The school of architecture at the National University of Singapore got a major face lift this year with a stunning & sustainable new academic home. The new building housing the School of Design & Environment (SDE) is climatically appropriate, well detailed, and connected with interesting communal spaces. Completed this year by Serie Architects (in conjunction with local partners Multiply & Surbana Jurong), this building is the first new-build net-zero energy building in Singapore.
Dramatically sheltered under an oversized cantilevered roof, this building was integrally conceived for the tropical environment. Beneath the canopy, the building continues to step back in a series of reversed terraces, providing further self-shading to the interiors.
Within the overall rectangular frame, the interior spaces are broken down into a jumble of internalised spaces. The interior spaces are almost fully glazed, taking advantage of the glare protection provided by ample shading and providing views of the surrounding greenery.
Mixed in throughout the building are a sequence of naturally ventilated public areas, generous communal circulation areas for casual use by the students in line with contemporary educational pedagogues.
One of the most interesting is an informal lecture theatre with steps formed by folding down a concrete slab, reminiscent of early work by OMA. The underside of the lecture theatre is visible from the open event plaza below and from adjacent communal terraces.
The material palette of the building is simple, raw off-form concrete and glass. Along the eastern and western facades which receive the most direct sunlight, a perforated corrugated gold facade tempers the tropical heat.
Perhaps most notably, the building is net-zero energy (the first new-build net-zero energy building in Singapore). 50% of the building is naturally ventilated. Air conditioned interior spaces utilise a low-energy hybrid cooling system.
Many of the interior spaces also have openable windows and ceiling fans to provide the option for the air con to be turned off. 1200 solar panels on the rooftop power the reduced power load of the building, resulting in a reported net-zero draw on the power grid.
Serie has designed a number of other fantastic projects in Singapore: the fantastic Punggol Oasis Terraces, almost-completed New State Courts Complex, 5 Science Park Drive, and is currently working on One Pearl Bank.
Images by Jonathan Choe
