Latest news with #contemporarydesign
Khaleej Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Ebarza announces massive clearance sale at KEZAD warehouse ahead of fall 2025 collection launch
In preparation for the highly anticipated launch of its fall 2025 collection, Ebarza, the UAE-based leader in contemporary furniture and interior design, has announced a major clearance event at its KEZAD warehouse, which spans an impressive 250,000 square feet. Kicking off on Friday, July 25, the clearance campaign is being held exclusively at the KEZAD location and will not be available online or at other Ebarza showrooms. The initiative, under the tagline 'Designs that tell stories… Prices worth sharing,' highlights both the uniqueness of Ebarza's curated pieces and the unmatched discounts available for a limited time. Founder and CEO Maana Abu Daqqa said: "We're preparing our warehouse for the arrival of the fall 2025 collections, which gives us the opportunity to offer incredible deals on existing stock - some even priced below cost. This is a first for Ebarza at this scale, and it's a unique chance for our customers to own beautifully designed pieces at extraordinary value." The clearance includes over 1,000 models across all categories, from furniture and lighting to home décor, rugs, and building materials, giving visitors a rare opportunity to shop from a wide variety of styles at deeply discounted prices. The sale will continue until stocks run out, with the warehouse open daily from 10am to 8pm. Customers are encouraged to follow Ebarza's official channels for updates, directions, and exclusive previews. This unprecedented event marks an exciting moment for design lovers across the UAE, and a perfect time to transform spaces ahead of the new season.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Expat experience shapes striking Highton home by architect Lachlan Shepherd
Architecturally designed, blending nature with contemporary elegance, this four-bedroom home is an example of masterful planning and construction. For the vendor, ensuring that the home catered to his family's needs was at the top of the priority list when purchasing the large corner block (approx. 1200sq m) in Highton eight years ago. 'We were drawn to the area and this block with its potential for a combination of private, family-friendly living with amazing convenience,' the vendor says. 'With approximately 50m of no-through road practically to ourselves, it gave our young boys the freedom to safely skateboard, shoot hoops, and kick the footy with barely any traffic flow.' This vision carried over to 72 Stoneleigh Cres, Highton's design by Surf Coast architect, Lachlan Shepherd, and the build by Phil Jessen of Torquay Homes. 'Lachlan didn't just understand our brief; he intuitively grasped the lifestyle we envisioned after returning from living in Shanghai for several years,' the vendor says. 'We wanted a home that allowed us to spend more time living and less time maintaining. His response was inspired: a low-maintenance, enduring blend of Corten steel, concrete, and glass that delivers a sleek, contemporary aesthetic without sacrificing warmth or function.' The vendor says the vision was 'expertly brought to life by Phil Jessen of Torquay Homes,' resulting in 'a striking architectural statement that's every bit a comfortable, lasting family haven'. The haven – featuring 4.2m-high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, intelligent zoning, and immersive connection to nature – has allowed the family of four to make lasting memories. 'From the start, this home was designed to be a place where memories are made. With two active boys immersed in sports and community life, it quickly became the go-to hub for birthdays, family gatherings, and countless casual catch-ups,' the vendor says. 'The layout and landscaping make entertaining effortless — whether it's a sunlit barbecue on the expansive silvertop ash deck, a poolside hangout that stretches into the evening, fireside chats by the pit, or backyard basketball on the in-ground trampoline and lawn.' With an array of impressive features, it's hard to choose favourites, the vendor says, but there are two that sit at the top of the list. 'The north-facing floor-to-ceiling double-glazed stacker doors and windows would have to top the list — they frame a panoramic outlook that shifts with the light and can be appreciated from virtually every corner of the home,' he says. 'In winter, the hydronic floor heating adds a quiet luxury — no fans, no dust, just a radiant warmth that rises from your toes to your head.' McGrath, Geelong agent Mergim Ibrahimi is handling the sale of 72 Stoneleigh Cres, Highton. Price hopes are $2.79m to $2.95m.
