Browsing: Spotlight

Event: Big Swings (2025)Date & Time: November 12, 2025 | 6:00–8:00 PMLocation: Akerman LLP, 1251 6th Ave, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10020 Singapore is celebrated for achieving high livability despite extreme density. The URA functions as city planner, public land sales agent, and conservation authority, integrating economic vitality, design excellence, and resilience into urban development. At this event, Siew-Leng Fun will discuss: Singapore’s urban design achievements Long-term planning strategies Approaches to balancing density, public space, and livability Audience & Accessibility:Open to Urban Design Forum Fellows, Global Circle members, and invited guests. The venue is ADA-accessible with microphones and speakers…

Historically, architecture functioned as cultural prophecy, shaping lifestyles and social organization through visionary projects. From the Bauhaus to Archigram’s pneumatic cities and Arcosanti, architects created built forms that embodied radical ideas for living. Manifestos and publications circulated quickly, empowering architects to act as cultural vanguards with coherent support from state or institutional patrons. Cities like Brasília and Chandigarh exemplified this top-down cultural creation. Today, the landscape has shifted. Power is fragmented, investments demand predictable returns, and culture increasingly emerges through digital platforms. Contemporary architecture focuses on data-driven, critical, and policy-oriented approaches, addressing climate, housing, and urban challenges rather than utopian…