H+R | Issue 14 | Trendsetting Hospitality Design by Hotel & Resort Design Magazine

HOTELRESORTDESIGN.COM

SMART & SLEEK UNDERFLOOR POWER SOLUTION

Brand van Egmond was founded by William Brand in 1989. The atelier, based in The Netherlands, is well known for their artistic and sculptural approach towards lighting.

As all lighting is created by hand, there is also the opportunity for tailormade lighting: allowing for a perfect customised lighting sculpture for any given space.

Every year new collections are born, and find themselve in some of the most beautiful spaces across the globe. Their clientele ranges from Royals till Rappers. Luxury firms like Louis Vuitton, Chopard and the W Hotels have invited Brand van Egmond to lighten up their spaces, but also some of the most exquisite private residences have embraced their characterful designs.

Visit their dedicated Brand van Egmond showroom in Kuala Lumpur, where guests can experience their lighting sculptures and receive professional advice.

1. William Brand 2. Craftsmanship 3. Louis Vuitton 4. W Hotel 5. Chopard www.brandvanegmond.com 4.

THE NEW GALAXY COLLECTION Design by William Brand

LIGHTING SCULPTURES BRAND VAN EGMOND

www.brandvanegmond.com

BRAND VAN EGMOND Boutique Malaysia

Starhill Gallery 181 1st floor Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

info@brandvanegmond.com

katiyamoradi@brandvanegmond.com.my

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

AN ODE TO GOOD TIMES AND GREAT DESIGN Reflecting on the current state of affairs set into motion by COVID-19, it’s hard not to acknowledge the impact that social distancing has had on our lives. Feeling overly nostalgic for the physical convening of friends and family in a beloved locale, we are taking a departure from our usual hotel and resort interior offerings to pay tribute to the much-missed food and drink industry, and what it deliciously fortifies through its variou channels: nourishment, community, celebration and an overall love of life.

ith a range of impressive commercial projects designed with the aforementioned objectives specifically in mind, greymatters, our featured firm, is redefining what it means to eat out in style. This bespoke agency’s unique and competent approach to interiors and architecture has given rise to award-winning hospitality fit-outs that engage and inspire. Be it a big-name hotel client such as J W Marriot or an intimate, self-initiated restaurant project, greymatters delivers unforgettable experiences via statement-making design that boldly takes a cue from the context in question. Thank you for gracing these pages with your extraordinary work. As the events of late have led to the cancellation of numerous important fairs and exhibitions within the design industry and beyond, I’d also like to take this opportunity, as a publisher, to reach out to brands and designers, especially from Europe, who are keen on uncovering other platforms for showcasing new and yet unveiled work. I am at your disposal at the email address below, should the interest arise. In the meantime, enjoy the issue, stay well and keep your chin up. Kenneth Khu k@kennethmedia.asia

FREISTIL 136 SOFA by ROLF BENZ

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N AT U R A L LY S U S TA I N A B L E

HANDMADE WITH LOVE

CONTENTS

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DROP by COR GET BACK by POLTRONA FRAU

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SVEVA by FLEXFORM

DANIELS by MINOTTI

TEAM & PARTNERS

editorial MANAGING EDITOR Kenneth Khu DEPUTY EDITOR Pang Yin Ying EDITOR Christine Lee design ART DIRECTOR Eric Phoon SENIOR DESIGNER Sandy Liew

credits PHOTOS: Except otherwise noted, all photos and drawings are owned by photographer or design studio or project owner. acknowledgement COVER: Akira Back, JW Marriott Hanoi by Greymatters

contributors WRITERS Adele Chong, Lily Wong DESIGN STUDIO Greymatters sales & marketing SENIOR SALES MANAGER Edward Chen SALES EXECUTIVE Kelvin Ong publication PUBLISHER Kenneth Khu enquiries ADVERTISING advertise@hotelresortdesign.com SUBMIT EDITORIAL submit@hotelresortdesign.com CONTRIBUTOR joinus@hotelresortdesign.com SUBSCRIPTION subscribe@hotelresortdesign.com website www.hotelresortdesign.com contact KENNETH MEDIA SDN BHD 1002 Block D Tiara Kelana Jalan SS7/19 Kelana Jaya 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Malaysia. T: +603 7887 4525 printer PERCETAKAN IMPRINT (M) SDN BHD No.538, Jalan 20 Taman Perindustrian Ehsan Jaya, Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. permit number KDN PP18850/09/2015(034307) MCI(P) 129/03/2020 magazine H+R | HOTEL & RESORT DESIGN is published three times a year and is circulated throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Opinions expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily endorsed by the publisher. copyright notice All rights, including copyright, in the content of this publication are owned by Kenneth Media Sdn Bhd, Malaysia. You are not permitted to copy, broadcast, download, store in any medium,transmit, show or play in public, adapt or change any in any way the content of this publication for any other purpose whatsoever without the prior written permission of Kenneth Media Sdn Bhd, Malaysia.

BIN 38 by GREYMATTERS

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PUBLISHED BY

MÉLANGE | PRODUCTS

TIMELESS CLASSIC

VINTAGE POINT

CHANGE OF SCENE

Flexform is no stranger to purposeful, aesthetic pieces that marry fine design with everyday utility. The Italian brand’s Romeo sofa exemplifies this approach perfectly. A meticulous composition of soft lines, proportions and indelible details, Antonio Citterio’s design gives way to comfort and elegance at the mere tilt of its inclinable seat, richly accompanied by goose down-filled cushions. Pleasingly minimalist, a wide selection of fabrics and leathers make Romeo a natural fit in any setting.

Oozing cool retro appeal, the Sail Out sofa by Cassina gives sitters plenty of reasons to drift down memory lane. Drawing inspiration from 1950s seaside resorts, this flexible outdoor modular design deliberately alludes to the quirky fabric blow-up beds of yesteryear. Complete with removable padding inserted in individually stitched pockets, Sail Out also boasts a sartorial detail in the form of standout piping, rendered in either grey gros-grain or the sofa’s own sumptuous wine-red shade.

While the quest for the perfect sofa might be at odds with one’s space-saving needs, it needn’t necessarily be the case. Rolf Benz has its clients covered with the Freistil 137, an interchangeable sofa that turns into a daybed in the face of space constraints. Particularly useful in a studio apartment or one-room living, this sensibly devised lounger easily does double-duty, owing to handy magnet connectors that keep the transformative process smooth and fuss-free.

FLEXFORM.IT

CASSINA.COM

FREISTIL-ROLFBENZ.COM

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SIMPLY LYRICAL

ELEGANT AND EXUBERANT

COLLECTIVE REASONING

One of the greatest bands in modern music, the Beatles’ legendary allure seemingly never waned. This seating system by Poltrona Frau follows up on previous pieces inspired by the Fab Four, namely Let it Be and Come Together. Composed of open lines and relaxed backrests, this deep-seated chaise coaxes sitters to kick back and relax in a tailor-made home. Light and inviting, Get Back’s soft, rounded surfaces will have you yearning to “get back to where you once belonged”.

Designed by Kati Meyer-Brühl, the Bongo Bay sofa stuns upon first glance. At once pared back and flamboyant, its gregarious outlines and softly rounded corners leap confidently into one’s field of vision. The effect recalls rounded rocks or the resplendent texture of an abstract painting. Built with forward-sloping armrests for added comfort, a high back variation of the sofa is also available, as is an accompanying armchair from the same delectable range.

With a penchant for devising inventive forms, designer Francesco Binfaré lends his exquisite touch to yet another idiosyncratic piece for Italian furniture brand Edra. Featuring nine components that are able to recline individually at six different angles, the aptly named Flap sofa is as eye-catching as it is utilitarian. Boldly reconceptualising the way we sit and interact, this anatomically oriented and multifaceted piece makes waves as a daybed, conversation area or even a workstation.

POLTRONAFRAU.COM

BRUEHL.COM

EDRA.COM

MÉLANGE | PRODUCTS

MATERIAL VALUE

LEAN ON ME

DASHINGLY DANISH

Designed by Carlo Colombo for Giorgetti, Frame is a chest of drawers with illuminated removable shelves that appeals indelibly to the senses. Brandishing the designer’s signature elegant touch, this dashing piece’s timeless allure is achieved through a clever combination of materials and surfaces. Paired together, slate-gray maple wood and saddle leather deliver a feeling of polish and precision, with the latter serving as a distinctive frame echoed throughout the entire collection.

Up and coming company COR is all about welldesigned pieces that prioritise comfort, practicality and classic elegance. The Drop collection is a standout pick from the German brand’s impressive repertoire. Particularly fetching and new to Drop is this stackable bench, ringed with a colour-coordinated tubular steel frame. Exuding heaps of personality, this slim yet sturdy number comes in two sensible widths and can be accompanied by an optional side table for added convenience.

The Lily chair was recently relaunched with aplomb by premium furniture purveyor Fritz Hansen to mark its 50th anniversary. A celebration of voluptuous curves and laminated walnut veneer that culminated as a result of a complicated moulding process, this iconic piece is equal parts eye candy and ergonomic comfort. Initially created for the Danish National Bank in 1968, Lily was notably also the last chair Arne Jacobsen ever designed, making it a true collector’s item.

GIORGETTI.EU

COR.DE

FRITZHANSEN.COM

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FREE AND EASY

COVER CREATURE

DREAM WEAVER

Even the seemingly effortless art of lounging can be hard to perfect without the right equipment at hand. With this scenario in mind, Beck Design has created the ideal casual lounging sofa for Rolf Benz. Constructed with tailored upholstery, a low back and a broad seat depth, Freistil 136 offers total freedom of movement for those with a preference for sprawling and changing positions. Roll, prop, lean and slump to your heart’s content.

Marcel Wanders’ penchant for injecting ordinary objects with a healthy dose of surreal fantasy once again rears its head in the form of the Monster Carpet. Part of the same namesake collection by Moooi, this unusual circular floor piece easily doubles as a cool artwork, thanks to its striking colourful motif depicting the face of a not-so-scary monster. Pairing beautifully with the rest of the collection, this covetable covering is available in two models.

B&B Italia’s mission of creating lasting and meaningfully crafted furniture knows no bounds, as evidenced even in accompanying pieces within the well-known brand’s portfolio. The Hospes ottoman is a pretty, woven number that perfectly complements a wide variety of settings and premium furniture collections. Available in two sizes and hued in three comely contemporary shades, Hospes’ already robust aluminum frame is made all the more strapping with its artful interlacing of waterproof fibre braids.

FREISTIL-ROLFBENZ.COM

MOOOI.COM

BEBITALIA.COM

MÉLANGE | PRODUCTS

EBB AND FLOW

BIG ON COMFORT

SUAVE SURFACE

Sensual yet deftly utilitarian, Soul Soft truly lives up to its snugly poignant moniker. The latest interpretation of a memorable piece created by Catalan designer Eugeni Quitllet, this visual pleasing armchair pulls out all the stops with its glorious interplay of curves and subtle lines. Its eye-catching silhouette is brought to the fore and complemented by an ergonomic polycarbonate seat, padded and upholstered in either plush leather or high-quality fabric.

Made to be ‘lived in’ and available in three widths, Pilotis is intended for far more than sitting pretty. This elegantly simple sofa by German brand Cor boasts a deep seat and reclining elements that make it the ideal choice for a casual workstation or a laidback night in. Its versatile design accommodates varying arrangements with aesthetic ease, seamlessly teaming with a selection of tables and shelves in big and small spaces alike.

Bold, minimal and graceful, the Foster 620 epitomises all of Norman Foster’s signature design hallmarks. A collaborative endeavour between German company Walter Knoll and the British architect, this comely occasional table is anything but an afterthought, alluding to both nature and sophisticated urban refuges. Featuring a tapered base in solid nut wood or oak, the indelible form is delicately capped with a slimline tabletop rendered in black, bronze, copper or sumptuously covered in leather.

PEDRALI.IT

COR.DE

WALTERKNOLL.DE

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CLASSY CONTOURS

FEED THE BEAST

OPULENT EMBRACE

A cult favourite among Flexform fans, the Svena armchair continues to turn heads as one of the Italian brand’s bestselling pieces. Available now in sofa form, this Carlo Colombo design’s generously sized structure, upholstered in cowhide and filled with goose down, sets the stage for intimate chats and unparalleled ease. Lending an unostentatious air to both residential and commercial areas, Svena adapts beautifully to every setting, owing to multiple colour, fabric and base options.

