CHO Im Sik, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Architecture School of Design and Environment National University of Singapore SDE 4, #04-03, 8 Architecture Drive Singapore 117356 Email: akicis@nus.edu.sg

Research Areas

Teaching Areas

Comparative studies of Asian urbanism in high-density contexts

Design for urban social sustainability (design and planning for ageing, social inclusion and cohesion, well-being, quality of life, community building)

Urban space planning for sustainable high-density cities (design and planning guidelines)

Community-centric, process-oriented design methods (participatory planning, placemaking)

Architectural Design Studio (Core module, Undergraduate/Graduate level)

Urban Design Theory and Praxis (Core module, Graduate level)

Community Design and Participatory Planning (Elective, Graduate level)

Urbanism Research & Studio: M.Arch Thesis & Ph.D. Dissertation Supervision

Academic Qualifications

2010

2003

1997

Ph.D., Department of Architecture, The Graduate School of Seoul National University, Korea

Master in Architecture, The Berlage Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Bachelor of Science, Department of Architecture, Seoul National University

Awards/Honours (selected)

2015

2015

2014

High Impact Research in NUS, reported to NUS President

Invited as Visiting Academic to ETH Zurich, Switzerland, for research collaboration (fully funded)

'Asian Urban Epicenters' (concept initiator/editor-in-chief), a collaborative platform for sharing thoughts on Asian urbanism. http:/ /www.asianurbanepicenters.com/ Featured as one of "the best city blogs around the world" by the Guardian, UK http://www.theguardian.com/ cities/interactive/2014/jan/27 /best-city-blogsinteractive

2014

2007

HOB Quality Partners Award 2014 (based on the partnership between HOB and NUS for the research "Study on Impact of the Built Environment on Community Bonding", Principal Investigator) 'Social Brain: The Collective Memory Project', winning project for the Seoul City Gallery 'free proposal competition' (exhibited at the Venice Biennale 2008)

Career History (selected)

2018-present

2010-2017

2008

2007

2006-2009 2006-2008 2006-2007 2006 2005-2006 2005

2005-2008 2004-2005 2003 1997-1999

Associate Professor (tenured), Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore

Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore

Member of External Specialist Task Force Team for establishing 'The National Architectural Policy', South Korea Task Force Team member for establishing 'The National Architecture and Urbanism Research Institute (AURl)', South Korea, commissioned by The Presidential Commission on Architectural Culture and Construction Technology, South Korea Principal of ACIA (Architectural Creativity Initiating Agency), Seoul, Korea Invited Professor at Ulsan University, Department of Architecture, Korea SA (Seoul association of Architects) workshop studio tutor Invited Tutor at Design Workshops, organised by the Korean Institute of Architects Studio Tutor at the Korean National University of Arts, Department of Architecture Yo2 Architecture Urbanism, Seoul, KoreaLecturer, Department of Architecture, Seoul National University, Korea Assistant Professor, The Berlage Institute Rotterdam, The Netherlands OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), Rotterdam, The Netherlands Moo Won Architectural Office, Seoul, Korea

Administrative Leadership

2018-2020 2018

2014-2020

201 7-present 2016-present 2015-present

2014-present

2010-2014

Deputy Head, Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore Chairperson, 'Great Asian Streets Symposium / Pacific Rim Community Design Network/ Structures for Inclusion', NUS (http://gass-prcdnet-sfi20l8.org/) Leader of 'Urbanism Research Cluster' at Department of Architecture, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore Associate of Asia Research Institute (ART), Asian Urbanisms Cluster, NUS Advisory Committee, Pacific Rim Community Design Network Scientific Committee, Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering (ACE) Organising / Scientific Committee for 'Great Asian Streets Symposium (GASS)', NUS Co-Chairperson for 'Vertical Cities Asia: International competition and symposium', School of Design and Environment, NUS

2014-2017 Technical reviewer for 'Land and Liveability National Innovation Challenge (L2 NIC) R&D Proposals' (appointed by the National Research Foundation, Singapore)

Invited Presentations (selected)

Nov 2019

Sept 2019

Jun 2019

Jan 2019

Feb 2018

Oct 2017

Sept 2017

Aug 2017

Jul 2017

Jun 2017

May 2017

Apr 2017

Apr2017

Mar 2017

Mar 2017

Mar 2017

Dec 2016

Nov 2016

Invited as Keynote Speaker (fully funded) for the 30th Anniversary Korean Housing

