Pearl Bank Apartments
Encyclopedia
Pearl Bank Apartments is a high-rise private residential building
on Pearl's Hill in Outram
, near the Chinatown
of Singapore
.
As the tallest and densest residential building in Singapore when completed in 1976, Pearl Bank Apartments was one of Singapore's pioneer
s of high-rise, high-density
living, and influenced urban development in Singapore and other cities in southeast Asia.
project
to be undertaken in the Urban Renewal Department of the Housing and Development Board's Sale of Sites programme. The residential project was the subject of the programme's third sale in 1969.
With a height
of 113 metres (371 feet), the Pearl Bank Apartments was the tallest residential building in Singapore when it was completed in June 1976.
, 99-year leasehold site was put up for an en bloc sale
. The tender closed on 18 September 2007, but fetched no bids. Another tender closed on February 19, 2008, failing again, and the collective sale agreement lapsed on August 1, 2008.
hollow ¾ cylindrical tower
, resembling a horseshoe
, designed for a total occupancy
of 1,500 persons. When completed in 1976, the building had the largest number of apartment
s contained in a single block, and had the highest density of any private modern residential building at 1,853 persons per hectare
. It was designed by Singaporean architect
Tan Cheng Siong of Archurban Architects Planners.
The 272-unit apartment block comprises three types of split-level units — 48 two-bedroom
(130 sq. metres), 184 three-bedroom (176.5 sq. metres) and 40 four-bedroom (213.7 sq. metres) dwelling
s, with eight units to each floor — and an additional eight penthouse
s. There is a shopping area with seven units on the first storey, and the building has a four-storey carpark. The 28th storey is devoted for community
use, known as the "Sky Park".
The effect of the split-level architectural approach in the spatial planning is expressed as an important facet
of the building. Each apartment unit is further zoned into "public" and "private" areas to offer maximum exclusivity and views to the occupants. The utilities and service
areas are located at the rear of the apartments, overlooking the building's central courtyard
, to avoid any obstruction of the view. The opening in the circular
structure
faces west and minimises direct penetration of heat and light from the afternoon sun into the building. The slit
s in the circular slab
also allow for effective ventilation
into the internal courtyard.
The building's structure comprises ten radiating shear wall
s, which also serve as party wall
s between the units. These elements, along with the additional structural columns and lift
cores, follow the radial form of the building and enhances the façade
. Shanghai
plaster
is used on the outer rim of the building and painted plastered walls on the inner rim.
Originally unpainted, with the raw concrete visible, the building was painted cream with orange details in 2008.
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
on Pearl's Hill in Outram
Outram, Singapore
Outram is a district in Singapore, within the Central Area, relatively near the prominent city centre and financial districts, but is nearer the border of the Central Area, and outside the Downtown Core. Outram is served by extensive public transport, including SBS Transit and a Mass Rapid Transit ...
, near the Chinatown
Chinatown, Singapore
Singapore's Chinatown is an ethnic neighbourhood featuring distinctly Chinese cultural elements and a historically concentrated ethnic Chinese population. Chinatown is located within the larger district of Outram....
of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
As the tallest and densest residential building in Singapore when completed in 1976, Pearl Bank Apartments was one of Singapore's pioneer
Innovator
An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
s of high-rise, high-density
Density
The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
living, and influenced urban development in Singapore and other cities in southeast Asia.
Development
The Pearl Bank Apartments was the first all-housingHouse
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
project
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
to be undertaken in the Urban Renewal Department of the Housing and Development Board's Sale of Sites programme. The residential project was the subject of the programme's third sale in 1969.
With a height
Height
Height is the measurement of vertical distance, but has two meanings in common use. It can either indicate how "tall" something is, or how "high up" it is. For example "The height of the building is 50 m" or "The height of the airplane is 10,000 m"...
of 113 metres (371 feet), the Pearl Bank Apartments was the tallest residential building in Singapore when it was completed in June 1976.
Planned redevelopment of site
On 4 August 2007, the Pearl Bank Apartments which is located on a 8,000-square metreSquare metre
The square metre or square meter is the SI derived unit of area, with symbol m2 . It is defined as the area of a square whose sides measure exactly one metre...
, 99-year leasehold site was put up for an en bloc sale
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
. The tender closed on 18 September 2007, but fetched no bids. Another tender closed on February 19, 2008, failing again, and the collective sale agreement lapsed on August 1, 2008.
