Tang Kok Thye: Designing sustainable spaces of the future

Tang Kok Thye is an associate partner of ADDP Architects and advocate of sustainability. He was appointed President of the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) from April 2021 to March 2023, a fitting move with the launch of the Singapore Green Building Master Plan becoming part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. His experience and knowledge in this area, and commitment to sustainability, have also seen him join the judging panel of the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2023.

This year’s awards, which focus on sustainability, highlighted some of the most innovative projects from a design and sustainability angle. Projects such as Capitaland Ascott Trust’s lyf one-north at Nepal Park, which featured windows inspired by washing machines, and Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments’ Terra Hill and The Continuum won Tang’s admiration.

“The Continuum was impressive; it overcame the challenge of a split site with a overhead pedestrian bridge for residents,” notes Tang. “Co-living was eye-opening, not just for me but for the other judges too. It made us realise that young people today think very differently from us, and when designing spaces, we need to adapt to their needs.”

Both Terra Hill and The Continuum attained the highest BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Building rating, and the latter won the inaugural Top Sustainability Developer award by CPG Corp.

Tang has also been highly impressed with the prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) method used on projects such as City Developments’ The Brownstone and Whistler Grand, which ADDP Architects designed.

“Whistler Grand was the first time we introduced sky terraces within a high-rise residential tower using PPVC, and this method keeps us experimenting with new ways of doing things,” says Tang.

The boundary between public and private space at EL Development’s Blossoms by the Park is also fenceless thanks to landscaping and retail units on the first level, and a terraced facilities deck on the second level.

Lentor Modern, also developed by GuocoLand with ADDP assigned to design, is another multiple-award winner of the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2023 that has combined PPVC with an integrated design for the Lentor MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. Not only has Tan been impressed with the design, but he also regards Lentor Modern as the most premium site at Lentor Hills estate.

Residents of Bukit Panjang EC, will enjoy easy access to Changi Airport, Downtown Singapore and other parts of the island. The Senja Close area has plenty of educational institutes and shopping places. The condominiums in the vicinity will also be close to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. When it comes to leisure activities, residents will have plenty of recreational options to choose from. Many F&B establishments can be found in the area as well.

“To make Lentor Modern more sensitive to its surroundings, ADDP has reduced the use of reflective glass surfaces at Lentor Modern so the birds don’t fly into them,” Tang explains.

It’s evident that this year’s excellence award projects have pushed the bar in terms of innovation, design and sustainability – a testament to the industry’s commitment in creating a better and sustainable environment.