Architecture & Urban Design Excellence (AUDE)

18/12/2025

01/12/2025

“Find your own personal identity and style and don’t just follow or copy others,” shares Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, one of Singapore’s key veteran architects in Singapore and Malaysia at the inaugural Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Pioneer Architects Series on 26 Nov. An educator, writer and an influential architect and leader, Datuk Seri Lim designed many buildings that shaped Singapore’s early skyline – Singapore Conference Hall & Trade Union House, Malaysia-Singapore Airlines Headquarters, UOB (now known as UOB Plaza Two) and DBS buildings.

He stressed the importance of learning and appreciating good architecture from a young age, not just for architects but for communities and individuals too. His passion for architecture and the city continues to shine through and serves to remind us on the important role architects have been playing in shaping our city, landscape, experiences and memories over the years.

The SIA Pioneer Series is organised in support of the Singapore Architecture Collection: https://go.gov.sg/sgarchitecturecollection



National Library Board, Singapore

27/11/2025

From rooftops, to canals and park spaces, 12 schools are dreaming up new ideas for 12 public spaces across Singapore in this year’s Challenge for the Built Environment (CUBE) for tertiary students:
- NUS High School is exploring how underutilised rooftops of HDB flats at Clement Town Centre can be turned into additional recreational spaces for residents.
- Hwa Chong Institution is looking at how the spaces along Bukit Timah canal can be a new hangout space for students and residents in the area.
- Temasek Junior College is envisioning how the Tampines Boulevard Park (East) can have additional amenities and connections to make it even more delightful for people to enjoy.

CUBE is an annual competition cm workshop for tertiary students to be planners and architects for a week, developing ideas for real sites with support from architects and NUS Department of Architecture students as mentors and facilitators.

Stay tuned for more public space ideas from the students!

31/10/2025

Every one of us have encountered public spaces every day. Whether it is having fun at playgrounds or catching up with friends in cosy spots, public spaces are where life happens and are where we feel most free to be ourselves.

Behind the many cherished public spaces in Singapore are planners, architects, residents and many more who have actively designed and curated our public spaces over the years.

We are excited to celebrate these champions in a new public space book, "Public Spaces with Love" documenting Singapore's public space journey. Some 400 architects, placemakers and stakeholders attended URA’s Urban Design Roundtable yesterday, reaffirming the commitment to keep creating extraordinary public spaces.

Anyone of us can lead or contribute to better public spaces. Get inspired with real stories and practical tips here: https://go.gov.sg/sg-public-spaces-with-love


Housing & Development Board, NParks JTC Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving National Heritage Board Gardens by the Bay PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency

29/10/2025

What do a mural and bench in Katong-Joo Chiat have in common? Both celebrate the area’s rich history and the importance of craft. 20 Under 45 architects worked with the community to create these in making our public spaces and side alleys more engaging.

The mural was conceptualised by 20 Under 45 architects, Lee Hui Lian and Lim Pin Jie from OMG Atelier, with Jerome Ng and Shivshankar Nair. Go closer to check out intricate shophouse interiors and layers of stories reflecting the area’s evolution.

The bench repurposes handmade embossed cement sand tiles from Yogyakarta, Indonesia. “It invites us to value material heritage that shapes our streets and homes, preserving historical textures and patterns that might otherwise be lost to mass production,” shares 20 Under 45 architect Goy Zhenru from Goy Architects, who designed the bench with Kathlyn Lay and Deborah Wong.

These efforts are supported by the Lively Places Fund, that co-funds such initiatives for up to S$20,000. Keen to activate a public space? Go to https://www.go.gov.sg/livelyplacesfund

Learn more about the fourth edition of the 20 Under 45 architects: www.go.gov.sg/20under45-fourth-edition


Singapore Institute of Architects

22/09/2025

Architect Meng Ta Cheang (1937-2025) came to Singapore in 1971 to finalise the master plan for the NUS Kent Ridge campus and stayed for 46 years, contributing to Singapore’s cityscape. Besides NUS, he went on to design many schools like Chinese High School, Hwa Chong Junior College and CHIJ Katong Convent. He also led several conservation projects and did town planning for several cities in China. To him, architecture is a calling. He devoted his entire life to creating better living environments for Singapore and other cities. Learn more about his works and philosophy through his son, Tom Meng’s reflections: https://go.gov.sg/meng-ta-cheang

