A few months prior to the Maison&Objet in Singapore, on November 15, 2016, its organizer SAFI announced the suspension of Asian and American editions to focus on Paris-based events and the promising launch of the digital platform MAISON&OBJET and MORE (MOM).
While it has been a challenge to find international success, due to difficult market conditions, to meet the expectations of buyers, interior designers and key influencers, its three M&O Asia editions have strengthened relationships with international designers. Last year’s selected designer, André Fu, from design studio AFSO, delivered a discussion during the event to a full house. Fu spoke alongside Andreas Stalder, senior vice president of food & beverage operations and product development for Hyatt Hotels Asia Pacific, about their collaboration on the Andaz Singapore.
It seems that with the cancellation of the event for 2017 and 2018, the Maison&Objet might foster instability in potential relationship-building, or create disappointment for designers. For selected designer of the year for 2017, Singapore-based architecture studio WOHA—the award announced in October 2016, a month before cancelling the event—their excitement collapsed. Selected designers are scheduled to put on installations and exhibitions at the event venue and, as a first time M&O-award winner, WOHA was looking forward to the opportunity. They were to conduct MasterCrit sessions and had planned on launching a product line.
“WOHA has been invited to the Paris edition in January to give a keynote speech, and plans are in the works for them to be involved with the September show,” Philippe Brocart, managing director of SAFI, told The Straits Times in an interview.
Learn more about WOHA on world-architects’ site.
