Terrence Quah, Hace Chua, Karinna Gobbo, Michael Fiebrich and Elliot Barratt, launching the Tappeti Designer Collective collection at The Arts House
Cover Terrence Quah, Hace Chua, Karinna Gobbo, Michael Fiebrich and Elliot Barratt, launching the Tappeti Designer Collective collection at The Arts House
Terrence Quah, Hace Chua, Karinna Gobbo, Michael Fiebrich and Elliot Barratt, launching the Tappeti Designer Collective collection at The Arts House

The Arts House hosted the debut of the Tappeti Designer Collective this October, introducing intricately crafted rugs in collaboration with five renowned Singaporean designers

On 10 October 2024, luxury rug purveyor Tappeti gathered design lovers and connoisseurs of refinement at The Arts House for the inauguration of the Tappeti Designer Collective, introducing a new collection of meticulously crafted rugs and carpets.

With a history of weaving elegant and artistic narratives into textiles since its founding 18 years ago, Tappeti has made its mark not just for its bespoke designs, Italian heritage and meticulous craftsmanship, but also for its commitment to ethical and sustainable production at the hands of artisans, who work with natural fibres such as wool, hemp and cactus yarn.

The newest initiative by founder Karinna Gobbo, the Tappeti Designer Collective brought together five renowned interior designers to craft unique rugs with an open brief, resulting in masterpieces with a distinctive artistic appeal. These designers hail from some of the most respected firms in Singapore’s design scene: Architology Interiors, EightyTwo, Elliot James Interiors, Ethereall, and Michael Fiebrich Design.

Built almost 200 years ago, with elegant colonial architecture that exudes classic charm, The Arts House was the perfect venue for the launch, setting the stage for an evening defined by craftsmanship, artistry and prestige.

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Photo 1 of 8 Tunc Abraz, Tanya Levey, Michael Fiebrich, Terrence Quah, Hace Chua, Elliot Barratt, Karinna Gobbo
Photo 2 of 8 The event crowd
Photo 3 of 8 The audience taking in the introduction by Tappeti founder Karinna Gobbo
Photo 4 of 8 Michael Fiebrich and Elliot Barratt
Photo 5 of 8 Elliot Barratt and Michael Fiebrich
Photo 6 of 8 The guests admiring the Tappeti ‘Paper Wind’ rug by Architology
Photo 7 of 8 Guest interactions with the Tappeti rugs
Photo 8 of 8 Samantha Tay and Jaclene Liew
Tunc Abraz, Tanya Levey, Michael Fiebrich, Terrence Quah, Hace Chua, Elliot Barratt, Karinna Gobbo
The event crowd
The audience taking in the introduction by Tappeti founder Karinna Gobbo
Michael Fiebrich and Elliot Barratt
Elliot Barratt and Michael Fiebrich
The guests admiring the Tappeti ‘Paper Wind’ rug by Architology
Guest interactions with the Tappeti rugs
Samantha Tay, Jaclene Liew

Against this sophisticated backdrop, the designers behind the collection displayed their creations for the discerning crowd as the room filled with the sounds of violins and other enchanting instruments, courtesy of string quartet Vocalise. Tappeti founder Karinna Gobbo introduced the collection with palpable devotion, followed by the designers’ own introductions and personal stories behind their individual pieces.

Architology co-founder Terrence Quah shared more about Paper Wind, his rug design inspired by Chinese paper fans, art, and fashion, embodying movement and elegance with rich textural and visual layering. Terence Neo, the CEO of EightyTwo, explored the meditative essence of nature and emptiness in his rug, titled Huit, through an intricate, textured pattern resembling a zen garden.

We also got to find out more about Magnifying Nature, designed by Elliot James Interiors, with an interplay of organic lines drawn from the subtle yet impactful visuals and textures found in nature, and No Borders, a rug by Michael Fiebrich Design that’s inspired by the indigenous traditions and natural surroundings the designer encountered on his travels.

Last but not least, Ethereall introduced Fragmented, a vibrant, abstract rug featuring a blend of textural finishes inspired by the firm’s affinity for raw materials such as concrete and cement.

