CapitaLand Ascott Trust’s lyf one-north Singapore raises standards of co-living excellence

CapitaLand Ascott Trust’s lyf one-north Singapore weaves co-living into every aspect possible, from engaging locally-based artists for its design to tailoring shared facilities and social spaces to enhance communal living. The property has won the Co-Living Excellence award at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2023. Located on 80 Nepal Hill in the one-north technology park, the project consists of two angular seven-storey residential blocks which are linked by an inhabited bridge.

The twin blocks house 324 compact studio units, complete with a comprehensive suite of amenities and shared spaces for its residents and members of the public. These include an outdoor amphitheatre, an outdoor lap pool with a barbecue pit, and an outdoor activity area. The property also enjoys easy access to key districts via the Ayer Rajah Expressway and public transport, as it is located opposite the one-north MRT Station and a station away from the Buona Vista MRT Station.

JTC Corp awarded the project to CapitaLand Investment’s wholly-owned lodging business unit The Ascott in 2018. The winning concept of CapitaLand Ascott Trust’s lyf one-north Singapore was a co-living development that has socially inclusive urban design, vibrant community building and sustainable architecture. It was clear that lyf (pronounced “life”) or “live your freedom” had successfully brought this vision to life after the project was completed last year, by injecting a vibrant spirit of co-living and sustainability in almost every part of its development. The property is the second lyf-branded co-living property in Singapore, after lyf Funan Singapore which opened in 2019.

Designed by award-winning architecture firm WOHA, known for their biophilic and sustainable designs, lyf one-north Singapore has a range of vibrant and green social spaces and facilities that promote community building. Describing the property’s design as “refreshing”, EPEA 2023 judge Tang Kok Thye, associate partner with ADDP Architects LLP, says that lyf one-north Singapore is bringing “young people” to the district. “It is also interesting to see the development at a completely new building since most of the co-living properties are refurbishment of older buildings,” Tang says, adding that the washing machine-inspired windows stood out for him.

Another judge, Angela Lim, co-founder of design studio SuMisura, agrees. “The entire property’s design was nice, funky and interesting, and I think they managed to pull it off to give a strong co-living experience,” she says.

Guests and their friends can attend events and market fairs at the property’s rooftop social clubhouse called Hang Out, or organise events at lyf one-north Singapore's new convertible function rooms, which can cater small group events to larger-scale business functions. In addition, lyf one-north Singapore also organises experiential programmes and events to build a sense of community, such as meditation and yoga sessions. Besides events, guests can also bond with their fellow co-living mates by preparing and cooking home-cooked meals at the social kitchen or the ‘Connect’ social zones for coworking and collaboration.

The co-living property also houses the largest public cycling hub in one-north, with 82 lots as well as lockers and end-of-trip public facilities, such as changing rooms and shower facilities. To facilitate usage of these facilities by guests and members of the public, the building features a barrier-free walkway, accessible washrooms and strong visual cues throughout the entire development, which caters to all users, including persons with disabilities. This contributes to community building and supports active mobility, as well as facilitating a car-lite neighbourhood in the area. Other common co-living amenities are also available at the property, such as a shared kitchen area and laundromat.

On top of the design, lyf one-north Singapore's sustainability is also embodied in the property’s features, including an energy-efficient façade and mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment. It has also been innovative in harnessing technology to be more eco-friendly. For example, the property has an automated building management system that tracks the building’s electricity and water usage. The guest units are also equipped with smart occupancy sensors to be energy-efficient, by switching off air-conditioning systems and lights when guests leave the room. Guests can also check into and unlock their assigned rooms using their mobile phones or choose not to have their bedsheets or towels replaced via a mobile app. Additionally, the common corridors of the property are naturally ventilated using low-energy mechanical ventilation, while some social spaces like the amphitheatre, cycling hub and outdoor social dining area are naturally ventilated to reduce reliance on energy. There are also two naturally ventilated external outdoor staircases, which reduce energy consumption.

lyf one-north Singapore is also sustainable in its construction and building materials. Its building façade is made of precast concrete with various openings that are equipped with windows and integrated sun-shading ledges and fins to reduce façade solar heat gain. The windows can also be opened for natural ventilation, and come with contact sensors that automatically cut off air-conditioning when opened.

Following the theme of community building, the exterior of the property has also been designed using various textures and geometry to evoke a playful and light-hearted character. lyf one-north Singapore has also engaged local artists in designing the façade of the property. The entire stretch of the property’s façade features a seven-storey mural stretching over 25m in height by Singapore-based Colombian graffiti artist, Didier “Jaba” Mathieu and local multi-disciplinary platform-studio, Mural Lingo under the #lyfxart initiative. The initiative engages with local artists to create designs and works of art that are displayed all across the property, which are specially curated to reflect lyf one-north Singapore's location, culture and heritage. This includes the murals in the property’s apartments, which have been designed to reflect themes of innovation and communal living integrated with the use of advanced technology.

Sky Seah, the academic director and senior lecturer at NUS Business School’s Department of Real Estate, who also served as a judge at this year’s awards, commends lyf @ one-north Singapore's for its innovative concept. “The co-living property offers various themes and includes co-working spaces to accommodate flexible working styles,” she notes. “It aligns perfectly with one-north’s live-work-play community.”