If
you think architecture is just a treat for the eyes, think
again. It can also be a stimulation for the mind and inspiration
for the soul. Indeed, a city with great architecture leaves
a deep and lasting impression on people’s minds.
Quest for quality design
With this vision for Singapore in mind, URA
embarked on a concerted outreach programme last year to
encourage greater public awareness and appreciation of design
excellence. At the same time, it also aimed to develop a
vibrant local design community. Kickstarting the programme
in 2003, URA held two competitions and an exhibition featuring
works of renowned architect and Pritzker prize winner, Professor
Fumihiko Maki. Professor Maki's exhibition first premiered
in London and has since been staged in Berlin, Copenhagen,
Paris and Tokyo.
Shifting its focus locally, the latest event is an exhibition
named “20 under 45: a selection of works by under-45,
Singapore-registered architects”, now on till 30 Apr
2004 at The URA Centre. "Cities like New York, London
and Rotterdam have a tradition of showcasing the best of
their architects and urban designers through various public
platforms. Likewise, we hope that our citizens, having known
and experienced the works of our architects, will gain a
sense of pride and belonging to Singapore. More importantly,
we want to give greater recognition and exposure to Singapore-registered
architects who have contributed to the quality urban environment,“
said Mrs Koh-Lim Wen Gin, Chief Planner and Deputy CEO,
URA and a member of the selection panel for “20 under
45”.
Defining 45
The focus on architects 45 years old and
under enables URA to spur a more vibrant professional design
community by showcasing the diversity, innovation, energy
and quality among them. Some writers use the term "young",
while others use "emerging". URA’s definition
of "45 years and under" takes into account local
circumstances, such as length of national service (for male
architects), the time it takes to train, qualify professionally
and contribute to shaping the built environment. |
