At the end of 2010, a unique forum brought together 8 creatives and critics to discuss issues facing design and development in Asia.
February 2nd, 2011
It’s always exciting when thought leaders in architecture and design come together to engage and interact in fresh and provocative ways.
Design Roulette, held in Singapore at the end of last year as part of the Asia Design Forum, was a dialogue with a difference.
Soo K. Chan, Kay Ngee Tan, Richard Hassell (see main image for WOHA’s Met in Bangkok), Lyndon Neri, Alex Cho, Robert Whitlock, Tim Johnson and Danwen Xing took to the stage to present 5 of their projects in 3 minutes and field questions for 7 minutes in a continuing chain of conversation, with each participant getting a turn as presenter and interviewer.
Singapore’s Dhoby Ghaut Green by SCDA Architects
For Kay Ngee Tan of Kay Ngee Tan Architects, the resulting dialogue was animated and offered a fresh perspective on common concerns.
Singapore Management University by Kay Ngee Tan Architects
“It’s intriguing to see how others resolve similar situations we face, as the selection of designers came from many parts of the world,” said Tan.
“It’s interesting to hear different approaches, whether one agrees with them or not.”
Singapore Pavilion by Kay Ngee Tan Architects
Kay Ngee Tan Architects presented their designs for the Singapore Management University, Buddhist Cultural Museum, Singapore Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai, a Villa in Hangzhou and a comparison of traditional courtyard houses in South East Asia and Northern China.
Buddhist cultural museum by Kay Ngee Tan Architects
Environmental issues were a consistent theme throughout the Design Roulette discussions, as were the role and value of design in Asia.
“The ADF forum mixed smaller design offices like ours with really huge operators, so discussion related to how one maintains the standard of design, and how architecture can positively or negatively impact on our environment,” said Tan.
Forums like Design Roulette are critical to creating dialogue in an ever-shifting and ever-adapting design environment – particularly in Singapore.
“It is important for the West to have a dialogue with the fast-moving, fast-changing East. Singapore in that sense is the right pivoting spot to hold this event,” said Tan.
“I must say work coming out of Singapore is not bad at all!” adds Tan. “Which makes me very proud of this small but highly intelligent city.”
The only downside of the event? According to Tan, the audience simply wanted more. Let’s hope the inaugural Design Roulette was the first of many!
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
In 2020, Rogerseller is 125 years young, and to celebrate the bathroom and kitchen experts are giving you a gift – a once in a lifetime sale with items up to 80% off!
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
From housing affordability to questions of density, multi-residential design and the future of cities, here are eight varied stories from our archives.
Set to undergo a $60-million revitalisation, the National Gallery of Australia has announced the launch of a landscape design competition for its Sculpture Garden.