Home & Decor

DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN FOUR-BEDROOM CONDO/JERVOIS ROAD FIVE-ROOM HDB APARTMEN/SENGKANG EAST Dwell provides interior design, styling and decoration services for discerning clients who desire to transform their homes into fine residences reflecting their personalities and styles. The design team is sensitive to the spatial nuances of both large and small homes – from detached houses to apartments and even conservation shophouses – and works tirelessly with clients to create personal sanctuaries. CREATIVE DIRECTOR ED ONG SENIOR DESIGNER NI SUWEI CONTACT 11 Kim Yam Road Tel: 6883-1005 www.dwell.com.sg [email protected] EHKA STUDIO EHKA Studio is a licensed architectural practice registered with the Board of Architects Singapore. Its approach is one of continuous exploration and logical clarity. Practical considerations along with a client's needs and budget are carefully resolved and refined in a poetic solution that seeks to engage human perception. PARTNERS HSU HSIA PIN EUNICE KHOO SENIOR DESIGNER AMOZ BOON CONTACT 891B Bukit Timah Road Tel: 6909-2798 www.ehkastudio.com [email protected]

EIGHTYTWO THREE-BEDROOM CONDO/RIVER VALLEY SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE/UPPER BUKIT TIMAH EightyTwo is a leading, award- winning bespoke interior design studio that believes in defying labels, debunking conventions and transcending trends. The team's designs distil the essence of how people live and the open- endedness allows for multiple interpretations and showcases the studio's creativity. CO-FOUNDER AND DESIGN DIRECTOR TERENCE NEO DESIGN LEAD DOUGLAS ONG INTERIOR DESIGNERS GLENN TOH CHARLES CHAI CONTACT 685A East Coast Road Tel: 6698-7987 https://eightytwo.sg METAPHOR STUDIO Founded by two architecturally-trained graduates in 1998, Metaphor Studio specialises in exclusive residential and hospitality projects around the region. The founders regard interior architectural design as a framework within which life can be experienced through the constructive orientation of space, light and material. FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR STEPHEN GOH FOUNDER AND DESIGN PRINCIPAL ANGELA TANTRY CONTACT 331A Beach Road Tel: 6291-9786 www.metaphor-studio.com

IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FROM THOSE IN THE KNOW ON THE GO Tom Dixon just can’t sit still. The award-winning, self-taught maverick British designer-businessman is easily bored and always searching for his next new project. “My observation is that in the modern world, a brand is no longer a fixed, enclosed unit,” he says. Writer Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE finds out what keeps him experimenting and how he thinks the furniture industry has – or has not – evolved. 51

SPOTLIGHT 1 Tom Dixon lives in a 1 perpetual state of dissatisfaction with his industrially pressed glass, 1. & 2. The body of work. This pushes him as well as psychedelic Swirl Jungle at The to keep on going and trying vases produced from recycled Manzoni is a new things. “I can’t even look marble powder blended with showroom at anything without thinking I pigment and resin and inspired during the could have done slightly better. by ikebana. The accessories day and the It’s not because the thing is bad collections will be expanded restaurant’s but because I know more. into furniture at an all-day event event space in multiple locations called 24 at night. As I didn’t have formal Hours in Paris. The Manzoni training nor a certificate also has a shop to say I was allowed to do After having participated in area for Tom what I do, every day is still Maison&Objet for many years, Dixon tableware. magical,especially as it was he decided to adopt a different never a decision of mine to be attitude that’s in line with the a designer in the first place. It introduction of the Coal Office grew on me as I made things. in London and the showroom- I was astonished that people restaurant concept The Manzoni liked my ideas so much that they in Milan. were prepared to pay for them. Otherwise, I’d have been doing something else.” He views his lack of conventional design education as a major advantage as it has allowed him to experiment without constraints. Going to work these days feels like a playground as he has set up his business – spanning furniture and lighting to interior design through his practice Design Research Studio – in such a way that he can dabble in a variety of trades, some days working more like an engineer or a graphic designer and others like a businessman or branding guy. Designer Upcycling Early last year, Tom launched Press, a series of fat, chunky and grooved vases, bowls and candleholders made of 52

“The trade fair is a very you’ve got new friends and a 3. Tom Dixon x 5 controlled environment. You new context. I could get my Ikea Gardening can’t play loud music, you can’t people out of the photo studio Will Save The stay up until midnight, you can’t and into Paris, using it as a World showcase spread out and you’re always the backdrop. These things look at the RHS same as everybody else because very different when you re- Chelsea Flower you’re in a booth. So we started contextualise them.” Show 2019 thinking about alternatives,” reimagined he explains. Macro Approach urban farming. Looking at the big picture, Tom 4. The Press The idea for 24 Hours has long focused on making the glass collection, in Paris was to be in constant production chain more efficient guaranteed to action and to pack as many and closer to the end-user. His last 1,000 years. events as possible into 24 hours pre-production, small-batch to maximise the time there as a manufacturing workshop in 3 way to re-establish contact with London – dubbed The Factory – old friends and make new ones. is an experimental space where ideas can be tested, prototypes “My observation is that in created and customers the modern world, a brand directly engaged. is no longer a fixed, enclosed unit,” he notes. “It’s the sum It’s a place for making of its networks, which need to outside of the studio, where be nurtured, reconnected and his designers and clients can improved. You speak to a bubbly get a true sense of proportion, company, restaurant, florist colour, smell and the weight of and nightclub and suddenly “I RECKON I CAN GUARANTEE THAT MY GLASS, WHICH IS THICKER THAN THE ROMAN GLASS, WILL LAST 1,000 YEARS.” – TOM DIXON 2 53

