Design Anthology, Asia Pacific Edition Issue 6

Last October I visited Manila to attend the biannual FAME show, both firsts for me. There are two remarkable parts to that statement. First, having lived in Asia for nearly thirteen years, ten of those in neighbouring Hong Kong, it now strikes me as absurd that it’s taken so long to board that less-than-two-hour flight. Second, despite having visited most of the world’s best international design fairs, I was unprepared for the vast talent that confronted me at FAME. It was not just the quantity of interesting design coming from across the Philippines, but the quality. I left wanting more of that eye candy — and more of the food, more of the people and that wonderfully warm Filipino hospitality, although perhaps a little less of the traffic. Manila with…

Christian Liaigre, Singapore French interior and furniture designer Christian Liaigre, long known for his elegant and luxurious take on minimalism with a distinct Asian influence, has opened a second standalone store in Asia. Located in the historic heart of Singapore, just a stone’s throw from the Raffles Hotel, the two-storey shophouse was redesigned by Liaigre himself to showcase his designs in a totally immersive environment. christian-liaigre.us BoConcept, Hong Kong On the back of the success of its premier store in Hong Kong in 2014, Danish contemporary furniture chain BoConcept continues its expansion with the opening of a second Hong Kong location in the home furnishings mall HomeSquare. The brand prides itself on providing affordable Scandinavian-designed furniture and accessories to urban-minded customers. In addition to the product array, an in-house interior…

Broached Commissions The Chinaman’s File Rocking Chair is the brainchild of Sydney-based designer Trent Jansen for Broached Commissions, a new design collective that draws inspiration from Australia’s history. Jansen, who spent a year studying in the Netherlands under Marcel Wanders, is known for his narrative-focused design process, and the Chinaman’s File Rocking Chair is a great example.A commemorative ode to the thousands of Chinese who walked hundreds of kilometres to Australia’s gold fields during the country’s gold rush, the movement of the chair is meant to mimic the rocking motion a baby might experience in the arms of its mother as they made the arduous trek. broachedcommissions.com  / trentjansen.com P. Tendercool Bangkok-based Belgian designers Pieter Compernol and Stephanie Grusenmeyer are the genius behind P. Tendercool, a furniture company that specialises…

Archisculpture  by Beomsik Won, edited by ILWOO Foundation, essay by Marc Prüst (Hatje Cantz) Defying reality and gravity, South Korean artist Beomsik Won’s fantastical architectural photography is an exercise in social commentary. Archisculpture explores the work and imagination of Won, who uses Photoshop to masterfully mash up building facades of varying styles and periods and rebuild cityscapes to seem almost believable. Look closely at each artwork and read Won’s own explanation for clues of subtle political, economic and social statements.Through advanced layering combined with stark black and white photography, Won blurs lines while at the same time establishing a connection where one might not think possible, the result being a series of magnificent — though bizarre — towering constructions. Ancient Chinese temples converge with modern high-rise buildings and industrial structures…

Amidst Manila’s rush-hour traffic, bustling streets and concrete cityscape exists a quiet, unassuming enclave of 1940s houses. Nestled under a canopy of trees, the community is a virtual sanctuary from the grime, noise and notorious chaos of the urban environment that surrounds it. These days, the little gated property receives a steady stream of visitors — a delicious trade secret among those who dip their fingers into the design and art that has transformed the space over the past ten years from a nondescript residential area into a place known for the art it inspires. Much of the area’s recent metamorphosis can be traced back to the arrival of designer Eric Paras. When he first visited, Paras was immediately entranced by the bucolic, nature-filled space and the rich, unexpected architectural…

The 1989 movie Field of Dreams, in which an Iowan farmer played by Kevin Costner builds a baseball field in the middle of his corn field after a voice in his head tells him to, clearly left an impression on Manileño restaurateur and chef Antonio ‘Tony Boy’ Escalante. ‘If you build it, they will come,’ said the voice, and Escalante heard. Having relocated with wife Agnes and their two children to Tagaytay in the southern province of Batangas in 1999 to establish their own farm, it was in 2002, after a stint studying culinary arts in Adelaide, that Escalante decided to open his eponymous restaurant. Some two hours’ drive out of metro Manila — a city known for its unrelenting traffic — the setting is truly in the middle of…