We are often asked who we are and what we do.
FARM is many things at once. We are a cross disciplinary design practice.
We are an architecture atelier. We are a curatorial team. We are a community-centred
arts organization. We even run a store.
We call ourselves FARM because we would like to cultivate a culture of imagination. Underpinning all we do is a belief that joyful creativity is essential in all our lives.
FARM endeavours to share with you that delight in each of our projects.
Since 2005, FARM has worked on community projects which promote the arts.
We organise national public art competitions and events. We arrange free quarterly talks by designers and artists.
In 2007, FARM established its cross disciplinary design arm.
In collaboration with artists and designers, we work on a diverse range of projects. These include architecture & interior design, product design & merchandising, graphic design & branding, art installation & sculpture, exhibition design & curatorial work.
FARMers
Our studio is made up of young, energetic, often eccentric but always insanely happy people. Our studio culture is where work and play mingle, intertwine and sometimes become indistinguishable. Despite the occasional hectic schedules and deadlines, we hold this dictum close to our hearts : "Work Hard & Be Nice to People".
Torrance
B.A. Arch., M. Arch.
Torrance graduated with an architectural degree from the National University of Singapore. His adventurous spirit led him to work with Alsop Architects in their London and Singapore offices.
The love of the local and the arts prompted him to start up the FARM as a non-profit design and art society.
Torrance believes that his designs should be delightful and have an element of surprise.
Selwyn Low
B.A. Arch., M. Arch.
Selwyn has a childhood dream of becoming a stationery shop owner, which explains his fascination with neatly-arranged books and pens in an array of colours.
He believes that good design should be made accessible to the masses, through the implementation of clever and sustainable market structures.
Selwyn says that his happiest places to be are East Coast Park and Pulau Ubin but we think it's actually the old hawker centres dishing out yummy local foods.
Peter Sim
A.R.B. (U.K.), B.A.Arch., B. Arch.(Hons.)
After working in the UK for a few years, Peter returned to Singapore in 2006 to do something special. He got together with the guys at FARM and together they formed WORK.
Peter believes that architecture and design should be clever, responsible and never too straightforward.
Apart from good design, Peter loves fishing, his dogs, his children and his wife, though not necessarily in that order. He would also like to be a vet.
Tiah Nan Chyuan
B.A. Arch., A.A. Dip. (U.K.), B.O.A. Reg.
As a little boy, Nan Chyuan would spend hours cycling around his neighbourhood, making sketches of houses he saw. And it was clear then that there was nothing he would rather do than architecture.
He finds beauty in geometry and patterns. From furniture pieces to urban planning, he believes that good design should be responsive, intelligent and sincere.
Putting architecture aside, Nan Chyuan likes to think that he is actually a semi-retired footballer.
Willie Koh
Adv. Dip. Film, B.A. Arch.
Besides being a self-professed hopeless shopaholic, Willie is a very good listener. He thinks that he would make a counsellor.
He finds pleasure watching the most obscure films at 3am in his attic.
When he retires one day, you would find Willie in a little French village with a vineyard in the backyard, wondering about the constellations at night.
Oh Wenxin
B.F.A. Visual Comm.
With a background in Fine Arts, Wenxin moved on to do graphic design. It is the farming of graphic ideas and the harvesting of the eventual products that delights her so much at FARM.
One of her greatest wishes is to live in a huge house with quirky designs (hopefully designed in collaboration with FARM).
When not at FARM, she is be travelling the world getting design inspirations from the tiniest corners. If not, then you can probably find her sleeping.
Susanne Teng
B.F.A. Visual Comm.
Susanne, our lovable closet Ah Lian is a graphic designer at FARM. She has no idea why or how she begun graphic designing but nonetheless she enjoys every minute of it.
The flexibility and how opinions and thoughts can be voiced out and discussed openly are what she likes best about working at FARM.
Other than designing, she would love to sell ice-cream at a mama shop so she would have an endless supply to last her a lifetime.
