The Singapore Discovery Centre has reopened following an 18-month revamp costing $25m (£8.6m, US$15.7m, 12.5m euro).
The 4,500sq m (48,500sq ft) visitor attraction comprises five galleries, each presenting a different aspect of Singapore’s past, present and future, so that visitors can ‘travel through time’ to key moments in the nation’s history.
General manager Jordan Woo said: “Singapore now has a world-class attraction which uses interactive and multi-sensory exhibits to tell the Singapore story.
“It will help visitors to understand the security, economic and social issues of Singapore in a fun and entertaining way.”
The Visionarium exhibit comprises a gigantic globe featuring a 360-degree wraparound screen. In each session, up to 120 people can cast their vote on how to turn Singapore into one of the best cities in the world via an interactive screen. The information in then gathered to create a final design, which is presented on the wraparound screen.
The Gateway uses the three elements of fire, earth and wind to present Singapore’s history using multimedia clips.
Behind the screens, Contradiction Wall is crammed with statements about Singapore for contemplation, e.g. What makes Singapore ‘so Singapore’?
The On Location Reporter exhibit allows visitors to experience broadcast journalism. An on-location reporter takes them on a journey through Singapore’s historic moments and then asks for a report on national issues, such as the first National Service call-up.
The Security Pavilion explains why Singapore cannot take security for granted. It features the Crisis Simulation theatre, which shows a bomb exploding in an underground train station and asks Can this happen in Singapore? What can you do to prevent it?
The fifth exhibit – Unity Pavilion – features a fast-paced trivia quiz with hands-on games to encourage visitors to appreciate and celebrate the diverse cultures and the common way of life which shapes the Singaporean identity.
The new centre was designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) – the interpretive museum design firm behind the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and Smithsonian Institute as well as Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Museum.
It aims to attract 300,000 guests this year – a 20 per cent increase on attendance figures before the redevelopment. Details: www.sdc.com.sg
