LIFESTYLE MEDIA OF THE YEAR
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LOCAL CONTEXT STUNNING INTERIORS WITH A SENSE OF PLACE + SINGAPORE’S MOST STYLISH RESTAURANTS
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75E Loewen Road, Tanglin Village, Singapore 248845 | Tel: +65 6506 0920 www.designintervention.com.sg
228 River Valley Road Singapore 238286 | Tel: +65 6836 6678 | Email: enquiry@prestige-global.com www.prestige-global.com
SINGAPORE TATLER HOMES
AUG/SEP 2019
PAG E
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Editor’s Picks Design-driven venues to explore and the new collections we’re coveting right now
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Collections Champion the work of local talents by bringing these creative designs home
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Illumination Celebrate the art of glassmaking with these brilliant finds
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STYLE 50 Interviews Insights from industrial designers Ron Gilad and Ronan Bouroullec, and Ode to Art gallerist Jazz Chong
56 Brand Story We visit the headquarters and research labs of LG Electronics to discover what lies ahead in the smart home race
58 Iconoclast Rediscover the landmark projects of the late, great architect I.M. Pei
64 Report Learn more about the design inspiration behind some of the most remarkable dining venues in Singapore
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16 Tai Seng Street L1 Tel 65.63830119 qsquare@marquis.com.sg
Palo Alto walk-in closet _ ph. Michele Poli _ MisuraEmmeÂŽ studio_ misuraemme.it
AUG/SEP 2019
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78 SANCTUARIES 78 Pyramids in the Sky Architect Greg Truen’s home adapts its Mid-Century Modernist influences within a contemporary African context
110 Picture Perfect This penthouse pairs the formal elegance of a museum with urban glamour
118 Art and Craft 90
A Fresh Start RT+Q starts anew on the site of the owner’s childhood home by designing a new haven for the family
The family’s colourful collection of artworks and Bearbrick figurines brings a lively character to this modern apartment
128 A Slice of Paradise 100 Tropical Beat The landscaped gardens of this Singapore home sets the tone for its resort-style interiors
With nature as his muse, Greg Natale draws the beauty of the outdoors into this splendid villa
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140 SPACES 140 Kitchen Turn this culinary space into the social hub of your home with these clever ideas
144 Outdoors Maximise the use of your balcony with these useful tips and chic collections
SELECTIONS 148 Interior Designers Special Be inspired by these stunning projects that are the work of local studios
190 Shopping Guide 192 The Last Word
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LIVING REDEFINED
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Corinne Ng
Editorial sgedit@edipressemedia.com
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Kissa Castañeda Hong Xinying Ryan R euben Ethel Lee Sven Alberding, Christopher DeWolf, Michele Koh Morollo, Sandhya Mahadevan, Leanne Mirandilla, Annabel Middleton, Jerena Ng, Lynn Tan, Karen Tee, Graham Wood
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Sebas ti en Lam unièr e
Singapore Tatler Homes [ISSN NOS. 1793-477X MCI (P) 122 / 11 / 2018] is published bi-monthly by Edipresse Media Singapore Pte Ltd. 14 Kung Chong Road, #06-02 Lum Chang Building, Singapore 159150. Tel +65 6323 1606. Fax +65 6323 1692. E-mail: sginfo@edipressemedia.com Singapore Tatler is a registered trademark of Edipresse Media Asia Limited. ߐΐชჷ is a proprietary trademark of Edipresse Media Asia Limited. All materials published remain the property of Edipresse Media Asia Limited. Materials submitted for publication are sent at the owner’s own risk and, while every care is taken, neither Singapore Tatler nor its agents accept any liability for loss or damage. Privacy Policy Please view our updated Privacy Policy at www.SGTatler.com/privacy-policy. Please e-mail SGDataProtectionOfficer@edipressemedia.com if you wish to (a) enquire about our Privacy Policy, (b) update or access your personal data, (c) unsubscribe from our magazines or communications, or (d) withdraw your consent for us to collect, use, disclose and/or process your personal data.
DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN P. L . INTERIOR DESIGN & CONSULTANCY DESIGN & BUILD | ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS WWW.DWELL.COM.SG
RIVER VALLEY | 11 KIM YAM ROAD | T 6883 1005 | BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
PHOTOGRAPHY BENNY LOH
E D I TO R ’ S N OT E
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he month of August brings a
that celebrates the family’s colourful artworks and
celebratory mood as we mark the
Bearbrick collection (page 118).
54th anniversary of our city state;
Our annual Interior Designers Special (page 150)
it’s also a timely reminder to fete the
allows you to explore more stunning homes and
achievements of our homegrown
showflats that showcase clever spatial design with
talents. This issue, we showcase
well-crafted details. We also spotlight the grand
the diverse work of local creatives
dame, Raffles Singapore (page 192), which has
from over 20 studios across design disciplines. To start, we present homeware pieces and
furniture crafted by Singapore designers (page 40),
reopened with 115 suites and a plethora of inspiring venues including the Writers Bar pictured above. Enjoy the issue.
ranging from elegant vases to stylish side tables. Inspired by our nation’s unabashed passion for food
HONG XINYING
and our buzzing dining scene, we look to remarkable
MANAGING EDITOR
restaurants (page 64) that pair each establishment’s unique culinary philosophy with a multi-sensory experience. These notable projects show that there is much more to crafting a memorable space than creating that “Instagram” moment. The homes featured in this issue similarly pay heed Singapore Tatler Homes was named Lifestyle Media of the Year 2018 (GOLD)
to the art of personalised details, while fulfilling each unique brief—be it a resort-style house that makes the most of our tropical climate (page 100) or an apartment
ERRATUM In the Editor’s Picks section of the June 2019 issue, Thomas Heatherwick’s profession was erroneously referred to as an architect. He is a British designer who founded Heatherwick Studio, which is known for its work in architecture, design and urban planning; the firm’s recent projects in Singapore include Eden, an ultra-luxury residential development by Swire Properties. Singapore Tatler Homes regrets the oversight.
ALEXANDER SEATING SYSTEM
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RODOLFO DORDONI DESIGN
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SINGAPORE BY MARQUIS INTERIORS 328 NORTH BRIDGE ROAD #02-10/11/12/13 RAFFLES HOTEL ARCADE SINGAPORE 188719 T. +65 6338 2822 - MINOTTI@MARQUIS.COM.SG CUSTOMISED INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICE
C O N T R I B U TO R S & O N L I N E
CLICK FOR INSPIRATION Inspiring interiors, the latest decor trends and stunning destinations—peruse these and more on our website,
CHRISTOPHER DEWOLF The author of Borrowed Spaces: Life Behind the Cracks of Modern Hong Kong, Christopher writes about urbanism, architecture, design and culture. In this issue, he profiles the landmark projects
MICHELE KOH MOROLLO Michele has always been a big fan of Mid-Century Modern design— she enjoys searching for these iconic pieces in vintage furniture stores in Hong Kong, where she lives. Lighting design, in particular,
LYNN TAN Trained as an architect, Lynn derives pleasure from writing about inspiring interiors and architecture projects. She enjoys viewing properties and this multi-generational house by
KAREN TEE Karen is a travel and lifestyle journalist as well as a certified yoga instructor; in her free time, she’s likely on the mat or sipping a flat white while planning her next odyssey. In this issue, she
by I.M. Pei, marvelling at the architectural ingenuity of the late, great American architect (page 58).
is one of her favourite beats; she puts the spotlight on lamps that celebrate the art of glass-making (page 44).
RT+Q (page 90) proves a design goldmine—this reimagined childhood home of its owner makes plenty of room for play.
picks up a few art-collecting tips from a gallerist (page 54), while exploring the resort-style vibe of a house in Singapore (page 100).
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ILLUSTRATIONS SARAH (K.A.S.H) IMAGE ABOVE COURTESY OF ARFLEX / SPACE FURNITURE
singaporetatler.com
PATERA IN NEW SILVER EDITION DESIGNED BY ØIVIND SLAATTO
WWW.XTRA.COM.SG MARINA SQUARE
info@xtra.com.sg
6 Raffles Boulevard, 02-48 Marina Square Shopping Mall, Singapore 039594
T: +65 6336 0688 F: +65 6334 0688
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28 EDITOR’S PICKS Explore chic collections and design inspiration from around the world—ranging from the Rembrandt anniversary celebrations in Amsterdam to the retro-inspired look of the JH97 lounge chairs (seen here), designed by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen
S I N G A P O R E TAT L E R H O M E S
SHOP 40
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COLLECTIONS Bring home elements of tropical style and unique pieces by local designers
ILLUMINATION Enchanting lighting pieces that celebrate the art of glass-making
S H O P EDITOR’S PICKS
SOCIAL CIRCLE Gather around the Zeno dining table from Meridiani, which features a metal frame composed of three legs and a round table top. The work of Meridiani’s art director Andrea Parisio, this table can be customised in over a dozen glossy lacquered finishes; other options include a marble, bronzed brass or platinum-plated steel top. Available at Meridiani at Marquis QSquare; marquis.com.sg
Gravity Falls The brainchild of Italian designer Andrea Branzi, the Newton lamp is inspired by physicist Sir Isaac Newton’s “eureka” moment. Featuring an apple-shaped pendant, this floor lamp from Nemo playfully references the anecdote that illustrates the theory of gravity. Choose from a variety of finishes, ranging from chrome metal, white-painted aluminium or glossy black lacquer. Available at P5; p5.com.sg
ROMANTIC REMEDY The work of Danish designer Johannes Torpe, this elegant Heartbreaker sofa features an unexpected detail—its armrests form two halves of a heart. “Breaking up with the woman I thought I was going to marry provided the inspiration for the Heartbreaker sofa system,” divulges Torpe. “As an old saying goes, the greatest love songs were written by songwriters with broken hearts, and that’s how it was for me when I designed this sofa.” Available at Xtra; xtra.com.sg
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ELLIOTJAMES I N T E R I O R S
S H O P EDITOR’S PICKS
THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP Designed by Peter Tay Studio, the new Simmons showroom at Capitol Piazza takes the “40-winks” idiom to heart, with nap rooms created for busy urbanites. Featuring mattresses ranging from firm to medium to plush, the 45winks rooms allow visitors to take a power nap while putting the comforting qualities of the Simmons products to the test. “Research has shown that naps of 20 to 45 minutes are known to increase alertness, improve cognitive memory processing, and boost emotional and procedural memory,” says Casey Teh, managing director of Simmons Southeast Asia. “This inspired us to create the 45winks concept, which offers our guests 45 minutes of uninterrupted rest.” Simmons is located at #B2-40-42 Capitol Piazza; 45winks.simmons.com/sg
MUSICAL FORMATION Pairing form and function, the Formation suite by Bowers & Wilkins presents a series of high-fidelity and wireless products for designsavvy audiophiles; it comprises the Bar soundbar, the Duo and Wedge speakers, the Bass subwoofer and the Audio music hub. Key features of this sound system include the British brand’s patented robust mesh network, in-room synchronisation of one microsecond between speakers, as well as 24-bit/96kHz highresolution streaming that results in a denser and richer sound that simulates the effect of listening to live music in your home. Available at Bowers & Wilkins at Millenia Walk; theexperts.com.sg
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Glamour Zone Put your best face forward in front of this stylish vanity from Visionnaire. The brainchild of Hong Kong-based designer Steve Leung, the Westley vanity unit combines impeccable Italian workmanship with its fashion-inspired details; these include a stiletto-like leg cover in hand-stitched leather and an oversized back-lit mirror. A glass-top counter provides ample space for your makeup essentials, while wooden drawers store the rest of your beauty products. Available at Visionnaire at Marquis QSquare; marquis.com.sg
S H O P EDITOR’S PICKS
Present Perfect Authored by Jaime Hayon, the JH97 lounge chair brings together elements of past and present. Comprising a solid wood frame with decorative joints, the chair’s rounded form hints at its retro influence. The detachable textile or leather covers of the seat and backrest also make it easy to adapt the look of this armchair to suit your interior scheme. Available at Fritz Hansen at Tan Boon Liat Building; watelier.com
NEW HAVEN Just in time to commemorate its 10th anniversary, Grafunkt has moved to a new location at Funan—this 13,500sqft showroom is also the furniture retailer’s largest to date. The new store will feature Folks (a collection by Grafunkt founder Nathan Yong), Conde House from Japan, as well as collections from European furniture brands including Muuto (pictured above), Ligne Roset, Sancal, Time & Style and Treku. Grafunkt is located at #04-01 Funan; grafunkt.com
CLASS ACT First released in 2016 and produced by Cassina, the Boboli collection by Rodolfo Dordoni has been updated with improved stability and resistance, as well as new finishes for the briarwood table top. Its sculptural aluminium base is loosely inspired by the tall trees in classical Italian gardens, and is available in matte black, gold chrome or gunmetal. Available at Space Furniture, spacefurniture.com.sg
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Exclusive distributor for textile | trimmings | wallcoverings | furniture
Cetec Pte Ltd | 36 Armenian Street | # 02 – 05 Singapore 179934 | +65 6634 5998 | info@cetec.com.hk | www.cetec.com.hk Hong Kong | Macau | Shanghai | Beijing | Singapore | Kuala Lumpur
S H O P EDITOR’S PICKS
ASIAN SOUL
SUNSET WAVE If your minimalist interior lacks that cosy touch, add a rug to up the snug appeal of your room. Designed by Raphael Navot as part of the Nativ collection for Roche Bobois, the Fusion and Merge rugs feature hand-knotted abstract designs in a natural wool blend. These rugs are awash in sunset shades and oceanic tones that loosely reference lofty mountains, and the ebbs and flows of the sea. Pair them with Dot, a spherical seat on a chrome-plated swivel base; upholstered in a thick elastic fabric over a solid fir wood and pine plywood structure, the armchair offers a comforting embrace with its curvy form. Available at Roche Bobois at Boon Siew Building; roche-bobois.com
Homegrown design is already a pertinent part of the ethos of Industry+, a Singapore-based production company co-founded by Yoichi Nakamuta and PC Ee. The firm has collaborated with leading local talents including Ministry of Design and WOHA, as well as internationally acclaimed designers such as Nendo. Made-in, a platform kickstarted this year, takes this initiative a step further by championing the works of emerging designers from Singapore and beyond. “We discovered many young and talented Asian creatives; most of them selfproduce their work and they have limited marketing avenues,” shares Ee, founder of Made-in. “Made-in serves as a platform to communicate and sell their work to a wider audience. We have since extended our coverage to include the rest of the world.” Ee regularly travels to furniture fairs around the world, in search of up-andcoming talents to watch. Here, he shares some of his recent discoveries:
GEOMETRIA LAMP BY SHINYA YOSHIDA
PERMEATED PATTERN STOOL BY JINIL PARK
FABRIC FORMULA TEA SET BY ZHEKAI ZHANG
Ee appreciates the Japanese designer’s ability to combine unexpected details with simple forms; and this lamp is the perfect example of his approach. “His use of clean, geometrical lines and a touch panel almost makes one forget this object’s real function,” he says.
Ee describes Korean designer Jinil Park as “an artist at heart”—he admires the varied textures featured in this collection, which can be used as a stool or side table. “Made in full stainless steel, this piece has a playful mix of colours and texture.”
“He’s a designer full of curiosity,” says Ee, discussing the work of the UK-based talent. This collection is a prime example: “Each piece of this mass-produced tea set is unique, thanks to the ingenious introduction of a piece of fabric to the slip-casting process.”
WEAVE FRUIT TRAY BY THINKK STUDIO
DAUN CHAIR BY CASSIA STUDIO
MOTH CHAIR BY JINGGOY BUENSUCESO
According to Ee, elements of the unexpected are part and parcel of the creative spirit of Made-in; a feature that this unique design by the Bangkok-based studio embodies. “You might be tricked into thinking that wood was actually woven to form this fruit tray,” he quips.
WHERE TO GO
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Designed by Felix Sidharta of Cassia Studio, Daun is the Indonesian word for leaf, which inspired the shape of this chair’s backrest. “A combination of handcrafted details with machine manufacturing, his pieces represent the transition of furniture design and production in Indonesia today,” says Ee.
The Filipino visual artist and sculptor is described by Ee as being “expressive and with freedom of thought”; this chair conveys his artistic soul. “Generous and fluid in form, this wire frame armchair really blurs the boundaries between sculpture and furniture,” he says.
Industry+ and Made-in are located at 1A Tyrwhitt Road; industryplus.com.sg/made-in
TEKA SINGAPORE PTE LTD 83, Clemenceau Avenue, #01-33/34, UE Square, Singapore 239920 Tel: 6734 2415 Fax: 6734 6881 After-Sales Service: 6235 2265 www.teka.com.sg Weekdays: 9:00am - 6:00pm Saturdays: 10:00am - 6:00pm Closed: Sundays/Public Holidays facebook/tekasingapore
S H O P EDITOR’S PICKS
ARTISTIC ROUTE The Netherlands has declared 2019 as the Year of Rembrandt to mark the 350th anniversary of his death—visit these sites in Amsterdam to immerse yourself in the artist’s legacy STAY: HOTEL CONSERVATORIUM The hotel’s homage to Rembrandt van Rijn comes in the form of The Art Suite by Rembrandt, a room crafted in his memory by interior designer Irma Boom, featuring works by Dutch artist Sarah van Sonsbeeck that peep out from nooks and corners. Take a step back, and you’ll realise that these artistic elements are in fact details inspired by the Dutch painter’s celebrated piece, The Night Watch. Sonsbeeck’s interpretation of these come together with other nuances that invite further inspection. Boom’s carefully articulated colour scheme borrows its earthy palette from the painting and complements the setting without interfering with the minimalist interior by Piero Lissoni, the Italian architect responsible for the 2008 redesign of Sweelinck Conservatorium into the present-day Hotel Conservatorium. The hotel has also partnered with Rijksmuseum, offering guests in the Art Suite unlimited access to various exhibitions and events at the museum in conjunction with the commemorative year. From 1 April to 29 December 2019; conservatoriumhotel.com
TOP TO BOTTOM The Art Suite by Rembrandt at the Hotel Conservatorium; The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the key pieces shown at the Rijksmuseum; a close-up view of The Night Watch
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EXPLORE: THE REMBRANDT YEAR ROUTE Visit various spots in Amsterdam that inspired and also featured prominently in some of Rembrandt’s most famous paintings. Starting at Amsterdam Central Station, this art walk takes you to the De Waag House as seen in The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp and the former clubhouse of the militia (now the Hotel NH Collection Doelen) in The Night Watch, as well as the church he got married in and the last house that he lived in. iamsterdam.com VISIT: MUSEUM HET REMBRANDTHUIS Rembrandt’s techniques in print, paint, and technical drawing have been widely researched and studied by scientists and artists alike. The secret to his evocative figure studies and portraits will be revealed at this museum, where the artist lived for many years with his wife Saskia. Gather insight into the evolution of these techniques as the Rembrandt Laboratory: Rembrandt’s Technique Unravelled exhibition peels off layers of restorations done to his works over the years. From 21 September 2019 to 16 February 2020; rembrandthuis.nl
BY SANDHYA MAHADEVAN IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE BRANDS
VISIT: RIJKSMUSEUM Held in partnership with the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, the Rembrandt and Velázquez: Dutch and Spanish Masters exhibition is a three-fold commemoration, that also throws the 200th anniversary of the Prado and the Golden Age of Spain and the Netherlands into the mix. A celebration of both the artistic similarities and contrasts between the works of Spanish and Dutch artists during the 17th century, the exhibition focuses on the two most prolific names of that time—expect to see paintings by Diego Velázquez and Rembrandt hanging side by side. From 11 October 2019 to 19 January 2020; rijksmuseum.nl
S H O P EDITOR’S PICKS
it’s not an easy formula. Nobody (in the family) was forced to join the company; if it comes naturally, it will be fun to keep the legacy going. We’re trying to reach our 160th year in 80 years!
THE HOUSE OF MOLTENI Andrea Molteni, director of development at Dada, discusses the family legacy of Molteni&C and the design inspiration behind its Singapore showroom For Andrea Molteni, the decision to join the family business was never a question of why, but when. “I’ve never really posed the question to myself to do something different,” he shares. “I was always fascinated with products, and how things work and get put together. It came very naturally to step into the business.” Molteni is from the third generation of the founding family; the group operates the namesake furniture brand Molteni&C, office furnishing brands Unifor and Citterio, and kitchen systems brand Dada. Today, the group has showrooms in 10 countries; its Molteni&C | Dada store here recently moved to Winsland House. What was it like growing up in a design-driven family? Since I was five, we would go on holiday with the architects who are also friends of my parents and uncles. We still build relationships that are very personal with the architects and designers we work with; friendships that are built over time, respect and repeated collaborations. We’re one of the biggest family-owned industrial groups in Italy; this brings responsibility. We have a family approach but are also a fully structured company. It’s a nice mix of tradition and innovation, a corporate mindset with an Italian family soul. It’s a tough balance;
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LEFT TO RIGHT Andrea Molteni, director of development of Dada; the opening of the Molteni&C | Dada showroom at Winsland House also marks the 10th anniversary of P5, its brand partner in Singapore
WHERE TO GO
How did your collaboration with Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen begin? I’ve always been an admirer of his architectural work; I’m an architect by training as well. It was quite amazing for a company with over 80 years of history to appoint a new creative director. It was a challenging decision to say that we needed to find a new direction. We managed to find a common sense of what Molteni&C is evolving into with Vincent; it was very natural, very fluent. In one year, we managed to really get the idea of the “Molteni House” vision by coordinating with Vincent Van Duysen; we’re speaking in the same language, we really had an immediate connection. What are the top kitchen trends to watch? Kitchens are becoming the true centre of an interior space; the kitchen needs to be able to relate to the living environment. The purely technical aspects of the kitchen are getting less dominant, with the adaptation of finishes and detailing that come from the living room in the kitchen areas as well. Molteni&C | Dada is available at P5, 3 Killiney Road, #01-01/02 Winsland House 1, Tel: 6337 0050; visit p5.com.sg for more information
BY HONG XINYING IMAGES COURTESY OF MOLTENI&C | DADA SHOWROOM PHOTO STUDIO PERIPHERY
Tell us more about the new showroom. The store brings in the ideas we’ve been working on, with our creative director Vincent Van Duysen; to evolve the showroom from a productorientated space to a harmonious home concept. What we conceive as luxury is not just the product itself, but the space that you can build around it. We’ve been working with the Singapore market and P5 for some time now; Asia is the biggest market we have globally today, together with USA. Of course we’re a product-driven business but luxury comes from the service and how well your partners understand the brand, and make it relevant on a personal level as well.