Lee Hui Lian
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch., B.O.A.
It is the aesthetics of spaces, objects and materials that brought Hui Lian into this line of work. She loves the funny people and large windows in the FARM house.
Multi-tasking is not her forte but she can drink teh and do her drawings at the same time.
Hui Lian is hopelessly afraid of living things with too many legs or no legs at all but surprisingly is cool with cockroaches and spiders.
Rose Chen
Dip. Marketing
Rose oversees FARM's finances and human resources. She has learned to appreciate the creative work of her fellow colleagues since joining the company in 2011.
She believes that one's life is not measured by how much you have but the love and joy you bring to the people around you each day.
Rose champions a healthy lifestyle – she enjoys working out at the gym and morning walks around Garden by the Bay, to admire the beauty of Creation.
GARETH LOW
Dip. Furniture/Interior Design
Gareth wants to be a part of everything FARM does, from graphic to product to spatial design. Never afraid to get his hands dirty, he loves building things with his own hands!
He sincerely believes that even if he's not good at things at first, he will learn in the process and become better eventually and it will all come together as a whole.
Well if he ain't a designer, he would probably become a professional actor, soccer player, dancer, or a gamer...
Panna Chee
B.F.A. Visual Comm.
Panna likes to build plastic robot models, enjoys watching and playing his soccer, and can’t live without his Korean dramas, although this last point is almost unexpected of him. Almost a hedonist, Panna believes that one's life is measured by how much one is able to enjoy life.
If he wasn't a graphic designer, Panna would like to fulfil his childhood dream of being a pilot and taking to the skies.
In the future, Panna would like to travel the world in 100 days.
Elwin Chan
B.A. Mass Comm.
Elwin is a creative and collaborative storyteller with more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications and copywriting. He is interested in design as a tool for problem solving; architecture as a means of shaping human behaviour; and writing as a way to learn about life.
In his spare time, Elwin enjoys watching documentaries, reading poetry, travelling, and looking at art.
Teo Guan Sin
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch., B.O.A. Reg.
Perhaps it was naïve, but architecture offered the solution when Guan Sin could not bear to choose between the arts and sciences. She believes that good design creates better memories; when memories are layered with the physical, or occur within spaces, time spent is more tangible, and the recollection of emotions is better felt.
Guan Sin is occasionally melancholic, but enjoys a good laugh, and observing the weather. She secretly loves studying maps, travel routes, and sometimes, dictionaries and thesauruses. Guan Sin often wishes that there was a 24-hour public library in the park, so that she can be in two of her favourite places simultaneously, at any hour.
Tan Qian Rou
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch., B.O.A. Reg.
Qian Rou spent many blissful years casually interested in architecture, but once the fascination sparked, it soon became an obsession. Now there's no turning back. Equally hopeless is the caffeine addiction that resulted from architecture school.
QR is a firm believer in architectural theory and critique, cross-disciplinary design, the importance of pedagogy, and ultimately, the autosave function. To QR, design is less an occupation and more a way of seeing.
In what spare time available, QR enjoys reading, music, and climbing things. QR is a great admirer of the Shelleys and Virginia Woolf. In a parallel universe, QR is a medical historian.
HO SHUWEI
B.A. Interior Design (Hons.)
Since young, Shuwei has cultivated an obsession with blank spaces and large windows. The limitless possibilities that spring forth from such emptiness of space and openings into the unknown led him eventually towards a career in the design field.
Ever the perpetual dreamer, he is also a huge fan of Archigram, the avant-garde 1960s architecture group. It comes as no surprise then that his dream is to dwell in the hypothetical retro-futuristic reality, and perhaps never come back.
If he wasn't a designer, Shuwei would probably be in Hogwarts, learning levitating spells and unforgivable curses. Wingardium leviosa!
Nina Arily
B.A. Interior Design (Hons.)
Since she was young, Nina has always busied herself with rearranging furniture and things in her room, shuffling them about whenever she got bored with the space. It was no surprise that she eventually went into design, and graduated with a degree in Interior Design from The Glasgow School of Art.
