Ho Man Tin Home: The best can be done when two apartments become one

While combining two separate apartments into one seamless space may not seem like the world’s most demanding task, it could be a little more foreboding should the owners opt to entrust you with delivering their own personal vision – one that is both genuinely inspired and exactingly specific. Such was the brief that dropped into the inbox of Andy Wan, Director of Pure AW’s Designers, an award-winning Wan Chai-based interior design firm. Not a man to be deterred, however, Wan soon found himself intrigued as to how best to unite two units in one Ho Man Tin home that had originally been conceived as wholly and eternally self-standing.

With the brief from the well-to-do white-collar owners being to create the perfect home for them and their two children, from the beginning, Wan’s priority was to erase any sign of the boundaries that once marked the extent of the original two properties. To that end, he looked to create a homogenised sense of home across the five separate spaces that comprised the unified 2,760sq.ft dwelling, while also instilling a requisite sense of understated luxury.

Indeed, these quintessential design conceits are immediately evident upon entering the residence, with the judicious deployment of warm beige and white tones paired with wood walls creating a sense of uninterrupted cohesion throughout the open-plan living and dining area. Meanwhile, remedying the ubiquitous low ceilings that are a blight on many Hong Kong apartments, false ceilings were installed in select sections, bestowing a beguiling upper roominess throughout.

Explaining why this was one facet of the design he’d paid particular attention to, Wan said: “As the clients enjoy entertaining at home, they’d emphasised the paramount importance of getting the communal dining / living space just right.” It was a brief he clearly fulfilled more than satisfactorily, with the rethought central space both stylish and comfortable, and the feel of the space owing much to the delicate blend of textures and materials that the design team had opted for.

Indeed, each carefully conceived and artfully executed aspect of this pivotal domestic domain has a role to play – whether it’s the living / dining area continuity afforded by the tactile textures of the stone and steel accent walls, the warmth and natural beauty emanating from the wooden fittings or the slight edginess inherent in the modernesque marble touches.

Pushing further in, an expansive array of plush leather sofas punctuate the landscape of the living room, giving guests a tempting glimpse of the dining area via the open-counter wood-and-glass cabinet / divider that intersects the two spaces. Crossing the boundary, the emphasis is very much on a more casual camaraderie, with a friend-friendly circular table taking centre stage, deftly paired with an adjoining supplementary-seating high-bar area.

The signature beige / white colour scheme, meanwhile, goes on a brief hiatus when it comes to the two children’s bedrooms, where playfulness and bright colours are the order of the day. Although purposefully mirroring one another, the two symmetrical spaces remain surprisingly individual, with one accented with bright yellow hues and the other favouring a more relaxing verdant green tone. Both, however, are united in their access to natural light, soothing wood fixtures and calming white interludes.

By contrast, the master bedroom has benefitted from a distinctly minimalist approach, although this is never allowed to usurp the underlying aura of luxury. Sleek and contemporary are the watchwords here, with the dominant wood-white motif enhanced by the elegant addition of slate curtains and wall-coverings. Calculatedly clutter-free, the room accommodates only the essentials – a bed, wall-mounted lighting fixtures, bedside tables, a TV and a wall-inset floor-to-ceiling closet space. This elective sparsity, however, merely indicates to a highly-specific opulence.

The commodious en suite bathroom, however, is wholly devoid of such restraint, flaunting its expensive elegance with extensive mirrored panelling across two walls, his-and- hers high-tech sinks and a state-of-the-art power shower. A capacious self-standing marble bathtub also lies ready to serve whenever the stresses of the day demand truly immersive relaxation.

With the judicious use of tones and textures capturing and recapturing the ambient natural light and the artfully-contrived seamless transitions between the various rooms, it’s clear that every effort has been made to sculpt one cohesive co-dwelling space where once there were two. Beyond that, this Ho Man Tin home is a new high point in conscience-easing contemporary living, largely on account of Wan’s success in incorporating as many sustainable materials in its reconstruction as possible, without once compromising on his commitment to deliver durable, liveable luxury.

Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Pure AW’s Designers Ltd

Holic Homes: Holic celebrates new store with Grand Opening Party

Holic Furniture and Interior Styling marked the grand opening of its brand-new shop on Sheung Wan’s Hollywood Road with an equally grand celebration. The intimate gathering saw attendees treated to a first-hand glimpse of the brand’s extensive and stylish catalogue of home decor options. Known for its avant-garde approach, the concept store mixes contemporary furniture with vintage pieces, making each one of their projects unique, and, of course, timeless.

As guests perused the unique designs on display, their experience was also complemented with top-quality brews from Zuco Coffee Roasters, the award-winning local coffee brewers, to ensure the evening ended on a truly high note.

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Holic Shop G/F, 242 Hollywood Road, Hong Kong, (852) 2982 0080, harold@holic.hk

Monterey Villa: Step inside this marine-motifed Tseung Kwan O residence

An unceasing, unrelenting and increasingly bustling way of life seems to be both part of Hong Kong’s undoubted charm and something of a blight on the day-to-day existence of many of the city’s residents. While many love its high-octane pace, there are just as many who crave at least temporary sanctuary from the perpetual pressure of dwelling or working in its downtown districts. This subgroup of serenity-seeking homebodies should perhaps set their sights on Tseung Kwan O, a small seaside town within New Territories’ Sai Kung district, an area that just 40 years ago lay submerged below the gently lapping ocean.

While it may seem a lifetime away from its characteristic contemporary calm, not too long ago the entire district was known as Junk Bay, a none-too-subtle reference to the clutter that contaminated the bay and the surrounding landfill sites. All that changed, however, when the government decreed the area should be referred to in less derogatory terms and commenced a mammoth land reclamation project back in the ’80s. In the intervening years, Tseung Kwan O has been transformed from a semi-soggy shard of clawed-back continental shelf to a desirable pet-friendly residential region, abundantly arboreal and just 30 minutes on the MTR from Central.

Now, cranking the level of consumer desirability up a notch or two, two Hong Kong businesses – high-end property developer Wheelock Properties and Primocasa Interiors, designer decorists to the well-off – have co-nurtured the Monterey Villa, a brand-new residential project set at the southernmost tip of Tseung Kwan O. With its avowed mantra: “Breathe in the sea, breathe out the city”, the residence – somewhat predictably – embraces the sea as its primary design spur, while recreating the look and feel of a European-style coastal house, complete with sweeping views out across the seascape and gently undulating uplands in the medium distance.

Upon first entering the 2,000sq.ft villa, it’s the sprawling living space that is most immediately apparent, complete with golden-grey textured walls and nickel-gold metal lines, all artfully adding a dash of languid luxury to the residence. Its opulent oeuvre is further accentuated by the elegantly-positioned furniture, with a striking lake-blue velvet sofa taking centre stage, while a marble coffee table, a mesmerising corner mirror and matching blue velvet dining chairs all prove apt and able supporting artistes. The maritime influence is then made yet more manifest via the grey-blue carpetting and the occasional water paintings.

Taking the spaciousness to the next level is a burgeoning balcony feature that extends well beyond the bounds of the living room. With its artificial grass echoing the exterior greenery, it’s just the perfect nook for nocturnal reflection or for drinking in the rich notes of dawn.

On, then, to the second-storey bedroom level, with the master bedroom again taking its cues very much from the natural world. With sunset the master motif, the generously-proportioned bed is trimmed with premium-quality ochre leather, with the wall-mounted matte lines bestowing on it a beguiling simplicity, one that segues seamlessly into the expansive exterior views occasioned by the floor-to-ceiling windows. In keeping with the untrammelled nature of the space, it is completed by a dark wood, open-style walk-in closet.

The remaining rooms on this level, meanwhile, comprise guest bedrooms and a study, with the oceanic overtones resurgent throughout. This is more than apparent in the grey blue hues of the guest rooms which are intriguingly counterpointed by a selection of uniquely textured wallpapers and nickel-gold metal details. As with the master bedroom, the guest rooms boast engaging – yet disarmingly simple – open wardrobes.

