Journey

"A journey of a thousand miles must
begin with a single step.”
- Lao Tzu

I cannot change the direction of the wind,
but
I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.

WAITING

We wait
because
Somewhere,
something incredible
is waiting to be known.

We wait,
for the start of the journey
alone,
but
not lonely.

We wait,
for the unknown destination
marvelously,
but
never afraid.

Xing Ying

Changi International Airport, Terminal 2 Viewing Gallery

The viewing gallery has changed.

Midnight, I would eat ice cream (double, chocolate chip). Freezing-cold, dead-quiet. Soft music emanates from a hidden alcove as planes roar silently into the night sky, leaving us with a gentle earth-shaking. The gallery is empty, dark, like glowingly with orange from the runway. Couples sit silently in communion with the ephemeral spirit of arrival-departure. The windows shake a little.

Is this the same place? It reflects how time has changed. I see planes, giant behemoths, though double glass, a consequence of terrorists.

But still, families still come late at night, hands filled with ice cream. Children still watch with delight and wonder as giants leave the earth for the sky.

It is still quiet.

It still has the tingle of, a new feeling,

change-arrival-leave!-holiday-fly-flyhigh-stomach-dropping sympathy-wonder-delight-night-goodbyegoodbyegoodbye.

Cheong Yong Hui Grace

My Dwelling

Tan Chieng Siew

Smith Street at Chinatown

Walking on the Smith street in the five foot way of the colourful shophouses, one can smell the aroma of food from the intimate eateries, see groups of men socialising under the low pavilions and hear constant yelling from the stall vendors, all happening at the same time. Unlike being in the built up areas such as shopping malls, the atmosphere at night is also noisy but it is at the same time enjoyable to be in. This is partly due to the engaging of activities with the shop vendors where everyone bargains for cheaper goods.

The streets are very vibrant and full of activities that one could walk over and over again without feeling tired. The open air eateries adds on to the charm of Chinatown, not the usual air conditioned space but it is filled with the aroma coming from the food and the noise made by the bypassing vehicles which gave a very out to nature feeling where one can seldom find in the high end restaurants. The brightly lit streets filled with colourful light fittings and signboards enhance the intimacy of the streets which in turn give a warm feeling.

The night market in Smith Street give me a sense of belonging where it cannot be found in another place which gave an identity to the place itself.

Wendy Ang Wen Ling

Rooftop at VivoCity


Vivo city was chosen by me because it is one place I often visit during my leisure time. As vivo city is not very far from the place I stayed, it is convenient to travel there and have some entertainments, such as watching movies, shopping or starving for delicious food there. However, the roof top garden is the most suitable place for relaxation and rest, especially in the cloudy days which the weather is not that hot to walk around the area. I would not say that the roof top garden is a sustainable design, but it is surely a good place for people to take a break from their heavy work and enjoy the greenery and sea view. Walking around the space, get in touched with the water pond nearby or sit down and feel the breeze that comes from the sea side. I would say that majority of people would love the kind of feeling on the roof top garden as it is very comfortable and tranquil. At least I do love the feeling there.

Furthermore, the roof top garden is a fantastic place for kids or youths to play with. As there is not many activities for young people nowadays to play with, the roof top garden provide an area for them to have fun and play together. There is kid playing ground somewhere in the middle. There is shallow water pond for them to splash over one another. The space is such a wonderful place for all ages of people to enjoy it.

Hu Linyuan

Giant @ Vivocity

Lor 27 Geylang Road



Place of Reminiscence:
The backlane behind the shophouses along Lor 27 Geylang Road is where I used to spend most of my childhood in as I stayed in one of the shophouse apartment, and studied in Geylang Methodist Primary School which was located nearby.

This particular backlane is always bustling with activities, be it the morning crowd from the little market stall at the edge of the backlane workers handling the ingredients at the back of the shop, shopkeepers hiding behind to enjoy a little time-out or lunch, or simply the passer-by who uses the backlane to go from one point to the other; not to mention the services that is installed behind. It used to be much cooler in the day and the backlane acting as a shady and chill alternative for the pedestrians but with the installation of all the services and machinery, the heat is seemingly unbearable these days.

There used to be a lot of stray cats at the backlane and there would be a nice petite lady who feed them during dinner. Thus I'll play with the cats whenever I'm on the way home from school and I'll then take a detour towards the backlane or whenever I feel like it.

I'm no longer staying around this area but this area is definitely the best growing-up memories I had of authentic Singapore and where I had experienced the lifestyle of a bona fide Singaporean then.

Tan Lee Hua

Tai Wah Chok Kee Coffee Shop


Built in the early 1970s by the Housing Development Board (HDB), the area was the beginnings of present day Hougang Estate. With industries located nearby, Tai Wah Coffee Shop set its roots here in 1975 and enjoyed brisk business from residents and workers alike. Since then, it has gone on to prosper in present day, boasting a colourful history of 33 years. I grew up with the business and saw its daily changes from the frequent customers who come early in the morning to have their fix of freshly brewed coffee, lazy afternoons spent in the shade and noisy evenings when beer drinkers and families gather to end the day over a meal. What is found here is unique to old housing estates, where close relationships have been formed and nurtured over the years over countless cups of coffee and tea. It is here with memories that I hold.

