Perspective Monthly February 2010

When you consider the vast amount of time most of us spend at the office, you do have to wonder why bosses make so little effort to create workspaces which are not just pleasant, but also help boost productivity. How many of us endure drudgy corporate grey or beige décor; tiny, cramped cubicles; insufficient desk space; chairs which are simply uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time; poor lighting… the list goes on.

So it is heartening to see that there are some companies which are prepared to invest in creating an environment in which their employees can be comfortable, which are also aesthetically pleasing. At Facebook’s San Francisco headquarters, for example, the designers asked staff for their input; at fashion label Initial’s premises in a converted yarn factory in Hong Kong, founder and antique enthusiast Eric Fong wanted the new space to be modern, yet infused with a sense of European vintage. Leo Burnett’s Singapore office reflects the creative nature of its business, and gives employees a chance to personalise the space themselves.

On a larger scale, the British Embassy in Warsaw demonstrates that high-security doesn’t have to mean iron bars and window grids; and Philippe Chaix is pushing for the regeneration of La Défense, a dedicated business district in the west of Paris. Arthur Erickson once said vitality is radiated from exceptional art and architecture. Sure it is time for businesses to realise this and act upon it for the benefit not just of their own bottomline, but for their most important resource: their people.

Perspective Monthly January 2010

By 2015, the World Bank forecasts that half of the world’s new building construction will take place in China. The pace which was set in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has continued, but lagging behind, however, is China’s ‘software’ — the knowledge, expertise and skills required at top-flight level in the architecture and design industries. The Beijing National Stadium — popularly known as the Bird’s Nest — was by Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron. The Beijing National Aquatics Centre (‘Water Cube’) was by Sydney-based PTW Architects. In our January 2010 issue, we look at a retail centre (Plaza 353 Shanghai), a luxury resort (Amanfayun, Hangzhou), a fine dining establishment (Capital M Beijing) and a speakeasy/restaurant (Chinatown Shanghai) — all were designed by foreign firms.

Perspective Monthly December 2009

From economic lows to creative highs, the past 12 months have been anything but dull. The full results of our Perspective Awards 2009 are revealed this month and, with the help of our panel of expert judges, we take a look at the topic of urban planning. In a recent lecture at the University of Hong Kong, Rem Koolhaas noted that architecture used to be about articulating and embodying the values of society. Now, it is about expressing the values of an individual, whether a person or a company. And as we look to the future, we are optimistic. If ordinary people can change the course of history and bring down governments, surely we can also affect the way our future cities are built — and how our past is protected.

Perspective Monthly November 2009

This month, Perspective celebrates its 10th anniversary; we focus on the issue of heritage and what it means. Read what the Fringe Club’s Benny Chia, Atria Apartments’ Amil Khan, Benoy’s Simon Blore and Horace Pan, founder of his own company Panorama, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association and an assistant professor at the Hong Kong PolyU, had to say at Perspective’s Heritage Roundtable. We also feature 10 of the best heritage projects from Asia and around the world, including Singapore’s Clifford Pier and St Petersburg’s Grand Hotel to Wanchai’s Blue House and Beijing’s Hutong Bubble 32.

Perspective Monthly October 2009

If variety is the spice of life, then hotel design – whether we’re talking about architecture or interiors – has to be the tastiest sector of the industry. Yes, bland and beige can still be found but, by and large, hotel operators realise they have to offer something special, and it is these visionaries we celebrate and salute in this month’s edition. Like Diesel’s Wilbert Das, for example. In Uxua Casa Hotel, he speaks from his heart and soul with this rustic, one-of-a-kind bolthole, designed to both relax and inspire. In China’s Shangri La, Baima Dorgi drew on ancient Tibetan craftsmanship and building techniques in converting what was once his own home into the Songtsam Retreat. Meanwhile, quirky style abounds at London’s Rough Luxe and the Lalala Arthotel in Poland – proving that in some cases, it is the destination that is more important than the journey.

Perspective Monthly September 2009

This month, Perspective gets real. We’re asking questions and looking for answers. Top of mind at the moment is the issue of the West Kowloon Cultural District. Who should design it? While three globally-renowned architects are currently in the running for the project, a small but growing number of Hong Kongers aren’t convinced that any of them is the right person for the job. There’s more food for thought from Zuni Icosahedron’s Mathias Woo, who’s put together an exhibition called ‘Architecture is Art’. But in the money-driven market of Hong Kong, can art and commerce truly marry to create architecture which isn’t just about profit, but which also exists to inspire the soul?

