markthatdesign

Again, it has been a while since my last entry. Work has been eating up my blogging time yet again. Though I won't give up on this just yet. I still enjoy writing despite my not-so-good english and all that. Speaking of writing, I officially had my first chance to write something for a magazine.

The story began last summer when I was informed about this collaboration with none other than, Space Design & Travel magazine. I was actually one of their 11 people to watch out for 2011 which I am still honored to be part of that list. Months later, the editor-in-chief, Sheryl Songsong and the creative director, Carolyn Lee and famous fashion photographer Roy Macam and I had our first meeting at Lusso.

The brief was made and the ideas came pouring in. A fashion architecture theme once again which really excited me very much. As you may have read from my previous posts, I always see fashion as something that greatly influence my design and way of life.



It was such a great opportunity. A dream come true. More of my thoughts about this collaboration on my editor's note as the guest design editor for this issue below.



Can't read it? Get a copy now. The time on its stands will be over soon so grab a copy!

Of course, with this collaboration, my projects are greatly featured in this issue with fashion shoots on four of my residential houses. From House No2, No3, No5 and No6 which was greatly executed by Roy Macam of course and top model Ana Sideco draped with wonderful fabrics from Larry's fashioned by Estien Quijano and make-up by Edwin Ramos.





Roy even had to get on top of the van to take the shot of Ana at the top of House No6's roof deck of the living area. We braved the heat and rains as well. It was such a wonderful packed week of shooting but it was all fun and rewarding especially when the magazine was finally out three months ago. The excitement and thrill of seeing most of my work out in a magazine.





The houses of course were also given their own section on its architecture and interiors. More on that on my next entry. :)

Interior + Design + Art + Installation?

I love doing details on my projects. Especially the ones which allows me to work on site and clients giving me freehand to experiment. One project was Click Digital Post, Inc. Years ago, they hired me to do their office and experimented with a ceiling treatment using wood veneer. At that time, it was a fairly new product and saw a lot of potential with thin sheets of real wood that comes in rolls like ribbon.

The big difference though is its flexibility. The real ribbon can be curled, folded, tied without breaking it. This one in wood veneer was too brittle. Rolling it with a small radius will definitely make it crack and destroy its beauty.

This challenged me and wanted to prove otherwise. I added some construction elements to make it follow the desired shape and it worked!

Bringing an entire box of curved wood that looks like wood shavings startled the x-ray machine controller at the local airport asking what it was. They even had to take a peek.

I assembled them into several groups along the main hall and added lighting in each section.



Fast forward to this year, the office had to move to a bigger space and I was given the chance once again to do the interiors. Luckily, one of the guys at Click managed to save the wooden veneer ceiling treatment. Some got damaged and had to throw away some. What was left, I still did use it as a ceiling treatment but instead of spreading them in groups, I decided to let it grow. Inspired from Ron Arad's growing Do-Lo-Rez (see, I am haunted by it!), the wooden veneer grows out of one corner and unfurls its wooden "shavings".





From the other side of the hall.

I hope this will last for another five years or even longer than that. I wonder, is this also considered as an installation of sorts? Hmmm...

One thing's for sure, I love my job.

More photos of the old Click Digital Post, Inc. office here.

Not just a want of the moment but rather obsession of the month. Or even for the next few months or forever.



It is none other than the Do-Lo-Rez sofa by Ron Arad manufactured by Moroso. Need I say more?

I have been wanting to own a piece of major Moroso furniture. Could this be it??!?! I have already checked the area for it and it fits snugly on one corner though it would be best if it can be viewed on all sides. It deserves all the attention it needs.

Like a growing piece of furniture, the square cube stretches to become a seat and further stretches at the rear to become the back rest. Brilliant. The seat is not even at all equal to channel users to move around and look for the best spot. It may not be THAT comfortable but what the heck, it is the Do-Lo-Rez designed by Ron Arad for Moroso. Love.

What's with October 3?

The arrival of Tom Dixon. No, not the brand, the designer himself!

A few months back, the brand Tom Dixon has touched Philippine ground. Available at the 3rd Floor of MOS Building at High Street right at the middle of the long stretch of Bonifacio.



I have been a big fan of Tom Dixon ever since I started getting into design. The very first thing I knew of him was because of the Jack light in fluoro orange and has been a fan since.



His lighting fixtures are also something worth checking out. And these even look better in numbers. Just as I did in one of my projects. Have your own Mirror Ball light in that dining table for 12. Yes, 12 Mirror Ball lamps too!



Anyway, I am getting sidetracked. He is coming for a lecture series which he has been doing the past weeks around Asia. And thankfully, Manila is one of his stops.





Registration is free and it has limited slots. For more information, see flyer below.



Exciting! The last time I have attended a lecture from a world known designer was Gaetano Pesce whom I greatly respect. I think I ought to write something about him soon. :)

I hope Tom won't disappoint!

All photos taken at the Tom Dixon showroom.

Last summer, I was flown by my client who is based in HK for a meeting and sourcing for some fixtures and furniture for her residence in Manila. It was a fun sourcing time and was able to see a lot of new items that have yet to be released in the Philippines. 

Unfortunately, I was not able to take photos for my blog as I was busy with my client. Of course, professionalism always comes first. 

Anyway, we were able to finish our sourcing a day early and had a day off to shop. Having just a day, I decided to veer off the main shopping malls and went to the Prada outlet store in the south of
the HK island for some sole retail therapy. 


