An Ode to Sensuality
An architect, interior designer and builder come together to create BASA, a paint shop and retail concept in Singapore’s Joo Chiat
Even before one enters BASA, there is a strong material encounter in the five-foot-way. A grid of limewashed brick-clad columns frame two large windows and a glass door, and the thick metal bands of faux lintels glimmer in the tropical sunshine. It’s a fitting introduction to a store that sells Bauwerk Colour, eco-friendly limestone paints made from natural clay, minerals and pigments that, when applied, create earthy surfaces.
BASA is a partnership between an architect, an interior designer and a builder, and is located in east Singapore’s Joo Chiat, an enclave known for its colourful shophouses. The store also carries other lifestyle products like copper incense burners, ceramics and candles. ‘I’ve used Bauwerk Colour in several projects, as well as in my own home,’ says Amy Lim, the interior designer and founder of Pupil Office. ‘I love the raw texture, the uniqueness of the finish, the properties and the variety of colours. Depending on the lighting conditions and surroundings, each colour can be perceived very differently, meaning that no two spaces would ever look the same even when using the same colour.’
Inside the shop, Lim eschewed neutral tones for shades of olive. It’s a soulful backdrop for the cherry wood shelves, terracotta-tiled counter and off-white Navona travertine, which is used for the herringbone-patterned floor and the angular counter in the centre of the shop. ‘The colours and materials were specifically selected for their tactility, depth and richness. We intend to change up the colour scheme over time to keep the store design fresh,’ says the architect in the group, Cher Ming Tan, founder of Ming Architects. The materiality is consistent with the core ethos of BASA (meaning ‘foundation’ in Spanish), which is ‘an emphasis on quality, premium, natural products that will benefit our customers and enhance their lives,’ says builder Nicholas Beh, who is the founder of construction company Reptileworks.
While paint shops are typically industrial spaces where tins of paint are displayed on shelves and colour options are chosen from swatches, here the tins and brushes are displayed more like lifestyle products, arranged neatly and lit by ambient lighting. Wall sconces and a trio of pendant lights from Japanese brand Fores hang above the centre counter, combining with the soft music to create an artful feel and a comfortable ambience that encourages lingering, listening and feeling.
Text by Luo Jingmei
Photography by Studio Periphery
