Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Tatler Homes Singapore

OKAMURA The Japanese office furniture brand has opened a showroom in the heart of the city centre, incorporating a striking two-storey showcase. Designed in the style of a vending machine, the glass display integrates a lift that transports the desired chair from the shelves to the first floor for customers to try it for themselves. Other machines also dispense souvenirs that visitors can bring home. Okamura is located at 137 Cecil Street, #01-01/04 Hengda Building; okamura.com.sg STRANGE & DERANGED The home decor retailer recently moved its flagship store to Paragon, after six years at Palais Renaissance. Founded by interior designer Alex Tan and co-founder Cindy Tang, the 1,259sqft boutique offers an eclectic and inspiring array of decorative items and homeware handmade by artisans from around the world. Not quite sure…

Known for her massive, site-specific installations that are playful, distinctive and flamboyant, Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos has showcased her works at star venues such as the Guggenheim Bilbao and the Palace of Versailles. Despite having exhibited at these notable places, the creative maven says she takes much of her inspiration closer to home, from the beauty of the everyday. “I believe we are deeply influenced by what surrounds us and the everyday objects we live with,” reveals Vasconcelos. For Bombom, a new collection commissioned by French furniture brand Roche Bobois, Vasconcelos has crafted a vibrant array of modular pieces, distinguished by a striking striped detailing on the backrests and along the sides of the sofa seats. “In Portugal, the concept of light has a strong white quality, and that has…

Happily for Dawid Augustyn, the chance to set up home in Clarens, one of Cape Town’s coolest new apartment blocks, happened almost effortlessly. “I worked with the developers—Malcolm Kluk and Christiaan Gabriël du Toit of KLûK CGDT—as the project’s quantity surveyor, so I’d been watching its journey from an insider’s perspective from the ground up,” shares the homeowner, who is the managing director of the DA Quantity Surveyors. Augustyn also owns a design company, Establishment, which is now in its 16th year and represents a roster of leading design and lighting brands including DCW éditions, Woud and New Works. Establishment also offers its own range of bespoke pieces; all of which have an aesthetic that works well with the interiors of Clarens. “Their vision of a community lifestyle, based on…

“At Summerhaus D’zign, we believe in creating houses that are tailored to the lifestyles of their owners; we strive to create abodes that are not only aesthetically tasteful but also relevant, practical and functional to live in,” says Larry Lim, co-founder of Summerhaus D’zign. Led by Lim and his wife Jess Koh, the firm has crafted beautiful homes using various natural finishes that contribute to the textured depth of each space. For this project, Lim collaborated with the firm’s chief conceptualiser Jenno Marco Misa to design a spacious entertainment lounge on the ground floor. The floorplan was inspired by a former bungalow project the firm had worked on, as the designers felt that Glass Curtains would suit the space. “Traditional sliding doors or multi-folding doors do not offer a seamless…

Most Singaporean abodes lean towards simple, modern designs. But this 1,044sqft apartment bucks the trend—its bold, eclectic touches are heavily influenced by the Memphis movement, an aesthetic from the 1980s characterised by vibrant, abstract shapes and the prominent use of terrazzo and laminates. The owners, Bryan Lim and Elaine Seak, told interior design firm The Scientist that they preferred a dramatic departure from cookie-cutter modern minimalist interiors; they wanted their home to feature an exuberant interior that demonstrates a daring yet visually cohesive mix of shapes and colours. “This project was definitely a challenge for us as the concept is highly uncommon in the Singapore design scene,” says Krystle Teoh, the lead designer of this project. “The clients were initially concerned about the colour selection for their home. However, things…

Defined by its minimalist white facade, this abode is surrounded by the leafy streets of the Kifissia district in Athens, Greece. Designed by Greek architect Jenny Nomikou, the property is the home of a busy Greek entrepreneur. The owner wanted to turn the house into a sanctuary that she could enjoy relaxing in with her family and friends; the outdoor areas in particular were to be well-furnished to make the most of the property’s verdant surroundings. The client and her family are also avid art collectors, having acquired masterpieces from various epochs, and the home was to showcase their exquisite assemblage of works. The design team took much care to subtly weave in references to the local context while decorating the home The client greatly admired the understated aesthetic of…

Amid a backdrop of tranquil greenery in central Singapore is a 3,800sqft apartment boasting a beautiful framework. “Our task was to design a glamorous house for a couple from the finance industry,” shares Nidhi Jain, founder of Nidhi Jain. The architect worked on the project with her partner and interior designer Emily Loberg. HALL OF FAME Balancing the overall palette of azure and gold, the look is brought together with two stunning abstract carpets from Nasser Nishaburi, which echo the colours used in this living room beautifully; these rugs contribute to the layered look of the interior. The team also designed and created beautiful high-gloss arches as the key elements of the apartment. SOCIAL CIRCLE As entertaining guests is an essential part of the owners’ lifestyle, a fully equipped bar…

