CRUSHED TO DEATH AT MCCALLUM ST
October 15, 2007
THERE was still 40 minutes before lunch time was up, but as usual, Mr Chew Chee Nee rushed back alone to start work earlier.
The meal the 53-year-old excavator driver had turned out to be his last.
He was crushed to death by 17 storeys of falling concrete debris inside the Asia Chambers building along McCallum Street on Friday.
One of Mr Chew's younger brothers, Zhida, told Lianhe Wanbao that colleagues described his brother as responsible and hardworking.
Zhida, a 33-year-old car salesman, said: 'Although my brother had one hour for lunch, he would often finish it quickly and return to work alone without waiting for his colleagues.
'On that day, he was also the first one back after lunch. Perhaps it's all fated. There was no one else at the site except for him, and the accident happened.'
A roll call after the accident confirmed that Mr Chew was the only casualty.
His nine siblings were in tears as they gathered at Mr Chew's house, which he shares with two other brothers.
It was in stark contrast to the joyous mood just a day earlier, as MrChew's 41-year-old younger brother registered his marriage.
However, Mr Chew, who's not married and third among his siblings, was unable to attend due to demolition work at the 19-storey Asia Chambers building.
The workaholic was said to have clocked at least 11hours at the site every day.
His brother-in-law, Mr Peh Eng Hup, a 56-year-old businessman, said that Mr Chew had operated excavators for demolition work for over 30 years, and had rarely met with mishaps. As one of the older siblings, he was the solemn type who seldom smiled. But he showed concern for his siblings.
When colleagues turned up at his home to deliver the bad news, Zhida didn't think that his brother had died.
He said: 'I thought he had probably fallen, or at the worst, broken a bone. The last thing on my mind would have been that image of him buried under debris.'
His body was recovered at 10.10pm on Friday night, after a 10-hour rescue operation that needed five lorries to remove 30 tonnes of debris.
Showing posts with label Building and Construction Authority. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Building and Construction Authority. Show all posts
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Teak for the tropics
Teak for the tropics
By Annie Ooi
Overall view of the showroom
Photographs by Ong Soon Hin
Teak wood does not go out of style and the warm brown patina of a piece of teak furniture gives this comforting and cosy look to the room it is in.
It has this solidity which gives a certain assurance to the product and a sense that you are getting some value for your money.
Bayu Timor Galeri (Eastern Breeze) in Taman Megah has a stock of tropical furniture which ranges from the traditional to contemporary looks for both indoor and outdoor.
Tan surveys her teak furniture
Dee Tan, one of the owners, has been in love with this wood since 1999 when she opened the shop.
“Teak is evergreen as it is a durable tropical hardwood free from termites.
"The way the grain flows is also very attractive,” says Tan, who sources her furniture mainly from Indonesia.
“We buy a lot of our teak furniture from Indonesia as teak is plentiful there.
Still a firm favourite, the kopitiam table is priced at RM1,300 and the chairs at RM170 each
"The soil there is suitable for growing it, and they have a programme whereby they replant teak, called plantation teak.
"They are harvested after eight years, but if you want the diameter of the trunk to be bigger, you have to wait up to 30 years.
“Some customers also look for ‘old teak’, which is recycled from pieces of vintage teak furniture, an abandoned house or railway sleepers.
"These pieces are more expensive as they are harder to get.”
Recently, Tan decided to renovate the upper floor of her shop at a cost of about RM20,000 to exhibit minimalist tropical furniture as “ the trend is towards no-fuss contemporary furniture with clean lines ”.
This particular example of a daybed is priced just below RM3,000. There are three drawers below for added storage space
Explains Tan: “I find that the ornate Javanese look is fading away.
“However, good things never go out of style.
"I started off with the traditional kopitiam table, and I will still concentrate on it as I find that it is still in demand”.
Upstairs, the full-length windows let in the sunlight, and the teak pieces are placed at their best angle to catch the light.
Tan points out a few hot buys.
One popular item is the daybed in solid teak wood.
“The daybed is usually placed in the sitting room, where the owner can lounge on it.
"Relaxing" chair, RM1,900 each.
"Or, it could be positioned in the patio, if the area is big enough.
“Another current favourite is the French-designed ‘relaxing’ chair.
"It is popular in Europe, where they use the chair in the conservatory.
"Made in Indonesia, I call it the ‘Cobra’ as it is sinuous in look.
"It is made from the fibre of the banana trunk, which has been dried and made into rope.
"A final touch of cane adds to the arty look.
The smallish dining set with the rustic look is ideal for the kitchen
"Metal gives the support, and when you sit on it, you can feel the slight spring.”
Moving on, she points out a square dining table.
“This dining table in a rustic design can be placed in the entrance, foyer or the kitchen as a breakfast table.
"It is specially designed with an intricate ethnic motif in the centre.
"A table with four stools cost RM2,300; each stool is priced at RM280.”
