In designing a place meant uniquely for gamers, we took the opportunity to explore the brief from the perspective of user experience. Questions relating to different ways in which gamers engage the building—through approach, context, program, massing and even game structures—were asked, and examined through dialogue with end users. This investigation was then distilled into guiding principles which organize spaces and relationships, fueling our vision of a gaming ‘city’ within the bigger context of the Biopolis Business Park.

Signaling a return of the Razer brand to Singapore, Project R required a strong sense of presence, while still encouraging familiarity. We wanted the office building to be both mysterious and inviting, formal in approach yet informal in circulation. For this, the idea of deep vertical fins was adopted, which open up as one moves from point to point, both internally and externally.

While the exterior of the building is irregular due to site profile and envelope control requirements, we felt that strong axes should be introduced to instill a sense of experiential sequencing and formality. Laid on the ground plane, these axes allow user experience to build up towards a semi- sunken central space that borders on being reverent: the stage, where talks, product launches and tournaments can be held, and events can grow spontaneously without a definite boundary.