SINGAPORE — Singapore’s premier architecture event is set for a revamp this year, converging the prestige of the Singapore Institute of Architects’ (SIA) marquee awards and conferences, the appeal of trade-related events and the mass-market draw of the popular Architours into one grand celebration of architecture.
This new Singapore Archifest 2024 also aims to provide architects with a dynamic platform to engage in discussions and address industry challenges such as SIA’s Value Articulation Framework (VAF) and the ongoing work by SIA to tackle talent retention and fair and equitable fees.
Singapore Archifest 2024 will even have a star-attraction as it welcomes home the internationally-celebrated Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 Singapore Pavilion, which earned rave reviews. Named When is Enough, Enough? The Performance of Measurement, the exhibition seeks to demonstrate how traditional architectural standards of quantity and measurement are insufficient for assessing the lived experience of our cities.
The 18th edition of Singapore Archifest 2024 will take place from May 15-17 at the Marina Bay Sands with the Architours and other fringe events set for May 18 and May 19.
A catalyst for advancing architectural excellence and sustainability
Singapore Archifest 2024 will reinforce Singapore’s position as a regional architecture and design hub, providing architects with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and share best practices. Singapore Archifest will also play a crucial role in supporting the VAF, ensuring that Singapore’s architecture profession remains vibrant, sustainable, and attractive to talent.
Said SIA President Ar. Melvin Tan, “The VAF was conceived to address the perennial issues professionals in the industry face, including low wages, a lack of work-life balance, and a high level of stress under project deadlines. Through the VAF, architects will have an appropriate tool to calculate the cost of services with an evolving climate, and enable architectural institutions to conduct open and frank dialogues with key agencies as codes and regulations develop.”
“Singapore Archifest 2024 aims to address some of these issues. For one, we hope to elevate the status of young architects by introducing a new award at SIA Architectural Design Awards Presentation and Annual Dinner – the Young Architect Award 2024,” he continued.
In conclusion, he shared, “The Young Architect Award 2024 recognizes and honors emerging talent in architecture which is vital in driving innovation and inspiring the next generation of architects. The award also serves as a platform to acknowledge the achievements, leadership, and contributions of individuals who have made a significant impact early in their careers.”
With the Singapore Government announcing that between $32 billion and $38 billion in construction contracts are expected to be awarded in 2024, Singapore Archifest 2024 will also delve into conversations to relook into the profession’s scope to meet the demands of Singapore’s built environment sector and ensure industry sustainability. Government agencies will introduce a series of architecture competitions as part of their participation.
Theme of Singapore Archifest 2024
The theme of this year’s Singapore Archifest is The Performance of Measurement: When is Enough, Enough? – a play on the title of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 Singapore Pavilion.
Said Ar. Adrian Lai, Singapore Archifest Festival Director and one of the curators of the Singapore Pavilion: “We are heartened that we can bring the Singapore Pavilion of Venice Biennale 2023 back to our shores. This year’s theme, The Performance of Measurement: When is Enough, Enough? epitomizes the crossroads we are at as an industry, and the inherent tension of decisions we have to face on a day to day basis.
“It also highlights the opportunities to elicit inclusion, connection, freedom, attachment, attraction, and agency in our built environment. As we saw at the Venice Biennale, these are compelling issues we face. We hope that, through Singapore Archifest, we can create the space for these ideological yet essential conversations, and chart a path for the current and future generations of architects to navigate,” he added.
One of the hopes of the When is Enough, Enough? The Performance of Measurement exhibition is to explore the notion of lovability. As architects design functional and livable spaces, how can buildings and spaces also factor in intangible traits like the attachment and connection people have with these spaces. Indeed, Singapore Archifest 2024 will have something for everyone under one grand roof.
Something new, something old, something bold
The Singapore debut of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 Singapore Pavilion will be the first time that a Singapore Pavilion will be part of the Archifest.
And in keeping with the theme of new, SIA will be tweaking the concept of the highly successful Architectural Specifier Market. It will now be called the Singapore AF Expo and transition into a trade exhibition format, bringing together architects with leading players of the built environment.
The SIA Architectural Design Awards, the epitome of recognition from the Singapore Institute of Architects, serves as a guiding light for excellence in architectural design. The SIA Architectural Design Awards Presentation and Annual Dinner will also be introducing a new award category – Young Architect Award 2024. These awards will alternate yearly with the SIA Gold Medal Award, which was presented at the last Singapore Archifest. These awards recognize excellence across generations, paying homage to the whole spectrum of architects, from seasoned professionals to emergent talents that ultimately shape Singapore’s architectural landscape.
Chair of SIA Young Architects League (YAL), Chio Wen Tian, shared: “I am thrilled to see the launch of the Young Architect Award 2024. This award is not just a recognition of individual achievements, but a celebration of the innovative spirit and potential that these young architects bring to the industry. It is a significant milestone for our industry, highlighting the importance of nurturing and supporting emerging talent.”
But it is not only the new events that will take centerstage.
The renowned Archifest Conference, SIA Practice Convention, SIA Young Architects Forum, and selected Professional Knowledge Series (PKS) will make welcome returns this year, bringing together speakers from China, Malaysia, Thailand and the UK presenting over three days.
Singapore Archifest 2024 features a lineup of distinguished speakers offering diverse insights into the field of architecture. Dato Dr. Ken Yeang, as a pioneer of ecological architecture, will present a framework for designing and building thriving architecture businesses that are multi-faceted – able to address the talent retention, capability nurturing and sustainable practice thrusts that successful practices enable. Richard Kuppusamy will discuss the impact of technology on architectural design, while Alex Toh will explore the legal implications of AI in architecture.
The event also includes sessions on designing for the common good, featuring speakers such as Beijing’s Dong Gong and Singapore’s most recent President’s Designer of the Year awardee Tan Kay Ngee, who will share their experiences in creating architecture that enriches communities and adds to the soul of the city through their work. These sessions promise to inspire architects to think beyond bricks and mortar, emphasizing the importance of designing to evoke the intangible qualities of lovability, community, beauty, awe and for common good.
Singapore Archifest 2024 will also host the Four-Nations Architect Meeting with representatives from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as observers from the United Kingdom and Australia. This will also be the first time that the Four-Nations partnership will be invited to participate in the “Overseas Residential Projects” category. The meeting will bring together architects from different nations, providing a platform for discussion on common challenges, sharing best practices, and exploring opportunities for regional cooperation. This will also shed light on sustainable fee structures that will address the talent drain that the industry is facing worldwide.
With a total of eight key events, spanning over five exhilarating days, Singapore Archifest 2024 is set to become the largest gathering of the architecture community in the country, where education, design, practice, networking, business opportunities, and international collaboration take centre stage.
For more information about Singapore Archifest 2024, visit https://singaporearchitect.sg/archifest-2024/.
