WHITE by SANDY CHANG

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W H T E

Awaji Yumebutai designed by Tadao Ando in Awaji, HyĹ?go, Japan Photography by Yu-wei Chang

C loth i ng

What Colour? Adolf Loos White facade 5 New designers: M a x Ta n V i k i n g Wo n g Shao-yen Chen V i v i a n W Y Wo n g Tze Goh Shin Park The Painter of Black

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l i v i ng

Front & Back Hand in Hand Wa t e r C l o c k Orishiki Ramei Keum Move in with me Oil Monkey Daylight on a surface Ploooop Chair Cheap Luxury Bold

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FOOD

Wu X i n g Minimalistic Cuisine: Viajante Raf Koya Where did you get it? S l i m Ta b l e Easy Breezy

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T ravel +

L e t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s G o O n H o l i d a y Yo t e l ! 10 Minimalistic hotels in Asia: The Lalu P a r k H o t e l To k y o T h e C o n r a d To k y o

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Happening now and then:

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Water Temple designed by Tadao Ando in Awaji, HyĹ?go, Japan Photography by Sandy Chang

E d i t o r ’ s L ette r “Ornament is a crime” said Adolf Loos in his essay Ornament and Crime in 1908. The term “Minimalism” has often been used vaguely. It is not only hard to define, but also a challenge to interpret. Some have argued that it is so simple that there is nothing to be explained but we at White magazine think it has the maximum amount of details to work with. It is the pursuit of functional and aesthetic excellence through the creative and calculated exclusion of excess. White, is a seasonal lifestyle magazine that focuses on Minimalistic aesthetics with a different theme in each issue. In this first issue, we divided the magazine into four categories, the necessities; clothing, living, food and travel. We understand the importance of the quality of life and the origin of luxury. Singaporean fashion designer Tze Goh has been designing futuristic minimal collections for many past seasons also Hong-Kong born fashion designer Viking Wong grabbed our attention with his rock and roll inspired collection. Both of these designers in the mix of White’s other interviewees show the way in which the lack of parts to a design feature does not mean the lack of love. Trends can be replaced, and fashion is made redundant every 6 months. The power suit was hot last summer but no one wants sculptural shoulders now. Minimalism is not limited to a specific period of time or has ever been out of fashion, it is timeless. A minimalistic product serves its fundamental functions with the least amount of components meaning it is highly versatile and fundamental. It is exciting to see Pheobe Philo renovate Celine, sending minimalistic collections down the runway and architect John Pawson’s exhibition at the Design Museum. But even without the big names, the spirit always exists. Minimalism is not a trend that comes and goes but a long term adoration. Live a minimal life because you choose to, not because you have to. Be picky and choose the best. Designer or not, a well-designed piece will be loved forever. Editor in chief, Sandy Yu-hsuan Chang

UV cut long sleeve shirt in white by Uniqlo Photography by Sandy Chang

fa s h i o n

what colour? from top: two tone wide-heeled sandal_zara fuchsia snake skin pouch_ loewe two tone leather clutch_marc by marc jacobs fuchsia cotton scarf_donna karan red quilted patent clutch_chanel

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF COLOUR TO A SUMMER OF MINIMALIST PERSUASION With the spring Summer influx of bright block colours for 2011, it is important for us to get to you our buys for the perfect streamlined capsule wardrobe. No-one wants to be seen at a Jil Sander after party in anything less than the perfect, light, minimal and utterly linear outfit. Here are 15 items on our to-get list in block bright colours . Photography by Sandy Chang Text by Ben Zachariah Marni Leather wallet in tomato red £135 Maison Martin Margiela Multi-way dress with scoop neck and cap sleeves in red £214 Tory Burch Eddie patent-leather ballerina flats in hot pink £160 +J Collection Key neck shirt B in pink £24.99 Zara Dress with pockets in orange £49.99 Jil Sander Market leather bag in yellow £580 Jimmy Choo Candy clutch in lemon yellow £330 Urbanears Plattan headphones in turquoise £50 Comme des Garcons leather wallet in fluorescent green with multicoloured interior £118 Burberry Embossed patent-leather laptop case in forest green £275 3.1 Phillip Lim Cutout silk and cotton-blend dress in sky blue £535 Fendi Silk top in sky blue £235 Falke Twin-pack cotton-blend ankle socks in navy and lilac £13 Diane Von Furstenberg Idola skirt in purple £186 Nixon Time Teller P watch in lavender £55

A d o l f L o o s w h i t e f a ç a d e Inspired by Adolf Loos, a Moravian-born Austrian architect, predicted “Soon the city streets will shine like white walls.” Photography Jayden Tang Fashion Chloe Mak Makeup Camila Fernandez Hair Meggie Cousland Model Georgia at Select Model

Tank top_Zara

Top _Nicole Farhi Trousers_Zara

Shirt_Zara Blazer_Zara Trousers_Joseph

Shirt Dress_Joseph

Dress_Simone Rocha

Fashion designer Viking Wong’s studio at King’s Cross Photography by Sandy Chang

5 n ew designers

Th i s p a ge : ca nva s ta nk top_M ax Tan AW10

max tan

What was the biggest obstacle during the development, in terms of design? That would be fabric sourcing. Unlike other fashion designers, I do not order my fabrics before designing my collection. I would think about the form, construction and design first,

How do you interpret minimalism? My garments have a minimalistic look but rich in details. I like threading on very fine lines.

Why are most of your collections monochrome? As I pay upmost attention to cuts and forms, the best palette to use is the monochromatic one. The construction of the garments should stand out the most when looking at them. Colours evoke feelings, and I do not want them to distract the attention.

How do you get inspired? I often get inspirations by asking a lot of questions to myself. I do see them as a challenge. But ultimately, the label max.tan is all about construction and most of the time, it is how differently I can construct a same particular piece of garment.

you can’t pin point where my clothes are from, but they are definitely inspired by the Far East.

Androgynous and geometrical, superb-tailored and simplistic, Singaporean fashion designer Max Tan creates minimalistic garments with maximised details.Tan does not only create a garment that only looks beautiful, everything in his collection has to have a wow factor.From a tank top made in a perfect square piece of fabric to a jumpsuit that could also be worn as a dress, Tan keep son challenging the traditional form of clothing through his magnificent tailoring skills.Hear all about Tan’s label and his latest challenge in our exclusive interview. In this exclusive interview we discover the concept behind Tan’s label and his latest challenges. Text and photography by Sandy Chang.

Name: Max Tan Age: 26 Location: Singapore Profession: Fashion Designer Style: Androgyny meets soft geometry How did you become interested in fashion? I have always been under the influence of my mom who was a seamstress when I was a kid. Has your mother’s career as a seamstress influenced your interest and style in fashion design and how? Yes it did. I could remember how I grew up helping her cut pockets and paper patterns. I would play with fabric wastage and try to drape them around myself. I guess that notion was deeply rooted in me and if you look at the construction of my desgins, it is relatively simple to the eye; almost like a kid’s interpretation of origami on fabric. Does your Singaporean upbringing influence your designs? I have always been interested in traditional garments of the Far East. From the robes of the Qing Dynasty (the last ruling dynasty of China, from 1644-1912) to the fishermen’s work wear of the Southeast Asia. I do like the fact that

and at times, no fabrics would seem right to fit into what I envision the garment to be. Who is your target market?

She is a minimalist who understands fashion and appreciates novel construction ideas.

Which other designers influenced you? I am drawn to the 80s when the Japanese designers took Paris by storm with their black constructive outfits.

