Singapore is well into Phase 2 of the reopening of its economy, yet, many of us continue to work from home and, based on the manpower surveys, seem to be happy to keep this up. Consequently, our abodes have become the new centre of our lives, which is why this issue is themed upon residences. 

In curating eight of them from Singapore, Malaysia, China and Europe, we hope that some (or all) of their unique elements will inspire you when you design your next residential project. On the cover is the award-winning Casa A by Portuguese firm REM’A Arquitectos. It uses sustainable wood, arranged in a diagonal pattern, to sheath its upper volume, and has deep triangular voids that blur the boundaries between indoors and out. 

Don’t miss the report featuring products that would have been launched at Salone del Mobile, if it had been held this year. There are some beautiful, eco-friendly and technologically-advanced pieces worth including in your next project. 

Real estate has also been dedicated to Dr. Chang Jiat Hwee, an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture in the National University of Singapore, whose areas of interest include modern architecture. He has contributed a piece on how such buildings are actually more ubiquitous than we realise in Singapore. 

Finally, an update on the magazine. We will be adjusting the frequency of our print edition and our next issue will publish in November (the last one for 2020). From 2021, we will become a quarterly instead of a bimonthly. Do continue to keep up with us via Facebook and Instagram; check in with our website for design and architecture news and projects from around Asia. We look forward to remaining connected with you in the digital space. 

Singapore has been in a partial lockdown since 7 April, because of COVID-19, which means Issue 116 was produced while everyone was working from home. We are happy to report that it was smooth process, and are grateful to the newsmakers, advertisers and freelance writers for cooperating with us to make this happen. 

Gracing the cover is Sinan Books Poetry Store, an unexpected find of an adaptive reuse project by Wutopia that saw the conversion of a Russian orthodox church in Shanghai, China into a home for literary tomes. Dominating its interior is a dramatic steel bookcase structure that follows the outline of the walls and ceiling in the main hall. 

Sinan Books is obliquely connected to the feature story on conserving Singapore’s modern built heritage as an example of how to creatively respond to and reinvent a building’s programme. The first piece in a year-long series spotlighting this important topic, it offers the architectural perspective and analyses what the fuss is all about. 

The second feature is centred on architects sharing their thoughts on how the built environment will evolve in a post-COVID-19 world. Six personalities with different areas of specialisations – from urban planning to landscape architecture – offer their views on how their work is going to be impacted by the threat of pandemics. 

On a more light-hearted note, check out the delightful spread by our creative director. It features versatile furniture pieces that were curated for their ability to smoothly transit between home, hotel, office, public space…or wherever you want them to be. 

Flip through Issue 115 and you might notice d+a is a little different this issue. For starters, we have given the design some A&A, in renovation speak. The result is more breathing space in the layouts, a fresh set of fonts and overall, a chicer appearance. 

Another change is the introduction of the new section, Life. It offers snapshots of how design is applied in other disciplines outside of the built environment. We kick things off with a spread on interesting dial designs on timepieces, and a feature on fitting out a private jet. 

Elsewhere in the magazine, look out for two stories written after a trip to Germany in January. One is the coverage of Heimtextil, a fair that increased our appreciation of textiles and the important role they play in softening the edges of a space. The other is of a visit to the unconventional Hansgrohe Aquademie, the headquarters of the bathroom and kitchen fitting manufacturer, nestled deep in the Black Forest in the town of Schiltach. 

Stellar is the project published on the cover, a study in balancing form and function. Located in Gujarat, India and designed by Sanjay Puri Architects, the mixed-use building stands out for a rust-red, sculptural volume, inspired by origami, perched on the open, north-oriented terrace. 

Another project worth highlighting is Sun City Kobe Tower, a 35-storey building dedicated to luxury senior living, designed by Richard Beard Architects and BAMO. Together, they have successfully created a resort-like experience with a plethora of beautiful communal spaces. 

The first full issue of the year and decade offers a line-up centred on technology, continuous learning and community – all of which are important to the future of design and architecture. The commitment to advancing knowledge is always a good resolution to have and we advocate this through a feature on different Master of Architecture programs you can take up. 

