November 27, 2008 | Broadcast | News

Is the Dubai Bubble Starting to Burst?

By C.J Hughes, Architectural Record

Dubai has attempted to set itself apart with the world’s tallest building (Burj Dubai) and largest urban development (Dubai Waterfront). But in terms of fallout from the current economic crisis, the Middle Eastern city may not be so different from the rest of the world after all.

Read the rest at Architectural Record

November 27, 2008 | Broadcast | Competitions | Events | News

World’s Best Buildings Honored at Festival

Text by Tim McKeough, Architectural Record

Every year, there are scores of festivals, conferences, and exhibitions catering to architects. Add another one to the list: the World Architecture Festival, which was presented for the first time from Oct. 22 to 24 in Barcelona. Organized by Emap, publisher of The Architectural Review, The Architects’ Journal, and other magazines, the event got off to an auspicious start, drawing some 2,000 attendees, and some rather big names, from around the globe. “We were trying to create a festival where architects weren’t bit-part players like they are at Cityscape or other mega real estate events,” explains Paul Finch, festival director and editor of The Architectural Review.

Tickets ranged from 350 euros for a one-day pass to 700 euros for a three-day pass. The festival featured lectures, seminars, a product showcase, and architectural tours of the area. The core of the festival—and perhaps its greatest success—was a new awards program, billed by organizers as the largest architectural awards program in the world. Prizes were given in 17 categories for projects completed between January 1, 2007, and June 20, 2008; the winners in each of those categories competed for the title of World Building of the Year. “Most other architecture awards are either geographically limited,” Finch says, “or they’re awards looking at architecture from one perspective like environmental design. But architects don’t just design things in one area or from one perspective.”

Despite a 500-euro entry fee, the new awards program drew 722 submissions from 63 counties. All were displayed at the festival on presentation boards and can now be viewed on the awards program Web site. In addition, the architects of the 224 shortlisted projects—each category had up to 16 shortlisted projects—gave 15-minute presentations about their buildings during the festival.

The juries included notable architects such as Will Alsop, Massimiliano Fuksas, Stefan Behnisch, and Neil Denari. RECORD’s deputy editor Clifford Pearson served on the jury for the civic category. The “Building of the Year” was selected by a so-called super-jury, which counted Robert Stern (chair) and Cecil Balmond among its members. Originally, it was to be chaired by Norman Foster, but he had to step down when one of his projects won in the “new and old” category and was advanced to the “Building of the Year” contest.

Of the 17 buildings competing for the grand title, in the end, it went to Luigi Bocconi University in Milan, designed by Ireland’s Grafton Architects. “We were up against fairly stiff competition, and there were some really interesting projects,” says Shelley McNamara, who runs Grafton with Yvonne Farrell. “We were surprised and delighted to win it.”

WINNERS: (click here to see images + text)

——————————————————————

World Building of the Year: Luigi Bocconi University in Milan by Grafton Architects

Civic: Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Centre in China by Buro II + CITIC ADI

Culture: Oslo Operahouse in Norway by Snøhetta

Energy, Waste & Recycling: Landscape Restoration of the Controlled Rubbish Dump “La Vall d’en Joan” in Spain by Batlle & Roig Architects

Health: Center for the Wellbeing of Women and the Prevention of Genital Mutilation in Burkina Faso by FAREstudio

Holiday: Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Canada by Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden Architects

Housing: Mountain Dwellings in Denmark by Bjarke Ingels Group – BIG

Learning: Luigi Bocconi University in Milan by Grafton Architects

Nature: Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle Art Museum in the United States by Weiss/Manfredi

New and Old: Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, Smithsonian Institution in the United States by Foster + Partners

Office: Duoc Corporate Building in Chile by Sabbagh Arquitectos

Pleasure: Sheep Stable in the Netherlands by 70F Architecture

Production: BMW Welt in Germany by Coop Himmelb(l)au

Religion & Contemplation: Dornbusch Church in Germany by Meixner Schlüter Wendt Architekten

Sport: Sports Hall Bale in Croatia by 3LHD Architects

Shopping: K:fem in Sweden by Wingårdh Arkitektkontor AB

Private House: Final Wooden House in Japan by Sou Fujimoto Architects

Transport: Nordpark Cable Railway in Austria by Zaha Hadid Architects

November 26, 2008 | Features | Q&A

3 questions on 3 things about the 3rd spore pavilion to the 3 curatorial team members.

