Forum 

Archifest 2020 SP x SUTD Forum: Biomimesis in the Age of Climate Change

“If a house were a thing made by nature…” - Aristotle
The Forum first reviews selected histories and philosophies of biomimesis, leading to fresh views in the approach and translation of nature as design in the age of Climate Change. This enquiry has recently been delved into through a workshop conducted recently in the School of Architecture and Built Environment in Singapore Polytechnic. The workshop seeks to discover possible biomimetic design solutions for the built environments through an intense ideation process with teams of students looking at different biomimetic strategies. Preliminary works from the workshop will be presented during the forum. Alternative approaches to biomimesis will be presented by speakers from both SP.ABE and SUTD.ASD.
Image by Biomimetic Design Workshop, ABE, Singapore Polytechnic

Letters to Singapore: Speculations of Agrarian Urbanisms

Enthusiasm for agriculture - food production has grown in and around cities, while we have seen Singapore’s scene blossom in the last decade alone. As we work hard towards a better food future, it is always good to take a step back and reassess where we are at.

While much has been written and built with food as a key tenet of culture in mind, how might we consider the profound implications for the city itself? Perhaps we may draw from the possibilities that present itself with agrarian urbanism:

How might we rethink ecological design and practices within cities, thereby questioning our assumptions - unsustainable agri trends, numbers driven indicators.

How might we move forward, and build resilient, pluri- worlds for human and our non human allies alike?

We would like to use the opportunity to celebrate the farmers that have come before us, with that spirit work towards positioning our home grown produce as superior to those imported.

This panel invites practitioners and urban farmers, seeking to convene dialogue and bold imaginations with regards to how we ought to feed our cities, redefining and stretching notions of what it means to be a farmer in the city: as land stewards, community leaders, as designers of ecological principles.

Co- curated by Bjorn Low and Michelle Lai

Why Architect? Forum: All of what you have always wanted to know but never dared to ask!

In conjunction with this year’s Archifest festival, the Small and Medium Architectural Practices Committee (SMAP) are presenting another exciting session of the ‘Why Architect? Forum 2020’. All of what people have always wanted to know but never dared to ask!

This forum is an excellent platform for anyone interested in what architects do as a profession. Open to the public, the forum attracts people from all walks of life - from fellow practitioners to secondary and tertiary student and architecture enthusiasts.

Organised with a panel of professionals ranging from the Architect who runs her/his own practice, to the relevant built environment specialists there will be an enlightening sharing of the role of Architects in the creation of the built structures in which we live, work and play. What goes on in the Architect’s mind during the whole process? Behind-the-scene stories and secrets will be revealed!

This year’s Archifest theme is ‘Architecture Saving Our World’. The ‘Why Architect? Forum’ hopes to contribute to this bold dialogue by bringing to the public an understanding and appreciation of the profession, as well as our commitment to the Planet and Humanity.

Why Architect? organising team are Yann Follain (WY-TO), Wu Huei Siang (WASAA Architects & Associates) and Casey Chua (ADX Architects Pte Ltd)

Pecha Kucha Penang Night x Singapore Archifest 2020: Let’s Go-Ro!

Gotong Royong: Architecture That Keeps Our Community Spirit Alive

Streaming live from Singapore and Malaysia, GO-RO is a newly incepted forum by Singapore Archifest 2020 co-organised with Pecha Kucha Penang, in conjunction with World Architecture Day. The virtual forum will connect social architects and community designers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, encouraging dialogue, establishing network, and empowering movements, which embody the essence of “Gotong Royong”, i.e. mutual help.

GO-RO aims to bring participants the understanding on what the architects/designers/artists have been doing to bring about more cohesive community, and what can be done for the future. It also serves as a platform for passionate individuals to ask questions and gain insights on the community issues they are concerned about.

Championing Sustainability, Livability and Resilience : Rethinking Singapore’s Workers Dormitory Design

Feb 2020 saw the Covid-19 pandemic first hit the shores in Singapore and by April 2020, the virus had spread among the migrant worker community and many dormitories were placed under quarantine. As the migrant workers dormitories emerged as hotbed for covid-19, the living environments of our migrant workers in the dormitories were put under the spotlight.

As Architects, we asked ourselves how we could contribute to the conversation and give back to this community that is transient yet has become so integral to the development of both our industry and our country.

How could dormitories be more resilient and adaptable to potential future pandemics? Could we rethink how migrant workers live? Can the design of dormitories effect change in behavioural patterns? Can we reimagine an improved living environment for our migrant community who builds our homes and cities?

Come and participate in this dialogue where a panel of architects, who were part of a volunteer group of architects that collaborated with government agencies, share their studies and explorations on new ways of living for the migrant workers community.

SIA-PUB 2020 Joint Webinar

Topic 1: The Code of Practice on Sewerage and Sanitary Works (COPSSW) 2nd Edition – 2019

The presentation focus on the 2019 edition of the COPSSW that incorporated changes/updates made over the years to address new technical issues faced by the industry after feedback from the public.

Topic 2: PUB BIM e-Checker Portal - Towards Zero Submission

The Building Information Model (BIM) e-Checker – an online self-service portal which enables Qualified Persons (QPs), such as architects and engineers, to self-check their design for compliance with PUB’s Code of Practices before making a formal submission in CORENET.

