Master's of Design

Eight of the country's top architects and designers reveal how their creative minds shape their excellent works 

- Chit L Lijauco

JAMES JJ ACUÑA

Architectural Designer and Founder JJ Acuña / Bespoke Studio (Hong Kong & Manila)

 Sources of inspiration

My concept narratives are generally inspired by stories told, histories of places, cultures and people, my lived experiences, art I’ve seen, spatial fantasies and cities I’ve travelled to. 

Design heroes

I was inspired by the work of Louis I Kahn, Tadao Ando and Carlo Scarpa. These days, as I focus primarily on hospitality and luxury residential interiors, I appreciate the works of women designers like India Mahdavi, Patricia Urquiola, Kelly Wearstler and Ilse Crawford.

Favourite design era

At university at Cornell and Columbia in the late Nineties and early Aughts, I looked at the emerging works of Dutch designers like OMA Rem Koolhaas and Mecanoo. The husband-and-wife teams of Tod Williams-Billie Tsien and Diller-Scofidio. In contrast, I also study the interiors of America’s Gilded Age era in the United States from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The millwork, crown mouldings, detailing, wainscotting, and fabric use all exploded with the money coming in from oil and industry. The exquisite works of many historic gilded age spaces in the northeastern United States inform a few of my works today.

Finish this sentence: A home must have _____?

Great daylight. This is key to having a beautiful space. 

Please share a few practical design tips.

Get rid of clutter. Invest in natural materials. Work with talented designers. Support local design talents. Look within and inside oneself to choose art. Embrace fabric and great detailing.  

Who/what inspired you to choose a profession in design?