What was it like working for Star architects like Rem Koolhaas? How has it influenced MOD’s design philosophy?

The first root was Rem Koolhaas as an early influence, with his search for the spirit of the day, an expression of now. Not just its expression, but also programmatically. Rem excited the brain, but didn’t do much for the soul. The second root was Peter Zumthor, a shaman of architecture in materiality and light. He dealt with quiet and pure elements, challenging how people use the space.

BBH Office sketch © MOD

MOD recently designed an office for advertising agency BBH Asia-Pacific in a warehouse. Tells us more about MOD’s current works.

MOD is working on its first commercial building. We had previously done residential buildings and we are currently working on a six storey building along New Bridge Road. It is a purely urban context as opposed to working on residential buildings and it is quite exciting to be working on it. This project challenges the notion of a building as art or as architecture.

BBH Office © MOD

What is your impression of the Singaporean design scene and how Singaporean is MOD?

Collages. To come back after having been trained overseas, it could be best described as being a Singaporean local at heart, the spirit of being local at heart. Although we have many friends in the industry, I don’t feel a closeness to the local fraternity.

New Majestic Hotel © MOD

There is an open and welcomed competition. Ever since the New Majestic Hotel Project, there has been an international thrust. For the New Majestic Hotel Project, the brief was hotel designs for the future. MOD conceptualised the brief with the consideration of the new generation Singaporean hotel user who see hotels as places to party. It was not a question of cultural, but the revering of the local. Addressing the way people live.

Hence since, MOD believes in mile stoning the local world at the world level. We have two major projects in China and in Bombay and there is a desire to transfer that approach of understanding the local situation. It is challenging.

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