Rene Tan

Biography

Rene Tan, who describes himself as an ‘accidental architect’, received his BA (double-majoring in architecture and music) from Yale and his MArch from Princeton.

Today as Director at RT+Q (a firm he co-founded in 2003 with partner TK Quek), Rene works on projects of various types, scale and sizes—locally and internationally. He was ‘Designer of the Year’ laureate of the 2016 President’s Design Awards, Singapore–an honour he shares with everyone at RT+Q.

To maintain work-life balance, Rene searches (with his wife Woei Woei and daughter Lara) for the next ski slope to negotiate, and (for the past 35 years) has been struggling to prevent the complete demise of his skill at the piano.

Education

• Princeton University, USA
  Master of Architecture
  – Suzanne Kolarik Underwood Prize for Design
• Yale University, USA Bachelor of Arts (Music & Architecture)
  – Magna Cum Laude
  – Distinction in the Architecture Major

Professional Practice

• RT+Q Architects Pte Ltd, Singapore – Director (Partner, TK Quek) (2003 to present)
• SCDA Architects, Singapore – Partner, Architect (1996-2003)
• Ralph Lerner Architect, Princeton, USA – Assistant Architect (1990-1994)

Publications / Exhibitions

• Lessons From the Unexpected Portfolio, Singapore
  Issue: 11, January 2018 (Pg. 56-59)
• ICON Magazine, Singapore Edition: February 2017 (Pg. 94-99)
• President’s Design Award Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore Edition: 10 December 2017
• Daring Designers – President’s Design Award Straits Times Newspaper, Singapore Edition: 10 December 2016
• “Old meets new in heritage enclave in Singapore” – House at Joo Chiat International New York Times, New York Edition 4 March 2016 (pg 16)
• “An Open Conversation” – House at Cluny D+A, Singapore Issue #090 (pg22-27) 2016
• “Cluny House” – House at Cluny
  “House of Generations” – House of Generations, HINGE, Hong Kong
  Vol #242 Jan/Feb 2016 (pg 52-55, 56-59)
• “House with Bridges” – House with Bridges SA (Singapore Architect), Singapore Design Awards
  Issue #02/2016 (pg46-51, 114-117)
• “Cover Girl” – The Capers
  ART4D, Thailand
  Issue #233 Feb 2016 (pg58-62)

Recent Awards

• SIA Design Awards 2020 – Design Award
  -House of Spice (Residential Category (Low-Density Housing))
  – A Midsummer’s Night Dream Stage Set (Special Category)
• SIA Design Awards 2020 – Merit Award
  – A ‘Home’ in Choa Chu Kang (Special Category)
• SIA Design Awards 2019 – Design Award
  -House with a Sanctum (Residential Category (Low Density Housing))
• SIA Design Awards 2019 – Honourable Mention
  -Shorefront (Residential Category (Overseas Projects))
• World Architecture Festival 2018
  -Fennel (Finalist) – Completed Buildings, Housing (Large Scale)
• Tatler Design Awards 2018
  -House of Generations (Multi-Generational House)
• INDE Awards 2018
  -Fennel (Shortlist) – The Multi-Residential Building

Professional Affiliations

• Singapore Institute of Architects – Corporate Member
• Housing & Development Board (HDB) Construction Award Panel, Singapore (2020)
• Housing & Development Board (HDB) Architectural Design Panel, Singapore (2018)
• Preservation of Monuments Board, Singapore (2011-2013)