Architects in Singapore
12 years ago
Jonathan Choe
PopularSingapore

Architects in Singapore

A lot of people have been asking me for a list of architecture firms in Singapore. 
I can’t tell you who’s  hiring 😉 but here’s a list of interesting architectural practices in SG:

LARGE FIRMS
DP ARCHITECTS
ARCHITECTS 61
RSP
CPG
SURBANA
AEDAS
HOK
RMJM
ONG&ONG
P&T CONSULTANTS
ADDP ARCHITECTS
TEAM DESIGN ARCHITECTS
ARCHITECTS TEAM 3

DESIGN FIRMS
MKPL
WOHA
MINISTRY OF DESIGN
LOOK ARCHITECTS
WALLFLOWER DESIGN
ANNEX/A
LEKKER
FORUM
ALFRED WONG PARTNERSHIP
FORMWERKZ
SPARCH
KERRY HILL
MAPS DESIGN
W ARCHITECTS (MOK WEI WEI)
UPHORIA
MULTIPLY ARCHITECTS
PAC

Pictures from a few highlighted firms:

p1080222-1200x900-4225848

 Lasalle College of the Arts by RSP 
dsc_6963-1200x798-1809959
414740_265684086846843_192071717541414_594089_682916354_o-1200x856-8877671
 Nassim Road Villas by Zaha Hadid (RSP is the local architects for this and Zaha’s other project in SG)
dsc_2332-1200x798-1688641
Assyafaah Mosque by Forum
p1030578-1200x900-9417077
 Iluma by WOHA
p1030524-1200x900-7883045
Dhoby Ghaut Green by SCDA
UPDATE: See my post, Why work as an Architect in Asia?

Author

Architect, artist & skygardener in Singapore

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72 thoughts on “Architects in Singapore”

  1. that is helpful. Great!
    I just wonder that do you know the salary wise for an Architectural Assistant or Junior Architect in the Singapore market today? thanks again.

  2. I would guess 1-3k for intern (if paid at all) and around 3-6k for starting architect, although i have heard of much higher and much less.

    Good luck finding something!

    2. Hi Christine,

      I don't know any firms in Singapore that really focus solely on urban planning, but most of the larger firms do some work with this. Good luck!

  3. Hi
    Thank you for posting firm names in your blog.It is very useful.
    I am from India and i will be completing my architecture course in July.
    I am looking out for job openings in Singapore for freshers.
    Please keep me posted in-case you find any information about job openings.
    Thank you

    1. hey hi.. even im frm india.. i il be completin my b.arch this june. iam also looking for job in singapore.!- Monika, chennai

  5. Many thanks for the post.. It s very useful.. Let us know if anything new has happened since you had posted this.. Also if you know of any job openings right now..I am a postgraduate from UK (Indian by nationality)with 2 years of experience.. May I know the salary range…! Would help.. Let me know if you know about visa regulations.. Will the companies sponsor us or should we come on social visit visa..? How do the interviews happen..?

  6. Thank you for posting. I am currently a graduate student in design and architecture from Thailand and will be completing the course in 2014. What would you recommend me to do if I want to start working in a desgin company in sg after I graduate? should I send them an email/resume saying that I'm interested now? Is it too early?
    Thank you for you help!

  7. Excited to see interest in this post, and I wish all of you the best luck in starting your architectural careers! Singapore is indeed a vibrant and exciting place to do so.

    A lot of Singapore firms have been listing on these sites:
    http://www.dezeenjobs.com/
    http://archinect.com/jobs/

    But I wouldn't be afraid to directly approach any firm which piques your interest!

    @Vatsala, see my comment above for salary range! You will need to apply for an employment pass to work in Singapore, and you'll have to arrange for a sponsorship with a company in order to get one. Just let the firm know from the beginning that you're a foreigner and they should be able to walk you through the application process. Alternatively, if you are a university student you can apply for the Work Holiday Programme, check the SG Ministry of Manpower website for more details! Some firms may require you to fly in for an interview, while some might conduct skype interviews.

