How the Pinnacle@Duxton was part of evolution

Background to the design features

Peaceful "bridges in the sky"

Favourite feature of the Pinnacle

Life beyond a 99-year leasehold HDB flat

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features.

Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore.

Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats.

How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't?

ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with architects Khoo Peng Beng and his wife Belinda Huang, founders and directors of Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism.

They are the design duo behind the groundbreaking Pinnacle@Duxton in Cantonment Road, the first 50-storey public housing project in Singapore, and also the first one in the world to have two sky bridges linking the seven towers that it comprises of.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:50 How the Pinnacle@Duxton was part of evolution in HDB public flat design

3:03 Background to the design features of the Pinnacle, including its "Sky Gardens"

10:15 Peaceful "bridges in the sky": But can the sky garden on the 50th floor be turned into a more active space for people?

12:45 How Mr Khoo and Ms Huang are regularly invited to talks overseas to talk about this special high-rise and high-density public housing model

15:19 Their favourite feature of the Pinnacle; can things be improved? For eg, a music studio, art centre, elderly care, communal areas opened up for evolution

25:23 Is there life beyond a 99-year leasehold HDB flat? Sustainability, adaptive reuse 

Listen to Dr Liu Thai Ker on being the "architect of modern Singapore": https://str.sg/iYZF

Discover ST's interactive graphic article of this topic: https://str.sg/JXMGj

Produced by: Michelle Ng (ngmich@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Follow ST Podcasts:

Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK

Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

They share their principles behind the groundbreaking design and their favourite features.
Synopsis: The Straits Times speaks with experts to discuss how public housing design has evolved in Singapore.
Public housing is all around us. They are in older towns such as Queenstown and Toa Payoh, and in newer ones like Punggol and Bidadari. Eight in ten Singaporeans live in HDB flats.
How has the design of HDB blocks evolved over the decades? What has worked out and what hasn't?
ST's housing correspondent Michelle Ng speaks with architects Khoo Peng Beng and his wife Belinda Huang, founders and directors of Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism.
They are the design duo behind the groundbreaking Pinnacle@Duxton in Cantonment Road, the first 50-storey public housing project in Singapore, and also the first one in the world to have two sky bridges linking the seven towers that it comprises of.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:50 How the Pinnacle@Duxton was part of evolution in HDB public flat design
3:03 Background to the design features of the Pinnacle, including its "Sky Gardens"
10:15 Peaceful "bridges in the sky": But can the sky garden on the 50th floor be turned into a more active space for people?
12:45 How Mr Khoo and Ms Huang are regularly invited to talks overseas to talk about this special high-rise and high-density public housing model
15:19 Their favourite feature of the Pinnacle; can things be improved? For eg, a music studio, art centre, elderly care, communal areas opened up for evolution
25:23 Is there life beyond a 99-year leasehold HDB flat? Sustainability, adaptive reuse 
Listen to Dr Liu Thai Ker on being the "architect of modern Singapore": <a href="https://str.sg/iYZF" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/iYZF&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1705118900887000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2VYZWB6ju1eb7wr4Hap263">https://str.sg/iYZF</a>
Discover ST's interactive graphic article of this topic: <a href="https://str.sg/JXMGj">https://str.sg/JXMGj</a>
Produced by: Michelle Ng (<a href="mailto:ngmich@sph.com.sg">ngmich@sph.com.sg</a>), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Fa'izah Sani
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Follow ST Podcasts:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wvz7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wsCr43CsrhO_-IhVV6NdK">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/wukK" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wukK&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2e6QHjxNUJaDNv1Pb86Yim">https://str.sg/wukK</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/wukH" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wukH&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1bAwa3t7MO4TO_8l80Xdcj">https://str.sg/wukH</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.awedio.sg/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2P6OVpRxbQ0x-_Wb81Yjtj">https://www.awedio.sg/</a>
Website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1702112882173000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Y-Bi-bFkjRz8hcfgkAzF-">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Discover more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
The Usual Place: <a href="https://str.sg/wEr7u" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wEr7u" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wEr7u</a>
In Your Opinion: <a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
COE Watch: <a href="https://str.sg/iTtE">https://str.sg/iTtE</a>
Asian Insider: <a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>
Health Check: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaN">https://str.sg/JWaN</a>
Green Pulse: <a href="https://str.sg/JWaf">https://str.sg/JWaf</a>
Your Money &amp; Career: <a href="https://str.sg/wB2m">https://str.sg/wB2m</a>
Hard Tackle: <a href="https://str.sg/JWRE">https://str.sg/JWRE</a>
#PopVultures: <a href="https://str.sg/JWad">https://str.sg/JWad</a>
Music Lab: <a href="https://str.sg/w9TX">https://str.sg/w9TX</a>
---
ST Podcast website: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
ST Podcasts YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Special edition series:
True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/i44T">https://str.sg/i44T</a>
The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZ2">https://str.sg/wuZ2</a>
Invisible Asia (9 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZn">https://str.sg/wuZn</a>
Stop Scams (10 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuZB">https://str.sg/wuZB</a>
Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): <a href="https://str.sg/wuJa">https://str.sg/wuJa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Synopsis: Our ALL-IN-ONE channel showcases our discussions on Singapore youth perspectives and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, money, career, sports, pop culture and music. 
Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST's app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.
Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis &amp; The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

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