Phil Kim on Reimagining Orchard

Phil Kim speaks about placemaking in retail spaces, especially in Asian countries like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.

Questions:

1. Jerde partnership is famous for placemaking in projects such as Horton Plaza, LA’s Universal’s city walk, and Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills. How should a land constrained high-density city, such as Singapore, approach placemaking?
2. What is unique about the urbanisation process in Asia and how do you design with the diversity of cultures in this region?
3. You mentioned that “people tend to replicate the same successful designs” without considering what makes it successful. You recommend introspection and a deep analysis of successful designs. How do you translate introspective analysis on successful designs into new innovative forms?
4. Namba parks has redefined the retail and office compound by infusing an 8 level rooftop garden with features such as tree groves, rock clusters, cliffs and canyons, lawns, streams, waterfalls, ponds and vegetable gardens. How should cities re-imagine their infrastructure to better infuse greenery into the cityscape?
5. How does Jerde partnership approach social sustainability and the measurement of its success?

Interviewee

Mr Phil Kim
Shareholder & Managing Director, Asia Pacific,
Jerde Partnership;
Trustee, Urban Land Institute Global