Visit the exhibition, “5 bold plans” at the URA Centre ground floor to see some of the over 100 original materials donated by Meng Ta Cheang to the Singapore Architecture Collection. For those with valuable materials that capture Singapore’s architectural and urban design journey and heritage, do consider contributing to the Singapore Architecture Collection: https://go.gov.sg/sgarchitecturecollection

National Library Board, Singapore National Heritage Board SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design Singapore Institute of Architects National University of Singapore NUS Department of Architecture

03/09/2025

Special thanks to all the residents and stakeholders who came out in full force last weekend to celebrate their contributions to the Historic East Identity Corridor engagements with Adviser for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC Goh Pei Ming.

From recreating the old jetty along Marine Parade Road to capturing the Peranakan food culture with giant kueh kuehs and relaxing at the deconstructed Tiffin carrier, check out the many fun and quirky installations celebrating Katong-Joo Chiat’s heritage. These demonstrate ways to create more meaningful public spaces with increased interest for such spaces as suggested from the engagement sessions.

The installations are conceptualised by SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design students with architects from SAA Architects and RSP as part of their studio work studying the area.

Check out the ArchiPavilion too, designed by RT+Q Architects, a reimagination of the ArchiFest logo.

All installations are support by URA's public space programme and the Lively Places Fund. Keen to create more interesting public spaces? Find out more: www.go.gov.sg/livelyplacesfund



Hotel Indigo Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy

28/08/2025

"Dream big, consider the impossible and be brave to realise key visions and plans," says Koh-Lim Wen Gin, URA's former Chief Planner (2001-2008) in sharing lessons from her 34-year career with URA architects and planners. She joined URA in 1974 and was instrumental in leading conservation efforts on a large scale that led to the gazetting of 10 areas for conservation in 1989. She also had a major hand in the Central Area Structure Plan, providing a sustainable framework that has shaped the quality of the built form and spaces in the Central Area today.

Reflecting on her career, she shares: "You have to first believe in what you can do and what you are doing. If you have the belief, the confidence and you have the passion, even if you get a knock on your head, you probably just cry for one night. The next morning, you get up and say, hey, I am going to move again. You must be able to stay long enough in the job to do all these things and to see the results. I was fortunate that throughout my 34-year career, my team members were all very passionate. Together, we worked hard and long hours to achieve our goals to transform Singapore into a global city of excellence."

Check out these and other bold plans that laid the foundation for shaping Singapore's cityscape in the "5 Bold Plans" exhibition at URA Centre ground floor. The exhibition is part of the Singapore Architecture Collection that documents and preserves archival materials on Singapore's modern and contemporary architecture, showcasing our local architecture and urban design journey and the innovative works of pioneer and present architects.

18/08/2025

Get to know the latest 20 Under 45 fourth edition architects! The ‘20 Under 45’ programme recognises emerging young Singapore-registered architects. Since 2004, the 60 architects recognised have become influential designers with impactful works locally and globally. From thoughtful designs, to experimenting with new typologies and giving back to the architectural community, join us in celebrating the fourth edition architects’ talents and passions in making our cities and living spaces more engaging, memorable and inspiring.

Look out for more stories and insights about them in a book, exhibition and talks early next year!

In the meantime, learn more about the 20 Under 45 fourth edition architects here: www.go.gov.sg/20under45-fourth-edition


SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design NUS Department of Architecture Singapore Institute of Architects Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects

01/08/2025

Congratulations to the President*s Design Award (P*DA) Design of the Year winners! Whether it is the thoughtful adaptive reuse of the Delta Sports Centre, the creative reinterpretation of SJ Campus as an office headquarters or the beautiful juxtaposition of old and new for 21 Carpenter, a boutique hotel, these architectural projects show how good design can elevate our experiences and connect us more deeply with our heritage, nature and one another.

Architect Alan Tay, Principal Partner, Formwerkz Architects, is also awarded the P*DA Designer of the Year. For over two decades, Alan has been focusing on honing the architectural craft and is constantly exploring how architecture can help address deeper issues, influencing the way we live and understand the world around us.

The President*s Design Award recognises and celebrates designers and projects that demonstrate the transformative power of design across multiple disciplines.

DesignSingapore WOHA Architects Surbana Jurong Group