Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori by Johnny Li

Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori by Johnny Li is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

ParahiRoto Whare· 2025

Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori

by Johnny Li

Client: Audemars Piguet

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category

9,698

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #165000

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori

Ko Ap House he roto whare kaupapa pāpori e tū ana i te taha moana i Macao. Ko te hoahoa e whakakotahi ana i te whakaaro o tētahi whare hēra hou i whakaawea e ngā Maunga Alps o Switzerland me te taonga tuku iho o Macanese koroni. He whare mahana e noho ana i roto i tētahi wāhi whānui me ngā tuanui teitei, nā reira ka rongo te roto whare i te marino me te ngāwari i te wā e pupuri tonu ana i tōna kaha whakahirahira. Ka tukuna e te karapu he pae inu, he wāhi kai me ngā akoranga hanga wati. Ko ētahi o ngā taipitopito ko te kōhatu rākau ponga kua wāhia kua whakarewaina ki te parahi mō ngā kābuka tatau me ngā waewae tēpu, me tētahi tēpu kai wenge pakari mō te tekau mā rua tāngata. Ko te whakamārama, te oro, te ataata me te whakahaere āhuarangi e whakahaerehia ana mai i te papapouaka kotahi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Ap House Kaupapa Whare Pāpori i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The design studio was shortlisted and selected through a design competition to create a “modern chalet” inspired by Swiss Alpines, mixing colonial Macanese heritage by the sea in Macao. The design brief requested a concept in creating a cozy house that sits in a vast space with tall ceilings, yet the space should feel serene and intimate without sacrificing the grandeur of the interior architecture. Collectively, the social club house also wants the overall look and feel to be understated and timeless, without being ostentatious, stereotypical and cliches.
Tags: Audemars Piguet, Social Club House, AP House, Luxury Retail, Watch, Horology
Production Technology: Some of the details, including HVAC and Architectural elements were 3D printed, surprised a lot of visitors. Customized details of Split-Faced Bamboo casted in Bronze were used in door handles and table legs. Customized Dining table in solid Wenge to seat for 12, were made in Italy. All lighting, Audio and Visual plus HVAC are controlled by a single iPad
Design Challenge: Delicate balance of creatives are often over shadowed by cliches and misinterpretations of the topics. This was emphasized during design briefing by the client. Sophistication, understated and timeless without being ostentatious, were some of the key words used. Besides the creative challenge, Local regulations and rules in Macao are some of the most extremes in the world, which often dictates the outcome of the projects.
Research: Extensive Research was made on the history and legacy of Audemars Piguet, the town of Le Brassus, and older period of Macao, especially in the 1920-50s. Multiple visits to some existing AP Houses were made, including Zurich, London, New York, and Hong Kong, Plus The in-house Museum of Audemars Piguet in Le Brassus. Many of the older history in Macao has been lost.
Inspiration: Tracing Time was the design concept for the new house in Macao, initiated by reexamining of the past, to marking of the present, and onto exploring of the future. Juxtaposition of the opposites to create the synergy between Le Brassus and Macao guided the design process throughout. Like the mechanics of time pieces in ticktock dynamics, the design details took references from a hike in Swiss Alpines to leisurely wondering into an oriental garden; a journey interpreted through conceptual abstraction.
Project Duration: Design Competition September 2022,
Competition Awarded March 2023,
Soft Opening September 2024
Operation Flow: The new house represents forward thinking in pampering the most sophisticated customers, by invitation to the social club house. Guests often arrange a booking to use the house, where bar, dining, master class for watchmaking are offered. Both DJ/Music Station are also part of the program. Micheline Star chefs are often creating for invited guests.
Patents: All YILINE furniture are trademarked in Asia, including China and USA.
Image Credits: All Images : Robyn Lea Photography
Captions and Text : Catherine Shaw
Video : Johnny Li