THE

SHOPPING
ISSUE

A CONTEXTUAL MALL AS A NEW

MODEL OF SUBURBAN MALL

SOHO @
PODOMORO CITY

INDUSTRY
DP ARCHITECTS AT

IN DETAIL

I12 KATONG

REINTERPRETING THE MIXED-USE

PATTERN OF JAKARTA

WORLD ARCHITECTURE WISMA ATRIA

REGENERATION AND RETROFITTING
FESTIVAL

VOLUME 3
NUMBER 4
2012
SINGAPORE

www.dpa.com.sg

IN DEPTH

MICA (P) 012/10/2012

IN DEPTH

Vo l u m e 3 N u m b e r 4 , 2 0 1 2 , S i n g a p o re

CONTENTS
Letter from the Guest Editor

The latest happenings in DP

Dear Readers,
As we head towards the season of year-end shopping and gift-giving, we
dedicate this issue of Design in Print to the pleasures of retail and shopping.
This issue covers our recent retail projects in Singapore, Jakarta, Istanbul and
Doha, and illustrates how we have contributed to the retail landscape in these
cities. The In Person section features eight talented DPians who are behind
some of our key retail projects; they share with you their professional and
personal views on shopping.
For the cover of this issue, we have chosen to feature Wisma Atria which
recently unveiled its new faade in September. We have had the good fortune
to design this shopping centre for the third time in 26 years, and with each
change, we have spearheaded the evolution and trend of retail design.
Wisma Atria, one of the eight projects documented in our latest book, DP
Architects on Orchard Road: Evolution of a Retail Streetscape, brings to mind
the many achievements that our Publication Team has made this year. The
book on Orchard Road presents our on-going commitment in shaping this
renowned shopping street and was launched at the World Architecture Festival
in October. Early this year, we released our monograph, The Master Architect
Series: DP Architects, putting in perspective over forty years of the firms
works. This was followed by the June release of our second publication, The
Dubai Mall: Sand to Spectacle, which explores the design and construction of
our largest and most complex project to date. These three books celebrate
the culmination of many years of dedication and hard work by the project
teams; we present these works and their efforts with great pride.
We have reached the end of another fulfilling year and we hope you enjoy
our final Design in Print for 2012. Heres wishing you all the blessings of the
season and may you enjoy memorable experiences ushering in the New Year.
Angelene Chan, Director, DP Architects Pte Ltd

BluePrint 2012
DP Architects on Orchard Road Book Launch

Short takes on new & notable projects

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

eCO
Jardin
The Beverly
Floridian
Singapore Cruise Centre
River Safari
The Heeren
One Prime
Kuningan City

Featured projects

I12 Katong
Doha Festival City Mall
Boulevardi Mall
SOHO @ Podomoro City
Design solutions

Wisma Atria
Architecture issues

Retail Thinking: A Circular Evolution

Awards & events

World Architecture Festival

ArchiTours 2012
Fte des Lumires 2012
Newly Registered Architects
DP personalities

Chan Hui Min

Nartano Lim

Leong Wei Lin

Mandy Too
Toh Bee Ping
Tong Tong

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

Celebration of past projects

Tanglin Shopping Centre, 1970/1978

Graphics

Writing

Editorial

Retail Experiences

Loh Yew Cheng

Lek Noonchoo
Fu Tingting

Additional contributor: Jackie Poh

Cover photo: Wisma Atria, Singapore

| The latest happenings in DP

DP BluePrint 2012

PAST PRESENT PERFECT

Book Launch

DP ARCHITECTS ON
ORCHARD ROAD
DP Architects launched its latest publication DP Architects on Orchard
Road: Evolution of a Retail Streetscape at the recent World Architecture
Festival held on 3-5 October 2012. The book documents the history of
Orchard Road and presents a selection of retail shopping centres by
DP Architects completed between 2003 and 2012.
See page DP25 for more about DPA at WAF.

DPs annual corporate event,

BluePrint, was held at Rock
Auditorium on 10 September
2012. Following this years
theme of Past Present Perfect,
the event began with a chronicle
of DPs history by Chairman
Mr Chan Sui Him. Mr Chans presentation provided a constructive
back story to the success of DP today. CEO Francis Lee took on the
Present and addressed the achievements of the firm since its 2010
Strategic Plan. With the firms 50th year in 2017 in sight, he ended
his presentation with an important message to work with Purpose,
Hunger and Drive. Looking forward, directors Ms Angelene Chan,
Mr Wu Tzu Chiang and Mr Teoh Hai Pin expanded on the firms plans
and targets for 2017.

residential

| Short takes on new & notable projects

01

eCO

Singapore

Located along Bedok South Avenue 3, eCO is a residential

development that covers an area of 28,644 sqm and offers
748 units with five lifestyle typologies. As one of the largest
residential developments since the implementation of the
Developers Act (Amendment) 2012, its sales gallery and show
units are also among the first to be formally audited by URA
for compliance.
The five housing alternatives Condominium, Loft, SOHO,
Suite and Townhouse address a variety of lifestyle needs in
a singular development. eCO has several unique site features
including a 12m high slope that cuts across the centre of the
site and 18 conserved trees that must be maintained as part
of the land sales conditions. The townhouses line the site in
an east-west orientation, commanding sweeping views of the
greenery below, while the rest of the towers are orientated in
the north-south direction with extensive pool facilities. All five
residential types enjoy the rich tropical landscape and beautiful
outdoor environment.
Located at a transitory space in between HDB estates
and private landed properties, the project was submitted
for Provisional Permission at a time when new strata sales
guidelines involving townhouses were being announced. In
spite of the ensuing four-week submission delay, this project
moved from Provisional to Building Plan submission and
Strata Approval within six months. The project was launched
twelve hours after strata application was approved.

DP 01

Short takes on new & notable projects

02 Jardin

Singapore

residential

03 The Beverly
Singapore

The Beverly is a five-storey residential development comprising two blocks

of 118 two to four-bedroom apartments. A modern interpretation of the
tropical ambience characterise this development. The elevations architectural
expression of horizontality and fragmented planes is achieved with planters

Jardin uses the high-rise greenery concept to great effect and bestows
a visual treat. A landscaped berm raises the building dramatically,
providing a buffer from the main road. The building is also set back
by terraces of green, filtering away the noise and view of the main
road. Various vertical spaces, such as lift lobby walls and columns
are clad with plants to enhance the garden-like quality and reduce
building temperatures. At alternate levels, garden projects extending
from the loft units serve as communal green balconies, providing
shade as well as connecting the units living spaces. The roof top has
a clubhouse and recreation garden with a series of event pavilions,
providing panoramic views of the surroundings.

residential

punctuating the vertical elements. The 45m-long faade wall fronting Toh Tuck
Road gives the development a definitive identity and unites the facing blocks.
On every floor, a single lift core serves two units; each with a private lobby.
Each unit opens to adjacent living and dining areas that extend into the
generous balcony. All units are oriented to capture the best views. Each
fifth storey unit has a roof terrace with a raised timber deck and a private
swimming pool. The majority of the first storey units enjoy an attached
self-sufficient basement unit complete with pantry.
residential

04

Floridian
Singapore

A condominium along Bukit Timah Road, Floridian recreates the coastal

lifestyle of Miami, Florida. The ground level is designed to minimise
vehicular traffic and display a rich interplay of lush greenery, recreational
landscape and water features. The extensive water bodies along the
spine of the development is a key feature, with ground floor units enjoying
the luxury of water lapping right outside their living and dining spaces.
The architectural language is one of modern tropical living,
characterised by clean, simple lines and a rich palette of materials.
Sleek fenestration pattern mixes with warm textured screens to give
different layers of architectural readings.

infrastructure

05

Singapore Cruise Centre

Singapore

The design of the Singapore Cruise Centre addition and alteration

introduces multiple back-lit elements in the column cladding,
feature ceilings and feature walls, utilising nature motifs such as
leaves, flora and branches. Varying shades of granite create a
contemporary character, and the continuity of pattern throughout
contributed to the feel of a larger expanse of space. Green
elements include a 20-metre long, full-height green wall to
separate the arrival immigration and baggage collection area,
as well as artificial landscaping in the atrium.
The design catered for a 25% increase in operation space for
embarking and disembarking passengers, and consolidated the
arrival immigration area for both cruise and ferry passengers. The
re-configuration of space allowed for the addition of a secondary
cruise check-in, integration of F&B and retail units, and almost
doubled the existing waiting hall for ferry passengers.

