PI Architects

Starting with a simple question of "why not?", PI Architects was founded in 2017 by Ivan Soh and Paul Yeo. Even before they had both graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Master's Degree in architecture, they knew this career path was the one for them, feeling called to the profession. Eight years later, the firm now comprises a skilled team of architects and interior designers, each contributing a unique skillset, perspective, and style. Their work is underscored by a firm belief that good design is intuitive, drawing inspiration from the details hiding in everyday experiences. "The things we see, the lives we live, the colours we observe—that's what inspires us," the founders share.

In the team's eyes, a trip to a foreign country can lead to a creative epiphany, but so can a perfectly average day spent at home. "All of these experiences and sensory inputs get stored in the creative subconscious, and this functions like a library of potential design vocabulary when the right project comes along," they explain. "This vocabulary will then be used in the design decisions we make."

Similarly key to their ethos is an open-minded approach to new projects, paired with a refusal to fit their style into a predefined box. "Since the beginning, we have not been too worried about determining what our work should look like, or if there is a style that is uniquely us," the founders say. "We have always preferred to start from a client’s brief and consider the project factors, such as their lifestyle, their likes and dislikes, and the site and context, to create a very unique piece of work."

Not only does this lead to potentially unexpected solutions and ideas, but it also encourages the team to keep their work fresh, relevant, and personalised year after year.