BA (Hons) Interior Design students during a visit to the SMRT headquarters.
Front row, left to right: Jan Ysabel S. Panghulan, Lew Xin Hui, Pu Wen Wen, Keuk Rui Hang, Ting Si Seng, Xu Yantao. Middle row, left to right: Jumana Haseen D/O Abdul Ghani, Soh Xin Thong, Jana Oon, Farah Binte Omar, Chan Man Wai Sharome with Senior Lecturer Kelley Cheng and Programme Leader Jay Loo.
Stellar Lifestyle—the largest managing agent of retail and advertising spaces in Singapore’s rail network—collaborated with students from LASALLE’s BA (Hons) Interior Design programme to breathe new life into retired train cabins.
This unique challenge offered the student designers a hands-on opportunity to apply their classroom learning in response to an industry brief—repurpose SMRT train cabins for both community and commercial use by pushing the boundaries of creativity and functionality.
Thinking outside of the box, the students considered the diverse needs of the community and explored potential commercial ventures. Through detailed diagrams, intricate drawings and immersive 3D visuals, they transformed the interiors into vibrant activity hubs—from mobile libraries and mini-cafes to pop-up shops and interactive art installations, the possibilities were as diverse as their imaginations.
The students were also mentored by experienced engineers from SMRT, gaining valuable insights into the technical aspects of train cabin design and the practical considerations involved in repurposing them.
The top three groups were invited to deliver their final presentations at the SMRT headquarters. Their work will be displayed in MRT trains and stations.
This industry collaboration with Stellar Lifestyle has pushed students to foster a deeper understanding of the potential for adaptive reuse and sustainable design, providing them with valuable experiences in design thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. It also highlights the power of collaboration between industry and education, as well as the potential of nurturing the next generation of designers to shape the future of urban spaces.
