Design for Strength
Strength in design takes many forms. It can be found in the durability of materials, in the flexibility of spaces that evolve over time and even in the way a building honours the people and cultures it serves.
As architects embrace the global call to ‘Design for Strength’ (theme for 2025 World Architecture Day), the focus has shifted beyond structure alone. Design now prioritizes environmental responsibility, adaptability and cultural continuity.
At Fiidaa Art, these same values guide the way we curate.
Art is part of a space’s strength — it carries permanence through its craftsmanship, flexibility through its relevance and belonging through its connection to place. When chosen with intention, art doesn’t simply complete a design; it reinforces it, grounding every space in purpose and emotion.
Design for Strength – Durability and Sustainability
Durability in design speaks to its integrity. The capacity of a space to remain steady through change. In art, that same idea translates into emotional endurance.
Works that bring calm and focus help spaces retain balance, especially in high-pressure corporate or clinical settings.
Max Kong’s Concentric Square series anchors and calms the reception space at Dentalis clinic, Singapore. Curation by Fiidaa Art
Responsible curation considers how art is made, where it comes from and how it will live within its environment. The strength of a collection also lies in its ability to age well — through materials that last, craftsmanship that respects resources and collaborations that build long-term value.
In this corporate project, the installation is made entirely of recycled aluminium drink cans, speaking to the client’s desire to reduce carbon footprint through material choice. Curation by Fiidaa Art
Designing for strength begins with intention. Every piece chosen reflects a belief in longevity, in creating spaces and experiences that remain meaningful long after the first impression fades.
Design for Strength: Adaptability and Continuity
A strong space is one that can evolve. Architecture achieves this through flexible planning and materials that allow for change; curation achieves it through relevance.
Art that adapts to its surroundings keeps a space alive — it reflects shifting communities, new ways of working and the evolving identities of those who pass through it.
Rotating art collection at The Working Capitol curated by Fiidaa Art, Each rotation brings a fresh energy to the space
At Fiidaa Art, we curate with movement in mind. Rotating collections and modular installations ensure that art evolves alongside the space, maintaining its sense of energy and purpose. This creates a sense of continuity of thought, not repetition. The way a collection tells an ongoing story connects people to their environment, even as that environment transforms.
When art and design anticipate change rather than resist it, they invite a deeper kind of strength - one built on flexibility, relevance and renewal.
Design for Strength: Cultural Sensitivity and Belonging
Graphic wallpaper with local Japanese scenes and motifs welcome guests at Lyf Tenjin hotel - Fukuoka, Japan. Curated by Fiidaa Art
Strength also lies in understanding context. Buildings that respond to culture and community create a deeper connection to the people they serve and art strengthens that bond.
Curation shaped by cultural awareness ensures that spaces do more than function — they resonate. Each artwork becomes part of a larger narrative, reflecting the heritage, values and textures of its surroundings. By collaborating with local artists and embracing regional materials and stories, Fiidaa Art helps create environments that feel grounded and familiar, yet open to new interpretation.
Stunning wall installation of over 100 ceramic plates by local artisans at the dining hall of Courtyard by Marriott, Setia Alam, Malaysia. Curation by Fiidaa Art
This sensitivity to place builds belonging. It transforms spaces into cultural touchpoints where history is acknowledged, identity is celebrated and design feels authentic to where it stands.
Conclusion
To design for strength is to design with foresight and empathy. Architecture provides the framework, but art gives that framework depth. Together, they create spaces that endure through integrity, evolve with purpose and stay rooted in identity.
At Fiidaa Art, our approach to curation follows the same principles of ‘Design for Strength’ - to honour the spirit of place and build lasting value. Strength in design is not measured by how long something stands, but by how deeply it continues to move and connect the people who inhabit it.