Interpreting Spaces - Reflective Writing

This week, we were asked to think about a place we knew well and reflect on its

• Authenticity

• Local distinctiveness

• Layers of history

• Character and individuality

The place I chose was the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Singapore, or simply “The Esplanade” for short, is one of Singapore’s centers for performing arts. Opened in 2002, the building is only 19 years old.

Initially, 2 design firms collaborated on the design of the building: DP Architects (DPA) of Singapore and London-based Michael Wilford & Partners (MWP), but the latter left the project in 1995. Constructed with over 7000 triangular aluminium plates forming spiky outer shells over elongated glass dome structures, the building’s appearance resembles an opened durian, a highly controversial fruit which is native to Southeast Asia, with an acquired taste (the smell of the fruit is pungent, potent and lingering, and has resulted in the fruit being banned on most mass public transit vehicles). The architects had not intended the building to look that way, initially planning to have the design comprise of just the glass dome structures, but realized that the aluminium cladding was essential for protecting the building and its interiors from the harsh sunlight and heat of the Singapore climate.

Despite its rather quirky aesthetic, though, the Esplanade has been extremely popular among Singaporeans, housing multiple performance venues, recital studios, artwork exhibition spaces, bars and cafes, and even a library devoted to the performing arts. In the relatively short time that the building has been opened, it has hosted many international acts: operas, musicals, and music and dance festivals, while also championing local talents. The Esplanade is now a unique and instantly-recognizable structure among the others that make up the iconic Singapore bayfront cityscape.