Matthew Kek, Manager, Design & Project Management, Kuhlmann International

“My experience and training in Architecture, Interiors, Urban Design, Graphics and Project Management has enabled me to embrace a multidisciplinary practice.  My mission is to enhance and design eco-systems with Kuhlmann’s comprehensive and modular range.”

By Selena Oh

Passionate. Focused. Creative.

Master of Architecture 2018, University of Melbourne

Bachelor of Environments (Architecture) 2016, University of Melbourne

Diploma in Architecture 2012, Singapore Polytechnic

Matthew Kek has been recently appointed Manager, Design & Project Management of Kuhlmann International office in Singapore.  Kek first joined the company in December 2021 as Design Associate and Project Manager.

Armed with a Master of Architecture in 2018,  and a Bachelor of Environments (Architecture) in 2016 from the University of Melbourne, Kek received his Diploma in Architecture from Singapore Polytechnic in 2012. During his time in Melbourne, he received the Melbourne Global Scholar’s Award 2017 and the SP Diploma in Architecture.

Kek started his career in architectural design with an internship at SCDA and ARCStudio Architecture + Urbanism. He subsequently worked his way up by taking on roles with Benoy, Archetypestudio, Ar43, Goy Architects and finally WOHA Architects. Projects vary from interiors to the urban scale mixed-use developments at different practices. Learning the ropes from some of the best, he gained an immense amount of exposure in architectural design, interiors and project management in the early years of his career.

Among the projects he was involved in, Kek counts the Punggol Digital District, Meyer House Development and the Ayala Emerald Makati in the Philippines as his most significant accomplishments.  In addition, he was part of a retail concept design and planning competition that emerged as the winner for a mall extension in Dubai. He was also involved in single-family landed houses, apartment interiors and A&A.

Kek lists his trips to Barcelona to explore tasting space, ecology and architecture with the Architectural Association Visiting School and the Galapagos Islands for a study on de-urbanization as well as building an ecological centre with the villagers of Zambales in the Philippines among the highlights of his career.

A fervent believer in returning to the community, Kek volunteered with the Project Green Hope in collaboration with Mercy Relief to build an eco-tourism centre and herbal garden for the villages of Zambales in the Philippines to create a livelihood. His role oversaw the media and branding for the project in liaison with the Singapore Polytechnic’s Department of Architecture. He is currently a mentor with the Industry Mentors’ Network Programme at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

He commented, “My experience and training in Architecture, Interiors, Urban Design, Graphics and Project Management has enabled me to embrace a multidisciplinary practice.  My mission is to enhance and design eco-systems with Kuhlmann’s comprehensive and modular range.”

A Singaporean and the second oldest of three siblings, Kek enjoys photography, tennis and travel among his interests and is an avid foodie.

As Manager for Design and Project Management, Kek works with Project Director Sonia Anya Tay in planning and designing home interiors through a gamut of solutions based on an extensive Kuhlmann portfolio of designs to suit individual lifestyle needs.