A Conversation In Design

Foreword

Top of the Class has always been about recognising excellence.

This year, it becomes something more.

For 2026, we made a deliberate editorial shift — moving away from showcasing multiple projects per designer, towards something quieter, deeper, and more considered. Each feature you’re about to read focuses on a single project, examined in depth.

Why? Because great design is rarely about volume.

It is about intention, restraint, and the clarity of thought behind every decision.

The projects featured here represent some of the most thoughtful work being done in Singapore today. Beyond the finished spaces, these articles explore the why — the briefs, the values, the material choices, and the conversations between designer and homeowner that shaped each outcome.

This shift mirrors a broader change in how we see Top of the Class.

No longer simply a set of awards, it is — first and foremost — a conversation in design. One that reflects how Singaporeans live now, and how they aspire to live next.

To the designers featured here: thank you for opening up your processes and trusting us with your work.

To the homeowners: thank you for letting us tell a part of your story.

And to you, our readers — whether you are mid-renovation, dreaming quietly, or simply design-curious — I invite you to slow down. Read closely. Sit with the images. Imagine yourself in these spaces.

These projects are not meant to be skimmed. They are meant to be experienced.

Happy reading!

— Reuben Dhanaraj
Editor, Home & Decor
Top Of The Class 2026