top of page
Inspired by 1 gif.gif

Inspired by?

Musings by Kenneth Lyen

Singapore has a number of breathtaking architectural structures and I have often wondered what inspired the architects to generate such fascinating creations. Coincidentally this was the exact same question asked by my good friend, which got me writing this piece. To illustrate what I speculate is the source of inspiration, I have paired up the actual construction with what I think might be the origin of the fertilisation. Some of the pairings have been made by others some time ago. Some are probably a bit too far-fetched, in which case just ignore my poor sense of humour. The really funny pairings can be credited to my friend.

Although I would like to suggest that the picture paired with the building was the basis of the design creativity, in reality the nicknames given to these buildings were conferred only after they had been completed. Even the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay was not initially called the "Durian". It was thought to look like two loaves of bread, or the compound eyes of a fly. The general public kept on calling it the "durian", and so, in time, the name stuck. So therefore unusual buildings eventually get crowned by the public with a popular name that bonds, hopefully, in perpetuity.

Apple Marina Bay Sands gif.gif
Apple Marina Bay Sands Food Dome two blu
Marina Bay Sands Ship 4 gif.gif
Marina Bay Sands Skypark two crop.jpg
Helix Bridge one crop.jpg
Helix Bridge 1 gif.gif
Helix Bridge DNA 1 gif.gif
Art Science Museum Lotus Pomelo three cr
Louis Vuitton Noah Ark three crop.jpg
Gardens by the Bay Supertrees two crop.j
Gardens by the Bay Trees 1 gif.gif
Gardens by the Bay Cockles two crop.jpg
Cockles Bangkok.gif
Esplanade Theatres on the Bay Durian two
Durians 1 gif.gif
Durians 3 gif.gif
Reflections at Keppel Bay one crop.jpg
Reflections Sailing Ship 1 gif.gif
OCBC Calculator Bldg four crop.jpg
Supreme Court Spaceship crop.jpg
Supreme Court Bldg 4 Flying Saucer gif.g
NTU The Hive Beeshives Dim Sum three cro
Hives Bees 1 gif.gif
Dim Sum baskets 1 gif.gif
Golden Mile Beachfront Residences two cr
Grandstand 1 gif.gif
Interlace 1 gif.gif
Interlace Crane Stacking Containers two
Pickering Park Royal 22 Oct 2020 (10) a.
Kueh Lapis 4 crop.jpg
Pencil 4 gif.gif
Wheelock Place crop.jpg
Ferrell Residences Vertebrae two.jpg
Vertebral Spine 1 gif.gif
Tampines Water Towers two crop.jpg
Spinning Top 1 gif.gif
Wheelock Place Round Pyramid 31 Oct 2020
SIM Clementi Stainless Steel Steamer cro

Hope you enjoyed this piece!

Special thanks to Kim Li Chee, Dr Khor Tong Hong, Shaun Koo, Daniel Tan, and PW, Ludwig Tan, Winnie Woon for their suggestions and supplying some of the pictures.

 

Ken Lyen

19 September 2020, Updated 23 November 2020

Rainbow Ctr 30th Anniv 18 May 2017 (1) a
bottom of page