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SINGAPORE DREAM Champion the work of local creatives by bringing these chic pieces home
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1. Savoy oval tray by Nathan Yong, from Royal Selangor 2. Crystalline salt and pepper shakers by Jarrod Lim, from Royal Selangor 3. Montana The Commune shelving system by Archetype Studio, from P5 Studio 4. Crystalline jug by Jarrod Lim, from Royal Selangor 5. Moon ower lamp, from Ipse Ipsa Ipsum 6. Lueur pendant lamp by Desinere and Tinge, from TheArtling.com 7. South Bridge Circular by Terence Tan, from TheArtling.com 8. Turtle two-
seater sofa, Crab round table with Angler lamp and Turtle armchair, from WohaBeing.net 9. Lulu stools by Studiojuju, from Studio-juju.com 10. Menu Aer vase by Gabriel Tan, from Bibliotek.co 11. Living Divani Pebble low tables by Lanzavecchia + Wai, from Dream Interiors 12. Jing coffee table, from Scene Shang
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H O M E S FO C U S
A Class Apart THIS LUXURIOUS HOME BY THE I.D. DEPT BOASTS BESPOKE ELEMENTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO IMPRESS he first thing that most guests would notice upon entering this penthouse is the stunning feature wall by Alexander Lamont. The straw marquetry wallcovering features geometric patterns that change with the light or from the onlooker’s vantage point. This statement wall sets the tone for the rest of the 11,130sqft
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apartment; it’s one of many classic touches that The I.D. Dept has incorporated into this penthouse at the Concourse Skyline condominium. Helmed by design directors Jennifer Murray and Divya Anthony, The I.D. Dept specialises in crafting holistic interiors that are luxurious and liveable, fashioning exquisite homes for jet-setters in Singapore and beyond for over 20 years.
THE I.D. DEPT 5 Jalan Kilang, #06-01 The Mill / Tel: 6383 3333 / theiddept.com
CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP The geometricpatterned rug in the living room echoes the wall covering at the entrance; wallpaper from De Gournay makes a statement in this bedroom; marble and austere tones dominate the master bathroom
HAPPY ALCHEMY Designed for property developer Hong Fok, the firm aimed to give the penthouse a look of timeless elegance. “The idea was to produce a one-ofa-kind experience through the culmination and crosspollination of different brands and products,” says Divya. A few steps past the foyer, the geometric pattern of the statement wall is echoed on the rug in the living room and on the custom-made chandelier by Lasvit. This harmonious interplay of design is conveyed throughout the apartment. In one of the bedrooms, wallpaper by De Gournay in the striking Symphony design acts as a bold backdrop to the furniture by Christopher Guy, resulting in a unified, opulent look. Similarly, the powder room and the master bathroom feature book-matched marble and crystal light features for a palatial feel that is sure to wow guests. Completed in 10 months, this project certainly ticked all the boxes for a stylish domain that makes an impression on its owners as well as guests, offering plenty to draw the eye.
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Furnish your abode with wicker furniture and colourful outdoor-friendly pieces inspired by life in the tropics 1. GebrĂźder Thonet Vienna Hideout lounge chair by Front, from Space Furniture 2. Zimmer + Rohde accent cushions, from Cetec 3. Laboratory wooden vase by Patapian, from TheArtling.com 4. Wilt #3 by Tina Rim, from TheArtling.com 5. SP01 lounge chair by Tom Fereday, from Space Furniture 6. Mandala screen by Zanellato/Bortotto, from Louis Vuitton 7. B&B Italia Karam outdoor baskets by CR&S, from Space Furniture 8. B&B Italia Erica sofa by Antonio Citterio, from Space Furniture 9. Magis Puppy toys by Eero Aarnio, from Xtra 10. Ortigia outdoor armchair, from
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H O M E S FO C U S
Natural Choice THE SILICATEC GRANITE RANGE OF KITCHEN SINKS BY HANSGROHE OFFERS STYLISH VARIETY WHILE TAKING THE HARD KNOCKS OF KITCHEN WORK he open-plan kitchen remains popular for good reason. It not only enables home chefs to interact with family or friends while preparing meals; as a visual and physical extension of main living spaces, it offers more holistic design opportunities. Products catering to this trend continue to be developed by leading companies such as German bathroom and kitchen solutions manufacturer Hansgrohe. Take, for instance, its SilicaTec granite kitchen sink range from its hansgrohe brand; a modern alternative to traditional stainless steel. Designed by Phoenix Design Studio, the sink boasts a pleasing touch and natural look that matches countless counter finishes.
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MADE TO LAST Apart from their elegant form, hansgrohe’s SilicaTec granite sinks are highly practical. The composite material comprises quartz and acrylic resins, and only the rounded quartz sand particles—the hardest constitute of granite—are processed. Hence, aside from being odourless, UV stable, heat resistant, food safe, stain resistant and non-porous, the sinks are highly robust. Impervious to red wine and coffee as well as hot pots and pans, these durable granite sinks will remain a key kitchen feature for years. VERSATILE FEATURES The SilicaTec granite sinks offer personalisation via a variety of configurations, which includes dual or single sinks in 450mm or
HANSGROHE AQUADEMIE 69 Mohamed Sultan Road / Tel: 6884 5060 / axor-design.com
FROM TOP The hansgrohe SilicaTec granite sink in the graphite black finish; the tilt lever at the bottom right-hand side of the sink provides added convenience
660mm basin width that can be under-mounted or surface-mounted. Available in stone grey or graphite black, the sinks can be paired with hansgrohe mixers to become a complete combinationsink unit. These sinks feature an additional handle or a push button at the bottom right-hand side of the sink, so that you can start or stop the water flow using the back of your hand or elbow when your hands are dirty. It also includes the innovative sBox, which neatly stores the pull-out spray in a flat casing, adding to the streamlined look of the sink; the hose can be extended up to 76cm in length.
S H O P ILLU MINATION
Celebrate the art of glassmaking with these handcrafted pieces, which will make elegant additions to your home lass and lighting design have been inextricably linked since the birth of the first light bulb. With its intricate filaments encased in thin, transparent glass, the rudimentary light bulb— the nucleus of modern electrical lighting— may be something we take for granted today but when it was first invented by Thomas Edison in 1879, it was an enigmatic wonder
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that opened the door to myriad possibilities for makers of lighting products. Simple and beautiful, glass is a material that perhaps best captures the spirit of the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment, when science and intellectual enquiry triumphed over the Dark Ages’ medieval modes of thinking, transforming the world into a better and brighter place. Today, new technologies and processes allow glass to be altered into an even wider variety of colours, textures, shapes and densities. When it comes to working with glass, designers have great freedom in experimenting with the material, resulting in a plethora of stunning lamps. Here are some that we love.
BY MICHELE KOH MOROLLO IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE BRANDS
HEART OF GLASS
SWEET IDEA With a form reminiscent of pulled taffy, Bocci’s 87 collection of pendant lights adds a playful touch to any room. The work of Israeli designer and sculptor Omer Arbel, long sections of heated glass are stretched vertically, then repeatedly folded back on themselves to create the lamp’s organic form. This folding motion also results in a pearlescent sheen; this textured effect is created by using soda water to trap the air bubbles during the glassmaking process.
GLASS AND LIGHTING DESIGN HAVE BEEN INEXTRICABLY LINKED SINCE THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST LIGHT BULB
CREATIVE TRANSMISSION Designed by Prague studio DeForm in collaboration with Kavalierglass, Lasvit’s Transmission sculptural chandelier (also pictured on the opposite page) has unique shades made with Simax—a low-expansion, borosilicate glass known for its high thermal shock resistance and stability. These layers of Simax glass have been cut and welded so that the lamp creates luminous kinetic effects from every angle.
PLAYFUL TWIST Italian designers Pio and Tito Toso were born in Venice, a city with a storied heritage in glassmaking. The Blow collection, which the brothers have created for Studio Italia Design, pays homage to this wonderful material. Appearing like a task lamp trapped in a soap bubble, the exquisite beauty of glass shines in this dynamic design; a magnet placed on top of the lamp allows users to change the direction of the light source.
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S H O P ILLU MINATION
BUBBLE POP Wih its spherical form, the Selene pendant lamp appears like a giant bubble, which also celebrates the clarity of glass. Designed by Sandra Lindner for Classicon, the lamp, which is centrally suspended by a fivearmed light head can be used individually or in a group. The Selene is available in five different sizes, in a choice of lacquered, brass or copper-plated finishes.
NATURAL CALLING Three sizes of bulbous smoked glass shades encase the light bulbs of the Ivy floor lamp, which was created by Praguebased designer Lucie Koldova for Brokis. Inspired by the climbing ivy, this lamp consists of modular components that can be positioned vertically or horizontally for decorative effect. The bud-like lamps attached to a metal “branch” also mimic the poetic charm of the delicate pussy willow plant.
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GLASS CHIME Shaped like a bell jar, the Semplice table lamp is composed of a single glass bell that contains a diffuser. Designed by British designer Sam Hecht for Oluce, the lamp features a black metal cap which encases the luminous bulb; the lower end of the bell rests on the table as support. Comprising a galvanized head, metal braid wires, and a rotary dimmer, the Semplice is a good choice for a minimalist interior.
NEW CLASSIC The La Roche wall lamp is as relevant now as when it was first conceived. Authored by Swiss architect Le Corbusier, this lamp was created in 1925 for his iconic residential projects Villa La Roche and Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau in Paris. Reissued by Nemo Lighting with an LED light source, this wall lamp was created to illuminate large windows, and is a good choice for areas in need of enhanced vertical lighting.
GOOD COUNSEL When Danish architects Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller created a new council building in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1946, they also took charge of the building’s interior design. The Aarhus wall lamp was among the pieces created to complement the overall scheme. Produced by Santa & Cole, the elegant and unobtrusive lamp features a sturdy brass skirt and an ovalshaped white opal glass shade. It has a timeless appeal that lends itself well to a variety of interior concepts.
WHERE TO GO
BOCCI, CLASSICON, ROLL & HILL Space Furniture spacefurniture.com.sg bocci.ca classicon.com rollandhill.com BROKIS Dream Interiors dream.com.sg brokis.cz LASVIT, SANTA & COLE W. Atelier watelier.com lasvit.com santacole.com NEMO P5 p5.com.sg nemolighting.com
SMOOTH SHINE Lula, designed by Umberto Asnagno for Penta is available as a floor or table lamp in various heights. With its sleek, hand-blown glass shade and a minimalist frame in either lacquered metal or satin gold, the smooth, rounded glass body of the shade produces a gentle glow.
BALANCING ACT Comprising glass, metal and an LED light source, the Coax Pendant 02 has a sleek, industrialinfluenced aesthetic that works well in minimalist interior schemes. Designed by Seattle-based artist and designer John Hogan for Roll & Hill, this transparent cylindrical lamp looks like a tube of light floating in mid-air.
OLUCE oluce.com PENTA Studio 216 studio216.co pentalight.it STUDIO ITALIA DESIGN Marquis Qsquare marquis.com.sg studioitaliadesign.com
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58 THE QUIET MASTER Rediscover the extraordinary architectural legacy of I.M. Pei. His landmark projects include the East building (pictured here) of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, which features the trapezoidal forms that inuenced the shape of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris
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INTERVIEWS Insider insights into the world of art and furniture design
BRAND STORY How LG Electronics plans to stay ahead of the game in the smart home race
REPORT Discover the design inspiration behind these stylish dining venues in Singapore
S T Y L E INTERVIEWS
CREATIVE DIRECTION
on Gilad has fond memories of Singapore—the Israeli artist and designer recalls his awe at seeing verdant foliage amid the urban landscape during a visit several years ago. “I was quite amazed by the mix of urbanism and nature,” he says. “Marvellous trees in the middle of the street, almost competing with the skyscrapers.” It’s the first observation he makes, upon our introduction at the Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan. We’re here to view his first collaboration with the Italian company Magis: a screen, entitled Swing. “It’s a very modest and humble product,” says Gilad. “There is no excessive design, it’s a very simple panel with pivots which can be opened and closed.” The room divider matches his pareddown aesthetic with elements of versatility and mobility; the hinges of the screen sub-divide it into more sections, resulting in an evermorphing object. Gilad is pensive with the replies that follow, as we discuss his past and recent works. The designer is currently based in New York, choosing to work alone to focus
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on a few projects each year while teaching the next generation of young designers. “I’m trying to pick my partners very carefully,” he explains. “It’s important for me to receive 100 per cent dedication to each project.” You were once evicted from your home in New York; could you tell us more about that?
For the six years that I lived in New York, I lived in a former factory that was converted into artist lofts. There were some issues between the landlord and the municipality that were more political and not related to the artist tenants. One night at midnight, the police arrived and evicted the tenants. It was a very intense situation. I was homeless for three months; I moved 11 times. It’s an experience; now I’m sitting here in comfort, it’s in the past. But it gave me a certain perspective about spaces and architecture as
well as the meaning of domestic environments. Even after living in New York for so many years, I’ve always felt like a guest. To be detached from that home, it kind of shakes up everything about your perception of what is home, a place that is supposed to bring comfort. The first exhibition I did in 2006 was all about places; it was all about micro-architecture. Ever since then, I’m trying to please myself by creating things that speak about spaces. Is this sense of space something you try to teach your students?
The world is three-dimensional. However, if you’re thinking about social media, everything is becoming flat; it’s on a screen, it’s an image. Teaching at the polytechnic and working with students, I find that the younger generation see everything from
BY HONG XINYING PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY NACÁSA & PARTNERS OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF MAGIS
Tel Aviv-born designer Ron Gilad looks back at a pivotal moment that dramatically changed his perception of home, while reflecting on his past and present works
“DISSATISFACTION FOR ME IS A PILLAR OF ENERGY TO KEEP TRYING TO BE BETTER AND TO EVOLVE. THE RESULT IS GOOD BUT IT CAN BE BETTER”
enjoy sketching and creating objects. Sometimes they’re more functional, sometimes they’re just sculptures; I give myself the freedom to travel between different worlds. In your opinion, what are the qualities of good design?
the front; the best picture, the best position. They don’t take the time and energy to walk around and look at things from different angles. This is a matter of conceptual and physical perspective that people are starting to lose. It’s flattening life, in a certain way. To evolve in life, you need to explore, to take the time and distance to look at things from every possible position. That’s what I try to teach my students; to be brave and not just to accept things for what they are. What other advice would you give to aspiring designers?
Sometimes I will answer, “Don’t become a designer, it’s a hard job”. It’s a hard job for me, but there are other people who can enjoy it a lot. It’s a matter of your personality and your collaborators; sometimes there is a good match, sometimes it’s a disaster. You need to develop thick skin in order to survive in this industry.
I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not but my skin is very, very thin; I’m very emotional about things. Design for me is not a sketch; design is a small part of who I am. Over the years, I am creating a family, an alphabet, a language. Although some of the letters are at Magis, some at Flos and some at Molteni&C, it’s still the letters that I was creating and it’s important for me at the end to write a story, a coherent sentence. I want to reach a certain perfection. It’s not just about promoting a product that would be sold. I don’t think I’ve ever designed a bestseller for a company; none of my pieces are amazing sellers. It’s not about making the perfect project. The room divider is a simple idea. It’s not brilliant or aesthetically amazing. It’s there but it has enough reasons to exist. That’s what I like; it’s not vulgar. There is nothing else I can do, there is nothing else I know how to do. I enjoy teaching, I
LEFT TO RIGHT The Swing screen from Magis features pivoting doors; the Swing screen at the Magis booth during the Salone del Mobile fair in Milan; Tel Avivborn designer Ron Gilad
WHERE TO GO
I don’t think that there’s a pure formula to it. Sometimes I appreciate a work that is purist and minimalist. Sometimes I like excess and things that do not follow my personal taste. Good design starts from a good idea. The question is how you shape it, how you present it and how you use it. Good design can have endless amounts of shapes and different scales; I don’t think that I create good design, I also criticise myself all the time. I try and sometimes I succeed more, and sometimes I succeed less. I always look further, hoping the next time will be better or more pleasing. What keeps you inspired?
Dissatisfaction for me is a pillar of energy to keep trying to be better and to evolve. The result is good but it can be better. There is a term in Hebrew—when you achieve something, you should never sit and relax comfortably because that will make you numb and make you stop doing what you’re doing; I really believe in this term. It’s not that the work is done, we can celebrate. I think that this is just a step and life is made of many, many steps. Magis is available at Xtra, 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-48 Marina Square, Tel: 6336 0688; xtra.com.sg
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S T Y L E INTERVIEWS
KEEPING IT FRESH French designer Ronan Bouroullec reflects on his long-standing collaboration with his brother Erwan as well as their latest project with Vitra
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after 30 years of work,” shares Ronan. “We choose our projects when we feel a challenge, when we feel the passion in front of us; that is very important.” Recently, the studio designed the bronze fountains at the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in Paris; a project that also reflects Ronan’s growing interest in designing for public spaces. “It’s a bit of a frustration after 30 years that our work is dedicated to a certain part of society,” he says. “I would like to address it to a larger group of people.”
How did your relationship with Vitra begin?
First, it started as a relationship with Rolf Fehlbaum, the president-owner of Vitra. Since 20 years ago, we have been speaking almost every day on the phone about everything— politics, family and chairs. It’s a very interesting company to work with. It’s a long process to do a good industrial product which is perfect for comfort, delivery and public spaces. We’ve got a lot of prototypes ongoing; very few of them appear in the market. We are an old couple with Vitra too; we need to keep the energy and the love. What is the inspiration behind the vase prototypes created for Vitra?
As designers, we need to work in different rhythms. Some projects need three to five years to be developed. But it’s important to have more quick, dynamic research and subjects. We’ve done pieces as personal research, and one day I showed it to Rolf; I like to have his opinion on everything. And he said: “Why don’t we present it with Vitra?” It was my drawing, something personal that we decided to show and try to do within the next year.
BY HONG XINYING IMAGES COURTESY OF VITRA, RONAN & ERWAN BOUROULLEC DESIGN
t the time when Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec started working with Vitra nearly two decades ago, the brothers were still fresh faces in the design scene. “The relationship with Vitra has changed our lives,” recalls Ronan. “We were so young, all the other designers were old masters; we added a lot of freshness.” The prolific French duo have come a long way from the days when Erwan (the younger of the two brothers) started as “family help” during the early years of their eponymous studio. To regain that youthful dynamism, the siblings seek to continually reinvent themselves through their work, while blurring the boundaries between art and design. This year for Vitra, they presented a series of worksin-progress. Based on Ronan’s drawings, the studio created an array of prototype ceramic vases, with each piece cut from a slab of clay and joined together in whimsical compositions of colours, shapes and textures. While their work may be diverse, the co-founders have opted to keep their practice small. “We are a very small studio; we are just six people. We are not running after money
“THE RELATIONSHIP WITH VITRA HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES. WE WERE SO YOUNG, ALL THE OTHER DESIGNERS WERE OLD MASTERS; WE ADDED A LOT OF FRESHNESS” The challenge is to keep a certain freshness; my biggest fear is that we repeat ourselves. So we try to reinvent ourselves, which is quite difficult, but we try to do it. The way to do that is to work with many companies, from the smallest to the biggest. We launched the fountains at Champs-Elysées; the month before, we had an exhibition; then we’re also launching a new TV for Samsung. As an artist and a designer, I’m passionate about a lot of subjects and we are driven by our passion. That’s our way. In our cities, we miss the presence of flowers, the sensuality of nature. The vase is a beautiful object, an interesting subject with a freedom of expression. Ceramic is a marvellous material; it’s not synthetic, it’s a piece of earth that you cook. It’s one of the first materials that was used by humans and there’s the possibility of colour and depth. We are in an interesting period where we are facing a lot of problems but at the same time we have so many possibilities of how to protect nature and how to do longlasting projects. Being intelligent in the production is very important, although it is very banal to say that.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra, these prototype vases are based on Ronan’s drawings; the bronze fountains at the Avenue des ChampsElysées in Paris; French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
How has your design process evolved over the years?
There’s a lot of discussion and we’ve got a lot of subjects because we design TVs, ceramics and a lot of public projects. Erwan is very interested in new technology, whereas I’m interested in physical things; Erwan is able to concentrate on very complex subjects whereas I need to do many projects in the same year. We’re like an old couple now. After 20 years, our way of working has changed and is ever changing.
WHERE TO GO
What would you consider as one of the recent milestones of your career?
When you are in a dream, you run after something that you can never touch. I feel it’s a bit like that. I think that I am doing a lot of projects, I run after the good projects that make me say, “Ah, this is a good one”. I’m quite happy with the fountains at Champs-Elysées. It was a big project—250 people were working on it for three years. The fountains were first designed in the mid-nineteenth century, almost 200 years ago. There have been three fountains and we were chosen to design the new ones because the last fountain was destroyed 30 years ago. The goal was to create a sort of ballad, choreography; a sort of animation. It’s a very interesting avenue because there are 300,000 people walking through every day; a melange of people, from the poor to the ultra-rich. The goal was to create a sort of pleasure and marvel for everybody—the pleasure of water, light and movement. Vitra is located at 315 Outram Road, #14-08 Tan Boon Liat Building, Tel: 6270 8828; visit vitra.com for more information
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S T Y L E INTERVIEWS
FOR ART’S SAKE Jazz Chong, owner and director of Ode to Art, talks about why she goes the extra mile for her clients with personalised consultancy services s the founder of Ode to Art, Jazz Chong is in the privileged position of fostering close relationships with both local and international artists. The gallery’s repertoire of artists includes Fernando Botero, Lim Tze Peng, Hong Zhu An and Qin Feng, who are globally acclaimed and widely collected by museums as well as homeowners. But for Chong, the key factor she takes into consideration when representing an artist is “chemistry”. “Talent and potential are one thing, but the relationship between a gallery and an artist is one that is largely symbiotic, so we must enjoy interacting with each other,” she says. “This relationship is similar to marriage, because it is longterm and built upon friendship and mutual trust.” Ode to Art also offers art consultancy services to match clients with works that resonate with their personal aesthetic preferences. “Developers and homeowners often see art as an important aspect of design; especially in this day and age where art has become a necessity in adding a sophisticated feel to any living space,” says Chong. Here, she shares tips on curating the perfect collection for your home.
