Rich yet down-to-earth

I love Asian culture, for its mystical and rich background and culture. However I love to create the EastHaven style that has the asian essence, yet is down-to-earth. I simply love details that are able to elegantly piece themselves together.
Just look at this local corridor influenced by Colonial architecture in Singapore. Don't you like the vintage elegant look yet are still functioning excellently in this hot weather in Singapore? Love the unique floor tiles and suspended ceiling fans, for they are so unique and original to Singapore context.

Deployable Shelter project

After years in archi school, this is still one of the most brilliant ideas of innovation that I had with my team mate. This Year 1 project involved the design of a deployable shelter, which would be built to the actual size. Therefore we unitlise the asian material bomboos as the main structure, by exploring the form of animals engaging in some form of activity. The mechanism is the exploration of the fluidity of the structure.

It is a elegant design, with simple design and steps involved in the assembly work. What a pity that I lost the picture of the actual mock-up, which I simply think is gorgeous! Allow me sometime to dig through my portfolio, maybe then you will share the same sentiment as I do:)

Wine & Winery

One of my favaourite archi works, though it was never realised in real life. I am always inspired by the image of wine and wine bottle which is strongly related. The wine bottle can take a variety of forms, and the curves of the bottles and tones produces by the glass blowing process can be works of arts in themselves.
Through the design process, the organic shape of the wine bottle is interpreted into a large predominantly large building containing lounge or a restaurant, or even an art gallery overlooking magnificent view of the surrounding vineyards and landscape.The wine bottle form extend further for other parts of the winery, flowing into and integrating with water features, landscape courtyards and garden.

RE-interpretation of Tropical Architecture

One tends to relate tropical architecture as traditional and conservative design. However in the design for the Surabaya Riverwalk, I attempted to reinterprete it in a de-constructive manner, by giving the traditional kampung house on stilts new look, with the use of innovative sun-shading devices. It adds interest along the riverwalk with different use of local materials, as well as kioks to create nodes along the promenade.

My School: Asian Architecture, Research Centre

I love using louvres, verandah concept in my building design, which is clearly illustrated in my drawing. Looking back my previous works which were mostly hand drawn, the designs exude a different flavor and connection with the designer, as compared to the computer drafted drawings nowadays.

Modern Tropical Architecture

Contempory Tropical Architecture: it is no longer just the greenary or the verandah. In the modern contect, airconditioning in certain areas are allowed to overcome the heat, noise, dust and pollution of the city. To me, it is more of offering a place of retreat and refuge to the owner, with the use of duality in the planning arrangement to give openness and enclosure, as well as use of natural tropical materials to offer the sensory qualities at home.

Above shows one of the first high-end residential project I was involved in planning, designing as well as managing. Indeed a great experience for me.