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A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT FOR LUXURY PROPERTY AND DESIGN | JULY 2019
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Contents 2 DESIGN NEWS Design standouts for home and away 4 LOCAL PROPERTY The luxury property sector rebounds 10 OVERSEAS PROPERTY Prime real estate worldwide 15 INTERVIEW Ou Baholyodin on Bangkok’s Khun by Yoo 16 FEATURE Johannes Torpe: storytelling by design 20 FEATURE Fashion brands at Milan Design Week 26 PRODUCTS A fresh look at outdoor furniture 28 PRODUCTS Style and functionality in the kitchen 29 INTERVIEW Bulthaup’s Peer Linder: from carpentry to philosophy 30 PRODUCTS Sweet dreams and pristine privies 31 PRODUCTS Eye-catching home decor pieces 32 LAST LOOK Fine fabrics for a domestic facelift
FROM TOP INDIGO LIVING’S BLUE MOON COLLECTION (SEE PAGE 3); WATERFRONT SUITES (PAGE 8); KHUN BY YOO IN BANGKOK (PAGE 15) ON THE COVER INSIDE MOUNT NICHOLSON, ENVISIONED BY THE WHARF, NAN FUNG GROUP AND WHEELOCK
PRESTIGE HONG KONG INTERIM PUBLISHER & MANAGING DIRECTOR Sven Friedrichs EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tama Miyake Lung CREATIVE DIRECTOR Gigi Lee SENIOR EDITOR Jon Wall CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Tamsin Bradshaw FASHION & FEATURES EDITOR Zaneta Cheng EDITOR-AT-LARGE Jing Zhang COPY EDITOR Stephen Reels HEAD OF DIGITAL CONTENT Michael Alan Connelly DIGITAL EDITOR Dara Chau DIGITAL WRITER Fontaine Cheng ART DIRECTOR Sepfry Ng SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER Philip Chan CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Janet Ho HEAD OF SALES Tony Cheong ASSOCIATE SALES DIRECTOR Janet Wong ASSOCIATE SALES DIRECTOR Wendy Cheung CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Astor Chan HEAD OF CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS Talia Jackson PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR Brian Bailey CONTENT LEAD Georgia Parungao CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER Linda Mak OFFICE MANAGER Prudence Ng ACCOUNTANT Annie Yung ACCOUNT OFFICER Daisy Wan CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HUBERT BURDA MEDIA (ASIA) Sven Friedrichs Prestige Living is published by Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd. Opinions expressed in Prestige Living are those of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd. Rights reserved. Prestige is a trademark of Hubert Burda Singapore Pte Ltd. Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials lost or damaged in the mail. Address all editorial and business correspondence to: Prestige Hong Kong, Unit 1401-04, 14/F, Universal Trade Centre, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 3192 7010. Email: editor@burda.hk. Prestige Living is printed by C.A. Printing Co Ltd, 9/F, Cheung Wei Industrial Building, 42 Lee Chung Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2866 8733. For local and overseas subscription information, email: subscription@burda.hk. Tel: (852) 3192 7020.
DESIGN NEWS
FROM BOLD NEW LIGHTING AND FURNITURE COLLECTIONS TO HONG KONG’S FIRST MOMA STORE, THERE’S PLENTY GOING ON IN THE WORLD OF DESIGN
Form to Function MATERIAL STUDIES The Flint collection emerged from Hong Kong designer Joyce Wang’s love of working with terrazzo. She and her team had long been using it as a surface material, but with Flint, they wanted to challenge the longstanding view of terrazzo as something humble. The resulting collection spotlights terrazzo’s precious qualities by shaping it into tables, bowls, vases and objets with bevelled edges, smooth curves and brass detailing.
MAN OF THE MOMENT Tom Dixon is everywhere. The British design firm partnered with Ikea at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show to explore urban gardening concepts; its research studio recently completed the playful, retro interiors of the Pullman Paris-Centre Bercy hotel; and it launched the Manzoni at Milan Design Week 2019. The 100-seat restaurant features dramatic interiors in black, white and grey, offset by a sea of pendant lights, including Spring, a swirling new brass lamp, and The Jungle, a wild courtyard garden created by Art Flowers Gallery.
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LIGHT WORK Hong Kong design firm AB Concept recently collaborated with Czech glassmaker Lasvit to create Flux, a collection of handmade crystal lamps inspired by the way light hits water and by what’s left behind as the tide recedes. Working with master craftsmen, Ed Ng and Terence Ngan of AB Concept created spherical forms in which layers of gold and platinum are evocative of water in motion. The exquisite collection encompasses floor and tabletop lamps as well as wall sconces.
MOONSTRUCK Weaving wood, brass, marble and velvet together is the Blue Moon collection from Indigo Living, whose simple, curvilinear silhouettes let these luxe materials shine. A modern classic, this collection comes in easy neutrals combined with brass detailing for warmth, while cobalt and royal blue bring in accents of colour. Blue Moon includes everything from L-shaped sofas and marble-topped dining tables to upholstered beds and sleek, sculptural lighting.
