Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Tatler Homes Singapore

An ending also marks a new beginning—with 2020 fast approaching, we make time for both festive jubilation and retrospection through stories that celebrate design across the disciplines. Earlier this year, we spoke to some of the most brilliant minds in the industry during Milan Design Week, including Antonio Citterio (above) and Philippe Starck (right); they reflect on their most cherished collaborations while sharing pearls of design wisdom (page 92). Backed by time-tested knowledge, Italian furniture companies Giorgetti, Frag and Kartell demonstrate their fitnesse with materials in their collections (page 50); learn more about the heritage of these brands and their future plans. Nature, in all its ephemeral forms, continues to shape our creative imagination. Delight in mesmerising lighting collections influenced by natural phenomena (page 44) and read more about how…

Like many furniture manufacturers in Italy, Frag is a storied house, opening its doors in 1921 as an artisan workshop specialising in leather shoes. The humble shop gradually widened its scope, producing other leather products including belts and wallets, before venturing into furniture making. Helmed by Italian CEO Franco di Fonzo, Frag celebrates its rich heritage by specialising in leather furniture. Every collection contains an element of the material—be it tables made with leather marquetry or plush sofas upholstered in the finest hides. His family continues to be heavily involved in the management of the company; his daughter Federica is the firm’s marketing director, while his son Michele works as the firm’s designer and product and research development director. “The brand started 40 years ago and no one knew it…

In the capable hands of Design Intervention, any room can be transformed into an interior masterpiece. Working like skilled artists, the Singapore-based design firm combines clever spatial planning with meticulous details to create bespoke spaces for its residential and commercial clients. This year, the practice adds another feather to its cap—it is among the top firms listed in the 2019 edition of Interior Design Review by British journalist Andrew Martin; it is the sixth time that the studio has been featured in the celebrated design tome. Described as the “bible of interior design”, Interior Design Review chronicles the work of leading firms around the globe; this achievement affirms the studio’s passion for creating bespoke interior spaces. “Design Intervention is the only Singapore studio to be chosen and we are absolutely…

SET THE SAILS Guillaume Rolland’s passion for sailing inspires his elegant and streamlined approach to yacht design As an avid sailor and a celebrated designer in the boating world, Guillaume Rolland has led the yachting division of French design and furnishings brand Liaigre since 2001. Rolland’s ardour for boating started from his first sailing experience when he was just 10 years old; his deep knowledge on the subject made him a natural fit for the brand, whose founder Christian Liaigre was just as enthusiastic about sailing. Maintaining the delicate balance between style and efficiency, the yacht interior projects by Liaigre convey the discreet elegance of the brand while personalising each boat to suit the needs and tastes of the owners. Here, Rolland shares more about his newest projects and the…

The booth of Italian furniture maker Lema at the Salone del Mobile fair in Milan this year is thronged with visitors, as we wait for Piero Lissoni. Held back by the traffic, the Italian architect eventually arrives looking dapper in a navy suit. Quick-witted and concise, he sums up Ombra, his latest project for Lema: “It’s a simple chair. Four legs, one backrest, two arms; there’s a fantastic simplicity in that chair.” Besides helming his namesake firm Lissoni Associati, which has offices in Milan and New York, the jet-setting designer has overseen a wide range of projects spanning interior design and architecture, while creating furniture collections for over a dozen leading design companies including Lema. COMPETITIVE EDGE Lissoni has worked as Lema’s art director for over two decades, designing everything…

Even as a child, Michael Anastassiades had a burning curiosity about the objects around him; how each item is made and its personal significance. “I was always interested in objects, in the sense of being very intrigued about what makes an object acquire value and mean something to us, more than just simply serving a function.” Although the Cypriot-born, London-based designer had first trained as an engineer, his artistic streak sparked his desire to take on a more creative route. Becoming an industrial designer seemed to combine the best of both worlds. “My dream was to become an artist, but at some point I realised I had a very practical approach to things, so that’s why I became a designer instead,” he says. Among his most famous designs is the…

When the homeowners purchased this apartment in the River Valley area, they were careful to follow the recommendations of their fengshui master. Among them were specific colours for particular locations within the apartment, such as a bright red element in the living area and a gold feature wall in the dining room. Several interior designers whom the couple met all expressed reservations towards the colour requirements. They decided to entrust the project to Topic Studio after coming across one of the firm’s projects featured in Singapore Tatler Homes, which left the couple impressed with the way gold was incorporated into the design. WALLS OF ART The firm’s take on the colour requirements was to portray them through natural materials or motifs, and blend the strong colours with softer hues. “We…

