“Architecture is an expression of life in a place,” says Erwin Vijay, head of the architecture and sustainable design pillar, SUTD (Singapore University of Technology and Design) and author of URA’s new book, Contemporaneous Architecture. He sees it as response to an innate human desire for nature: high-rise, high-density and greenery as avenues for finding answers to urban challenges that architects face.
The new book to be published by March 2019 celebrates the revolution and innovation in architecture and what is contemporary and unique to the Singapore landscape and identity. In the book, professor and architect Li Xiaodong notes that the rapid urbanisation in the last years of the 20th century has provided new conditions for the second generation to come up with new visions and a unique urban tropical lifestyle that gives new meaning to everyday experience. He adds: “Singaporean architects have produced a remarkable portfolio of innovative designs, pioneering what might be termed tropical urbanism approach to modern architecture in the context of monsoon Asia…ideas manifested in the new wave of practices are much more comprehensive in response to local social, operational, climatic as well as urban conditions and they have added new values of thought and enriched the vitamin pool of contemporary architectural language.”
We present sketches that capture the early ideas of some iconic architectural works from the book that have shaped and defined Singapore’s landscape.
Contemporaneous Architecture in Singapore presents 70 architectural projects in the last 15 years, celebrating innovations, breakthroughs and distinctive designs unique to Singapore. To pre-order the book and for enquiries, email us.