Issue 118 (Preview)

DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE / WWW.DESIGNANDARCHITECTURE.COM / / ISSUE 118. 2020 • S$8 /

OTEMON GAKUIN UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC-ARK MITSUBISHI JISHO SEKKEI

AEMULUS AT THE RUNWAY DESIGN UNIT ARCHITECTS

HOUSE IN THE SKY VERSIFY STUDIO

REFLECTIONS AND ASPIRATIONS

SINGAPORE $8

M A L AY S I A R M 1 8

HONGKONG HKD90

AUSTRALIA AUS$14.95

OTHERS US$12

/ FEATUR E /

REFLECTIONS AND ASPIRATIONS HOW DID 2020 IMPACT THE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE INDUSTRY? WE PRESENT A COLLECTION OF PERSPECTIVES AND ARE HEARTENED TO HEAR OPTIMISM IS IN THE AIR FOR NEXT YEAR. WOR DS LOW SHI PIN G

S E A H C H E E KIEN, MA N AG I N G D I R E C TO R, RS P

W

hat is a major project you completed in 2020?

I would consider completing 2020

in itself a major project given how the world has changed and continues to do so. Such challenging times have also proved to us how

What can we expect from RSP in 2021?

resilient we can be, as long as we put our minds

We have a renewed focus on pursuing the most

to it. This has also presented an opportune time

fundamental part of our work: “design-ness”. This

for us to bring forward and accelerate some of

is an empathetic desire to explore and connect

our long-term plans to provide more value to

with whatever you are designing, and make it

our partners.

better for people. It covers both the aesthetic realm as well as the functional aspect, that looks

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What is the most important architectural lesson COVID-19 has taught you?

at everything from its relationship to the macro

COVID-19 reminded us that architecture can

work on it. Therefore, “design-ness” will create that

neither pre-empt nor lead our lives. It is but a

understanding of architecture’s role as a medium

medium that enables a certain set of outcomes

and the architect’s role as the mind behind that

within its context. Inevitably, the pandemic has

medium. This is ultimately what makes our work

altered how space is used. Building owners have

purposeful and will live on for longer than any

a renewed focus on wellness and with a change in

of us. We will also be focused on drawing out the

their brief as well as the new world we live in today,

best outcome from the entire firm. This will be

there will be new strategies, products and features

enabled by increased investment and accelerated

to tackle design post-COVID-19. At a deeper level,

implementation of our digital and technical

the pursuit of providing design solutions that are

initiatives, as well as a new dynamic workplace

relevant to the context as well as able to enrich

strategy that will support the incubation of ideas

and transform people’s lives does not change.

and push new frontiers.

environment, to the resources you have on hand to

FA B I A N TA N , P R I N C I PA L, FA B I A N TA N ARCHITECT

C

ompleted project in 2020:

Bewboc

House was finished recently. The project has a vaulted-shaped pavilion with a series of

platforms attached to the existing house at an angle, to allow different layers of light to penetrate. At the end of the pavilion are two large timbre doors that open out into the garden, extending the space into the outdoors.

I wanted to create a sense of continuity, and that could only be achieved by making the wall and ceiling as “one”. The resulting shape that came to mind was an arch. This idea could also be inspired by my childhood fascination for caves and primal living.

Lessons learnt:

COVID-19 has taught me to

prioritise staying focused and time management.

Although the lockdown has caused our work to slow down tremendously, I have also gained a lot

through reflection and contemplation of my ideas around architecture. This was something I did not do previously, as it is not easy to focus on these thoughts in a world filled with noise and distraction.

I’ve also realised that how you choose to spend your time – on work, life and relationships – is a choice that requires mindfulness.

Looking ahead:

I am very excited for 2021, as

our firm is busy with small and larger projects that range from terrace houses to bungalows. We are also doing some new commercial projects, so the outlook is very positive.

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/ FEATUR E /

YI P YU EN HON G , PR I N CI PA L A R CHI TECT & FOU N DER , I PLI A R CHI TECTS

O

ne of the projects we completed this year was a house at Chartwell Drive.

