A couple’s love for the land of simple beauty and craft is reflected in the Japanese-style interiors of their Singapore apartment by Wilma Wu Design Studio
Wilma Wu’s beautiful oeuvre is defined by elegance, attentiveness, rich materiality and an authentic, subtle Asian sensibility. The Singapore-based designer founded her eponymous practice after working for world-renowned hospitality firm HBA and boutique design studio Jaya International; at the latter, she tutored under the legendary late Indonesian interior designer Jaya Ibrahim. She currently leads her namesake firm with her partner and design director Ian Lee.
A good example of her work is an apartment at Nassim Park Residences in Singapore, where an Indonesian-Chinese couple with three young children reside. This 5,000 sq ft ground floor unit, which came with a private swimming pool and terrace for outdoor dining, is infused with the simplicity and serenity found in Japanese interior design. The owner wanted to explore a more minimalist style for their new abode, after having lived in previous homes that featured a more streamlined, contemporary Italian bent.
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“They really missed travelling to Japan and thought it would be nice to have a home with Japanese influences that blends in with the tropical context. They would love to return home feeling relaxed, to a place with the vibe of a holiday home. Of course, as this is a long- term residence, [a sense of ] timelessness was what they were looking for,” says Wu.
She also took inspiration from the work of landscape architect Shunmyo Masuno, who did up the development’s lush environment and is known for blending modern design with traditional Japanese elements.
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