Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) is the second active ageing centre that DPA has designed for Montfort Care, a social welfare organization dedicated to supporting the physical and mental wellness of Singapore’s elderly for well-rounded ageing through the provision of places where they may be meaningfully engaged.

Conceptually, it follows the original model applied in Goodlife Makan; converting a void deck space into a vibrant social living room for seniors. Its non-gated setup similarly features bright, solid hues and muted timber tones, and is anchored by a core programme. This, however, is where Goodlife Studio (Bukit Purmei) differs from its predecessor; engaging and empowering the elderly residents of Bukit Purmei through learning-focused activities instead.

The repurposed void deck is subdivided into three zones to accommodate three learning studios settings, with ‘Kayu Artisan’ as its main studio. The term Kayu, borrowed from the Malay language, is colloquially used to describe making a mistake and reflects the studio’s light-hearted approach. By thus normalising imperfection while offering the familiarity of craftsmanship, the woodwork studio aims to reach out to male seniors who, statistically, are more at risk of social isolation than their female counterparts; encouraging them to remain active and connected to the community.

AWARDS
RETHINKING THE FUTURE AWARDS \ Winner, Interiors – Healthcare/Wellness (Built), 2025
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS \ Bronze, Cultural / Community Interior Design / Wellness / Fitness / Sports Facilities, 2024
WORLD DESIGN AWARDS \ Winner, Public Building Interior Built, 2024
SIA ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN AWARDS \ Merit, Social & Humanitarian Architecture, 2024