Singapore presented for the 3rd time at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2008 with a pavilion entitled ‘Supergarden - an ecosystem of design thoughts’. Adib spoke to the 3 teams that made up the main curatorial body and asked them 3 questions each to dig a little deeper into thoughts of being involved in the creation of the pavilion.

[Torrance Goh, FARM]

3 things you set out to achieve when first submitting the proposal

Re:Act (RA)

• To push the boundaries of local design development and critical thinking
• To leverage Singapore’s position in the international design platform
• To explore new ways of collaborations among creative young people, allowing for fun and purposeful design experimentations

Torrance of FARM (T)

• To make a “garden”
• To create something fun, young and engaging
• To involve a community of people

May-Anne of Design Act (MA)

• To create interaction between people in Singapore and Venice via the media/ technology, hence answering to the brief;
• To involve a larger group of people, and hopefully the everyday man instead of keeping it within a niche group only;
• To record the interactions of people patronizing the pavilion in Venice and documenting such acts to be broadcast in the later stage back in Singapore hence prolonging the life span of the physical exhibition.

[Joshua of Re:Act]

3 lessons learned from working on the pavilion

RA

• Cross-country-borders collaborations is difficult but not impossible
• Huge amount of faith and support from the panel and teams are essential factors to the success of the pavilion
• The design community in Singapore needs to communicate more with each other. There are so much enriching resources from the design groups we met and most are very willing and eager to share.

T

• Venice is way more difficult to get things done
• The time is too short.
• We are very lucky to have the team together and had great support from our panel.

MA

• Cultural and language problem – a lot of misunderstanding due to cultural differences;
• Everything is very slow…very laid back (not exactly bad sometimes);
• It’s important to have a good team and a supporting panel.

[May Anne, Design Act]

3 things that you would have done differently

RA

• The whole process of developing the proposals for the biennale event could have started much earlier to allow more time for better estimation of budget, group coordination and curatorial directions.
• It would be good to have secured a much stronger technical and financial support for the pavilion design team.
• Continue with the selected 3 group proposals and develop them more intensely

T

• If there is time, I wish we can be more careful and curate it with more thought and not so much haste. We could have done our site visit and had a good cup of Venetian coffee.
• If there is money, I wish the earlier schemes we had as a team came true which discusses, experiments and answer the issues on digital influences on architecture
• Shop more in Venice! I thought there would be time but it was difficult and there was a lot of things to concern about while installing.

MA

• If we were given more preparation time to better develop the concept than having to rush to just meet the budget and the timing;
• If we had been more involved with the technological aspect which was the brief (that is, we were given a better budget)
• If we had stucked with the 3 different groups’ proposals.

November 26, 2008 | Broadcast | Events | News

Lecture: Hydrogen-powered architecture / Peter Qvist Lorentsen on energy network integration in architecture / 29 November, Night and Day Bar, Singapore

A Nexus for Renewable Energy in Future Architecture

 

A lecture by Peter Qvist Lorentsen

on energy network integration in architecture

29th November 2008 . 8pm

 

 

The world’s oil reserves are swiftly running out. Within the next few decades, the growing severity of oil shortages will lead to sharp increases in the price of oil and a growing dependence upon the oil-producing nations. Add to this the rising emissions of CO2 that harm the environment, and it is clear that it is high time to find an environmentally sound replacement for oil.

A city run on hydrogen might sound far-fetched, but that is already in the pipeline. Architect Peter Qvist Lorentsen, principal of PQL Studio from Denmark, has been doing extensive research on hydrogen as an energy resource for architecture, and is in the midst of realising a hydrogen-powered city, H2PIA, in his country. This could be the future of architecture and infrastructure of the world.

For more information about Qvist’s hydrogen-powered city H2PIA, visit <www.h2pia.com>.

