Page 26 - RLI September 2019

COVER STORY | WOODS BAGOT
World-renowned architects Woods Bagot are a people
Expertise architecture company who place human experience at

the centre of its design process. As it celebrates 150 years
of practice, RLI took the opportunity to sit down with

On A Global Scale Director Stephen Jones to discuss one of the unique
projects the company worked on and how the business
continues to move forward with one clear idea in mind.

and interior design, which also saw us lead an international
team of creatives, allowed us to deliver a highly integrated, richly
layered project that we believe marks a new era in mixed-
use and retail. This integrated redevelopment addresses the
new generation of tech-savvy consumers who are in search
of collaboration, experiences and recreation under one roof
where visitors can engage and build community.”
The project was designed to be a civic hub where people
could carry out all aspects of life, from playing to working to
living and the 889,000sq ft redevelopment features a public
plaza on the ground floor that allows people to gather in
this semi-public area and pass through on foot or by bicycle.
To honour the history of the site, the offer to customers is
driven by technology, yet the experiences available at Funan
represent ones that cannot be found online as they are all about
oods Bagot is a global design and consulting This design focus can still be seen in the projects the human interaction and physical experiences, from workshops
studio with a team of over 1,000 experts company works on today, and is clearly evident in one unique and seminars to sports, wellness facilities and theatre offerings.
working across 15 studios in Asia, Australia, recent completion, Funan, the redevelopment of CapitaLand’s The design concept is manifested in “The Tree of Life”. The
W Europe, the Middle East and North Funan DigitalLife Mall, for which Woods Bagot completed the Tree of Life is symbolic of the idea that creativity grows from
America. This global studio model allows the company to envisioning, masterplanning, architecture and interior design. collaboration. The concept at the heart of the project is the
work collaboratively across time zones and borders, using Funan is an integrated mixed-use lifestyle destination that Tree of Life, around which Woods Bagot created the retail
the latest technology to share design intelligence and opened on 28 June 2019 that is comprised of an experience- offering. The Tree of Life is a wooden and steel structure that
strengthen their knowledge base around the world. focused retail centre with leisure culture and entertainment rises through six storeys, from the Basement 2 to Level 4 at
Back in August, the company offerings, two Grade-A office blocks and a nine-storey lyf the centre of Funan. The symbolic idea of the creation is that
“Funan is embedded celebrated 150 years of practice at co-living serviced residence, becoming a new paradigm for creativity grows from collaboration.
with a great ambition to the St Peter’s Cathedral in Adelaide, living, playing and working in Singapore’s city centre and For Woods Bagot, Funan began six years ago with feasibility
redefine new mixed-use Australia and over 80 guests including represents an experiential civic hub. studies and the demanding but rewarding project continued
clients, dignitaries and Woods Bagot
“Funan is a highly integrated development that blurs the
through envisioning, masterplanning, architecture and interiors.
and build communities. It Principals gathered to rejoice in the traditional lines of function and experience. Public spaces, Engaging the expertise of Woods Bagot, CapitaLand’s
is a reflection to embrace firm’s success and history in the first business, commerce, co-working, co-living, entertainment and Funan is the realisation of a desire to build young, vibrant
communities by integrating an experiential mall with dynamic
cultural offerings come together. Connective elements run
building designed by founders Edward
a culture of innovation.” John Woods and Walter Bagot. through the building, from the pedestrian tourist route, to the co-working and co-living spaces and is a reflection of a
Woods Bagot was founded on active bike path that marks a first for a commercial building commitment to embrace a culture of innovation.
the idea of designing for future growth related to both cities in Singapore, to the vertical circulation that takes visitors from “The planning and vision required to achieve this landmark
and people. This clear driver remains the firm’s foundation basement click-and-collect points to the diversity and dynamism project was significant. The dedication and hard work of Woods
and has fuelled expansion from one studio in Adelaide to 15 of the upper levels,” explains Stephen Jones, Director at Woods Bagot, as well as the enduring support of our client, CapitaLand,
across the globe, covering more than nine sector typologies Bagot. “Woods Bagot’s involvement in the development of allowed us to push the boundaries and deliver a ground-
that create holistic buildings and precincts around the world. Funan, from envisioning through masterplanning, architecture breaking new mixed-use development,” concludes Jones.
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