Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Amanda Gunawan When she was 10, she knew she wanted to be an architect, and from then on she carefully plotted her journey. Travel was a major element of his prosperity as he considered various structures while studying at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). However, one particular building left a lasting impression.
Gunawan analyzed the Tama Art University Library in Japan through books and photographs, but to see it in person, he had to travel 45 minutes during the rain. Yet nothing could prepare her for the experience she had on the site. “I have never felt so inspired to become an architect,” she says. “Seeing the immense effort of each stakeholder to reach such a level of perfection – and knowing that it can be achieved – reassures me. I was filled with a feeling of love that I had never felt before.”
Los Angeles-based design and construction firm OWIU Design (Only Way Up is Design) Was established in 2018. The brainchild of Gunawan and Joel Wong, the pair and their staff work on a range of projects from furniture design to interiors and landscaping.
At the studio, there is little separation between work and living spaces, which fosters camaraderie among the group. Even team-building has been relaxed, with activities taking place at the kitchen counter within the office. It’s no surprise OWIU stuffThe firm’s home goods line, began as a casual hobby when the team signed up for a membership at a nearby ceramics studio.
“Our interior design clients began requesting specific ceramic pieces for their homes, so it made sense for us to expand in that direction,” Gunawan says. “Before we knew it, everyone became so invested, and what started as small custom projects turned into hundreds and, eventually, thousands of orders. It all happened slowly and felt very natural.
Today, Amanda Gunawan joins us friday five,
Beniya Mukayu is a stunning ryokan (Japanese-style inn) located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. What sets this place apart is its deep commitment to art and design. Staying here feels like being in an art museum, where every element has been thoughtfully designed to create a unique experience of being with/surrounded by art. The ryokan features both permanent and rotating installations by renowned Japanese artists such as Kennya Hara and Tatsuo Miyajima, blending art with everyday life such as enjoying breakfast next to a tranquil installation, or relaxing in a library. Where it is part of the installation environment. The interiors are filled with designer furniture and accessories scattered throughout the rooms and shared spaces, adding to the aesthetic appeal. It’s a relaxing and inspiring place and I always have such a memorable experience. Not to mention that this ryokan has the best kaiseki food (coursed Japanese-style dinner) of all the ryokans I’ve visited. Both photos were taken by me.
Photo: Official Berlin Marathon
2. Running
Running is an integral part of my life and has shaped me into who I am today. It’s a constant in my life – it’s present, it’s available to me. I can do it whenever I want, wherever I want, as long as I have a pair of shoes. In this way, it’s almost meditative. When I’m running, I feel as if I’ve been transported to a different world, a kind of whirlpool where I am alone with my thoughts and completely in sync with my body. It has taught me so much about life, confronting me with some of my hardest but most important truths. Running brings out parts of me that I don’t always pay attention to and helps me understand myself better. It has built my sense of stability and confidence through self-discipline and commitment to finish strong. But it has also taught me to be forgiving, to remember that, like running, life is a journey with ups and downs. The main thing is not to keep score, but to enjoy the process.
On that note, I am completely obsessed with the brand On. I’m proud to say I was an early adopter – I first discovered them when they had a small booth at a 5km race I attended in Singapore. I got my first pair of ON shoes there, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I have occasionally “cheated” on that pair with other brands and always come back. The brand has evolved so much since then, and it’s easy to see why. They constantly amaze their fans by pushing the limits of the existing world with cutting-edge technology and some of the best products. Their choice of celebrity endorsements is spot on, and their creative creative campaigns are always so refreshing. Not an exaggeration either – I’ve purchased about 20 pairs of ON shoes over the years and have convinced a few of my friends to join in. And honestly, despite having so many pairs, I’m still always sold on the latest releases because each one has a super cool design that I’ve never seen before.
This is the ultimate resource book for anything related to residential projects. Watching Local Project videos before sleeping has become part of my normal routine – their content is beautifully shot and calming. They select the most amazing projects out there and capture them in an almost poetic way with a cinematic touch. Her coffee table books are some of my favorites — they’re in both my home and office, and I flip to them whenever I need a quick dose of inspiration. It’s also my default gift for people when I’m short on finding a gift.
Flos is my favorite lighting company right now! There are seven of them in my house alone. They create functional art through lighting, transforming any space into something that feels like a museum, with each piece resembling an art installation. I love sitting at home just looking at my floss pieces. Their lights go through an extensive process from concept to launch, with a lot of attention paid to perfecting every detail, and it really shows.
When I first saw Chidi’s artwork, I knew I wanted a piece for my home. His art is simple yet bold, moving and deeply thought-provoking in its exploration of themes of human connection. Each piece exudes raw energy with layered textures. Seeing his work on a computer screen was one thing and seeing them in person, in all their grandeur, with all the little intricacies and details carefully hidden behind bold strokes, was quite another experience.
Work by Amanda Gunawan and OWIU Design:
picture: Justin Chung
picture: Justin Chung
picture: finbar fallon
picture: Justin Chung
picture: finbar fallon
Photo: Alexandra Lopez
picture: nastasia brukin
