Building Agency: DPA participates in Archifest 2017

Archifest, the annual architecture festival organised by the Singapore Institute of Architecture (SIA) is back for its 11^th edition with a new theme, a new festival format and new, exciting design conversations and thought sharing. Right in the thick of the design fest is DP Architects.

As with previous years, DPA will be showcasing some of its notable projects in one of Archifest’s key elements, Architours. The featured projects include the award-winning Sunray Woodcraft Construction Headquarters, Singapore Dance Theatre and Singapore’s pioneer model of an integrated community, sports and lifestyle hub, Our Tampines Hub. Architours are led by The Architecture Society (TAS) of NUS. It comprises up to eight curated trips to specific architectural projects and sites designed by members of SIA.

DP’s participation in Archifest 2017 does not end here.

Held from 4^th to 15^th October, the much anticipated Archifest promises to be even more exciting and engaging than before. Its theme for 2017, ‘Building Agency’ places emphasis on the facilitating and building up of agency and citizen participation through architecture. It foregrounds the agency of buildings as important materials and spaces of urban life, and is about the empowerment of the people as active agents in the making of our built environment.

The festival will therefore, function as a platform to create a network of multiple stake holders of the built environment. Government institutions, architects along with their clients and patrons, NGOs, think tanks, academics, user groups and individuals are brought together to engage in meaningful conversations and creative co-production. Joining the heart of the design conversation and thought-sharing at Archifest 2017 are DP Architects’ CEO Ms Angelene Chan, Directors Mr Mike Lim and Mr Seah Chee Huang, Senior Associate Director (SAD) Mr Sanson Ng and Design Intelligence Manager Mr Vignesh Srinivas Kaushik.

Engaging in Conversations throughout the two-week event, each will touch on a specialised topic unique to their portfolio of work and industry knowledge. DP Director Mr Seah will be joining Mr Chua Beng Huat (NUS) and Ms Belinda Nakamoto Tan (Montfort Care) in a panel discussion on the core topic of “Building Agency and Inclusion”. Mr Seah is poised to bring interesting insights garnered from his design experience with Our Tampines Hub. On Thursday, 12^th Oct, CEO Ms Chan will be joining fellow industry thought leaders and academia in a panel discussion on the topic of “Women & Architecture: Conversations on the Discipline”. Then on 13^th Oct, join DP’s Design Intelligence Manager Mr Kaushik in conversation on “Beyond Permeability: The Future of Air Flow Design”. Held at the URA Centre, the panel discussion will consider how new methods of design can change the look and feel of Singapore’s naturally ventilated spaces. Last but not least, gather at the SIA building with DP’s SAD Mr Ng Sanson. He joins other industry leaders and media experts to explore the topic of how architects communicate their work to the public. “Media & Architecture” takes place on 14^th Oct.