“You will see multiples of
three – dimensions in 300,
600, 900 – in mY work.”- mikael teh, monoCot
featurerising stars
A new wave of interior designers have brought forth
innovation, awe-inspiring designs and an almost-obsessive
appreciation for detail. Here are 10 stellar studios –
all established within the last five years – that are turning
heads with their fresh approach.monoCot
The Designer
After cutting his teeth at firms
like SCDA and Studio Milou,
architecture graduate Mikael
Teh set up a number of design
studios (including one for
a hospitality project in the
Maldives) before going solo
in 2016. Monocot – previously
known as The Monocot Studio
- has since won two design
awards, and has been involved
in many residential, commercial
and hospitality projects. These
include Sama Sama by Tok Tok
at Jewel Changi.
The PhilosoPhy
His creations are guided by
proportion – both a central
principle of architecture and
“an important connection
between mathematics and art”.
They are a delicate balance
between the intangible and
tangible, and are rooted,
for instance, in spatial
understanding and memories,
encompassing well-designed
artefacts and even floral works.
His studio name reflects this
intersection of art, beauty and
science, too: Monocotyledons,
commonly referred to as
monocots, are a type of flower
with parts that come in threes.
“You will see multiples of three- dimensions in 300, 600, 900 –
in my work,” says Mikael.
The Muse
A Single Man by Tom Ford and
In the Mood for Love by Wong
Kar Wai. “They capture and
represent the ambience and
emotions that deeply resonate
with my design philosophy:
nostalgicandartful.”