Lower Pierce Reservoir


I moved to somewhere near this reservoir about 10 years ago and fell in love with it almost instantly when I first visited the place. It is not huge and hilly and it holds a relatively small pool of water, human activity is low. But perhaps it is due to this that I could appreciate nature in a closer manner?
I’ve always loved walk through the reservoir from one end where the car park is, transiting to the open grass patch with little trees scatter to provide shade for the occasional “Fisherman”. The shore is lined with stones and water that rushes up to shore beats on it with a certain rhythm. It is easy to fall asleep just by following this rhythm with your eyes closed while sitting under the little canopies.
Further in are wooden paths that hover above the water and it eventually bashes through the jungle towards the other end of the reservoir. In the evening the sun sets and the sight is a calming one. The reservoir sits still as you stand on the wooden path. Time seems to stop.

Low Chin Win

A Secluded Place

This was the path I used to walk to my work place- Akitek Tenggara along Dairyfarm Road. Although it is very long stretch of road, I still enjoyed my walk because it is detached from the bustle of the main road. It sort of slow down my pace and allowed me to enjoy nature. The full grown trees provide shade which made my walk pretty comfortable and the little noise pollution made me aware of the sound of nature- rusting of leaves and presence of insects.


I am greeted with a lush landscape upon turning into the work place. The different varieties of plant make the landscape an interesting one. I often wonder how many offices provide such a refreshing way to start one’s day.

This is the back of the office with a pantry and washroom hidden at the back that is naturally ventilated.
Open the door and you will feel the inviting cool air that defines the office space.

Jun Fong

5 footway of shophouse in Kampong Glam










This site is historical place in Singapore. Because Kampong Glam has an antique mosque, and Istana. But there is another element of historical background. That is a shophouse.
The shophouse has a very narrow width, long depth, and low roof. And it has 5 footway. This name comes from the width. The width is about 5 foot size.
The 5 footway is originated for the wider area, using 2nd floor.
Trying to use longer spac, finally 2nd floor is almost reached at the road. So bottom of the 2nd floor and in front of 1st floor there occurred space seems like corridor.
The long parallel column gives me to feel strong perspective. And through many shops, I can feel the activity of merchandising, through the arrangement of various façade.

Ju Young Seok

The Olive Ristorante, Labrador Park

I came to know about the Olive Ristorante located in Labrador Park when our design studio went to the park for site study for the latest design project. The studio spent the evening there for a pleasant Italian dinner.
We first walked by the restaurant in the afternoon when we first arrived at the park. My first impression of it is a very welcoming space. This is because against the glaring sun of the afternoon, the restaurant offers a shady shelter. Just walking by the restaurant, one is attracted by the cooling shade created by the high over hanging roof. The roof reaches the height of up to 4 meters for the eave nearer the entrance. The roof for the rear of the restaurant is slightly lower, for a more intimate environment for dinning. The entire restaurant is thoroughly naturally ventilated, having an entirely open plan and no internal division to promote wind flow.
By the time we finished our tour and headed back to the restaurant, it was around 6 pm but the air was still humid and warm. However, as we entered the restaurant, it was suddenly a different climatic zone, one which is cooling and dry. The restaurant sits itself against a steep slope, overlooking the plateau of land of the neighboring golf course. This promises plenty of ventilation for the premise, as the restaurant is situated on a high point. The roof fans also aid in promoting ventilation.
Within the restaurant, there is effort to make the restaurant relate even more to its environment. The roof of the rear of the restaurant is of a translucent material for natural lighting of the space in the day. Some creeper plants are grown on top of the roof. The green leaves, together with the brown shed leaves dropped on the roof can be seen through the roof clearly, which lends a very natural and unpretentious air to the restaurant.
I thought that for a rather up-end Italian restaurant, the slightly rustic quality of the space and the completely natural way of ventilation and lighting gives it a more down to earth and approachable feel, allowing it to fit in nicely with the surrounding natural reserve of Labrador Park.

