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HAPPIER HOMES AND HEALTHIER LIVES

CONTENTS

AUGUST

NOW DESIGN/NEWS/PLACES TO V I S I T/ T H I N G S T O B U Y

11 HOME MONOLITH Make a bold statement with this home-sized monolith imagined by our local designers.

SH OP PI N G 12

GREAT BUYS Our monthly roundup of the hottest new design products for the home. 18

ROARING RED Whether paired with metal, paper, wood, lacquer or quirky graphics, red never fails to inject a celebratory air into your space.

HOT SPOT 22

SABINA IBIZA Named after a sacred tree, the Sabina estate offers an unparalleled experience in spirituality and ecological beauty on the island of Ibiza. 24

ELEWANA LOISABA LODO SPRINGS This private Kenyan retreat in a sprawling wildlife conservancy offers luxurious lodgings with reclaimed furniture and a magical safari experience.

N E W STO RE 29

SHINING STAR Swarovski unveils a brand-new visual identity at its Instant Wonder Boutique where joyful expression is given.

Equine Dreams The latest porcelain collection from Hermes.

T H I S

I S

N E O

This is neo. D-Neo is a bathroom revolution: great design at an attractive price. The complete bathroom series by Belgian designer Bertrand Lejoly inspires joy through its vast selection of unique washbasins, high-quality furniture, and matching bathtub in the perfect size. With its limitless, style-adaptable options, D-Neo meets the needs of daily life - for everyone. Duravit Asia Limited (Singapore Branch), +65 6238 6353, info@sg.duravit.com, Econflo Systems Pte Ltd, +65 6396 3738, sales@econflo.com, www.econflo.com, Ferrara Asiapac Pte Ltd, +65 6235 0020, infor@ferrara.com.sg, www.ferrara.com.sg, Sansei Singapura Pte Ltd, +65 6292 8321, sales@sansei.com.sg, www.sanseionline.com, Bathroom Gallery, +65 6546 5900, sales@bathroomgallery.com.sg, www.bathroomgallery.com.sg, BSG Trading Pte Ltd, +65 6842 0488, bsgtrade@singnet.com.sg, www.bsgco.com.sg and www.duravit.com

D-Neo

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

PEOPLE

SEASONS OF RECOGNITION

POSTER BOY One of the last great living ﬁgures of modern art, Parisbased French artist Jacques Villegle ﬁnds inspiration from the walls of the city for his iconic lacerated posters and sociopolitical alphabets that bear witness to his time. 36

ROOM FOR POSSIBILITIES This new platform helps you ﬁnd storage space quickly and conveniently, no matter where you are. 38

LIGHTING THE WAY Ilda Pires is intent on bringing luxury Portuguese lighting brand Serip’s captivating glassmaking story to the world and into the next century.

Take a closer look at the winners of the President’s Design Award as well as the recipients of the 20 UNDER 45 from the Society of Interior Designers Singapore. 53

UP CLOSE Rengy John. The managing partner of BLINK Design Group talks about growing up on a safari and his love of exploring. 54

VOICES Clint Nagata shares his thoughts on how design has evolved in South-east Asia in the last decade.

ABSOLUTELY FLOORED Will Kerr, Dyson’s head of ﬂoor care, talks about why its latest cordless handheld vacuum is ideal for your daily cleaning routine.

Jacques Villegle An enigmatic artist who melds lacerated posters and alphabets into works of art.

CONTENTS

AUGUST

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

F EAT U R ES

BIG DREAMS Four Singaporean startup founders share the inspiration behind their businesses and advise young entrepreneurs hoping to follow in their footsteps.

EDITOR’S NOTE 10

H&D.COM.SG 1 08 IN STORE 1 11

BUYING GUIDE 98

HOMES THE NEW MODERN

on the cover

70 56

BOLD EYE FOR FASHION Couturier Alexis Mabille welcomes you into his historic Parisian apartment.

BUILT ON FRIENDSHIP An almost 40-yearold ﬂat in its original condition gave old friends the opportunity to work together on the interior design and renovation, making this a new home designed by a friend for a friend, and where friends are always welcome.

SMALL & STYLISH Can a small space sport a dark material palette? Absolutely, as this compact West Coast condominium unit shows.

86 70

IS IT YUMMY? While the thought of licking one’s home may put some people off, this couple’s interior design decisions were based on the yum factor.

A TALE OF TWO STYLES Marrying two diverse styles is no mean feat. Seizing the opportunity, Untitled’s design team pulled off an individualised yet cohesive interior for the homeowners.

Stately yet full of life and a twist of fun. Check out this home brimming with colours and style. PHOTOGRAPHY VER O NI CA TAY STYLING

PENCHANT FOR NOSTALGIA Adding heritage elements in your modern home may be tricky, but not impossible with these tips.

1 12

THE HARD TRUTH

104

FINDING A GOOD PROPERTY IS DEFINING A GOOD PROPERTY What makes such a piece property worth purchasing?

NON I E CH EN

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EDITOR’S NOTE

R E D D OT G E T S B I G G E R from a struggling port of call to becoming a developed ĝÞâé úÐÞÂ É é°ÐÉʣ É é°â formula for our success will be vital to see us through to the next millenium. As citizens, it is also our responsibility to support our local design faculty. This can be done in several ways, from dropping them notes of encouragement on their social media, to purchasing their designs or engaging their services. This way, we can ensure that not only can the talents in the industry continue to thrive, they will pave the way for new generations of designers as well. For the many bright minds in our design scene, from the retailers to the makers, thank you for being SG. YO U N G L I M E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F

photography ANGELA GUO art direction NONIE CHEN

Singapore may be small in stature but what we lack in size we more than make up for in our optimism and appetite for success. This is especially true when you take a look at our vibrant design scene. Interior and industrial designers alike are constantly pushing the boundaries with their bold projects and innovative ideas. It is heartening to see the government recognising é °Þ đÐÞéâ â ú ÂÂ ú°é é President’s Design Awards. In spite of the challenges the pandemic might have posed to them, our local designers have taken it in their stride and found creative ways to address the situation. This ‘never say die’ attitude was how our forefathers managed to bring the country

AN A L L- N EW ONL IN E E XPE RI E N C E ! YOUR ENHANCED DESIGN JOURNEY INCLUDES: THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF H&D TV WITH VIDEO PLAYLISTS & MORE THE LATEST STYLE TIPS, TREND STORIES AND DESIGN FEATURES EXCITING GIVEAWAYS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

AVAILABLE ON DESKTOPS & ALL MOBILE DEVICES.

W W W. H O M E A N D D E C O R . C O M . S G Check out popular blog posts of the month

REAL-TIME DESIGN UPDATES www.facebook.com/ homeanddecor.singapore The latest on home decor and shopping scoops.

MORE INTERIOR STYLES FROM OUR ONLINE IMAGE LIBRARY

SIGHTS & INSPIRATION Check us out at @Homeanddecor_sg

THIS MONTH ON OUR “HOME OFFICES TO DIE FOR” BOARD… www.pinterest.com/homeanddecorsg

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

MONOLITH MIRROR The Messenger table mirror is a poetic interpretation of what a simple desk accessory could look like when art meets practicality. Composed of construction waste, including mirrors, steel, marble and concrete, Messenger was inspired by the mystery and marvel of monoliths around the world. The brainchild of local design studio LAAT, founded by Cherin Tan, and award-winning artist Alvin Tan of PHUNK, the ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉ Þ Ğ éâ é °É§ Éî°éĀ Ð¦ the duo in repurposing discarded materials into functional works of art. Combined together, the textures exude an earthy yet modern vibe, resulting in a look that is instantly eye-catching and other-worldly. In fact, one might mistake this for an alien portal, which opens up into another dimension. The Messenger table mirror is part of the Monolith collection, and retails for $380. The collection is available at Art Now, visit https://artnowsingapore.com for more information.

EXPANDED CLASSICS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

SIMPLICITY AT ITS BEST Furniture with thin lines that look like they are lightweight goes well in small spaces. But of course, we also want them to be robust and durable. The Filo chair by French design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Mattiazzi has nailed this to a T. Seen from the side, Filo looks elegantly slim while its fabric cord seat and backrest lend airiness and a graphic touch, yet it features a solid beech wood frame that is both sturdy and versatile. “I use it every day, in front of my desk, and I’m happy with it. I’m happy to see people sitting in it,” says Ronan. Filo chair retails for $1,270 at P5 Studio. Visit www.p5studio.com.sg for more information.

Caesarstone has expanded its Classico collection to include two delicate, marble-inspired designs with subtle veining and reﬁned earthy tones that offer the look of a natural stone with more ease of care and maintenance. Featuring a soft light grey base with streams of white and grey veins, 6134 Georgian Bluffs (pictured) adds visual interest and an industrial edge, while 5110 Alpine Mist offers an alternative to a plain white surface with its tone-ontone combination of pale grey base and crisp white veins. Visit www.caesarstone.sg for more information.

SARTORIAL ELEGANCE Local Laminate company TAK has expanded its offering to better cater to the way we live and interact with our spaces. The Lamitak Exclusive Collection comprises ﬁve laminate families. One of them is the Repeatable collection, which features repeated patterns that can ﬁnish your space like tailored fabrics. The highlight of this collection is the Saville. Inspired by the bespoke tailored suits from London’s Savile Row, it features a large-scale chevron pattern that is a contemporary spin on menswear suiting fabric. Lamitak Savile is available in six colours, price upon request. Visit www.tak.com.sg for more information.

A TOTAL CLEAN Have plenty of laundry to do, but not enough space? The SHARP ESFW105D7PS front-load washer-dryer, which won the iF Design Award 2021, È Ā é Éâú Þʨ r°é ȽɁ °đ Þ Éé programs from Cotton to Eco, you’ll be able to pick the right one for your load. Our favourite is the Dry Airwash feature – unique to this model – which uses patented Plasmacluster technology to clean hard-to-wash items such as soft toys and hats. The Steam Care function also removes 99.9 per cent of allergens and germs.

For more information, visit www. sg.sharp/products/washing-machine.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

RUJIMAN A Yogyakarta native, Indonesian artist Rujiman is known in and beyond his country as the ‘Koi Fish Painter’ thanks to his exuberant koi ﬁsh oil paintings with a distinct impasto technique. He transfers the movements and colours of koi ﬁsh from his memory onto canvas using a pallet knife and captures a style that spans abstract to semi-abstract to impressionism. In Singapore, Rujiman is represented by the Ode to Art Gallery. Visit www.odetoart. com for more information.

TILE OF THE MONTH

EQUESTRIAN BEAUTY “I envisioned a horse the collection with an elongated comprises a back that could teapot, teacups, hold several riders. mugs, and various A kind of limousine dessert plates with horse,” says horses wrapped Italian visual artist around them, and Gianpaolo Pagni of subtle graphic Hippomobile, his friezes evoking playful tea service jockey outﬁts in collection for the background. Hermes. Drawing Mix and match inspiration from joker to maximise the silks and cartoons, playfulness. Hermes Hippomobile retails from $210 for a dessert plate at Hermes boutiques and www. hermes.com.

PIXELATED RED Red is such an intense colour that many of us shy away from using it for interior surfaces. But fear not, there are subtler reds out there, including this Graph Colour collection from Italian brand Ceramica Vogue. Featuring ﬁne lines inspired by millimetre paper used for precision drawings, the red variant lends a celebratory air while still being subtle and playful. The collection is available in many colour variants. The Graph collection by Ceramica Vogue is available from Hafary, price upon request. Visit www.hafary.com.sg for more information.

HEAVEN SCENT Practise self-care at home with local brand Innerfyre’s new home scents range. Inspired by the idea of bringing positivity into our lives via aromatherapy, their range includes Affirmation Crystal Candles with messages of self-love

and Pillow Mist and Room Sprays for uplifting your mood. Their candles are made of a unique wax blend containing sustainably sourced vegan coconut wax and rice bran wax, which burns clean without soot and has a stronger scent throw.

The Innerfyre Co range retails from $22 for a roll-on perfume at www.innerfyre.co.

HOME LIVING KITS Leather footwear and bag brand Pazzion expanded its product Ðđ Þ°É§ Ā ÐÛ É°É§ ¦ é Jewel Changi Airport in 2019. This year it also launched a Lifestyle Collection comprising 12 products that aim to bring a sense of serenity into your living space. The collection includes artisanal soap bars, essential oils, aromatic candles, thermal bottles, glassware, terrazzo coasters designed in collaboration with Chokmah, Þé°â É Â Ð ÐÂ é âʣ É Ðđ ʣ tea and kombucha drinking home kits.

Pazzion lifestyle collection ranges from $6.90 (collapsible cup) to $38 (terrazzo pill tray) at Pazzion stores at Wisma Atria, Jewel Changi Airport and Vivocity. Visit www. pazzion.com for more information.

MIGHTY MACHINE A vacuum cleaner that separates liquids, dust and other particles into waste-speciﬁc compartments? Yes please. For any homeowner who has faced difficulty cleaning out the disposal compartment, the Hizero F803’s system makes things much more hygienic. Dust is collected in a tank for dirty water, so you can toss it out without worrying about triggering allergies from ﬂoating particles. It’s also got a 60-minute run time per full charge, and at 60 decibels, it’s quieter than most standard vacuum cleaners. The Hizero F803 retails for $999 at major departmental stores, specialised home appliance stores, and online platforms Lazada and Shopee.

TRENDING

LOCAL-FLAVOURED PLAYING CARDS There is something nostalgic and communal about playing cards, especially when the playfully designed decks are made by Singaporeans for the native born, the Singaporeans-at-heart, or to introduce Singaporean culture to overseas friends. From the “morally wrong but politically correct” parody of Singapore culture and personalities to educational decks to acquaint you with making small talk, here are our favourite card games for your next gathering.

1 . Limpeh Says, $39.90, www. limpehsays.com 2 . Smol Tok, from $32.90, www. starknicked.com/ smol-tok-shop

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3 . Chao Recruit!, Kickstarter pledge starts from $2, www.thensxp.com 4 . The Singaporean Dream: The New Normal, $20, www.thesingaporeandream.com

Add to cart

AUTHENTIC AFRICA While African or safari-themed home decor has gained popularity worldwide, these items are rarely crafted in the continent or by its myriad of native communities, observed Guinean entrepreneur Adama Diallo. So she sets out to create Unseen Africa, a platform that offers a curated selection of home items from African

design brands. And we’re talking about products made with authentic traditional techniques and native materials that look and feel at home in our contemporary world, ranging from soft furnishings like towels, throws and cushions to artwork and ceramic wares. All of them are now available in Singapore.

Pictured are the Addis Vases, which retails from $148. Visit www.unseen-africa.com for more information.

NEWS Magic Number 56 The now-online retail platform Robinsons is celebrating Singapore’s 56th National Day with various product promotions centred around the number 56, ranging from a $56 off bundle promo to 56 per cent discounts and usual prices sliced down to $56, including a pair of cushions from new-to-Robinsons Singaporean label Stitches & Tweed with calligraphy designed by Singapore-based studio Letter J Supply (UP $72). The National Day offers are valid until 22 August 2021. Visit www.robinsons.com.sg for more information.

Sustainable cleanliness Did you know that over 90 million tonnes of harmful chemical products are used every year for general cleaning and released back into the environment? And that of the 1.6 million tonnes of domestic waste disposed of in 2018, onethird is made up of packaging? Swiss cleaning solution brand Aquama uses refillable top-up points to reduce plastic waste. Its Spray Indigo bottle retails for just $6.99 and is refillable. Using the mobile app, customers can top up their e-wallets and operate the fully automatic machines to fill up their bottles. The first refill is complimentary, and subsequent refills are $2.99 per 600ml. Aquama retails at The Green Collective at Funan, its home cleaning products retailing from $6.99 to $209.

All the award winners will be on display at the PDA Exhibition in various locations in Singapore. Visit pda.designsingapore.org for more information.

text ASIH JENIE & MELODY BAY

Designer of The Year 2020 Recipients After being postponed for almost a year, President’s Design Award (PDA), Singapore’s most prominent award programme for the design and architecture industry, held its 2020 edition award ceremony at the end of June at the Istana. The two recipients of the Designer of the Year are Kelley Cheng, creative director of The Press Room and husband-and-wife architect team Khoo Peng Beng and Belinda Huang, directors of Arc Studio + Urbanism. Read more about it on our Fair Report pages.

