Cover A modernist terrace showcases how clean architectural lines can frame nature’s abundance, creating the perfect biophilic backdrop for the Pablo Outdoor Sofa from B&B Italia, which bridges indoor comfort with outdoor durability
A modernist terrace showcases how clean architectural lines can frame nature’s abundance, creating the perfect biophilic backdrop for the Pablo Outdoor Sofa from B&B Italia, which bridges indoor comfort with outdoor durability
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Studio Eleven’s Neoh Kim Hin explains how to master the harmony of nature and design
In the concrete jungle of modern living, a thoughtfully designed outdoor sanctuary delivers what John Muir observed: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” For Neoh Kim Hin, partner at Studio Eleven, elegant biophilic spaces bridge human needs with nature’s restorative power. “Our approach is rooted in simplicity and Zen-like principles,” explains Neoh, whose designs favour clean lines and natural materials that foster tranquillity. His work adapts meticulously to context, whether private or public, intimate or expansive.
Above Neoh Kim Hin, partner at Studio Eleven
Neoh Kim Hin, partner at Studio Eleven
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Drawing inspiration from London’s Barbican Estate, Neoh demonstrates how strategically integrating plant life, natural light and earthy palettes transforms urban environments. His spaces feature curved furnishings that echo indoor aesthetics while withstanding the elements. “The appeal lies in offering a reprieve from modern life’s pace,” Neoh reflects. Through thoughtful curation, his biophilic sanctuaries create equilibrium—promoting mental restoration and sustained well-being.
Here are his five essential pieces for an elegant biophilic outdoor space.
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1. Wood work
Above The Pablo Outdoor Sofa collection from B&B Italia showcases how teak’s natural beauty and durability combine to create timeless outdoor furniture that seamlessly blends minimalist design with luxurious comfort
The Pablo Outdoor Sofa collection from B&B Italia showcases how teak’s natural beauty and durability combine to create timeless outdoor furniture that seamlessly blends minimalist design with luxurious comfort
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Available from Space Furniture, the Pablo Outdoor Sofa from B&B Italia is Vincent Van Duysen’s teak masterpiece that marries structural integrity with sensual comfort. The frame’s interplay of straight lines and gentle curves creates an uninterrupted wooden canvas, and the mattress-like cushion invites sprawling relaxation or intimate conversation, making it the social heart of any garden retreat.
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2. Flat lay
Above The intricate weave pattern of Alejandra Gandía-Blasco Lloret’s Nomad Tuareg Rug Blue from Gan Rugs shows how eco-conscious materials can elevate design while maintaining weather resistance.
Above Detail of Alejandra Gandía-Blasco Lloret’s Nomad Tuareg Rug Blue from Gan Rugs
The intricate weave pattern of Alejandra Gandía-Blasco Lloret’s Nomad Tuareg Rug Blue from Gan Rugs shows how eco-conscious materials can elevate design while maintaining weather resistance.
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Alejandra Gandía-Blasco Lloret’s Nomad Tuareg Rug Blue from Gan Rugs elevates recycled PET fibres to an art form.
Its pattern language—evocative of hand-knit woollens—creates a visual bridge between shelter and exposure. The soothing dialogue between beige and blue mirrors the sky meeting earth, while its tactile presence softens hardscape elements.
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3. Into the fold
Above Architectural arches frame verdant greenery, demonstrating how strategic integration of plant life and natural light transforms urban environments into restorative spaces enhanced by Carl Hansen & Søn’s MG 501 Cuba Chair
Architectural arches frame verdant greenery, demonstrating how strategic integration of plant life and natural light transforms urban environments into restorative spaces enhanced by Carl Hansen & Søn’s MG 501 Cuba Chair
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Crafted from untreated teak and weather-resistant flat rope, Carl Hansen & Søn’s MG 501 Outdoor Cuba Chair by Morton Gøttler has a democratic lineage that reveals itself in the elegant economy of materials. Cuba’s collapsible nature introduces an element of spatial fluidity—expanding or contracting to accommodate life’s rhythms, particularly vital in constrained urban settings.
See also: 7 designer dining chairs that you’ll recognise from restaurants and dining rooms
4. Meditation on stone
Inspired by Japanese garden stones, Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby’s sculptural B&B Italia Tobi-Ishi coffee table captures the precarious balance of stacked rocks while exuding the Zen-like calmness that defines biophilic design
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Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby’s monumental B&B Italia creation draws inspiration from Japanese garden stones—”tobi-ishi” translating to “flying stone.” Available from Space Furniture, the sculptural piece captures the precarious balance of stacked rocks and exudes the Zen-like calmness that defines Neoh’s biophilic vision.
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5. Light and easy
Above The Living Divani Frog Chair by Piero Lissoni is a masterful study in restrained elegance, with a deliberately low profile that offers visual lightness despite its substantial comfort.
The Living Divani Frog Chair by Piero Lissoni is a masterful study in restrained elegance, with a deliberately low profile that offers visual lightness despite its substantial comfort.
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Piero Lissoni’s masterful study in restrained elegance for Living Divani, the Frog Chair from Space Furniture, embodies what Neoh calls “light, minimalistic design.” With its deliberately low profile and subtly reclined back, it offers a visual lightness belying its substantial comfort.
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
