| Category | Industrial |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Size | 16,800sqm |
Projects
Sunray Woodcraft Construction Headquarters
Engineering for efficiency and economy
Sunray Woodcraft Construction is one of the largest interior builders in Singapore for interior fit-out works. The building housing the company’s new headquarters is one of the first to be completed as part of the newly positioned International Furniture Hub in Sungei Kadut, Singapore. It presents an opportunity to look afresh at the light industrial factory type, stacking production processes in order to optimise working conditions.
The original brief called for an office building with an attached factory, complete with gallery showrooms and workers’ dormitories, to replace the existing headquarters in Singapore and existing factory in Johor Bahru. This merging of two elements of the factory’s production process and originally separate uses prompted a rethink of the spatial arrangement and workflow of the eight-storey building, which now comprises production space, workers’ dormitory, warehouse, offices and showrooms.
The headquarters is designed to reflect the company’s design and craft expertise. The building’s stacked timber box design is a series of interconnected volumes which correspond to their interior functions. Its design was driven by three challenges – namely, a wide range of user requirements, the client’s ambitious requirement for increased space and the unique position of the site within the estate, which makes it highly visible from passing trains nearby.
Working closely with the architectural team to realise the aesthetic vision, our principal focus was to design structural frames for best approach, efficiency and economy; all while complying with the buildability score as required by the authorities.
Details
The design redefines the notion of tropical architecture and the characteristic wood and furniture factory – from the typical, open-sided, corrugated metal roof, warehouse type commonly seen in the region – into a design that is highly efficient and aesthetically appealing. The building is a striking design statement embodying the efficiency and pride the client has in their craft, raising the bar for similar development types in the surrounding Sungei Kadut area.
A full site study and consultation with the architecture team is crucial at the design concept stage as it minimises technical setbacks and ensures buildability of design.
A simple spiral staircase leading to the showroom above makes a subtle allusion to the curve of wood shavings oft found in the production space of the headquarters.
Responding to the subjective needs of the interior spaces, the building skin envelops each space accordingly, with large horizontal openings to bring in ventilation and light for production spaces, smaller vertical openings for office spaces and an enclosed box to retain the controlled light conditions required in the showroom.
A new headquarters
The building experience for each group is carefully planned with the user’s requirements driving the design. For example, contiguous floor space between production zones and dormitories allow fast and easy access for workers. Dormitory floors are stacked towards the rear of the site, facing away from other workshop activities which may cause noise or dust and allow for maximum privacy. Between the main office workspace and the offices of upper management, reception areas overlook roof terraces, filling these areas with natural light and providing long vistas over the estate. Here, a secondary lift core allows staff direct access into the workshop and warehouse areas.
Ensuring a seamless design and smooth production processes were crucial to maximising efficiency and quality control. The design, meticulously catering for a wide range of users, their needs, as well as the movement of raw materials and finished products, helps to give the building a rich and varied focus.
Specialist Services
Integrated services provided for this project.
AWARDS
| 2015 |
President’s Design Award 2015 - Design of the Year Sunray Woodcraft Construction Headquarters |
|---|---|
| 2014 |
14th SIA Architectural Design Awards Sunray Woodcraft Construction Headquarters |