Tag: Renovation

URBAN JOY PLAYGROUND

Urban Joy Palyground by ANANDA

TEXT: NATHATAI TANGCHADAKORN
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANANDA DEVELOPMENT

(For Thai, press here

When an urban futsal field, renovated by ANANDA and partners in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, was adorned with vivid graphics, the space transformed into a dynamic canvas of art. 

The beauty of this series of photographs’ closely mirrors the simplicity of minimalist photography. Yet, each color on the field carries its own message. Designed as a public art space for urbanites, the design team embedded each section with meaning and inspiration—not merely visuals. For instance, the use of blue evokes openness and freshness, symbolizing the concept of ‘Inspire & Urban,’ while red, representing ‘Power & Energy,’ ignites enthusiasm.

The meanings embedded in these patterns are further complemented by the lines marked to define the field’s operational boundaries. Some of these lines signify the field’s midpoint, while others distinguish its outer limits. Players crossing these outer boundaries will find themselves out of play, according to the game’s rules. Whether for aesthetics or functionality, these elements blend seamlessly into a graphic masterpiece that has resulted in a perfectly functional futsal field, a piece of public art, and a communal space for the local community to engage in activities and social gatherings, enriching the neighborhood’s options for fitness and interactions.

ananda.co.th

PHOTO ESSAY : THE ARCHITECTURE OF DEMOLITION

TEXT & PHOTO: AKAI CHEW

(For Thai, press here)

Singapore is a city in constant change. Buildings are built and redeveloped at a fast pace. A 30-year-old building is seen as ripe for redevelopment. In Singapore, demolition and construction are everywhere. Like a magician throwing a piece of cloth upwards and vanishing when the cloth drops, when the scaffold drops, the building is no longer there. Since 2015, the pace of demolition has escalated to outrageous proportions. Currently, four of the top 10 tallest redeveloped buildings in the world are in Singapore.

In the 1960s, Singapore used urban development to catalyze the new country’s economy. New skyscrapers signaled a new era. Today, some of these buildings have been demolished. 

Demolition and construction in Singapore are almost as much architecture as an actual building. In the past few decades, redevelopment and loss of the natural and built environment have been seen and accepted with apathy and as a necessity to Singapore’s economic growth and urbanization; it was progressing as Singapore rose to become a better city. In Singapore, the contemporary is the history of 10 years later.

As our post-independence era architecture gets slowly erased and replaced, it opens further questions on the outrageous. 

I thought about vintage photographs showing Singapore in the 19th century. We look to the past in fascination, and we think to ourselves how much the city has changed since then. Maybe in Singapore, this past might just be 10 or 20 years ago. 

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Akai Chew is a Singapore-based artist whose background in architecture, urban planning, and architectural heritage informs his contemporary art practice. As an artist, he works primarily with photography and site-specific installations. Akai studied architecture and built environments at the University of Tasmania in Australia. He has exhibited extensively in Singapore, Bandung, New Delhi, Hobart, and Launceston. 

instagram.com/_a_kai_

 

NOT JUST LIBRARY

Photo: Golden Pin Design Award

A LIBRARY THAT KEPT THE ORIGINAL BUILDING STRUCTURE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF JAPANESE PUBLIC BATHHOUSES, CREATING THE SPACES FOR READING, MEETING AND THE PUBLIC PLACE TO INTERACT AND EXCHANGE IDEAS, EMBODYING THE CONCEPT OF ‘NOT JUST LIBRARY’

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