UNIVERS NUSTAR as claimed the prestigious platinum award for Interior Design for Retail Spaces at the London-based OPAL Awards. The accolade, announced on November 28, 2024, celebrates the Cebu store’s innovative design, praised by judges for its seamless blend of luxury fashion and local craftsmanship. This recognition highlights the store’s ability to merge contemporary elegance […]
SkyBlox Housing: Communal Co-Living Integrating Nature and the City
SkyBlox Housing, developed by Tan Kwon Chong Architect, crafts a forward-looking co-living facility designed to be a communal habitat for its residents. Built in Selangor, Malaysia, the project aimed to create an environmentally-friendly building that also uses modern day advancements for a more agreeable living situation around them. Its inventive architecture combines soothing natural tones with sustainable urban infrastructure.
“Central to SkyBlox’s design philosophy is the creation of spaces that nurture a deep bond with the natural world, offering inhabitants a peaceful haven amidst the hustle and bustle of city life,” the architects shared.
Prefabricated and Sustainable
SkyBlox Housing’s facade is a blend of light and dark greys, with a striking yellow cantilevered prefab structure. The residential building comprises two floors of apartments and a large communal area at the center.
Its design aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, utilizing prefabricated modular units to minimize environmental impact. Beyond that, the architects pushed for efforts to ensure energy-efficiency through the wide use of natural lighting and ventilation in the building.
Each of the modular units are stacked in rows of two, with a corridor in between rooms for accessibility purposes. The complex can accommodate up to 500 residents across 320 co-living rooms ranging from 100 to 175 square feet. Each has a private bedroom and bathroom, while larger units also include a kitchen.
The design also includes green spaces surrounding the building. They planted trees and grass along the pathways and in front of the windowed areas to strengthen the residents’ connection with nature.
Building Communities Within Living Areas
For SkyBlox Housing, most of the nature-centric design touchpoints are found in the communal areas. It prominently features bare brick walls and timber, creating a rustic and warm ambiance that complements the lush surroundings. This introduces layers of visual depth while enhancing emotional well-being through natural light and plenty of greenery.
The open lobby area, dining area, open kitchen, laundry, and games lounge encourage social interaction among residents. Areas like the mail room and bathrooms also use the base brick walls combination.
Its most eye-catching feature, however, is the yellow recycled shipping container used for the staircase. The unique, environmentally-friendly design adds vibrancy and cohesiveness to the overall look.
SkyBlox Housing shows the newer methods of construction in an environmentally-friendly light. It gives us the possibilities of creating sustainable architecture for the people. More than that, it presents the building as a place where people can build community within their small piece of land.
Related reading: This Fire-Red Indonesian Boarding House Reinvents the Co-living Experience
Art Camp Gallery in Makati City opened two new exhibitions this November from artists Janice Liuson-Young and Frank Alexi Nobleza. Both exhibits explore nature and environmental themes from different perspectives, with Liuson-Young portraying the greatness of nature while Nobleza portrays its current disintegration in the hands of man. While each artist’s styles differ from each […]
As the holiday season approaches, you might find yourself caught in the hustle and bustle of festive preparations. Between menu planning and gift shopping, installing decorations also takes a considerable toll on your time and energy. And with countless options flooding the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right pieces for your space. […]
The Manila’Bang Show 2024 happened between November 14 to 17 at SPACE at OneAyala. Galleries and other art institutions congregated to the fair to showcase the best contemporary art the Philippines currently has to offer, right at the heart of Makati’s Central Business District. For the rest of the Manila’Bang Show 2024, individual artists were […]
The Manila’Bang Show 2024 happened between November 14 to 17 at SPACE at OneAyala. The new venue gives artists and galleries an opportunity to showcase their art at the heart of the Makati Central Business District. With that in mind, BluPrint takes you on the ground of its opening day. Many galleries came out in […]
Living Innovations, one of the country’s premium distributors of luxury furniture hosted an exclusive gathering titled “A Toast to Tranquility”. Held at their new sprawling showroom in Mandaluyong, this event celebrated the understated elegance that defines modern design. Hosted by Rafa Siguion-Reyna, the evening brought together esteemed architects, designers, and tastemakers for an intimate exploration […]
Download this month's BLUPRINT magazine digital copy from:
Subscribe via [email protected]