Jury

I am the founder of Avoid Obvious Architects. We design happy cities and green buildings. We have won 39 awards in the last 5 years.

As an architect, i value and focus on architecture that is adaptable to climate change and tend towards ecolody, sustainability and urbain resilience. 

Ambitious Professional Architect thriving towards creating meaningful buildings and spaces that express and augment the environment and uplift the community, connecting people with nature.

Mr. Rien Tan Kwon Chong is a full time project architect and a part-time travel blogger. Rien graduated with honors from UCSI Univesity (bachelor Degree in Architecture) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Master in Architecture) in year 2013 & 2015. Upon graduating, he travelled to Osaka, Taipei & New York where he worked with architecture firms to take up challenges on future residences and offices design. In Year 2016, he emerged as the winner for Asian Young Designer Award, beating 11 other participants from other Asian countries. In year 2018, Rien has been shortlisted as the Top 50 finalist in the International Inspirelli Design Award.  Rien is now based in KL focusing on high-rise design in W Design Associates. His passion towards architectural field and the society were spread through his design studio namely Rien Atelier and the other public sharing session.

He completed his architectural education at the Department of Architecture of the FCE at the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava under the guidance of visiting professor Pavol Paňák, co-founder of the architectural office A B.K.P.Š. where he completed 2-year internship shortly after school. In 2020, he successfully completed his doctoral studies by defending his final thesis entitled "Innovations in Spatial Planning Processes" and joined the Department of Architecture as a researcher and university teacher. He also applies the acquired knowledge and research on realisations in his own architectural practice within Orava region. In the academic field, he systematically deals with regional issues with a focus on the preservation of architectural heritage in northern Slovakia.