As many of her customers find themselves paring down their livestyle habits, the furniture they buy gets simpler.
She points out a contemporary tropical set.
“It has clean geometric lines, with a glass-topped coffee table.”
Contemporary living room set - many of her customers are going for modern clean lines
The whole set, consisting of a two-seater, two single seats and the table, is priced at RM2,900.
Bar stools or chairs are useful items to have around, as they are easily moved around and called into service when additional guests suddenly pop up.
“These are American-sized, and are tagged at RM450 each.”
In the showroom, these chairs are placed beside decorative items, which are an ingenious piece of work.
Natural products make useful items, and the bract of the banana flower is turned into firstly, a decorative piece and secondly, a lamp.
A really comfortable bar chair; the decorative items in the background are made from natural products
The bulb of the lamp is shaded by treated buffalo skin which does not break easily, unlike glass.
Also, the skin does not get hot, making it safe and comfortable to be around it.
The lamp is a combination of unlikely items; a banana tree flower bract, buffalo skin and a metal stand.
They come as up- or down-lights.
Wicker and wood is still a great evergreen combination and it has found renewed popularity.
Modern art pieces by Indonesian artists are also up on the walls for those who like a touch of modernity while doing their duty to the traditional.
These pieces can be purchased for about a few hundred Ringgit each, unlike the local works, which are more pricey at four figures.
By Annie Ooi
Overall view of the showroom
Photographs by Ong Soon Hin
Teak wood does not go out of style and the warm brown patina of a piece of teak furniture gives this comforting and cosy look to the room it is in.
It has this solidity which gives a certain assurance to the product and a sense that you are getting some value for your money.
Bayu Timor Galeri (Eastern Breeze) in Taman Megah has a stock of tropical furniture which ranges from the traditional to contemporary looks for both indoor and outdoor.
Tan surveys her teak furniture
Dee Tan, one of the owners, has been in love with this wood since 1999 when she opened the shop.
“Teak is evergreen as it is a durable tropical hardwood free from termites.
"The way the grain flows is also very attractive,” says Tan, who sources her furniture mainly from Indonesia.
“We buy a lot of our teak furniture from Indonesia as teak is plentiful there.
Still a firm favourite, the kopitiam table is priced at RM1,300 and the chairs at RM170 each
"The soil there is suitable for growing it, and they have a programme whereby they replant teak, called plantation teak.
"They are harvested after eight years, but if you want the diameter of the trunk to be bigger, you have to wait up to 30 years.
“Some customers also look for ‘old teak’, which is recycled from pieces of vintage teak furniture, an abandoned house or railway sleepers.
"These pieces are more expensive as they are harder to get.”
Recently, Tan decided to renovate the upper floor of her shop at a cost of about RM20,000 to exhibit minimalist tropical furniture as “ the trend is towards no-fuss contemporary furniture with clean lines ”.
This particular example of a daybed is priced just below RM3,000. There are three drawers below for added storage space
Explains Tan: “I find that the ornate Javanese look is fading away.
“However, good things never go out of style.
"I started off with the traditional kopitiam table, and I will still concentrate on it as I find that it is still in demand”.
Upstairs, the full-length windows let in the sunlight, and the teak pieces are placed at their best angle to catch the light.
Tan points out a few hot buys.
One popular item is the daybed in solid teak wood.
“The daybed is usually placed in the sitting room, where the owner can lounge on it.
"Relaxing" chair, RM1,900 each.
"Or, it could be positioned in the patio, if the area is big enough.
“Another current favourite is the French-designed ‘relaxing’ chair.
"It is popular in Europe, where they use the chair in the conservatory.
"Made in Indonesia, I call it the ‘Cobra’ as it is sinuous in look.
"It is made from the fibre of the banana trunk, which has been dried and made into rope.
"A final touch of cane adds to the arty look.
The smallish dining set with the rustic look is ideal for the kitchen
"Metal gives the support, and when you sit on it, you can feel the slight spring.”
Moving on, she points out a square dining table.
“This dining table in a rustic design can be placed in the entrance, foyer or the kitchen as a breakfast table.
"It is specially designed with an intricate ethnic motif in the centre.
"A table with four stools cost RM2,300; each stool is priced at RM280.”
As many of her customers find themselves paring down their livestyle habits, the furniture they buy gets simpler.
She points out a contemporary tropical set.
“It has clean geometric lines, with a glass-topped coffee table.”
Contemporary living room set - many of her customers are going for modern clean lines
The whole set, consisting of a two-seater, two single seats and the table, is priced at RM2,900.
Bar stools or chairs are useful items to have around, as they are easily moved around and called into service when additional guests suddenly pop up.
“These are American-sized, and are tagged at RM450 each.”
In the showroom, these chairs are placed beside decorative items, which are an ingenious piece of work.