06

River Safari
Singapore

recreational

River Safari is Asias first and only river-themed wildlife attraction

situated between Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. The wildlife
park features flora and fauna from eight famous rivers Amazon,
Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Murray, Mekong and Yangtze
in a naturalistic landscape. The park brings together the best in
zoological architecture and design, with state-of-the-art exhibit
artistry and technology to give visitors an immersive experience.
Rated Green Mark Platinum, the first for a park, River Safari
is designed and developed with great concern for the
environment, particularly in the Mandai Nature Reserve and
Upper Seletar Reservoir area where the park is situated. Exhibit
levels are designed to suit the existing terrain profile. Elevated
boardwalks serve as connectors between exhibits to minimise
the impact to existing grounds while allowing plants under the
shade to grow and animals to traverse.

With retailer Robinsons as the new tenant, The Heerens facelift will transform
the existing urban verandah into an attractive modern departmental store
that will significantly enhance the liveliness of the Orchard Road shopping
district. The idea and principle of a jewel box as an urban window allows
an interactive display of merchandise and activities of the store. The urban
window is articulated with a series of Mondrian-inspired modern, expressive,
transparent pop-out boxes. In contrast to the jewel box approach on Level
3, 4 and 5, Levels 1 and 2 have a seamless clear faade that allows the
corridor space on the low levels to blend into the interior space. To celebrate
the fashion-oriented departmental store, an abstract red carpet and catwalk
gesture connecting the bus stop to the main entrance will be introduced.

08
China

Singapore

One Prime

07

The Heeren

mixed-development

retail

Located at prime location Sichuan North Road in Hongkou District,

Shanghai, this project is an addition and alteration of a building
comprising an office tower and retail podium. The design provides a
new and bold identity to the exterior and interior of both components.
Inspired by the treasure box of Qing Dynasty emperors, One Prime
employs a lively architectural language and a double-skin fritted glass
curtain wall to wrap the retail podium with a jewel-like facade. The
faade has over 30,000 LED modules that dramatically transform the
retail podium into a highly animated, ever-changing feature at night.
The faade partially wraps over the podium roof and turns the rooftop
M&E equipment area into a design feature an elevated garden that
serves to screen the services and provide an urban leisure space.

Indonesia

Kuningan City is an integrated mixed-use development that comprises retail,

office and residential components. The long site creates opportunity for maximum
exposure of the commercial components. The residential towers are placed on
the more tranquil end of the site, facing the low-rise residential areas and giving
residents the much needed privacy. The 165m-long mall has been strategically
zoned, providing clear circulation and optimum visibility for each retail space. The
malls continuous four season-themed linear atriums, each with a distinct ambience,
are arranged to enhance shoppers experience. The 41-storey office tower, standing
at 195m, serves as a subtle advertisement for the entire development. The simple
shape corresponds to the organic forms of the retail podium.

mixed-development

09

Kuningan City

DP 03

Featured projects

I12 KATONG
A CONTEXTUAL MALL AS A NEW
MODEL OF SUBURBAN MALL
By Tong Tong
1
2
3
4

YEAR: 2011

AREA: 26,200 SQM

SINGAPORE

I12 KATONG IS PERHAPS

ONE OF THE FEW
SHOPPING MALLS
THAT IS SENSITIVE AND
RESPONSIVE TO ITS
CONTEXT IN SINGAPORE
It is essential to judge I12 Katong on its merits
by seeing it in a historical context. In 1980, DP
Architects designed Katong Peoples Complex.
Thirty years later, DPA had an opportunity to
revisit the site, and reinterpreted the same
idea and transformed the building into a new
model of suburban mall. In his discussion of
the evolution of I12 Katong, Mr Chan Sui Him,
Chairman of DPA, argues that there are three
factors which contribute to the success of
any shopping centre: location, management
strategy and design.
I12 Katong is perhaps one of the few shopping
malls that is sensitive and responsive to its
context in Singapore. This six-floor revamped
project, with new amenities such as a cinema
and a roof garden, accommodates a variety of
dining, shopping and entertainment choices
which were previously found only in the
traditional city shopping district. Unlike the
conventional modern shopping mall, whose
design tends to be inward-facing, I12 Katong is
porous to connect with its surroundings. The
design team aimed to create a unique addition to
the existing vibrant and walkable neighbourhood
while respecting its history and character.

I12 Katong is sited at the intersection of two

primary roads Joo Chiat Road and East
Coast Road in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood,

the historical centre of Katong. As the first

national heritage conservation area, its urban
and architectural character traces its origin
back to the early 20th century, when significant
Peranakan and Eurasian populations moved into
Joo Chiat area alongside the Chinese, Malay
and Indian communities. The uniqueness and
multi-ethnic influences of the Joo Chiat area are
expressed in the street life and architecture. It is
best known for the colourful rows of traditional
Peranakan shophouses with the covered
five-foot way running continuously along the
streets. As the name suggests, the walkways
are five feet across, providing not only a covered
walkway to shield pedestrians from the sun and
the rain, but also functioning as a semi-public
permeable space where people gather to eat,
drink and chat.

The series of sketches

shows how I12 Katong
is experienced as
visitors approach along
Joo Chiat Road.
Far left:
Katong Peoples
Complex, 1980s.

DP 05

Right: Longitudinal
section.
Below: Elevation along
Joo Chiat Road.

Featured projects

Team Members
Chan Sui Him,
(right to left)
James Soo,
Pang Mung Ching &
Carlo Magallanes Calleja.

Above: Elevation facing

East Coast Road.
Left: On the ground
level, the recessed
faades provide shade
and is reminiscent of the
five-foot way.

