Works of Art
Using laminates from Arova, the winners of the Designers on the Rise category crafted stylish sculptures that celebrate the versatility of the material
This year, the Tatler Design Awards unveiled a new category, entitled Designers on the Rise. Sponsored by local laminate brand Arova, Designers on the Rise recognised the achievements of three f ledging firms: Archluxe, Quod Architects and Sujonohun. To celebrate the opening of Arova’s new showroom, the three studios created sculptures that represent their creative philosophy, using Arova’s extensive catalogue of laminates.
According to Diong Fuhan, principal of Quod Architects, the sculpture quintessentially captures the firm’s nature-inspired inf luences; she selected a woodgrain laminate as the main focus of her artwork. “We always try to incorporate natural elements in our work; we wanted to communicate that into this sculpture, which is why we used sinuous curves and natureinspired details in its design,” says Diong. The dark timber tone provides a classic and timeless look, and the curvaceous form is an architectural statement.
Similarly, Archluxe’s sculpture is a symbolic representation of the importance the firm places on teamwork. “We went with a pyramid design because it is one of the strongest shapes in the world,” says principal designer Sean Hafiz.
“We believe that the basic structure, principles, values and goals for the firm have to be really strong from the start for the company
to grow. We cut short the tip of the pyramid because we’re still growing, which is why it’s an unfinished pyramid.”
The firm chose a mix of dark and light wood laminates to clad the exterior of the sculpture, while a marble-like laminate was selected as a surprise element for the base of the sculpture.
For co-founders Sujono Lim and Molina Hun of Sujonohun, their creation presented a chance for them to explore a new approach to the material. “Laminates have always been used as a decorative finish,” says Lim. “We wanted to see if laminates could stand on their own; we created the entire structure using just laminates, screws and punching holes.”
Their multidimensional sculpture features various solid-coloured laminates in a curvilinear composition, held in place with brass screws. “We needed to test the strength and f lexibility of the laminates in creating a circular shape,” says Hun.
The firm also hopes that its creation encourages other designers to experiment with various materials. Adds Lim: “That’s what the new showroom is for; you can always visit to see all the different materials you can experiment with.”