Successively, the focus shifts to virtual reality. Our bets are on this immersive tool revolutionising the architectural design process and we introduce a few companies that you should be acquainted with. 

Of the project features, the 10 we have curated this issue each represents one or more of the themes important to us at d+a. The cover is of A Simple Headquarters, the corporate office of car dealership Wearnes Automotive. Aesthetically striking, it is designed by Pencil Syndicate and embodies that ideal balance of form and function. 

There are two projects located in India; one, a Hindu temple, and the other, a house. Temple In Stone and Light is a contemporary interpretation of this traditional place of worship. Chhavi, the Desert House conforms to the ancient Indian architectural principles of Vastu Shastra.

Another abode published in this issue is House68 by Design Collective Architects. The residence is an adroit composition of materials and bespoke parts divided into three distinct pavilions, giving it a five-star resort aesthetic. 

We close the issue with a possible solution for mass, affordable housing. TECLA, as the project is named, has a structure made from reusable, recyclable materials taken from the local terrain and produced by a 3D printer. This is a topic that has dominated headlines around the world and it is heartening to learn how architects are harnessing technology to find an answer.

The latest issue of d+a is a reflection of how busy the last quarter of the year typically is. For example, it starts with a feature story based on an exclusive press trip to Europe, invited by Vitra and W. Atelier, to visit a textile mill in northern Italy that manufactures fabrics for Vitra’s furniture. We then crossed the Swiss Alps to the small German town of Weil Am Rhein to tour the impressive Vitra Campus.
There were events aplenty, which we were media partners of. These included the annual ArchiFest 2019, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and the 8th mASEANa International Conference. Please don’t miss the important message the latter is trying to convey – we must remain united against allowing our national heritage to be erased. We interviewed Tim Kobe, the founder and CEO of Eight Inc., who is best known for conceptualising the original brick-and-mortar Apple Store. An experience designer, he is a strong proponent of designing with the end-user in mind, which is why his statement that an architect’s job “is fundamentally to serve people” really resonated with us. On the cover this issue is the Lost Villa Boutique Hotel. Marvel at how DAS Lab has camouflaged the project into the village of Dawan in Ningxia, China. You will realise the intention is both to harmonise with the surrounding landscape and local village architecture. Special mention must go to Masjid Daing Abdul Rahman, a contemporary-style mosque in Malaysia by Razin Architects that is a three-storey cube of glass, brick and steel. Its description of the project aptly sums it up, “We wanted to show a progressive image, not be
stuck with the conventional dome and minaret.”

“Most children enjoy running around in circles.” This is what Japanese architect Takaharu Tezuka shared, when interviewed about what motivated his design for Muku Nursery in Shizuoka, Japan. The outcome is what you see on the cover of this issue, a cluster of buildings each with a circular footprint. It reflects his practice of always asking how a project is going to enhance the lives of those who use it, before he starts designing it. 

Tezuka’s approach to architecture is reflective of a larger trend that is less of the “me”, and more of the “we”. It was most noticeable at the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival 2019’s conference, DATUM:KL, held in July. Across three days, speakers from all over the world repeated themes about the importance of complementing nature, the shying away from designing edifices, and a deep-seated respect for the community, locality and placemaking.

Elsewhere in this issue, we showcase two adaptive reuse projects. The Temasek Shophouse is made up of five three-storey conservation shophouses in Singapore that date back to 1928 and have been successfully refurbished by Surbana Jurong Consultants. Kaomai Estate 1955 is a project in Chiang Mai, Thailand that used to be a tobacco processing estate. 

Look out too for the curvaceous and dramatic Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre by RSP Architects, located in Kuala Lumpur. On a smaller scale (but no less short on drama either) is the Marquee nightclub and Avenue cocktail lounge by ICRAVE in Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Occupying what was formerly a three-storey theatre with a 21m ceiling height, both venues are designed as contrasts of each other and complete sensorial experiences. 

Earlier this year, the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission from the UK released a report entitled Creating space for beauty. In it, it states, “Beauty is a part, not the whole part but an inescapably necessary part of the good life, of what, long ago, the Greeks called eudemonia. And beauty should be shared and democratic[,] not forgotten.”

