One Raffles Link

I attended a talk by Eugene Kohn of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates this afternoon at URA Centre. They are the architects behind such familiar buildings as the new Hong Kong Financial Centre and One Raffles Link.

Kohn actually revealed that the inspiration for One Raffles Link comes from the ornate classical facade of the other revered landmark of Singapore - Raffles Hotel.





In fact, from the colonade at the ground level to the lattice work on the facade and the stone work, the building details are all reminiscient of the European-style colonial buildings of Singapore.

One Raffles Link is a well designed building, even though it has not been given as much attention as the other more "iconic" towers that have been sprouting up. With its massive footprint, One Raffles Link is indicative of a possible shift in contemporary architect to meet the pragmatic market demands for large floor plates for office uses. Would other buildings follow suit even in land scarce Singapore?

As for the intricate facade details, too much has been ignored and forgotten, mostly due to the runaway success of its complementary development - CityLink Mall. By creating a comfortable retail space that is sheltered and air-conditioned, Singaporeans have been avoiding the street level for the underground. So, who else is there to appreciate Kohn's building details from the street?