Enigmatic and handsome, Spaniard JAIME HAYON has been blurring the lines between art, design and interiors since founding his design studio in 2001. He has become world renowned for his unique style and was recently in Singapore to open new designer furniture store, the Fritz Hansen Lounge, which he designed. We sat down with him to ask about his inspiration for the look of this luxury showroom interior, and about his amazing career.
Is the Fritz Hansen showroom the first work you’ve done in Singapore?
Yes! This is the first interior I have created here; I’m really excited about it as I love this city and I love the quality of the spaces and retailers.
Fritz Hansen is a high-end furniture company; I believe it represents the best of furniture design worldwide. So the Fritz Hansen Lounge needed a high-end finish and obviously functional pieces. To be here in Singapore and see this representation of my work is wonderful.
What was your inspiration for the showroom design?
I wanted to create microcapsule spaces where people can imagine themselves being. There are a lot of stores around the world that sell furniture pieces that are too mixed and don’t have a theme. Our aim here was to have a “house in a house”. So, we have different areas and spaces where you can visualise yourself – be it in a house or a hotel, or in a luxury lobby or an airline lounge.
People will experience the store in a much more realistic way, while at the same time getting inspired. Because, in the end, isn’t it about getting inspiration on how to use the furniture? Can you imagine yourself sitting on your new sofa reading a book? Or sitting in a beautiful lounge chair, drinking a little wine in the afternoon after work? This is how I see it. The concept is to have a beautiful space with wonderful materials and inspirational elements that will make you feel at home.
I also wanted to be able to offer our customers in Singapore a respite from the tropical climate in a cool Scandinavian space. It will be the home for designer furniture in Singapore.
You’ve been designing since your university days; what are you most proud of?
For me, there are so many different moments, I’ve been very consistent in the last 20 years – growing and growing. At the moment, the three disciplines I touch are very interesting. I’m an interior designer but at the same time, I work with the industrial design industry, creating objects and furniture, and also the fine art business with galleries and institutions. This year, I’ve done nine retrospectives including one in Korea and last week in the Dali Museum; that shows a little bit of my standing within the art and design business.
Everything in my career has been a continual growing line, with every project helping the other. I don’t have a specific moment I’m most proud of, but I’m proud that everything I create is of good quality, and that my team has become like a family to me. My work makes me extremely happy. There’s this energy and enthusiasm we have going on all the time, and I think I disseminate that to my clients! Well, to the best I can, anyway!
What do you love most about Singapore?
I love to walk around and see architecture and new places, talk to people and catch up with old friends that I have in the city. Singapore has always been a base for a lot of people, and for me as well. There are people I consider as family living here.
I find it a very inspirational place to chat to people too. A good conversation can inspire me for future projects. I’ll keep visiting Singapore until the end of my days!
“It is important to remember that my design is made for humans – to be used by humans. I believe that design should provoke emotions. Design should make you feel good. Create happiness.”
– Jaime Hayon
About the store
The 400-square-metre Fritz Hansen Lounge is now open in the Tan Boon Liat Building, in conjunction with local partner, W.Atelier. The showroom features the brand’s full range of luxury designer furniture including pieces from iconic names such as Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjærholm, Hans J. Wegner and Piet Hein, and modern designers such as Jaime Hayon, Cecilie Manz, Hiromichi Konno and Jehs+Laub.
The store will also feature the new JH97 lounge chair by Jaime Hayon that was launched at Milan Design Week 2019.
#13-08 Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Road
fritzhansen.com
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