In many ways, I consider this issue of Cubes Indesign a risk. There are no monumental projects, no overtly avant-garde designs and no death-defying architectural feats.

What we do have is a series of projects that are thoughtful and well considered in their quest to create unique and memorable experiences. They may not all be sensational showstoppers, but step inside these spaces and you’ll understand why they’re so special. In this issue, we break down the why behind the what of these projects.

Christian Louboutin’s Singapore store

The Christian Louboutin store in Singapore makes it onto our cover for its near-obsessive detail work. Designed by New York design firm 212box, the store is not only a wonderland of beautiful shoes, but of techniques, textures and materials.

Luke’s at Robinsons

There’s also the second edition of Luke’s within the new Robinsons on Orchard Road. Designer Nicholas Burns has created an interior for the oyster bar that puts age-old crafts and an appreciation for longevity in the spotlight.

Dermatology & Surgery Clinic by FDAT

Other projects like FDAT’s design of a dermatology clinic and Studiogoto’s design of Aria Villas in Ubud, Bali look to singular gestures to create spaces that, though simple, are very elegant in the solutions they provide.

From left: Siew Man Kok (Chairman/Director), Cheng Pai Ling (Managing Director) and John A McLaughlin (Director) of MKPL Architects

We also speak with a host of leading design thinkers in this issue. Yah-Leng Yu and Arthur Chin of Foreign Policy Design Group and Stella Gwee of Shophouse & Co talk about the joys and challenges of ground-up initiatives, while MKPL Architects shares about 20 years of unwaning curiosity and invention.

Note from Cubes Indesign Managing Editor Rachel Lee-Leong