DRIVEN BY DESIGN Bentley Motors began manufacturing sports cars in Cricklewood, north London, in 1919; now, 100 years later, it’s celebrating the centenary with a limited-edition capsule collection for Bentley Home. The collection consists of 100 chairs, 100 footstools and 100 desks — each handcrafted using materials such as gold-plated iron and dark, stained oak, and each embodying the dynamism and elegance that typifies Bentley’s style.
MODERN AGE The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) makes its first foray into Greater China with the launch of a 6,000-square-foot design store in Hong Kong’s Victoria Dockside. The flagship store opens in August in K11 Musea, celebrating local materials and workmanship through a selection of objects and gifts that exemplifies “good design”, and that takes its cue from MoMA’s collection. Edge Design is responsible for the store’s contemporary, Hong Kong-inspired look and feel.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW It was the sea-bound adventures of the Silk Road traders that inspired Jean-Michel Gathy’s design for the Capella Singapore, which opened in January this year. The renowned Belgian architect and principal at hospitality design firm Denniston referenced Chinese culture and feng shui throughout the hotel, while keeping the design contemporary. Standout elements include the water feature that runs through the resort, the “treasure bowl” dome in the lobby, and the teahouse-inspired Chinese fine-dining restaurant.
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LOCAL PROPERTY
DOWN AND UP I N H O N G KO N G As Q2 comes to a close, tamsin bradshaw looks back at the fall and rise of the city’s luxury property market
AFTER A BRIEF DIP, Hong Kong’s luxury property prices have risen again — bolstered by improved stock market sentiment, solid affordability levels and negative interest rates. In the first quarter of this year, the total number of transactions showed a 55 percent quarter-on-quarter increase, and residential sales are forecast to hit 60,000 by the end of 2019, reaching similar volumes to last year.
The price revival follows what was a rocky start for the year, with nine buyers walking away from property sales — and their deposits — in the first nine days of 2019, with one case in particular standing out. A buyer backed out of purchasing the 7,978-square-foot House 16 in prestigious gated community Mount Nicholson for HK$90,484 per square foot, or HK$721.88 million. When he cancelled the sale, he also walked away from a deposit of HK$36.09 million. It wasn’t long, however, before House 16 was snapped up again: in May this year, a buyer purchased the home, which is part of a Wheelock & Company and Nan Fung Group development located on the Peak, for HK$720 million. That’s HK$90,248 per square foot, versus the HK$90,484 per square foot the previous buyer had agreed to pay. Despite the slight drop in price of this property in Hong Kong’s most expensive locale, the city still retains its position as the most expensive luxury property market by transaction, aided by the sale of 8 Headland Road for HK$1.45 billion in April this year. That particular crown may topple, however, when Los Angeles property The One hits the market this summer. Priced at US$500 million — or HK$3.92 billion — the 20-bedroom, 100,000-square-foot home would, if sold, shift LA ahead of Hong Kong. To put that in perspective, the most expensive standalone home sale in Hong Kong happened in 2017, when the founder of an iPhone screen vendor bought a home on the Peak for HK$2.8 billion, or US$361 million.
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OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP 23-39 BLUE POOL ROAD; THE VERDANT VIEW FROM A BEDROOM AT 8 DEEP WATER BAY DRIVE; LA VETTA’S STRIKING EXTERIOR
Meanwhile, a duplex apartment at 8 Deep Water Bay Drive sold for a whopping HK$605.44 million this April — setting a new record for the most expensive apartment in Asia. Located in a southside enclave between Shouson Hill and Deep Water Bay, this project by Nan Fung Group and Vervain Resources features 52 apartments set amid green landscapes — indeed, 80 percent of the property is devoted to green space. In April this year, three houses sold within the exclusive 23-39 Blue Pool Road development. House 37A sold for an impressive HK$338.2 million, while Houses 25B and 35B sold for HK$333.8 million each — an indication that luxury real estate market is indeed looking up. The 5,000-square-foot semi-detached houses sit on a narrow site in Happy Valley, and are a rare breed among the surrounding towers. The sleek, modern homes were designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, working with Ronald Lu & Partners, and they form the first residential project globally to be registered with LEED for Homes International Pilot, the new standard from one of the world’s leading providers of environmental certifications. Hang Lung Properties is behind the development, whose recent sales point to the fact that location really does matter in Hong Kong. CK Asset Holdings certainly took that into consideration with its 90 Repulse Bay Road project, which offers prime oceanfront units in an area known for its limited supply of land and square footage. At least five of the 11 units have already been sold, with two groups of buyers snapping up connected units. Another prime location is Kau To Peak, home to La Vetta, developed by Wing Tai Properties and Manhattan Group. Overlooking Tolo Harbour and Sha Tin Racecourse, it consists of 68 houses and 90 apartments, all decked out with a striking stone exterior by PT&T Group, interiors by acclaimed design firm Yabu Pushelberg, and expansive gardens by Italian landscape designer Luciano Giubbilei.
