Cover Angelene Chan is the chairman of DP Architects, a Singaporean architectural firm founded in 1967
Angelene Chan is the chairman of DP Architects, a Singaporean architectural firm founded in 1967
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In celebration of Singapore’s 60 years of independence, Tatler looks at how the country continues to make an outsized mark on the world—not through scale, but through foresight and ambition. From tech visionaries and design trailblazers to cultural leaders and a decorated Paralympian, these individuals reflect the nation’s unique blend of agility, integrity, and global influence rooted in a strong sense of identity. Below, Angelene Chan shares how the city’s skyline transformed alongside her career journey
From her office in Marina Square, Angelene Chan has a view of the city’s transformation through the glass windows framing a skyline that tells the story of a nation. For over three decades, the chairman of DP Architects has been more than a bystander—she has been one of the architects of Singapore’s visual and civic identity.
“I’ve watched the skyline transform in tandem with my own journey,” Chan reflects. The early 1990s marked an era of rapid infrastructure expansion, where Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines were being laid, the Central Business District was taking shape, and the city’s contours were shifting fast. “It was extremely exciting working alongside Singapore’s pioneer architects,” she says. “But also deeply humbling to have been part of the team shaping that very skyline.”
Some of these projects remain touchstones today, including Suntec City, created in collaboration with Tsao & McKown, and the first revamp of Wisma Atria on Orchard Road. Yet even in the thick of Singapore’s breakneck growth, what struck Chan most was the country’s enduring belief that architecture must serve society. “The concern wasn’t only about nation-building,” she recalls. “It was about how the built environment would impact the human experience and shape Singapore as a society and as a people.”
That ethos still guides Chan’s approach today. Now leading a global practice of nearly 1,000 professionals across 16 offices worldwide, she remains rooted in Singapore’s design DNA: pragmatic yet visionary, inclusive yet ambitious. Founded in 1967, just two years after independence, DP Architects has always moved in step with the nation’s evolution. Its early works—People’s Park Complex and Golden Mile Complex—were, in Chan’s words, “integral to the development of a young, ambitious city”.
From the cultural gravitas of the Esplanade to the connective promise of Our Tampines Hub, the firm’s work reveals a deep commitment to design as a means to serve people and uplift communities. Chan speaks with particular pride about its community-inspired projects, such as Bukit Canberra and Punggol Green, which have gained international attention for co-locating civic, recreational, and social services in spaces designed to foster belonging. “The fact that some cities worldwide are studying this model,” she notes, “speaks to how local innovation can resonate on a global scale.”
Read more: National Pride: We fete the Singaporean icons fuelling our mighty nation’s SG60
Above Angelene Chan reflects on how Singapore’s skyline transformed in tandem with her own career journey
Angelene Chan reflects on how Singapore’s skyline transformed in tandem with her own career journey
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For Chan, Singapore’s 60th anniversary is not merely a commemoration but a clarion call. “This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of how far we’ve come—it is a call to shape what comes next.” What comes next, she believes, must be both technologically advanced and deeply human. “We are committed to building resilient, inclusive, and human-centred environments.”
This belief extends beyond national borders. Whether in Shanghai, Tianjin or Lusail, DP Architects bring a sensibility shaped by Singapore: an ability to bridge cultures, adapt to context, and prioritise sustainability. But Chan resists the idea of exporting a fixed style. “We never see our Singaporean identity as a limitation,” she says. “It is a foundation of values: a deep respect for community and culture, and a meticulous attention to detail.”
Her vision of the future is not one of glass towers alone. It is of a city that listens, remembers, and regenerates. “What inspires me most is Singapore’s ability to adapt and reinvent without losing its core identity,” she says. Her hope? A nation that remains a beacon for innovation, while preserving the stories embedded in heritage buildings and cultivating biodiversity through a city in nature.
“Our architectural heritage is a living narrative,” she insists. And through each thoughtfully drawn line and every shared public space, that narrative continues—evolving, expanding, but always rooted in the ideals that built the city to begin with. For Chan, architecture has never been just about buildings. It has always been about belonging.
Read more stories from our August issue and Tatler’s SG60 coverage here.
Credits
Photography: Darren Gabriel Leow
Styling: Adriel Chiun
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
