Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Amanda Gunawan knew that she wished to be an architect by the point she was 10 years outdated, and she or he fastidiously mapped out her journey from then on. Journey was a key factor of her enrichment as she thought-about numerous buildings whereas learning on the Southern California Institute of Structure (SCI-Arc). One explicit constructing, nevertheless, made an enduring impression.
Gunawan analyzed the Tama Artwork College Library in Japan by way of books and pictures, however to view it in individual, she needed to make a 45-minute trek throughout a rainstorm. But nothing may have ready her for the expertise she had on the website. “I had by no means felt extra impressed to turn into an architect,” she says. “Seeing the immense effort from each stakeholder attain such a stage of perfection – and figuring out it was achievable – stuffed me with a way of assurance not like something I’d ever felt earlier than.”
Photograph: Helena Worth
The Los Angeles-based design and construct agency OWIU Design (Solely Approach Is Up Design) was based in 2018. The brainchild of Gunawan and Joel Wong, the duo and their employees tackle a spread of initiatives, from furnishings design to interiors and landscaping.
On the studio, there may be little distinction between work and residential areas, which fosters camaraderie among the many group. Even team-building is relaxed, with actions happening on the kitchen counter throughout the workplace. It’s no shock then that OWIU Items, the agency’s housewares line, started as an informal interest when the workforce signed up for a membership at a close-by ceramics studio.
“Our inside design purchasers started requesting particular ceramic items for his or her houses, so increasing in that route simply made sense for us,” Gunawan notes. “Earlier than we knew it, everybody grew to become so invested, and what began as small customized initiatives became lots of, and finally, hundreds of orders. All of it occurred steadily and felt very natural.”
At present, Amanda Gunawan joins us for Friday 5!
Beniya Mukayu is a surprising ryokan (Japanese-style inn) situated within the Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan. What units this place aside is its deep dedication to artwork and design. Staying right here appears like being in an artwork museum, with each factor thoughtfully curated to create a singular expertise of residing with/ being surrounded by artwork. The ryokan options each everlasting and rotating installations by famend Japanese artists like Kenya Hara and Tatsuo Miyajima, mixing artwork with on a regular basis life like having fun with breakfast beside a relaxing set up, or stress-free in a library the place the set up is a part of the ambiance. The interiors are crammed with designer furnishings and objects are scattered all through the rooms and shared areas, including to the aesthetic enchantment. It’s each a calming and provoking place and I all the time have such a memorable expertise. To not point out this ryokan has one of the best kaiseki meal (coursed Japanese fashion dinner) of any ryokans I’ve been to. The pictures are each taken by me.
Photograph: Official Berlin Marathon
2. Operating
Operating is an integral a part of my life and has very a lot formed me into who I’m at present. It’s a fixed in my life – it’s there, it’s accessible for me. I can do it each time I would like, wherever I would like, so long as I’ve received a pair of sneakers. In that means, it’s nearly meditative. Once I’m operating, I really feel like I’m transported to a unique world, a form of vortex the place I’m alone with my ideas and utterly in tune with my physique. It’s taught me a lot about life, bringing me face-to-face with a few of my hardest however most necessary, truths. Operating brings out components of myself I may not all the time discover and helps me perceive myself higher. It’s constructed my sense of consistency and belief by self-discipline and a dedication to complete robust. Nevertheless it’s additionally taught me to be forgiving, to keep in mind that, like operating, life is a journey with ups and downs. The important thing isn’t to maintain rating, however to benefit from the course of.
On that be aware, I’m completely obsessive about the model ON. I’m proud to say I used to be an early adopter – I first found them once they had a tiny sales space at a 5K run I joined in Singapore. I received my very first pair of ON sneakers there, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve sometimes “cheated” on that pair with different manufacturers and all the time find yourself coming again. The model has developed a lot since then, and it’s simple to see why. They continually shock their followers, pushing the boundaries within the operating world with cutting-edge expertise and a number of the coolest merchandise. Their alternative of superstar endorsements is so spot-on, and their artistic artistic campaigns are all the time tremendous recent. Not even exaggerating – I’ve purchased round 20 pairs of ON sneakers through the years and satisfied a bunch of my associates to leap on board too. And truthfully, regardless of having so many pairs, I’m all the time nonetheless bought on the latest launch as a result of each has a brilliant cool design I’ve by no means seen earlier than.
That is the final word useful resource ebook for something and all the things associated to residential initiatives. Watching Native Mission movies has turn into a part of my wind-down routine earlier than mattress – their content material is so fantastically shot and calming. They curate a number of probably the most beautiful initiatives on the market and seize them in a means that’s nearly poetic, with a cinematic contact. Their espresso desk books are a few of my favorites – I’ve them each at house and in my workplace, and I flip by them each time I want a fast dose of inspiration. It’s additionally my default present for individuals once I want to seek out one in brief discover.
Flos is my absolute favourite lighting firm proper now! I’ve received seven of their lights simply in my house alone. They create practical artwork by lighting, reworking any area into one thing that appears like a museum, with each bit resembling an artwork set up. I really like sitting at house, simply taking within the view of my Flos items. Their lights undergo an in depth course of from idea to launch, with a lot consideration poured into perfecting each element, and it actually exhibits.
Once I first noticed Chidy’s paintings, I knew I wished a chunk for my house. His artwork is daring, dynamic and deeply evocative whereas remaining easy exploring themes of human connection. Each bit evokes uncooked vitality with layered textures. It was one factor to see his work on a pc display and one other utterly completely different expertise seeing them in individual, in all of its grandeur, with the entire little intricacies and particulars fastidiously hidden behind the daring strokes.
Works by Amanda Gunawan and OWIU Design:
Photograph: Justin Chung
Photograph: Justin Chung
Photograph: Finbarr Fallon
Photograph: Justin Chung
Photograph: Finbarr Fallon
Photograph: Alexandra Lopez
Photograph: Nastassia Brukin