From the iconic leather lounge chairs designed by Charles and Ray Eames to Eero Saarinen’s fiery red Womb collection for Knoll, there are a number of ways mid-century modern design lives on today, even though its heyday was in the 1950s and ‘60s. “There has been a resurgence of interest in mid-century modern architecture,” shares Nikki Hunt, principal of Design Intervention. “This style of architecture is all about space and light; the Californian developers that began the movement were looking to the future instead of taking inspiration from the past. America was a country in transition and mid-century design is a perfect symbol of that.” But while it is easy enough to procure these furnishings as accent pieces, capturing the spirit and aesthetic of this iconic design era within a…

“A kitchen is basically a workshop and crafting a dish is complex work for the serious cook,” says Ed Ng, co-founder of Hong Kong-based studio AB Concept. He explains that the home chef’s kitchen should be designed to help its owner conserve time and energy, so they can focus on their craft. “So it’s important to make sure that everything that’s needed—pans, knifes, plates, ingredients—can be conveniently accessed,” he adds. The studio’s gourmand clients generally own state-of-the-art appliances and tools, so the next step for the AB Concept team would be to create a kitchen design that best accommodates such equipment. “Passionate cooks also like collecting beautiful dinnerware sets, which they often use when they entertain,” says the designer. “Because of this, we create display areas so our clients can…

CLICK FOR INSPIRATION Inspiring interiors, the latest decor trends and stunning destinations—peruse these and more on our website, singaporetatler.com LUO JINGMEI After completing her Master of Architecture degree at the National University of Singapore, Jingmei was mentored at Ipli Architects, before her love of the written word inspired her foray into publishing. This issue, she discusses the work of architecture firm LWK + Partners (page 60) and the super penthouse designed by SuMisura (page 140). MICHELE KOH MOROLLO Michele has always been a big fan of mid-century modern design—she enjoys exploring vintage furniture stores in Hong Kong, where she lives. Be inspired by her selection of nature-inspired lights (page 44) and the tips she has gleaned from designers on crafting an open-plan living room (page 168) and a gourmet kitchen…

Imagine living just four minutes away from the Botanic Gardens, Singapore’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, or enjoying a short nine-minute drive to the Orchard Road shopping belt. Located at the heart of Singapore’s District 10, Wilshire Residences is a sleek and tranquil addition to the neighbourhood. HOLISTIC HAVENS Jointly developed by Tong Eng Group and Roxy Pacific Holdings, this freehold development seeks to elevate urban living with a variety of amenities and lush greenery. With its stunning tower block and dual drop-off entrance, it makes a winning first impression. Step inside and you’ll discover a host of verdant gardens integrated throughout the property. The carefully crafted amenities add to the sense of refined luxury. Take a dip in the Waterfall sensory spa and the 25m-long swimming pool, work out…

Most urbanites living in densely populated cities yearn to reconnect with the great outdoors, while doing all that we can to bring nature’s artistry into our homes. One simple way is to include statement lamps inspired by botany and other elements from the natural world. Some of the most captivating shapes, forms and textures are found in nature, and artists have long sought to capture its beauty through their work. Lighting designers too, have taken cues from nature to create innovative lamps inspired by landscapes and the animal kingdom. Here, we take a look at some of the most inspiring designs. DELICATE FOLIAGE Designed in 1957 by Marc Lalique, the Champs-Élysées chandeliers (pictured above and on the left) were inspired by the finely veined leaves of the luscious Plane trees…

Public backlash against plastics has been gaining momentum, even though it is only one of many other urgent environmental concerns. The reason the reputation of this synthetic material has taken a beating stems largely from the consequences of plastic pollution. But the truth is more complex than that; there is a significant difference between single-use plastics and polycarbonate pieces that are made to last. This distinction holds true for Italian design company Kartell, which has made its name with a combination of innovative design and eco-conscious advances in its production of plastic furniture. Turning 70 this year, the firm has also experimented with other materials such as plywood, using sustainable production methods that minimise material wastage. The company also achieved Greenguard certification, a programme by the US Environmental Protection Agency…

