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Straits Times
13 hours ago
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- Straits Times
Places Of The Heart: Architect Rene Tan revels in the ups and downs of Ann Siang Hill
Architect Rene Tan is the director and co-founder of award-winning firm RT+Q Architects. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Places Of The Heart: Architect Rene Tan revels in the ups and downs of Ann Siang Hill Who: Architect Rene Tan, 61, is the director of home-grown multi-award-winning architectural firm RT+Q Architects, which he co-founded with fellow architect T.K. Quek in 2003. The firm picked up the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Architectural Heritage Award in 2011 for its restoration of a 1913 bungalow. In 2016, it bagged other design accolades such as the President's Design Award in Singapore and the Chicago Athenaeum award. The practice's two-decade body of work was documented in Rethinking The Tropical House (2023) by Thames & Hudson, a London-based publisher of coffee-table tomes. Mr Tan is also festival director of Singapore Archifest 2025, organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects, from June 25 to July 25. He will be championing the theme, Don't (Just) Think Like An Architect! The 'accidental architect', who initially wanted to be a pianist, decided to study music and architecture at Yale College in the US. He later obtained a master's in architecture at Princeton University. He is married to Ms Chuah Woei Woei, who works in banking, and they have a 21-year-old daughter, Lara, who is studying music and government at Harvard University. 'My 'place of the heart' in Singapore is a story of ironies, running through busy Club Street to the quieter, undulating terrain around Ann Siang Hill. There is this delightful sense of finding the right things in the wrong places. For instance, just when you expect a stretch of shophouses, you stumble upon a hidden pocket of greenery. When you think the road will go higher, it unexpectedly dips. It is in this cacophony of contradictions that I find endless inspiration. The enclave also reaffirms my personal design approach that, sometimes, the best way to envision architecture is to stop thinking like an architect. Because only by letting go of rigid expectations can we open ourselves to new, creative possibilities. As both an architect and teacher, I have always believed that architecture begins with intuition. It is shaped by the mind, but must ultimately resonate in the heart. Club Street embodies this journey perfectly. It is a space that transcends logic and reason, echoing what the late American architect Robert Venturi called ' complexity and contradiction in architecture'. There is a vibrant, almost 'messy vitality' here that reminds me of Rome's eternal spirit. Although my RT+Q Architects Chinatown office is right in the heart of the 'hood at 32 Mosque Street, I still find myself drawn to the area, which offers a rare form of urban escape. Wandering aimlessly through the back alleys of Club Street is more than just a break. It is a cathartic ritual that helps me shake off the pressures of the architecture profession, such as deadlines, client meetings and press briefings. I am usually in Club Street for lunch or a work meeting, and one of the hot spots is Italian restaurant L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele at No. 8 , which is a short stroll from our office. It is a branch of a renowned brand founded more than 150 years ago in Naples, and where I often gather with colleagues for lively lunches. Outside of work, my wife and I love coming here after hours to unwind with friends over plates of authentic southern Italian cuisine. There is something invigorating about the noisy banter and raw energy of the place. It feeds both the appetite and the soul, making every visit a little celebration in the heart of the city. Mr Rene Tan describes himself as an "accidental architect" because he initially wanted to be a pianist. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH I love stumbling upon the unexpected in Club Street, such as a grand mansion where you would expect rows of shophouses. Or a linear pocket park tucked away from the bustle that wordlessly beckons. While on the surface, Club Street seems decidedly built-up, its hill-town vibe and sprawling, undulating streets create a natural setting tucked within the city. It is one of the few places in Singapore where you can experience this kind of hilly, layered urban landscape. Over at Ann Siang Hill, the urban pastiche offers a different visual respite from the city's relentless pace. I love how its picturesque streets and secret back lanes showcase the best of Singapore – a harmonious blend of old and new, high and low, history and modernity. The juxtaposition of shophouses and skyscrapers, the interplay of heat and shelter, all come together in a vibrant confluence that is both energising and liberating. Ann Siang is not just a park filled with greenery, but also a place where I can immerse myself, reflect and recharge. It is where I go to 'escape' architecture, although the enclave is a rich showcase of it. This exemplifies the little ironies that are woven into the pedestrian experience of the area. Club Street and Ann Siang Hill are a constant draw because every visit reveals a new facet. Its ever-changing character seems to mirror the spirit of the city itself. ' Designer and lifestyle journalist Chantal Sajan writes on design and architecture. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Don't (Just) Think Like An Architect: Pritzker Prize laureates, immersive events for Archifest