It has a small footprint for a bungalow

and is basically a cave to hide in. The cave has a means to be further compartmentalised to be more secretive, distancing oneself further from the outside world, or it can be completely open and engaged with the outside world. COVID-19 has reinforced that we need spaces to retreat to and that these spaces need not be big. Instead, they can be small but kept varied. In 2021, we will continue to explore if we can design small liveable spaces but still make them interesting. Humans instinctively want more and more, bigger and bigger... but seriously, small spaces will do too.�

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D R. TAN LOKE MU N , P RINCIPAL, DR TA N LM ARCH ITECT; DI R ECTOR , ARCHI CEN TR E; FO UND E R & DI R ECTOR , DTLM D E S IGN GR OU P

W

hat is a major project you completed in 2020?

We have just completed the PJKita

Youth Centre for the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). It is based on the T-Canopy concept, which we developed and exhibited at the 2014 Venice Biennale, where the main spaces are lifted off the ground freeing up the ground level for different types of activities and gatherings.

What is the most important architectural lesson COVID-19 has taught you?

We quickly adapted to the change and uncertainty, and adopted new technologies like virtual meeting with more than 100 architectural staff, so we run

What can we expect from your firms in 2021?

business scenarios with various permutations every

We anticipated and planned for a very rough

two weeks to ensure that our financial resources

remainder of 2020 and a bleak 2021. But to our

can last at least 12 months.

surprise, we were actually commissioned projects

software almost overnight. Our overheads are high,

since coming out of the lockdown in June, and our cash flow remains strong. This makes us excited about 2021. We are working on new master plans, institutional and corporate buildings and a wide array of residential projects both high-rise and landed. We also plan to keep up with doing the three customdesigned homes each year for design exploration and innovation purposes. We are concentrating our efforts on developing our business and strengths in the three core areas of creativity, compassion and collaboration. We believe that these will always create value and cannot be replaced by technology or artificial intelligence.

How do you think the architectural industry is going to change in 2021, if at all?

Large architectural practices will likely be decimated due to reduced revenue and cash flow issues. Design practices will operate as smaller and leaner outfits, and will carry out more work in collaboration with others. Only the best and fittest will survive.

Businesses will trim all the excess fat and do away with mediocrity.

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/ FEATUR E /

OUR RECENT PAST AS ONE OF THE MOST THOROUGHLY MODERNIST CITIES IN THE WORLD, SINGAPORE HAS A VERITABLE TREASURE TROVE OF BUILDINGS WITH THIS STYLE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A SENSE OF THE GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL MOVEMENT HERE, NON-PROFIT DOCOMOMOSG HAS COMPILED A LIST OF 100 SUCH PROJECTS COMPRISING A MIX FROM THE HEROIC AND EVERYDAY CATEGORIES. HERE, WE FEATURE 10 AND DETAIL THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTERPARTS. WOR DS D OCOM OM OSG / PHOTOGR A PHY DARREN SOH & SIN GA POR E H ERITAGE S OC IE T Y – JE R E M Y SAN COLLE C T ION

P E O P L E ’ S PARK CO MPLE X YE AR BUILT: 1973 ARC H ITECT: DESI GN PA R TN ER SHI P (TAY KHEN G SOON , WI LLI A M S.W. LI M, KO H S E OW C HUA N ) LO CATIO N: PAR K R OA D/ EU TON G SEN STR EET

People’s Park Complex resulted from the Urban Renewal Department’s first Sale of Sites programme in 1967. Located within Precinct South 1, the area also housed landmarks such as Pearl Bank Apartments (1976), Outram Park Complex (1970), as well as the neighbouring People’s Park Market (1969), People’s Park Centre (1976) and Furama Hotel (1984). Completed in 1973, People’s Park Complex is a large mixed-use development of offices and residential apartments above a retail podium. The integrated podium-tower block aims to consolidate all the activities under one roof, while the internal “city room” of interlocking atriums was designed to encapsulate the bustling street life of Chinatown.

