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SKY IS THE LIMIT
As we cross the threshold
of yet another year, it
seems that many people
are cautious about what
2020 is going to bring.
Economists are predicting
a global slowdown in trade,
while scientists warn about
the looming threat of global
warming around the world.
These observations seem
to paint a rather grim and
gloomy outlook for the
next 12 months to come.
If this news is making
you feel a bit blue, you will
understand why colour expert
Pantone decided to make
Classic Blue the reigning
hue of the year. As its name
suggests, Classic Blue is the
shade we are all familiar
EDI TOR’S NOT E
with. To some, it’s common,
plain and almost veering on
the side of being boring to
look at, but let’s not get too
pessimistic. Classic Blue
may seem dull, but I like the
shade because it reminds
me of the sky and ocean.
It is a primary colour that
ođers so much potential for
creating new colours while
complementing others. Far
from being depressing, blue
is comforting and inspiring.
So let’s embrace this year,
and be open to the new
opportunities to come. If you
have been putting ođ giving
your home a makeover, I say
this is the perfect time to
get started. Here’s wishing
you a very happy new year.
YO U N G L I M
E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F
photography ANGELA GUO art direction NONIE CHEN
 CONTENTS

JANUARY

NOW
23
Swing Swing
DESIGN NEWS, PLACES TO This swing seat
V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y
promises to
transform your
21
MATERIAL WORLD child’s room into
Hermes collaborated a forest glade.
with Milan-based artist
and designer Nathalie
Du Pasquier to design
two throws made with
simple embroidery
techniques.

S HO P PING
23
GREAT BUYS
Our monthly roundup
of the hottest new
design products
for the home.
25
N EW STO R E
28
SMOKE SIGNATURE
This store applies the 36
traditional craft of
charring hardwood
to furniture.

H OT SP OT
32
IL PALAZZO
EXPERIMENTAL
A Venetian palace
remade as a hip
boutique hotel.

34
TRUNK(HOUSE)
The traditional facade
of this historical
building hides a
one-of-a-kind interior.

36
LINDSEY
ADELMAN’S
NEW YORK CITY
SHOWROOM
The famed industrial
designer launches
her gallery, where
she showcases her
sculptural lighting
creations in a
welcoming, loft-like
space.

38
MANDALA.
THE BAY.
A private villa
experience in Bali.

6
 CONTENTS

JANUARY

DESIGN PEOPLE
41
CREATING
IMMERSIVE
48
VERSATILE BIKE
ATTACHMENT WINS
JAMES DYSON
I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M
ENVIRONMENTS AWARD
THOSE IN THE KNOW Acclaimed Argentinean Stability is an issue
artist Julio Le Parc when riding bikes
has spent the past 60 loaded with heavy
years dreaming up bags. With Wheelson,
experiences exploring carrying heavy loads
form, colour, light, on your bicycle is not
movement and visual only safer but easier
effects that engage all too.
the senses.

46 H & D C URATE S
SHOP AWAY 50
Joshua Koh, CEO of FEAST FOR THE
Commune, talks about SENSES
the store’s new virtual Go bold this season
reality and augmented and ditch that
reality tools for an white tablecloth for
enhanced furniture something textured
shopping experience. and darker-hued
instead.

41
Creating
Immersive
Environments
Argentinean artist
Julio Le Parc
experiments with
geometric designs
to create eye-
catching artpieces.

8
 CONTENTS

JANUARY

HOMES
THE NEW MODERN

on the
60 cover

52 68 92 79
HOME WITH A LIVING HISTORY BACK TO
PRICE A chance encounter THE FUTURE
Be inspired by our
David Price’s family during one of the A dark palette with round-up of different
home is a culmination homeowner’s regular metallic accents
of nearly 30 years jaunts to check forms the futuristic styling ideas to give
of experience in out conservation ambience of this your home a fresh
designing dream shophouses in various apartment.
residences for an parts of Singapore led new look this
international clientele to the acquisition of festive season.
across the south of this corner unit.
France.
90
80 PHOTOGRAPHY
60 LOFTY LUXE VEE CH IN
COOL & CAT- Taking full advantage STYLING
FRIENDLY of the vertical NONIE C HEN
Designed to meet expanse of this
the owners’ aesthetic apartment, the
preferences and their designer managed to
pets’ needs. create more floor and
storage space.

86
PICTURE PERFECT
This contemporary
home was designed
to reflect the
homeowner’s city
lifestyle.

10
 CONTENTS

JANUARY

102
Stay Calm
and Cool
Embrace shades
of green and
blue this
new year.

F E ATU R E 102 01
94 STAY CALM EDITOR’S NOTE

FEATURES
FRESH TAKE ON AND COOL
THE NEW YEAR Colour experts 18
With Chinese New recommend these H&D.COM.SG
Year just a few weeks reassuring shades of
T H E L AT E S T I N D E S I G N away from Christmas, green and blue to 19
switching from one ease us in and set the DIGITAL EDITION
AND DECOR TRENDS
seasonal look to tone for 2020. EXCLUSIVES
another is as easy as
making small changes 106 117
to your existing decor. FEAST FOR THE WHERE TO BUY
Interior stylist Mike SENSES
94 Tan shares his tips on Elevate your reunion 118
fuss-free decorating. dinner gathering with BUYING GUIDE
a stylish table spread
98 fit for presenting 120
MADE TO ORDER those sumptuous THE HARD TRUTH
New HDB apartments dishes.
may have a standard
layout these days, T RAV EL
yet our tastes as 110
homeowners are HEAD SOUTH
anything but South Africa is
cookie-cutter. leading the discourse
on art and design on
the African continent.
Find out where the
hottest galleries are
and which are the
artists to watch.

12
the show .
11. 2
— O
7. —
O
2 S2
OK
LO OD
GO
Content determines form. Lifestyle impacts on
design. The international consumer goods sector
prepares for the coming year at Ambiente.
A stunning selection of products for the interior,
furnishing and decoration is presented in style.

Information and tickets:

ambiente.messefrankfurt.com
Tel. +65 6737 1704
info@singapore.messefrankfurt.com
 GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNATIONAL
Caroline Ngui TRENDING DESK EDITIONS
(nguislc@sph.com.sg) CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
GROUP EDITOR Veronica Tay HOME & DECOR INDONESIA
GROUP EDITOR (verontay@sph.com.sg)
Dhylan Boey MPG MEDIA PUBLISHING
Joanna Lee-Miller
(dhylanb@sph.com.sg) Jl Palmerah Utara 55
(jolee@sph.com.sg) EXECUTIVE Slipi, Jakarta 11910
PHOTOGRAPHERS Indonesia
Frenchescar Lim
(frenchl@sph.com.sg)
EDITORIAL BRAND LAB & AD SALES ENQUIRIES
Tel: +62 21 5366 7777
VIDEO LAB Tan Wei Te E-mail: info.homeanddecor
EDITOR (tanweite@sph.com.sg) @mpgmedia.co.id
Young Lim DIRECTOR
(younglim@sph.com.sg) Ong Ting Nee PHOTOGRAPHERS
(tingnee@sph.com.sg) Darren Chang
SENIOR WRITER (darrenc@sph.com.sg)
Domenica Tan EDITOR HOME & DECOR MALAYSIA
(domtan@sph.com.sg) Grace Chua Phyllicia Wang BLUINC MEDIA SDN BHD
(cshgrace@sph.com.sg) (wanglx@sph.com.sg) Lot 7, Jalan Bersatu 13/4,
WRITERS Section 13, 46200 Petaling Jaya,
Isabelle Tow FASHION DIRECTOR Vee Chin Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
(imztow@sph.com.sg) Janice Pidduck (veechin@sph.com.sg) Tel: (603) 5569-6800,
(pjan@sph.com.sg) Fax: (603) 5569-6810,
Melody Bay VIDEOGRAPHER E-mail: sales@bluinc.com.my
(melodyb@sph.com.sg) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alicia Chong
Shairah Thoufeekh Ahamed (achong@sph.com.sg) DEPUTY EDITOR
Emmelyn Mah
(stahamed@sph.com.sg)
SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE
AD SALES ENQUIRIES
CREATIVE SENIOR WRITER EXECUTIVE
Michelle Yow
Nida Seah Wendy Wong
E-mail: michelleyow
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR (seahnida@sph.com.sg) (wwong@sph.com.sg)
@bluinc.com.my
Nonie Chen
(noniec@sph.com.sg) ASSISTANT PROJECT
MANAGER
ART DIRECTOR Nurasyidah Abdul Razak
EDITORIAL
Kristy Quah (nsyidah@sph.com.sg) SUPPORT
(krisquah@sph.com.sg)
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SENIOR MANAGER,
Neccol Woo ADMINISTRATION &
(neccolw@sph.com.sg) EDITORIAL SUPPORT UNIT
Juliana Chong
ART DIRECTOR (julianac@sph.com.sg)
Kim Wong
(kimwong@sph.com.sg) ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Jashnijothirani Nadarajah
ART DIRECTOR (jrani@sph.com.sg)
& VIDEO EDITOR
Michael Chian
(cmichael@sph.com.sg)

VIDEO EDITORS
Firdaus Mahadi
(firmhdi@sph.com.sg)

Sherry Leung
(suetyee@sph.com.sg)

14
 BUSINESS D I G I TAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SPH Magazines registration no:
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& INNOVATION (soofang@sph.com.sg) of this publication may be
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ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Home & Decor are those of the
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& CIRCULATION Matthew Joseph Nah
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SENIOR MARKETING
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Jennith Chen

16
REAL-TIME DESIGN UPDATES
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HOMEANDDECOR.SINGAPORE
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SIGHTS &
INSPIRATION
CHECK US OUT AT
@HOMEANDDECOR_SG

Bachelor pad with million-dollar view Apartment with white and light palette
This home’s interiors were designed A farmhouse-inspired look gives this family-
to complement the view. oriented home a cosy vibe.
www.tinyurl.com/bachelormillionview www.tinyurl.com/whiteandlight

HOMEANDDECOR
.COM.SG
Check out popular blog posts of the month

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STYLES FROM OUR THIS MONTH ON
ONLINE IMAGE LIBRARY OUR BEDROOM
TO DIE FOR BOARD…

WWW.PINTEREST.COM/
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IN THE JANUARY DIGITAL ISSUE…

A UNIQUE HOTEL STAY

Check into this boutique hotel, where
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BONUS GALLERIES
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RELIVING A LEGACY
Find out how this conservation
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 DWELL INTERIOR DESIGN P. L .

INTERIOR DESIGN & CONSULTANCY

DESIGN & BUILD | ADDITIONS & ALTERATIONS

W W W.DW E LL.COM .SG

RIVER VALLEY | 11 KIM YAM ROAD | T 6883 1005 | TALKTOUS@DWELL.COM.SG

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
D E S I G N N E W S , P L A C E S T O V I S I T, T H I N G S T O B U Y

M AT E R I A L
WO R L D
Having dedicated its
latest home collection to
highlighting the beauty of
raw materials and traditional
craftsmanship, French luxury
label Hermes collaborated
with Milan-based artist
and designer Nathalie Du
Pasquier (founding member
of the Memphis Design
Group - an iconic studio in
the ’80s, which counts Karl
Lagerfeld and David Bowie
as its fans) to design two
throws made with simple
embroidery techniques. This
Soft Machine throw features
handmade Mongolian-
cashmere patchworks,
mini-beads and bold colours.

The Soft Machine throw

measures 1.4m by 2m and
is available by order from
Hermes. Visit www.hermes.
com/sg for more information.
 EXHIBITION OF THE MONTH

Suddenly Turning Visible

TILE OF WHAT Suddenly turning visible: art and
architecture in Southeast Asia (1969 – 1989)
THE MONTH WHEN Now until March 15
WHERE National Gallery Singapore

Against a backdrop The exhibition looks

of rapid urban at art’s development
development in in Singapore, Manila
CHEVRON CHIC Southeast Asia and Bangkok under
during the late 1960s the influence of
to 1990s, not only three prominent art
Interested to vintage industrial did art evolve to institutions: Alpha
inject an element lofts. Its edgy look adopt experimental Gallery, Cultural Center
of industrial chic is softened by forms, but it even of the Philippines,
formed new alliances Bhirasri Institute of
into your home’s the muted tones, with architecture. Modern Art.
design, but not offering a warm yet
ready to go all the rustic-Industrial feel.
way with concrete These tiles are also
screed across the easy to maintain,
floor? Consider the making them great
Lamelle collection for any room.
of glazed porcelain
tiles instead, which Lamelle Rovere
is designed to Chevron retails at Hafary,
resemble the look 105 Eunos Avenue 3. Visit
of parquet used in www.hafary.com.sg.

SPRING CLEAN

Did you know that you can

eliminate 99.99 per cent of all common
household bacteria with just water?
Cleaning agents and chemicals are
rendered superfluous with Karcher’s new
SC 3 Upright EasyFix steam mop, which
uses steam to deep clean virtually all
surfaces including parquet and carpets.
Water heats to nearly 100-degrees
celsius in under 30 seconds so that you
can commence on your cleaning spree
in a jiffy.

The Karcher SC 3 Upright EasyFix

steam mop retails for $398 at all major
electronics and electric appliance stores.

22
FUN IN THE OUTDOORS
Shopping for outdoor furniture to Kay retails for
spruce up the look in your garden or $6,500 at W.
patio? W.Atelier introduces Gloster’s Atelier, #01-01
collection of teak furniture. Pieces in and #03-01,
the collection include the Kay, a seat 201 Henderson
showcasing a curved and sculptured Road. Find out
more at www.
back panel that gives it its timeless
watelier.com
Scandinavian-style look.

