Renaissance Planners & Designers

Since young, I have always loved art as it is a way to detach from myself and understanding your inner thoughts. It is the only subject that can be drawn on the canvas as you are the person who is controlling it. Through that process you can understand and educate yourself on what is art and what is beauty in art. I graduated in Architecture and Interior Design in 1994 in the UK.

My company is a boutique design firm. Our philosophy is to design, manage and deliver modern and minimalistic projects. Our designs are about the nuances of the harmony and balance between several different visual elements working together. This results in the omission of the inessentials in order to emphasise the important. We strive to create a harmonious play between the interior and exterior, the interpenetrations and study of a site, the proportions, scale, light and the sheer physicality of creating ‘living’ spaces.

Design for me is spaces designed for clients who trust you process where you self-criticise after works are completed

My project at 56 Sunset Way exuberates with timeless design language that my firm always pursues. After 20 years the project is still kept by the current owners despite the change of owners throughout the years.

I like natural materials. I like my works to win awards and prefer hand sketches over technology.

Every day is a creative process as every project entails different processes. Creativity to me means distilling our own thoughts and pursuing an objective that has no finishing line.

For me during the initial design stage I focus more on layouts, 3D sketches, client’s lifestyle and the “wow” factor.

I feel Gratitude towards my clients, consultants and the entire contract team involved in the project.

When your client praises the visual, functionality and quality of your work.

Good design to me must support human interactions. Bad designs are spaces that serve no purpose or function.

A designer can design positive spaces for humanity to “lift”, interact and provide generations of love in areas that they desire

Politics and advancements of technology are subconsciously creating a universal design language that is happening. The West has dominated art scenes for the past centuries and I believe that now Asian values will start to influence the Western style of designing.

I have written a book and plan to publish a couple more next year.

My inspiration comes from reading and questioning where my designs need to be improved and that is the way I feed my creativity and the source of my inspiration.

Singapore. We are a cosmopolitan country where everybody lives in peace and harmony. I am thankful that I live in a stable country where designing is possible.

I believe in strong collaboration and pick partner who have the same ethos as me

I always encourage my clients to look at my works before their appointment.

I create my designs through the process of distilling a spatial idea to its very essence by reduction and refinement that allows the subtle nuances of the material to speak for itself. I do not propose a particular design style instead; I use an abstract vocabulary of form that permits investigating the widest range of approach to create an appropriate and timeless design language.

I like the overall space I design as it fits the 5 items I commission and build. Some of my favourites are of Sofa, coffee table, bed, side tables and stools.

I have a light breakfast. Reply to emails and messages. Visit the project site in the morning to avoid Singapore’s afternoon heat. Head back to the office after lunch and then attend to any issues with contractors have or any improvements to be made. In the evening is when I sketch and create my designs.

3 things. Confidence not arrogance. Perseverance and a never say die attitude. When you get recognised always look for the next project.

Positive aspects are that you self-taught yourself to overcome your mistakes to not make the same mistakes. Negative aspects is when you have too many projects you do not have time to take care of the projects that are ongoing

As a young designer, I learnt by going to the project site to understand the actual work processes done by artisans

I don’t select any particular project to design. I educate my clients to leave the project in my hands when their wish lists is fulfilled

I work solely by myself and I truncate my thoughts to my team and only when I see their eyes sparkle I know they are as passionate as me

The current project we are working on is for a client who has one of the most expensive villas in Singapore. How do we design spaces that are timeless in its essence where space is not a constraint?

I believe your questions can be refined as some of them are repetitive.