Arup Unveils First Future Cities Hub to Drive Innovation and Growth in Southeast Asia

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Arup, a global design and consulting firm recently announced the launch of its first Arup Future Cities Hub on its 50th anniversary in Singapore.

Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Arup Future Cities Hub will serve as a focal point for Arup’s consulting expertise in advisory, planning and design across Southeast Asia. With Singapore as a springboard, Arup will be working with public agencies and private sector entities on urban development, transport, social and infrastructure in the region.

“Singapore is the home to the best talent, underpinned by high quality infrastructure and regional connectivity. With EDB’s support, we are excited to launch the Arup Future Cities Hub on our 50th anniversary in Singapore,” said Tan Yoong Heng, Arup Singapore’s Office Leader.

He added, “Arup’s vision to shape a better world is closely aligned with Singapore’s economic transformation ambitions from a trade hub to innovation hub. We aim to bring the same bold, progressive and innovative city planning vision and goal to our clients. Our ambition is to bring the design leadership that we have established in Singapore to the future developments in cities across Southeast Asia.”

Southeast Asia is undergoing a process of hyper urbanisation and with the urban populations expected to grow by another 100 million to reach 373 million people in 2030, urban infrastructure planning has become more critical than ever before. Cities in the region will need to address urbanisation challenges and plan for sustainable and resource-efficient infrastructures. 

Over the next five years, the Arup Future Cities Hub will focus on strengthening its advisory, planning, design and specialist consulting capabilities to address critical needs. Arup will also be growing its offerings in digital, advisory, urban mobility, infrastructure masterplanning, resilience and sustainability consulting.

Cities and Planning Leader, Neil Walmsley said, “Singapore is a natural choice to build Arup’s Future Cities Hub. The nation has a strong ambition to develop its highly skilled workforce and economic leadership in the region – and we are excited to contribute to nurturing designers, planners, engineers and strategists of the future. The goal for our Future Cities team is to help Singapore develop a resilient, sustainable and smart future, while exporting best practices to the region.”

The Future Cities team will be expected to grow to more than 60 staff, with a balanced, diverse and quality team that combines local knowledge and understanding with a broad range of international expertise by 2023.

Shiseido Forest Valley - Jewel Changi Airport

Experience Japanese-style nature, art and beauty at the Shiseido Forest Valley in Jewel Changi Airport

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Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) and Shiseido announced in March 2019 the naming rights partnership of the Shiseido Forest Valley; a wondrous four-storey indoor ‘forest’ which will allow visitors to experience the Japanese appreciation of nature, beauty and art. The partnership will run for a period of three years.

Jewel will have one of the largest indoor collection of plants in Singapore, with about 22,000 square metres of space dedicated to landscaping throughout the complex. The Shiseido Forest Valley will complement Jewel’s wide array of retail and F&B activities, allowing visitors to shop and dine amidst a resplendent indoor forest. Visitors can even take a gentle hike up two cobblestoned walking trails, the East and West Trail, punctuated by idyllic cascading waterfalls and mist clouds.

Shiseido Forest Valley - Jewel Changi AirportMs Hung Jean, Chief Executive Officer of Jewel Changi Airport Devt, shared: “We are delighted to embark on a partnership with Shiseido to present this specially- curated valley that brings to life, the concept of how lush greenery, traditionally found outdoors, are brought to an indoor environment like Jewel. From the gentle cascading falls to the wisps of mist emitted, these are key elements of the unique Forest Valley experience that we have introduced in Jewel for the enjoyment of all our guests.”

Mr Philippe Lesné, President & CEO of Shiseido Travel Retail, said: “The Shiseido Forest Valley embodies the Group’s values of beauty and innovation. This multi-sensory experience inspires a life of meaningful beauty and culture. We thank Jewel for this unique opportunity to engage deeper connections and create memorable experiences for all visitors.”

Made up of more than 900 trees and palms and about 60,000 shrubs, the curation of the indoor forest took concerted effort. Before the installation of the Shiseido Forest Valley, trials were first done in a polytunnel (or hoop greenhouse) to simulate the actual in-Jewel temperature, humidity and light levels. Applying these optimal growth conditions eventually resulted in the dynamic forest experience and selection of plants that visitors will see in Jewel.

