Formerly the site of the Fuji Xerox Towers, Newport Plaza comprises a unique vertical stacking of various components — residences, offices and serviced apartments — each with distinct operational and lifestyle requirements.
To bring this ambitious project to life, CDL engaged leading Japanese architectural, planning and engineering firm Nikken Sekkei and Singaporean architectural practice ADDP Architects; the two firms collaborated and jointly reviewed the design and layout during the planning stage.
Newport Plaza comprises Newport Residences, a 246-unit residential component from levels 23 to 45; and Newport Tower, a commercial component with Grade A offices from levels two to nine and restaurants on the ground floor. Branded serviced apartments will also occupy levels 10 to 22 of the development.
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Amid the towering steel, glass and concrete, Newport Plaza injects biophilic design to infuse new life into the district, say Nikken Sekkei’s Takamori Yamazaki and ADDP’s Alex Tang. To “bring nature back into the concrete jungle”, some eye-catching features include green walls, sky gardens and roof terraces.
“Designed as an urban vertical green, every component at Newport Plaza has its own greenery elements. The development has achieved more than 100% landscape replacement,” they add.
Newport Plaza is the first private residential and mixed-use development to receive the prestigious BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Award. A solar photovoltaic system is expected to replace 30% of the energy consumption in selected residential common areas such as the function rooms, gym and swimming pool.
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Founded in 1900, Nikken Sekkei is one of the world’s largest architectural practices. Known for their work on the Tokyo Skytree in Japan and the Shanghai Greenland Centre in China, the firm seeks to create spaces that go beyond the merely functional to surprise, delight and inspire.
Nikken Sekkei was also involved in developing the masterplan proposals for the Rail Corridor. The Japanese firm recently worked with CDL to design Zyon Grand — a joint venture with Mitsui Fudosan — drawing inspiration from the orchid, Singapore’s national flower.
Newport Plaza’s design “envisions greenery rising to embrace the urban landscape, creating harmony between nature and city”, says Yamazaki, executive, design fellow in Nikken Sekkei’s architectural design department.
“The tower is conceived as a living structure, softly draped in the wind, embodying both strength and serenity,” adds Yamazaki, who is the design consultant for Newport Plaza.
Vertical stacking
Newport Plaza adopts a unique triangular form, which maximises views to the future Greater Southern Waterfront.
According to Yamazaki and Tang, one key challenge was the placement of residential amenities within a “non-conventional vertical configuration”, which is more complicated than the typical landscape deck commonly found in other condominiums.
To overcome this challenge, the design adopts a vertical and strategic arrangement of various amenities. Lush, landscaped spaces are integrated throughout the development, engaging the urban surroundings, while framing the spectacular views. This “nature-led living” presents a “new level of elevated urban luxury abode”, says Tang, who is senior principal architect at ADDP and the principal architect for Newport Plaza.
For example, Sky Gardens are strategically located at corners of the tower, offering both an intimate retreat and a shared space for social gatherings outside of the residents’ private homes.
For residents, four landscaped sky gardens are positioned on levels 25, 29, 37 and 41, each opening up to a unique view. “The landscape design is thoughtfully designed to shape the physical, functional and social spaces that support communal interaction, while also providing areas of privacy for quiet retreat, active recreation, exercise and relaxation,” say Yamazaki and Tang.
Like a small vertical town, Newport Plaza celebrates the “work, live, play” concept. Prioritising the well-being of office workers and residents alike, “cascading gardens” interweave nature and building, creating a healthy building ecosystem.
By carving multiple break-out spaces like stepped roof terraces, sky terraces and sky gardens at different levels, each component has its own communal space. “Each component includes shared spaces that function as community hubs, supporting co-working and co-living concepts… Nature reduces the urban island heat effect, solar heat-gain to the building and contributes to sustainable efforts,” they add.
Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Privately-Owned Public Spaces (POPS) scheme, covered public spaces on the ground floor may be excluded from gross floor area if they satisfy certain urban design, operational and eligibility requirements.
“With the creation of generous public spaces [under the POPS scheme], lush greenery and good connectivity to the vibrant Tanjong Pagar district, everything is always nearby,” say the duo.
To further celebrate its gateway location, the communal greens within the project are “evenly and strategically placed”, add Yamazaki and Tang, providing panoramic views to relax and unwind when needed.
Privacy in mind
To meet the high volume of human traffic anticipated at Newport Plaza, each component of the mixed-use development is served by dedicated lift lobbies.
Newport Residences is deliberately and thoughtfully positioned away from the office component, Newport Tower, to maintain a clear separation, ensuring privacy and comfort. “For Newport Residences, the lift and arrival lobbies are dedicated to its residents, and access is controlled… The separation also allows efficient movement and minimises any disruptions in traffic flows,” say Yamazaki and Tang.
Newport Residences, located on the upper floors, promises exclusivity and privacy away from the other components on the lower levels.
Residents can also look forward to a full-height curtain-wall system facade and high-performance glazing to lower thermal heat-gain to the interiors. Deep, recessed balconies and perimeter horizontal fins help shade residential units, while laminated glass balustrades offer unblocked views and better acoustics, say Yamazaki and Tang.
A porous building design allows for optimal air movement, say the designers, and residents can make use of energy-efficient air-conditioning systems, ceiling fans and door grilles provided in all units.
Photos: City Developments
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