5 . Made an object, which is impossible using recycled to experience if you’re sitting powdered behind a computer. marble residue, the Swirl vase Does he feel that the collection is furniture industry is now doing inspired by things differently than when ikebana. 6. Tom Dixon he first started? “It’s trying to photographed but nobody’s really cracked it. with Melt Ikea is still the dominant force pendant lights in in getting the customer closer a smoked finish. to at least the warehouse, if not the factory. I think furniture is one of the harder things to revolutionise. It’s not as easy to do as music or fashion. It will 5 continue to be more difficult because of the scale of things. It’s also not as shippable. Of course, if all of this was flat- packable, it would be one thing – but it’s not. I don’t think there have been a lot of changes; it’s more of a bit of consolidation. I think rapid manufacturing will become more important but people are conservative in their tastes and a lot of experiments have failed to really change. It’s also harder and harder to have a conventional furniture store.” 6 Street-smart Born in Sfax, Tunisia, in 1959 “I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT ANYTHING to an English father and a WITHOUT THINKING I COULD HAVE French-Latvian mother, Tom lived in Egypt and Morocco DONE SLIGHTLY BETTER.” before spending his childhood in London. After dropping out – TOM DIXON of art school in 1980, he went from playing bass guitar in the band Funkapolitan and running several nightclubs to welding furniture made from found objects like scaffolding, hubcaps and old grates before rising to prominence in the mid-’80s with a line of welded salvaged furniture. Then he became a household name in the 1990s with Jack, the original “sitting, lighting, stacking thing” and an award-winning, air-rotational 54

multifunctional object that Of Greta Thunberg, among KEY DESIGNS S chair. Still produced was one of Tom’s first today’s most recognised today by Cappellini experiments with plastic, and environmentalists, he says, BEAT LIGHT in Italy, the instantly- a symbol of the times. He was “She’s fabulous. To have such Hand-spun, braised recognisable chair with also creative director of major a strong voice and to be so and hammered by its unconventional shape retailer Habitat for almost a influential at 18 gives me hope artisan craftsmen in is part of the permanent decade. because if you listen to popular Northern India, each collections of the MOMA music and see how few people minimalist light is a New York and the The music industry trained are addressing any issues at unique testament to V&A London. him to be self-propelled. Tom all apart from love, you’d think the time-consuming, had to do everything himself: youths have given up altogether. age-old craft. Finished PYLON CHAIR create his tunes, find places to Also, in a context where general with an external matte Aiming to design the play, promote his own gigs and frustration turns into violence grey powder coating, the world’s lightest metal make posters. It was all about and a real lack of focus, I think collection is composed chair, Tom created the self-production and making that she’s a very important of Beat Light Stout, Beat Pylon in small series and selling his industrial scrap- voice in peaceful protest.” Light Wide, Beat Light in his atelier in the turned-furniture was a direct Fat and Beat Light Tall. ’90s. Inspired by early extension of that experience. Tom doesn’t feel that his computer programming, From this DIY approach to design philosophy has evolved MELT LIGHT electricity pylons design, his S chair helped him as he remains the same curious Stemming from and architectural to step out of self-production as person who may have picked experimentations in models of bridges, it is Cappellini commercialised it. up a few more skills but has not the technologically- engineered from latticed become an expert in anything. advanced field of 3mm-diameter steel Against The Grain Instead, he continues to be vacuum metallisation, rods triangulated for Considering that climate change interested in how to make this distorted globe in maximum strength. It and sustainability are hot things and communicate copper, gold or silver may not be the most topics in the world now, Tom’s them and delves into the features light bouncing comfortable, but is argument from the beginning manufacturing technique and reflecting around the certainly one of the has been that he produces or function to see if there’s uneven surfaces, which most distinctive. objects that have a long lifespan, room for improvement or for produces a dramatic, eschew trends and are not injecting his perspective into it. melting hot blown glass TANK TABLEWARE disposable. They are recycled effect. Translucent when Echoing the functional through either auction houses or Although it may now be on and mirror-finished shapes and volumes of the local market in second-hand over three decades since when off, it emits a light scientific glassware, the and antique shops. his first creations, Tom still resembling images of the sculptural collection is professes the same enjoyment cosmos at night. characterised by a hand- Believing that furniture for the job. “If I lose enthusiasm painted copper band should improve with age rather for doing the same thing, I S CHAIR and may be used for than be discarded, he will be do something new. This is Some view it as a offering a 1,000-year guarantee the wonderful thing about female form, a flame 55 for the Press collection after design – it’s not a job in itself. or a 1960s-influenced being inspired by a visit to a It’s a job that you apply to pop object, but the Venetian museum housing everything else, so if I decide serpentine seat (above) 2,000-year-old Roman glass. I’m going to be an architect originated decades ago or a designer of hospitals, in Tom’s London metal “I reckon I can guarantee in principle, I can do that or workshop from a doodle that my glass, which is thicker I can get into electronics. of a chicken, which went than the Roman glass, will last through many mutations 1,000 years,” he states. “This “As soon as I get slightly before resulting in the is a level of permanence that bored, I’ll be making a chair allows you to say it’s okay to out of mushrooms and then produce this stuff. Sustainability I’ll be excited again, so I don’t is important for everybody. It’s ever get tired of it. All it does is No 1 right now, so I’m trying to to throw up more possibilities. make things that last and don’t The more you know, the get thrown away.” more there is to know.” photos COURTESY OF TOM DIXON

