Resorts World Sentosa

CREATING A LEGACY

the 1st Integrated Resort in Singapore

The Singapore Sports Hub

DP GREEN our latest specialty branch at Mt Sophia

Awards: WOMEN IN ASIA, BCA & BCI

... and more ww

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VOLUME 1NUMBER 1

DECEMBER 2010SINGAPORE

new!

Letter from our Chairman

Dear Readers,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Design in Print, the revamped

newsletter for the DP group of design companies.

The aim of Design in Print is to share with all of DP’s staff, clients,

consultants and friends our recently launched projects, industry events,

firm updates, and profiles of our unique and diverse staff. At the same

time, we hope that the articles and projects encourage an open dialogue

and discussion about design and our impact as designers and planners

of the built environment.

For this issue, our focus turns to three of our recent projects that are set

to have a major impact on Singapore’s architectural landscape: the first

Integrated Resort in Singapore - Resorts World Sentosa, the recently

announced Singapore Sports Hub, and the newest jewel along the

necklace of Marina Bay, the Fullerton Bay Hotel.

In the coming issues, Design in Print will feature different themes and

building typologies of our projects both in Singapore and internationally.

We hope you enjoy our new format. Stay tuned for more interesting and

exciting projects to come.

Chan Sui Him, Chairman, DP Architects Pte Ltd

CONTENTS

Company News

DP BluePrint 2010

DP Green @ Mount Sophia

Tai Lee Siang leaves the company

New & Notable Projects

01 Wanderlust

02 Twin Peaks

03 ITE College West

04 76 Shenton

05 The Orchard Road Experience

06 Planet Godrej

07 Central Park

Featured Projects Resorts World Sentosa: The First Integrated Resort in Singapore

Creating a Legacy: The Singapore Sports Hub

Design Solutions

The Fullerton Bay Hotel : Designing the Intersection

Awards & Events

20 under 45: The Next Generation

Women In Asia Awards 2010

MIPIM Cannes 2010

BCA & BCI Awards

DP Personalities

Interview with David McLeod

& Nartano Lim

Office Events: Red & White Day

Celebration of Past Projects

People’s Park Complex, 1967-1973

Volume 1-1, December 2010, Singapore

Ed

itoria

l

Gra

phi

cs

Chan Hui Min

DESIGN IN PRINT TEAM

Loh Yew Cheng

Edwin Yong

Fu Tingting

Kyle FultonNartano LimToh Bee Ping

A collaboration by DP Architects and three design agencies

transformed the four-storey conservation shophouse into a

quirky boutique hotel with a distinct design theme on each

floor. DP Architects, together with Ayslum, Phunkstudio

and fFurious had creative control of a floor each, with DP

Architects coordinating and executing the design concepts for

all parties. Each of the 29 whimsical guestrooms is uniquely

styled, with sizes that vary from small ‘capsule-like’ rooms on

the second floor, to mid-sized ones on the third, and larger

loft-like spaces on the top floor. DP Architects is the designer

of the black-and-white themed third storey, with origami

and pop-up book-inspired interiors. The reception area and

French restaurant, Cocotte, occupy the ground floor.

DP GREEN @ Mount Sophia

DP BLUEPRINT 2010Transform to Sustain

TAI LEE SIANG leaves DP Architects

Addressing the current needs

for environmental conservation

and sustainability, DP Green Pte Ltd opened its

doors on 5 July 2010.

Located at Mt. Sophia, the

4200 sq ft premise houses

a team of 35, comprised

of architects, landscape

architects, and other

specialists and professionals.

With a holistic approach

to design in the built and

natural environment, DPG

supports works in Landscape

Architecture, Architecture,

Urban Design and Interior

Design and in the future,

perhaps consultancy on

Environmental Sciences and

Ecological studies. Full Arborist

consultancy services are also

offered. DP Green aims to

take a fresh aesthetical and

artisanal approach in creating

works that fuse these design

disciplines harmoniously.