Natural products make useful items, and the bract of the banana flower is turned into firstly, a decorative piece and secondly, a lamp.
A really comfortable bar chair; the decorative items in the background are made from natural products
The bulb of the lamp is shaded by treated buffalo skin which does not break easily, unlike glass.
Also, the skin does not get hot, making it safe and comfortable to be around it.
The lamp is a combination of unlikely items; a banana tree flower bract, buffalo skin and a metal stand.
They come as up- or down-lights.
Wicker and wood is still a great evergreen combination and it has found renewed popularity.
Modern art pieces by Indonesian artists are also up on the walls for those who like a touch of modernity while doing their duty to the traditional.
These pieces can be purchased for about a few hundred Ringgit each, unlike the local works, which are more pricey at four figures.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Cool savings
Cool savings
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PANASONIC is introducing its latest range of refrigerators incorporating the Intelligent Inverter or i-INVERTER technology developed specifically to lower the running cost, thus giving consumers savings of up to 20% in terms of power consumption.
The NR-B402V model is priced at RM2349
This latest range of refrigerators comes in four new models with two, four and six doors to cater to every household needs and is also equipped with multi-hygienic functions that eliminate unpleasant odour and inactivate moulds and bacteria.
“At Panasonic, we are concerned with the rising power cost and environmental damages associated with power producing methods. Hence, our i-INVERTER technology is the result of dedicated R&D and Panasonic is the first company in the world to develop and market an inverter-controlled refrigerator,” says Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Hiroshi Nakamura.
“Our i-INVERTER technology has an intelligent sensor that can cleverly detect the changes in temperature due to the door opening and closing or the amount of food stored by simply adjusting the temperature inside the fridge to a more efficient and stable level which saves energy.
“The 20% energy consumption savings is certainly a major amount considering that the refrigerator is ranked second behind an air-conditioner in terms of power consumption among all household appliances.
“It too represents a small but significant step towards reducing global warming, thereby creating a healthier and sustainable ecological environment,” added Nakamura.
The i-INVERTER series of refrigerators is available at all authorised Panasonic dealers nationwide at an affordable price from RM2,049 to RM6,999.
Digg this story Add to your del.icio.us account
PANASONIC is introducing its latest range of refrigerators incorporating the Intelligent Inverter or i-INVERTER technology developed specifically to lower the running cost, thus giving consumers savings of up to 20% in terms of power consumption.
The NR-B402V model is priced at RM2349
This latest range of refrigerators comes in four new models with two, four and six doors to cater to every household needs and is also equipped with multi-hygienic functions that eliminate unpleasant odour and inactivate moulds and bacteria.
“At Panasonic, we are concerned with the rising power cost and environmental damages associated with power producing methods. Hence, our i-INVERTER technology is the result of dedicated R&D and Panasonic is the first company in the world to develop and market an inverter-controlled refrigerator,” says Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Hiroshi Nakamura.
“Our i-INVERTER technology has an intelligent sensor that can cleverly detect the changes in temperature due to the door opening and closing or the amount of food stored by simply adjusting the temperature inside the fridge to a more efficient and stable level which saves energy.
“The 20% energy consumption savings is certainly a major amount considering that the refrigerator is ranked second behind an air-conditioner in terms of power consumption among all household appliances.
“It too represents a small but significant step towards reducing global warming, thereby creating a healthier and sustainable ecological environment,” added Nakamura.
The i-INVERTER series of refrigerators is available at all authorised Panasonic dealers nationwide at an affordable price from RM2,049 to RM6,999.
A good choice in flooring
A good choice in flooring
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Made from European technologies and raw material from Asia, Floor Depot has a stable structure
HOME improvement is fast catching on in our country. Promising a traditional yet natural appeal, wood flooring is an all-time favourite, when it comes to renovation or home décor.
Wood is a floor furnishing material that is soft to the touch, elegant in appeal and comfortable too.
Different kinds of living areas demand different types of flooring.
All wooden flooring from Floor Depot is designed with the aim of meeting the same fundamental requirements, which are the perfect combination of beautiful styling, textures and colours that meet every individual’s expectation.
Made from European technologies and raw material from Asia, it has a stable structure that can withstand extreme/local weather conditions.
Through the wide variety of wood flooring, Floor Depot can meet all requirements – from simpler options to floors with unique qualities in terms of appearance and advanced technology.
Couple that with the choices of wood flooring, Floor Depot offers a comprehensive range of accessories with 100% perfectly matched colour skirting and moulding to address the specific needs of every home.
Digg this story Add to your del.icio.us account
Made from European technologies and raw material from Asia, Floor Depot has a stable structure
HOME improvement is fast catching on in our country. Promising a traditional yet natural appeal, wood flooring is an all-time favourite, when it comes to renovation or home décor.
Wood is a floor furnishing material that is soft to the touch, elegant in appeal and comfortable too.
Different kinds of living areas demand different types of flooring.