In keeping with the historical flavour, I12

Katong introduces a series of outdoor dining
terraces along the Joo Chiat Road faade as
an intermediate space between exterior and
interior, where the activities inside spill out onto
the sidewalk and become part of the street life
and vice versa. On the ground level, the faades
along the two main roads are also recessed
to provide shade for residents shopping in the
afternoons, echoing the five-foot way of the
surroundings. For the visitor, I12 Katong is first
experienced from the intersection of two main
roads, where the public transportation networks
converge. The new entrance lobby is carved
diagonally at the corner of the intersection,
permitting the creation of a public square.
The much improved open, public space is
conceived as an outdoor relief space at the
road junction and plays a significant role in

the reorganisation of the flow and perception

of urban space. Deriving its scale from the
existing three-storey shophouses, the building
is stepped back as it rises. Visible are only
the three-floor transparent curved curtain wall
with strips of abstract imprints of Peranakan
tiles when the visitor approaches from the road
junction. This building is individually articulated
towards each side, and the dimensions and
scale are tailored to its adjacent buildings. The
elevation presents a new identity expressed in
glass curtain wall along East Coast Road, while
the faade along Joo Chiat Road reflects the
characteristic rhythm of existing shophouses,
which is modulated into human-scale intervals.
The abstraction of Peranakan pattern is
a recurring theme in this project, and the
elaborate patterns are also found on the floor
finishing and ceilings.
DP 07

Right: The introduced

diagonal beams eliminate
unnecessary columns
between the bays above
the parking levels,
leading to a more open
and flexible retail layout.
The escalator provides
uninterrupted pedestrian
flow from the street level
to the upper levels.
Below: The only
remaining column in the
atrium is reinforced as a

Featured projects

I12 KATONG HAS

BECOME MORE THAN
A RETAIL PLACE
FOR THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY INVITING
AND PERMEABLE, BUT
WITHOUT LOSING ITS
CONNECTION TO THE
SURROUNDING

glowing feature tree.

It is interesting to note that there are many

aspects of this project that stem from Centre
Pompidou in Paris, designed by Renzo Piano and
Richard Rogers in 1977. The original scheme of
I12 Katong, completed by DP Architects in 1983
and known then as Katong Peoples Complex,
was inspired by Centre Pompidou where half
of the site was left as an open public square for
exhibitions and visual happenings, meetings, etc.
Like that of the famed Parisian gallery, the newly
created public square of I12 Katong connects
the picturesque street life and culture along Joo
Chiat Road, where the dynamic social activities
flow into the square.
The second architectural strategy of Centre
Pompidou involved the decision to place
structure and services on the outside which was
driven by the need for internal flexibility, providing
huge expanses of uninterrupted space on open
floors for exhibitions. In the case of I12 Katong,
the architects have reconsidered the solutions to
increase the tenantable area, providing maximum
internal flexibility and future adaptability. The
modified design introduces diagonal beams and
eliminates unnecessary columns between the
bays above the parking levels, leading to a more
open and flexible retail layout. The only remaining
column in the atrium is reinforced as a glowing
feature tree, an installation that branches out
from the central column with a subdued lighting
that echoes daylight shining through foliage. It
creates an effect reminiscent of a common tree
in a Peranakan house courtyard.

A case could be made that the design of I12

Katong incorporates a contemporary take on
the piano nobile, which is the principal floor of a
large house in classical renaissance architecture.
The escalator cutting across the front of the
curved curtain wall at the entrance provides
uninterrupted pedestrian flow from the street
level to the atrium at the second level. The
continuous escalator that weaves throughout the
building facilitates easy access from the street
level to the upper levels. Here the piano nobile
has been reinterpreted in the scheme to place
emphasis on the importance of the second floor,
while the entire ground storey is reserved for
retail purpose. As a result, even though its gross
floor area is relatively unchanged at 282,000 sq
ft after redevelopment, its net leasable area rises
greatly, from 172,170 sq ft to over 212,600 sq ft.
As a site steeped in history, I12 Katong features
two levels of interpretation: an urban space
that encourages encounters in an area where
various ethnic groups intermingle; a building
that responds to the particular features of
the site, such as the height, scale, material

and shading requirements, knitting together the

interior and exterior.

Top: Third-floor outdoor

dining terrace.
Above: First-floor
outdoor dining terrace
with Peranakan
patterns.

As an alternative to the CBD and other concentrations

such as Orchard Road and Bugis, I12 Katong
has become more than a retail place for the local
community inviting and permeable, but without
losing its connection to the surroundings. Devoid of
the associated negatives such as traffic congestion
and overcrowding, suburban malls like I12 Katong
have evolved outside the traditional shopping belts
in Singapore to offer shoppers an attractive and
unique urban experience closer to home.
DP 09

Featured projects

DOHA FESTIVAL
CITY MALL
RESPONDING TO THE
DESERT LANDSCAPE

By Mandy Too

Team Members
Top picture:
(standing left to right)
John Alejandro,
Taufiq Rusdi,
Alfi Syahrifat,

Bottom picture:

Rahmanto Dharma,

(standing)

Dimas Satria,

Corazon Visayana,

Ahmmad Trisyarahman,

Dettamole Jose,

Toh Sze Chong,

Norazizah Hassein,

Clyde Uriarte,

May Chan,

Dzulkifli Noor,

Tala Kammourieh,

Daniel Floresca,

Sonya Kundi,

Naga P Marimuthu,

Veronica Galleta Antones,

Nugraha Irsan,

(sitting)

(sitting)

Loven Tolentino,

Anna Narciso,

Ramasamy

Maureen Suryani,

Chandrasekaran,

Dania Siska,

Patrick Deno Bonotan

Tan Cheng Pei,

Desamparado,

Anastasia Widyaningsih

Gregorio Mesoga,

& Peach Phiengphis

Satish Rajan &

Phinichrungruengkri

Satrio Utomo Dradjat

Doha Festival City is an up and coming

commercial development sitting on some 43
hectares located about 15km north of the
downtown district. Doha, much like its wellknown Middle Eastern counterpart Dubai,
embodies a mix of traditional Arab customs
with modern lifestyle and is slowly evolving
into a metropolis of the Arabian Gulf region.
Doha Festival City comprises a retail and
entertainment hub complete with hospitality
and business facilities, a theme park, and
motor showrooms.
The Doha Festival City Mall, with 500 retail
stores and a gross floor area of 327,000 sqm,
is the largest component of the development.
It houses more than 8,500 car parking lots
spread over structured car parks, basement car
parks and surface parking spaces. The scale
of the project and the immediate surrounds
inspired the design concept of creating an
extension of the vast desert site. This was also
largely a response to the clients brief of limiting
water usage.
It was essential to the concept to have a simple
yet provocative exterior which paid homage to
the desert and could also complement the more
intricately designed interior concourse of the
mall. The strategy was to create focal points at
each entrance, all of which lie along the westfacing faade. Sand-coloured pre-cast concrete
panels constitute the main faade element.
Each entrance is then designed as a prominent

YEAR: 2015

AREA: 434,000 SQM

QATAR

THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT

AND THE IMMEDIATE SURROUNDS
INSPIRED THE DESIGN CONCEPT
OF CREATING AN EXTENSION OF
THE VAST DESERT SITE

volume extrusion which was envisioned as a

structure emerging from the desert land. The
design concept extends to the exterior plaza
where a sense of arrival and outdoor activities
were incorporated with landscaping designed
as a structured arid desert.
The interior design challenge was to break down
the massive scale of the mall and intrigue the
shoppers to keep them moving. Four main zones
were created with the intention of characterising
specific retail segments of the mall. The largest
of the four zones, Luxury Fashion, is designed
as a circular atrium with a dome-shaped feature
ceiling. The space is accentuated by natural light
from high level windows on which the dome is
elevated. The other three zones Centre Court,
Entertainment Centre and Market Place are
similarly distinguished by simple geometric
shapes and characterised by different themes,
making them uniquely identifiable.

Right: The fashion

atrium with its
dome-shaped
feature ceiling;
natural light fills the
main entrance lobby.

