Architecture E-Open House 2023
Overview
First established in 1958, the Department of Architecture (DOA), NUS, has trained generations of architects and designers over the 65 years of our history. Over the years, our graduates have firmly established themselves as leaders in the architecture profession and were instrumental in shaping the local and regional built environment. They include:
- Pioneer architects who graduated in the 1960s and contributed significantly to Singapore’s nation building, such Tay Kheng Soon and Tan Cheng Siong. Both of them are winners of Singapore Institute of Architects’ (SIA) Gold Medal, the highest honour from the SIA, and the architects behind modernist icons like Golden Mile Complex, People’s Park Complex and Pearl Bank Apartments.
- President’s Design Award (PDA) Designer of the Year winners such as Mok Wei Wei (W Architects, 2007), Wong Mun Summ (WOHA, 2008), Richard KF Ho (RichardHO Architects, 2013), Tan Kok Hiang (Forum Architects, 2014), Khoo Peng Beng and Belinda Huang (ARC Studio, 2020). The PDA is the highest honour accorded to designers and designs from all design disciplines in Singapore.
- Younger generations of award-winning architects such as Chang Yong Ter (Chang Architects), Randy Chan (ZArch Collaboratives), Wu Yen Yen (Genome Architects), Lim Shing Hui (L Architects), Goy Zhenru (Goy Architects).
- Senior leadership in government agencies such as URA including Hwang Yu Ning (Chief Planner and Deputy CEO, URA) and Fun Siew Leng (Chief Urban Designer, URA)
- Senior leadership in large architectural and design practices such as Seah Chee Huang (CEO, DP Architects) and Tan Shao Yen (Group Chief Innovation Officer, CPG Corporation).
Many of our graduates have also embarked on careers outside of conventional trajectories in architecture. Some of them make use of the broad-based design training that they received at the DOA to engage with and excel in the allied fields of design, art, sustainability and built heritage. Among them are:
- Kelley Cheng, PDA Designer of the Year, 2020 and creative director of the Press Room
- Peter Sim, Tiah Nan Chyuan, Selwyn Low and Torrance Goh, the co-founders of the award-winning cross-disciplinary design practice FARM.
- Cheryl Sim and Mervin Tan, co-founders of multi-disciplinary, award-winning design firm Plus Collaboratives.
- Designers of interactive experiences, such as Shi Yanjie and Lim Zi Yuan who are directors of Vouse, a firm that uses VR, AR and different softwares to tell stories and enhance experiences of our environment, and Yen Phoaw (senior product designer at Intuit, San Francisco).
- Heritage specialists and consultants, such as Ho Weng Hin and Tan Kar Lin (co-founders of Studio Lapis), Yeo Kang Shua (Assoc Prof at SUTD), Ian Tan (Assoc Director at One Bite Studio, Hong Kong).
- Community designers such as Albert Liang (founder of BEEP Lab) and Larry Yeung (Executive Director of Participate in Design).
- Urban sustainability advocates and entrepreneurs, such as Tan Jing Xiang (cofounder of an urban farm wethefarm) and Eva Leung (co-founder of Terra Cura, Massachusetts, USA)
- Design researchers and strategists like Melany Sun-Min Park (Strategy Lead at Gensler USA), and Elaine Tan Sze Hui (Director of Research at Centre for Liveable Cites).
- Design writers and editors, such as Sylvia Chen (editor, A+U magazine in Japan) and Luo Jingmei (independent writer, previously deputy editor of Cubes Indesign).
- Artists, illustrators and photographers, such as Lee Xin Li (independent illustrator), Quek See Hong (ceramic artist at Good Good Ceramics), and Fabian Ong (independent photographer).
Other graduates capitalized on their backgrounds and training in architecture to become leaders in the real estate industry:
- Cheng Hsing Yao, CEO of GuocoLand
- Dennis Woon Chin Voon, Group Chief Development Officer, Mapletree Investments
- Leong Teng Wui, Chief Development Officer, The Ascott
- James Foo, Vice President, Global Real Estate and Workplace Experience, American Express
- Tan Szue Hann, Head of Sustainability, Keppel Land
- Max Ma, Director of Design and Technical Services, Singapore & the Philippines at Accor
Featured Alumni
Below are a few features of our more recent graduates:
Liang Tsu Ying, Albert
BA(Arch)/M.Arch
Class of 2012
“ BEEP Lab to build creative confidence in your child through design thinking and architecture.”