SWING SWING
Playtime just got a lot more fun with The Booboo
Suspension
the Booboo Suspension Sofa, a swing
Sofa retails
seat that promises to transform your
for €3,800
child’s room into a forest glade – or
(S$5,707) and
anything from your child’s imagination, is available at
really. The plush velvet upholstery is www.circu.net.
supported by a strong stainless steel
frame with bronze accents.

NEWS

Best of the best Smart storage Sustainability champion

The superb quality of Asia’s biggest self- Not one to rest on
Hansgrohe’s Rainfinity storage operator its laurels, global
shower range is getting has opened its first sanitaryware brand
the recognition it technologically Grohe is stepping
deserves. Last October, advanced facility up its sustainability
it won “Best of Best” in Singapore. The efforts with the goal of
for the Hansgrohe Storefriendly Centre at achieving carbon-neutral
Group in the 2019 Paya Lebar makes use production by this year.
Iconic Awards held in of robotic technology, Since last July, their
Munich. This honour or GObots, to deliver five production plants
came just months after users’ personal storage worldwide as well as
the shower range was housed within the their logistics centre in
presented the iF Gold no-man zones right to Germany have been run
Award in March. their feet. on green electricity, as
part of this effort.
Visit www. Visit www.
hansgrohe.com.sg storefriendly.com.sg Visit www.grohe.com

23
 TRENDING
2

SPARE SEATS
Making sure your 3
guests are comfortable
is a concern for every
good host. This CNY 1 . Pink shaggy pouf,
4 $159.95, from Crate &
season, consider some
chic poufs and stools Barrel.
2 . Grass weave drum
instead of the quotidian stool, from $89, from
stackable plastic chairs Scene Shang.
to keep your home 3 . Nahara 18”x18”
decor in trend and natural pouf, $399.95,
1 from Crate & Barrel.
your guests happy.
4 . Ekko pouf in dark
green, $499, from
HipVan.

SHOWER OF BLESSING

Bathtime just got even better with

Kohler’s Air Showerhead, featuring
Katalys Air-Induction technology that
SUSTAINABLE FLOORS infuses 2.2 litres of air into 2.5 gallons
of water every minute. The mixture
Everyone’s heard flooring, which chemical- and slip- of air and water creates larger water
of wood flooring, is 100 per cent resistant making it droplets that retain their heat longer,
but have you ever recyclable, with a material safe for enveloping you in comfort
heard of bamboo three layers of use at home! and warmth.
charcoal flooring? fully waterproof
A revolutionary composites that Bamco comes in The Kohler Katalys Air Showerhead
material, Bamco are child-safe and wood- and stone-look retails from $675 at authorised
is the world’s first non-toxic. It is finishes. Find out more Kohler distributors.
bamboo charcoal also fire-, scratch-, at bamcoflor.com

24
 WELL-MADE WASHBASINS

Luxury British bath brand Victoria and

Albert has launched three new additions to
its Kaali collection of undermount basins.
Kaali 60 and 65 are oval basins, while Kaali
48 is a round one - its number indicates
their diameters. All made using the brand’s
proprietary material QuarryCast, a limestone
blend mixture that is warm to the touch.

Victoria and Albert is available from Equip-

Design & Supply, #04-34 Vertex, and Wan Tai &
Co Bathroom Gallery, 25 Changi South Avenue 2.

DOWN TO THE DETAILS

Design studio Pelle has created a super sleek table made
completely out of aluminium. The DVN table is put together
using Japanese joinery techniques — the legs are measured
with such precision that they fit perfectly with the top,
without the need for nails or fasteners.

The DVN table retails for US$12,000 ($16,357) at www.pelledesigns.com.

EDITOR’S
CHOICE

A PIECE OF HERITAGE
Local design The pair
and crafts store of Peranakan
Supermama’s Mamazara —
latest porcelain which means I FOR ICONIC
plate collection “small plate”
is a collaboration in Japanese — Televisions today are no longer
with Candlenut remind of Kutani- designed just as a plain black screen,
— the world’s yaki, a traditional many come with interesting details
first Michelin- Ishikawa pottery- that make them stand out from the
starred Peranakan making style crowd. Samsung’s The Serif is one
restaurant. It that employs the such TV, which is designed with the
pays homage to distinct “I” shape iconic to the serif
the Peranakan Each dish retails for typography, as its name suggests.
heritage and has $24 and is available It’s sleek, modern, unconventional,
designs inspired at Candlenut at Como and features vibrant picture quality
by Peranakan tiles Dempsey and all thanks to its QLED technology.
and iconic floral Supermama stores,
motifs. while stocks last. The Serif is 55 inches in size and
retails for $3,399 at Commune and major
electrical stores.

25
 DAYDREAM IN BLUE
ODE TO JOY
Looking for a way to inject Pantone’s
colour of the year into your home? The Ring in the Lunar New Year
Doze lounge chair and ottoman, by festivities with these limited-
Scandinavian design studio Muuto, feature edition handmade lacquer boxes
a sleek and contemporary silhouette by Qua. Painted by local artist
upholstered in timeless deep blue. Aaron Gan, whose beautiful
artwork is renowned for its
The Muuto Doze lounge chair retails for expression of joy and gratitude,
$4,390 at Grafunkt, Funan Mall, #04-01. these boxes feature a bird
perched among auspicious fruits
and flowers. “The bird glancing
backwards symbolises gratitude
and appreciation,” says Aaron.

The Joy Series Lacquer

Collection retails from $68 at
Tangs at Tang Plaza, Metro
Paragon, and Robinson’s at
The Heeren.

CARVED IN STONE
Fancy the timeless look of marble in the
kitchen? Caesarstone, which specialises
in high-quality quartz surfaces, has just
launched Empira White, a classic white
marble quartz with elegant grey veining
that’s inspired by Calacatta marble. Its
durability means it’s easy to wipe clean,
and can last for years to come.
Add
to Empira White retails at Caesarstone
cart
Experience Centre @ Suntec, #03-357
Suntec City Mall Tower 3.

Make your CNY decor

more personal with
Urban Li’l’s custom
Chinese family
plaques! Instead of
tacky accessories, now
you can adorn your
doors and walls with
plaques personalised
with your family
name made by the
Singapore-based
design studio.

Visit www.urbanlil.com.

text DOMENICA TAN, MELODY BAY AND ISABELLE TOW

26
 N E W S TO R E

S M O K E S I G N AT U R E
This store applies the traditional craft of
charring hardwood to furniture.

N
estled in the heart of store has the mid-century-
Esplanade Mall is Smoke styled Orter collection, featuring
Signature, the newly- pieces with charred accents that
opened flagship store of the lend texture and character.
Smoke brand by Shou Sugi Ban It’s not all just furniture
Gallery. The space boasts an -- the art of shou sugi ban is
expansive showfloor of recycled also applied to paneling and art
wood furniture, as well as a café pieces, as well as their custom-
furnished with their signature made barn doors. Marcus is
pieces. confident that the demand
Here, you’ll find an extensive for the art is rising as more
range of hardwood furniture homeowners appreciate the
that has been charred by hand uniqueness of the hand-charred
in the ancient Japanese art of detailing. “Charred is the new
shou sugi ban, a wood treatment black,” he says.
dating back to the 1900s and
traditionally used on home Visit Smoke Signature at
exteriors. This method involves www.smoke.sg, or at #02-29,
carefully charring and oiling Esplanade Mall.
the wood, rendering it both
ABOVE
fireproof and waterproof, with The Zen Marey
the added bonus of preventing Organic stool,
featuring
termite infestations. full charred
The founder, Marcus Wang, detailing, is
an allusion
does each piece personally. to the milk
“Shou sugi ban brings out the buckets used
in Singapore’s
beautiful details of the wood and olden days.
makes it very unique. No two
LEFT
pieces are the same,” he says. He You can
has been practicing the art for customise just
about anything
eight years. on your barn
The silhouette of the door – including
a silhouette of
furniture is minimalist and your pet.
organic, with allusions to local
FAR LEFT
culture. “I was inspired by some The Algine
LEFT
aspects of local life, like the is part of the
You’ll find
AudioPhil
aluminium bucket that we used sculptures and
collection,
other artwork at
last time to get water in the a series of
the gallery, too –
cabinets built
kampong,” Marcus says. This all with detailing
to house
brought out by
resulted in creations like the Zen turntables.
the art of shou
Oly Organic stool, which has a sugi ban.

backrest shaped like the bucket

handle. For customers who like
the charred look but prefer to
have it applied sparingly, the

28 text MELODY BAY

2.500 years ago, Alexander the Great respect to the safety and hygiene of
begun his great expeditions to the East farming products, across their entire pro-
from the fertile valley of River Haliacmon. duction chain up to consumption, thus
His conquests reached far in Asia, where ensuring the production of quality pro-
he came to know of the peach, which he duce with high nutritional value.
brought back to Europe. The first system- By means of the requirements posed by
atic cultivations were realized in the flat- good farming practice, European pro-
lands of Imathia – due to its ideal climate. duction protocols ensure the safe pro-
Hundreds of hectares of fresh and indus- duction of foodstuffs. Diligent and rigor-
trial peach are cultivated in these lands ous tests and checks are carried out at
until today, while the largest processing every stage of production, standardiza-
units are also located here. tion and packaging, aimed to make qual-
Canned peaches do not appear to fall ity, nutritious and healthy food products
short in terms of nutrients compared available to consumers.
to fresh ones. Their content in vitamins, The process for the production of canned
minerals and micronutrients matches peaches, from cultivation to processing,
that of fresh peaches, since canning is implemented pursuant to all necessary
peaches causes minimal losses to nu- European and international certifications
trients, comparable to those caused by (ISO - HACCP - BRC – IFS – GLOBALGAP)
cooking. which certify and ensure the excellent
European Legislation is very strict with and undeviating quality of products.

The content of this promotion campaign represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole
responsibility.The European Commission and the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency
(CHAFEA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
 H
D
B
S
P
E
C
IA
L
NEW AND
IMPROVED
New HDB flats come with
sleeker, more modern
interior fittings.

From 2019, new HDB

BTO flats will come with
sleeker and more modern
fittings to keep pace with
changing lifestyles and help
reduce renovation costs for
homebuyers. For example,
glazed porcelain tiles in the
kitchen and bathrooms,
coupled with better-
looking bathroom amenities
instantly give these rooms a
polished and contemporary
look. Simply build in your
carpentry and you’re ready
to go! Check out the range
of new features in HDB
flats.

UPDATED, BETTER QUALITY
BATHROOM FITTINGS
Bathrooms get a facelift
with a range of new quality
fittings to kit out the whole
area. Designer-looking
glazed porcelain tiles for the
walls and floors, together
with modern-looking
taps, showerheads, toilet
cisterns, concealed floor
traps and a sleeker top-
hung window instead of
the previous louvered vent
windows cohesively refresh
the space and comes close
to what you get in private
developments. Even better,
all the tap and sanitary
fittings are water-efficient,
helping you to save as
you use.
LARGE, BETTER QUALITY TILES
Ceramic tiles have given
way to nicer-looking and
better quality glazed
porcelain floor and wall
tiles for the kitchen and
bathrooms. Not only do
these tiles look sleeker and
more modern, they are
also more resistant to wear
and tear and make cleaning
a breeze.
For a flushed and
seamless look, floor tiles for
the kitchen and living room
will be upsized to 600mm
by 600mm and 300mm
by 600mm respectively.
The use of larger tiles gives
the space visual continuity
and added elegance as
there will be fewer grout
lines between tiles, helping
to create the illusion of
spaciousness.
STREAMLINED DESIGN FOR DOOR
AND WINDOW SET IN KITCHEN
Enter a more contemporary
looking kitchen and service
yard, as the door/window
set which divides the space
will now feature top-hung
windows that replace
the previous louvered-
vent windows. Top-hung
windows are easier to clean
and more streamlined knob on the inside replaces
since they will be flushed the previous older-looking
to the walls. This also wrought iron gate.
gives you more options in With a new home that
the configuration of your comes with these refreshed
kitchen cabinetry. features, you can now
focus on building the cosy
NEW LOOK INSIDE, AND OUT nest that you have always
There’s more! New flats dreamed of.
will also come with a nicer
entrance courtesy of a new Visit MyNiceHome.sg, www.
main door and grille gate. facebook.com/mynicehome, and
A better quality, scratch- www.instagram.com/mynicehome
resistant laminated timber for more tips, design ideas and
main door replaces the interesting stories from other HDB
timber-veneer door, and homeowners.
a modern steel grille gate
complete with a thumb-turn

30
 H OT S P OT

M
I L PA L A Z Z O
E X P E R I M E N TA L
A Venetian palace remade
as a hip boutique hotel.
ost recently the
headquarters of
a naval transport
company before it shut down,
the Venetian Palazzo Ca’
Molin has been revived as a
boutique hotel, newly named
as Il Palazzo Experimental.
Developed by the
Experimental Group, the
palace’s transformation was
spearheaded by the group’s
talented design partner,
French interior designer
Dorothee Meilichzon.
Consisting of 32 rooms, a
cocktail bar and a restaurant,
Meilichzon curated a design
language that respects and
reinforces the palace’s Venetian
Gothic elements, while
mixing in her signature style.
Inspired by existing curved
windows and carved window
heads, the hotel is a layered
pastiche of rounded motifs, as
expressed in Luciano Vistosi’s
mushroom Murano glass table
lamps and scalloped edge
paintwork found throughout

32
LEFT
Guests can
partake in
delicious Italian
fare prepared
with locally
sourced,
seasonal
ingredients
at the hotel’s
Ristorante
Adriatica.

