Typologies
Theme Parks
While DP Architects is an indisputable global reference in the design and architecture for many different building typologies, it also boasts an impressive portfolio of completed water parks, theme parks, adventure parks, animal parks (such as zoos and aquariums), themed pools and entertainment centres.
As an active member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), DP Architects is knowledgeable on the latest developments and quickly advancing technology available in the design of amusement and theme parks worldwide and provides clients with a seamless connection to specialist suppliers.
As an active member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), DP Architects is knowledgeable on the latest developments and quickly advancing technology available in the design of amusement and theme parks worldwide and provides clients with a seamless connection to specialist suppliers.
Projects Involved:
Civic & Cultural
Civic spaces that cultivate inclusion and active participation serve as the heart of vibrant communities. Successful civic and public spaces inspire human connections at places of interaction, enabling communities, families and individuals to meet, bond and form memories. From a design standpoint, we focus on place-making to transform these public spaces into destinations that bring people together to enjoy their interests. In designing spaces that carry meaning and significance to a community, we listen to their specific concerns to understand what they need and value. We aspire to design uplifting places that promote inspiration, culture and well-being.
Projects Involved:
Office
The modern workplace is changing rapidly and is transforming to become more flexible, agile, mobile, and even playful. Offices now need to be designed for an innovation-led economy, where diversity of spaces within the development can be created to foster social interaction, inspiration, creativity, collaboration and improve overall efficiency. This is to cater to an agile and collaborative workforce on its way to greater innovation.
Commercial buildings and office spaces need to evolve for the future in line with changing user requirements and lifestyle needs, such as the need for common areas like cafes, staff cafeterias, cosy meeting rooms and conference rooms, places to relax and hang out, places to interact with colleagues and friends, collaborative spaces where people can work on-the-go, and access to nature and outdoor spaces.
On top of creative working environments, there are new business models and concepts to consider that take advantage of the rise in entrepreneurship and breakdown of the traditional office model, to appeal to how younger employees and entrepreneurs wish to work. These include co-working spaces with shared facilities that allow start-ups with complementary services and offerings to rent a space together and benefit, or co-working spaces equipped with technology to allow flexibility in where you work. Our track record includes the planning and building design of high-rise office towers, mixed-use complexes with offices, and industrial and technology parks. With 50 years of experience as one of the largest architectural practices in the world, we have expertise in designing many business and industrial developments which are highly sensitive and responsive to its context.
Commercial buildings and office spaces need to evolve for the future in line with changing user requirements and lifestyle needs, such as the need for common areas like cafes, staff cafeterias, cosy meeting rooms and conference rooms, places to relax and hang out, places to interact with colleagues and friends, collaborative spaces where people can work on-the-go, and access to nature and outdoor spaces.
On top of creative working environments, there are new business models and concepts to consider that take advantage of the rise in entrepreneurship and breakdown of the traditional office model, to appeal to how younger employees and entrepreneurs wish to work. These include co-working spaces with shared facilities that allow start-ups with complementary services and offerings to rent a space together and benefit, or co-working spaces equipped with technology to allow flexibility in where you work. Our track record includes the planning and building design of high-rise office towers, mixed-use complexes with offices, and industrial and technology parks. With 50 years of experience as one of the largest architectural practices in the world, we have expertise in designing many business and industrial developments which are highly sensitive and responsive to its context.
Projects Involved:
Conservation & Heritage
Our built environment represents our collective memories, concretising the interaction between people and places through time. Our built heritage is all around us, inherited from previous generations. Regarded as spaces with value for reasons beyond mere utility or function, these extend even to buildings used in daily lives such as shopping centres, public housing, places of worship, schools, markets and workplaces, which may hold a community’s memories and ways of life. Preserving such buildings allows us to understand the transition of a city’s identity over time. As stewards of our environment, we feel the responsibility to protect our environment while developing buildings responsibly. We believe that responsible conservation and adaptive re-use of significant buildings help communities in building urban identity and pride in its residents.
Projects Involved:
Healthcare
From new technology, medical advances, changing demographics to reimbursement, healthcare is changing at an incredible pace, making the planning of healthcare environments and delivery systems more complex than ever before. A sustainable approach to healthcare is required, which calls for designing solutions that anticipate future needs and support strong long-term development for healthcare providers.
