National Museum of Singapore unveils 170m-long digital interactive forest installation
by Tom Anstey | 21 Dec 2016
The National Museum of Singapore has debuted a unique digital exhibit turning 69 drawings into a single giant animated interactive illustration.
Using sensors set up in the newly-refurbished Glass Rotunda, the installation by Japanese art collective teamLab allows visitors to interact with the flora and fauna.
Titled Story of the Forest, the digital piece, which is 15m (49ft) in height and 170m (558ft) long, is based on the museum’s watercolour collection and mimics the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. The design is inspired by the 19th century collection collected by William Farquhar – the first Commandant of Singapore.
Starting at the top of the three-storey structure, visitors enter through a dark room projecting falling petals across the ceiling, before walking down a 144-metre (472-foot) spiral path with animals running through the intricately-designed forest. The exhibition ends in a room raining petals. As visitors approach the petals they immediately sprout, growing in seconds into towering trees.
The exhibition also introduces augmented reality to the experience, with users downloading a free app to find animals, pointing their smart device at the creatures as they appear in the digital forest to register them.
"Due to the massive size and scale of the Glass Rotunda, this is by far the most challenging digital artwork installation created by teamLab to date," said studio founder Toshiyuki Inoko.
"Our team was immensely inspired by the intricate drawings from the William Farquhar Collection while conceptualising this ground-breaking installation, and we are excited to present it to visitors from Singapore and around the world here at the National Museum.”
The Glass Rotunda reopens after a two-year closure. It is now home to Story of the Forest and Singapore, Very Old Tree – a special exhibition featuring photos by local photographer Robert Zhao.
National Museum of Singapore Glass Rotunda Story of the Forest teamLab gallery augmented reality technology
Trees grow from sprouts as people approach the interactive screen
Entering at the top of the three-storey structure, visitors enter through a dark room projecting falling petals across the ceiling
The piece is based on the museum’s watercolour collection and mimics the dense tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia
The exhibition also introduces augmented reality to the experience, with users downloading a free app to find animals
The exhibition ends in a room raining petals
The Glass Rotunda reopens after a two-year closure
Philippe Starck and Foster + Partners combine to design JW Marriott's first Singapore hotel
KidZania expansion continues with S$90m Singapore edutainment park
EXCLUSIVE: Designers for Singapore's relaunched National Gallery present history through art
Work starts on South Korea's US$1.8bn Resorts World Jeju development
Singapore Tourism Board working on S$1bn nature heritage precinct in Mandai
The National Museum of Singapore has debuted a unique digital exhibit turning 69 drawings into a single giant animated interactive illustration. Using sensors set up in the newly-refurbished Glass Rotunda, the installation by Japanese art collective teamLab allows visitors to interact with the flora and fauna. Titled Story of the Forest, the digital piece, which is 15m (49ft) in height and 170m (558ft) long, is based on the museum’s watercolour
CLD,VAT,AAC,DES
More news
Bertil Harström and Johan Krauppi create floating hotel and spa
by Megan Whitby | 09 Dec 2019
Architects Bertil Harström and Johan Krauppi have created a free-floating hotel on one of Sweden's longest rivers, with the micro-destination featuring a spa among its offerings. Owned and conceptualised by the architectural duo, the circular Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa will float on the Lule River during the summer months, with the structure frozen in place through the winter. It's set to open in Harads on 15 January 2020. The
Civic Architects' LocHal Public Library named World Building of the Year at World Architecture Festival
by Stu Robarts | 06 Dec 2019
Civic Architects' LocHal Public Library has won Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival's (WAF) World Architecture Awards 2019. Designed in partnership with Braaksma & Roos Architectenbureau, Inside Outside, Petra Blaise and Mecanoo Architecten, the building is a new urban living room created in a former locomotive shed. The project is designed to provide a space for people of all ages to read, learn, study, meet and gather.
