Venice Architecture Biennale Singapore Pavilion 2023, Sale d’Armi Exhibition, Values Measurement Machine Italy
Singapore Pavilion 2023 Venice Biennale News
Architecture Exhibition in Italy – Curators, Dates, News
18 April 2023
WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH?
The Performance of Measurement
Singapore Pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Location: Sale d’Armi, Arsenale, Venice, Italy
20 May 2023 – 26 November 2023
“A great building, in my opinion, must begin with the unmeasurable, go through measurable means when it is being designed, and in the end must be unmeasurable.” – Louis Kahn, architect
The centrepiece of the pavilion is a Values Measurement Machine, a spectacular series of analogue plotting machines that mark data on 5-metre tall calligraphic scrolls that are constantly moving.
Titled “WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH? The Performance of Measurement”, the Singapore Pavilion at the 2023 Biennale Architettura aims to open up dialogue about new ways of measuring and evaluating the intangibles we design to – attributes such as agency, attachment, attraction, connection, freedom, and inclusion – and asks in particular: how much is enough?
Singapore Pavilion 2023 Venice Biennale, Italy
Buildings and the built environment are designed and built according to measurable, quantifiable and gradable standards, yet a community’s interaction with their environment is not measured within these standards. The need to redefine ‘innovation in design’ to link these two realms of the architecture of the city is urgent. In building a lovable city, how do we measure the unmeasurable – agency, attachment, attraction, connection, freedom, inclusion? As we design cities to be more humane by making them more lovable, the Singapore Pavilion at the Biennale Architettura 2023 opens up dialogue about new ways of measuring and evaluating the intangibles we design to, and asks in particular: how much is enough?
Co-commissioned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg), and organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), the Singapore Pavilion responds to the 18th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia’s theme, The Laboratory of The Future, with WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH? The Performance of Measurement.
Led by curators Ar. Melvin Tan, Ar. Adrian Lai and Ar. Wong Ker How, WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH? The Performance of Measurement aims to visualise how we can start to measure these intangibles. The centrepiece of the Pavilion is the Values Measurement Machine, a spectacular series of analogue plotting machines marking data on five-metre-tall calligraphic scrolls. Visitors are invited to respond to six questions that surface the intangible elements of the city and reflect on the qualities that can transform the urban landscape beyond a human-oriented city to a worldly, lovable one. Navigating through a spectrum of artistic renders, visitors will pinpoint the critical balance of qualities to evoke their desired habitat, weighing up their preferences and registering these values at the pavilion.
This act of weighing and registering values form the body of the artwork and will be plotted on the large calligraphic scrolls in the Pavilion, in a real-time display of consensus and contradiction that takes place over the six months of the Biennale Architettura 2023.
Accompanying the machine are exhibits containing 41 other questions, which guide visitors to pause and learn more about the research of architectural practices involved in the Pavilion, and their work on measuring intangibles while designing for issues such as dementia and neurodiversity, rewilding, biodiversity, nutrition, and biomimicry ecosystems.
Visitors will be asked to respond to six key questions, plotting their answers based on a spectrum of artistic renders that best represent their responses. Their preferences will be plotted on the giant rolling scrolls, in a real-time display of consensus and contradiction:
The set of exhibits and questions was created in collaboration with architects and researchers whose practices deal with agency, attachment, attraction, connection, freedom in the city and inclusion. In examining design processes that work for these six goals, the Singapore Pavilion uncovers challenges and contradictions, and brings to light methods of addressing diverse preferences and the conundrums that arise.
The Values Measurement Machine will collate empirical data throughout the Biennale Architettura 2023, offering a snapshot of how intangible qualities turned into data can help increase appreciation of creating inclusive standards from the ground up. At the same time, the Pavilion experience is a call to action for visitors to reflect on how much is enough to achieve the outcomes they envision for their cities.
WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH? The Performance of Measurement proposes that an equitable society rests upon the bedrock of its people continually making sense of counteracting priorities, values and definitions, especially in increasingly multicultural and multispecies cities. The Singapore Pavilion invites visitors to imagine the intangible qualities they feel are important where they live, and the roles that both architects and the general communities play in designing and realising this reality.
Along both sides of the pavilion, visitors will find a series of cards asking questions that aim to pinpoint the qualities that transform the urban landscape beyond a human-oriented, loveable city. These questions cover the fields of design for dementia and neurodiversity, rewilding, biodiversity, nutrition, and biomimicry ecosystems:
Venice Biennale Singapore Pavilion 2023 Participants
Commissioners and Organiser
COMMISSIONERS: Yap Lay Bee, Group Director (Architecture & Urban Design), Urban Redevelopment Authority; Dawn Lim, Executive Director, DesignSingapore Council
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore’s land use planning and conservation agency. Our mission is “to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play”. We strive to create an endearing home and a vibrant city through long-term planning and innovation, in partnership with the community.
We have transformed Singapore into one of the most liveable cities in Asia through judicious land use planning and good urban design. Adopting a long-term and comprehensive planning approach, we formulate strategic plans such as the Long-Term Plan and the Master Plan to guide the physical development of Singapore in a sustainable manner. Developed to support economic growth, our plans and policies are focused on achieving a quality living environment for Singapore.
