This issue features unique projects around Asia including a triangular multigenerational family home in Ghaziabad, India that celebrates nature as well as Shinta Mani Mustang, Bill Bensley’s first resort in Nepal. The property, slated to open in 2023, is built with purpose and exemplifies Bentley’s sustainable ethos. Learn more about upcoming projects in Singapore including the tallest building – 8 Shenton Way – with cutting-edge technological and sustainability features.

Another featured project is Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi’s exclusive restaurant Terra, whose futuristic dining pods are made of bamboo, and tucked high amid a lush bamboo forest. Design-wise, meet Teo Yang, South Korea’s accomplished designer who’s determined to translate Korean heritage into modern designs, woven with meaning and purpose. The issue also shines the spotlight on Southeast Asian design talents who find inspiration in transforming  waste or discarded materials into a collection of useful pieces ranging from lamps to coffee tables.

We bid adieu to the beloved Taman Bebek in Bali as we say hello to the SJ Campus, Safdie Architects’ latest project in Singapore. Check out our new Sourcing Section that aims to connect suppliers with specifiers.

In this issue of d+a, we feature architectural projects that not only redefine our built environment but also reaffirm our intrinsic connection to nature. Kuala Lumpur’s Sentul Pavilion is a glass and steel structure nestled within a lush private park. This multifunctional space fuses with its natural surroundings while offering a tranquil oasis for both intimate gatherings and public events. This ethos is also seen in the new House Maya in Andermatt, Switzerland whose living spaces embrace the surrounding natural beauty of the mountainous region. Over in tropical Sanya, the architects of Sanya Wellness Retreat draw inspiration from the coastal landscape. Another country that exemplifies its dedication to responsible design and sustainability is Japan. Thoughtfully designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates (KKAA), the Itomachi Hotel 0 is Japan’s first zero-energy hotel. Created as a community hub, the hotel’s inviting courtyards beckon guests to enjoy the outdoors. We also feature the meticulously restored Rumah Kechik in Malacca which showcases well-preserved architectural features and traditional craftsmanship woven with a touch of modernity.

In this first edition of 2024, we embark on a design journey that embraces the lush world of tropical architecture for residences. This is where the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces blur, and nature becomes an integral part of our living environments. We feature several contemporary residential projects in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore whose designs integrate verdant green pockets and trees. Beyond residences, we also visit MPavilion 10 in Melbourne, a unique structure conceived by Tadao Ando, Pritzker Prize winner and one of the world’s leading architects. The architectural masterpiece reflects Ando’s signature use of striking geometric interventions in nature and his precise use of concrete. Over in northern Thailand, the newly revamped Intercontinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping boasts contemporary interiors that celebrate craftsmanship as well as pay homage to the Lanna heritage.

In this issue, we cover residential, mixed-use and hospitality properties around Asia that are marked by unique designs. For instance, some are woven with their own nostalgia, and others bear the unique stamp of their owners/residents.

In Japan, Zentis Osaka, the Palace Hotel Group’s first offering under the Zentis category, weaves in Osaka’s history and heritage with a modern and vibrant vibe. Check out its contemporary interiors, which are reminiscent of a stylish residence. Another boutique hotel that’s also the first of its stable is Else Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. This beautifully restored commercial property injects a new consciousness into KL’s Chinatown district.

 Some projects are designed with notes of nostalgia injected into the fabric of their design. Oslo-based design firm Snøhetta referenced developer Nan Fung Group’s textiles heritage and the Kai Tak site’s aviation past for the design and build of commercial complex Airside, a mixed-use commercial development in Hong Kong. In Singapore, the rejuvenated Delta Sport Centre at Alexandra Road, undertaken by Red Bean Architects, highlights the viability and value of adaptive reuse.

Private residential properties are also given innovative ideas that have the power to reframe residents’ experiences - from the ultra-luxurious Scope Langsuan in Bangkok to the deliberately left unfinished Project Conservatory in Kuala Lumpur. 

This issue of d+a features Petronas Leadership Centre’s new contemporary campus of pedigree and inspiration. Malaysia’s Veritas Architects’ design for this institution is one that is sensitive to the dynamics of the natural environment and emissions.

