in between the lap pool and main swimming pool, and characterise the entrance with the corner timber treatment at the communal green platforms on alternate levels. Adjacent to the lap pool, the two Downtown

towers play up an urban quality of clean solid lines and accent colours as a reflection of the young urbanite’s lifestyle. Aligned next to The Keys is The Verandah, three distinctive towers with communal rooftop terraces and gardens that embellish the façade and roofscape with lush green foliage. The three Hideaway and Pavilion towers house most of the prime four and four-plus bedroom units and are defined by the generous, screened balconies. Overall, the various towers with their varied attributes and distinctive designs echo the theme of Floridian living – a touch of good living with many lifestyle alternatives amid a lush waterfront environment.

Above: The extensive water body along the spine of the development is a key feature of Floridian. Left: Floridian’s design takes reference from the coastal lifestyle of Miami, Florida.

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Featured projects

CONTINUITY

BUILDING LASTING RELATIONSHIPS By Leong Wei Lin

DPA HAS SERVED THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SINGAPORE FOR 30 YEARS, AN EXAMPLE OF THE ENDURING RELATIONSHIPS THAT THE FIRM HAS WITH MANY OF ITS CLIENTS

The original St Andrew’s Junior College was completed in 1979. There was no formal entrance to the college. From the driveway and carpark, the most visible building was the auditorium. A covered walkway from the open lobby leads past a brick-paved plaza which was the gathering space and focal point of the college. Subsequently, the firm was also engaged to design the upgrading and extension works to the campus in 1990. With the same client, the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, DPA completed the Yishun

Christian Church in 1987 and the St Andrew’s Centre, under the ownership of the St Andrew’s Mission Hospital, in 1997. One of the firm’s core values is excellence, and it refers not only to excellence in design and the execution of professional responsibilities, but also excellence in service to its clients. This particularly rings true here, where DPA served the same client over the course of 30 years. The firm’s longstanding relationship with the client was also evident when it was again appointed to design its comprehensive campus, St Andrew’s Village, which was completed in 2005. In 2010, the new extension to the historic St Andrew’s Cathedral was completed. It is a modern interpretation of the religious facility which respectfully eschews all the ornate features of the existing cathedral. The church is one of Singapore’s oldest and most legible buildings, a protected national monument, and a testament to public memory that has stood since 1856 through many political and social transitions. The expansion was required to house a growing congregation, additional facilities and to offer increased accessibility as a site more compliant for visitors. The design for the extension sought neutrality both in massing and material as a backdrop supportive of the established Early Gothic architectural language of the original church, even as changing times and evolving social patterns dictate the need for change and adaptation. Projects like the St Andrew’s Cathedral Addition serve as strong connective tissues linking longstanding tradition with contemporary change.

This page, clockwise from left: Yishun Christian Church, St Andrew’s Junior College, and St Andrew’s Centre. Facing page, top to bottom: The quadrangle of the former St Andrew’s School and its distinctive fish-scale walls in peachy orange has been carefully restored and now serves as the Diocesan Centre inside St Andrew’s Village. Elevation diagram of St Andrew’s Cathedral and the new addition. An amphitheatre cuts into the site of St Andrew’s Cathedral to reveal the additional underground programming.

THE ST ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL ADDITION SERVES AS A STRONG CONNECTIVE TISSUE LINKING LONGSTANDING TRADITION WITH CONTEMPORARY CHANGE

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Featured projects

MARINA BAY

RETRACING THE URBAN AND ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY By Anwar Rashid

Singapore has progressed tremendously within just five decades, its urban landscape continually growing and being redefined. This modern city grew from a rural fishing village which started along the mouth of Singapore River. This growth was made possible by the flourishing trade within the area of what is now known as Marina Bay. Many historical landmarks and buildings were built in this area, and gradually, a new form of urbanism and architectural language began to exist, breathing new life into Singapore. Landmarks such as the Empress Place Building, St Andrew’s Cathedral, One Marina Boulevard, Fullerton Bay Hotel and OUE Bayfront are some of the DP projects on and around Marina Bay. Some of these landmarks originated from a time when architecture was intimately expressed by the language of masonry. Today, it is a challenge for architects to negotiate the forces of modernity and at the

same time respect influences from the past. Mr Chan Sui Him understands the sensitivity required to rework or create landmarks in a district of significance to the history and rise to prominence of Singapore. Originally designed by JFA McNair, the Empress Place Building was erected in 1865 in the Neo-Classical Palladian style, and laid out symmetrically along a central axis facing the waterfront at the mouth of the Singapore River. It was built alongside one of the nation’s first public spaces on the Singapore River’s eastern bank. The Empress Place Building was first constructed to serve as a courthouse, but instead functioned as a collection of government offices. By respecting the existing axis and architecture, this 8,000sqm landmark was restored by DP Architects in 1989. The intent was to transform the building into an art museum. The project included the integration of the

Top: The Empress Place Building was restored and transformed into an art museum. Bottom: Elevation diagram showing the Neo-Classical Palladian style of the Empress Place Building.

