5 Questions About Singapore at Milan Design Week
Exhibiting at the Palazzo Litta as one of Fuori Salone's fringe events, we got to introduce not only our furniture, but Singapore design too
Designers Lanzavecchia + Wai are Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week veterans; we’re newbies. With their Salone expertise we mustered the gumption to debut our first furniture collection, PLAYplay, in a 17th century Italian palace, where we also learnt some quite amazing and funny things that fair visitors perceived about Singapore.
The Palazzo Litta is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture in Milan, dating back to the 1600s. Aristocracy and royalty have all attended grand parties in this palace, including Margaret Theresa of Spain, Maria Theresa of Austria, and Napoleon Bonaparte.
And this is the first time in its history that it had a ceiling full of balloons!
And this is the first time in its history that it had a ceiling full of balloons!
It created an interesting contrast of colours, inspired by Southeast Asia, against the regal wallpaper and wall trimmings.
On a more serious note, we discovered how Milan Design Week visitors saw Singapore.
These are some of the rather interesting questions we were asked:
1. Was the decision to make a ping pong table influenced by your Asian heritage, considering it’s a Chinese sport?
Surprisingly, table tennis actually originated in Victorian England, and was played as an after-dinner game among the aristocracy. Thus the Pong dining table brings the game back to its roots, but also gives a nod to the Asian popularity of the game.
These are some of the rather interesting questions we were asked:
1. Was the decision to make a ping pong table influenced by your Asian heritage, considering it’s a Chinese sport?
Surprisingly, table tennis actually originated in Victorian England, and was played as an after-dinner game among the aristocracy. Thus the Pong dining table brings the game back to its roots, but also gives a nod to the Asian popularity of the game.
The Pong dining table converts into a ping pong table in between mealtimes; take out the wooden nets from the drawers and set up the game!
Here I am demonstrating how to PLAYplay!
Here I am demonstrating how to PLAYplay!
2. Are there actually designers in Singapore? Who are they?
Yes, Singapore does have amazing designers, including our very own Hunn Wai of Lanzavecchia + Wai (photographed with Francesca Lanzavecchia). One of the reasons that Journey East made it to Milan was because of this amazing design duo.
Other Singapore designers who’ve presented in Milan include Nathan Yong, Creativeans and Outofstock.
Yes, Singapore does have amazing designers, including our very own Hunn Wai of Lanzavecchia + Wai (photographed with Francesca Lanzavecchia). One of the reasons that Journey East made it to Milan was because of this amazing design duo.
Other Singapore designers who’ve presented in Milan include Nathan Yong, Creativeans and Outofstock.
3. Where does Singapore design take its influences from?
We can’t answer for all Singapore designers, but PLAYplay was influenced by Southeast Asian culture and its vibrant colours.
We can’t answer for all Singapore designers, but PLAYplay was influenced by Southeast Asian culture and its vibrant colours.
4. For a country so small, why is design such a driving force?
There is an exciting growing design scene in Singapore in many disciplines, and in tandem, a fast-growing appreciation of good design and local designers.
We also have organisations, such as DesignSingapore, which supports the design community in many amazing ways.
There is an exciting growing design scene in Singapore in many disciplines, and in tandem, a fast-growing appreciation of good design and local designers.
We also have organisations, such as DesignSingapore, which supports the design community in many amazing ways.
5. Why do you speak such good English considering Singapore is part of China, and will I really be thrown into jail (and beaten with a stick) if I chew gum on the streets?
OK, none of the Italians (nor the other international visitors) actually asked these questions because the ones who appreciate good design obviously know better.
Despite that, we do know how to have fun … and fun we had with those who visited our installation!
OK, none of the Italians (nor the other international visitors) actually asked these questions because the ones who appreciate good design obviously know better.
Despite that, we do know how to have fun … and fun we had with those who visited our installation!
Such as architect Diebedo Francis Kere, also an exhibitor at the Palazzo Litta, here trying his hand at the Pong dining table…
… Danish superstar fashion designer Henrik Vibskov (left) and team, who introduced us to ‘round table’ ping pong!
… the lovely ladies from Architectural Digest Germany.
… industrial designer Michael Young (middle), who had once worked with L+W senior designer Francesco Schiraldi (left).
Here are Lanzavecchia + Wai being interviewed by Rai Uno, Italy’s largest national television station.
One thing to note: Singaporeans love to eat well. So here we are, enjoying a delicious dinner in a quaint restaurant on Corso Magenta. We had a delicious fish dish – unforgettable!
A celebratory night out with about a thousand other people in the surrounding streets at Bar Basso – the unofficial after-party of the Salone – happened every night during Design Week.
TELL US
What is your perception of Singapore design? Share in the Comments section.
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What is your perception of Singapore design? Share in the Comments section.
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9 Trends at the Milan Furniture Fair
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The curated exhibition showcased some of the hottest names in international design today, including bigwigs like Michele De Lucchi, Maarten Baas, Jan Kath, and of course, Lanzavecchia + Wai.