Lim Zhan Quan Andrew

The Sculptures of Biopolis


Art meets Science:
For the horticulturist, a sculpture shelter inspired by the leaf of the Weeping Fig;
For the acoustics, a sound amplifier;
For the geneticist, a tertiary protein structure;
For the botanist, a dandelion clock ready to take flight.

Last Saturday, as part of Architour training, I had the opportunity to explore Bio-polis, a cluster of buildings dedicated to the sciences. Upon entry, we experienced the undulating terrain designed by Zaha Hadid, heard the sound of water flowing upstream in the park and admired the irregular buildings forms. But what really strikes me was the effort put in fusing art with science in the compound. As seen in the picture, the sculptures are all related to science. While they seem quite literal, the rarity of such sculptures in Singapore makes this place a must visit for sculpture lovers.

Tan Yuk Hong Ian

Singapore Polytechnic Food Court 1


The food court nearest to the studios in my old school, Singapore Polytechnic holds lots of fond memories for me. It was where all of us, architectural slaves, gathered to lament about unsolved design issues, engage in intellectual architecture conversation, mindless gossips or plain good old chit chatting to get away from projects for a few minutes. The food court is spacious with an open plan, completely open on all 4 sides with no internal obstructions and thus allowing prevailing winds to ventilate the space. The mechanical fans on the ceiling also help in promoting wind flow.

Apart from being naturally lighted by the 4 sides, the top façade and the roof have wide glass panels to ensure sufficient day lighting. It was never a problem to find seats, to encounter congested queue lines or to have difficulty getting through to your tables, even during lunch hours, thanks to the generous spatial planning. In my second year of study in SP, new benches were installed outside in the food court on timber decking, complementing the existing trees and shrubs, which also help to shade the area, providing a cool and relaxing outdoor place for meals and conversations. The design strategies, simple yet effective, have indeed created a gathering place worthy of praises. Every visit has brought it closer to my heart and I will, as clichéd as it may sound, remember every piece of memory collected there.

Lim Wei Ling

Reminiscence: Queenstown Cinema


Like a cinematic view, the Queenstown Cinema came into view from a distance. Cladded in a patina of rust and mold, it fondly reminded me of the times when I was just a 4 yr old kid, begging my parents to buy that 5 dollars ticket to watch a movie, even though I have no idea what it was. I remembered that movie posters weren’t printed, but painted by an artist. I remembered that eerie cinema toilet which I was so scared to go in alone.

Around the corner emerges the abandoned KFC. Images of my 7th birthday celebration with my now deceased grandparents flickered on my mind. I remembered the times I wanted to sit at the window, watching the public play bowling, even though I have no idea how the game was played. I remember waving at strangers whom I never knew.

Moving on to the ticketing counter, I remembered the time when my mother scolded me in public for the first time. I stood at the exact spot I was back then, and remembered how massive my mother looked. I remembered my tears, my sobs, under the scrutiny of the public. How embarrassing it was back then!

Now as I think back, these memories, happy and sad, ugly and beautiful, a sense of nostalgia warmed my heart.

The building will soon be demolished to make way for new development. People will see a new sleek and stylish building in its place. I might not remember the movies that I watched there, but memories of that old, rusted and dilapidated cinema will always remain in my mind.

All buildings grow old. Some might fade away. But memories of times spent at the building will never diminish. A building might be gone physically, but it continues to live forever in the memory of one.

Tan Soon Lee Alex

Kampong Lorong Buangkok



A place I discovered accidentally, not at the place itself, but through one out of millions of photos in the internet. It surprised me of its village scene in the context of Singapore as a crowded and developed island. A place looks so familiar to what I used to live in my hometown in Malaysia; I could not believe that the pre-urbanized look of Singapore still exists in the middle of the high rise residential and commercial area in Buangkok, Singapore.

First time exploring this place, I entered the village from the back, through thick, secluded woods and serene footpath surrounded by dense vegetations, not knowing where it is and how could I get to the location. Across a wooden bridge, it seems as if one has left the modern city core and entered an expected village in some undeveloped places but definitely not in Singapore.
The smell of the earth, sounds of the birds, crickets, droppings of chickens, together with the presence of the howling voice of the wind and rain upon my arrival, add on to the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and the hectic pace of life in Singapore. A single soul is hardly seen here, but there is always a feeling that there are people around you, perhaps being conscious that the place is surrounded by high density neighbourhood. Yet, it evokes some kind of nostalgic feelings in me; it just reminds me of my childhood days in my hometown miles and miles away from Singapore, yet still visible here.

Kampong Lorong Buangkok, a secluded village from the context of the civilized Singapore, yet still survives in the city itself. One could find the old Singapore here, and perhaps, it also reflects the old root of Singapore, which is before all the transformation and modernization took place on this island a few decades back in time.

Lim Chu Hwai