Nature’s Atelier | Masters Design Thesis on Regenerative Architecture

Site Context

The project is located in the SICC Golf Course, which is large enough in space to accommodate a new estate and has enough vacant land to allow for the creation of new public housing. More significantly, wildlife has easy access to the site because it is adjacent to Singapore’s Central Catchment Area, a forested area teeming with countless species of flora and fauna.

Design Process

The master plan takes a systematic approach to introducing the necessary vegetation first, building the lower levels of the blocks next, and then letting wildlife into the site. This prevents potential disruption to the ground-dwelling species.

In order to establish a starting point from which the maximum number of units could be calculated, the block design process began with calculating the GFA of a selected mini-site within the golf course. After that, these units are arrayed and arranged.

The design of the units is more intimate, and the physical capabilities of the animals are taken into account to establish a new type of boundary that does not rely on actual walls and glass. Only when we dissolve the current rigid boundaries between humans and wildlife will we be able to coexist peacefully.

Final Outcome

The project’s central theme is rewilding, which seeks to merge human and wildlife habitats for true coexistence. It aims to restore habitats that were previously destroyed by human activity. In this context, coexistence means allowing wildlife to live close to humans, where they can be observed from homes and streets.

The project is divided into three main components. The first component is an estate masterplan that prioritizes wildlife, ensuring their habitats are integrated into the overall design. The second component involves creating a new block typology that accommodates both wildlife and people, facilitating shared spaces and interactions. The third component focuses on individual units, where intimate interactions with wildlife are more pronounced.

The units’ random arrangement within clusters and corridors draws inspiration from the forest’s natural structure, enabling the blocks to become naturally blended in. Going a step further, distinct programmes are developed for every block segment by incorporating the features of the forest’s understory, canopy, and emergent layers. Additionally, different wildlife species are housed in each section, which results in the spaces being curated differently according to sections.  

Conclusion: Overall, the project promotes ecological harmony by fostering a symbiotic relationship between humans and wildlife, enhancing biodiversity, and providing a unique living experience that reconnects residents with nature.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]