Over three decades ago, Ronald Liang founded LWK + Partners in Hong Kong. The firm is now over 1,000 strong, with 11 offices across China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East sculpting skylines and shaping urban frameworks. With a particularly strong focus on the residential, commercial, institutional and mixed-used sectors, its wide-ranging services run the gamut of architecture, urban planning, interior design, heritage conservation, landscape design and lighting design, which enables the creation of holistic projects. In 2018 alone, the firm received more than 50 globally acclaimed awards, a testament to its success in the field; the international practice has received accolades presented by The Global RLI Awards in London as well as the MIPIM Asia Awards, ICSC Asia Pacific Shopping Center Awards, HKIA Annual Awards and Cityscape Global Awards…

With the birth of their son, the owners wanted to create a home sweet home for their family. The adoring parents wanted their toddler to grow up in a nurturing environment, so they found a cosy apartment nestled in the Newton area. The search for the right designers to create the home of their dreams proved to be quite straightforward—the couple discovered the work of Prestige Global Designs in Singapore Tatler Homes, and felt an instant connection with what they sought to achieve. The owners wanted the home to fulfil fengshui requirements, yet without compromising on a luxurious and cosy ambience set in a light and bright interior. They also desired a walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, as well as ample storage space in the house. Led by Michael…

BANKSIDE RIVER WONDER Within walking distance of the skyscrapers and the country’s best-loved museum, Bankside is ideal for visitors as well as jet-setters looking for a bolthole in one of London’s most urban developments Read any book set in London before the 1990s and dwellings south of the river were seen as infinitely inferior to the sunlit uplands north of the River Thames. But over the last two decades, this riverside area has become one of the most desirable addresses in London. Its name was given to it in 1554: Banke syde, which means ‘street along the bank of the Thames’. A quick walk away from the heart of the City, it couldn’t be more central if it tried. The Tate Modern is here, as is the Millennium Bridge, across…

Philippe Starck is easily one of the world’s most recognisable design icons. His prolific oeuvre includes both everyday products like the humble juicer and tableware, as well as glamorous superyachts and even a habitation module for Axiom Space, a commercial space station. And yet at the core of it all is his drive to make design more accessible than ever before, in ways both big and small. “Whether it’s a toothbrush, an aeroplane or a chair, it’s always the same philosophy: to think about what the user will gain,” he says. It’s in this context that we meet Starck at the Kartell booth at the Salone del Mobile fair. “I want to make design democratic,” says the 70-year-old, discussing his longterm collaboration with the Italian design company. “And the only…

It was happenstance that brought Kelli Wilde and Laurent Champeau together—the couple met while working at the Paris office of the prestigious Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi interior design agency. Wilde, an American art historian and interior designer, and Champeau, a French-British architect and designer, founded their own interior design studio, Champeau & Wilde, in 2011. Since then, the dynamic duo have worked on luxury homes in both the US and France. Their unique design approach combines revitalised, classical French sophistication with contemporary comfort—and the couple’s signature style is exemplified in their recently completed new home, a two-bedroom apartment in the culturally vibrant Nouvelle Athènes district in Paris. The 1,600sqft property hadn’t been altered since 1956, but the couple were particularly impressed with its full-length balcony and the light and space…

Show units provide potential buyers with ideas on how to create liveable, cosy homes from empty shells. And sometimes, an interior designer’s work is so well-conceived and suited to a buyer’s lifestyle that it makes perfect sense for the new owner to keep the interiors and move straight into the already furnished space. At 3 Orchard By-The-Park, developer YTL tasked interior design firm SuMisura to furnish the penthouse. “The developer’s brief was to create a gorgeous show unit for buyers who appreciate the high life and want to own a rare, freehold super penthouse in Singapore,” says SuMisura’s creative director Angela Lim. “At the same time, we were told to be mindful of what the architect Antonio Citterio had already put into the property, which in itself is a high…

To be held in February 2020, the fourth edition of the annual event will celebrate inspiring projects that combine design ingenuity with contextual relevance and clever spatial planning. We present the members of the jury who will join the Singapore Tatler Homes editorial team in the selection of winners. Visit bit.ly/tatler-design-awards for more information about the jury panel and the Tatler Design Awards 1 DEREK LO Lo, the course chair of the School of Design at Temasek Polytechnic, has been teaching since 2006. He practised as an architect for 18 years and has extensive knowledge in design thinking. 2 MIKE LIM The director and principal designer of DP Design, Lim believes that design should be purposeful and inclusive. He was the interior designer of The Dubai Mall, the largest retail complex…

