With the recent completion of two new projects in Singapore, UNStudio have put together a quick tour of their buildings in the city to date.
UNStudio began work in Singapore with the Ardmore Residence back in 2006 and since then has continued to design projects for the city. Below are photos and short descriptions detailing the driving design concepts behind each of these buildings. We start with the V on Shenton.
 

Description of project by UNStudio

Singapore is currently one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Although land reclamation has boosted the island’s size over the years, Singapore still faces significant density challenges.

Vertical expansion has for some time proved to be a solution for the efficient use of valuable urban land. However, it has recently become clear that such expansion can be further maximised through the introduction of large scale, holistic, mixed-use developments that offer round-the-clock programmes. In these developments working, living and leisure activities are catered for within single plots, ensuring maximal use of scarce land.  

V on Shenton
Located in the heart of Singapore's Central Business District, the former UIC Building dominated the city skyline as Singapore’s tallest building for many years following its completion in 1973 and formed part of an important collection of towers located along Shenton Way.

Recently the area has undergone a rejuvenation and transformation and V on Shenton - the new UIC building - forms part of this redevelopment. The mixed-use programming of V on Shenton presents a unique situation in this area of the city.

In addition to the office and residential programmes, the dual tower building houses a number of fully integrated sky gardens which provide panoramic 360 degree views of Singapore and house a variety of amenities - such as a fitness area, swimming pools and a children’s play area, with lush green vegetation providing fresher, cleaner air. These areas provide spaces for shared communal activities, or for the residents to entertain guests.

The most ample and diverse of the three sky gardens covers the entire 8th storey of the development. At the two sky lobbies in the heart of the residential tower, residents are given even greater privacy, combined with views of the city or the ocean from both the 24th and the 34th floors. The residents of the penthouse levels also have exclusive access to the outdoor roof terraces on the 53rd and 54th storeys.

On ground level, next to the office tower lobby, a large café forms the central meeting point for the public areas.

A response to context
The twin tower of ‘V on Shenton’ is comprised of a 23-storey office building and a 53-storey residential tower, with the dual programming of the building is highlighted through its massing.
The office tower responds to the scale of the surrounding buildings and to the street, while the residential tower rises up to distinguish itself from the neighbouring buildings. Above the upper sky lobby the unit mix of the residential tower changes with a subtle display of its split core. This separation also exhibits the natural ventilation concept of the tower which is further effected through ventilation slots next to the cores. Distinctive to V on Shenton, these slots are covered by facade cladding with openings for air circulation, resulting in a continuous, uninterrupted hexagonal facade pattern on the residential tower.

A family of patterns
Just as the office and residential towers are of the same family of forms, so do their facades originate from the same family of patterns. The basic shape of the hexagon is used to create patterns that increase the performance of the facades with angles and shading devices that are responsive to the climatic conditions of Singapore.

The office tower is based on a curtain wall module and an optimised number of panel types, recombined to create a signature pattern. In contrast, the residential facade is based on the stacks of unit types. The pattern of the residential facade is created by the incorporation of the residential programme (balcony, bay window, planter and a/c ledge) and the combination of one and two storey high modules with systematic material variations. These geometric panels add texture and cohesion to the building, whilst reflecting light and pocketing shade. The texture and volume of the facade are important to maintaining the comfort of those living and working in the residential and office buildings. Shading devices and high-performance glass are important for developing a sustainable and liveable facade.

Each tower is framed by ‘chamfers’; a line that unifies the composition of the residential tower, the office tower and the plinth. During daytime the chamfer appears smooth in contrast to the textured surfaces of the towers. At night the chamfer lights up as a continuous line framing the towers, car park and sky gardens. The chamfers at the North end of the office tower also open up the corners to views of Marina Bay, Buket Timah Hill and the Central Business District.

Lobbies On the ground floor of the development stainless steel lines are inlaid into the floor, lines of light in the ceilings emphasise common areas, vertical lamellas clad the car ramps and together these form the guiding principles for pedestrians to their destination.

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Architects
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UNStudio.- Ben van Berkel, Astrid Piber with Nuno Almeida and Ariane Stracke, Cristina Bolis; Derrick Diporedjo, Enrique Lopez, Gustav Fagerström, Hal Wuertz, Jaap Baselmans, Jaap-Willem Kleijwegt, Jae Young Lee, Jay Williams, Jeong Eun Choi, Juliane Maier, Martin Zangerl, Patrick Kohl, René Rijkers, Rob Henderson, Stefano Rocchetti, Sander Versluis, Tiia Vahula, Wing Tang
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Advisors
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Local Architect.-. Architects 61 Pte Ltd. Structural engineer.- DE Consultants (S) Pte Ltd. M&E consultant.- J Roger Preston (S) Pte Ltd. Quantity surveyor.- KPK Quantity Surveyors
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Client
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UIC Investments (Properties) Pte Ltd
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Measures
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Building surface.- 85.507 m². Building volume.- residential tower 237m height; office tower 123m height. Building site.- 6778 m²
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Venue
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No. 5 Shenton Way, UIC Building, Singapore
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UNStudio, founded in 1988 by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, is a Dutch architectural design studio specialising in architecture, interior architecture, product design, urban development and infrastructural projects. The name, UNStudio, stands for United Network Studio referring to the collaborative nature of the practice.

Throughout 30 years of international project experience, UNStudio has continually expanded its capabilities through prolonged collaboration with an extended network of international consultants, partners, and advisors across the globe. This network, combined with the centrally located offices in Amsterdam, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Frankfurt, enables UNStudio to work efficiently anywhere in the world. With already 120 built projects in Asia, Europe, and North America, the studio continues to expand its global presence with recent commissions in among others China, South-Korea, Qatar, Germany and the UK.

As a network practice, a highly flexible methodological approach has been developed which incorporates parametric designing and collaborations with leading specialists in other disciplines. The office has worked internationally since its inception and has produced a wide range of work ranging from public buildings, infrastructure, offices, residential, products, to urban masterplans.

Current projects include the design for Doha's Integrated Metro Network in Qatar, the mixed-use FOUR development in Frankfurt, the wasl Tower in Dubai and the Southbank by Beulah development in Melbourne. Pivotal realised projects include the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Arnhem Central Station, Raffles City Hangzhou in China, the Mobius House in the Netherlands and the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. UNStudio has received many awards, the last ones being Red Dot Award product design (2013), Media Architecture Award (2012), National Steel Prize (2012) and 28th International Lighting Design Awards Collector’s Loft (2012).

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Published on: November 28, 2018
Cite: "[I] Completion of V on Shenton Tower by UNStudio" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/i-completion-v-shenton-tower-unstudio> ISSN 1139-6415
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