Curriculum Vitae

Short Bio Data

Name : HO Kong Fatt Richard

Race : Chinese

Nationality : Singaporean

Language proficiency : English, Italian, German, Cantonese, Malay, Mandarin

 

Qualifications

1977 – 1981 : Studied architecture at the School of Architecture,

National University of Singapore (NUS)

1984 : Passed the Board of Architects Professional Examination.

Registered as an Architect. BOA Registration No. 964

Career Highlights

Richard graduated from the NUS School of Architecture in 1982 and worked for William SW Lim and Kerry Hill, both eminent architects, before venturing to Europe in 1986.  He is grateful to have William SW Lim and Kerry Hill as his mentors.

 

He set up RichardHO Architects upon his return to Singapore in Nov 1991, after working for six years in Austria and Italy – the last two years in Milan with Aldo Rossi, a world-renowned architect and Pritzker Prize recipient in 1990.

 

In the President’s Design Awards 2013, Richard has been awarded the Designer of the Year 2013 – the highest award conferred by the State to a design professional.  In its citation, the Jury commended ;

 

“Richard Ho is one of the most respected and recognized architects in Singapore for his body of work.  Displaying great sensitivity to the history, culture and climate of sites and places, he has an innate talent to create architecture that has resonance with those who use the spaces, and to rekindle memories of the past.

 

Richard is also an active and exemplary mentor who has devoted himself to teaching and cultivating the next generation of architects through his position as Professor in Practice with the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore and as advisor to young designers.

 

The Jury applauds Richard’s steadfast contribution to the architecture profession as a practitioner, mentor and role model.”

 

For the past twenty-two years of running his own practice, Richard has won a number of international and local architecture awards.  In the year 2000, he was awarded the Gold Medal in the ARCASIA (Architects Council of Asia) Architecture Awards – an Asian-wide biennial awards program to recognize architectural works of excellence – he was the first Singaporean architect to be accorded this honour.

 

Richard has thus far, won seven SIA (Singapore Institute of Architects) Design Awards and four URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) Architectural Heritage Awards. He was awarded an Honourable Mention in the Kenneth F Brown Asia-Pacific Culture and Architecture Awards in 2000.

In the recent 30th Anniversary celebration of the professional publication, “The Peak”, Richard was selected as one of the 30 “Game Changers” in its commemorative publication 30/30 “The Game Changers”.  He has been invited as key speaker to a number of architectural forums and seminars – the President’s Design Awards Public Forum in Feb 2014 and the International Architecture Forum to celebrate the NUS School of Architecture’s 50th Anniversary in 2008, just to name a few.  He was also the Guest Speaker at the recent NUS Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2014 from the School of Design and the Environment.

 

His work has been widely published in many international and local architectural publications and books.  His work has been exhibited in Austria, France, USA, Denmark, United Kingdom, Finland and Singapore.

 

Besides running his practice, Richard has been devoting a lot of time teaching in the NUS Department of Architecture as Adjunct Associate Professor since 1998 because he believes it is important to share with the younger generation of aspiring architects his experience of the “immeasurable”.  He was appointed Professor in Practice since 2015. He is the Advisor to The Architecture Society, NUS – he was its founding President back in 1981 – and is responsible for guiding the student leaders in the organization of the City Exhibition, the largest and most important event in the calendar of the Department of Architecture, SDE and the Architours, a public outreach program to raise awareness of good architecture and urban spaces as part of the Singapore Institute of Architects’ annual Archifest.

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Architecture Awards
PRESIDENT’S DESIGN AWARDS  : Designer of the Year 2013
ARCASIA GOLD MEDAL  :  ARCASIA Architecture Awards 1999-2000
Project: No. 12 Koon Seng Road
Category: Conservation
URA ARCHITECTURAL
HERITAGE AWARD 2012
 : Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
Architectural Heritage 2012, Special Mention
Category B,: 58 Emerald Hill
URA ARCHITECTURAL
HERITAGE AWARD 2011
 : Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
Architectural Heritage 2011, Award Winner
Category B : 128G Cairnhill Road
URA ARCHITECTURAL
HERITAGE AWARD 2010
 : Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
Architectural Heritage 2010, Award Winner
Category A : 25 Chapel Road
URA ARCHITECTURAL
HERITAGE AWARD 2010
 : Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
Architectural Heritage 2010, Award Winner
Category B : 55 Spottiswoode Park Road
URA ARCHITECTURAL
HERITAGE AWARD 2009
 : Urban Redevelopment Authority, Singapore
Architectural Heritage 2009, Award Winner
Category A : NUSS Bukit Timah Guild House
SIA DESIGN AWARDS 2016  : Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 2016,
Honorable Mention
Project : SPCA Animal Shelter and Office Facility : Special Category.
SIA DESIGN AWARDS 2012  : Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 2012,

