Rethinking the Tropical House

The first monograph from exciting young Singapore architecture practice RT+Q, celebrating 20 years of work. With more than 120 completed projects in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, RT+Q has established itself as a leading practice in the region. Perhaps best known for its striking residential architecture that draws on both vernacular and Modernist traditions, the practice always surprises, and consistently wins awards. This book brings together 29 of the best houses completed since the practice was founded in 2003 by Rene Tan and TK Quek. RT+Q's designs make the most of their tropical setting, with an easy interplay between indoor and outdoor spaces through permeable apertures, lush planting and airy mezzanine living. Elegant brickwork, textural concrete and slatted wooden facades are perennial features of their work. Design awards from the Singapore Institute of Architecture and the World Architecture Festival have followed, with Rene Tan named Designer of the Year at the President's Design Awards in 2016, Singapore's most prestigious award. Tropical indoor-outdoor living has seen a huge surge in interest during the Covid pandemic, whilst travel was so restricted. This title offers the armchair adventurer an aspirational tour of cutting-edge domestic architecture from a practice shaping the future of luxurious living in Southeast Asia.

Luo Jingmei is a Singapore-based architecture and design writer. A trained architect, she has covered the local design and architecture scene for Vogue Living Australia, Sleeper, Habitus, Cubes and many other titles.