This just in from UNStudio, Ben van Berkel, in collaboration with DP Architects, has been chosen to design the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Selected from a shortlist of five practices, UNStudio + DP Architects have created a proposal that reflects the university’s curriculum by “using the creative enterprise of the school to facilitate a cross-disciplinary interface; interaction is established between the professional world, the campus, and the community at large.”
More images and more about the proposal after the break.
The SUTD will be Singapore’s fourth and most prestigious university offering four key academic pillars: Architecture and Sustainable Design (ASD), Engineering Product Development (EPD), Engineering Systems and Design (ESD) and Information Systems Technology and Design (ISTD). The campus is organized around two main axes; the living and learning spines which overlap to create a central point, binding together all corners of the SUTD. These thoroughfares create a 24/7 campus of seamless connectivity, enhancing direct interaction through both proximity and transparency. In turn, an open forum of learning is established by bringing professionals, alumni, students, and faculty together to interact both on an academic and a social level.
The proposal experiments with incorporating a non-linear connective relationship between the students, faculty as well as they spaces they interact with.
van Berkel explaines, “The main aim of the design for the Singapore University of Technology and Design was to create a campus that celebrates both teaching and learning in an open and transparent way. The network of horizontal, vertical and diagonal vistas within the double quadrant organization of the campus enables professors, students and faculty members to see, meet and communicate with each other through a network of crossing points, presenting opportunities for continuous interaction and exchange.”
Project Information:
Building surface: (phase I) 88,000 m2, (phase II) 125,000 m2, (total) 213, 000 m2
Building volume: (phase I) 422,400 m3, (phase II) 600,000 m3, (total) 1,022,400 m3
Building site: 76, 846 m2
Program: university campus
Status: competition
UNstudio team: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Astrid Piber with Christian Veddeler,
Jordan Trachtenberg and Ren Horng Yee, Adi Utama, Jeff Johnson, Melissa Lui
DPA team: Chan Sui Him, Teoh Hai Pin, Jeremy Tan, Seah Chee Huang, Wykeith Ng,
Liew Kok Fong, Wang Ying, Yeong Weng Fai, Jaye Tan
Structural consultant: ARUP Singapore PTE Ltd
whoa cool shapes!
I thought it was Zaha Hadid’s work at the first place.
Wow…?
is this a proposal for a racetrack or for a place of learning? architects are becoming too fascinated by their tools, and forgetting to ask critical questions like: does this fit there, what kind of atmosphere does it create? dump this and go read Zumthor’s book!
but clients haven’t read zumthor’s book! they probably asked for something ‘cool’
Critical Regionalism is one approach. However there are other ways to tackle the problem
… and the best top 10 students there will be from overseas. What a shame…
It reminds me of the urbanism of Le Corbusier, which proved not to work. Big modernist blocks, 2 axes and zero human scale public space in my opinion. I wonder where students assemble, except for indoors.
But as I have a certain amount of faith in UN Studio, I hope it’s going to be a succes in the final design.
The multi-layered public space, a bit Le Corbusier as well, I enjoy, although it’s a difficult task to make it a succes.
The listed names are not correct… very sad that the actual ppl working on it doesn’t get the credit….
The listed names are not correct… very sad that the actual ppl working on it doesn’t get the credit….
The public spaces look very much like Hadid´s commercial complex in Cairo. I find it good but I guess UNstudio has a language of their own and could come up with something a bit different.
http://www.zaha-hadid.com/offices-and-towers/stone-towers
Dictatorship of the RIGHT angle is mostly gone.