THESE FIVE PROJECTS REPRESENTS A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A MASTER ARCHITECT AND THE CIVIC DOWNTOWN AREA OF SINGAPORE THAT IS DEEPLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NATION’S ECONOMIC HISTORY building’s multiple and disjointed extensions, and material replacement for roofing timber joinery, flooring and intricate plaster mouldings. The structural integrity of the building and the carvings of the interiors were retained as much as possible, while elements of functionality demanded of a modern museum were introduced. The result is a lasting testament to the possibility that both the old and new can co-exist harmoniously and enhance the architectural experience of a building. One Marina Boulevard was conceived as a gateway to Singapore’s new downtown, serving as headquarters to the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and as an office space for multinational corporations and local companies. The 32-storey building, completed in 2004, is sited at the edge of the city’s financial district and adjacent to the public promenade that lines Marina Bay.

As a testament to the enduring economic benefits of the tripartite compact between the NTUC, the employers and the government, the architects sought to attain a high degree of transparency and connectivity with the public spaces of the surrounding downtown, an expression of the programme’s civic nature. Projects like the St Andrew’s Cathedral addition serve as link between the old and new amid the relentless modernity that permeates Singapore. St Andrew’s Cathedral is the church of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore and one of Singapore’s oldest buildings. In 2005, an expansion was required to house a growing congregation. The design for the extension sought neutrality both in massing and in materiality. The intended architecture of the extension was never to overwhelm nor

simply function as a mere backdrop for the magnificence of the church’s famed Early Gothic architecture. The outcome of this intervention was an extension that blends well with the church while remaining instantly recognisable and distinctive. This was done by selecting neutral materials for the extension and opening up the church’s surrounding landscape, creating more intersections and porosity. The Fullerton Bay Hotel was a restoration project unlike any other. Apart from the conventional requirements in restoring an old landmark, it was surrounded by other classical buildings – namely Customs House and Clifford Pier, both icons of Singapore’s maritime heritage. Both buildings were functional until 2006, when traditional pier operations ceased with the construction of the Marina Barrage and the conversion of Marina Bay into a closed reservoir.

Above: St Andrew’s Cathedral’s additional wing references the cathedral it serves, with skylights aligned to frame views of the North Transept. Left: The design of One Marina Boulevard provides a high degree of visual transparency and connectivity with its surrounding public spaces.

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Featured projects

Customs House was formerly the headquarters of Singapore’s customs police force, a two-storey structure identified by a façade of butterfly fascia boards and concrete columns, beams and railings – a hallmark on its own. The development was a hybrid project that balanced the need for conservation with new construction to redevelop a segment of the historic Marina Bay waterfront. It consisted of the revitalisation of the Clifford Pier and Customs House buildings, as well as the design of an additional six-storey hotel block. The project, completed in 2010, focuses on the intersections between new and old, preserving existing structures in a manner respectful of the site’s original architectural elements. The height of the hotel block establishes compositional hierarchies: being double the height of its historic neighbours, it draws attention to the hotel block to highlight the project’s primary function; it also performs as a proportion-balancing agent among the historic low-rise buildings and the high-rise towers of the city beyond. The OUE Bayfront project, completed in 2011, redeveloped the former Overseas Union House into an 18-storey office block. The structure’s design reflects its dialectic position between the height of Singapore’s tallest towers that it stands with and the sea-level flatness of the bay waters. Two conjoined block forms are designed with differing façade treatments: on one side, the façade is enveloped by an articulation of fins enhancing the verticality of the building; the other side of the block, facing the bay, accentuates the horizontality of the waters. The structure and site layout are designed to augment urban connectivity and to encourage

public use. The tower base is lifted by 12m from the ground plane to produce visual corridors linking the street with the bay, and the placement of services in the basement makes way for additional public circulation space at the ground level. Of the developments undertaken by DPA on and around Marina Bay, this collection of five projects represents a dialogue between a master architect and the civic downtown area of Singapore that is deeply associated with the nation’s economic history. These projects were also acts of respect and honour as the architect negotiates his way around history, ensuring that our architectural heritage and urban planning legacy are preserved and celebrated to inspire generations to come.

This page: Photos courtesy of The Fullerton Bay Hotel. Clifford Pier was transformed into the entrance and hotel lobby of The Fullerton Bay Hotel. The project mixes conservation with new construction to redevelop a segment of the Marina Bay waterfront. Facing page: OUE Bayfront’s façade features two recessed pockets for public recreational use, and horizontal sunshading fins.