Read more: What went down at the Architects on the Rise awarding soirée at Hafary Gallery

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Photo 1 of 16 Bernard Cheong, Dolly Cheong, Kee Wei Hui and Tan Szue Hann
Photo 2 of 16 Danielle Ma, Aubrey Soh and Tracy Lim
Photo 3 of 16 Serene Liok, Pauline Chan and Jane Heng
Photo 4 of 16 Tan Szue Hann, Kee Wei Hui, Jaclene Liew, Samantha Tay and Tan Chin Nyap
Photo 5 of 16 Natalie Barratt, Elliot Barratt and Kaizar Karkaria
Photo 6 of 16 Jason Kow and Cheryl Koh
Photo 7 of 16 Cassandra Riene Tan and George Kesselman
Photo 8 of 16 Jane Heng
Photo 9 of 16 Michael Fiebrich, Jon Jon Bauyon, Christine Sipin, Karinna Gobbo, Asih Jenie, Yaiza Canopoli and Elliot Barratt
Photo 10 of 16 Karinna Gobbo, Asih Jenie and Hace Chua
Photo 11 of 16 Karinna Gobbo
Photo 12 of 16 Jaclene Liew
Photo 13 of 16 Noelle Chu and Dickson Chu
Photo 14 of 16 Phillips Connor
Photo 15 of 16 Ayumi Shimuta, Bu Shukun, Tan Szue Hann, Kee Wei Hui
Photo 16 of 16 Sharon Su and Serene Liok
Bernard Cheong, Dolly Cheong, Kee Wei Hui and Tan Szue Hann
Danielle Ma, Aubrey Soh and Tracy Lim
Serene Liok, Pauline Chan and Jane Heng
Tan Szue Hann, Kee Wei Hui, Jaclene Liew, Samantha Tay and Tan Chin Nyap
Natalie Barratt, Elliot Barratt and Kaizar Karkaria
Jason Kow and Cheryl Koh
Cassandra Riene Tan and George Kesselman
Jane Heng
Michael Fiebrich, Jon Jon Bauyon, Christine Sipin, Karinna Gobbo, Asih Jenie, Yaiza Canopoli, Elliot Barratt
Karinna Gobbo, Asih Jenie and Hace Chua
Karinna Gobbo
Jaclene Liew
Noelle Chu and Dickson Chu
Phillips Connor
Ayumi Shimuta, Bu Shukun, Tan Szue Hann, Kee Wei Hui
Sharon Su and Serene Liok

Of course, the Tappeti Designer Collective range stays true to the brand’s ethos: the rugs are customisable, from the colour to the shape, size and even fibre, while retaining the designer’s artistic intent and vision.

The guests were invited to get up close and personal with each rug, appreciating the tactile beauty and craftsmanship, and conversing with the designers to find out more about these textile masterpieces. Accompanied by delectable bites and champagne, these vibrant conversations around design, craft and artistry went on late into the evening.

The first collaboration of its kind in Singapore, it was no easy feat to actualise the collection; the resulting range under the Tappeti Designer Collective stands as a testament to the skill and creativity behind each piece.

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Photo 1 of 7 Hace Chua and her Tappeti rug design, titled ‘Fragmented’
Photo 2 of 7 Terrence Quah with ‘Paper Wind’
Photo 3 of 7 Elliot Barratt with his rug, ‘Magnifying Nature’
Photo 4 of 7 Michael Fiebrich and his ‘No Borders’ rug
Photo 5 of 7 Singapore string quartet Vocalise
Photo 6 of 7 The delectable canapés
Photo 7 of 7 The luxurious gifts for the guests at the Tappeti Designer Collective launch
Hace Chua and her Tappeti rug design, titled ‘Fragmented’
Terrence Quah with ‘Paper Wind’
Elliot Barratt with his rug, ‘Magnifying Nature’
Michael Fiebrich and his ‘No Borders’ rug
Singapore string quartet Vocalise
The delectable canapés
The luxurious gifts for the guests at the Tappeti Designer Collective launch

Credits

Photography: Adrian Lee

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