Googaspace - Travel Issue

GOOGASPACE TRENDS

EVENTS

PEOPLE

ISSUE #5 QUARTER 1 - 2016

a WATG Singapore publication

editorial’s note: It’s an exciting new chapter for Googaspace in the year 2016! In moving forward this year, our online magazine will be brought to you quarterly with different special themed edition. And, for the first edition – we expounded on the theme of travel.

Travelling and destinations are important subjects in our editorial mix, and we always love to hear our visiting designers’ adventures whenever they drop by the Singapore office. The centrepiece of this issue “48 Hours” is an ambitious project our editors have undertaken with our lovely contributing writers from the Honolulu office where they explored a range of travel destinations around Asia during their weekends here. We also took travelling in our own backyard – in our first instagram initiative ‘Instawalk’ – which both the Honolulu and London office took part in.

Catching on the travel trends, we stepped into the unfamiliar, introducing ourselves to the growing Hipster Holiday trend and scanned for the different mobile applications that has tremendously changed the way we plan our travels. Also, our Wimberly Interior team caught up with the travelling fair - Maison De Objet, looking out for new interior and furniture trends.

We sincerely trust that you will have as much pleasure reading this edition of Googaspace as we enjoyed compiling this for you, our dear readers. Happy Reading! xoxo

editorial team Umar Abdul Aziz Suhada Ersalle Krystal Solorzano Yurina Rahmanisa

Singapore Contributors Janice Njoo Richard Orilla Natasya Iman Natalie Shea Jason Van Bruane Kharl Anthony Paica

Honolulu Contributors Kevin Cherek Tiffany Lee

London Contributors

Ashley Faugel Demet Karaoglu

We want to hear from you. If you wish to contribute an article or have any enquiries or comments, do contact our editorial team: SingaporeDesignTrends@watg.com

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POSTSCRIPT

ZAHA HADID 1950 - 2016

There have always been difficult personalities in architecture. The profession itself seems calculated to make on egotistical and intractable.

It’s amazing that Hadid somehow attracted a singular reputation for being difficult to deal with. Compared with other prominent architects, no one was more exuberantly real, than her.

Zaha Hadid was a woman who dared to enter a man’s world, didn’t take a crap from anybody, though plenty was offered. Hadid had to be twice as smart, and three times as tough as her male counterparts in order to get anything built. And even then she struggled for years to realize her projects, and was forced to endure cruel and humiliating referendums on such thwarted projects as the Cardiff Bay Opera House, or the recent Olympic-stadium debacle in Tokyo, in which the government blocked her competition-winning design from going forward after protests from prominent Japanese architects.

In later years, developing cities were eager to offer her prize commissions, but in the U.K, her adopted country, she was never fully embraced. In the U.S, as well, her work is scarce. Perhaps it is fitting that the only city in the Western Hemisphere to commission a Hadid skyscraper, Miami was the place where she died of a heart attack. The building will stand as her monument.

singapore

!

WAT UP G

Breathe in to the aroma of coffee or simply pick up an art book to accompany your staycation retreat at the newly revamped hotel in town. Consider a dose of italian humor and drama to top it off..

Hotel Jen Tanglin, Singapore

Singapore Art Book Fair

WHERE WEBSITE

WHEN WHERE

WEBSITE

Orchard Hotel Jen

The four-star hotel has gotten a huge revamp and a jazzed up contemporary look, funky grafitti on the walls and other glam touches. There are 565 rooms in this hotel, with a Club Lounge on the 17th level with their Jenerous weekend brunch from 6:30am-12pm. If you have a posse in tow, sign up for the party staycation package ($700), which includes your own private Executive Suite for up to four people (four additional people can stay and party until bedtime), a vodka watermelon, free use of a GoPro camera, a SMEG fridge full of mixers and lots of other goodies.

14 -17 APR MBS, Art Science Museum saf2016

The 3rd edition of the Singapore Art Book Fair is back from the 14th to 17th April at the ArtScience Museum!

Expect a showcase of local & international exhibitors, and come soak in this year’s fair theme, “Cabinet of Curiosities”.

International publishers, distributors and retailers are invited to be part of the fair.

Visitors will include buyers and art book enthusiasts interested in gaining access and connection to the Asian world and art book buyers. Other artrelated fringe activities such as film screenings, workshops, and talks will also be taking place.

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Singapore Coffee Festival 2016

14th Italian Film Festival

WHEN JUNE WHERE

WEBSITE

WHEN WHERE

WEBSITE

10 - 12 Singapore F1 Pit Building sgcoffeefestival

Coffee addicts and cafe lovers rejoice!

Singapore’s first ever coffee event is happening this June.

The SCF will be an exciting festival first for coffee lovers and drinkers who want to learn more about what goes into making a good cup of coffee.

A celebration of the specialty coffee and local cafe scene, the Singapore Coffee Festival brings together the hottest coffee players and cafes in Singapore for a weekend of coffee, food and entertainment.

21 - 30 APRIL GV Cinemas, The Projector, National Museum Singapore Italian Film Fest

From Apr 21-30, Golden Village cinemas, the National Museum of Singapore and The Projector will be screening criticallyacclaimed contemporary and classic Italian films at the 14th edition of the Italian Film Festival.

A not-to-be-missed programme showcases films by internationally recognized and award winning directors, such as Nanni Moretti, Taviani brothers, Marco Bellocchio etc.

Save the date for the movies that will make you think, laugh and cry!

London

Los Angeles

Clerkenwell Design Week

Dwell Tour

WHEN WHERE London WEBSITE In case you’re not in Singapore, here’s a quick highlight of what’s happening in a city near you from April to June!

24-26 MAY Clerkenwell,

WHEN WEBSITE

16 - 26 June Dwell Tour

Clerkenwell

Clerkenwell is home to more creative businesses and architects per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, making it truly one of the most important design hubs in the world. To celebrate this rich and diverse community, Clerkenwell Design Week has created a showcase of leading UK and international brands and companies presented in a series of showroom events, exhibitions and special installations that take place across the area.

If you’re in LA, consider going for the Dwell Home Tours.

The tour is going bi-coastal and invites you to experience a group of private homes curated by the editors of Dwell for an up-close-andpersonal look at remarkable architecture. Each tour will kick off with “Meet the Architects” night, an evening in which award-winning architects and designers preview the projects featured on your tour.

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Once a year, go somewhere you have never been before - dalai lama -

TRAVEL LIKE A PRO - GET WIRED Smartphone apps are eliminating all the pain of vacationing, letting you get the most out of your trips just in time for your summer travel plans.

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on.the.goo TEXT BY: RICHARD ORILLA

Check out these travelsavvy apps and act on your wanderlust with just your phone as your guide

Postagram

Expensify

A great app where it makes easy to send a printed photo in the mail to yourself, friends or family anywhere in the world. Take a shot with the app or use photos from your photo library or Facebook.