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PANDAN VALLE Y CO NDO MINIU M YEA R B U I LT: 1978 A R CHI TECT: A R CHU R B A N A R CHI TECTS PLA N N ER S (TA N CHE N G SI ON G) LOCATI ON : PA N DA N VA LLEY

Singapore’s early luxury high-rise apartment projects, Beverly Mai (1974) and Futura (1976), were both designed by Timothy Seow & Partners. These were renowned for championing the concept of “bungalows-in-the-air”, introducing to middle-income families an alternative to landed housing. While both have since been demolished, Pandan Valley Condominium, developed by DBS Realty, still stands today as an example of such pioneering condominium design. Built on a 20-acre suburban site with a natural valley, it comprises 605 spacious residential units housed in a combination of slab blocks, stepped blocks and point blocks, merged seamlessly into the hilly terrain.

M A RI S ST E L L A C H AP E L Y E A R B U I LT: 19 67 A R C H I T E C T: BE P AKITE K (S INGAP O RE) LO C AT I O N : H O LLAND ROAD

Distinguished for their innovative architecture, tropical sensitivity and creative interpretation of liturgical requirements, post-war churches were a breed of their own. Notable examples include the Church of St. Bernadette (1959), Church of the Blessed Sacrament (1965) and Maris Stella Convent Chapel (1967) in Singapore. Established in 1953 by six sisters of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the latter began as a kindergarten before growing into a vocational school for female primary school leavers.

A new chapel was built in 1967, designed to be bold, modern, yet deeply engaging – all through the subtle play of tectonics, materiality and light.

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/ FEATUR E /

F O RM E R M O NK ’S HI L L SECON DA RY SC HO OL Y E A R B U I LT: 1 939, 195 8 A R C H I T E C T: P U B LIC WO RKS DEPA R T M E N T ( PWD) LO C AT I O N : W I N STE DT ROAD

The PWD developed a series of standardised designs for schools from the 1930s to 1970s, creating buildings that shaped the formative lives

of

many

Singaporeans.

They were designed to be simple and elegant, yet pragmatic and sensitive to the climate. One such example is Monk’s Hill Secondary School, which began as Monk’s Hill Elementary School in 1939. Its conversion after the war was part of the state’s plan to increase student enrolment into English-streamed institutions. With a focus on science and vocational education, a Science block and Home Economics block were added to the school compound in 1958.

GO L D E N MILE CO MPLE X YEAR BUILT: 1973 ARCH ITECT: DESI GN PA R TN ER SHI P (TAY KHEN G SOON , WILLIAM S.W. LI M, GA N EN G OON ) LO C ATIO N: B EACH R OA D

Between Nicoll Highway and Beach Road lies a strip of land known as the “Golden Mile”, planned by the government for high-rise developments.

This extensive waterfront renewal saw the construction of several iconic modernist buildings, from Shaw Tower (1977), Gateway (1990) and Concourse (1994), to Crawford Estate (1969), Golden Mile Tower (1973) and Golden Mile Complex. Formerly known as Woh Hup Complex, the 16-storey mixed-use Brutalist building is an exemplary “megastructure” and “vertical city”, where occupants live, work and play. While its signature stepped-profile accommodates apartments with panoramic views, it also facilitates natural ventilation and shades the concourse at the mid-level.

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ABOUT DOCOMOMOSG DoCoMoMo International is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the modern movement. Currently, it includes 69 national chapters and more than 3,000 members in Europe, America, Asia, Oceania and Africa, comprising historians, architects, town planners, landscape architects, conservationists, teachers, students and public officials. DoCoMoMo Singapore was founded in 2018 as a working group, to be formalised as a National Chapter by end-2020. It is actively involved in the research, documentation, promotion and conservation of Singapore’s modern built heritage.

FO RME R CIT Y CO U NCIL FLATS YEA R B U I LT: 1950s A R CHI TECT: W. I . WATSON LOCATI ON : CLEMEN CEAU AVEN U E N OR TH

Singapore’s post-war colonial government, together with the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), built affordable public housing for the general population, as well as flats for civil servants, to address the many social problems arising from an overall lack of proper accommodation.

