Interview with Renaissance Planners & Designers

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

I enjoy designing villas and offices.

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.

Public housing unit project

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 that it is thrilling.

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.

I am influenced by minimalism as I am an ikebana artist.

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

Be strict towards yourself

Learn to listen

Pen, paper and colour pencils

Why do your projects win awards?

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

Millionaires and Billionaires

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

Influence younger designers to have core values as a designer

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?

Visit my webpage

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