PEARL'S HILL : HILLSIDE HOUSING IN THE PARK

Abstract

This thesis is fueled upon a critique of URA’s Master-plan of the Pearl’s Hill area. As 1 of only 2 urban hill parks remaining in Singapore’s central area ,Pearl’s hill exhibits strong potential as a valuable natural and recreational resource within the heart of the city. Recent plans of the government to modernize and intensify use of the central area would isolate the hill as a lost and forgotten part of the city. Pearl’s hill’s dwindling sense of presence in the city, further diminished.

This new URA master-plan for the hill introduces a ring of gated private condominiums surrounding the hill. The hill and the park seemly “privatized” , exclusive for a select group of residents . An alternative urban plan is proposed. One against introverting the hill park setting. A new urban plan that desires(pushes) for Pearl’s Hill to be revealed and connected as a special resource of the city’s natural and urban landscape. The hill and park made more accessible for more to use , for more to enjoy.

This thesis chooses a site that stretches along from the bottom of the hill slope to the hill park above. A severe topography that excites for its potential to facilitate an interplay of easily accessible roof gardens and terraces. A programmatic insertion of housing is proposed here – hillside housing . A housing model that departs from the gated private housing model ;one which seeks ato address the relationship between private , semi private and private open spaces. Housing that address the sense of hill almost lost here. The intention is for housing that engages the park and topography at the same time, that blurs the boundaries , experimenting towards a new developmental housing model - hillside housing in the Park.