The City Council Flats were built in the 1950s to house low-ranking civil servants of the then-City Council of Singapore. Their full-length corridors and rounded stairways bear a striking resemblance to the post-war flats designed by SIT in Tiong Bahru and Upper Pickering Street. A precursor to modern public housing architecture, this is the last block of its kind left in Singapore.

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/ EDUCATI ON /

TEMPLE OF LEARNING OCCUPYING A SITE THAT WAS FORMERLY PART OF A TOSHIBA FACTORY, ACADEMIC-ARK IS A NEW CAMPUS IN OTEMON GAKUIN UNIVERSITY IN IBARAKI CITY, OSAKA DESIGNED TO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WORDS MICHELE KOH MOROLLO

01

/ PHOTOGRAPH Y S HINKENCH IKUSHA, H ISAO S UZUKI, N AOOMI KUROZUMI, YAMAGIWA

I

baraki City’s Otemon Gakuin University

“Since ancient times, Japan’s shrines

is not just a campus for higher learning,

and temples have drawn pilgrims from all

it was also designed to become a

corners of the country, so these sacred sites

neighbourhood landmark and community

turn into lively gathering places. This was

gathering area for residents who live near

the concept that informed our vision for the

the university.

new campus,”

Conceptualised by Tokyo-headquartered

Named Academic-Ark, the campus has

service architectural firm Mitsubishi Jisho

a total floor area of 20,409m2, and contains

Sekkei, the project was led by Yasuhiro Sube

classrooms, a library, cultural hall, studio

and his colleague Keisuke Aneha.

and

“Our task was to convince stakeholders

that

can

accommodate

that the campus could serve the community

Though the results are remarkable,

at all times, and as architects, we also had

the project was quite a challenge for the

to think about how to design a learning site

architects.

that would inspire students to make that trip to campus,” says Sube.

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cafeteria

approximately 3,600 students.

They

had

just

29

months

to

see

the project through from the design to

01. An aerial view of the triangular AcademicArk. The small triangular building to the side of the Ark houses the cafeteria.

02

construction phases, which is about twothirds the duration allocated as a timeline for such a large project.

Their construction budget was also about two-thirds of what was typical.

In addition, conservation regulations required that the building site be excavated prior to construction to search for historical

TRIANGULAR FOOTPRINT “We came up with the idea of minimising the area that had to be excavated by using a triangular shape, and by cantilevering each corner of the triangle, which made the footprint smaller. This significantly reduced construction time and cost,” reveals Sube.

The

triangular

footprint

was

also

artifacts, as there are many ancient ruins

effective in encouraging all the excitement

buried around the site.

and energy of the university’s academic

02. The massing of the Academic-Ark is designed as an inverted triangular pyramid and has a stainlesssteel, eco-screen facade that gives it a high level of transparency.

33

/ EDUCATI ON /

03

activities to converge within a single space.

By angling the building’s corners steeply inward,

the

architects

created

inviting

“gates” that serve as entrances for the building’s users.

03. A 40m overhang at the corner of one of the triangular planes serves as the “roof” of the grand entrance.

“A large town was located on this site the ancient tombs of emperors still stand to this day.

“Archaeological research suggests that it was a lively, thriving area. Academic-

of the roofs of houses that stood here a long

Ark is our homage to the Japanese haniwa

time ago,” says Sube.

clay figurine of an ancient house that was discovered within the ancient tombs.

“The design is intended to harmonise with

the

surrounding

residential

architecture while incorporating elements

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YAS U H I R O S UBE , AR CH I T E C T, M I TS U BI S H I J I S H O S E K K E I

around the fifth century AD, and nearby,

The exterior of the building is clad in environmentally

sustainable,

reflective

aluminum sheets with an embossed mirror finish that illuminates the atrium so it looks like a giant chandelier.