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How have the tastes and preferences of local art collectors evolved in recent years?
Travel has become a huge part of our lives. Due to this global lifestyle, I daresay art collectors’ tastes and preferences have become more sophisticated and wide-ranging so it is hard to pinpoint one genre or medium that is the most popular. The art scene in Singapore has also become increasingly diverse. With a multitude of world-class exhibitions showcasing an international spread of artists, this increased accessibility
to a wide range of art has also diversified the tastes of our art buyers in Singapore. Collectors like artworks that they’ve never seen before; something special that gives them insight into cultures and practices they otherwise wouldn’t understand. Also, collectors enjoy a piece that speaks to them in a way that is personal and heartfelt, that isn’t widespread and repetitive, but fits into their idea of specific design aesthetics and the feel of their intended space.
BY KAREN TEE IMAGES COURTESY OF ODE TO ART
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“ART HAS BECOME A NECESSITY IN ADDING A SOPHISTICATED FEEL TO ANY LIVING SPACE”
What made you decide to launch art consultation services?
I was doing some work for an international interior design firm, and they gave me my first art consultancy project for an overseas hotel; and one thing led to another. We have been offering such a service for the past decade. Art consultancy is now highly complementary to our business, if not almost inseparable from the idea of being an art supplier. It lessens the worry of any art buyer in terms of making a decision to buy art for their space. We also find that this is a great way of developing the demand for growing artists as well, apart from the conventional ways of holding exhibitions and participating in art fairs.
What is the difference between supplying art to companies, compared to homeowners?
The difference would be mainly the scale—as homes are catered to the individual or family, there is an active discussion about the type of art they are looking for and we are able to select pieces that closely relate to their vision. For properties and show launches, these considerations are taken into account too, but it would be more streamlined and thematic as the entire project has to be cohesive. What advice do you have for displaying art at home?
It is very important to like and appreciate an artist’s work. Artworks will remain at home for an extremely long time, so they should remain
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Emerald, an ink painting by Hong Zhu An; Mariscal De Campo, an oil painting by Fernando Botero; Brush, a painting by Lee Jung Woong, was selected for a home at Sentosa Cove OPPOSITE PAGE Ode to Art founder Jazz Chong
WHERE TO GO
relevant or at least significant. Know your budget so that you are able to discuss the range of works that’s best suited to you. The size of the artwork should also be proportionate to the space intended. If it’s too small, the art piece gets lost in translation; if it’s too big, the space becomes claustrophobic. External spaces are exposed to the weather and depending on the material of the piece, deterioration happens at varying speeds. When displaying art in an external space, ensure that the art piece is meant for the outdoors; galleries are able to give accurate advice on that. Regular maintenance is needed as well to ensure the artwork remains in good condition. Ode to Art is located at 252 North Bridge Road, #01-36E/F Raffles City Shopping Centre, Tel: 6250 1901, odetoart.com
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S T Y L E BR AND STORY
DIGITAL REVOLUTION erched on the top floor of a modern building in Changwon, a minimalist penthouse overlooks rows of factories and offices. Situated in South Korea’s manufacturing hub, the neighbourhood may not have the typical qualities a prospective homeowner would look for, but there are unique upsides to its location. Housed within the research and development (R&D) centre of LG Electronics, this spacious apartment features cutting-
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edge appliances from the South Korean conglomerate, showcasing its latest novelties as well as products that have yet to reach the market. Be it LG’s rotund Cloi robot assistants, smart laundry appliances or home entertainment systems that are incorporated into furniture, this apartment is furnished with state-of-the-art devices that look sleek while performing a wide variety of functions. As is evident in this stylish penthouse, smart home systems have been rapidly transforming the ways in which appliances are manufactured—from what we saw during our visit, this marks just the beginning.
BY HONG XINYING IMAGES COURTESY OF LG ELECTRONICS
What will future homes look like, as brands fervently compete to lead the smart home race? A visit to the headquarters and laboratories of LG Electronics in South Korea reveals what lies ahead
that are both versatile and chic. Launched in South Korea last November, LG Objet integrates electronic devices seamlessly into custom-made furniture such as bedside tables, which can each house an air purifier, audio system or a mini fridge. “Smaller is better; more and more people want to be more efficient and as less wasteful as possible,” shares Ken Hong, senior director of global corporate communications at LG Electronics. “You don’t need a refrigerator to hold that much food when you’re buying food on the way home and are not as interested in cooking. It’s the same thing with ovens; you don’t want a big oven for food that only fits one-fifth of that space.” A NEW EDGE INDUSTRIAL ROOTS
To understand how this electronics giant came to where it is today, we look back at its early years. “Lucky Chem” Lak Hui Chemical Industrial Corp (known as LG Chem today) started Gold Star (now LG Electronics), an electrical machinery company, in 1958; “LG” is an abbreviation of the two companies. The company’s first products were transistor radios and fans, and then refrigerators; it had been producing its own motors and compressors for these appliances since the 1960s. Compressors and motors determine the energy efficiency and overall performance of the appliances, as such, they are considered the most important parts of large electronic devices including air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines. Today, the company’s inverter technology optimises the operating efficiency of these essential parts, while incorporating the smart home systems often expected of new appliances today. TREND FORECAST
Anticipating the changing needs and lifestyles of its users is crucial to the brand’s research and development processes. “We have a unit that studies lifestyle changes, housing structures and trends,” shares Sung Han Jung, team leader of Asia sales and marketing for the refrigerator segment. “The ultimate goal is to offer a better lifestyle with deep learning and by studying the behaviour of customers.” Due to the compact size of urban homes, multi-functional appliances are becoming more popular. Thus the aim of LG Objet is to create a premium range that answers to the needs of users looking for compact appliances
THIS PAGE The LG Objet audio appliance comprises an AV system and a wireless charging station built into a bedside table OPPOSITE PAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT The LG Objet TV features a sound bar and a 65-inch TV integrated into a compact cabinet; the LG Styler is a steam-based laundry appliance that sanitises and removes creases from garments; the LG Objet mini fridge; knock twice on the display screen of the LG Instaview door-in-door fridge to preview the contents within; the LG Neochef is a smart inverter convection oven
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) forms another crucial pillar of the R&D processes, guided by the goal of integrating AI features into future appliances. The company’s custom AI chip is equipped with the LG Neural Engine, which allows it to work offline and analyse the data it collects, whether from smart speakers that receive voice commands or from temperature sensors in refrigerators. Currently, the LG SmartThinq system is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice controls. “It’s really about innovation; we try to capture the needs of consumers and current trends such as Internet of Things (IoT) and home appliances integrated with AI,” shares Kim Minkyu, team leader of Asia sales and marketing for the washing machines segment. “There is a big range of appliance users and we need to provide intuitive uses for all ages.” Above it all, the appliances have to be easy to use. Rather than have the user wade through thick manuals, the AI features will do the hard work for you by understanding and reacting to the different needs of each situation. This involves deep learning—over time, the AI learns to do tasks and solve problems that otherwise involve human intervention, whether by improving its movie and music recommendations by studying your habits and preferences, or by optimising an oven’s temperature and heat settings based on the recipe’s requirements. It’s an exciting period for the company, as it continues to upgrade its digital infrastructure for the smart home race. “We are always investing in the future,” quips Hong. lg.com/sg
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S T Y L E ICONOCLAST
HOW THE SON OF A PROSPEROUS CHINESE FAMILY BECAME ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST AMERICAN ARCHITECTS
.M. Pei wasn’t just an architect—he was architecture embodied. When the Chinese-American icon died on 16 May 2019 at the extraordinary age of 102, he left behind one of the world’s most important and impressive collections of buildings. His career spanned the better part of a century, riding the wave of Modernism without plunging into the depths of iconoclasm or egotism, absorbing influences as disparate as Chinese gardens, Anasazi cliff dwellings and Middle Eastern mosques to create structures that are as understated as they are impactful. “The best of his creations look at once audacious and inevitable,” wrote architecture critic Justin Davidson in 2017. Whether they are found in Paris, Doha or Singapore, Pei’s buildings are always remarkable, but never alien. The same could be said for the man himself. “You think of architects who seem to lead with their ego, and he was never like that,” recalled architect David Childs after Pei’s death. “He was gentle in demeanour but forceful in his convictions.”
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ABOVE I.M. Pei is pictured in front of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris
BY CHRISTOPHER DEWOLF ARCHIVE PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOUVRE MUSEUM / OLIVIER QUADAH, NATIONAL GALLERY WASHINGTON DC, OCBC BANK OTHER IMAGES 123RF
THE QUIET MASTER
MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART, DOHA (2008) Totally unfamiliar with Islamic architecture when he was commissioned to design a landmark museum, the architect threw himself into research, travelling the Middle East to visit libraries, mosques and more. That led to this limestone structure perched ethereally on the edge of the Persian Gulf, a blend of modern geometric forms and traditional motifs.
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S T Y L E ICONOCLAST
FROM CHINA TO AMERICA
Born in Guangzhou in 1917, Pei Ieoh-ming grew up in a prosperous family that shifted between Shanghai and Hong Kong. They were members of China’s scholar-gentry class—wealthy, well-educated and concerned with civic betterment—and Pei often spent time with his mother in the Chinese gardens of Suzhou, his family’s ancestral home and a historic bastion of China’s intellectual elite. The experience of those spaces left a deep enough impression on Pei that when he left for university, he opted to study architecture at the University of Pennsylvania. What he found there was an architectural profession still obsessed with the curlicues and frills of the Beaux-Arts era, which reminded Pei of the heavy colonial influences on Shanghai’s The Bund. He was far more interested in the basic geometric principles of architecture, so he switched his major to engineering and transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There he became fascinated by the work of Swiss architect Le Corbusier, one of the pioneers of the new International Style that called for simple, straightforward forms made of glass and steel.
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THIS PAGE The skyline as seen through the arches at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha; the museum features angular volumes, a five-storeyhigh atrium and geometric details that reference historic Islamic architecture OPPOSITE PAGE The Louvre Pyramid serves as the main entrance of the Louvre Museum; I.M. Pei at the East Building atrium at National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
“THE BEST OF HIS CREATIONS LOOK AT ONCE AUDACIOUS AND INEVITABLE”
MODERN BUT ROOTED
CREATIVE REBIRTH
Pei managed to absorb Le Corbusier’s ethos without any of the dogmatism that led the Swiss architect to propose demolishing Paris in favour of a new city of highways and high-rises. While Le Corbusier was devoted to a kind of universality—buildings that looked the same whether they were in India or France—Pei always understood the importance of place. After joining the Harvard Graduate School of Design (thanks to his wife, a landscape architecture student named Eileen Loo), his master’s thesis called for the creation of an art museum in Shanghai that felt authentically Chinese without using any traditional materials. Pei had always planned to return to China, but his family warned him to stay away after the Communist victory of 1949. He ended up moving to New York, where he landed a job with charismatic property magnate William Zeckendorf. That gave Pei the opportunity to work on a wide range of commercial projects, including apartment blocks such as the Society Hill Towers in Philadelphia, USA, and office towers like Place Ville Marie in Montreal, Canada—projects that have become beloved landmarks in their respective cities.
By the early 1960s, Pei had worked on many successful commercial ventures, but he felt he was losing touch with the creative side of architecture. He jumped at the chance to design the Luce Memorial Chapel on the campus of Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan, producing an elegant sweep of curved concrete that stood in sharp contrast to the strict geometric grids that defined his earlier work.
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That marked a turning point in Pei’s career as he embraced more ambitious projects for institutional clients. The Mesa Laboratory, designed in 1961 for a research centre in the foothills of Colorado, USA, channelled the spirit of indigenous cliff homes into a villagelike cluster of Cubist concrete towers; they were textured with bush hammers that helped them blend into the surrounding red-rock landscape. Pei spent many hours alone in the nearby wilderness, an experience that recalled the time he spent in Chinese gardens. “I tried to listen to the silence again, just as my mother had taught me,” he later said. “The investigation of the place became a kind of religious experience for me.” BACK HOME
Pei finally returned home in 1974, two years after frozen relations between the US and China had thawed. That led him to work on a hotel in Fragrant Hills, an old imperial garden, in Beijing, China. Pei’s design departed from his trademark Cubism and embraced traditional Chinese elements, which proved controversial—some critics labelled him as “reactionary”—and the project was hampered by political and technical challenges. The Fragrant Hill Hotel fell into disrepair almost immediately after it opened in 1982.
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LEFT TO RIGHT An archive photo of American philanthropist Paul Mellon, art historian J. Carter Brown and I. M. Pei at the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC; an archive photo of I.M. Pei presenting the design concept for the OCBC Centre in Singapore; an archive photo of the OCBC Centre during its construction
Pei was disappointed but undaunted. “He surely had a fervour for contributing to China and the search for a new architectural language for a new China,” says Shirley Surya, architecture and design curator at the M+ museum of visual culture in Hong Kong. In 1989, Pei began work on a new headquarters for Bank of China (BOC) in Hong Kong; his father had spent his career as an executive at the bank, adding extra significance. What he produced is often compared to a bamboo shoot, with an escalating series of triangular forms that served as a punctuation mark for Hong Kong’s skyline. The BOC Tower is still as fresh and captivating today as it was when it first opened. Although it is often praised for its dynamic form and the way its glass curtain walls reflect their surroundings, Surya says it’s also an emblem of Pei’s architectural ingenuity. The triangular sections created a crossbraced structure that required relatively little steel (and therefore relatively little money) to achieve its great height. “The building’s strength as an enduring urban symbol—as well as that of China’s rise to power—achieved via an economy of means, and brilliant integration of architectural design and engineering truly set it apart from Pei’s other high-rise projects,” she says. Pei continued working well into his 90s, and some of his last projects were among his strongest—museums in Luxembourg, Suzhou and Doha, each attuned to their surroundings while bearing the imprint of a master.
ARCHITECTURE ICONS THE LANDMARK PROJECTS BY I.M. PEI
OCBC CENTRE, SINGAPORE (1976) Built at the cost of S$100 million, this landmark skyscraper was once Singapore’s tallest building. Pei created a magnet for the city’s burgeoning financial district, with a rare plaza marked by public art. The twin-core structure was innovative, too, allowing for an unobstructed banking hall and a flexible office space.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART, EAST BUILDING, WASHINGTON DC, USA (1978) Faced with a trapezoidal site and the need to harmonise with the museum’s neoclassical main wing, Pei channelled the odd shape into a building that is at once monumental and intimate, with pyramid-shaped skylights that infuse the interior with natural light.
LOUVRE PYRAMID, PARIS, FRANCE (1989)
SUZHOU MUSEUM, SUZHOU, CHINA (2006)
Drawing from the lessons of the East Building, this pyramid was designed to bring light into the Louvre’s new underground expansion. Its clean geometry was particularly controversial when it was first unveiled, but it has since become as much a symbol of Paris as the Eiffel Tower.
Pei paid homage to the gardens that had so inspired him as a child with this serene complex that presents a modern interpretation of classical Chinese gardens. The building reflects Pei’s interest in clean, geometric shapes, channelling them into traditional plaster walls, tile roofs and courtyards.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT Discover the design inspiration behind some of the most stunning dining venues in Singapore—restaurants that offer inspiring, multifaceted experiences to delight and tease your senses
BY HONG XINYING AND LEANNE MIRANDILLA MAIN IMAGE RAFFLES SINGAPORE OTHER IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE RESTAURANTS AND STUDIOS
LA DAME DE PIC Opened in July at Raffles Singapore, La Dame de Pic conveys the old-world charm of its historic venue while bringing together elements inspired by Anne-Sophie Pic’s culinary philosophy. The 46-seater restaurant is the first in Asia by the French chef, who is the third-generation successor of a family of celebrated chefs—Pic took over the reins of the family’s namesake restaurant in Valence, France, in 1997, which was first awarded three Michelin stars in 2007. Housed within the main dining room of Raffles Singapore, the restaurant interiors are designed by New York-based studio Champalimaud Design; also the firm responsible for the hotel’s interior makeover. “We wanted an honesty to the design and for it to embody the same air of timelessness that’s found throughout Raffles Singapore,” says Edmond Bakos, managing director of the firm. “I like the overall feeling of the room; it’s chic, inviting, and unpretentious.” Its pastel palette draws cues to the chef ’s favourite hues and is paired with furnishings in rounded proportions that echo the arched portals and French windows of the dining room. A mix of leather, wood, gold trimmings and floral accents completes its graceful look, while drawing attention to the peony bas-relief on the ceiling. The dinnerware is stamped with Pic’s name; these delicate plates are specially handmade for the restaurant by the artisans of Jars Céramistes, a ceramic brand from the south of France. The focal point of the space is a gold chandelier comprising discs with laser-cut spades. It references the name of the restaurant, which is a play on Pic’s last name—it means “queen of spades” in French. raffles.com/singapore
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT The light palette of the restaurant interior features the favourite colours of Anne-Sophie Pic; chef de cuisine Kevin Gavin, who helms the kitchen of La Dame de Pic, is pictured here with Pic; specialties served at the restaurant include cucumber with oscietra caviar; bench seating adds to the cosy feel of these alcoves OPPOSITE PAGE The gold chandelier features laser-cut spades and is the statement piece of the dining room
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15 STAMFORD BY ALVIN LEUNG The second of chef Alvin Leung’s restaurants in Singapore, 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore serves up straightforward Asian comfort food elevated by sweeping interiors not unlike those of a swish gentleman’s club. Designed by New York-based practice AvroKo, the restaurant makes a statement with blackand-white geometric flooring and Art Deco-style arched windows and metallic details. “Our concept was to meld its Singaporean design language with an international flair, combining touches of both European and Asian detailing throughout—a true hybrid model,” says William Harris, one of the founding partners of AvroKo. “We strove to celebrate the original structure and tailored an experience that made the space look and feel contemporary while still being timeless, warm and welcoming.” Local elements include the hand-made Peranakan-style ceramic tiles on the long bar, the colourful floral crockery that the chef designed himself and the wood-slat screens and doors found in the main dining room. The restaurant isn’t so refined to the point of stuffiness either. Comfortable leather chairs and dark wood, coupled with a sense of airy spaciousness and a buzzing brasserie-like vibe balance out the elegance. kempinski.com/singapore
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ODETTE THIS PAGE A graceful arched doorway frames the elegant interior of Odette; a mobile sculpture by Singapore artist Dawn Ng is the centrepiece of the restaurant OPPOSITE PAGE The bar area of 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung features ceramic tiles that celebrate the building’s local roots; the Art Deco-style arches reference the historic architecture
Contemporary French restaurant Odette hasn’t stopped snapping up accolades since earning two Michelin stars within a year of its opening. This year, it ranked 18th on the celebrated list by the World’s Best Restaurants Awards. Its acclaim is largely due to French chef Julien Royer’s “essential cuisine” approach, which sees seasonal, artisanal ingredients featuring in elegant dishes. The work of London-based practice Universal Design Studio, the restaurant’s interiors reflect Royer’s culinary style through the use of natural materials such as timber, pink terrazzo, and nickel and brass accents. Located in the historic National Gallery, the restaurant’s design also references classical colonial architecture in its mosaic-patterned floors and faceted columns. The restaurant itself is filled with art, too. Titled A Theory of Everything, this series of artworks by local artist Dawn Ng draws inspiration from the raw ingredients utilised by Royer, deconstructing and rendering them into surreal objects. The series cumulates in a mobile centrepiece of oak, brass and paper that hangs from the ceiling. Finally, its light palette of pink, grey and white is a refreshing departure from the typical dark and staid fine-dining restaurant, while the velvet banquettes are comfortable yet sophisticated. A glassenclosed kitchen allows diners to watch the chefs at work. odetterestaurant.com
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RESTAURANT ZÉN “Residential-inspired design” may be a common term, but this restaurant takes that homely inspiration to heart, every step of the way. The dining experience starts at the door—from the ring of the restaurant’s doorbell to the gastronomic journey across all three floors of the shophouse building. Opened by celebrated Swedish chef and restaurateur Björn Frantzén in partnership with the Unlisted Collection, Restaurant Zén is the Singapore outpost of the three-Michelin-starred Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, Sweden, and is designed by Joyn Studios Architects to reflect its Nordic roots. Taking over the space formerly occupied by Restaurant André, the restaurant’s interiors reference its tasting menu, which pairs modern Nordic cuisine with Japanese-influenced elements. The journey starts at the handsome kitchen-styled lounge area at level one where guests enjoy light bites, before proceeding to the modern dining room on the second floor for the main course. The evening concludes at the “living room” on the third storey, where diners are served petit fours while lounging on cosy sofas. Each section has been designed as individual rooms— the first floor is a handsome space furnished with leather upholstered seats and dark wood cabinetry, while the dining area on the second storey has a softer palette comprising light wood and rose-gold finishes. Much like a home, the dinnerware here feels as personal; these include the custommade knives by Swedish manufacturers Morakniv, which feature shafts hand-painted by Swedish artist Pernilla Nordman. The resulting space conveys an elegant yet unfussy atmosphere that embodies the essence of that Scandinavian hygge (cosiness) and Nordic heritage. restaurantzen.com
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PÓ A venture by hospitality and lifestyle firm The Lo & Behold Group, The Warehouse Hotel’s design takes its cue from the building’s history—local architecture studio Zarch Collaboratives restored the shell, while creative agency Asylum crafted its interiors. Pó, the hotel’s flagship restaurant, also designed by Asylum, makes a similar nod to local culture. As with the rest of the hotel, the restaurant features many furnishings by homegrown talents and Asian firms, while featuring plenty of greenery. Named after popo, the Chinese term for grandmother as well as the restaurant’s signature popiah dish, Pó is a collaboration between The Lo & Behold Group and Mod-Sin master chef Willin Low. “We wanted a warm and cosy space that exudes the feeling of being at home,” shares Chris Lee, the founder and creative director of Asylum. “The restaurant is a part of The Warehouse Hotel so we wanted it to have a stand-alone identity and yet sit comfortably with the confines of the property.” The restaurant serves elevated Singaporean favourites in a homely space filled with potted plants and casual rattan chairs. Like the statement-making lighting piece in the lobby, the custom-designed lights for the restaurant were also inspired by the pulley systems of the warehouse, an original detail that has been preserved. The entrance is fronted by a copper-trimmed counter topped with forest marble, also custom-designed by Asylum, and a wooden screen. Similar shades and materials continue inside: a lighter green colours the booths, while woven screen panels grace the walls. A centrepiece comprising pieces of tinted mirrors is among Lee’s favourite features of this restaurant; it’s the focal point of a cosy alcove located at the end of the room. There are plenty of communal tables, too—perfect for popiah parties and festive feasts. po.com.sg
