Singapore Archifest 2025 Breaks Architectural Moulds with Bold Theme for SG60: “Don’t (Just) Think Like An Architect!”

The Singapore Archifest (SGAF) 2025, Singapore’s annual architectural festival, returns for its 19th edition with a provocative theme for SG60, challenging conventional design thinking: “Don’t (Just) Think Like An Architect!” 

Organised by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and supported by the Design Singapore Council, the month-long festival will run from 25 June to 25 July 2025, transforming the city into a vibrant playground of architectural innovation, public engagement, and interdisciplinary dialogue.

This year, SGAF 2025 has been designed to demystify architecture and invite everyone from students to seniors to explore how design shapes daily life.

“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,” shared SGAF Festival Director Rene Tan from RT+Q Architects.

“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 adds.

Key Highlights of SGAF 2025

1. Singapore Archifest Conference (25–27 June, Sands Expo & Convention Centre)

A powerhouse of global ideas, the conference gathers 40+ speakers, including:

• Pritzker Prize Laureates:
  • Riken Yamamoto (Japan) – Celebrated for community-driven architecture.
  • Eduardo Souto de Moura (Portugal) – Master of poetic, site-specific designs.
• Cross-Disciplinary Visionaries:
  • Samuel Ross (UK) – Fashion designer blending industrial aesthetics with urbanism.
  • Rishi Naleendra (Singapore) – Michelin-starred chef on designing dining experiences.
  • Takaharu Tezuka (Japan) – Architect of playful, human-centric spaces.

2. SG60 Architects Roundtable (27 June)

To mark Singapore’s 60th birthday, 60 leading architects, including industry legends like Liu Thai Ker to rising talents, will gather for a historic dialogue. They will share:

• Unbuilt projects (never-before-seen designs).
• Candid debates on sustainability, heritage, and future cities.

3. Katong-Joo Chiat: Where Heritage Meets Innovation

In partnership with URA, SGAF 2025 will activate one of Singapore’s most beloved neighbourhoods with:

• Interactive Installations:

• “Kueh Kueh at Katong” – Giant edible-inspired pavilions by SUTD students & SAA Architects.

• “The Jetty” – A nostalgic recreation of Marine Parade’s fishing heritage by
  by SUTD students with RSP Architects Planners & Engineers.
• Walking Trails – Explore hidden Peranakan shophouses and modern infills.

4. ArchiTours (5–13 July) – Behind-the-Scenes Access

Guided tours to iconic & unconventional spaces, including:

• Punggol Digital District and SIT Campus Court by RSP – Singapore’s smartest eco-campus.

• Wild Rice Theatre @ Funan – A mid-sized theatre redefining arts spaces.
• Kampung House (Bukit Timah) – A modern take on traditional living.

• Library House by EHKA Studio – A house for a family with many books, inspired by the classic library space

5. ArchiHouse (12–27 July, 341 Joo Chiat Road)x

A pop-up hub featuring:

• “Long Island Exhibition” – Futuristic visions for Singapore’s coastal resilience.
• “Resourcity” Board Game – A fun, strategic way to learn urban planning.

Why This Year’s Festival Matters

As Singapore celebrates 60 years of nation-building, SGAF 2025 reflects on how design has shaped identity, ranging from the likes of our ubiquitious HDB estates to the iconic Marina Bay. 

“Singapore was never left to chance. Every policy, street, and home was designed with purpose. This festival is a tribute to that legacy—and a call to reimagine the next 60 years.” Said SIA President Ar. Tiah Nan Chyuan.

For more details, visit the official ArchiFest website.