Savouring the Tradition for XTRA Gazette

Inside the age-old practice of Japanese tea making, tea and design intertwine to bring out the universal values of harmony and respect at the heart of human relationships.

It was 1951 when Charles and Ray Eames hosted the now historic gathering of their friends and contemporaries, including artist and designer Isamu Noguchi and his fiancé, silent film star Charlie Chaplin and other notables, at the Eames’ Case House #8 in Los Angeles, California. An assembly of talents, the momentous Japanese tea ceremony organised by Charles and Ray Eames highlighted the importance that the designers had placed on the role of design in facilitating human interactions, particularly guest-host relationships embodied in the most profound ways through the art of Japanese tea making.

With the event having been recreated several times since, both in the United States and in Japan, to celebrate the spirit that Charles and Ray Eames wanted to communicate, the latest such gathering on a tranquil Saturday morning at the XTRA Marina Square showroom in partnership with Urasenke Singapore Association brought together a select group of designers and design enthusiasts to commemorate the original ceremony and delve deep into the art and meaning of tea making. Looking beyond the choreographic ritual of the centuries-long practice and the novelties of Japanese tea preparation, the universal importance of forging caring and respectful connections to one another underpinned the act of serving and being served the tea. The room full of strangers and acquaintances bonded convivially, with conversations flowing long after the event came to an end.

The intimacy of the Japanese tea ceremony was palpable in the scrupulous and precise process of the tea making and the care taken behind each gesture of the tea master and the guests. With all five senses, awakened and alert in the exactitude of the process, the feeling of calmness overtook as the ceremony participants took turns to prepare tea with well wishes and thoughts for the guests. Conversations became hushed, but also more profound and meaningful, as if in appreciation of the moment that was no longer ordinary.

And then, everything came together – the gentle aroma inside the cup, the careful but rigorous whisking of the matcha powder with water until a layer of consistent foam formed atop of tea, the particular movements of turning of the cups, the atmosphere of the entire room. Inadvertently and perhaps deliberately, attention drew to smallest details in an effortless and freeing way, with the way the tea was passed from one person to another, the careful handling of the cup, the bond between the two people as they shared a profound moment of care. The universal and collective need for a genuine human connection spanning many centuries and diverse cultures, preserved in an intimate setting and in a delicate cup of soul-warming tea.

Charming Chinoiserie for Prestige Global Designs

Within the public and private areas of a home, Chinoiserie décor elements can make spaces come alive with opulent colours and patterns. In a dining area, a majestic feature wall framed by slim slivers of light brings focus to the space and serves as an elegant art piece that complements the stately dinner table and chairs. Likewise, Chinoiserie-inspired patterns add a touch of sophistication to the cabinetry and furniture pieces and provide a statement-making backdrop to a small seating area.

In a bedroom, the colour selection for Chinoiserie-inspired pieces can soothe the eye with a softer palette and delicate detail work. The use of gilded gold for a frame above a bed’s headboard and in slimmer profiles of the framed mirrors instantly adds a luxuriously composed feel to the space.

Ornamental treatments that are signature to the Chinoiserie style do not have to be confined to wallpaper and panel treatments. Creative implementation and mixture of bold and delicate patterns within the living room space pull the furniture arrangement together into one cohesive area. Elsewhere, ceiling and wall framing techniques that recall aspects of traditional Chinese architecture add visual depth and highlight the difference in ceiling heights in a lofty Singapore residence.

Subtlety comes a long way when designing a home in a contemporary Chinoiserie style. Discreet interior decor touches can add interest to a space without making it look cluttered or busy for a clean and composed look. The delicate trellis-like feature with strong, rhythmic pattern cutouts above the bed’s headboard provides a perfect alternative for an artwork to enhance an otherwise unadorned wall. Selected upholstery, soft cushions and bedding bring further harmony to the room, tying it together cohesively with the strategic use of gold and black accent colours.

Preserving a Paradise

Alila’s first eco-luxury resort in China delivers a one-of-a-kind, location specific destination experience, wrapped in a strong environmental message.

http://www.xtra.com.sg/preserving-a-paradise/

The air is clear and crisp and the hills of Anji unfold in a continuous, tranquil panorama of bamboo forests and tea plantations. The calmness and serenity of the countryside, along with its abundant greenery, envelop almost immediately. Where old meets the unobtrusive new, tradition meets luxury and an observer’s eye meets the incredible scenery, Alila Anji emerges as a getaway destination for city dwellers and nature lovers alike, bringing a unique brand of eco-luxury to the resort brand’s first hotel in China.

Nestled on a hillside overlooking Tianfu lake, Alila’s first property in China, set in the country’s first national ecological county of Anji in the Zhejiang province, unveils the signature Alila experience in a private eco-luxury setting that reveals to its guests the charming simplicities of rural living, carefully balanced with the hotel brand’s high environmental and design standards. True to Alila’s brand of curated experiences that combine personalised hospitality with complete immersion into its unique destinations, Alila Anji makes the most of its geographic location, allowing the resort to establish itself as a peaceful sanctuary within its pristine natural environment, at once, becoming one with it and enhancing it with its presence.

General Manager of Alila Anji, Marco den Ouden, remarks on the significance of Alila Anji as the first Chinese outpost, “As a place of outstanding beauty and rich cultural influences, Alila would like to shift the travellers’ paradigm, encouraging them to not only embark on a holiday getaway but also to take away something from their experiences at Alila Anji.”

With a focus on eco-conscious luxury, Alila Anji, much like the other Alila outposts, strives to enhance the visitors’ overall understanding of the unique locale through signature experiences that emphasise the natural beauty, heritage and culture of each place. Connecting the visitors with the local community, Alila Anji encourages the “Farm to Table” concept, whereby visitors can bring their fresh seasonal harvest back to the resort for the chefs to dish up. The resort also offers seasonal experiences like white tea and fruit picking that provide a glimpse into a rural lifestyle of Anji. “We are offering our guests a chance to return to the simplified lifestyle, something that most people who live in big cities might not know or have not experienced in a long time, or ever before,” says Marco den Ouden.

For a complete immersion into the surrounding scenery, Alila Anji presents a series of experiences that range from more relaxing to more adventurous destination journeys and provide opportunities for interactions with the local environment. Amongst the signature day trips is a visit to the Great Bamboo Sea, a setting for the Oscar-winning film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, an excursion to the Lingfeng Temple to experience the local customs at the Saoshe Cultural Village, and river rafting in the Huangpu River.

With multiple experiences that showcase the natural beauty of Anji, the Alila Anji journey longs to leave a lasting impression that transcends the definitions of a typical holiday getaway and offers an eye-opening message about the importance of preserving the environment, the culture and the history of a place.

Marco den Ouden summarises the Alila Anji experience in a telling statement, “We want to share with our guests the important role that the environment plays for Alila Hotels and Resorts, encouraging them to take part in our local environment tours and, with that, raising their awareness on how important the environment is for the tourism industry.”