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PROUDLY LOCAL

TRENDING

Slow-forward design during a pandemic

S$6.00

AUG 2020

PRO TIPS FROM A DEEP-CLEANING SPECIALIST

CONTENTS

AUGUST

NOW

DESIGN NEWS, PLACES TO

V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y

17 STELLAR SENSATION One of Lasvit’s 2020 creations has revived an ancient glassmaking technique that yields a jewel-like marbling pattern.

S HO P PING 18

GREAT BUYS Our monthly roundup of the hottest new design products for the home.

LI VING

23 YELLOW, NOT SO MELLOW From the soft and subtle pastel hues to the eye-popping shades of lemon, sunflower and sunnyside-up, the colour yellow never fails to add an uplifting dash of positivity and optimism to any space.

H OT SP OT 24

PARKZOO XIANGYAN HANGZHOU HOTEL Designed by Shanghai-based architecture firm X+Living, this project is much more than a hotel for animal lovers and families with young children.

The yellow edit includes a plush sofa with a quilted cover.

HALEKULANI OKINAWA Experience a slice of Hawaiian heaven in this island resort designed by New York-based studio Champalimaud Design. 30

THE NEW NOMA In Copenhagen, one of the world’s best restaurants reopened after a year-long hiatus as a rustic-yet-chic urban farm designed by architecture firm Big and interior designer David Thulstrup.

Sensual Glow

CONTENTS

AUGUST

DESIGN

I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M THOSE IN THE KNOW

P EOP L E 35

PORTRAIT OF A CITY

TAN YANG ER

In a career spanning 50 years and counting, Liu Thai-Ker has helmed the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), playing instrumental roles in the development of public housing in Singapore and in shaping revisions to the Concept Plan. 40

SPARKLING CLEAN Noticing a gap in Singapore’s cleaning industry, paramedic Johnson Zhuo founded Dream Sparkle to offer homeowners a professional way to keep their homes clean.

41 35

“To me, every HDB block is as beautiful as Miss Universe” Luminary architect Liu Thai-Ker talks about his illustrious career.

The multi-disciplinary artist and set designer sheds light on the progress of the local arts and design scene, and lets us in on her daily habits. 42

THE ROLE OF DESIGNERS IN A POST-COVID-19 WORLD Mark Wee, DesignSingapore Council’s executive director, talks about the pandemic as a merciless teacher, the new normal and how the future belongs to those who think creatively, adapt nimbly and learn fast.

CONTENTS

AUGUST

HOMES THE NEW MODERN

on the cover 44

HIDDEN OASIS A site once fraught with challenges has been transformed into a tropical home designed to celebrate the natural beauty of the materials used and reflect the environmentallyconscious lifestyle of the homeowners.

A LIGHT DISPOSITION Home for this family is a light-filled apartment that utilises colour, spatial flow and texture to convey a decidedly calm space with pops of personality. 60

CLASSICAL PROPORTIONS A new home presents the opportunity to start things on a clean slate.

ASPIRATIONS FULFILLED This home was conceived as a backdrop to the homeownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eclectic style. 74

HOME AWAY FROM HOME The comparatively modest size of this apartment inspired the designer to delve deeper to create a luxurious yet practical holiday home for the client and his family.

Architect Edmund Ng has built an environmentallyconscious tropical home on a challenging site. PHOTOGRAPHY VEE C HIN STYLING NONIE CHEN & KRISTY QUAH

CONTENTS

AUGUST

110

FEATURES T H E L AT E S T I N D E S I G N AND DECOR TRENDS

F E ATU R E 80

DESIGN ON SLOW-FORWARD How will the global pandemic impact the future of design? This report explores five areas of our lives that may be radically changed from this point forward. 86

The Next Wave

The 10 young Singapore creatives to watch. 8

A SHOT OF LOCAL FLAVOUR What exactly encapsulates Singapore style or design? We ask 20 creatives, each an icon in their field, what they think.

THE NEXT WAVE Marching to their own beat and shaking up the local art and design industry, here are the up-andcoming local creatives to keep your eye on. 100

LOCALLY MADE, LOCALLY GROWN We don’t have to look too far to find custom-made sustainable wood furniture in Singapore. Some trees even grow in our gardens.

T RAV EL 106

A MOROCCAN ODYSSEY Find out what the country has to offer for design lovers.

EDITOR’S NOTE 14

H&D.COM.SG 15 DIGITAL EDITION EXCLUSIVES 118 WHERE TO BUY 119

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EDITOR’S NOTE

MADE IN SINGAPORE Ask any Singaporean what our national identity is, and he or she would be quick to list out several attributes that bring us together as citizens of this tiny island state. This includes our ‘kiasu’ attitude, our love of food and our uniquely local Singlish language, which is an amalgamation of the various languages and dialects commonly used by Singaporeans. However, it is not as easy trying to identify a design style that is distinctly Singaporean. While many design lovers will point to the look of colonial and Peranakan shophouses as iconic aspects of Singapore’s architectural style, it

provides nothing more than a historical reference for how the country looked in the past. But do the newer landmarks, such as the Marina Bay Sands resort and Gardens By The Bay, represent a style that is embraced by its people? In this issue, we talk to the players in the local design scene to find out what, in their opinion, is the Singapore style, and visit some beautifully designed homes to see how the homeowners inject elements of their urban Singaporean lifestyle into the decor. My team and I would like to wish all Singaporeans a happy national day, and see you again in September.

photography ANGELA GUO art direction NONIE CHEN

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IN THE AUGUST DIGITAL ISSUEâ&#x20AC;¦ NIGHT AT THE ZOO Check in virtually to this hip and funky hotel in China designed for the wild and young at heart.

BONUS GALLERIES & VIDEOS VISIT MOROCCO Take a closer look at the fascinating gems you can find in this exotic destination.

DOWN TO EARTH Additional images of this local home designed with a neutral palette and brimming with understated elegance.

THE ALL-NEW

LLY CUSTOMIZABLE

OMNIDESK PRO 2020 SERIES

Our new and improved flagship premium electric desk allows any user to achieve their ideal position, be it sitting or standing. The Omnidesk Pro 2020 is a fully modular and upgradeable electric desk platform that will open doors to infinite possibilities with your setup. With choices of accessories, size, shape and finishes, create a setup that is truly yours and transform the way you work or play.

MONITOR ARMS By using a monitor clamp arm, it reduces the footprint that monitor stands normally occupy, freeing up desk space for your much-needed office accessories and any other trinkets that matter.

POWER CLAMP

NEXUS MINI RGB MOUSEMAT

Allows easy access to charge your gadgets, connect your monitors and power up your laptops. Clamp mount feature allows flexible yet secure positioning on any edge of your desk.

Your ideal gear and table protection, providing precision, low-friction, durability and comfort at the same time.

ATLAS ANTI-FATIGUE MAT INTEGRATED CABLE MANAGEMENT BAR Having adequate cable management components such as these will assist in organizing your workstation's inevitably large collection of wires.

The highly durable cushioned surface helps users to reduce fatigue and dull aches that comes from extended hours standing on hard surfaces. Mounts your PC case conveniently under the desk and keeps both the case and cables off the floor. With an adjustable frame, it can fit most PC cases in the market seamlessly.

D E S I G N N E W S , P L A C E S T O V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y

STELLAR S E N S AT I O N Luxury lighting brand Lasvit continues to push the boundaries of Bohemian artisanal glass-making with its 2020 collection. Inspired by the beauty of nature, the collection comprises five series designed in collaboration with international creatives. Czech designer Luka Novakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spacey was created using a centuriesold glass-making technique called lithyalin, which yields a marbled pattern akin to precious stones. The Spacey family comprises two variations - Eclipse (above) and Supermoon (right), each features three perfect spheres and a unique marbling finish to turn your home into a scene of planetary wonders. Spacey is available to order from W. Atelier for $4,060 (Supermoon) and $4,400 (Eclipse). Visit www.watelier. com for more information. 17

TRENDING

RETHINK RATTAN

Traditionally associated with outdoor furniture, rattan has made its way indoors. With a slew of chic options today, it lends a casual, organic vibe and is perfect for a variety of interiors, whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gunning for a Hamptons-style feel or a contemporary resort-inspired space.

1. Bungalow Headboard, from $395, from Island Living by Cocoon. 2 . Bistro Rattan Sideboard, $1,299, from Born In Colour.

3. Art Deco Cane Tray with Lid (medium), $59, from Scene Shang. 4 . The Botanist Cane Chair, $630, from Scene Shang.

Add to cart

WOODEN CROCKERY

Carrara marble? Go for Breccia, featuring a white base with dark veins.

Billing itself as Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first online store specialising in wooden crockery exquisitely hand-crafted by artisans, Kraton Home seeks to bring the beauty and warmth of Indonesian craftsmanship at affordable prices into homes. Objects range from bowls, large platter trays and utensils to plates made with ethically sourced wood from Java to vibrant handwoven rugs from the village of Troso in Central Java.

Available from www.xzqt.com.sg. Price upon request.

Prices range from $8 to $60 for bowls and $3 to $20 for cutlery and utensils. Visit www.kratonhome.com.

FABULOUS LIVING With its thin glass top and sculptural base, the Skorpio table from Cattelan Italia is both a functional piece of furniture and an artwork. This year, the

brand has updated the Skorpio family with new top finishes called Keramik with exquisite marbled patterns on glass surfaces. Love

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

WU QIONG Both a sculptor and a painter, 39-year-old Beijingbased artist Wu Qiong creates touching and amusing artworks that draw on his personal experiences, childhood and memorable anecdotes. Not bound by a fixed narrative, they let viewers form an emotional bond with an artwork based on their experiences. Wu Qiong held his first solo exhibition at Ode to Art gallery, which was showcased on its digital platform. Visit www.odetoart.com to see more of his works.

ALL CLEAN Have your clothes and accessories sanitised without a dry-cleaning cycle or wash with the Ozone Cabinet by Ludovica Mascheroni. Controlled via a touchscreen panel, the wardrobe solution uses ozone to eliminate 99 per cent of the bacteria on your clothes in a few minutes. It comes with double or single door with material options ranging from Canaletto walnut to leather. For more information, visit www.ludovicamascheroni.eu.

EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH 14-days Stay-Home Notice

TILE OF THE MONTH

OPTICAL ILLUSION Geometric shapes have made a strong return and the Rhombus tile collection by Realonda is one that has sparked our interest. Make it the star of your bathroom, create an eye-catching backsplash in your kitchen, concoct a bright, happy space with a multitude of colours or go for a crisp interior with a black and white palette.

WHAT Online exhibition WHEN Now till Aug 26, 2020 WHERE www.artsy.net/show/instinc-14-daysstay-home-notice Local artist-run institution INSTINC presents online exhibition 14-days Stay Home Notice, bringing together the emotional perspectives, stories, and explorations of 14 isolated local and international artists. The artworks, created in their

home studios, touch on the themes of physical isolation, solidarity during the current crisis and the impact of Covid-19. Twenty-five per cent of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organisation.

The Rhombus tile collection retails at Hafary, 105 Eunos Avenue 3; www.hafary. com.sg.

PROTECT WITH PAINT Not just for prettying up your interiors, wall paint now plays the role of keeping your home safe, too. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re talking Singaporebased start-up Gushâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air-purifying Cair paint. The plant-based formula has minimal chemical additives, is free of VOCs and cleans the air by breaking down indoor pollutants into harmless substances with a proprietary catalyst. It is also odourless, nontoxic, has anti-moulding and anti-bacterial properties, and regulates indoor humidity. According to the brand, tests have shown that the paint retains its air-purifying abilities for at least five to eight years. Cair interior paint retails from $25 for a litre at www.gowithgush.com or the Gush store at #01-35 Nordcom II, 2 Gambas Crescent.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Available in several neutral colourways, WFH Jammies was initially a Kickstarter project that will soon be available to order from www.whatever. co. Prices start from ¥9,000 (S$117.23, worldwide shipping included).

NEWS Technology Meets Art LG Signature has teamed up with rising digital artists Santi Zoraidez, Peter Tarka and Andreas Wannerstedt to reinterpret the elegance of its luxury products in their visual language that should echo the brand’s core philosophy of “Art Inspires Technology, Technology Completes Art”. Each has produced exclusive artworks, from immersive illustrations with realistic interiors to digitally generated revolving rings that represent the two drums of the LG Signature Washing Machine.

Visit www.lgsignature.com to view the artworks. Sleek and Contemporary Fans of Australian design brand King Living can now look forward to three new highly anticipated products in its reopened Kallang showroom. The modular Hugo sofa offers flexibility and smart storage solutions. The slim legs of the Bellaire sofa create the illusion of hovering above the ground while the Issho Dining Table’s sculptural aesthetic adds elegance to any dining room. These new products can also be viewed in King Living’s virtual showroom.

For more information, visit www.kingliving. com.sg.

Triple Win German brand Miele has won the Red Dot Award for Product Design 2020 for three of its products: the full-surface Induction Hob KM 7897 FL, the SlimLine Professional freestanding lab washers and a confidential, soon-to-be launched appliance.

Visit www.miele. com.sg to find out more.

Local Sensibilities A brainchild of designer David Tham of StudioNorm and local furniture brand Starchie, The Naughton Table is a sleek coffee table that can be expanded to twice its size to suit compact spaces. The squircle table recently won an award in the home furniture category from Taiwan’s prestigious Golden Pin Design Award and one more internationally recognised design from Singapore.

The Naughton Table retails at $599 at www.starchie.net.

GOING THE DISTANCE Practise sa during hom The Distan modular se blends the practical. E curved mo side tableupholstery reinforced that’s ISOfor its abili than 90 pe you can sit of mind.

CITRUS RU S H Nothing instantly uplifts your mood like the crisp smell of citrus. And if you’ve been imagining what Aesop could do with citrus, you’re in for a treat. The skincare brand’s new Citrus Melange Body Cleanser features a purifying blend of essential oils, including petitgrain, jasmine and lemon, and grapefruit rind, that presents a citrusy sensory pleasure like no other. This low-foaming cleanser is suitable for all skin types and ideal for everyday use.

The Distan $3,090 at ww

Available in two sizes, 500ml ($60 for pump bottle and $59 for the screwcap) and 100ml ($23 for flip-top cap bottle), at Aesop stores and www.aesop.com.

SUNNY TIME

POSSIBILITY OF LIGHT On the lookout for intelligent lighting? Get the Nanoleaf Shapes – Hexagons modular LED light panels that double as wall art. They can be assembled individually to form a myriad designs. They are touch-sensitive and react to sound or music with smooth colour transitions. Control them via the app or remote or voice control with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit. Retails from $229 at Epicentre Ion Orchard, iStudio Paragon and Synced by District Plaza Singapura, as well as at Lazada, Shopee and Amazon.

text MICHELLE LEE, MELODY BAY AND ASIH JENIE

Want to clean an area without hassle? The Sunwave Light Bar Steriliser by We The People is a quick, fuss-free solution for eliminating germs and mould. Unlike other sterilisers which use UV light, the Sunwave uses a safe patented blend of violet blue

LEDs and infrared rays. It’s perfect in the bathroom, near the shoe cabinet, above your drying rack and anywhere else that needs a quick and thorough disinfection. The Sunwave retails for $139.90 at www. wtpstore.co.

