SHIPPING CONTAINERS REINVENTED - Ascendas

THE
ASCENDAS
MAGAZINE
N.01.13
ASCENT
16
THE
DESIGN
ISSUE
SHIPPING
CONTAINERS
REINVENTED
22
INNOVATIVE
BUSINESS HOTELS
10
DESIGN REIGNS
IN HELSINKI
CEO’ S M E S SAG E At Ascendas, design is one of our
greatest tools for change and innovation. Just step into any
of our properties, or our corporate office, and look at how
we have created spaces designed to enrich the work lives
of all who use them.
That’s why, in this issue, we are excited to take you to
World Design Capital Helsinki, where good design and
architectural sensibility are built into
everyday life and experienced by the
everyman. Who would have thought that,
one day, ubiquitous shipping containers
would be home to hip restaurants, cool art
spaces and even offices all around the world? At Ascendas,
we’ve caught on to the trend as well – you’ll nd one of
our tenants happily housed in one of these boxed spaces,
serving coffee and deli snacks with style.
And who says hotels are just for spending the night? At
two of our business parks in Singapore and Bangalore, the
hotels are networking and recreational hubs designed to
juxtapose business with leisure in right measures.
In Singapore, work on Fusionopolis Phase 5 – with
Singapore’s rst-ever Work Office Home Office (WOHO)
concept – is under way. That’s just one of several new
exciting developments we have in store for this year.
Design inspires us and we aim to inspire others through
inventive design. If you have a story where design has made
a difference in your life, do share with us at siak@ascendas.
com. Happy reading and best wishes for a wonderful 2013!
siak@ascendas.com
THE
ASCENDAS
MAGAZINE
N.01.13
ASCENT
16
THE
DESIGN
ISSUE
SHIPPING
CONTAINERS
REINVENTED
22
INNOVATIVE
BUSINESS HOTELS
10
DESIGN REIGNS
IN HELSINKI
PHOTO
GETTY IMAGES
LOCATION
TRINITY
BUOY WHARF,
CONTAINER CITY 2,
DOCKLANDS,
LONDON
JA N / FEB/ M A R CO NTE NT S 04 THE HOTLIST Lifestyle news
you should know about. 06 ASCENDAS NEWS Key local and global news
highlights. 08 PROFILE Self-taught chef Jeremy Cheok talks about following
his true calling. 10 DESIGN In Helsinki, design is anchored in everyday
experiences. 16 SPACE Shipping containers are redening urban landscapes.
22 FEATURE Hotels at business parks offer networking opportunities,
connectivity and leisure amenities. 26 MONEY Art is getting popular as a
form of investment. 30 FOOD Coffee culture in Asia evolves. 34 TRAVEL
TALES An Ascendas employee relives her volunteer trip to Sri Lanka. 36 @
ASCENDAS Events and happenings at our local and overseas offices. 40 ART
SPACE As an avid supporter of the arts, Ascendas provides spaces for emerging
local artists to showcase their creations.
10
16
THE
ASCENDAS
22
MAGAZINE
N.01.13
ASCENT
PUBLISHER
PUBLISHING AGENT
Ascendas Pte Ltd
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Caroline Ngui
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Group Communications
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Senior Manager
Group Communications
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Manager
Group Communications
Group Editor-in-Chief
Group Editor
Managing Director
General Manager
Editorial & Creative
Sales & Client Management
Low Ching Ling
Kaz Lim
Senior Editor
Account Director
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Stanley Gan
Editor
Winnie Fong
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Creative Director
Stephanie Teo
Art Director
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Account Manager
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Publishing Services
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Manager
ASCENT is published by SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
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04
THE
HOTLIST
Sleek Sensation
Tech Style
Just when you thought
technology couldn’t get
any groovier, designer
Ravi Ratan comes up with
arguably the coolest and
handiest little product for
businessmen and techies
alike. These cufflinks come
accessorised with a 2GB
Flash drive and Wi-Fi
hotspot abilities.
Waterfront dining in
Singapore just got cooler
with the opening of The
Pelican Seafood Bar & Grill.
Located at One Fullerton,
the establishment features
a menu inspired by classic
East Coast American
cuisine. The uber-cool bar
is a great watering hole for
after-work drinks.
#01-01 One Fullerton,
1 Fullerton Road,
tel: +65 6438 0400,
thepelican.com.sg
Available at cufflinks.com at
US$250 (S$305) a pair.
Dali Retrospective
Quarry Attraction
Don’t miss this major retrospective
of Salvador Dali, one of the greatest
gures in 20th-century art. Centre
Pompidou in Paris pays tribute to
the highly skilled albeit unorthodox
surrealist artist, who enjoyed
basking in his own controversies
and grandiose behaviour. Dali died
of heart failure in 1989 at the age
of 84. Exhibited pieces will include
the artist’s most famous work,
The Persistence of Memory,
more commonly called
Melting Watches.
After a massive six-year
restoration project, the
Shanghai Botanical Garden
has unveiled the Quarry
Garden. Last year, the
American Society of
Landscape Architects
conferred the 4.26ha
tourist hotspot, originally an
inaccessible and dangerous
piece of land, an Honor award.
Till March 25 at 19 Rue
Beaubourg, Paris,
tel: +33 144 78 12 75,
centrepompidou.fr.
Admission tickets of €9€13 (S$14-S$21) apply.
Shanghai Botanical Garden,
1111 Longwu Road,
Shanghai, tel: +86 21
5436 3369,
www.shbg.org
Text Joey Lee
Brick Art
LEGO does not equal drooling toddlers
and castles, especially when in the
hands of New York-based Nathan
Sawaya, winner of the Most Creative
Unusual Artist award from the Society
of Unique Artists. Deemed as one of
CNN’s 12 Must-see Exhibitions, The
Art of the Brick is currently making its
South-east Asia debut in Singapore.
See stunning displays of intricate
sculptures made from thousands
of LEGO bricks, including one of the
venue – the ArtScience Museum.
Till April 14 at ArtScience Museum, Marina
Bay Sands, tel: +65 6688 8868, brickartist.com.
Admission tickets of
S$8-S$15 apply.
Light, Lytro,
Camera
By capturing all the rays of
light in a scene, the groovy
Lytro camera unleashes
new capabilities such as
the ability to focus the
image after the picture is
taken. This pocket-sized
camera boasts a powerful
8x optical zoom as well as
an f/2 lens.
Available at lytro.com/camera
from US$399 (S$486).
East Meets West
Renowned French artist
Fabienne Verdier is set for his
debut solo exhibition in Asia.
From Jan 25 to March 9,
you can see his distinctive
works at Art Plural Gallery in
Singapore.
After a decade in China
working with masters in
traditional ink painting,
the artist has developed
a unique East-West style.
Verdier works vertically, using
gravity as a tool to enhance
the transmission of the
matter through movement.
Art Plural Gallery, 38 Armenian
Street, tel: +65 6636 8360,
artpluralgallery.com
06
ASCENDAS
NEWS
ITPC building
accorded LEED
Gold status
Ascendas to co-develop
tech park in Johor
India International Tech
Park Chennai (ITPC),
Ascendas’ joint venture
with TIDCO, has been
awarded the Leadership in
Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) Gold
certication.
Phase 2 of the Crest
building is the rst multitenanted development
in India to be certied
LEED Gold under the new
version of the standard.
The certication, for
the category Existing
Buildings: Operations
and Maintenance (EB:
O&M), recognises
Ascendas’ achievements
in sustainability, green
development and
operations. Built in 2007,
the Crest building is one
of three buildings at ITPC,
and offers 730,000 sq ft of
Grade A office space.
It is the latest award for
the innovative park. ITPC’s
rst phase, the Pinnacle
building, was awarded the
LEED Silver certication
in September 2011. The
award by the US Green
Building Council
(USGBC) was for the
EB: O&M category.
LEED, designed
by USGBC, is
a pre-eminent
programme for the
design, construction
and operation of highperformance green
buildings.
Malaysia Ascendas is set to
co-develop an integrated
eco-friendly tech park in
Malaysia.
