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MAAN (modern
Asian Architecture Network) is a network of architectural researchers
and specialists "committed to study, preserve and rehabilitate the
modern architecture, townscape, and civil engineering heritages
in Asia.
NUS hosted the 2nd mAAN conference on 4-6 September 2002. SIP was
one of the sponsoring organisations. The keynote speakers were Datuk
Lim Chong Keat, Prominent Architect & Designer, Malaysia & Singapore
and Gold Medalist for PAM Architectural Design, Malaysia and Professor
Kojin Karatani, Professor, Kinki University, Japan and Visiting
Professor, Columbia University, New York, USA.
SIP sponsored the 2nd mAAN conference which was attended by SIP
representatives, SIP President Mr Tan Shee Tiong, Mr William Lau
and Ms Shu Charng Yen.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of State, National Development
gave a speech which he shared his understanding of what entails
modern architecture, then elaborated on the evolution of modern
architecture in Singapore with examples as the Tiong Bahru SIT flats,
Singapore Conference Hall and HDB housing. He also announced 3 examples
of modern architecture being identified for conservation by the
newly set-up Conservation Advisory Panel, namely, Former Singapore
Armed Forces NCO Club, Former Beach Road Police Station and Blocks
1 & 14 at the former Beach Road Camp. He also highlighted that the
modern architecture represented the symbols of growth in Singapore
as a young nation and forms part of a collective consciousness of
the nation.
There were 32 papers presented, ranging from a western perspective
into detailed studies on architecture by countries, such as Turkey,
India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, to Korea and Mongolia.
Some of the papers discussed conservation heritage of the built
form found in different Asian countries.
The author's own perception of modern architecture, coloured by
her own professional training in US was thrown off-guard as she
expected discussions of what constitutes modern Asian Architecture
and critiques of real-life examples of modern Asia architecture
along the lines of modernistic and seminal work in steel and concrete
of Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, and Mies van de Rohe. The
closest to her expectations was the presentation by Robert Tang
on Renaissance II: The Way to Future Civilisation where Tang expounded
"the way various civilisations could achieve a distinct identity
and harmonious development by incorporating the best that tradition,
technology and nature can offer".
In essence, it can then be construed that in Asian countries which
obtained independence from the colonial government only last century,
its "modern" architecture reflected influences of western and vernacular
architecture and adaptation of western architecture into the local
climate. The result is a "colonial architecture" which showed slight
differences between countries, as in the Anglo-Indian Palladian
bungalow found in countries formerly ruled by the British. Or colonial
architecture as in the French-Vietnamese architecture in Vietnam,
the Dutch-inspired architecture in major Indonesian towns and the
different European architectural styles in different concession
areas in Shanghai and the German architecture in Qingdao. For countries
which were never under any colonial rule, its architecture borrowed
from its local culture and symbolism until the rapid urbanisation
warranted an embrace of modern technology and mass construction
in steel and concrete leading to a contrasting built form.
It is interesting to note that while the US and Europe were experimenting
with modern idioms even as early as the start of last Century, much
of Asia was still building "colonial architecture" or in the traditional
idiom. Singapore, for instance, was busy constructing its National
monuments and the ubiquitous shophouses and warehouses. For example,
Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House was completed 1909 at about the
same time the Shuang Lin Temple is being built. Similarly, MITA
building (former High Street Police Station) was completed in 1934,
before Fallingwater (1936-1939).
The notion of modern Asian architecture then actually comprise traditional
Asian buildings built by craftsmen, some with local decorative motifs
or plasterwork. Modern Asian architecture is still evolving and
given the test of time, we would be able to see a richer vocabulary
of built forms, each unique to each country and culture, yet distinctly
(from Western architecture) and collectively Asian modern Architecture.
This is the challenge architects, urban planners and public administrators
in Asia face in the face rapid globalisation to create a unique
architecture akin to their own country yet part of the larger modern
Asian architecture.
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