BY: CHARLOTTE LEFAVE

Photos via WOHA.

WOHA is a Singapore-based architectural organization that focuses heavily on environmentally-friendly practices. They pride themselves on concentrating on the integrity of nature, the intermingling of natural resources into the final result, and having a major reliance on recycled material when constructing new projects.

Their latest project is the “Enabling Village.” Since the ’70s, this particular building had been steadily crumbling and WOHA chose to rejuvenate it with recycled materials. Essentially, the organization incorporated environmental elements into every phase of the building process. The end product of their hard work is a stunning building that reflects the natural beauty of the landscape that it stands on, almost making it blend in with the earth around it by using a heavy incorporation of plants into the woodwork.

The stunning aesthetic appeal of the structure is not the first time that WOHA has impressed critics with their impeccable eye for design and ingenuity. The use of a more modern chic style is paired with the classic use of raw wood panelling and stone details, complete with lots of floor-to-ceiling glass windows to emphasize the untamed hanging gardens surrounding the grounds and climbing the walls. Accented with a minimalistic spread of furniture, the buildings are a dream for lovers of nature and open concept design.

The company was created in 1994 by Wong Munn Sum and Richard Hassel, who have a globally-acknowledged reputation not only for their extremely thorough innovative buildings, but for their focus on the environment and the measures they take to prevent climate change. For those living mainly in the city, WOHA hopes to accommodate them and make life in large cities more nature-focused and friendly for the inhabitants.

The structural decisions made during the extensive building process is made to not only protect inhabitants from climate change, but also to lessen the negative effects of population growth. Each building is custom made to blend seamlessly into the specific landscape that it is being built in, with specific cultural preferences kept in mind.

WOHA’s flawless architecture inspires young entrepreneurs globally to discover, devise, and strive to build a greener Earth for future generations to use, as well as promoting sustainable housing in mainstream life. This revival of the global attitude towards modern construction paves a well-needed path for future innovators to explore a new way of inventive thinking.

The company’s plan for their Garden City Mega City project, which is their draft for future global city buildings, emphasizes comfort and maximal enjoyment of the property. The ‘Enabling Village’ demonstrated their devotion to helping encourage social interaction in communities, as well as how to properly use available space for the betterment of the environment, so if their big project is anything like their last, it’ll be good.

WOHA is a prominent role model for every company hoping to make urban sustainable design both popular and commonplace in the future of development in cities. The environmental integration will maximize human health and the efficiency of spatial use in populated areas. Their work is making a global difference by counteracting climate change and overpopulation by contributing to environmental dialogue.

Check out these other environmentally-aware designs by WOHA.