Brief
Discover Gaia, Asia’s largest mass timber building, located in Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. Crafted by Pritzker Prize laureate Toyo Ito, this eco-friendly marvel generates more power than it consumes, setting new standards in sustainable design.
Insight
Recently finalised is what’s touted as the most substantial mass timber edifice in Asia. The mastermind behind this project is Pritzker Prize laureate Toyo Ito & Associates, who’ve incorporated remarkable eco-friendly aspects, including solar panels that generate a surplus of electricity beyond the building’s demand.
Christened Gaia, the project is a collaborative effort with RSP, occupying a prime location within Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. Its vicinity to Heatherwick Studio’s Learning Hub and the Wave, another architectural masterpiece by Ito, adds to its prestige.
While Gaia may seem modest with only six stories, it stretches an impressive 220 m (721 ft) in length and possesses a floorspace of 43,500 sq m (around 468,000 sq ft). For context, the tallest timber skyscraper, Mjøstårnet, stands at 18 floors.
The structural design of Gaia comprises two gently curving rectangles, subtly separated yet connected at various points. The primary building material is sustainably harvested mass timber, comprising an approximately equal amalgamation of CLT (cross-laminated timber) and Glulam (glued laminated timber).
It’s also worth noting that, akin to many contemporary timber constructions, there’s a degree of concrete reinforcement, particularly for staircase cores, washroom facilities, and the ground floor slabs.
As the new home for the Nanyang Business School, Gaia houses a 170-seat auditorium, 12 lecture halls, 13 seminar rooms, and numerous classrooms. The aesthetic appeal of the interior is further heightened by the visible natural wood. Ample glazing, inclusive of skylights, guarantees that natural light floods the interior.
An additional charming detail is the incorporation of bricks from a previous structure that once occupied the site.Gaia has been honoured with Singapore’s Green Mark Platinum (Zero Energy) green building award, a recognition bestowed upon buildings that generate equal to or more energy than they consume.
Solar panels mounted on the rooftop reportedly yield 516,000 kWh of power each year, and the building’s exterior showcases shading fins at strategic points to minimise solar heat gain. Moreover, numerous open spaces, terraces, and air wells have been incorporated to foster ventilation.
As per NTU, the energy-efficient blueprint of Gaia signifies that it emits around 2,500 fewer tonnes (2,755 US tons) of CO2 annually, compared to a standard edifice of similar dimensions and purpose.
Highlight
- While Gaia may seem modest with only six stories, it stretches an impressive 220 m (721 ft) in length and possesses a floorspace of 43,500 sq m (around 468,000 sq ft).
- For context, the tallest timber skyscraper, Mjøstårnet, stands at 18 floors.
- The structural design of Gaia comprises two gently curving rectangles, subtly separated yet connected at various points.
- As per NTU, the energy-efficient blueprint of Gaia signifies that it emits around 2,500 fewer tonnes (2,755 US tons) of CO2 annually, compared to a standard edifice of similar dimensions and purpose.
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