Perfect for family vacations, birthday parties, travel and more! Its free app for both iOS and Android users.

Can’t stand your expense reports? Look no further!

Expensify makes capturing receipts, tracking time or mileage, business travel and creating expense reports.

Its free app for both iOS and Android users.

Skyscanner

Wi-Fi Finder

Wikitude

This multi-award winning flight app searches millions of flights from hundreds of airlines in seconds, saving you time and money. We love that it allows you to enter “everywhere” as your destination, which is great for the undecided!

Its free ap for both iOS and Android users.

Preparing for the big, bad, cell service-free world outside your hotel?

Load a map of nearby Wi-Fi Locations with this free iOS app

Aligmented reality travel guide that overlays wikipedia and usergenerated content on your phone’s camera. All you have to do is point your camera at a landmar and get the info! It uses your phone’s GPS, Compass, and movement sensors.

insta.goo Last month, as part of the effort to connect globally, three WATG offices took part in our first Instagoo initiative - Instawalk. The idea was to introduce a neighbourhood from each city to the rest of the colleagues (WATG family) globally.

Each neighbourhood or town selected are off the touristic path, possibly a place that one casually spend to be creatively inspired.

@tysonreis

#watgcityhonolulu KAKAO

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@tysonreis

@tysonreis

@greentealeaves_design

@greentealeaves_design

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@noepeg

@noepeg

@ashleyfauguel

#watgcitylondon FITZROY

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@claudio.bussei

@claudio.bussei

@__yxlisa

@__yxlisa

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@pierrehammond

@pierrehammond

@kharlitos_barabas

#watgcitysingapore SELEGIE & BUGIS

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@umar_azizz

@demturshu

@demturshu

@kharlitos_barabas

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@reenabapat

@jaisnvb

goo.gle.me with ashley faugel & umar aziz

For 25 years, Muriel Muirden has been challenging the conventional thinking of tourism development experience in the world. But when she’s not at it, she can be seen at Murano Cafe in Covent Garden, London indulging on some amazing, quirky Italian food. We sat down with the outspoken, funny and always questioning travel guru about trends in travel and dig out a thing or two of her travel mantras.

What are your essential items for any journey?

Jo Malone Red Roses scent, my favourite pashmina from Jaipur and a bottle of sanitizer! My air travel tip is to rub some hand sanitizer around your nose to ward off evil germs…it works, I promise.

Long haul flights – hate it or love it? An excuse to relax? Or a time to work?

ON 24 HOURS IN LONDON

Brunch with friends, a mooch around the V&A, early supper at Murano Café and then a great play in the West End.

I am very militaristic about long haul flights – I take a pile of proof reading, then a pile of trend reading, once this is complete I am allowed to watch a movie and have a snooze. As soon as I get on the plane I switch to the time zone I am heading to and will eat or not eat accordingly.

You fly all over the world for work.

Where’s your favourite place to travel?

Too many places – Australia, Thailand, Italy, South Africa…..but Scotland is king! Caribbean of the North – beautiful scenery, beaches, amazing people…did I mention I was Scottish?!

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FIRST 3 THINGS YOU LOOK FOR UPON ENTERING A HOTEL ROOM

Your best holiday to date?

A six week wander around Australia was amazing. I did this just before I started at WATG. I enjoyed the urban vibe of Sydney, the amazing landscapes of the Northern Territory, the charm of Kangaroo Island…it was all wonderful.

Comfortable bed – I am a bit of a princess when it comes to beds. A shower that works. The ability to open a window and switch off the air con.

Destinations still have on your bucket list?

What do you think will be the ‘hot’ destination of 2017?

New Zealand, Vietnam & Cambodia.

Sri Lanka and Myanmar, too. I am going to travelling madly as an eccentric old granny!

The road less travelled is what so many of us aspire to, and yet the opportunity to find untouched wilderness destinations becomes ever more challenging. I see strong growth in the serious adventure travel market and would anticipate growth in demand to places like Antarctica. Movies have an amazing but often short lived impact on destinations….given that The Revenant is the film of the year in 2016…wilderness adventures in Canada, North America and remote parts of South America should see a boost. Wrestling bears may not be part of the package!

Any life changing travel experience?

Every time I go to Sub Saharan Africa I feel inspired by the people. I was in Kenya working and visited a remote village in the Mara. I sat with a group of children and they were telling me with pride the names of all the Premier League football players they loved. I was perplexed. The village had no electricity (or running water for that matter). I asked how they gained their knowledge of the football world.

Once a week they walked four miles to a camp with a battery operated radio and listened to a football match. Such passion for something they had not experienced or even seen on a television. It always makes me remember how much we take for granted back home and how the simple things in life still bring joy.

The best hotel you have stayed Kamalaya on Samui. A wellness retreat perched above the ocean. It has an amazing sense of calm and tranquillity and is my essential go-to destination when I am frazzled with life. I leave a week later full of positive energy. Amazing.

The Financial Times has listed ‘millennial’s’ as a group who would travel rather than save for a pension, do you think this is true? And do you think it will affect / affects how we approach designing destinations?

You know when I was in my 20s I wanted to have adventures and saving for a pension seemed all rather grown up (boring) to me. People overemphasise certain trends in millennial behaviour.

What I think is relevant to the design process is the Millennia’s passion for the quirky and different, their amazing commitment to the environment and strong ethical values regarding community. These are and will impact design.

With the constant change in trends, do you think beach / hotel holidays will be a thing of the past?

Since Victorian times we have had a passion for the ocean and the therapeutic qualities sea and sunshine bring to us hard working urbanites. This will never change. The trend for flying and frying in the sun will give way to a more healthy approach to enjoying beach holidays that is more multi-faceted and combines sports with edutainment pursuits.

Do you think the rise and dependence we place on social media will begin to affect the way we approach design?

Will designs start changing to appeal to a more tech savvy generation? We live in a world of contradiction.

Total connectivity is a prerequisite for success, even in the most remote locations proclaim some. Yet, there is strong growth in the digital detox sector. Do you know some banks now disconnect their employees from email when they are on vacation? It is true, honestly. Down time is being acknowledged as essential to our wellbeing and productivity at work. I think we need to design resorts with this split personality reflected.

Animated zones offering complete connectivity but tranquil areas and holistic gardens where no gadget known to mankind will work! and frying in the sun will give way to a more healthy approach to enjoying beach holidays that is more multi-faceted and combines sports with edutainment pursuits.

FAVORITE TRAVEL MOBILE APPS Weatherbase, BBC News, FlightTrack…and I am a huge movie fan so I endlessly dipping in and out of IMDB.