DP Architects has carefully handpicked a group of healthcare industry professionals devoted to helping you understand and define your future. Combined with one of the largest and most respected architectural practices in the world, the advantage of working with us is an unparalleled experience and knowledge of best practices, benchmarks and trends, allowing our clients to objectively and accurately assess their institution's current and future needs.
Our expertise can be found in large and small community hospitals, urban medical centres, teaching hospitals, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, rehabilitation centres, children’s hospitals, multi-speciality group practice clinics, government hospitals, medical and academic office buildings, and free-standing ambulatory care centres.
DP Architects has carefully handpicked a group of healthcare industry professionals devoted to helping you understand and define your future. Combined with one of the largest and most respected architectural practices in the world, the advantage of working with us is an unparalleled experience and knowledge of best practices, benchmarks and trends, allowing our clients to objectively and accurately assess their institution's current and future needs.
Our expertise can be found in large and small community hospitals, urban medical centres, teaching hospitals, long-term care facilities, educational institutions, rehabilitation centres, children’s hospitals, multi-speciality group practice clinics, government hospitals, medical and academic office buildings, and free-standing ambulatory care centres.
Projects Involved:
Hospitality
The modern world is increasingly connected, with the boundaries between work and play dissolving as accessible and reliable infrastructure allow people to multi-task. Beyond location, pricing, amenities, décor, branding, service quality and experience, travellers are now also looking for an integrated environment which allows them to rest, work, shop and play all at once – social and entertainment hubs.
As architectural elements, hotels are designed to establish a unique personal identity, interwoven with the surroundings to celebrate local character while encouraging visitors to feel at home in a new place. DP Architects specialises in designing hotels that do just this, planning hotels that perform as a buffer between the room and the city for comfort and privacy. Our urban hotels have been programmed to blend a range of different spaces for social engagement and civic vibrancy. We design hotels that offer experiences as well as respite.
From luxury hotel towers and integrated resorts to cultural and entertainment destinations of high standards, our commitment is to creating attractive, memorable and authentic places where people can fully enjoy their leisure time and work efficiently and comfortably – while achieving operational efficiency. We hope to use thoughtful and sensitive architecture, interior design, landscape, lighting, entertainment, local culture and history to deliver an unforgettable experience that builds brand loyalty, buzz, and guest happiness.
As architectural elements, hotels are designed to establish a unique personal identity, interwoven with the surroundings to celebrate local character while encouraging visitors to feel at home in a new place. DP Architects specialises in designing hotels that do just this, planning hotels that perform as a buffer between the room and the city for comfort and privacy. Our urban hotels have been programmed to blend a range of different spaces for social engagement and civic vibrancy. We design hotels that offer experiences as well as respite.
From luxury hotel towers and integrated resorts to cultural and entertainment destinations of high standards, our commitment is to creating attractive, memorable and authentic places where people can fully enjoy their leisure time and work efficiently and comfortably – while achieving operational efficiency. We hope to use thoughtful and sensitive architecture, interior design, landscape, lighting, entertainment, local culture and history to deliver an unforgettable experience that builds brand loyalty, buzz, and guest happiness.
Projects Involved:
Industrial
Rising from an illustrious industrial past, factories are now celebrated as innovative spaces that support the growing knowledge and creative economies in developed cities. Modern work lifestyles have blurred the boundaries between social and work activities, resulting in the need for a flexible framework for workspaces that can accommodate multiple configurations for different uses.
DP Architects is ahead of the curve with these changing trends. Starting from our first industrial project, the Yeo Hiap Seng factory at Dunearn Road in Singapore, we have always created refreshing, dynamic design alternatives to run-of-the-mill industrial workspaces. Through the processes of careful listening, research and communication, we ask the right questions to decipher the underlying needs of the client, users, context, climate; while also listening to the site and its constraints and challenges in order to formulate a solution.
