2015 is shaping up to be an exhilarating year for Singapore’s
burgeoning architectural scene, as the city-state’s 50th anniversary of nationhood converges
with the completion of many cool projects, and many exciting architectural events. The entire world seems to be
excited about the spectacular events high-profile building openings SG50 has to
offer, with Lonely Planet naming Singapore as the #1 travel destination of
2015. Whether you are a tourist or a true-blue Singaporean, any architect (or
architecturally interested person) is spoilt for choice this year with a
plethora of architectural events. Check out this list highlighting key architectural events for the year:
burgeoning architectural scene, as the city-state’s 50th anniversary of nationhood converges
with the completion of many cool projects, and many exciting architectural events. The entire world seems to be
excited about the spectacular events high-profile building openings SG50 has to
offer, with Lonely Planet naming Singapore as the #1 travel destination of
2015. Whether you are a tourist or a true-blue Singaporean, any architect (or
architecturally interested person) is spoilt for choice this year with a
plethora of architectural events. Check out this list highlighting key architectural events for the year:
JANUARY
CAPITAGREEN TOWER
Rendering by Toyo Ito / CapitalLand
After nearly 3 years of construction, the former site of the Market
Street Car Park has been transformed by starchitect Toyo Ito into CapitaGreen,
a 242m high tower in the heart of the CBD. The layered façade of the
skyscraper is almost 50% planted, and the porous base
of the tower is graced by a forest of curvaceous columns -an art installation
by spatial mastermind Olafur Eliasson. Perhaps most spectacularly, the building is crowned with a
massive urban-scale artwork by the architect, Toyo Ito, himself- acting to draw
fresh filtered air into the building through a rooftop ‘Skyforest’.
Street Car Park has been transformed by starchitect Toyo Ito into CapitaGreen,
a 242m high tower in the heart of the CBD. The layered façade of the
skyscraper is almost 50% planted, and the porous base
of the tower is graced by a forest of curvaceous columns -an art installation
by spatial mastermind Olafur Eliasson. Perhaps most spectacularly, the building is crowned with a
massive urban-scale artwork by the architect, Toyo Ito, himself- acting to draw
fresh filtered air into the building through a rooftop ‘Skyforest’.
ALONG THE GOLDEN MILE
Along the Golden Mile: Exhibition Catalog by Darren Soh / Fierce Design
Fans of Singapore’s modernist legacy in the Golden Mile / Beach Road district will want to check out architectural photographer Darren Soh’s exhibition Along the Golden Mile, featuring large scale floor-to-ceiling photographic prints of “details, façade designs and even explicit/implicit signs of human inhabitation and intervention in the built landscape”. The exhibition is on from 20/01/15 to 18/02/15 at Objectifs Gallery in Kampong Glam.
APRIL
LEE KONG CHIAN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Rendering by W Architects
At long last, Mok Wei Wei (W Architects)’s highly anticipated Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, a new purpose-built structure on the NUS campus which mimics a naturally carved rock formation, will be open to the public. The internal
atrium of the gallery is sure to be a show-stopper, complete with 3 massive dinasaur skeletons, Singapore’s first.
atrium of the gallery is sure to be a show-stopper, complete with 3 massive dinasaur skeletons, Singapore’s first.
INTERPOL GLOBAL COMPLEX FOR INNOVATION
Rendering by CPG Corporation
Interpol’s new digital crime headquarters, the Global Complex for Innovation
will begin operations in a purpose-built building on Napier Road, in Singapore’s
embassy district. Make sure to stop by and check out the swooping curves of the
purple pixelated building, Interpol’s first major building other than it’s headquarters in Lyon, France.
will begin operations in a purpose-built building on Napier Road, in Singapore’s
embassy district. Make sure to stop by and check out the swooping curves of the
purple pixelated building, Interpol’s first major building other than it’s headquarters in Lyon, France.
MAY
INDIAN HERITAGE CENTRE
Rendering by Greg Strand Architects in collaboration with urban design and general consultants Urbnarc
The product of a architectural competition held in 2011 which
produced a large number of high-quality entries, Singapore’s new Indian Heritage Centre will
finally open it’s doors. The building on Campbell Lane, with it’s colourful crystalline
façade which shimmers during the day and gleams at night, will be a literal gem
on the bustling streets of Little India.
produced a large number of high-quality entries, Singapore’s new Indian Heritage Centre will
finally open it’s doors. The building on Campbell Lane, with it’s colourful crystalline
façade which shimmers during the day and gleams at night, will be a literal gem
on the bustling streets of Little India.
THE CAPITOL DEVELOPMENT
Rendering by Richard Meier
This mixed-use development including residential, retail & hotel components, also integrates a pair of conservation buildings along Stamford Road, and the iconic Capitol Theatre. While the architectural merit of Richard Meier’s plan for the project is questionable (the design competition included stunning entries by Herzog & de Meuron, Moshe Safdie, WOHA, and Thomas Heatherwick- among others)- the project will provide the Historic District with a new urban plaza, and the historic buildings are very well preserved.
SkyTerrcae@Dawson by SCDA Architects
Singapore’s new generation public housing developments in Queenstown, SkyVille@Dawson and SkyTerrace@Dawson open their doors to residents this month. A key testbed for new, sustainable concepts for public housing in Singapore as part of HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland initiative, the two innovative designs hold over 1,700 new flats ranging from studio apartments to multigenerational dwellings.