On Oct 23, 2012,
Ascendas entered a
joint-venture agreement
with UEM Land Berhad, a
wholly owned subsidiary
of UEM Land Holdings
Berhad, to develop the 210ha
park in Nusajaya, one of  ve
agship zones in Johor’s Iskandar
Malaysia. Ascendas will hold a 60
per cent stake in the joint venture.
Ms Chong Siak Ching, President
and CEO of Ascendas, said: “We
are excited to be involved in one
of the largest and most ambitious
development projects in South-east
Asia. This joint venture extends our
presence in Malaysia and offers an
opportunity to share our experience
in building environmentally friendly
integrated business space with
vibrant work-live-play elements that
Ascendas is renowned for.”
Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Singapore’s
Senior Minister of State for
Trade and Industry and National
Development, and Malaysia’s Datuk
Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of
International Trade and Industry,
graced the signing ceremony.
Located in Gerbang Nusajaya,
the development has a projected
investment value of RM3.7 billion
(S$1.5 billion). The freehold tech
park is the closest industrial site to
the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link
checkpoint, and will be well linked
to major international airports and
seaports.
The fully landscaped park will
support myriad industries, including
electronics, food processing,
precision engineering, logistics and
warehousing. It will also feature
lifestyle amenities including food
and beverage outlets, and tness
and retail facilities. The proposed
development is expected to take
place in three phases over nine
years, with the launch of Phase 1
JOINT VENTURE SIGNING
targeted
to be in the last quarter
CEREMONY
of 2013.
Groundbreaking
ceremony for
Fusionopolis Phase 5
Singapore Ascendas and Mitsui & Co
Ltd celebrated the groundbreaking
ceremony of Fusionopolis Phase 5
on Nov 5, 2012.
The iconic new development
in the heart of Fusionopolis in
one-north will be Singapore’s rst
Work Office Home Office (WOHO)
concept, which merges readymade facilities with exible spaces
that cater to office, living and
lifestyle functions.
Designed to appeal to
individuals and businesses in the
infocomm technology and media
industries, the WOHO concept will
complement the operations and
business growth needs of these
companies, offering 2,690 sq m of
exible spaces.
Each unit (measuring 32 to 96 sq
m) will suit two to six employees
comfortably.
With the exibility to customise
and congure these spaces for
Ascendas/Fraser’s
new hotel opens
at Changi Business
Park
their work and living needs, WOHO
tenants can enjoy a unique work
environment that nurtures the
spirit of creativity and innovation.
Ms Chong Siak Ching,
President and CEO of Ascendas,
said: “Fusionopolis Phase 5
is the sixth project that the
Ascendas Group will undertake
in one-north, totalling our
stable of quality business space
here to close to 210,000 sq m.
We will have three buildings in
Biopolis, one in Mediapolis and
two in Fusionopolis. We will be
able to offer our customers across
various industries – life sciences, IT
and media – innovative, integrated
spaces that we hope will inspire
their employees to excel.”
Fusionopolis Phase 5, which
costs an approximate S$370
million, is expected to be
completed in the fourth quarter
of 2014.
Singapore Capri by Fraser,
Ascendas’ collaboration
with Frasers Hospitality
Pte Ltd, officially opened
on Sept 7, 2012. Adding
to Ascendas’ growing
hospitality portfolio, the
hotel residence – located
at Changi Business Park
– combines the facilities and
services of a hotel with the
comfort and convenience
of a full serviced residence.
The unique hotel concept
is designed to meet the
24/7 needs of today’s
tech-forward travellers. It
is located within walking
distance from Changi Expo
and  ve minutes from
Changi Airport.
The BCA Green Markcertied development uses
high-efficiency lighting and
water waste minimisation
systems, and incorporates
environmentally responsible
purchasing policies, and
reuse and recycle practices.
08
PROFILE
Love at
rst bite
Although he has never
been to a formal cooking
class, Jeremy Cheok gave
up a career as a materials
scientist to pursue his rst
love – cooking.
At 27, Jeremy Cheok already wears
multiple hats. Not only is he a chef
and co-director of a bespoke private
dining outt, he is an instructor at
kitchen supplies superstore TOTT’s
cooking studio, and a culinary writer
with a cookbook under his belt. But
ask Jeremy, and he will tell you he
simply wants to be known as a food
enthusiast. He says: “Thanks to local
culture, cooking and food have always
been part of my life.”
Interestingly, Jeremy has never attended
a formal cooking class. He picked up his
kitchen skills by helping out his Peranakan
1
Text Lediati Tan Photography Winston Chuang
grandmother, pounding rempah (spice
paste) as she whipped up delectable
dishes, and also from working at a chicken
rice stall and restaurants during the
school holidays.
1-2
Self-taught chef
Jeremy Cheok’s
unique take on classic
favourites.
3
OKB, Jeremy’s new
venture, includes a
bakery and private
dining facilities.
2
YOUNG TALENT
The rst proper meal Jeremy recalls
cooking (aside from instant noodles) was
steak with curry sauce when he was in
Primary 5, made for a neighbour using
McDonald’s curry sauce as a base. When
the neighbour’s mother asked Jeremy for
the recipe, he could not oblige as he had
simply improvised using ingredients in
his fridge.
Buoyed by this experience and his
family’s support, Jeremy honed his
culinary skills. During his national service
stint, the cooking enthusiast met two
passionate foodies, and they started
cooking for their rugby teammates.
Requests from friends and families
poured in, and the trio turned their
informal sessions into a paid sideline,
which evolved into private dining outt
JAM.
In 2009, while on an internship in
Vietnam, Jeremy, then a third-year
materials science undergraduate, realised
that life in a lab was not for him. “It was a
bit too repetitive and I felt that I needed
something a little bit more challenging,”
recalls Jeremy.
3
A DIFFERENT PATH
Upon returning to Singapore, he focused
on making JAM a more professional
outt. He also started a supper club;
it was at one such session that Jeremy
met an Ascendas employee, who was
so impressed with the food that she
invited JAM to cater for the company’s
boardroom lunches. As the working
relationship developed, JAM started
catering for other Ascendas functions.
Jeremy’s contemporary interpretations
of South-east Asian dishes have wowed
clients, who include the Facebook team in
Singapore, and the CEO of an insurance
company with a standing reservation on
New Year’s Eve. Herbs and spices like
coriander, Thai basil and laksa leaves
feature in his sauces and avour bases.
Crowd favourites include beef served
with a gula melaka glaze, roasted pork
with chilli apple chutney, and a modish
lotus root soup – a puree soup that tastes
like cream of lotus root. Serving anything
from family-style meals to seven-course
plated dinners, he describes JAM’s
culinary style as “openly experimental”. He
says: “We try to cater to people’s requests
because that’s what private dining is
about – customising and fullling bespoke
requests.”
From yachts to the rooftop of a factory
in Little India, Jeremy has cooked in just
about any kitchen imaginable, and has
become adept at cooking in less-thanideal conditions. Jeremy recalls how he
once had to steam creme brulee instead
of baking it as the oven was out of order.
He has also adapted his menus to feature
more food that can be prepared ahead
of time.
Together with new partner Estelle Chey,
an ex-auditor and graduate of culinary
arts school Le Cordon Bleu, Jeremy set up
a permanent base for JAM in Kampong
Bahru last July, followed by a bakery a
month later. Jeremy half-jokes that with
the new venture, OKB (which stands for
One Kampong Bahru Road as well as
“our kind of bakery”), he has added two
new titles – “dishwasher and slave” – to
his resume.
10
DESIGN
1
One of Helsinki’s most
iconic monuments,
the sculpture – a
tribute to composer
Jean Sibelius – sparked
a lively public debate
on art.
2
The stunning Helsinki
Central Railway Sation
serves about 20,000
passengers every day.
1
Text and photography Yong Shu Hoong Images Getty Images
C A P I TA L I S I N G
ON GOOD
DESIGN
EVERYDAY CREATIVIT Y
ABOUNDS IN HELSINKI,
THE CURRENT WORLD
DESIGN CAPITAL.
