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HOME & decor
July 2001
HOME & decor, July 2001 > PEOPLE (Page 70-71)
re-Orient-ation
The twain meet marvelously in this furniture design company
and its unique new East-West creations.
East is East, and West is West… but in this era of globalization and cultural assimilation, never has this phrase been more untrue than in home design. Today's hip home is blend of new and old, exotic and mundane, Oriental and Occidental. From colors and textures to soft furnishings and furniture, today's winning looks blend the best of East and West.
This philosophy is best exemplified by the Jaya Ibrahim and John Saunders design duo, and their furniture design company, Solo. The firm is dedicated to designing and producing exclusive furniture in rare woods, and distinctive home accessories that complement their interior design vision.
Jaya, Java-born and bred is a British-trained interior designer, who in his 20 years in the UK, worked on many high-profile projects including the fashionable London boutique hotel, Blakes. While in the UK, he also worked with Saunders, a graphic designer, who had been involved in various film and stage projects.
Since moving to Indonesia in the early 1990s, the duo have developed a unique approach to the modern re-interpretation of traditional Asian design concepts. The design frisson between their very different cultural backgrounds, has helped to enlarge and enrich their artistic vision.
Their works are a marriage of tradition and progress, and their inspirations are varied and electic. A chair's silhouette, for example, may spring from many stylistic roots - the grandeur of pre-revolutionary Russia, the rustic charm of 16th century Provence, or the delicate silhouettes of ancient Chinese design. Their designs for the Majapahit collection, is a tribute to the golden age of the Hindu Majapahit Empire in 15th century Java, while the Cinere collection evokes the richness of both Javanese traditions and Chinese designs. Throughout, shapes are reduced to their simplest forms. Each line is economical, yet stately and refined.
Jaya and John have worked on projects for design-forward hotels like the Four Seasons and the Aman boutique resorts. The duo were recently in Singapore to launch their new furniture collection at X-tra Resort.
Although they share the same vision, their attitude towards work is markedly different. Jaya thrives on the active feedback in the early stages of design. "No one can work in a vacuum. The designer has to put the client's needs in the proper context, and it's the designer's responsibility to ensure that the client's preferences are reflected. So, the client's brief is the most important starting point. Also, discipline is very vital in the creative process. You need discipline to stay within your client's brief," says Jaya.
Of the two, Jaya is the idealist while John is the pragmatist who prefers to focus on the design's shape and materials. He believes craftsmanship plays a big part in the production process. Jaya meanwhile focuses on the decoration and the little touches that make all the difference. "With Solo, we wanted to create furniture that's comfortable, well finished, even luxurious. I believe that decoration is a very important part of design, and whether it's using hand loomed fabrics, or vegetable-dyed materials, I try to embellish the starkness of the lines".
Both, however, strive for perfection. " We are our own customers, and we see Solo as an alternative to modern European furniture - all hi-tech and clean lines,' says John. "We also want Solo to be different from much of the Indonesian teakwood furniture currently being made, whether repro, Dutch colonial or resort. While there's nothing wrong with those styles, the furniture that's being made is all too often inferior and poorly made. We want to show that it is possible to create well-designed well-made Indonesian furniture," says Jaya.
Their design philosophy is simple: If it works right, then it is right. "Good design can take everything in its stride," says John. "No matter what the project - a restaurant, resort or a home - if the design meets the client's brief, can withstand whatever is thrown at it, and looks good while doing so, then it's a good design."
Solo's future looks bright. In addition to expanding in the Asia Pacific, the designers hope to enter the lucrative American and European markets. They also plan to create a range of home and fashions accessories - from jewellery to cutlery to carpets - in timeless, elegant designs that reflect both the rich cultures of Asia, the technology and the intercultural influences of their East-West heritage.
TEXT: KEN TAN PHOTOGRAPHY: M.BASHEER STYLING: CHRISTINE QUAH
Courtesy by HOME & decor