Note from the editor, Diana Khoo:
Being able to ring in 2023 without the shadow of Covid-19 hanging over our heads is something glorious to cherish indeed. And while all of us found comfort and refuge in our respective little havens, there is a lot to be grateful for when our eyes are allowed to wander and be inspired once again. In this issue, we are pleased to feature the Swiss residence of proud homeowner Singaporean Sonia Tan from Page 38 onwards. The apartment, in a sold-out residential development, redefines the idea of modern alpine living.
Still in an overseas state of mind, we profile the newer additions to New York’s skyline from an aquatic vantage point — courtesy of a recent trip with the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects aboard a restored yacht as part of its hugely popular architectural boat tours. From Thomas Heatherwick’s Little Island to the third and latest Google campus in the city that purportedly never sleeps, read about the structures and developments that caught our attention along the waterfront on Page 66.
A new year also means new ideas, new perspectives. And who has their fingers, collectively, on the pulse of things better than the country’s sharpest architects? Curious about what design trends and architectural waves are being made in the industry, turn to Page 46 to find out what Dr Tan Loke Mun, Nic Proud, Fabian Tan and Lim Take Bane have to say. We are also delighted to have had the chance to sit and chat with Anton Sebi and John Ding of Unit One to discuss the outcome of Yap Ah Shak House, Kuala Lumpur’s smartest and most stylish new place to work. Two key takeaways (or Ding-isms, as I like to call them) from that afternoon include: “There’s no point designing the most beautiful idea in our heads if the end result is impractical” and “Just as architects know how to start, they must likewise know when to finish”. See the fruits of the creative labour between Anton and John on Page 52.
We have also tweaked our entertaining section to include not just published cookery authors, but also real individuals with real kitchens, real pantries and real dining rooms. After all, we might never be a Nigella Lawson but there is a little of her in each of us. In that light, Catherine Pua-Taylor, the founder and talent behind boutique catering and private dining business Nyonya Cats, invites us over for tea, conversation and a little recipe swapping. We hope you like what we’ve done. No issue is complete without a plethora of design and styling ideas for hearth and home and, be it tablescapes for home entertaining or even the plumpest cushions to add colour (and character) to your trusty sofa, we’ve got you covered. Please enjoy the issue. Until summer then.
Haven is complimentary with every copy of The Edge Malaysia (Mar 6 issue). Get the Spring 2023 edition at your nearest newsstands now.
