Wonder how and why young Architects start their own practice?

Hear how Alvin, Principal Architect at Prose Architects did it and more.

In this episode of Architecture Siol! Podcast we discuss the following:

- His career path and why networking is important

- Importance of working on design AND project Architect role throughout a project

- His experience working as a Design Architect in Surbana Jurong

- His experiences working on DUO as a Project Architect

- Why Alvin always seeks new challenges and opportunities

- How and why he started his own practice, Prose Architects

- The pros and cons of pursuing a conventional Architecture career path vs a non-linear one.

- "Is there always a clear path to follow? No, just do it with no regrets"

- His views on the many essential skills an Architect should have

- The design methodology and how is team at Prose Architects approaches projects (hint: it starts with a question)

- The story behind one of Prose Architects' Char Yong (Dabu) Foundation Limited Association Mixed-Development building project through a SIA Design Competition win

- Who Alvin considers great "mentors" during his architecture journey.

- His future plans and goals for Prose Architects and his personal life.

- His view on why small firms may be in a better position to pivot when needed in future.

- How Alvin manages his firm together with his wife who is also in the same firm while juggling raising a child.

- His advice for young architecture graduates

Learn more about Prose Architects at https://prose-architects.com/

You can connect with Alvin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvin-liau/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had the privilege of chatting with Larry Yeung, Executive Director of Participate in Design (P!D), a non-profit design organisation that facilitates the integration of community-based participatory processes into urban space design and planning.

In this episode, we discussed the following:

• How participatory design started in Singapore and how it has grown into a large scale projects
• Limits to community engagement
• Something unorthodox that Larry did during his engagement sessions with the community
• Advice for facilitators dealing with people who may have differing opinions during their engagements
• 2024 plans, what is the future of participatory design
• More architecture projects are requiring community engagement/placemaking which requires more collaboration with PiD - PiD 2.0 Research paper (three principles for participatory design)
• How the government, private sector and PiD can work together for projects that will create impact in the community in our built environment
• His views on the use of AI, social media, digital tools and technologies for citizen engagement
• His views on the LTA SimplyGo saga (what went wrong)
• What citizens should do more of especially in terms of upcoming or implemented government/policy changes in Singapore
• His advice for fresh grads who want to join PiD or on participatory design projects (hint: don't)
• Projects mentioned:
• Arts @ Macpherson Project
• Fajar Springs Community Kitchen
• LTA MRT Viaduct project (Tanah Merah, Rail Corridor)
• Check out more about PiD's projects here: https://participateindesign.org/pid-s...
• Download the PiD 2.0 Research paper: https://participateindesign.org/pid20

About Larry

Larry is a designer and community organiser who is a strong advocate for participatory and community-centric design in Singapore. Trained in architecture, he is currently the Executive Director of Participate in Design (P!D), a non-profit design organisation that facilitates the integration of community-based participatory processes into urban space design and planning. Since 2013, Larry’s portfolio of participatory-based projects include neighbourhood planning, public space design, and community art installations. In 2021, he received recognition as a World Cities Summit Young Leader for shaping the global urban agenda. In 2023, he was honored as an outstanding young alumni by the National University of Singapore (NUS) for notable achievements and contributions to Singapore's built environment and participatory design field. Extending from his work at P!D, Larry is also part of CSC-MCCY’s Partnerships and Engagement Experts Panel since November 2022, consulting with public agencies in Singapore on their citizen engagement projects.

You can connect with Larry on Linkedin.

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Watch/Listen to all of my Architecture Siol! podcast episodes at http://gabrielchek.com/podcast

If you would like to join me as a podcast guest, feel free to contact Gabriel at hello@gabrielchek.com.

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ABOUT THE PODCAST

Architecture Siol! is a podcast from me, Gabriel Chek, featuring Stories, Issues, Opportunities, Learnings within Architecture.

Tune in as I chat with fellow architects, designers and students to discover more about them and their ‘badass’ work in the built environment industry in Singapore and beyond.

siol - Singaporean slang (Singlish). Commonly used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the 'badass' qualities of someone/something.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first ever episode of the Architecture Siol! podcast, I chat with Jean Cheong, Technical Director | Head, Architecture & Planning of WSP and Co-Chair of the Young Architect's League Singapore and discuss on her architecture story, the issues she faced and learnings she had along the way.

Show Notes

- Jean's experience with discrimination at the workplace as a young female Architect

- Jean's career journey and background in Real Estate (being headhunted)

- Importance of getting QP early

- What her role is as Technical Director of WSP

- What she is looking for in potential new hires at WSP (She's hiring!)

- Why she made an executive decision to raise salaries for deserving hires

- Her views on salaries for architects and designers

- Her role in the Singapore Institute of Architects Young Architect's League (SIA-YAL)

- Whether she feels Architects are united?

- "Don't throw things at people. Be composed"

- Why she joined SIA-YAL (hint: it's the same reason I joined as well)

- Her views on recent trends such as emphasis on sustainability and digitalisation in the architectural industry

- Her advice for young architects and fresh graduates.

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ABOUT JEAN

Jean is the Technical Director and the Head of Department in the Architecture and Planning division of WSP.

Prior to joining WSP, Jean was the Project Director and Architectural Qualified Person (QP) of Monetary Authority of Singapore Future of Workplace Transformation and Project Lead of JTC Bulim Infrastructure Phase 1, Infrastructure Phase 2, District Logistic Network (DLN Ramp) and Bahar Tunnel Part 1 of a larger Jurong Innovation District (JID) Masterplan.

Concurrently she was also a key member of the team working on Changi Airport Terminal 5, while being involved in the rejuvenation of Choa Chu Kang Sports Centre. She has also contributed substantially to various feasibility studies for developers’ land bids and competitions.

Jean is also certified Green Mark Professional and is passionate about upholding the highest standard of sustainability in her projects.

Outside of work, she is a member of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection (YWLC), a platform chaired by Minister Grace Fu for aspiring female leaders and a network that aims to empower and connect young female leaders. She was privileged to be selected as mentee under YWLC Mentorship, a prestigious programme offering an exclusive opportunity to be mentored by some of Singapore's most accomplished women leaders across various industries.

Jean is also a Co-chair of SIA Young Architects League (SIA YAL) for the term 2022 to 2024, a public outreach platform under SIA to engage and serve the architectural community, aspiring architects as well as architectural students in Singapore and is currently serving as a mentor for selected students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

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Watch/Listen to all of my Architecture Siol! podcast episodes at http://gabrielchek.com/podcast

If you would like to join me as a podcast guest, feel free to contact Gabriel at hello@gabrielchek.com.

---

ABOUT THE PODCAST

Architecture Siol! is a podcast from me, Gabriel Chek, featuring Stories, Issues, Opportunities, Learnings within Architecture.

Tune in as I chat with fellow architects, designers and students to discover more about them and their ‘badass’ work in the built environment industry in Singapore and beyond.

siol - Singaporean slang (Singlish). Commonly used at the end of a sentence to emphasize the 'badass' qualities of someone/something.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.