THIS PAGE The combination of wicker furniture and potted plants is a nod to Pó’s local influence; comprising a series of tinted mirrors, this centrepiece is the focal point of this dining area OPPOSITE PAGE The copper ceiling draws the eye upward in the dining room of Restaurant Zén; verdant accents and tactile textures add to the cosy feel of the “living room” area on the third floor; signature dishes include the beer poached crustacean with dill smetana and wild trout roe
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ORIGIN GRILL & BAR A Work of Substance, a multi-disciplinary design studio with offices in Hong Kong, Paris and Stockholm, always ensures that its creations tell a story—and that much is true for Origin Grill & Bar at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore. Inspired by Singapore’s history as an important trading port as well as the nostalgia of steam-train travel, Origin is designed to resemble an upscale train station. The pre-existing arches grant the main dining room the appearance of a train platform, which are complemented with hand-stitched Tripolina leather chairs and hanging globe lamps. The bar area, meanwhile, is a handsome affair with the use of deep blue on the walls, upholstery and velvet curtains, as well as a kinetic wall sculpture next to the drinks cabinets. The studio describes setting foot into the restaurant as a journey from ticket counter to platform to carriage. From crossing the copper-arched entrance to the bar, main dining room, and more intimate private dining areas, visitors witness a specific design narrative unfolding. Enjoy the ambience of the restaurant and its surroundings as much as the craft of Australian chef de cuisine Heidi Flanagan, who whips up sumptuous dishes created from quality meats and seafood sourced from Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. shangri-la.com/singapore
NATIONAL KITCHEN BY VIOLET OON “Violet Oon is a brand that’s been close to my heart,” says Cherin Tan, creative director of homegrown design studio Laank. She and her mum have long admired the doyenne of local and Peranakan cuisine, so it felt like a dream come true for Tan to design a series of restaurants for Violet Oon Singapore. The collaboration began with the original Bukit Timah location before she went on to work on the interior design of the new restaurants that followed at the National Gallery, ION Orchard, Clarke Quay and Jewel at Changi Airport. “We wanted every little part of the restaurant to tell a story,” shares Tan. “The biggest challenge at the early stages for us, was defining what a Singaporean restaurant would look like. It had to be uniquely Singaporean yet recognisable internationally. Together with the clients, we started looking into Singapore’s local heritage.” While each restaurant has been individually designed to suit its unique concept, it also features recurring elements such as the Peranakan tiles and an emerald bar counter, which is inspired by Violet’s Chinese name, Swee Gek (which means “beautiful jade” in Chinese); green is also a shade closely aligned with the group’s Peranakan heritage. Of the five restaurants, the National Kitchen by Violet Oon is perhaps the most striking, because of its historic location within the National Gallery. “National Kitchen is our favourite so far among all the other outlets; it’s one that pops into mind when you want to bring a friend from abroad to try Singapore’s food,” quips Tan. violetoon.com
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ON THIS PAGE The interiors of Origin Grill & Bar are inspired by the nostalgia of steam-train travel; like the other Violet Oon restaurants, National Kitchen by Violet Oon features recurring elements such as the emerald counters, black trimmings and Peranakanstyle details OPPOSITE PAGE The laid-back look of Olivia Restaurant and Lounge is reminiscent of a Mediterraneanstyle home; the Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar evokes the feeling of being in a tropical garden
OLIVIA RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE Kesa House is a hotel and dining destination that fills 10 shophouses along the hip Keong Saik Road in Chinatown; a venue that also includes Olivia Restaurant and Lounge. Upon stepping into the establishment, however, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to a breezy home along the Mediterranean coast. With chef Alain Devahive of El Bulli fame at the helm, Olivia Restaurant and Lounge offers quintessential Catalan cuisine; Barcelona-based design firm Lázaro Rosa-Violán has infused the space with coastal charm. Much of the furniture— as well as the floor tiles—were flown in from Barcelona. Handpainted ceramics and sculptures grace the white exposed-brick walls, with an abstract blue art piece and leather seating bringing the ocean to mind. Other hand-painted designs along the bar area reference locales throughout Barcelona, and materials were selected for their ubiquity in Catalan terraces; such is firm’s attention to detail. Wicker and wooden chairs, as well as linen and other natural fabrics, accentuate the seaside vibe. Diners can opt to sit at the counter for a casual bite, in a cosy booth for a more intimate meal, or at one of the round wooden tables. olivia.com.sg
THE DEMPSEY COOKHOUSE & BAR Making waves as New York celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first restaurant in Singapore, The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar has earned just as many accolades for its lush interiors as it has for its menu, which comprises a range of dishes originating from the chef ’s 30-plus restaurants across the globe. Although famed Italian designer Paola Navone spearheaded the interiors, Vongerichten employed his typical approach of being closely involved with all aspects of the restaurant— including architecture and design. Straddling the line between casual eatery and elevated fine-dine, the restaurant is located within a 19th-century heritage building at the Como Dempsey lifestyle and dining destination. The interior design takes cues from the lush Dempsey Hill area. The airy, high-ceilinged space is filled with tropical touches, delicate filigree wicker chairs, and wavy flooring tiles that evoke a garden-like vibe. A horizontal garden of sorts even graces a beam above the bar. By night, a combination of oversized, geometric lantern-like lights and hanging lamps crafted from crystal pieces bathes the restaurant in a gentle glow. An open kitchen, where installations of pots and pans add interest to the decor, contributes another sensory layer to the experience. comodempsey.sg s in ga po r e tat l er h o me s
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WHITEGRASS It’s always a visual treat to walk through an interior designed by Takenouchi Webb, and this restaurant is no exception— the designers also consider this establishment as one of their favourite projects. Founded by husband-wife duo Marc Webb and Naoko Takenouchi, the practice’s holistic approach to design has resulted in unique and elegant spaces attentive to their context. Located at Chijmes, the historic venue of this restaurant served as the starting point for the duo’s design process, while challenging the designers to work within the constraints of the heritage building. “When we researched the history of the site, we found that it was originally a residential property for a judge and we wanted to retain this domestic feel to the space,” shares Webb. “As this was a heritage building, there were also quite severe restrictions on what we could alter in the space; all the existing walls had to be retained and we were even restricted on the type of paint we could use.”
LEFT TO RIGHT The interior features a radial ceiling inspired by the circular form of the main dining room; the angular shape of the pendant lights and other furnishings reference the mouldings on the ceiling; menu highlights include the lamb loin with capsicum, aubergine and zucchini
Conceptualised as a series of dining rooms, each with its own design scheme, this venue thus celebrates its classical architecture while drawing reference to the restaurant’s focus on fresh, seasonal produce. Its most unique space is the circular dining room, which features a radiating ceiling design inspired by the room’s striking shape. A soft palette of blush and emerald tones pays tribute to its nature-inspired design, with metallic trimmings adding an elegant sheen to the space. The studio also collaborated with homegrown talents—marine life and divers mingle on a colourful mural wall painted by Singapore artist Messymsxi. Various shelves in the restaurant also proudly display decorative vases by local ceramist Studio Asobi. While the restaurant has since changed hands—it was originally led by Australian chef-owner Sam Aisbett—its interior has been kept largely intact through its continued relevance to its new culinary direction. Currently helmed by Japanese chef Takuya Yamashita, the restaurant’s five- and eight-course French-Japanese degustation menu is crafted around the concept of “La cuisine naturelle”, which brings out the unique essence of each natural ingredient featured. whitegrass.com.sg
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How would you describe your design philosophy?
We like to describe ourselves as an integrated design firm as we develop architectural and interior environments on all scales, from the architecture to the smallest detail. Whatever the scale or brief, we always approach each project the same way—as a carefully considered combination of materials, detailing and precision combined with practical problem-solving. Which project would you consider as a key milestone?
TABLE TALK
The White Rabbit is probably the most significant project for us as it was our first completed project in Singapore. It started our long-running relationship with The Lo & Behold Group, with whom we have done many more successful projects over the years. It is also where Naoko and I got married!
Marc Webb, co-founder of Takenouchi Webb, shares with us the firm’s creative process It’s hard to pick out a specific element that distinguishes a Takenouchi Webb project. But that also exemplifies the firm’s award-winning approach to design, which has resulted in timeless, elegant interior spaces that are unique to each site. Helmed by British architect Marc Webb and Japanese interior designer Naoko Takenouchi, the dynamic duo are the creative minds behind some of the most memorable dining venues in Singapore; the practice also scooped up the Design Project of the Year accolade for the Straits Clan project at the Tatler Design Awards 2019. From a restaurant-bar in a 1940s chapel (The White Rabbit) to a members’ club (Straits Clan) situated in a conservation shophouse, the firm is a practiced hand at melding each project’s historic significance with contemporary accents. The studio’s most recent projects include the Shang Social at the Jewel, the first standalone restaurant for the Shangri-La Group, as well as other restaurant projects in the region.
How has your design dynamic changed from working as a couple to managing a team? LEFT TO RIGHT The White Rabbit is a restaurant-bar housed in a former chapel; Naoko Takenouchi and Marc Webb at the Tatler Design Awards 2019
We are still a relatively small office, with 10 of us in total. This is a big change from when we started; Naoko and I used to work from the spare room in our apartment. We are still totally involved in every project that goes through our office. We are only able to do this due to the size of our office, but we feel this maintains the quality and consistency of our work. What are some trends that will continue to shape the local dining scene?
From a culinary perspective, there is certainly a continuing trend of natural and organic produce. From an operational perspective, restaurants are looking more towards using fewer service staff and exploring ways of using technology to achieve this. With the rise of social media, there seems to be a greater desire for restaurants and bars to make a quick visual impact. This can sometimes detract from the overall design as clients look for that Instagram moment. We try to avoid this and always look at the design holistically and as something that will be long-standing. WWW
takenouchiwebb.com
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Eye for Detail D EDITORS ANSWERS EVERY BRIEF WITH BESPOKE INTERIORS MADE FOR EVERY CLIENT
at Tan, director of D Editors, wears many hats. Not only is she the Design Director of her firm, she also holds the role of Vice-President of The Society of Interior Designers, Singapore (SIDS). Through it all, she flies the flag for interior design projects in Singapore and with the Republic’s dealings abroad. “Our designers need to travel out of Singapore to exchange ideas and viewpoints with our overseas peers,” she says. “This will help to broaden their perspectives and they can bring back fresh ideas and inspiration to Singapore and recreate them in new and exciting designs.”
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SIDS has also recently launched the SIDE programme to “expose, experience, export” local talents and foster relationships between local and overseas designers. Tan places much emphasis on innovative designs and meticulous work as calling cards for D Editors. Since its inception six years ago, the firm strives to design memorable spaces for residential and corporate clients. D Editor’s latest projects include a Good Class Bungalow in District 10 as well as an apartment at Gramercy Park. “We bring happiness to our clients by providing attentive service and new innovation in every project,” she says.
Which design styles do you specialise in? I would say contemporary. But in the last two years, through working with new clients, I have adopted a more mature and timeless approach towards my designs. The “D” in D Editors stands for “Design”, and “Editors” refers to our ability to edit the information in the brief and develop it into a design concept that suits the client’s lifestyle. What types of clients do you usually work with? We are pretty selective with our clients and we want to work with people who appreciate design. We have also designed offices and restaurants in the past. I hope we will cross paths with these projects again in time to come.
Tell us about your design process. First, I study the client’s lifestyle and personality, looking at what they are lacking, and develop from there. We will analyse the brief and start out with a layout plan, and develop it into 3D visuals following the material and colour selection. Some clients are still very reserved about trying new colours. As designers, we have to convince them to be daring enough to accept new colours. One way is by encouraging them to change their dress code as your lifestyle depends a lot on your own fashion sense. What are your guiding principles? Details are the main ingredients for a great and soulful design. It’s not just about modern, simple
LEFT TO RIGHT A floral ceiling motif unites the living and dining areas of this Gramercy Park apartment; a bespoke table in the foyer was crafted to showcase the owner's flower arrangements; the panelling on the cabinetry adds to the elegant mood of the living room; the master bedroom pops with bold elements such as the orange armchair and tufted suede headboard; Kat Tan, founder and director of D Editors
lines. We always add layers to our designs to make them more threedimensional looking. Quality and accuracy are also paramount. Could you name one of your most memorable projects? Years ago, I attended a concert by Taiwanese singer David Tao and hoped that I could design his home one day. Over 10 years later, I was blessed to be assigned to design his apartment in Singapore. As an artiste, Tao’s requirements were different from those of regular clients. He wanted the flexibility to be able to work anywhere in his house. I designed a multifunctional cabinet that housed his wine chiller, wine glasses and printer. That was the first piece of furniture I had ever customised; from there, I started designing a piece of furniture for every one of my projects. What’s on the cards for D Editors? I would like to conduct more talks for design students and professionals. I also hope to have a line of custom-built furniture locally and overseas, and work with specialists who produce special finishes that we can apply to our furniture and interior design work.
D EDITORS PTE LTD 8 Ubi Rd 2, #03-10, Tel: 6753 0908, d-editors.com
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A FRESH START A family starts anew with a house built on the original site of the owner’s childhood home
TROPICAL BEAT This resort-style house in Singapore celebrates the flourishing greenery in its courtyard
A SLICE OF PARADISE This seaside villa on Hamilton Island basks in the beauty of its natural surroundings
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78 PYRAMIDS IN THE SKY Architect Greg Truen’s home brings together influences from Mid-Century Modern architecture within its contemporary South African context. Peruse its inspiring spaces on these pages
S I N G A P O R E TAT L E R H O M E S
SANCTUARIES
LEFT TO RIGHT The lounge overlooks views of the Boland mountains and vineyards beyond; architect and homeowner Greg Truen
BY GRAHAM WOOD PRODUCTION SVEN ALBERDING PHOTOGRAPHY GREG COX
S A N C T UA R I E S CAPE TOWN
PYRAMIDS IN THE SKY ARCHITECT GREG TRUEN TRANSLATES THE OPTIMISM OF THE MID-CENTURY MODERNISTS INTO A CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN CONTEXT
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Beyond the boundary, however, is a tantalising vision—a glass roof that peeps over the top of the wall with a kind of inverted pyramid floating inside it. “It becomes a light box at night.” This mysterious “hat” on top of the house is part of the building’s response to what the architect calls its “powerful” but complex site. “It’s got a set of almost opposing forces at work,” he muses. NATURAL PANORAMA
Once you leave the road, you find yourself descending a steep slope. The views around you close in, but open onto an incredible panoramic vista. “You’ve got a big, expansive view of the city and the bay and the mountains in the distance,” explains Truen. “Although you are surrounded by the mountains, you’re not that aware of it. You’ve kind of turned your back on it. You’ve got to look up to see it.” And that’s where the roof comes in: its origami-like structure takes the form of an inverted pyramid so that it can create clerestory windows and openings that let in views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head behind the house.
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rom busy Kloof Nek Road in Cape Town, architect Greg Truen’s house plays a little game with passers-by. The road is one of the city’s and the country’s oldest—it was originally a supply route for soldiers linking Camps Bay and the Atlantic seaboard with the city. The wall outside his house, facing the street, is made from stone, like the remnants of historical walls you find all around Cape Town. “Whether it’s the wall down Buitengracht Street that separates the Bo-Kaap from the city, or the walls at the castle or around the harbour, they all use exactly this kind of construction,” says Truen. They’re part of the fabric of the city—immediately familiar and at home on the winding road between Table Mountain and Lion’s Head. “Kloof Nek Road is a very strong representation of the urban environment,” explains the architect. “The wall tries to set up a dialogue with the history of architecture in Cape Town.”
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THIS PAGE The living room combines handcarved African furniture with a sofa and lamp from OKHA; the exterior wall is constructed using stone reminiscent of the city’s historical structures OPPOSITE PAGE A glass roof floats above the breakfast counter and dining area; the landscaping creates the sense that the mountain range is part of the property
“ALTHOUGH YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY THE MOUNTAINS, YOU’RE NOT THAT AWARE OF IT ... YOU’VE GOT TO LOOK UP TO SEE IT”
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LEFT TO RIGHT The landing at the top of the staircase is used to display a sculpture and a painting by Justine Mahoney; the pool appears to extend into the panorama, blurring the boundary between the architecture and the view beyond; the pool deck features an outdoor lounger from Weylandts and a side table from La Grange Interiors
The architect’s solution to building on such a steep incline was to design a house that cascades down the site. “I wanted each constructed level to feel like it was first and foremost a piece of the landscape with planting in it,” he explains. “I wanted to create slabs of landscape, and to bring the landscape right up to the edge of the internal spaces, as if the mountain comes right up to the house and then runs through it, so the floor surfaces are positioned on the land, as it were.” He even tiled the floors with granite slabs because “they have the colouring and composition that you see in the Cape, often.” The idea was to have the rooms feeling as if they were simply covered strata of the mountainside. “You feel that you’re sitting in the landscape,” he says. “I’m quite interested in this idea of taking a slab of landscape, putting a hat on it and living under that hat.” This idea of a shelter is “articulated by a ceiling and floorlevel changes to give definition to different spaces.” Truen talks about the way the “quite big, simple spaces” inside the house borrow space from one another and outside. s in ga po r e tat l e r ho me s
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PERFECT HARMONY
The house is arranged on three levels, with garages and services at the bottom, bedrooms in the middle and living areas on top. In and around the rooms, there are planted courtyards that make you feel as if you are “surrounded by landscape”. They enhance the effect of that amazing geometric roof, which Truen says is vividly animated by the sky, sun and the moon, and “reinforces the connection to nature and the mountains”. The courtyards and smaller views create a sense of layering. The way in which the gardens bring the landscape up and into the house also brings nature to his doorstep. “I was expecting bird life, which has been abundant and great, but the insect life that has emerged has been really interesting,” says the architect. “I’ve got some really cool bumblebees that visit every morning.” Inside, the open-plan spaces continue the sense of connectedness that the house strives for in its blurring of landscape and building. Truen’s house isn’t just about engaging with Cape Town’s urban heritage and relating it to the powerful presence of nature that the city has. There’s a broader cultural sense in which he wants to engage with the spirit of the place. “I also want the building and what’s in it to reflect the cultural space that it comes from, both at a micro level of Cape Town, and at a macro level of Africa.” Truen’s firm, SAOTA Architecture and Design, does a lot of work throughout the African continent. “I have a very contemporary view of the continent as a modern place,” he says. “It’s exciting, and I wanted the house to reflect that.” In fact, the washed-oak interior finishes, particularly the ceilings, have their joints articulated with beautiful brass details, which is picked up in various fittings throughout the house. “One of the prompts for using a vein of metal through the house was the story of gold mining on Lion’s Head,” he says. In the mid to late 1880s, prospectors discovered
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THIS PAGE This working space on the second floor is furnished with a dining table from OKHA; the accent armchair and cushion from OKHA add a pop of colour to this lounge area, which also features a side table from La Grange Interiors OPPOSITE PAGE The second floor, which is dedicated mainly to bedrooms and a library, features a number of courtyards
S A N C T UA R I E S CAPE TOWN
LOCATION Cape Town, South Africa
TYPE OF PROPERTY Landed
PROPERTY SIZE 9,149sqft
ARCHITECTURE SAOTA Architecture and Design
TIME TAKEN 2 years
LEFT TO RIGHT The guest room features a bed from Weylandts and artworks by Edson Chagas; adjacent to the master bedroom is a lounge area furnished with the Sefefo table and stools by Patricia Urquiola for Mabeo, a sofa from La Grange Interiors, an armchair by Søren Hansen for Fritz Hansen and a floor lamp from OKHA; the master bedroom features a custom-made bed from OKHA; a selection of plants adds a verdant touch to the master bedroom
gold deposits on Lion’s Head, and attempted to establish a mine. Although the mining venture never came to anything, it remains a fascinating footnote to the city’s industrial history. “The depression is still visible opposite the house,” he says. The art and furnishings continue the dialogue that the architecture begins with its starting point in the optimism and newness of early California and Brazilian Modernism. “I wanted that enthusiasm and optimism to come through,” says Truen. “It’s definitely got that new-world feel.” While the furnishings make good use of custom pieces from OKHA, the furniture design studio attached to SAOTA, the pieces that Truen has collected reflect a modern African aesthetic. The Sefefo Series table and stools in the master bedroom—a collaboration between Botswana designer Peter Mabeo and Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola—is a prime example. “It encapsulates all of these ideas about a global world, and a new Modern African sensibility in that globalised world, as an equal partner,” says the architect. Similarly, the outdoor furniture from Moroso combines Senegalese and Italian design, and craft techniques with contemporary materials. Thus the architect’s house becomes a home that’s both sophisticated and of its place.
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H O M E S FO C U S
Natural Habitat EMBRACE THE BEAUTY OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS WITH THIS CHIC SELECTION OF FURNITURE AND LIGHTING PIECES FROM P5
ring the calming beauty of nature into your home with versatile pieces that celebrate Singapore’s tropical climate. These luxurious collections from P5 will transform your abode into a well-appointed home that is at once stylish and serene, while radiating an aura of sleek sophistication. From distinguished European brands such as CoeLux and Kettal, these tastefully crafted pieces draw inspiration from the beauty of nature. From basking under the bright blue skies to luxuriating in the rich overtones of wood, invite the outdoors into your home and welcome in the warmth of the natural world.
