客聚楼 Ke Ju Lou | WeCreate Studio

客聚楼 KeJuLou | Singapore |
Inclusive Society through Holistic Well-being
A Singaporean Hakka Village | Status: In Progress

客聚楼 (Kejulou), A Singaporean Hakka Village, is a cross-generational civic centre that is grounded in Singaporean Hakka culture aimed at promoting individual and communal well-being for a more inclusive society. This is the award-winning design of the Char Yong Architectural Competition jointly initiated by Char Yong Foundation and Char Yong Association, and organised by Singapore Institute of Architects.

客聚楼 (Kejulou), is a play on the words – 客家 (ke jia, or the Hakka people) and 聚集 (ju ji, to gather). Historically, the Hakka people were "guests“, or 客(ke), settling in land already occupied by others. Hence, it is hoped that with this new building (楼 lou, as the Hakka would call it), it would not only be a place Hakka of Singapore to gather, but would also welcome other guests and visitors from different backgrounds and origins as well, for all to gather within a single compound.

客聚楼 (Kejulou) takes into account various historical lineages and the socio-economic contexts of today. As the headquarters of one of the oldest Chinese associations in Singapore, the development aims to remain true to its heritage and yet embrace global change.

Architecturally, this is symbolically represented by taking on the typology of traditional Hakka architecture, the 土楼 (tu lou), an enclosed defensive design, and opening up its frontage to the public. A once isolated and hostile form is now open and welcoming for visitors to enter. Terraced roof landscapes recollect the mountainous terraces of traditional Hakka lands, a picturesque scene for both inhabitants and the public to enjoy.

Sited right at the central courtyard of the development is the clan association's heritage gallery, a grand showcase of Hakka culture that welcomes visitors as they enter the building. It promotes Hakka heritage and culture, allowing the public to learn and partake in practices that would have otherwise been hidden away or forgotten.

Tenants in the development are also curated to support the well-being of the community. They strive to provide avenues of development and growth as well as various forms of care and support, regardless of demographics. Both the "hardware" and the "software" of the building are designed in cohesion, with various spatial and programmatic elements supporting each other, improving the overall quality of experience for guests.

Together with members of the clan association, we have also organised several engagement sessions to empower them to participate and take charge over the design of their future headquarters. The process places both users and designers in the same room, offering an avenue for both sides to ideate and understand one another's recommendations and for members to gain ownership over the final design outcome.

While managing a wide range of voices, opposing views amongst stakeholders or deciding when to scale down discussions was indeed a challenge, we value these engagement sessions as we believe a design informed by the very users is what makes the process a fruitful one.

All together, the design process and outcome aims to carry forward the rich history of the Singaporean Hakkas into a modern era, supporting them to continue their legacy.