In this issue

After showering attention on Asia for the past three years, we will shift our gaze back to Singapore and Malaysia in 2021, where our print edition is circulated. Our real estate is more precious now that we are only publishing every quarter, which is why we want to support the designers and architects who have been our loyal readers.

It is therefore befitting that the project we have featured on the cover is the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) Building by one of Malaysia’s premier practices, GDP Architects. Contributor Nizar Musa writes that it is easy to miss but spot it and what is unmistakeable is its occupation of a “unique design middle ground, of having neither too much nor too little, of being stately without statement”.

The same can be said of Outram Community Hospital in Singapore, which was conceptualised by B+H Architects. A complex, multi-faceted project that also has facilities for rehabilitation, administrative offices and even a kindergarten, it still manages to have an architectural language that is compositional, sculptural and cheerful.

Along a quiet residential lane in the eastern part of the country is a three-storey house by Ming Architects that used a series of staggered voids along its central axis to optimise the use of natural light and space. You’d never guess all this was happening behind its unassuming façade.

Do make time to read the feature on placemaking. This is a topic we are spotlighting in the first half of this year and a list of stories will be published in our print issue and website to delve deeper into it. With borders still closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and fuelled by the human need for connection and sense of belonging, this has become a glue to forge closer ties with one another.

The More We Get Together

Placemaking efforts in Singapore have gained momentum in the last 10 years and the covid-19 pandemic is serving to accelerate it and highlight its role in connecting various communities.

9 mins

Defining Singapore Design

We get insights from a group of Singaporeans, creatives and business leaders.

4 mins

Burst Of Energy

A metaphor for Shenzhen’s innovative design spirit, the iadc design museum in guangdong, china is literally breaking out of the box.

3 mins

RAPID RECOVERY

THE OUTRAM COMMUNITY HOSPITAL SERVES AS THE SINGAPORE GENERAL HOSPITAL CAMPUS’ REHABILITATION FACILITY AND MAIN LOGISTICS HUB.

4 mins

Equity By Design

GDP Architects’ new AICB building balances the complexities of need, function and context in a multi-faceted institutional training centre.

4 mins

Perfect Synthesis

Set within the Chao Phraya estate, Capella Bangkok is a destination-inspired hotel and Urban Oasis that showcases the collaborative effort of architecture firm hamiltons international and interior design practice bamo.

4 mins

Flowers In The Mansion

Suzhou’s traditional Chinese Manor house and its well-known gardens guided the interior concept of the New Park Hyatt Suzhou.

4 mins

NEW LAYERS

SENSITIVE AND RESPECTFUL EXTENSIONS BY OFYK ARCHITECTS ALLOW OLD AND NEW STRUCTURES TO COEXIST HARMONIOUSLY IN THIS BUNGALOW THAT HOUSES A MULTI-GENERATION FAMILY.

4 mins

Let There Be Light

This three-storey house by ming architects features a series of staggered voids without compromising on spatial efficiency.

3 mins

Chris Lee - The Hospitality Designer

Chris Lee, founder and creative director of asylum, is helping hotels engage the local community and be more than just solely the domain of tourists.

3 mins

Read all stories from d+a

d+a Magazine Description:

d+a is a bimonthly design magazine that covers the latest trends and developments in design, architecture, and technology. The magazine is known for its high-quality photography and in-depth articles on a wide range of topics, including:

* Design: d+a covers the latest design trends in everything from product design to interior design to graphic design. The magazine also features profiles of leading designers and design studios.
* Architecture: d+a covers the latest architectural projects from around the world, with a focus on sustainable and innovative design. The magazine also features interviews with renowned architects and architecture firms.
* Technology: d+a covers the latest technological innovations that are shaping the world of design and architecture. The magazine also features articles on how technology is being used to create new and exciting design possibilities.

d+a is a must-read for anyone who is interested in design, architecture, and technology. The magazine provides readers with a unique perspective on the latest trends and developments in these fields, as well as insights from leading designers, architects, and technologists.