The entire transit line was divided into four work packages. Aedas was awarded two out of the four packages, approximating to half the line scope.
Singapore’s Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) is a fully automated driverless Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line that stretches from the Marina Bay CBD area to the city’s northern border and along the east coastline to Changi Airport. Spanning 43 km in length, it is the longest MRT line in Singapore and will serve up to 1 million commuters daily upon its full operation in 2025.
Within each station, the design team focused on the clear and legible arrangement of architecture spaces to create a seamless journey for passengers. Spatial order, use of daylight, common materials and key components are all implemented to create a coherent station line-wide architectural design language, striking a balance between function and a sense of delight and timelessness.
The Woodlands Station entrance integrates skylight and natural ventilation into its structure. The transparency and illumination enable the entrance at night to function as lanterns within the urban landscape.
The platform level of Woodlands Station is provided with banks of escalators and stairs connecting passengers to the station’s concourse through a large and dramatic internal void that enables internal visual transparency. The mechanical and electrical service routes are strategically integrated along the sides beneath the concourse and along the ends of the station to allow uninterrupted station maintenance. Ceiling mounted integrated service units provide the necessary illumination, acoustic and mechanical functional provisions for the station.
The Woodlands Station Interchange Linkway space successfully integrates roof skylights and extensive glazing on the side walls to benefit from natural daylight and connect passengers with their immediate surroundings during the particular time of time. Sunlight will flood throughout the space in a controlled manner to reinforce passenger wayfinding between stations.
Within the design, the Linkway hall utilises natural cross-ventilation principles supplemented by mechanical ventilation to dramatically reduce energy consumption during the lifecycle of the station while continuing to provide passengers comfort. The design of the station provides direct and links while also facilitating public interconnection with future adjoining commercial developments. The station has been designed to be entirely independent of any future developments with regards to the station’s egress and functional requirements.
The northern end of the station provides a pedestrian link-way and serves to connect the station to existing bus interchanges. The southern end of the station accommodates entrances that lead to civic centres and residential space. The majority of public space is free and unobstructed to create a spacious and uncluttered platform. The station offers simple and direct circulation patterns that connect the underground with platforms and trains.
Inspired by vistas of tropical Pará rubber trees, the design incorporates soft tonal hues of brown and grey with streaks of muted green to accent the grilles and vertical façade. Defined by its natural colourway, the entrance of the Woodlands Station grants passengers a sense of familiarity.
Woodlands North Station is the most northern terminal of the TEL. The design of the station implements maximum future-proofing and flexibility to accommodate future commercial and residential developments.
The architectural language depicts the eminence of the TEL and Singapore MRT network. The design integrates sophisticated use of form, space and quality to enhance its surroundings and create uncanny familiarity in the space.
The concourse level of the Woodlands North Station enables direct and easy passenger access by locating all vertical circulation provisions of escalators, lifts and stairs immediately past the station fare gates within the vast ticket hall space. The mechanical and electrical service routes are strategically integrated along the sides beneath the concourse and along the ends of the station to allow uninterrupted station maintenance.
The Woodlands North Station entrances are designed with roof level skylights to enable sunlight to flood down towards the below station concourse level in a controlled manner. The utilisation of daylight assists with passenger wayfinding through the station while also providing delight, and dramatically reduces energy consumption during the lifecycle of the station.
Inspired by the Johor Straits coastline, the station’s architectural expression is conveyed through ripples of rolling curvilinear forms reflected within the geometry of the station entrances. The undulating forms are integrated within the roof and ceiling design at station entrances to highlight the vertical circulation provisions of escalators and stairs to passengers. The dramatic void between the station concourse and platform levels enable intuitive wayfinding for passengers.
Woodlands South Station is located at the junction between Woodlands Avenue 1 and Woodlands Drive 16. Situated in a predominantly residential area, the station’s primary catchments are the existing residential developments and the Christ Church Secondary School. The primary goal of the station design is to integrate sympathetically and seamlessly into the residential environment.
Linear and direct interconnection space are used to offer simple and direct circulation patterns. Direct visibility of all circulation options are achieved from most positions on the open concourse design. The station’s platform level looks up to a vast internal void, connecting passengers through escalators and staircases.
All entrances bring patrons to a linear interconnection space between the station ends and the fare gates. The main entrances of the station offer easy access to commuters, students at Christ Church Secondary School, residents and visitors to the PA’s Community Centre and any future residential development projects.
Enhanced by the use of natural and artificial lighting, openings at entrances are designed to maximise daylight.
The interior utilises a simple palette of hard-wearing and robust materials. Woodlands South Station integrates artwork by key local artist Kng Mian Tze, within the fabric of the station design. Penrose-inspired graphic geometry has been utilised to construct the durable internal wall panel system within the public areas of the station. The unique internal panel system directly incorporates the artwork’s complementary geometric patterns and bright colours to celebrate the local context. The integrated artwork location is strategically positioned to associate with the passenger experience of level change within the station from the ground to the lowest level of the platform.
One of the most important aspects for a complex infrastructure project such as a metro system is related to the vision of the client. The aspiration for the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the three stations was to reflect the importance of a strong sense of civic pride combined with celebrating the unique context for each of the communities. The combined skills of the architectural and engineering team focused in developing the appropriate designs to embrace and express this shared vision.
Aedas is currently working on the second work package which consists of six more stations on TEL’s south section.