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Featured projects

CHANGI

CONTEXTUALISING NOSTALGIA By Anwar Rashid

The area of Changi has often been associated with an environment that is laid back and rich in greenery and forested areas. Before World War II, the area was known as a prime location for iconic black-and-white houses, synonymous with the colonial architecture language of Singapore. This architectural typology is a harmonious blend of vernacular and tropical sensitivity with British colonial style elements. DP Architects has played a major role in the restoration and conservation efforts of these buildings in the Changi district, with Mr Chan Sui Him at the helm as the main architect and designer for the following projects.

USING A LANGUAGE THAT RESPECTFULLY PAYS HOMAGE TO CHANGI’S NATURE AND HERITAGE, THESE BUILDINGS HARK BACK TO THE PAST WHILE REMAINING RELEVANT

Courtesy of Changi Cove Pte Ltd

Left: The design of the Singapore Aviation Academy pays homage to the colonial bungalow architecture. Below: Lit at night, the façade of Village Hotel Changi, with the colourful

The design of the Singapore Aviation Academy responds to the classic colonial bungalow style of architecture; its terracotta-tiled roof is a common feature of tropical architecture and prevalent in buildings found along the eastern coast of Singapore. Completed in 1992, the building appears modest in scale, in both the building’s exterior and interior. The planning took its cues from the surrounding lush greenery, effectively creating a visual dialogue between the users and the natural environment that surrounds them. Village Hotel Changi was a refurbishment project, completed in 2004, that involved an increase in the number of guestrooms, meeting facilities, recreational areas and commercial spaces, while retaining most of the existing structure. Spaces in the existing building were adapted for new uses to support current and future hotel operations. The setting for Village Hotel Changi is its charming natural surroundings and luxuriant greenery and foliage. Taking advantage of the setting, beautiful landscaped decks with water features that overlook the Changi coastline were created. The façade of the building is made more vibrant by a series of multi-coloured glass balconies placed at selected rooms.

glass boxes, projects a vibrant image.

These colourful glass boxes give the otherwise understated building a refreshing facelift, while retaining its existing charm and architecture at the same time. Located near the popular dining and recreational destination of Changi Village, and situated on a listed heritage site comprising almost four hectares of lush natural greenery and conserved heritage trees, Changi Cove Hotel was built around the trees and the natural topography of the site. Completed in 2012, the intervention and configuration of spaces respected the site’s natural attributes. The design provides for 112 modern rooms, located in the new extension branching out from the existing Command House. The Command House itself was sensitively restored to its former glory; the bucolic setting is embraced through the deep verandahs and the external corridors of the building. Civil Service Club at Changi is an additionand-alteration project to rejuvenate the former one-storey clubhouse through the introduction of new recreational and hospitality facilities. Situated along the Changi Coast shoreline, the development was designed to integrate with the laidback charm of the Changi Village area while preserving the existing colonial buildings. It includes a new recreation complex, a new chalet block and conserved colonial buildings. Taking cues from the way the building was laid out, a different hierarchy of spaces was created – each with its own unique spatial quality. Lush green spaces were designed around existing mature trees, which were retained. The project was completed in 2014. The eastern part of Singapore has always been known for its richness in history and heritage, as

THESE PROJECTS IN CHANGI, KNOWN FOR ITS HISTORY AND UNTOUCHED GREENERY, BRING HISTORY AND NATURE CLOSER TO THE USERS well as its ribbons of verdant, untouched greenery. The projects that Chan and teams undertook enhanced these natural qualities and bring history and nature closer to the users of these buildings. Through a respectful architecture language that pays homage to the country’s colonial heritage, these projects capture remnants of the past and romantically hark back to the yesteryears, while making it relevant for users.

Top: Changi Cove Hotel comprises the sensitively restored Command House, a two-storey building designed in the Neoclassical style. Above: Lush green spaces in Civil Service Club at Changi are designed around existing mature raintrees, imbuing the complex with a sense of tranquility.

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Sustainable design

Passive design: The keystone of DP’s building design By Lee Boon Woei & Taib Shabbir

The roof of the Esplanade, with its triangular sunshades, provides solar shading and outward panoramic views, and gives the building its iconic appearance.

