Meet Clint Nagata, the architect behind luxury hotels such as Roku Kyoto & The Fullerton Ocean Park Hong Kong

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After graduating, Nagata started in WATG after responding to an advertisement. He was contacted by the organization after submitting an application for a vacation offer. ” It was about going to these prestigious hotels that WATG had created. Sometimes I just wanted to go on holiday”, Nagata chuckled. He received a lot more money at WATG than he did the award, though.

His theory and technique were influenced by the company. In specific, Nagata credits three coaches. ” The second, Don Goo, was a really good business and presenter. He had a strong grasp of the big picture and had develop these concepts that appeared to be quite unconventional. My next leader Kevin Chan, who was also a lover, taught me about style. When I first joined the company, I had only graduated and had no idea what place and proportion were. He would say: ‘ Do n’t design a column based on it being 600mm in diameter on plan, design it based on the proportions of a space ‘”, Nagata recalled.

From a second mate Eugene Wanatabe, he learnt the technical aspects of infrastructure. ” I remember a year out of college, I had designed a twisted screen for a building. It looked great and was constructed. But the contractors could n’t get it to site because it was too big”, Nagata mused. Eugene taught me that you have to consider about how to build beautiful points before making them.

Nagata became WATG’s youngest mate in 2006 when he left to form Blink Design Group at the age of 35. He attributes it to the ideal setting. When I first started working for the company, it was during the economic downturn, when several persons were laid off. Immediately when I looked round, it was just me, the lovers and a few individuals in between. Because the company was smaller, I had the opportunity to work immediately with the partners. It even boosted my job as they gave me some possibilities”, Nagata said.

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Alvin Tjitrowirjo, founder of design studio AlvinT, is on a mission to champion Indonesian designs and craftsmanship

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Looking at the artisans, he was filled with admiration – and perhaps envy – of the honest, unpressured way of life. “They work with their hands, and while they are weaving, they are chatting with their friends, making jokes. They have very strong social connections, having lived in the villages for generations. I feel that nowadays working in the city, we have a lot of anxiety. I am sure they have a lower stress level [than city folks]. That gave me a different perspective on how to live.”

The Ndare collection is a highlight at the AlvinT Gallery that opened in October this year. It is located in the newly established Indonesian Design District (IDD) in North Jakarta. The physical space is a milestone for Tjitrowirjo, who is excited to create a sensory spatial environment that offers visitors a more in-depth way of understanding their own cultural identity and values through design.

“The approximately eight-hectare, open-air space opened by a private developer comprises over 50 furniture, art and decor shops. It will have cafes, restaurants and bars, and it’s the first of its kind in Indonesia – something like the Design District in Miami. We positioned our shop as a gallery because we don’t just want to sell furniture; we want to try and sell the experience and push ideas that we believe in,” said Tjitrowirjo.

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