ohplay
print and interactive design consultancy
Ong Chin Hwee salvaged an old conservation shophouse along Joo Chiat Road, Singapore, and set out to completely re-imagine its design while maintaing its cultural heritage. Along with architects, Union, the 24 Crane Road home was launched with an inspiring result. The space was conceived to house three distinct serviced apartments under one roof, each with its own character and aesthetic appeal. The occupants are encouraged to co-exist by the means of a central stairway, rendered in a beautiful blue.
To promote this unique property, we were invited to create a brand image, a limited-edtion book intended for the media and press, and an online presence for users all over the world. The idea to use the blue of the central stairway was apparent; everything else fell into place.
The 24 Crane Road book consisted of interviews with the owner, architects, builders; art, architectural photography, a historical article of Joo Chiat Road and even a walking tour of the neighbourhood. We had the three sides of its pages silkscreened in blue. Signs of wear in the blue ink would show after several reads, mimicking the general wear of the physical property by its occupants.
Blank pages and photographs of objects (from the property) were placed in considered pages, to communicate the feeling of encountering a wall or discovering the odds and ends in 24 Crane. We commissioned three artists to provide their interpretation of the space; ergo, three unique posters were created and used as the book's cover jacket.
The main function of the website was to provide a platform for everyone else to get access to the same content found in the book. Designed with a persistent navigation menu, in blue of course, the website had all content in one long scrolling page. The concept was to read in the same way you would the book, and that is achieved to full effect on the iPad version of the website. Furthermore, digital technology such as Google Maps was used to enhance the interactive experience. Users can literally view the property and its surrounding environment in virtual reality.
To promote this unique property, we were invited to create a brand image, a limited-edtion book intended for the media and press, and an online presence for users all over the world. The idea to use the blue of the central stairway was apparent; everything else fell into place.
The 24 Crane Road book consisted of interviews with the owner, architects, builders; art, architectural photography, a historical article of Joo Chiat Road and even a walking tour of the neighbourhood. We had the three sides of its pages silkscreened in blue. Signs of wear in the blue ink would show after several reads, mimicking the general wear of the physical property by its occupants.
Blank pages and photographs of objects (from the property) were placed in considered pages, to communicate the feeling of encountering a wall or discovering the odds and ends in 24 Crane. We commissioned three artists to provide their interpretation of the space; ergo, three unique posters were created and used as the book's cover jacket.
The main function of the website was to provide a platform for everyone else to get access to the same content found in the book. Designed with a persistent navigation menu, in blue of course, the website had all content in one long scrolling page. The concept was to read in the same way you would the book, and that is achieved to full effect on the iPad version of the website. Furthermore, digital technology such as Google Maps was used to enhance the interactive experience. Users can literally view the property and its surrounding environment in virtual reality.