In 2008, Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HBD) commissioned Soo K. Chan and his firm, SCDA Architects, to explore new possibilities in public housing design in Singapore. In response, Mr. Chan, recipient of Singapore’s inaugural President’s Design Award, has designed a high-design public housing project, SkyTerrace@Dawson, which will be completed in 2015. Mr. Chan’s design solution embodies three key ideas: housing in a park, connectivity to surroundings, and multi-generational living.
In response to the first two key ideas, the project site will have seamless connectivity to greenery on three sides. Lush landscaping on the ground plane travels up the building facades in the form of green terracing, roof gardens and green sky terraces spanning between the towers. These landscaped bridges encourage high-altitude wandering and elevator-free visits, reinforcing a sense of community. The design includes a spatial framework for extended families to occupy interconnected loft units, recreating the multi-generational village in a vertical space.
From 2000 to 2011, Singapore’s population jumped from 4 million to 5.2 million, and SkyTerrace@Dawson addresses the country’s need to expand public housing. SkyTerrace@Dawson will comprise five towers ranging from 40 to 43 stories and sit atop a parking podium. Located in Dawson, an area close to Singapore’s downtown, the project will feature sustainable design technologies such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, bio-retention basins and solar energy systems.
In May 2014, SCDA Architects won Singapore’s 5 Star Award for Residential High-rise Architecture, an honor presented by the International Property Awards, for the SkyTerrace@Dawson project. These awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. SkyTerrace has been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival 2015 Award for Housing and was a Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat 2015 finalist for “Best Tall Building”.
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