Peter Silling & Associates Hotel Interior Design Limited have been shortlisted for Hotel Design – Asia Pacific Award in The International Hotel & Property Awards 2023. Read more about Executive Director Mandy Ng, below:

---

Name: Mandy Ng

Company: Peter Silling & Associates Hotel Interior Design Limited 

Position within company: Executive Director

Website: http://www.petersillingassociates.com

Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc):
I was trained as an architect in the U.K and also completed a MSc in Business Operation Management. Ever since I graduated I was practicing in London as a retail architect. Nevertheless, I decided to pursue a different career path and become an interior designer. I joined Peter Silling & Associates in 2006, and was fortunate to work closely with Peter Silling and hone my design skills under his guidance. In 2014, I became the executive director of the company and primarily responsible for all theming direction of the company’s projects.  

How would you describe your personal design style?
I try not to be bound by a single style. I believe every design should have a strong design narrative. It’s all about delivering an experiential design that tells a good story. 

Where does your design inspiration come from?
Ideas and inspiration come from everywhere: travel, books and magazines, architecture, and dialogues with people of different cultures and backgrounds and communication is so important. We always work closely with our clients to ensure we understand the full expectations of the target audiences.  

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Driven by the impacts of the countless lockdowns during the pandemic, experimenting with fluid and flexible space has become a trend when approaching design. Dynamic layouts that allow changeable and repurposing of space to cater different needs and functions have acquired greater importance than ever.  

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2023 and beyond.
The uncertainty we experienced during the pandemic also made us understand the importance of wellness and sustainable design. This means interiors will be more transformable, smarter, greener and consuming resources more efficiently.

In terms of materials, the appreciation of nature is of increasing value for design. It implies tradition, the richness of material texture, light, views, and everything that makes us feel good and connected to our surroundings. It is also about discovering the beauty of materials’ natural life cycle, whether it be oxidized copper, weathered stone or untreated wood, changing their appearance as a response to external stimuli. 

Integrated technology would be another big one. Making technology more seamlessly integrated into our lives, available whenever and wherever is unavoidable. Technological advances such home automation and digital visual techniques inspire designers to curate spaces with meaning while meeting modern demands.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Draw a mind map and denote all the important design elements in a sequence. This will then become the journey of your design and the memorable experience that you want to curate for people. Iterate the process with your team to discover the commonalities and differences and you will be able to define the key factors that shape the scheme. 

How important are The International Hotel & Property Awards? Indeed, it is very important as it’s a great honour to us and it represents an appreciation of our efforts. It’s also a motivation for us to deliver better design. 

What projects are you currently working on?
The Marina Bay Sands Tower 3 Guestroom Renovation in Singapore and the Breidenbacher Hof Düsseldolf Renovation in Germany. 

What was your favourite project to work on and why?
The Marina Bay Sands Guestroom Renovation in Singapore. It’s the complexity of the project that makes it so much fun and rewarding when it’s completed. 

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?
The Marina Bay Sands Guestroom Renovation in Singapore. Because of the complication of the building architecture, there’s a lot of challenges when we wanted to create the rooms with a complete different spatial arrangement. It’s a miracle that the consultants, the client and the contractors, all as a team together, managed to complete the project from space planning, design, and construction despite the fact that it’s all happening during the pandemic and we could only communicate and correspond online.  

Which products/services could you not live without when designing? I guess it’s the internet. It’s to stay connected for the research and communication.  

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Rebrand Peter Silling & Associates and position it as an innovative, multidisciplinary design studio, diversify the company projects portfolio globally. 

Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself and your daily inspirations:

Your most treasured possession?
My family and friends

Your favourite holiday destination?
Japan for sure. Traveling in Japan is always very fascinating. Not only because of its stunning scenery and the amazing food, but there are many unique experiences the nation offers that are inspiring. On one hand, Japanese traditional culture is very special and original, but the country has developed a different culture that is futuristic and modern which is totally different from the former. Interestingly just as what we need in the design world, it exemplifies how historical/traditional and high-tech/modern can co-exist. 

Your favourite hotel, restaurant & bar?
The Aman Tokyo, Ilove the oversized room and the attention to fine materials.

Your favourite book, film & song?  
A Memoir of Love and Loss, The Menu, Perfect – Ed Sheeran  

Your favourite food and drink?
Coffee, wine and Japanese food  

Your favourite way to spend an afternoon?
Watch a movie 

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?
I want to be a furniture maker who can craft beautiful furnishings that people can use and enjoy. 

---

design et al only work with the world’s leading companies in the Design & Architecture industry.

If you think you have what it takes to compete in The International Design & Architecture Awards, submit your application by clicking here.

How to Apply  /  The Categories