the appeal of iconic office furniture ascendas

the
ascendas singbridge
ascent
magazine
n.04.15
the a scenda s-singbridge maga zine
best single issue
(top 25 issues)
no. 5
2014 taBBIe aWaRDs
n.04.15
14
16
the appeal of
iconic office
furniture
22
what’s next?
looking beyond
sg50
onehub saigon:
new integrated
business park
in vietnam
FO RE WO RD This has been an exciting period for AscendasSingbridge. In August, we celebrated our new chapter as
Ascendas-Singbridge with our valued partners and customers
in Singapore, marking a momentous milestone, and this
celebratory journey continues.
In a move to diversify geographically, Ascendas Real Estate
Investment trust (A-REIT) announced the acquisition of a logistics
portfolio in Australia, encompassing 26 prime logistic properties.
With this $1 billion portfolio, A-REIT is now the 8th largest
industrial landlord Down Under.
In neighbouring Malaysia, we achieved
new milestones including a rst
Japanese partnership for industrial
parks in Iskandar Malaysia – collaborating with Mitsui & Co to
offer Build-to-Suit properties for lease in Nusajaya Tech Park. In
Vietnam, we celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony of OneHub
Saigon, a 12-ha integrated business park in Ho Chi Minh City.
In this issue of ASCENT, we complete our SG50 series and
feature companies that are continuing to invest in Singapore.
We also talk about how Sino-Singapore Jilin Food Zone, an
agricultural collaboration between Singapore and China, is
helping to meet our growing needs for alternative food sources.
Amidst the bustling R&D and technology hubs of one-north and
Singapore Science Park, we explore a variety of dining options
for every taste and budget in this issue. As companies move
away from their conventional desktop set-ups, we share with
you the latest trends in corporate workspace furniture and
how these can be sustainable solutions in the long run.
We hope you will enjoy this issue of ASCENT. As the year
gradually draws to an end, on behalf of all of us at AscendasSingbridge, we wish you a joyous Christmas and Happy New Year!
Manohar Khiatani
President & Group Chief Executive Officer, Ascendas
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, Ascendas-Singbridge
THE
ASCENDAS SINGBRIDGE
ASCENT
MAGAZINE
N.04.15
BEST SINGLE ISSUE
(TOP 25 ISSUES)
NO. 5
2014 TABBIE AWARDS
14
16
ONEHUB SAIGON:
NEW INTEGRATED
BUSINESS PARK
IN VIETNAM
THE APPEAL OF
ICONIC OFFICE
FURNITURE
22
WHAT’S NEXT?
LOOKING BEYOND
SG50
COVER
STYLISH CHIC
OFFICE FURNITURE:
EAMES WIRE CHAIR,
MEDICI CHAIR, AND
NELSON SWAG LEG
DESK BY HERMAN
MILLER
O C T/ N OV/ D EC CO NTE NT S 04 THE HOTLIST Lifestyle news.
06 ASCENDAS-SINGBRIDGE NEWS Key global and local highlights.
10 FEATURE Celebrating the successful merger of Ascendas and Singbridge.
14 FEATURE OneHub Saigon’s groundbreaking ceremony. 16 DESIGN Iconic
office furniture brands that continue to appeal. 22 PERSPECTIVE Find out
what various companies that continue to invest in Singapore are planning to
do beyond SG50. 26 MONEY ETFs offer low costs and real-time pricing.
28 FOOD Superb dining options around Singapore Science Park and one-north.
34 FEATURE Ascendas GIVES Foundation gets busy with programmes for the
Arts, Community and Environment. 36 @ASCENDAS-SINGBRIDGE Events
at our local and overseas offices. 40 SPACE Club Insignia at The Oasis.
28
16
THE
ASCENDAS SINGBRIDGE
22
ASCENT
MAGAZINE
N.04.15
PUBLISHER
PUBLISHING AGENT
Ascendas Pte Ltd
SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
Crystal Seah
Caroline Ngui
Dennis Pua
Joanna Lee-Miller
Christopher Chan
Senior Vice-President & Head
Group Communications
Lena Han
Senior Manager
Group Communications
Joyce Wee
Manager
Group Communications
Group Editor-in-Chief
Group Editor
Editorial & Creative
Dora Tay
Managing Director
General Manager
Sales & Client Management
Kaz Lim
Senior Editor
Associate Account Director
Amy Van
Stanley Gan
Editor
Mary Lim
Contributing Sub-Editor
Jayson Ong
Associate Creative Director
Stephanie Teo
Art Director
Huy Pham
Graphic Designer
stangan@sph.com.sg
Senior Account Manager
Neo Pei Shi
Senior Executive,
Client Management
Publishing Services
Alice Chee
Team Head
ASCENT is published by SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
(Registration No: 196900476M) for Ascendas Pte
Ltd (Registration No: 200010635R). Copyright
of the materials contained in this magazine
belongs to SPH Magazines Pte Ltd and Ascendas
Pte Ltd. Nothing in here shall be reproduced in
whole or in part in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise without prior written consent of SPH
Magazines Pte Ltd and Ascendas Pte Ltd. Views
expressed in this magazine are not necessarily
those of SPH Magazines Pte Ltd nor Ascendas Pte
Ltd and no liabilities shall be attached thereto.
All rights reserved. Editorial enquiries should
be directed to e-mail: ascendas@ascendas.com.
While every reasonable care will be taken by
the Editor, no responsibility is assumed for the
return of unsolicited material. All information
correct at time of printing. MCI (P) 023/05/2014.
Printed in Singapore by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd
(Registration No: 197801823M). For advertising
enquiries, please e-mail jrani@sph.com.sg.
04
THE
HOTLIST
Camp Out
Organise In Style
Wall Accent
Do your vinyl records and books
need serious organising? Keep
them in order with Kate Koeppel’s
stylish typographic wood dividers.
Aside from alphabetical sets, there
are genre sets for vinyl records
and subject panels for books. The
laser-engraved dividers come in
multiple styles and sizes so you can
personalise your collections.
Created for KAZA Concrete
by Austrian-based designers
Patrycja Domanska and
Tanja Lightfoot, Edgy comes
in two types of tiles with a
hexagonal base. The 3D tiles
have asymmetrical surfaces
that look faceted, thanks
to the concave and convex
planes. The two-and-a-half
dimensional tiles have at
tops with angled sides.
These decorative cement
tiles turn every space into a
textured visual treat.
Vinyl record dividers start at US$33, while
book dividers start at US$44. Available at
shop.katekoeppel.com.
Available at www.kazaconcrete.
com.
The nifty Biolite NanoGrid
(above) offers a palmsized lighting and power
storage hub. It includes the
PowerLight, which functions
as a torch, lantern, and
powerbank for your USBcharging gadgets. Need
more light? Plug in the two
SiteLights, which can be
daisy-chained as a hanging
lighting set-up. The entire
system weighs a little over
300 grams, and runs up to
22 hours when fully charged.
Available at www.biolitestove.com
for US$99.95.
Text Verlaine Ramos-Marquez
For All Ages
Breathe Easy
The Awair may look
inconspicuous – like a
hip, portable speaker –
but this smart device
actually works hard to
monitor temperature,
humidity, carbon dioxide,
dust particles and
toxic chemicals in the
air around you. These
readings are transferred
to an app that gives an
Awair score, letting you
know the overall quality
of air you’re breathing.
It’s quite helpful if you
suffer from allergies,
asthma or dry eyes, or
if you just want to sleep
more comfortably at
night. It can also connect
to other devices, such as
thermostats, humidiers,
fans and smart watches,
so they can work together
to provide clean, healthy
air in your home or office.
Available at www.getawair.com
for US$169.
When you’re in the Argentinian
capital, check out Fiii Fun House,
a cafe-restaurant where familes
are guaranteed an enjoyable time.
Designed by architect Iris Cantante,
this cleverly thought-out dining place
also includes a play area for kids
and a private events space. Aside
from typical table-and-chair set-ups,
there are swinging benches and long
communal tables under gabled-roof
structures for the adults. In the kids’
zone, hanging fabric sacks with cushion
inside are great for reading and hiding.
Migueletes 681, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel: +54 11 3220 1909
www.iifunhouse.com
Designer Lamp
If you’re a fan of famed
American architect Frank
Lloyd Wright, you can now
have a piece of Taliesin in
your own space. Japanese
company Yamagiwa was
given licence by the Frank
Lloyd Wright Foundation
to reproduce the Taliesin 4
lamp. Derived from Wright’s
pendant light design for
Wisconsin’s Taliesin Theater,
this geometric table lamp
allows indirect light from its
stacked cubes to reect off
thin directional boards. The
walnut and cherry versions
feature accents in red,
Wright’s favourite colour.
Available at www.yamagiwa.co.jp/
global.
06
ASCENDAS-SINGBRIDGE
NEWS
New CEO for
Guangzhou
Knowledge City
Singapore
AscendasSingbridge
Group
appoints
Mr Ng Kok
Siong as the
new Chief
Executive
Officer of
the SinoSingapore Guangzhou Knowledge
City (SSGKC), effective October 15.
This leadership change is part of
the ongoing succession planning
to ensure continual and seamless
leadership as SSGKC projects
develop and reach completion.
With over 20 years of real
estate experience in investment,
development, asset management
and real estate consultancy in
the Asia-Pacic region, Mr Ng is
expected to steer the next stages
of SSGKC’s development and
growth.