Yang Han

Memories…


The NS experience, one that all male Singaporeans can relate to. For many, this is one experience they wish they could do without; but for me, well, I definitely do not want to re-live my NS again, but the memories and friendship and life experiences that I’ve had from this experience, I’ll cherish and hold dear. One place that brought all these experiences together for me personally is the Officer Cadet’s School. The friendships, the suffering, the good times, the bad times, the times we almost got pissed drunk and the times we almost collapsed from sheer exhaustion, the stupid things we did and the stupid things we were made to do; most importantly, the WE that we could all identify with. This school, its buildings, the stones and tiles all stood witness to that.
Perhaps the most amazing thing about this place is the collective memories it holds for each and every batch of Officer Cadets, whether good or bad. The architecture may not have been amazing, groundbreaking or even fantastic. Some may even have liked to term it boring, but I find its spatial distribution, its hierarchy of spaces and its separation of private and public space very much the result of a successful design. While most spaces are not air conditioned, one would almost never feel the heat or be caught in the rain. Its attention to Singapore’s climatic features is reflected in its design what with high ceilings and strategically placed courtyards. And after having lived and used the place for 9 months of my NS stint, I must say that its design is a success.

Koh Eng Meng

In Chinatown@night

It was amazing when I traveled to the China town streets in Singapore last year.
This place reminded me of many pleasant memories. The sun set, and night came in china town, this place was different during the daytime. When the lights turned on, the street in between the colourful Peranakan facade started changing to a picturesque scene. It was looked so beautiful to pedestrians.
Then I found out that there were actually a variety of activities in the side streets in between the Peranakan facade buildings. The best impression one usually sees here is activity out of building in the interior side street.
Every activity which surrounded china town, and the Chiniee light into the road made people feel like it was a dream, and they could easily get closer to each other. I could also easily talk to strangers around me.
Sometimes I could see some kind of acrobatic show on the street.
This experience somehow became a symbol my travels because it gave me a good impression.

Mi Hyun-Mok

Little India

Little India, the exotic piece of land in Singapore that represents the Indian community in Singapore. To some people, it may just be one of the many tourist hubs that we have in Singapore; to others, it may be a gathering space for them to meet up with their friends every weekend. However, to me, Little India is a special place in my heart. This is because I have been residing here for the past 20 years. I have watched the place metamorphosized from being a weekly communal space for the foreign Indian workers to congregate to a vibrant tourist attraction that now, not only does it have the second biggest wet market in Singapore, it even has its own shopping mall, shopping arcade, and mega supermarket as well! The thing about Little India that touches me the most is the sense of nostalgia that never fails to makes me reminisce the years that have past in my life. Yes, Little India is indeed a visual gift, a once in a lifetime cultural experience, a sight to behold. But to me, the smells of frangipani, blasting of Hindi music, the palatable taste of Thosai and prata, epitomizes the definition of home.

Eugene Lau

Swimming Pool @ NUS


This is the swimming pool in NUS. I like this space. The reason is…
First, I like swim. And i haven’t experience outdoor swimming pool. Even if it has an outdoor swimming pool in Korea. But that is for water playing. But this swimming pool is for exercising. So I can swim with the sky. I always go to pool in early morning, so sun doesn’t matter. And I can rest on the stair at the same time; I can see the good swimmer, also.
Finally favorite thing is that I can swim with bird. Bird swims in the sky, and I swim in the water. I couldn’t image this before.

Kim Lui

School on a hill: St Nicholas Girls School


My old school holds many fond memories for me, having spent more then a decade studying there. The whole school, situated on a hill, is very near the central water catchment area. This could probably be the reason why it was usually quite cooling. One of the things firmly etched in my memories is the beautiful high ceiling spaces that are all around the school. The whole feeling of airiness and sunlit spaces accompanied me in all my schooling days. Not to forget were all the endless plants and flowers that defined the surroundings. Every classroom had its own balcony that each class was supposed to decorate. Pots and pots of bougainvilleas were placed in the balcony and along the corridor. I always sat near the corners of the class so that I can gaze out (either the courtyard or garden) and daydream.
Perhaps one of the best places in St Nicks is the spectators stand. Sitting there early in the morning watching the sky turn gradually from dark blue to light was a daily enjoyment just before school assembly. Evenings were also a beautiful sight, witnessing the sky turn from a hue of pink to a golden orange. The sense of serenity around the whole place is something not commonly found everywhere where places are either bustling with activities or just too quiet and cold. Another spectacular place in the school was the sunken forum. There is nothing that can describe the feeling of sitting on a railing under a high ceiling and watching lightning bolt across the sky in the dark night. It was an odd feeling of both security and excitement as it seemed as though the lightning can strike us any moment, and yet know that a ceiling is protecting us all the while. St. Nicks was a truly wonderful place where I grew up in. It is just too bad that the school will be rebuilt in a few years time. I guess I will just go back one of these days to take more photos of it to store in my memory before it is gone.