TOP, RI GHT
The large
gothic windows
bring lots of
sunlight into
the bedrooms.

the establishment. Meilichzon

took the opportunity to weave
in Venetian craftsmanship, with
details like marble terrazzo
scarpa flooring, treating the
walls with Marmorino and
imbuing the place with a sun-
strewn palette of terracotta,
sky blue and pale green.
White banquettes and
LEFT
booths with bordeaux velvet The hotel’s
seats, marble dining tables back garden,
where breakfast,
and ceramic mosaic walls tea and early
handcrafted by Botteganove evening drinks
are served.
are artfully assembled in a
high-ceilinged dining hall that ABOVE
Guests will
is now the hotel’s restaurant, Il
Ristorante Adriatica. Guests can
good to encounter
various

look forward to the authentic

know renditions of
stripes around
Italian fare, using locally sourced the hotel, be
it painted on,
ingredients, that’s prepared by Touring Venice? in the fabrics
chef Attilio Franzoi of London’s coffee tables, as well as pink The hotel is near or in the metal
marquetry.
Italian Supper Club fame. velvet poufs by Attico Design, cultural attractions
Milan-based architect- Celestino’s line of products. like the Galleria
designer Cristina Celestino Facing the picturesque dell’Accademia
was appointed to design the Giudecca Canal, from which and the Peggy
cocktail bar – and the group’s guests arrive, it seems like Guggeinheim
first Italian outpost of their the third life’s the charm for Collection.
well-known Experimental this remade palazzo.
Cocktail Club. Its laid-back
nature is fleshed out with a lush Il Palazzo Experimental is
custom-designed regimental located at Fondamenta Zattere,
inlaid carpet by Besana Carpet Al Ponte Lungo 1412, 30123 Venice.
Lab, and paired with brass Visit www.palazzoexperimental.
and antique mirror-topped com.

text ISABELLE TOW photos KAREL BALAS 33

 H O T S P OT
TRUNK(HOUSE)
The traditional façade of this historical
building hides a one-of-a-kind interior.
S
troll past Trunk(House) in
the serene neighbourhood
of Kagurazaka in Tokyo,
and you’ll never guess that
this nondescript two-storey
building, once a geisha
house, is now a stylish abode
for travellers – albeit one
that houses several works
of modern art and the
world’s smallest disco.
Designed by the team
behind Trunk(Hotel), the
historical building has been
transformed into a one-
bedroom property that can
34
accommodate up to four
guests. The design concept is
based on the Japanese salons
that were dotted throughout
Tokyo in the 17th and 18th
century, where artists and
academics would gather and
debate late into the night.
As a nod to the role the
iconic salon played in shaping
the cultural landscape, the
house, with 1,647 sq ft of
space spread over two floors,
is filled with contemporary
art ranging from sculptures
to paper cut-outs.
The modernity of the art
is juxtaposed with the very
traditional elements of a
Japanese residence: the façade
of the house has been preserved
in keeping with the stone paths
and greenery-filled tranquility
of the neighbourhood, while
inside, a tea room lined with
tatami mats and a cypress bath
create a zen atmosphere.
The house does have a
few surprises up its sleeve,
though. Guests are treated
to the world’s tiniest private
disco, a brightly-coloured room
 LEFT
Masumi
Ishikawa’s
‘Scenic Tour of
Japan: Then and
Now’ adorns the
tiled wall above
the bathing area,
enlivening the
space with a
contemporary
touch.

BELOW L EFT
A tiny garden
lets sunlight
in while still
maintaining
privacy.

BELOW R IGHT
A tea room
allows guests
to experience
traditional
Japanese tea
rituals, prepared
by the private
butlers.

good to
know

The home is filled

with contemporary
art by both local
and international
artists such as
Chiaki Hirano and
Stephen Kenn.

ABOVE complete with curved drinks

The unassuming
façade of this bar and glittering disco ball – a
two-storey reminder of Tokyo’s vibrant
house blends
in with the rest playfulness that coexists with the
of the street formal and traditional. Guests
on the outside,
giving no hint can also expect top-notch
of the luxurious service, including private butlers
interior.
and a personal chef. For a house
RIGH T that looks so unassuming from
Guests can
watch their meal the outside, the experience
being prepared it holds within is definitely
by their personal
chef right there designed to be unforgettable.
in the comfort of
the kitchen.
For more information
about Trunk(House), visit
www.trunk-house.com.

text MELODY BAY photos TOMOOKI KENGAKU 35

 H O T S P OT
LINDSEY
ADELMAN’S
N E W YO R K C I T Y
S H OW R O O M
The famed industrial
designer launches
her gallery, where she
showcases her sculptural
lighting creations in a
welcoming, loft-like space.
N
othing seemed
predestined when
Lindsey Adelman
became a tastemaker in the
design world. After studying
English, she started her career
as an editorial assistant at the
Smithsonian Institution. While
working there and touring
the fabrication department,
however, a chance encounter
with a woman carving foam
French fries for an exhibit
changed the course of Adelman’s
professional path and life.
Fascinated by the industrial
designer’s work, Adelman
returned to school to learn
more about this discipline.
At the Rhode Island School
36
good to
know
of Design, she discovered her NoHo is shortform
passion for light. Ever since, for the name of
the passion has stayed with her the district located
and, in 2006, Adelman launched North of Houston
her eponymous studio in her street. It is widely
hometown of New York City. regarded as a crea-
“Our studio’s signature tive area once home
aesthetic was born with to Andy Warhol.
the release of our very first
product: the Branching Bubble
A BOVE
chandelier, which combines the Lindsey
organic nature of blown glass Adelman in
her New York
with more rational, machined showroom.
components,” she says. “Since Next top her:
Drop System
then, we have explored that Chandelier.
visual tension throughout
a range of products and
disciplines.”
Last May, Adelman
inaugurated her new showroom.
RIG H T It occupies the second floor of
Spread over 930
sqm, Lindsey the same building as her current
Adelman studio – which acts as a creative
Studio’s New
York showroom laboratory – in Manhattan’s
showcases NoHo neighborhood, doubling
her sculptural
lighting her footprint to 930 sq ft. “Now
collections. more than ever, having more
BE LOW space, we’re really able to serve
Lindsey our audience at a much higher
Adelman Studio
also comprises a level,” she explains. “A real
workshop. motivation was to allow our
B E LOW, design and sales teams to work
RIG H T together and meet clients …
Kingdom
chandelier [who] like to get a sneak peek of
design by Karl the behind-the-scenes process.”
Zahn for Lindsey
Adelman. Adorned with artworks by
Tanya Aguiñiga, Fred Sandback
BOTTOM
The bathroom and Robert Rauschenberg, the
features the welcoming showroom – which
Catch and
Cherry Bomb comprises flexible lounge
lamps. and seating areas – features
Adelman’s handmade lighting
pieces. It also hosts furniture by
the designer’s past collaborators
and other creative minds,

including The Future Perfect, works and style – embody an

BDDW, Fort Standard, Matthew
Hilton, Heartwork, Breuckelen
Berber and Boffi.
Blurring the lines between
sculpture and design,
Adelman’s creations – inspired
by diverse references, from
Mondrian paintings to Albert
Camus’s books to Giacometti’s
understated harmony between
spontaneity and rationality,
handcrafted elements and
machine-made parts, pure
beauty and functionality.
Visit www.lindseyadelman.com
for more on Lindsey Adelman.

text KARINE MONIE photos STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON

37
 H O T S P OT

M A N DA L A . T H E B AY.
Private villa experience in Bali
W
hen asked to name
a beach holiday
destination, chances
are that Bali comes to mind. Like
you, however, plenty more share
the same thought, which is why
the resorts and beaches of the
Indonesian island are always
crowded.
If you want the same idyllic
experience sans the manic crowd,
Mandala. The Bay. is a name
you should commit to memory.
Mandala. The Bay., is the the
fourth Mandala residence by

38
 good to TOP LEF T TOP R IG HT
know Diners get a The banquette
sweeping view seats around
of the sea from the cliff-edge
the garden firepit have been
Mandala. The Bay. is
pergola. carved out from
the fourth property the island rock.
as part of The L EF T
Mandala residences. The sprawling BOT TOM
13,000sq ft He may have
The other three
house occupies co-designed the
properties are a secluded residence, but
located in Canggu area on Nusa James Brown
and Uluwatu in Bali. Lembongan also contributed
island. his own artworks
which are on
A B OV E display.
Balinese Singapore-based hospitality trees and bougainvillea
elements and
modernist group M.Developments. The bushes, guests will invariably
touches come five-bedroom house on Nusa gravitate towards alfresco
seamlessly
together in Lembongan island is only a dining throughout their stay
Mandala. The 30-minute speed boat ride from in the garden pergola. The villa
Bay.
the east coast of Bali, but judging also boasts an outdoor bar, an
from its many untouched ocean-view swimming pool and
beaches and quiet clear waters, a cliff-edge firepit surrounded
it may as well be a world away. by banquette seats carved from
The Mandala residences are rock. There’s also an extensive
united by the group’s design-led list of activities such as private
commitment, so the interiors yoga classes, surf lessons and
of this residence are simply snorkelling that is available
picturesque. Designed by in- to guests.
house studio Superlatives, in This unique Bali experience
collaboration with James Brown will appeal to holiday-makers
of Adelaide-based UFO Agencies, who really want some quality
the 13,000sq ft house blends R&R, and judging by the reviews
traditional Balinese architecture so far, Mandala.The Bay. has won
with modernist interiors. A over some sun-kissed hearts.
master bedroom housed in a
Joglo structure - a traditional Mandala Bali is located at
Javanese roof carved from teak Jalan Sandy Bay, Jungutbatu,
is one of the standout interior Nusapenida, Kabupaten
features. Shaded by frangipani Klungkung, Bali 80771, Indonesia.

text ISABELLE TOW photos MANDALA. THE BAY.

39
 B E AU T Y C L UB

We Love Beauty

Join us at
HW Beauty Club
For VIP access to the
latest cosmetics drops,
cool giveaways, and even
appear in our beauty
reviews and videos.

Visit https://featured.herworld.com/
beautyclub/ to discover more.
I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N F R O M T H O S E I N T H E K N O W

C R E AT I N G
IMMERSIVE
ENVIRONMENTS
Acclaimed Argentinean artist
Julio Le Parc has spent the past
60 years dreaming up experiences
exploring form, colour, light,
movement and visual effects that
engage all the senses.
After arriving in Paris in 1958,
the intrepid artist dedicated his
time to creating a unique style of
visual art based on the concepts of
Constructivism and geometry.
“On one side was the
experience on the surface we were
creating. On the other side was the
viewer but there’s a third place that
was the relationship between the
eye and the surface,” he explains of
the purpose of his works.

41
 SPOTLIGHT

“T
hrough my works, I
have always sought
to get spectators to
behave differently,” states Julio
Le Parc, 91, an emblematic
gure in the history of art. “I
wanted to nd ways to ght
passivity, dependency and
ideological conditioning by
helping viewers develop their
ability to think, compare,
analyse, create and act.”
His recent limited-
1
edition table centrepiece
collection for French porcelain
1. Entrance
to Julio’s solo manufacturer Bernardaud is
exhibition in a good example. Covered with
2019.
a band of colour and textured
2. Artwork from lines that gradually progress in
the Light - Mirror
exhibition. steps, Déplacement sur Plateau
(Displacement on a Plateau)
3 . Alchimie 385,
artwork, acrylic recalls his Displacement series
on canvas. sculptures with reective
4 . An blades that fragment and
illuminated multiply the image to offer
artpiece made
from wool and bewildering optic effects as a
2 steel. viewer walks around them.

42

Then there’s his signature
Continual-Light-Cylinder, of
which he has been making
variations since 1962. Presented
at his debut solo exhibition in
Asia at Galerie Perrotin in Hong
Kong earlier in the year and
affi xed to the ceiling for the
rst time, it gave visitors the
impression of directly stepping
inside the mesmerising and
contemplative artwork as they
lay on a mattress looking up
at the construction of wood,
superimposed rotating metal
discs, lamps, Plexiglas mirrors
and motors, which diffused
fractioned light rays in a circle
within a pitch-black space.
Drawing you in
At the heart of Julio’s multi-
sensory works is the viewer
experience and allowing the
viewer to make sense of the
artwork based on what he or
she sees.
“WE REALISED THAT THE PUBLIC WAS
VERY CAPABLE OF APPRECIATING
WHAT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DONE
OR REFUSING THE PROPOSAL.”
“We began to do tests to nd 5 . Julio Le Parc.
out if it was true that the public 6. Displacement
was unable to understand the plate in orange.
art of its time. We started with 7. Julio uses
the experience of the person optical effects
to dramatise his
looking and then from there, artwork without
participation was solicited the extensive
use of colour.
little by little with other
experiences until active and 8 . The patterns
on the walls,
reexive participation. We ceiling and floor
realised that the public was in this exhibit
are further
very capable of appreciating enhanced with
what was currently being done the use of
7 curved mirrors.
or refusing the proposal.”
Blurring the line
With increasing interest in
the active involvement of the
spectator and a goal of making
art more accessible, Julio
injects the notion of playfulness
and visual instability into
his pieces. Take for instance
his labyrinth installations
featuring black-and-white
striped oors, ceilings and
8
walls with mirrored structures
43
 that disorient viewers and
challenge their spatial
perception, or his Alchemy
paintings, where multicoloured
dots of pigment fan out across
black or white backgrounds.
The man himself is  lled
with childlike energy and
a cheeky sense of humour,
creating daily in his light- lled
atelier in Cachan, a Parisian
suburb. There, a historical
room showcasing 1960’s
works resembles an arcade,
encouraging all to have fun.
Noisy machines whir, vibrate
and rotate, mixing light and
shadow, sound, movement and
visual phenomenon, sometimes
producing optical illusions. A
slatted box hiding a mechanism
casts light into horizontal lines
on the wall, while projected
light bouncing off hanging
9
44
mirrored discs creates
countless disco ball reections.
From the start
Born in 1928 in Mendoza before
moving to Buenos Aires at the
age of 14, Julio was the son of a
steam train driver. Attending
the School of Fine Arts, with
Lucio Fontana as one of his
teachers, he engaged with the
avant-garde ideas of Neo-
Concretism popular in South
America, whose practitioners
saw geometric abstraction
as a political statement in
opposition to the harsh reality
of the military regimes of the
period.
11
Leaving for Paris in 1958
on a French government
scholarship because it was “the
centre of the contemporary art
world”, he met Op artist Victor
Vasarely and began intimate
painting studies in form, colour
and movement with abstract
compositions of geometric
shapes that seemed to dance
across the surface.
In 1960, he cofounded the
12
Groupe de Recherche d’Art
Visuel (GRAV) with fellow
artists like Morellet, Sobrino
and Yvaral, and made his rst
reliefs and Continual Mobiles,
taking his research into three
dimensions and introducing
movement and light. His light
13
10
9. Rolls of
mirrored tiles
are lined up
to create a
glittering
effect in this
installation.

