 | | The Dispatch | | Nº134, June 2025 | | | In Partnership with Carl Hansen & Søn | | Founded in Denmark in 1908, Carl Hansen & Søn specialises in crafting furniture that brings visionary design to life. The brand produces iconic works by renowned Danish mid-century masters such as Kaare Klint and Hans J Wegner, all crafted in Denmark. Be sure to visit the Carl Hansen & Søn flagship stores in Singapore, Tokyo and Osaka. |  | | | From the Editors | | Dear reader, It was a damp Friday evening in Tokyo but spirits were high as a flurry of Design Anthology readers gathered last month to celebrate the opening of our first Reading Room. Guests came from far and wide, toasting the city's ever-inspiring creative community in the back streets of Shibuya. It was a delight — we hope you'll join us next time. | | | The evening also marked the release of our latest issue, now on newsstands globally. Every story can be read online today with a Design Anthology membership, with the print edition delivered to your door. Members also enjoy access to special events, our editorial archive and more. This month, we're heading to Copenhagen for 3 Days of Design. Perhaps we'll see you for a drink, a bite or even a dip in the harbour. Start planning your itinerary with our city guide. Looking ahead, from 20–23 July, Shishi-Iwa House in Karuizawa will host an intimate summer retreat. Led by Bangkok- and Paris-based studio PHKA, the programme explores floral design in dialogue with traditional ikebana, with just 14 guests invited to join workshops, forest bathing, tea ceremonies and seasonal dining. Be sure to tell them we sent you.
And finally, below you'll see some exciting news in the world of Design Anthology as we announce our partnership with Singapore-based Stacked Media. To mark the launch of our expanded film capabilities, we're starting strong with a video tour of the Jakarta home of seminal Indonesian architect Andra Matin, filmed last month and produced by our talented team. Thank you, as always, for reading. Until next month, please enjoy the June edition of The Dispatch. Simone Schultz & Jeremy Smart
Editors-in-Chief | | | News | | Future Proof | | Singapore | | Design Anthology evolves with premium film, expanded membership offerings, and curated travel content and in-person experiences | | | Design Anthology is evolving. We are pleased to announce our merger with Singapore-based Stacked Media, which brings its digital storytelling and expanded film capabilities to Design Anthology's platforms and global design community. As we continue to shape the design conversation in Asia Pacific and beyond, we step into a new era for Design Anthology, one that brings fresh experiences, richer storytelling and deeper engagement with our readers and the individuals and organisations at the forefront of Asia Pacific's creative and cultural sectors. Co-founded by Suzy Annetta and Philip Annetta in 2014, Design Anthology has grown into a multi-platform media brand that encompasses the flagship biannual print publication, storytelling across an array of digital platforms, in-person experiences and industry-leading programmes such as the Design Anthology Awards. Design Anthology will remain under the leadership of editors-in-chief Simone Schultz and Jeremy Smart, with Design Anthology founder Suzy Annetta stepping into the role of publisher and director of brand experiences, continuing to be involved in the life of the magazine and new experiential initiatives. Last year marked the tenth anniversary of Design Anthology and the handing over of the reins to Simone and Jeremy, who published their first issue as co-editors in September 2024. The two take on the leading role after more than six years with the media brand, with Simone previously holding positions as managing editor and editorial director and Jeremy as art director and creative director. The pair retain oversight over the newly merged company's editorial and creative output as group editorial director and group creative director, respectively. Now we look towards Design Anthology's next decade as we continue to create the world's leading platform for design in Asia Pacific, one that is immersive, interconnected and experiential. As always, our inboxes are open to our readers and the wider creative community. Please reach out to Design Anthology's editors-in-chief via ss@design-anthology.com and js@design-anthology.com for introductions, projects and feedback. Our commercial partnerships team can be reached via partnerships@design-anthology.com. | | | Home | | Inside Out | | Khao Yai, Thailand | | This private retreat by Park + Associates sits nestled in the area's national park, its views a foundational part of the experience | | | House in Contours represents a unique project: a new structure surrounded by the Khao Yai National Park providing a blank canvas with a client who wanted to steer away from any pastiche of traditional Thai architecture. 'The homeowner really values hospitality and enjoys hosting families and guests over shared meals,' says Christina Thean, principal partner of Singapore architecture firm Park + Associates. 'House in Contours was designed and built for this purpose, while affording a sense of personal privacy that he could retreat to.' Thean describes the client as 'particularly sensitive to spatial quality', with a preference for spaces that feel open and well-ventilated. 'The permeable design with clear visibilities throughout was in large part a result of this preference,' she says. 