Meet The Designers Behind Iconic Buildings in Singapore

Antonio Citterio, Philippe Starck and Patricia Urquiola — these three acclaimed designers have more than just talent in common. They’ve all either designed or furnished buildings in Singapore as well. Read on to find out more about these prolific creative personalities.

ANTONIO CITTERIO

Born in 1950 in the Italian city of Meda, Antonio Citterio graduated from the Politecnico di Milano with a degree in architecture and is one of the most sought-after designers internationally. His multidisciplinary studio has worked on numerous prestigious projects the likes of the Bulgari Hotels in Milan, London, and Bali, and the Printemps boutique in Paris.

In Singapore, the Milan-based architect was the designer behind residential development, Orchard Boulevard. Responsible for all aspects of its design, from the architecture to the interior decoration, this was considered a rare project for Citterio.

Taking inspiration from hotels, the development looks more like a five-star resort than residential apartments. It comes with lush gardens, suspended swimming pools and spacious bedrooms. The final result is a true reflection of the designer’s ‘contemporary classic’ philosophy.

Known for his sleek and chic designs, the father-of-two is also a well-established industrial designer who has created products for many luxury furniture and household brands: Vitra, B&B Italia, Hansgrohe and Hermès are just a few examples.

In particular, his collaboration with Italian brand Kartell (known for its contemporary plastic furniture) has produced some stunning pieces such as the Spoon Bar Stool, Glossy Table, and the Battista, Flip, and Gastone Trolleys, all of which reflect Citterio’s timeless creative style.

For his elegant work, he has earned the moniker ‘Gentleman of Design’, alongside many awards and accolades. Several of Citterio’s products are part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

PHILIPPE STARCK

Philippe Starck is a French designer known for his interior, product and industrial designs. A graduate of the Ecole Camondo in Paris, the inimitable designer once worked for Pierre Cardin before turning his attention to industrial design and working with brands and manufacturers such as Alessi, Vitra and Disform.

Starck is known for his simple yet inventive aesthetic and subscribes to a design philosophy that he has termed “democratic design” — design that provides high quality products at accessible prices.

His long-term collaboration with Italian design company Kartell, is a prime example. The ubiquitous Kartell Louis Ghost Chair for instance, is a relatively affordable piece of designer furniture, resulting in sales of over a million units. Other impeccable Kartell pieces include the Mr. Impossible Chair, Miss Balu Table, La Boheme Stool, Uncle Jack Sofa, and Uncle Jim Armchair. The Kartell Masters Chair, in particular, was awarded the prestigious ‘2010 Good Design Award’ presented by the Chicago Athenaeum — Museum of Architecture and Design, and the 2013 Red Dot Design Award.

Apart from furniture and products, Starck is known for his hotel interior design work as well. In Singapore, he has worked on two hotels — M Social and The South Beach — both featuring and reflecting Starck’s signature bold and creative flair.

M Social is a modern mix of raw concrete, Spanish floor tiles and mixed-media, culminating in a space that Starck has described as “a stage dedicated to creative people”. The more eclectically designed The South Beach shows off Starck’s more playful side with funky furniture and splashes of bright colour. The hotel offers a sensory experience for its guests with rooms boasting fun names such as Showcase Me, Showcase You and Showcase Her — a women’s only room that comes with a facial steamer and hair straightener.

Starck has won numerous awards including the Oscar du Luminaire in 1980, the Harvard Excellence in Design Award in 1997 and the Compasso d’Oro in 2001. In 2007, he was the first designer to participate in the TED Talks and his talk, titled ‘Design and destiny’ remains one of the most popular talks to date.

PATRICIA URQUIOLA

Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola studied architecture at the Madrid Politecnico and the Politecnico di Milano before serving as assistant lecturer to Achille Castiglioni and Eugenio Bettinelli at the same university.

Currently living and working in Milan where she honed her craft, her portfolio includes the Officine Panerai retail boutiques in Milan, Florence, Paris, New York and Hong Kong, the Das Stue Hotel in Berlin, and the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona.

One of her latest projects is the Oasia Hotel Downtown in Singapore (opened recently in April 2016) where she designed an organic-themed interior that fully showcases her signature modern yet whimsical design aesthetic. The nature-inspired look of the hotel was created to offer guests a comfortable experience — they wait on plush sofas and armchairs while waiting to check in — as they enjoy the surrounding greenery and breathtaking views of the city.

Known for her playful yet contemporary designs that are extremely versatile and functional, Urquiola is one of the most famous female designers around. She has collaborated with brands such as Alessi, B&B Italia and Baccarat. Through her work with Kartell, Urquiola created a range of beautiful products such as the Comeback Chair, Clap Chair, line of T Tables, Usame Table, Foliage Sofa and Armchair as well as the Jellies Family range of tableware.

The designer was also awarded the Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes in 2001 and the Order of Isabella the Catholic by King Juan Carlos 1 of Spain. Her products are part of the permanent collection at museums like MoMa (where her Fjord armchair is showcased) and Triennale Milano.