Innehållsförteckning för June 1, 2016 från Home Journal

1. SNEAK PEEK We visit the newly-opened Potato Head in Sai Ying Pun, a creative space featuring a restaurant, boutique and cafe by the hip hospitality brand, PTT Family. 2. ASIAN ARCHITECTURE We explore the Asian pavilions at the renowned architecture exhibition at the Venice Biennale, from Singapore's Space to Imagine, Room for Everyone to Hong Kong's Strategems in Architecture. 3. SWEET TREATS Dessert queen Janice Wong of COBO HOUSE by 2am:dessertbar discusses how her skills aren’t just limited to the sweet and sugary. 4. MULTI-PURPOSE STYLE Being pressed for space can mean squeezing multiple functions into one area – sometimes with charming and creative results. 5. PICTURE PERFECT Hop to Kennedy Town to see the work of photographer Annie Leibovitz in the UBS-commissioned exhibition WOMEN: New Portraits. Like us…

If there’s one thing Italians do best, it’s enjoying life. It’s something you easily assimilate when you visit the country, from the long carb-filled and wine-fuelled lunches to mastering the art of doing nothing. The Italians have a phrase for the latter, il dolce far niente , that literally translates to "sweet idleness". There’s a special pleasure in doing nothing at all – an indulgence that’s particularly enjoyable in the summer. We welcome the season with an issue dedicated to taking it slow. Insight examines the slow design movement of today, while our shopping pages shortlist pieces to encourage relaxation. We also explore the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi ; since slow design equals a more thoughtful and sustainable approach, we thought it was pertinent to show the beauty in imperfection…

Home is not merely a living space where one eats and sleeps; it’s the ultimate respite. We can’t downplay its role in relieving stress as it functions as your private sanctuary for you to unwind with friends and family. With the idea of work-life-balance and working from home gaining traction, it has become commonplace that people willingly invest in pieces to create a space that they can genuinely call 'home'. We’ve selected a wide range of cosy objects – ranging from furniture and cushion covers to towels and wall art, to provide you with inspiration and motivation to create your one-of-a-kind haven. BREATHE IN INFUSE VIBRANCY INTO YOUR SPACE WITH ACCENT PIECES INSPIRED BY NATURE’S SHAPES AND COLOURS. SUBTLE PLAY A HARMONIOUS COMBINATION OF PATTERNS AND SOFT HUES EXUDE A…

When you think of Tai Hang, images are conjured of an up-and-coming neighbourhood with a multitude of charming restaurants and boutiques – an ever-changing landscape of new openings, replacing what used to be a backdrop of auto repair garages and mom-and-pop shops. Dubbed "the new Soho" by some, the hipster haunt might not be the first place that springs to mind when you’re talking about historic houses. However, just a five-minute drive takes you to Jardine’s Lookout, a peaceful residential area that boasts more single houses than The Peak. "Very big houses have been built here since the 1950s," explains Carl Gouw, designer and founder of architecture and hospitality firm ACTS Group, which recently developed a project there. "This area has only 10 streets. You cannot build high-rises here; these…

Pick! MUUTO'S CONTROL LAMP 01. MUUTO Muuto’s Control Lamp is a dimmable light controlled by a switch, and the cast aluminium body comes in a choice of colours. Available at Establo Lifestyle Store 02. LOUIS POULSEN Ross Lovegrove’s aluminium pendant lamp, Aeros wows with its perforated surface that recalls Byzantine decor. It is suspended from three stainless steel aircraft cables to give the illusion of floating in mid-air. Available at ViA THESE EYE-CATCHING LIGHTING OPTIONS ARE BOTH PRACTICAL AND BEAUTIFUL 03. PORTA ROMANA The Elemental collection from Porta Romana is definted by its organic, textured forms, as seen on this fiery, autumn-hued chandelier in steel and copper. Available at Altfield Interiors Pick! ARMANI/CASA'S LOGO LAMP 04. ARMANI/CASA Giorgio Armani designed the pyramid-shaped Logo Lamp in 1982. It went on to…

A ACTS GROUP | Mezzanine Floor, 8 Rednaxela Terrace, Central; acts-group.com ALESSI | Shop 247, Prince’s Bldg, 10 Chater Rd, Central; tel 2869 6377 or Shop 3230A, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui; tel 2175 0800 or 7/F Sogo, 555 Hennessy Rd, Causeway Bay; tel 2831 8903, alessi.com ALTFIELD INTERIORS | Rm 1101, 9 Queen’s Rd Central, Central; tel 2524 4867, altfield.com.hk AMANTAKA | aman.com/resorts/amantaka ASIATIQUE DESIGN | asiatiquedesign.com ARCHETYPAL | G/F 15 Moon St, Wan Chai; tel 2320 0580, archetypal.hk ARMANI/CASA | 1/F 111 Leighton Rd, Causeway Bay; tel 2882 2239, armanicasahk@davincichina.com, armanicasa.com ARTEMIDE | Unit 102-103, Ruttonjee Centre, 11 Duddell St, Central; tel 2523 0333, info@artemide.com.hk, artemide.com B B&B ITALIA | at colourliving, 333 Lockhart Rd, Wan Chai; tel 2295 6263, colourliving.com BED & BATH | Shop…

GROHE HONG KONG Limited TEL: (852) 2969 7067 FAX: (852) 2806 1102 WEBSITE: WWW.GROHE.HK The GROHE Rainshower® SmartControl offers a 3D showering experience, which epitomises the German expression: Drücken, Drehen, Duschen (meaning Push, Turn, Shower). This is realised by GROHE’s innovative push-button technology – a triple button design that controls and memorises desired shower settings. How it works is pretty straightforward, as all controls are marked with self-explanatory symbols. The combined push-and-turn button starts the flow of water and controls its flow volume. The button features a knurled surface so it’s easy to turn and make adjustments even with wet fingers. To turn water off, you simply push the button again, and your settings are memorised. The push of a button also sets the type of spray jet, and the…

