RT+Q Architects was founded in Singapore in 2003 by Tan and TK Quek (Photo: RT+Q Architects)
What defines good architecture?
Ah, this is indeed a most difficult but relevant question. For me, the answers shift every 10 years or so. At 60, not having seen everything but enough, I think good architecture moves us, especially one that delivers a cathartic response. I find that usually to be architecture with great spaces.
Who are some of the talents you look up to?
(Andrea) Palladio for his sense of proportion, Le Corbusier for his strong forms and Louis Kahn for the poetic spaces he creates.
You are famously known to be a champion of Le Corbusier, oftentimes asking your new hires to come up with scale models. Tell us about it.
I went to school during a period when modern architecture from 1920 to 1960 was well studied and taught, especially the work of Le Corbusier, the enigmatic and encyclopaedic Franco-Swiss architect. Creating scale models was an easy way to relay lessons I myself learnt to students. So, interns spend their first week with us studying and building a model. Throughout 20 years, we have amassed 270 — and counting — models that are touring the world right now; one group serving the Western route, another the Eastern corridor. I feel these models are a logical conclusion to, and physical manifestations of, the education I myself received.
What are your three favourite Le Corbusier buildings?
The Church at Firminy, for its bold form, is one; the La Tourette Monastery is another, for the mystical aura it imparts; and Zurich Pavilion, for its details.
Plants or flowers for the residence?
Both, in fact! The idea for my own home was “edible landscaping” rather than decorative. We started with a spice terrace where the intention was to cultivate some plants for domestic consumption.
What can one find on your bookshelves right now?
Almost everything from my student days and more. I have always liked the idea of a library, especially after having spent four years in college working at the campus library. From there, I acquired a deep respect for the “great books” taught in both Western and Eastern curriculums. I then figured it would be nice to have a library at home and for our daughter Lara to grow up around books.
What is the latest addition to your home?
The Book of Songs, a delightful collection of Chinese poems on wisdom fit for all ages. I particularly like the English edition in yellow by James Trapp. I like the feel of it, its size and even its weight.
Do you have a favourite spot then?
There are indeed, and not just one but two! The first is the staircase because I can walk up and down and choose a book to read at the same time. I would usually pick a title and then spend a good 15 minutes to half an hour simply sitting on the steps and reading. The second would be my wife’s double-height walk-in wardrobe, which we nicknamed the “Clothes Chapel”. In that soaring space, I feel as if I can get totally away from everything outside, even the house itself, and especially from myself. The only thing one cannot escape in there is the light streaming in from the oculus.
This article first appeared in issue No. 114, Winter 2024 of Haven.