A beloved Singapore icon built between the 1840s and 1960s, conservation shophouses served as commercial spaces as well as private residences in the past. This dual purpose is revisited in a family home set in one such building—instead of reimagining parts of the space for commercial use, the owners wanted to maximise these areas for functional purposes. The team at Cube Associate Design, led by design director Sarah Tham, was hired to transform a three-storey Peranakan shophouse into a contemporary abode. The 3,905sqft property, which was to house a family of three generations, also had to integrate discreet and hidden storage spaces throughout. “The challenge was to incorporate a modern interior into a charming Peranakan shophouse,” says Tham. “The clients wanted an uncluttered, contemporary home; they also wanted better use…

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2020, homegrown firm LTW Designworks has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings, when founder Lim Hong Lian worked from his home office in its early years. Presently, the firm is staffed with over 100 employees with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Milan and Singapore. EDRA SHERAZADE DAYBED from Space Furniture Combining form and function, this daybed by Francesco Binfare features Gellyfoam, a patented foam material created by Italian brand Edra that provides both style and comfort. It also features synthetic wadding and triangular cushions for optimal back support. “I like how it features Asian influences, designed in a style that’s modern and contemporary,” says Lim. POLIFORM IPANEMA ARMCHAIR from Space Furniture “The sturdiness and spaciousness of this chair would fit well in any living or study…

Given Singapore’s hot, humid and sometimes unpredictable weather, most homeowners prefer to retreat into the air-conditioned confines of their abodes instead of fully utilising their balconies or patios. Mindful of this issue, former interior designer Ong Shu Hwai and founder of Durablinds decided to help her clients to “reclaim the use of semi-outdoor spaces”. Ong, who helmed her own design practice in the early 2000s, felt much could be done with these underutilised areas; she sourced for quality systems that would shelter homeowners from the elements. “I love helping my clients transform their space through the use of durable and elegant products and smart designs,” says Ong. In 2013, she introduced Glass Curtains, a frameless glass system from Europe, to the Singapore market. Four years later, she launched Ziptrak, a…

On breezy, fair-weather days, it seems a waste for your outdoor areas to be underutilised—especially when you’ve been spending more time at home. The Glass Curtains system from Spain will help you make the most of your interior and exterior spaces; it can also function as partitions that can carve out separate zones when you need to create a specific area for work. Described as being “curtains made of glass”, this product features fully retractable glass panels that can be discreetly stacked to the side when you want to open up the space for work or play. Here, we ask three local design firms to envision how they would make the most of the innovative features of Glass Curtains in future projects.…

Singapore’s hot, humid weather makes most homeowners less keen to use the outdoor spaces of their abodes; dust from the road and the problem of pesky insects are also among the contributing factors to underutilised balconies and outdoor areas. So when the owners of this house tasked MOW Interior co-founders Wong Teck Soon and Shermaine Ong to design an outdoor area that they would actually use more frequently, the dynamic duo were delighted to discover the Glass Curtains system from Durablinds. For this project, which is currently in the early design phase, the firm proposed the use of the retractable glass panels for the owners’ poolside porch to turn it into a cosy nook for coffee and reading. The Glass Curtains will enclose the space during sweltering days so that…

When you’re busy planning the renovation of your home, the hinges and compartments of your wardrobe are typically not at the top of your priority list. But these finer details do matter—particularly if you want to keep your treasured belongings neatly organised as well as craft a space that stands the test of time. Look to the soft-closing wardrobe systems from Boxx Euro, a new brand and a subsidiary of local laminates purveyor Arova Singapore. Proudly made in Spain, this furniture hardware brand offers a full range of wardrobe design solutions that can fit seamlessly into various interior schemes; its products also come with a lifetime warranty assuring you that they’re made to last. A QUIET PLACE From soft-closing precision runners for drawers and concealed hinges to pull latches with…

Even after working on several homes in Mexico, celebrated interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard considers his latest project, Casa El Faro, to be the most inspiring thus far. With a vision to create not just a beach house but a soulful homage to Latin American culture, Bullard worked with architect Juan Zapata to shape an abode inspired by the local landscape and cultural heritage. ONE WITH NATURE Dubbed Casa El Faro—“el faro” means “the lighthouse” in Spanish—the 12,701sqft building is dramatically perched on a rocky cliff within the private community of Maravilla, overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Evoking the iconic Acapulco villas of the mid-20th century, Bullard and Zapata wanted to strike the right balance between the interiors and the architecture to capitalise on the breathtaking setting. “I worked with…

Layering is at the heart of the creative ethos of E&A Interiors. “Pattern, light, materials and furniture all play a strong part in creating spaces with a fresh, exciting and upbeat vibe,” says Chloe Elkerton, the firm’s founder. This studied mix comes together beautifully in the family home of Evangeline Tan and Clive Lee. The couple live in the 2,500sqft penthouse apartment with their two daughters; they looked to the firm to craft a dream abode that marries mid-century elements with an elegant yet unfussy aesthetic. “The clients wanted an understated sense of luxury with Californian-inspired touches, layered with neutral tones and luxurious finishes to create a polished look,” shares Elkerton. “This was realised by combining materials such as linen with brass, wood, marble and rattan for a pared-down yet…