At this point in his career, the renowned Spanish designer Jaime Hayon needs little introduction. He doesn’t have to think about the object he would like to design next – people from all sorts of industries, from art to pharmaceuticals, come to his small studio in Valencia to ask him to design objects for them. Hayon-designed objects are whimsical and highly collectible, existing in that bizarre and beautiful intersection of art and design. We caught up with him one sunny afternoon during Singapore Design Week and asked him to share the secrets to his success. I was taught in school to work for the industry and basically become anonymous. But when I graduated, there were no jobs. The only way to make it is to do your own thing. So…

ASIA ART ARCHIVE | 11/F Hollywood Centre, 233 Hollywood Rd, Sheung Wan; 2844 1112, aaa.org.hk BARTER BOOKS | Alnwick Station, Northumberland, NE6P, England; +44 16 6560 4888, barterbooks.co.uk EL ATENEO GRAND SPLENDID | Av. Santa Fe 1860, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina; +54 11 4813 6052 GEORGE PEABODY LIBRARY | 17 East Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD, USA; +1 410 234 4943, peabodyevents.library.jhu.edu LIBRAIRIE AVANT-GARDE | 173 Guangzhou Lu, Gulou District, Nanjing, China; +86 25 8371 1455 SELEXYZ DOMINICANEN | Dominicanerkerkstraat 1, Maastricht, Netherlands; +31 43 4100 010, libris.nl/ dominicanen…

Ask designer, decorator and Mango creative director Damián Sánchez about his favourite spot in his vibrant, contemporary holiday home and the answer comes quickly. "Definitely the space where the oak table sits beneath the magnolia," he says. "Although I do spend lots of time in my kitchen when I’m here, preparing my signature dish: los arroces [rice]." This is the sort of vacation home that’s the complete antithesis of the rustic shack: it’s elegant, exquisitely decorated and appointed, and every aspect of it has been carefully thought through. The result is that whether you want to celebrate a special birthday with a group of friends, spend half a day crafting something special in the kitchen or simply relax under that magnolia tree, this house will suit all your needs. The…

In Laos, Luang Prabang is one of those destinations that demands you become a tortoise and not a hare. Once there, you inevitably slow down, switch off and adopt its leisurely pace of life. Straddling an isthmus at the confluence of two rivers – the mighty Mekong and the Nam Khan – the place is akin to a French Indochine movie set from another moment in time. Isolated by geography and conflicts, it had been effectively cut off from the rest of the world until quite recently. Today, UNESCO has labelled it a World Heritage Site. Old houses on stilts, 1920s colonial French stucco and wood homes sit side by side next to stylish hotels, amid palms and other lush vegetation, while the outskirts of town are fringed by humble…

FOR SOMETHING TRULY ONE-OF-A-KIND, LOOK INTO METAL TECHNICOLOUR WALL-CLADDING highlight GALERIE POUENAT Paint and wallcovering choices present endless ways to decorate those white walls. However, for something truly one-of-a-kind, Galerie Pouenat in Paris showcases the work of architect and designer Rodolphe Parente – technicolour metal wall-cladding set into a geometric pattern that takes over entire walls and corners, and can even extend up to the ceiling. Complete the look with the edgy Suspension Sirius lamp by Kaki Kroener. pouenat.fr STAR STUDDED Swarovski rounds up a team of design heavyweights for the introduction of its homeware line, Atelier Swarovski Home, which was unveiled in Milan last April. International designers – including Raw Edges, Ron Arad, Daniel Libeskind and the late Zaha Hadid, among others – adapt brilliant Austrian crystals to a…

Inspired by the slow-food movement that began in the late 1980s, when chefs instigated a backlash against fast-food culture by promoting sustainable agriculture and traditional, local cuisines, slow design is a similar philosophy that can be applied to other aspects of daily life. From architects to fashion and product designers, advocates of slow design take a holistic approach to the design process; they’re conscientious of environmental, material and social factors, as well as the short- and long-term impact of their work. "We lose touch with important parts of being human when our culture becomes dominated by convenience and speed," says Michael Bardin, design principal of San Francisco-based architecture firm HDR. "The guiding insight behind slow design is that our bodies and minds need and want to engage actively in rich…

If you want to know what’s trending in the world of design, then a visit to Milan Design Week is mandatory. For more than 55 years, Salone del Mobile has established itself as the place for the design world to come together, serving as a veritable stage where the most relevant trends and talent shine. Here, a fresh perspective is what matters most – and there was no shortage of that this year. There was fervent use of colour and an underlying whimsy to many of the collections presented, as well as an art-centric approach to the way they were exhibited. In a time when the "internet of things" dominates so-called innovation, numerous new collections seemed heavily rooted in the past, with previously "outdated" pieces such as valets, bar cabinets,…

Less isn’t always more – at least not according to the homeowners of this spacious West Kowloon residence, which offers impressive views of Victoria Harbour and beyond. The overseas Chinese couple sought the help of designer Eric Fung of Tint International to kit out their apartment with designer furnishings and all the fine accoutrements befitting a modern-day palace. "The clients really wanted their home to feel like a palace and be super-luxurious," says Eric. "So I made sure that wherever the eye wanders, spanning every corner and nook of the home, you can always spot the designer’s touch – some kind of embellishment." The homeowners entrusted Eric and his team with bringing the initial concept to fruition – and the designer transformed their two-level, three-bedroom home into a residence fit…