As co-CEO of Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), Chris Godfrey is responsible for shaping some of the most high-end spaces in the world. The veteran architect, who started his career in the industry when he was just 16, came to Singapore a decade ago to set up HBA’s residential arm in Asia. He was appointed co-CEO in 2022.

In his time with HBA, Godfrey has seen the firm grow its presence across the globe. Today, it has offices in cities in Singapore, San Francisco and Dubai. HBA has also diversified its offerings, with new service lines such as lighting design, wayfinding and even an art consultancy. 

“We’re now offering a fully integrated ‘360’ suite of services,” says Godfrey. Providing this at a “significant scale”, he adds, has allowed the firm to handle multiple components of large-scale projects, such as integrated resorts. About 15% of HBA’s work today falls under this “one-stop” model, which Godfrey says has become increasingly popular with clients, especially those in the Middle East.

Even so, Godfrey tells Haven that HBA is retaining “that spirit of being a boutique studio”. “We have a big company, we’re a global company, but our attitude remains like a studio,” he says. “When you break down the verticals, the different disciplines and geographies, we’re actually about 68 small businesses dotted around the world.” 

What this means, he adds, is that each of the firm’s various arms operate with different niches, and though they are connected, they “remain boutique in scale and very approachable”. 

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Among HBA’s latest projects are Raffles at Galaxy Macau and the Hilton Maldives Amingiti Resort & Spa. The firm also worked on the interior designs of the Silk Road Express luxury train in China last year.

Asked about HBA’s approach to designing such high-end properties, Godfrey says it comes down to getting the fundamentals just right. “If a building or a space is perfectly thought about and proportioned, lit from the windows in the right place — it feels good, and you don’t really need much more than that. From a design perspective … if the bones are good and they’ve been well-structured, then the skin will be beautiful.” 

This approach is one that has become especially key as the high-end market continues its trajectory towards a more minimalist look, compared to the more all-out aesthetic of yesteryear’s grand venues. 

Though Godfrey acknowledges that luxury is ultimately subjective, he points out that there are some timeless aspects that many would agree with. “If you close your eyes and think about luxury, it’s typically sitting, looking at the water with the breeze, the sun, and a table with a glass and a book.” Working towards this “quintessence” is how HBA keeps its sights squarely on creating luxurious experiences without getting lost in the trappings of trends and fashion.

A focus on individual locales also guides the firm, Godfrey shares. The firm, he explains, looks at how it can “structure a project that is sensitive to context” when it begins its design process. “That can mean many, many things,” he notes, adding that the team then whittles things down to what is most appropriate and feasible.

Sourcing locally forms part of this equation. “We look at materials, and wherever possible we procure from within a 500km radius, looking at local craftspeople and artisans whom we can give a platform and opportunities to.”

‘Positive restlessness’

With all the projects he’s overseen during his time at HBA, Godfrey remains hard-pressed to identify a favourite. “If I could give you my favourite project, then I’d have to retire,” he jokes. 

He adds that, even when things are all done and dusted, he finds himself returning to see what could have been done differently. “If you’re creative, you never feel like anything is finished. You keep going back to it and wondering,” he explains. 

That same “positive restlessness”, as he calls it, is what fuels HBA’s growth as it moves from project to project. “We’re not afraid to turn stones over.” And that, for him, is what keeps work exciting, even nearly four decades into his career.

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