Perspective Monthly August 2009

This month, Perspective brings you the so-hip-it-hurts Green T House in Beijing, which has just opened a new Bath House Residence with the cutting-edge design we’ve come to associate from owner Jin R. Chanel on Robertson in LA and Hide and Seek in Singapore offer a look at the latest trends in retail interior design, while Elli Popp and Babekühl allow you a glimpse into their creative minds. Frankfurt’s blistering-hot summer played host to the Tendence Fair, where designers from around the world showed off their best and, finally, the über-cool Sir Peter Cook proves that age is no deterrent to either penetrating insight or masterful design. PLUS: Two special supplements highlight all that’s new and fabulous in the worlds of bathrooms and hospitality, focusing on clever designer touches and bespoke elements.

Perspective Monthly July 2009

This month, Perspective salutes the constantly curious, those determined to challenge the status quo and bold enough to try the unexpected, with our annual 40 Under 40 awards. Our editorial team spent many long hours debating, discussing and whittling down the numbers to reach our final 40, who you will see featured in this month’s issue. At the 40 Under 40 presentation and photocall, it was a thrill to meet these faces of the future. For our winners, it was an opportunity not just to have their efforts recognised, but to meet their peers to exchange ideas and thoughts. The design industry — whichever category you happen to work in — is a tough business. Communication and support is vital, particularly in these challenging days of projects being cancelled and budgets being slashed. Opening up avenues of dialogue was perhaps one of the more exciting results of the 40 Under 40 event, and we are confident that we’ll be hearing much more both of and from our winners.

Perspective Monthly June 2009

The future is, quite simply, now. No longer is a sleek, modern, technology-driven lifestyle a thing to look forward to. In the 21st century, we can live the dream: look no further than the minimalistically beautiful Shell Villa in Japan’s Nagano Prefecture, for example, or the startling white polyhedron of the Prada Transformer, which sees past, present and future collide in the grounds of the ancient Gyeonghui Palace in Seoul. Meanwhile, interiors take a futuristic turn at the Aktipis florist in Greece, while in China, Danish designer Johannes Torpe has wowed Beijing with Subu, a new restaurant which blends fusion cooking and a larger-than-life, cutting-edge design. And Milan’s Salone Internazionale del Mobile this year brought together nearly 3,000 designers and companies celebrating the art of what they do, despite the global economic downturn. Indeed, Fendi’s Craft Punk event put together a team of exciting young talent from all over to world for some on-the-spot creation. It was the epitome of everything that architecture and design are today; the future unfolding before our very eyes.

Perspective Monthly May 2009

In the May issue of Perspective, we salute architects, designers and clients who are brave enough to ‘think out of the box’. We feature a children’s bookshop in Shanghai designed purely with kids in mind. Not their parents, not the proprietors, but the very customers it targets, in the hope of instilling a love for reading and the pure joy it can inspire. At the other end of the scale, the Supperclub in Singapore aims to tap into the big kid inside all of us, while architect Shirish Beri draws upon India’s traditions and culture to serve the needs of the community at large. Finally, restaurants Silapa Thai in Chiang Mai and Made in Kitchen in Xuzhou show designers forging new paths while drawing inspiration from their heritage. A wise man once noted that you don’t need to destroy the past in order to build the future; new projects today prove that you don’t need to forget where you came from, either.

Perspective Monthly April 2009

This month, we honour the vernal season by focusing on fresh and dynamic projects and people whose work is redefining our lifestyles and design values. We introduce readers to Hong Kong’s new Nike store and The Factory and check out luxurious Yin serviced apartments in Central. Cutting edge Korean designers Joon&June tell us about themselves, Tokyo-based artist Katsuhito Yamamoto explains his unique style, and the designers of bluarch take us through their latest interior project, a green nightclub in New York. We also explore the long-awaited Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, which marks a new beginning for the Thai capital as a more artistic vision of the city is coming into sight.

Perspective Monthly March 2009

It's once again time for our annual green issue, where we take a look at what's happening in Hong Kong and around the globe in sustainable architecture and design. Including a report on our Green Round Table where experts hailing from a wide range of backgrounds discuss the issues most significant to eco-friendly design and architecture in 2009. We also feature a range of both local and international thought-provoking projects, one of which is the new CSET in Ningbo and a remarkable green showroom by up-and-coming firm Vector Architects in Beijing. From recycled materials and found objects to eco-conscious practices and principles, the issue is a comprehensive reference for all things green.