The Sims has been allowing players to act out their architecture and interior design fantasies for more than two decades. Jane Englefield finds out how the makers of the iconic life-simulation video game keep up with shifting trends.

"People laugh when I mention playing The Sims, but it was hugely significant in terms of spatial planning and was a key part of how and why I have ended up in the line of interior design work that I have," interiors stylist and editor Rory Robertson told Dezeen.

"The Sims offered people the opportunity to get a feel for design," he reflected. "You could be as extravagant and outrageous, or as briefed and restricted as you liked."

Created in 2000 by American game designer Will Wright, The Sims is a video game where players make human characters – or "sims" – and build their virtual houses and lives from scratch, catering to their needs and desires.

With four iterations of the main game and dozens of themed expansion packs focusing on topics such as university, parenthood and cottage living, The Sims is one of the best-selling video-game franchises of all time.

"It's really accessible"

Architecture and interior design has been a major part of The Sims experience from the very beginning.

Having previously created the city-building game SimCity in 1989 – which itself has been credited with inspiring a generation of urban planners – Wright was originally motivated to develop The Sims after losing his home in the Oakland firestorm of 1991 in California.

In fact, early designs were for an architecture game, with the shift to focus on people a relatively late addition to the concept, according to one of the game's first art directors, Charles London.

Design remained a core part of the offering, however, and the interface features tools that allows players to instantly build structures and decorate and furnish them from an extensive inventory of items.

"It's really accessible, so I think a lot of people get into it without even realising that they're playing with architecture and playing with space," said video-games expert and historian Holly Nielsen.

"While it was like catnip for design budding minds, it was also just a wonderful opportunity for procrastination and frivolity for people who aren't particularly confident or tuned in to interiors or architecture," echoed Robertson.

Since the original The Sims, a broad set of options has been available for players to suit their tastes and imaginations.

Possibilities have ranged from minimalist bungalows filled with neutral furniture to more outlandish dwellings, such as castles defined by Dalmatian-print wallpaper or hot tubs parked in the middle of multiple living rooms.

"We'll take any source"

The team behind these possibilities described how they ensure that the architecture and interior design options stay feeling fresh and contemporary with each new game in the series.

"Since we're a game about real life, anytime we step outside our door we have inspiration by just looking at what's in our immediate environment," game designer Jessica Croft told Dezeen.

Art director Mike O'Connor added that he and his team scour the real world and the web for up-to-date references.

"We'll take any source," he said. "We're looking for patterns. If we start to see round furniture, or bouclé, or whatever the trend is, [we ask] has it already gone?"

"The internet doesn't scrub old ideas. So you know, it's seeing if there's a trend, is it sticking, does it apply to what we're doing now?"

Furniture and appliances within the game are regularly revised over time to reflect cultural and technological progression in the real world, Croft explained.

"In Sims 2 [released in 2004] I would not be surprised if there was a landline phone – and there definitely isn't a landline phone in my own house, or Sims 4," she said.

"Even things like VR [virtual reality] didn't really exist back in The Sims 2 days, so things like VR consoles, computers – we just added dual-monitor computers, and LEDs are now in most households," she continued.

That in turn sees the team take a surprisingly deep dive into how interiors are changing, O'Connor acknowledged.

"Over the life of this game, you see an evolution," he said. "Electronics are probably the biggest category [of change]. Even just how people use TVs, how they place them, has changed."

The idea, says Croft, is to ensure that The Sims players feel a close connection to the world they are building for their sims.

"The most fun thing for me is being able to allow players to craft stories that are relatable to them," she said. "So, looking for opportunities to make players feel seen."

"An element of freedom and fantasy-building"

But, as Nielsen points out, there is an additional aspect to the game's architecture and design possibilities that is central to its appeal.

"In one sense, it's reflective of society, but in another way, it's aspirational," she said.

"There's an element of freedom and fantasy-building to playing The Sims," she continued. "Homeownership is a thing that a lot of us will not get to do."

As in real life, everything you build or buy in The Sims has a cost.

However, unlike in real life, punching "motherlode" into The Sims cheat-code bar will immediately add a healthy 50,000 simoleons to your sim's bank account, putting that luxury sofa easily within reach.

That possibility remains central to Robertson's nostalgia for playing The Sims as a young would-be interior designer.

"Once you double-clicked The Sims graphic on your Microsoft desktop, a multi-roomed mansion cost nothing to design," he said.

This aspirational element has become an increasingly large part of The Sims' commercial model over the years.

The Sims 4, as an example, is accompanied by 19 purchasable "Stuff Packs" that expand the options of items available to buy, including "Perfect Patio", "Cool Kitchen" and one based on the products of Milan fashion label Moschino.

And the latest of the more extensive expansion packs is For Rent, which allows players to build rental houses where some sims are landlords and others are tenants.

Within the game, landlords encounter various true-to-life issues, including the potential for toxic mould build-up in their properties – although, unlike in the real world, the mould feature can be toggled on and off.

Inclusivity has also become an increasing focus of The Sims, with integral features now including options to choose sims' sexual orientation, for instance.

For Nielsen, that traces back to a significant foundational element of the game's widespread appeal – as well as being one of the reasons it has had such strong interior-design influence.

"It didn't feel like it was aiming for anyone," she explained. "One of the things that people bring up a lot is that it has a very female player base."

"For me, it was a big turning point – it was getting to create the spaces but also play around with the people inside them. It felt like a socially acceptable way to play dollhouses."

The images are courtesy of Electronic Arts.

Dezeen In Depth
If you enjoy reading Dezeen's interviews, opinions and features, subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.

The post "The Sims is a key part of why I ended up in interior design" appeared first on Dezeen.

Japanese architect Keiji Ashizawa has created the interior for a skincare clinic in Tokyo, using textiles and custom-made furniture to make it feel more residential than medical.

The Aloop Clinic & Lab, which provides "skin cure and care", is located in the city's upscale Ginza area and run by Japanese beauty company POLA. Ashizawa wanted to give it an interior that would feel peaceful, while also representing the brand.

"As a clinic that uses medical technology to deal with beauty, we thought that the space should have sincerity, calmness, and beauty in order to create a comfortable time for customers to feel at ease," Ashizawa told Dezeen.

"In addition, considering that this is a completely new business for the POLA beauty brand, we felt that it was necessary to create a space that would enhance the brand."

To do so, Ashizawa looked at the design of the 210-square-metre clinic like he would if he were designing a residential space, giving it a calm, minimalist interior.

"Although it is a clinic, I considered the space to be similar to a hotel or a living space," he said. "Therefore, I used materials that I use in designing living spaces and hotels."

"The walls are plaster and the floor is a wool rug from Hotta Carpet," he added. "The sofa and furniture at the characteristic entrance are made of Kvadrat wool textile to create a pleasant texture."

The architect used a clean, simple colour palette throughout the space, with white-painted walls contrasting against wooden panelling and wooden doors.

"Wood was used for doors, furniture and details because we wanted to create a residential calm rather than a clinic," Ashizawa said. "We felt that a bright and healthy atmosphere was necessary."

"The extensive use of wood was to create a residential atmosphere, and we wanted the space to be as far away from a typical clinic as possible," he added.

His studio worked together with wooden furniture brand Karimoku to design the custom-made sofas for the space, which welcome customers as they enter the clinic.

"Of particular importance to this project were the custom sofas," Ashizawa said.

"We asked Karimoku, with whom we communicate on a daily basis for furniture development and wood projects, to work with us on the development of the furniture."

He compared his collaboration with the brand to that of mid-century modern Finnish architect Alvar Aalto and furniture brand Artek.

"For me, Karimoku has become an indispensable partner in thinking about space, just as Aalto is for Artek," he explained.

By creating the sofas with rounded edges, Ashizawa aimed for them to "gently envelop" customers after their treatments.

"The mere fact that something looks hard or painful makes the body tense, so we thought it would be desirable to eliminate such things," he said.

"However, in order to maintain a comfortable sense of tension in the room, delicate details of metal and wood were used to achieve a balance."

Small sculptures were dotted throughout the Aloop clinic, including in the treatment rooms.

Ashizawa has previously designed an interior with a similar colour palette for the Hiroo Residence in Tokyo, and also used plenty of wood for his and Norm Architects minimalist Trunk Hotel design.

The photography is by Tomooki Kengaku.

The post Keiji Ashizawa adds "residential calm" to Aloop clinic in Ginza appeared first on Dezeen.

Prague studio Plus One Architects has restored the "original splendour" of this 1902 apartment in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, by reinstating some of its original features.

Located in a turn-of-the-century apartment block, the two-bedroom flat was renovated by Plus One Architects, who exposed the original paintwork present on the walls and ceilings.

The studio also streamlined the circulation inside the apartment by removing doors to open up pathways, as well as undoing dated additions that had been installed over the top of the original walls and floors.

"We think the first renovation was probably done in the late 70s," architect Kateřina Průchová told Dezeen. "It was full of wooden cladding on the walls, a lot of doors and carpet that covered the original floors."

The revamped interior has a bright, airy atmosphere, as natural sunlight comes in through the large unobstructed windows and continues deeper into the rooms thanks to the addition of transom windows on some of the interior walls.

Remnants of colourful mottled paintwork appear on the walls and ceilings alongside brown and beige sections of plaster.

Neutral-coloured paint and plasterwork feature in the kitchen and living room, where Plus One Architects retained the apartment's original masonry heater clad in glossy brown tiles.

Painted details are also apparent on the ceiling, with concentric bands of red, blue and yellow delineating the perimeter of the room.

Pink paint appears in the corridor and smaller bedroom while blue paintwork can be seen in the primary bedroom, complementing the restored wooden floorboards.

In the bathroom, white tiling lines the walls, interspersed with iridescent tiles and sections of exposed paintwork.

The rooms are sparingly furnished, allowing the paintwork to be the interior's focal point.

Plus One Architects brought in furniture with minimalist forms by Czech design studio Janský & Dunděra alongside decorative pieces from local design brand Todus.

"I hope we managed to return the apartment to the original splendour of the period, in which the house was built," said Průchová.

"You can feel how the building looks from the outside – it is an old house in the historic part of a spa town."

Kateřina Průchová and Petra Ciencialová founded Plus One Architects in 2019. The studio is based in Prague and works on projects across the Czech Republic.

Other apartment interiors that have recently been featured on Dezeen include a home in Milan centred around a monolithic green marble partition wall and a pastel-decorated apartment in Kraków.

The photography is by Radek Úlehla.

The post Plus One Architects uncovers original paintwork of 100-year-old Czech apartment appeared first on Dezeen.

Stools from local designer Caleb Ferris and design firm Prowl Studio were among the works displayed at a San Francisco exhibition centred around contemporary Bay Area design.

The Works in Progress show displayed stools, chairs and other furniture from local designers to highlight the diversity in methods and backgrounds of an evolving Bay Area design scene.

"As the Bay Area creative scene evolves in real-time, there are boundless possibilities for how it might bloom," said curators and designers Kate Greenberg, Kelley Perumbeti, and Sahra Jajarmikhayat in a statement. 

"For now, we are here to acknowledge its depth and say: it's a work in progress."

The team distributed the exhibition's pieces across metallic platforms supported by foundations of bricks.

Pieces ranged from a curvacious, duck-footed poplar wood stool marked with paint and silver leaf by Caleb Ferris, to Prowl Studio's cubic stainless steel stool wrapped in a 3D knit cover.

"Across a range of materials, forms, and functions, the participants have found a groove in the original, the introspective, and the off-center," said the team. 

Designer Ido Yoshimoto displayed a sculptural side table made of old-growth redwood and finished in a dark red textured hue. The table consists of a geometric, curved corner that runs into a darkened raw edge.

Studio Ahead created a fuzzy Merino wool stool informed by northern California rock formations, which contrasted with the smooth surface of a glass stool by curators Jajarmikhayat and Greenberg.

Other works included a baltic plywood side table with grooved sides and small, chunky sky blue legs by NJ Roseti and a white oak chair topped with a wild fleece and suede cushion by Rafi Ajl of studio Long Confidence.

Office of Tangible Space showed a flat-legged chair designed in collaboration with CNC design studio Thirdkind Studio, while Duncan Oja of Oja Design displayed a charred white oak stool with an organic, rough-sawn profile.

Fyrn Studio showed a charcoal-black hardwood stool with aluminium hardware created with replaceable parts and studio Medium Small and designer Yvonne Mouser both displayed chairs made of ash, one blackened and the other not, supported by bases of elegant, simple lines.

"As simple as it sounds, the soul of this exhibition is in the representation of physical craft and the people behind it. It's important to shine a light on this vibrant slice of the Bay Area that is not always as visible amidst a city focused on the digital realm," said Perumbeti.

"There's something really exciting brewing in this community that is just beginning to get teased out," said Greenberg.

Works in Progress was part of the wider San Francisco Art Week, which highlights art and design from the city and took place from 13-21 January.

Other recent furniture exhibitions that highlighted California designers include INTRO/LA with pieces by Adi Goodrich and Sam Klemick and the first Miami edition from Milan-based design exhibition Alcova held in a motel during Miami's art week.

Works in Progress took place at the American Industrial Center in San Francisco from 18 to 23 January 2023. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

The photography is by Sahra Jajarmikhayat unless otherwise stated. 

The post San Francisco exhibition features "off-center" Bay Area furniture design appeared first on Dezeen.

Fashion retailer Aro Archive's pastel-hued east London store was designed by founder Ariana Waiata Sheehan to evoke "a sense of otherworldliness".

The store, located in Shoreditch, replaces the brand's previous, more industrial store on nearby Broadway Market and was intended to have a frivolous feel.

The interior has "a sense of otherworldliness, escapism and fun," Waiata Sheehan explains, comparing it to "a mixture between a mushroom trip and going to visit someone's rich aunty who runs a gallery".

"We've always had very neutral industrial spaces," she told Dezeen. |But you can get an industrial Zara these days, so time to switch it up and go full personality, which has been scary but so worth it."

Located inside a five-storey former Victorian warehouse, Aro Archive, which sells pre-owned clothing by avant-garde designers, was organised so that each floor has a different colour.

Monochrome pastel pink, blue and white hues decorate the different levels, which also feature a wide range of reclaimed and recycled materials, furniture and artworks.

"The pink floor is supposed to feel very warm, womb-like and enclosed," Waiata Sheehan said. "The blue floor is more light and otherworldly. And the two white floors are very ethereal and calm."

White duvet covers by fashion house Maison Martin Margiela were used to create curtains for the changing rooms, while interior pillars are made from reclaimed 1990s metal lamp posts that the designer sourced from a scrapyard in Preston.

"The building and surrounding area feel very London, so we did want to bring in a sense of that for example with the lamp posts, metal works and details, bright neon lights and so forth," Waiata Sheehan said.

She sourced a number of unusual furnishings for the Aro Archive store, including an industrial control station from a paper-manufacturing plant that is now used as a till.

"The industrial paper control station I've been watching on eBay for nearly 4 years, waiting for a time I had the space to buy it," Waiata Sheehan explained. "I wanted something different to the normal till, they're all so boring and square."

The store also has another large metal till and metal drawers that originally came from a 1980s Mary Quant store and were rescued from a squat in Hackney Wick.

Waiata Sheehan also sourced several smaller pieces for the boutique, where customers can purchase everything down to the artwork, furniture and accessories.

"I do all the buying so everything is here because I love it in some way," she explained. "But in terms of favourite pieces in store right now?"

"For fashion, it's the Rick Owens orange shearling gimp mask gilet, for objects the Shirin Guild ceramic incense holders and for furniture the wobbly glass table with magazine racks."

Waiata Sheehan hopes the Aro Archive boutique will feel like a home away from home and help to create a community feel in the area.

"I think Shoreditch is lacking a sense of community and I wanted to work that into the space," she said. "The feeling of a chaotic family home and a feeling of togetherness."

Other London stores with notable interior design recently covered on Dezeen include Swedish fashion brand Toteme's newly-opened Mayfair store and a Coach pop-up store at Selfridges that had fixtures made from recyclable materials.

The photography is by John Munro.

The post Aro Archive store features pastel-coloured rooms and industrial control station appeared first on Dezeen.

Bright hues define the different interventions that New York architecture studio Ideas of Order has made in this apartment at the northern tip of Manhattan.

