Akar de Nissim, one of Singapore’s best loved bespoke furniture brands, understands what matters most at home. Harmony, which promotes positive feelings such as calmness, clarity and confidence, can help all in the family stay healthy and happy.
Daya, its newest collection, builds on Akar de Nissim’s signature approach of blending Eastern and Western artisanal traditions. Created in collaboration with Italian design studio Laabmilano, Daya draws on the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui.
Feng shui configures sites, buildings, spaces and objects into balance with qi (or “vital life force” in Chinese), which many believe to attract luck and prosperity. A geomantic system, it involves analysis of the opposing forces of yin and yang, as well as the five fundamental elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal.
To capture the movement of qi, says Jasmine Ng, COO of Akar de Nissim, Daya features the water droplet as its key aesthetic element. “The water droplet emphasises the harmonisation of form, colour, materials and lighting, ultimately achieving a perceivable harmony for both the user and the environment,” she adds.
And Laabmilano designer Donatella Casiraghi, who has a master’s degree in Feng Shui, clearly understood her assignment. For the collection, she incorporated sinuous forms reminiscent of the flow of water and the movement of wind, the two energies in nature that have shaped our environment for centuries.
Distinctive throughout the pieces, therefore, is a circular motion path deeply rooted in the presence of Yin and Yang, where there are no beginnings or endings.
And to complement this sensorial as well as sensuous quality of the water droplet, conscientious attention was given to the choice and curation of materials. Ng says, “In the Ayla Side Table, in particular, Calacatta marble offers a compelling visual contrast with its ash-grey and beige tones veined in light and dark.”
As a juxtaposition to the sculptural form, pieces like the Anfratto sofa and armchair feature luxurious leathers (both natural and perforated). Like galuchat, or stingray leather, cherished during ancient Asian civilisations for its exquisite pearl-like appearance, smooth texture, and extraordinary durability.
There’s more to admire. The Anfratto sofa and armchair also showcase a beautiful straw marquetry inlay to vibrant and eye-catching guilloché effect. “It is crafted from natural straw stalks, each meticulously dyed, split, flattened, and arranged into a precise geometric design–all by hand,” Ng adds.
Only three pieces from the Daya collection are available at press time but keep your eyes peeled for the others, which include a coffee table and a lounge chair.
It is poised to be among its most exciting offerings by Akar de Nissim, whose name is an amalgamation of Sanskrit and Hebrew vernacular to mean “the root of wonderful things”. Since debuting at the inaugural Maison & Objet Asia, the furniture brand has garnered global recognition for its unique cross-cultural designs and unparalleled craftsmanship.
As a parting shot, we asked Ng about her favourite Daya piece. “I adore each piece in its own right,” she laughs. “It’s poetic in its own way, exuding good energy in a continuous form, a resonating aspect of its identity, a form without beginning or end.”
Explore Akar de Nissim’s Daya collection here.