LIVING

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R OA R I N G R E D Whether paired with metal, paper, wood, lacquer or quirky graphics, red never fails to inject a celebratory air into your space.

1. Carl Hansen & Son Wishbone Chair, from $1,216 at Danish Design Co. 2. Fatboy Junior Beanbag, $285 at Soul & Tables. 3 . Antique Light Console by Franck Chartrain, Price upon request, www. franckchartrain. com.

4. Lison de Caunes Duo Screen (straw marquetry), $242,920 at www. lisondecaunes. com

5. & 8 . Gangzai Fornulathon Square Trinket Tray, $56, and Pappelina Viggo Runner Rug, $168, from Journey East.

9. OLED Lamped Floorlamp by by Dsignedby, Price upon request, www. dsignedby.com.

6. Barth Stool from the Empreinte Collection (lacquered wood in red), Price upon request, www. leberrevevaud. com. 7. Moooi Hana Chair by Simone Bonanni, from $6,295 at Space Furniture.

AN A LL-NEW O NLINE EXPER IE NC E!

W W W. H O M E A N D D E C O R . C O M . S G

H OT S P OT

SABINA IBIZA Named after a sacred tree, the Sabina estate offers an unparalleled experience in spirituality and ecological beauty on the island of Ibiza.

biza is well known as a party destination, but there’s a whole other side to this island just off the eastern coast of Spain – and it’s this experience of freedom and serenity that Sabina wants to offer its guests. A sprawling estate with 50 private villas, a clubhouse and even a non-denominational temple, Sabina is Ibiza’s first villa estate with an ecological focus. Using locally sourced materials from the region, such as sustainable timber and stone, the whitewashed buildings exude effortless coastal charm. “The interiors are all about spiritual ambience and reflect the soft beauty that Ibiza represents,” says Glyn Hirsch, a non-executive director at Sabina Estates. “It’s not just the natural beauty of the landscape, the coves and mountains, the glory and abundance of nature, but the beauty in the spirit of the place.” Although some villas are still in the building phase, the clubhouse is open and it is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the place. Designed by architect Rolf Blakstad, the building itself is a nod to both local architectural traditions

L EFT

The pool area of the clubhouse is perfect for hosting outdoor parties. BOTTOM , FAR LEF T

A ﬁreplace and furniture with water-resistant upholstery by the poolside. BOTTOM , L EFT

The circular amphitheatre invites guests to meditate in peace. BOTTOM , R IG H T

The circular bar at La Paloma Restaurant.

and contemporary style. Inside, the natural beauty of local materials shines through, thanks to Spanish designer Lazaro Rosa-Violan. A circular art deco-inspired bar dominates the room, an ideal spot for those looking for a vibrant scene, while casual seating around the perimeter offers a more private and relaxed space for eating É ˈ Þ°É¿°É§ʨ During the day, natural light beams through the generous skylight and in the evening, a fireplace creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. One can also wander outside for drinks under the pergolas with a view of the 25m-long saltwater pool. Guests wanting an extended stay can find respite in one of the 50 villas, each with five to eight bedrooms. Their design was a collaborative effort between some 18 architects and designers, chosen for the individuality of their style and

their ability to blend design into the natural landscape. “Ibiza is a mix of nationalities and eclectic, highly individual styles. We wanted to mirror that diversity in our design concept,” explains Glyn. Despite the variety of styles, all the villas have an incredible view and the sheer freedom of space. “We want people to walk out onto the terrace and be able stretch their arms wide to bask in the magnificence of nature and breathe it all in,” says Glyn. “The island is spiritually alive, magnetically drawing in those that intuitively sense its welcoming energy: the fearless, the creative, the unprejudiced, the laterally minded, the maverick… It was important that our interiors bring all these elements together to create dynamic spaces that will nourish those that stay here.” Visit www.sabinaibiza.com for more information.

good to know The clubhouse is named after the revered Sabina tree, an Ibiza-native hardwood tree with a gnarly trunk that is said to produce timber as strong âˈÈ é Âʨ

text MELODY BAY photos SABINA IBIZA

H OT S P OT

C A S A R E S TAU R A N T Opened by chef Remy Lefebvre, this restaurant embraces warmth and intimacy akin to the experience of dining at a friend’s home.

t’s fitting that the name of this restaurant means “home” – because that’s what you will feel when you step into the light, welcoming interior. From the foyer to the spacious dining room next to the open kitchen and the menu of wood-fired dishes that tell a story, everything about this new restaurant in Chijmes feels good for the soul. Decorated in light, earthy tones and a deep velvety blue a la the Mediterranean, its interior is soothing to the senses. The main dining space – simply called the Dining Room – can seat up to 35. With its terrazzo tables and soaring arched mirrors, it’s perfect for a family gathering or celebration with friends. Another unusual element is the open kitchen. Where most restaurants would prefer to keep the hubbub out of sight and behind closed doors, it’s fully open here, allowing you to watch the chefs at work as you would if you were dining at a friend’s home. For cocktails and casual gatherings, guests can enjoy drinks and snacks in the

TO P

TOP, R IGH T

French chef Remy Lefebvre and his team consider themselves hosts welcoming guests-cumfriends into their abode.

Islands separate the kitchen from the Dining Room, so diners can watch the chefs at work.

ABOVE

The Perfect Egg uses wild pepper from Madagascar and charcoal-cooked razor clams from Scotland.

RIG HT

Soaring arched mirrors echo the architecture of Chijmes FAR RI GH T

Living Room guests can choose from a selection of snacks, cheese, and ﬁnger food.

good to know Casa offers multicourse meals for lunch and dinner, with a selection of 16 dishes divided into four sections for diners to choose what they want to eat.

adjacent Living Room, a more intimate space for up to 18 with sofas, lounge chairs and ottomans. With its plush seating and translucent window screens for privacy, it’s super cosy and inviting. The star, of course, is the food. Having travelled the world and worked in international restaurants for 20 years, chef Remy Lefebvre brings a unique touch to the menu. His wood-fired dishes are mainly seafood-based. Meat is usually only from one land animal a day on a ÞÐé é°ÐÉˈ â°âʨ As a large part of his formative years was spent living in unspoiled places, he makes it a priority to preserve the natural environment – serving food with ingredients that are responsibly sourced, traditionally farmed, organic and wild-foraged. One could even say that each thoughtfullyprepared dish tells the chef’s Â°¦ âéÐÞĀʨˈ Casa Restaurant is at #01-20 Chijmes. Visit www.casarestaurant. sg for more information.

text MELODY BAY photos CASA RESTAURANT

H OT S P OT

E L E WA N A LO I S A B A LO D O S P R I N G S This private Kenyan retreat in a sprawling wildlife conservancy offers luxurious lodgings with reclaimed furniture and a magical safari experience.

L EF T

The communal facilities are adequately spaced out for privacy. BELOW

The breathtaking view from the pool. BOTTOM

The glazed glass walls of the rooms maximise natural light. OPPOSITE

An aerial view of the retreat displays the vastness of the landscape.

uxury hotel chain Elewana Collection operates 16 boutique lodges, camps and hotels in iconic locations across Kenya and Tanzania. One of its latest is Elewana Loisaba Lodo Springs, an ultraluxurious retreat comprising eight spacious villas in the sprawling 23,000-ha Loisaba Wildlife Conservancy in Northern Laikipia, Kenya. Designed by architects Chris Payne and Jan Allen, with landscape architecture by Jo Silvester, the tented villas feature membrane roofing, wooden structuring and large floor-to-ceiling doors and windows that let in lots of natural light. Each has a unique colour scheme articulated with an eclectic mix of antique and vintage pieces. These range from French mahogany, glass-fronted Victorian cabinets built in the

A view of the living room to the generous verandah and the Laikipia Plateau below.

ALL GUESTS NEED TO DO IS SIT AT THE AUTHENTIC, HANDSOME 18THCENTURY DESKS, TURN ON THE VINTAGE LAMPS AND CHANNEL THE ROMANTICISM AND GLAMOUR OF SAFARI TRIPS OF THE COLONIAL ERA.

late 1800s to highly collectible ’50s chairs by British furniture manufacturer Ercol that showcase the first application of the steam-bending technique for wood. The master beds are dressed with vintage Kente cloth native to Ghana. Other noteworthy decor items include upcycled cedar fence posts used as panelling and mid-century Americana parlour bar stools.

The antique pieces were hand-restored in Kenya to ensure their suitability for hospitality use. All guests need to do, for instance, is to sit at the authentic, handsome 18thcentury desks, turn on the vintage lamps and channel the romanticism and glamour of safari trips of the colonial era. A butler assigned to each room caters to every need. Guests also have access to

a designated safari vehicle operated by a qualified field guide who accompanies them for the duration of their stay. The hotel even has an antipoaching unit to protect wildlife around the clock. Guests also enjoy the complete freedom to choose their activities that include trekking through the bush with camels, mountain biking down the escarpment, horseback riding through the plains, driving through the canyons between two great rivers flanking the property, and fishing in appointed rivers É ˈ Èâʨ There is also a walking tour by traditional Samburu guides who will share their knowledge of the land’s history and its native flora and fauna. For a unique cultural experience, guests can spend an afternoon at the Masai village and watch the dance performances or try their hands at traditional ˈ Þéʨ Part of the revenue generated from the hotel goes towards conserving the private wilderness area and supporting community health, education and enterprise programmes for the Samburu and Laikipia Maasai tribes, who are the hotel’s long-time partners.

AB OVE

good to know

Each lodge has a membrane roof and glazed walls and doors. L EF T

Loisaba sits on the vital Elephant Corridor connecting the famous Laikipia Plateau and plays a key role in supporting one of Kenya’s largest and most stable lion populations.

The antique desk, chair and lamp beckon journalling. BELOW

Inside a huge double room.

Visit www.elewanacollection. com/loisaba-lodo-springs/at-aglance for more information.

text ASIH JENIE photos ELEWANA LOISABA LODO SPRINGS

E H T F O T R A P E B

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TA S T E S O C I E T YS G

N E W S TO R E

S H I N I N G S TA R Swarovski unveils a brand-new visual identity at its Instant Wonder Boutique where joyful expression is given.

warovski has revamped its visual identity and is celebrating the headturning milestone with 28 Instant Wonder Boutiques worldwide. Delve into a world of play and exploration at Swarovski’s first Singapore Instant Wonder at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Opened in May, it is the first Instant Wonder Boutique in South-east Asia and hard to miss with its eye-catching bright green and candy pink interior. Beyond our shores, an Instant Wonder debuted at Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in February. One launched in Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris in March and another at

Rockefeller Center, New York City, in April. Each of the 28 features one or more of Swarovski’s five signature colours: white, pink, green, blue and yellow. Inside the MBS boutique, you’ll be dazzled by the complete range of jewellery, accessories, figurines and other crystal creations. Adorning the walls, each resides in an octagonal niche – a shape that pays homage to the brand’s crystal craftsmanship. And, like a veritable cave of treasures, each recess reveals a new piece. They include sculptural busts in playful poses that represent creative director Giovanna Engelbert’s debut

text MELODY BAY photos SWAROVSKI

Collection I. Articulated in oversized crystals set in bold geometric designs, the collection not only captures Swarovski’s exuberance and vibrant energy, but also celebrates the brand’s rich history of craftsmanship and a bright future. “For 126 years, we have stayed true to our DNA while rising to meet the needs of an evolving world,” says Swarovski CEO Robert Buchbauer. “We look forward to this new chapter in our history that will mark us as a true crystal lifestyle for é ˈ¦îéîÞ ʨʗ

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The interior of Swarovski’s Singapore Instant Wonder Boutique. ABOVE

The geometric Curiosa cocktail ring from Collection I. L EF T

Taken during a fashion show at the Milan boutique.

Swarovski Instant Wonder Boutique is at #B2-88, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

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I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M T H O S E I N T H E K N O W

P O S T E R B OY One of the last great living ĝ§îÞ â Ð¦ ÈÐ ÞÉ Þéʣ S Þ°âʌ â "Þ É Þé°âé 7 Ýî â q°ÂÂ §Â ĝÉ â °ÉâÛ°Þ é°ÐÉ ¦ÞÐÈ é ú ÂÂâ Ð¦ é °éĀ ¦ÐÞ °â ° ÐÉ° Â Þ é ÛÐâé Þâ É âÐ °ÐʌÛÐÂ°é° Â ÂÛ éâ é é Þ ú°éÉ ââ éÐ °â é°È ʨ )°â °Èʣ â Āâʣ °â ÉÐé éÐ Þ°é° °â âÐ ° éĀʣ îé éÐ °ÂÂîâéÞ é °é °É É ÐÞ°§°É Â ú Āʨ rÞ°é Þ xʐ7 B AfBʐ ;Z ;; investigates the Þé°âéʙâ îÉ°Ýî Ð îùÞ ʣ °â Ýî âé éÐ Þ é É ú éĀÛ Ð¦ îéĀʣ É °â °ÈÛ é ÐÉ é ÞÐ Þ Þ é°ù ÐÈÈîÉ°éĀʨ

photo FRANCOIS POIVRET

SPOTLIGHT

F photo SERGE VEIGNANT

photo ODILE FELGINE

photo TADZIO

or a half-century, French artist Jacques Villegle wandered the urban landscapes in search of anonymous, torn and deteriorated posters to turn into paintings with a strong visual impact that told the story of his generation and documented the ever-changing history of our contemporary cities. “I did not try to criticise society. I just wanted to illustrate it in an original way,” he says. An insatiable collector and historian, he retrieved fragments from the life of the streets, shreds of barely visible letters and figures from advertising posters pasted on public billboards lacerated by the elements or ripped by anonymous hands, which he saved from obscurity, assembled and mounted on canvas. Everything had already been done for him by the poster designers, passers-by who tore or traced graffiti onto the advertisements and the weather. He just had to conceive the composition. Instead of an idea, it was about a gesture because he had read a philosopher’s reflection saying that there is an evolution in art when there is economy of labour. “I transformed lacerated posters into works of art – that was my goal,” he states. “I chose the posters for the interest of their composition, then for the interest of a word, a fragment of a phrase and, in the 1960s, for their colours.” For him, laceration wasn’t a destructive act; it was a way to build a new

type of beauty while recording traces of civilisation. New Frontier Jacques was one of the founders of New Realism, an art movement established in 1960 and based on a term coined Ā "Þ É Þé Þ°é° S° ÞÞ Restany. Members included Yves Klein, Jean Tinguely and B°¿° Z °ÉéˈS ÂÂ ʨ ÂéÐî§ they worked in varied visual art disciplines – compressions (Cesar), accumulations (Arman), assemblages (Martial Raysse) and packaging (Christo) – there was a commonality to their work that involved a method of direct appropriation of reality. They recovered discarded items, using trash, cars, concrete, posters and sheet metal as new mediums, thereby transforming everyday objects into symbols of the revival of post-war consumption and

deliberately excluded “noble” materials such as bronze ÐÞˈâéÐÉ ʨ S° ÞÞ V âé ÉĀ ÂÂ Jacques a recycler of others’ work and a proponent of urban, industrial and advertising reality. Also a recycler of himself, his creations constantly needed moulding and reformulating. a fÛâé Þé Born in Quimper in 1926, Jacques studied painting and then switched to architecture at the Regional School of Fine Arts of Rennes before moving to Nantes to continue his architectural studies. In the wake of WWII, he began salvaging junk on the Atlantic beaches of St. Malo. Reconstituting them as â îÂÛéîÞ âʣ °â ĝÞâé ÞéúÐÞ¿ was the steel wire Fils d’Acier – Chaussee des Corsaires. In 1949, he dropped out of â ÐÐÂ É â ééÂ °É S Þ°âʣ

where he debuted his signature technique of lacerated posters with the colossal 6m by 25m, black and red Ach Alma Manetro artwork extracted from a hoarding between Le Dome and La Coupole restaurants in Montparnasse together with fellow French artist Raymond Hains, whom he had met at university. “My vocation was born in 1943 when I saw the reproduction of a Miro I didn’t understand,” he remarks. “Inwardly, I told myself that it was in this milieu that I wanted to live. Nearly 80 years later, I haven’t changed that vocation. Creation is stimulated by art market relationships. They prevent you from falling asleep and, more ambitiously, push you to do something new. An artist cannot be confused with laymen who yearn for retirement,” he says.