Albert Liang , the founder and director of BEEP Lab Pte Ltd. A registered social enterprise with RaiSE. BEEP LAB was established in 2018 with the vision to empower, enrich and engage the younger generations to learn about our built, natural and cultural environment through art, community, history, technology and nature. We believe that such interdisciplinary learning platforms should be made accessible to children and families of all walks of life.
As a trained architectural designer and a passionate educator adjunct design tutor teaching in NUS Department of Architecture, Albert aspired to equip the new generation of architects with design facilitation and teaching skills that would enable them to develop a mentoring relationship between our shared environment and the learners. He does that by actively partnering with local industries and institutions to promote the learning of design and our built environment, by participating in annual archifest organised by Singapore Institute of Architects( SIA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority(URA) over the last 5 years since 2016.
BEEP Lab’s curriculum takes on the design & visual thinking approach to ‘See, Wonder and Do’. We curate design thinking projects that are relevant to the challenges of our world with experiential learning approaches and hands-on collaborative creation processes using architectural design project briefs.
His diverse experience in the local architectural design and construction projects such as Changi Terminal 4 and Seng Kang Primary school enables him to gain the insight and the understanding of the requirements to develop a holistic public infrastructure and facility to serve the greater good of the community. And between 2015 to 2018 he worked with SAA architects to pilot and develop the Civic engagement ArKIDecture which act as a platform for staff to participate in content creation of architectural educational workshops and events.
BEEP LAB’s design educational innovation work also gained international recognition in 2019 and 2020 featured by Finland based education research organisation HundrED and NXTEducator-全球教育創新大賞論壇 NXTEducator – Global Innovative Education Conference Saylingwen Cultural & Educational Foundation in Taiwan. And in Dec 2020, BEEP Lab was selected by HundrED as one of the winners of the 2021 Visual Arts Spotlight that demonstrates integration of interdisciplinary learning that helps communicate complex ideas.
Jonathan is a registered architect and member of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA). He received his Master of Architecture Degree from the National University of Singapore.
He started a local design and build company with two other partners in 2013, gaining design and construction administration experience in small to mid-scale projects before setting up his own architectural firm, Studio JP (after which rebranded as Provolk Architects) in 2014. Since then, several of his works were shortlisted for the Lookbox Design Awards and the Design Excellence Award. Most recently he has joined WY-TO, a Singapore-based French architectural and experiential design company as their new director and partner.
He is also widely known for leading an initiative to “save” Dakota Crescent’s post-war SIT estate following the announcement to redevelop the area in 2014. In collaboration with a group of architects and a social research team of diverse backgrounds, they produced a comprehensive conservation report that was instrumental in convincing the Member of Parliament to file a motion to conserve the area.
Jonathan continues to be actively involved in heritage work with the DOCOMOMO (Documentation And Conservation of the Modern Movement) Singapore Chapter, persuading stakeholders to conserve notable Modern Landmarks like Golden Mile Complex and Pearl Bank Apartments. In 2019, he was part of the steering and organizing committee for the 8th mASEANa International Conference in Singapore’s held at the URA building. He was also recently co-opted into the Singapore Heritage Society as an Executive Committee member and advises the body on Architectural and Urban Issues and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic’s Design School.
GOY ZHENRU
BA(Arch)/M.Arch
Class of 2012
Goy Zhenru is the founder, and principal architect of Goy Architects started in 2015. The Singapore based firm formed its regional team across three nations- Singapore, Chiangmai and Bali. Using technology to aid the team’s design workflow, their works are developed entirely on Building Information Modelling (BIM) platform and cloud-based system that allows for close collaboration regardless of their geographical location.
A supporter of vernacular architecture & craftsmanship, Goy Zhenru adapts traditional forms to reflect a spirit of modernity. Her passion for relating architecture to its roots and history is a common theme inherent throughout her work.
