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HH Archive
Ask Your Peers Series
- Ci En -
About Series
A series of questions was exchanged within the studio.
Each member receives fifteen questions from the rest of the team. Some explore design, craft, and practice. Others wander into memories, routines, influences, and personal reflections.
Unscripted and candid, these conversations document the individuals behind Hock Hoon — their perspectives, values, and the experiences that shape the work we do.
Ci En
Mala Fragrant Pot, (aka Mala Xiang Guo). Its spiciness and numbness are addictive, with a sense of satisfaction at times. Especially choosing our own ingredients, it is like running our own practice, choosing the projects we want to work on, with our vision, rules and pace. However, it comes with pain, from the spices and what comes after (for those who know). It is not a food for everyone, just like Mala.
Min Sheng:
If you would describe your job as a food, what would it be?
Ci En:
Travel, with nice accommodations. I often allocate a larger budget for accommodations, including 1-2 high-end stays. Beyond luxury, they are the best place to learn. It is where we switch positions. As users, we can observe the designer’s intention through the tiny details, the materials used, and how lighting can create ambience. One of my most unforgettable experience was the stay at Aman Tokyo. The arrival was almost anti-hotel. At street level, there is no dramatic facade that announces itself to the city. Almost hidden within the base of the tower. Once you enter, you find yourself in a compressed, intimate space. The elevator ride becomes part of the experience rather than merely a means of transportation; they deliberately prolong these moments of transition, allowing the energy of Tokyo to slowly fade away.
Xin Hui:
What experiences shaped your design sensitivity?
Ci En:
I would say that Architecture & Interior photography was an important factor that influenced my work. Understanding the relationships among light, space, objects, symmetry, and proportions has sharpened my senses and eye when I design.
Alvin:
What hobby has unexpectedly influenced your work?
Ci En:
My understanding of craftsmanship is a little different. The most common understanding is precision; however, I would say consistency is key to good craftsmanship. My lessons from traditional wood joinery taught me that it’s not about achieving 0.001mm accuracy; it’s about how we can achieve it consistently. We have to develop methodologies that understand each material to ensure consistency in every cut and finish. That is the beauty of craftsmanship that I like.
Alvin:
What does craftsmanship mean to you?
Ci En
It inspires me when there’s intent and restraint being practiced. Not a space that is loud, but intentional materials come together. Not the fanciful design elements, but how certain things are aligned.
Min Sheng:
What inspires you when you go into a well-designed space? Details, Experience, Aesthetics or others?
Ci En:
The flow of the space. That is the foundation of every space, designed for human beings. If the space is not well considered, that would affect the user’s daily activities and experience. That alone can’t be replaced with a design that looks good.
Xin Hui:
What do you pay most attention to when designing?
Ci En:
Those projects that cracks my mind. One example was a recent project at Interlace. The client was a returning customer with whom we had worked 5 years back. It is not a large unit; its angular layout makes the space extremely inefficient and challenging to design. The challenge was to design the space, ensuring a balance between functionality and proportions while working with the unit's sharp angles.
Xin Hui:
What kind of projects feel the most meaningful to you?
Ci En:
A space that I do not feel confined, have the freedom to move around.
Xin Hui:
What kind of spaces could you spend hours in?
Ci En
I strongly believe in multi-disciplinary design, with collaborations. Design should not be focused on a single aspect (of course, we have our preferences or what we do best). Design is not a singular skill; it is a language, an understanding and critical thinking behind the design decisions. With the right language, we can cross disciplines to design furniture, retail shops, hotels, or graphics. What is lacking is the expertise in each industry, where the collaboration comes into play.
Min Sheng:
Do you believe in multi-disciplinary design, or that design should be focused on one aspect and make it perfect?
Ci En
A foyer that invites pause is a must. I see it as a sacred space where I enter or exit every day. The transition space serves as a pause, or filter, to keep the energy out. Just like the arrival experience of Aman Tokyo, I mentioned earlier.
Min Sheng:
What is the first thing you want to design for your own house?
Ci En:
I practice human-centric design and hardly relate my works to any style.
Xin Hui:
How would you describe your design style?
Ci En:
It’s transition, be it lighting, textures or even form. I personally do not like abrupt, unintentional surprises or shocks. For example, in tunnels, there are warm lights at the threshold zone right after you enter. They gently adjust your eyes as you transition from bright daylight into a darker, enclosed space.
Alvin:
What is the first thing you notice when entering a space?
Ci En:
I personally don’t like the idea of designing without constraints. I believe they are what push us to design real, meaningful spaces that respect the context, including constraints, people, environment, and community. But to answer the question, my dream studio setup is to have a plot of land somewhere in Japan, with a studio space with a large, unobstructed view of Mt Fuji, and a mini workshop space where I can continue to explore wood joinery. It will be good to include a community space where creatives can exchange ideas and collaborate.
Alvin:
If you could design your dream studio on a blank plot of land with no constraints, what would it include? Consider not just the working studio but also supporting spaces such as a café, workshop, gallery, or communal areas. How would everything connect?
Ci En:
Look beyond aesthetics and styles, stay away from external noise, not all projects on the web works for you. Understand what you hope to achieve, identify your lifestyle differences with your partner, and observe the tiny details of your current life. Think of what makes a good space for sleeping for you and your partner, not the kind of style or trends you see on Pinterest, YouTube, or TikTok. When you step away from styles, the algorithm will find the right designer for you. And yes, look for real designers; not all 'designers' are design-trained.
Alvin:
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone renovating for the first time? Why?
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