1. Jacques Villegle in his atelier in 2003. 2. Fils d’acier – Chaussée des Corsaires, his ﬁrst sculpture made from steel wire found amongst the ruins of SaintMalo in 1947. 3 . The entrance to the 2021 Alphabet(s) exhibition at Gallerie GeorgesPhilippe & Nathalie Vallois in Paris. 4 . An outdoor installation featuring a quote by Edgar Allan Poe in 2009 at FIAC Hors les Murs exhibition space.

photo D.R.

photo TADZIO

“THE ARTIST WORKS TO CREATE THESE TESTIMONIES. THE SPIRIT OF NEW REALISM HAS ONLY BEEN PARTLY A CONVERSATION WITH SOCIETY.”

photo FRANCOIS POIVRET

– JACQUES VILLEGLE

ÐÉâé Éé ZéÞî§§Â " ú°é é °Ĕ îÂéĀ Ð¦ making a living as an artist, Jacques pursued a career in architecture simultaneously. For three decades, he was a public works inspector for the French Civil Service. It allowed him plenty of freedom, as he could complete the day’s work in less than two hours, leaving him time for his artistic projects in the evenings. “I knew how to work very quickly and to have brief conversations with contractors,” he recalls. “I supervised the construction Ð¦ â ÐÐÂâ °É S Þ°â É âÐÈ in the Seine department.

Once a week, I was able to drive around the capital with îđ îÞʣ ú° ÂÛ me greatly to keep an eye on worksite hoardings that weren’t under my supervision. This allowed me to assess whether or not they were usable for my artwork.” Towards the end of the 1990s, he gradually stopped his lacerated posters due to the increasing scarcity of the source material with the disappearance of unauthorised billposting because of the growing popularity of television advertising. “Artistic works will be a testimony of a bygone era,” he notes. “The artist works to create these testimonies. The spirit of New Realism has only been partly a conversation with society. It is a group of friends of the same generation, each ù°É§ °đ Þ Éé É Û Þ Ûâ even contradictory viewpoint. The artist hopes that his work will give his successors the â°Þ ¦ÐÞˈ ° ÂÐ§î ʨʗ ùÐÂù°É§ Þé¦ÐÞÈ Today, Jacques focuses on his graphic socio-political alphabets, a series he has been working on since 1969 after stumbling upon an anonymous Û° Ð¦ §Þ Ĕé° ÐÉ S Þ°â È éÞÐ wall bearing the name of thenfZ SÞ â° Éé B°ÿÐÉ ù°â°é°É§ Gaulle in France. There were the three arrows of the former Socialist party for the N, the Cross of Lorraine for the I, a Nazi swastika for the X and a Celtic cross inside the circle of the Jeune Nation

who not only borrows from but also gives back to the city. Consider, for instance, the day he inscribed the words “To be astonished is a pleasure” Ā § Þ ÂÂ É SÐ â Â Þ§ graphic stencil installation on a ú ÂÂ °É S Þ°âʙ aî°Â Þ° â # Þ É in 2009 or the statement “Art is what helps draw us out of inertia” by Belgian writer Henri Michaux on the ground in front Ð¦ é #Þ É S Â °â °É ȾȼȽɂ during the FIAC international art fair in the French capital. It just goes to show that the acuteness of Jacques’ eye remains just as extraordinary as ú É ĝÞâé § Éʣ ÛÞÐù°É§ ʙâ still as contemporary and daring as ever – even at the age of 95.

quotes by the likes of Marcel Duchamp, Jack Kerouac or Camille Corot painted on the walls. These were accompanied by “Let’s be realistic, demand the impossible” by Che Guevara; “What matters in a technique is not to master it” by Jean î îđ éʮ É ʖ ÐÉʙé ¦Þ ° of the past” by John Lennon. If people tell you that it is irrevocable, do not believe them” by Oscar Wilde; and “It is not enough to have beautiful letters to write a real alphabet” by 7 Ýî â SÞ ù Þéʨ As the father of street art, Jacques almost always takes inspiration from the streets rather than leaving his mark on them, bringing art from the street to the gallery. In addition, his alphabets sometimes make their way back to the walls and asphalt from which they § Éʣ Þ ù Â°É§ é°â ÂÐÉ ĝ§îÞ

5. Jacques prepping an artwork for the Alphabet(s) exhibition. 6. 99 Rue de Temple poster, created in 1974. 7. Rue Lauzin, 1964. 8. Bas-Meudon, torn posters mounted on canvas, 1991. 9. Rue Reaumur Rue des Vertus, a 1984 artwork.

photo SERGE VEIGNANT

photo FRANCOIS POIVRET

movement for the O. Modifying Roman letters, Jacques turned them into a mix of lines, circles, curves and crosses, and gave symbols of political parties, religions, ideologies, movements É îÞÞ É ° â É úˈÈ É°É§âʨ He could combine the Euro, British pound, yen, Star of David and hammer and sickle. His alphabets comprised heterogeneous signs and symbols became a painting. Borrowing sayings or phrases from others and transposing them onto paper, canvas or wall, he invites the viewer to decipher his words and codes and to become a cryptographer of the everyday remnants of urban life. Alphabet(s), his 11th and penultimate exhibition at the # ÐÞ§ âʌS°Â°ÛÛ ˸ B é Â° q ÂÂÐ°â # ÂÂ ÞĀ °É S Þ°â Â Â âé ÛÞ°Âʣ ÂâÐ °â ĝÞâé È ¼ÐÞ § ÂÂ ÞĀ show based on this series, had

photos GALERIE GP & N VALLOIS, PARIS

PEOPLE

ROOM FOR POSSIBILITIES a°â É ú ÛÂ é¦ÐÞÈ ÂÛâ ĀÐî ĝÉ âéÐÞ § âÛ quickly and conveniently, no matter where you are.

s it possible to ever have enough room for all of our belongings? Even with frequent decluttering, there ú°ÂÂ âéîđ ʋ â Éé°È Éé Â items, family heirlooms, a ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉ Ð¦ ú°É ʣ Éé°Ýî â ʋ you can’t let go of but may not have room for. Space Next Door aims to resolve this issue for you as quickly as possible by aggregating storage facilities and providing all the information available via a convenient online platform. Essentially, no more searching tediously across individual self-storage facility websites and getting separate quotes for each. Renting a space is as simple as a click. “In today’s fast-paced world, we want to help our customers make a decision Ýî° ¿ÂĀ É ú°é ÐÉĝ É ʣʗ says CEO Mark Cleaver. As its name suggests, convenience and accessibility are key, which is why the platform’s more than 3,000 Ðđ Þ°É§â °É Âî ÉÐé ÐÉÂĀ traditional self-storage facilities but also space in other people’s homes. Yes, your storage space could be a room in the block É ÿé éÐ ĀÐîÞâ ʋ É °¦ ĀÐî Þ interested, you could make some money on a spare room yourself if you don’t want a tenant. It’s even possible to

rent space in another country since Space Next Door has also launched in Bangkok and is looking to expand even further in Thailand and Japan. We talk to Mark about this great new facility. HOW DOES SPACE NEXT DOOR HELP A CUSTOMER CHOOSE A UNIT?

We are completely transparent about pricing; there are no hidden costs. Everything, including logistics and insurance, is listed. You can make a booking °Éâé ÉéÂĀˈÐÉÂ°É ʨ É ĀÐî ú°ÂÂ ĝÉ É Ā size estimator that allows you to select the items that need storing, such as a TV or a couch, and then estimate the size of the unit you will need. Still can’t decide? Space Next Door even suggests suitable storage facilities. HOW DO HOMEOWNERS

process and guide them on photography tips because the better they present their space, the more likely it is to be rented. Also, the minimum storage period is one day; there is no maximum period. Both the host and the customer must agree on this. HOW DO YOU E NSU R E S ECU R IT Y WH EN TH E STO R AG E SPACE IS IN SO M EO N E ’ S H O M E ?

The safety and security of customers’ belongings are paramount. All approved hosts have passed our safety and security checking process. We have a strict non-interference policy, and they must abide by these policies.

2 1. The platform offers a choice between its own storage facilities or partner facilities.

GO ABOUT RENTING SPACE

We call them hosts. They must agree with the terms and conditions on our platform. The most basic requirement would be that the space be easily accessible and meets our standard quality protocol. Our onboarding and community team will happily assist hosts through the application and onboarding

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE STORAGE FACILITIES FOR WINE?

We provide wine cellars that can lock in up to 10 cases. These are humidity- and temperature-controlled at a range of 13 to 15 deg C and even have a tasting room.

photo WINEBANC

TO YOU?

2.Prices vary according to unit size, location, and amenities such as security cameras and 24/7 access.

3. Space Next Door works with partners such as WineBanc to offer specialised wine storage units with temperature and humidity control.

For more information, please visit www.spacenextdoor.com.

text MELODY BAY photos SPACE NEXT DOOR

PEOPLE

LIGHTING THE WAY Ilda Pires is intent on bringing luxury Portuguese lighting brand Serip’s captivating glassmaking story to the world and into the next century.

eing the creative director Ð¦ ¦ È°ÂĀʌÞîÉ îâ°É ââ °â ÂÂ É§ ʋ É ÉÐ one knows this better than Ilda Pires. Armed with a sociology §Þ ʣ é é ÞÈ°É ɂȾʌĀ Þ ÐÂ ʣ ;°â ÐÉʌ ÐÞÉ ,Â É Þ siblings are building on the Z Þ°Û Â°§é°É§ ÈÛ°Þ ¦ÐîÉ by her parents. She recounts the initial uncertainty over her work and how she managed to overcome the seemingly impossible.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN GLASS CREATION AND LIGHTING DESIGN?

Z Þ°Û °â ɂȼ Ā Þâ ÐÂ é°â Ā Þʨ a ÐÈÛ ÉĀ ¦ Ââ Â°¿ younger brother or sister to me. "ÞÐÈ É ÞÂĀ § ʣ ¦ È°ÂĀ é°È â were equal to working times. , îâ éÐ ú é ÈĀ ¦ é Þ É my mother making glass and Þ ââ É Â° Þâʣ É úÐîÂ ÐÈÛ ÉĀ ÈĀ ¦ é Þ éÐ é crystal company to see how the glass was made by hand. I was so intrigued by how é°É§â úÐÞ¿ é é ¦ éÐÞĀ É how products were designed é é , ¼Ð°É é ÐÈÛ ÉĀ °É

ÈĀ Ⱦȼâʨ é ĝÞâéʣ ÈĀ ¦ é Þ ú â against the idea because he wanted me to study instead. I was pretty stubborn and said I would work during the day and study sociology and design at É°§éʨ Z Þ°Û ú â ÈĀ ĝÞâé ¼Ð ʋ and will likely be my last as well. WHAT WAS JOINING THE FAMILY BUSINESS LIKE?

,é ú â É éîÞ Â Û é ʋ É smooth as I was used to being at the company. Vacations and ¦ È°ÂĀ é°È ÈÐâéÂĀ éÐÐ¿ ÛÂ é Serip. I was in love with what the ÐÈÛ ÉĀ Þ ÛÞ â Éé ʢ ¦ È°ÂĀʨ

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE MOVE TOWARDS AN ORGANIC STYLE IN THE BRAND’S CORE DESIGN DNA?

Our amazing childhood in Sintra may have something to do with that. With nature all ÞÐîÉ îâʣ ú ú Þ É ù Þ âÐÞé Ð¦ °ÉâÛ°Þ é°ÐÉʨ ,É¼ é°É§ ¦Þ âʣ organic style into the brand â È Â°¿ ʣ ú ÂÂʣ é É éîÞ Â thing to do. AĀ ¦ ùÐîÞ°é é°È â é Þ were and still are during spring and autumn. Spring Þ ÛÞ â Ééâ îé°¦îÂ §°ÉÉ°É§ ¦é Þ ÐÂ ʣ Þ¿

1. The breathtaking Coral chandelier, both a work of art and a functional lighting object. 2. The suspended Coral lights, dripping with colourful glass pieces.

“MANY COULDN’T UNDERSTAND MY DESIGNS. THEN, AROUND THE YEAR 2000, I INTRODUCED A COLLECTION THAT HERALDED A NEW ERA FOR SERIP AT THE HABITAT VALENCIA TRADE FAIR.” 1

“WHILE THE CONCEPT OF DESIGN MAY BE UNIVERSAL, ONE’S TASTE ISN’T. THAT’S WHY THE NORDIC COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO SEEK SIMPLICITY WHILE THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE RUSSIAN MARKETS, FOR EXAMPLE, CONTINUE TO LEAN TOWARDS GRANDEUR.” 3

winter. Everything is always §Þ É Þ É ÐÂÐîÞ¦îÂʨ îéîÈÉ °â îâî ÂÂĀ é°È Ð¦ silence and calmness as the Â ù â É§ ÐÂÐîÞ É ¦ ÂÂ when the wind blows. a ¼ÐîÞÉ Ā éÐ ÐÞ§ É° lighting products was rough at the beginning as our Â° Ééâ ¦ÐîÉ °é Þ éÐ âé Û Ðîé é °Þ ÐÈ¦ÐÞé ąÐÉ ʨ a ÐÉ Ûé ú â éÐÐ ¦ Þ Ð¦ °éâ é°È É , ¦ Âé é é È ÉĀ couldn’t understand my designs. a Éʣ ÞÐîÉ é Ā Þ Ⱦȼȼȼʣ , °ÉéÞÐ î collection that heralded É ú Þ ¦ÐÞ Z Þ°Û é é ) °é é q Â É ° éÞ ¦ °Þʨ The receptivity was mixed; Û ÐÛÂ ú Þ Éʙé âîÞ °¦ é Ā Â°¿ âÐÈ Ð¦ é é Þ Â É ú°Èâ° Â Û° â ʋ Â°¿ é #Â ÈÐîÞ É Â° Þʣ é ÈÐ îÂ Þ S éÂ ¦ʣ é Ýî É Â° Þ É é B Éî¦ Þ â ú ÂÂ â é °¼Ðîé ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉâ ʋ ÐÞ ÉÐéʨ a é Þ é°ÐÉ °É °éâ Â¦ ú â ÛÞ ééĀ °ÈÛ é¦îÂ éÐ È â

I’d made people wonder about ÈĀˈ â°§Éâʨ DID YOUR BACKGROUND IN SOCIOLOGY HELP?

Yes. It was important to my development as a designer and an entrepreneur as it helped me to understand é °É °ù° î Â É â Ð¦ È Þ¿ éʣ é Û ÐÛÂ É é °Þ é âé âʣ é °đ Þ Éé îÂéîÞ â É é °ÈÛÐÞé É Ð¦ interpersonal relationships. These are crucial when it comes to segmentation and product development. WHAT DO YOU THINK HOMEOWNERS ARE LOOKING FOR NOW IN TERMS OF STATEMENT LIGHTING?

, Â° ù é é é É ¦ÐÞ é ÉÐÂÐ§° Â °ÉÉÐù é°ÐÉʣ â°§É É °đ Þ Éé° é°ÐÉ °â âé Þé°É§ éÐ °ÉĞî É é °Þ °â°ÐÉâʨ )Ðú ù Þʣ ú°Â é ÐÉ Ûé Ð¦ â°§É È Ā îÉ°ù Þâ Âʣ ÐÉ ʙâ é âé isn’t. That’s why the Nordic

countries continue to seek simplicity while the Middle âé É é Vîââ° É È Þ¿ éâʣ ¦ÐÞ ÿ ÈÛÂ ʣ ÐÉé°Éî éÐ Â É éÐú Þ âˈ§Þ É îÞʨ a Û ÞâÐÉ Â°â é°ÐÉ Ð¦ a design to make it more outstanding is also gaining prominence in interior â°§Éʨ ) É ʣ ù ÞĀ Û° ÐÈ â â°É§îÂ Þʣ ÿ Âîâ°ù úÐÞ¿ Ð¦ Þé ÛÞÐ î ú°é â ¦ ú È É° Â Â È Ééâ âˈÛÐââ° Â ʨ WHAT IS SERIP DOING IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY?

