Red Dot Design Museum Singapore Reopens Its Doors at Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade
PUBLISHED October 26th, 2017 06:30 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:57 pm
Once a fiery red landmark in the heart of Tanjong Pagar, the iconic Red Dot Design Museum now sits within a futuristic glass building at one of Singapore’s most prime locations, the Marina Bay Waterfront. At the very same spot that used to house the Marina Bay City Gallery, we take a look at the museum that showcases the world’s largest exhibition of outstanding contemporary design that revolves around the everyday.
Space transformation
When the Red Dot Traffic Building in Tanjong Pagar closed in April this year, we lamented the loss of the amazing space that we’ve come to associate with good design, particularly its two expansive galleries that regularly played host to fashion shows, gala dinners, and the popular MAAD market series. The new location, in comparison, is smaller and more compact, and sees several museum galleries across two floors, a retail section, cafe, and outdoor seating space. Beyond the galleries, Red Dot Award-winning products have been integrated into the design of the museum, from the furniture and flooring to the ceiling, light installations, and even the sound system. An all-immersive live experience of good design, if you will.
Never-before-seen exhibitions
In the latest ‘A Preview of the Future’, you’ll get to explore over 340 award-winning futuristic design concepts from talented designers and innovative organisations all around the globe. Through the exhibition, you’ll be able to visualise how the idea of good design may evolve and how we may live and interact in the foreseeable future.
Plus, look out for the immersive VR experience on the second floor, where you can embark on a virtual tour of the former Zeche Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex boiler house in Essen, Germany – juxtaposing old and new design and exposing the relationship between industrial architecture and product design culture.
An improved Design Museum Shop
Good gifts and good design always go hand in hand – unless it’s a sketchy family portrait by a two-year-old, of course. As it was in the past, the Design Museum Shop has carefully curated a large collection of Design Collectables and Design Provisions from all over the world – many of them unique in Singapore and winners of the annual Red Dot Design Awards. Want a clock that functions by magnets and water? Kyouei Design has you covered with its Water Clock ($566.15). Alternatively, find Tofu Servers ($170.90) designed by Kanaami Tsuji, adorable Polepole wooden animals ($19.15) by T-Lab, and brass cufflinks ($183.95) from Minimalux.
Design-inspired Culinary Creations
Design meets gastronomy in the form of visually spectacular bites at the design cafe and bar, operated by timbre+’s Food Anatomy. That is, if you find dishes that defy traditional notions of plating and are instead shaped in cubes, to be spectacular. The idea is to develop the aesthetic like a graphic design project – layer by layer as a designer would have his works curated. The creations – including Nasi Lemak ($11), Octopus Terrine ($8), and Yuzu Matcha Genoise ($7) – are rather bizarre, but they are worth a try, and fun for sharing with friends.
Return of MAAD
It’s safe to say that Red Dot Design Museum’s MAAD (Market of Artists And Designers) is the longest and largest recurring creative marketplace for designers in Singapore, and we’re glad it’s not going anywhere – well, except outside. The regular pop-up, which sees tens of independent designers, brands, and artists each edition, will take place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday right in front of the Red Dot Design Museum from December 2017 to April 2018, and subsequently on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of each month.
Red Dot Design Museum is located at 11 Marina Blvd, Singapore 018940, p. +65 6514 0111. Admission is pay-as-you-wish for Singapore citizens, and $6 for non-Singaporeans. Free for children aged 6 and below. Open Mon-Thu 10am – 8pm, Fri-Sun 10am – 11pm.