Indonesia at Archifest 2020: PRAKARSA - A Roundtable Discussion

The increasing urgency to tackle humanitarian and ecological issues worldwide, have compelled creatives to step into the role of activists in-and-beyond their domain practices, through a slew of initiatives – [prakarsa] in Bahasa Indonesia.

Many of them have architecture background.

What motivated them to undertake such mission? Why they stepped out of the comfort and safety of the establishment and re-oriented their work towards such undertaking? How architecture as a discipline enable them to do so?

We’ve invited some of these inspiring architect-activists – from Indonesia and Singapore, to share their stories in a roundtable discussion presented by the Singapore Chapter of Indonesian Institute of Architects.

SIA-NEA 2020 Joint Webinar

Topic 1: Common Mistakes for Noise Assessment Report by Speaker Mr Chan Ho Zong

The Technical Guidelines on Boundary Noise Limits for Air Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation Systems in Non-Industrial Buildings was introduced in 2005 and revised in 2018. The speaker will share on methodology and common mistakes for noise assessment in non-industrial buildings.

Topic 2: Common Issues for Lodgement Scheme Applications by Speaker Mr Chan Ho Zong

The lodgement scheme was introduced in Jan 2018 for minor development projects and expanded to include all landed properties (with the exception of strata title landed properties with communal facilities) in Apr 2019. The speaker will share on the common issues encountered in lodgement scheme applications for minor development projects and landed properties.

Topic 3: SS642 PWCS Design Considerations for Architects by Speaker Mr Ong Leng Teck

This presentation will cover some of the design considerations for PWCS under Singapore Standard SS642: Code of Practice for Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System, relating to space management. The presentation is for architects implementing PWCS in new developments as DC submissions made to NEA from 1 Jun 2020 onwards will need to comply with SS642 as part of COPEH (2020 edition) requirements.

Topic 4: COPEH Section 1.10 On-Site Food Waste Treatment System by Speaker Mr Yap Jia Ji

Under the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) enacted in Oct 2019, from 2021, the owners and operators of new commercial and industrial premises that generate large amounts of food waste are required to set aside space for on-site food waste treatment systems in their design plans to allow for the closed-loop management of food waste within their premises. They will also be required to segregate food waste for on-site treatment from 2024.

This presentation will cover the (i) Thresholds of commercial and industrial premises subjected to the food waste segregation requirements under the RSA and (ii) Requirements for the space and layout of the area to be set aside for on-site food waste treatment system.

SIA Research and Standard Webinar: Design for Infection Control Readiness

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the way we live and the way we use building spaces in an unprecedented way, specifically within our homes, offices, and public establishments, all of which will form the New Norm. This New Norm will transform the way architects design for the future. The architecture industry needs to re-evaluate space design and technology applications with pandemic readiness in mind to address the imminent demands. SIA organizes this Webinar to shed lights on design for the New Norm from two industry experts.

Ms Angela Lee will be speaking from the perspective of a healthcare planner about infectious disease mitigation principles and strategies for space design. Er Steve Perkins as a smart building engineer will be sharing about how technologies could be implemented to make a difference in the post-pandemic world.

Topic 1: Reboot Readiness: A Primer on How to Design for Contagions by Ms Angela Lee

Large metropolitan areas have been the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, and in many ways has highlighted the fragility of our cities. This ever-present threat of contagion has already radically changed and continues to transform how we interact with each other. As we begin to reboot our lives into the New Norm, we will discuss operational, building, interiors and individual strategies that are effective against the spread of the virus from a healthcare standpoint. And since this has given us an opportunity to re-imagine our futures with a new lens of contagion management, we will also present longer term solutions on how to build resilience against the next pandemic in our buildings, our cities, and our societies.


Topic 2: Smart Building Design for a Pandemic and Beyond by Er Steve Perkins

Building owners and tenants have been using next generation information and communication technologies for a number of years to increase their operational efficiency, promote wellness, accelerate their environmental sustainability plans and improve the quality of services they provide to others.

They are now using these smart building technologies to make their buildings safer during the COVID-19 pandemic
In this presentation Steve Perkins will be discussing a range of new technologies that are being deployed n the fight against the pandemic, including tools for safe people movement, touchless building controls, social distancing management and indoor environmental quality enhancement.

To provide long term value these systems need to have a useful purpose once the pandemic has passed, and so a key consideration in their selection is ensuring they are solving multiple operational needs - ideally sitting at the centre of overlapping economic, social and environmental needs. Health & Safety management and Agile Workplace management are two areas where this technology will provide valuable long term service.

Hokkien Mee Diplomacy Forum

Examining the environmental issues to respond to the current crisis by relocalising the globalisation, Hokkien Mee Diplomacy Forum explores the various forms of local agriculture resilience and emerging Built Environment dynamics. Several international speakers will question the autochthonous practices and customs of revitalisation to resolve the food security issues in Singapore and the rest of the world. Animated by several international built environment designers--Alban Mannisi, Bjorn Low, Charles Anderson, Yazid Ninsalam, Ng Jin Xi, Andrew Lee, and Calvin Chua, the forum will discuss several built and research projects.

As the part of the series of international workshops Design Diplomacy, Hokkien Mee Diplomacy aims to provide an overview of the current Singapore/Malaysian environmental injustice situation; develop critical tools and methodologies of engaging in this arena; provide a systematic compendium of case studies of these complex phenomena for the enthusiastic new generation of landscape architects / planners / environmental designers concerned with the ethical behaviours towards humans and non-humans.