35

I. Park

H. Retail area

G. Residential area

F. High school + Junior high school

E. Parking

D. Garden

C. Cafeteria

B. Bus station

A. Academic arc

SITE PLAN

/ COMMER CI A L /

WISDOM FROM THE VINES CROWNED BY AN ELEGANT CONCRETE WAVE THAT ACTS AS A ROOFTOP AMPHITHEATRE, LAHOFER WINERY IS A CONTEMPORARY HOMAGE TO THE WINEMAKING TRADITIONS OF MORAVIA. WORDS PEARLIE TAN / PHOTOGRAPH Y ALEXANDRA TIMPAU & LAURIAN GHINITOIU

01. The stepped roof of the winery’s visitor centre creates an open-air amphitheatre used as a cultural venue for the community.

40

01

41

/ COMMER CI A L /

02

S

42

et gracefully on the rich soil of the

history and topography of the region, with

Moravia wine region, the Lahofer

a framework that takes cues from the

Winery in DobĹĄice is the new

traditional wine cellars of Moravia and

headquarters of one of the largest wine

a structural scheme based on the width

producers in the Czech Republic, extending

of the rows of grapevines, resulting in a

over 430 hectares and producing half a

powerful visual symmetry that mirrors

million bottles annually.

the landscape.

Architecture studio CHYBIK + KRISTOF

An undulating, walkable roof lies

presents an articulate response to the

between the production area and visitor

02. Visitors enjoy sweeping views across the landscape from the rooftop amphiteatre.

03

LAHOFER WINERY

LOCATION

Czech Republic / COMPLETION

2019 / SITE AREA

18,653m2 / BUILDING AREA

3,842m2 / ARCHITECT

CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects & Urban Designers / LEAD ARCHITECT

04

Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof / CONTRACTOR

S-A-S STAVBY spol. s r.o. / C&S CONSULTANT

Hladík a Chalivopulos s.r.o. & Babka & Šuchma s.r.o. / M&E CONSULTANTS

ELSPACE s.r.o., CM projekt, s r.o., Alexaprojekce s.r.o., FaBa engineering, s.r.o., MARIO DESIGN s.r.o / QUANTITY SURVEYOR

Ing. Ladislav Křemeček - Znojmoinvesta, s.r.o. / LANDSCAPE

03-04. The complex houses three distinct, interconnected structures, with a glass façade along the southern side that opens to the vineyards.

centre, creating an amphitheatre that serves

structural elements,” explains architects

as a cultural venue for the community and

Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof.

brings together the distinct volumes.

The 3,900m2 complex lies on a grid of arched beams housing three structures of varying heights that intersect and overlap.

“The

building

is

integrated

within

BRANDS

A state-of-the-art wine production facility is concentrated in two horizontal halls. to

operations

fermentation

from and

ATELIER PARTERO S.R.O. / DESIGNER FURNITURE

CUES FROM THE LAND

Centralising

ARCHITECT

grape

the landscape in a way that the distance

harvest

bottling,

between the vine rows determines the

these spaces contain the wine press, cellar

Vitra / SANITWARYWARE BRANDS

Laufen + JIKA

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/ I N DUSTR I A L /

EYE TO THE SKY TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE OF A NEIGHBOURING AIRPORT RUNWAY, A NEW FACILITY BRINGS DESIGN VIVACITY TO PENANG’S INDUSTRIAL LANDSCAPE. WORDS NIZAR MUSA

01

/ PHOTOGRAPH Y H . LIN HO PHOTOGRAPH Y

01-02. Topped by a massive brise soleil, the Aemulus facility is an eye-catching superpavilion of layered slabs, thrusting planes and raw materiality that bucks the norms of industrial building design.

M

alaysian industrial architecture continues its upward trajectory in high design with Aemulus at the

Designed by John G N Bulcock and Chin

Runway, an electronics facility in the Bayan

Kuen Cheng, Aemulus immediately stands

Lepas Free Industrial Zone that directly

out with its red brick-on-pilotis aesthetic,

borders the Penang International Airport’s

providing over 9,000m2 of GFA expanded

3.4 km-long runway.

from a brief the architects found appealing

The idea of taxiing planes and roaring aircraft engines at the door may sound

from the get-go.