Exhibitions begin at Zaha Hadid Architects-designed Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre
by Stu Robarts | 06 Dec 2019
The first exhibition has opened at MICA, the contemporary art museum at the Changsha Meixihu International Culture & Arts Centre, which which was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA). ZHA says the 115,000sq m (1,240,000sq ft) centre is the largest and most versatile cultural centre in China's Hunan province, comprising three separate but complementary venues that each cater for a different use. The 1,800-seat Grand Theatre, which was completed in
BIG and Mecanoo win at INSIDE World Festival of Interiors
by Stu Robarts | 06 Dec 2019
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Mecanoo have been among the winners at the INSIDE World Festival of Interiors – the annual awards that celebrate the best interior designs from around the globe over the past 12 months. INSIDE is the sister event of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), with this year's events running concurrently from 4-6 December in Amsterdam. INSIDE celebrates projects across a variety of categories, with one category
State Library Victoria reopens after Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Architectus revamp
by Stu Robarts | 06 Dec 2019
State Library Victoria, in Melbourne, Australia, has reopened after being revamped by Schmidt Hammer Lassen and Australian studio Architectus to expand its community outreach and enhance the visitor experience. The work is part of a five-year redevelopment plan and focused on a number of spaces within the library, which comprises 23 individual buildings and occupies an entire city block. The aim was to better weave together the spaces within the
Mixed-use, community and culture recognised at World Architecture Festival day two
by Stu Robarts | 06 Dec 2019
The second day of the World Architecture Festival Awards (WAF) 2019 saw mixed-use, cultural and community projects celebrated across a number of categories. The ‘Culture - Future Projects’ award was won by White Arkitekter for The New GoDown Arts Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, recognised for its clearly articulated "combination of social, traditional and environmental objectives" and a "good list of local materials and construction". STUDIO V Architecture won in the
Studio Fuksas celebrate square's ancient history with high-tech future
by Stu Robarts | 05 Dec 2019
Studio Fuksas have won a competition to redevelop Sveta Nedelya Square in Sofia, Bulgaria, with a design that complements a celebration of the square's history with carefully integrated high-tech canopies. The square covers an area of 34,000sq m (366,000sq ft) and has a 10th-century church, Sveta Nedelya Church, at its centre. A second-century Roman archaeological site with a tavern, shops and plumbing infrastructure, meanwhile, sits below the square. Studio Fuksas
Diamond Schmitt and TWBTA reveal new Geffen Hall revamp plans
by Stu Robarts | 05 Dec 2019
The New York Philharmonic has unveiled plans for the revamp of David Geffen Hall with Diamond Schmitt and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (TWBTA) designs aimed at fostering a sense of community and connecting it to the world outside. The $550m (€496m, £418m) project was initially to be led by Heatherwick Studio before those plans were dropped. The new plans will see Diamond Schmitt reconfigure the concert hall, which is
South Korean theme park with five hotels and 18-hole golf course gets go-ahead
by Andy Knaggs | 05 Dec 2019
A long-proposed US$3.8bn (€3.4bn, £2.9bn) theme park at Hwaseong, 45km (30mi) from South Korea's capital Seoul, looks set to go ahead after the country's finance minister pledged the government's support. To be built by Shinsegae Property Consortium, the park will feature five hotels, an 18-hole golf course and three shopping malls. Reports suggest that huge Korean pop music (K-pop) and natural history areas will act as the centrepieces of the
Cambridge United reveals KSS designs for multi-use stadium
by Tom Walker | 05 Dec 2019
Cambridge United Football Club has revealed plans to build a new multi-use, sustainable stadium, designed by KSS Architects. The club is working with property consultancy Stace – which worked on the development of Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium – on proposals to build the 12,000-capacity venue on greenbelt land. It is targeting a "sustainable design for a sustainable location", with the ability to host concerts, conferences and extended community activities, as
Heatherwick among winners on day one of World Architecture Festival 2019
by Stu Robarts | 05 Dec 2019
The World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2019 opened yesterday in Amsterdam, with the first awards announced for winners in a number of categories. Heatherwick Studio's New York sculpture Vessel was recognised in the ‘Display - Completed Buildings’ category for offering a new and innovative way for the general public to engage and create chance encounters. The ‘Culture - Completed Buildings’ award went to Civic architects, Braaksma & Roos Architectenbureau and Petra
Pharrell's Toronto tower, Untitled, will be parametric, natural and universal
by Stu Robarts | 04 Dec 2019
Untitled Toronto, the residential tower designed by musician Pharrell Williams in collaboration with IBI Group and U31, will combine parametric design, natural elements and "universal spaces" intended to act as a backdrop for the lifestyles of its residents. The development will comprise two towers with a shared podium and was inspired by the concept of a jugalbandi – a performance in Indian classical music featuring an intricate duet between two