We were heartened to learn about the existence of this organisation and excited to read how it wants “to put beauty back on the agenda”. This is something we try to do ourselves and, we hope, inspire our audience to follow. 

Case in point is the project on our cover this issue, the UCCA Dune Art Museum by OPEN Architecture, in Qinhuangdao, China. Its beauty lies in how it is partially submerged beneath natural sand dunes and composed of organically-shaped, interconnected, grotto and cave-like segments that mediate the space between land and sea. 

Equally good-looking are the three bungalows that we have featured – each set in a slightly different tropical context. The first is in Malaysia, by MJKanny Architect, that uses a funnel to build anticipation up towards the view, enhanced by a half-radial layout. The second is in Thailand, by Sunday* Architects, and draws on classic Mid-century Modern design elements. The third is in Indonesia, by Saota, a collection of buildings connected by gardens, courtyards and planted terraces. 

Still on the topic of homes, our anchor feature is on affordable housing and the architectural firms that are innovating in this space. The lack of reasonably-priced homes to be offered to the masses is a global issue and governments are now examining the challenge on their hands. This story spotlights a few projects and the architects who are behind them.

A meet-up with Piero Lissoni in his Milan office last March revealed his emphatic belief that architects must always be respectful and responsible when designing a project by not making others “victims” of their work. One application of this is to the importance of context – something that the projects featured in this issue are mindful of. 

For example, Raya Heritage is a new hotel in Chiangmai, Thailand by Boon Design. Faced with a brief from the client to have the property connect to traditional northern Thai culture, the firm created a building with tiered roofs and a structural integrity inspired by vernacular architecture. From Spain comes a villa, Stgilat Aiguablava, by architect Enric Ruiz-Geli and Cloud 9. It establishes a dialogue with the landscape, culture and materials of the Costa Brava region where the house is located. 

A second house, featured on the cover of this issue, is named Surprising Seclusion by HYLA Architects. Designed more as a response to the context of a dense, noisy urban environment, it turns inward with spacious inner courtyards layered with interlocking voids, and an abundance of internal landscaping and natural light. 

Even interior projects can and should be aware of context. The Penthouse Suites of the Ascott Orchard Singapore – and the entire property, for that matter – take their cue from its location along the shopping belt and have interiors inspired by fashion. Designed by Ascott's in-house team led by Kian Liew, they are fitted out with pieces from the home collection of Fendi. 

Our April/May 2019 is all about twinning. We published two reports: one on Ambiente, an important consumer goods exhibition, and the other on Bangkok Design Week. We spotlight the area of Tanjong Pagar twice. The first is in a feature on its waterfront, where the Future Cities Laboratory has come up with a few interesting possible scenarios as to how it can develop once the port moves out. The second is of the mixed-use development Tanjong Pagar Centre, which is now Singapore’s tallest project, designed by SOM. Look out too for a pair of projects from the Middle East. Atelier Brückner has designed the permanent exhibition Arabian Journeys in the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture. We uncover some of the technologies they used to bring the stories to life. In Israel, Asaf Gottesman has completed the Postscript Residence. This project marks a return to designing a typology he was a leader of in the 1990s, but has not done since 2001. The second home in this issue, Project #4, is a type of twin too, albeit a fraternal one. Created by Studio Wills + Architects, it is a re-arrangement of the massing of Project #3, itself another house in the same neighbourhood. We hope it intrigues you as much as it did
us.

The themes of technology, heritage and conservation make their presence felt this issue. On the tech front, the feature story lists some of the latest tools that architects and designers can add to their kit to improve the way they work, and benefit the environment and the people utilising those spaces. On the heritage and conservation front, the second feature story covers in depth how Bangkok is borrowing these elements to revitalise the banks of the Chao Phraya. Warehouses, shophouses and even the city’s grand dame, the Mandarin Oriental hotel, are undergoing adaptive reuse and being updated. In Singapore, a shophouse along Blair Road has been beautifully restored. Read how its architect Terence Quah had to overcome unexpected several roadblocks posed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.  Found in the People section is Chooake Wongwattanasilpa who heads the user experience and design division of DBS Bank. He sheds light on design thinking and in a complementary story on the d+a website, shares how architects can enter the field too.

