DP Architects Co-Founder Koh Seow Chuan and CEO
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
COVERAGE AREA Co-founded by Koh Seow Chuan, DP Architects developed Marina Centre (which includes Marina Square, Suntec City and Millenia Walk), and its design stamp can also be found on the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, SINGAPORE Singapore Flyer and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore Wool jacket and cashmere sweater, DREAMING both by Giorgio Armani; Louis Cartier glasses in yellow gold by Cartier; DP Architects co-founder Koh Seow Chuan and CEO Angelene Chan shirt, Seow Chuan’s own talk to Hong Xinyi about building a resilient legacy that can stand the test of time Photography DARREN GABRIEL LEOW Art Direction MATILDA AU Fashion Direction DESMOND LIM he year 2018 has been a bit one question as a society: are these buildings the of a brutal one for some of best examples of projects that are reflective of the Singapore’s iconic modernist spirit of early independent Singapore?” buildings. In February, At the time, this uniquely diverse nation was Pearl Bank Apartments was intent on staking its place in the world, and sold in a collective sale, and the Seow Chuan and fellow DP co-founders William owners of People’s Park Complex, SW Lim and Tay Kheng Soon wanted the firm’s GoldenT Mile Complex and Golden Mile Tower work to reflect and nurture these aspirations. “We are working towards the same goal. All four believed that a small country like Singapore that buildings were wholly designed by homegrown was going to survive and prosper couldn’t just architects and completed in the 1970s. They have hard buildings. We wanted to create spaces do not have conservation status. Once sold, within buildings, for people to interact.” demolishment is their likeliest fate. This led to the creation of the People’s Park The prospect has sparked a lively public Complex central atrium, which the firm even debate. Heritage advocates argue that decked out with colourful custom-made these buildings embody significant facets chandeliers. “It was a space for celebration, where of Singapore’s architectural and national a multiracial society of this new nation could history, while pragmatists point out the come together,” he explains. This communal increasingly arduous maintenance needs of space was a new feature for shopping centres at “Singapore is small. these ageing structures, and the possibility that the time, and the building was one of the first redevelopment will offer better solutions for mixed-use complexes in Asia and an influential current population demands. prototype for subsequent malls. Everything works People’s Park Complex and Golden Mile “We created a home-grown, home-made Complex were among the earliest projects architecture that looked beyond the walls, roofs better when we work as undertaken by DP Architects, which was and image of a building, and focused on the founded in 1967 as Design Partnership. So, of spirit that manifests when you are in that space,” a team; and when there course, we had to ask the firm’s co-founder says Seow Chuan proudly. “Singapore is unique, and senior consultant Koh Seow Chuan and sometimes you cannot parachute ideas in. is collective will, we can for his take on the hot-button issue. “Well, We ourselves are creative. If we don’t believe in this is going to be a real test of Singapore’s ourselves, then we are in trouble.” find solutions” collective spirit,” he replies. His pivot away from a subjective viewpoint THE HEART OF THE MATTER is striking. This veteran architect, we swiftly When the nation-building project in Singapore realise, is fastidious about the importance of entered a new phase in the 1990s, the firm’s seeing—and serving—the bigger picture. “I am foundational spirit of creative self-determination a part of the pioneer generation and we faced was still burning bright. Seow Chuan led the a lot of challenges before and after Singapore DP team that won the 1992 design competition achieved independence,” Seow Chuan continues. for the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, What he learnt was this: “Singapore is small. which he describes as “the most important Everything works better when we work as a post-independence national building”. team; and when there is collective will, we can To formulate ideas for this project, “we find solutions. So firstly, we have to agree on travelled for three months, scouring the region, HAIR, MAKE-UP AND GROOOMING: SEAN ANG/ JOEY TAN; LEONG; STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: MELVIN PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: USING KEVIN.MURPHY AND NIKKI FU/INDIGO ARTISANS, YVES SAINT LAURENT BEAUTÉ FAC3INC, DESIGNING THE DURIAN The aluminium sunshades that clad the twin domes of the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay give the performing arts centre a distinctive exterior that reminds