Pathways and Gatherings

Transforming the People’s Park Complex into a commercialized business center

People’s Park Complex has always been a significant landmark for Chinatown, and its transformation represents a fresh wave of revitalization for the neighborhood. One of the very few early structures constructed in Singapore’s early years as an independent nation is the People’s Park Complex. Its creation by the first Singaporean architects of local descent symbolizes the beginning of the modern Asian nation.

Singapore serves as a critical entry point into Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, and is a central international aviation transit hub. Every year, many people travel to Singapore for trade and business. However, Singapore only has a few sizable MICE facilities, whereas places like Chinatown, which is close to Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place, have a lot of business potential. The People’s Park Complex, a landmark building in Chinatown, would be ideal for a medium-sized MICE center.

I plan to convert PPC’s lower levels into a MICE center and renovate the upper floors into a low-carbon hotel to increase PPC’s commercial income.

The People’s Park Complex (PPC) building, by its nature, is a prime example of brutalist architecture known for its excessive use of concrete. However, I aim to redefine the brutalist notion associated with PPC by incorporating biophilic elements into its design. Despite its brutalist roots, PPC holds a significant place in Singapore’s post-independence era and has become a symbol of the country’s modern national identity. My initial intention was to apply the biophilic concept as a means to conserve the building, but as I delved deeper, I recognized the importance of retaining its character-defining elements and historical significance. With this in mind, I approached the redesign cautiously, aiming to preserve the building’s character while enhancing the atrium space by creating a hole to introduce natural ventilation and sunlight into the building. I have implemented strategies to reduce indoor air conditioning usage and minimize the need for artificial lighting during the day at PPC.

Alongside creating open spaces in the atrium, I have installed a solar panel pathway on the roof of the podium to harness solar energy and conserve energy consumption. Moreover, in order to protect the original architectural characteristics of PPC, staircases have been added to the residential block, offering people the experience of environmentally friendly green transportation. Through these measures, I aimed to achieve a lowcarbon impact while incorporating elements of nature into the design.

Page Above: Distribution of MICE in Singapore

Page Below: Surrounding of the People’s Park Complex

Page Above: Design Transformation

Page Below: Longitudinal Section of the Building