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THE SKY IS THE LIMIT Simulate the appearance of daylight within your interior spaces with the unique lighting systems from CoeLux. This Italian company’s innovative products marry optical physics, design and architecture to deliver a realistic experience of daylight indoors. Its newest product is the CoeLux HT 25 skylight system,
which features a 25cmthickness in a subtle frame with semi-continuous windows. Its vertical design creates the perception that the sun is always overhead; this effect is created by its nano-structured material that diffuses light in the same way as the earth’s atmosphere. To accommodate varying structures, the skylight can be installed in different compositions and even within small heights, be it in recessed false ceilings or modular ones.
TAKE A SEAT Convey the tranquility of the woods within your inner sanctum with Kettal’s Band collection. Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the line features a dining chair and an armchair made of repetitive angular shapes that highlight the materials they are made from, be it aluminium or teak wood. Not to be outdone, Rodolfo LEFT TO RIGHT Dordoni’s Molo collection for The Molo Kettal takes the space up a notch collection by by pairing a sleek aesthetic with Rodolfo Dordoni intentionally oversized pieces. from Kettal; the Band chairs by The collection comprises sofas, deck chairs and tables; each Patricia Urquiola for Kettal; the Half minimalist module can be taken apart and reconfigured according dome lamp to your personal preference. designed by Whether you like it all together or Naoto Fukasawa piece by piece, these designs can for Kettal; the be selected in various colours to CoeLux HT 25 match your interior scheme. skylight system
LIGHT OF THE MOON If a moon-like glow is what you seek, the Half dome outdoor lamp from Kettal is just the right option. Since its inception in 1966, Kettal has won international acclaim with timeless furniture and lighting pieces that answer to the needs of modern life. Designed by Naoto Fukasawa, the lamp illuminates your space with its half-dome diameter mimicking the effect of moonlight; the lamp is available in 34 aluminium finishes.
P5 3 Killiney Road, #01-01/02 Winsland House 1 / Tel: 6337 0050 / p5.com.sg
S A N C T UA R I E S SINGAPOR E
A FRESH START
THE OWNER’S CHILDHOOD HOME BECOMES THE SITE FOR A NEW HOUSE THAT ACCOMMODATES THE NEEDS OF HIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY
The living room features an array of furniture from Flexform, complemented with a floor lamp from BoConcept and pendant lights from Lee Broom
BY LYNN TAN ART DIRECTION AND COORDINATION KHAIRUL ALI PHOTOGRAPHY JASPER YU ASSISTED BY TAN MING YUAN
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or homeowner Tan Ying Chien, this semi-detached house in Tanjong Katong holds a special place in his heart. “My parents bought this property when I was 15, so this was where I grew up, got married and had my three kids,” he reminisces. When his father passed away and he took over the managing of the household, he felt that it was timely to either renovate or to rebuild the house to meet the needs of his family. Ying Chien, who is the chief plastic surgeon at SW1 Clinic, was initially more inclined towards an Addition and Alteration (A&A) project due to sentimental reasons. However, among the various schemes that architecture firm RT+Q presented to him, it was the new-build proposal that left the deepest impression, so he decided to demolish the old house and build a new one in its place.
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LEFT TO RIGHT Homeowner Tan Ying Chien; the deep pool was purposebuilt to house the owner’s prized collection of koi fish; a photo provided by RT+Q shows the swimming pool, which is located next to the living room
HYBRID INFLUENCE
The house comprises three rectangular massing blocks arranged in a C-shape around a courtyard to create inward-looking views and enhance privacy. “For us, it was an opportunity to explore a hybrid between a Chinese courtyard house and a Roman villa,” explains Rene Tan, director of RT+Q. “The old house was a box that was dark and humid, especially in the middle, so the courtyard manages to address the issues of light and ventilation,” says Ying Chien. There is a very clear hierarchy between the three blocks. The one upfront runs parallel to the street, giving the home a prominent frontage. The new roof over the car porch takes its cue from the old house, which was a mirror image of its neighbour, but with a twist. “It was a case of putting the wrong thing in the right place,” says Rene. “The porch needed a roof and we thought it was a good idea to turn that roof into a swimming pool.”
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THIS HOME IS DESIGNED AS A HYBRID BETWEEN A CHINESE COURTYARD HOUSE AND A ROMAN VILLA
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT The kitchen features a dining table from Porada and a colourful set of dining chairs from Collinet; a view of the kitchen from the stairway; the powder room on the first floor features an elliptical layout
Due to the sloping topography, the car porch and entrance lobby on the street level come across as more like a basement, while the main spaces are elevated on the first storey. In addition to the car porch and entrance lobby, the primary block in front also houses the living area, entertainment room and the master suite for Ying Chien and his wife, Carol. “In terms of form, we expressed this block in an inverted U-shape to give it a floating effect,” says Huang Wei, the architectural designer from RT+Q who was also involved in this project. The middle block lies perpendicular to the first. The dining area and the dry and wet kitchens are located on the first floor, while the bedrooms for Ying Chien’s three children are lined up in a row on the second storey. The rear block completes the “C” configuration. Here, perched above the guest room and his mother’s bedroom is his hobby room, where his diecast cars and action-hero collectibles are displayed in wall-to-wall casing. The connections between the three blocks are equally well-articulated. A vertical circulation core is tucked in-between the first and second blocks, while the second and third blocks are pulled apart and linked by a bridge. At the heart of the three blocks is the courtyard, a contemplative space that incorporates a garden, timber deck and a second pond that is home to the owner’s prized collection of koi, which is another one of his hobbies. COLOUR PLAY
A series of skylights has been incorporated into the roofs; one of which can be found at the base of the swimming pool, offering a glimpse at the pool from the car porch below. These oculi take on different shapes—circle, square, rectangle and trapezium—and their inner surfaces are painted in either orange, yellow, red or blue. Taking precedence from Le Corbusier’s Notre-Dame du Haut chapel in Ronchamp, France, and the Pantheon in Rome, Italy, the different profiles regulate and articulate the light that enters the interior spaces and offers an element of surprise when you cast your gaze skywards. si n ga p o r e tat l e r h ome s
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“Colour is a useful but often overlooked tool,” says the architect. The colours for the skylights came intuitively to Rene, but Ying Chien has his own interesting take. “I associate them with luxury brands: Tiffany blue, Hermès orange, Ferragamo red and Fendi yellow,” he says. These light apertures are composed against the building backdrop to create architectural portraits that belong in the realm of art. “Everyone is so caught up with materials and finishes that we tend to neglect the importance of composition and of regarding architecture as a fine art,” Rene emphasises. BUILDING BLOCKS
In every one of the homes that RT+Q designs, the studio sets out to present a creation that surprises, and this project is no exception. Apart from the light apertures, elements that are out of the ordinary can be found in almost every corner of the home. The powder room on the first storey is hidden behind a concealed door. The only tell-tale sign is a porthole-like opening positioned high up on the door panel. This is a precursor to the powder room’s elliptical layout, complete with curved doors and a ceiling light in an oval ring that echoes the same profile.
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LEFT TO RIGHT The red skylight is one of several playful elements in this house; the hobby room showcases Ying Chien’s extensive collection of action figures and car models
“COLOUR IS A USEFUL BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED TOOL”
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LOCATION Singapore
TYPE OF PROPERTY Landed
PROPERTY SIZE 6,260sqft
INTERIOR DESIGN RT+Q Architects
TIME TAKEN 2 years
LEFT TO RIGHT The master bedroom features a bed from Molteni&C, a sofa from King Living and a pair of pendant lights from Flos; the skylight brightens up the wardrobe area of the master bedroom; the orange skylight adds a dash of colour to the master bathroom; this powder room features a porthole window
Another surprise awaits in the master bathroom. Above the water closet is a circular window with a timber disc that swivels open and close. It also serves a more practical purpose of introducing light and natural ventilation into the deep recesses of the bathroom. Even the ubiquitous shelf takes on a different variation in the hands of RT+Q. Along the corridor that runs the length of the second block, connecting the children’s bedrooms, are open shelves that appear to float on the walls as they do not touch the ceiling or the floor. The shelf divisions are non-uniform to create an interesting composition. The end adjacent to the staircase has been chamfered in response to the circulation flow, while the section facing the linkway to the third block is concave, as if engaging in a dialogue with one another. “Linkages often pass us by unnoticed,” says Huang, which is why the bridge connecting the second and third blocks has been expressed as a portal to give it the attention it deserves. While she drew inspiration from the door in Le Corbusier’s Zurich Pavilion, the portal resembles a submarine door. It is perhaps a reflection of Rene’s constant refrain: “Don’t think like an architect. Instead, think like a toymaker or a submarine builder.” Apart from the creative talents of the RT+Q team, the success of the project can also be attributed to the client; Ying Chien’s interest in the arts made him more receptive to the ideas presented by the architect. “And in areas where he was not so familiar, he trusted us,” says RT+Q director, TK Quek.
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BY KAREN TEE IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNWORX INTERIOR CONSULTANT
S A N C T UA R I E S SINGAPOR E
TROPICAL BEAT
THE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES FLOW SEAMLESSLY WITHIN THIS HOME, MAKING THE MOST OUT OF SINGAPORE’S BALMY CLIMATE
LEFT TO RIGHT Wicker and light wood furniture complement the tropical style of this house; the rooftop greenery adds another verdant layer to the tropical architecture
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LEFT TO RIGHT The house is a U-shaped structure that faces the pool and courtyard; the outdoor daybed is a cosy addition to the courtyard
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s the adage goes, the first impression counts; set against an abundance of lush foliage, this house already made an indelible impression on design director Terri Tan, during her first visit. “When we first visited the house, we were taken in by the spectacular greenery surrounding the cerulean pool,” recalls Tan, who helms local practice Designworx Interior Consultant. Located in a prime district in Singapore, this 6,722sqft Good Class Bungalow was designed by Guz Architects to draw attention to its verdant surroundings and to encourage its inhabitants to enjoy quality time out in the open. The resort-style house, which features a U-shape structure around the pool comprises a series of rooms interconnected by corridors. The owners then tasked Designworx Interior Consultant with “transforming the house into a home”. “We were inspired by the tranquility of nature as we worked on refreshing and updating the interior,” says Tan. “We were mindful of keeping the transition between the inside and outside as seamless as possible.”
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ON THIS PAGE The design firm framed a selection of Hermès scarves to turn these stylish accessories into artworks displayed at various areas of this house OPPOSITE PAGE This lounge area is decorated with armchairs and a sofa from Talenti; strategically placed plants and the clever use of emerald tones in the living room draw the eye to the pool and the lush courtyard
OUTDOOR FLAIR
As the architecture features significant swathes of outdoor spaces, Tan came up with the idea to furnish these areas like she would with the interior spaces. Her team transformed the staircase landing into an indoor-outdoor lounge with the addition of Talenti armchairs and a sofa, delineating the space with a pair of oversized art panels and a textured egg sculpture by an Indonesian artist. The addition of a dining table on the patio provides the owners with the option to dine al fresco, should the mood strike. Various daybeds and sun-loungers were also placed strategically around the courtyard to create inviting niches to bask in the tropical weather. “By transforming these exterior spaces into outdoor ‘rooms’, they provide alternative areas for the owners to relax in or for entertaining several different groups of friends at the same time,” says Tan.
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“WE WERE MINDFUL OF KEEPING THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE”
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LEFT TO RIGHT The high-back armchair adds an Eastern touch to this bedroom; the balcony of the master bedroom is furnished with outdoor seats to create a cosy breakfast nook
EAST MEETS WEST
The owners’ preference for modern furniture with touches of Chinese elements inspired the unique look of each room. Tan curated a range of pieces that keeps the style of each space distinct from the others. The main living area, which offers a 180-degree view of the courtyard, is inspired by the surrounding pool and greenery. Upon entering, the eye is immediately drawn to the colourful artwork depicting horses in motion—the horse is a popular animal in Chinese culture. This artwork is created by framing a Hermès scarf; other silk accessories from the French luxury brand have also similarly used as art pieces throughout the home. “To make the transition between the indoor and outdoor as seamless as possible, we deliberately furnished the living space with Talenti outdoor furniture and contrasted the set with a Frag Hudson leather daybed.” The loose furniture, such as the ceramic stools, poufs and side tables are anchored by a rug in blue and green tones that echoes the hues of the outdoors. The dining room’s centrepiece is another Hermès scarf that plays up the equestrian theme of this area. The Alivar Cut marble-top dining table, black-and-white dining chairs and white barstools were selected to reflect elements of the horse harness and saddle. Also located on the ground floor is the guest room, which opens out onto the pool. A black Chinese-style armchair gives the room a touch of personality while complementing the modern look of the space. s in ga p o r e tat l e r h ome s
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PERSONAL CHARM
On the second storey, the focus shifts to creating private spaces for the family members to rest and relax. Directly above the living room is a family den, which is comfortably furnished with a Foxy sofa from Ana Roque, as well as a pair of Zanzibar armchairs and a Bangkok leather ottoman from Flexform. The overall effect is a cosy space that’s perfect for unwinding at the end of the day. The family den connects to the master bedroom, which Tan conceived as a series of spaces that feels almost like a separate apartment within the house. It comprises a dresser area, walk-in wardrobe, bedroom and a private balcony that overlooks the spectacular greenery. Beige tones and warm parquet flooring give this room a sense of sanctuary.
LOCATION Singapore
TYPE OF PROPERTY Good Class Bungalow
LEFT TO RIGHT The master bathroom is a tranquil space decked in natural stone; the wooden screen shields the room from the heat of the sun; metallic detailing on the bench and bedside tables bring a touch of glamour to the serene master bedroom
On the opposite wing is the junior master bedroom, which features furniture made with natural materials such as rattan and wood, inspired by the surrounding foliage. Flanking the master and junior master rooms are two more bedrooms, with furniture specially selected for each room such as a mirrored dresser and a Frag Twain desk. “One of the challenges we encountered was ensuring each of the bedrooms had a timeless feel yet was differentiated from one another,” says Tan. Her efforts did not go to waste; the team worked swiftly to decorate the house in three months. “For me, the most priceless part of the project was seeing the parts come together to form a whole and the delight of the clients when they saw the final product for the first time,” she says. “They loved it and thought the transformation from a house to their home was simply brilliant!”
PROPERTY SIZE 15,325sqft
ARCHITECTURE Guz Architects
INTERIOR DESIGN Designworx Interior Consultant
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PICTURE PERFECT
LEFT TO RIGHT This sitting area is furnished with the Magi daybed, the Thomas armchair, a pair of Guscioalto soft armchairs, the Zefiro coffee table and the Cestone console, all from Flexform; Londonbased interior designer Nebihe Cihan
BY MICHELE KOH MOROLLO IMAGES COURTESY OF FLEXFORM
USING ITS OWNER’S ART COLLECTION AS ITS GUIDING COMPASS, THIS PENTHOUSE MARRIES THE FORMAL ELEGANCE OF A MUSEUM WITH THE URBAN GLAMOUR OF THE BIG APPLE
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ondon-based interior designer Nebihe Cihan is no stranger to the Big Apple— she studied at the Parsons School of Design and worked in retail design for fashion brands Catherine Malandrino and Michael Kors in New York. In fact, she lived for many years on 57th Street, in the same area where she recently completed the interior design of this stunning 3,576sqft penthouse. The three-bedroom apartment is the home of a modern art connoisseur who wanted an intimate, museum-like haven in the heart of Manhattan. Enclosed in a newly built high-rise property designed by Rafael Viñoly, the penthouse was fitted with large windows that frame unparallelled views of the city. Its high ceilings provide large expanses of wall space that are ideal for showcasing its owner’s collection of modern art. “My inspiration for this project was New York itself and the life of an art collector,” says Cihan. “In a busy city, I wanted to create a sense of tranquillity; I designed the layout and palette around the powerful views of Central Park.” She took a minimalist approach to the interiors, carefully integrating artworks throughout the space so they don’t scream for attention, but rather become part of the overall concept.
THIS PAGE A Cerith Wyn Evans painting and a Tony Cragg sculpture add visual interest; the living area features the Flexform Groundpiece sofa and Magi daybed OPPOSITE PAGE This home boasts enviable city views
ARTISTIC CANVAS
With this project, her greatest challenge was marrying the artworks with the furnishings. The client wanted his artworks to take centre stage, so Cihan worked with him to curate a selection of contemporary pieces from his collection that would work well within the layout of the penthouse. “I worked with my client to curate all the artworks for the apartment before I even began sourcing the furniture,” she shares. “There is a calmness when you first enter a museum, and my client wanted to reflect this in the entrance of his home.”
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LEFT TO RIGHT A neon artwork by Cerith Wyn Evans adds a dash of whimsy to the hallway; a sculpture by Gimhongsok is placed next to a Nicky Nodjoumi painting; the exit sign displayed above a Kelly Wearstler side table is another playful gesture OPPOSITE PAGE The dining area features a Damien Langlois-Meurinne chandelier and Flexform furniture
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Upon entering the calm entranceway, guests are welcomed by a neon sign by Cerith Wyn Evans, and a bench authored by Vincenzo De Cotiis. In the living room is a sculpture by Tony Cragg, displayed on a plinth of Calacatta oro marble that was designed by Cihan and custom-made in Bergamo, Italy. “While I love all the artwork pieces we have curated for the project, the Tony Cragg sculpture is my favorite,” shares the designer. “It added so much character to the project, exactly how I wanted it to be.” A large painting by Idris Khan graces the dining area and acts as the perfect backdrop for the chandelier by French designer Damien Langlois-Meurinne for Pouenat. To enhance the gallery-like feel of the hallway, Cihan displayed colourful artworks such as a Nicky Nodjoumi painting as well as a Gimhongsok sculpture from Tina Kim Gallery along the walls.
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“MY FAVOURITE ASPECT OF THE ARCHITECTURE ARE THE HIGH CEILINGS AND VAST WINDOWS THAT FRAME THE SENSATIONAL VIEWS”
LOCATION New York, USA
TYPE OF PROPERTY Penthouse
PROPERTY SIZE 3,576sqft
INTERIOR DESIGN Nebihe Cihan Studio
TIME TAKEN 6 months
ON THE LEFT In the master bedroom, the Grandemare bed is paired with Gipsy side tables, a Guscio armchair and a Feel good ottoman, all from Flexform
ART AND STYLE
Known for her subtle and sophisticated aesthetics, Cihan believes in using clean lines and paying attention to detail to express timelessness without compromising on comfort. She mostly used furniture from Italian manufacturer Flexform to accomplish her goals with this project. “I carefully chose neutral tones and rich finishings so as not to detract from the art or spectacular views,” says Cihan.“My favourite aspect of the architecture are the high ceilings and vast windows that frame the sensational views. I also love the long hallway leading to the living room, which creates the effect of walking into an art gallery or museum.” During the design process, she divided the open-plan living and dining spaces into three parts: the casual sitting area features a daybed and an array of armchairs; the main living area is made more formal with a selection of structured pieces; the dining zone features a glass-top dining table and dining chairs with leather seats. “In order to highlight the artworks, I chose a sophisticated, neutral palette,” shares the designer. “The finishes are high-end with soft, tactile and neutral fabrics from luxurious cashmere to butter-soft leather.” These include the silk rugs from Holly Hunt, which were hand tufted in Nepal and customised to coordinate with the palette. Cihan also selected modern furniture with sculptural details and neutral tones that would not detract from the artworks. “I usually integrate the artworks at the end of a project, so this was a different approach from what I usually do,” reflects the designer. “I really enjoyed the challenge.”
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BY HONG XINYING STYLING AND PRODUCTION PRESTIGE GLOBAL DESIGNS PHOTOGRAPHY JASPER YU
S A N C T UA R I E S SINGAPOR E
ART AND CRAFT A CLEVER MIX OF COLOURS AND TEXTURES TRANSFORMS THIS APARTMENT INTO A CREATIVE AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT
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ith a newborn baby joining their family, a couple wanted to make more room for their expanding clan by moving into a centrally located apartment in District 11. Their quest for the perfect collaborator to design their abode was easier than expected; they came across the work of Prestige Global Designs in Singapore Tatler Homes and felt an instant connection with the look they wanted to achieve. The brief to the design ďŹ rm was straightforward: create a home with ample storage, a spacious entertaining area, and a bright and well-planned kitchen customised for the wife, who loves to bake. The owners have also amassed an array of Asian artworks and a colourful troupe of Bearbrick ďŹ gurines, which were to be incorporated into the design of the 2,820sqft apartment.
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LEFT TO RIGHT The balcony has been converted into an indoor-outdoor dining area for the owners who enjoy entertaining; a timber screen and a sculpture by Xie Ai Ge break up the monotony of the elongated bay area in the living room
THE GOAL WAS TO CREATE A WARM, INVITING AMBIENCE THAT ALSO CELEBRATES THE OWNERS’ COLOURFUL COLLECTION OF ARTWORKS AND BEARBRICK FIGURINES
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Behind the TV console is another luxurious detail—a silver portoro marble feature wall. Crimson accent cushions complement the red Bearbrick displayed on the TV console. To play up the artistic quality of the home, the firm picked out sculptural pieces such as the Cosmic leaf floor lamp by Artemide to complement the artworks on display. Standalone pieces cleverly section off the living area from the kitchen, while creating more spaces to display treasured collectibles and art objects. These include the Reflex sideboard from Angelo Canaletto, placed behind the L-shaped sofa from Gurian; its three-dimensional facets also add visual interest to the space. WINE AND DINE
Equal attention is given to the kitchen, which is the wife’s favourite spot. The culinary zone features a marble-clad kitchen island, furnished with drawers for baking tools and tableware; the attached dining table is the family’s breakfast nook. A mirrored panel facing the island also amplifies the sense of space; a cloud of silver pendant lamps that floats above it echoes the metallic finishes on the appliances and tools. Other functional details include the LED lighting that’s incorporated into the cabinetry to brighten the space as it lacks a natural light source. It’s accompanied by a tall wine storage cabinet for the oenophiles. NATURAL SELECTION
Led by Michael Ong and Jeremy Tay, the firm enjoyed the challenge of designing a dream home for the family of five. The team chose a modern look with contemporary accents to create an abode with a warm and inviting ambience for the family and their guests. The first sight to greet visitors is a bonsai plant, selected by the firm to complement the owners’ art collection. It’s placed at the foyer next to a pair of chairs and a Bearbrick figurine; the timber wood panelling adds a warm touch to the space. While the apartment has a sizeable footprint, it featured several bay windows that were underutilised. The living room, for instance, features an elongated bay window that runs the full length of the common area. The firm installed a marble counter and a vertical decorative screen at the bay area to bring a tactile touch to this space; the screen also acts as the perfect backdrop for a sculpture by Xie Ai Ge, which is flanked by a pair of table lamps.