DP 11

Featured projects

BOULEVARDI MALL
CHOREOGRAPHS A NEW
WAY OF ORGANISING
THE PARTS OF THE
MASTER PLAN INTO A
SEAMLESS WHOLE

Right: The large sunken

plaza in the centre of
Boulevardi Mall.
Far right: The twostorey subsurface
gourmet village inspired
by Istanbuls lively
streetscapes.

YEAR: 2015

AREA: 145,000 SQM

TURKEY

BOULEVARDI
MALL

A CHOREOGRAPHY OF DISTINCTIVE
SPATIAL SEQUENCES
By Tong Tong

To experience the real Istanbul, one must not

only visit the Byzantine mosaics and colourful
bazaars, but also walk its tangled streets. Urban
living in Istanbul takes place in its streets. It is
the celebrated space of everyday encounters,
communal events and social activities which
link people together. What makes buildings in
Istanbul liveable is its intimate space pattern:
the streets, squares and other public spaces. It
is perhaps why cities like Istanbul with its vivid
street life and meaningful spaces are more
stimulating than those that are homogeneous.
The spirit of street life is the source of inspiration
for the architecture of Boulevardi Mall, designed
by DP Architects. It choreographs a new way
of organising the large-scale built environment
which brings the parts of the master plan into
a seamless whole. Boulevardi Mall involves
over 400 indoor and outdoor shops 100 of
which are restaurants, cafs and entertainment
outlets spanning three levels below the ground
and two levels above it. Moving away from the
tendency toward introversion of conventional
shopping malls, the design team turns the
shopping mall inside out and proposes a system
of paths as streets to connect its plazas and
public squares.

Goh Huiwen &

As the name suggests, the circulation route

of Boulevardi Mall on the ground is a clear
loop which incorporates the main pedestrian
boulevard. Walking along it, different public
spaces present themselves. The architecture
and landscape design integrates contemporary
aesthetics with traditional architectural
proportions for the comfort of visitors, creating
a richly textured and inviting urban environment.
The sequence of activities and details such as
skylights, terraces and fountains along the route
are carefully arranged for the aesthetic pleasure
of the moving observer. There are a series of
distinctive nodes in the complex, for example,

Krisnamurti Lumenta

at the core is a two-storey subsurface gourmet

Team Members
(left to right)
Frederick Chico Estacio,
Shiao Lin Liem,
Mike Lim,
Chan Hui MIn,

village inspired by Istanbuls lively streetscapes.

The skylights bring natural illumination and reveal
the daily weather and seasons of the year. The
large sunken plaza located in the centre of the
mall operates as a constantly active theatre
for people-watching, becoming a focal point
of activity. It is a multi-purpose space that has
outdoor dining around an interactive water
feature, which can be transformed into an iceskating rink in the winter.
Like any good built environment, Boulevardi Mall
is richly diverse; every part has an identifiable
character that allows choice and exploration.
The design team understands the importance of
legibility: to function easily and carry a dialogue
with the architecture or space, one must be able
to read and identify the environment. Seeking
to make the network memorable as a system of
clear and coherent sequences, the underground
shopping area is organised in a continuous loop
that passes through four retail zones themed
after the seasons. The Spring Zone features
tree-top cafes and an open air courtyard for the
food court, punctuated by a dramatic 12-metre
waterveil. An aquarium forms the focus of the
Summer Court, which takes its inspiration from
the colours of the sun and the sea. A forest
canopy inspired the spaces in the Autumn Gallery
and the design of the Winter Corridor aims to
capture the crystalline quality of the winter light.
The essential component of the design involves
reinterpreting the local patterns as a spatial
sequence with distinct nodes and views. The
design team respects the everyday environment
in Istanbul and how it shapes lives and activities.
The views from the paths expose the major
social areas and their dominant functions. Here,
the shopping mall is as meaningful and delightful
as the lively streets in Istanbul. The design of
Boulevardi Mall inspires visitors to reveal their
most interesting activities and rediscover the
spirit of exploration and the joy of shopping.
DP 13

Featured projects

YEAR: 2012 (DESIGN)

AREA: 102,800 SQM

INDONESIA

@
SOHO

PODOMORO
CITY
REINTERPRETING THE
MIXED-USE PATTERN OF
JAKARTA
By Tong Tong

SOHO @ PODOMORO
CITY AIMS TO BE A
VIBRANT MIXED-USE
NEIGHBOURHOOD
THAT REVITALISES THE
DIVERSITY IN A HIGHDENSITY AREA

The history of Jakarta, a spice trade gateway

linking the east and west, goes back to
the fifth century. Jakarta has become a
melting pot of various cultures and people
a cluster of self-sustaining communities
of concentrated and diverse use annexed
together. Today, Jakarta is not only a city
with deep historical roots; it has developed
into a massive metropolis of more than 10
million inhabitants. In terms of population size
and growth rate, Jakarta can be considered
as one of the most important major cities in
Southeast Asia. As the most populous city
in Southeast Asia, the overall population
of Jakarta increased 100 times in the 20th
century. The density of Jakarta plays an
important role in shaping the city and how it
functions. As in the older mixed-use areas in
Jakarta, despite high densities, the intensely
urbanised areas are vibrant day and night.
Inspired by the tightly knit communities
existing for centuries in Jakarta, SOHO @
Podomoro City aims to be a vibrant mixeduse neighbourhood that revitalises the
diversity in a high-density area.
This intervention brings together the varied
building programmes, public spaces and

natural landscapes, consisting of a sixstorey shopping mall, a ten-storey car park,

a 26-storey SOHO tower and a three-storey
business school integrated within a 30-storey
office tower. It is DP Architects second
endeavour to regenerate the diversity of this
area. It can be considered a continuation of the
successful Central Park development (Design
in Print, Volume 2, Number 2), which also sits
within the Podomoro City master plan and was
designed by DP Architects and completed in
2011. On a site of eight hectare, Central Park
steps back from the adjacent development,
allowing the central space to be a social centre
for the surrounding high-density and high-rise
areas. It has become one of Jakartas most
vigorous shopping destinations. Similar to
Central Park, consideration has been given
to the concentration of the buildings mass,
which generates generous public space for
interaction and gathering. SOHO @ Podomoro
City is conceived as the gateway to a greater
metropolitan region along Jalan S Parman
Highway in western Jakarta. Adjacent to
the important Jalan Tol Pluit-Tomang area
connecting the airport to downtown Jakarta,
the curved LED media faade of the shopping
mall could be visible from the main roads.

DP 15

Featured projects

A pedestrian bridge,
Eco Sky Walk, connects
SOHO @ Podomoro City
and Central Park.

PROGRAMMATIC

BUILDING ORIENTATION

MOTION OF VORTEX

It intends to interact with the surroundings and

strengthen the formation as a gateway to the
city centre by delivering messages through
digital displays and visual interfaces.
This development also features SOHO units,
a hybrid of residential and commercial office
space under one roof. Although SOHO is a
relatively new building typology in Jakarta, a
large percentage of people in Jakarta actually
engaged in small home-based business.
A great number of buildings in Jakarta were
developed as mixed-use structures, and most
neighbourhoods contain a diversity of uses.
This prevalent existing historical mixed-used
pattern has been reinterpreted in SOHO @

Team Members
(standing left to right)
Rida Sobana,
Andi Anggoro,
Wu Tzu Chiang,
Dadi Surya,
(sitting)
Noer Ucen Hong,
Daisy Layadi,
Fransiska Wongso,
Andria D Adiputra,
(other members)
Krisnamurti Lumenta,
Iman Ashar,
Lee Chung Hong &
Stephanie Lie.