The study, meanwhile, is ubiquitously utilitarian, from its metal-finished bookcases to its mock-makeshift desk and chair arrangement. Indeed, its only tangential touch of the au naturel comes courtesy of its obliquely understated landscape wallpaper.

The villa’s crowning glory, however, is its sumptuous terrace, an artfully-arranged al fresco space boasting chaise longues, a hot tub, a dedicated barbecue area and, of course, breathtaking views. All in all, it seems a thousand miles distant from central Hong Kong, while still only an Octopus card ride away from the city’s ultra-modern amenities.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Photos: Primocasa Interiors Ltd

Green Housing: Escape from high-rise HK with this lush Sydney home

Peered at on an on-screen map, Australia seems somewhat set apart from the rest of the world. Indeed, in many ways – geographically, culturally, zoologically – it most certainly is. It is its singular nature, however, that most appeals to overworked Hongkongers, many of whom are simply entranced by its vast wide-open spaces and low population density.

Of all the Oceanic cities and resorts, it is Sydney that seems to be the biggest draw for second-home-hankering Hongkongers and, thankfully, now seems to be the perfect time to invest. According to industry statistics, real estate prices in the city – Australia’s most populous – fell by 1.4 percent in November last year. Tellingly, this was twice the size of the national decline in house prices and took the total fall in the value of the city’s average residence to 8.1 percent for the year. While this was a cause of continuing concern for existing homeowners, it was music to the ears of would-be buyers.

And top of the list for any suitably wealthy would-be buyer would be Mastery by Crown Group, a stylish new development in one of Sydney’s most upmarket locales – Waterloo, a recently gentrified suburb some three kilometres to the south of the city’s central business district.

Set on O’Dea Avenue, one of the suburb’s most desirable addresses, the site was developed by Crown Group, an award-winning local architecture / real estate business, and consists of five linked buildings, together housing 384 luxury apartments. Given its upmarket positioning, it should be no surprise that this bespoke complex also boasts a rooftop pool, several gyms, a number of restaurants and a host of boutiques.

More surprising, however, is the breadth of the vision that guided the site’s development from the outset. Indeed, it took three unique talents – Iwan Sunito (Crown Group’s CEO) and two award-winning Japanese architects, Kengo Kuma and Koichi Takada – to bring the project to fruition. Collectively, they refined the building’s unique “stacked forest” conceit, creating what resembles a 19-storey vertical garden, with plants and foliage sprouting across all the exterior surfaces.

Explaining the thinking, Kuma says: “Our intention was to create a warm and natural atmosphere for the whole community. In order to achieve this, the upper volume of the tower segues into the lower part of the stepped terraces, creating an intimacy between the building and passers-by. This is further enhanced by the wood-clad eaves that run across the façade. Ultimately, the ubiquity of this vegetation has created what we call a vertical urban forest.”

With ‘green luxury’ very much the driving principle of this whole Sydney development, it is a concept equally apparent in both the exterior of the buildings and the interiors of each individual apartment. This sees each residential unit fitted with wall-to- wall glass windows, which run from the living room to the bedrooms, ensuring that a generous measure of natural light permeates every nook.

As to the rooms themselves, these are large and airy throughout, while also benefiting from deliberately understated and minimalistic wood finishing, inevitably bringing to mind – surely intentionally – the Japanese heritage of the lead architects. Even within the confines of such tasteful, subtle luxury, however, a sense of being close to nature persists, largely thanks to the fetching array of greenery that blooms in every recess. It’s a feeling that only intensifies should you step out onto one of the extensive balconies, all of which are judiciously festooned with a living carpet of lush foliage and multihued floral arrangements.

Giving his own take on the concerns and priorities that shaped the project, Takada says: “We were all deeply motivated by many aspects of the natural world. By creating genuinely eco-friendly apartments, we wanted to positively regenerate Waterloo – once home to an array of disused warehouses – and transform it into a truly organic and health-enhancing green neighbourhood, with a resort-style space for refined residents at its very core.”