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A traveller without observation is a bird without wings - saadi shirazi -

on a hipst

ter holiday

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on.trends with umar aziz

For most of us, Seoul is simply known as the largest metropolis in South Korea and the country’s capital.

A city that pops up in the news mostly when referencing tensions with North Korea, or perhaps to discuss one of its corporate giants such as Samsung, Hyundai or Kia, it’s a destination that remains somewhat hazy or undefined.

The wildly popular 2012 song Gangnam Style is probably the most vivid recent cultural association most have with Seoul, thanks to South Korean musician Psy and those amusing dance moves that became a pop phenomenon.

But ask a hipster, and he will describe an under the radar culture in some of the city’s outlying neighborhoods that involves a thriving and funky coffee shop scene and a constantly changing fashion industry, where clothing can be purchased on the cheap in back alley shopping or discount malls.

There’s also a fascinating night market culture, where travelers can sample dried squid on sticks and indulge in night time culinary tours.

“Hongdae is where all the coffee shops are. It’s just insane - there’s neon billboards everywhere and all the very, very hip people are there,” says James Treacher, of the London-based Touriocity, a company that specializes in developing custom travel opportunities. “There’s loads of coffee shops on every corner. It’s the place to go for hipsters.”

A ‘hipster’ can be defined as a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those outside the cultural mainstream. Hipsters live in ‘edgier’ areas and visitors are seeking out these neighbourhoods to experience hipster culture such as pop-up restaurants, vegan cafes, independent shops and craft galleries.

“Gangnam is where you go for shopping,” he adds. “It’s like the Rodeo Drive of Seoul, highclass shopping, a lot of women in high heels. It’s all very glitzy and glamourous. But if you go off on the side streets, there’s tons of cheap places, and that’s where you will find the hipsters.”

Seoul, its coffee shop culture and its fashion industry represent just one example of a growing movement known as “hipster holidays,” which was identified in the recent World Travel Market Global Trends Report held in November last year.

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The report primarily focuses on the European version of the trend, involving visitors to the continent’s most popular destinations looking beyond mainstream tourist sites such as Paris’s Eiffel Tower or Rome’s Colosseum and instead opting to spend vacation time exploring alternative districts in the world’s notable cities, areas typically popular with local hipsters.

The demand for ‘Hipster Holidays’ is opening up tourism opportunities in areas of European cities that were once undesirable but are now considered trendy. Many cities are encouraging the boom, as it diversifies urban attractions and helps to avoid the growing problem of overcrowded city centres.

Sites such as Airbnb and its peers have played a central role in opening up hipster areas to tourists. With a lack of hotels in these neighbourhoods, private rentals are often the only option.

Local residents are spotting new business opportunities, providing authentic hipster tours of specific city districts, while online travel guides including Likealocal and TravelsofAdam list up-todate reviews of the ever-changing hipster scene.

There appears to be a battle among European cities for the title of ‘hipster capital’.

But while many places lay claim to the accolade, leading areas include Kreuzberg in Berlin, District VII in Budapest and Miera iela in Riga.

In London, Dalston is the key hipster destination; in Barcelona it’s Gracia, while in Amsterdam it’s Amsterdam Noord. However, the districts are constantly changing.

The hipster trend will evolve as destinations become more popular and mainstream, resulting in other edgier locations becoming the new alternative haunts.

Boutique hotels have started opening up in hipster areas, but hotel chains are likely to struggle due to the independent nature of consumers.The exception is for budget hotel brands and those providing a trendy alternative edge such as the Hotel Rival in Sodermalm in Stockholm, which is located in a former cinema.

Trailblazers are the mainstay of the everchanging tourism industry and the ‘Hipster Holiday’ phenomenon is helping to change the landscape of city breaks for good, providing an alternative for visitors to Europe’s major cities.

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know.your.brand

THE NAME

GAME Milan has Moxy, while much of Europe is painted Blu. Jaz in the City is playing in Amsterdam. EVEN increases the odds of a good night’s sleep, while Tune is in harmony with scaled-down budgets. And then there’s the vibrant Vib and a new venue, Venu, soon arriving in Dubai.

These statements begin to make sense once you realize that they’re all the names of modern hotel brands.

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According to Chekitan S. Dev, a professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, hotels traditionally have been named after an owner or a place. But more recently, he says, “the naming process has evolved from an off-the-cuff process into something far more systematic.”

Millenials Driving The Trend So what’s behind this influx of idiosyncratic hotel names, replete with misspellings and unexpected word usages? Look to millennials and psychographics -- the study of personality, attitudes, interests and lifestyles. Psychologists say the millennial psychographic is made up of independent-minded, adventurous individuals in search of new experiences. Hospitality brands are crafting their marketing strategies accordingly.

“Hotel companies are lazering in on consumer needs by using

psychographic data in a big way,” says Matthew Von Ertfelda, Marriott’s vice president for insight, strategy and innovation.

The explosion of social media also has a starring role in the name game. Brands of the 21st century need to have handles that resonate in the global, online world, say the pros.

“Thanks to social media, millennials are the first global generation,” says Dr. Donna Quadri-Felitti, academic chair of New York University’s School of Professional Studies Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism.

“And since this generation is so enamored with texting and tweeting, hotels really have to think how names will play in the new media world.”

In Need Of Spell Check?

Vib -- short for Vibrant -- is Best Western’s attempt at a hip new offering. For social media purposes, the number of characters in a name counts.

Spelling is often sacrificed in the quest for brevity. But another reason for purposeful misspellings may be legal.

Spelling is also often set into an uncommon form to retain meaning while being trademarkable.

“The odder the name, the less likely someone has already captured it,” says Cornell professor Dev. “That’s important in terms of intellectual property protection.”

It may explain why Venu and Vib are missing an “e.”

Venu is a just-announced lifestyle brand, launching its

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first property in Dubai in 2017.

According to parent company Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, it’s designed to give travelers “the freedom to write their own story, their own narrative, to build their own scene.” Best Western’s new hotel entry, called Vib, is pronounced “vibe.”

Moxy, the new Marriott partnership with IKEA, is going after “a sassy, determined, individualistic consumer,” according to Marriott’s Von Ertfelda. The first Moxy opened at Milan’s Malpensa Airport in September and more are coming in Europe this year.

“We tried to come up with names that celebrated individuality, while also connoting a vibrant spirit,” says Dick Lew, a partner at Houston-based Acumen Design, a branding firm brought in to hone the name and the image.

“Naming Moxy was a fourmonth process involving a great deal of brainstorming,” says Von Ertfelda. “Once we came up with it, we knew we had a name with emotional resonance that hit a global sweet spot. At the same time, though, our lawyers noted the name had to be ‘ownable and trademarkable.’”