This issue kicks off with a feature on architecture for the silver generation. Earlier in 2018, Colliers International released a report on Asia’s ageing crisis and the increasing need for senior housing. This sparked the story idea that analyses how design can play a part in mitigating this challenge. On the projects front, two five-star hotels in Shanghai, China have opened recently. Both Bulgari Hotel Shanghai and The Middle House (page 52) have strong ties to Italy, but attempt to introduce, in their own ways, that highly important sense of place. Look out for Seascape Lembongan a villa on Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia that takes its cue from the Mediterranean aesthetic. Also taking inspiration from Europe is Merci Marcel, a restaurant that hopes to bring a slice of France to Singapore, yet offers a strong connection to its
locality. Don’t miss either the retrospective coverage of Design Affair, d+a’s very first event, which we are happy to share was very well-received. We look forward to your continued support. Finally, since this issue straddles 2018 and 2019, here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The Oct/Nov 2018 issue is a geographically diverse one, unveiling many gems across Asia. The feature story takes us to Cambodia (page 30), where we examine how design-oriented boutique hotels have helped the city of Siem Reap attract higher net worth tourists. We also have projects from further north: the office of Taipei-based singer-songwriter JJ Lin, a stunning penthouse in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels, and an urban ryokan located in Tokyo that successfully embodies all the characteristics of this traditional Japanese inn. Back in Southeast Asia, there is more than what meets the eye of the Unilever Headquarters in Jakarta. Its architects actually borrowed ideas from Indonesian villages to design it. In Malaysia, we peel back the brick walls of the Jandabaik Villas in Pahang to see how it co- exists peacefully with nature. Stories from our home base in Singapore include the versatile office-cum-showroom of architect Terence Chan, Inte Architect’s first bungalow project in Old Holland Road, and Meating Place, a restaurant that translates its specialty in proteins into its interiors.

Could Siri or Alexa someday replace the role of an architect? At present, it does not sound possible. Despite the Fourth Industrial Revolution making its presence felt in almost every industry, it does not seem to have affected architecture too significantly. Yet, we feel it is merely a question of time before it does. This is what motivated the anchor feature this issue, that examines where the architect in arch tech is. 

The tech theme continues with a project by X+Living, Ideas Lab, which drew inspiration from the Industrial Revolution and Information Age to design a mixed-use space for Chinese firm Powerlong Group in Shanghai. This issue continues to keep the spotlight on conservation by featuring two projects related to it. Straits Clan is the second members’ club in Singapore to open, housed within the heritage building formerly occupied by the New Majestic Hotel. In Malaysia, the iconic Datai Langkawi resort gets a makeover almost 25 years after it first opened. 

The design of educational institutions is rarely spotlighted, which is why we felt compelled to do so this issue. A study showed that well-designed classrooms can improve pupil performance by 16 percent. The onus is therefore on architects to advise educators to get the basic physical factors of these spaces right, and provide a conducive environment for learning and development. 

Elsewhere in Issue 104, we summarise our visit to the Salone del Mobile 2018 in Milan, Italy through an in-depth fair report. Back in Asia, we feature a project in Beijing, China, Courtyard Hybrid, which examines how the city’s famous hutongs can be re-adapted for modern-day use. The same is done for one of Hanoi’s legendary tube houses that has been converted into a flagship store. Also in the spotlight are two abodes – the Window House in Malaysia, and Villa Otto in Singapore – of contrasting styles that provoke and inspire at the same time.