The four-storey incline of the Shiseido Forest Valley also influenced the types of flora selected. For example, the shrubs chosen are shade-tolerant and have adapted to space constraints, just as understorey plants have in real forests. Whether dining at spots overlooking the Shiseido Forest Valley or strolling through the trails, visitors to Jewel can expect an awe- inspiring experience when they walk through this climate-controlled space.

The Shiseido Forest Valley was designed by landscaping consultancy PWP Landscape Architecture and in collaboration with project consultant ICN Design.

Cosentino Unveils Seven New Shades in its Silestone and Sensa Ranges in Singapore

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Cosentino Group, the world leader in the production and distribution of innovative surfaces for architecture and design, is pleased to announce the Singapore launch of its newest colours in its Silestone® and Sensa® ranges.

In total, seven new colours will be available in Singapore from today onwards; five from the Silestone® Eternal Collection, and two from the Sensa by Cosentino® Protected Natural Stone range.

The five new colours of the luminary Silestone® Eternal Collection are the Bianco Calacatta, Classic Calacatta, Desert Silver, Eternal Emperador, and Eternal Marfil.

The Eternal Collection is the first in Silestone’s offerings to have veining and highlights run completely through the material, making for an unparalleled natural beauty coupled with Silestone’s industry-leading performance, thanks to the Silestone® N-Boost technology.

This innovation, which has been patented by Cosentino, modifies the material’s surface at a molecular level to give it greater color saturation and extraordinary lustre, along with an enhanced water repellent property that makes the surface easier to clean and maintain.

As with all Silestone® natural quartz products, the Eternal Collection includes the notable characteristics that set the brand apart: high resistance to impact and scratching; manufactured in large formats; and versatility of application. Please see Annex A for the new Silestone® Eternal Collection shades.

“Cosentino’s investment in R&D to develop the complex, full body designs of the Silestone® Eternal Collection, has received wide recognition by consumers, architects and designers alike. We are delighted to present now these new Eternal colors and we look forward to the collection’s continued success in 2018,” says Valentin Tijeras, Vice-President of Global Product and R&D, Cosentino.

Cosentino also adds two exotic new Brazilian quartzite colours to its Sensa by Cosentino® Protected Natural Stone range. The two new shades, Taj Mahal and White Macaubas, join the Sensa Premium range and feature the exclusive Senguard NK stain protection.

These two new surfaces are the first quartzites to join the Sensa by Cosentino® range. Quartzite is a very hard metamorphic rock that is composed almost entirely of quartz and is the perfect substitute for a natural stone that is more durable and hardwearing than traditional marbles, whilst offering a similar look.

Sensa surfaces offer an excellent level of stain protection, including against acidic substances commonly found in household kitchens, with no need for special daily maintenance. Anchored to the surface of the stone, the Senguard NK stain protection technology also offers the surface of the countertop UV resistance, allowing the natural stone surfaces to be used inside and out whilst still allowing the stone to breathe and preserve its natural colour. The new surfaces are also safe for contact with food thanks to their NSF certification. Please see Annex B for the new Sensa by Cosentino® shades.

The seven new shades were unveiled in Singapore on 17 August at an exclusive launch party held at Cosentino City Centre showroom. Over 100 guests from the media and design industry were in for a treat at the event with the theme “Brazilian Summer Nights”, alluding to the exotic new Brazilian quartzites in the Sensa by Cosentino® that were being launched that night in addition to the new shades in the Silestone® Eternal Collection.

The new shades of the Silestone® Eternal Collection were mounted on the walls of the Cosentino City Centre showroom, for the guests to view and feel for themselves. One of the kitchen countertops in the Cosentino showroom was also replaced with a countertop made from Sensa® in the shade of Macaubas so that guests could see how the surface looks like on an actual kitchen top. Additionally, an ornamental flower pot made from the new Sensa® shade of Taj Mahal was on display to show the versatility and beauty of the two colours.

Newly appointed General Manager of Cosentino Southeast Asia, Pablo Abad Gomez enthuses, “With the launch of at least a dozen new shades in various collections this year alone in Singapore, Cosentino is cementing its position as a market leader of innovative surfaces in Southeast Asia. We look forward to shaping and growing the industry in the region through collaborations that showcase the uniqueness and versatility of our products beyond the kitchen and bathroom.”

