Goy Architects breathes new life into a material-rich 1950s Singapore bungalow
Goy Architects from Singapore is part of the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2026
Goy Architects, an emerging practice from Singapore, joins the Wallpaper* Architects Directory 2026, our annual round-up of exciting emerging architecture studios.
Who: Goy Architects
Singapore architect Goy Zhenru draws on her country’s diversity and rich history to create designs that blend culture, craftsmanship and material exploration – the small, southeastern Asian nation’s perspective is invaluable in her work, she says: ‘We see ourselves designing with a unique point of view from Southeast Asia. We want to be able to showcase this rich geographical, cultural and material diversity in our region.’
The same context is what forms her constellation of influences, she explains: ‘Years of working in Southeast Asia have shaped our belief in vernacular intelligence and regional specificity. We design for the equatorial climate, drawing inspiration from local traditions while interpreting them in a contemporary voice. Our hope is that every space we create resonates with a quiet sense of place, culture, and care.’
Her decade-long experience as an independent practice has resulted in a broad portfolio of works, which includes examples of restoration and adaptation of existing building fabric, as well as some new built and interiors projects, peppered with furniture work for specific clients.
Meanwhile, rediscovering traditional and new materials from the region becomes a fun challenge for the architect, she adds: ‘This enables us to tell stories through materials. Our design process is deeply collaborative, often involving regional craftsmen to co-create bespoke elements such as tiles, furniture, and artworks. We regularly visit workshops to understand their capabilities and develop prototypes — even outside of active projects — building a growing library of regional materials and supporting small-scale makers along the way.’
What: Namly
An existing, 1950s single-storey house with important sentimental value for this project’s client was an important starting point for Namly, a project in a residential enclave within the Bukit Timah neighbourhood. The single-family home’s users, a group of seven - including three adult children, a stay-in helper, and visiting relatives - were already living in the building but were in need of more space.
At the same time, the building’s architectural features, from colourful mosaic flooring to patterned metal window grills and varied plaster finishes, were much loved by the client and important to restore and keep. Adding an extension that would be sympathetic to the original property and maintain its historic charm was central to the design solution. Goy’s strategy integrated a newly landscaped courtyard garden with a new material palette of cement, sand tiles, and brickwork referencing the original grill design. The perforation offers both privacy and ventilation between spaces.
Why: Architects Directory 2026
When the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory was conceived in 2000, it was built as our bespoke international index of emerging architectural talent. Now in its 25th edition, our annual listing of promising practices from across the globe (now comprising over 500 alumni) champions the best and most promising young studios - a snapshot of talent showcasing inspiring work from all corners of the Earth with an emphasis on the residential realm.
This year’s anniversary survey includes 30 young studios (one for each of the 30 years of Wallpaper*), from Australia, Bahrain, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Ecuador, Ghana, Greece, France, Ivory Coast, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, India, Morocco, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, the USA, and Vietnam. Welcome to the promise, ideas and exciting architecture of the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2026.