Nina is also a big fan of Japanese architecture and interiors. The experience of being in a tastefully designed space excites and humbles her at the same time.
A dreamer and a linguist wannabe, she is constantly searching for words in space, that is when she is not painting a picture of unicorns and rainbows in her head.
LIJIN TAN
Dip. Interior Arch.
It was the yearning to own beautiful objects which eventually led Lijin down the path of design. She would spend time wondering how an object would fit a specific interior, or how a dress might look hanging in her ideal walk-in wardrobe. Before long, Lijin’s thoughts were being translated into reality through interior design.
Lijin believes that one’s life is measured by experiences: travel, interactions with people, activities and even work. The good, the bad and even the mundane all build you up to reveal a new person with each passing day.
If not for design, Lijin would like to become a scriptwriter, plotting out shocking twists and spinning dramatic endings to rom-coms and psychological thrillers.
JACLYN CHAN
B.A. Interior Design (Hons.)
To Jaclyn, good design is bred through collaboration, and a mutual, constant build up on top of each other’s ideas.
Jaclyn feels that travel is not defined by the number of holidays, but by the adventures and insights you find on them. She likes to collect bottles from various places she has visited. When she gets the chance, Jaclyn also likes to bake—especially tiramisu, while listening to soulful music—or immerse herself in photography. Once, Jaclyn mistook a stranger for someone else, but kept insisting she was right, for a half-hour.
If she wasn’t in design, Jaclyn would be brewing coffee and doing crafts in her own home café, by a quaint alleyway in Venice. As a designer though, she would like to see the world come together and grow closer, through good design.
PHUCHONG YAMCHOMSUAN
B.A. Interior Arch.
Although Phuchong graduated with a degree in Interior Architecture from Bangkok, he was not interested in architecture as a child. He didn’t even know what it was. Instead, Phuchong’s fascination lay in outer space; even now, he dreams of dying on Mars.
One of Phuchong’s favourite architects is Tadao Ando. Studying and walking through Ando’s works was an incredible experience that nearly brought Phuchong to tears.
Peter Zumthor’s Thinking Architecture and Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor are two books that have influenced Phuchong. He hopes the knowledge of investment will help him to establish his artistic practice. Other areas Phuchong wishes to improve in include his soft skills, like socialising.
Wong Xiu Hui
Dip. Visual Comm.
To Xiu Hui, design is a form of storytelling that makes people aware of and ponder on, to quote Michael Bierut, “things that [are] about something other than themselves”.
If she isn’t seeking new illustration or design ideas, Xiu Hui is probably playing a tune or two on the Guzheng, reading 18th-century romance novels, or binge-watching dramas.
In the future, Xiu Hui hopes to be able to contribute some of her time to animal conservation, looking after baby orphaned mammals or rescuing sea turtles. But until then, she is humbled to be working alongside amazing FARMers, who are not only passionate workers, but also warm and great individuals who have always given her so much guidance and patience.
JULIE ANN BARROGA
B.Sc. Arch.
A younger Julie never thought she would be involved in architecture. Growing up in the countryside, Julie was more interested in landscape design. She loved spending time on the grass, or reading books on a lazy afternoon. She still likes biophilic designs the most.
Julie was introduced to architecture through history. A project documenting the past and construction of the century-old house ‘Nido-Lindo’—‘beautiful nest’ in Spanish—inspired Julie to create her own ‘Nido-Lindo’ someday, and is one of the reasons she still pursues architecture.
If she is not working, Julie is in front of the television watching basketball, or learning to play the piano and other string instruments. If not for architecture, Julie would be a sideline reporter, interviewing her favourite basketball players.
Nowelle Tan
B.Sc. Arch., M. Arch.
Nowelle believes that architecture is more than the construction of a space. She loves when it becomes a story teller, relating the lives of people in and with it. She finds inspiration in making sense of spaces through the lens of previous users. Nowelle strives to create meaningful spaces that connect with people, adding chapters to their continued stories.
