Design In Print 1.1

new!

DP GREEN

the 1st Integrated Resort in Singapore

Awards: WOMEN IN ASIA, BCA & BCI

CREATING A LEGACY The Singapore Sports Hub

our latest specialty branch at Mt Sophia

... and more

MICA (P) 150/10/2010

Resorts World Sentosa

www.dpa.com.sg

VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1 DECEMBER 2010 SINGAPORE

Volume 1-1, December 2010, Singapore

CONTENTS

Company News

DP BluePrint 2010 DP Green @ Mount Sophia Tai Lee Siang leaves the company

Letter from our Chairman Dear Readers, It is my pleasure to welcome you to Design in Print, the revamped newsletter for the DP group of design companies.

The aim of Design in Print is to share with all of DP’s staff, clients, consultants and friends our recently launched projects, industry events, firm updates, and profiles of our unique and diverse staff. At the same time, we hope that the articles and projects encourage an open dialogue and discussion about design and our impact as designers and planners of the built environment.

For this issue, our focus turns to three of our recent projects that are set to have a major impact on Singapore’s architectural landscape: the first Integrated Resort in Singapore - Resorts World Sentosa, the recently announced Singapore Sports Hub, and the newest jewel along the necklace of Marina Bay, the Fullerton Bay Hotel.

In the coming issues, Design in Print will feature different themes and building typologies of our projects both in Singapore and internationally.

We hope you enjoy our new format. Stay tuned for more interesting and exciting projects to come.

Chan Sui Him, Chairman, DP Architects Pte Ltd

New & Notable Projects

01 02 03 04 05 06 07

Wanderlust Twin Peaks ITE College West 76 Shenton The Orchard Road Experience Planet Godrej Central Park

Featured Projects

Resorts World Sentosa: The First Integrated Resort in Singapore Creating a Legacy: The Singapore Sports Hub

Design Solutions

The Fullerton Bay Hotel : Designing the Intersection

Awards & Events

Editorial

20 under 45: The Next Generation Women In Asia Awards 2010 MIPIM Cannes 2010 BCA & BCI Awards

DP Personalities

Interview with David McLeod & Nartano Lim Office Events: Red & White Day Graphics

Chan Hui Min Edwin Yong Kyle Fulton Nartano Lim Toh Bee Ping

Loh Yew Cheng Fu Tingting

Celebration of Past Projects

People’s Park Complex, 1967-1973 DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

| The latest happenings in DP

DP BLUEPRINT 2010 Transform to Sustain

At the Blueprint company event held on 6 September 2010 at the NTUC Auditorium, CEO Francis Lee addressed the need of every individual to transform himself to sustain the firm effectively. Various focus groups expounded on this Transform to Sustain theme - the Associate Directors spoke on leadership and mentorship, the Senior Associates discussed how to avoid abortive work and increase productivity, and the Associates stressed the importance of service quality. Another group shared their survey findings on DP as a ‘Firm of Choice’.

Urban Design and Interior Design and in the future, perhaps consultancy on Environmental Sciences and Ecological studies. Full Arborist consultancy services are also offered. DP Green aims to take a fresh aesthetical and artisanal approach in creating works that fuse these design disciplines harmoniously.

hotel

Addressing the current needs for environmental conservation and sustainability, DP Green Pte Ltd opened its doors on 5 July 2010.

Located at Mt. Sophia, the 4200 sq ft premise houses a team of 35, comprised of architects, landscape architects, and other specialists and professionals.

With a holistic approach to design in the built and natural environment, DPG supports works in Landscape Architecture, Architecture,

| Short takes on new & notable projects

01 Wanderlust

Chua Soo Hoon

Singapore

DP@GREEN Mount Sophia

TAI LEE SIANG

leaves DP Architects Tai Lee Siang has resigned from his position as a junior director at DP Architects. Citing a greater calling, Lee Siang informed the Board of Directors of his desire to start a social entrepreneurship firm. The directors accepted his resignation and he left the firm on 1 June 2010.

A collaboration by DP Architects and three design agencies transformed the four-storey conservation shophouse into a quirky boutique hotel with a distinct design theme on each floor. DP Architects, together with Ayslum, Phunkstudio and fFurious had creative control of a floor each, with DP Architects coordinating and executing the design concepts for all parties. Each of the 29 whimsical guestrooms is uniquely styled, with sizes that vary from small ‘capsule-like’ rooms on the second floor, to mid-sized ones on the third, and larger loft-like spaces on the top floor. DP Architects is the designer of the black-and-white themed third storey, with origami and pop-up book-inspired interiors. The reception area and French restaurant, Cocotte, occupy the ground floor.

