Farrer Court, Singapore

Published: 08-Jun-2009

When a multinational company changed offices, it used the opportunity to not only re-brand but also re-present the company's core activity - mining - through the choice of materials used.

Key facts

PROJECT: Farrer Court, Tanglin, Singapore
DESIGNER: Zaha Hadid (ZHA)
CLIENT: CapitaLand, Singapore
COST: £1.1 billion
COMPLETION TIME: 2010

Project description

Zaha Hadid designed Farrer Court project in Singapore is the largest residential development in Singapore’s history. The $3 billion (approx £1.1 billion) development comprises seven 150 meter high, 36 storey residential towers and 12 villas on a 838,488 square feet site at Farrer Road, Singapore.

Set in gardens and subdivided into a number of ‘petals’, the project is developed by a CapitaLand-led consortium; other partners include Hotel Properties Limited, Morgan Stanley Real Estate Special Situations Fund III, L.P. and Wachovia Development Corporation. Singapore architecture and engineering firm RSP was also involved in the design.
The site of Farrer Court is located in a strategic position within the residential area of Singapore, close to the amenities of Holland Road and the future MRT station. The lack of high rise buildings in the surroundings and close connection to the main traffic route of Farrer Road, make this a highly visible site within the city.

The unique feature of this development is an open and textured landscape with privacy in the gardens, offered by minimum tower footprint. The buildings are oriented and placed in such a manner, as to generate a complex level of diversity across the development. It also optimizes the views in relation to the local environment, which includes Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore Botanic Gardens, MacRitchie Reservoir and the Orchard Road city skyline.

The seven towers included in the plan visually grow from sunken private gardens within the site landscape. The lower floors kink in, highlighting the point where buildings meet the ground, creating a greater open area. The towers are subdivided into petals according to the number of residential units per floor. The vertical cuts give an expression of three dimensions to the petals, defining the buildings’ façade as well as allowing for cross ventilation of most flats. 

The top of the buildings culminate with a series of fingers stepped at different levels, blending the transition between the architectural fabric and the sky. The careful use of balconies and façade paneling in a combination of similar towers create great diversity across the development.

The buildings occupy a total floor space of 220,000 square meter, with a basement area of 70,000 square meter. They feature around 1,500 units ranging from two to four bedrooms, as well as over 30 garden units and penthouses. Amenities include two large swimming pools, children and relaxation pools, two clubhouses and a series of party houses, as well as outdoor fitness facilities.

According to the project architect Viviana Muscettola, lateral stability of the core is the biggest engineering challenge of designing a slender building of this 'wine glass' shape. The challenge was addressed in early stages of design process with the use of structural walls perpendicular to the core. Edge columns wrap the individual petals and are tied back to the core.

The structural system will be concrete based. The elevations of the tower will be glazed to allow for panoramic view from the site towards the surrounding areas.

The ground landscape level is visualized as a very green layer, emphasizing the presence of florid vegetation in the Singapore’s climate. The site levels are rearranged into a series of terraced plateaus to maximise the area dedicated to communal site amenities. Consultation on the landscaping was provided by GROSS.MAX. from Edinburgh, with local architects ICN contracted to carry out the design.

Project Suppliers

Max Fordham, London (Concept) - www.maxfordham.com
GROSS.MAX. Edinburgh (Concept) - www.grossmax.com
RSP, Singapore - www.rsp.com.sg
Maunsell, Singapore - www.maunsell.aecom.com
BECA, Singapore - www.beca.co.nz
ICN, Singapore - 
DLS, Singapore - www.dlsqs.com

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