SINGAPORE ARCHIFEST 07
27 Nov to 8 Dec 2007
Various Locations
Singapore

SINGAPORE ARCHIFEST 07

“ASPIRATION TO REALISATION”

An exciting festival of Exhibitions, Forum and ArchiTours lined-up at the inaugural Singapore ArchiFest

Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) announces the launch of Singapore ArchiFest 07, to be held in Singapore from 27 November to 8 December 2007.

The theme “Aspiration to Realisation” provides a focus for the inaugural Singapore ArchiFest. The festival events will centre on the unique challenges faced by Singapore as a small city with high density living and scarce land resources.

Representatives from different parts of the world will be invited to share their journeys in realising their aspirations, through presentation of ideas and philosophies, in the context of the growing city and its living environment.

Professionals from all the design and construction fields are invited to interact and encouraged to engage in a fun, friendly and free atmosphere, which will allow for discussion of the most critical challenges facing architecture, society and the city.

Throughout the two-week festival, a myriad of exciting events including Exhibitions, Forum and ArchiTours will be unveiled at various locations. Celebrate the diverse talents in local architecture and uncover the dreams behind the façade, with activities and happenings for all to participate in.

Visitors can also look forward to the many public events at Singapore ArchiFest 07. The exhibitions at the City Hall will feature winning designs from Design Ideas Competition for Marina South Residential District and the National Art Gallery, while the guided ArchiTours will involve exploration of some of the most iconic buildings in Singapore.

Singapore Archifest 07 is an initiative supported and co-funded under the Architecture and Urban Design Excellence

(A•UDE) Promotion Programme by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

HIGHLIGHTS / SINGAPORE ARCHIFEST 07

EXHIBITIONS / 27 Nov - 8 Dec 07 / 10am – 9pm / City Hall / Free
The collection of exhibitions will be held at the City Hall, featuring award-winning works from various architectural competitions as well as internationally acclaimed urban designs.

+ Design Ideas Competition for the Marina South Residential District
Jointly organised by SIA and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the Design Ideas Competition invited architects, planners and students to submit fresh, innovative ideas for a unique waterfront-garden residential district in Marina South located at Singapore's Marina Bay. The ideas will serve as an inspiration and catalyst for the planning and urban design strategies to be adopted for the development of the district. Submissions will be exhibited at ArchiFest.

+ ‘S3: Steel. Space. Structure’ Ideas Competition
Jointly presented by SIA and BlueScope Lysaght, S3 is a platform for designers with imaginative ideas to create steel building designs that not only demonstrate strong levels of innovation and functionality, but also inspire those who will see and use the space. Participants are to design and detail a steel pavilion located beside the visitor centre at Orchard Road, accommodating a café, retail space and an exhibition space. The winning design stands a chance to be built and realised on site in 2008 and outstanding submissions will be exhibited at ArchiFest.www.archifest.sg

+ National Art Gallery Competition
The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) has launched an architectural design competition to seek world-class design ideas to transform two important heritage buildings - the City Hall and former Supreme Court - into Singapore's National Art Gallery. The winning entries have been selected by an international jury panel and will be exhibited at ArchiFest.

+ Special Exhibition
Specially curated for the Singapore ArchiFest, the exhibition will feature exceptional works from established architects from different parts of the world.

FORUM / 30 Nov & 1 Dec 07 / NTUC Auditorium
The two-day Singapore ArchiFest forum brings together a stellar lineup of speakers who will be addressing the challenges of urban architectural design. “Aspiration to Realisation” sets the theme for the forum, where 12 speakers from different parts of the world will be invited to share their journeys in realising their aspirations through presentation of ideas and philosophies, in the context of the growing city and its living environment. The interactive and thought provoking sessions will inspire all, offering excellent opportunities to exchange experiences and gain valuable new perspectives.