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LOCAL PROPERTY
FROM TOP THE 50M POOL AT MAYFAIR BY THE SEA 8; ART MEETS LIVING AT K11 ARTUS OPPOSITE PAGE OCEANFRONT LIVING AT CK ASSET HOLDINGS’ 90 REPULSE BAY ROAD
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Now available is Magnum House, the jewel in La Vetta’s crown. With 5,129 square feet of indoor space, the home features a stunning, sculptural spiral staircase, a 950-square-foot living room and a 590-square-foot formal dining room. And then there’s the 3,016 square feet of private garden, complete with its own swimming pool. Also facing Tolo Harbour, and conveniently located next to Hong Kong Science Park and close to University Station, Mayfair By The Sea 8 goes next level with a 50m outdoor pool in addition to a 25m indoor pool, stunning sea views and up to 3.4-metre-high ceilings. Project developer Sino Land, which earlier this year reported HK$19.3 billion in revenue from the sale of Mayfair by the Sea 8, Madison Park and Grand Central, said it expected stronger home sales in the second half of the fiscal year. Indeed, Hong Kong’s ranking as the most expensive residential real estate market in the world — both in terms of total sale value and single transaction value — isn’t going to slip anytime soon. Unless, however, The One in LA gets snapped up quickly, which developer Nile Niami says is distinctly possible. For now, though, Hong Kong sales are back up after January’s false start, and buyer confidence is on the up, particularly as developers release new properties into the luxury market.
Joyce Wang Studio, one by British design maven Fiona Barratt and the third, which comes with a rooftop garden, by New York studio Nemaworkshop. With prices at HK$167 per square foot, rents will range from HK$57,000 per month for a studio to HK$320,000 for a threebedroom apartment. On Hong Kong Island, the freshly launched Waterfront Suites in Sai Wan Ho are designed to appeal to a different audience: wellness warriors. Each of the 74 serviced apartments has unobstructed harbour views on one side and green vistas on the other. Each room leads onto a balcony, and ceiling heights sit at a lofty 2.9 metres. The community spaces encompass a lounge, a wellness plunge pool and swim jet; the Gym’brary, where residents can work out on their own or with a personal trainer, and browse the collection of books on mental, physical and spiritual health; and the rooftop Yoga’rden. Residents will have access to talks on detoxes and healthy living, as well as wine and cheese nights. Monthly rentals range from HK$28,800 for a studio to HK$56,600 for a two-bedroom. P
In the luxury rental market, meanwhile, prices remained stable in the
first quarter of the year, but the most intriguing developments will be sending ripples into the market as 2019 progresses further. Two new serviced-apartment offerings in particular are challenging the status quo through nichification.
There’s K11 ARTUS, which launches this month. Another brainwave from Adrian Cheng, executive vice-chairman and general manager of New World Development and founder of lifestyle operator K11, it caters to the “cultural creative”, with 287 apartments designed with the “artist in residence” in mind. André Fu’s studio, AFSO, was responsible for the warm contemporary interiors of the residences, many of which come with wraparound balconies. Residents can select from 70 different layout options, and they can choose between short- and long-term stays. All residents will have access to K11’s on-site exhibitions and talks — plus they will have 24-hour access to Amici, the intelligent, digital in-house concierge. For the truly design-savvy are the property’s three-bedroom penthouse apartments: one designed by Hong Kong-based
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LOCAL PROPERTY
LIVING THE DREAM
Kerry Properties’ Mont Rouge offers unrivalled luxury in an exclusive mountainside enclave
SOARING ABOVE Shek Kip Mei, Mont Rouge offers buyers their own private sanctuary with its elevated hillside location. Panoramic views across Kowloon stretch from its doorstep while behind are the verdant slopes of Beacon Hill and Lion Rock. The elegantly understated architecture, meanwhile, is designed to echo the curves of the landscape.
Developed by Kerry Properties and set for completion at the end of 2019, Mont Rouge consists of 19 houses and two towers, and 45 units in total. The homes are arranged in three distinct platforms — villas, houses and apartments — in a vista reminiscent of a medieval Tuscan village. Inside the villas, high ceilings and expansive glazing provide a sense of grandeur and spaciousness. A select few units have even more generously proportioned rooms, and private lifts from the basement carpark to the upper floors. Houses 3 and 5 have already sold for HK$235 million each, and a unit in Tower 2 for HK$307 million with two parking spaces.