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Short takes on new & notable projects

02 residential

The 36-storey twin towers are located within the enclave of Leonie Hill. The design features a contemporary aluminum and glass façade that is simple yet aweinspiring.The clean and sleek lines of the façades are punctuated by two beautifully-landscaped sky terraces. Residential units start at fifteen metres above ground, with private lifts opening into the balcony of each unit. The balconies extend beyond the building envelope, maximising the viewing angle and providing a breathtaking view of the Orchard Road shopping belt.

03 ITE College West

institutional

Singapore

retail

The ITE College West campus echoes the institution’s development plan, “Waves of Transformation”, with a north-south axis that harmonizes with the natural topography. The interplay of architecture and nature is a main design concern. Covered open spaces are the trademark of this green campus, unifying the indoor and outdoor areas. A prime example is the Events Plaza with its expansive tensile-roof. The college has a functioning “business town” rather than conventional classrooms, with facilities like a convention centre, hotel rooms, restaurants and shops. The state-of-theart college also boasts a sky atrium, a 700-seat auditorium, and a sports village with a swimming pool, gymnasium and running track.

Wisma Atria

Paragon

Grand Park Orchard

Mandarin Gallery

The Heeren

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Planet Godrej India

The address implies luxurious urban living in the heart of the business and finance district. The landscaped deck on the fifth storey, complete with swimming pool, takes on an organic design and dynamic line that echoes the faรงade of the building.

Careful placement of the residential units to optimize the view gives the tower its aerodynamic shape. Gentle concave and convex curves correspond to the best vistas to the east and the south. Fin-like elements are constructed to create two curvilinear volumetric expressions on the faรงade. Generous horizontal fins reduce the heat gain, while the contrasting vertical fins not only accentuate the height of the tower, but also transform into horizontal screens to provide an aesthetic cover for the multi-storey carpark.

residential

Indonesia

Singapore

Central Park

04 76 Shenton

mixed-used

residential

The 50-storey Planet Godrej is located in the heart of Mumbai. Its curved body is comprised of five adjacent towers unified by an abstract modernist front screen on the main western faรงade. The design of the apartments paid particular attention to the view on all sides. The stunning West-facing vista frames the intricate urban fabric of the turn-of-the century city streets, the railway lines, Victoria Gardens and the harbour beyond. The project includes facilities such as a clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis court, jogging track and areas for quiet meditation an oasis in the midst of a bustling city.

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The Central Park, located in western Jakarta, comprises five major building components - a five-storey retail podium with basement, an iconic 40-storey office tower, a hotel and three apartment towers, all overlooking an activity-themed park.

The major design strategy is the combination of various and disparate functions in a single location that integrates a park with the built environment: a one-stop development where people can work, live and play. A C-shaped plan is adopted, creating a large half-circle park that brings the outdoors into the interior spaces.

The interior circulation spine of the retail spaces is linked by three climaticallythemed atriums along the mall.

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The Orchard Road Experience Singapore

At the invitation of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, DP Architects created a new master plan for Orchard Road in the late 1990s and has been transforming the street into a vibrant world-class location with sophisticated urban and landscape design since. Most recently, DP Architects was responsible for the conception, redesigning and face-lifting of several malls in the area, including The Heeren, Mandarin Gallery, Grand Park Orchard, Orchard Central and TripleOne Somerset.

TripleOne Somerset

Orchard Central

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Featured projects

Resorts World at Sentosa is designed in collaboration with Michael Graves and Associates and Kevin Barbee Creative Advisors.

Officially opened on 14 February 2010, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) represents a new building typology of an Integrated Resort (IR) that features hyper-mixed use on a mega scale previously unseen in Singapore. Split into three zones on 49 hectares - Universal Studios Singapore to the East, the Central Zone with the concentration of hotels and the casino, and the aquatic-themed West Zone (still under construction) - RWS is a massive undertaking. Despite the complexity of the requirements and the challenges of the site constraints, RWS has been designed so that the guest experience is as simple and intuitive as possible. The design also paid special attention to integrate itself into the lush Sentosa setting without overwhelming its environment in scale or architectural expression.

