The Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Architectural Design Awards is the most prestigious local accolade that aims to promote and encourage distinction in architectural design. It recognises SIA members’ achievements in their pursuit of building excellence and innovation.
Into its 21st cycle, the 2022 Awards saw two projects conferred Design of the Year accolade, its highest honour. A total of seven Design Awards and nine Merit Awards were presented to 16 projects out of a shortlist of 23 that span categories including residential projects, institutional projects, special categories and interior architecture.
Comprising works by established and emerging practices, Melvin Tan, president of SIA and Awards jury chair, regards this year’s crop of projects as extremely high standards. “This is especially so with regards to landed single-family dwelling units, where architects are given free rein to express their designs in high-grade materials. The award-winning entries were chosen for their ability to push the boundaries beyond the tried and tested typologies,” he comments.
Other independent jury members include local and international industry professionals such as Tai Lee Siang, head of Pillar, Architecture and Sustainable Design at SUTD; Mok Wei Wei, managing partner of W Architects; Anupama Kundoo, head of Anupama Kundoo Architects; and Kerstin Thompson, principal of Kerstin Thompson Architects.
Lee Siang considers Singapore a resource-scarce city that compels architects and designers to be precise with their creations. He says: “Through the years, I have witnessed an increasing degree of sophistication of design that can be described as the precision of space, aesthetics and sustainability. Residential architecture is particularly challenging as individual needs are of paramount importance.”
In the face of these demands, he feels that the architects and designers have demonstrated excellent control of their design to deliver the results that satisfy the end users’ expectations.
Many of this year’s submissions exhibit a design sensitivity towards green and sustainable considerations. Lee Siang observes: “I see spatial efficiency to achieve maximum experience with no wastage. Our architects show constraint in spatial organisation that considers every inch of space, inside and outside, to ensure maximum enjoyment.”
He continues, “Secondly, there is increased experimentation with materiality to ensure our buildings perform optimally against challenging climatic and economic conditions. Such experimentation does not always involve high-cost materials. Even the humble concrete blocks can be turned into objects of beauty in the hands of the brave architect.”
Recognising good design
Good design is more than just beautiful aesthetics. “It is a process of bringing positive value solutions to problem statements. Architects create valuable real estate when they resolve issues that would otherwise plague a site,” Melvin Tan emphasises.
For Lee Siang, one of the distinguishing attributes in the winning designs is humility. He says: “Architecture is not meant to be a trophy. They are meant to be an abode for human beings. While the designs are beautiful in their own right, they do not overtake the occupants. In fact, they make the occupants feel good about themselves – this is the key to great architecture.”
“On the whole, the jury is pleased with the high quality of entries this year and feels that the winners are well-deserving of the awards,” Melvin sums up.
Here are the complete list of winners. Read more about the individual projects on the links embedded throughout!
Recipients of the SIA Architectural Design Awards 2022
Design of the Year
A Brick & Mortar Shop by L Architects (Interior Architecture)
MeyerHouse by WOHA Architects (Residential Projects)
This is a five-storey attic development comprising 56 units on a one-hectare site. The large-format housing typology, along with a well-curated suite of communal facilities, allows landed homeowners to right-size into apartments.
These “bungalow-apartments-in-the-sky” offer generous interior spaces that residents are accustomed to while leveraging on the good views and enhanced airflow from the elevated height.
“The House-in-a-House concept amalgamates individual homes architecturally into a larger collective form. Expressing the many homes into a singular form heightens the grandeur and presence of the development while maintaining a stately yet homely scale,” explains Chan Ee Mun, director of WOHA Architects.
On bagging the two awards, Ee Mun expresses: “It is an affirmation of our continued mission to identify and innovate on contemporary housing typologies that are nature-infused, support low-energy lifestyles, and are relevant to its inhabitants, as well as the surrounding community.”
According to Melvin, this project deserved the awards because “the low-rise apartment typology sought to challenge the notion of luxury within a strict orthogonal grid, overcoming the complexity of a fully private lift requirement to create a domestic yet distinctly classy basement entry experience”.
Category: Residential Projects
Design Award
Petit Jervois by RT+Q Architects
MeyerHouse by WOHA Architects (also Design of the Year)
Merit Award
Raumplan House by Formwerkz Architects
Outside In by HYLA Architects
House of Trees by L Architects
Alkaff CourtView & Alkaff LakeView by MKPL Architects
Category: Institutional Projects
Merit Award
The Hedberg by WOHA Architects with LIMINAL Architecture
Category: Special Categories
Design Award
“Stop all the Clocks” Sanctuary Pet Crematorium by Formwerkz Architects
A Scintillating Tapestry At 61 Robinson by Forum Architects
Additions and Alterations to St James Power Station by W Architects
Merit Award
The Temasek Shophouse by Surbana Jurong Consultants
Singapore Pavilion, World Expo 2020, Dubai by WOHA Architects
The Unfolding House by YY Architects with SKEW Collaborative and Pian Jian
Category: Interior Architecture
Design Award
GSK Asia House by Hassell
A Brick & Mortar Shop by L Architects (also Design of the Year)
Merit Award