BELOW MONT ROUGE BLENDS VERDANT SCENERY AND EXPANSIVE CITY VIEWS
themontrouge.com.hk
OVERSEAS PROPERTY
P L AC E S TO B E
From investment properties in the world’s top-tier cities to holiday homes in far-flung locales, these residences are where it’s at
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES ONE WALL STREET This is quintessential New York living: a luxurious apartment in one of the city’s finest examples of art deco architecture, right on the corner of Broadway and Wall Street. Built by famed architect Ralph Walker in 1931, the 51-storey One Wall Street tower is undergoing a metamorphosis at the hands of Macklowe Properties. SLCE Architects is responsible for the whole project, and they’re working to maintain the original architecture of the building, its famous Red Room and three-storey-high mosaic, while delivering brand-new, state-of-the-art interiors. When it’s completed in 2020, the former
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financial hub will be home to shops, restaurants and 567 residences, ranging from studio to four-bedroom apartments, plus one penthouse. The penthouse will have its own slice of history; once a boardroom, the White Room, with its seashell-lined ceiling, will become part of this three-storey home. Some of the apartments will also have private terraces, while all residents will be able to use the 75-foot pool, gym, golf simulator, and indoor and outdoor lounges. onewallstreet.com
NEW PROVIDENCE ISLAND, THE BAHAMAS ROSEWOOD RESIDENCES AT BAHA MAR Island life takes on a whole new meaning at the residences at Rosewood Baha Mar. Situated on the white-sand shores of Cable Beach, the Rosewood Residences blend breezy Bahamian style with luxurious comfort. The light-filled residences combine laid-back architecture and Caribbean furniture with the attention to detail typical of the Rosewood Hotel Group: refined marble surfaces, solid wood, leather and linen all have a place here. Residence owners also get access to the hotel’s top-notch facilities and amenities, from personal butler services and in-room dining to loungers at the
Quiet and Lagoon pools, which are reserved for hotel guests and residents only. As part of the Baha Mar Residences, there are plenty of other benefits: rounds of golf at the Jack Nicklaus Signature course Royal Blue, access to Baha Mar’s private island of Long Cay, and privileges at a selection of the development’s bars and restaurants. residences.bahamar.com/rosewood rosewoodhotels.com
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OVERSEAS PROPERTY
LIMASSOL, CYPRUS THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION With up to 326 days of sunshine a year and a yearly average of nine hours of sun a day, Cyprus is officially regarded as one of the sunniest places in the world. Get your dose of vitamin D with a luxury home at the latest high-end residence in Limassol from Limassol Del Mar. Offering two- through to six-bedroom apartments and penthouses, the Signature Collection was designed by internationally renowned Benoy Architects to the highest standards. Each apartment comes with dual-aspect wraparound terraces with unobstructed views of the Levantine Sea, and has access to lush
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gardens, pools, shopping and dining, and an in-house concierge. Also included are branded kitchens with integrated Bosch or Miele appliances and Corian or reconstructed granite worktops, marble bathrooms with designer fixtures and fittings, and master bedrooms with engineered wood flooring and fitted wardrobes. No two homes here are the same, though: each one has been individually furnished by Gianfranco FerrĂŠ Home. limassoldelmar.com
COSTA NAVARINO, GREECE NAVARINO RESIDENCES A picturesque peninsula in southern Greece, the Peloponnese is characterised by villages perching on cliffs, ancient Messinian ruins and acres of unspoiled forest — plus it’s surrounded by the pristine waters of the Ionian Sea. Offering some of the region’s best views of that sea is Navarino Residences — and those vistas will remain unobstructed for life. In a bid to help preserve the area’s natural beauty, the Beachfront, Panorama Villas and Golf-front Villas have all been designed on the basis of bioclimatic architecture, following the region’s traditional architectural forms and volumes. They come with
indoor and outdoor dining, private pools, open fireplaces, planted rooftops and access to the nearby one-kilometre beach. The four- to six-bedroom villas currently on offer have access to all the facilities within the gated Navarino Dunes community; from 24-hour security, concierge services and year-round property management to impressive kids zones, two golf courses, a spa, bars and restaurants. costanavarino.com sothebysrealty.gr
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OVERSEAS PROPERTY
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM MARYLEBONE SQUARE Marylebone Square is a rare find in central London: this mixed-use development spans a whole city block on the last undeveloped site in the W1 postcode. Home to restaurants, boutiques, galleries, a community hall and 54 luxuriously appointed residences, this development will sit beautifully with the red-bricked Georgian architecture that colonises the area. Architect Simon Bowden was behind the building’s exterior, which uses glazed terracotta and cast-metal balustrades to reinterpret London’s traditional city mansion blocks. Inside, a light-filled courtyard complete with a lily
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pond and silver birch trees separates public space from private, offering a sanctuary before residents enter their two- or threebedroom apartment. Also on offer are 12 two- and three-bedroom penthouses, which come with their own expansive terraces. Set for completion at the end of 2021, the residences come with 24-hour concierge services, access to an on-site health club, and a private residential car park with 28 electric charging stations. druce.com
INTERVIEW
STA R C K C H O I C E
Bangkok’s stylish Thong Lo neighbourhood is about to become cooler still with the imminent completion of Khun by Yoo, OU BAHOLYODHIN tells GARY JONES
KHUN BY YOO’S 27-floor no-expense-spared design is the result of a collaboration between Thailand’s leading full-service real estate developer, Sansiri Plc, and internationally renowned Yoo Design Studio, which was established by British real-estate entrepreneur John Hitchcox and legendary French designer Philippe Starck.