You said in other interview that ‘ The starting point of each max.tan collection is always either a question, or a challenge.’ What is the next challenge for Max.Tan for Spring Summer 2011 Collection? I grew so tired of looking at excessive details on garments. My next challenge is to how I can tell people in my ‘language’ (my collection) that we need to once again put our focus on construction, which is the purest of form. For the first time, I work with prints and colours, and I collided a palette of orange, yellow, violet and pink on one single fabric. Clearly, this sends out a mocking undertone to how excessive fashion has become. I guess the greatest challenge this time for me is how to make colours still speak the max.tan DNA.

Th i s p a ge : Fa shi on desi g ner Vi ki ng Wong ’s st udio at King ’s Cross Photography by San d y C h an g

viking wong

What is next for you? With new business partners and PR, meetings with Selfridges and Harrods, we are looking for more business ventures and more press.

What is the highlight of your career so far? Graduation show means the most to me now.

You have won a few fashion awards. Have they been helpful for developing your business and career? Definitely. I just think it defines who you are, the awards pretty much is your cv.

Who is your target market? She is a 25-50 year old professional; with her own style and a good amount of disposable income to buy the pieces she wants. Attending high-class social events, she makes her own trends.

Do you consider yourself a Minimalist artist? Kind of. It’s minimalist in the way that it’s actually really deconstructive. It’s hard to describe, it’s just the way it is. It’s chaotic but in a minimalist palette.

Graduated from London College of Fashion with a 1st degree honours in Womenswear. He was a finalist in New York’s Gen Art Styles Vision Award in the Avant-Garde Category and his design has been exhibited in the V&A. He has had his debut in the Vauxhall Fashion Scout Fashion Week in both London and Paris. With a modern and minimalistic, sleek and simple silhouette. Viking Wong’s well-structured, androgynous shapes are traditionally tailored with untraceable finishing. Viking Wong gave us an exclusive interview at his studio near King’s Cross.

Name: Viking Wong Age: 23 Location: London based Profession: Fashion Designer Style: Androgynous and minimalistic How do you get inspired? Depends on the season but normally it would be photos collected over the years. What was the inspiration for your SS11 collection? It was an extension of the AW10 collection that was a development of my graduate collection. It was about experimenting with fabrics, different cuts, colours and tones. You mentioned in your other interviews saying that you were influenced by the Japanese culture. Which part of Japanese culture has influenced you? It was the revolution by Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakobo that influenced the new generation of Belgium designers. As I grew up at that time, it all influences the way we look at fashion. Has your Eastern-upbringing and cultural experiences benefited your design and career development? It is beneficial in the long run. I see everyone looking to Asia in the future for inspiration and a huge influence. However, I think people should understand Asia better, as it is extremely different to their initial perceptions.

How did you get inspired to design your MA collection? I was inspired by the sea near my home town in Yilan, Taiwan. I was inspired by the quality and movement of sea waves and wanted to represent that in my knitwear collection. I experimented with different materials and layers to create textures and volume. I was also inspired by 70s fur coats and African tribal costumes for the silhouettes of the garments. How did you come up with the idea of using the special material the nylon strings? I was looking for materials that can represent the different textures in Nature. One of the materials I found was the nylon strings that I used in my MA collection. I feel that they can convey the quality and volume of water. That’s why I choose to use them. Why did you decide to make an all white collection? I wanted to focus on the texture and structure of the garments and it suited the theme of waves. The nylons string have been featured in 2 seasons and has been seen as your design signature. Will you keep on using them or are you experimenting new materials? I try to introduce something new each season so I’m not using any nylon strings in my AW11 collection. But they might be suitable for other projects in the future. Who are you designing for? I am designing for people who appreciate art and craftsmanship. Why did you decided to establish your own brand? I decided to start my own brand right after I graduated, for I felt that I still have lots of ideas to be realised. What has been the biggest obstacle? The biggest difficulty for me has been finding sponsors and making decisions. Will you expand your market back to Asia? Maybe, but I’ll be based in London for the first few years. What is your plan for the next 5 years? I am planning to launch a ready-to-wear line and present my collections in catwalk show.

T h i s pa ge: Dres s , S ha o-yen Chen S S 1 1 S k i n Col l ec t i on

s hao-yen c hen Taiwanese -born Shao-Yen Chen is a London-based fashion designer whose work combines sculptural forms and innovative textiles. Shaped through his studies in BA Fashion design with Knitwear and MA Fashion Knitwear at Central Saint Martins, he took London by storm with his all white MA graduation collection. His unusual choice of material; cashmere, nylon strings, synthetic yarns and lycra, has allowed him to challenge the boundaries of traditional knitwear creating bold, abstract silhouettes. Shao-Yen talked to Sandy Chang about his collections and his visions. Photography by Nicole Maria Winkler Name: Shao-Yen Chen Age: 28 Location: London based Profession: Fashion Designer Style: Bold silhouette with innovative knitting techniques How did you become interested in fashion? I first got interested in fashion in the late 90s, when I was in high school. Japanese designers like Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo were very big in Taiwan. Their work changed the way I look at fashion, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been interested in it ever since. Why did you choose to study at Central St Martins? Like everyone else, for its reputation. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where most of my favourite designers have studied. What was the most important thing you learned at Central Saint Martins? The value of ideas. You have education and cultural experience from both Asia and Europe. How does that influence your designs? Asian education pays much attention to technical details and European values the process of development. I think I was quite lucky to experience both these cultures.

Dress, S hao-yen Chenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SS1 1 Skin C o lle ct io n P h o to grap hy by Nico le M ar ia W in kle r

vivian wy wong

Who are you designing for? No one in particular. My collection is more like an outlet of expressing my opinions, with an emphasis on sophistication. Ideally it is designed for everyone. A social matter inspired the collection, and it would be great if my design could move people and get them to think. It al depends on the perspective you see it in, whether they are just garments or an artistic expression to stimulate thinking.

said about the 2009 MP expenses scandal of the British parliament. “The point of any set of rules is that it’s got to look right.” This quote became the basis of my collection. My understanding of this statement is that as long as something looks right, it does not matter if they are really right or wrong. Mixing the element of suits, a uniform of politicians, which usually gives people a trustworthy and respectable impression, adding in elements of wardrobe malfunctions, things that make people embarrassed, things that are considered ‘wrong’, such as clothes buttoned up wrongly, skirts tucking into underwear etc., and create looks that look ‘right’.

Graduated from Kingston University Fashion Department in 2010, Hong Kong-born fashion designer Vivian Wong designed a sophisticated collection inspired by the MP expenditure scandal in 2009. Cleverly combining suits with mesh, the garments are clean, witty and modern. With Vivian’s heavy attention paid to detail, every piece is tactile to touch and is immaculately finished. Interview by Sandy Chang.

Name: Vivian WY Wong Location: London based Profession: Fashion designer Style: Sophisticated and modern How did you become interested in fashion? I have always loved beautiful things since I was a kid but didn’t really realise what fashion is and it’s potential until I attended my art foundation course. I have learnt about many great fashion designers and their approach and reasoning behind their designs. They opened my mind and changed my perception of fashion, it is more than just being beautiful, it can be a medium of expressing thoughts and that made me truly interested in fashion. Are there any designers or artists that you particularly admire and why? I admire Martin Margiela, Hussein Chalayan and AF Vandevorst. I also admire Ann Demeulemeester for her believe in her own aesthetics and I like her style as well. What inspires you? A feeling or a mood. Society matters, sociology, and philosophy. Interesting shapes and drapes. Sophistication. What is your graduation collection about? The collection is about a sentence David Cameron

What is your design philosophy? For every design, I hope to create a poetic feeling that could move people, at the same time create something new or provide a new perspective with what already exists and surrounds us. I also hope my designs would make each wearer unique, they could interpret the clothes and the embedded viewpoint as they wish and react to it, and be excited about their interaction with the clothes.

