SIA Architectural Design Awards 2022 – Winning Design Philosophies And Concepts Series : #2 – Diversity

Synopsis

Speakers

Ar. Seetoh Kum Loon, Formwerkz Architects
Seetoh is the Managing partner of Formwerkz Architects. Formwerkz’s numerous projects have received critical acclaim both locally and internationally. Some of the accolades includes Architecture Review Award, The President’s Design Award, SIA Building of the Year and Design Award, FRAME Award, Golden Pin Design Awards, International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Urban Centre, Design for Asia Award. In recognition of his architectural merits, he was selected by AUDE as one of the promising architects in the “20 Under 45: The Next Generation” in 2004. He has been the appointed external examiner for Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Design & Environment since 2012. With experience of a wide range of Residential, Hospitality, Commercial & Institutional projects, both local and abroad, Seetoh’s works are deeply rooted in the grounds of careful planning & rigorous pursuit of conceptual clarity. He believes that good architecture is organic in nature & it should grow with changes in context & human needs. He also believes that the design profession is at the cross road of change, with gradual blurring of boundaries of creative disciplines induced by the rapid development and adoption of technology in the way we work, live & play. And with that we must seek new ways to create… collaborate, re-look, re-master and evolve.

Ar. Chan Ee Mun, WOHA
Chan Ee Mun is a Director at WOHA. He obtained his Master of Architecture from the National University of Singapore and has been associated with the architectural practice since its inception. Ee Mun is driven by his intrinsic interest in Tropical Urbanity and its change-making potential in shaping responsive architectural solutions to modern issues of density and climate change. His work is characterised by its people-centric approach which is spatially engaging, programmatically vibrant and environmentally responsive. Acknowledged as a leading young architect in “20 under 45” by Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority, Ee Mun has led and completed award-winning projects in key development sectors including residential, commercial, conservation, institutional and hospitality

Ar. Shan Ming, WOHA
Shan Ming received a Master of Architecture from National University of Singapore in 2012. She is a registered architect in Singapore and joined WOHA in 2018. Shan Ming was made an Associate in 2022 and has been involved in various projects since joining the practice, most recently the newly completed MeyerHouse.

Ar Rene Tan, Director, RT+Q Architects
Born in Malaysia, Rene Tan - now resides and practices architecture in Singapore.

Holds a BA both in architecture and music at Yale and his MArch from Princeton. Director at RT+Q Architects (a firm he co-founded in 2003 with partner TK Quek), Rene leads a team of about fifteen in their search for the ‘next best project’.

The firm have been conferred awards in Singapore and abroad. Rene was ‘Designer of the Year’ laureate of the 2016 President’s Design Awards, Singapore--an honour he shares with everyone at RT+Q. Rene was in Adjunct Associate Professor in 2017 at the National University of Singapore and in 2018-19 at the Singapore University of Technology & Design where he taught the ‘Palladio Studio’ and currently the ‘Brunelleschi Studio’.

Mr. Pek Hong, RT+Q Architects
Pek entered architecture believing it is the pinnacle of design to impact the day-today life of people. He takes joy in the intricate art of creating functional yet out-ofthe-box architecture details. He is also an avid lover of the outdoors. Outside the office, he can be found running, swimming, cycling, or diving in the underwater world.

Ar. Melvin Keng, Kaizen Architecture
Ar. Melvin Keng is a Registered Architect in Singapore and the Founding Principal of Singapore practice, Kaizen Architecture. After amassing close to a decade worth of industry experience, in the typology of luxury housing and residential development, under the mentorship of President’s Designer of the Year Laurette, Ar. Rene Tan, Melvin decided to embark on his own and started his own practice in late 2019.
Whilst still largely working in the sphere of residential typology, Melvin has since evolved his design thinking towards producing architecture and spaces that transcend physicality to encompass art, contemporary culture, branding, narration, and digital media. That approach has since seen him complete numerous notable commercial spaces since, like renewed gym space, Ally Singapore, and Cactuss Lifestyle Store in Chengdu.
In 2021, as part of his pursuit of the complete human experience and his obsession for how things are put together, he joined two design friends and founded Kernel Furniture. Kernel Furniture is a locally grown furniture design label that curates well design furniture pieces and functions as a design incubator, exploring collaborations to produce in-house design.
Other than practice, Melvin is heavily involved in the industry through his involvement as a Council Member and Design Thrust Co-Chair in the Singapore Institute of Architects and as Art Director for the magazine title – The Singapore Architect.