At the Blueprint company event held on 6 September 2010 at the

NTUC Auditorium, CEO Francis Lee addressed the need of every

individual to transform himself to sustain the firm effectively. Various focus

groups expounded on this Transform to Sustain theme - the Associate

Directors spoke on leadership and mentorship, the Senior Associates

discussed how to avoid abortive work and increase productivity, and the

Associates stressed the importance of service quality. Another group

shared their survey findings on DP as a ‘Firm of Choice’.

Tai Lee Siang has resigned from his position as a junior director at DP

Architects. Citing a greater calling, Lee Siang informed the Board of

Directors of his desire to start a social entrepreneurship firm. The directors

accepted his resignation and he left the firm on 1 June 2010.

| The latest happenings in DP

Wanderlust Singapore

01

| Short takes on new & notable projects

hote

l

Chua Soo Hoon

DP 01

ITE College WestSingapore

reta

il

The ITE College West campus echoes the institution’s development plan,

“Waves of Transformation”, with a north-south axis that harmonizes with

the natural topography. The interplay of architecture and nature is a main

design concern. Covered open spaces are the trademark of this green

campus, unifying the indoor and outdoor areas. A prime example is the

Events Plaza with its expansive tensile-roof. The college has a functioning

“business town” rather than conventional classrooms, with facilities like a

convention centre, hotel rooms, restaurants and shops. The state-of-the-

art college also boasts a sky atrium, a 700-seat auditorium, and a sports

village with a swimming pool, gymnasium and running track.

The 36-storey twin towers are

located within the enclave of

Leonie Hill. The design features a

contemporary aluminum and glass

façade that is simple yet awe-

inspiring.The clean and sleek lines

of the façades are punctuated by

two beautifully-landscaped sky

terraces. Residential units start at

fifteen metres above ground, with

private lifts opening into the balcony

of each unit. The balconies extend

beyond the building envelope,

maximising the viewing angle and

providing a breathtaking view of the

Orchard Road shopping belt.

Grand Park Orchard Mandarin Gallery The HeerenWisma Atria Paragon

| Short takes on new & notable projects

02

03

resi

den

tial

institutional

The Orchard Road Experience Singapore

76 ShentonSingapore

At the invitation of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, DP

Architects created a new master plan for Orchard Road in the late 1990s

and has been transforming the street into a vibrant world-class location

with sophisticated urban and landscape design since. Most recently, DP

Architects was responsible for the conception, redesigning and face-lifting

of several malls in the area, including The Heeren, Mandarin Gallery, Grand

Park Orchard, Orchard Central and TripleOne Somerset.

The address implies luxurious urban living

in the heart of the business and finance

district. The landscaped deck on the fifth

storey, complete with swimming pool,

takes on an organic design and dynamic

line that echoes the façade of the building.

Careful placement of the residential units

to optimize the view gives the tower its

aerodynamic shape. Gentle concave and

convex curves correspond to the best

vistas to the east and the south. Fin-like

elements are constructed to create two

curvilinear volumetric expressions on the

façade. Generous horizontal fins reduce

the heat gain, while the contrasting vertical

fins not only accentuate the height of the

tower, but also transform into horizontal

screens to provide an aesthetic cover for

the multi-storey carpark.

Orchard CentralTripleOne SomersetThe Heeren

Planet Godrej India

The 50-storey Planet Godrej is located in

the heart of Mumbai. Its curved body is

comprised of five adjacent towers unified

by an abstract modernist front screen on

the main western façade. The design of the

apartments paid particular attention to the

view on all sides. The stunning West-facing

vista frames the intricate urban fabric of the

turn-of-the century city streets, the railway

lines, Victoria Gardens and the harbour

beyond. The project includes facilities such

as a clubhouse, swimming pool, tennis court,

jogging track and areas for quiet meditation -

an oasis in the midst of a bustling city.

Cen

tral

Par

k In

done

sia

The Central Park, located in western Jakarta, comprises five major building

components - a five-storey retail podium with basement, an iconic 40-storey office

tower, a hotel and three apartment towers, all overlooking an activity-themed park.