Issue 103 of d+a steps out with a slightly altered course for the magazine. There is much talk that the 21st century belongs to Asia. As a design and architecture magazine sitting in Singapore, at the core of the continent, we feel it is imperative that we embrace our origins. Henceforth, the content will pivot towards a greater focus on Asia and Southeast Asia. In this issue, we examine how two buildings in Hong Kong have been readapted for 21st-century use. We also look at how a tower in Ho Chi Minh City has changed the skyline, and tour a bungalow in Singapore that borrows a tropical Asian technique to guard against the weather. In rapidly-developing Cambodia, another hospitality project comes online, Rosewood Phnom Penh, designed with sensitive acknowledgement of the country’s heritage and art forms. 

d+a issue 102 focuses on the humanistic design values that scratch on the way our community is changing the approach towards design and architecture. The idea of place-making and community-centric manifestos drives design professionals to be more aware and sensitive towards the people they are designing for. As part of being empathetically responsive in our Community Issue, we make a turn to the new extension of Universtiy of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture by NADAAA to witness the integrative planning between the old and the new. And in this issue, we talk to MVRDV on the inclusive Tianjin Binhai Library in China; a project that considers the surrounding development of the city and its people. Asian designers also take precedence in this issue with projects by Andre Fu of AFSO (Andaz Singapore), Studio Bikin (Jelutong House) and Neri&Hu; (The Garage). 

d+a issue 101 celebrates award-winning projects, architects, designers and their philosophies. Design philosophy is very personal and it challenges you to go beyond your beliefs. It is a way to communicate with the people that you’re designing for but through an individual voice. In PRIME, Daan Roosegaarde shares his ideologies on nature and technology. His design approach has always been an exemplary proof to how the future of design can essentially affect human being tremendously. In a utopic context, he imagines places and reconsiders spaces in the most bizarre ways, that somehow they make perfect sense. And in this issue, we also take precedence in recognizing Singapore talents with projects by Ministry of Design, Takenouchi Webb, UPSTAIRS_ and RT+Q. Award-winning David Collins Studio also takes us to a special tour into the newly launched Ritz-Carlton Residences Bangkok, located in the iconic Mahanakhon building.

In this very special issue, we are not only celebrating a milestone with the 100th! We want to pay homage to the legends, leaders of the industry and legacy makers. Cross-pollination and collaboration have no longer become the secret formula to a successful design solution or an award-winning product. People of design from various disciplines are working together constantly. The sharing of ideas and the way concepts are realised through collaborative means promise a bright future for the industry. We’ve gathered some of the most celebrated names in the design community including founder of Apartamento, Omar Sosa; acclaimed architects, Sir David Adjaye and Ole Scheeren; fashion designers Iris Van Herpen and Cassey Gan; sculptor and designer Arik Levy; as well as those behind the success of established global brands in the industry. And what better way to celebrate our 100th issue than to talk about the legendary architect I.M. Pei. We’ve put together a special exclusive retrospective on the 100-year-old architect who is known for his amazing works on the Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Lourve) in Paris, in the words of his two architect sons, Didi and Sandi Pei. Happy 100th!

In the context of structural honesty, designs should function in the simplest way. The structure should display its true purpose and not serve as mere decorative. Synonymous to the saying ‘form follows function’, the idea is that a building or product is shaped on the basis of its intended function. Perhaps, this may be the key to better sustainability in the long run. And as we are speaking about raw designs, it is not just about exposed bricks and cement rendered walls. It is a celebration of how beauty can be achieved simply by a mutual respect between people and materials. In PRIME, Chef André Chiang’s restaurant in Taipei – RAW – celebrates the beauty of local materials in its original form. Raw, untainted and pure, the special local pinewood used for the sculptural structure stamps a strong statement that is synonymous to the way fresh produce is used creatively in the restaurant. Designers are also working on their pursuit to finding a voice in design. Sometimes it lies in the context of place. André Fu draws his sensibilities for Kerry Hotel Hong Kong through the city’s way of life by the iconic Victoria Harbour. In Alila Yangshuo, the story of an old sugar factory creates the heart and soul of the newly refurbished hospitality project in China. The manipulation of materials translates to our contribution as designers to promote ecology, sustainability and a better life. Let’s be honest to ourselves, and start designing with heart, shall we?