How has your Chinese background and cultural experience influenced your designs? Being Chinese and exposed to the western culture taught me that there is more than one way to see everything, and you must have an open mind, as the cultures are very different. There are just no right or wrong of seeing or doing anything.

Please define Minimalism? Minimalistic is to strip an idea to its core, leaving only the essence to tell the tale in order to enhance the impact and deliverance of the idea. A bit like meditation, you have to take away everything in order to see clearly what is truly important.

through history and different cultures, they all have some kind of variation of t-shirts, or a tunic. The collection is about giving structure to a T-shirt, in essence transforming it from an inner garment into an outer garment

Why did you decide to use various shades of white in your collections? It was to express the minimal feeling of white and an experiment of how different fabrics and fibres in white create different shades.

How did you get inspired? Every collection is a development based on precious season. For example the SS11 is very futuristic and we wanted the latest AW11 collection to a contrast to it. We went for something more urban, and much more nature-inspired. It still looks futuristic but with different contrasting elements.

Who are you designing for? Women who would like to look sophisticated and elegant.

Are you planning to expand your market to the Southeast Asia or your hometown Singapore? I would like to, but I have to improve my Chinese language first.

What is next for you? The next Spring Summer collection.

Th is p age: S cu l pt u ra l to p , Tze G oh S S 11

tze goh

Born in Singapore, now London based. Fashion designer Tze Goh studied in Paris and New York at Parsons and most recently the MA fashion program at Central Saint Martins. Goh creates minimal sculptural collections using unique fabrics. Sandy Chang spoke with Tze Goh about his collection and where he is going with his new collections. photography by Mike Lin

Name: Tze Goh Age: 31 Location: London based Profession: Fashion Designer Style: Futuristic and minimalistic

You are from Singapore, and you have studied in Paris and New York and now London. How has your background and travelling experiences influenced your designs? My designs are a combination of my international experiences filtered into a singular design aesthetic of striking minimalism.

How was the ideas and inspiration behind your designs? At first I started looking at the t-shirts. When I looked

B lack canvas tank top_Max Tan; Mini skir t with pockets_Zara 34

Sh i n Park

S h i n i Pa r k , w h o r u n s fa s h i o n bl og pa rk& cube i nte rpret s her versi on of M i ni m a l i sm Ph o to gra p hy Sa n d y Y.H . C h a n g Fa s h i o n a n d M o d e l Sh i n i Pa r k

t u rq u o i s e s ilk ve st_ Am erican Apparel; black cotton camisole_Uniqlo; leather skirt_vintage from Beyond Retro; sandals_Za ra 36

C h i ffo n s h i r t_ Am erican Appare l; tube to p_ H &M; trousers_Zara; quilted clutch_Chanel; pointed court shoes_Zara veal_Shin â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ow n 37

C h i ffo n tube_ To ps ho p; w hite tro us e rs _ Jo s eph semi-circle clutch_Shinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own; patent-leather cour t shoes_Kur t G eige r 38

S ack dress_H&M; pointed court shoes_Topshop 39

the pa i nte r o f black Ins pired by Pie rre S o ulage s photography and painting_Sandy Chang digital retouch_Clara Yee 41

rimmel 60 seconds_800 black out and revelon nail enamel_999 black 42

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finish nail varnish_night shade 4. beauty uk glam nails_black no.6

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5. 2true glossy nail polish shade no.39 6. bourgeois ultra shine_30 noir de chine 7. revelon nail enamel_999 black 8. nails inc. nail polish maddox street

1.mac_blitz & glitz fluidline 2.mac_blacktrack fluidline 3.kate gel eye liner_bk-1 4.bobbi 46

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5.maybelline lasting drama gel eyeliner_01 black 6.barry m fine glitter dust_11 7.barry m fine glitter dust_900 8.barry m fine glitter dust_22

1.mac_blitz & glitz fluidline 2.mac_blacktrack fluidline 3.kate gel eye liner_bk-1 4.bobbi 48

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5.maybelline lasting drama gel eyeliner_01 black 6.barry m fine glitter dust_11 7.barry m fine glitter dust_900 8.barry m fine glitter dust_22

Villa Savoye designed by Le Corbusier in Poissy, Yvelines, France Photography by Yu-wei Chang

living

This page: Front & Back Clock by Giha Woo

Front & back

A clock challenges the stereotype Photography by Giha Woo Interview by Sandy Chang

Multiple award-winning South-Korean product designer Giha Woo designs against the familiar. “I have always enjoyed breaking stereotypes since I was young and now I do it via product design. My ideal is not to design but to create visuals that challenge human thoughts.” Having worked in the industry for many years, Woo has designed a large range of products from mp3 players to clocks. One of his works, The Bent Hands clock, features a single spiraling arm on the clock face to indicate time in different countries around world all within concentric circles. His latest work, Front & Back, is a minimalistic clock that reinterprets the relationship between battery and clock. The clock face has an inner and outer disk each housing a battery that rotates to indicate the time, breaking stereotypes of the battery being hidden behind the clock face. Woo’s work, a combination of minimalistic aesthetics and innovative ideas is for anyone who appreciates his visual language and of a change in the way we view design. Whilst he is working on new projects, he is improving his English to do a Master degree here in London.

This page: hand in hand clock by Yen-wen Tseng

Hand in Hand

time. Tseng aims to change the look of a clock with least amount of parts as possible. “ I did it in a rational way by thinking about different moving possibilities based on traditional moving method.” said Tseng. “10 minutes later, a parallelogram showed up on the paper and that’s it.” It seems so easy the way he said it, as if anyone could come up with this idea just like that. It might be natural for him to think up innovative concepts, however he still faces obstacles during the process. “The hardest part is being confident.” said Tseng, “It’s not that difficult to come up with good ideas. What’s difficult is to be sure that this one is good enough.” Now based in Taichung, Taiwan, Tseng is running his own studio collaborating with designers in Sweden. The next step for him is to explore more possibilities and boundaries in different product categories in his way. And make money to pay the bills.

A clock with only essential parts

Photography by Yen-Wen Tseng Interview by Sandy Chang Designed by Taiwanese designer Yen-Wen Tseng, Hand in Hand is a unique timepiece that creates a new relation between hours and minutes. Sandy Chang talked to YenWen about his work and his inspirations. Before setting up his own studio, Yen-Wen Tseng studied at Konstfack in Stockholm and interned at Todd Bracher’s Studio in New York. Whilst at Konstfact, he visualised many innovative ideas into designs. Unlike many designers who keep on adding functions and decorations onto an object, Tseng deconstructs the item. Firstly, examining the existing structures and finding out the essential parts. Secondly, he excludes anything unwanted. Thirdly, he develops a new composition with the remaining parts. There are no add-ons to his designs, he creates new aesthetics with his unique composition. He is most satisfied with the Hand in Hand Clock. The initial idea was to find out a new relationship between clock hands since it has not been changed for a long

Water Clock is a unique interpretation of the commonly known concept of the clock. It is a minimalistic clock with no hands but 2 magnet balls displaying the time. The balls float on the surface after pouring water on the ceramic base, poled by the magnet needle built into the ceramic plate. The red ball shows the hour and the white one shows the minute. Made with Okamotoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative idea and Joâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s splendid smooth ceramic work, the Water Clock is simple and aesthetically stunning.