PEOPLE REDISCOVERING What are the cultural RATTAN signposts in Asian homes? What defines Multidisciplinary designer and separates our living spaces Priscilla Ong Shunmugam talks about putting from Western ones? How do South-east Asians savour South-east Asians at the forefront of her life? What makes our nesting brand’s inaugural furniture offering. traditions and rituals so specific and so stalwart that they can resist technology or modern life? These are the questions that steered the Suvarnabumi universe, a lifestyle brand by Priscilla Ong Shunmugam, founder of fashion brand Ong Shunmugam. Since launching with tableware last year, Priscilla’s Suvarnabumi has recently expanded its offerings to include a rattan furniture collection. “We are not looking to replicate or mimic, and not going for kitsch or low-hanging fruit,” says Priscilla, who designed the collection during the lockdown in London. “It is safe to say that the design lens we use for womenswear is the same lens we apply here.” Of course, we wanted to find out more so here goes: WHAT COMPELLED YOU TO CREATE THE SUVARNABUMI UNIVERSE? Two things: curiosity and a sense of timing. Fashion brands with the right DNA sometimes get restless to explore new territories, and I think we fit right in there. I love to create and am not precious when it comes to categories. But the real push came when I realised that enough years had passed for me to develop the foundations of a design language. Also, as a business, we were in a stable 1 position to experiment. 56

WHAT MAKES YOUR rattan design plateau in the last “WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO REPLICATE 40 to 50 years? Despite it being OR MIMIC, AND NOT GOING FOR KITSCH SUVARNABUMI UNIQUE? such a valuable commodity that Malaysia and Indonesia OR LOW-HANGING FRUIT,” We create with South-east banned the export of raw rattan Asians at the forefront instead since the ’80s, why weren’t – PRISCILLA ONG SHUNMUGAM, of as an afterthought. It is a Asian furniture designers FOUNDER OF ONG SHUNMUGAM counter-offer to the majority interested in it? of options in the high-design 2 value homeware market. Connecting all these dots gave me a sinking feeling – the 1. The Screen 4 WHY RATTAN AS THE PRIMARY same way I generally feel about and Dining the evolution of South-east Chair (Natural) MATERIAL FOR YOUR DEBUT Asian design. So it was just a combine matter of turning that feeling rattan and FURNITURE COLLECTION? into positivity and deciding to stamped batik. do something about it. 2. The basket I always design from a personal part of the hoop and instinctive place. My lack WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE planter can be of design pedigree means I swapped with tend to work with materials FEATURES OF THE other pots. that I feel familiar with and am 3 3 . & 4 . The confident of. SUVARNABUMI RATTAN Dining Chair and Tray highlight When deciding on which COLLECTION? a woven new avenues to explore in indigenous the realm of homeware, my We’ve merged rattan with Iban motif. instincts zeroed in on rattan traditional textiles and because, like any child of the indigenous Iban weaving in ‘80s in South-east Asia, it had a single product. For some such a ubiquitous presence pieces, we’ve used stamped in my life. Today, the world’s batik and for others, batik interest in rattan comes from prints. I decided it was too a place of desire. It ticks all risky to use hand-drawn batik the boxes in terms of being for upholstery as the dyes may on-trend and perceivably eco- not withstand the necessary friendly and certainly carries cleaning processes that are tropical and idyllic notions. inevitable over time. I’m going to see if I can get around CAN YOU SHARE SOME this soon because I think it will be another technical OBSERVATIONS ON THE triumph to merge some of the most valuable forms of RATTAN FURNITURE MARKET? batik with equally intricate rattan structures. Firstly, it’s incredible how uniform the options are in the In keeping with our market – be it from a seller ideological departures from in Brisbane or Miami or even common cultural signposting, locally. A quick search on we’ve chosen to liberate the use Instagram or Pinterest shows of these motifs beyond their you the same peacock chairs symbolic implications. I’m or bar trolleys with only minor always interested in traditions tweaks to colours and finishes. that can travel without baggage. In tandem with our distinctive Secondly, the unapologetic edit of post-modern design copying of designer pieces, flowing from the same Paul Frankl, Franco Albini and Gabriella Crespi influence. Did

5. The multipurpose Basket is woven from two species of natural rattan: Mantang and Sega. 6. The Dining Table with a petal-shaped structure features a tempered 5 glass top. 7. The Dining Chair (Brown) pairs floral jacquard back with indigenous Iban patterned seat. expressions, we dug deep into can tell the products took time 6 our archives of batik from and thought. 7 Pekalongan, Indonesia, and decided to let these textiles HOW WOULD YOU STYLE shine alongside other natural materials equally endemic to THE RATTAN PIECES IN the region. YOUR HOME? CAN YOU TELL US MORE I would make them fight it out ABOUT THE MALAYSIAN with other equally beautiful and robust pieces and watch CRAFTSPEOPLE WHO how they hold their own. I would also move them around M A N U FAC T U R E D the house, trying them out in different configurations from THESE PIECES? time to time. I am particularly proud of the dining table and My production manager was the screen. Quite ambitious stranded there because of the structures, they have turned lockdown, so we spent a fair out so regal and handsome. amount of time looking online They will be heirlooms for for rattan manufacturers. anyone who cares enough for them. We soon found a family of craftsmen who were not put off IS CREATING A COHESIVE by our rather unusual brief. Of course, we had to be mindful UNIVERSE THE FUTURE of crossing into unchartered waters and had to be very OF BRANDS? careful with our language and instructions. Not necessarily. Without a deep design reservoir to tap from, And, although the craftsmen you could seem opportunistic we work with in Malaysia have or risk showing your laziness. been in the trade for close I think consumers are very to 50 years, our pieces jolted savvy and spoilt these days. them out of their autopilot They know when they can mode. As I am not a product or get something off Alibaba or furniture designer, there were Amazon at half the price. some things I wasn’t even sure were technically feasible until The collection is available we tried and failed – and tried for pre-order from www. again and again. I think the ongshunmugam.com. work carries these scars and you 58 text ASIH JENIE photos IVAN LIM & THIS HUMID HOUSE

