Architecture and design, and their impact on wellbeing, took centre stage at the Robb Report CEO luncheon at Cygnet by Sean Connolly
Robb Report Singapore hosted yet another CEO luncheon with a theme that bridged lifestyle and leadership: how design shapes wellbeing. Hosted by Michael von Schlippe, president of Media Publishares, the afternoon unfolded at Cygnet by Sean Connolly, an elegant stage for a conversation that moved from the poetics of space to the pragmatics of property value.
Framed by the theme “Cultivating Wellbeing Through Design”, the discussion looked at how spaces influence daily life. Natural light, acoustics, and flow affect mood, focus, and connection, while the expectation is growing that luxury homes, offices, hotels, and clubs should deliver both beauty and tangible benefits to wellbeing.
Branded residences highlighted this shift. Guests noted how consistent design, service, and amenities extend a brand’s promise beyond products into lived experience—an approach that builds loyalty and justifies a premium. Sustainability was also key, with attention given to adaptive reuse, passive cooling, biophilic design, and low-carbon materials that balance resilience with comfort.
The conversation returned to the human experience. Spaces that delight the senses—light that flatters, textures that invite touch, sightlines that soothe—outperform those designed merely for the camera. In luxury, wellbeing is both design outcome and strategic advantage.
Cygnet by Sean Connolly set the tone with its signature milk loaf with vegemite and fennel butters, followed by a devilled egg amuse-bouche. A sharing seafood platter of oysters, prawns, and lobster roll encouraged conviviality, complemented by king crab lettuce tacos and a feta, watermelon, and tomato salad with Chardonnay vinegar. For mains, guests chose from Tokyo strip Wagyu, grilled lamb eye loin with mint-pea cream, black cod with leek and clam chowder, or Ibérico tenderloin with sauce Jaqueline and a redcurrant-raspberry jus. A warm madeleine and silken crème caramel with Chantilly cream brought the afternoon to a close.
At the end of the luncheon, consensus formed around a simple truth: great design is not decoration but intention made visible. When it elevates daily rituals such as working, resting, and hosting, it cultivates wellbeing that endures.