The major design strategy is the combination of various and disparate functions

in a single location that integrates a park with the built environment: a one-stop

development where people can work, live and play. A C-shaped plan is adopted,

creating a large half-circle park that brings the outdoors into the interior spaces.

The interior circulation spine of the retail spaces is linked by three climatically-

themed atriums along the mall.

04

05

06

07

resi

den

tial

mix

ed-u

sed

resi

den

tial

DP 03

| Featured projects

Resorts World at Sentosa is designed in collaboration with Michael Graves and Associates and Kevin Barbee Creative Advisors.

Officially opened on 14 February 2010, Resorts

World Sentosa (RWS) represents a new building

typology of an Integrated Resort (IR) that features

hyper-mixed use on a mega scale previously

unseen in Singapore. Split into three zones on

49 hectares - Universal Studios Singapore to the

East, the Central Zone with the concentration of

hotels and the casino, and the aquatic-themed

West Zone (still under construction) - RWS is a

massive undertaking. Despite the complexity of

the requirements and the challenges of the site

constraints, RWS has been designed so that the

guest experience is as simple and intuitive as

possible. The design also paid special attention

to integrate itself into the lush Sentosa setting

without overwhelming its environment in scale or

architectural expression.

In 2006, DP Architects, in collaboration with Michael

Graves & Associates, won the fiercely contested

design competition for the prime Sentosa site.

Both companies worked together to master-plan a

totally immersive environment that would combine

activities to cater to the entire family. The scale

would be vast with the aforementioned Central Zone

encapsulating four distinct designer hotels, MICE

space, a theatre for live performances, over 40 food

and beverage outlets, a myriad of retail spaces,

along with outdoor plazas and linkways on a site

that is roughly 16.5 hectares. Besides catering to

the front-of-house functions, the design also had

to be extremely efficient for operational use so that,

wherever possible, shared functional spaces such

as kitchens, staff areas and back-of-house areas are

concealed and appear seamless to the guest.

DP 05

At the onset of the project, the

architectural brief was especially

challenging as RWS was to combine

many disparate programs and user

groups into a single family-friendly and

thematically integrated environment.

The two main strategies to address

this seemingly contradictory goal was

to, firstly, orient the buildings along a

clear organizational axis as defined

by the line of the existing Merlion

statue and, secondly, to carefully

plan and orchestrate the pedestrian

and vehicular circulation in both

plan and section. With sensitive and

thoughtful planning, visitors are able to

experience multiple narratives through

varied and interesting spaces. Despite

the project’s massive scale, circulation

was specifically designed to guide

Singapore’s 1stIntegrated Resorts

visitors and encourage exploration. The

section of the project features a layering

of spaces horizontally that are then

linked through key vertical circulation

points like the Hall of Vaults.

The other major concern for the

designers was to capitalize on the

prime geographic location of Sentosa

Island which boasts an impressive

array of flora and fauna. Rather than

shielding the guests from the climate

of Singapore by keeping them in air-

conditioned spaces, extensive outdoor

linkways and shaded areas were

designed to allow visitors to interact

with the environment while remaining

comfortable. The FestiveWalk, the

Forum retail spaces in the Central

Zone, and the New York and Hollywood

1

4

2

5

Designers:DP Architects Pte Ltd in

Collaboration with Michael Graves & Associates

(Central and West Zone) and Kevin Barbee Creative Advisors (Universal Studios

Singapore).Architect: Angelene Chan

(DP Architects Pte Ltd).Land Area: 49 Hectares.

GFA: 343,000m2.Amenities: 6 Hotels,

Universal Studios Singapore Theme Park, Aquarium, Water Theme Park, 70+

Food & Beverage Outlets, 40+ Retail Outlets, MICE,

Theatre, 2 level of Basement Carpark (3500+ lots).Date of Completion:

December 2009 (Phase I), 2012 (Phase II).

