A total of 22 HDB Design, Construction and Engineering Awards will be presented this year to architectural and engineering consultants, as well as building contractors for projects that have demonstrated excellent design, engineering and construction. Among them, all winning projects of the HDB Construction Award under the Housing Category also attained the CONQUAS Star, the highest CONQUAS rating conferred upon projects with scores above 95 for quality workmanship. This marks the first time that all projects under the Housing Category have attained CONQUAS Star, and is testament to the significant strides in the construction quality of HDB flats over the years. Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee will present the awards to the winners at the HDB Awards ceremony on 11 October 2022. The full list of this year’s HDB Awards winners is attached in the Annex.

2 HDB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tan Meng Dui said, “Congratulations to our award winners for pushing new frontiers in providing well-designed and quality homes. This has enabled us to continually raise the bar for construction quality, as well as design and engineering excellence in public housing, even amidst the ramp-up in HDB’s building programme and the challenges brought about by Covid-19 over the past two years. With the steady recovery of the construction industry, we will continue to work in close partnership with our industry partners, as we catch up on construction delays and deliver more homes to Singaporeans.”

Setting a New Benchmark for Construction Excellence

3 This year, six building contractors who have shown outstanding project management, construction quality and innovation will be presented with the HDB Construction Award. Of these, five projects are from the Housing Category, and one from the Upgrading Category.

4 For the first time since the inception of HDB Construction Awards in 2010, all the projects under the Housing Category have attained CONQUAS Star, the highest rating under the Building and Construction Authority’s national standard assessment system on the quality of building projects. This is testament to the high benchmark set by public housing projects in construction excellence.

5 Among the award winners, Tampines GreenVerge, undertaken by home-grown construction firm Kay Lim Construction & Trading Pte Ltd, demonstrated innovative construction methods and exceptional project management to overcome site challenges, while upholding the quality of the project and safety of its workers. Completed in September 2021, Tampines GreenVerge is the largest Build-To-Order (BTO) project completed to date, comprising a total of 2,022 dwelling units in 20 residential blocks. It is served by a wide range of facilities such as roof gardens, a childcare centre, eating house, shops, restaurants, and a single storey carpark integrated with a verdant environmental deck (e-deck) connecting to all the blocks.

A verdant environment deck sits atop the sprawling single-storey carpark, interlinking the 20 residential blocks at Tampines GreenVerge
[Photo credit:Kay Lim Construction & Trading Pte Ltd]

6 Right from the early stages of construction, Kay Lim placed great emphasis on detailed planning, focusing on ensuring teamwork, safety management, and optimising its resources. Unlike typical BTO projects where the muti-storey carpark is a standalone structure which can be built alongside the residential blocks, the single-storey carpark at Tampines GreenVerge is situated between the residential blocks, posing a challenge for it to be built concurrently with the blocks. To overcome this and speed up construction, Kay Lim segmented the carpark and blocks into two parcels, enabling the carpark in one parcel to be built, while works for the blocks in another parcel were in full swing.

To speed up construction, Kay Lim segmented the carpark and blocks into two parcels, enabling the carpark in one parcel to be built while works for the blocks in another parcel were in full swing.
[Photo credit: Kay Lim Construction & Trading Pte Ltd]

7 In the face of the manpower challenges, Kay Lim leveraged technology to enable more efficient and productive use of its limited manpower resources. Besides using drones and CCTVs to monitor its construction activities and work progress, another innovation that it adopted was the Smart Silt Stopper, a real-time alert system to prevent silty water discharge from getting washed down to the public waterways during construction. When the system is triggered, the outlet that is connected to a smart switch automatically shuts down to stop the flow of silty discharge, replacing the need to operate the system manually. Through such efficient deployment of its manpower resources, Kay Lim was able to muster sufficient resources to carry out inspections for quality at every stage,and deliver the project with minimal delay despite the large scale of the project and the additional challenges brought about by Covid-19. For upholding good workplace safety practices, it also garnered the WSH SHARP Awards 2021 for this project.

Pushing the Frontiers in Designing Quality Homes

Northshore StraitsView – An Urban Sanctuary along the Waterfront

8 Among the 12 HDB Design Award recipients, Northshore StraitsView by CESMA International Pte Ltd stands out for its strong design identity and distinctive architectural features. Situated in Northshore district, Punggol’s seafront housing district, Northshore StraitsView was designed to capitalise on its waterfront location to provide residents with resort-style homes. Drawing inspiration from the picturesque sceneries found in Chinese landscape paintings, the consultants designed the 26-storey blocks to emulate undulating mountains embracing an urban oasis.

Facing the Punggol seafront, Northshore StraitsView was designed to emulate undulating >mountains, creating a distinctive skyline
[Photo credit: Photographer Mr. Henry Lim]

9 To optimise sea views from the units, the blocks have been carefully angled and arranged rhythmically in a stepped-down manner. This helps to create a more inviting promenade and welcoming entrance to the development. The colour palette comprising soft, natural blues paired with white, as well as the use of “wave-like” design elements in its common spaces and outdoor decks, further add to the precinct’s nautical theme.

10 Lush greenery is weaved throughout the development, including its central green, roof gardens and sky terraces. In the heart of the precinct above a central carpark is a multi-tiered environmental deck equipped with fitness corners and playgrounds. Hidden from view along the promenade, it creates an intimate communal enclave overlooking the waterfront, where residents can enjoy outdoor activities in privacy.