I was not really looking into buying bags as I am still in a bag ban. Yes, I was able to uphold this ban for more than a year now! But that is another topic to talk about next time. Back to our main topic, I went there just to see what is in store...

Then I found one shoe that was calling out for me out of the dozens and dozens of shoes from the display rack. A hi-cut fall-winter shoe from 2010's collection. Made of leather and white rubber soles, it was just the perfect antidote. 





Though it was calling for me, I had to think over an hour if I could bring myself in spending Php18,000++ for a pair of shoes. My highest so far prior to this also another Prada shoe which I also got from another outlet store in Milan. But in the end, I succumbed to buying it and have no regrets since. Perhaps what is bothering me is wanting another pair of Prada shoes!!!

Here are the photos. This is long overdue. I have been using it quite more often lately due to the wet season here in the PH!








And for every Prada pair of shoes, there always come the dust bag which I really like.

It has been seriously a long while since my last blog entry!

I have just gotten more busy with work and extra curricular activities. I will be blogging about them pretty soon. Hopefully, I am allowed some free time from everyone from work to home to blog a few entries here and there. I am also very excited to share with you my guest design editor stint with Space magazine! 

I am also currently working with some new clients whom I hope I can work with more often in the future and of course satisfy them with my designs. 

There is so much in store which I would really like to share very soon. 

The bag that I almost purchased but got sidetracked when I personally saw the Goyard Croisiere for the first time in 2007. Two years later, I found it once again and didn't let my hands off it. Another year and a half has passed and I still enjoy using it with no regrets. 



The Louis Vuitton Tobago Carryall in Yellow. I had to take a photo while I tried sitting on the Annett Chair. Placed it on top of Konstantin Grcic's Table One in black. The lighting was too good. 



I still hope that Louis Vuitton would bring back a piece of Tobago. Just even accessories would be great. I missed the pocket organizer. 

Ever since I had an office, I have always been on the lookout for a modern office chair available locally. It always failed me, either the design is not modern enough or not unique enough or the piece was just made in China. 

I already have two offices now and coincidentally, both my office chairs are vintage pieces as I truly cannot find a modern piece perfect for my own use. One sourced locally at The Drawing Room, an Eames original 50s Office staff chair and the other from Singapore another vintage piece from a few decades ago, an Arne Jacobsen Oxford chair in original purple upholstery. 



In recent years, the choices for good modern office chairs are much better now. One of these is from Magis, perhaps not designed by a celebrity designer but the piece is looking smart and handsome. It is the Annett Office Chair. This pieces reminds me of Herman Miller's Aeron Chair but simpler and less complicated. I like. I tried it on and it was comfortable. The price is not that bad for a designer piece made in Italy at Php55,950.00. Some of you might think it is still too expensive but it is cheap when you compare it to Vitra's Meda Chair by one my fave designers Alberto Meda at more than a hundred thousand!



Available at Dimensione.

Last summer, I had a short trip to Davao with friends. We went to this pasalubong center where one could buy anything from Mindanao. I can be wrong but I keep on getting confused whether it is Advingkula or Aldevinco Center. Haha. 

Anyway, I was actually interested to look out for some nice graphic Mindanaoan fabrics. Something I can frame or something like it. I am really into fabrics...and finally at a store in the midst of the search, I found some really interesting color combinations. The quality of the fabric and its embroidery(?) were good. Fabrics can really inspire and provokes one's thoughts...



I wanted to this home but the price kept me at bay. Later I was told it was expensive because it was vintage and original. Dating back to the early 1900s at least. Well, that is according to the store's SAs. 

Nevertheless, what I can take home was these photos. Still, I am inspired. 

Ever since I saw the Jack Light years ago. I was drawn to it. The simplicity of the design and how a simple "jack stone" can become a nice accent lighting. Plus, the fluoro orange color made it even more attractive. 



At that time, I wanted to know who designed it. After some quick research, I then knew Tom Dixon. And I have been a fan since. I am still hoping to own that Jack Light soon enough. 

Problem is, Tom Dixon is still not represented here in the Philippines. I have heard from Megamax Concepts that they are bringing the brand in but nothing concrete yet. But this space is worth checking out. I seriously cannot wait for Tom Dixon to be readily available here!

Anyhow, that is my short story with how I got to know his designs. Fast forward to 2011, I have used his lights on one project and I am super happy with it. The closest thing to owning one of his pieces is specifying them on my projects. 



And just a few days ago, I saw Wallpaper retweeted Tom Dixon's limited run of a bag called the Fluoro Bag and in Dixon's ubiquitous orange. I like. So I instantly tweeted to my brother who is currently based in UK if he can order it for me. With no reply nor acknowledgement, I thought he would send me a message in a day or two. But instead, in a day or two, I got an email from him sending the details of the order and delivery! What a quick want and then having it in days time...even faster than actually blogging about it. Fun. I can't wait for the bag to get here. 

Best of all, the bag only costs less than twenty British Pounds! Now I finally own a piece of Tom Dixon! Haha.

Here are the details of the bag taken from the Tom Dixon website. 

Exclusively available online in partnership with Blackberry, the Tom Dixon Fluoro Bag is made from durable PVC in our signature fluoro orange. The bag features an extra long strap allowing it to be worn across the shoulder and a large front pocket.