One of the highlights in the new collection of Space Encounters is the Space Sheep made from steel, bronze and genuine suede leather.

MANILA, Philippines -- When one talks about a conversation piece, one would inevitably invoke the most expensive, the quirkiest or the rarest piece in one’s home--that one unique item that will cast others into the background. No matter the number of square meters--from the closet-size condos to the sprawling living room of a mansion--a space should at least have one conversation piece. It may be an iconic chair (Jacobsen’s egg chair, anyone?), a hand-carved piece of “bulul” (rice god) from the mountainous North, or perhaps a Space Sheep, one of the more interesting pieces in “Hunting Season” collection of the furniture shop Space Encounters.

A replica of the docile (not to mention, Biblical) animal, the Space Sheep is made from steel and whose body is covered in genuine suede leather treated in either black or gold finish. What is interesting about this piece is that its head and legs are made from polished bronze, giving it a solid, sculptural look. It can be used simply as a stand-alone accessory, an ottoman, or a foot stool. It’s sturdy enough to support the weight of a sitting body so you can invite your guests not only to look at and touch it but also experience it as furniture.

Space Sheep is among the Nordic-inspired, mid-century pieces of the collection conceptualized by interior designer Wilmer Lopez who is also the proprietor of Space Encounters. The shop’s devotion to “experimental, constantly challenging aesthetics, with a healthy dose of sense of humor” extends not only toward the quirky piece such Space Sheep but also the chairs that compose the bulk of the inventory.

Nordic design is actually known for its emphasis on function over form (the simpler the silhouette, the better); Wilmer brings this aesthetic to the Filipino taste by juxtaposing textures and setting them against spare, minimalist bones of a furniture.

“Soft denim is matched with light brown faux fur on some pieces, while on the accessories, grizzly down is used to highlight the graceful curves of wood,” he explains. “Mama Bear--a smaller, stylized version of Hans Wegner’s Papa Bear--in contrast is upholstered in icy, white leatherette to show off its space-age form.”

Wilmer, who also happens to be a furniture designer, also introduces his own piece, the Weaver Armoire, in the “Hunting Season” collection. Here, Wilmer combines the East and the West by juxtaposing Oriental patterns with mid-century form. The piece, just like most of the items in the shop, can be custom-made. Clients can choose from a wide array of fabrics for the upholstery and the kind of wood for the frame.

The collection also features photo-realistic prints of various surfaces culled from nature such as “stone,” “peeling paint on old wood” and “sprouting moss.”  First previewed on W. Lopez Designs and Space Encounter’s Manila NOW 2011 exhibit, the prints can be found on pillows, canvases and other pieces, It’s a way of letting the outside in, literally. The prints can easily perk up a space (especially if it’s hounded by a monotony of color) or provide a mellowing detail in an otherwise ultra-modern room.

The shop still sells items that have made it popular and are eye-catching all year round: the Mao Tse Tung memorabilia, the K Pop items, the crow figures in cast resin, among others. If you’re talking about a conversation piece, Space Encounters is a good place to start.

Space Encounters is located at Unit B Mezzanine, Padilla Condominium Bldg., F. Ortigas Jr. road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines. Call 9108031 for details.