All seven new shades in the Silestone® Eternal and Sensa by Cosentino® collections is now available in Singapore. For more information, please visit www.silestone.com.sg or www.sensabycosentino.com

Four Atkins’ Architecture Designs Scoop Asia Pacific Property Awards

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Four Atkins-designed architectural projects were under the spotlight at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2018. The recently opened Ocean Empire in Xiamen won “Best Hotel Architecture China”, the Huarong Tower in Zhuhai won “Best Mixed-use Architecture China”, the Cocobay Twin Towers in Danang won “Best Commercial High-rise Architecture Vietnam”, and the Belleville Park was honored an award winner in the “Architecture Multiple Residence India” category.

The Asia Pacific Property Awards, as part of the International Property Awards, are the largest, most prestigious, and widely recognised programme throughout the region. They celebrate the highest levels of achievement by companies operating in all sectors of the property and real estate industry. SNC-Lavalin acquired WS Atkins plc on July 3, 2017.

Bertil de Kleynen, Sector Director for architecture, planning, landscape and interiors at SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins Business in Asia Pacific, represented Atkins at the award ceremony in Bangkok. He said: “It’s a great pleasure to receive four prestigious awards on behalf of Atkins’ passionate architects and their endless efforts to design award winning projects that not only enhance value for our clients’ investment but also raise their profile at national and international scale”

Ocean Empire, Huarong Tower and Cocobay Twin Towers are nominated to compete with other national winners for Asia Pacific’s Best. The result will be announced at the International Property Awards ceremony in December 2018.

Atkins is no stranger on the stage of Asia Pacific Property Awards and International Property Awards. The 460-metre supertall Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was crowned “World’s Best Architecture” at the International Property Awards 2017 held in London. It also picked up “Best International Residential High-rise Architecture

Marina One Wins Best Innovative Green Building At The MIPIM Awards 2018

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Marina One has won Best Innovative Green Building at the MIPIM Awards 2018. The MIPIM Awards celebrates the most outstanding property projects globally. This year, the 28th MIPIM Awards took place on 15 March 2018 at a gala ceremony held in the Grand Auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

Developed by M+S Pte Ltd (M+S), Marina One together with its sister project DUO are two landmark properties borne out of the historic 2010 Singapore and Malaysia land swap deal.

“The team at M+S is extremely proud to win this prestigious accolade. Since the inception of the project, we have set out with a clear vision to be a game changer in the way people live, work and play. Marina One’s Green Heart was a bold decision on our part to have a diverse garden which binds the four towers together. This creates a park-like environment where the community can meaningfully interact with nature, within a development that is designed with sustainability at its core,” said Kemmy Tan, CEO of M+S.

Marina One is designed by Christoph Ingenhoven from Ingenhoven Architects, a world- renowned leader in sustainable architecture. The Green Heart, a core feature of Marina One, was designed in close cooperation with London-based landscape architects Gustafson Porter + Bowman and ICN Design International, its local partner.

The Green Heart was conceived as a civic space which serves as an urban oasis for workers in and around Marina One to enjoy. Today, the development is home to global multinational corporations including Swiss private bank Julius Baer, consultancy PwC Singapore, co-working space provider JustCo, financial services provider Prudential, ride hailing platform Grab, agri- business Olam International, BP Global, Daiwa Capital, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). The Green Heart provides a sanctuary for people from these companies as well as the area around to enjoy respite from the hustle and bustle of the Central Business District (CBD).

Spanning 65,000 square feet, the Green Heart houses a total of 386 different plant species and special technologies to recreate a three-storey waterfall. Featuring an open, heart- shaped green core with multiple stepped gardens and designed with lower and mid-level sky terraces and waterfalls, the Green Heart is the only biodiversity garden within the Marina Bay CBD of this scale. Together with the rest of the greenery housed within the development, it forms a space equivalent to five Olympic sized swimming pools.

As a sustainable development, Marina One has set the standard for the rest of Asia to follow, achieving LEED Platinum pre-certification and BCA Green Mark Platinum certification. The organic shape of the building complex with its iconic louvres and the verdant greenery contributes to an improvement of the microclimate and richness of biodiversity within the development.

The compact and efficient layout is complemented by energy-saving ventilation systems, highly effective external solar screening devices, and glaring that reduces solar radiation into the building. Other sustainable features include rainwater harvesting to promote water efficiency, regenerative lift braking, LED lighting controlled by motion sensors and advanced air handling units, to enable energy efficiency.

“M+S has been a pioneer in delivering large-scale integrated projects which have changed the Singapore skyline and achieved new heights in defining sustainability within developments. This award, together with our success in attracting new homeowners and global MNCs to the development, is an endorsement of our efforts in pushing the boundaries of integrated living and sets our developments apart as coveted properties of the future,” concluded Kemmy Tan.