10. Psychedelic
colours evoke
a retro feel in
Julio’s studio.

11. Julio
experiments
with geometric
designs to
create eye-
catching
artpieces.

12. Julio
expresses a
futuristic feel in
this illuminated
piece.

13. Primary
hues mix to form
a checkerboard
pattern for this
artwork.

14 . Light
filtering through
this installation
creates a
stunning design
on the floor
below. works – projected, reected with categorisations like
15 . Viewers or pulsating – developed these are that they encompass
are invited to from his painting practice, everything and anything,” he
study Julio’s
works from all as he was looking for new discloses. “Sometimes I am
angles during his ways to show the constantly grouped with people who don’t
shows.
shifting character of depth and have the same behaviour or
perception. attitude of research, someone
whose work is similar to
Of his style what I have done, but is only a
Although Julio may be known as careerist, who has developed
a forerunner of Kinetic Art and a style just to sell or gain
Op Art, he detests this simple recognition, too wrapped up in
classication. “The problem the system. But my approach
is an attitude of research that
has continued for a long time
rather than one of becoming a
monothematic artist, who has
always done more or less the
same thing for 40 or 50 years.”
Having been involved in the
denunciation of totalitarian
governments in Latin America
since the 1940s, Julio doesn’t
consider himself a political
activist either. “No, it’s simply
being a citizen; we can help,”
he insists. “If there is a contact
that is established between my
15
proposals and viewers, and
14
they leave my exhibition with a
certain sense of optimism,
that’s enough.”
The Goal
Less focused on commercial
success, all Julio has ever been
concerned about is keeping a
little freedom for himself to
make the art he desires, whether
it’s a work on paper, painting
on canvas, sculpture or even a
virtual reality piece. Working
with an artist-as-researcher
approach, he’s happy as long as
he can continually experiment
in the creation of total
environments using form,
space, light and movement as
aesthetic materials. His advice
for up-and-coming artists? He
replies, “Everyone must nd
their own way by reecting on
their situation and contemporary
artistic creation, and try to
nd its contradictions in
order to draw out something
that is truly unique within
themselves.”

text Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE photos RINGO CHEUNG, PERROTIN HONG KONG 45

 people

Shop AwAy
Joshua Koh, CEO of Commune, talks about the store’s
new virtual reality and augmented reality tools for an
enhanced furniture shopping experience.

F
urniture shopping
experiences are evolving
rapidly in this ever-
changing retail landscape.
Traditionally, homeowners
could only imagine or envision
how a piece of furniture would
look in their home.
Today, homegrown
furniture retailer Commune
employs the use of technology
to eliminate this long-standing
problem. Through virtual
reality (VR) and augmented
reality (AR) tools in its stores,
as well as a new mobile app,
Commune: In Motion, which
uses the phone’s camera to
scan a room, and place virtual
3-D models of furniture in it,
homeowners can instantly
see what they’d look like in a
space. We learn more about this
groundbreaking experience
for shoppers from Joshua Koh,
Commune’s CEO.

Tell us more abouT This

new shopping experience.
Commune’s latest technological
innovations make the furniture
retail experience more fun,
interactive and smart. The
novelty of including AR and
VR services creates a different
shopping experience for
customers. By implementing
such innovative retail
technology, the experience
is a critical value-add to the
customer starting on a home
renovation journey for the

46
 first time because it helps
homeowners better visualise
the end product and feel
more comfortable with the
design before purchasing any
furniture. We believe these
advancements will help drive
customer awareness and
interests, too.
What Was the catalyst for
the introduction of the
commune: in motion app?
The brand has always been
committed to making the
B E LOW
customer experience a key
& BE LOW, priority in our design and
R I G HT
Customers can
innovation. Since 2016,
try the AR and Commune has embarked on a
VR services
at Commune
digital transformation journey
stores, and to map out the pain points
have a visual
image of what a
of the furniture shopping
selected piece experience, both online and
of furniture
would look like
offline, and how the brand can
in their home. address them.
“Commune’s latest teChnologiCal
innovations make the
furniture retail experienCe more
fun, interaCtive and smart.”
2
text Domenica Tan photos commune
We see the app as a tool that
will help customers shortlist
products before coming down
to our stores, and as an aid in
the research process of their
furniture shopping journey.
Of course, we still encourage
customers to visit our stores as
we always provide them with a
unique in-store experience.
is this a move toWards
e-commerce, and aWay
from brick and mortar
retail eventually?
No, the presence of a brick
and mortar retail store is still
essential to create a rich and
elevated customer and retail
experience. The introduction of
our technological innovations
is not to replace the need for a
physical retail space, but
to be a critical value-add to
the shopper’s experience
3 We are also looking into
from online to offline, and
vice-versa.
The retail experience is
key for us. We place emphasis
on inspirational layouts and
design our stores to stand
out in a crowd. All aesthetic
elements are meticulously
curated. Our attention
to detail extends from
designing furniture to a retail
experience that puts our
customers at ease. Our spaces
appeal intuitively and vividly,
through sight, sound, smell,
speech, touch and emotion.
What’s the future of
commune in our changing
retail landscape?
Commune plans to expand
its overseas footprint with
the target of opening 100 new
franchise stores over the next
two years. Most will be located
in China.
In the next phase of our
technological roadmap, we
will also be introducing
new innovations such as
chatbots, artificial intelligence
(AI) and facial recognition
technology to further
enhance the shopper’s
Commune experience.
ways to scan hard-copy floor
plans, so accurate and realistic
3-D representations of a
home can be created to better
facilitate interior planning
and styling.
Visit the Commune flagship
store at #02-52 Millenia Walk,
or www.thecommunelife.com.
The Commune: In Motion app is
available for free download from
mobile app stores.
47
 people
Versatile bike
attachment wins
James Dyson awarD
Stability is an issue when riding bikes loaded with
heavy bags. With Wheelson, carrying heavy loads on
your bicycle is not only safer but easier too.
T
he idea for Wheelson
arose when a group of
Singapore University of
Technology and Design (SUTD)
engineering students living
on campus noticed a problem.
They saw their peers stuggling
to balance and maneuver their
bicycles that were loaded with
groceries on their way back
from the nearby supermarket.
Realising that the root cause
of the instability was the high
centre of gravity of the load,
being either on the handlebars
or in the front basket, they
decided to come up with a
solution that ensured the load
48
Lim Wei Sheng, Leong Kei
Sheng, Keerthana Janmugan,
Ang Wei Jie and Sarah Ong, were
named the National Winner of
the 2019 James Dyson Award.
Awarded $3,400 in prize money
in September, Wheelson is now
in the running for the title of the
International Winner that will be
announced later in the year.
We speak to Wilson Lim from
the sextet about how Wheelson
was conceptualised, its design
challenges and plans for
Wheelson in the future.
good to What Was the
initial idea
know and hoW did
it evolve to
The winning design become the
in 2018 was an urban
final design?
wind turbine, which
generates electricity We knew from
through wind power. the start that the
It was conceived by solution had to
was close to the two inventors from satisfy two main
Chile and kenya.
ground. criteria, which
The team thus were, to provide
designed a lidded container stability to the cyclist when
with caster wheels, which is riding with a load, and the
spacious enough to carry items, modular nature of the product
has a low centre of gravity so for ease of installation.
that the cyclist can ride with The most elegant solution we
stability and maneuver with came up with was to attach
confidence. On top of that, a pair of training wheels that
Wheelson has the cool feature could support heavy baskets.
of being detachable, so that Our initial iterations were
it doubles as a shopping cart, inadequate and could barely
and can be snapped easily onto provide any support to the
the bike for transport after bicycle itself, let alone have
shopping. the user sit on it. At each
The innovative team, checkpoint, we would go back to
comprising Glenn Chia, Wilson our fundamental considerations,
re-analyze the bicycle frame,
consolidate our user studies and
document our learning points.
The current iteration of
Wheelson that we have today
truly provides stability to its
users and offers modularity.
We achieved this through
engineering it with an
adjustable height feature,
and a clamping system that
allows the user to fit Wheelson
onto any bike effortlessly.
hoW long did the
development process of
Wheelson take?
The design and development
process of Wheelson took
over 18 months, comprising
problem formation, user
studies and two iterations.
What Was the biggest
challenge you
encountered?
One of the biggest challenges
was conceiving the solution.
Wheelson is the only product
of its kind in the world as no
one else has done a similar
design. Other designs either
use a rear or front basket or a
trailer. Thus, it was challenging
to think of a solution that
could perform better than the
products that have been out in
the market for many years.
Eventually, we overcame them
by conducting user interviews
on the pain points on using
these other products. This led us
to think of reducing Wheelson’s
form factor and positioning into Dyson’s network of qualified
closer to the bicycle frame engineers to advise us on how to
with a lower centre of gravity. make Wheelson market-ready.
These fundamental principles, We are also thinking of
which we’ve kept faithful to, are kicking off conversations with
what led to the final design of manufacturers, just to get
Wheelson as we see it today. a sense of the requirements
and the considerations.
What ar e th e dim e nsio ns Ideally, we’d like Singapore
o f Wh e e l so n , an d What to be the testbed for Wheelson.
mate rial s ar e use d to Once we’ve found a way to make
mak e it ? it work, we’d love to take it to the
Wheelson is 61cm wide, and the wider Southeast Asian region.
height of the baskets is 35cm.
The main frame is made up Visit www.jamesdyson.org for
of aluminium extrusions. more information.
The customised suspension
system comprises steel
springs and steel plates. The
basket itself is made up of
“Wheelson is the only product
polycarbonate and plastic.
of its kind in the World as no one
What do you intend to do else has done a similar design.”
With the prize money?
We have used part of the $3,400
prize money to modify some
of Wheelson’s components.
While the funds have been a
great help, we equally hope
that winning the James Dyson
Award will help get more people
to notice our invention, and to
convince them that Wheelson is
a solution worth investing in.
are there serious plans
to take Wheelson to the
commercial market
Yes. For now, we are looking
to get Wheelson patented and
to make some further iterative
improvements to the design.
Following that, we intend to tap
text Isabelle Tow photos Dyson
49
 H & D c u r at e s

feast for
tHe senses
Go bold this season and ditch that
white tablecloth for something
textured and darker-hued instead.
Contrast it with colourful tableware
for an unforgettable look.

1. Lacquer
square box,
$36, from Lims
Legacy.
5
2. Blue Fargrik
plate, $3.90,
6 from Ikea.
2
3. Navy blue
Strimmig plate,
$3.90, from Ikea.

4. Peranakan
1 soup spoon,
3 $7.80, from
LimsLegacy.
7 5 . Lacquer
round plate,
$45, from Lims
14 4 Legacy.

6. Lacquer
bowl, $16.90,
from Lims
Legacy.

7. Batik napkin,
$30.90, from
Lims Legacy.
13
8 . Blue
Strimmig bowl
8
$3.90, from Ikea.
9 9. Decor ball,
$6.90, from Lims
Legacy.

10. Parrot
ashtray, $49,
12 from Lims
Legacy.
10
11. Green
Fargrik bowl,
$2.90, from Ikea.

12. Embossed
11
art tile, $35, from
Lims Legacy.

13. Wood plate,

$11.90, from Lims
7 Legacy.

14. CNY decor,

from Egg3.

photography Veronica Tay styling nonie chen

50

CREATE INVITING AND
SOULFUL SPACES
Give your home a uniquely warm and cosy look with
the addition of Burmese teak wood walls and ceiling.
Most of us would be
familiar with wood flooring,
also known as parquet,
which is a popular choice of
flooring material amongst
Singaporeans. But did
you know you can clad
your walls and ceilings
with wood as well?
Just as how a
beautifully-laid parquet
floor brings warmth and
Parquet flooring
elegance to a space, so
can wooden walls and
ceilings serve to heighten
that effect. There are
many wood species in
the market to choose
from, but we especially
like the naturally golden
grains of Burmese
teak. Ask Teak, a local
specialist in Burmese teak
flooring shares more.
Ceiling cladding in chevron
ON PATTERNS AND
SHADE PALETTES
While most customers
generally prefer a straight
wood strip or rafters look
for their wall and ceilings,
patterns like herringbone
and mosaic, which are
more commonly used
for flooring can also be
applied to clad walls
and ceilings. In terms
of the shades available
the matte teak look has
proved to be a popular
choice. Other palette
choices like glossy,
neutral and medium or
light brown teak looks
are also available.
ON INSTALLATION
For wall and ceiling
applications, it is ideal
that the wood pieces
feature a locking joint
for seamless installation.
For instance, Ask Teak’s
wood installation formats
are available in modified
Tongue & Groove (T&G)
cuts specially profiled for
easy cladding installation,
ensuring the pieces are
securely held in place.
Oil-based finishes
A SP
S E
K C
T IA
E L
A
K
ON FINISHING OPTIONS
We recommend oil-based
finishes for claddings, as
they are able to penetrate
wood grains and give
your teak walls and
ceilings an earthier look.
ON MAINTENANCE
Unlike flooring which
requires the added
protection of spray-based
varnish, teak cladding
on walls and ceiling
can simply be polished
with the use of natural
oils. The properties of
natural oils magnify the
natural grains of teak and
enhance the beauty of
the tropical hardwood.
Since wall and ceiling
claddings encounter
little friction against it,
this handsome finish is
maintained for a longer
period of time than the
finishes of indoor flooring.
Visit Ask Teak’s showroom
at #01-20 Proxima @ Gambas,
or contact them at teak.sg@
askteak.com.
Secure installation
51
 HOME WITH
A view from
the pool at
the south-

A PRICE
western tip of
the property.