LIVING

1. Hay Slit Table, $360, from Grafunkt.

Y E L LO

N OT S O M E L LOW

rom the soft and subtle pastel hues to the eye-popping shades of lemon, sunflower and sunny-side-up, the colour yellow never fails to add an uplifting dash of positivity and optimism to any space.

2 . Alfaro Seville Wallpaper, from £1.50 (S$2.65) for samples, from Cole & Son, stocked at Goodrich. 3 . Hello Coat Rack, £30 (S$52.96), from Block Design. 4 . Miniforms Caruso Cabinet with built-in audio system, price $7,300, from Xtra. 5 . Schoenbuch Pina wallmounted Rack, £340 (S$596.85), from Chaplins.

6. Yellow ‘Peace’ Candle Hand, £34.95 (S$61.70), from Audenza. 7. Ligne Roset Ruche Sofa, from $9,073, from Grafunkt. 8 . Vitra Herringbone Tray, $215, from Vitra Store Singapore by W.Atelier. 9. Montana Mini Storage, from $250, from Pomelo Home and Danish Design Co.

H OT S P O T

PA R K Z O O X I A N G YA N H A N G Z H O U H OT E L Designed by Shanghai-based architecture firm X+Living, this project is much more than a hotel for animal lovers and families with young children.

n the West Lake district of Hangzhou, China, this 18,000-square-metre project –completed in just three months– is both visually playful and socially responsible. Having a deep love for animals, Chinese architect Li Xiang –at the helm of architecture studio X+Living and furniture firm Xiang Casa– went wild to create the interior spaces of Parkzoo Xiangyan Hangzhou Hotel. The hotel occupies a 22-storey building designed in the ‘80s which had been rebuilt in 2007. The property features animal sculptures, installations, furniture and artworks. These artworks include the giant red 3D-printed hippopotamus and walrus that welcome guests in the double-height lobby, the playful orange flamingos that serve as lamps in the rooms and an oil painting of a zebra that makes the elevator ride interesting, just to name a few. “This is, without a doubt, a hotel about animals,” says Xiang. But the animals are not there just to catch your eye. The objective behind creating an almost art exhibition with the use of these bold elements is to raise awareness about the necessity of protecting endangered animals. Giving new perspectives on how we see the world, as well as honouring and respecting life, are at the heart of Xiang’s creative concept. For example,

The Production of Civet Coffee installation –which features a wall of cat butts– is the designer’s commentary on the production of kopi luwak, the infamous artisanal coffee from Indonesia brewed from coffee beans that have been digested by the luwak civets. The hotel’s mostly minimalist, black and white backdrop helps to highlight the different forms and tableaus that characterise the decor. Lines, patterns and bright colours were used throughout, inviting guests to interact with what surrounds them in a natural way. In the lobby, the

good to know The Parkzoo Xianyang Hangzhou Hotel offers a total of 251 smoke-free guest rooms in four types: Basic Double, Basic Twin, Executive Double and Deluxe Suite.

AB OV E AN D LEF T

Colourful installations create a joyful atmosphere filled with surprises. TO P

A dramatic view of the mirrored ceiling.

O PP OS ITE

The hotel lobby presents a stunning tableau akin to that of an art gallery. RIGH T

A playful zebra welcomes guests inside the elevator.

ABOV E

The facade of the hotel glows at night. LE FT

An orange flamingo that serves as a playful lamp post. RI GH T

An installation featuring metal cans highlights the issue of recycling. FA R RIGH T

A gold coffee table stands out in this monochromatic corner.

THESE BOLD ELEMENTS RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF PROTECTING ENDANGERED ANIMALS.

L EF T

The hyper fantasy aesthethic is well-balanced with functional furniture pieces. BELOW

Tiny gold accents and trimming on furniture elevate the black and white colour palette.

hanging installation with a tall ladder and a mirror on the ceiling, which creates an optical illusion of infinite depth, evokes the scene from Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark. Combining hyper aesthetic and functionality, realistic and abstract forms, and serving serious topics in a playful environment, Parkzoo Xiangyan Hangzhou Hotel goes beyond its role in making guests feel welcome. With its show-stopping interior design, it also draws attention to the importance of wildlife and environmental conservation. To learn more about the hotel, visit https://hangzhou-xiangyuanhotel.hangzhouhotel.org/en/.

text KARINE MONIE photos SHAO FENG

H O T S P OT

S H A L E KU L A N I O K I N AWA Experience a slice of Hawaiian heaven in this island paradise.

The lobby opens out to a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

unseekers holidaying in Japan now have a new destination to visit, and it’s tucked away in the picturesque Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park. Named Halekulani – aptly translated as “house befitting heaven” in Hawaiian – the hotel is a twin of its sister establishment in Waikiki, also created by New York-based studio Champalimaud Design. The design features an openplan layout to bring in the beauty

of the surroundings, including communal areas that open out directly onto a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean. This breathtaking sight is what guests are greeted with when they step into one of the hotel’s two lobbies. Whether it’s the one in the Beachfront Wing or the other in the Sunset Wing, both offer the same expansive panoramic view. The design of the lobby is also a nod to the original Halekulani hotel in Waikiki, with

good to know Thanks to its abundance of corals, Okinawa is a haven for divers, snorkelers and undersea explorers.

TOP

Blue-green tones and fulllength windows at the Shiroux restaurant bring the outdoors in.

A BOVE

The Orchid Pool, which features a spectacular mosaic of the Cattleya orchid, is a twin of its counterpart in Halekulani Waikiki.

its slatted ceiling, bespoke metal and glass light fixtures, and organic design references. The hotel offers three separate dining venues where guests can enjoy a leisurely breakfast or intimate afterdinner cocktail. The all-day dining venue, named House Without a Key, pays tribute to the surrounding landscape with a feature wall whose organic impressions are reminiscent of shells in the sand. Those looking for a more intimate experience can go to Kingdom, the island’s premier steak restaurant, where the atmosphere of the space is decidedly cosier. After dinner, one can enjoy a cocktail overlooking the sea and sunset from Bar Spectra, whose peaked slatted ceiling and travertine walls resemble that of a contemporary villa interior. The villas, private suites, and guestrooms are no less luxurious: done in the hotel’s renowned “seven shades of white” tones inspired by the seaside setting. The rooms are framed in white oak flooring and feature bespoke rugs that reference the sandy shores of Okinawa. Other elements have more traditional Japanese influences – the grid pattern of the dresser, for example, was inspired by traditional Japanese shoji screens. Some bathrooms also have full-length windows that offer the experience of a leisurely bath overlooking the Pacific Ocean – possibly one of the most luxurious and Zen experiences in the world.

R IGHT

Guests can enjoy the view of the picturesque sea even from the comfort of their private room.

For more information, please visit www.okinawa.halekulani.com.

text MELODY BAY photos CHAMPALIMAUD DESIGN

H O T S P OT

B THE NEW NOMA In Copenhagen, one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best restaurants reopened after a year-long hiatus as a rustic-yet-chic urban farm designed by architecture firm Big and interior designer David Thulstrup.

eing at the top of the list for such a long time implies excellence, but applies pressure, too. This is something Chef-owner Rene Redzepi, at the helm of Noma, understands all too well. For several years in a row, his twoMichelin-star establishment was named best restaurant in the world, attracting foodies from all over the globe to Copenhagen despite a reservation waiting list of several months. With such a huge success, resting on his laurels could have satisfied Rene. Instead, to continue striving toward perfection, he took a big risk: In February 2017,

the chef closed the restaurant, announcing that it will reopen about one year later in new facilities, in a new location and, of course, with a new menu. Open once more, the restaurant is now located on the outskirts of Copenhagen, in an idyllic and peaceful setting in the historic Christianshavn neighbourhood. The new Nomaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or Noma 2.0â&#x20AC;&#x201D;comprises no less than 11 interconnected buildings, with the kitchen at its heart. More popular than ever, the restaurant was designed by renowned Danish architecture firm Big (Bjarke Ingels Group)

O PPOSI TE

Architecture firm Big and interior designer David Thulstrup’s combined touches yielded spaces that are both rustic and sophisticated. R IGHT

Dried herbs and natural light evoke a warm and convivial atmosphere. FAR RI GHT

Finishes on the furniture are deliberately left untreated, adding a rich texture to the space. B OTTOM RI GHT

Preserved specimens serve as decoration in the foyer. B OTTOM FAR R IGHT

A pop of colour from the suspended artwork lit by the slim skylight.

good to know Noma has won the title of the Best Restaurant in the World four times. Its name is an abbreviation of Danish words Nordisk (Nordic) and mad (food).

and interior designer David Thulstrup—at the helm of his eponymous studio—who worked hand-in-hand with Rene to transform a former sea mine warehouse into the new Noma campus. In addition to the 195-square-metre garden created by landscape designer Piet Oudolf, the project has three independent greenhouses, where the chef can now grow his own products. In charge of shaping the chef’s vision through the interior spaces, Thulstrup found inspiration from the world of residential design, as one of the objectives was to convey a sense

of place and a feeling of being at home. “A keyword for Rene was ‘liveable’ so we created honest, simple and modern spaces that are not over-designed,” David says. The interior designer also echoed Big’s design concept. Each building has one specific function and is made of a single material (wood or brick, for instance) chosen specifically for that purpose. “The material is the decoration”, says David, who designed bespoke furniture and lighting, and asked artists to create artworks especially for this magical venue. As in Noma’s previous

iteration, the main dining room—with walls that look like stacks of wood and a central counter made of a 200-yearold naturally blackened beam found in the harbour nearby— continues to be intimate with a capacity of only 42 people. Featuring beams clad in white oiled Douglas fir, a private room—adjacent to the dining room—seats between eight and 16. In the lounge area, the custom-made creamcoloured brick walls and floor are reminiscent of the clean and modern lines of ‘70s Danish style. Bathed in natural light, the restaurant features predominantly soft tones, which creates an intimate atmosphere, while natural materials like stone and wood highlight the authentic character of the place. The spaces at Noma 2.0 elegantly and discretely embody the restaurant’s illustrious 15-year history while looking towards the future. “It’s a mixture of old and new. The idea was to reflect the restaurant’s heritage, but not from a nostalgic point of view”, shares David. “The result is very Scandinavian, but without any of the cliches of Nordic design. I looked at all eras, particularly less-explored furniture and art references. Everything is carefully selected, curated or designed, and nothing screams more than the other. The whole thing has this sense of coherence and a 360-degree holistic approach”. Visit https://noma.dk to find more about Noma.

TOP LEFT

Layers of texture enrich the tactility of the space. BOTTOM L EFT

The varied bricklayering pattern above the fireplace adds a visual interest.

ABOVE

At the main dining area, naturally blackened beams are paired with pale bricks and wood.

“IT’S A MIXTURE OF OLD AND NEW... BUT NOT FROM A NOSTALGIC POINT OF VIEW. THE RESULT IS VERY SCANDINAVIAN, BUT WITHOUT ANY OF THE CLICHES OF NORDIC DESIGN.” – DAVID THULSTRUP

text KARINE MONIE photos IRINA BOERSMA

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Defining new towns and neighbourhoods “The problem with planning and design is that we tend to use a lot of big words and vocabulary that we do not understand,”

Thai-Ker points out. As a young architect heading the Design and Research Unit at HDB, the buzz words were “new town” and “neighbourhood”, but nobody seemed to fully comprehend what these entailed. He set out to define these planning models through intensive research, visits to European new towns and consultations with experts, scholars, members of parliament, business owners and the HDB estate management 1 division. This methodology helped him to determine the ideal size of a new town and neighbourhood and the population required to sustain the amenities. Building communities through precincts and vertical kampungs He shares that someone once referred to the city as a gallery of portraits, which implies that they do not communicate with one another. That got him wondering about how he could pursue the concept of community. He believes in the importance of spatial scale and the need to break down

photo MORROW ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS

hree years ago, at the age of 79, the veteran architect founded his own practice, Morrow Architects & Planners, with the intention of creating a smaller studio environment where he can impart his skills and share his experiences with the younger generation of designers. As a guest speaker at the 2018/19 Asia Young Designer Award (AYDA) sponsored by Nippon Paint, he firmly believes in the need to start young in order to develop a profound instinct for any kind of design. “A young mind is like a blank canvas. It absorbs everything like a sponge and the key lies in ensuring that they absorb the right things.” He feels that AYDA helps young designers to build an awareness for designing for the community at different scales and for designing for the good of people.

photo SPH/DIOS VINCOY JR.

SPOTLIGHT

the larger community into smaller precincts. In a larger neighbourhood, the spirit of community will take a longer time to foster versus if people are housed in smaller precincts, especially if you have only one entrance and you cannot avoid meeting your neighbours day in and day out. This was the rationale for each precinct having only one main ingress and egress. This made it inevitable for people’s paths to cross such that even if they did not know one another’s names, they would recognise each other’s faces. This not only enhanced the sense of community, but also the safety and security within the precinct because strangers would immediately stick out like a sore thumb and residents would be on the alert. However, community interactions do not stop at the precinct level. Beyond that, there are the void decks below every HDB block and, further down the scale, the common

1. Liu Thai-Ker’s illustrious career spans over five decades and he has left an indelible mark on Singapore’s built environment. 2 Completed during his stint with HDB, the public housing in Bishan was designed with amenities and facilities that didn’t just support the daily needs of residents, but also incorporated parks for conducive living and recreation.

3 . Thai-Ker designed the corridors of HDB flats to be “community spaces in the sky” that connected neighbours and households to one another. 4. Flats in different areas are given a unique visual identity through the use of architectural form and colour.

“TO ME, EVERY HDB BLOCK IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS MISS UNIVERSE.” – LIU THAI-KER, FOUNDER, MORROW ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS

photos 123RF.COM/ DONGLI ZHANG

“MY HIGHEST TALENT IS NOT TO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A TALENT. EVERY DECISION THAT I MAKE

photo DARREN SOH

photo SIXTREES VIZ COMMS PTE LTD

photo WILLIAM TSUI

MUST BE BACKED BY RESEARCH.”

photo VIET TRUONG

corridor on every floor. By widening these corridors, their utilitarian, circulatory function is transformed into “community spaces in the sky” that connect neighbours and households to one another within their “vertical kampung”. Achieving more with less Despite the evident success of Singapore’s public housing, it has had its fair share of criticisms. The most common gripe is that the HDB blocks look bare. However, despite having to market the flats at a level affordable to Singaporeans, Thai-Ker refused to compromise on the apartment sizes. With landed property, you can build an extension, but this is not an option for high-rise flats. Since he could not cut back on the floor area, in order to maintain affordable selling prices, he had to keep the buildings bare and without decoration.