Nowhere are these elements more apparent than in the plant-strewn water feature that dominates the central courtyard from which the complex radiates out. With a clutch of close-packed bamboo trees ringing the stylised waterway, it is surely a knowing nod to the exquisite groves of Arashiyama, one of the most popular tourist attraction in Japan’s 2,500km-distant Kyoto prefecture – a little bit of Asia tucked away in Sydney, Australia and a home away from home for any high-net worth Hongkonger.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Images: Crown Group

Lala Curio unveils new home decor collection at COLOURLIVING

Hong Kong’s very own luxury home decor maison, Lala Curio, partnered with COLOURLIVING, the city’s one-stop lifestyle concept store, to unveil its latest collection of vibrant, elegant, handcrafted wallpaper designs. We sat down with Laura Cheung, founder and owner of Lala Curio, to find out more about the brand’s philosophy, inspirations and intricate designs.

*Laura Cheung, founder of HK-based home decor company, Lala Curio*

How did your passion for interior design and home decor come about?

Actually I come from three generations of specialists in home decor and decorative arts. My father’s side of the family specialises in rosewood furniture, while my mother’s family are experts in cloisonné, a rare from of Chinese craftsmanship focusing on intricate inlay work. Growing up playing with cloisonné toys and interacting with Ming dynasty rosewood furniture, I knew interior design was my goal pretty early on. I just love the theatrical side of the business, but I also love beautiful, tactile things.

After graduating from university, though, you first entered the fashion industry…

That’s right, I did fashion event production. I was the design director and only designer of the company. It was such a hectic schedule with New York Fashion Week and then continuous corporate events and so forth. In your early 20s, it’s the perfect place to learn, but after a while I realised I wasn’t taking in anything new and that it was time for something new. That’s when I moved back to Asia and took some time off to figure out my next step.

So that next step was Lala Curio?

Not exactly. I decided my mission was to reinvent the lost crafts of Asia, and that’s what Lala Curio is all about. But first, I wanted to travel to the specific regions where these rare craftsmen lived. My family connections within the industry really helped me out, and for a while I was just travelling the length and breadth of China to find these artisans and learn from them.

After two years of travelling, learning and sourcing products, I made my first foray into interior design at Singapore’s International Furniture Fair four years ago. I took 4,000sq.m of space, poured so much effort and money into it, and developed a completely out-of-this-world ‘Cabinet of Curiosity’ showroom for all the major buyers in the world. That’s how Lala Curio was born.

Tell us about Lala Curio and its philosophy.

Well, the name Lala Curio is based on my childhood nickname, Lala, which also has a spirit of whimsicality, and Curio, based on an object of curiosity and also the art of curation. I think our brand encompasses all these characteristics, but most importantly, we are focused on artisanship and lost crafts.

We’re a Hong Kong-based home decor company that focuses on high-end, handcrafted products with a strong focus on Chinoiserie. We’re a bit unique in that we do everything in-house, from material sourcing to owning our own production… We also have a team wholly endowed with design know-how, from the historical to the handcraftsmanship. This really gives us the flexibility for any bespoke work our clients are looking for.

What is the latest collection you’re unveiling at COLOURLIVING today?

We’ve unveiled an all-new wallpaper collection today that is very much inspired by a romantic flora-and-fauna Chinoiserie theme. For example, we’ve utilised the city’s famous bauhinia tree, replete with heart-shaped leaves, in one of our wallpaper designs. We also have our latest Pearls on Walls wallpaper that is elegant without being overpowering. We also have our Red Wall, inspired by traditional Chinoiserie techniques but transformed with a modern touch. The entire collection was designed solely for our Hong Kong clients. It’s all hand-embroidered and handmade, no machines were involved.

Thank you.

Interview: Tenzing Thondup
Images: Lala Curio

Designer Aldwin Ong brings residential splendour to Zhuhai

With China in mid-middle-class boom, the mainland’s tier two (and below) cities are suddenly finding themselves having to cater to the needs of high-maintenance young professionals. Zhuhai, a 1.5 million-strong city on Guangdong’s southeast coast, is no exception.

Spearheading its way into yuppiedom is Shizimen, the city’s fast-developing central business district, which also boasts a sizeable residential element. The challenge, though, has been to meet the expectations of a new generation of high-earners, many of whom expect luxury to come as standard.