This page and opposite page: Water Clock by Kouichi Okamoto and Daniel Jo. material_ceramic . polypropylene . magnets size_W200mm x D200mm x H50mm weight_1.5kg

Wate r C l o c k

A clock tells time with water and magnets

Photography by Yuichi Yamaguchi Interview by Sandy Chang

The Water clock, is a collaboration project between Japanese product designer Kouichi Okamoto and Korean ceramic designer Daniel Jo. Meeting for the first time in New York at the ICFF DesignBoom Mart in 2008 with their exhibition stalls next to each other the two designers decided to work together on the project. Kouichi Okamoto is one of Japanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot young talents and CEO and head designer of Kyouei Design, an innovative design and manufacturing company of lighting and products in Shizuoka, Japan. Okomoto has managed to utilize an intriguing mix of materials and ideas, creating products that are not only novel, but also affordable. Daniel Jo is the director and designer of Ceramic Studio Daniel Jo in Seoul, Korea. Having won many awards in Korea his work has been exhibited around the word from MoMA in New York to Stockholm Furniture Fair in Sweden. Majored in Ceramics for both undergraduate and master degree at Kookmin University, Jo has many years of experience in ceramic making. His works are inspired by the proportion, colour and forms of nature, and he aims to make people think again about what visual or formative language should be used at present. One of his major works is Promise, a salt and pepper set in the shape of bird and clouds that are available at the MoMA Online Store. The peaceful blue clouds and the pure white birds stands for good news from the sky. Jo created the piece to connect the beauty of traditional Korean ceramics with a sense of modernity.

This page: model by Naoki Kawamoto

Orishiki

A fashion transformer Photography and interview by Sandy Chang

Orishiki is a new carrying device consisting of a single piece of a two dimensional structure, constructed of triangular segments which can be folded like origami, and can wrap things like furoshiki. The name ‘Orishiki’ is a hybrid word Kawamoto composed, ‘Ori’ taken from Origami, Japanese paper-folding art, and ‘Shiki’ taken from Furoshiki, Japanese traditional wrapping cloth which is larger enough to wrap and transport goods and gifts, as well as wearing them as scarves.

Before he moved to UK, he studied Environmental Design at Tokyo Zokei University and worked for years as a computer graphic designer. Being trained as an architect and with all computer skills he carries, he designs Orishiki in a similar way building architecture. Kawamoto creates a space by wrapping and folding the facade, and designs it in a numerical way. The designer showed me a working model with many markings and numbers in different colours across the face showing measurements that only he understands. How did he do it? “ The computer programmes I have learnt at college such as CAD and 3-D graphics have been very useful.” said Kawamoto. Smart software might help him to visualise the idea, however it is still extremely difficult to have it manufactured. The Accuracy of the is the biggest problem, the designer claims. In production, each triangle has to be independent from the other piece, but at he same time the edge of the triangle has to fit perfectly when the bag closes. The other issue is money. From prototypes which take around 1000 GBP each to make, and costs spent on attending exhibitions around the world, he is seeking for help. “I am looking for a business partner to work together.” Now there is a suitcase, handbag and a clutch included in the series, and Kawamoto is still expanding the range. The designer has been collaborating with a British packaging company that makes bottles and cosmetic cases. The next product is a cosmetic case, with each triangle inside the case featuring different coloured eye shadows and lipsticks, how fabulous.

This page: Orishiki clutch shut close Opposite page: Orishiki clutch open flat

N a o k i K awam o t o The Orishiki Spectacle Case, is part of Kawamoto’s graduation project at Royal College of Art. Kawamoto came up with the idea of Orishiki because he wants a new luggage system. As a formal international student flying long journeys many times a year, a good suitcase is essential. The first prototype he made within the series was a suitcase featuring a hard, faceted shell that folds in on itself to create a three dimensional luggage piece. Lined with a soft layer of patterned silk inside, the product features nets and a belt, much like a conventional suitcase to firmly hold its items in place. The idea is not to ‘pack’ but simply fold up the tapestry and the vessel is ready to go.

This page: Axis clothing rail by Ramei Keum

R a m e i Ke u m

Observing life and problem solving Photography by Ramei Keum Interview by Sandy chang

Life-oriented, award-winning South Korean furniture designer Ramei Keum solves inconvenience experienced in daily life. Keum designs for himself through the observations of every day life. Having launched a large range or products, Keum is most attached to the Gorge Coffee Table, made from a single piece of powder coated steel, folded so that the table top, magazine rack and legs are all combined. He came up with the concept because he wanted a coffee table that “ contains numerous factors necessary for a coffee table in one form”, said Keum. “I usually seek morphological inspirations from the nature and in the case I think the shape of a gorge would be the most suitable.” There are many little issues in life that we wish could be altered, and Keum’s designs make our lives a lot easier. Keum’s latest work is Axis, a clothes rail where the ends of the frame are shape like hangers. He came up with the idea because “ I don’t want to hang up my clothes when there are no hangers available on the rail.”

N I YU p air m u gs _ m u ji

Move In With Me

Photography and Set design Sandy cHANG

O p p os i te p a ge: C h ocol ate Fo n d u e Set d e s ign e d by J ako b Wagn e r _ M e n u Th is p age : W h i te O iva Tea p ot _ M a r im ekko

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You have a large range of architectures and furnitures, which project has given you the most satisfaction and whats the inspiration behind that? It should be Curene. It is the first chair i designed and won my first design award.

What was the biggest obstacle during the design process? Getting sick before submission.

Do you consider yourself as a Minimalistic artist? Sometimes yes.

Please define Minimalism? Take what you need and leave the rest.

Please describe your ideal home? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A little white house in the woods, and a small stream nearby.â&#x20AC;?

What is next for you? Retirement.

This page: House W located in China designed by Fuquan Junze Image courtesy of Oil Monkey Limited

o i l m o nkey

Fuquan Junze is a Japanese interior, furniture and industrial designer based in Hong Kong. Before entering the design profession, he worked as a mechanical engineer, school coach, and administrative manager. In 2007, Fuquan established Oil Monkey limited. Despite never having taken formal design training, Fuquan has quickly built a reputation in the field. In 2008, he was a runner up in the Phoenix Contemporary Design Fair Competition. Fuquan Junze talked to us about his design concept and career.

Name: Fuquan Junze Location: Hong Kong Profession: Interior, furniture, and industrial designer Style: Sophisticated and minimalistic

Why you name the act/company/yourself Oil Monkey? It is just a name, has no special meaning.

What is your design philosophy? Oilmonkeyology. Design exists not solely for the sensation of beauty. It needs to embrace the interpretation of a beholder as well as being integrated with its meaning. That involves perpetual relations of everything in nature bound by mutual check-and-balance as close as lips to teeth.

Who are you designing for? Myself.

d ay l i g h t o n a s u r fa c e Daniel Rybakken is a Norwegian-born, Gothenburgbased designer who has a fascination with the effects of natural daylight. Living in Northerrn Europe where natural light is limited throughout the year, Daniel came out with a solution to replicate natural daylight. Interview by Sandy Chang. Photography by Kalle Sanner and Daniel Rybakken

Daniel Rybakken is a 27 years old, Norwegian-born, Gothenburgbased designer who has a fascination with the effects of natural daylight. Living in Northerrn Europe where natural light is limited throughout the year, Daniel came out with a solution to replicate natural daylight. Daniel decided to recreate sunlight when he discovered the positive impact it has on people at his mother’s house in Oslo at the age of 16. During the day, the room was lit by lovely natural daylight streaming into the room through large white curtains and “it was uplifting being there”. But when winter comes, the room was lit with gloomy overhead lights which made him tired, alone and claustrophobic. “I asked myself why do we still make lampshades to decorate light bulbs rather than designing the light itself?” he says, “I wanted to recreate the positive sensation of natural light, not the lampshade.” He received a RedDot Award for best illumination concept with his first project Daylight Comes Sideways. Created by individually dimming 1000 LEDs arranged behind a semi-transparent surface, Daniel aims to create a feeling of expanded perceived-space through the illusion of natural daylight. Daniel’s innovative idea has impressed the critics, but was dissatisfied himself. He wanted something more believable. Surface Daylight was the project within which Daniel really achieved his goal. Instead of projection, the light-source is now placed within the material itself; LED lamps mounted beneath the surface. Daylight Entrance, a commission work to design the foyer for Stockholm-based company Vsagatan 7, is proof of Daniel’s concept. As both the entrance and staircase have no natural light, Daniel installed panels of LEDs to recreate the positive sensation of natural light. After achieving the goal of replicating light, Daniel still has loads of ideas to be realised. When he was asked; What is inspiring you right now? He said, “ I could make you a long list. When it comes to inspiration, I look at people that work in different areas from me.” That is why Daniel is constantly inspired by observing life to create innovative designs. When we asked him whether he likes London and would he expand his business to England and save us form the horrible British weather, he said “I really like the city and I would love to come to London if anyone commissions me. “ Anyone?? please do commission him ASAP.