In 2006, DP Architects, in collaboration with Michael Graves & Associates, won the fiercely contested design competition for the prime Sentosa site.

Both companies worked together to master-plan a totally immersive environment that would combine activities to cater to the entire family. The scale would be vast with the aforementioned Central Zone encapsulating four distinct designer hotels, MICE space, a theatre for live performances, over 40 food and beverage outlets, a myriad of retail spaces, along with outdoor plazas and linkways on a site that is roughly 16.5 hectares. Besides catering to the front-of-house functions, the design also had to be extremely efficient for operational use so that, wherever possible, shared functional spaces such as kitchens, staff areas and back-of-house areas are concealed and appear seamless to the guest.

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Featured projects

Designers: DP Architects Pte Ltd in Collaboration with Michael Graves & Associates (Central and West Zone) and Kevin Barbee Creative Advisors (Universal Studios Singapore).

Architect: Angelene Chan (DP Architects Pte Ltd).

Land Area: 49 Hectares.

GFA: 343,000m2.

Amenities: 6 Hotels, Universal Studios Singapore Theme Park, Aquarium, Water Theme Park, 70+ Food & Beverage Outlets, 40+ Retail Outlets, MICE, Theatre, 2 level of Basement Carpark (3500+ lots).

Date of Completion: December 2009 (Phase I), 2012 (Phase II).

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2

4

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Angelene Chan and some of the 150+ members of the DPA/DPC Resorts World team.

Singapore’s 1st

Integrated Resorts At the onset of the project, the architectural brief was especially challenging as RWS was to combine many disparate programs and user groups into a single family-friendly and thematically integrated environment.

The two main strategies to address this seemingly contradictory goal was to, firstly, orient the buildings along a clear organizational axis as defined by the line of the existing Merlion statue and, secondly, to carefully plan and orchestrate the pedestrian and vehicular circulation in both plan and section. With sensitive and thoughtful planning, visitors are able to experience multiple narratives through varied and interesting spaces. Despite the project’s massive scale, circulation was specifically designed to guide

visitors and encourage exploration. The section of the project features a layering of spaces horizontally that are then linked through key vertical circulation points like the Hall of Vaults.

The other major concern for the designers was to capitalize on the prime geographic location of Sentosa Island which boasts an impressive array of flora and fauna. Rather than shielding the guests from the climate of Singapore by keeping them in airconditioned spaces, extensive outdoor linkways and shaded areas were designed to allow visitors to interact with the environment while remaining comfortable. The FestiveWalk, the Forum retail spaces in the Central Zone, and the New York and Hollywood

A - Hotel Michael B - Crockfords Tower C - Festive Hotel D - Hard Rock Hotel E - Merlion F - The Bull Ring G - Festive Grand H - Compass Ballroom I - Casino

3 main horizontal circulation spines operate on the same level as the three major entry points to the resort - the Forum at the basement carpark entry, the Galleria on the hotel entry level and FestiveWalk on the pedestrian ground floor. The three spines are linked through key vertical circulation points.

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lands within Universal Studios Singapore are covered by a special polymer called ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) that simultaneously allows a high amount of light transmission while acting as an insulator against heat.

Human scale was extremely important and was considered in all aspects of the project – from removing vehicular traffic from the ground plane by burying the enormous car park, to the tactility of materials and the quality of filtered light. What visitors may not know is that RWS was awarded one of Singapore’s first ever District Green Mark Gold Plus awards in recognition of how environmentallyconscious the project has been.

1. ETFE canopies surrounding The Bull Ring plaza 2. Crockfords Tower amid the variation of ETFE canopy pattern 3. Universal Studio 4. Hard Rock Hotel 5. FestiveWalk 6. Main hotel drop-off at Level 2.

7. Hall of Vaults 8. Hotel Michael 9. The Lake of Dream water features

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Despite the complex project requirements and the compressed time frame, the opening of the first IR in Singapore was a success. This is largely due to the earnest consideration of the guest experience that guided the designers to create a mega project that is simultaneously vast in scope yet familiar and family-friendly, as well as a strong spirit of cooperation during the coordination and construction.

With the water-themed West Zone still under construction, RWS has a few more surprises in store for Singapore.