 

29th November 2008 . 8pm

Night And Day – bar+gallery+friends is located at 139A Selegie Road, Singapore 188309.

For all enquiries, email info@nightandday.sg.

The lecture is free, and all are welcome.

November 26, 2008 | Broadcast | News

A wine cellar that goes against the grain

Artisans Cellar, Singapore - Zijia Wong, World Architecture News.com

In a typical wine shop, you would be pulling out all stops to get the owner to show you his/her finest stash, which would usually be hidden from public view in the darkest, deepest corner of a cellar. Singapore’s new wine retail shop Artisans Cellar has its entire collection of luxury cuvee wines displayed unabashedly in a concrete tunnel protruding from the shop front…

Images and more information on Artisans Cellar at WorldArchitectureNews.com

November 26, 2008 | Broadcast | News

In Qatar, an Art Museum of Imposing Simplicity

by Nicolai Ourousoff, DOHA, Qatar — There is nothing timid about the ambitions of the new Museum of Islamic Art that opens here next week. Rising on its own island just off the city’s newly developed waterfront corniche, it is the centerpiece of an enormous effort to transform Qatar into an arts destination. The inaugural festivities on Saturday, including a performance by Yo-Yo Ma, attracted art-world luminaries from around the globe.

Viewed under the light of a spectacular evening fireworks display, the museum’s colossal geometric form has an ageless quality, evoking a past when Islamic art and architecture were a nexus of world culture. At the same time it conveys a hope for reconnecting again.

More on the new Museum of Islamic Art from Art & Design Section of the New York Times

November 26, 2008 | Broadcast | News

Architect seeks to share passion for Japan’s cultural heritage through unique guidebook

Taking a structural stance on culture - Keisuke Okada, Japan Times

It was at the groundbreaking ceremony of Osaka’s Breeze Tower in the spring of 2006 that architect Yuichiro Edagawa met a German woman by the name of Sybille Fanelsa and happened to tell her about his cherished plan to publish a photo book that would introduce the splendor of Japanese culture and tradition to a world-wide audience.

Fanelsa, who is firstly a curator, was attending the ceremony as the public relations manager for the German architectural design studio that had collaborated with Edagawa’s company in designing the building. Impressed by Edagawa’s passion, Fanelsa promised to give him her support. She also, as it would happen, was well-connected in the publishing world.

For the next two years, Edagawa’s main objective became finding the time and the means to juggle his project and his work as principal architect and general manager in Osaka at one of the top three architectural and engineering design offices in Japan — Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Estate Co.

He utilized most of his weekends and holidays for photography trips throughout Japan and wrote the book’s text whenever he had time before and after work.

… Said Edagawa, “It is my humble hope that readers will be able to feel, through my book, something of the good of Japan.”

More information on Edagawa and the story of his book from The Japan Times

November 26, 2008 | Features | Q&A

A chat with Fernando Menis

This is part of our coverage on Archifest 08, produced in collaboration with SA magazine. For a more detailed coverage of Archifest 08, check out issue #247 of SA Magazine with articles written by our very own FFW writers. Also,  For more, check out www.fivefootway.com/tag/archifest.

Despite presenting his works in his non-native language, established Spanish architect, Fernando Menis, still effortlessly charms the audience with his architectural works. Menis’ work conveys a sense of tension and energy, negotiating the seemingly conflicting relationship between the built form and the landscape in an effortless manner. This is perhaps a reflection of an architect who truly believes that every building is inextricably intertwined with the site where it is located.

Menis has always felt it essential for designers to think carefully about the environment, something which he emphasized a lot in his presentation during the Archifest 08 Forum. To him, the importance of striking a balance between the human desire and the environment isn’t something new but rather something that is becoming more necessary given today’s context.

Context is everything

When one looks at Menis’ works for the very first time, one would tend to associate his works with terms such as landscape sculpture, texture exploration and symbolism. However, the building is merely the architectural resultant of a design and construction processes instead of being the design intention itself. Like the person Menis referenced numerous times during the forum -“Le Corbusier, Le Corbusier, Le Corbusier” - he is very much concerned about understanding the space, its users and everything related to the site. Ultimately, his designs revolve around creating interactions between his building and the environment, both man-made and natural. This results in an architectural design which is unique to its context, standing within a community where design decisions are caused and at the same time affecting the surroundings.

