Get out your sketchpads, fire up Photoshop, and let your imagination run wild: Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd – creators of the award-winning VivoCity – is launching Design in the City, an outdoor furniture design competition.

If you’re a tertiary student attending a local art or design school who thinks a $12,000 cash prize and the chance to have one of your brainchilds realised (and even mass-produced) sounds pretty sweet to you, then get busy!

Designs will be evaluated based on how functional, ergonomic, sustainable, and thought-provoking they are, and the 2 winning designs will then be installed at 2 locations – the Open Plaza and the Eco Pond – at the company’s headquarters, Mapletree Business City (MBC).

To fit in with the company’s image, the designs should also be inspired by MBC.

And an inspiration it is.

With a multitude of facilities, including a massive auditorium, a sky gym, a lap pool, laundry and childcare services, and plenty of dining options to choose from, the sprawling 1.9 million sq ft complex looks more like a commune than a corporation.

That’s the reason behind the company’s emphasis on creating spaces for people to relax, interact, and communicate.

As James Ng, Head of Singapore Investments for Mapletree Investments said, “it’s about building a community”.

Originally conceived based on a sculpture, MBC is also filled with works of art by local and overseas artists, and the company hopes to add to its collection through Design in the City.

Design students, what are you waiting for? Send in your designs by Jan 6 2012!


For more information, you can visit Mapletree’s official website as well as their Facebook page.