We take on a multi-faceted role to turn plans and visions into reality. As the main government land sales agent, we attract and channel private capital investments to develop sites that support planning, economic and social objectives. Through our regulatory function, we ensure that development works are aligned with our plans. As the conservation authority, we have an internationally recognised conservation programme, and have successfully conserved not just single buildings, but entire districts. We also partner the community to enliven our public spaces to create a car-lite, people-friendly and liveable city for all to enjoy.
In shaping a distinctive city, we promote architecture and urban design excellence, and innovate to build a resilient city of opportunity that fulfils the aspirations of our people.
Visit www.ura.gov.sg for more information.
The DesignSingapore Council’s (Dsg’s) vision is for Singapore to be an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city by design. As the national agency that promotes design, our mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design.
Our work focuses on three areas. First, we help organisations and enterprises use design as a strategy for business growth, and for excellent delivery of public services. Second, we nurture industry-ready talents skilled in design and innovation, and engender a design-minded workforce for the future economy. Third, we advance the Singapore brand through raising design appreciation on home-ground, helping local design talents and firms go international, and making emotional connections with people across the world. Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
Singapore was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Design in December 2015. The designation supports Singapore’s development of a creative culture and ecosystem that integrates design and creativity with everyday life. It also expands Singapore’s opportunity to collaborate with cities from the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The City of Design Office is sited with Dsg, which coordinates and implements programmes that respond to UCCN’s mission.
designsingapore.org
Organiser
The Singapore Institute of Architects is a professional organisation established in 1963 with the objective to promote the architectural profession and the built environment in Singapore. The Institute is the sole representative for the architectural profession in Singapore.
The Institute’s mission is “To champion for excellence in Architecture and the Built Environment” and our vision is to see “Singapore as an Architecture Capital”.
Curators
Curator Ar. Melvin Tan
President, Singapore Institute of Architects
Melvin is the President of the Singapore Institute of Architects and the Deputy Managing Director and founding partner of LAUD Architects Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based design-centric boutique practice established in 2004.
In 2017, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore chose Melvin as one of the “20-under-45” recipients, selecting him as one of twenty prominent Singaporean architects under the age of 45. He has served in many capacities such as World Architecture Festival Judge, jury for Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM) Design Awards, Housing Development Board Architectural Design Panel and on the Design Singapore Advisory Board. He also sits on the Board of Architects (Singapore) in his capacity as SIA president.
Curator Ar. Adrian Lai
Council Member, Singapore Institute of Architects
Born in Singapore in 1975, Adrian Lai graduated from the National University of Singapore’s School of Architecture in 1999 and the Architectural Association, London in 2003; and trained as an architect in Wilkinson Eyre Architects in London and Singapore. With these foundations, Adrian formed Meta Architecture in 2012. Adrian started as Senior Lecturer at National University of Singapore in 2011 and in 2019 was appointed an Adjunct Assistant Professor at National University of Singapore.
Major works include Khong Guan Building (with Meta, 2018), Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, Bridge Learning Campus in Bristol, UK and Guangzhou International Finance Centre in China (with Wilkinson Eyre, 2005-2012). Awards include the SIA Design Award 2019 and URA AHA Award 2018 for Khong Guan Building, President’s Design of the Year 2013, WAF Building of the Year 2012 and RIBA 2013 Lubetkin Prize for Gardens by the Bay; and the RIBA 2012 Lubetkin Prize for Guangzhou International Finance Centre.
Curator Ar. Wong Ker How
Council Member, Singapore Institute of Architects
Ar. Wong Ker How is the founding partner of the Singapore-based design practice ASOLIDPLAN. Upon graduation with a Master of Architecture from National University of Singapore, Ker How had indulged himself in the training of all forms of design typology. Having honed skills from Zarch Collaboratives, Formwerkz Architects and DP Architects, he had acquired a rich portfolio that ranges from master-planning, hospitality, residential, commercial, conservation and notably the 2008 Singapore National Day Stage Set design. His affiliation with La Biennale di Venezia’s Exhibitions started with “SUPERGARDEN” (2008), as a content contributor. Since then, he has co-curated a photography exhibition “URBAN BONSAI” (2014) and art installation works “LIMINAL SPACES” under Singapore Design Week 2022.
Other than his practice in Singapore, Ker How also has practice experience in multiple overseas projects, notably a mixed commercial development in Sri Lanka, collaborated with Cecil Balmond. Besides the usual commissioned projects, he had led various design teams to multiple design awards both locally and internationally.
He is currently a registered architect with the BOARD OF ARCHITECTS in Singapore and a registered ASEAN ARCHITECT of the region. He now sits on the SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS Council, Co-Chairing the Institution Thrust. Ker How is also an adjunct lecturer with LASALLE College of the Arts.
Previously on e-architect:
Pavilion of Singapore at Venice Biennale 2018
Pavilion of Singapore at Venice Biennale 2018
‘No More Free Space?’ asks the Pavilion of Singapore
at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition
La Biennale di Venezia
Sale d’Armi, Arsenale
26 May – 25 November 2018
photo © Singapore Pavilion, 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia
No More Free Space? hopes to be a testimony of how the creative freedom of mind has the power to turn space constraints into a myriad of alternative possibilities.
photo © Singapore Pavilion, 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia
Venice Biennale Singapore Pavilion 2018
Venice Biennale Singapore Pavilion 2016
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