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)

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Architours - Night Tours