Architect + People= Architecture

Menis believes in “thinking like a local architect”. This means finding out as much as possible, about the place, its history, culture, landscape and lifestyle and with these information, Menis attempts to design buildings that in some ways, contribute something back to the society and hopefully fulfills some dreams.

“Listen. Listen to the people. Find out about what they want as well as their dreams” - Menis

Unlike others who might prefer to focus on the larger scale; Menis’ research involves more tangible information such as human circulation and behaviour which perhaps provide an explanation to the charm of his works. His works are not just functional buildings but rather, places where people can find their small little dreams and delight within it. In a world filled with spaces that can get rather generic and monotonous, such architecture gives hope by bringing enjoyment and delight to spatial experience.

Inspiration

We then asked Menis which architect inspired him most, he pondered upon the question with the conclusion that it was hard to find an answer. He described, “It is like a dessert. There are many layers, one over another. It is difficult to know which layer is more important. Perhaps it was my father.”

Menis shared with us that his father was interested in model and clock making and as a child, young Menis was taught to make his own toys. That could be the reason why his design process involves more model-making than sketches. Or perhaps as he adds, it might be because he could never sketch well.

And when it comes to giving advice and inspiring younger architects and designers, he quipped,

“Work very hard. Love the work you are doing.”

For the full interview, see Issue #247 of Singapore Architect Magazine.

November 25, 2008 | Digests | Reports

Archifest 08: The Summary

This is part of our coverage on Archifest 08, produced in collaboration with SA magazine. For a more detailed coverage of Archifest 08, check out issue #248 of SA Magazine with articles written by our very own FFW writers. Also,  For more, check out www.fivefootway.com/tag/archifest.

If you’ve blinked in October then you’ve probably missed Archifest 08. This low-key event which took place during that entire month included events which mostly architects, designers and architecture-enthusiasts in the know attended. The highlight, which left most participants discussing, however, was the two day Forum at the National Library. A variety of speakers from all over the world like Jo Noero (South Africa), Gerard Reinmuth (Australia), Andrew Maynard (Australia), Fernando Menis (Spain), Ken Yeang (Malaysia), Richard Hassel (Singapore), Poh Siew Fatt (Singapore) and Madhura Prematilleke (Sri Lanka), presented their take on this year’s theme of Man + Environment.

Using their works to exemplify their perspective on the theme, young architects shared the platform with more experienced ones to discuss their practices’ stand on topics like the S-word and architecture itself. Overall, the discussions were delightful and provocative enough to get students in the audience nodding and oh-ing at each other. Gerard Reinmuth subversively questioned the credibility of the supposed green architecture of today, Andrew Maynard’s self-depreciative eloquence of cheeky architecture that works tickled and awed everyone while Jo Noero’s firm social beliefs put to shame the bourgeois architect in me; the speakers were expressive individuals that held comprehensive and explorative views which made listening to them, both enlightening and entertaining.

FFW and SA managed to acquire for itself the privilege of some one-to-one time with some of the architects. A full article of the interviews and forum will be featured in next month’s issue of SA. We have portfolios on five architects from the forum and Dr. Hitoshi Abe, winner of this year’s SIA-Getz Award. The architects that we interviewed were Gerard Reinmuth of Terroir, Jo Noero of Noero Wolff Architects, Madhura Prematilleke of Team Architrave, Andrew Maynard of Andrew Maynard Architects and Fernando Menis of Menis Architects. Their portfolios reveal their take on the theme ,their modus operandi as architects and their advices for newbie architects.

Also, do remember to check out our coverage of the other events that made up Archifest 08 such as Architours , the forum nd also the other Fringe Events. For in detail coverage, make sure to get a copy of Singapore Architect’s magazine issue 247 out on magazine stands in December 2008.

