Substance

20/06/2023

𝘼𝙒𝘼𝙍𝘿𝙎 | 𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙇𝙀 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙂'𝙎 𝙭 𝘼𝙃𝙀𝘼𝘿 𝘼𝙎𝙄𝘼 𝘼𝙒𝘼𝙍𝘿𝙎

Uncle Ming's Whisky Bar selected as Bar, Club, or Lounge finalist in AHEAD Awards Asia 2023!

Steeped in the spirit of Hong Kong, a space that creates a dialogue with the surrounding architecture through a geometric language laying the foundation of a spectacular cityscape. Formed by rectilinear shapes, Uncle Ming’s unfolds as an enigmatic cubic volume, taking guests on a journey of discovery as they unbox the treasures within. Light is refracted by rippled glass, detailing the walls with shadows and slow, orderly movements that exalt into a quiet allure. Minimal yet sumptuous, the spatial experience encapsulates the essence of the city’s polarity.

Full video: https://www.aworkofsubstance.com/en/project/uncle-mings/

11/05/2023

𝙊𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙋𝙊𝙏𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 | 𝘼𝙈𝘼𝙉 𝙁𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙑𝙀

Every sunrise is a promise of renewal.

This year with Aman Resorts, guards the sun’s sacredness, taking time to appreciate intimate moments under one sky. Each property’s story is captured as ephemeral illustrations overlaid on delicate textural hues of the sky as the Festive character traverses cultural narratives across space and time.

20/04/2023

𝙈𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘼 𝙁𝙀𝘼𝙏𝙐𝙍𝙀 | 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝙀𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙂

DPAGES investigates how 'strong design' is invariably linked to an assertive idea rooted in something honest and secure.

At The Fleming Hong Kong, the visual journey allows guests to fully immerse themselves in contemporary concept of nostalgia, emphasising its signature contextualist design approach.

06/04/2023

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙅𝙀𝘾𝙏 | 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙍𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙀

The Ravine’s intricate layers of brick, stone, and concrete soften into wood, bamboo, and leaves, paying homage to Balinese craftsmanship.

Bespoke furniture and lighting inspired by the silhouettes of the region’s time-honoured heritage of wood carving and traditional instruments further enhance the contagious, rhythmical beauty of this secluded abode.

28/03/2023

𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙅𝙀𝘾𝙏 | 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙍𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙀

Thrilled to unveil our first-ever architectural endeavour!

Nestled within the heart of forests, a space intertwines architecture, nature, and culture to form a residential landmark that transcends the boundaries of the natural and the man-made.

18/10/2022

Uncle Ming, a whisky bar nestled at the top floor of AKI Hong Kong.

Read the full case study on our website:

Steeped in the spirit of the city, a space that creates a dialogue with the surrounding architecture through a geometric language laying the foundation of a spectacular cityscape.

20/04/2022

“The retro motoring legacy is also apparent in the lighting, inspired by classic car head- and taillights, which subtly offsets the low ceiling; most notable are lanterns fitted with a gyroscope that can be rotated by hand to dim the lights.”

Read about our project on Wallpaper* magazine: https://www.wallpaper.com/transport/the-library-car-collection-display-lounge-a-work-of-substance-hong-kong

Words by Catherine shaw. Photography by Dennis Lo.

An auto enthusiast gets to play and display at The Library, a private car collection show space and decadent den designed by Hong Kong studio A Work of Substance

14/04/2022

"A sumptuous den-slash-garage where wood, steel, and leather come together in a symphonic whole."

Find out more about this, in Patrick Kasingsing's words, automotive mecca on Kanto: https://kanto.com.ph/spaces/the-library-a-work-of-substance/

Photography by Dennis Lo.

Design studio A Work of Substance distills the essence of the automobile for a sensual hideaway dedicated to the art and pleasures of driving

12/04/2022

In our latest interview with South China Morning Post, we revealed the making of The Library. “A complex but flexible lighting system combines with reflective panels to define the atmosphere. You can highlight a particular car or feature, and its reflection becomes an almost artistic expression of itself,” said our Creative Director.

Read all about the detail here: https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/design-interiors/article/3172338/james-bond-space-vintage-cars-how-hong?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article&campaign=3172338

Special thanks to Charmaine Chan and Adele Brunner for the story!

Photography by Dennis Lo.

A vintage-car collector’s ‘library’ of motors and car memorabilia in Wan Chai was based on a design approach from the 1950s – an era in which function defined form.

01/04/2022

First of our film series - Case Study 1, The Library

Dedicated to the art and pleasures of driving, The Library is home to a curated collection of automotive treasures and a sensual hideaway. Crafted for an intensely passionate client, the former car park was transformed into a space for exhibition and social interaction.

Read the full story on our website: https://www.aworkofsubstance.com/en/project/the-library/

Photography by Dennis Lo.

07/12/2021

To Hong Kong,
To our Clients,
To our Designers,
To our Thinkers,
From the small harbour to the world, you have all helped us blossom in this city of contrast and find our footing amongst the grit and glamour.

We started as only a three-man agency and have grown to over 30 young creatives and experienced leaders. You gave us opportunities to tell stories through thoughtful design that enabled us to grow our services holistically, and presence globally.

This milestone is for you. This is a celebration of the challenges we overcame collectively, the chances we had to channel your voices and share our vision.

Thank you all for each part you have held in the past eleven years to help demonstrate the resilience of a boutique agency on a world scale.