Hence Vib, which is derived from “vibrant.”

Four Months To Choose A Name

The change of spelling from moxie to Moxy achieved that.

According to Von Ertfelda, senior Color also plays a big part in hotel creative director Maria Rezendebranding.

Heiston selected hot pink for the Moxy logo to “appeal to “We incorporated a bright those who aren’t afraid to persimmon red in the design and express themselves” while the logo, in order to reflect the using a “curved font to convey (Vib) brand’s bold personality,” a sense of rhythm, fluidity and says Lew. independence.”

Blu & Red Radisson Blu was introduced in 2009. Instead of using blue or bleu, the company opted for a trademarkable spelling. Color is also key to hotel operator Carlson Rezidor, which is hueing toward Red and Blu. Blu came about in 2009, after airline SAS withdrew from a partnership with Radisson.

After the split, Radisson SAS, a collection of European design hotels, needed a new name.

“We wanted to replace SAS with an equally short name,” says Rose Anderson, vice president of branding for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

“We liked using blue from the old SAS logo, because it brought in the heritage of the former brand. At the same time, we were looking for a word with positive worldwide connotations ... and blue is the world’s favorite color.”

So blue or bleu became Blu, a trademarkable spelling.

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Carlson Rezidor recently announced a new Red brand that will, according to Anderson, “build on the Blu concept and further leverage Radisson’s brand awareness.”

Pick A Noun, Any Noun There’s a good reason those four vertical bars are off-kilter.

New brands are also being dubbed with what may seem to be random nouns. But there’s nothing random about them.

Last year, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) rolled out EVEN, a new brand cultivated for the growing wellness-minded audience, with two properties in the United States.

EVEN expresses the desire for the balance travellers are seeking, says an IHG spokesperson.

In its logo, specific colors were chosen to represent elements of nature. The four vertical bars of the logo are off-kilter, while the EVEN letters are composed on a flat horizontal line, representing the brand promise of helping guests stay in balance.

Malaysia-based Tune Hotels provides “five-star beds at a onestar price.” The group has more than 40 properties worldwide, including five in London. Some in its management group were previously senior executives in the music business. It makes sense, then, that a travel company with a musical name would attempt to strike a global chord.

Adding to the medley of avant garde brands, Germany’s Steigenberger Hotel Group’s Amsterdam hotel Jaz in the City opened in September last year, with others scheduled to follow.

According to Steigenberger Hotel Group, coming Jaz in the City properties will be “hip and happening hotels” that “move to the rhythm of today’s curious global traveler” who has a “desire to embrace authentic experiences in a city hotel.”

You can’t explore the hospitality The Letter that started it all industry’s desire to appeal to the millennial mindset without nodding to W Hotels by

Starwood. The brand now seems to have been ahead of its time with hotels that opened in pre-social media 1998.

“Starwood was the first hotel company to look directly at the customer as it evolved a new brand,” says Paul James, global brand leader of W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection.

W’s target customer was a fashionable, high-energy individual -- someone who’d now likely be described as having a millennial psychographic. Starwood defined the brand by adding its “Whatever, Whenever” tagline to the simple W logo.

Cornell’s Dev says Starwood further imbued the brand with meaning by using words like witty, warm and welcoming in its advertising and marketing material. More than 15 years later, the W Hotel brand has more than 70 properties open or in development worldwide.

ORIGINAL article written by laura powell, 2015

48 hours get a bit of insight into what you can do with just 48 hours (sometimes less) in...

UBUD, BALI, INDONESIA SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA TOKYO, JAPAN HO CHI MINH, VETNAM

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Ubud Bali Indonesia

Tiffany Lee | Honolulu Office Our travel plans to the Singapore office were not even set before we all began planning our weekend away. The unanimous choice – Bali! While we were warned that perhaps Bali wasn’t as it magical as we imagine, our colleagues in the Singapore office all recommended the same town – Ubud, Bali.

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STAY: Villa Pantulan (www.villapantulanbali.com) a 5-pavillion open air Villa Complex for the night.

Our 48 hrs began early Saturday morning as we arrived at Changi Airport for our 7:15 flights to Despansar.

Our driver collected us at the airport for the 1-hr drive to Ubud, and took us to our obligatory tourist coffee and chocolate tour. The small farm that we toured served Kopi Luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world. Kopi Luwak, or “cat-poop coffee�, is coffee made from digested coffee cherries eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet cat. It tasted like coffee.

Kevin found the amazing Villa Pantulan (http://www.villapantulanbali.com) a 5-pavillion open air Villa Complex for the night. We spent the afternoon swimming in our pool, photographing the property (like any good architect) and relaxing in our views to the adjacent rice fields.

TRADITIONAL BALINESE DANCE

EAT: Babi Guling which is suckling pig (order a day in advance) and Crispy Duck, very crispy duck.

We had a traditional Indonesian dinner prepared by our villa chef, and learned the hard way that an order of Babi Guling (suckling pig) needed at least a day’s notice and that Crispy Duck can sometimes mean Burnt Duck. We balked at the 504,000 Indonesian rupiah tab we ran up that night - which when calculated, came out to only $9 USD each.

That night, we headed out to watch a traditional Balinese dance at the Puri Saren Agung Ubud. The temple backdrop of the dances were stunning, as well as the camaraderie of the local townspeople and tourists.

The next day, Kevin and Tuan headed off to a bike tour, and Noe and I left with our driver for a day in Ubud. We first stopped at the World Heritage site Pura Gunung Kawi, a 11th century temple and funerary complex in northeast Ubud. Like most temple sites, visitors are required to cover their legs below the knees before entering.

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TO DO: Besides relaxing poolside...try the Bali Eco Bike Tour. (www.baliecocycling. com); visit the Pura Gunung Kawi Temple; see a traditional Balinese dance show with beautiful temple backdrop; check-out the Water Lotus Temple and discover the Ubud Art Market.

PURA GUNUNG KAWI

PURA GUNUNG KAWI

PURA GUNUNG KAWI

While you can borrow sarongs at the entrance (gross) we chose to purchase our beautifully printed sarongs at one of the local stalls. After a 300 stone step journey down, we were amazed at the shrines of the complex, all carved directly into the shear face of the stone mountain. These funeral monuments are thought to be dedicated to King Anak Wungsu of the Udayana dynasty and his favorite queens.

PURA GUNUNG KAWI

TEGALALANG RICE TERRACES

UBUD MARKET

Next, we stopped to admire the lush Tegalalang Rice Terraces and a quick shop at the Ubud Art Market.

While we are used to haggling prices, Bali vendors were tough and haggling down to an accepted price took at least twice as long as it would have in China. But we left with textiles, jewelry, baskets, and handicrafts.

