Creativity runs in the family for the Singapore-based interior architectural firm LAANK, set up and run by siblings Cherin and Clarence Tan since 2012. A young but flourishing firm, LAANK has already gained recognition in Singapore and beyond with a slew of projects that include lifestyle and hospitality spaces, corporate offices and private residential projects.

Beauty Candy

The home-grown practice started off as a boutique firm, allowing Cherin and Clarence to closely manage and supervise most aspects of the design process, including experiential design, interior architectural works and third party consultancy management. Having previously worked at Asylum and WOW Architects, Cherin oversees the creative direction within the firm, while Clarence puts to use his past work experience as a quantity surveyor, handling all business development at LAANK.

Beauty Candy

LAANK’s meticulous design approach to each project combines spatial and practical functionality with craftsmanship and aesthetics. While Cherin and Clarence do not have a standardised design formula for their projects, they focus on approaching each challenge with a different mind-set, tailoring their design solutions to each project or brand’s unique characteristics.

Beauty Candy

“Our design philosophy sets us apart from other companies; we ensure that each project is unique as we conceptualise the space based on the character of the brand and its products. We take pride in being able to handle every detail and in providing that ‘soft touch’ that often goes beyond the capability of large firms,” says Cherin.

“Aside from understanding the client’s wants and needs together with the operational aspect of how their business works, we delve right down to the DNA of its staff and customers,” she explains. “We try to marry usability, functionality and aesthetics to create beautiful, stylish architectural interiors that give a holistic experience based on the philosophy of developing meticulously-considered designs according to each project’s unique characteristics.”

Fred Perry Penang

LAANK’s detail-oriented design approach has helped the firm to steadily grow its roster of projects, with some recent notables including the Fullerton HealthCare Group Clinic, FP Café by Beauty Candy Apothecary store and rebranding of interiors for select fast food chain brands by Yum SG. With an impressive number of projects in Singapore already under their belt, Cherin and Clarence are setting their sights on expanding their practice regionally, with the recent opening of LAANK’s first office outside of Singapore in Bangkok.

Fred Perry Senayan

“Bangkok is Clarence’s home, which makes it a natural choice for us. Also, Bangkok, with its new pace of economic progression and modernisation, is gaining recognition as a launch pad for businesses into Indo-China and that ideally, would be where we would expand into next,” Cherin explains.

Haig Road walk-up apartment

While it steadily grows its client base, LAANK continues to remain true to the original vision of the firm that prompted the Tan siblings to open their own practice in the first place – to make a difference in the interior design industry. “We seek projects that give us the opportunity to contribute to the industry with something that’s different,” says Cherin, “It’s not so much dependent on the size or type of projects but, more importantly, what we can bring to the table for our clients through our work.”

Haig Road walk-up apartment

LAANK
laank.com.sg