Jury Citation
The Future of Us Pavilion is a bold move in the Singapore design landscape. The successful form-finding exercise as a means of determining an intrinsically efficient structural and load-resisting form is commendable.
Through the parametric and algorithmic approach, the designers have created a futuristic structure that has pushed the boundaries of design, fabrication and construction methods. The high level of integration between digital technology and building processes allowed for the rapid production of a large number of individual micro-forms that make up the overall structure. The pavilion form also optimises material usage and minimises the embodied carbon footprint. This makes the pavilion a forerunner to many impressive current and future buildings. Such successful utilisation of innovative technologies point the way forward for the industry to adopt similar design and construction methods. In 2017, the pavilion became a permanent landmark in the Gardens by the Bay. It plays host to important public festivals and events, and continues to be well-loved by visitors. This makes it a valuable public asset that contributes to advancing Singapore community and culture.
The Jury applauds the design team for a project that is leading the way towards the future of structure, architecture and design in Singapore and beyond.
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Nominator Citation
Dr Tan Wee Kiat
Chief Executive Officer
Gardens by the Bay
Located between Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, the pavilion follows the grand tradition of architectural structures that evoke a dialogue between built form and nature in the tropics. Its intricate form and composition, derived from extensive structural and environmental analyses, encapsulate the possibilities that technology already affords us today and hint at the forms we may find more familiar in the years ahead.
Originally built to house The Future of Us exhibition, Singapore’s 50th Anniversary (SG50) capstone event, the pavilion, which we have renamed “The Silver Pavilion”, has since become a permanent landmark that is now an intrinsic part of Gardens by the Bay.
The success factors of the Silver Pavilion are obvious. To enhance visitor comfort in the Gardens, its landforms were designed with wind direction in mind, while foliage and shelter provide as much shade as possible. The pavilion is based on similar ideas. These are beautifully translated into a contemporary aesthetic and functional form. For visitors, the project offers a spectacular experience akin to walking in an imaginary forest—an idea of future nature. The pavilion is a comfortable fit with the Gardens’ Supertrees, domes and canopies. An enthralling vision for a garden of the future is thus encapsulated by its inclusion.
The Future of Us Pavilion, now our own Silver Pavilion, contributes delightfully to the Gardens’ mission of making Singapore a vibrant place to live, work and play. An impressive number of national and international awards and recognitions already attest to the quality and success in realisation of the inspiration behind this newest addition to our Gardens.