Tang Kok Thye: Designing sustainable spaces of the future
Tang Kok Thye, associate partner of ADDP Architects, is a long-time advocate of sustainability. As part of his efforts to advance sustainability in Singapore’s built environment, he took part in developing the Singapore Green Building Master Plan, launched in March 2021 as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. As president of Singapore’s Green Building Council from April 2021 to March 2023, Tang was appointed to the SGBC board and the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards judging panel.
The theme for this year’s awards was sustainability, a topic that Tang has been passionate about for many years. He has encouraged developers to pursue the highest standards of sustainability in their projects, such as achieving the BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy Building rating.
Capitaland Ascott Trust’s lyf one-north at Nepal Park was a standout among Tang’s favorites, a 324-unit co-living building designed from precast concrete with sun-shading ledges and fins to reduce solar heat gain. He praises the building’s fresh look and young community vibe. “Co-living was eye-opening, not just for me but for the other judges too,” he says. “It made us realise that young people today think very differently from us, and when designing spaces, we need to adapt to their needs.”
Two other noteworthy projects from this year were the 270-unit Terra Hill at Pasir Panjang in the south and the 816-unit The Continuum at Thiam Siew Avenue in the east. Both freehold projects were jointly developed by Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments and won the inaugural Top Sustainability Developer award from CPG Corp.
At Terra Hill, the developers capitalised on the hilltop location and surrounding greenery, with nine low-rise, five-storey blocks oriented north-south to maximise cross ventilation and unblocked views. “From the model, you can tell they did a good job despite a challenging terrain,” remarks Tang. He was also impressed by the spacious four- and five-bedroom units at The Prestige Collection.
Boasting superior facilities and extensive amenities, Orchard Boulevard Condo offers the perfect abode for urban living. With fantastic views of the city and a host of leisure activities nearby, it is a dream come true for families, expats, and couples alike. Explore the rooftop terrace, lounge by the pool, or take a peaceful walk in the nearby Gardens – the opportunities are endless.
At The Continuum, the developers managed to overcome a split site with a overhead bridge between sites to create a mega condominium. This project was also built with the highest sustainability rating — BCA Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy.
Tang is proud to be part of the team that pioneered the use of prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) with 3D modules built offsite and assembled onsite. ADDP designed The Brownstone by City Developments, the first large-scale residential development using PPVC, and completed in 2017, followed by Whistler Grand. Innovations such as sky terraces with quadruple-volume ceilings were introduced in Whistler Grand’s twin towers.
At EL Development’s Blossoms by the Park, ADDP solved the challenge of a pedestrian thoroughfare by creating a terraced facilities deck and a landscaped public plaza. This project was another multiple award winner this year.
Lentor Modern was also designed by ADDP and achieved multiple awards. The mixed-use development at Lentor Hills estate integrated with the Lentor MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line and has reflective glass surfaces to avoid bird strikes. The mall and public plaza at Lentor Modern will add to the vibrancy of the neighbourhood in the future.
Tang remains dedicated to encouraging higher sustainability standards through his work at SGBC and ADDP Architects in the future, and actively seeks to understand the next generation of customer needs.