[in-enaction] Winning design teams for National Art Gallery of Singapore

   ----- Original Message -----
   From: [1]Chua Ai Lin
   To: [2]singaporeheritage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; [3]"sgg >>
   SingaporeHeritage"@googlegroups.com
   Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 10:53 PM
   Subject: [singaporeheritage] press release: Winning design teams for
   National Art Gallery of Singapore

           [4]http://app.sprinter.gov.sg/data/pr/20070829985.htm

            [cid:00c001c7eb19$2f642330$6401a8c0@your323f049f17]
   
    ANNOUNCEMENT OF TOP THREE WINNING DESIGN TEAMS FOR THE NATIONAL ART
                            GALLERY OF SINGAPORE

   Singapore, 29 August 2007 The international jury panel for the
   National Art Gallery (working title) of Singapore
   (新加坡国家艺术馆)
   architectural design competition has named the top three winning
   designs. They are in the following order:

   (1)   Studio Milou Architecture from France, in collaboration with CPG
   Consultants from Singapore

   (2)   Ho + Hou Studio Architects, a Taiwan-based architectural firm,
   in collaboration with AEDAS Pte Ltd from Singapore

   (3)   Chan Sau Yan Associates, a Singapore-based architectural firm,
   in collaboration with Lekker Design Pte Ltd

   The competition, organised by Singapores Ministry of Information,
   Communications and the Arts (MICA) in association with the Singapore
   Institute of Architects, was launched in February this year. It drew
   111 entries from 29 countries worldwide.

   Earlier this week, five shortlisted teams of architecture and design
   firms made presentations on their submissions and scale models of
   their designs to a 7-member international jury, chaired by Professor
   Tommy Koh, Singapores Ambassador-at-Large and Chairman of the National
   Heritage Board. The teams were selected anonymously in Stage I of the
   competition, based on design concept and philosophy. They included
   firms from Australia, France, Taiwan and Singapore.


   On the overall standard of submissions, Prof Koh said: The five
   designs were of very high quality and provided many creative and
   excellent design ideas for the National Art Gallery. After careful
   deliberation and having given due consideration to the imaginative and
   creative responses to the Art Gallerys vision, as well as their
   functionality and feasibility, the Jury have decided on the top three
   designs that best met the brief.

   Winning Design 1: Studio Milou Architecture

   The design scheme by Studio Milou Architecture elegantly integrates
   the two buildings at the roof level, with the use of a linear draped
   canopy, supported by tree like columns, while respecting the fabric of
   the existing monuments. The scheme respects the existing entrances and
   introduces new ones to make the building porous at street level.

   A strong street concept runs through the buildings at basement level
   two, bringing visitors down to this level via large staircases and
   lifts. The visitors orientate themselves here before making their way
   up into the higher levels of the art gallery. Internal, dramatic new
   spaces are created via extension of existing staircases and
   introduction of new ones. Organisation of spaces takes into detailed
   consideration how museums and galleries work.

   Of Studio Milou Architectures design, the Jurys comments were that the
   scheme had the most delightful design and appeal. The extension of a
   staircase which leads from the basement to the rotunda acts as a
   strong architectural solution that at once links the basement and
   upper levels, which guides the visitor to the very heart of the former
   Supreme Court. The internal circulation route overall is well-planned
   in relation to public spaces. The designer has provided a good
   analysis of the curatorial function and requirement within the
   building.

   Winning Design 2: Ho + Hou Studio Architects

   The design by Ho + Hou Studio Architects is inspired by The Kelong, a
   fragile and delicate structure that was commonly found off the coast
   of Singapore back in the 1970s. The scheme keeps the identities of the
   two buildings separate but creates a strong internal axis at the
   basement level to link the buildings. The visitors enter at B1 level
   before making their way through a range of terraced galleries, shops
   and retail spaces.

   The scheme continues the Kelong theme in terms of architectural forms
   and the choice of materials and colours. The scheme inserts a new,
   prominent framework of grids in the courtyards, the language of which
   is carried through to the roof treatment where lattices and louvers
   control light admitted through a glazed roof.

   Of Ho + Hou Studio Architects design, the Jurys comments were that it
   was a very well thought through scheme on the size and arrangement of
   gallery and related spaces, with interesting and imaginative use of
   spaces that are to be retained.  It comes across as being respectful
   of the distinct and separate identities of the buildings.