Planning and design challenges Contrary to what many people think, he does not believe that the real challenge lies in a rapidly changing world. “The fundamental human needs

in a city have not changed for centuries. We need food, jobs, recreation, living and work spaces, and so on. If you can identify the fundamental need of human beings, you are on your way to creating a permanently well-functional, sustainable and liveable city.” Another challenge facing planners and designers is translating sexy slogans and complex data into physical spaces. Trendy words such as green, smart and eco-friendly mean nothing unless they are translated into physical spaces and he has dedicated his entire life to doing so. Also, precisely because of the complexity of the modern world, it is essential that cities are simple and easy-touse, “like a counter balance to our highly complex societies”. He regards the highest form of design as one that “people enjoy without thinking about how clever it is or how it was designed”. The makings of a good urban planner With his wealth of experience in public housing and urban planning, it comes as no surprise that he is often asked what makes a good planner. There are three key aspects he considers most important. Firstly, a good planner needs to have a humanist heart. Plan for the people by creating a sense of community and for the land by ensuring that it is functional and sustainable. Secondly, he or she must also have the head of a scientist. He believes in the science of design. “A city is like a giant machine for living and to design a machine, you need to be very precise and know the parts that make up the machine – how many of each

photo SPH/LEE PAI CHUAN

However, being an architect, he could not disregard the aesthetics, so he explored ways of designing beautiful HDB blocks without resorting to ornamentation. The inspiration came to him while he was watching the telecast of Miss Universe on TV. It occurred to him that the key to beauty – whether in humans, buildings or objects – lies in proportion. So, he spent a lot of time adjusting the proportions of each block with his team of architects. He also introduced the concept of street architecture that takes into consideration how each block looks in relation to other buildings along the same street. “To me, every HDB block is as beautiful as Miss Universe.” Apart from proportions, colour was another tool that could make the blocks look visually more pleasing while keeping within tight budget constraints, and that was what he did. Drawing on the ethnic sense of aesthetics, he applied a palette of pastel shades to many of the blocks during his time, which reflected both our tropical environment, as well as the Malay culture. “In our harsh tropical sun, colours inevitably turn pastel after a few years. In Malay kampungs, they use pastel colours right from the onset, rather than start with a brighter colour and have it fade to a pastel shade eventually,” he rationalises. Chinese and Indian themes also feature prominently in many of the buildings that he has designed.

part, the dimensions, how to connect the parts, and so on.” Thai-Ker also emphasises the importance of research. “My highest talent is not to believe that I have a talent. Every decision that I make must be backed by research.” To be a good planner, the third essential attribute is to possess the eyes of an artist. Perhaps this is where he has been influenced by his father, pioneer artist Liu Kang. To him, a city is also a work of art. It is pointless to have a functional but soulless machine. “You need to romance the land, respect the terrains, hills and rivers, and tweak the machine until it blends in with the land,” he says. It is no easy task indeed and, as with any relationship, he jokingly admits: “I was often jilted by the land, but I still love the land.” Evidently, this passion is still burning strong even after five decades and he is guided by the philosophy, “Form follows function follows fact follows fun”. Many young designers are swayed by fashionable forms, but he urges: “Design for fun so people can enjoy the space. In order to do this, you first need to find the facts and science behind that before turning it into a functional space or building, which then determines its form.”

text LYNN TAN

5 . The Marina Bay Cruise Centre was a project ThaiKer completed while at RSP Architects Planners & Engineers. So were the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 4 and ESSEC Business School Asia Pacific Campus. 6. Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Campus 4. 7. ESSEC Business School Asia Pacific Campus. 8 . Interior of the Marina Bay Cruise Centre. 9. Artistic talent runs in the family. Thai-Ker’s father is renowned pioneer artist Liu Kang.

PEOPLE

SPARKLING CLEAN

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN DURING THE PANDEMIC

Noticing a gap in Singapore’s cleaning industry, paramedic Johnson Zhuo founded Dream Sparkle to offer homeowners a professional way to keep their homes clean.

ne would be forgiven to think that a paramedic turned professional cleaning company owner must have been obsessed with cleanliness since childhood. But not Johnson Zhuo. “I was always called the “dirty boy” of the family in my primary school days by my mum!” he shares. In his secondary school days, Johnson’s younger brother caught the chickenpox that led to his family home being thoroughly wiped down and disinfected. He has associated cleanliness with safety and protection ever since. The increase of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Singapore in 2014 made him notice a gap in Singapore’s cleaning industry so he started this professional cleaning and disinfecting company he called Dream Sparkle.

1 Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces in your home frequently to lower the risk of infection. These include door knobs, remote controls, sofas, handles of kitchenware and more.

HOW HAS DREAM SPARKLE EVOLVED?

It started with four people. Today, we have over a hundred cleaners for commercial term contracts, professional disinfecting cleaners for clinics, room attendants for hotels, tea ladies managing office pantries and dishwashers for F&B. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE

WHAT’S THE CRAZIEST HOME

BETWEEN CLEANING AND

YOU’VE HAD TO CLEAN?

DEEP CLEANING?

One customer called on a Saturday night in 2016. She was very secretive and insisted we go to her that night and start cleaning and deodorising her rented apartment. Upon reaching the corridor of the unit, it had the familiar smell of a decomposed body – something I’ve remembered since my paramedic days. My colleague looked at me and joked that the owner might not be from this world. Not! The owner is human. Her tenant had passed away about a week before. She’d just found out and just had the body removed.

Regular cleaning comprises the tasks you do weekly to maintain a certain level of cleanliness at home and to keep it dust-free. Deep cleaning, like the name suggests, involves a more extensive set of tasks, takes longer to complete and covers areas often overlooked. Because of this, people usually hire professional cleaners. HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE DEEP CLEAN OUR HOME?

At least once every six months. DO YOU CHARGE BY

THE HOUR?

WHAT IS THE MOST SATISFYING

Dream Sparkle doesn’t charge on an hourly basis because we don’t want clients to feel that we drag the timing to increase charges.

PART OF YOUR JOB?

Every time I see babies crawling happily on the shining floors or well made bed afterwards.

text ASIH JENIE

2 Follow instructions on cleaning products for safe and effective use. This includes the precautions you need to take when applying the product such as wearing gloves and ensuring there is proper ventilation. 3 If a surface is dirty

or stained, clean it with soap or detergent and water. Then use a disinfectant product to wipe down the areas.

4 If a family member

has been exposed to Covid-19, it’s important to wipe down everything the patient touched and air the room. 5 Do not wipe cleaning solutions off as soon as you’ve applied them. Do allow some time for the disinfectant to be effective. 6 Consider using wipeable covers on electronics to avoid damaging sensitive items such as mobile phones, furniture and other electronic devices.

U P C LO S E

TAN YANG ER The multi-disciplinary artist and set designer sheds light on the progress of the local arts and design scene, and lets us in on her daily habits.

Describe your personal artistic style. Bold minimalist. What is your fondest memory as a child? I remember building a sculpture (really just a small pile of things) with Pringles cans and some objects lying around at home while my mother was preparing a meal. I was probably between three to five years old, and I showed it to her excitedly. Name one of your favourite pets. My adopted silky terrier, Pepper. Adopted dogs usually have behavioural issues due to their history, such as abandonment or abuse. Nonetheless, she has such beautiful love to offer! She has taught me patience and loyalty, and the sweet joy of little progress; I thought she would never learn tricks, but one day, she did! Which aspect of Singapore culture do you draw inspiration from the most? Our very interesting brand of identity that bleeds into humour, the way we communicate and our perspective on life. For the most part, I think we are largely confused — especially

the millennials who were born into traditional homes and values. Then came the dawn of the Internet. We weren’t born into it; we were born at the cusp of it. But I would like to think that lends us some empathy as well as some complex issues that we straddle internally. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? One from my late grandfather, which is, “In the trying, you enjoy.” Name one cause you will fight for and why. Mental health. I’ve approached Samaritans of Singapore and the National Council of Social Service to see how I can be trained to work with youths. What is the Singapore arts and cultural landscape currently like for young or emerging creatives? I would like to believe that I’m hopeful and optimistic. Referencing history and our past, we have come a distance — maybe not at the speed of our liking (we would all like for things to happen faster), but there has been progress. Our growing gig economy allows for more work to go around. This is a key factor for young creatives to stay financially

text MICHELLE LEE

alive while balancing time for passion projects. The nature of our work asks that both are melded sometimes, and it’s a privilege to be able to like our jobs. Many of our parents didn’t have a choice when it came to their careers. Which room in the house do you spend the most time in? Lately, it’s the kitchen. I’ve picked up baking and cooking more due to the Circuit Breaker measures during the Covid-19 pandemic. It isn’t just skills that I’ve learnt, but the beauty and relief of being present in my immediate environment. What is one thing you’ve had to learn the hard way? Allowing time for trust to be built. It’s true when they say, “time will tell”.

VO I C E S

his month, we will not be celebrating Singapore’s independence the usual way. Instead of putting a pause on celebrations, the organisers have been more creative with commemorating the most important day of our nation’s 55th birthday, bringing us all together to celebrate National Day online. In a way, this is just one instance of how we have adjusted to life in a “new normal”. COVID-19: A MERCILESS TEACHER

Across the globe, many have been subject to Covid-19’s wrath. From our informal poll of the local design community, the top three impacts felt were, unsurprisingly, cancelled contracts, the reduced market demand for design work and challenges in business development. However, many also said they have experienced accelerated innovation and digital transformation. To quote a well-known local creative director, who recently participated in a global webinar with us, “Covid-19 has been a “merciless teacher”. Indeed, it has been dishing out pain while imparting knowledge and even new opportunities for those able to grit their way through this crisis and see it as an opportunity for reinvention. At the onslaught, designers collaborated with others in a race against time to develop solutions to combat the pandemic. Some even helped local SMEs launch userfriendly digital transactions and experiences that helped them

stay afloat. Design firms – like other businesses – need to adapt quickly or die. We know that some quickly armed themselves with digital tools and redesigned the way they worked to continue to service clients, albeit remotely, during the Circuit Breaker. Others courted clients in new sectors or overseas markets and some diversified into new products and services. With everyone working from home, it was clear that the firms that were able to transition into a digital mode of engagement had an edge. With digital flattening geographical distance, some firms assembled teams across multiple countries while we at DesignSingapore reached out to our global network of contacts to partner on webinars and workshops. DESIGNERS ARE ADAPTING TO THE NEW NORMAL

As we are unlikely to return to pre-Covid-19 days completely, a reasonable assumption would be that work in the future would blend remote digital collaborations and physical meetings for interactions that cannot be done online. The pandemic, which exposed the vulnerable state of supply chains and business models, has demanded a redesign of our systems and how we interact and engage with one another. With the acceleration of the digitalisation and transformation of industries, too, the way we live, work and play would have to cater to new public health and safety standards.

good design research Selected submissions include Offcut Factory’s research of waste materials (top) and fashion label Gin Lee’s proposal for on-demand fabric pleating (bottom).

With large MNCs making unprecedented moves such as allowing staff to permanently work from home, how might designers help families balance the competing needs and ensure the well-being of all who share the same limited space? Or how might they help organisations build a sense of belonging and cultural identity when people are not physically meeting daily? Designers will have to consider broadening their skill sets to answer to these new demands. While there are many questions and uncertainties ahead, two things are clear: the future belongs to those who learn fast, adapt well to disruption and think creatively, and there is an entire world of new experiences to be designed for. This is where designers, who are always thinking about the future and are comfortable

with the ambiguity of things, have an advantage and can relish the opportunity to rethink the way we live, work and play going forward. They need to look at this new emerging world around us with hope and opportunity, and to visualise and communicate innovative new possibilities to clients. HOW THE DESIGNSINGAPORE COUNCIL CAN HELP

The DesignSingapore Council has schemes such as the Good Design Research programme, Skills Future Study Awards for Design, design scholarships and the Skills Framework for Design to support designers who wish to do more impactful work or equip themselves with new skills to take their careers further. I’m happy to announce that the Good Design Research programme, which had its

inaugural open call during the Circuit Breaker, attracted some 60 submissions. From these, we have selected seven projects to support until the proof of concept stage. They address global and societal issues such as the future of how we work as a result of Covid-19, the issue of inequality and social cohesion, as well as environmental and business sustainability. With our support, these Singapore designers will be able to embark on robust design research and experimentation to create unique, humancentred solutions that will make life better for local and even global communities. We are also opening up our Skills Future Study Awards to fund online courses as we are aware of the rich educational content available online from reputable institutions and design organisations. As we celebrate our nation’s 55th year of independence, we need to remember that Singapore could not have come this far without a designer’s mindset. We did not allow our lack in resources to limit our imagination and tame our boldness to propose and test new ideas for a better future. In the same spirit, I have full confidence that the design community will emerge stronger by tapping on their entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and natural empathy to understand this emerging world and how it can be designed for the better and not for worse.

Mark Wee is Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council

IN LOVE WITH NATURE A site once fraught with challenges has been transformed into a tropical home designed to celebrate the natural beauty of the materials used and reflect the environmentally-conscious lifestyle of the homeowners, as LYNN TAN discovers.

While little is visible from the outside, the inside is aweinspiring. The ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; son has nicknamed their home Tardis, after the police box-designed time machine that serves as a portal to an infinite number of rooms and dimensions in the British sci-fi TV series Dr Who.

B ELOW

In line with the homeowners’ belief in an environmentallyconscious lifestyle, most of the furniture are pieces they have collected over the years. The sofa was purchased when the couple got married and has been reupholstered many times since.

ts proximity to Windsor Nature Park was one of the main reasons that drew the nature-loving couple to this estate located off Venus Drive. After returning from a four-year stint overseas, this seemed like the perfect location to build their home – one that was “modern and understated, and which blended in with the natural surroundings.” SECRET SANCTUARY

The site conditions, however, were far from ideal. An existing

drain cut through the rear of the property and there was a steep slope at the back of the house. The neighbour’s boundary wall also encroached on the plot. Thankfully, Edmund Ng of Edmund Ng Architects managed to overcome all the technical challenges. With the original house demolished, the drainage diverted, the boundary issue resolved and the slope backfilled, construction proceeded without a hitch and the new house was completed in

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple, their two teenage children and a labradoodle H OME A corner terrace in Upper Thomson S IZE 5,800 sq ft (approx. land area); 6,000 sq ft (approx. built-up area)

LEF T

This chest in the living room belonged to the wife’s grandmother. The six drawers were for each of her children. The armchair belonged to a friend and travelled the world with its previous owner before they “adopted” it. RIG HT

Every corner embraces nature. OP P OS IT E, LE FT

Every piece of furniture and ornament has a story to tell. OP P OS IT E, RIG HT

Simplicity rules, whether it is the architectural design or the furnishing.

just 10 months. The new owners moved in in September 2017. While many would lament the narrow frontage of the triangular plot surrounded by neighbouring houses on all three sides, this suits the homeowners well: “We value privacy and the configuration allows the creation of hidden family spaces within a home nestled among the neighbouring houses instead of towering over them." Even better, a void along the party wall with the adjacent house creates a separation that 47

A B OVE

The home is filled with clean, open and lightfilled spaces interlinked with the exterior. BOTTOM, L E F T

The architect designed this home to be emotionally resonant, complete with strategic use of materials for visual interest, texture and personality.