Left: The profile of a

dynamic vortex responds
to the arch of Central Park.
CONTINUOUS PARK

Right: The vortex

inspired atrium of the
retail podium.

Podomoro City, thus establishing a link with

the history of Jakarta.
Seeking to establish a visual relationship
between the Central Park development
and SOHO@ Podomoro City, the profile of
a dynamic vortex responds to the elegant
arch of Central Park. The landscape on
the ground is complemented by green
spaces surrounding and penetrating the
whole complex. The curtain wall faade
of the SOHO tower continues the arch
and integrates the downward tiered green
terraces. It breaks the two-dimensional and
closed appearance of a typical tower faade
and softens the sheer mass of the buildings.

The roof garden on top of the shopping mall

offers tranquil green spaces, accessible to
surrounding neighbourhoods. A pedestrian
bridge, named Eco Sky Walk, stretches 210m
across Podomoro Avenue with enhanced
interconnectivity and pedestrian flow between
these two developments. The entire complex
is a three-dimensional urban space, in which
buildings both under and above the ground,
central public spaces, green terraces and roof
gardens are fused together.
Undeniably, the diversity and complexity of
the city is vital to the life of Jakarta. In the
response to the citys historical heritage,
DP Architects preserves the mixed-use

pattern of the city and builds a local sense of

belonging. The introduced SOHO units may
be seen as a contemporary complement to
the small home-based businesses in Jakarta.
Along with Central Park, this area creates
connected urban spaces that are inviting and
open to the public, providing an engaging
place that complements and supports
adjacent neighbourhoods. The design team
also recognises the importance of public
space in Jakarta, promoting interactions
within a diversity of spaces, which vary
from commercial, residential, recreational to
educational, while providing the complex with
an unmistakable identity within the greater
urban context.
DP 17

Design solutions

WISMA
AT R I A

REGENERATION & RETROFITTING

A FRESH AND DISTINCTIVE
RETAIL EXPERIENCE
By Leong Wei Lin

Originally where the Indonesian embassy was

reinterpretation of Wisma Atria where the

located, the site was redeveloped in 1986 into

Wisma Atria and designed by DP Architects
as a 22-storey office tower with a 5-storey
commercial podium. The original architecture
of Wisma Atria was an introverted atriumcentric, rectilinear-formed mall which aligned
with contemporary global design patterns for
retail buildings of its time and scale.

constant renewal allows the mall to respond to

changing societal trends and remain relevant
as the definition of retail experience is refined
over the years. The practice of retrofitting
not only introduces new uses to the building
and generates activities suitable to the
unban context, it is also a sustainable form
of development which gives a building a new
lease of life without extensive demolishment
and rebuilding.

Over the span of the last 26 years, DP

Architects has been involved in the

YEAR: 2012

AREA: 41,300 SQM

SINGAPORE

Wisma Atrias 2004 facelift can be considered

the transition point for DP Architects retail
design direction towards the extroverted
urban mall typology found in Orchard Road
today. A faade expansion created new visual
and functional links between the interior retail
space and exterior promenade; the use of
glass increased transparency and an external
escalator connected upper retail storeys
directly to the street design moves that
comprehensively resituated a 1980s retail mall
as a street-integrated shopping mall.

Top: Wisma Atrias

new crystalline faade.
Middle: Design
sketches showing
the evolution of the
Wisma Atria faade
from 2004 to present.
Left: Wisma Atria
1986 & 2004.

The 2012 transformation of Wisma Atria is

designed to further augment street visibility
and respond to the patterns of human
movement through the site. Strategically
located between and linking two of Orchard
Roads most prominent corner developments,
the new Wisma Atria faade strongly asserts
its own unique character and presence. The
faade enhancement is also in line with the
Urban Redevelopment Authoritys on-going
effort to enhance pedestrian connectivity,
attractiveness and vibrancy in the Orchard
Road Planning Area.
DP 19

Design solutions

Team Members
(left to right)
Mike Lim,
Edwin Tong,
Jane Han,
Elsie Ong,
Tan Ting Chun,
Alvin Arre,

In the new faade design, a high-visibility,

faceted glass enclosure performs as a dynamic
envelope, articulated to extend 7.5 metres from
the original structure at its furthest point. The
malls architectural progression, like many retail
developments on Orchard Road, continues to
take place within the contours of the buildings
original structure.

Angelene Chan,
Chai Ming Kuang,
Claudia Sonia Nam &
Syahirah Binte Abbas.

The materiality of the new faade is a dialogue

between triangulated, faceted glass storefronts
and a matte-aluminium finish for the cladding
of structure and mechanical systems. To
further engage the heavy pedestrian flow
generated by the adjacent MRT station,
the main entrance was realigned on-centre
with the interior circulation and the sunken
basement-level programming was sealed off
to create a uniform podium linking the street
to the mall via a set of grand stairs, which also
doubles as a multi-purpose event area.

Left: Approaching
from street level,
the distinctive new
frontage draws the
passerbys attention.

The new stairs where the new frontage is raised

upon like on a pedestal, serves the double
purpose of a permanent flood barrier and as
a direct pedestrian link to the malls new main
entrances at the second storey. New ramps
were also designed to facilitate movement for
the less mobile and to channel pedestrians
arriving from the MRT station and flanking malls
directly into Wisma Atrias retail spaces.

PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY
BLURRING THE LINES BETWEEN THE
SIDEWALK AND COMMERCIAL SPACE

Right: DP Architects
has designed the
faade of Wisma
Atria three times
since 1986, each
reincarnation
further increasing
the connectivity
between the activities
of the pedestrian
promenade and the
internal retail shops.

1986

2004

2012

Panoramic view of
the new Wisma Atria
faade.

DP 21

Design solutions

Left: Structural
study diagram
showing goal
post framing
concept; Lighting
concept study;
Diagrammatic
section of staircase
nosing with
recessed LED
fixture.
Drawings courtesy
of ARUP Singapore
Pte Ltd.

The structural concept was based on the

goal-post frame structure with two main
support columns spanning across a longer
distance, thereby freeing up the intermediate
space where the faceted glass faade would
be created. This allowed for the faceted glass
faade to become the focal point and also
maximises the visual porosity to the interior by
ridding the main shopfronts of any structural
obstruction. Coupled with the use of ultraclear glass, activities taking place within the
mall are clearly visible from street level, which
adds an inviting element to the mall frontage.
The intention of the lighting design was to
highlight the crystalline structure of the new
faade in an elegant and timeless manner.
Alluding to the crystal-like form of the faade,
some studies of light reflection in gems and
crystals were conducted. Careful consideration
was given to the mounting locations and beam
angles of the light fixtures were varied such
that the light was focused effectively along the
surface of the glass facets. Together with the
internal lighting, the overall lighting solution
emphasised the crystalline structure of the glass
envelope as well as the aluminium faade, and
created a visual sense of depth as one walks
down the street.

25
25
13

20

10 15
105
25
25
13

20

10 15
105

Below: Night view

of faceted glass
enclosure with lit
grand stairs.

