of architects...

Condolences to the family & friends of Kenzo Tange, one of a very short list of truly great post-war designers. Looking through his (and his associates') body-of-works, I was surprised to find that not only was he responsible for Singapore's characteristic skyline...


(source: http://www.ktaweb.com/works/image/uob/uob01.jpg)

...(minus The Monstrous Durian Esplanade), other works include the Nanyang Technological Institute, UE Square and the Singapore Indoor Staidum. Looks like 1984-ville could be nicknamed Tange-san-ville too!

Probing deeper, I suspect the intimate link between Tange-san and 1984-ville could be traced to a more personal tie between him and another architect of sorts, although many would dispute my calling the latter that. In this age where it's almost hip to spout anti-establishment slogans, LKY still deserves his reputation as the architect of post-colonial 1984-ville. Think about it, he brought in Tange-san during the 1970s and flipping through the papers today, it looks like Singapore's landscape would be changing on a large scale again with the damming of the Marina Basin, which was his idea.


(source: http://www.ps21.gov.sg/challenge/2004_12/hot/hot.html)

There is recommendation from the man that the Jurong West area would be modified, too (info source: The Straits Times, 23 March 2005 headline article). Not many know that the 10-year clean-up of the Singapore River was ordered by LKY.

Sometimes I wonder how much of post-colonial Singapore is the vision of one man.

1984-ville indeed...*shudder*...