On display at Singapore Archifest 2025 were some 140 models of redesigned sports facilities, created by NUS architecture students in collaboration with SportSG. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Don't (Just) Think Like An Architect: Pritzker Prize laureates, immersive events for Archifest SINGAPORE – Architecture is more than just the built environment. It also responds to the buzz of busker music in a town square, wafts of sizzling satay on an evening breeze, and anything else that conjures up an immersive urban experience for residents and visitors. This is how Mr Rene Tan, festival director of Singapore Archifest 2025, frames the latest iteration of the city-state's largest annual architecture festival. Launched in 2007 by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), the festival fetes the city's vibrant built environment and aims to spark public interest in design. It brings together architects, designers, students and the community through a mix of talks, exhibitions, tours and hands-on activities. But the 2025 edition's programming is different. To mark the Republic's 60th year of independence (SG60), Mr Tan and SIA president Tiah Nan Chyuan are challenging perceptions with the theme, Don't (Just) Think Like An Architect , for the month-long festival that ends on July 25. It is also supported by national design agency DesignSingapore Council (DSG), and features events in collaboration with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Mr Tan, the festival's 61-year-old creative powerhouse, is excited to deconstruct architecture , which can be esoteric, for the larger public. The 'accidental architect', who wanted to study music decades ago but is now equally at home with a set of building blueprints as he is with a piano score, is emphatic that architecture is less about buildings and more about the communities that built environments serve. Mr Tan, who co-founded RT+Q Architects with fellow architect T.K. Quek in 2003, holds a bachelor's in music and architecture from Yale University in the US, as well as a master's in architecture from Princeton. He has also been an educator at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore Institute of Technology and Design (SUTD). The Singapore Archifest 2025 curatorial team includes (front row, from left) Koh Kai Li, festival director Rene Tan, T.K. Quek, Natalie Mok, Koh Sock Mui, (back row, from left) Allan Tongol, Tiw Pek Hong, Ng Yi Loong, Jonathan Quek and George Zong. PHOTO: RT+Q Since 2021, Mr Tan and his team from RT+Q Architects have been involved in a massive project in the field of design education – championing continuing education through global initiatives such as LC150+, the firm's travelling exhibition of the largest known private collection of Le Corbusier models. Swiss-French architect and city planner Le Corbusier, who died in 1965, was one of the earliest advocates of the 'International Style' of architecture, eschewing frills in favour of clean lines and functional spaces. The showcase of 350 architectural models was first exhibited in Singapore and has now been seen in 35 cities, including London, Washington, DC, Prague and Beijing. The 2025 Singapore Archifest conference features talks by sought-after speakers from around the world, such as Pritzker Architecture Prize laureates Riken Yamamoto and Eduardo Souto de Moura, during the first two days of the festival. It is one of the largest gatherings of visionary architects, thought leaders, educators and built environment professionals in Singapore in recent years, notching 99 high-profile industry names. A festival highlight to mark SG60 is a series of 12 Roundtable sessions that bring together more than 60 Singapore architects and designers of all ages, including pioneers such as Mr Tan Cheng Siong, Mr Liu Thai Ker and Mr Tay Kheng Soon. Every architect presents an ' unbuilt work ', usually an experimental, speculative or yet-to-be financed project, at each Roundtable session. This will be moderated by an established name in the design industry to spark dialogue and maintain fun and lively interactions. Visitors looking at a rare collection of unbuilt works by Singaporean architects on display at Singapore Archifest 2025 on June 26. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Thought leaders in a range of disciplines – such as architects Jim Olson, Arne Emerson and Dietmar Eberle, designer Samuel Ross, innovator Dean Chew and award-winning chef-restaurateur Rishi Naleendra – explore how architecture can break out of fixed mindsets to allow everyone a seat at the table. Besides the initial conference and Roundtable which ended on June 27, there is also a range of festival events and fringe activities. Mr Rene Tan says it has been a challenge for his curatorial team at RT+Q Architects to put this year's show together, as the speakers have unremitting professional and travel schedules. 