When Nowelle isn’t working, she’s walking her dog Toby at the park. She also likes to eat. A lot. Nowelle’s peers can attest to her unhealthy obsession with steamboat. If Nowelle were to choose a super power, it would be time travel. She would use it to visit places in the past, and also to get a couple more hours of sleep in the mornings.
Cheryl Leung
B.Sc. Arch., M. Arch.
Cheryl always had her head up in the clouds, seeing the city from different perspectives, while picturing herself in movie scenes. After stumbling upon architecture, she now appreciates cities through their thoughtfully designed spaces. Cheryl loves beautifully drawn city maps, and how they are more than two-dimensional depictions of the physical world.
Cheryl has always loved fiddling with different tools and materials; she enjoys the process of building miniature models, as it give insight into the intricacies of the design. If she wasn’t a designer, Cheryl would probably aspire to be a chef. She believes that the best people love to eat. On weekends, Cheryl enjoys being outdoors. She likes to think she’s a plant: happiest when soaking up sunshine, or swaying in the rain.
NAZARRUDIN SAPRAWI
Dip. Interior Design
Having graduated from Art & Design school in Kuala Lumpur, Naz has always enjoyed exploring a variety of new design styles. He loves creating spaces that people would enjoy spending time in; Naz finds it fulfilling to watch non-functional, anonymous spaces gradually transform into vibrant, inspiring homes.
Naz firmly believes that our surroundings can have a deep impact on the soul, and so he has made it his life’s mission to create beautiful spaces to be lived in. Naz aspires to one day become an internationally renowned designer.
Besides space and design, Naz loves window shopping, the food scene and travelling worldwide.
Cindy Lee
M.F.A. Interior Design
To Cindy, interior design is not just the visual and atmospheric improvement of a space, but also a continuation and deepening of architectural design, and the holistic coordination of materials in a built environment.
Cindy believes that the beauty of art is pursued in life. Design comes from life, and details create quality.
When Cindy is not thinking about design, she enjoys hiking and eating. To her, both are about observation; of nature and our surroundings, of natural ingredients and their inherent tastes and properties. By observing life with your heart, you can let design interact with life.
Benedict Tay
B.Sc. Arch., M. Arch.
Ben believes that good design stems from a designer who is well-fed, well-rested and well-cared for. He favors a sensitive response to the needs of users, and injecting a much needed dose of creativity and fun.
In his downtime, you can find Ben doodling in his sketchbook at various corners around Singapore, or learning new recipes to expand his culinary repertoire. Occasionally, though, he just sleeps. The silliest thing Ben has done is apologising to his pencil after dropping it on the floor.
And if Ben wasn’t a designer, he is convinced that he would be a travelling artist in a caravan, drawing sights and experiencing different cuisines in a journey around the world. Ben’s hope for the future is to grow old, wrinkle-free and always happy.
MELLISSA YAP
Dip. Arch., B.Envs. (Arch.)
Having taken a leap of faith into architecture, Mellissa found herself enjoying the process of model making – putting little pieces together with her tiny hamster hands and letting them work their magic. She believes that models play an important role in architecture, allowing people to visualize great design and guiding their understanding of the intended space.
If Mellissa wasn’t in architecture, you would probably find her teaching in a kindergarten, or on some island conducting turtle rescue missions. Someday, Mellissa dreams of designing and retiring in her very own farmhouse Down Under, having a few white horses, and riding off into the sunset with her partner-in-crime.
PAMELA LEE
B.A. Interior Design (Hons.)
For Pamela, stepping into the world of interior design and burrowing her head into an exploration of details, colours, materials and more has been a whirlwind. To have her designs move from concept to reality has been an eye-opening journey.
Off work, Pamela can be found soaking up the sun and exploring various places with her handy-dandy viewfinder. Alternatively, she is seeking out local food haunts, as she strongly believes that happiness is a full belly.
