“Is there a potential conflict of Interest?” The Straits Times’ Life! Section reported concerns from the local architecture fraternity, with regard to National Art Gallery jury member, Mr Koh Seow Chuan’s participation in the judging process of the competition. As a previous founding partner of DP Architects, it was somewhat questionable as to whether local firm DP Architects’ shortlisting in the final round of the NAG Competition was the decision of an impartial, neutral jury.
Mr Koh pointed out that he “had retired from the firm 2.5 years ago” and declined to elaborate further as “the competition is still in progress”, reported Life!. TSP Architects & Planners’ managing director Goh Chong Chia cited a “conflict of interest”, while architect Mink Tan felt that although Mr Koh has retired, “you can’t rule out that there is still sentiment.”
Competitions, as always, require transparency and neutrality when it comes to the question of judging. While it is a good sign that local practices are getting into the final stages of competitions, as firms like Arcstudio have done in the past, controversies like this could undermine the credibility of competitions here, with implications for their future.
The NAG Competition closed its dateline for submissions on the 13th of April 2007. 5 entries were shortlisted just last week, all of which will be vying for the task of designing and building the $200-million to $400-million project to showcase South-east Asian art. The new design will restore and incorporate the existing City Hall and old Supreme Court buildings, and is set to open in 2012.
The commission of the winning scheme will take place after a public exhibition of the top three winners in September. Whether the public has a say in selecting their choice of scheme is still a question to be answered. It isn’t the first time that things have already been decided for us. -FFW
