Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishIt is often said, in contemporary design, that the objects capable of seamlessly blending past and future are the ones that endure – and become timeless. What we seek is a vision, a perspective where all elements – storytelling, aesthetics, tradition, culture, and material – merge into a coherent and meaningful product. That’s the essence of the new collection to be presented at Superstudio Più during Milan Design Week, designed by O&O Studio, a Hong Kong-based practice founded in 2018 by Suzanne Li and Eric Chan and driven by the desire to redefine Asian aesthetics without compromising its core.“At Milan Design Week, we’re excited to introduce Yi Si – a furniture collection that perfectly captures our studio’s approach to blending cultural heritage with contemporary design,” explain the designers. “Yi Si isn’t just a workspace; it’s our modern reinterpretation of the ancient Chinese scholar’s studio, where every detail tells a story.”The collection will be on display at Superstudio Più as part of the Urban Reflection exhibition of the Hong Kong Interior Design Week (HKIDW) 2025, organized by the Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA), with the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (CCIDA) as lead sponsor. It offers a retrospective on design from this region – suspended between sociological traditions and the technological shifts shaping contemporary life.“The magic lies in how we’ve transformed traditional concepts into functional art. The hexagonal form represents the six harmonies from Chinese philosophy. The folded legs aren’t merely structural; they create a sense of lightness that mirrors traditional joinery. Even the rattan cup holders serve dual purposes – they’re practical for today’s workspaces while nodding to classical materials,” explain the designers.Milan Design Week marks a pivotal moment for O&O Studio, offering a platform to engage with the global design community at the highest level. With a dual mindset from the two co-founders – both as keen observers of cutting-edge innovation and as active contributors – O&O seeks to showcase a hybrid design language shaped by Eastern and Western influences. More than just an exhibition, this is a strategic moment to position the studio among design’s vanguard while fostering meaningful collaborations. “We’re particularly excited to explore partnerships that could amplify our cultural-design approach, whether with Italian artisans on material innovation or international brands seeking our Asian contextual sensibility,” confirms the studio.Projects like Yi Si exemplify this vision, showing how traditional Chinese craftsmanship can be reinterpreted for a contemporary global audience. At the same time, Milan’s dynamic design ecosystem offers fresh inspiration – insights that will feed back into the studio’s work in Hong Kong and Shanghai. This ongoing exchange reflects a wider ambition: to operate at the forefront of design while staying grounded in cross-cultural values.“Yi Si reflects our ability to innovate within tradition – transforming ancient Chinese philosophy into contemporary furniture that functions equally well as practical workspace and artistic statement,” says O&O Studio. “We achieve this through structured creative processes: cross-disciplinary workshops spark innovation, while our ‘cultural grounding’ framework ensures concepts remain authentic. Regular prototyping and material testing allow us to push boundaries without compromising quality or functionality.”At the core of their practice is a challenge they fully embrace: refining cultural fluency to create design that is deeply rooted yet globally resonant. Whether through furniture that crosses borders – as seen in Yi Si – or through adaptive reuse projects like The Siberian, O&O Studio demonstrates how heritage can be honored while embracing transformation.The Siberian, for instance, reimagines a historic Hong Kong furrier as both a tribute to the city’s legacy and a forward-looking creative hub. The building’s new arched façade – a contemporary homage to the colonial era – has already become a popular urban landmark. Inside, the space is designed intentionally flexible and minimally invasive, transitioning effortlessly between retail, film sets, pop-ups, and private events. It’s a clear example of how traditional architecture can be revitalized for modern relevance.“By viewing cultural heritage as a springboard rather than a constraint, we create designs that are both timely and timeless – spaces that become neighborhood landmarks, and objects that gain meaning with use. This approach ensures our work remains innovative yet value-driven, commercially viable yet culturally significant, meeting immediate needs while standing the test of time”.O&O Studio occupies a unique position at the intersection of East and West, leveraging this dual perspective to redefine cultural exchange in design. Their work reveals a constant dialogue between tradition and innovation – whether reinterpreting heritage spaces like The Siberian, exploring Chinese philosophy in Yi Si, or blending lingerie artistry and architectural language in Atelier Intimo. Each project reflects a commitment to meaningful conversations between past and present, local identity and global relevance.Milan Design Week is the ideal platform to amplify this approach. With studios in Hong Kong and Shanghai and a multicultural team spanning the UK, Canada, China, and Malaysia, O&O is uniquely positioned to bridge diverse design cultures. The potential for collaboration is vast – combining Italian craftsmanship with Asian material intelligence, or merging European spatial thinking with Eastern sensibilities.In a rapidly evolving design landscape, O&O Studio stays rooted in its values while embracing innovation. “By viewing cultural heritage as a springboard rather than a constraint, we create designs that are both timely and timeless – spaces that become neighborhood landmarks, and objects that gain meaning with use,” they explain. “This approach ensures our work remains innovative yet value-driven, commercially viable yet culturally significant – meeting immediate needs while standing the test of time.”Discover the collection on display at Superstudio Più (Tortona District) as part of Urban Reflection, from 8 to 13 April in Milan.
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