Located on a linear strip of land, sandwiched between Holland Road and the Good Class Bungalow (GCB) area, this site has a steep terrain that descends rapidly from Holland Road on higher ground, towards a drainage reserve between the site and the GCB area.
The site challenged us to develop a solution to address various issues. First, locating the 5-storey apartment blocks along Holland Road allows them to overlook the lush greenery offered by the GCB area. In return, the apartment block serves as a noise barrier, creating a quiet oasis to place the pool, garden and other shared facilities. Next, we located the 3-storey strata semi-detached houses at the lower edge of the site, forming a gradual transition in massing towards the GCB area. Approval from PUB, Singapore's national water agency, was obtained to cover the open drain in the drainage reserve with greenery. Besides creating more landscaped areas for enjoyment, the risk of mosquito breeding was reduced. Lastly, the car park is tucked away from sight, yet naturally ventilated and largely day-lit through proper utilisation of the natural slope. This project demonstrated our interests and efforts to seek tightly-integrated design solutions.
BCA Green Mark Awards 2008 (Gold) |