BOTTOM, RIGHT

The design language exemplifies streamlined form and function. OPP OS ITE

The two roof terraces at the attic level are potential urban farming plots. They already have tomatoes and okra growing, and are thinking of trying out hydroponics next.

heightens the notional sense of privacy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It also makes the corner terrace appear like a detached house,â&#x20AC;? Edmund points out. As the triangular-shaped land opens up towards the rear of the property, the experience of moving through the various spaces surrounded by greenery is like discovering a secret garden. There are more than 50 varieties of tropical plants such as thunbergia, thalias, salas and cymbidiums. Planted along the boundary walls, the different heights, shapes, sizes and textures create a layered composition that softens the wall and enhances the sense of privacy. CONNECTING THE INSIDE WITH THE OUTSIDE

As nature lovers with an environmentally-conscious lifestyle, the owners wished to embrace tropical living, so almost all the fenestrations extend from the floor to the ceiling, blurring the boundary between the interior and the outdoors. With the full-height glass doors around the living and dining areas open, the spaces feel like they are part of the surrounding garden. Even the bedrooms, family lounge and study all open on to balconies that maintain the 49

connection with nature and the outdoors. The generous external openings also help to facilitate natural cross-ventilation throughout the home and adjustable vertical louvres on the east-facing facade minimise glare and heat from the sun, as well as keep curious eyes away. Despite the relatively deep plan, wrapping the garden around two sides of the house helped to bring natural light inside. On the third side, next to the party wall, another garden in the void draws light from the top, turning the Tadao Ando-inspired off-form concrete wall into a backdrop for an interesting play of light and shadow. “All these outdoor spaces give the massing room to breathe and inject a sense of openness within the home,” explains Edmund. Inside, there are no dead ends. Every room is linked via two or more inter-connecting doors. “We wanted every space to be well-connected and well-utilised. There should be no isolated spaces,” the homeowners emphasise. Creating a series of smaller, inter-connected layouts also makes them easier to cool and enhances energy efficiency throughout. Solar panels on the pitched roof power the home and any unused electricity is sold back to the grid. The panels also act as a double skin, providing additional insulation. 50

DESPITE THE RELATIVELY DEEP PLAN, WRAPPING THE GARDEN AROUND TWO SIDES OF THE HOUSE HELPED TO BRING NATURAL LIGHT INSIDE.

Multiple dialogues exist between the house and its occupants, the inside and the outside, and the solid and the void.

THE ART OF WABI-SABI

The design of the home, an expression of wabi-sabi, the Japanese philosophy of finding and accepting beauty in imperfection and impermanence, is also a celebration of the organic beauty of natural materials. The rawness of the off-form concrete walls and the Corten steel roof, as well as facade that will rust over time, are unpretentious. Subtle and modest, the materials applied throughout embody not just the ethos of wabi-sabi, but also reflect the homeownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preference for an unassuming home and their pursuit of a nonostentatious lifestyle. 52

The use of natural materials complemented by a natural colour palette creates an understated, harmonious interior. OPPOSIT E , ABOVE

The owners wanted modesty and intimacy. OPPOSIT E , FAR L E F T

A modern interpretation of the topical house. OPPOSIT E , L EF T

Casual, relaxed, unintimidating and just perfect.

photography VEE CHIN art direction NONIE CHEN & KRISTY QUAH

The layout was conceived to create a large communal space for familial bonding and entertaining. Decor elements like the world map add a personal touch.

A LIGHT DISPOSITION This family home is a light-filled apartment that utilises colour, spatial flow and texture to convey a decidedly calm space with pops of personality. MICHELLE LEE takes a tour.

lean-lined and with just enough eclectic details to embody warmth and character, this 27-year-old HDB executive flat is both beautiful and pragmatic. Its residents, a family of five and a domestic helper, connected with interior designer Rey Tan of Erstudio to craft a home that is modern and bright, while playing a practical role in day-to-day living. Their top priority: plenty of storage, especially multipurpose units as well as a bookcase.

The $128,000 redesign involved demolishing several walls to allow more natural light inside and an open-plan living zone for dining, cooking and hosting loved ones, and plenty of room for the kids to play. The living room is clad in a predominantly subdued palette while rich wood tones and grey marbled floor tiles with a matte finish lend warmth. Textured details, including an upholstered sofa, armchair and rug in varying shades of grey,

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple with their three children and a domestic helper H OM E Four-room HDB executive flat in Serangoon S IZ E 1,650 sq ft

TOP

Combining the kitchen island with the dining table saved room and created an uninterrupted surface for food prep, dining and gatherings. BOTTOM, LEFT

The entryway, flanked by a multipurpose cabinet, opens onto the kitchen and dining area. BOTTOM, RI GHT

The cabinet features builtin light that illuminates the entryway. OPPOSI TE

Textures, varying grey tones and subtle patterns complement and elevate the restrained palette.

LEF T

The mainly wood-themed decor transitions into an all-white kitchen. BE LOW

Lantern-shaped white tiles and rattan accents punch up the bathroom. O PP OS ITE

The headboard and matching bedside tables are incorporated with rattan, playing up the retro charm the designer was going for.

further imbue the contemporary space with a sense of hominess. A world map gracing the wall reflects the family’s love for travelling and family trips. Taking centre stage is a Vicostone quartz-topped kitchen island that connects visually to an elegant wood dining table from Second Charm. It also forms part of the dry kitchen and provides ample workspace to cater to the owners’ love for baking. Venture into the wet kitchen and you’ll find a crisp white space. A backsplash of grey and textured Italian porcelain tiles adds nuance to the otherwise monotonous area. For the master bedroom, Rey applied retro aesthetics, blending earthy tones with rattan. The headboard and bedside tables pair rattan with a solid dark nyatoh wood, providing a stark contrast against the lighter tones of the wood cabinetry and flooring. In the en suite bathroom, the same rattan as well as decorative lantern-shaped tiles up the retro feel.

“SPACE PLANNING STRATEGIES INCLUDE CREATING STORAGE UNITS THAT ENHANCE THE INTERIORS.” – REY TAN, DESIGNER AT ERSTUDIO

photos ERSTUDIO

CLASSICAL PROPORTIONS A new home represents the opportunity to start things on a clean slate, so this family took a leap of faith with a crisp, elegant look theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never attempted before, says ISABELLE TOW.

LIVING ROOM (Left) The ceiling is a definite design feature. The bespoke vinyl filmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s geometric design alludes to a long, angular ceiling. (Right) Houseproud Regina Ng with her 13-year-old son Tristan.

WHO LIVES HERE

A married couple in their 40s and their 13-year-old HOME A five-room HDB apartment in Tampines S IZE 1,200 sq ft

FLEXIBLE ROOM DESIGN The bedroom adjacent to the living room was converted into a study-cum-guest room. Designed to be conducive to work, glass halfwalls and a glass door allow natural light to illuminate the predominantly white space.

t is not uncommon for homeowners to make an about-face in their interior design tastes. This tendency is usually most noticeable in brand-new spaces, so it was not surprising that Regina Ng and her husband Goh decided to try a completely different look for their new place in Tampines. While their former home was colourful and vintageinspired, their new one sports a monochromatic palette filled with classically inspired features. So different were these styles that “even the tableware we brought over from our old home did not match the decor in our current space”, Regina quips.

One element did remain the same, however, and that was the interior firm they hired to renovate both their previous and current homes. When asked about the rehire, Regina had only praise for Sponge: “[The interior firm] comes up with unique designs and is skilled in space planning.” Apart from relaying their desire for bright and mostly white interiors with a creative twist and ample storage space, they gave interior designer JT carte blanche to interpret the brief as he saw fit. The renovation of their fiveroom resale flat, which took three months to complete, cost $100,000 without furnishings.

GRAND ENTRANCE Even the main door, clad in a marble-looking decal to match the floor tiles, didn’t escape interior designer JT’s eye. It makes the foyer appear grander.

KITCHE N & DINING (Above) To create a bigger service balcony, hidden behind the wall of ventilation blocks, the kitchen took over the original dining space. (Left) The family now dines comfortably beside the semi-open kitchen.

MASTER B AT H R O O M Plenty of storage cabinets have been built into the master bathroom. Monochromatic graphic tiles add visual interest.

JUNIOR BEDROOM The sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedroom also sports a monochromatic palette that is aligned with the rest of the house.

MASTER BEDROOM The master bedroom door, which used to open onto the living room was reoriented to the side for greater privacy. Classically inspired panelling on the wall and ceiling add elegance.

“THE KEY CHALLENGE IN THIS PROJECT WAS TRANSFORMING A CONVENTIONAL HDB FLAT INTO A UNIQUE HOME. WE DID IT BY USING GLASS PANELS THAT ALLOW NATURAL LIGHT TO FILTER THROUGH FROM ROOM TO ROOM.” – JT, INTERIOR DESIGNER AT SPONGE

photography VEE CHIN art direction NONIE CHEN

ASPIRATIONS FULFILLED This home was conceived as a backdrop to the homeowner's eclectic style. She tells LYNN TAN how the home has allowed her to realise her teenage dream of becoming an architect or interior designer.

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple and their three children HO M E A semi-detached place off Holland Road S IZ E 3,700 sq ft (land area); 3,300 sq ft (built-up area)

A neutral palette of whites, greys and teak dominates the living area. O PPOS IT E

The homeowner does not restrict herself to any particular style but makes sure that the colours of the furnishings match.

TOP

The introduction of a void does wonders for the interior, allowing more light and spatial connectivity. RIGH T

The kitchen and dining areas are now adjacent to one another, definitely an improvement on the old layout. OPP OS ITE

The client and her husband did not like the original layout, so the Ekha Studio team reconfigured the spaces to suit their lifestyle and needs. 68

tepping into this lightfilled home with open spaces and a lofty feel, it is hard to imagine that it used to be dark and oppressive. The original interior was very compartmentalised, the ceiling was low and the natural light coming in from the small windows was limited. When the homeowner and her husband, both medical doctors, purchased this home in 2017, they envisioned a hygge home with a comfortable conviviality for them and their three children. “We wanted an inviting place where we could make memories as a family and entertain our friends.” The challenging task of transforming the home fell on the shoulders of Hsu Hsia Pin, Eunice Khoo and Amoz Boon, the design trio from EHKA Studio that undertook the architectural and interior works. “Our approach embraces the existing structure and exposes it instead of trying to conceal it,” says EHKA Studio partner, Hsia Pin. The project was classified as a reconstruction because it involved major addition and alteration (A&A) work. The design, submissions and tender took seven months while the construction was completed in 12. An extension upfront creates a larger living area that opens out to a new garden patio. A void was introduced in the slab above the living area to establish a connection with the family area on the second storey. The double-volume space adds a vertical dimension to the

THE WHITEWASHED INTERIOR PROVIDES A BLANK CANVAS FOR THE LADY OF THE HOUSE TO EXPRESS HER CREATIVITY.

The functional spaces allow the homeowner to redecorate as and when she likes.

TOP, LE FT

Teak is a favourite of the homeowner. It makes her feel at home, complements the white and goes well with plants. TOP, RIG HT

The homeowner wanted a blank canvas that would allow her to express her eclectic style over time. B OT TOM

The bathroom reflects their preference for white and teak.

spatial flow and allows light to filter down into the heart of the home from the skylight above the stairwell. To optimise the relationship between the dining area and the kitchen, the positions of the original kitchen and guest room were flipped so that the new kitchen is now adjacent to the dining area. Functionally, this achieves a much better flow. Full height sliding glass doors that extend the length of the dining area replaced the old windows. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These allow more light and air into the deeper recesses of the interior, as well as form a link with the side garden,â&#x20AC;? Hsia Pin points out. On the second level are three bedrooms belonging to the children, a 14-year-old boy and two girls aged seven and five. The rooms are arranged around a family area where they can watch TV or use the computer and the missus does her crafting during her free time. The attic is a new addition to the existing two-storey property. It houses the master suite, comprising the bedroom, bathroom and a walk-in 71

wardrobe. The expression of the pitched roof and the ample headroom give the space a bright, airy feel. One of the key design features of the master bathroom is the way the bathtub opens out to an external planter. “We wanted a well-ventilated, spacious bathroom to be comfortable and relaxing,” Hsia Pin explains. The team addressed the issue of privacy with Venetian blinds and the row of plants outside. The whitewashed interior provides a blank canvas for the lady of the house to express her creativity. Many of the decor and art pieces were collected during their trips abroad. The new home provides the

perfect backdrop to display them. “My style is eclectic. I do not constrain myself to any particular style, but I do ensure that the colours of the furnishings complement each other. My input towards the concept and execution has allowed me to realise a teenage dream of becoming an architect or interior designer,” she says. It has been just over a year since the family moved in in April 2019, following the reconstruction costing about $1 million (excluding furnishings) and she is still dreaming up new interior ideas: “I will rework the look of some of the spaces over time. The neutral wall and flooring make this possible.”

Going all-white makes creating a modern theme much easier. OPPOSIT E TOP

The home has minimal built-in furniture as the homeowner prefers to source pieces herself. OPPOSIT E B OT TOM

The master bathroom is spacious, open and feels close to nature.

photography VEE CHIN art direction KRISTY QUAH

HOME AWAY FROM HOME The comparatively modest size of this apartment inspired the designer to delve deeper to create a luxurious yet practical holiday home for the client and his family. LYNN TAN reports. 74

his apartment in River Valley is the holiday home for a family of five. The homeowner’s business requires him to travel from their permanent residence in Hong Kong to the US once every few months. His wife and three children sometimes accompany him on these trips, which usually include a stopover in Singapore, where the family would stay for a week or so each time. He wanted this home away from home to be a cosy getaway with all the comforts and luxury details of a hotel suite and a personal space for each family member. Responding to his brief, Darrion Loo, an associate designer at Helen & Woods, set out what he wanted to achieve for this project. “It was about creating space, storage and sophistication while incorporating cosy elements within a 1,442 sq ft interior. As it had to accommodate five people, it was also important that they

each had a private space within the apartment,” he says. “I wanted to inject sleek modernity, not unlike an urban boutique hotel suite, while imbuing it with the warmth and familiarity you would find in a home.” With the apartment relatively compact, every inch counted. The approach was to create vertical wall surfaces that were as flat as possible so they wouldn’t encroach upon the spaces while still being able to convey a sense of depth. “It is all in the details. Every junction, trim and feature was carefully designed to achieve this,” Darrion elaborates. The design team, together with the contractor, studied the proportion of every layer, from the backing to the finished surface. The thinner-than-usual wall features required both scrupulous design and impeccable workmanship.

