Time of survey: 12.30 pm – 1.45 pm
Address: Woodlands Drive 71 Singapore 730676
Completed in May 2017, the 11-storey “modern kampung” features 100 flats for the elderly, a two-storey medical centre providing specialist outpatient care, an Active Ageing Hub co-located with a childcare centre, dining and retail outlets, as well as a 900-seat hawker centre. Together, they offer a wide range of facilities and amenities for both young and old in the community. Beyond the facilities, Kampung Admiralty has also been designed with a variety of community spaces to encourage community involvement and ownership.
Video from WOHA and extract from Housing Development Board (HDB)
The Future of Housing
After surveying the Community Pocket at Block 433 and the Give n Take Café, my last field study of the day was Kampung Admiralty. I first heard of this place when I was reading an article by JWT Intelligence titled The Architecture of Aging. Kampung Admiralty is described as a “vertical village” and has just won the World Building of the Year 2018. With Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long assuring Singaporeans that HDB would continue to design more of such innovative housing to care for both the old and the young, I thought it would be interesting to see the direction that architecture for future Singapore housing developments.
Part of the action plan for successful ageing in Singapore, the rationale behind Kampung Admiralty is to allow for senior citizens to age-in-place and live among the community. There were a total 9 floors that are accessible by the general public.
Supermarket & Shops
The Pharmacy
Located at level 1, residents are able to consult the pharmacists on duty for medication consultations. The pharmacy also sells a wide range of off-the-shelf medications, food for special diet e.g. sugar-free snacks for people with diabetes, and other healthy meal choices. However, I expected the pharmacy to be operating daily. Only after checking on their official website, I realised the pharmacy is open for 5.5 days a week (Mon to Fri: 9 am to 6 pm, Sat: 9 am to 2 pm (Pharmacy Services from 9.30 am onwards), Sun & PH: Closed)
The Hawker Centre
The Medical Centre
I was surprised to find the medical centre closed. My thought is that the medical centre should be a place where the seniors living there could be attended to if they are feeling unwell. I have no idea that they only operating 5.5 days a week. After checking their official website, I realised the pharmacy is also only open for 5.5 days a week (Mon to Fri: 9 am to 6 pm, Sat: 9 am to 2 pm (Pharmacy Services from 9.30 am onwards), Sun & PH: Closed).
The Care Centres
Situating the Active Ageing Hub and a child care centre beside each other provides more opportunities for intergenerational bonding between the young and the old. It also provide families with the convenience to bring their loved ones to the centres.
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