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Mark on Operation Void Deck
Thank you, very fascinating to read, you should follow impressive of your blog. I was very reveling to control your contents from prison term to sentence. We are depending forward to your future situations.
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Sernhong on re:ACT at 7th mAAN Conference, New Delhi (23-25 Feb)
There were a total of about 80-100 people at the whole conference. Very interesting meeting eveyone.
France on re:ACT at 7th mAAN Conference, New Delhi (23-25 Feb)
Looks very interesting. How many people were there?
The Time Is Now!
Joshua Teo on Thu, June 18, 2009
“It’s I, It’s You, It’s We, who build Community”, a song that we all used to sing in kindergarten and perhaps a mindset that has slipped off our mind as we have marched into a modernized world. Really Ar? 3 held at the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Theatrette, brought together about 50 people to discuss how architects could play a bigger role in building community by actively engaging the public in the design and making of our built environment.
re:ACT invited 3 speakers with different backgrounds and diverse professional engagements to share their perspectives and details on some of the projects. The evening kicked off with Mr. Yong Teck Meng, National Director, Habitat for Humanity Singapore, sharing with the audience the “pass it on” spirit of having neighbourhoods in poor and disaster-stricken places being built up together by volunteers and the local community themselves. Ms. Ong Swee Hong, Lecturer, Temasek Polytechnic, and her students Damien and Noel, (participants at the recent CUBE workshop organised by URA and ran by re:ACT), shared their understanding of participatory design and how education is able to equip and empower the public to be more involved in the physical building and growing of their neighbourhoods. Mr. Khoo Peng Beng, Principal, Arc Studio revealed to the crowd his first-hand experience of permaculture during his field trips to the rural areas in Malaysia. Mr. Lee Siang, Director, DP Architects was the moderator for the evening and led the lively discussion after the three presentations.
To sum up re:ACT's third design sharing session, this first collaboration between re:ACT and SIA, has hopefully set the tone for future discussions and critical thinking regarding the role of architects in modern times. The open dialogue between the audience and presenters suggested that times are changing and that by creating more platforms to facilitate channels for the community's voices to be heard, we could truly look forward to designing spaces in a way that is interactive, participatory and impactful and meaningful to the larger community. That, together with the current openness and encouragement from the various government and private bodies, suggest that the time is NOW! All that is required, is the initiative and motivation of just a few active voices in the architecture field to rouse up an awareness and create small ripples of change. Would you be one to be counted for that? Like I said, the time is NOW.
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Discourse, News, Urbanism 0 comments
re:ACT at 7th mAAN Conference, New Delhi (23-25 Feb)
sernhong on Mon, May 4, 2009
re:ACT was invited earlier this year, February 2009, to participate in the 7th mAAN Conference held in New Delhi, India. Joshua and I made the trip to represent re:ACT. Joshua flew in from Singapore, while I flew in from Los Angeles. We were invited to make 2 presentations:
1) Design My Place(DMP) workshops as a participatory design process (a paper written by Kenghua and Swee Hong were submitted earlier and selected. As both cannot make the trip, Joshua made the trip as he is familiar with DMP and will be the main coordinator for future DMP workshops.)
2) worKonference 2010 proposal bid
The experience was memorable and enriching. It was inspirational and greatly refreshing interacting with different people, both professionals and academics from around the world, and finding out what’s happening with architecture and city planning in various parts of the world.
mAAN introduction
mAAN is short for the international organisation called modern Asian Architecture Network. mAAN is established as a loosely knit network of architectural researchers and specialists committed to study, preserve, and rehabilitate the modern architecture, townscape, and civil-engineering heritages in Asia. The preparatory meeting for the establishment of mAAN was held in Guangzhou on July 22, 2000. More details can be found at www.m-aan.org
The goals of the modern Asian Architecture Network (Research, Preservation, Revitalization) are as follows:
1. Loose association and exchange of information through committee meetings and newsletters.
2. Confirmation of architectural heritage and sharing of its history through symposia and the creation of a “General Survey of Modern Asian Architecture” and the co-editing of “History of Modern Asian Architecture.”
3. Proactive efforts for the future; informing and educating the public through the establishment of an educational program for the next generation, and mounting of exhibits of modern Asian architecture.