Above: Connexion’s triangulated sunshading panels reduce solar gain,

Before joining Design Partnership in 1968, Mr Chan Sui Him was an intern at Malayan Architects Co-partnership (MAC) where he had the opportunity to observe DP founder Koh Seow Chuan at work on the 21-storey Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA) building, one of the first modernist ‘skyscrapers’ in Singapore, that overlooked Robinson Road. Before the availability of computational simulation tools, green design was about adapting designs to mitigate the effects of the climate and environment. Brise soleil, large roof overhangs and verandahs were, and still are, common techniques used in the tropics to reduce solar heat gain. Extensive façade studies were made by Koh, keenly watched by Chan, and physical models of numerous brise soleil designs with varying depth and patterns were painstakingly produced. The chosen model achieved occupant comfort, yet maintained ventilation and external views, and gave the MSA building its distinctive façade. This study left a deep impression Top: The public park is a tranquil onoasis Chan, design was to be a green thatand offerspassive relief within his and the firm’s future work. thekeystone dense urbaninsurroundings.

while allowing views of the city. The colours allude to the vibrancy of the heritagerich neighbourhood of Farrer Park.

Right: Diagram of the sculptural Three decades later, this

early lesson its application is creates a sense of distinct identity in the design for perhaps best exemplified andEsplanade presence for the – development. Theatres on the Bay. An ‘cloud canopy’ feature which remained relevant and

extensive study was conducted to shade the two glass cases over the primary performance venues which provided the legible form. First, the site was analysed and the sun path determined. The end result: 7,139 aluminium pyramids of varying length and angles were installed on the glass façade to provide solar shading, and at the same time offer panoramic views of the city skyline. The parabolic façade coupled with the shading pyramids gave the building its iconic look and earned it the term of endearment, ‘the Durian’. At Connexion – a mixed-use complex comprising a hotel and spa, hospital and medical centre completed in 2014 – the vibrant façade displays a seamless mix of triangular shading devices and traditional horizontal slabs. Perforated triangle fins provide adequate sunshading without sacrificing external views, while also minimise the use of artificial lighting during the day. Unlike early projects like the MSA building, the design of the shading devices, daylighting and effectiveness of ventilation for Connexion were evaluated with the help of powerful simulation tools. These tools effectively remove the ‘guesswork’, creating a high-performance building design solution.

Besides mitigating the solar heat factor, tropical architecture design is also about making the most of natural lighting and responding to the surrounding environment. The Singapore Aviation Academy, opened in 1992, is a model of tropical architecture design. The large, steep terracotta-tiled roof overhang and the egg-crate window shading system provide solar protection. High ceilings and full-height glass panels allow daylight to flood interior spaces and provide views of the landscaped central courtyard which serves as visual relief from the classrooms. Natural lighting and views of the greenery and water body – a response to the site’s parkland setting with its natural water features – create a favourable environment for learning. In the same way, the NUHS Tower Block, the administrative block for National University Health

System completed in 2010, responds to the site’s steep topography and adjacent dense forest. A 14-storey atrium spans the height of the block, allowing fresh air and daylight to fill the building. Natural lighting, full-height green wall and glass walls overlooking the park help to establish continuity with the surrounding landscape. The Singapore University of Technology and Design is the latest example where sustainable and practical solutions were integrated within passive building design. Passive design principles shaped the building geometry and spaces, creating wind corridors to facilitate air movement through outdoor social spaces such as internal courtyards. Computerised air-flow analysis further optimised the design. Building orientation, inter-block shading as well as shading by corridors kept the spacecooling energy requirements low. Solar analysis and daylighting simulation tools achieved the balance

between the ideal amount of daylight and shade. Technologies ensured a building that is more energyefficient than the typical institutional building. The result is a comfortable and delightful outdoor and indoor spatial experience in our tropical climate. Technologies ensured a building that is more energyefficient than the typical institutional building. The result is a comfortable and delightful outdoor and indoor spatial experience in our tropical climate. Although the advancement in computational simulations and the raised awareness of sustainability have led to improved active design options and environmental efficiency, the design fundamentals have remain unchanged since DP’s first years. The firm’s Green DNA determines the ‘traits’ of each environmentally sensitive architecture design, which is enhanced by intelligent simulations and performance-based active solutions, to develop a responsive and responsible building.

The Singapore Aviation Academy has full-height glass panels that allow daylight in and provide views of the landscaped courtyard which serves as visual relief.

The 14-storey atrium of the NUHS Tower Block allows natural light to fill the building.

The campus centre at SUTD is a light-filled, multi-purpose interaction space.

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Awards & events

Sunray Headquarters wins President’s Design Award

Photos courtesy of DesignSingapore Council and Urban Redevelopment Authority Team Credits: DP Architects (Architects):

DP Engineers (C&S):

Angelene Chan,

Tan Yew Chai,

Claudia Nam,

Louiechito Nino &

Widari Bahrin,

Walter Parcero.

Arjun Rosha, Alvin Arre, Yong Hock Seng, Doan Quang Hiep & Syahirah Binte Abbas.

