PEOPLECLASS ACT
Nicolas Roche talks about the stellar pieces in
the showroom of the furniture brand founded
by his grandfather and great-uncle.
A
t the recent official
opening of Roche Bobois
in Singapore, the top
French retailer of luxurious
home furnishings, guests were
given a sneak preview of its
latest collections. That elicited
admiration from the crowd,
with each collection being given
a fascinating introduction.
And we can see why.
No matter the age of the
series, each exudes audacious
beauty and form, as well as a
sense of timelessness (designs
that date back to the ’70s
amaze with how they still look
at home in any contemporary
space and setting).
Taking pride of place in
the swanky 5,300 sq ft road-
facing showroom along Bukit
Timah Road is the latest piece
de resistance, Globe Trotter, a
bold travel-themed collection
by Dutch designer MarcelWanders. “Globe Trotter tells a
story; it’s about travelling and
exploring places and discovering
new things, with whimsical
motifs and influences drawn
from Marcel’s explorations in
London, Paris and Istanbul,”
says Nicolas Roche, creative
director of Roche Bobois
who was here to grace the
opening of the showroom.
While the collection’s
rugs and room divider make
a statement with striking
patterns and hues, there are also
pieces which are more delicate
in shade and tone. “Certain
pieces, like the rugs, boast a
bold tapestry, reminiscent of
frescos in Europe but, at the
same time, there are others in
the collection that carry softer,
subtler colours. Once again, this
whole collection celebrates the
French art de vivre around the
world,” adds Nicolas, whose job
entails choosing collaborators
for new collections.
The Globe Trotter is just
one of the many standout series
which shows Roche Bobois’
penchant for collaborating
with top fashion names
and haute couture houses;
it has also teamed up with
renowned names such as
Missoni Home, and Ora Ito.
Founded in 1960, Roche
Bobois has more than 265
showrooms in over 55 countries- its opening in Singapore
marks another milestone in the
brand’s ambitious expansion
in the Asia-Pacific region. The
Singapore branch also takes a
holistic approach to decorating