In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) is set to unfold a captivating edition of Singapore Archifest. Under the thematic umbrella of "Interim: Acts of Adaptation," this festival promises to be a month-long exploration of the adaptability of our built environment to tackle contemporary challenges and keep pace with the city's evolution.
Scheduled from September 29 to October 28, 2023, the 17th iteration of this signature annual festival, orchestrated by SIA, boasts a diverse lineup of over 80 events. These events will catalyze contemplation on how our built environment can cater to the demands of a burgeoning society and address its pressing issues.
Calvin Chua Guides the Evolution:
Calvin Chua, Festival Director of Archifest 2023 and Founder of Spatial Anatomy, is in charge of arranging this architectural spectacle. Chua, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), sees the city as a testing ground, with architects acting as change agents. This year's event, in his words, is a laboratory for experimenting with and exhibiting the Interim—a term profoundly rooted in Singapore's planning and policy vocabulary.
Chua concurs with his goals, stating, "Through a dynamic line-up of festival programmes this year, we hope to invite fellow industry practitioners and visitors to participate in this collective endeavour to explore the Interim as a new paradigm of architecture, aiming to create responsive, inclusive, and responsible design solutions for a better future."
Kampong Gelam Takes Centre Stage:
This year, Archifest deviates from convention by engaging the Kampong Gelam precinct and injecting it with important architectural dialogue. Kampong Gelam, with its mix of modern and traditional components and rich historical tapestry, becomes a playground for experimentation and discourse. Beyond this area, the festival will delve into numerous architectural themes.
The conventional pavilion format is transformed into AF Installations, a collection of six dispersed urban installations throughout Kampong Gelam. These installations, funded by the URA's Lively Places Fund, provide insight into the area's background and challenge notions of space revitalization.
Art Encounters in Kampong Gelam:
Visitors can immerse themselves in significant art encounters as they meander through the streets of Kampong Gelam. Fabric Forest, located at a traffic intersection leading to the Sultan Mosque, converts an empty space into a gateway, giving adaptable community areas inspired by the district's textile appeal.
Dulang-Dulang, located near Sultan Gate's coach lots, reimagines itself as a colourful social area influenced by Malay culture. Collective Memories of Kampong Gelam honours the different communities who built the area, whereas A Particular Place incorporates local iconography and pictures into mural artwork.
The festival also debuts AF Play!, an outdoor adventure game developed in conjunction with Hidden SG! that allows users to explore hidden stories in Kampong Gelam via a mobile-based game.
Creative Exchange and New Programmes:
Archifest provides a number of innovative programmes to stimulate creative dialogue within the architecture community. AF Residency, in collaboration with Figment, offers residencies to six international designers. This convergence of multiple design viewpoints acts as a platform for creativity and cultural exchange.
AF Incubator, a one-week programme, links students with industry professionals to explore innovative solutions in the built environment. AF Happenings brings together thought leaders for talks on built heritage, typology, and consumer culture.
Festival Highlights and Headliner Conference:
The Festival House hosts the AF Exhibition, which showcases industry-shaping projects from Singapore and the region. The exhibition explores with architecture's relationship with change and volatility.
On October 2, the AF Main Conference will feature 10 local and international perspectives, magnifying conversations about the uses of "Interim" thinking in architecture and the city. With sub-themes such as Interim Architecture, Interim Urbanism, and Interim Culture, the conference promises a variety of viewpoints on the concept of the "Interim."
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