Institutional

Melrose Village

Singapore

2019

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This project was an entry to a design competition for an integrated residential care and support facility for children and youth in need run by the Children’s Aid Society, located at Clementi Road.

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Concept - The Tree House Village
To maximize the area available on grade for landscaping, the residential and office portions of the brief are raised up above the ground.

The programme of the Activity Hub is strung out on grade between the residential towers with the landscaped roofs of the Activity Hub forming a second ground plane on which additional outdoor facilities are placed. 
 

The apartments are located at the western part of the site, away from busy Clementi Road.  There are two apartment towers - one for boys and one for girls.  Each apartment is located on a single floor to meet the programmatic request for segregation.  Apartments are oriented such that views from all habitable rooms are unblocked.  The living areas in each apartment face east towards the best views, while the bedrooms face either north or south to avoid direct insolation.  The locations of the bedrooms are mirrored at alternate floors, creating sky terraces for each apartment. 
 

All areas in the village are handicap-accessible and accessible toilets/bathrooms are provided at all apartments and public areas.  The apartment towers could be designed to allow for additional floors to be added in the future.

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Green Mark
Deep horizontal overhangs shield all windows at the apartments and offices.  In addition, operable sun-shading screens are provided at the east and west facing spaces.  All spaces are designed to be naturally ventilated.