    @GG, I would focus on building an excellent portfolio, and when you feel confident that it's the best possible portrayal of yourself, send it out! The only way firms will want you or remember you will be by having an incredible portfolio. Also, firms won't know how many people they need two years from now. Better wait a bit and just focus on that portfolio 😉

  8. Thank you so much.. :)i am an architecture student from bangalore, india. ill be completing in 2014 but owuld like to pursue my internship which will commence in july 2013. kindly help me with this with respect to availability, stipend, work environment

    1. Hi can I have ur personal email or contacts ?? I would like to talk about some projects which you might be interested.

  9. @Jonathan Choe i am a b.arch student from india, i would like know the procedures and scope of doing internship at singapore..do you know any indian firms out there….

    thanks inadvance…

  10. Hi Faizil, see my comment above to Vatsala for more information, you will need to get the internship from a firm directly first before you will be able to get your employment pass to work in Singapore. If you are a student, you may be able to apply for the work holiday pass- check the Ministry of Manpower website at http://www.mom.gov.sg for more info. Good luck!

  11. Hi Jonathan, i'm an architecture student to be at Singapore Poly and i'm looking for some exposure in an architecture firm before my school term starts this April. So far, it seems as though only people currently studying architecture in Polys and Unis get internships. I'm not too sure whether I'm a suitable candidate for an internship since i haven't even started school yet. Do you think i stand a chance of getting hired as an intern?

  12. Hi Samantha, thanks for your comment!

    It' can't hurt to try, don't be paiseh just contact some firms and see what they say! You might be pleasantly surprised, especially if you are willing and able to take an unpaid or low-paying position just to gain some experience- but it really depends if you have some kind of portfolio prepared. If you don't have anything yet, try doing a short competition (look at http://www.bustler.net) and put it together with some of your sketches, artwork, photos, etc (anything you have to show your talents).

    Good luck, and have fun at SP! We have had a few students coming in from the internship programme there, and everyone has been really talented, so I'm sure you will learn a lot!

  13. What's the prospect of REVIT like in Singapore? Is REVIT well sought after skill? I am more than 10 year experience architect.
    I am a registered architect in melbourne australia..

    Thanks

  14. Hi Silvia,

    Revit is indeed a very sought after skillset at the moment as the local building authority (BCA) is currently transitioning into a nationwide mandatory BIM ecosystem. Your experience with Revit (which I have been using for 1.5 years and am LOVING it) should come in handy! Good luck!

    1. Thanks Jonathan. Much appreciated but where do you start looking for a job? I have no idea. I hate agents..

      Thanks again.
      Do you know any revit offices? Also is the working hour really horrible?

    2. @Silvia, I wouldn’t use an agent. Just contact the firms directly with your portfolio. I’m not exactly sure what you mean by ‘Revit offices’ but most major offices are using Revit already, and soon they will all be using it due to government requirement. Working hours are long- but the work is very fast-paced and rewarding!

    7. No problem! Always appreciate comments & interactions, makes blogging much more fun 😀

      Not sure what you mean by part time, but generally not so common unless they know you and really want to keep you on at least part time.

  15. i'm a student of architecture from Chennai, India. I'm trying for internships in Singapore (i have to do it there due to a few personal reasons as well). But due to my carelessness, i wasted all my earlier works, and i'm left with just two projects, a few sketches and a few basic design exercises. But i am strong in design and have always scored an A or B in design. Its too late to rework on the designs. Is it possible for me to get a decent one year internship program in Singapore?

    1. @Aparna, It’s never too late to rework your designs. A lot of people seem to think that once they finish a project, it’s complete- but you can always go back and touch up your presentation to show off your skills! For people in your situation, I recommend that you organise your portfolio chronologically to show your growth as a designer, starting from your early work and ending with your latest and greatest, to tell a story of how you got better and better at what you do! If your work is strong, it shouldn’t be any problem getting an internship (other than visa issues, which you could read about in the comments above).

