Koh Seow Chuan
Encyclopedia
Koh Seow Chuan is a founder of DP Architects
, a philatelist, and philanthropist.
in 1963.
He worked in Malayan Architects Co-Partnership before joining William S.W. Lim
and Tay Kheng Soon to establish Design Partnership in 1967. Design Partnership was subsequently renamed DP Architects
in 1975.
Koh, a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
, was given the RIBA International Award
in 2005 and the President's Design Award in 2006 for his work on Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
.
His other notable projects include People's Park Complex
.
.
Koh served as President of the Singapore Stamp Club in 1967. From 1971 to 1974, he helped to establish the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP), and held the position of General Secretary on the protem executive committee.
He was one of the founders of the Association of Singapore Philatelists and held the position of President in 1989. He is currently a Honorary Member on their governing council.
Koh was the Vice-President of the organising committee of the Singapore World Stamp Exhibition in 1995.
to the Singapore Art Museum
.
He donated 63 artworks by Wong Keen, a Singapore Abstract Expressionist, worth S$1.27 million to the Singapore Art Museum
in 2007.
In 2007 he donated 2,231 items of mainly late 19th and early 20th century rare documents of the Straits Settlements and Singapore. In 2008, Mr Koh made a second donation of about 400 out of print and rare books and 68 rare maps.
Singapore Art Museum
names gallery after him in honour of his contributions
Part of his collection is in The Koh Seow Chuan Collection at the National Library.
Koh received the Patron of Heritage Award in 2006, Distinguished Patron of Heritage in 2008, and Patron of Heritage again in 2009.
He is a member of the National Heritage Board
and Chairman of the National Art Gallery
.
DP Architects
DP Architects Pte Ltd is one of the largest architectural practices in Singapore.-Corporate Profile:DP Architects started as Design Partnership in 1967, incorporated as a private limited company in 1993, and evolved to the present as the heart of the DP group of companies – a multi-disciplinary...
, a philatelist, and philanthropist.
Education and Career
Koh graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1963.
He worked in Malayan Architects Co-Partnership before joining William S.W. Lim
William S.W. Lim
William S.W. Lim, born in Hong Kong in 1932, is an architect. He graduated from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and continued his graduate studies at Harvard University. Lim was a Fulbright Fellow in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Harvard University....
and Tay Kheng Soon to establish Design Partnership in 1967. Design Partnership was subsequently renamed DP Architects
DP Architects
DP Architects Pte Ltd is one of the largest architectural practices in Singapore.-Corporate Profile:DP Architects started as Design Partnership in 1967, incorporated as a private limited company in 1993, and evolved to the present as the heart of the DP group of companies – a multi-disciplinary...
in 1975.
Koh, a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, was given the RIBA International Award
RIBA International Award
RIBA International Awards are part of an awards program operated by the Royal Institute of British Architects, also encompassing the Stirling Prize and the European Award.The RIBA International Award rewards "the excellent work being done by RIBA members around the world"...
in 2005 and the President's Design Award in 2006 for his work on Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building located on six hectares of waterfront land alongside Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River, purpose-built to be the centre for performing arts for the island nation of Singapore...
.
His other notable projects include People's Park Complex
People's Park Complex
People's Park Complex is a high-rise commercial and residential building on Eu Tong Sen Street in Outram, within the Chinatown of Singapore.-History:...
.
Philately
He is an avid collector of stamps, historical documents, old postcards, cultural artefacts, maps, photographs, antique books and art pieces, and has exhibited or donated many of these. Some of his collections, including photographs and postcards which dates from the 1880s, is on display at the Singapore Philatelic MuseumSingapore Philatelic Museum
The Singapore Philatelic Museum is a museum about the postal history of Singapore and its stamps. The museum, located at 23-B Coleman Street in Singapore, was formerly part of the Anglo-Chinese School, completed in 1906...
.
Koh served as President of the Singapore Stamp Club in 1967. From 1971 to 1974, he helped to establish the Federation of Inter-Asian Philately (FIAP), and held the position of General Secretary on the protem executive committee.
He was one of the founders of the Association of Singapore Philatelists and held the position of President in 1989. He is currently a Honorary Member on their governing council.
Koh was the Vice-President of the organising committee of the Singapore World Stamp Exhibition in 1995.
Philanthropy
In 2003, Koh donated 150 paintings by Singaporean artist Lim Tze PengLim Tze Peng
Lim Tze Peng is a Singaporean artist who is a teacher by training and profession. He is a Cultural Medallion winner in 2003 in recognition of his contribution to the country's art and culture.-Major Exhibitions:-External links:*...
to the Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Art Museum
The Singapore Art Museum contains the national art collection of Singapore. It has a collection of 7,750 pieces of Singaporean and Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art, and has an expanding collection of new Asian and international contemporary art.- History :Officially opened in 1996, it...
.
He donated 63 artworks by Wong Keen, a Singapore Abstract Expressionist, worth S$1.27 million to the Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Art Museum
The Singapore Art Museum contains the national art collection of Singapore. It has a collection of 7,750 pieces of Singaporean and Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art, and has an expanding collection of new Asian and international contemporary art.- History :Officially opened in 1996, it...
in 2007.
In 2007 he donated 2,231 items of mainly late 19th and early 20th century rare documents of the Straits Settlements and Singapore. In 2008, Mr Koh made a second donation of about 400 out of print and rare books and 68 rare maps.
Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Art Museum
The Singapore Art Museum contains the national art collection of Singapore. It has a collection of 7,750 pieces of Singaporean and Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art, and has an expanding collection of new Asian and international contemporary art.- History :Officially opened in 1996, it...
names gallery after him in honour of his contributions
Part of his collection is in The Koh Seow Chuan Collection at the National Library.
Koh received the Patron of Heritage Award in 2006, Distinguished Patron of Heritage in 2008, and Patron of Heritage again in 2009.
He is a member of the National Heritage Board
National Heritage Board (Singapore)
The National Heritage Board is a statutory board of the Singapore Government, under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts ....
and Chairman of the National Art Gallery
National Art Gallery of Singapore
withThe National Art Gallery, Singapore is a planned art gallery to be located in the Downtown Core of Singapore. It will incorporate two national monuments, the Old Supreme Court Building and City Hall, and is scheduled for its official launch in 2015...
.