ABOUT
We have a desire to create places that capture the spirit of our age, live harmoniously with our tropical climate, and are gracefully proportioned, edifying neighbours that belong. Places which actively participate and contribute to the lives of their occupants.
Our name is derived from the oculus, Latin for "eye" and traditionally a portal and gateway to the heavens in classical architecture. As eyes are windows to the soul, so are the openings and portals in a building.
Instead of prescribing a fixed design aesthetic, we derive joy in the plurality of architecture, and possess the knowledge and expertise to deliver timeless beauty in any style.
Come and create meaningful places with us.
OUR TEAM
With combined experience of over 50 years and a company heritage that dates to Singapore's early years of independence, our talented team guides each project from inception to completion, upholding only the highest standards of design quality.
Ar. Clement Teh
DIRECTOR
BOA Singapore - 1818
FRAIA
B.Arch Newcastle
B.Sc (Arch) Newcastle
Clement is a registered Architect in Singapore with over 20 years of experience in residential, retail, office and industrial developments. He has practiced under his own architecture firm Space + Dimensions Architecture since 2003, completing over 200 projects ranging from landed homes and hotels, to conserved shophouses, schools, and places of worship.
Ar. John Wan
DIRECTOR
BOA Singapore - 2960
RIBA
M.Arch Yale
B.Sc (Arch) Bartlett UCL
John is a registered Architect in Singapore with over 9 years of experience in residential, leisure, conservation, urban planning, and public policy. Prior to joining Oculi Architects, John worked in Lekker Design, Gravity Partnership (Hong Kong), and most recently in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's architectural development arm, managing a wide range of projects including the restoration of the beloved former Bukit Timah Railway Station at the Rail Corridor.
As part-time lecturer, John also nurtures the next generation of architects at the National University of Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic.
Chng Nai Wee
CHAIRMAN
&
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Ophthalmic Surgeon
LRCPI, LRCSI, FCS(HK), FRCS (Glasgow), FRCS (Ed)
M.Med (Ophth) NUS
B.Med Ireland
Nai Wee is an accomplished artist whose works have graced the openings of Esplanade and Sculpture Square, and are in the National Collection. He was a recipient of the National Arts Council Young Artist Award, the appointed corporate art consultant for Biopolis, and a judge of the CDL Singapore Sculpture Award.
As an invited speaker on the inaugural seminar on Creativity in the Arts, Sciences and Technology at National University of Singapore, Nai Wee has been recognised for his insights on creativity and its processes.
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He is a practising ophthalmologist and director of Eagle Eye Centre, Singapore.
Nai Wee attended the Yale School of Architecture in 1999, 2004, and 2014. As a real estate developer and holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternate Investment Analyst designations, Nai Wee takes a disciplined financial approach in the development and transformation of properties, Singapore and overseas.
Our Services
Architecture
As experienced Architects and project managers, we provide whole-of-life project delivery from concept design, through to tender calling and construction management. We handle a wide variety of project scales from bespoke landed homes to institutional buildings.
Planning
In a project's early stages, we work with you to research, study, and quantify the scope of what you wish done, leading to a concise and accurate project brief. We resolve diverse scales in your project from space planning to building systems.
Interiors
Interiors offer intimacy and a sense of belonging, defining backdrops to our everyday. We work with you to plan, specify, and manage your interior project, and have decades of experience in types as diverse as apartments, landed homes, retail, food & beverage, workplace, and healthcare.
Not sure what to build? We guide you through each step of the process.
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Write to us at johnwan@oculiarchitects.com
What We Do
Feasibility & Concept Design
All projects start with an assessment of feasibility for scope, size, and purpose. We listen intently to clients’ needs and objectives, involving clients in the step-by-step process of turning a dream into built reality through drawings, models, and renderings.
Detailed Design
Good details can make or break a project. We guide clients through the detailed design phase, where the functional minutiae of buildings are taken care of, from the way rain is channeled to the careful placement of windows for privacy and function. We take great satisfaction in well-resolved spaces which go beyond utilitarianism to communicate greater ideals.
Authorities Submissions
A building project (whether alterations or new builds) typically balances the requirements of over 8 regulatory agencies and their sub-groups. Singapore law requires that owners appoint Qualified Person(s) to obtain the necessary authorities approvals. With over 20 years experience in handling the approval process, we will navigate statutory requirements and find the most efficient path to full completion.
Tender
Once design is resolved, we prepare detailed tender drawings and written specifications. Through a transparent tendering process, we obtain quotes from trusted contractors to arrive at the most cost-effective and high-quality solution for clients. We draw upon over 100 completed high-profile projects to ensure that contracts are written fairly, watertight, and minimise disputes at a later time.
Construction Management
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We write contracts and manage construction projects, with fair and transparent management of timeline and budget. As architects, we pay great attention to the total integration of every discipline's sub-systems within a building. We safeguard client’s interests and ensure that the highest standards of project accounting and construction quality are met.
Interiors
We provide bespoke interior and space design services for residential, commercial and medical spaces, finely attuned to each client’s needs. Beyond atmosphere, finishes and cabinetry design, we plan and configure space to remain a lasting and meaningful part of your life.
Space Planning
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We carry out in-depth research, interviews, and conversations with your stakeholders, understand your objectives, and work with you to set the parameters of your project's spatial needs.
Urban Planning
We work with developers and authorities to craft urban district plans detailing usage quantum, density, massing, and infrastructure, with intimate recognition of macro connectivity, local context and heritage.
Our
Heritage
Oculi Architects descends directly from two storied firms that have continuously practised in one form or another since 1970 - Chng Heng Tat & Associates, and Space + Dimensions Architecture.
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Together, we have been forefront in the early development of Singapore, most notably in the design of Orchard Towers, Century Park Sheraton Hotel, and Hotel Negara.