All wooden flooring from Floor Depot is designed with the aim of meeting the same fundamental requirements, which are the perfect combination of beautiful styling, textures and colours that meet every individual’s expectation.
Made from European technologies and raw material from Asia, it has a stable structure that can withstand extreme/local weather conditions.
Through the wide variety of wood flooring, Floor Depot can meet all requirements – from simpler options to floors with unique qualities in terms of appearance and advanced technology.
Couple that with the choices of wood flooring, Floor Depot offers a comprehensive range of accessories with 100% perfectly matched colour skirting and moulding to address the specific needs of every home.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Building and Construction Authority - on sand
To encourage importers to seek alternative sources of sand and granite, the Government plans to share some of the extra costs involved in importing these materials.
Announcing this yesterday at an industry event, Minister for National Development (MND) Mah Bow Tan said: “If you are buying from a different source … the raw material cost may be the same price (but) when you factor in the logistics and transportation, the final cost may be higher, so this is a risk and importers may not be so keen to diversify under normal circumstances.”
But the Government was willing to share the risk and make a commitment to purchase the sand at “a certain price” if importers are not able to sell their stock because of market fluctuations, he added.
The new scheme would mitigate the perceived risks, and encourage importers to seek alternative sources, he told industry executives at the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA’s) Award night yesterday. Details from BCA are expected soon.
Singapore’s supply of the construction material was disrupted by Indonesia’s decision to ban sand exports in January, with the shortage hitting many industry players and sending prices skyrocketing.
In a letter to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) last Tuesday, written on behalf of the 22 Japanese contractors in Singapore, they warned of possible delays in projects should the current situation continue.
According to a recent survey that the two trade bodies conducted, one Japanese contractor stood to lose as much as $30 million solely from the hike in concrete prices on its ongoing projects if it was not compensated.
The company was not identified, but major Japanese contractors here include Sato Kogyo, which is building the double-helix bridge across Marina Bay; Taisei Corporation, which is working on the Circle Line MRT project; and Kajima Overseas Asia, which is building St Regis hotel and residences off Tanglin Road with its local partner Tiong Seng Contractors.
Their main gripe: The price of concrete, which is made with sand, granite and cement, has more than doubled in recent months because of the hikes in prices of sand and granite.
This follows the Feb 5 Indonesian ban on the export of land sand and the subsequent detention of barges carrying granite to Singapore by the Indonesian navy.
But the increase in the price of concrete is larger than the combined increase in the prices of sand and granite, the director of Jetro’s construction division, Mr Noriyuki Fukuoka, told The Straits Times.
Sand is being sold now for about $60 a tonne, up from about $20 before the ban. Granite, meanwhile, is going for $70 a tonne, up from $25 before.
The prices of ready-mixed concrete, however, range between $180 and $200 per cubic metre now, up from about $70 previously.
The Government has said that it will compensate contractors up to 75 per cent for the increase in the price of sand and granite for ongoing public sector projects.
But the two trade bodies argue that the compensation should be based on the increase in the price of concrete instead. The two agencies feel the rise in concrete prices has been disproportionately larger than the hike in sand and granite prices.
The president of the Ready-Mixed Concrete Association of Singapore, Dr Sujit Ghosh, denied that its nine member companies were profiteering.
He said that the association has turned over details of the material costs to the authorities and the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers.
‘We have explained our selling prices, which are justifiable.’
The BCA, when contacted, said that it was monitoring the situation closely and will look into specific feedback on cases of any unjustifiable increase in prices.
The price of concrete, said the BCA, is ‘determined by the market’ and depends not just on sand and granite costs, but also the cost of cement and manpower, for example.
To allow for more competition, BCA has released sites for companies to set up new ready-mixed concrete plants and was prepared to release more if there was demand.
The authority also said that it has replied to the two Japanese agencies to explain the various measures taken to help the construction industry cope, including urging private developers to adopt cost-sharing arrangements with their contractors.
‘We have also assured them that there is sufficient amount of sand and granite for the industry to continue construction work and shipments of sand and granite from various alternative sources in the region have begun to arrive,’ it said.
The BCA will meet both agencies next week to discuss these issues further.
Announcing this yesterday at an industry event, Minister for National Development (MND) Mah Bow Tan said: “If you are buying from a different source … the raw material cost may be the same price (but) when you factor in the logistics and transportation, the final cost may be higher, so this is a risk and importers may not be so keen to diversify under normal circumstances.”
But the Government was willing to share the risk and make a commitment to purchase the sand at “a certain price” if importers are not able to sell their stock because of market fluctuations, he added.
The new scheme would mitigate the perceived risks, and encourage importers to seek alternative sources, he told industry executives at the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA’s) Award night yesterday. Details from BCA are expected soon.
Singapore’s supply of the construction material was disrupted by Indonesia’s decision to ban sand exports in January, with the shortage hitting many industry players and sending prices skyrocketing.
