Nanyang Polytechnic Project
Project Overview
The project showcases a refurbished or newly constructed multi-purpose building. It integrates active learning spaces (collaborative study areas), high-standard communal facilities (restrooms), and open-air architectural elements. The color palette is grounded in neutrals—grey, wood tones, and white—accented by bold “wayfinding” colors like teal and terracotta.
Location:
Ang Mo Kio
Project Type:
Hospitality
Design Style:
Modern educational or institutional facility
What Makes This Project Design Special
Modern Industrial "Raw" Aesthetic
Unlike traditional institutional buildings that hide utilities, this design embraces an open-
ceiling concept.
- Exposed Services: The black-painted ceilings allow mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) tracks to remain visible, creating a sense of height and "loft-
style" modernity. - Contrast: The dark ceilings contrast sharply with the light wood-textured wall
panels, preventing the space from feeling too clinical.
Intuitive Wayfinding & Zoning
The design uses color as a silent guide for users:
- Teal/Cyan Accents: Large blocks of bright teal are used to mark entrance points<or transition zones between the corridor and interior rooms.
- Terracotta/Orange Strips: These vertical accents (seen in the restroom entry) provide a visual "anchor," helping users identify specific zones from a distance in a long corridor.
Integrated Study & Privacy Pods
One of the most modern features is the large collaborative hall:
- Hybrid Layout: The room combines open-plan tables for group work with a perimeter of acoustic glass pods.
- Focused Work: These pods allow for private calls or deep focus within a communal environment, a design trend popularized by modern tech offices and flexible university hubs.
High-End, Accessible Restroom Design
The restrooms are designed with a focus on "Universal Design" and premium
materiality:
- Materiality: Instead of standard ceramic tiles, the walls use large-format, vertical wood-grain panels, giving the space a warm, hospitality-like feel.
- Hygiene & Maintenance: Wall-hung sinks and urinals make floor cleaning more efficient. The inclusion of high-velocity hand dryers integrated into the vanity area reduces water dripping on the floor.
- Full Accessibility: The inclusion of "PWD" (Persons with Disabilities) holding points in corridors and wide, grab-bar-equipped stalls ensures the building meets modern inclusivity standards.
