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Britain-based architect Syafiq Jubri is working on Singapore’s new airport terminal building from across the globe.
The 36-year-old Singaporean is part of the team of architects and engineers who are designing and constructing Changi Airport’s new Terminal 5 from the ground up. He works for Heatherwick Studio, one of the consultants on the project.
Syafiq has spent over 11 years in Britain on and off, working with world-famous architects like Sir Nicholas Grimshaw and the late Ted Cullinan. Working on Singapore’s new Terminal 5 is a significant milestone in his career, he says.
“I am always on Google Maps exploring different places in Singapore for inspiration. This fresh perspective motivates me daily, knowing that one day, my family and fellow Singaporeans will be using the terminal I helped design,” says Syafiq.
As a child, Syafiq enjoyed geometry. In secondary school, he learnt to sketch and develop design solutions for real-world problems in a Design & Technology class, where he brought his ideas to life by creating and building model prototypes.
“I always liked the idea of inventing something, taking things apart and understanding how they were put together,” he says.
This budding passion led Syafiq to pursue a diploma in interior architecture and design at Temasek Polytechnic and a bachelor of arts in architecture at the University of Sheffield.
Eager to deep dive further, Syafiq applied for the DesignSingapore (Dsg) Scholarship which gave him the opportunity to pursue a master of architecture at University College London (The Bartlett School of Architecture).
Syafiq is one of over 70 scholars that the DesignSingapore Council has supported over the years, many of whom have gone on to become design leaders. Dedicated to developing the nation’s talents, the Dsg scholarship is the only one in Singapore that provides funding for a wide range of design disciplines. It is also open to those who do not have previous training in design.
For Syafiq, his most unforgettable scholarship experience was a study trip to Valparaiso, Chile. He had the rare chance to visit an observatory high up in the Andes mountains, where he explored how architecture can reflect and interact with nature.
“There, we learnt about the poetic conversation between architecture and the stars,” he says.
Syafiq believes that good architects should never forget about the end-user for whom they are creating. “It’s about translating that inspiration into something that is not too abstract,” he adds.
He appreciates how thoughtful designs can make everyday living more convenient and adaptable, citing Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats as a prime example.
“They have bomb shelters that double up as storerooms and newer Build-To-Order (BTO) flats come with open-concept layouts for home owners to reconfigure the space as they like it,” he says. “It shows that HDB is actually listening to Singaporeans to make life easier and better for them.”
This same focus on practical, user-centred design carried over into Syafiq’s work after earning his master’s degree. Returning to Singapore in 2018 for his scholarship bond period, he had the flexibility of serving within any Singapore-registered company in a design-related role, but instead, Syafiq founded Intuition, a hospitality consultancy and interior design studio.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, he lent his expertise to help local food and beverage outlets such as Tipo Pasta Bar and Working Title to adapt and thrive amidst challenging business restrictions.
“For Tipo, we did not have the luxury of importing materials from overseas, so I worked with what we had, like dead stock marble. The tiles were simple, so we got creative – breaking them into smaller pieces and using them like large terrazzo to create a beautifully textured restaurant floor,” he recalls.
He also helped Tipo to plan new menus and rethink spaces to cater to dining restrictions. “Designing F&B spaces is exciting. You need to understand how chefs work, how much space is needed in front of the kitchen and who the target customers are. It felt rewarding to contribute to the Singapore community in this way,” he says.
Syafiq returns to Singapore every six months to spend time with family, celebrate festive occasions, reconnect with the community and draw inspiration from the ever-evolving landscape of his homeland.
This connection to his roots shone through at Singapore Archifest 2023, where he created the Dulang-Dulang installation at Sultan Gate. Inspired by his Malay heritage, he designed it based on the communal trays used to serve nasi ambeng (a sharing platter of rice and side dishes), blending tradition with creativity.
For Syafiq, these gathered experiences from growing up in Singapore are more than just personal memories – they are essential layers that he brings back to his work in London.
“It’s these lived moments and cultural nuances that add the soft, human touch to the design process to ensure they are not only functional but also deeply meaningful, resonating with the people and communities they are created for,” he says.
