Trust building

Acuna pays careful attention to the ways in which people utilize spaces, adopting a humane approach to his residential and hospitality projects. The idea is to reflect the soul of the space in the design. "I need to be excited by a space," he admits. "It can be the Sistine Chapel or a dive bar in New York City — as long as it gets people's heart pumping faster."

Acuna also designed the Milan-inspired café Coffeelin, which recently opened in Happy Valley. "It is in a residential area and is a great space to hang out with dogs," he says. While Xiao Ting draws ladies celebrating birthdays over lunch or high tea, Coffeelin was designed for quick coffees and turnovers.

"We worked with the same questions in mind," Acuna notes. "How long will people stay there? What is being served? At Coffeelin, the proportions of the back rest and height of the chair allow people to sit comfortably for around 30 minutes — enough time to enjoy a coffee and a pastry." To give the space a Milanese vibe, Italian travertine flooring was paired with cozy forest green tiles on the bar counter — a color also reflected in the benches and curtains.