Honorable Mention
Project : 128G Cairnhill Road Category : Conservation

SIA DESIGN AWARDS 2010  : Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 2010,
Honorable Mention
Project : NUSS Bukit Timah Guild House,
1F Cluny Road
Category : Conservation
SIA DESIGN AWARDS 2006  : Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 2006,
Design Award
Project : The Redemptorist Monastery
300 Thomson Road, Singapore
Category : Religious Buildings
SIA DESIGN AWARDS 2001  : Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 2001,
Design Award
Project  : No. 13 Frankel Street
Category : Individual Houses
SIA DESIGN AWARDS 2001  :  Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 2001,
Honorable Mention
Project  : No. 81 & 83 Kim Yam Road
Category : Conservation
SIA DESIGN AWARDS 1995  : Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award 1995,
Design Award
Project  : No. 12 Koon Seng Road
Category : Conservation
THE 2000 KENNETH F. BROWN
ASIA PACIFIC
CULTURE AND
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
AWARD PROGRAM
 : Honorable Mention
Project : 26 Everton Road

 

ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITIONS  :  
FIRST PRIZE  : SPCA Animal Shelter & Office Facility
Design Competition 2012
 FIRST PRIZE  : National University of Singapore Society (NUSS)
Bukit Timah Guild House
Design Competition 2007
FIRST PRIZE  : The Law Society of Singapore Office Building
Design Competition 1998
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Teaching Appointments
Oct 2015 to date :  Professor in Practice, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore
July 1998 to Sept 2015  : Adjunct Associate Professor in Architecture & Urban Design in the
Master of Architecture course at the Department of Architecture,
National University of Singapore
Nov 1991 to 1998  : Part-Time Tutor at the School of Architecture, National University of Singapore.
July 1984 to March 1986  : Part-Time Tutor in design for third year students at theSchool of Architecture, National University of Singapore.
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Professional Appointments
Member of the Board Of Architects 
– voted in by registered architect members in 2012 and 2015
 : 2012 – 2018
Member of URA Conservation Advisory Panel
Appointed by the Minister of National Development
 : 2012 – 2016
Member of Design Guidelines Waiver Committee
– Appointed by Minister of National Development
 : 2000 – 2002
Member of Architectural Design Panel (ADP)
– Appointed by Minister of National Development 
 : 1999 – 2000
Member of Concept Plan 2001 – Focus Group on identity,
heritage and optimal use of land
– Appointed by Minister of National Development
 : 2001
First Vice-President
– Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
 : 2000 – 2001
Hon. Treasurer
– Goethe Institut Singapore
 : 2000 – 2002
Hon. Treasurer
– Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
 : 1999 – 2000
Chairman, Publications Committee 
– Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
 : 1998 – 2001
Executive Editor 
– Singapore Architect (SA)
 : 1998 – 2001
Chief Editor
– The Singapore Architect and the SIA Newsletter
 : 1993 – 1996
Hon. Secretary
– Singapore Heritage Society
 : 1997 – 1998
Council Member
– Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
 : 1993 –  2001
Member of Board of Architectural Education Committee
– Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA)
 : 1993 – 1996
Guest Lecture Appointments
Feb 2014  : President’s Design Awards 2013 Public Forum
Jul 2014  : Guest Speaker, NUS SDE Commencement Ceremony
Apr 2013  : Guest speaker at Conservation & Adaptive Reuse ConferenceOrganized by PAM (Malaysian Institute of Architects)
Oct 2010  : Speaker at Joint NUS-URA Seminar, “Heritage Houses:Restoring & Reinventing the Home”
Nov 2009   : Speaker at Joint NUS-URA Seminar on ArchitecturalHeritage and Community
Dec 2008  : Keynote speaker for the International Architecture Forum held incelebration of NUS School of Architecture 50th Anniversary
Dec 2003  : Invited as Guest Speaker by the Parahyangan Catholic
University of Bandung. Indonesia.
May 1997  : Invited as Guest Speaker by the Indian Institute of
Architects for the Young Architects Congress in Nagpur, India.
April 1992  : Invited as Guest Speaker by the Department of Architecture, University of Hong Kong
Published Articles Written by Richard Ho
  1. To Be or Not To Be?  –
    Lecture delivered at the International Architecture Forum “In Progress,” held in celebration of the 
    50th Anniversary of the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore in December 
