Haw Par Villa: Illuminating the Stories of Singapore's Heritage

Revitalizing a Cultural Landmark through Heritage Lighting

Haw Par Villa, a 8.5-hectare conservation heritage park in Singapore, has been a cultural landmark since its establishment in the 1930s. However, as tastes and interests evolved, visitorship to the park gradually declined, leaving its sculptures and dioramas neglected. Recognizing the need to revitalize this important piece of Singapore's heritage, the Singapore Tourism Board launched a competition to enhance the park's appeal and engage a new generation of visitors.

Stanley Tay Wee King, the renowned designer behind Illuminating Asia, emerged as the winner of the proposal competition. His vision was to use lighting to enliven the stories depicted in the sculptures and dioramas, making them relevant and captivating once again. With a deep respect for the park's history and cultural significance, Tay and his team embarked on a journey to transform over 20 heritage artifacts through artful lighting.

The design approach for Haw Par Villa's lighting was a delicate balancing act between honoring the sculptures' stories and making them more accessible to visitors. The first design intent was to use moving lights situated at the park's entrance to draw visitors into the park. This captivating light show serves as a teaser, piquing the curiosity of passers-by and enticing them to explore the park's treasures.

Once inside, visitors are guided by carefully crafted lighting that leads them to the most important sculptures. Each sculpture's lighting is meticulously designed to showcase the stories it represents, creating an immersive experience for visitors. Warm white lights with a color temperature of 2700-3000K were chosen to create a resort-like ambiance, enhancing the park's comfort level and inviting visitors to delve into the intricate details of the dioramas.

The realization of the lighting design involved a combination of customized lighting products and innovative technology. The team worked closely with manufacturers to ensure that each lighting product met their exact specifications, including length, luminosity, color temperature, and throw of the light. The key product used for the moving light show was the Gobo projector made by Martin Harmon, which enabled a dynamic and captivating slide show.

Implementing the lighting design in a heritage site presented numerous challenges. Conservation laws prohibited drilling and hacking, limiting the team's options for installation. However, these constraints sparked creativity, leading to the development of unique solutions that achieved the desired lighting effects without compromising the integrity of the park. The team also had to overcome the individuality of each sculpture, treating them as separate projects and ensuring that each one received the attention it deserved.

The project, which began in February 2020, faced a temporary suspension from April to July 2020 due to the pandemic lockdown. Despite this setback, the installations were completed in December 2020, marking a significant milestone in the park's revitalization. The lighting design not only breathed new life into the sculptures but also created a welcoming and captivating atmosphere for visitors.

Stanley Tay Wee King, along with his team members Aries Lay Hoon Goh and Addison Yu Ann Goh, successfully merged electrical engineering, storytelling, lighting design, and problem-solving to transform Haw Par Villa into a cultural destination that celebrates Singapore's heritage. Their dedication to preserving the park's history while making it relevant to a new generation has garnered recognition and acclaim.

The lighting design for Haw Par Villa by Illuminating Asia SG Pte Ltd was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Lighting Products and Fixtures Design category in 2022. This prestigious accolade recognizes the design's practicality, innovation, and adherence to professional and industrial requirements. By integrating industry best practices and demonstrating competent technical characteristics, the lighting design contributes to a better world and enhances the visitor experience at Haw Par Villa.