BELOW

The blue cushions complement the sea-blue feature wall inspired by the family’s favourite seaside beach resorts. OPPOSITE

The circular wall light from Catellani & Smith creates a unique juxtaposition against the rectilinear grid of the wall panels.

WHO LIVES HERE

A family of five HOME A three-bedroom condominium in River Valley SIZE 1,442 sq ft

The sea-blue feature wall and sand-coloured wall panelling in the living room were inspired by the family’s favourite seaside beach resorts. Like most of the other furniture inside, the Stanley sofa from De La Espada was chosen for its sleek proportions and lightweight form, which made the place appear more spacious. The travertine top and brass legs of the side table from Muse as well as the brass Boca Do Lobo wall sconce resembling bamboo heightened the sense of luxury and elegance. The dining area beside the living room is where the family spends quality time together. The custom-made dining table with Nero Marquina marble and a brass base, complemented by five chairs from Cassina, is the perfect shape and size for

RI G HT

The spherical Moooi pendant light in the dining area complements the dining table and living room wall light perfectly. The light mesh material has a soft, translucent quality. B ELOW

An angular coffee table and a round pouffe from Casamilano provide more contrasting elements in the living room. OP POSI TE

The eldest son’s room with display shelves, a “floating” study table and a sofa bed.

“I WANTED TO INJECT SLEEK MODERNITY, NOT UNLIKE AN URBAN BOUTIQUE HOTEL SUITE, WHILE IMBUING IT WITH THE WARMTH AND FAMILIARITY YOU WOULD FIND IN A HOME.” - DARRION LOO, ASSOCIATE DESIGNER AT HELEN & WOODS

A B OV E

A bedhead that wraps around the L-wall serves as a common backdrop that connects the bed and lounge seating in the master bedroom while a full-height, handmade, herringbone veneer wall cladding on the opposite wall creates the illusion of a higher ceiling.

RI GHT

The room the two younger children share has dual-usage pieces such as a single trundle pull-out bed that offer flexibility. FAR RIGHT

Ledges with interesting forms for accessories in burgundy red add visual interest within a monochromatic scheme.

OPPOSI TE TOP

A writing desk doubles as a dressing table in the children’s room. OPPOSI TE BOTTO M

Outdoor furniture from Dedon makes meaningful use of the balcony where the homeowners can relax over a glass of wine and take in the surrounding view.

intimate family bonding over leisurely meals. As the master bedroom had an elongated floor plan, Darrion defined separate zones. Apart from the sleeping space, he incorporated en suite lounge seating in one corner where the homeowner and his wife relax or read. A low bedhead that continues along the L-shaped wall connects the two areas so that they still read as one seamless space. The children’s rooms were designed to be versatile with each piece of furniture serving multiple purposes. The sofa bed in the eldest son’s room offers the flexibility a 15-year-old boy needs, giving him the option of using it as a sofa during the day and a bed at night. A daughter, aged 11, and their nine-year-old son share the third bedroom that has two single beds with additional pull-out beds and writing desks that double as dressing tables. Each side of the wall is subtly different to reflect the siblings' unique personalities. For Darrion, it was important to address the proportion and scale, filter out any superfluous lines and capture only the essence of the intended ambience. “Helen & Woods believes that, with a sensible approach, you do not necessarily require a large space or a big budget to achieve timeless luxury.”

photos KHASPHOTO.COM

F E AT U R E

DESIGN ON SLOW-FORWARD How will the global pandemic impact the future of design? This report explores five areas of our lives that may be radically changed from this point forward.

ake the Black Death, which plagued Europe and Asia in the mid1300s and led to the advent of the Italian Renaissance. Or the tuberculosis outbreak in the early 20th century, after which vigilance against illness prompted an inclination toward stark cleanliness that inspired sleek lines, minimalism and the rise of modernist architecture. Following the Roaring â&#x20AC;&#x2122;20s and the heyday of the art deco movement, scarcity during the Great Depression democratised design and made way for a simpler, more practical aesthetic, as seen in the work of the likes of industrial designers Charles and Ray Eames, whose names are synonymous with midcentury modern design. And, while other pandemics such as the Spanish flu and cholera may not have birthed seminal design movements, they did, however, alter public policies and forwardmoving urban planning by emphasising the importance of healthcare systems, social distancing measures and housing reforms. Like Covid-19, these cataclysmic events were unprecedented and ushered in,

whether directly or indirectly, remarkably powerful periods of creativity. The sequence is plausible. After long intervals of isolation and stifled expression, humans emerged with a sharpened perspective and an extreme desire to create, leaning into hardship to reintroduce beauty and radical change in a battered society. For many across the globe, the passage of time has slowed and even paused in some instances. In examining the state of our world after 2020, it is with a renewed sense of optimism that we anticipate and rethink both the challenges and the possibilities ahead. No other event in modern history has had such a profound disruption across cities, countries, and industries, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to imagine any individual, business or economy that will be left unchanged. But it is with hope that perhaps collective disaster is what will ultimately spur the world to rebuild together. Exploring the opportunities and key movements ahead, this report draws from research and conversations with respected architects and interior designers.

TRAGEDY HAS HISTORICALLY KINDLED A FLAME IN DESIGN, OFTEN BY NECESSITY.

CONSCIOUS DESIGN

For reasons of sustainability, the new normal will entail reconsidering production cycles and breaking consumption patterns.

round the world, designers such as Amsterdam-based Studio Formafantasma have been exploring design’s role in overproduction – a concern echoed by Infrastructure co-founder Darrel Best, who notes that “the design cycle has become almost as frenetic as the fashion cycle. Designers have felt a compulsion to produce new collections, whether truly relevant to the moment or not.” Architecture firms are putting the climate crisis at the

centre of their practice. Take Snohetta, which has taken carbon-neutral several steps further with the invention of Powerhouse, a new standard referring to their carbonnegative designs. “As one of the worst polluters, the construction industry could come under heavy scrutiny,” predicts Sean Affleck, director at Make Architects. “To reduce its carbon footprint, the

industry will have to look more closely at reuse, prefabrication and modular construction, material choices, and intensive landscape greening.” Darrel says that the industry has a long way to be able to shift completely to a more circular model. “However, as long as we’re making an attempt to transition towards something that is more ecological and environmental, we’re still winning a battle. This should give us pause to think about how we can integrate more sustainable design into what we’re doing.” An effect of the comfort brought about by emotional resonance and tactility, consumption will be more conscious than ever. As trend forecaster Li Edelkoort boldly predicts, “Owning less things will make people happier.” Having discovered that to survive, they don’t really need much, people’s mindsets will shift to more selective consumption of objects they feel a true attachment to. In line with this change in mindset about our consumption habits, homeowners are also beginning to value objects based on their longevity, use of sustainable resources and the amount of perceived pleasure they derive from its use.

AS TREND FORECASTER LI EDELKOORT BOLDLY PREDICTED, “OWNING LESS THINGS WILL MAKE PEOPLE HAPPIER.”

2 A

H Y P E R LO C A L I S M

When it comes to production, sourcing, and consumption, provenance is key.

s far as trends go, the value in localism might have first broken through in the food and beverage industry, in which renowned restaurateurs and chefs placed a premium on the provenance of ingredients. In 2020 and beyond, where a product is sourced or made will be just as important on a mainstream level – a direct result of how global lockdowns have deeply disrupted and, in many cases, even halted, supply, production and trade in the industry. Forced to look around and inwards for alternative options when it comes to furniture and accessories, designers and consumers alike are finding that supporting local shouldn’t be a last resort – it should be their first choice. With burgeoning design movements in cities big and small across the world, the possibilities are endless if one is willing to experiment, think out of the box, and take pride in local talent. An early expression of this perspective was the Naples design fair Edit Napoli, conceived in 2019 to shine the spotlight on a new generation of designers and, according to its founders, “focus on the rise

of the designer-maker at the forefront of a movement that is challenging the traditional chain of production and distribution.” Less optimistic observers may point out that hyperlocalism connotes a contracting pool of options for both producer and consumer. Yet, the silver lining lies in its potential to not only encourage a new breed of creativity, but also to supplant a system long dominated by a storied, small group of brands. “China and Italy’s furniture and construction trades are relied on so much, so it’s an opportunity, perhaps, for other companies to step in and step up,” Charmaine Chan, South China Morning Post’s design editor, reflects. “It wasn’t until this crisis hit that we realised how little is made locally, so we might be seeing more local manufacturing.”

3 O

A ROOM OF O N E ’ S OW N

Will open floor plans remain desirable in coming years?

pen floor plans have been a dominant trend in residential design for years – and are a defining characteristic of many modern homes today. While this allows for spaces to flow freely, the connectivity can be detrimental to functional privacy, as many working from home have come to grasp. With the pandemic suddenly forcing us to use homes simultaneously as offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, and gyms – often with multiple residents at once – people are realising the negative consequences of open floor plans. This experience will spur an organisation in homes, equipping spaces with flexibility for different uses and offering aural, olfactory, and spatial privacy. JJ Acuna, founder and creative director of Hong Kong-based design studio JJA Bespoke, anticipates a shift towards designated home offices or even rooms dedicated to productive work. “People are going to invest in proper spaces where they can operate businesses from home that forge a

life-work environment that’s not just a selling point,” he says. “One can only work for so long on the sofa or at the kitchen counter without being distracted by the kids or feeling uncomfortably for sitting too long.” In a time when many are drawing consolation from cooking, the kitchen, has also come into the spotlight. Stylish open kitchens might begin to lose their appeal as dedicated kitchen spaces become more ideal for experimentation. With homes as our last refuge, practising good hygiene in every possible way has also become imperative. We might even see a cultural shift in which the West adopts more Asian practices such as removing shoes before entering someone’s home. Mudrooms, a typical feature of farmhouses, could become a prominent addition because their potential to be designed with washbasins and sterilisation equipment to mitigate germs. It’s clear that cleanliness, efficiency and flexibility are the drivers to watch in the interior design space. 83

T H E N OT- S O - S E C R E T G A R D E N

Flipping the switch on nature, a return to courtyards may be on the horizon.

n the exhibition Countryside, The Future at New York’s Guggenheim Museum, architect Rem Koolhaas explores a pivot from cities to rural areas, challenging the idea that urbanisation is the world’s destiny and proposing

the countryside as a frontier for experimentation. With billions sheltered in place, similar, albeit less drastic, articulations of Koolhaas’ train of thought have emerged. After all, when the best thing about living in cities is the buzzing energy outside, what happens when one can’t go too far beyond the front door? Bringing a form of the outdoors in, courtyards will become an important source of inspiration in both home and retail design in the years to come. As Chan, author of Courtyard Living:

Contemporary Houses of the Asia-Pacific, explains in the South China Morning Post, “These types of dwellings continue to be desired for many of the reasons they were built in the past. Internal gardens and voids admit air and light, create social spaces, extend living areas by becoming protected outdoor ‘rooms’, enhance privacy and cater to indooroutdoor living.” Amid the pandemic, the benefits of sunlight and open air to one’s health have been emphasised. Adds Affleck of Make Architects, “Natural ventilation will be more popular than airconditioning systems that simply recirculate used air.” Lockdowns have also intensified a hunger for the

T H E B OT R E VO L U T I O N

The world has been catapulted into even more advanced and ingenious technology.

orget refrigerators that talk – we want refrigerators that disinfect. Just when we thought we had seen everything, Covid-19 brought into focus a need for sharper, consumer-attuned innovation. Smart gadgets are bound to get even more creative, particularly in tackling personal hygiene. And, while technology in the home has flourished for years, the pandemic is poised to elevate every household’s standards of cleanliness, as well as physical and mental health for both older and younger generations. More than convenience, the features of a smart home, such

as reactive technology, remote control, and automation will be desired for their efficiency and ability to fortify the home. As a result, innovation will stem from real needs and experiences. Frank Chou, a Beijing-based furniture and product designer, has come up with a sterilising lamp, which functions as a tray and lamp that emits UV light. Users can place keys, phones and other small items to be cleaned before proceeding to use them in their homes. Casetify launched a UV sanitiser for

mobile phones, claiming to destroy 99.9 per cent of germs that live on one’s handheld gadget. And then there’s Arizona-headquartered Zero Mass Water, which invented a solar hydropanel that generates ultra-pure water from sunlight and air. The company strives to make a basic need – drinking water – widely available even in low-infrastructure places like Mexico and the Philippines. In the US, the product is used in residential homes and commercial establishments. Not far behind are existing

text BY CATCHON 84

outdoors. It makes sense, then, that when restrictions are lifted, there will be a greater appreciation for spaces that blur the divide. Not limited to the realm of home design, renditions of the courtyard concept may increasingly become prized features of commercial spaces, from hotels and restaurants to retail establishments. Foster + Partners, for one, recently made a strong case for outdoor spaces in its designs of Apple’s flagship stores in Miami and New York, which have been transformed into community plazas that encourage interaction with nature. In the months ahead, businesses may return to normal but what they look like and value will be very different after this.

technologies not commonly seen at home. In bathrooms, for instance, the high-tech toilet and portable bidet prevalent in countries like Japan, and automatic faucets and dryers typically only seen in public washrooms, have been a long time coming. Now that these are presenting concrete solutions to problems such as the shortage of napkins recently experienced in Asia and North America, perhaps they will find their way into private sanctuaries. The bottom line? Consumers will emerge from the crisis with a wholly different mindset and, in the post-pandemic era, tools and developments that can readily demonstrate value will be deemed more urgent over gadgets that are merely nice-tohave. Innovation will stem from real needs and experiences. Visit www.catchonco.com for more on this report.

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F E AT U R E

Oniatta Effendi’s outfit is from the Kasih+Sayang collection from Baju by Oniatta.

A SHOT OF LOCAL FLAVOUR What exactly encapsulates Singapore style or design? We ask 20 creatives, each an icon in their field what they think.

“To me, Singapore style is dynamic and fluid. By this, it means we must be able to acknowledge that we are heavily influenced by what surrounds us – in particular, our neighbours in the region and around the world. The nature of this style comes from us being so cosmopolitan. We also embrace diversity in the things we do, eat, and wear!”

photo BAJU BY ONIATTA

– ONIATTA EFFENDI, BAJU BY ONIATTA

A C O N S TA N T LY E VO LV I N G I D E N T I T Y

To some, the Singaporean style is one that’s constantly evolving. “To me, it’s dynamic and fluid,” shares Oniatta Effendi, designer and founder of batik fashion label Baju

by Oniatta. Natalie Mok, architectural executive at RT+Q Architects, agrees. “The core of Singapore design is to improve experience, and it’s increasingly reflective of

photo 123RF/ BEN GINGELL

he idea of a quintessentially Singaporean style, or local identity, has been explored throughout the nation’s history, but is still something so wonderfully fluid that most people cannot put a finger to it right away. Yet, it is possible to immediately recognise something as “so Singaporean” when you see it. Whether it’s the iconic Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, a poem on HDB void decks, a practical everyday item like the plastic carrier for a cup of kopi peng or our local brand of down-to-earth humour, there is a Singapore spirit that deeply resonates with people. But what exactly is this Singaporean identity – and does it differ according to generation or creative discipline? In celebration of Singapore’s 55th National Day this month, we asked 20 creatives in the local arts and design scene to share their opinions.