LEFT TO RIGHT Fabric wallpaper and metal trimmings add texture to the corridor; a Bearbrick figurine is the focal point of the entryway OPPOSITE PAGE The Reflex sideboard separates the living area from the kitchen, while showcasing an array of decorative objects
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The balcony area is the dining zone of the home, turning the outdoor space into a functional spot for the family while making room for their many guests. “The owners frequently host gatherings; in order to accommodate their many guests, we proposed a outdoor dining area,” explains Tay. “It overlooks the greenery outside and connects the interior and the exterior.” Here, a mix of armchairs and benches creates a relaxed mood at the suar wood table. Potted plants add a verdant touch to the space. HIDE AND SEEK
What is unusual about the design of this apartment are the details the designers have painstakingly worked in to create the seamless look. The entrance to the master bedroom is concealed by a timber wood panel next to the marble feature wall; the same wood panelling is applied to the kitchen, living area and entrance to connect these spaces and create a cohesive look. The design team also incorporated built-in cabinetry and bench seating into the bay areas in each room, to maximise the use of these spaces. In the study, the bay area has been converted into a long desk that comfortably
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THIS PAGE A pink stripe on the wall and rose gold detailing in the bedroom celebrate the daughters’ love for blush tones OPPOSITE PAGE The ikat-like pattern and geometric prints on the cushions add to the relaxed vibe of the master bedroom; the study showcases the family’s colourful collection of Bearbrick figurines
“WE ENJOYED DESIGNING EVERY PART OF THE HOME— EVERY AREA HAS A CERTAIN UNIQUENESS TO IT”
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seats two, while providing additional storage space for the family. The study is also where the owners’ Bearbrick collection takes pride of place; the glass cabinets provide ample space to showcase the various figurines. ROOM TO GROW
The use of colour is as pertinent to this project, contributing to the unique design of each room. The couple’s two young daughters requested for a pink room—the challenge was to create a timeless space that also incorporates their preferred shade. “Our design intent was to create an elegant bedroom that can stand the test of time for the girls, when they grow older,” shares Tay. The firm extended the bay window area with a platform for two single beds, as well as to provide storage space for bedlinen. The room also features a custom-built bedhead with an oval mirror and bedside table, with a pink stripe on the wall and rose gold detailing on the handles celebrating the daughters’ favourite colour. The built-in cabinetry cleverly separates the beds from the wardrobe; it features a counter that also functions as a divider between the two areas.
LEFT TO RIGHT The mirrored feature wall creates an expansive sense of space in the kitchen; a pair of lantern-like lamps adds a warm glow to the corridor
LOCATION Singapore
TYPE OF PROPERTY Apartment
PROPERTY SIZE 2,820sqft
INTERIOR DESIGN Prestige Global Designs
TIME TAKEN 4 months
In the master bedroom, pops of blue contribute to its serene mood. “We wanted an interior that is fitting for a master suite yet also creating something light and elegant,” explains Tay. “To do this, we used ebony dark wood with grey-tinted mirrors to lend a luxurious yet modern touch. In addition, we proposed a half-height bedhead for a lighter feel in the bedroom.” The off-centre arrangement of the bedhead and painting also adds visual interest to the room, while the bay area features bench seating and an ebony wood counter for jewellery and accessories. The guest bedroom conveys a similar colour scheme to create a restful haven for the grandparents, who visit the family frequently. Trimmings and accent pieces in black and gold give the room a handsome look; a matching table lamp and a series of four paintings were specially created by Tay for this space. A dressing table was built over the bay window to improve the usability of the room. Altogether, the apartment is a well-planned space that the owners adore. The designers are as proud of their work too. “We enjoyed designing every part of the home—every area has a certain uniqueness to it, be it in terms of aesthetics, space planning or functionality.”
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S A N C T UA R I E S HAMILTON ISLAND
BY ANNABEL MIDDLETON PHOTOGRAPHY ANSON SMART
LEFT TO RIGHT The stylish terrace by the pool features outdoor furniture from Roda; timber is a key material in this home, with New Guinea rosewood applied throughout the property
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A SLICE OF PARADISE DRAWING FROM NATURE AS A MUSE, CREATIVE PATTERNS AND INTERESTING LAYERS USHER THE BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS INTO THIS EXQUISITE HAVEN
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lanked by one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders—Australia’s Great Barrier Reef—this magnificent villa on Hamilton Island is undeniably a breathtaking slice of paradise. What sets it apart from typical tropical villas is its immersion in such a beautiful environment, coupled with its sheer size; it comfortably sleeps up to 24 people. Decorated by internationally acclaimed interior designer Greg Natale, it’s no surprise that this exquisite home is yet another notch in his design belt. Unafraid of contrasts and big, bold elements, Natale’s unapologetic approach is evidenced in his striking interiors, including this gorgeous villa which is featured in his book, The Patterned Interior, published by Rizzoli New York in 2018. “Hamilton Island is home to stunning native bushland, pristine beaches and worldfamous coral reefs,” notes Natale, founder of Greg Natale Design, one of Australia’s leading design studios. “It was the colours, shapes and textures of this unique natural setting that I wanted to weave into the interior design.” LEFT TO RIGHT Australian interior designer Greg Natale; the lively Monstera leaf pattern on the Minotti sofas puts a retro spin on the tropical theme of this home
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“IT WAS THE COLOURS, SHAPES AND TEXTURES OF THIS UNIQUE NATURAL SETTING THAT I WANTED TO WEAVE INTO THE INTERIOR DESIGN”
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The award-winning designer—who, among a slew of career highlights, was crowned the International Luxury Designer of the Year for 2016 at High Point Market in North Carolina— says that patterns introduce vital layers to the design of a house. “The most appealing use of pattern in interiors comes from respecting the role it plays in layering and tailoring within a space,” says Natale.
INVITING BEAUTY
At once sophisticated and characterful, Natale’s signature interplay of graphics and patterns is unmistakable in this extraordinary home which offers a luxurious vacation within its own walls. In the tradition of authentic, resort-style living, one of the outstanding features of this astounding eight-bedroom residence is a keen focus on bringing the outdoors in. With exquisite views of the Coral Sea through the native hoop pines, as well as abundant plant life at its doors, establishing a connection to those elements was central to the design. Natale points out that tree trunks, leaves and water are visible and accessible at every turn, and “it was my job to emphasise that accessibility through the use of pattern and colour.” The allure of this property is that it is essentially “a series of beautiful, independent pavilions linked by roofed, bush-lined boardwalks,” says Natale. “This results in a variety of distinct locations, including courtyards, lawns, pools and secluded coastal lookouts; and each space offers privacy and comfort against the marvellous backdrop of the Great Barrier Reef.”
THIS PAGE The grooves on the vases by Jonathan Adler subtly reference the timber slats on the kitchen cabinetry; a rug by Greg Natale for Designer Rugs adds a lively dimension to the dining room OPPOSITE PAGE The mix of blush and olive green tones on the Minotti sofas and the Greg Nataledesigned rug was inspired by the flora and fauna of the Great Barrier Reef
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LIVING IT UP
Illustrating this concept perfectly is the main living room, which features a generous sofa setting covered in a print of olive-green Monstera leaves that seem to emerge from the plant-filled courtyard behind. Patterned cushions in shades of pink, grey and green add interesting detail and reflect the warmth of the New Guinea Rosewood timber that is found throughout the house, which serves as a backdrop for Natale’s design palette. “It is hard to single out any one favourite area,” he muses. “But I hold the fabulous main living area as a beloved design moment. Those Minotti sofas adorned in the oversized Monstera leaf print paint such a graphic, retro tropical mood from the outset. I love that.” The layers continue in the dining setting, where contemporary chairs in grey leather and textured green fabric are paired with a vast timber table, while the dappled patterning of the rug recalls the familiar palette of blush, olive, black and white. Meanwhile, the master bedroom takes the softer, blush tones of the Great Barrier Reef ’s precious coral as its core colour. In this hue,
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LEFT TO RIGHT The timber slats add texture to the clean-lined look of the kitchen; the collection of outdoor sofas, armchairs and coffee table from Minotti decorates a lounge area in the spacious villa; vases and decorative objects inject pops of colour to the shelves and lounge area
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LOCATION Hamilton Island, Australia
SITE AREA 104,302sqft
BUILT-UP AREA 13,454sqft
INTERIOR DESIGN Greg Natale Design
TIME TAKEN 3 years
“THE EFFECT IS THAT OF A TROPICAL PARADISE WITH A WARM BUT MODERN EDGE, WHERE THE LINK BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUT IS ALWAYS EVIDENT”
THIS PAGE The cabanas are furnished with Dedon chairs and stools; a row of Tribu daybeds encourages the family to enjoy the great outdoors OPPOSITE PAGE This room features a Molteni&C bed, a Kelly Wearstler chair and a Jonathan Adler side table; this bathroom features a vintage stool and a Rogerseller bathtub; the outdoor armchairs and side table seen here are from Kettal
cushions with a pattern like shattered stone, as well as a throw and accessories, display a softer take on the rosewood hue used on the wardrobe doors and floor. “The effect is that of a tropical paradise with a warm but modern edge, where the link between inside and out is always evident,” says Natale. “The fact that the natural beauty of the Whitsunday Islands is invited into each and every space means that the look of each area changes throughout the day.” STYLISH OASIS
Outside, the flow continues. Hanging glass lamps wrapped in twine preside over the garden terrace across the lush courtyard. This perennially open space showcases a stylistic connection to the plants beyond while the terraces and cabanas around the house’s two pools beautifully unite both setting and style. Flanking an infinity pool set on the same level as the house’s entrance, one terrace features chairs upholstered in a Monsteraprint fabric, a green rug and timber furniture that match the treetops outside. Undoubtedly, the link between the great outdoors and the grand residence indoors reverberates everywhere. With each scene presenting its own special appeal and reflecting the scenery that inspired it, nature is truly both the frame and the picture in this divine villa. s in ga p o r e tat l er h om es
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SPACES PAG E
144 OUTDOOR OASIS Make the most of your balcony with chic, weather-proof additions to your home. Here, the Indiana outdoor sofas and chairs by Roldofo Dordoni for Minotti create a cosy tableau that’s made to withstand both rain and shine
SOCIAL CONNECTION Turn the kitchen into the heart of your home with a stylish mix of furniture and accent pieces
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MODERN MARVEL The work of Cubo Design, the Menta kitchen system by Miton Cucine offers innovative, modular components that can be used to create a series of kitchen stations. Choose from a wide selection of matte, silky, stone or wood-effect finishes to match your interior scheme. Each module comes with the option of customised LEDs and can be designed for specific functions; these include shelving for cookbooks, a wine bar or a storage area for small appliances.
BY MICHELE KOH MOROLLO IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE BRANDS
S PAC E S KITCHEN
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nce a purely utilitarian space, our kitchens have since evolved to become multi-purpose, social zones. Large appliances used to dictate the layout of home kitchens, which were often kept out of sight from guests and designated solely to storing, preparing and cooking food. In the last two decades, many exciting new innovations have enabled the kitchen to be relocated from the back to the centre of the house, where it has become the heart of the home. Clutter-free and handleless systems encourage more open-concept designs that blur the boundaries between the kitchen and other parts of the home, while compact, touch-control appliances enable better utilisation of space. The development of home automation and multi-functional appliances have paved the way for a more human-centric approach to kitchen design, enabling increased flexibility, convenience and style choices. Here are some products that can help you design a kitchen that brings people together.
HOME AUTOMATION AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPLIANCES HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR A MORE HUMAN-CENTRIC APPROACH TO KITCHEN DESIGN
AT YOUR SERVICE Make sure your guests get their fill of wines, cocktails, and soft drinks throughout your party with the Oscar drinks trolley by Porada. Designed by Giovanna Azzarello, the trolley is composed of Canaletto walnut wood shelves set on a chromeplated metal frame. The Oscar combines elements from side tables with old-fashioned serving trolleys to add to its vintage charm.
EASY DOES IT The award-winning Fusion hob from V-Zug combines the functions of a hob and hood; its hob incorporates a hood that’s able to draw cooking vapours from the pots and pans. Equipped with an intuitive touch-control graphic display, its intelligent Opti link function allows the hob and integrated hood to automatically determine the vapour-extraction strength.
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TOP GEAR If you’re looking to prepare gourmet meals for family and guests without breaking a sweat, Teka’s iOven SS is a worthwhile investment. This intelligent, multifunctional oven comes with 50 preset recipes and a variety of functions. It can be set to breadbaking mode or automatic quickheating mode, and is equipped with temperature sensors and a cleaning system.
KEEP IT NEAT Made of a non-woven material that muffles the clang of metal and china, Flex-Boxes by Next125 are a smart choice for organising space in your kitchen drawers. The system consists of seven inserts that can be used in a variety of ways to store utensils, dinnerware and condiments. These boxes can be easily wiped clean, or placed in a dishwasher, and are a great way to customise your storage compartments.
CHIC COMPANION Make room for guests in your kitchen with the Blink counter stool from Stellar Works. Designed by Yabu Pushelberg, these steel-frame seats have a compact and elegant profile and a modern look that complements a wide variety of interior styles; these counter stools can also turn your kitchen island into a convenient spot for breakfast.
STONE ROSES The Topus concrete surface—a new addition to Caesarstone’s Metropolitan collection—lets you bring the industrial look of concrete to your kitchen counters and work surfaces. Inspired by the material’s rugged texture, this counter surface carries a hint of pink, making it a perfect fit with neutral or off-white walls. It also pairs beautifully with stained parquet floors, dark timber cabinets, and stainless steel hardware.
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COFFEE FIRST Because the modern kitchen sometimes doubles up as a home office, a convenient supply of quality coffee is essential. Part of De Dietrich’s sleek, minimalist Platinum Collection, the DKD7400X built-in Compact Coffee Machine is a welcome addition to kitchens and is an easy way to get a quick pick-meup in the morning.
PERFECT FRAME A high degree of transparency and visual connectivity to other areas of the home is ideal when designing an open-concept kitchen. You can achieve this effect with the Open double shelf, designed by Piero Lissoni for Boffi. Constructed from tie rods suspended from the ceiling, this shelving system is useful for maximising space above the kitchen island. Add an integrated light for neat, space-saving illumination.
VISUAL CONNECTIVITY TO OTHER AREAS OF THE HOME IS IDEAL WHEN DESIGNING AN OPEN-CONCEPT KITCHEN
LET THERE BE LIGHT Created by Danish design studio Goodmorning Technology for Luceplan, the Archetype suspension lamp combines innovative technology and comfortable light diffusion with clean lines and a pure and simple form. With a modern lampshade and balanced light source, the Archetype provides good illumination for worktops, island counters, and breakfast bars in both classic as well as contemporary kitchens.
WHERE TO GO
BOFFI SINGAPORE boffi.com CAESARSTONE caesarstone.sg DE DIETRICH asia.de-dietrich.com LUCEPLAN MILLION LIGHTING millionlighting.com luceplan.com MITON CUCINE, NEXT125 W. ATELIER watelier.com miton.it next125.com PORADA MARQUIS QSQUARE marquis.com.sg porada.it STELLAR WORKS P5 Studio p5studio.com.sg stellarworks.com TEKA teka.com V-ZUG V-Zug Singapore vzug.com/sg
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OUTDOOR OASIS
NIGHT LIGHT German outdoor furniture brand Gloster gives you the option of bringing its portable lamps outdoors for added illumination on your balcony. Designed by Danish designer Henrik Pederson, Gloster’s Ambient Lanterns comes in four chic and contemporary designs—Nest, which is made of synthetic fibre weaves, and Ray, Cocoon (seen on this page) and Lantern, which are made of buffed teak.
BY MICHELE KOH MOROLLO IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE BRANDS
Make the most of your balcony with these clever ideas
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loor space is precious in modern apartments, and this typically includes the balcony area, which can be neglected when homeowners are unsure of how to best make use of the space. With clever spatial planning, you can create a welcoming porch that can also enhance the sense of space in your apartment. Jeremy Tay of Prestige Global Designs advises against choosing bulky furniture for your balcony; he suggests using smaller pieces to allow for more movement and flexibility. “Include a few potted plants and a small table and chair where you can relax and enjoy a cup of tea or a cocktail,” adds Tay. Choose outdoor furniture in styles that complement the design scheme of your interiors. “Work
“BIGGER BALCONIES CAN WORK WONDERFULLY AS AN AREA FOR ENTERTAINING GUESTS”
POLISHED GLOW Designed by Piero Lissoni for Flos, Real matter is a stainless steel wall lamp that’s been specially weatherproofed for outdoor use. Available in sophisticated finishes of polished copper, brushed bronze, brushed gold or brushed steel, these sleek lamps feature soft ambient lighting that’s perfect for enjoying city views by night.
at connecting the interior and exterior spaces so there’s a seamless flow between the two; choose indoor and outdoor furniture with similar colours and patterns,” he says. Another tip: incorporate ceiling fans to help keep the space breezy on humid days. If you have a larger balcony that’s connected to your master bedroom, Karen Gan of KGID suggests using a daybed or chaise longue to create a cosy reading corner or a calming area for yoga. “Bigger balconies can work wonderfully as an area for entertaining guests, so if your balcony is large, you can include a small sofa set and side tables,” advises Gan. “If your balcony is small, choose compact items so you don’t overwhelm the space.” To turn your balcony into part of your interior living areas, she also recommends adding outdoor zip-blinds to keep air-conditioning in; the blinds can also block out the rain and sun. Here, we pick out a selection of products to help you design a beautiful and efficient balcony you’ll want to use every day.
PUFF OF ZEN The Cala collection from Kettal works well for a Zen-inspired outdoor tea area or as a space for meditation. Designed by internationally acclaimed, London-based duo Doshi Levien, the poufs have bases in either teak or coated aluminium; the cushions can be upholstered in Kettal outdoor fabrics which come in more than 50 different colours.
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SAY YES Composed of durable, modified polypropylene and produced using gas-injection technology, Dr. Yes, designed by Philippe Starck in collaboration with Eugeni Quitllet for Kartell, is a chair with an avant-garde sculptural profile. Glossy and smooth to the touch, Dr. Yes comes in a variety of snazzy colours that will add a sense of dynamism to your balcony.
CURVES AHEAD Winner of the 2019 IIDA/HD Expo Product Design Award, the Bell side table by Janus et Cie is made entirely of waterproof polyethylene plastic, and is thus perfect for balconies that are frequently exposed to the elements. The table features a matte finish and has a solid form that works well with modern, minimalist interiors in monochromatic schemes.
FADE NOT Made of 100 per cent polypropylene fibre, Woodnotes outdoor carpets are a good choice for moist and humid conditions. Resistant to abrasion and chlorinated water, the dyes in these carpets won’t easily fade even with regular exposure to the sun. Although designed specifically for outdoor areas, these carpets can be used indoors too.
VERDANT CUBE Add a green touch to your balcony with Serralunga’s Cubotti illuminated planters, which feature a cuboid-shape that allows them to fit snugly into balcony corners. Designed by Nat Wave, and fitted with an RGB LED lighting system, these planters offer a stylish, space-maximising solution by combining a plant pot with a light source.
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FLEXFORM Flexform Singapore flexform.it FLOS, KARTELL, SERRALUNGA Space Furniture spacefurniture.com.sg flos.com kartell.com serralunga.com
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COLOURFUL TAPESTRY Zimmer + Rohde’s colourful selection of outdoor textiles blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor upholstery fabrics to help you create a more unified look within your home. Featuring a lively array of patterns, these weather-resistant textiles are hypoallergenic and highly resistant to abrasion as well as salt and chlorinated water and can be easily machine washed.
SUN SALUTATION Lounge in style on the Indiana chaise longue designed by Rodolfo Dordoni for Minotti. Crafted from solid Iroko wood, the chaise features a wooden base and a woven backrest in nature-inspired tones that ooze resort-style vibes. If space is no constraint, pair it with the coffee tables and sofas from the Indiana collection for ample options to entertain your guests.
OUTDOOR READING Enjoy the comfort of a good reading chair at your balcony with the Alison outdoor armchair from Flexform. Designed by Carlo Colombo, the chair has a plywood base and a lightweight aluminium frame in white, wine red or khaki green, and in a burnished or satin-like finish. It’s upholstered in outdoor fabrics that withstand the sun, rain and humidity.
WOODNOTES P5 Studio p5studio.com.sg woodnotes.fi MINOTTI Minotti Singapore minotti.com ZIMMER + ROHDE Cetec cetec.com.hk zimmer-rohde.com
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SELECTIONS 150 INTERIOR DESIGNERS SPECIAL Finding the right studio to design your home takes time and a certain amount of trust. We’ve done the hard work for you, by shortlisting 10 stellar projects by local studios in Singapore, including this interior concept pictured here, designed by Minimo (page 174). Plus, get to vote for your favourite projects online soon, as part of our Readers’ Choice categories for the Tatler Design Awards 2020—more details to be shared soon in our next issue.
SELECTIONS 2ND EDITION
PERFECT BALANCE 2ND EDITION INFUSES THE SHOW UNIT OF THE WHITLEY RESIDENCES WITH CHARM, TEXTURE AND INGENIOUS SPACE-PLANNING IDEAS
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LEFT TO RIGHT The marble feature wall is the focal point of the monochromatic living room; a creative selection of decor objects and dried plants adds visual interest to the show unit
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uilding the ideal home is about weaving together the paradoxes of family living. There has to be space for communal engagement but also solitude, and shelter from the harsh sunlight and rain. In terms of aesthetics, a home should be serene and inviting, while featuring points of interest that reflect the owners’ lifestyles. Hilary Loh, founder and design director of 2nd Edition, considers all these factors for each project the firm embarks on, including this show unit for The Whitley Residences. The freehold, strata development in Singapore’s prime District 11 comprises 58 semi-detached houses and three terrace houses. Developed by Hoi Hup Realty, the architecture by JGP Architects is minimalist and modern, complete with abundant landscaping, swimming pools and water features. The twostorey homes contain an attic and basement; residents can immediately access their home from the car park lot and private lifts.
