Cover Left to right: Jeremy Tay (Prestige Global Designs), Dennis Cheok (UPSTRS_), Michael Ong (Prestige Global Designs), Jennifer Murray (Evocateurs), Bu Shu Kun and Terrence Quah (Architology Interiors), photographed at Hafary Gallery. (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

We present the people behind the award-winning firms of the 2023 edition of the Tatler Homes Design Awards - Singapore, in this special portrait series with Hafary

The winners of the Tatler Homes Design Awards - Singapore 2023 all have certain qualities in common: forward-looking ideas that transcend the client brief, an astute understanding of the spaces they’re working with, and creative chops in crafting truly memorable homes. The seventh Singapore edition of the Tatler Homes Design Awards celebrated the dynamic projects and resilient spirit of local designers and architects; a creative community bustling with talent and passion.

For this special collaboration with Hafary, Surface Project and Surface Stone, we gathered these talented individuals for a series of portrait shoots in the Hafary Gallery. Designed by Park + Associates, the tile purveyor’s stunning venue was also the recipient of the Readers’ Choice: Best Showroom category at the 2022 edition of the Tatler Homes Design Awards.

1. K2LD Architects

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Above Ben Teng, director of K2LD Architects (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

“We are not driven by a particular design style; we focus on the collaborative process that allows us to develop solutions that can positively impact the community around us,” declares Ko Shiou Hee, founding principal of K2LD Architects. This collaborative approach has been a hallmark of various projects, including the in-progress Founders’ Memorial, which K2LD Architects has embarked on in association with Japanese firm Kengo Kuma and Associates, and commemorates Singapore’s pioneering leaders.

The firm is particularly renowned for realising a raft of stunning landed property projects such as the Metallicus House, which combines a striking architectural concept with luxurious interior spaces tailored to its occupants’ lifestyles; it received the Best Good Class Bungalow accolade at this year’s Tatler Homes Design Awards. “At K2LD Architects, we embrace sense and sensibility. It’s an intricate relationship between time and space; that’s how we create our architecture,” says director Ben Teng (above), lead architect on the Metallicus House project.

2. Quod Architects

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Above Diong Fuhan, founder of Quod Architects (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Principal architect Diong Fuhan founded Quod Architects as well as sister company QED Design to satisfy her passion for architecture and interior design; both firms are built upon a foundation that highlights craftsmanship and a keen attention to detail.

Diong has 10 years of industry experience under her belt and holds craft traditions and techniques close to her heart; she also believes that equal importance should be placed on design as well as functionality for a
successful project. At the Tatler Homes Design Awards, her firm was awarded the Best Tropical Concept honour for the Outdoor House, which also encapsulates the interior design firm’s manifesto: to create unique experiences through intelligent design that improves lives and enhances people’s relationship with nature.

3. 7 Interior Architecture

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Above Howard Wee, founder of 7 Interior Architecture (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Founded by Howard Wee in 2007, 7 Interior Architecture often works closely with Aamer Architects on residential projects in Singapore. The two firms came together in a creative meeting of minds to realise the house that won the Best Architectural Concept accolade. From conception to fruition, both firms coalesced their respective expertise to craft an unforgettable abode.

“We enjoy the synergy, banter and creative challenges imposed on each other. Aamer is my mentor and would always motivate me to find enhanced interior design solutions while celebrating the architectural design language,” says Wee.

4. Aamer Architects

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Above Aamer Taher, principal architect of Aamer Architects (Photo: Courtesy)

Founded by principal architect Aamer Taher in 1994, the practice is known for its non-conformist designs. It treats every project as a unique work of art; no two creations are totally alike. It comes as no surprise that Taher found synergy with Howard Wee of 7 Interior Architecture, a studio that regularly creates strong narratives in each of its projects. One of their recent collaborations was awarded the Best Architectural Concept. “Howard embellishes our conceptual ideas and takes them further,” says Taher.

5. TDC & Associates

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Above (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Founded in 1993, this firm has made a name for itself with thoughtful, good-looking spaces and a keen sense of pride in its work. Led by principal designer Chan Loo How, the team merges classic interior elements with refined details and beautiful artworks to create well-composed spaces.

Chan found his passion for interior design at a young age, being enthralled by the many abodes his father had built for countless clients over the years. His firm received the Best Modern Asian Concept accolade, in recognition of an elegant apartment that marries clean lines with rich materials and works by Asian talents.

6. Prestige Global Designs

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Above Michael Ong and Jeremy Tay, founders of Prestige Global Designs (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Whether it is a landed property or a luxurious downtown apartment, the interior practice takes pride in creating personalised interiors for private homes, show suites, workspaces and hotels under the stewardship of co-founders Michael Ong (left) and Jeremy Tay (right), who started the firm in 2008.