Evolution is happening faster than we speak. Artificial intelligence is replacing the way we think. In this issue, we celebrate the paradoxes and quirks of colours and arts. The idiosyncrasies of clashing ideas while eccentric people continue their eccentric things. The designs are not just colourful but imaginative and provoking. They leave you thinking. Simply look at Jaime Hayon, the maestro of psychedelic playful designs and smiling objects. His interpretations keep the design scene ever-excited. Nobody knows what’s in his mind. But one thing is for sure; we put him right in PRIME where he speaks exclusively of his latest hospitality project in his homeland, Hotel Barceló Torre de Madrid. We believe that the new era of designers are redefining spaces and how they work. WeWork Weihai Lu for instance, is far from looking like a co-working space. It is about adding the extra edge using colours and other design elements into an old heritage building; turning the building into a fancy place for networking, communication and creative forages. Closer to home, Patricia Urquiola energetic vibrancy is felt at Oasia Downtown Hotel. Conceived by WOHA, we dissect the first red skyscraper in Singapore one module at a time to understand the unique structure in the city’s skyline. Over in Kuala Lumpur, we speak to the ‘Queen of Patterns’, Lisette Scheers about her design ethos, her future plans and her first interior design project, Delicious. Soon enough, we’d realise that we are rebels of design. But in all honesty, why not?

Architecture is built to provide better living and architects are doing their part in conveying a certain level of uniqueness to keep new buildings universal and interactive. The first thing in mind when it comes to building sustainably is to make people happy and to better lives. In this issue that focuses on ‘Sustainability’, we are not addressing the prolonged environmental issues but to celebrate design and architecture that tell a story, as well as carry its responsibility in response to its own contextual aspects. Pritzker Prize winner, Toyo Ito illustrates how he designed a ‘sound cave’ that is an opera on its own. Another Pritzker Prize legend, the late Dame Zaha Hadid shares her final collaboration with BVLGARI with the latest B.zero1 Design Legend ring. In Prime, we delve into Brandon Haw’s new venture after 25 years with Foster + Partners. We talk to Chris Lee of Asylum (Singapore), plant artist Satoshi Kawamoto of Green Fingers Market and M&O Designer of the Year 2017, Pierre Charpin to find out more about their creative ventures and how to remain current. In Pulse, we celebrate the colours of vitality through the eyes of Francesco Lietti and Azad Daniel Haris. 

We welcome 2017 with a brand new look and a fresh new content. As the revamped issue 96 of d+a magazine takes on a revolutionary creative direction, you can expect a collection of curated projects that encapsulates the essence of design and architecture across the world. Set around the theme of ‘Conservation in Modernity’, this issue brings you to explore the beauty of Tribeca homes in downtown Manhattan as well as Anglo-Chinese mansions that are given a new lease of life. Learn how abandoned and derelict factories are turned into lively and beautiful spaces whilst staying true to its history. We have a quick chat with architect, Eran Chen of ODA New York, while celebrated conservation architect, Ar. Laurence Loh shares his sentiments on the illustrious Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion and conservation in Penang, Malaysia. In Prime, we take a closer and even deeper look into the nuts and bolts of the Blue Mansion and its ‘spirit of place’. In the Pulse section, we divulge into the life of Alex Seton and six other talented artists from the Singapore Biennale 2016. 

The newest issue 95 of d+a magazine is set to inspire with unique viewpoints and comprehensive design ideas, emancipated from ancient wisdom to the realms of nature – all this to bring you the best in today’s design and architecture. Paying homage to the sacred Vaastu Shastra, Blocher Blocher India takes us on a tour into a private residence in Ahmedabad, India. Across in London, we peer into Studio Ashby’s interior space that begins with a piece of art. At the same time, 20 th century architecture zeitgeists are beginning to change the face of architecture; creating revolutionary designs that change lives and add values to a city. We zoom closer into the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) by CannonDesign + NEUF architect(e)s and the Butterfly Pavilion at Al Noor Island Park in U.A.E by 3deluxe. In the arts, Ron Arad and Boedi Widjaja share their piece of mind in two contrasting media.