Architecture
The Pearl Bank Apartments is a 38-storeyStorey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
hollow ¾ cylindrical tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
, resembling a horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
, designed for a total occupancy
Occupancy
Occupancy in building construction and building codes is the use or intended use of a building or part thereof for the shelter or support of persons, animals or property. A closely related meaning is the number of units in such a building that are rented or leased, or otherwise in-use...
of 1,500 persons. When completed in 1976, the building had the largest number of apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s contained in a single block, and had the highest density of any private modern residential building at 1,853 persons per hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
. It was designed by Singaporean architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
Tan Cheng Siong of Archurban Architects Planners.
The 272-unit apartment block comprises three types of split-level units — 48 two-bedroom
Bedroom
A bedroom is a private room where people usually sleep for the night or relax during the day.About one third of our lives are spent sleeping and most of the time we are asleep, we are sleeping in a bedroom. To be considered a bedroom the room needs to have bed. Bedrooms can range from really simple...
(130 sq. metres), 184 three-bedroom (176.5 sq. metres) and 40 four-bedroom (213.7 sq. metres) dwelling
Dwelling
Dwelling, as well as being a term for a house, or for living somewhere, or for lingering somewhere, is a philosophical concept which was developed by Martin Heidegger. Dwelling is about making yourself at home where the home itself is a building that is a house...
s, with eight units to each floor — and an additional eight penthouse
Penthouse apartment
A penthouse apartment or penthouse is an apartment that is on one of the highest floors of an apartment building. Penthouses are typically differentiated from other apartments by luxury features.-History:...
s. There is a shopping area with seven units on the first storey, and the building has a four-storey carpark. The 28th storey is devoted for community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
use, known as the "Sky Park".
The effect of the split-level architectural approach in the spatial planning is expressed as an important facet
Facet
Facets are flat faces on geometric shapes. The organization of naturally occurring facets was key to early developments in crystallography, since they reflect the underlying symmetry of the crystal structure...
of the building. Each apartment unit is further zoned into "public" and "private" areas to offer maximum exclusivity and views to the occupants. The utilities and service
Penetrant
Penetrants, or penetrating items, are the mechanical, electrical or structural items that pass through an opening in a wall or floor, such as pipes, electrical conduits, ducting, cables and cable trays, or structural steel beams and columns...
areas are located at the rear of the apartments, overlooking the building's central courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
, to avoid any obstruction of the view. The opening in the circular
Circular
Circular is a basic geometric shape such as a Circle.Circular may also refer to:-Documents:*Circular note, a document request by a bank to its foreign correspondents to pay a specified sum of money to a named person...
structure
Architectural structure
An architectural structure is a free-standing, immobile outdoor constructed element. The structure may be temporary or permanent.Structures include buildings and nonbuilding structures . Examples of building structures include houses, town halls, libraries, and skyscrapers...
faces west and minimises direct penetration of heat and light from the afternoon sun into the building. The slit
Slit
A slit is a vertical or horizontal space that can open and close. It can also refer to:* Slit , a vertical cut from the hem of the skirt which makes the skirt easier to walk in* Vagina, slang...
s in the circular slab
Slab
-Physical materials:* Slab , a length of metal* Concrete slab, a flat plate used in construction* A piece of stone or concrete used to pave sidewalks or road surfaces* Slab : That portion of a tectonic plate that is subducting...
also allow for effective ventilation
Ventilation (architecture)
Ventilating is the process of "changing" or replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality...
into the internal courtyard.
The building's structure comprises ten radiating shear wall
Shear wall
In structural engineering, a shear wall is a wall composed of braced panels to counter the effects of lateral load acting on a structure. Wind and earthquake loads are the most common loads braced wall lines are designed to counteract...
s, which also serve as party wall
Party wall
Party wall is a dividing partition between two adjoining buildings that is shared by the tenants of each residence or business. The wall is sometimes constructed over the center of the property line dividing two terraced flats or row houses so that one half of the wall is on each property...
s between the units. These elements, along with the additional structural columns and lift
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
cores, follow the radial form of the building and enhances the façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
is used on the outer rim of the building and painted plastered walls on the inner rim.
Originally unpainted, with the raw concrete visible, the building was painted cream with orange details in 2008.