Founded in Kuala Lumpur in 2012, formzero is an architectural research studio established upon the ideology of incorporating multi-disciplinary sustainable design and reengaging the architecture with tropical landscape in the urban context. Led by Lee Cherng Yih and Caleb Ong, the practice’s design approach challenges typologies, technologies and methodologies to address issues as diverse as technical details or programmatic intervention. From within the practice, talented designers work together to develop fully integrated design solutions that lead to unique design concept. Every project is ensured to be tailor-made to site and driven by user experience.
In recent years, Formzero has gained recognition from the architectural industry through winning several national and international awards, notably Planter Box House has won PAM Gold Award and Building of the Year 2020, and the winner of FuturArc Green Leadership 2019 award.
awards
2011 2nd prize winner of Academy Science Malaysia competition
2017 Networked Garden joint winner of Master Builders Association Malaysia competition
2018 Window House awarded Commendation by PAM Award (Malaysia Architect Association)
2019 Planter Box House winner of FuturArc Green Leadership 2019 award
2019 Planter Box House longlisted for Dezeen Awards 2019
2020 Planter Box House awarded Honorable Mention by Inde Awards for Best of The Decade Living Space
2021 Planter Box House awarded PAM Gold Award for Single Residential
2021 Planter Box House awarded PAM Building of the Year
2024 Borderless House awarded Asia Architecture Design Awards for Best Residential
2024 Red Hill Gallery AD-C Gold award for Commercial & Retail Architecture
2024 Red Hill Gallery AD-C Platinum for Mixed-Use Development
2024 Red Hill Gallery Bluescope Steel Architectural Award commercial silver
2024 Red Hill Gallery Australia Good Design Award winner
2024 Red Hill Gallery DFA award Bronze winner
2024 Red Hill Gallery BLT Built Design Award winner
2024 Red Hill Gallery TAC Architect of the year 2024 winner
Lee Cherng Yih
received his architecture degree from RMIT University, Melbourne in 2002. After spending a decade working in Shanghai, London and Kuala Lumpur, Cherng Yih founded Formzero in 2012. His design approach often focuses on challenging the conventional architectural typologies and the boundaries of urban realm. He is also currently a thesis mentor of master architecture at Taylor’s University.
2002 graduated from RMIT University, Australia
2012 founded Formzero
2014 teach at Taylor’s University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2016 joined MOA Architects as think tank unit
Public lecture / talk:
2018 Speaker at PAM Design Lecturer Series in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2018 Speaker at Construe and Construct 9 at National University of Singapore
2018 Speaker at Future Thinker at Taylor’s University, Malaysia
2019 Speaker at DOMA Breakfast Club, Kuala Lumpur
2019 Speaker at PAMSC Design Lecturer Series in Kuching, Malaysia
2019 Panel Discussion at Lunch Meet by Grohe + Doma Initiatives
2019 Speaker at AA Asia Book Launch, Singapore
2019 Discourse Panelist at REKA conference, Kuala Lumpur
2023 Speaker at World Architectre Festival, Pulau Penang
2024 Speaker at Bangkok Design Talk Rethinking Inside the Box
Caleb Ong
is an architect based in Malaysia. He completed his Master’s degree in Architecture at Taylors University in 2018 under the mentorship of Lee Cherng Yih. The university nominated him to exhibit the best overall performance and academic excellence. Caleb’s final architectural thesis drawing won Drawing of the Year 2019, featured by numerous publications, and won multiple awards and prizes.
Caleb is currently a director of Formzero Architecture. He aims to deepen his expertise in architectural design, refine his design philosophy, and develop architectural theories to improve the world and the human condition. Furthermore, Caleb Ong leads the architectural research unit Fzerolab with Lee Cherng Yih and Cheah Ee Von. He is also actively involved in academia by hosting sharing sessions, conducting design critiques, reviewing students’ work, and participating as a speaker to share his knowledge and experience with students and the public.
Education/Work:
2012 graduated diploma from Tunku Abdul Rahman College
2012 to 2015 worked 2 years at T. R. Hamzah & Yeang
2015 graduated Bachelor of Science (Honours) Architecture from Taylor’s University
2015 graduate project featured in Architecture Exhibition 2015
2018 graduated from Taylor’s University, Malaysia
2018 work as Graduate Architect at MOA Architects and Formzero
2018 formed Caleb Ong Design
2018 thesis The Unending Square won Top 10 in Tamayouz International Graduation Project
2018 thesis The Unending Square won finalist in Thinking-Alternative Designs for Offices
2018 won Academic Excellence Award by PAM
2018 thesis The Unending Square won PAM-ZSR Architecture Prize 2018
2019 thesis The Unending Square featured in Master Thesis Exhibition by PAM
2019 thesis The Unending Square won The One Drawing Challenge Award by Architizer
2020 thesis The Unending Square won Drawing Of The Year 2019 Award by Archisource
2023 leading fzerolab architectural research unit
2024 licensed as an Architect under Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia
2024 joined Formzero as Director
Speaking/Sharing:
2018 speaker at Taylor’s University Future Thinker IV
2019 speaker at DOMA Initiatives Breakfast Club
2019 host of DOMA Initiatives Breakfast Club
2021 design lecture at University of Technology Sarawak
2021 speaker at Taylor’s University Architecture Graduate Exhibition
2021 speaker at UDA Holdings Berhad 50 years anniversary event
2021 discussion at Roundtable Beyond Tomorrow at Archidex
2022 speaker at University of Technology Sarawak to Master’s Student
2022 speaker at United Architects of the Philippines Student Auxiliary (UAPSA)-AdU
2023 speaker at Taylor’s University to Master’s Student
2023 speaker at WAD Sympodium 2023 Architecture for Resilient Communities
2024 speaker at Daya Tahan workshop by TARUMT
2024 speaker at (Re)Thinking Inside the Box by Room x Living Asean Design Talk Bangkok