“It really captured our imagination, it’s

Design

not often that this happens. The CEO is a

Unit Architects – no strangers to the

creative individual, and gets the best out of

manufacturing scene with their award-

people, which showed in the brief,” shares

winning Factory in the Forest – have

Bulcock on their initial involvement.

disconcerting,

but

KL-based

managed to flip that premise on its head to deliver a building both smart and sharp.

48

COMMON SPACE, MEETING SPACE

“There were unusual spaces for office (areas), a running track and special names

02

49

/ I N DUSTR I A L /

for various rooms. He (the CEO) wanted breakout spaces where you [can have] oneon-ones [or meetings with] small groups of people, and creative spaces for interaction.”

That interaction becomes evident in 03. Projecting windows, mechanical ventilation apertures and angled screens generate dynamic contrast to the granular brick façades.

03

50

Aemulus’

central

staircase,

fulfilling

a

common meeting hall requirement.

J O H N G N BULCO C K , CH I N KU E N C H E NG, AR CH I T E C TS , D E S I G N UNI T AR C H I T E C TS

Situated in an atrium, the stepped edifice – a part stair, part seating structure of reinforced concrete – connects the building’s two wings, and is the locus of communal activity.

PANORAMIC ACTIVITY

The architect explains, “It functions

An active runway is no scenic lake, yet

like a huge meeting room, it can be used for

Aemulus has capitalised on the view instead

theatre, yoga, anything. You can go there on

of blocking it as other buildings in the zone

your own with your laptop, your coffee.

have done.

“There are even chance meetings with

Elaborates Bulcock, “For us straightaway,

colleagues you don’t normally meet. These

it was an asset. A window of light orients

are the things the client loves.”

you through the main entrance tunnel that

ELEVATIONS

FRONT ELEVATION

LEFT ELEVATION

REAR ELEVATION

RIGHT ELEVATION

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/ A B ODE /

TROPICAL REVIVAL INCORPORATING FEATURES FROM TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE, SINGAPORE PRACTICE VERSIFY STUDIO TRANSFORMED THIS APARTMENT INTO A COMMODIOUS, BRIGHT AND WELL-VENTILATED “HOUSE IN THE SKY”.

WORDS MICHELE KOH MOROLLO / PHOTOGRAPH Y VIVIAN JOHNNY AND ALAN LAU

01. A verandah along the eastern aspect of the building overlooks a courtyard garden. / 02. The three bedrooms on the upper level have windows that enable its residents to look down at the westand east-facing verandahs, and out to garden or river views.

68

01

02

U Versify

pon returning home to Singapore

enhance the look and feel of the space.

after a stint at OMA in Hong Kong,

“When I came back to Singapore, I worked

architect Alan Lau, co-founder of

in an office with 180-degree views of Marina

Studio,

Bay, but the glare from the sun prevented me

noticed

that

Singapore’s

built landscape was heavily influenced by architecture from non-tropical regions.

When

he

and

his

business

partner

architect Vivian Johnny were commissioned to

from enjoying that view,” recalls Lau. “Looking at the city skyline, I noticed that every tower built after The Sail@Marina Bay had glassed-up facades.

refurbish a 36-year-old, two-storey maisonette

“Cities and towns used to have distinct

in Potong Pasir, they saw it as an opportunity

architectural characteristics that responded

to apply tropical living design principles to

to their local climates and cultures. Now

69

/ A B ODE /

03

“

In the last two decades, glass towers have become the norm for newbuilds in Singapore.

It seems we architects have all forgotten how to design spaces that are appropriate for our tropical climate.

“

04

03-04. The dining area is seamlessly connected to the living area and kitchen, separated by the iconic Horse Lamp by designer Front from Moooi.

however, many cities look like what Rem Koolhaas refers to as ‘the generic city’.”

