DP Architects: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. The site is located in the mature Bukit Merah heartland of Singapore, at the void deck of 4-room and 3-room HDB flats. The site has excellent vehicular connectivity to Lower Delta Road and Kampung Bahru Road, with easy access to the city centre. The area is characterised by a mix of public and private residential housing, as well as schools, complemented by numerous green spaces such as Bukit Purmei Hillock Park, Rail Corridor, and Mount Faber. Additionally, the proximity of markets and food centres contributes to a bustling atmosphere with high foot traffic from passersby and residents.

CONTEXT: DEMOGRAPHY

The demographic makeup of the surrounding residents predominantly consists of multi-generational family units. The uniqueness of the demographic at Bukit Purmei lies in its predominantly retired grandparents, who often spend most of their day alone while the adults and children are out working and schooling. The noticeable gap in their afternoons and a significant reduction in social connections deprive them of opportunities for meaningful interactions with others, ultimately leading to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

The impact of social isolation is often overlooked, despite its association with increased risks of death, heart disease, stroke, cognitive impairment, dementia, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. With the shift from reactive treatment to preventive healthcare, addressing the issues of social isolation is key to allowing our seniors to age gracefully into their golden years.

Recognising these opportunities, the design intent is to transform the underutilised void deck space into a vibrant communal area for seniors, revitalizing it into a welcoming environment where they can gather, socialize, and participate in enriching activities such as woodworking, digital learning, Tai Chi, Steps Exercises and cooking classes.

CONCEPT: DESIGN INTENT & FEATURE

Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) is a social living room for residents. Headed by Montfort Care, a social welfare organisation, “Goodlife” adopts a holistic approach to addressing the physical and mental wellness of seniors. Situated within Bukit Merah HDB flats, the vacated kindergarten is repurposed into a 300 sqm communal space encompassing 3 studios, namely Carpentry Studio, Active Studio, and Culinary Studio to create a fun and vibrant setting for lifelong learning.

EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LEARNING – The centre aims to provide studio spaces with different settings to facilitate programs tailored to the needs and interests of the seniors. Recognising the importance of tapping into subjects that seniors are familiar with, such as “Craftsmanship”, the centre is subdivided into three zones to be suited as 3 learning studio settings. Kayu, which means wood in the Malay language, is often used colloquially to describe making a mistake. The main studio, “Kayu Artisan”, allows seniors to express their creative flair through crafts while embracing imperfections. Recognising that seniors may face physical limitations as they age, the studio offers a fun and light-hearted environment where they can freely express themselves. Here, we encourage seniors to embrace the process and understand that making mistakes is a normal part of the journey, normalising imperfections along the way. In this dynamic setting, the more experienced senior artisans will become stewards of the learning community, allowing a continuation of wisdom and knowledge while forging meaningful camaraderie among peers. Active Studio and Culinary Studio are introduced to enable informal gatherings and learning to take place. This approach ensures the centre becomes a vibrant hub where seniors can socialize, learn, and enjoy in a supportive and engaging environment.

BORDERLESS AND OPEN SETTING TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION – The centre is fitted with full-height glass doors, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior spaces, breaking away from the conventional gated and inward-looking senior care centre, ushering in a new model of active aging centre. Active Studio coupled with movable and collapsible furniture allows the centre to accommodate events and celebrations of different scales, creating an open and inviting setting that encourages participation from the seniors.

VIBRANT AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT – Materials and colours are carefully selected to complement the zoning of the three studios. Bright solid hues are paired with muted timber tones to infuse liveliness into the warm-toned spaces. As the centre has an irregular shape, an arbitrary grid system is overlaid onto the space, as a guide for users to navigate while providing a cohesive design language for the centre. This grid system is then translated into a modular frame system that is intricately detailed to accommodate the diverse needs of different settings within the centre. In the Carpentry Studio, with a workshop setting that requires ample storage, modular furniture is used to define the storage of materials and equipment. In the Active Studio, with an open concept, the modular frame system will morph into a seating and projection area for large-scale events. In the transitional area, the system becomes lockers for social workers and seniors. The modular frame system is then transformed into built-in sinks and display areas in the Culinary and Art Studio. This careful consideration of colour zoning and spatial design not only brightens up the space but also lends the centre a unique and distinctive character.

An embodiment of intentional programming and thoughtful design, Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) showcases how design can empower individuals to age gracefully and healthfully within their own homes and communities.

Project Details:-
Firm
DP Architects

Architect/Designer
DP Architects

Project Name
Goodlife Studio @ Bukit Purmei

Project Category
Public Building Interior Built

Team
Seah Chee Huang, Jehan Nair, Song Tingxuan

Project Location
Singapore

Country
Singapore

Photography ©Credit
DP Architects

DP Architects, founded in 1967, is a leading multidisciplinary design practice offering a wide repertoire of architecture and its related services, including urban planning, engineering, sustainable design, interior design, façade design and landscape architecture. With iconic projects such as the Golden Mile Complex, Singapore Sports Hub and Dubai Mall, it has expanded its impact to over 70 countries. The practice is committed to creating better-than-sustainable outcomes and has further consolidated its sustainable design capabilities through its Green-Well-Tech thrust; enhancing its interdisciplinary design and delivery to contribute to long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits that will advance both human and planetary health.

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