'a simple factory building' by pencil office in singapore
all images courtesy pencil office
singaporean architecture practice pencil office has sent us images of 'a simple factory building', a multi-storey structure in an industrial area of singapore. focusing on resolving site-specific obstacles found in the tropical climate as well as the property's limited leasehold, the project is driven by environmentally-conscious design and features a complex trellis screen that filters airborne pollutants from the neighbourhood.

exterior views
conceived as a 4 double-story block, the design is visually defined by a lightweight dryvit and galv metal skin that wraps around the front, top and rear facades of the building. the subtly shifting density in the trellis pattern creates the illusion of a much taller structure, drawing eyes vertically towards the sky. coated in photo calaytic titanium dioxide, the screen self-cleans and assist in substantially reducing concentrations of airborne pollutants in the area. the facade composite,
aluminum window walls and reinforced concrete construction allows the building to be fully recyclable  at the end of the 33 year leasehold.

street view

wrap-around trellis system
functionally serving as a hoist space for lifting goods, the center of the interior has been hollowed out to generate a volumetric subtraction at the core of the plans to facilitate natural ventilation as well as to maximize on natural lighting. the multi-storey courtyard extends to an open-air roof level which is partially covered in the continuous trellis system. in addition to lending a distinct visual identity to the factory, the porous pattern allows outward views of the neighbourhood from the interior.  to counteract the strong presence of the western sun, a service core is situated along the length of the building to act as a thermal mass.

ground floor service space

(left) looking up at central void
(right) level above

roof level

(left) roof level
(right) view of site from roof

lit street facade

from street


(left) floor plan / level 0
(right) floor plan / level +1

(left) floor plan / level +2
(right) floor plan / level +3

elevation

sectional diagram of natural ventilation

solar studies