Singapore Archifest 2024

Singapore’s premier architecture event is set for a revamp this year converging the prestige of the Singapore Institute of Architects’ (SIA) marquee awards and conferences the appeal of trade-related events and the mass-market draw of the popular Architours into one grand celebration of architecture. 

This new Singapore Archifest 2024 also aims to provide architects with a dynamic platform to engage in discussions and address industry challenges such as SIA’s Value Articulation Framework (VAF) and the ongoing work by SIA to tackle talent retention and fair and equitable fees.

Singapore Archifest 2024 will even have a star-attraction as it welcomes home the internationally-celebrated Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 Singapore Pavilion which earned rave reviews. Named When is Enough Enough? The Performance of Measurement the exhibition seeks to demonstrate how traditional architectural standards of quantity and measurement are insufficient for assessing the lived experience of our cities. The exhibition was co-commissioned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) DesignSingapore Council (DSG) and organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA).

The 18th edition of Singapore Archifest 2024 will take place from May 15-17 at the Marina Bay Sands with the Architours and other fringe events set for May 18 and May 19.  

Singapore Archifest 2024 will reinforce Singapore’s position as a regional architecture and design hub providing architects with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and share best practices. Singapore Archifest will also play a crucial role in supporting the VAF ensuring that Singapore's architecture profession remains vibrant sustainable and attractive to talent.

Said SIA President Ar. Melvin Tan: “The VAF was conceived to address the perennial issues professionals in the industry face including low wages a lack of work-life balance and a high level of stress under project deadlines. Through the VAF architects will have an appropriate tool to calculate the cost of services with an evolving climate and enable architectural institutions to conduct open and frank dialogues with key agencies as codes and regulations develop. 

“Singapore Archifest 2024 aims to address some of these issues. For one we hope to elevate the status of young architects by introducing a new award at SIA Architectural Design Awards Presentation and Annual Dinner - the Young Architect Award 2024. 

The theme of this year’s Singapore Archifest is The Performance of Measurement: When is Enough Enough? - a play on the title of the Venice Architecture Biennale 2023 Singapore Pavilion. 

Said Ar. Adrian Lai Singapore Archifest festival director and one of the curators of the Singapore Pavilion: “We are heartened that we can bring the Singapore Pavilion of Venice Biennale 2023 back to our shores. This year’s theme The Performance of Measurement: When is Enough Enough? epitomises the crossroads we are at as an industry and the inherent tension of decisions we have to face on a day to day basis.

“It also highlights the opportunities to elicit inclusion connection freedom attachment attraction and agency in our built environment. As we saw at the Venice Biennale these are compelling issues we face. We hope that through Singapore Archifest we can create the space for these ideological yet essential conversations and chart a path for the current and future generations of architects to navigate.” 

The SIA Architectural Design Awards the epitome of recognition from the Singapore Institute of Architects serves as a guiding light for excellence in architectural design. The SIA Architectural Design Awards Presentation and Annual Dinner will also be introducing a new award category - Young Architect Award 2024. These awards will alternate yearly with the SIA Gold Medal Award which was presented at the last Singapore Archifest. These awards recognize excellence across generations paying homage to the whole spectrum of architects from seasoned professionals to emergent talents that ultimately shape Singapore’s architectural landscape

The renowned Archifest Conference SIA Practice Convention SIA Young Architects Forum and selected Professional Knowledge Series (PKS) will make welcome returns this year bringing together speakers from China Malaysia Thailand and the UK presenting over three days.

Singapore Archifest 2024 will also host the 4-Nations Architect Meeting with representatives from Singapore Malaysia Thailand and Indonesia as well as observers from the United Kingdom and Australia. This will also be the first time that the 4-Nations partnership will be invited to participate in the “Overseas Residential Projects” category. The meeting will bring together architects from different nations providing a platform for discussion on common challenges sharing best practices and exploring opportunities for regional cooperation. This will also shed light on sustainable fee structures that will address the talent drain that the industry is facing worldwide.

The speaker lineup includes:

1. Mok Wei Wei, W Architects

2. Vin Varavarn, Vin Varavarn Architects

3. Calvin Chua, Spatial Anatomy

4. Linghao, Linghao Architects

5. ⁠⁠Pan Yicheng, Type0 Architects6

6. Erik L'Heureux, National University of Singapore

7. ⁠Lilian Chee, National University of Singapore

8. ⁠Tiah Nan Chyuan, Farm

9. Seah Chee Huang, DP Architects

10. Ashvinkumar Kantilal, Ong&Ong

11. Chan Seng Kee, DEG Architects

12. Rachel Hoh, Housing and Development Board

13. Eugene Lau, Urban Redevelopment Authority

14. Sherwin Teo, Housing and Development Board

15. Dawn Lim, DesignSingapore Council

With a total of eight key events spanning over five exhilarating days Singapore Archifest 2024 is set to become the largest gathering of the architecture community in the country where education design practice networking business opportunities and international collaboration take centre stage.

For more information about Singapore Archifest 2024, visit: https://archifest.sg/

Host or Publisher Amelia Amari