bca universal design MARK award 2016 – early engagement key to inclusive design in buildings
- SkyVille@Dawson, CapitaGreen and Enabling
Village the top BCA Universal Design Mark Award winners this year
- Increased variety of public developments with incorporation
of Universal Design concepts and features
Singapore, 12 May 2016 – The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is presenting the BCA Universal Design (UD) Mark Award to 25 exemplary developments this year. The highest honour, the Platinum Award, will go to three completed developments (in no order of merit) – SkyVille@Dawson (a public residential development), CapitaGreen (an office development) and Enabling Village (a community space dedicated to persons with disabilities).
2 First launched in October 2012, the BCA UD Mark is a voluntary certification scheme that recognises progressive developers, building owners and architects who have advocated and applied UD principles in their projects. BCA UD Mark-certified developments typically incorporate a wide range of user-friendly features that cater to the needs of people of all ages and abilities including the young, elderly and persons with disabilities. These projects showcase how inclusive design concepts and features can be successfully incorporated into various buildings and spaces of different nature and scale.
3 This year’s winning projects comprised an increased variety of development types, which include public and private housing, office tower, shopping mall, community clubs and spaces, hawker centres and markets, medical centre, religious building as well as parks and open spaces. The wide range of projects also signifies the growing awareness of the importance of UD in meeting the diverse needs of people and businesses. There has also been an increasing trend of early engagement and collaboration with stakeholders to consciously make considerations for UD at the early design stage.
4 BCA’s Acting Group Director for Building Plan and Management, Mr Teo Orh Hai said, “UD is about addressing the needs of as many people as possible, including persons with disabilities and the elderly. It is about good design which places different users’ needs in the heart of the design process. For this year’s winning projects, many developers, building owners and architects have gone the extra mile in appreciating what their end-users require from the early stages of design, which is truly commendable. It would definitely be more difficult and less meaningful if friendly features are incorporated as an after-thought. We congratulate the winners for championing UD in the built environment with BCA, and are confident of seeing more of such places for people to live, work and play in.”
BCA UD Mark Platinum: SkyVille@Dawson
5 SkyVille @ Dawson is a new generation public housing project that adopts UD holistically, to create an inclusive environment for residents of all ages and abilities to live comfortably and independently. The development features a wide variety of community spaces and multi-generational facilities that are seamlessly linked to each other, as well as neighbouring developments, such as the Alexandra Canal linear park. Within the units, the interior is also designed to provide residents with the flexibility to configure their homes to different lifestyle needs.
6 “Since 2006, HDB has been adopting the Universal Design principles in all our housing projects. This is to allow HDB residents of different abilities and ages to live comfortably and age-in-place in HDB estates. We are encouraged that several HDB developments have been recognised for our efforts in adopting the UD approach. We are particularly honoured that our new generation public housing project, SkyVille@Dawson, has clinched the Platinum Award. It is an affirmation of our efforts in creating well-designed homes and inclusive living environment for all to enjoy. HDB will continue to work closely with our partners and stakeholders to apply UD principles in our projects and create user-friendly homes for Singaporeans”, said Dr Cheong Koon Hean, Chief Executive Officer of Housing & Development Board.
BCA UD Mark Platinum: CapitaGreen
7 CapitaGreen, a 40-storey premium Grade A office tower, incorporates seamless design to help the hearing, visually, and mobility-impaired move more easily within the building. The height of the concierge counter is lower to cater to wheelchair users and a Hearing Induction Loop System facilitates clearer conversations with customers with hearing aids. Lift doors are programmed to remain open longer for the benefit of mobility-impaired visitors. Other features include English Braille / tactile indicators at the start and end of the stairway leading to the pedestrian underpass.
8 “CapitaLand is pleased that CapitaGreen is the first stand-alone office development to be accorded the pinnacle BCA UD Mark Platinum Award. With this, CapitaLand has won four of the 10 Platinum awards since the launch of the Award – the most among real estate developers in Singapore. This year, we are also pleased to receive the BCA UD Mark Award for Bedok Mall & Bedok Residences, The Nassim, and Sky Habitat. These awards affirm our commitment to building inclusive and user-centric developments”, said Mr Simon Yong, Chief Development Officer, Asia, CapitaLand Limited.
BCA UD Mark Platinum: Enabling Village
9 “Building dreams, enabling lives” – the Enabling Village is the first such community space in Singapore that is dedicated to persons with disabilities. The building owner, SG Enable, believes that community spaces should be made accessible to all. As a refurbished development, the Enabling Village demonstrated innovation and practical proof of concept even with challenging terrain and physical barriers. A good example of this is how a previous undulating terrain was transformed into an amphitheatre integrated with ramps and seats.
10 “The Enabling Village was envisioned to be an inclusive community space and a focal point for services for persons with disabilities. Today, the transformed space offers SG Enable the opportunity to forge deeper partnerships with the public, people and private sectors to realise our vision of building an inclusive society, and enabling lives. We build connections with stakeholders who contribute their resources and expertise to co-create training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and to provide new services for the community. The Village exemplifies how social innovations are nurtured to enable persons with disabilities to live independent and fulfilling lives”, said Ms Ku Geok Boon, Chief Executive Officer of SG Enable.
Architect for two of three BCA UD Mark Platinum Projects: WOHA Architects Pte Ltd
11 WOHA Architects, the architect consultant for two of the three BCA UD Mark Platinum projects this year – SkyVille@Dawson and Enabling Village, is proud to be creating designs that add value to the lives of varying users. The local firm’s focus has been to adopt UD holistically and to create a matrix of high quality amenities that complement high density living. These amenities should be accessible, engaging, integrated with nature, and open to light and air.
12 “WOHA believes that the future of public projects should be UD-focused, to create highly-conducive spaces that promote civility, sociability and build genuine communities. UD is about well-integrated designs that stitch social and community space with private space. In an increasingly high density environment, UD is necessary to ensure buildings are humane, generous and sustainable, thereby improving the urban quality of life”, said Mr Richard Hassell, Founding Director of WOHA Architects.
BCA Awards ceremony on 26 May 2016
13 The winners will receive the awards at the BCA Awards ceremony, which will be held on the evening of 26 May 2016 at Resorts World Sentosa. Guest-of-Honour Minister of National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong will present the top BCA awards.
Enclosed:
Annex A – BCA UD
Mark Award
Annex B – List of BCA UD Mark Award 2016 winners