Research Association, Seoul, South Korea

Invited as Keynote Speaker for the 1st Sustainable Tropical Urbanism Symposium:

Tropical cities in a warming world, organised by James Cook University Singapore &

Australia

Invited as Member of IPS (Institute of Policy Studies, NUS), Social Inclusion Policy Network (Inclusive Urban Planning Policy Committee)

Invited as Speaker for the SUTO (Singapore University of Technology and Design)

Future Urban Habitation Symposium, Singapore

Invited Speaker, International conference: "The City in Space and Time", Asia

Research Institute (ARI), NUS

Invited Speaker, ARI 15th Anniversary Inter-duster conference "An Asian Turn?

Researching and Theorising from Asia", Asia Research Institute (ARI), NUS

Invited Speaker (fully funded, invited by Su won city Mayor), 2017 Su won Forum on

Asian Human City, Suwon, South Korea

Invited Speaker (representing Department of Architecture, NUS/ fully funded),

Innovative FD Workshop and the CLMV Student Conference, "Creation of Innovative

Educational System for Sustainable Society and Urban Growth", Meiji University

ASEAN Center in Bangkok, Thailand

Invited as Keynote Speaker (fully funded), Inaugural Australia Affordable Housing:

Tackling Australia's Housing Affordability Forum, Sydney

Invited as Respondent, Community Planning in China Paper Workshop, Yale NUS

Invited as Co-Chair, presenter and moderator NUS-PKU Symposium on Sharing

Economy and City Future, hosted by NUS and Peking University

Invited Speal(er, Workshop on Building Resilient Neighbourhoods: The Convergence

of Policies, Research and Practice I IPS-CSAC, NUS

Invited Plenary Speaker the 8th Annual Affordable Housing Projects Conference/

Singapore

Invited Speaker, Inaugural National Arts Council (NAC) Sharing and Networking

Session on Arts & Culture Research in Singapore, NAC

Invited Speaker, Participatory Community Planning & Design Symposium -Asian

Perspectives, Department of Architecture, NUS

Invited Speal(er, International conference: Resilient Cities for Human Flourishing:

Governing the Asia-Pacific Urban Transition in the Anthropocene / Asia Research

Institute (ARI), NUS

lnvited as Panel Member for the Roundtable with government agencies CLC, URA,

HOB, PA, MCCY, and Seoul Institute on "Community Planning and Rejuvenation"

Invited Speaker for the Roundtable "The Future of the Public Realm from a Global

Perspective" at the 56th annual conference of ACSP (The Association of Collegiate

Schools of Planning) in Portland, Oregon, USA

Jul 2016

Mar 2016

Oct 2015

Oct 2015

Sept 2015

Apr 2015

Nov 2014

Nov 2014

Sept 2014

May 2014

Oct2011

Invited Speaker for the International Conference 'Smart Communities and Built Environment', Singapore: "Creating Public Spaces to Promote Better Community Interaction and Engagement of All Stakeholders: A Case Study on Singapore's Public Housing Estates"

Invited as Panel Member for the Roundtable "Creating High Density Walkable Cities", organised by government agencies CLC, URA, LT A, Seoul Institute

Invited as Moderator/ Discussant for the CLC (Centre for Liveable Cities) Public Lecture Series: "Seoul's Achievements and Challenges: Beyond DevelopmentDependent City"

Invited Speaker for the Roundtable "Rethinking Housing: The Challenge of Urbanism in Asian- Megacities" at the 55th annual conference of ACSP (The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning) in Houston, Texas, USA

Invited Speaker at the HDB (Housing and Development Board)'s PEAK (Professional Engagement And Knowledge-sharing) Forum, Singapore: "Hello

Neighbour!" - Participatory Design Approach to Co-create Community Spaces

Invited Speaker at the 6th Annual Affordable Housing Projects conference,

Singapore: "Establishing Community Spaces to Encourage Interaction and Cultivate Strong Community Bonds: A Case Study on Singapore's Public Housing Estates"

Invited Spealcer at the 7th Annual City Development conference: Envisioning Cities of the Future, Singapore: "Impact of the Built Environment on Community

Bonding: A Case Study on Singapore's Public Housing Estates"

Invited Speaker at the 3rd Cities Roundtable, hosted by CLC (Ministry of National Development) and HOB: "Building a vibrant community in a dense environment" Invited Speaker at the CSAC (Centre for Sustainable Asian Cities) Research Symposium: Researching Sustainability in Dense Urban Environments. Presented four research projects as Principal Investigator