A - Hotel Michael B - Crockfords TowerC - Festive HotelD - Hard Rock HotelE - MerlionF - The Bull RingG - Festive GrandH - Compass BallroomI - Casino

3 main horizontal circulation spinesoperate on the same level as the three

major entry points to the resort - the

Forum at the basement carpark entry,

the Galleria on the hotel entry level and

FestiveWalk on the pedestrian ground

floor. The three spines are linked through

key vertical circulation points.

Angelene Chan and some of the 150+ members of the DPA/DPC Resorts World team.

| Featured projects

3

1. ETFE canopies surrounding The Bull Ring plaza2. Crockfords Tower amid the variation of ETFE canopy pattern3. Universal Studio4. Hard Rock Hotel5. FestiveWalk6. Main hotel drop-off at Level 2. 7. Hall of Vaults8. Hotel Michael9. The Lake of Dream water features

lands within Universal Studios Singapore

are covered by a special polymer called

ETFE (Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) that

simultaneously allows a high amount of light

transmission while acting as an insulator

against heat.

Human scale was extremely important and

was considered in all aspects of the project –

from removing vehicular traffic from the ground

plane by burying the enormous car park, to

the tactility of materials and the quality of

filtered light. What visitors may not know is

that RWS was awarded one of Singapore’s

first ever District Green Mark Gold Plus

awards in recognition of how environmentally-

conscious the project has been.

Despite the complex project requirements and

the compressed time frame, the opening of

the first IR in Singapore was a success. This is

largely due to the earnest consideration of the

guest experience that guided the designers to

create a mega project that is simultaneously

vast in scope yet familiar and family-friendly,

as well as a strong spirit of cooperation during

the coordination and construction.

With the water-themed West Zone still under

construction, RWS has a few more surprises

in store for Singapore.

6

87

9

DP 07

DP Architects (DPA) is proud to be

appointed the master planner and design

architect of the Singapore Sports Hub,

the world’s largest sports-related Public

Private Partnership project. The Sports

Hub will be a fully integrated sports,

entertainment and lifestyle hub designed

to stage international sporting and city-

scale entertainment events.

The new 55,000-seat National Stadium,

with a retractable roof, moveable tiers

and a unique bowl cooling system,

is oriented in axis to the waterfront

and the city’s skyline, establishing a

resonance between the Sports Hub

and the city. The stadium’s dome shape

creates a powerful, yet harmonious

dialogue with the distinctive pantadome

diamond-shaped roof of the existing

Singapore Indoor Stadium, creating an

iconic skyline along Kallang Basin and

the urbanscape. The metal roofing of

the new stadium is proposed to relate

closely with the metallic finishes and

standing seam details of the indoor

stadium’s existing roof, further enhancing

this close dialogue.

Other key venues include a 6000-seat

indoor Aquatic Centre, an adaptable

multi-purpose indoor arena that can

stage nine different events simultaneously,

and a watersports centre. There will

also be a wide spectrum of ancillary and

recreational programmes for public use.

The Sports Hub aims to be a major site

with a variety of exciting and meaningful

public domains. This is exemplified in

the design of main public realms such

as the Sports Promenade. Conceived

as an attractive, weather-protected

tropical space, it not only acts as a

connector to key sporting arenas, but

also offers spectacular Waterfront views

and integrates a myriad of recreational

programs. The West Plaza, a major

thoroughfare that connects to the

Waterfront Promenade, and Stadium

Creating a Legacy: The Singapore Sports Hub

Plaza, a multi-purpose civic square, add

more site choices for events and festivals.

Besides advanced engineering

and technological applications,

considerable care is taken to create

humanized conditions throughout the

environment, such as the integration

of a comprehensive system of covered

canopies and linkways. Furthermore, the

recycling of material from the old stadium

and incorporation of environmental

features benchmark the Sports Hub as a

green and sustainable development.

“The master plan and design of the

Sports Hub embodies monumental

aspirations as well as vital humanistic

and ecological mindset,” explains

Projector Director Teoh Hai Pin. “It is

not just about designing new sporting

venues, but an integrated urban and

lifestyle development that provides rich

and meaningful experiences to inspire

users and visitors for generations and

generations. We are delighted to be part

of the author of creating this legacy for

Singapore and the region.”

