The Singapore Prize is awarded to outstanding interior design projects that have made a contribution to the city. The winning designs are chosen by a panel of judges that includes prominent practitioners and architects from around the world. Previous winners have included a post-earthquake reconstruction in Indonesia, a stacked apartment building designed by OMA and Ole Scheeren in China, and a public park by local architects Budi Prajot and Tito Supriatna. The winner of this year’s prize will receive a trophy, a cash award of US$30,000, and the opportunity to showcase their work at the 2023 WAFX international trade show in Singapore.
The heir to the British throne, Prince William, walked the “green carpet” at the third Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Singapore. He said that the solutions presented by the finalists — which ranged from solar-powered dryers to combat food waste to making electric car batteries more environmentally friendly – proved that hope does remain as climate change continues to impact people’s lives. Actors Donnie Yen and Nomzano Mbatha, environmentalist Robert Irwin, and singers One Republic and Bebe Rexha all joined him at the event.
Mbatha wore an Alexander McQueen dress with floral details. Yen, who wore a green suit, was accompanied by his wife, actress Lana Condor. The pair posed in front of a 40-meter high Rain Vortex waterfall that was lit up green for the event. Other attendees included Singapore ministers and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who is a trustee of the Earthshot Prize board.
Professor Miksic, who is a senior research fellow at NUS’ Department of History, wrote the book as an effort to tell some 1,000 volunteers who helped him with archaeological excavations in Singapore over the years how important their efforts had been. He also wanted to make the public aware that archaeology is a vital source of information about the nation’s past.
The NUS Singapore History Prize was introduced in 2014 as part of the SG50 programme to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence. The first prize to be devoted solely to the country’s history, it is administered by NUS’ history department. This year’s shortlist includes Sembawang, which follows a family through leftist political movements and detentions, as well as Home Is Where We Are, which tells the story of Singapore’s early urbanisation.
The winners of the Singapore Prize will be honoured in May with a ceremony at the National Museum of Singapore, and will receive the Presidential Medal, which bears on its obverse the stylised roseette of undulating folds topped by five stars and the State Arms, and on its reverse the Singapore logo. The medal is minted in silver, and is a symbol of the prestige of the Singapore Prize. This is the second time that the prize has been awarded, after it was formerly known as the President’s Science and Technology Awards. The award was elevated to Presidential status in 2009. It was previously known as the National Science and Technology Awards.