UNStudio completes both ‘V on shenton’ and ‘the scotts tower’ in singapore

UNStudio has completed two new projects in singapore, ‘V on shenton’ and ‘the scotts tower‘, which marks four finished projects in the city. the most recently completed, ‘V on shenton’, is located in the heart of singapore’s central business district at 5 shenton way.

V on shenton

image © darren soh (main video produced by tripeaksimagery)

‘V on shenton’ by UNStudio aims to provide a large scale, holistic, mixed-use development that offers round-the-clock programmes. this type of development is being implemented in the dense urban environment in an effort to combat singapore’s density problems and scarcity of land. the building includes working, living and leisure activities on one single plot to maximize the valuable urban land.

V on shenton

image © darren soh

the massing of the towers is differentiated to reflect the functions of the building (office and residential). in addition to the office and residential uses, ‘V on shenton’ also includes sky gardens which enjoy panoramic views of singapore. there are also areas designed for shared communal activities such as a fitness area, swimming pools and a children’s play area, with lush green vegetation providing fresher, cleaner air.

V on shenton

image © darren soh

the façades of ‘V on shenton’ are designed by the architect using a geometric pattern originating from a hexagonal form. this shape is used to generate patterns that increase the performance of the façades, with angles and shading devices that are responsive to the climatic conditions of singapore. the façades of the office and residential towers are also differentiated slightly yet cohesive when viewed together.

V on shenton

image © darren soh

the construction of the office tower is based on a curtain wall module system and an optimized number of panel types, recombined to create a signature pattern. in contrast, the residential façade is created by the incorporation of the residential programme (balcony, bay window, planter). these geometric panels add texture to the building, whilst reflecting light and pocketing shade.

V on shenton

image © darren soh

the scotts tower

video © edmon leong

‘the scotts tower’ marks another completed project by UNStudio in a prime singapore location on 38 scotts road. the 18,500m2, 31-storey, 231-unit tower is comprised of 1 to 3-bedroom apartments and 4-bedroom penthouses, along with expansive landscaped gardens, sky terraces, penthouse roof gardens and various recreational facilities. the building also benefits from impressive views across nearby parkland and the skyline of singapore.

the scotts tower

image © darren soh 

by embracing vertical expansion, the concept of ‘the scotts tower’ is to provide a vertical city and home for local residents. the tower is divided into four different residential clusters or ‘neighborhoods’. within each neighborhood, the varying types of residences are designed to be identifiable by the scale, distribution and articulation of outdoor space. outdoor terraces have also been incorporated to add to the personalised feel of the apartments.

the scotts tower

image © darren soh 

the concept of ‘the scotts tower’ is identified by two frames, the ‘vertical frame’ and the ‘sky frames.’ the vertical frame organizes the tower in an urban manner. it unites the tower into one ‘vertical city’, but also provides clear distinctions between the four residential clusters, generating the neighborhood effect.

the scotts tower

image © darren soh 

the sky frame – at the lobby (level 1 and 2) and sky terrace (level 25) – organize the amenity spaces and green areas of the tower and provide areas with panoramic views. the communal nature of these spaces also encourages interaction among users, further enhancing the neighborhood concept.

the scotts tower

image © darren soh 

these two projects, ‘V on shenton’ and ‘the scotts tower’, by UNStudio aim to combat singapore’s growing density issue. as one of the most densely populated countries in the world, these projects successfully envision how cities can grow vertically while still including recreational space and green areas.

the scotts tower

image © darren soh 

video produced by sean henson

project info:

V on shenton:

client: uic investments (properties) pte ltd

location: no. 5 shenton way, uic building, singapore

date: 2010-2018

building surface: 85.507 m2

building volume: residential tower 237m height; office tower 123m height

building site: 6778 m2

programme: commercial and residential redevelopment.

status: completed

credits:

UNStudio: ben van berkel, astrid piber with nuno almeida and ariane stracke, cristina bolis; derrick diporedjo, enrique lopez, gustav fagerström, hal wuertz, jaap baselmans, jaap-willem kleijwegt, jae young lee, jay williams, jeong eun choi, juliane maier, martin zangerl, patrick kohl, rené rijkers, rob henderson, stefano rocchetti, sander versluis, tiia vahula, wing tang

advisors:

local architect: architects 61 pte ltd

structural engineer: de consultants (s) pte ltd

m&e consultant: j roger preston (s) pte ltd

quantity surveyor: kpk quantity surveyors

the scotts tower:

client: far east organisation

location: 38 scotts road, singapore

date: 2010 -2015

building surface: 19127.89 m2

building volume: 115000m3

units: 231 units (128:1bd; 80:2bd; 20:3bd; 3:4bd-penthouse)

floors: 31 stories (156.2 m high)

building site: 6099.7 m2

programme: soho type residential tower

status: under construction

gfa: 16855.34 m2

footprint: 800.53 m2 for the building; 1444.28 m2 incl. all landscape pavilions

material:

structure: reinforced concrete/ beam & column system

facade: unitized curtain wall/ laminated glass/ aluminum frames & finishes/ in-situ concrete balcony balustrades/ aluminum shingles for the skyframe cladding

credits:

design architect UNStudio: ben van berkel, astrid piber with ger gijzen, konstantinos chrysos, luis etchegorry, cynthia markhoff, elisabeth brauner, shany barath, thomas van bekhoven, iris pastor, rodrigo cañizares, albert gnodde, mo ching ying lai, grete veskiväli, philipp weisz, samuel bernier lavigne, lukasz walczak, alicja chola, cheng gong

executive architect: ong&ong, singapore

project management: arcadis, singapore

advisors:

landscape architect: sitetectonix, singapore

structural engineer: ktp consultants, singapore

mechanical engineer: united project consultants, singapore

interior design (residential units): creative mind design, singapore

visualizations: rendertaxi, aachen

images: © darren soh

video: © edmon leong