Targeted to be completed by April 2014,

the Sports Hub will be an integral part of

Singapore’s vibrant city fabric, invigorating

life with the highest standard of sports

facilities and leisure activities.

Client: Singapore Sports Hub

Consortium - Dragages Singapore

Pte Ltd

Co-lead design & Sports Consultant:

Arup Sport, Arup UK Pte Ltd

Co-Masterplanner: AECOM Singapore

Pte Ltd - Design + Planning

Landscape Architect: AECOM

Singapore Pte Ltd - Design + Planning

C&S: Arup Engineering, Arup Singapore

Pte Ltd

M&E: Squire Mech Pte Ltd

| Featured projects

DP 09

The Fullerton Bay HotelDesigning the Intersection

| Design solutions

Project Team:

Lee Shee Koeng

Tay Yanling

Heng Chin Hong

Tan Swat Tin

Marisa Pua

Carlo Calleja

Sartika

PHOTOGRAPHY: THE FULLERTON BAY HOTEL

It is hard to imagine that at the turn

of the 20th century Marina Bay was

a bustling commercial port - one

which came to define the city which

grew up around it. As an important

trade post between South East Asia

and the West, Singapore’s economy

during the 19th century boomed and

drew people to its shores from all over

the world. The piers of Marina Bay

thus became the locus for much of

the port’s activity; it was the site of

arrival and embarkation and an acute

intersection of culture, commerce and

commodities.

The designers: Heng Chin Hong and Tay Yanling.

Today, you no longer see the port which

once dominated the area; the ships and

heavy industry have been replaced by the

skyscrapers of the CBD, yet the physical

and cultural heritage of the port is still

evident as a trace on the urban landscape.

The newly completed Fullerton Bay Hotel

proudly displays this heritage, having

assimilated the historic Customs House

and Clifford Pier into its architectural fabric.

Clifford Pier acts as the hotel’s entrance

lobby, welcoming guests much as it has

done since its construction in 1933. This

is the hotel’s most tangible link to history

and, as such, it acts as an intersection in

time where past and present meet. Starting

from this intersection, to a modern link-

way incorporated with a hotel lounge, and

finally reaching a climactic termination in the

voluminous atrium of the main hotel building,

the design team carefully choreographed the

Aquarium Walk

DP 11

The Fullerton Bay Hotel,

having assimilated the

historic Customs House

and Clifford Pier into

its architectural fabric,

proudly displays the

port’s physical and

cultural heritage.

Cus

tom

Hou

se

Fulle

rton

Bay

Hot

el Clif

ford

Pie

r

entire narrative journey through the

hotel, transporting guests from the

past to the present.

Like many buildings of its time,

Clifford Pier’s arches were originally

open and unglazed, allowing the free

flow of air and heat to simply rise up

into the vaulted ceiling. However,

since the early 19th century our

concept of comfort has altered

considerably. The acceptable range

of temperatures is much lower

than it once was, thus, naturally

ventilating the space was not an

option, and air-conditioning had to

be employed. This meant inserting

glass into the arched bays which

line all four sides of the building. This

was no simple task as not only did

this modern insertion have to allow

for the idiosyncrasies inherent in older

construction, it must also appear to

rest lightly on its historic counterpart.

To achieve this, the design team had

to carefully construct the intersection

between the old and the new, being

sensitive to the original architecture

while employing modern technology

that fulfills its function effectively and

efficiently. Such thought processes are

evident in the window’s details; firstly

the framing system employed to secure

the glass was modulated such that it

would fit between the existing columns

and arch fenestration, allowing minimal

intrusion to the historic external

facade. Furthermore, the supports

necessary to protect such large spans

of glass from lateral deflection were

constructed as glass fins. This allows

the rhythm of the original architecture

to be read uninterrupted by additional

structure and guarantees the highest

levels of transparency. In this way,

the original open atmosphere of the

space is maintained while creating an

environmentally comfortable space.

