Type

Private Commission

Location

HabourFront, Singapore

Programme

Heritage Trail and Gallery

Client

Mapletree

Timeline

06/2021 – 04/2022

AREA

1,122sqm

Consultant

Studio Lapis (Conservation Specialist)

Contractor

Kingsmen Exhibits Pte Ltd

Team

Yann Follain, Ruth Wong, Yi Heng Kuan, Jamie Ding (Tender)

Photos Credit

Mapletree

DISTINCTION

AWARD FOR CONSERVATION AND INNOVATION

A CONTINUATION OF HERITAGE & INNOVATION
Evidence-based approach to design defines the language and allows the new elements to merge with the existing fabric.

St James Power Station, a glorious industrial power house of Singapore is now a notable heritage icon in Singapore and a successful example of adaptive reuse. It is important to pay homage to the historical architecture while integrating the heritage trail and gallery with a renewed landscape and interior of the Dyson office. The design direction of the gallery aims to showcase the value of heritage through the legacy of its materials and artefacts.

Moving towards the future, it is pivotal to give the heritage a new lustre and patina. The use of corten steel for the outdoor interpretive panels is reminiscent of the distinctive red brick façade. New materials such as steel beams and granites are introduced to complement and enhance the site’s material palette. The interior design of the upper-level floor slabs in the Dyson office made use of layered wood and white painted finishes, which inspired the principle of cohesively layering and overlapping various materials in the indoor gallery. The L-wall of the gallery features a niche wall with various elements which curate the visitor’s journey into one that has layers of discovery and explorations.

The design intent is to craft a coherent visitor journey of discovery with clear navigation by connecting various themes through a simple and timeless spatial approach. Our evidence-based approach to design defines the design language to allow the new elements to merge with existing fabric, ensuring that the historical artefacts take precedence throughout the heritage trail. The intuitive access to information creates a seamless self-discovery route.

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