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team members - Tay Kheng Soon, Geoffrey Chew, Raymond Ang, Glen Goei,
Pamelia Lee,Jimmy Wong, William Lim, Eric Alfred, Chung Chee Kit, Heng
Chye Kiang
Text by Tay Kheng Soon
PHILOSOPHY - A RICH CONTRAST CREATIVELY HARNESSED…...
The image of Singapore’s modernity is more sharply appreciated when juxtaposed against South East Asia's Austronesian roots which stretches from Taiwan down to Sulawesi and then Eastwards to Polynesia and Westwards to Madagascar. This is the substrate of Malay and South Chinese ethnicity and ethnography. This heritage was further enriched by Chinese, Indian and Arab influences. The more recent Colonial influences and now Globalisation adds a modern gloss over the ancient cultural layers.
Through artistic creativity, such a rich juxtaposition of heritage and modernity can be celebrated in design and in festivals, photo opportunities, performances and visual contrasts. Opportunities for textual and video-graphic representation abound. A powerful image can be projected that will enhance Singapore’s regional and global image as a modern South East Asian city.Marina Bay is the most prominent venue to state and restate, artistically and in an entertaining way, the special qualities of Singapore in the region and in relation to the world. The introduction of visually dramatic images such as airships, modern structural elements such as big span pre-cast concrete wave bridge and “things” such as helium-filled “clouds” and wind towers underscore progressiveness yet takes cues from the context of climate and culture.Allowing water to be expressed as an art-form and an experiential element in life is to redefine the relationship with wetness and dampness, a poetry of life in the tropics. Design and programming takes care of this. Additionally when sunlight and shade are celebrated as poetic elements in life explicated through design to promote comfort in and around the Bay, a new awareness and vivacity in urban living can be brought about.
MAKING IT COUNT
The Home Team is philosophically committed to Singapore because they have so many ideas derived from their being here that they want to express these. In our view, authenticity is our key to uniqueness.Do we recycle other people's ideas? The tendency for a copy-and-adapt fashion does not satisfy the authenticity criterion. With their experience of the world and from their involvement in projects both in the region and in Singapore, the Home Team is confident that they can bring a fresh and relevant perspective to designing and activating Marina Bay. Not having done a similar project is no handicap to imagination if supplemented by technical know now readily obtainable from anywhere. If the questions are good enough, answers can always be found. Many of the Team’s experiences are relevant because principles well learnt are transferable even if the forms are not.
WORK, LIVE, LEARN AND PLAY
This is a crucial concept introduced into this project. To achieve a creative synch between hardware and software, design, ambience and service quality - training and cross stimulation is essential. As this project is of the highest profile, emotionally, aesthetically, culturally and spiritually, the Team suggests the co-location of strategic elements from hotel management training, cooking, flower arrangement, waitering, interior design, furniture design, tourism planning, tour guiding, tourism management, artistic event curation, graphic design, public communication, landscape design etc. to be housed right here alongside the Promenade Many of these training programs already exist in different institutions. By co-locating special modules from these programs to the Marina Bay side and having actual hands-on exercises in situ and living and working and enjoying and learning all at the same time, a new spirit will emerge and a deeper understanding of the inter-relatedness of the skills needed will come about. This is the spirit that needs to be kindled in tandem with the aspiration that the Marina Bay area becomes a premier location for locals and visitors alike.
KEY ELEMENTS IN THE CONCEPT
1. An Urban Botanical Park and Boardwalk south of the Esplanade Arts Centre - this Urban Botanical Park is unlike any other because of its setting in the heart of the city. The design should be an inter-play between strongly geometrical and natural elements. Hills, water, water plants, palms, mass planting of coastal vegetation, sandy patches, board walks all interplay to produce a strong visual image and enhanced experiential quality.
2. A gigantic transplanted (by barge) Banyan Tree to serve as an outdoor performing venue near the Arts Centre - The identification, excavation, transportation and installation of a giant Banyan Tree is part of the publicity build-up for the scheme. It also symbolically brings the Tree of Life into the project. The tree will be the venue for many indigenous and progressive Asian performances injecting an authentic ambience into such performances complementing the Arts Centre shows.
3. New Singapore Registry of Marriages with waterside vantage point in the Urban Botanical Park - Locating a Marriage Solemnisation Hall here is dramatic and appropriately dignifies the institution and the emotions involved. It establishes immediately an emotional tie into the “Singaporean” project.
4. Conical Vertical Park and Exhibition Tower - This is designed with a totally modifiable interior. It has a spiralling ramp up to the top. The exterior is sheathed in LCD embedded glass whereby images and info can be flashed. The large interior space is provided with a variety of hoists and hydraulic platforms to achieve an infinite configuration of spaces. At the apex is a special theatre for exquisite small performances and special events. The entire cone will be lit like a beacon.
