Two new 36-storey residential towers on Irwell Bank Road in Singapore are now complete, their facades animated by a pixelated design from MVRDV. Working atop an efficient prefabricated concept by Singapore-based ADDP Architects, the studio introduced a varied, vibrant exterior that breaks down the monotony typical of modular construction. The design also amplifies the shared green spaces on the 24th floor and the rooftop, underscoring MVRDV’s belief that efficiency and personality can work together.
Developed by City Developments Limited (CDL), Irwell Hill Residences is MVRDV’s first collaboration on a building in Singapore’s urban core. ADDP Architects designed the development using prefabricated, prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC). Entire rooms, complete with finishes and facade elements, are built off-site and stacked on location.
The method is common in Singapore because it cuts on-site activity, reduces the construction period, and lowers the number of workers needed. All of this helps limit disruption in a dense city while reducing waste and carbon emissions associated with transportation, equipment, and site operations. These advantages have led Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority to push targeted regulations and accreditation programs that encourage higher productivity through advanced construction methods.
Although PPVC brings major benefits, it often leads to buildings that look repetitive. MVRDV was invited to counter this trend and give the towers a stronger identity without changing the core efficiency of the system. Each prefabricated module becomes one pixel in a larger pattern. Some units sit deeper within the facade, while others extend outward with metal frames, creating different balcony types and giving the towers a textured, shifting relief. Gold and deep brown tones form an abstract pattern inspired by climbing plants.
This pixelated composition also highlights the buildings’ communal areas, which feature lush planting typical of Singapore. The 24th floor includes a sky garden roughly four storeys high. At the top of the towers sits Irwell Sky, a more intimate social space. In these areas, the strict pixel grid loosens up, introducing double- and triple-sized frames to showcase the greenery.
“Over the decades, Singapore has shown itself to be a city of incredible innovation in architecture and urbanism,” says MVRDV founding partner Nathalie de Vries. “The city is once again showing leadership in modular construction and is seeing the benefits of PPVC in reducing waste, carbon emissions, and disruption to city life. With Irwell Hill Residences, alongside ADDP Architects, we aimed for the next step in that story of innovation: a PPVC project that prioritizes variety and liveability.”
Because PPVC relies on factory production, it inherently generates less waste and supports Singapore’s Green Plan 2030. Still, sustainability depends on buildings that deliver long-term value and are welcomed by their communities. MVRDV’s facade for Irwell Hill Residences aims for exactly that, showing how a pragmatic, modular approach can still be engaging, varied, and lively.
Image credit: © Finbarr Fallon
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