Singapore Transport Hub

A brand new second business district outside central Singapore is currently under construction target for completion in year 2027.

The feature of the masterplan is the horizontal connectivity between the various landmarks in this development. This will most like be a common development feature in a city like Singapore where land is scarce and people have no choice but to live in high rise buildings. The horizontal link bridges not only help moving people within the development but also double up as communal spaces in the sky. Residents don't have to go all the way down to the ground to do their exercise or catch up with friends.

Celcom HQ by Hijjas Kasturi Architects

Hijjas Kasturi Architects has designed some of the most iconic buildings throughout Malaysia. The Celcom HQ is no exception. Located in Petaling Jaya, the building's futuristic appearance makes it almost impossible to be missed when you are around the area.

The meticulously crafted folding facade is not only beautiful but environmentally friendly as well. It is designed to reduce heat absorption and therefore reduce the energy load of the building significantly.

Petalz Residences

A Malaysian Green Building Index certified apartment building, Petalz Residences on Old Klang Road is not only a meticulously designed architecture but an energy efficient one at that.

The common theme is to marry up high rise living with nature in creating a harmonious eco system.

The building stands out in this otherwise typical Malaysian suburb.

Two towers surround a communal rooftop facilities.

A flower inspired canopy connects the buildings.

Beautifully designed facade treatment breaks up the otherwise bulky buiding.

Low Cost Buildings Can Be Beautiful Too

The idea behind Tamarind Suites by Ken Wong Architect is to break-away from the typical norm of small and compact units. The building is crafted with flexibility and functionality in mind. The communal facilities are designed to allow the occupants to be surrounded by nature. This design approach is to enhance living experience of its residents.

The building is expressed as a series of distinct blocks, layered in front of one another to give depth and dynamism to the development. A variety of unit types (studios and lofts) are skilfully woven together, to create a façade that is animated and porous. Light penetrates the building and garden spaces provide a notable connection to nature. A deep and sculpted façade casts shade on the building, reducing solar gain.

 

This building reminds us of the architecture of Le Corbusier which celebrates the dominant forms of architecture. It is proud of its materiality in the sense that the concrete walls are all exposed, there is no need for cosmetic treatment of paint which is the more common practice. This building shows that good architecture can be constructed with simple construction materials, that architecture should be true to its core identity.

由 Ken Wong Architect 设计的 Tamarind Suites 背后的设计理念是打破廉价公寓的典型规范。这座建筑的设计充分考虑了灵活性和功能性。设计让居住者被大自然包围, 于是提升居民的生活素质和体验。

光线穿透建筑，花园空间提供了与自然的显着联系。深邃的雕刻立面为建筑物投下阴影，减少了阳光的吸收。

这座建筑让我们想起了勒·柯布西耶 (Le Corbusier) 的建筑。混凝土墙完全暴露，它以其物质性而自豪，不需要再涂油漆进行装饰处理。这座建筑表明，好的建筑可以用简单的材料建造，建筑应该忠于其核心本质。

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

The undulating curves of the Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Binhai Centre subtly express three programmatic elements while adding a bold statement to the city’s skyline. The 530-meter-tall skyscraper houses offices, 300 service apartments, and a five-star 350-rooms hotel. The tower is the latest landmark in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), located just outside Tianjin.

Eight sloping columns are cleverly concealed behind the  gently curving glass skin. Multi-storey wind vents are strategically placed to enhance the tower's aerodynamic shape in reducing vortex shedding, which in turn dramatically minimizes wind forces.

The tower’s green design includes a high-performance envelope, optimized daylighting, and green landscaping to LEED® Gold standards.

