In 2008, SCDA was commissioned by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to explore new possibilities in public housing design in Singapore. The resulting design solution embodies three key ideas: housing in a park, connectivity to surroundings and multi-generational living. The project is located in Dawson Estate, by Margaret Drive on the north and by Dawson Road on the west. Running along its entire southern boundary is the Alexandra Canal Linear Park. Margaret Drive is to be converted into an ecological corridor with finger park linkage to the Alexander canal Linear Park along the eastern boundary of the site. The precinct is composed of five residential 40 to 43-storey towers and a 4-storey linear car-park podium. The residential towers and car-park podium are connected to sky bridges at every level, enabling the residents to enjoy an uninterrupted covered entry journey from the car parks to the lift lobbies and on to their apartments. Block planning takes advantage of the site’s long north and south boundaries by aligning the residential towers along this axis, thereby maximizing the development’s north-south exposure and limiting frontage to the western sun.
In response to the frist two key ideas, the project site will have seamless connectivity to greenery on three sides. This green concept is expanded further by introducing lush landscaping on the ground place that travels up the building facades in the form of green terracing, roof gardens and green sky terraces spanning between the towers. The third design idea reinforces the idea of multi-generational living and community building by providing the spatial framework for extended families to occupy interconnected loft units. These loft units are designed to allow the possibility of combining a paired double-storey four- or four-room unit with a studio apartment.
The project features sustainable design technologies like drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, bio-retention basins and solar energy systems. Skyterrace@Dawson is a Greenmark Platinum project and was conferred the Public Utilities Board ABC Water Certification and the HDB Innovative Design Award in 2010.
