Prince George Park Residence

Narratives

Architect Narrative

From the larger conceptualization of the overall planning right down to the room layout and the details, this is a design that is unique to the site, the brief, the vision of the University and the need for a conducive student living environment.
The client, The National University of Singapore intended to house its expanding undergraduate and post graduate students population in a new development that will facilitate a lively environment and exchanges between its multi-national students.
The site (7.2ha) chosen is in the more remote part of the campus; a heavily undulating and sloping terrain with lush greeneries and panoramic views of the distant sea and port. The brief is for a self-contained development with 2,850 single rooms for undergraduates and 200 studio apartments for married foreign postgraduate students. This is to be grouped into various Halls of 500 to 600 students population each.
In deriving the massing, the curved profile of the site and the bend of the road give a strong visual cue for the creation of a curved form that acts as a focal point of the whole development. Acting like a magnet it draws all the blocks together, keeping a unified whole. The new development fully embraces an existing 500-students hostel on the northern front.
6 Halls have been created and are distinct by placing them in separate groups. The curved blocks, Hall 2 & 3 are the ‘urban blocks’ and the radiating blocks of Halls 4, 5 & 6 with internal courtyards are seen as suburban blocks. We could explore and differentiate the various Halls more if time permits. All rooms in the Halls are single room type. Wireless internet points are installed in Canteens, functional rooms, and outdoor spaces to encourage informal learning and exchange of ideas.
The main focus is the main entrance and the Central Piazza. From a framed glass canopy, it draws ones’ view into the piazza and the seaport beyond. It is intended to be the main activity hub and gathering space where bazaars, festive gatherings, cultural events, etc can take place. An internal pedestrian street is created that serves the whole development. From this street, one can filter into the different Halls and the surrounding greeneries. The scheme intended to preserve as much as possible the natural topography and landscape of the site for the enjoyment of the student residents.
During the early construction stage, the client requested for a Conference cum Seminar facilities to be included. We are able to take full advantage of the site terrain and locate the facilities below the Piazza. Short courses or seminars are regularly conducted here, and accommodations are easily accessible and available during vacation period. This provides another income revenue for the upkeep of this development.
We have envisaged that the Prince George’s Park Students Hostel is organized like a small ‘italian’ town in itself with streets and piazza, small lanes and niches. This arrangement has creates a variety of interesting spaces for different types of activities.
The NUS students hostel is a microcosm of the larger campus life and eventually of the larger society, and like that model, there is a need to provide for human interactions at different levels. There is a place for the individual, a place for a close group of friends and a place for community. Over and beyond, it strives through built-form to encourage chance meetings, gatherings and exchanges of ideas to eventually promote growth in thinking and maturity that is essential in the life of a varsity student.

Educator Narrative

This hostel development is the winning scheme submitted by M/s Architects Vista Pte Ltd through a 2-stage design competition held by the University.

Through imagination and ingenuity, the architect has come out with an attractive scheme that fitted well within the challenging terrain and existing landscape that is within a valley.

We are pleased that the completed development fulfilled most of our requirements and design intents set out in the first place. The hostel development in responding to the design brief and physical environment, also addressed NUS’s aim for a new concept in campus living that will provide the students with a vibrant lifestyle, a different living environment, memorable spaces and a rich kaleidoscope of activities and experiences. To this end, the design has created a livelier outdoor environment whereby, street activities, performances, events can take place on regular basis.

The students are able to live, study and interact in a safe open environment and at various levels within the hostel ground. There are various different spaces for student interactions. This development, as such, has provided a safe and conducive living and studying environment for students staying within the campus.

The grouping of 15 students per apartment has worked well to foster a stronger bond between them. The students often gather and interact over self-cooked meals in their common dining room. It has a community, village feel to it.

The development is distinctive and often frequented by outside visitors. Since its completion, the new hostel has been well received by the local and oversea students, as well as visiting foreign educators.

We truly hope that Architects Vista’s submission would be recognized for its creative design and strong emphasis on student’s bonding and interactions, which is fundamental to the success of this development and attractiveness of this University.

Overall, we are pleased with the outcome of this new hostel development.