  16. Hi Jonathan, I'm Wai Yi, I happened to chance across your blog while I was doing some research about the Architectural scene in Singapore, and it has been exciting to see the comprehensive range of topics that you cover in your blog. I am a Singaporean student who has recently found my interest in Architecture. Unfortunately it happened at a rather late period while already pursuing my degree in Business Management in a local university, majoring in Corporate Communications and Arts and Cultural Management.

    I doubt I will have the opportunity to obtain an Architecture degree, yet I would like to work in the Architecture field in the future, be it locally in Singapore or otherwise. I understand that it would be difficult for me to obtain a job which more often than not favours architecture students or graduates. Thus, I would like to know more about the various types of jobs available in architecture or spatial design firms so as to see where I might be able to fit.

    I'm attempting to start a blog as part of my self study, reflecting and analyzing various spaces or buildings in Singapore with regards to the specific impacts or issues it gives rise to, also putting together ideas to resolve them.

    I'm wondering if this direction Im heading is feasible and am just a little lost currently as to how I should proceed with my career planning as I will be graduating in less than 1.5 years.

    I deeply appreciate any comments or advice from you if possible, thank you!

    1. @Wai Yi, If you find yourself interested in the fascinating field of architecture, but are currently studying something else, you might start by trying to find an internship during one of your school holidays and just give it a try! You would need to put together a short portfolio of the things you have done, which might not be much right now. You could use your photography, artwork, and especially any architectural related projects (if you don’t have any, try doing a competition from bustler.net- if you win one, I’m sure you won’t have a problem finding a job!). Firms will sometimes take interns without any tertiary studies in architecture, but it will help vastly if you have the required computer skills (Photoshop, InDesign, CAD, Revit…).

      Otherwise, I don’t know too much about your degree in Arts & Cultural Management, but is there a chance you would be able to do something in the field of architectural heritage preservation or the like? Interested to see where your path leads! Good luck!

  17. Hi Jonathan,

    I'm a Portuguese architect trying to find work in Singapore. I have contacted most of the companies in your list and I have also found a couple more to post to.
    This is my Linkedin account ( pt.linkedin.com/in/joaoandrecardososimoes/ )
    It has my portfolio attached, could you please take a look (if you find the time) and give me some directions?

    Thanks,
    João

    1. João,

      You portfolio is cool! I almost wish it was longer so that I could see more of your work..

      ​​
      Did you send over hard copies of your portfolio? If you are very interested in any particular firm, I recommend that you do send a paper version to show your level of interest. Good luck in your job search!

    2. Thank you very much!

      I did not send hard copies, I just submitted through email. I got two replies but hope to get more. I do not know anything about Singapore.
      I would ask you your help on this. Maybe you know the firms, and maybe you can help with wages.
      I am going to ask to link to you via linkedin, hope you do not mind.

      Thanks again,
      João

  18. Hi! First of all I would like to thank you for setting up this blog! its really helpful and exciting to learn more about architecture!

    Im a student at Singapore Poly studying for a diploma in architecture. Do you have any recommendations for universities (it could be local or overseas) that could benefit me in the future when I join a firm?(if I ever become an architect, that is)

    Also, I was hoping maybe when you have the time you could look through a list(http://www.sp.edu.sg/wps/portal/vp-spws/!ut/p/a1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfGjzOJDPUxdjdxMTQz8TS0sDDz9LbxNLELCjPxDjfQLsh0VAQNPJv4!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT= ) of universities where I could potentially be affiliated to so it could save me one or two years? 🙂 Thank you so much! your answers are much appreciated!!

    1. @Bena, Glad you have enjoyed the blog!

      For local universities, NUS is obviously a great choice. There are also some very good overseas universities on this list, such as RMIT. However, I'd personally recommend that it's much more important to develop a high quality, compelling portfolio and to try to get as much internship experience as possible before you graduate. It's definitely not a bad thing to go to a great university. But in my experience, firms are much more interested in your personal abilities and initiatives than the school that you attended- and these things won’t cost an arm and a leg like a name-brand university degree.

