Architects and Bakers Add A Sweet Touch To Archifest 2018
No concrete, glass or steel here – just a whole lot of cake used to recreate delectable versions of Asian landmarks
If you missed Archifest’s baking contest on Saturday, 29 September, here’s a recap!
I arrived towards the end of WATG’s Great Architectural Bake-Off. To be specific, I arrived mid-battle.
Throngs of people had gathered around eight cakes. Some already were looking slightly sad and defeated – their core structures, modelled after great Asian landmarks, limp from the midday heat, and covered in crumbs.
I arrived towards the end of WATG’s Great Architectural Bake-Off. To be specific, I arrived mid-battle.
Throngs of people had gathered around eight cakes. Some already were looking slightly sad and defeated – their core structures, modelled after great Asian landmarks, limp from the midday heat, and covered in crumbs.
Photo by Amanda Jayne Lee
I was particularly enamoured of the Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Pavilion) made by Wilson Associates. Modelled after its counterpart in Kyoto, Japan, it had a brownie structure, a gelatin pond filled with fondant goldfish, and was plastered with edible 24K gold leaf flown in from Bangkok. A spun-sugar crane sat on its peak, and as the judges came round to inspect it, one of the bakers dusted it with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. It was now the snow-covered Kinkaku-Ji in winter.
Stunning.
I was particularly enamoured of the Kinkaku-Ji (Golden Pavilion) made by Wilson Associates. Modelled after its counterpart in Kyoto, Japan, it had a brownie structure, a gelatin pond filled with fondant goldfish, and was plastered with edible 24K gold leaf flown in from Bangkok. A spun-sugar crane sat on its peak, and as the judges came round to inspect it, one of the bakers dusted it with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. It was now the snow-covered Kinkaku-Ji in winter.
Stunning.
Photo by Amanda Jayne Lee
Elsewhere, hungry spectators continued to circle the cakes, asking questions about the structures, admiring weeks-worth of effort that had been poured into the project, and snapping photos of the many admirable details.
Take the Hill of Buddha by WATG, the fondant buddha in the centre was hand-moulded and placed in the midst of delicate layers of sponge cake.
Elsewhere, hungry spectators continued to circle the cakes, asking questions about the structures, admiring weeks-worth of effort that had been poured into the project, and snapping photos of the many admirable details.
Take the Hill of Buddha by WATG, the fondant buddha in the centre was hand-moulded and placed in the midst of delicate layers of sponge cake.
Photo by Amanda Jayne Lee
As the day wore on, you could tell that the spectators were getting hungry and perked up when the host announced: “Participants, you can start serving your cake!” For what’s a bake-off without a tasting?
As the day wore on, you could tell that the spectators were getting hungry and perked up when the host announced: “Participants, you can start serving your cake!” For what’s a bake-off without a tasting?
Photo courtesy of Archifest/WATG
Following the theme, the cakes were decidedly Asian in flavour: matcha and yuzu for the Japanese buildings, pandan, coconut and sweet potato for Singapore landmarks.
All delicious, all much-too-filling and impossible to finish. It was a sweet treat mid-Archifest, and the kids attending definitely loved it.
Following the theme, the cakes were decidedly Asian in flavour: matcha and yuzu for the Japanese buildings, pandan, coconut and sweet potato for Singapore landmarks.
All delicious, all much-too-filling and impossible to finish. It was a sweet treat mid-Archifest, and the kids attending definitely loved it.
Photo by Amanda Jayne Lee
Now the participating firms waited anxiously. Which of these their buildings would take home the cake? (I’m sorry, I had to throw in this pun.)
Tastiest Building: JTC’s model of the Jurong Town Hall in Singapore
While delicious, it was clearly made by people uncomfortable in the kitchen.
Now the participating firms waited anxiously. Which of these their buildings would take home the cake? (I’m sorry, I had to throw in this pun.)
Tastiest Building: JTC’s model of the Jurong Town Hall in Singapore
While delicious, it was clearly made by people uncomfortable in the kitchen.
Photo courtesy of Archifest/WATG
Honourable Mention: The Kinkaku-Ji by Wilson Associates
Their building, while absolutely picture-perfect, was made of a rather blah brownie mixture that left a lot to be desired.
Honourable Mention: The Kinkaku-Ji by Wilson Associates
Their building, while absolutely picture-perfect, was made of a rather blah brownie mixture that left a lot to be desired.
Photo courtesy of Archifest/WATG
Winner: Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) creation of the Prada Aoyama building in Tokyo
This hit the spot. The epicentre of the cake was a mild, matcha sponge that was delicate and yet impactful, while its ‘glass’ exterior held an uncanny likeness to the actual building.
Winner: Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) creation of the Prada Aoyama building in Tokyo
This hit the spot. The epicentre of the cake was a mild, matcha sponge that was delicate and yet impactful, while its ‘glass’ exterior held an uncanny likeness to the actual building.
Photo by Amanda Jayne Lee
In a stroke of genius, the URA team had a friend print a 3D copy of the panels surrounding the building before pouring food-safe silicone around it to create a mould. Sugar was poured in to create the surrounding ‘glass’. Look closely, and you’ll see that even the tiniest of ridges has been replicated.
In a stroke of genius, the URA team had a friend print a 3D copy of the panels surrounding the building before pouring food-safe silicone around it to create a mould. Sugar was poured in to create the surrounding ‘glass’. Look closely, and you’ll see that even the tiniest of ridges has been replicated.
Photo courtesy of Archifest/WATG
WATG’s Great Architectural Bake-Off remains one of Archifest’s greatest events and the perfect way to serve architecture on a plate.
MORE
Designer Cakes Topped Off Archifest 2017 With a Flavourful Flourish
WATG’s Great Architectural Bake-Off remains one of Archifest’s greatest events and the perfect way to serve architecture on a plate.
MORE
Designer Cakes Topped Off Archifest 2017 With a Flavourful Flourish
Others stood tall, and proud, the architects (or bakers) who had created them hovering over them anxiously, waiting for their confection to be judged.
Like their life-size inspirations, these sweet treats spurred the imagination and were architectural marvels of… cake batter and icing.