'Over the years, Archifest has aimed at finding a balance in its programming between catering for architecture professionals and for the public,' he says. He leads a team of curators which includes RT+Q Architects' directors Koh Sock Mui, 45, and Jonathan Quek, 45; and associate Koh Kai Li, 41. 'We constantly look for ways to introduce architecture as a shared phenomenon among professionals and the communities at large. After all, architecture is ultimately for the people to enjoy.' SIA president Mr Tiah says the 2025 edition of Archifest is especially important because of SG60. 'Through the festival, we are able to acknowledge the diversity of talent and the different roles architects play in our nation-building journey,' he says. ' Together with URA, we are also bringing Archifest to Katong-Joo Chiat, a URA Key Identity Corridor. Using our city as a canvas, we hope to raise awareness and cultivate a vibrant design culture and consciousness across the wider society.' One of the top speakers at the festival is Japanese architect Yamamoto , who was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2024. He is the ninth Japanese architect to receive the accolade. The 80-year-old's body of work includes architecture that provided both a background and foreground to everyday life, blurring the boundaries between public and private dimensions, increasing opportunities for people to meet spontaneously through carefully thought-out design strategies. Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2024. Credit: Tom Welsh, The Hyatt Foundation PHOTO: TOM WELSH, THE HYATT FOUNDATION Mr Yamamoto notes that in Singapore, people live in communities with a strong sense of local identity, and believes it is important to create a system in which residents can make decisions for themselves. 'I refer to this concept as a 'Local Area Republic',' he tells The Straits Times at the Singapore Archifest Conference at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. 'This idea, I believe, will become a highly effective framework for shaping the future of the nation in Singapore.' He says as both a nation-state and city-state, Singapore's vision of the future should be determined by the people who live in it. 'I believe there is still some way to go to implement this, but there is great potential for success because of close cooperation between the public and private sectors in Singapore,' he adds. 'To build a city is not merely for developers but for the citizens of Singapore. It is essential for all stakeholders – government agencies, developers and the public – to engage in close communication with one another.' Other big-name draws at the opening day conference are Ms Grace La and Mr James Dallman, the US-based award-winning principals behind La Dallman, a global architecture and design practice known for transforming infrastructure and overlooked urban spaces into vibrant public places. Their portfolio spans bridges, civic buildings and innovative adaptive reuse projects in the US, such as the acclaimed Marsupial Bridge and Media Garden in Milwaukee. Ms Grace La and Mr James Dallman founded La Dallman as a collaborative practice and have a wide array of project types, including civic and residential buildings, public spaces, dwellings, installations and furniture. PHOTO: LA DALLMAN Ms La says the duo value all forms of design research – formal, infrastructural, social, historical, tactile, and especially physical and material research – as a prelude to the firm's investigations. This forms the 'raw material' for their designs. 'In the act of documenting and experiencing existing conditions, we gain insight in the found landscape,' she says. The husband-and-wife team are also educators known for an interdisciplinary approach that blends architecture, engineering and landscape design. 'In this sense, we see architecture as growing from the site, as a sculptural, structural and social undertaking, wherein additive and subtractive operations are equally valid.' She adds: 'We achieve balance between these intuitions through collaboration with our clients and consultants – by ensuring very specific, not general, analyses and responses.' The theme of not thinking like an architect resonates with Mr Ambrish Arora, one of the speakers at the festival's two-day opening conference. Questioning conventional wisdom comes naturally to the founding principal of Studio Lotus, an urban design practice he set up in New Delhi in 2002. Mr Ambrish Arora is founding principal of Studio Lotus, a multi-disciplinary design practice founded in New Delhi in 2002. PHOTO: ANKEETA CHAMPATIRAY In engineering college in India, he found the theoretical aspects of formal education limiting. He dropped out of his first year, opting for an exploratory journey that involved working with his hands , from repairing motorcycles to assembling computers . 'I worked for four years at the boat-building workshop that my father, a naval architect, had started after his retirement,' says Mr Arora, 55, who was exposed to 'first-principles thinking' at an early age. First-principles thinking approaches problem-solving and design by breaking down complex issues into their most basic principles, instead of relying on conventional solutions. ' At the workshop, I learnt carpentry, welding, metal-casting, fibreglass moulding and making full-scale drawings on the floor. This experience taught me that everything could be solved through prototyping and collaboration ,' he adds. It helped lay the foundation for his early years of architectural practice, which has been through the lens of 'making' – building in situ, with a frugal mindset and with locally available resources. One of Studio Lotus' earliest commissions was RAAS Jodhpur in 2011 . Set in the centre of the walled city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan , RAAS is a 6,000 sq m property at the base of the Mehrangarh Fort, one of India's best-preserved mediaeval fortresses. The brief was for a luxury boutique hotel with 39 rooms. 