Tag Archives: Architecture

Singapore architects among the world’s best

Posted on 27 Sep 2009 | Comments Off on Singapore architects among the world’s best

SCDA, Look and WOHA put nation on par with the Netherlands, Italy and Canada at International Architecture Awards 2009

IN ROBERT Powell’s book, Singapore Houses, the author says: ‘Architects in Singapore are producing work with a level of refinement and sophistication that is comparable with the best in the world, and one would be hard pressed to find a nation of similar size with such an abundance of accomplished young designers who have built independently.’

LIKE LANDED LIVING
The 100-metre wall of vertical greenery is designed so that nature is brought closer to the residents

That Singapore architects are winning international awards seems to bear this out. Most recently, three young Singapore architectural firms won a total of four awards at the International Architecture Awards (IAA) 2009, putting the country on par with the Netherlands, Italy and Canada in the award tally.

The IAA is organised by the The Chicago Athenaeum (Museum of Architecture and Design and Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd) and co-presented by The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

This year, there were 97 winners. The Singapore winners are Look Architects, SCDA Architects and WOHA.

Look Architects won two awards this year. The first was for Bishan Public Library and the second was for Alexandra Arch and Forest Walk.

Winning an award for a public building is perhaps more gratifying because budget constraints can be restrictive. Look Architects nevertheless created a public building that is rich in the quality of space and expression of form. On the design, Look Boon Gee, managing director of the firm, says: ‘Designing buildings is more than just creating spaces, it is about discovering and celebrating the values and spirit of our time.’

The Bishan Public Library also won Singapore’s President Design Award in 2007. But the IAA will go much further in building the reputation of architects here. ‘I think Singapore architecture is gaining recognition on the world stage,’ says Mr Look. ‘I suppose I can’t generalise how special Singapore architects are but I think there are some really talented, sensitive and innovative designers in our midst. I sincerely hope there are more opportunities to nurture our local talents.’ Continue reading →

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The new design ascetic

Posted on 24 Sep 2009 | Comments Off on The new design ascetic

Pared down, simplified and minimal, architects are all reassessing what is really essential in life, reports ARTHUR SIM

Claudio Silvestrin, who has designed 18 villas for developer YTL Corp at Sentosa Cove, believes that architecture is akin to ‘composing poetry on earth in partnership with the earth…’.

WHETHER it is because of the constant talk about the economy, wealth destruction or the periodic stockmarket jitters, homeowners appear to have lost the desire to build ever bigger and flashier homes. Instead, the prevailing design aesthetic seems to be more about ascetism, as more people decide that living in excess is just so last century.

One of a kind: A house by Daniel Libeskind – Libeskind presents the world with a new way of living with his prefabricated villa (above) and a house by Mink Tan – who searches for the Asian soul in his architecture (next)

Pared down, simplified and minimal, architects are all reassessing what is really essential in life. Daniel Libeskind, who designed Reflections at Keppel Bay, has perhaps gone a step further by designing a prototype of a house that is prefabricated and can be shipped anywhere in the world. He describes the house as ‘a limited artistic edition of a new space, of a new way of living, a total work of art’.

Called the Libeskind Villa, the four-bedroom house is a composition of three simple interlocking volumes that generate a myriad of geometric spaces. And in keeping with volatile oil prices, it offers maximum insulation and durability, cutting-edge technologies and compliance with some of the toughest energy-saving standards across the world. In designing Libeskind Villa, Mr Libeskind reduces the essence of a home to only the most critical elements and the design just stops short of being austere.

And there is no shame in austerity, especially today. Architect Gwen Tan of Formwerkz has even chosen to celebrate it. Describing a house she is designing for a client, she said that one of the biggest constraints was that the site was so tight it could only accommodate a very small house. Fortunately, her client’s needs were simple and Ms Tan decided that this should be ‘celebrated’. Continue reading →

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