The month leading up to Issue 59 of Cubes was probably the busiest of the year on the design calendar – and it shows in our line-up of stories in this issue. Not only do we bring you comprehensive summaries of events like the World Architecture Festival, Archifest ‘12, and yes, our very own Saturday in Design, we also scored an exclusive interview with Thomas Heatherwick, a veritable modern day Leonardo da Vinci.

Also in this issue, we speak with the incomparable Chan Soo Khian about being “on the fringe”, the most crucial aspect of being a design principal, and SCDA’s latest project in New York where Chan is both developer and architect.

Adding to our already content-rich line-up is a curation of projects such as Ministry of Design’s latest design for boutique hotel Macalister Mansion in Penang, the new W Singapore – Sentosa Cove by Rockwell Group and WATG, and a fashionable office space by Distillery for fashion portal 23rd.com.

We present some newcomers on the architecture scene with Atelier M+A’s first project in Singapore – the Mandai Courtyard House and an architectural haiku if there ever was one. Of course, not forgetting our cover feature, the Stereoscopic House by Pencil Office, where views are controlled and manipulated to delightful ends.

To say the least, 2012 has been a most exciting year for Cubes. It has been our privilege and absolute pleasure to document, reflect and frame the design scene in Singapore this past year and we look forward an even greater year in design next year! We’ll see you on the flipside.

Note from Rachel Lee-Leong, editor of Cubes.

Get a copy of the latest Cubes (Issue 59) out now at Singapore newsstands.