Project Details
The Char Yong (Dabu) Association (CYA) in Singapore was founded in 1858 to look after the welfare of Hakka immigrants. The site of this competition at Lorong 18 Geylang was acquired to make a new, modern building for the association, with the remaining floor area as a commercial vehicle to generate returns. The brief called for an architectural design that promotes and propagates Hakka culture in the spatial provision, planning and outlook. In turn, it would harmonize synergy between the commercial and institutional values of CYA to represent the association’s importance in society.
OUR APPROACH
We proposed an overall ecological strategy by incorporating the idea of cascading green spaces in the tiered form designed by TR Hamzah & Yeang Architects. Themed sky gardens are connected across all floors through vertical walls of greenery and rainwater channels inspired by weirs. This all comes from the source at the rooftop, which holds a sky wetland incorporating Fengshui principles with agricultural species significant to the Hakka culture.
