Institutional
Founders' Memorial
Singapore
2019
This project was an entry to a design competition for an integrated gallery and garden experience commemorating the founding of independent Singapore.
Site Planning
The memorial is designed to receive visitors arriving via the various transportation modes - the MRT, coaches, cars, ferries and by foot along the waterfront promenade. These access routes are gathered at the Visitor Centre at the base of the memorial.
Below grade, access to the Artworks and F&B loading bays are via the service tunnel from the central spine road. If desired, a pedestrian tunnel from the MRT station and a vehicular tunnel from the underground carpark could also be added to bring visitors to Basement 1 under the Visitor Centre.
Around the memorial, reflective pools preserve a respectful quiet zone around the memorial. These pools step down gradually to provide visual links to the bay.
Circulation
From the Visitor Centre - one passes through an entrance in the undercroft of the memorial to the Lobby located in the north wing of the building. The north wing is the one that is closer to the “Food & Active Zone” of the gardens. From the Lobby - one ascends the undulating base of the memorial to the Temporary Gallery at the 2nd Storey and then to the Interpretive Gallery at the 3rd Storey. Escalators could be added to aid circulation if required. After the Interpretive Gallery, one can visit the Multi-Purpose Programming Spaces at the 2nd Storey before going back down to the Retail and F&B spaces at the 1st Storey in the south wing. There is an exit at the south wing to the Visitor Centre.
At every floor within the memorial, it is possible to access the landscaped roof through courtyards planted with species of significance to the history of Singapore’s development.
In addition to the arched base of the building which functions as the main circulation plane through the memorial, there are four circulation cores where lifts are located.
Views
All the major public areas of the memorial have views to both the bay and the gardens. The Temporary Gallery has windows to the gardens while the Interpretive Gallery has windows to the bay. The windows can be treated with window coverings if necessary.
Back-of-House Areas
The Administration Offices are located at the 5th Storey, above the Interpretive Gallery and below the Viewing Gallery while the Storage, Art Support and Technical Support areas are located at Basement 1. The habitable spaces at Basement 1 have access to courtyards at the northeast elevation of the building.