Regina Yeo

Park behind Prince George’s Park Residences

It is difficult to think of Singapore as a tropical country as it is so highly developed that my view of a tropical setting- lush vegetation, rainforests, and greenery becomes distorted. Walking behind Prince Georges Park residences towards Pasir Panjang road, however, can give glimpses of a tropical landscape with nature playing a dominant role in the environment. One can hear crickets, smell the earth and experience some of the quietness that is often lost in other areas of Singapore. Research institutes along this road also incorporate vegetation into their landscape. A restaurant located behind PGP also has a lake and a fountain that adds to the ‘jungle’ effect of the space as one can hear water. The path that I walk on is shaded by the tree canopy, the same canopy cools the breeze that is abundant on this site when it is about to rain. When rain pours down as is so common in Singapore, the canopy also serves to shelter to a large extent so one feel more protected here when not carrying an umbrella.
In terms of an architectural presence, there is a restaurant very close to this site, however, on its own it is not very effectively shaded ( shaded areas are dark) and fans are used to aid ventilation- the breeze is not very strong. Hence I would say it is more the approach to the restaurant rather than the place itself that is tropical in nature.

Ahana Basu

Kampong Glam

Singapore is one of the most splendid country in the world. In spite of small size, there is many space of interest and is modernization. Has many shopping center, tourist resort… etc., and all these things are new.
As a foreigner, It feels artificial. But there is contrasted place in urban surroundings.
This space in the Kampong Glam, Malay district.
It’s abandoned place. Building has coal trace by past fire and many part paints came off. And beside it, there is undressed nature.
But it’s very impressive space to me.
Green moss that is covering building shows traces of time, and harmonizes with side’s undressed nature. Light which enter through tree branches makes soft atmosphere.
This place gives mental comfort in urban surroundings. It felt as stay away a tempo.
This place was derelict, but is not derelict.
Because, it has function as necessary place to people.

Yu Hyunsuk

King Edward VII Hall


It's another overnight stay in studio due to submission. It's morning and the only thing come into my mind is rushing back to my hostel to sleep. The reason why I am so stick to my hall, King Edward VII hall is that I found it relief and comfortable staying here and it give me the 'home' feeling. Unlike other halls, KE VII naturally sits on a hill engulfed by forest. Whenever I came back into this 'abandoned' place, I can feel that I was separated from the busy school works and life. Climbing up the stairs with sound of trees rafting and crickets from the forest, my pace became slow and calm walking back to my room. My room is oriented in an interesting way. Its front is facing a thick tropical forest where I can find squirrels and birds hopping around inside. When I entered my room, a totally contrasting view is in front of me! Looking through the stripe window, layers of view come into my eyes. I can see bird's view of green forest immediately, then city, then port then finally is the sea! The unlimitedly opened sky view is totally contrasting with the thick and unlimitedly deep forest at the door. The cool and refreshing wind blowing across my room through successful cross ventilation makes my room a wonderful place for rest. This is King Edward VII hall which I think is an interesting place in my life in Singapore for 1 year.