We are trying not to ÐÈÛÞÐÈ°â é ÛÐââ° °Â°éĀ Ð¦ È é°É§ é É â Ð¦ ¦îéîÞ generations by minimising the Éù°ÞÐÉÈ Éé Â °ÈÛ é Ð¦ ÐîÞ production and thinking about é Â°¦ Ā Â Ð¦ é ÛÞÐ î é â a whole. We are also searching ¦ÐÞ âÐÂîé°ÐÉâ é é Þ î é É Þ§Ā ÐÉâîÈÛé°ÐÉ Ð¦ our products while giving them greater durability.

photo WANGTING & WANG JIN

This means that while our pieces are linked to design éÞ É âʣ é Þ ʙâ âé°ÂÂ â Éâ Ð¦ é°È Â ââÉ ââ Ðîé é Èʣ thanks to the superior quality Ð¦ È é Þ° Ââ îâ ʨ É ú Þ ÈÐÞ Þ ¦îÂ Ðîé îâ°É§ raw materials that can be Þ Ā Â é ÂÂ âé § âʣ ¦ÞÐÈ ÛÞ ʌÛÞÐ î é°ÐÉ éÐ ÛÞÐ î é°ÐÉ and distribution. OF YOUR CREATIONS FOR SERIP, WHICH ARE YOUR FAVOURITES?

a °¼Ðîé É Ýî ÐÂÂ é°ÐÉâ É "ÐÂ°Ðʣ ÐîÞ Â é âé Â îÉ ʨ ASIDE FROM GLASS AND METAL, HAS SERIP BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH MATERIALS SUCH AS FIBRE OPTICS AND PLASTIC?

3 . Serip’s presentation at Euroluce 2019 in Milan. 4. The mono-brand showroom in Beijing.

5. Serip’s booth at the Maison&Objet 2019 trade show in Paris. 6. The very detailed vine leaves of the new Folio collection.

BÐʨ )Ðú ù Þʣ ú ù Þ Ýî âéâ ¦ÐÞ â°§Éâ îâ°É§ porcelain and have considered making a collection using it even though it’s never been Û Þé Ð¦ ÐîÞ ÛÐÞé¦ÐÂ°Ð â ú ¦Ð îâ ÐÉ é°â ÐÞ§ É° âéĀÂ ʨ CAN WE GET A SNEAK PEEK AT WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE UPCOMING COLLECTION?

r ÂÂʣ °é °â ÉÐé ¼îâé ÐÉ ʣ îé three collections that are in é ÛÞÐ ââ Ð¦ ù ÂÐÛÈ Ééʨ , Â° ù é é Ā é É Ð¦ ȾȼȾȽʣ we will have news to share. Stay tuned. Visit www.luxandbeyond.sg for more information.

text YOUNG LIM photos SERIP

PEOPLE

ABSOLUTELY FLOORED r°ÂÂ 9 ÞÞʣ ĀâÐÉʙâ Ð¦ ĞÐÐÞ Þ ʣ é Â¿â Ðîé úĀ °éâ Â é âé ÐÞ Â ââ É Â ù îîÈ °â ° Â ¦ÐÞ ĀÐîÞ °ÂĀ Â É°É§ ÞÐîé°É ʨ

°É °éâ âé Â°âÈ Éé °É ȽɅɅȽʣ ĀâÐÉ â É È ¿°É§ ú ù â °É é ÐÈ ÛÛÂ° É °É îâéÞĀ Ā ÐÉâé ÉéÂĀ Â îÉ °É§ îÛ é ÈÐ Ââ Ð¦ °éâ î§ ÂĀ ÛÐÛîÂ Þ É Â ÐÞ Â ââ ù îîÈ Â É Þâʨ r°Â ĀÐî È°§é é°É¿ °éâ É§°É Þ°É§ é È úÐîÂ ù ÉÐé°É§ éÐ °ÈÛÞÐù ÐÉ ¦é Þ éÞ â Ð¦ ù ÂÐÛÈ Ééʣ ĀâÐÉ Þ ÉéÂĀ °ÉéÞÐ î °éâ É ú âé âé Þ °É é ĞÐÐÞ Þ é §ÐÞĀʨ ʖr ¿ÉÐú é é é Þ °â ÉÐ ÐÉ â°ą ĝéâ ÂÂ ú É °é ÐÈ â éÐ ù îîÈ Â É Þʣʗ â Āâ r°ÂÂʨ ʖ ù ÞĀÐÉ â °đ Þ Éé É â é é Û É ÐÉ é °Þ Â É°É§ °éâʣ â°ą Ð¦ é °Þ ÐÈ É ĞÐÐÞ éĀÛ ʨ îé ÐîÞ HÈÉ°ʌ§Â° Ð â ù ¦ ú âîÞÛÞ°â â ĀÐî úÐÉʙé ĝÉ Ââ ú Þ ʨʗ r°ÂÂ é Â¿â Ðîé ú é â éâ é HÈÉ°ʌ§Â° Û Þéʨ WHO IS THE OMNI-GLIDE AIMED AT?

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DOES THE OMNI-GLIDE COME WITH LIGHTS FOR DARK CORNERS?

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“AT DYSON, WE BELIEVE IN CREATING ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY PROBLEMS.” WILL KERR, HEAD OF FLOOR CARE

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WHAT HAS KEPT THE DYSON TEAM FOCUSED ON

AMONG ALL THE PROJECTS

IMPROVING ITS CURRENT

THAT YOU’VE HELPED TO

PRODUCTS OVER THE YEARS,

DEVELOP, WHAT IS THE MOST

AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU

MEMORABLE ONE?

THE DESIGN OF THE VACUUM IS

BEEN WORKING WITH THE

SLIMMER AND LIGHTER. HOW

COMPANY?

MUCH DOES IT WEIGH?

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text YOUNG LIM photos DYSON

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DESIGN REPORT

Seasons of Recognition A round-up of Singapore’s most outstanding architecture and design projects, and young interior designers to watch.

ingapore’s design community is small but robust, resilient and productive. However, says many designers, winning over the home crowd is often harder than getting recognised abroad. On the brighter side, there is no shortage of award programmes that recognise the latest and greatest. We recently witnessed two award programmes celebrating Singapore-made designs. After being postponed by the pandemic, the President’s Design Award (PDA) 2020 presented the country’s highest design accolades to 11 recipients at the Istana. Two practices each received a Designer of the Year Award and nine design projects, Design of the Year Awards. Meanwhile, the Society of Interior Designers Singapore (SIDS) launched its inaugural 20 Under 45 programme during its month-long SIDFest 2021 at the National Design Centre, which presented a talented cohort of 16 under-45 interior designers from 13 practices with its inaugural 20 Under 45 Awards.

SAFDIE ARCHITECTS AND RSP ARCHITECTS PLANNERS & ENGINEERS: JEWEL CHANGI AIRPORT

Like Kampung Admiralty, Jewel Changi Airport is another of Singapore’s recent architectural landmarks to gain global recognition. Jewel redeﬁnes transit spaces and offers a new hybrid typology combining retail spaces, passenger conveniences and a garden in a climate-controlled enclosure. The PDA jury praised the project for making Singapore known to world travellers.

PRESIDENT’S DESIGN AWARDS 2020

9 DESIGNS OF THE YEAR A I R L A B AT ( S U T D) A N D Z H E J I A N G U N I V E R S I T Y: A I R M E S H PAV I L I O N

The AirMesh Pavilion, unveiled during the 2019 Mid-Autumn Festival at Gardens by the Bay, is a futuristic structure made of 3D-printed stainless steel components based on traditional Chinese lanterns - the ﬁrst of its kind in the world. “There was no waste during fabrication since 3D printing is additive,” says Professor Carlos Banon, co-founder of AirLab @SUTD and Subarquitectura, and professor of architecture and sustainable design at SUTD (Singapore University of Technology and Design), who helmed the project. “This small pavilion creates immense possibilities for sustainable construction and future architectural designs such as transportation hubs, large span roofs, and even skyscrapers.”

FORMWERKZ ARCHITECTS: C LO I S T E R H O U S E

This single-storey family home in Johor Bahru features a grid of rectangles with multiple courtyards that forms various cloisters uniﬁed by a visually arresting inverted pitched roof that brings natural daylight and ventilation while channelling the rain into the courtyards. The PDA 2020 jury commended the architects for their innovative contemporary reinterpretation of a vernacular design often found in the tropics. “Luxury has always been tied to the idea of tall mansions of certain sizes with fancy rooms. The single-storey house has almost always been perceived as inferior. But the Cloister House shows how you can still live richly and have a wealth of experiences within it,” says architect Alan Tay, who helmed the project.

KU LT : E Y E YA H !

EYEYAH! is the initiative of Steve Lawler, the publisher of Kult, a visual arts magazine, and cofounder Tanya Wilson. Through this interactive multimedia learning platform, children can learn about important social, environmental and economic topics such as fake news, mental health and climate change.

DP ARCHITECTS:

The platform’s team collaborates with creatives from all over to offer a universal perspective and nurture creative thinking. The PDA jury commended its humorous yet sophisticated use of design and tremendous potential for global impact.

KINETIC SINGAPORE:

GOODLIFE! MAKAN

T H E [ N OT- S O ]

This senior activity centre (SAC) in Marine Terrace transformed a void deck into a community kitchen and “living room” for seniors and now brings stay-alone seniors together to prepare daily meals for one another. Its interior is colour-coded to make it easier for seniors from different language and ethnic backgrounds to communicate with one another, while its glass front provides visual access to a broader environment and cross ventilation. The PDA jury was impressed by the project’s potential to scale up and help the elderly across the island. “The Goodlife! Makan project, encouraged some to step out and form social bonds with others, showing that design can reframe the way the community sees seniors and the way they see themselves,” says architect Seah Chee Huang, who led the project at DP Architects.

C O N V E N I E N C E S TO R E

This tongue-in-cheek exhibition takes the form of a convenience store, complete with ﬂuorescentlit interiors, catchy jingles and cheery corporate stripes. But look closer and you will notice that the various signs, labels and products sold in the store tell visitors how our culture of convenience is harming the environment. The shelves feature sustainable alternatives to convenient everyday products whose price tags depict the environmental cost of convenience. There is also an Employees of the Month photo wall featuring sustainability champions and inﬂuencers, and a freezer repurposed as a recycling bin. The PDA jury applauded this exhibition’s original concept and hailed it as a powerful vehicle for the message of sustainability without being preachy.

B I L L I O N B R I C K S : E TA N I A GREEN SCHOOL

This low-cost school in Sabah – with a corrugated iron roof and built from ﬁve decommissioned containers and recycled timber – has impacted the lives of 350 essentially stateless children of migrant workers on oil palm plantations since 2018. Its open classrooms foster experiential learning across age groups, and it has become a centre for marginalised communities that runs on solar power after sundown. The PDA jury praised Singaporebased BrillionBricks for exemplifying a high-impact, low-cost model and hailed it as an impressive example of how design can catalyse social change by responding to humanitarian issues and cultivating a strong sense of belonging.

WO H A : K A M P U N G A D M I R A LT Y This HDB development has won numerous international awards, including World Building of the Year from the World Architecture Festival in 2018. It reimagines Singapore’s traditional kampung for modern times by neatly L A U D A R C H I T E C T S : S PA R K L E T OT S L A R G E P R E S C H O O L AT P U N G G O L

combining 104 ﬂats for the elderly, a medical centre, a senior care centre, a childcare centre

Designing a large-scale preschool

with outdoor elements that allow the

and a 900-seat hawker centre into 11 levels of

for 1,000 is no small feat. The PDA

children to be in touch with nature.

biophilic design.

jury praised LAUD Architects for

“Designing for children lets us

“Kampung Admiralty’s success comes

reinventing the conventional childcare

become children again. We got to

from the mix of programmes that promote

centre in a circular form that houses

see the world from their point of view

ageing in place and the holistic integration

36 classrooms and amenities neatly

and draw inspiration from our own

of both the hardware (building) and the

like a pizza that provides safety,

childhood experiences,” says LAUD

software (public programmes),” says architect

security, inclusivity and fun spaces

architect Ho Tzu Yin.

Pearl Chee, who led the WOHA project.

SIDFEST 2020’S 20 UNDER 45 AWARD WINNERS

“DESIGN IS THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE UNIVERSAL WHILE GIVING FORM TO THE EXCEPTIONS.” PAN YI CHENG, PRODUCE

www.produce.com.sg

“DESIGN IS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUDIENCE. IT IS NOT WHAT YOU CAN SEE, BUT WHAT YOU CAN MAKE OTHERS SEE.” PATRICIA HO DOUVEN, WHITE JACKET

www.whitejacket.com

“DESIGN IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FORGE NEW MEANINGS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE WORLD AROUND US.” SELWYN LOW, FARM

www.farm.sg

“DESIGN IS A TOOL FOR NAVIGATING THE PROCESS OF DISCOVERY.” LEE LITING, NITTON ARCHITECTS

www.nitton.co

“DESIGN HAS THE POWER TO REVEAL NEW SOLUTIONS AND FORGE NEW MEANINGS FOR THE SPACES WE INHABIT, THE WAY WE LIVE AND THE OBJECTS THAT SURROUND US.” DENNIS CHEOK, UPSTRS_

www.upstrs.co

“A GOOD DESIGN IS A PROCESS, NOT A PRODUCT. IT INVOLVES THE CONSTANT EXPLORATION OF IDEAS AND CHALLENGING LIMITATIONS.”

QUCK ZHONG YI,

WO N G K E R H OW,

ASOLIDPLAN

“Design is the purposeful making of spaces with meaning, that build connection, and improve lives.”

“Every project is an exploration of how we can rethink, remake and reimagine.”

LIM JING FENG, ASOLIDPLAN

www.asolidplan.sg

“A GOOD DESIGN SHOULD BE IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE. IT CARRIES VALUE BEYOND AESTHETICS.” CHERIN TAN, LAANK

www.laank.com.sg

“AN EFFECTIVE DESIGN ENTAILS THE CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW PERCEPTION CAN BE MANIPULATED TO EVOKE AN INTANGIBLE SENSE OF DELIGHT AND WONDER.” SI JIA XIN, WYNK COLLABORATIVE

www.wynkcollaborative.com

L E O N G H O N K I T, W Y N K C O L L A B O R AT I V E

“Good interior design is about creating spaces that not only serve their users, but also enrich the surrounding environment and society, and improve the lives of those living there.”

“EMPATHY AND THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND CONNECT WITH THE CUSTOMER ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS THAT DEFINE THE SUCCESS OF A PROJECT.” JACKIE LAI, JIA STUDIOS

www.jiastudios.com

“THE 20 UNDER 45 AWARD IS AN HONOUR. IT MOTIVATES YOUNG DESIGNERS TO KEEP ON STRIVING AND IMBUES IN THEM A WILL AND BELIEF THAT DESIGN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN LIVES.” YEO SEE WEE, WEE STUDIO

www.weestudio.com.sg

“GOOD DESIGN SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.” MIKAEL TEH, MONOCOT

www.monocotstudio.com

“GETTING RECOGNISED BY OTHER DESIGN PROFESSIONALS AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IS A GREAT MOTIVATION FOR MY TEAM AND I TO CONTINUE TO CREATE DESIGNS THAT POSITIVELY INFLUENCE SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE COMMUNITY.” LIONEL LEOW, TA.LE ARCHITECTS

www.talearchitects.com.sg

“DESIGN REFLECTS AND MANIFESTS CHANGES IN SOCIETY AND THE WORLD.” MATILDA SUNG, GRAPHITE STUDIO

www.graphite.com.sg

text ASIH JENIE photos PRESIDENT’S DESIGN AWARD & SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNER SINGAPORE

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, E M O H O N E R & R I A BE R F G EM T N EP I S 19 V I O L UST T 2

UG A 8

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O R G ANIZ ER S

EXH I BI TOR S

Check out the September issue or Home & Decor website for more information to come!

