In its second term, the immersive exhibition by Kinetic Singapore, supported by the DesignSingapore Council, Temasek Shophouse and New Bahru, will continue tackling the topic of sustainability through design, creativity and wit to engage children and adults on environmental issues and innovations.
SINGAPORE, 2 OCTOBER 2024 – From ABCs to complex topics, school equips us with valuable knowledge and life skills, so why should it not also prepare us for the greatest challenge of our time: protecting the health of our planet? School of Tomorrow returns for its second term from 17 October to 28 November 2024 at the New Bahru creative enclave. The exhibition will bring back its well-loved ‘classes’ that spotlight environmental issues in fresh ways, along with a new topic in partnership with social impact hub Temasek Shophouse – History Class.
First commissioned by the DesignSingapore Council as part of Singapore Design Week 2023, the thought-provoking exhibition is driven by the vision of nurturing the next generation of changemakers for a brighter future. School of Tomorrow invites everyone to learn about environmental issues and sustainability innovations in an immersive and easy-to-understand way. Building on the success of its inaugural run, Kinetic Singapore and the DesignSingapore Council explored taking the exhibition further through a refreshed edition that would bring sustainability with a design lens to the public. Eleven familiar school subjects, from sciences to the humanities, are reimagined with a sustainability focus, presenting lessons on critical issues like waste, pollution, food systems, energy, and climate change (see Appendix A for overview of classes). On top of the classes, the school will be offering free guided tours led by ‘class monitors’ to provide visitors with a deeper understanding of the environmental issues.
From circularity to regeneration, sustainability has become core in design, where creativity rises to meet our social responsibilities for today and the future. This is why the Council commissioned the first edition of School of Tomorrow last year at Singapore Design Week, which brought diverse environmental issues and innovative solutions to the fore. We are proud to support an expanded and refreshed second edition of the exhibition in the new creative enclave of New Bahru to further galvanise the community and designers to champion sustainability in their work and their lives. — Ms Dawn Lim Executive Director, DesignSingapore Council
New History Class Will Explore Sustainability and Heritage
This term, in partnership with Temasek Shophouse, the new History Class will explore Singapore’s growth from its kampung roots to the modern city it is today. Viewed through the lens of the iconic heritage shophouses along Orchard Road – now being redeveloped and restored into the expanded Temasek Shophouse – the curriculum will delve into key sustainability-related themes such as energy efficiency, water management systems, and the electrification of vehicles.
As an extension of the History Class, Temasek Shophouse will organise two free fireside chats open to public that explore the interconnected topics of conservation and sustainability. The first session on 24 October will be helmed by Ho Weng Hin, Co-Founder of Studio Lapis, and Jerome Lim, Author of The Long and Winding Road, discussing the preservation of Singapore’s heritage for future generations. The second session on 7 November will address the sustainability challenges facing conserved shophouses, featuring Naree Phinyawatana, Director at Atelier Ten, and Jia Xin Chum, Associate Director of Architecture, Landscape & Urbanism at Henning Larsen. The public can register here.
We are thrilled to work with Kinetic in the School of Tomorrow, inspiring the community to take practical steps toward environmental sustainability, which is very much aligned with Temasek Shophouse’s mission. Through our History Class and Fireside Chats, we hope to make the topics of heritage and sustainability more engaging and relatable for everyone, while offering a preview into the soon-to-open expanded Temasek Shophouse. The new space will showcase our commitment to sustainable design, and we look forward to sharing our journey with the public as we prepare for an exciting new chapter next year. — Ms Yvonne Tay General Manager, Temasek Shophouse
Expanded Sustainable Bookshop, Now Open For Business
Another exciting new addition is the operational bookshop with merchandise available for purchase, introduced in response to the overwhelming popularity of the sustainable stationery showcased last year.
The bookshop will feature specially designed stationery and wares made from materials such as recycled plastic, eggshell, and sawdust. These merchandise are produced in collaboration with eco-innovators. The selection includes exercise books and foolscap pads made from paper offcuts in partnership with Allegro Print.