PHOTOGRAPHY MARC TAN / STUDIO PERIPHERY
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Together with design associate Ika Suprapto and designer Sanchia Janita, Loh considered all of these elements and more when crafting an inspiring interior for this two-storey stratahouse. Under the team’s discerning eye, the interior concept is governed by a contemporary style that is timeless and tasteful. Various materials, such as book-matched white marble, ebony veneer panelling, textured wall coverings, brass inlays and characteristic lighting fixtures are used throughout to create a tranquil and sophisticated atmosphere.
2ND EDITION With a focus on designing stylish show units for luxury developers, the projects by 2nd Edition are defined by elegance, tactility and bespoke detailing. The interdisciplinary firm is helmed by Hilary Loh, who started the studio in 2005 with co-founder Lim Koon Park. Leading a team of 16, Loh firmly believes in creating holistic spaces that fulfil the unique requests and needs of each client. At the same time, she is relentless in her pursuit of excellence and originality in design.
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Both living and dining areas open to external views but are separated on the other side by the lift, staircase and powder room. A rotund light fixture on the wall echoes the counter’s rounded edge, and the white marble feature wall continues the visual dialogue with the living room’s monochromatic look. GRAPHIC TOUCHES
The use of charcoal black and off-white shades segues into the dining room, which is anchored by a contemporary chandelier against a black panel and glossy glass cabinetry. The effect injects drama into the dining experience. The sense of space in the kitchen is expanded by replacing the wall that separates the dining area and kitchen. In its place is a bar counter that not only connects the spaces physically and visually but also facilitates the social aspects of cooking and dining.
THE COMPOSITION OF MATERIALS, COLOURS AND FORMS CONVEYS THE FIRM’S ABILITY TO CRAFT A COHESIVE LOOK WITH THE HUMAN TOUCH
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THIS PAGE A contemporary chandelier adds a sense of drama to the dining room; the master bedroom is accented with sapphire cushions OPPOSITE PAGE The attic has been transformed into a stylish study furnished with a bespoke marble desk, a grey settee and a wallhung display shelf; tactile details in this bedroom include the textured wallpaper and the custommade upholstered headboard
The house epitomises luxury living, with five bedrooms and six bathrooms. Loh offers homeowners ideas on how to use the spaces creatively by designing the basement bedroom as an entertainment room, and the attic as a study. The latter is dressed in a calming palette of greys; a wall-hung display shelf with ambient lighting displays books and paraphernalia, complemented by a bespoke marble desk. The tubular lighting feature above the sofa, triangular table lamp and circular side table come together to create a harmonious scene. STRONG AND SOFT
The master bedroom is a case study in creative space planning. A black panel between the bed and walk-in wardrobe functions as a TV wall on one side as well as a table and dresser on the other. A glass-fronted wardrobe integrated with ambient lighting makes an elegant showcase of the owner’s bags and accessories. The masculine elements of this room are contrasted with feminine details at the bed area. Art Deco influences are apparent in the angled wallpaper and the bedside lighting fixtures; the sapphire upholstery stands out against the grey bedhead and settee. Here, as in the rest of the house, detailing is immaculate; the composition of materials, colours and forms conveys the firm’s ability to craft a cohesive look with the human touch.
2ND EDITION 46 Kim Yam Road, #05-04 The Herencia, Tel: 6298 8829, Instagram: @2edesignstudio
SELECTIONS DESIGN REBIRTH
EASY LIVING
DESIGN REBIRTH TURNS A MODERN APARTMENT INTO A CHILD-FRIENDLY HAVEN FOR A YOUNG FAMILY
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aving recently moved into this apartment with two young children, the homeowners’ top priorities were very pragmatic—to make their new home a cosy and conducive environment for the little ones. Happily for the couple, finding the right interior designers for their home turned out to be as simple. The couple had received a glowing recommendation for Design Rebirth from their friends, who had enjoyed working with the local studio. “The owners were referred to me by another client; we did their home and we became friends,” quips Yap Khoon Wah, design director of Design Rebirth. “This owner said to us, ‘just do up my place, I have full trust in you’.” Thus the brief given to Yap was straightforward. “It’s got to be child-friendly and there shouldn’t be fragile things like mirrors that we might do for showflats,” shares Yap. “They want everything to look bright, light and uncluttered, and they expect a lot of storage.” With that in mind, Yap led the team to craft a home attentive to these needs while harnessing the firm’s ability to design timeless interiors.
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RIGHT The wooden panelling functions as a sliding door while housing storage and the built-in TV console
SAFE AND SOUND
Situated within the UE Square Residences condominium, the four-bedroom apartment enjoys the benefits of its central location in the lush Robertson Quay residential enclave. Its original floor plan, however, was not as ideal; the studio had to reconfigure its layout to improve the spatial flow of this 2,000sqft apartment. “The home is designed to be spacious and modern and convey effortless style. We had to do a major overhaul as the apartment is in an odd shape, with lots of beams,” says Yap, who led the design process on this project. “The dry kitchen was formerly a bedroom; we changed the kitchen entrance and removed the walls.”
DESIGN REBIRTH Co-founded by Yap Khoon Wah (left) and Victor Loh (right), the firm approaches each project with a holistic perspective by working closely with architects and builders, and maintaining a delicate balance between form and function; the studio specialises in residential and commercial projects.
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The studio also created another room hidden behind the wall panelling in the living area. Besides contributing to the interior’s seamless look, this wall feature serves multiple functions: it houses the built-in TV console as well as storage space, while functioning as a sliding door that leads to the other bedrooms. “The wooden strips add visual interest and texture to the living area with their threedimensional effect,” explains the designer.
“THE WOODEN STRIPS ADD VISUAL INTEREST AND TEXTURE TO THE LIVING AREA WITH THEIR THREEDIMENSIONAL EFFECT”
LIGHTNESS OF BEING
To complement the streamlined look, the team selected an off-white palette with black detailing; a colour scheme that’s applied throughout the apartment, except for the master suite. “The palette is darker for the master bedroom as the owners wanted it to be more cosy,” says Yap. Metallic trimmings complement the polished look of the home, particularly in the dry kitchen and dining area. Bronze-mirrored walls expand the sense of space in the dining room and are paired with gold-plated shelves that float above the bar counter. The Random suspension lights by Chia-Ying Lee for Studio Italia Design will soon be added to the home, serving as the focal point of the dining area. THIS PAGE The master bedroom sports a darker palette to create an intimate mood; the display shelf features built-in lighting that casts a gentle glow in the dry kitchen OPPOSITE PAGE The mix of pale wood and beige floor tiles adds to the cosy ambience of the apartment; the dining room features chairs from Andreu World and a dining table from Miniforms
PERSONAL ATTENTION
While the owners entrusted the firm with the furniture selection, the designers wanted to ensure that every piece was to their liking. “Most of the furniture is from Xtra and we did the shopping together with the owners,” shares the designer. The comfort factor was key: “I got the couple to visit the store to try the sofa and to look at the furniture.” The final selection includes dining chairs from Andreu World, a dining table from Miniforms, a sofa from Montis, the Eames lounge chair from Herman Miller as well as an armchair from Bensen; these were supplemented with the coffee table, accent cushions and vases from Crate & Barrel. Abstract artworks complete the minimalist look of the home. “The interesting part about these artworks are their three-dimensional elements, which give them texture,” he adds. Completed within four months, the firm looks back at the project with pride. “We enjoyed having the full trust of the clients and having a free hand in designing the place,” shares Yap.
DESIGN REBIRTH 41 Tessensohn Road, Tel: 6298 0700, designrebirth.com
SELECTIONS DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN
LAP OF LUXURY DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN WENT ALL OUT TO FURNISH THIS PENTHOUSE WITH A SHOW-STOPPING INTERIOR
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LASTING IMPRESSIONS
“Wow” elements are a hallmark of this home, right from the lift lobby where the eye is immediately drawn to myriad pearlescent discs that reflect light and act as a luminous foil to the dark marble bench below. The clever interplay of light and dark, such as the metallic-look cushions and the marble tables, brings a tactile dimension to the space. Indeed, the use of lighting via ornate chandeliers, and polished materials such as chrome and marble, form a common thread throughout all the spaces in this home. They unify the different rooms and bring the “ultraluxe” theme to every corner of this abode. Just past the foyer and in the living area, a full-height feature wall in dark marble holds court. This statement feature brings a commanding presence to the space and is the perfect backdrop to the twin Barovier & Toso chandeliers and various furnishings in rich finishes that populate this area. The wall is matched by the dining table, coffee table and pedestal on which the television set stands; all are in the same material and a perfect counterpoint to the light marble flooring underfoot. And not once does the generous use of marble in this home border on tackiness; rather, it is applied thoughtfully and brings a grand yet warm feel with its beautiful veining and array of shades.
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d Ong, founder and creative director of Dwell Interior Design, has made a name crafting elegant interiors for properties in prestigious districts in Singapore and beyond; suffice to say that he has seen his fair share of clients and projects of every stripe. Given that, it would be no stretch of the imagination to say that one of his firm’s most recent briefs—a five-bedroom penthouse at Leedon Residence—ranks up there with the best of them in terms of luxury living. Dwell Interior Design was tasked with giving this duplex a truly extravagant look and feel, with the homeowners declaring that money was no object when it came to doing up their place. “The idea was really to take luxury to an ‘ultra’ level,” says Ong. “The challenge was to execute it in an elegant manner, with the right proportions and emphasis.”
LEFT TO RIGHT The interior concept places emphasis on the lofty heights of the penthouse with twin Barovier & Toso chandeliers and a full-height feature wall; built-in lighting draws attention to beautiful veins of the marble feature wall
DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN Founder and creative director of Dwell, Ed Ong, believes that good design exists to serve. “Design must respect and serve the needs of the client, the surrounding environment and culture.” He has worked with a wide range of private and commercial clients, and has a personal passion for designing bespoke kitchens. He also became the first Asian designer to be appointed as the creative lead for the design of European kitchen fittings company Blum’s showrooms across Southeast Asia in 2010.
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SELECTIONS DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN
Throughout the living and dining spaces are statement pieces: contemporary furnishings from B&B Italia, flatware in fine silver and sparkling crystalware from Christofle and Baccarat respectively. With lighting playing such an important role in this home, the silver and crystal sparkle like a constellation of celestial objects. Yet another chandelier hangs in the open kitchen, presiding over a chromed kitchen island topped with a dark-marble countertop; it continues the lavish look conveyed by its brethren in the living and dining areas. KEY ACCENTS
Luxurious touches abound in the home’s private spaces, too. Marble, glass, metal and chrome trimmings adorn the various bedrooms, whether in the form of the special full-height mirror and its sliding doors, or the bespoke air-con grilles. Of particular note is the bedroom dubbed
“THE IDEA WAS REALLY TO TAKE LUXURY TO AN ‘ULTRA’ LEVEL ... THE CHALLENGE WAS TO EXECUTE IT IN AN ELEGANT MANNER” LEFT TO RIGHT This Barovier & Toso chandelier is a grand addition to the kitchen; the dining table is dressed with fine silverware OPPOSITE PAGE The master bedroom features a full-height mirror that can be concealed behind a pair of sliding doors; the “Tiffany Room” owes its moniker to the ample use of this pale shade
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the “Tiffany Room”, which plays host to the homeowner’s parents when they come to visit; it’s named after the shade of blue that’s applied to the wall panels, bedhead and even the bedlinen. Overhead, a chandelier in a delicate shade of aquamarine acts as another accent. The lower half of the walls is applied with marble cladding, which is also featured on the side table and console. The overall feel here is lighter, yet still luxurious. “Bringing marble into a bedroom is a bit risky, but in this case I think we managed to do it in proportions that convey status and were not ‘heavy’,” says Ong. His mantra of “let’s take everything up a notch” for this six-month project, which came to fruition at the end of last year, did indeed bear fruit by the look of things. The home features a wealth of opulent materials and finishes, married harmoniously by execution with elegance.
DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN 11 Kim Yam Road, Tel: 6883 1005, dwell.com.sg
SELECTIONS EDMUND NG ARCHITECTS
LIVING IN THE RITZ THIS APARTMENT DESIGNED BY EDMUND NG MELDS LUXURIOUS REFINEMENT WITH A CONTEMPORARY EDGE
EDMUND NG ARCHITECTS Founded by architect Edmund Ng, the eponymous practice specialises in both architecture and interior design projects. The studio has completed numerous residential and hospitality projects locally and in the region, such as the Montigo Resorts Nongsa in Batam, Indonesia, as well as the luxury condominium One Rosyth in Singapore. Recent accolades received by the firm include the prize for Best Modern Minimalist Concept at the Tatler Design Awards 2019.
ON THE LEFT The wall panelling complements the sophisticated look of the living room
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ow does a designer stay true to the essence of the Ritz-Carlton brand, while injecting an interior with a contemporary edge? In the redesign of this apartment at Ritz-Carlton Residences, Edmund Ng Architects’ creative interpretation offers plenty to please the eye. “The apartment has to express the grandeur synonymous with the Ritz-Carlton brand, but the owners also wanted a wow factor,” says Edmund Ng, founder of the eponymous firm, which is also known as Metropolitan Office Experimental. In response, the award-winning practice has refurbished the apartment with a blend of classical and contemporary elements to create a relaxed yet sophisticated home. SETTING THE SCENE
At an impressive 6,000sqft, the apartment’s unusually large floor area was the outcome of combining two apartments—a context which presented Ng a set of unique challenges and opportunities. “I needed to reconfigure the space to work as a whole, instead of two separate apartments with ‘duplicated’ facilities—from dual master bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens to even powder rooms,” shares Ng.
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SELECTIONS EDMUND NG ARCHITECTS
One kitchen was turned into a supporting pantry for a theatre room. A powder room is ingeniously used as a wine bar, while two bedrooms were combined to form a large master bedroom. “I didn’t feel like I was working on an apartment, but a bungalow unit,” admits Ng. “This apartment offers a luxury of space that can rival a piece of landed property.” GRAND GESTURES
No space exemplifies the apartment’s unique appeal like the living room. “We designed the living room almost like a hotel lobby lounge, with pockets of different spaces for people to move around,” Ng reveals. At about 12m in length, the living room makes a striking welcome. Its minimal palette, dark-trimmed furnishings and elegant panelling set the tone for the entire apartment. Contrasting textures are added in flourishes, through the introduction of patterned rugs and artworks. Visitors to the living room are greeted by two distinct sections—a sofa area and an area anchored by a grand piano framed by a hanging chandelier. Completing the space is a geometric sculpture relief which adds a sense of dynamism to the living room.
“THE APARTMENT HAS TO EXPRESS THE GRANDEUR SYNONYMOUS WITH THE RITZ-CARLTON BRAND”
LEFT TO RIGHT The neutral palette creates a calming backdrop; the outdoor dining area offers ample space for festive gatherings OPPOSITE PAGE, FROM THE TOP The art-inspired rug grounds the look of the master bedroom; a floral artwork is the focal point of this lounge area; eyecatching pieces in the master bedroom include the gold sculpture displayed on the bay window
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CURATED CONNECTIONS
These well-considered details continue to create a smooth journey throughout the different spaces. Head to the dining room, where the seamless connection between the indoor dining space and outdoor deck evoke an elegant yet unfussy ambience. A wooden screen shades the dining area from the surrounding buildings when needed. “By linking the indoor and outdoor spaces, the feeling of spaciousness feeds into the abode’s grand design,” says Ng. The bedrooms are replete with curated decorative pieces, from gilded frames and Expressionist-style rugs to whitewashed colonial art pieces that add interest against the more classical furniture. Case-in-point: the master bedroom pairs its cool blue palette with a checkered pattern on the armchair, and a playful rug with a paintsplatter motif. Ultimately, this apartment exemplifies a cosmopolitan vibe—from its generous spaces to the relaxed luxury of living in a Ritz-Carlton branded suite.
EDMUND NG ARCHITECTS 22 Dunbar Walk, Tel: 9852 7750 / 6443 6602, edmundngarchitects.com
SELECTIONS KGID
MOOD FOR LOVE KGID TRANSFORMS A FOUR-BEDROOM APARTMENT INTO A STYLISH OPEN-PLAN HAVEN FOR A COUPLE
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LEFT TO RIGHT The TV-free living area provides a calming space free from the distractions of modern life; a pair of sculptures by the console represents the couple’s loving relationship
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hen visionary designers work with like-minded clients, the results are often nothing short of stunning; and this project was no exception. Designed by husband-andwife team Karen and Kelvin Gan of KGID, this 1,800sqft apartment already had the makings of a dream home for two. It’s situated in the exclusive Bukit Timah enclave and is part of the D’Leedon luxury residential complex designed by the late and great architect Zaha Hadid. The apartment’s compact size was just right for the couple, who were seeking a home that is personalised to suit their lifestyle. ENTERTAINMENT ZONE
To achieve their dream home, the designers improved the spatial configuration while carving out spaces for the couple’s frequent gatherings. The firm removed the wall between the living room and kitchen to create a social hub for the couple to entertain their friends. This also allowed the designers to install a stylish and spacious kitchen fitted with Miele appliances as well as a wine chiller. The bar counter allows for quick meals on busy days; it’s also the preferred chill-out spot for the couple.
KGID Established by Kelvin and Karen Gan in 2015, KGID is a boutique firm that specialises in bespoke projects, ranging from luxury apartments and landed properties to showflats. The designers were selected as two of the 50 most influential figures in the local design industry by Singapore Tatler Homes in 2015 and 2016.
SELECTIONS KGID
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For a minimalist look, the kitchen area is lined with timber-panelled cabinets that conceal kitchenware and equipment while keeping them within easy reach at any time. The adjacent living area is demarcated from the dining area and kitchen by an Elemento rug, with the B&B Italia armchair adding a pop of colour to the space. Artworks from Ode to Art lend a personal touch; these include a pair of sculptures that symbolises the loving couple. PERSONAL SPACE
To create a love nest, KGID converted the other bedrooms into multi-functional spaces to suit the couple’s needs. One of the bedrooms was transformed into a private screening room, with a cinema-like environment, and where the couple can enjoy a movie or watch their favourite TV series. A state-of-the-art Denon sound system is installed in the ceilings throughout the home to ensure crystal-clear sound in every corner. The fourth bedroom was converted into a home office and study.
THE OPEN-PLAN LIVING AND KITCHEN AREAS CREATE AMPLE ROOM FOR THE COUPLE TO ENTERTAIN THEIR GUESTS THIS PAGE Tinted glass panels separate the bedroom area from the bathroom; the magenta Husk armchair from B&B Italia adds a pop of colour to the living area OPPOSITE PAGE The kitchen cabinetry and the doors that lead to the other rooms feature the same timber panelling to create a seamless look; champagne accents add a touch of glamour to the bedroom
The most extensive changes were made to the master bedroom. The designers proposed an edgy bathroom inspired by the look of luxury hotel suites, with just two tinted glass panels separating the sleeping area from the freestanding bathtub. This required a reconfiguration of the bathroom. The tiling had to be redone and the existing plumbing to be repositioned to suit the new layout, while expanding the sense of space in the bedroom. The designers also converted the adjacent room into a walk-in wardrobe for the master bedroom. It’s cleverly camouflaged with timber panels to ensure the space remains free of clutter. The overall effect is akin to the design of a luxury hotel suite, offering the homeowners an oasis and respite away from the bustle of daily life. “Overall, the clients were very impressed with this new plan as not many interior designers can achieve this look,” shares the design duo, looking at the completed project with pride. “They appreciated our attention to detail and until now, we are still in contact!”
KGID 9 Pasir Ris Drive 4, #05-13 The Esparis (By appointment only), Tel: 9694 9071, 9067 9687; kgid.com.sg
SELECTIONS KNQ ASSOCIATES
PRIVATE SANCTUARY KNQ ASSOCIATES TRANSFORMED THIS SPACIOUS HOME INTO A COSY RETREAT FOR A MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY
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LEFT TO RIGHT Splashes of colour on the paintings and a rug add personality to the light palette of the living room; recessed lighting highlights features of the AV system as well as the decorative objects showcased on the display shelves
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he owners of this sixroom semi-detached residence reached out to KNQ Associates to transform their home— and the interior design firm knew exactly what their clients wanted. “It was our second time working with the homeowners, so we already had a good understanding of the family’s requirements,” says Stanley Tham, design principal of KNQ Associates. “This helped us to address their needs very specifically. Our friendship with the family and their trust in us resulted in a smooth renovation process.”
GRAND DESIGN
The main requirement was for every member of the family of eight to be able to relax in their own private spaces. The owners also wanted plenty of common areas for everyone to bond in their 6,100sqft home; the couple live with four children and the grandparents. KNQ ASSOCIATES Founded by Stanley Tham (left) and Kusnin Tan (right) in 2004, KNQ Associates specialises in residential and commercial projects in Singapore and beyond. The dynamic duo now lead a team of six in creating contemporary spaces that engage people on an emotional level through their creative use of materials, colours and artworks.
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“TACTILE JUXTAPOSITION GREATLY ENHANCES A HOME’S AMBIENCE AND MOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN HIGHLIGHTED BY PROPER LIGHTING”
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The family also wanted a big entertainment area to accommodate their festive gatherings with the extended family and friends; this area would also house a ping-pong table as the family enjoy playing the sport. To accommodate their frequent house parties, the home should also incorporate a basement carpark expansive enough to house five vehicles. Furthermore, as one of the daughters is a talented painter, the parents wanted a gallery-like space that showcases her watercolour artworks. FINE TOUCHES
Each of the bedrooms has been designed to suit its occupant’s personal preferences. All of them boast an abundance of light. The use of various textural elements, such as dark wood and purple velvet, adds visual depth to the rooms. Other clever touches are in evidence: on the first floor, an L-shaped partition demarcates the living and dining areas, while incorporating storage space in an unobtrusive manner.