2
12
DESIGN
Helsinki resident Piritta Maavuori
cycles to work. On the journey from
her home in Kulosaari to her citycentre office, the 44-year-old passes by
Arabia, where a ceramics factory of the
same name was founded, and Suvilahti,
where a cluster of photographers,
artists, writers and other creative
professionals call a former energy
production facility home.
All around Piritta, design
informs and inspires. “For
me, design is a way of
making visible the
meaningful things
in our life – and
also making them
accessible,” says
the audio book
producer.
For that, Piritta
lives in the perfect
city – Helsinki is the
3
current World Design
Capital (WDC). The biennial
title, conferred by the International
Council of Societies of Industrial Design,
honours the city’s revitalisation and
innovative design of urban spaces, and
the impact of design on its citizens,
economy and way of life. In fact, in
conjunction with its stint as WDC, Helsinki
held 100 design-related exhibitions and
300 projects in 2012.
About 600,000 people live in Helsinki,
the biggest city in Finland, which has
a population of more than  ve million
people. Helsinki is the third WDC, after
Turin in Italy (2008) and Seoul in South
Korea (2010).
Piritta affirms that she is surrounded by
distinctive Finnish design in her everyday
life, from forest-inspired wall ornaments
in the restaurant where she lunches, to
book covers by famed illustrators Mika
Tuominen and Marjaana Virta, as well as
illustrations by designers Elina Warsta and
Laura Valojarvi.
On a recent trip to Helsinki, this writer
saw uniquely Finnish design in every
aspect of life in the capital – from a large
steel sculpture in a public square and
artistically painted tabletops at a sidewalk
cafe to glass panels with food-related
motifs found in a supermarket.
The late Alvar Aalto, one of the world’s
key gures of modern architecture,
summed up Finnish design philosophy
best: “There is only one rule that holds
fast in architecture: Build naturally.
Don’t do anything stilted, don’t do
anything unnecessary. Everything that is
superuous becomes ugly with time.”
His philosophy of minimalistic style
and use of functionalism can be glimpsed
throughout Helsinki, from grand
structures to practical facilities. Finlandia
Hall, a concert hall and congress wing
built in 1971, boasts a distinctive white
facade covered with Carrara marble.
Restaurant Savoy, which opened in 1937,
showcases Alvar’s signature clean lines
with inspiration drawn from nature, while
Stockmann department store’s Academic
Bookshop boasts large sky-lit windows
and Carrara marble slabs.
DESIGNED FOR LIFE
In Helsinki, good design and architectural
sensibility play signicant roles in
everyday lives. The functionalistic style of
the city’s Olympic Stadium and General
Post Office – both completed in 1938 – is
particularly striking. The Senate Square
area also contains ne examples of
neoclassical architecture, such as Helsinki
Cathedral and the Government Palace,
which Carl Ludvig Engel designed in the
1800s.
A major theme for WDC 2012 was Open
City, where ordinary citizens got involved
with the development of their living
environment. Their dedication towards
incorporating design into their lives has
won Helsinki praise for safety, a high
standard of living and a reliable metro
system. In British magazine Monocle ’s
Quality of Life survey last year, Helsinki
was named the second most liveable city
in the world, after Zurich in Switzerland.
According to the magazine, Helsinki is “a
city where good ideas quickly come to life”.
Another prominent example of how
city life is continually being enhanced by
3
The General Post
Office off ers postal
services and insights
into the city’s rich
architectural heritage.
4
Senate Square has
hosted a wide range of
events, from concerts
to snowboarding
competitions.
4
DESIGN
Top Helsinki sites for Finnish design
Make your rst stop the Design Museum,
which has a collection of 75,000 Finnish
design objects that include Nokia phones,
furniture, lamps and glassware. Finnish Form,
the museum’s permanent collection, looks
at different aspects of Finnish design – from
craft and fashion to industrial design
– between the late 19th century and
the present day.
A free Design District Helsinki
map guides you towards
interesting boutiques, interiors
stores and handicraft and
jewellery shops. Gain further
insights at shops such as
Nounou Design, founded
by designer and glassmaker
Anu Penttinen, and Artek 2nd
Cycle, which sells vintage Artek
furniture like the Stool 60 by
Finnish designer Alvar Aalto.
Architecture fans should not miss
Helsinki’s Central Railway Station, designed
by world-famous Finnish architect Eliel
Saarinen (1873-1950). Its art nouveau granite
facade, complete with statues and a green
copper roof, dates back to 1919. Among the
newer architectural gems, LPR Architects’
Helsinki Music Centre stand out for its design,
which exemplies a considered approach to
combining copper surfaces, forms and systems.
The Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art,
designed by Steven Holl Architects, features
galleries with curved and oblique walls.
It is a must-see for those
keen to explore Finnish
8
and international
contemporary art.
5
6
9
7
5
Helsinki’s Design
Museum boasts
the country’s
denitive collection
of local works.
6-7
The Kiasma Museum
of Contemporary
Art is a sublime
study in
curves and
architectural
uidity.
8
The Central Railway
Station’s distinctive
features include
a clock tower and
statues holding
spherical lamps.
9
The Helsinki Music
Centre’s exterior
was deliberately
kept simple to allow
its more varied and
dramatic interior
to wow visitors.
10-11
The Kamppi Chapel
of Silence features
an eye-catching
curved exterior and
a skylight along the
ceiling’s edge.
12
At Helsinki-Vantaa
Airport, design is
seamlessly woven into
the travel and service
experience.
Images Jussi Tiainen (Design Museum), Corbis (Music Centre)
14
design is the Kamppi Chapel of Silence,
which is instantly recognisable by its
curved windowless wooden structure.
Built as one of WDC 2012’s projects, this
meditative space at Narinkkatori Square
offers harried Helsinki residents a moment
of quiet reprieve from the daily grind.
As an ode to design, Helsinki Airport
recently unveiled a special tent located
at Gate 11. It houses a showcase of new
design innovation, with accompanying
sounds of the Finnish wilderness. Outside
the tent, visitors can while away
the time on park benches
around whitewashed
wooden tables.
WELL-DESIGNED
SERVICE
7
11
12
Aside from physical
structures and
objects, there
is a similar push
to incorporate
design into Finnish
10
services and systems, as
emphasised in the WDC 2012
theme, Embedded Design.
Mr Arja Suominen, Senior VicePresident of Corporate Communications
and Corporate Responsibility at national
airline Finnair, says: “We think of the whole
customer experience from the design
point of view, and how we can serve our
customers according to their needs.”
From Ultima Thule glasses designed
by Finnish houseware company Littala
for the airline, to the deployment of
appropriate colours and music, good
design translates to a seamless operation.
In another triumph for functionality
and simplicity, Finnair replaced a pouch
with a brown paper envelope to contain
the eye shade, socks and ear plugs
given to its business-class passengers.
The inconspicuous envelope reects
another WDC 2012 theme – The New
Role of Design – which emphasises the
importance of sustainable development
in Finnish design philosophy.
“There is a trend of moving away from
branded luxury to natural luxury,” says
Mr Suominen.
16
SPACE
Text Shweta Parida Images Getty Images, Shinkenchiku-sha, Joseph Burns, Eric Zepeda
THINK
INSIDE THE
ACROSS CITIES, SHIPPING CONTAINERS
ARE BEING REINVENTED AS RESTAUR ANTS, MALLS,
ART GALLERIES AND WORKSPACES.
18
SPACE
1
2
Cargo containers might be more
synonymous with ports and
transporting freight around the world,
but the latest demand for sustainable,
low-cost and efficient spaces has
turned these giant clunky metal boxes
into statement-making structures.
Representing a new urban way of life,
shipping containers are being turned
into emergency shelters, pop-up retail
and food outlets, mobile art galleries,
residences and workspaces.
While some might say that they are
symbolic of a city’s globalisation needs,
others make a compelling case for its
ecologically driven usage.
“It gives us an opportunity to recycle
something that people would not
usually think of as building material,”
says a spokesperson for London-based
Mexican restaurant Wahaca, which
3
4
recently opened a temporary outlet in
the city’s edgy and vibrant Southbank
neighbourhood.