Invited Speaker at the HOB Community Building Seminar: "Impact of the Built Environment on Community Bonding"

Invited Speaker at the Berlage Institute, the Netherlands: "Surveying the Field: Experiments in Architecture and Urban Culture, Education, and Practice" (fully

funded)

Research featured in Media (selected)

Jun2017 Jun 2017 Apr 2017 Apr 2017

May 2016

Mar 2016

May 2014

"Securiry in common spaces"- interviewed by Channel NewsAsia Hello Neighbour projects in Tampines - research project featured in TODAY Interview with Straits Times (published on Saturday 22 April 2017) Interview with Channel NewsAsia (featured on Channel NewsAsia TV & published on 9 April 2017) "Hello Neighbour" community participatory project in Tampines - featured onChannel 8 News TV "Hello Neighbour" community participatory project - interviewed and featured onChannel NewsAsia TV ('Building Blocks': a 6-episode documentary about the design aspects of public housing in Singapore) "HOB to test social linkway and neighbourhood incubator concept"- interviewed and featured in Channel NewsAsia

May 2013 "New HOB-NUS study on design and 'kampong spirit'"- interviewed and featured

in Channel NewsAsia

Publications (selected)

Lead Editor and Author, Emerging Civic Urbrmisms in Asia: Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, and Taipei

beyond Developmental Urbanisation to be published by Amsterdam University Press

(manuscript in progress)

Cho, I. S., & Križnik, B. (2020). Sharing Seoul: Appropriating alleys as communal space through localizedsharing practices. Built Envimnment (journal special issue), 46(1), 99-114. doi: https://

doi.org/10.2148/benv.46.1.99

Gan, D.R. Y., Fung, J.C., &Cho, I. S. (2019). Neighborhood Experiences of People Over Age 50:

Factor Structure and Validity of a Scale. The Gerontologist, gnzl 11. Oxford University Press.

https://doi.org/10.1093/gerom/gnzl 11

Križnnik, B., Cho, I. S., & Kim, S. (2019). Urban change in East Asia: The comparison of civicparticipation in the residential neighbourhood improvement in South Korea and

Singapore. In: Processes rmd relations in East Asia. University of Ljubljana Press.

Križnik, B., Cho, I. S., & Kim, S. (2019). Deciding Together: Citizen Participation in planning the Neighbourhood Improvement in Seoul and Singapore... Asia Review, 8(2), 65-102. (As

Corresponding Author). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.24987/SNUACAR.2019.02.8.2.65

Cho, I. S. (2019). Urban Space Design for Hybrid and High Density Environments. In: T. Banerjee

& A. Loukaitou-Sideris (Eds.), The New Companion to Urban Design, Routledge. A sequel to

Companion to Urban Design: Roots, Influences, and Trends published by Routledge in 2011.

Cho, I. S. , Nasution, I., Lee, J. H., & Mascarenhas, N. (2017). Mechanisms to facilitate community

participation in Singapore's neighborhood planning framework. fournal of Architectural and

Planning Reser1rch, 34(4), 320-335.

Cho, I. S. (2017). Changing approaches to community participation for social sustainability:

Neighbourhood planning in Singapore and Seoul. In: F. Caprotti & L. Yu (Eds.), Sustainable

Cities in Asia. London: Routledge, 226-235.

Heng, C. K., Fung, J. C., Cho, I. S.., & Lee, L. C. (2017). Explorations in the planning and design of a

street-based housing community of the future. In Smart Urban Design Symposium. University

of Cam bridge.

Cho, I. S., Trivic, Z., & Nasution, I. (2017). New high-density intensified housing developments in

Asia: Qualities, potential and challenges. fournal ofUrbrm Design, 22(5), 613-636. doi: 10.1080/13574809.2017.1311770

Cho, I. S., & Ho, K C. (2020). Participatory Design to Co-create Community Spaces. In: C. H. Leong

& L.C. Malone-Lee (Eds.), Building Resilient Neighbourhoods in Singapore: The Convergence

of Policies, Research and Prr1ctice. Singapore: Springer, 81-99.

Cho, I. S. (2017). Urban space planning for sustainable high-density environments. World Architecture, 4, 52-57.

Cho, I. S. (Ed.) (2017). Sharing City Seoul: Solving Social and Urban Issues through Sharing. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 5(3), 52-59.

