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In Profile:
Populous

In Profile:

Populous

Architect & Interior Designer on 1 Shortlisted Project

The International Hotel & Property Awards 2025

Name: Andrew Tulen
Company Name: Populous
Position Within Company: Senior Principal & Architectural Designer
Website: https://populous.com/
Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)

I started my architecture career in Melbourne in Australia and worked across many commercial building types before focusing on designing sports and entertainment infrastructure across Asia and the Middle East. I’m based In Singapore where I help to lead Populous’ second largest APAC studio, working across a range of large-scale sports, entertainment and aviation projects. These Include the future Icons of Singapore’s Marina Bay the MBS Arena and NS Square, as well as major developments across Asia such as the Jamsil Sports MICE Complex in Korea.

I believe the key to the success of any building project is coordinating and balancing the project team’s aspirations in the architectural response. As a designer, I have always tried to combine a strong technical understanding with experience across many building types. I want to create strong relationships with clients, contractors and consultants, allowing us to effectively deliver design solutions that address the needs of all stakeholders while not losing sight of the architectural vision.

Some of my previous projects have Included Jewel at Changi Airport, as well as the Singapore Sports Hub and King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia.

How would you describe your personal design style?

My approach to design is always centred around the requirements of those who will be using the venue, whether that is the fans, the athletes or the performers. I try to keep everything grounded in the user experience and not get distracted by trends.

Where does your design inspiration come from?

My Inspiration comes from people. I’m constantly looking at how people are Interacting with the space around them. Whether I’m In line at a grocery store or at an airport lounge waiting for my flight. I look around to see how people are Interacting with the things around them, recognising that an experience that may be exciting or Interesting for one person could be challenging or intimidating for another.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

I’m incredibly proud of the work our team is doing across Asia. Our goals are to keep doing what we’re doing and creating experiences that draw people together in the places that they love to be.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?

The idea of drawing people together in the spaces they love is more Important than ever. People are more connected geographically as well as digitally than ever before, and as designers we are trying to ensure that the emotion present in those connections is amplified through the built environment. Some people would say that the digital world has disconnected us from our physical spaces but in the sports, entertainment and aviation space, digital Is complementing and enhancing everything we do. The Idea of armchair to arena is key to this. The ability to plan your experience from your phone sitting at home, to being in a venue with thousands of other people cheering for your team Is one that we need to think about right from the start of the venue design.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future.

People focused
Revenue generating
Universally accessible
Connecting communities
Enhanced enjoyment

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?

It’s not about you; It’s about the users.

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards?

As designers, we want feedback on our work so that we are constantly Innovating. Awards programs like the International Hotel & Property Awards give us a platform to benchmark against the best In the Industry.

Your most treasured possession?

I have a few Lego models of projects that I’ve been involved in that are still in their original packaging.

Lobby Public Areas - Asia Pacific Sands Corporation The Venetian Arena 1

Lobby Public Areas - Asia Pacific Sands Corporation The Venetian Arena 2

Lobby Public Areas - Asia Pacific Sands Corporation The Venetian Arena 3

Lobby Public Areas - Asia Pacific Sands Corporation The Venetian Arena 4

What projects are you currently working on?

The two that people will be most familiar with are the Marina Bay Sands Arena and NS Square, both multi-purpose venues are located at the iconic Marina Bay in Singapore. These projects will change the way people use this space. They will draw in both the local community and international visitors and showcase Singapore to the world.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?

Every project Is different and provides a new challenge. The NS Square project In Singapore Is a project that is so close to the city’s heart that I’m really excited to see local people using it once it’s complete.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?

Sometimes projects can be challenging because of constraints around space, time or budget but usually those constraints are clear right from the start of the design and you can work with them. Where projects become more challenging but also more interesting is in the complexity of the purpose and so I really spend time trying to understand what problem the building can solve. An arena, for example, is built to host sport or entertainment. At a primary level in isolation from its surroundings you can say that the venue is designed to entertain but when you put the venue in the context of its sense of place and how it Interacts with the other buildings around it, the venue’s purpose can be much more specific, adapting from day to day and from user to user. The challenge in some of the very dense cities and the very multicultural environments we work in is to give these venues a real sense of place.

Which products/services could you not live without when designing? E.g. Lighting companies, furniture companies

Every project is a collaboration between the architect and suppliers. What has become so useful over recent years are the digital tools, many of which our team has been developing In-house that promote this collaboration and allow us to more clearly visualise which products are going to work best.

Your favourite holiday destination?

I love Italy. Florence in particular. It has such a rich architectural heritage and pasta.

Your favourite book, film & song?

Film: The Shawshank Redemption (obvious classic)
Song: Farewell Transmission by Songs: Ohia has everything you could want from a seven minute song

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?

Hotel: Raffles hotel In Singapore. A great experience for my whole stay.
Restaurant: The Standard Grill in New York sitting outside in the summer.
Bar: Fry Rooftop in Singapore – great people, good times.

Your favourite food and drink?

Food: Pasta
Drink: Wine to go with the pasta

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?

Family time by the pool.

If you weren’t in this sector, what would your alternative profession be?

It would still be something to do with design. When I was younger I spent a lot of time outside working with my brother who Is an arboriculturist. I loved It so maybe I would work more in landscape.