THE DISCUSSION
'The Discussion' brought together students from three leading universities in a 3-day Design Masterclass to rethink Singapore's Orchard Road in 2050. Andrew Grant (Landscape Architect for Gardens by the Bay), Ken Yeang (Design Architect of the National Library) and Mike King (Engineer for the Sports Hub) were also featured in a daily forum entitled, 'Inside the Designer's Studio'. The famed individuals presented insightful design perspectives from their various fields through an intimate question and answer session with Mike Staley, Editor of Pacific Rim Construction Magazine. A 'Design Talk & Tour', led by Prof. Jason Pomeroy, also brought public awareness on sustainable design by showcasing the National Library.
The Design Challenge
2050. Singapore. Population increase and inner city migration has led to continued high-density urbanization. This has necessitated the exploration of rooftops as multi-functional spaces that offer socio-economic, and environmental benefits. The design challenge is to create a network of social spaces on the rooftops of the existing buildings in the given site that seamlessly integrate with the existing public open space infrastructure, and provide a unique economic driver for its own sustainability.
The 3 teams will present their design solutions in front of an invited guest panel for discussion at the end of DAY 3. Their thought process, sketches and ideas will be informally documented as a ‘Design Lab’ as part of the Design Green Exhibition on Gallery 02.
Masterclass - About the Lecturers
Dr Thomas Schroepfer
Associate Professor, Singapore University of Technology and Design
Thomas Schroepfer directs SUTD’s award-winning Advanced Architecture Laboratory, which explores the increasingly complex relationship between design and technology in architecture and urban design, relating to advances in building structure and form, environmental strategies, performance and energy, computer simulation and modeling, and building processes. Prior to joining SUTD as a tenured faculty in 2011, he was Associate Professor of Architecture at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, where he taught for 8 years in the areas of architectural design and technology.
Dr Sergio Altomonte
Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering | The University of Nottingham
Dr Sergio Altomonte is Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, The University of Nottingham, where he teaches and researches in the field of Architecture and Environmental Design. Dr Altomonte's research interests focus on the relation between architecture and a sustainable development of human activities. He has initiated, coordinated and participated at various national and international research projects and study programs, demonstrating his abilities to face major challenges in the field of the integration in architecture of advanced technologies and design strategies.
Dr Qiang Sheng
Lecturer, School of Architecture | Tianjin University, Beijing
Dr Qiang Sheng is a lecturer in the school of architecture in Tianjin University, Beijing, and a Senior Consultant in the Space Syntax Beijing Office. His current research is on street pattern and urban vitality. Using Space Syntax as the main tool, his works aims to explore the use of big data in the spatial analysis to illustrate the impact of the internet on everyday life of Chinese cities.
Inside the Designer's Studio - About the Speakers
DAY 1 | Wednesday, September 3rd 2014 | 6 – 8 PM | “Forests of Imagination”
“Inside the Designer’s Studio” with Andrew Grant, Grant Associates, Landscape Architect – Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
DAY 2 | Thursday, September 4th 2014 | 6 – 8 PM | “It’s hard to be green”…(says Kermit the frog)
“Inside the Designer’s Studio” with Ken Yeang, T.R. Hamzah & Yeang, Architect – National Library, Singapore
DAY 3 | Friday, September 5th 2014 | 6 – 8 PM | “Cities Alive – Rethinking Green Infrastructure”
“Inside the Designer’s Studio” with Mike King, Arup, Engineer – Sports Hub, Singapore
Andrew Grant
Founder and Director of Grant Associates
Andrew formed Grant Associates in 1997 to explore creative ecological possibilities incorporating landscape architecture and sustainable development, actively delivering quality innovation. His past experiences include planning sub-regional areas to detailing small pieces of landscapes and cities. In 2012, Andrew was awarded the “Royal Designer for Industry” (RDI) in recognition of his pioneering global work in Landscape Architecture. He is also a Visiting Professor in the University of Shefield, UK. In 2010, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA, in recognition of strong relationships with leading architects he built and key architectural projects including the Stirling Prize winning Accordia. Andrew led the design team on the £500 million Gardens by the Bay project in Singapore, a 54 hectare public park which was conferred the Building Project of the year 2012 among other international design awards. Andrew is currently involved in researching ‘wildness’ as a counterpoint to urbanization, exploring urban landscapes that inspires.
Ken Yeang (Dr.)
Principal of T.R. Hamzah & Yeang
Ken Yeang is an architect, masterplanner and ecologist who is best known for his signature ecoachitecture and ecomasterplanning buildings and projects, that have a distinctive verdant green aesthetic. He trained at the AA School (UK) andreceived a doctorate (PhD) from Wolfson College,Cambridge University (UK). He is principal ofHamzah & Yeang (Malaysia) with offices in UK and China– its expertise is in delivering deep green, innovative ecological architecture and masterplans that go beyond conventional greenaccreditation systems. He is the Distinguished Plym Professor (Illinois University). He has authored over 12 books on green architecture andhas received numerous awards including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Prince Claus Award, the Malaysian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.
Mike King
Principal | Structural Engineer of ARUP
Mike King is a chartered structural engineer with 23 years’ experience in building design - 19 of which have been with Arup in Sydney, New York, London and Singapore. Having a keen interest in buildings with a high interaction between architecture, structure and sustainable development, Mike has played key roles as lead designer and project director on some of the world’s most spectacular projects. Mike has worked with leading architects including Zaha Hadid (London Aquatics Centre), John McAslan (King’s Cross New Western Concourse) and Skidmore Owings and Merrill (Pearson international Airport, Toronto) and across a wide range of market sectors and scale of projects. Mike’s journey brought him to Singapore, where he led the structural design of the world’s largest (and retractable) free-span dome roof for the Singapore Sports Hub’s National Stadium.
Talk & Tour
Design Green! presents "Design Talk & Tour" an insight to the exhibition about greening the urban habitat at the National Design Centre (NDC) and one of its featured projects, The National Library.
Led by Prof Jason Pomeroy, author of the ‘Skycourts and Skygardens: Greening the Urban Habitat’ and curator of the Design Green! Exhibition, the talk commences at the atrium, gallery spaces and roof terrace of the NDC, followed by a tour of The National Library.
Prof Pomeroy will be highlighting The National Library’s key architectural features and its contributions to environmental and social sustainability.
DESIGN TALK & NATIONAL LIBRARY WALKING TOUR | Friday & Saturday, September 5th-6h 2014 | 10 - 11 AM | with Prof. Jason Pomeroy, Pomeroy Studio, Founding Principal – National Library, Singapore