The interior of Cure restaurant by Camiel Weijenberg.

“I believe there is no distinctive or definitive Singapore style, design or look. It is more of a collective attitude towards architecture. It’s the constant evolvement and improvement of ideas, revolving around progressive aspirations.”

“For me, Singapore style has shifted from the functional, basic and utilitarian purpose-built designs of the 1960s to 1980s to what we see today: an aesthetic that is more design-focused, taking the best of contemporary international designs and making them our own while respecting local heritage and conditions.”

photo ALBERT LIM K.S.

– NATALIE MOK, RT+Q ARCHITECTS

House of Spice by Rt+Q Architects.

– CAMIEL WEIJENBERG, WEIJENBERG

“It is not limited to any specific look, attitude or approach. It can even be derived from our lifestyle or anything uniquely us – and that may include our quirkiness or things about us others find hard to understand. I’d like to believe that we are still in the midst of a journey to discover our true style. That’s probably because we are still considered a young nation.” – KHAIRUDIN SAHAROM, KITE STUDIO ARCHITECTURE

Khai took inspiration from the HDB void deck, an iconic example of Singapore design, for the Archifest 2018’s pavilion.

photo ALBERT LIM K.S.

innovation and creativity,” she says and cites RT+Q Architects’ House of Spice project as an example of the city-state moving towards architectural design for environmental sustainability. Think terraces for urban farming as well as natural insulation and optimised airflow. Another thing that most creatives agree on is that design in Singapore will continue to adapt and evolve in a post-pandemic era. Becca D’Bus, drag performer and founder of Singapore drag revue RIOT!, muses that visual spectacle will be even more important now that online platforms have become the default – and our sensory experience has come to rely mainly on our eyes and ears. For most, experiencing the arts is a dialogue of communal spirit and energy, something we have to work harder to achieve in a world without crowds. But there is hope. With its potential as a refuge for a shared identity among Singaporeans across the digital divide, design is more essential than ever. How exactly? “We are still searching for the answers,” says Tan Jia Yee, co-founder of creative studio In The Wild. “If we come together as a community and country, and have faith, we can adapt and learn to thrive alongside change.” And it doesn’t matter if, in the end, the exploration never ends, and that we don’t have one single interpretation. Khairudin Saharom, founder of Kite Studio Architecture eloquently addresses this: “Sometimes, definition stifles exploration and creativity. Perhaps leaving it as something intangible might be what truly defines Singapore style.”

SINGAPOREAN

becca d’bus portrait MOONRISE STUDIO

P R AG M AT I S M

Where would Singapore style be without a dash of the pragmatism or kiasu attitude we’re famous for? To twins Santhi and Sari Tunas, founders of apparel brand Binary Style, it’s an attitude of “practicality, convenience and sensibility with a hint of tradition”. Perhaps this is best expressed in Singapore’s careful environmental planning that’s resulted in the flourishing garden city. While the detailed structuring may strike some as safe or boring, it represents the quintessential beauty of Singapore to others. Hossein Rezai, founder of structural engineering firm Web Structures and the President Design Award’s Designer of

the Year 2016, observes that Singapore has been designed in three levels: the detail level, the environment level, and the system level, citing the plastic carrier for our much loved kopi peng, the pruned rain tree canopy along the ECP and HDB public housing as respective examples. Lee Tze Ming, one of the founders of multidisciplinary creative firm Stuck Design, says that good design should be very much connected to the way Singaporeans live. “We try to express this in our work while reminding ourselves to simplify, and to prioritise the question of ‘Why would someone use it’ before ‘What should it look like?’” he says.

“I think of Singapore style as being informed by the weather and one’s level of comfort. it is also about a complicated relationship between what is made and designed by Singaporeans and the region versus what comes out of places like the US and Europe.” – BECCA D’BUS, RIOT! DRAG SHOW

“In terms of design, I don’t think there is a significant Singapore style yet. But brands here are definitely trustworthy and people around the world are willing to partner them.” – JJ CHUAN, REHYPHEN

“Everything in Singapore has been designed to work exactly like it is intended to, from the detail level (think the plastic carrier for cups in hawker centre) to the system level (HDB schemes).” Drag performer Eugene Tan, also known as Becca D’bus, names Pink Dot as a design entity that is quintessentially Singapore.

– HOSSEIN REZAI, WEB STRUCTURES

photo SCENE SHANG

“Singapore style is about practicality, convenience and sensibility with a hint of tradition. It is an attitude!” – SANTHI & SARI TUNAS,

The X-hood, a Covid-19 initiative with healthcare workers by Stuck Design.

photo STUCK DESIGN

BINARY STYLE

“We hope that design can have longevity. It should be loved and connected to the way Singaporeans live. We try to express this in our work while reminding ourselves to simplify, and to prioritise the question of ‘Why would someone use it?’ before ‘What should it look like?’ – LEE TZE MING, STUCK DESIGN

A Binary Style scarf featuring the iconic facade of architect Paul Rudolph’s The Colonnade and hornbills. Santhi and Sari name the Shang System, a contemporary furniture system rooted in history and culture, by local furniture brand Scene Shang as an example of Singapore design.

A B L E N D O F C U LT U R E S AND TRADITIONS

The notion of a rojak of different cultural influences and identities is by far the most common thread when it comes to identity. Given Singapore’s history and our close ties with neighbouring countries, it’s not surprising to learn that most creatives feel that there is no singular attitude or approach to define Singapore style, but rather a colourful mix of the local and international, traditional and modern. “Sometimes, as we are making an arrangement, we’d say, ‘This feels very Singaporean.’ And it can be for a variety of reasons. We do not fit into neat boxes!” says John Lim, founder of floral atelier The Humid House. This tapestry of cultural influences stretches across all creative fields, it seems, including art and music. Artist Sun Yu-Li, who created the sculptures outside Suntec City and Singapore Art Museum, points to communal artworks as examples. For NDP51, for instance, he gathered 40,000 members of the public, who each added their personal interpretation of Singapore to a mosaic. “People draw something from memory or heritage, which contributes to the richness of the canvas,” he says. The mosaic is now on display outside the Singapore Sports Hub. This expression of multicultural influences is also found in individual works of art. “The most consistent and recognisable has been designers’ reinterpretation of Singapore stories using visual

The communal spirit and energy of a live audience play a part in shaping the music.

Jack and Rai at a live show.

icons from the architecture and objects that are uniquely Singapore,” shares Carolyn Kan, founder of jewellery brand Carrie K. One of her favourite designs features the diamond shape of the National Theatre built in the 1960s, a “gem we created together and which spurred our local arts and cultural landscape,” she says.

“There is a Singapore style that exists but we think that it’s more like a philosophy. One that forms the basis of the way we think and do things, ultimately leading to how we behave and express ourselves. However, it isn’t original. Instead, it is an amalgamation of different cultures, from ethnic to pop, that influences the end product.” – JACK AND RAI, SINGER-SONGWRITERS

photo CARRIE K

Carrie K’s Icon jewellery collection is inspired by diamond motifs of the National Theatre’s facade.

“Singapore is a melting pot of styles that builds off our layered culture. The most consistent and recognisable has been designers’ reinterpretation of Singapore stories using visual icons in architecture and objects uniquely Singapore.” – CAROLYN KAN, CARRIE K

“Singapore style is a mood. Something that’s evocative of our melting pot, our climate... like rojak (the dish); a melange of various things where the sum is greater than its parts.” – JOHN LIM, THIS HUMID HOUSE

photo THIS HUMID HOUSE

“Singapore style is a mishmash of styles as we are a true cultural crossroads. I don’t think we should worry about having a style, to be honest. I think being who we are allows us to have more space to play with.” – YAH-LENG YU, FOREIGN POLICY DESIGN

A contemporary flower arrangement by This Humid House.

Artist Sun Yu-Li in his studio, surrounded by artwork.

“We can see some designers drawing inspiration from local cultures, elements and nuances, and applying them to their works. Others, having adapted and accepted international exposure, are executing their interpretations through implied sensibilities.” – DAVID THAM, STUDIONORM DESIGN CONSULTANT

photo WOHA ARCHITECTS

“The idea of Singapore style has always been a quest for all Singaporeans. It’s something that comes from the heart and is created by Singaporeans of all races, cultures and backgrounds.” – SUN YU-LI, ARTIST

“Singapore design interlaces other Asian influences with our history, heritage and dualities. East and West, the traditional and the futuristic, as well as our multicultural society make up the fabric of this nation.” photo JULIANA TAN

David named Kampung Admiralty, Singapore’s first integrated public development designed by WOHA Architects, as an example.

– TAN JIA YEE, IN THE WILD

“I regard [Singapore style] as a stereotypical term that is used loosely on things that exist here, and which can be experienced in abundance such as the types of food and the way people speak and behave.” – TIMO WONG, STUDIO JUJU

Priscilla Lui and Timo Wong, the founders of Studio Juju.

Bustling Streets of Chinatown by Lim Tze Peng.

“I think the beauty of Singapore lies in the richness of its influences. Though we are a small country, we unite an incredibly diverse mix of backgrounds and creative styles, and this unity gives rise to a style so rich and complex that it is beyond definition.” – JAZZ CHONG, ODE TO ART

text MELODY BAY AND ASIH JENIE

F E AT U R E

T I F FA N Y LOY, t ex t i l e d e s i g n e r a n d w e ave r

THE NEXT WAVE Marching to their own beat and shaking up the local art and design industry, here are the up-and-coming local creatives to keep your eye on.

s the nation commemorates its 55th birthday, we also celebrate the various local talents who continue to sculpt and change Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arts, design and culture terrain. In this issue, we cast the spotlight on a new breed of Singapore creatives, from artists and sculptors to furniture makers and designers, who bring with them a fresh crop of ideas and perspectives.

The art of weaving is experiencing a contemporary revival â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and Tiffany Loy is one to watch in this field. The industrial designer-turnedweaver took up textile weaving at Kawashima Textile School in Kyoto and first set up her studio in 2014. She melds her knowledge of product design with textile making to create 3-D objects and spaces, while also focusing on material structure at a micro level. To date, she has worked with the likes of The Rug Makers, Uniqlo (for an installation) and Alma Leather and has won the Design Anthology Award (Textiles). A recent graduate of the Royal College of Art, she will be exploring and creating bespoke textiles for interior companies. Website: www.tiffanyloy.com Instagram: @tffnyly

LIEW YU HUA, furniture designer a n d m a ke r

A lifelong appreciation of trees led to Liew Yu Hua taking a leap of faith to embark on a furnituremaking course in the UK. The wood she works with – from the grain to the growth of wood rings and knots – is at the crux of her pieces, which are shaped by hand and eye rather than with computer-aided drawings. She also seeks inspiration from the people whose stories

inspire her and forms found in nature. The highlight of her woodworking journey is the Songjun Cabinet, a personal project made with wood that was gifted by her mentor. What’s next in the pipeline? She hopes to launch a sculptural furniture collection next year that explores a more fluid and organic style. Website: www.secretlifeoftrees.com. Instagram: @secretlifeoftrees_

H OW I E K I M , freelance visual artist

“THE FORMS FOUND IN NATURE REPRESENT THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM. THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM IN DESIGN, WITHOUT THE MANY RESTRICTIONS I SEE IN MASS-PRODUCED FURNITURE, IS CENTRAL TO MY WORK.” – LIEW YU HUA, FURNITURE-DESIGNER MAKER

It’s easy to be drawn to visual artist Howie Kim’s arresting works, which he describes with adjectives like surreal, whimsical, strange and cute. Delving into Internet culture for inspiration, from memes and viral videos to selfies, he works across various mediums, including digital illustrations, animations, photo manipulations, paintings, and, most recently, augmented reality filters. It has only been about four years since Howie, who has a fine arts bachelor’s degree from Lasalle College of the Arts, stepped into the industry but the visual artist boasts a clientele of brands, including DBS Singapore, Apple, Tiger Beer, IWC Schaffhausen and local musician Gentle Bones. Website: www.howiekim.com Instagram: @howie759

CELINE NG, industrial designer

From working with brands to create exhibition booths, installations and digital showcases to launching its own furniture collection, Fraction Design Studio has done it all. It is headed by Celine Ng, who set it up after being invited to brainstorm creative concepts by Xtra Designs and Swedish flooring company Bolon for SingaPlural in 2016. The studio, which has exhibited on international platforms like Milan Design Week, received the Golden Pin Design Mark in 2019. It’s full steam ahead for Celine, who will be partnering Sevenvine Design and Office Planner to create hybrid office pieces enhanced with technology and height adjustability. Website: www.fraction.sg. Instagram: @fractionsg

“I BELIEVE IN DESIGNING WITH CONTEXT IN MIND. I’M INQUISITIVE BY NATURE AND LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WORK AND ARE MADE, THE PHILOSOPHY AND ORIGINS OF THE BRANDS, AND WHO THE PRODUCT IS FOR.” – KARYN LIM, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER

KARYN LIM, industrial designer

Minimalistic aesthetics that allow a product’s concept to shine through characterise the work of Karyn Lim, who collaborates with brands to conceptualise and develop products and accessories. Her love for contemporary design started during an exchange programme in Paris. Since then, she has showcased her works at Milan Design Week and designed 96

for brands like La Prairie, Zanotta and Samsung, as well as worked alongside prominent designers Sabine Marcelis and Erwan Bouroullec. The soonto-be graduate of Switzerland’s Lausanne University of Art and Design (ECAL), where she’s been studying luxury design and craftsmanship, is looking forward to working with local and international brands, manufacturers and artisans.

