Joseph Lim PhD (Heriot-Watt), MSc (Strathclyde)
Professor Emeritus
akilimem@nus.edu.sg
Dr Joseph Lim has a special interest in prototypical structures addressing emergent spatial and environmental need. His architectural and engineering research investigations on repurposing oil rigs for habitable applications was published by Springer in 2020, titled Oil Rig and Superbarge Floating Settlements, and receiving interest in the Middle-East. It was also selected for exhibition at the UABBHK Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture held in Hong Kong and Shenzhen from December 2019 to March 2020.
Joseph’s focus in Industry and Infrastructure explores land intensification through architectural investigations, which have significant implications on the planning of future settlements, townships and infrastructure. In 2008, he pioneered corporation-funded design research studios, collaborating with JTC in 2008-10.
MPA-funded research studio followed in 2014, which explored an urban design study for Tuas Port 2027 and was exhibited at the Singapore Maritime Week Exhibition and SG50 NUS Exhibition in 2015. The research studio was also featured in a Channel News Asia documentary – Futuropolis Episode 2: Keeping Afloat televised in 2017 – on the effects of rising sea levels and the viability of floating settlements. In 2016, he completed a Kinetic Sun Screen prototype capable of generating multiple programmed formations from a system with eight degrees of movement. It forms the basis for further research in the area of kinetic facades and other applications such as acoustic and wind diverting structure.
Design research investigations in cellular facade geometries mediating light quality and intensity are published online at Form follows Light. Joseph is often invited to speak at international conferences and also served as Visiting Professor and external examiner internationally.
Joseph was appointed lead architect by Mercy Relief for the post-Tsunami rebuilding efforts in Aceh Indonesia, and his self-sufficient housing proposal won an Honorable Mention at the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in 2005. His earlier design projects are published in various media and have won SIA Design Awards and international awards including an Honorable Mention for Lee Treehouse at the Kenneth F. Brown Asia Pacific Culture and Architecture Design Award in 2003; and a Merit Win for Dragon Bridge in URA Southern Ridges Bridge International Design Competition in 2004.
In 2024, Joseph was awarded College of Design and Engineering’s Teaching Excellence Award. As educator, he has applied his design research work for studio learning. He is the author of Bio-structural Analogues in Architecture (2010) and Eccentric Structures in Architecture (2012); both publications are in their third reprint and have been translated in Korean and Chinese languages. His publication, Skybridge I investigates forms of air rights structures built over Ayer Rajah Crescent and the research conclusions were presented at the JTC i3C Symposium on Industrial Infrastructure Research in 2017. His latest publication, Oil Rig and Superbarge Settlements Floating Settlements researched into repurposing three types of vessels in the marine industry, viz the jack-up platforms, the semi-submersibles and the superbarges, into alternative settlements to existing floating cities. This Springer publication is reference for researchers, industry and engineering coursework
Students’ projects under Joseph’s tutelage are distinguished in several regional and international competitions. These include Hannover Expo, International Association for Humane Habitat, International Tropical Architecture Design, Hunter Douglas Awards, Nippon Paint Designer Award, Best Project in 5 Universities Graduation Project Review and the Architecture Drawing Prize in the World Architecture Festival.
In administrative leadership, Joseph was awarded both National Day Award and Ministry of National Development Award for his dedicated and outstanding service in both the university (as former Vice Dean and Program Director for both undergraduate and graduate programs) and Board of Architects Singapore.