To date, SSGKC has made
signicant progress, including
the near-completion of the rst
phase of Ascendas OneHub,
and the commencement of
construction for China’s State
Intellectual Property Office’s
Guangdong Patent Examination
and Cooperation Centre, and Sun
Yat-Sen University Cancer Center.
Fiscal results for 1Q
FY2015/2016
Singapore Well-diversied and
resilient portfolios as well as
strong investments continue
to boost the performance of
Ascendas-Singbridge’s listed
trusts for the rst quarter
of scal year 2015/2016 (1Q
FY2015/16), which ended on
June 30, 2015.
Ascendas Real Estate
Investment trust (A-REIT)
reported a 5.6 per cent yearon-year (y-o-y) increase in
its total amount available for
distribution to S$92.5 million. Its
new acquisitions, Aperia (below),
Hyux Innovation Centre and The
Kendall, contributed to A-REIT’s
strong performance for 1Q
FY2015/16. Portfolio occupancy
also improved to 88.8 per cent
from 87.7 per cent a quarter ago,
and positive rental reversions on
lease renewals averaged 6.6 per
cent for the portfolio.
With a high portfolio
occupancy of 97 per cent,
Ascendas India Trust (a-iTrust)
continues to maintain its strong
momentum. a-iTrust’s revenue
for 1Q FY2015/16 grew by 6 per
cent to INR 1.6 billion (rupees),
while net property income
increased by 15 per cent to INR
1.0 billion. A 19 per cent growth
in income to be distributed (in
S$) was reported for this quarter,
mainly because of contributions
from newly-acquired CyberVale
in Chennai, positive rental
reversions in Chennai and
Bangalore, and interest income
from construction funding for
BlueRidge Phase II in Pune.
Ascendas Hospitality Trust
(A-HTRUST) posted a gross
revenue of S$52.8m million for
1Q FY2015/16, a decline of 2.7
per cent y-o-y, while net property
income was relatively stable at
Text Verlaine Ramos-Marquez
A-REIT’s maiden
acquisition of logistics
portfolio in Australia
S$21.4 million. The continued
weakening of the Australian
dollar and Japanese yen against
the Singapore dollar impacted
earnings in S$ despite the overall
improvement in the performance
of the portfolio. Nevertheless, the
Australia and Japan portfolios
showed strong growth in the local
currencies, especially Australia,
which posted net property
income growth of approximately
10 per cent y-o-y. A-HTRUST’s
income available for distribution
for 1Q FY2015/16 grew by 9.5 per
cent y-o-y to S$15.0 million, while
distribution per stapled security
was 1.28 cents, a growth of 3.2
per cent y-o-y.
Singapore A-REIT recently
announced the proposed
acquisition of a portfolio of
26 prime logistic properties
in key cities in Australia for
A$1,013.0 million. The proposed
acquisition will establish A-REIT
as the 8th largest industrial
landlord in Australia, and will
diversify geographically its
portfolio. This is in line with
A-REIT’s investment target for
overseas markets to account for
20-30 per cent of its portfolio.
The target portfolio
comprises a gross oor area of
approximately 630,946 sq m
across 26 properties located in
the industrial markets of Sydney,
Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
The current occupancy rate of
the target portfolio is 94.4%.
The acquisition of 10
properties within the portfolio
was completed on October
23, 2015. The completion of
the remaining 16 properties is
expected to occur in the fourth
quarter of 2015.
Mr Tan Ser Ping, Executive
Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Ascendas Funds
Management said, “We
are excited by this unique
opportunity to make a strategic
investment in Australia. This will
further enhance our customer
base with high-calibre endusers such as Mondelēz, Pacic
Brands, API, Nestlé, as well
as multinational third-party
logistics tenants such as CEVA
Logistics, DB Schenker and
Linfox.”
08
ASCENDAS-SINGBRIDGE
NEWS
Singapore Centre
opens at SinoSingapore Guangzhou
Knowledge City
China On July 29, Sino-Singapore
Guangzhou Knowledge City
(SSGKC) celebrated the official
opening of the Singapore Centre
@SSGKC. This centre is a strategic
platform for Singapore-based
companies to establish a foothold
in the China market. It brings
together key agencies in China
and Singapore to provide onestop service for Singapore-based
companies investing in China.
The event was graced by then
Singapore’s Minister for Transport
and Second Minister for Defence
Mr Lui Tuck Yew, who was also
the co-chairman of SingaporeGuangdong Collaboration Council.
Mr Chen Zhiying, Member of
Guangzhou Municipal Standing
Committee and Huangpu District
Party Secretary, and other key
officials were also present.
The Singapore Centre is located
within Ascendas OneHub GKC,
an integrated business park in
SSGKC. It will be managed by
Ascendas
India Trust fully
acquires aVance 3
leading business space solutions
provider Ascendas, with support
from IE Singapore, SSGKC
Administrative Committee, SinoSingapore Guangzhou Knowledge
City Investment and Development
Co., Ltd, and Action Community
for Entrepreneurship Ltd to
assist in investment consultancy,
government facilitation, business
matching, and streamline
company registration and set-up.
Companies can take advantage of
the high quality business spaces,
including plug-and-play facilities.
Mr Wong Wing Kien, CEO of
Ascendas China, commented,
“With Ascendas’ strong expertise
in Singapore and Asia as well as
our deep understanding of the
local market in China, we are
condent that we will be able
to work closely with all relevant
parties, and contribute to the
bilateral investment and industry
development between Singapore
and Guangdong.”
India Ascendas India Trust
(a-iTrust) completed the
acquisition of aVance 3, a multitenanted IT building in Hyderabad,
for INR 2.94 billion (S$63 million)
on July 30. Mr Sanjeev Dasgupta,
CEO, said, “aVance 3 is a highquality addition to our portfolio
and increases a-iTrust’s total oor
area to 8.8 million sq ft. Acquiring
aVance 3 deepens our presence in
Hyderabad, a key gateway city for
global companies looking to set
up off shore IT operations.”
Located in aVance Business
Hub, aVance 3 has a total oor
area of 682,900 sq ft. Among its
main tenants are multinational
companies such as United
Healthcare Group and ValueLabs.
As of July 30, its leasing
commitment reached 94 per cent.
It is the third building that a-iTrust
has acquired from Phoenix
Infocity Pvt Ltd. In February 2012,
a-iTrust acquired aVance 1 and 2,
totalling 427,700 sq ft.
Text Verlaine Ramos-Marquez
Mitsui-Nusajaya Tech Park
joint venture
Malaysia Japanese conglomerate
Mitsui & Co Ltd partners
Ascendas and UEM Sunrise to
jointly offer Build-to-Suit (BTS)
properties for lease in Nusajaya
Tech Park Sdn Bhd (NTPSB) in
Iskandar Malaysia. This marks
the rst Japanese partnership for
industrial parks in the area.
The joint venture will capitalise
on the collective strengths of
the three partners – Mitsui’s
extensive network in Japan and
strong know-how particularly in
industrial property development,
management and leasing,
Ascendas’ solid track record
in quality business space
development and management,
and UEM Sunrise’s in-depth local
market knowledge. The joint
venture will serve as a one-stop
solution for Japanese companies
and provide customised
solutions to their business
needs in Malaysia. Designed for
a wide range of light to medium
industries, Nusajaya Tech Park
offers an eco-friendly and worldclass business environment, with
integrated industrial, commercial
spaces, dormitories, amenities
and support facilities.
Nusajaya Tech Park will serve
as a gateway for Japanese
corporations to bring their
investments to Iskandar Malaysia,
and grow their presence in the
region. A total land area of 10.7
ha will be allocated for Built-to-
Suit (BTS) for lease within the
210 ha Nusajaya Tech Park at a
projected development value
of about S$167 million (RM468
million) over four years.
Mr William Tay, Chief Executive
of Ascendas Southeast Asia and
Director of NTPSB said, “Through
this new joint venture, our
customers will enjoy international
standards of business space
development and operations.”
Mr Reiji Fujita, General Manager
of Urban Development Division of
Mitsui, added, “Our collaboration
with Ascendas and UEM Sunrise
will cement our position as a
preferred partner for Japanese
companies seeking growth in this
part of the world.”
10
F E AT UR E
1
Mr Wong Kan
Seng, Chairman
of AscendasSingbridge,
welcomed guests
to the next chapter
of AscendasSingbridge.
2
From left: Mr
Manohar Khiatani,
Mr Tan Yew Chin,
CEO, Ascendas Land
(Singapore), and
guest.
3
From left: Ms Low
Sin Leng, Senior
Advisor, Sembcorp
Development,
Mr S Chandra
Das, AscendasSingbridge Board
of Director, Mrs
Nina Yang, Chief
Operating Officer,
Singbridge, and Mr
Miguel Ko, Group
CEO of AscendasSingbridge.
4
The AscendasSingbridge senior
leadership team
toasting to a
successful merger.
1
ASCENDAS AND SINGBRIDGE CELEBR ATE
A SUCCESSFUL MERGER.
THE NEXT
CHAPTER
2
Text Verlaine Ramos-Marquez
On August 13, more than 200 guests
celebrated the merger of Ascendas
and Singbridge at The Clifford Pier.
Chairman Mr Wong Kan Seng and the
senior leadership team graced this
momentous occasion.
