Innehållsförteckning för Issue 6 från Design Anthology, Asia Pacific Edition

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…

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…

They may be some of the smallest interior design elements, but door handles, bathroom taps and light switches provide our most direct interactions with a building. Often, however, when it comes to design, such fittings are largely ignored, relegated to a lower status than more visible products like furniture and lighting. However subliminal, architectural hardware is a critical part of creating a luxury experience. ‘The touch of a door handle or tap sets up the whole experience of a space,’ explains French luxury studio Serdaneli’s managing director Jean Lecomte. The studio was created some 30 years ago when the company’s entrepreneurial founders, Serge Belaiche and Daniel Ebbo — whose names were amalgamated to create the company name — first noticed that even some of the most luxurious yachts in Cannes…

360Istanbul Istiklal Caddesi Misir Apt 163/8, Beyoglu and others / 360istanbul.com This award-winning bar, restaurant and club is situated in the penthouse of a 19th-century apartment building on Istiklal Caddesi, one of the city’s most popular thoroughfares. The views are spectacular and, as is alluded to in the name, provide a 360-degree panorama of the city. An extensive menu is available for those who wish to eat, but it seems most of the patrons are here to drink and be seen. The latest outpost by the 360 team is 360Istanbul East Moda (360istanbuleast.com), where you can enjoy equally breathtaking views from the eastern shores of the Bosphorus. Alancha Maçka Kempinski Residence, Hüsrev Gerede Caddesi, Sehit Mehmet Sokak 9, Maçka, Besiktas / alancha.com Alancha, one of Istanbul’s latest and…

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…

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…

Manila, over the last decade, has re-established itself as a global gateway, a central design hub with a collection of new shops, studios and galleries opening up. Design Anthology sat down with two of Manila’s best-known design practitioners, furniture designer Ito Kish and industrial designer Stanley Ruiz, to discuss the state of design in the Philippines and how it’s gaining greater currency on the global scene. Design Anthology: How would the two of you define your work in a single phrase? Stanley Ruiz: Industrial craftsmanship is the essence of my work, in terms of the procedure and materiality, and transcultural due to my influences. Ito Kish: My work’s language is distinctly Filipino, yet something that comfortably belongs in any part of the world. How would you describe the current state…

CITY Once the 17th-century residence of the city’s mayor, The Hoxton Amsterdam is freshly restored, with guestrooms spread across five canal houses featuring views overlooking the Herengracht near the city centre. Unique amenities include one hour of free international phone calls, a breakfast bag containing a banana and granola and — because this is Holland — a fridge stocked with fresh milk. Local design duo Nicemakers honoured the building’s storied past by showcasing herringbone floors, exposed beams and monumental ceilings. Patrons may also benefit from the expansive meeting and event space on offer. Formerly the headquarters of the Cotton Textile Foundation, the aptly named Cotton House Hotel Barcelona is a lesson in luxury refurbishment. Conserving all the original elements of the neoclassical 19th-century building, the hotel features 83 refined rooms…

The Philippines’ leading tribute for young contemporary artists is the triennial Thirteen Artists Awards. The awards were initiated in 1970 by then-director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roberto Chabet — an innovative conceptual artist and later a highly influential fine arts university lecturer. Chabet’s vision was for the awards to be conferred on artists who take the ‘chance and risk to restructure, restrengthen and renew art making and art thinking’. The awards are seen as a barometer of the country’s current art trends and an opportunity to identify artists of potential excellence. In 1994, I attended that year’s Thirteen Artists Awards and first met Alwin Reamillo, who continues today to uphold a purity for art and art ideas, taking chances and risks. I encountered one of his rambling,…

