Opening Address by 2M Indranee Rajah at the Singapore Institute of Architects Design Awards 2026 Awards Ceremony

Architect Tiah Nan Chyuan, President of Singapore Institute of Architects,
Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

Good evening. It is a great pleasure to be back here. I was at the Temasek Shophouse when it first opened, and I think it didn’t have that many units at that time. It was already a very groundbreaking and innovative project and it’s such a pleasure to see what it is today – where it has expanded and become a community space, anchoring the community here. Today we are here to celebrate the best of Singapore’s architectural community and to mark a significant milestone: the 25th edition of the SIA Design Awards.

25 Editions, One Continuing Story

When the first SIA Design Awards was held in 1983, Singapore was a very different place. We were still in the midst of building our city. And the question on our minds was not so much “how beautiful is it?” but “how fast can we build it?”

And yet, even then, people understood that the built environment was never just about bricks and mortar. It was about also about identity – giving people a place we could call home. It was the architects who took that instinct and gave it form – to translate a shared aspiration for belonging into the buildings and spaces that we could call our own. 

Over 25 cycles, these Awards have borne witness to that evolution. From the early years of nation-building, through our emergence as a global city today – where we are grappling with questions of land constraints, demographic change, and the role of technology in shaping how we live. Each cycle has pushed our architects to ask: what does excellent design mean for this city, right now?

This year’s National Day theme – “Majulah Singapura, Go Beyond!” – captures something that lies at the heart of the architectural profession – the desire to do better, to reach further, to design even more innovatively. Every building you design, every public space you shape, every neighbourhood you help bring to life contributes to the Singapore story.

Tonight’s Jury Shortlists are a testament to that spirit of going beyond. Whether or not you take home an award this evening, being shortlisted by the SIA Design Awards Jury is itself a recognition of excellence – a mark that your peers and the profession see something exceptional in what you do. 

Let me highlight two of the Jury shortlisted projects that speak to this. 

• The Temasek Shophouse by Surbana Jurong Consultants shows that going beyond can mean honouring and enhancing what already exists – carefully retaining a historic building’s structure and character while weaving in new uses that make it a welcoming gathering place in the heart of the city. 

• And Super Assembly’s Wedge House reminds us that going beyond can also mean achieving something singular and distinctive within the tightest of constraints – a compact footprint, a modest budget, and one decisive architectural move that gives the house its entire identity. These works, and all the projects shortlisted tonight, reflect the depth of talent in this room, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to every one of you.

The Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

As we celebrate our achievements, we can look forward to a future of opportunities. Singapore continues to grow and evolve, and the pipeline of projects that will shape our city for generations is substantial. This will require the very best of what the profession has to offer.

One of the most significant shifts reshaping the profession is technology. Generative AI, parametric design, Digital Twins – these are tools of today that we may harness in the course of our work. But I want to be clear about how I see this: technology is not here to replace the architect. At the heart of great architecture is human judgement, sensitivity to the surrounding environment of the buildings you design and the ability to understand what a community needs and translate that into spaces that genuinely speaks to those needs. What technology does is expand the canvas – allowing architects to explore possibilities at a speed and scale that was simply not possible before, and to deliver better outcomes for the people who will live and work in these spaces. To remain globally competitive, our architects must invest in these capabilities, while never losing sight of the creativity and sense of place that no algorithm can replicate.

And when I speak of spaces that serve people, I want to highlight the role that architects play in supporting families. When our built environment is designed with families in mind – stroller-friendly access, changing stations, nursing-friendly corners, family-friendly play and rest areas – it sends a quiet but powerful message that families are welcome and can thrive here. These are conscious design choices that can make the everyday experience of parenthood a little less daunting and a little more supported.

We also need to be candid about the pressures the profession faces and tackle them head on. Last year, the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants, which I co-chaired with Mr Chaly Mah, made 11 recommendations to uplift the profession after hearing from many of you about the challenges faced by your profession – talent shortages, unsustainable price competition, insufficient investment in emerging technologies, morale issues and the need for a stronger support from Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs).  