Sunray Woodcraft Construction Headquarters, an industrial building in Singapore, has won Design of the Year at the prestigious President’s Design Award 2015. Sunray was one of 13 design projects across all design disciples to win the award, now in its tenth year, conferred by the President of the Republic of Singapore and recognised as the nation’s highest symbol of excellence for design. The 16,800sqm building, located at the Sungei Kadut furniture hub, won over the judges with its striking stacked-box design and vibrant colours. The jury commended the seamless workflow of spaces with varying functions, and praised the design as a “refreshing and cheery interpretation of the industrial factory building… a welcome departure from the norm that provides a benchmark for future developments of this kind”. On the win, lead designer and CEO of DP Architects Angelene Chan said, “It is a deep honour and privilege to have our people-centric efforts and design thinking acknowledged at a national scale. The President’s Design Award serves as a motivation for Singaporean architects to shape buildings that have a positive social impact on people – even in industrial spaces. By ensuring that form and function work well together, Sunray exemplifies design

Chin Bay Fah.

Goh Yong Ping,

SWC Builders & Engineering (Main Contractor):

Leslie Khuan &

Charles Tan.

DP Engineers (M&E): DP Architects CEO Angelene Chan (second from left) receives the award from President Tony Tan Keng Yam. With them are DesignSingapore Council Chairman, Robert Tomlin; Sunray CEO, Connie Wu; and CEO of URA, Ng Lang.

Chin Cost & Management Consultant (Quantity Surveyor):

Renee Cheong.

innovation that will not only benefit Singaporeans but also the wider global community.” The success of Sunray Headquarters lies in its seamless yet clearly articulated manner of merging five different functions within a single eight-storey building. The project commercially optimises factory production and business processes while balancing the need for an uplifting work and living space situated in a cheerless industrial estate, by locating production space, workers’ dormitories, warehouse, offices and showrooms in ‘stacked boxes’. Each box defines the different stages of production without compromising safety, and is enveloped by suitable exterior skins such as large horizontal louvres to allow ventilation and light into production spaces, vertical louvres with checkerboard openings for maximum natural ventilation and privacy at the dormitories, and smaller vertical louvres for offices for shade and privacy. Yellow, Sunray’s corporate colour, was used throughout the façade for a distinctive and refreshing take on an industrial factory. Sunray Headquarters is an example of excellence in design that balances efficiency for a client, a living community’s needs and aesthetic appeal. The awards ceremony, co-organised by the DesignSingapore Council and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, was held at the Istana, the official residence and office of the President of Singapore, on 11 December 2015.

The DPA project team for Sunray Headquarters.

Angelene Chan expresses her gratitude at the awards ceremony.

The model of Sunray’s distinctive yellow building on display at the President’s Design Award exhibition.

DPA pioneers lauded for

50 years of design contribution

Photos courtesy of DesignSingapore Council Mr Koh (left photo) and Mr Chan receiving their award from Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, and DesignSingapore Council Chairman Robert Tomlin.

DP Green wins

landscape design awards DP Green has been honoured with several awards that recognise the best works of Singapore’s landscape architects. The firm recorded two wins at the Singapore Landscape Architecture Awards, for the Four Acres Singapore institution (Gold) and myVillage retail mall (Silver). The awards were given out on 12 October at the Pan Pacific Hotel. This was followed by three awards at the biennial Landscape Industry Association’s Awards of Excellence, held on 22 October at Marina Mandarin Hotel, where Dulwich College Singapore won Gold in the Playground category, and Connexion won Gold and Best-of-Category in the Greenwall grouping.

DP Architect pioneers Mr Koh Seow Chuan and Mr Chan Sui Him have been honoured with The Singapore Design Golden Jubilee Award for their achievements in the design field. Organised by the DesignSingapore Council, the special award recognised 70 pioneer designers aged 65 and above for their role in shaping the development of design in Singapore and for their contributions to the nation’s progress in the last 50 years. The award recipients from seven design disciplines including architecture, urban design, landscape design, product design and visual communications, were nominated by representatives from design associations. The awards were presented by Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, at a ceremony held on 20 October at the National Design Centre.

DPA continues its support for

URA’s CUBE programme

Photo courtesy of URA

Dulwich College Singapore

Four Acres Singapore

DP’s green champions

recognised at Green Building Individual Awards Director of DP Architects and advisory director to DP Sustainable Design, Mr Wu Tzu Chiang, and associate director of DP Engineers, Mr Yong Siew Onn, have been conferred the 2015 BCA-SGBC Green Building Individual Commendation Awards, in recognition of their contributions to the sustainability of the built environment. Both Mr Wu and Mr Yong earned their commendations by individually applying their expertise to large-scale developments, which resulted in considerable reductions in energy consumption. The wins are a testament to DP’s leadership in and commitment to the field of sustainable design. The award honours outstanding individuals who have championed sustainability in the built environment through design, construction or building management, and is recognised as a symbol of excellence in sustainable design. The award ceremony was held at Marina Bay Sands on the 2 September 2015.