The 1,000-square-foot primary residence in Hudson Heights was partially renovated for a couple, who had been living in the space for several years before deciding to invest in making it better suited to their needs, rather than buying another apartment.

"Their sons had been sharing a room, but were beginning to need their own spaces," Ideas of Order told Dezeen.

"They also wanted a space that could be designed for flexibility for when their children left for college."

The kitchen also needed updating, to make it more suitable for entertaining, and more efficient storage space was required in the entryway.

So the architects reworked one side of the open living area, adding a bedroom on one side of the kitchen and refreshing the other areas.

The husband is French, and the couple spent several years living together in France.

During this period, they both became enamoured by the midcentury architecture and design in the country and wanted to apply this style to their own home.

"Inspired by their stories and the history of how colour was used by French midcentury designers like Charlotte Perriand, we suggested a series of polychrome millwork pieces inspired by Perriand's design language, but updated for a contemporary home," said Ideas of Order.

The different areas of the home were therefore given their own identities by applying bright hues.

Lime green is used in the bedroom across a full wall of built-ins that incorporate a single bed, a workstation and plenty of storage.

Sliding doors with fritted glass panels pull across to enclose the slightly raised room, while a porthole window with double shutters looks through the new wall that separates the kitchen.

This adjacent space is denoted by raspberry and periwinkle millwork, which surrounds a small preparation area with an aluminium backsplash and matching panels above.

The same metal also fronts the bar counter between an arched opening to the living area, which is topped with concrete.

Rubber flooring in the kitchen offers a practical alternative to the wood used through the rest of the apartment.

Finally, in the entryway – which is again raised slightly higher than the living area – an L-shaped cabinet system was constructed in a corner beside the door.

Pale pink is applied to the frames, while the doors and drawer fronts are finished in light grey and walnut is used for the trim. Choosing the right hues was a challenge that took many iterations to find the right balance, according to the architects.

"It was important that each pair of colours in the millwork work together, but that the colours also harmonise when viewed as a whole," they said. "We wanted the colours to be bright, but not overpowering. And we wanted the colour pairings to feel timeless and not too trendy."

Another challenge was the budget, which was modest by New York City standards and required some conscientious spending – particularly on small details that would make a big impact.

"We love the custom pulls for the millwork, the shutters for the circular window, and the rounded end to the partition between bedroom and kitchen, which reflects the rounded openings throughout the apartment," the architects said.

Ideas of Order was founded by Jacob Esocoff and Henry Ng, who are both Fosters + Partners and WORKac alumni.

Their renovation is one of the most colourful interiors we've featured in New York City of late, compared to a neutral show apartment inside the One Wall Street skyscraper and a loft in Dumbo with a subdued palette.

The photography is by Sean Davidson.

The post Ideas of Order selects bright colours for New York apartment renovation appeared first on Dezeen.

This week's lookbook rounds up eight interiors with furnishings and surfaces finished in burl-wood veneer, allowing its swirly, psychedelic graining to serve a decorative function.

Burl wood is a rare and expensive wood, often only available in thin sheets of veneer. That's because it is derived from the knobbly outgrowths of tree trunks and branches – also known as burls.

Like the botanical equivalent of a callous, these outgrowths form in response to different stress factors and grow unpredictably, creating complex unexpected grain patterns behind their gnarled bark.

Burl wood has been experiencing a renaissance over the last few years, with interior designers including Kelly Wearstler using it to evoke the bohemian flair of its 1970s heyday.

Mixed and matched with other patterns, the material is now used to communicate a kind of organic understated luxury, much like natural stone.

From a Michelin-starred restaurant to a home that was designed to resemble a boutique hotel, read on for eight examples of how burl wood can provide textural richness to a modern interior.

This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rooms with net floors, interiors with furry walls and homes with mid-century modern furniture.

Botaniczna Apartment, Poland, by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

This tranquil apartment in Poznań was designed by local firm Agnieszka Owsiany Studio to give the owners a reprise from their high-pressure medical jobs.

The interior combines a calming mix of pale marble and various kinds of wood, including oak cabinetry, chevron parquet flooring and a console and vanity, both finished in speckled burl.

"My clients asked for a high quality, almost hotel-like space, as they were in need of everyday comfort," founder Agnieszka Owsiany told Dezeen.

Find out more about Botaniczna Apartment ›

Ulla Johnson flagship, USA, by Kelly Wearstler

Burlwood brings "a touch of 1970s California nostalgia" to the Ulla Johnson flagship store in Los Angeles, courtesy of local designer Kelly Wearstler.

The unusual veneer was used liberally to cover walls, ceilings and shelves, as well as forming a statement display cabinet where the material's natural wavy surface texture provides an added element of tactility (top image).

Find out more about the Ulla Johnson flagship ›

Koda hair salon, Australia, by Arent & Pyke

This hair salon in Sydney's Queen Victoria Building was designed by Australian studio Arent & Pyke to be "best appreciated from seated height".

Drawing attention away from the building's extra-tall ceilings, freestanding quartzite-rimmed mirrors are placed at angles in front of the styling chairs, framing a vintage hanging cabinet made from pale burl.

Find out more about the Koda hair salon ›

Opasly Tom restaurant, Poland, by Buck Studio

Buck Studio employed a limited palette of colours and materials to create visual continuity throughout Warsaw restaurant Opasly Tom, which occupies a split-level building that was broken up into a series of rooms of different sizes.

Coral-orange chair cushions mirror the hardware of the totem-like pendant lights, and several burl-clad cabinets are dotted throughout the eatery. These match the kaleidoscopically patterned panelling in the hallway and the private dining rooms.

"This contemporary, minimalistic design approach produces the impression of coherence while creating a powerful aesthetic impact," explained the Polish studio, which is headed up by Dominika Buck and Pawel Buck.

Find out more about the Opasly Tom restaurant ›

Warsaw apartment, Poland, by Mistovia

Elsewhere in Warsaw, Polish studio Mistovia designed an apartment for an art director and her pet dachshund to resemble an "elaborate puzzle" of contrasting patterns.

Walnut-burl cabinets dominate the kitchen, with their trippy swirling pattern offset against monochrome tiles, brushed-metal drawers and a terrazzo-legged breakfast bar.

Find out more about the Warsaw apartment ›

Imperfecto, USA, by OOAK Architects

Upon entering Michelin-starred restaurant Imperfecto in Washington DC, diners are greeted by a custom-made maître-d stand clad in panels of burl-wood veneer, creating a mirrored tortoiseshell pattern across its surface.

The interior, designed by Greek-Swedish studio OOAK Architects, sees neutral tones paired with splashes of blue and white that nod to the restaurant's Mediterranean menu.

"OOAK Architects has used varied, high-quality finishes and authentic materials including Greek and Italian marbles, as well as brass and wood from different parts of the world, creating contrasting textures across the space," the team said.

Find out more about Imperfecto ›

Black Diamond house, Australia, by YSG

Australian interiors studio YSG introduced a sumptuous mix of materials to this house in Sydney's Mosman suburb to evoke the feeling of staying in a luxury hotel.

This approach is evidenced by a number of custom furniture pieces dotted throughout the home, including a Tiberio marble vanity in the downstairs powder room and a poplar-burl cabinet with a bronzed mirror that looms over the nearby living room.

Find out more about Black Diamond house ›

Studio Frantzén, UK, by Joyn Studio

Restaurant Studio Frantzén in London's Harrods department store serves a fusion of Nordic and Asian food that is also reflected in its Japandi interiors – taking cues from both Scandinavian and Japanese design.

Interiors practice Joyn Studio leaned heavily on both cultures' penchant for wood, combining seating banquettes made from blocks of end-grain pine wood with gridded timber ceilings and seating booths framed by burl-wood wall panelling.

Find out more about Studio Frantzén ›

This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring rooms with net floors, interiors with furry walls and homes with mid-century modern furniture.

The post Eight interiors where burl wood provides natural texture appeared first on Dezeen.

Ukrainian designer Anastasiia Tempynska combined futuristic details with fleshy materials that evoke the human body when creating the interior of the 13 Laser clinic and spa in Kyiv.

Tempynska created an interior for 13 Laser that reflects the innovative technologies used by the clinic to perform procedures such as laser hair removal and skin resurfacing, on top of traditional treatments like massage and facials.

"I aimed to achieve a contrast between natural softness, expressed in textures and materials, and something unnatural that is connected with human activity – mirrors, neon, metal – something that looks like perfection," Tempynska told Dezeen.

"I also wanted to achieve an unobtrusive but simple luxury aesthetic," added the designer, who founded her studio Temp Project in 2021.

The clinic consists of a generous reception and five treatment rooms including a larger space that can be booked by couples or friends. It is located on the ground floor of a modern residential complex and, prior to the fit-out, was an empty shell with red-brick walls and concrete columns.

Tempynska introduced a palette of muted grey and white tones that provides a minimalist background, upon which she layered metallic finishes and matte textures informed by the design of medical equipment.

The result is a futuristic aesthetic that is brightened and warmed by accents of pink and sky-blue, applied to furnishings and elements such as a neon sign in the reception area.

The technological aesthetic is reinforced by custom-made elements such as an angular mirror that looks like it was cut by a laser.

Scientific equipment such as flasks and beakers informed the glass block wall in the reception area, while the exposed utilities on the ceiling contribute to the sci-fi feel.

The designer also sought to evoke the spa's focus on the human body through the use of tones and textural materials that recall anatomical features.

The bouclé texture of several soft seating areas was chosen to reference the irregularities of skin when magnified under a microscope, while a lumpy side table was painted in a fleshy pink colour.

"I was looking for a second-order association to manifest the theme of corporeality within the futuristic concept," said Tempynska.

"It was the colour pink – the colour of redness on the skin that reacts to cosmetic procedures. It is also the colour of the palm of your hand when you look at it on a sunny day."

The theme of nature was manifested in the monolithic reception desk, which weighs 400 kilograms and is made from concrete painted to resemble a solid chunk of stone.

Other roughly textured or patterned elements were chosen to enhance the natural feel, with ceramic floor tiles complementing the desk's stone-like surface.

The pock-marked edge of a console table evokes the texture of a pumice stone used to exfoliate skin, while the uneven wall behind the reception desk recalls the mud used for some of the spa's treatments.

Most of the furniture featured in the project was custom-made, including a tubular floor lamp with integrated flower vases that is situated near the entrance.

The angular mirror on wheels was designed for taking interesting selfies, while the bespoke neon sign references the pulse of a laser.

Tempynska worked for several design studios prior to setting up her own office. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the start of 2022 left her briefly without work. However, clients gradually returned and she has since completed numerous projects despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war.

"There was a time when we worked without communication and electricity," the designer recalled. "I couldn't leave the Dnipro left bank and often couldn't call the builders."

"When I came to their workshop, they illuminated the products with a flashlight, but we work and believe in our victory," she continued.

Other projects that have recently been completed in Kyiv include Olga Fradina's soothing, monochromatic interior for a wellness centre called Space and a refurbished attic apartment with views over the city.

The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

The post Anastasiia Tempynska designs futuristic interior for laser clinic in Kyiv appeared first on Dezeen.

New York design studio Polonsky & Friends has lined this tiny New York omakase restaurant with burl wood veneer panels, while its counters and cabinetry are coloured to resemble bird feathers.

Designed as a sister location of Rosella, an East Village sushi spot that opened in 2020, Bar Miller is located a few blocks away in Alphabet City.

The owners brought back Polonsky & Friends to complete the interiors so that the two outposts could share the same "warm, welcoming energy".

Although the menu borrows from traditional sushi craft, it's not authentically Japanese, so the designers wanted to steer clear of any tropes that might deceive customers.

"The design had to incorporate local and craft-centric elements and honour the food's Japanese inspiration, but not fall into any folklore since the team isn't Japanese and the menu is untraditional," studio founder Anna Polonsky told Dezeen.

The restaurant only seats eight covers, which surround the open kitchen in the centre of the compact space.

Deep blue-green Avocatus stone – a rare quartzite with a leathered finish – forms the entire bar counter

A custom ceiling pendant by Madrid-based designer Pablo Bolumar is suspended above the counter like a string of pearly beads.

On the walls, panels of burl wood veneer are framed in white oak, which matches the refinished original parquet floors.

"We were able to sand back [the flooring] after it was hidden for years in the previous restaurant," Polonsky said.

A trio of panels feature a custom wallpaper drawn by artist Hollie M Kelley, displaying the feathers of an eastern rosella bird.

Kelley also drew the icon for the sister restaurant, a western rosella, which has different colours in its plumage.

The maroon hues in the wallpaper are echoed on the cabinetry behind the kitchen counter, differentiating the food preparation area from the blue-green of the dining space.

Other details include a panel of vertical wood slats for storing plates above the sink and moulded-glass scones shaped like scallop shells.

The bar stools were crafted by Maderas Collective in Nicaragua and upholstered by Ecua in Queens, while ceramic vases were sourced from New York-based Fefostudio.

In the bathroom, green tiles laid in a herringbone pattern cover the walls and a rice paper pendant light hand-painted by Claire Dufournier hangs from the ceiling.

For those looking for more Japanese restaurants with notable interiors, New York City has plenty of options to choose from.

Check out the Rockwell Group-designed Katsuya close to Hudson Yards, Rule of Thirds by Love is Enough in Greenpoint, and Tsukimi in the East Village designed by Post Company – formerly known as Studio Tack.

The photography is by Nicole Franzen.

The post Bird feathers and burls inform New York restaurant by Polonsky & Friends appeared first on Dezeen.

In this lookbook, we feature nine residential projects that demonstrate unique ways of interacting with a site's history by weaving existing ruins into their designs.

Until recently, it has been common practice to hide away old structures during adaptive reuse projects.

However, the architects in this list embrace the past by stitching domestic spaces with the remains of former buildings, creating inventive encounters with preserved architectural remains.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring clever outbuilding interiors, homes with mid-century modern furniture and residential spaces with playful net floors.

Nickzy Apartment, Hungary, by Béres Architects

Carefully preserved stone walls are featured in this Hungarian guesthouse renovation by local studio Béres Architects.

20th-century plaster finishes have been stripped back to expose the 400-year-old apartment's original stonework, reestablishing its visual prominence against modern white-rendered walls.

Find out more about Nickzy Apartment ›

El Priorato, Spain, by Atienza Maure Arquitectos

The interiors of this 16th-century Spanish clergy house were restored by Atienza Maure Arquitectos to create ambiguity between the existing structure and new interventions.

Concrete vaults, white-painted walls and limited fixtures sit alongside heritage-protected arches to create minimal differentiation between the materials and spaces.

Find out more about El Priorato ›

Mediona 13, Spain, by Nua Arquitectures

In the historic centre of Tarragona, Spain, Nua Arquitectures reinforced this home's crumbling stone and timber structure with brightly coloured steel supporting elements.

According to the studio, the steel insertions add another layer to the home's visible "memory" and draw attention to the historic building fabric.

Find out more about Mediona 13 ›

Croft Lodge Studio, West Midlands, by David Connor Design and Kate Darby Architects

David Connor Design and Kate Darby Architects enclosed the decaying remains of a 300-year-old building under a steel-framed shell in England's West Midlands area.

The bold new studio maintains every aspect of the heritage-listed structure within the internal living spaces, including the rotting timber, dead ivy and old birds' nests.

Find out more about The Parchment Works ›

Cascina, Italy, by Jonathan Tuckey Design

For this farmstead restoration in Italy, British studio Jonathan Tuckey Design prioritised returning the 19th-century buildings to their original state with minimal alterations.

The existing beams and trusses of the distinctive barn roof had lost their structural integrity, leading the studio to layer a new roof atop the timber without disrupting the internal aesthetic.

Find out more about Cascina ›

Ardoch House, Scotland, by Moxon Architects

Moxon Architects expressed eye-catching details of 19th-century ruins within this outbuilding refurbishment in the Scottish Highlands.

Alongside new finishes of uniform clay plaster, pieces of the crumbling masonry were preserved within the guesthouse's renovated walls and doorways as subtle connections to the earlier building.

Find out more about Ardoch House ›

The Parchment Works, Northamptonshire, by Will Gamble Architects

The remains of a 17th-century parchment paper factory and cattle shed were brought into focus within this residential extension by Will Gamble Architects.

New interventions were intended to be discreet, exposing original structural elements internally, while configuring glazing to look out onto uncovered ruins from the ground floor.