天津周大福滨海中心优雅的曲线巧妙地表达了这座建筑的三个规划元素，同时也为这座城市的天际线增添了一份雄伟的宣言。 这座 530 米高的摩天大楼设有办公室、300 间服务式公寓和一家拥有 350 间客房的五星级酒店。 该塔是天津经济技术开发区 (TEDA) 的最新地标，位于天津市郊外。

八个倾斜的柱子巧妙地隐藏在弯曲的玻璃外墙后面。 多层通风孔的布置策略性地增强了塔的空气动力学形状，减少了涡流脱落，从而显着降低了风力的压力。

塔楼的环保设计符合 LEED® 金级标准。

Another Example Of Vertical Garden In Singapore

A luxury residential tower named Park Nova in Singapore, will feature a lush vertical garden inspired by the city’s greenery. Singapore is fast carving a name for herself as the vertical garden city of the world with countless high rise buildings with such design. PLP’s biophilic design will blur the line between indoor living areas and outdoor spaces. The architect determines to redefine metropolitan living by promoting health and wellbeing, a thing that was not associated with living in the concrete jungle in most people’s minds.

Set in Singapore’s coveted Orchard neighbourhood, formerly home to orchards, Park Nova tower was inspired by the area’s history and lush green character, striving to maintain and further enhance this feature. The building is elevated above the tree canopy on slender columns. Optimal shading and ventilation are achieved by the rotated undulating floor plates which are arranged to form three wings.

The 21-storey building contains 54 apartments and hosts a variety of resident amenity spaces. Each apartment benefits from a 270degree panoramic view, and the green terraces offer a natural noise barrier. The project features a sky-terrace on the 14th floor, which hosts a gym and a lounge, together with a vast outdoor space, that marks the building’s silhouette.

Park Nova is PLP’s first residential high rise building, marrying the practice’s extensive knowledge in residential design and the vast experience with tall buildings. The London-based studio with a Tokyo office is currently designing several mixed-use projects in Singapore and, as a result, is considering establishing a South East Asia office.

Leeza Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects

The Leeza Soho tower in Beijing, China, made the world record to become the only building that contains the tallest atrium twisting through its centre.

The 45-storey skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid, the late founder of Zaha Hadid Architects before her death in 2016, is located in the Fengtai business district.

Commissioned by Soho China, the same developer of Galaxy Soho and Wangjing Soho, the Leeza Soho skyscraper contains a mix of shops and offices surrounding the mind-boggling atrium.

Beijing's multi-modal urban plan is aimed at accommodating growth without impacting its existing infrastructure networks in the centre of the city. The new Fengtai business district plays an integral role to complement the city’s greater vision, explained Patrik Schumacher who took over Zaha Hadid Architects firm.

The completed Leeza Soho has 45 floors above ground, and four floors under ground.

It is positioned on a site adjacent to the precinct’s main railway station, and straddles an underground subway service tunnel.

Its position over this tunnel led Zaha Hadid Architects to divide the building in two halves, which resulted in the formation of a giant atrium at its centre.

This atrium runs the full height of the building, which at 194.15 metres makes it the world's tallest atrium, overtaking the previous record held by the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

As it rises, the Leeza Soho's void twists by 45 degrees to appear as though the two sides of the tower are moving together in a beautiful dancing motion.

The dynamic shape of the atrium creates convex openings on either side of the tower, which allow natural light into the interiors and provide views out over towards the city from each floor.

The lowest level of the atrium has been designed to act as a public square for the business district, and is directly linked to the interchange beside the site.

The two parts of the Leeza Soho are linked internally by elevated walkways that project across the void from four different levels, while externally they are fused together by a curtain glass facade.

This glass facade is double insulated, and is made up of a number of glass panels that are angled to aid ventilation. The intention is to help maintain a comfortable indoor climate in Beijing's variable weather conditions.

In a bid to enhance the building's environmental performance, the tower is fitted with heat recovery from exhaust air and high-efficiency pumps, water-collection facilities, grey water flushing and an insulating green roof with photovoltaic panels.

There are also 2,680 bicycles parking spaces with lockers and shower facilities, alongside charging spaces for electric or hybrid cars to encourage users to travel sustainability.