Shade Of Doubt

Source : The Straits Times, Saturday, September 22, 2007

Beach Road’s upcoming wave-like canopy is drawing criticism for covering historical buildings in the area.

While architect Mink Tan thinks the canopy seems to be ‘trying to hide horrible features’, it also introduces an architectural language ‘yet to be seen in Singapore’ ASITE where thousands of Singaporean males did their military training is now turning into a zone of dispute among architects.

Opinions are split over a controversial design for a new development at the old Beach Road camp.

The point of contention is a huge canopy, shaped like a wave, which straddles the development called South Beach. It will consist of two spanking-new blocks towering over three 1930s army blocks and the former Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Club built in 1952.

The old concrete buildings were given conservation status in 2002 due to their rich historical and architectural significance - the Beach Road camp was the venue for the first National Service enlistment in 1967. The army blocks are in Art Deco style known for elegant, functional features, while the club is a hybrid of that and what came in the 1950s, called Modern.

Under a plan by the architects who landed the project - renowned British architecture firm Foster & Partners - the old and new buildings will be linked by a canopy.

The canopy also provides shade for part of the 3.5ha site.

It rises at some areas and lowers at others, resembling huge waves. Some parts of the canopy hover around one conservation block, another covers it, while yet another part appears to go into a block.

Other parts of the canopy also appear to ‘grow’ into the sky, covering part of the facades of the two new towers.

While the canopy is making a splash with some architects, it is causing ripples of concern among others.

Mr Mink Tan of Mink Tan Architects says he dislikes how a part of the canopy covers the conservation building, adding that ‘it seems a bit rude, and it is trying to hide horrible architecture’.

Forum Architects’ Tan Kok Hiang says he likes the way the canopy covers the public spaces, but hopes that the wave canopy will ‘touch or cover the old buildings ever so lightly. The canopy needs to be more thoughtful and sensitive to the conserved buildings’.

The two architects are also concerned with the way the canopy integrates with the tower blocks.

Forum’s Mr Tan says he’s come to expect elegance from the firm and ‘this scheme seems to need more work’.

Mr Mink Tan says the canopy and the towers seem like a ’strange marriage’.

‘It looks like the two schemes were forced together.’

First of its kind

STILL, architects have words of praise for the canopy as well.

Indeed, Mr Mink Tan points out that this wave-like canopy is possibly the first of its kind in Singapore.

He says: ‘It introduces an architectural language yet to be seen in Singapore on a urban and public scale.’

He hopes this will encourage developers to ‘be more adventurous’.

Architect John Ting of AIM & Associates says creating the wave-like form over the conservation buildings ‘results in an interesting and dynamic architectural engagement’.

He adds that ‘the interplay of the old and new architectural forms presents a masterly urban composition that is pleasing’.

Mr Tai Lee Siang, president of the Singapore Institute of Architects, says the design of the lower canopy will change the Singapore skyline. The design of the towers will also complete the last gap between the Beach Road stretch of office towers and Marina Centre.

Foster & Partners had earlier designed the new Supreme Court building and the Expo MRT station. The firm has also done other iconic buildings such as the gherkin-shaped Swiss Re Tower in London and the futuristic-looking Hongkong and Shanghai Bank headquarters in Hong Kong.

Mr Anthony Chia, City Developments Limited’s (CDL) deputy general manager of design and projects, says the design team gave much thought to the canopy and was ‘wary of having a heavy hand when integrating it with the old buildings’.

CDL is one of the developers for the project.

By creating the canopy over the old buildings and enclosing it in a glass facade, usable space can be created.

‘Glass will still allow the buildings’ original facade to be seen while allowing visitors to enjoy the space in front of it,’ he explains.

The canopy that rides up with the towers does serve a purpose. Mr Chia says it regulates the amount of sun that falls onto the towers’ facades by providing some shade.

South Beach will boast two new towers of 45 storeys and 42 storeys plus the four conservation buildings - the former NCO building and Blocks 1, 9 and 14 of the former Beach Road Camp.

It is expected to be completed by 2012 and will house offices, two hotels, residences and retail space. It is developed by a consortium comprising Scottsdale Properties (a subsidiary of City Developments Limited), Istithmar Beach Road Fze and Elad Group Singapore.

They won the tender site with a winning bid of $1.689 billion.