SINGAPORE – Could architecture possibly save our world? Amidst pressing global challenges such as climate change and public health issues that have arised alongside the worst pandemic this generation has faced, Singapore Archifest 2020 looks to examine how responsible design and new architectural ideas that benefit ecology and humanity have the power to impact, and ultimately save our world.
From 25 September to 31 October 2020, Singapore Archifest, the signature annual festival organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) to gather the built and architecture community, will return with its very first hybrid edition. With a line-up that threads across both online and offline formats, festival goers can look forward to a plethora of immersive programmes such as online forums, virtual exhibitions, hybrid workshops, decentralised island-wide pop-up activities, and an inaugural virtual Pavilion. Themed Architecture Saving OUR World, Singapore Archifest 2020 aims to be a timely exploration of the role of architecture in today’s global climate and a celebration of the individuals and groups who have dared to envisage new direction in architecture, take action to bring about change, and use design as a means to encourage others to join them.
Appointed as the Festival Director to helm and curate Singapore Archifest 2020 is Dr. Chong Keng Hua, who is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and also the Founding Partner of design consultancy COLOURS: Collectively Ours.
“There is so much that architecture and responsible design can do to make a positive change in our world, and we are excited for the festival to be the platform that opens up this discussion to more people. Especially with this year’s edition being a hybrid one that traverses the online space, it means that we are able to welcome on board international design mavens and also reach out to audiences beyond Singapore – making Singapore Archifest 2020 one that brings together the built community from all over the world,” shared Dr. Chong, Festival Director of Singapore Archifest 2020.
The festival’s first-ever virtual Pavilion
Beating out 20 other submissions to clinch the winning design in this year’s SIA-LES Archifest Pavilion Design Competition was a collaboration between ADDP Architects and OWIU Design’s Principals and Founders – Joel Wong and Amanda Gunawan. Titled Reclaiming Connectivity and inspired by Amanda’s photos on abstraction of natural landscape, the Pavilion’s design uses photography print on Light Emitting Surfaces (LES) glass to capture the subtle details of water as an attempt to distort its original way of being perceived. Similarly, the Pavilion’s concept of Reclaiming Connectivity is a relook at what is current, and aims to inspire reflections on humanity’s innate need for connection, juxtaposed against the current reality of social distancing in public spaces.
“The competition, being held amidst a pandemic situation, in all probability spurred the participating Architects to re-examine our design ecosystem; resulting in entries that were highly creative and thoughtful in their response to the material choice and this year’s Archifest theme,” said Christina Thean, SIA Design Thrust Co-Chair and Juror of the Pavilion competition.
As part of the festival’s hybrid edition, the highly-anticipated Pavilion will also be presented in an unprecedented format – virtually. Embracing their roles as “form-makers”, ADDP and OWIU Design will be showcasing their imagination by creating the ideal form and structure of the Pavilion online, in the absence of any economic or environmental restrictions. Festival goers can expect to explore a virtual Pavilion that allows them to examine the structure through an interactive 3D tour that offers up 360 degree views, right from the comfort of home.
An international discussion on architecture and its impact
The hallmark SIA Conference will kick off this year’s festival, following the journeys of notable industry icons and providing an open forum for conversations around issues that are pertinent to the urban environment in Singapore and around the world. Spread across three days from 28 to 30 September, this year’s Conference will spotlight three sub-themes: Radical Indigenism, Design Empowerment and Empathic Interventions, looking at the context, process and impact of design respectively.
Beginning the conversation is esteemed architect Anna Heringer, Founder of Studio Anna Heringer and recipient of the 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. Using architecture as a tool to improve lives, Heringer focuses on the use of natural building materials for sustainable development, and has been actively involved in development cooperation in Bangladesh since 1997. Conference participants may sign up for an exclusive Special Dialogue with Heringer in her own studio, where she will divulge the process of creating good and sustainable projects in one’s design office.
Heringer will speak alongside a total of 12 esteemed design and architecture experts from Singapore and across the world, such as Vo Trong Nghia of VTN Architects, Kelly Alvarez Doran from MASS Design Group, Xu Tiantian from DnA_Design and Architecture, Prasoon Kumar of BillionBricks, and William Ti from WTA Architecture and Design Studio. Each of them will present different aspects of how they have been utilising their architectural prowess for the betterment of lives through creative activism and ground-up initiatives.
Registration for SIA Conference begins from 13 August, 9am, at https://www.archifest.sg/
From now until 25 August 2020, Singapore Archifest 2020 is also inviting members of the public to get involved and submit a Doodle Art that reflects the festival theme, and showcases how architecture plays a part in their life in making a difference. Winning entries will be featured during Singapore Archifest 2020.
For more information on Singapore Archifest 2020, visit www.archifest.sg.