In Tokyo, the Toranomon district is now home to two new green skyscrapers. Germany’s ingenhoven associates and Japanese real estate developer Mori Building, envisioned a ‘vertical garden city’ that implemented the principles of green and inclusive and accessible architecture.
 
On the topic of sustainability, the world’s largest furniture fair, Salone del Mobile, saw the gathering of product designers and interior designers who shared their insights on how they are shaping the furniture industry to become greener. 
 
Also meet founder of PLP Architecture Lee Polisano who tells us how his firm focuses on a life-centric approach to urban planning with an intention to create livelier, safer, healthier, future-proofed and more sustainable cities. 

This issue, we feature the works of several award-winning architects and designers.

In this issue of d+a, look out for  unique projects around Asia Pacific including the Ulaman Eco Luxury Resort in Bali which showcases avant-garde design and construction utilising highly durable and sustainable materials. Over in Sydney, the Quay Quarter Tower (QQT), designed by Danish firm 3XN, is dubbed the world’s first “upcycled” high-rise. Launched in 2022, it is poised to transform the city’s skyline. Learn about the new Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), home to ancient artefacts that have never been shown to the public before. And a revitalised heritage estate in Chiang Mai that gets new life as a teahouse. Other design highlights in this issue include furniture and lifestyle company Kernel which bridges Singaporean furniture making with Japanese craftsmanship as well as Cubo, a company that produces stylish, low-cost and environmentally-friendly modular houses in the Philippines.

A wide array of architectural projects and design output demonstrates the depth and breadth that currently define both practices.

Gracing the cover is St James Power Station. Following a restoration and refurbishment by W Architects in close collaboration with Studio Lapis, the almost 100-year-old national monument has been adapted into an office fit for the 21st century.

In the same issue, check out the hotel Capri by Fraser in Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Bintang. Despite having a relatively compact site, it has a distinctive silhouette of angled glass façades, fins and floors that makes it stand out from among the surrounding high-rises. Another featured project is the Viettel Headquarters in Hanoi (by Gensler) that impresses with its unique massing and energy-efficient green roof.

Not to be missed either is a piece where four emerging interior designers (Janka Podbielski, Matthew Kek, Lam Jun Nan and Jay Liu) share their thoughts on where the industry is headed. This is the last in a series of stories published in collaboration with the Interior Design Confederation of Singapore over the first half of this year. 

Is the interior design industry merely surviving? In a bid to answer this, we have collaborated with the Interior Design Confederation of Singapore in the first half of this year to examine how creatives can up their game – look out for the feature that offers some useful suggestions. 

In fact, in 2022, d+a will be more d than a i.e. have a stronger focus on design, while still retaining our exclusive niche as an architecture magazine. A story that details how a new playbook that guides organisations towards embracing a design thinking mindset is representative of this direction. 

On the architecture front, admire the Changshu Jinmao Sales Centre that made it onto our cover, designed by Aedas and outstanding for an entrance with its blue brick courtyard walls and cascading fibre-optic water curtain. In Malaysia, we spotlight the architecture of its universities, demonstrating how they are using design to attract students. 

Do also make time for the piece on how architecture can support sustainability-related financing solutions. Banks have finally awakened to the reality that they need to help fight climate change and there is a seat at this table for designers too. 

It has literally been an eventful few months since our last issue. From COP26 to Singapore Archifest, the opening of the Expo 2020 Dubai and Salone del Mobile, the calendar has been very full. 

The Singapore Pavilion, designed by WOHA, graces our cover in all its green glory, and the Malaysia Pavilion, designed by Hijjas Architects + Planners, is the only 
net zero carbon pavilion at the Expo. 

Our annual report on the Milan Furniture Fair identifies six trends that will influence architecture and interior design in the year ahead. 

Look out too for the spectacular Al Dana Amphitheatre by S/L Architects, which scores points for generously deploying recyclable materials throughout, such as used shipping containers and wooden pallets. 

The issue closes on a light but thoughtful note, spotlighting the air-purifying eco-machine Air Bubble by ecoLogicStudio, staged at COP26. 

From the team at d+a, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, eventful 2022!

Every single project feature in this issue is beautiful. There is nothing trivial about this sentiment, not when we are surrounded by so much ugliness, literally and metaphorically. Design has many important functions but remember that among the key ones is aesthetics. It pleases the senses and contributes to well-being; it is inspirational. 