Thankfully, the embryonic CBD had something of a secret weapon in hand – Wilson Associates, the award-winning, global design group. More specifically, it took on the services of Design Director Aldwin Ong, who’s previously best known for his work on such architectural gems as the New World Beijing Hotel, Lotte Hotel Seoul and Sofitel Nusa Dua.

Under Ong’s stewardship, these three distinctly upmarket Shizimen apartments have been built to spec, but to a spec intended to entice even the most sophisticated of the city’s residents. Commissioned by Huafa, the local real estate, financial services and trading conglomerate, the smallest of Ong’s Zhuhai-based projects is Tech New York. A one-bedroom apartment designed for young professionals who are already tasting success, embedding cutting-edge technology was one of the key design precepts.

Ong was also keen to turn the relatively compact size of the apartment into an advantage, using indirect lighting, combined with a blend of polished and exposed surfaces, to create a surprisingly spacious-looking interior, with splashes of brightly-coloured glass acting as an effective counterpoint to the muted grey stonework. The furnishings, of course, are note perfect for the sleek, modern interior, including wardrobes that manage to be both minimalistic and futuristic.

A little larger and with ample room for two bedrooms is Luxe London. This 63 sq.m apartment boasts chic cream walls, with its bare timber flooring perfectly framing an array of signature furniture items. The sleep space up-lights, meanwhile, all throw enchanting haloes around an eclectic selection of wall art, while the free-standing lamps elsewhere in the home are a creative statement in their own right. Such quirky touches as Luxe London’s concave ceiling, an indulgence that notably adds to the headroom in the already commodious living space, are a testimony to the designer’s love of anachronistic designs.

Impressive as Luxe London certainly is, it pales a little in comparison to Parisian Art, undoubtedly Ong’s Zhuhai masterpiece. This sumptuous three-bedroom apartment is just about perfect for any young, aspirational family in search of a high-concept, high-status home. Robustly elegant without ever stooping to excess or needless ostentation, this was clearly a labour of love for the designer.

Here too, Ong’s principle was to create several distinct feature elements and then allow the apartment to coalesce around them. It’s an approach that is apparent throughout – from the white stone floor, fetchingly crossed with stylishly irregular black lines, to the judiciously distributed contemporary art prints, all of which seem to organically segue into the master soft-grey / monochrome colour scheme.

He also knows just when to throttle back on the chillier undertones of his chosen palette, artfully imposing gold accents in unexpected nooks. While, under less sure tutelage, such provocatively bold elements could teeter toward the gauche, Ong’s eye for the minutest detail sees them remain delightfully avant-garde, but never preposterous.

While visual chicanery can often artfully mask a workaday blemish or two, this is not the case with Parisian Art. Even the brash utilitarianism of the air-conditioning paraphernalia is beautifully burnished, transforming it from eyesore to eye-draw.

It’s a compliment to say that uncovering such dextrous decor in downtown Zhuhai is a little startling. It’s more of a compliment, still, to concede that, rather than twinkling like a slurry-mounted gem, its halo effect has seeped into its immediate surroundings, bestowing a kind of gifted grandeur. It’s both a mark of the progress made locally in this glistening business-hub-to-be and a bold statement of intent from a city that’s set to tear up the tier rankings.

Text: Alice Duncan
Images: Wilson Associates

Advance to Mayfair: A look at a lushly luxurious New Territories abode

It won’t have escaped even the most casual of Monopoly players that the royal-blue Mayfair space is the most expensive property on the board, making it heavenly to own, but game-ending to land on with your opponent’s hotel in situ. It is surely the former of these two sentiments that the developers had in mind when they co-opted the name for one of the grandest properties ever to grace this particular corner of the New Territories.

At T7 Mayfair By the Sea, the property certainly honours the legacy of its boardgame namesake. With views over Plover Cove and the nearby country park, this 2017-completed residence also meets one of the key contractual specifications of the initial design brief – seamless integration with its surroundings.

