ION Orchard (218m, 56 floors)

[SmallInvestor]

I'm impressed. Orchard Road definitely needs this.

[nicholasliha]

i think relation to street level is awkward. it professes a modern curvelinear facade but doesn't seem to have understood its proportions and aesthetic. and the tower is hohum. the viewing gallery doesn't look like it was designed to be a viewing gallery, just a convenient sky room. a viewing gallery could've been a pod, a disc, an open air bridge, but here the building hardly expresses the presence of a viewing platform. if there was a concept, an architectural idea that was unique, then the building might have been better than the generic podium condo typology it merely is here.

[nicholasliha]

god and the sky roof is going to be how hot. hardly any substantial shading. the glass doesn't look insulated either.

[Cliff]

on 2nd look, its not bad at all, the tower grows on me.

[babystan03]

Seems like "curvy wavy" mall design are the "in" thing now......

[JoSin]

maybe its just a coincidence.

[RafflesCity]

Originally Posted by babystan03

Renderings from the Benoy website:

6. Viewing gallery


7. Viewing Gallery at night


http://www.benoy.com/html/news.cfm?n...urn%20Designs#

Can't wait for this...looks spectacular with the high ceiling....and the views of Singapore's most famed junction along Orchard Rd....should complement the Mandarin

[babystan03]

Went to Wisma Atria on Tuesday.....seems like the basement is rather quiet compared to last time when it's directly linked to the MRT....

[ncon]

agree

[babystan03]

A very big rendering from Sun Hung Kai Properties website.....

[Cliff]

OMGOMGOMG WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Btw, does it have anything to do with redstone?

[babystan03]

Originally Posted by Cliff

OMGOMGOMG WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Btw, does it have anything to do with redstone?

Nothing.....

The size of the rendering makes it look fabulous....

[Andrew]

WOW!!!

[nicholasliha]

it doesn't know what it wants to be

[redstone]

Originally Posted by Cliff

OMGOMGOMG WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Btw, does it have anything to do with redstone?

You horrrr!!! :P

[ddes]

Wows.. Singapore needs more of these type of malls cum landmarks.

But can you imagine, walking into a very old- fashioned, dilapidated, un-futuristic Orchard MRT station? *I noe I'm exagerating*

Honestly, I don't see SMRT re-tiling the floors and walls. Maybe only minor improvements like those colourful lights infront of the NSL elevator to the platform.

[Singapor3]

God i love this building, Orchard's booming as well!!

[babystan03]

Orchard Turn wins two prestigious architecture awards at MAPIC 2006

4 December 2006

The Orchard Turn development in Singapore has received two prestigious awards at MAPIC 2006, held in Cannes, France on 15-17 November 2006.

The development was submitted by its concept architect, Benoy Ltd, for two of the ten categories of awards. Orchard Turn won the 'Best Architectural Entry' and 'Best Retail Development over 20,000 sq m' for the EG Retail and Future Project Awards at MAPIC 2006. This year is the third year of the awards and has been a key highlight of MAPIC, an annual event that attracts leading international players from the retail real estate industry around the world.

The celebrated judging panel, chaired by David Rogers, Senior Vice President of the American Institute of Architects, commented on the quantity and quality of submissions this year, and commended many of the submissions for demonstrating unique and progressive planning, urban design and architecture solutions that are pushing the edge of innovation while maintaining a high level of design integrity, social responsibility and environmental sustainability. The panel recognized that Orchard Turn "demonstrates unique and progressive urban design" that will bring vitality to one of Southeast Asia's most prominent sites.

Soon Su Lin, Orchard Turn Development's Chief Executive Officer said, "We are delighted with this win. The recognition reinforces our vision to become a world-class, iconic retail mall, and to win the Awards from amongst the best submissions in Europe is testimony to the international stature our development promises to be".

For the Orchard Turn design concept, the Benoy team looked to nature for inspiration and re-imagined the orchards of the site's past, continuing the theme of growth in the design: from seed to stem to tree. The powerful organic presence communicated through a uniquely free form feel, amorphous cladding and tree-like columns will provoke interaction between visitor and destination.

Seated at the ultimate prime site of Singapore's commercial and shopping artery, at the junction of Orchard Road and Paterson Road, the Orchard Turn retail-cum-luxury residential development is one of the most anticipated projects in Singapore. A 50:50 joint venture between CapitaLand Ltd and Hong Kong's Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd, the development is embraced as an opportunity not only to enhance its status as one of the world’s great shopping streets, but also to dynamically re-imagine cosmopolitan Orchard Road.

The Orchard Turn scheme consists of two primary elements: a vibrant retail podium and iconic high-rise tower that create a holistic expression that draws uniquely on Singapore-based themes, as well as the area's natural environment representing a significant expression of growth. The MAPIC judging panel singled out this element of the design proposal for special praise as 'being contextual and wholly appropriate for Singapore'.

Orchard Turn's contribution to civic life will be realised principally through new public spaces - both external and internal. A new public event space of over 3000 sq m will dominate the ground level atrium, fronting directly onto Orchard Road. This will become a new meeting point that people will instinctively gravitate towards, creating a natural focus for the community's aspirations, a space for national events, gatherings and celebrations.

The pedestrian experience around Orchard Turn has also been carefully considered and will be dynamic and multi-dimensional, with waves of colour and vitality crashing into the rich textures of city life.

"We are enormously proud of the Orchard Turn development. It will make a profound creative and physical statement in one of the world's great cities, and we are delighted to win these two prominent Awards amidst steep competition at this year's MAPIC," noted Graham Cartledge, Benoy's Chairman and Managing Director.

Copyright © 2006 Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited. All rights reserved.

[JoSin]

Wow congrats to them!! I love the design og the orchard turn landmark...

[Cliff]

Oh wow! It must be of rather high quality then