Baholyodhin is especially enthusiastic about Khun by Yoo’s prime location in the heart of Thong Lo, Bangkok’s favourite neighbourhood for cutting-edge gastronomy, nightlife and shopping. After all, it’s where he spent his formative years, growing up in one of Thailand’s most distinguished political families.
Paris-born Starck, according to Sansiri’s Anglo-Thai chief creative officer Ou Baholyodhin, is revered for “his genius modernism and humorous take on using French design vocabulary, and reinterpreting it in a fresh way”.
“I was born and bred there,” Baholyodhin says. “Thong Lo had a major market and was the belly of Bangkok. We would go out every morning to the market and there would be fresh fish laid out on banana leaves, curry paste being pounded fresh, piles of exotic fruits, monks in saffron robes marching by for their morning alms, little stalls selling jasmine garlands as Buddhist offerings ...
Baholyodhin notes that Khun by Yoo is the second most expensive property, by floor area, in Bangkok. (He quickly adds that it’s topped only by Sansiri’s flagship condo development 98 Wireless.) With construction due to be completed in November, Khun by Yoo comprises 148 residential units ranging from one-bedroom (441-570 sq ft) and three-bedroom (1,496-1,615 sq ft) apartments to ultra-luxurious penthouses (3,165-3,261 sq ft). Facilities include a 5,382-square-foot rooftop garden, fitness room with state-of-the art Technogym equipment, a Bang & Olufsenequipped movie theatre, a games room, electric vehicle-charging station and valet parking, and full concierge service. The 30-metre infinity pool on the 24th floor is illuminated by underwater fibreoptic lights and offers 180-degree city views, and is complemented by a Jacuzzi and children’s pool.
“Though the market has now gone, Thong Lo is still the dining hub of Bangkok, with the coolest restaurants, speakeasy bars, trendy nightclubs, barista coffee places and boutique hotels.” Khun by Yoo is also part of the Sansiri Luxury Collection of highend properties. The collection presently comprises four completed or under-construction projects in the Thai capital, the others being the aforementioned 98 Wireless, with interiors and public spaces by New York-based designer Anne Carson (who cut her teeth creating interiors for Ralph Lauren), Regency-styled single-house development Baan Sansiri Pattanakarn, and prestigious condominium tower The Monument Thong Lo. P
Common areas and residences are, according to Sansiri’s marketing materials, “designed by YOO inspired by Starck” (wording that cleverly sidesteps regulations limiting the input of foreign designers in Thai developments). Other world-class designers and teams were also commandeered for Khun by Yoo, including Matteo Messervy for lighting, Palmer & Turner for design and TK Studio for landscaping. Design features include a copper core at the heart of the building, an expansive entrance lobby of marble, insulated glass and raw concrete, spacious balconies, and heat- and noise-resistant windows. Living spaces, with three-metre-high ceilings, are artfully decked out in furniture and accessories from Italian brand Busnelli, and illuminated by Venetian chandeliers from Barovier & Toso and designer lamps by Flos. Arabescato chiaro marble bathrooms benefit from quality fittings from Axor, Duravit, Hansgrohe and Kohler.
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THE DREAMER
Storytelling through design is at the heart of Johannes Torpe’s practice, writes sonia kolesnikov-jessop JOHANNES TORPE isn’t shy about talking about his personal life,
especially where it informs his work. The designer says he turned a recent heartbreak into a new sofa for Moroso. “I was doodling broken hearts, feeling sorry for myself. And then I thought, ‘This could make a great sofa.’ So I started to draw more and more, adding details like the stitching.” The Heartbreaker sofa, with its armrests representing two separate halves of a heart, could be complemented by one of Torpe’s Precious chairs, which came about when Torpe attempted a year earlier to create an engagement ring. Both feature a metal base profile running along the frame, that in the case of the sofa lightens its substantial volume. “The only thing you have in your life is your own story, and if you dare to share it you will find out that it’s very rewarding. You get so much in return. Many people don’t want to share their stories because they fear being pointed out. But what do I have to lose?” the 46-year-old says. The self-taught designer has had an unusual career path, expressing his creativity in a wide variety of fields from music and product design to interior design, all the while developing a distinctive aesthetic that combines the clear-cut shapes of his Scandinavian heritage with playfulness. Raised in a hippy commune in northern Denmark, the designer feels he grew up with a pencil in one hand and a drumstick in the other. His mother was a painter, his father a musician, and Torpe was loosely home-schooled for the most part, which encouraged him to create his “own universe”.