Intu creating eight-neighbourhood retail and leisure resort in Spain
by Stu Robarts | 04 Dec 2019
Retail and leisure destination developer Intu is creating an €800m ($886m, £679m) resort on Spain's Costa del Sol, designed by WATG and Broadway Malyan, that will feature eight distinct neighbourhoods, each offering a different experience for visitors. Located in Torremolinos, Intu Costa del Sol will cover 2.5 million sq ft (235,000 sq m) and will incorporate 1.5 million sq ft (142,000 sq m) of retail space, 20+ leisure operators, 70+
Morris+Company include purpose-designed outdoor terraces in mixed-use building
by Stu Robarts | 04 Dec 2019
Occupants of Ballymore 's EG:HQ mixed-use building, designed by Morris+Company, will have access to 18,000sq ft (1,700sq m) of outdoor amenity space, including six purpose-designed private open-air terraces. Situated in the developing Nine Elms area of London and overlooking the River Thames, the building has been designed to meet the demands of modern businesses. John Mulryan, group managing director of Ballymore, said: "The design of the building really considers what
Adjaye Associates and Daniel Boyd-designed plaza celebrates the reconciliation of cultures
by Stu Robarts | 04 Dec 2019
Adjaye Associates and Sydney-based contemporary Aboriginal artist Daniel Boyd have unveiled the designs for a new public square and community building in Syndey with a huge perforated canopy. Sydney Plaza is intended to celebrate the origins of the Eora indigenous people in its coastal Sydney location, highlight their complex relationship with early colonisers and create a dialogue about the reconciliation of cultures. It is inspired by the "simple unitary forms
Hong Kong Museum of Art reopens after four-year facelift
by Andy Knaggs | 03 Dec 2019
The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) reopened on 30 November after a renovation lasting more than four years, however, it was forced to close again temporarily due to its proximity to the ongoing protests in the city. The renovation work was carried out by Hong Kong's Architectural Services Department, which is responsible for the design and construction of many of the territory's public facilities. Exhibition space has been increased
Studio Arthur Casas mix apartments, hotel and restaurants in "stately" Sao Paulo tower
by Stu Robarts | 03 Dec 2019
Studio Arthur Casas have designed a tower complex in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that combines apartments, a hotel and restaurants in a design described as "discreet, timeless and stately". Praça Henrique Monteiro will cover an area of 3,000sq m (32,300sq ft) with three street-facing elevations. This will allow the apartments, hotel and restaurants to operate independently, despite being part of the same development and sharing some elements. They will be connected
JCFO are building a park on top of San Francisco's Presidio Parkway tunnels
by Stu Robarts | 03 Dec 2019
Work has begun on a new James Corner Field Operations (JCFO) -designed park being built on top of the Presidio Parkway highway tunnels in San Francisco. The Presidio Tunnel Tops project will cost $118m (€106m, £91m) and was made possible when the section of highway, which previously divided the Presidio national park, was moved underground. Covering 14ac (7ha), the park will provide a mix of amenities and nature, with input
Chybik + Kristof create wine bar in restored and reimagined 19th-century brewery buildings
by Stu Robarts | 02 Dec 2019
Chybik + Kristof have created a wine bar and tasting room in a converted 19th-century brewery and its adjacent 1970s technical space by employing two distinct approaches to renovation. House of Wine is located in Znojmo, Czech Republic, and comprises the two spaces with very different heritages. The original brewery building has been treated as a heritage site, with its fabric restored and preserved, but little in the way of
maison h unveil design for Beijing 2022's Winter Olympics Museum
by Stu Robarts | 02 Dec 2019
maison h have unveiled designs for a Winter Olympics Museum to be built in the mountains north of Beijing in Chongli, China, that is aimed at building on the legacy of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and will form part of the 2022 Winter Olympics development. The museum is part of a broader project to revitalize the city centre by improving the quality of public space and connecting and adding
Liverpool FC reveals plans to increase Anfield capacity to over 61,000
by Tom Walker | 02 Dec 2019
Liverpool Football Club (LFC) has revealed plans to increase the capacity of Anfield to over 61,000, with the increase in capacity of the stadium's Anfield Road Stand by over 7,000. The plans would make Anfield the third largest stadium in the English Premier League, behind Manchester United's Old Trafford and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In addition to extra seating, new sports bars and lounge hospitality areas would be included in
Museum at Emre Arolat Architecture-designed archaeological hotel set to open
by Stu Robarts | 02 Dec 2019
The public museum at The Museum Hotel Antakya, which was designed by Emre Arolat Architecture (EAA) to be built over an archaeological site spanning 23 centuries of history, is due to open in Turkey. Having originally planned to build a 400-room hotel on their land, the Asfuroğlu family behind the development had to rethink their approach when foundation work in 2009 uncovered findings that led to a one-and-a-half year, 200-person
Kengo Kuma-designed New National Stadium completed in Tokyo
by Stu Robarts | 29 Nov 2019