Don’t be afraid, cautions Marcel Wanders with regards to the Dutch designer’s curious Monster collection for Moooi. Lucky for us, the handsomely wrought namesake table is more inviting than chill-inducing. Available in three quirky variations, this unique piece is made all the more distinctive, thanks to its finely tapered legs, which give it the impression of standing on tiptoe. Enchanting and robust, Monster was created for feasts, hearty laughter and memorable good times.

Moving boldly beyond living room furniture, Pack redefines the very concept of stay-at-home luxury. More of a miniature landscape rather than a sofa, this Francesco Binfaré-designed wonder embodies unrestraint comfort while delivering a feast for the eyes. Padded with Gellyfoam, feathers and upholstered with a special fabric that emulates the texture of ice layers, Pack’s irregularly shaped surface is draped with ecological fur, allowing loungers the most glamourous repose of their lives.

FLEXFORM.IT

MOOOI.COM

EDRA.COM

MÉLANGE | PRODUCTS

SENSE OF HERITAGE Naoto Fukasawa’s penchant for fusing simple forms and ingenious construction knows no bounds, as evidenced in the Japanese designer’s latest outdoor furniture collection for B&B Italia. Ayana marries eastern and western influences by pairing modern rounded forms with ancient tried-and-tested craftsmanship, culminating in a series of elegant pieces that eschew screws in favour of seamless technical solutions. The presence of natural, untreated wood also emerges as a highlight, referencing timeless Scandinavian design.

BEBITALIA.COM

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MÉLANGE | OUTDOOR FURNITURE

MALDIVIAN MAGIC

AT THE OCEAN-INSPIRED INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES MAAMUNAGAU RESORT, KETTAL’S EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION EVOKES A CHARMING JUXTAPOSITION OF MODERN LUXURY WITH THE RESORT’S MALDIVIAN SPLENDOUR.

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THIS PHOTO: Located in the crystal clear waters of the beautiful Raa Atoll, the resort is next to the UNESCO biosphere reserve of Hanifaru Bay.

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THIS PHOTO: Blending in with the restaurants’ breezy décor, chic chairs from the Kettal’s Cala collection by Doshi Levien enliven the outdoor dining atmosphere at the resort.

n intimate journey of nature and luxury is very much part of the experience at the idyllic InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort. Nestled on the southernmost tip of the Raa Atoll, the resort is in close vicinity to Baa Atoll, Maldives’ only UNESCO biosphere reserve of Hanifaru Bay which is renowned for its abundant marine life. Blessed with spectacular views from dawn to dusk, this exotic resort houses 81 Beach, Lagoon and Overwater Villas and Residences, all sprawled across a private island with lush tropical greenery. In between these accommodations, a selection of sea fronting bars and restaurants, a contemporary spa and bespoke facilities contribute to the resort’s immersive architectural beauty. Expressing a refined yet luxuriously rustic aesthetic, both the interior and exterior spaces of this resort are made even more appealing with Kettal’s exceptional resort furniture collection. In each of the villas, a distinctive Maldivian-luxe style is prevalent where every detail is crafted to

TOP: Located on a private island in the Indian Ocean, the resort is blessed with incredible oceanic scenery and lush greenery.

BOTTOM: Inspired by the simplicity of ocean life, the resort takes on a distinctive Maldivian-luxe style that is laid-back yet elegant and stylish.

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TOP: At the villa’s patio that looks out to the Indian Ocean, Kettal’s Table Mesh by Patricia Urquiola is complemented by a pair of Kettal Studio’s Landscape armchairs.

BOTTOM: The resort features well-appointed villas decorated with a luxurious Maldivan-inspired style to bring out the beauty of its oceanic surroundings.

LIVING AREAS AS WELL AS OUTDOOR SPACES IN BOTH THE VILLAS AND RESIDENCES ARE FURNISHED WITH KETTAL’S COLLECTION TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE LIVING SPACES WITH A RELAXED VIBE.

THIS PHOTO: Every villa looks out to panoramic ocean views and comes equipped with all the essential amenities for a totally comfortable stay.

THE RESORT TRANSITIONS TO A LIVELIER AMBIENCE AT THE BAR AND RESTAURANTS WHERE UNOBSTRUCTED VIEWS OF THE ATOLL ACCOMPANY MULTI-CUISINE GASTRONOMICAL EXPERIENCES. DESIGNED WITH CREATIVE FLAIR TO REFLECT THE RESTAURANT’S INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY, EACH ESTABLISHMENT IS BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH KETTAL’S DIVERSE YET MADE-TO-MATCH FURNITURE PIECES.

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THIS PHOTO: With stylish contemporary Maldivian design, The Retreat is an exclusive adults-only venue offering breakfast, evening cocktails and array of small plates and bites.

anticipate the needs of the modern traveller. Over at the residences designed for larger families or groups, the properties feature private cabanas and pools with sweeping vistas of the Indian Ocean. Living areas as well as outdoor spaces in both the villas and residences are furnished with Kettal’s collection to further enhance the living spaces with a relaxed vibe. For instance, at the villa’s patio, Kettal’s Table Mesh by Patricia Urquiola is paired with Kettal Studio’s Landscape armchairs to offer guests a cosy and stylish place to enjoy the incredible Indian Ocean view. The resort transitions to a livelier ambience at the bar and restaurants where unobstructed views of the atoll accompany multi-cuisine gastronomical experiences. Designed with creative flair to reflect the restaurants’ individual identity, some of the key

TOP: Featuring a unique back made from woven ropes, chairs from the Kettal’s Cala collection by Doshi Levien are a perfect companion to island-style design themes.

BOTTOM: Chairs from the Kettal’s Cala collection by Doshi Levien provide guests with a cosy space to sit on as they enjoy the ocean view.

AWAY FROM THE MORE SOCIABLE ENVIRONMENT OF THE DINING AREAS, THE AVI SPA EVOKES A QUIETER MOOD WITH ITS SIX OVERWATER TREATMENT VILLAS INSPIRED BY THE RAW NATURE OF WATER.

dining areas are brought to life with Kettal’s diverse yet made-to-match furniture pieces. For the outdoor dining spaces, chic chairs from the Kettal’s Cala Collection by Doshi Levien blend in beautifully with the restaurants’ marine-inspired décor. Featuring a unique rope-woven back, these chairs complement the ocean’s backdrop impeccably. At another outdoor lounge, Kettal Studio’s Landscape armchairs are a beautiful addition to the space. Away from the more sociable environment of the dining areas, the Avi Spa evokes a quieter mood with its six overwater treatment villas inspired by the raw nature of water. Featuring natural materials and high vaulted ceilings, these treatment spaces harness the psychology of natural light and sound to lull guests

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into a deep state of relaxation. As the property is situated right next the biosphere reserve, which is home to coral reefs and thousands of species of fish including manta rays, sting rays and sharks, the resort has taken the initiative to support the Maldivian Manta Ray Project to protect these sea creatures. Their eco-friendly approach also extends to using solar energy and recycling to reduce carbon footprint and operating an ultrafiltration and reticulation plant system that produces up to 155,000 litres of water per day. To complement the resort’s eco-conscious efforts, almost all of Kettal’s furniture paints are 100% ecological and recyclable, while the wood used is protected under the Perhutani certification.

TOP: A stunning overwater escape, AVI Spa features six treatment villas that harness the psychology of natural light and sound to bring guests into a deep state of relaxation.

THIS PHOTO: Crafted from weather-friendly materials, Kettal Studio’s Landscape armchairs enhance the outdoor spaces at the resort.

KETTAL.COM

PROFILE | GREYMATTERS

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SHADES OF GREY THIS BESPOKE AGENCY IS SETTING THE STANDARD FOR HOSPITALITY FIT-OUTS WORLDWIDE.

ingapore-founded greymatters is a premier design agency specialising in all things hospitality. Established in 2012 by founder and Creative Director Alan Barr, they have since grown to a staff of over 50 professionals based in offices in Singapore, San Francisco and Bangkok, working on projects globally. Their expertise is strategically spread across networks spanning the farthest corners of Southeast Asia, through Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and onward to the West Coast of the USA. They are committed to working closely with clients to refine concepts not only for their clients interior and architecture, but also in food + beverage and branding/identity. At the core of any meaningful and sustainable building design is an innate understanding of what a space should be. greymatters has a widely experienced, multidisciplined team who understand what underpins robust designs and concepts to make commercially viable products. Their on-the-ground teams across several countries has a familiarity with multi-various markets and cultures, and boasts an intimate understanding of hospitality operation processes, ensuring strategic and planning decisions result in efficient and effective solutions that respond to an ever-evolving and dynamic hospitality environment. greymatters offers extensive experience in hospitality planning, concept development and design, ranging from urban high-rise developments to lush resorts – and a myriad bespoke properties in between. They understand the distinction between good design and exceptional experiences, a prerequisite for today’s

hospitality landscape, where dynamic and everchanging customer profiles and needs mean there’s a craving for unique spaces people can truly immerse themselves within. At their heart, greymatters believes that design is more than creating engaging environments – it’s about creating an identity that demonstrates a sense of place. Every design created by the team is curated to the brand, owner’s brief, and location of the project; each element created uniquely. The team always ensures that every project they deliver fits a set of customized criteria but is also wholly unique to that market. greymatters believe a design doesn’t end with an interior fit-out, but instead culminates with dressing and adornment of well crafted, curated and bespoke art, artefacts, accessories and styling. The team prides itself on making sure that every design is complete. Their services include a marriage of industrial design, product design and styling to ensure every space has finishing touches layered throughout, each piece picked with purpose and care and always on brand. Over almost a decade, greymatters has become synonymous with developing unique and award-winning hotels, resorts, dining, entertainment and lifestyleoriented spaces; places that have a lasting impact not only on the user, but also on the operator. Designing meaningful spaces is only half of the challenge – transforming them into a sustainable experience that leaves an indelible impression on the guest is the ultimate objective. Never black and white: greymatters.

GREY-MATTERS.COM

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

TIGER MEETS DRAGON GREYMATTERS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS FOR A WORLD-FAMOUS CHEF’S FIRST FORAY INTO VIETNAM

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AKIRA BACK, JW MARRIOTT HANOI

THIS PHOTO: A cool blue was used throughout the venue, to add to the restaurant’s sense of moody opulence.

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THIS PHOTO: Diners are enticed to enter via the restaurant’s “vortex”, a concept chef Akira uses in all his venues. This was also used in the restaurant’s mirrored hallway, which gives the actual sensation of travelling through a vortex to reach the restaurant within.

“THERE WAS A DRAGON IN PLACE ALREADY, AND AKIRA WAS BORN IN 1974, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF THE TIGER. IN KOREAN, ‘BACK’ TRANSLATES TO THE COLOUR WHITE, SO HE’S A WHITE TIGER – WE CAME UP WITH THIS CONCEPT CALLED ‘TIGER MEETS DRAGON’, WHICH WE BASED OUR DESIGNS AROUND FOR THE RESTAURANT, TO REFERENCE THE BUILDING AND CALL ATTENTION TO HOW THE NEW RESTAURANT WOULD SIT WITHIN IT.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

t’s housed in one of Asia’s most visually inspiring hotels, the JW Marriott Hanoi. So when greymatters accepted the brief to create internationally famous chef Akira Back’s first restaurant in Vietnam, they knew they needed to pull together something that was as spectacular as the surroundings it would be sitting in. It helped that their client gave them an open brief. “The main building is designed by Carlos Zapata,” greymatters founder and Creative Director Alan Barr explains. “He designed the building to be a Vietnamese dragon, which is a very auspicious animal in Vietnamese culture. “There was a dragon in place already, and Akira was born in 1974, which is the Year Of The Tiger. In Korean, ‘Back’ translates to the colour white, so he’s a white tiger – we came up with this concept called ‘Tiger Meets Dragon’, which we based our designs around for the restaurant, to reference the building and call attention to how the new restaurant would sit within it.” Back gave the design team an open-ended brief, the only stipulation being he wanted it to be “the wildest” restaurant in his portfolio. “We really took that and ran with it,” says Barr. “We played with the idea of it being a kind of funhouse, with mirrors and reflections. It’s very dark and moody.” There were several elements that Back wanted featured in the design, including the use of a “vortex”, a concept that appears in all of his restaurants. “That usually plays out with the use of concentric circles, but we took it to the next level and included an actual vortex in the corridor,” Barr explains. The team used mirrors to give the corridor a disorientating effect, playing off a “shattered mirror” idea.

MIDDLE: A visually striking entrance hints at the drama and opulence within.