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Featured projects

Creating a Legacy: The Singapore Sports Hub DP Architects (DPA) is proud to be appointed the master planner and design architect of the Singapore Sports Hub, the world’s largest sports-related Public Private Partnership project. The Sports Hub will be a fully integrated sports, entertainment and lifestyle hub designed to stage international sporting and cityscale entertainment events.

The new 55,000-seat National Stadium, with a retractable roof, moveable tiers and a unique bowl cooling system, is oriented in axis to the waterfront and the city’s skyline, establishing a resonance between the Sports Hub and the city. The stadium’s dome shape creates a powerful, yet harmonious dialogue with the distinctive pantadome diamond-shaped roof of the existing Singapore Indoor Stadium, creating an iconic skyline along Kallang Basin and the urbanscape. The metal roofing of the new stadium is proposed to relate closely with the metallic finishes and standing seam details of the indoor stadium’s existing roof, further enhancing this close dialogue.

Other key venues include a 6000-seat indoor Aquatic Centre, an adaptable multi-purpose indoor arena that can stage nine different events simultaneously, and a watersports centre. There will also be a wide spectrum of ancillary and recreational programmes for public use.

The Sports Hub aims to be a major site with a variety of exciting and meaningful public domains. This is exemplified in the design of main public realms such as the Sports Promenade. Conceived as an attractive, weather-protected tropical space, it not only acts as a connector to key sporting arenas, but also offers spectacular Waterfront views and integrates a myriad of recreational programs. The West Plaza, a major thoroughfare that connects to the Waterfront Promenade, and Stadium

Plaza, a multi-purpose civic square, add more site choices for events and festivals.

Besides advanced engineering and technological applications, considerable care is taken to create humanized conditions throughout the environment, such as the integration of a comprehensive system of covered canopies and linkways. Furthermore, the recycling of material from the old stadium and incorporation of environmental features benchmark the Sports Hub as a green and sustainable development.

“The master plan and design of the Sports Hub embodies monumental aspirations as well as vital humanistic and ecological mindset,” explains Projector Director Teoh Hai Pin. “It is not just about designing new sporting venues, but an integrated urban and lifestyle development that provides rich and meaningful experiences to inspire users and visitors for generations and generations. We are delighted to be part of the author of creating this legacy for Singapore and the region.”

Targeted to be completed by April 2014, the Sports Hub will be an integral part of Singapore’s vibrant city fabric, invigorating life with the highest standard of sports facilities and leisure activities.

Client: Singapore Sports Hub Consortium - Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd Co-lead design & Sports Consultant: Arup Sport, Arup UK Pte Ltd Co-Masterplanner: AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd - Design + Planning Landscape Architect: AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd - Design + Planning C&S: Arup Engineering, Arup Singapore Pte Ltd M&E: Squire Mech Pte Ltd

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Design solutions

Today, you no longer see the port which once dominated the area; the ships and heavy industry have been replaced by the skyscrapers of the CBD, yet the physical and cultural heritage of the port is still evident as a trace on the urban landscape.

The newly completed Fullerton Bay Hotel proudly displays this heritage, having assimilated the historic Customs House and Clifford Pier into its architectural fabric.

Clifford Pier acts as the hotel’s entrance lobby, welcoming guests much as it has done since its construction in 1933. This is the hotel’s most tangible link to history

The designers: Heng Chin Hong and Tay Yanling.

and, as such, it acts as an intersection in time where past and present meet. Starting from this intersection, to a modern linkway incorporated with a hotel lounge, and finally reaching a climactic termination in the voluminous atrium of the main hotel building, the design team carefully choreographed the

The Fullerton Bay Hotel Designing the Intersection

Project Team: Lee Shee Koeng Tay Yanling Heng Chin Hong Tan Swat Tin Marisa Pua Carlo Calleja Sartika

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE FULLERTON BAY HOTEL

It is hard to imagine that at the turn of the 20th century Marina Bay was a bustling commercial port - one which came to define the city which grew up around it. As an important trade post between South East Asia and the West, Singapore’s economy during the 19th century boomed and drew people to its shores from all over the world. The piers of Marina Bay thus became the locus for much of the port’s activity; it was the site of arrival and embarkation and an acute intersection of culture, commerce and commodities.

Clifford Pier

Fullerton Bay Hotel Custom House

entire narrative journey through the Aquarium Walk guests from the hotel, transporting past to the present.