A trophy is a prized object rich with symbolism—it represents a successful milestone for the award recipient while embodying the qualities of the achievement it celebrates. Creating a memorable and meaningful trophy design can feel like a daunting task, but it’s a challenge that local design firm Fraction relished. “We believe that a designer should possess all the resilience of these various definitions of a champion—to connect the beauty of aesthetic with a refined understanding of practicality that a space and its users need,” says Celine Ng, founder of Fraction (seen on the right). Led by Ng, the studio provides styling services while working on product and interior design projects; she has also designed installations for the past four editions of Singaplural as well as the fair stand of homegrown…

“What struck me when I first visited Seoul nearly 25 years ago, was the relationship between the architecture and the natural landscape,” shares Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry. “I still remember clearly the powerful impressions I had stepping up from the garden of Jongmyo Shrine.” Such fateful encounters influenced the design of the Louis Vuitton Seoul flagship store in the Gangnam district; it is Gehry’s first project in South Korea. Combining elements of historical Korean architecture and the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris (also designed by Gehry), the building features specially-moulded curved glass panels attached to a metal lattice. Each louvred panel soars upwards, with the walls and base of the building clad in white stone to enhance the appearance of weightlessness. Colourful life-sized paper trees have also been crafted…

STYLISH FOUNDATION Add pizzazz to your rooms with this fashion-influenced flooring collection from Swedish design firm Bolon. The brand’s vibrant new collection of woven floor panels features the polychromatic patterns from the Italian fashion house Missoni; key pieces include the iconic zigzag motif that Missoni is known for, as well as Optical, a pattern featuring interlocking arches. Available at Xtra; xtra.com.sg GREEN INTENTION Designed by Thomas Pedersen for Houe, the Falk chair marries its modern look with an eco-conscious approach. The seat features a lightweight frame produced using plastic recycled from household waste. Choose between either the powder-coated metal pedestal and the oiled oak legs; an optional seat pad can be included for extra comfort. Houe is available at P5 Studio; p5.com.sg Artistic Flair Discover some surprising connections between the…

1. Armani Casa by Rubelli Nice and Nola upholstery textiles, from Altfield Interiors 2. Lee Broom Eclipse chandelier, from Space Furniture 3. Hamilton Conte Iwatani floor lamp and Biscornet storage cabinet, from Marquis QSquare 4. Ardecora Sabbia upholstery fabric by Zimmer+Rohde, from Cetec 5. SP01 Michelle dining chair and Mohana side table by Tim Rundle, from Space Furniture 6. Molteni&C D.154.2 armchair by Gio Ponti, from P5 7. Canotier cocktail table by Joel Escalona, from Roche Bobois 8. Bangle coffee table by Rodolfo Dordoni, from Minotti 9,10. Visionnaire Presence sofa by Steve Leung and Hamilton Conte Atanasio pouf, from Marquis QSquare 11. Stellar Works Bund side table by Neri&Hu, from P5 Studio…

American author Thomas Merton once famously said that “art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”. So it was with Zak Lo, owner and principal art consultant at Living with Art, when life led him on his current path after he first picked up a paintbrush 17 years ago. The former banker was involved in painting a mural commissioned by Naval Base Primary School. “That mural had an underwater scene, and I remember climbing the three-storey-high scaffolding and painting a dolphin at the top of the wall—I felt so liberated and happy with the experience,” he enthused. His love of art would only grow from that encounter. After working with local young artists on other projects, Lo took it upon himself to find other platforms…

ZHENGDING LI MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, SHIJIAZHUANG, CHINA (IN PROGRESS) This project facilitates walkability throughout the sprawling 100,837sqm development with a concise network of pedestrian-friendly retail streets. Green decks in the tall towers and a motif of traditionally pitched roofs and pillars also combine modern living with heritage. SPIRITUAL BAY, QINGDAO, CHINA (2019) The architecture’s linearity, form and texture connect the building to its coastal environment, with its dynamic, layered aesthetic referencing fluttering motions made by the sea breeze. KEI CUISINE, HONG KONG (2019) The firm’s strength in interior design is manifested in Kei Cuisine, a fine-dining Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong that melds Chinese and Japanese influences. Inspiration from the Fuji-Yoshida (Japanese fire festival) is translated into a Mount Fuji-inspired grill counter by the entrance of the show kitchen.…