OPPOSITE
The inner
courtyard is a
David Price’s family home is a culmination of nearly great place for
entertaining.
30 years of experience in designing dream residences for
an international clientele across the south of France.
LYNN TAN discovers how the owner-founder of
DavidˈPriceˈDesign taps on his expertise to transform this
dilapidated Provence property into a new home for his family.

52
53
 R IG H T
The property is
surrounded by
olive groves.

FA R RIGH T
David’s favourite
reading spot is
the terrace that
wraps around the
southern end of
the west wing.

B E LOW
A sliding louver
system is a buffer
against the
sun during the
hottest times of
the year.

N
early three decades of
creating dream homes
for wealthy clients has
honed David Price’s ability to
spot a great plot, identify the
restoration works required
and realise his vision with the
right materials, tradespeople
and suppliers. And what
better opportunity for all to
come together than for his
family�home.
David found the perfect
property for himself, his wife
Anne, and their two daughters
in an area of Provence set in
the stunning Alpilles region,
also known as “Little Alps”.
The natural site, north-west
of Bouches-du-Rhone, is
characterised by a chain of small
limestone mountains with a
panorama that stretches from
Mont Ventoux to the Cevennes,
and from the Sainte-Victoire
Mountain to the Camargue.
Originally built in the 1970s
by a local farmer to serve as an
outbuilding for his herd of goats,
subsequent additions resulted
in the small residential dwelling
that caught David’s eye. “The
property was formed in a long
U shape with living areas at the
northern end of the U, and open
at the southern end,” David
explains. “The inner courtyard
was anked by stables and other
accommodation, including a
gite d’etape or lodge for guests
arriving on horseback.”
The property now also
serves as David Price Design’s
office for the team based in
Provence. David dedicated the
east wing for this purpose. New
east-facing French windows
ensure that the privacy of the
residential sections are not
compromised, and a dedicated
car park with a separate access

54
55
 maintains a clear zoning addresses the west-facing issue BELOW , LEFT
The kitchen
distinction between home of the afternoon sun. “It allows has a bespoke
and�office. us to create light and shade oak table with
vintage chairs
The west wing was converted where we want it, but also to and repainted,
into the living room, kitchen, protect ourselves from the sun. off-the-shelf
pendant lights.
back kitchen and formal dining When the heat is less intense,
room, and a new covered terrace it opens up sections of the BELOW, R IGH T
The pool with
that runs almost the entire terrace,” David elaborates. The green mosaic
length of the living spaces and remaining shorter north face of tiles has a
Luberon
wraps around the southern end the property houses a TV room, stone surround.
of the property. laundry and storage areas, and
OPPOSITE
The seamless transition four bedrooms and bathrooms. The terrace,
between indoor and outdoors David went about the with a red
cedarwood
makes the covered terrace ideal restoration with an acute ceiling, is
for enjoying the many months of sensitivity to context and wonderful
for semi-
good weather in the region. It’s humble respect for the history of outdoor meals
complemented by easy access the property. when it gets
cooler.
to the new pool, that’s designed New works used concrete
according to his daughters’ blocks, with a concrete or lime
specications. render nish and additional
A vertical louver system stone cladding as highlights,

56
57
 This bedroom
features a
La Redoute
buttoned
bedhead and
watercolour
paintings by a
Zimbabwean
artist. A Mis
en Demeure
footstool
upholstered in
a Colefax and
Fowler fabric
brings up the
rear of the bed.
.

58
 such as for the chimney stacks.
The construction methods
employed are typical of the
locale and helped integrate the
new and the old.
One of the fundamental
requirements for the interior
re-design was that it let in
as much light as possible
and maintained a constant
connection with the
picturesque surroundings.
“The narrow footprint of the
house works very well for this,
with large-scale and even
full-height glazing in many
sections,” David points out.
Laid-back simplicity was
also key. All the walls are
white, beams are exposed,
and – except for the master
bedroom – the ooring is in
cooling stone. “These plain
surfaces form the perfect
backdrop for strong and
simple furnishings.”

ABOVE
A display of
the family’s
collection of
beaded animals
on an armoire in
the dining room.

FAR RI GHT
The property
is set against
the Chaine
des Alpilles, a
small range of
low mountains
in Provence.

RI GHT
The courtyard
is even more
intimate at night.

photos HERVE HOTE 59

 Concrete screed
walls and floors
instantly lend
the home an
industrial vibe.

COOL & CAT-FRIENDLY

Designed to meet the owners’ aesthetic preferences and their
pets’ needs, DOMENICA TAN learns more about how this modern
industrial apartment was conceptualised.

60
THOUGHTFUL
C U R AT I O N

Customised
cat-friendly
features, like
climbing platforms
constructed with
materials such
as suspended iron
cables and pipes,
were chosen to
t the theme of
theˈhome.

61
62
 T
he design of this 3Gen
flat showcases the
perfect balance between
an industrial aesthetic and
splashes of colours.
For Irwan Bin Abu
Satamin, the raw, “cold” vibe
of an industrial interior was
something he’d always wanted
in his home. His wife Noraini
Binte Misnawi preferred a less
sterile look with colours for a
calming, cosyˈambience.
With these requests in
mind, Landren Lim, founder
and creative director of Mesh
Werk Studio, designed a home
with industrial-style elements,
as well as light blue and mint-
hued walls, and some wood-
tone finishes.
“We wanted our home to feel
spacious,” shares the couple.
Many walls, including the one
separating the kitchen from the
dining room, and that between
the living room and what is now
the cats’ room, were hacked to
achieve a bright and airy feel in
the home.
With six cats, Landren also
needed to factor in sufficient
space and pet-friendly features
such as overhead climbing
platforms lined with scratching
mats to ensure they had various
spots for exploration and rest.
To keep within the $50,000
budget, the couple purchased
many of their unique furniture
and furnishings from Taobao
via Ezbuy.

VISUAL
ILLUSION

Lighting strips
across the
ceiling create a
lightsaber effect
while visually
lengthening
the width of the
living room, so
it appears more
spacious.

WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their 30s, his elderly

mum and a family of six cats
HOME Three-generation HDB
BTO flat in Boon Lay
SIZ E 1,300 sq ft
 FORM MEETS
FUNCTION

Covering the
backsplash with
diamond aluminium
sheets killed two
birds with one stone.
It not only ts the
industrial style, but
is also easy to clean
and maintain.

64
 MANY WALLS, INCLUDING
THE ONE SEPARATING THE KITCHEN
FROM THE DINING ROOM, WERE HACKED
TO ACHIEVE A BRIGHT AND AIRY FEEL
IN THE HOME.

65
 FUN
FIXTURES

The couple got

their digital
wall clock,
trunk-turned-
coffee table and
armchair from
Ezbuy. They
had the built-in
concrete settee
customised.

ONE FOR ALL

Converting one
bedroom into the
cat room also meant
more space adjacent
to the living room for
the owners to lounge
and entertain.

66
 RESTFUL
ROOM

The bedroom is
Noraini’s favourite
place in the home,
thanks to the
platform bed she
requested, and the
refreshing Tiffany
blue wall.

photography ANGELA GUO art direction KAFFY TAN

67
 A B OVE OPPOSITE
The five-foot- With the
way offers a opening up
clue to the of the old
lovingly restored courtyard, the
interior. dining and
kitchen areas
are now light-
filled spaces.

68
 LIVING HISTORY
A chance encounter during one of the homeowner’s regular jaunts
to check out conservation shophouses in various parts of Singapore
led to the acquisition of this corner unit. LYNN TAN nds out how he
transformed a dilapidated shophouse into a family home.

69
 P
eter Ow’s love for
conservation shophouses
began with a café that he
owned some years back. It was
operating within a conservation
shophouse along Armenian
Street and the renovation
process provided him with
invaluable experience in
conserving and transforming
such properties, as well as
develop a deeper appreciation
for them. When he chanced
upon the opportunity to own
this conservation shophouse
located within the Joo Chiat
Conservation Area, he seized it.
Belonging to the Second
Transitional Shophouse style, it
was built in the late 1920s and
the condition had deteriorated
over the years. A provision
shop occupied the rst storey,
while the second storey housed
a multi-generation family.
The original timber doors and
windows had been changed
to aluminium, the rear airwell
roofed over and the provision
shop had roller shutters and
retractable metal gates. These
were the result of previous TOP
An open shelf
renovations that had been provides spatial
carried out insensitively or separation
without the
out of necessity due to its solidity of a wall.
commercial usage. The spiral
MIDDLE
staircase at the back was also in The internal
a state of disrepair. Fortunately, courtyard
garden gives
the unit was still structurally the home a
sound, so the original structure meditative and
tranquil quality.
could be retained.
The banker went about a BOT TOM
The furniture
very extensive Additions and in the living
Alterations (A&A) to restore room is a well-
balanced mix
the unit and convert it into a of oriental and
two-storey home for him and modern.

70
Many of the
pieces are
from Peter’s
collection.

71
72
 WHO LIVES HERE

A couple in their 50s and their son

H OME A conservation shophouse
in Koon Seng Road
SIZE 2,250 sqf (land area)
5,090 sqf (built-up area)

LFET
There is a spatial
order that gives
the living room
a sense of
formality.

73
74
 his family. “I set out to restore
the shophouse to its former
glory, keeping to the original
intent as much as possible,”
says Peter. To achieve this,
he painstakingly studied,
researched and documented
the relevant information to
ensure proper restoration
and accurate replication,
including details such as the
pilasters, plasterwork, fanlights,
vent blocks, fascia windows,
mouldings and motifs. As it is
a conservation property, the
Urban Redevelopment Authority
(URA) has a set of conservation
guidelines that have to be
adhered to. The change of use
from commercial to residential
also involved approvals from the
authorities.
Externally, the façade was
scrupulously restored with the
help of skilled craftsmen from
China. Peter copied drawings

LEF T
The progression
of spaces
adds to the
complexity of
the scheme.

RIG HT TOP
The ensuite
bathroom in the
son’s bedroom.

RIG HT BOTTO M
The simply
furnished
interior lets
the space and
history do the
talking.

75
 of the original mouldings and
had them fabricated in China.
The original roof was repaired
and reconditioned, and the roof
tiles replaced. According to
Peter, the fascia boards along
the roof eaves are unique to
this cluster. “If you focus on the
voids in between you will notice
that they are actually motifs
of bats and crosses,” he points
out. As it is a corner unit, it has
a chamfered corner with a rare
balcony on the second storey
that projects beyond the ve-
foot-way below, overlooking
the Koon Seng Road and Everitt
Road junctions.
The master
bathroom
elevates mundane
functions into a
celebrated ritual.
76
The interior layout is very
close to the original, barring
a few partition walls that have
been taken down to open up
the spaces. On the rst storey,
antique furniture gives the
living room an oriental look.
Amidst the vintage Chinese
chairs and opium bed is a
zebra-print ottoman, which
Peter incorporated to inject a
touch of modernity.
A full-height open shelf
showcasing his pottery
collection separates the living
room from the kitchen and
dining areas. Unlike a solid wall,
the open shelves maintain a
WITH THE SUCCESSFUL
RESTORATION, “IT HAS BECOME
A PIECE OF SINGAPORE HISTORY
THAT OUR GENERATION AND
FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN
APPRECIATE AND TREASURE,”
SHARES PETER.
FAR LEFT
His and hers
vanity in
the master
bathroom.

LEFT
The greenery
and light,
which the
guest bedroom
opens up to,
make the space
welcoming and
inviting.

BELOW
The second
storey layout is
well-planned,
functional and
flows seamlessly.

77
 porosity that visually connects
the two spaces, while allowing
light to penetrate. The kitchen
and dining spaces have a more
minimalist-contemporary
style that is pared down to the
essentials. Any clutter is kept
well out of sight within the
built-in cabinets and drawers.
Beyond the dining and
kitchen is the courtyard, which
had been enclosed by the
previous owner. Peter opened
it up so that it can serve its
original purpose — to allow
natural light and ventilation
into the interior. An existing
spiral staircase, which used
to connect the airwell to
the old kitchen upstairs,
was structurally unsafe and
demolished. Beyond these
practical considerations, he also
conceptualised the courtyard
as an inward-looking zen
garden. The solitary Bonsai
tree surrounded by a pool of
running water creates a visual
and aural sensory experience,
giving the courtyard a
contemplative quality that
permeates throughout the
entire home. The moving body
of water also contributes to
evaporative cooling, especially
from the scorching noon sun.
Converting the two-storey
shophouse into a family home
necessitated some form of
vertical circulation that would
connect the two oors from
within. Typical of shophouses,
the staircase leading to the
second storey was originally
accessed from the ve-foot-
way, independent of the
provision shop. Peter retained
78
the original staircase but
internalised it so that access is
now from
the inside.
The family room located on
the second storey provides a
more informal and private space
for the family to hang out. The
choice of furniture gives it a more
contemporary feel that contrasts
with the living room downstairs.
However, the presence of a
few purposefully-placed Ming
cabinets ties the overall scheme
back to the oriental theme.
Three bedrooms are spread
out on the second storey, each
with its own unique spatial
quality. The sparsely-furnished
master bedroom evokes a quiet
elegance. It is hard to imagine
that the immaculately put-
together ensuite walk-in
wardrobe and master bath
were once a cluttered kitchen.
The guest room next door is
the brightest and greenest
room among the three, with
planter boxes and oor-to-
ceiling windows overlooking
the courtyard below. The son’s
bedroom faces the opposite side
of the shophouse. The limited
amount of natural light has the
effect of giving the room a cosy
ambience.
For Peter, this is not just a
home, but a dream come true.
“I have always admired the
beautifully restored houses in
Emerald Hill and Blair Road and
desired to own a conservation
house,” he shares. With the
successful restoration, “it has
become a piece of Singapore
history that future generations
can appreciate and treasure.”
 In contrast to
the living room
downstairs, the
family room is
more casual
and relaxed.

photography PHYLLICIA WANG art direction NONIE CHEN 79

 Despite the
addition of the
loft, staircase
and elevated
platform, the
interior still feels
spacious and
open.