The Fullerton Bay Hotel, having assimilated the historic Customs House and Clifford Pier into its architectural fabric,

Like many buildings of its time, Clifford Pier’s arches were originally open and unglazed, allowing the free flow of air and heat to simply rise up into the vaulted ceiling. However, since the early 19th century our concept of comfort has altered considerably. The acceptable range of temperatures is much lower than it once was, thus, naturally ventilating the space was not an option, and air-conditioning had to be employed. This meant inserting glass into the arched bays which line all four sides of the building. This was no simple task as not only did

this modern insertion have to allow for the idiosyncrasies inherent in older construction, it must also appear to rest lightly on its historic counterpart.

proudly displays the port’s physical and cultural heritage.

To achieve this, the design team had to carefully construct the intersection between the old and the new, being sensitive to the original architecture while employing modern technology that fulfills its function effectively and efficiently. Such thought processes are evident in the window’s details; firstly the framing system employed to secure the glass was modulated such that it would fit between the existing columns and arch fenestration, allowing minimal intrusion to the historic external facade. Furthermore, the supports necessary to protect such large spans

of glass from lateral deflection were constructed as glass fins. This allows the rhythm of the original architecture to be read uninterrupted by additional structure and guarantees the highest levels of transparency. In this way, the original open atmosphere of the space is maintained while creating an environmentally comfortable space.

Beyond aesthetics, there were other considerations when detailing these intersections, primarily how to design for inconsistencies in the original fabric of the building. This was done by creating horizontal slots in the frame which allow for minute adjustments to the bolts that secure the glass, resulting in a tight glass seal and a clean, seamless look.

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Design solutions

G

F E

D

A

B

C

the building intersects with its historic neighbors, its immediate site and the city.

A - Clifford Pier B - Fullerton Bay Hotel C - Customs House D - Fullerton Hotel E - HSBC Building F - Maybank Tower G - United Overseas Bank Plaza One

It is details such as these that allow the historic space to operate within its current context. The architects’ close attention to the intersections between old and new has resulted in a unique space that is true to the original architecture while creating a useable contemporary space.

This consideration of the intersection is not limited to the scale of the architectural detail; in fact it extends to the very form of the buildings, informing their location, volume and skin.

Beyond the Clifford Pier entrance is the new Fullerton Bay Hotel building. This modern building with an expansive glass facade has been carefully designed to respond to its surrounding edge - where

Detail of glass panel integrated with the historical arch.

Its materiality allows the building to appear light and transparent, resting softly on its site and reflecting its surroundings. Its large internal atrium opens up to face Clifford Pier, creating a strong relationship between the historic building, Marina Bay and the sky by drawing them into the internal space.

When designing this new insertion, it was important to carefully balance its scale in order to create a hierarchical relationship between itself, Customs House and Clifford Pier. This was achieved by raising the building to a height twice that of its neighbors. This had two dramatic effects. Firstly, it draws attention to the accommodation spaces, highlighting the hotels primary function.

Secondly, it helps unify the composition into a coherent whole. By raising the height of the new building, it was possible for the atrium height to match the roof line of Clifford Pier and Customs House, thus creating a visual datum that ties the three masses together.

Furthermore, tying these masses together in a tiered configuration draws the eye over the composition from its lowest point to its highest. In this way it creates a smooth visual transition from the water’s edge to the historic low-rise buildings, the contemporary mid-rise hotel, up to the high-rises of the city beyond.

In doing so, hard intersections of scale were softened, allowing the hotel to integrate with Singapore’s iconic skyline.

Much like the historic pier, Fullerton Bay Hotel welcomes travelers. Yet more than that, it is a site of intersections - in time,

Atrium ceiling height

scale and topography. With this as a key consideration, the project team chose not to design each building in isolation, instead favoring to concentrate on their intersections. By detailing the connections that would allow the project to be read as a unified whole, the design team has created an architecture that traces the physical and cultural heritage of the site and performs as a world class contemporary hotel.

White coloured aluminum frame (fluorocarbon-coating) to match paint colour of Clifford Pier.

50mm wide aluminum frame to set in between existing column and fenestrations in arch.

Frame to ‘float’ above the parapet - a differentiation between the New and the Old.