November 19, 2008 | Broadcast | News

Singapore’s New Downtown Icon

Built across the mouth of the Marina Channel, the Marina Barrage creates Singapore’s 15th reservoir, and the first in the heart of the city. With a catchment area of 10,000 hectares, or one-sixth the size of Singapore, the Marina catchment is the island’s largest and most urbanised catchment. Together with two other new reservoirs, the Marina Reservoir will boost Singapore’s water catchment from half to two-third’s of the country’s land area.

The Marina Barrage is the result of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s vision nearly two decades ago when he envisaged damming the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir.

3-in-1 Benefits

Water Supply

Flood Control

Lifestyle Attraction

The Marina Barrage is a 350-meter wide dam built across the Marina Channel to keep out seawater, forming Singapore’s first reservoir in the city and 15th reservoir. Marina Reservoir combines with the future Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs will increase Singapore’s water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore’s land areas.

With the barrage in place, the Marina Basin will turn into a body of freshwater through natural flushing in one two to years. The freshwater will then be treated using advanced membrane technology before consumption.

Local catchment water is one of the Four National Taps, with the other three being imported water, NEWater and desalinated water.

As one of the pillars of local water supply, Marina Reservoir will meet more than 10% of Singapore’s current water demand.

The Marina Barrage is part of a comprehensive flood control scheme to alleviate flooding in the low-lying areas in the city such as Chinatown, Boat Quay, Jalan Besar and Geylang.

During heavy rain, the series of nine crest gates at the dam will be activated to release excess storm water into the sea when the tide is low.

In the case of high tide, giant pumps which are capable of pumping an Olympics-size swimming pool per minute will drain excess storm water into the sea.

As the water in the Marina Basin is unaffected by the tides, its water level will be kept constant all year round. This is ideal for all kinds of recreational activities such as boating, windsurfing, kayaking and dragonboating etc.

 

Courtesy the Singapore Public Utilities Board

November 18, 2008 | Broadcast | Competitions | Events | News

International Highrise Award 2008

Frankfurt / Main, November 14, 2008

Lord Norman Foster receives prize in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche
New York’s Hearst Headquarters Tower designed by Foster + Partners has won the International Highrise Award 2008, which is worth EUR 50,000.

The award was bestowed on Lord Norman Foster during a festive ceremony in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche. Dr. h.c. Petra Roth, Lady Mayoress of the City of Frankfurt/Main, and Dr. Matthias Danne, DekaBank Board member responsible for real estate, together gave renowned London architect the world’s most important architectural prize of its kind.
The 182m high edifice (Project designer: Foster + Partners, London; Architect of record (shell + core): Adamson Associates, Toronto; Fit out: Gensler, New York) creates a new emphatic highlight in the midst of New York’s skyline. Resting on a plinth that is a historical building, the transparent highrise stands out for its very expressive shape. The jury, chaired by London-based architect Alejandro Zaera-Polo, was of the opinion that “its load-bearing triangular steel structure creates storeys of different sizes and could be a
model for new proto-types.” Together with its sustainable structure (the Hearst Tower is the first highrise in New York City to be certified as meeting the LEED Gold standard) it is setting “a new standard for office buildings in the metropolis of skyscrapers.”
The highrise, which was commissioned in 2006, was developed by the Hearst Corporation, New York. The media corporation uses the new headquarters at its old established location as its editorial center. Gilbert C. Maurer, a member of the Board of Directors, took receipt of the prize on behalf of the Hearst Corporation.

Highrises as a response to global challenges

In her speech, Dr. h.c. Petra Roth stressed the importance of the joint initiative by  DekaBank and the City of Frankfurt/Main for the city. She emphasized that with the International Highrise Award (IHA) the city champions a planning concept that it has been “advancing for over 50 years now and the results of which include a breathtaking skyline that is quite unique in Germany.” Dr. Matthias Danne stated that property
investors are increasingly fans of buildings that deliver trailblazing solutions: “The Hearst Tower shows that cost-effectiveness and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, but actually co-determinates.” And Peter Cachola Schmal, Director of Deutsches Architekturmuseum and a member of the IHA Jury 2008, underscored the fact that “today it is not only spectacular shapes and new record heights that ensure high-rises worldwide attract attention.” Instead, he continued, the issue is “to what extent a highrise offers a
specific solution to the given situation.” In his festive address, Barry Bergdoll Ph.D., Chief Curator of the MoMA’s Architecture and Design Dept. explored how highrises will in future develop. The expert in architecture gave an outlook on a future in which more strongly than hitherto the focus will be on
responding to the problems of urban density and the major energy-related challenges.

