For three years, André Fu has had the research and development of a furniture and homeware collection running in the background of his day-to-day practice. In 2019, at Salone del Mobile Milano, he launches his long-awaited collection to be distributed by Lane Crawford and available globally direct through André Fu Living.
The collection tallies up to 150 pieces spanning furniture, textiles, ceramics and design objects. Yet it wasn’t initially intended to be such an exhaustive collection. Speaking to André Fu during Milan Design Week, we learnt that he had envisioned this collection to be all-inclusive, so as he was conceptualising pieces for each room, the number of pieces he felt he needed to offer continued to grow.
He also expressed that the pieces within the collection were inspired by Eastern and Western traditions and modern evolutions of those traditions. Born in Hong Kong yet moving to London at the age of 14 before eventually returning home as an adult, this is something that he feels has always influenced his work as a designer. Furthermore, the intention is that his designs speak to clients of both origins. Perhaps the best example of this is the ceramic table settings. Within each place setting there are Eastern elements liken a rice bowl and Chinese teacup, yet also a Western soup bowl and espresso cups as well as the standard three plate sizes.
The patterns in the textile component of André Fu Living likewise draw inspiration from the East and West. The carpets and upholstery feature patterns inspired both by brushstrokes and bamboo trees.
While the collection draws from time-honoured traditions it also clearly speaks to a modern user. There is a laptop table that pulls in tight to the sofa when one is working from home, and a dresser in which the vanity opens up and folds over according to need.
The soft curves and pale timber of the larger furniture pieces – such as the dining table, dining chairs coffee table, and even the lighting designs – evoke a modern setting.
If you’re in Milan, view the new collection from André Fu Living at Via St Damiano 2.
