Buildings have a lifespan, much like all lifeforms—they are ‘born’, ‘live’, and eventually reach their end. What happens to buildings once they have ‘outlived’ their usefulness? What happens during recycling versus reusing of construction and demolition waste? And what are the implications? DEMOLITION AND VALUE Nikhil Mittal, an architect from Delhi, recently demolished his house […]
Read More… from Advocating an Informal Reuse of Waste and Circular Systems
In urban areas, is it better to clear land for new developments or add to what’s already there? While constructing on greenfield sites is associated with lower initial costs, it often results in the loss of green spaces and endanger biodiversity in cities. In contrast, densifying urban centres can support a better quality of life […]
Read More… from Infill with impact: Architectural additions that enrich urban spaces
For the past year in 2023, I have been a regular at City Sprouts, a community farm in the heart of Singapore. Every Thursday at 9am, I along with five other volunteers am guided by our dedicated volunteer coordinator on a three-hour journey through the farm. The tasks vary each week, depending on the farm’s […]
Shaping a more sustainable built environment is a process that takes place over many years. As architects and designers—which make up FuturArc‘s contributors, interviewees and collaborators—we understand the importance of time in realising projects, as well as the importance of taking a pause to learn from what we have created. Looking back at the myriad […]
Read More… from A look back at FuturArc’s stories and happenings in 2023
As an extension of her immersive involvement with the Rebuilding Pavilion at the International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress of Architects, Copenhagen (see report in Happenings section), Bhawna Jaimini spoke to three architects from different parts of the world to present practical examples in an attempt to map a discourse on adaptive reuse to […]
HUMANS’ RESPONSIBILITY AS STEWARDS The relationship between humans and animals is complex and multifaceted. When it comes to designing shelters for animals, our minds often conjure images of professional architects and engineers devising innovative and functional structures for zoos, wildlife parks or conservation centres. Animals are generally only cared for if they are of any […]
Read More… from Designing for Non-humans as an Act of Service
The act of providing shelter to birds is one such instance where religion and tradition play a role in developing human-animal relationships. Such initiatives have been ingrained in various societies for centuries, showcasing the enduring relationship between humans and birds. Communities worldwide, particularly in South Asia and the Middle East, have embraced the idea of […]
My own childhood, growing up in Hardoi, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, has exposed me to Nature and its brilliant beings. We played in mango orchards full of monkeys and among the chirping of birds. Every evening, cows, dogs and cats visited our door and my mother gave them wheat chapatis. The most vivid […]
Singapore, especially post-independence, has transformed its landscape of sprawling farmlands into an urban cityscape. About 80 per cent of the population lives in public housing, where each unit can only legally own one dog of an approved breed. This suggests that the ratio of animal to human interaction or familiarity amongst the majority of the […]
Read More… from Proposal for An Urban Wildlife ‘Edu-sanctuary’
Human lifespans are increasing around the world. According to WorldData.info, the average life expectancy worldwide rose from around 50.7 years for men and 54.6 for women in 1960 to 68.9 for men and 73.9 for women in 2021.1 Currently, this trend of aging populations is observed most significantly in developed regions—with Hong Kong, Japan and […]
Among the acute health risks associated with old age is dementia, an umbrella term for diseases that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform daily activities. One in 10 people over the age of 60 in Singapore live with dementia and the number is expected to increase with the aging population. Ong Ker-Shing, […]
Read More… from A toolkit for persons with dementia and caregivers: Hack Care
Did you know that many of the oldest living organisms on Earth are trees? In fact, the Methuselah Tree, a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine, was thought to be the oldest living tree in the world. What does an ancient living species have to do with today’s city landscapes? For one, Earth’s biosphere and ecology will […]
Read More… from Climate Feature: Cultivating the Right Tree in the Right Place