BOTTOM: The team played with a “house of mirrors” concept, employing reflective surfaces on walls and ceilings. Bespoke light fixtures play beautifully against this, the light reflected to mesmeric effect.

“We took the whole corridor and twisted it, so now we had an actual living space that was a vortex as well,” says Barr. Mirrors are used throughout the restaurant, on ceilings, walls and in lighting features, and have been incorporated into another element Back wanted included – artwork from his artist mother, Young Hee Back, whose designs, as well as one of her recipes, feature in all his restaurants. “Every space he does features artwork from his mother,” says Barr. “So, in the main dining area we have a 21-metre long barisol scim, which we used to print her artwork onto, over a lightbox. That’s the main light feature; the main chandelier if you will. The frame around it, it looks like it has a lot of pattern on it, but it’s actually a mirrored frame – the pattern you see is the floor pattern reflecting in it. So it’s really warped, this space.” What could have been confusing and disorientating is brought together by the clever use of lighting throughout the venue. “The lighting, if it wasn’t done well, it would have killed it,” Barr explains. “We collaborated with lighting designer Black Light Illumination who we work with quite often. We came up with the ideas and BLI refined them and said, “Try this, try that.’

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TOP: Mirrors on the ceiling reflect back the carpet’s intricate, patterned design.

BOTTOM: The Fire Room, which serves as a VIP Private Dining Room. “Just above the top of the tallest light fixture, there is a line across the room,” Barr explains. “Everything above that is a reflection in the mirror in the ceiling. The bottom half of that photo is the actual room.”

THIS PHOTO: Pale greens and greys work well in daylight hours. Feature lighting in muted golds add to the sense of understated opulence. The whole space transforms once night falls.

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THIS PHOTO: The chef’s artist mother was commissioned to create artwork that was then printed onto a 21-metre barisol scrim hung over a lightbox. This is the main focal point of the central dining area.

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THIS PHOTO: The corridor vortex. “We took the whole corridor and twisted it, so now we had an actual living space that was a vortex as well,” says Barr.

“Without top-notch lighting this would have been a very flat space, and the owners really acknowledged that and understood it was so complex they had to get the lighting right. It was something they didn’t want to compromise on.” Everything, from the artwork, the use of colour in the carpet and furnishings, and the use of multifarious mirrored spaces, says ‘bold’ and ‘adventurous.’ But it all works seamlessly, lending a sense of drama to the venue which befits the exciting Korean/Japanese cuisine on show. The team delivered Back’s unusual brief. “It ticked the box in his portfolio of being the craziest, wildest, loudest restaurant Chef Akira has,” says Barr. “Which is what he wanted. He really loved what we did, and how the whole story wraps together with the building and the hotel’s Smack Dab bar, which we also opened at the same time.”

TOP: Black marble was used floor to ceiling in the restaurant’s bathrooms, which are every bit as visually exciting as the venue itself.

BOTTOM: Considerable time was spent making sure the venue’s lighting was absolutely spot-on. Bespoke light fixtures were sourced to perfectly compliment the space, and add to the theatrics.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

INTIMATE SURROUNDS

THE TOP FLOOR OF THREE SHOPHOUSES WAS TRANSFORMED INTO AN INTIMATE PRIVATE DINING SPACE IN COLLABORATION WITH HIGH-END WINE PRODUCER, PENFOLDS.

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BIN 38, SINGAPORE

THIS PHOTO: Three historic Singapore shophouses were converted to house Bin 38, hidden above famed drinking and dining spot, Tippling Club.

“IN ESSENCE, THIS IS A PENFOLDS RESTAURANT, WHICH IS WHY IT’S DESIGNED IN CHARCOALS, REDS, AND NATURAL TIMBERS, THEY ARE THE COLOURS OF THE PENFOLDS BRAND, BUT THERE IS NO LABELLING ANYWHERE.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

rom the street you may not even realise it’s there. But walk the two flights of stairs to Bin 38, the private dining space above Tippling Club in downtown Singapore and you know you’re somewhere special. “It’s not a club, but you can’t just walk into this restaurant,” says Alan Barr, founder and Creative Director of greymatters, who was tasked with working with chef and restaurateur Ryan Clift to create a multi-purpose space for use by his private dining clients, in collaboration with high-end Australian wine label, Penfolds. “When you book it, you book the whole venue,” Barr explains. “So, building one of the shophouse is the cocktail bar and the lounge, building two is the research and development laboratory/kitchen, and building three is the dining space for 12 people. The way it works is, you go up to the cocktail bar, you get ingratiated with drinks, then [the chef] takes you into the laboratory and talks to you about the menu you’re going to eat, and then you go into the dining room. You eat, he serves you from the chef’s kitchen, then you finish and go back to the cocktail bar and while away your troubles with cigars and whiskey.” Sounds simple enough, but greymatters needed to be mindful this was also a collaboration with the famous wine distributor, who would be using the venue for regular functions and events, and to showcase food pairings for their wine. There needed to be a very specific aesthetic for the space that would work with Penfold’s brand identity, but also be subtle enough to be used for Clift’s chef’s table dinners. “In essence, this is a Penfolds restaurant, which is why it’s designed in charcoals, reds, and natural timbers,” Barr explains. “They are the colours of the Penfolds brand, but there is no labelling anywhere. “When Penfolds come and have an event there, which they do a couple of times a year for their VIP customers in Singapore or for the release of a new wine, they dress it and that’s how it becomes ‘Penfolds’. But when it’s not in use, it’s Ryan’s restaurant for bookings, and he does what he wants with it.”

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MIDDLE: Gaggenau worked in collaboration with the venue to provide state-of-the-art kitchen equipment.

BOTTOM: Laboratory or kitchen? Both. High-tech equipment, used for research and development for downstairs Tippling Club, is out on display, so diners get a sense of how their meal has been crafted, and the skill involved.

THIS PHOTO: Bottles of Penfolds Grange stand proud from a specially designed wall feature, designed to showcase the high-end wine to maximum effect.

FURNITURE IN REDS AND GREYS WAS ADDED, AND BIG STATEMENT PIECES, LIKE THE LARGE SEMI-CIRCULAR SEATING IN THE COCKTAIL LOUNGE AND THE LARGE 12-SEAT DINING TABLE, BECAME THE SPACE’S HERO PIECES.

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THIS PHOTO: The building’s historic elements play beautifully against the industrial aesthetic of the private dining space. A large 12-seater table was commissioned to sit beneath a bespoke lighting fixture, which features living plants.

Because of the dual-purpose nature of the space, Barr and his team had to figure out a way of including an R&D functioning kitchen, with the sumptuous dining and drinking space. High-end kitchen supply company Gaggenau came onboard with state-of-theart equipment. “There is one section of it that is just laboratory equipment,” says Barr, who points out that Clift tests all his new recipes for about a year before they make their way to the menu downstairs. “We wanted all that scientific equipment to be out on display, so we incorporated it into the design. But it’s also functional; it’s not precious. All the kitchen tools are out on the shelf, there for everyone to reach – it’s literally like being in a chef’s kitchen.” As Penfolds is such a high-end brand – they produce the world-famous Grange range of wines – the fittings and fixtures used upstairs needed to exude a bespoke, stylish and brand-appropriate aesthetic. But Clift still wanted the space to reflect his own personality, and was adamant it didn’t become too “grown-up.” Industrial elements were incorporated, like steel construction eyebeams, cannily made into lights, and a specially-designed display system to house the wine. “And we’ve got old fireman’s ladders everywhere to get up to high spaces – it’s very, very eclectic,” Barr says.

TOP: Diners begin their night in the cocktail lounge section of the venue, where they can sit at the bar and immerse themselves in the art of cocktail making.

BOTTOM: The beautiful lit staircase and bespoke light installation hint at the understated opulence above.

greymatters whimsical sense of humour still comes into play, but this time it’s working in tandem with the other, higher-end inclusions. “The chandelier was made out of bottles of sake, wine and beer that we drank downstairs,” Barr explains. “That was a blurry collaboration! But the artwork in this space is done by a Singaporean artist named Koon Beng Chua.” Furniture in reds and greys was added, and big statement pieces, like the large semi-circular seating in the cocktail lounge and the large 12-seat dining table, became the space’s hero pieces. It all adds to a sense of opulent, understated style, and works beautifully with the food and wine pairings showcased through the exclusive space. “As a collaboration, I think it works extremely well,” Barr says.

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LEFT: Textured tiled walls play beautifully against the simplicity of the industrial aesthetic. These chairs were custom-made using red leather.

RIGHT: Bottles of sake, beer and wine, drunk downstairs at the restaurant, were collected and fashioned into a beautiful, bespoke chandelier. “A blurry collaboration,” says Barr.

“THE CHANDELIER WAS MADE OUT OF BOTTLES OF SAKE, WINE AND BEER THAT WE DRANK DOWNSTAIRS, THAT WAS A BLURRY COLLABORATION! BUT THE ARTWORK IN THIS SPACE IS DONE BY A SINGAPOREAN ARTIST NAMED KOON BENG CHUA.”

THIS PHOTO: Koon Beng Chua, acclaimed artist, was commissioned to produce a series of paintings.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

CLOUDSTREET IN THIS SEAMLESS SHOPHOUSE CONVERSION FOR FAMED SINGAPOREAN CHEF, RISHI NALEENDRA, THE RESTAURANT’S KITCHEN TAKES CENTRE STAGE.

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CLOUDSTREET, SINGAPORE

THIS PHOTO: A green wall, built around a large mirror, adds interest and a sense of intimacy to the space.

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THIS PHOTO: Just like home! A cabinet, displaying curios, adds a personalised feel to the space.

“THIS PROJECT WAS THE MOON AND STARS ALIGNING FOR SO MANY REASONS, WHAT THE CHEF WANTED, WHAT OUR DESIGN STYLE WAS; THE AMAZING SPACE, THE COLLECTION OF PEOPLE WORKING ON IT – EVERYTHING JUST CAME TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

he kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s also the ‘hero’ of this stunning shophouse-to-restaurant conversion, completed by greymatters in 2019 in close collaboration with award-winning Singapore-based chef, Rishi Naleendra. “This project was the moon and stars aligning for so many reasons,” says greymatters’ founder and Creative Director, Alan Barr. “What the chef wanted, what our design style was; the amazing space, the collection of people working on it – everything just came together seamlessly.” Naleendra wanted his new restaurant to feel enticing; like diners had been personally invited to dine at the chef’s own home. “He knew he wanted the kitchen to be the star of the show,” Barr explains. “It is the heart of the house; the centre of everything, and he wanted to make sure there were no secrets – that everything was out on display. “There is a back kitchen for storage, dish washing and a little bit of prep, but everything is done out in front – the kitchen becomes the theatre and the stage. So we designed around that premise.” In consultation with Naleendra, greymatters made sure to maintain a personal, “homely” feel for the restaurant. Though it was to showcase the chef’s award-winning fine-dining, Naleendra still wanted his space to feel accessible and inviting – and to reflect his own personality and the building’s humble history. “With love and respect, Rishi is an eclectic, crazy mad man!” Barr jokes. “He’s an artist, more than a chef – everything he does is very artistic; very handcrafted, unique and bespoke. And we wanted to do something to honour that. “[Rishi] had this image of lots of greens and concrete. He showed us some ideas and said, ‘Imagine a chef invites you into their home, and that they’re cooking for you in their home.’ And that was our starting point.” In a stroke of luck, when the team gained access to the building – a beautiful, historic nineteenth-century traditional Singaporean ‘shophouse’, off famed Telok Ayer street in the city’s Chinatown district – they found they were working with an entirely blank canvas.

MIDDLE: The fabric chandelier was designed to compliment, not compete, with the restaurant’s real star – its kitchen.

BOTTOM: An old espresso machine was repurposed to sit pride-of-place on the restaurant’s showpiece bar.

