THIS PICTURE, FASHION
DESIGNER ELYN WONG
BROWSES VILLEROY &
BOCH’S TILE LIBRARY AT ITS
HQ IN METTLACH, GERMANY,
FOR DESIGNS TO USE IN
HER WALK-THROUGH
RELFLEXOLOGY PATH, SEEN
AT SKETCH STAGE, LEFTor Singaporean fashion designer
Elyn Wong, the chance to collaborate
with German tile and ceramics manufacturer
Villeroy & Boch was an opportunity to
try something completely new while
reconnecting with her heritage. ‘I began by
looking deeper into my own heritage, and
what wellness means in Chinese culture,’
says Wong. ‘I looked at the Chinese practice
of reflexology, where pressure is applied
to meridian points on the body in order to
improve overall wellbeing and health.’
She created a reflexology path, seamlessly
connected to a wall on one side, featuring
a patchwork of porcelain tiles of various sizes
stacked at different heights, making for a
surprising sensation underfoot. As you walk
along the path, the tiles become smaller and
more uneven, creating an increasingly
intense massage. Smoothing the edges of
stacked tiles was a particularly challenging
part of the process, as the tiles had to be
sharp enough to provide stimulation but not
cause pain to the hands and feet. From the
wall, brass handles arch downwards, each
supporting a twisted stack of tiles that guide
users across the floor while stimulating
pressure points on the hands.
‘In the West, medicine and spirituality are
treated as separate entities. In the East, the
distinction between the two is less clear. I
hope I’ve captured these cultural differences,’
says Wong, who set up womenswear label
Stolen in 2007. ‘Fashion is something I’ve
been doing for a while, but this forced me to
move out of my comfort zone, which is good.’
Intrigued by Villeroy & Boch’s 270-year
history, Wong visited the brand’s HQ in
Mettlach, Germany, and delved into itsF archive. She was immediately drawn to a
porcelain tile collection called Century
Unlimited. Although only launched three
years ago, the elaborate tiles are based on a
Villeroy & Boch design dating from 1852 and
found in Cologne Cathedral and the Bolshoi
Theatre in Moscow. The tiles’ matt finish
has a texture similar to smooth concrete,
while the decorative patterns, made up of
interlocking triangles, rhombuses and circles,
can be used to make up a variety of designs
depending on orientation and configuration.
The colours also increase in intensity as the
tile sizes get smaller and the heights become
more uneven. As the tiles shrink, the colours
strengthen from pale neutrals into terracotta,
rusty orange and a deep blue.
‘Villeroy & Boch is such a big brand that
I was worried there would be constraints
when it came to working with them, but they
were so open to experimentation,’ enthuses
Wong. In fact, when it came to designing the
handles that users grip as they walk across
the tiles, Wong let Villeroy & Boch take the
lead. ‘I had imagined using the same method
of uneven stacked tiles that we used on the
floor, but the Villeroy & Boch team suggested
using handles. I loved the idea – it was more
creative and achieved the same effect.’
Going forward, Wong imagines the
walls could be installed in both public and
private spaces, seamlessly blending into the
architecture. ‘It’s pushing the use of tiles
in a completely different way.’ ∂
stolenstolen.com; villeroy-boch.com. The project
is on show at Handmade On Tour, an exhibition
by Wallpaper* in partnership with the
DesignSingapore Council, at Gillman Barracks,
Singapore, until 26 August120 ∑