There is always a bit of (self-imposed) pressure when it comes to putting out the first issue of the year. It’s not so much that it needs to be spectacular, as it is like a first fruit of sorts for what is to come in the year of design. In this light, our line-up for Issue 66 of Cubes is a varied mix of concise architectural etudes, as well as more elaborate works.

Singapore Design Centre

The long-awaited National Design Centre finds its way into our pages as we warmly welcome and celebrate its presence as an emblem of Singapore design. We get into the backstory of the National Design Centre as Ross Logi sits down for a conversation with SCDA Architects’ principal Chan Soo Khian.

Namly House by Chang Architects

On a smaller but no less impressive scale, Chang Yong Ter of Chang Architects designs yet another succinct proposal for living – multi-generational living to be exact. Namly House presents a richly layered series of spaces that has resulted only because of great intention and rigour.

The Design Incubation Centre, helmed by Patrick Chia, has birthed designs such as the Roly Poly

Uu was a self-funded project by Pann Lim’s Kinetic that allowed the public to create miniature figurines of themselves

Also in this issue, President’s Design Award winners for Designer of the Year Pann Lim of Kinetic and Patrick Chia, founding director of Design Incubation Centre, sit down for a chat about design education and the age of information among other topics.

(From left) Selwyn Low, Tiah Nan Chyuan, Peter Sim and Torrance Goh of FARM

Finally, we turn the spotlight on the chromatic journey of multidisciplinary design firm FARM. Partners Tiah Nan Chyuan, Peter Sim, Torrance Goh and Selwyn Low share about the changing face of architecture and design and how FARM is a prime example of that.

Note by Managing Editor Rachel Lee-Leong