one of the hugely popular king of fruits Even with that common vision, the firm At the time, she had clocked three years in design and has weathered its fair share of challenges over consulting firm Woods Bagot’s small office in Canberra, the years. (During the 1980s, Seow Chuan Australia, and was looking for new learning experiences. even placed his renowned stamp collection as “From the first day, the company embraced me. When you collateral to help keep the firm going during work on larger projects, there are bigger teams, more complex a recession.) Its culture has proved resilient— buildings, and many different consultants. My learning curve the firm marked its 50th anniversary last was very accelerated, and that was fantastic.” year, and has 1,300 employees and 16 offices Today, Angelene is a three-time recipient of the President’s BIG & BOLD worldwide. This makes DP the eighth largest Design Award (PDA). Her work on Republic Polytechnic An exhibition architecture firm in the world, according (designed in collaboration with Tokyo-based Maki and was held to the World Architecture 100 survey. to mark DP Associates) and the Sunray Woodcraft Construction Architects’ Since 2016, the firm has been led by CEO Headquarters won Design of the Year in 2009 and 2015, 50th anniversary Angelene Chan, who joined the firm in 1990 respectively. This year, she became the first woman to win in 2017; The after being interviewed by Seow Chuan. Designer of the Year. The accolade is particularly meaningful Dubai Mall “I was quite nervous, but he was very to her because a new criterion for PDA was introduced in is one of the largest shopping friendly and approachable. I remember 2017, placing emphasis not just on aesthetic excellence, but complexes in the interview as more of a chat. I felt very also design’s transformational impact on society, businesses the world comfortable immediately,” she remembers. and the public sector. “I find that it makes for a much more holistic evaluation. learning about the genesis of performing arts in Southeast from now,” he believes. With “hardware” Of course, that also makes the award tougher to win, but Asia”, he remembers. “We wanted to create something like beautiful theatres and museums in place, tougher is good,” she says. That disarming confidence is unique—not the last theatre of the 20th century, but the first strategies that build up the “software”, such very characteristic of Angelene, whose personable vibe theatre of the 21st century.” The result displayed the same as strengthening arts education in schools, during interviews is balanced with a laser-sharp focus on the care for context and communality that had been infused into have to kick in and be given time to bear fruit. direction and purpose of the questions she fields. “Design isn’t DP’s earlier modernist projects. “Esplanade is very porous. “We are still a very young nation. Developing just about aesthetics. What we do as architects can literally From the foyers, you can look out and see this building in the an arts hub organically takes time.” change the environment and landscape of how people live, not context of the city, and the people from outside can look in.” just during our lifetime but for generations after that. So we At the time, no local firm had a track record in successful AS TIME GOES BY have to think of the environmental and social impact of our theatre planning and design, one of the conditions of The importance of time has been on his work, and make sure we are wise and creative enough to do participation, so those who took part collaborated with mind since the beginning of his career. good and responsible work that will be enjoyed by the users of foreign firms experienced in such projects. DP’s partner was Before founding DP, he was with Malayan today and of the future.” UK firm Michael Wilford & Partners. Before the winning Architects Co-Partnership, a firm that lasted True to DP’s socially attuned ethos, community spaces design was selected, the Singaporean partner of each from 1960 to 1967. “That is a very short have also been key to her work, from Wisma Atria’s shortlisted team was invited to speak to the public about span of time. Can you achieve a dream in illuminated “grand their submissions. “That gave us a chance to express the seven years?” Learning from that formative steps” where pedestrians heart of our design,” Seow Chuan recalls. “And when the experience, he was determined to build a sit to people-watch in results of the competition were announced, the fact that firm that would last. Orchard Road, to The they announced DP Architects, the Singaporean firm, as In 1975, Design Partnership was Dubai Mall’s outdoor plazas the winner first, was important to us.” The project earned renamed DP Architects, and changed from and indoor breakout spaces DP the 2005 Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) a partnership to a private company.