Singapore + Stirling
by orangepith
Back from a very stimulating trip to Singapore with RIBA to visit the Architecture Department of NUS. Never been there before and was struck by the lush green setting for so many High Rise blocks. The university campus in set on a hill so has great views across the island. On my last day I had a few hours to wander and came back to walk about Pinnacle – a new 50 storey social housing block with linked bridges. Designed by ARC Studio Architecture + Urbanism it presents a fashionable set of facades, and is well connected at the base. However it remains rather self conscious rising, as it does, on the edge of China Town – where I was taken to a very cool cafe by Kerry Hill – called 8. There are only ever 8 things on the menu. Flew back to go straight into the Stirling Prize dinner – there was only one thing on the menu here – including a rather trite history of C20th architecture from Tom. Still Zaha won with her bespoke take on Rome and it looks well. Next stop – Beirut….
