School of the Arts, Singapore
Location: 1, Zubir Said Drive, Singapore 227968
Project Type: Competition, Educational, Institutional
Status: Completed
Scale: >10,000m²
This project is a specialist high school for the visual and performing arts and located in the heart of Singapore’s Civic District. It combines a high-density, innercity school with a professional performing arts venue. The design strategy for this inner-city school creates two visually connected horizontal strata, a space for public connection below, and safe, controlled interaction. This strategy solves the twin objectives of porosity and communication with the public and wider arts community on the one hand and a secure and safe learning environment. The two parts were named the Backdrop and the Blank Canvas.
The Backdrop is the podium with a concert hall, drama theatre, black box theatre, and several small informal performing spaces. Against this backdrop, the school communicates with the public realm.
The informal spaces between the performance spaces are designed around an urban short-cut, allowing the public to see the school's activities. A civic amphitheater has been created under conserved trees and is very popular. Architecturally, the Backdrop is designed as a faceted sculptural space framing the surrounding city views in new and interesting ways.
The Blank Canvas is the secure school area. The metaphor suggests open possibilities. Three long rectangular blocks have a secure point of access yet are visually connected to the public areas below. Classrooms, studios, and circulation are all naturally ventilated, with dynamic visual and physical links between blocks. The green facades are environmental filters, cutting out glare and dust, keeping the rooms cool, and in combination with the acoustic ceilings, absorb traffic noise. The rooftop is designed as a large recreation park in the sky.
Reference: School of the Arts WOHA. Retrieved from https://www.world-architects.com/en/woha-singapore/project/school-of-the-arts