Anthony Chung Ching Fatt

Pasir Ris Park

Pasir Ris Park is a beach park located in the north-eastern part of Singapore. It stands at 71 hectares of land, including 6 hectares of preserved mangrove forests and some reclaimed land.Boardwalks are built into the mangrove forests. Mud crabs, mudskippers and mangrove trees such as Rhizophora and Bruguiera are found in this park. Also in this park, there is a beach which is relatively popular to Singaporeans. There are also many other facilities like a cycling track, barbecue pits and dining. Some resorts near the park have gates linking to the park.
I could say that Pasir Ris Park was a place where I grew up in. Since the age of 3, my mother often brought my siblings and I to the beach or to the park to play in the sand. We would often climb up the spider-web, run around maze and stroll along the paved concrete roads, stopping occasionally to buy a ‘potong’ ice-cream stick.
Today, Pasir Ris Park has changed somewhat significantly from how I saw it as a child. Rows and rows of restaurants have now been erected along the coast. ‘Fisherman’s Village’ was termed as the place known to many Singaporeans. Though I felt that these rows of restaurats though strategically placed for a desired atmosphere for dining, it has blocked out the view to the sea when walking along the paved concrete road. However, I was glad to realise that further down the coast, most of the other parts of the beach were left untouched. I was more afraid of how commercialized this peaceful part of the island would become. The peace and serenity of the place was attractive to me.
Architecturally, it couldn’t be compared to the many other beaches on the island of Singapore. But the shelters built to hide-away when it rained was something I identified with this park. The rounded pitch roof shelther had a space large enough for 20 people yet when seen from a distance it doesn’t seem like it’s terrorizing the space too much.
The landscape of the beach is also beautiful. Rocks were erected for people to seat as close to the sea as possible, the number of palm trees were just enough for sea breezes to ventilate the area and yet still provide sufficient shading for picnic-goers. There are also enough open spaces for people to have fly a kite, kick a ball and play catching.
A space enough to stay in your memories should be a place worth visiting.

Adeline Toh

Raffles Hotel


Raffles Hotel--- It sits in the middle of the commercial district, with huge malls and busy roads, yet when one steps into the courtyards, it seems like the modern world is shut out. Traffic and pedestrian noise is reduced by the intervention of the buildings around the perimeter of the compound. The classical language employed makes for a romantic ambience. It almost seems as though the world is slowing down, with the porticos and verandahs shaded from the scorching afternoon sun, and people enjoying the shade provided.
The hotel lobby at the main building of the compound suggests a sort of grandeur with the grand and majestic wooden stairs, placed right in the middle. It makes for a dramatic entrance. Daylight filters into the lobby. The lobby is at the first of the 3 level, so when daylight hits the first level, it is warm, not hot, and suitably lit. The afternoon sun invariably feels like the morning sun, when the world starts to heat up all over again, after a cooling night.

Diong Fuhan

Food for the Heart

Labrador Park
A place of sacred peace.


When I first stepped into Labrador Park three years back with my mum, I was struck by the unscathed tranquility. There weren’t many people around there then as it’s existance was still unknown to many. I found my way to the coast and it was a relief to find the sea water clear enough to see the rocks below the waves. There, you’ll only hear the orchestra of the cicadas, the waves and the ocassional ships passing by. Coupled with the wind in the hair and the smell of the fresh, it was the perfect getaway, the oasis from the city life. All this is found right at the fringe of Singapore. When I was sitting at the jetty, I promised myself that I will return to this haven whenever I have the time. However, that was my first and last time there.
Three years later, in my second year of architecture, during one of the studio sessions, my tutor proposed a few sites for our upcoming project. And one of them was labrador park. When he asked if anyone has any preferences, everyone kept quiet. I tried to be cool in the beginning, keeping the silence, but the benson within me was shouting out “YOU IDIOT! SPEAK UP!!!”

“I propose that we choose labrador park as our site…”

My comment sliced the silence. And I proceeded on describing the place to the rest of my studio mates as most of them have never stepped into that sanctury before. I couldn’t help but lost myself admist the desccription. I know that I have to get that site for my project. Thankfully, my little speech managed to sway more than half of my studio mates in my favour. *Whew*
My second trip there, after 3 long years, was with the entire studio, including the tutor. The place was sort of “modified” by the government with pavilions, a huge exercising area that took up 1/6 of the whole coastal area, and a stragely designed playground that’s supposed to stimulate the WW2. The serenity of the place is now being challenged with these alien forces. Thankfully, the governmenr recognises the weight of the rocky beach and hence, the park and the beach was still kept in a pretty good condition.
Now that I’m back to asylum, I made every effort to frequent the place. Subsequently, the walk from the main road in and out has become part of the ritual of the entire trip. All I hope now is that the calm of the entire park will remain for everyone else who needs a refuge.