Find out more about The Parchment Works ›

Redhill Barn, Devon, by TYPE

This 200-year-old English barn was in a state of disrepair before TYPE restored it into a modern family home.

Aiming to distinguish between old and new, the studio lined contemporary wall finishes and wood panelling against remnant stone walls, while using existing columns to dictate the house's layout.

Find out more about Redhill Barn ›

Cuddymoss, Scotland, by Ann Nisbet Studio

Scottish architecture practice Ann Nisbet Studio inserted a timber-framed home into a stone ruin in Scotland and defined new living spaces within the surviving forms.

To encourage layered encounters of the site, views of the landscape were also aligned with existing window apertures from the bedrooms.

Find out more about Cuddymoss ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with net floors, mid-century modern furniture and perforated brick walls. 

The post Nine contemporary homes where ruins reveal layers of the past appeared first on Dezeen.

A private roof terrace enclosed by greenery features in Hidden Garden House, a Sydney home reconfigured by Australian studio Sam Crawford Architects.

Situated within a conservation zone, the home has been updated by Sam Crawford Architects to brighten its dark interior and transform it into an urban "sanctuary".

Alterations to the 198-square-metre home's interior are first seen in its entrance, where a stair with open treads and a white-steel balustrade replaces a solid timber structure that previously restricted light from a skylight above.

Down from the entry hall is a spacious ground-floor kitchen and dining area, which is illuminated by 4.5-metre-high glass openings that lead out to a landscaped patio. The patio is paved with limestone tiles that extend out from the interior.

"By extending the ground floor finishes through the full-width doors into the rear yard, the garden and high-level green trellises at the rear of the site form the fourth wall to the rear wing," studio director Sam Crawford told Dezeen.

"They create a sense of enclosure that draws the occupant's eye up to the expanse of the sky rather than surrounding suburbia."

A concrete ceiling in Hidden Garden House's kitchen curves upwards to help draw in the winter sun and provide summer shading, while operable clerestory windows allow natural ventilation.

Above, this curved ceiling forms a sloped roof terrace filled with plants, which is situated off the main bedroom on the upper floor.

An ensuite bathroom, also lined with limestone floor tiles, has expansive openings offering a scenic yet private bathing experience enabled by angled timber screens and the terrace's greenery.

"The rolling green roof serves as a visual barrier to the surrounding suburb, whilst allowing the occupants to occupy their private garden oasis," added Crawford.

Hidden Garden House's consistent material palette of bright white walls and wooden furniture ties its living spaces together, while decorative square tiles line both the kitchen and bathrooms.

Curved details, such as the patio's shape and the kitchen island and splashback, also feature throughout.

Other alterations that were made to improve Hidden Garden House's layout include the relocation of entrances to the ground floor laundry room and bathroom.

Elsewhere, Sam Crawford Architects has also created a restaurant topped with an oversized steel roof and a bridge modelled on the curving shape of eels.

The photography is by Tom Ferguson.

Project credits:

Architect: Sam Crawford Architects
Builder: Toki
Structural engineer: Cantilever Engineers
Civil & hydraulic engineer: Partridge
Acoustic engineer: Acoustic Logic
Heritage consultant: Damian O’Toole Town Planning
Quantity Surveyor: QS Plus
Landscape design: Gabrielle Pelletier, SCA
Roof garden supplier: Fytogreen Australia

The post Sam Crawford Architects tops Sydney home renovation with "garden oasis" appeared first on Dezeen.

Texas architecture studio Side Angle Side has adapted a 1960s post office into a food market and restaurant in Austin.

Opened in October 2023 in the Hyde Park area, Tiny Grocer serves as a speciality market, bar and cafe while Bureau de Poste is a modern French bistro led by celebrity chef Jo Chan.

Austin-based commercial and residential architecture firm Side Angle Side renovated the 3,500-square foot (325-square metre) 1967 US Post Office building and added a 1,500-square foot (140-square metre) outdoor dining patio.

"The Hyde Park U.S. Post Office was an important neighborhood hub in the 1960s – so we were especially careful to keep the integrity and spirit of the mid-century-utilitarian design," Arthur Furman, founding partner of Side Angle Side, told Dezeen.

"As the anchor tenant in the space, Tiny Grocer continues to be the centre of the community, a place to gather, shop, eat and drink."

The shell of the white brick building was left intact, but the street-facing facade was previously used as a loading dock so the team transformed the back-of-house edge into a welcoming patio for the neighbourhood by removing the asphalt and adding two large live oak trees and a steel trellis and planters.

A cast-in-place concrete banquette holds the edge of the patio that is paved with antique red brick.

The steel planter forms a boundary between the parking area and the dining space, while the other edge is held by a light grey-coloured stucco restroom building. White metal furniture from Isimar and Portofino was used to furnish the patio.

"The patio and wine garden is the real heart of the project," the team said, mentioning that it wasn't within the original scope of the project but added later when its larger value was realized. "This is where all the care and thought of the interior spills to the outside, creating a lively environment."

On the interior, Side Angle Side complemented the original ceiling and open web joists with metal decking and industrial warehouse pendants by AQ Lighting. The polished concrete floors expose the weathered imperfections and show the history of the building.

Upon entering, shoppers take in the colourful selection of curated products displayed on white oak mercantile shelving. Green millwork hugs one wall and the space widens to an open interior plan.

A central deli and coffee bar floats in the middle of the room and creates a transition from the market to the bistro. The bar is wrapped in Seneca terracotta tile and topped with grey and white quartz countertops. Wooden Soule barstools are tucked under the waterfall counter.

The back-of-house spaces hold a kitchen office, storage, and bar equipment.

"Working closely with the owner, design finishes hint at the building's midcentury past," the team said, referencing the custom, built-in leather banquette by Undercover Austin Upholstery that lines the bistro's back wall.

Above the banquette and Second Chance Custom wooden dining tables hang black cone light pendants by All Modern.

"The single biggest sustainable feature of this project is one that is often overlooked," the team said, noting the adaptation of the structure. "The 'loose fit, long life' style of these old buildings leads to more reuse and far less waste."

Recent adaptive reuse projects in Austin include a 1900s house converted to a luxury office by Michael Hsu and commercial units converted to an architecture studio by Baldridge Architects.

The photography is by Likeness Studio and Mackenzie Smith Kelly.

Project credits:

Structural engineer: Creative Engineering
MEP engineer: ATS Engineers
Builder: Archive Properties
Commercial interior design: Side Angle Side
Architects: Side Angle Side
Building shell: Thought Barn Studio
Landscape design: Side Angle Side & Wild Heart Dirt
Owner: Steph Steele

The post Side Angle Side transforms mid-century Austin post office into restaurant appeared first on Dezeen.

American hotel brand Bunkhouse and interior design studio Reurbano have used motifs derived from the history of a Mexico City structure when converting it into a boutique hotel.

Hotel San Fernando is located in the Condesa neighbourhood of Mexico City, a largely residential zone that in recent years has seen an influx of national and international travellers.

Bunkhouse worked with local interior design studio Reurbano to take a 1940s apartment building and convert it into a 19-room hotel, with finishes informed by the neighbourhood.

The face of the structure was restored and painted a light green, with darker green used on the awnings that provide coverage for seating attached to the hotel's lobby and restaurant, which open to the street through glass-paned French doors.

An art deco-style logo spells out the name of the hotel above the door. Saint Fernando is known as the patron saint of engineers, and the team wanted to highlight this by maintaining the name of the original building in the branding of the new structure.

"We wanted to honour this building," said Bunkhouse senior vice president of design Tenaya Hills.

"We love the story and the history and like to imagine what it has been for people over the decades."

This primary entrance features a metal door with glass panes informed by the original stained glass of the building.

The entry corridor leads past a lobby lounge, with lighting by Oaxaca studio Oaxifornia and furnishings by local gallery Originario; and design studios Daniel Y Catalina, and La Metropolitana, which also created custom furniture for all of the guest suites.

At the far end of the lobby lounge is the restaurant's bar, which features a large semi-circular cabinet with mirrored back to hold the spirits. A chandelier by local sculptor Rebeca Cors hangs above the clay-clad bar.

The entrance corridor has green encaustic concrete tiles from the original building. Other original details include the wainscotting and casement windows.

A reception area is located at the end of the corridor and behind it is a circular staircase with metal-and-wood railing that leads all the way up through the building, with landings on each of its five floors, terminating at a terrace on top of the building.

The guest rooms range from single-room setups to multi-room suites, the largest of which are accessed through French doors with opaque windows.

Here the studio departed from the greens used on the exterior and the lobby and utilised soft orange, pink and white paints.

Floors in the rooms are either tile or wood and furniture made from light-coloured wood is covered by locally derived textiles. Three rooms on the rooftop level feature furniture designed by Bunkhouse and fabricated by local design outfit B Collective Studio.

Pendant lamps and sconces by local ceramicist Anfora are found in the kitchens and bathrooms.

The rooftop features a tiled dining and lounge area surrounded by sculptural breeze blocks, designed to mimic the original building's patterned stained glass.

Mexican design studios Mexa and Comité de Proyectos contributed furniture pieces for the rooftop.

Other hotels in Mexico include a tile-clad structure in San Miguel de Allende by Productora and Esrawe Studio and a hotel in Mexico City with wooden lattices by PPAA.

The photography is by Chad Wadsworth. 

The post Bunkhouse and Reurbano convert 1940s Mexico City apartments into boutique hotel appeared first on Dezeen.

Interiors studio YSG has upgraded a home in Sydney's Mosman suburb to feature "lavish yet tranquil" interiors that are more akin to those of a luxury hotel.

The three-storey house previously had drab grey walls and awkwardly placed partitions but now features more coherently connected rooms finished in a sumptuous mix of materials.

"Our clients wanted a home that felt like a boutique hotel with a lavish yet tranquil tonal intensity that was rich in substance, not excess trimmings," YSG explained.

"We took a deep dive, converting it into a tactile haven with nooks for respite amongst spaces that freely ebb and flow."

The studio started by reconfiguring the home's first floor to make way for more outdoor entertainment space.

A glass alcove that used to jut into the balcony was removed, allowing room for a large table where the clients can sit and take in views of the nearby harbour.

The expanded balcony means there is now less room on the interior. But YSG worked around this by removing the kitchen's cumbersome bulkhead and two partition walls that once framed its breakfast island.

The revamped kitchen now features a black counter clad with leathered marble and shimmering mosaic tiles.

Black mosaic tiles also cover a section of the floor and the chimney breast in the living room, leading the studio to nickname the project Black Diamond.

"Combined with the dark timber floors and ceiling, they provide sheltered respite from the brilliant glare and frenzied harbour activity, enabling the room to take an inward-looking approach," YSG said.

The living room was dressed with a plump cream swivel chair and an alpaca-wool sofa finished in the same lilac colour as the flowers of the Jacaranda trees that surround the home.

A custom timber table is the centrepiece of the dining area. It sits beside a partition made of smoked-glass blocks, which YSG constructed around three steel struts that now provide structural support in place of a solid wall.

A plaster-washed stairwell leads up to the home's second floor and is doused in natural light via a newly installed glass-brick facade. Some of these bricks are made from yellow glass, chosen by YSG to reflect the home's "sunny disposition".

The staircase's lower steps were ebonised to complement the black tiling that appears throughout the first floor while the upper steps are crafted from a pale timber to signal a change of space.

The home's top floor accommodates the principal bedroom, entered via a doorway lined in Rosso travertine. The bed is positioned at the centre of the room, set against a new low-lying partition.

Behind it, the studio installed extra storage and established a new entryway to the walk-in wardrobe, which could previously only be accessed from the en-suite.

Geometric raffia-weave wallpaper lines the front of all the cupboards, complementing the warm, natural hues that feature throughout the rest of the room.

The bedroom leads off to a curved nook that used to contain a jumble of furnishings but now has a wooden desk and dramatic boucle-covered banquet that winds around its outer perimeter.

The project also saw YSG decrease the size of the kids' playroom on the home's ground floor in order to enlarge the utility room.

A spare bedroom at this level was converted into a study and finished with sea-green furniture.

Outside, the studio replaced weathered decking with "crazy paving" composed of jagged slabs of pale stone and constructed a cushioned day bed that cantilevers over the pool.

Other fun elements of the home include the ground-level powder room, which is clad top-to-bottom in pinkish Tiberio marble, and the wine cellar door with its tangerine-orange porthole windows that provide a glimpse of the bottles inside.

YSG is behind the design of several residences in Sydney. There's Budge Over Dover, a tactile home decked out in brick, brass and coloured plasters, and the playful penthouse Dream Weaver, curated to suit the owner's bolder post-lockdown aesthetic.

The photography is by Anson Smart.

Project credits:

Interior design and styling: YSG
Builder: Promena Projects

The post YSG brings boutique-hotel feel to family home in Sydney appeared first on Dezeen.

Local architecture studio RA! took cues from Latin American art deco design when creating the tiny interior of Los Alexis, a small taqueria in Mexico City's Roma Norte neighbourhood.

Los Alexis is a taco eatery – or taqueria – in Roma, a famed district in Mexico City, which features examples of art deco architecture.

RA! drew on the "vibrant personality" of the area when designing the single 15-square-metre room restaurant, housed within a former beer depository.

"One of the most important requests of our client was for this tiny space to shine among the rest of the retail premises on the street," said studio co-founder and designer Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar.

RA! clad the walls and floors in a distinctive mosaic of broken ceramic tiles with green joints as an ode to Barcelona, where chef Alexis Ayala spent time training, the designer told Dezeen.

A curved bar finished in slabs of ribbed green material fronts the open kitchen, which is positioned on the right of the small open space.

Utilitarian materials, including the tiles, were chosen throughout the restaurant for their "endurance and fast cleaning processes".

White-painted steel breakfast-style stools line the bar, which has a top made of steel – selected for its resistance to grease, according to Ramírez de Aguilar.

The studio decided to preserve the space's original, peeling ceiling "to create a wider contrast [within the eatery] and to remember the old premises".

Informal seating lines the pavement just outside of the taqueria where customers can eat and socialise.

Other than a small bathroom at the back of Los Alexis, the one-room restaurant is purposefully defined by its bar and open kitchen.

"Typical 'changarros' [small shops] in Mexico City are all about the conversation with the cookers, so we tried to have this interaction between people as a main objective," explained Ramírez de Aguilar.

Founded in 2017, RA! previously created the interiors for a restaurant in the city's Polanco neighbourhood with a bar counter shaped like an inverted ziggurat.

DOT Coffee Station is another hole-in-the-wall cafe in Kyiv, Ukraine, which YOD Group designed with a similar floor-to-ceiling mosaic of tiles.

The photography is courtesy of RA!

The post RA! clads Mexico City taco restaurant with broken tiles appeared first on Dezeen.

Interior design must begin facing up to uncomfortable truths about our planet and health in 2024, Michelle Ogundehin writes in her annual trends report for Dezeen.

This must be the year of truth. It's no time to be distracted by talk of trends, new or latest looks. The tactic of holding facts at arm's length has only enabled denial, obfuscation, and fakery, as well as cauterising our moral obligation to change. Mark Twain aptly summarises our current malaise with the pithy: "What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure that just ain't so."

Thankfully, the zeitgeist is shifting. We see it in current TV programming, ever a prescient reflection of public mood. Consider Channel 4's punchy The Great Climate Fight, which volubly charges the British government with incompetence, to ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office, dramatising the scandalous lies behind a huge miscarriage of justice.

It's no time to be distracted by talk of trends, new or latest looks

The desire for unvarnished veracity is there in Netflix's new tranche of documentaries. Think Robbie Williams: Behind the Scenes and its Jeffrey Epstein exposé. Even Disney's Wagatha Christie vehicle was about truth-telling.

It reflects the shattering of any persistent facade that everything's just fine. In the face of extreme weather patterns – from tornados in Manchester in the north of England to record-breaking monsoons in Pakistan – and the escalating rates of chronic disease, anxiety, depression, loneliness epidemics, and other mental-health disorders seen worldwide, surely, finally, our eyes are opening?

In case not, here are a couple of truths that we may need to be reminded of.

One: the perpetual quest for economic growth is unsustainable on a finite planet, yet it prevails because we've been hoodwinked into believing that better always means newer, faster, or more. We are entreated to consume for the good of the economy – the work-to-spend cycle. The implication being that if we don't, we're responsible for mass unemployment and the failure of honest businesses.

