d+a: Up Close and Personal with Mike Lim

In Issue 089 (Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 issue) of d+a magazine, DP Design director Mike Lim talked about the recent release of DP Design’s first tome – DP Design: Designing Spaces – that chronicles over 20 key projects the subsidiary has undertaken in more than three decades of practice.

In the interview, Mike discussed DP Design’s philosophy of preserving the natural behaviour of a building and sense of space through materials, lighting conditions and planning techniques, harmoniously relating the interior space to the building’s architectural form with soul and character.

He also shared how most interior designers in DP Design are architecturally trained, and they apply this training through a rigorous inquisition of the space and challenging the programme. He emphasised that DP Design actively engages with architects during building conception, critically playing a role in the layout and plan for a building in order to achieve specific internal conditions.

Mike also spoke about how embracing Buddhism as a way of life influenced his design principles, and personal belief that life always has more to offer. These were fuelled by keen observations of his surroundings and travel experiences, natural curiosity and an acute sensitivity to how spaces, both narrow and vast, make him feel.

Mike further highlighted how the book covers schemes beyond the typical hospitality and residential typologies for interior design, in hopes to redefine how people look at interior spaces and architecture. Mike also touched on plans and projects that DP Design has for the future, in countries such as China, Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan and Turkey.