The award was presented by Singapore’s President, S.R. Nathan at the Istana, Singapore’s Presidential Grounds on November 19, 2009. Established in 2006, the award recognizes excellence across all design disciplines. Currently in its fourth year, it honors Singapore designers and exceptional designs that are innovative while improving the lives of Singaporeans and global communities.
Global design practice Arup was selected from an international tender and Woha subsequently joined the Arup team as the interior design architect. Both firms were awarded based on its creativity, originality of design, design strategy, true functionality, aesthetic sensibility, emotional appeal, benefit to humanity, sustainability, national significance and iconic value to Singapore.
The jury citation states, “The design of the Genexis Theatre rises to the challenge of an extremely difficult site, and succeeds through a wonderfully cohesive amalgamation of highly technical solutions and innovative design. The result is a composite work of art and technology that transcends the site. This project raises the bar for architectural and audio-visual system design for a performing arts venue.”
The theater’s unique features include 560 adjustable seats that are retractable to create a thrust stage, and yet moveable multi-directionally. The use of 400,000 timber beads lining the internally curved walls of an ovoid space is an ingenious acoustic solution that simultaneously provides a richly textural curtain that works particularly well with the spherical space. The voluptuous curves that festoon the facade of the theater is only minimally muted by the timber material deployed, presenting a theatrical treatment quite at odds with the rest of Fusionopolis, yet strangely suitable for the occasion.
The jury particularly commended the strong integration of technical and sensory design delivered with flair in a challenging space, thereby giving meaning to ‘fusion’ in Fusionopolis.
Fusionopolis is a 120,000 square meter complex, designed by late Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa. Fusionopolis ‘fuses’ state of the art studios and business incubators with residential, recreational and retail facilities.
