Central themes often overlap time periods in Singapore’s history.
-The themes present in Singapore do not stack upon each other in a chain of events, but merge over each other in a nuanced timeline. Singapore is a relatively young country that is constantly reinventing itself along building styles from the 70’s until present. Through their iterations of building, they have found playfulness, technology, green space and vibrancy as key themes in their modern architecture.
-An example of this is the building Institution No. 11 a residential building that broke away from Le Corbusier’s International Style to a more post-modern style. Since then, the building has been demolished and rebuilt in a glass facade with more vibrant green space.
Institution No. 11 – Postmodern growth in Singapore
How is the technology available changing modern building styles?
-Singapore is rooting its national identity in technology, advancement and innovative architecture. This has led to increased energy efficiency in Singapore’s built environment and will reduce the dependency of Singapore on other nations for resources. The implementation of Master Plan’s from the Urban Redevelopment Authority is more emphatic about the local use in architecture to aid in transport, accessibility, work and play. This is a movement towards radically public architecture that is accessible and dynamic for the future of Singapore.
(Based on Dana Cuff, 2023, Radically Public Architecture)
-Perhaps the most successful version of this would be the implementation of public spaces and parks that Singapore has diligently added to each neighborhood in an effort to reduce temperatures in the city. These spaces are fully public and allow Singaporeans to connect with community and nature within the urban environment.
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
How is individual well-being integrated in Urban Architecture?
-Most happiness and well-being studies are on an individual basis, but that information needs to be integrated into a larger picture – in research reading there is evidence that money is not everything and instead well-being, engaged citizenship, health, and connection are more important. This can be created by the physical environment, or at least shaped and influenced in the day-to-day life of the urban area.
(Based on Thai Ker Liu, 2010, World Cities: Achieving Liveability and Vibrancy)
-At the Therapeutic Garden at Jurong Lake Garden there is an investment in the local people of Singapore through the ABC Waters Program that stands for Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters. This is meant to transform the country’s water supply and drainage towards important spaces for recreation and connection.
Therapeutic Garden at Jurong Lake Garden
What regional elements shape the building style of Singapore?
-Understanding Singapore through a regionally critical lens is quite important in regard to the built environment because it is a tiny island that must be built more vertically than horizontally. The regional climate is predominately hot and humid, thus bringing about the importance of green and shady places that offer refuge.
(Based on Kenneth Frampton, 1983, Toward a Critical Regionalism)
-Oasia Hotel in downtown Singapore is able to improve the cooling dimensions for its facade by draping greenery that insulates and protects the building from harsh sun. This process not only creates an aspect of biophilic design in downtown but works to aid in energy efficiency.
Oasia Hotel
How will adaptation of building practices serve the entirety of society, and not just the elite?
-Although much of the innovation will serve the tourist sector and elite, many of Singapore’s policies and innovation serve from a bottom-up method as well. There are many public parks scattered in equitable dispersion as well as social housing initiatives.
-The Giving Garden @ Kim Tian West is a first of its kind in Singapore, blocking off the entire top level of a carpark in the estate for its residents to grow and harvest healthy foods in a rooftop garden. The program is completely volunteer based, and the harvest bounty is distributed to its residents for free. This was particularly important for community and food insecurity during the Covid-19 epidemic.
The Giving Garden @ Kim Tian West
What are the primary problems Singapore will face with its rapid modernization?
-Often the rent of a small room or space can be extremely expensive with a high cost of living. This is felt by much of the Singaporean population, and while they live in a rapidly expanding and modernizing community the micro view of one’s apartment can show a large disparity in prosperity.
-This is best shown by the average working-class apartment in Singapore that is often in a large estate, and the average size of an apartment went below 900 sq. ft. for the first time. The communities are often vibrant and tightly woven but can become cramped and the residents become dependent on the government.
Singapore Public Housing
What role does the government play in Singapore’s growth to a vibrant metropolis?
-Almost 80% of Singaporeans live in government housing, which can lead to positives like subsidies, but can also allow the central government to play a large role in the policing and policy making of not only public life, but private life. There is a quote from a weekly reading that says, “The democratization of the right to the city and the construction of a broad social movement to enforce its will are imperative,” however this is unlikely due to the government’s relative monopoly on the living conditions of its citizens.
(Based on David Harvey, 2003, The Right to The City)
-This is quite apparent at the Yishun Housing Estates, a massive government housing complex that is adorned with vibrant, colorful paint colors on an otherwise International Style building. These colorful elements within government housing blocks is relevant throughout the city.
Yishun Housing Estates
What historical factors contribute to Singapore’s vibrant built environment?
Singapore has adopted the legal system that was implemented by its British colonizers, and also used English as its primary language in business and schooling. This has allowed it to be a player on the world stage, Yew argues that they retain their best, but also encourage other multicultural innovators to move there and raise their families. Yew says, “To survive, we had to create a Singapore different from our neighbors-clean, more efficient, more secure, with quality infrastructure, and good living conditions.
(Based on Lee Yuan Yew, 2007, Why Singapore is what it now is)
-Singapore singled itself out from the neighboring countries of Southeast Asia and began to create its own identity blending western and eastern culture. This is evident in the Merlion sculpture that adorns the modern sector of Singapore and represents Singapore’s modest beginning as a fishing village to the growth of a world power in business.
Merlion Fountain with financial sector behind
What role does vibrancy play in improving the day-to-day life of Singaporeans?
The extension of the Singapore Nanyang Primary School is meant to celebrate 50 years of a free Singapore and the fact that it has become a cultural, art and financial hub despite no natural resources besides its people. The building is to pass on the “knowledge economy” that Singapore thrives on, with ample access and teacher training.
(Based on Fiona Nixon Tan, 2016, Nanyang: The Extension to Nanyang Primary School, Singapore)
-The Nanyang school since rebuilding with its new vibrant campus has reported its best test scores in history. This is seen as a direct repercussion to the new facilities and investment in infrastructure and environment.
Nanyang Primary School
Updated Guidelines:
Central themes often overlap time periods in Singapore’s history.
How is the technology available changing modern building styles?
How is individual well-being integrated in Urban Architecture?
What regional elements shape the building style of Singapore?
How will adaptation of building practices serve the entirety of society, and not just the elite?
What are the primary problems Singapore will face with its rapid modernization?
What role does the government play in Singapore’s growth to a vibrant metropolis?
What historical factors contribute to Singapore’s vibrant built environment?
What role does vibrancy play in improving the day-to-day life of Singaporeans?