Announced on June 10, the merger
of Ascendas, Asia’s leading business
space provider, and Singbridge, a
prominent name in large-scale integrated
sustainable developments, marks a new
milestone for the growth and progress
in the future of city planning and urban
development. The combined expertise,
3
4
12
F E AT UR E
5
6
5
Guests
arriving at The
Cliff ord Pier.
7
Mr Manohar
Khiatani (right) and
Mr Bala Nadarajah,
President, United
Technologies
International
Operations (SEA).
customer base, capital resources and
global connections of both companies will
deliver prime urban and business space
solutions across multiple industries and
geographies.
In his opening address, Mr Wong
expressed great enthusiasm for the future.
“The theme for tonight is The Next Chapter,
as it symbolises new beginnings for
Ascendas-Singbridge. The merger enables
Ascendas-Singbridge to play a role in this
new phase of urbanisation, which places
‘sustainability’ and ‘responsibility’ at the
forefront of this global phenomenon,”
he said. Mr Wong added that with the
combined capabilities of Ascendas and
Singbridge, the company will be able to
see through large-scale urbanisation
projects from end to end, leveraging track
records and synergies between the two.
“This merger is indeed a merger of
synergies and strengths,” echoed Mr
Miguel Ko, Group CEO of AscendasSingbridge, adding that he was honoured
to become a team member of this exciting
new group.
Mr Manohar Khiatani, Deputy Group
CEO of Ascendas-Singbridge and
President & Group CEO of Ascendas,
acknowledged the unwavering support
of the customers and partners. “I want
to take this opportunity to thank our
customers and partners, for the great
support that you have given us over all
these years. We would not be where
we are, and facing our future with such
great optimism, if not for your unstinting
support. I also want to assure you
that with the combined capabilities of
Ascendas-Singbridge, we will be an even
8
7
From left:
Mr Chua Thian
Poh, AscendasSingbridge Board of
Director,
Mr Chia Nam
Toon, Group CFO,
Chief Corporate
Officer, AscendasSingbridge, and
guests.
8
“The merger enables AscendasSingbridge to play a role in this new
phase of urbanisation, which places
‘sustainability’ and ‘responsibility’ at the
forefront of this global phenomenon.”
Mr Wong Kan Seng, Chairman, Ascendas-Singbridge
9
6, 9, 10
Guests were
treated to a wide
range of local
favourites during
the evening. The
delicious spread
included satay,
kueh pie tee,
chendol shooters
and pandan rolls.
stronger partner for all of you,” he said.
The partners conveyed their
congratulatory messages for the
successful merger. “United Technologies
is very proud to associate ourselves with
this multinational organisation,” said
Mr Bala Nadarajah, President, United
Technologies International Operations
(SEA). Added Ms Low Sin Leng, Senior
Advisor of Sembcorp Development, “The
merged company denitely will be able to
seize greater business opportunities.
I wish the company great success.”
Guests were treated to a sumptuous
culinary spread, featuring traditional
avours injected with an innovative
twist. Interactive and live food stations
showcased local favourites such as satay,
beef rendang, and chendol shooters.
Earth harpist William Close serenaded
guests by playing large-scale strings
stretched across Clifford Pier. He was
accompanied by a violinist as well as
kinetic and visual effects.
10
14
F E AT UR E
1
Shaping
Saigon’s
Future
Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam is
home to OneHub Saigon, a new
joint venture between Ascendas
and Saigon Bund Capital
Partners. Connected to a major
highway and new metro line,
this sprawling development,
will serve some of the biggest
names in technology and IT.
Ho Chi Minh City is set to be one of
Asia’s next great centres of technology,
with the development of a new
integrated business park. Named
OneHub Saigon, it is located at the
main entrance of Saigon Hi-Tech Park,
one of the most successful hi-tech
parks in Vietnam.
OneHub Saigon is a joint venture
between Ascendas (a member of the
Ascendas-Singbridge Group), Asia’s
leading business space solutions provider,
and Saigon Bund Capital Partners. Both
companies celebrated the groundbreaking
of OneHub Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City on
October 1. Among those who graced this
event were Mr Le Hoai Quoc, President of
Saigon Hi-Tech Park Management, and Ms
Leow Siu Lin, Consul-General, ConsulateGeneral of the Republic of Singapore in
Ho Chi Minh City.
The project will be developed in
three phases, with an estimated total
development cost of more than US$130
million (S$182million). The groundbreaking
kicked off the construction of Phase 1
of the integrated development project.
The estimated development cost for
Phase 1 is US$80 million, which is
2
Text Sasha Gonzales
expected to complete by 2018. Says Mr
Manohar Khiatani, President and Group
CEO, Ascendas: “The groundbreaking of
OneHub Saigon marks another major
milestone for Ascendas. This project
deepens our presence in Vietnam and
allows us to build a vibrant, integrated
business community that will facilitate the
growth of enterprises and industries in
Vietnam. OneHub Saigon will also further
strengthen our position as a preferred
partner for local and foreign companies
seeking expansion in Vietnam and
Southeast Asia.”
A PRIME DEVELOPMENT
Ideal for companies in the hi-tech and
supporting industries, IT, IT EnabledServices including Business Process
Outsourcing, back-room office, software
development, media, and R&D industries
as well as e-commerce and logistics
businesses, OneHub Saigon will be
supported by lifestyle amenities, retail
services, training and educational facilities,
Work-Office-Home-Office (WOHO) and
recreational areas. The development aims
to provide a seamless and dynamic worklive-play-learn environment for its tenants
and the surrounding community. With its
completion, OneHub Saigon will be a key
addition to the Saigon Hi-Tech Park and is
expected to generate more than 8,000 jobs.
OneHub Saigon is a 20-minute drive
from the city centre. With its proximity to
a major highway and direct connection
to a new metro line –�which is currently
under construction and set to open in
2018 – it is expected to be convenient to
get to.
Best of all, because OneHub Saigon
has been designed to meet international
Green Mark standards, the development
promises to be eco-friendly and promote
community sustainability.
AT TR AC TING ONLY THE BEST
Saigon Hi-Tech Park, one of the most
successful hi-tech parks in Vietnam,
has attracted capital investments
exceeding US$4.7 billion from almost
100 multinational companies. Key
tenants at the park include global
multinational corporations such as Air
Liquide, Datalogic, Intel, Nidec, Samsung,
Sano-Aventis, and leading Vietnamese
companies such as FPT, Hutech and
Nanogen.
Mr Vo Sy Nhan, Chairman of Ascendas
Saigon Bund Co., Ltd, pointed out:
“Leveraging Ascendas’ strong expertise
in the development and management
of business space in Asia, we believe
that OneHub Saigon will be well-placed
to serve the needs of Vietnam’s thriving
industries and business communities.”
5
1
The
groundbreaking
ceremony of
OneHub Saigon,
which will include
more than 12,000
sq m of quality
business park
spaces.
2
OneHub Saigon will
be developed in
three phases.
3
A bird’s-eye view
of OneHub Saigon,
a new integrated
business park.
4
Mr Manohar
Khiatani with
Mr Le Hoai Quoc,
President of Saigon
Hi-Tech Park
Management (left).
5
Mr Vo Sy Nhan
noted that the
development will
serve the needs
of Vietnam’s
businesses.
3
4
16
DESIGN
TA K E
YO U R
1
EVEN AS THE CONVENTIONAL
WORK ENVIRONMENT
EVOLVES IN RESPONSE TO
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS
AND CHANGING CULTUR AL
QUOTIENTS, THERE ARE FEW
THINGS THAT HAVE REMAINED
CONSTANT. WE FIND OUT WHY
ICONIC OFFICE FURNITURE
BR ANDS CONTINUE TO
APPEAL THROUGH SHIF TS IN
AT TITUDES AND WORKFORCE
DEMOGR APHICS.
Text Shweta Parida
1
The Tip Ton was
conceived as a
school chair by
British design
duo Edward
Barber and Jay
Osgerby for
Swiss furniture
manufacturer
Vitra.
Corporate workspace furniture has
undergone a sea change in recent
times, a trend that is consistent with
the developments in contemporary
work culture.
With work set-ups presenting new
challenges, furniture dynamics have also
been re-engineered to provide suitable
solutions. For example, ergonomic chairs
and standing workstations are resolutely
addressing health and lifestyle issues that
are a direct result of sedentary jobs. Amid
all these changes, if there’s one factor that
has remained unaffected is the popularity
of iconic furniture brands designed
especially for office environments.
From Herman Miller, Vitra and Knoll’s
classic office chairs to Eames and Le
Corbusier lounge chairs, the demand for
mid-century modern pieces continues
unabated. Their timeless appeal can be
attributed not only to the fact that they
were created in an era that is largely
considered to be the golden period
in the history of furniture production,
but also because of their high-quality
craftsmanship. For the legendary
designers behind these famous pieces,
function was as important as form. This
pertained not just to the contours, but
also applied to their choice of materials
especially in the seating items.
In the 1950s when mid-century
modern style really took off, most of the
designers who created these timeless
pieces were architects by training; they
included Charles Eames, Corbusier, and
Herman Miller’s erstwhile creative director
George Nelson. Their architect’s foresight
came into play while designing furniture.
Considered avant-garde even to this
day, husband and wife duo Charles and
18
DESIGN
In the 1950s, when mid-century modern
style really took off, most of the designers
who created these timeless pieces were
architects by training.
2
The Keypiece
Communication
Desk by
Walter Knoll
is a personal
workspace and
meeting room
table in one.