Exhibition showcases other highrise projects, too

In addition to this year’s winner, the jury specially commended four other finalists, and also bestowed an special sustainability award. Commendations went to the 116-meter high Missing Matrix Building (Seoul) designed by Mass Studies, the 121-meter-high residential tower Newton Suites by WOHA and two other media high rises, the 319-meter high New York Times Building (New York) by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and the 159-meter-high Television Cultural Centre (Beijing) created by OMA - Office for Metropolitan Architecture. For the first time, the jury bestowed an award in special recognition of urban, energy and social sustainability. It went to the WestendDuo (Frankfurt/Main) designed by Frankfurt-based architects KSP Engel und Zimmermann. The International Highrise Prize 2008 exhibition, which will run at Deutsches Architekturmuseum from November 16, 2008 through January 4, 2009 showcases the broad
spectrum of prize-winning and nominated projects.

City of Frankfurt/Main International Highrise Award
The International Highrise Award (IHA), which is worth EUR 50,000, is bestowed by the City of Frankfurt/Main. It is initiated, curated and organized in cooperation with two partners, namely Deutsches Architekturmuseum DAM and DekaBank, which also finances the IHA. The IHA is bestowed every two years by a jury made up of international experts for a building that stands out for its special aesthetic appeal, future-oriented design urban sensitivity, sustainability, innovative technology, and cost efficiency. The IHA goes to both the planners and the developers. This year, architect Lord Norman Foster received the award statuette created by renowned international artist Thomas Demand, and the developer was awarded the money. The International Highrise Award was bestowed for the third time in 2008.

November 17, 2008 | Broadcast | News

Baguio takes second look at Burnham Plan

By Vincent Cabreza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:15:00 11/12/2008

 

BAGUIO CITY – This city, the country’s undisputed summer capital, was designed by Chicago-based architect Daniel Burnham to host 25,000 residents in 1906.

Officially chartered in 1909, Baguio will celebrate its centennial next year. The city achieved its maximum population in less than 50 years, from 489 residents in 1903 to 29,262 in 1948.

Almost 100 years later, local architects and urban planners have been busy studying how much of the city’s development template could still be applied to an urban renewal campaign for a city population that reached 183,000 in 1991.

Read on to find out how the city will attempt to readapt the Plan to modern Baguio

November 17, 2008 | Broadcast | News

El-Croquis goes Digital

Tropolism - El Croquis is offering digital versions of its magazines. In one swoop the twin problems of acquiring and storing their oversize formats is disappeared. Of course you don’t get the pleasure of having a huge page with a flawless image or superdetailed plan, but there are advantages to the digital option. We’d rather have a proof copy of the master PDF file, but we’ll settle for the Zinio system for the time being.

Well, we all know what a computer can do with digital editions…

November 16, 2008 | News | Reports

Architours - Night Tours

This is part of our coverage on Archifest 08, produced in collaboration with SA magazine. For a more detailed coverage of Archifest 08, check out issue #248 of SA Magazine with articles written by our very own FFW writers. Also do check out FFW’s Archifest related articles here.

Architours was started in 2007 with the intention of promoting discourse on the relationship between architecture and society and also to cultivate an appreciation for good design. This year, Architours return with more visits to various places with architectural significance in Singapore including Biopolis at One-North, Wessex Estate, Lasalle College of the Arts and the Marina Barrage.

The Night Architour is a new addition to the tour line-up where ‘tourists’ are not only brought to visit various architectural spaces in the evening but one that included visiting various architectural offices and gallery spaces before the tour is brought to an end with a round of drinks at various bars. In particular, the visit to the architecture firms provided a rare chance for the public to come into contact with the inner workings of those who shape the built environment where the ‘tourists’ were given a glimpse into the architects’ design processes and also an introduction into how projects are being executed and realized.

