All in the Family

With over 40 years of experience, Edmund Kok has built a legacy now carried forward by his sons. Together, they helm design firm Trace Design & Build, which excels at crafting luxurious, bespoke landed properties

With an architectural career spanning over four decades, Edmund Kok has considerable experience under his belt. After a significant stint as an architect under the former Public Works Department, he eventually founded and now proudly leads all projects under Trace Design & Build, one of the only design-and-build firms led by an architect with a specialisation in luxury landed properties.

Founded in 2011, the firm has amassed a substantial portfolio of high-end landed houses, ranging from inter-terrace properties to Good Class Bungalows (GCBs), as well as serving as a main contractor for luxury GCBs designed by high-end architects, such as K2LD Architects, which are managed under Edmund’s watchful eye as project director.

His two sons, Nathaniel Kok and Ray Kok, seek to continue Edmund’s legacy, taking charge of various aspects of the firm. The former brings his business management experience to the firm’s operations, having served as a management consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in the past, while the latter founded and oversees M.Interior, the firm’s interior design arm.

Nathaniel and Ray, tell us about how you all play to your individual strengths to work together as a family.