   Winning Design 3: Chan Sau Yan Associates

   The design by Chan Sau Yan Associates is an understated scheme with
   minimal intervention. A main entry portal located between the two
   monuments is a brightly lit rectilinear enclosure with translucent
   walls that allow a view to the adjacent historic walls of the City
   Hall and the former Supreme Court.

   The connection between various levels of the buildings weaves in and
   out of the portal in the form of bridges.  Visitors enter the gallery
   through this portal and access the galleries and public spaces at
   level 2 of City Hall and at ground floor of the Former Supreme Court
   building.

   Of Chan Sau Yan Associates design, the Jurys comments were that it is
   a pragmatic approach with minimal intervention, with a very good
   distribution of functional spaces, where circulation is
   straightforward and well addressed.

   Other Shortlisted Schemes

   The other two shortlisted schemes were by DP Architects from Singapore
   and Smart Design Studio from Australia.

   DP Architects design seeks to retain the original character of the
   buildings through the insertion of new flexible gallery spaces. This
   scheme is respectful of the local codes and guidelines by the
   Preservation of Monuments Board.  A glazed facade at the rear of the
   City Hall building retains the layer of existing fabric (columns and
   slabs) behind it.  Moving images on screens create a sense of movement
   and interest on the facade.  The interior planning is simple and
   logical. A large voluminous space has been set aside to provide space
   for international exhibition as well as a food terrace located at the
   top floor.

   Smart Design Studios design scheme sports orchid-inspired structures,
   symbolic of Singapores national flower and integrates the two
   monuments with a strong linear axis or internal street at ground
   level. The internal street is porous, inviting visitors from all sides
   of the building. This axis is also reflected in a high level canopy
   connecting high, slender, orchid-shaped columns along the internal
   'street'.  The scheme is respectful of the history of the buildings
   and uses the conserved spaces well. Clear internal planning with
   spaces sharply defined by the internal street.

   The Jurys decision will be presented to MICA, which will then decide
   on the appropriate party to commission to design and build the Art
   Gallery, after working through some of the key implementation details.
   This will include further testing of the technical and financial
   viability of the schemes.

   A public exhibition of the winning designs and scale models will be
   held in October 2007. The designs will also be made available on the
   National Art Gallery website then. These are masterplans by the
   winning teams, and represent the conceptual stage and not the final
   designs. Public feedback will also be considered for the realisation
   of the project.  The National Art Gallery is scheduled for completion
   in 2012.

   Media enquiries: 

   Mr Koh Buck Song

   Tel +65 6390 3340 or +65 9842 8608 / Email
   [5]bucksong.koh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

   Ms Pamela Tor Das

   Tel +65 6390 3330 or +65 9765 2971 / Email
   [6]pamela.tordas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

   Notes to the Editor

   About the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA)

   The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) is a
   multi-faceted ministry. It is both an economic and social ministry
   with the vision to nurture and develop a Creative Economy, Gracious
   Community and Connected Singapore.

   The Ministry's mission is to develop Singapore as a Global City for
   information, communications and the arts, so as to build a creative
   economy and a connected society with a Singaporean identity rooted in
   a multicultural heritage. It aims to propel the creative economy
   through the development and promotion of the creative industries
   (arts, design and media) and infocomm technology sector to create new
   economic value and jobs.  It also aims to forge a strong sense of
   community, national identity, rootedness and inclusion among
   Singaporeans, and to foster better understanding between the
   Government and its various stakeholders through effective public
   communications. More information on MICA is available at:
   [7]http://www.mica.gov.sg.

   About the National Art Gallery of Singapore

   The National Art Gallery of Singapore (working title) is a new visual
   arts institution which will contribute to building Singapore as a
   regional and international hub for visual arts.  It will focus on the
   display, promotion, research and study of Southeast Asian and
   Singaporean art, as well as play host to international art
   exhibitions.

   Situated in the heart of Singapores Civic District, the City Hall and
   adjacent former Supreme Court building two important heritage
   buildings symbolic of Singapores nationhood will be converted to house
   this exciting new visual arts venue, and is anticipated to be
   completed by 2012. The National Art Gallery will be a civic and
   creative space, established for the enrichment, enjoyment and
   engagement of Singapore residents and visitors from all over the
   world.

References

   1. mailto:chuaal.sg@xxxxxxxxx
   2. mailto:singaporeheritage@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   3. mailto:"sgg%20>>%20SingaporeHeritage"@googlegroups.com
   4. http://app.sprinter.gov.sg/data/pr/20070829985.htm
   5. mailto:bucksong.koh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   6. mailto:pamela.tordas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
   7. http://www.mica.gov.sg/