#107 - Designing Life with Paul Tan & Devy Anggreany on Architecture & Why Human Connection Matters

About this episode

Paul Tan and Devy Anggreany discuss the importance of human-centered design in architecture and share insights from their extensive experience in the field.

PAUL TAN & DEVY ANGGREANY reveal how decades of architectural practice taught them that great design isn't about perfection—it's about creating spaces that respond to human needs, from Central Park Jakarta to intimate hotel experiences, and why the five senses matter more than technology ever will.Paul Tan is the founder of ArkDesign Architects and a graduate of Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (1985), whose work has shaped Jakarta's skyline including Central Park, Rasuna Towers, and Gandaria City. Devy Anggreany is the principal architect at Indesign Domus, specializing in hospitality design from hotels to retail spaces, bringing international standards to Indonesian projects.They explain:◼️ How childhood curiosity—from climbing rooftops to sneaking into people's bathrooms—shaped their spatial understanding◼️ Why Paul's unconventional education (failing high school twice, getting expelled from boarding school) led to architectural innovation◼️ The critical difference between designing for Singapore vs Jakarta: why drop-off zones and motorcycle parking matter more than aesthetics◼️ What diving 10,000 meters underwater teaches about three-dimensional thinking in…

People in this episode

Guests: PAUL TAN, DEVY ANGGREANY

Topics covered

• architecture
• human connection
• design
• hospitality
• urban planning

Keywords

• Central Park Jakarta
• Rasuna Towers
• Gandaria City
• ojek online
• three-dimensional thinking

Mentioned in this episode

Products: ArkDesign Architects, Indesign Domus

Books & works: Designing Life with Paul Tan & Devy Anggreany

Places: Central Park, Jakarta, Gandaria City, Singapore, Indonesia

More episodes of Habitus Podcast

• #108 – MASTERING ADVERSITY & BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS: Inside the MOIE 30-Year Legacy · January 16, 2026 · 1h 1m
• #106 - Building Across Industries: Marcello Decaran On Architecture, Hospitality & Why Details Matter · November 27, 2025 · 1h 8m
• #105 - Building What Lasts: Seggio Home's 18-Year Evolution with Andy Financio · November 14, 2025 · 54 min
• #104 - From Medicine to Architecture: A Shift in Vision with Rezki Dikaputera · October 31, 2025 · 1h 10m
• #103 - Dealing with Kayu Made Easy, Not Your Ordinary Wood · June 12, 2025 · 1h 7m
• #102 - Setitik x Silang & ARCH: ID - The Legacy Movement Roundtable Discussion Podcast · May 30, 2025 · 1h 17m