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Awards & Events

20 UNDER 45 Senior Minister of State Grace Fu with Tan Chee Kiang.

the next generation

The second ‘20 Under 45’ exhibition, organized by URA, showcased projects by 20 distinguished Singapore registered architects aged 45 or under. Angelene Chan, Director, and Tan Chee Kiang, Associate Director, were selected to present their definitive works. This initiative to promote awareness and appreciation of architecture and urban design was also supported by a publication, a series of round-table discussions and a traveling exhibition.

Senior Minister of State Grace Fu together with Angelene Chan and members of the jury.

Ms Lee Suet Fern, one of the judges, presented the award to Angelene Chan

Woman Who Makes a Difference

WOMEN IN ASIA AWARDS 2010 Angelene Chan, Director, was awarded the 2010 RBS Coutts/Financial Times “Woman Who Makes a Difference Award” at a gala dinner held at the British High Commissioner’s Residence on 15 September 2010. The annual Women in Asia Awards, inaugurated in 2009, feature three categories which recognize the importance of women in the business and entrepreneurial world: “Woman who Makes a Difference”, “Entrepreneur of the Year”, and “Rising Star”. Angelene’s category - “Woman who Makes a Difference” - is awarded to the woman who has made outstanding achievements in the field of philanthropy, sciences, arts, culture, literature or sports.

DP Architects joins

MIPIM CANNES 2010 DP Architects participated in MIPIM Cannes 2010, one of the world’s largest annual international conferences and exhibitions on real estate, held from March 16 to 19. DP Architects exhibited at the Singapore Pavilion with other key firms and government organizations, showcasing several of our recent projects, including The Dubai Mall, Singapore Sports Hub and Resorts World Sentosa.

May 2010

The Central

Tanglin Trust Senior School

BCA

AWARDS

BCA Built Environment Leadership Award (Gold) 2010 The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) conferred on DP Architects the Built Environment Leadership Award (Gold) on 26 May 2010. With this award, DP Architects is recognized as a leader in the private sector who actively promotes sustainable design.

Elliot at the East Coast

The BCA also granted awards to the following projects by DP Architects: BCA Green Mark Gold Award Tanglin Trust Senior School, Singapore

BCA Green Mark District Award Elliot at the East Coast, Singapore

BCA Green Mark Platinum Award 76 Shenton, Singapore

BCA Construction Excellence Award The Central, Singapore

DP Architects wins

BCI ASIA AWARDS

Zero Energy Building

BCI Asia Top Ten Award 2010 & BCI Green Design Award 2010 DP Architects has been awarded the BCI Asia Top Ten Award 2010 and the BCI Green Design Award 2010 for the Zero Energy Building located at the BCA Academy. These awards were launched by BCI Asia to recognise innovative and environmentally-responsible architecture.

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Life of a DPian

IN PERSON celebrates the firm’s diversity by profiling members of the DP family. It is conducted as a casual conversation between two individuals, one in a senior position in the firm and one from the trenches.

David McLeod

Nartano Lim

David McLeod and Nartano Lim are both recent additions to the DP family. David, originally from Scotland, returned to DPA’s Singapore headquarters in 2009 from his five-year stint as the Chief Resident Architect for The Dubai Mall. He is currently an Associate Director of the firm. Nartano grew up in Singapore until age five and lived in the United States for most of his life.

He joined DPA in 2008. Both David and Nartano have spent a good part of their career outside of Singapore and have also worked on projects in Singapore. Design in Print seeks insight on their personal experiences.

Why did you come to Singapore?

D : Well, I left Scotland 17 years ago due to the declining economic situation. I have been living and working in Singapore, Vietnam and Dubai in this time and I have enjoyed Asia immensely.

It takes a lot of commitment to be away from home for so long, but I still enjoy the feeling of adventure. Being in Singapore makes it easier for me to explore other parts of the region.

N : Having left Singapore as a child, coming back is something of a homecoming for me.

I still have many close friends and relatives in Singapore, including my grandparents. Prior to coming back to Singapore, I was an Assistant Professor at Syracuse University and worked at a number of firms in New York. In New York, new construction is relatively rare due to the built-up nature and history of the city. I soon realized that Asia was a prime place of opportunity since the region is still very much in a construction phase. The scale of the projects here is rarely seen in the US anymore.

Academically, I have always had an interest in Singapore because of the role of architecture in it’s nation-building. DP has played an influential role in Singapore’s architectural history and although the current industry is geared more towards commercial development, there is still great potential for experimentation and a strong appreciation for Modernism rather than Classicism.