      Go back and touch up your school projects so they look stunning. Arranging them in chronological order can be very effective, so you can show your development as a designer over time. Do a few competitions and some personal design projects to show the breadth of your skill range. And of course work as hard as possible on all your university projects, wherever you end up attending, and I’m sure you will have no problem finding a job when you graduate!

      Hope this helps & good luck!

  19. Hi Jonathan,

    I just wanted to thank you personally for the information that you have provided for us. It has provided a scope of places and works to explore from a foreigner point of view.

    It is specifically useful to me as I am in the process of obtaining a different range of experiences for my career. For the whole of 2013 and the beginning months of this year, I was employed as an Architectural Assistant engaging in mostly mix-used developments and high density housing projects (apartments/social housing, etc).

    I have decided to take an extended period of time to build up my work experience, and have now set my eyes on finding work in singapore.

    In your experience, do you know of any mentionable, good design firms that specialise in high-end residential? This seems to be a field that I would like to explore. I am only familiar with RT+Q, as I have previously engaged in work with them.

    Looking forward to your response,

    Regards,
    Jonathan.

    1. Hi Jonathan, No problem! Last time I had to figure out all this stuff by myself… might as well share what I learned 😀

      If you are looking for high-end residential, maybe you could check out this link: http://www.urbanARCHnow.com/2014/04/50-Singapore-Houses.html

      For this kind of project, it will be mostly smaller firms so it can be harder to find a job. But if you are lucky enough, it would be a really fun and rewarding experience! There are a number of great smaller firms listed there- such as Lekker, Formwerkz, or Guz. Good Luck!

    2. I would like to ask what about salaries for architects in Singapore, its rarely a frequently talked about subject which at this stage of deciding whether to pursue architecture in NUS or elsewhere, is a pivotal decision for me to know the salary range.

      Still in national service, I am contemplating a university degree that will suit my passion and reward me financially so being one of the pretty tough course to enter, I am guessing its perks,privileges and career progression, pay raises through climbing the corporate ladder, could make architecture on par with the other well-paying jobs in banking and finance and business courses.

      1.how much does a associate,executive, entry-level staff in a top firm ie ONG AND ONG make typically, assuming that he is a second-upper or first class honours from NUS after graduation.

      2.How long does it take to reach junior manager,middle manager and senior manager post(ie vice president)?

      3.I do not know about the pervasive myth that has been propagating in other industries like $10,000 a month basic pay is very tough to get, even for graduates as the market becomes filled with skilled managers,executives and professionals from various fields. Is architecture different-as in like degree honours do not climb the corporate ranks, they fly up the rank instead?

      Sorry I asked this question because i would like to know if $10k in architecture is possible for uni grads and how long in the working world, how many promotions does it take to make it to a MINIMUM 10k a month salary. For that I assume bonuses will be about 2-3 months per year guaranteed?(plus AWS included)?

      I am asking all these to clarify my doubts about earning potential and decide if NUS architecture is the way to go, since nothing better to do in NS, better start asking for professional opinions that helps me make a better choice.

      Thank you very much

    3. Hi Samuel, thanks for your comment.

      Check out this link that I posted in a previous comment, I find it to be fairly accurate:
      http://www.payscale.com/research/SG/Job=Design_Architect/Salary

      HOWEVER- I would honestly never recommend that anyone enters the field of architecture if they are worried about making a lot of money. You will have enough to survive and then some, but no amount pay will never compensate for the 12-15 hour working days. You have to LOVE every minute of what you do- otherwise might as well go into finance, make millions and go home at 6. Most firms offer few benefits and many have fairly flat hierarchies which means that professional advancement is tough. But most of the people I meet (myself included) aren’t worried about these things, we have a blast designing cool buildings and are more interested in developing a great portfolio and sense of accomplishment rather than titles and cash. Down the road, if you happen to be an extremely skilled designer, know some people, and have a bit of luck, you might end up starting your own firm and making some big bucks, but the only way (that I know of) to really be happy and an architect is to just be head over heels in love with building buildings.

      That’s my opinion on the matter- hope that helps!