We wish we could open our window every morning and gaze at Star Art Gallery, the project featured on the cover. By Singapore-headquartered architecture firm MAPS, it takes its cues from the surrounding mountain ranges of Yunnan, China and constellations in the night sky.

We would love to work in an office that faces the 18 Robinson skyscraper by KPF. When taking a break, we can look up and admire its sculptural form, interrupted by a sky garden a quarter way up. 

When we can travel for leisure, we will book a trip to Thailand to visit the Hyatt Regency Koh Samui by The Office of Bangkok Architect. The zen-like white box that makes up the lobby, with its quadrangular skylights, sets the stage for what promises to be a restorative holiday. 

We hope that in the next three months, this issue serves as the light in the dark. The projects that were curated to fill the following pages is our way of saying that even as you have to consider the other myriad of elements that go into designing a space or building, beauty should never be neglected or compromised.

As we mark our 20th anniversary this year, we realised we have grown up with an entire generation of architects, serving as companions to them through their university days, those early years as young practitioners and later, ascension to senior positions or even the setup of their own firms.

Over the past two decades, we have featured their projects, supporting them in their contribution to Singapore’s built environment, while also subliminally giving definition to the country’s architecture. It is therefore apt that this become the focus of a feature, where we trace its evolution in the last 20 years.

Yet, even as we look back, we must look forward. We have singled out eight architects to keep our eyes on, making up the next generation who will shape Singapore’s buildscape. 

Elsewhere in Issue 120 (yes, we have also published 120 issues to date), read about the project featured on the cover, Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore, a hotel and clubhouse conceptualised by Mercurio Design Lab. This remarkable piece of architecture is distinctive for its swooping roof, which reflects the silhouette of the golf course it is sited by, giving it that all-important contextuality. 

Worth highlighting too is Gibert&Tan;’s ECT Headquarters in Klang, Malaysia. We have identified how it is the latest in a slew of award-winning industrial architecture projects in the country that eschew boring and boxy for creativity and consideration.

We like to think it is our ability to spot trends like this (among other reasons) that keep our readers loyal to us since their days as an architecture student. Thank you so much and we look forward to remaining lifelong friends.

After showering attention on Asia for the past three years, we will shift our gaze back to Singapore and Malaysia in 2021, where our print edition is circulated. Our real estate is more precious now that we are only publishing every quarter, which is why we want to support the designers and architects who have been our loyal readers.

It is therefore befitting that the project we have featured on the cover is the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) Building by one of Malaysia’s premier practices, GDP Architects. Contributor Nizar Musa writes that it is easy to miss but spot it and what is unmistakeable is its occupation of a “unique design middle ground, of having neither too much nor too little, of being stately without statement”.

The same can be said of Outram Community Hospital in Singapore, which was conceptualised by B+H Architects. A complex, multi-faceted project that also has facilities for rehabilitation, administrative offices and even a kindergarten, it still manages to have an architectural language that is compositional, sculptural and cheerful.

Along a quiet residential lane in the eastern part of the country is a three-storey house by Ming Architects that used a series of staggered voids along its central axis to optimise the use of natural light and space. You’d never guess all this was happening behind its unassuming façade.

Do make time to read the feature on placemaking. This is a topic we are spotlighting in the first half of this year and a list of stories will be published in our print issue and website to delve deeper into it. With borders still closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and fuelled by the human need for connection and sense of belonging, this has become a glue to forge closer ties with one another. 

Do you wish we could just cancel out 2020? We know many architects would, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, there are also those who managed to make lemonade out of lemons. Since this is our last issue of the year, it is befitting we fill our pages with some optimism through a feature story where four architects reflect on the past 11 months, while sharing their aspirations for 2021. Another heartening piece of news that broke in October was how the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has proposed for Golden Mile Complex (GMC) to be gazetted for conservation. Since June this year, we have been championing the issue of saving Singapore’s modern built heritage and this move by the URA is truly ground-breaking. A second feature story this issue has nine other projects designed in the same style, which we hope will be accorded the same status as GMC. On the cover is the stunning Otemon Gakuin University Academic-Ark by Mitsubishi Jisho Sekkei, located in Osaka, Japan. With the massing of an inverted triangular pyramid, the new campus was inspired by Japan’s shrines and temples and how they double up as lively gathering places for their local communities. Do also read about Aemulus at the Runway, an electronics facility by Kuala Lumpur-based Design Unit Architects, set beside the Penang International Airport. Its distinctive red brick-on-pilotis aesthetic jazzes up the neighbourhood and offers an ingenious spin on industrial architecture. 

