For a long time, design in Singapore has often been perceived as an aesthetic endeavour. However, slowly but surely, things are changing. Design innovation is becoming less about having a different aesthetic and more about affecting culture and human behaviour.

Companies and establishments – some more than others – are slowly seeing the benefits of harnessing design in truly meaningful ways. Some, like business space solutions provider Ascendas, are initiating change through design in radical new ways. The retrofit of their headquarters, The Galen, by Formwerkz Architects makes it into this issue as our cover feature and proposes fresh and effective ways to reinvigorate business spaces.

On a smaller scale, The Space Program by Foreign Policy looks into reinterpreting and re-energising spaces through a site-specific store-gallery-installation. Its inaugural project takes place within the lobby of the New Majestic Hotel, turning it from a space of transience into a destination in and of itself (check out the video tracing its design process here).

Other projects in this issue include Linghao Architects’ living, breathing creature of a house at Sentosa Cove, Boon Design’s sleek container office, Ministry of Design’s new showroom archetype for the UOL Group and Voon Wong’s new home in London.

We eavesdrop as Wendy Chua of Outofstock speaks with one of Singapore’s last metal craftsmen about their collaboration, and speak with Abdul Nasser, director of Basheer Graphic Books – a veritable Singapore design institution.

We also profile Zarch Collaboratives and Randy Chan – Singaporean architect, non-conformist and all round local soul. The man is thoughtful, courageous and often downright defiant, and it shows in his works. It’s what makes Zarch Collaboratives such an interesting firm to watch, even as it is just beginning to make the transition into bigger projects (Read extra portions of our conversation with him on Cubes Extra)

All this and more in our latest issue of Cubes. Get your copy at newsstands today!

Note from Rachel Lee-Leong, Cubes editor.