AN ALL-NEW ONLINE EXPERIENCE! WWW.H OM EAN DDECOR .COM . S G YOUR ENHANCED DESIGN JOURNEY INCLUDES: OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF H&D TV WITH VIDEO PLAYLISTS & MORE THE LATEST STYLE TIPS, TREND STORIES AND DESIGNER FEATURES EXCITING GIVEAWAYS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS AVAILABLE ON DESKTOPS & ALL MOBILE DEVICES. MAKE WWW.HOMEANDDECOR.COM.SG YOUR ONE-STOP DESIGN DESTINATION TODAY! 59

PEOPLE CRAFTING WELLNESS Jason Lee, the founder of SIX, talks about the artisanal Singapore fragrance brand’s social mission, championing mental wellness through fragrance and crafting personalised ambient scents. Have you ever felt so happy, well-loved and uplifted and wished that you could bottle up those feelings and save them for the darkest hours? While we don’t have that technology yet, the fragrance industry comes close. Founded in 2016, SIX has grown into one of the leading fragrance brands in the region that’s known for its exquisite perfumes and ambient scents. At the heart of the brand is a mission to champion mental wellness through the sense of smell articulated with Hikaru, its latest range. In a collaboration with the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), SIX aims to also help raise awareness of mental health issues and the importance of taking care of one’s mental wellness. We asked founder Jason Lee to share more. 60

HOW DID THE HIKARU and then a fresh green like HIKARU MEANS ‘TO SHINE’ IN JAPANESE. morning dew segues into notes I WANTED IT TO BE UPLIFTING COLLABORATION WITH SAMH of neroli, musk and amber that wrap you in a warm hug. AND SOOTHING – AND TO SMELL LIKE COME ABOUT? HOPE AND A SILVER LINING. HOW DOES A SCENT CULTIVATE SIX has always championed with many for a prolonged space was an animal, what mental wellness with scents. A CERTAIN FEELING? time. The home scent can be an would it be and why? These With the pandemic causing intangible positive force. questions are designed to a lot of people unimaginable We use the Magnetiscent prompt intimate answers that amounts of stress, it had me fragrance intelligence YOU HAVE CRAFTED AMBIENT will help us nominate the right thinking that this was affecting technology from Japanese scent. Once we’ve established a broad spectrum and not only fragrance house Takasago to SCENTS FOR SHOPS AND it, we polish and perfect it. those with severe depression source the right scents that but caregivers as well who may can influence whatever you’re HOTELS. DO YOU ALSO OFFER For more information, visit experience constant anxiety. feeling by triggering activities www.scentbysix.com. in certain parts of the brain. THIS SERVICE TO PRIVATE Hikaru helps to alleviate some of this stress. We wanted This has been scientifically HOMEOWNERS? to make sure it worked so proven by studies using when we designed the scent, fMRI (functional Magnetic Yes. We’ve had clients from took the work in progress to Resonance Imaging) at the the royal families of Brunei SAMH and did a workshop to Technical University of and Malaysia requesting for get feedback on the kind of Dresden Medical School. By personalised signature home emotion its members felt on finding out the scents that fragrances after experiencing smelling the ingredients and trigger the part of the brain our ambient scents outside. what we could do to improve it. that’s active when you are Since December, we have been feeling happy and positive, we WHAT GOES INTO putting aside $10 from the sale can influence the way you feel. of each Hikaru item towards a THE CRAFTING OF AN fund for SAMH individuals with THE PANDEMIC HAS LED TO mental health issues. We aim to AMBIENT SCENT? donate $10,000. A RETAIL APOCALYPSE FOR I start by asking a client to HOW WOULD YOU MANY BUT THE SALES FIGURES describe their space with three questions. One: describe the DESCRIBE HIKARU? OF SIX’S HOME FRAGRANCE personality of your space in three words. Two: describe it Hikaru means “to shine” in PRODUCTS WENT UP. WHY DO in three colours. Three: if your Japanese. I wanted it to be uplifting and soothing – and YOU THINK THAT IS SO? Launched in to smell like hope and a silver December, the lining. The main note is yuzu, It surprised me, too. Before the Hikaru collection which holds a special memory pandemic, the ratio of our sales comprises a for me. The first time I got whiff was 50 per cent perfume and perfume, a of it was when I was quite little. 50 per cent home fragrance. nebuliser and My grandmother bought me a Since the pandemic, it’s been 90 essential oil yuzu ice cream in Hong Kong to 95 per cent home fragrance! set (above), a and the scent was so fresh, I I think it’s because most have pure essential had this incredible sense of joy little reason to wear perfume oil (left) and that was unlike anything I’ve these days. a pillow mist. ever felt before. Prices range Instead, because they stay between $28 In Hikaru, the freshness of home all the time, they want and $158. yuzu gives way to light floral to be able to uplift their mood notes of dandelion and jasmine and set their mind right for the activities ahead. Or they simply want to feel calmer in a space they are forced to share text ASIH JENIE photos SIX 61

