Archive for category: Misc

Tang Kok Thye, an associate partner of ADDP Architects, has long been a proponent of sustainability. He is now serving a two-year term as president of the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC), a non-profit organisation that pushes for sustainable built environments in Singapore. Furthermore, he was appointed to the board of the SGBC in March 2021 when the Singapore Green Building Master Plan was released, aligning with SGBC’s vision, which is part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

Meanwhile, the Tampines Ave 11 Condo by Capitaland is situated right next to the Tampines East MRT Station, making commuting hassle-free and convenient for the residents. These efficient transport links ensure the residents of Tampines Ave 11 Condo never have to worry about getting around in Singapore.

In addition to his role at the SGBC, Tang is a part of the 2021 EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards judging panel. This year’s awards centred around sustainability, a focusedTang has been passionate about for many years. He is committed to advocating the highest standards of sustainability to his developer clients, working towards BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Building rating.

In light of the Innovations theme, Capitaland Ascott Trust’s 324-unit lyf one-north at Nepal Park was a stand-out project. The precast concrete building featured sun-shading ledges and fins to reduce façade solar heat gain, as well as windows inspired by washing machines, giving the design a unique touch.

Two other noteworthy projects were Terra Hill at Pasir Panjang in the south and The Continuum at Thiam Siew Avenue in the east. Jointly developed by Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments, they both achieved the BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Building rating and were recognised for their sustainability by winning the inaugural Top Sustainability Developer award by CPG Corp.

Tang was amazed by the shape of the Terra Hill blocks that hug the contours of the sloping site terrain, all with a north-south orientation, enabling cross ventilation and unblocked views. He was also satisfied with the use of the space in the 4 and 5 bedroom units which had top-of-the-line appliances and amenities. The Continuum, situated on two parallel plots separated by Thiam Siew Avenue, and connected by an overhead bridge, was a particular highlight for Tang. The challenge of simply getting 816 units to work on such a split site was commendable.

ADDP has long been innovating in the sustainability field, designing the 638-unit executive condo, The Brownstone by City Developments (CDL) in 2017, the first large-scale residential project utilising the prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) method. Although this technique is not required in en bloc sales, ADDP continued its experimentation, utilising PPVC at the 716-unit Whistler Grand by CDL. This allowed the project to be raised to 10 metres above ground freeing up room for landscaping and communal facilities, as well as the introduction of two sky terraces with quadruple-volume ceilings on the 24th and 30th storeys of the twin towers.

The Blossoms by the Park, designed by ADDP, faced the challenge of having a pedestrian thoroughfare running down the site, leading to a one-north public park. Utilising the sloping terrain, the team turned this into a feature, creating a terraced facilities deck on the second level with a public plaza and landscaped pedestrian pathway on the first.

The final multiple award winner was GuocoLand’s Lentor Modern, also designed using PPVC. The 605 unit development has a mixed-use podium at the front of the public plaza and is the only project integrated with the Lentor MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Furthermore, to be sensitive to its surroundings, the reflective glass surfaces were reduced, preventing birds from flying into them.

It is clear that Tang Kok Thye is leading the way in advocating for sustainable practices and the use of PPVC in the built environment. With a constantly evolving field, it will be exciting to see what new innovations come out of his work in the near future.