5. A Maritime Museum with a full size (Concrete simulating wood) Admiral Cheng Ho's Baochuan (treasure ship) to serve as the 1421 Museum & Chinese-Muslim Restaurant - a140m concrete replica of Admiral Cheng Ho's Treasure Ship is the centre-piece of the proposed Maritime Museum. The entire collection of the now defunct Singapore Maritime Museum will be re-accommodated here and curated to a high standard of artistic presentation as befitting the location. It will house Gavin Menzies’s “1421” research program and data. It will also be home to the International Cheng Ho Society. There should be a large Chinese Muslim Restaurant here.
6. A Campus for Civic Culture designed in a contemporary manner around waterways and walkways which serve as a work, live, learn and play environment open to the public - approximately 5000 students, staff plus visitors will add a live-in population of creative individuals to enliven Marina Bay’s East Bank. Their creativity will set the right tone. Together with a trend towards downtown living exemplified by the Duxton Plain development will increase the viability and vibrancy of all down town facilities of which Marina Bay is prime.
7. A Celebrative Lantern and Flag pedestrian Bridge - this is designed as a three-level pedestrian bridge connecting the East bank to the North Bank. It will link at third level to Marina Centre's podium roof deck thereby bringing hotel residents down to the Bayside. It will be decorated with lanterns and flags on ceremonial occasions. The three levels are interconnected and together they from a spectacular viewing stand from which to watch major water based events that are most suitable here. The design is possibly of slim and lightweight pre-cast concrete by an expert of this method of construction and design.
8. The pedestrian bridge to the Marina Centre roof terrace leading to the lantern and flag bridge links via an Aviary-restaurant with an Oriental Magpie-Robin breeding centre overlooking the Bay - this is an extension to the flag and lantern bridge to connect to Marina Centre’s roof platform. The Aviary restaurant will introduce a breeding program of Magpie-Robins which used to be the city’s resident songbird. Other breeds like the kingfisher and the crested bulbul can also be incorporated. These will be reintroduced from here to all the city's parks adding another dimension of enchantment to the city.
9. Multiples of large shaded viewing decks overlooking the water with the downtown as backdrop
10. Many large floating platforms for open-air performance use - these large square pontoons are parked on the East Bank but can be deployed as needed anywhere in the bay. They serve as mobile performance platforms subject only to imagination.
11. An airship and docking tower for scenic transportation to the Southern Islands, views of the city and other parts of Singapore - introducing airship operations is not new to Singapore. The concept is proven. There are many USA manufactures. It is time now to carry passengers. As a tourism image profiler, it is excellent. The airship will operate from Marina City Park.
12. A series of ramps and water-edge decks to achieve intimate water connectivity and provide access to ferries - movable Pontoons with timber decking are anchored to the Bay’s side walls to form board walks. Treatment of the side walls needs special attention.
13. City Swimming pools with sun decks and spectacular high-diving towerThese pools cascade down from the walkway edge to the water surface forming a series of waterfalls and sundecks. A spectacular high diving platform frames the diver against the city backdrop forming a dramatic image. Fountains all round make wetness into a virtue. An enhanced cool experience is achieved.
14. Full built-in facilities for power, lighting and communications distributed appropriately throughout the promenade - the entire Bayside is equipped with a host of electric and AV points, water and sewer points to facilitate flexibly for every kind of staging requirement.
15. A full complement of public amenities, kiosks, shelters and conveniences - mobile kiosks specially designed will be distributed as required.
16. Wind Towers specially designed are liberally deployed throughout the promenade to address tropical humidity and heat - specially designed series of wind towers will be deployed throughout. Photovoltaic panels on top of the towers, serve as shade elements and transform excessive sunlight into cooling drafts produced by the wind towers.
17. Extensive greenery especially water gardens and trellises which characterise the tropical ambience - landscaping should be curated by plant ecologists working with landscape designers. The objective is to reintroduce culturally and scientifically relevant plants in a beautiful manner.
18. Gigantic Movable Lighter than Air Shades - several types of shades are designed. The most innovative and spectacular are helium filled pneumatic clouds which can be moved to different locations around the Bay as needed. There will also be a series of permanently fixed fabric tents. In between these major shelters and shades will be a system of self furling sail-like shades slung from metal poles. Trellises will also be installed and planted with exotic climbers and creepers. A variegated shade and shelter design strategy is encouraged.
19. Fresh Water Aquarium - we have the perfect infrastructure for a fresh water tropical fish research institute - a world first. It advances our status as a premier centre for tropical fish breeding.
CONCLUSION
The poetics of place has to be, in Singapore, a deliberate creative act. Contradictions are the raw materials with which to create the rhapsody and the enchantment. This is the challenge to creativity the Home Team has set itself. The following are the materials to work with:
The contradiction between past and present.
The contradiction between modernity and tradition.
The contradiction between profit and poetics.
The contradiction between wetness and dryness.
The contradiction between heat and cooling
The contradiction between liquid and solid.
The contradiction between planning and spontaneity.
The contradiction between day and night
The contradiction between Fast and Slow