'It was also important to borrow as much greenery and nature as we could from the beautiful park.' The structure is inspired by Khao Yai's topography and is conceived as a series of layered and shifting planes that respond to the site. 'We've used a consistent architectural language of organic lines across scales both in the architecture and interior. This gives a fluidity that enhances the sense of movement, echoing the natural rhythm of the landscape,' says Thean. The home's two wings are unified by an undulating roof that 'appears as an extension to the Khao Yai mountain range'. Through this, different parts of the home are oriented towards unique views — some facing the mountains, others a nearby Buddhist temple. Private spaces are located to maximise privacy while capturing framed views of the lush surroundings, with verandas all around. Fenestration was a key component, says Thean. 'The client believes that nature is art in itself, and that motivated us to painstakingly curate the fenestration to frame the various views on offer.' | | | The design team also worked heavily on the landscape. 'The site was covered in overgrown shrubs,' says Thean. 'We collaborated with our landscape architect to integrate more than four hundred mature trees across eighty species to restore the indigenous ecosystem.' Within, the materials and finishes of the joinery are kept subtle with natural finishes and neutral tones. Much of the furniture and the minimal artwork selection — the client preferring the views — was chosen by the client himself. Thean and her team's brief included striking architectural accents such as the built-in wine bar, a counter finished with polished marble that defines the large open space and whose shape promotes circulation. The main circular staircase was another. 'Its form was inspired by the natural contours of the site's topography,' says Thean. 'At different times, it merges and connects with walls, ceiling and floors through sweeping gestures.' Wherever possible, the team worked to support the local economy through sourcing materials and finishes from nearby, as well as engaging local builders and craftspeople. Through the process and the design, Thai elements are incorporated into a contemporary space firmly rooted in Khao Yai and Thailand — as Thean describes it, 'Bold, distinctive and all the while catering to our client's lifestyle.' Text by Philip Annetta
Images by Derek Swalwell | | | Architectonics | | Golden Era | | Singapore | | An adaptive reuse project by Monolab Studio has transformed an old warehouse into one of the world's highest-capacity vault facilities for precious metals | | | An evening call during the pandemic became the starting point of a multi-year adaptive reuse project by Monolab Studio that resulted in the stunning transformation of a Changi industrial building into secure vaulting facility The Reserve. 'The client began the brief in an unexpected but deeply compelling way, by walking us through the history of the global financial system, its cycles of collapse and reinvention, and the systemic fragilities that persist,' says Monolab Studio co-founder Wesley Liew. 'He spoke passionately about creating a space that would reflect a departure from the conventions of mainstream finance, a vault that was not only highly secure, but also symbolically and aesthetically distinct.' The client also shared a playlist comprising electronic remixes of vintage jazz and a list of dualities that became guiding principles for the project. 'The heart of the brief was these dualities: open and private, secure and transparent, bold and delicate, and traditional and cutting-edge,' Liew says. According to Liew's co-founder Jessica Baczkowski, the building was a utilitarian industrial structure originally engineered for high-load capacities and large-span structural systems. 'These inherent qualities made the building particularly adaptable, offering us the rare opportunity to reimagine its robust framework without major reintervention,' she says. 'At the core is a monumental, hangar-like space, almost two thousand square metres with a soaring 30-metre ceiling, which ultimately became the main vaulting chamber. Its sheer scale and volume provided a powerful canvas to work with.' | | | A double-height entry portal leads into a terracotta-hued reception lobby, bathed in daylight filtered through thin onyx. From there, a sequence of corridors unfolds like a labyrinth, gradually building a sense of anticipation before opening into the cavernous central vault, where shafts of light reveal the precious metals within. The contrast between open and private plays out as a spatial rhythm throughout. The onyx facade is a striking example of the attention to detail that defines the project. 'We developed a cladding system using a composite of thinned onyx laminated between two layers of glass,' Liew explains. 