WATER LOTUS TEMPLE

Our last stop for the day was the amazing Ubud Water Lotus Temple, Pura Taman Saraswati, a beautiful temple in the middle of town, surrounded by reflecting ponds of lotus blossoms.

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Kevin and Tuan spent the day on a 6-hr bike tour through Bali Eco Bike Tour. (www.baliecocycling. com) The tour began with an 8am pickup at our villa for a 1-hr drive to Mount Batur, with views to the lake and the active volcano. After enjoying a breakfast buffet, the tour stopped for a quick photo op at the Tegalalang Rice Terraces and another round of chocolate and cat-poop coffee. Then, a leisurely 3.5 hr bike tour on and off country roads, stopping at villages and rice fields, learning traditional farming techniques and village structure. A highlight was a stop at a family compound and learning that their homes were arranged as homage and respect to the volcano, and never turning their backs to it. It was nice to see the rural side of Bali life, virtually untouched by tourism, and the friendly smiles and waves from everyone as they passed by.

We had a great 48 hrs in Ubud – can’t wait to return!

Siem Reap CAMBODIA Kevin Cherek and Tuan Tran | Honolulu Office While being temporarily relocated to the Singapore office, myself, Kevin Cherek, and Tuan Tran were able to take advantage of a free weekend and jet of to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The short flight from Singapore allowed us to arrive very early in the morning to start at 8am with the full day ahead of us. Clearing Customs can take some time (about 1hour for us) there are a few lines to wait in, first obtaining the visa by filling out form, then purchase the visa in another line, sign there states USD payment only, but was able to pay in Singaporean dollars, then another line to receive the passport back and so on.

TIP: If your arriving on a passport other than USA check the guidelines for admittance, seems they where requiring additional lose passport photos for some.

Once outside the small airport it was easy to get your choice of transportation to the hotel, taxi or tuk-tuk. We opted for open air Tuk-Tuk since it was the norm there. It was a $5 ride to the hotel which was about 15-30 Mins away near the center of Siem Reap, cab which is faster mode of transportation is 2-3 times more but also 2-3 as fast but no need to take one unless you over packed. Everything from tourist sites to Hotels are close to the airport.

Arriving at the hotel we were able to check in early around 9:30am due to an advance call, Silk D’ Angkor, was 60$ a night and included a very good breakfast buffet with great local Khmer dinner options.

It was a small boutique hotel with nice interior details to from the ornament wood paneling to the high crown molded ceilings. There seem to be many similar hotel in this price point along Charles De Gaule Road, the main road in town leading to the heritage sites there in Siem Reap. Best part about the hotel was that they had there own Tuk-Tuk crew at the ready (about 6-8 tuk-tuks) out front in the same color with hotel name and logo, easy to spot among the sea of tuktuk’s out there.

TIP: If you pack light you could fit around 3 people in a Tuk-Tuk. Would suggest light and pack an extra back-pack to carry you camera and your inexpensive purchases you make throughout the day.

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Our hotel, like most I am sure had package tours to see the sites and will try and sell you on it. We opted to take a private half day tour the second day and explore on our own the first day. We hired a tuk-tuk driver for the whole day for 18$ from the hotel. The concierge was very helpful in suggesting what sites and in what order to seeing given our time frame. We thought it best to break-up the visits in order to maximize seeing as much as we could.

On our longest day there the (Day one) we toured Angkor Watt and the smaller temples, about 6 in all. First you will need to buy a pass to gain entrance into all the temples and sites one day pass for 20$ USD or 3day for 40$ USD(likely to be your biggest expense there) so three days would be optimal to see everything at a more leisurely pace but still felt two days was enough time. We started with the largest of those and closest to the hotel Angkor Watt (start early seems to be the busiest, especially if you plan to climb the stairs to the highest vantage point) then worked our way in order of the drive, seeing many different temples of differing era’s, kingdom reign’s and design as well as those well preserved and those being taken back from the encompassing forest which creates that amazing sense of new discovery like you are one of the first to come across this in centuries. It was suggested to end our day atop Phnom Bakheng to view sunset, unfortunately this info was passed down to every visitor there it seemed and even though we arrived there around 4pm due to traffic by the time we hiked up the 20 minute switch back trail to the top and waited in a very long line, we just catch the tail end of the sunset.

TIP: Would suggest breaking your site visits to certain temples to maximize your time there, One day seeing the smaller sites Angkor Watt, Prasat Kravan, Banteay Kdei, Ta Prohm, Takeo, etc. The other day concentrate on the huge Angkor Thom area (over 10 temples and royal houses in the area alone).

STAY: Silk D’ Angkor, a small boutique hotel at 60$ a night and included a very good breakfast buffet with great local Khmer dinner options.

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TIP: Plan to end your day at Phnom Bakheng to view the sunset, but make sure and arrive early to hike to the top and wait in-line. The top of the temple becomes one-in and out situation once its full and there is nowhere to see the sun unless you make it up the stairs of the temple since the sun is covered by the surround high tree canopies. Prasat Prei Rup temple I have read is a good alternative and less crowded, but a further drive out of town and traffic gets very dense once the sun goes down as everyone is heading back in town to their hotels so plan accordingly.

That evening we were tired from site seeing all day and opted to stay at the hotel and have dinner that was recommend at their more upscale of the two restaurant options. Ended up being a great three-course meal for 12$-18$ depending on what option you got. We did not venture out but was told the best options during the evening are the Night Market for shopping with fish tank massages or for a night out head to Pub street for a variety of bars both western and Khmer style.

Day two we opted to book a private tour with the hotel which consisted of an English speaking tour guide and a driver with a 4door sedan. He took us through the whole Angkor Thom complex ( the famous temples with the Buddha faces everywhere) which is very expansive and could take a whole day itself if you took your time, He was quite fast and hitting the key historical points where every guide seemed to stop (there seems to be a local school or training course they have to pass to become a certified guide, you will recognize them by the beige long shelve shirt with embroidered badge). This was a good option because I feel we would have missed a few of the well hidden sites among the cities walls. This was also nice to view separately as you can see the difference in time period this newer complex was built in comparison the older surround small sites.

After we visited the whole Angkor Thom complex, since we were in the car that was faster than a tuk-tuk we took the long route back and stopped at the Neak Phoan hospital complex. It was an interesting site that varied greatly from the surrounding temples. It is completed surrounded by water and requires you to walk Ÿ mile out on a boardwalk above a water lily covered pond to arrive at a hospital designed in quadrants’ to heal the elements your body was lacking (wind, earth, fire, water) which was believed at the time to be the cure for all aliments. After that we went back to the hotel to gather our bags and utilize the showers for a very late check-out, then a large lunch at a nearby restaurant some shopping at the market and off to the airport in the evening.

