THE ESPLANADE
THEATRES ON THE BAY
This week’s topic is heavily regarded with the discourse in architecture, and how we define architecture in today’s society. Amongst the topic we have to pick two examples of buildings today that have created an impact/ discourse over the last decade, shifting the ideology of how society depicts architecture into its cultural scene thereafter. On a personal note coming from Singapore, I would say that the “The Esplanade -- Theaters on the Bay”, has caused quite a cultural shift for Singapore as a society towards the arts scene. On Oct. 12 2002, government leaders hope their “$343 million performance complex” will provide a concrete visual backing for Singapore’s vision for the arts. Located along the bay of Singapore’s prominent cityscape, the Esplanade (one of the first built projects to boast complexity in its form as parametric architecture) serves to showcase the government’s commitment in promoting the arts. What I can say is that this has definitely “ease the disciplinary strictness” of Singapore as a society to allow flexibility and freedom not only in the built-environment, but culturally in the lives of Singaporeans as well.
Figure 2: Arts Science Museum – completion 2011 (Source: WilliamCho)
Figure 3: Gardens by the bay - completion 2012 (Source: Kenny Teo)
A new paradigm
Influence from the esplanade has flourished more “organic” and “parametric” architecture along the bay.
CAPITAL GATE TOWER
ABU DHABI
Figure 1: Esplanade -- Theatres on the Bay – completion 2002 (Source: Eugin Goh)
We have had a reputation for being “too strict”- zoning restrictions, censorship etc. These restrictions have caused an effect on the cultural scene, as what Arnold (2002) mentions “No Bohemia here: Singapore canes graffiti artists, housing rules keep most Singaporeans at home with their parents until they get married, and censorship rules have silenced any would-be-avant-garde”. I find that people play it too safe in Singapore, until the construction of the Esplanade in 2002. We start to see a change in Singapore’s cityscape in progression with time since then, allowing more interesting and complex structures to surface with greater flexibility Williams (2005) discusses ‘Architecture as Art’, Singapore’s new direction towards the arts could lead its society to think of buildings now as ‘individual works of art’ , challenging existing views about architecture and the possibilities of more aesthetically brilliant buildings to flourish.
For the second part of my journal, one of the buildings that have caused quite a discourse in the architectural perspective through society (on a global scale) would be the Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi (RMJM). The Sheikh of Abu Dhabi has demanded the architects RMJM to build a structure so spectacular; it will instantly become an international symbol for Abu Dhabi. The 160-meter high tower leans at an angle of 18 degrees, more than 4 times the angle of the Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa. The idea was to not go bigger or taller but rather ‘challenge the rules of architecture’. I believe this has greatly influenced Abu Dhabi or rather the world in terms of building a gravity-defying megastructure that goes against the rules of physics and engineering bringing about a discourse on the possibilities of such complex structures to exist at such a big scale. This idea that parametric/digital architecture can now be made possible for skyscrapers (with the advancement of science and t echnology) nudges current architects what can they do with future megastructures. In Williams (2005) Architecture and Visual Culture, he mentions how ‘architecture as art’ exists because a client allows it to exist. For this case the client, the Sheikh, was the one who determined the function of the project, its specification, its location and above all, its cost. What we can learn from here is that for such structures to exist, the architect needs to work within all its parameters within a budget in order to have it built.
“Great cities need great buildings. Over time, these iconic buildings become visual statements of the era and the place they represent.” – Capital Gate Vision Statement, http://www.capitalgate.ae/vision.php