PRP Now! Jonathan Kim // RT+Q Architects
Tell us about your PRP firm. Where are you working?
I'm working at RT+Q Architects, a local firm that was founded in 2003 by architect Rene Tan and his business partner, TK Quek. Though the firm has experience with a range of projects, they are known for being one of the top residential firms in Singapore, having done over 200 different houses. Some key RT+Q values/trademarks are clarity of form, emphasis on proportion, and a deep love for Le Corbusier.
Do you enjoy the city you're working in? Favorite aspects?
I'm not Singaporean, but my family has a close relationship with Singapore, so I always knew I wanted to do my PRP here. It's somewhere I really do feel at home. It's super easy to get around, the food is incredible, and there are extremely interesting conditions that raise all sorts of unique, critical questions that make Singapore a worthwhile place to study architecture! At the end of the day, I think the people make Singapore so great, and that is probably my favorite aspect.
What is currently on your desk? What are you working on?
Lots of things on my desk right now! Amidst the many supplies and scraps, I've got an assortment of small 3D-printed massing models, and I just finished a 1:150 model for one of our projects that's being presented at the World Architecture Festival this month. My main responsibility is typically model making, but I've worked on other presentation materials, tender drawing, exhibitions, and I do a lot of shadowing. We also happen to be doing a little immersion program for some high school students this week, so I'm helping oversee that.
Describe the firm culture. The office atmosphere?
With just under 30 people, RT+Q is very tight-knit and like a family! Everyone is super passionate about architecture, and Rene is not simply the master architect, but our leader who has a personal relationship with everyone in the office. He truly has so much wisdom and cares so deeply about the pursuit of design/the next generation of designers, so he invests a lot into the interns, making a real effort to mentor and involve us on a close level. Like any office, we go through stressful periods, but in all, to say the office atmosphere has been a blessing for me is an understatement!
What is the first thing you'll tell your classmates upon your return to UT?
I miss Singapore... In seriousness though, I can't wait to hear about everyone else's experiences!
As you're finishing up the week, what are your plans for this weekend?
I tend to visit project sites with Rene on Saturdays. We have a long weekend in observation of Deepavali, which I'll spend resting, visiting a wildlife reserve, and exploring northern Singapore with my friends, and eating good food of course!
