Henning Larsen Director receives Singapore’s highest design accolade
Singapore Country Market Director, Leonard Ng, has been recognized by the country’s president, Halimah Yacob, as Designer of the Year, for his passion and commitment to combatting climate change and environmental degradation. Leonard is the only designer selected by the Design Jury Panel to receive this honor for The President*s Design Award 2023.
Leonard began his design career with a desire to protect and enhance the natural world, at a time when the threat and consequences of climate change were not publicized or understood. His projects and initiatives throughout his career – such as the water sensitive design for Singapore’s popular Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park - demonstrate a commitment to this original intention, striking a harmonious balance at the intersection between nature, humanity, and environment.
“We humans tend to think of nature as being here to provide for us. But we need to ask what we can do for nature, because we rely on it to survive.” says Leonard.
The President*s Design Award (P*DA) is the most prestigious recognition in Singapore for designers and designs across all disciplines and is awarded by the country’s president, Halima Yacob. P*DA awards individuals whose exceptional design solutions positively impact Singapore and the rest of the world. Leonard has been recognised for work which lives these ideals, leaving a lasting legacy within the city and its perception of nature in the urban environment.
The award ceremony was held in Singapore at The Istana, where Leonard was conferred the Award by President Halimah Yacob, Patron of the P*DA.
The implementation of the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters program, in particular the pilot project Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, was a significant milestone in Leonard’s work. The project he designed and delivered transformed Singapore’s water bodies beyond their functions of drainage and water supply, into vibrant, new spaces for community and recreation.
Completed in 2010, Bishan Park, located in Singapore's heartlands, underwent a much-needed upgrade that improved the capacity of the Kallang channel transforming it into a naturalized river. This project had a significant impact on the public’s relationship with water and its potential to transform cities.
