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Design x Dialogue #2 Illuminates the Intersection of Design and Innovation
Featuring guest speakers: Visionary interior designers Tennyson Chia of Sachi and Zaidan Tahir of Duoz Design
Kuala Lumpur, 28 June 2023 – The second edition of the highly anticipated Design x Dialogue series, hosted by IDr Lai Siew Hong, Chief Executive Designer, is set to inspire and captivate the design and architecture community with a focus on design and innovation. This installment of the series showcased two talented designers, Tennyson Chia, Founder of Sachi, and Zaidan Tahir, Founder of Duoz Design, renowned for their innovative approaches and ability to draw inspiration from their environment and culture.
Held at the esteemed Cosentino Showroom in Malaysia, the Design x Dialogue series reflects Cosentino's commitment to fostering innovation and recognizing exceptional talent. The event aims to inspire and invigorate the local design and architecture community, offering a platform for dialogue and the exchange of creative ideas.
Tennyson from Sachi, hails from East Malaysia and often draws inspiration from travelling and exploring different dining spaces and restaurants. His inquisitive nature drives him to question the intentions behind each design, seeking inspiration to fuel his own creative ideas. Tennyson conceptualises his ideas by piecing together collages with photos and videos captured of the spaces, sketching over them to bring his visions to life.
As a designer, Tennyson's primary goal is to "solve problems through a user-centered approach, with a keen focus on enhancing the overall user experience and its impact on the nature of business." A notable project was with Hap Seng Star, where he seamlessly incorporated its corporate identity while adding an extra touch to the space to levitate its hospitality. He designed abundant garden spaces, an extensive drink and food bar, and an outstanding makeup room for the ladies, creating a pleasant and enjoyable lounging experience for customers while waiting for their cars to be serviced.
Another notable project by Tennyson is his design for Menara Hap Seng 3, showcasing the beauty of Malaysia's urban forest. He designed a high indoor vertical green wall within the internal atriums of the building, bringing in indirect natural daylight to illuminate the internal spaces of the offices and providing a soothing green environment for all the occupants on every floor. This architectural marvel, standing 20 stories tall and recognized as the tallest green wall in Malaysia by the Malaysia Book of Records, serves not only as a functional space but also captivates as an awe-inspiring art piece. Tennyson have also used Cosentino materials in one of his designs for an office project Mid Valley, KL. He incorporated the durable Dekton as the floorings of the office and the versatile Silestone for the reception countertop.
Flooring featuring Dekton, Reception Countertop featuring Silestone
On the other hand, Zaidan from Duoz Design, embarked on his design journey from an early age alongside his twin brother, Zaihan. He shared that their "disciplined upbringing and appreciation for order, proportion, repetition, and symmetry" greatly influenced and shaped his design philosophy. Zaidan's love for history, museums, and monochrome movies often fuels his creative inspiration.
Preserving the heritage, history, and nostalgia of spaces holds immense value for Zaidan. Hence, in projects such as The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, he meticulously preserved and retained many of the original elements, consisting of a hybrid of neo-classical and art deco styles.
Similarly, The Ritz-Carlton in Koh Samui and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Higashiyama Niseko Village, Japan, stand as testaments to Zaidan's comprehensive understanding of its local heritage, surroundings, architecture, and lifestyle, ensuring a seamless integration of these influences into the interiors. Particularly for The Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Higashiyama Niseko Village, Japan, Zaidan aimed to capture the essence of the snowy surroundings and nature, offering guests a sense of calmness and solitude during their stay.
To start your design and discovery journey and explore inspirational design ideas from Cosentino, you can visit the Cosentino Malaysia showroom at No.1, Jalan TSB 8, Taman Industri Sungai Buloh, 47000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor or contact 03-8230 3954 to book an appointment, or visit here.