MA IN S PONSOR S

PA RTNERS

U P C LO S E

RENGY JOHN The managing partner of Blink Design Group – known for its work on hotels such as Cappella Singapore and Roku Kyoto – talks about growing up on a safari and his love of exploring.

©ĂĆÚĂ Ņĩĩġ ĆĢ űĩŖŅ Ăĩġä àĩ űĩŖ ŉłäĢà őĂä ġĩŉő őĆġä ĆĢ ÁĢàέūĂűͧ Right now, that would be my study because the pandemic has forced most of us to work from home. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but have never ŉŖġġĩĢäà Ŗł őĂä ÚĩŖŅÁúä őĩέàĩͧ It’s a tie between scuba diving and skydiving.

What is your design style? I don’t have a personal style. I prefer constant evolution and exploration rather than following trends. What is your fondest ÚĂĆěàĂĩĩàέġäġĩŅűͧ Going on safaris during my growing up years in Africa. The wide-open spaces, the wild animals and the smell of rain when it hits the earth. Unforgettable. Did you have a pet that űĩŖέěĩŪäàͧ Yes. Jack was a mix of German Shepherd and Golden Retriever. ) ú â Þ ù É ĝ Þ ÂĀ ÂÐĀ Âʨ He was also full of fun, loved to play football and was the best goalkeeper ever.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received? Attitude is more important é Éˈ °Â°éĀʨ What is your guilty pleasure? An amazing spaghetti carbonara ĝÉ°â Ðđ ú°é Â°§é¦îÂ creme brulee. ©ĂÁő ĆĢŉłĆŅäŉ űĩŖ őĂä ġĩŉőͧ I enjoy working with passionate young designers who are not afraid to ask questions and try new ideas. Is there a cause that you’re ūĆěěĆĢú őĩ ƈúĂő ùĩŅͧ We need more environmental sustainability and renewable energy in the hospitality and construction industry. To promote this and improve growth, we need to spread awareness.

text MELODY BAY

What is one thing you’ve had to learn the hard way? Never send important emails at night. That’s a morning to-do – after a good sleep and a cup of Ðđ ʨ a°â Âú Āâ Þ°É§â é âé ideas forward. What are you currently reading? I used to read books while travelling. Now, I usually read online articles, mainly on hospitality, design, politics and world events. I’m fascinated by the release of previously Â ââ°ĝ °É¦ÐÞÈ é°ÐÉ ÐÉ f"Hâ Ā é ˈS Éé §ÐÉʨ What’s one thing you’d like to happen this year? I truly hope travel resumes in South-east Asia. What are three things you can’t live without? AĀ Þʣ ÈĀ È ą°É§ # Â ÿĀ "ÐÂ Ⱦ and comfortable loafers!

VO I C E S

OUR STORIES DEFINE US Clint Nagata, founder and creative partner of BLINK Design Group, shares his thoughts on how design has evolved in South-east Asia in the last decade.

esteryear: I grew up on the North Shore of Hawaii, where the houses were few and far between and, as far as the eye could see, there ú Þ ĝ Â â Ð¦ âî§ Þ É âé Â¿â blowing gently in the tropical island breeze. The beautifully idyllic weather made living indoors while having a strong connection to the outdoors a Û Þé Ð¦ ù ÞĀ ĀˈÂ°¦ ʨ My story as an interior designer began through my appreciation for creating interior spaces that blend đÐÞéÂ ââÂĀ ú°é É éîÞ ʨ It was only years later that I decided to move to Asia to help craft my story as a designer

into who I am today. After éÞ ù ÂÂ°É§ ¿ É ¦ÐÞé ¦ÐÞ úÐÞ¿ʣ , È °ÉâÛ°Þ Ā ú é °é éÐ Ðđ Þʢ ¦ÐÞ °§É Â É ĝÂÂ ú°é ÛÞÐÈ°â ʣ beautiful scenery, amazing cultures and a blossoming design scene. , âî ÉÂĀ Ýî°é ÈĀ ĝÞâé job at a renowned hospitality Þ °é éîÞ ĝÞÈ °É )ÐÉÐÂîÂîʣ Û ¿ ÈĀ ÂÐÉ§°É§â É moved halfway across the úÐÞÂ éÐ É§¿Ð¿ é é ÐÛ É my eyes as a designer. I found myself on a mission to explore the world in search of inspiration. Since then, I have been fortunate to have had countless opportunities to éÞ ù Â É úÐÞ¿ °É âÐ È ÉĀ °đ Þ Éé ÐîÉéÞ° âʨ é Â âé ÐîÉéʣ ,ʙù úÐÞ¿ ÐÉ ÛÞÐ¼ éâ in over 30 countries. The more I travelled, the more I was inspired by the beauty and the people I’ve é ÐÛÛÐÞéîÉ°éĀ éÐ úÐÞ¿ with along the way. Their stories and experiences have motivated me as a designer and fuelled my creativity. r É â¿ éÐ â Þ° é úÐÞ¿ Ð¦ ÈĀ ĝÞÈʣ ,ʙ â Ā é é é â°§Éâ Þ Þ ĝÉ embodiment of the soul of both the client and a place °Éˈé°È ʨ A decade ago, interior design in South-east Asia was ù°ÂĀ °ÉĞî É Ā âéÞÐÉ§ global design aesthetic, so a luxury hotel in Asia did not

ÂÐÐ¿ éÐÐ °đ Þ Éé ¦ÞÐÈ ÐÉ °É Western country as many hotel companies stressed design conformity. Even to trained eyes, it was hard to spot the °đ Þ É âʨ ÐÉ¦ÐÞÈ°éĀ É generic interiors (although many were well done) dominated the design scene. One could draw parallels to the food scene where chefs have ÞÐ¿ É ú Ā ¦ÞÐÈ È °ÉâéÞ È ÐÉ¦ÐÞÈ°éĀ éÐ ÐÐ¿ ¦ÐÐ é é tells their story.

Fast forward to today: a É¿¦îÂÂĀʣ Þ °É ZÐîéʌ east Asia and most of the world, interior design has evolved similarly and designs ÉÐú Þ Ğ é Û ÞâÐÉ Â âéÐÞ° â of both the designer and the patron. No more conforming to a general aesthetic style as designs are fuelled by stories envisioned through the eyes of é °Þˈ Þ éÐÞʨ As designers, it is important to continue to tell personal stories through design and to

have a never-ending source of curiosity that drives you to explore ideas in your world and beyond. Travelling and sharing information are Þî ° Âʣ éÐÐʨ ,é °â §ÐÐ éÐ ¿ Û pushing boundaries and have open mindsets. For me, inspiration comes from everywhere. Through ÈĀ â°§É úÐÞ¿ʣ , ù Âú Āâ sought to evolve and create new spaces in a never-ending quest to leave a legacy that tells the story of my past.

1 . & 2 . Artistic renderings of the lavish spa and the wood and stone-clad lobby of the Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam.

good to know Blink Design Group’s latest hospitality projects include the Regent Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Millennium Hilton Bangkok, JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa and Sheraton Cebu Mactan Resort.

Clint Nagata, founder and creative partner of BLINK Design Group 2

photos BLINK DESIGN GROUP 55

A BOLD EYE FOR FASHION In his historic Parisian apartment, couturier Alexis Mabille had complete freedom to translate his vision of beauty into eye-catching interiors. He talks about this deeply personal project with KARINE MONIE.

The symmetrically arranged furniture in the living room is at once pleasing to the eye – as is the mirror over the ﬁreplace that visually lengthens the space. 56

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The sink area is ﬁnished in bookmatched Calacatta marble. Elsewhere, the curated decor is a mix of the classical and the contemporary. OPPOSITE, TO P

Alexis (left) with interior designers Emil Humbert (centre) and Christophe Poyet. OPPOSITE, BOTTOM

The teal sofa, patterned cushions, marble table and metallic accents add vibrance and personality to the whitewalled, timber-ﬂoored living room.

urrounded by a family of architects, painters and musicians, Alexis Mabille has always been naturally drawn to the creative arts. After considering fashion and architecture, he began his career by working for designer John Galliano at Christian Dior, where he designed jewellery for nine years. He later launched his eponymous clothing label. Today, in addition to being a renowned fashion designer, Alexis continues to cultivate his passion for interiors, designing projects

that include restaurants and homes and furniture for himself as well as people he feels connected to. The Parisian apartment Alexis currently calls home was perfect for experimenting with and unleashing his creativity. He usually prefers the first arrondissement, but he fell in love with this 105 sqm space in an area of the ninth arrondissement frequented by intellectuals and artists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Because of its state of disrepair, the apartment was a blank canvas that allowed Alexis

CONTEMPORARY OBJECTS, ANTIQUES AND FLEA MARKET TREASURES EXIST ALONGSIDE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS AND FURNITURE DESIGNED BY THE COUTURIER HIMSELF. to rethink everything – which is precisely what he did. He decided to restore the dwelling to its former glory, highlighting the late 19th-century Directoire style. To achieve that while pushing the boundaries of his comfort zone, Alexis asked his friends Emil Humbert and Christophe Poyet – founders of Humbert & Poyet – to help him. It took six months for the trio to finalise the design. With only one bedroom, the apartment has generous common areas, high ceilings, boiserie (wooden panelling), elegant neoclassical mouldings, French doors trimmed in gold leaf and herringbone parquet flooring in a traditional chevron pattern inspired by the late French decorator Jean Royere. Exuberant colours and different types of marble adorn the rooms: Calacatta in the kitchen; Carrara and green in the bathroom; and royal red for the 210kg marble coffee table in the living room, which Alexis designed. All the spaces are filled with natural light, thanks to his decision to forgo curtains. An exception, however, was made for the bedroom, where mirrors reflect lots of natural light. Symmetry is omnipresent in the interior. For example, in the living room, two blue sofas by Alexis, two white lamps by Diego Giacometti, two planters and two Napoleon III chairs flanking the fireplace stand in perfect symmetry. While the apartment’s layout is typical of its era, the furniture 60

The bedroom opens onto a herringbonepatterned ﬂoor in the hallway and offers a sneak peek into the bathroom.

TOP, LEF T & RI GHT

Part of Alexis’ eclectic collection of home accessories that he’s accumulated through the years. B OT TOM , L EFT

This bathroom corner juxtaposes classic vessels and contemporary lights. B OT TOM , R IGH T

Mirror panels on the bedroom’s corner cabinet widen the space. O PPOSITE

The kitchen table doubles as Alexis’ workshop table.

and artworks mix periods and styles, creating an harmonious, eclectic look. Contemporary objects, antiques and flea market treasures exist alongside family heirlooms and furniture designed by the couturier himself. His sofa in the living room, embroidered with ‘50s and ‘60s-era flora and fauna, was inspired by a sofa in the Maison de Verre by architect Pierre Chareau. These elements are paired with artworks by the likes of Adrien Dirand, Paul Poiret and Francois Halard. The gold Maison Christian Dior chair in the hallway was a gift from Galliano. An antique Egyptian vase, a Stilnovo chandelier and a Xavier Tronel painting complete the look. The kitchen was purposefully given more of a living room feel as it doubles as his main workspace and is where he lays out his sketches. The bedroom – a strong testament of his broad sense of style – has shelves filled with books, curtains created from a 19th-century tapestry from Chateau de Saint-Victor in the Loire Valley, ’70s green chairs, two striped Napoleon chairs, an Empire bed, Stilnovo side tables, Charlotte Perriand bedside lamps and collages by Damien Blottiere and Z ÐééˈV Èâ Āʨ A ’40s Swedish ceiling lamp, ’70s Italian sconces, ’40s Italian stools and Directoire handles make the bathroom stand out. In his home, where he loves to entertain, Alexis’ contemporary eye has successfully honoured the past and fearless boldness.

photos FRANCIS AMIAND

SMALL & STYLISH Can a small space sport a dark material palette? Absolutely, as this compact West Coast condominium unit shows. ASIH JENIE takes a tour.

A well-selected range of kitchen appliances helps to keep the look of the kitchenette cohesive with the rest of the home. 65

WHO LIVES HERE

H OM E

A bachelor in his 30s A ione-bedder condominium unit on West Coast SIZE 463 sq ft

hen homeowner Christopher Lum purchased this onebedder condominium unit near Clementi, he already had a clear vision of what he wanted the interior to look like and who to approach to translate it into reality. An educator in the private sector, Christopher §Ðé °â ĝÞâé ¼Ð â È Þ¿ é°É§ executive at the interior design ĝÞÈ °âé°É é , Éé°éĀʨ ʖB éîÞ ÂÂĀʣ I went to them for the design as I trust their eye,” he shares. Christopher worked on the design directly with Keith Kum, ÐÉ Ð¦ é ĝÞÈʙâ Ðʌ¦ÐîÉ Þâʨ ʖ) ¿É ú ÿ éÂĀ ú é , Â°¿ ʣʗ Christopher adds. Christopher chose the unit because of its quiet neighbourhood. Populated mostly by landed houses, the surrounding areas also provide an uninterrupted view. The existing unit was virtually empty. Christopher wanted to turn it into a chic home resembling some of his favourite hotels that

É¼ÐĀ âé Ā°É§ °Éʣ Ðé ÂÐ Â ÐÉ â Â°¿ V ė â )Ðé Â É overseas one he visited during his travels before the pandemic. ʖ, ú Éé °é éÐ ù Â ¿ and white colour scheme, with all dark furnishings,” Christopher says. A dark colour scheme is a great way to bring intimacy and create a contemporary look in a space. But like how a little black dress can make its wearer look slimmer, a space dressed in all black might make it feel smaller than its actual footprint. Keith expertly subverted this by using black surfaces and black furniture pieces strategically by mixing them with whites É É éîÞ Â úÐÐ ĝÉ°â â É keeping the carpentry cleanlined and light, so the overall đ é ¦ Ââ °ÞĀʨ The main living space comprises the living and dining area. Instead of a conventional dining table that would have taken up space, Christopher requested a multifunctional

AB OVE

Homeowner Christopher Lum. RIGHT

An all-black palette gives the home a chic and modern atmosphere. OPPOSITE

A tan sofa helps to liven up the mood in the living area.

breakfast counter that would not obstruct the view of the linear living space from the entrance all the way to the balcony. “I’ve always liked the kitchen island communal concept instead of a formal sit-down dining,” shares Christopher. The breakfast counter was the small-space adaptation of that concept. The glossy black quartz countertop is cantilevered to a slim base placed on the wall to create a visual lightness, so it appears as a thin line from the side. This is also Christopher’s favourite WFH spot, as he can enjoy the skyline view and fresh air while working. All the furniture pieces É ĝéé°É§â ú Þ Ðî§é É ú or custom-made by Distinct Identity. “I handpicked all of the store-bought items,” says Christopher. These include Ðđ é Â ¦ÞÐÈ ) Āʣ pendant light from Flos, several items from BoConcept and the black switches and the unique door handles. Playing a prominent role to create the home’s handsome look is a dark laminate with wood grain from Lamitak. ʖa éʙâ é ĝÞâé È é Þ° Â é é , knew for sure I was going to use for my house,” says Christopher. “It’s near black but not so black that you can’t appreciate the grain of the wood texture.” The ÞÛ ÉéÞĀ â°§É °â Ğîâ ú°é the wall, deliberately making the door to the bathroom appear like a typical cabinet door – a delightful surprise cleverly inserted into a small space. The bedroom features a more woodsy black and white material palette, and a custom ÐÛ É ú Þ ÞÐ ĝÉ°â with the same laminate. The condominium developer initially provided the existing space for a vanity, but Christopher chose to use it for the wardrobe instead.

“I like everything arranged neatly where I can see them,” he says. “This is my favourite feature in the house.” The unit is Christopher’s second property. He spent a total of around $ 30,000 for the new furniture and renovation, which took three weeks before the circuit breaker started. Since moving in from his HDB Ğ é °É )Ðî§ É§ °É A Þ ȾȼȾȼʣ he has sold this apartment to a new owner who bought it with all its furnishings, and acquired another private property in Tampines. “I know exactly how I want to renovate that one too,” he quips.

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The simple design of the bedroom gives it a casual yet cosy vibe. BOT TOM

The homeowner ensures his home is neat and wellmaintained throughout. OPPOSITE

The openconcept wardrobe provides just the right amount of storage space for the homeowner.

