I can't believe I'm writing again but this was on the subject on Changi Jewel which I find it's a big opportunity missed by our dear leaders again.
I sincerely love our Changi Airport. Not only because of it's efficiency and functionality but the symbology behind it. The control tower is an icon of Singapore. So when they say they wanted to refresh it I just shake my head. It's going to be bad. That was in my head when they say they are planning to revamp T1 and T2.
Then T1 and T2 re-open with some new art installations (Kinetic rain being one of them). And I was sincerely surprised that the revamp was actually good! A lot of new sculptures and art work. That's really cool. So maybe this Jewel thing might be a good thing. I was hopeful at that time.... Or so I thought until I heard it's going to be a shopping mall right in center of our airport.
And this is my point about Jewel. Why do we ever need that shopping mall? If they just removed all the fucking shopping center component of it and just have an art or museum instead. We don't need a huge fountain or a rooftop garden. We already have that in Suntec City and Garden by the bay. An art gallery or a museum can be smaller, less obtrusive and cheaper to maintain. Have more interactive or moving sculpture in it or even a museum about Singapore's growth into a city and I guarantee you it will make a hit worldwide.
It's just sad. Sad to hear words like " A symbol of bold dreams." uttered to depict a glorified shopping mall.