Singapore is well into Phase 2 of the reopening of its economy, yet, many of us continue to work from home and, based on the manpower surveys, seem to be happy to keep this up. Consequently, our abodes have become the new centre of our lives, which is why this issue is themed upon residences. 

In curating eight of them from Singapore, Malaysia, China and Europe, we hope that some (or all) of their unique elements will inspire you when you design your next residential project. On the cover is the award-winning Casa A by Portuguese firm REM’A Arquitectos. It uses sustainable wood, arranged in a diagonal pattern, to sheath its upper volume, and has deep triangular voids that blur the boundaries between indoors and out. 

Don’t miss the report featuring products that would have been launched at Salone del Mobile, if it had been held this year. There are some beautiful, eco-friendly and technologically-advanced pieces worth including in your next project. 

Real estate has also been dedicated to Dr. Chang Jiat Hwee, an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture in the National University of Singapore, whose areas of interest include modern architecture. He has contributed a piece on how such buildings are actually more ubiquitous than we realise in Singapore. 

Finally, an update on the magazine. We will be adjusting the frequency of our print edition and our next issue will publish in November (the last one for 2020). From 2021, we will become a quarterly instead of a bimonthly. Do continue to keep up with us via Facebook and Instagram; check in with our website for design and architecture news and projects from around Asia. We look forward to remaining connected with you in the digital space. 

Singapore has been in a partial lockdown since 7 April, because of COVID-19, which means Issue 116 was produced while everyone was working from home. We are happy to report that it was smooth process, and are grateful to the newsmakers, advertisers and freelance writers for cooperating with us to make this happen. 

Gracing the cover is Sinan Books Poetry Store, an unexpected find of an adaptive reuse project by Wutopia that saw the conversion of a Russian orthodox church in Shanghai, China into a home for literary tomes. Dominating its interior is a dramatic steel bookcase structure that follows the outline of the walls and ceiling in the main hall. 

Sinan Books is obliquely connected to the feature story on conserving Singapore’s modern built heritage as an example of how to creatively respond to and reinvent a building’s programme. The first piece in a year-long series spotlighting this important topic, it offers the architectural perspective and analyses what the fuss is all about. 

The second feature is centred on architects sharing their thoughts on how the built environment will evolve in a post-COVID-19 world. Six personalities with different areas of specialisations – from urban planning to landscape architecture – offer their views on how their work is going to be impacted by the threat of pandemics. 

On a more light-hearted note, check out the delightful spread by our creative director. It features versatile furniture pieces that were curated for their ability to smoothly transit between home, hotel, office, public space…or wherever you want them to be. 

Flip through Issue 115 and you might notice d+a is a little different this issue. For starters, we have given the design some A&A, in renovation speak. The result is more breathing space in the layouts, a fresh set of fonts and overall, a chicer appearance. 

Another change is the introduction of the new section, Life. It offers snapshots of how design is applied in other disciplines outside of the built environment. We kick things off with a spread on interesting dial designs on timepieces, and a feature on fitting out a private jet. 

Elsewhere in the magazine, look out for two stories written after a trip to Germany in January. One is the coverage of Heimtextil, a fair that increased our appreciation of textiles and the important role they play in softening the edges of a space. The other is of a visit to the unconventional Hansgrohe Aquademie, the headquarters of the bathroom and kitchen fitting manufacturer, nestled deep in the Black Forest in the town of Schiltach. 

Stellar is the project published on the cover, a study in balancing form and function. Located in Gujarat, India and designed by Sanjay Puri Architects, the mixed-use building stands out for a rust-red, sculptural volume, inspired by origami, perched on the open, north-oriented terrace. 

Another project worth highlighting is Sun City Kobe Tower, a 35-storey building dedicated to luxury senior living, designed by Richard Beard Architects and BAMO. Together, they have successfully created a resort-like experience with a plethora of beautiful communal spaces. 

The first full issue of the year and decade offers a line-up centred on technology, continuous learning and community – all of which are important to the future of design and architecture. The commitment to advancing knowledge is always a good resolution to have and we advocate this through a feature on different Master of Architecture programs you can take up. 

