D e s i g n s p a c e L i f e

OcT/nOV 2011 s$8.00

RetailTherapy

shang Xia China’s retail scene goes high-end

anDReas MuRkuDisThe retail guru’s latest concept store in Berlin

La MaisOn chaMps eLyseesMaison Martin Margiela goes into hospitality

paRuRe hOuseArchitect EAT’s handiwork for a jewellery maker

Some call it consumerism. We prefer to call it enrichment – but only if you buy right. We’ve collated some of our favourite things to buy that will add to your space, body and mind. As an added bonus, read about the retail spots of choice for some familiar names.

retail directory

text by rachel lee-leong and luo Jingmei

mind

retail directory mind

The design Work of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby 2011 has been an eventful year for the duo behind design studio, Barber Osgerby. Aside from getting acclaim for their Tip Ton chair for Vitra, as well as designing the Olympic Torch for London’s 2012 Olympic Games, they have also released a timely monograph containing sketches and photographs that trace the thought process behind their earlier works. Available at Kinokuniya. (S$119.13)rizzoliusa.comkinokuniya.com.sg

Underscore nº3: The Fight issueThe third issue of design studio HJGHER’s independent, award-winning magazine tackles the theme of human resilience. The original content – including conversations with Jóhann Jóhannsson, editor of uber-cool Acne Paper – culminates in a 16-page feature where Japanese creatives voice their hearts following the March earthquake. As always, a curated soundtrack can be downloaded for reading accompaniment. Available online at Underscore and at select bookstores. (S$18.90) underscoremagazine.com

ColorWare Leica d-Lux 5ColorWare injects a bit of fun into the usually sleek Leica D-Lux 5 camera. You can choose the colour for the front, back, lens body, lens face, top, port door, hot shoe insert and lens cap – basically, almost the entire camera can be colour-customised for a truly personalised gadget. (US$1,200, US$400 to customise your existing camera)colorware.com

iPad Portfolio Kenton Sorenson’s first leather case – he used to be a barber – was made for his hair shears. Now he applies the same traditional, eco-friendly leather-tanning and hand-stitching method to accessories like this beautiful iPad portfolio, whose patina will darken to a charming cinnamon shade over time. Available online at Kenton Sorenson. (US$190)kentonsorenson.com

One of my favourites is fashion and lifestyle store Colette in Paris for its interesting quirky store windows and layout, as well

as its cool range of carefully curated products. Some of my favourite fashion brands there are ACnE and Kitsuné.

– Alicia Ong, designer of Al & Alicia

Utility CardGrain Design’s Utility Card is equally amusing for the sender and receiver. The multipurpose card hides over 100 classic well

wishes – just circle the words you need to form the greeting. The fun is in the search but should you need some help, a downloadable cheat sheet is at hand. Available online at Grain Design. (US$4)

graindesign.com

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design Hotels™ Books Edition 2011 and design Hotels™ made by Originals Design Hotels’ latest Red Dot Award-winning publications make for great coffee table showcases as well as inspiration for your next trip. The Books Edition 2011 features evocative photography of over 200 hotels worldwide and Made by Originals offers inspiring reads from the creative minds behind some of the most fascinating hotels around the world. The limited collector’s edition, which packs the books in cardboard travelling cases, sets the tone for wanderlust. Available at Kinokuniya. (S$142.06)designhotels.comkinokuniya.com.sg

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Fallingwater® LEGOWith LEGO’s Fallingwater® you can now channel your inner Frank Lloyd Wright. The architectural masterpiece, designed by the American design pioneer in 1934, is part of LEGO’s expanding Architecture series that includes Mies van de Rohe’s Farnsworth House and recently, Wright’s famous prairie-style Robie House. Available at Bricks World and Toyshunt. (S$189.90)lego.combricksworld.comtoyshunt.com.sg How to make a

Book with SteidlGet a rare glimpse into the world of renowned publisher Gerhard Steidl as he collaborates with world-famous photographers and clients including Joel Sternfeld, Günter Grass and Karl Largerfeld. Follow him into their studios around the world and into Steidlville, his independent publishing house in Göttingen where the perfectionist’s beautiful books are made. Available online at Amazon. (US$24.55)howtomakeabookwithsteidl.comamazon.com

mosaic Zelij Handkerchief EnvelopePostalco’s Handkerchief Envelope wraps your letter in a single sheet of thin but strong paper – a romantic gesture recalling the origins of envelopes. Inspired by the mosaics that clad ancient buildings, the Mosaic Zelij print, in particular, is a sure delight for design fiends on the receiving end. (From ¥420)postalco.net