PLAYING A PROMINENT ROLE TO CREATE THE HOME’S HANDSOME LOOK IS A DARK LAMINATE WITH WOOD GRAIN FROM LAMITAK. “THAT’S THE FIRST MATERIAL THAT I KNEW FOR SURE I WAS GOING TO USE FOR MY HOUSE.” –CHRISTOPHER, HOMEOWNER

photography VERONICA TAY art direction NONIE CHEN

The bar comprises a wall-hung open shelf and a freestanding wooden cabinet. OPPOSITE

The rattan chairs in the lounge were purchased from one of the owners’ clients after an event.

IS IT YUMMY? While the thought of licking one’s home may put some people off, this couple’s interior design decisions were based on the yum factor. LYNN TAN takes a taste.

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Functionality and ease of maintenance were the key considerations for the kitchen’s design. FAR R IGHT

Beyond this boundary lies the more private realms of the study and master bedroom. B OTTOM

The couple entertains often, so the island counter was conceived as a centrepiece where guests could gather and help themselves to whatever they needed from the adjacent bar and kitchen. OPPOSITE

The square layout and high ﬂoor with unobstructed views ticked all the right boxes for these homeowners.

usiness consultancy owners Sharon and Rafeal embarked on the renovation of their new home with crystal clear ideas. “We wanted a home with unique touches that would give it a personality. And it had to be practical and not just about aesthetics,” says Sharon. Rafeal adds: “We also wanted to integrate elements of luxury that would age well – something timeless, but not boring.” Designed so that everything has its place – right down to the height of shelves to accommodate a specific brand of toiletry – the couple admits to being “overly specific” about everything they wanted. This could be a trait carried over from their

professional lives where they specialise in space activation and management. Sharon and Rafeal had fixed ideas about each space but appreciated how architect Austen Chan, a partner at P5 Bespoke, managed to pull everything together for an overall consistent design. He even combed through their previous apartment with them to suss out what worked and what didn’t so they could make better-informed decisions for their new home. The entire apartment was overhauled, with P5 Bespoke undertaking all of the interior design, renovation and carpentry works. These included reconfiguration of the layout, demolition, plumbing, electrical work, masonry and glazing works.

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple and their cat HO ME A ﬁve-room HDB in Kim Tian Road SIZ E 1,206 sq ft

“The team also designed custom-fit, bespoke cabinetries that focused on simple lines, symmetry and the fusion of natural stone, wood and an aesthetic blend of metallic profiles,” says Roger Khoo, director of P5 Bespoke’s parent company P5 Design Ventures. He adds: “We also looked into the appropriate use of soft cove lighting to create an enchanting ambience coupled with meticulous interior accessorising incorporating signature pieces from P5 Studio, wall art and potted plants.” “The design came from a place of sophisticated luxury, where exquisite details and materials formed the genesis of the entire

design. There is also a strong focus on entertaining and dining with friends and family, “ says Austen. This is immediately apparent the moment you set foot into the place. A bar to the right of the main entrance is an invitation for guests to help themselves. The suspended open shelf for bottles is where the brass element makes its first appearance. It is also used in other parts of the home to tie the whole scheme together. Sharon has a preference for brass because “it is not cold like silver and not over-the-top like gold”. It also complements the rest of the material palette that includes timber, marble and quartz, and possesses a muted subtlety that would age well.

BOT TOM

The built-in cabinets in the study combine open shelves with closed compartments. BOT TOM , L EF T

Fluted glass on the walk-in wardrobe door keeps the interior naturally well-lit. OPPOSITE

Natural light runs through the entire unit.

ONE OF THE THREE EXISTING BEDROOMS, INCLUDING THE CORRIDOR LEADING TO IT, HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A STUDY, WHILE ANOTHER BEDROOM IS NOW A WALK-IN WARDROBE WITHIN THE MASTER BEDROOM.

The bar, dining island and dry kitchen on the other side of the main entrance define the entertainment zone. The bar is set close to the island where guests can gather and the dry kitchen is next to that. The starting point for the dining island is a print of a couple underwater by Eric Zener, an American artist known for his photorealism prints featuring figures around or in water or underwater. Sharon and Rafeal are fans of his works that embody many of the conversations they had about their dream home while on holiday in resorts around the world. The wall colour, the placement of the island and even the pendant lights all centre around the artwork. The spacious living area enjoys an unobstructed view of Keppel Harbour and the Singapore Strait. It is divided into two zones – one has an L-shaped sofa, a TV console suspended from a wall and two screens next to each other so they can watch TV or play co-op console games. On the other side is a cosy lounge where Sharon reads and seeks inspiration and Rafeal has his morning coffee. Since moving into the apartment in September 2019, they have taken to referring to the lounge as the “cat corner” as it is where their cat Moxie

soaks up the sun in the afternoons. A feature wall with wall-hung, brass-trimmed open shelves and a suspended ledge below evoke a floating quality whose lightness balances the robustness of the builtin cabinets in the kitchen. One of the three existing bedrooms, including the corridor leading to it, is now a study, while another is a walk-in wardrobe within the master bedroom. The master bathroom has been enlarged by shifting the wall that separates it from the adjacent common bathroom. Also, what used to be the shower area in the common bathroom is now the vanity counter in the master bathroom. The collaborative approach is something Austen firmly believes in. “Every project is unique. A collaborative approach allows us to develop a deeper understanding of the client’s aspirations and lifestyle to create a bespoke space and experience,” he says. As for the couple, whenever they had to pick from a selection of materials, finishes, colours or furnishings, they would ask themselves: “How yummy does this look? Do I want to lick it?” This invariably resulted in them making the right decision.

L EF T

The 101 Copenhagen Hako Bar from P5 Studio pairs oak with French bamboo mesh. Hako means storage or box in Japanese and it is a versatile piece that can be used for storage or as a bar counter. OPPOSITE, TOP

Brass inserts add visual interest in the bedroom. OPPOSITE, BOTTOM

The master bathroom’s luxurious feel elevates the daily routine.

photography VEE CHIN art direction KRISTY QUAH

BUILT ON FRIENDSHIP É ÂÈÐâé ɀȼʌĀ ÞʌÐÂ Ğ é °É °éâ ÐÞ°§°É Â ÐÉ °é°ÐÉ § ù ÐÂ ¦Þ° É â é ÐÛÛÐÞéîÉ°éĀ éÐ úÐÞ¿ éÐ§ é Þ ÐÉ é °Éé Þ°ÐÞ â°§É É Þ ÉÐù é°ÐÉʣ È ¿°É§ é°â É ú ÐÈ â°§É Ā ¦Þ° É ¦ÐÞ ¦Þ° É ʣ É ú Þ ¦Þ° É â Þ Âú Āâ ú Â ÐÈ ʣ â LYNN TAN ĝÉ â Ðîéʨ

RIGHT

Most of the furniture in the living room, including the sofa, armchair and TV console, was customised in the family factory of Chen Siong’s longtime friend Liang Wei. OPPOSITE

One of the two oil paintings by Marla Bendini, a local artist whose works Chen Seong and Rayner love.

WHO LIVES HERE

A doctor and researcher couple in their 30s H O M E A ﬁve-room HDB in Haig Road SIZE 1,270 sq ft

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TOP

ABOVE

Apart from functioning as a study, the relatively spacious area between the bookshelves and work desks is also a great yoga space for the couple.

A compact yet fully functional bar turns the breakfast nook into an inviting chill-out area. OPPOSITE

The L-shaped, built-in bench at the breakfast nook has hidden storage room.

THE WALL AND CEILING ARE A SHADE OF DEEP BLUE SIMILAR TO THE LAMINATE ON THE KITCHEN CABINETS. THIS CREATES A COSY, WELL-DEFINED SPACE THAT TIES THE DINING AND KITCHEN SPACES TOGETHER.

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Þ ÐÛ É°É§ʨ rÐÞ¿â ù Ééî ÂÂĀ Þ âîÈ °É Z Ûé È Þ é é â È Ā Þʨ âÛ°é é °âÞîÛé°ÐÉâʣ °é éÐÐ¿ Ðîé éÞ ÈÐÉéâ éÐ ÐÈÛÂ é ¦ÐÞ é Ā ÐîÂ ÈÐù °É BÐù È Þ ȾȼȾȼʨ a Ðâéâ È éÐ éú É ˏȽȽȼʣȼȼȼ É ˏȽȾȼʣȼȼȼʣ °É Âî °É§ ¦îÞÉ°â°É§â îé ÿ Âî °É§ ÛÛÂ° É âʨ ÿ Ûé ¦ÐÞ È°ÉÐÞ Â È Ééâ âî â é ÛÂ È Éé Ð¦ âú°é â Ðù é Þ ÐîÉé Þ É °É é È âé Þ ÞÐÐÈʣ ú° É Z ÐÉ§ʣ V ĀÉ Þ É ;° É§ r ° ¦ Â É °ÈÛÞÐù îÛÐÉʣ ÂÂ éÞ ú Þ ÛÂ â ú°é Ðú é °Éé Þ°ÐÞ éîÞÉ Ðîéʨ AÐÞ °ÈÛÐÞé ÉéÂĀʣ é Ā éÐÞÐî§ÂĀ É¼ÐĀ é Éé°Þ ÛÞÐ ââʨ Þ ú â Ā °éʪ BÐ Þ Â é°ÐÉâ°Ûâ ú Þ ÞÈ °É é È ¿°É§ Ð¦ é°â ÐÈ ʨ

photos TAN WEI TE art direction KRISTY QUAH

L EF T

The kitchen counter is also well-used by Rayner for rolling out his dough. BOTTOM

The master bedroom is simplicity at its best.

Given free rein in exploring design options, Ruth Tan of Untitled proposed a scheme inspired by ﬁlm director Wes Anderson’s style – symmetry, geometric patterns, monochromatic hues – based on Joshua and Kathleen’s colour preferences and their response to bold shades. 86

A TALE OF TWO STYLES Marrying two diverse styles is no mean feat. Seizing the opportunity, Untitled’s â°§É é È ÛîÂÂ Ðđ É °É °ù° î Â°â yet cohesive interior that this couple enjoys everyday. LYNN TAN susses out the details.

anking relationship manager Joshua Chin prefers an industrial style while his wife, civil servant Kathleen Wong, is partial to mid-century designs. When they purchased this resale Ğ é °É ȾȼȽɅʣ é Ā ú Éé é °Éé Þ°ÐÞ éÐ Þ Ğ é Ðé âéĀÂ âʨ Of the three interior design ĝÞÈâ é Ā âÐÞéÂ°âé ʣ fÉé°éÂ ʣ âî ʌ Þ É îÉ Þ °§éĀaúÐʣ impressed them with a proposal that was en pointe and comprehensive. ʖa °Þ °É°é° Â â°§É ú â already more or less what we ú Éé ʨ fÉé°éÂ ú â ÂâÐ ù ÞĀ éÐÞÐî§ É é Z¿ é fÛ 3D modelling made it easy for us to visualise the spaces,” 7Ðâî ˈ ÐÈÈ Ééâʨ ; Ā °Éé Þ°ÐÞ â°§É Þ Vîé a Éʣ é fÉé°éÂ é È took approximately three

months to overhaul the whole apartment at the cost Ð¦ Ðîé ˏɅȼʣȼȼȼʣ ÿ Âî °É§ ¦îÞÉ°â°É§âʨ ù É éÐî§ °é ú â ÐÉÂĀ Ðîé â°ÿ Ā Þâ ÐÂ ʣ é existing interior was “gaudy, outdated and mismatched,” Vîé ÛÐ°Ééâ Ðîéʨ ʖa Â ĀÐîé was also compartmentalised, making the spaces appear disconnected, and there was no storage space,” she adds. a âéî Āʣ °É°É§ É kitchen areas underwent ÿé Éâ°ù Þ ÐÉĝ§îÞ é°ÐÉ É walls were pulled down to open îÛ é âÛ âʨ a ÐÞ°§°É Â study and dining are now an open-concept kitchen with an island separating it from the new dining area that used to é ¿°é Éʨ É 9 éÂ É °â super pleased with it. ʖa ¿°é É É °âÂ É ú Þ ÐÉ ÈĀ ú°â Â°âéʨ a Ā ù

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple and their two boys H OM E A ﬁve-room HDB ﬂat in Punggol SIZ E Approximately 1,200 sq ft

L EF T

Ruth managed to pull off an interesting colour play that juxtaposes a muted mustard sofa with a mustard wall. R IGH T

The main feature in the living room is a geometric wall mural by Wes Anderson’s eccentric style. OPPOSITE

The kitchen island’s rounded edges make it more childfriendly. The yard at the rear features a quirky, arched doorway.

TO P

ABOVE, RI G HT

Beyond this unique gate is a statementmaking interior.

The handlefree kitchen cabinets open when you press on the recess that’s carved into the door edges.

ABOVE

The textured wall in the common bathroom adds depth and contrasts with the smooth cement sand screed ﬁnishes around the rest of the home.

OPPOSITE

In the dining area and the kitchen, Ruth picked out the light ﬁttings while Joshua and Kathleen chose the furniture with her input.

to be very versatile and useful. I often have friends over to make pizza and we roll our dough out on the island. When working from home, I prefer to stand rather than sit. It is also perfect for doing that,” says Kathleen. Their styles are also harmoniously integrated through Ruth’s colour and material palettes. The cement â É â Þ ĝÉ°â â É é exposed living room shelf structure are synonymous with the industrial theme. As for colour, the geometric forms and diverse spectrum Ð¦ â â Þ °ÉâÛ°Þ Ā ĝÂÈ

director Wes Anderson’s love for symmetry, geometric patterns and sometimes muted versions of the primary colours in midcentury designs. A custom-designed mural not only forms the centrepiece in the living area but is also the focal point within the linked living and kitchen-cum-dining areas. It takes its cue from the design of a rug Ruth originally selected for the living room but didn’t use because the couple felt it was not very practical in terms of maintenance, especially with having their sons being just â ù É É ¦ÐîÞˈ ÞÐîÉ ʨ

“THE KITCHEN AND ISLAND WERE ON MY WISH LIST. I OFTEN HAVE FRIENDS OVER TO MAKE PIZZA AND WE ROLL OUR DOUGH OUT ON THE ISLAND. WHEN WORKING FROM HOME, I PREFER TO STAND RATHER THAN SIT. IT IS ALSO PERFECT FOR DOING THAT.” – KATHLEEN WONG, HOMEOWNER

The highlight of the master bedroom is the green band that runs along the lower half of the walls. OPPOSITE, TO P

The master bathroom’s terrazzo basin echoes the terrazzo ﬁnish on the side of the kitchen island. OPPOSITE, B OTTOM

A patterned glass screen with a powdercoated green frame separates the sleeping area from the walk-in wardrobe and reading nook.

