AB Concept co-founder Ed Ng discusses the art of creating focal points and the growing influence of Asia in the world of design
What does a great designer and a talented chef have in common? If you asked interior designer Ed Ng of AB Concept, it’s their creative spirit. “I feel like I’m a chef; whenever I travel for a new project, instead of bringing all of my ‘ingredients’ in my suitcase, I combine my know-how with local elements for a new invention,” quips the itinerant designer. “That’s why we are able to come up with something new each time.”
Co-founded by Ng and architect Terence Ngan in 1999, Hong Kong-based practice AB Concept has built their name on their timeless, multicultural approach to hospitality design, which ranges from luxury properties for W Hotels and Shangri-La in the region as well as residential projects around the world.
“We consider ourselves as storytellers of spaces. It’s not just about designing the hardware and selecting the materials used—it’s more about the experience that you can create,” explains Ng. Over a leisurely lunch in Singapore, he tells us more about the secret to crafting spaces that inspire and how the affluent in Asia are now shaping the global aesthetic.
(Related: The Tatler 10: Best Southeast Asian Beach Resorts)