UP CLOSE JAN LARSEN American neo-pop artist Jan Larsen describes his design style as well as biggest strength. And what makes him smile the most. What is your favourite time of top-quality materials and over her. Though I’m still very construction. In my abstract new at it, parenthood is quite the day? expressionist paintings, I a beautiful experience. I think The early morning, just after enjoy large, bold gestures in everyone who has patience and the sun comes up. I’d throw lightly pigmented or even a parental temperament should back the velvet curtains of the monochromatic traditional try it out. JLA Studios production offices, materials such as the black walk out onto the balcony and and white oils and acrylics as What’s your biggest strength? drink in the view of the majestic seen in the works of American My creative mind powered by 100-year-old rain trees across abstract expressionists Franz my energy. I was blessed with the street from where I work Kline and Robert Motherwell. my mother Jane’s artist’s mind and live with my family. and the principled drive of a You could say there’s a bit of locomotive from my father Reed. In those moments, I cherish the Scandinavian in my personal the preciousness of life, how design style, as explained by my How would you define yourself lucky I am to live where I do in Danish-American heritage. But in three words? these exciting times – my wife there are other European, Asian, Thoughtful. Considerate. Driven. and I just had a baby – and the and Arabic inspirations in there clear-eyed vision of the beauty as well, plus some edge from What’s one thing people don’t and purpose I am working to good ol’ American rock and roll know about you? articulate in this life. and pop culture. I suppose one thing most people don’t know about me is What is your design style? What makes you smile that although I appear to have Neat, colourful, crisp and a consistently sunny-sweet, light-hearted with strongly- the most? happy and even Pollyanna-ish contrasting colour fields, Looking into the face of my disposition about me, I possess a neatly hewn details and newborn daughter Emma seasoned and practical business natural patterns and textures and then seeing my wife mind at work. wherever possible. Everything Cathy’s beautiful face looking is well crafted, of course, with peacefully and attentively 62 text MELODY BAY photo JAN LARSEN

BE PART OF THE Mdeientinfeglloouwt,fcoooodklionvgearsndwbhaokeinngjo.y Joginivuesanwoawysf,odrienxincgludseivaelsinavnidtedsistocoeuvnetnst!s, TASTESOCIETYSG

LAKESIDE LUXURY This contemporary summer retreat in a small remote town close to Ontario, Canada, is an architectural statement that melds elegant design, technology and sustainability with a natural setting. MICHELLE LEE delves into its design strategies. 64

“We had fun designing the facade, including the layout of the panelling as well as vertical fins that create interesting shadow play,” says SAOTA’s design team. OPPOSITE Taking on the appearance of stacked, perpendicular boxes, the contemporary architecture presents a stark contrast to its natural surroundings.

Areinterpretation of dark tones, and clad with the classic country durable ceramic panels that vacation home by Cape can withstand the extremes Town-based architecture firm of the Canadian climate. SAOTA, this family getaway set Conceptualised to resemble against the bucolic landscape stacked concrete boxes, it of Lake Huron is a lesson in creates a unique shadow play on contemporary glamour. Sitting the facade and inside. on a lakeside that bridges the forest and water, and rising The front of the seven- 3.5m above the road before it bedroom property is wrapped dips down towards the lake, in expansive floor-to-ceiling it is strategically positioned glass windows that invite in to maximise the vista of the plenty of natural light and offer natural landscape. panoramic lakeside views. The back, featuring a two-storey The building exterior is wall of glass, is shrouded by dressed in a mix of light and fir trees that provide privacy 66

ABOVE Furniture from Okha and Modloft, and pendant lamps from Elan Lighting, in the living room. CENTRE Natural light streams through the two-storey glass panel. RIGHT The triple-height atrium. OPPOSITE The living spaces, inside and out, present amazing views of the lake. 67

Merging indoor and outdoor living, the spacious patio is perfect for a dip or for lounging in the sun. 68

THIS LARGE OUTDOOR AREA WITH A PATIO AND A SWIMMING POOL WAS DESIGNED FOR LONG SUMMER AFTERNOONS ON THE LAKE. from the road. Outdoors, a large space with a patio and a swimming pool was designed for long summer afternoons on the lake. One striking feature is the stone canopy, which extends from the indoor kitchen and shades an outdoor lounge, instantly establishing a relationship between the zones. Beyond the pool, a boardwalk and staircase descend to a refurbished cabin that predates the house, and which now accommodates a guest suite and an additional outdoor entertainment area. Inside the main house, the common living spaces are relatively open and fluid. They emulate the laid-back atmosphere one would expect of a holiday retreat with artfully designed interiors dreamt up by ARRCC, SAOTA’s interior design arm. A grey and wood- toned palette, mainly from a stone-effect Neolith surfacing, envelops the living and dining areas on the ground floor. The luxe factor is amped up by timber, marble and leather touches, including a selection of high-design decor accents. For instance, 69

sculptural pendant lights by ABOVE Tom Dixon create a statement over the custom dining table, Soothing hues, while geometric lighting fixtures luxe bedding by Elan Lighting add drama and sleek to the triple-height atrium furnishings and living room, and an Okha in an inviting, sofa offers subtle elegance and cosy bedroom. plush comfort. LEFT On the upper level are the owners’ private spaces, A free-standing comprising the master tub and glass bedroom, an office and a gym. windows for Similarly clad in neutral hues, a relaxing the bedroom is all understated soak with a elegance, with a remarkable serene view. vista to wake up to and modern creature comforts. Several key OPPOSITE furniture pieces have been custom-designed by ARRCC. The staircase The other bedrooms are located leads down to in a wing above the garage. a revamped cabin with The lower levels have a an additional moodier colour scheme that entertainment blends with the surrounding area and a low-level landscape and forest. guest suite. The owner’s favourite room is situated here; an “engine room” housing a building services infrastructure, including a commercial-grade building automation system (BAS) that monitors and controls various systems within the residence. The building is powered by a 15-kilowatt solar array, has an in-property underground stormwater system, and an EcoFlo Biofilter septic system, which deals with all sewer requirements on site. 70

text MICHELLE LEE photos ADAM LETCH architecture SAOTA interior design ARRCC 71

LABOUR OF LOVE This pre-war Tiong Bahru walk-up combines industrial edge with speakeasy and heritage elements. MELODY BAY does a walk-through. 72

An arched doorway leads to the bedrooms and laundry room at the back. OPPOSITE The exposed brick and black accents give the space a distinctly industrial vibe. 73