Keynote Speakers
+ Manabu Chiba / Chiba Manabu Architects / Japan
+ Kerry Hill / Kerry Hill Architects / Singapore

Forum Speakers
+ Ma Yansong / MAD / China
+ Hitoshi Abe / Atelier Hitoshi Abe / Japan
+ Takaharu Tezuka + Yui Tezuka / Japan
+ Kevin Mark Low / Small Projects / Malaysia
+ Angelene Chan / DP Architects / Singapore
+ Chan Soo Khian / SCDA Architects / Singapore
+ Sonny Chan / Chan Sau Yan Associates / Singapore
+ Seah Chee Kien / RSP Architects Planners & Engineers / Singapore
+ Chris Luebkeman / ARUP / United Kingdom
+ Max Fordham / Max Fordham Consulting Engineers / United Kingdom

Forum Ticketing Information
Public S$260
SIA Members S$210
Student S$50
Prices exclude taxes, administrative fees and any other charges.
Ticket entitles delegate to the Forum on 30 Nov and 1 Dec, Awards Party on 30 Nov and one session of ArchiTour. To purchase tickets, please visit www.archifest.sg

ARCHITOURS / 30 Nov - 9 Dec 07 / Various locations
A fun and engaging way to explore some of Singapore’s most distinctive neighbourhoods and districts, the guided ArchiTours will be held daily throughout the festival. The guided ArchiTours aim to educate and inspire locals and tourists alike on the unique architecture in Singapore and how the changing urban landscapes affect the way we live,work and think.

The ArchiTours will highlight the development and expression of local architecture through the times, charting the influences of changing political, economical, social and cultural conditions, and drawing attention to the architectural milestones and predominant language used. Comparison will also be made between the traditional and contemporary architectural interpretations.

Some of the landmarks lined-up for the ArchiTours include Tiong Bahru SIT Flats, Pearlbank Apartments, Golden Mile Shopping Complex and Gallery Hotel. Participants will also get to experience night life through the architectural eyes, visiting unique watering holes such as Dempsey Road, Loof, Muse and St James Power House at the specially curated night tours.

ArchiTours Ticketing Information
Day Tour (4 hours) Public S$40 | Student S$25
Night Tour (7 hours with drinks) Public S$60 | Student S$40
Prices exclude taxes, administrative fees and any other charges.
To purchase tickets, please visit www.archifest.sg

AWARDS PARTY / 30 Nov 07 / City Hall
There’s no better way to celebrate the best in architectural design than with a great bash! An occasion to recognize and honor the winners of the SIA Industry Awards and the perfect get-together for professionals, students and festival goers, the Awards Party will be held on 30 November at the City Hall. Entry with forum tickets and by invitation only.

FRINGE EVENTS / City Hall / Free
Running concurrently with the events during the two-week festival, a range of fringe activities will be held at City Hall.

+ ROJAK by FARM / 1 Dec 07. 9pm
ROJAK is a series of sharing parties to celebrate and share local independent works in art, architecture, words, music, fashion, food, film and anything creative really. Organized by FARM, a non-profit society initiated by a group of creatives to help creatives in Singapore flaunt, share, understand and possibly collaborate with one another.

In conjunction with Singapore ArchiFest and Design Festival, FARM presents ROJAK 10: The Collaborative Edition. 5 groups of artists/designers are invited to present their works and processes that stems from collaboration at the session. For more information, please visit www.farm.sg.

+ “Asian Alterity” Book Launch by World Scientific Publisher / 5 Dec 07. 5.30pm
“Asian Alterity” a new architecture book by William SW Lim is an interdisciplinary theoretical analysis that vigorously contests the homogeneity of the mainstream Eurocentric values. The book argues for the need for an alternate perspective to be introduced so as to understand the diversity of Asia’s cultural differences and to meet the complex challenges of the explosive urban expansion and disruptive changes in traditional cultures and lifestyles.

Photographs Courtesy of SINGAPORE ARCHIFEST 07. All Rights reserved.