Believing in experimentation to redefine the typical building in the industrial typology, we are unconventional in our colour palette and material choices, landscaping, circulation and plan layouts to ensure greater collaboration, invention and a human-centred experience within an industrial environment. We design sustainable and flexible solutions that optimise business, without sacrificing the important outlays of time and money.
DP Architects is ahead of the curve with these changing trends. Starting from our first industrial project, the Yeo Hiap Seng factory at Dunearn Road in Singapore, we have always created refreshing, dynamic design alternatives to run-of-the-mill industrial workspaces. Through the processes of careful listening, research and communication, we ask the right questions to decipher the underlying needs of the client, users, context, climate; while also listening to the site and its constraints and challenges in order to formulate a solution.
Believing in experimentation to redefine the typical building in the industrial typology, we are unconventional in our colour palette and material choices, landscaping, circulation and plan layouts to ensure greater collaboration, invention and a human-centred experience within an industrial environment. We design sustainable and flexible solutions that optimise business, without sacrificing the important outlays of time and money.
Projects Involved:
Institutional
Serving a wide range of government clients and project types, our strategic approach allows us to effectively manage every institutional project type from large-scale academic mixed-use campuses, government headquarters and learning facilities design to small-scale feasibility studies. Our institutional solutions help promote positive change and growth that shapes a nation’s identity.
Staying up to date on trends impacting the institutional sector, especially the emphasis on a creative and knowledge-based economy requiring a lifelong upgrading of skills and critical thinking, we are aware that the pedagogy of today's needs is non-linear. The way information is broadcast and received is constantly shifting. The traditional model of institutional buildings thus has to be able to adapt to its ever-changing needs, and developing simple and flexible models that can be adaptable and elastic in how it serves to provide a usable learning environment is key.
We aim to design institutional spaces that inspire and create innovators and leaders who can resolve the multifarious challenges of the 21st century. We believe in the power of great design to shape the educational experience and to inspire human success.
Staying up to date on trends impacting the institutional sector, especially the emphasis on a creative and knowledge-based economy requiring a lifelong upgrading of skills and critical thinking, we are aware that the pedagogy of today's needs is non-linear. The way information is broadcast and received is constantly shifting. The traditional model of institutional buildings thus has to be able to adapt to its ever-changing needs, and developing simple and flexible models that can be adaptable and elastic in how it serves to provide a usable learning environment is key.
We aim to design institutional spaces that inspire and create innovators and leaders who can resolve the multifarious challenges of the 21st century. We believe in the power of great design to shape the educational experience and to inspire human success.
Projects Involved:
Urban Planning
Over decades, DP has been actively involved in a multitude of projects at various scales – from large, hundreds-of-hectare master plans, right down to a single building in the same project. Being one of the largest architecture firms in the world, our actual built experience in a wide variety of building types has provided us with a rich database of research and functional criteria which inform our planning work from multiple perspectives. In addition, our diversified clientele, that includes government bodies, real estate developers and institutions, has allowed us to develop familiar insights into the diverse requirements and priorities of different stakeholders. Our experience means we’ve developed a principled methodology, one that is multidisciplinary, to help realise our vision of what urbanism and public spaces should be. Through the belief that the built environment has the power to uplift the human spirit and experience over several epochs – which begins at the inception of a master plan – our planners are interested in creating long-term vibrancy for the area being designed.
Place-making is a top priority for us – extending beyond form to include programming components, balanced with sensitive consideration of the people, their cultural norms, their practices, climate and weather. At the same time, we also ensure our plans are economically transformative, open and flexible so that the design can adapt as that particular culture or locale evolves. Issues of social inclusiveness, “imageability”, identity, sustainability, memorability, liveability and economic viability are all key principles that we keep in mind in starting our projects. We also focus on environmental factors such as improving air quality, reducing carbon footprint or making the city more walkable, so that the environment we design helps cities become the attractive destinations they need to be for future living, vibrant and healthy community-building and economic investment.
Place-making is a top priority for us – extending beyond form to include programming components, balanced with sensitive consideration of the people, their cultural norms, their practices, climate and weather. At the same time, we also ensure our plans are economically transformative, open and flexible so that the design can adapt as that particular culture or locale evolves. Issues of social inclusiveness, “imageability”, identity, sustainability, memorability, liveability and economic viability are all key principles that we keep in mind in starting our projects. We also focus on environmental factors such as improving air quality, reducing carbon footprint or making the city more walkable, so that the environment we design helps cities become the attractive destinations they need to be for future living, vibrant and healthy community-building and economic investment.