THIS PAGE THE DESIGNER’S BALLERINA LAMPS OPPOSITE PAGE JOHANNES TORPE
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When he was 12, he moved to Copenhagen and quickly got his first job in a drum store to avoid further schooling. By 19, he’d built and sold his first stage-light design company and invested the proceeds in a struggling nightclub which he bought with three partners. This led to his first major interior design project: the all-white private club NASA, a futuristic ode to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, a movie that had left a deep impression on Torpe as a child. From then on, his interests evolved organically, coming to encompass product design, such as the Mormor sofa for HAY, for which he received the Royal Danish Design Award in 2007, and a portable laptop table for American office-furniture manufacturer Haworth, which became the first laptop table to be sold in Apple Stores in 2013. He also does spatial design for retailers, offices,
Philip Orneborg
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THIS PAGE UNITED CYCLING LAB & STORE OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM TOP THE MOROSO STAND AT MILAN DESIGN WEEK; INSIDE PRIVATE CLUB NASA
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IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO BASE YOUR DESIGN ON THE HUMAN FACTOR. YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE HOW IT WILL FEEL
Joel Matthias Henry (top); Alastair Philip Wiper (opposite)
Be it a futuristic nightclub or a sensory retail solution, his eponymous Johannes Torpe Studios is on a mission to inspire people to dream, creating spatial designs that transport users into a different universe while at the same time bringing people together. “I believe design should connect people with one another. I think some designers nowadays are thinking too much in terms of how the space is going to photograph and not enough about how the space is going to be used. They think in terms of Instagram, not for you and me. Of course, you want the wow factor, but you still have to design for people, otherwise, you’re creating what I’d call a cheating environment: it looks good in the picture, but it’s a terrible space to be in,” Torpe says. “That’s why it’s so important to base your design on the human factor. You have to imagine how it will feel.” restaurants and hotels. Between 2011 and 2016, Torpe also worked as group creative director for Bang & Olufsen, and has been credited with injecting new energy into the high-end consumer-electronics brand, developing new products such as unusually shaped speakers and the Beoplay headsets. “There’s a red thread among all these projects,” he says with a laugh. “It’s always first about telling a story, especially in all the products we do, and creating immersive experiences.” Torpe continues: “I don’t design to sell; I design to excite and by exciting somebody they will buy it.”
Reflecting this belief, his recent futuristic design for the United Cycling Lab & Store, a pro-tour bicycle store in Lynge, Denmark, has plenty of wow factor while still remaining focused on delivering an immersive consumer experience. The store for passionate riders has bicycles suspended from the ceiling, moving up and down with an accompanying light show across the ceiling. “We really were inspired by churches and we wanted to create almost a religious room for bicycles,” Torpe says. “This transformable space encourages you to nerd out, but it’s really about offering a unique experience and providing a sense of community and belonging.” P
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D R E S S YO U R S PAC E
More fashion brands are applying their flair and expertise to furniture and decorative homeware. sonia kolesnikov-jessop takes a look at the presentations from Milan Design Week 2019 that aim to make stylish interiors an extension of one’s personal style
GUCCI DÉCOR The Gucci Décor pop-up store on Via Santo Spirito demonstrated how to incorporate the brand’s maximalist aesthetic into any room of your home. The two-storey apartment-like space featured selected restored antiques mixed with Gucci furniture — think embroidered seashell-shaped chairs and floral jacquard footstools — set against a backdrop of
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unconventional wallpapers, lushly embroidered cushions, chintzy fringed lampshades, and doublesided screens in wood and velvet. Creative director Alessandro Michele also peppered the space with porcelain accent pieces by Richard Ginori, a Florentine company acquired by Gucci in 2013.
ETRO HOME Known for the use of bold prints, especially paisley motifs, Italian brand Etro unveiled a new home collection at the Salon del Mobile centring on two themes: nomadism and mythology. A chic ethnic vibe oozes from the Aleppo bookcase, with horn inlays that reference the decorative theme of Mesopotamia, while the Masai armchair contrasts crimson and paisley fabrics with bronzed-metal-ring detailing on the armrests. Further exotic details pepper the bohemian decor with parrot- and rhinoshaped lamp bases, and tiger-themed candleholders. Meanwhile, the house’s historic symbol, the Pegasus, makes stylistic appearances on decorative cushions, the legs of the Corinto armchair and, notably, as the feet of the Mythos dining table, which features two of the giant winged horses in red lacquered resin supporting a clear glass top.
FENDI CASA To unveil its Back Home collection designed by Cristina Celestino, Fendi transformed its showroom at Via Solari in Milan into a villa oozing a 1970s vibe yet rooted in 1980s inspiration. The architect and interior designer had delved into the luxury house’s archives and selected its iconic 1987 Pequin striped motif as a starting point. Using a palette of golden brown, dark blue and green, Celestino reinterpreted the motif into oversized statement stripes that contrast with the curved silhouettes of her designs. Fashion played an important role in the collection, with floor and wall mirrors, along with a series of lamps, inspired by cufflinks. A floral graphic logo created by Karl Lagerfeld in 1983 also appears on the Effe coffee table with a polychrome marble top shaped in the form of the flowers with dyed onyx inlays.
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ARMANI/CASA Timeless elegance is at the heart of Giorgio Armani’s aesthetic and for his latest Armani/ Casa collection, the designer presented works full of lightness and often referencing Japanese iconography, from the shape of a tsuba (the hand guard of a Japanese sword) to the use of tatami-effect jacquard and kimono motifs. The collection was displayed at Armani’s headquarters, with the new designs showcased in dark, box-like spaces under a series of large, colourful suspended kites arranged to replicate the shapes of the pieces they alluded to. The furniture’s clean, bold lines were highlighted by refined finishes in platinum lacquer, onyx-textured metal, spotted green shell and shagreeneffect leather. Of particular note is the Onda chaise longue, which evokes an ocean wave.