Opposite page: Daylight Entrance in Stockholm designed by Daniel Rybakken

Plooop Chair Best known for his Morphogenesis_lounge_chair, Timothy Schreiber is an multi-award winning furniture designer and an architect. Timothy constantly experiments without he latest technology inventions and challenges the boundaries between digital design, manufacturing methods, and the critical analysis of aesthetics. Writer: Sandy Chang photography: Timothy Schreiber

Best known for his Morphogenesis_lounge_chair, Timothy Schreiber is an multi-award winning furniture designer and architect. Timothy constantly experiments with the latest technology and challenges the boundaries between digital design, manufacturing methods, socially/ environmentally sustainable technology and the critical analysis of aesthetics. Having been trained in traditional cabinet making, he has worked as a cabinet maker in California whilst studying architecture at Bauhaus University in Germany. After his graduation, Timothy worked for various architecture firms. Having worked for years as an architect, Timothy is familiar with good at providing solutions to uncommon problems. The ability to work with any sort of discipline has been beneficial to him when designing furniture. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I show most of my items to the manufacturers they always told me they could not be made, but this is something we are used to in architecture anyway. As a result, much of my furniture is made by automobile manufacturers.â&#x20AC;? said Timothy. His travelling experience has also influenced his designs a great deal. He has worked for an Australian architrave firm, and was involved on the creation of the Aquatic centre for the Olympic Games in Beijing, where he lived and worked in 2003 and 2004. For him, having lived in completely different and new environments was an invaluable experience, which resulted in another extremely creative phase in his recent career. Last year he spent 3 months on a project in Tokyo, which inspired him to make his latest creation, the Plooop Armchair. After seeing some traditional furniture made of light timber in Japan, he decided to use timber for the first time. The Plooop Armchair is formed with 3 loops of plywood, with all functional elements like the seat, backrest and legs emerged from four continuous loops of ply. The manufacturing process was extremely complex, combining computerised production methods with traditional wood craftsmanship. Timber wood was not the only thing that has inspired Timothy. He is looking forward to have his website rebuild into space invaders, an arcade video game designed by Japanese video game developer Tomohiro NIshikado in 1978. Similar to the game, visitors have to shoot the furniture to read the description. Cannot wait to see that.

Opposite page: Plooop chair, made of plywood, dimensions 800x400x400mm

cheap luxury Minimal in both look and cost, it is the most economical efficient chair that cost 7.11 Euro per kilogram. writer: Sandy Y.H. Chang photography: Alexandre Xanthakis

Paying for what you get, it is probably the best way to describe Greek industrial designer Alexandre Xanthakis’s work. Economically efficient, the chair is minimalistic in both the look and the price. Driven by the economical situation, Xanthakis has came up with a series of chair designs under the policy of 7.11 euro per kilogram. In Greek, people don’t have money to spend on expensive furniture, which created a USP for himself. A chair that is strong with a clean look, and most importantly affordable which is Minimal because it has to be. When asked, Why 7.11 Euro per kilogram? “ It was a concrete limit which constrained my design process from the beginning until now, pushed me to give an optimised product and a realistic project.” said Xanthakis. It seems simple, but the design process was no way near that. To achieve the minimal look, everything has to be precise during production. The designer found it most difficult to find a manufacturer that could offer the service for an affordable cost. He insisted that each constituting details should satisfy both structural, aesthetically and economical function. Thanks to his persistance, we can now buy a beautifully minimalistically designed chair with a price which is down to earth. Cheap luxury as he said. Xanthakis defines Minimalism as the optimisation of the form, the function and cost, and the “7.11 Euro per kilogram” chair is the best demonstration of his believes.

Opposite page: 7.11Kg / E u r ch air m ad e o f A lu m in iu m , d im e n s io n s H 8 0 xD 5 0 xW 4 0 cm

bold photography and set design by Sandy Chang

red teapot 18oz_wholeleaf 84

espresso cup red 186c and red mug 186c_pantone 85

aim coloured glass bottle gerbera_habitat 86

scarlett rectangular dish and gala placemat 35x50 cerise_habitat 87

chop to pot_joseph joseph 88

ex server plate_habitat 89

Elevate™ Solid Spoon and Elevate™ Flat Turner_joseph joseph 90

rice cooker_tatung 91

paviva coffee cups_bodum

chambord thermo jug_bodum 93

scarlett salad bowl 28cm fuchsia and scarlett bowl 14cm fuchsia _habitat 94

scarlett rectangular dish fuchsia pink_habitat 95

Egg cup by Maxwell & Williams Organic egg by Farmhouse Freedom Eggs Photography by Sandy Chang

food

W U X ING Tex t, Ph otog ra p hy a n d S et d e si g n by S a n d y C h a n g

The Wu Xing, or the Five Movements, Five Phases or Five Steps/Stages, are chiefly an ancient mnemonic device, in many traditional Chinese fields. As the system advanced further, it was taken to embrace all substances in the universe. The Five Phases correspond to different aspects of Mother Nature also interlinking to human bodies. Thus, wood corresponds to spring in the natural world, whereas to traditional Chinese medicine, it is responsible for the liver.

Element: Metal Colour: White Season: Autumn Organs: Lung Taste: Pungent Food: Mushroom, Tremella fuciformis Tofu Garlic Parsnips

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Element: Wood Colour: Blue/Green Season: Spring Organs: Liver Taste: Sour Food: Brocolli Cabbage Lime Kiwi Leek Spinach

Element: Water Colour: Black Season: Winter Organs: Kidney Taste: Salty Food: Eggplant Black beans Raisins Nori Kelp Jelly ear Shitaki mushrooms

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Element: Fire Colour: Red Season: Summer Organs: Heart Taste: Bitter Food: Apples Red pepper Red beans Tomato Radish Goji berry

Element: Earth Colour: Yellow Season: Late Summer Organs: Stomach Taste: Sweet Food: Lemon Yellow pepper Potato Corn Mango Orange

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m in i m a l i sti c c u i s i n e Minimalistic food is fresh, and seasonal that is no processed or with supplement. Minimalistic cuisine is freshly prepared meals that obtain the ingredientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original flavour and taste. We have selected three restaurants in London that offer minimalistic cuisines in different price ranges. Photography and text by Sandy Chang.

