From mushrooms to monkeys, unpacking the memories of mysterious and misunderstood E.J.H. Corner
An unexpected suitcase bequeathed to his estranged son marks the starting point of inspiration for this project. Who exactly was EJH Corner? Why Corner House? What did he do? What happened during his time in Singapore? We imagined the space as what could have been if EJH eventually did return to Singapore after the war. We wanted to create a space and an experience that offered a peek into the life of mysterious of Dr. EJH Corner – the distinguished mycologist who dedicated his life to nature and the pursuit of knowledge.
With Corner House situated in the Singapore’s First UNESCO Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanical Gardens, we made sure to continue the visual narrative by celebrating the views of the surrounding lush landscape, using muted shades to give the view the attention it deserves. Natural stone and wood accents lend a touch to complement the conservation architecture within the space. Given the historical context and significance of the building being built in 1910, we were sensitive to keeping much of the original tropical-colonial structure and design intact while giving it a modern spin.
The restaurant is roughly divided into four dining areas, each open to one another but defined by the style of seating. On the ground floor, the space opens to a lounge area and private dining room which we took reference from Grandma Corner’s elegant drawing room– the place where he felt warmth and had fond memories as a child growing up in England. Grandma Corner was known to have had a keen interest in floras. The lounge extends through a curtained opening, accommodating larger, private parties when needed, and it features an oversized table clothed and with a feathered chandelier light shade suspended above. Framed memorabilia of Fauna, Mushroom specimens, and historical pictures of Corner house flank both sides of the room, offering a peek into EJH’s past while guest dine in this intimate setting.
On the upper floor, the main dining hall is spacious and roomy, from British diplomats to Japanese officials, Corner House was known to have housed and hosted many and at one point even housed friends of EJH who were fleeing from the peninsula during WWII. We took a relaxed approach to the interiors, combining warm and soft colours with walnut furniture and metal accents. A muted palette and natural materials were chosen to encourage guests to look a little longer and appreciate the intricacies and textures that aren't so obvious at first glimpse. A dramatic chandelier made of metal chains, sets against the lush backdrop of Singapore Botanical Garden’s landscape and its features are inspired by spores and fungi that E.J.H has dedicated his life to.
The entire space bears traces of EJH Corner, from the conservation of the house to our reimagined take on how he would have hosted dignitaries. As with most geniuses, EJH was an enigma that no one really knew, not even his family. The design of Roia today in Corner house, expresses more than just a restaurant but is designed to be one that encompasses the union of all things past and the present.
Team:
Architect: LAANK
Interior Design Team:
Creative Director: Cherin Tan
Creative Strategist: Shu Yar Cheng
Interior Designer: Jenny Phumthida
FF&E Designer: Rachel Lee
Technical Designers: Clarence Reyes, Shirlee Garcia, Kent Bryan Bondoc
Collaborators:
Builders: Briwerks Pte Ltd
Lighting: Million Lighting Co Pte Ltd
Photography: Studio Periphery
