heatherwick studio's 'EDEN' tower in singapore immerses residents in nature

inspired by the vision of a ‘city in a garden’, heatherwick studio has completed a residential tower in singapore that allows its occupants to feel connected to the city’s tree-lined streets while enjoying views, light, and privacy. located in singapore’s newton district, the 20-storey structure — named ‘EDEN’ — is described as a ‘radical departure from the glass and steel tower typology’. the project, photographed here by hufton + crow, immerses homes within a garden environment that also offers the benefits of apartment living.

all images © hufton + crow

heatherwick studio lifted EDEN’s 20 apartments 27 meters (66 feet) above a ground level garden planted with tropical vegetation. the garden’s greenery makes its way upwards and around the building through a series of ‘planted chandeliers’, which grow as they rise up the building to become generous private outdoor spaces. alternated to create double-height spaces, the balconies surround each apartment with greenery that provides natural shade. over time, the plants will cascade down the building, softening its appearance.

‘instead of glass-clad edifices with token balconies, each home within ‘EDEN’ will have a lush garden right at the doorstep with organic and generous living spaces achieved by breaking up the traditional boxy floorplate,’ explains thomas heatherwick. the interior design positions services at the perimeter of the floorplate, resulting in large central living spaces that are surrounded by smaller individual rooms and the wide shell-like balconies.

‘the building represents a unique way of living in the city, with its combination of evocative natural materials, textures and crafted details and its celebration of the area’s natural landscape,’ continues the design team. ‘over time, the building is designed to mature, as the lush planting grows, like a sapling that has taken root beneath the streets, pulling the landscape of singapore up into the sky.’ see designboom’s previous coverage of the project here.

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project info:

name: EDEN
location: singapore
client: swire properties ltd/celestial fortune
size: 33,425 sqf / 3,105 sqm
building height: 20 storeys
apartments: 20

architect: heatherwick studio
group leader: mat cash
project leader: gabriel sanchiz
studio team: sheau-fei hoe, charlie kentish, wendy lee, julian liang, andrew mcmullen, craig miller, john minford, manuel ramos
collaborators: ensemble, RSP architects, planners & engineers, COEN design international, unison, squire mec, RSP structures
photography: hufton + crow