2
Ray Eames produced the Molded Plywood
Chairs that revolutionised the furniture
industry and continue to inspire and
inform today’s designers. Their seat-back
suspension has been recognised as one
of the major technical innovations, which
marked a departure from the solid shell
concept of chairs prevalent before this.
The Eames’ breglass and cast
aluminium mesh management chairs
became so popular that they’ve even
been featured on such pop culture
references as The Daily Show with Jon
Stewart. More recently, the hit TV series
Mad Men featured many mid-century
modern pieces such as the Eames
Executive Chair among others.
Herman Miller is a name synonymous
with high-quality task chairs that are
some of the most comfortable and
ergonomic designs in the market. As
one of the industry’s pioneers, the
company has continuously put in lots of
time and money into the research and
development of such chairs. One of the
industry’s bestselling products, the Aeron
chair, designed by Bill Stumpf and Don
Chadwick, was also commissioned by
Herman Miller. Most commonly found
in executive offices, it changed the
way office chairs were perceived, from
its revolutionary lines and advanced
ergonomics to the fact that it’s 94 per cent
recyclable. Unsurprisingly, the chair took
seven years to go from conceptualisation
to production.
While task chairs and workstations
continue to be the most prominent
furniture in both corporate set-ups
20
DESIGN
3
Herman Miller
created the
award-winning
Mirra2.
4
Steelcase is a
popular brand
in workplaces
as well as
healthcare and
educational
institutions.
5
The Tyde sitstand table by
Ronan & Erwan
Bouroullec
combines the
benets of
standing and
sitting.
3
WHAT’S
IN A
CHAIR?
A round-up of
some of the
most well-known
furniture brands.
HAWORTH
American
furniture maker
Haworth became
one of the biggest
players in the
industry after
its acquisition
of Italian rms
Cassina, Poltrona
Frau and
Cappellini. While
classics by Le
Corbusier are
much in demand,
the company’s
latest association
with present-day
designers such as
Patricia Urquiola,
Marcel Wanders
and Ronan and
Erwin Bouroullec
has infused
fresh energy into
the otherwise
traditional brand.
haworth.com
HERMAN MILLER
A global favourite
of industry
experts and office
workers alike,
the company is
best known for
its task chairs
by legendary
designers
Charles and Ray
Eames, as well
as contemporary
design rms
such as Studio
7.5. Its awardwinning collection
includes the
Eames Aluminium
Group Executive
and Management,
and the Aeron
and Mirra 2 chairs.
hermanmiller.com
KNOLL
Founded by
Walter and
Florence Knoll,
some of the
earliest followers
of the Bauhaus
movement, the
rm is known for
its ergonomic
task chairs and
collaborations
with famous
designers and
architects such
as Don Chadwick,
Rem Koolhaas
and David Adjaye
among others.
knoll.com
STEELCA SE
Started in 1912,
the Michiganbased American
company
began with a
strong, reproof
wastepaper
basket. The brand
is immensely
popular not just
in workplaces but
also healthcare
and educational
institutions.
steelcase.com
VITR A
As one of the
most progressive
furniture makers,
Vitra continuously
creates
inspirational work
environments. Its
collaborations
with legendary
designers such
as Charles and
Ray Eames and
George Nelson
as well as
contemporary
names like
Antonio Citterio
and Werner
Aisslinger have
resulted in new
prototypes of
office furniture.
vitra.com
and home offices, other pieces such as
lamps, lounge chairs, coffee tables and
display cases are also crucial in common
areas such as waiting lounges as well as
reception and staff recreation rooms
From the extremely comfortable LC4
chaise lounge designed by Le Corbusier,
Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand
for Italian rm Cassina, to the stylish
Panton Chair by Verner Panton and
the elegant Noguchi Table by Japanese
designer Isamu Noguchi, these iconic
pieces have invariably become a part of
the brand identity of rms especially in
the creative and web technology sectors.
SUSTAINABLE IDEOLOGY
4
5
With every commercial initiative
being judged for its response to the
environment, most of these well-known
names have incorporated sustainability
into their company mission. For instance,
Knoll uses an energy management
programme to ensure that its production
process is eco-friendly. Herman Miller, for
its part, advocates a holistic sustainable
corporate strategy that makes the use of
safe, organic and recyclable materials in
its product line-up mandatory.
It’s interesting to note that sustainability
for most of these rms starts with
producing durable and long-lasting
furniture made out of ethically sourced,
non-hazardous materials. However, these
producers aren’t stopping there – they
are tapping innovative ideas to make
environment and social obligations
the core of their business. American
office furniture maker Steelcase helps
businesses dispose of surplus office
furniture in socially-, economically- and
environmentally-responsible ways
through its end of use scheme.
A recurring aspect among these
well-regarded names is that longevity is
fundamental to their furniture design. It
translates into less need for buying often,
hence creating fewer carbon footprints.
Indeed, form, function and sustainability
make these office furniture brands a
win-win-win situation for discerning office
workers.
22
PERSPECTIVE
Singapore has enjoyed 50 successful
years since its independence. The
following companies from various
industries continue to invest in our
country’s future and help to maintain
its status as a great place to do
business.
SINO -SINGAPORE JILIN FOOD ZONE
The Sino-Singapore Jilin Food Zone (SSJFZ)
is the rst agricultural collaboration
between Singapore and China. It was set
up to be a replicable and scalable model
food
1 zone for the production of safe and
quality food. With rapid urbanisation and
population growth worldwide, sustainable
farming and the availability of safe and
quality food are fast becoming a huge
concern. According to a 2014 survey by
Beijing research company Horizonkey,
80 per cent of the 3,166 respondents
polled said they were not satised with
food safety in China.
The project, which has an area of 1,450
sq km, will tap into Singapore’s expertise
in food safety management as well as
Jilin’s strengths in agriculture and food
industries. Jilin, a province in the central
area of Northeast China, is ideal for
growing many different types of crops
and rearing various animals. “More than
just a place to grow food, it also aims to
become a sustainable food zone that can
serve the local communities,” says Mr Yeo
Chun Cheng, Executive Vice President
of Singbridge Group and CEO of SinoSingapore Jilin Food Zone Management
and Development Co, Ltd.
The core area, which measures 57
sq km, will have six dedicated zones:
food processing, logistics, residential,
commercial, recreational, and nature.
The SSJFZ has strong support from
both the Singapore and Jilin governments.
Singapore’s involvement across the entire
integrated food value chain will help to
ensure that the food produced in Jilin
Food Zone is export-ready. The Jilin City
government is also working with the
Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of
Singapore (AVA) to establish a green lane
for specic food exports from SSJFZ into
B E YO N D
SG50
FROM OIL AND GAS AND
SPECIALT Y CHEMICALS TO
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND
SUSTAINABLE FARMING,
THESE COMPANIES ARE
COMMIT TED TO SHAPING
SINGAPORE’S FUTURE
BEYOND SG50.
WE FIND OUT HOW.
Singapore. Once completed, the SSJFZ will
be able to meet Singapore’s growing need
for alternative food sources, says Yeo.
In 2012, the SSJFZ was accredited by
China’s Ministry of Agriculture as being a
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Free Zone (DFZ).
This status was endorsed by AVA in the
same year. Several measures have been
put in place to maintain this DFZ status,
for instance, animal quarantine stations,
safe disposal plants, animal sanitary
control checkpoints, and inspection and
quarantine policies. Annual checks are
also conducted by both authorities.
“The SSJFZ also boasts an Integrated
Food Safety System (IFSS),” Yeo shares.
“As part of this system, a single agency
(SSJFZ Food and Drug Administration)
was set up to provide one-stop services
and oversee all food safety-related issues
within the food zone. The standards
and specications of IFSS will include:
management of best practices and
technical specications covering various
food categories such as fruits, vegetables,
1
Jilin, in the
central area
of Northeast
China, is ideal
for growing
different types
of crops.
2
The sustainable
food zone of
SSJFZ aims to
meet Singapore’s
growing need for
alternative food
sources.
3
SSJFZ’s
residential area.
4
Sky Greens is
the world’s rst
hydraulic-driven
vertical farm.
Text Sasha M Gonzales
SK Y URBAN SOLUTIONS
1
2
3
meat, dairy, aqua and grain products.
Implementation of IFSS will include
sampling, inspection, testing and
certication, and traceability systems.”
Presently, SSJFZ is home to a number of
Singapore projects such as the Integrated
Pig Farming Project (IPF). With a RMB 5
billion investment value, the IPF includes
pig breeding, rearing and processing. In
end October 2015, SSJFZ launched the
Fragrance 43°N* japonica rice, its rst
product to be sold in Singapore by the
end of the year. This signicant
collaboration will undoubtedly
benet our nation’s future
food source requirements.
4
Mr Jack Ng spent 30 years in building
and construction before launching
his sustainable farming start-up, Sky
Greens, in 2010, and holding company,
Sky Urban Solutions, in 2011. With his
desire to address food resiliency and
security in Singapore, and land scarcity
challenges in our country, he set out
to create sustainable, green solutions
for urban cities. Through his company,
Ng hopes to transform the farming
industry and improve farmers’ quality of
life, and contribute towards feeding the
urban population with as small a carbon
footprint as possible.
In Singapore, Sky Greens is where Ng
has turned his vision into reality. As the
world’s rst hydraulic-driven vertical farm,
it is also Sky Urban Solutions’ innovation
hub, where new designs and the next
generation of patentable solutions are
created. Research and development are
also carried out simultaneously in the
elds of engineering and horticulture.
