* OF
THE YEAR

Leonard Ng Keok Poh

Country Market Director
Henning Larsen, APAC

DISCIPLINE
Landscape Design

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‘‘We humans tend to think of nature as being here to provide for us. But we need to ask what we can do for nature, because we rely on it to survive.’’ – Leonard Ng

LEONARD NG

BE LIKE WATER

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (2012) was a breakthrough project for Ng and helped him develop the approach of “water as a driver in design”. This involves creating landscapes in the city to slow down, collect, and even treat water and runoff from storms, resulting in an urban environment that is more resilient and adaptable to climate change. The project received a P*DA Design of the Year in 2012.

DESIGNING WITH NATURE

Ng’s approach of connecting people with other species and the environment can be seen in his work on the revamped Lakeside Garden at Jurong Lake Gardens (2019). A bird hide located within grasslands allows visitors to observe the birds without disturbing them.

CITY IN NATURE

Ng believes landscaping can help create more spaces for nature even with increasing urbanisation. He led the landscape design for Kampung Admiralty (2017), a pioneering development in Singapore that integrates apartments and care facilities for seniors. The greenery insulates the rooftop and offers residents a space of respite. The carefully curated landscape has attracted rich biodiversity.

GREEN IDENTITY

Beyond landscapes and parks, Ng has also designed some of Singapore’s best known green destinations. One example is the recently revamped National Orchid Garden (2021). Enhancements include an improved visitor experience, better circulation, and spaces to facilitate orchid naming and other events. The existing orchid nursery was also improved and a new Tropical Montane Orchidetum added.

Ar. Tan Kay Ngee

Principal Architect
Kay Ngee Tan Architects

DISCIPLINE
Architecture

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‘‘The more I got into the subject, the more I realised the range of possibilities and dimensions for interpretation in architecture.’’ – Ar. Tan Kay Ngee

AR. TAN KAY NGEE

DESIGNING FOR PEOPLE

Every person must be aware and knowledgeable of architecture and design in order for the profession’s standards to be raised, says Tan. His design for the adaptive reuse of the Old Bukit Timah Railway Station (2022) turns the former station and staff quarters into a heritage gallery and cafe respectively – offering new ways of connecting to Singapore’s rail heritage.

ENJOYABLE FOR ALL

Whether it is a factory or a school, Tan believes all buildings should have spaces for their inhabitants to enjoy. For the Singapore Management University (2005), he created sheltered walkways that provide transparency and breathing space as students and staff get around the city campus.

OLD AND NEW

A vibrant city for Tan is one where old and new architecture coexists. This is why he enjoys working on conservation projects. One early example is the transformation of 10 conserved shophouses in Kampong Glam into a boutique hotel, The Sultan. The project, completed in 2011, won the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Architectural Heritage Awards and paved the way for his firm to take on other adaptive reuse projects.

CULTURAL SLANT

Tan has designed many bookshops in his career. This includes some 37 outlets across nine countries for the Japanese bookstore chain Kinokuniya with the latest to have opened in CentralWorld, Bangkok, in 2022. Every bookshop design is informed by the culture and identity of its locale.