RIBA Singapore Chapter

Join us as we conclude our week-long series celebrating the incredible contributions of women in the built environment. Rita Soh, Managing Director of RDC Architects Pte Ltd, is a distinguished architect known for her commitment to sustainable design and contributions to Singapore's urban landscape. As a former President of SIA, ARCASIA & BOA, she has led impactful movements to enhance the architectural profession. Her dedication to excellence and innovation has earned her multiple prestigious awards, making her an inspiration in the architectural community. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲? I love to draw & paint as well as dabble with arts & crafts in my younger years despite being educated in a Science curriculum. But Architecture pursuit was by accident… as I discovered that it allows me to combine both my interest in science with my passion in Art. I strongly believe in designing buildings sustainably, with good environmental comforts for its users and to use our natural resources responsibly that drove me to play a larger role in the interventions of our Built Environment.  As an architect, I am very passionate about “I do what I love & love what I do" I enjoy taking on the challenges presented in each project and weaving in possible solutions that are appropriate to its context, creating both a delightful spatial quality & tactual harmony. I am excited over the advancements in new technologies & how they can be harnessed to drive sustainable solutions hence my interest in AI solutions and the like. As MD of RDC, I drive the firm's focus on ‘designing communities; adopting an ‘integrated’ design approach to create a total environment, satisfying climatic, social, economic and aesthetic considerations appropriate for its context. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? Growing up in Singapore when our nation was focusing on nation building, I reckon the challenges that female professionals encountered were not very different from those of our male colleagues.  In my 36 years as a registered architect, I only had one encounter of gender discrimination in my younger years. I was unfazed, stood my ground and led the team, earning respect and recognition. Every one of us are differently made, so it is common to face difficulties and stumble... as they say:” you need to fall down in order to learn how to pick yourself up!” As an architect, regardless of gender, I believe it is incumbent of us to keep learning, embracing new knowledge and solutions to help us do our part CREATION CARE; in protecting our planet Earth. -- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐𝘞𝘋2025. #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

We celebrate women at all career stages driving change in the built environment. WingSee Wong is an architect and Associate at Arup. With expertise in rail and public sector, she advocates for sustainable and total design while she commits to fostering a culture that values professional excellence and creative innovation. 𝗮. 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆? Born in Hong Kong and raised in England, I gained a unique and diverse perspective on the built environment. Growing up in Hong Kong, I was deeply inspired by the dynamic urban landscape and the cutting-edge architectural designs that define the city. On the other hand, my time in the UK introduced me to the tranquility of nature and the rich, historical architecture.   These contrasting influences ignited my passion for architecture, leading me to pursue studies in this field. My professional journey eventually led me to Singapore which allowed me to contribute to large-scale infrastructure projects that have a significant impact on the public. The decision to move to Singapore was driven by its vibrant architectural scene and the wealth of professional opportunities in this dynamic city, which is rich in cultural diversity and innovation. A decade later, I remain passionate about my work and grateful to contribute to a field that impacts the community. 𝗯. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱? I consider myself fortunate to have worked with companies, especially my current firm, Arup, that are making significant strides in fostering a level playing field for all employees, regardless of gender or background. To accelerate progress in this area, I think increasing visibility and support for female architects is crucial. As a growing architect in Singapore, I have observed that the industry still lacks sufficient female role models, mentors, and representation—factors that can discourage young women from pursuing careers in architecture and related fields. Working in a male-dominated environment has presented challenges, but it has also reinforced the importance of shifting the focus from gender to competency. Through resilience, a commitment to skills, creativity, and innovation, and the courage to speak up when necessary, I have seen how these values help break down stereotypes and biases—key steps in advancing women’s roles in this sector. -- 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

As part of the our IWD week-long series, we are thrilled to introduce Fiona Nixon from STUDIO NvS. Fiona is a visionary architect and a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), known for her innovative designs and sustainable approach. Her work has significantly impacted the architectural landscape, blending creativity with functionality. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲? I had a peripatetic childhood, and after qualifying in Melbourne, I moved to Singapore in 1995 to work with Kerry Hill. Asia’s landscapes and cultures have always been a boundless source of inspiration, each place bringing its unique rhythms, traditions, and character. At STUDIO NvS, we design with a profound respect for our surroundings, crafting spaces that foster community and connection. Singapore, at the heart of Southeast Asia, offers an ideal foundation for our work with its leadership in hospitality design, rich multiculturalism, and global accessibility. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? Architects are inherently curious and adaptable, always evolving in how we create and collaborate. The introduction of new tools has made the design process more fluid and intuitive, allowing the best talent to stay engaged regardless of location or career stage. Flexibility strengthens our team, enhancing the creative process, and allowing us to focus on our craft—celebrating through architecture the culture and context of the places we design. -- 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

In celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), RIBA Singapore Chapter is featuring inspiring women who have made significant contributions to their fields. Vanessa L., Vice President, International Business Execution, Real Estate Services at Citi, exemplifies this spirit. Involved in strategy and operations, Vanessa has a strategic role in driving Citi’s International initiatives. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲? I was a science student at school and particularly keen on physics and mathematics. In my free time, I did classical music, dabbled in drawing and painting, and enjoyed visiting museums and attending concerts. When I was thinking of what course to take up at university, I knew that I wanted to do a course that could let me combine both the scientific and the artistic; architecture fitted perfectly. I did my first architecture degree at the National University of Singapore and pursued my post graduate architectural qualifications at Cardiff University, UK and subsequently obtained registration as an Architect in the UK. Whilst I have been very fortunate to have lived and worked in different parts of the world, Singapore is home and a great base to do the work that I enjoy. 𝗤: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱? With globalization, the internet, availability of resources and awareness of social issues, women are in a better position now than ever. Having the awareness of the world around you and an open mind provide the resources to understand possibilities, explore new ideas, and take action. There will always be conscious and unconscious bias in any industry. As a woman, people will always have perceptions of how you should be and act. Perception can also vary significantly based on cultural background. While we cannot change perceptions overnight, we can shape and influence them over time, via our own actions. What is more important is to be curious, continuously learn, gain experience and build confidence to be who are you. Trust and respect are built over time. Make connections, use the skills learned in architecture and life, think and don't be afraid to speak up and ask questions. You can build up your resilience to take up any challenge that comes your way. -- 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

As we continue our celebration of International Women's Day 2025, we honor women who are breaking barriers and inspiring future generations. Vivien Leong, Director at Scott Brownrigg, is a distinguished architect with over 20 years of experience in the UK and Singapore. Recognized as one of Singapore’s 15 Great Engineers and Architects Aged 40 and Under, Vivien leads complex projects across various sectors, driving excellence and innovation. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲? I’m Singaporean and have studied architecture in both Singapore and the UK, leading to my registration as an architect in both countries. In 1990s Singapore, university course options were limited, and I chose architecture partly by elimination and partly based on my initial perception of the field. I had imagined it to be primarily about creating beautiful drawings. However, over time, I came to appreciate its multi-dimensional nature, deepening my passion for the profession. Every project brings exciting opportunities to collaborate and explore challenges. I enjoy making and fixing things, whether designing from scratch or improving existing structures. An architect should feel responsible for the built environment and be sensitive to what is being done and how it is used. Thoughtful design can greatly improve how people interact with their surroundings, while poorly considered interventions may disrupt or limit their experiences. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? Perhaps it’s more interesting if I shared a few anecdotes, I don’t consider these as challenges, maybe more as amusing scenarios. :) 1: I was the only female in a room of 20-30 males, including clients, project managers, contractors, and consultants. The meeting was at our office, so we naturally hosted our guests. My then-thoughtful boss offered to pour tea and coffee for everyone so that I wouldn't have to be the ‘tea lady’. 2: I was again in a room full of male engineer clients. I took out my phone which was in a pink case, one of the engineers remarked ‘so girly’. My colleague immediately replied ‘Of course! She’s a girl!’ 3: I had asked a contractor to show me all available colors for a fire door release button. The contractor called his supplier and said he needed to find out about other color options because ‘the architect is female’. I found this quite funny, as if male architects wouldn't ask about color options. -- 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

We are thrilled to spotlight the remarkable achievements of women in Singapore built environment. Sookyieh Vun MBA RIBA, Director at WSP in Asia, brings over two decades of expertise in project management consultancy and advisory. SookYieh is renowned for her leadership in delivering complex projects and her commitment to sustainable development. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲? My early interest in the influence of spaces on lives led me to pursue architecture, combining creativity with problem-solving. This passion evolved into a focus on project management, ensuring the effective execution of architectural visions. With experience in both disciplines, my role at a global engineering consultancy allows me to provide a unique combination of architectural expertise, project management leadership, and business acumen to deliver impactful solutions. In 2000, I qualified as an architect in the UK. After over a decade of building my career there, I moved to Singapore to further my professional growth. As a global hub for innovation, Singapore offers opportunities to work on projects integrating sustainability, technology, and urban development. This dynamic city has enabled collaboration with diverse professionals, allowing me to contribute to projects that positively impact communities. 𝗤: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺? Early challenges included being one of the few women in the room. Overcoming these barriers required confidence, continuous learning, and strong mentorship. I made it a point to focus on delivering results—letting my work speak for itself while advocating for inclusivity and diverse perspectives. Confidence, mentorship, and a commitment to excellence are the pillars that helped me navigate and thrive in a competitive industry. - Seeking mentorship and building a strong professional network helped me overcome challenges, and now, I prioritize mentoring young professionals. Believe in your expertise, seek supportive mentors, and recognize the value of your contributions. -International Women’s Day emphasizes the value of representation and support. Increasing diversity in leadership roles is essential, as varied perspectives enhance decision-making and innovation.  -- 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