Opposite page: tableware at Hanasanshou at Park Hotel Tokyo, Japan

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This page: Roasted squab with beetroot and pistachio Opposite page: Razor clams and ink with pickled radishes and sunflower seeds

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viajante Pat ri ot S qua re L ondon E2 9 NF

Viajante is the brainchild of Nuno Mendes. Dubbed ‘Heston of Hoxton’, Mendes has interned at El Bulli and established his fame through the experimental Bacchus. Deservedly, eccentric gastronomic supremacy is what I expect from Viajante. The restaurant is located in the beautiful former old town hall in Bethnal Green. It has a very metallic open kitchen that connects directly to the 60s-inspired dining room with retro wooden furniture, echoing with the chef ’s distinct character and the welcoming service. There was no menu. “We will tell you what that is after you have eaten” said the waiter. The ambition and confidence of the chef is explicit. What is magical about Mendes is his intellectual use of ingredients. For instance, Scallops with carrot, mustard and watercress was a refreshing starter and carrot was made into slices, puree and broth. There was very little seasoning and the flavour was maximised. Charred leeks with milk skin and ash emulsion was another demonstration of the chef ’s extreme sensitivity to texture and flavour and it was a definite highlight.What a delightful dinner. 6 courses £65 www.viajante.co.uk/ Text by Max Tam Photography by Yu-wei Chang

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saf

152-15 4 C u r ta i n Ro a d L o n d o n EC 2 A 3 AT

People normally don’t respond well to the words ‘vegan’ or ‘raw food’, however Saf at Shoreditch is going to change that forever. Saf specialises in gourmet plant-based and raw food. Everything on the menu has no animal products, no dairy, refined or processed ingredients, and is all cooked below 48 o C. It might seem impossible to create an edible meal however everything I had for lunch was delicious. The starter of sweet potato dumplings was tender and juicy and the Chineseinspired black vinegar sauce was spicy but helped stimulate the appetite like much of the menu. For main I had the Saf Bowl, a healthy fiber-rich fulfilling meal with 5 vegetables including Korean kimchi on top of multi-grains. Saf is an acronym for Simply Authentic Food, and also means ‘Pure’ in Turkish. £30 to £40 per person http://www.safrestaurant.co.uk/

Text and Photography by Sandy Chang

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Opposite page: Sweet potato dumpling This page: Saf pot

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This page: kake atsu-atsu Opposite page: Hot Japanese tea

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koya

4 9 F ri t h st reet l ondon W 1 D 4 SG

In the hunt for the perfect Japanese cuisine it is always a struggle, top prices or bad quality cheapness. In the heart of soho, this well know delicacy is the choice of many. From the yasai tenzaru to the onset tamale side orger, all the plate or donburi bowls are all of the famous transitional japanese way. This is why when you stride through the blue ‘noren’ you know the food is authentic. The interior similar to the exterior is well throughout out, linear and muted, setting the emphasis on the food inside and the ‘noren’ outside. With polite staff, all Japanese or coarse, and clean minimal surroundings with a beigy haze, if you really are a food lover, this is the place to delight your soy soaked tastebuds. One thing through make sure you get there in time as their opening hours are something to be desired. £15 to £20 per person www.koya.co.uk

Text by Ben Zachariah Photography by Yu-wei Chang

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Wh ere d i d yo u get i t ? When the streets are full of chain cafes and sandwich retailers offering standard coffees, we appreciate individual cafes that have some character. Here we would like to share the top 3 boutiquey cafes in Central London. Text and photography by Sandy Chang.

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f l at w h i te 1 7 Ber wi ck St L ondon W 1 F 0 PT

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milk bar 3 B atema n S t reet L ondon W 1 D 4 AG

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n o te s m u s i c & co ffe e 3 1 S t M a rt i nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s L a ne L ondon WC2 N 4 ER

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s l i m ta b l e The most minimalistic dining table. Photography by Nilly Landao and interview by Sandy Chang

Israeli ceramicist Nilly Landao has kept on surprising the public with her unique food presentation. Best known for her work Airy Cocktail, which has won a Wallpaper Special Award at the Peroni/Alessi Design Awards, it is a great topic to start a conversation at a cocktail party. The floating bowls are perfect for serving appetisers and finger foods, and is an unique and fun way to entertain guests. After her education in Art and Philosophy at Tel-Aviv University in Israel, Landao started her career as a ceramicist. Over the years however she has enlarged her specialty to a dialogue between ceramic wares and the food in it, expressed by her bookWhite Dishes Red Delicioce. After the book publication in 2003, Landao has been invited to exhibit in galleries and museums and eventually had her solo exhibition at the Periscope Design Gallery in Israel which gave her more confidence, after widening her designing range to tables. “While sitting on my wheel creating a ceramic dish, I can imagine the food in it, the table, the room and the atmosphere for my dear guests.” Landao aspires to minimalistic space and believes that only the essential is needed. The idea of the Slim Table is a minimised dining table that is easily assembled and mobile, so it doesn’t occupy much space of the room. The plates that can be attached to the Slim Table, a strip of wood, is made with larger edges that can hold the cutlery, glass, and sauce plate. Wondering which lucky restaurant would be able to have the table installed - “I always see my personal guests before any other client. My work is about entertaining my guests in a new way.” said Landao.

Opposite page: Slim table by Nilly Landao 121

soba č&#x2022;&#x17D;éşŚ

Soba is a type of thin Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour. It is served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup.

Recipe: Ingredients: Soba noodle 1 bundle (or 100 gram) Dashi: 4 1/2 C water 1/4C loosely packed kezurikatsuo (shaved bonito) 3ince piece of dried dashi kombu 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon mirin 2 teaspoon sugar

To make the dashi, boil a pot of water. Once it boils, turn down the heat to simmer it gently. Put dry bonito flakes into a disposable soup bag and tie the top. Drop the bag and kombu in the water. Let them soak for 10 minutes then discard the bag and kombu. Add the rest of reasonings to make the soup base. Boil a large pot of water and boil the soba for 7 to 8 minutes (or the time specified on the package). When they are done, drain them and wash them under cold running water. After washing off the starchiness trace, place them on a plate or a flat sieve if possible.

To serve the noodle, place small bowls filled with the condiments of your choice such as spring onions. The dipping containers can be anything from a small cup to a soup bowl. To each, take a portion of soba each time and dips it in the sauce briefly.

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ea sy breezy

In summer you might lose appetite or simply do not want to prepare a large meal. Here are 2 dishes for you to cook at home that is easy and quick. Photography and text by Sandy Chang.

chazuke 茶漬け

Chazuke, is a simple Japanese dish made by pouring green tea, oolong tea, dashi, or hot water over cooked rice roughly on its own or accompanied by all kinds of toppings. It is also known as cha-cha gohan. Common toppings include pickles, nori (seaweed), marinated pollock roe and salted salmon with wasabi.

Receipe: Ingedietns: 1 serving of leftover rice (of course you can use fresh cooked rice) Green tea teabag or matcha powder Toppings: Condiment for rice Wasabi, to taste Nori (seeweed) Sesame seeds

Microwave the rice if it is cold and place it in a large bowl and top it with condiment for rice and toppings of your choice. Pour hot green tea over rice. Ready to serve.

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Trolley suitcase by Muji Photography by Sandy Chang

T RAV E L

LE T ’ GO O N H O L IDAY It’s about us, no matter where we go

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photography and styling_sandy chang model_max tam He is wearing plaid-lined parka by Burberry, cotton chinos by Margaret Howell, suede sneakers by Lanvin, and carrying luggage by Muji. She is wearing parka by A.P.C, cotton pants by Acne, sneakers by Converse, and carrying luggage by Muji

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Exploring Lon don on a sunny Saturday Brunch at Canteen Visit “Masterpiece Fair 2011” at The Royal Hospital Chelsea Shopping at B Store and Margaret Howell Lunch at Nopi Stop by Darkroom quickly to buy a pair of geometrical print tights by Patternity Visit “At Home in Japan-beyond the minimal house” exhibition at The Geffrye Museum of the Home Dinner at The Modern Pantry This page: He is wearing charcoal pants by H&M and leather plimsolls by Converse. She is wearing coated jeans by Uniqlo and leather low trainers by Converse

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day trip to Brighton:

Take train from London Victoria to Brighton Lunch at The Regency Restaurant Sunbathing on the beach Visit the Brighton Street Market Dinner at The Restaurant at Drakes Take train back to London

Opposite page: He is wearing shirt from Uniqlo, jeans from H&M, leather trainers by Converse, travel bag by agnĂ¨s b.

