WOHA has a history of work in hospitality and residential developments. Why did it participate in the design competition for Kampung Admiralty, a mixed-used public housing development for seniors?

Pearl Chee (PC): We are interested to see how we can develop and adapt our design strategies – particularly tropical design – to projects of different scales; and how design can bring positive and far-reaching impact to our urban spaces in the public realm. By applying tropical strategies learnt from traditional vernacular architecture to modern buildings and urbanised environment, they become more responsive to the climate we live in.

The brief for Kampung Admiralty was very unique because of the mix of programmes. It integrated housing for seniors with healthcare, retail and public spaces as well as transport nodes. We weaved the programmes together using a series of social public spaces and greenery within the building, which were not in the client’s original brief.

As the first such facility in Singapore, how did the team approach the project without having a precedent?

PC: We did it through research and discussions with the client, who was represented by a multi-agency steering committee. We started with the question of where and how to start “active ageing” as we often only begin to take care of our seniors when they are already old and weak. In this project, we addressed how to keep our seniors active and independent as they get older. Kampung Admiralty was designed as an infrastructure to support a variety of programmes and encounters that could help seniors stay active and healthy.

Kampung Admiralty combines various programmes that are traditionally operated in silos by different state agencies in Singapore. How did WOHA work together with the project’s different stakeholders?

PC: It was a rigorous process of engaging the stakeholders who represented seven government agencies. One of the key goals was efficient land use by integration, instead of separately building them and taking up more land. Along the way, we helped agencies find the most optimal design of layering these uses across the building without compromising their operation and safety to users. We are very thankful that the steering committee stayed united to the vision and helped all stakeholders work together.

One example of how we helped resolve the conflicting requests by design was deciding what programmes would work well on the public ground level as opposed to the upper levels. The ground level is designed to be a porous community plaza bustling with retailers and a hawker centre overlooking it. In contrast, the preschool, childcare and senior care centres are located on the upper levels which are surrounded by landscaping. The open sky gardens provide outdoor spaces for children and elderly from the care centres. They also act as a safe space during an emergency.

The community plaza has also attracted residents from the surrounding residential neighbourhood and has become the heart of Kampung Admiralty. Why did WOHA push for this public space even though it was not in the brief?

PC: The community plaza is both a strategic public space that links people to the neighbouring MRT station and a social gathering space. The covered yet open-sided plaza is made for our tropical weather. Big events such as National Day dinners and community celebrations can take place whether rain or shine, removing the need for temporary and costly tentage. The design also gives residents from the surrounding HDB flats convenient access to the MRT station. The community plaza is breezy and cool most of the time, attracting many to gather or rest. When Kampung Admiralty first opened, it was fully booked on the weekends for community events.

As cities become denser, it is important to create public amenities intentionally and meaningfully. Public spaces should be well integrated with our everyday lives for them to be inviting. The COVID-19 pandemic has also shown how important it is to have public spaces near our homes.

The complex also incorporates biophilic design. How does its lush greenery serve its residents and enhance the neighbourhood?

PC: With every development, we endeavour to enhance our green footprint and give back what we lost.

The greenery in this building does a few things. On the rooftop, it insulates the building and keeps it cool. Landscaped sky gardens are part of the corridor, lobby and the different programmes that residents walk into and enjoy. For instance, the medical centre waiting area was designed to surround a garden courtyard to calm patients who may feel anxious.

The greenery has also yielded good biodiversity. Among the plant species are edible greens, some of which used to be found in kampungs and are familiar to the senior residents. The urban farm has attracted volunteers from the residents of Kampung Admiralty as well as those living in the neighbourhood. The harvested greens are cooked and shared at the senior care centre on a regular basis.

The greenery has also yielded good biodiversity. Among the plant species are edible greens, some of which used to be found in kampungs and are familiar to the senior residents. The urban farm has attracted volunteers from the residents of Kampung Admiralty as well as those living in the neighbourhood. The harvested greens are cooked and shared at the senior care centre on a regular basis.

Since its completion in 2017, Kampung Admiralty has won many awards and been hailed by the Prime Minister of Singapore as a “model for future public housing”. What can others learn from it?

PC: The success comes from the mix of programmes that supports ageing-in-place, and the holistic integration of both the hardware (building) and the software (user programmes). Since ageing is a global issue, we have hosted many diverse groups – developers, government agencies, academics, practitioners – both locally and overseas. I think Kampung Admiralty is certainly a relevant prototype for many cities with ageing societies.

Kampung Admiralty also shows how we can overcome land scarcity in a purposeful way. Visitors are impressed by how the upper levels, with its open and interconnected sky gardens, are designed to feel as if one is on the ground level. We commissioned our own biodiversity survey to assess the greenery in the development. Compared to a nearby ground level park of the same size, Kampung Admiralty has done better in supporting a diverse number of species. A building like this not only gives residents a new development but also a park. It is a good model for how a high density development can bring nature back into the city.