Ruth suggested an ingenious alternative: “I translated its geometric shapes and colours into a wall mural. I also incorporated terracotta tiles that connect ú°é é °É°É§ ÞÐÐÈ ĞÐÐÞʨʗ Other noteworthy elements in the living room are the asymmetrical shelves É °É éâ âîÛÛÐÞé Ā ÛÐÂ âĀâé È Â° Þ é ÂĀ left exposed and painted a contrasting shade of red to make them stand out. When conceptualising é È âé Þ ÞÐÐÈʣ Vîé focused on the open-concept ú Þ ÞÐ ʣ úÐâ â°§Éʣ â â Āâʣ ʖÞ Ğ é é é âéÐÞ § âÛ â É ÈÐ îÂ Þ ú°éÐîé °É§ Ðÿ °É ÐÞ îÉ°¦ÐÞÈ É âé°ÂÂ ÂÐÐ¿ Ğî° ʨʗ â°ÈÛÂ Ýî Éʌâ°ą

photos TAN WEI TE art direction KRISTY QUAH

Ğ É¿ Ā â° é Â â complete the minimalist â È ʨ a ÐĀâʙ ÞÐÐÈâ ù a geometric mural around the doors in their respective favourite colours of yellow and orange. The strategy for the éÞÐÐÈâ °â ÂâÐ ÂÂ Ðîé colour. Ruth chose a focal hue in each one to create a clean Ā é ÐÂ đ éʨ r°Â ÐÞ É§ ÞîÂ â °É é Ðé Þâʣ é Þ°§é yellow tiles in the master éÞÐÐÈ ú Þ É ʌÛ° ¿ to contrast with the green in é ÞÐÐÈʨ Since moving into their É ú ÐÈ °É 7 Éî ÞĀ ȾȼȾȼʣ the family has spent plenty of quality time at home. They do not have a favourite space îâ é Þ Þ Â È Ééâ that they like in every room. Joshua admits that even though the colours are more to Kathleen’s liking than his, °â Â°§é Ā Ðú é Ā turned out in the home, and especially the living room. An adventurous designer who is always up for ÿÛ Þ°È Éé°É§ ú°é °đ Þ Éé elements, colours and textures to create contrast, Ruth says that this is one project that truly allowed her éÐ Ûîâ ÐîÉ Þ° âʨ

F E AT U R E

BIG DREAMS

photos HOUZE

Four Singaporean startup founders share the inspiration behind their businesses and advise young entrepreneurs hoping to follow in their footsteps.

verpriced air-conditioner services. A lack of space for urban farming. A desire for durable and aesthetically pleasing home storage. And a need for integrating °đ Þ Éé âÈ Þé ÐÈ â Þù° â ÐÉ ÐÉ ÛÂ é¦ÐÞÈʨ These may be common problems for the average homeowner but for these four startup founders, they presented an opportunity to make things better for people. Each developed a solution to the problems they faced and turned it into a business idea that would impact thousands. A start-up’s journey isn’t easy, particularly when facing pushback for a relatively new idea. Yet these guys are surviving in a rapidly changing world due to their sheer determination and ability to adapt. They share what makes their companies work with us.

B R I E N C H UA , CO-FOUNDER & C E O , H O U Z E S T O R AG E I N S P I R AT I O N S It began as a small e-commerce store in 2017. Today, Houze Storage Inspirations is well known. For co-founder and CEO Brien Chua, this is one of his proudest achievements. The brand offers homeowners affordable, durable storage solutions that help keep their home clutter-free – an especially important aspect of post-Covid life as most of us are still working from home.

What ’s the inspiration b e h i n d yo u r b u s i n e s s?

When I worked in China for five years, I got to know the CEO of the country’s biggest homeware, plastics and storage manufacturer. During my first visit to one of his gigantic warehouses filled with all kinds of home living wares, I fell in love with the industry. It was fantastic!

F R A N K L I N TA N G , H A B I TA P FOUNDER & CEO

the pandemic?

We are a predominantly e-commerce brand, so the digital channels and operations model needed in the post-Covid economy was already well in place before the pandemic. We enjoyed a significant increase in orders for our homeware products. The new influx of orders gave rise to good problems such as how to fulfil them. In addition to this, there was a 50 per cent limit on staffing due to the circuit breaker. With some quick thinking and elbow grease, we navigated through new Covid-19 regulations to run as usual. We also redeployed staff from retail stores to work in our warehouses as demand for our homeware products increased. W h a t ’ s yo u r b e s t a d v i c e f o r yo u n g e n t r e p r e n e u r s

What ’s the inspiration b e h i n d yo u r b u s i n e s s?

I read about Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative in 2016 and that started my pursuit of building an integrated mobile app to drive smart living adoption. I was working on a project on a global brand to co-build a prototype smart home here in Singapore when I realised the challenges. A fair amount of technical knowledge is needed to set one up. I found the process and user experience far from ideal. Hence, I decided to build Habitap, an intuitive platform to make smart living relevant to our lifestyle and a seamless experience for our users.

go wireless when asked about cabling provisions. However, we stuck to our commitment to continue making innovative and easy to use technology. Moving forward, Habitap will still be focusing on enhancing and augmenting that seamless user experience.

W h a t h a s b e e n yo u r b i g g e s t

W h a t ’ s yo u r b e s t a d v i c e

c h a l l e n g e a n d h o w d i d yo u

f o r yo u n g e n t r e p r e n e u r s

o ve r c o m e i t ?

i n S i n g a p o r e?

One of the biggest was convincing clients and the industry to think about software, especially in brick and mortar environments. I was often regarded as the troublemaker in the room and perhaps in the industry because I was throwing around all these crazy ideas about how individuals could control buildings and how we could all

Like myself, I believe entrepreneurs are, by nature, passionate and optimistic. But surviving on passion and optimism alone is not sustainable. We need to conﬁrm if a business model is sustainable in the real world as quickly as possible and get going.

photos HABITAP

How has it adapted during

Integrated smart living is easier with Habitap’s all-inone mobile platform for both residential and commercial use. It offers the integration of services such as smart home automation, gated access and the booking of property facilities for users living in selected residential projects, plus functions like electronic visitor management for commercial buildings. When Franklin Tang started Habitap in 2017, he faced many challenges in a world where traditional systems were still preferred. Today, it’s a different story.

i n S i n g a p o r e?

Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and be objective about what your goals are. People only see the glamorous side as you get recognised. But, the truth is, it is not always a pretty sight. It’s important to be hungry and unafraid of getting dirty when, say, stuffing pallets, transporting goods or driving lorries. For more information, visit www.houze.com.sg.

For more information, visit www.myhabitap.com.

HAKEEM SA, CO-FOUNDER, S E R V I C E B AC K Getting cashback rewards is common when shopping online but what about applying this idea to services like air-conditioner servicing and house painting? This idea was the brainchild of Hakeem SA and his fellow co-founders of ServiceBack, a ﬁrst-of-its-kind platform where you get cashback rewards for home and renovation services. It continues to enjoy immense popularity among homeowners, with over 12,000 customers and many ﬁvestar reviews.

photos SERVICEBACK.COM

What ’s the inspiration b e h i n d yo u r b u s i n e s s?

I started an air-conditioning servicing business in January 2020 after encountering an unpleasant air-conditioning servicing experience. I paid for many things I didn’t know anything about and then found out that the price quoted was ﬁve times more than the usual. It occurred to me that we could create an impact by improving the way the industry functions. Through ServiceBack, we are solving the problem of highly inequitable acquisition costs borne by the customer. The deeper that we looked at it, the more problematic and prevalent it was. W h a t h a s b e e n yo u r b i g g e s t challenge an d h ow did you o ve r c o m e i t ?

It is still very much a hands-on industry. As there are multiple human touchpoints, there exists the risk of failure in between. Often, the quality of service – work done, communication, after-sales

– is not 100 per cent within your control. The challenge is ensuring that the quality of service is always maintained and that every job is completed satisfactorily. What ’s next ?

We have big dreams. In line with the cashback model, we will introduce a group buy scheme, a renovation credit line with partner ﬁnancing facilities, instalment payments for large ticket purchases, and partner with other payment providers for cross-platform rewards and merchants cashback. For more information, visit www.serviceback.com.

DON’T BE AFRAID. TAKE THE RISK. SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE TO RELY ON YOUR GUT AND JUST GIVE IT A SHOT. IF IT DOESN’T WORK OUT, TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH. –

HAKEEM SA, CO-FOUNDER OF SERVICEBACK

photos ONE KIND BLOCK

DY L A N S O H , CO-FOUNDER, O N E K I N D O F B LO C K Interested in urban farming at home, but not sure where to start? This father-and-son start-up aims to resolve the issue of growing produce in small spaces with a modular system. Akin to assembling Lego blocks, it can be as compact or as extensive as you need. With their Kickstarter campaign, they raised over $40,000. What ’s the inspiration b e h i n d yo u r b u s i n e s s?

The vision was always to make cities a little greener from the ground up instead of the typical top-down, vertical industrial farms. Not all apartments are designed for urban farming, so we had to create a hydroponic system that could adapt to any apartment layout and be placed anywhere, on the windows, balconies, corridors and walls. Any space that enables you to hang a 1m by m painting can be utilised to grow up to 2kg of vegetables a month.

it’s boosted interest in urban farming and has brought to light how badly we as a city need to be sustainable. W h a t ’ s yo u r b e s t a d v i c e

W h a t h a s b e e n yo u r b i g g e s t

f o r yo u n g e n t r e p r e n e u r s

c h a l l e n g e a n d h o w d i d yo u

i n S i n g a p o r e?

o ve r c o m e i t ?

The conﬁdence in putting your ideas and opinions out there for others to judge is difficult, but it gets easier with time. Failure is your friend. Each time you encounter it, remember to take

The pandemic has been a double-edged sword. On one end, it’s slowed the process of prototyping and manufacturing to an extent. On the other,

something away, and you’ll ﬁnd you can learn a lot from it. What ’s next?

We’re constantly prototyping new blocks to ﬁt into the current system. Soon, you’ll be able to add on things like solar-powered pump modules and grow light modules to grow tougher plants like tomatoes and chilli padi plants. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/onekindblock.

text MELODY BAY

F E AT U R E

PENCHANT FOR NOSTALGIA Adding heritage elements in your modern home may be tricky, but not impossible with these tips.

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îÞ ÐÈ â Þ Ğ é úÐ ú Þ É ÐîÞ Þ°é § ʨ A ÉĀ ÐÈ ÐúÉ Þâ ú Éé éÐ °É Âî îÉ°Ýî Â È Ééâ é é âÛ ¿ éÐ é °Þ îÂéîÞ É °âéÐÞĀʣ ú é Þ °éʙâ îé°¦îÂ °ÞÂÐÐÈ °É°É§ é Â Û ââ ÐúÉʣ S Þ É ¿ É é°Â â °É é ĞÐÐÞ°É§ ÐÞ È ÈÐÞ °Â° ÐÂÂ é Ðù Þ é Ā Þâʨ V éÞÐ É ù°Éé § Â È Ééâ Éʣ Ðú ù Þʣ È ¿ ÐÈ ÛÛ Þ é ÐÞ Ðù Þ é éÐÛʨ r âÐú ĀÐî Ðú éÐ °Éé §Þ é Þ°é § Â È Ééâ °ÉéÐ âéĀÂ é é ĝéâ ĀÐîÞ Û ÞâÐÉ Â°éĀʨ

C U R AT E A PA L E T T E R AT H E R T H A N H AV E A MISHMASH OF THINGS

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Vintage homeware can look dated and untidy if not properly curated. To create a visually balanced room, consider sticking to two or three dominant colours, as well as a neutral shade. The same applies to textures. For example, if your wooden dining table has a pronounced grain, other wood elements in the room should also echo this look.

KEEP SLIM PROFILES AND CONTRAST THEM WITH CLEAN LINES

Boxy, dark furniture can visually weigh down an area, so opt for furniture with a slim proﬁle where possible. Mixing clean, contemporary lines with antiques will not only modernise a space but will also highlight the antique piece. Think arched doorways with retro bead curtains, minimalist lamps on old side tables and contemporary sinks with a vintage faucet.

“PAINT VENTILATION BLOCKS OR USE TILES OF THE SAME COLOUR SCHEME TO ENSURE HARMONY. EVERYTHING SHOULD TIE BACK TO THE OVERALL LOOK OF THE HOME.” AMANDA PANG, PRINCIPAL DESIGNER AT AMP DESIGN CO.

W H E N D I S P L AY I N G MEMORABILIA, CHOOSE YO U R S P OT S W I S E LY

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If you’re a collector of vintage items or heirlooms, make sure you have enough dedicated shelf space for them. If you’d prefer to display them around the home, choose areas with sufficient lighting and arrange them in small groups of three to ﬁve items, interspersing them with other elements such as plants. Avoid having too many objects on display together. It can be visually overwhelming and make the home feel like a museum.

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PAY H O M AG E TO T H E B U I L D I N G ’ S H I STO RY

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If you live in a building with a storied past, such as a prewar shophouse or a walk-up apartment, you can echo its architectural elements in the home. Details like an exposed brick wall, a stone column or ventilation blocks help the home feel more cohesive inside and out.

“WHETHER CERAMIC OR PORCELAIN, LARGE FORMAT OR SMALL, ANY OTHER TILE WILL WORK WITH PERANAKAN ONES.”

A D D F L A I R W I T H AC C E N T S T H AT D O N ’ T TA K E U P M U C H S PAC E

Looking at jazzing up your place, but don’t have much room? Vertical elements such as rattan screens, Peranakan tiles and even vintage shutter doors add ﬂair to a room without taking up much ﬂoor space. However, to make them stand out, you should only add them to an area that’s not already too busy.

photo HAFARY

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SIMON CHEONG, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, HAFARY GROUP

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NATURAL LIGHT MAKES A SPACE APPEAR LARGER, ILLUMINATES AN INTERIOR STRUCTURE AND INCREASES THE BEAUTY OF THE SPACE AND ITS CONTENTS.

LET THE LIGHT THROUGH

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Lighting is instrumental in making a space look bright and airy. If you’re looking for a partition or divider, concrete ventilation blocks are great for letting both light and air through. Other options include rattan screens, glass mosaic blocks and ﬂuted glass panels that grant privacy and block visual clutter at the same time.

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PROPE R T Y

FINDING A GOOD PROPERTY IS DEFINING A GOOD PROPERTY What makes such a piece of property worth purchasing? Realtor Justin Quek of OrangeTee & Tie tells us how to deﬁne one based on the 3F theory.

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s a real estate professional since 2006, perhaps the most common question posed to me Ðù Þ é Ā Þâ °âʣ ʖ É ĀÐî ĝÉ me a good property, please?” We are privileged in Singapore to have a wide range of Þ â° Éé° Â Ðđ Þ°É§â °É Ðé é Ûî Â° É ÛÞ°ù é É ú sales and secondary markets. ,É ÐÈ °É é°ÐÉ ú°é î é°ÐÉ and exposure to an era of data Ðù ÞÂÐ ʣ é°â Þ é â Ðî Â ʌ edged sword for many. Analysis paralysis may set in or we end up making decisions é é Â ââ ÐÛé°È Âʨ a°â °â úĀ a ZéÞ °éâ a°È â article on ÛÐÂÂ ÐÉ î é °É È° ʌȾȼȽɅ

mentioned that Singaporeans spend more time on property â Þ â é É Þ °É§ é°È stories or even speaking to é °ÞˈÛ Þ Ééâʨ When you ask a realtor to recommend a good property éÐ Āʣ ĀÐî È Ā ÛÞ â Éé with a wide range of options. How does one make any sense of this simple, essential question é é â ÉÐÞÈÐîâ È °§î°éĀ É âî ¼ é°ù°éĀ éÐ °éʪ fÂé°È é ÂĀʣ °é °â ÐÉÂĀ ÛÐââ° Â ¦ÐÞ îĀ Þ to distinguish a good property Ā ĝÉ°É§ ú é §ÐÐ property means to you. Here is a framework to keep in mind éÐ °â Ðù Þ é âé ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ ¦ÐÞˈĀÐîʢ

“WHEN YOU ASK A REALTOR TO RECOMMEND A GOOD PROPERTY TODAY, YOU MAY BE PRESENTED WITH A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS.”