“The building was blessed with a couple of things that are very unusual for Singapore,” Barr explains. “One: it was never a restaurant before, so we had no sins or scars to live with, which was extraordinary. And two: it had excellent ceiling height and width and was a lot more generous than most shophouses are.” It meant the team were able to play with dimensions and start from scratch to design Naleendra’s kitchen to his exacting specifications without compromising on diner’s comfort, or the overall aesthetic. “I think one of the things that makes this so successful is the overall form and shape is very, very comfortable,” Barr explains. “Before you look at what design style it is, what it’s dressed with, the space does not feel forced, which is really unusual.” Designed in sumptuous golds, greys and greens, with foliage accents, it’s dressed with custom-made and repurposed furniture. Large-scale commissioned art by Australian painter, Steve Cross, adorn the walls in the restaurant’s main dining area, and a stunning custom-made fabric chandelier hangs pride of place from the centre of the room. “The kitchen is the star, and we knew nothing was to compete with it, and everything was to compliment it,” Barr explains. “So we spent a lot of time accessorising and decorating accordingly.” Antique and second-hand stores were scoured for found objects, and an old yellow espresso machine was bought and sent to Australia for reconditioning – it now sits pride of place on the bar. Most importantly, Naleendra’s own art also adorns the hall. “Everything else, from the front to the first half of the corridor, is all new artwork, artwork we found, and artwork we had commissioned,” Barr explains. “But then there’s the second half of the corridor filled with artwork that the chef painted himself two nights before they opened, in the dark of night!” The overall effect is both striking, architectural, and deeply personal, allowing diners to gain a real insight into the man painstakingly crafting their meals centre-stage in the restaurant’s kitchen. For Naleendra, critically, the restaurant opened on time and to budget, all within the space of a six-month period in 2019. “We opened this in less than six months from the day we started posting about it – it was a marathon,” says Barr. “We had a clock ticking to launch prior to the World Gourmet Summit and the World Top 50, which was last year in June/July. “We hit the deadline – and we are all super proud of this project.”

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TOP: Custom-made paned glass panels hang adjacent to the restaurant’s entry, adding intimacy, and separating the space from the busy street beyond.

MIDDLE: The kitchen, which features a stunning green tiled feature wall, sits pride-of-place, the “beating heart” of the restaurant.

THE OVERALL EFFECT IS BOTH STRIKING, ARCHITECTURAL, AND DEEPLY PERSONAL, ALLOWING DINERS TO GAIN A REAL INSIGHT INTO THE MAN PAINSTAKINGLY CRAFTING THEIR MEALS CENTRE-STAGE IN THE RESTAURANT’S KITCHEN.

THIS PHOTO: Repurposed and reupholstered furniture were used. Golds, greys and greens set the tone.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

HIDDEN GEM FIVE SPICE AT JEWEL IN CHANGI AIRPORT IS A MARKET DINING CONCEPT WITH A DIFFERENCE.

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FIVE SPICE @ JEWEL, SINGAPORE

THIS PHOTO: A metal structure was constructed to reference old fashioned conservatories, tying back to the biophilia theme of the Jewel.

THE SPACE NEEDED TO BE UPSCALE, HAVE A POINT OF DIFFERENCE, REFERENCE ITS SURROUNDINGS AT JEWEL – WHICH BOASTS THE WORLD’S LARGEST INDOOR WATERFALL – AND WORK SEAMLESSLY WITH THE REST OF THE BUILDING.

ingapore is famed for its hawker centres, local eating houses that feature a dizzying array of predominantly Singaporean, Malaysian and Chinese cuisine. So when the Jewel entertainment complex, a newly created space connecting three terminals at Changi Airport, opened last year, developers knew they wanted to include a version for their visitors. “It was a bit of a gift. The client approached us – we didn’t go looking for it,” says founder and Creative Director, Alan Barr. “They found us through work we had previously done, designing other marketplace concepts.” “The original project with them was to actually create the concept for this place, so the client could go ahead and pitch as a competitor for the lease,” he explains. “As soon as we were notified that we’d won, the real project started in earnest, and we took the concept and actually started creating this thing.” The ‘thing’ that greymatters created was a food court with a difference. The space needed to be upscale, have a point of difference, reference its surroundings at Jewel – which boasts the world’s largest indoor waterfall – and work seamlessly with the rest of the building. They delivered on the brief, and then some. “It was meant to be the poshest, most upmarket hawker centre you’d ever seen,” Barr explains. Playing with the biophilia theme of the rest of the venue, he included historic botanical illustrations in the original pitch, which the greymatters team then worked with to create large-scale murals once the pitch was accepted. “We researched an English botanist from the 1800s who came to Singapore and discovered hundreds of species of plants and animals,” Barr explains. “The way she documented them in the early 1800s was by doing illustrations. We studied her illustrations and we then created artwork in the style of her drawings, which are very flora/fauna/jungle-esque, but done in a semi-scientific way.” Furniture and the fitout was done in a heritage “Plantation” style, with conservatory-style structures placed throughout to further reflect the theme. “That is why some of the furniture is very plantation, and

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MIDDLE: The entrance to Five Spice is visually striking, enticing diners to enter and see what lies beyond.

BOTTOM: The escalator opens up to the five stories above it, creating a sense of space.

THIS PHOTO: Timber-slatted ceilings work against the tiled walls and intricately tiled floor.

COOL BLUES, CREAMS AND GREENS WERE USED THROUGHOUT THE FITOUT TO REFERENCE THE BIOPHILIA BRIEF, WITH THOSE ERECTED CONSERVATORY-STYLE STRUCTURES, IN STEEL AND WOOD, PLACED TO CREATE DIFFERENT EATING ZONES.

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THIS PHOTO: The erected conservatory structures give the effect of different dining zones.

sort of ‘verandah’ orientated,” Barr explains. “We reverse-designed the space from that, and the brand identity as well.” Because of its location at the airport, the team looked at the concept of Singapore as a ‘port’, zeroing in on the idea that for a good part of its history, the country was an integral part of international spice trade. “We found this spice purveyor here, called Anthony the Spicemaker, and he still imports spice and makes spice blends,” Barr explains. “We approached him and asked if he’d like a space within, to have a little shop to promote not only Anthony the Spicemaker, but also to do a collaboration with the venue.” It was a bold plan, but one the team managed to execute. “With him we created this spice blend that is the venue’s “official” Five Spice blend,” Barr explains. “The idea being that everyone uses it in the place, and in all the takeaway and delivery food bags there’s a little satchel of Five Spice included. So there’s this nice, charming, innocent, ‘family values’ brand collaboration.”

Cool blues, creams and greens were used throughout the fitout to reference the biophilia brief, with those erected conservatory-style structures, in steel and wood, placed to create different eating zones. “I love our deconstructed conservatoriums, which relate back to botanical gardens and park structures,” says Barr. “We used them as objects within a larger object. We like textures, and we like using architectural materials to create patterns, and we like layers on layers on layers.” The venue has been an incredible hit with both international visitors traversing through the airport space and locals, alike. “It’s definitely distinct, but I think it lives in the Jewel quite well,” says Barr. “Obviously the botanical connection in the illustrations we used ties back to The Jewel – we had to embrace the ‘botanics’ theme to be considered for the pitch – I think we did that, but took it far further and created something really special.”

TOP: A red curved timber frame earmarks a designated eating area for one of the venues stand-alone restaurants.

MIDDLE: This is a hawker centre – but not as you know it. Each hawker has its own designated kitchen space, decorated in a uniform style. There are 17 ‘micro restaurants’ in total.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

A SENSE OF FREEDOM THIS BANGKOK RESTAURANT, PART OWNED BY GREYMATTERS FOUNDER ALAN BARR, IS THE TEAM’S MOST PERSONAL PROJECT TO DATE.

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FREEBIRD, BANGKOK

THIS PHOTO: The state-of-the-art kitchen is effectively “on show” from the venue’s carpark, enticing diners inside.

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THIS PHOTO: A custom-made chandelier, featuring draped chainmail, hangs above a communal marble-topped dining table.

“I PUT THE KITCHEN IN THE FRONT, FACING THE STREET, SO WHEN YOU ARRIVE YOU CAN SEE THE CHEFS WORKING, SO THE KITCHEN IS THE THEATRE AND ON DISPLAY – THERE ARE NO SECRETS, EVERYTHING IS THERE.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

n 2016, greymatters opened its first owned and operated restaurant, Bangkok’s Freebird. The restaurant, designed by the company’s founder and Creative Director, Alan Barr, was an intensely personal project; a chance to show prospective clients that the greymatters team were willing to “put their money where their mouth is,” so to speak. “There was a bit of pride to prove something here,” says Barr. “We tried to do it without boundaries, so we could create something different, In essence, this was a living, breathing showroom, demonstrating what we’re about.” Barr decided to open a Modern Australian fine dining restaurant after searching for a permanent base for his Bangkok office. While hunting for potential properties, he came across a house situated in a quiet residential street in Bangkok’s trendy Sukhumvit area. “We found this house, which was way too big for just an office, and [as usual] had an idea,” Barr explains. “Then that took on a life of its own. We had some amazing partners with amazing credentials come onboard.” Barr wanted to create a destination restaurant; a place that would showcase not just what greymatters were about as a design team, but also introduce Thai diners to an award-winning chef. His design showroom and office was to be housed above. “I put the kitchen in the front, facing the street, so when you arrive you can see the chefs working,” says Barr. “So the kitchen is the theatre and on display – there are no secrets, everything is there. Then the idea was to take diners on a journey down the side of the house, into the garden, then have them do a big u-turn back through the space, allowing them to experience the venue instead of being sat down right away.” Restaurants in Bangkok need to be family-friendly, so it was important that the garden, which is filled with birds in cages (belonging to the house’s caretaker, a man who lives onsite and effectively “came with the he lease” when they took it over), was utilised. Those birds became the inspiration for the venue’s name.

MIDDLE: “The garden was really integral in creating an indoor/outdoor feel,” says Barr. “We wanted this to have an ‘urban resort’ feel, so the integration of landscape to the interior, and vice versa, was really important.”

BOTTOM: More custom-made tiles, this time utilised in the building’s entrance.

GREYMATTERS OPENED UP THE HOUSE, ADDING HUGE WINDOWS TO LET LIGHT IN. THEY DRESSED THE SPACE USING BOLD COLOURS, ADDING CUSTOM-MADE ASYMMETRICAL TILES, SUMPTUOUS OUTDOOR AREAS AND UTILISED NATURAL WOOD GRAINS THROUGHOUT, AS WELL AS LUSH TROPICAL LANDSCAPING, TO GIVE A SENSE OF AN ‘INNER CITY OASIS.’

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TOP: The kitchen, situated at the front of the building, was designed to be the focal point, as was the venue’s bar, which stands pride-of-place in the main dining area.

“The fact the interior is so eclectic is because we needed it to NOT be a regular restaurant space; we loved the idea of it being in an old house, because it had some heritage and history to it,” Barr explains. As well as serving as a restaurant destination by night, the space had to work in the daylight hours as a cafe/brunch venue. “We wanted it to be familyfriendly and we wanted a lot of [our trade] to be in the daytime,” Barr explains. “The garden was really integral in creating an indoor/outdoor feel; making it feel like a very ‘urban resort.’ So the integration of landscape to the interior, and vice versa, was really important.” greymatters opened up the house, adding huge windows to let light in. They dressed the space using bold colours, adding custom-made asymmetrical tiles, sumptuous outdoor areas and utilised natural wood grains throughout, as well as lush tropical landscaping, to give a sense of an ‘inner city oasis.’ Barr commissioned long-time greymatters collaborator, Australian artist Steve Cross, to paint giant, oversized aerosol murals across three of its walls, including one provocative piece in the main dining section of the restaurant. “We found a Thai artist in Chatuchak market, and in one fell swoop we bought his entire inventory of paintings, abstract landscapes; the moon, earth and sky paintings,” Barr explains. “In contrast, I wanted [Steve to create] something that was shocking and bold and over-scale. The bird in front was more about the brand, but the other two pieces with the women in them, I wanted them to be shocking; something people were going to want to take a photo with.” It all adds up to a venue that is both visually striking and a distillation of what greymatters is all about. “It’s super eclectic – there are things in there that, on purpose, we put together that didn’t necessarily go together,” Barr explains. “We made concoctions out of designs that were unexpected, and I think that is one of the charming things about the space. “The compliments we always get about it is that you can tell a lot of passion went into pulling it all together.”

MIDDLE: Barr wanted everything about Cross’ commissioned murals to be over-sized and out of scale, including this lady’s evocative lips.

THIS PHOTO: Hand-made, asymmetrical tiles were commissioned for the venue, making a visually arresting feature wall adjacent to the private dining area.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

GOING GLOBAL

WHEN A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL HONG KONG HOSPITALITY ENTERPRISE WANTED TO TAKE THEIR LATEST RESTAURANT VENTURE GLOBAL, THEY CALLED ON GREYMATTERS TO LEND A HAND.

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JOHN ANTHONY, JW MARRIOTT HANOI

THIS PHOTO: The main dining area sports floor-to-ceiling mirrors, included to reflect the stunning surroundings back to diners.

