DISCUSSION FORUM - Uniquely Singapore - Distinctively London?

DISCUSSION FORUM
19 Sept 2010, Sunday, 3:00 – 7:00pm

VENUE
Crypt Gallery
St Pancras Church
Euston Road, London NW1 2BA

Panelists
Kathryn Firth, Director of Urban Design, PLP Architecture
William Tan, Architect, Zaha Hadid Architects
Ting-Ting Zhang, Architect, Studio Egret West
with others to be confirmed.

Correspondents
Voon Wong, Director, VW+BS
Vince Ong, Architect, Fosters + Partners
Kevin Hung, Architect, Serie Architects
Janita Han, Architect, FAT
Agnes Yit, Student, AA
Lingxiu, Student, AA

ABOUT THE PROJECT
Using photography as a medium of observation, communication and representation, this project has been a series of ongoing conversations on generic spaces between six pairs of architects and architectural students in London and Singapore over the past year. Six key activity spaces (Transit, Eating, Leisure, Retail, Living and Occupational) that define our contemporary life have been identified as the basis for discussion. This exhibition showcases the collective findings by the correspondents.

The main position of the project arise from the prevailing condition of cities striving to be unique through icons, but yet reinforcing the generic with cities made the same through the endless repetition of differences by the same set of building programs and signature ‘starchitecture’ styles. Therefore, rather than claiming uniqueness through cultural references in architectural expression or iconic figurative gestures; this project questions and rediscovers the uniqueness of urban spaces through the most generic and banal scenes of everyday life. Perhaps, the uniqueness of the city can only be revealed through celebrating the generic.

Supported by Singapore International Foundation, Contact Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Symphony Orchestra.