THIS PAGE A red armchair holds court in the neutral bedroom; the unique woodgrain of the feature wall adds a tactile dimension to another bedroom OPPOSITE PAGE The glamorous chandelier is the focal point of the dining area; a view of the home theatre and the ping-pong room from the entrance
KNQ Associates reconfigured and extended the usable floor area in the basement, carving out space for the family’s home entertainment system and ping-pong, as well as plenty of concealed storage for daily necessities. “We also made use of the awkward corners on this level to create individual rooms for access to the electricity meter, accommodation for the domestic help as well as a walk-in shoe closet for the entire family,” says Tham. Here, a specially-mixed concrete screed creates a natural backdrop for the daughter’s paintings. “We placed a lot of emphasis on creating textures throughout the house,” adds the designer. “Tactile juxtaposition greatly enhances a home’s ambience and mood, especially when highlighted by proper lighting.” From concrete screed to high-gloss marble finishes, the designers took pains to put together a good mix of polished and raw finishes, as well as both elegant and edgy detailing. The result is a home that not only serves the needs of the family, but also looks great.
KNQ ASSOCIATES 73 Ubi Road 1, #06-60 Oxley Bizhub, Tel: 6222 0966, knqassociates.com
SELECTIONS MINIMO
LIVING THE DREAM MINIMO FULFILS A HUSBAND’S HEARTFELT WISH BY TRANSFORMING HIS WIFE’S CHILDHOOD HOME INTO A STYLISH HAVEN
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GO WITH THE FLOW
On the first level, the home is organised as a collection of living spaces, consisting of a foyer, an al fresco dining area, a living room, a gym, a dining room and a kitchen. “It was quite a challenge to open up the spaces and link them up seamlessly with different functions,” explains Lim, who led the design process on this project. “Therefore, we used different types of flooring to demarcate each space.” While the spaces are not separated by actual walls, the designers play up the large grey columns, heavy rugs and darktoned materials to visually anchor each area. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling windows simultaneously offer privacy and openness when needed. These windows line the foyer, conferring the home a sense of expansiveness and creating a seamless flow between the al fresco dining and living spaces.
husband’s desire to realise the most memorable abode for his wife’s birthday led him back in time to her childhood home, a semidetached dwelling in the Braddell district. The owner wanted a bespoke home to match the couple’s entertaining habits, such that they would be able to host frequent house parties. Having enlisted the services of local studio Minimo, this ambitious project thus began, with the goal of overhauling an ageing residence into a stylish contemporary dwelling. “The original layout was very restricted and more like a cookie-cutter space,” shares Elden Lim, creative director of Minimo. “They wanted to have a very open space for parties and gatherings.”
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LEFT TO RIGHT A dark rug and a pair of Poltrona Frau armchairs anchor the living room; the floating steps bring a sense of lightness to the space
MINIMO With its detail-driven approach, the firm creates innovative layouts while striving to deliver bespoke and eloquent interiors. Founded by Elden Lim in 2014, the interdisciplinary practice combines a creative mix of finishes and furnishings to create highly personalised spaces that tell a story.
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HIDE AND SEEK
At the heart of this home’s interior concept is a monochromatic palette that prominently unifies the two levels; made even more impressive as skylights and open windows drench the home in abundant light. On one end, a striking marble-like wall anchors the living room—a stunning feature that is echoed in the foyer and on the second level to create a memorable entrance. At the other end, custom-made blackened steel frames mark the entrance to the kitchen. Wooden strip doors are used to hide various functions, including a wine fridge right beside the dry pantry. The kitchen cabinets are also fitted with stainless steel to create a seamless look with the appliances.
“THE WHOLE PROCESS WAS DEFINITELY ENJOYABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE YOUR DESIGN ON PAPER BECOME REALITY” LEFT TO RIGHT The stainless steel cabinets complement the seamless look of the kitchen; the heavy veins of the feature wall are the focal point of the living room OPPOSITE PAGE The TV feature wall separates the entryway from the living area; emerald chairs and gold pendant lights create visual interest in the dining area; a vibrant painting adds a dash of colour to the corridor
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PLAYFUL GESTURES
Against the monochromatic backdrop, the design firm has orchestrated a series of dramatic flourishes; these include elements such as the floating staircase as well as splashes of colour introduced through the oversized artworks and accent pieces such as the emerald velvet dining chairs and a red side table. A full-height TV feature wall with dual columns punctuates the living room. While one of the columns is part of the original structure of the house, the interior designer decided to add another column to create the illusion of a floating feature wall. “The bottom part of the feature wall is opened up, hence it visually extends the sense of space,” explains Lim. Despite the challenges from a tight deadline and working with an existing, aged structure, the final effect is a stunning contemporary home and a memorable gift. Lim says, “The whole process was definitely enjoyable, especially when you see your design on paper become reality.”
MINIMO 5 Jalan Kilang, #04-04 The Mill, Tel: 6909 0796, minimo.sg
SELECTIONS PRESTIGE GLOBAL DESIGNS
FUNCTIONAL CHIC THIS PRACTICAL AND LUXURIOUS HOME BY PRESTIGE GLOBAL DESIGNS FULFILLED THE CLIENT BRIEF TO A T
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COMMON SPACES
A mirror feature spanning the area from the main door to the living room welcomes guests at the entrance foyer. It creates the illusion of space and helps to bring light into the home. In the living area, a wall feature in beige and brown tones, accentuated by soft lighting, is flanked by mirrors to add to the effect of light and spaciousness. An Osim massage chair, side table, table lamp and potted plant create a cosy reading nook, while a coffee table from Eichholtz and a Fendi rug pull the whole look together and lend a luxurious feel. In the adjoining dining area, a pendant lamp from Christopher Guy takes pride of place. This stunning contemporary chandelier features a series of globe lights on L-shaped antique brass rods that radiate from a central bar affixed to the ceiling, resulting in a statement-making piece.
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t is every homeowner’s dream to boast of an abode that looks good and is their proverbial pride and joy, yet requires minimum upkeep because of their busy schedules. The family of this five-bedroom apartment sought just that when they appointed Prestige Global Designs to give their home a makeover—and the interior design firm did not disappoint, delivering tasteful touches that raised this 1,744sqft project to a new level of practicality and elegance. Besides a fuss-free, brightly lit interior that was also easy on the eye, the clients were looking for ideas on how to maximise the space by making good use of the bay windows in the bedrooms. The owners also wanted a colour scheme comprising earthy tones that adhere to fengshui principles. Together with their team, co-founders Michael Ong and Jeremy Tay put a plan together and worked meticulously to turn their clients’ dream into reality.
LEFT TO RIGHT A statement lamp from Christopher Guy and the clever placement of mirrors help to bring more light into the living and dining areas; a purple Daum bowl and the rouge Osim massage chair add pops of colour to the space
PRESTIGE GLOBAL DESIGNS Michael Ong (above, left) and Jeremy Tay (right) are the creative forces that lead the award-winning practice, Prestige Global Designs. The firm specialises in designing and building hotel-style interiors for residential and commercial properties, combining opulence with details that are unique to individuals and their homes. Since its inception, the practice has won multiple local and regional accolades including the Best Penthouse Project at the Tatler Design Awards 2018 and Best Luxury Concept at the Tatler Design Awards 2019.
SELECTIONS PRESTIGE GLOBAL DESIGNS
A wall feature in onyx, softly lit, acts as a backdrop where the family can gather to take photos. Part of it also features the wife’s collection of Hermès scarves, with one in particular complementing the light blue sofa and balancing the earthy tones. The dining and coffee tables feature Haviland and Daum tableware and vases, with silver Christofle round vases placed strategically to add a modern touch to the interior. Holding the living and dining areas together is a ceiling feature with soft lighting, done in a similar colour scheme and design language. The architrave that frames the balcony also unifies the two spaces and features lighting effects for a warm glow. PRIVATE RETREATS
A key consideration in the master bedroom was the need to carve out more space, as it had to include a king-sized bed, space for bags and jewellery, and a TV set. The designers also had to consider the L-shaped bay window. To maximise space, they built a platform on top of the window to create additional storage.
TASTEFUL TOUCHES RAISE THIS PROJECT TO A NEW LEVEL OF PRACTICALITY AND ELEGANCE LEFT TO RIGHT The brightly lit kitchen boasts sleek, clean lines; a patterned blue Hermès scarf and Daum vases draw the eye and lend an artistic flair to the space OPPOSITE PAGE Earthy tones dominate the home, from the living and dining spaces to the master bedroom
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A divider shields the bed from prying eyes and incorporates space for jewellery and watches. An illuminated, full-height display shows off the client’s bag collection next to an L-shaped wardrobe, which has a walk-in concept. Opposite the low bedhead is a TV feature with a low cabinet to help keep clutter out of sight. The brief for the daughter’s bedroom was to craft it in a “princess” style. The designers opted to avoid the cliché full-pink colour scheme, instead deciding on a more timeless dusty purple with pink accent cushions. The bay window accommodates a platform bed featuring generous storage for books and toys, while circular-motif decorative window panels and strategically located lighting enhance the elegant ambience. The result is a dreamy retreat with enough space for the child to give free rein to her imagination.
PRESTIGE GLOBAL DESIGNS 228 River Valley Road, Tel: 6836 6678, prestige-global.com
SELECTIONS SUJONOHUN
PASTORAL LIVING SUJONOHUN INFUSES THE COLOURS AND TEXTURES OF THE EUROPEAN VINEYARDS INTO THE SHOWFLATS OF VIEW AT KISMIS
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ingapore’s urban landscape is far removed from the image of sprawling vineyards under azure skies ubiquitous to the European countryside. Yet, this is precisely what inspired the sales gallery design of a new condominium development, which is a joint venture by Roxy-Pacific Holdings and Tong Eng Group. To let owners envision returning to a calming haven at View at Kismis after a busy day, the developers asked Sujono Lim, Molina Hun and Yanika Gunawan of Sujonohun to expand on the concept of “residence in a valley” for their showflats, while bringing out the essence of a modern Tuscan theme; a concept that originated from the architectural design of this project.
PROVINCIAL PICKS
ON THE LEFT The mountainous scene imbues a sense of calm to the glamorous living area
The striking design scheme celebrates the rustic charm of its vineyard inspiration, while keeping the overall feel contemporary to appeal to a wide range of future homeowners. The spaces are a spatial medley with textures and colours evocative of pine trees, vines, burgundy grapes and cellar oak. Rather than over-indulgent adornment or excessive gilt, the designers project a luxurious ambience through the sophisticated composition of materials, thoughtful detailing and streamlined design. SUJONOHUN Sujonohun is founded by husband-and-wife team Sujono Lim and Molina Hun. The design duo are the creative minds behind a variety of residential and hospitality projects that balance comfort, context and emotion. Their expertise extends to overseas projects, where they take the same approach to crafting personalised interiors with minimal lines and bespoke furnishings.
SELECTIONS SUJONOHUN
RUSTIC RETREAT
The sales gallery features two showflats: a two-bedroom apartment that caters to a young couple and a five-bedroom apartment that’s designed for a multi-generational family. In the two-bedroom unit, the countryside inspiration is referenced through an expansive monochrome wall print of mountain scenery in the living room; it adds spatial depth and is a calming backdrop for an array of decor objects. Pops of maroon on the furnishings and walls are paired with dark timber joinery that projects an air of sophistication. A bespoke dining table reflects the designers’ attention to detail with a decorative inlay of Italian tiles. Shades of vermillion and orange in the master bedroom evoke the sunset, continuing the nature-inspired theme. Refined touches are found in brass bedside lighting fixtures that hang low and a set of curvy vanity tables. Subtle linear patterns in the carpet and curtains create a sense of movement, their grey tones a calming backdrop to the brighter hues. In the second bedroom, a bespoke bed melds form and function, ingeniously combining the activities of sleeping, studying and storage into a lithe centrepiece that adds to the seamless look of the bedroom. LEFT TO RIGHT The wine shelf showcases an array of vintages; the condiments rack in the kitchen offers easy access to herbs and spices; the master bedroom features a tactile array of textures; the monochromatic material palette of the master bedroom is also conveyed in its ensuite bathroom; shades of blue imbue this bedroom with a calming mood
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The guest room is envisioned as a wine collection room, where a sleek wine shelf constructed of steel rods and saddle leather floats above a bar counter. Shades of gold and black lend opulence and masculinity, accompanied by ambient lighting which immediately sets a relaxed mood. NATURAL HARMONY
The five-bedroom show apartment takes a gentler approach with lighter tones and softer features. In the living room, a forest-green velvet sofa anchors a backdrop of green marble, light oak wood joinery and silver fabric. Hard lines juxtapose with circular forms, such as the custom-designed dining table and chairs detailed with cast iron elements, capped by an intricate chandelier. In the bedrooms, the colours of the sea and sky create tranquil retreats. Dressed in sapphire velvet upholstery and timber strips, the master bedroom is a handsome refuge while in a child’s bedroom, the ubiquitous camouflage pattern is given a playful twist with shades of blue. Such is the creativity and elegance that future homeowners can embrace living at View at Kismis.
SUJONOHUN 201 Henderson Road, #06-15 Apex@Henderson / Tel: 8488 6524 / sujonohun.com
SELECTIONS TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
LIFE IN COLOUR AN ADVENTUROUS COLOUR PALETTE DEFINES THIS GLAMOROUS APARTMENT BY TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
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LEFT A large patterned rug anchors the living space, which features earthy hues and metallic finishes
C
rafting a show apartment that stands out from a sea of luxurious homes requires a creative eye and a meticulous attention to detail. For this threebedroom unit in The Orchard Residences, Topic Design Studio was tasked to deliver an apartment that was timeless, elegant and luxurious, within the short period of three months. “One of the main concerns of the client was how we could create a design that was different from the rest of the showflats,” says Tan Sze Ling, principal designer of Topic Design Studio, who worked on the project together with interior designer Darrion Loo. “Timeless elegance and comfort were what the client had emphasised. We decided to introduce unique bespoke pieces and Italian designer furniture to match the apartment’s prestigious location, building on the theme of ‘elegant luxury’ and tailoring the spaces to appeal to families.”
WARM WELCOME
To bring the concept to life, the designers incorporated a colourful array of materials and textures into the 2,174sqft apartment. “Topic Design Studio has always been an interior firm with an eye for detail,” expresses Tan. “We pay a lot of attention to the refined look of the work and how proportions and colours contribute to the visual appeal of a space.”
TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO Founded by Tan Sze Ling, the practice first caught the industry’s attention with its personalised designs and its attention to detail. The studio has since worked on luxury residential and commercial projects in Singapore, Moscow, Bangalore, Jakarta and China; the firm creates subtle yet meaningful spaces through its sensitivity to culture, context and climate.
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SELECTIONS TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO
Firstly, warm lighting, neutral tones, and bespoke elements—including the custommade leather panels—create an elegant backdrop for each space. Taking centre stage in the different spaces is an eclectic array of furnishings featuring rich tones and artistic textures to create an inviting yet bold look. “We decided to take a risk by building a strong colour palette for each room, which adds character to the apartment as a whole,” says Tan. LIVING ENERGY
The living room makes an uplifting first impression with its glamorous ceiling and a large patterned rug anchoring the space. An array of seats, ranging from a plush sofa to leather chairs, creates a relaxed yet luxurious ambience. Adjacent to the living room is the dining area; a sleek, intimate space flanked by a row of tinted mirrors and leather panels. “Creating an illusion of a bigger area in this compact space was crucial,” explains Tan. To this end, bronze mirrored panels were installed in the dining area, enhancing the sense of space. As a finishing touch, two art pieces add pops of colour against the clean-lined furniture.
WARM LIGHTING, NEUTRAL TONES AND BESPOKE ELEMENTS CREATE AN ELEGANT BACKDROP FOR EACH SPACE IN THIS LUXURIOUS HOME LEFT TO RIGHT The diamond-cut mirrored feature elevates the look of the master bedroom; the master bathroom features a bathtub that’s built into a marble block OPPOSITE PAGE Blush accents add a feminine touch to this study area; the custommade leather wall creates a glamorous focal point in this bedroom
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PERSONAL SPACE
The design firm crafted unique concepts for each room, while retaining visual cohesiveness via recurring motifs and colours. “Like the idea of a family—where each person is an individual yet makes up a complete unit when they come together—the different rooms complement one other by retaining similar details,” says Tan. One of the apartment’s most charming spots is a study area that’s adjacent to the balcony. The space is animated with exuberant patterns, sculptural pieces, and a cushion with a geometric pattern. In the master bedroom, the designers have combined furnishings in metallic hues with a bespoke fabric panel and a diamond-cut mirrored wall to frame both ends of the bed. The master bathroom, which boasts a bird’s-eye view of the neighbourhood, features a bathtub encrusted within a marble block. The end result is a bold apartment that makes a strong first impression. “It was gratifying to see the owner admiring the details and workmanship,” says Tan, reflecting on the completed project.
TOPIC DESIGN STUDIO 100D Pasir Panjang Road, #06-01, Tel: 6694 5832, topicstudio.com.sg
STORE DIRECTORY B
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Boffi Singapore 123 Penang Road #01-13 Regency House Tel: 6836 5088 boffi.com
Industry+ / Made-In 1A Tyrwhitt Road industryplus.com.sg
P5 3 Killiney Road #01-01/02 Winsland House 1 Tel: 6337 0050 p5.com.sg
Scene Shang 263 Beach Road Tel: 6291 9629 shop.sceneshang.com
Vitra 315 Outram Road #14-08 Tan Boon Liat Building Tel: 6270 8828 vitra.com
Xtra 6 Raffles Boulevard #02-48 Marina Square Tel: 6336 0688 xtra.com.sg
Bowers & Wilkins 9 Raffles Boulevard #01-108 Millenia Walk Tel: 6337 2183 theexperts.com.sg
C Caesarstone 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-357 Suntec City Mall Tower 3 Tel: 6316 1938 caesarstone.sg Cetec 36 Armenian Street #02-05 Tel: 6634 5998 cetec.com.hk
D De Dietrich 65 Ubi Road 1 #02-70 Oxley Bizhub Tel: 65084639 de-dietrich.com Dream Interiors 1 Kallang Junction Level 1, Vanguard Campus Tel: 6235 0220 dream.com.sg
F Flexform / Studio216 200 Newton Road #01-01 Newton 200 Tel: 6909 2128 studio216.co Fritz Hansen 315 Outram Road #13-08 Tan Boon Liat Building Tel: 6270 8828 fritzhansen.com
Ipse Ipsa Ipsum 315 Outram Road #11-02 Tan Boon Liat Building ipseipsaipsum.com
J Janus et Cie 11 Beach Road Tel: 6333 0060 janusetcie.com
L Lifestorey @ Dempsey 8D Dempsey Road Level 2 T: 6253 3177 lifestorey.com Louis Poulsen 5 Purvis Street #01-02 Tel: 6735 4880 louispoulsen.com Louis Vuitton 2 Bayfront Avenue #B1-38/39 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Tel: 6788 3888 louisvuitton.com
M Marquis Qsquare 16 Tai Seng Street Tel: 6383 0119 marquis.com.sg Million Lighting 203 Kallang Bahru Tel: 6743 2033 millionlighting.com.sg Minotti 328 North Bridge Road #02-10 Raffles Hotel Arcade Tel: 6338 2822 nobel.com.sg/minotti.php
G Grafunkt 107 North Bridge Road #04-01 Funan Tel: 6336 6046 grafunkt.com
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O Ode to Art 252 North Bridge Road #01-36E/F Raffles City Shopping Centre Tel: 6250 1901 odetoart.com
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P5 Studio 213 Henderson Road #01-08 Henderson Industrial Park Tel: 6771 9500 p5studio.com.sg
R Roche Bobois 75 Bukit Timah Road #01-02 Boon Siew Building Tel: 6513 1918 roche-bobois.com Royal Selangor 10 Bayfront Avenue #B2-92 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Tel: 6688 7167 royalselangor.com
Simmons 13 Stamford Road #B2-40-42 Capitol Piazza 45winks.simmons.com/sg Space Furniture 77 Bencoolen Street Tel: 6415 0000 spacefurniture.com.sg
T Teka 38 Jalan Pemimpin #01-01 Tel: 6734 2415 teka.com
V-Zug 6 Scotts Road #03-11/12/13 Scotts Square Tel: 6926 0878 vzug.com/sg
W W. Atelier 201 Henderson Road #01-01 Tel: 6270 8828 watelier.com
PAG E
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LIVING REDEFINED
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T H E L A S T WO R D
“Is there any hotel anywhere so inseparably linked with the city around it as Raffles? I’ve been orbiting the globe for 45 years now, and I have yet to find one,” writes the itinerant travel journalist Pico Iyer, one of many literary luminaries who have frequented Raffles Singapore. That strong sense of place still holds true, after the hotel’s recent refurbishment. Reopening this August, Raffles Singapore has gone through a thoughtful interior transformation spearheaded by New York-based practice Champalimaud Design, and realised in collaboration with Aedas Singapore. “We want people to come and use the hotel lobby and the main building more and more,” says Alexandra Champalimaud, founder of Champalimaud Design. “It’s about bringing the beautiful hotel from the 19th century up to the 21st century and moving forward.” While the existing structure and historical elements have been retained, its interior spaces have been updated. Off-white walls and white marble flooring evoke a sense of lightness in the grand lobby, with a glamorous chandelier drawing the eye upwards to the lofty height of the space. Antique pieces, such as the grandfather’s clock in the lobby,
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have been lovingly restored and proudly displayed with plaques detailing their history. The suites feature a handsome mix of dark wood and leather pieces including a four-posterbed; smart room controls make it easy to set the right mood with just a few taps on the screen. The most dramatic changes were made in the restaurants and bar areas to inject a new dynamism to these social zones. The dining room now houses La Dame de Pic (featured on page 64), whereas storied spaces such as the Long Bar and Tiffin Room have been refreshed while referencing their local roots with tropical accents, Peranakan-style details and wicker furniture. New venues such as the Writers Bar take the hotel’s literary influence to heart with shelves of books; the hotel has also started a writers’ residency programme, and part of its creative initiative is the launch of Iyer’s new book, This Could Be Home: Raffles Hotel and the City of Tomorrow.
WWW
raffles.com/singapore
BY HONG XINYING PHOTOGRAPHY BENNY LOH
A NEW LEGACY
SUMMER SAVOURIES
INTO THE INSPIRED VEGAN FEAST MEET THE NEW CULINARY TRAILBLAZERS A TOAST TO LOCAL CRAFT BEERS
THE BEST OF GASTRONOMY IN A SINGLE SER VING
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