Who is eco-id
The premise of eco.id, a multidisciplinary practice founded in 1996, is a modern and progressive approach to design. The firm’s comprehensive suite of services range from master planning and architecture to interior design and branding, and project typologies that span high-rise luxury condominiums and detached dwellings to retail boutiques, hotels and resorts. Regardless of scale, the emphasis is always on balancing aesthetics with rigour, and program with budget.
The firm’s name derives from the union of two concepts: “eco” and “id”. The former relates to a keen understanding of a project’s context, and a strong desire to create a high standard of living as a consequence. The latter seeks to infuse the projects with individual identities that stem from abstract concepts or physical attributes on-site, with regards to climate, location and/or topography.
Since 1997, the firm’s footprint has extended across the globe to Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE and Zanzibar. Their range of projects in varied geographical and cultural settings is a testament to their design capabilities and ability to see through project executions in non-familiar settings.
The firm’s holistic, 360-degree perspective has resulted in numerous wins at prestigious international award ceremonies. At the 2019 AHEAD MEA Awards and The International Hotel & Property Awards, The Four Seasons Resorts Seychelles at Desroches Island received multiple awards, while InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau received the Asia Pacific Property Awards. Other noteworthy, award-winning projects include Waldorf Astoria Platte Island, Seychelles; SO/ Maldives; the W Retreat Maldives; W Goa; Bawah Reserve, Indonesia; The Metropolitan Bangkok; Hamilton Scotts, Singapore; Montigo Resorts, Batam; and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Singapore. eco.id’s completed projects have also been covered extensively by the international press, including top titles such as Architectural Digest (US) and several broadcast media such as CNN, Sleeper Magazine and Condé Nast Traveller.
An ISO 9001-compliant firm since 2001, eco.id now counts more than 70 employees across its four offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai and Skopje.
Our People
Key People
Calvin Sim
Founding partner & director
After graduating with first-class honours in Architecture from the University of Oregon in 1989, Calvin Sim returned to Singapore and worked for a number of years at Akitek Tenggara and Nikken Sekkei International. As Design Principal at the latter, he was responsible for projects such as the Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Club Med Bintan in Indonesia.
In 1996, Calvin set up eco.id together with architect Sim Boon Yang. Among his most recognisable designs to date are the award-winning Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island; Intercontinental Maldives Resort; Hard Rock Hotel Maldives; W Retreat Maldives; The Metropolitan Bangkok, as well as notable projects such as The Marriott Singapore; The Conrad Koh Samui; The Residence Zanzibar; The Residence Maldives; The Four Seasons Phuket; The Regent Sanya; the Rolling Stones Hotel, Bali; The Ritz-Carlton Residences Singapore; and Reignwood Hamilton Scotts, Singapore.
Sim Boon Yang
Founding partner & director
An alumnus of the University of Oregon, Sim Boon Yang received his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at the University of Liverpool in 1987 thanks to an exchange scholarship. Thereafter, he spent five years honing his craft at Michael Hopkins & Partners in London. His time in the UK is also marked by several achievements, such as being a twice-winner at the Architect’s Journal/Otis Award Architectural Competition; having his works exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts; and becoming a chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
In 1992, Boon returned to Singapore and joined Alfred Wong Partnership as Project Director and in 1996 co-founded eco.id architects Singapore. He served on the Board of Architects from Year 2010 to 2012. He is currently the appointed member for the examination & investigation panel for the Board of Architects and also a corporate member of the Singapore Institute of Architects. He was invited to design the Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2006 by the Singapore Design Council. He is involved in architectural education as a visiting critic at the National University of Singapore school of Architecture.
Some of Boon’s notable hospitality projects include the W resort in Goa, India; Jetwing Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Bawah Private Island in the Anambas Islands, Indonesia, Taj Resort Rishikesh, India and the Sarojin in Thailand. He has completed the design and Masterplan of a major ski tourism project in Almaty, for the government of Kazhakstan.
He helmed several large urban projects such as a series of ultra-high-rise residential towers in Mumbai that explores high density living. They comprise two precincts of eight to 12 towers, each 55 to 60 stories high. These represent a different facet of eco.id’s capabilities.
Carol Chng
Director
Carol Chng holds a Masters Degree from the School of Architecture at the National University of Singapore. As well, she is a registered Architect with the Singapore Board of Architects and a corporate member of the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA).
In 2000, Carol joined eco.id and assumed responsibilities for projects in Singapore and the region. Her expertise extends across both hospitality and residential sectors, thanks to her experience with projects such as Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island; Intercontinental Maldives Resort; Hard Rock Hotel Maldives; The Metropolitan Bangkok; W Retreat Maldives; The Hard Rock Hotel Penang; The Four Seasons Phuket; The Spottiswoode Singapore; and Pearl Island, Sentosa. She was made Director in 2007.
Singapore Office
Christopher Khoo Tsung Yen
Christopher Khoo Tsung Yen
Associate Director
Malaysian by birth, and now a Singapore Permanent Resident, Christopher Khoo is armed with a M.Arch. (2004) from the National University of Singapore.
Before joining eco.id in 2011, Christopher previously spent four years at Broadway Malyan Asia, where his most notable project, The Idea House, Malaysia, won Best Green Development (Future) at the 2010 Cityscape Asia Awards. As the first carbon-neutral dwelling in Southeast Asia, it was also shortlisted for the 2011 World Architecture Festival Award (House Category), and commended at the 2011 BCI FuturArc Green Leaders Awards.
As Team Leader for one of our Architectural teams in the Singapore office, he has managed both residential and hospitality projects in South Asia, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan in Central Asia. Christopher also manages residential and commercial projects in Singapore.
Thailand Office
Boonkit Phanjasoonthorn
Boonkit Phanjasoonthorn
General Manager, Bangkok Office eco.id Thailand Limited
Thai born Boonkit grew up in Bangkok and received his B.Arch. from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand (2002).
Before joining eco.id in 2009, Boonkit spent two years at SCDA Architects Singapore and a year in Maps Design Studio Singapore.
As General Manager, Boonkit who holds a Professional Architect License (2017) manages the eco.id Bangkok office while heading the Architectural and Interior Design departments.
China Office
Haus Zhang
Haus Zhang
General Manager, Shanghai Office eco.id Design Private Limited
China-born Haus grew up in Xuzhou, Jiangsu and holds a Bachelor Degree from the School of Architecture at Tongji University of Shanghai.
Prior to joining eco.id in 2015, Haus worked at Xuzhou’s Hanyi Architectural Design Co. Ltd. as well as VA Studio Shanghai where he was appointed as lead architect.
Formerly Assistant General Manager in 2017, he was made General Manager in 2021 to manage and lead eco.id’s Shanghai office.
NORTH MACEDONIA Office
Snezhana Ponjavikj Mucha
Snezhana Ponjavikj Mucha
General Manager, Skopje Office eco.id Architects DOO
Snezhana Ponjavikj Mucha graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje. Before launching her own business, she spent several years working at the design studio Pro-Design. As the founder of her studio, LAVIRINT, she took on extensive projects, from interior design for hospitality, office, educational, and residential spaces to residential architecture and set design for TV shows, commercials, series, and movies.
In 2018, she started working for the Singapore-based design studio eco.id as General Manager of their new office in Skopje, North Macedonia. eco.id’s comprehensive service suite ranges from master planning and architecture to interior design. Her extensive experience has enabled her to engage in international projects.