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VERSACE HOME Usually closed to the public, Gianni Versace’s home on Via Gesù 12 was the setting for a very special presentation of Versace Home’s latest collection during Milan Design Week. The scenography, created by American interior designer Sasha Bikoff, was inspired by the pastel colours of Versace’s autumn 1994 fashion campaign and channelled a fun Miami vibe. Individual sets showcased reinterpretations of past creations, playfully referencing Versace codes and the brand’s first outdoor pieces. The Pop Medusa chair, for example, instantly delivers the unmistakable flamboyant Versace aesthetic with an oversized gorgon motif on the back. The chair, in striking yellow or pink, comes with a laminated glass cube — which can be used as a side table or stool — with a 3D Medusa’s head inside.
DIOR MAISON X DIMORE STUDIO Within the historic Casa degli Atellani and against a black backdrop with trompe l’oeil furniture drawn in white chalk, Dior unveiled 14 exclusive creations designed by Milanese firm Dimore Studio that riff on one of the fashion house’s codes: cannage, a technique used to weave rattan. The capsule collection features metals (gold, silver and bronze) interplayed with natural rattan and Plexiglas. Items from this collection, which will be discontinued after a year, are only available by special order. Of note are the oval Grand Buffet rattan tray in a metallic hue, and an umbrella stand in woven rattan with gold-plated brass and black-metal trim.
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LOUIS VUITTON The neoclassical Palazzo Serbelloni was the setting for the presentation of Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades, a collection of innovative yet practical pieces created in partnership with well‑known designers that leverage on the brand’s savoir faire with leather. Along with past examples reimagined in new colours and materials, there were 10 new objects to lust after, such as the yellow Bulbo armchair by the Campana Brothers, which is shaped like a giant Amazonian flower with layered petals that envelop the sitter; a bulbous Murano-glass lantern with leather straps and brass studs by Marcel Wanders; and a hypnotic room divider by Zanellato/Bortotto created with braided Louis Vuitton leather tightly stretched over three overlapping circles with brass hinges that allow for different configurations, making the screen highly adaptable.
LOEWE Set in a courtyard next to the brand’s flagship store on Via Montenapoleone, Loewe Baskets offered an exposition showcasing a commitment to craft. Creative director Jonathan Anderson invited 10 masters in their various métiers to forego their usual materials, such as bamboo, rattan, cane and straw, in favour of Loewe’s supple leather. The result was a series of one-off objets d’art that brought a contemporary twist to time-honoured techniques. California-based weavers Shizu Designs, for instance, created ornamental leather knots around rocks, while Irish basketmaker Joe Hogan incorporated leather strips into his willow baskets and Japanese bamboo‑weaver Hafu Matsumoto reimagined one of his creations in woven leather.
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HERMÈS Whether leather, bamboo, granite or porcelain, high-quality materials are at the heart of Hermès designs. To celebrate these noble materials, set designer Hervé Savage imagined a structured path lined with stone walls that proved a perfect neutral backdrop to showcase the brand’s 2019/20 home collection, which includes contrasting signature cashmere throws, delicate porcelain vases decorated with 24k gold and iridescent metallic colours, and woven wicker ware. Deserving a mention: the beautiful leather marquetry work of Joséphine Ciaudo on mahogany boxes, and the throw designed by Gianpaolo Pagni, which is embroidered with Miyuki glass beads, cashmere appliqués, and silk and cotton threads, and juxtaposes an equestrian motif with geometric shapes.
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MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASON WITH FRESH TAKES ON OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES
Take it Outside
Talenti Domino outdoor sofa by Lagoon
Tulum bean bag chair by Lujo
PRODUCTS
Amari chaise lounge and side table by JANUS et Cie
Light-Up Baby Rabbit and Rabbit chairs by Smithers of Stamford
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PRODUCTS
INTO THE FOLD Designed by Italian design star Michele De Lucchi, the Plissé kettle brings a new level of style to that most mundane of tasks, boiling water. De Lucchi took his cues from a folded sheet of paper in creating this striking piece for Alessi. It’s also highly functional as well as beautiful, delivering a precise, controlled flow of water – thereby keeping scalds at bay while optimising the flavour of your tea or coffee.
MARBLE MAGIC Italian manufacturer Boffi was born in 1934 as a small kitchen furniture workshop; today, the brand is an international powerhouse making bathrooms, storage systems and outdoor furniture and, of course, still specialising in kitchens. Despite the brand’s nearly 90 years of existence, it maintains the cutting edge of style and innovation. Case in point: this striking kitchen, whose beautifully veined surfaces showcase thin slices of marble in a way you’ve never seen before.