    2008 and published in the Singapore Architect magazine issue #249. 
  2. The Dilemma of Asian Cities –
    An article written for the “Asian Cities On the Move” Exhibition at the Secession Museum, Vienna, Nov. 1997
  3. The Singapore Arts Centre – A Lost Opportunity?
    A critique of the Esplanade Theatres for the Business Times, 10-11 Sept. 1994
  4. Behind the Pretty Perspectives
    A critique of the urban design proposal for Marina Bay for the Business Times, 5 Sept 1992 
  5. Tarting up Grandma
    A commentary published in the Straits Times, 28 February 1992
  6. The Raffles Hotel
    An article for the MIMAR, an architectural journal which featured architecture from Third World countries.
Published Projects
SPCA Animal Shelter & Office Facility  : The Singapore Architect Issue No. 04/2016 & No. 06/2016
55 Spottiswoode Park Road  : The Singapore Architect Issue No. 260, 12/2010
The Redemptorist
Monastery
 : Architecture Asia Issue 3 / Sept. – Nov.  2005
A+U Japan; Architecture and Urbanism 05:12 Issue 423
Singapore Architect Issue No. 231 Feb/Mar 2006
Indesign Australia Vol.25 May 2006
Singapore 1:1 Island – A Gallery of Architecture & Urban
Design Exhibition and book by the URA.
NUSS Bukit Timah Guild
House
 : FORM Design Interiors Architecture Vol 5/2009
25 Chapel Road  : Singapore   Architect   Issue No. 260, 12/2010
Skyline, May/June 2011 Newsletter by URA
BeMuse, July/Sept 2011 Issue by Nat. Heritage Board
128G Cairnhill Road  : The Straits Times ‘Life’ dated 4 October 2011
The Sustainable Asian House, Periplus Books
Author: Paul McGillick
58 Emerald Hill  : FORM Design Interiors Architecture Vol 1/2007
HABITUS Living In Design Issue 01 2008
Chang House  : “25 Tropical Houses in Singapore and Malaysia”,Periplus Books
Author: Paul McGillick
40 Blair Road  : Singapore Architect Issue No. 251, 02/2009
24 Cassia Drive  : The Business Times dated 19 – 20 June 2004
Contemporary Asian Living Rooms pg. 28 & 29
Contemporary Asian Kitchens/Dining Rooms pg. 80 & 81
Contemporary Pools & Gardens pg. 108 & 109
Singapore Tatler ‘Homes’ 12 Homes of the Rich &
Famous pg. 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32
13 Frankel Street  : Singapore Architect Issue No. 211/01
81 & 83 Kim Yam Road  : Singapore   Architect   Issue No. 210/00 and
Issue No. 211/01
12 Koon Seng Road  :  Award Winning Architecture International Yearbook1997, Germany
Architectural Review, UK 1994
Architectural Review Australia – Spring 1998 No. 65
Dialogue, Republic of China, Issue Oct 1998
Singapore   Architect   Issue No. 191/96
26 Everton Road  : “Tropical Retreats” book by Tan Hock Beng
Sri Lanka Inst. of Architects Journal Vol 101 No. 19
“Urban Asian House” book by Robert Powell
Architectural Review Australia – Spring 1998 No. 65
30 Blair Road  : “Contemporary Vernacular” book by Tan Hock Beng and
William Lim
130 Emerald Hill Road  : Sri Lanka Inst. of Architects Journal Vol 101 No. 19
Singapore Architect Issue No. 197/98
31 & 33 Ann Siang Road  : Architectural Review Australia – Spring 1998 No. 65
Singapore Pavilion Hannover  
Expo 2000 
 :  Singapore Architect Issue No.203/01
Publications of Interviews with Richard Ho
  1. “Sense and Sensibility” interview with President’s Design Award “Designer of the Year” winners
    SA Singapore Architect Issue #280/2014 in celebration of SIA’s 50th Anniversary
  2. The “New” Old Majestic : What could have been
    SA Singapore Architect Issue  #252/2009
  3. Property Report
    Real Estate news Issue 24 March 2009 Front cover and pg 31
  4. Brickthrough
    The Straits Times, 1 January 2007
  5. “Architect’s Space”
    International Herald Tribune, 8 December 2006.
  6. Through The Paces
    Property Review, April 2001
  7. Time to Regain Some Aesthetic Balance
    Business Times, 4-5 July 1998
  8. Building for the future
    The Business Times, March 30-31, 1996
  9. Brave New Word
    Apartment Living, December 1996
Richard has been featured in the following Television Programmes
At Home With Richard Ho  : Programme on Personalities – Channel News Asia
Talking Point  : Heritage – are we losing more? – Central Arts Central
Building Dreams  : Special Series on Architecture – Channel Arts Central
Incredible Space  : Special Series on Architecture – Channel News Asia
In the House of Style
 
 : Special Series on Architecture – Channel News Asia
In the House of Style Series 2  : Special Series on Architecture – Channel News Asia
40 on 40  : Special Series to mark Singapore’s 40th year ofindependence – Channel 5, Mediacorp TV