Construction of Japan's New National Stadium, which was designed by Kengo Kuma and will be the centrepiece of next year's Olympic Games, has been completed. The stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games, as well as sporting events for their duration. Covering an area of 72,400sq m (780,000sq ft), it has a capacity of around 60,000, with the potential for that to be increased to around
Studio Piet Boon designs revealed for Rosewood Residences at Half Moon Bay Antigua
by Stu Robarts | 29 Nov 2019
Rosewood have provided the first look at their residences at the Half Moon Bay resort in Antigua, designed by Studio Piet Boon. The studio was announced as the designer for the Half Moon Bay hotel and residential community last October, along with Florida-based firm OBMI. The Rosewood Residences at Half Moon Bay range from 2,500sq ft to 11,000sq ft (232sq m to 1,022sq m), two to five bedrooms and $4m
ACME's amphitheatre-style wooden pavilion to become new social hub
by Stu Robarts | 29 Nov 2019
ACME's amphitheatre-style pavilion that is intended to become a new social hub and meeting place has topped out in Stratford, East London. The Pavilion – both its descriptor and working title – is being built for the developing International Quarter London (IQL), a new business district on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which hosted much of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Covering an area of 10,000sq
Chedi Club Ubud rebrands to celebrate acclaimed Indonesian architect, Hendra Hadiprana
by Megan Whitby | 29 Nov 2019
The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah Ubud resort, Bali, is undergoing a change of management and a rebrand, with the handover scheduled for 1 January 2020. Owned by Singapore-based General Hotel Management (GHM), the 20-villa-property will be taken over by hotel management group, Hadiprana, and rebranded as Tanah Gajah, a resort by Hadiprana. The group is named after the late Hendra Hadiprana, the acclaimed Indonesian architect, art-collector and designer, who designed
Alberto Apostoli is creating a spa inspired by icebergs and the Northern Lights
by Jane Kitchen | 28 Nov 2019
Alberto Apostoli is designing a new four-level spa for the Formentin Hotel that is inspired by the Aurora Borealis and the icebergs of the Northern seas. A historic thermal hotel built in 1911, the Formentin Hotel is located in the centre of Abano Terme, an ancient thermal area located between Verona and Venice. The 840sq m (9,042sq ft) spa will include a swimming pool on the ground floor, a thermal
Studio One Eleven make adaptive reuse of industrial buildings for mixed-use campus
by Stu Robarts | 28 Nov 2019
Studio One Eleven are repurposing three former factory buildings in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles to create a new 1.8ac (0.7ha) mixed-use campus that will reanimate a derelict site and recall its heritage. The industrial typology of the local area sees the design for 2110 Bay Street making adaptive reuse of the three structures with the final result to be a mix of old and new. The frame
Emaar unveil plan for new lifestyle and community-focussed Dubai town
by Stu Robarts | 28 Nov 2019
Emaar have unveiled the masterplan for a new self-contained town in Dubai called the Valley, focussed on providing a balanced lifestyle for residents, a strong sense of community and family-friendly living. Once complete, the AED 25 billion ($7b, €6b, £5b) project will cover 200ha (494ac) and have over 4,500 homes. Set in green landscaping, it will mix its residential offer with open spaces, as well as retail, entertainment, recreational, educational
Hufft create industrial fitness centre with refined design touches
by Stu Robarts | 28 Nov 2019
Hufft have created a community fitness centre in Humboldt, Kansas, that reflects the US city's industrial roots through a bold design and considered, high-quality materials. The 10,000sq ft (930sq m) facility was originally conceived as an amenity for the workforce of a local business, but the concept was ultimately developed to cater for the whole community. The centre is, in many ways, unremarkable, but stands out for a number of
company profile
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
features
cladkit product news
The Canteen collection was inspired by post-war British design techniques
Very Good & Proper (VG&P), a British furniture brand, has curated a new dining collection that combines traditional woodworking techniques
...
Gate of Bright Lights was designed to show visitors how screens and digital interfaces have replaced physical objects the gateway between us and the rest of the world.
Multidisciplinary design firm Space Popular has created a video installation for the Gwangmyeongmun Gate at the Deoksugung Palace in Seoul,
...
cladkit product news
The Rock collection is made with green marble and was inspired by Tom Dixon's travels to India
British designer studio, Tom Dixon Studio has launched a new collection of marble sculptures inspired by his frequent trips to
...
Arlon's architectural range is aimed at interior designers looking for innovative and affordable renovation solutions
Arlon Graphics, a plastic and vinyl manufacturer based in The Netherlands, has launched a range of architectural graphic vinyl films
...
cladkit product news
The MEW Coffee Table is described as an investigation into the relationship between surface and structure
Zaha Hadid Design has partnered with Italian furniture design firm Sawaya & Moroni to create the Mew Coffee Table. The
...
The Corrugation Lights were inspired by midcentury and post-war furniture making techniques
London-based designers Tino Seubert and Theodora Alfredsdottir have teamed up to create Corrugation Lights, a lighting collection inspired by midcentury
...
