DESIGN WITHOUT LIMITS

His creations are one of a kind: confidently blurring the lines between Asian culture and western style, Steve Leung’s minimalist designs are known for their distinct look.

For its 2017 product launches, Villeroy & Boch collaborated with the designer once more. Using thousands of Swarovski crystals, Leung added an elegant touch and a hint of luxury to the products Octagon and Squaro Prestige

Mr. Leung, what are you looking for in a modern and sophisticated bathroom?

The bathroom is a place to relax and recuperate, a little retreat at the end of a long, exhausting day. Therefore, comfort should be a primary consideration in planning and design. A bathtub or large shower invite us to unwind. Neutral colors and warm light have a calming effect on us. There are lots of little details that can turn an ordinary bathroom into a personal spa and infuse this space with life.

How does this play into your designs?

Bathroom design is very individual and personalized. I tend to work with neutral colors and well coordinated design elements, especially when it comes to ceramics, tile, and wallpaper. But that doesn’t mean everything has to look white and sterile. Natural stone colors are great for creating a soothing ambiance.  Details such as color-coordinated rugs, wooden furniture, and small accessories help pull the design together.

That's perfectly in line with Villeroy & Boch's spa-inspired overall bathroom strategy, right?

Yes, that is true. Villeroy & Boch's idea of coordinating sanitary fixtures, furniture, and accessories in the bathroom immediately appealed to me. That's why I jumped at the chance to work with the company in 2015.

That was on the Architectura collection, which became very popular in the Asia-Pacific region.

Correct. I gave the new Architectura sinks a timeless, modern look, with a rectangular design and rounded edges, while keeping the classic “golden ratio” in mind. The result was a delicate appearance with narrow lips and clean lines – beautiful and coherent.

For your latest project, you gave the premium collections Octagon and Squaro Prestige a glamorous makeover. What inspired you to incorporate Swarovski crystals in your design?

I've always been fascinated by the classic shan shui paintings of my culture. The flowing lines give the landscape scenes a certain elegance and effortlessness. The paintings typically depict mountains, rivers, or waterfalls. Inspired by their charm, I reinterpreted shan shui with thousands of crystals and created sparkling nature scenes on the design objects.

How did you manage to turn Octagon and Squaro Prestige into optical and tactile sensations?

I combined premium materials with exquisite craftsmanship. The design incorporates thousands of Swarovski Xirius Rose crystals on fine leather, which outline mountain silhouettes in a multifaceted brilliance that is the result of a special polishing technique. The sparkling crystals lend a three-dimensional, downright magic depth to the design.

Why did you choose Octagon and Squaro Prestige to work on?

These two products are the epitome of design and exclusivity. The Octagon column sink has a delicate brilliant cut that goes perfectly with the Swarovski crystals. And with Squaro Prestige, each free-standing bathtub is a unique work of art in itself, whose exquisiteness is further enhanced by the crystal design.

About Steve Leung

Steve Leung opened his architecture and city planning bureau in his native city of Hong Kong 30 years ago. Today, the internationally acclaimed architect, interior and product designer is the chairman of Steve Leung Designers Ltd. (SLD), one of Asia's largest design agencies with more than 400 employees. In addition to its headquarters in Hong Kong, SLD has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, with ongoing projects in more than 100 cities around the globe including London, Milan, Tokyo, and Dubai, as well as the city of Mettlach at the border triangle of Germany, France, and Luxembourg. This is where Leung created his exclusive Swarovski crystal design for the premium collections Octagon and Squaro Prestige by Villeroy & Boch, a European brand with a long-standing tradition.

In the past 19 years, Leung and his team won more than 130 design and business awards in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2015, he was honored with the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year Award and earned the Andrew Martin International Interior Design Award for the 14th time since 1999.