The lighting design also called for the monolithic

grand stairs to be used as a canvas for the play
of light. Together with the lighting consultant,
moir patterns were studied, and through
the use of scripting software, patterns were
generated by overlaying layers of lines extracted
from the stair and faade geometry, resulting in
a logical and beautiful pattern which achieved
some element of perceptive illusion. The final
design delivered an intriguing animated light
tapestry that directs people toward the central
Wisma Atria entrance and complements the
vibrant Orchard Road nightscape.
The combined redevelopment measures for
the mall have been conceived to strongly reposition the Wisma Atria mall in the increasingly
competitive Orchard Road retail environment.
With the latest iteration of the faade articulation
for the mall, it further increases the connectivity
between the pedestrian promenade and the
internal retail spaces. By manipulating the same
structure as a host to a variety of frontages, the
malls personality has been periodically refreshed
to retain a strong customer draw over the span
of the last 26 years.

YEAR: 2014

AREA: 327.183 M

QATAR

1 Faceted glazing opens up the

existing curtain wall further to
permit greater internal visibility
and a focal point for the new
faade juxtaposed against the
solidity of the aluminium cladding.
2 A blue backdrop faade retains
the signature colour of Wisma
Atria and the horizontality of
the pattern creates an ordered
background to the dynamic lines
of the faade.
3 Double-storey shop fronts
framed by the faade articulation
provide pedestrians with a clear
uninterrupted view of the retail
tenants.
4 Grand stairs with a raised
podium affords opportunities for
active urban spaces. Ramps also
enhance accessibility from street
level and neighbouring buildings
to the mall, especially for the
elderly, less mobile, and parents
with prams.

Ra
mp
to
pr
om
en
ad
e

DP 15

Architecture Issues

Retail Thinking:

A Circular
Evolution
By Nartano Lim

THESE NEW MALLS

HAVE A POROSITY THAT
ACTIVELY ENCOURAGES
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR
BETWEEN CONTENT
AND CONTEXT

Above: myVillage
at Serangoon
Garden represents
the new evolution
of intermediatescaled malls that
bridge the context
of the suburb
and the city, the
mundane and the
aspirational.

At the advent of the indoor shopping mall in

1956, Victor Gruen, widely considered the
father of the shopping mall, saw the mall as
a replacement for the traditional European
pedestrianised shopping boulevards and
American urban downtowns, replete with
public squares and non-commercial areas of
contemplation. The environment would control
more than just the climate, but also offer safety,
security and a condensed simulacrum of the
varied urban condition. For decades, this
concept continued to be adapted, some would
say mutated, into nondescript developments
surrounded by a moat of open car parks (or
massive multi-storey car parks in Asia), devoid
of any contextual or urban response, with the
sole aim to generate the highest amount of
revenue with the least amount of inefficiency
in cost or space.
While mall development remains commercially
driven, savvy developers and retailers realise
that the environment created needs to be more
than just a concentration of retail options. One
could also argue that the role of the shopping
mall in todays society has greatly evolved.
In a country such as Singapore where the
climate is inhospitable, the shopping mall
offers a respite and a common collection point.
Moreover, Singapore, due to high density and
land costs, has long had a history of mixeduse developments such that the lines between
commercial, infrastructure, residential and leisure
are often blurred. The shopping mall has evolved
to hold great importance as a space in modern
society that beyond commerce and Gruens
original aims of comfort, security, familiarity
start to approximate civic space. Many people
may never go to the traditional prescribed sites
of congregation town hall, library, places of

worship, but visit shopping malls and use the

space for social purposes beyond retail therapy.
The latest evolution of the shopping mall
decentralised shopping centres that sit in the
middle-ground in terms of both scale and
retail offerings perhaps return closer to the
original aims of Gruen. These decentralised
malls myVillage at Serangoon Garden and
Katong I12 are perfect examples combine
the comforts of a controlled environment and
the density of retail and food outlets with a
scale and approach specific to the context of
the neighbourhood they are sited in. Moreover,
these new malls have a porosity that actively
encourages a dialogue between interior and
exterior between content and context. This
occurs both physically, through the allowance
of large span transparent curtain walls and
naturally lit atriums, and programmatically, by
creating internal gathering spaces, landscaped
zones and cues from the local neighbourhood.
Both projects actively engage the local context
in such a way that they become a specific
product that addresses the programmatic need
to offer everyday retail such as grocery stores
and pharmacies as well as branded offerings
typically found in the larger malls in traditional
shopping districts such as Orchard Road.
In a sense, Gruens original intention of having
all the benefits of the traditional shopping street
within an idealised, conditioned indoor space
have now mutated again, but perhaps closer to
Gruens ideals. Realising that the site context
can be an important catalyst for the design
of the shopping mall, todays decentralised
offerings build on Gruens core tenets while
further exploring issues of congregation,
occupation and contextualisation.

Awards & events

DP Architects at

World Architecture
Festival
DP Architects director Ms Angelene Chan was an invited speaker and judge
at the renowned World Architecture Festival held at Marina Bay Sands from
3-5 October 2012. Speaking on the theme Renewing the City: Regeneration,
Reuse, Retrofit, Ms Chan discussed the renewal of Orchard Road and spoke
on DP Architects role in shaping the shopping strips present form.

Courtesy of World Architecture Festival

DP Architects also launched its latest publication, DP Architects on Orchard

Road, at WAF. To commemorate the launch, DP designers Ms Fu Tingting,
Ms Leong Wei Lin and Mr Nartano Lim created a unique three-dimensional
display. Made of laminated plywood sheets, the display featured a grid of over
20,000 screws which were painstakingly adjusted by hand to form a map
graphic of DPs projects on Orchard Road. The heights of the screws were
manipulated to create a three-dimensional surface, utilising the painted screw
heads as pixels to form a larger image. Cyan, magenta, yellow and black
the colours used in four-colour process printing were chosen to signify
DPs foray into publishing. The design manually recreated the printing process
where an image is reproduced with dots of ink of the four CMYK colours.

Above: (left to right) Mr

Patrick Bellew of Atelier
Ten, Mr Donald Bates of
Lab Architecture Studio,
Ms Angelene Chan of
DP Architects and Mr
Emre Arolat of Emre
Arolat Architects.
Left: Calibrating the WAF
book launch display.

Playing tour guide

ArchiTours
2012

ArchiTours 2012, the popular anchor event

of ArchiFest, organised by the Singapore
Institute of Architects to showcase Singapore
architecture, was held on the Friday evenings
and weekends of October and included four
projects by DP Architects. ITE College West
and myVillage at Serangoon Garden were
stops on the Rethink Landscape tours, while
Wanderlust and Fullerton Heritage, including
Fullerton Bay Hotel, Clifford Pier and Customs
House, were part of the Rethink Hospitality
programme. Architects of the projects played
tour guide to participants who included
design professionals and students, and
members of the public.

Courtesy of ArchiTours Team 2012

DPians to participate in

Fte des
Lumires 2012
DPians Mervin Tan and Huang Jiahui, founding members
of MINUS a student interest group established in the
National University of Singapore together with three other
members will be participating in Fte des Lumires (Festival
of Lights) 2012 in Lyon, France in November. From their
installation at Luminance! 2012, a light art festival, MINUS
and two other artists were chosen to create a collaboration
piece for Fte des Lumires. MINUSs piece, titled If you
please draw me a sheep and inspired by Antoine de
Saint-Exuprys story of The Little Prince, takes the form of
an opaque white cube that houses the ephemeral quality of
light at the core and explores the books theme of loss of
imagination as one enters adulthood.