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Weeken d trip to Paris

Day 1: Take Eurostar from King’s Cross Station to Paris Check in at Murano Resort Lunch at Rose Bakery Visit Galerie Kreo Visit Perimeter Editions Dinner at Sous les Cerisiers Hangout at La Fidélité Back to hotel Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel Shopping at Merci Visit ToolsGalerie Lunch at Breizh Cafe Viist Patrick Seguin Shopping at Colette Check out Take Eurostar from Paris Grae du Nord Station to London

Opposite page: He is wearing t-shirt from A.P.C, cotton chinos by Maison Martin Margiela. Suitcase by Muji

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One week trip to Taiwan

Day 1: Take EVA Air from Heathrow Terminal 3 in London to Taipei, Taiwan Day 2: Check in at Villa 32 in the Beitou District Enjoy hot spring Dinner at the resort Day 3: Breakfast at the Villa 32 Check out Sight-seeing at the Danshui District Lunch at various snack vendors at the Old Street (endless choices including fish balls, iron egg, and won tons ) Visit the Taipei 101 Observatory, the tallest building in the world Check in at W Hotels Taipei in the city centre Dinner at Chingye Taiwanese Cuisine Drinks at jazz bar Brown Sugar Day 4: Take the National Rail to Nantou County Check in at The Lalu Lunch at The Tea House Walk along the lakeside enjoy the sparkling lake and grand mountains Visit the Sun Moon Lake Visitor Centre, designed by Norihiko Dan and Associates Dinner at The Lake View Chinese Restaurant Day 5: Take the National Rail to Pingtung County Check in at La View Bed & Breakfast Lunch at local seafood restaurants at ‘Donggang Sea Food Street’ Take the ship to Little Liuqiu, to see the seabed world Watch sunsets at Dapeng Bay Dinner at local restaurants (famous features are: blue fin tuna, cherry shrimp and fat roe) Day 6: Breakfast at the B&B Check out Visit the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium Buy takeaways from snack vendors as lunch Take a coach to Kaohsiung Take the High Speed Rail from Kaohsiung to Taipei Check in at Le Meridien Taipei Dinner at Ding Tai Fung, most famous for Siao Long Bao (small steamed buns) Day 7: Breakfast at the hotel Visitthe ‘Glenn Murcutt: Architecture for Place’ exhibition at Taipei Fine Arts Museum Checkout Take EVA Air from Taoyuan Airport to London

Opposite page: He is wearing trilby by Royal Party, glasses by Gucci, full zip hoodie by Uniqlo, limited edition t-shirt by Tokyo Incidents, chino trousers by Uniqlo, leather trainers by Swear. He is carrying luggage by Rimowa, passport case by Yves Saint Laurent and her suitcase by Samsonite

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YOTEL Lu x u ry capsule h otel Photography and text by Sandy Chang

Yotel is a YO! Company hotel brand with hotels at airports. Founded by Simon Woodroffe and Gerard Greene and Inspired by Japanese capsule hotels and first-class airline cabins. It’s rooms are smaller versions of traditional hotel rooms but larger than capsule hotel cabinets. Flexible and transformational space and design, Yotel has inherited the merits of Japanese design. It is not about installing normal size furniture into a small room. It is about taking the room and designing for that room, hand-made luxury mechanical folding beds and folding tables from the wall are the solutions. Though smaller, visitors are still getting the same thing and the same quality of stay. “Our customers tell us that they don’t really need the space particularly at airports.” according to Jo Berrington, the Marketing Director. “Our customers tend to get in the room, probably switch on the TV, chat with their wives, have a shower and go to bed.” And that is what to expect upon arrival. Guests could choose from Premium, Twin and Standard sizes rooms that all feature ensuite bathrooms, flat screen televisions, free Wi-Fi, and 24 hour room services. Yotel at airports provides a comfortable, relaxed space for travellers to relax and freshen up during their journey. Muji travel accessories are available on site upon request. It is possible to book exactly how long you would like to stay from just a few hours to 24 hours or more. Currently available at London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Yotel opens the New York City Time Square branch as a part of the complex which will include residential units.

Opposite page: luxury bed at Premium Cabin

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10 MinimalIST hOTELs IN asia In the summer we travel to Asia for a zen, relaxed holiday. For accommodation, we chose for you 10 minimalistic hotels in Asia. For your preview only, please keep reading for our choice of the best 3 hotels. Text and Photography by Sandy Chang Best get away The Lalu Hotel, Nantou, Taiwan. Best design Park Hotel Tokyo, Japan Best dining Conrad Hotel Tokyo, Japan Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Kagawa Japan designed by Tadao Ando, the facility incorporates a museum and a hotel, based on the concept of nature and art Nine Hours, Kyoto Japan a capsule hotel that offers luxury in a minimum living space The Puli Hotel and SPA, Shanghai an ultimate design boutique hotel providing an exciting new leisure experience Fuchun Resort, Hangzhou China an elegant resort surrounded by mountains, lakes and a working tea plantation The Opposite House, Beijing China light and spacious, it is a gorgeous glassy boutique hotel in the centre of Beijing Metropolitan Bangkok, Bangkok Thailand manicured minimalism retreat Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali Indonesia cool contemporary villas each with serene minimalist interiors, seductive outdoor living spaces

Opposite page: key card of Park Hotel Tokyo

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B est Getaway th is Summer The L alu Text by Sandy Chang Photography by Yu-wei Chang This page: Main entrance of The Lalu hotel

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This page: Hall way, The Lalu hotel

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Ong o i ng Style reso rt at the Lalu The Lalu is a 98 room, 5-star, modern luxury hotel in Nantou, Taiwan. Situated on Sun Moon Lake, the hotel dates back to 1901 and was once the favourite retreat of former President Chiang Kai Shek. Recently renovated by Australian architect Kerry Hill, the Lalu is one of the ultimate getaways in the world, providing its guests the perfect location and environment to relax and enjoy the mystical surroundings. Kerry Hill, a multiple award winning architect, receiving such awards as the 2001 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, has designed the hotel on the theme of Zen and is constructed

with four major building materials of wood, stone, glass, and iron. With a base area of 10 hectares, the hotel is divided into three buildings: Building ‘A’ houses the guest rooms; Building ‘B’ houses recreation equipment, including the spa, gym, sauna and members club; and Building C houses the villa, meeting rooms, library and parking lot. Kerry Hill named the architectural design “Ongoing Style”- a unique style of moving forward, which is timeless.

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This page: The Lalu hotel

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Reas o ns to v i s i t the Lalu To stay: Lakeview Suites and Villas- come in 1 and 2-bedroom options, were designed with a whole new approach to space and perspective. Courtyard Pool Villas - Also come in 1 and 2-bedroom options. WIth a 3 metre tall fence, the rooms offer total privacy and sanctity. To Enjoy: The Swimming Pool- at 60 metres long and 8 metres wide, it is one of the most popular features of the hotel. The Lalu Spa- offers a range of wellness treatments that use traditional techniques and all-natural products to help guests relax. Fishing at the lake - a reserved area on the lake allows visitors to experience the pleasure of fishing alone in nature. Where to Dine: The Lake View Chinese Restaurant- enjoy great Chinese cuisine in a

beautiful dining environment set amongst the scenery of the lake. The Oriental Brasserie- offers contemporary Chinese and Western cuisines in an informal atmosphere with view of the lake, green hills and the Shabalan Mountain across the water. The Lobby Bar - best place to enjoy a warm cup of tea or a drink before dinner or even during lunch time. Guests are welcomed to sit on the balcony to relax and enjoy the beauty of Sun Moon Lake.

