TripleOne Somerset

TripleOne Somerset (formerly known as Singapore Power Building) is prominently situated in the prime Orchard Road enclave, within the hub of Orchard Road shopping and hotel belt. It is located beside Somerset MRT station and is connected via a covered walkway.

On the following link for accessibility

http://www.tripleonesomerset.com.sg/content/location

About the whole building:

The architects sought to create an approachable building that reflected the role of the PUB as a public supplier of gas and electricity, and this led them to choose strong horizontal elements for the design. In the building’s façade, this is achieved with distinctive rows of vertical fins, staggered so as to emphasise horizontal movement; these fins also provide shade. A secondary horizontal pattern results from grouping two or more rows of these fins in blocks.

The ground floor of the building was dedicated to public access and use. It is entered via wide steps under columns that are three- or four-storeys high, and these pilotis create a sense of space for the naturally ventilated public lobby areas. From the concourse, which is decorated with wall-relief sculptures, steps lead to upper and lower public service areas, a cafeteria and carparks.

About the shopping mall

The retail façade is composed of a simple glass and steel framing system — large panels of glass achieve lightness and transparency, and shop signage is set interior to the glazing as not to interrupt the quality of the frontage’s sheen surface. A collection of natural materials complement the raw finishes of the exposed reinforced concrete beams and slabs, including timber and glass details, and flooring of composite Chinese bamboo. A metallic fluorocarbon finish retains the tiled patterning of the original exterior ceramic cladding.

Design concept

In the 1971 design competition for the PUB Building, the other three finalists proposed high-rise structures to project a corporate image. However, Group 2 Architect’s winning design, in the jury’s words, allowed “natural form and function to achieve character and dignity” for the building. The 17-storey high PUB building shows the influence of Gerhard M. Kallmann’s 1962 Boston City Hall, also a competition winner, which was, in turn, influenced by Le Corbusier’s Sainte Marie de La Tourette (1957–1960) by The development of the form of the PUB Building was mannerist, however, in contrast to the inherent logic evident in La Tourette, and to some degree in in the City Hall.

Situated between Somerset Road and Devonshire Road, Group 2 Architects designed the PUB Building as an H-shaped block with a central service core and a naturally-ventilated lobby. Facing north and south, the two parallel wings are of unequal height, and are linked by a wider transverse area three floors in height, and further up by the lift shaft and the access to each floor. Between the two wings is a landscaped courtyard.