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.

http://www.xtra.com.sg/a-house-with-heart/

If walls could speak, the Bolon Lake House would have many stories to tell. A house that is more of an informal retreat for creative minds, rather than a hotel, a showroom or anything of that sort, the Bolon Lake House offers seclusion, companionship and irresistible charm within its countryside setting of Björkudden, Sweden. Aesthetically, it lends inspiration from the likes of Jean Nouvel and Giulio Cappellini, as well as friends and collaborators of Bolon.

“I AM OFTEN STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT THE FIRST THING MANY VISITORS DO ON ARRIVING AT BJÖRKUDDEN IS TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS.”

It is hard to pinpoint the exact reason behind the continuous draw of Bolon’s signature house on the lake. Originally a holiday home for the staff of the local newspaper, it was purchased by sisters Annica and Marie Eklund who took over the Bolon flooring company that their grandfather started in 1949 from their parents in 2003. The sisters had a vision for the house, much like they did for their company that was initially focused on producing rag rugs and camping mats. Over time, Bolon evolved into a global brand with a slew of A-list collaborators. The sisters saw the house as having a firm role in the ever-expanding Bolon family. It was to be a breathing space, a welcoming hearth and a source of creativity.

The breath-taking views of Lake Asunden from the house have proven to be inspiring for visitors of the remote destination. “I am often struck by the fact that the first thing many visitors do on arriving at Björkudden is taking photographs. By now there must be thousands of pictures of the Lake House spread all over the world,” says Annica Eklund. Indeed, the seemingly typical Swedish rural retreat done up in neutral tones and wood finishes and the sweeping landscape around the Lake House leave a lasting impression that beacons its visitors to return, time and time again.

But it is, perhaps, the conversations and the company within the Lake House, coupled with surreal and beautiful views of the surrounding countryside seen from its veranda windows, that continue to be the ultimate source of creative stimulation to the many visitors. With the kitchen at the heart of the Lake House and hearty family discussions, coupled with sumptuous food, which goes on and on around the table, the house dares anyone to leave uninspired.

Annica and Marie Eklund believe that the Lake House is never finished and is always evolving, much like the projects and collaborations that Bolon continues to undertake. For the Eklund sisters, the Bolon Lake House continues to be a source of inspiration not only to its guests but to them as well. In the sisters’ words, “New creative paths constantly open up. And at Björkudden, we have finally found the source that gives us more strength to achieve this.”