It’s an architectural tour around the world! We’ve brought together a series of magnificent projects that traverses the theme of nature and sustainability. From a cube shaped home in Kyiv, Ukraine that is dotted by naturally unsystematic thrust of pine trees to a ‘red alert’ from a small town in Selangor, Malaysia with its container inspired homestay, the projects exemplify an innovative sensibility and sustainability. This issue is packed with the idea of harnessing the advantages of natural elements and expanding the potential of designing with just one single core building material.

LAUD Architects’ Grace Assembly of God Church at Tanglin is an attempt to reinterpret the contemporary protestant church typology in Singapore; Andra Matin’s architecture of the Katamama in Seminyak is distinctively quiet in announcing its Balinese roots; Envelope Architects’ Swan Lake Avenue project of a tenantable shop space on the ground floor and residential units on the upper floors reflects a growing social phenomenon; Studio Bikin’s Uppercase and Bookmark at APW in Bangsar, Malaysia, allude to its rich printing press heritage.

Studio Bikin’s Desa House inverts the vertical stacking of its internal spaces, interrogating conventional space-planning in the classic terrace house to unconventional effect; the fluid expression in Kite Studio Architecture’s Naga House explores how architectural elements assume interchangeability–floors fold up to become walls that become ceilings; located near the Andes mountain range in Chile, 57Studio’s Casa FLD conveys seemingly opposed characters–openness and reclusion, wilderness and order, warmth and minimalism; Init Design Office’s Munwood Lakeside guesthouse is an experimental project that emphasises connection with nature in rural Yunnan, China.

Universidad de La Laguna’s new Faculty of Fine Arts in Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain, is conceptually an extension of the Campus’s public space with an autonomous interior landscape of its own; LAUD Architects’ Frankel Avenue House, Singapore, has a perfectly pitched roof from a ‘[concrete] sheath’ that runs through the whole house to outline a very simple geometric form; Archicentre’s Clay Roof House in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, is entirely based on a self-sufficient water harvesting system, distinguished on the outside by its front vertical-screen facade of clay roof tiles salvaged and re-used from the old house

URBNarc’s design of Alila Seminyak explores the dynamic interaction that a beachfront property can have with its environs, in both the resort’s outlook towards and its reception of the ocean; RT+Q Architects’ ‘House Off Cluny’ takes advantage of its irregular pentagonal site by being positioned nearer the road and opened inward toward the rear to views of expansive green; a21 Studio’s urban Saigon House is composed of vertically connected coloured blocks hovering over an ‘alleyway’ courtyard; Kientruc O designs a kindergarten that is a lively composition of three small ‘houses’ inserted within the existing framework of an old townhouse.

The historical status of the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings that were converted into Singapore’s National Gallery remain overwhelmingly present, even as outfitted with spectacular new structures and modern interiors; Renzo Piano’s design for New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art in the West Village and Manhattan’s Meatpacking District strives and succeeds to open up to the public; DP Architects’ Alexandra Central, occupying the former SAFRA Bukit Merah site with a land area of close to 8,000sqm, is a highly visible landmark comprising a 19-storey hotel perched on top of a six-storey mall-and-carpark

The extensively upgraded CSC@Changi by DP Architects is a sensitively detailed project that retains its existing building structures which date back to colonial times; HYLA Architects’ design of the 10-unit cluster housing at 34/36 Toh Crescent expresses strategic manoeuvres for privacy in the units; two adjacent multi-generational family homes on Lantana Avenue by Genome Architects are similar in being reconstructions of existing structures but distinctly different in design visions; Rice Lab by studiogoto is a ‘glamorised warehouse’ where visitors ‘journey’ through four levels of themed ‘labs’ of ​possibilities and discovery​.

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d+a is a Singapore-based title established in 2001. We began as a bi-monthly print magazine and have since developed a digital presence too. Advocates of good design and architecture in Asia and Southeast Asia, we also champion Asian designers who are either trailblazing or up-and-coming. Our excellent relationship with the design and architecture community means we are among the first to publish newly-completed projects, and find out how they are done. These we curate to ensure that they are designed with purpose and intention to have a positive imprint on the built environment. Through in-depth features, we analyse the trends, technologies and ideas sweeping across the industry and their implications on the ecosystem.

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