“It gives us the opportunity to use
the fabric of our building to talk about
sustainability, which is a core part of our
brand.” The pop-up outlet, designed by
Softroom Architects, will move to a new
location this summer.
Closer to home, Ascendas, Asia’s leading
provider of business-space solutions,
echoes similar sentiments. With a strong
mandate for creating sustainable spaces,
it is not surprising that Paprika, a cafe
at Ascendas’ corporate office at Science
Park II, is housed in a shipping container.
“The recycled container is a manifestation
of our ChiQG concept, which stands
for cost effective, human-centric,
interactive, quality and green,” says Mr
Lim Swee Hong, Assistant Vice-President,
1-4
Built using
shipping
containers,
Japan’s
architecture rm
Daiken-Met is a
movable office.
5-6
Cultural
organisation
Platoon
Kunsthalle’s
multi-use cultural
hubs have added
to the creative
buzz in Berlin
and Seoul.
7-8
London’s pop-up
mall Boxpark
is great for
shopping and
hanging out.
5
7
Development Planning and Design.
Being one of the busiest port cities in
the world, Mr Lim notes that Singapore
has an abundant supply of these
containers – a ready solution when time is
a constraint. He elaborates: “Projects are
always on a tight timeline, so being readily
available has its advantages. Containers
provide the option of immediate shortterm space while permanent buildings are
being constructed.”
In Japan, Gifu-based architecture rm
Daiken-Met developed the idea to use
shipping containers as an office, after its
landlord agreed to lease the land parcel
on the condition that the rm build a
“simple office that could be broken easily“,
says architect Yoko Nunomura.
“We designed this movable office and
told our landlord that we could move
anytime. The landlord revealed to us that
6
8
if we had not come up with this option,
he would have preferred to convert the
space into a paid public car park.”
“CARGOTEC TURE” TAKES SHAPE
Portability and mobility give shipping
containers an edge over more permanent
concrete structures. “Cargotecture” is
now a part of urban cityscapes. In London,
there are utilitarian live/work studios of
Container City in the Docklands, and popup mall Boxpark in Shoreditch.
Platoon Kunsthalle is a cultural
organisation with outposts in Berlin and
Seoul. Dedicated to Asian subculture,
Platoon Kunsthalle Seoul is made up of 28
stackable cargo containers. The cultural
organisation aims to create a dynamic
space where emerging Korean and foreign
artists can display their creative talents.
“Putting the shipping containers in the
20
SPACE
9
10
middle of the city is metaphorical – it
reminds us about how connected and
intertwined the world is,” says founder
Christoph Frank. “The architectural
concept is centred on temporary land
usage and mobility.
“In megacities, land prices are increasing
very quickly so, for cultural projects
to stay visible in the city centre, this is
an excellent chance to occupy, albeit
temporarily, free spaces with a mobile
container building.” The organisation
is now looking into “shipping” Platoon
Kunsthalle to Singapore, Mexico City and
Moscow.
In New York, the Whitney Museum of
American Art recently commissioned LOTEK studio to design a pop-up studio out
of shipping containers, while the museum
prepares to move its headquarters.
11
Shipping containers make a strong
architectural impression on urban
landscapes. Case in point: Del Popolo, a
mobile pizzeria in San Francisco, housed
in a 20ft container, came about after its
owner Jonathan Darsky failed to nd a
traditional restaurant space.
“I also realised a traditional truck
would not work in keeping with my goal
to build an ‘open’ kitchen featuring a
wood-red brick oven,” says Jonathan. He
also wanted to follow in the footsteps of
legendary architect Mies van der Rohe
and limit the barriers between the kitchen
staff and diners.
The sleek mobile outlet, which comes
with a glass-enclosed exhibition kitchen,
has become a cult xture in San Francisco
– for its delectable pizza as well as
fascinating design.
12
13
While the main reason for the
popularity of cargo containers as
commercial spaces is the lack of
affordable options, increasingly big names
are embracing the trend as a nod to pop
culture prevalent. International coffee
chain Starbucks, for instance, has opened
a new outlet in Seattle, Washington, made
out of four shipping containers.
Some designers and architects argue
that a container’s boxy structure and
xed dimensions do not allow for much
variation in its oor plans, since the
dimensions are xed. But Christoph
opines: “The structural limitations, in fact,
present the most interesting challenge in
spatial planning for these boxy structures.”
Designed by the US-based chain’s
in-house architects, the structure
adheres to LEED green building standards
and emphasises reduction of energy
use. While pushing the envelope of
environmental design in retail, the drivethrough cafe imbibes the same trendy
appeal seen in its brick-and-mortar stores.
Leveraging on the pop-up phenomenon
that is fast becoming an integral feature
of big cities, shipping containers promise
to transform sustainable architecture that
appeals to a large number of people and
serves more than one purpose.
As one of the new icons of modern
architecture, shipping containers carry
enormous potential to reinterpret the
lexicon of the urban landscape. Mr Lim
aptly summarises: “There is nothing
stopping these containers from becoming
permanent xtures. They have the added
advantage of being portable, so they can
be ‘permanently mobile’.”
14
9
Paprika cafe,
located at
Ascendas’
corporate office,
exemplies the
company’s belief in
sustainable design.
10
Restaurant
meets recycling at
London’s Wahaca
pop-up outlet in
Southbank.
11-14
Mobile pizzeria Del
Popolo, housed
in a 20ft shipping
container, is a
cult  xture in San
Francisco.
22
F E AT UR E
1
MIXIN G WO RK
A N D P L AY
HOTELS LOCATED WITHIN BUSINESS PARKS DOUBLE
UP AS NET WORKING HUBS WHILE REMAINING
CONNEC TED TO THE REST OF THE CIT Y.
Text Celine Lim Images Capri by Fraser, Aaron Pocock
2
Gone are the times when business
travellers would retire to cookie-cutter
business hotels, indistinguishable from
one city to the next, after a long day.
Hotels at business parks are becoming
increasingly better integrated into
their built environments and more
thoughtfully designed, affording
business travellers more than just a
place to lay their heads at night.
Take the distinctive Vivanta by Taj hotel
in Whiteeld, Bangalore, located within
India’s International Tech Park Bangalore
(ITPB). The brief to the architectural
team, WOW Architects and Warner Wong
Design, specied that the 200-room
establishment should be designed to
provide an “optimal environment for
networking opportunities”.
Mr Wong Chiu Man, the rm’s cofounder and Managing Director, reveals
that his team set out to redene Vivanta
as a “contemporary sociocultural lifestyle
hub” for the community at ITPB as well as
the population of the fast-growing suburb
of Whiteeld.
But the team had to abide by a
low-building-height restriction and
high prescribed site coverage, where
the building area was to account for a
large percentage of the total plot
area. In addressing these
two constraints, the team
developed a unique
“mobius-strip” design for
Vivanta that broke away
from the “conventional
palace-like structures”
ubiquitous to India’s
hospitality landscape.
“The transformation
of the building into a
landscaped form invites
the use of the hotel as
an urban park, providing
a genuine social space for
the larger community of the
emerging tech park,” says Mr Wong.
Spaces to promote social interaction
were created both within the hotel and
beyond. Food and beverage outlets
seamlessly integrate with outdoor public
spaces, ensuring a constant mix of hotel
guests and IT professionals
attending social functions held
at the hotel.
PRIME POSITION
Located at the entrance
to the ITPB, Vivanta is
well placed to function as
a gateway between the
business park and the
developing city around it.
The hotel has developed a
must-see reputation among
the technologically savvy who
frequent this part of Bangalore and
blog about the exciting happenings in
their community.
Mr Wong observes: “In spite of the
security wall built around the property,
it does not have the enclosed, ‘fortress’
feeling that many exclusive hotels have.
Rather, it has become a communal space
where hip, young Indians congregate for
business or drinks. There is a delightful
buzz that suggests an open and more
inclusive society.”
At Singapore’s Changi Business Park,
Capri by Fraser – co-owned by Ascendas
– similarly caters to young business
travellers. Hotel guests tend to work in
the information technology and support
management elds, or are MICE (meetings,
incentives, conventions and exhibitions)
sector participants attending events held
in the nearby Singapore Expo Halls.
