guest lecture series

The objective of the guest lecture series is to share with the community, particularly architecture students, the different and various issues as well as perspective in the discipline of architecture; and hopefully to engage the community in discussions or even as a source of inspiration.

In addition we hope that through this series of guest lecture, not only will it serve as a platform to generate quality public debates and discussions on the pertaining issues, but also to provoke public consciousness on the issues, and inspire the community or the students to be in action.

The guest lecture series is targeted specially to architecture students in National University of Singapore (NUS). However, any students or interested parties are warmly welcomed to join in for the guest lecture series.
The guest lecture series will be held in the School of Design and Environment (SDE), NUS.

The theme for the guest lecture series is “The Dilemmas of Sg Architects”.
The guest lecture series will be split into four main topics of discussion, with each topic to be covered in a guest lecture every month:

Design and Sustainability

Heritage and Conservation

Public spaces and the State

Singapore and the world

Design and Sustainability – “Design for Sustainability and Sustainability for Design”
To discuss on issues regarding sustainability in Singapore: the role of an architect in designing for sustainability or sustainability for design. The approaches of architects towards sustainability: not only in terms of economy and environment, but equity as well.

Heritage and Conservation – “Preserve, Conserve or Erase”
To discuss issues on conservation in Singapore: pertaining on the limitations such as land space, economic development, housing, etc. Is it to preserve, conserve or to just erase?

Public spaces and the State – “the.community.gov.sg”
To discuss issues on design for Singapore public spaces and how the forces of the state, i.e. URA affect and play a part in the process of design.

Singapore and the world – “Dot In A Line”
To discuss issues on practising overseas: thinking about the cultural, ethical, and political problems of doing so, and to what extent can Singapore architects go out and offer a vision more or less formalized in Singapore to be transposed into a completely different context. Is such an offering always unproblematic?

Often students are fed with theoretical lectures that are not pertaining to any specific real applications or design problems faced in the industry. Hence, students might not really understand the conventions, planning of space, construction details etc.
Through this guest lecture series, we seek to also blend in the ‘practical’ aspects of architecture, namely the design concept, design consideration, execution of design, and problems of design.

Design concept – design intention, brief of the design, approaches to design

Design consideration – environmental, social, costs consideration, etc.

Execution of design – construction phases, feature design

Problems of design – construction detailing, programmes, materials