Over the course of five days, a troop of seven urban sketchers from Singapore permeated Manila to experience the city through unconditioned senses and give visual record to their encounters. The result is showcased in “Show Me Manila!”, a compilation of more than 100 exciting compositions that capture in honest and vivid detail the beautiful and messy juxtapositions that often characterise the capital city. Elegant heritage architecture and Spanish gates abut gritty street scenes. Informal power lines are slung across storefronts, obscuring neoclassical facades. Leafy palms and the trickling fountain of a hotel courtyard offer respite from the clamour and bustle just beyond. Urban sketchers are artists, social cartographers and anthropologists. ‘What matters most is that we are able to record a city’s flavour, its way of life through some…

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…

At first glance, DEDON may seem like a furniture company. After all, its beautifully woven patio sets and suspended swingrests have become iconic the world over. However, a visit to its manufacturing headquarters in the Philippine city of Cebu and luxury resort on nearby Siargao Island reveals that DEDON is about much more than merely furniture. Founded 25 years ago in a German hamlet, the company is the result of experimentation into new and innovative uses of plastic. The resulting DEDON-patent fibre is simultaneously ultra-durable and supple, allowing it to withstand extreme environmental conditions while also providing the utmost woven comfort — ideal qualities for outdoor furniture. In its early years, the company experienced some successes and setbacks; however, a turning point in its success story came with the decision…

Arter Istiklal Caddesi 211, Beyoglu / www.arter.org.tr Arter, a contemporary art institution, was founded in 2010 as a platform for exhibiting contemporary art. The space hosts regularly rotating exhibitions by the likes of Marc Quinn and Kutlug Ataman. Borusan Contemporary Baltalimani Hisar Sokak, Perili Kösk 5, Rumelihisari, Sariyer / borusancontemporary.com Located in the ‘Haunted Mansion’, one of the most significant historical buildings in the charming Rumelihisari neighbourhood along the Bosphorus, Borusan Contemporary is one of Istanbul’s most successful art spaces. The site-specific installations and well-curated new media and experimental pieces help propel Borusan towards its ambition — to place Turkish art in an international context. Istanbul Modern Meclis-i Mebusan Caddesi, Liman Isletmeleri Sahasi Antrepo 4, Karaköy, Beyoglu / istanbulmodern.org Istanbul’s first private museum dedicated to modern art…

Building a home from the ground up is a true luxury in this day and age, and one that I don’t take for granted. Although I’ve always loved homes with a patina of the past and the romantic notion of a shared history with previous owners, when we had the opportunity to construct a family living space to our own specifications, I didn’t hesitate. We began construction in the mid-2000s, a time when many of Manila’s residential areas were dominated by new homes with a modern Asian aesthetic. The resort-style feel that Asian architectural flourishes naturally lend themselves to was something my husband and I both enjoyed but wouldn’t live in given a choice — we opted for a more traditional Western look. High baseboards, door mouldings, plaster cornices, panelled…

Metro Manila is a city of contradictions. As the economic powerhouse of the Philippines, this relatively small but dense city accounts for 36 per cent of the country’s GDP yet struggles to provide for a growing class of urban poor. Rapid urbanisation compounded by a scarcity of land and a shortage of affordable housing has resulted in an ever-increasing number of informal settlements. Flimsy and precarious housing built in ‘danger zones’ places residents at risk, and especially during typhoon season. However, a group of urbanists is looking to transform these realities. The Community Architects Network (CAN) is a loose coalition of architects, planners, engineers, social workers and neighbourhood associations that have banded together for a common cause: to provide affordable and liveable housing for — and with — informal settlement…

A chorus line of women in a rainbow of spandex dresses greets potential customers. Men sit in street-facing tables smoking hookahs, watching the parade of hungry eyes browse entrance after entrance. A vendor peddles single red roses. Blue and pink fluorescent tubes light up doorways like beacons and neon signs announce the area. This is the street theatre of a red light district. Diverse, walkable, safe, vibrant — these are terms usually associated with the East and West Villages of the world, not blighted areas rife with underground economies. But in Malate and Burgos, two neighbourhoods in Metro Manila, the high concentration of what are locally called girlie bars is contributing to the development of 24-hour mixed-use neighbourhoods. It might seem surprising that as a female, I chose to move…