SLEEK STYLE MEETS PRACTICALITY IN THE CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN
Chefs’ Choice PURE AND SIMPLE The Ottavo kitchen tap collection by Quadro Design marries contemporary simplicity with total practicality. The tap removes all unnecessary design details, delivering a look that’s pure — as well as water that’s pure. Connect it with your purification system and, thanks to a built-in second circuit that filters out impurities, Ottavo does the work without the need for separate taps. Ottavo comes in chrome, brushed metal, and black or white.
THE WAY YOU LIKE IT KnIndustrie’s clever cake stand is designed to adapt to your cake and canapé presentation needs. Ayli (As You Like It) comes with four fine bone china plates, each painted in different colours, and all of which can sit atop the stand to create a flat surface on which you can place your food.
INTERVIEW
MORE THAN DESIGN For kitchen brand Bulthaup and its head of Corporate Architecture, PEER LINDER, it’s about more than just good design. RACHEL DUFFELL reports
WHEN PEER LINDER became aware of the design philosophy of German kitchen brand Bulthaup, he knew he had met his destiny. From a background in carpentry, which had developed into furniture design, Linder may not have perceived architecture as an end point, but sometimes, when visions align, you go with it.
“From the beginning, my work was about trying to find balance between myself as a human being and the things that came into my existence,” Linder says. “They needed to serve me and not just stand for themselves. That was my very basic idea of how to create furniture. What is furniture doing in relation to my behaviour?” That same view now drives him when looking at interior design, architecture and, ultimately, spaces. How do they serve human beings more than just aesthetically? Linder is head of Corporate Architecture at Bulthaup, responsible not only for the design of the brand’s sleek showrooms, but also for its presentations at the Milan furniture fair Salone del Mobile, where it has met with acclaim for the past two editions in particular. “We show the product in a beautiful way, in a beautiful environment,” he says, “but the idea was not to push the product.” At Salone del Mobile 2018, the brand worked with celebrated German-Japanese chef Tohru Nakamura on a presentation that depicted the journey of a tomato – and those who came to the presentation were able to interact, learn, discuss, take time, slow down and enjoy a moment. “It’s not about doing a product presentation. It’s about creating a space where you feel comfortable,” says Linder. “Architecture as well as product step back to give human beings space to breathe and act. At Milan there were beautiful details and novelties, but people remember the good moments they had there. It was about meeting around the table and doing things which provide a good experience.” The product, in other words, is the vehicle to deliver more than just design – enriching, positive experiences. The Milan presentation is indicative of the brand’s wider philosophy and what it wants customers to experience through its products. “We do not feel we are designers of goods – it’s more about what we can provide to people,” Linder explains. “Bulthaup has always stood for the idea of not creating just a beautiful object – its products are beautiful, of course – but the idea is always to serve.” P
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PRODUCTS
ON TAP Bathroom and kitchen specialist Hansgrohe has pioneered a number of innovations over its 118-year history, including the first handheld shower with multiple spray types. Its AXOR Starck series, a collaboration with French designer Philippe Starck, continues the tradition with practical features and archetypical silhouettes.
SOUND SCAPE The world’s most powerful compact speaker, Devialet’s Phantom Reactor reproduces sounds with zero distortion, saturation or background noise. The compact spherical design also makes for an elegant addition to any bedroom. Available in Hong Kong at colourliving.
ROYAL FLUSH Smart living meets bathroom goals with Kohler’s intelligent toilets, combining sleek design with cuttingedge technology. The new EIR features a remote control, ergonomically designed seat, one-click sanitising system, multiple installation options, advanced water-filtration system, and automatic flushing and closure.
SLEEK SHAPES, INTELLIGENT DESIGN AND SHEETS IN EVERY SHADE OF THE RAINBOW DEFINE THE BEDROOM AND BATHROOM EXPERIENCE
Going Private
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DOUBLE FEATURE Pre-launching exclusively at Lane Crawford Home this month, Milanese lifestyle label La Double J’s bedding collection blends archival prints, rare vintage finds and a ”love of all things maximal”. Curating it is journalist and vintage collector JJ Martin, who focuses on discovering and sharing the best of Italian style.
DRESS THINGS UP FROM FLOOR TO CEILING WITH FUNCTIONAL PIECES AND DECORATIVE TOUCHES
Inner Beauty
by Brokis
Kelly Hoppen 2019 furniture collection for Resource Decor
The Bed mobile-phone slumber pad by Elmgreen & Dragset x Georg Jensen
Arang Pink carpet by Fort Street Studio
Pinecone table lamp by Paola Navone at Artemest
LAST LOOK
FA B R I C OF LIFE
BURSTING WITH COLOUR, patterns and all the trimmings you’d expect from Gert Voorjans and Jim Thompson, this exuberant new fabric
collaboration covers the gamut from upholstery to wall coverings. Belgian designer Voorjans took inspiration from historic documents and vintage fabrics, as well as French and Italian colourists and avant-garde artists. Everyone is sure to find something they’ll love among the textured silk stripes, cotton-blend florals and pure linen painterly prints. Available in Hong Kong through Altfield Interiors. altfield.com.hk
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