If not for design, Pamela thinks she might be working at a ski resort lodge in the Alps, enjoying the views of snowy mountain caps, and endless snowboard sessions in her free time.
KELLY AQUILINO
B.Sc. Arch., PMP
Kelly’s preference for ensuring a building’s functional layout over focusing on pure aesthetics has been influenced by his experience in dealing with end-users and building owners.
Kelly loves Calvin and Hobbes, and has a large assortment of books, comics and manga. He likes to spend his time flipping through his collection while stuffing himself silly with chips, chocolates, ice cream and various other sweets.
Kelly also enjoys meeting with old friends whenever he makes a trip back home and taking these opportunities to reminisce on their childhood antics and escapades.
Sean Poon
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch.
Sean's earliest memory of architecture is a photograph; the image's chiaroscuro emphasising the spatial atmosphere. For the longest time, this was what architecture meant to him - an inhabitable phenomena, a work of art. School has since convinced Sean that architecture is a messy, all-encompassing set of intertwined systems and objects.
Architecture aside, Sean is a news junkie - he cannot start his day without a BBC podcast and espresso. In his free time, Sean revels in books that are haunting, poetic, or surreal. He also enjoys the occasional run, to see the world go by and ponder about it.
If not for architecture, Sean might have thrown himself into the heady world of international relations, or perhaps journalism.
TAN JOU WEN
B.Sc. Arch. (Hons.)
Jouwen believes that in the process of architecture, it is vital to craft spaces expressly and specifically for the people who will use them, in order to create a genuine impact. While the design may not end up being ‘perfect’, it will be focused on and concerned with what benefits the users.
Jouwen is a crazy plant lady, who has basically turned her room into a jungle full of foliage and lemon trees. Although, without the gift of a green thumb, Jouwen routinely needs to buy new plants to replace dead ones. You’ll probably find her shopping at the plant nursery on most weekends.
Sri Saravanan
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch., B.O.A. Reg.
Sri has considered a wide range of careers over the years: comic artist, politician, author, musician, carpenter, dog whisperer and gardener. Architecture beckoned after he realised how it can affect and structure the narrative of our daily lives, while still relating to many of his potential paths.
Sri enjoys all aspects of making a building: drawing and revising layouts, addressing regulatory requirements, working with clients, consultants and contractors, and walking sites from the day they are holes in the ground up till the final coat of paint dries.
CHRISTINE ANG
B.A. Interior and Spatial Design (Hons.)
To Christine, design gives her the ability to make changes to people’s lives through even the tweak of a line. Growing up with architects as parents and having to use the back of architectural drawings as her sketch papers since young led her to believe that entering the industry was a given. (Was she brainwashed?!)
Studying in London and Milan gave Christine a heightened sense of adventure and excitement for life, while nurturing her creativity. Her years there were pivotal in her life and she wishes to express those cherished experiences in her work.
If she wasn't doing design, she'd probably be fishing around the ocean all day, before returning to a little pottery studio where she’d drink endless cups of tea. A teh a day keeps fatigue away!
Png Jun Kiat
B.A. (Hons) Design Comm.
Jun Kiat stumbled upon his love and passion for graphic design in his teens, after many years of wondering and pondering what was he going to do in the future with his love for art. He believes that design is an extension to help communicate and express what is the mind into something visual, regardless of form, and medium.
When he is not at FARM, you will either find Jun Kiat on his long strolls gathering inspirations and observing people, or on his hunt for the best cakes in town.
If Jun Kiat wasn’t a designer, in another alternate universe, he will be a Star Fleet Captain flying a spaceship in space, exploring new planets, and to boldly go where no one has gone before.
Yap Chee Keng
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch.
From a young age, Chee Keng has had a passion for creating and improving objects, frequently seeking out items in need of repair. Recognising the potential for a similar sense of fulfilment in the field of architecture, he embarked on this career path and has since remained fully committed to this pursuit.
Chee Keng believes that exemplary architecture should seamlessly integrate design and nature, while also incorporating a touch of quirkiness to enhance the experience for its users.