Ergo, consumer-driven economies are routinely prioritised over basic citizen welfare, and material goods have become proxies for our dreams and aspirations, even our expressions of love.

Two: the environments in which we live are increasingly toxic – physically, socially, and mentally. Yet we're reneging on personal responsibility for our wellbeing with the misguided assumption that big industry would never create products dangerous to human health, and that our healthcare providers are there to patch us up if they do. We need to focus on causes and prevention instead of lucrative (but futile) searches for cures for diseases like cancer.

It wasn't so long ago that the desire to exercise, seek wellbeing, or be social were reasons to leave the home

What's tricky is that potential solutions to the above don't wash well with legislators or many politicians because they appear slow, unduly restrictive, difficult, or inconvenient. Immediate results (i.e. within a single term of office) are seldom forthcoming, thus a stance of head-in-the-sand, or a default to fast fixes, becomes entrenched as the go-to action.

And yet, research suggests that we, the people, feel differently. According to the 10th annual Life at Home report produced this year by IKEA (one of the world's largest home surveys, encompassing the views of 37,428 people aged 18-plus across 38 countries), searches for "slow living" have doubled since 2015.

So where does this leave us?

We're being pushed and pulled in many contradictory directions. It wasn't so long ago that the desire to exercise, seek wellbeing, or be social were reasons to leave the home. Now these activities all happen within the same four walls.

This creates many tensions. Should our domestic caves be linked to the world via the latest high-tech gizmos, or be our deliberate respite from the techno-frazzle? How do we square a wish for personal privacy with the sensation of living in more open spaces? Can we work from home without feeling like we live at work?

It was no surprise to me that Squishmallows were the hit toy of 2023. These soft, malleable cute-character cushions are acutely comforting to hold. Even the revered investor Warren Buffet now has the company in his portfolio. They are a potent symbol of a need.

In response, the popular press touts voluminous La-Z-Boy-style recliners as the next big thing, but is an inducement to lounge ever further into denial really what's called for?

Our ability to thrive must become the guiding principle for all design

Humans are the ultimate adaptors, but we require stimulus to learn and grow, if not an element of discomfort. While your genes may load the gun, your environment pulls the trigger. Currently, for many, that's somewhere hyperconnected yet also physically disconnected, temperature-controlled and sedentary.

Align this with the current cult of convenience – that which enhances personal comfort or advantage over everything else, and therein lies the downward spiral.

We must abandon the ordered, rational, learned good taste and comfort that we've become used to in favour of something more instinctive and rugged. Less a singular design aesthetic than a profoundly sensory desire to touch, smell and feel intensely. It is the personal over the predictable. The umami in the dish. The idea that owes its genus to a singular moment of unique creative vision, or innovation.

We must aim for a societal stability that does not rely on the continuous fetishisation of "novelty" to drive ever-increasing consumption if economic activity is to have a hope of remaining within ecological scale. Our ability to thrive must become the guiding principle for all design, if not perceptions of success.

Most importantly, we can no longer be afraid to speak or hear these truths, starting at home – the environment over which we have the most agency.

Here, then, are some final "home" truths that bear repeating.

Most homes are more polluted on the inside than a busy street corner outside due to the build-up of invisible toxins therein, yet we spend 90 per cent of our time indoors. Some examples: gas hobs leak benzene, a known carcinogen, even when they're off – this has been linked to one in eight cases of childhood asthma.

We have been living in a time of fantastical storytelling

Microplastics have been found in the placentas of unborn babies. Chemicals in everyday personal care products can cause chronic hormonal disruption that leads to breast cancer. Chemical flame retardants legally mandated for use on your upholstery increase smoke toxicity more than they reduce fire growth.

And Wi-Fi may not be as benign as you think. The World Health Organisation, in association with the International Agency on Cancer, formally classified electromagnetic field radiation (as emitted by Wi-Fi connected devices) as a Class 2B human carcinogen (potentially harmful to health) over a decade ago.

In summary, we have been living in a time of fantastical storytelling, fictions of delusional positivity that obscure the truth. Plato considered that truth is a correspondence between belief and reality. Time to wake up then if we are to stand a chance of survival, as our current reality almost beggars belief.

Michelle Ogundehin is a thought leader on interiors, trends, style and wellbeing. Originally trained as an architect and the former editor-in-chief of ELLE Decoration UK, she is the head judge on the BBC's Interior Design Masters, and the author of Happy Inside: How to Harness the Power of Home for Health and Happiness, a guide to living well. She is also a regular contributor to publications including Vogue Living, FT How to Spend It magazine and Dezeen.

The photo, of a Kyiv apartment designed by Olga Fradina, is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

Dezeen In Depth
If you enjoy reading Dezeen's interviews, opinions and features, subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.

The post "We must abandon the ordered, rational, learned good taste and comfort we've become used to" appeared first on Dezeen.

A pared-back palette of raw materials creates a calm backdrop for PSLab's lighting products inside the brand's Berlin workshop and showroom space, designed in collaboration with Belgian firm B-bis architecten.

The newly opened studio occupies the ground floor and basement of a 1907 residential building in the city's Charlottenburg district.

PSLab, which designs and manufactures light fixtures for architectural projects, set out to create a showroom where customers can experience lighting effects in a home-like environment.

"PSLab is not a digital platform where clients pick and buy products," the company's founder Dimitri Saddi told Dezeen. "Therefore the physical space as a 'home' is most important for one-on-one communication."

"In Berlin, as with all our studios, we wanted to design a canvas to show the quality of our light and to show the process of our bespoke design approach by integrating a material library of endless opportunities and possibilities."

Working together with B-bis architecten, the design team looked to create a contemporary space that contrasts with Charlottenburg's classical architecture whilst retaining references to common elements like colonnades, arches and symmetrical forms.

The entrance takes the form of a large zinc-and-glass sliding door that is set into the facade of the building on Niebuhrstrasse. Moving the door aside reveals a full-height opening that welcomes visitors into the studio.

Inside, a double-height space with a six-metre-high ceiling allows lighting products to be hung in various heights and configurations.

Arched openings on either side of the staircase void lead through to a garden room that looks onto a leafy courtyard. Daylight streams into the space through large windows to create a tranquil atmosphere.

The workshop space includes a materials library where visitors can touch and explore the physical qualities of the brand's lighting products. A movable ladder provides access to items on the library's upper rows.

The cosy basement level is a place for informal conversations with clients. A projector in this parlour space also allows the team to display the company's extensive digital library.

Throughout the studio, PSLab chose materials and finishes including lime wash, concrete, zinc and textiles that focus attention on how the space is lit rather than its architectural features to create a kind of "sacred place for light".

"It is all about monochromatics and textures, which are specific to the location," said Mario Weck, a partner at PSLab GmbH. "The atmosphere lets people focus on our approach."

On the ceiling of both the front room and garden room is a grey-steel gantry that helps unify the spaces whilst supporting various light sources as well as technical elements, much like on a theatre stage.

Furniture is mostly built in, with simple cushions providing casual seating while cylindrical wooden side tables and coffee tables offer somewhere to place a cup or catalogue.

PSLab has studios in Antwerp, Bologna, London, Stuttgart and Beirut, where the firm originated. For its UK headquarters, the company commissioned JamesPlumb to convert a Victorian tannery into a space that evokes the "quiet brutalism" of the former industrial building.

Previously, the lighting brand has collaborated with Parisian studio Tolila+Gilliland on the design of an Aesop store in London featuring felt-covered walls and slim black pendant lights.

Photography by Nate Cook and video directed by Lana Daher.

The post PSLab's monochromatic Berlin showroom is a "sacred place for light" appeared first on Dezeen.

Subtle nods to traditional Chinese architecture can be found throughout this restaurant in California, designed by LA-based Jialun Xiong.

Sichuan Impression's third outpost, located in Alhambra, occupies a 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) space that "takes an elegantly pared-down approach to family-style dining".

Jialun Xiong took an equally relaxed approach to the interiors, combining warm and soft colours with walnut furniture and metal accents.

"For Sichuan Impression, I chose a muted palette and natural materials to encourage guests to look a little longer and see the intricacies and textures that aren't so obvious at first glance," said Xiong.

The restaurant is roughly divided into four dining areas, each open to one another but defined by the style of seating.

To the left of the entrance is a sequence of partitions that alternate between heavy grey plaster and delicate metal mesh screens supported by antique brass frames.

Each has a circular opening, which align to provide a continuous view along the minimalist walnut tables and benches that run along the same axis.

One table extends through an opening, accommodating larger parties when needed, and each compartment features an oversized, raw silk cloth light shade suspended above.

"The custom chandeliers nod to traditional Chinese lanterns and reflect Xiong's skeletal furniture designs," said the restaurant team.

In front of the bar is a free-seating space furnished with more wooden tables and chairs, which match the cabinetry against the far wall, while glass-fronted metal cabinets are mounted above.

A pair of chunky plaster-wrapped columns and low partitions separate a collection of booths with leather seats and upholstered cushioned backs on the other side.

The green fabric was chosen to resemble bamboo – a common material used in Sichuanese design.

At the back of the restaurant is the private dining area, which can accommodate 16 guests altogether, or two groups of eight when a sliding partition is closed.

A circular window offers a glimpse into the private space, where the pared-back material palette is continued.

"The secluded space is designed to feel like home with its bespoke circular dining table and ambient lighting," said Xiong. "I believe good design doesn't always have to be instantly recognisable, it can simply blend in."

Xiong, who is originally from Chongqing, has also completed the retro-futuristic Chinese restaurant 19 Town close to Downtown LA. The designer recently showed her furniture and lighting pieces as part of the INTRO/LA showcase in November 2023, and at the Alcova exhibition during Art Basel in Miami in December.

The post Jialun Xiong highlights "intricacies and textures" at Sichuanese restaurant in LA appeared first on Dezeen.

This week's lookbook explores eight clever shed and outbuilding interiors, ranging from self-built renovations to finely crafted new builds.

By repurposing rundown sheds and garages or capitalising on extra garden space, these projects offer additional room for hobbies, workspaces, living quarters or simply respite for their owners.

Among this list of projects is a bold-coloured garage renovation hosting a work area and greenhouse in Norwich, UK, as well as a scenic timber outbuilding designed for recreation and socialising for a retired couple in Lillehammer, Norway.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes created on a budget, living rooms with industrial material palettes and airy and pared-back loft conversions.

The Orangery, UK, by McCloy and Muchemwa

Original blockwork walls were retained in this self-build renovation of a dilapidated garage by London-based studio McCloy and Muchemwa.

An orange, timber roof structure was matched with furniture in the same colour throughout the interior, which contains a storage area, hobby zone and workbench along with a well-lit greenhouse clad in polycarbonate.

Find out more about The Orangery ›

Grange Garage Studio, Scotland, by Konishi Gaffney

This 1950s garage conversion by Konishi Gaffney, adjacent to an existing Georgian property, houses an artist's music studio and features a rhythmic facade made from wooden battens.

The space has a calm and refined material palette, with dark-stained furniture used to match the wooden beams in the studio's interior.

Find out more about Grange Garage Studio ›

Shed-O-Vation, US, by Best Practice Architecture

Best Practice Architecture renovated this outbuilding in Seattle to host an office and small gym as an expansion of the property's main house.

Black synthetic rubber was used to cover the interior floor and one side of the room's walls, while the remaining walls were lined with birch plywood along with a boldly coloured workspace.

Find out more about Shed-O-Vation ›

The Light Shed, UK, by Richard John Andrews

The Light Shed is a 12-metre-square, multifunctional shed designed and built by architect Richard John Andrews and an assistant in just 21 days to house Andrews' architecture studio in his back garden.

The interior is lined with plywood providing shelving and desk space for two to three people. The studio also doubles as a space for hosting functions and gatherings.

Find out more about The Light Shed ›

Barn House, Norway, by Jon Danielsen Aarhus

Replacing an existing run-down outbuilding, Barn House in Lillehammer, Norway, was designed by Jon Danielsen Aarhus to create a space in which a retired couple can paint, garden and host friends.

An all-red entrance hall is followed by a timber interior. The building contains a brightly lit art studio upstairs and a gardening room and garages on the lower floor.

Find out more about Barn House ›

Eton Accessory Building, Canada, by Motiv Architects

Made from cross-laminated timber (CLT), Eton Accessory Building by Canadian studio Motiv Architects is a 30-square-metre workshop connected to the owners' home via a garden.

Hard-wearing flooring and evenly distributed skylights create an industrial-style workspace. A CLT mezzanine is used for additional storage.

Find out more about Eton Accessory Building ›

Cork Study, UK, by Surman Weston

This cork-covered studio designed by Surman Weston provides space for sewing and music-making in the back garden of a London home.

On the interior, birch plywood lines the walls, with the pale material also used to construct a central working space with built-in shelving and storage.

Find out more about Cork Study ›

Broadway, Australia, by Foomann

Replacing an old garage, this two-floor outbuilding hosts a gym, swimming pool and parking garage on the site of an Edwardian property in Melbourne.

A refined material palette of white walls set off by wood and dark flooring works to create a relaxing, beachy feel throughout the spaces.

Find out more about Broadway ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes created on a budget, living rooms with industrial material palettes and airy and pared-back loft conversions.

The post Eight well-designed sheds and outbuildings that extend the home appeared first on Dezeen.

Ukrainian designer Olga Fradina has completed a monochromatic interior for Space, a wellness centre in Kyiv, where textures rather than colours provide interest and create a soothing atmosphere.

Space is a holistic wellness centre that includes areas for practising yoga, meditation and acupuncture, as well as traditional healing practices such as reiki and qigong.

The project commenced just before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the company's founder – entrepreneur and wellness enthusiast Kateryna Bakhirka – eventually deciding to move forward as she felt a space for healing practices was important at a time of global turbulence.

Bakhirka had previously commissioned Fradina to design her private apartment in the city and asked the designer to follow a similar direction, although with a warmer palette than the cosily dark residence.

"I aimed to make the space as comfortable as possible, creating somewhere people would like to stay longer and where they could easily relax," Fradina told Dezeen.

Space is located on the ground floor of an early 20th-century building in Kyiv's Podil district that once functioned as a candle factory.

The four-storey building had previously been divided into several apartments and Fradina began by removing internal partitions to open up the cellular space.

The reconfigured interior comprises several functional zones – a small entrance hall, a locker room, a room for group classes, two massage rooms, a tea lounge and a room with a bathtub that is used for certain healing practices.

The bright and airy hall used for group sessions is lined with mirrors on one side, while the opposite wall is painted with a subtle gradient to evoke a sunset.

A darker palette is employed in the massage rooms to create a more soothing and intimate ambience. The only touch of brightness is provided by a brass panel painted with a dynamic symbol by Ukrainian artist Nikita Vlasov.

The tearoom is also rendered in muted shades and accommodates a three-metre-long raw-edged wooden table that was custom-made by local workshop Staritska Maysternya.

A nearby bar counter is clad with bricks salvaged from an old house and is topped with Cambrian Black granite. Objects purchased by Bakhirka on her travels through Asia and South America are displayed on backlit shelves.

The main materials used throughout the project are micro cement, plaster, wood, copper and vintage brick, which Fradina chose due to her fondness for "monochrome interiors where the main accents are textures".

"I love natural and tactile materials, playing a little bit on the slight contrast of textures such as wood, stone and rough plaster," the designer added. "Each one has its own structure, reflectivity, roughness. Coming together they create an expressive but not flashy emotion."

Regular blackouts in Kyiv due to the ongoing war made construction work challenging, according to Fradina, with contractors often needing to bring their own generators to provide electricity.

The designer herself regularly had to take cover in a subway station during site visits when shelling was taking place. The war has also taken an emotional toll and altered her approach to her practice, Fradina revealed.

"It's hard enough for me to design now, it feels like I've lost my connection to the physical world," she said. "During these years of active war, I have been mostly involved in digital art and I'm better able to interact with abstract matter now."

Also in Kyiv, Yana Molodykh has designed a light-filled interior for a compact attic apartment while Makhno Studio has created an all-beige residence with bumpy textures and intricate ceramic walls.

The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

The post Olga Fradina uses natural tones and textures for interior of Ukrainian holistic healing centre appeared first on Dezeen.