DP Architects continues its support for the Challenge for the Urban & Built Environment (CUBE) Student Workshop 2015, an annual programme for Pre-University students organised by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. DPA, a supporter of CUBE’s aim to inspire the next generation of architects and urban planners, has been a contributor since 2013, both as a sponsor and facilitator. DP Architects’ senior associate director Ng San Son and architectural associate Chio Wen Tian participated in this year’s workshop as mentors to the students in the four-day programme. The mentors helped the students understand key urban design and planning concepts, and guided them to produce the workshop deliverables. This year’s edition ran from 17 to 20 November and saw a record of 15 participating schools with over 20 architect-facilitators.

Photo courtesy of BCA

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DP Interview

An interview with

HAN UI IM by Toh Bee Ping

Pillar of strength Mr Chan Sui Him’s 50-year journey with DP Architects began when he first entered the firm as a student intern. His curiosity, willingness to learn, high design and service standards and affable personality meant he developed close working relationships with clients and DPians. From 1999 to 2004, he led DP Architects as CEO, and from 2004 to 2015, he assumed the role of Chairman. For his contributions to the community and the development of design in Singapore, Chan was awarded the Public Service Medal and the Singapore Design Golden Jubilee Award. A lifelong learner, avid reader, and history enthusiast, Chan is passionate about the cultivation of young minds and shares his lessons with Design in Print.

What made you decide to devote your life’s work to architecture? How did your interest in architecture begin? I have a speech handicap and cannot pronounce accurately, so my mother was very concerned with my career development. When I was 13 years old, my family decided to worship at Newton Life Church. There, my mother noticed a prominent pioneer architect, Ang Kheng Leng, and it was because of him that my mother decided I should be an architect. At that time, I was studying at Catholic High School at Queen Street, a stone’s throw away from the National Library at Stamford Road. The library’s reference section was full of architecture books, especially books on Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. My father was a paper merchant and he received a lot of catalogues from Germany and Norway. Germany by the 60s was very much influenced by Mies van der Rohe. So, in my early secondary school days, I already knew of these three masters.

My nickname in architecture school was Corbu. Many of my friends who knew me from my student days still call me Corbu, including my lecturer. I studied architecture from 1963 to 1968. During this time, Walter Gropius’ Harvard students like IM Pei, Paul Rudolph and Philip Johnson were emerging as great architects. This development in the field further fuelled my interest. Among architects, there are a few whom I admire a lot. Besides Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, there is Richard Neutra. To understand a complex building as a student, I walked into Richard Neutra’s houses by walking the floor plan. In that way, I believe I became quite good at floor plans, interior spaces and space-planning. The architect who inspired me most was Eero Saarinen. Every building of his is contextual. He never repeated his buildings. As an architect, you have to walk the site, understand the genius loci, the environmental issues, the cultural impact. Eero Saarinen did that. Whenever I travel to New York, I will make a trip to New England to look at his buildings. These were the development and influences of my formative years.

“As an architect, you have to walk the site, understand the genius loci, the environmental issues, the cultural impact.” – Chan Sui Him Could you share with us your experience as a new architect, later as the leader of the firm, and as a design mentor to young architects? My early interest in architecture history gave me a headstart at architecture school. Unlike other students who were studying very hard and sleeping under tables, I never did any overtime work. By year four, I became kind of a teaching assistant, walking around the studio giving the girls advice. I never gave the boys advice. Boys were my competitors. In my final design project, in front of my studio master, I engaged a whole team of juniors to draw my plan. I was already acting as a senior architect to junior architects. That was a form of leadership training I had in school.

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DP Interview

Professional Milestones 1968 1969 to 1973

Joins Design Partnership upon graduation from Singapore Polytechnic with Diploma in Architecture External Tutor at University of Singapore