  20. Hello jonathan
    I am shubham sharma
    I am a 3d visualizer from india.. I have one year experience in architecture visualization.. I want to know some info about how I can apply here in Singapore in good architecture firms n how much growth it has, if I prepare myself for their n what is d payscale..
    This is my id- coolshab16@gmail.com
    Please provide me some info

  21. Hello, this is Rutuja from Mumbai, India. I just graduated from Mumbai University. I am interested in working on Hospitality and commercial projects. My thesis and internship also covered that specific area of architecture. My thesis was 'Social and Commercial District at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad'. In my internship I worked on theatre interiors and a small hotel project. I am interested in working in Singapore. could you please guide me?

    1. Hi Rutuja, as your question is very genera, I'm not sure what advice I can give except to work hard on crafting an outstanding portfolio and send it in to as many firms as possible! Thanks for reading and good luck!

  22. Hi Jonathan Choe, I m JunHen from Malaysia and I just graduated my degree of architecture from University Tunku Abdul Rahman, UTAR.

    Firstly, I would like to thank you for this blog, it help me a lot on finding some architecture firm in Singapore. And I am interested to work in Singapore for more or less 2 years time before continue my master, but I am not good in revvit where I found Singapore now mainly using it, so dont know will it be a hard time for me to get a job in Singapore. I wish to get in some design base architect firm to strengthen my personal skill. Do you know any small – medium size design base firm in Singapore? because i found a lot of big firm but no much on small-medium firm…

    By the way, here is my portfolio attach link (http://issuu.com/junhentan/docs/upload_opt) did you mind take a look and give me some advise?

    Looking forward for you reply, Thank you so much.

    1. ​Hi Jun Hen, I'm glad that you like urbanARCHnow.com and find it useful!

      Revit is a very important part of working in Singapore these days, most firms are using it (as per government requirements) especially for local projects. Even in smaller/medium size firms, Revit skills might be even more important so it would be a good idea to practise on your own or take a course before you start applying! But you might try some firms such as Lekker, Formwerkz, Red Bean, etc. I think I will do a post soon about all these small firms as a lot of people have requested for it!

      Your portfolio is interesting- at a glance, my only comments would be that I'm not a fan of putting your graphics in frames and with drop shadows, it's a bit too much. I also wonder if the quotes could relate to each project instead of being random page separators- and I think you could do without the case studies, they are distracting.

      Congrats on your graduation, Good luck!

    2. Hi Jonathan, Thank you so much for your comment, and actually beside the quote should be my sketches about their work, hmm..just that some error happen, but never mind i already did some changes on the printed version.
      And really look forward for your small firm post!
      By the way it is very tough to get a job in Singapore at the moment as mostly don't have the opening and exceeding quota for foreigner workers. (Maybe some excuse to rejecting me, i don't know. XD)
      By the way out of topic, did you know shamuga? he is my uni friend and he know you ! small world.. He is also "constructing" his portfolio to apply singapore as well. But too bad our uni no encourage us much on computer solfware but more on hand draw. So maybe now is kind of hard time for us to looking for job.

  23. Hi ,
    I am doing my 3rd year and i am planning to do my intern in Singapore.
    suggest some intern firms that would teach me stuffs and so i could learn more about architecture .

  24. Hi Jonathan , i am an architectural student in delhi , india , i have my training in 2015july , for which i want to settle up in singapore , i am preparing my portfolio , please help me out with the queries , i have mailed you . till when are we suppose to submit our resume and portfolio if the training is scheduled to be in july 2015 , and is it too difficult to get the working visa? reply asap

    1. Hi Tanvi,

      The timing will depend on the firm isn't it… I suppose you should apply as soon as possible and make your start date very clear in your application.

      For your working visa, you might check if you qualify for the Ministry of Manpower's Work Holiday Programme.

      Cheers

  25. hi i'm Anisha, an architecture student studying at chennai. i need to know what kind of projects in the portfolio will be more interesting to impress the singapore firms… also i need to know what is given more importance( like landscaping,sustainable architecture..etc) in singapore. Pls help me, i'm completely blank about this.

