Singapore is an architecture lover's dream. From colonial-era Raffles to hyper-modern futuristic apartments, from classic Peranakan buildings to Art Deco buildings, travelers are surprised by everything. Residential complex "Interlace" was no exception, which looks more like a fantastic object assembled from LEGO bricks.
1. The most ambitious residential development plan in Singapore
The Interlace Residential Complex won the 2015 World Architecture Festival competition, receiving the main prize Urban Habitat Award, and was also honored with two Singapore government awards in the field of green architecture and universal design. It was designed and implemented by German designer Ole Scheeren in collaboration with Dutch architect Remment Koolhaas and his Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).
This is one of the most ambitious concepts of residential high-rise complexes in Singapore, because it shows a completely new and unusual vision in the planning of urban architecture. Particularly impressive is the structure of the complex, which includes 31 apartment buildings, each of which is 70 meters long and 6 floors high. The houses-blocks, located one above the other in an order that is understandable only for the authors of the project, have 4 tiers, which means that the residential complex has 24 floors.
2. Vertical village
The arrangement of block houses by the method of alternation with different angles of rotation, forming gaps of different configurations, is completely different from traditional methods of architecture. In addition to the unusual perception of external forms, it has skillfully created a variety of changing space of a residential building combined with lush tropical vegetation.
In general, the design of the residential complex "Interlace" resembles a modern village immersed in greenery, with its own tennis courts, playgrounds, recreation areas, outdoor cafes and swimming pools.
3. Engineering masterpiece
Installing block houses through a row with a reversal of the structure is a rather difficult method of construction, because it was necessary to create an ultra-strong base platform that could withstand the weight of each module. During the creation of such platforms, tests were carried out, and now the developers assure that each of them is capable of withstanding the weight equivalent to 10 Airbus A380 airliners. This strength of the structural elements allows the six-story blocks to be safely connected to each other, providing both living space and free areas for creating additional recreation areas at different levels among fragrant vegetation.
Interesting: The Airbus A-380 is considered the largest passenger airliner in the world, and it surpassed its “brothers” both in size and weight characteristics. Its length is 73 m, at a height of 24 m with a wingspan of 80 meters. It's hard to imagine, but only one wing has a gigantic area - 845 m², and the takeoff weight reaches 560 tons.
4. The idea of social interaction
Of course, the world has not yet invented a cure for loneliness, however, the authors of the Interlace Residential Complex have provided for many events and programs designed to unite residents and get involved in public life. If a person has natural needs for live communication, then clubs, theaters, karaoke bars, gyms and libraries will be at his service on the territory of the complex. All these community centers are harmoniously intertwined with the landscape.
They offer opportunities for social interaction and joint activities to avoid the daily routine, without imposing anything, but simply encouraging such communication. And for those who wish to detach themselves from society, secluded corners are provided where no one will disturb.
5. Self-sufficient city
We can say with absolute certainty that the RC "Interlace" is a city within a city. Given its infrastructure, even the residents themselves admit that its possibilities are endless - from the usual for all high-rise buildings their own recreation areas, sports grounds, children's corners, jogging tracks, tennis courts, a water park and ending with shops where you can buy everything your heart desires. In fact, the residents of the complex may not go beyond its limits unnecessarily. The only thing is that the house has no offices, government offices and schools.
6. Wind tunnel effect
Without a doubt, Ole Scheeren and Remment Koolhaas knew what Singaporeans needed was built-in air conditioning. The apartment buildings are intertwined to form air pockets, which helped create a wind tunnel effect. If such a feature has a rather negative effect in countries with a harsh or windy climate, then in Singapore, with its high temperatures and high humidity, this effect is a big plus. Due to the acceleration of the wind between the blocks, the building cools quickly and the humidity does not cause such damage if it constantly interacts with the outer shell of the building. Now, both in winter and in summer, the wind walks between the block houses, bringing saving moisture and preventing moisture and mold from accumulating.
7. Solid greens
Initially, the Interlace project envisaged the harmonious integration of the residential building into the green tropical zone, which is located next to the complex. In addition to the fact that the entire free area, on which the extraordinary ensemble is located, can be said to be buried in vegetation, so green areas on the roofs of all blocks-houses form "heavenly" gardens. Also, in certain places, open green areas have been created on private terraces, which allows you to create an effective cascading design.
For the full decoration of all available territories and areas, more than 1 thousand trees, 700 shrubs were needed, and this is not to mention climbing perennials and flowers, a total of 170 plant species were planted on the territory of the complex. Thanks to such an abundance of flora, greenery can be seen from anywhere in the house, and this is confirmed by the fact that vegetation covers 112% of the entire site, whose area is 8 hectares.
8. Sustainable architecture
The implementation of such a large-scale project was approached more than thoroughly and responsibly, the more the Singapore authorities not only welcome the construction of non-volatile facilities, they have introduced the same rules and regulations for new buildings. Before the start of construction, environmental studies were carried out on the planned site for the construction of the facility, as well as a thorough analysis of the strength and direction of the wind and the impact of solar energy, so as not to be mistaken in determining the landscape design strategy.
Even the electricity needs are satisfied by more than half, and this is without taking into account the general air conditioning system, which was able to organize thanks to the creation of the wind tunnel effect. Project author Ole Scheeren: “We have included in Interlace the features of“sustainable development with a careful analysis of the environment and the integration of passive energy methods with a low level of impact on it”.
According to the editors of Novate. Ru, the residential complex, unique in all respects, was awarded the Urban Habitat Award and the Green Mark Gold PLUS Award, so we can say with confidence that Interlace passed the stability test more than excellently.
9. Budget luxury
Even the most fastidious tenants are unlikely to be able to find flaws in this unique complex, so it can be assumed that the cost of square meters in this heavenly place will be transcendental. But this is not so, innovative technologies, modern building materials, rational planning made it possible to carry out all the work within the budget. This made it possible to sell housing at a reasonable price.
In this complex, 1,040 apartments were created - these are spacious two-, three-, four-room apartments, as well as housing with increased comfort - penthouses and duplexes. The final cost per square meter depended on this. Basically, representatives of the middle class became the inhabitants of the residential complex "Interlace" and the apartments were sold out instantly.
To be fair I must say that middle-class Singaporeans are much richer than representatives of the same level in other countries, because Singapore ranks 8th in the world in terms of per capita income.
And another very interesting fact: the residents of the ultra-modern complex can use all the benefits located on its territory (swimming pools, sports complexes, theaters, cinemas, etc.) for free!
In the modern world, there are countries that care not only about the comfortable living of the townspeople, but also do not forget about student dormitories. For example, a futuristic complex was built in Copenhagen, in which they organized not only ideal conditions for students to live, but also gave everyone the opportunity to join social life, developing and showing their individuality.