Singapore presents model of sustainable city at Venice Biennale

Seema Gupta Channel NewsAsia 27 Aug 10;

VENICE : If the world was built like Singapore, the entire global population could be housed on less than one percent of the world's land area.

This is the premise behind Singapore's pavilion at this year's International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.

The island-state is presented as an effective model of a compact and sustainable city of the future at this renowned exhibition.

The architectural wonder that is Venice is once again playing host to the world's leading talent in building design.

The 12th International Architecture Biennale in Venice showcases cutting edge cities and concepts.

And the theme this year is People Meet in Architecture.

In taking on this theme in Venice, Singapore looked to its unique brand of urban planning and housing in a high density state.

And so right in the heart of Venice is a little slice of Singapore.

A 35 metre long tube represents a cross-section of Singapore.

Jointly commissioned by the Design Singapore Council and the Singapore Institute of Architects, it was launched by Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.

The pavilion showcases the diverse lives and experiences that make up a compact city like Singapore.

So compact and efficient that the exhibit proposes that 1,000 Singapores could theoretically house the entire world's population in a space just twice the size of Italy.

Lui Tuck Yew, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, said: "1,000 Singapores because in our planning parameters we're planning for a population of 6 and a half million people and you multiply that by a 1000, you have 6.5 billion which is roughly the population of the world."

From the ventilation blocks so common in Singapore's tropical architecture to the one thousand postcards that capture the island's physical and social landscape - the data, diagrams and detailed portraits aim to give the visitor an idea of the components that make up Singapore - highlighting the urban sustainability of this experience.

Khoo Peng Beng, Architect and Lead Curator, said: "We have made a lot of design and engineering and all sorts of different innovations, to fit so many people onto such a small land area.

And in future if more and more people move in the city as what we see the pattern of growth in the world is today, there would be a lot of pressure on resources and on the planet so we are provoking thought and maybe discussions on the different ways that we can become more efficient."

A panel discussion with the curators explored some of these themes at the pavilion's opening.

It was a chance to discuss the idea that people are themselves the architecture of a nation.

Jeffrey Ho, Director, DesignSingapore Council, said: "People are very used to talking about design in terms of aesthetics, in terms of products, things and tangibles that you have.

But perhaps Singapore is presenting a model right, that we're designing systems, the financial systems, the social systems, the cultural systems that makes up planning and makes up architecture."

For those who cannot make it to Venice, the entire exhibit will be shown in Singapore after it finishes its run in Venice in November. - CNA/ch

Singapore, the ideal 'compact city'
Paul Gilfeather Today Online 27 Aug 10;

VENICE - Singapore declared itself the ultimate "compact city" yesterday at the Biennale exhibition for international architecture in Venice.

Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Mr Lui Tuck Yew, travelled to the Italian city to officially open Singapore's pavilion.

The Biennale event, part of a wider arts and film festival, allows countries to showcase their achievements in city planning.

And talking to Today ahead of the launch, the Minister said the pavilion's thought-provoking concept, "1000 Singapores - A Model of the Compact City", would prove a massive hit by demonstrating how the country had coped with housing such huge numbers over a relatively small area of land.

He said: "This is a very interesting way of presenting Singapore and it gives people a very rich introduction to our way of life.

"When I saw the pavilion I was completely intrigued as to how the organisers put this concept together and overall I think it's a very interesting and captivating presentation.

"It is vital Singapore takes part in such global events. It puts Singapore on the map and shows we have people who are able to showcase the richess of our country's past and the promise of the future."

The exhibit focuses on the idea that "1000 Singapores" could house the entire world population using just 0.5 per cent of the Earth's land.

Those behind the theme said they hoped their concept would stimulate a fresh discussion into ways of housing a high-density populations over small areas.

Mr Khoo Peng Beng, lead curator and founder of Singapore-based architects ARC Studio, said: "Cities all over the world are growing at phenomenal rates and the world is struggling with the impact of this growth.

"Our concept of '1000 Singapores' is an invitation to look at how compact cities might reduce our demand for land and consequently how human beings might inhabit this planet of ours with the smallest footprint possible."