US studio Ome Dezin has renovated a large mid-century home in Brentwood, California, using a tonal colour palette and maximising the lush hillside views.

The six-bedroom 12221 Benmore residence was designed and constructed in 1960 by notable local architects A Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmon.

When Jesse Rudolph and Joelle Kutner of Ome Dezin came to the project, it had undergone a 1990s remodel that had stripped away its character and style.

The team made it their mission to revive the home's original charm and connection to the outdoors, bringing in natural tones and materials.

"We have always been fans of A Quincy Jones and familiar with his work, which is what prompted us to see the home initially," the duo told Dezeen.

"This one did not disappoint — it had the typical Quincy atrium-like living space centered across from the exterior which includes a 40-foot (12-metre) waterfall."

Many of the existing fixtures were retained, including the fixed windows and doors, wherever possible.

To keep the focus on the views from the large windows, the interior was designed with "a more muted, streamlined aesthetic".

"We wanted to ensure the intention of Quincy was intact, so we aimed for a bit of brutalism and connection with nature," said Rudolph and Kutner. "We opted for a limited material and color palette in favour of natural tones."

The new white oak staircase designed for the three-storey atrium features rectangular forms and has an architectural presence, echoing the shape and style of the building.

It sits at the nexus of the living room, dining area, kitchen and bar, which all flow together and enjoy expansive views out the back of the house.

A den adjacent to these open spaces is furnished with a variety of midcentury pieces, in keeping with the building’s history.

Two types of stone were used throughout the home: travertine, which appears in the kitchen, bar area and powder room, and richly patterned Cipollino in the primary bathroom chosen to pick out the colours of the mountains visible through the windows.

In the lower-floor bedrooms and around the fireplace, flagstones and cobblestones were laid to create a grounding quality and to connect the spaces to the rocky landscape outside and pavers around the swimming pool.

Custom pieces designed for the project include the dining table created with furniture designer Ben Willett, which allows all of the chairs to be tucked away neatly underneath.

Two 10-foot-high (three-metre) doors were custom-built for the living space and feature Jean Prouvé-influenced circular window cutouts that allow light to shine through.

"We paid special attention to the lighting in the home, mostly sourcing vintage lights to add charm and character," the design team said.

"With such a large home, and lots of windows and tall ceilings, warm mood lighting really made the spaces feel intimate and magical, particularly in the evenings."

Rudolph and Kutner founded Ome Dezin as a design and development studio focused on residential restoration in and around Los Angeles.

California has no shortage of mid-century properties in need of revamping. Other recently completed examples include Studio Schicketanz's renovation of modernist architect Henry Hill's former seaside home, and Woods + Dangaran's overhaul of a residence that once belonged to singer Bing Crosby's manager.

The photography is by Nils Timm.

The post Ome Dezin restores 1960s California residence by A Quincy Jones appeared first on Dezeen.

Kitchens can often be difficult to keep tidy, but this lookbook demonstrates how floor-to-ceiling cabinets are an effective way to streamline and create clutter-free backdrops for food prep.

Traditionally, kitchens are designed with floor and wall cabinets dropped below the ceiling to ensure they are reachable. However, today many architects and interior designers are opting for full-height solutions instead to maximise storage space.

The examples in this lookbook show that floor-to-ceiling storage solutions are suited to kitchens of any size and style, and can be used to conceal clutter, appliances and even doorways.

A bonus is that these cupboards also minimise areas for dust to gather, requiring less time spent on cleaning and leaving more for cooking.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with net floors, mid-century modern furniture and perforated brick walls.

TS-H_01, Switzerland, by Tom Strala

This minimalist kitchen, belonging to a home near Bern, features floor-to-ceiling storage concealing not only clutter but also a doorway to a garage.

The white wall of cabinets is dotted by circular handles lined with smooth timber and forms a slick backdrop to the chunky prep counter, raw plaster walls and pale wooden floorboards.

Find out more about TS-H_01 ›

Churchtown, Ireland, by Scullion Architects

Oak-panelled cabinetry runs through the light-filled kitchen of Churchtown, a residential extension in Dublin informed by Victorian conservatories.

While maximising storage, the cupboards are designed to conceal appliances and a pantry. The warmth of the oak is complemented by cool-toned white terrazzo on the floor and worktops.

Find out more about Churchtown ›

Sacha, France, by SABO Project

Full-height birch plywood joinery is used to store the contents of this kitchen, designed by SABO Project within a Parisian apartment.

The cupboards are almost disguised as a solid block, with small arched cut-outs subtly demarcating each door. One of the panels features a larger arched opening, which opens into a cosy nook for the owner's cat.

Find out more about Sacha ›

The Amagansett Beach House, USA, by Starling Architecture and Emily Lindberg Design

The floor-to-ceiling units in this kitchen help draw attention to more playful design details in the room, including a sculptural custom island animated by exaggerated forms.

Finished with wood and a lack of handles, the cabinets also blend into the floors and ceilings, disguising them as walls and creating a pared-back aesthetic for the room.

Find out more about The Amagansett Beach House ›

Barbican Apartment, UK, by John Pawson

Designer John Pawson used full-height storage in the compact kitchen of this London apartment to help achieve his signature minimalist aesthetic.

The abundance of storage ensures the space is uncluttered, while a lack of handles on the cabinetry allows them to blend into the background. The rest of the home, which is located in the brutalist Barbican Estate in London, is designed with the same pared-back aesthetic.

Find out more about Barbican Apartment ›

The Parchment Works, UK, by Will Gamble Architects

Matte-black cabinets with brass handles define the kitchen of The Parchment Works, which Will Gamble Architects created from the shell of an old cattle shed in Northamptonshire.

Stretching from floor to ceiling, the kitchen units slot in beneath rows of timber joists belonging to the original structure. Their dark colour ensures focus retains on the tactile wooden surfaces above, as well as the adjacent whitewashed masonry walls.

Find out more about The Parchment Works ›

Botaniczna Apartment, Poland, by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

Polish studio Agnieszka Owsiany Studio married wood and marble throughout the interior of this apartment in Poznań.

In the kitchen, full-height oak cabinetry lines one wall, punctured by a marble-lined recess containing a stove. The cabinets are finished with long handles in matching oak.

Find out more about Botaniczna Apartment ›

Portage Bay Float Home, USA, by Studio DIAA

These storage units follow the gabled roofscape of The Portage Bay Float Home, which Studio DIAA co-founder Suzanne Stefan created for herself in Seattle.

The wooden cabinetry sits flush with a cooker hood above the stove, which is finished with juxtaposing stainless steel that has a brushed look.

Find out more about Portage Bay Float Home › 

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with net floors, mid-century modern furniture and perforated brick walls. 

The post Eight kitchens with floor-to-ceiling cabinets that cleverly conceal clutter appeared first on Dezeen.

Stockholm studio Halleroed has designed fashion brand Toteme's flagship store in London, which features a sculpture by artist Carl Milles and a steel sofa by designer Marc Newson.

Halleroed designed the store, located on Mount Street in the upmarket Mayfair area, together with Toteme founders Elin Kling and Karl Lindman. The duo wanted its third flagship to feature nods to the brand's heritage.

"We like the idea of keeping certain elements that we find in our Swedish heritage," Lindman told Dezeen at the store's launch event.

"It can be by using certain vintage pieces, or like in [the brand's Mercer Street store] in New York, we had a collaboration with Svenskt Tenn," he added. "It's about lifting this notion of Scandinavian design or Swedish design."

Halleroed drew on the space itself when designing the interior, focussing on how the light falls.

"We were inspired by the space itself with beautiful original windows letting the daylight in," Halleored co-founder Ruxandra Halleroed told Dezeen.

"The upper part of the windows was partly hidden, which was a shame, so we redesigned the ceiling with a half vault towards the front to show the full height of the windows."

The design also references the work of Italian architect Carlo Scarpa as well as the Swedish Grace movement.

"We were also inspired by the Swedish Grace period – around 1920-30s – that has an elegant and pure design, something we think works well for Toteme as a brand," Halleroed co-founder Christian Halleroed told Dezeen.

"Also the work of Carlo Scarpa we find interesting, more as a mindset on how to work with details and textures to create a subtle elegance and luxury."

Kling and Lindman wanted to keep the feel of "very posh" Mount Street where the store is located, while also underlining the space's minimalist feel.

To do so, a lot of effort was put into the colour palette and different textured materials used for the flagship store.

"We worked with an off-white palette in different tones and different textures," Ruxandra Halleroed said.

"The textures are as important as colour and materials. For walls, we have a glossy, off-white stucco, ceiling in same colour but matte. The floor is in a beige, honed limestone with a so-called Opus pattern."

In the middle of the Toteme shop, Halleroed created a stone-clad cube that holds shelves, vitrines and niches filled with artworks.

"The volume in the middle is clad with the same limestone, but in three different textures: honed, bush hammered and spiked texture, combined with oxidised dark brass," Christian Halleroed said.

The store also features a square black volume in the back made from high-gloss stucco and dark brass.

To contrast the minimalist interior, the store is decorated with multiple artworks, including a sculpture by Milles and Newson's intricately woven steel Random Pak Twin sofa, which Lindman found online.

"He's a slave to auction houses," Kling told Dezeen.

"So he found it and sent it to me and I loved it, and we also have a Marc Newsom piece in every store," she added. "So we thought, 'this one's for the Mount Street store'. At that time we only had the signed contract, nothing else."

The two founders and Halleroed decided on the gypsum Milles sculpture for the Toteme store together, with Halleroed designing a custom niche to place it in that is made from black high-gloss stucco to contrast the pale artwork.

Halleroed also added vintage Swedish Grace furniture to the store, including armchairs and a coffee table by furniture designer Otto Schulz, a daybed and a mirror in pewter made for the Stockholm Exhibition 1930.

The studio has designed a number of other store interiors, including a Paris boutique for French brand L/Uniform and an Acne Studios store in Chengdu that aimed to combine the futuristic and primitive.

The post Halleroed references Swedish Grace and Carlo Scarpa for Toteme flagship store appeared first on Dezeen.

A 200-year-old stable building in the mountains of Ibiza has been converted into a vacation home by local studio Ibiza Interiors.

The Atelier is one of four dwellings that make up Campo – a group of rentable guesthouses set in a finca, or farmstead, in the island's Morna Valley.

Ibiza Interiors founder Jurjen Van Hulzen has renovated these buildings one by one to enhance their original features and create a series of tranquil getaway spots.

"Nestled between carob and orange trees, the Atelier […] appears at the end of the path as a haven of peace," said the Dutch architect, who founded the studio in 2014.

The single-storey dry-stone structure is typical of the local vernacular but now features a large retractable glass wall across its front.

A polished concrete patio continues inside, where exposed timber ceiling beams and wooden doors complement the neutral colour palette.

"Textures and styles are not afraid to cohabit and the emphasis is on the interplay between old and contemporary, elegant and rustic," said Van Hulzen.

The main space contains a small kitchenette on one side and a dining table that doubles as a workspace on the other.

A seating area comprising low, comfy sofas is positioned towards the back.

The interior is designed to be as flexible as possible, with all of the furniture except the kitchen counters moveable to provide space for exercise or meditation.

Equally, the linen curtains can be drawn and the sofas reoriented for watching movies on a projected screen.

The bedroom is minimally furnished but guests can store their belongings within built-in closets while another glass door opens to the exterior.

In the bathroom, lit from above by a skylight, a large tub made of dark stone is accented with matte black hardware.

The landscaping around the Atelier was designed by Ibiza Exteriors, a new offshoot of Ibiza Interiors created by Van Hulzen and Alicia Uldall.

The pair chose local flora attuned to the island's climate that requires minimal maintenance such as stipa grasses, aloe, rosemary and mastic trees.

Deep steps lead up to the flat roof that serves as a picnic or sunbathing spot overlooking the valley. The dining table and chairs can also be brought outside for al fresco dining among the vegetation.

"Like the Atelier, the garden preserves the wild essence of this land and its genuine beauty," Van Hulzen said.

Better known for its party scene, Ibiza is becoming ever more popular as a wellness and relaxation destination – particularly away from its coast.

Many of the island's historic fincas have been converted into secluded accommodations including the remote Aguamadera resort and the members-only retreat La Granja.

The photography is by Ariadna Puigdomenech.

The post Ibiza Interiors turns dry-stone stables into flexible guesthouse Campo Atelier appeared first on Dezeen.

New York architecture studio BoND has used tubular lighting to create a bright yellow glow inside this men's apparel store on Manhattan's Lower East Side.

The first flagship for cult fashion label Le Père occupies a 1,000-square-foot (93-square-metre) corner unit on Orchard Street.

Utilising the store's large exposure to the street, BoND opted to create an interior that would be just as impactful from the exterior as it is once inside.

"BoND designed the store to feel like a canvas, highlighting the design elements of the clothes while ensuring the space is a place that creators feel encouraged to spend time in," the team said.

The firm's approach was to leave the majority of the space white, allowing the boldly patterned clothing to stand out, then highlighting the fitting rooms using bright yellow lighting and surfaces.

A structural column in the centre of the store encased in a translucent box is also fitted with lights to give off a sunny glow.

This yellow aura is immediately apparent from the street and is meant to entice passersby to step inside.

Neon lighting has seen a resurgence in retail and other commercial interiors of the past year, appearing everywhere from a Brooklyn cafe to a Calgary chicken shop.

At Le Père, other elements like the tops of vintage Artek furniture are coloured red and black, to borrow from the street signs across the neighbourhood.

Floor-to-ceiling curtains along the back wall create a soft and neutral backdrop for the apparel, which is displayed on industrial metal racks.

Wide-plank wood floors are laid across the main shop floor, which doubles as a space for gatherings, conversations, exhibitions and events.

Custom furniture pieces including a curved bench were designed by BoND and fabricated by Brooklyn design and art studio Lesser Miracle.

"The design scheme blurs the lines between a store, a home and an art studio – a space that is both aspirational and livable, combining contemporary and historic elements as a playful strategy," said the studio.

On the exterior, a generous portion of the facade is given over to a giant billboard that Le Père will use to present its seasonal visual campaigns and artwork by the brand's collaborators.

The debut placement for Fall/Winter 2023 was titled And Sometimes Boys and influenced by the work of Korean visual artist Nam June Paik.

BoND was founded by Noam Dvir and Daniel Rauchwerger, who previously designed the global headquarters and showroom for the Brazilian brand PatBo in New York.

The duo earlier overhauled an apartment in Chelsea for themselves, turning the dark, divided space into a light-filled home.

The photography is by Stefan Kohli, unless stated otherwise.

Project credits:

Design: Daniel Rauchwerger, Noam Dvir, Marius Oneta, Eric Chyou
Millwork: Lesser Miracle Studio
Metalwork: Murphy Myers
Construction: Archlink, Jim Chen

The post Yellow lighting illuminates Le Père store in New York by BoND appeared first on Dezeen.

In this lookbook, we collect 10 residential interiors where net floors provide an unusual place to sit, recline or jump about.

Nets can be a fun way to link two storeys in the home. Featured below are examples from a New York apartment, a skinny house in Rotterdam and a small family residence in rural Vietnam, among others.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with dividing lattice screens, split-level living areas and stylish children's bedrooms.

Haus L, Austria, by Dunkelschwarz

Timber-lined living spaces create a soothing atmosphere inside this house in the Austrian Alps, designed by local architecture studio Dunkelschwarz.

To encourage relaxation, a void above the dining area was covered with netting that can be used for lounging, while an adjacent walkway leads directly to a large balcony.

Find out more about Haus L ›

Primeriza House, Chile, by Stanaćev Granados

Chilean architecture studio Stanaćev Granados put two large cargo nets at the centre of this seaside house in Chorrillos overlooking the Pacific.

As well as providing an easily visible children's play space above the open-plan living area, the net allows for a subtle transition between the darker wood cladding of the ground floor and the white-painted timber of the upper level.

Find out more about Primeriza House ›

Urban Tree House, USA, by No Architecture

To make the vast living space of this apartment in New York's West Village feel less chasmic, No Architecture constructed two "treehouses" from a series of timber beams.

Black netting strung between the beams creates an elevated chill-out space, accessed by a spiral staircase whose balustrade is made of the same mesh material.

Find out more about Urban Tree House ›

HOUSE, Vietnam, by H&P Architects

In this house in Vietnam designed by H&P Architects, a net floor contributes to the humble aesthetic created by its compact, open-plan layout and rough-and-ready materials like exposed brick and corrugated metal.