The bookshop will also carry a range of limited-edition school bags jointly created by School of Tomorrow and textile studio YABAI YABAI. These are made from old school uniforms donated by the public. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the bookshop merchandise will go to the World Wildlife Fund-Singapore’s Eco-Schools Programme.
School of Tomorrow was very well-received last year at Singapore Design Week, and many asked if the school term could be extended. With the support of the DesignSingapore Council and Temasek Shophouse, and venue partner New Bahru, we’re happy to have another opportunity to inspire a new audience to take up the mantle of sustainability. — Pann Lim Co-founder, Kinetic Singapore
The exhibition has garnered accolades from the sustainability community, earning recognition from the Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards and the British Design and Art Direction (D&AD) Awards for its innovative approach and effective use of design. Organised by Kinetic Singapore, School of Tomorrow follows the success of its earlier sustainability exhibition, The [Not-So] Convenience Store, which received the President*s Design Award in 2020. Both exhibitions received the support of the DesignSingapore Council as part of its continuing mission to bring design into the community.
School of Tomorrow Term 2
17 October to 28 November 2024,
12pm to 8pm daily
New Bahru, Small Block (Level 1), 58 Kim Yam Road Singapore 239359
For more information, follow School of Tomorrow on Instagram @schooloftomorrowsg.
Overview of the Eleven Classes at School of Tomorrow
 | Art Come paint Nature in her own colours. Fruits and plants not only serve as still life objects, they provide the ingredients for making the paints used in class. Learn how botanical debris like fallen leaves, flowers, fruits and bark can be turned into paint pigments, and learn to appreciate the creative and aesthetic potential of waste. |
 | Biology The issue of plastic pollution and its infiltration of our food chain is dramatically illustrated using anatomical models whose body cavities are filled with plastic instead. The class also introduces sustainable alternatives like bio-plastics while over at the adjoining science lab, mycelium biocomposites are presented alongside experiments demonstrating how to make your own bio-plastic at home. |
 | Chemistry The periodic table is reimagined with 45 new elements to challenge our often thoughtless use of, and dependence on, Earth’s diminishing resources. The new elements include novel materials being developed in the lab such as Bn (Brewed Protein), and surprising materials upcycled from waste like Df (Dog Fur) and Rp (Rambutan Peel), showing how a circular economy can close the loop between waste and resource. |
 | Food & Consumer Education Doubling up as Food & Consumer Education, the canteen dishes out meals that are not only nutritious but healthful for the Earth too. Discover unusual and overlooked sustainable foods that can help shore up our food security such as algae and cricket protein. Learn about alternatives to single-use tableware and food packaging, like edible cutlery that leaves no trace after use. |
 | Geography How is climate change changing the world’s geography? With rising temperatures melting glaciers, raising sea levels and eroding coastlines, our flooded classroom brings the consequences to vivid life. Amidst the mess, maps and posters provide more information on the causes of climate change, and the actions we can take to help at both individual and grassroots levels. |
 | History [new] How do we drive sustainable progress while preserving our heritage for future generations? Journey through Singapore’s past and catch a peek into its future through the lens of historic shophouses that have stood witness to the nation’s progress over the last century. Through an interactive display, explore the environmental impacts of modernisation, discover innovative solutions in water management and energy efficiency, and learn about the careful restoration of conserved buildings. |
 | Home Economics Discover how fashion can be tailored to the greater good. Buck the fast fashion trend and pick up crafty tips on how to extend the lifespan of clothing. Be inspired by circular manufacturing methods and get a feel of unconventional textiles made from mycelium and pineapple, offering sustainable and cruelty-free alternatives to animal leather used for apparel and accessories. |
 | Mathematics See how your habits and lifestyle add up ecologically with an interactive carbon footprint calculator that totals your score across six areas: food, commute, shopping, home, travel and recreation. Charts and infographics share how scores can be improved by making simple, actionable changes in our daily lives to reduce our environmental impact. |
