Nippon Paint's Asia Young Designer Award 2022

Department of Architecture Master’s student Ryan Quah received the prestigious Gold Award in the Architecture Category of the 2022 Nippon Paint Asia Young Designer Awards. The results were announced early this year.

The competition’s theme, “Converge: Pushing the Reset Button,” prompted participants to envision how design solutions could aid individuals in adapting to life post the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging them to explore innovative ways of coping with the new challenges.

Recalling the period during the pandemic, Ryan observed how individuals sought solace in nature and the outdoors. Inspired by this, he chose to incorporate the lush park landscape from ground level into his tower design, effectively crafting a vertical green space.

Titled “Urban Tarzan,” Ryan’s design project presents an innovative solution that brings nature even closer to home. Beyond merely establishing additional green spaces, the project aims to foster an ecological and circular system that harmonizes the users, site, species, and climate. The tower design typology is also adaptable to be constructed in leftover ground spaces and can be replicated in various locations, making it well-suited for the land-scarce Singapore.