In August, Sky Urban Solutions won the
prestigious INDEX: Award 2015 for its Sky
Urban Vertical Farming System, a lowcarbon, water-driven vegetable
farm. The rst of its kind in the
world, the system employs
hydraulic force instead
of pure motorisation
andba closed looped
irrigation system to save
water. What’s more,
compared to indoor
plant factories that utilise
LED lighting for growth,
this system uses natural
sunlight. Says Ng: “While
vertical farming is not a new
concept, commercialisation
remains a challenge because any
commercially viable system mustbutilise
low energy to minimise operating
costs. Our operating procedures in
transplanting, harvesting and packing are
also streamlined. In traditional open-eld
farms, farmers need to traverse long
stretches of land in all kinds of weather,
to plant and harvest vegetables. This is
24
PERSPECTIVE
back-breaking work. Using our system,
vegetables now ‘come’ to the farmers
instead, which signicantly reduces the
physical labour and strain associated with
traditional farming.”
How will this system help change the
way we obtain our greens? “Singapore
imports almost 90 per cent of leafy
vegetables,” Ng explains. “We can
produce one per cent of Singapore’s
local�consumption for every hectare of
land of cultivation using our system. We
can thus utilise 100 ha to be fully selfsufficient in mass-market�leafy vegetables,
which is one of the primary food groups
identied by AVA for our national food
security and resiliency.”
A*STAR
To cement Singapore’s reputation as a
world-class medical facility, scientic
research agency Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR),
in collaboration with Duke-National
University of Singapore Graduate Medical
School (Duke-NUS), recently announced
the start of a Phase I clinical trial of novel
cancer drug candidate, ETC-159. This is
the rst publicly-funded drug candidate
discovered and developed in Singapore
to advance into rst-in-human trials, and
will target a range of cancers, including
colorectal, ovarian and pancreatic.
These cancers, which are among our
country’s top killers today, are linked
to a group of cell signalling pathways
known as Wnt signalling. They have been
identied to promote cancer growth and
spread when elevated or dysregulated. An
inhibitor of these pathways, ETC-159 could
suppress cancer growth and prevent
cancer progression. It therefore offers
a promising novel and targeted cancer
therapy that could shape future cancer
therapeutic strategies.�
ETC-159 was discovered and developed
through a collaboration between the Drug
Discovery and Development (D3) unit
at A*STAR’s Experimental Therapeutics
Centre (ETC), and Duke-NUS that began in
2009. It was based on the discovery work
of Prof David Virshup from Duke-NUS,
who still contributes to the development
of the drug candidate. According to Dr
Benjamin Seet, Executive Director of
A*STAR’s Biomedical Research Council,
“this breakthrough...marks an inection
point in Singapore’s biomedical sciences
initiative. Despite the protracted process
of drug discovery and development, I am
condent that we will see more locallydeveloped drugs in the pipeline being
tested and implemented.”
L ANXESS
In August 2015, German specialty
chemicals rm Lanxess inaugurated a new
S$318.5 million plant on Jurong Island,
one of the largest investments by the rm
worldwide. The production site for highquality neodymium butadiene rubber
(Nd-BR), a synthetic rubber that can
increase fuel efficiency and performance
in tyres, is also the company’s second
plant in Singapore. The world-scale facility
will have an annual production capacity
of 140,000 metric tons and has already
generated about 100 highly-skilled
jobs, most of which have been
lled by local residents. The plant
will produce Nd-BR for global
markets, with an emphasis on
the growing Asian markets.
“Together with our
adjacent butyl rubber plant,
the opening of this new
butadiene rubber plant
reinforces the strategic role
of Singapore as our hub for
synthetic rubber production
for the Asian markets,” says Mr
Matthias Zachert, chairman of the
board of management. Mr Damian
Chan, Executive Director, Energy and
Chemicals, Economic Development Board,
says that the new plant reiterates the
condence Lanxess has in Singapore as
a strategic base to chart its growth in
Asia. “The synthetic rubber project is part
of Singapore’s strategy to grow chemical
chains from the higher olens produced
by our petrochemical crackers. This will
enhance the value and resilience of of our
chemicals industry.”
5
6
EX XONMOBIL IN SINGAPORE
5
This year,
Lanxess built
a new plant
on Jurong
Island, one of
the company’s
largest
investments.
6
ExxonMobil
is one of the
largest foreign
manufacturing
investors in
Singapore with
over US$15
billion in assets.
This international oil and gas company
has been operating in Singapore for
over 120 years. It is one of the largest
foreign manufacturing investors in the
country with over US$15 billion in assets.
The Singapore renery is integrated
with the expanded petrochemical
complex to form ExxonMobil’s largest
integrated manufacturing site in the
world. ExxonMobil in Singapore is also
the Asia-Pacic hub for the Downstream
and Chemical businesses, and it employs
more than 3,300 people.
In October 2014, the company
announced that it would build two new
specialty polymer units at its chemical
plant on Jurong Island. Work on the
halobutyl rubber and hydrogenated
hydrocarbon resin production facilities is
expected to complete in 2017. As a major
supplier of halobutyl rubber to the global
tyre industry, ExxonMobil’s expansion
project will up production capacity by
140,000 tons per year. The hydrogenated
hydrocarbon resin production unit will
be the world’s largest, with a capacity of
90,000 tons per year to meet long-term
demand growth for hot melt adhesives.
The project reaffirms ExxonMobil’s
commitment to supplying the chemical
products that support the region’s
economic growth. “This new plant
is another example of ExxonMobil’s
commitment to building on its
investments in Singapore for the future
growth and competitiveness of our
business here,” says Mr Gan Seow
Kee, chairman and managing director,
ExxonMobil Asia Pacic Pte Ltd. “Our
decision to expand our operations
here is further proof that we recognise
Singapore’s long-term importance to
global trade and economic growth.”
Besides increasing the energy efficiency
of ExxonMobil’s Singapore renery,
construction of a new 84-megawatt
cogeneration facility has started. “The
cogeneration plant is part of a series of
measures undertaken by ExxonMobil’s
Singapore renery since 2008 to reduce
its emissions through to 2020,” says
Singapore renery manager Boyd
Barrilleaux. “We continue to improve its
efficiency and competitiveness, while
minimising its impact on the environment.”
26
MONEY
Many people turn to nancial service
professionals such as fund managers
to handle their investments, with high
expectations of “beating the market”.
However, after costly sales and
management fees, which cut into returns,
many mutual funds fail to beat their
benchmarks. According to the latest
Standard & Poor (S&P) Dow Jones Indices
S&P Versus Active Funds US Scorecard,
86.44 per cent of large-cap fund
managers underperformed the S&P 500
over a one-year period last year. The S&P
500 is a stock market index of 500 large
companies listed in the US. Maybe these
managers needed more time, but their
results have not improved over  ve- and
10-year periods, during which over 80 per
cent still failed to beat the benchmark.
It is no wonder that investors have
been migrating in droves to passive
strategies such as indexing, where they
simply buy the benchmark index. For such
investors, exchange-traded funds (ETF)
have become the investment vehicle of
choice, given their low cost, tax efficiency
and liquidity. ETFs are open-ended
investment funds listed and traded on
stock exchanges. They invest across a
wide range of assets and strategies, with
the most established ones tracking the
performance of indices such as the S&P
500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
“As opposed to actively managed
funds, where fund managers implement
their views with an aim to outperform
their relevant benchmark, ETFs track
the underlying index. This incurs lower
cost and is generally more tax-efficient
because of lower trading turnover,” says
Audrey Goh, Investment Strategist,
Standard Chartered Bank.
ETFs offer investors a diversied
portfolio of underlying assets through
a single investment vehicle. As ETFs are
exchange-traded, investors can get realtime prices, and buy and sell ETFs through
their brokers, banks or online share
dealing services.
“For investors who do not have time or
expertise for stock picking, ETFs provide
a simple solution for getting their desired
Investment
Vehicle of Choice
Simplicity, low costs and real-time pricing make
ETFs a good way to participate in the markets.
Text Douglas Chew Illustration 123RF
exposure in a diversied manner without
the hassle of stock research,” says Sunny
Leung, ETF Business Development
Manager (Asia ex-Japan), State Street
Global Advisors.
“Investors can buy and hold ETFs if
they have a long term positive outlook
on the overall market or asset class,”
says Phillip Yeo, Head of Product
Management and Development, Nikko
Asset Management Asia. “They can also
trade it opportunistically if they have a
short term technical view on the market
or asset class. Because ETFs trade like a
stock, one can also short it like a stock, if
they can nd a counter-party to borrow
scrip to short. Conversely, investors can
use margin, like a stock, to get a leveraged
position on the ETF.”
ETFS FOR ALL CL A SSES AND STR ATEGIES
ETFs are changing the face of asset
management – global ETF assets reached
US$2.86 trillion at the end of April 2015.
They are set to become an even more
important part of the trading landscape
across international markets including
Singapore; a study by Pricewaterhouse
Coopers projects that ETF assets will
exceed US$5 trillion by 2020.
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) lists 89
ETFs provided by nine fund managers.
The rst ETFs launched on the SGX in 2001
include the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
and SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average
ETF. The SPDR Straits Times Index ETF
was launched in 2002, offering investors
a diversied portfolio of Singapore blue
chips in a single trade.
