The Jurong Philharmonic - "Reimagining former Jurong Bird Park and Jurong Hill" Ideas Competition (Honorary Merit Award)
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Urban Planning
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Mixed Use-Office
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Sustainable Design
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Singapore
- Location: Singapore
- Competition Submission: 2024
- Area: 39.2 hectares
- Typology: Mixed use
- Scope: Master Planning
- Award: Honorary Merit (Professional Category)
Project Description
THE JURONG PHILHARMONIC — Reimagining the former Jurong Bird Park and Jurong Hill
Jurong Bird Park and Hill Park have had astounding success in their role as a respite from the industrial hardscape borne of their immediate surroundings. This success is owed not only to the absence of urban noise but also to the concurrent introduction of nature’s song. Recognizing the site’s unique quality of being an “acoustic oasis,” this project seeks to explore and enhance the profound role that sound plays in the urban experience. To draw out the inherent beauty of the site, core programs centered around the idea of “Nature’s Song” form the backbone of the user’s journey throughout The Jurong Philharmonic.
Envisioned as nature’s orchestra, the design comprises several key interventions that play the role of different sections. In this realm, users may experience the subdued pianissimo of insects and birds chirping, all the way to the thunderous fortissimo of the roaring waterfall. This symphony gradually subsumes and takes over the discordant noise of the Jurong Industrial area as the user slowly travels deeper into the site.
On a more encompassing scale, the idea of sound—not to be confused with noise— and its mechanics are abstracted into four design strategies vital to this proposal. Building off the Draft Master Plan 2025’s strategies, these are the Echoes of Heritage, Nature’s Sustain, Community Chorus, and Resonance of Commerce.
Overall Concept
Nature's Song, the core of our journey. Four design pillars shape the site: Echoes of Heritage, Nature's sustain, Community Chorus & Resonance of Commerce. The site's rich memory and spatial challenges formed the design foundation.
Urban Design Strategies
Recognizing the site's unique quality of being an "acoustic oasis," this project seeks to explore and enhance the profound role that sound plays in the urban experience.
Leveraging the site's natural and cultural history, the design proposes adaptive reuse, immersive soundscapes, and nature-based urban regeneration. These interventions aren't just buildings. They're acoustic stages for interaction, education & contemplation.
A Journey Through Sound
Reimagined as an acoustic experience, this sectional journey from riverfront to hilltop highlights sound as a design tool. Where nature gradually overcomes urban noise, creating a rich narrative for users of all ages.
"Lookout Tower - A Sonic Landmark"
The Lookout Tower crowns Jurong Hill as a celebration of heritage and acoustics. With an intentional soundscape and views across the industrial district, this structure reflects MJDA's vision of blending the old and new--transforming listening into an immersive architectural experience.
"Misty Ladder - Sensorial Elevation"
This striking vertical structure serves as both a connector and a sensory experience. Brickwork encloses cascading waterfalls and acoustic pods, designed to echo natural symphonies while honoring the site's industrial past. Accessibility and auditory immersion walk hand-in-hand.
"Acoustic Amphitheatre - Nature's Stage"
By reimagining the existing amphitheatre with reused timber, leaf canopies, and adaptive seating, this space becomes more than a performance venue--it's a heritage hub. It invites all generations to gather, reflect, and connect with Singapore's cultural and natural history.
"Industrial Incubator- Where Innovation Begins"
The Industrial Incubator at Jurong Hill redefines the future of industry by integrating nature with innovation. This sustainable hub provides space for start-ups, fostering collaboration between businesses and the surrounding ecosystem. Its unique form reduces building temperatures and creates an eco-conscious workspace for the next generation of green innovators.
"Whispering Walls - Softening the City's Echo"
Designed to buffer industrial noise and enhance the site's acoustic quality, the Whispering Walls offer an unexpected calm. As part of the sound journey, the walls guide visitors toward the Connection Hub and Misty Ladder, turning urban noise into a soft, harmonious background. A subtle yet transformative intervention for both ecology and community.
"Community Canal - Where Nature and People Flow"
The Community Canal introduces a living water spine across the Jurong Philharmonic site. It purifies and softens the soundscape, allowing biodiversity to thrive alongside urban life. Whether as a tranquil retreat or educational nature walk, the canal fosters an intimate connection between people and water, echoing the site's legacy as an acoustic oasis.
Click here to learn more about our proposal "The Jurong Philharmonic".