The net allows air to move freely through the home, helps to instil a sense of spaciousness and creates additional usable floor space.

Find out more about HOUSE ›

Atrium Townhome, Canada, by Robitaille Curtis

Canadian studio Robitaille Curtis procured the expertise of famous circus company Cirque du Soleil to rig a trapeze-style net atop the high atrium inside this Montreal home.

The aim was to emphasise the drama of the space, with a tall bookcase accessed by a 5.5-metre ladder and vertical wooden slats also helping to direct the gaze upwards.

Find out more about Atrium Townhome ›

Casa Bosque Sereno, Mexico, by Fábrica de Espacios

At Casa Bosque Sereno, residents can use the net floor as a place to watch movies thanks to a projector mounted opposite a white-painted brick wall.

The net also contributes to the pared-back, open-plan design chosen for the house by architecture office Fábrica de Espacios.

Find out more about Casa Bosque Sereno ›

SkinnyScar, Netherlands, by Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman

Dutch architects Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman wanted to avoid "harsh boundaries" between living spaces in this skinny house in Rotterdam that they designed for themselves to live in.

To that end, they strung a modestly sized net next to a large window overlooking the garden, to act as a kind of static hammock next to the first-floor living room and above the dining room.

Find out more about SkinnyScar ›

MK5, Finland, by Ortraum Architects

This family house in a forest near Helsinki features a number of child-friendly elements including a climbing wall, gymnastic apparatus and, of course, a net floor.

Local studio Ortraum Architects placed the net in a cut-out next to the first-floor landing, allowing light to filter down into the basement stairwell.

Find out more about MK5 ›

King Bill, Australia, by Austin Maynard Architects

Austin Maynard Architects installed a netted platform with a view out of a large window and into the bathroom as part of its renovation of this formerly dilapidated stable in Melbourne.

The black mesh contrasts with the white corrugated metal of the window awning, the grey tiles of the bathroom and the orange carpet on the adjacent floor.

Find out more about King Bill ›

Saigon House, Vietnam, by a21studio

The large net in this Ho Chi Minh City house, designed by Vietnamese architecture office A21studio, is visible from almost everywhere in the four-storey building.

In addition to serving as a children's play area, it helps create an impression of the ground floor as an outdoor courtyard – particularly as a tree bursts through the textile.

Find out more about Saigon House ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with dividing lattice screens, split-level living areas and stylish children's bedrooms.

The post Ten homes with net floors for relaxation and play appeared first on Dezeen.

Distressed concrete, rowlock bricks and worn plasterwork create an intentionally unfinished appearance at this cafe in New York City's East Village neighbourhood, designed by Brooklyn studio Commoncraft.

For its expansion into Manhattan, New Jersey-based Kuppi Coffee Company secured a 350-square-foot space on bustling St Marks Place – its second location.

The compact interior has just enough space for a customer area and the cafe counter, plus a prep area and a WC for staff at the back.

Commoncraft approached the front-of-house space with an ethos akin to wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of "flawed beauty".

"Employing a range of rough and raw materials, Commoncraft's design of Kuppi Cafe seeks out the beauty in imperfection," said the studio, which was founded by Zach Cohen and Tony-Saba Shiber.

Textured concrete plaster curves up from two perpendicular walls and over the ceiling, enveloping the room together with the concrete floor.

Where these walls meet, a vertical element is wrapped in bluish plaster that's peeling away to reveal a whitewash beneath.

The Kuppi logo is applied faintly at the top, and stainless-steel shelves for displaying merchandise are cut into part of the pillar's corner.

Zones for customer interaction – including the service counter and a small bench – are defined by terracotta bricks, which are stacked on their sides in rowlock courses "to expose their core and mortar 'guts'."

"Each terracotta volume is terminated by a course of cut bricks, further revealing the rough, imperfect cores," Commoncraft said.

In such a compact space, the designers have ensured that their concept carries through each of the cafe's elements.

"The material honesty of the space is further reinforced by a number of small details," said Commoncraft.

These include floating stainless steel shelves behind the counter, a freestanding glass splash guard for baked goods and spherical concrete pendant lights suspended at different heights above the bench.

The cafe is highly visible from the high-traffic street through its fully glazed facade.

New York City is home to thousands of cafes and coffee shops, including many independent establishments with unique interiors intended to entice customers inside.

Among them is another Commoncraft project: a Williamsburg eatery named Gertie designed as a playful tribute to the owner's grandmother.

The photography is by Andrew Fu.

Project credits:

Client: Kuppi Coffee Company (Kevin and Vivian Kim)
Architecture and interior design: Commoncraft
Plumbing engineer: Alan R Schwartz
General contractor: LTI Construction Corp

The post Commoncraft draws on "beauty in imperfection" for New York cafe appeared first on Dezeen.

Pieces by designers Charles and Ray Eames and Isamu Noguchi are on show in this lookbook, which features homes with eye-catching mid-century modern furniture.

Mid-century furniture, which often has simple lines and a sculptural feel, adds a modernist touch to these homes, which range from period properties to newly built and renovated houses.

Among the interiors showcased in this lookbook are iconic architect Le Corbusier's own home and a residence in London's upmarket Mayfair area that has been filled with mid-century modern and art deco details.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring perforated brick-walls, budget home interiors and immersive saunas in peaceful settings.

Zero House, UK, by Ben Garrett and Rae Morris

Owners Ben Garrett and Rae Morris updated Zero House, which was informed by Californian Case Study Houses, themselves in a way that would honour its mid-century roots.

The living room features a striking floor-to-ceiling fireplace clad in tiles, as well as a number of furniture pieces in warm colours. Among them is a classic Eames office chair in a dark-brown leather colour that matches the wooden panelling that decorates the room.

Find out more about Zero House ›

Hudson Woods home, US, by Magdalena Keck

Located in upstate New York, this holiday home has an interior that fuses Danish and Japanese design. A dinner table and chairs by designer Finn Juhl are among the Danish pieces used in the house, where they look both functional and elegant.

A simple lamp with a gold-coloured shade above the table adds a decorative touch and matches the brass fastenings at the backs of the chairs.

Find out more about the Hudson Woods home ›

Radikal Klassisk, Spain, by Puntofilipino 

The interior of this Spanish apartment in a former bank building has a moody, interesting colour palette and features richly textured materials including terrazzo, clay-rendered walls and marble tiles.

In contrast, the furniture is streamlined and unfussy, including a sculptural lounge chair by Danish designer Hans J Wegner in the living room.

Find out more about the Radikal Klassisk ›

City Beach House, Australia, by Design Theory

American artist and designer Noguchi's iconic coffee table, made from a heavy glass tabletop that rests on two undulating wooden legs, has pride of place in the living room of City Beach House.

The interior, created by Australian studio Design Theory, responds to the design and natural material palette of the house itself, which is from the 1960s.

Find out more about City Beach House ›

Hallen, Sweden, by Åsa Hjort Architects

This newly built home in the southern Swedish region of Österlen has a blocky geometric design and large windows that provide views out across the Baltic Sea.

An Eames lounge chair adds a comfortable resting space in one of the rooms, where its dark hues contrast against sheer white curtains and pale wood flooring.

Find out more about Hallen ›

Moore House, US, by Woods + Dangaran

A pair of vintage globe-shaped pendants by Dutch designer Frank Ligtelijn light up the bathroom in this 1960s California home designed by architect Craig Ellwood.

The bathroom also features a dark Emperador marble countertop and a wall clad in Japanese porcelain tiles.

Find out more about Moore House ›

Mayfair residence, UK, by Child Studio

The "Pernilla" lounge chair by Swedish designer Bruno Mathsson is among the many mid-century modern furniture pieces on show in this London apartment.

Local practice Child Studio told Dezeen that the spacious lounge that houses the chair was informed by the grand salon in fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent's Paris home.

Find out more about the Mayfair residence ›

Studio apartment, France, by Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier's apartment in his Immeuble Molitor apartment building in Paris, where he lived for more than three decades, reopened to the public in 2018.

Visitors to the modernist flat can admire mid-century modern furniture pieces including a black leather edition of the designer's signature LC2 lounge chair, which sits next to a cowhide rug at the entrance of the apartment.

Find out more about Le Corbusier's apartment ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen's archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring perforated brick-walls, budget home interiors and immersive saunas in peaceful settings.

The post Eight homes where mid-century modern furniture adds a stylish touch appeared first on Dezeen.

This week on Dezeen, we looked forward to the buildings set to be completed in 2024 and the architecture, design and interiors trends that will impact the upcoming year.

We rounded up 12 key buildings that will be completing over the next year – these include projects by Kéré Architecture, Sou Fujimoto, Zaha Hadid Architects and Foster + Partners.

We also looked at the architecture, design and interiors trends of 2024. Interior design will have a focus on individualism and see a backlash to the rise in AI design, while we will see less experimentation and more "safe spaces" this year in architecture.

Dezeen's editorial director Max Fraser predicted that in design, we will see the rise of material intelligence and a rush for sustainable accreditation.

In architecture news, car brand Mercedes-Benz and developer Binghatti have revealed plans for a supertall skyscraper in central Dubai.

The car company's first branded residential tower will reportedly be 341 meters high and located close to the Burj Khalifa.

"Our aim with our first branded real estate residential tower is to create new, desirable grounds that inherit our brand's DNA and give our customers a place to arrive, unwind and come home to," said Britta Seeger, a member of the management board for Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

In Saudi Arabia, the latest region of the Neom mega-development was revealed.

Named Norlana, the development designed by architecture studio 10 Design will be a town wrapped around a marina on the Gulf of Aqaba.

Following Carlo Ratti's appointment as the curator of the next Venice Architecture Biennale, critic Catherine Slessor wrote an opinion piece that raises questions about how the event will be impacted by Italy's far-right government.

"Viewed as a supposedly safe pair of Italian hands, Ratti's appointment marks a screeching U-turn from [previous curator] Lesley Lokko, whose tenure was structured around narratives of decarbonisation and decolonisation," she wrote.

In the UK, online design magazine Design Week announced that it had ceased publication and that its website will be taken offline later this month.

"Design Week is ceasing publication with immediate effect," said a statement.

"Design Week's parent company, Centaur, has made the decision to close the publication as its strategy shifts towards its 'core audience of marketers, and focuses on training, information, and intelligence'."

Popular projects this week included a monolithic summerhouse on the Danish coast, a pitched-roof house in Massachusetts and a store arranged around a conversation pit.

This week on Dezeen

This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week's top news stories. Subscribe to our newsletters to be sure you don't miss anything.

The post This week we looked forward to the architecture and design trends of 2024 appeared first on Dezeen.

Italian studio AIM has designed a compact, multi-level apartment interior in Milan organised around a floor-to-ceiling Verde Alpi marble partition.

Created in collaboration with local marble artisans Bianco67, AIM Studio used the wall to divide the various functions of Green Nest, aiming to create an elegant backdrop for a dynamic domestic experience.

"The design challenge [for] Green Nest was to combine the compact size of the dwelling with the desire to create inviting, functional and representative spaces pleasant to live in at all times of the day," AIM Studio told Dezeen.

"We were looking for a single gesture to characterise the apartment [and were] inspired by the idea of a majestic wall [running] through the heart of the house," the studio continued. "This massive element, both because of its solid presence and its intrinsic beauty, is the focal point on which the entire design revolves."

The marble partition was constructed as a permeable threshold between the apartment's lower level living spaces and a staircase leading to the habitable roof terrace above.

Designed as a single, fluid area, the main living room and bedroom can be separated by full-height ribbed glass doors. 

AIM Studio sought to meet the practical requirements of small-footprint living by using the Alpi marble to conceal a series of deep storage compartments.

"More than a monolith, the volume is an inhabited wall whose thickness is continuously perforated, crossed and interrupted to host the different functions of living," AIM Studio said.

"[It] was designed as a precious shell but [leaves] nothing to chance in terms of containment and management of the space. Every compartment, every opening, has been designed [for utility]."

Behind the marble partition, the staircase to the rooftop terrace was completed with a central lightwell to draw natural light into the space below.

The studio also integrated large windows into the main living area to encourage an interplay of light on the reflective marble surface and to evoke a chiaroscuro-like effect.

Tucked into a corner of the living room, the kitchen was demarcated by suspended travertine joinery and an embossed mirror feature wall.

Neutral-toned fixtures and restrained furniture pieces were selected to balance the apartment's modern aesthetic and emphasise the drama of the green marble.

"We conceived this project as a search for authenticity; a minimal but at the same time welcoming and functional design created through natural, precious [and] timeless materials."

"We hope that this search for authenticity will be perceived by those who will inhabit these spaces and that it will translate into family atmospheres and elegant, but convivial, environments."

Founded in 2012 by Claudio Tognacca in Milan, AIM Studio has projects spanning across architecture, interior design and product development both in Italy and internationally.

Other recently completed projects in Italy include Antonino Cardillo's design for "a miniature palazzo" residence near Lake Garda and Humbert & Poyet's interior conversion of a 16th-century Milanese chapel into a Beefbar restaurant.

The photography is by Simone Bossi

The post Monolithic green marble forms "majestic wall" in Milan apartment appeared first on Dezeen.

Interior design in 2024 will have a focus on individualism and see a backlash to the rise in AI design while colours will be informed by global warming, interior designers across the globe told Dezeen.

While the trend for locally sourced materials and sustainable biomaterials looks set to become more pronounced, designers also believe that interiors will move away from the earthy hues and soft shapes seen during the pandemic years.

However, the maximalist trend predicted by many to take off in 2023 appears to have given way to a more individualist take on interiors, with a focus on simplicity recalling the designs of US fashion pioneer Halston.

"I'm seeing a growing interest in post-industrial aesthetic and quiet refinement," said Becky Carter, founder of the eponymous US studio.

"Maximalism now seems out of touch," she added. "Even the womb-like softness of the 1970s inspiration we've seen so much of is starting to feel heavy and overdone."

"There's a refreshing air to Halston-esque modernity: simple, unfussy materials, elegantly arranged, detailed, but without excess."

"We foresee a shift in direction"

Yohei Terui and Hiromu Yuyama from Japanese studio I IN also believe we will see a move away from earthy hues in interiors.

"Over the past couple of years, the theme has revolved around earthy colour and simplicity through the use of natural materials," the duo told Dezeen.

"However, we foresee a shift in direction, trending towards a more 'decorative' approach, in contrast to the previous style," they added.

"We believe that this shift is driven by the prevailing desire of self-expression and individuality in today's culture."

New Delhi-based interior designer Iram Sultan echoed the preference for more individual designs, saying we will see: "Emotional design, personalized spaces, a fresh approach towards materials, finishes and textures, and interiors that are easy, warm, comfortable and sustainable."

Interiors to focus on "real places" rather than AI-generated designs

The rise in artificial intelligence (AI) in 2022 and 2023 was also on people's minds, with several designers mentioning a backlash against digital designs.

"Memorable and customised spaces that are not Pinterest- and AI-generated will be preferable, as the race against interior design and AI technology grows," said UK-based designer Tola Ojuolape.

In 2024, interior design will be more about creating tangible spaces, according to London-based Oskar Kohnen Studio.

"We want to see less digital dream houses of pandemic years, and go back to real places," studio founder Oskar Kohnen said. "Forward-thinking conceptual interiors that create long-term value rather than effects."

Julien Sebban of French studio Uchronia agreed, saying: "The biggest trend will be very textured materials, cosy and comforting such as shearling or thick wool. As people need an antidote to digital they need to feel the physical world."

2024 may see "resurgence of the arts and crafts style"

When it comes to material trends for 2024, designers are choosing to work with natural and local materials.

"For me, natural materials with a strong connection to their placement have a profound bond with today's design," said Pedro Ramírez de Aguilar, co-founder of Mexican studio RA!

"I believe materials such as wood and natural plasters play a crucial role in creating a sense of grounding."

Danish studio Spacon & X partner Malene Hvidt argued that the materials used also affect the colours chosen for interiors, saying: "We also try to use colours that emphasise the natural appearance of the material itself, such as treating wood with tinted linseed to preserve the pattern of the grain."

This sentiment was echoed by Tim Greer, director at Australian studio TZG. "I'm hoping that we will see more natural materials with fewer complex and unsustainable finishes," he said.

