Store de force: The World Beyond

"For a long time I had this idea that Darrel [Best, Urwin's partner in business and life] and I would set up this creative agency, Infrastructure, and offer our services, and as a sidetrack I would continue my passion of going to the markets with my torch in the snow and finding these pieces that you just can't find anymore. Products were made differently 50 years ago … the Eameses took 2½ years to make one chair, whereas now people make 10 chairs a week."

"I loved the space from the day I saw it. You can really imagine these families living in very small rooms, and then the community being outside on the terrace. And I love the fact it's a 1950s architectural building and we've got 1950s furniture in there."

"We live in Hong Kong, where it's all about consumerism and spending money. I wanted to do something that was a bit more of a journey. Someone might come in because they see a beautiful piece of art, but they will walk out with a vintage piece of furniture. I've got lots of quirky pieces, like skittles. And I still want to work with the [best contemporary] brands. Jaime Hayon is one of my favourite designers, so when I saw the watches he'd done, I asked if I could sell them in Hong Kong."

"I've been dealing in vintage since I was 16. I used to have a stall on Portobello Road, in London, and it financed my clubbing days. And I've always supported emerging designers and artists. So I've always had this connection with mixing old and new."

"I don't do flea markets or house visits. I source from antiques markets and traders. I go to about six markets in England, a couple in Belgium. It's in my blood."