Travellers of the iPad generation get to
experience an extensive range of facilities
and customisable services, along with
the comfort and convenience of a full
serviced residence. Here, guests have
the complete freedom to rest, relax and
3
4
1&2
Located within India’s
International Tech
Park Bangalore,
Vivanta by Taj’s
captivating design
and facade capture
the changing face
of business in the
vibrant city.
3
With its chic decor
and seamless spaces,
Vivanta provides the
perfect setting
for networking.
4
Vivanta’s outdoor
spaces, which include
a tanning lawn, are
especially popular
with travellers.
24
F E AT UR E
recharge according to their individual
lifestyle needs.
Mr Tony Ang, Managing Director of
Aedas Singapore, which designed this
unique hotel-residence says: “The
hotel’s customers tend to be very open
to interesting hospitality concepts. We
wanted to break the mould of a business
hotel. We designed Capri to be hip but not
over the top. It’s playful, refreshing and
casual.”
And every element at Capri is high on
the “hip” quotient: There is an eclectic
mix of installation art in the lobby,
bathrooms come with rain showers and
cool Malin+Goetz amenities, and meeting
rooms are tted with the latest seamless
technology to make discussions a breeze.
Active guests can work out anytime at
Capri’s fully equipped 24/7 gym. They can
also intensify their water workouts on the
state-of-the-art hydro treadmill, then lay
back and relax to the rocking motion of
an EZ Hammock – the latest concept in
poolside lounging.
Even the mundane duties associated
with staying in a serviced residence are
lifted from drudgery: Spin & Play, Capri’s
launderette, offers different types of
play ranging from Nintendo Wii and XBox
Kinect to board games. Laundry and
laughs, anyone?
To create a seamless transition from
the business park to the hotel, retail
5
Capri by
Fraser caters
to travellers
who work and
play to a
diff erent beat.
6
Seamless technology
is incorporated
throughout Capri.
7
Capri’s lush
landscaping
mirrors the green
surroundings of
Changi Business Park.
8
5
State-of-the-art
 tness facilities at
Capri cater to those
looking for a workout.
6
7
8
and commercial outlets dot the building.
Changi City Point – Ascendas’ joint
venture with Frasers Centrepoint – offers
travellers an arts arena and a rooftop
garden. Both Capri and Changi City Point
feature food and beverage outlets, as
well as meeting spaces that are easily
accessed by non-hotel guests.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Landscaping is also used to “soften
the impact of the surrounding office
buildings”, says Mr Ang, who notes
that Changi Business Park itself has an
abundance of green and open spaces.
“The idea was always to be free-owing
and uid, where spaces merge, and guests
and visitors can move about freely.”
Hotel guests who have the time to
explore further aeld will nd that Capri is
a short walk from Expo MRT station, which
connects business travellers at Changi
Business Park to the rest of Singapore.
26
MONEY
BUYING
ART
AT T H E
RIGHT
PRICE
ART IS INCREASINGLY
REGARDED AS A BONA FIDE
SOURCE OF INVESTMENT.
WE SPEAK TO EXPERTS TO
MATCH QUALIT Y WORKS TO
DIFFERENT BUDGETS.
Ask any art expert for their top tip on
investing in art, and you are most likely
to hear “buy what you like”. While that
is certainly sound counsel, it is also
true that most art buyers will have one
eye on the price tag.
Ideally you can acquire art that not only
has the potential to appreciate in value,
but which can also be appreciated for its
aesthetic beauty. However, investors are
increasingly looking at art purely as an
alternative investment.
“There are people who are fed up with
the stock market, and that they are not
earning money elsewhere, so art is an
alternative,” says Jonathan Macey, Senior
Art Broker of art investment rm, Art
Futures Group.
But in terms of earning a return on
your investment, the safest route – as
with most other markets – is to stick to
the tried and tested.
“A blue chip will always be a blue
chip. Economies can collapse, but
there will always be a higher margin of
safety with established names,” says
Howard Rutkowski, co-founder of art
consultancy Fortune Cookie Projects.
This means avoiding fads and
sticking to globally known names.
Text Francis Kan Images Getty Images, Zhao Rehui, Jumaldi Al
2
VALUE GEMS
1
Under $10,000
A cheap piece of art does not necessarily mean
it is of lesser quality than a more expensive
one, and a lot of good work can be had at this
price. While major pieces of prominent artists
will be out of reach, their drawings, like those
of British sculptor and Turner Prize winner
Richard Deacon, may not be. This will add some
star power to your collection for a relatively
modest investment.
Another route for the budget-constrained
is to identify up-and-coming artists who
have shown some evidence of their potential
to rise to greater heights. This might mean
getting coverage in respected art publications
or having exhibited widely. A handful of
Singaporean artists fall into this category, and
buying one of their works will give you the
added satisfaction of supporting local talent.
Establish your budget, identify the
best art names you can afford, then
nd the most valuable pieces from
these artists that are within your
budget. For the more adventurous, or
perhaps those whose purse strings
are a little tighter, seeking out lesserknown artists who are attracting
global attention is another strategy.
For newcomers to the world of art
investing, we have put together a few
artists, whose works are likely to give you
the best bang for your buck depending on
your budget and, hopefully, look good in
your living room too.
1
Psychedelic colours,
patterns and
repetition feature in
renowned Japanese
artist Yayoi Kusama’s
creations.
2-3
Photographer Zhao
Renhui’s quietly
haunting images are
increasingly popular
among art collectors.
3
ZHAO RENHUI
(PHOTOGR APHY )
A local artist
fast gaining
prominence
abroad, he was
a winner of the
UOB Painting of
the Year Award
in 2009, and the
National Art
Council’s Young
Artist Award a
year later. More
signi cantly, he
has started to
gain recognition
abroad for his
works which,
interestingly
enough, appear
through a
platform known
as the Institute of
Critical Zoologists
(ICZ).
According to
ICZ’s website,
its projects aim
to “improve
the practice
of zoology and
contribute
conceptual
advances to our
knowledge and
understanding
of zoological
studies”. To put
it simply, it is
an investigation
through
photography of
how humans view
animals.
The institute
was selected
by Beijing- and
Hong Kong-based
independent
curator and
scholar Pauline J
Yao for her Best
of 2010 list in
the respected
international
publication Art
Forum. Renhui
has exhibited in
London, Paris and
Seoul. Last year,
he showcased
his works in
Singapore
alongside
artists from the
prestigious Royal
Academy.
28
MONEY
4
MID-RANGE FINDS
$50,000 -$200,000
At this price range, more interesting works
come into play, including those by top
Indonesian artists like Jumaldi Al, who
are fast establishing themselves as names
in the art world worth investing in.
Investors with a bigger war chest
are looking at the prospect of adding
signicant pieces by major artists to their
collections. These would include creations
by top British contemporary artists such
as Tracey Emin, whose neon pieces can be
purchased for around $200,000.
TR ACEY EMIN
(MULTIDISCIPLINARY )
She is part
of the group
known as Young
British Artists or
Britartists, which
emerged in the
late ’80s. The
outspoken artist
was a nominee for
the prestigious
Turner Prize in
1999, when she
exhibited My Bed
– an installation
that consisted of
her own unmade
dirty bed with
used condoms
and underwear.
In December
2011, she was
appointed
Professor of
Drawing at the
UK’s prestigious
Royal Academy,
an independent
institution
founded in
1768 and led by
eminent artists
and architects.
She was also
selected to
produce a poster
and limitededition print
for last year’s
London Olympic
and Paralympic
Games.
TOP-TIER INVESTMENTS
$250,000 -$500,000
4
Turner Prize nominee
Tracey Emin’s
confessional style is
reected in My Bed
– an unmade version in
its embarrassing glory.
5
The works of Japanese
legend Yayoi Kusama
have inuenced the
likes of pop artist
Andy Warhol.
6
A piece by Indonesian
artist Jumaldi Al , who
grew up in a family of
poets, but is now one
of Yogyakarta’s bestknown artists.
