REMEMBERING MARIA WARNER WONG (10 Sept 1963 - 19 Oct 2024)
Maria Wong, who has sadly passed away on 19 October 2024, was the co-founder of WOW Architects alongside her husband, Chiu Man. Maria’s remarkable journey took her from Mexico to California, then Massachusetts, and ultimately to Singapore, where she made her home. A true global citizen, she was confident in the future of this region and deeply committed to its potential.
In addition to managing her practice and raising her family, Maria generously shared her expertise with our Department. She deeply valued the education of architects, and I recall her dedication as a part-time design instructor in our undergraduate programme and later as one of our external design examiners. Maria belonged to a generation of architects trained in the mid-eighties who were acutely aware of practical realities while also encouraging students to aspire toward more profound conceptual thinking. She was an architect and educator of deep reflection, understanding that the balance between competing issues in design is a constant yet enriching challenge.
I recall one occasion when she shared her thoughts on working on an ancestral home of a distinguished family in Melaka on Jalan Tun Cheng Lock. Maria emphasised that architectural conservation was not merely about preserving the past but about establishing meaningful connections between the present and the past. Her approach exemplified her thoughtful and forward-thinking philosophy, always seeking to create dialogue between tradition and innovation.
We are deeply saddened by her loss and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family.
Honorary Fellow, Dr. Wong Yunn Chii
Former Head of Department
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Maria Wong was a cherished friend of the Department, serving as a part-time design instructor for a decade, from 1999 to 2009. She was a dedicated and warm colleague, known for her passion and energy. I will greatly miss her vibrant personality.
As one of the few female architects in Singapore to co-found an award-winning practice, WOW Architects, Maria was a trailblazer and a role model for many female students and graduates. Her 2024 video, where she candidly reflects on her legacy, regrets and offers heartfelt guidance to young female architects, stands as a testament to her lasting influence. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1076595674041696
She will be deeply missed, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family.
Associate Professor, Dr. Tan Beng Kiang
+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
I am deeply saddened by the passing of our long-time colleague, friend and devoted teacher Maria Warner Wong. She was a great architect but what made her an influential teacher was her ability to not just share her knowledge and love for design but do it in a way that touched students’ hearts. I will remember her ability to support students that suffer, emotionally or even existentially, and extend her help way and beyond the expected pedagogy. Maria set the bar for good design teaching and will be remembered for it by many generations of her students and by colleagues who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Associate Professor, Dr. Ruzica Bozovic-Stamenovic
Guest Lecture Poster by the late Ar. Wong in 2015