 | Physical Education While calling attention to the environmental impact of the sports industry, our PE class also applauds those scoring for Team Earth. Play with sports equipment designed with sustainability in mind, from basketballs made with a sugarcane bio-foam that halves the carbon emissions, to cactus ‘leather’ boxing gloves, to skateboards made from abandoned fishing nets. |
 | Physics To illustrate how our energy and ecological demands are stretching the Earth’s resources, our model of the solar system draws on figures derived from Singapore’s Earth Overshoot Day, the day our consumption outstrips what the planet can regenerate in the same year. The resulting solar system with 3½ Earths is a stark reminder to take stock of our habits as we have but only one Earth to depend on. |
 | Social Studies The study of environmental sustainability can benefit from a global perspective. See how young people across the world are rising to meet our global challenges, from the Mediterranean Sea to the cities of Nairobi and Delhi. Special thanks to the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme for their permission to showcase these Young Champions of the Earth. |
School of Tomorrow x Temasek Shophouse Fireside Chats [new]
Serving as a platform for thoughtful exchange, the School of Tomorrow x Temasek Shophouse Fireside Chats provide a platform for insightful discussions on conservation and sustainability. Our expert panel will delve into the challenges and opportunities of restoring a row of 100-year-old conserved shophouses, while incorporating sustainability strategies into their design and operation. Hear them share personal anecdotes and insights from projects like Temasek Shophouse, and witness firsthand how they are laying the groundwork for sensitive restoration and a regenerative future.
This is a free event, but we encourage you to register in advance to ensure everything goes seamlessly.
| Fireside Chat 1: Conservation Conversations Preserving Singapore’s Heritage for Future Generations Thursday, 24 October 2024, 6pm – 7.30pm On the Panel: 1. Ho Weng Hin Co-Founder Studio Lapis 2. Jerome Lim Author The Long and Winding Road |
| Fireside Chat 2: When New meets Old The Sustainability Challenge for Conserved Shophouses Thursday, 7 November 2024, 6pm – 7.30pm On the Panel: 1. Naree Phinyawatana Director Atelier Ten 2. Jia Xin Chum Associate Director, Architecture, Landscape & Urbanism Henning Larsen |
Organiser
Kinetic Singapore
Kinetic Singapore is an independent creative agency. Refusing to be boxed in, their works span design and advertising, from branding to activation and experiential, from social media campaigns to web and app UX/UI design. A fierce champion of local, Kinetic has put our little red dot on the global design stage with over 500 awards and counting.
Temasek Shophouse
Temasek Shophouse, a social impact hub in the heart of Singapore, works closely with partners from the Public, Private, and Philanthropic (3P) sectors to convene change-makers, foster collaborations, and catalyse solutions for positive impact. With a focus on building connected communities, Temasek Shophouse seeks to strengthen relationships in Singapore and beyond, steward community bonds through effective placemaking efforts in community spaces, and support change-makers and social impact organisations by providing co-working and event spaces. Temasek Shophouse is home to the Temasek Trust ecosystem and like-minded co-working partners.
Temasek Shophouse is expanding to better cater to a growing community of change-makers and will reopen its doors in 2025.
New Bahru
New Bahru is a lifestyle destination designed for discovery by The Lo & Behold Group. The name (Bahru meaning “New” in Malay) reflects the ambition of bringing together a new creative community and is a nod to the city’s penchant for repeating words for emphasis. Set in the former Nan Chiau High School, New Bahru assembles some of the best local talents across F&B, retail, enrichment, wellness and hospitality to tell a compelling story of creative progress in Singapore.
DesignSingapore Council
DesignSingapore Council’s (Dsg) vision is for Singapore to be an innovation-driven economy and a loveable city through design by 2025. As the national agency that promotes design, our mission is to develop the design sector, help Singapore use design for innovation and growth, and make life better in this UNESCO Creative City of Design. Dsg is a subsidiary of the Singapore Economic Development Board.
