Richard Hassell

Australian-born architect Richard Hassell is the co-founder of Woha Architects, partnering with Wong Mun Summ in striving to realise the self‑sufficient cities of tomorrow: liveable and sustainable developments that raise inhabitants’ overall quality of life. As co-founding director, Hassell leads its project teams in the design execution and contract implementation of innovative private and institutional works.

Woha’s high‑profile projects include The Hedberg’s Academy building for the University of Tasmania, the Huaku Sky Garden in Taiwan, and the Parkroyal on Pickering in Singapore, one of the first hotels that deployed the creative use of vertical gardens. The firm was chosen to design Singapore’s Pavilion for World Expo 2020 in Dubai, in which it created an “oasis in the desert” on a 1,550-square-metre site in the Expo’s Sustainability District. The firm also worked on the Pan Pacific Orchard, which was reimagined with biophilic design at the forefront. Leading by example as an archetype for high-rise tropical hospitality, the open plan’s layout encompasses four distinct strata with Sky Terraces included as elevated grounds with amenities surrounded by lush greenery.

Woha has been awarded the President’s Design Award and Good Design Award several times and has received accolades from the World Architecture Festival, among others. More recently, Woha Architects was recognised by the Singapore Institute of Architects at the Architectural Design Awards 2024, clinching Design of the Year for the 21 Carpenter Hotel in Singapore. The hotel also won Best Adaptive Reuse at the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2024.