What was the transition like? Has it changed you?

N : I returned to Singapore without a job lined up. As I made the rounds I began to realize that many firms in Singapore look for a very narrow range of experience. For instance, many local firms didn’t feel that my time teaching was applicable and didn’t like that I had been involved with many different typologies. I was fortunate that Angelene and DP appreciated my unconventional background and was looking

for someone who brought a varied range of experience. It made me realize that there was a cultural distinction between the “well-rounded” candidate sought out in the US and the “specialist” more favoured in Asia.

D : Being in Asia for so long has definitely widened my outlook. I’ve learnt that you have to be ready to adapt quickly to new cultures and social expectations in order to survive.

You’ve both had the opportunity to experience Asian and Western architectural practice cultures.

How do they differ?

D : The clients’ demands are different in each context. The British way of working prolongs the linear design progression and emphasises design development. However, this method is less adaptable to the “Let’s build tomorrow” mentality of Asian clients. We operate in quicker

time frames in Singapore and decisions need to be made quickly. Client requirements can also change rapidly even during the construction stage. A positive “can-do” attitude in the team is essential.

N : I agree with David that in Asia we arrive at decisions much quicker and we are very time-conscious. It gives us a distinct advantage especially in time-sensitive situations such as competitions or tenders. Having previously

it’s wear Red&White day Celebrate NDP @ DP!

acted as a foreign consultant when I was working in the United States, I can now see how the design process and the approach to time pressure differ between the two cultures in both positive and negative ways.

D : The Asian way has its disadvantages too.

If the client brief is not settled and the design and co-ordination processes are not thorough, then problems appear later during construction.

I also find that people in Asia are more resistant to adopting different project-specific working methods - each project is done the same way even though some modifications could be beneficial. There is also less focus on guiding younger staff and improving our work processes with more post-project analysis.

N : In the Asian context we “never say no” to our clients. Sometimes we may be too agreeable to the detriment of projects.

DP celebrated Singapore’s 45th National Day with our first ever “Red & White Day”. DPians, dressed in their red and white best on August 6, snapped photos of themselves in the national colours for a festive and friendly competition. Let loose with their creativity and camaraderie, 272 photograph entries were submitted in a matter of six hours! Online voting was opened for two hours and, 266 votes later, the Red & White winners were announced. Hazimah Bte Mohamad Salikimen and Ervin Cariaso were named the Best Dressed Girl and Guy respectively, while Chai Ming Kuang’s team from RWS took the prize for Best Dressed Group. The runner-up to Best Dressed Group is Seah Chee Huang’s “Sports Hubbies”.

All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced without prior permission.

Tell us something about yourself that few people know about.

D : Well, not many people know that I have two kids. But not of the conventional kind! Last year I adopted two children via World Vision. I am also a keen sportsman and whilst several DPians know I play golf and soccer, I also really enjoy curling and go skiing every other year in France.

DP Architects accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or resultant consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in Design in Print. Any opinions in Design in Print are solely those of the named authors of the article in which they appear. Unless named as author, DP Architects, Editorial Panel and other Contributors do not endorse any such views and disclaim all liability from their publication.

Copyright © DP Architects Pte Ltd Printed by A&D Printhub Pte Ltd L025/02/2010 MICA (P) 150/10/2010 Published by DP Architects Pte Ltd

N : People are usually surprised that I was a Professor before and that I lived in Italy and Amsterdam for a while. As a result, my Italian is better than my Mandarin (although they are both pretty bad)! Work takes up a large portion of my time now, but in the past I was an avid snowboarder and I have a black belt in Taekwondo.

6 Raffles Boulevard, #04-100, Marina Square, Singapore 039594 Tel: (65) 6338 3988 Fax: (65) 6337 9989 Email: ask_corpcomm@dpa.com.sg Web: www.dpa.com.sg Photo Contributors: Rida Sobana, Wellington Kuswanto, Relan Masato, Yan Son All photos are credited to the mentioned photographers unless otherwise stated.

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Arising from the government’s attempt to encourage private sector participation in its urban renewal program in the 1960s, the People’s Park Complex was one of the key buildings which heralded the advent of modern architecture in Singapore. Commenced in 1967 and completed in 1973, the People’s Park Complex was the largest mixed-use complex to be managed, designed and built in Singapore.

People’s Park Complex

1967-1973