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
This Singaporean Design Duo Blends Simplicity, Sensitivity And Surprise
Studio Juju's Likeables exhibition features furniture ranging from a reimagined blackwood bench to a series crafted from lightweight aluminum honeycomb panels Photo Studio Periphery Since founding Studio Juju in 2010, Singaporean designers Priscilla Lui and Timo Wong have quietly redefined the language of contemporary design with a playful elegance that's all their own. Known for creating objects and spaces that speak to emotion as much as function, the duo's work is infused with subtle whimsy and a sense of calm, whether it's a piece of furniture, an installation or a full spatial experience. From their award-winning The Rabbit and the Tortoise collection to the charming wall sculptures at Tampines MRT station in Singapore, their designs invite reflection, joy and human connection. Their first solo exhibition 'Likeables' explored the idea of conscious consumption, showcasing furniture and art pieces that encourage long-term emotional bonds, while their newest venture, O Design Office, expands their mission to spatial and experiential design – further expanding their ability to touch lives through built environments. With a growing list of accolades, Lui and Wong are leading a new wave of emotionally intelligent, human-centric design in Asia and beyond. I sit down with them to discuss the beginnings of their joint practice. Tell me in which year you were born, about your background, your parents and what your childhood was like. How, when and why did you realize you wanted to build things and get into design? When did you join forces? Timo Wong: I was born in 1982. At about nine years old, I discovered an interest in the arts while in school. My art teacher would hand me more materials to explore, and I always looked forward to art lessons. My father used to be a florist in his youth, and he draws pretty well. I don't know if there's any influence from there, but I learned to take pleasure in creation and drawing. I was quite a late bloomer in many aspects of my studies and education, and somehow design led me to find deeper meaning in many things. Priscilla Lui: I was born in 1983. I had a lot of freedom in my childhood. My parents never imposed their expectations on who I should be and what I should do. I was outdoors often, and had always done some art since five years old. But I did sciences in secondary school and struggled immensely, realizing the only class that I enjoyed was art. So I made the decision to only do arts subjects for college. Studying literature and art then exposed me to how I could experience imagination and emotions through words, drawing and sculpture. It also introduced a sense of problem-solving in a three-dimensional way. After college, I felt I needed to do something physical and tactile, and that's how I wanted to do design in university. TW: We met at the Design Incubation Center when Priscilla joined shortly after graduating from the industrial design program at the National University of Singapore, and I joined after a couple of years working at design consultancies. Can you tell me about meeting at the Design Incubation Center and share the story behind the founding of Studio Juju in 2010? TW: At the Design Incubation Center, both of us were tasked to work on Objects Around the Tablescape, a design label of tabletop objects that explores materiality and concepts that evoke emotions and push the boundaries of objects' existence. Right out of school, Priscilla was fresh and unbounded in her design thinking, while I, having worked for a few years, had some experience in the processes of design-making and technicalities. We both worked extensively on the collection under the direction of Patrick Chia, the director of the center at that time. It was after two collections of Objects Around the Tablescape that Patrick encouraged us to participate in SaloneSatellite, a section at the Milan Furniture Fair that showcases young designers' works across the world. One day, as we were discussing how to share and section the booth space at SaloneSatellite, Patrick overheard and suggested to us to collaborate in the showcase as a singular entity instead of designing separately and presenting in the space. The next day, we registered for the booth space as Studio Juju. We would spend extra hours in the workshop designing and making prototypes for the showcase. We participated for three years consecutively, and in the third year, Studio Juju won SaloneSatellite's Design Report Award. The same year, we were selected by Design Miami/ for the Designers of the Future Award , where we were invited to create an installation during Design Miami/ Basel in Switzerland. Having left the center after the second year of participation, Patrick continued to support us. He remained a mentor and a friend. The Rabbit and the Tortoise Collection Photo courtesy of Studio Juju What is it like working together, and how do you balance your roles? TW: We have very distinct complementary abilities when it comes to work, and it's a lot of trust and understanding. At some point, we felt like we were working as one person. We like making decisions together, we like attending meetings together and we like sketching together. We make better decisions and design better when we do it together. We are also partners in life, so we do a lot more things together like parenting and chores. PL: Most of the time, one of us might initiate the idea, then we build on it together. I tend to dream up the initial process, but not always necessarily the initiator, perhaps building inspirations, materials and experiences in loose forms, while Timo takes the lead in pulling all these together to realize the development through technical details and processes. It is very collaborative because we discuss daily. Both of us are also very hands-on, so we enjoy making prototypes. We visit factories and workshops to see how they work, and we enjoy this process of learning from the engineers and technicians. What was your path to success like? What was your breakthrough project that earned you recognition from the design community? TW: We had an early boost in our career when we won an important award, which was Design Miami/ Basel's Designers of the Future Award, based on the body of work we created during the first three years of Studio Juju. We are very thankful for that. Shortly within the same year, we were commissioned to create a permanent art installation for one of the Downtown MRT line's train stations in Tampines, Singapore. It is titled 'The Big Round' and 'The Tall Long', a pair of sculptures at each end of the station's platform. It took about seven years to materialize together with the building of the station itself, finally unveiled in 2017. It was a manifestation of the way we view the relationship between humans, objects and space. Both shapes seem to connect commuters to the vastness of the station, making a reference through the space they can fill. We have no idea what project in particular earned us recognition. However, we get people telling us that our works are simple yet not banal, or 'Oh, this is very Juju.' How has your partnership as designers evolved over the years, including the founding of O Design Office in 2023? TW: We started out naive yet very willing to learn and unlearn. Together, we saw and experienced the design world from wider perspectives when we traveled for design events. We both have our differences in strengths and views yet we are able to converge in resolution. We developed empathy for each other, and share a common sensibility in design. Over the years, we worked on various scales of design projects and commissions. From furniture design to art installations, spatial design for offices to experience creation for a bank, we were open to all design opportunities that involved three-dimensional creation and designing for emotional resonance. The diversity of projects led to the founding of O Design Office to focus solely on the growing area of spatial design. In other words, we are now recalibrating the focus of Studio Juju.
CBC
01-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- CBC
'Finding perfection in the imperfection': Entrepreneur's hand-printed apparel finds market
Social Sharing When Harpreet Gill started working at the Garrison Night Market in Fredericton, she didn't expect the positive response her women's clothing and accessory stand would receive. Nor did she expect that just two years later, she would run a brick and mortar store downtown selling her own fashion brand. Gill is the designer and owner of Happy Hatti, a women's clothing store that combines contemporary silhouettes with India's traditional textile weaving, dyeing and a printing technique called hand block printing. "When I started at the Garrison Market, I didn't know where the journey was going to take me," Gill said. "When I saw people were really liking my designs, and they actually wanted to wear it, that gave me confidence in having my own place." The clothing is produced in India. Gill works with artisans there who turn her designs into prints in natural fabrics, such as cotton and linen, using hand block printing, a technique that dates back almost 300 years. The technique, found in different regions of India, consists of carving designs by hand in large wooden blocks, dipping them in dye, then pressing them into fabrics. "The prints are not actually perfect," she said. "If you take one dress, each piece will be so different because the fabric is hand-printed. "It's finding perfection in the imperfection." Gill's Fredericton store carries a variety of clothing, including dresses, blouses and pants, alongside accessories like bags, wallets and scarves, with flower and nature-based prints. It's a dream come true for Gill, whose love for fashion started at an early age. "When I was in grade eight, I used to be really fond of looking at fashion magazines, and that's when I actually decided I wanted to be a fashion