DP Architects

Newly Registered
Architects
Six DPians, the most number from one firm, received their
practising certificate for registered architects at the 2012
Board of Architects (BOA) Presentation Ceremony. The six
are Mr Goh Wei Kiat, Ms Lau Su Leen, Mr Lionel Leow,
Ms Wang Ying, Mr Matthew Yeo and Ms Yvonne Yeo.
Ms Yeo was also named the Best Candidate in the
Professional Practice Examination.
Registrar of BOA Mr Larry Ng singled out DP Architects
and the firms chairman, Mr Chan Sui Him, in his speech
for the exemplary effort over the years in encouraging
Continuing Professional Development and grooming new
generations of architects.
At the same event, DP directors Ms Angelene Chan,
Mr Teoh Hai Pin and Mr Wu Tzu Chiang received their
ASEAN Architects registration certificates. The presentation
ceremony was held on 3 November 2012 at Marina
Mandarin Singapore.

From lett to right: Lionel Leow, Goh Wei Kiat, Yvonne Yeo, Wang Ying & Lau Su Leen

DP 25

DP personalities

Mike Lim
Interview with

Niew Pey Ran

Rida Sobana
Edwin Arokiyam
Chai Ming Kuang
Ng San Son
Ng Swee Hong
Toh Li Chuin

retail
experiences
Interview by Toh Bee Ping

(Clockwise from top left)

Tokyo Midtown; La
Rambla in Barcelona; a
shopping street in Milan;
Ssamzie Market in
Insadong, Seoul; resting
between shopping in
Barcelona; Nicholas G
Hayek Center in Tokyo;
MegaBox mall in Hong
Kong; and Milans
Quadrilatero della Moda.

Design in Print invites

eight DPians behind
some of our key retail
projects to share their
thoughts on retail
from their shopping
habits, favourite retail
spaces, to what makes
a successful mall.

In dense, developed cities like Singapore,

Hong Kong and Tokyo, malls are everywhere.
The mall has become an important element in
family life. At a mall, you can perform all kinds
of activities banking, have meals, send your
child to school, see the dentist; it is no longer a
place to just buy. If a mall can become the heart
of a locale, the focal point that community life
revolves around much like in ancient times,
where the souk or trading place was the heart
of a city it will be successful.

increasingly affluent middle class still streaked in

conservatism where grandness and pomp is still
paramount; and a vast majority where shopping
has only just been elevated above a chore. To
cater to the general has become increasingly
difficult as the entire shopping culture is being
developed at such a condensed space of time.
In the end, all you have are themes layered on
artifice pitched in hyperbole, signifying nothing.
Therein lies the challenge and all the fun.

Associate Director

Niew Pey Ran

Guoson Centre, Shanghai
Joy City, Shanghai

When I visit a mall, I look for something unique

about the place, be it the shopfront design or
layout. I look for ideas and inspiration. Most of
the projects I work on are commercial; after a
while, you ask yourself What can I do here to not
only make it different, but better? People go to
malls to shop, I go to learn something new.

Senior
Associate Director

Mike Lim

Doha Festival City, Doha

The Dubai Mall, Dubai
What I consider the ideal shopping experience
has evolved. From the pure utility of daily
subsistence to the headiness of splurging on
something which is just that bit more than you
should spend, my haunts have veered from
neighbourhood malls to that really kooky shop
hidden in a tiny street off the mainstream.

Some people see shopping as retail therapy,

but I find it stressful. Christmas shopping is
the ultimate stress! I may do a bit of shopping
when I travel, but I prefer street shopping to mall
shopping because its more relaxed with less
pressure to buy. The truly enjoyable shopping
experience is incidental shopping. When you find
what you like by chance, it makes you happy.
In Singapore, people no longer shop out
of necessity; they shop for wants. Mall
merchandise is largely the same from Orchard
Road to Tampines to Jurong. It is the shoppers
experience that makes a successful mall. I find
that true shoppers dont like to think, they want
to enjoy the experience. If a shopper has to
figure out how to get to certain places or worry
about carpark, they will not go to that mall.
Similarly, if they think too hard, they wont buy.
Spontaneity is an important element.

Kemang Village, Jakarta

Senayan City, Jakarta

3 CITIES AND 3 EXPERIENCES

Harbour City, Hong Kong: The tendency to
impulse buy in Hong Kong is overwhelming.
Within walking distance, numerous shops
vie for ones attention. There is an almost
egalitarian ethos, a classless vibe which
facilitates purchase. We overspend tragically.
Quadrilatero della Moda, Milan: The difference
is in the ambience. Though these are the
same brands, the entire district exudes an
understated elegant charm.
Block Arcade, Melbourne: To wander the streets
and chance upon that small hidden bistro
you were brought to three years ago, to find
a little gem of a store tucked in a small lane.
Serendipitous shopping and a great flat white.
In China, there now exist three diverging group
of consumers: The internet-savvy and welltraveled who will have a weekend jaunt in Hong
Kong just to get that latest Chanel bag; an

I visited Barcelona last year and La Rambla, a

tree-lined shopping street, made an impression. It
is about 1.5km long, around the same as Orchard
Road, and is filled with vendors, kiosks and street
artists. Many side streets lead to more shops
and markets. In comparison, the street scene on
Orchard Road could be more happening.
Ive worked on several malls in Jakarta. Because
they are scattered around the city, Jakarta malls
need to be of a certain size to be a magnet.
The average Jakarta mall is easily two to three
times bigger than the ones in Singapore. Also
because of the traffic condition, it makes sense
for the people to go to one place for everything.
In a saturated market, malls need to differentiate
themselves. Clients look to designers for
inspiration to market their mall. A successful
example is the large external park at Central Park
in Jakarta. Having a large outdoor landscaped
civic space is quite a new thing for the city.
The client organises activities
at the park during
Christmas, Hari Raya and
such occasions, and it
has become a draw for
the development.

Associate Director

Rida Sobana
DP 27

DP personalities
has a unique identity. The interior design is
tastefully done, not kitschy as one might
expect of a fengshui-themed mall. It is a very
big mall integrated with a transportation hub,
but surprisingly easy to navigate. The concept
of using the five elements of nature as identity
markers for the various zones is a great way to
give a sense of orientation in a large space.

Senior Associate

Ng San Son

Senior Associate

Orchard Central, Singapore

myVillage at Serangoon Garden, Singapore

Edwin
Arokiyam

Ascendas Park Square, Bangalore

MG One Mall, Bangalore

Senior Associate

Chai Ming Kuang

Wisma Atria 2012, Singapore
Noon Square, Seoul

I like malls with huge open spaces, atriums and

courtyards that create a sense of openness
and give a feeling of space and light. Wider
aisle space, bigger volumes and bright lighting
make the shopping experience more enjoyable.
I find inward-looking malls with lesser number
of floors much easier to navigate and make
the shopping experience more worthwhile.
An exception is MegaBox in Hongkong.
Standing at an impressive 19 floors, the design
is eye-catching with its bold form and vivid
colours; direct access to certain intermediate
floors makes it easier to reach the desired
destinations. In general, a faade with visual
interest, transparency and F&B decks make a
mall livelier and form a good visual connection to
the interior.
Singapore has a wide variety of malls that cater
to the cosmopolitan mix of shoppers on the
island and also respond to the context of the
location. Though overseas malls respond to a
wide variety of local requirements, most often
they fail due to lack of constant upgrading to
meet the changing requirements of shoppers.
Malls need to be designed to be adaptable to
constant change, yet retain a unique identity.

