The New SUTD Demonstrates Ben van Berkel / UNStudio's Approach to New Campus Design

AMSTERDAM, June 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Singapore University of Technology & Design completed  

Designed by UNStudio and DP Architects, the academic campus for the Singapore University of Technology and Design reflects an in-depth understanding of the changing requirements of learning institutions today. Connectivity, collaboration, co-creation, innovation and sociality are at the basis of UNStudio's design thinking on New Campuses.  

The SUTD offers four key academic pillars: Architecture and Sustainable Design, Engineering Product Development , Engineering Systems and Design and Information Systems Technology and Design. The SUTD is a driver of technological innovation and economic growth, with the new campus bringing together people, ideas and innovation.

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Ben van Berkel: "The design consciously avoids over-articulation and instead focusses on infrastructural qualities, on connectivity and the creation of an open, transparent and light facility that responds to the requirements of the contemporary campus. In this way the architecture of the SUTD does not attempt to overwhelm the students with a singular vision, it instead enables them to develop their own architectural language."

The new academic campus directly reflects SUTD's curriculum, using the creative enterprise of the school to facilitate a cross-disciplinary interface. The design offers an opportunity to embrace innovation and creativity through a non-linear connective relationship between students, faculty and professionals.

Ben van Berkel: "By introducing diagonal and framed view corridors, vertical and horizontal connections and covered walkways and by tapering the elevations of the buildings, openness is created that means the individual buildings are experienced as a connected whole."

Following the master plan, the academic campus is designed through two main axes: the living and learning spines, which overlap to create a central point and bind together all corners of the campus. At the centre of this node UNStudio proposed a flexible space for exhibitions, events and interaction: this Campus Centre forms the intellectual heart of the campus and directly links the main programmatic anchors of the Auditorium, the International Design Centre and the University Library.

The SUTD is a highly sustainable building, incorporating numerous passive design strategies designed to counteract the conditions caused by Singapore's tropical climate. Based on extensive orientation and wind studies natural ventilation principles are applied throughout the design, alongside cooling techniques, covered walkways, louvred facade shading, open voids, extensive daylight to the interiors and protection from heavy rain showers.

Photos: © Hufton+Crow 

SOURCE UNStudio