Hello.

I’m Adib Jalal, an urbanist based in Singapore. Occasionally I write, and sometimes I take long walks.

I’ve spent almost 15 years exploring the built environment as a designer, educator, curator, festival director, facilitator, and consultant. Mostly, my work involves building connections between people and place, and breaking down complex urban issues for discussion and action. I also write essays, give presentations, and contribute time on various panels.

In 2013, I co-founded Shophouse & Co. I also created Urban Ideas which is made up of a prize award for students, and a newsletter about cities. At the same time, I also write Dispatches, a newsletter about walking, writing, and being.

I am @adibjalal on Twitter and Instagram. My email is: hello [at] adibjalal.com

Work Highlights

2021 – Created Prize of Urban Ideas & Briefing of Urban Ideas
2020 – Appointed as Panel Member of Heritage Advisory Panel (NHB) for 20/21 term
2019 – Recognised by PlacemakingX as Thought Leader
2019 – Recognised as World Cities Summit Young Leader
2013 – 2019 – Adjunct educator at tertiary institutions including LASALLE College of the Arts, and Singapore University of Technology and Design
2013 till present – Co-founder & Director of Shophouse & Co
2012 & 2013 – Appointed Festival Director of Archifest
2011 to 2013 – Taught at Temasek Polytechnic Design School
2008 – Featured at Venice Architecture Biennale, Singapore Pavilion
2008 – 2014 – Occasional contributor to design publications including CUBES, Singapore Architect, Art4D
2007-2011 – Senior Designer at FARM
2007 – Graduated with B.A (Arch) from NUS
2006 – Co-founded FIVEFOOTWAY & co-created Magical Spaces Project

Selected Projects

2020 :: Co-creator of Podscape: Sounds & Stories of the city
2019 :: Field Research, Stakeholder Engagement & Development of Placemaking Masterplan for Somerset Belt Youth Precinct
2019 :: Stakeholder Engagement & Place Visioning for Geylang Serai Cultural Precinct
2019 :: Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Recommendations for Pre-pilot BIDs by Heartland Enterprise Center Singapore
2018-2019 :: Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Recommendations for Jalan Besar Town Council Masterplan
2018-2019 :: Curator of Our Gallery at Taman Jurong – a residential public art collection
2018 :: Stakeholder Engagement for Sentosa Masterplan
2018 :: Co-Creator, Curator & Producer of The City Ramble – key program of Singapore Design Week
2016-2017 :: Stakeholder Engagement, Place Visioning, Strategic Recommendations, & Placemaking Activation of Funan Showsuite
2014-2017 :: Co-Curator & Producer of Design Trails – key program of Singapore Design Week
2014-2017 :: Co-Curator & Producer of Programmes at National Design Centre
2014 :: Co-Creator, Curator & Producer of Transitional___, a transitional space activation
2012-2013 :: Festival Director of Archifest – a festival of ideas for the city
2007 – 2014 :: Co-Creator & Editor of FIVEFOOTWAY
2007 :: Co-creator of Magical Spaces Project

Selected Invitations & Presentations

2021

Guest of Honour, Graduation Showcase, Ngee Ann Polytechnic School of Design & Environment.

2020

Presenter, Pecha Kucha Penang Volume 11, Special Edition of World Architecture Day
Moderator, “To Our City With Love” – a panel on lovability of a city by DesignSingapore Council
Panelist, Advertising Week x Facebook, “The Future of Community”

2019

Presenter, Let’s Connect! by National Arts Council, Singapore, May 2019

2017

Panelist, Reviving and Revitalizing Cities and Spaces Through Arts and Culture by Culture Academy (MCCY), Singapore, November 2017
Presenter, Placemaking Week 2017 by Project for Public Spaces, Amsterdam, October 2017
Panelist, Smart Cities Innovation Awards by Le Monde, Singapore, June 2017

2016

Speaker, Community Building Seminar by Housing Development Board, Singapore, May 2016
Speaker, Let’s Connect, Community Arts Speaker Series by National Arts Council, Singapore, March 2016

2015

Speaker, TEDx Changi Airport Group, Singapore. January 2015

2013

Speaker, Creative Mornings (Singapore), Topic: Urbanism. October 2013

2012

Speaker, Pecha Kucha, World Architecture Festival. 2012

2008

Featured Creative, Singapore Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale, Venice. September 2008
Invited participant. “Cityscapers: By The Throat” by The British Council, Edinburgh. April 2008