RIGHT Both like to cook and need plenty of counter space in their kitchen. BOTTOM Ventilation blocks screen off the entrance from other features. OPPOSITE The dining area leads to the den where they enjoy gaming videos with friends. When JP and Daniel thanks to working closely with WHO LIVES HERE clapped eyes on the Desmond Chew and Serene Tan pre-war apartment of Three-D Conceptwerke. A family of four and a chihuahua in Tiong Bahru, it was love HOME Pre-war walk-up apartment at first sight. They visited it Of course, this has had almost every day before they friends and family members SIZE 1,700 sq ft moved in. “I would come in here mistaking their place for a bar and just sit and visualise the a few times. “I’ve had people place,” laughs JP, a 37-year-old coming up for a party and financial planner. wondering if this was the right bar,” says JP. Beyond that, it Today, the walk-up is hasn’t been much of a bother as home to him, partner Daniel, they love to entertain. Needless their 13-year-old chihuahua to say, having a large space for Clover and JP’s parents. And, hosting gatherings was high on much like the hip bars in the their list of priorities. neighbourhood, it is a dimly-lit, welcoming place that’s a blend Now, the communal area of industrial edge and vintage consists of a large den, a sizeable speakeasy, with nods to their dining space and an open Singaporean heritage. kitchen with an island bar that would look right at home in A tricky mix for sure but one of the nearby restaurants they pulled it off beautifully, with its walnut hue and urban- 74

“WE LOVE TO HOST GATHERINGS, SO HAVING PLENTY OF SEATING IS IMPORTANT.” – JP, HOMEOWNER 75

ABOVE OPPOSITE The semi- The steampunk- circular layout style barber was a challenge chair and neon at first, but they sign give the den overcame it an edgy vibe. with the careful placement of the furniture. RIGHT Brass accents lend a touch of luxe. 76

looking chandelier. Of these, JP purchased on Carousell from the couple’s favourite room is an interior design firm that was undeniably the den – a large, moving offices. Next to it is a semi-circular room with a bright pink custom neon sign generous, squashy sofa and a TV, that says “Glass ½ Full Since plus their favourite video games 2007” – the year the couple got lined up on the console – that together as well as a tongue-in- they have fondly dubbed the cheek reference to optimism gaming room. and always having a drink in hand. “The layout was quite a challenge, but placing the Although the home has a furniture just so everyone predominantly dark palette, can see the TV was crucial,” there are occasional pops of says Desmond. colour, like deep green, that add depth. JP and Daniel were also Taking pride of place is a very hands-on in the selection of steampunk-style barber’s chair 77

ABOVE “LAYING THE GLASS BLOCKS IN A CURVE WAS CHALLENGING, BUT THE RESULT IS Both the TIMELESS AND THE LIGHT THAT COMES bathrooms feature THROUGH IS BEAUTIFUL.” glass blocks. 78 – DESMOND CHEW, THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE

the colours throughout the place ABOVE BOTTOM as well as the furniture that was mostly bought from sites like The couple kept Lampstands in Taobao and Carousell. the large size of the shape of the bathrooms monkeys, JP’s Of course, they were careful that were said favourite animal, to have a good mix of splurges to be communal light the way in and inexpensive furniture, and back in the day. their bedroom. the resulting look is luxe with a quirky character. Every feature LEFT feels right at home, including the flicker of the wall lamps, Details like which the couple speculates is this intricate due to the age of the building. doorknob elevate the Their personalities are also look of certain introduced through accessories features, and artworks collected over the transforming years and scattered throughout. them from JP loves collecting animal utilitarian figurines from gacha machines, to opulent. which he places in spots like above the clock, on kitchen shelves and in the ventilation blocks, so guests get delightful little surprises. Another welcoming touch: the constant, soft and warm tones of the Koshi wind chimes JP bought from France that are just outside the window.

“I believe we should surround the two bathrooms, letting in ABOVE ourselves with things that natural daylight to brighten make us happy in a home,” JP them up. These heritage- The breezy back tells us. inspired touches give the room is where home a timeless beauty to the the laundry The overall look is also a home, says Desmond, and the gets down, nod to local heritage and the couple concur. the potted character of the neighbourhood. plants thrive Architectural elements such as “We knew we wanted and occasional ventilation blocks, usually found to work with Three-D mahjong outdoors, were incorporated Conceptwerke very early on. sessions happen. indoors via a screen that divides Just like we could feel the the entryway from the dining apartment was right for us, we LEFT area, giving it privacy while also felt Desmond and Serene allowing air and light through. were the right designers to The windows work with. After all, this is our open out Desmond and Serene also forever home,” says JP. onto the added textured glass blocks to neighbourhood. 80

RIGHT A safety door keeps Clover the chihuahua secure from unfamiliar visitors. photos VERONICA TAY art direction NONIE CHEN 81

Lush greenery abounds throughout the home, adding a tropical resort vibe. OPPOSITE The 21m lap pool was one of the top priorities in the design. 82

IN CONVERSATION WITH NATURE This inter-terrace home’s external appearance belies its spacious and airy interior with everything a three- generation family needs. MELODY BAY finds out more.

RIGHT The owners chose to keep the textured masonry or stonework in many of the rooms. BOTTOM RIGHT Most of the first floor is taken up by the lap pool. OPPOSITE The boundaries between the outdoors and indoors are blurred by plants and open spaces. Just from its exterior, a Since both are avid passer-by would be hard- swimmers, a 21m lap pool pressed to believe that this was one of the top priorities. terrace home is a resort-style They worked around the issue paradise for three generations. of space by placing it at the Step inside, however, and it’s ground level and elevating a completely different world everything else – including the – bright, airy and spacious living room and kitchen. with plenty of room for a supersized family. Although flanked by houses on both sides, the It was designed by owners home is bright and well- and architects Tan Chee Yong ventilated, thanks to the and Rebecca Chia, who share four-storey air well that it with their two sons and have rises above the pool. “We made sure that there is more liked the enduring concept than enough room for when of the courtyard house,” both of their parents stay over. shares Rebecca. The air well “We wanted the overall feel to is the focal point in that all be simple and functional while the rooms face it. Each has exuding a relaxed, tropical slide-and-fold window walls atmosphere,” says Chee Yong. so it gets adequate cross- 84