'We worked with local Rajasthani stone, traditional building techniques and a deep respect for what was already there , based on first-principles thinking ,' Mr Arora recalls. The resulting design emerged not from any theoretical framework, but from numerous site visits, sketch studies and a hands-on, collaborative approach. Mr Arora adds: 'Not having a formal education in how it's supposed to be done helped me stay curious, forever learning and being committed to excellence, yet being open to failure and ongoing course correction. That is something we hope stays a constant in how we work at Studio Lotus. ' Festival highlights Assembly: Blueprints Of Imagination, July 2 to 13 Inspired by the daily school ritual, Assembly celebrates the act of coming together: intellectually, creatively and critically. It is a first-of-its-kind showcase that unites the works of spatial design schools here – such as the National University of Singapore College of Design and Engineering and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) – under one roof at the National Design Centre in Middle Road. The exhibition also spotlights works by Singaporean students studying abroad , adding a global edge to the next wave of design thinking . Each installation in the showcase offers a fresh take, challenging conventions through inventive storytelling, material exploration and critical inquiry. Co-curated by RT+Q Architects, the SIA Young Architects League and acclaimed designer Kelley Cheng, Assembly is designed to spark connections among students, educators, industry professionals and the public. The show builds on SIA's 'Young Architects Meet 2025' platform, a gathering of architectural institutions to promote cross-sharing about design between schools. ArchiPavilions & Installations, from July 12 The Jetty is a lively and dynamic installation by SUTD students with RSP Architects Planners & Engineers. PHOTO: RSP Another highlight is an exhibition that seeks to transform the Katong-Joo Chiat precinct into an al fresco gallery of interactive and inclusive design. ArchiPavilions & Installations showcases semi-permanent structures and creative interventions that are strategically placed throughout the neighbourhood, inviting the public to engage with architecture in light-hearted yet thought-provoking ways. URA collaborates with design schools, local architects and community groups to co-create these installations. For example, Kueh Kueh At Katong features giant, food-inspired pavilions by students from SUTD and SAA Architects. A rendering of Kueh Kueh at Katong designed by former SUTD students in collaboration with SAA Architects. PHOTO: SAA ARCHITECTS Another installation, called The Jetty, is a nostalgic recreation of Marine Parade's fishing heritage, brought to life by SUTD students and designers from RSP Architects Planners & Engineers. Unlike traditional exhibitions, these installations are designed to be touched, explored and experienced. The features are inspired by the rich heritage and multicultural fabric of Katong-Joo Chiat, highlighting the precinct's unique blend of Peranakan shophouses, modern structures and public spaces , serving as a catalyst for conversations on identity, memory and the evolution of Singapore's built environment . ArchiHouse, July 12 to 27 Standing as one of the central platforms at Archifest 2025, ArchiHouse will host a series of talks and conversations featuring both established and emerging voices in architecture, urbanism and design. It is crafted to encourage cross-disciplinary exchange and public engagement , echoing the bold festival theme, Don't (Just) Think Like An Architect . One of the main draws, the Long Island Exhibition, presents visionary studies and proposals by students from NUS' Master of Arts in Urban Design (MAUD) and an NUS design 'studio' called the Landscape Architect Studio. A 'studio' is a creative space where educators and students critique concepts and collaborate hands-on to improve design ideas. The Long Island Exhibition offers a glimpse into the next generation's thinking on coastal resilience, land reclamation and the imaginative re-envisioning of Singapore's future waterfronts. Coastal prototypes by the Center for Climate Adaptation, developed with architects and SUTD students, offer solutions for coastal resilience. