SkyVille @ Dawson was among the top five finalists for the International Highrise Award. (Photo: designapplause.com)
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) was conferred a Special Recognition Award on Wednesday (2 November) by an international panel of judges in Frankfurt, for its unique role in providing access to quality high-rise living.
The Special Recognition Award stems from the prestigious International Highrise Award, which is conferred by the City of Frankfurt, the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (German Architecture Museum) and DekaBank.
The win marks the first time an organisation has been acknowledged for its contributions in providing good quality homes in high-rise environments. Previous Special Recognition Awards were given to prominent skyscrapers such as Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Towers.
The international jury, which comprised industry experts such as top engineers, architects, economists, academics and property management experts, noted that the HDB’s public housing model can be used as a model for other governmental housing programmes.
“A public agency for social housing in high-rises needs to be recognised. It is a game changer for affordable housing all over the world,” said juror Brigitte Shim, an architect and founding partner of Toronto-based design firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, who is also Professor of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto.
The HDB’s SkyVille @ Dawson was among the top five finalists for the International Highrise Award, standing alongside the world’s best high-rise buildings, such as Four World Trade Centre and VIA 57 West in New York, the Shanghai Tower and the Allianz Tower in Italy.
“We are honoured to be the first organisation in the world to receive this exclusive award,” said HDB’s Deputy CEO (Building) Fong Chun Wah.
“In land-scarce Singapore, optimising land use to accommodate different needs is a challenge but a necessity. Despite our space constraints, Singapore is among the world’s most liveable cities largely due to the safe and stable living environment that our residents enjoy.”
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
