Cover The trophies for the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022 were designed in collaboration with Synergraphic Design. Photography: Benny Loh
The trophies for the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022 were designed in collaboration with Synergraphic Design. Photography: Benny Loh
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Tatler Homes Singapore teamed up with Synergraphic Design to create sculptural trophies presented to the winners of the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022
Throughout history, glass has carved a name for itself with its natural beauty and versatility. Brimming with possibilities, the prized and highly malleable material offers endless design possibilities with its unique qualities of reflectivity and transparency. For the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022, Tatler Homes Singapore recently collaborated with local glass maker Synergraphic Design to create beautiful bespoke trophies that represent the diverse qualities and achievements of the winners and their acclaimed projects.
Founded in 1986 by glass artist Florence Ng, Synergraphic Design has established itself as an industry leader in the art of glassmaking. With decades of accumulated expertise and experience, the Singapore-based firm has become synonymous with sculptural glass art crafted with innovative glass techniques. Aside from producing glass creations for various residential and commercial projects, Synergraphic Design also crafts exquisite sculptures for public spaces in Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport and the Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
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Above The amber trophy is awarded to the winners of the 10 main categories
Above The blue trophy is reserved for the Designers On the Rise, an accolade for outstanding young firms
The amber trophy is awarded to the winners of the 10 main categories
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The trophy design for the Tatler Homes Design Awards takes inspiration from Uniquely Different, a series of glass sculptures by local glass artist Florence Ng that brings together faceted glass with stone. To showcase the organic and raw beauty of glass, the design team decided upon a natural, rock-like mould for the trophy’s body; the organic form is also in-line with ‘A Natural Flair’, the theme for the awards night this year.
“I was excited to hear that the Tatler Homes team was interested to explore creating a sculptural glass trophy and was willing to allow for a more unusual approach to the material that showcases the contrasting qualities of glass—that it can be both raw and polished, solid yet fluid, imperfect yet beautiful, and all of the above at the same time,” says Sara Ang, Florence’s daughter and the director of Synergraphic Design.
Read more: Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022: 3 Eco-Conscious Singapore Studios Designing a Greener Future
Above A group shot of the trophies presented to the winners at the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022
Above Each trophy demonstrates the beauty of glass with its sculptural form and visual lightness
A group shot of the trophies presented to the winners at the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022
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For the awards ceremony this year, two colour variations of glass were selected: trophies in an amber-orange hue were awarded to the winners of the 10 main categories, while trophies in a striking sapphire blue shade were presented to winners of the Designers on the Rise category, which recognises the eco-conscious achievements of young firms.
Each trophy is carefully sculpted for days on end due to its intricate process. The firm’s skilled artisans create the unique facets of each mould by hand, before crushing crystal glass slabs into pieces and placing the shards into the mould.
Utilising the firm’s warm technique of glassmaking, each mould is placed in a kiln that’s fired to casting temperatures, allowing the glass to melt and fuse completely. The kiln is thereafter switched off while the moulded glass remains inside to slowly cool overnight.
“The kiln cannot be opened [at this stage],” explains Ang. “This ensures that cool air does not go in and cause stresses in the glass, which may then cause it to break easily.”
Above The trophies for the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022 were designed in collaboration with Synergraphic Design
The trophies for the Tatler Homes Design Awards 2022 were designed in collaboration with Synergraphic Design
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After the cooling process, the firm’s team of in-house glass experts refine the piece further by grinding down the sharp edges to create facets that are then further polished for a smooth touch. The Tatler Homes logo is thereafter etched into each trophy through sandblasting.
“We love the colours that resemble gemstones unearthed from natural environments, and the contrast of the rough and smooth surfaces,” Ang shares. “Though very solid in form, one would notice upon closer inspection the soft swirls and bubbles inherent in the glass, bringing out once again the fluid nature and beauty of glass.”
This complex process also ensures that no two trophies are exactly alike; each trophy is unique to its recipient.
Each trophy is in fact a work of art in itself, and every piece is uniquely different
Each trophy rests on a glass base plate that features a digitally-printed pattern from Synergraphic’s Earth Tales Volume II, a collection of prints that portray the beauty of natural stone. Colmar, an emerald green pattern with gold detailing, complements the orange trophies. Ravenna, which features light blue swirls, was selected for the trophies for the Designers on the Rise.
Bridging the world of traditional techniques with new-age technology, the trophy design boasts a spirit of innovation and experimentation that echoes the qualities of the winners of the Tatler Homes Design Awards. “Each trophy is in fact a work of art in itself, and every piece is uniquely different,” shares Ang. “The brief was also looking at celebrating nature, and glass, being made completely out of natural elements, is the perfect medium for this.”
Credits
Art Direction: Charlene Lee
Photography: Benny Loh
Photography Assistant: Dennis Ong