1970

Registered as Architect

1972

Promoted to Associate at Design Partnership

1974 to 1978

Council member, Singapore Institute of Architects

1974

Conferred Master’s degree in urban planning by the University of Singapore

1974

Made partner of Design Partnership at age 29

1975

Appointed director of DP Architects Pte

1978 to 1981

External Tutor at University of Singapore

1985 to 1991

Chairman, Coordinating Committee for Kampong Glam Constituency

1987 to 1988

Council member, Singapore Institute of Architects

1990 to 1995

Examiner, Professional Practice Examination, Board of Architects

1996

Fellow Member, Singapore Institute of Architects

1996 to 1999

Chief Examiner, Professional Practice Examination, Board of Architects

1997 to 2000

Board member, Board of Architects

1998 to 2000

Member, Architectural Design Panel, URA

1999 to present

Chairman, School Management Board, Anglican High School

2008 to present

Chairman, School Advisory Committee, NUS School of Design and Environment

1999 to 2000 1999 to 2004

Board Member, Professional Engineers Board CEO of DP Architects Pte Ltd

2000 to 2015

Member, then Chairman, Design Advisory Committee, URA

2001 to 2009

President of Board of Architects

2004 to 2015

Chairman of DP Architects Pte Ltd

2006 to 2015

Board Member of URA

2006

Awarded the Public Service Medal by the Singapore Government

2015

Conferred Singapore Design Golden Jubilee Award for his contributions as a design pioneer

When I started work, I became an external tutor at the University of Singapore until 1981. In between, I had to take a break from teaching as a DP partner’s leftist thinking was not quite welcomed by the government at the time. During this break, I did my master’s in urban planning at the University of Singapore and also became a council member of the Singapore Institute of Architects. So, from 1969 to 1981 I had continuously act as a tutor to students and as a mentor to DPA interns; that was an extension of what I was doing at university. Working at Design Partnership in the early years, we would all go out to lunch together every day. I had the good fortune to listen and learn from the three partners. William Lim is a philosopher and economist, Tay Kheng Soon was very political, Koh Seow Chuan was very professional. How could you not learn? William Lim took me to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Manila, and Colombo during that period. I became internationalised at a young age. That is why I encourage young architects to travel, because I benefitted from that experience. If you look at the list of DP projects I was involved in, you could see I was doing a lot of work, including small projects like interiors, houses and petrol stations in my early years. A young architect should relish the opportunity to take on small projects where the boss is not very involved, where you can be independent. You will make mistakes and you will sweat, but you will learn fast. I passed my Professional Practice Exam two years after graduation because I went through that process of doing everything myself.

As a leader of the firm, I’ve always advised my young colleagues to be independent. You gain confidence from your independence, and slowly you can manage three to five assistants, become a team leader, then a studio leader. To lead, you must train to be a leader first; be involved totally in the process. Learn and analyse what is required of any project; don’t wait for clients and consultants to tell you. William Lim was my teacher in development economics. Joseph Huang of Ove Arup was my structural engineering teacher. CN Hng from PC&R was my M&E teacher. I learned from the best during my formative years. What I’m saying is: to be a leader, you must first master your trade.

Could you share with us the design philosophy that you have carried with you through your career? I learned about architecture from the greats. Eero Saarinen taught me to think contextually. Louis Kahn taught me about the structuring of architecture, about thought process. Le Corbusier taught me, and is still teaching me, to think laterally. Every time I look at the drawing of Villa Savoye, it strikes me how modern the building is even though it was done about 80 years ago. This idea of linkages, circulation and accessibility as a generator in design is obvious. If the heart is not pumping blood, our body will not be able to get nourishment from the food we eat. So it’s all about circulation. Circulation is the key.

“To be a leader, you must first master your trade.” – Chan Sui Him

As a mentor in design, I tell my young colleagues about the development of the great architects and who the current emerging architects are. I have one other great interest – history. I always ask team members, “Who are your three great inspiring architects?” And I would explain who among their favourites is a fitting source of inspiration for their own projects because I know about architecture history and the contributions of the architects. For those who said they have no favourite architects, I would share a quote with them: “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).” This is an important quote. In architecture, in any development, nothing is new; whatever you think you have created has been done before.

Far left: Chan Sui Him (right) with DP Architects’ founder Koh Seow Chuan (left) and pioneer Gan Eng Oon. Left: Chan mentors his team of architects during regular review sessions. Above: Chan leads a project team discussion.

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DP Interview

Left: An early project, People’s Park Complex was celebrated as the first mixeduse development and the first shopping mall with an atrium in Singapore. Right: Chan’s affable personality and passion earns him respect within the firm and industry. Bottom (clockwise): Chan talks animatedly about a great influence, Le Corbusier; Chan was involved in the design of many significant public institutions, such as the SAFTI Military Institute, Temasek Polytechnic, and Nanyang Polytechnic.

