Zhongshan Park Integrated Development: The first park-integrated development in Singapore

Located at Balestier Road and adjacent to the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, the integrated development at Zhongshan Park offers unique opportunities to rejuvenate the Balestier conservation area in Singapore, reinforcing the memorial hall’s significance while simultaneously creating new activities through mixed-use additions. This 39,100sqm development comprises a shopping mall, a commercial tower and two hotels within a park – the first development to do so in Singapore.

The design of the development centres around the Memorial Hall as a focal point which organizes the site’s circulation and planning. Influenced by a concept from traditional Chinese gardens called changlang (长廊), or a long covered corridor that links important spaces, the development boasts a winding path that shapes the rhythm and flow of visitors. A diverse collection of public spaces are generated along the view corridor - in this way, public space and landscape merge in an intimate reciprocal relationship that creates juxtaposition between a direct axial view and a meandering promenade through an architectural space. In contrast with the landscaped ground plane, the commercial and hotel towers take on clean, contemporary forms clad in glass, and the reflective glass façades create a constant sense of movement of the sky and clouds, giving the façade a dynamic appearance through reflectivity with its surroundings. The design of the Zhongshan Park integrated development draws references and connections not only from elements in traditional Chinese gardens and regional culture, but through the juxtaposition of historical and contemporary elements to draw attention to the heritage of the site.