HDB TAMPINES GREENOPAL,
Singapore

Tampines GreenOpal is an HDB estate situated along the forested boundary of Bedok Reservoir. Overlooking the Bedok Canal and park connector, residents enjoy sweeping vistas, emulating the concept of a “Life by the River” where communities coexisted in days gone by.

Facing the challenge of an underground MRT reserve line across its site, the team transformed the no-build zone into a green spine that partitions the precinct into two smaller cluster estates that are friendlier in scale. The team also introduced green belts that intersect perpendicularly with the core spine to promote connectivity.

The landscape is conceived as a riverine system, with amenities, playgrounds and elderly fitness centres. A mangrove sub-theme informs the design of playground elements and furniture. Boardwalks and suspended bridges traverse meandering rain gardens, offering residents sensory-rich journeys through the landscape. Recycled logs salvaged from clearing the wooded precinct are reintegrated as play structures, reinforcing the project’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

The residential blocks were designed to taper away in height from the green spine, creating a sense of cohesiveness. Drawing inspiration from tropical vernacular features, vertical fins mimicking opened window shutters dot the block façades.

The childcare centres and pavilions adopt intricately tessellated metallic tiles that also clad iconic dome-shaped roofs – a refined approach that contrasts with the rigidity of the surrounding blocks. Two multi-storey carparks (MSCP) feature layers of undulating brise soleil, softening the edges of the façade. Roof gardens are also featured on the MSCPs, allowing residents to bond and rejuvenate in nature.