Date:
16 May – 30 June 2024

Venue:
Multiple venues across Marina Central district

Admission:
Free for all to enjoy

SOCIABLE SCAPE Exhibition

LASALLE College of the Arts’ School of Spatial & Product Design, in partnership with Marina Central district, presents Sociable Scape – A Student Placemaking Exhibition that brings innovative public furniture, inspired by the places, histories and cultures in Singapore, to the bayfront destination.

From 16 May to 30 June 2024, visitors to Marina Square, Millenia Walk, South Beach, Suntec City, and Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, will encounter eight delightful pieces of public furniture. These aren’t mere benches; they are invitations to linger, to breathe, and to savour moments of respite amidst the rhythm of urban life.

As part of an Industry & Community Engagement module, students from LASALLE College of the Arts’ School of Spatial & Product Design undertook a project to design innovative and functional pieces of outdoor furniture and products that prioritise human needs, comfort and well-being in urban planning. Eight selected designs were then professionally fabricated by DEESAWAT, SUPERFORM, Kenkoon Furniture, Hawaii Thai, DECAAR by SCG, PDMBRAND and CPAC.

As a culmination of this six-month project, eight pieces of public furniture will be on display at various locations at Marina Central district.

Click here to download a PDF version of the exhibition map.

 

① DIVE
Jasmine Koh Xiu Zhen

South Beach Avenue
Teak & Stainless Steel

Designed specially to be placed by the water features at South Beach, DIVE is a series of high stools that offer a witty response to urban spaces. Inspired by the leisurely steps of a swimming pool, DIVE invites urbanites to take a momentary plunge into relaxation. It is not simply a stool. It is about pausing, reflecting, and dipping one’s toes into the fountain of life’s simple joys.


② Logged
Koh Shu Peng

South Beach Avenue
Teak & Stainless Steel

Logged reimagines public seating to honour South Beach’s heritage as a British military camp. The sinuous forms pay homage to Jacob’s Ladder, a stair climber often seen at military obstacle courses. This design also symbolises the obstacles we may experience in our modern busy lives. However, as you encounter Logged at the Basement Plaza of South Beach, you will find a spot to take a seat and pause to appreciate the layers of history and culture that shape our city.


③ Explorer’s Landscape
Hagen Lim Yi Chong

Suntec City
Fiberglass with foam core & Fiber cement

Crafted from sustainable cement panels, the Explorer’s Landscape emerges as a testament to innovative design and community engagement. Its organic geometrical shapes allow for dynamic permutations, seamlessly integrating into any urban space. Form dances with function, as reflected in the hardy material that is juxtaposed against the expressive contours. The public seating invites people of all ages to interact playfully with it and engage in spontaneous conversations. These shared moments from the chance encounters with fellow urban explorers can promote delight, discovery, and urban vitality.


④ LOOOP
Jessica Olivia Pandjang

Suntec City
3D Printed Concrete

Capturing the tangled thoughts amid Singapore’s lively city, LOOOP provides a peaceful haven that elevates the visitor’s experience while enjoying the distinctive scenic view and breezy atmosphere of the city. The 3D concrete printing technique produces precise organic shapes, resulting in a visually captivating end product. Designed with the comfort of the user in mind, LOOOP adds an intriguing twist to our urban experience.


⑤ Project PERA
Luk Tsz Min

Millenia Walk
Fiberglass

Inspired by Peranakan tiles, Project PERA is more than just an outdoor seat, serving as a vibrant tribute to Singapore’s rich cultural heritage. As visitors stroll through Millenia Walk, they will be greeted by the lively hues and captivating patterns of the seating. By seamlessly blending traditional Peranakan motifs with contemporary aesthetics, Project PERA becomes a dynamic focal point, inviting individuals from all walks of life to come together and immerse themselves in the tapestry of Singaporean culture.


⑥ Baskets
Choo Khai Sin

Marina Square
Aluminium & Durawera

Baskets is grouped by two types of traditional woven baskets, a threshing basket for a rooftop and a deeper large basket for sitting. Woven baskets were used for drying salted fish in the past. The piece shows a nostalgia for the Nanyang style, looking back to Singapore’s history as a fishing village before its development into a modern city. The use of fish baskets is also a tribute to the hard work of our ancestors—from the humble beginnings of producing salted fish to a prosperous modern economy today.


⑦ Lenscape
Nur Batrisyia Binte Nazeer Ali

Marina Square
3D Printed Concrete

Lenscape is a communal phone stand designed to help people capture photos or videos of themselves. With multiple heights, Lenscape offers various options for phone placement, resulting in diverse outcomes. Additionally, multiple groups of people can use it simultaneously, fostering shared experiences and encouraging interaction among people. In a time when the boundary between the physical world and social technologies are increasingly blurred, Lenscape serves as a valuable tool for capturing and preserving memories.


⑧ INCLOO
Seraphine Lim Jia Yi

Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Recycled Polypropylene

In the heart of bustling cityscapes, where diverse lives intersect, INCLOO enlivens the story of shared humanity. The seating mat offers respite to the toil of working and welcomes all to ground ourselves, gather and connect. The resilient weave symbolises the threads that bind cultures and hearts in cosmopolitan Singapore. At the waterfront of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, the INCLOO mat unfolds, inviting laughter, shared meals, and quiet contemplation.