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All in all, even though the hired guide was informative, I preferred the self-guided tour with the hotels Tuk-Tuk driver, very friendly guy who was patiently waiting at every exit for as long as we took and quick with a joke or stop for a beer. It allowed us to photograph at our leisure and explore the sites not knowing what to expect around each corner. With a guide book in hand that can be purchased from the local hawker huts or kids running at your arriving tuk-tuk seemed all you would need to be informed on the sites. Would also recommend the Silk D’ Ankor hotel they were very accommodating to early check-in and check-out as well as helping us plan our site visits and the food was spectacular especially for the price.

Tokyo japan

Natalie Shea Faber | Singapore Office

How to see and eat your way through Tokyo in 60 hrs...

Thursday 4pm – Arrive at Narita International Airport – Take the Narita Express to Shibuya Station. We opted to stay in a hotel above the station since we were short on time and could take a lift straight from the station to the hotel lobby, but there are some other great alternatives in the area.

Thursday Dinner – We were worn out from the long journey and wanted something easy and fast – Ramen it is! Ichiran is a great place – put in your order in at the vending machine, fill out how you like your Raman – extra spicy anyone??? - then sit at one of the private little spots for dinner. If you are dining as a couple you can open the shutters to have a conversation with your guest – but the locals swear that you should just eat and focus on your Ramen in privacy. Ichiran tip – Cash only!!!

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don’t worry, they are absolutely amazing and you just can’t go wrong with it! Wash it all down with a Kirin draft beer.

After refueling, we headed toward the Meiji Jingu Shrine. The park the shrine sits in is shady and beautiful, you pass through the massive tori (gates) at the entrance and past the rows of sake barrels and wine which are gifts to the shrine. Once in the shrine you can make offerings by tossing coins in the box and then bowing twice then clapping. We also got our fortunes read and managed to watch a wedding ceremony.

Friday morning – Thanks to jetlag we were wide awake plenty early – so we took a stroll to the upscale enclave, Daikanyama. Beautiful to wander through with trendy cafés and a cherry blossom lined canal through it. We had breakfast at The Ivy – beautiful western brunch complete with French toast, pancakes or eggs (just in case you are sick of fish!) There are a lot of cool bars and after hours places in the neighborhood, but seeing as we were here early in the morning we missed out on those.

SHIBUYA TIP: Make sure you cross the Shibuya Pedestrian Scramble – and better yet, try to find a view from above to watch the organised chaos unfold!

Friday midday – We wandered up from Daikanyama to the Harajuku neighborhood. A great place to wander around, find cute little shops or restaurants and people watch. All the walking caught up to us so we took a lunch break in the well know Harajuku Gyoza-ro restaurant. Come early or prepare to wait – this place is popular and it is common to see a long queue. We managed to get right in as we arrived around 11:45. The menu has steamed gyoza or pan fried gyoza along with a few sides. That is it. But

SHRINE TIP: You can perform the cleansing ritual before entry by pouring water into your left hand and then back into your right hand without letting the water drip back, they fill your left hand with water again and rinse out your mouth. Rinse your left hand one more time.

*BEER TIP: Harajuku Tap Room and Good Beer Faucets are two places to get a cold beer – after 5pm that is!

We were worn out after so decided to go to a brewery for a cold beer. Sadly nothing opened before 5 or 6pm – so we went back to our hotel and regrouped for the evening out.

Friday night – We were lucky enough to have some local friends in Tokyo, which made finding an authentic place for some amazing seafood easy. She took us out to Kaikaya by the Sea for a delicious fish dinner. She had called ahead to reserve a few of their specialty items – so we got our food as soon as we were seated. Dinner was a lot of fish, scallops, grilled tuna steaks and some fish semen with gorgonzola sauce to top it off. (I’m not kidding – and it looks like tiny little brains)

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After our hearty dinner we headed out to Nonbeiyokocho – a narrow street along the JR tracks and full of old wooden buildings that are narrow bars.

You are lucky to fit about 5 people into a bar, but we managed to find one with some narrow stairs leading to a tiny loft. Drinks were served by passing them up the flight of stairs and we had views to the tracks.

*NONBEI-YOKOCHO TIP: the bars are tiny, so the smaller the group the easier it is to find a place!

Saturday morning – we went in hunt of a healthy breakfast and were not disappointed by Mr. Farmer located in Harajuku. The omelets were huge open face concoctions covered in delicious and organic ingredients. We also ordered the veggie donuts, which were surprisingly sweet and quite good with coffee! They had a selection of cold pressed juices and also a water bar – 5 choices of water infused with various fruits and veggies.

We next navigated our way to Tokyo Station and made our way to the Imperial Palace. The gardens around are huge, surrounded by a large moat which is crossed by the Niju-bashi bridge. The watchtower located in the gardens is said to be relocated from Kyoto (Fujimi-yagura) Expect a lot of walking, also, don’t expect to see the actual Imperial Palace – it is surrounded by gardens and vegetation for privacy.

So the attraction is everything surrounding.

Exhausted from all the walking, we decided to hop on one of the tour buses to check out some of the areas we knew we would not otherwise have time for. We opted for a loop that took us through the Akihabara Electronic street, past Ueno and on to Asakusa, which is home to the oldest temple, Sensoji, which sits just across the river to one of Tokyo’s newest attractions, Tokyo Sky Tree.

*Souvenir Tip: if you want something odd and very Japanese to take back with you, stop by the plastic food sale at Kappabashidori and buy a replica of your favorite dish!

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By the time we finished our whirlwind bus tour we were starving. The bus dropped us back at Tokyo Station and we made our way down to Tokyo Ramen Street, located in the basement. This food court has eight hand-picked ramen-ya mini branches, and all the major styles are covered. You can get everything from shoyu, which are soy sauce based, to tsukemen, which are cold noodles served on the side. It is busy here so prepare to queue up for the local favorites, but the ramen is delicious and well worth the wait.

Again, you order from a vending machine – so have your cash ready!

SHIBUYA TIP: Make sure you cross the Shibuya Pedestrian Scramble – and better yet, try to find a view from above to watch the organised chaos unfold!

After a late lunch it was about time for dinner, so we headed to Roppongi to meet friends at Uoshin Nogizaka, and Izakaya style restaurant. Piles of delicious fresh seafood were served as well as a delicious fish cheek which is grilled and served with grated radish and soy sauce – this is a must if you are there! We kept the dinner a bit light as we had our hearts set on Kobe beef for dessert! We headed out to East Shinjuku for some night life after dinner. The streets look like a Japanese Las Vegas – brightly colored lights everywhere, karaoke bars and funky little hole in the wall bars. We found a tiny place that the four of us just barely fit in with a friendly bar tender and some sake. We toured a few of the bars and tried various Japanese whiskeys and vodkas before deciding it was time for a Kobe beef stop. I’m sorry but I can’t really say where we had beef at – but it was another long narrow little place where you sit down at the bar in front of your own grill and order beef off the menu board. The beef here was all graded 4A and 5A – so great quality. They slice of whatever you want to try and you get to grill it however you like. By the time we finished the trains were no longer running so we hailed a taxi and called it a night.