“Our design motto is to be bold. We not only want to create something luxurious and beautiful, but also something unique that speaks to our clients,” says Ong. The studio’s keen ability to reshape spaces has resulted in stunning interiors that resonate with their owners. The firm is particularly known for its remarkable transformations of large apartments—it fittingly won the Best Penthouse category at the 2023 edition of the Tatler Homes Design Awards.

In case you missed it: Tatler Homes Design Awards - Singapore: The winners of the 2023 edition

7. Farm

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Above Selwyn Lo, founder of Farm and Gareth Low, associate of Farm (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

So named because it aims to “cultivate a culture of imagination”, this homegrown firm is almost like a creative hydra—it adopts an interdisciplinary design approach that “reinvents the familiar in a whole new light”.

The studio is led by Selwyn Low (left), Peter Sim, Tiah Nan Chyuan and Torrance Goh. Farm has worked on Lloyd’s Inn hotels in Singapore and Bali, along with a new outpost in Kuala Lumpur; this collaboration led to the creation of Lloyd’s Inn’s co-founder Joan Chang’s award-winning house, designed by associate Gareth Low (right).

8. Evocateurs

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Above Jennifer Murray, partner and design principal at Evocateurs (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Calling themselves “spatial provocateurs”, the boutique design firm founded by Roy Teo aims to craft homes that tease and engage all of the five senses. “I tend to get asked why design can be so influential. I feel it’s because design informs and delivers a message, tells a story and ignites our curiosity,” says Jennifer Murray (above), partner and design principal at Evocateurs.

Besides private homes, Evocateurs has realised commercial projects such as the show gallery for the Klimt Cairnhill condominium development; the firm was awarded the Readers’ Choice: Best Show Unit accolade. The design practice has also worked with public figures such as actor Jet Li, stamping its unique touch on his Singapore home.

9. Architology Interiors

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Above Bu Shu Kun and Terrence Quah, founders of Architology Interiors (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Launched in 2010 by architecture graduates Bu Shu Kun (left) and Terrence Quah (right), the firm focuses on “clarity, detail, and balance” in its approach to interior design. “Our creative philosophy can be summed up in four words: boldness, purity, elegance and liveability,” says Quah. “We have different stances, but there’s a lot of mutual respect [between us]; our designs are always objectively debated upon, and that’s the joy of working together,” quips Bu.

While luxury residential assignments make up the largest part of the firm’s portfolio, the studio has also realised beautiful workspaces and stunning show apartments for property developers. The firm bagged the Best Luxury Concept category for a stunning home that showcases a tasteful use of luxurious materials such as marble and natural stone.

10. Sol Luminaire

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Above Joseph Ho, founder of Sol Luminaire (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

A quest to offer lights that meld innovation, form and function drives this Singapore-based lighting purveyor. Led by founder Joseph Ho, the proudly homegrown brand pivoted from its main focus on architectural lighting to also include a selection from independent studios from around the world at its Galerie 5 boutique; the latter received the Best Showroom accolade. Sol Luminaire also produces an in-house line of architectural lighting solutions, Aeon, which is used in residential and commercial spaces across Southeast Asia.

11. Edmund Ng Architects

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Above Edmund Ng, founder of. Edmund Ng Architects (Photo: Courtesy)

Industry stalwart Edmund Ng is the founder of his eponymous firm, which is the creative force behind a raft of interior projects in Singapore and beyond. When he isn’t busy running his firm, the multi-award-winning architect unwinds by cooking up a storm. His appreciation for the fine arts can keenly felt in the award-winning project that bagged him the Best Use of Art accolade; he designed a house that became the perfect canvas to showcase its owners’ art collection.

12. Upstrs_

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Above Dennis Cheok, creative director of Upstrs_ (Photo: Wong Wei Liang)

Established in 2011 by creative director Dennis Cheok, this firm quickly turned heads with its innovative approach to crafting unforgettable spaces. Besides winning the Best Workspace category at the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2023, the studio also clinched the Interior Design Firm of the Year honour at the Singapore Interior Design Awards in 2020. Cheok himself was named a recipient of the inaugural 20 Under 45 Awards by the Society of Interior Designers Singapore in 2021.

Credits

Photography  

Wong Wei Liang

Hair  

Kenneth Ong, using Keune Hair Professional/The Makeup Entourage

Make-Up  

Zhou Aiyi, using KVD Beauty/The Makeup Entourage

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