The 7 Best Architects in Singapore (2026)

Yes, for a rebuild, an extension or major addition and alteration works. Plans must be prepared and submitted by a registered architect or professional engineer acting as the Qualified Person, who gets planning permission from URA and building plan approval from BCA and supervises the works through to the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) or Certificate of Statutory Completion. Interior-only renovations usually do not need an architect.

Fees are negotiated, and for a house are commonly quoted as a percentage of the construction cost, which varies with the scope, the size of the project and how much site supervision is included. Smaller works may be charged as a lump sum. Ask each firm for a written fee proposal that lists its stages, what is included and who pays the consultants (structural engineer, quantity surveyor).

Allow roughly two years or more from first sketches to moving in for a full rebuild: several months of design and URA and BCA approvals, a tender for the builder, then usually 12 to 18 months of construction. Strata landed and conservation houses have their own extra rules, which can add time.

URA's landed housing guidelines set the height (number of storeys), setbacks, site coverage and attic or basement rules for each area, and Good Class Bungalow areas have stricter controls. Conservation shophouses and terraces must follow URA's conservation guidelines. An architect will check what your plot allows before design starts.

If the work involves structure, the building's façade, extensions or a new house, you need an architect. If it is a new kitchen, carpentry and finishes inside an apartment or HDB flat, an interior designer is usually the right choice. See our guide to the best interior designers in Singapore.