District 8 is founded on its designer’s love for the intricate and complex world of industrialism
When Darren Chew first designed furniture for his multi-concept store and café L’usine in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, it was not his intention to set up a furniture brand.
But people know a good thing when they see it, and when patrons started asking to buy the highly-industrial furniture, Darren and his business partner, Paul Norriss, finally decided to start up their own furniture brand in 2010.
Named after the district where the furniture brand is based in Ho Chi Minh City, District 8 manufactures furniture that celebrates the raw strength of reclaimed wood and sand-casted iron, and many furniture pieces draw inspiration from machine parts that Darren finds from junk piles around Ho Chi Minh City.
“They have huge piles of machine parts at foundries around the city. We basically go to all these places and pick through it until we find pieces that are interesting. The Vietnamese thought we were crazy, poring over junk piles,” said Darren.
Finding a well-made machine part is akin to striking gold in Darren’s eyes, mostly for the untold potential it holds when it comes to sparking new designs.
“I still collect pieces with the idea that one day I’ll be able to make something from it. It’s good inspiration to have around the factory,”
he said. Thus far, these machine parts have inspired furniture like robust tables, shelves, stools and even a hefty chess set, all of which colour turn-of-the-century industry with a patina of romance.
Q&A with Darren Chew
Describe District 8 in three words.
Industrial, authentic and heavy, at the moment – but that’s slowly changing.
Describe the space that you live in.
I live in an old French apartment building in Dong Khoi Street, a beautiful old French street in Saigon. I rented two apartments and turned it into one apartment. It has high ceilings – it basically looks like a loft apartment.
What is the best way to incorporate a District 8 piece at home?
I think you can mix it in with found objects, stuff that you collect, vintage pieces.
What would you splurge on when doing up your home?
Your dining table should be a big one because you wouldn’t change it so often. People can get their sofas re-upholstered in different fabrics, or you can change your chairs to create a new space, but you wouldn’t change your dining table.
What is your favourite design decade?
Anything in that mid-century era. It’s interesting as a design decade. But for industrial design – design and machines – it’d probably be turn-of-the-century.
By Rachel Lee-Leong
Article first published in Lookbox Living #36 May/Jun 2014
Lookbox Living #39 is out now! Available at major bookstores and news stands.
For more interior projects, visit www.lookboxliving.com.sg
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