In a letter to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) last Tuesday, written on behalf of the 22 Japanese contractors in Singapore, they warned of possible delays in projects should the current situation continue.
According to a recent survey that the two trade bodies conducted, one Japanese contractor stood to lose as much as $30 million solely from the hike in concrete prices on its ongoing projects if it was not compensated.
The company was not identified, but major Japanese contractors here include Sato Kogyo, which is building the double-helix bridge across Marina Bay; Taisei Corporation, which is working on the Circle Line MRT project; and Kajima Overseas Asia, which is building St Regis hotel and residences off Tanglin Road with its local partner Tiong Seng Contractors.
Their main gripe: The price of concrete, which is made with sand, granite and cement, has more than doubled in recent months because of the hikes in prices of sand and granite.
This follows the Feb 5 Indonesian ban on the export of land sand and the subsequent detention of barges carrying granite to Singapore by the Indonesian navy.
But the increase in the price of concrete is larger than the combined increase in the prices of sand and granite, the director of Jetro’s construction division, Mr Noriyuki Fukuoka, told The Straits Times.
Sand is being sold now for about $60 a tonne, up from about $20 before the ban. Granite, meanwhile, is going for $70 a tonne, up from $25 before.
The prices of ready-mixed concrete, however, range between $180 and $200 per cubic metre now, up from about $70 previously.
The Government has said that it will compensate contractors up to 75 per cent for the increase in the price of sand and granite for ongoing public sector projects.
But the two trade bodies argue that the compensation should be based on the increase in the price of concrete instead. The two agencies feel the rise in concrete prices has been disproportionately larger than the hike in sand and granite prices.
The president of the Ready-Mixed Concrete Association of Singapore, Dr Sujit Ghosh, denied that its nine member companies were profiteering.
He said that the association has turned over details of the material costs to the authorities and the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers.
‘We have explained our selling prices, which are justifiable.’
The BCA, when contacted, said that it was monitoring the situation closely and will look into specific feedback on cases of any unjustifiable increase in prices.
The price of concrete, said the BCA, is ‘determined by the market’ and depends not just on sand and granite costs, but also the cost of cement and manpower, for example.
To allow for more competition, BCA has released sites for companies to set up new ready-mixed concrete plants and was prepared to release more if there was demand.
The authority also said that it has replied to the two Japanese agencies to explain the various measures taken to help the construction industry cope, including urging private developers to adopt cost-sharing arrangements with their contractors.
‘We have also assured them that there is sufficient amount of sand and granite for the industry to continue construction work and shipments of sand and granite from various alternative sources in the region have begun to arrive,’ it said.
The BCA will meet both agencies next week to discuss these issues further.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Architects
More residential developers are hiring architects from overseas for their condo projects. Do local architects mind?
Kitchens. Who would have thought the humble cooking corner of your home could come to symbolise a yawning cultural divide in the lofty world of designing residential buildings.
Yet the fact that Singaporeans like two kitchen areas - a dry one for food preparation and a wet one for cooking - has come as a surprise to at least one big-name foreign architect designing a building that will have an impact on Singapore’s skyline, the One Shenton in Shenton Way.
Canada-based architect Carlos Ott tells LifeStyle: ‘The concept was totally new to me until a local architect told me about it. In Western homes, it is more common to have just one kitchen for preparation and cooking.’
Mr Ott is one of a growing list of famous foreign architects being hired amid the current property boom to come up with wonderful blueprints for residential buildings such as Reflections at Keppel Bay and Orchard Residences.
This new wave of names includes American architect Daniel Libeskind, German architect Ole Scheeren and Japan’s Paul Tange - although getting foreign names to design Singapore residential projects is not new. One of the oldest such developments is the Colonnade in Grange Road, which was completed in 1987 by late New York architect Paul Rudolph.
But amid the latest influx of famous foreigners keen to make their mark, those in the design and property scene here can’t be blamed for thinking local talent is being overlooked.
Architect John Ting at Aim & Associates notes that, generally, Singaporeans use foreign architects and laments: ‘Local developers still think they (foreign architects) are better.’
He says it is similar to what’s hot in fashion - an outfit by Italian house Gucci is seen as more desirable than a local brand such as alldressedup.
Property developers decline to say how much more it costs to hire a foreign architect over a local one, but they say it is worth it.
Adding value
ON FOREIGN architects being the flavour of the month, the research director at property consultants Knight Frank, Mr Nicholas Mak, explains: ‘Foreign architects are used as a marketing tool. They add difference to a project so it can command a higher premium.’
But he says pragmatically: ‘While a renowned architect may help to sell a project, it is still location and layout of the apartments that matter to most buyers.’
The local architecture industry, meanwhile, has a prominent supporter in the form of Mr Simon Cheong, the CEO of upmarket developer SC Global.