Given the international nature of mAAN, it is also no wonder the connections it has with several international organisation such as Unesco, Docomomo, UIA, etc.
(from left to right) Mr. Teng Kun Yen, principal of Shanghai Creatives; Ms Louise Cox, current president of UIA; Joshua Teo, vice-president of re:ACT; Yu Sern Hong, president of re:ACT; Elisa Alessandrini, member of Docomomo
7th mAAN Conference introduction
The 7th mAAN Conference was held in New Delhi, India, from 23rd to 25th February 2009. The mAAN-7 conference was located at the famous India International Centre and in close proximity to the early-20th century heart of New Delhi, one of the most endangered urban heritages of the modern world.
For this year’s theme – Legacies of Modernity - mAAN invites presentations about the myriad ways in which the modern city contributes to the formation of a modern identity. It shall inquire whether, by revitalizing the modern, the city is itself reinvented. And it will promote the idea that concerted action is needed – in the form of documentation, discourse and intervention – in order to conserve the vital socio-cultural and economic resource represented by the modern Asian city.
There were many speakers from different countries. BV Doshi gave a passionate opening keynote speech while Dr. Shin Muramatsu followed up with an inspiring presentation about the future goals of mAAN in the light of the current environmental woes as well as the global phenomenon of societies and their heritage values & identities.
Throughout the 3 days of conference, there were many opportunities to learn more about what other countries and cultures are doing in terms of dealing with their issues of city planning, architecture, policies and communities. The interaction created several friendship bonds as well.
On the first evening of the conference, an interesting panel discussion took place. The Chief Minister of New Delhi was invited to be part of the discussion. She was one tough lady! Though fully white-haired, she was hardly frail. She exudes a kind of powerful aura that demands attention and respect. The discussion centered about the difficulties of the local Indian architects and planners in manifesting their designs and ideas in different states and cities in India, especially with some of the government policies being in the way. The Chief Minister jumps in and brought us through an in-depth review of how the grassroot leaders think and plan while also stating that architects and planners, in many areas, do not understand the political, economic and social implications enough, and hence the misunderstanding that they are not given a free rein to manifest their designs. Very true and real, I think even in Singapore, we do need architects and planners that do not just “fight” for one side, but also to be involved in the political, economic systems in order to better assess situations and implement ideas. That way, it brings about a mutual benefit where the policy-makers are working hand-in-hand with architecture/planning-trained professionals or having them in their midst which will make a more holistic decision-making platform. This also brings back memories of similar discussions brought up during the “Architect in a Bottle” forum back in 2005.
Another presentation that caught my attention was that of Michael Jansen, CEO of Satellier Global Workshare Solutions (www.satellier.com). Interestingly, they offer services in digitizing cities and creating parametric city scenarios simulations for the urban authorities of each city, allowing them to better pre-empt scenarios and have risks analysis of how different development options will affect the city. They have now commissions in India and China. (Darn, my masters thesis, www.piratedcity.blogspot.com, has almost similar ideas to what they are doing…. And they are actually making money from city simulations for the city’s policy makers) Too late… sigh.
Unexpectedly, I was asked to do a live translation for a Shanghai-based Taiwanese architect, Mr. Teng Kun-yen, principal of Shanghai Creatives, during his presentation. It is a built work in Shanghai, which consists of designing modern restoration and interpretation of large plot of abandoned GE factories along the Huangpu River. The project includes retail, galleries and design studios as new programs. I made a trip to Shanghai last weekend to visit the place (along Huangshupu lu) 5 years after I was there involved in a design workshop which gathered students, professionals, researchers from all over the world to come up with design proposals and presenting to the local city mayor and planning authorities. The re-adapted buildings look really good and have a certain charm to them. Unfortunately, there isn’t a proper follow-up of marketing and estate management to maintain the place well. Hopefully, these can be improved in time to come.
Design My Place presentation (by Joshua Teo)
“Design My Place” is a 3-day workshop for students, aimed to induct the youth into the mysteries of architecture and urban design.
As an object lesson, the students study a particular neighbourhood area near their school. Based on what they discover, they come up with ideas and designs that help improve the living experience of the area. At the end of the three days, they present their ideas and design solutions to architects, urban planners, grassroot leaders and other stakeholders of the neighbourhood.
