To this day, Fu’s projects continue to be crafted as reflections of his mindset at the point of the commission. Whether it is the client, brand or rationale, they would all contribute to what he envisions at the drawing board. “You try to listen, go into the site, look at the surroundings and have a feel for the city,” he said.
His work is also explored in the newly launched book Andre Fu: A Designer’s Vision, which marks his studio’s 25th anniversary. Written by regular CNA Luxury contributor Daven Wu, the book examines Fu’s creative process through three thematic sections: Escape, Cultural Dialogue and Heritage.
“What surprised me most, working with Andre on this book, was just how much labour hides behind something that looks so effortless. He maps out a person’s entire journey through a space – how it might feel at 10 in the morning versus at dusk, for instance – long before any material gets chosen. For him, emotion comes first; everything else, from proportion to light, is built to serve it,” said Wu, who is also the Singapore editor of Wallpaper*.
It is perhaps timely then that Fu is also thinking about the legacy that he is leaving behind. When future designers look back at his body of work decades from now, he hopes they will take away how it always strives to create a sense of connection.
“The single biggest lesson would likely be my conviction that design should not impose a lifestyle, but rather enable a personal expression of living – creating spaces that are rooted in a strong narrative, one that is warm and is imbued with understated sophistication. In short, the guest’s journey is always the soul of my work,” he said.