Hamad International Airport Ranked 5th Best Airport In The World By Skytrax World Airport Awards 2018

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Hamad International Airport has been ranked the 5th best airport in the world at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2018, which took place during the Passenger Terminal Expo 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. HIA has also been honoured with the title of ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the fourth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the third year in a row.

The award recognises HIA’s innovative facilities, five-star customer service and state-of-the-art terminal which can accommodate more than 30 million passengers annually. The terminal has been described as the most architecturally significant terminal complex in the world, as well as being the most luxurious.

Commenting on the results of the Skytrax World Airport Awards, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at Hamad International Airport stated: “HIA sets itself apart from other airports with its optimised passenger journey, unmatched retail offering, five-star customer service, punctuality, cleanliness, iconic architecture and unique art programme, making the airport a destination on its own. These Skytrax results mark yet another milestone in HIA’s journey in solidifying its position as one of the world’s best airports. We are grateful to our passengers who gave us their trust and endorsement during the voting process.

Mr. Al Meer continued: “In spite of the challenging situation in the region, HIA succeeded in proving its resiliency by maintaining 5 Star passenger’ experience, and smooth operations.

As we are gearing up to welcome more than 50 million travellers by 2022, we will continue to invest in our facilities, services and the newest technologies to provide a world-class passenger experience.”

The Skytrax World Airport Awards are a global benchmark of airport excellence, based on 12.85 million customer nominations across 110 nationalities of air travellers, and include 410 airports worldwide. The survey evaluates customer satisfaction across 39 key performance indicators for airport service and product – from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration, through to departure at the gate.

HIA – The Gateway to Qatar and to the World
Positioned at the edge of the Arabian Gulf, Hamad International Airport’s tranquil waterside setting provides a perfect backdrop for its stylish architectural elements, underpinned by advanced airport systems in line with its ‘Smart Airport’ vision.

Operating 24/7, the airport features two runways, a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and currently processes 30 million passengers per year and 360,00 aircrafts per year. With over 40,000 square meters of combined retail, food and beverage facilities, unmatched spa facilities and a collection of unique art pieces from internationally acclaimed artists, HIA is a destination on its own, designed for the modern traveller.

John Mcaslan + Partners And Woods Bagot Are Lead Designers On Sydney’s Central Station

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John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot are the architectural partners delivering the Sydney Metro upgrade to Central Station, a key component of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.

The renewal of Australia’s biggest railway station is underway, with a recent announcement that Laing O’Rourke has won the $955 million contract for the Sydney Metro City & Southwest upgrade of Central Station, including Central Walk. The station is a key one within the $20 billion Sydney Metro project, Australia’s biggest public transport infrastructure project.

Jointly leading the multi-disciplinary, international design team are architects John McAslan + Partners and Woods Bagot, whose bold, can-do architecture will give the station an entirely new functional and experiential vibe.

Key heritage qualities of the 112-year-old station will be emphasised along with the introduction of new architecturally-inspiring elements as part of a scheme that amplifies Central Station as a Sydney icon. Signalling a step-change in the station’s functional, urban and cultural contributions to the city, the project will trigger much higher levels of people-movement and energy, and wider civic and commercial renewal.

The design team has impeccable credentials. Renowned UK architect John McAslan + Partners designed the highly celebrated and multi-awarded regeneration of London’s King’s Cross Station, restoring the 170-year-old station and adding a highly innovative concourse to accommodate up to 150,000 passengers per day. Woods Bagot’s exemplary transformation of Sydney’s Wynyard Walk commuter link injects civic, cultural and commercial energy by connecting Wynyard Station with Barangaroo and the waterfront.

Below ground, the atmospheric qualities of volume, surface, and natural light characterise the design scheme for the Central Station upgrade. With respect to existing hierarchies of arches and materials, the proposal has a clear relationship with Walter Vernon’s architecture of the station above. While the interfaces between old and new will be quite distinct, they will be architectural segues rather than jump-cuts.

The Central Station metro upgrade includes the main concourse, Central Walk (connecting the Sydney Metro platforms to Chalmers Street), northern concourse (interface between the new metro and the existing station) and the metro box platforms.