80
 LOFTY LUXE
Taking full advantage of the vertical expanse of this apartment,
the designer managed to create more oor and storage space.
LYNN TAN nds out how the modern luxe look was achieved
without going over-the-top or breaking the bank.

H
omeowners Jeremy
Tan and Theresa Ng are
business professionals
who love travelling and they
envisioned their new home to
be an oasis and a retreat from
the hustle and bustle of their
busy corporate lives. They
wanted a modern luxe concept,
but were very adamant that it
does not end up being over-
the-top. “Luxury design today
can be overdone sometimes.
We feel that a minimalist style
can actually exude a stronger
sense of modernity and
sophistication,” says Jeremy,
an entrepreneur and executive
director of a construction
equipment company. “What
we were after is a classy
and timeless luxury,” adds
Theresa, a human resource WHO LIVES HERE
business partner for the
APAC region in a leadership A couple and their
solutions consulting firm. one-and-a-half-year-old daughter
HOME A three-bedroom condominium
This belief is shared by
Carmen Tang, design director at Faber Walk
SIZ E 1,066 sq ft
of Wolf Woof, who was tasked
with the interior design for
the apartment that the couple
shares with their toddler,
Imelda, and helper, Glori. She
says: “Many people have the

81
82
LEFT misconception that modern luxe
The colour
palette ups the
can only be achieved in bigger
luxe factor. apartments. Luxe also does not
BOTTOM
necessarily involve opulent,
The loft offers gaudy and ‘bling’ designs. Luxe
a vantage
overlooking the
can be understated while still
living area. oozing elegance and charm.”
BOTTOM, LE FT
A metallic epoxy WELCOME ADDITIONS
coating achieves
the look of
Floor and storage spaces are
marble without two things that no homeowner
the cost and
maintenance.
will ever have enough of. More
is always welcome, especially for
families with children. “We told
Carmen that we wanted as much
storage as possible without
compromising the design intent.
With a young child, we really
need extra space for keeping
stuff,” shares Jeremy. The 4.27
metre-high ceiling of this
ground oor unit presented the
perfect opportunity for Carmen
to do just that by adding two
lofts — one above the dining
area and another in the master
bedroom, along with various
additional storage and wardrobe
provisions.
The platform over the dining
area feels like a mezzanine and
this serves as a very private
chillout area overlooking the
living room, with storage
cabinets lined up along one wall.
Carmen decided to retain the
high ceiling in the living room,
but came up with the ingenious
idea of elevating it on a raised
platform that incorporates
underoor storage. “You just
have to be extra cautious with
the supports for the oor panels
to ensure that they can take
the weight of the furniture and
people,” she points out.
The loft within the master
bedroom accommodates a
queen-sized bed, as well as a
walk-in wardrobe, leaving ample
space below for Imelda’s cot
until she is old enough to sleep
in her own room.
AFFORDABLE LUXE
Carmen is a rm believer that
it is possible to get the luxe look
without the hefty price tag. To
achieve this, she selected an
appropriate palette of materials,
textures and colours to convey
an elegant chic style. These
include marble-effect laminates
for storage cabinets and the
living room oor, gold accents
on the dining table and chair
legs, pendant lights, coffee table
and mirror wall feature, as well
83
 The area
below the
master
bedroom loft
can be easily
converted
into a walk-in
wardrobe in
the future.

RIG HT
A loft
increases
the useable
floor area in
the master
bedroom.

TO ACHIEVE THE LUXE LOOK WITHOUT THE

HEFTY PRICE TAG, CARMEN SELECTED AN
APPROPRIATE PALETTE OF MATERIALS,
TEXTURES AND COLOURS TO CONVEY AN
ELEGANT CHIC STYLE.

84
as rose gold laminates covering
the edges of the loft platforms
and stair treads. The choice of a
velvet material for the curtains
also adds to the plush feel.
Jeremy and Theresa decided
to go for a metallic epoxy coating
for the kitchen counters and
vanity top, which were originally
plain white surfaces. To get this
look, a clear epoxy base and a
metallic pigment powder were
blended and poured over the
photography VERONICA TAY art direction KRISTY QUAH
original surface. As the metallic
pigments move through the
epoxy during the curing process,
they can be agitated to create
swirls, ripples, craters or waves.
These effects are permanently
locked in place when the epoxy
hardens. In this case, they give
the kitchen and vanity tops
a marble effect. Apart from
enhancing appearances, metallic
epoxy coatings are also stain-
proof, seamless, and resistant
to impact, heat, chemicals and
scratches.
Carmen has a knack for
incorporating budget-friendly
Taobao nds into her home
designs. The green sofa and
chevron cowhide rug in the
living room look like they
came right out of a designer
showroom. “Not everything
needs to be expensive. It is about
how you mix-and-match,” she
comments.
85
 PICTURE
PERFECT
This contemporary home was designed to
reect the homeowner’s city lifestyle.
ELIZA HAMIZAH nds out more.

86

WHO LIVES HERE
A couple in their 50s,
two children, and their pet dog
H OM E Three-bedroom condominium
apartment in Holland Village
SIZ E 2,000 sq ft
URBAN
OA S I S
The Distinctidentity
team opted
for a soothing
monochromatic
colour palette
consisting of cool
grey ooring,
dark wood-look
laminates as well
as ambient lighting
in areas like the
dining room. Having
plenty of storage
also helped imbue
a sense of cosiness.
“In spacious homes
such as this one,
having minimal
carpentry may risk
the home looking
empty. Luckily, the
homeowners needed
large storage spaces
for their items,”
shares the team.
87
 A
consistent colour
palette is key to
achieving a sleek and
contemporary home. The
interior design company
Distinctidentity got it down
pat in this restful apartment,
thanks to a design exercise
they apply to all their projects:
conceptualising a logo and
assigning suitable key words.
“We named this project
Urban Oasis, and decided
that each element used in the
project had to reect three
things: modernity, luxury, and
simplicity. The home should be
a space where the owners can
relax and refresh themselves
after a busy day,” says the
Distinctidentity team.
Fred Tand and Janice Nyo,
a couple in their 50s, had
requested an open space with
minimal clutter. Fred enjoys
cooking, while Janice has an
extensive wardrobe. They
wanted a home that was easy to
maintain and reective of their
city lifestyle. The couple also
consulted a feng shui master,
who shared the best locations for
items like the bed, sink, stove,
and more. The homeowners
spent approximately $350,000
on both renovation — which
included major hacking works —
and furnishings.

G AT H E R
ROUND

“The homeowners
like to read in the
living room and
prefer to have
their daily meals
at the kitchen
island rather than
the dining table.
Taking these into
consideration,
we positioned the
island in between
the dry kitchen
(where the fridge
is) and the living
room,” says the
team. He added
that the open yet
clear demarcation
of spaces helps
add depth to the
spacious home.

88
P E E K-A- B O O

As the house is
spacious, the
homeowners
requested a
“shortcut” to the
wet kitchen; the
kitchen is now
accessible via a
sliding door in
the dining room
as well as the
foyer. This dual
entrance also aids
in ventilation.

89
 CLEVER
ADD-INS

To maximise a
small store room,
and to avoid
any dead space,
the design team
created a pull-
out larder with
double-sided
racks. It can
easily t 50 pairs
of shoes. “The
lady of the house
has an extensive
collection, and
this allows her
to see her entire
collection at once,”
says the team.

C O LO U R
IT IN

Art by Popkapi,
a Thai artist
whose real
name is Jakkrit
Chewapanya,
decorates the
home. The
homeowners
chose these
pieces as they
add vibrancy
into their home.

90
 SUPER
S TO R AG E

The bedroom
underwent
major renovation
to create this
comprehensive
walk-in
wardrobe. It
features three
stretches of full-
height cabinetry,
an island (with
additional
storage), as
well as a corner
dresser —
positioned to
THE OWNERS WANTED A HOME receive the best
natural lighting.
THAT WAS EASY TO MAINTAIN These were clad
AND REFLECTIVE OF THEIR in a light brown
nish.
CITY LIFESTYLE.

photography ANGELA GUO art direction KRISTY QUAH 91

 P R O J E C T S H OWC A S E
BACK TO
THE FUTURE
A dark palette with metallic accents
forms the futuristic ambience of this
apartment. ISABELLE TOW takes a look.
92
I
f you identify as a homeowner
with unconventional, even
avant-garde tastes, then
Kelvin Teo is a handy name to
remember for the next time you
renovate your home.
Known for delivering an edgy,
minimalist look that has become
his signature style, the founder
of Space Sense Studio showcased
his design chops once more when
he was tasked to create a stylish
yet functional abode for this HDB
apartment in Redhill.
The original layout of the
at segmented its capacious
 WHO LIVES HERE

A family of three with their helper

HOME Five-room resale
HDB apartment in Redhill
SIZE 1,500 sq ft

1,500sq ft oor area into a yet prevents the cooking fumes

number of designated spaces from spewing into the rest of
– an entrance foyer, living the home. Steel accents and an
cum-dining area, kitchen, angular cut-out design for the
three bedrooms, a study and cabinets are just a few of the
balcony. While this proved details that inject a futuristic
functional, the prevalence of vibe to the home.
walls made the entire home feel In the master bedroom,
TO P
claustrophobic, so Kelvin took Kelvin customised a oating
An all-black sink some of them down. Carved bed design for a minimalist
located close
to the dining
from the back of the living look; it even comes with a
area makes it room, the study was given a bedhead that serves as a hidden
accessible to
both guests
half-wall with glass windows compartment for power sockets
and residents at to allow lots of natural light to and cables. The washbasin was
meal-times.
penetrate. For structural walls placed next to the wardrobe to
LE FT such as the column in the living free up precious space inside
A glass
enclosure keeps
room, Kelvin had them clad in the master bathroom, which
cooking fumes bricks for an industrial-style, also allows easier access for
from escaping
the kitchen,
loft-inspired touch. washing up.
while retaining With its full-glass The three-month
an open look.
enclosure, the kitchen retains renovation process which ended
B OTTOM RIGH T a pseudo “open-concept” look last February cost $150,000,
The floating
custom bed is
that is presently all the rage, excluding furnishings.
the highlight
of the master
bedroom.

OPPOSITE
The living and
dining area
feels more
spacious after
the removal of
several walls.

photos SPACE SENSE STUDIO 93

 F E AT U R E

FRESH TAKE ON
THE NEW YEAR
With Chinese New Year just a few weeks away from Christmas,
switching from one seasonal look to another is as easy as
making small changes to your existing decor. Interior stylist
Mike Tan shares his tips on fuss-free decorating.

LESS IS MORE
Small details can make a big
impact when implemented
in the right areas. In this
corner of Mike’s living room,
he added a bouquet of festive
owers, along with little
trinkets, to liven up the room.

A BOV E
Legend of
XII - Rat,
$1,188;
from Risis.

94
L E T YO U R H O M E
D O T H E TA L K I N G
Don’t let the festive
decorations overtake the
look of your domain. Your
regular interior decor
should remain the focal
point regardless of the
occasion, so do not let the
decorations overpower
your space.

A B OV E
Abundant
Wishes,
$368;
Bountiful
Treasures
$368; all
from Risis.

95
 M A K I N G A S TAT E M E N T
Instead of lling up the
entire space with CNY
touches, concentrate on
creating a key decorative
element to set the
scene. Mike’s red oral
centerpiece on his dining
table is instantly eye-
catching, and gets his home
primed for the festivities.

96
 “ALWAYS ENSURE THAT YOUR FESTIVE
DECORATIONS FIT SEAMLESSLY IN WITH
THE LOOK OF YOUR HOME. WHEN IN DOUBT,
ALWAYS THINK LESS IS MORE.”
– MIKE TAN, INTERIOR STYLIST & FOUNDER OF EGG3

A PA R T M E N T C H I C
Instead of festive
decorating, consider
keeping your home
well-maintained as
a way to celebrate
every day of the year.
The little touches in
Mike’s bedroom help
to anchor the look of
the space while making
it feel cosier and more
inviting as well.

photography VERONICA TAY art direction NONIE CHEN

97
 F E AT U R E

MADE TO
ORDER
Customisable furniture offers homeowners
the freedom to express themselves regardless
of the layout or size of their home.
Designing and renovating a new home
these days is much more than simply
handing the key over to an interior designer.
For homeowners who want a hands-on
experience in creating their own home, there
are plenty of varied and affordable options
out there – you can get anything from a
modular kitchen to a bespoke liquor cabinet
made to suit your individual lifestyle. Here,
we’ve narrowed down our top picks for
custom fittings and furniture.

photo CUSTO
TABLES & CHAIRS

ROGER & SONS E T C H & B O LT S

A family of dedicated craftsmen, Roger & Sons
preserves the heritage of the woodworking trade
passed down by their father some 30 years ago.
They make everything from tables and chairs to
even custom liquor cabinets. In their work, they
salvage abandoned logs from already-felled trees
that have been cut down for urban development,
ensuring little to no impact on the environment.
Homeowners looking for a custom dining
table need look no further than Etch&Bolts
-- all you have to do is pick a table design
from their collection, then customise it by
picking from a range of over 100 materials
including natural marble, quartz, granite, live-
edge wood slabs, and more. The production
process takes between 3 – 5 weeks.

