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Intelligent designs with a strong sense of place
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WHO is he?
Simon Rawlings is creative director of David Collins Studio. Throughout his 16 years with the company, he has been fundamental in defining and implementing the studio’s creative vision, originally working closely with David Collins and now with the creative team. Rawlings develops and brings to life concepts for commercial projects around the world, drawing on his unique skill set of operational knowledge, client collaboration and quality delivery.
With every concept, Rawlings ensures the studio’s vision matches, delivers and exceeds expectations in its design, quality, and the experience it grants. He is currently involved in projects in Europe, the USA, the Middle East and the Far East.
Tell us about some of your works, and the one you’re most proud of.
An exciting element of my job is the diversity of our projects and their locations — they span the retail, hospitality, residential and wellness sectors so each one is very much unique.
An upcoming project that I am thoroughly thrilled about is MahaSamutr in Hua Hin, Thailand, which will be launching in 2016. It really is a unique project and a wonderful collaboration with the architects Kengo Kuma and Associates.
MahaSamutr will be a luxury villa and country club which is built surrounding a man-made lagoon.
What projects are you currently working on?
2014 saw us launching 18 projects from Bangkok to London, from Hong Kong to New York, from Los Angeles to Chengdu, and from Vienna to Tokyo — suffice to say that it was a busy year!
We have a number of exciting new projects launching this year too, which include the first flagship for Louis Leeman opening on New York’s Madison Avenue, the two private residences that we have designed at the exclusive Mount Nicholson Road in Hong Kong, the flagship Alexander McQueen store in Paris and the al-fresco Garden Lounge at the Corinthia in London.
Additionally, it is our 30th anniversary this year so there is even more cause for celebration.
Describe your design style.
Each and every one of our projects is unique and they very much have their own sense of place, but the way in which we approach them and deliver them remains consistent. I would say that our design style is creative, functional, successful and unique.
Where are you most creative?
My day-to-day working life is rather busy to say the least and with our projects spanning across the world I travel a great deal, so when I do end up having a day off I enjoy spending my weekends in Orford where my wife and I have a house. It’s a beautiful small coastal town northeast of London and a place of true inspiration.
What does your home mean to you?
I see my home as very much a private space where I spend time with my family and relax.
What do you collect?
In design it is a must to research and familiarise yourself with a variety of eras and cultures and through the amount of travel that we do as a studio, I have come across many objects that have not only peaked an interest in terms of design, but a personal one too.
Most recently, I have started collecting Victorian and Edwardian spoons — with the number of types that I have already found, it is clear to see that throughout the years there has been a cultural shift in the dining experience and food culture as a whole. They really did have an item of cutlery for everything back then.
Where would you like to go to most in Shanghai?
If I could choose any area in Shanghai during any era, it would be the French Concession in the 1920s.
What will be the next big design trend?
As global design looks toward local craft and artisans, the sense of local craftsmanship will become even more emphasized. We are very lucky at David Collins Studio as we have collaborated with a number of incredible local artisans, artists and craftsmen on many projects over our 30 years.
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