Paya Lebar Quarter is an SGD3.2 billion urban regeneration project set to transform Paya Lebar into a bustling, pedestrian-friendly, new city precinct and dynamic regional business hub. The development will bring together progressive workspaces, retail and entertainment facilities, as well as exclusive residences set within generous lush green spaces. The developer wanted a mixed-use development where each component—from retail to residential and commercial—excel in their respective classes, yet are seamlessly woven together as part of the vision they had for the entire project. They also set out with the goal that it will be an environmentally friendly mixed-use project from the very start, as part of their aim to share their world-class expertise and help lead sustainability efforts in Singapore. Each facet of Paya Lebar Quarter reflects excellence in quality, while retaining and reflecting the community spirit around it.
CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
Paya Lebar is more conveniently located than other regional centres, being only 10 minutes away from the central business district, yet closer to the airport as well, which is just a 15-minute commute away. The architecture vocabulary of Paya Lebar Quarter reflects the strong local cultural identity synonymous with the area and inspiration was drawn from the neighbourhood’s cultural elements and motifs.
Given Paya Lebar’s distinctive sense of place and cultural identity, a major influence and source of inspiration is the Songket in Malay culture. The complex language, shapes, colours, designs of the Songket—which is a fabric belonging to the brocade family of textiles—are woven throughout the project, informing its conceptualisation and visuals. Its main colours like gold and silver will feature prominently, as well as shapes and designs like diamonds and knitting patterns, enhancing the visual appeal of the entire precinct.
Paya Lebar Quarter will have numerous features to serve the wider community actively. Park connectors circling Paya Lebar Quarter will plug into a larger, more comprehensive cycling network, and are 6 metres wide to accommodate cyclists. This also aligns with the aim for Paya Lebar Quarter to be an active stakeholder in the community. There will also be 100,000 square feet of public green spaces, including 20,000 square feet of covered event plaza amidst lush landscaping, water features and outdoor children’s playground, with retail options and quality al fresco dining.
MATERIALS
The main materials used are concrete, steel reinforcement, structural steel, aluminium, glass façades, balustrades and windows. Other resources include electrical cabling, ductwork, metal piping amongst general materials like plasterboard and tiles. The majority of materials are sourced from local subcontractors, but raw materials are occasionally obtained from suppliers overseas before manufacturing locally into the products delivered to the site.
A primary consideration in the supply chain is always safety. The developer ensures that their vendors have a good track record on-site as well as off-site in manufacturing plants and are backed by an experienced and reliable team. They have also set sustainability compliance measures for the entire supply chain built around protecting energy efficiency, water consumption and waste reduction. Sustainability is one of their guiding principles. Their sustainability framework adopts an integrated approach that encompasses environmental, social and economic performance, which all their major urban development projects need to observe.
CONSTRAINTS
The site faces a unique constraint of being built across different plots. From concept to creation, the development was seamlessly connected, bringing together progressive workplace, retail, entertainment and exclusive residences in one inclusive urban space. The generous and well-designed public space comprises two key zones, the Plaza and the Promenade, offering a series of folding green landscapes that connect the different buildings to their surroundings. Roof gardens, terraces and a landscape deck in the residences are fully integrated into the buildings and the result is a connected green vernacular across the entire development. Aligned with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) walking and cycling plan, Paya Lebar Quarter also offers a cycling path for the community that runs through the precinct, linking to the wider Park Connector Network.
PROJECT DATA
Project Name: Paya Lebar Quarter
Location: Paya Lebar, Singapore
Status of Construction: Under construction
Expected Completion: 2H 2018 onwards (in phases)
Site Area: 3.9 hectares
Gross Floor Area: 1.8 million square feet
Building Height: Paya Lebar Quarter mall: six retail floors plus one dedicated floor with cinema and entertainment offers
Office Towers 1 and 2: 14 storeys each
Office Tower 3: 13 storeys
Residences, 3 blocks (Park Place
Residences at PLQ): 17 storeys each
Number of Rooms/Units: Paya Lebar Quarter mall: 200+ units
Office Towers 1 and 2: 11 levels of office space each
Office Tower 3: 10 levels of office space
Residences, 3 blocks (Park Place Residences
at PLQ): 429 one- to three-bedroom units)
Developer: Lendlease
Architecture Firm: DP Architects
Principal Architect: DP Architects
Principal Designer: DP Architects
Civil & Structural Engineer: ARUP
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Meinhardt Singapore Pte Ltd
Quantity Surveyor: Lendlease
Lighting Consultant: ARUP
Landscape Architect: Grant Associates
Green Building Consultant: ARUP
Main Contractor: Lendlease
Images: Paya Lebar Quarter