Heng Guan Hong

Vivo City at Harbourfront


My favourite place is the newly opened Vivo city is located at harbourfront. I went there on the second week of the opening. (it was very crowded then) and I personally think that the building is very vibrant. The façade of the building is very interesting because of its organic shape and the cladding is shape like the “wave” of the water. When I step into the building the organic layout actually is unique as it brings you a very different spatial experience and quality in terms of the human circulation. A place that I personally like is the yard facing sentosa. The view towards the sea and the use of material make you feel that you are actually on the cruise ship. It is also very also very windy as it is open to the sky.

William Tay

Changi SAF Yacht Club
Built on reclaimed land and officially opened on 28 May 05


I remember the pier extending, reaching, yearning, trying so hard to touch the horizon but never succeeding.
Amongst towering clouds, little specks of fast-moving white dotted the sky. Seagulls. As if mocking the pier, they zoomed towards the horizon, disappearing as fast as they had appeared, taking their cackles along with them.
Stationing myself at a seat at The WaterEdge Café, I took in the yachts tied to the sides of the pier. How majestic they seemed! How carefree they seemed! And yet, how plain they seemed compared to the lovely orange cocktail nestled in my hands. The sea agreed and celebrated my triumph by emitting a wind that played with my curls.
The sun struggled for awhile, then succumbed to the velvety night sky. In response, the boardwalk came alive with the orange spotlights and I smiled as a little child gazed in wonder at the sea, which had similarly come alive with the soft glow of the ships from afar. Without missing a beat, the waiter set our table aglow with flickering candlelight. The relaxing music of the 80s and 90s coupled with the soft, flickering shadows all around lulled me and drew me deeper into the inviting embrace of the swing’s couch and unwittingly, I dozed off for a good 10 minutes and dreamt of nothing but my troubles dancing along and fading away with the shadows.

My little secret hideaway, this quaint little yacht club.
Wait for me, you with your mind-stealing beauty.

Lim Hui Min Emily

Open space @ National Library


This place is the open space in National library. I can feel Nature in city. In Singapore that sunlight is strong and is always summer. I thought that I can not live without air conditioner but in this place I can endure hot weather. To me who has a headache if I feel the wind of air conditioner for a long time, this is the paradise.
In Korea, this place is popular in summer but in winter, people can not endure. Because the temperature descends by blow zero and snow falls. Now, Korea is autumn. The hot of summer disappears and it is the time to prepare the winter. The cool wind blows and the leaves fall down and the days are always cool. It is the time that my body that is adapted to Korea has to feel the autumn but now I feel summer, so I am exhausted and weak and my body is drooped.
To this me, the cool space is the heaven. Because in this place I can feel the wind of autumn that I feel in Korea.

Kim Jin Ah

Wheelock Place


Wheelock Place being a cone glass and steel structure lights up the entrance space with natural lighting (the combination of glass and steel frame allows light to shine into Wheelock Place yet casting shadows at different angles creating an alluring sight.) and when night falls, it becomes a sculpture which lights up from within.
It houses the Borders Books & Music.
I particularly like the fact that since the main drawing point of Wheelock Place is Borders Books & Music, and books bring about enlightenment, by building the main entrance using mainly glass allowing light to pass through, it sort of acts as a metaphor.
Shadow and light cast by the frames creates space at the main entrance making it appear larger then it is. When people arrive at Borders from the underground passage, they are welcomed with this "red carpet" in the form of light and space.
The entrance space is seducing enough for me to post this building on this blog.
Despite the building’s poetic use of natural lighting in the day, the one special encounter I had with Wheelock Place was in fact on a stormy night. I still remember despite my rush for time, when I looked up at the (glass cone) structure from the inside, it manages to sooth my mind. When viewed from the inside, there is a feeling as though one is inside a cascading waterfall as the raindrops hit the exterior and flow off the structure. As the rain water trickles down on the glass surface, it seems to wash all your troubles away and with the artificial lighting, the glass structure seem to be “communicating” with me as the bright lights and the sound & sight of the rainwater presents itself above me.
It was definitely a sight worth remembering.

Jason Tan Yaw Liang