Successively, the focus shifts to virtual reality. Our bets are on this immersive tool revolutionising the architectural design process and we introduce a few companies that you should be acquainted with. 

Of the project features, the 10 we have curated this issue each represents one or more of the themes important to us at d+a. The cover is of A Simple Headquarters, the corporate office of car dealership Wearnes Automotive. Aesthetically striking, it is designed by Pencil Syndicate and embodies that ideal balance of form and function. 

There are two projects located in India; one, a Hindu temple, and the other, a house. Temple In Stone and Light is a contemporary interpretation of this traditional place of worship. Chhavi, the Desert House conforms to the ancient Indian architectural principles of Vastu Shastra.

Another abode published in this issue is House68 by Design Collective Architects. The residence is an adroit composition of materials and bespoke parts divided into three distinct pavilions, giving it a five-star resort aesthetic. 

We close the issue with a possible solution for mass, affordable housing. TECLA, as the project is named, has a structure made from reusable, recyclable materials taken from the local terrain and produced by a 3D printer. This is a topic that has dominated headlines around the world and it is heartening to learn how architects are harnessing technology to find an answer.

The latest issue of d+a is a reflection of how busy the last quarter of the year typically is. For example, it starts with a feature story based on an exclusive press trip to Europe, invited by Vitra and W. Atelier, to visit a textile mill in northern Italy that manufactures fabrics for Vitra’s furniture. We then crossed the Swiss Alps to the small German town of Weil Am Rhein to tour the impressive Vitra Campus.
There were events aplenty, which we were media partners of. These included the annual ArchiFest 2019, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and the 8th mASEANa International Conference. Please don’t miss the important message the latter is trying to convey – we must remain united against allowing our national heritage to be erased. We interviewed Tim Kobe, the founder and CEO of Eight Inc., who is best known for conceptualising the original brick-and-mortar Apple Store. An experience designer, he is a strong proponent of designing with the end-user in mind, which is why his statement that an architect’s job “is fundamentally to serve people” really resonated with us. On the cover this issue is the Lost Villa Boutique Hotel. Marvel at how DAS Lab has camouflaged the project into the village of Dawan in Ningxia, China. You will realise the intention is both to harmonise with the surrounding landscape and local village architecture. Special mention must go to Masjid Daing Abdul Rahman, a contemporary-style mosque in Malaysia by Razin Architects that is a three-storey cube of glass, brick and steel. Its description of the project aptly sums it up, “We wanted to show a progressive image, not be
stuck with the conventional dome and minaret.”

“Most children enjoy running around in circles.” This is what Japanese architect Takaharu Tezuka shared, when interviewed about what motivated his design for Muku Nursery in Shizuoka, Japan. The outcome is what you see on the cover of this issue, a cluster of buildings each with a circular footprint. It reflects his practice of always asking how a project is going to enhance the lives of those who use it, before he starts designing it. 

Tezuka’s approach to architecture is reflective of a larger trend that is less of the “me”, and more of the “we”. It was most noticeable at the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival 2019’s conference, DATUM:KL, held in July. Across three days, speakers from all over the world repeated themes about the importance of complementing nature, the shying away from designing edifices, and a deep-seated respect for the community, locality and placemaking.

Elsewhere in this issue, we showcase two adaptive reuse projects. The Temasek Shophouse is made up of five three-storey conservation shophouses in Singapore that date back to 1928 and have been successfully refurbished by Surbana Jurong Consultants. Kaomai Estate 1955 is a project in Chiang Mai, Thailand that used to be a tobacco processing estate. 

Look out too for the curvaceous and dramatic Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre by RSP Architects, located in Kuala Lumpur. On a smaller scale (but no less short on drama either) is the Marquee nightclub and Avenue cocktail lounge by ICRAVE in Marina Bay Sands Singapore. Occupying what was formerly a three-storey theatre with a 21m ceiling height, both venues are designed as contrasts of each other and complete sensorial experiences. 

Earlier this year, the Building Better Building Beautiful Commission from the UK released a report entitled Creating space for beauty. In it, it states, “Beauty is a part, not the whole part but an inescapably necessary part of the good life, of what, long ago, the Greeks called eudemonia. And beauty should be shared and democratic[,] not forgotten.”

