Architects: Raglan Squire & Partners, Toyo Ito & Associates
Area: 42391 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Form Practice, Madeni Jais
Unveiling Gaia: Asia’s Largest Wooden Edifice
Named after the Greek Earth Goddess, Gaia, Asia’s most expansive wooden edifice, stands tall in Singapore. This architectural marvel is the result of a collaboration between Toyo Ito & Associates, Architects, and RSP, combining excellence in educational design and sustainable architecture. Gaia, spanning six stories, serves as a nexus for learning, research, and innovation, fostering connections and collaborations among NTU students, faculty, and staff.
Collaborative Innovation in Design
Gaia symbolizes the pinnacle of collaborative innovation, pushing the boundaries of design, sustainability, and construction techniques. Recognized by the SIA Architectural Design Awards 2023, Mr. Seah Chee Kien, Senior Managing Director of RSP Singapore, expressed pride in the project’s acknowledgment. The achievement underscores RSP Singapore’s commitment to advancing design and innovation boundaries.
A Comprehensive Educational Hub
Situated in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) at Nanyang Drive, Gaia, also known as NTU Academic Building South, stands as a 6-story Mass Engineered Timber (MET) building. Its functional layout includes teaching spaces on the 1st to 3rd storeys, a research center on the 4th storey, and faculty offices on the 5th to 6th storeys. The structure encompasses a basement car park and a single-storey M&E ancillary block.
Innovative Modular Timber Frame System
With a length of approximately 220m, Gaia incorporates a simple and efficient modular timber frame system. The MET components are prefabricated off-site, significantly reducing construction time and on-site manpower requirements. This approach aligns with the collaborative commitment to innovative construction techniques.
MET: A Key to Sustainability
Gaia’s construction with Mass Engineered Timber (MET) showcases a commitment to environmental sustainability. MET, being a highly renewable material, contributes positively to the project’s eco-friendly credentials. Additionally, its high strength-to-weight ratio not only enhances structural integrity but also facilitates easier handling during construction compared to conventional materials like steel and concrete.
A Visionary Leap towards Sustainability
Gaia stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaborative innovation in architectural design. As Asia’s most extensive wooden edifice, it not only redefines educational spaces but also charts a visionary course towards sustainable construction practices. The acknowledgment at the SIA Architectural Design Awards 2023 further solidifies Gaia’s place as a pioneering force in the realm of architectural excellence and environmental responsibility.
