Mood Board: Singapore Designer Hunn Wai Hand-Picks a Toaster and More Inspiring Pieces

Lanzavecchia + Wai co-founder Hunn Wai shares his shortlist of pieces that spark inspiration

“Everything is worthy of better design,” says industrial designer Hunn Wai. Whether it's a toaster oven or a chair, the 2016 Generation T lister firmly believes that good design can help improve our daily lives.

The co-founder of Singapore and Milan-based practice Lanzavecchia + Wai most recently designed chairs for the Red House Seafood flagship restaurant in a collaborative project with local interdisciplinary studio Farm; the latter took charge of the interior design of the seafood restaurant at Grand Copthorne Waterfront.

Here, he shares more about the collections on his mind right now.

1. RH01 chair by Lanzavecchia + Wai

Photo 1 of 2 The RH01 chairs were specially designed by Lanzavecchia + Wai for the Red House Seafood restaurant at Grand Copthorne Waterfront. Interior photography: Khoo Guojie

Photo 2 of 2 The interior design of the Redhouse Seafood Restaurant by Farm playfully incorporates Asian elements and seafood motifs

Specially designed for the Red House restaurant group, the RH01 chair weaves a sense of heritage with its modern form. The project is a collaboration between design firms Farm and Lanzavecchia + Wai. “RH01 is a contemporary expression of the woven rattan chairs that used to populate post-war Southeast Asia’s dining rooms and eateries,” says Wai.

2. Fritz Hansen PK25 lounge chair by Poul Kjærholm, from W. Atelier

Although this lounge chair is an early work by the prominent Danish designer, its now-timeless design is remarkable in its simplicity. “Kjærholm’s graduation project is a masterpiece that poetically blends industrially available materials,” says Wai.

Available from W. Atelier

See also: What Makes Good Design?

3. Balmuda Steam Toaster Oven

There is beauty in the mundane, as evident in this oven. “This toaster oven has just one function: to make perfect toast. It’s the flagship product of Tokyo-based brand Balmuda, whose philosophy is an inspiration to any design entrepreneur,” says the designer.

Available from balmuda.com

4. Cassina 699 Superleggera Chair by Gio Ponti, from Space Furniture

The work of Italian architect Gio Ponti continues to inspire Wai, and of his extensive oeuvre, this chair left an indelible impact. “An absolute technical and aesthetic achievement, this wooden chair weighs 1.7kg and has a cross-section of just 18mm.”

Available from Space Furniture

5. Exto Clockwork Cabinet by Lanzavecchia + Wai

This playful cabinet makes its brass fixtures the focal point; it can be opened by shifting the decorative handle in a clockwise motion—hence its name. “Clockwork celebrates some of the functional elements that are usually invisible. We have enlarged hinges and locks, emphasising and enhancing them to further decorate and embellish the unit,” explains Wai.

Available from extoworld.it

The June-July 2020 issue of Tatler Homes Singapore is available with our compliments on Magzter

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design decor furniture lanzavecchia + wai singapore design Tastemaker Design picks