H.L. Lim
Founder & Principal Partner
What Does LTW Mean to H.L.?
Lim Hong Lian, who is known in the industry as H.L., was raised in a painter’s household. This artistic milieu fostered his love for the fine arts, which led him to enrol in a private art college in London. There, he spent summers visiting the provinces that Rembrandt and Van Gogh once resided in. It was through art that H.L. discovered the importance of its environment which drove him to pursue interior design.
“Art should be immersed in everyday life and not be relegated to being a nice painting on a wall.”
H.L. began his career in the hospitality industry in London in 1973 before returning to Asia and shortly after, was named the managing partner of Chhada Siembieda & Associates Singapore in 1981. During his decade-long tenure, H.L., with a sense of elan and a streak of boldness, established himself as one of Asia’s top interior designers by expanding the firm’s luxury hotel portfolio.
Wanting to strike out on his own, H.L. founded H.L. Lim & Associates in 1991, now known as LTW Designworks, to put his stamp on how luxury hotels should be designed. In the last 43 years, the philosophy of designing with a distinct sense of place has become a signature characteristic of LTW—one that is not only widely recognised by peers, but also on the receiving end of multiple awards.
“The process of going through the design is what satisfies me. Winning an award every now and then is nice, but what I care more about is doing justice to the brand and bringing excitement to the owners and hotel guests.”
At present, H.L. is still very hands-on and has no qualms about going to a furniture factory to look at samples and test their quality. This attention to detail isn’t limited to his work, it’s also emblematic of LTW—a studio that leaves no stone unturned.
Likes
H.L.
(Fill in correct name)
Dislikes
Art
Cigars
Japanese Food
Maotai
Good Wine
Sakae
Films
Supercars
Sound Systems
Superficiality
Humidity
Heat
Barry Manilow
Imperfection
Carelessness
Thoughtlessness
Likes
Art
Cigars
Japanese Food
Maotai
Good Wine
Sakae
Films
Supercars
Sound Systems
Dislikes
Superficiality
Humidity
Heat
Barry Manilow
Imperfection
Carelessness
Thoughtlessness