L Architects’ Lim Shing Hui: Reuse & Retrofit is the future of construction
As a strong advocate for adaptive reuse and retrofitting of existing structures, L Architects’ Lim Shing Hui believes that this is the next new normal of construction.
By Lynn Tan -
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Founded just eight years ago in 2016, Singapore-based practice, L Architects has already made its mark in both the local and international arena. The firm bagged three awards at the Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Awards 2022, including Design of the Year, the highest distinction conferred. The same project - A Brick and Mortar Shop was also been longlisted in the 2022 Dezeen awards from among 5400 entries across 90 countries.
A 'Brick and Mortar Shop' designed by L Architects.
Sustainability is a common thread that connects all of L Architects’ projects, whether it be through greenery integration, sensible refurbishment or elevating humble materials. Founder and principal architect, Lim Shing Hui, applies her spirit of curiosity and experimentation towards the creation of enduring and thoughtful architecture for people and place. Every project- from architecture and interior to landscape and design direction, is imbued with the same simplicity that carries emotive ideas.
House of Trees, designed by L Architects
Through her work, Shing Hui believes that designers should be in the forefront of pushing for agendas that adopt an adaptive reuse rather than a tabula rasa approach. She believes in using simple, low-tech solutions to help mitigate the immense heat and glare from the tropical sun in order to achieve human comfort while reducing energy consumption. This means creating a comfortable interior without having to depend on air-conditioning all the time.
Passive cooling measures such as designing good shading devices can help to shield the home from the harsh sun and reduce heat gain during the day. In the House of Trees project, greenery in the form of a living façade not only provides excellent shields from both the eastern and western sun, but also helps absorb carbon dioxide while providing visual respite for the homeowners.
'House of Parts' designed by L Architects.
Contrary to what many may think, sustainable design may not always cost more. Take the debate between demolition versus adaptive reuse, for example. Adaptive reuse projects often require fewer building materials and divert waste from landfills by utilising existing structures while addressing environmental concerns by investing in the embodied carbon already found in the old structures.
Hence, refurbishment projects are generally lower in cost compared to new builds. This also applies in the context of a home. Shing Hui shares in the industry’s prediction that moving forward, they anticipate more adaptive reuse briefs over new erection projects.