He regularly engages local award-winning architects Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects and W Architect’s Mok Wei Wei for his projects.
‘They have a better understanding of our environment and living conditions and are better able to express this in their designs,’ he maintains.
The company’s luxurious residential projects such as the BLVD in Orchard Boulevard have fetched record prices without the use of any foreign name.
Mr Cheong adds that local architects can also design iconic and sculptural-looking buildings. In any case, being able to design quality living space is more important, he says.
However, Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, group general manager of listed developer City Development Ltd (CDL), which brought in Mr Ott, says there is good reason to bring in foreign architects.
Big names like Mr Ott have a successful international career, a high-profile reputation for flamboyant designs and are trendsetters in the architectural field, he says. ‘His designs have the X factor and will add international flavour,’ adds Mr Chia.
Mr Ott is undertaking not just one but three of CDL’s residential projects - One Shenton, The Solitaire in Stevens Road and a yet-to-be-named project on the former Kim Lin Mansion site on Grange Road.
He is the architect behind the French national opera house Opera de la Bastille in Paris and the pearl-shaped Hangzhou Grand Theatre.
Adding to the roll-call of foreign names popping up here is German architect Ole Scheeren, a partner of the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), a company founded by famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
Mr Scheeren designed Far East Organization’s Scotts Tower at the intersection of Scotts and Cairnhill roads. Overseas, he is known for designing the China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing.
The 68-unit Scotts Tower features a gravity-defying design - its four apartment towers are suspended from a central core.
Far East Organization’s chief operating officer for property sales, MrChia Boon Kuah, sings OMA’s praises. He says on OMA’s website: ‘OMA, with its extensive international experience, will certainly bring a new perspective to luxury urban living and add to the cosmopolitan flavour of our development.’
There is also Mr Daniel Libeskind, who designed Berlin’s Jewish Museum and who is the name behind Keppel Land’s Reflections at Keppel Bay. His design features six undulating glass towers of 41 storeys and 24 storeys, as well as 11 blocks of six- to eight-storey villa apartments.
Mr Augustine Tan, Keppel Land director (Singapore residential), says of the company’s choice of using Mr Libeskind: ‘Singaporeans are widely travelled and they recognise the innovation, quality and prestige which world-class architects bring.’
He adds that Reflections at Keppel Bay is also targeted at global investors and an internationally acclaimed name would appeal strongly to this audience.
The use of foreign architects for residential projects has gone beyond the Orchard Road and Marina Bay area.
United Engineers Developments has hired Japanese architect Paul Tange - whose father was the late Kenzo Tange, a winner of the highly regarded Pritzker Architectural Prize - to design Vista Xchange at One North, a mixed development project set in the midst of the future Biopolis and Fusionopolis at Buona Vista.
Mr David Liew, the firm’s managing director, says it chose to use Mr Tange partly because of sentimental reasons. The elder Mr Tange had previously designed the firm’s flagship building, UE Square, in River Valley Road.
‘But the key advantage of having a foreign architect is to provide a different perspective and fresh ideas, and for them to share their experiences with us, so that we get a best-of-breed outcome,’ says Mr Liew.
The influx of famous foreign architects can be a good thing for the local scene, according to those in the industry.
Property developers point out that these foreign architects work with local architectural firms on the projects.
For example, Ms Soon Su Lin, CEO of joint venture company Orchard Turn Developments, says local firm RSP Architects Planners and Engineers has been engaged to work on the project, which is being designed by British firm Benoy.
‘As they are familiar with the local building regulations, they will help to review the design and see that it fits our local conditions,’ she says.
Indeed, the CEO of local firm Architects 61, Mr Michael Ngu, says that although developers are promoting foreign names, local firms are not playing second fiddle. His firm is working with Mr Ott on One Shenton.
‘It is our priority to make the project workable,’ he says.
And when LifeStyle met Mr Ott last Tuesday at The Solitaire showsuite, he says that it is necessary for foreign architects like himself to work with a local counterpart, citing how the concept of a wet and dry kitchen was new to him. ‘I only understood how important it is to a Singaporean home owner when I was told by a local architect,’ he says.
Mr Ngu, meanwhile, admits that it is ‘unfortunate that developers are not supporting local talent enough, but business, or selling the projects, comes first for the developers, and architects have to come to terms with it.’
But he echoes comments that local firms still stand to gain when working with foreign names.
‘Local architects can learn from the foreign names and upgrade themselves,’ he says, adding that local architects’ depth of experience is generally lacking compared to foreign ones.
Mr Mink Tan of Mink Architects also acknowledges that it is hard for local architects to fight market forces.
‘The power of a big-name architect is pervasive, but we can always learn from him instead. There can be knowledge transfer,’ he says.
Hong Kong-based architect David Buffonge, a director of Benoy, who is leading the design team for Orchard Turn, points out: ‘We can bring in new ideas and new technologies.’
