The ever-popular integrated development concept combines spaces to work, stay and play, giving you a city within a city to live in. As more of these developments become the preferred living option for 21st century families, it is important to take note of the aesthetic and design that bring these developments to life. An integrated development can be a solely functional space but it also has the potential to be a landmark, appealing to the highest echelons of society. Let’s look at some of the world’s leading architects and their one-of-a-kind, integrated designs:
World-renowned architect and urban developer, Moshe Safdie designed the award-winning Marina Bay Sands development in Singapore. Created to inspire future design, the unique architectural concept of Marina Bay Sands is present throughout the integrated resort. The architecture also follows fengshui principles, creating a perfect balance of energy, in harmony with the environment. Safdie is also known for his ground-breaking development Habitat ’67 – a complex residential project featuring a building-block design placed atop one another in a uniquely aesthetic and functional creation. This project propelled him onto the world stage and made Safdie one of the most in-demand architects and city designers in the world.
Dutch architect Ben VanBerkle of UNstudio designed the Raffles City project in Hangzhou, China. The Raffles City philosophy is about providing multi-purpose functionality in an urban context while harmoniously melding into the city’s existing landscape. With Hangzhou’s Raffles City, the design twists towards the landscape, whilst the landscape twists back towards the project’s urban elements, incorporating and consolidating these separate elements into a single gesture. Berkel and the UNstudio team went on to win the 2016 BNA Kubus award among numerous other accolades since the project’s inception.
Cecil Balmond of Balmond Studio is a British-Sri Lankan architect and principal designer of up-
coming Cinnamon Life integrated development, responsible for its architecture, engineering and public-space interior design. An internationally renowned artist, architect and engineer, Balmond is a trendsetter, transcending conventional boundaries of design disciplines. His work is undoubtedly the perfect tribute to combining art with science. In this dynamic era of the integrated development, Balmond has re-invented the very concept of space, transforming the meaning of geometry, form and structure into personal, emotional spaces. He is the recipient of many awards including the Thomas Jefferson foundation medal in Architecture (2016); OBE for services to architecture (2015) and the Sir Banister Fletcher prize for best book on architecture 2005. http://www.balmondstudio.com/
Watch Cecil Balmond’s vision unfold as Cinnamon Life rises to redefine Colombo’s skyline.
