sunray woodcraft construction headquarters by DP architects

sunray woodcraft construction headquarters by DP architects
all images courtesy of DP architects

the building housing the headquarters of sunray woodcraft construction by DP architects is one of the first to be completed as part of the newly positioned international furniture hub in sungei kadut, singapore. it presents an opportunity to look afresh at the light industrial factory type, stacking production processes in order to optimize working conditions.

elevation from neighboring site

the original brief called for an office complex with an attached factory, complete with gallery showrooms and workers’ dormitories, to replace the existing location in johor bahru. this merging of two elements of the production methods and originally separate uses prompted a restructuring of the spatial arrangement and workflow of the eight-storey building.

east elevation viewed from the passing mass rapid transit line 

the headquarters provides a base for the group and is shaped to reflect the company’s design and craft expertise. the stacked timber aesthetic is formed a series of interconnected volumes which correspond to their interior functions. the approach was driven by three challenges – namely, a wide range of user requirements, the client’s ambitious requirement for increased space, and the unique position of the site within the estate, highly visible from passing trains nearby.

a limited palette of materials assists the intuitive navigation around the building

each piece, reflecting the different stages of production, is identified by the specific needs that their individual programs serve. the workshop and warehouses are clad in yellow horizontal aluminum louvers, flooding areas with the maximum amount of natural ventilation and light while remaining shaded from the sun and protected from rain. deep recesses between create intuitive points of entry and exit for each box while allowing illuminance to penetrate deeper into the floor plate.

north elevation

office spaces are housed by vertical aluminum louvers, shading the interior and maintaining views of the outside. the showroom is cased in concrete – a contrast to the defining hue of yellow that makes up the rest of the building in homage to the company’s corporate color. the large picture window further highlights the furniture on display and grants a focal point on two sides of the facility facing the train tracks.

large windows correspond to the interior functions

the workers’ dormitory at the rear of the site continues the use of vertical element with checkerboard openings to allow for natural ventilation while maintaining privacy. smaller areas which require highly controlled systems, such as the spray booth and laser cutter work stations, are located within precast concrete with high level fenestration and mechanical ventilation.

checkerboard openings

the specialized facilities allow the factory to handle anything from bespoke interior fit outs to decor for international hotel chains. the seamless workflow of spaces, easily navigable volumes and efficiently planned zones are designed around the movement of materials, finished products, as well as three separate user groups.

distinct boxes differentiate between the separate functions of the building 

the building experience for each group is carefully planned, with the user’s requirements driving the architecture. for example, contiguous floor space between production zones and dormitories allow fast and easy access for workers. dormitory floors are stacked towards the rear of the site, facing away from other workshop activities which may otherwise cause noise or dust and allowing for maximum privacy.

main drop-off point 

visitors arrive in the drop-off lobby on the ground floor, located within the perimeter of the complex. a lift lobby then brings visitors and employees up directly into the showroom or reception desk. between the main office and the offices of upper management, lounges overlook roof terraces, filling these areas with natural light and providing long vistas over the estate. here, a secondary lift core also allows staff direct access into the workshop and warehouses.

natural light floods the internal spaces

interior of the factory 

the architects believe that ‘the design for sunray redefines the notion of tropical architecture and the characteristic wood and furniture factory – from the typical, open-sided, corrugated metal roof, warehouse type commonly seen in the region into a design highly efficient and aesthetically appealing.’ responding to the subjective needs of the interior, the skin envelops each space accordingly, with large horizontal openings to bring in ventilation and light for production, smaller vertical voids for offices, and an enclosed box to retain the controlled light conditions required in the showroom. 

interior of the showroom 

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