The Height of Design: Na Li, Holloway Li
As part of our recurring series, we asked Managing Director Na Li of Holloway Li for her idea of what items embody the height of design.
Having worked across both the construction and interior architecture industries, Na Li is the managing director of Holloway Li, where she oversees business development and consults international clients on projects spanning retail, hospitality and private residential sectors. Informed by her previous experience at prestigious firms Teatum & Teatum and Michaelis Boyd, Li’s design approach embraces warm, stripped-back interiors, a playfulness of proportions and high-quality finishes, the likes of which are evidenced across Holloway Li’s ever-expanding portfolio of imaginative commercial spaces.
The items:
The Modernist Collection by Joe Armitage.
Why do these items represent the height of design?
For me, Joe Armitage’s Modernist Collection represents the height of design as it brings together such a seamless blend of heritage and modernity. Whilst the collection draws on mid-century influences, it feels timeless in its aesthetic. Fusing form and function, the lamps are not only practical but sculptural, with their organic, sinuous shapes adding a touch of elegance to any space.
Linear Suspension Lamp by Joe Armitage
How does these items inspire you or your work?
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and using high-quality materials, the Modernist Collection is a showcase of craftsmanship at its finest – and that is endlessly inspiring to me. I find it fascinating to unpack the threads of inspiration behind design pieces and loved discovering how this collection draws on influences from contemporary jazz, dance music and modernist architecture. Our work as a studio is very narrative driven and we love collaborating with designers and studios who lean into this more thoughtful approach to bring a more rich, layered depth to their designs.
What do you think has been the impact of these items?
The versatility and understated refinement of the collection make it at home in both contemporary and traditional settings, from private residences to boutique hotels. We are very drawn to the quiet sophistication of the pieces and have gone on to specify the lights in a number of our projects, including Hylla Mansion in HK, and Club Quarters Hotels in London. Lighting is such a defining part of all our projects and, in both cases, the refined aesthetic of Joe’s pieces works effortlessly to soften the interior as well as bring an additional layer of warmth and elegance to the communal spaces.
Timber Wall Lamp by Joe Armitage
The personal connection
We have a longstanding relationship with Joe and the studio, and as said have actually specified pieces from their Classic and Modernist Collection for multiple projects, as well as collaborating on bespoke lighting pieces. There’s a natural synergy there and it’s always a joy working with designers whose work complements and enhances the experience of spaces we create so beautifully.
