Talk:Spark (architects)

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Proposed revision of Spark (architects) article

As declared on my user page, I am a writer and editor who consults to SPARK Architects, and therefore have a COI with regard to directly editing this article. However, I see the potential for the article to be improved, and seek the input and advice of impartial editors. I wish to adhere to the COI guidelines. I also seek guidance on the best way to format this talk page.

The firm name is typically written as SPARK Architects not Spark (architects), so I propose the changing of the article title.

The text is currently labelled as "appears to be written like an advertisement". I have prepared another version of the text containing more specific information as follows below. I seek input on its appropriateness please:

SPARK Architects is an international architecture and urban design practice based in Beijing, London, Shanghai, and Singapore. The practice also provides landscape architecture and interior design services.

SPARK Architects has designed a wide range of projects, from sizeable mixed-use complexes, to urban redevelopments, to small urban infill projects and facade redevelopments. The firm has completed projects in Singapore, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, and Thailand. It has designed concepts in Australia, Nigeria, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Bahrain, and the UK. In 2014, SPARK Architects employs over 100 staff.^[1]

SPARK Architects states on its website that it aims to create layered experiences and engaging places by working “with the bold yet common sense vision of enlarging the spaces of the city into our buildings, and of unfolding our buildings into the city”.^[2]

The firm’s Vanke Jiugong Mixed-use Development (under construction in Beijing) was the ‘Winner of Mixed Use Category’ in the 2014 MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award. The judges’ citation, published in a special MIPIM edition of Architectural Review, said: “This genuine mixture of uses has been designed with a sense of panache often missing in this short of amalgam. The bravura approach has paid off with a proposition that managed to combine multiple activities without resorting to a one-size-fits-all mall.”^[3]

Fai-Fah Prachautis and Starhill Gallery were shortlisted for awards in the ‘New and Old’ and ‘Shopping’ categories at the World Architecture Festival 2013.^[4]

The project Fai-Fah Prachautis is an example of pro bono work undertaken by SPARK Architects. The project (for Thailand’s TMB Bank) involved the design of alterations and additions to two existing shophouse units in Bangkok to create a centre for charitable arts-related youth education. The project was featured on the cover of British magazine Architects’ Journal in 2012.^[5]

In 2013, SPARK Architects collaborated with fashion brand SEMBONIA to release a series of handbags bearing printed graphics by SPARK.^[6]

History

SPARK Architects was founded in 2008 by Stephen Pimbley (British), Jan Felix Clostermann (German), Sven Steiner (German), and John Curran (Irish). The four had previously worked together at Alsop Architects. Prior to this, Pimbley had worked at the London office of Richard Rogers Partnership.

The Singapore and Shanghai studios of SPARK Architects were the first to be established, followed by Beijing. Project offices were thereafter established in Kuala Lumpur and Abu Dhabi, but they have since closed.

Curran left the practice in 2012. Director Max Titchmarsh (British) joined SPARK Architects to set up the London studio in 2011. Director Marco Goldschmied (British, co-founder of Richard Rogers Partnership) also joined the firm as a Non-Executive Director, and is operating in an advisory capacity. Mingyin Tan (Singaporean) was appointed Director in 2011 after eight years with the firm, and currently works in the Shanghai studio.

Major projects

Completed

Jing Mian Xin Cheng, Beijing, 2014
Vanke Nanjing Sales Gallery, Nanjing, 2014
Fuzhou Wusibei Thaihot Plaza, Fuzhou, 2013
Guangzhou Science Town, Guangzhou, 2013
CapitaMall Wuhan, Wuhan, 2012
Ningbo A1 Housing, Ningbo, 2012
Raffles City Ningbo, Ningbo, 2012
Fai-Fah Prachautis, Bangkok, 2011
Nanshan Clunhouse, Chongqing, 2011
One Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, 2010
Rihan Heights, Abu Dhabi, 2011
Shanghai International Cruise Terminal, Shanghai, 2010
Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, 2011
Tianjin World Trade Center Showroom, Tianjin, 2010
Wimax, Kuala Lumpur, 2010
Zhoushan Shenjiamen Regeneration and Yepaidang, Zhoushan, 2010
Paragon City, Semarang, 2009
Raffles City Beijing, Beijing, 2009
Clarke Quay Redevelopment, Singapore, 2006

Under construction

ArteS, Penang
Ikon Connaught, Kuala Lumpur
Qingdao Resort, Qingdao
Ramzi Towers, Lagos
Shekou Financial Centre Phase 2, Shenzhen
Vanke Daxing, Beijing
Vanke Jiugong Mixed-use Development, Beijing
Wanda Plaza Tongzhou, Beijing
Wanda Plaza Dongguan, Dongguan
Vanke Nanjing, Nanjing

Concepts

Bass and Flinders Gateway Project, Woollongong, 2013 (awaiting planning approval)
Parnell House, London, 2013 (planning approval received 2014)
Ho Chi Minh Gateway, Ho Chi Minh, 2013 (awaiting planning approval)
Subang Residential, Subang, 2011 (awaiting planning approval)
Xuhui Tool Box, Shanghai, 2011
Zhoushan Sports Stadium, Zhoushan, 2011
Haikou Huahang Master Plan, Haikou, 2010
Vanke Supercity, Beijing, 2010
Vision City, Kuala Lumpur, 2008
Shanghai Kiss, Shanghai, 2006

Awards

2014 International Property Award, Asia Pacific Property Awards: ‘Best Retail’ for Starhill Gallery
2014 Singapore Design Awards 2014: ‘Asia’s Top Design Practice’
2014 MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award: ‘Winner of Mixed Use Category’ for Vanke Jiugong
2013 Guangzhou Kinpan Award: ‘Best Commercial Project’ for Raffles City Ningbo
2013 Vanke Guangzhou 10th Anniversary Celebrations: ‘Best Project’ for Vanke Guangzhou Science Town
2013 MIPIM Asia Awards: ‘Best Office & Business Development’ for Jing Mian Xin Cheng
2013 ICONIC AWARDS (German Design Council): ‘Best Project, Category Architectural/Public/School’ for Fai-Fah Prachautis
2013 ICONIC AWARDS (German Design Council): ‘Best Project, Category Architectural/Retail/Branded Spaces’ for Starhill Gallery
2012 CIHAF: ‘Resort Hotel Design Excellence Award’ for Qingdao Hi-Tech Industry Developing Zone
2012 CIHAF: ‘Commercial Real Estate Design Excellence Award’ for Fuzhou Thaihot Wusibei City Plaza
2012 CPE: ‘China Commercial Property Landmark Awards’ for Shanghai International Cruise Terminal
2011 MIPIM Asia Awards: ‘Best Mixed-Use Development’ for Shanghai International Cruise Terminal
2009 Cityscape Asia Awards: ‘Best Future Mixed-Used Development’ for Raffles City Ningbo
2008 Bentley Systems Be Awards of Excellence: ‘Innovation in Commercial or Residential Building’ for Clarke Quay
2008 Cityscape Asia Awards: ‘Best Future Mixed-Use Development’ for Raffles City Beijing
2008 Cityscape Asia Awards: ‘Best Waterfront Development’ for Clarke Quay
2008 Cityscape China Review Awards: ‘Best Developer Mixed-Use Development’ for Raffles City Ningbo
2007 Cityscape Architectural Review Awards: ‘Tourism, Travel & Transport – Built’ for Clarke Quay
2007 Cityscape Architectural Review Awards: ‘Tourism, Travel & Transport – Future’ for Shanghai Kiss

Exhibitions

‘Unmade in China’, Shanghai, China, 2012

Publications

Recto Verso, Winter 2009^[7]
Recto Verso, Spring 2011^[8]
Recto Verso, Issue 3, 2012^[9]

External links

SPARK Architects Website
SPARK Architects Facebook
SPARK Architects Pinterest
SPARK Architects Twitter
Architizer
“Spark: Starhill Gallery”. Domus. May 17, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
Wiles, Will (March 5, 2013). “Fai Fah, Bangkok”. Australian Design Review. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
“The Science Town Project”. Indesignlive Singapore. February 20, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
“Raffles City Ningbo by Spark”. Indesignlive Singapore. January 17, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
“Fai-Fah by Spark”. Dezeen. September 20, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
“Chongqing Mountain and City Sales Office Exterior”. Frame. April 6, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2014.

Writer at SPARK (talk) 06:54, 22 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

References

^ "About". SPARK Architects. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^ "About". SPARK Architects. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^ 2014 MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award Jury (2014). MIPIM/Architectural Review Special Edition: 35. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ "World Building of the Year 2013 shortlist announced". Dezeen. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^ Yabuka, Narelle (2012). "Bright Spark". Architects' Journal. 236 (8): 30–39.
^ "Architecture-inspired bags from Sembonia-Spark collaboration". The Star Online. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^ SPARK Architects. "Recto Verso" (PDF). Winter 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^ SPARK Architects. "Recto Verso". Spring 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
^ SPARK Architects. "Recto Verso". Issue 3, 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[1] "About". SPARK Architects. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[2] "About". SPARK Architects. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[3] 2014 MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Award Jury (2014). MIPIM/Architectural Review Special Edition: 35. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[4] "World Building of the Year 2013 shortlist announced". Dezeen. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[5] Yabuka, Narelle (2012). "Bright Spark". Architects' Journal. 236 (8): 30–39.

[6] "Architecture-inspired bags from Sembonia-Spark collaboration". The Star Online. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[7] SPARK Architects. "Recto Verso" (PDF). Winter 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[8] SPARK Architects. "Recto Verso". Spring 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

[9] SPARK Architects. "Recto Verso". Issue 3, 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2014.

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