A multi-tiered environment deck equipped with community spaces is layered over a central carpark
[Photo credit: Photographer Mr. Arran Tan]

Northshore Residences I & II and Waterfront I & II @ Northshore – A Unique Waterfront Living Experience Close to Nature

11 Also clinching the HDB Design Award for its innovative and all-encompassing design approach is the mixed integrated development at Northshore Residences I & II and Waterfront I & II @ Northshore, HDB’s first smart and sustainable precincts. Designed by HDB’s in-house team of planners, architects, and engineers, the development comprises some 3,100 dwelling units in four residential projects (Northshore Residences I & II and Waterfront I & II @ Northshore), and is integrated with a neighbourhood centre (Northshore Plaza I & II). The development incorporates sustainable solutions, smart technologies and biophilic strategies to bring about a better living environment for its residents.

A unique waterfront living experience that is close to nature in Punggol Northshore
[Photo credit: HDB]

12 The residential blocks are characterised by their staggered building heights and sky gardens, creating a distinctive variegated skyline while maximising sea views for residents from their units. Each residential block features a double volume void on the ground floor that allows for better wind flow and ventilation.

13 A community spine – a two-storey walkway that interlinks all the blocks and runs seamlessly from the Samudera LRT station to the Coastal Promenade – provides residents with convenient and sheltered access to the waterfront and amenities within the neighbourhood centre. From this community spine, landscaped decks with facilities such as large common greens, children’s playgrounds, and fitness corners, spread out into the residential precincts. These shared spaces offer opportunities for community bonding, enabling residents to enjoy a holistic living experience with seamless connectivity to a plethora of social and communal amenities and nature at their doorstep.

The community spine (shown in yellow) runs seamlessly from the Samudera LRT (on the right) to the Punggol Park Connector and the waterfront (on the left)
[Image credit: HDB]

Northshore Plaza is seamlessly integrated with the public housing blocks and LRT station.
[Photo image: HDB]

14 Commenting on the designs of the housing projects that have garnered the HDB Design Award, Ar Look Boon Gee, Managing Director of LOOK Architects Pte Ltd and Jury member for this year’s HDB Awards said, “The projects showcase a broad variety of design approaches, and employ different types of innovation in incorporating greenery and sustainability, as well as social integration. This is commendable, and I encourage architectural consultants to continue to push the frontiers in public housing design.”

Recognising Engineering Innovation and Excellence

15 On the engineering front, four consultant teams will be conferred the Engineering Award, in recognition of the engineering excellence they have demonstrated in the development of their building projects. The Engineering Award underscores the importance of innovative engineering solutions in laying the foundation for a quality living environment.

16 Among the winning projects is Waterfront I & II @ Northshore. In addition to the HDB Design Award which it bagged, it will also be conferred the HDB Engineering Award (Design) for its well-integrated multi-disciplinary approach that combines engineering analysis with architectural design. Leading the transformation of Punggol Northshore into a living laboratory for smart and sustainable living, the precincts incorporate smart initiatives from the outset to create a more pleasant living environment for residents. For example, HDB carried out environmental modelling to simulate the interaction of environmental factors such as wind flow, the amount of sunlight falling on a surface and shadow casting. These studies helped influence the “staggered-height” building façade and block layout to optimise wind flow and natural ventilation. In addition, more greenery has been planted in potential hotspots, while outdoor amenities such as playgrounds are placed in well-shaded locations for residents’ enjoyment.

Landscaped deck and playgrounds are placed in well-shaded locations
[Photo credit: HDB]

17 Another project, UrbanVille @ Woodlands by KTP Consultants Pte Ltd, will also receive the Innovative Engineering Award (Design) for its complex and creative engineering solutions for the landmark integrated development located at Woodlands Central. One of the attractions under HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) plans for Woodlands town, UrbanVille @ Woodlands comprises eight residential blocks set amidst a myriad of commercial and community facilities. When completed in 2026, residents of UrbanVille @ Woodlands will also have direct access to the Woodlands waterfront through the new WoodsVista Gallery, a 1.9-kilometre-long community link with dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths.

Artist’s Impression of UrbanVille @ Woodlands, a landmark integrated development with public housing set in Woodlands Central
[Image credit: Kyoob Architects Pte Ltd]

18 Among the eight blocks is a pair of 32-storey twin towers with a connecting skybridge on the 24th storey to offer vantage views of the town. The skybridge, spanning 22 metres, will be constructed using precast concrete technology for easier buildability and safety. The engineering design process involves thorough structural analysis and detailing of the skybridge, taking into consideration various factors such as loading conditions, to ensure its sturdiness and durability.

19 As the project sits on an uneven plot, engineers designed a retaining wall system formed by connecting Contiguous Bored Pile (CBP) with buttress piles, to create a robust earth-retaining structure. This structure will be integrated into the design to form an ‘Eco Valley’, which will bridge the difference in levels between the residential blocks and the carpark. This innovative retaining wall system is also environmentally sustainable, as it significantly reduces the use of concrete and number of piles required.

Artist’s Impression of the Eco Valley with lush landscape and leisure space for residents
[Image credit: Tinderbox Landscape Studio Pte Ltd]

Delivering Quality Homes in Close Partnership with Our Industry Partners

20 Despite the numerous challenges and constraints brought about by the pandemic over the last two years, HDB is heartened that contractors and consultants have responded to the disruptions by innovating new solutions and pushing boundaries, to build and complete quality homes while upholding quality and safety. HDB will continue to work closely with industry partners to deliver quality homes for Singaporeans.

HDB Awards 2022: 22 Projects Recognised for Excellence in Design, Construction and Engineering