Projects Involved:
Mixed Use
With a greater emphasis on the quality of civic life, designers are tasked with redefining urban spaces in more dynamic, inhabitable and sustainable ways. DP Architects’ work in the mixed-use typology exemplifies the firm’s commitment towards enhancing cityscapes, by creating destinations that serve as strong social centres with opportunities for human interaction within the urban fabric. Whether a single mixed-use block or a zoned network of buildings and spaces that cater to various aspects of urban life, DP places a strong emphasis on understanding local conditions and addressing the different requirements and overlapping needs of various groups to reinvent urban spaces as vibrant destinations sensitive to the landscape and context.
A pioneer in this typology, DP is the firm behind the first mixed-use development in Singapore, People’s Park Complex. Since then, DP has continued to lead in this evolving and complex typology, successfully bringing together distinct programmes in a single destination, consistent to the motto of ‘Live, Work, Play’, to satisfy the needs of modern lifestyles. Programmes are planned to generate synergetic relationships, engaging users and vitalising the development. In large-scale developments, intersections, connecting spaces and circulation paths function as streetscapes to support the key programmes, infused with greenery and choreographed to invite exploration and allow various groups to flow between the various zones with great ease and opportunity within the integrated development.
A pioneer in this typology, DP is the firm behind the first mixed-use development in Singapore, People’s Park Complex. Since then, DP has continued to lead in this evolving and complex typology, successfully bringing together distinct programmes in a single destination, consistent to the motto of ‘Live, Work, Play’, to satisfy the needs of modern lifestyles. Programmes are planned to generate synergetic relationships, engaging users and vitalising the development. In large-scale developments, intersections, connecting spaces and circulation paths function as streetscapes to support the key programmes, infused with greenery and choreographed to invite exploration and allow various groups to flow between the various zones with great ease and opportunity within the integrated development.
Projects Involved:
Religious
Every religion has its own time-steeped traditions, symbols and signifiers, resulting in exacting guidelines when it comes to the design and construction of their places of worship.
Whether it is a church, mosque, temple or a synagogue, DP Architects understands that its design solutions have to serve as a dialogue between a deep respect for the religion's historical and architectural traditions while attempting to incorporate modern elements to elevate the sense of spirituality within a space.
Whether it is a church, mosque, temple or a synagogue, DP Architects understands that its design solutions have to serve as a dialogue between a deep respect for the religion's historical and architectural traditions while attempting to incorporate modern elements to elevate the sense of spirituality within a space.
Projects Involved:
Residential
DP Architects has been involved in residential design since the firm’s first condominium project, also one of the first condominiums in Singapore, Ridgewood Condominium, in 1981. Since then, our projects celebrate the benefits of city dwelling, yet also offer spaces that break from the city – offering both community and a harbour for the comforts of private life. Each project is designed to capture the energy of its site, with connections to the city that are contextual and specialised.
Adaptability and creativity are critical when dealing with the challenges over the years, be it site constraints, urban and building guidelines, or changing societal trends. More importantly, woven throughout our projects is the common, constant thread of our commitment to enrich the human experience and spirit through our planning and architectural works. Our aim has always been to improve the quality of life of the people in our buildings – our design philosophy as a people-centric, homegrown architectural firm.
We understand that residential designs are about creating quality environments to nurture communities, beyond the inclusion of functionality and the fulfilment of pragmatic, commercial requirements. Innovative residential design involves more personal customisation, the promotion of life amid nature and the re-cultivation of a sense of community. We look at the creation of “green homes”, which go beyond environmental sustainability and looks at how people’s lifestyles can seamlessly integrate with nature. Our landscapes within residential developments are designed purposefully and also act as a social space for people to enjoy rather than a decorative feature. Today, we think out of the box to offer the best of functionality, design features and aesthetics, as residents are not only looking for an apartment unit but something that fits their changing lifestyles and design tastes.
