Terence Tan's Dojo Design Wins Gold at the Design Excellence Awards 2024

We are pleased to announce that Terence Tan Jia Ren, a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Architecture student, has been awarded the Spatial Design Award (SPADES Award) for Best Public Design (GOLD) at the recent Design Excellence Award (DEA) 2024. The event is organised by the Interior Design Confederation Singapore (IDCS). This year’s competition saw a record number of entries, with the Public Design category being particularly competitive. Submissions were assessed by a distinguished jury panel of local and international design leaders.

Terence’s project, “The Way of the Dojo,” was developed as part of his Design 6 Studio course, under the guidance of Studio Leader, Professor Dr Joseph Lim.  The Way of the Dojo was inspired by the need for a sanctuary within the bustling NUS campus to address the neglect of martial arts, which are often relegated to leftover spaces. It seeks to reclaim and celebrate the wisdom and traditions of these practices, blending history, reverence, and growth. Its sloped avenue, lined with dojo entrances exuding respect and heritage, invites students and the public to explore the balance between combat mastery and self-discovery, fostering community and admiration. Here, amidst echoes of tradition and future aspirations, students find refuge and inspiration, embracing their inner warrior.

Traversing the compressed connector, visitors are drawn into introspection. Emerging through the threshold, they are met with a crescendo of light and space, with façades adorned by motifs symbolising martial arts forms—from hand combat to self-defence and joint locking. The space humbly transforms, inviting contemplation and respect before unveiling an expansive celebration of light and art.

“Charred wood was chosen for its scarred yet resilient nature, serving as the design’s cornerstone. In parallel to the toughness that martial artists cultivate, the weathered texture reflects perseverance and transformation, with each mark telling a story. The material resonates with the essence of martial arts, where resilience is forged through adversity,” Terence shared.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude for the support extended by the faculty, which enabled me to attend this award ceremony and showcase our work on this platform,” he noted.

For the 11th cycle of the Awards, IDCS brings back twenty-six of the most popular award categories across the two competition tracks: Interior Design Excellence Awards (I-DEA) for professional interior designers and firms and Spatial Design Awards (SPADE) for students. These Awards are considered a seal of excellence and proof of outstanding achievements in the design field, acknowledged by a professional jury panel.

To learn more about Terence’s winning submission, please visit the IDCS website here.