Recalling the guiding principles that drove this distractingly beautiful development from the start, Brian Chan, a director at BCD, the Hong Kong-based design firm that conceived and executed the project, says: “Our aim was always to create something of an oasis amid the concrete jungle that is Hong Kong. Embedding nature into the heart of the interior was thus our prime objective.

“Perhaps the best comparison would be a commission to make a bespoke suit for a discerning client who has specified that the lining and the exterior of the outfit should both embody the same functional and aesthetic considerations.”

With this holistic approach a given from the outset, the challenge for Chan and his colleagues was to incorporate as many natural elements as possible without ever making the completed home look forced or cluttered. Starting from such a standpoint, it was obvious that optimising the natural light levels was going to be integral to the project’s success.

This is epitomised in the living room, the natural centrepiece of any home. Bathed in natural light, courtesy of its strategically-angled floor-to-ceiling glass doors, cunningly-sited over-sized wall mirrors then reallocate much of this exterior illumination to the residence’s less-immediately-accessible nooks and corners.

For the bedrooms, the colour palette has been toned down just enough to turn the relaxation factor up to 11, while still maintaining the home’s perfect unity of feel. Once again, generously-proportioned windows have been deployed, making basking in the unfiltered morning light a true treat.

While it goes without saying that particular care has been taken to ensure that none of the fixtures and fittings jar with the room’s organic sensibilities, one or two still merit singling out. The choice of the black-and-white check bed frame, for instance, was surely inspired, perfectly complementing the bronze metallic-style bedding.

Although it would be hard to predict the bespoke boudoir look simply from the style of the reception rooms, its elegant variation adds a roguish note of digression to the home’s overall feel, while never venturing so far as to disrupt the overarching coherence or compromising its sheer livability. The quirky use of irregular panels, lined with gold metal plates, for instance, strikes a very different note to those found elsewhere in the structure, but without ever eliciting any sense of disconnect.

Of course, if you’re going to finely tune the feel of the interior to the exterior sensibilities, making the outside worthy of equal celebration has to be a priority. Here, once again, the BCD team definitely didn’t disappoint.

Indeed, the property’s spacious, well-appointed and delightfully understated terrace is one of the project’s true high-water marks. Amid its artfully-arranged luxuriant foliage nestles a set of outdoor furniture that looks so in place that it might well have grown there. It’s the perfect spot for the family to congregate and commune as the sun goes down or to greet the new day with freshly-squeezed orange juice and a croissant or two.

Giving something of an insight as to how this al fresco asset was conceived and implemented, Chan says: “With our aim always to optimise the tranquil feel of this space, our design team and the client jointly concluded that retaining as much of its artifice-free feel as possible was definitely the way to go. Ultimately, we just sensitively enhanced what was already there, while making sure its full potential was ably realised, which was pretty much our mantra for the whole project.”

Text: Robert Blain
Photos: BCD

Paola Lenti introduces bold new furniture collections at COLOURLIVING

On Tuesday, renowned Italian furniture label Paola Lenti hosted an exclusive party in collaboration with COLOURLIVING, Hong Kong’s go-to luxury lifestyle store, to introduce its latest collections. In addition to the newest additions to its outdoor selections, the event also marked the debut of the brand’s dazzling indoor designs. We spoke to Anna Lenti, Managing Director of Paola Lenti and the eponymous designer’s sister, to find out just why these fine furniture pieces have found such favour amongst the city’s elite homeowners.

You’ve had a long and varied career working in the helicopter and aerospace industries. What made you shift to join your sister at Paola Lenti?

Well, when my mother and sister first started Paola Lenti in 1994, I actually didn’t have plans to join them. Paola is a true creative free spirit, though, so when the company really began expanding and finding increasing success, they needed someone they could really trust who had the skills to oversee the commercial operations of the company. They were quite persuasive, and finally, I joined the company in 2000.

Anna Lenti (left) with Paola Lenti, founder of the eponymous luxury furniture brand

Can you tell us a little bit about Paola Lenti’s brand identity and why it’s so unique?

We are a luxury Italian furniture maker dedicated to producing only the best designs using the highest-quality materials. I think what truly sets us apart is that our company places a huge emphasis on the materials we use, because that is the starting point of every piece of furniture that we make. We actually design and create all our materials in-house, especially in terms of synthermal fabrics and textiles.

