Future Cities Lab II

Systematic understanding the environmental, social, economic and aesthetic benefits of dense and green building typologies in high-density urban contexts.

Contemporary architecture and urban design practice is increasingly exploring the integration of green spaces in large-scale buildings, producing new typologies for high-density contexts that include public space, extensive sky terraces, sky bridges, vertical parks, roof gardens and other ‘green’ components.

Aims & Significance

The research contributes to the systematic understanding of environmental, social, urban, architectural and economic benefits of dense and green building typologies in high-density urban contexts.

Approach

We have reviewed over 400 national and international dense and green projects out of which eight (six in Singapore, one in Sydney, Australia and one in Milan, Italy) were chosen as case studies for a thorough investigation of their environmental, social, economic, and design benefits. The findings of all work packages serve as the basis for the Research Team’s development of design strategies for dense and green buildings in high-density urban contexts. These will subsequently be tested in the context of the joint FCL Tanjong Pagar Waterfront Project.

DGBT collaborates with other FCL teams on research methods design, data collection, analyses and the development of digital models.

Beyond FCL, DGBT collaborates with a number of Singapore research institutions and government agencies, including SUTD, NUS, URA, BCA, HDB, PUB, and CLC.

Progress and Outcome

Case study example: group8asia, Punggol Waterway Terraces I (2015).
Design benefits: We investigate correlations between density and greenery through analysing building design, design strategies and perceptions of professionals, as well as
the functions and perceptual qualities of green typologies in high-density urban contexts related to spatial definition, walkability, and storm water management.
Social benefits: Studies the post-occupancy use of different dense and green building typologies, people’s preferences in terms of space use and the influence of dense and green building typologies on activities, pedestrian movement, health and environmental comfort.  
Environmental benefits: Investigates vegetation and biodiversity on the site and how greenery influences the microclimatic temperature of social spaces on and around buildings.
Economic benefits: Investigates influence of greenery on:
    •    the cost of construction and maintenance,
    •    the property price,  and
    •    the value of the neighbour

Events

Organised by Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and hosted by the Singapore Urban Revelopment Authority (URA), the Symposium brought together important stakeholders, including policy makers, planners, developers, architects and landscape architects, to discuss how dense and green building typologies can contribute to developing compact yet highly liveable future cities.

Download WA201804_Special Report (PDF, 780 KB)

Download Dense and Green_Neue_Zürcher_Zeitung_2018-03- (PDF, 722 KB)

Download Presentation_20171207 (PDF, 5.2 MB)

Download Video WOHA Presentation 20171207 (M4V, 59.8 MB)

Download Video The Interlace Presentation 20171207 (M4V, 68.9 MB)

Download Video DAWSON (MP4, 315 MB)

Download Video INTERLACE (MP4, 396.6 MB)

Download Video KTPH (MP4, 342.2 MB)

Download Video OASIA (MP4, 391.1 MB)

Download Video PUNGGOL (MP4, 398.9 MB)

Download Video SOLARIS (MP4, 452.1 MB)

Download Video (MP4, 48.6 MB) ‘Dense and Green Building Typologies: Architecture as Urban Ecosystem’ is part of the ‘Time Space Existence’ exhibition hosted by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) at Palazzo Mora in Venice. It is presented as part of the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale from 26 May to 25 November 2018.

Download Video ETH FCL SRF Kulturplatz Teil 01: Sendung vom 12 September 2018 (MP4, 84.5 MB)

Download Video ETH FCL SRF Kulturplatz Teil 02: Sendung vom 12 September 2018 (MP4, 97.9 MB)

Download Video ETH FCL SRF Kulturplatz Teil 03: Sendung vom 12 September 2018 (MP4, 174 MB)

Download Video ETH FCL 3Sat Nano: Sendung vom 24. Oktober 2018 (MP4, 187.9 MB)