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Company: Topic Studio LLP
Position within company: Director
Website: www.topicstudio.com.sg

What direction do you feel design is moving towards in general terms?

Design will go into a few key polarities and can be categorized into the ultra-luxurious and the basic modern. And between these, the similarity lies in comfort and ease.
What are the key influencing elements at present?

At present, I would think Asian interpretations of luxury is evolving and maturing. There are a lot of good examples where I can observe and learn from, which is very much akin to my root in the Eastern part of the world. For example, the way we use Gold in my interior works, different shades of gold.

What sort of projects are you working on at the moment?

At the moment, I am working on a few large private residential houses and apartments. One of them where construction is about to begin is a unit at St Regis Apartment Singapore where the Client is a very affluent traveller in the South Asia and wanted a house where the interior reflects both his traditional root of being Asian and his desire for good taste nurtured through travelling and staying among some of the best hotels around the world.

A designer’s work is so diverse – how do you manage to hold down a career and a life?

Honestly, it is very difficult to create the balance where both my company and kids are growing up almost concurrently. What gives me the drive and satisfaction to fuel on, sometimes come from balancing both and managing them.

Name 5 key essentials for 2013 and beyond.

Hear, see, feel, taste, essence
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

For me, it would be to spend some considerable amount of time to look through others design, learn from them and observe how their detail works.

How important do you feel Design Awards are as recognition of designers talents and achievements?
It is very important, just like finding the right Design Awards is like finding the right platform to showcase one’s works to the right audience.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
To complete the projects and handover successfully and satisfactorily to our Clients.

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself

The car you drive? Nissan Cube

Your favourite place to travel to in the world? Hong Kong

Your favourite hotel/ restaurant/ bar? The Upper House (Hong Kong)

The place that gives you the most energy? Wherever I am with my children

And the place that enables you to totally relax? My Home

Your favourite food and drink? Fishball Noodle and Sake

To view more of Topic Studio LLP’s work, visit: http://www.topicstudio.com.sg/