Singapore Art Museum (SAM)

Zaha Hadid’s, Auguste Rodin’s, Botero’s,
Georgette Chen’s works above.

Singapore Art Museum. I have always loved the feeling of walking along the sunlight colonial-architecture corridors and envisaging myself in the footsteps of those lucky students back in those days. Having almost claimed the SAM as my second home when I was back in secondary school and Junior College doing museum guiding, researching, and exhibiting my artwork, I nevertheless would find excitement in each time I visit the place. As I entered what used to be classrooms I think, I always looked forward to satisfying my eyes with art paintings, installations, ideas, concepts. I could almost remember the placement of artworks, as they don't change the permanent collections often. Yet, the placements of changing exhibits every now and then, that laid placed conspicuously or humbly in every nook and cranny is an exploration that I look forward to each time. The interaction of the exhibition walls and spaces with the artworks, how huge works fit into small spaces, or how artists “intervened” in the spaces are questions that I ask. As Frank Lloyd Wright has it, “Space is the breath of art”.

The conservation of the place that led to the installation of glass panels allowing air-conditioning to control the humidity of air in order to prevent degradation of artworks is one that is commendable. For one, I am able to look out of the corridor into the spaces beyond SAM, the buildings surrounding it and the activities of people below. Also, the transparency enables me to see the continuity of artworks and individual exhibition area. The interchanging spaces provided by the courtyard and spiral stairs add to the beauty of each threshold of spaces. My only reservation is that I wished they were able to include natural lighting (diffused) in the galleries, although I know it’s a hard practice even in many of the prominent art museums.

Nevertheless, it is indeed a weekend escape for me! :)

Lee Hui Lian

Colbar Eating House @ Whitchurch Road

Living in a city surrounded by major dining labels, it is refreshing to know places such as COLBAR still exist, and best of all, it is tucked away in a rather inconspicuous location, and so for people out there looking for a private dining experience, this is the place to be.
While I have only started patronizing COLBAR only recently, I must say each visit is always a pleasure as there is simply no fuss and pretense in its food and the surroundings. This 58 year old restaurant is non-air-conditioned and rustic and the entire structure was actually transplanted (after much debate) from its original site (which is five minutes away from its present location) as it was in the way of the highway construction, which makes me wonder about the fate of these historical structures in the nation’s progress towards a global city.
Moreover, COLBAR is a place for both adults and kids, and I just love the playground just beside the restaurant, where kids run around under the canopy of trees above, during a hot and sunny day. The feeling experienced at COLBAR is simply nostalgic and serene, and the idea of the bustling city is thrown way behind, just for a moment, I am at peace.

Paul Yeo

Plaza at Plaza Singapura


The open plaza in front of the Plaza Singapura is an interesting space, whereby it acts a buffer zone, a transition space, and a meeting space.
Many people have visited Plaza Singapura (PS) quite often. However, I’m sure many would have walked pass the open plaza without paying much attention to what is being done there purposely, much less what are the results of it.
The trees help the surroundings in many ways; they block out some noise from the busy road, provides shades for the seats (as you can see, even in a hot afternoon, people stick around under the tress rather than in the open), the winds blowing through and under these trees will be much cooler. As described in one of the lecture (Wind), the cooled wind will be somewhat guided towards PS.
As seen in the picture, between the trees and PS, Starbucks Coffee and Café Cartel arranged their tables in the open plaza, making full use of the Natural ventilation.
At night, as seen in the pictures below, the place will be lit up interestingly from the ground level; from the soil to the trees, from the steps, and from under the seats. This ambience creates another whole new world at night.
This open plaza has become a recognizable space both in day and night. A beautiful transition space draws more people into PS, not forgetting a great meet-up space.
All these are happening, with the effects of the compositions of the trees, surroundings, spacing and landscaping.