As an architect, Goy has built works in both Singapore and Indonesia. Some of her works include learning facilities (public & private), farm-stay resort, residential and more recently, a 7-storey industrial building. As a designer, she has a keen interest in producing a custom range of furniture and decorative objects which serves to complement the interior & architectural works.
In 2019, she was the finalist for Asia Architecture Emerging Architects by ARCASIA for her project Sukasantai farm stay. She presented her works in the Plenary Hall at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) alongside other shortlisted candidates from Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam and Thailand.
This year, her firm has also kickstarted a pop-up office in Chiangmai that focuses on regional materials research and development.
WU HUEI SIANG
BA(Arch)/M.Arch
Class of 2012
“Architecture cannot be rushed,” says 33-year-old architect Wu Huei Siang who runs a boutique architecture practice in an intimate office space at Kreta Ayer that reflect his quiet and unassuming style.
Brought up in a family of wood-workers and trained in Singapore and the Netherlands, Huei Siang is a recipient of the distinguished DesignSingapore Council Scholarship and Building Construction Authority – Built Environment Scholarship
He started WASAA Architects & Associates in 2016 to focus on the practice of craft- making, designing spaces and buildings that are simple, meaningful and delightful.
His practice have been featured on the Board of Architect’s website and works exhibited in Urban Redevelopment Authority’s new AUDE Space that features small practices with big ideas in 2019 as one of the young and upcoming architects.
In his pursuit of architecture, Huei Siang likes to immerse himself in natural landscapes while contemplating his next piece of work.
Wu Huei Siang is a member of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), sits on the committee of Small & Medium Architectural Practices (SMAP) and is registered with the Board of Architects (BOA), Singapore. He has also been an adjunct tutor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) and Temasek Polytechnic.
CHERYL SIM
BA(Arch)/M.Arch
Class of 2014
Cheryl Sim is the co-founder and design director of design consultancy Plus Collaboratives. She guides her team to deconstruct design briefs into brand, narratives, intentions, context, tonality and functionality to derive design solutions in a varied range of design works from spatial design, graphic design, experience design and visual communications. She has led the team in winning projects from brands such as Chanel, Krisflyer, NTUC Income, Fuji Xerox and organisations such as Singapore Tourism Board and Wildlife Reserve Singapore.
After her architecture education, she went on to pursue training in visual communications, with the strong belief that the design framework adopted by the studio can create a synergy between two-dimensional and three-dimensional works for a holistic output. In 2017, the studio applied this belief in an exclusive physical launch of the new Singapore Destination Brand, Passion Made Possible with a sensorial combination of video, graphic and spatial experiences at the launch. The studio also worked on other projects for the Singapore Destination Brand, including developing a 230-page manual for tour agents globally, exploration maps for various cultural precincts for mass distribution island-wide, and developed curated experiences for MICE audiences.
In 2018, the studio expanded to offer brands an end-to end solution via three entities: Plus Collaboratives, Plus Productions and Plus Pictures with the focus on design, event organisation and video and photography.
MERVIN TAN
BA(Arch)/M.Arch
Class of 2012
Mervin Tan is the co-founder and creative director of Plus Collaboratives, a design consultancy with a portfolio of work spanning across spatial design, graphic design, experiential design and visual communication. The studio’s approach lies in its user-centred approach and its evidence-based methodology to create an objective framework for design in order to strategically communicate their client’s messages.
An architect by training, Mervin’s belief that a good experience is attributed to programme and circulation. Plus Collaboratives has been involved in the content curation of nationwide programmes and experiences for mass audiences such as Archifest in 2014, SingaPlural in 2015-2016. As festival director of these events, Mervin’s primary approach was to curate contents that makes the festival relatable to public. In 2017, he also helmed the design and launch of the new Singapore Destination Brand, Passion Made Possible.
Plus Collaboratives’ clientele include well-known brands such as Chanel, Krisflyer, NTUC Income, Fuji Xerox and organisations including Singapore Tourism Board and Wildlife Reserve Singapore.
In 2018, Mervin expanded his studio to have three entities: Plus Collaboratives, Plus Productions and Plus Pictures with focus on design, event organisation and video and photography so as to provide brands with a holistic end-to-end solution.