Website: www.karynlim. com Instagram: @ karyn.lim

ZULKHAIRI ZULKIFLEE, artist-curator

An artist-curator and educator, Zulkhairi’s interest lies in lens-based arts, which entail digital photography and materials like archived or appropriated images. The topics he explores are often centred around identity, specifically Malayness and masculinity, and how they are informed by the dynamics and asymmetry of multiculturalism and Eurocentrism. His work has earned him awards like Art Outreach Singapore’s IMPART Award (Curator). He was also the recipient of the 2019 Objectifs Curator Open Call. Most recently, Zulkhairi conceptualised his showcase-exhibition How to Desire Differently, which runs till Aug 7 this year at Lim Hak Tai Gallery.

photo ART OUTREACH SINGAPORE

Instagram: @sikapgroup

MORGAN, LINCOLN A N D R YA N Y E O , b e s p o ke c a r p e n t r y

As a homage to their late father Roger, who ran system furniture company JR&P Industries, brothers Morgan, Lincoln and Ryan Yeo rebranded the company to Roger&Sons after taking over the reins of the family business. Exposed to the craft at a young age, they often helped out in the workshop during their schooldays, and function before form is at the heart of their design philosophy. This, along with showcasing the beauty of wood and immaculate detailing, has culminated in exceptionally crafted bespoke furniture. Their focus right now is on the Local Tree Project, an ethical furniture initiative that salvages trees

felled for urban development. In fact, they’ve worked with Mandai Park Development and Tan Tock Seng Hospital to create public furniture made from fallen trees. Website: www.rogerandsons.sg Instagram: @rogerandsons

“WHEN WE GREW UP, IF SOMETHING WAS BROKEN, WE HAD TO FIX IT OURSELVES. FROM THAT AGE, OUR LOVE FOR BUILDING THINGS WITH OUR HANDS STARTED TO GROW.” – MORGAN, LINCOLN AND RYAN YEO OF ROGER&SONS

“FOR ME, ART IS ABOUT GIVING VIEWERS SOMETHING THEY CAN CONNECT WITH THROUGH THEIR MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES, AND INVITING THEM TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION.”

HAFIIZ KARIM, artist and digital art director

Better known by his moniker The Next Most Famous Artist, Hafiiz Karim is a digital art director by day and an artist by night. He is best known for his photo manipulation of historical art figures placed in a present-day, often Singaporean context. Think Hans Gude’s Fishing with a Harpoon with Marina Bay Sands in the background. The series started when he was pursuing a master in Asian art histories at LaSalle College of the Arts, which exposed him to 98

various artworks. He was then intrigued by and experimented with the juxtaposition of classical Western figures and Singapore’s modern setting. The creative whizz, who has garnered a sizeable following on social media and also created a series for Visit Singapore, continues to make and sell art and prints that respond to current events. Website: www thenextmostfamousartist. com. Instagram: @ thenextmostfamousartist

- HAFIIZ KARIM, ARTIST AND DIGITAL ART DIRECTOR

ELIZABETH GAN, potter

Potter and founder of ceramic studio School of Clay Arts, which she started in 2016, Elizabeth cites the Taoist concept of wu wei (or nonaction) as her inspiration. Effortlessness is a natural result of the deep practice of her craft. At her studio, she hosts workshops and pottery classes. She also has a retail arm that produces commercial ceramic ware. Spot these at Michelin-starred restaurants Meta and Cloudstreet, as well as at clothing brands Our Second Nature, Apartment Coffee and furniture company Dreams. Together with her husband, she recently launched The Primary Occurrent, an online retail business that focuses on home goods. Website: www.schoolofclayarts. com Instagram: @schoolofclayarts

TA N YA N G E R , multidisciplinary artist and set designer

Not having formal art training hasn’t stopped self-taught Yang Er from building an impressive resume that ranges from installation to set design and art directing. For starters, her works have gained international recognition. She was crowned Best Visual Art Director at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) in Korea for her work on the set of The Sam Willows’ Keep Me Jealous music video. Apart from working with text MICHELLE LEE

heavyweights like Singapore Airlines, Sony Music and Guerlain under her practice Yangermeister Studios, she also scored a gig as a production designer for the TV series Mixed Signals. You’ll want to keep an eye out for more of her public art installations like her previous interactive ASMR Wonderland creation on Sentosa. Website: www.yangermeister.com Instagram: @yangermeister_

F E AT U R E

LOCALLY MADE, LOCALLY GROWN We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to look too far to find custom-made sustainable wood furniture in Singapore. Some trees even grow in our gardens.

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photos ZHEN FENG OBJECT WORKSHOP

othing expresses warmth and timelessness like wood. And furniture made of it can last for generations. Since wood comes from trees and trees need space to grow, you don’t necessarily think of Singapore as a timber producer. But Singapore does produce tree logs, albeit unintentionally. However, these are cut fresh and so have limited peak times before they rot. They are usually byproducts of our insatiable developments and city-ina-garden vision, with parks built all over the island and connected by a network to create one large, lush garden. Local timbers are resilient tropical hardwoods to boot, and include angsana, tembusu, rain tree and African mahogany. But, being a thoroughly urban city, Singapore has a preference for importing wood and lacks infrastructure to process tree logs into usable forms. As a result, there are multiple sawmills in Singapore with stockpiles of abandoned logs. “More than 100 arrive each day, with no immediate purpose other than to be turned into wood chips or shipping pallets someday,” share Morgan, Lincoln and Ryan Yeo, the founders of Roger&Sons. Around 15,000 more trees are slated to be felled over the next 15 years. A number of local furniture makers have been turning this untapped resource into desirable objects while others have explored more sustainable options like bamboo and rattan. Here are some of them.

ZHEN FENG O B J E C T WO R K S H O P

A multidisciplinary designand-build studio founded by husband and wife, Chun Kaifeng and Gan Zhenyi, Zhen Feng Object Workshop (ZFOW) operates from a 1,076 sq ft workshop at Ubi Techpark. The compact workshop runs around a CNC machine that enables the company to cut and carve complex designs out of wood. Although ZFOW mainly designs, produces and retails a unique line of small-batch furniture, the company also offers customisation and modifications of their objects as well as custom artworks and signage to fit clients’ needs. Engineered bamboo composite panels are ZFOW’s signature material sourced from Anji, a designated ecological zone in China. “We try not to use solid wood and

contribute to deforestation,” says Kaifeng. These panels have excellent tensile strength and flexibility, and their density and hardness are well suited for CNC machining. These properties have allowed ZFOW to be explorative with its furniture design. Some of its most popular products are the rustic yet comfortable Fixture Armchair and the Multipurpose Stackable Low Stool. The latter can double as a low table for snacking that is well-suited for compact HDB flats. The armchair retails at $880 and the low stool at $136 while a range of coffee tables starts from $480. 10 Ubi Crescent #07-33 Ubi Techpark, Lobby B Tel: 8152-3242 www.zhenfengobjectworkshop.com

“WE TRY NOT TO USE SOLID WOOD AND CONTRIBUTE TO DEFORESTATION.” – CHUN KAIFENG, FOUNDER, ZHEN FENG OBJECT WORKSHOP

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photos THE TABLE GUY

“TO WASTE THE WOOD THROUGH IMPROPER MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE IS A CRIME.” – SAMANTHA ZHUANG, CMO, THE TABLE GUY

T H E TA B L E G U Y

The Table Guy comprises a team of five operating a workshop, a showroom and a stockroom in three adjacent units at Richfield Industrial Centre. It produces solid wood furniture, ranging from slab tables and bed frames to cabinets and storage. And, while all the solid wood carpentry is done in the workshop, the company engages material specialists in Singapore (like cement, glass, metal, so on) to help create projects requiring additional materials. The Table Guy sources its mahogany locally and buys other woods from around the region such as rain tree wood from Indonesia and white oak from China. The suppliers

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share a common trait: environmentally responsible practices and proper treatment and respect for the material. “These come from our natural environment. To waste the wood through improper management and storage is a crime,” says chief marketing officer (CMO) Samantha Zhuang. The company is also a wood slab concierge, whose mission is to hunt and curate specific solid wood slabs based on clients’ requirements. It considers solid wood slabs artworks as the grains are one-of-a-kind, and believes every client should take the time to find the exact slab that resonates with them.

Each custom-made piece is tailored to a client’s space. The design of one bed headboard, for instance, was modified accordingly once The Table Guy realised that the client’s original design did not allow them to fit it in without first having to knock down some walls. Slab tables range from $1,600 to $4,000 while commissioned pieces can go up to $10,000, depending on materials and hardware. Prices typically include delivery and installation. 122 Eunos Avenue 7 #04-04 Richfield Industrial Centre Tel: 8499-8989 www.thetableguy.sg

U R B A N S A LVAT I O N

photo VALERIE ONG

solid wood and other materials. “These quality materials together with our expert craftsmanship allow us to build unique products that last a lifetime,” shares Ahmad. The industrial-style Shaf TV console, for instance, combines a solid wood slab and expertly crafted metal base. The company also takes pride in its holistic service, which involves the client in every step of the process to create a product both are happy with. The larger pieces from Urban Salvation range between $1,500 to $3,000; small decor items start at $200. 9005 Tampines Street 93 Tel: 8338-8955 www.urbansalvation.com

photos URBAN SALVATION

Urban Salvation operates from a 2,000 sq ft workshop and showroom at Tampines Industrial Park A. “The name Urban Salvation was derived from our belief of a sustainable approach to creating artisanal furniture that utilises quality reclaimed material to reduce waste,” says company founder Ahmad Habshee, who established the company in 2015. Today, it employs eight craftsmen and produces bespoke pieces, ranging from TV consoles, dining sets and bookshelves to coffee tables and many more. Urban Salvation uses mainly sustainably grown teak from Indonesia and a sizeable amount of locally reclaimed

RATTAN: A SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TO WOOD

“THESE QUALITY MATERIALS TOGETHER WITH OUR EXPERT CRAFTSMANSHIP ALLOW US TO BUILD UNIQUE PRODUCTS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.”

We can’t talk about sustainable furniture without bringing up rattan. The family of climbing palms takes just five to seven years to harvest. Since it needs hardwood trees to climb on, its cultivation could contribute to the survival of forest ecosystems in its origin countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia. And did you know that Singapore has a rattan furniture shop that’s older than the country itself? Located at the end of an HDB corridor in Bukit Merah, Chun Mee Lee Rattan Furniture has been making and selling handcrafted rattan chairs, tables, shelves and accessories since the 1920s. It is still run by its founding family, and helmed by 72-yearold rattan furniture craftsman Chen Foon Kee. Besides selling furniture and accepting orders, Chun Mee Lee also restores and repairs vintage rattan furniture. 122 Bukit Merah Lane 1 Tel: 6278-2388

– AHMAD HABSHEE, FOUNDER, URBAN SALVATION

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ROGER&SONS

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recommends timber salvaged from these felled local trees. Some of its salvaged wood furniture can be seen in the public spaces at the Singapore Zoo. The Yeos plan to release a line of furniture and objects made from local timber early next year that will be available to buy online. It also plans to become a fully sustainable company in the future, which embeds sustainability in all of their processes and uses all sustainable materials, including adhesives and finishing. 115 King George’s Avenue, #01-01 Tel: 6269-6269 www.rogerandsons.sg

photos ROGER&SONS

Helmed by three brothers, Roger & Sons is a 21-strong team of designers and craftspeople operating a studio and showroom in the Jalan Besar area and a production workshop in Woodlands. The company produces all sorts of objects, from furniture pieces to small accessories, using sustainable materials and production methods. “We push boundaries on what we can build, focusing on practical functionality before form,” share brothers Morgan, Lincoln and Ryan Yeo. “With our knowledge in design and fabrication, we are able to advise clients on different approaches in the fabrication process, and to help them utilise different woods to improve on the overall aesthetic to elevate their design.” Featuring floor-to-ceiling carpentry and a myriad objects made of wood salvaged from local trees, Roger&Sons’ studio is a testament to the team’s woodworking expertise and robust business ethics, One of its recent creations is a levitating shaver, featuring a base and a shaving brush crafted from local raintree wood and embedded with magnets. The company’s The Local Tree project is an ongoing effort to salvage trees destined to die to make space for new developments. Roger&Sons works with all sorts of sustainable timbers. However, whenever possible, the team

photos ARTHUR ZAARO

ARTHUR ZAARO

Arthur Zaaro is well known for its Sustainable Singapore Wood cutting boards handcrafted from locally felled trees. What’s not so well known is the fact that it was founded way back in 2006 by American carpenter Aaron Arthur Foeste as a restoration and custom furniture company. Arthur Zaaro works with designers and architects, as well as direct customers for custom objects. The company sources 90 per cent of its timber from Singapore while the remaining 10 is from Indonesia and elsewhere, depending on the clients’ needs. Today, the company operates a showroom and a workshop in the Eunos area, as well as a space in Kranji where it receives, processes and dries the freshly cut trees. We asked Aaron to share more:

HOW DID THE IDEA OF USING

WHAT’S YOUR BESPOKE

LOCALLY FELLED TREES

FURNITURE SERVICE LIKE AND

COME ABOUT?

DO YOU ACCEPT WALK-INS?

We’ve recognised for years that the trees being cut during landscaping, road maintenance and construction projects in Singapore are some of the world’s finest tropical hardwoods. But we didn’t have a way to use the wood because Singapore doesn’t have a timber-mill industry. The wood is usually cut up and shipped out, made into chips for fertiliser or disposed of. The logistics are complicated and expensive as the big slabs need to dry for a couple years after they’re cut. But I decided it’s worth it to incur the extra expense and time to use local wood after I became unsure of exactly how sustainable the imported wood really is. And why waste fuel and packaging to import wood that’s not even as high quality as the trees being cut here?

We are trying to work on an appointment basis to ensure there aren’t too many people here at one time. And, yes, you can walk in with no plans and be inspired by what you see here, and what we can collaborate on to produce. WHAT CREATIONS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

Our Sustainable Singapore Wood cutting boards! Everyone can enjoy them, regardless of the size of their flat. On the other end of the spectrum, I am very proud of some of our large Singapore rain tree and Singapore African mahogany dining tables. Also, the complicated book match joinery, epoxy resin work and the hand-sanded and -finished one-of-a-kind art pieces. WHAT’S THE PRICE RANGE OF YOUR PRODUCTS?

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WOODWORKING STUDIO.

Our workshop and showroom are next to each other in Eunos, convenient for customers who want to the see work in progress. Our team consists of dedicated craftsmen and women. Most have many years of fine carpentry experience and several have attended design programmes offered at LaSalle and such.

text ASIH JENIE

Cutting boards start at $45. These are a labour of love and not a huge money maker, but we don’t want to stop making them. Desks, coffee tables and side tables start at around $500 while larger pieces are in the $8,000 range. But don’t let that scare you off. Those are, like, 5m-long conference tables and more. A typical dining table is in the $1,500 to $3,000 range.

122 Eunos Avenue 7 #08-07 Richfield Industrial Centre Tel: 9147-9124 www. arthurzaaro.com

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T R AV E L

A MOROCCAN ODYSSEY In an extraordinary turn of events, Home & Decor travel writer DEVANSHI MODY’s typical assignment to Morocco turned into an extensive three-month quarantine. Find out what happened and what the country has to offer in times of a pandemic.