Sunday morning - we dragged ourselves out of bed, checked out of the hotel and went in search of a Sunday morning hangover breakfast. We ended up at the Brooklyn Pancake House, where we ordered huge stacks of pancakes, bacon, and eggs along with some strong coffee to ease into the day. The blueberry pancakes were absolutely delicious and definitely had us feeling better by the time breakfast was over. Another cash only place – we learned the hard way and had to go hunt down cash after breakfast just so we could pay.

It was time to head back to the hotel to collect our bags and hop back on the Narita Express. We managed one final sushi meal at the airport before we waved goodbye to Tokyo!

60 hours was fun and we managed to get a lot in (well mostly food!) but we definitely need to start planning another trip to get to all the sights we missed!

HO CHI MINH VIETNAM

Krystal Solorzano | Singapore Office From Singapore, Ho Chi Minh also known as Saigon, is a great place for a weekend getaway. Fantastic food, historical sights, art and culture, quaint cafes and an up-andcoming craft beer scene creates 48 hours of go-rest-repeat.

Arrival Tip: Submit for your visa in advance, on arrival someone will be there to collect the necessary documents and stand in line for you so you can relax a bit.

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Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh be prepared for a madhouse of people trying to get their visas. Even if you do file the paperwork and pay in advance you’ll still find yourself waiting about 30min to an hour.

We stayed at the Pullman Hotel in District 1, walking distance from most of the major areas and right around the corner from where we caught our night time Vespa tour (more on that later). If you’re lucky you can find some great rates at the Pullman otherwise there are plenty of other smaller hotels around the area. If you stay at the Pullman, their breakfast buffet is amazing, complete with Vietnamese iced coffee and bloody marys (you’re on vacation)!

Instead of going through exactly what we did over our long weekend there, I’m going to outline what I think would be the best possible itinerary based on everything we did and the places we explored!

If you’re interested in having any shirts, suits of other clothing made, head over to Tricia & Verona tailor.

They have a huge range of fabrics and will create exactly what you’re looking for. Within a mater of hours you can go back for your fitting and they will deliver the final garments directly to your hotel.

If you’re short on time they will also ship the final product directly to you.

Leave your hotel a bit early the first day and if you’re staying at the Pullman you can walk down Tan Hung Dao to the famous Ben Than Market. You can find just about anything there but if you’re going to bring one thing back I would recommend Vietnamese coffee beans, it will kick start everyday for you! Just past the circular road you’ll find yourself on Le Loi heading toward the Opera House and City Hall, some great colonial buildings in this area and a good place to stop and enjoy a coffee on the plaza.

From there walk west to catch a glimpse of the Central Post Office and Notre Dame and then wander your way over to the Reunification Palace. Hopefully you made it there by about 11am, if it’s much later you’ll want to come back the next day or later in the afternoon as they close from noon to 1:30pm. You don’t need too much time here but it’s a great place to walk around especially if you have the same love for mid-century modern as I do!

For lunch grab so street Phở and perhaps another Vietnamese iced coffee (their honestly like a drug).

Any of the small stalls are sure to serve up a phở with a kick of spice and while you sit street side you can enjoy a bit of people watching as well as being blown away by the amount of motorbikes passing in ever direction.

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Survival Tip: When crossing the road JUST KEEP WALKING!!!! Don’t stop for motorbikes or try to dodge them, they are basing their driving path on where they think you’ll be so if you slow down or hesitate you’ll throw the whole system off. It literally is organized chaos.

After lunch head over to the War Remnants Museum (if you’re interested). To go through it throughly you’ll need about 2 hours. Some of the exhibits are not for the faint of heart and tend to be quite graphic. There’s an entire area that is dedicated to the many journalists from around the world that covered the American/ Vietnam War which is very interesting to read through and gives an unbiased take on this historical event.

Time for a little R&R - at this point in the day, mid to late afternoon we would typically head back to the hotel for a little poolside relaxation. If you’re one of those that wants to soak up every minute of being in the city then find a streetside cafe and enjoy some people watching or head back to the main plaza just in front of City Hal and break out a sketchbook for a bit.

Just before 6pm make your way down to the Vespa Adventures Cafe (if you’re staying at the Pullman it’s just a 2-3min walk). Before heading out on your tour why not have another ice coffee You’ve got a full evening/night itinerary ahead of you that will not disappoint. I’m not going to share too much about the tour because this was definitely one of the highlights but I will say we had some of the best food and were introduced to some of the coolest little spots in the city which we would never have found otherwise. Plus we got to experience the motorbike madness first hand. (VIDEO HERE)

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Alternate Day 2: If you want a bit more culture and exploration and less shopping you can skip District 2 and head out early to explore the Mekong Delta and the traditional floating market and villages. This is a full day trip but gets you back to the city aroun 4 or 5pm.

After a good nights sleep and some indulgences at the buffet, make your way back to the tailor for your final fitting and alterations. By the end of the day you’ll have a few custom clothing items to take home with your souvenir coffee.

If you missed anything the day before, like the War Remnant Museum or Reunification Palace then hit those up first. After make your way out to District 2, a new up and coming area filled with great boutique shops, small cafes, antiques and more. There’s some great ceramic shops and home decor stores as well as local fashion designer boutiques. If you time it right and happen to be out there around sunset make sure you check out The Deck, great restaurant right on the Mekong River. Fantastic spot to enjoy a later afternoon drink and maybe a small bite if you’re feeling peckish.

In the evening I would recommend two ideas for dinner. One check out some of the local street food near Ben Than Market, great way to enjoy a variety of dishes especially if you’re with a group of people.

Two, track down Quán Ăn, a small restaurant down a back alley. Originally a residential home, the feeling of dining in a local residence has been preserved and the food offers all the wonderful flavors of Vietnam.

After dinner head back toward the main plaza and find Pasteur St. Just off the main square you’ll run into Pasteur Street Brerwing Co. Saigon, a craft brewery on the second level serving a Passionfruit Wheat Ale, Saigon Saison and many more delicious brews. It’s a great way to end the night (or to get it started if you head out from there).

This was my second time to Ho Chi Minh, the first was six years ago and I must say the city has definitely grown on me. I’d have no issues going back for a weekend of more exploring!