“ETFs have been an increasingly
important product globally for asset
managers, institutional investors and
retail investors due to their cost efficiency,
transparency and liquidity from being
listed on exchange,” says Jenny Chiam,
Senior Vice-President and Head of
Securities, SGX.
Monthly investment programmes from
banks and brokers are available for some
ETFs, such the Nikko AM Singapore STI
ETF and the ABF Singapore Bond Index
Fund, for a minimum of $100 a month.
This helps investors build diversied
portfolios over time.
Diversication is important to reduce
volatility in one’s portfolio and spread
the risk of investments. “ETFs have
diversication benets because if one
particular stock in the ETF performs
badly, it is unlikely that the entire ETF
will perform poorly. This built-in risk
mitigation function is one of the standout
features of ETFs,” says Benjamin Goh,
Retail Analyst, CIMB Research. Further
diversication can be achieved by creating
a portfolio of different ETFs across
different asset classes and strategies.
“As the ETF industry has grown, the
range of strategies that investors can
access through ETFs has proliferated,”
says Zal Devitre, Head of Investments,
Citibank Singapore.
Today, there are ETFs investing in
specic countries like China, India,
Indonesia, Brazil and Japan, or across
Asia and Europe. Some follow investment
themes like emerging markets, ethical
investments or high dividends, while
others track the price of commodities
such as gold or energy products.Investors
can also get access to a portfolio of bonds.
“For certain markets that are otherwise
difficult to access and where individual
stock-picking is challenging, ETFs can be
seen as a transparent and straightforward
investment tool allowing for investment
diversication,” says Anson Chow, VicePresident for Passive Asset Management
(Asia-Pacic), Deutsche Bank.
Investors should be cognisant of the
disadvantages. ETFs invested in foreign
assets face currency risks and withholding
taxes on their dividends. Some ETFs
may have tracking differences with their
benchmark indices, or experience price
volatility as their underlying assets face
turbulent market conditions.
While some ETFs invest in actual
physical holdings, others use swaps and
derivatives to gain synthetic exposures
to their benchmarks, making them more
complex and risky. Investors considering
ETFs should understand the risks involved
and seek professional advice.
28
FOOD
THE BUSTLING R&D AND
TECHNOLOGY HUBS OF
SINGAPORE SCIENCE PARK
AND ONE-NORTH OFFER
A HOST OF INTERESTING
DINING EXPERIENCES FOR
EVERY TASTE AND BUDGET.
DINING
GEMS
AROUND
THE OFFICE
1
INFINITE STUDIOS 21 Media Circle
DSTLLRY
2
3
#01-01 Innite Studios, S(138562).
Tel: 6334 4816. www.dstllryco.com
A multi-hyphenate that is simultaneously
bar, restaurant and performance venue,
Dstllry’s self-description is modishly short:
“cocktails, omakase, soundspace, gallery”.
Diners may ask for bespoke tipples while
enjoying Japanese-inspired rice bowls and
small plates at lunchtime, or a 10-course
omakase at dinner, which features
Japanese ingredients like botan shrimp,
otoro and ikura. Conceptualised by music
producer Andrew Lum, the place also
delights with its carefully curated song list
that switches from acoustic to bossa nova
to experimental beats.
Highlights The ever-creative kitchen
crew frequently changes its menu and
churns out inventions like gindara in
coconut miyoga broth, and truffle ice
cream with uni and shiso.
1
Dstllry’s dim
setting plays up
its industrial-chic
vibe.
2
Dstllry serves
creative dishes like
onsen egg with
salmon roe, fried
wonton skin and
yuzu ponzu sauce.
3
Bespoke cocktails
can be crafted
(upon request)
by bartender
Red Chuang from
Taipei.
4
Dstllry’s chefs
whip up meals at
the open-concept
kitchen.
Text Stephanie Wong Photography Vee Chin
5
4
6
L ADYLORD
#01-03 Innite Studios, S(138562).
Tel: 9488 2994.
A bistro-bar built for audiophiles, Ladylord
offers the chill-out trinity of good food,
affordable drinks, and old-school music.
Munch on a selection of Asian tapas
and mains such as craysh in chilli crab
sauce,�squid ink�bee tai mak and fried
curry mid-wings. Its homey environs allow
you to enjoy your meal either at the dining
table or the cosy lounge but the folks
behind Ladylord also want to create a spot
“to listen to music the way it’s supposed to
be – by physically putting a vinyl record
on the turntable or popping a CD into the
tray”. Happy hour runs on Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays.
Highlights The succulent Black
Beauty fried shcake is encased in an
addictively crispy skin and coated in
charcoal powder. Best savoured with a
pint of ice-cold beer.
7
5-6
Ladylord’s
comforting noodle
dish and signature
Black Beauty fried
 shcake.
7
The setting at
Ladylord is
reminiscent of
a retro home.
30
FOOD
GAL A XIS
1 Fusionopolis Place
GREEN CROF T
8
#01-32/33 Galaxis, S(138552).
Tel: 9795 3630.
Like its neat minimalist interior,
Green Croft’s food is clean, with tasty
and nutritious meals that aim to satiate.
With a menu designed by an experienced
hotel chef, the dishes incorporate lots of
fresh fruits and vegetables, along with
healthy meats like sous vide salmon llet.
Otherwise, the greens are well portioned
and make for a scrumptious energy
booster that will keep you up and running
for the rest of the day. Available as a set
with a side of brown rice, couscous or
soba noodles, and a bowl of soup.
Highlights Make your mornings even
better with a creamy oatmeal topped
with your choice of fruits served in a
glass jar. For a guilt-free lunch, go for the
black pepper smoked duck salad.
ROOTS
#01-50 Galaxis, S(138523). Tel: 6387 4302.
Carving out a chic enclave within the
office complex, Roots is an indulgence for
busy executives. It’s ideal for celebratory
get-togethers or if you are craving for
something other than the usual local grub.
The kitchen whips up modern French,
Italian and fusion fare, with dishes like
tataki of tuna crusted with peppercorn
and accompanied by mixed salad, rich
mushroom infused with truffle, pan-fried
lemon sole with lemongrass cream sauce,
oven-baked duck cont with balsamico,
and minced chicken pizza with Thai
basil. Round off with a decadent Earl
Grey choco fudge or oven-baked apple
crumble. The well-stocked bar also carries
a thoughtfully curated selection of wines,
beers, whiskys and other liquors to go
with your meal.
Highlights Meat lovers can opt for the
signature wagyu tomahawk – a whopping
hunk of chargrilled bone-in beef that can
be shared among a party of two to  ve.
9
8-9
Green Croft off ers
nutritious meals
brimming with
fresh greens.
10
10
Roots is a chic
spot that offers
modern French,
Italian and fusion
fare.
11
At Roots, dishes
are elegantly
plated and best
paired with a
glass of wine.
11
SPARKLE 45 Science Park Road
FRESH
12
#01-02 Sparkle, S(117407). Tel: 6274 7300.
A godsend to busy health-conscious
executives, FRESH offers healthy
alternatives to calorie-laden fast food.
Says operations manager Hazel Lim,
“Whether you’re looking for a refreshing
mid-afternoon smoothie or a hearty meal,
every item on our menu is as good for the
body as it is for the taste buds.”
With over 50 outlets worldwide,
this Canadian franchise serves
delectable made-to-order
dishes like turkey bacon
avocado wrap, spicy
chicken panini, and acai
berry smoothie.
14
Highlights For that
grab-and-go lunch, ask
for a special Protein
Bowl, which comes with
quinoa and a choice of
meat, veggies, nuts and
dressing, or one of its Power
Bowls with granola and fruits.
13
AT TAP HOUSE
#01-04 Galaxis, S(138522).
Clad in tree bark and wallpaper that
looks like rattan, Attap House is made
to resemble the rustic comforts of its
namesake. To echo the decor is a menu
lled with scrummy local favourites like
chicken rendang, and satay mee hoon
that uses both peanuts and cashews for
extra fragrance and crunch. Vegetarian
diners, meanwhile, may enjoy the meatfree marvel of satay kantang with potato,
tau pok and veggies. Here’s another nod
to the good old days: general manager
Edmund Koh reveals that they make their
own peanut butter and Nonya kaya –
perfect with your morning toast.
Highlights The Hokkien mee, derived
from a family recipe, is another favourite.
CHOCOL AT N' SPICE
www.chocnspice.com
Chocolat N' Spice is a bakery that
specialises in confectionery treats such
as muffins, cakes, tarts and quiches.
Fantastic for breakfast, lunch or even
when you’re just peckish, this cosy cafe is
the newest of its four outlets and caters
mostly to takeaway orders. Its bakerowner Mary Chan hopes to expand its
offerings in the future, however. “We hope
to provide simple lunch options like soups,
sandwiches and pasta salads too,” she
says. Its location in the Science Park II
neighbourhood is convenient too; you can
easily pick up treats for an office event or
tea break.
Highlights Freshly baked chocolate
chip muffin, banana walnut muffin,
chocolate mousse cake, carrot cake,
and cheesecakes in avours such as
blueberry and Oreo.
12
Attap House’s
speciality,
Hokkien mee.
13
Tuck into cashew
fried rice at Attap
House.
14
FRESH offers
smoothies, and
Protein Bowls
packed with
quinoa and a
choice of meat,
veggies and nuts.
