Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
1.3138° N, 103.8159° E
This visualisation takes on the reframing of “social distancing” to “physical distancing,” to highlight how people can remain together and connected even while being physically apart. Distantly-spaced poles with speaker-receivers let people who are hanging out at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to interact with one another. Sounds are transmitted via hollow tubes inter-connecting a system of speaker-receivers. Each is also installed with sensors that can detect motions that will convert to various musical tones. All of these functions turn this into a public art installation for all to enjoy even if they are "apart."
About
Foreign Policy Design Group is a team of idea-makers and storytellers who help clients realise and evolve their brands with creative and strategic deployment of traditional terrestrial channels and digital media channels. Foreign Policy is helmed by creative directors Yah-Leng Yu and Arthur Chin.
Interview
Why did you select the Botanic Gardens?
We have picked Singapore Botanic Gardens as this is a place where many come for walks with their families, friends or pets. Many of us also exercise or run there and on weekends – it is a place for picnics, hangouts and congregations. Sometimes, outdoor events or concerts are organised at the Botanic Gardens, as well. It is an important landmark in Singapore with a beautiful garden, inhabited by lots of plants and botanicals from all over the world.
How did you approach the space?
We wanted to reframe the whole "social distancing" idea into something more like "physical distancing." Basically, we know that over the past two or three months of lockdown, when people weren't allowed to get out of their homes, many issues came up – one of them being mental health. We think it is important to be able to address this problem by people being able to still interact or socialise with one another while being apart. Therefore, we were very clear from the onset that we wanted to build something that is viable for keeping a safe distance and yet being functional as something interactive. At the same time, because it shouldn't look ugly, the grand plan is to be a public art installation as well.
Basically, it is a setup with one or two acoustic cones attached to each pole, creating a network that is interconnected by tubes. The idea is for people to be able to whisper or talk to one another via the cones while they are having their picnic or just hanging out. We are also thinking that we could install a sensor panel onto these cones where movements of their hands could activate various musical tones.
We have used poles and also trees as the markers, which people could use as for distancing. However, we did not design them such that they are equidistant from one another, in fact, it is intended to be quite fluid in the layout, following the terrain and layout of the park.
How did you avoid cues of restriction, control or caution?
We have used fun, bright colours for the acoustic cones as a way to cue people towards each of the stations. There's also a dotted line encircling each station.
How might this approach, or space, evolve over time or be adaptable to different levels of needed distancing?
I think this system is rather flexible – the cones can be adjusted to various heights to suit the height of both adults and kids. Also, because of how loose or fluid the system is, more stations can be added any time, as long as they are respecting the social distance rules.
Were there any particular inspirations?
I was inspired by some of the interactive public art in New York. For example, the musical installation at the 34th Street station by sound artist Christopher Janney, where strangers could connect from across the way. Another inspiration is from the "whispering gallery" under the Grand Central Station where the acoustics of the low ceramic arches can cause a whisper to sound like a shout.
What, for Foreign Policy, is the importance of public space?
For us, it is super important that public space is functional for everyone, yet it should allow fun interactions.
How do you think the value of public space has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic?
All places now are marked with the "X" signs or caution tape... it feels sort of depressing sometimes, as no one is hanging out in open or rather fewer people are. The vibrancy has dissipated and it almost feels like we live in a regime where we have sort of lost the ability to move about freely. This regime is ruled by the pandemic.
Did you apply lessons from other projects your agency has worked on to this challenge?
Yes, we always try to look from another angle when solving a problem, such that the solution is not always so expected. We like to bring that sense of delight and unexpectedness to our design solutions.
Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore
1.3138° N, 103.8159° E
This visualisation takes on the reframing of “social distancing” to “physical distancing,” to highlight how people can remain together and connected even while being physically apart. Distantly-spaced poles with speaker-receivers let people who are hanging out at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to interact with one another. Sounds are transmitted via hollow tubes inter-connecting a system of speaker-receivers. Each is also installed with sensors that can detect motions that will convert to various musical tones. All of these functions turn this into a public art installation for all to enjoy even if they are "apart."
About
Foreign Policy Design Group is a team of idea-makers and storytellers who help clients realise and evolve their brands with creative and strategic deployment of traditional terrestrial channels and digital media channels. Foreign Policy is helmed by creative directors Yah-Leng Yu and Arthur Chin.
Interview
Why did you select the Botanic Gardens?
We have picked Singapore Botanic Gardens as this is a place where many come for walks with their families, friends or pets. Many of us also exercise or run there and on weekends – it is a place for picnics, hangouts and congregations. Sometimes, outdoor events or concerts are organised at the Botanic Gardens, as well. It is an important landmark in Singapore with a beautiful garden, inhabited by lots of plants and botanicals from all over the world.
How did you approach the space?
We wanted to reframe the whole "social distancing" idea into something more like "physical distancing." Basically, we know that over the past two or three months of lockdown, when people weren't allowed to get out of their homes, many issues came up – one of them being mental health. We think it is important to be able to address this problem by people being able to still interact or socialise with one another while being apart. Therefore, we were very clear from the onset that we wanted to build something that is viable for keeping a safe distance and yet being functional as something interactive. At the same time, because it shouldn't look ugly, the grand plan is to be a public art installation as well.
Basically, it is a setup with one or two acoustic cones attached to each pole, creating a network that is interconnected by tubes. The idea is for people to be able to whisper or talk to one another via the cones while they are having their picnic or just hanging out. We are also thinking that we could install a sensor panel onto these cones where movements of their hands could activate various musical tones.
We have used poles and also trees as the markers, which people could use as for distancing. However, we did not design them such that they are equidistant from one another, in fact, it is intended to be quite fluid in the layout, following the terrain and layout of the park.
How did you avoid cues of restriction, control or caution?
We have used fun, bright colours for the acoustic cones as a way to cue people towards each of the stations. There's also a dotted line encircling each station.
How might this approach, or space, evolve over time or be adaptable to different levels of needed distancing?
I think this system is rather flexible – the cones can be adjusted to various heights to suit the height of both adults and kids. Also, because of how loose or fluid the system is, more stations can be added any time, as long as they are respecting the social distance rules.
Were there any particular inspirations?
I was inspired by some of the interactive public art in New York. For example, the musical installation at the 34th Street station by sound artist Christopher Janney, where strangers could connect from across the way. Another inspiration is from the "whispering gallery" under the Grand Central Station where the acoustics of the low ceramic arches can cause a whisper to sound like a shout.
What, for Foreign Policy, is the importance of public space?
For us, it is super important that public space is functional for everyone, yet it should allow fun interactions.
How do you think the value of public space has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic?
All places now are marked with the "X" signs or caution tape... it feels sort of depressing sometimes, as no one is hanging out in open or rather fewer people are. The vibrancy has dissipated and it almost feels like we live in a regime where we have sort of lost the ability to move about freely. This regime is ruled by the pandemic.
Did you apply lessons from other projects your agency has worked on to this challenge?
Yes, we always try to look from another angle when solving a problem, such that the solution is not always so expected. We like to bring that sense of delight and unexpectedness to our design solutions.