https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1348 en-us Once a Catholic school, a set of buildings from different decades of the 20th century has been transformed into a modern design hub. Change comes from within.

]]> 1502-national-design-centre-scda-architects.asp Sun, 15 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7420-national-design-centre National Design Centre The newest of the four buildings comprising the NDC occupies the east end of the site and dates from the 1940s.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre Three of the four buildings comprising the 85,000-square-foot NDC face Middle Road with the oldest on the right and the newest on the far left.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre Before the renovation took place, the area behind the main buildings was merely left-over space.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre Behind the main buildings, SCDA created a courtyard with a reflecting pool and space for tables and chairs.The firm also added a new fire stair, replacing an indoor stair. New lighting underscores old features such as the eaves.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre Adding a skylight above a central courtyard makes an outdoor space an indoor one.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre SCDA recessed the new entry, so it wouldn't disturb the colonnade along Middle Road.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre Pivoting partitions open the atrium to a gallery on the ground floor. The architects cut away parts of some floor slabs to insert the metal-screened boxes housing galleries and meeting rooms.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre SCDA balanced heavy and light materials throughout the project, wrapping the stair with expanded-aluminum mesh.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre Steel-plate balustrades help define an internal stair.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre SCDA balanced heavy and light materials throughout the project, for example adding a folded metal-mesh ceiling to the muscular space that had once been the school's chapel and now serves as the auditorium.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre In the gallery space, daylight comes through the restored windows of the 1940s building.   Photo © Aaron Pocock National Design Centre The space that is now the atrium had served the Catholic school as an open courtyard.   Photo courtesy SCDA Architects National Design Centre The space that is now the auditorium had been the school's chapel.   Photo courtesy SCDA Architects National Design Centre Image courtesy SCDA Architects National Design Centre Image courtesy SCDA Architects National Design Centre Image courtesy SCDA Architects National Design Centre Image courtesy SCDA Architects With its population jumping from 4 million in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2011 and housing prices rising fast, Singapore needed to expand its supply of public housing at the end of the last decade.

]]> 1303-skyterrace-at-dawson-scda-architects.asp Sat, 16 Mar 2013 12:30:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7926-skyterracedawson The project’s five towers contain 758 dwelling units ranging in size from 475 to 1,315 square feet. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeThe project’s five towers contain 758 dwelling units ranging in size from 475 to 1,315 square feet.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects Studio apartments for senior citizens are attached to larger ones for their grown-up children, providing independent living and familial connections. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeStudio apartments for senior citizens are attached to larger ones for their grown-up children, providing independent living and familial connections.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects The project is under construction and scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2014. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeThe project is under construction and scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2014.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects Rendering of parking retail podium. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeRendering of parking retail podium.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects Section through car park. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeSection through car park.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects Stacked units under construction. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeStacked units under construction.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects Lower level of a duplex. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeLower level of a duplex.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects Upper level of a duplex with accessory apartment. SkyTerrace@DawsonSCDA ArchitectsSingaporeUpper level of a duplex with accessory apartment.Rendering courtesy SCDA Architects dhoby_ghaut_green.asp Mon, 16 May 2011 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7535-dhoby-ghaut-green Dhoby Ghaut Green   In a busy part of downtown Singapore, the architects used the new amphitheater to shape outdoor spaces around it and created an ensemble of structures that connect to the surrounding streets and a subway station below grade.   Photo © Aaron Pocock Dhoby Ghaut Green   Workers manually twisted 0.11-inch-thick aluminum ribs and bolted them onto aluminum brackets attached to the amphitheater's angled-steel supports. Balau-wood planks help cover the walkways, adding a warm accent to the durable materials.   Photo © Aaron Pocock Dhoby Ghaut Green   The designers used a combination of blue and white halogens to light the amphitheater from below. A dressing room behind the stage provides space for performers to change and prepare.   Photo © Aaron Pocock Dhoby Ghaut Green   Image courtesy SCDA Architects