JUNE
SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES
Photo by DP Architects
The biennial Southeast Asian Games will be held in Singapore for the
first time since 1993, one of the first major sporting events held at the
recently completed Sports Hub by DP Architects- a superlative sports
mega-complex crowned by the largest dome built in human history (with a diameter
of 310m).
first time since 1993, one of the first major sporting events held at the
recently completed Sports Hub by DP Architects- a superlative sports
mega-complex crowned by the largest dome built in human history (with a diameter
of 310m).
AUGUST
NATIONAL DAY PARADE
Photo by Choo Yut Shing
This year’s edition of the Singapore National Day Parade will be
held at the Padang, the historic location of the declaration of Singapore’s
independence. If you can get tickets, this should be a show-stopping event with
the backdrop of the new National Gallery and the stunning Singapore skyline.
Even if you can’t see the show in person, the month of August will be exciting
as usual with fighter jets in formation doing rounds around the island and if
you’re lucky, you might even spot the giant Singapore flag in tow behind a fleet of helicopters.
held at the Padang, the historic location of the declaration of Singapore’s
independence. If you can get tickets, this should be a show-stopping event with
the backdrop of the new National Gallery and the stunning Singapore skyline.
Even if you can’t see the show in person, the month of August will be exciting
as usual with fighter jets in formation doing rounds around the island and if
you’re lucky, you might even spot the giant Singapore flag in tow behind a fleet of helicopters.
SEPTEMBER
THE SINGAPORE NATIONAL MUSEUM REVAMP
Photo by Jonathan Choe
After a year-long multi-million dollar revamp, the main History
Gallery at the Singapore National Museum (A stunningly-preserved colonial
structure with an impeccable contemporary addition by W Architects) will
re-open to the public.
Gallery at the Singapore National Museum (A stunningly-preserved colonial
structure with an impeccable contemporary addition by W Architects) will
re-open to the public.
NOVEMBER
NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE
Rendering by Studio Milou
Perhaps the most anticipated event of the architectural calendar for
2015, the new National Gallery Singapore will open in November, a contemporary
structure by Studio Milou built in and among two of Singapore’s colonial
icons, the Old Supreme Court & City Hall buildings (which have undergone
extensive restoration and preservation works as part of the development). Access to
the new museum from City Hall MRT will be along a sheltered walkway featuring artwork curated
by FARM.
2015, the new National Gallery Singapore will open in November, a contemporary
structure by Studio Milou built in and among two of Singapore’s colonial
icons, the Old Supreme Court & City Hall buildings (which have undergone
extensive restoration and preservation works as part of the development). Access to
the new museum from City Hall MRT will be along a sheltered walkway featuring artwork curated
by FARM.
THE JUBILEE WALK & NEW BRIDGE
Rendering by Cox Architecture
The Historic District will be further enhanced with “The Jubilee
Walk”, an 8km long heritage walk celebrating and providing information about
Singapore’s 50 years of history, along with four new public art installations.
The highlight will be a sleek new low-level pedestrian bridge in front of the
Esplanade Bridge, stretching from Merlion Park to the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay, completing the pedestrian waterfront promenade loop around Marina Bay.
Walk”, an 8km long heritage walk celebrating and providing information about
Singapore’s 50 years of history, along with four new public art installations.
The highlight will be a sleek new low-level pedestrian bridge in front of the
Esplanade Bridge, stretching from Merlion Park to the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay, completing the pedestrian waterfront promenade loop around Marina Bay.
WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL 2015
Photo by WAF
On 4-6 November, the prestigious World Architecture Festival will be
returning to Singapore for the 4th consecutive instalment, bringing with it famous architects
from around the world for the three-day event. As usual, the event will have a packed line-up of talks & presentations where you can see the best of this year’s architecture from around the world.
returning to Singapore for the 4th consecutive instalment, bringing with it famous architects
from around the world for the three-day event. As usual, the event will have a packed line-up of talks & presentations where you can see the best of this year’s architecture from around the world.
DECEMBER
THE FUTURE OF US
THE FUTURE OF US
Photo by Jonathan Choe
Celebrate 50 years of Singapore with a glimpse of it’s future at The Future of Us, an interesting pseudo-architectural exhibition which features a utopian vision of Singapore’s future.
The exhibition is housed within a series of domes alongside the Gardens by the Bay which were parametrically designed by a team of students and faculty from the Singapore University of Technology & Design with thousands of unique digitally fabricated components meant to evoke the quality of light found in a tropical rainforest.
NEW YEARS EVE FIREWORKS AT MARINA BAY
Photo from wallpaperhere.com
Celebrate the end of SG50 with the annual fireworks display at
Marina Bay, one of the most stunning NYE celebrations in the world with an
incredible fireworks, laser light, and digital facade show surrounded on all
sides by the spectacular Singapore skyline.
Marina Bay, one of the most stunning NYE celebrations in the world with an
incredible fireworks, laser light, and digital facade show surrounded on all
sides by the spectacular Singapore skyline.
Still can’t get enough of Singapore architecture during SG50? Why not take Singapore’s 50th birthday as a chance explore some of the amazing architecture that has been built in Singapore over the past 50 years? It’s easy with this list & map of cool buildings in Singapore that I’ve updated for the 50th anniversary of our ‘little red dot’.
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Are you excited for the year ahead? Do let me know in the comments if I missed out any events!
