Author: admin

aman festive

 

every sunrise is a promise of renewal. this year with aman, we guard the sun’s sacredness, taking time to appreciate intimate moments under one sky. narrated across contemplative illustrations, each property’s story is captured as ephemeral snapshots overlaid on delicate textural hues of the sky as the festive character traverses space and time. from hatsuhinode in aman tokyo to amanyara’s junkanoo dancing, every illustration celebrates unique sun-soaked or moonlit rituals surrounded by rich culture and abundant nature.

these visual stories spring to life across ink and screens, from limited edition greeting cards to ethereal animations that carry the same delicate nuances expressed through the tactility of paper and meticulous handcrafting of animated movement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

grand majestic sichuan

defined by seductive extravagance through a contemporary filter, grand majestic sichuan is a space of glamorous escape. blind tigers on the emblem nod to the exclusivity and freewheeling spirit of the roaring 20s. it is a tantalising lounge for the high-flying younger generation with a sophisticated eye for modern art in a classy yet high octane setting.

in this irresistible experience, connoisseurs will indulge in spicy sichuan classics, reinvented, all served in whimsical tablewares as the perfect canvas for this visual feast. more is more in this maximalist eatery, a sensory dining experience where the opulent interiors and bold flavours are in an intoxicating two-step.

scents of dao

over the last 5,000 years, the teachings of shen nong, the father of eastern restorative herbal medicine, have been crafted into a precise methodical philosophy centred around the body’s balance and free-flowing energy systems.

adopting these learnings into the modern day, scents of dao was formed.

just as the moon circles the earth and the earth the sun, human bodies are energy systems that abide by the act of diurnal living. scents of dao unites two key elements, the sun and the moon, characterised through the merging of the two chinese symbols to become an anchor for day to night rituals that create natural harmony in our cyclical lives. this is the practice of balance and the discipline of opposing forces which create a harmonious tranquillity to our natural state.

to practice scents of dao, is to pay tribute to the healing properties of nature.

photographs by: vita mak & judy chen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maxime Dautresme

at the root of maxime dautresme’s story is passion—a family’s passion for creativity and travel. growing up, he was surrounded by asian antiquities and works of 20th-century masters. on his father’s side, a great-uncle, a tireless captain of overseas courier crossings, fascinated by the forgotten treasures of the middle kingdom. his uncle francis, a talented photographer, a renowned aesthete and precursor, was equally inspired by china, and in 1965 decided to revive the millennia-long asian savoir-faire by opening a concept store in paris displaying his 60 years of profound love for the poetry of asian daily life. his mother, the daughter of brazilian painter cicero dias and goddaughter of pablo picasso, lingered in his grandfather’s atelier, submerged by his prolific work and colourful character. this was a place that saw leger, matisse, picasso, miro, and calder come together in sleeplessness. maxime himself had an itinerant childhood in brazil, korea, japan, france, and the usa, which helped him develop a keen eye for beauty and culture.

maxime creates contexts for imaginative ideas. the integrity and detail of his work reflect his professional journey: a technical grounding in architecture and a creative pedigree with agencies working on a diverse collection of accounts. he has a deep understanding of the design process at every stage. his ability to communicate using visual language is uniquely engaging. he started his career joining the prestigious christian de portzamparc atelier of architecture in paris, and later spent several years in new york, miami, shanghai and hong kong with tbwa, ogilvy & mather and ddb. in 2011 he established the branding and design consultancy agency substance in hong kong, now with a presence in paris and dubai.

the stories he produces have a vibrancy and exoticism and encourage the consumer to participate. as part of the experience, he likes to leave appealing decorative clues and mementos, which hint at an intriguing tale. these visual triggers stimulate the imaginations of the people who see them, helping them engage in their own creative way, by filling in the gaps in the story. a love of research and historical style has given him a deep respect for the past. having lived in hong kong for almost a decade, he has contributed to the revival of its distinct culture by creating nostalgic and authentic pieces with contemporary flair.