Central Station is the backbone of Sydney’s public transport network, with more than 250,000 people passing through the station every day. That number is forecast to grow to 450,000 in the next two decades. The Central Walk concourse will better connect customers to trains, buses, light rail and the new Sydney Metro. Features of Central Walk include:

  • A 19-metre wide tunnel from Chalmers Street, linking to new metro platforms under Central
  • New, easy access points to Sydney Trains platforms 16 to 23
  • Escalators directly to suburban platforms for the first time.

As Sydney director Domenic Alvaro explains, the project is a significant win for Woods Bagot and the result of the firm’s deliberate expansion in the Australian transport sector.

Sydney Metro is Australia’s largest public transport project. It will transform Sydney, delivering more trains and faster services for customers across the network. A new stand-alone railway network, Sydney Metro is the solution to clearing the city’s public transport bottlenecks and will deliver a quality of rail service never before seen in Australia.

Sydney Metro City & Southwest will extend metro rail between Chatswood and Bankstown, including a new crossing beneath Sydney Harbour, new railway stations in the lower North Shore and CBD, and the upgrade and conversion of the current line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

New Business District Takes Shape as Lendlease’s First Commercial Office Tower Tops Out

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Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) by Lendlease marked a significant milestone today with the successful construction topping out of its first office tower structure at a ceremony graced by Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong. The S$3.2 billion mixed-use development, set to transform Paya Lebar into Singapore’s newest business hub, is well progressed, having secured strong pre-commitment for its office, residential and retail components.

 

 

Strong interest and demand for PLQ office, retail and residential
As the most centrally located business hub outside the core city centre, PLQ’s three office towers will provide close to one million square feet of Grade A prime office space. Currently, over 50 percent of this space is either leased, under final offer or in advanced negotiations. Prospective tenants include leading corporations from the financial services, infrastructure, real estate and co-working solutions sectors, as well as a premium gym. The office towers will be progressively completed and are on program to be occupied from September 2018.

With a projected annual footfall of close to 45 million, the new four-hectare PLQ office, residential, leisure and retail development will be one of the largest business and lifestyle precincts in Singapore. PLQ mall, which is due to be occupied from late 2018, is already over 40 percent pre-committed, including shops and restaurants leased or under final offer.

Over 400 new apartments are also being developed at PLQ providing a modern connected lifestyle with excellent facilities. The first phase was launched last March with all 210 allocated units sold in just one day and the second phase is now eagerly anticipated to be released in coming months.

Mr Tony Lombardo, CEO, Asia, Lendlease, commented: “The significant market demand Lendlease has received for PLQ signals a sustained market appetite in Singapore for quality integrated business and lifestyle precincts underpinned by excellent public realm, superb connectivity and designed with people foremost in mind. PLQ represents the best of inclusive urban spaces and workplace ecosystems for seamless and vibrant lifestyles, where people want to work, live, dine and shop.”

Singapore’s most centrally located commercial hub outside the city centre
Leveraging Lendlease’s expertise in urban regeneration, PLQ is a key catalyst to the plans to transform Paya Lebar into a bustling, pedestrian-friendly new city precinct and a dynamic business hub. It is 1 of 13 major urban regeneration projects across key international gateway cities undertaken by Lendlease, as part of its global development pipeline estimated at over S$50 billion as at 30 June 2017.

In alignment with the government’s drive to bring businesses and jobs closer to home, PLQ will deliver a complete ecosystem representing the best in placemaking by integrating Grade A workplaces with a diverse range of lifestyle, entertainment and recreational activities within an active, green and engaging environment.

Ms. Ng Hsueh Ling, Lendlease’s Managing Director for Singapore commented: “The workplace of the future is going to be more mobile, flexible and wellness-centric. To attract and retain the best talent, progressive companies will require sustainable modern workplaces which leverage technology to benefit its employees and enhance productivity.”

To address the growing demand for flexible spaces in Singapore, up to 15 percent of the available office space across PLQ’s three office towers is proposed to house co-working facilities designed to cater to both smaller space users like start-ups and established SMEs with larger headcount requirements.

Mr Richard Paine, PLQ Managing Director, Lendlease, commented: “This approach is designed to support the agility of businesses within a flexible co-working and business environment. Companies at PLQ will benefit not just from the superb transport connectivity here, but a complete ecosystem designed to support corporate, professional and lifestyle needs.”