32
FOOD
NUCLEOS 21 Biopolis Road
TÊTE-À-TÊTE CAFÉ
#01-01 Nucleos North Tower, S(138567).
Tel: 6397 4268.
Tête-à-Tête Café is a relaxing spot for
leisurely afternoon teas. Nibble on an
assortment of delicious cakes, tarts and
pastries while enjoying the company of
friends. Styled like a modern Parisian
eatery complete with black-and-white
awnings, the cafe offers appetising items
like salads, sandwiches and quiches
alongside more hearty dishes such as
tenderloin beef with red curry sauce with
lychee, and pan-roasted chicken with Thai
spices. Tête-à-Tête also conducts baking
classes once a month for aspiring bakers.
Highlights Sink your teeth into decadent
desserts like lemon meringue tart,
raspberry terrine and black forest cake.
THE OASIS 87 Science Park Drive
15
15
Tête-à-Tête Café
serves up fresh
salads, sandwiches,
hearty mains and
baked goods.
16
Curbside is an
airy modern-day
American diner.
17-18
The Protein Cafe
offers nutritious
meals such as
grilled prime beef
burger and panseared chicken
breast with
vegetables.
CURBSIDE CAFE & WINE BAR
#01-21 Nucleos, S(138567). Tel: 8181 1805.
www.curbside.com.sg
Serving up a portion of homey comfort
provisions to ease the hustle and bustle
of the daily grind, founder Samantha
Koh describes Curbside as a “modernday American diner or coffee house”.
On the menu are all-time favourites like
cheeseburger and Cuban sandwich (a
pressed ciabatta lled with honey baked
ham and slow-roasted pork) while the
drinks list includes coffees, wines
and craft beers. Curbside offers
convenient takeaway options
for the weekday crowd, and
happy hours on Thursdays
and Fridays during which
you can get two Heineken
beers at $14; two craft
beers at $18; two ciders at
$22, and 20 per cent off all
wines.
Highlights This spot is great
for brunch, with tasty options
like corned beef hash, eggs Benedict,
French toast and cheese omelette. Look
out for weekly menu specials too.
THE PROTEIN CAFE
#01-02 The Oasis, S(118260). Tel: 9111 0197.
www.iwantmoreprotein.com
As its name suggests, The Protein Cafe
caters to the health-conscious with a
menu that packs in the protein but goes
easy on the fat. Following its philosophy of
providing wholesome food, the cafe does
away with fried items. Instead it favours
healthier cooking methods like baking,
grilling and boiling, which also allow the
natural avour of each ingredient to shine.
Besides protein-rich items like grilled
chicken breast, the expansive menu
also includes hearty salads, pastas,
burgers and Asian fare like nasi lemak
and chicken rice.
Highlights Popular dishes include the
carb-free pan-seared chicken
breast with buttered
vegetables, as well as the
juicy grilled prime beef
burger made with lean
minced meat.
17
16
18
19
DIAMOND KITCHEN
#01-01 The Oasis, S(118260). Tel: 6464 0410.
www.diamondkitchen.com.sg
Diamond Kitchen already enjoys a loyal
following at its Marine Parade branch
and is run by young entrepreneurs Josh
Chou, 31, and Lambert Chen, 28. This
Cantonese-inclined seafood restaurant is
housed in a spacious corner with windows
running along the length of a whole wall,
so it is perfect for family dinners and
corporate gatherings. It is also popular
with the weekday lunch crowd for its
enticing set menu for four at $69.90
that features signatures like pumpkin
beancurd and champagne pork ribs.
Highlights It’s seafood galore with
perennial favourites like salted egg
squid, superior stock clam bee hoon,
steamed bamboo clams with garlic, and
gan xiang crab, a Malaysian-style stir-fry
with fragrant curry powder.
20
KHANSAMA TANDOORI VILL AGE
#02-01 The Oasis, S(118260). Tel: 6776 0300.
www.khansama.net
Big on spices and vibrant avours,
Khansama Tandoori Village is a Punjabithemed restaurant that cooks up
mouth-watering Indian cuisine and
serves it alongside warm Punjabi
hospitality. True to its name, Khansama
offers a range of charcoal-roasted items,
including tandoori chicken, reshami
chicken, sh tikka, mutton kebab and
paneer tikka. The menu also includes
various types of curries, rices, chaats,
pratas and naans. There is a sizeable
vegetarian menu, which features its
speciality, mix chaat.
Highlights A showstopping centrepiece
at any dinner party, the sikandari raan
offers a whole leg of lamb marinated in
yogurt, spices and fresh lime, then baked
in a charcoal oven for two hours.
19
Diamond
Kitchen’s
sumptuous clam
bee hoon.
20
Freshly steamed
bamboo clams
served at
Diamond Kitchen.
34
F E AT UR E
Giving
Back
Ascendas GIVES Foundation
(AGF) aims to give back
to the community by
organising various
programmes that reach out
to the Arts, Community and
the Environment.
1
2
Ascendas GIVES Foundation (AGF),
the non-prot charity arm of Ascendas,
established in 2012, advocates the
spirit of sharing and caring for those
around them. Through the efforts of
staff, tenants and business partners,
AGF serves the community in a
variety of ways: supporting the arts,
championing the underprivileged, and
going green in 2015.
In August and September, the
foundation partnered with Arts@Metta,
an arts-based education programme for
special needs youths, to organise four
bazaars at Aperia, Changi City Point, and
Singapore Science Park 1 & 2. Cookies,
pastries, terrariums and artworks crafted
by young artists in the programme were
up for sale.
In total, the bazaars raised more than
$6,500 for Arts@Metta, whose members
were encouraged and humbled by the
generous support from AGF.
On September 6, The Singapore
Children’s Society organised Walk For
Our Children 2015, a 3km walkathon and
carnival fundraiser. To show their support
for charity, Ascendians and their family
members took part in this walkathon and
also manned a stall at the carnival. By
committing a $20,000 sponsorship to The
Singapore Children’s Society, Ascendas
was recognised as a Gold Sponsor at the
event. Guest of honour, Minister Lim Hng
5 Kiang presented Ascendas President and
Group CEO Manohar Khiatani with a token
of appreciation.
AGF’s tendrils of social responsibility
extend, too, to the environment – with an
afternoon out in the Tampines Community
Garden on August 28. Ascendians, Loyang
Primary School students and elderly
members from Jamiyah Home for the
Aged gathered in the garden to learn
about its different herbs and plants. The
elderly had the opportunity to appreciate
nature and also interact with Ascendians
and students.
In AGF’s continuing quest to support
the arts and culture scene in Singapore,
the Arts sub-committee sponsored two
high-prole SG50 productions: The LKY
Musical and The Violin. The LKY Musical,
based on the life of Singapore’s founding
father, Lee Kuan Yew, boasts a starstudded ensemble: iconic composer Dick
Lee, and home-grown actors Adrian Pang
and Sharon Au. The Violin, a locally-made
12-minute animated short lm, pays
tribute to Singapore’s past. The story
1
Ascendas Vietnam’s
staff presented
31 bicycles to
underpriviledged
children.
2
The elderly had a
chance to appreciate
nature and interact
with volunteers
3
Mr Manohar Khiatani
and Ascendas staff
helped to raise funds
for Arts@Metta, an
arts-based education
programme for
special-needs youths.
4
AGF teamed up
with Arts@Metta
to organise charity
bazaars.
Text Samantha Lee
3
traces a violin’s journey under different
owners throughout an 80-year period
in the country’s history, including the
Japanese Occupation and Independence.
The lm will be showcased at various
grassroots events in upcoming months.
In an effort to support the community,
the Ascendas GIVES 2015 Lunch Fiesta
was held on October 15. Staff showcased
their culinary skills to raise funds for a
good cause, and donations went towards
supporting AG Home, a home for troubled
teenaged girls.
BEYOND SINGAPORE’S BORDERS
AGF also continued its regional presence
in India, China and Vietnam. In June this
year, Ascendas International Tech Parks
in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad
took part in the annual Go Green
campaign – this being the eighth year of
participation for Bangalore and Chennai.
The month-long event promoted green
initiatives amongst professionals, with
activities such as an eco-drive camp, a
recycling league and an eco-bazaar. A
high-energy concert in the Bangalore Park,
and a Green run in Chennai, capped the
festivities at the end of the month.
The foundation took a more ground-
5
Ascendas GIVES 2015
Lunch Fiesta raised
funds for AG Home.
up approach in Vietnam, choosing to
support underprivileged children in Ho
Chi Minh City, Hanoi and particularly Binh
Duong, a province to the north of Ho Chi
Minh City. On August 29 – the rst day of
school – Vietnam-based staff presented
31 bicycles to underprivileged children
in Binh Duong, through the Phu Giao
Association for Promoting Education.
Ascendas’ numerous offices across
China proved their mettle by participating
in various community-based events
throughout the year. The Dalian office
donated RMB14,200 (S$3,200) in May to
a security guard working there, whose
daughter suffered from leukaemia. Over
in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Xi’an, staff
members lent their support to community
associations for children and the mentally
ill, donating daily necessities, stationery, and
– above all – their heartfelt care and concern.
There is no doubt that Ascendians are
willing to give their time and attention to
various worthwhile causes – no matter
where they are in the region.
6
Ascendas Xi’an
staff visited Shanxi
Xianyang Ai Jia Bei
Children’s Welfare
Institute.
