Tatler Asia
About Us

Since its inception in 2011, Singapore-based studio UPSTRS_ has earned acclaim locally and internationally for its narrative-driven design approach and the immaculate execution of each project. Top accolades include the Multi-Disciplinarian Design Firm of the Year at the Singapore Design Awards (2018/19) and the Interior Design Firm of the Year at the Singapore Interior Design Awards (2020); the firm’s founder and creative director Dennis Cheok was also named a recipient of the inaugural 20 Under 45 Awards by the Society of Interior Designers (Singapore).

Cheok, who grew up wanting to design a house of his own, cites an eclectic mix of influences—his parents were a source of inspiration during his formative years, while theatre became his creative driver as a teenager. “Both my parents are makers: my father was a contractor and carpenter, and my mom a seamstress. So I always wanted to make with whatever that was within my reach. Theatre gave me life and sparked my passion for school. I found my space backstage, and my graduation project was full-on ambition involving set, costume, makeup, lighting, and sound design.”

Later on, architecture school and a work stint with Ministry of Design (MOD) helped shape the fundamentals of Cheok’s own creative philosophy. An opportunity to design a menswear store in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands became the pivotal project that inspired the Singapore designer to start his own firm. The studio is currently a six-member interdisciplinary team supported by colleagues in Kuala Lumpur and Manila, and has ongoing projects that include a large-scale development in Kuala Lumpur.

Having designed everything from showflats and private homes to boutiques and the OCBC Premier Private Client lounge, the firm has increasingly incorporated design elements created in collaboration with local brands such as Roger & Sons, This Humid House and Scent by Six to create multi-sensory experiences for each project. “Each project brings an opportunity to innovate in terms of experience, materiality and craft, and reaping results that shape our oeuvre,” says Cheok.

Achievements
Tatler Asia
Interior Design Firm of the Year (2020)
Tatler Asia
Multi-Disciplinarian Design Firm of the Year
Tatler Asia
20 Under 45 Awards (2021)
Our Projects
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OCBC Premier Private Client Lounge

14,200 sq ft  |  Workspace
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'gallery right' 'gallery right'

The Slow/ Tiong Bahru

998 sq ft  |  Walk-up
'gallery right' 'gallery right'
'gallery right' 'gallery right'

Amber Sea Showflats

980 sq ft  |  Show Flat