Do Not Design was commissioned to create a multifaceted guidebook to Singapore’s local scene, spotlighting our rich culture and heritage alongside a series of need-to-knows and food recommendations. In simple terms: An expat’s guide to the sunny city.

What does this trapped object on the cover page represent? Is this intentionally not aligned and flattened? Why is there a mix of scribbles and printed text throughout the book? What do the blanked-out grades on report cards represent? Why is text printed outside the margins in an exercise book?

The result is a collage of both the physical and the sensory coming together to inform something about a spirit of intersecting times. In its most celebrative tone, the images and anecdotes in this book recognize what we have. Yet, this is not meant as an evasion of criticality. Instead, we encourage readers to take an unprejudiced look at this city we call Singapore, before searching for their own meaning of place. We see this publication as a tribute, as well as a reminder of the choices we make to strengthen our national identity. 

The publication features fourty buildings in a diversity of styles that were built in different decades — shopping malls, offices, instituitional spaces, public housing and private residential developments. Theses featured buildings sit alongside two republished essays — by veteran architects, William Lim and Alfred Wong, respectively — and eight new interviews with architects and an architecture photographer based on their works in Singapore. Lastly, anecdotes on the ground from residents, tenants, shopkeepers and security officers have been inserted throughout the pages of the publication to complete this collective gathering of voices. This project is supported and partially funded by the iRememberSG Fund of the Singapore Memory Project.

The result is a collage of both the physical and the sensory coming together to inform something about a spirit of intersecting times. In its most celebrative tone, the images and anecdotes in this book recognize what we have. Yet, this is not meant as an evasion of criticality. Instead, we encourage readers to take an unprejudiced look at this city we call Singapore, before searching for their own meaning of place. We see this publication as a tribute, as well as a reminder of the choices we make to strengthen our national identity. 

The publication features fourty buildings in a diversity of styles that were built in different decades — shopping malls, offices, instituitional spaces, public housing and private residential developments. Theses featured buildings sit alongside two republished essays — by veteran architects, William Lim and Alfred Wong, respectively — and eight new interviews with architects and an architecture photographer based on their works in Singapore. Lastly, anecdotes on the ground from residents, tenants, shopkeepers and security officers have been inserted throughout the pages of the publication to complete this collective gathering of voices. This project is supported and partially funded by the iRememberSG Fund of the Singapore Memory Project.

Instead of having chapter dividers that are repetitive and often too easy to ignore, readers are forced to notice various forms of ephemeral such as collected postcards, HDB eviction notices, vintage maps and memorabilia related to each estate sandwiched within the book. These inserts serve as chapter dividers as well as a brief write up of each of its history encouraging readers to explore and read on.

Instead of having chapter dividers that are repetitive and often too easy to ignore, readers are forced to notice various forms of ephemeral such as collected postcards, HDB eviction notices, vintage maps and memorabilia related to each estate sandwiched within the book. These inserts serve as chapter dividers as well as a brief write up of each of its history encouraging readers to explore and read on.