Cho, I. S., & Kriznik, B. (2017). Community-based Urban Development: Evolving Urban Paradigms in Singapore and Seoul. Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Venkatachalam, L., & Cho, I. S. (2017). Assessing the publicness of'planned' public open spaces progressively: The AU model of Publicness. In The Association of European School of Planning AESOP 2011 conference proceedings. Portugal.

Cho, I. S., Duong, Q., & Nasution, I. (2016). Role of research in community arts: Developing an evaluation framework in Singapore. Community Development, 47(5), 683-699. doi: 10.1080/15575330.2016.1227345

Cho, I. S., Heng, C. K., & Trivic. Z. (2016). Re-framing Urban Space: Urban Design for Emerging Hybrid and High-Density Conditions. New York, NY; Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Cho, I. S. (2016). HDB-NUS Study on the Social Aspects of the Built Environment. Innovation Magazine - The Magazine of Research & Technology, 15(1), 47-54.

Cho, I. S., Trivic, Z., & Nasution, I. (2015). Towards an Integrated Urban Space Framework for Emerging Urban Conditions in a High-density Context. Journal of Urban Design, 20(2), 147-168. doi: 10.1080/13574809.2015.1009009

Cho, I. S. (2015). Fostering social cohesion in Singapore's public housing estates through community participation in neighbourhood planning. In AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) annual conference. Hungary.

Cho, I. S. (2015). Building a vibrant community in a dense environment. In 3rd Cities Roundtable, Singapore.

Cho, I. S., Nasution, I., & Chenxi, C. (2014). Rethinking Community Participation in Neighbourhood Planning: A case study of Singapore's public housing estates. In Great Asian Streets Symposium 2014: Asian Urban Places. Singapore.

Cho, I. S. (2014). Questions from Hung Shui Kiu. In Reflections. Hong Kong: CUHK.

Cho, I. S., Nasution, I., Duong, Q., & Rahman, M. (2014). Paradigm shift in Community Arts in Singapore and the role of research. In 40th Social Theory, Politics, and the Arts Conference. Ottawa, Canada.

Cho, I. S., & Trivic, Z. (2014). Integrating design, use and operational complexities in high-density urban space environments: 'Tool for urban space analysis (TUSA)'. In: R. Cavallo et al. (Eds.), New Urban Configurations. Amsterdam: IOS Press (under the imprint Delft University Press).

Cho, I. S., Reese, M., Rahman, M., & Duong, Q. (2014). Community Arts Development in Singapore: Paradigm shift from government-led to more ground-up approach. In 15th Biennial Community Built Association. United States.

Cho, I. S., & Trivic, Z. (2013). Urban Spaces in High-Density Context: Projecting Sustainable Urban Development. In J 0th International Urban Planning and Environment Association Symposium (UPEI0). Australia.

Cho, I. S., & Trivic, Z. (2013). Urban Space for Ageing Population in High-Density Environment. In Vertical Cities Asia international Design Competition and Symposium, vol. 2. China: Guangxi Normal University Press, 86-93.

Cho, l. S. (2013). Facilitating engaged and authentic learning through a collaborative online platform.

In CDTL Brief, 16(2), 8-11.

Cho, l. S., Tan, B. K., Tunas, 0., & Rahman, M. (2013). Measuring Community Bonding in Public

Housing Estates in Singapore. In Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Asian Planning Schools Associ11tion (APSA), Taipei, Taiwan.

Cho, I. S., Tunas, D., & Rahman, M. (2013). Facing the Challenges Ahead: New Spatial Practices for

Community Bonding in Singapore's Public Housing Estates. In Proceedings of the 7th Conference of international Forum on Urbanism (iFo U), Tainan, Taiwan.

Cho, I. S. (Ed.) (2012). Rethinking City and Nature: Architectural Strategies far New Nature Connectors. Singapore: Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture, NUS.

Cho, I. S. (2012). Sustainable Living Kampung- Changing Singapore's landscape from the Ground

Up. In S.l.U.M Lab Magazine (Sustairu1ble Living Urban Model), Urban-Think Tank Research Chair ETHZ, FCL Singapore, DARCH ETHZ, Zurich/Singapore.

