Storytelling & Experience – Page 2

Living with Ink: The Collection of Dr Tan Tsze Chor Exhibition

The vast Special Exhibitions Gallery, housed within the Asian Civilisations Museum, presented an extensive collection of artworks by Singapore’s renowned art collector Dr Tan Tsze Chor. The exhibition explored the appreciation of Chinese art from the 1950s to the 1980s through the selection of Dr Tan and others in the Chinese art community in Nanyang. Through their exchanges and networks, the exhibition explored the formation of Chinese identity occurring in the emergence of Chinese modern art.

to engage

To complement the works on display, a clean and elegant design approach was adopted. The open nature of the layout allowed visitors to freely explore the different curatorial themes while the adoption of a white palette ensured focus on the works themselves. A large, suspended, fabric backdrop served as the singular design element that characterised the entire space.

to inspire

To accompany the main exhibition, a series of fun interactive stations allowed for hands-on engagement. Targeted for younger visitors, guests were able to try their hand at making their very own Chinese scroll, as well as calligraphy and other creative activities.

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Living with Ink: The Collection of Dr Tan Tsze Chor Exhibition was open to the public from 8^th November 2019 to 26^th April 2020 at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore.

Dian Xiao Er

to inspire

Dian Xiao Er at Changi Jewel tells a tale of an oriental traveller arriving at the inn. An elevated experience from its other outlets, the dramatic setting fuses modern sophistication and ancient style. 

Substantial attention was given to maintaining a symmetrical composition throughout the restaurant, accentuating the harmonious balance that resonates throughout oriental architecture. The overall ambience maintains rich and rustic materials through motifs of timber abacuses, terracotta roof tiles and natural raw granite. Binding history to the present, these materials complement the authenticity of their herbal roast duck prepared daily and on display in the modern open kitchen concept. 

Captivating first sights are the circular frames greeting visitors, a unique spatial experience that draws attention inwards while delineating spatial hierarchy. As you proceed in, you may pick a seat among the common areas or make your way to the private rooms. The cavernous quality of the curved frames is compatible with the earthy timber and weathered stone, creating nostalgia and coziness in the environment. 

Walking by the façade of the restaurant, the unique visual symmetry draws visitors in to appreciate the refined yet raw ambience while savouring their traditional dishes. In this abstract arrangement that leaves a modern impression, stepping into the store is akin to stepping into a 21st century Chinese teahouse.

“The detail in the visual experience is outstanding, via simple inexpensive but effective design
to draw the focus of customers into the internal environment with strong visual guides via circular frames.
A very good example of how a clever and simple idea can carry the entire design of a space without overdoing.”

Ken Koo

President of Red Dot, Asia

“This is a great example where design did its magic to elevate the brand to a higher
refined level by transforming this restaurant's spatial experience through contemporary
interpretation of Chinese architecture, interior, furniture and decorative elements. 
The keen attention to refined details, clever use of symmetry and tapestry of materials
creates a visually balanced environment very suited for eating experience.”

Low Cheaw Hwei

Head of Design for Philips in Asia

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design development

spatial design and build

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Dian Xiao Er project was awarded Gold for Original Design at our annual Kingsmen Q Awards.
The modern store is located at Changi Jewel, #B2-229.

Steel in Bloom

The goal was to deliver a multi-sensory touch point offering visitors a quiet respite amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy passenger terminal. Creating a thought-provoking hybrid display, Steel in Bloom is a novel experiential garden and a key rest stop for visitors when they enter the terminal.

to inspire

Steel in Bloom was themed around the idea of synergy between organic forms and mechanical elements. The centrepiece integrates living horticultural elements while the technology aspect speaks to the innovative nature of Terminal 4. The garden layout was also inspired by the fluidity of topographical lines, visually complementing Terminal 4’s ‘petal’ concept architecture as a whole.

to engage

The understructure comprises expansive tree-like branches which provide structural rigidity and strength. Layered with walls of lace-like steel, botanical motifs are exquisitely detailed and rendered in a contemporary papercut style. The second layer of the structure is more dimensional and inlaid with printed lighting, a high-tech, ultra-thin (1mm) and lightweight lighting system integrated into the forms of flower blossoms and butterflies. 

The third and final layer of the structure is designed to be interchangeable, with a moveable support and interlocking edges, allowing live air plants to be integrated into the structure as part of seasonal decorations. stalled together with a light show that takes full advantage of the sculpture’s intricate form.

to activate

Besides providing a key rest point for visitors among T4 retail shops, the garden embodies a remarkably accurate impression of Singapore as a world-class City in a Garden, introducing Singapore as a country with abundant lush greenery while remaining as a bustling metropolitan city. The main structure represents the symbiosis and interweaving of human artisanship and living plants, reminding us of the interdependence between Man and Nature.

Multiple prototypes, including 3D printed versions and full-scale mockups, were created to achieve the final buildable sculpture. The curved convex transparent terrarium covers were particularly challenging to fabricate, with extensive trials using materials like glass and high-density acrylic required to make a viable shape and achieve the correct look.

A zone for travellers to project their imagination and excitement while exploring the world and beholding the site of an engaging and visually-arresting landmark.

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Steel in Bloom resides in the transit area of Terminal 4 in Changi Airport, Singapore.