;
;
In support of young and upcoming designers, Arup worked with UK architects, Pernilla Ohrstedt and Asif Khan, to build the Future Memory Pavilion. The project was commissioned by The British Council, in partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts (London), and the Preservation of Monuments Board (Singapore).
The temporary structure comprises two 8m tall monumental cones, created by ropes placed at different intervals. Two commonplace materials, ice and sand, are placed separately in each cone. These serve to act as triggers which evoke Singapore’s historic and contemporary attitude to climate and land culture. As one cone fills, the other empties, creating an inside space and experience which changes over the lifespan of the pavilion.
Through the design process, tents and structures made of insulating materials were considered but approvals and cost constraints led to the simple use of ropes to create the cone forms. A canvas, made from coir, served as a platform on which the sand and ice is placed and manages runoff water and collects the sand.
To accentuate the qualities of each of the two materials, we chose lights with different temperatures – cool for the ice, and warm for the sand. The lights were located under the tips of the cones so the natural transient properties of the materials would not be affected while being illuminated. The result is a space that is inviting both during day and night.
The pavilion has also received support from the Urban Redevelopment Authority, making it an example of architecture and urban design excellence in Singapore.