FINANCES

§ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ É ÐÉÂĀ â §ÐÐ â é îĀ Þʙâ đÐÞ °Â°éĀ to purchase and willingness to hold on to the property for some é°È ʨ a°â ÐÈÛÞ°â â ĀÐîÞ Ýî°éĀ (cash and CPF) as your down payment and, more importantly, é â°ą Ð¦ é É¿ ÂÐ É ĀÐî É â îÞ ¦ÞÐÈ É¿ é é éâ â È ¼ÐÞ âé ¿ ÐÂ Þ Ð¦ é ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ îÉé°Â ĀÐîʙù Û ° °é Ðđʨ a°â °â Þ°é° Â ÉÐé ¼îâé îÛ¦ÞÐÉé â ÛîÞ â ʣ îé ÂâÐ â ÂÐÉ§ʌ term consideration during the repayment period. a Þ ù É â â ú Þ ÛÞÐâÛ é°ù îĀ Þâ âé Þé shopping for a good property ¦ÐÞ ĔÞÈ°É§ Ðú Èî é Ā É đÐÞ éÐ Û Þé ú°éʨ

) ù°É§ é É¿ ÐÉ ĀÐîÞ â° ¦ÐÞ ĀÐî ù É ù ÉéîÞ Ðîé °â critical, especially in Singapore, where strict policies such as é aÐé Â é Z Þù° °É§ V é°Ð ʂa ZVʃ §Ðù ÞÉ ÐîÞ ÐÞÞÐú°É§ Û °Â°é° âʨ It is vital to settle your ĝÉ É â ¦ÐÞ ÛÛÞÐ °É§ é market as your current personal ĝÉ É â È Ā ù Û Þé° îÂ Þ ĀÉ È° â é é È Ā đ é ĀÐîÞ ÐÞÞÐú°É§ °Â°éĀʨ H é °É°É§ É ,S ʂ,ÉʌSÞ°É °Û Â ÛÛÞÐù Âʃ Ā âÛ ¿°É§ ú°é ÈÐÞé§ § É¿ Þ ÐÞ ÞÐ¿ Þ °â é âé ú Ā éÐ §Ð Ðîé é°â ÛÞÐ ââʨ ÐÈ °É°É§ é°â ÐÞÞÐú°É§ power with the cash and CPF you possess will give you clarity and, more importantly,

ÐÉĝ É éÐ â Â é §ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ â ÐÉ ú é ĀÐî É Þ Â°âé° ÂÂĀ đÐÞ ʨ ĀÐÉ đÐÞ °Â°éĀʣ ĝÉ É â ÂâÐ â é é ÐÉé ÿé É °Éé Éé°ÐÉ éÐ îĀ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀʣ especially for the investor. A ɁɄʌĀ ÞʌÐÂ úÐ É ÐÉÂĀ Ð é °É a mortgage for seven years may ĝÉ é é °Éù âé°É§ °É V °éâ È Ā provide a stronger return on Ýî°éĀ é É îĀ°É§ ÛĀâ° Â real estate without the optimal leverage component. a°â È Ā § °É °đ Þ °¦ he/she is looking for legacy planning without leverage and looking at a much longer investment period. And if that °â é â ʣ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ È Ā É optimal option. Ensuring you

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have clarity on your intentions and tenure of investment provides you with the context éÐ È ¿ ĝÉ É ° Â â Éâ Ðîé Ð¦ ĀÐîÞˈÛîÞ â ʨ FUNCTION

A good property can mean ù ÞĀ °đ Þ Éé é°É§â éÐ °đ Þ Éé Û ÐÛÂ ʨ â ú Â°ù °É a mostly privileged world, a good property can mean very °đ Þ Éé é°É§â éÐ °đ Þ Éé Û ÐÛÂ ʨ aÐ É °Éù âéÐÞʣ property like this may represent a location with the potential for a strong exit strategy or âé Â Ā° Â § É Þ é°ÐÉʨ aÐ a family man, a good home É È É °É§ ÂÐâ éÐ °â

°Â Þ Éʙâ â ÐÐÂ ÐÞ °â Û Þ Ééâʙ house as well as having enough space to accommodate all of °â ¦ È°ÂĀ È È Þâʨ ZÐ °é °â °§ÂĀˈâî ¼ é°ù ʨ aÐ §°É ÂÐÐ¿°É§ é properties, start with some introspection to decide on the priorities for this purchase. a Þ Þ éúÐ â° ¦ éÐÞâʢ Â°¦ âéĀÂ É ĝÉ É ° Â âé éîâʣ which is the second step to ĝÉ °É§ §ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀʨ a Â°¦ âéĀÂ ¦ éÐÞ alone covers everything from connectivity and community to even the size of the development. Capital appreciation, yield, tenure of investments and so on tend

“THE MOST ELEGANT SOLUTIONS IN LIFE ARE OFTEN THE SIMPLEST. THE KEY TO FINDING A GOOD PROPERTY SIMPLY BEGINS WITH DEFINING WHAT A GOOD PROPERTY IS TO YOU.”

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éÐ ÐÈ â°ÈÛÂ°ĝ °É é ĝÉ É ° Â ¦îÉ é°ÐÉʨ a Â Þ°éĀ Ð¦ ĀÐîÞ °Éé Éé É °Éé Þ âéâ §°ù â ĀÐî é °Â°éĀ éÐ È ¿ éé Þʌ°É¦ÐÞÈ °â°ÐÉâʨ Many of us wish to pursue perfection in our dream homes É ú Éé éÐ § é é âé Ð¦ everything. However, resources are often a constraint. Choosing é âé ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ ¦ÐÞ ĀÐî °â Ðîé È ¿°É§ é âé îâ Ð¦ ĀÐîÞ prioritised functions from the ĝÉ É ° Ââ ĀÐî ù â é â° ¦ÐÞ this purpose. ,¦ ĀÐî Þ ù°É§ éÞÐî Â ú°é this process, consult a trusted Þ ÂéÐÞ úÐ É Ðđ Þ ÿé ÞÉ Â perspectives and guide you through the process of asking

éé Þʣ ÈÐÞ Û Þé°É Éé Ýî âé°ÐÉâ éÐ °â Ðù Þ É ĝÉ ú é §ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ È Éâ ¦ÐÞˈĀÐîʨ FORCES

7îâé â ú Þ ÂÂ î°Âé °đ Þ ÉéÂĀʣ é î°Âé environment also has complex market dynamics. For instance, two properties located along é â È âéÞ é îé ÐÉ °đ Þ Éé sides of the road can have °đ Þ Éé ÛÞ° É â Â Û Þ¦ÐÞÈ É ʨ r°é é ĝÞâé éúÐ âé Ûâ Ð¦ ÉâîÞ°É§ ĀÐîÞ ĝÉ É â are in place and clarity on priorities, you are now ready to get intimately acquainted with the market forces. A Þ¿ é ¦ÐÞ â Þ ÉÐé ¼îâé é considerations of explicit data points such as average selling price or past transactions. a Ā ÂâÐ °É Âî ÈÐÞ °ÈÛÂ° °é details that only a seasoned investor or veteran realtor will Â éÐ âÛÐéʨ °đ Þ É â É ÐÈÛÂ ÿ°é° â É ÉĀú Þ ʣ ¦ÞÐÈ ¿ÉÐú°É§ é °đ Þ É éú É Ðîé°Ýî É È § ʌ ù ÂÐÛÈ Ééâ éÐ integrated developments and âé É ʌ ÂÐÉ Þ â° Éé° Â â°é âʨ And then there are the more granular details like an older ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀʙâ Z°É¿°É§ "îÉ ÐÞ even a demographic mix of the development. When you start wanting to ¿ÉÐú ù ÞĀé°É§ʣ é°â È Ā ÐÛ É°É§ S É ÐÞ ʙâ Ðÿʣ îé ¦é Þ §Ð°É§ éÞÐî§ é ĝÞâé éúÐ factors of Finance and function, you can choose the necessary é â éâ é é ĀÐî Þ Ýî°Þ â on what you have prioritised. An example of a few market forces I examine myself when looking at

an investment property is é ÈÐ§Þ Û° È ¿ ʌîÛ Ð¦ the other homeowners, the volume of sales transactions and the rental trends. A Þ¿ é ¦ÐÞ â É ¦ÐÂÂÐú so easily today in this digital age or through a savvy realtor hooked îÛ éÐ é Â é âé é é â âʨ Insight and intelligence of such forces in the markets give us ÈÐÞ ÐÉĝ É °É ÐÐâ°É§ éé ÞˈÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀʨ Even the trends on the §ÞÐîÉ È Ā é é ĝÉ§ Þé°Ûâ of a seasoned investor or realtor. For example, a popular priority ¦ÐÞ âÐÈ îĀ Þâ éÐ Ā °â é ĝÿ é°ÐÉ ÐÉ ¦Þ ÐÂ ÛÞÐÛ Þé° âʨ And, while there is nothing wrong with wanting freehold, âÐÈ é°È â é°â È Ā â Ðé § É ÐÛÛÐÞéîÉ°éĀ ¦ÐÞ îĀ Þ ú É the focus does not align with É Ð ¼ é°ù ʨ "ÐÞ °Éâé É ʣ °¦ ĀÐî Þ ÂÐÐ¿°É§ ¦ÐÞ âÐÞéʌ éÐ È °îÈʌé ÞÈ ÐÛÛÐÞéîÉ°éĀ ¦ÐÞ exit and capital appreciation, ¦Þ ÐÂ âé éîâ È Ā Â ââ critical priority than a location with potential or undervaluation. As a result, we may overlook good ÛÞÐÛ Þé° â â ÐÉ ° â â î to not truly understanding the market forces. a°â â°ÈÛÂ ¦Þ È úÐÞ¿ âÐîÂ ÂÛ ĀÐî ĝÉ ĀÐîÞ §ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ °É éÞ âé Ûâʢ âÐÞé Ðîé ĀÐîÞ ĝÉ É ° Â âîÛÛÐÞé É Ð ¼ é°ù âʣ ÛÞ°ÐÞ°é°â é functions of the property and understand the forces that shape é È Þ¿ é éÐ Āʨ a ÈÐâé elegant solutions in life are often é â°ÈÛÂ âéʨ a ¿ Ā éÐ ĝÉ °É§ §ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ â°ÈÛÂĀ §°Éâ ú°é ĝÉ°É§ ú é §ÐÐ ÛÞÐÛ ÞéĀ °âʨ to you.

photos 123RF.COM

ABOUT REALTOR JUSTIN QUEK

With a background in ﬁnance and a master’s in real estate, Justin has more than 16 years’ experience in the real estate, ﬁnancial services, and proptech sectors. Today, he works with clients in the mid to affluent segments on the sales and marketing of private properties in the Core Central Region and the Rest of Central Region He also leads OrangeTee & Tie teams on prominent new initiatives such as Amber Park, Meyer Mansion, Midtown Bay, Midtown Modern, Van Holland and PerfectTen along Bukit Timah.

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I N S TO R E

MAXIFIED SOLUTIONS A printer can be a lifesaver or the bane of your existence. That’s why we prefer to print stuff in the office (we see you). However, with most of us working from home today, investing in a home printer is a sensible decision. Canon’s compact Maxify printer series, the brand’s first pigment based refillable ink tank printers, has been designed for home offices. It can fit onto small tabletops. These printers feature high capacity ink tanks, print up to 9,000 fullcolour pages and 21,000 black and white pages per month, and are connected wirelessly.

A C U T A B OV E T H E R E S T Whether you are a budding home chef or a novice, you need a great knife in the kitchen. Kineo, WMF’s newest knife series, features a variety of modern and elegant blades with Performance Cut, the brand’s advanced precision technology that maintains cutting performance. Whether carving roasts into wafer-thin slices or dicing

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onions, Kineo’s sleek design ensures stability and balance when cutting for any chef – regardless of their skill level. The ergonomic handle nestles perfectly in the hand for a comfortable grip, making it ideal for cooking up a storm. Available online at Lazada and Shopee and in major department stores at an introductory price of $239 (UP $569) for a set of six.

text ASIH JENIE

Canon Maxify retails for $769 (model GX6070, pictured) and $889 (GX7070) from selected authorised Canon dealers. Visit sg.canon for more information.

B O U N D L E S S B R OA D C A S T Want to share photos with family anywhere in the world without relying on ﬁle transfers? Using Netgear’s Meural WiFi Photo Frame, you can easily display images and videos from anywhere in the world on a premium Wi-Ficonnected display that is perfect for home or office. Users can also take lifelike photos with its TrueArt technology regardless of the angle from which they are looked at. Additionally, it features a motion gesture that lets you browse images simply by waving your hand. The 15” Netgear Meural WiFi Photo Frame retails for $449 at www.netgearstore.sg and other official Netgear online stores on Lazada, Shopee and Amazon.

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ACORN

HOME 2 U GALLERY

DESIGN INTERVENTION

#02-09 512 Chai Chee Lane Tel: 6445-6144 www.acorn ceilingfan.com

#02-719/720 Suntec City Tower 4 Tel: 6737-7838

75E Loewen Road Tel: 6506-0920 www.design intervention.com.sg

BRANDT ASIA

#02-51/52 Oxley Bizhub 65 Ubi Road One Tel: 6508-4639 www.brandt.sg EFENZ CEILING FAN

#06-01 1 Kallang Way 2A Tel: 6747-2742 www.efenz.com.sg ELECTROLUX S.E.A.

#07-10 Galaxis 1 Fusionopolis Place Tel: 6727-3699 www.electrolux.com. sg

MUJI

#02-198 Vivocity Tel: 6376-8023 www.muji.com/sg ROCHE BOBOIS

Level 4 29 Mayo Street Tel: 6441-3345 www.haireliving.com

SCANTEAK

IMAGINE BY SK66

60 Sungei Kadut Drive www.scanteak.com.sg

#01-22 UB One 81 Ubi Avenue 4 Tel: 6604-8330 www.imaginebysk66. com

SPACE FURNITURE

77 Bencoolen Street www.spacefurniture. com.sg STAR LIVING

#03-01A Ubi Biz Hub 150 Ubi Avenue 4 Tel: 6547-0100 www.ﬁsherpaykel. com/sg

1 Pasir Panjang Road Tel: 6273-2522 www.starliving. com.sg XZQT

HARVEY NORMAN

#01-59 to 63 Millenia Walk Tel: 6311-9988 www.harveynorman. com.sg

11 Kim Yam Road Tel: 6883-1005 www.dwell.com.sg

#01-02 Boon Siew Building 75 Bukit Timah Tel: 6513-1918 www.roche-bobois. com

FISHER & PAYKEL

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DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN

#01-05 8 Pandan Crescent Tel: 6774-8031 www.xzqt.com.sg

HAIRE LIVING

MOW INTERIOR DESIGN

#08-02 Tai Seng Point 11 Irving Place Tel: 6246-6614 www.mowinterior.com NEU KONCEPTZ

#03-11 Bizhub 28 28 Senang Crescent Tel: 6746-3723 www.neukonceptz. com.sg THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE

24 Eng Hoon Street Tel: 6293-8001 www.three-dconceptwerke.com

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WHERE TO BUY

LIGHTCRAFT

DANISH DESIGN CO #06-03 B&D Building 100E Pasir Panjang Road Tel: 6270-8483 www.danishdesignco.com.sg

131 Jalan Sultan Tel: 6297-6658 www.lightcraft.com.sg SOL LUMINAIRE

395 Guillemard Rd Tel: 6612-1221 www.solluminaire. com.sg

V BHq a,HB A a V, ;Z CAESARSTONE S.E.A.

#08-06 The Spire 10 Bukit Batok Crescent Tel: 6316-1938 www.caesarstone.sg

DSIGNEDBY www.dsignedby.com FRANCK CHARTRAIN www.franckchartrain.com JOURNEY EAST #03-02 Tan Boon Liat Building 315 Outram Rd, Tel: 6473-1693 https://journeyeast.com/ LE BERRE VEVAUD www.leberrevevaud.com LISON DE CAUNES www.lisondecaunes.com

COSENTINO

34/35 Duxton Road Tel: 6713-9543 www.cosentino.com DURAVIT ASIA

(Singapore Branch) 63 Tras Street Tel: 6221-9315 www.duravit.com HAFARY

105 Eunos Avenue 3 Tel: 6250-1368 www.hafary.com.sg

P5 STUDIO

#01-08, 213 Henderson Road Henderson Industrial Park Tel: 6771-9500 www.p5studio.com.sg SOUL AND TABLES

#02-03 & #02-09, Tan Boon Liat Building 315 Outram Road Tel: 9272-1545 www.soulandtables.com.sg

NATURAL FOREST

#10-01B Keck Seng Tower 133 Cecil Street Tel: 6238-5920 NOVITA

#04-00 Techniques Building 8 Tagore Drive www.novita.com.sg TIMPLEX

#01-13 18 Sin Ming Lane Tel: 6898-1120 www.timplex.sg

INTERIOR DESIGNERS DISTINCT IDENTITY #01-02 LTC Building B 12 Arumugam Rd Tel: 6846-0033 www.distinctidentity.com.sg UNTITLED BY EIGHTYTWO #02-09/10 The Herencia 46 Kim Yam Rd Tel: 6698-7987 www.eightytwo.sg

WHAT’S TRENDING & WHAT WE THINK

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

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THE HARD TRUTH