THE NEW LEADER

IN PRIORITISING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION, MELVIN TAN, THE LATEST PRESIDENT OF THE SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS, ENCOURAGES MORE ATTENTION TO BE FOCUSED ON WEB 3.0 AND THE METAVERSE.

- LOW SHI PING

For as much as the practice of architecture is rooted in the physical world, it is undeniable that the virtual world is rising in importance.

Terms like Web 3.0, blockchain, the metaverse and NFTs make the headlines almost on a daily basis and there are more conversations now about how to bridge the two spheres.

To Melvin Tan, the new President of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), he sees significant untapped opportunities, especially in the metaverse, that can be leveraged, as it is still “in a nascent stage”.

The motivation to make this topic the subject of an interview was spurred by how he has themed his term “The Future of Architecture”.

In doing so, the Founding Partner and Deputy Managing Director of LAUD Architects is spearheading a multi-pronged plan that encompasses value articulation, mentorship and digital transformation.

We caught up with Tan to find out more about how he intends to ensure SIA is metaverse-ready.

What are the opportunities for local architects?