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SAFRA Choa Chu Kang Association/DP Architects Pte Ltd
Text description provided by the architect. Nestled in the heart of an extensive park, SAFRA Choa Chu Kang (CCK) is a leisure club offering a variety of fitness and wellness activities for NSmen and their families, including a swimming pool, futsal court, karaoke lounge and spa . SAFRA CCK’s architecture expresses itself in rich, distinctive forms, from bold overscale trusses to precast colored concrete bulwark facades that symbolize unity and strength, recalling and inspiring fitness. Yet beneath its solid exterior it houses a vibrant natural and human community that flows from the park’s central spine. The result is a seamless blend of nature and fitness that revitalizes neighborhoods and reinvigorates community spirit.
From the outset, the arrangement of volumes and functions was guided not only by internal logic regarding hierarchy and purpose, but also by external factors such as visual accessibility and spatial interconnections. The clubhouse’s location within a park was fully utilized as part of its design philosophy, focusing on creating porous public spaces that seamlessly integrate the surrounding greenery into the building fabric. The building’s intentional park orientation draws in surrounding nature and activity, creating a verdant central courtyard that brings the outdoors inside. To further enhance porosity, the swimming pool is elevated into the canopy, freeing up the ground level to connect with the park. Not only does this provide a stunning aerial view of the park, but it also extends the pool so that it blends seamlessly into the foliage.
The “Stairway of Life” feature staircase adjacent to the courtyard serves as the vertical trajectory of the development, not only connecting the fitness facilities in the clubhouse, but also connecting the running route in the park to the aerial track on the fourth floor of the building. It embodies active mobility and invites visitors to climb 100 steps, breaking the traditional notion of fitness and parks at ground level. It encompasses different areas of well-being – public and private, horizontal and vertical – and imbues the clubhouse with a unique aura of energy and enthusiasm. Large-volume spaces within the clubhouse are arranged along the building’s extended arms to maximize natural light and cross-ventilation. In air-conditioned spaces, high-performance double glazing is used to reduce heat transfer, resulting in significant energy savings.
In addition to passive design strategies, SAFRA CCK also optimizes energy consumption through green technology and sustainable construction. It features high-efficiency water-cooled chillers, rainwater collection for 100% smart automatic irrigation of the landscape, rooftop photovoltaic panels and energy-saving lighting systems. Green concrete and recycled steel were also used during the construction process, reducing carbon emissions per unit of total construction area by 23%. The overall energy saving of this project was 42.7%, totaling 1890MWh, and it was awarded the Green Mark Platinum Level – Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Certification issued by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority. This recognition reflects the clubhouse’s commitment to living in harmony with nature and emphasizes its role as a mindful and sustainable space that prioritizes the well-being of its occupants in every aspect of its design and functionality.
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