Beyond aesthetics, there were other

considerations when detailing these

intersections, primarily how to design

for inconsistencies in the original fabric

of the building. This was done by

creating horizontal slots in the frame

which allow for minute adjustments

to the bolts that secure the glass,

resulting in a tight glass seal and a

clean, seamless look.

It is details such as these that allow

the historic space to operate within

its current context. The architects’

close attention to the intersections

between old and new has resulted in a

unique space that is true to the original

architecture while creating a useable

contemporary space.

This consideration of the intersection

is not limited to the scale of the

architectural detail; in fact it extends to

the very form of the buildings, informing

their location, volume and skin.

Beyond the Clifford Pier entrance is the

new Fullerton Bay Hotel building. This

modern building with an expansive glass

facade has been carefully designed to

respond to its surrounding edge - where

the building intersects with its historic

neighbors, its immediate site and the

city.

Its materiality allows the building

to appear light and transparent,

resting softly on its site and reflecting

its surroundings. Its large internal

atrium opens up to face Clifford

Pier, creating a strong relationship

between the historic building, Marina

Bay and the sky by drawing them

into the internal space.

AB

C

D

E

F

G

A - Clifford Pier

B - Fullerton Bay Hotel

C - Customs House

D - Fullerton Hotel

E - HSBC Building

F - Maybank Tower

G - United Overseas Bank Plaza One

Detail of glass panel

integrated with the

historical arch.

| Design solutions

DP 13

When designing this new insertion, it was

important to carefully balance its scale in

order to create a hierarchical relationship

between itself, Customs House and Clifford

Pier. This was achieved by raising the building

to a height twice that of its neighbors. This

had two dramatic effects. Firstly, it draws

attention to the accommodation spaces,

highlighting the hotels primary function.

Secondly, it helps unify the composition into

a coherent whole. By raising the height of the

new building, it was possible for the atrium

height to match the roof line of Clifford Pier

and Customs House, thus creating a visual

datum that ties the three masses together.

Furthermore, tying these masses together

in a tiered configuration draws the eye over

the composition from its lowest point to its

highest. In this way it creates a smooth visual

transition from the water’s edge to the historic

low-rise buildings, the contemporary mid-rise

hotel, up to the high-rises of the city beyond.

In doing so, hard intersections of scale were

softened, allowing the hotel to integrate with

Singapore’s iconic skyline.

Much like the historic pier, Fullerton Bay

Hotel welcomes travelers. Yet more than

that, it is a site of intersections - in time,

scale and topography. With this as a

key consideration, the project team

chose not to design each building in

isolation, instead favoring to concentrate

on their intersections. By detailing the

connections that would allow the project

to be read as a unified whole, the design

team has created an architecture that

traces the physical and cultural heritage

of the site and performs as a world class

contemporary hotel.

Atrium ceiling height

White coloured

aluminum frame

(fluorocarbon-coating)

to match paint colour of

Clifford Pier.

50mm wide aluminum

frame to set in between

existing column and

fenestrations in arch.

Frame to ‘float’

above the parapet - a

differentiation between

the New and the Old.

| Awards & Events

The second ‘20 Under 45’ exhibition, organized by URA, showcased

projects by 20 distinguished Singapore registered architects aged 45 or

under. Angelene Chan, Director, and Tan Chee Kiang, Associate Director,

were selected to present their definitive works. This initiative to promote

awareness and appreciation of architecture and urban design was also

supported by a publication, a series of round-table discussions and a

traveling exhibition.

Senior Minister of State Grace Fu together with Angelene Chan and members of the jury.

20 UNDER 45the next generation

Senior Minister of State Grace Fu with Tan Chee Kiang.

Woman Who Makes a Difference

WOMEN IN ASIA AWARDS 2010

Angelene Chan, Director, was awarded the 2010

RBS Coutts/Financial Times “Woman Who Makes

a Difference Award” at a gala dinner held at the

British High Commissioner’s Residence on 15

September 2010. The annual Women in Asia Awards,

inaugurated in 2009, feature three categories which

recognize the importance of women in the business

and entrepreneurial world: “Woman who Makes a

Difference”, “Entrepreneur of the Year”, and “Rising

Star”. Angelene’s category - “Woman who Makes a

Difference” - is awarded to the woman who has made

outstanding achievements in the field of philanthropy,

sciences, arts, culture, literature or sports.

