The core principles of the proposal are to conserve and extend the heritage of Yusof Ishak House exuding the values of conservation, sustainability, and decarbonization into the 21st century. The building achieved its target of a net-zero energy for an adaptive reuse project by reducing its energy demand and consumption, using smart control technologies, and achieving self-sufficiency through on-site clean energy production from integrated photovoltaic panels. Given the extensive preservation of existing structure, the new Yusof Ishak House has a low embodied carbon footprint, estimated to be lower than a third of a similar new construction.

Project Status: Under construction since March 2023.

The jury appreciated the clear intention for this retrofit net-zero energy project. NUS Yusof Ishak House was considered a bold refurbishment project that both values the existing and innovates for sustainability and energy efficiency in a holistic way, taking the building from fully air-conditioned to passively ventilated spaces. The sustainability key figures were considered the most plausible, truthful, and verified making the project the most technically sound amongst the region’s submissions.. The project’s philosophy of “being a good neighbor” to surrounding structures and contributing to improving their ambient quality was commendable.

The jury enthusiastically noted the project's exceptional design, which harmoniously integrates with and responds to the encompassing tropical landscape. By bringing the exterior vegetation into close proximity with interior spaces, the project enriches the biophilic experience that it offers. In summary, ​​the jury highly regarded the project's outstanding demonstration of how to repurpose and retrofit conserved buildings, setting an example for the industry. The project's thoroughness in approaching sustainability holistically, its innovative design execution aligned with the surroundings, and its successful integration of nature into the built environment were notably impressive aspects that contributed to its overall excellence.