Visions of Connectivity
Last month, Leon Gallery International in collaboration with New York’s prestigious Gagosian Gallery presented Nam June Paik in Manila, the first Philippine exhibition of works by the KoreanAmerican “father of video art,” Marina Isgro writes about the ava
In Manila, where chaos and slow-going traffic are the norm, everybody shares the dream of creating the ultimate urban getaway—something Drs Z and Aivee Teo do exceptionally well. In establishing their widely successful Aivee Clinics both in the Philippines and in Singapore, the couple make sure to offer not only state-of-the-art cosmetic treatments but also elegant interiors and a holistic experience—a true extension of the comforts of home.
Their own place echoes this philosophy but was years in the making, with the property purchased in 2010 and construction taking place almost four years later. “At the time [ 2010] I was pregnant with my second child, and we figured we needed more room,” Aivee explains. “We started looking around and then we found this space, but we didn’t conceptualise right away.” Work on the Aivee Clinics and the recent completion of their Singapore home resulted in the project being shelved for some time; but when their third child was born, Z and Aivee decided it was time to build their Manila home. Both prefer modern design, which they feel is reflected in Singaporean architecture, so it was natural for them to commission the same architects who had helped create their Singapore home. “There’s something very young about Singaporean design,” Aivee says. “I wanted a different look for us because we’re a young couple with young kids. I wanted the house to truly reflect our personality.” For construction logistics, the Teos flew in the architects Khoo Boo Aik and Malcolm Chua from the Singaporean design firm AVID once a month to work on the design, but commissioned the Filipino architect Anthony Nazareno to execute the work.
This aesthetic alliance brought the couple’s vision of a city-based oasis to life, and allowed Aivee to hone her sense of style. Neutral colours bathed in warm lights dominate the indoors; according to Aivee, these reflect her personality more than pops of colour, which are quietly spread out in the house. Proclaiming herself a frustrated interior designer, she describes how she painstakingly researched furniture pieces that felt right for their home. “I found out that I liked the simplicity and durability of Italian furniture. I liked the clean lines, which made the pieces minimalist but still homey.” Among the many fine pieces found around the Teo home are an iconic armchair designed by Gio Ponti for Molteni & C in the living room, and a set of Kettal dining table and chairs by Rodolfo Dordoni that are a perfect fit with the outdoor lanai. Fabric and texture were important considerations as well.
Having honed her personal aesthetic and a feel for modern-contemporary spaces, Aivee continues