Post-Graduate students trained to date

Current PhD students

Lavanya Jothi Venkatachalam. Publicness at the Edge: Planned Public Open Spaces in Neoliberal Chennai, Department of Architecture, NUS, under NUS Research Scholarship. Main Supervisor Cao Yuxin. Age-friendly neighbourhood for ageing-in-place in the Singapore high-rise high-density context: A framework for assessment, Department of Architecture, NUS, under NUS Research Scholarship. Research Domain Expert Zhang Wei. Community-based care planning for the elderly: A community-centric care model in Singapore, Department of Architecture, NUS, under NUS Research Scholarship. Research Domain Expert

Past PhD students

Daniel Gan. Pathways between Neighbourhood Experiences and Mental Health among Community- dwelling Older Adults: Towards an Urban Community Gerontology, Department of

Architecture, NUS, under NUS Research Scholarship. Main Supervisor Rashed Bhuyan. Configuration of urban physical environments and children's play in Dhaka, Department of Architecture, NUS, under NUS Research Scholarship. Co-Supervisor Zhang Shu (Visiting Scholar; PhD candidate from Tianjin University, P.R. China). Study on efficiency optimization of urban open space in high-density context. China Scholarship Council (CSC). Main Supervisor (NUS) Zhang J ingyuan. Assessment of accessibility and equity of parks in compact cities, Department of Architecture, NUS, under NUS Research Scholarship. Research Domain Expert Chamari Edirisinghe. Factors of engagement for an improved relationship towards proactive governance: A grounded theory study of Singapore's Blogosphere, Department of Architecture, NUS. Thesis committee member

•

Third prize in the Skyhive 2019 Skyscraper Challenge International Competition

Chloe Lim En. The Sharing Affair: Neighbourhood edition (2020)Zhu Jiayue. Re-Imagining the "Garbage City": Alleviating the Zabaleen Community (2020) Liu Xiaochen. "Hoffice": A moveable modular working community model in 2050 (2020) Moritz Maier. Berlin Anti-Wall: Bridging social division through communal creation of

common ground (2020)

Bryant Lau. TESSERACT: Time-based Ownership Incentivisation Model (2019)

Nominated for the RIBA Silver MedalAndre Lim Fang. Virtuous City: Manufacturing Open-source Urbanism (2019) Joshua Ang. Plug & Live (2019)

• •

Community-based Electives, Studio Projects, Public Seminars & Executive Training

Programmes offered (selected)

Co-organiser / Session Chair: Activate! ARI (Asia Research Institute, NUS) - DOA (Dept. of

Architecture, NUS) joint seminar series: Emergent forms of civic practices in contemporary

Asian cities, 2017- 2018

Lecturer/ Trainer: Public Engagement (Executive education programme): Urban Planning

training for URA planners, organised by SDE, NUS, 2017 - present

Coordinator/ Trainer: Community Facilitator Training Programme for Singapore Sports

Council, funded by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore, 2017-

2018

Modules (NUS) (selected)

Elective, Community Design and Participatory Planning, 2016 - present

MArch thesis studio: Rethinking the "making" of Singapore's future urban living: Towards community-centric urban environment planning for social sustainability, Academic Year 2015/16, Module AR5103 Architectural Design Thesis

MArch thesis studio: Towards Community-driven Urban Development: focusing on the social aspect

of urban space design and planning in high density Asian cities, Academic Year 2014/15,

Module AR5 l 03 Architectural Design Thesis

Design studio: 'Reimagining Tam pines', Academic Year 2014-2015, Module AR4101 Design 7, joint

studio with CLC and Jan Gehl Studio; supported by Minister Heng Swee Keat (MP of

Tampines) in collaboration with practitioners (including Wong Mun Summ, WOHA; Tobias

Baur, Atelier Dreiseitl; Nina Yang, CPG) and various government agencies such as MND,

MOH, CLC, URA, HOB, LTA, HPB, NParks, PA and Town Council, etc.

Design studio: Rethinking Public Housing and Community - Architectural Strategies for New

'Community Bonding', Academic Year 2013-2014, Module AR4101 Design 7 (as part of a

research project in collaboration with the Housing and Development Board)

Design studio: Art and Culture Focused Community Spaces and their role in promoting community

building, social interaction, and encouraging arts participation, Academic Year 2013-2014,

Module AR 4102 (as part of a research project in collaboration with the N arional Arts

Council)

MArch thesis studio: Rejuvenating Rental Housing Communities, Academic Year 2013-2014, Module

AR5103 Architectural Design Thesis

Updated: July 2020