Urban Oasis hidden within Singapore’s Central Business District
An old office building with an idled 7-storey recessed atrium space converted into a green space by combining building technology & Landscape elements to attract future tenants into a green atrium with proven technologies incorporating landscape elements. The iconic “Hanging Garden” is a visual attraction and provided a cozy retreat for occupants within.
Country
Singapore
Category
Commercial (Office)
Floor Level
14storeys
Site Area
350sqm (Green-Walls/Columns)
Building Type
Office
Project Team
AGFD
CONCEPT
Maximising the new CBD plot ratio regulations, 4 new floors were added to the existing 10 storey office building. 4 massive RC columns on the front (and rear) were constructed to support the new floors via a 5m deep transfer floor spanning 40m between the new columns.
With the existing stepped profile of the existing building facade, a 7 storey semi-recessed space resulted and provided AGFD the opportunity to conceptualized the “Hanging Garden in the CBD”
INTERNAL
Hanging Garden
The 7-storey high Atrium space was transformed into a vertical garden with vertical green walls and horizontal planters which strategically camouflaged and seamlessly enhances the existing building elements. Bespoke structural frames were designed to house essential services and access required for all the greeneries.
Artificial growth lights were added at localized areas to supplement the plants well being through out the day. Strategically placed glass floor panels provided the visual connectivity of the greeneries from pavement walkway right up to the top of the “Hanging Garden” 10 story above.
The overall landscaping consisted of a total number of 13,000 potted (350sqm) on the Green Walls/Green Columns and 70sqm hanging plants in the reinstated horizontal planter troughs achieving 135% of the Atrium floor plate area.
EXTERNAL
Lantern of Green
A bespoke frameless glass façade design replaced the unsightly mesh screens (required for ventilation). The glass panels were “suspended in layers” up the 10 story high façade to achieve proper smoke disbursements. Substantial cost savings for a “naturally ventilated space” (ie no mechanical fire and smoke devices needed) to comply with authorities requirements was also achieved. Effectiveness of the layered-glass façade was substantiated by a “Fire & Smoke Study” and approved by the Fire Authority.
A highly transparent façade where the frameless glass panels are unnoticeable allows maximum visibility and daylight into/out of the “Hanging Garden”.
By night, facade, architectural and plant lighting transforms the space into into a surreal yet cozy retreat environment for the occupants.
Costs savings are effectively achieved with no compromise to design or performance but with enhanced aesthetics. Existing metal cladding kept and plastered walls repainted to complement the overall design and discarded façade mesh given new leash of life as plants ledges and doubles up to conceal LED light strips
AWARDS
International Rooftop Landscaping Association,
World’s Best Vertical Garden Design Gold Award
2013
SILA, Gold Award for Excellence
2013
SIA Architectural Design Award (Honorable Mention)
2012
World Best Vertical Garden Design, Gold Award
2012
Nparks Skyrise Greenery Award, First Place
2011
Overall
Value of Transformation is converting undesirable elements to beyond good use!
Unsightly concrete beams exploited into safe and easy maintenance access with hanging plants draping down to adding delight to the “Hanging Garden” aesthetics.
Disused RC troughs “reincarnated” into lively planters across the width of the building adding visual delights to the spatial quality of the Atrium.accessed via recessed office walkways or hinged-grating covers respectively.
All 36,000 potted plants within the Atrium are safely and easily accessible for maintenance by carefully integrating the required accessways.
The layered-facade is easily maintained via a BMU platform neatly integrated across the “Crown-Lighting” along the top of the building facade.
“Buying beautiful buildings is easy. Developing beautiful assets has its challenges but turning ugly ducklings into something that we can all admire is probably the most difficult of all. AGFD has made the critical difference, not just in the design but also getting it executed including the arduous task of convincing the authorities”.
“What amazes me most was how you were able to translate the vision as depicted in the impressions into reality. This is perhaps the few times when reality surpassed the perspectives shown during the planning and approval stages.”
Managing Director
ALPHA IPL