To enable the projected 10,000-strong future workforce at PLQ’s three office towers to collaborate and connect beyond their office, employees will have access to approximately 100,000 square feet of public landscaped green spaces, which will be Wi-Fi-enabled. They will also enjoy convenient access to over 200 shops at PLQ mall with quality retail, entertainment and F&B options including a range of alfresco dining choices.

Additionally, PLQ will provide walking and cycling paths integrated into the wider Park Connector Network (PCN) and premier end-of-trip facilities including showers, towel service and secure lockers to enable employees to adopt healthier and more flexible commuting options.

Two From DP Architects Make List of 20 Promising Singaporean Architects

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Mr Seah Chee Huang and Mr Ng San Son from DP Architects have been selected by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to showcase their portfolio of works as part of the “URA 20 under 45” initiative. Both Mr Seah and Mr Ng joined DP Architects in 2003 and are actively involved in the design and planning of notable projects in Singapore. They have been recognised for the community-centric and socially conscious quality in their work.

Mr Seah, a director at DPA, has completed several inclusive community projects, among them Singapore Sports Hub; Our Tampines Hub; Project Bus Stop, an experiment that re-imagines bus stops as meaningful social nodes; and Goodlife! Makan, a seniors’ activity centre with a communal kitchen that engages stay-at-home elderly.

On this award, Mr Seah said, “I am deeply humbled and honoured to be recognised alongside my peers who are working on outstanding works in their respective practices. It is an exciting and challenging time for architects in this age of digital disruption, rapid urbanisation and increasing environmental changes – I hope that as part of the new energies of our fraternity, we will collectively drive Singapore architecture to new levels of design rigor and professionalism, to better lives of local and global communities.”

Mr Ng was the design architect of myVillage at Serangoon, Civil Service Club at Changi and River Safari. He is currently leading the revitalisation of recreational and community destination, Downtown East. He is also the principal designer for local healthcare project, Ang Mo Kio Nursing Home.

Mr Ng considers it “a privilege to be recognised as one of 20 leading architects in Singapore under the age of 45. I am grateful to all my mentors and collaborators, who have encouraged me to push myself in my work and given me the opportunities to make my small contribution to the community and the built environment. It is important to remain cognizant of our commitment to the profession and industry as we press on in our architectural journey.”

In the second edition of this initiative in 2010, DPA’s Ms Angelene Chan and Mr Tan Chee Kiang were among the 20 selected architects. Today, Ms Chan is the CEO of DP Architects and its group of companies, and Mr Tan, one of its directors.

Global Architectural Thought Leaders Convene at DP50 Design Future Conference in Singapore

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Image courtesy of DP Architects

The DP50 Design Future Conference, held on 10 October, 2017, marked the third high point in DP Architects’ (DPA) year-long, 50th anniversary celebrations. More than 1,400 attendees comprising students, industry experts and practitioners of the architectural community from around the world convened at the MES Theatre on MediaCorp Campus for the conference.

The conference was categorised into three primary themes – Future Cities, Future Architecture and Future Design – and was graced by two keynote speakers: renowned architect and Pritzer Prize winner, Mr Fumihiko Maki and  diplomat Professor Chan Heng Chee.

Taking to the podium first, Mr Maki spoke on the topic of “Future Architecture”. His presentation, aptly titled Humanism of Empathy not only gave insight into his design thoughts and philosophy. Through clear examples of signature projects from his portfolio of works, he challenged the architects of today to re-examine the relationship between architecture, time and space in order to create spaces that delight. Professor Chan seconded this. Speaking on “Future Cities”, she made a clear call for the creation of more “sacred places” within the city’s fabric in her presentation on Asia’s Future Cities: Sustainable, Liveable, Loveable.

The conference also saw special guest appearances and presentations by Mr Keith Brewis, a partner at Grimshaw Architects and Ms Chan Hui Min, a director at DPA. Both explored the theme of “Future Design” with Mr Brewis speaking on Our Relationship with Mobility and Ms Chan sharing insights on Tech and the City. Each provided unique perspectives on how emerging technology-enabled trends are influencing user-space relationships and changing the way architects design.

Image courtesy of DP Architects

The event culminated in a panel discussion on the future of the built environment facilitated by Professor Erwin Viray, Head of Pillar of Architecture and Sustainable Design at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

Mr Seah Chee Huang, Director at DP Architects, concluded the event with the announcement of the winners of DP’s inaugural Inspire Awards. An annual awards programme, it aims to drive design excellence and innovation within the practice.