Daniel Ong profile

Daniel graduated from the Canterbury School of Architecture in 2009 and is currently en route to becoming a qualified architect.

Having also studied architecture in Sydney and Singapore, he is now familiar with complex high-density urban environments in Europe, Asia and Australasia.

Securing a place at this art university meant that he was certain of where he was heading, wanting to create a balance between his highly-charged technology-based undergraduate education to a postgraduate theme focused on an elemental yet critical discourse on architecture.

Daniel said: "My 2 years at UCA was truly rewarding. I gained a renewed interest in architectural theory and philosophy and was able to reinforce ideas through a deepened awareness in design and reasoning," he said. The heightened appreciation in theory became the forerunner of his retreat into the essentials of architecture where observation skills, model-making, photography, drawing, and even reading, are fast fading in contemporary practice.

He explains the need to understand designs particularly through visual media. "My design thesis revolved within a contentious setting of tall buildings in the City of London. The complex nature of the design proposal culminated with a series of site models and accurate visual representations that were produced as if it were an actual project geared towards a Public Inquiry & Design Review by the City Council.

Daniel places the image in high-regard, a medium to which he uses exponentially through his designs. He added, "I have always enjoyed building photo-montages as architecture is placed into real-world backdrops. Here, we are able to understand the building and its immediate placement."

He said, "I was glad to have had the opportunity to work alongside 3D visualisation artists at Hayes Davidson in London as they were at hand to critique and provide advice as to what makes a good and effective rendering."

In addition, Daniel also made visits to the exclusive City model at the Guildhall to better understand the fine urban grain of the capital. And not to mention having consulted a Structural Engineer at the University College London as well!

Apart from design studios, he was also working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the University. He recalls conducting a design workshop at the Sittingbourne Community College with fellow UCA lecturer Dr Terry Perk and shares, "We were impressed by the students' enthusiasm. They were keen to grasp the processes which goes into the design of a building."