awards & honors:
shortlist, interior designer of the year, dezeen awards china 2023
honoree, bar/lounge, interior design’s best of year awards 2022
winner, bar, club, or lounge, ahead awards asia 2023
winner, product design, red dot design award 2022
winner, visual identity, restaurant & bar design awards 2021
winner, bar of the year, frame awards 2021
shortlist, brand identity, spikes asia awards 2021
jury, d&ad professional awards
honoree, corporate cafeteria, interior design’s best of year awards 2020
winner, hong kong’s best new restaurant, t.dining best restaurants awards 2019
winner, best of category, professional interior design – hotel & resort – a&d trophy awards 2018
merit, one show
winner, perspective’s 40 under 40 award, interior design category
winner, best hotel interior, international property awards (asia pacific)
winner, best new bar, the bar awards singapore 2018
winner, best of the best, professional interior design, hotel & resort, a&d trophy awards 2018

Florian Michaux

florian, started his graphic design career freelancing for local brands in the usa, canada and australia. in 2002, he returned to paris to open his own firm, substance, where he created and produced art shows along with brand identity and online/offline digital interfaces for the likes of cointreau, quiksilver and galeries lafayettes. whilst at substance, he also served as art director at leg, creating concepts and digital brand campaigns for ​google, nike, mtv, eurostar and sfr.

the instinct to again work globally inspired his move to hong kong where supports substance’s expansion into the asian market. he continues to work between paris and hong kong combining his passion for graphic arts and user experiences into the digital landscape. florian currently serves as substance’s founder and digital creative director.

Strategy

investigating and analysing
markets to position
your brand.

Marcus Foley

with more than 30 years in the interior design industry including owning and operating one of asia’s leading interior design and construction companies, marcus brings all his skills and knowledge to substance after joining in 2020 as a partner.

marcus hails from australia and has lived in various parts of asia for 25 years. with experiences as a pioneer within the industry in late 90’s china, his ability in delivering award-winning projects across asia is a testament to his ability and dedication to design. marcus has a treasure chest of skills having worked in various roles including, interior designer, product designer, project/ client manager and construction manager. after creating and managing 16 design studios that offered a 360 degree project execution across asia pacific as the founding partner, his business was acquired by jll in 2016.

marcus’ role is to work alongside the client from orientation, to help defining a well-formulated project brief, to mapping out the team, and to achieving milestones by working along the dedicated substance team to achieve the delivery of world class services and design, thus ensuring successful project outcomes. marcus is actively working on the management and operational excellence of substance to ensure we provide our clients with the best processes, talent and design outcome. he takes a very hands-on approach and can brings value to any type of project in any location.

Identity

innovating and crafting
your brand’s core
ethos.

Packaging

measured exact,
handled with care,
packaged just right.

the library

as a curated library of vast automotive treasures, it is designed with the intent of strengthening the thread that cultivates the avid spirit for driving. fuelled with endless motion and the purest exhilaration, this place introduces an aura of stillness. capturing moments of excitement within a split second and honouring it in all its glory.

home to priceless cars and memorabilia, we aim to celebrate its air of history and unfold the fruitful narrative within. this notion has formed the backbone of our design approach and has allowed us to communicate the beauty of automotive design into the details of the space. inspired by the mechanical nature of cars, we have opted to engineer the space with mobility design in mind. each component and part that has been fittingly integrated within, can be easily assembled and disassembled to the user’s whim. deriving an unparalleled level of modularity, while maintaining an exquisite fit and finish.

our vision was to package this without losing the level of immersion we were seeking for. so we ventured out and experimented with materiality to craft a hall of infinite reflections, utilising polished stainless steel panels to create a visual journey that seamlessly plays with light and forms. exemplary of our attention to detail, we proceeded to recognise what is fundamental to the essence of a car. with cabinetry handles inspired by the ones adorned on a zagato and lounge chairs that pay homage to the ferrari dino, our design creates a platform to preserve the beauty of the past and celebrate the emotions of the future.