“THE FOOTPRINT OF THE VENUE IS REALLY LONG, AND SO WE HAVE THIS ROW OF PRIVATE DINING ROOMS, THEN THE GIN BAR, AND THE MAIN DINING ROOM. WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE DOWN THE SPACE, PIECE BY PIECE, WHILE THEY WERE STILL OPERATING THE EXISTING RESTAURANT TO RENOVATE IT – I THINK IN THE END THEY WERE ONLY CLOSED FOR A FEW WEEKS IN TOTAL, SO IT WAS REALLY QUITE A QUICK BUILD.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

aximal Concepts, a very influential Food & Beverage operator and developer in Asia, is responsible for two of Hong Kong’s hottest and most-buzzed-about restaurants, the multi-award-winning Mott 32, and the company’s stylish newcomer, John Anthony. When the company decided to collaborate with Marriott International and bring this brand to Vietnam, greymatters was the obvious choice to help realise their vision. “My understanding is that this restaurant would be the second of its kind, and the first internationally,” says Barr, founder and Creative Director at greymatters. Barr and his team had already worked on two other high-end fitouts for the JW Marriott in Hanoi, executing the successful design and build of awardwinning international chef Akira Back’s self-titled restaurant, and the adjoining Smack Dab ultra-lounge next door. When the Hong Kong-based group settled on the JW Marriott as a base for their new venture, it made sense to work with a company that was both familiar with the hotel, and on the same page designwise as the cutting edge hospitality powerhouse. greymatters jumped at the chance to work with the prestige brand. “It was a renovation of an existing restaurant at the JW Marriott – their fine dining Chinese, which would be converted to John Anthony,” says Barr. “It happened quite quickly because they didn’t want to close the restaurant for too long. The footprint of the venue is really long, and so we have this row of private dining rooms, then the gin bar, and the main dining room. We were able to close down the space, piece by piece, while they were still operating the existing restaurant to renovate it – I think in the end they were only closed for a few weeks in total, so it was really quite a quick build.” John Anthony is named for the first Hong Kong resident to ever receive a British passport. Known for his English name, ‘John Anthony,’ he was a Chinesenative trading interpreter; a man who played a big part in trade deals during the Qing Dynasty. greymatters wanted to reference this fascinating story in the design of the venue, calling back to the things that would have influenced this trail-blazing entrepreneur.

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MIDDLE: Custom-made lights are a focal-point above the purpose-built gin bar.

BOTTOM: Hand-glazed tiles are also used extensively throughout the bar, adding a lovely decorative focal point.

THIS PHOTO: The grand entrance, designed to entice diners to begin their culinary journey.

WHERE MAXIMAL CONCEPTS OTHER WORLD-FAMOUS VENUE, THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING MOTT 32 IS UNDERGROUND, BOASTING A SULTRY AESTHETIC, THIS ITERATION OF JOHN ANTHONY HAS AN ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT LOOK AND FEEL. IT’S LIGHT, BRIGHT; WELCOMING, AND IT UTILISES THE ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL LIGHT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BUILDING’S ENORMOUS FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS.

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THIS PHOTO: Mirrors are used throughout the venue, including on the roof.

As such, a large feature-wall light installation of compasses is lit to reflect different phases of the moon and adorns the entry to the venue, setting the scene for the culinary journey diners look forward to within. “It’s a cool story, the story of his life, and how he got his passport in Britain, then his coming back and all the things he discovered along the way, be it spices, herbs, animals, fora and fauna – and all the things that relate to food,” says Barr. “We wanted to use those motifs in the design, in the wall coverings, furnishings and decorative touches; a call-back to that history.” greymatters designed a series of large-scale floral and animal murals, replicating them through hand-painted wall pieces on brick, large textile wall coverings, and through the furniture dressings through the venue. “It was a lot of fun,” Barr says. “We designed a pattern, and then repeated it in different colourways through throw cushions and pillows, furnishings, the wall coverings, and through the carpets we had custom-made.”

TOP: The Vietnamese Tea God sits pride-of-place in the venue, overseeing proceedings from his perch.

BOTTOM: A server moves seamlessly through the venue.

Where Maximal Concepts other world-famous venue, the multi-award-winning Mott 32 is underground, boasting a sultry aesthetic, this iteration of John Anthony has an altogether different look and feel. It’s light, bright; welcoming, and it utilises the abundance of natural light available through the building’s enormous floor-to-ceiling windows. “Most of Maximal spaces in Hong Kong are all underground, and they have no windows; they are very ‘introverted’ spaces,” Barr explains. “This space, it’s the first with gigantic windows in it. We didn’t want to pretend they weren’t there, and we didn’t want to drape them and cover them up at night, so we embraced them, and put mirrors in the venue to stretch the size and scope of the space.” It makes for a pretty dining experience by day, and, by night, the throw of light bouncing and reflecting across the venue makes for a subdued, soft, romantic feel. “It is definitely more delicate; more feminine; a little more organic,” says Barr of the

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TOP: The dragon motif is repeated through the venue, a nod back to the Carlos Zapato-designed JW Marriott building, which is dragon-shaped.

BOTTOM: Pretty floral motif murals adorn the venue and are replicated through textile wall coverings, hand-painted murals, and through soft furnishings like cushions and pillows.

GREYMATTERS DESIGNED A SERIES OF LARGE-SCALE FLORAL AND ANIMAL MURALS, REPLICATING THEM THROUGH HAND-PAINTED WALL PIECES ON BRICK, LARGE TEXTILE WALL COVERINGS, AND THROUGH THE FURNITURE DRESSINGS THROUGH THE VENUE.

THIS PHOTO: Some of the existing furniture and fittings, including this light installation, were repurposed from the old build, as per the client’s wishes. Maximal Concepts values sustainability and was keen to repurpose and upcycle where possible, using local craftsmen where possible.

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THIS PHOTO: Large murals adorn the floor-to-ceiling brick walls of the venue. Hand-painted, they reference the floral motifs used elsewhere.

overall look and feel of the venue. “It’s light and fresher, and has a lovely nod to British colonial history and all the influences it created.” The cuisine itself also had to be taken into consideration when designing the venue. The restaurant is known for its Cantonese-style roasted duck, and, as such, a purpose-built curing and roasting room had to be included in the venue. “It’s on display as you walk in,” Barr explains. “And when you enter and exit the restaurant it is the prime view for all customers.” It all adds up to a truly memorable dining experience, every bit as visually stunning as the spaces it references back in Hong Kong. It’s also a brilliant new high-end dining addition to the JW Marriott, already famed for its world-class food options. “We have a nice inventory now, having worked on three of the six major F&B venues in the hotel,” says Barr. “We have got 50 per cent of the serious food and beverage offerings there now, which is fantastic as a portfolio in a single hotel. We are extremely proud of this project and to be able to work with such high caliber Operators, Developers and Brand Ambassadors.”

TOP: Another nod to the dragon theme, which is replicated throughout the hotel.

BOTTOM: Looking back to the private dining rooms from the main dining area.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

BRINGING THE OUTDOORS INDOORS A WHOLLY UNIQUE SPACE LED TO A WHOLLY UNIQUE CONCEPT IN OPEN FARM COMMUNITY, SINGAPORE’S FIRST – AND ONLY – FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANT.

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OPEN FARM COMMUNITY, SINGAPORE

THIS PHOTO: Giant windows give the heritage building a pavilion feel, and open up on balmy evenings for diners to enjoy temperate nights.

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THIS PHOTO: Copper piping has been used throughout the building’s light fixtures, lending a rustic feel to the space.

“THE WHOLE GARDEN IS DESIGNED FOR CUSTOMERS TO INTERACT WITH IT, BUT IT’S ALSO A LIVING, BREATHING GARDEN. THE STAFF INTERACT WITH IT, AND GO OUT AND CUT THAI BASIL OFF THE PLANT FOR USE IN MORNING SERVICE, OR PULL MANGOES OR RAMBUTANS OFF THE TREE.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

f there’s something Singapore isn’t known for, it’s open space, which is at a premium in the country’s city centre. So when a client approached greymatters to design a restaurant set amongst 600 square metres of land, they jumped at the chance to create something that fit seamlessly with the stunning natural surrounds. “The venue is in Dempsey, which used to be an old military barracks and compound,” says greymatters founder and Creative Director, Alan Barr. “It’s very unusual for Singapore that this had a 6,000 metre square piece of land attached to it – the owner had this idea to do as close in Singapore as you can get to a ‘farm-to-table’ restaurant concept.” The client wanted diners to be able to interact with the landscape and commissioned greymatters to repurpose the old heritage building accordingly. They were also charged with overhauling the outdoor area. “The whole garden is designed for customers to interact with it,” Barr explains. “But it’s also a living, breathing garden. The staff interact with it, and go out and cut Thai basil off the plant for use in morning service, or pull mangoes or rambutans off the tree. There are some chickens running around, and there’s a sculpture garden, too.” There’s also a regulation lawn bowls court, which, on weekends, doubles as a spot for tournaments, players able to sip on their bloody marys as they interact. Barr commissioned a local sculpture artist to play with the farm theme and produce a series of sculptures that befitted the brief, which are dotted around the grounds, encouraging visitors to interact with them. “The artist’s sculptures depict what happens when a seed starts to germinate; when the seed cracks open and the sprout pops out,” Barr explains. “We really liked the connection to ‘farm-to-table’, and fell in love with these sculptures, which are scattered throughout the space.”

MIDDLE: Germinating seed sculptures literally sprout from the ground.

BOTTOM: The tiles were all hand-made in Thailand to the architect’s specifications.

Like so many other greymatters designs, green plays a big part, this time the colour reflecting the hues of the landscape beyond. “That green wall is an architectural interpretation of the landscape outside,” Barr explains. “We also used hand-made tiles from Thailand to pick up on this too. The copper piping and lights exposed on the feature wall is actually a mistake that turned out to be amazing – the lights were supposed to be buried in the wall, but the piping was accidentally left out, so instead we had to design on the fly, and expose the copper piping. It added a whole new detail which was extremely pleasing.” Copper piping was also used in bespoke lights elsewhere, and the metal theme was taken up via a series of repurposed vintage gates which hang from the venue’s ceiling. “Those were salvaged window and driveway gates from all over Singapore,” says Barr. “We had some chandelier options, but the owners were never really settled on them. I had this idea to wrap the gates in fairy lights – my team weren’t impressed. They said, ‘You’re not going to wrap them in fairy lights, it’s going to be so cheesy?’” But Barr gave it a try, and low and behold, it worked beautifully. “We lit one up that was leaning against the wall and we stood back four metres and it looked great,” says Barr. “As the aircon blows on them, the lights move around subtly so it feels like

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the stars twinkling at night.” The whole area, so inviting and friendly by day, takes on an altogether moodier ambience at night time when the venue’s floor-to-ceiling windows are concertinaed out to allow the balmy evening wind to waft through the venue. It creates a lovely pavilionstyle feel, totally in keeping with the lush, jungle surrounds. “We wanted a conservatory feel; an indoor/outdoor venue,” Barr explains. “It was designed to be that way, with lots of natural light in the daytime; green bleeding in from outside, and a lovely moodiness by night.” Fresh seasonal produce, much of it picked from the gardens beyond, becomes the hero, offset by the stunning, picturesque, serene surrounds. The diner is at peace, a rare quality in busy, bustling Singapore. “It’s such a successful venue. We wanted an outdoor/indoor cross-section, a crossroads of lifestyle, family, ‘go pick some basil, go smell some lemon myrtle’ type thing,” Barr explains. “We wanted Singaporeans to be able to interact with the land, which is a very UN-Singapore thing to do. “When we went back to take photos of the venue, someone had ridden their bike up and it was just propped up in front of a door. The bicycle was so ‘on brand’, and a great validation that this was working as a very successful project.”

TOP: Whimsical touches are throughout, including this customdesigned upholstery which features a fun dog pattern.

THE WHOLE AREA, SO INVITING AND FRIENDLY BY DAY, TAKES ON AN ALTOGETHER MOODIER AMBIENCE AT NIGHT TIME WHEN THE VENUE’S FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS ARE CONCERTINAED OUT TO ALLOW THE BALMY EVENING WIND TO WAFT THROUGH THE VENUE.

THIS PHOTO: The building interacts seamlessly with the surroundings, inviting diners to interact with its beautiful gardens.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

PREGO SERVES UP THE GOODS A LONG-STANDING ITALIAN INSTITUTION IS TRANSFORMED INTO A CONTEMPORARY ITALIAN MARKETPLACE.

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PREGO, SINGAPORE

THIS PHOTO: Green was used throughout the venue, including at the bar area, which also sports an opulent chandelier.