With a history spanning over three decades, Synergraphic Design has carved a niche as a purveyor of premium glass products. Founded by Florence Ng in 1986, the firm has proved as adept serving the decor needs of discerning homeowners as it has fashioning glass sculptures for public buildings in Asia, such as the Partners Monument at Taipei 101 in Taiwan and Brunei’s Crystal Pyramid. Now, the studio has launched a new interior decoration and furnishings arm, ArteGlas; its product range includes decorative screens, tableware and ornamental items such as candle holders, vases, mirrors and lighting fixtures. A special Christmas collection named Yuletide Charms also makes its debut in time for the holiday season, with a selection of festive glass ornaments. Bespoke options are available to homeowners seeking unique, customised pieces.…

Despite his expansive oeuvre—which runs the gamut of buildings, interiors, furniture, packaging, utensils, bags and even shoes—Oki Sato insists his own home is very bare, “like a prison or gallery”. “There is one bed, some books and my dog,” he quips. It’s hard not to believe the Japanese founder of multidisciplinary studio Nendo, when one looks at his minimal designs. His unfussy aesthetic makes him an apt collaborator with Italian brand Minotti, for whom Sato designed the elegant Tape collection in 2018. This year, a cultural narrative grounds his new Torii collection for the furniture manufacturer. We find out more about the range from the amiable multi-hyphenate. Tell us more about the concept behind the Torii line. The starting point was to create a new sofa collection that is contemporary,…

The colour schemes of the living and dining areas were fashioned around the purple Roche Bobois Bubble sofa, which was purchased by the owners months before the renovation began. “The wall colours and built-in carpentry were specially handpicked to complement the sofa as it’s one of the key elements of the home,” says Teoh. The team also constructed arched entryways and designed various custom-made furniture as well as storage units in playful shapes to reference the influential design movement. These include a royal blue full-height cabinet with teal elements and a custom bench in turquoise in the dining area. Rounding up this stylish setup is a custom granite dining table, accompanied by fuschia velvet dining chairs. The master bedroom is among the most dramatic spaces in this apartment. Colour blocking…

For many years, an old, dilapidated house sat on this plot of land. This corner unit was unattractive to many buyers, as it’s located next to an arterial road that leads to an expressway. But the current owners, who work in the healthcare industry, saw potential in the semi-detached property, which also features lush greenery on one side that screens the view of the road. The name of this 4,036sqft abode, “Cove House” stems from the owners’ desire to create a place of respite as well as the plot’s sheltered feel, created by the elevated road’s tall concrete wall, which separates the house from the highway. The abundant foliage merges with the pool to compose a visually soothing tableau. CURATED VIEWS The owners enlisted Tan Cher Ming, founder of Ming…

When American interior designer Alison Pickart chanced upon a remarkable moonstone-and-gold firescreen in an auction catalogue, she never thought this serendipitous find would guide her artistic direction for a particularly memorable project—one that involved refurbishing a 1930s penthouse apartment located in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighbourhood. Its owners had envisioned a warm and inviting space that would highlight their contemporary art collection and also frame the surrounding views of the bay. This would entail a reconfiguration of the apartment’s original layout, which comprised a constrictive number of smaller rooms with heavy architectural millwork and small doorways. They engaged the services of architecture firm Sutro Architects, which led to a collaborative partnership between the interior designer and architects Stephen Sutro and Karen Moy. Together, they had to decide on an overarching…

THE JURY Meet the industry experts who will select the winners of the Tatler Design Awards 2021 STEVE LEUNG Founder of Steve Leung Design Group (SLD Group) With over 30 years of experience in interior design and architecture, internationally renowned architect Steve Leung has come a long way since founding his eponymous firm in 1997. Operating offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, SLD Group has amassed a portfolio across 100 cities and received over 210 international design and corporate awards; the company is also currently listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. SABRINA LONG Dean of School of Art and Design at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Sabrina Long is an industry veteran who has led NAFA’s 3D Design programme for 10 years. A passionate advocate…

With a storied history dating back to the 16th century, the Bourse de Commerce is a Parisian landmark that has evolved over the centuries, transforming in tandem with the urban developments of the French capital. The former home of the Paris Stock Exchange will now house a contemporary art museum, slated to open in January 2021. An initiative backed by luxury goods tycoon François Pinault, this revitalised venue will showcase pieces from his personal collection as well as new productions and commissioned works, while serving as a destination for screenings, concerts and other cultural events. The renovation is led by Tadao Ando Architect & Associates, which has thoughtfully restored the building’s historic architectural elements while inserting a central concrete cylinder to create modular spaces that can be flexibly divided into…