The typical image of the architect as prima donna is not new; in fact, the rise of “starchitects” in the noughties perpetuated it. Yet, for Singaporean architect Ko Shiou Hee, his role as a shaper and manipulator of space cannot be further than this trope. It is what has led him to collaborate several times with other top‑name architects on housing cluster projects, each designing a house with an idiosyncratic design yet considering their neighbours in relation to massing, sightlines and setbacks. When approached by the clients, he could very well have hankered to design all the bungalows on the plot himself, but learning from peers is part of the process of an architect’s growth, says Ko, who co‑founded K2LD Architects in 2000. The firm is based in Singapore and Melbourne, and is prolific in the region.
“With ego and pride set aside, collaboration is easy,” he says. “In fact, the hardest part of organising this type of curation as the master planner is to deal with the architects’ egos. So from day one, we looked for architects who are willing to share and succeed together as a team. With that, ideas can flow freely, and discussions can be mutually inspiring and edifying.”
The first of such collaborations saw him leading a group of five architects in 2004 for the Huafa Ecovilla project in Zhongshan, China. The second was the Lien Villa Collective at Holland Park in 2009, for which Ko rounded up five then‑up‑and‑coming architects to each design a house on a sub‑divided plot. Many of them, including Edmund Ng, who runs his eponymous firm, and Colin Seah of Ministry of Design, have become highly successful.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من Tatler Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من Tatler Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Mathew Leong
As the Norway-based Singaporean chef celebrates a milestone year both personally and professionally, he opens up about the toughest moments of his career and why failing is not an option
Asian Inspirations
Chef Ace Tan on his second restaurant, Asu-his love letter to regional Asian cuisine
State of the Arts
Arts nominated member of parliament Usha Chandradas discusses growing the creative economy by focusing on both supply and demand
Through a Curator's Lens
Circe Henestrosa, a fashion curator and the head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, merges her personal connection with artist Frida Kahlo with her extensive curatorial experience to explore intersecting themes of identity, disability and cultural heritage
Second Nature
Poet and educator Yong Shu Hoong brings fresh perspectives to the helm of the Singapore Writers Festival, from interdisciplinary perspectives to multilingual programmes
Wine Down
Nothing wraps up the day like a nice glass of vino. From flashy hedonistic escapades to geeky watering holes, these new wine bars promise celebrated viniferous pours that will please even the most discerning of oenophiles
A Legacy in Silhouettes
Kristina Blahnik, CEO of the designer shoe brand Manolo Blahnik and the niece of its legendary founder, shares her insights on preserving the house's heritage and introduces the new Manolo's Silhouettes campaign
To Have and to Hold
With its sumptuous textures, Loro Piana's elegant autumn/winter 2024 collection is a chic celebration of craft, quality and the universal appeal of tactility
Scent of Strength
Hermès unveils its first chypre perfume, Barénia―a captivating fragrance crafted by renowned perfumer Christine Nagel that embodies bold femininity and celebrates the brand's rich heritage
Nocturnal Revival
Nighttime skincare rituals will get a boost of supercharged restoration with La Mer's new Rejuvenating Night Cream