TabPresent & Correct’s philosophy is to “spark a distant memory, make you smile or look at the most mundane in a new, and fonder light”. The ingenious Tab, which combines the function of a notebook and file card, certainly does that – just break the perforated tabs, fold them out and write on them to organise your notebooks. Available online at Present & Correct. (£7.50)presentandcorrect.com

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Louis Vuitton: Architecture and interiorsIn this 304-page tome by the luxury fashion house, one is privy to over 300 illustrations (some of them previously unpublished), blueprints and interviews with design stars (Jun Aoki, Peter Marino and Christian de Portzamparc) who have crafted Louis Vuitton’s innovative retail spaces. A standard edition is available in Kinokuniya (S$135.02) while a limited edition encased in monogrammed fabric slipcases is available at select Louis Vuitton boutiques. (S$260)louisvuitton.com rizzoliusa.comkinokuniya.com.sg

retail directory mind

Pencil SharpenerIt was a good thing that El Casco shifted their focus from manufacturing revolvers to desk accessories during the Great Depression. Painstakingly handmade, exquisite objects like the 23-carat, gold-plated pencil sharpener are loved by fans for their artistry and timelessness. Available at The Wright Gift. (S$909)el-casco.comthewrightgift.com

Terroir n° 1Terroir (roughly translated to “a sense of place” in French) is a new bi-annual magazine that showcases Singaporeans’ perspectives on travel in wistful images and ruminations. The inaugural 160-page tome is fully edited, printed and hand-bound by graphic designer, Benjamin Koh, and comes in a limited edition set that includes a poster and postcards. Available online at Terroir. (S$100)terroir-mag.com

Cotton Roll Pencil CaseDelfonic’s Cotton Roll Pencil Case removes the exasperation of digging to the bottom of your conventional pencil case for your stationery. Just unbutton the strap and unroll to have all your writing tools laid out clearly in front of you. It fits 13 pens or pencils and is available in an array of colours. Available at Actually. (S$19)delfonics.comactually.com.sg

Shing Lee Book Store in Havelock Road is one of the most authentic retail shops that Singapore can ever boast of: from

the wooden and glass cabinets to the series of little toys, harmonicas, green marble laminate tables, 1890s postcards, out-

of-print novels and how the old ah pek hangs his shirt on the side of the cabinet.

– Edwin Low, designer and Owner of Supermama

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Pinhole Camera KitThe next time your kid asks you how a camera works, hand him Labour and Wait’s Pinhole Camera Kit for a back-to-basics lesson. It contains all the elements necessary to make your own pinhole camera, including processing chemicals and an instruction booklet journaling the history of photography. Available online at Labour and Wait. (£26)labourandwait.co.uk

Rock Re-AwakensGrace your wall with a piece of history with works by internationally renowned photographers who documented rock icons from the 1960s and 1970s. Showcased at Vue Privée’s Rock Re-Awakens exhibition from 22 September to 23 October, subjects include famous figures like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd. (S$1,300 to $6,300)vueprivee.com

TwilightHaruka Nakamura’s second album was recorded in a studio overlooking the ocean “as a tribute to the sight of the expiring sun falling over the horizon at dusk”. Evocative of this description are atmospheric, pensive musical narratives encased in an equally textural art book made from paper that will alter naturally with time. Available online at Kitchen Label and at Atomi. (S$35)harukanakamura.comkitchen-label.comatomi-jp.com

GloggomobilThe Gloggomobil is an interactive, musical toy based on the principle of the barrel organ. Push the black pegs into the holes on the drum set for the mechanism to turn and play music. Otherwise, have your child tap on the detachable xylophone with drumsticks to compose his own bell-like tunes. Contact Naef Spiele AG for purchase. (Price available upon request)naefspiele.ch

photo Credit: Joel Brodsky

Apollo 3-Button micNixon’s sleek Apollo 3-Button Mic headphones in black and gold matches your savvy sartorial cred to your equally slick playlist. Aside from floating drivers for unlimited range of fit, an iPhone-compatible, 3-button remote control with microphone and a custom travel pouch, memory foam ear cushions provide hours of listening comfort at home or on the streets. Available at TANGS and Billabong. (S$119)nixonnow.com