Ms Lee Suet Fern, one of the judges, presented the award to Angelene Chan

DP Architects joins

MIPIMCANNES 2010DP Architects participated in MIPIM Cannes 2010, one of the

world’s largest annual international conferences and exhibitions

on real estate, held from March 16 to 19. DP Architects exhibited

at the Singapore Pavilion with other key firms and government

organizations, showcasing several of our recent projects, including

The Dubai Mall, Singapore Sports Hub and Resorts World Sentosa.

Tanglin Trust Senior School

The Central

Elliot at the East Coast

Zero Energy Building

DP Architects has been awarded the BCI Asia

Top Ten Award 2010 and the BCI Green Design

Award 2010 for the Zero Energy Building located

at the BCA Academy. These awards were

launched by BCI Asia to recognise innovative

and environmentally-responsible architecture.

BCI Asia Top Ten Award 2010 & BCI Green Design Award 2010

DP Architects wins

BCI ASIA AWARDS

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA)

conferred on DP Architects the Built Environment

Leadership Award (Gold) on 26 May 2010. With

this award, DP Architects is recognized as a

leader in the private sector who actively promotes

sustainable design.

The BCA also granted awards to the following projects by DP Architects:

BCA Green Mark Gold AwardTanglin Trust Senior School, Singapore

BCA Green Mark District AwardElliot at the East Coast, Singapore

BCA Green Mark Platinum Award76 Shenton, Singapore

BCA Construction Excellence AwardThe Central, Singapore

BCA Built Environment Leadership Award (Gold) 2010

BCA AWARDSM

ay 2

010

DP 15

Academically, I have always had an interest in

Singapore because of the role of architecture in

it’s nation-building. DP has played an influential

role in Singapore’s architectural history and

although the current industry is geared more

towards commercial development, there is still

great potential for experimentation and

a strong appreciation for Modernism rather

than Classicism.

What was the transition like? Has it changed you?

N : I returned to Singapore without a job lined

up. As I made the rounds I began to realize

that many firms in Singapore look for a very

narrow range of experience. For instance, many

local firms didn’t feel that my time teaching

was applicable and didn’t like that I had been

involved with many different typologies. I was

fortunate that Angelene and DP appreciated my

unconventional background and was looking

| Life of a DPian

David McLeod and Nartano Lim are both recent additions to the DP family. David, originally from Scotland, returned to DPA’s Singapore headquarters in 2009 from his five-year stint as the Chief Resident Architect for The Dubai Mall. He is currently an Associate Director of the firm. Nartano grew up in Singapore until age five and lived in the United States for most of his life. He joined DPA in 2008. Both David and Nartano have spent a good part of their career outside of Singapore and have also worked on projects in Singapore. Design in Print seeks insight on their personal experiences.

Why did you come to Singapore?

D : Well, I left Scotland 17 years ago due to the

declining economic situation. I have been living

and working in Singapore, Vietnam and Dubai

in this time and I have enjoyed Asia immensely.

It takes a lot of commitment to be away from

home for so long, but I still enjoy the feeling of

adventure. Being in Singapore makes it easier for

me to explore other parts of the region.

N : Having left Singapore as a child, coming

back is something of a homecoming for me.

I still have many close friends and relatives in

Singapore, including my grandparents. Prior to

coming back to Singapore, I was an Assistant

Professor at Syracuse University and worked

at a number of firms in New York. In New

York, new construction is relatively rare due

to the built-up nature and history of the city. I

soon realized that Asia was a prime place of

opportunity since the region is still very much in

a construction phase. The scale of the projects

here is rarely seen in the US anymore.

IN PERSON celebrates the firm’s diversity by profiling members of the DP family. It is conducted as a casual conversation between two individuals, one in a senior

position in the firm and one from the trenches.