We are delighted to kick off our week-long International Women's Day feature series with Lay Bee Yap, Director of Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA). As a pioneering leader in urban planning, Lay Bee has been instrumental in transforming Singapore's cityscape, championing sustainable development, and fostering inclusive communities. 𝙌: 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙚 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙚? Since my school days, I have always been drawn to both the arts and sciences, from fine art to computer science. Architecture and urban design bring these fields together, allowing me to design with both creativity and precision. This passion led me to the URA, where I have the opportunity to work with various teams developing urban design plans and programmes for Singapore. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲—an art in how it envisions vibrant, inspiring spaces that shape human experiences, and a science in how it applies planning and design principles, as well as analytical rigor to projects. 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀-from islandwide plans to district proposals-our urban design work challenges my teams and me to dream of possibilities while grounding ideas in implementation plans. Shaping Singapore’s cityscape is a collective effort, built on the contributions of many stakeholders, as we strive to create a great city to live, work, and play in. 𝙌: 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙩 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙? 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀—Having female mentors and role models in leadership is crucial for inspiring the next generation. I have personally benefited from URA’s scholarships and career opportunities, which have helped me grow in this field. I am especially grateful for many inspiring architects and designers who have paved the way. As a mother of two young children, I understand firsthand the importance of support systems in balancing career growth and family. It is encouraging to see various efforts across Singapore’s public and private sectors to expand opportunities—from internships and scholarships to continuous learning on the job—ensuring that women have the support and resources to thrive at every stage of their careers. Ultimately, I hope a more inclusive profession would bring richer, more diverse perspectives to city-making, shaping built environments that truly reflect and serve everyone. -- 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴! #IWD2025 #AccelerateAction

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (8 March) provide an opportunity to reflect on our advancements in tackling the structural barriers that uphold inequality and hinder women's achievements in the architecture profession. This year’s RIBA theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” calls for action that will address gender inequity and provide opportunities for a future where no one is left behind. International Women's Day is about gender equality in all its forms. For some, IWD is about fighting for women's rights. For others, IWD is about reinforcing key commitments, while for some IWD is about celebrating success. And for others, IWD means festive gatherings and parties. Whatever choices are made, all choices matter, and all choices are valid. All activity can help contribute to, and form part of, the thriving global movement focused on women's advancement. IWD is a truly inclusive, diverse, and eclectic moment of impact worldwide. As individuals, we can all take steps in our daily lives to positively impact women's advancement. We can call out stereotypes, challenge discrimination, question bias, celebrate women's success, and so much more. Additionally, sharing our knowledge and encouragement with others is key. In celebration of, and as part of a RIBA Singapore Chapter special feature, throughout this week we will be sharing a series of personal insights from our member community, their experiences and challenges within the built environment, pursuing careers in Singapore / Asia and how this has challenged the industry in working towards and to accelerate equality within our profession. As we strive toward expanding our network and community of regional professionals, we look forward to sharing even more insightful and inspirational dialogue and moments from our chapter members and beyond. #AccelerateAction |  International Women's Day 2025

On behalf of the RIBA Singapore Chapter committee, we would sincerely like to thank all of the esteemed guests that attended our event last Thursday, we hope you all had an enjoyable evening and valued the engagement as much as we did. With World Architecture Festival in town and the opportunity to meet with so many of you sharing your time with us and with fellow chapter members, we are truly grateful. It was an evening of insightful conversation, with a healthy mix of Architecture, landscape, lighting designers both regionally and afar. it was indeed a delight. Mentions to Simon Allford and Lay Bee Yap, Melanie Go, Fiona Nixon and Dominique Broomfield gracing presence and indeed all that attended. A special thankyou to committee members Richard Maund , Sookyieh Vun MBA RIBA , Michael Tze Wei Na and WingSee Wong for your efforts throughout, wasn't an evening without you. For future events, we hope to see our community grow and be a engaging and rewarding platform for all. We look forward to seeing you all very soon and will keep you posted of upcoming events from the Singapore chapter. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Emma England, more of the same please :) Apologies for not tagging everyone, happily its just too many, but please do comment or follow our page and we'll continue to keep you in the loop. till then, all the best, Duncan

On behalf of RIBA and our members, we express our deepest condolences as we bid farewell to Ar. Maria Warner Wong, co-founder of WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design and a fellow RIBA member, whose impact on architecture and mentorship will be profoundly missed.   Maria was a beacon of inspiration in the world of architecture, celebrated for her innovative designs that harmonized beauty and sustainability. She passionately advocated for eco-focused and regenerative design through visionary projects such as the Mandai Eco-Resort, which exemplified her commitment to creating harmonious and sustainable spaces. Her visionary approach not only transformed our built environment but also emphasized the importance of ecological responsibility in her projects.   Beyond her architectural achievements, Maria was a devoted educator and mentor, passionately guiding young architects at the National University of Singapore, and instilling in them the values of creativity and sustainability. Maria also served on the NUS/RIBA Accreditation Committee and was a founding member of the Singapore Green Building Council. Her commitment to nurturing future talent ensured that her impact will resonate for generations to come. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time. Her contributions to architecture, her kindness and love will be remembered and celebrated for years to come. 💚🏛️ #InMemory #SustainableArchitecture #RIBASingapore #WOWArchitects #SingaporeArchitecture Photo Source: WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design