Singapore Archifest 2023 to run Sep 29 – Oct 28; features architectural tours, immersive outdoor exploration game

Immersive outdoor games, architectural tours and unique installations are just some of what the public can expect with the 2023 run of Singapore Archifest. 

Themed Interim: Acts of Adaptation, this year’s edition is held from Sep 29 to Oct 28 and  intends to highlight adaptive architecture and constant transitions in our built environment.

This year’s programme is centered around the Kampong Gelam cultural precinct. Archifest 2023 pays tribute to the significance of this district, focusing on the area’s modern and traditional outlooks.

Located in the precinct are AF Installations, a series of six dispersed urban installations aiming to give insights of Singapore’s heritage and change perceptions of spaces.

Some highlights of these installations include Dulang-Dulang by Syazwan Hanif and Syafiq Jubri, an installation consisting of a long table inspired by food trays in Malay culture that serves as a community hangout spot.

Another work, Fabric Forest by Jezamine Chua and Kendrick Tay, features canopies and benches under Angsana trees that are located near the iconic Sultan Mosque.

The public can also look out for AF Play!, an free immersive outdoor exploration game held in partnership with Hidden SG. Participants would have to uncover hidden stories during an exploration of Kampong Gelam while being led by a WhatsApp chatbot. 

The game can be played competitively in teams of five on Race Day, Sep 30, after registration. Additionally, it can also be played leisurely through another version of gameplay called Evergreen, which would be available from Oct 1.

Those interested in viewing Singapore’s latest architectural works firsthand can do so through Architours, a unique architectural tour granting exclusive access to some of the city’s newly built residential homes and community spaces. Each of its eight tour sessions are led by chaperones from The Architecture Society (TAS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS). 

Tour participants can choose from six different routes to explore architectural sites through behind-the-scenes tours and insights from the architect themselves. The tours would be held over the next two weekends with tickets priced at $65 for the general public and $55 for students.  

Furthermore, Archifest 2023 also features other ticketed activities, including panel discussions like Cinema Beyond Cinema which explores cinema’s influence on architectural inventions and redevelopment strategies. 

Festival participants can also catch Patricio Guzman’s Chile Trilogy, a series of documentary films screening at The Projector. The three films, The Cordillera of Dreams, Nostalgia for the Light and The Pearl Button all focus on Chile’s history and constant states of transition of the country, highlighting the festival’s theme. Film showings would begin with Nostalgia for the Light, on Sep 30, at 8pm. Interested individuals can head over to The Projector’s website for more information on ticketing and showtimes.  

For a hands-on experience, workshops like the Studio BTY Children’s Workshop are also available at the festival for participants to learn to create paper models of shophouses. Other events also include the The Wright Stuff Festival by Toy Factory, which features a series of thought-provoking original plays on the themes of “Climate”.

More information on the programmes and activities can be found on the Singapore Archifest 2023 website.