Home is where the heart is, but Singapore brands have proven that the world is for the taking. Soo K Chan, founding principal and design director at SCDA, talks successes and sacrifices.
His first foray into New York City has propelled him to the ranks of design masters such as Norman Foster and Robert A M Stern as one of the city’s 20 biggest power players in real estate, as named by the New York Post this June. But Soo K Chan, who established his private practice SCDA in 1995 and has left his mark in over 30 cities, expresses nothing but a modest appreciation for the recognition. The Yale-educated architect nursed fervour for excellent design even as a youth; whether he was creating a structure using building blocks or model kits, he never stopped at anything short of perfect.
He credits that same commitment to details to SCDA’s success today. His Big Apple debut is Soori High Line, a posh 31-unit residential building in West Chelsea. The property is being developed by Siras Oriel Development, a joint venture between New York-based Siras Development and Soo’s Singapore-based Oriel Development. Following it are two other residential properties within the city: 515 Highline is already making waves with the release of renderings of its standout architecture; the other is a 38-storey residential tower at 118 East 59th Street.
Is it important for SCDA to be an international brand?
We are headquartered in Singapore and this will always be our home base from which to share the great talent and design sensibility of Singapore to the world. But it’s important to be visible on an international level, and building in a major metropolis like New York City helps. You’ll be in a position to benchmark yourself with the best and the brightest of each city or country. Singapore is a small market and I decided very early on that we would look outwards, regionally and internationally. That approach has served us well and has helped us ride out the economic cycles.
Has there been a moment where you thought, “Wow, I’ve made it”?
Never. There’s always something else ahead to focus on—a new vision to bring to life, a new territory to explore. I feel the need to constantly engage new environments, culture and people, because I like to remain challenged and inspired to elevate design to a new level. That is what drives me. Passionate and committed individuals motivate me as well; successful individuals inspire me. Besides, an architect is only as good as his last work. So you really are trying to measure up to your own expectations.
And what was the toughest lesson you’ve had?
I learnt that if there’s something I really want to do, there will come a point where I will have to stop waiting for that magical opportunity to present itself and just say, “I’ll have to make this happen by doing it myself.”
Any moment you look back on and have a good chuckle over?
As a student in the Yale School of Architecture, I had designed a chair that in retrospect was perhaps not the best chair as it looked good from the front, but was proportionally unwieldy. Yet I spent my summer in New York City calling up anyone and everyone to see if they would like to review my chair design. Everyone was very nice to me, but that’s what I call youthful exuberance.
What traits do you feel are necessary to succeed in your field?
Passion, perseverance and the ability to communicate your ideas.
Whom do you credit in shaping your success?
My parents, for believing in me and for allowing me to pursue my dreams without any judgement. And my wife Ling, for her continual support and encouragement.
What have you had to sacrifice to get to where you are today?
Time with my family and those close to me, particularly in the earlier days when I was starting my practice. However, I’ve come to realise that it’s possible to have a good balance if you remain flexible and prioritise personal time. Architects are unlike medical professionals, who need to treat a patient immediately in an emergency. Someone once told me that as an architect, our construction problems are never life and death, and that they can wait a day or two as what we do takes years to realise. Besides, having this time to reflect is good for us.
Read more about home-grown brands’ success tatler_tatler_stories in From Singapore to the World in the August issue of Singapore Tatler.
His first foray into New York City has propelled him to the ranks of design masters such as Norman Foster and Robert A M Stern as one of the city’s 20 biggest power players in real estate, as named by the New York Post this June. But Soo K Chan, who established his private practice SCDA in 1995 and has left his mark in over 30 cities, expresses nothing but a modest appreciation for the recognition. The Yale-educated architect nursed fervour for excellent design even as a youth; whether he was creating a structure using building blocks or model kits, he never stopped at anything short of perfect.
He credits that same commitment to details to SCDA’s success today. His Big Apple debut is Soori High Line, a posh 31-unit residential building in West Chelsea. The property is being developed by Siras Oriel Development, a joint venture between New York-based Siras Development and Soo’s Singapore-based Oriel Development. Following it are two other residential properties within the city: 515 Highline is already making waves with the release of renderings of its standout architecture; the other is a 38-storey residential tower at 118 East 59th Street.
(Related: Come Tour Tory Burch’s New York Apartment)
Is it important for SCDA to be an international brand?
We are headquartered in Singapore and this will always be our home base from which to share the great talent and design sensibility of Singapore to the world. But it’s important to be visible on an international level, and building in a major metropolis like New York City helps. You’ll be in a position to benchmark yourself with the best and the brightest of each city or country. Singapore is a small market and I decided very early on that we would look outwards, regionally and internationally. That approach has served us well and has helped us ride out the economic cycles.
Has there been a moment where you thought, “Wow, I’ve made it”?
Never. There’s always something else ahead to focus on—a new vision to bring to life, a new territory to explore. I feel the need to constantly engage new environments, culture and people, because I like to remain challenged and inspired to elevate design to a new level. That is what drives me. Passionate and committed individuals motivate me as well; successful individuals inspire me. Besides, an architect is only as good as his last work. So you really are trying to measure up to your own expectations.
And what was the toughest lesson you’ve had?
I learnt that if there’s something I really want to do, there will come a point where I will have to stop waiting for that magical opportunity to present itself and just say, “I’ll have to make this happen by doing it myself.”
Any moment you look back on and have a good chuckle over?
As a student in the Yale School of Architecture, I had designed a chair that in retrospect was perhaps not the best chair as it looked good from the front, but was proportionally unwieldy. Yet I spent my summer in New York City calling up anyone and everyone to see if they would like to review my chair design. Everyone was very nice to me, but that’s what I call youthful exuberance.
What traits do you feel are necessary to succeed in your field?
Passion, perseverance and the ability to communicate your ideas.
Whom do you credit in shaping your success?
My parents, for believing in me and for allowing me to pursue my dreams without any judgement. And my wife Ling, for her continual support and encouragement.
What have you had to sacrifice to get to where you are today?
Time with my family and those close to me, particularly in the earlier days when I was starting my practice. However, I’ve come to realise that it’s possible to have a good balance if you remain flexible and prioritise personal time. Architects are unlike medical professionals, who need to treat a patient immediately in an emergency. Someone once told me that as an architect, our construction problems are never life and death, and that they can wait a day or two as what we do takes years to realise. Besides, having this time to reflect is good for us.
Read more about home-grown brands’ success in the August 2015 issue of Singapore Tatler.