A recent trip to Hanoi

provided a memorable
shopping experience. After the
big modern malls in Japan,
US and UK, shopping in
Hanoi was like going
back to basics. It was
memorable because
the whole experience
was different narrow
streets, outdoor
shopping, the personal
interaction, the way the
wares were displayed at
the shop front, and the
merchandise comprising mostly
handicrafts and local designs. South Korea
was also eye-opening in terms of how the
retailers sold their goods at places like
Ssamzie Market in Insadong and the 24-hour
Dongdaemun Market. I was at Dongdaemun
around midnight and the street was filled with
people. Its different from the conventional
shopping malls we are used to.
I am an incidental shopper. If I dont see it,
I wont look for it. I like to wander around
places on foot and discover what is different
from other places Ive been to. The way I
shop helped me understand circulation and
the importance of having a presence. Malls
that arent too complex are usually more
successful. Mall planning is pretty similar
everywhere, but malls need the x-factor to
make it exciting. Elements mall in Hong Kong

Shopping spaces that have daylight infiltration,

indoor landscape and orchestrated views of
the external environment always leave a deep
impression. Such spaces invigorate my senses
in an otherwise mundane shopping experience.
Frankly, and strictly my personal opinion,
shopping malls in the past are meant to dumb
ones senses to just shop, especially so for
internalised shopping malls with a monotonous
horseshoe layout.
Times have changed. Shopping spaces
have become more intimate with the clever
use of details, daylight and hue. Thomas
Heatherwick skilfully transformed, in 2011, the
once kitsch Pacific Place in Hong Kong with
innovatively detailed glass lifts, floor finish,
signages, ceilings, even toilet cubicles and a
calming hue that totally refreshed the utilitarian
spaces. Lighting levels and detailing are also
skilfully controlled as opposed to Singapore
shopping spaces that tend to be over-zealous
with internal lighting levels and cookie-cutter
detailing. Tokyo Midtown, completed back in
2007 by SOM, utilises a mixture of high and low,
day-lit and enclosed space, and subtle detailing.
It remains refreshing and timeless five years
later. The harmonious amalgamation of the
different elements in both projects advanced my
understanding of not over-designing a shopping
space and the necessity to vary proportion of
spaces to sustain a shoppers interest in an
otherwise predictable environment.

Senior Associate

Ng Swee Hong
Mandarin Gallery, Singapore
One Prime, Shanghai

I prefer street shopping; it allows shoppers to

move in and out of individual shops to enjoy
the exterior streetscape and environment.
Street shopping is a fluid experience; there
are always multiple permutations to the routes
and entries, and the experience is always
intertwined with the seasons and climate,
whereas mall shopping provides a controlled
circulation and environment. When I was
working in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, my
favourite shopping street was a cosy, 400m
stretch in an up-market suburban district called
Shadyside. That little street provided almost
everything I needed, from groceries, clothing to
a wide variety of restaurants and bars offering
American and international cuisines.
Street shopping is best enjoyed in the
temperate climate. In a tropical climate like
Singapore, the high humidity can be a deterrent
to street shopping, except perhaps during the
evenings. However, Bugis Junction stands
out as a mall in Singapore that offers street
shopping within an indoor environment. For
indoor malls, I prefer those with a simple and
clear layout, where I can explore and compare
the options in the shortest time possible. I enjoy
indoor malls that offer plenty of natural daylight
and, most importantly, generous circulation and
public spaces. Additional amenities such as
seating and free wifi are definitely a bonus, as it
allows us guys to have something to do while
our wives happily shop away.

Marina Square 2012, Singapore

Paragon 2009, Singapore
When traveling abroad, I tend to look for
malls with the wow factor that stand out from
the rest while maintaining a connection to
the streetscape. Shopping in precincts that
give a sense of time, culture and context is
also an added bonus. An example is Nicolas
G Hayek Center in Ginza, Tokyo. The first
storey opens up to the street, with full-height
greenery that stretches from the ground floor
up to the roof. The shopping experience
starts with the hydraulic elevators which
also serve as dedicated entrances to each
boutique at different levels. One of the most
memorable experiences was stepping into
the hydraulic elevator and being greeted with
a 360 display of watches of all colours and
sizes. Shopping begins before the doorstep!
When shopping in Singapore, I tend to be
more product-oriented. Apart from highend merchandise, mall products tend to be
similar, with the same stores in both suburban
and downtown shopping malls. Hence, as a
local shopper, the software of a mall visual
branding, tenancy mix, ambiance, upkeep of
the mall, and even carpark rates, etc are
more important considerations in the choice
of destination than its hardware at times, i.e.
architecture and interior design. To quote
A Alfred Taubman, architecture is only the
beginning. Here, there
seems to be a greater
need to refine and
choreograph the
shoppers experience
which cannot be
determined by
architecture alone. It
must be orchestrated
together with the soft
elements.

Senior Associate

Toh Li Chuin

DP ARCHITECTS ON

ORCHARD ROAD
EVOLUTION OF
A RETAIL STREETSCAPE

DP Architects on Orchard Road is a record

of the design process that has greatly
contributed to one of the worlds most
celebrated shopping streetscapes. The book
documents Orchard Roads evolution and
its transformation into a world-class public
space, and includes contributions from
Mr Fumihiko Maki of Maki and Associates,
and Mr Kenneth Frampton
of Columbia University.
Available at bookstores
and online.

All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced

without prior permission. DP Architects accepts no
responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or
resultant consequences including any loss or damage
arising from reliance on information in Design in Print.
Any opinions in Design in Print are solely those of the
named authors of the article in which they appear.
Unless named as author, DP Architects, Editorial Panel
and other Contributors do not endorse any such views
and disclaim all liability from their publication.
Copyright DP Architects Pte Ltd
MICA (P) 012/10/2012
Printed by SC (Sang Choy) International Pte Ltd
L028/03/2012
Published by DP Architects Pte Ltd
6 Raffles Boulevard #04-100
Marina Square Singapore 039594
T: +65 6338 3988 F: +65 6337 9989
E: ask_corpcomm@dpa.com.sg
W: www.dpa.com.sg
Photo Contributors:
Edwin Arokiyam, Chai Ming Kuang,
Rory Daniel, Noel C Evardone,
Mori Hidetaka, Wellington Kuswanto,
Mike Lim, Loh Yew Cheng,
Niew Pey Ran, Ng San Son,
Ng Swee Hong, Shogo Oizumi,
Jackie Poh, Jeremy San,
Rida Sobana & Toh Li Chuin.
All photos are credited to the
mentioned photographers
unless otherwise stated.

DP 29

Tanglin Shopping Centre is the first building in Singapore to use off-form concrete and timber as an
architectural expression. It is also the first shopping complex here to incorporate a spilt-level first
storey to provide two apparent ground floors of shops accessible from the road.
The second phase of the building, commenced in 1978, added extra amenities including
a large storage space for store-owners, a circular concourse for exhibitions and displays,
an antique art gallery and a landscaped pedestrian mall linking the Orchard Road
and Tanglin Road walkway systems.
Project Team: 1970 Tay Kheng Soon, William SW Lim & Tony Blackard
1978 William SW Lim, Chan Sui Him, Manop Phakinsri & Low Boon Liang

Tanglin Shopping Centre

1970/1978