Image credit: Plantonic
Check out the latest highlights within the interior design world and beyond, and discover a plethora of interesting ideas and innovations to take your interiors to the next level.
Treating Nature, with Nature: Plantonic’s Plant Nourishment Aid
Singaporean-based Plantonic has launched its revolutionary household product in Malaysia for the benefit of aspiring and veteran home gardeners across the country. Plantonic is the world’s first 4-in-1 organic fertiliser of its kind, and is designed to be all-natural and non-toxic. Aside from acting as a fertiliser and soil revitaliser, the plant-based product also serves as a natural pest repellent, prevents fungal infections, and boosts plant immunity. Staying true to its slogan: “Treat Nature With Nature”, Plantonic uses only plant-based ingredients which aid plant nourishment, avoiding the use of toxic chemicals found in standard fertiliser products. This makes it safe for edible greens, as well as indoor use around children and pets.
www.plantonic.sg
Garden Party: Singapore Garden Festival Returns in Oct 2021
Singapore’s favourite garden and flower show, Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) is back with its complementary show, SGF Horticulture (Hort) Show this October. Organised by the National Parks Board (NParks), the inaugural SGF Hort Show was first launched in 2019 and is a show by locals for locals. This year’s SGF Hort Show will run from 9 to 31 October 2021 with a hybrid programme comprising virtual and physical activities. The virtual programme includes a variety of talks, workshops as well as an e-marketplace to enable members of the public to shop from the comfort of their homes. On-site displays will take place at two locales, namely Singapore Botanic Gardens from 9 to 17 October and Jurong Lake Gardens from 23 to 31 October. Entry to the show grounds will be free, and details to manage crowd size in accordance with safe management measures will be advised closer to the event dates.
NParks.gov.sg/singaporegardenfestival
Chic Kitchen: Modern Kitchen Extension with Contemporary HI-MACS® Worktops
Material Works were commissioned to design a small addition to this Victorian terraced house in Stoke Newington, London. With a limited budget and limited space for extending, the challenge was to transform the existing dark and cramped kitchen space into a bright and open space that would cater to the needs of a growing family. They commissioned VOEG Ltd to design and manufacture this light-filled, contemporary kitchen, with a small side extension. To achieve this an extensive roof light was installed above the new addition and the rear wall opened up with large sliding doors above a new window seat. A careful coordination of the restricted space allowed for the inclusion of a kitchen island, topped with a HI-MACS® worksurface, while still leaving space for a dining table. The contemporary handleless kitchen units are complimented by the Ivory White HI-MACS® worktops, chosen as much for their ease of cleaning as their sleek, attractive finish.
www.himacs.eu
Sustainable Archictecture: Naturgy Headquarters
The new headquarters of Naturgy group in Barcelona was designed by Sanzpont Arquitectura based on the concept of sustainable renovation, with the aim of reducing its environmental impact and extending its efficient, useful life. Its execution was carried out with materials that strictly respect the environment, and according to an environmental quality management plan. The project incorporates a main façade based on large windows that provide abundant natural light, defined by unique photocatalytic krion 3D modules. These modules give the building a unique identity but, more importantly, have the ability to purify the air through their photocatalytic material. Additionally, the building envelope and its systems have been designed to render it an eco-efficient model, improving its performance, thermal insulation, and energy consumption. The design of the south façade incorporates a treatment of photovoltaic louvers, providing protection from the sun in the warmer months of the year, and generating clean energy through part of its electricity consumption.
www.sanzpont.com
nendo’s New Design; Doraemon Minimal Desktop Collection
For this whimsical project, nendo designed a series of minimal desktop paraphernalia to commemorate Doraemon’s 50th anniversary. Focus was placed on how one of the main characters, Doraemon, and many of the Secret Gadgets in the story are composed of simple shapes and colours. Doraemon’s Hand takes the form of a simple sphere. With a neodymium magnet inside, the sphere can hold clips and pins that tend to be scattered all over the desk, and it can also be used to hold memos. The card holder and pen holder, both designed in the shape of Doraemon’s ‘4D pocket’, are balanced by the weight inside, as is the clip holder. The lamp comes with Doraemon’s Tail attached, which is a power switch that can be turned on and off by pulling on it, just like Doraemon in the story. The bookends featuring the ‘anywhere door’ motif were inspired by the fascination of books, which allows anyone to move instantly between various worlds. The tray for small articles is in the shape of a beam emitted by ‘small light’ from straight above. When a figurine is placed on it, it looks as if having been shrunk in the light. The mobiles, enlivening the interior with their floaty movement in response to the flow of air, are in the shape of ‘hopters’.
www.nendo.jp
Positive Growth: IOIPG Records 30% Rise in Net Profit for FY2021
IOI Properties Group Berhad (IOIPG) registered robust growth in revenue and net profit for the full financial year 2021 (FY2021) despite a general downbeat business sentiment weighed down by a prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.IOIPG’s net profit rose 30% to RM663.3 million in FY2021 compared to FY2020. Its revenue improved 18% to RM2.5 billion for FY2021 compared to the preceding year corresponding period mainly due to better sales performance from its operations in Malaysia, which was driven by its dynamic sales and marketing campaign.IOIPG Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Voon Tin Yow said the Group’s performance for FY2021 was commendable. This was attributable to the commitment and passion of Team IOI in consistently delivering products and services that exceeded expectations. For FY2021, IOIPG achieved sales of RM2.3 billion surpassing its sales target of RM2 billion.
www.ioiproperties.com.my
