Great World City Office Tower Lobby Refurbishment
Great World City Specifications
Service:
Facade Design, Interior Design, Refurbishment
Sector:
Office
Location:
Singapore
Area:
30,733 M2
Client:
Allgreen Properties Limited
Team
Consultants
Landscape: COEN
Mechanical & Electrical: JRP
Quantity Surveyor: AIS
Lighting: NIPEK
Signage and Wayfinding: Bluebeetle Design
First unveiled in the late 90s, Great World, also known as Great World City (GWC), is a mixed-used development in the River Valley district. Comprising a 6-storey shopping mall, two soaring 18-storey office towers, and a 35-storey serviced apartment tower, GWC boasts a wide variety of amenities and lifestyle services in one singular locale.
In this transformative project, we were commissioned by Allgreen Properties Limited to reinvigorate Great World City’s unique indoor-outdoor office lobby. This kind of lobby design is rare within Singapore – making it vital to enhance this architectural feature.
Office lobbies are not just entry points but a symphony’s first notes that set the tone for what lies within. Our idea was to merge timeless architectural elegance with vibrant, welcoming spaces.
The renewal project ushers in a new era of corporate sophistication while honouring the rich history of Great World City. The refurbishment encompasses a striking facelift for the primary facades of the office buildings, fostering an atmosphere that leaves every occupant feeling connected, inspired and refreshed.
Beyond architectural renewal, this project also aspires to become a cohesive plaza point, seamlessly linking GWC’s shopping, public, and office spaces, thus enhancing the overall experience.
Currently, this refurbishment project is well underway.
Biophilic Design Integration
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Strategically located near Kim Seng Promenade, GWC enjoys the scenic Singapore River and is surrounded by a verdant expanse. As the main lobby connecting the West Tower and East Tower, designing an enhancement that seamlessly connects the natural splendour outside was integral.
Beyond aesthetics, incorporating biophilic elements helps create an environment that nurtures well-being and welcomes life into the space, especially for a high-traffic workspace like Great World City.
We took full advantage of its unique indoor-outdoor structure, integrating plants and natural light to dance within the space.
Every element has been purposefully orchestrated to ensure a symphony of nature within the urban realm.
Evolving Classic to Timeless Modern Aesthetic
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Our approach to the revitalisation of the GWC office lobby revolved around accentuating the core attributes of its existing design while addressing the challenge posed by the outdated marble and granite colouring.
The original design, once considered sophisticated, now required a retouch to align with contemporary aesthetics, all while maintaining its pronounced emphasis on natural light and ventilation.
Our design journey led us to craft subtle yet impactful enhancements that will enhance visitors’ overall experience and modernise the lobby’s facade.
A pivotal aspect of this transformation involved the reimagining of the lobby’s aging elements.
With cornices and decorative features that had once conveyed an old-fashioned aura, our solution was to replace the existing wall elements with limestone, adorned with sleek metal inlays. This simplified yet sophisticated detail introduced a touch of modernity and contemporaneity, allowing the lobby to project a timeless and quiet luxury aesthetic.
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Fostering an Inviting Ambience
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The meticulous refinement of the GWC office lobby extended to creating an ambience that seamlessly balances comfort, style, and practicality.
Firstly, we incorporated comfortable and stylish public seating areas around the central area of the office lobby to foster a welcoming environment.
Our team introduced a cove lighting design feature to address the challenge of a dimly lit double-height ceiling, complete with a controlled lighting system. This innovation enhanced the illumination within the lobby and maintained proper lighting levels while minimising glare, ensuring a well-balanced and visually appealing environment.
Given the lobby’s semi-outdoor design, it was essential to account for external elements like rain and sun exposure. We designed a new entrance mat and selected materials that are inherently resilient against external forces to mitigate these challenges. This strategy served the dual purpose of enhancing ventilation and preserving the lobby’s integrity in the face of varying conditions.
The existing canopy, characterised by its bulky and heavy appearance with a low ceiling height, presented us with an opportunity for innovation – which was to create a canopy with slimmer edges and increase its height from the ground.
Each implementation intentionally allowed abundant natural daylight to flood the lobby, cultivating an inviting and fresh entrance.