Find out more about Roger & Sons at www. Find out more about Etch&Bolts at www.
rogerandsons.sg. etchandbolts.com.

98
INTERIOR DESIGN

C O L L A B O R AT E S G
For homeowners who want
a stylish apartment without
the hassle or hefty price
tag, CollaborateSG offers
six “plug-and-play” designs,
created in partnership with
award-winning interior firms
like Architology. You can mix
and match different modules
to create your own, with the
assurance that the design and
spatial experience has been
well planned for your comfort.

Find out more about

CollaborateSG at www.
collaboratesg.com.

SP HOMES STORAGE AND SHELVING

This company is offering local homeowners a new
way to approach furniture shopping, with their
in-house software and dedicated design services.
Modelled after three- and four-room apartments,
SP Homes’ showroom showcases everything a
modern homeowner needs, from customisable
storage to space-saving solutions. Simply
select the furniture you want, and SP Homes’ PENG HANDCRAFTED
staff will assist with getting the measurements If you’re looking for industrial-
custom-fitted to your actual spaces. style shelves, look no further
than Peng Handcrafted. This
Find out more about SP Homes at local designer crafts his shelves
www.sphomes.com. out of galvanised steel sprinkler
pipes and two types of timber,
namely American white oak
and reclamed wood from
old lorries. The shelves are
joined meticulously without
using any welding, screws
or nails – what Peng calles
a “marriage of hardware”.

Find out more about Peng

Handcrafted at www.peng.com.sg.

99
 BEDS, SOFAS & FURNITURE
BLAFINK
The team at Blafink will guide homeowners
through their customisation service for hand-
crafted upholstery, ranging from beds to sofas
to even items as small as cushions. You’ll be
spoiled for choice – they have 12,000 swatches
of fabric, faux and genuine leather. To cater to
individual comfort, they can also adjust seat
depths, back heights, and storage requirements.
Find out more about Blafink at www.blafink.com.
TRIPLE EYELID
Triple Eyelid was created in
2014 when its founder, Jackie
Tan, realised that there was
potential in upcycling the
large amount of industrial
materials that otherwise go
to waste every year. Using
materials such as reclaimed
wood pallets, the team creates
custom loose shelving for
every need – ranging from
plant displays to pet accessory
storage. Each unique piece is
designed and crafted by hand.
Find out more about Triple
Eyelid at www.tripleeyelid.com.
100
DESIGN INTERVENTION
The award-winning team at
Design Intervention not only
offers interior design services,
they create bespoke furniture,
too. Creating fun, happy
pieces is their specialty, paying
attention to detail in order to
achieve the optimum shape
and proportion for the space.
You’ll be able to customise
every detail of your piece, even
the stitching and type of filling.
Find out more about
Design Intervention at www.
designintervention.com.sg.
CUSTO
With years of carpentry
experience, the team at Custo
works closely with homeowners
to create custom storage
solutions. You can begin with one
of their four templates or start
by measuring the dimensions
of your space, specify how
many rows and columns you
need, and choose from an array
of finishes and doors. All their
wood is sustainably-sourced
European birch, known for
its durability and strength.
Find out more about Custo at
www.custo.co.
 THINGS TO
NOTE WHEN
SHOPPING
FOR CUSTOM
FURNITURE

1 Take careful, accurate

measurements of the
space.
2 Bring along pictures
of the room (as many
angles as possible) as
well as the floor plan.
3 Think about the
function of your custom
piece – things like how
many you want to seat
at a dining table, or the
kind of items you want a
shelf to hold, should be
communicated to your
designer.
MEISTER BY HAFELE 4 Consider the colours
Meister by Hafele offers a modular-concept and design of furniture
custom kitchen that can be disassembled and surrounding the custom
reassembled in the home, saving time and money. piece – they should work
The flexibility of the design means that your well together.
kitchen can evolve with your needs, and can
even move with you should you choose to move
homes in future. Their work is made to last, with
five-layer plywood that’s much more durable
than the industry standard of three layers.

Find out more about Hafele at www.hafele.com.sg.

KITCHENS

MUDIAN
Since its founding in 1997, this home-grown
brand has expanded to become a boutique
furniture company specialising in wardrobes
and kitchens. They work closely with
homeowners to design the best kitchen
for their needs, taking into account their
workflow, how often they cook and entertain,
and the types of appliances needed. With
their years of craftsmanship and industry
expertise, they are able to customise your
kitchen down to the last detail, hinges and all.

Find out more about Mudian at www.mudian.

com.sg.

text MELODY BAY

101
 F E AT U R E

T
he Colour of the Year is a
selected hue forecasted
by established colour
experts, and slated to become a
key inuence in home interiors
and furniture design in 2020.
Professional colour standard
There is a prevalence of cool
colours, mostly greens, in the
forecasted hues for the next 12
months. Associated with feelings
of calm and tranquility, the cool
colours are deliberately chosen
to instill people with a quiet

STAY CALM provider Pantone, along with

paint brands like Dulux and
condence as we venture for-
ward into the new decade. The

AND COOL Nippon, are a few prominent

Colour experts recommend these
reassuring shades of green and blue to
ease us in and set the tone for 2020.
names to release their own
respective Colours of the Year,
based on extensive research into
modern lifestyles of consumers
around the world.
following are this year’s colours
by Pantone, Dulux, Nippon and
Gush, along with practical sug-
gestions by some local interior
designers on how to incorporate
them into your home.

T W I L I G H T L AG O O N
Gush, a local sustainable paint
manufacturer, has named
Twilight Lagoon as its colour
for 2020. Yet another shade
of green, Twilight Lagoon
differentiates itself from the
others with its duskier tone,
the result from a blend of
emerald and cobalt.

“TWILIGHT LAGOON EVOKES THE

SERENITY OF A STILL WATERBODY.
THIS COLOUR CREATES A CALMING EFFECT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN USED IN BEDROOMS.
BRASS ACCENTS WILL
QUCK ZHONG YI, PARTNER AT ASOLIDPLAN
photo GUSH

102
 “IT IS IDEAL FOR THE LIVING- AND
BEDROOMS BECAUSE OF ITS ELEGANT
PRESENTATION. THIS DARKER SHADE OF
BLUE IS A STRONG COLOUR, SO TO
MAKE IT FEEL LESS INTIMIDATING PAIR
IT WITH OTHER NEUTRAL TONES.”
DESS CHEW, PRINCIPAL DESIGNER AT
THREE-D CONCEPTWERKE
photo IKEA

photo IKEA

PA N TO N E 1 9 - 4 0 5 2
Known for setting the global
standards of colour, Pantone’s
colour for 2020 is Classic Blue,
or Pantone 19-4052. Described
as a “reflective blue tone,
imbued with deep resonance,”
photo PANTONE

the colour is said to aid in

concentration. The familiar hue
is meant to help create calming
interiors and slow down the
hectic pace of urban life.

103
 T R A N Q U I L DAW N
Dulux’s Colour of the Year was
inspired by the colours of the
dawn horizon, a green-blue-
grey mix aptly named Tranquil
Dawn. The versatile shade was
conceived to offer homeowners
with a subtle shade of green that
can be easily worked into any
home interior.

photo DULUX

“HOMEOWNERS STRIVING FOR

A MINIMALIST AESTHETIC CAN
CONSIDER USING THIS MUTED
SHADE. CONTRAST IT WITH
FURNISHINGS OF BOLDER TONES,
photo DULUX

SUCH AS TAN LEATHER AND

BLACK ASH TIMBER.”
JOY LOO, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT WAFF

104
 “THIS IS SUITED FOR AN TIPS

ENERGETIC SPACE LIKE A HOME

YOGA SPACE OR READING ROOM
FOR THE CHILDREN. FOR A CLEAN,
FUSS-FREE LOOK, PAIR JASPER
GREEN WITH ALL THINGS WHITE AND
LOTS OF NATURAL TEXTURES.”
LAM JUN NAN, CO-FOUNDER AT OPEN STUDIO Not one to shy away from
using bright colours, Nikki
Hunt, co-founder of ID firm
photo DULUX

Design Intervention offers

tips on using these colours
for a bold and striking effect.

People are often intimidated

by bolder colours. How
would you recommend using
them at home?
People worry that strong
colours will be too
stimulatory, but deep moody
shades actually evoke
serenity. They also help to
accentuate the details of
the interiors, so use them
to create a backdrop to
showcase statement pieces
like a large sofa or armchair.

For those who are more

photo NIPPON

adventurous, how can they

take these colour trends up
a notch in their home?
Combining colours and
patterns is the way to go to
add depth and dimension
JASPER GREEN
to your design scheme. I
Nippon Paint wants to invoke
photo NIPPON

love being adventurous with

the freshness of nature at home ceilings. A lovely soft blue,
with their colour, Jasper Green. is much more interesting
Reflecting urban society’s than a plain white one. I will
increasing turn towards the often use a dark hue on a
natural world, the paint brand low ceiling, to give it height.
looks to soften concrete This might sound contrary,
built environments with this but dark colours recede, so
soothing shade. if you paint a ceiling alcove
a darker shade it actually
creates the illusion of
greater height.

text ISABELLE TOW

105

FEAST FOR
THE SENSES
Elevate your reunion dinner gathering
with a stylish table spread t for
presenting those sumptuous dishes.
1
F E S T I V E F LO R A L S
STYLE Dreaming up a romantic
candlelight dinner with
your loved ones? Get the
look with a colourful set-up
accompanied by beautiful
blooms and tableware in
botanical or oral themes.
106
F E AT U R E
ELEVATE THE LOOK
For an oriental-style garden-inspired
look, Shanghai Tang’s Forbidden
Garden collection will get you the
look. With pieces made of Fine Bone
China, expect nothing less than a
grand dining setting complete with
latticed patterns and botanical prints
like bamboo. The Forbidden Garden
collection includes teacups, plates, a
bowl and spoon set and more. They
A FEMININE TOUCH
Designed by Italian fashion retail from $150 to $280.
design Luisa Beccaria, the
Artemest collection reminds
us of a fairytale-like whimsical
garden, thanks to its floral
patterns and pastel hues that’ll
easily add a touch of femininity
into any dining space. A set of
two dessert plates starts from
US$250 ($342), and is exclusively
available at www.artemest.com.
 TEXTURAL APPEAL
Styling on a budget? Ikea’s
Strimmig collection offers a

2
range of plates, bowls and
mugs in dark blue, grey and
pastel pink. Prices start from
$3.90 for a bowl or side plate.

STYLE

DA P P E R C L A S S I C S

The Classical interior design FANCY

HIGH TEA
style is easily identied
With designs
by its iconic combination that embody
of architectural details elements from
and delicate moulding. the Victorian
When styling a Classical- style, Luzerne’s
inspired table setting, select Lancaster
tableware with details such collection is
as ridges and trimming adorned with
around the edges. This way, A FORMAL SETTING muted blue, grey
Royal Selangor’s Liberty and pink floral
when you layer the plates
collection is complete with motifs. It offers a
and teacups, it creates a
pewter-finished metalware range of pieces
visually stunning look that designed with intricately-sculpted including serving
showcases both dimension curvilinear rims and polished plates and a
and texture. surfaces. The Burke tray and teapot; prices
Wallingon coffee pot are priced at range from $6 to
$310 and $630 respectively. $100.

STYLE 3
S TA N D O U T
UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE
Like a chrysanthemum in
bloom, the details on this
handcrafted white plate is set
SET THE SCENE
Plain white or black
plates may be easy
to find but if you are
MONOCHROMES searching for plates
to add a textural effect to any
and cups in polka
dining setting. Complete the dots or stripes, head
Experiment with black and look with other pieces in the to Danovel or Egg3.
white hues for a dining collection like a ceramic platter. collection has pieces
setting devoid of colours The Amari ceramic plate retails ranging from $6
for a cool, edgy feel. for $19.95 at Crate and Barrel. to $75.
Alternatively, layer several
shades of the same hue to
get a monochromatic look
that is muted but elegant.

SUBTLE
LUXURY
Serve up cups
of coffee and
tea in this gold-
speckled black
mug from
homegrown
photography ANGELA GUO

ceramic
specialist
Ohleaf.
Embrace the
wabi sabi
nature of this
set, which
retails for $34.

107
 STYLE 4
ENERGETIC &
CONTEMPORARY YOUNG AT HEART
Like colourful pieces of
Go bold this season and artwork, the Beatriz salad
embrace splashes of plates are printed with unique
motifs in teal, persimmon,
colours that’ll accentuate
blush, black, and golden
the modern contemporary
yellow to add a playful touch
look in your home. Mix and to your dining setting. The
match stylish tableware in set of four glazed stoneware
vibrant hues and patterns plates is available at Crate and
while impressing guests and Barrel for $64.95. FUNCTIONAL PICKS
whetting their appetites. Despite the simple
forms in the Besegra
collection, they impress
with their sky blue and
SPLASHES OF mint hues that will
COLOUR easily add a cheerful
It’s all about and vibrant look at the
the details with dining table. Bowls and
Luzerne’s Organic plates in this collection
collection. come in a variety of
The colourful sizes, and retail for $7.90
tableware has for a set of four at Ikea.
subtle snail-like
swirl designs on
the base to add
a textural look.
Pieces in this
collection are
priced between
$8 to $23.