70

To prepare for the project, the duo visited and

studied

old

colonial-era

buildings

Johnny concurs, adding, “In the last two

in Singapore and other Southeast Asian

decades, glass towers have become the norm

countries, measuring the temperature, wind

for new-builds in Singapore.

speed and lighting level within those spaces.

“It seems we architects have all forgotten

When they compared measurements

how to design spaces that are appropriate for

obtained from these heritage buildings

our tropical climate.”

with measurements obtained from the

05

original Potong Pasir apartment, they

clerestory windows and light-coloured walls

were surprised by how dramatic the

and ceilings.

Employing

differences were.

They discovered that tropical-style,

elements

from

tropical

architecture, they turned the Potong Pasir

passive

maisonette into a 165m2 home with a layout

cooling features – notably verandahs

that is as spacious and lofty as a stand-

along the periphery of the buildings – that

alone house.

heritage

buildings

included

encourage better air circulation within the interiors.

OPENING UP

This meant that 100 years ago, people

The pair started by removing all the

could live comfortably in Singapore’s hot

original walls and sliding doors along the

and humid tropical climate without air-

balcony and corridors of the unit, as well

conditioning.

as the façade windows to create two semi-

Other features they saw in the old buildings included permeable façades,

05. A monochromatic colour scheme increases the multifunctionality of the living areas.

outdoor verandah spaces.

The kitchen wall was replaced with

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/ DI N E /

VERSATILITY AND CHINESE SENSIBILITY THE CHALLENGE OF JUGGLING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WITH MAXIMISING OPERATIONAL SPACE WAS OVERCOME AT THE CHINESE NATIONAL RESTAURANT THROUGH HIDDEN PANELS AND EYE-CATCHING D ESIGN ELEMENTS. WORDS PRAIS E POH

01

/ P H OTOGRAPHY OWEN RAGGETT

L

ocated on the seventh floor of

being located within the hotel,” says Michael

Swissotel Jakarta, The Chinese

Goodman, Partner and Managing Director at

National is definitely not your

EDG Design.

typical Chinese restaurant.

Firstly, it offers diners not one, but four distinctive dining destinations.

82

“Aside from ensuring that we utilised the space in a clever way that meant that while the venue as a whole was able to

Drawing inspiration from China’s four

accommodate all guests over breakfast,

great inventions of papermaking, printing,

it was also critical that these specialty

gunpowder and the compass, the team at

venues didn’t compete with each other.

EDG Design transformed the space into a

“Beyond interior design, we had to

tea house by day and cocktail bar by night

consider the strategic approach as well...

(Letterpress); a dumpling and noodle shop

We knew that one restaurant would never

(Iron Needle); a Szechuan restaurant (Black

fill that many seats the rest of the day,

Powder Red); and a luxury Cantonese roast

but there was a huge demand for food

duck venue (Paper Duck).

in general.

“It was vital that The Chinese National

“From there it was logical to create

was positioned as an upscale F&B destination,

four different venues that spoke to four

with a freestanding restaurant spirit, despite

different types of guests and price points.”

01. Paper Duck’s seating is upholstered with suede and genuine leather and dressed with throw pillows using tone-ontone fabric. / 02. The arrival experience of Chinese National was inspired by the grand feel of a train station.

The intricate metal screens, a combination of the 1900s Chinese shophouse scissor gate and Art Deco metal detail, were inspired by an old elevator in Shanghai.

