CapitaLand's One Pearl Bank goes green

The design for One Pearl Bank has been unveiled by CapitaLand, in place of the iconic horseshoe-shaped Pearl Bank Apartments that was once the highest residential tower in the country.

The new design comprises two 39-storey towers which are gently curved, linked at the roofs by sky bridges. This emulates the appearance of Pearl Bank Apartments, which CapitaLand purchased for $728 million in February last year. The curved facades “create a light and airy affect”, allowing residents to enjoy views atop Pearl’s Hill City Park, says the developer.

At 178 metres, One Pearl Bank will be the tallest residential development in the Outram-Chinatown district in Central Singapore, with views that extend from the CBD to Sentosa, CapitaLand says. Set to complete in 2023, it will comprise 774 apartments ranging from studio apartments to penthouses, from 430 to 2,800 sq ft. To benefit from the site's sloped topography, the two residential towers will be lifted 21 metres from ground.

Urban greenery is an important design element incorporated throughout the development. One Pearl Bank will boast over 500 trees across 35 species and more than 135,000 shrubs, plants and flowers, occupying over 60,000 square feet of space – equivalent to 75% of the total site area.

The facade of the development will feature a series of sky gardens arrayed vertically at one edge of each tower – a garden will be allotted every four storeys, with each garden housing 11 plots. In total, the development will have 18 sky gardens at the edge of towers, with close to 200 plots where residents can grow their own herbs, fruits and vegetables, CapitaLand says.

The gardens allotted at the edge of each tower are complemented by two sky terraces and two roof gardens. There is also a sunken planter in every balcony to maximise the greenery on the facade of the development.

“We wanted a design scheme that contributes meaningfully to Singapore’s cityscape and enhances its surroundings,” says Ronald Tay, CEO of CapitaLand Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. “These include incorporating abundant greenery at different elevations and adding a landscaped path linking One Pearl Bank to the adjacent Pearl’s Hill City Park.”

As part of URA’s Draft Master Plan 2019, Pearl’s Hill City Park will be revamped into a playground and social space for the community, and linked to Fort Canning Park through the Singapore River.

One Pearl Bank is designed by multi-award-winning Serie+Multiply, a joint venture between London-based Serie Architects and Singapore-based Multiply Architects.