'This references the enduring value and opacity of traditional commodities, while evoking the layered transparency of emerging, decentralised financial technologies. It acts as both shield and beacon, a tactile metaphor for the old and the new.' Once the team had settled on the right colour, each slab was sliced to a four-millimetre thickness. These slabs were then scanned to digitally capture their veining patterns, allowing the designers to compose a large-scale book-matched layout typically reserved for interiors. The slabs were encased in glass to seal them from the weather, the work of a year-long weathering experiment. The result is a captivating embodiment of the brief. The contrasts suffuse the project, but the overall impression is one of clear-eyed modernity and a testament to the architects' vision of the latent opportunity contained in adaptive reuse. Images by Finbarr Fallon | | | Dossier | | Fruitful Ferment | | Hong Kong | | In Hong Kong's Repulse Bay, Gróa is a Mediterranean-Japanese ode to coastal casual dining and the gentle pace of fermentation | | | Hong Kong brand Nüte has become known for its plant-based takeaway treats, and when the founders approached design firm Naro to create their first restaurant, founding partner and managing director Wynlim Wong was enthusiastic. 'They're good friends of ours and we've had the pleasure of watching their brand grow since the very beginning,' she says. 'We admire the values and vision that Nüte stands for.' The new venture, Gróa, represents a step forward for the young brand. 'Their new restaurant was envisioned as a place that nourishes people in more ways than one: a casual coastal eatery by day and a cosy wine bar by night,' Wong explains. 'The menu highlights fermented ingredients and the space emphasises environmentally friendly materials. It's all about celebrating nature and encouraging a slow, more mindful way of living.' | | | The designers began by immersing themselves in the character of the oceanside location and the client's vision. The key concept, 'slow never tasted so good', filtered into both the guest's journey to the eatery and the slow, transformative process of fermentation. The experience begins with winding paths and scenic thresholds, open courtyards, a waterfall garden and iconic moon gates. Inside, the designers visually zoned the space to create distinct experiences, and there's a balance of spaciousness and intimacy. The bar counter, Wong says, 'is wrapped with shelving for fermented ingredients, and allows for closer interaction between chefs and guests. This creates an intimate experience, offering diners a deeper connection to the cooking process and the cuisine itself.' Given Nüte's remit, it's no surprise that sustainable materials are used throughout. 'We crafted cork-clad counters and tabletops using an upcycled blend of used coffee grounds and wood powder, paired with muted-green pressed stone tiles inspired by traditional Chinese gardens,' says Wong. That rawness is softened by curves and linen upholstery, while bamboo joinery details echo the rhythm of moving through a tranquil forest. Images by Naro and Dennis Lo | | | Dossier | | Ace Approach | | Manila | | LA-based 22RE's first project in Asia elevates sport and lifestyle retail with its store for golf brand Malbon | | | Los Angeles-based Dean Levin was transitioning his artistic practice to architecture and design under 22RE when Erica Malbon reached out to acquire one of his artworks. 'During our conversation, she mentioned she was developing the first Malbon Golf store and from there, everything unfolded organically. I went on to design the first store in Carmel, California,' Levin recalls. Fast forward a few years and Levin was invited to design the brand's new flagship store in Manila, its first in the region. 'The brief was to create a multi-level retail experience that combines a shopping environment with an exclusive private club,' he explains. Spanning 350 quare metres with an additional 60-square-metre VIP clubhouse, the space is intended to be a sculptural expression of Malbon's signature aesthetic, infused with local materials and textures that reflect the region's architectural vernacular. The layout prioritises flow and discovery: a hidden putting room discreetly opens into the main retail area, while curved doors panelled in rich local mahogany conceal the fitting rooms, maintaining the continuity of form. And a sculptural winding staircase, panelled in the same mahogany and carved with an integrated handrail, leads to the clubhouse, where VIP clients can enjoy a more tailored experience. | | | The store's centrepiece is a sweeping fiberglass curve that Levin envisaged as both a spatial anchor and a conceptual guide, directing visitors through their experiences with tactile contrast and clean lines. 'Our practice is founded on the belief that modernism is a global language, one that adapts to its context,' says Levin. 'In this case, the use of fibreglass references traditional thatched roofs.' The clothing displays are realised in quiet, natural tones, ensuring the focus remains on the product. 'There's quite a bit of custom work in the space, from understated elements like clothing racks, seating, tables and display cases to bold features like the five-metre chrome sculpture and the walnut and travertine spiral staircase,' says Levin. Levin's design of the space marks a thoughtful approach that considers the totality of the offline retail experience, celebrating the brand's sport-lifestyle aesthetic with a deeply considered, site-specific design. Images by Josh Robenstone | | | Magazine | | | | Issue 40 | | Our Latest Issue | | Our latest issue explores the enduring merit of human-centred design, from compassionate community spaces to modern craftsmanship to the future of our urban centres. We uncover the connections between tradition and innovation, offering a global perspective on design that is thoughtful, empathetic and profoundly human. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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