"I think the drive towards sustainability will see the use of more natural materials and a resurgence of the arts and crafts style," Sultan added.

"There is a genuine return to solid bold colours"

The colours of our interiors next year will range from pale fresh hues, such as pistachio, to stronger shades.

"Palette-wise, I feel there is a genuine return to solid bold colours – be it a punch of emerald green, mustard yellow or Yves Klein-blue to provoke the visual energy. The expression of materiality and tactility is also a key focus for my studio this coming year," said Hong Kong designer André Fu.

"Customers are thriving for experiences to express their own personality and values – this has led to a greater awareness for the role design plays in the realms of hospitality."

"I'm loving seeing light, lemon-lime yellow being utilized. I also think pistachio has yet to peak," said Carter, while Ojuolape believes in "rich, pigmented and plaster colours".

"The colour and material trends will be very warm colours and more specifically orange as we need joy and to warm things up," said Sebban. "With global warming more important than ever, that will be the colour we get used to."

"Embrace a bold departure from the ordinary as the world adopts warm, earthy tones inspired by landscapes and eclectic hues drawn from various cultural expressions, all crafted with sustainably sourced materials," added Nigeria-based designer Titi Ogufere.

Biophilia will continue to "be a staple"

The designers Dezeen spoke to all said they were taking the subject of sustainability seriously. There is a need to create "lasting design," said US-based designer Giancarlo Valle.

"Sustainability cannot be separated from the world of building," he argued. "The most sustainable thing one can do as a designer is to create something that someone will not want to take down after a short period of time."

Spacon & X's Hvidt added that customers are also increasingly demanding when it comes to sustainability.

"Sustainability is fast becoming a key consideration when it comes to interior design," she said.

"Studios such as ours are always looking for new ways to become increasingly responsible – this is also what clients are expecting as we collectively become more aware of our impact on the planet, especially for future generations."

This focus is seen in the use of plants and trees indoors as well as outdoors to create biophilic designs – interiors that are more connected to the natural environment.

"Biophilia will continue to be a staple in the design aesthetic as well as beautiful, natural and healthy surface finishes," said Ojuolape.

"The biophilic movement will remain strong," agreed Sultan.

"In the future, 'high-end' may mean local artisan work" 

Ogufere added that sustainable design will draw on local communities.

"Sustainability takes a global stage, with collaborative projects empowering local communities and embracing circular design principles, reflecting a collective commitment to environmentally conscious practices worldwide," she said.

"Personally, I believe that sustainability is about building with a local hand, using local materials to create a profound sense of community and reduce carbon emissions," agreed RA!'s Ramírez de Aguilar.

"Architects are becoming more aware of their immediate context and are losing the fear of only using 'high-end materials.' In the near future, 'high-end' may mean local artisan work."

Finally, designers were also planning to include technology in their interiors next year.

"Technology will be used to enhance the quality of living," said Sultan.

Terui and Yayama from I IN, who see textiles as a strong trend next year, said: "Collaboration between the interior design and fashion industries can contribute to the development of new technology which in turn allows innovative spaces to be created."

Fu believes this can also help make projects more sustainable, saying: "I think considerations for sustainability is an integral aspect of my design approach, it's all an organic and subconscious act – from the selection of materials to the integration of technology into the design without undermining the overall experience in mind."

Dezeen In Depth
If you enjoy reading Dezeen's interviews, opinions and features, subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.

The post Maximalism to make way for "quiet refinement" in 2024 say interior designers appeared first on Dezeen.

A bench made from ancient rock salt, a carved stone bar and custom-made aluminium furniture were used by Studio Gameiro for the interior of Portuguese restaurant Austa.

Located in the town of Almancil, Portugal, the studio drew on the craftsmanship of the surrounding Algarve region when designing the interior of the Austa restaurant and coffee shop, which also has a shoppable pantry.

"The inspiration behind the design of Austa was a fascinating journey rooted in the rich heritage and craftsmanship of a much underrated – and still unknown – area in the Algarve region of Portugal," studio founder João Gameiro told Dezeen.

"It has an extraordinary tradition in expertly crafted objects, from ceramics to weaving, iron and copper works, and even salt extraction, which ended up playing an absolute central role in the project."

Studio Gameiro used tactile materials for the restaurant, cladding its walls in soft lime stucco in earthy beige and tan hues.

Much of the furniture was custom-built, including a four-metre-long bench and a collection of bespoke plinths made out of locally mined rock salt.

"We learnt that right underneath our feet, in Loulé, there was a rock salt mine, 230 metres deep into the Earth, with 230-million-years-old salt," Gameiro said.

"We had to do something with this incredible material and convinced the Loulé mine to collaborate with us to transform some of their leftover pieces into building blocks, and then 'puzzling' them out to form a completely original object," he continued.

"These blocks were carved in the same dimensions of the terracotta tiles used in several complementary projects, and arranged in a specific manner, extending the formal reference of the geometry patterns found in the local terracotta kilns."

The resulting bench was constructed from 230 geometric blocks made from the rock salt, which Gameiro said are "almost as strong as stone".

"In essence, the Austa project not only carries a story of design and craftsmanship but also embraces the strength and endurance of materials deeply rooted in the Algarve's geological history," Gameiro said. "Digging down to showcase something unique out in the open."

Austa's founders Emma and David Campus and Studio Gameiro also worked with local artisans to create custom-made furniture for the store. This includes wooden stools informed by Portuguese cafe chairs, as well as locally made aluminium chairs.

Stone was used for the main bar in the restaurant in another reference to the history of the Algarve.

"The central bar showcases intricately carved moleanos stone blocks, a nod to the region's mining heritage, complementing the light hues of the space," Gameiro said.

"Bespoke designed fixed equipment, including bathroom sinks, echoes the dimensions of terracotta tiles, paying tribute to the sea's colours and textures."

Copper and other metals were chosen for decorative and practical accessories.

"Our research on local craftsmanship led us to incorporate copper, gold and silver, echoing techniques dating back to the Roman and Arab periods," Gameiro said.

"Inspired by the art of making copper saucepans (still amply used nowadays), a nine-piece series of copper light pendants was designed to create a moody light feature, celebrating heritage, memory, and expertise, and the serendipity of all involved."

Austa and Studio Gameiro will also release a limited collection of the furniture designed for the restaurant that will be available for purchase, making it a shoppable interior.

Other notable interior projects in Portugal include an Algarve boutique hotel with vintage furnishings and a home with an interior that was informed by theatre spaces.

The post Studio Gameiro draws on Algarve's craftsmanship for Austa restaurant interior appeared first on Dezeen.

Local architecture studio Moroni Ciovini and designer Ana Montero have preserved the exposed layers of concrete wall for this bookstore and café in Buenos Aires.

At just 247 square feet (23 square metres), Medio Pan cafe is just large enough to fit seating, a bar and bookshelves, which are located at the back and front of the store.

For the shop's interior, Moroni Ciovini (M++C) and Montero created a furniture unit of multilaminate guatambú wood that makes up the shop's seating, bar and posterior bookshelf.

A narrow bench runs along the length of the shop, facing the bar, so that visitors can get a closer look at the barista's work, according to the team.

Storage was integrated below the bench, while small wooden armrests were placed periodically and double as side tables.

The seating runs directly into the bookshelf, which expands over the entrance to storage space at the back of the store. A chainlink fence extends from the top of the bookshelf to meet the ceiling.

On the opposite side of the bookshelf, a wider bench takes up the corner, providing a nook for visitors to more "calmly" enjoy a book.

The cafe bar takes up the remaining space, with its front abutting the shop's facade to double as a window counter.

The team created folding glass doors for the storefront, which can be arranged in a variety of positions. Small shelves were affixed to the doors, which display a changing parade of books held down by neon green elastic and small wooden pins.

According to the team, the folding doors were created to evoke newsstands found throughout Buenos Aires.

The space was completed with soft green highlights, found in backsplash tile, cushioning and pillows that line the wooden seating, a curtain at the back of the store and Formica countertops.

The layers and patterns of the textured concrete walls were kept largely preserved and covered with a transparent coating to display the space's previous uses, while the team also decided to keep the original granite tile as a nod to the building's history.

Moroni Ciovini is a Buenos Aires and Valencia-based architecture studio founded by Christian Moroni and Belén Ciovini.

Elsewhere in Buenos Aires, designer Florencia Rissotti recently renovated a warehouse to host a fabric store and architects Julio Oropel and Jose Luis Zacarias Otiñano created a bio-art installation focused on fungi.

The photography is by Fernando Schapochnik

Project credits:

Architecture: Moroni++Ciovini, Ana Montero
Construction: Estudio KO

The post Moroni Ciovini and Ana Montero expose textured concrete walls in Buenos Aires shop appeared first on Dezeen.

The latest edition of our Dezeen Debate newsletter features hospitality venues inside Detroit's restored Book Tower by Method Co. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

As part of an extensive restoration of the 1920s neoclassical building by its developer and architecture studio ODA, design company Method Co was brought on to conceptualise and operate several restaurants, bars and a hotel within the Book Tower.

Commenters were full of praise for the project, with one saying "those interiors are lavish – the rich details" and another noting its "incredible fresh 21st-century feel".

Other stories in this week's newsletter that fired up the comments section included an apartment block in Melbourne designed by Austin Maynard Architects, a food container system that reveals if something is safe to eat and the news that Saudi Arabian mega project Neom has revealed the Gulf of Aqaba yachting town by 10 Design.

Dezeen Debate 

Dezeen Debate is sent every Thursday and features a selection of the best reader comments and most talked-about stories. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here. 

You can also subscribe to our other newsletters; Dezeen Agenda is sent every Tuesday containing a selection of the most important news highlights from the week, Dezeen Daily is our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours and Dezeen In Depth is sent on the last Friday of every month and delves deeper into the major stories shaping architecture and design. 

The post Dezeen Debate features restaurant with "rich details" in Detroit Book Tower appeared first on Dezeen.

Texas studio Method Architecture has completed an office for itself in Houston with maximalist design, vibrant colours and a mural at its centre.

The 8,612-square foot (800-square metre) studio was completed in 2023 with a reception area, open office plan, private and collaborative meeting spaces and staff lounges.

Located in the mixed-use East River development, designed by architecture studio Page, the office was designed to serve as an inspiration source for the studio's clients.

"Our approach was to pursue maximalism with the goal of creating an environment where our clients would feel safe expressing their bold and innovative ideas with us," Ashley Bettcher, Research and Design Specialist with Method Architecture told Dezeen.

"Creativity has no limits and great design doesn't necessarily need to cost more. Method's new Houston office perfectly encapsulates that mantra."

The "ego-free" focus of the design is a nearly 50-foot multi-wall mural by local artist David Maldonado, known for creating nearly 20 pieces of public artwork throughout Houston.

With pops of magenta, cobalt, and yellow, the mural features icons from the city and state like the skyline, a rocket for Johnson Space Center, a bluebonnet as the Texas state flower, and the neighbouring Buffalo Bayou.

The artwork also slips in custom motifs representing the studio, such as Method's rubber duck mascot.

"This feature piece of artwork helps set the tone for the remainder of the office including bold colors, geometric patterns and shapes and a secondary mural designed and installed by Maldanado featuring drip paint in mirroring colorways located at the back of the office," the team said.

The mural is complemented by a 3D-printed wall installation behind the reception desk composed of the studio's signature "M" logo and the raw ceiling with exposed mechanical lines all painted a vibrant shade of fuchsia.

Light grey flower-like acoustic baffles hang from the ceiling adding to the maximalist design. Light blue bicycles are mounted on one wall as another unique installation.

From the reception area lounge, clients pass through a half-arched portal – created with custom millwork and embedded lights – into the main office space which includes rows of desks over custom greyscale carpet.

Hotel desk stations accommodate hybrid work styles for both in-office and at-home work.

"Cozy architectural work booths are nestled amid the bustling breakroom and office areas, offering a quiet refuge for more private work, private conversations or meals with coworkers," the team said.

The workspace is flanked by six meeting rooms: a large creative conference space, three medium-sized conference rooms and two smaller huddle spaces.

The all-white conference room was left intentionally blank to showcase the client's material selections with tunable white lights to adjust the light temperature for each project.

An M-shaped window cutout opens the conference room to the rest of the office.

In the break room, bright blue suede fabric adorns the walls to provide an unexpected texture and pale blue lamp shades – reminiscent of the shape of inverted cupcake liners – serve as a geometric juxtaposition to the rounded banquette boxes.

"Plush, psychedelic-inspired fabrics in meeting booths and distinctive light fixtures keep the space feeling light and fun to inspire creative design," the studio said.

In addition to being designed for flexible workflows and teams, the space features multiple sustainable and WELL features like ample daylighting, repurposed materials and ergonomic furniture.

Other recently completed projects in Houston include Nelson Byrd Woltz's grassed park that bridges a six-lane highway and Modu's design for a wellness building with a self-cooling exterior.

The photography is by Ana Larranaga, Method Architecture.

Project credits:

Architecture: Method Architecture
MEP: Telios Engineering
General contractor: Burton Construction
Furniture: AGILE Interiors, MDI, OP,
Flooring: Interface, Shaw Contract
Tile: Trinity Surfaces, La Nova
Textiles: Knoll Textiles
Masonry: Upchurch Kimbrough
Demountable partitions: DIRTT
Countertops: CAMBRIA
Mural: David Maldonado
Lighting: Lighting Associates Inc.
Signage: ARIA Signs

The post Method Architecture outfits its Houston office with vibrant mural appeared first on Dezeen.

You can still be featured in Dezeen Events Guide's digital guide to Stockholm Design Week 2024, which runs from 5 to 11 February.

Dezeen's guide will spotlight the key events taking place during the festival, which has a programme of exhibitions, installations, talks, fairs and open showrooms.

Among the events is the Stockholm Furniture Fair, which presents established and emerging designers, as well as more than 150 brands, from 6 to 10 February 2024.

The festival, which enters in 22nd year, predominantly takes place in central Stockholm, with some fringe events taking place further afield.

Get listed in Dezeen's digital Stockholm guide

Dezeen offers standard and enhanced listings in its Stockholm guide.

Standard listings cost £100 and include the event name, date and location details plus a website link. These listings will also feature up to 50 words of text about the event.

Enhanced listings cost £175 and include all of the above plus an image at the top of the listing's page and an image in the listing preview on the Dezeen Events Guide homepage. These listings will also feature up to 100 words of text about the event.

For more information about partnering with us to help amplify your event, contact the team at eventsguide@dezeen.com.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.

The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.

For more details on inclusion in the Dezeen Events Guide, including in our guide to Stockholm Design Week, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.

The illustration is by Rima Sabina Aouf.

The post There's still time to be listed in Dezeen's digital guide for Stockholm Design Week 2024 appeared first on Dezeen.

Interior design office PL Studio has transformed an east London townhouse using colours and graphics that take cues from the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh.

The three-storey, new-build house features similar shades of blue, green and yellow to the Morrocan villa that was once home to artist Jacques Majorelle.

Further green tones allude to the villa's verdant garden, while soft pink hues bring a sense of overall "warmth and joy" to the palette.

PL Studio designed the scheme for creative couple Tom Lalande and Julian-Pascal Saadi, who live in the house with their chihuahua puppy, Sasha-Lee.

The studio founders, couple Sabrina Panizza and Aude Lerin, felt the design should reflect their clients' love of colour.

"Although we admired the architecture and loved how the townhouse was beautifully filled with natural light, we felt that overall, the property was lacking character and positivity," said the pair.

"We wanted to create a home that reflected our clients' personalities and joyful spirit, a home filled with positive energy."

Lalande and Saadi had recently returned from a trip to Marrakesh, which led this to becoming the starting point for the design.

The reference is most evident in a reception room at the house's entrance, which features cobalt blue walls, a colour-block rug, plants and a Tom Dixon Etch pendant light in gold-toned brass.

The effect is heightened by paint graphics that include arched openings – both real and illusionary – and stepped blocks that create the suggestion of extra staircases.

As Saadi works as a psychologist, this room primarily serves as a waiting room for his clients.

The couple's main living space occupies the uppermost floor, where an L-shaped room gives the pair a combined kitchen, dining area and lounge.

Geometric wall graphics tie these three spaces together but also highlight the divides between them. The most striking of these is a triptych of picture-frame-style blocks that frame the dining table.