“I DON’T THINK OF IT AS A BIG RESTAURANT, BECAUSE WE CREATED THESE GREEN ZONES, ONE AT THE FRONT, AND ONE AT THE BACK, TO BREAK IT UP AND MAKE A GARDEN AREA, WE ALSO HAVE THE BAKERY IN THE FRONT, AND THE PASTRY AND DESERT AREA. AND WE HAVE THE CENTRAL BAR – WE DID THAT DELIBERATELY TO BREAK THE SPACE UP – WHICH HAS HIDDEN BEHIND IT THE HOT COUNTERS FOR THE BREAKFAST BUFFET IN THE MORNINGS.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

t was always going to be a challenge to create a sense of intimacy in a multi-use hotel restaurant space covering a whopping 800+ m². But that’s exactly what greymatters were able to achieve in the refit for Prego, an Italian restaurant in Singapore’s Fairmont Hotel, which has been a dining institution for almost twenty years. “Our challenge was to create a space that worked on a number of different levels,” says greymatters founder and Creative Director, Alan Barr, who points out that he and his team had to consider the space would be used both for the hotel’s breakfast buffet service and also serve as an ala carte restaurant for lunch and dinner services. “We spent a lot of time making sure it was compartmentalised, and that we could open and close things to either reveal, or conceal, the buffets,” Barr explains. So what serves as a pizza counter by day transforms to the hotel’s resident “egg station” in the mornings. Conversely, the breakfast buffet area is used as a “bread station” for lunch and dinner services and also doubles as a place to make desserts and pastries, all designed to give a sense of “theatricality” to the proceedings. “The area is like a bunch of small areas stacked together,” says Barr, whose brief from the client was to create an ‘Italian marketplace’ feel. “I don’t think of it as a big restaurant, because we created these green zones, one at the front, and one at the back, to break it up and make a garden area,” he explains. “We also have the bakery in the front, and the pastry and desert area. And we have

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MIDDLE: Striped awnings give Prego an Italian marketplace feel.

BOTTOM: A green wall defines a ‘garden’ area, which successfully breaks up the cavernous space.

THIS PHOTO: Traditional Italian tiles were used throughout, and the ceiling references a pergola. Pizza ovens give the space a traditional Italian backyard feel.

THE CAR HAS BEEN A HUGE HIT WITH DINERS, WHO LOVE GETTING PHOTOS WITH THE VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE. “THE SPACE IS MEANT TO HAVE A BIT OF WHIMSY AND HUMOUR AND BE VERY VIVACIOUS AT THE SAME TIME.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

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THIS PHOTO: The vintage Fiat 550, painted Robins Egg Blue, is the focal point of the whimsical fitout – and a big hit with diners.

the central bar – we did that deliberately to break the space up – which has hidden behind it the hot counters for the breakfast buffet in the mornings. “That then closes up, so you don’t see it, and we put the pizza area at the end, and there’s a communal dining area, so it is very segmented, which is a good thing.” Everything references back to that ‘Italian marketplace’ brief. “Everything is on display at the market, so we constantly reference that,” Barr explains, saying they used striped awnings and stacked the space with fun Italian-themed props, including a vintage Fiat 550, repurposed as one of the restaurant’s main focal points. “They found the car in Malaysia, actually,” says Barr. “It was completely refurbished for this project and brought into Singapore without the engine, because if you bring a car in with the engine you get hit with a huge import tax. So the engine was removed and it became a piece of art instead.” The car has been a huge hit with diners, who love getting photos with the vintage automobile. “The whole place is meant to have a sophisticated sense of humour; to not be so serious,” says Barr. “The food is serious, the beverage is serious, the service is serious, but the space is meant to have a bit of whimsy and humour and be very vivacious at the same time.”

Long-time greymatters collaborator, Australian artist Steve Cross, was drafted to hand-paint vintage Italian liquor advertisements on the walls, which he painstakingly rendered using the same techniques the original signwriters would have used, back in the day. Mirrors were also used across the venue to provide different points of interest, a technique greymatters employ across a number of their different projects. “We love mirrors because they stretch your sightlines and create some interesting views,” Barr explains. Since Prego reopened last year, Barr has become something of a regular at the venue and says he gets endless satisfaction from watching how different patrons interact with the space. “We have quite a few active and ongoing projects in the hotel now,” he explains. “So I probably eat there once a week. I have deliberately sat in every area in the restaurant just to test it out, and to watch people. “They have a lot of loyal, repeat customers, and you can see people come in and gravitate to one area or the other. There is often chatter heard amongst guests being seated, ‘No, I prefer to be back here in the big banquettes,’ or ‘I want to be in the bar area because I like the conviviality.’ There is so much variety for seating, there’s something for everybody.”

TOP: Campari opened their vaults to share traditional hand-painted posters from last century, which were then painstakingly reproduced by hand by artist Steve Cross.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

CONTAINER COOL SMACK DAB BAR AT THE JW MARRIOTT HANOI IS REDEFINING PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT A HOTEL BAR SHOULD BE.

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SMACK DAB, JW MARRIOTT HANOI

THIS PHOTO: An all-weather glass ceiling was deployed to connect the containers, providing protection from Hanoi’s sometimes inclement weather. Outdoor furniture and a hardwood floor work especially well with the indoor/outdoor drinking and dining area.

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THIS PHOTO: The ‘Tiger Meets Dragon’ theme was worked into the exterior artwork, designed by Australian street artist Steve Cross, and executed over a five week period.

mack Dab, one of Hanoi’s newest and hippest bars, very nearly never existed at all. “Originally the whole thing was Akira Back – there was no Smack Dab,” says greymatters founder and Creative Director Alan Barr, who was brought onboard to design famed Korean/American chef Akira Back’s newest restaurant venture at the JW Marriott in Hanoi, Vietnam. Early on in discussions with the hotel it became clear the project was morphing into a very different beast entirely. “As the design started coming together, the hotel, very smartly, realised it was too big to be one venue,” Barr explains. “They saw that what we were creating outside was powerful enough to be its own venue, and to stand on its own.” Cue a very quick revision of what they’d been designing. The hotel had strict stipulations that anything built adjacent to the magnificent Carlos Zapata Studio-designed main hotel building had to be temporary – this needed to be taken into consideration. “So there was only one thing for it – we would have to work with shipping containers, the world’s greatest temporary structure!” says Barr. During one of those early meetings, Barr rendered a quick sketch – and within days it had become a reality. “The owners trucked in shipping containers,” says Barr. “I am not joking, we did these sketches, and someone who works for the Owning company made a few calls and said, ‘They are thinking of doing shipping containers,’ and showed them the sketch. And by the third day of the trip the shipping containers were onsite and craned into place.” The team set about thoroughly overhauling the structures to suit their new, altogether hipper, purpose. “They brought them in and we jiggled them around, and chopped and cut them, squished and tugged them,” says Barr. “It was so collaborative between a lot of contributing parties, and spirited in this way that felt, absolutely, that we could do anything! “We just came up with ideas. And this one was WAY outside the box.”

MIDDLE: Artist Steve Cross’ ‘Tiger Meets Dragon’ mural was designed to be seen from every vantage point in the hotel, enticing guests to visit the new bar.

BOTTOM: You’d never know this stylish interior is housed within a series of 50-foot shipping containers.

Now the team had a blank canvas to work with, greymatters had to settle on how to make sure the space flowed with the restaurant they were designing next door. They were already working with Back’s team on a ‘Tiger Meets Dragon’ concept for his restaurant, and decided to take it across and through the containers. But how? “Smack Dab was born out of the process of designing Akira Back, and became its own thing,” says Barr. “We commissioned Australian artist Steve Cross, who is known for his large-scale aerosol murals, to work on a design for the bar. Through Steve’s art, this is where ‘Tiger Meets Dragon’ lives the most.” Cross flew to Hanoi, and over five weeks worked on-site to complete the epic mural with aerosols, which can be seen from all vantage points in the hotel. “He really understood the brief,” Barr explains. “We could have photoshopped a few things, but I don’t think we could come up with the depth of that artwork – this ended up being the biggest by square

meterage commissioned piece of artwork we have ever done.” Inside the containers, the team worked to create a sense of cool, urban chic, something just as ‘at home’ in trendy Soho, Brooklyn or Shoreditch as in downtown Hanoi. “If you said you’d be doing a shipping container village in the JW Marriott, the whole world, without seeing photos, would say, ‘No way!’” says Barr. “But we’ve proved it could be done. If you look at interior photos, you can’t tell it’s the inside of a shipping container – it could just as easily be the long, dark corridor of a moody hotel.” Most gratifying of all is the fact the bar has become a favourite hang-out for local Hanoians. Two years on from opening, it’s still amongst the city’s top venues. “It’s amazing,” says Barr. “To be able to get outside traffic into a hotel bar is a sign of success.”

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TOP: Custom-made light installations were commissioned for the interior. Mirrored ceilings, also used in the Akira Back project happening simultaneously next door, project the light in interesting, complex ways. At night the whole space comes alive.

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INSIDE THE CONTAINERS, THE TEAM WORKED TO CREATE A SENSE OF COOL, URBAN CHIC, SOMETHING JUST AS ‘AT HOME’ IN TRENDY SOHO, BROOKLYN OR SHOREDITCH AS IN DOWNTOWN HANOI.

THIS PHOTO: The industrial aesthetic of the shipping containers, combined with the street art design, works to compliment the chic, clean lines of the interior.

SHOWCASE | RESTAURANT

GREEN WITH ENVY GREEN WAS THE THEME FOR THIS STYLISH INTERIOR FIT OUT FOR THE RELOCATION OF SINGAPORE’S FAMED TIPPLING CLUB.

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TIPPLING CLUB, SINGAPORE

THIS PHOTO: The bar’s hanging rack full of bottles was the one thing the client stipulated had to be brought from their previous Dempsey location.

“THE WALLPAPER WE HAD MADE BY TIMOROUS BEASTIES IN SCOTLAND, WHO ARE THIS AWARDWINNING COMPANY THAT DEVELOP SOME LAIRY WALL COVERINGS. AND WE BOUGHT ONE METRE OF FIFTY DIFFERENT COLOURS OF GREEN AND CUT THE METRE FABRIC IN HALF AND MADE TWO CHAIR SEATS OUT OF GREEN A, AND TWO CHAIR SEATS OUT OF GREEN B, AND SO ON, THE IDEA BEING THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT A JUNGLE, YOU LOOK AT THE LEAVES ON JUST ONE TREE AND THEY ARE A THOUSAND DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

ippling Club was already an established venue when famed restaurateur Ryan Clift had a chance meeting with greymatters Creative Director and founder, Alan Barr, who happened to be dining at his restaurant one night. “Originally it was in an area called Dempsey, and it was basically a tent in the woods,” Barr explains. “There was nothing – a kitchen, a bar on display and plastic sheeting on three sides of the restaurant.” But it had a loyal following – and great food. And with a move in the works, Clift was on the lookout for a design team to make sure they took the spirit and feel of the original venue to their newer, cleaner, sharper space downtown. Enter greymatters. “I’d met Ryan the night before and told him I happened to design hospitality venues, and next thing, he’s inviting me back to discuss working together,” says Barr. “We met the next day, and I asked him what he wanted to bring from the original venue, and he said, ‘I want to bring Dempsey with me!’ “My interpretation of that was all the green and the vines we’ve used in the venue.” A rough pencil sketch later – which ended up being the concept Clift was interested in having in his new restaurant – Barr’s vision was on its way to becoming reality. Referencing the original outdoor jungle location, greymatters decided to take the bold step of tiling the kitchen entirely in green. They also decided to highlight different shades of green across the furniture, wallpaper and light fittings.

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BOTTOM: 50 different shades of green fabric were used to upholster all the restaurant’s seats, designed to replicate the differing shades of green in a tree’s leaves.

THIS PHOTO: The restaurant’s green tiled kitchen is the venue’s focal point

“WE ADDED A COCKTAIL SECTION, WHICH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL – THEY ENDED UP BEING THE FIRST RESTAURANT, I THINK IN ASIA, TO GET DOUBLE BILLING OF ASIA TOP 50 RESTAURANT AND ASIA TOP 50 BAR.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

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THIS PHOTO: Different textures were used on different walls, including this tessellated tile design in a muted industrial grey.

