Everyday Infrastructure
ArCH Square
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ArCH Square rethinks the archaeology centre as an exploratory environment shaped by everyday acts of observation, storage, and discovery. Drawing inspiration from the dense artefact arrangements of micro-museums such as Sir John Soane’s Museum, as well as the idea of the storehouse as gallery exemplified by the V&A East Storehouse, the project reconceives exhibition as an act of uncovering. Artefacts are not simply displayed but revealed through layers, reflecting the process of archaeology itself. The design also draws from the idea of the umarell, a familiar everyday figure who pauses to watch an excavation unfold. This quiet and informal act of observation becomes a central spatial driver for the project. Located within a conserved shophouse at 125 Jalan Sultan, ArCH Square is organised as a series of curated rooms, each functioning as a contemporary cabinet of curiosities. At street level, window shelves blur the boundary between the five-foot way and the gallery, inviting passers-by to peer inside and linger. As visitors enter, they are immediately immersed in an exhibition space where workshop, gallery, and storage overlap, and are encouraged to explore the space in a non-hierarchical manner. The workshop itself is conceived as an exhibit, allowing learning and making to be observed as part of the archaeological narrative. |
At the heart of the space are dynamic cabinets of curiosities, complemented by swivel mesh and polycarbonate panels that line the walls, wrap existing columns, and pivot to reframe views. Cabinets can open and close, converting storage into part of the visitor experience. The spatial configuration continuously shifts, moving from an open field to more intimate pockets for pause, observation, and interaction. These changing orientations alter sightlines, scale, and proximity, encouraging visitors to stop, watch, and engage at different moments.
Through this choreography of movement, storage, and display, ArCH Square becomes a fluid environment where discovery is gradual, participatory, and constantly evolving, supporting not just the viewing of artefacts but the act of watching knowledge unfold.
Year 2025 Client Heritage SG, NHB Collaborators Atelier IF, H.A.M. Creations Area 440 sqm Status Completed
Through this choreography of movement, storage, and display, ArCH Square becomes a fluid environment where discovery is gradual, participatory, and constantly evolving, supporting not just the viewing of artefacts but the act of watching knowledge unfold.
Year 2025 Client Heritage SG, NHB Collaborators Atelier IF, H.A.M. Creations Area 440 sqm Status Completed
