DESIGN WITHOUT LIMITS

Steve Leung’s works are unique. They reflect self-confidence and minimalism while embracing Asian culture and western design elements, which give his creations their very own distinctive signature.

Villeroy & Boch collaborated with the designer once again to create new products for 2017. Leung has wrapped the Octagon and Squaro Prestige products in elegance and luxury by applying thousands of Swarovski crystals

Mr Leung, what, for you, does a modern high-quality bathroom have to look like?

The bathroom is a place of retreat, somewhere to relax and unwind after a stressful day at work. This is why you should also pay attention to comfort when planning and designing your bathroom. A bath or large shower are perfect for relaxing. Neutral colours and a warm light will help you unwind. Many small details can help you transform your bathroom into a small feel-good oasis and breathe new life into it.

How do you incorporate that into your designs?

Bathroom furnishings are very individual and personal. I prefer to work with neutral colours and matching elements for my designs. Especially when it concerns ceramics, tiles or wallpaper. But that doesn’t mean everything has to be in sterile white. Shades of stone also create a homely atmosphere.  Details such as matching carpets, wooden furniture and smaller accessories add the finishing touches to the look.

That also reflects Villeroy & Boch’s complete and feel-good bathroom strategy, don’t you think?

Yes, I agree. Villeroy & Boch's philosophy of designing bathrooms with matching sanitary ware elements, furniture and accessories appealed to me straight away, which is why I didn’t think twice about working for the brand in 2015.

You’re referring to the Architectura professional collection, which caused quite a stir in the Asian-Pacific region.

That’s right. I gave the new Architectura washbasins a modern, timeless twist as rectangles with rounded corners while taking the classic “golden cut” into consideration. The result is a delicate look boasting slim edges and clear lines – harmonious and coherent.

For your new project, you wrapped the Octagon and Squaro Prestige premium collections in glamour and luxury. What was the inspiration for your extravagant design with Swarovski crystals?

I have always been fascinated by the classic shan shui paintings in my culture. The flowing lines of the motifs, inspired by nature, convey a graceful elegance and lightness. Mountain landscapes, rivers and waterfalls are typical shan shui elements. Inspired by this gracefulness, I gave shan shui a contemporary twist and added thousands of crystals to both design objects to create sparkling landscapes.

How did you manage to make Octagon and Squaro Prestige such a remarkable visual and tactile experience?

I combined premium materials with exquisite craftsmanship. Thousands of Swarovski Xirius Rose crystals have been applied to the finest leather to create mountain contours with a unique multifaceted radiance thanks to their special cut. They create a vivid effect of depth that appears even more magical with the sparkling precious stones.

What made you pick Octagon and Squaro Prestige?

Both products stand for design and exclusivity per se. The Octagon pedestal washbasin features a delicate brilliant cut look, which harmonises perfectly with the Swarovski crystals. As for Squaro Prestige, every single free-standing bath is unique anyway and the crystal design accentuates the exquisite character even more.

About Steve Leung

Steve Leung set up an architectural and urban planning consultancy in his home town of Hong Kong 30 years ago. Today, the internationally renowned architect, interior and product designer is the Chairman of Steve Leung Designers Ltd. (SLD), which now has more than 400 employees working at one of the largest interior design consultancies in Asia. Headquartered in Hong Kong, SLD has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu and manages projects in more than 100 cities all over the world, including major cities such as London, Milan, Tokyo Dubai as well as Mettlach in Saarland in the border triangle of Germany-France-Luxembourg. It was at Villeroy & Boch, the renowned traditional European brand, in Mettlach that Steve Leung created an exclusive design using Swarovski crystals for the Octagon and Squaro Prestige premium collections.

In the last 19 years, Steve Leung and his team in the Asian-Pacific region and worldwide have received more than 130 design and company awards. He won the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award in 2015 and has won the Andrew Martin International Interior Design Award 14 times since 1999.