“Pundits question, ‘Are you sure? You’re really going to do a green kitchen? Nobody does a green kitchen!’ But of course we are! We’re doing this!” Barr explains. “The wallpaper we had made by Timorous Beasties in Scotland, who are this award-winning company that develop some lairy wall coverings. And we bought one metre of fifty different colours of green and cut the metre fabric in half and made two chair seats out of Green A, and two chair seats out of Green B, and so on,” he adds. “The idea being that when you look at a jungle, you look at the leaves on just one tree and they are a thousand different shades of green. “So that was my interpretation of ‘Bringing Dempsey with us.’” When planning how the space would work spread across the bottom floors of three adjoining shop-

houses, greymatters considered how diners would use the space. “Singapore has this thing – you go to drinking places to drink, and eating places to eat, but you don’t go to a restaurant to drink,” Barr explains. “We added a cocktail section, which has been incredibly successful – they ended up being the first restaurant, I think in Asia, to get double billing of Asia Top 50 Restaurant and Asia Top 50 Bar.” Barr wanted diners to go on a journey through each of the three buildings, starting in the cocktail bar and moving through. “It’s three shophouses combined together with large openings cut in the walls, so you traverse through them,” he explains. “Building one is the bar, building two is the main part of the restaurant and the seating, and building three is the second portion of the kitchen and a semi-private dining room, which

TOP: The kitchen, and part of the bar, is tiled entirely in green, a bold move at the time.

is the one with all the wine in it and the Frankenstein grape light features hanging from the ceiling.” Aesthetically, the venue was different to anything Singapore’s fine dining scene had seen up to that point. “It was loud and boisterous and industrial and Asia doesn’t really do that for their fine dining restaurants,” Barr explains. “But Ryan really identified with that industrial aesthetic, so we really wanted to capture that.” It was an immediate hit with diners. “It captured people,” Barr explains. “To this day I still get calls, with people saying, ‘You’re the guy that did Tippling Club! We have been waiting to work with you!’ “It was an absolute springboard for us, and still is. We still use it as a case study – it’s still intact with zero changes other than minor touch-ups. “It’s absolutely brilliant what that project has done for us. You have no idea how lucky I was to get this job as it was happenstance.”

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TOP: A cluster of bespoke lights are positioned to give illumination to the space and provide a pretty design focal point.

BOTTOM: Attention to detail. Nothing was left to chance in the immaculately-designed space. Right down to cutlery and dining accessories.

“IT’S THREE SHOPHOUSES COMBINED TOGETHER WITH LARGE OPENINGS CUT IN THE WALLS, SO YOU TRAVERSE THROUGH THEM, BUILDING ONE IS THE BAR, BUILDING TWO IS THE MAIN PART OF THE RESTAURANT AND THE SEATING.” Alan Barr, Founder and Creative Director, greymatters

THIS PHOTO: Diners have the choice to dine at the kitchen bar, where they can observe food preparation from intimatelydesigned places – complete with their own bespoke lighting.

DESIGN LIBRARY

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375 BARSTOOL by WALTER KNOLL PROJECT: BAR JOSÉPHINE AT HOTEL LUTETIA PARIS, FRANCE

DESIGN LIBRARY | TIMELESS FURNITURE

GRACE UNDER PLEASURE CREATED WITH A HIGHLY PLEASING DESIGN LANGUAGE, THE THREE KEY PIECES FROM THE 375 CHAIR COLLECTION IS AN APPRECIATIVE NOD TO CLASS AND ELEGANCE.

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THIS PHOTO: The 375 Relaxchair is poised for upscale hotel spaces and lounges, evoking an air of modern charm with its plush seating.

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THIS PHOTO: In the Fontenay Bar at Hotel The Fontenay, Hamburg, Germany, 375 Barstools infuse the space with a glamourous vibe to complement the swanky setting.

The Fontanay Bar was awarded “Germany´s Best Bar 2020” by two major German Magazins for bar culture: “Mixology” and “Falstaff Bar & Spirits Guide”

FROM THE CHAIRS’ INSPIRED FORMS TO THEIR UNMISTAKABLE BEAUTY, THE 375 CHAIR COLLECTION IS UNDENIABLY POISED FOR UPSCALE LOBBIES AND SOCIAL SPACES.

375 Armchair

375 Relaxchair

375 Barstool

TOP: The 375 Relaxchair, 375 Armchair and 375 Barstool which is available with or without backrest are the signature pieces in the 375 series.

375 Barstool

legance comes in many different forms. With the 375 collection, the definition of elegance and sophistication is reinterpreted into Walter Knoll’s distinctive aesthetic that is reminiscent of opulent endeavours in the most memorable settings. Three chairs from this series – the 375 Relaxchair, the Lady’s Chair 375 and 375 Barstool are showstoppers in their own ways, each conjuring its own story of design finesse. The 375 Relaxchair is a superb example of the collection’s aspirations. A chair that’s both a companion piece and a standout showpiece, the 375 Relaxchair beckons attention no matter where it is placed. Created with a generous shape that evokes different cosy seating possibilities, the chair also features a channel tufting in the back to cocoon heads and shoulders. 375 is also about form and function. Petite in stature, simplistic in form, 375 Armchair infuses elegance and charm with its light-footed frame. Made in 1957,

this demure chair is presumably inspired by intimate tête-à-têtes in mid-century salons. On the other hand, whenever mid-century modern comfort is called for, the plush 375 Barstool is perfectly at home in contemporary cocktail bars, trendy apartments or wherever a touch of salon luxe is desired. From the chairs’ inspired forms to their unmistakable beauty, the 375 chair collection is undeniably poised for upscale lobbies and social spaces. At Hotel The Fontenay, Hamburg, Germany, 375 Armchairs and Barstools grace the hotel’s sixth floor bar, setting off a glamorous vibe against the hotel’s panoramic backdrop. Over in the Art Deco-influenced Bar Joséphine at Hotel Lutetia, Paris, France, 375 Barstools complement the mirror structure that makes up the ultra-contemporary bar.

BOTTOM: With bright yellow upholstery, 375 Armchairs complement the contemporary ambience at the lounge area of the Fontenay bar of Hotel The Fontenay in Hamburg, Germany.

WALTERKNOLL.DE

DESIGN LIBRARY | SMART SOFA

LOFTY STANDARDS

WHETHER YOU DESIRE A SYMMETRICAL OR ASYMMETRICAL SEATING LANDSCAPE, FOR FORMAL OR CASUAL USE, THE IMMENSELY ADAPTABLE STANDARD SOFA SAYS YES TO ALL OF THEM.

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THIS PHOTO: Featuring a unity of innovative elements, Standard is a modular sofa designed for almost every level of desired comfort.

BASED ON BINFARÉ’S INITIAL IDEA, PURE MODULAR FLEXIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH STANDARD IS DESIGNED, SO THAT A WIDE VARIETY OF CONFIGURATIONS IS POSSIBLE. WHICHEVER SITTING POSITION IS PREFERRED, STANDARD ENSURES MAXIMUM COMFORT BY ALLOWING DIFFERENT SHAPES AND DEPTHS TO BE ACHIEVED.

hen Francesco Binfaré created the Standard sofa for Edra, there were high expectations for this seating piece: the sofa has to conform to the highest level of human comfort while standing in the spotlight as a sensual object of desire. Thanks to Binfaré ingenious creative vision and Edra’s meticulous technological research, Standard emerges as one of the most highly adaptable modular sofas within Edra’s collection, meeting and exceeding every one of stringent criteria put onto it. “One evening at home, sitting in front of an old pillow-couch, I imagined that the intelligence of movement, that I so love to devise, could be inserted into a big pillow. And then the pillow would become a standard element, to be mounted on a seat to work as both armrest and backrest,” Binfaré explained the concept behind Standard. Based on Binfaré’s initial idea, pure modular flexibility highlights the foundation from which Standard is

designed, so that a wide variety of configurations is possible. Whichever sitting position is preferred, Standard ensures maximum comfort by allowing different shapes and depths to be achieved. However, the real experience of comfort comes from Standard’s exclusive smart cushion, a key element which serves as the backrest and armrest. Adjustable in a number of ways, each of these large cushions is individually adjustable and can be reclined in every direction, offering fluid movements to allow total freedom of function and positions. Within the cushion, special joints along with a special filler called Gellyfoam® further enhance the sofa’s softness while providing firm support and durability. Sofa covers are removable and various finishes from leather to a plethora of fabric choices are available, which makes this modular sofa an aesthetically versatile piece as well.

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BOTTOM: Standard offers many configuration possibilities – seats can be combined into different shapes and depths to achieve specific seating landscapes.

HOTELRESORTDESIGN.COM

THIS PHOTO: Standard’s “smart cushion” acts as a backrest and armrest, which can be raised, lowered or tilted in various directions.

EDRA.COM

DESIGN LIBRARY | OUTDOOR ARMCHAIR

CHANCES OF RAIN

BEYOND ITS CATCHY NAME, PHILIPPE STARCK’S OH, IT RAINS! COLLECTION ELEGANTLY COMPLEMENTS OUTDOOR SPACES WITH SURPRISING TWISTS, NO MATTER IF IT RAINS OR SHINES OUTSIDE.

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THIS PHOTO: Oh, it rains! comprises a sofa and an extremely elegantly designed outdoor armchair which fits into any public or private environment.

“ OH, IT RAINS! IS AN INNOVATION. IT IS NOT ABOUT STYLE, NOT ABOUT TREND. IT IS ONLY ABOUT THE RAIN. IT IS HIGH TECHNOLOGY WITH HIGH QUALITY, HIGH INTELLIGENCE AND COMFORT. IT IS VERY B&B.” - Philippe Starck

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THIS PHOTO: Designed with a surprising twist, Oh, it rains! combines timeless elegance, maximum comfort and innovative design.

RIGHT: Oh, it rains! is impressive at first glance because of its generous backrest, which provides an intimate and protective space.

ith a whimsical name like Oh, it rains!, Philippe Starck’s very first outdoor collection for B&B Italia is definitely unforgettable. As one of the three new outdoor collections that highlight B&B Italia’s 2020 line-up, Oh, it rains! which comprises an outdoor sofa and armchair, expresses the ingenuity and irony of Starck’s imaginative style without compromising high functionality. At first impression, Oh, it rains! catches the eye immediately with its generous flat backrest that contrasts with the wholesome form of its seat. Impeccably ergonomic, the large backrest forms an intimate space that provides a sense of cosy luxury when it’s a good day outside. During bad weather, the backrest can be reclined all the way forward to cover the seat in a protective manner. The reclining mechanism is made possible via an original aluminium mechanical joint that was

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TOP LEFT & RIGHT: All elements, including the backrest can be customised. The seat structure can also be integrated with a side table in Mediterranean stone.

collaboratively developed by the B&B Italia Research and Development Centre and Starck. This aluminium mechanism is more than just a utilitarian element that gives the outdoor sofa support and stability in any space or condition; it is also designed to be a visibly evocative feature that expresses an interplay between form and function. “Oh, it rains! is an innovation. It is not about style, not about trend. It is only about the rain. It is high technology with high quality, high intelligence and comfort. It is very B&B Italia,” the designer remarks. Oh, it rains! comes with waterproof raffia-inspired fabrics in a palette of warm and natural tones. Every part of the collection, including the backrest can be customised. When it reaches its final life cycle, each of the sofa pieces can also be completely disassembled to be disposed of in an appropriate way.

IMPECCABLY ERGONOMIC, THE LARGE BACKREST FORMS AN INTIMATE SPACE THAT PROVIDES A SENSE OF COSY LUXURY WHEN IT’S A GOOD DAY OUTSIDE. DURING BAD WEATHER, THE BACKREST CAN BE RECLINED ALL THE WAY FORWARD TO COVER THE SEAT IN A PROTECTIVE MANNER.

BOTTOM: An original mechanical joint collaboratively developed by the B&B Italia Research and Development Centre and Starck allows the backrest to be reclined.

BEBITALIA.COM

DESIGN LIBRARY | MODULAR SOFA

ABSOLUTE CONFORMITY WITH GIORGETTI’S EXCEPTIONALLY VERSATILE SKYLINE MODULAR SYSTEM, THE SKY’S THE LIMIT WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING THE PERFECT SOFA COMPOSITION TO COMPLEMENT A DIVERSITY OF LIVING STYLES.

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THIS PHOTO: Designed by renowned Italian designer Carlo Colombo, the highly versatile Skyline modular system pairs seamlessly with the new Skyline corner table.

BEYOND SKYLINE’S STYLISH SIMPLICITY, THE SOFA CONCEALS ONE OF ITS BEST KEPT SECRET TO KEEP YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE – A CUTTING EDGE MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS THE HEADREST TO BE EFFORTLESSLY RECLINED SO THAT YOU ARE ERGONOMICALLY PAMPERED FROM HEAD TO TOE.

