Making Geometry Visible: Intersections of Form, Function and Fabrication

Abstract

The Prada façade at Ion Orchard in Singapore represents a highly engineered steel-and-glass façade system that combines free-form geometry with advanced fabrication and integrated building services. The bespoke façade covers approximately 430 sqm and consists of 571 triangular glazing units supported by a prefabricated steel grid system comprising 27 t of structural steel and 6 t of aluminium components. The façade incorporates flat, curved, J-shaped and kinked glass geometries, creating a multidirectional grid extending over 1,300 m of joint lines. A total of 927 m of integrated LED lighting is seamlessly embedded within the façade system. A key engineering challenge resulted from significant slab deflections, which prohibited conventional suspension strategies and led to the development of a spanning structural concept transferring loads between the primary columns. The project demonstrates how digital workflows, precision fabrication and structural innovation enable the realization of highly complex façade geometries with minimal tolerances and maximum visual refinement.