When LTA (Land Transport Authority) wanted to renovate its Blocks 7 and 8 from the old conservative office setting to one that was contemporary, vibrant and ecological, the design team at DB&B had quite a challenge in hand.
The foremost challenge was to inject a refreshing feel to the entire place, recalls Shafie Latiff, designer, DB&B. The introduction of timber veneer as the main surface finishes and a neutral earthy palette helped to create a warmer approach to the design.
Though the team proposed to retain the main structure of the building, architectural enhancements coupled with vertical extensions of ceiling heights have been used in certain areas. The design is kept basic and minimal in most parts of the building.
With the concept of a seamless journey in mind, a dramatic directional corridor accentuates the flow to different pockets of spaces throughout the entire recreational club in Block 7. The waiting lounge houses activities such a café, karaoke rooms, cable television, X-box gaming, gymnasium, seminar rooms, pool tables and even a reading and plug-in music room. Interaction spaces are evident with the cluster of seating arrangements throughout the smaller lounge which has a full view of the main lounge.
The multi-purpose hall mainly used for seminars and occasionally for yoga classes is divided into three common rooms with operable walls, enabling it to be opened as one huge seminar room.
Using glass, the designers have attempted to blend and integrate the indoors with the outdoors. “It also brings in a lot of natural light,” Latiff notes
Source: HRM Singapore, 2006, Issue 6.11