Coherence is also another core component for us. We are dedicated to working as a team so that everything we manufacture is unquestionably, undeniably Paola Lenti. It’s a philosophy we stick to even when collaborating with guest designers because we want to remain true to our brand identity.

In terms of aesthetic design, colour is something of a hallmark for us. I think nobody is as crazy as we are about colours. In fact, for every material we make, we have hundreds of colour options available. You can imagine it’s quite a task to oversee, but it’s definitely a great source of pride for Paola Lenti.

How did the partnership with COLOURLIVING come about?

When we first wanted to expand into Hong Kong, we were looking for a partner that would understand and share our brand philosophy. We didn’t just want a short-term collaboration but a fruitful long-term relationship. With COLOURLIVING, we found a fantastic team who were dedicated to the same ethos of delivering the very best furniture goods. We started working with COLOURLIVING three years ago, and today we have unveiled our latest 2018 collection in their wonderful showroom.

Paola Lenti’s is debuting its first indoor collection in Hong Kong today. What led to that decision?

When we first partnered with COLOURLIVING, we focused solely on our outdoor furniture, which is something that we’ve built a very solid reputation for. But of course, Paola Lenti is focused very much on being a holistic lifestyle brand, so it made sense to follow that up with our latest indoor designs. We find that the boundaries between interior and exterior furnishings have disintegrated, with customers looking for an overarching motif throughout their homes. By having both collections available in Hong Kong, we’re offering our clients that very opportunity.

Thank you.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Paola Lenti

Italian furniture maker Riva 1920 debuts new store with Nature Evolution

In a move guaranteed to thrill Hong Kong’s eco-friendly furniture lovers, a very special kind of furniture store has just opened on Central’s bustling Hollywood Road. The new shop, created from a partnership between eco-minded contemporary interior design boutique Nature Evolution and Riva 1920, Italy’s renowned luxury wood furniture specialist, is committed to offering only the finest sustainable designs. We interviewed Davide Riva, Owner and Product Director of Riva 1920, to find out more about the brand’s sustainably-sourced products and its partnership with Nature Evolution.

Davide Riva, co-owner and the third generation of Riva 1920 — *Davide Riva, the third-generation Owner and Product Director of Riva 1920*

Tell us what Riva 1920 is all about.

Riva 1920 is a specialist in high-end solid wood furniture. It’s a family-run business first started by my grandfather in a small wood laboratory in Brianza, Italy back in 1920. For almost 100 years and across four generations, we have remained faithful to the philosophy of producing sustainable, 100 percent natural wooden furniture pieces of the most luxurious quality.

Moletta by Riva 1920 - A clothing peg-turned-table — *Moletta by Riva 1920 – A clothing peg-turned-table*

What sets Riva 1920 apart from other furniture brands?

We are extremely proud of our strict adherence to respecting Mother Nature and eschewing all chemical and artificial products – it’s ingrained in every step of our production methodology, from the original wood to the glues to the finishings. Our sustainable approach also sees us use recycled woods – such as ancient fallen Kauri trees from New Zealand or even the pier pikes from Venice’s famous lagoon – or buy trees from reforestation initiatives to make sure we preserve the world’s natural resources.

We’re also heavily invested in the future, and dedicate a sizable budget to attaining new technologies to reach even higher levels of quality. We are extremely proud of our ability to blend traditional Italian craftsmanship with innovative modern advances to give our customers only the very best in luxurious, eco-friendly furniture.

*A Kauri Beam table by Riva 1920 crafted from an ancient piece of fossilised Kauri tree*

You are the third generation running Riva 1920. How did you get involved in the family business?

Well, it wasn’t something that I ever questioned. As far back as I can remember, I was walking around the family workshop and hearing my grandfather and father talk about wood. It all became formalised when I turned 15 and got my first official job. Now, my brother, sister and myself oversee the company’s operations, and the next generation is already involved as well. There’s a genuinely unique sense of ownership and pride that comes from running a family legacy like Riva 1920.

