From a hotel that tells forgotten stories to a lion dance troupe for seniors, this year’s President*s Design Award winners show how good design can uplift communities, inspire reflection, and reimagine everyday life.
7 August 2025
Top image: SJ Campus by Safdie Architects + Surbana Jurong
Design is everywhere — in the homes we live in, the parks we walk through, even the services we use daily. But what makes design great isn’t just how it looks — it’s how it shapes our lives for the better. This spirit of meaningful innovation lies at the heart of the President’s Design Award (P*DA) 2025, Singapore’s highest honour for designers and projects that make a positive impact on people, place, and planet.
Jointly presented by the DesignSingapore Council and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the biennial award recognises excellence across disciplines — from architecture to experience design, from public infrastructure to personal objects. This year, two visionary designers and seven exceptional projects were honoured for transforming the everyday through thoughtful, purposeful design.
Here are the names and innovations worth knowing.
From serene homes to reflective public spaces, Alan Tay’s architecture is rooted in place and purpose. His projects, like the award-winning Cloister House and Al-Islah Mosque, respond to the tropical environment while quietly challenging conventional norms. With over two decades of practice across the region, Tay is known for creating spaces that feel personal, poetic, and deeply human.
With one foot in Portugal and the other firmly planted in Singapore, Gabriel Tan is flying the Singapore design flag around the world. His furniture and products — designed for global brands like Herman Miller, B&B Italia, and Ariake — blend contemporary aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship. His eye for quiet innovation and deep respect for heritage make his work instantly recognisable and deeply satisfying.
Where history meets modern hospitality. This boutique hotel artfully weaves four conserved 1936 shophouses into a sleek new extension — complete with subtle heritage touches like remittance letter motifs on its façade. A masterclass in heritage storytelling through architecture.
A lush, immersive wildlife park designed for wonder and connection. From beamless aviaries to recycled waterfalls, every detail was crafted to support bird conservation while offering visitors a magical, up-close experience with nature.
An old sports complex gets a new lease of life. With smart interventions — like a second-storey walkway that links surrounding neighbourhoods — this upgraded community hub is inclusive, intuitive, and full of energy.
Think of it as a camera for better cities. Small, smart, and mounted on everyday vehicles, this mapping device helps Southeast Asia’s drivers contribute to real-time mapping — improving routes while opening up new income streams.
What if every school lesson came with a climate twist? This immersive exhibition reimagines subjects like maths and geography to explore sustainability. Think flooding classrooms and sinking maps — it’s learning that sticks, for all ages.
Lion dance gets a silver upgrade. This heartwarming initiative invites seniors — including those with mobility challenges — to join a troupe that keeps tradition alive while promoting active ageing and community connection.
A traditional corporate HQ reconceived as a campus. Featuring nearly 2,800 sqm of indoor gardens, two climate-controlled courtyards, and the sensitive preservation of mature trees on site, the campus offers daylight-filled workspaces and public gathering areas — merging sustainability with human-centric design.
“This year’s recipients demonstrate how Singapore’s design industry continues to mature, offering thoughtful solutions to complex challenges,” says Dawn Lim, Executive Director of the DesignSingapore Council. “As a Nation by Design, Singapore’s progress has long been guided by bold, strategic, and creative thinking. These designers carry that spirit forward, showing how empathy and cultural intelligence can drive impactful design for both local and global communities.”
We think you may also like Design, Dine, Dress: Can we make it all more sustainable?
Like what you just read? Similar articles below
Hack Care, which covers simple design hacks for improving the lives of those with dementia at home, has been awarded Design of the Year at this year’s President*s Design Award.
Formwerkz Architects employs a medley of judicious manoeuvres to create a light-filled, interactive terrace house filled with the pleasantries of plants.