We were heartened to learn about the existence of this organisation and excited to read how it wants “to put beauty back on the agenda”. This is something we try to do ourselves and, we hope, inspire our audience to follow. 

Case in point is the project on our cover this issue, the UCCA Dune Art Museum by OPEN Architecture, in Qinhuangdao, China. Its beauty lies in how it is partially submerged beneath natural sand dunes and composed of organically-shaped, interconnected, grotto and cave-like segments that mediate the space between land and sea. 

Equally good-looking are the three bungalows that we have featured – each set in a slightly different tropical context. The first is in Malaysia, by MJKanny Architect, that uses a funnel to build anticipation up towards the view, enhanced by a half-radial layout. The second is in Thailand, by Sunday* Architects, and draws on classic Mid-century Modern design elements. The third is in Indonesia, by Saota, a collection of buildings connected by gardens, courtyards and planted terraces. 

Still on the topic of homes, our anchor feature is on affordable housing and the architectural firms that are innovating in this space. The lack of reasonably-priced homes to be offered to the masses is a global issue and governments are now examining the challenge on their hands. This story spotlights a few projects and the architects who are behind them.

A meet-up with Piero Lissoni in his Milan office last March revealed his emphatic belief that architects must always be respectful and responsible when designing a project by not making others “victims” of their work. One application of this is to the importance of context – something that the projects featured in this issue are mindful of. 

For example, Raya Heritage is a new hotel in Chiangmai, Thailand by Boon Design. Faced with a brief from the client to have the property connect to traditional northern Thai culture, the firm created a building with tiered roofs and a structural integrity inspired by vernacular architecture. From Spain comes a villa, Stgilat Aiguablava, by architect Enric Ruiz-Geli and Cloud 9. It establishes a dialogue with the landscape, culture and materials of the Costa Brava region where the house is located. 

A second house, featured on the cover of this issue, is named Surprising Seclusion by HYLA Architects. Designed more as a response to the context of a dense, noisy urban environment, it turns inward with spacious inner courtyards layered with interlocking voids, and an abundance of internal landscaping and natural light. 

Even interior projects can and should be aware of context. The Penthouse Suites of the Ascott Orchard Singapore – and the entire property, for that matter – take their cue from its location along the shopping belt and have interiors inspired by fashion. Designed by Ascott's in-house team led by Kian Liew, they are fitted out with pieces from the home collection of Fendi. 

Our April/May 2019 is all about twinning. We published two reports: one on Ambiente, an important consumer goods exhibition, and the other on Bangkok Design Week. We spotlight the area of Tanjong Pagar twice. The first is in a feature on its waterfront, where the Future Cities Laboratory has come up with a few interesting possible scenarios as to how it can develop once the port moves out. The second is of the mixed-use development Tanjong Pagar Centre, which is now Singapore’s tallest project, designed by SOM. Look out too for a pair of projects from the Middle East. Atelier Brückner has designed the permanent exhibition Arabian Journeys in the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture. We uncover some of the technologies they used to bring the stories to life. In Israel, Asaf Gottesman has completed the Postscript Residence. This project marks a return to designing a typology he was a leader of in the 1990s, but has not done since 2001. The second home in this issue, Project #4, is a type of twin too, albeit a fraternal one. Created by Studio Wills + Architects, it is a re-arrangement of the massing of Project #3, itself another house in the same neighbourhood. We hope it intrigues you as much as it did
us.

The themes of technology, heritage and conservation make their presence felt this issue. On the tech front, the feature story lists some of the latest tools that architects and designers can add to their kit to improve the way they work, and benefit the environment and the people utilising those spaces. On the heritage and conservation front, the second feature story covers in depth how Bangkok is borrowing these elements to revitalise the banks of the Chao Phraya. Warehouses, shophouses and even the city’s grand dame, the Mandarin Oriental hotel, are undergoing adaptive reuse and being updated. In Singapore, a shophouse along Blair Road has been beautifully restored. Read how its architect Terence Quah had to overcome unexpected several roadblocks posed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.  Found in the People section is Chooake Wongwattanasilpa who heads the user experience and design division of DBS Bank. He sheds light on design thinking and in a complementary story on the d+a website, shares how architects can enter the field too.

