SIA Conference 2019

This year, the theme for the festival is Craft. Throughout ages, part of architecture’s obsession is with the bespoke. Working alongside artisans, architects develop deep understanding of materiality and techniques that often reflect the genius loci.

This discussion is timely and relevant as the practice and the construction landscape is rapidly evolving. If the broadest definition of craft is about precision that demands laborious attention and skilled handwork, where would we locate it within the realm of architectural production or construction in an age where expediency and efficiency are privileged? While we wish to focus on the role of craft in the discourse of architecture, the theme has the potential to encompass far more. The maker culture that leverages highly on open source and technology hacks the longstanding artisan mode of production. While the cut-paste approach democratizes and demystifies what used to be only exclusive to a few, it does raise questions on issues of equity and ethics. We wish to engage the fraternity, the academia, the agencies and the public in this discussion and the understanding of craft.

At the very least, the festival wishes to honor and recognize those among us that have dedicated a lifetime in perfecting their craft of Architecture. Craft has always been an intrinsic part of architecture since time immemorial. Though it may not solve world problems, craft does indeed make us happier.