These suggestions of interventions then become an open-source resource and a shared ideas-bank from which the authorities might consider translating into actual projects. By being part of this workshop, the students are empowered and encouraged to be more proactive making positive changes for the community.
Several more schools have approached re:ACT to conduct more Design My Place workshops. A website will be setup soon to archive all past workshop proposals. It will serve as a hub of bubbling ideas from the students and community.
Videos of the workshops are available for viewing on Youtube (search “Design My Place” or subscribe to the ReallyArchitecture Channel).
worKonference 2010 proposal bid presentation (by Yu Sern Hong)
worKonference @SG2010
Asia Diversified l Modernity Modified l Possibilities Multiplied
worKonference@SG2010 seeks to explore different responses to the challenges inherent in the design, use of space and the construction, protection and preservation of identity in a global city such as Singapore.
It will feature an international competition, a public exhibition, an interactive workshop, conference and public forum attended by professionals, community leaders, and academics in the architecture/ urban-planning/ development field. There will also be an emphasis on creating real-world impact.
The mAAN8 worKonference @Sg2010 is jointly organized by mAAN and ReallyArchitecture (re:ACT).
The working committee will comprise of aspiring youths and distinguished, inspiring advisers from all over the world. As of now, we have youths from the following countries in the committee: Singapore, Japan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, China, UK, Italy and Malaysia.
worKonference framework diagram
The presentations turned out to be much better than we expected, receiving several positive, enthusiastic responses from the international audience. They include:
- Louise Cox, President of UIA, asking to be invited to Singapore, and expressing her excitement at the re:ACT’s presentations
- Swedish journalist wants a follow-up article to publish in Sweden regarding re:ACT’s presentations
- Institutions from Tokyo, Istanbul, Indonesia, India, Taiwan, China, France, UNESCO, expressing interest in re:ACT’s presentations.
For more details, please look out for news updates at the mAAN and re:ACT websites.
Affiliations / Multi-disciplinary efforts / NGOs, Announcements / Competitions / Events, Architecture in the rest of the world, Discourse 2 comments
Frank Gehry asks “Then what?”
Joshua Teo on Mon, April 14, 2008
Who would think that an interview with Frank Gehry could be so entertaining? I like what he says about the Architect having to bring something of this own to the table in terms of aesthetics. He also speaks about collaboration, and I thought what was interesting from that was the people the person that he chose to collaborate with. While we often talk about collaboration with the community, with people from different disciplines, what was intriguing about this collaboration was it was between 2 brilliant people. I hope that motivates us to be brilliant at what we do. I believe, only then, can collaboration reach its fullest potential. Ganbante!
Singapore 1:1 Exhibition at the URA
hann on Sun, March 30, 2008
Had a chance to attend the Singapore 1:1 Forum last week, held in conjunction with the Singapore 1:1 Island exhibition at the URA Gallery, the second in what I hope is a (longer) series of exhibits on architecture in Singapore. The first was Singapore 1:1 City two years ago. The exhibition documents key architectural highlights in Singapore, chronologised into ‘ages’, from the 1960s til today.
Moderated by Larry Ng, director of the Architecture and Urban Design Excellence (AUDE) programme at the URA, the forum was given its kick-off by Dr Wong Yunn Chii, the curator of the exhibition, who spoke on the processes behind curating the exhibition, and the mode of selection of its theme (and projects). In so doing, the audience was given a live commentary-cum-critique on many of the selected exhibited schemes, which felt like a Brief History of Modern Singapore Architecture 101 (in a most positive way, of course). It was enlightening, as it was my first time listening to a talk on curatorial thought processes, and on viewing the exhibition after the forum, it lended additional credence to the exhibition itself. The photography for some of these projects was pretty impressive as well.
Mr Arthur Aw of Jurong Town Corporation later gave his insight on his eight or so years of working at the Jurong Town Hall, itself a Brutalist-styled design from 1969 (by Architects Team 3) which still commands much awe, if audience response was anything to go by. A quote from Mr Aw: “If someone joined JTC, in the old building (Jurong Town Hall), I would have got to know him within three months. Now, if someone joins JTC, in the new building (Jurong Summit), it would take me a year to get to know him.”
This simple comment brings forth further, deeper questions of modern office-space typologies, and is a silent criticism on developers’ quests to go for taller, lower-footprint skyscrapers. The latter little more than fulfilling efficiency, and, in the case of Jurong Summit, are probably far less of an architectural marker in time, than buildings designed to make their presence felt - Jurong Town Hall would be a case in point.