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Another highlight is the URA's Identity Corridor Exhibition. The festival's curatorial team worked closely with URA to explore Singapore's urban identity, tracing the evolution of its neighbourhoods, streetscapes and public spaces. T hrough a mix of archival materials, design studies and community narratives, t he show invites visitors to reflect on what makes Singapore's built environment distinctive, and how its identity continues to evolve in response to new social and environmental demands . Fringe events ArchiBake, June 28 A design-themed bake-off challenges architecture firms to turn Singapore's landmarks into cakes. PHOTO: RSP This is a bake-off with a playful design twist . RSP Architects Planners & Engineers in collaboration with SIA and partners have put together a fun fringe event , titled Don't Bake Like An Architect, Bake Like A Baker! At the event, also dubbed 'ArchiBake', architecture firms are challenged to turn Singapore's iconic landmarks into show-stopping cakes, whether it is a building they have designed or one they admire. The final line-up of creations will come together to form a delicious visual map of the Singapore skyline. ArchiTours, July 5 to 13 The 2025 ArchiTours will take visitors through landmarks such as Woodlands Health Campus. PHOTO: SAA ARCHITECTS A perennial highlight of the festival, ArchiTours are led by guides from The Architecture Society at NUS , and offer the public an immersive journey through Singapore's landscape of celebrated landmarks as well as hidden gems. The ticketed walking tours, priced at $65 for adults and $55 for students, feature two projects a day, with a choice of morning or afternoon sessions. There are 16 completed projects in the line-up, such as Punggol Digital District, Woodlands Health Campus and Lentor Health Nursing Home West Coast. Lentor Nursing Home is part of the line-up of sites to be visited during the ArchiTours, a festival highlight which offers the public an immersive journey through Singapore's landscape. PHOTO: CPG The tours invite both professionals and the public to ask questions and look at architecture not as something distant or exclusive, but as a living, evolving part of Singapore's story. A mainstay of the tours is spotlighting neighbourhoods where old and new architecture coexist, such as the 2025 edition's focus on Katong-Joo Chiat , allowing participants to explore the rich narratives and evolving identities of these districts . Beyond The Facade: Secrets Of Katong, June 29, July 6, 13, 19, 20, 26 and Aug 2 and 3 The vibrant Katong neighbourhood is the focus of a curated trail that promises to peel back the layers of the area's history. PHOTO: NG WEE LIANG Singapore's vibrant Katong neighbourhood is set to reveal its long-held secrets through a curated trail titled Behind The Facade: Secrets Of Katong. This exploration will peel back layers of history, showcasing both iconic and overlooked landmarks that tell the story of the distinctive neighbourhood. Participants will journey from a grand colonial-era seaside villa to Singapore's pioneering air-conditioned mall Katong Shopping Centre , discovering quirky niche shops and the nostalgic remnants of a forgotten cinema belt along the way . The trail also highlights the pastel Peranakan terrace houses and uncovers the untold tales of a long-vanished maternal clinic. A stop on the tour is the 'Ghostbuster shop' at Katong Shopping Centre, which features a display of 'cursed artefacts' and videos of paranormal adventures. PHOTO: HIDDEN HERITAGE COLLECTIVE Curated by Hidden Heritage in collaboration with Ng Wee Liang, Behind The Facade is an opportunity to delve into Katong's past and uncover its lesser-known narratives , many of which are hidden in plain sight amid the bustling streets . Tickets are priced at $28. YAL Human Narratives, July 12 This standout event reimagines how people talk about the shaping of Singapore's spaces. Organised by SIA Young Architects League (YAL), this 'human library' experience invites participants to go beyond the architect's perspective and engage directly with a diverse cast of placemakers such as social workers, artists and passionate advocates who each play a vital role in the city's built environment. Instead of borrowing books, members of the public will be encouraged to look up people, with each guest – or 'human book' – sharing personal journeys and the unique ways they influence, activate or nurture urban spaces. Through intimate, small-group conversations, participants can ask questions, hear first-hand stories of challenges and triumphs, and gain a deeper understanding of how social, cultural and community-driven forces shape Singapore's neighbourhoods and public spaces. Resourcity, July 13 and 15 How can urban communities work together to ensure that Singapore thrives amid resource scarcity and unexpected crises? This is the question at the crux of the board game Resourcity, a gamified experience designed to immerse players in the challenges of building and sustaining a resilient city. The game is designed for players aged 10 years and up, making it suitable for families, students and professionals. Hosted at SUTD , it invites the public to step into the shoes of urban planners, community leaders and citizens to craft solutions to urgent real-world problems affecting cities all over the world. Players collaborate to design and manage a city by rotating and replacing tiles, connecting roads, establishing farms and planting crops, all while carefully balancing resource consumption and replenishment. The goal: Survive four major crises without depleting any essential resource type. If the resource pool runs dry, the city and its players lose. To register for the above fringe events at Singapore Archifest 2025, go to Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