Inside Zong Architect’s Office

Those who came for the tour were mostly architecture students who are interested in experiencing and understanding architecture beyond the texts and lectures. Also present were architects from abroad who seek to understand Singapore’s architecture scene a little bit better and making up the rest of the entourage  were members of the public who were not from the design field but curious about it. Perhaps what was most impressive and a pleasant surprise was the fact that some of the ‘tourists’ had specially flown in from overseas to attend the Archifest forum and tour and this is an indication of the positive impact of Archifest in the larger context.

The crowd was generally shy but definitely keen to understand the lifestyles of these individuals whom we call architects.  Fortunately, the architects who were in the various offices managed to give a warm welcome to the visitors and they were also open in sharing their experiences, personal views and visions of their firms. The architects were also forthcoming in sharing some limitations about the architectural scene such as the level of details and bureaucracy required for local projects. To give an illustration, one architect mentioned that a local small-scale residential project needed a minimum of 4 typical-sized black folders while only 1 typical-sized folder is more than enough for an overseas middle-scale project.

Inside Union Architect’s Office

There are plenty of urban legends that revolves around the architect being a workaholic but this tour showed a different side to this. Beyond architecture, architects are truly passionate about the creative process and enjoying life. The tour introduced us to the sharing sessions organised by these architectural practices for their staffs to take a break from the monotony pace of daily workload - inviting them to engage in brainstorming sessions and taking idea generation as a form of exercising their minds. And of course, these creative souls indulge in a round of drinks occasionally; one that is best shared with their friends at an architecturally interesting space.

Mingling with the archi-tourists.

Perhaps it might be worthy to consider touring the various construction sites that continue to operate through the night around the island in a future edition of Architours. This could then give a glimpse into the importance of keeping a construction site going 24-7, why certain construction can only be done at night and also to understand the complexities of working in such conditions.

Nonetheless, Architours is a key fixture in the Archifest calendar and judging from this year’s edition of it, we believe that it will continue to be so next year. The tours play a key role in advancing architecture by giving a glimpse into the world of architecture - lowering the barriers of understanding and appreciating it for the public. Ultimately, armed with a better understanding of how the built environment is shaped, it will allow us to further appreciate the city that we live in.

Schedule of Tour:

Week 1 - 3 & 4 Oct: National Libary Building (Start), Designers’ Offices: DP Architects @ National Stadium, Union Designs, Old School @ Mt Sophia, zArch Collaborative and Night & Day Bar + Gallery + Friends, National Library Building (End)

Week 2 - 10 & 11 Oct: National Libary Building (Start), Designers’ Offices: Ministry of Design, MKPL Architects, Union Designs, Old School @ Mt Sophia, zArch Collaborative and Night & Day Bar + Gallery + Friends, National Library Building (End)

Week 3 - 17 & 18 Oct: National Libary Building (Start), Designers’ Offices: Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism, Union Designs, zArch Collaborative, Old School @ Mt Sophia, and Night & Day Bar + Gallery + Friends, National Library Building (End)

November 15, 2008 | Broadcast | News

WOHA wins two out of three international awards at Australian National Awards in Architecture

WOHA has won two out of three international archi awards at the Australia National Awards in architecture, alongside PTW’s Watercube National Swimming Centre in Beijing, China.

The Jorn Utzon Award for International Architecture
Watercube National Swimming Centre Beijing - CSCEC + PTW Architects + CCDI + ARUP
Situated along the main axis of the Olympic Green across from the National Stadium, the National Swimming Centre was one of the two main venues for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The “Watercube” and the “Birdsnest” have become the symbols of the Games, and they are worthy companions. The design of the National Swimming Centre combines the idea of the molecular structure of water with the symbol of the square to create an inspired and inventive architecture. Conceptually, the square box and interior spaces are carved from a cluster of foam bubbles - nature transformed into structure. The Watercube uses state-of-the-art materials to create a visually striking building that is also energy-efficient and ecologically friendly. The most impressive aspect of the project is the outer shell or molecular skin that envelops the building. The geometry is based on a unique lightweight construction system composed of a transparent dual-cushion envelope captured in a steel frame. The parts are integrated as one element. The building has a chameleon-like quality that captures light in an extraordinary and memorable way. In every respect, the Watercube is an engaging and ethereal building that comfortably straddles the traditions of both Chinese and Western architecture.