4
5
6
7
7
Staff at
Ascendas IT
Park in
Hyderabad
took part in
the Go Green
campaign.
36
@ASCENDAS-SINGBRIDGE
Ascendas-Singbridge actively engages tenants and community. We round up some signicant events.
Singapore
Ascendas-Singbridge
participates in
Ecosperity 2015
On September 18,
Temasek Holdings
organised its annual
sustainability-focused
conference, Ecosperity
2015. AscendasSingbridge participated
in the conference held
at Shangri-La Hotel.
More than 200 CEOs,
innovators, policymakers,
and government
leaders from around
the world attended
the conference.
Themed “Urbanisation:
Developing Cities for
a Sustainable Future”,
Ecosperity 2015
explored the latest
Chongqing’s gathering of
global leaders
Ascendas-Singbridge Chairman Mr
Wong Kan Seng was one of the newly
appointed advisers to the Chongqing
Mayor’s International Economic
Advisory Council, which had its
annual gathering on September 19
and 20 at the Yuelai International
Convention Centre in Chongqing. A
total of 38 advisers attended the
event, including key executives from
ANZ, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft,
AT&S, Maersk, and Mitsui & Co. This
year’s discussions revolved around
Chongqing’s role in China’s One Belt,
One Road strategy, which focuses on
building the Yangtze River Economic
issues on urbanisation
and the challenges and
opportunities arising
from developing smart
and sustainable cities.
Among the speakers
were Singapore’s
Minister for
Environment and Water
Resources, Dr Vivian
Balakrishnan; former
Netherlands Prime
Minister, Professor
Jan Peter Balkenende;
former US Energy
Secretary, Dr Steven
Chu; and former
Chinese Minister of
Commerce, Dr Chen
Deming.
The AscendasSingbridge booth
showcased the group’s
latest eco-friendly and
sustainable projects
alongside CapitaLand,
SembCorp Industries,
Singapore Power, and
Surbana Jurong.
Belt to strengthen ties and linking
four billion people in 65 countries
across Central Asia to Western
Europe. Mr Wong shared the
Singapore experience in promoting
connectivity through economic
inuence and international relations.
Mid-autumn delights
Ascendas celebrated
Mid-Autumn Festival
with lovely giveaways
and mooncake bazaars.
Special Mid-Autumn
cards, which can be
transformed into cute
lanterns, were sent to
customers and partners.
These cards were
created using recycled
materials, highlighting
Ascendas’ commitment
to sustainable practices.
Mooncake bazaars
were also held at
various clusters across
Singapore, including
Changi Business Park,
International Business
Park, one-north,
and Science Park II.
Tenants chose from
a wide selection of
delicious mooncakes
by Goodwood Park
Hotel, Intercontinental
Singapore, Marriott
Singapore Tang
Plaza Hotel and
Raffles Hotel.
Text Verlaine Ramos-Marquez
SG50 Dine & Win
Customers of selected
Ascendas F&B outlets
took part in the SG50
Dine & Win promotion
held in August
and September.
Every $19.65 (year
Singapore gained
independence) spent
entitled diners to a
red chop on a SG50
Food Trail Passport.
Every  ve chops
earned a chance to
win in the Grand
Lucky Draw held on
October 16. More
than 350 entries vied
for exciting prizes in
the Grand Lucky Draw,
where the top prize
was a 4D/3N trip for
two to Japan. Other
top prizes were a
cruise for two on Star
Cruises, and an Apple
iPad Air. Meanwhile,
1,000 free gifts were
redeemed during the
promotion period,
including sele sticks
and travel bags.
China
Soccer Super
League
After 110 games that
took place for three
months, the Ascendas
Soccer Super
League 2015 Closing
Ceremony was held
on September 17 in
Dalian Ascendas IT
Park. From the month
of May, 22 soccer
teams from tenant
companies competed
in 11 rounds, with
Toyota Tsusho and
Citigroup emerging as
winners.
Playing cupid
Thirty single men
and women from
tenant companies
had an enjoyable
time during Ascendas’
matchmaking party
in Dalian Ascendas IT
Park on September 12.
Everyone participated
in fun activities such
as interactive games,
and speed dating.
Fun games
More than 50 staff of
tenant companies in
Ascendas iHub Suzhou
enjoyed a lively day
of recreation on July
18. Participants were
divided into groups and
competed in fun indoor
games and activities.
38
@ASCENDAS-SINGBRIDGE
Enhanced
communication in
Hangzhou
On August 10,
Singapore-Hangzhou
Science & Technology
Park (SHSTP)
launched its official
WeChat account to
provide a convenient
communication
platform for its tenant
companies. Tenants
were also treated to
free ice cream at the
launch. The activity
garnered 513 fans, and
each person received
a goodie bag from
sponsors. Tenants can
join us on Wechat by
searching“HiSHSTP”.
For the love of kids
Little builders
Shanghai Ascendas
Plaza held a modelbuilding activity for its
young customers on July
31. Structures such as
Tiananmen Square and
Petronas Twin Towers
were handcrafted by
15 kids. Another fun
activity on jelly wax
production was held
at the retail podium
on September 12. The
children used natural
wax to make handicrafts.
Ascendas China spent
a wonderful afternoon
with children, parents
and teachers of
Shanghai Silent Angel
Kindergarten (SAK)
on September 25
in Gongyi Xintiandi.
Ascendas’ volunteers
and the children made
a birthday cake for
Ascendas China’s 20th
anniversary. The event
celebrated the launch
of the SAK Autistic Kids’
Parents Club sponsored
by Ascendas. It aims to
help parents improve
Cloud computing
salon
Over 30
tenants in
SingaporeHangzhou Science
& Technology Park
(SHSTP) took part in
a salon themed “How
Cloud Computing Helps
SME’s Development”.
Several experts shared
their knowledge and
communication with
their kids through
a series of training
courses and activities.
“Ascendas will carry
forward its public
welfare tradition to give
more care and love to
children so that they can
have a happy childhood
and bright future,” said
Mr Wong Wing Kien,
CEO of Ascendas China.
Representatives from
Shanghai Disabled
Federation and
Shanghai Children’s
Health Foundation were
also invited to the event.
helped the participants
achieve a better
understanding of cloud
computing and its value
on future operations
and development.
Furthermore, the
salon provided SMEs
with valuable Internet
and technology
insights and enhanced
communication among
the tenants.
India
Energy efficiency
award
The V was
named
‘Excellent
Energy
Efficient
Unit’ at the prestigious
16th National Award
for Excellence in
Energy Management
by the Confederation
of Indian Industry (CII)
in September. The V
emerged as one of the
top 14 energy-efficient
buildings in India, out of
over 260 nominations.
The award recognises
existing best practices
for efficient energy
management, and
encourages industries
to pursue more
initiatives in energy
conservation, carbon
emission reduction,
and the utilisation of
renewable energy
and waste materials.
Over the last three
years, The V has taken
various proactive and
innovative measures,
including lighting
circuit modication,
replacement of high
power motors with
energy efficient motors,
installation of LED
lights for washrooms
and building signages,
and the use of heatreective paint on
terraces, among others.
The best of two worlds
Park Square Mall in International Tech Park,
Bangalore (ITPB) celebrated Singapore’s 50th
birthday and India’s 69th Independence Day
with fun festivities featuring the best of both
countries. The food festival “Flavors”, which ran
from August 7 to 9, highlighted delicacies such
as dumplings, chilli pork, noodles, rice, biryani,
rolls, and traditional Indian desserts. “Dances
of India” was held from August 14 to 16. The
cultural extravaganza showcased the rich and
vibrant Indian culture through folk and regional
dance performances blended with contemporary
movements. ITPB also awarded over 160 support
staff for excellent service.
Inaugural Global
Investors Meet in
Tamil Nadu
Ascendas and OneHub
Chennai participated
in the rst-ever Global
Investors Meet 2015
held in Tamil Nadu on
September 9 and 10. The
event aimed to promote
business in Tamil
Nadu and attract more
investment into the
state. Mr Lee Fu Nyap,
CEO of Ascendas India
Operations, spoke at the
meet, titled “Enabling
Mega Infrastructure
Projects”, and presented
a case study on OneHub
Chennai and Ascendas’
partnership with Tamil
Nadu. As an exhibitor,
OneHub Chennai
also showcased the
development at this
event.
Livewire 2015 in
Bangalore and
Hyderabad
International Tech
Park, Bangalore (ITPB)
celebrated the 12th
edition of its annual
talent hunt, Livewire
2015, on July 31. Over
800 participants from
30 companies battled it
out in categories such
as singing, dancing,
musical performances,
live band, and fashion
show. After a two-day
screening, shortlisted
nalists performed
in front of a panel of
judges and cheering
colleagues at the
grand nale. Mu Sigma
Business Solutions
Pvt Ltd emerged as
the champions and
was crowned the Stars
of ITPB for winning
the most number of
categories. Livewire
2015 was also held at
The V on July 10 and at
CyberPearl on July 31.
Parkites showed off their
special talents in solo
singing, group singing,
skit, solo dancing, group
dancing and fashion
show. Attendees
enjoyed games and
entertainment too.
40
SPACE
Club Insignia
at The Oasis
Located at The Oasis in Science Park 1, this 12,000 sq ft gym
facility officially opened in July 2015. The Club boasts an
outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; three large studios for
group exercises (such as yoga or zumba); and state-of-the-art
equipment including Life Fitness machines.