Our design strategies and responses have evolved over the years in catering to the needs of private homeowners and providing them with a high-quality life, genuine value for property developers and sustainable approaches for everyone’s benefit. All our projects are grounded in the characteristics of the local community, resulting in authentic settings that share a relationship to their surroundings and engender feelings of belonging.
Adaptability and creativity are critical when dealing with the challenges over the years, be it site constraints, urban and building guidelines, or changing societal trends. More importantly, woven throughout our projects is the common, constant thread of our commitment to enrich the human experience and spirit through our planning and architectural works. Our aim has always been to improve the quality of life of the people in our buildings – our design philosophy as a people-centric, homegrown architectural firm.
We understand that residential designs are about creating quality environments to nurture communities, beyond the inclusion of functionality and the fulfilment of pragmatic, commercial requirements. Innovative residential design involves more personal customisation, the promotion of life amid nature and the re-cultivation of a sense of community. We look at the creation of “green homes”, which go beyond environmental sustainability and looks at how people’s lifestyles can seamlessly integrate with nature. Our landscapes within residential developments are designed purposefully and also act as a social space for people to enjoy rather than a decorative feature. Today, we think out of the box to offer the best of functionality, design features and aesthetics, as residents are not only looking for an apartment unit but something that fits their changing lifestyles and design tastes.
Our design strategies and responses have evolved over the years in catering to the needs of private homeowners and providing them with a high-quality life, genuine value for property developers and sustainable approaches for everyone’s benefit. All our projects are grounded in the characteristics of the local community, resulting in authentic settings that share a relationship to their surroundings and engender feelings of belonging.
Projects Involved:
Retail
We understand that shopping is about the pleasure of authentic discovery. An urban adventure that is about creative and spontaneous exploration, the experience to uncover rare finds. In a fast-paced industry driven by dynamic trends, we understand that retailers face constant challenges in maintaining their competitive edge and effective branding strategies. We understand the importance of establishing a strong, differentiated creative identity in a competitive retail landscape, which includes the digital space, in order to encourage footfall and repeat visits.
This is why we optimise the retail experience with memorable aesthetic elements or iconic representative spaces to give character to a mall so that it appeals to a savvy, young generation. We continue to innovate by having our eye on the pulse for industry changes and foster mutual conversations with industry players to address future needs and trends. In an increasingly mobile and digital age, fresh interpretations of the spatial experience of the physical mall are essential. The shopping experience is now more experiential, emotional, spontaneous and creative, offering surprise elements.
We also see malls as generators of social activity, supporting and integrating the increasingly convergent social and lifestyle needs of consumers. We design malls with the community in mind by introducing personal touches even to large spaces, injecting life and vibrancy in a mall through softer social spaces. We imbue retail spaces with a strong sense of place, so that it may resonate with the community who needs to feel a sense of social belonging to a space. This goes back to our design principle of ‘placemaking’ – creating communal places with an identity that evoke sensation and emotional attachment, which are unique to the specific market and community.
DP Architects has undertaken the redesign of many shopping malls along Orchard Road and other regions over the years. This has helped us build extensive expertise on different types of shopping mall concepts and has put us on the forefront of retail development in Asia. We are attributed to be the first to bring the modern enclosed shopping mall to India with Crossroads and were also the designers behind The Dubai Mall, the largest mall by covered area in the world.
This is why we optimise the retail experience with memorable aesthetic elements or iconic representative spaces to give character to a mall so that it appeals to a savvy, young generation. We continue to innovate by having our eye on the pulse for industry changes and foster mutual conversations with industry players to address future needs and trends. In an increasingly mobile and digital age, fresh interpretations of the spatial experience of the physical mall are essential. The shopping experience is now more experiential, emotional, spontaneous and creative, offering surprise elements.
We also see malls as generators of social activity, supporting and integrating the increasingly convergent social and lifestyle needs of consumers. We design malls with the community in mind by introducing personal touches even to large spaces, injecting life and vibrancy in a mall through softer social spaces. We imbue retail spaces with a strong sense of place, so that it may resonate with the community who needs to feel a sense of social belonging to a space. This goes back to our design principle of ‘placemaking’ – creating communal places with an identity that evoke sensation and emotional attachment, which are unique to the specific market and community.