142 Jungshing Road, Yuchr Shiang, Nantou Taiwan 555 Tel 886-49-285-6888 www.thelalu.com.tw/en

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60meters long and 8meters wide swimming pool

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best d es i gn pa r k h o tel t o ky o Tex t a n d p h o to g ra p hy b y S a n d y C h a n g

T h i s p a g e : L o b b y O p p o s i te p a g e : P re m i u m Tw i n s u i te

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As a member of the design hotels TM group, The Park Hotel offers an extraordinary level of service and ambience. The entire hotel is designed by French architect Frederic Thomas from the logo to the interior, which is a colour concept. Blue is for clean comfort, Green is for nature, and Red is for warmth. Frederic created a sleek hotel concept that is founded on specially selected off-white furniture, sensuously curvaceous forms and soft fabric covered walls. Warm and sophisticated, Park Hotel gives the guest a clean comfortable environment just like home, but only better.

Location Ideally situated in Shiodome, a flourishing new centre of business and culture, the hotel is the best choice for international tourists and business travellers alike. Walking distance to famous luxurios Ginza shopping district and Shinbashi Station.

Accommodation 273 guest rooms across the top 10 floors of shiodome Media Tower, each room is decorated with Monique le Houelleur’s natural artwork and features colour coordinated curtains and bedcovers. ‘Dé-Signe’ nightwear and original pillows developed in cooperation with Lofty, Co. ltd. guarantee a comfortable night’s sleep. For guests who have a hard time sleeping on pillows other then their own, Park Hotel offers professional consultation and advice to help guests to get a better sleep.

Dining Hanasanshou Offers traditional Japanese ‘kaiseki’ cuisine carefully prepared by chief chef Yoshiaki Takada, using fresh ingredients supplied from a farming family in Kyoto. Hanasanshou has been awarded a star by the Michilin Guide Tokyo. ‘Breakfast Set’ or ‘Porridge Set’ that comes with soup and three types of healthy small dishes are available for breakfast. For lunch there is a’Shokado’ lunch box and ‘Mini Kaiseki’ course. At dinner time, guests could enjoy a wide selection of a la carte items and a choice of over 50 types of shochu.

Shiodome Media Tower, 1-7-1, Higashi Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-7227 Tel 03-6252-1111 www.parkhoteltokyo.com

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best d i n i ng c o n r a d t o ky o Tex t a n d p h o to g ra p hy b y S a n d y C h a n g

T h i s p a g e : H a l l way O p p o s i te p a g e : Tw e n t y E i g h t B a r & L o u n g e

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Conrad Tokyo is a high-end hotel operated by the Hilton Hotel chain. Located 37 floors above the Tokyo Shiodome Area, it is a 290-room premium service hotel that caters to guests who want to be down town. A great hotel to stay for business travellers, the Conrad has also been popular with Japanese families from outside Tokyo.

Location 5 minutes walk from the world famous Ginza shopping district. 10 minutes walk to the nearby Shinbashi station, which conveniently links to the Roppongi and Shibuya areas through the Ginza line.

Accommodation Modern and luxurious, the 290 guestrooms and suites combine contemporary style with classical Japanese design.

Great features Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo. Guests could enjoy a meal at London’s legendary, 3-star Michelin chef ’s signature restaurant at the Conrad Tokyo. This exquisite restaurant features 7 metre floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views. Special offer ‘just for girls’ is available every wednesday evening. Gordon Ramsay has been awarded a star by the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2011.

Cerise by Gordon Ramsay Informal and relaxed, Cerise by Gordon Ramsay offers brasserie-inspired selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Attractive ornaments, mirrored screens and glass partitions combine to create a relaxing ambience for guests.

China Blue Chef Albert Tse gives a new take on Chinese cuisine, with a wide selection of tantalising dishes at this Michelin-starred avant-garde restaurant. Featuring a spectacular 8 metre walkin-wine cellar, and 3 private dining rooms with fabulous views of wTokyo Bay. A capacity for 110 guests is open for lunch and dinner. China Blue has also been awarded a stay by the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2011.

TwentyEight Bar & Lounge With spectacular views overseeing the impressive Tokyo Bay skyline it is the perfect place to meet for afternoon tea. In the evening the bar comes alive with live music performances and obtains a more sophisticated ambience.

1-9-1 Higashi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-7337, Japan Tel 81-3-6388-8000 conradhotels1.hilton.com/en

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Happening now and then: Yohji Yamamoto Location: Victoria & Albert Museum, London Time: 12 March - 10 July 2011 The Victoria and Albert Museum in London is presenting one of the most influential fashion designers of the last forty year, Yohji Yamamoto. Yamamoto‘s great visionary has inspired and provoked the world of fashion, challenging traditional norms of clothing with his avant-garde style. This is his major solo show in the UK, featuring over 80 women’s and menswear garments. Moreover, Yamamoto has designed an exclusive and limited range of fashion accessories for the V&A shop that incorporates many of his favourite items and key motifs through out his design career. Wim Crouwel: A Graphic Odyssey Location: Design Museum, London Time: 30 March - 03 July 2011 The Design Museum is the first UK retrospective of the Dutch graphic designer Wim Crouwel. The exhibition explores Crouwel’s rigorous design approach and key moments in his career including his work for design practice ‘Total Design’ , the identity for the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, as well as his iconic poster, print, typography and lesser known exhibition design. Crouwel’s innovative use of grid-based layouts and typographic systems to produce consistently striking asymmetric values are also covered. Constructed Landscpaes Location: Royal Academy of Arts Time: 18 March - 12 June 2011 Featuring the Rolex Centre in Lausanne designed by Japanese architectural duo SANNA and works by artists Jane and Louise Wilson and Suzanne Moxhay, this exhibition explores the ways that artists and architects reframe our perceptions of, and relationships to, landscape. Lee Ufan: Marking Infinity Location: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York Time: 24 June - 28 September 2011 Guggenheim is hosting the first U.S. retrospective of Lee Ufan, is a Korean born Japanese minimalist artist, philosopher, and poet. Ufan’s creation of a visual, conceptual, and theoretical language has expanded the possibilities for sculpture and painting. The artist’ work encounters between the viewer, object, and site that opens up a’realm of infinity where on can continuously bring one’s self back to nothingness.” Carlito Carvalhosa: Sum of Days Location: The Museum of Modern Art, New York Time: 24 August - 14 November 2011 MOMA is hosting Brazilian artist Carlito Carvalhosa’s first exhibition in the United States. Carvalhosa conceived Sum of Days as an environmental and participatory sound installationa monumental, voluminous construction made of soft, white, translucent material that hangs from the ceiling to the floor and takes the shape of an elliptical labyrinth. This structure hides, or interrupts, the defined limits of its surrounding architectural space, allowing an experience of total immersion while suspending the usual parameters of spatial reference known to the beholders. Long Film for Four Projectors Anthony McCall Location: Tate Britain, London Time: 16.00-23.00, 10 September 2011 A rare chance to view Anthony McCall’s Long Film for Four Projects (1974). McCall is an avant garde filmmaker living in New York in the 1970s, has made a series of ‘solid light’ films that pared down the cinematic process to just light and duration. McCall uses film to explore ideas of space, architecture and duration- in this instance by conjuring up four walls of intersecting light. The actual work occurs in the space between the film projector and the screen. After making art between 1978-1998 McCall’s return to his ‘solid light’ series has resulted in in a renewed international interest in his work. 152

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Shikoku Mura designed by Tadao Ando in Shikoku, Japan Photography by Yu-wei Chang

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