In Singapore, SOM Managing Partner Vram Malek, Design Principal Nicolas Medrano, and Director of Strategic Development Asia-Pacific Dennis Ho led Density with Vitality: Rethinking How Cities Live. The event, held on October 12, convened architects, engineers, sustainability consultants, and real estate leaders for an afternoon of dialogue, networking, and a site tour focused on the future of building high-density urban centers.
Malek opened the talk with a presentation on SOM’s legacy in shaping cities. He highlighted the firm’s history of innovation as well as its ongoing evolution in response to contemporary urban challenges. He emphasized that today’s urban challenges require a shared vision for adaptable and human-centered spaces.
As cities worldwide continue to grow taller and denser, the challenges and opportunities to create sustainable and people-focused environments are more critical than ever. Ho presented a vision for the transformation of Central, Hong Kong, drawing from projects in London, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Bangkok. Through case studies, he illustrated how adaptive reuse, mixed-use strategies, and urban regeneration can breathe new life into city centers.
Building on these themes, Medrano shared details on The Skywaters, an SOM project now rising in Singapore. He detailed how its regenerative design will set new benchmarks for integrating workplaces, homes, and urban parks within a single high-rise community, emphasizing both environmental and social sustainability. Medrano pointed out that the transformation of dense city districts relies on restoring the public realm to create lively, walkable streets and seamless green connections where people genuinely want to live, work, and play.
The afternoon concluded with site tours of The Skywaters and Elementum. Attendees saw firsthand how the two projects exemplify new standards for high-density, mixed-use, science and technology development. They showcase SOM’s commitment to innovative design solutions that enhance and reimagine the urban experience.
