Explore Singapore’s evolving cityscape, from innovative urban planning and sustainable architecture to heritage conservation and smart living solutions. Discover how design shapes communities and enhances everyday life in one of the world’s most dynamic urban environments.
It is often said, with both honesty and a touch of dark humor, that two major events bring families and friends together—weddings and funerals. A compassionate city must honor death and dying with dignity. Yet, conversations about care, grief, and the end of life remain taboo in Singapore. Both Sides, Now is an initiative that […]
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to gather: The Architecture of Relationships explores how residents of Singapore share space—within the city, with one another, and with nature. The exhibition originated from a desire to bring together stories from the ground. With over 80% of Singapore’s population living in government-developed housing, the relationships within and between these communities form the foundation for […]
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Among the speculative futures explored in this exhibition, the NUS-Tsinghua Design Research Initiative – Sharing Cities envisions a model of sustainable and equitable communal living. Titled Architecture of the Sharing Culture, this project serves as both a provocation and a declaration. In a sharing culture, individuals actively engage in co-creating, co-managing, co-owning, and co-consuming resources. […]
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The illumination of our urban environment shapes its atmosphere and influences how we interact with it. A well-lit space can feel inviting, while dim lighting may evoke a sense of melancholy. Recognizing the significant role lighting plays in shaping perceptions, Lighting Detectives was formed to explore and analyze lighting culture. Dedicated to assessing the current […]
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One often underestimated aspect of Singapore’s tropical climate is how it enhances and amplifies the daily scents that define our experience of places, both familiar and new. An Ode to Smell is part of an ongoing research project exploring Singapore’s dynamic relationship with its weather—particularly how heat, rain, and humidity shape our sensory perception of […]
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Expanding on the concepts of integration and shared spaces in architecture, collaboration between government agencies, grassroots organizations, and local residents plays a crucial role in urban development. Our Tampines Hub is a multi-functional lifestyle town hub in Tampines, transforming a former single-use stadium and sports hall into a diverse, community-centric space. The hub brings together […]
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Pulau Ubin, an island northeast of mainland Singapore, is home to traditional raised-floor wooden Malay houses. These settlements, known as kampung, derive their name from the Malay verb berkampung, meaning “coming together.” The houses on Pulau Ubin have long served as communal gathering spaces, fostering dialogue across different segments of society. The planned restoration of […]
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Before Singapore’s independence, recreational spaces were scarce. In this landscape, Haw Par Villa became a defining landmark for Singaporeans born between the 1930s and 1980s. Built in 1937 by businessman and philanthropist Aw Boon Haw, Haw Par Villa originally housed the Aw family mansion, with its gardens open to the public. Known for its vivid […]
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The term heartland refers to Singapore’s residential neighborhoods, which serve as vital hubs for civic activity and community interaction. These areas feature shared spaces and facilities designed to meet the evolving needs of residents. As these needs shift, so too do the structures that support them. Common Ground is a recent initiative in Bedok’s heartland, […]
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Temasek Shophouse stands as a model of thoughtful urban redevelopment, balancing heritage preservation with modern functionality. Beyond bringing together communities and stakeholders, a key aspect of designing a spatially sensitive project is acknowledging a site’s historical significance and integrating it into its transformation. Located in Dhoby Ghaut, a major retail and commercial district in central […]
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