In the age of social media, does form still follow function or is it vice versa? The narrative has always stayed the same for architect Quck Zhong Yi of ASOLIDPLAN.
January 16th, 2020
Quck Zhong Yi, a partner at award-winning studio ASOLIDPLAN, is of the belief that good spatial design is vital for human relationships. Context – site, time and people – is perhaps the most important force driving his design process.
Every one of his projects thus reveals a unique intersection of one or more persons in a specific place and time. It’s no surprise that original designs are born out of this philosophy. One of Zhong Yi’s innovative designs includes a brass privacy screen for a ground floor apartment in Tiong Bahru, which has become an eye-catching feature in the neighbourhood.
Quck Zhong Yi: Two things that struck me after working in Singapore was how strict the Parisian urban design regulations are, and how laborious the submission processes can be. The strict urban regulations have contributed to the making of a beautiful city, but also led to its museumification.
There are many design principles that can be analogous across all scales: sensitivity to human scale, line of sight, moments, dialogue between forms, textures, colours, et cetera. Switching between these scales has been helpful in our design work.
For example, for the 2018 National Day Parade stage, we used colour-picking of the Marina Bay environment to create the palette for the stage painting – something that we got used to doing in residential interiors – resulting in a stage that sat harmoniously in the bay, making the bay part of the stage.
Apertures by ASOLIDPLAN. Photo by Fabian Ong.
Spatial design is about designing for people (sometimes plants and animals too). Lines, planes, forms, textures, and colours have meaning only when used or interpreted by people.
At the urban level, streetscape scale and design can bring strangers together, or tear neighbours apart. At the domestic scale, a couple’s relationship can sometimes be improved by optimising visibility between spaces while giving enough privacy.
In the office, spatial layout and acoustics affect mood, concentration, and hence interpersonal relationships.
The Holey Moley by ASOLIDPLAN. Photo by Food & Shelter.
A good project is one that makes everyone happy and is done beautifully. An outstanding project is all of that, plus an ability to spark further conversations and ideas.
It’s exciting. Clients are increasingly discerning, while designers are constantly innovating. New media channels are also making it easier for designers to have a kind of ongoing design conversation with our works. New technology like smart home systems are also making us rethink certain aspects of design. We should also start to see more projects addressing the inevitable issue of climate change.
Squaring A Triangle by ASOLIDPLAN. Photo by Food & Shelter.
Respond to context and client needs, and good design will naturally follow.
This article originally appeared on Indesignlive Singapore.
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest is officially open. And the long-running competition offers Australian architects, designers and builders the chance to gain global recognition for the most technically resolved, performance-led kitchen projects.
XTRA celebrates the distinctive and unexpected work of Magis in their Singapore showroom.
How can design empower the individual in a workplace transforming from a place to an activity? Here, Design Director Joel Sampson reveals how prioritising human needs – including agency, privacy, pause and connection – and leveraging responsive spatial solutions like the Herman Miller Bay Work Pod is key to crafting engaging and radically inclusive hybrid environments.
It’s widely accepted that nature – the original, most accomplished design blueprint – cannot be improved upon. But the exclusive Crypton Leather range proves that it can undoubtedly be enhanced, augmented and extended, signalling a new era of limitless organic materiality.
The very best of NSW architecture was celebrated in the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2025 NSW Architecture Awards in a gala celebration at Sydney’s ILUMINA.
F3 Studio is making its mark on residential design, creating spaces and places that are client specific to transcend the every day.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Introducing Verve by Autex, contoured panels reshaping acoustic design. The new range turns flat surfaces into sculptural, light-responsive features to elevate both form and function in any interior space.
The 2025 INDE.Awards Shortlist showcases the very best architecture and design in our Indo-Pacific region.
Humanscale’s Chief Sustainability Officer is embarking on a tour of Australia, delivering a talk entitled: “Sustainable by Design: Materials Transparency for a Healthier Planet.” At the same time, the company opens a brand new showroom in Sydney. We met her to find out more.