T3: Tropical Technologies Testbed

T3, Tropical Technologies Testbed, is an urban, community centric research facility derived from the constraints of the site, namely the wind shadow of Kent Vale. The architecture attempts to address the reliance on mechanical systems in areas with low urban porosity and challenges the tropical paradigm of bringing natural ventilation beyond 12m from the façade. Programmatically, the building layout stitches together public and private stakeholders in order to foster community involvement and participation.

Through the sculptural wind runways and façade detailing, wind is accelerated through the building skin. In doing so, unique spatial conditions are created which necessitates the programmatic functions of research, woodworking and community centric activities. The ventilation and extractions systems aim to leverage on the supplementary wind afforded due to the building skin in order to create thermally comfortable and safe work and play environments.