02

83

/ PEOPLE /

THE LIFE COMPANION MEL YEO DESIGNS INTERIORS IMBUED WITH THOUGHTFULNESS AND AUTHENTICITY TO KEEP CLIENTS COMING BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN. WORDS LOW S HI PING / P HOTOGRAPHY C HI N O SARDEA / YEO SI TS ON TH E STANFORD LOUNGE A RMC HAIR FROM POLIFORM

MEL YEO Director, Fahrenheit Age: 49 Important lesson learned: Collaborating, listening and keeping an open mind can often result in wonderful solutions

94

What is your design philosophy?

gives me a great sense of pride and joy. For example,

I believe that design should be thoughtful,

we have worked on eight different homes for the

intelligent and honest. It should always serve a

same client in the past 14 years.

purpose, be it functional or emotional, and evoke a feeling of indifference, then I would consider it a

How do you think interior design as a practice is being impacted by COVID-19?

failure. I always approach design by first studying

As a designer, we have to think of how we might live,

the setting and context of the project, and ensuring

socialise, consume and work in the future. I think

that the design engages the user and satisfy the

more people will consider having multi-generation

user’s needs.

homes where they can live in close proximity to their

an emotional reaction. If a design only generates

family. In the office, we need to create workspaces

Where do you draw inspiration from to create your designs?

that allow people to physically distance and feel

Inspiration can arise from a book, an artwork,

flow of ideas that open-plan offices and breakout

a piece of furniture, someone I met, a fictional

areas have brought to the workplace. Design has to

character in a film or intense discussions with my

help alleviate the anxieties that users have when

team and collaborators. Last year, we completed

interacting in the built environment. It has to

a conservation-status black-and-white bungalow,

consider not only the aesthetics of spaces, but also

which was largely inspired by an ink painting from

the users’ physical and mental wellbeing. Careful

the client’s impressive art collection. The painting

layout planning that minimises close proximity

depicts a traditional Chinese house with white

encounters between people in public settings

walls and black roof lines. There is a lone pine tree

can help to lower the physical risk and provide

sitting in front of a lake, its reflection silvery grey

assurances. The use of more gentle, tranquil and

on the water. The simple and minimalistic lines of

soothing colour and material palettes can offer a

the painting, with its sparse use of colour, inspired

sense of comfort to people.

comfortable, without sacrificing the synergies and

us to create a house with a mood that is almost a terrazzo flooring and expansive white walls with

Why do you enjoy purchasing pieces from Space Furniture?

thin, black-steel trimmings as accents.

Space Furniture has an excellent collection of

reflection of the painting – we used silvery grey

brands that showcases the best of modern Italian/

How does your design style differ from other designers?

European design. The quality of their products is also

While we do not have a fixed style, a Fahrenheit

is very much in line with our studio’s. I’ve always

identity exists in our body of work. This is our

enjoyed visiting the store as the furniture pieces

attention to detail, and penchant for creating

are well curated and it is a space for inspiration

homes that are warm, calming and timeless. I

and even education. I am a fan of Poliform for its

think this is due to our belief that our work should

timeless design and excellent quality. It is also

show thoughtfulness and authenticity. Many of

a big plus that the collection is very complete

our clients were referred to us by other clients.

and we never have issues finding pieces that can

Most of them have experienced and enjoyed the

help complete a project in a consistent style. For

spaces that we have created. But the bulk of the

instance, we recently paired the Kay lounger with

work we do are for repeat clients. Their belief in

the Mondrian sofa in the living area of a showflat.

our approach and style, allowing us to accompany

The clean lines and rich textured finishes of the

them through the different phases of their lives,

pieces complemented the space perfectly.

always assured. The selection is wide and the style

This story is produced in collaboration with SPACE FURNITURE. FURNITURE.

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/ AVA N T-GA R DE /

PLACEMAKING PARTNER WORDS LOW SHI PING

sculptural concept dreamt up by American designer Chloe Rokelle Sun. Living Future, as it is called, is her response to the post-COVID-19 world, marrying heightened safety and hygiene measures with a welcoming, sustainable environment.

Imagined as a permanent fixture on an outdoor plaza or piazza or shopping mall atrium, it is installed with nanoleaf, modular, smart LED light panels that can change colour and luminosity.

Plants dot the structure, sustained by Living Machine technology. They support the wastewater filtration system attached to the There

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are

plants,

groovy

lighting,

handwashing station, and are part of Living

sustainable technology and a handwashing

Future’s built-in ecosystem to generate a clean,

station all integrated into this whimsical

reusable, lasting water source.