Design installations form a big part of the Singapore Indesign experience. One of the main attractions every year, these projects document a unique partnership between designer and exhibitor who come together to inspire the audience with artistic and unconventional perceptions of materiality and construction.

The installations at Singapore Indesign 2016 (SGID16) have once again raised the bar. Despite the tough call, visitors have cast their votes. The winner of this year’s Reader’s Choice is DP Design and Greenlam, who conceived a temporary pavilion in a bid to explore “the flexibility of borders” in a meaningful manner.

Housed in SGID16’s Curated Space, the large, latticing freeform pavilion used over 600 eco-friendly laminates from Greenlam. Each unit possessed half-lap joints that enabled various units to come together easily, forming furniture, walls and canopy to function as a temporary shelter for people in need. The structure was simple to assemble and deploy as flat-packed elements – qualities ideal for emergency situations.

“We wanted to showcase the simplicity yet sturdiness of construction with lightweight laminates,” says Mike Lim, Director of DP Design, adding that the team wanted the audience to consider how temporary shelters could be made using unexpected materials.

On the chosen colour scheme, Lim explains, “The burnt quality of dark laminates recall the presence of fear and anxiety faced by displaced individuals, before this graduates up into [a] soothing light, representing slivers of hope.” As a result of its construct, light is able to seep through the pavilion through micro-windows, creating visceral shadows on the ground, responding to the basic elements of nature – darkness and light.

“By creating a dense, almost maze-like and disconcerting framework, the installation takes the visitor on a journey into the dark depths of the structure, which mimics the emotional journey of [refugees and homeless individuals], before he or she can find security and safety,” Lim adds. There are entry points for adults and children alike to venture through, reinforcing its aim at community engagement.

Although the event has concluded, the installation lives on. The nature of the design makes it easy to relocate and rearrange into something new. According to Lim, the team has plans to re-adapt the installation to serve as an engaging art piece in a restaurant.

“DP Design is not only known for its excellence in interior design, it also [seeks to create] installations with a social message. [Greenlam’s] motto is the same. We wanted to pass [on] a social message through this installation,” says Banita Mishra, General Manager, Marketing at Greenlam Asia Pacific

The other nominees for this year’s Reader’s Choice award were Celebrating Colour by Andrew Loh Designs and Scandinavian Business Seating; DEMATERIAL by ip:li Architects and EDL; FORMation by Studiogoto and Kreon; and Spectrum by Lucas and Sunbrella.

Congratulations to voter Kylie Lin who won a one-night stay at Studio M Hotel.

Photography by Peeradet Kangsadalkun