DP Architects has undertaken the redesign of many shopping malls along Orchard Road and other regions over the years. This has helped us build extensive expertise on different types of shopping mall concepts and has put us on the forefront of retail development in Asia. We are attributed to be the first to bring the modern enclosed shopping mall to India with Crossroads and were also the designers behind The Dubai Mall, the largest mall by covered area in the world.
Projects Involved:
Sports, Community & Recreation
Participating in sports and recreation is an incredibly communal experience. Sporting experiences can activate communities as well as generate revenues. We see sports and recreation as integral to the everyday life of the entire community. Delivering thriving sports facilities takes a dedicated team of experts with global expertise in large-scale placemaking and the branding of destinations. Each of our sports and recreation facilities are thus inspired by their surroundings and by the unique culture and spirit of the community and institution that they serve. We design for teams, the spectators’ experience and those pursuing exercise for recreational purposes and personal wellness. We seek to inspire with exceptional environments conducive to fitness, made of quality construction and interesting materials that architecturally support meaningful sports activities.
DP Architects’ experience in sports development ranges from community facilities to sports infrastructure of international stature, sports-anchored mixed-use developments as well as a series of complex master plans and proposals worldwide.
For themed recreational venues, we understand the desire for authentic, tangible and bespoke experiences will propel this industry’s growth. We endeavour to design venues that provide immersive, interactive and collective social opportunities that continually adapt to the changing economics of each leisure activity and need.
DP Architects’ experience in sports development ranges from community facilities to sports infrastructure of international stature, sports-anchored mixed-use developments as well as a series of complex master plans and proposals worldwide.
For themed recreational venues, we understand the desire for authentic, tangible and bespoke experiences will propel this industry’s growth. We endeavour to design venues that provide immersive, interactive and collective social opportunities that continually adapt to the changing economics of each leisure activity and need.
Projects Involved:
Transport
Transport in cities is rapidly evolving, designed to carry our communities into the future. Our expertise includes large-scale planning to designs for terminals and stations. Our comprehensive and thoughtful approach integrates airports and transit systems with the travellers they serve, connecting terminals and stations to their context – including commercial projects – and providing an accessible, safe and comfortable experience for all.
We work in close collaboration with some of the world’s best engineering and specialist talents in teams tailored to suit the specific needs of a project. This allows the firm to formulate the best combination of skill-sets and value for clients to service their goals and ambitions. We have also acquired extensive experience in working with a wide range of contract-procurement models including conventional consultancy, integrated teams with engineering and other disciplines, design-and-build contract teams, guaranteed-price contract teams and build-operate-and-transfer teams to keep you moving.
We work in close collaboration with some of the world’s best engineering and specialist talents in teams tailored to suit the specific needs of a project. This allows the firm to formulate the best combination of skill-sets and value for clients to service their goals and ambitions. We have also acquired extensive experience in working with a wide range of contract-procurement models including conventional consultancy, integrated teams with engineering and other disciplines, design-and-build contract teams, guaranteed-price contract teams and build-operate-and-transfer teams to keep you moving.
Projects Involved:
Urban Art
No matter the typology, context, purpose or scale – we work hard to deliver design excellence. Whether it’s large buildings or temporary pop-up pavilions, we pay attention to detail. Even with smaller-scale experimental design projects, we still care about the spatial experience and the positive emotional response that users will have within a space, to lift their spirits.
Through materiality and creative interpretation, we have produced installations which are considered design innovations inspired by the fields of architecture, design, technology or even nature. These installations have entered into dialogue with its permanent context and provoked, challenged or disrupted it in a theatrical and meaningful manner. With an inquisitive mind, we are always keen to explore fun and fantastic experimentations of interim architecture.
Through materiality and creative interpretation, we have produced installations which are considered design innovations inspired by the fields of architecture, design, technology or even nature. These installations have entered into dialogue with its permanent context and provoked, challenged or disrupted it in a theatrical and meaningful manner. With an inquisitive mind, we are always keen to explore fun and fantastic experimentations of interim architecture.