One of the recommendations was to have an enhanced internship programme – the INSPIRE internship programme – to groom talents that can command higher starting salaries. Thanks to the strong support from the profession, close to 30 INSPIRE interns have secured placements with BE firms, with 14 Architecture interns who have embarked on their INSPIRE journey.

I am also heartened by the concrete steps that TACs and various stakeholders have taken. 

• SIA organised an AI Hackathon for aspiring architects and architectural students to help build AI capabilities in the sector. 

• To strengthen business acumen, the Board of Architects has started recognising business-related courses for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, based on the merits and rigour of each course. 

• And from August 2026, architectural firms will have access to a professional HR framework through the Architectural Employment Lifecycle Guide, developed by SIA with funding support from the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) to help firms better manage their people through every stage of employment.

Above and beyond these efforts, we can do more to promote quality-based procurement and reward consultants that provide quality services.  

Resourcing Evaluation Guide for Consultants

Tonight, I am happy to share that BCA will introduce a pilot Resourcing Evaluation Guide, (REG), for public sector construction-related consultancy service tenders. The REG will support more resource-conscious tender evaluation and help guard against unsustainably low bids, which can place undue pressure on project teams and compromise project outcomes.

Under the REG, tenderers will be required to break down their overall fees by proposed manpower resourcing and corresponding rates. Tenderers may reference SIA’s Value Articulation Framework, or VAF to guide their assessment of the key tasks and services involved. 

On the part of the Government Procuring Entities (GPEs), they will consider whether the proposed resourcing is commensurate with the project requirements and evaluate the proposed fees and proposal quality in line with the prevailing Quality Fee Method.

We will pilot the REG for selected public sector projects from Q4 2026. We look forward to your feedback as we refine the guide and further strengthen quality-based procurement in Singapore.

Taking Singapore’s Ideas to the World

Let me turn to something that speaks to the ambition and creativity of this community.

In May, I launched the Open Call for Proposals for Singapore’s 10th presentation at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027. I am heartened by the overwhelming response from the community.

• We received close to 40 complete proposals, involving nearly 180 practitioners. 

• More than half of the participants came from allied design and other fields,  

• Almost 80 percent of the teams involved practitioners from at least two disciplines. 

This is a strong reflection of the multidisciplinary collaboration in our community, a spirit that will be crucial as we explore complex urban challenges together.

Shortlisted Teams to Move into Next Stage of Open Call

The proposals were wide-ranging and thoughtful, addressing issues that are deeply relevant to Singapore and cities around the world – from climate adaptation and material reuse to public life, ecology, and the future of our land and coastlines. 

Following a careful review, the Evaluation Committee, comprising representatives from URA and DesignSingapore Council as co-commissioners, together with industry experts represented by SIA, has shortlisted four teams to proceed to the next stage of the Open Call. These teams will now further develop their proposals before making their final presentations.

I would like to thank all the participating teams for the ideas, creativity and effort they brought to this process. To the four shortlisted teams – congratulations! The Venice Architecture Biennale is one of the most prestigious platforms for architectural thought and creativity, and an important opportunity for Singapore to share our perspectives and aspirations with an international audience. I look forward to seeing your ideas develop. 

Closing

Let me close with this.

25 editions of SIA Design Awards. 61 years of nation-building. And a future that is, in many ways, more exciting – and more demanding – than anything we have faced before.

The work of an architect is never just technical. It is an act of imagination and a statement of values. When you design a home, you are saying: this is how we think people deserve to live. When you design a public space, you are saying: this is how we think a community should come together. When you design a building that will stand for decades, you are making a promise to future generations about the kind of city we want to be.

That is a profound responsibility. And tonight, looking around this room, I am confident it is in good hands.

To all the Jury Shortlists and Recipients of SIA Design Awards 2026 – congratulations. Your work inspires all of us to push further, think deeper, and build better.

And to the entire architectural community – thank you. For your creativity, your commitment, and your contribution to the Singapore we are all proud to call home.

Thank you, and have a wonderful evening ahead.