With this kind of budget, the
question is not what top-quality
artworks you can buy, but whether
galleries are prepared to sell them
to you. At the top tier of the market,
artists and galleries prefer to sell
to museums or reputable private
investors, as they know the works
will be exhibited and well taken care
of. The last thing they want is to sell
a piece to a buyer who then ips it
for a quick prot.
If you are new to collecting, build
up a relationship with a gallery by
buying smaller works rst. A quicker
route is to engage the services of
an art consultant, who can help
make the right introductions to
gallery owners and speed up the
process. If you succeed in gaining
the trust of gallery owners, you are
staring at the prospect of buying
pieces by legendary artists, such as
Japan’s Yayoi Kusama or Indian-born
sculptor Anish Kapoor.
6
ART INVESTMENT 101
1
YAYOI KUSAMA
(MULTIDISCIPLINARY )
One of the art
world’s major
stars, she has
created conceptual
works that have
inuenced pop
art luminaries
like Andy
Warhol. Major
retrospectives
of her work
have been held
at the Museum
of Modern Art,
Whitney Museum
of American Art
and Tate Modern.
In 2008, Christie’s
New York sold a
work by Yayoi for
$5.1 million – a
record for a living
female artist.
Famed for
her polka-dotinspired works,
she worked on
a line of Louis
Vuitton products
in 2011, which
included leather
goods, ready-towear, accessories,
shoes, watches
and jewellery.
While her pieces
from the ’60s
and ’70s are out
of range even at
this budget, her
sculptures are
available at this
price point.
Do your homework View as much as
art as you can to develop a collector’s
eye. Museums, galleries and art fairs
are the most obvious avenues. Educate
yourself further by speaking to people
in the know, such as gallery owners,
museum curators and, of course, the
artists themselves.
Buy from the right channels Buying
at an auction may seem glamorous
and exciting, but it may not be the
best option. Auction houses charge a
high commission, so purchasing from
galleries can be cheaper and can off er
you a broader range of options.
Beware of extra costs It’s not just
the price tag on the artwork itself
that you have to consider, but the costs
of maintaining it. From the moment
you buy a painting, there are carrying
and holding costs that are essential to
keeping your investment safe.
Be patient Art is not as liquid as
many other assets, so be prepared
to hold your investment for the long
term. Auction houses may not put up an
artwork for sale if it has appeared at an
auction in the past two years. Holding
artwork for around  ve to seven years is
usually necessary to see a decent return
on your investment.
2
3
4
5
30
FOOD
N O T YO U R
AV E R A G E J O E
FROM MICROLOT BEANS TO A SIPHONBREWED CUP, ARTISANAL COFFEE
IS ON THE BOIL IN ASIA.
The year was 1996. Grunge was still
hip, Oasis was playing on the radio
and Seattle coffee chain Starbucks
had just opened its rst store
in Singapore. Then, espresso
was a novelty and ice-blended
frappuccino a cool treat to local
coffee lovers more used to
Nanyang-style kopi-o. These
days, it’s siphon-brewed
coffee, the nest Arabica
beans and micro-roasteries
that have coffee lovers
on a real high. Welcome
to the burgeoning
gourmet coffee culture
in Singapore and, indeed,
much of Asia.
“Singaporeans are very
particular about the quality
of their food and beverage,”
says Keith Loh, founder of
Oriole Coffee, which has
three outlets. “The rise of
gourmet coffee is part of that – a
resurgence of quality in coffee.”
Opened in 2009, Oriole Coffee
is one of the local pioneers of
the gourmet coffee movement in
Singapore, known as the Third Wave
and one that has taken the world by
storm, from New York to Melbourne.
In modern coffeespeak, the First Wave
refers to the rise of freeze-dried coffee
after World War II. The Second Wave, says
Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan
Gold, started in the 1960s through the rise
of huge coffee chains such as Starbucks,
which opened its rst outlet in 1971 at
Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. Today,
the coffee giant has close to 17,000 outlets
Text Joyceline Tully
in 55 countries
including China and
Indonesia.
The Third Wave is the
rise of the artisanal coffee (a
term that rst surfaced in 2002)
– think small-batch freshly roasted
beans, hand-pulled espressos and singleorigin coffees, savoured in boutique
coffee shops. These small independent
coffee joints have sprouted up in Asia
to give coffee drinkers nuanced variety
in their java habit – including Singapore
(Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee Bar,
Liberty Coffee, Nylon Coffee Roasters
and Strangers’ Reunion), Hong Kong
(Rabbithole, Barista Jam and Knockbox
Coffee Company), Malaysia (Artisan Roast
Coffee and Whisk) and Thailand (Ristretto).
Mike Fung, owner of Rabbithole in Hong
Kong, says: “The Asia speciality coffee
market has grown dramatically in the
last two to three years. That’s not just
happening in one or two markets but
almost throughout Asia.”
Images Vee Chin, Rabbithole
BREWING A SIGNATURE ST YLE
Some of these independent artisanal
cafes boast their own in-house microroasters, while others offer single-origin
beans and signature house blends.
Some, like Toby’s Estate and 40 Hands,
serve fair trade coffee, using ethically
sourced beans.
“Such beans usually go hand in hand
with top-quality beans and production
methods. I buy from roasters that have
ethical business practices at the core of
their organisations,” says Harry Glover,
co-owner of 40 Hands. “They have
several agents travelling the world 12
months a year, sourcing and purchasing
1
2
1
Nylon in Singapore
attracts a steady stream
of java lovers drawn to
its bespoke blends.
2
Hong Kong’s Rabbithole
off ers home brewing
workshops.
3
3
Chye Seng Huat
Hardware Coff ee Bar
is one of Singapore’s
grooviest artisanal
coff ee joints.
FOOD
top-grade and sustainably produced
speciality coffees.”
As a sure sign of how cool coffee has
become in Singapore, there are even
pop-ups like Henry Congressional, which
serves Belgium beers alongside speciality
coffee from Smitten Coffee and Tea Bar,
the Robertson Quay cafe that roasts
its own beans; and Liberty Coffee, a
wholesaler that opens on an ad hoc basis
(opening hours are announced on its
Facebook page). “Singapore is in a huge
growth phase where the market is still
evolving and maturing,” says Harry. “It has
taken a lot from the Australian scene, but
is now really forming its own identity.”
4
5
Photos Vee Chin, Liberty Coffee, 40 Hands, Alvinn Lim
32
COMPLEXITIES OF COFFEE
These days, good java is like good wine. It’s
all about the avours of the beans, unique
to specic terroir, and brought to their full
potential by careful roasting and blending.
Says Liberty Coffee’s co-owner Pauline
Tan: “We use traceable, current crops
of ne varietals from leading coffeeproducing countries such as Guatemala,
Brazil, Ethiopia and Bolivia to produce
slow brews and single-origin coffees.
We love the nuances inherent in quality,
microlot coffees.”
Oriole, too, follows the harvesting
seasons and offers 10 types of beans
– from around the world including Brazil,
Indonesia, Rwanda, Costa Rica and Kenya
– which are roasted in-house then blended
for maximum avour. As in wine, singlevarietal and estate beans are highly prized
by the connoisseur. “You look for balance,
aromas and intensity,” Keith explains.
“You want both clarity and complexity in
avours.”
Unlike wine, however, a java x is still
largely affordable by all standards. That is,
unless one goes for the top of the range
kopi luwak . A cup brewed from these
beans can set you back by as much as £50
(S$98). It is, however, a matter of acquired
taste – kopi luwak is made from the beans
of coffee berries that have been eaten by
the civet cat, passed through its digestive
track and then defecated. This traditional
Indonesian favourite is now also farmed in
Vietnam and the Philippines.
6
4
In Singapore, many
artisanal coff ee
joints like Smitten
are roasting their
beans in-house.
5
40 Hands procures
ecologically sound
and ethically sourced
beans for their
speciality brews.
6
Fans of Liberty Coff ee
look out for its ad
hoc opening hours,
announced on its
Facebook page.
7
Keith Loh of Oriole
Coff ee, one of the
forerunners on
Singapore’s gourmet
coff ee scene.
