Saturday, March 29, 2008

MICA Building

The MICA Building is one of my favourite buildings in Singapore. Though it has been refurbished it retains the spirit of uprightness, uniformity and solidity that makes it outstanding next to the faceless glass and concrete buildings around it.






I just love the colourful windows, an idea that saved the building from looking like a white-washed jail.

It is no wonder then that it was a former police station.




Now it is the Ministry Information, Communications and the Arts within which are many art galleries and a cafe where you and sit and chat with a long-lost friend and get to know her the way you never knew her when she was sitting in your class breathing the same air and listening to the same teachers for so many months in a year.






Monday, March 17, 2008

Changi Airport - Terminal 3

The size, the space, the clean-cut lines engaged my senses as I explored the layers of the new Terminal 3 of Changi Airport.

Chairs that are like pieces of artwork.
These spices are decorative items in the food court in basement 1. Sophisticated system high above that lets in the right amount of light by controlling the movable panels below the skylights.
Like a spaceship ready to take off. I half expect to see characters from Star Wars moving around.
Even the floor shines like a mirror.
Decipher the code?
Garbage reception that promotes kindness to the earth.
The viewing gallery, a great way for retirees to be entertained in the future.
Ice-cream at Swenson's if you fancy.
A jungle encased in concrete.
These hi-tech panels again!
I am reminded of nurseries in delivery wards in hospitals.
Looks like you are being watched everywhere.
The blue colour - so cold and mysterious.
My favourite part of the Terminal.
Two huge marble sculptures titled 'Floral Inspiration' by well-known local sculpturess Han Sai Por. This is the first time that I have seen and touched her masterpieces.
Looks like a mini-replica of the Evolution Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This area is out-of-bounds to visitors like us.
You might think that 40 thieves could have hidden in these pillars.
Pretty water feature.