Paving the Way
Hafary’s new open-plan showroom is a meticulously planned microcosm of a city that lays the groundwork for immersive consumer experiences
In any residential design project, tiles and other surfaces form the base from which an interior is crafted. Be they natural stone tiles or porcelain slabs with designs inspired by wood and marble, these materials provide both functionality and beauty when thoughtfully selected for the walls and f loors of a space.
To make its collections more accessible to customers, homegrown building materials supplier Hafary has teamed up with Park + Associates to create a show gallery with experiential spaces that bring its offerings to life. Situated within Hafary Gallery in
Paya Lebar, this 43,000sqft space—the size of approximately three Olympic-sized swimming pools—promises to inspire all who visit.
“Design is for everyone,” says Jackson Tay, chief operating officer of Hafary. “We believe that the concept and the material offerings of this new showroom can inspire designers, architects and homeowners to look beyond the traditional function of tiles and stones as mere surface coverings, and see them as elements that play an extremely important role in setting the look and feel of everyday living spaces.”
SPIRIT OF INNOVATION
Hafary comes from humble beginnings, starting out as a single shophouse selling ceramic tiles in Balestier in 1980. In the four decades since, the tile specialist has grown steadily and now boasts four showrooms islandwide, as well as an impressive catalogue of over 5,000 products, including tiles, stone and mosaic.
Hafary’s commitment to its strategy of continuous improvement shines through, even in a year mired in uncertainty due to the Covid19 pandemic. “Regardless of the situation, the new showroom has been part of Hafary’s business plans to propel ourselves ahead in the industry,” Tay explains. “With the construction of the new showroom, we’re setting ourselves apart from the competition. We believe that the showroom experience and material solutions we offer are a testament to our aspiration to progress.”
The new gallery will complement the existing showrooms in the building, with designated areas that can be easily refreshed to showcase new tile offerings throughout the year. Here, clients can explore and find out more about innovative tile application concepts, and be inspired to realise their design vision.
REALM OF STYLE
The new showroom was designed by local practice Park + Associates to offer an immersive experience. “We did not want this to be just another showroom,” says Christina Thean, design director of the awardwinning architecture firm. “The showroom is designed like a city, a world of tiles if you may, with The Plaza as the public square and heart of our showroom. Defined as a gathering space and centre of public life, this is where visitors are encouraged to gather, make conversation or contemplate the endless array of materials and begin to visualise how their ideas can be turned into reality.”
The open-plan space encourages visitors to take a “fantastical, almost dream-like journey” through a series of curated zones. These range from enigmatic spaces to those found in our everyday lives, such as dining areas or bathrooms, and demonstrate how materials can be displayed unconventionally while showcasing the many characteristics of tiles.
At the heart of the new expansion is Hafary's latest offering: large-format porcelain slabs. Spanning up to 3m in length, these tiles allow for minimal grout lines, offering visual continuity and creating the illusion of a bigger space when installed.
“This material increases the scale and style of porcelain tiles to be on par with or even beyond those of natural materials,” says Tay. “One can enjoy the benefits of porcelain with design effects that rival those of natural materials—be it the elegance and sophistication of marble, the simplicity and strength of concrete, the dramatic effects of metal, or the charm of stone.”
Nathan Yong has been called the “godfather of Singapore design”, and justifiably so. The veteran furniture designer’s illustrious oeuvre has led to multiple awards, well-received showings at global fairs, and partnerships with international manufacturers including Living Divani and Domicil.
Named Designer of the Year at the President*s Design Award 2008, Yong remains firmly grounded and retains a sense of wonderment despite his fame. “The constant thirst for knowledge to improve how we live inspires me every day,” he says.
LOCAL ROOTS
Yong graduated from Temasek Polytechnic with a diploma in Industrial Design in 1991, and had learnt about various production techniques while working as a buyer for furnishings and home accessories. His first business venture was Air Division, a retail brand which he started with friends in 1999.
It wasn’t long before Air Division started to make a name for itself with its designs and quality furniture. “I believe things should be built to last and have better values to withstand fads,” Yong says. He left the company in 2009 to start multidisciplinary consultancy Nathan Yong Design, while co-founding furniture retailer Grafunkt with business partner Jefery Kurniadidjaja in the same year. In 2010, Yong launched Folks, a brand that champions Asian-made furniture and craftsmanship.
“I started Folks because many Asian factories and workshops are operating as OEM
(original equipment manufacturer) companies for international brands, but lack (their own) original designs. We need to up our game to provide better value in our (own) goods; we’ve (already) got the population, the skills and the economy.” He explains that the Folks aesthetic is “intrinsically humble, functional and sturdy with good craftwork and well-thought details”.
Folks recently launched its third collection at Grafunkt, following a “minimalist aesthetic with an Asian modernist twist”. Also in the pipeline is a show collection for the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), which will feature an extension of the Vapour collection Yong did with Royal Selangor in 2013; the new items include shavers, containers and clocks. Incidentally, Folks sources its wood from Ahec-approved wood suppliers.
BRANCHING OUT
The holder of a Master’s Degree in design from the University of New South Wales describes himself as a “level-headed individual”, which dictates how he works his magic with readily available materials such as wood and steel. However, as a testament to Yong’s constant thirst for knowledge, he also revels in exploring new production methods.
“I recently discovered Mmgalleri, an Indonesian company that invented a technique for bending onyx and marble, which intrigues me as it creates a new typology of curvy forms for stone which was unachievable in the past,” Yong says. He developed a limited collection based on this technique for Singapore-based design and manufacturing firm Industry+, to launch later this year. The offerings at Grafunkt have also been expanded to include Arf lex Japan and Danish brand Norr11; the latter fuses Scandinavian design with Asian elements.
“Grafunkt is known for sourcing good design from every corner of the world,” he says. “We have attracted many developers and architects interested in our collections over the years, and we see the potential for business growth.” To date, Grafunkt has furnished interiors for Guocoland’s Midtown Modern and Wallich Residence, as well as Ascott Group’s Lyf hotels.
The pandemic has not put a dent in Yong’s business plans. “Many international clients are slowing down new developments so there is limited work, but I’ve always kept my studio small and only work with select clients,” he says. “The pandemic has pushed us to work on our online services, which have seen an increase in sales through our digital personal shopper service. The work-from-home arrangements and savings from no holidays make one want to change their furniture!”
Looking to the next generation, Yong hopes more young designers will “test ideas regardless of monetary rewards or fear of failure”.
And this needs to start from a young age.
“We live in a country where we are constantly watched by our parents from a young age and obeying the school rules,” he says. “But I wish everyone would let a child play and make mistakes to develop their sense of exploration, ambition and competitiveness.”