David McLeod

Nartano Lim

for someone who brought a varied range of

experience. It made me realize that there was a

cultural distinction between the “well-rounded”

candidate sought out in the US and the

“specialist” more favoured in Asia.

D : Being in Asia for so long has definitely

widened my outlook. I’ve learnt that you have to

be ready to adapt quickly to new cultures and

social expectations in order to survive.

You’ve both had the opportunity to experience Asian and Western architectural practice cultures. How do they differ?

D : The clients’ demands are different in each

context. The British way of working prolongs

the linear design progression and emphasises

design development. However, this method is

less adaptable to the “Let’s build tomorrow”

mentality of Asian clients. We operate in quicker

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consequences including any loss or damage arising from reliance on information in Design

in Print. Any opinions in Design in Print are solely those of the named authors of the article

in which they appear. Unless named as author, DP Architects, Editorial Panel and other

Contributors do not endorse any such views and disclaim all liability from their publication.

Copyright © DP Architects Pte Ltd

Printed by A&D Printhub Pte Ltd L025/02/2010

MICA (P) 150/10/2010

Published by DP Architects Pte Ltd

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Tel: (65) 6338 3988

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Photo Contributors: Rida Sobana, Wellington Kuswanto, Relan Masato, Yan Son

All photos are credited to the mentioned photographers unless otherwise stated.

DP celebrated Singapore’s 45th National Day with our first ever “Red

& White Day”. DPians, dressed in their red and white best on August 6,

snapped photos of themselves in the national colours for a festive and

friendly competition. Let loose with their creativity and camaraderie, 272

photograph entries were submitted in a matter of six hours! Online voting

was opened for two hours and, 266 votes later, the Red & White winners

were announced. Hazimah Bte Mohamad Salikimen and Ervin Cariaso

were named the Best Dressed Girl and Guy respectively, while Chai Ming

Kuang’s team from RWS took the prize for Best Dressed Group. The

runner-up to Best Dressed Group is Seah Chee Huang’s “Sports Hubbies”.

it’s wear Red&White day

Celebrate NDP @ DP!

DP 17

time frames in Singapore and decisions need to

be made quickly. Client requirements can also

change rapidly even during the construction

stage. A positive “can-do” attitude in the team

is essential.

N : I agree with David that in Asia we arrive

at decisions much quicker and we are very

time-conscious. It gives us a distinct advantage

especially in time-sensitive situations such as

competitions or tenders. Having previously

acted as a foreign consultant when I was

working in the United States, I can now see how

the design process and the approach to time

pressure differ between the two cultures in both

positive and negative ways.

D : The Asian way has its disadvantages too.

If the client brief is not settled and the design

and co-ordination processes are not thorough,

then problems appear later during construction.

I also find that people in Asia are more resistant

to adopting different project-specific working

methods - each project is done the same way

even though some modifications could be

beneficial. There is also less focus on guiding

younger staff and improving our work processes

with more post-project analysis.

N : In the Asian context we “never say no” to our

clients. Sometimes we may be too agreeable to

the detriment of projects.

Tell us something about yourself that few people know about.

D : Well, not many people know that I have two

kids. But not of the conventional kind! Last year

I adopted two children via World Vision. I am

also a keen sportsman and whilst several DPians

know I play golf and soccer, I also really enjoy

curling and go skiing every other year in France.

N : People are usually surprised that I was a

Professor before and that I lived in Italy and

Amsterdam for a while. As a result, my Italian

is better than my Mandarin (although they

are both pretty bad)! Work takes up a large

portion of my time now, but in the past I was

an avid snowboarder and I have a black belt

in Taekwondo.

Arising from the government’s attempt to encourage private sector participation in its

urban renewal program in the 1960s, the People’s Park Complex was one of the key

buildings which heralded the advent of modern architecture in Singapore. Commenced

in 1967 and completed in 1973, the People’s Park Complex was the largest mixed-use

complex to be managed, designed and built in Singapore.

People’s Park Complex

1967-1973