_{Jewel Changi Airport was the success of a collective effort of a dedicated and impassioned team. 
Watch 'Garden of Wonder,' by filmmaker Helen Han, here.}

SINGAPORE 30 JUNE 2021 – Jewel Changi Airport is named President*s Design Award 2020 Design of the Year. The President*s Design Award (P*DA) is Singapore’s highest honor for designers and designs across all disciplines. It recognizes the achievements of an extraordinary group of people making a difference to the lives of Singaporeans and the global community through excellent design. The Award is conferred by the President of the Republic of Singapore and is jointly administered by the DesignSingapore Council (Dsg) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

To celebrate, an award ceremony was held June 30, 2021 in-person in Singapore and virtually world-wide, detailing the process and recipients. This year’s jury of architecture practitioners, academics, design experts and impact experts, synopsize Jewel Changi Airport’s selection:

“In one strategic move, the dome-shaped architecture improves the connectivity of the airport’s existing three terminals and becomes the new nexus of Singapore’s air hub. The simplicity of its structure belies the immense complexity of the task. Architecture, engineering and landscaping are beautifully integrated into a singular, iconic form with spaces that are at once welcoming, rich and lively. The mastery of design, from concept to the execution of details, makes Jewel as much a technical marvel as it is a powerful attraction.”

The project was nominated by Martin Pedersen, Writer, Editor and Executive Director of Common Edge Collaboration. Pedersen remarks:

“And if the great garden of Changi inspires imitators... then that will have been just one of Jewel’s great legacies. Perhaps Changi can usher in a second golden age, one centered not so much on the miracle of flight (a given today), but on the shared humanity of everyone involved.”

Established in 2006, P*DA was founded to recognize the significant achievements of Singapore’s design talents and the contributions they have made to Singapore’s economic competitiveness and quality of life; engender pride in the nation’s outstanding designs and leading designers among Singaporeans and in turn nurture among Singaporeans a greater awareness of quality design in all areas; and demonstrate to industry, businesses, the general public and the international community the government’s commitment to design development and promotion. In recent years, the award establishes greater emphasis on the impact of design in enabling economic transformation; raising the quality of life; advancing Singapore brand, culture and connecting communities; and making ground-breaking achievements in the field of design. In 2011, Marina Bay Sands by Safdie Architects was also awarded Design of the Year.

_{(Left) Singapore President Halimah Yacob + Award Recipient Winners; (Right) Charu Kokate + Indranee Rajah, Second Minister for National Development Singapore, and Larry NG, Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority}