An appearance of frondescence

• Main Author: Sim, Natalie Tzyy Chyn
• Other Authors: Peter Chen Chia Mien
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Visual arts and music::Design
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158719
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

On 11th May 1967, the iconic “garden city” vision was introduced by Singapore’s then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. His revolutionary vision was for Singapore to become a verdant city. In 1998, a subtle change to this visionary phrase was made and it became “ city in a garden”. The goal was to now become a city that flourished amidst lush greenery, to not just integrate nature into our built urban environment, but also the daily lives of Singaporeans. Today, Singapore continues to sport lush greenery that weaves nicely into our streets, while being urbanised with buildings that integrate nature with biophilic architecture. The goal of trying to bring us all closer to nature and reintegrate it into our city and our lives is one that I stand alongside. Thus, a part of my project aims to see how this exposure to nature can also happen within the house in small moments. Looking around Singapore, with places like Jewel @ Changi and the Cloud Forest/Flower Dome at Marina Bay Sands, a rather utopian image of nature is created. However, as much as we enjoy these beautiful places, we often forget about its underlying artificiality. These “natural” places we’ve come to appreciate, like taking walks in the numerous parks, are still not as authentic as walking amongst the rainforests that have stood at the same spot long before civilization. Even so, there is nothing wrong in enjoying nature curated by humans for humans. Thus, the second part of this project seeks to highlight the paradox of trying to surround ourselves and our city with more nature, but to acknowledge it for what it is and celebrate its artificiality anyways.