WHO LIVES HERE An architect couple in their 40s with their two sons – and, occasionally, both their parents HOME Inter-terrace home in Hougang SIZE 4,088 sq ft 85

AS PART OF THE NATURE-FOCUSED DESIGN LANGUAGE, THE COLOURS AND MATERIALS WERE DELIBERATELY LEFT RAW OR NEUTRAL. 86

ventilation and maintains a ABOVE BOTTOM connection to the rest of the place. The couple’s The aluminium The air well also blurs the favourite is the pivot screens boundaries between the outdoors dining room with at the front and and indoors. Lush plants line its its 3m-long suar the rear are fully perimeter at each level, giving the wood table. adjustable so appearance of a verdant green they can control curtain. “We wanted our home to LEFT the degree of be in conversation with nature,” light and privacy. says Rebecca. The abundance of The shrubbery flourishing plants adds a tropical adds privacy to OPPOSITE resort vibe. The bathrooms were the bathrooms. also designed as open-concept – Every room or open to the sky – with a veil of opens onto greenery for privacy. the air well, maximising Chee Yong and Rebecca light and cross- highlight the structural elements ventilation. by leaving the walls as exposed brick or concrete and the floors as bare concrete screed – a choice that seems perfectly at one with nature. “It keeps the expression of the house true to its form and function,” shares Rebecca. They also chose natural materials such as rattan and teak for their furniture. The home offers plenty of spaces for privacy, including cosy nooks that overlook the air well and pool, as well as a library. At the same time, there’s also plenty of room for gatherings and conversations, including the roof terrace, the family room, and, of course, the dining room with a 3m-long suar wood table at the back of the house. And while they have plenty of light and space, fully adjustable aluminium pivot screens along the front and at the rear ensure privacy and control the amount of sunlight coming through. Of all the rooms, which is the couple’s favourite? “It has to be the dining room,” says Chee Yong. “It’s always airy and bright – and it’s the heart of the home where friends and family gather.” photos KWAN YEONG KANG, REBECCA CHIA & TAN CHEE YONG 87

The spacious apartment is airy and gets lots of natural light. OPPOSITE The finished look was just what Jeric and Steph wanted: modern with a hint of street style.

MAKING ROOM FOR FAMILY By reconfiguring some areas, more space was created for the three-generation family that lives here. LYNN TAN finds out how the homeowners got the interior they wanted, thanks to a designer who understood their style and needs. WHO LIVES HERE A family of five HOME A four-bedroom condo in Sengkang SIZE 1,367 sq ft 89

Bankers Jeric and Steph purchased this home from its previous owner after the five-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) for Executive Condominiums (EC). The couple liked how spacious the unit was but felt that there was a lot of “wasted space” and that the layout could be more efficient. “Functionality was our priority. We also wanted it to be cosy and fun so we can spend the whole day at home at weekends,” says the couple. They found Imagine SK66 online and entrusted the task of 90

RIGHT transforming the unit to interior designer Kriszha Mae Soriano, This showcase who says, “They came prepared was created for with inspirational images that Jeric’s Jordan gave me an understanding of shoe collection. their preference to formulate He likes them a design suited to their tastes,” because the Kriszha says. logo symbolises always reaching Besides their two daughters, for the aged 3 and 11 months, Steph’s highest point. father also lives with them, making them three generations OPPOSITE, TOP under one roof. But this didn’t make the design any more An L-shaped challenging. “My father-in-law sofa defines the is very easy-going. He had only living area. Not a few requirements for his room having a coffee and left the design for the rest of table frees up the home to us,” Jeric comments. more space for the children to The scope of the renovation, play in. which took three months and $85,000, was fairly extensive. OPPOSITE, Besides the electrical aspects BOTTOM and work on the ceiling, flooring and walls, there was The study- some reconfiguration and the cum-playroom hacking of walls mainly in the combines work kitchen, the master bedroom and fun. and one bedroom adjacent to the living area. “THE SHOES ARE ALWAYS SO NICELY DISPLAYED IN THE SHOPS, SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO An island at the front of the kitchen was removed and the HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT HOME.” freed-up space became the dining area. Relocating it away from the – JERIC, HOMEOWNER living space meant the latter is now bigger, creating more room for the girls to play in. Of the storeroom, the helper’s room and the toilet in the kitchen area, hacking the storeroom walls allowed Kriszha to add more built-in cabinets and a washing machine. And, since the owners don’t have a helper, the room for one and the toilet have been converted into the new storeroom that now occupies a smaller footprint than before but still provides adequate storage for the family while slightly enlarging the kitchen. 91

One of the bedrooms is now the room and connects it BOTTOM OPPOSITE, TOP both a study and a playroom. physically and visually with “I have always wanted this in the living area. “It also makes The feature wall The master my home. When we host family the space look bigger,” Kriszha with leaves, a suite now and friends, the ladies tend to points out. The distinctly fun focal point in the incorporates a occupy the living and dining vibes are a fitting reflection of kitchen, stands sleeping zone, areas while the men usually end the room’s purpose. The wall out from the rest a walk-in up in the study-cum-playroom,” above the desk has a colourful of the material wardrobe and Jeric reveals. artwork depicting Kaws’ iconic palette. a spacious characters. “I like street art and bathroom. Two of the existing walls picked this up from an artist in that formed an L-shape have Chatuchak Market in Bangkok,” OPPOSITE, been replaced by full-height says Jeric. BOTTOM fixed as well as sliding-folding glass panels. This opens up One important item Kriszha even incorporated a unique display case into the walk-in wardrobe for Jeric’s watch collection. 92