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am scheduled to begin a month-long assignment in Morocco on 5 March. Amidst the growing global alarm over Covid-19, my brother strenuously urged against travel. He warns, “By 15 March this will explode, there will be a pandemic, airports will shut, flights will be cancelled, you will be stranded- maybe for months. Don’t travel!” My 72-year-old mother, who has medical complications, is meant to travel with me and she is violently opposed to the trip. However, Morocco’s grandest ultra-luxe resorts, which I am on assignment to review,

assure that Morocco is perfectly safe. The travel industry, including tour operators and the airline we are booked on, urges that if all travel writers stopped travelling and the media announced advisories against travel, tourism would collapse with terrible economic repercussions. So, I land up in Morocco, coercing my mother into the trip, to crusade for its tourism. Ironically, just after I land I find myself attacked by a tour operator, who says the common cold takes more lives than Corona virus, but the “sensationalist media” is inciting

photo 123RF/MYKOLA IVASHCHENKO TO P

Many parts of the country are still beautifully conserved. LE FT

A sprawling city rises out of the barren desert.

photo 123RF/RYZHKOVOLEKSANDR

RIGH T

Ali El Hajouji from MyTravelKeys. com

trip cancellations, engendering economic harakiri. “The media is more dangerous than Corona!” He barks. Nevertheless, we spend a splendid 10 days luxuriating in Marrakech’s pleasure palaces. Mother’s anxieties intensify but I am absorbed in Marrakech’s vertiginous pulsation of bazaars, the romance of riads, sultry hammams and groomed gardens, whilst tour operator Cristian Martinus, owner of Sun Trails has me discover architectural jewels, like the fabled Bahia Palace, Pasha’s Palace and Saadian Tombs, with their mesmerising splendour of mosaics, intricately sculpted ceilings and doors, splendid artefacts and inner courtyard gardens lavish with orange trees. Then, precisely on 15 March, things “explode.” Just as my brother predicted. Flights are cancelled suddenly. Morocco goes into lockdown. Hotels shut, expelling guests. Homelessness looms. We transfer to Casablanca. Here, a humanitarian young Moroccan, Ali El Hajouji of MyTravelKeys. com, is helping stranded tourists and rescues us with an apartment in Casablanca’s chicest quarters Anfa. Surprisingly, of all the Moroccan cities I visited, Casablanca I enjoy most, even if

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CONFINEMENT IN CASABLANCA IS A PERIOD OF INVITING INTROSPECTION, AN EXTRAORDINARY, EVEN ELEVATING

CASABLANCA

EXPERIENCE.

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introspection. We have come to regard travel, luxury, liberty and life itself in such limited ways that being stranded in a lockdown can actually be a refreshingly liberating experience. When lockdowns keep extending and flights don’t resume, we finally write to the Indian Prime Minister (my mother is an Indian citizen and we currently live in India), who speedily organised a repatriation charter. We are finally home after three months. Now that we are safely back, and after a good night’s rest in my own bed, I am able to reflect on the design highlights of the trip. For those interested to give this destination a visit when the lockdown ends, here are some spots worth checking out.

photo HORAN CHRISTIAN/FOUR SEASONS

I know it only in the context of the lockdown. I manage to go on long evening walks before the evening curfew and explore elegant neighbourhoods. If a city can enchant you even during a lockdown then there is something to be said about it and indeed its people who sustain us for three months, ensuring we want for nothing. Most remarkable is Ali who says we are like family and hosts us graciously, waiving months worth of rent. Moreover, the Indian Association provides us homecooked meals, personally delivered by the Association’s secretary, whilst the charitable AINKD Association assists with sundry and other requirements. Confinement in Casablanca is a period of inviting

M Y T R AV E L K E YS . COM You’d think that Humphrey Bogart had conferred eternal romance upon Casablanca but whilst the eponymous Hollywood classic enjoys eternal fame the city it was set in blipped into oblivion. Curious, given that this maritime city, Morocco’s commercial hub, is the most sophisticated city in the destination with almost a Parisian chic about it splashed with North African hospitality. And nowhere will you savour it better than if you check into Vacation Rentals Casablanca and interact with founder and host Ali El Hajouji who can indeed transform into a God-sent angel if you happen to be stranded in Casablanca, homeless and helpless. Not only did he volunteer to host (yes host, without charge) stranded tourists in his clutch of highend apartments scattered around the swishest parts of town but he has been known to extend the stay, for months on end, for tourists unable to exit Morocco post lockdown. You wouldn’t complain being locked into one of these smart addresses, which Ali decorates “a ma facon,” (in my way) he says. Expect interiors worthy of a Parisian apartment with muted colours, sleek sofas, fluffy carpets offset by funky artwork recalling a Manhattan apartment. What you won’t find in Paris or Manhattan, however, is hospitality like Ali’s. www.mytravelkeys.com

photo HORAN CHRISTIAN/FOUR SEASONS

FOUR SEASONS H OT E L C A S A B L A N C A Streaked by the mighty Atlantic, wreathed in lush lawns, this sleek marbled edifice distinguishes itself amongst Morocco’s ultra luxe numbers by being resolutely modern and unapologetically international in its feel. The lobby’s decorative paraphernalia includes showcases displaying high-end jewellery, the colours of the precious stones evoking the vibrant colours of bougainvillea gushing over the walls of Casablanca’s luxury villas. The Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca passes for a business hotel and yet it boasts North Africa’s only Bulgari spa. Just the place to snug up into after your long and winding wander through the plush and leafy purlieus of Anfa Hill atop which the hotel is perched. Suites can be small but stylish. The real luxury comes in vast marbled bathrooms, endowed with Bulgari blue tea toiletries capturing the breezy freshness of the hotel’s seaside location. Housekeeping at this hotel is especially good. http://fourseasons.com/casablanca

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MARRAKECH M A N DA R I N O R I E N TA L MARRAKECH This resort merits braving Covid to reach Morocco, you will surely decide, as your butler checks you into a stunner pool villa the size of a small country with outdoors jacuzzi enshrined in moorish architecture and a shower-room that turns into a sauna. In the living room a bottle of Ruinart lazes coolly on an ice bed, to the swoon of myriad exotic Moroccan homecrafted delicacies made with almond paste, rose water, l’eau

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d’orangier and saffron. Come evening, your butler escorts you to supper on Ling-Ling’s enchanting terrace overlooking a pool set in glorious gardens exuding the mystique of Morocco. As for the spa, now this is the most beautifully architectured moorish spa you have seen, a masterpiece of architecture recalling classic Moroccan heritage in a suave contemporary space. https://www. mandarinoriental.com/ marrakech/la-medina

T H E R OYA L MANSOUR

THIS HOTEL IS A STUPENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN HAND CRAFTSMANSHIP, INDEED A GALLERY FOR THE EXHIBITION OF MOROCCO’S GRAND ARTS AND CRAFTS EXECUTED BY ARTISANS ASSEMBLED FROM ACROSS MOROCCO.

This the King of Morocco’s own hotel. And considering its regal trappings, it has lured everyone who is anyone from statesmen and the literati to the glitterati. This hotel is a stupendous achievement in hand craftsmanship, indeed a gallery for the exhibition of Morocco’s grand arts and crafts executed by artisans assembled from across Morocco. Accommodation is uniquehere, you have free-standing duplex riads (at USD$3000/night the priciest five-star lodgings in Morocco) scattered across sprawling gardens. These riads, although much celebrated, can sometimes feel tight and smell musty. Never mind, drink up the champagne- the higher categories of riads come with a bottle of Billecart Salmon champagne. It’s easy to finish a bottle of champagne over a poolside lunch as you watch guests laze around opulent lawns. Supper at the hotel’s much-vaunted Moroccan restaurant La Grande Table Marocaine is an exercise in dinner theatre. The restaurant is a little beauty. Expect servers in splendid Moroccan garbs aswirl around French men and women in haute-couture. https://www.royalmansour.com

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R E L A I S & C H AT E A U X LA VILLA DES ORANGERS Its facade is deceptively unexciting. Then you enter an oasis of bliss. You feel soothed at entry, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a vibe about the place. And the best-ever freshsqueezed orange juice, besides an eclectic collection of artwork and antiques collected from the world over by the French owners along their travels and tastefully disposed in the luxury riad. The three dining spaces are especially alluringwho needs the fire place when the service is as warm as it is flawless. There are three pools too, including a rooftop number, but the principal pool glitters

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like a jewel set in emerald gardens. The poolside terrace is where to lunch on avocado salad whilst the poolside al fresco seating is just the place for aperitifs- think Louis Roederer champagne, dainty canapes and the choicest olives, almonds, pistachios and peanuts in Morocco. Dine on ravishing homemade ravioli served with Moroccan wines and culminating in salted caramel ice cream if not dark chocolate tart. https://www.villadesorangers. com/en

SELMAN MARRAKECH This hotel seems to have more marble than the Taj Mahal and Oriental artwork and antiques (the ownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; private collection) than a small museum. Expect an almost suffocating exuberance of Persian rugs, Syrian antiques and Venetian chandeliers. One of the key highlights in the resort is a stable full of impeccably groomed Arabian thorough-bred stallions, their manes shampooed, dried and plaited. It was in this stable, that Madonna threw her 60th birthday recently. The hotel Jacques Garcia designed, with its brooding sexiness, has the sexiest suites in Morocco. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be advised to pick the all-inclusive plan if only to avail of the best open mini-bar to exist on earth stocked with Louis Roederer, premium nuts and chocolates. The terraces come with views over the longest pool in Africa. Beyond, the Atlas Mountains waver gleamingly in the backdrop. Ensure you are gorgeously attired for supper at their iconic Moroccan restaurant Assyl. This is amongst the most astonishing restaurants with sumptuous seating and enormous glittering chandeliersenough to outshine the most ostentatious Venetian palace. http://www.selmanmarrakech.com/en/default.html

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ATLAS MOUNTAINS K A S B A H TA M A D OT Sir Richard Branson’s resort in the Atlas Mountains occupies what was the erstwhile villa of an Italian antiques dealer and continues to be a repository of beauteous antiques. What a contrast- this sophistication of art in an indigenous berber space set against the majesty of the snow-draped Atlas Mountains. Accommodation includes berber tents put up

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in gardens where peacocks dance. If you can brave the cold, breakfast on private pooled terraces with views over verdant valleys. There’s a restaurant with a local feel for supper but arrange to dine privately in the antique-filled library that turns romantic by night. Between meals explore the three valleys with Sun Trails or go off on a trek with the hotel’s capable berber guides. https://www.virginlimitededition. com/en/kasbah-tamadot

SKOURA DA R FA R AC H A From the people behind Bab Ourika, the much-acclaimed eco-conscious rustic chic luxury haven in the Ourika Valley boasting perhaps the most gorgeous cascading gardens in the Atlas Mountains. Dar Faracha, sensitively decorated, is a private villa that can be rented out. It remains Morocco’s best-kept secret. You can use it as a base from which to explore the incredible surrounds of languid rose and almond-tree valleys, lush hushed palm-groved oases and stark canyons descending into the vast Sahara. The less adventurous won’t despair to linger close to home and venture out but for gourmet picnics- comprising veggies from the property’s own organic gardens. http://www.darfaracha.com

text DEVANSHI MODY

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I N S TO R E

PICTURE PERFECT BenQâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portable GS2 wireless projector is set to upgrade your Netflix binge or console gaming sessions. It comes in a sleek cube-shaped design and supports both wireless and wired devices. Beaming images up to 80 inches with a vivid LED light display, it automatically senses ambient light and adjusts its brightness. Kid-friendly features are available too, like a Parental Timer that manages usage time, and eye-protection sensors that turn it off when children get in front of the device. The GS2 wireless portable projector retails at $849 (before GST), available exclusively at the BenQ Store on Lazada.

T R AC K & R E C O R D Step up the security of your premises with the EZVIZ C6T wireless IP indoor camera. Promising full HD quality videos, the camera can pan and tilt, presenting a 360-degree horizontal view of your room. Other smart features include motion tracking, night visibility and two-way audio. Keep tabs on your home or playful pets from wherever you are through an app, and recorded footage can be stored in a microSD card (sold separately) or in a cloud at a fee. What sets it apart is that it can be integrated with alarm sensors (not included), and sends images to your smartphone when triggered. The EZVIZ C6T Full HD IP Camera With Built-in Alarm Hub retails at $129, and is available at selected Courts outlets.

CLEAN AIR ON THE GO Be it in your bedroom, in the car or at work, you can be sure of clean air wherever you are with LGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new PuriCare Mini Air Purifier. The compact wireless gadget, which weighs just 530g, adopts an advanced air purification technology that is certified to remove up to 99 per cent of 0.3 micron-sized ultra-fine dust, airborne particles and allergens, as well as harmful substances like heavy metals. It has a smart display that detects air quality in realtime, provides ample but quiet air flow and can be remotely controlled on an app via bluetooth. A single charge powers it for up to eight hours. The LG PuriCare Mini retails at $349, and is available at the LG store on Lazada.

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text MICHELLE LEE

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HARD TRUTH

Young Lim, editor-in-chief

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Like the creatives featured in this issue, the Home and Decor team is a diverse mix of nationalities and cultures – but all of us call Singapore home, and have lived and worked here for many years in the local design scene. Here, we each weigh in on our personal definition of Singapore style.

“Singapore architecture has evolved so much from its original colonial influence and developed its own unique style. We can see there’s more environmental awareness in both architecture and design, and green buildings are gaining popularity, like Park Royal Pickering which I love. Singapore’s definitely emerging as a model for sustainable design in Asia.” Nonie Chen, senior art director

“When I think of Singapore style, I think of large, common spaces that the public can enjoy, and also being kiasu. The Jewel Changi Airport is a great example of both -- it has the tallest indoor waterfall in the world, an artificial rainforest, and a glass dome that opens up to the sky, all in one place.” Kristy Quah, art director

“To me, Singapore style wouldn’t be complete without a practical element. Perhaps it’s due to an ingrained awareness of our space and resource constraints, but when I look at most design projects, they’re both functional and beautiful

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-- this applies to architecture, interiors, and products. One of my favourite examples is the upcoming Founders’ Memorial, which provides plenty of flexible space for public use and has an organic shape that looks like it’s rising out of the surrounding natural landscape.” Melody Bay, writer

“Like its diverse mix of identities and cultures, Singapore design to me is multi-faceted. There are those which push boundaries and are influenced by current societal issues, while others are rooted in tradition. But if I must define it, I’d say that it is one that nods to our unique heritage and culture while remaining relevant, pragmatic, and which suits our everevolving lifestyles. In terms of architecture, rather than a particular building, it is the juxtaposition of traditional, vernacular architecture against its contemporary counterparts that defines the Singaporean design identity.” Michelle Lee, writer

“Cultivated. That’s one word that comes to my mind when I think about Singapore style, especially in the context of architecture and design. I can’t just pick one thing as an example - it’s a tie between the PCN (Park Connector Network) and HDB blocks, which are both great examples of successfully cultivated designs. Some may think that those are unexciting, but they work so wonderfully well to create a liveable city.” Asih Jenie, assistant editor

photo 123RF.COM

“The way our cityscape is designed pretty much reflects the Singapore style - how everything is neatly packed together in a cohesive collage of new and old. We are great at creating futuristic looks, but also good at conserving iconic and historically important structures, and if you dig into the details, you’ll find a mosaic of uniquely-shaped tiles representing all its citizens.”

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