One-North
One-North from Brian Lee
one-north

This exercise asked for a cultural and leisure facility in a predominantly-natural space nestled in the heart of an urban district. Key considerations included sensitivity to natural elements, connection to the surrounding built-up areas and scale. The resulting design avoids the majority of trees on-site and channels human traffic from key pedestrian routes into an urban spine. The spine, along with the majority of functions are partially submerged to maintain views between the surrounding buildings and nature. The theater building straddles the urban spine and creates a iconic structure that echoes the scale of nearby colonial bungalows. A number of gathering spaces are created in this development to enhance its flexibility as a cultural venue.

The urban spine connects key pedestrian paths in and around the site, capturing spillover activity from the surrounding developments. Commercial and exhibition spaces flank the spine, and are partially submerged to take advantage of the natural topography of the site.
The theater straddles the spine and it's formal spaces, connecting users with a street-level plaza and entrance foyer to the rear as well as a balcony at the front. The building cantilevers towards the heart of the site, framing views of the trees.
The site is bounded by dense urban developments to the East and South. In the centre of the site is natural vegetation. The spine connects pedestrian routes from these developments while skirting the bulk of the trees.
A street level plaza leads users into an entrance foyer of the theater. The theater opens out onto a balcony, designed for private events and mingling of users. The balcony and foyer feature long overhangs in order to prevent direct sunlight from entering the theater space.
The spine is the main circulation route providing access to the commercial and exhibition spaces. A break in the formal space allows for a connection to the grassy area north of the building. The sheltered area under the leatherette (dark orange) can be used for day-to-day commercial purposes or special events.
Holes of turf in the ground reduce the amount of hardscape surface area. The turf allows for absorption of rainwater to reduce the risk of flash flooding and allow for evapotranspiration during non-rainy weather in order to reduce ambient temperatures. The turf holes play an additional role in channeling human movement through the spine, with smaller holes allowing for faster movement and bigger holes impeding traffic.
Lighting studies affects the porosity of the theater's walls and ceiling. Careful consideration was made to control the penetration of light into the seating area, hence the openings in considerably smaller and spaced further apart while the balcony and foyer is created more porous.
The spine provides users with an intimate, shielded space despite being open-air.
Vertical circulation elements connect the lower level with the street-level plaza above.
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one-north

This exercise asked for a cultural and leisure facility in a predominantly-natural space nestled in the heart of an urban district. Key considerations included sensitivity to natural elements, connection to the surrounding built-up areas and scale. The resulting design avoids the majority of trees on-site and channels human traffic from key pedestrian routes into an urban spine. The spine, along with the majority of functions are partially submerged to maintain views between the surrounding buildings and nature. The theater building straddles the urban spine and creates a iconic structure that echoes the scale of nearby colonial bungalows. A number of gathering spaces are created in this development to enhance its flexibility as a cultural venue.

Brian Lee
Architecture Undergraduate Singapore, Singapore