“We both love tools,” says Caro Jesse, a Cape Town-based designer who creates sensory experiences using food, art, scent and sound. She and her partner, blacksmith Conrad Hicks, share a lifelong interest in the everyday implements of human industry. “Artists’ tools, cooks’ tools, building tools—all tools are the same, really. It just depends on the scale.” For the couple, it goes deeper than an appreciation of the utilitarian beauty of tools; it’s the way they shed light on human development, going all the way back to the Stone Age. “We’ve been making tools for two and a half million years,” explains Hicks. “Spoken languages only arose about 9,000 years ago, so tools and physical gestures were our means of expression.” It’s a subject he is uniquely qualified to talk about.…

CRAFT AND SOUL Jongerius wanted to create a unique and innovative collection completely unrelated to her previous collection, the Polder sofa. “There are so many sofa designs—you have to have a very good reason to make a new sofa. Also, a sofa is a large object, so it shouldn’t be too loud, but on the other hand you want to give it some signature (elements). You can do that with textiles, so with Vlinder I designed a sofa that is driven by textiles.” The Dutch designer worked on five sofa designs before arriving at the Vlinder sofa, which features a colourful duvet-like cover draped onto the seat, back and armrests. This cover comprises yarns in eight shades and two different thicknesses to create seven types of jacquard weaves. The result…

Surrounded by lush gardens in a prime district, this 3,500sqft residence is already an oasis of calm. What the family needed from Dennis Cheok, the creative director of Upstairs_, was to reconfigure the apartment’s sprawling plan of isolated nooks, which had become neglected with disuse, into a cohesive, welcoming space. Their passion for Japanese culture is evident in their carefully curated collection of antiques, furniture, and artefacts, which add character to the home. So, it was not surprising when they had a precise brief—to recreate a modern ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) with Scandinavian touches. GATHERING SPACE A large living area, delineated into zones by sunken floorplates and elevated platforms, evokes the layered spaces of a ryokan. Oversized sofas create an inviting atmosphere for family time while a raised textured…

When it comes to style, there is one designer whose aesthetic is truly timeless, as Hannah Cecil Gurney discovered in the course of decorating her home in Battersea, London. For her living room, Gurney, the director of British wallpaper company De Gournay and daughter of its founder Claud Cecil Gurney, used a chocolate brown wallpaper inspired by Coco Chanel; the chinoiserie design perfectly sets the formal yet homely mood for the space. “It is based on the famous Coromandel screens in Coco Chanel’s iconic Parisienne apartment,” she shares. “Our wallcovering is a beautiful reinterpretation and conjures a similar atmosphere to those screens. Everyone told me chocolate brown would be too dark but they were wrong—the room feels light and bright. The chalky white design and apricot accents keep the wallcovering…

ANDREU WORLD Xtra xtra.com.sg BLACK TIE, TONON Sphere Living sphereliving.sg BOFFI boffi.com CASSINA, ROLL & HILL Space Furniture spacefurniture.com.sg CHRISTOFLE christofle.com DADA P5 p5.com.sg FLEXFORM flexform.sg KADEKA kadeka.sg LEMA, ZANOTTA W. Atelier watelier.com LIAIGRE liaigre.com MERIDIANI, PORADA, VISIONNAIRE Marquis QSquare marquis.com.sg MINOTTI minotti.com POLTRONA FRAU Proof Living proof.com.sg SABA ITALIA, WOODNOTES P5 Studio p5studio.com.sg ZIMMER+ROHDE Cetec cetec.com.hk…

It’s an uphill task, pun fully intended, to get to the top of Telok Blangah Hill. But the lush tranquility of its verdant environment makes it worthwhile; the locale feels miles away from the busy city streets. Once one of the highest points in Singapore, this hilltop area is where The Alkaff Mansion stands. The Tudor-style bungalow was constructed in 1918 as a weekend house of its prominent namesake family. In its heyday in the 1930s, the two-storey bungalow was abuzz with high-society festivities. Today, the former residence houses three dining venues managed by the 1-Group: the Txa Pintxo Bar, a restaurant-bar serving Basque-style light bites next to the Wildseed Cafe on level one, while Basque fine-dining restaurant Una is sited on the second storey. Partnering Spanish culinary and lifestyle…