OMBRE HUES
If you’re big
on cooking,
Le Creuset’s
range of cast-
iron cookware
can double up
perfectly as
colourful serving
ware on your
dining table.
The signature
buffet casserole
(from $569) is
available at major
department
stores.

108
 STYLE 5
ORGANIC NORDIC
BACK TO
Clean lines, uid forms and
BASICS
natural materials — these are Made with just
elements that come to mind earth and glaze,
when you think of Nordic- Muji’s Banko
inspired interiors. So when collection is
planning a dining setting to understated, sleek
match your Scandinavian-style and unassumingly
home, bear in mind these stylish. Add a
features that will help you get unique look
SLEEK FORMS
by mixing and
the look. The Stelton
matching the
Theo collection
different-coloured
of tea ware,
pieces including
from teapots
cups, mugs or
to milk jugs to
plates within the
coasters, is both
range, priced from
rustic yet chic.
$9.90 to $39.
This stoneware
range has a
cast-iron finish,
coupled with
complementary
lids or handles
made with Asian
bamboo to add a
touch of warmth.
The Stelton Theo
collection ranges
from $42 for a
cup with coaster
to $170 for a
teapot, from
Bibliotek.

RUSTIC CHIC
Embrace the
glaze with
Luzerne’s Rustic
collection.
With the use
of reactive
glaze, the result
is deep, vivid
colours that
accentuate the
details from the
natural process
of glazing. With
a wide variety of
ware like plates,
saucers and
bowls in various
sizes and shapes,
prices range
PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS
Ohleaf’s Flambe Glaze series combines the
from $4 to $88.
minimalist design style with natural materials
to create a unique range of tableware that
embraces imperfections resulting from the
glazing process. Prices start from $20 for a
Flambe Glaze teacup.

text DOMENICA TAN 109

 T R AV E L

RI GHT
Architect
Thomas
Heatherwick
cut into the
volumes of
Cape Town’s
grain silo to
create the
main atrium of
MOCAA.

FAR RI GHT
Thomas’ design
added a quirky
dimension
to the
architecture.

110
 HEAD SOUTH
South Africa is leading the discourse on art and design on
the African continent. Find out where the hottest galleries
are and which are the artists to watch.
W
ith a world-class
museum (the biggest
public art space to
open on the continent), annual
art fairs in Johannesburg and
Cape Town, and vibrant gallery
scenes that have been steadily
growing over the last decade,
South Africa has become the
continent’s art and design hub.
Compared to art capitals
like Dakar (in Senegal) or Lagos
(in Nigeria), where West African
artists have had a far greater
presence thanks to proximity
to Europe, and as a result of the
global boycott of South Africa’s
economy and culture due to
apartheid that ended in 1994,
the nation has had to play catch
up. Since then, its market has
become more professional, with
rising numbers of commercial
galleries that are more visible
at international art and design
fairs, and museums and
collectors locally and worldwide
increasingly acquiring South
African art and design.
The opening in 2017 of the
9,500 sq m, nine-storey Zeitz
Museum of Contemporary Art
LEF T Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town
MOCAA has drew international attention
become an and further cemented the
icon in the city,
complemented country’s status as a focal point
by a fellow for artists. Commissioned
icon, the through a public/private
famous Table
Mountain, in partnership between the V&A
the distance. Waterfront development and
German entrepreneur and
art collector Jochen Zeitz, the
world’s largest museum of
contemporary African art was
designed by celebrated British
architect Thomas Heatherwick,
who carved out galleries and
a central atrium from the
monumental structure of Cape
Town’s historic grain silo.
Its recent exhibition Five
Bhobh – Painting At The End Of
An Eraˈexplores contemporary
paintings from Zimbabwe,
featuring artists like Richard
Mudariki, Charles Bhebe, Gareth
Nyandoro, Portia Zvavahera and
Duncan Wylie. The museum also
has access to Jochen’s extensive
personal art collection. Playing
a key role in allowing Africans
to tell their stories, the museum
aims to propel the African
perspective to the forefront
within the global art community.
Supporting the art landscape
in Africa is the FNB Joburg
Art Fair in Johannesburg,
considered the most important
exhibition of contemporary
African art on the continent. For
its 11th edition last year, over
60 galleries from 14 countries
participated. The increasing
number of artists and the
diverse audiences reflect the
robust state of the art scene in
Africa, and the fair has been
instrumental in changing the
perception that galleries are
111
 RI GHT
The Five Bhobh
exhibition at
the MOCAA,
which
focuses on
contemporary
art from
Zimbabwe.

BELOW
Richard
Mudariki, one
of the artists
featured in Five
Bhobh, and
his colourful
creation, The
New Farmer
And His Wife.

white, elitist and discriminatory. THE WOODSTOCK ART

Today, affluent blacks figure
among the patron class,
composed mainly of bankers,
mining tycoons, winery owners
and corporate executives.
“The South Africa art scene
is flourishing and growing,”
notes fair director Mandla
Sibeko. “The South African
collector base is becoming more
astute, and each year we see
new collectors emerging. The
secondary market is very healthy
and we have seen multiple artists
achieving sales records. South
African fine art galleries are
also growing from strength to
strength, and as global museum
acquisitions are made from their
stables, new local collectors
are emboldened to start more
considered collections.”
DISTRICT
In Cape Town, the Woodstock
Design District in particular, a
suburb located between Table
Mountain and the harbour, has
become a key cultural hub.
Once a farming hamlet
that developed into a lively
multicultural suburb in the
1800s, before turning into an
industrial area in the early
1900s that led to a mix of
Victorian row houses, semi-
detached townhouses, factories
and warehouses, Woodstock
is a hotspot with the highest
concentration of design stores
and art galleries in the country.
Over the past decade, the
cheap rentals for unusual
spaces, proximity to the
city and high crime rate in

112
RIGHT
Southern Guild,
which has been
instrumental
in giving
South African
design a voice,
is located in
Woodstock
Design District.
BELOW
Justine
Mahoney, one
Johannesburg have enticed
of the artists creatives to move to Woodstock,
featured by and today it is filled with
Southern
Guild, and
shops, showrooms, eateries,
design studios and high-end
pieces from
her collections
contemporary art galleries.
(clockwise
from top)
Southern Guild, the
Pow Pow continent’s most celebrated
Collage, Series collectible design gallery
2, and Mighty
Ndebele.
founded in 2008 by Trevyn and
Julian McGowan with its first
permanent home in Woodstock,
has been critical in supporting
world-class, locally-made
limited-edition design and
giving South African design a
voice. It champions creatives
such as Gregor Jenkin, who
works in flat, mild-rolled steel
that he laser cuts and welds
beautifully – the first designer
it took to Design Miami –
and Justine Mahoney, who
mixes native and pop culture
iconography with issues like
circumcision and child warriors,
and whose bronze sculptures
PLACES TO VISIT Joni Brenner, Angus
Taylor, Brett Murray and
Yinka Shonibare.
Ellerman House
Stay in Cape Town’s
most exclusive
boutique hotel situated
on the cliffside
overlooking the
ocean, with terraced
gardens, a large pool
and one of the most
important repositories
of South African art
that rivals that of the
country’s best art
museums. It features
works by artists such
as Irma Stern, Thomas
Bowler and William
Kentridge, and can
be explored with art
guide Talita Swarts.
Neighbourgoods
Market
The catalyst for the
Norval Foundation wave of creative
Boasting one of development
the largest private that transformed
collections of South Woodstock, it is the
African art, the Cape spot to get a taste
Town institution of the Cape, uniting
founded by property local farmers, artisanal
investor Louis Norval producers, fine food
is dedicated to the purveyors, local
research and exhibition designers and crafters.
of 20th- and 21st-
century visual art
from South Africa and
beyond. Set against a
mountain and vineyard
landscape, it comprises
a sculpture garden,
outdoor amphitheatre,
gallery spaces and
library, showcasing
pieces by the likes of
113

“THE SOUTH AFRICAN COLLECTOR
BASE IS BECOMING MORE ASTUTE,
AND EACH YEAR WE SEE NEW
COLLECTORS EMERGING.”
- FNB JOBURG ART FAIR DIRECTOR MANDLA SIBEKO
SOUTH AFRICAN
ARTISTS TO
COLLECT
Sue Williamson
Working in print,
installation,
photography and
video, she is part of the
pioneering generation
of South African
artists addressing
social change during
apartheid. She is
recognised for her series
of portraits of women
involved in the country’s
political struggle, and
her socially based work
reveals hidden histories
and engages with
themes of memory and
identity formation.
Wim Botha
Drawing its roots
from the mastery
of traditional
techniques of
sculpture,
drawing and
painting,
114
the Pretoria-born artist’s
work is sometimes
delicate and sensitive,
sometimes raw and
mutilated, as he explores
materials, forms and
lines through varied
mediums including
treated wood, books, oil
paint, steel, Indian ink,
bronze, paper, marble,
polystyrene and acrylic
enamel paint.
Haroon Gunn-Salie
The FNB Art Prize
2018 winner from
Cape Town has formed
a collaborative art
practice that transforms
community oral
histories into artistic
interventions and
experiential installations,
tackling issues such
as neo-colonialism,
radicalism and violence
in wide-ranging media.
are acquired by some of the
world’s top collectors.
Having represented South
Africa with Southern Guild
at the inaugural 2016 London
Design Biennale is Porky
Hefer, who embraces and
preserves traditional indigenous
techniques and crafts that focus
on handmade rather than mass
production. Johannesburg-
based Dokter and Misses
examines a contemporary,
urban street culture and
comments on what it means to
be a young South African.
In terms of art galleries,
there is Stevenson with
spaces in Cape Town and
Johannesburg, which represents
some of the most avant-garde
contemporary artists on the
African continent, including
international names Zanele
Muholi and Nandipha Mntambo.
Blank Projects works
ABOVE
with young artists from the Award-winning
region, while SMAC represents South African
emerging and mid-career South designer Porky
Hefer.
African artists and established
global artists, with large-scale BELOW
The SMAC
historical exhibitions and
gallery is a
projects that re-evaluate South
great place to
African art history. Goodman discover young
talents in the
Gallery, arguably South Africa’s
country.
most successful private art
space, plays a vital role in
backing global collaborations
in the country and presenting
art that enriches dialogue
around colonial legacies and
contemporary geopolitics, with
artists like Kendell Geers and
David Goldblatt.
 TOP DESIGN
SPOTS

Casamento
The place for original
upholstered furniture
that has been
RI GHT
handcrafted with
Private traditional needlework
art space and embellishments.
Goodman Each piece has a story
Gallery. to tell as designer Starry
Eve Collett sources
BELOW, RI GHT rare textiles and uses
Artist Zanele sustainable fibres as
Muholi.
much as possible.
BELOW
Works by Wolf and Maiden
Nandipha Creative Studio
Mntambo. Manufacturer of
exquisite, high-end
leather goods. Its
luggage, bags, wallets
and belts blend the
elegance of timeless
leather craft with
contemporary design.

Vogel
The showroom of
designer John Vogel,
who makes distinctly
South African furniture.
His collectible work
is available through
Southern Guild, but he
also has a production
line of seating and
tables that mixes pared-
down, nature-inspired
forms with woven
African textures.

text Y-JEAN MUN-DELSALLE 115

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117
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 HARD TRUTH
W
e need to talk about
Marie Kondo. I don’t
know about you, but
I was one of those people who
lapped up her guide to home
organisation, The Life-changing
Magic of Tidying Up. I folded my
clothes into small rectangles.
I discarded piles of what she
calls komono, random bits
and bobs that every individual
seems to accumulate at some
point in their life. I held items
in my hands and attempted to
WHAT’S commune with them.
TRENDING It wasn’t a perfect process,
& WHAT but at the end of it I had a
WE THINK cleaner house to show for it.
SPARKING JOY
More importantly, I had – along
with millions of fans all over the
NO MORE
world – fully embraced Marie’s
philosophy: keep only the items
that spark joy.
So imagine my surprise
when I heard that the KonMari
brand had a store. One that
doesn’t sell containers or
organisation tools, but little bits
and bobs -- the very komono
she advises us to throw out. They
cost a pretty penny, too. I mean,
$75 for a rose quartz crystal and
tuning fork?
It was like the end of a love
affair, when you discover your
partner isn’t really who you
thought they were. And it came
complete with all ve stages
of grief. After realising that
it wasn’t in fact an elaborate
joke, I was angry. The eyebrow-
raising prices, not to mention
120
the superuous nature of the
products (a $42 “ower bouquet
tote”, anyone?) felt not only
hypocritical, but also like the
brand was trying to make a quick
buck off its faithful followers.
And then came the bargaining:
maybe this isn’t Marie’s idea,
maybe she’s been kidnapped by
a bunch of capitalists who forced
her to use her brand to sell stuff.
Maybe she has to do this for
money.
Or maybe, just maybe, the
KonMari way of life we all love has
gone the way of so many other
followings, and succumbed to the
appeal of monetisation.
Right now? I’m just
disappointed, as are legions of
followers. It seems that everything
that Marie had promised
and stood for – a clean, zen
existence free of material wants
– has been shattered by this new
development. It’s a sobering
reminder to all of us that when
a brand’s popularity overrides
principle and common sense, it’s
time to step back and reassess our
relationship with that brand.
Regardless, we can still hold
on to the ethos that Marie has
taught us. I will, for one, continue
to embrace the philosophy of
minimalism, even if I don’t quite
agree with the direction that
the Konmari brand is headed in
now. If nothing else, we still have
our neatly-folded rectangles as
a reminder of the life-changing
magic that once was.