The Tembusu: Weaving Nature into High-Density Living

Arc Studio's Award-Winning Residential Condominium in Singapore

The Tembusu, located in Hougang, Singapore, is a testament to the innovative design approach of Arc Studio Architecture Urbanism PteLtd. Inspired by the site's history as Wing Tai's garment factory, the architecture embodies the qualities of softness and layering. The groundscape flows vertically upwards in a facade made up of fine filaments to form towers of trees and sky gardens. The landscape and the architecture are abstractions of the act of weaving to form a tapestry of forms, colours, and textures, providing a conceptual connection back to the site's origin as a garment factory.

What sets The Tembusu apart is its unique architectural and landscape features. Delicate threads of nature around the columns interweave with the architecture to create an organic, living facade, bringing the landscape closer to the residential units. The landscape drapes over two sky links, creating an intimate experience with nature. The development also features a water feature that captures and retains rainwater, giving rise to meandering streams within the lush landscape. The Tembusu promises a bouquet of luxurious facilities throughout the development, including various sizes of pools, thematic pavilions, and a private clubhouse.

The design realization technology employed in The Tembusu is equally impressive. The vertical green elements throughout the levels soften the overall facade of the building, acting as buffer zones to blur out the public and private boundaries. The irregular shape of the swimming pool enhances the swimming experience. The sky terraces use precast concrete slabs to minimize construction tolerance. A self-climbing jumpform process allowed an effective and precise adjustment of the formwork in all planes.

The Tembusu houses 337 units in five 18-storey blocks, interconnected as three superblocks. Facilities include a 50m swimming pool, pavilions, and a tennis court. The Tembusu also offers six different unit types, ranging from 1-bedroom to 4-bedroom units, including three different types of penthouses. The project started in 2012 and was completed in 2016.

The design concept was generated from the history of the site, using garments and the technique of weaving to come up with the overall texture of the building. Extensive landscape from the first storey flows vertically upwards to form vertical forests and sky gardens. The landscape and architecture displayed here are abstractions of the act of weaving to create a tapestry of forms, colours, and textures that allows the architecture to connect back to the origin of the site.

The Tembusu creates a humanized high-density living space by weaving a tapestry of sky gardens around three interconnected superblocks. The sky gardens become an extension of the units when they form a park network in the sky. A layer of semi-public private spaces is created that promotes greater social interaction among residents. Delicate threads of nature interweave with the architecture to create an organic, living facade. The landscape is designed around a rain remediation system that is expressed as streams and ponds. The Tembusu is a celebration of a tapestry of life, nature, and architecture.