Seeing Singapore anew after a job switch to design

Even for a nation made by design, Singapore is now truly pushing the boundaries

- Lee Siew Hua

What is it like to walk on water? It's an impossibility, but architect-artist Randy Chan was persuasive: "Come, come!

The next moment, I was loving the sensation of walking up a water terrace. Others sat, reclined or curled up with a book over the water — and all of us stayed dry. It was fun to imagine I was atop an aquatic abyss, but in reality we were all perched on “water seats” next to South Beach Tower in Marina Central.

Simple and imaginative, these blue-painted platforms, crafted from steel in a mesh design, were laid flat over the water terrace for our pleasure.

Many of us gravitated towards these whimsical water seats. Nearby, we could also rest in a sculptural tent, or relax on benches at the outdoor space fashioned as a Gratitude Grove. This was a temporary biophilic zone decked out in swathes of blue, an inherently tranquil colour, so city-dwellers could catch a restorative pause along Beach Road.

The novel spot was among 10 original “Design for Care” showcases dotted around Marina Central for the recent Singapore Design Week (Sept 11 to 21). The festival playfully and cleverly transformed four design districts: Marina Central, Bras Basah-Bugis, Orchard Road and Singapore Science Park.

For 11 days, each enclave became a cool design story, packaged with immersive experiences.

From street parties in Jalan Besar to (non-stinky) chickens foraging at youth space *Scape, I relished all the ideas. I also liked the Unnatural History Museum Of Singapore popup that riffed on the theme that Singapore is truly an intentionally designed nation.

Think hybrid orchids, Newater, the Merlion, transport and population policies, everything.

I was seeing a design-saturated land through fresh eyes during the Singapore Design Week. While the festival has ended, I know experiential local designs abound, much like how Singapore food is deliciously ubiquitous across the island.