Singapore Archifest (SGAF) 2025, an annual festival celebrating architecture and the built environment, unveiled its highly anticipated programme yesterday. It invites design enthusiasts and the public to explore a radical new perspective on design.
The 19th edition, running from 25 June to 25 July 2025 across the city, challenges audiences to “Don’t (Just) Think Like an Architect!”, positioning architecture not merely as building structures, but as a dynamic force shaping lives, communities, and the future of our world.
Organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) since 2007, SGAF has gained recognition as one of the most exciting architectural events in the calendar. Under the leadership of Festival Director Rene Tan and his team at RT+Q Architects, this year’s SGAF is poised to redefine the festival with a greater focus on public engagement on design and architecture as Singapore celebrates its Diamond Jubilee.
Celebrating 60 Years Through Heritage and Innovation
From its foundational policies and iconic public housing to sophisticated urban infrastructure, Singapore has never left design to chance. A “Nation by Design”, every step in Singapore’s 60-year journey has been deliberately planned and designed around constraints to improve lives, uplift its people, and make every inch of space count.
SIA President Ar. Tiah Nan Chyuan said, “As with every iteration of Singapore Archifest, we are deeply committed to cultivating a more design-conscious society and fostering Singapore’s vibrant creative culture, ensuring that the profound impact of architecture is understood and celebrated by all.”
SGAF 2025 shines a special spotlight on this legacy at the vibrant Katong-Joo Chiat precinct in collaboration with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The festival aims to enliven the precinct and tap into community interest for locals to understand their city and their heritage via exciting programmes planned throughout the month. This iconic neighbourhood is a testament to Singapore’s changing skyline, where modern and old architecture seamlessly coexist, providing a rich backdrop for exploring how architecture has profoundly influenced the nation’s identity.
In celebration of SG60, SGAF will be gathering 60 Singapore architects for a day of dialogues in the Architects Roundtable—a remarkable cross-section of pioneers, trailblazers, educators, and emerging talents who have shaped our city. For the first time, they will open their portfolios to share their unbuilt works, reflect Singapore’s bold journey over six decades, and engage in frank discussions on what it means to think not just as architects, but collectively explore how to design for a better, more imaginative, and more sustainable future.
Architecture for Everyone
“This year, we want everyone—not just built environment professionals or design enthusiasts—to understand that architecture is for them and to think more deeply about the impact of our work on the environment and communities,” commented Ar. Rene Tan, Festival Director of SGAF 2025.
“Our theme, ‘Don’t (Just) Think Like An Architect!’, challenges traditional mindsets and invites new, unconventional ways of thinking in architecture. The future of architecture lies in going beyond the expected, and this festival is an invitation to embrace that mindset,” he added.
Supported by the Design Singapore Council, SGAF 2025 brings together visionary architects, thought leaders, educators, and local practitioners, pushing the boundaries of creativity, design, and education. It will explore how architecture can transcend its usual limits by rethinking the way we educate, design, and build, demonstrating that each of us is an integral part of its evolution.
What to Expect at Singapore Archifest 2025
The festival offers a diverse array of experiences, designed to engage and build connections with the audience.
25–27 June 2025, Sands Expo & Convention Centre
A powerhouse of ideas, the conference features a stellar, world-renowned line-up of over 40 speakers. Attendees can expect to hear from Pritzker laureates and design luminaries, alongside trailblazers from unrelated fields—including a renowned fashion designer, an acclaimed chef, a celebrated DJ and artist. This interdisciplinary approach aims to spark fresh perspectives and challenge traditional architectural thought.
Highlights include:
- Riken Yamamoto, a Pritzker Prize laureate renowned for pioneering architecture that fosters community and transparency in public and private spaces.
- Eduardo Souto de Moura, a celebrated Portuguese Pritzker Prize winner, known for his poetic use of materials and timeless, site-specific designs.
- Grace La & James Dallman, award-winning principals of LA DALLMAN, recognised for their innovative integration of architecture, urbanism, and landscape across diverse scales.
- Takaharu Tezuka, the visionary architect behind Tezuka Architects, celebrated for designing playful, human-centric spaces that redefine interaction, notably in educational environments.
- Samuel Ross, a multi-hyphenate creative force, blends industrial design, fashion, and art to challenge perceptions of functionality and aesthetics.
- Rishi Naleendra, a Michelin-starred chef who artfully crafts narratives through food, renowned for his innovative approach to taste and dining experiences.
27 June–25 July 2025, island-wide
SGAF 2025 offers an extensive series of public programmes designed for widespread accessibility and participation. Under the festival theme, these diverse events invite everyone to discover how architecture impacts our past, present and future.
Highlights include:
- Tours: Step into the city’s hidden gems and iconic spaces with ArchiTours by NUS. Explore the rich narratives of our heritage through Curated Walking Trails by Hidden Heritage SG, focusing on the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood.
- Assembly: Blueprints of Imagination: Showcasing the innovative work of emerging design talents from nine spatial design schools, offering a glimpse into the next generation’s vision for our built environment.
- ArchiHouse: A hub of inspiration featuring a compelling schedule of talks and exhibitions, including the thought-provoking Long Island Exhibition—presenting studies by NUS MAUD and Landscape studios—and the insightful URA Identity Corridor Exhibition.
- ArchiPavilions & Installations: Experience the power of design firsthand through interactive and inclusive installations placed to spark conversation and creativity in the Katong-Joo Chiat precinct.
For more information on Singapore Archifest 2025 and event ticketing details, visit the official website at archifest.sg and Instagram at instagram.com/archifest.