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goo.places WITH natasya iman

TRAVEL & ART

naoshima & teshima : a guide to japan’s art islands

Mention Japan, and the first thing that comes to one’s mind is high speed trains, quirky creations lifestyles intertwined intricately with its more traditional culture made iconic with their beautiful geishas, abnormally huge sumos, temples... the list goes on.

This interesting clash of old and new, traditional and modern, historical and futuristic, in an era where so much of the world is increasingly being americanized, is what keeps Japan a tourist hotspot. People from all over the world, visit Japan united by their love for Japanese entertainment, food, shopping. For every one of these niches, there is a distinctive and unique japanese element that one simply cannot find anywhere else.

A more recent and lesser known attraction is Japan’s art scene. For the art lover, a trip down to these two islands: Naoshima and Teshima is definitely a must.

Whether, you’re travelling on a budget, or well, bathing in dollar notes, these islands offers a an art experience for everyone.

Getting There Depending on where you’re coming from, the most common travel routes are from the major cities (Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto) to Okayama by Shinkansen. From Okayama, take the JR Uno Line to Uno. For both Naoshima and Teshima island, one can take a ferry from Uno Port. (Swimming is not recommended)

Teshima The smaller of two islands, Teshima can be explored in half a day on electric bicycle. (The hilly terrain is physically challenging for the average person, unless you like art coupled with extreme sports, electric is the way to go!)

A quiet fishing town, where the occupants are mostly the elderly, who fish for a living, teshima seems to be an unusual choice to hold these artworks. Still, Japan is no stranger to oddity, and this unlikely location proves to be the perfect setting.

The most well known attraction here is the Teshima Art Museum.

Designed by one half of Pritzker Prize architects, SANAA, Ryue Nishizawa, together with artist Rei Naito created an architecture that engages all of one’s senses.

Naoshima A full day would be ideal for Naoshima, as she holds more exhibits. Buses are available but cycling is also an option here.

The more established art island of the two, Naoshima is home to several of Tadao Ando’s reknown buildings.

His trademark concrete is used extensively in these spaces, and hold some famous art works. There is also the option of staying on the island in the Benesse House, arguably an art work in itself.

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TESHIMA ART MUSEUM

Visually stunning, its UFO-like form seated in an almost elusive manner amidst the young rice fields and forest. Cycling under hot summer sun, the museum; essentially a huge concrete shell, proved to be a cool retreat from the heat and humidity.

Almost as if a magic spell had been cast, everyone who entered, sequentially, took a walk, then slowly, seated themselves before surrendering to a lie down that would have likely been followed by some shut-eye.

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One of the two openings in this space, frames a different view for everyone. The opening allows for rain, wind and sunlight to pass through intentionally, playing a role in the museum’s experential art installation.

The essence of the surrounding nature is heightened; the lush green; an orchestra of wildlife; the salty sea breeze...

NAOSHIMA

Like Teshima, art and architecture work hand in hand. Tour the island and pop by the museums designed by architect Tadao Ando. The strong geometry, emphasised by an extensive use of concrete, creates light and shadows that seem to be a daily art work created by invisible artists.

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While photos are restricted within museums, there are numerous photo opportunities out and about the island’s beaches where art work can be found as well. Yet, no camera can truly capture the essence of these two islands.

The art experience starts the moment you step off the ferry but never really ends even when you leave.

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sgoop WITH suhada ersalle

Last month, Singapore’s Wimberly team attended the Maison De Objet Networking night jointly organized by Lefroy Brooks. The event took place at Singapore’s newest super-trendy hotel in town, the South Beach Hotel.. We can’t help but to snoop arouind.

The design and interiors of the hotel lauded Starck’s cuttingedge design and signature style. A sensory explosion greets you the moment you walk into The South Beach, from its psychedelic digital mural to the reception area with its ornate, museum-style reception tables, and lift interiors with an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours and underwater creatures. Rather than a uniform look, in here all the pieces of furniture are different from another.

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Guests were treated to preview the rooms of the 654-room, five star hotel designed by acclaimed French designer Philippe Starck. The rooms are a contrast to the public spaces, and designed in soothing monochromatic tones. There are spacious bathrooms and ‘illusion’ beds which appear to float above the floor. Many of the furniture pieces are by Starck, such as his iconic Lou Reed chair, that complement the room’s clean, white look. The multitude of mirrors in the room may be a nightmare for the housekeeping, but are there to maximise natural light.

Room rates start from S$450++ a night for this new hotel that focuses on experiential luxury – highend experiences and special thoughtful touches that money does not afford so that their guest can leave with a unique story to tell.

goo.see WITH Janice njoo

The annual French design trade show, Maison&Object Asia returned to Singapore’s shores for its third edition. Asian brands and designers are having a strong showing at this year’s fair. Our Wimberly Interior team were on location and checks out who have been making the buzz.

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RISING ASIAN TALENT WHO EASE - THAILAND WEBSITE Ease-Studio A section of M&O Asia 2016 is dedicated to Rising Asian Talents. One of the booth that caught our eye is EASE. A studio out of Bangkok, they showcased a selection of intriguing modular screen & personalized patterns. Applicable as wall art, sculptural hanging screen and embroidered textiles.

WOVEN METAL WHO WEBSITE

LCD Textile- Belgium

LCD Textile

Imagine beautiful shimmery textiles gracing the room in the form of wall panels. Pretty but nothing really extraordinary. But imagine them made of fine woven metal- in brass, bronze or copper. These textile brings a whole different level of luxury and experience up close and personal. They can be wrapped around walls, scrunched to form lampshades or other forms of sculptural object. Probably off the charts costly, but definitely breathtakingly beautiful!

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CLAY MADE SEXY WHO Atelier Vierkant- Belgium WEBSITE Atelier Vierkant Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor objects, decorative and functional. These oversized ‘pebbles’ and planters certainly are conversation starters. Walking by the booth makes you want to go right up to touch & feel them, sit on them and talk about them.

If you missed them at M&O Asia, you can still see their installation at the new National Gallery Singapore.

he.says WITH Janice njoo Interior guru, Taiwanese-American Tony Chi was in Singapore for the Interior Design & Lifestyle Summit. Check out what the man behind the playful design of Rosewood London on High Holborn had to say the design forum.

Collect Art.

Any art (expensive or cheap, famous or unknown) and learn to develop your own taste and relationship with each object. How they made you feel, what was your experience whenever you look at it

Travel.

Open yourself up to all the different experiences life has to offer.

See.

Really SEE. Spend time to look away from your smart-phones and observe life around you. Cos you have no business designing anyone else’s life if you don’t even know how to truly live!

For architects.

“Learn how to truly love”

Design a space from inside out. Just like you never design a book cover before writing the book, so don’t design the building before you have content.

Forget.

About designing for awards or rewards.

Do it because you love it!

a WATG Singapore publication