on Jeric’s wish list was a be better utilised as a walk-in built-in display cabinet for wardrobe since more storage his Jordan shoe collection. space is always welcome. It even The requirement was to has a display case for Jeric’s accommodate 20-plus pairs watch collection as well. The but, since moving in in walk-in also provides a spatial March 2019, his collection has transition from the sleeping outgrown the display that is area to the new spacious integrated into the living room bathroom. feature wall. He got the idea while shoe shopping: “The Jeric and Steph were so shoes are always so nicely pleased to be able to achieve the displayed in the shops, so I modern design with a touch of thought it would be nice to have street style that thay wanted. something like that at home.” “We really appreciate Kriszha’s expertise, and especially her The master bedroom great sense of colour. The underwent major changes, neutral shades of grey and too. The old en suite bathroom white made furniture selection took up about half the entire a breeze for us. She has created bedroom. Kriszha felt would exactly what we desired.” photography VEE CHIN art direction KRISTY QUAH 93

PROJECT SHOWCASE SUCH GREAT Occupying levels 39 to 64 ABOVE HEIGHTS of Singapore’s tallest building, the 181 luxury The excellent Located on the 50th floor of the tallest building units at Wallich Residence natural light in Singapore, this bachelor pad sports a sit between 180m and 290m makes the above sea level and enjoy the contrast disciplined monochromatic palette curated by its most spectacular view. This between the ophthalmologist owner’s keen eye for design. was a deciding factor for black furniture ophthalmologist Desmond and the 94 Quek when buying his unit. mostly white He went so far as to check the marble floors area’s development blueprint all the more and when he found out that the sophisticated. plot near the residence might be developed into a 40-storey building, he bought a three-

WHO LIVES HERE A bachelor ophthalmologist in his 40s HOME A one-bedroom condo that used to have three bedrooms SIZE 1,098 sq ft ABOVE bedroom unit on the 50th Smoked glass sliding doors floor just so his view stayed separate the living area Smoked glass unobstructed. from the bedroom. Even key sliding doors furniture pieces, including the separate the Initially working with an Nathan Yong Break Stool as living area from interior designer to bring well as the custom sofa and bed the bedroom. his concept to life, Desmond frame, are also black, which then worked directly with wasn’t that easy to put together. ABOVE, RIGHT a contractor. The result “The lines and shapes must is a minimalist, ultra- match each other. Otherwise, Desmond Quek. contemporary bachelor pad in a monochromatic space, it’s with a disciplined material easy to spot inconsistencies,” LEFT palette. The number of the Desmond explains. bedrooms was reduced to one, An elegant turning the place into a bright High-rise living might monochromatic studio apartment that makes seem high maintenance but palette that’s the most of its panorama. for Desmond, it is the other rich in texture. way around. Since moving in The finishing materials in January last year, he’s sold BELOW are strictly black and white. his car and switched to riding the MRT from the station right His bedroom. below the building. Also, eight out of his 10 window panes are operable, allowing for natural ventilation during the weekly cleaning session. This has become an investment that is both stylish and sensible. text ASIH JENIE photos VERONICA TAY art direction CHEN JINGHUA 95

F E AT U R E ID COLLECTIVE DESIGNS THE LOOKS OF NEW NORMAL What will our homes look like in the months to come? Here are the top three trends shaping interiors now and how you can achieve them. 96

BIOPHILIA DESIGN TYCO TAT Plant parenting is one of the most popular ways to battle the pandemic stress. It is therapeutic, rewarding and irresistibly Instagrammable. Biophilia or the love for nature has long been shaping our domestic environment. The pandemic has simply highlighted the benefit of biophilic design, especially in Singapore’s dense and vertical urban environment. Incorporating it into the design of your home is not that complicated. Here are a few ways: DESIGN TYCO TAT TRANSFORM YOUR CAN’T MAKE IT? FAKE IT BALCONY INTO A GARDEN Can’t commit to caring for living plants? Create the All you need are some illusion of a garden with planters and a lot of patience artificial plants on your and love. No balcony space air-conditioner ledge and is too small. However, it is in a few corners. Also try important to research the kind refreshing, green ambient of plants suitable for the level scents and turn a regular of care that you can commit wall into a feature wall with to. Watch our Tiny Garden leafy or floral wallpaper. video series for a deep dive. U S E M AT E R I A L S T H AT AG E G R AC E F U L LY DESIGN DOMENICA TAN ID ICON INTERIOR DESIGN Incorporating natural materials that gain patina with time is listed as one of the elements of biophilic design in the book The Practice of Biophilic Design by Stephen R. Kellert and Elizabeth F. Calabrese. Think aged wood and verdigris from copper and any materials that fit the wabi-sabi Japanese aesthetic such as Corten Steel. 97

CHRONOTOPIA ID THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE Arguably the most exotic word DESIGN JASON CHANGS INVEST IN in this article – but don’t get spooked! Around for some time, M U LT I FU NC TI O NAL F URN IT U RE the pandemic has also made it more relevant than ever. Convertible furniture – like the Chronotopia is derived from Murphy bed, an expandable dining “chronotopic”, which means table and a foldable screen or room “of a specific time and place”. dividers – offers great flexibility. Chronotopia at home refers to a space that can cater the function demanded of it in a specific time and place. In short, a flexible, adaptable space that can morph smoothly from one function to another. It’s been used to describe the adaptability of public spaces, say like when a car park becomes a festival venue. “But with the arrival of new technology, digital solutions and connected devices, chronotopia has gradually edged its way into the intimacy of our homes,” says French journalist Marie Montuir, writing for Maison & Objet. With the living space now a workspace, classroom and gym, how can you make chronotopia work and look great? 98