This issue kicks off with a feature on architecture for the silver generation. Earlier in 2018, Colliers International released a report on Asia’s ageing crisis and the increasing need for senior housing. This sparked the story idea that analyses how design can play a part in mitigating this challenge. On the projects front, two five-star hotels in Shanghai, China have opened recently. Both Bulgari Hotel Shanghai and The Middle House (page 52) have strong ties to Italy, but attempt to introduce, in their own ways, that highly important sense of place. Look out for Seascape Lembongan a villa on Nusa Lembongan in Indonesia that takes its cue from the Mediterranean aesthetic. Also taking inspiration from Europe is Merci Marcel, a restaurant that hopes to bring a slice of France to Singapore, yet offers a strong connection to its
locality. Don’t miss either the retrospective coverage of Design Affair, d+a’s very first event, which we are happy to share was very well-received. We look forward to your continued support. Finally, since this issue straddles 2018 and 2019, here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

The Oct/Nov 2018 issue is a geographically diverse one, unveiling many gems across Asia. The feature story takes us to Cambodia (page 30), where we examine how design-oriented boutique hotels have helped the city of Siem Reap attract higher net worth tourists. We also have projects from further north: the office of Taipei-based singer-songwriter JJ Lin, a stunning penthouse in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels, and an urban ryokan located in Tokyo that successfully embodies all the characteristics of this traditional Japanese inn. Back in Southeast Asia, there is more than what meets the eye of the Unilever Headquarters in Jakarta. Its architects actually borrowed ideas from Indonesian villages to design it. In Malaysia, we peel back the brick walls of the Jandabaik Villas in Pahang to see how it co- exists peacefully with nature. Stories from our home base in Singapore include the versatile office-cum-showroom of architect Terence Chan, Inte Architect’s first bungalow project in Old Holland Road, and Meating Place, a restaurant that translates its specialty in proteins into its interiors.

Could Siri or Alexa someday replace the role of an architect? At present, it does not sound possible. Despite the Fourth Industrial Revolution making its presence felt in almost every industry, it does not seem to have affected architecture too significantly. Yet, we feel it is merely a question of time before it does. This is what motivated the anchor feature this issue, that examines where the architect in arch tech is. 

The tech theme continues with a project by X+Living, Ideas Lab, which drew inspiration from the Industrial Revolution and Information Age to design a mixed-use space for Chinese firm Powerlong Group in Shanghai. This issue continues to keep the spotlight on conservation by featuring two projects related to it. Straits Clan is the second members’ club in Singapore to open, housed within the heritage building formerly occupied by the New Majestic Hotel. In Malaysia, the iconic Datai Langkawi resort gets a makeover almost 25 years after it first opened. 

The design of educational institutions is rarely spotlighted, which is why we felt compelled to do so this issue. A study showed that well-designed classrooms can improve pupil performance by 16 percent. The onus is therefore on architects to advise educators to get the basic physical factors of these spaces right, and provide a conducive environment for learning and development. 

Elsewhere in Issue 104, we summarise our visit to the Salone del Mobile 2018 in Milan, Italy through an in-depth fair report. Back in Asia, we feature a project in Beijing, China, Courtyard Hybrid, which examines how the city’s famous hutongs can be re-adapted for modern-day use. The same is done for one of Hanoi’s legendary tube houses that has been converted into a flagship store. Also in the spotlight are two abodes – the Window House in Malaysia, and Villa Otto in Singapore – of contrasting styles that provoke and inspire at the same time.

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d+a is a bimonthly design magazine that covers the latest trends and developments in design, architecture, and technology. The magazine is known for its high-quality photography and in-depth articles on a wide range of topics, including:

* Design: d+a covers the latest design trends in everything from product design to interior design to graphic design. The magazine also features profiles of leading designers and design studios.
* Architecture: d+a covers the latest architectural projects from around the world, with a focus on sustainable and innovative design. The magazine also features interviews with renowned architects and architecture firms.
* Technology: d+a covers the latest technological innovations that are shaping the world of design and architecture. The magazine also features articles on how technology is being used to create new and exciting design possibilities.

d+a is a must-read for anyone who is interested in design, architecture, and technology. The magazine provides readers with a unique perspective on the latest trends and developments in these fields, as well as insights from leading designers, architects, and technologists.

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d+a - Issue 126

d+a - Issue 126

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