CNA – Singaporean Melvin Keng, having established his architectural practice just five years ago, achieved a remarkable milestone by clinching the inaugural SIA-Young Architects Award among 24 nominees.
Presented by the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) on May 16 during the annual SIA Architectural Design Awards at Marina Bay Sands, this accolade celebrates emerging talent registered with the Board of Architects of Singapore (BOA).
The award aims to recognise leadership, innovation, and contributions within the architectural field.
At the prestigious event, which formed part of the Archifest, Keng also secured two additional SIA Design Awards for his outstanding work in Overseas Commercial Projects and Overseas Interior Architecture Projects, specifically for his notable project, Rumah Kechik, focusing on shophouse conservation and adaptive reuse.
Reflecting on his achievement, Keng expressed humility and surprise at receiving such recognition among a competitive field of inspiring young architects.
“Winning this award is not just a personal honour but a validation of the dedication, challenges overcome, and sacrifices made along the way. It reaffirms my commitment to pushing boundaries and advancing in this profession,” he shared.
He believes that this new award is particularly timely and significant within an industry notorious for lengthy project timelines, where many architects only achieve their finest works later in their careers.
The only other local recognition for young architects is the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s “20 under 45.”
In the allocation of larger-scale projects, government procurement often favours firms with established track records, which can restrict opportunities for younger practices or individuals.
“Younger firms with innovative ideas may struggle to contribute to our built environment beyond smaller commissions or interior projects. I hope this award opens doors for emerging talents and encourages the industry to embrace the potential of the next generation,” he emphasised.
Keng reveals that his parents were not involved in the creative field—his father supplied shower screens for architecture and interior fit-out projects, while his mother owned a hairstyling business.
Nevertheless, from a young age, he showed a fascination with Lego blocks and drew “skyscrapers and city skylines.”
In secondary school, as a student in Victoria School’s Art Elective Programme (AEP), Melvin Keng embarked on an interior design project for his ‘O’ level examinations.
“Around that time, I realised my passion for spatial design. When it came to college applications, architecture school was the natural choice,” he reflected.
Like many paths to success, Keng’s journey had its challenges. He initially applied to the National University of Singapore (NUS) during his first year of National Service but was not admitted. Undeterred, Keng reapplied the following year, despite his parents’ reservations, and secured acceptance.
After graduating, Keng gained experience at the international architecture firm Aedas. However, he soon transitioned to RT+Q Architects in 2009, renowned for its innovative residential designs.
Founded by Tse Kwang Quek and Rene Tan, RT+Q marked its 20th anniversary last year, commemorating a monograph published by Thames & Hudson that features two projects Keng contributed to.
The nine years Keng spent at the firm were instrumental to his growth as an architect. Even after leaving in 2019, he still considers Tan one of his biggest role models.
“Rene has imparted good career and life lessons to me. He was a generous mentor, passionate about architectural history and its great architects, instilled in me the rigour and tenacity to create beautiful spaces, and have fun while at it,” Keng shared.
“He’s a talented and enterprising young leader – responsible, with a good eye for detail and teachable,” commented Tan in return.
Some of these ‘greats’ that he continues to be inspired by are Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
“Le Corbusier and Mies Van der Rohe’s approach toward form, composition and the organisation of layouts continues to fascinate me; a lot of what they do are still very relevant in today’s context,” shared Keng, who also admires contemporary firms like Neri&Hu Design and Research Office as well as Vector Architects – both based in China and whose works meld modernity and tradition.
He left RT+Q Architects for a sabbatical after being burnt out from working in the gruelling profession. “During that time, I questioned if I could continue to sustain myself in this profession. I thought of leaving architecture to pursue something else,” Keng recalled.
His trajectory pivoted when he met with a close friend and co-founder of branding agency Acre Design, Jason Song. The latter was looking for someone to work with the agency on the spatial aspects of projects.
“The approach to interior design from a branding perspective was very refreshing and intrigued me a lot. I wasn’t confident that the lessons I learnt from designing houses could be applied to other types of spaces, but I felt an inclination to try,” said Keng.
Several collaborations later, he decided to start Kaizen Architecture. Kaizen means ‘improvement’ in Japanese. It refers to a concept first devised by Toyota for their company and operations.
“In Kaizen Architecture, we always aim to use architecture and design to improve the status quo, to improve our clients’ lives,” stated Keng.
Some of the firm’s more prominent projects include Terrace Flat – his own HDB apartment where he completely rejigged the layout into a continuous loop – Ally Singapore and Rumah Kechik.
In Ally Singapore, he questioned the future of fitness. “Our team saw that gyms were becoming more holistic and wellness-centric, instead of just focusing on the activities,” Keng commented.
This resulted in a hospitality-inspired waiting lounge and changing rooms. A variety of lighting conditions aimed at bettering the way gym goers feel in the different spaces.
On the other hand, in Rumah Kechik, Keng had to be sensitive to both the existing building and cultural identity. The team was tasked to add an extension to an existing hotel development called Baba House, Melaka, which is owned by Singapore hotel chain Hotel Royal Group.
The first phase of the project, incorporating a restaurant, function rooms and a gym, was completed in January 2024. The next phase will add 50 new suites to the extension.
The client, Zach Lee, is a second-generation leader of the family business.
“He first approached us in 2020 to help with a bar project for one of his Bangkok hotels. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit, and we didn’t proceed with that commission. A few years later, we were fortunate that he remembered us and approached us again, but this time with this larger commission,” shared Keng.
In the same spirit of adaptive reuse, he went on to convince several other clients to do A&A (additions and alterations) to their houses instead of rebuilding entirely.
From homes and cafes to gyms and hotels, the architect is keen to design all kinds of buildings; a school for young children is one of his dream projects.
In the meantime, he is kept busy not only with current commissions but fraternity involvements – in 2015, he joined the Young Architect’s League to help support young architects and students in their journeys, and in 2020, he became a SIA council member after meeting the then-new and energetic team while participating in a SIA-led research to improve the design of workers’ dormitories.
Keng observes that while Singapore’s architecture and design scene has reached high standards, and there are commendable initiatives like Singapore’s 2030 Green Plan, there is still much work to be done for the industry.
For example, he hopes that more Singapore-based and local practices will be considered in place of foreign architects to design prominent architectural projects.
Another challenge is retaining architects in the field, which Keng suggests can be ameliorated if government agencies partner with trade associations like SIA to mandate aspects of the practice, such as introducing a fee guide or salary guide.
For a start, the SIA-Young Architects Award is a step forward. Passionate architects like Keng who “can’t imagine myself doing anything else” are also necessary.
He reflected: “My love for architecture continues to grow and evolve. When I first started my career, there was the excitement of seeing a drawing materialise.
“Over time, it is more about the satisfaction and positive responses from clients when they first experience the completed product. I love the impact architecture can have on community, place, history and the individual.”