In his leisure time, he enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, savouring a good cup of coffee, and fostering his love for lamps (one can never have too many).
Jaxe Pan
B.A. Arch. (Hons.), M. Arch.
Though trained as an architect, Jaxe believes that design encompasses all aspects of our lives and its theory applies across all mediums. She immerses herself thoroughly in other disciplines to explore how to best express an idea.
Innately drawn to all creative means of self-expression, Jaxe has dabbled in tech, fashion, graphics, painting, music, writing, and culinary adventures to varying degrees. She is also the proud owner of handmade terrazzo brand Lefon & Co.
Jaxe's childhood dream is to be a swashbuckling adventurer like Indiana Jones, but she has not yet found the right hat.
B. Arch., M.F.A.
Wariya enjoys visiting cities/towns, she believes that there's a story to be learned during such exploration.
To Wariya, design is a form of story telling and she strives to eloquently paint the best description through her work.
If Wariya wasn’t a designer, she would most likely be a professional eater, where she will gain joy from hunting down all the good food available in the world.
B.A. Design
Jobs
ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS DESIGNER
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in graphic, interior or architectural design.
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in environmental graphic design, architecture or interior, or similar studio experience.
- Knowledge of Adobe CC Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.
- Use of AutoCad 3D, SketchUp or Rhino 3D modeling programs is a plus.
- Experience with planning, documentation and management of environmental graphic, wayfinding and signage projects in the context of built environment.
- Highly organized and tactful, with knowledge of signage technical processes.
Senior Graphic Designer
- Graphic design related diploma or degree
- Minimum 3 years of professional experience in graphics design experience
- Knowledge of Adobe CC Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop
- A passion and eye for design with an open and highly collaborative mind and approach.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines.
Interior Designer
- Relevant design qualification
- Preferably 1-2 years commercial design experience
- Great knowledge of Adobe programmes (AutoCAD, Sketch Up and Photoshop)
- A passion and eye for design
Production Manager
- Management the visual and production aspects of a graphical design project.
- Work closely with team members to follow a brand/style guide and manage assets and layouts for various formats.
- Have a detailed eye to craft production files and coordinate well with external vendors (e.g. printers and suppliers)
- Minimum 1 to 2 years experience with good communication and coordination skills.
- Extensive knowledge in print materials, usage of Pantone swatches, printing techniques and finishing.
Design Apprentice
- We are always on the lookout for students who are keen to learn on the job
- Architectural Design: Must be trained in architecture, modelmaking and digital space-making. AutoCAD and rendering softwares knowhows are a plus.
- Graphic Design: Must be trained in branding, bookmaking and illustration. Adobe softwares know-how is a must.
- Interior Design: Must be trained in interior design and digital space-making. AutoCAD, SketchUp and Photoshop know-how is a must.
Find us
Address
261, Waterloo Street,
#04-29, Singapore 180261
Call: +65 6336 1706
Fax: +65 6336 2706
FARM is located at Waterloo Centre, a classic HDB (a.k.a. Singapore's famous public housing) and podium block built in 1975, in Dhoby Ghaut, the central Arts & Heritage District of Singapore.
261, Waterloo Street,
#04-29, Singapore 180261
Call: +65 6336 1706
Fax: +65 6336 2706
FARM is located at Waterloo Centre, a classic HDB (a.k.a. Singapore's famous public housing) and podium block built in 1975, in Dhoby Ghaut, the central Arts & Heritage District of Singapore.
Directions
To find us, first take the lift near the kopitiam (brilliant chicken rice here!) up to the 5th floor where you will arrive at an unconventional mid-air void deck.
Walk down a floor and it's impossible to miss our signage. :)
To find us, first take the lift near the kopitiam (brilliant chicken rice here!) up to the 5th floor where you will arrive at an unconventional mid-air void deck.
Walk down a floor and it's impossible to miss our signage. :)
Enquiries
STUDIO : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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STUDIO : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
ROJAK : .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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Map
