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Architect Edmund Ng stoked the fires of his childhood experiences to design beautiful houses in Singapore and beyond
While most kids would have been content to occasionally fiddle with their Lego sets as they rotated through their assortment of playthings, the miniature bricks served as a career catalyst for a young Edmund Ng. “Before (the video game) SimCity, where anyone can create their own virtual world, I grew up playing with Lego,” reveals the award-winning architect. “It sparked a desire to create my own architectural spaces and microenvironments.”
Ng’s budding love for building things would continue to blossom as he travelled the world with his family as a child. He was struck by the ancient churches, temples and houses he saw, which set his feet firmly on the path to a career in architecture and motivates him even now. “Travelling is my greatest inspiration,” he declares. “I enjoy exploring (historical) sites as I can learn from the principles of history and apply them to my own, more modern designs.”
When he isn’t whipping up culinary delicacies or indulging his passion for art, Ng keeps busy running his eponymous firm Edmund Ng Architects, which services residential and corporate clients across Asia with the help of 12 staff members. “We are guided by innovation, and often take the path less travelled even though it requires lots of research, testing and failure,” he says of his practice. “I put my name on the firm not out of ego, but to be held responsible for each and every project.”
Related: Kitchen Tour: Watch Architect Edmund Ng Cook Chilli Crab and More in His Minimalist Home