Visionary Thinking

As one of the fringe events listed under the ongoing Archifest 2011, the department of architecture from the National University of Singapore held their open studio sessions on the 21st and 28th of October from 2-4pm on each of the Fridays. From the outset, it was a cosier version of an open house or orientation programme. The sessions are predominantly aimed at educating newly matriculated students looking to study architecture, potential students from various Junior Colleges, as well as interested individuals looking to find out more about how the wide discipline of architecture is being taught in a university setting. As a company looking to constantly reinvent itself, we felt it was natural to attend such an event in our goal of continually mining new perspectives on a daily basis. We attended the session on the 28th of October.

The Open Studio session began with a brief thirty minute introductory talk at a lecture theatre which was followed by a tour around the various locations of the Department of Architecture. Similar to school children on a class excursion, we were led to classrooms, computer laboratories, printing rooms, discussion rooms, studios, specialized workshops and bookshops just to name a few.

Here are some shots taken by a trusty bold BB, though not with the stillest of hands.

Introductory lecture by a senior student

Models in progress at the studios




A student giving a demonstration on freehand drawing

Another explaining the concept behind her work

We came across a group of students that were working on a project to generate ideas on how land from ‘The Green Corridor’ could be utilized following the dismantling of the KTM Railway
The student lecturer described some of the final year projects that were on display at the department’s exhibition hall. Some of the projects that go on display here will eventually be turned into real projects and built, definitely a significant achievement for any architectural student if his/her work is selected



Other snapshots of typical ‘working conditions’



The Department of Architecture at NUS has their own society called The Architecture Society which organized the Open Studio sessions. It was set up represent architecture students in NUS and to advocate architectural education that meets the needs of society in Singapore. It also aims to create a hotbed to promote dialogue with local and international architectural institutions. It is an effective platform where students, staff members and affiliated individuals from the corporate sector converge and exchange ideas and best practices.

Related links:

Archifest 2011 NUS Open Studio
NUS Department of Architecture
The Architecture Society of NUS

Sheer Industries walked along a stretch of roads from Bras Basah to Bugis last week to have a live view of Hub-to-Hub, a fringe event that was part of Archifest 2011 that showcased 7 temporary installations – works of collaboration between architects, designers and professionals from other disciplines. The exhibition was organized by ReallyArchitecture and was essentially a public urban art programme, organized as part of the Architecture and Urban Design Excellence programme under the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA). The public exhibition is a display of alternative ideas to the use of public space and to enhance the urban city’s less popular vicinities.

Right beside the National Museum at Stamford Green

These greet visitors at the National Museum’s main entrance

The ‘Stilt House’ at Dhoby Ghaut Green

Outside The Cathay

Other glimpses along the way

Patriotic Graffiti

More on the AUDE programme by URA can be found here.

More on the Hub to Hub exhibition can be found here.

As we said we would, Sheer visited the Exhibition of Broadway Maylan’s project which is the Idea House – Southeast Asia’s first carbon zero prototype residence. The international design practice also launched a book entitled Future Tropical Living Today, written by one of their directors, Prof Jason Pomeroy, an award winning architect and academic at the same time.

The book offers insight into the process from inception to reality of the Idea House and documents the processes involved in creating an architectural masterpiece that considers the environment. It depicts in photographic detail what it took to build such a sustainable product that “reduces consumption, generates energy and is respectful of local socio-cultural practices” at the same time.

Interestingly enough, there was thought put into the location of the book launch and exhibition. Though it is already over, it was held at the Marina Bay City Gallery, which makes up just a fraction of the Marina Bay area in the central area of Southern Singapore. Marina Bay is primed for various purposes including commercial, entertainment, business and residential developments. The area boasts eco-friendly architecture and green technology in the development of its upcoming projects. One such example is the already built Marina Barrage that showcases environmental sustainability and garnered the Green Mark Platinum Infrastructure Award in 2009, which is the top award given out by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

Here are some pictures that we snapped along the way.


Architectural models of the Idea House

Other things on display @ the Marina Bay City Gallery

More news about the Idea House can be found here.

More on Broadway Malyan can be found here.