This was our entry for the Char Yong Foundation competition that called for mixed use development proposals. We imagined a radically open building that not only caters to the needs of the clan association, but also invites the public in to use its community facilities.

The Char Yong Association (CYA) has a storied history in Singapore, having served its members since 1858. Today, the association looks towards expanding its community, and preserving Hakka traditions and culture well into the future. We aspired to design a building that meets this purpose by being open, transparent, and inviting to the public.

The traditional Hakka Tulou served as an inspiration for the building design. In the past, the walls of the Tulou protected the community, allowing them to live safely within, but also closing them off. Instead, we wanted to turn the building inside out, and use walls to open up the interior.

The building is split into 2 zones at the lower levels — CYA and commercial. Double-height voids are carved out from the building volume, creating a shared space for both groups and opening the building up to the outside. Iconic curved walls, reminiscent of the Tulou walls, rise up on the sides and visually attract people in. The 5th floor is a continuous space bridging both zones.

The building design incorporates motifs from traditional Chinese culture and the surrounding Geylang context. The curved walls have a geometric pattern based on an interlocking octagon, which is symbolically auspicious. In addition, the wall is visually porous, referencing the ventilated block walls that are commonly found in the neighbourhood.