5 Minutes With... Tan Szue Hann

Singapore Indesign 2019 Ambassador and architect Tan Szue Hann recently joined Taiwan-headquartered MINIWIZ as the Managing Director of its new Singapore office. We hear about his passion for producing architecture and design within the circular economy.

“MINIWIZ is a circular-economy RD&D [Research, Design & Development] company that turns waste materials into architecture, interiors, furniture, products, fashion and anything else that is worthwhile and meaningful. These aren’t makeshift, rough-and-tumble products, but are highquality goods that we believe will encourage and support the circular economy.

“Architecture can no longer be about bricks and mortar, steel and glass. Architects must consider the principles of extending the life of materials, think about how to minimise the energy it takes to produce them, and come up with beautiful, poetic works of art.

“In general terms, I think adopting circular-economy principles will be rather successful in Singapore once the infrastructure for recycling is set up and consumers learn how to recycle properly and responsibly. Both infrastructural and behavioural change is necessary.

“At MINIWIZ, we want to prove that consumer desires can be satiated with our own trash. We believe that the principles of the circular economy can only really be adopted if people can perceive tangible value in upcycled products. We innovate through design and technology. We strive to create responsible consumption with works of art that appeal to the senses, and that can be luxurious and competitive, price-wise.” Photo by Khoo Guo Jie.