ArchRecord: Despite Its Diminutive Stature, Singapore Booms

Posted by JJ on Saturday, August 23, 2008

Image Courtesy NBBJ

A key moment in this article by Architectural Record’s Robert Such reports:

“While Marina Bay will have its flashy architecture, urban design in Singapore is about having an “interesting but ordered skyline, with the emphasis being more on creating iconic public spaces rather than iconic buildings,” says Kohn Pedersen Fox principal Paul Katz. In that spirit, KPF has designed five understated (towers) for Marina Bay. The first two high-rises were finished in 2006, and the others should be completed by 2012.”

At this point it is interesting to note how Singaporeans have long lamented the ’state’ of their Central Business District (CBD) citing its lack of ‘big name’ designers, pointing fingers at the wrongly-labeled ’second-rate’ architecture that make up its skyline. Instead, what is pleasing is that critics and commentators, like Mr Katz, from beyond Singapore’s shores have not taken up the Euro-Centric or Westernized stance and gunned Singapore down yet again with their ‘Disneyland with a death penalty’ accusations, but instead have showed an appreciation and deep understanding for local architecture and urban design, showing that increased involvement in the Asian region has granted foreign practices some level of (although not full) understanding of the local landscape.

Such’s article briefly lists the new developments on the island nation. In a bid to stay globally relevant while providing citizens with an increasing quality of life bolstered by a healthy dose of design, Singapore is indeed booming. Many decry the sudden wave of foreigners that are beginning to inhabit the city; but Singaporeans should never forget that there was a day in their history, when the Chinese, Indians, and other ethnicities were the invading aliens themselves.

Read Robert Such’s article on ArchRecord.com