How have the times and practice change over the course of your 50year career, beginning as an intern in 1965? I did my internship at Malayan Architect Copartnership, the forerunner of Design Partnership. At that time, there were two masters, Lim Chong Keat and William Lim. I remember very clearly working at my table on a William Lim project. One day Lim Chong Keat came, looked at the design and said, “No, not that way.” Then William Lim said, “No, not that way.” Serving two strongminded bosses was very difficult. I witnessed how the partnership broke. When Design Partnership came about, I was watching and learning from the three partners. The first ten years, 1965-1975, was all about learning and working hard. Any job given to me I was happy to take on. I didn’t reject. Every project becomes your experience. As I mentioned earlier, I was learning from engineers, economists and from travelling around SEA. In 1973, the economy was badly hit by the oil crisis. We began to understand the value of money, the value of savings. The second ten years, 1976-1985, saw a slight upturn, then again a major downturn. The Cultural Revolution was over; China opened its market in 1981 and the firm was very optimistic about China’s development. Projects like Katong Shopping Centre and Tanglin Shopping Centre were done before the recession. We began to realise that to sustain the business, we could not depend on small-time developers. We must work with established developers, and the best establishment is the government. The government will provide a consistent flow of jobs if you service well. So the second ten years was the realisation of

“In our second decade, we came to realise the importance of architecture as a service industry, and the architect as a service person, not a prima donna.” – Chan Sui Him the importance of architecture as a service industry, and the architect as a service person, not a prima donna. So we became a service firm. We changed our client profile from mainly speculative developers to established developers and government-related services. We knocked on the doors of City Development and Far East Organization; get ourselves into the government’s good books. Coincidentally, in the mid-80s, I became involved in community service. Gan Eng Oon became president of SIA, and was given government jobs like the

Construction Industry Training Institute at Braddell Road. Koh Seow Chuan was also an advisor to the then-Ministry of Culture. So the profile of the directorship changed from somewhat provocative to somewhat measured. That coupled with a willingness to work with foreign architects was how we secured Marina Square. Look at our new CEO Angelene; her experience with established foreign architects has enhanced her capability to helm large developments on her own. By the time of the third decade, 1986-1995, about 70 to 80 per cent of our Singapore

kept their office and maintain their involvement in the office to this day. This is the DP culture.

It is clear that you are still very passionate about design and good architecture. How do you sustain this passion and enthusiasm? Don’t stop learning. In June, I went to San Diego by myself to look at Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute. I also went to France’s Villa Savoye. I went to San Francisco in December to look at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Marin County Civic Center, completed some five to ten years after he passed away. Every trip I make, I look at architecture. That’s one part.

projects were government-related. We became known as the architect able to complete major projects on our own. Before, projects like People’s Park Complex, Golden Mile Complex were about 20,000 to 30,000sqm in size. But after Marina Square, we began to do SAFTI Military Institute, Nanyang Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, CITI, Singapore Aviation Academy, all larger-scale government-related projects. Some of them with foreign architects, some on our own. In this period, computers came about through a company called Computervision. Koh Seow Chuan said, let’s spend money. We wanted to be a leader in architecture service. When we moved into Marina Square in 1992, we had a whole place set up as a computer studio.

That was very expensive, over four million dollars to buy all the computers which could do very little. In the following decade, 1996-2005, there was another recession – the Asian financial crisis. Fortunately, DPA in the third decade was blessed with many government jobs of long duration, so we were able to ride this 1997 recession and grow from strength to strength. By the next decade, 2006-2015, Francis Lee had become CEO when I stepped down in 2004. This is an important milestone and the key change during this era – the handing over of leadership reins to the next generation. During 1996-2005, the firm introduced the retirement of directorship at age 65. Koh Seow Chuan and Gan Eng Oon retired but

Second part, I’ve been going to museums in the past five years, something I could not do when I was younger. To enjoy art galleries, you must read up on the artists, the art periods like the Renaissance, Neo-Classicism, Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism, etc. You must learn. As you learn and travel, you see things.

What are your plans for the future? Learn and work. I’m going to enjoy myself 100 percent, travelling and working. For architects, designers, artists, musicians there is no such thing as retirement age. Frank Lloyd Wright lived till 91-92 years old; many of his buildings were completed after he passed way. But you have to continuously learn, don’t stop. Your heart doesn’t stop, so you don’t stop. I’m still around. It’s my black hair. I look like I’m still young. One day when my hair turns all white, I will retire (smiles).

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DP 29

One of DPA’s first projects after coming out of a major recession in the mid-1980s, Century Square is a 29,600sqm suburban shopping and entertainment centre that caters to the increasingly sophisticated expectations of the middle class. Situated at the heart of Tampines New Town with links to the public transportation network, the mall comprises departmental stores, a supermarket, speciality shops, cinemas and dining outlets. The design facilitates convenient circulation within the mall with six lifts, 22 escalators, and trolley conveyors with easy access to the 300-bay basement car park. Glass walls framed by curved granite cladding create a contemporary exterior. Project Team: Chan Sui Him, Song Yew Kee, Adrias Tan & Tai Lee Siang

Century Square

1995