A new design studio in Singapore merges craftsmanship with storytelling, creating pieces meant for daily use as well as admiration. Atelier V&A, founded by Singaporean designer Venetia Gu and Australian-Dutch creative Aisha Hillary-Morgan, integrates Asian tradition with modern functionality in a space that serves both as a workshop and gallery.
The collaboration began with an immediate creative connection. “It was like two halves of the same idea finding each other,” Hillary-Morgan recalls. Gu contributed precision and material expertise, while Hillary-Morgan focused on emotional depth and narrative. Their shared perspective evolved into a design house where technical skill and feeling hold equal importance.
Gu’s Heritage Shapes Atelier One
Gu’s approach stems from her family’s legacy in Singapore’s interior design industry. She learned that true craftsmanship requires patience—respect for materials, process, and the maker. “Longevity comes from intention; every detail must have a reason to exist,” she says. “That devotion to detail defines her side of Atelier V&A.” This principle now guides Atelier V&A’s Atelier One collection, where each piece is handcrafted in their Kaki Bukit workshop.
Hillary-Morgan’s diverse background, spanning Sydney, London, and Singapore, adds another dimension. “Design is about connection and creating memorable moments that bring joy,” she reflects. Her process begins with emotion, translating feelings into tangible forms. A scent like honeysuckle might inspire a texture, while light and shadow inform structure. “Every object begins with a feeling that finds form and triggers joy,” she says.
Craft Precision Meets Sensory Storytelling
Their contrasting approaches, Gu’s technical precision versus Hillary-Morgan’s sensory storytelling, create the studio’s defining strength. “Venetia designs through her hands; I design through words and senses,” Hillary-Morgan notes. “She’s craft and precision, I’m purpose and emotion. Our difference creates depth.” Gu agrees: “The challenge is restraint. Traditional carpentry values precision, while contemporary design seeks expression. The joy is when both meet, when the craft supports creativity rather than constrains it. That intersection is where Atelier V&A lives.”
This balance is evident in their debut collection. The Prologue Console, with pie-shaped legs inspired by Peranakan tiles, embodies their vision of “functional furniture as art.” The piece combines sculptural beauty with practical use, a console that begins a narrative rather than concludes one.
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Studio Becomes Artisan Collaboration Hub
The studio also serves as a hub for Singapore’s artisans. The Kaki Bukit space functions as both a working studio and a collaborative environment where craftspeople test ideas together. “Building community relies on relationships developed over time,” Gu says. Collaborations with local artists reflect their mission to reinterpret heritage. “We preserve skill, reinterpret technique and hopefully revolutionise perception,” she says. “Traditional craft can evolve through dialogue rather than nostalgia.”
Hillary-Morgan’s dedication to purpose-driven design extends beyond furniture. She led Gather in Light, a project creating 60 rechargeable marble lamps for the Singapore Red Cross. “We designed sixty rechargeable marble lamps, each a symbol of light and hope,” she explains. “It celebrates creativity, connection and community through the power of giving.”
Design Measured by Emotional Impact
The studio’s philosophy, beauty with purpose, goes beyond theory. Hillary-Morgan measures success by emotional response: “When someone pauses and smiles, that’s when design works.” For Gu, the goal is broader: “We aim to promote Singapore’s craftsmanship, inspire locally, and reach a global audience.”
Their first collection, Atelier One, launched in September 2025. The Intermission Mirror, another key piece, balances structure and storytelling, “sculpture and story,” as Hillary-Morgan describes. Together, the duo is redefining what it means to design with intention.
Atelier V&A’s Kaki Bukit workshop functions as a living archive of Singaporean craft. Gu oversees every production stage, from material selection to final assembly. The studio’s walls display sketches, prototypes, and discarded samples, each representing a step in the creative process. “We don’t rush,” she says. “A single join might take hours to perfect, but that’s where the soul of the piece resides.” The artisans, many with decades of experience from her earlier work at Interics Decor, ensure each creation aligns with the studio’s principle of “functional furniture as art.”
Gu’s hands-on approach extends to material sourcing. For the Atelier One collection, she selected teak from sustainable Malaysian plantations, ensuring the wood’s natural grain and durability matched their design goals. “We avoid mass-produced timber,” she explains. “The wood’s character, its knots, its age, must be visible, not concealed.” This principle applies to every component, from brass fittings to hand-rubbed finishes. The result is furniture that ages gracefully, developing a deeper patina over time.