7
When it comes to a good brew, the coffee
bean is only half the story. Up next is
matching the beans to the preferred
brewing method, whether drip lters,
French press, siphons, or espresso
machines with formidable-sounding names
like Speedster and The Slayer, arguably
the most coveted piece of machinery on
the market for espresso geeks.
As Patrick Tam from Hong Kong’s
Knockbox Coffee Company points out,
the degree of involvement in speciality
coffee preparation exceeds that of other
gourmet beverages. “We select the origin,
roast, brew and serve,” he says. “With
wine, you select the wine and decide
how long you decant it; with tea, you
seldom see the teahouse owner picking
his own leaves.”
BARISTA’S MAGIC
GOURMET
COFFEE
FAVOURITES
SINGAPORE
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
Coff ee Bar
150 Tyrwhitt Road
cshhcoff ee.com
Liberty Coff ee
131 Rangoon Road
eepurl.com/n4i8z (to sign up
for mailing list)
Nylon Coff ee Roasters
#01-40, 4 Everton Road
nyloncoff ee.sg
Oriole Coff ee
oriolecoff ee.com
Smitten Coff ee and Tea Bar
#01-11 The Quayside,
60 Robertson Quay
facebook.com/SmittenCafe
Strangers’ Reunion
37 Kampong Bahru Road
facebook.com/
StrangersReunion
40 Hands
78 Yong Siak Street
40handscoff ee.com
MAL AYSIA
Artisan Roast Coff ee
4 Lor Rahim Kajai 14, Taman
Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
artisanroast.com.my
Whisk
G139 1 Utama Shopping
Centre, 1 Lebuh Bandar
Utama, Petaling Jaya
facebook.com/whisk.kl
HONG KONG
Barista Jam
G/F, 126-128 Jervois Street,
Sheung Wan
baristajam.com.hk
Knockbox Coff ee Company
G/F, 21 Hak Po Street,
Mong Kok
knockboxcoff ee.hk
Rabbithole
2/F, 26 Cochrane Street,
Central
rabbitholecoff ee.com
THAIL AND
Ristretto
73 Nak Niwat Road, Latphrao,
Bangkok
ristrettocorp.blogspot.com
Indeed, Asian coffee lovers are opening
their eyes to new brewing methods,
where everything counts – from the
temperature of the water used (never
boiling water as that burns the grinds) to
the extraction (a few seconds too long or
short can alter the taste signicantly). To
help budding baristas and coffee lovers
navigate it, and as a sign of the growing
appeal of gourmet coffee, there is now
a plethora of barista courses, cupping
(tasting) sessions and appreciation
classes for amateurs and professionals.
Singapore’s Highlander Coffee Academy,
for instance, offers everything from coffee
appreciation seminars for beginners to
intensive professional workshops. Coffee
Connection in Kuala Lumpur runs latte
art and espresso classes. For the latest in
home brewing know-how, including advice
on choosing a home espresso machine,
Hong Kong’s Rabbithole offers the Home
Machine Workshop.
Even as Singapore and the rest of Asia
ride the Third Wave, coffee enthusiasts
and industry watchers are already talking
about the Fourth Wave in Australia and
the US, where baristas unleash their
creativity to take your cup of joe to new
heights. Cold-lter press coffee, anyone? It
is only a matter of time before Asia gets a
taste. Watch this space.
34
TR AVEL
TA L E S
Building homes
and hope
A lack of construction
experience did not stop
Cindy Koh, Ascendas
Vice-President of Customer
Service and Solutions, from
building houses for the
homeless in Sri Lanka.
1
1
2
When Cindy Koh learnt of a volunteer trip
to Sri Lanka to build houses for the less
fortunate, she seized the opportunity.
With no expectations and building
experience, she headed for Negombo in
July 2012 on a soul-affirming journey with
Habitat For Humanity.
Why did you go on this trip?
I worked in the public sector previously, and
have always liked the idea of doing good
for the community. When two of my friends
mentioned the volunteer trip, I decided to go
for it. The 14-day trip was organised by the
US branch of Habitat for Humanity, a group
dedicated to building affordable homes for
low-income families. A local philanthropist
had donated 1ha of land to the community,
and Habitat For Humanity proposed building
23 houses for the homeless in the area.
What were the other volunteers like?
There were 13 in our group, with the majority
from the US and Canada. It was a very diverse
group – we had retirees, teachers and even a
personal assistant for a celebrity. One thing
that really caught my attention was the age
range of the volunteers – from 20 to 68.
What challenges did you face?
The lack of modern amenities was a big
shock for me, as I’m a bit of an urbanite. We
Text Drew Pan Images Cindy Koh
stayed at a two-star hotel away from the
site. There were no toilet facilities at the site,
so I consciously watched what I ate to avoid
getting the runs.
Luckily, we had clean food, which was
usually curry, delivered from a nearby local
restaurant called Jolly Good. We ate a lot
of curry (laughs)! It was more of a challenge
for the Americans, who were not used to
spicy food. They often packed their own
sandwiches.
What was the community there like?
We constructed the houses in an area
called Paththayan Watta or Centipede
Estates, named because when water
pumps were rst installed, centipedes
came out with the water.
The poor get multiple day jobs, but nothing
is secure. For the past 12 to 15 years, these
23 homeless families have banded together
to look out for one another, while living in
shacks or whatever they could nd.
Because the families might not make
enough money for food, each lot is big
enough for a vegetable garden and there
are plans to teach them to farm. Each
family will be presented with a jackfruit
tree, which produces fruit year round.
Was it all work and no play?
We went sightseeing and visited UNESCO
World Heritage sites in areas such as Goa,
Sigiriya and Kandy. We also visited an
elephant orphanage in Pinnawala. It was
so amazing to see the elephants bathing
and playing in the river.
Now that it is over, how do you feel about
the trip?
I came back looking very dark with many
tan lines, but I have no regrets. My friends
1-2
Volunteer Cindy
Koh helped
to build 23
houses for the
homeless in
Negombo.
3-4
The diverse
group was
motivated by a
common goal
– to help the local
community.
How did the locals react to your group’s efforts?
They were really appreciative. On our
rst morning, there was a welcoming
ceremony with candles, tea, rice cakes
and bananas. We were very touched by
their hospitality and gifts.
One woman, who identied herself as a
would-be owner, was very visibly happy and
proud. Another woman cooked lunch for us.
3
4
5
6
Without any experience, how did you help build
these homes?
A separate team had already been there
earlier to lay the foundation for the
homes. Our group was responsible for
putting up the rst nine layers of brick
for each home. Initially, the masons, or
“professionals” as we called them, would
lay the bricks and we the volunteers
would only apply the cement. But, by
the third day, they entrusted us to lay
the bricks. It was very hard work, as we
were moving the bricks and rocks by
hand. There was not a single truck or
wheelbarrow, so we moved the bricks and
rocks by forming a daisy chain.
What are the houses like?
Each house has three rooms, with enough
space for another two rooms in the future.
and I were actually talking about
planning another Habitat For Humanity
trip. I would like to go to Nepal as I have
not been there. It is all about seeing new
things and being exposed to new cultures
while doing good. But I am not sure if I am
ready for somewhere where I would have
to live in a tent!
Would you consider yourself an
outdoor person?
I like the great outdoors, but the weather
in Singapore is not really conducive for a
lot of outdoor activities. When I was living
in Washington DC, I would go white-water
rafting and hiking.
5-6
Some of Sri
Lanka’s top
sites which
Cindy visited,
including
an elephant
sanctuary in
Pinnawala and
Lion’s Gate in
Sigiriya.
36
Last year, 2012, ended on a high note
for Ascendas’ local and overseas offices.
We round up the signicant events.
Singapore
Cyber makeover
Get the
latest
Ascendas
updates
via our
new and improved
Twitter account,
@AscendasSpace.
Keep abreast of the
latest news, market
information and
lifestyle suggestions in
regional cities that bear
the company’s footprint.
Ascendas has also
launched its Spacetobe
Facebook Fan Page,
which features the
latest news and posts.
Great turnout
Ascendas’ third Sports
@ International
Business Park event,
held from Oct 11 to 12,
had a turnout of 212
attendees. Creative
Technology emerged
champions in the
archery competition
as well as the intercompany relay run at
this annual event.
