Enabling Village — lush greenery in this unique community space designed by Woha

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Enabling Village, an initiative by the Ministry of Social and Family Development and SG Enable, is a unique community space in Singapore. It houses retail, lifestyle and training spaces that facilitate visitors with disabilities.

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Architecture firm Woha, in collaboration with landscape architect Salad Dressing, decked the space with lots of greenery and created water gardens with a variety of plants! 

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Throughout the compound, wall murals are spotted, such as Penang-based artist Ernest Zacharevic's mural here, inspired by the work of special artist Tan Jun-Yi.

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The information and career centre, named Nest, provides information and referral services for persons with disabilities and caregivers. SG Enable partners Autism Resource Centre (ARC), Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), and the SPD (formerly known as Society for the Physically Disabled) to assist job seekers and employers with the necessary job placement required.

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The interiors of Nest are decorated with displays of inspirational quotes.

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Verandahs and cabanas dot the compound, and serve as informal meeting spaces. The lush greenery adds a calm and welcoming ambience.

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The interiors of these spaces are designed to be wheel-chair accessible, and inclusive of the community that frequent the area.

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There's also an open-air amphitheatre, with wheelchair-accessible terrace decking, and is a perfect space for outdoor events such as concerts and movie screenings.

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These fun features allow communication between users at different areas of the amphitheatre, as sound travels from one tube to another.

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Pre-cast concrete pipes are inserted below the amphitheatre as hideout nooks and offer spaces for rest for visitors as well as provide unique play possibilities for families with children.

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Training spaces are also available in Enabling Village, such as this mock-up hotel room used for training potential employees entering the hospitality industry.

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Sheltered spaces designed with the use of repurposed sea containers litter the spaces around Hive, a centre for training and customised employment opportunities for persons with autism, operated by ARC.

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Graphic designs add visual features and a quirky touch to the centre.

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Facilities are all-accessible, such as staircases which have braille signages.

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Water coolers are also made to be wheelchair-accessible, built to appropriate heights.

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The playground too, is user-friendly for the physically-disabled, built with a ramp and a wide 'see-saw'.

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There is also The Art Faculty by Pathlight, which is a retail art gallery featuring artists, art workshops and merchandise by talented artists with special needs. Visit Enabling Village at 20 Lengkok Bahru, or find out more at http://enablingvillage.sg.