Design Democracy Now!
d+a|Issue 125
Our objective in the first Case Study Villa is to develop a system that will make an architecturally designed home accessible to a wider audience
Greg Shand
Design Democracy Now!

As an architect, I’ve spent a large part of my career studying Japanese art, architecture, and language, and developed a deep appreciation of the paintings of Toko Shinoda.

To me they exemplify elegant simplicity, yet there is a dynamic to the minimalism that makes them timeless. This is the governing philosophy in my work, and for my own design and build project, this was my design brief.

Ascend – Toko Shinoda

It has long been the dream of mine to design and build a home away from home with an ocean view. I contend that in beautiful natural settings, the architect’s ego should bow to the magnificence of the surrounding nature. Rather than impose a materialistic object in a landscape, the composition and layering of spaces should create the dynamism from within by framing views, modulating light, and creating anticipation.

Having worked as an architect in Asia for over 28 years, I’ve had the privilege of designing over 20 homes next to the ocean in Singapore’s Sentosa Cove, where I currently reside.

Whilst Singapore is a fascinating and invigorating place to live, the concept of a getaway home in an inspiring, natural setting, reminiscent of my home country New Zealand, led me on a quest to find a site.

After years of searching, the ideal location presented itself just 2.5hrs flight from Singapore; a tropical volcanic island in Indonesia with dramatic untouched hillsides and limitless ocean views.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 125 من d+a.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 125 من d+a.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من D+A مشاهدة الكل
Tailored For The Curious Explorer
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Tailored For The Curious Explorer

The new Alma House at the New Bahru enclave reflects the collaborative spirit of a school environment.

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Issue 134
Eco And Egalitarian
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Eco And Egalitarian

Can a building represent a culture? Berrel Kräutler Architekten's sensitive renovation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore stimulates discourse.

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Issue 134
Building A Green Home
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Building A Green Home

This semi-detached house by Zivy Architects explores passive tropical design, the delight in architecture and the issues of multi-generational living.

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Issue 134
The Natural Balance
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The Natural Balance

Inspired by the serene beauty of dewdrops, the Antao Collection by Villeroy & Boch transforms bathrooms into wellness sanctuaries, combining sustainability with timeless elegance.

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2 mins  |
Issue 134
Inspiring Creativity And Exploration
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Inspiring Creativity And Exploration

The new Hafary House at Lavender reflects the brand’s vibrancy and innovation, as well as provide an inspiring and engaging space for customers.

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Issue 134
Home Is Where The Heart Is
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Home Is Where The Heart Is

A vacation house is reimagined for a multi-generational family to gather for holidays in the bucolic setting of Yongjia in Zhejiang, China.

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4 mins  |
Issue 134
balancing act: nature and humanity
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balancing act: nature and humanity

In this inspiration-led series, we asked Jay Liu and Alex Liu, co-founders of Right Angle Studio, to dream up a unique interior concept using mainly items from Space Furniture.

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Issue 134
rethinking, remaking, reframing
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rethinking, remaking, reframing

Aoki Akio, the founder of DESIGNART TOKYO discusses the importance and legacy of Tokyo's eminent art and design event, particularly for young creatives.

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5 mins  |
Issue 134
rebuilding communities
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rebuilding communities

Shift2024, the much-anticipated conference returns with a stellar line-up of prolific architects making their mark in Asian urban design.

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Issue 134
unparalleled italian craftsmanship
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unparalleled italian craftsmanship

Filippo Arnaboldi, Chief Executive Officer of Frette, tells us how this luxury lifestyle Italian brand is moving forward with times yet not forgetting about its existing legacy.

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4 mins  |
Issue 134