More Playful Southeast Asian-Inspired Furniture for Urban Living
New Lanzavecchia + Wai designs launched at International Furniture Fair Singapore have the elements Singaporeans like
The Scandinavian light-wood look and feel of oak: check. Apartment-friendly sizes: check. Playful accents of colour: check. A touch of industrial style heavily influenced by Art Deco: check. And the clincher – designed by a duo who are international media darlings. Journey East’s new collection, PLAYplay2, launched at International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) on March 9, aims to tick all the boxes of Southeast Asian urban living.
Francesca Lanzavecchia and Hunn Wai being interviewed by Rai Uno, Italy’s largest national television station during Milan Design Week 2016, with the PONG table in the foreground
What’s the bestseller from the first collection and which part of the world has it been shipped to?
Definitely the PONG table is the star of the collection, and has been shipped to New York for a client who saw it featured in the media.
What’s the bestseller from the first collection and which part of the world has it been shipped to?
Definitely the PONG table is the star of the collection, and has been shipped to New York for a client who saw it featured in the media.
Can you explain how the new collection interprets ‘play’ in a new way?
In the first collection, we brought a classic material, mahogany, into the realm of the modern by combining it with modern shapes and colours. This time, we’re combining the neutral tones of oak with the rich colours of South East Asia, shaking it out of its comfort zone as it’s normally partnered with muted pastel tones. Playfulness can be seen in the details of the designs; like how in the Rails pieces (below) the colourful pipes are inspired by cheerful playground equipment from our collective childhood. Colours that are used in the collection are bright and positive in the manner of play, but the design and construction of the individual pieces are very functional.
Any reason for the focus on oak rather than Indonesian mahogany this time around?
The first collection drew inspiration from the colours and materials of South East Asia, and this evolved into a design language of the PLAYplay series that we could build on. We wanted to integrate these same influences into a familiar wood for everyone: oak.
In the first collection, we brought a classic material, mahogany, into the realm of the modern by combining it with modern shapes and colours. This time, we’re combining the neutral tones of oak with the rich colours of South East Asia, shaking it out of its comfort zone as it’s normally partnered with muted pastel tones. Playfulness can be seen in the details of the designs; like how in the Rails pieces (below) the colourful pipes are inspired by cheerful playground equipment from our collective childhood. Colours that are used in the collection are bright and positive in the manner of play, but the design and construction of the individual pieces are very functional.
Any reason for the focus on oak rather than Indonesian mahogany this time around?
The first collection drew inspiration from the colours and materials of South East Asia, and this evolved into a design language of the PLAYplay series that we could build on. We wanted to integrate these same influences into a familiar wood for everyone: oak.
Did you incorporate metal piping because industrial style is so popular in Singapore, or is there a different reason behind this?
The use of metal piping in this case serves to lighten the pieces rather than to weigh them down. And yes, maybe we were a little bit inspired by the industrial element, but in a contemporary and colourful way. The great thing is this design motif can be read in this way as well, since the designs were inspired by cheerful playground equipment from our collective childhood, where afternoons were spent in carefree play climbing on and dangling from them.
The use of metal piping in this case serves to lighten the pieces rather than to weigh them down. And yes, maybe we were a little bit inspired by the industrial element, but in a contemporary and colourful way. The great thing is this design motif can be read in this way as well, since the designs were inspired by cheerful playground equipment from our collective childhood, where afternoons were spent in carefree play climbing on and dangling from them.
Southeast Asian influences include these heritage shophouses
Tell us about the vintage silhouettes that influenced your designs.
I would say that this collection is streamlined-modern, with the overall smooth curves of Art Deco. The use of metal piping also pays homage to the Art Deco era when materials such as aluminium and stainless steel were popular.
All about Asian Art Deco furniture
I would say that this collection is streamlined-modern, with the overall smooth curves of Art Deco. The use of metal piping also pays homage to the Art Deco era when materials such as aluminium and stainless steel were popular.
All about Asian Art Deco furniture
Southeast Asian influences include these colourful shutters
How do you envision the pieces in a HDB living-dining room?
With the Pong table, entertainment goes beyond serving good food but also serving up a good game of table tennis!
We consider the pieces to be perfect for modern apartment living such as HDB dwelling – the new PLAYplay2 pieces display keen design aesthetics, practicality, and lasting quality, as do their predecessors from PLAYplay1.
With the Pong table, entertainment goes beyond serving good food but also serving up a good game of table tennis!
We consider the pieces to be perfect for modern apartment living such as HDB dwelling – the new PLAYplay2 pieces display keen design aesthetics, practicality, and lasting quality, as do their predecessors from PLAYplay1.
For example, the proportions of the Rail TV console fit perfectly in the new rectangular spaces of HDB living rooms today, its sliding doors create useful storage but also add tactility and dimension as wooden strips alternate with colour.
So… a bed will be next?
Ah, but then designing a bed would mean we would need bedside tables, dressing table, bureaus, perhaps a valet stand – food for thought.
What are the price points for PLAYplay2?
Shelves start from $1750; TV consoles from $1780; Sofas from $3850; and desks and consoles from $1400.
MORE
3 Singapore Design Duos You Should Know
5 Questions About Singapore at Milan Design Week
Ah, but then designing a bed would mean we would need bedside tables, dressing table, bureaus, perhaps a valet stand – food for thought.
What are the price points for PLAYplay2?
Shelves start from $1750; TV consoles from $1780; Sofas from $3850; and desks and consoles from $1400.
MORE
3 Singapore Design Duos You Should Know
5 Questions About Singapore at Milan Design Week
What made you decide to create PLAYplay2?
The response from the first collection was beyond expectation and humbling at the same time. After its showcase in Milan (and being listed by Dwell as one of the Salone’s must-see), we knew we had to continue the momentum of taking PLAYplay further.
PLAYplay2 is a natural extension of PLAYplay1 as we continue our journey to become creators of design, to evolve beyond the realm of curators. The pieces we introduce this time serve to complete the collection, adding shelves, seating and more storage units as well as a new desk.