Phyo Si Thu

Prince George's Park

Prince George's Park Residences is so popular with NUS students. Each corner in PGP more or less have become a specific memorial place to a student who has ever lived there. The corridor leading from main foyer to the bus terminal, with me, is the remarkable one.
To PGP residents, this pathway is so familiar. They are rushing in the corridor to go to school on time, to go back their rooms after a hard working day, or just rushing for dining with their friends. Everybody must have been in the corridor at least a number of times, but they rarely realize it is more than a pathway.
The corridor is so meaningful with me not because of its architecture but its atmosphere. I can feel all of students’ activities after school just around this area. Coming back late after studio, contrasting to the quiet and warmly lighting corridor, I feel the light shining from a reading room where friends are still studying hard. I can listen to the sound of typing on computer and the music from other private rooms. Walking few steps further, I feel a little cool air escaping from the meeting room and even the heat and smell of cooking from the canteen nearby still remaining after closing. Walking through the corridor actually is a journey of experience. All of them are so friendly and familiar. Surely, after walking through the corridor and coming back my room, I myself experience this atmosphere again but with my own food, my own computer, my own music and my personal emotions.

Nguyen Hoang Duc Duy

Rochester Park


I used to jog a lot in the past and jogging allows me to explore unnoticeable places by trying new path and route. My greatest discovery by far, Rochester Park, is located in a discreet spot covered up by lushly grown vegetation along North Buona Vista Road. Rochester Park is a chill-out place set in a rustic background with huge green canopies surrounding the site. The 1930s colonial style black and white residential houses have been refurbished into an alfresco space to relax. Views to surrounding tall buildings and noise from traffic were obstructed by the lush greenry that surrounds the site. It unconsciously helps to reduce the presence of an urbanise city. Cooling comfortable climate and quiet setting allows one to take a step back from everyday hardwork while enjoying a meal and have a peace of mind. From lush greenry and birds chirping to 1930s colonial style house, Rochester Park has created an nostalgic and relaxating ambience. With One-North developing at the moment and huge publicity of Rochester Park, it may soon turn out to be noisy and filled with people.

Foo Chuan Dian

The Botanic Gardens


Everyday on my way to the University, I pass by the Botanic Gardens and I kept wondering what’s beneath that nice looking pitch roof with plants on top of it that was not there before when I was younger. So, I decided to spend my Sunday visiting back one of my favourite places in Singapore.
That Sunday, walking towards the Botanic Gardens, I kept pondering to myself, what could it be under it . . . a café or just simply a pavilion for visitors to rest. As I move towards the building, I was somewhat disappointed. It was a Visitor’s Centre filled with tourists. No place for me to spend my afternoon. Then I discovered beneath the Visitor’s Centre is a food court. Excited, I went there but to my dismay, it was air-conditioned. Not only that, the new shelter leading towards the Visitor’s Centre is made of glass supported by steel structure that made the place even warmer.
But I have to say that by introducing the greens above the roof of the Visitor’s Centre does help bring down the temperature within the building in comparison to the temperature around the new landscape.
As I move deeper into the garden, I sat under the tree and gazed upon the man-made lake and it gave me a sense of nostalgia. I also felt cooler sitting under the tree than sitting on the benches around the new landscape. But I believe the new landscape will be a nice place too when the new-planted trees have grown in the future. To me, the Botanic Gardens is like a sanctuary to get away from the hecticness of the city.

Harvey Lukman

HDB apartment at Bain Street

My favourite place would be a HDB apartment in the city. One of the last surviving ones would be at Bain Street, otherwise known to many as the Bras Basah flats. Apart from having Art-Friend a lift ride away, the view on the top floor is fantastic. Where else can one admire the sunset like this? With the natural light mixing with the artificial from the surrounding buildings and traffic, no view from any hotel can match this. One is placed right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city and yet at above 13 storeys everything is calm with the cool breeze and traffic noise is soft (yes soft) and one can view the faint image the coast of our island and the sea beyond.

Jonathan Lin