to gather:
The Architecture of Relationships
to gather: The Architecture of Relationships examines the different ways in which we, residents of Singapore, share space — in our city, with one another, and with the rest of nature. The exhibition grew out of a desire to pull together stories on the ground. More than 80% of Singapore’s population live in housing developed by the
government. Given this context, the relationships within and between communities living in public housing neighbourhoods are the bedrock upon which many collective actions in this exhibition are built. These efforts, in turn, transform and reinvigorate the spatial environments they reference.
The 2021 Singapore Pavilion features sixteen projects that represent the cross-section of local cultures and society. Singapore is highly urbanised and amenable. Against this cosmopolitan backdrop, spatial typologies such as hawker centres, community centres and housing development void decks are constant fixtures in facilitating and nurturing practices of sociability in the city.
The curators are interested in bringing these modes of conviviality and inclusivity into the context of an exhibition. Hashim Sarkis, the Director of the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia poses a prescient and important question: how will we live together? This question opens up a plethora of possibilities. The Singapore Pavilion addresses this through a community-led focus, and the built spaces that facilitate these gatherings. The hawker centre and the living/dining room of a public housing flat emerged as natural frames through which we could introduce uniquely Singaporean modes of gathering and coexistence.
The exhibition is connected by four main themes, which frame the various modes and scales of gathering.
Communing Relationships:
Framing Relationships:
Uncovering Relationships:
Imagining Relationships:
We visualise the speculative future based on our conjoined relationship with digital technology.
Acknowledgements
COMMISSIONING PANEL
Yap Lay Bee, Co-Commissioner, Group Director (Architecture & Urban Design), Urban Redevelopment Authority
Mark Wee, Co-Commissioner, Executive Director, DesignSingapore Council
Larry Ng, Prize Secretary (Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize) & Commissioner-General (Dubai World Expo 2020), Urban Redevelopment Authority
Erwin Viray, Professor and Head, Architecture and Sustainable Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design
Seah Chee Huang, President, (59th Council) Singapore Institute of Architects
Yang Yeo, Co-Chief Creative Officer, Hakuhodo Inc.
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Teng Joo Chong, Director, Architecture & Urban Design Excellence
Jeffrey Ang, Executive Architect, Architecture & Urban Design Excellence
Lee Lynn Wei, Executive Planner, Architecture & Urban Design Excellence
DESIGNSINGAPORE COUNCIL
Yeo Piah Choo, Director, International Relations & Corporate Services
Juliet Lim, Deputy Director, Communications
Serene Lim, Assistant Director, Marketing Communications
CURATORS
Puay-peng Ho, Head and Professor, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore
Simone Shu-Yeng Chung, Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore
Thomas K. Kong, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore
Tomohisa Miyauchi, Professor of Practice, IE University School of Architecture and Design, Spain
Sarah Ichioka, Director, Desire Lines
CURATORIAL ASSISTANTS
Joella Qingyi Kiu, Research Assistant, Department of Architecture
Shireen Marican, Associate, Desire Lines
Mary Ann Ng, Research Assistant, Department of Architecture
PUBLICATION EDITOR
Simone Shu-Yeng Chung
Sarah M. Ichioka
Jacopo Benci
Joella Qingyi Kiu
PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY
Open Narrative
Zhang Weijin, Ee Jun Esli
Desire Lines
Sim Yi Shien
VISUAL IDENTITY
Fellow Design
Izyanti Asaari, Iffah Dahiyah, Dika Dhaniya, Hanis Isahak, Meghan Poh
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Judith Fereday
Director, Camron PR
PARTICIPATING ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS
Atelier HOKO
Drama Box, ArtsWok Collaborative and Forest & Whale
DP Architects
Hyphen Architects + Brian Khoo + Mary Ann Ng
Lai Chee Kien
Lighting Planners Associates
Michael Budig and Oliver Heckmann, Singapore University of Technology and Design
Millennial Nomad Space
MKPL Architects
NUS-Tsinghua Design Research Initiative: Sharing Cities
Red Bean Architects
salad dressing
Studio DO: PULAU
Studio Lapis + Eugene Tan + Jerome Ng Xinhao
Surbana Jurong
WOHA
PUBLICATION PHOTOGRAPHERS
Zulkhairi Zulkiflee, Charmaine Poh, Kimberly Kiong, Christopher Sim
STUDENT TEAMS
Students of Curating Architecture (National University of Singapore)
2019
Chen Xiyuan, Ge Jiwen Charlotte, Joshua Chiang, Keith Png Jun Jie, Lim Xin Jie Shirley, Ling Qinzhe, Ma Xueying, Soh Xian Hui, Tong Enlai, Victoria Tan
2020
Aberdeen Seet, Desiree Tan Li Yu, Ge Luyao, Jo Ann Low, Jonathan Daniel Lau, Lim Qian Ping Annabelle, Nursafura binte Mohamed Ali, Ong Xian Shi Justin, Ow Yeong Jun Jie, Yang Qing, Zhang Shukai, Zong Yue
CHAIR CONTRIBUTORS
Abirami Murugappan, Akansha Aether, Charlie Lim, Chen Ying, Christopher Sim, Clara Lim, Dennis Png, Divaagar, Faz Ismail, Hui Juan So, Izwan Abdullah, Jiayu Ng, Lee Jia Qian, Lin Xueling, Mohd Fared Jainal (Teater Ekamatra), Shaza Ishak (Teater Ekamatra), Soh Kheng Hwee, Tan Seow Wei, Tulika Ahuja, Yoeng Shu Hwee, Zakir Ramlan
