Cheng Chung Design sets up Singapore office as gateway to Asia-Pacific market

The Chinese interior designer’s headquarters was designed to resemble a home for comfort.

Completed in just 75 days, Cheng Chung Design’s (CCD) new Singapore headquarters reflects its timeless artistry and procurement strategies, which have allowed it to dominate the interior design industry for three decades now.

The Hong Kong-based interior design firm is using Singapore as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific market, which has a wide pool of clients from the hotel, corporate, commercial complex, and high-end residential design sectors.

“Back in 2022, CCD earned the top spot in China among hospitality design giants, which shows the scale and trust [we have] from our clients,” Aldwin Ong, senior vice president at CCD, told Singapore Business Review.

“Over the years, we’ve started doing international projects, but because of [the lack of] communication accessibility, CCD wanted to expand as a global hospitality brand,” he added.

The firm completed the headquarters in a short time, using the strategy that has placed it at the top in China.

“Majority of the design was prefabricated in our China HQ and then delivered here. The Singapore team also helped curate some of the items that can be found here in Singapore from our trusted vendors and business partners,” Ong said.

The headquarters houses a team of 30 hand-picked designers, each bringing unique talent and experience to the hospitality and interior design sectors.

“The designers here were carefully selected and handpicked by myself, Mr. Joe [Cheng], who's the founder, and Ken [Hu], the principal designer,” Ong said. “[We wanted] to make sure that we have a really good mix of culture inside. So we have Singaporeans, we have Malaysians, we have Filipinos, and we have British [designers].”

Whilst expanding to Singapore was a strategic move, CCD was aware that real estate prices in the city-state are significantly higher, prompting it to adopt innovative design solutions to maximise space.

“In our Material Library, all materials are concise and clean, stored digitally in our cloud space,” Ong said. “This allows immediate access for our designers to any materials we have partnered with in a very organised digital space.”

In contrast, a typical design firm's material library tends to be cluttered and occupy about a third of the space.

A moodboard and lounge space is also available for clients, designed to remind them of CCD’s creativity whenever they sign a deal, reflecting the firm's focus on partnership and collaboration.

‘Landscape is art’
More than just a workplace, the Singapore headquarters is designed to resemble a home, with features that enhance comfort.

“One of the keywords that we use in the office is ‘decaffeinated.’ When you walk into the office, you feel calm, as if you're in your own home. Our founder didn’t want the stereotypical architectural office, which is often very clean or concrete; he wanted it to be lifestyle-driven,” Ong said.

CCD wants to showcase spaces that blend elements of home and work. Its founder loves cars, and many office elements, sculptures, and accessories reflect his lifestyle.

“We have a landscape gallery, where we showcase nature. We also have the galley, which is essentially where people gather around to eat,” he added.

The headquarters also features a book bar with an extensive wine collection surrounded by books, along with an interactive TV used in meetings. Designers can also work here. “So it's not just spaces that you see in your home; they have been converted to suit our needs.”

As an interior designer, CCD creates art by taking inspiration from the land it occupies. The headquarters has landscape designs that reflect Singapore’s reputation as a garden city.

The inspiration for the workspace design includes Peranakan style and culture, and has features found in shophouses, which are part of Singapore’s rich colonial era. “We don't just place a small orchid and call it a day. We actually have scale because we want to emphasise that landscape is art, which is our DNA,” Ong said.

CCD considered ergonomics and health in designing its office, with lower table heights for comfort and lighting that soothes the eyes.

To further enhance workplace well-being, CCD created a veranda with a view of the Marina Bay, which lets natural light in. “Ultimately, the workspace doesn’t just become a cold environment for them to work in. It becomes a second home, allowing them to reflect what we do for our clients while still enjoying the space,” Ong said.