Great Museums & Edutainment at Integrated Resorts Singapore.

By Donn Richard
June 2008
Singapore

There will be a total of two museums within the IRs. MBS will house the ArtScience museum and RWS promises to offer the discovery and education experience of a lifetime to their visitors of the Maritime Xperiential Museum.

The Maritime Xperiential Museum, designed by Ralph Appelbaum & Associates and located by RWS’s theme parks, will be the world’s only maritime museum entirely dedicated to Asia’s maritime history. This will be very much a ’learn as you enjoy?experience where guests will thrill too, amongst other attractions, a 360-degrees multimedia motion shipwreck theatre. Remember to fasten your seat belts when you have embarked as ship wrecks have a reputation of being bumpy and scary. Only on this one, you intrepid mariners will live to tell the story. Aye mateys, just wait to spin the yarn of your thrilling ride to the depths of the oceans.

This extraordinary theatre interprets the most glorious of times of Asian maritime history including information on deep ocean sea-life, shipwrecks, discovered and undiscovered sea treasures and so much more.

The museum will house the Marine Environmental Genomics Research and Learning Centre by J. Craig Venter Institute. This institute was founded by Dr J. Craig Venter, one of the leading scientists of genomic research of the 21st century. Dr Venter has been credited as the chief architect of the team to sequence the first genome1 in 1995, and the human genome in 2000.

Children and adults alike will be able to learn current genomics and bioscience concepts through hands-on, interactive, inquiry-based programmes. Developed by scientists and teachers, the activities will enable students to experience first-hand the joys of making scientific discoveries and interpreting crime scenes. The Centre will also be a major research facility dedicated to sequencing the genomes of marine micro-organisms found in the waters of South East Asia.

The Centre at the Maritime Xperiential Museum will be an extension of Dr Venter’s Sorcerer II Expedition, a global oceanographic mission to collect water samples around the world to uncover the rich microbial diversity of the earth’s oceans. Visitors at the Museum will learn more about this monumental project and see ‘live?picture feeds of the actual gene sequencing work taking place at the Venter Institute in Maryland, USA.

Dr. Venter believes that by bringing his Sorcerer II global expedition to Singapore, young people in Asia will be inspired to learn more about genomics. I, myself, foresee some up and coming Nobel Prize winners from the one and only Singapore!

Of course, this wonderful museum is not only about science. ‘You forget the past; you will not know your future.?Asian maritime history is very rich and diverse. This experience confirms that. Featured will be replicas of six period tall ships commonly used along the Asian maritime Silk Route up to the 16th century: the Junk (Chinese), Dhow (Indian), Catamaran (Tahitian), Magellan’s Victoria, Proa (Marianas Islands) and Trading Vessel (Spice Islands). The reproduction and bringing to life of the floating fleet will immerse visitors with the experience of what it was like for seafarers centuries ago.

Overseeing the programme of the ‘floating fleet?is renowned San Diego Maritime Museum executive director and curator, Dr. Ray Ashley, ensuring visitors will be able to experience these ships in their full glory.

Plans are on the table by Dr. Ashley and his team to build a replica of the San Salvador, the founding ship of California used by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo on his uncompleted voyage to sail from North America to China in 1542. The good doctor doesn’t plan to stop there, however. The plans call for a belated completion of this historical journey by the San Salvador by sailing it to Shanghai for World Expo 2010. Afterwards, this glorious vessel will sail to Resorts World at Sentosa, undoubtedly to a very warm Singaporean welcome.

The MBS, after considering an aquarium, an art museum and theatres, decided upon a museum that would establish a link between the arts and sciences.

The lotus-inspired design of the 20,500 sqm ArtScience Museum will serve as a symbol welcoming guests arriving from as far as Tunisia, North Africa. The design will also give a strong and iconic presence to the waterfront (think of Sydney’s Opera House). The galleries for the museum will be located on three levels. Additionally, there is also a lobby and conference room on two different levels, the ground floor and basement 1 floor. There is also a café with a view of the city’s greatest skyscrapers. It has not been determined by the management team of the museum as to the exact location of the café.

Combining art and technology, the roof, or as some may call it ‘the great dish,? of the ArtScience museum will also function as a water collector of rainfall which then feeds a waterfall which cascades through the center of the building. Beautiful! And at nighttime, the same roof transforms into an amphitheatre showcasing amazing fireworks as well as light and laser shows.

The ArtScience Museum will feature traveling exhibits from abroad as well as permanent local and international science and arts exhibits. A display of media depicting various aspects of Leonardo Da Vinci artwork may be included in the museum’s permanent exhibits. A great way to spend a day and/or an evening at MBS!

On the business front, The Sands will fund as well as oversee the managerial structure of the museum. Retail, dining and revenue from the casino are also expected to contribute to the museum’s operation.

Organizations that are likely to be collaborating with the ArtScience museum in Singapore are the Gallery of Research/Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Field Museum of Natural History of Chicago and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of New York. A very impressive line-up.