Building a Better World Through Architecture

“We shape our dwellings,” Winston Churchill said, “and afterwards our dwellings shape us.” For the built environment that we are brought up in and will live in for the rest of our lives, buildings irrevocably shape our cultural values and mould our behavior. When aesthetics and appearance take precedence over purpose and social needs, this is where our relationship with architecture becomes dangerous and calls for a re-evaluation of the urban fabric of our environment. The challenge now is to lead the process of creating solutions to issues that go beyond the superficial and heighten public awareness of the key role design plays in building better lives. This is where top architects in Singapore have to step in to set the direction for forward-looking solutions and methods.

 Buildings are not just a shelter from the external forces of the environment, they need to do more than that. With some good innovation and boundary-pushing thinking in recent times, planners and designers have started to shift from defence to offense, creating spaces that speak more than what a basic static structure does. New, innovative buildings can actually encourage a healthy lifestyle through exercise and better diet. Our energy levels and mood can be boosted by the exquisite balance of our exposure to light and sound. Effectively-designed public spaces strengthens the communal experience and brings together people from diverse backgrounds together with shared experiences.

 Architecture has also paved the way for the green movement by developing structures that are energy-efficient and earth-friendly, spaces that improves the quality of lives of the people. In home architecture and office design, architects can now incorporate health-enhancing features such as heating and cooling systems that protect against allergens.

 A new, radical way of thinking that shifts perspectives, coupled with the use of advanced technology will set trends that elevate the role of buildings exceeding their primary purpose as a shelter from the external environment. Moving forward from architecture as emblems, ideology, and facades, now it is the time for architecture firms in Singapore to come up with designs brimming with inspiration and utility, and remain as vital entities in our lives.