    1. Hi Anisha, it really depends what kind of firm you want to work for! Do some research on the firms that you like, and you can show the kind of projects cater to their interests. Of course sustainable architecture is very trendy right now, and Revit skills are good to demonstrate. Hope this helps!

  27. Hey Jonathan,
    This is great. New to Singapore and been wondering what all firms are in the market.
    Although, I'm an urban planner and looking for something in urban research, not exactly design based. More like Centre for Liveable Cities. If you happen to know of any more big or small research based institutions, would love to know.
    Thank you!

    1. Hi Naima,

      For what you seem to be interested, the Centre for Liveable Cities would definitely be a good fit! Did you try applying to them?

      Other than CLC, you might try the Urban Land Institute (ULI), or some of the university-based research institutions such as the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), there are similar institutions at and SUTD and NTU. If you wanted to go a bit more corporate, some of the bigger firms (such as Aecom, DP, etc) have urban planning divisions.

      Hope this helps!

  29. Hey jonathan,

    I just Saw your blog, It was Quiet intresting,

    http://www.urbanarchnow.com/2012/04/architects-in-singapore.html

    I am here to express interest in working in Singapore. I have had no luck finding jobs on the Architect portal but alas there are no postings at Singapore….

    Since I am Diploma Architect and B.E.Civil Engineering Graduate,Currently working At Chennai,Tamil-Nadu,India, 2 years Experience in Designing ,I have applied in many sites but still I didnt get any job yet,kindly Inform me how should I have to do to get jobs in Singapore.??

    Kindly Suggest me…

    1. Hi Poornica,

      I assume you meant you had already sent your portfolio by email to the firm's addresses? If so, they might not have any free positions, or could take some time to get back to you. Maybe you could try some of your personal contacts or people you have met online to make sure your email got through to the right person.

      If you have already done a lot of work to make your portfolio really distinctive, perhaps you could try sending a hard copy to the firms that you really like to make yours stand out from the crowd?

      Hope that helps & good luck,
      Jon

  30. Thank you Jonathan, this is perfect information for me.
    I am Won, I don't know why my google account does not work here.
    I am Korean, an interior architecture student of RISD in United States(done sophomore year), and currently looking for internships in Singapore. Do you think they prefer local college students? I do not have Singapore citizenship or working visa. I already applied for most of the firms on your list though, I am just wondering how things usually go with people like me.

    1. Hi Won, glad that you enjoyed this post.

      If you are applying for internships as a foreigner, keep in mind that the firm will need to sponsor your work visa. This involves time and money, so some firms may not be interested in taking on foreign interns for short periods (less than one year).

      Alternatively, if you are eligble for the Ministry of Manpower's Work Holiday Programme, you could get your own student work visa and have an easier time applying for an internship.

      Good luck!

  32. Hello Jonathan,
    Thank you so much for putting up this post and your blog. Its amazing how years after this post was first posted, you have still replied to every single person. I am hoping you'd help me out too.

    I am going to be pursuing my masters this year, I have admits from a few universities in US and I am waiting for a reply from NUS.

    My question is- as a foreigner, if I study in Singapore, will there be job opportunities available for me right after college? I would like to know if I spend money on graduate school in another country, it'd be worth it and I'd be able to find a job there.

    So far I have heard nothing but negative things about the job prospects and visa situation in Singapore. Would love some information on the same from you.

    Awaiting your reply
    Ankita

    1. Ankita,

      Haha I get email notifications on comments and don't mind replying to polite posts like yours!

      Congrats on your university admittance, I'm not exactly sure what the process is for Singapore graduates who are trying to get visas but I don't think there's a deal to stay on like some other countries have, you have to find a job if I'm not wrong. But do check with the Ministry of Manpower and NUS.

      Job prospects aren't what they used to be but are picking up, visas are about the same.

      Best of luck!

  33. Hi Jonathan. Thank you for posting this. I am an Indonesian fresh graduate from UK, looking for job opportunity in Singapore. I realize that this post was made few years ago. How is the job opoportunity now in 2018? Thank you.

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