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‘White flat’ design, smart land use: How architects offer Crawford BTO owners the latest in modern living
Recognised at the HDB Awards, home-grown practice ADDP Architects overcomes site constraints for Singapore’s first open-concept flats near Rochor River, while shaping a new precinct at Tanjong Rhu for Singaporeans to call home
Crawford Heights, an upcoming Rocher estate, will feature Singapore’s first open-concept “white flats” that give home owners more flexibility in designing their bedroom and living spaces.
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: ADDP ARCHITECTS
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The design brief for the Housing Board (HDB) block was a challenging one: to create a standalone, 40-storey residential block to be built on a compact 0.72ha site – about the size of a football field – in the busy Crawford neighbourhood of Rochor.
The constraints did not end with space. Architects would need to honour the storied past of the area while offering residents the latest in modern living.
They would also have to try to insulate them from the noise of the streets below and create an assurance of privacy, while facilitating exchanges and linking them to the community at the same time.
It was a tall order, but this was exactly what the team at ADDP Architects did with Crawford Heights.
Located at the corner of North Bridge Road and Crawford Street, opposite the banks of Rochor River, the new estate will house 312 units of three- and four-room flats when completed in 2029.
Honouring heritage in design
For ADDP’s associate partner Teo Tse Ji, the answer lay in drawing from the site itself.
“Crawford Heights adopts an architectural language shaped by flowing lines and rhythmic patterns across its facade,” she explains.
She adds: “These design elements reflect the fluidity and connectivity symbolised by the merging waterways of the Rochor and Kallang Rivers. This transforms them into vibrant community nodes.”
Featuring flowing lines and rhythmic patterns, the design of Crawford Heights was inspired by the meeting of the Kallang and Rochor rivers nearby.
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: ADDP ARCHITECTS
This motif of flowing connections goes beyond appearance. The project will also be the first to debut HDB’s “white flat” layout.
Built without internal partition walls and beams, these units will give residents flexibility to design their homes according to their needs and personal preferences.
History, too, is woven into everyday spaces. At one of the two children’s playgrounds, cattle-shaped play elements pay subtle tribute to the Rochor River’s past, when cows were hauled via the waterway to Rochor and Little India for cattle trading.
The playground is cleverly tucked into an underused pocket of land, turning what might have been dead space into a lively corner of the neighbourhood.
The second playground, in front of a preschool, makes full use of a long, narrow strip of space. Its multi-level design creates variety and keeps play engaging for children.
Another link to Crawford’s heritage can be found in the dry garden. Its design echoes the sampans that once plied the Rochor River, a reminder of the waterway’s role as a vital trade and transport artery.
The dry garden is also forward-looking. Built in line with PUB’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme, it channels rainwater through rocks, transforming into a shimmering “riverscape” whenever it rains.
Cattle-themed elements in the children’s playground at Crawford Heights link the past, present and future, reminding the next generation of the role of the Rochor River in early 19th-century Singapore.
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: ADDP ARCHITECTS
Building connections within a compact site
Crawford Heights is designed not just for living, but also for belonging. A preschool and a residents’ network centre will be housed within the estate, serving as everyday anchors for community life.
“At its heart, this project is about community – creating inclusive, sustainable spaces that honour heritage while bringing people together,” says Ms Teo.
“Our design places strong emphasis on social inclusivity and community engagement, while embedding sustainability as a core principle. From flexible communal spaces and climate-responsive features to water-sensitive landscaping, every element has been thoughtfully considered.”
Even the multi-storey carpark was carefully planned. Placed alongside North Bridge Road, it doubles as a buffer against traffic noise while ensuring that residents enjoy the best views of the river and its surroundings.
Its rooftop, meanwhile, is designed to be more than just greenery. It features a garden with movable planter boxes that allow the space to be reconfigured for small-scale events and gatherings.
“It was a challenge to squeeze in the amenities in such a compact, tight site,” says Ms Teo. “But through these key innovations, we hope to activate the rooftop of the multi-storey carpark and make it more usable by the residents.”
These design elements at Crawford Heights contribute to why ADDP Architects received the Innovative Design Award for To-Be-Built Housing at this year’s edition of the HDB Awards.
The award recognises firms whose bold, thoughtful designs are reshaping the way we see public housing, blending innovation with quality to raise the bar for how people live.
Creating a waterfront community at Tanjong Rhu
ADDP’s founding partner Lim Meng Hwa says: “While our portfolio spans a wide range of building types, public housing remains especially meaningful to us, as we take joy in creating homes and social spaces that bring people together.”
Since it was founded in 1986, he adds, ADDP Architects has always sought to keep with its philosophy of crafting user-centric designs that are both distinctive and innovative.
ADDP’s founding partner Lim Meng Hwa (second from right) and his team believe in creating unique designs that have the occupants in mind.
PHOTO: ADDP ARCHITECTS
“We place people at the heart of every design, prioritising livability, inclusivity and purpose for those who inhabit our spaces,” says Mr Lim.
That approach has helped shape Tanjong Rhu Riverfront I and II, an upcoming HDB precinct, which has also won the firm recognition. ADDP Architects received the Certificate of Merit in Design (To-Be-Built Housing) for its work on it.
Spanning more than 6ha along the Geylang River, the development will house 2,063 two-, three- and four-room flats across 11 blocks when it is completed in 2029.
Tanjong Rhu Riverfront I & II’s design takes cues from the Geylang River, reflected in the building’s flowing lines and rhythmic patterns.
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: ADDP ARCHITECTS
Like Crawford Heights, its design draws inspiration from the waterway nearby. Rooflines feature sampan-inspired silhouettes, a nod to the early ship building and repair industry situated in Tanjong Rhu.
Explains associate partner June Lee: “Tanjong Rhu Riverfront I and II present a creative blend of tall, medium and low-rise buildings that gently step down towards the river, harmonising with the waterfront skyline.
“The maritime-inspired roof design presents an opportunity to strengthen its connection with the Geylang River, better reflecting the site’s context.”
Beyond homes, the estate will have a wide range of facilities – preschools, a residents’ network centre, shops, an eating house, restaurants, a supermarket, playgrounds, fitness stations, pavilions and rest shelters.
At its heart is the Common Green, a central open space sitting between the two parts of the precinct.
“This is the heart of the development,” says Ms Lee. “The Common Green links both plots with three-generation facilities, serving as a civic spine and a tranquil retreat. It fosters inclusive social interaction while preserving the kampung spirit of Tanjong Rhu.”
Reflecting on the designs of both Crawford Heights and Tanjong Rhu Riverfront I and II – and the awards won by ADDP Architects – Mr Lim looks forward to more collaborations that will bring their designs “from paper to reality”. This is especially meaningful, he adds, as the firm marks 35 years of partnership with HDB next year.
