VerticalCitiesAsiaSymposiumAbstractsofJury

Title:WOHAsDesignApproachesforHighRise&HighDensityLivinginTropicalAsianCities
Author:Mr.WongMunSumm

Abstract:
ThispaperdiscussesWOHAsapproachesindesigningforhighrise,highdensitylivingintropicalAsiancities.
Severalmainthemesthatcontributetoourkeyideologiesanddesignstrategieswillbeidentifiedfromouron
goingseriesofbuiltandunbuiltprojects(e.g.DuxtonPlain,TheMet,SOTA,etc).Themainthemesthatwillbe
discussedareasfollows:
ClubSandwich(Layering)Approach
To  overcome  the  constraints  of  land  scarcity  in  Asian  cities,  WOHA   explores innovative ways of
intensifyinglanduseviaaclubsandwichapproach.
MultipleGroundLevels
WOHAconsidersthegroundplaneasanessential,duplicablelayerofthecitythatneedstobereplicatedat
strategichorizonswithinandbetweenbuildingsinthesky.
PerforatedBuildings
WOHAskeyapproachistotransformandadaptvernacularandpassiveresponsestoclimateintothehighrise
formandcontemporarytechnologies,withthesameaimofcreatingcomfortwithouttheneedformechanical
systems. Through perforating the high rise faade with terraces, open spaces and breezeways, natural
daylightingandcrossventilationareachieved,makingtropicallivingwithoutairconditioningpossible.
TropicalCommunitySpaces
WOHA actively addresses the need for social spaces in the highrise, creating community streets, parks and
villagesinthesky.Tropicaloutdoorgatheringspacesaredesignedundertheshelterandshadeoflargeurban
umbrellas and strategically positioned breezeways. This active combination of Breezeway + Canopy +
EventSpacemakesupthecomfortableanddelightfultropicalcommunityspacesessentialinthehighrise,
highdensityurbancontext.
Greenery
WOHA believes that landscape is an important elementboth from a sustainabilitypoint of viewand for the
endusersenjoyment.VegetationisanimportantpartofthematerialpaletteforWOHAshighrisebuildings,
bothinternallyandexternally,thusimprovingtheenvironmentalqualityonboththelocalandcityscale.
HumanisticApproach
Thechallengeofhighrisetowersisthedesignforqualityofexternalspacesthatemphasizesontheindividual,
human scale, choice, comfort, while opening up to the climate, community spaces and nature. Through the
provisionofstrategicopen,communal,recreationalspaces,andempoweringownerswithindividualchoices,
WOHAaddressessocialsustainabilityonanurbanhighrisescale.
Basedontheaboveprinciples,possibleapproachestomeetingtheVerticalCitiesAsiacompetitionbriefand
themeofFreshAirwillalsobediscussed.