Galen Lobby Retrofitted With Colorful Beer Crate Furniture in Singapore

<a href="http://www.ascendas.com/english/">Ascendas</a>, a provider of business space solutions, tasked <a href="http://www.formwerkz.com/" target="_blank">Formwerkz Architects</a> with retrofitting the lobby in their Singapore headquarters, and we're loving the result. Interested in sustainable and human-centric design, Ascendas wanted a lobby that would reflect their ideals and also work as a low-carbon footprint building that maximizes energy savings. Formwerkz opened up the Galen Lobby by removing some of the glass facades to create an invigorating open space cooled by natural ventilation and filled with upcycled beer crate furnishings.

The Galen Lobby was originally like any old boring corporate lobby with a double height atrium and a glass curtain wall, but Ascendas wanted to turn it into something more exciting and would save energy.

Hoping to reduce energy use, Ascendas wanted the retrofitted lobby to rely only on natural ventilation rather than air conditioning.

So <a href="http://www.formwerkz.com/" target="_blank">Formwerkz</a> removed a portion of the glass curtain wall to open it up to the outdoors, provide a more direct connection with the courtyard and make use of fresh air.

A rain screen made from cut PVC pipe shields the interior while allowing air to pass through.

In areas where the glass facade could not be removed, fan boxes with exhaust fans were inserted to encourage air flow.

As for interior finishings and furniture, Formwerkz made use of upcycled beer crates, shipping containers and more to create an exciting environment.

A shipping container coffee ship inserted into the wall provides access from both inside and out and an old concrete drain pipe serves as a unique door.

Inside, lunch boxes provide intimate dining below and a informal lounge with a view on top.

Site plan of the Galen Lobby.

Diagram of the strategies in Galen Lobby.