SoHo/Hotel Development at Upper Pickering Street by WOHA (16 + 18 floors)

[RafflesCity]

Originally Posted by Andrew

I hope they keep some of those mature trees on the edge of the site, it'd be a shame to lose them. They're very close to the road so it wouldn't be difficult to design around them.

Nowadays selected trees are required to be kept. Not sure about this site but I've heard that planning conditions can specify this to developers.

An example (taken by teh) is this mature tree at the new Commonwealth HDB flats:

[kurakura]

thats odd but thumbs up!

[Andrew]

That tree at Commonwealth could cause problems in a few years when roots start coming up through the pavement. It looks good though, and makes an otherwise fairly boring space quite pleasent. Perhaps they could put some benches around the tree as well, it'd be nice to sit in its shade.

[Maverick713]

Originally Posted by Andrew

That tree at Commonwealth could cause problems in a few years when roots start coming up through the pavement. It looks good though, and makes an otherwise fairly boring space quite pleasent. Perhaps they could put some benches around the tree as well, it'd be nice to sit in its shade.

This being such an old tree, the roots should have already been grown up to the max size. From the photo, I believe they built the pavement higher than the roots.

Looks nice I agreed.

[RafflesCity]

This will be a WoHa project it seems - hope for an interesting design that can really transform the entrance to Chinatown.

[klavah]

Found on Sato Kogyo SG's site:

[RafflesCity]

[redstone]

WTH is that?! Sorry, but the base is very ugly.

[ddes]

Wow. Something REALLY different. Wrong place though.

It'll be the "Ion Orchard" of Chinatown, something to really rejuvenate the place.

[redstone]

I would had expected something more... to context from WOHA. The red mesh facade is ok, the columns are fine, but not in black though. But the base....

It reminds me of contours (topo). This form idea would look better on a hilly site.

[RafflesCity]

If they wanted attention, they seem to have got it.

The curvy organic base instantly breaks up the predictable street grid and surrounding streetscape. There are also lots of spaces for greenery, responding to its location opposite Hong Lim Park. The red facade elements appear subtly 'Chinese', responding to the Chinatown context. At least its not gaudy and in-your-face like that Buddha Temple.

This could serve as an important landmark at the entrance to Chinatown and Raffles Place. It could have been horrible if the design was ordinary and safe as this is a large site (on the right of this pic).

image hosted on flickr

[glitz_boy]

hey ... i think WOHA's design so cool leh ...

[Baby]

Location good. Tourist can watch the speaker corner, and even get involved.

[spikeshamz]

I guess m the design every little details goes into place. Likewise the red means lucky and good luck for chinese. With its wire mesh design seems like a door an entrance to chinatown. The column is black means a dinstinctive character.The colour black was regarded as the colour of heaven in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). The saying "heaven and earth of mysterious black" was rooted in the feeling of ancient people that the northern sky shows a mysterious black colour for a long time.Therefore, black was regarded as the king of all colours in ancient China. It is also the single colour that was worshipped the longest time in ancient China. As for the contours of the base which looks like a mountain , they gave way to a solid foundation with years of history trying to start afresh. - those are my thinkings....

[darwisk]

Originally Posted by spikeshamz

I guess m the design every little details goes into place. Likewise the red means lucky and good luck for chinese. With its wire mesh design seems like a door an entrance to chinatown. The column is black means a dinstinctive character.The colour black was regarded as the colour of heaven in the Yi Jing (Book of Changes). The saying "heaven and earth of mysterious black" was rooted in the feeling of ancient people that the northern sky shows a mysterious black colour for a long time.Therefore, black was regarded as the king of all colours in ancient China. It is also the single colour that was worshipped the longest time in ancient China. As for the contours of the base which looks like a mountain , they gave way to a solid foundation with years of history trying to start afresh. - those are my thinkings....

Are you the architect ? That's a very detailed analysis, and it sounds really logical to me too. Well, this design is definitely eye-catching. It is now the time for Spore to catch up with overseas in terms of architecture creativity.

[august5]

Originally Posted by klavah

Found on Sato Kogyo SG's site:

Spooky... like some alien nest.

[nicholasliha]

i think its a great addition to the urban landscape. i think woha is starting a new trend of having 2 layer buildings; one layer that integrates with the raintree canopy that has taken over singapore, and another that stretches into the sky.

its interesting how they seem to be experimenting with form, texture and style. you can't say the same of our other esteemed architects.

[redstone]

Context wise....

[spikeshamz]

Originally Posted by darwisk

Are you the architect ? That's a very detailed analysis, and it sounds really logical to me too. Well, this design is definitely eye-catching. It is now the time for Spore to catch up with overseas in terms of architecture creativity.

No I am not. I am just someone that is very detailed. I love the design though. It will be a bonus for that area. Too much glass cladded office building.

[Andrew]

This is the first time I've seen that design, it looks fantastic. Is that the final approved design? What's the overall status of the development? Also, are there any other renders showing the whole building as well as some of the details?