Healthy Lifestyle Week
Ascendas’ much-anticipated Healthy
Lifestyle Week was held from Sept 3
to 7. A total of 997 tenants from 53
companies participated in various
activities including a bazaar, blood
donation drive, seminars, workshops,
inter-company activities and group
exercise classes. The highlight was
the Road Relay event involving 52
teams. The defending champions
from DSTA sealed a repeat victory.
Bowled over
The Ascendas Bowling
Tournament, held on
Nov 10, experienced an
overwhelming response.
Originally planned for
30 teams, the event
welcomed a total of
37 entries. The teams
bowled their way to the
top spot at Safra Mount
Faber. Mr Chia Nam
Toon, Group Assistant
CEO of Corporate
Services and Group
Chief Financial Officer,
presented the prizes to
the winning teams from
CB&I Singapore, DSO
and Saipem.
India
Tech a break @ Chennai
CEO Night
Ascendas IT Parks, The V,
CyberPearl and aVance
Business Hub held the
annual CEO Night event
in Hyderabad in October.
Over 300 guests and
their families spent a
relaxing day unwinding at
a lush, luxurious resort.
Connect 2012
International Tech Park
Bangalore hosted its
annual CEO Night on Oct
26. Held at Vivanta by Taj,
the event was hosted by
Mr Thomas Teo, CEO of
Ascendas India. Guests
were entertained by
Prince Dance Group, the
winners of India’s Got
Talent 2009.
Festive joy
It was a month of fun
and merriment as
Ascendas Park Square
Mall at International
Tech Park Bangalore
held its Festival of Joy
event from October
to November. During
the highly anticipated
festive extravaganza,
shoppers were treated
to special performances
leading from Dushera
up to the Diwali festival,
shop-and-win contests,
and an international
food carnival.
International Tech Park Chennai and CyberVale
IT Park organised the popular annual Sports
Meet from Sept 6 to 7. Over 1,500 Park
employees from 45 companies participated in
a range of inter-company activities including
carrom, football, volleyball and brisk walking.
It was a close contest, but Intelenet Global
Services India lifted the Champion’s Trophy after
emerging victorious in most of the competitive
categories. Capgemini India and Olam
Information Services were the rst and second
runners-up respectively.
38
@ASCENDAS
Talent time
International Tech Park
Bangalore celebrated
Livewire 2012, the
Park’s annual cultural
festival, on Sept 7. Into
its ninth year, Livewire
saw more than 450
contestants from over
20 IT rms compete in
categories like Singing,
Dancing, Musical
and Theatre. After an
intense yet entertaining
competition, the trophy
went to First Advantage
Off shore Services.
China
Business forum
Helping hands
Ascendas and the Tamil
Nadu Differently Abled
Federation Charitable
Trust came together for
the sixth consecutive
year to honour 10
individuals who have
tirelessly contributed
towards the welfare
of differently abled
individuals from the
state. The Ascendas
Excellence Award,
initiated in 2007 as
part of its community
engagement efforts,
has recognised the
talent of 75 special
individuals since its
inception. This year’s
recipients included
parents, individuals
and associations. The
awards were presented
by Mr K. Ramanujam,
IPS, Director General of
Police, Tamil Nadu.
The Acendas China Business Forum on Oct 30 was
a resounding success. Over 100 top-management
executives from Ascendas, GE, Siemens, Philips,
Standard Chartered Bank, Oracle, DBS Bank and
Huawei participated in the forum, which was held
at the Ritz Carlton Pudong in Shanghai. Mr Wong
Wing Kien, CEO of Ascendas China, delivered
the opening speech, while Mr Aylwin Tan, Chief
Customer Services Officer, presented the keynote
speech. Ms Chong Siak Ching, Ascendas President
and CEO, said: “In China, the need for quality
infrastructure to support
companies in highervalue-added sectors is
driving demand for new
business park projects
and commercial buildings
over the past few years.
Ascendas has diversied
our product offering
from industrial facilities
to suburban integrated
business parks and
downtown office
buildings to meet the
needs of our customers.
We still believe in the
huge potential that this
country offers to the
world, across industries
and businesses.”
Mid-autumn fun
A four-day mid-autumn
programme was held
at Ascendas Xinsu to
enhance tenant and
customer relations as
well as foster team
cohesion. Participants
ocked to Xinsu
Industrial Square from
Sept 26 to 29 for a
series of fun activities,
including a Guess the
Lantern Riddle. The
tenants gave the event
a solid thumbs-up.
Singles carnival
Love because of Flavor,
a singles carnival, was
held at the Ascendas
Plaza on Nov 11.
Famous cuisine brands
such as Uminosachi
Japanese food,
Kentucky Fried Chicken
and Costa Coffee
offered yummy fare.
Single young people
gathered in the hopes
of nding their true love,
to enjoy interactive
games, and to savour
the delicious treats.
Environmental
advocate
In October, Dalian
Ascendas IT Park
received the Dalian
Environmental
Promotion award
from the Publicity
Department of the
CPC Dalian Municipal
Committee and the
Dalian Environment
Protection Bureau.
Fire Safety Week
Cycling fun
Ascendas Innovation Hub in Xian held a fun
bicycle race from Oct 25 to 26. The event,
attended by more than 60 employees from
20 tenants, saw three teams emerge winners
after four rounds of friendly competition.
SingaporeHangzhou
Science &
Technology
Park launched
its Fire Safety Week from
Nov 7 to 13 to educate
park tenants on re safety
awareness. A re drill
was held on Nov 9, the
national Fire Safety Day.
Demonstrations of resafety equipment usage
were held during the
week-long programme.
40
ART
SPACE
Old Pine Tree
by Lee Gil Rae
Korean artist Lee Gil Rae’s Old Pine Tree, located at Capri
by Fraser (co-owned by Ascendas), captures the vitality and
dynamism of the Singapore hotel. The stunning artwork is
an unforgettable meeting of exquisite shapes.
Partner with ANZ.
Together we achieve.
SGD143 MILLION
SGD50 MILLION
HKD1,400 MILLION
SGD50 MILLION
Bridge Loan & Senior Secured
Fixed Rate Notes
Ubitech Hub Pte
Sole Bookrunner & Lead Manager
Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes
Cambridge Industrial Trust
Joint Lead Managers and
Program Arranger
Secured Term Loan & Revolver
Fortune REIT
Joint Mandated Lead Arranger
& Bookrunner
Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes
FCL Treasury Pte Ltd
Sole Bookrunner & Lead Manager
2012
2012
2012
2012
SGD300 MILLION
SGD200 MILLION
SGD200 MILLION
SGD400 MILLION
Project Development Loan
UOL Group Limited
(Katong Regency)
Mandated Lead Arranger
Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes
Ascendas REIT
Joint Lead Manager
Senior Unsecured Fixed Rate Notes
CapitaCommercial Trust
Joint Lead Manager
Revolving Credit Facility
CDL Properties Ltd
(Republic Plaza)
Joint Lead Manager
2012
2011
2011
2011
HKD3,800 MILLION
AUD158 MILLION
AUD65 MILLION
Secured Term Loan & Revolver
Fortune REIT
Joint Mandated Lead Arranger
& Bookrunner
Buy Side Advisor for Acquisition
of Oaks Hotels & Resorts
Minor International
M&A Advisor
Senior Secured Term Loan
Oaks
Sole Financier
2011
2011
2011
As a leading bank to the real estate sector and a Top 5 Corporate Bank
in Asia*, ANZ is well positioned to deliver solutions for our clients across
debt capital markets, syndicated loans, cash, risk management and
mergers and acquisitions. Our real estate specialists combine in-depth
industry knowledge and insights drawn from 40 years of our banking
heritage in Asia to add value to your business.
When you partner with ANZ, you partner with a bank that understands
your industry and your business to help you achieve your goals.
To find out how we can help your business, please contact:
Rohit Mohindra, Head of Real Estate, South East Asia
Rohit.Mohindra@anz.com
anz.com.sg
*Greenwich Associates Large Corporate Banking Survey 2012 © Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) 2012 ABN 11 005 357 522