Our approach at Bukit Canberra is about establishing harmony between the built and the natural environment through the application of regenerative design principles. The design regards the environment as an equal stakeholder and by melding together social and ecological systems, we delivered a living building that is not only inspired by nature but merges and thrives with it.

The integrated community, sports and lifestyle hub sits on a 12-hectare wooded site and serves about 100,000 residents in the Sembawang heartland. Instead of clearing out the site’s terrain and natural environment, we celebrated it by preserving the hilly topography and forest ecology.

The master plan prioritises biodiversity with green-and-blue infrastructure to create a self-regenerative landscape. Our tree conservation and succession-planting strategies have resulted in the retainment of over 460 native and healthy trees out of the existing 1,129, and in the planting of some 2,050 more native species; effectively intensifying the green coverage and biodiversity index of the site. This is supported by water-sensitive urban design features that contribute to conditions that enable the floral and fauna to thrive.

Architecturally, we employed biomimetic hexagonal geometry; a common shape in nature, it allows for rational yet organic order in massing planning which is ideal for the site’s triangular shape and undulating topography. The geometry also blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, and allows nature and landscaped areas to be woven into the modules. The result is a landscape network that serves as a binding system to connect the different spaces, amenities and users within the large-scale development.

In the large-span Indoor Sports Hall, a structure of Glulam column-and-beam frame construction with low-carbon, sustainably sourced Mass Engineered Timber (MET) is used. The use of the Design for Manufacturing and Assembly approach ensured a cleaner construction site as well as greater efficiency and accuracy in build.

Collaboratively conceived with our stakeholders and industry partners, Bukit Canberra is a better-than-sustainable development that progresses towards regenerative urban ecology.

AWARDS
SGBC-BCA LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABILITY AWARD \ Winner, Building Project Leadership – Community Engagement, 2024
ULI ASIA PACIFIC AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE \ Finalist, Civic & Public, 2024
WAF AWARD \ Shortlisted, Civic & Community, 2024