Speaking to LifeStyle at the Orchard Turn office last Wednesday, he backs up his point with this example: Instead of a plain facade for Orchard Turn, he has used LED (light-emitting diode) technology to display moving graphics and messages on the facade.
‘It will be a totally new concept in Singapore as the moving images will wrap around the whole building facade,’ he says.
Still, architectural theorist and critic Professor William Lim points out that projects by even renowned architects can go wrong. He cites the example of British architect Norman Foster’s design of the Supreme Court, which he says ‘is disappointing and not his best work’.
He adds that developers and decision-makers tend to overrate foreign architects. ‘We may not have the best architects but we have some good local ones - do give them a chance,’ he says.
Mr Tan Kok Hiang, founding director of Forum Architects, says of the foreign luminaries: ‘They can up the architectural ante and help put Singapore on the architecture world map, but clients must know that they produce their best work only when really challenged.’
Developers, he adds, should still give local architects a chance, too.
‘There has to be a level playing field between local and foreign architects - in terms of fees and respect. Only then can we see where the locals stand,’ he says.
Mr Tai Lee Siang, president of the Singapore Institute of Architects, says the continual engagement of foreign architects here will see greater competition and stimulate the creative environment.
‘The ultimate responsibility to transform our city still lies squarely and firmly on our shoulders and that of our industry players,’ he says.
Source: The Sunday Times, 08 April 2007
Kitchens. Who would have thought the humble cooking corner of your home could come to symbolise a yawning cultural divide in the lofty world of designing residential buildings.
Yet the fact that Singaporeans like two kitchen areas - a dry one for food preparation and a wet one for cooking - has come as a surprise to at least one big-name foreign architect designing a building that will have an impact on Singapore’s skyline, the One Shenton in Shenton Way.
Canada-based architect Carlos Ott tells LifeStyle: ‘The concept was totally new to me until a local architect told me about it. In Western homes, it is more common to have just one kitchen for preparation and cooking.’
Mr Ott is one of a growing list of famous foreign architects being hired amid the current property boom to come up with wonderful blueprints for residential buildings such as Reflections at Keppel Bay and Orchard Residences.
This new wave of names includes American architect Daniel Libeskind, German architect Ole Scheeren and Japan’s Paul Tange - although getting foreign names to design Singapore residential projects is not new. One of the oldest such developments is the Colonnade in Grange Road, which was completed in 1987 by late New York architect Paul Rudolph.
But amid the latest influx of famous foreigners keen to make their mark, those in the design and property scene here can’t be blamed for thinking local talent is being overlooked.
Architect John Ting at Aim & Associates notes that, generally, Singaporeans use foreign architects and laments: ‘Local developers still think they (foreign architects) are better.’
He says it is similar to what’s hot in fashion - an outfit by Italian house Gucci is seen as more desirable than a local brand such as alldressedup.
Property developers decline to say how much more it costs to hire a foreign architect over a local one, but they say it is worth it.
Adding value
ON FOREIGN architects being the flavour of the month, the research director at property consultants Knight Frank, Mr Nicholas Mak, explains: ‘Foreign architects are used as a marketing tool. They add difference to a project so it can command a higher premium.’
But he says pragmatically: ‘While a renowned architect may help to sell a project, it is still location and layout of the apartments that matter to most buyers.’
The local architecture industry, meanwhile, has a prominent supporter in the form of Mr Simon Cheong, the CEO of upmarket developer SC Global.
He regularly engages local award-winning architects Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects and W Architect’s Mok Wei Wei for his projects.
‘They have a better understanding of our environment and living conditions and are better able to express this in their designs,’ he maintains.
The company’s luxurious residential projects such as the BLVD in Orchard Boulevard have fetched record prices without the use of any foreign name.
Mr Cheong adds that local architects can also design iconic and sculptural-looking buildings. In any case, being able to design quality living space is more important, he says.
However, Mr Chia Ngiang Hong, group general manager of listed developer City Development Ltd (CDL), which brought in Mr Ott, says there is good reason to bring in foreign architects.
Big names like Mr Ott have a successful international career, a high-profile reputation for flamboyant designs and are trendsetters in the architectural field, he says. ‘His designs have the X factor and will add international flavour,’ adds Mr Chia.
Mr Ott is undertaking not just one but three of CDL’s residential projects - One Shenton, The Solitaire in Stevens Road and a yet-to-be-named project on the former Kim Lin Mansion site on Grange Road.
He is the architect behind the French national opera house Opera de la Bastille in Paris and the pearl-shaped Hangzhou Grand Theatre.
Adding to the roll-call of foreign names popping up here is German architect Ole Scheeren, a partner of the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), a company founded by famous Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas.
Mr Scheeren designed Far East Organization’s Scotts Tower at the intersection of Scotts and Cairnhill roads. Overseas, he is known for designing the China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing.