Award for International Architecture
Stadium Mass Rapid Transit Station - WOHA
The Stadium MRT Station in Singapore is a major new underground urban transport facility servicing an adjoining indoor sports stadium and surrounding entertainment, leisure and residential precincts. WOHA architects won the commission through an international design competition and the result is an outstanding contribution to international architecture.
Conceived as a massive underground sculpture, the station is like a geological fissure or fault line that has opened up to reveal a secret underworld. The station works as a major dramatic space that offers members of the public a moment of spatial grandeur in their daily commute. This is very much in the manner of the great stations of Europe. The form of the station is generated by the flow of crowds down to the platforms below, as well as a tectonic play on two contrasting geometric shapes - a linear element against a curved one. A continuous central skylight creates a dramatic day-lit interior, while openings in the above-ground forms allow views down to the platform level from the arrival plaza. Journeying into the station is like descending into a giant shimmering grotto that draws crowds to its interior. This is an inspired piece of urban architecture that adds delight to the world of the underground train station.

Award for International Architecture
Newton Suites - WOHA
Newton Suites is an exemplary model of a tropical high-rise residential building in an established urban setting. Sustainability initiatives are integrated into the building’s design, and contribute to its engaging appearance. The exterior of the 36-storey tower uses sun-shading elements, patterned planes, perforated screens, protruding balconies and a living vertical landscape as part of the building’s language. The extensive use of landscape material adds great drama and textural effect through sky gardens, green walls and rooftop planting. This also contributes to building comfort and visual delight, with the extensive use of greenery bringing the indoor-outdoor potential of the tropics to life. While these devices are not new, WOHA has produced an inspired and disciplined building that advances the idea of sustainable high-rise living. The residential tower sits on a four-storey base building which houses car parking and resident amenities. The above-ground car park is wrapped with creepers and topped with a roof garden and swimming pool. The integration of tower and base is particularly well handled, as are the overall urban manners of the complex. Extensive environmental elements, liveable apartments and generous communal areas combine to create a unique tropical building that achieves both Singapore’s national vision for a green city and an improved living environment for the residents.

November 13, 2008 | Broadcast | Competitions | News

MIPIM’s ‘drawing-board’ awards set for seventh successful year: Architectural Review continues search for the icon of tomorrow

November 11, 2008 | Broadcast | News

Neglected: Vital fields of study

Architecture Inside Out
By Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi - There are two areas of architectural study that are neglected locally, to the detriment of all who use the services of an architect, from town planners to the individual planning a home.

ARCHITECTURE used to be considered a gentlemanly art form, a hobby for the rich and idle that enabled discourses on beauty and aesthetics. Not so now. Good architecture now is a purely rational act that has deep roots in history and the behavioural sciences.

In the old days, designers could assume spatial functions with ease because they were designing for their own culture and value system. But present day architects are international – a Filipino draftsmen working on a Saudi Arabian housing project in the German branch of an international firm.

With such a reality, there are two indispensable subjects that must be cultivated in Malaysia: Architectural Theory and History and the Environment Behavioural Studies.

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November 8, 2008 | Broadcast | News

Can shopping centres be used to regenerate cities?

BDOnline.co.uk - Yes, directly and as a catalyst, says Hammerson’s director of retail development Robin Dobson, but architect Ptolemy Dean prefers a return to traditional streets…

One wonders if the shopping centre is an equally ‘effective’ agent in the continued development of cities, for example, in Asia; many times the answer would be a resounding no; given the already popular-acceptance of street life amongst the din and buzz of the quintessential Asian metropolis. Just look at Ho Chi Minh, Bali, Hanoi..amongst other towns where the street is much preferred to the mall. Hong Kong and Singapore, although famously familiar to the shopping centre typology, have malls that are fashioned and densified to the point of virtual “street-ness”, if there ever was such a word.

Read more here to see what the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ factions represent in this discussion on the pertinence of the shopping centre as a regenerative typology in the United Kingdom.