How did the partnership between Riva 1920 and Nature Evolution come about?

Actually the story first began when we encountered Nature Evolution at the Salone del Mobile Milano furniture fair a few years ago. After getting to know the brand a little better, we realised that our two companies share the same values, philosophies and dedication to delivering all-natural furniture to discerning high-end customers. From there, the step to becoming partners actually seemed like a rather natural progression. We were also looking to enter the Hong Kong market, and Nature Evolution’s local expertise made it a perfect match.

*Elegant Rialto Modulo 2 Dresser by Riva 1920*

Why did Riva 1920 choose to launch in Hong Kong?

Well, our company had already been introduced to regions like Taiwan and Singapore, and we were looking for a new market to set up in. Hong Kong, for me, seemed like the perfect choice. It’s an extremely cosmopolitan city, but more than that, I find the people here really respect their environments and their spaces, both inside and outdoors. I believe there’s definitely an innate appetite for the kind of high-quality, all-natural wood furniture that Riva 1920 specialises in, and I’m so proud that we have opened a store here.

Thank you.

Visit the newly-opened Riva 1920 x Nature Evolution showroom at 218 Hollywood Road, Sheung Wan to experience these innovative and beautifully hand-crafted designs.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup

Michael Anastassiades on FLOS Arrangements and lighting inspirations

COLOURLIVING, Hong Kong’s premier concept lifestyle store, played host to an exclusive showcase of contemporary, minimalist light installations – FLOS Arrangements collection. The exhibit, dubbed “Jewels after Jewels after Jewels”, highlighted these innovative FLOS lighting chandeliers’ perfect blending of the worlds of lighting and jewellery through a creative modular system crafted by renowned designer Michael Anastassiades. We sat with Anastassiades to find out more about these unique lighting designs.

Tell us a little bit about the FLOS Arrangements collection.

Arrangements is a project very close to my heart. When I designed this collection, it was my way of giving creativity back to the user. The idea is to have a modular, DIY system with a set of basic lighting fixtures that enables buyers to have the freedom to combine it in any way they like. It’s a versatile system that can be used as single elements or even be combined to form displays that makes and divides spaces as a piece of art.

Michael Anastassiades demonstrating the FLOS Arrangements modular system — *Michael Anastassiades demonstrating his FLOS Arrangements modular system*

Why go for the modular set up?

I wanted people to be creative, to do something on their own and get involved. I think in this day and age, people are drawn to the unique, personal aspects of anything they buy, rather than being satisfied with any store-bought product. I also love that allows people to come up with their own designs, things that I may not even have envisioned. I think it’s important as a designer to have particular aspect of surprise to their work.

What attracts you to the geometric shapes that you’ve used in the FLOS Arrangements collection?

I’ve always been drawn to and have worked with geometric shapes and primal forms because I think within its simplicity, you can capture the essence of what something is about. You don’t really need complex shapes in order to appreciate light in its pure form.

What this particular line of light fixtures different from your other works?

I would say it’s more a continuation of my other geometrically-inspired works rather than a completely separate entity. Of course Arrangements can be interpreted as being more two-dimensional in their singular forms than my other designs, but when they’re interconnected, they still have that three-dimensional presence. I think what gives it a unique character is the ability to mix and match depending on the owner’s own inspirations.

How did your partnership with COLOURLIVING come about?

COLOURLIVING has a reputation for being one of the best showroom specialists, and their expertise in luxury furnishings creates the perfect foil for FLOS products. Several of the pieces in the showroom currently are bespoke creations I’ve made specially for COLOURLIVING.

How do you see the Asian market’s evolution in terms of luxury light fixtures?

Light, for Asians, might be even more important than for markets like Europe. Light is celebrated here. What’s more, the cultures here are so fast-changing and the population has a voracious appetite for new trends, including in terms of lighting design. I think these days Asians are very much embracing modern light designs because it allows them to express their personality in a wholly different way.

Thank you.

The FLOS Arrangements exhibit will be running at the COLOURLIVING and B&B Italia showrooms until the end of October.

Interview by: Tenzing Thondup