The 68-unit Scotts Tower features a gravity-defying design - its four apartment towers are suspended from a central core.
Far East Organization’s chief operating officer for property sales, MrChia Boon Kuah, sings OMA’s praises. He says on OMA’s website: ‘OMA, with its extensive international experience, will certainly bring a new perspective to luxury urban living and add to the cosmopolitan flavour of our development.’
There is also Mr Daniel Libeskind, who designed Berlin’s Jewish Museum and who is the name behind Keppel Land’s Reflections at Keppel Bay. His design features six undulating glass towers of 41 storeys and 24 storeys, as well as 11 blocks of six- to eight-storey villa apartments.
Mr Augustine Tan, Keppel Land director (Singapore residential), says of the company’s choice of using Mr Libeskind: ‘Singaporeans are widely travelled and they recognise the innovation, quality and prestige which world-class architects bring.’
He adds that Reflections at Keppel Bay is also targeted at global investors and an internationally acclaimed name would appeal strongly to this audience.
The use of foreign architects for residential projects has gone beyond the Orchard Road and Marina Bay area.
United Engineers Developments has hired Japanese architect Paul Tange - whose father was the late Kenzo Tange, a winner of the highly regarded Pritzker Architectural Prize - to design Vista Xchange at One North, a mixed development project set in the midst of the future Biopolis and Fusionopolis at Buona Vista.
Mr David Liew, the firm’s managing director, says it chose to use Mr Tange partly because of sentimental reasons. The elder Mr Tange had previously designed the firm’s flagship building, UE Square, in River Valley Road.
‘But the key advantage of having a foreign architect is to provide a different perspective and fresh ideas, and for them to share their experiences with us, so that we get a best-of-breed outcome,’ says Mr Liew.
The influx of famous foreign architects can be a good thing for the local scene, according to those in the industry.
Property developers point out that these foreign architects work with local architectural firms on the projects.
For example, Ms Soon Su Lin, CEO of joint venture company Orchard Turn Developments, says local firm RSP Architects Planners and Engineers has been engaged to work on the project, which is being designed by British firm Benoy.
‘As they are familiar with the local building regulations, they will help to review the design and see that it fits our local conditions,’ she says.
Indeed, the CEO of local firm Architects 61, Mr Michael Ngu, says that although developers are promoting foreign names, local firms are not playing second fiddle. His firm is working with Mr Ott on One Shenton.
‘It is our priority to make the project workable,’ he says.
And when LifeStyle met Mr Ott last Tuesday at The Solitaire showsuite, he says that it is necessary for foreign architects like himself to work with a local counterpart, citing how the concept of a wet and dry kitchen was new to him. ‘I only understood how important it is to a Singaporean home owner when I was told by a local architect,’ he says.
Mr Ngu, meanwhile, admits that it is ‘unfortunate that developers are not supporting local talent enough, but business, or selling the projects, comes first for the developers, and architects have to come to terms with it.’
But he echoes comments that local firms still stand to gain when working with foreign names.
‘Local architects can learn from the foreign names and upgrade themselves,’ he says, adding that local architects’ depth of experience is generally lacking compared to foreign ones.
Mr Mink Tan of Mink Architects also acknowledges that it is hard for local architects to fight market forces.
‘The power of a big-name architect is pervasive, but we can always learn from him instead. There can be knowledge transfer,’ he says.
Hong Kong-based architect David Buffonge, a director of Benoy, who is leading the design team for Orchard Turn, points out: ‘We can bring in new ideas and new technologies.’
Speaking to LifeStyle at the Orchard Turn office last Wednesday, he backs up his point with this example: Instead of a plain facade for Orchard Turn, he has used LED (light-emitting diode) technology to display moving graphics and messages on the facade.
‘It will be a totally new concept in Singapore as the moving images will wrap around the whole building facade,’ he says.
Still, architectural theorist and critic Professor William Lim points out that projects by even renowned architects can go wrong. He cites the example of British architect Norman Foster’s design of the Supreme Court, which he says ‘is disappointing and not his best work’.
He adds that developers and decision-makers tend to overrate foreign architects. ‘We may not have the best architects but we have some good local ones - do give them a chance,’ he says.
Mr Tan Kok Hiang, founding director of Forum Architects, says of the foreign luminaries: ‘They can up the architectural ante and help put Singapore on the architecture world map, but clients must know that they produce their best work only when really challenged.’
Developers, he adds, should still give local architects a chance, too.
‘There has to be a level playing field between local and foreign architects - in terms of fees and respect. Only then can we see where the locals stand,’ he says.
Mr Tai Lee Siang, president of the Singapore Institute of Architects, says the continual engagement of foreign architects here will see greater competition and stimulate the creative environment.
‘The ultimate responsibility to transform our city still lies squarely and firmly on our shoulders and that of our industry players,’ he says.
Source: The Sunday Times, 08 April 2007
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