Ms Rohani Baharin from CPG Airports then gave a detailed talk on everyone’s favourite airport - Changi, documenting the progress it’s made since the opening of Terminal 1 back in the 1970s. This was a very refreshing point of view - one uses or views an airport on a very microscopic level, compared to the people who are actually planning it, everything from its masterplanning to its infrastructure to the little architectural details that contribute to the airport being runaway best-in-the-world for several years running. (Nugget of interesting information: There are baggage carousels running underground from terminal to terminal, below the existing MRT line!)
The audience was treated to a video of the conceptualisation process behind T3 as well, with details of the now-famous skylighting flaps, and the green walls and large expanses of curtain-wall glass. Ms Baharin’s talk ended off with optimistic hope for T4, which has now been confirmed to be in the pipeline.
The Singapore 1:1 Exhibition has been extended til April 11th, and can be viewed during the URA’s opening hours.
Mr Tan Kok Hiang of Forum Architects gave an enlightening talk on the thoughts and design processes behind three of his projects - the Henderson Community Centre, the Assyafaah Mosque (model pictured above) and the new entrance for the Singapore Science Centre. Cultural significance and relevance lend themselves to Forum’s projects, and these show up in details, both highly microscopic - for instance, in the Arabesque screens of the Mosque - and macroscopic, in the primordial Fibonacci Sequence system that guides the new landscaped plaza leading to the Science Centre. It left the audience with the feeling that architecture indeed innovates, and is meant to innovate, while serving more fundamental demands of space, form-making and client/programmatic demands.
The forum concluded with a colourful Q&A session, in which the speakers furthered their respective talks with commentaries on the future of architecture and architectural innovation in Singapore, while keeping true to what we’ve held proud thus far - efficient and “pleasant” design. This is a timely shot in the arm as we are seeking a myriad set of answers to the perennial “So, what’s next?” question, in the context of local architecture.
All in all, it was a talk that neatly wrapped up the Singapore 1:1 Island exhibition, itself a neat set-up. I bought the concomitant book - even with slight reservations on its graphic design - as I know it will become a handy historical document on how far Singapore architecture has come, as it is itself a history-documenting book.
Announcements / Competitions / Events, Architecture in Singapore and Asia, Design, Discourse 0 comments
A game of Go
sernhong on Wed, March 26, 2008
What has a game of Go to do with Architecture, one might ask. For those familiar with the chess game of Go (Weiqi), one will relate to the principles of STRATEGY, PATIENCE, FAR-SIGHTEDNESS, ETHICS.
But, there is more. Let me share this rare moment of personal relevation. I was re-watching one of the ending episodes of Hikaru No Go anime (about the Weiqi chess game) when one particular part of the anime touched me so much, it actually made me tear.
A quick introduction before I elaborate. This anime is about this boy who learnt the weiqi game and became very passionate. However he experienced a setback(his mentor left the world) and decided to quit the professional world of Go. But a sudden turn of events made him realise his undying love for the game and the support from his “friends/comrades” in the world of Go. He decided to return to the Go matches after a prolonged break. Upon his return, one of the master instructors who has been following the boy’s development made a brief but deep comment to another instructor: (here’s the exchange of words between the 2 instructors, A & B)
A >> Friend, do you know that Go is a two player game? B >> Of course I know that A >> No, you don’t A >> You can’t play Go by yourself .... B >> I said I know that A >> No, you don’t. You need two people .... A masterful game cannot happen with just one genius. Right, friend? You need two people with equal genius. Two….... When you have two, you can finally take a step towards the divine move.
I would like to paraphrase this:
Friend, do you know that Architecture is a multi-player game? You can’t play Architecture by yourself ... You need many people. A masterful stroke, a meaningful design, an impactful outreach to humanity through architecture .... cannot happen with just one genius.
Right friend? You need many people, many with passion, intellect, will and drive. Many people playing the game .... when you have all these people, you can finally take a step towards the divine move.
I am not sure how clear I am able to express this. Maybe it is already something several of you have felt. Maybe it’s just a naive thought of my own. Nevertheless, it has struck a chord within me and ... .... very few things in the world can actually make me tear…
see you
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