designer," she said. In 2022, Gill and her husband, Monish, decided to move from their home in Mumbai, India's largest city, to New Brunswick in hopes of finding a quieter life. But finding an active craft scene was also important to the fashion designer, who was determined to continue her career in Canada. Gill discovered the Garrison Night Market and was surprised to see a diverse community of vendors sharing their cultures through their wares. This encouraged her to submit pictures of her designs and apply for a space in the market. And the good reception encouraged Gill to grow her business. After working at both the Boyce Farmers Market and the Garrison Night Market for two years, Gill was able to move to a permanent location on Queen Street. Gill said she believes that the fusion of modern silhouettes, along with the printing technique, is what attracted people to her designs. Gill also offers home decor pieces like coasters, pillow covers, and table sets brought from India, which are designed and produced by Indian artisans. Gill credits her success to how welcoming her customers have been to her brand. "I always say, you don't have to be in bigger cities to start a business," she said. "I'm happy that people across Canada are liking it." Currently, Gill has her sights set on designing her 2026 spring and summer collection, but her long-term goal is to expand across Canada. She has been attending wholesale trade events to showcase her designs in hopes buyers will acquire her pieces wholesale and carry them in boutiques all over the country. "I don't want to be restricted to Fredericton, and not everybody likes buying things online," Gill said. "Having a presence in other boutiques in Canada will allow people to be confident in my products and want to buy them." Gill believes she made the right choice to name her brand Happy Hatti. Hatti means shop in Punjabi. Gill said she chose the name hoping her customers' experience in the store would be positive.
News.com.au
08-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Quality craftsmanship dazzles at high-end Ocean Grove new build
This luxurious architectural home oozing contemporary coastal cool may seem a world away from Ocean Grove's beach shacks of old. But if you look closely, you can find the odd reference to the town's traditional timber and fibro houses in among the new build's sleek high-end finishes. It's there in the entrance hall where builder Michael Leake has used humble weatherboards to create something special in the form of a sculptural curved wall. 'I took the notion that we came down to the beach and we built timber or fibro cement shacks because it was cheap and readily available and I've turned it inside out,' he says. 'I've used those finishes internally so it's a timber weatherboard that I've stood vertically – it's an ode to yesterday.' The new five-bedroom, four-bathroom house at 57 The Terrace, Ocean Grove, is a masterclass in quality craftsmanship that draws on the combined talents of the builder's ML Constructions, Splinter Society architect Chris Stanley and interiors whiz Rebecca Boykett. Mr Leake says the brief was to maximise panoramic ocean and Barwon Heads bluff views from the 709sq m property's hillside position while creating secluded, warm open space. This is achieved by wrapping the upper level of the house around a central north-facing outdoor area featuring a self-cleaning swimming pool. Externally, the builder lent into his love of unfinished, durable materials – recycled timbers and copper that require no maintenance – to clad the solid concrete structure. Inside, a curved stone feature wall that divides the dining and living areas is complemented by European oak joinery, oak flooring, natural marble surfaces and pure wool carpets. Curves make regular appearances, in the island kitchen bench, in doorways, skylights, decks and even the striking hearth finished with traditional white set plaster that surrounds the lounge's open fireplace. The house is largely set on one level, save for a four-car garage with electric car charging and a an self-contained bedroom/office with its own ensuite and external access on the entry level. A lift provides easy access to the main living hub upstairs where you could lose hours gazing at the expansive ocean views. Stacker sliding doors link the central kitchen, fitted with premium Miele appliances, to the sheltered private deck overlooking the swimming pool and landscaped gardens. A second rumpus room is privately zoned with four further bedrooms at the rear of the house. Two of these bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, including the main suite which also includes luxurious his and her walk-in wardrobes and direct pool access. 'It's really important to maintain the outside connection so we have got a view from the master bedroom so when you lie in bed you can see the ocean,' Mr Leake says. Bellarine Property agent Christian Bartley is handling the sale of 57 The Terrace, Ocean Grove. Price hopes are $4.5m to $4.9m.
