Architecture

Sky Habitat: Moshe Safdie's 21st-Century hillside settlement

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The Sky Habitat is aimed at balancing high-density living with community, landscape, gardens and daylight
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat is aimed at balancing high-density living with community, landscape, gardens and daylight
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat's sky gardens provide space for leisure, recreation and get-togethers
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat's sky gardens feature interconnected streets, gardens and terraces
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat is aimed at providing its residents with a "sanctuary in the sky"
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat covers an area of 130,000 sq ft (12,077 sq m)
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat is formed of two gradated, matrix-like towers joined together by suspended sky-gardens
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat has a number of swimming pools
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat has a sky pool on its 38th floor and a 50-m (164-ft) lap pool
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat houses 509 apartments, each with multiple orientations and a private outdoor space
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat is inspired by ancient hillside developments and by Safdie's own Habitat 67 complex in Montreal, Canada
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat's ground level is 70 percent covered with gardens that provide additional event spaces and walking paths
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
The Sky Habitat has three connecting platforms between its buildings
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects
View gallery - 12 images

Moshe Safdie's residential complex in Bishan, Singapore, is inspired by ancient hillside developments and the architect's own Habitat 67 complex in Montreal, Canada. The Sky Habitat is formed of two gradated, matrix-like towers joined together by suspended sky-gardens.

Safdie's use of geometric shapes, interlocking forms and the horizontal plane are reminiscent of another building in Singapore, the Interlace vertical village, which was last year awarded World Building of the Year. Whereas the Interlace is only to six stories high, though, the Sky Habitat rises up 38 floors.

Despite its scale, the principles upon which the Sky Habitat is built are well-rounded. It is aimed at providing a residents with "sanctuary in the sky," with a balance between high-density living and community, landscape, gardens and daylight.

The "three-dimensional" structure mixes homes with private terraces, balconies and gardens. It boasts vertical greenery, multiple orientations relative to the sun and views of the surrounding areas. Gardens cover 70 percent of the ground level, with additional event spaces and walking paths.

The Sky Habitat's sky gardens feature interconnected streets, gardens and terraces
Photo by Edward Hendricks, courtesy of Safdie Architects

In total, three platforms link the two buildings, each containing interconnected streets, gardens, and terraces. They provide space for leisure, recreation and get-togethers, as well as helping to naturally ventilate the buildings and residential units.

The development covers an area of 130,000 sq ft (12,077 sq m) in total and houses 509 apartments, each with multiple orientations and a private outdoor space. Residents are also able to make use of a sky pool on the 38th floor, a 50-m (164-ft) lap pool, a tennis court, barbecue areas, karaoke rooms, a function room and a gymnasium.

The Sky Habitat was completed last year.

The video below provides an overview of the project.

Source: Sky Habitat

View gallery - 12 images
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3 comments
Deres
I think that connections between adjacent buildings is also a very interessant safety measure. In fact, it brings a high independance of escape path ABOVE a possible fire. This totally destroyed the scenario of the infernal tower ...
CarolynR
Potted plants on vertiginous walkways? Nice places for the children to play? I think not. Or am I being unfair?
Buzzclick
Too pretentious and perfect and no amount of swing music is gonna make this place home sweet home. It's just a couple of apartment buildings linked by three walkways/terraces that may be a pain to those who have units right next to them. The staggered balcony arrangements make it so that the ones above always look down onto your level, another potential source of irritation.