Liu Thai Ker

Liu Thai Ker (simplified Chinese: 刘太格; traditional Chinese: 劉太格; pinyin: Liú Tàigé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lâu Thài-keh) (born 23 February 1938)[3] is an architect and a former master planner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore.[4] Liu is Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities.[5]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.
Liu Thai Ker
刘太格
Liu Thai Ker, at the Horasis Global China Business Meeting 2013
Born (1938-02-23) 23 February 1938
Muar, Johor, British Malaya
NationalityMalayan
CitizenshipSingaporean
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales
Yale University
Occupation(s)Architect, Urban planner
Known forMaster Plan of Singapore
Spouses
Marta Mikes
​
​
(m. 1976, divorced)​
[1]
    Gretchen Gustafson
    ​
    (m. 1984)​
    [2]
    Children5
    Parents

    Early life and education

    Liu was born on 23 February 1938 in Muar, Johor, the eldest son of Liu Kang, the pioneer Nanyang Style artist. His family moved to Singapore after the conclusion of World War II. He studied in Chung Cheng High School, where he skipped a grade due to academic excellence.[6] After graduating, he worked as a substitute teacher at Kong Hwa School in order to save money for further studies. He had plans to go to China to study art, but his mother convinced him to study architecture instead.[7]

    With the assistance of a donation from the Lee Foundation, he enrolled in the University of New South Wales in 1962, where he graduated with a first-class honours degree in architecture, and was also awarded a medal for being the top student. He furthered his studies at Yale University in 1965 with a masters in urban planning, where he was again awarded a medal for being the top student in the faculty.[7]

    Career

    During his time in Yale, Liu formed close relationships with his professors. One them introduced Liu to I.M. Pei, who offered Liu a job at his firm.[7] He also worked in Loder & Dunphy in Sydney.[6]

    Following Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965, Liu felt a desire to "change the fate of Singaporeans". He was approached by Teh Cheang Wan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Development Board (HDB), and offered a job at HDB as head of the Design and Research Unit.[7]

    In 1969, Liu returned to Singapore and joined HDB, eventually becoming its CEO in 1979. In 1989, he moved to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as its CEO and chief planner, where his contributions included the revision of its Concept Plan.[6]

    In 1992, Liu left public service to join RSP Architectures Planners and Engineers as a director. During this time, he designed Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore and the Chinese Cultural Centre. He also did city planning for more than fifty cities, among them Fuzhou. Fuzhou party secretary Xi Jinping, impressed by his city plan, also approached him to design Fuzhou Changle International Airport.[6]

    In December 2017, at the age of 79, Liu left RSP to found Morrow Architects and Planners, named after his father's artistic studio.[8]

    Awards and honors

    Liu has been awarded:[9]

    • Public Administration Medal (Gold) 1976
    • Meritorious Service Medal 1985
    • Singapore Institute of Architects Gold Medal
    • Medal of the City of Paris, France (2001)
    • Asean Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Architecture (1993)
    • Honorary Doctorate, University of New South Wales

    See also

    References
    1. "Marta MIKES Death Notice - Sydney, New South Wales | Sydney Morning Herald". tributes.smh.com.au. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
    2. "Gretchen Liu | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
    3. "Liu Thai Ker". Infopedia.
    4. Sharanjit Leyl (27 February 2015). "Singapore at 50: From swamp to skyscrapers". BBC.
    5. Moscow Urban Forum Liu Thai Ker (Singapore) Archived 6 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 January 2015
    6. Tan, Bonny. "Liu Thai Ker". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    7. Koay, Andrew (14 December 2019). "How indignity & abject poverty drove Liu Thai-Ker to become the architect of modern S'pore". Mothership.sg. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    8. Rachel, Au-Yong (1 December 2017). "Veteran architect Liu Thai Ker, 79, leaves RSP to start own firm: 'I'm the oldest man to start a company'". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
    9. National University of Singapore Liu Thai Ker Archived 20 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 January 2015


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