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LEFT: Featuring a stunning interplay of geometric solids and voids, the Skyline corner table adds a strong visual impact to the Skyline modular system.

owever you desire to sit and relax, there are more than one ways to find your sweet spot with Giorgetti’s Skyline modular sofa system. Designed by renowned Italian designer Carlo Colombo, Skyline is a picture-perfect expression of modularity in an elegantly simplistic form. Whether it’s a mini or maxi you are going for, this highly flexible sofa can be reconfigured into multiple configurations to fit different interior requirements. Available in different lengths, this modular sofa can be made more complete with different supporting elements like armrests which comes in two heights and three styles, as well as corner tables and low tables. Presented this year is the new Skyline corner table which adds a touch of sophisticated flair to the collection with its interplay of geometric solids and voids. Beyond Skyline’s stylish simplicity, the sofa conceals one of its best kept secret to keep you coming back for more – a cutting edge mechanism that allows the headrest to be effortlessly reclined so that you are ergonomically pampered from head to toe. The sofa set also comes with goose down padding and a totally removable cover for added convenience and comfort.

TOP & BOTTOM: Skyline can be combined with a variety of supporting elements like corner tables, low tables and armrests to create a complete seating landscape.

GIORGETTI.EU

DESIGN LIBRARY | FOLDING SOFA

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SNOWSLIDE INTO BLISS CRAFTED FOR PURE RELAXATION, THIS SENSUAL SOFA PLUNGES YOU INTO TOTAL COSINESS – ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS DECIDE WHETHER TO HAVE THE BACKREST UP OR DOWN.

THIS PHOTO: The Avalanche designed by Metrica features foldable backrests that can be rolled up or down to suit different purposes.

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THIS PHOTO: Stylish and ultra-comfy, the backrests’ unique folding capabilities make Avalanche a highly versatile seating piece to complement different living spaces.

CREATED BY METRICA FOR COR, THE DEFINING FEATURE OF THIS SEATING PIECE IS ITS FOLDABLE BACKREST THAT CAN BE ROLLED UP OR DOWN.

ike its charming name, the Avalanche exudes ultra-cosy style like no other. Created by Metrica for COR, the defining feature of this seating piece is its foldable backrest that can be rolled up or down. When it’s pushed down, Avalanche becomes a superbly inviting sofa, beckoning every bone and muscle in your body to come lay down on it; when the backrest is rolled back up, it becomes an expansive sofa, serving as centrepiece in the living room. But that’s not all there is to Avalanche. You can also plug in an extra shelf which comes with the same folding capabilities: fold it up to 45 degree to form a side headrest and turn your regular sofa into a body-cocooning recliner sofa, or place it parallel with the floor and use it as a side table for your books, cup of coffee or your favourite paraphernalia. Featuring meticulous craftsmanship to ensure every seam and sides are perfectly put together, the sofa covers are also available in a variety of fabrics and leathers to meet different tastes and preferences. For folks who want an even more spacious sofa, Avalanche also offers different widths and a chaiselongue. Elegant or spacious, it’s your call when it comes to the Avalanche.

TOP: Avalanche sofa – create your own Avalanche from numerous elements with a cover made of a variety of fabrics and leathers.

BOTTOM: Avalanche love chair with round stool and foldable shelf made of oiled solid wood.

COR.DE

DESIGN LIBRARY | DINING CHAIR & CLUB ARMCHAIR

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PIECES IN PLACE DESIGNED AS AN ENSEMBLE OF REPETITIVE ANGULAR SHAPES, BAND’S STRONG LINES AND ANGULAR APPEAL BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO SPACES WITH A PROFOUND TOUCH.

THIS PHOTO: Versatile and attractive, the BAND collection comprises a dining chair and a club armchair to complement different interior settings.

COMPRISING A DINING CHAIR AND A CLUB ARMCHAIR, BAND’S VERSATILITY MEANS IT CAN FIT INTO JUST ABOUT ANY SPACE, WHILE ITS UNIQUE PROFILE PROVIDES A STRONG FOCAL POINT ANYWHERE IT IS PLACED.

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THIS PHOTO: The design of the chair intentionally challenges the classic sophisticated lines of furniture design and becomes something schematic.

TOP LEFT: Featuring repetitive angular shapes that make up its structural frame, BAND can be made entirely of aluminium or teak wood along with Terrain Fabrics.

AND is a chair that designers would love: it’s versatile, attractive and completely outstanding. Designed by Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola for Kettal, BAND expresses an extraordinary concept based on a deconstruction perspective. “The idea behind the BAND collection is the breakdown of structure. An object designed using an ensemble of pieces,” says the designer, adding that the chair’s design intentionally challenges the classic sophisticated lines of furniture design and becomes something schematic, like a conceptual programme. Comprising a dining chair and a club armchair, BAND’s versatility means it can fit into just about any space, while its unique profile provides a strong focal point anywhere it is placed. The chair may be conceived from a deconstructive point of view, but Urquiola has put it together so meticulously that it is

as ergonomically proportioned as it is aesthetically pleasant to the eye. Featuring a series of repetitive angular shapes that make up its structural frame, BAND emphasizes its raw materials – the chair can be formed entirely of aluminium or teak wood along with Terrain Fabrics. BAND’s solid form would appear somewhat bulky, but this chair simply works to effectively balance out plusher features in a room. For instance, when the club armchair is set next to an ultra-cosy sofa that you can sink into or placed over a lush carpeting that cocoons your feet, BAND juxtaposes against contrasting forms around it with a refreshing appeal. Different variations of legs, height and upholstery allows the chair to complement various settings further.

TOP RIGHT: Patricia Urquiola designed the BAND collection based on the idea of breaking down structure and forming it using an ensemble of pieces.

KETTAL.COM

DESIGN LIBRARY | LOUNGE CORNER SEATING TABLE

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SLEEK COMFORT

WITH ITS SLEEK STRAIGHT-LINED DESIGN, CARIM EVOKES A LUXURIOUS AND CLASSIC APPEAL THAT ENHANCES CONTEMPORARY INTERIORS IMPECCABLY.

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THIS PHOTO: PICTURE:Sleek Caption andwith contemporary, 15 to 20 words the only. CarimCaption bench is caption caption designed with acaption straight-lined captionappearance caption caption thatcaption comes caption with the captionofcaption choice an A-frame captionorcaption sleigh-leg caption frame. caption.

hether it’s a lively room for conversations or a chill-out zone, a long bench makes a wonderfully adaptable seating accoutrement for hospitality spaces. Elegantly crafted with a distinctive appeal, the Carim bench is created with this in mind, blending a minimalist appearance with luxurious comfort. Designed by Atelier I+N/Ismaël and Nathan Studer for Swiss furniture manufacturer Girsberger, the bench features a straight-lined form in two versions: an A-frame or a sleigh-leg frame. The A-frame goes perfectly with the Barra table, making it an ideal piece for dining spaces or communal areas. For the sleigh-leg frame, this version pairs seamlessly with a wide variety of different tables to match different seating scenarios. Carim is available with or without a backrest and comes in four lengths: 180 cm, 220 cm, 240 cm and 280 cm. In terms of upholstery, Carim comes with a standard upholstery option and a button tufting version for a more sophisticated outlook. With these versatile options, Carim effortlessly combines with other pieces in the same collection or with other furniture pieces to achieve the desired ambience or interior theme.

THE A-FRAME GOES PERFECTLY WITH THE BARRA TABLE, MAKING IT AN IDEAL PIECE FOR DINING SPACES OR COMMUNAL AREAS. FOR THE SLEIGH-LEG FRAME, THIS VERSION PAIRS SEAMLESSLY WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TABLES TO MATCH DIFFERENT SEATING SCENARIOS.

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THIS PHOTO: Carim is available with or without a backrest and in four lengths, complemented by standard upholstery or button tufting option.

GIRSBERGER.COM

DESIGN LIBRARY | WALLCOVERINGS

ARTISTIC HARMONY BLENDING FAR EAST INSPIRATION WITH EXCEPTIONAL REFINEMENT, THE KAMI WALLCOVERING COLLECTION FROM ARTE IS DESIGNED TO ELEVATE INTERIORS TO NEW HEIGHTS OF TIMELESS AESTHETICS.

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THIS PHOTO: Representing elegance and refinement, the Koi series replicates the scene of a Japanese pond viewed from above to reflect the lush natural beauty of water.

Patterns:

Dupion

Kimono

MADE FROM 100% REAL SILK, DUPION IS UNIQUE AND NATURAL FROM EVERY ANGLE. ITS NATURAL THREAD FEATURES IRREGULARITIES AND IRREGULAR THICKNESSES WITH COLOUR NUANCES THAT VARY DEPENDING ON THE LIGHT SOURCE.

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TOP ROW: Kami’s colour palette is expressively vibrant yet perfectly in harmony with a varied mix of materials surprises, resulting in a well-considered and balanced collection.

Koi

rte’s latest collection, Kami is a journey for the senses where Far East inspiration takes the lead to portray elegance, balance and sophistication. Bold and light colours, accentuated by a varied mix of breathtaking materials are interwoven into perfect harmony, resulting in a perfectly wellbalanced collection. Four glorious series highlight the Kami collection: Koi, Kimono, Dupion and Origami, each exuding its own inspired charm. Koi delves deep into the natural beauty of water by replicating the scene of a Japanese pond viewed from above. Patterns are expressed as abstract floral features which flow gracefully into one another

Origami

to reflect the textile’s silky aesthetic, representing elegance and refinement at the same time. Inspired by six silk foulards with Eastern scenes, Kimono surprises and stimulates the senses at the same time. Every scene depicts a ‘colour explosion’ of warm and cool hues to harmoniously emulate a panoramic landscape painting. Dupion tones its colour palette down, turning the spotlight to its core material. Made from 100% real silk, Dupion is unique and natural from every angle. Its natural thread features irregularities and irregular thicknesses with colour nuances that vary depending on the light source.

With Origami, its beauty rests in the repetitive nature of folded paper to reflect the ripple of moving water. Comprising a composition of pleated elements, the top layer is adorned with a luxurious finish of silk gloss ink to set off an elegant silky look. A versatile collection, Kami’s exceptional depth of range in terms of colours and textural quality is joined by outstanding strength and durability, making it a practical yet expressive wallcovering for both formal and informal spaces.

MIDDLE ROW: Kami stimulates the senses and takes you on a journey of discovery to the Far East where elegance, balance and sophistication are central.

ARTE-INTERNATIONAL.COM

ATELIER | ODE TO ART

Blooming

Family Portrait

New Roads

Juntos (Together)

Together

DECLARATIONS OF LOVE AND TOGETHERNESS BY EVA ARMISÉN

va Armisén is a Spanish artist who is well-known for her innocent child-like style, that has captured the hearts of thousands worldwide. Born in 1969 in Zaragoza, Spain, the subjects of her works often touch on family, love and togetherness, with the depiction of simple moments in life in order to spread a message of hope and optimism. The characters in Eva Armisén’s artworks go through their everyday lives with smiles on their faces, a reminder to treasure the unpretentious moments we experience. Eva Armisén’s works have been exhibited and collected around the world, including countries such as South Korea, USA and Singapore. While painting and sculptures are her preferred mediums, the originality and adaptability of her work has led Eva Armisén to collaborate on a wide variety of projects including public art installations, advertising, film and television campaigns or editorial projects. This includes publicity campaigns and promotions for international brands such as Coca-Cola, SkinFood Cosmetics and Nongshim USA. Eva Armisén recently collaborated with Ode To Art Gallery, Evia Real Estate and Gamuda Land on the inaugural launch of OLA Executive Condominium (EC). The design of the development is inspired by the family-oriented culture of Spain as well as the contemporary Spanish lifestyle, and Eva Armisen’s artworks perfectly encapsulate this through their focus on familial togetherness and love. Eva Armisén’s recognizable characters were also reproduced for the launch and can be seen on buses around Singapore, while her works will be exhibited throughout the development and Ode To Art gallery.

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ODETOART.COM

Kettal Pavilion used in a corporate office

HEAD OFFICE KETTAL / CONTRACT : Aragón 316, 08009 Barcelona, Spain. T. (34) 93 487 90 90 SHOWROOMS KETTAL: BARCELONA - LONDON - MARBELLA - MIAMI - NEW YORK - PARIS Export Manager Asia: Victor Moncho, victor.moncho@kettal.es T. +86 15001876948