"Our clients didn't have a clear idea of what they wanted, but they had a strong desire to be surrounded by pieces of art, colours and objects that would give them good energy, which is so powerful," said Panizza and Lerin.

"They were not afraid of mixing different shades and colour combinations, so we went for bright, bold, and fearless!"

The main bedroom, located on the middle floor, uses subtly different shades of green to create colour depth. This is offset with monochrome stripes and pops of pink and blue.

Also on this floor is a guest bedroom that doubles as a dressing room, featuring a striped ceiling that looks like a market stall awning and a pink bathroom framed by black linear details.

Arches feature throughout these spaces, in the form of mirrors and wardrobes as well as wall graphics.

Saadi's ground-floor office takes the place of a third bedroom. This room has a different character from the rest of the house, with details inspired by surrealist art.

Key features include a sculptural table in the shape of a hand and ceiling wallpaper depicting a cloudy sky.

Panizza hopes the "kaleidoscopic" project can serve to inspire people who see London's new-build homes as characterless compared with the city's older properties.

"We want to show it is absolutely possible to create a home with lots of personality and character. It just takes a bit of courage," she told Dezeen.

The photography is by Taran Wilkhu unless otherwise indicated. Top image is by Aude Lerin

The post PL Studio applies Moroccan-inspired palette to London townhouse appeared first on Dezeen.

Texas studio Michael Hsu Office of Architecture adapted a 110-year-old bungalow into an office for technology and bio-science investment firm 8VC in Austin.

Completed in 2023, 8VC's new Austin headquarters are located on a half-acre lot along South Congress Avenue, a busy entertainment district of the Texas capital.

Originally constructed in 1912, the home was once a brothel and had many renovations, becoming the first building south of the city's Colorado River to have power.

"This project preserves one of the few remaining stately houses on South Congress," Michael Hsu, founder of his eponymous studio, told Dezeen. "The design takes cues from its past by providing a fresh take on vintage inspirations and opens up the space to accommodate modern uses."

Using the client's desire for "an office that felt like a home," the team revamped the two-storey house into a 4,845-square foot (450-square metre) workspace with multiple production, meeting, and gathering spaces — including a 557-square feet (52-square metre) clubhouse tucked at the back of the property.

The preserved exterior of the building draws on the home's original stately design but was updated and sealed in a dark matte finished stucco with low-profile dark window frames.

Relocating the entry around the side of the property with a grand wrap-around plaza, the home's original screened porch was traded for a glazed exterior corner that connects the exterior and interior spaces.

The ground floor consists of multiple indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. The interior is organized around a central enfilade and two hearth spaces inspired by the original brick chimneys.

The rich, warm-toned interior has a "sophisticated study-like atmosphere is achieved through the careful selection of materials and color-mapped palettes, including walnut wood floors, lime wash paint, striking wall coverings, plaster arches and marble finishes," the team said.

Plaster arched openings pass from the white central lounge to jewel-toned gathering spaces – one of which features a ribbed black fireplace that appears to melt into the floor in front of a marble coffee table.

"The furnishings, a mix of vintage and modern pieces with luxe fabrics and textures, create a sense of intimacy."

Designed to be "luxurious but not ostentatious", the office features textured and sculptural accents like a leather-wrapped reception desk by David Ambrose and a grand chandelier by Karen Hawkins that hangs in the centre of the staircase.

Above, the plan was reorganised with a large open desk layout in the southern corner along the glazed wall and private offices lining the northwestern and northeastern walls.

"The interior was inspired to feel fresh but like it was original to the house," the team said with "multiple moments of surprise and intrigue depending on where you are in the space".

Between the main office and the separated clubhouse is a large outdoor gathering area shaded by the heritage tree canopy that the team preserved during construction.

"It was important to us that the building and its design reflect the values of our company and our mission," 8VC founder Jake Medwell told Dezeen. "It took years to find and build out the right place and we are very happy with the outcome."

Recently, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture adapted a 1930s church in Austin into a studio for argodesign.

The photography is by Chase Daniel.

Project credits:

Landscape: MHOA
General contractor: The Burt Group
MEP: AYS
Structural: Structures
Owner's rep: Darrell Arevalo, Urban Terra
Waterproofing: Acton
Civil: WGI
Signage: BIG

The post Michael Hsu converts 1900s Austin house into luxury office appeared first on Dezeen.

LA studio PlayLab Inc has created a flagship store that contains a sky blue conversation pit at its centre for local clothing brand Madhappy.

PlayLab Inc split the West Hollywood store into two distinct zones – one for retail space and the other for "intimate gathering spaces", including a cafe and a courtyard.

"Our collective goal with the design was to put space for conversation at the heart of the retail experience, creating a place that is equal parts for community dialogue and product," PlayLab Inc co-founder Jeff Franklin told Dezeen.

"To do this we split the space down the middle, making one half a clear utility for shopping and the other a collection of intimate gathering spaces."

Visitors enter the 2,800-square-foot (260-square-metre) store through a glass facade, which leads into a large open space with powder blue concrete flooring running throughout.

At the entrance, a blue bench emerges from a small exterior porch, while a boulder sits opposite.

Towards one side, the store contains a 70's style conversation pit underneath a large skylight. Plush, sky-blue couches line the seating area, with satin aluminium side tables by Berlin-based studio New Tendency placed alongside them.

Along an adjacent limewashed wall, the studio installed built-in shelving flanked by large custom wooden speakers by New York music studio designer Danny Keith Taylor of House Under Magic.

The social area leads into a small open-air courtyard populated by a single Tree Aloe installed by Cactus Store and green-stained plywood stools by LA studio Waka Waka.

The same green plywood was used to line the takeout window of the store's Pantry cafe, which sits in an enclosed corner and serves local and global cuisines from brands including Japanese-based café Hotel Drugs and LA bakery Courage Bagels.

A custom lightbox and a large standing menu were installed next to the takeout window to display the cafe's signage and goods.

In the remaining interior, PlayLab Inc created a large metallic "retail bar" that spans the shop's length for "open views of the product", according to Franklin. The studio also dispersed custom Lego-like benches around the space, which were covered in a candy apple red gloss.

Faux-stone stools and a bench were installed throughout the space.

The store also contains a multimedia room, called the Local Optimist Space, a creative venue that will host audio and visual artwork.

"The design was inspired by the concept of conversation between things – a balance of scales, materials and textures," said Franklin.

This is the first flagship store for the clothing brand Madhappy, which previously operated from a host of pop-up concepts and stores.

"From the beginning, physical retail has been essential to Madhappy and its success. We've always viewed our shops as spaces that go beyond something purely transactional – we want them to allow our community to engage with Madhappy beyond what's possible digitally," Madhappy co-founder Mason Spector said in a statement.

Other recent projects by PlayLab Inc also include a plexiglass skatepark for Vans and a lifesize toy racetrack set for a Louis Vuitton menswear show.

The photography is by Sean Davidson.

The post PlayLab Inc centres "space for conversation" in Los Angeles retail store appeared first on Dezeen.

Canadian studio Ménard Dworkind has created an intimate French restaurant in the Villeray neighborhood of Montreal complete with warm interiors and a custom white oak wine cellar.

Known as Casavant, the 850-square foot (80-square metre) brasserie-style restaurant was completed in September 2023 on the ground floor of a 1920's residential building, replacing a sandwich shop.

Ménard Dworkind (MRDK) designed the small restaurant – which seats 45 patrons – to bring diners together in a space that combines art deco influences with Montreal's vibrant culinary scene. It was designed to "blend timeless elegance with a contemporary twist".

Located on the corner of the block, the guests enter the rectangular interior through a white brick facade. Natural light comes in from multiple directions through large, black-framed storefront windows.

The floor is speckled with 3D-patterned matte tiles by Daltile arranged in a custom mosaic, while beige tile climbs up the walls.

Burnt orange corduroy banquette seating wraps around the two outside walls with two linear high-top tables floating freely in the space. The vintage French bistro chairs were acquired from another restaurateur.

The party wall serves as the focal point with the bar and custom white oak wine cellar and displays a selection of natural wines in raw wood cabinetry with rounded corner glass-front doors.

"The wine cellar has been the focal point as soon as we started discussions with the clients," said partner Guillaume Ménard. "It was important to be able to see it from everywhere you sit or stand.

"Since it's wall mounted, it attracts the eye pretty quickly with action going on behind the bar as well as the light coming out of it," he said.

The compact kitchen – with an open pass-through window into the dining space that shows off the lively action of cooking – and the dark blue restroom corridor are tucked at the back of the restaurant.

"The ceiling boasts a unique, funky patterned alcove made from colorful acoustic panels, contributing to the restaurant's eclectic and inviting character while helping with the acoustical comfort," the team told Dezeen, referencing the tray-like inset with a blush, maroon and peach abstract graphic.

"We really like the addition of the patterned acoustical panels on the ceiling," Ménard noted.

"It adds depth, comfort and colors to the space. It also acts as a lantern since it is lightened up by a dissimulated LED strip."

In addition to the locally crafted and sourced materials, artistic details occur throughout the space like a painting from local artist Nicolas Grenier and a vintage Medusa pendant light by Carlo Nason, which displays the restaurant's charm through the glazing to passers-by.

Two of Ménard Dworkind's previous restaurant interiors in Montreal include the Italian 1960's-inspired design for Tiramisu with a chrome service counter and large leafy plants and the retro-themed design for Caffettiera Caffé Bar with a checkerboard floor and teal accents.

The photography is by David Dworkind.

Project credits:

Team: Guillaume Menard, Fabrice Doutriaux
Contractor: Avodah Construction
Ceramic floor and wall tile: Daltile
Lighting: humanhome
Stools: Uline
Upholstery: Bisson Bruneel
Acoustic panels: Akustus

The post Ménard Dworkind outfits Montreal restaurant with custom wine storage appeared first on Dezeen.

East London hair salon Buller and Rice has opened a new venue with an interior design palette that includes seaweed, algae, cork and mushroom leather.

Buller and Rice Wanstead is a salon that doubles as a lifestyle store, selling products ranging from homeware to wine.

Company founders Anita Rice and Stephen Buller designed the interior themselves, filling it with bespoke creations from designers and makers including Natural Material Studio's Bonnie Hvillum and Copenhagen-based Jonas Edvard.

Rice told Dezeen their ambition was to use as many plant-based materials as possible.

"We wanted to deep dive into what could happen with plant matter," she explained.

The collaboration with Hvillum – who won the inaugural Bentley Lighthouse Award at Dezeen Awards 2023 – resulted in latex-like curtains made from a yellow algae-based material.

Edvard's contribution is a series of yellow pendant lamps made from recycled paper and seaweed, similar to those he previously made for Copenhagen burger joint, POPL.

Rice said she spotted them by chance while enjoying a burger there. "When it turned out they were made from seaweed, I knew they were perfect," she explained.

Other plant-based details include a cork wall and seat pads made from algae-based foam, while cushions made from mushroom leather will be added in early 2024.

The space is also filled with plants, with many installed behind the front windows.

Buller and Rice Wanstead is the third venue that the company has opened in east London, following salons in Hackney and Walthamstow.

Rice said the project represents the latest step in a journey of exploration into eco-friendly materials.

Initially, they focused on simple natural materials like wood and cork. They then started experimenting with materials made from recycled waste products, including a sheet plastic made from yoghurt pots.

"Our primary interest is in finding innovative and sustainable building materials that we can work into an aesthetically pleasing approach," Rice said.

The renovation involved a complete refit of a former Chinese restaurant that had been shut down for years.

A yellow colour scheme features throughout, marking a departure from the pink hues of the two other Buller and Rice salons.

This shade can be found on bespoke concrete pieces created by London-based maker Smith & Goat, including an orthogonal reception desk, a wall-hung washbasin and the column-like legs of two styling stations.

Stainless steel features on both walls and surfaces, offering a utilitarian feel that contrasts the warmth of the yellow. "Practicality had a hand in that decision," Rice admitted.

The space is completed by custom-made barber chairs, frameless arch mirrors, yellow tiling and speckled vinyl flooring from manufacturer Tarkett.

The photography is by Megan Taylor.

The post Buller and Rice salon is a showcase of plant-based materials appeared first on Dezeen.

Happy new year from Dezeen! We'll be back tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can read about the biggest design and architecture stories of 2023 and our full review of the year.

The review looks at the most interesting architecture, design and interior stories from 2022. It includes roundups of the the year's rebrands, innovative materials, restaurant and bar interiors, controversies, US architecture, cabins and more.

Read the review of 2023 ›

The photo of the Las Vegas Sphere is by Sphere Entertainment.

The post Happy new year from Dezeen! appeared first on Dezeen.

Four vacation rental apartments within a green-painted building in San Juan, Puerto Rico, are each designed with a slightly different take on "minimalism meets retro-chic".

Verde contains four minimalist apartments: two studios and two one-bedroom apartments, all a 10-minute walk to Ocean Park Beach.

The units were designed and are operated by LGBTQIA-owned hospitality group Dreamers Welcome, which manages over 60 rentable rooms across hotels, multi-unit properties and single-family dwellings in Puerto Rico and North Carolina.

All of the spaces at Verde are designed to create a "cohesive contrast where minimalism meets retro-chic charm", according to the owners.

The loft-like Verde 1 studio boasts 12-foot (3.7-metre) ceilings and opens onto a private terrace, complete with a water feature and hammock.

Inside, antique checkerboard tiles cover the floor and polished concrete furniture elements including a table-cum-counter and a centrally positioned headboard add Brutalist touches.

Walls are painted pale blue until halfway up, then replaced with beige that continues across the ceiling.

A giant keyhole behind folding glass doors provides access to a small outdoor pool with a shower.

Verde 2 features a warmer palette, with honey-toned floor tiles and pink concrete surfaces including the outdoor shower and soaking tub.

This one-bedroom apartment has access to an additional terrace, wrapped with wood slats for privacy, and has colourful accents throughout.

"The oversized windows overlook a verdant plant enclosure allowing for plenty of natural light to pour in," said Dreamers Welcome.

Upstairs, Verde 3 is another studio unit, where retro-tinted glass gives the whole space an amber glow.

A compact kitchenette opens onto a balcony enclosed by concrete blocks and more tinted glass.

"Midcentury modern pieces like lamp fixtures, peacock chairs, and wood panelling create a unique contemporary vibe rooted in the past," Dreamers Welcome said.

The final one-bedroom apartment, Verde 4, is decorated in neutral tones apart from the bathroom, which has olive green walls and pink concrete double vanity and shower.

A hammock is installed in the bedroom and a corduroy sofa in the living area can sleep a third guest.

There's a full kitchen for those who wish to cook for themselves, and a balcony for eating and relaxing outside.

Two of the four apartments also have access to a secret room, which is lined entirely with silver foil as an homage to Andy Warhol's Factory in New York City.

Guests won't know if the space they've booked is one of those with access until they arrive and discover the room by exploring for themselves.

Dreamers Welcome was founded by entrepreneur Stephan Watts and artist Roy Delgado, and the duo design the interiors for each of their properties themselves.

Puerto Rico's Caribbean climate makes it a popular tourist destination, particularly for American tourists, and the island has a wealth of accommodation options to cater to them.

A 1920s residence that was destroyed by Hurricane Maria and then converted into a luxury holiday home in Dorado, and pairs of apartments stacked in rectangular concrete blocks to form a self-sufficient guesthouse are among other choices for holiday makers.

The post Puerto Rico guesthouse by Dreamers Welcome features retro-modern interiors appeared first on Dezeen.

As part of our review of 2023, Dezeen readers have voted Casa Tres Árboles by Direccion the best home interior of 2023.

After 400 votes, the project in Mexico was the clear winner, with almost 35 per cent of people picking it from the poll that ran throughout December.

Informed by "monastic sanctuaries" and designed to celebrate light and shadows, Casa Tres Árboles is a weekend home in Mexico's Valle de Bravo.

Mexican studio Direccion, used combined natural materials and an earthy colour palette for the interiors of the split-level home.

Dezeen readers picked the home form a shortlist that included projects from Spain, The Netherlands, UK, Australia, Japan, South Africa and USA.

The rest of the vote was pretty evenly split, with the Hiroo Residence in central Tokyo, the second most popular choice – receiving 12 percent of the vote.

Designed by architect Keiji Ashizawa, the 200-square-metre apartment features numerous wooden finishes combined with subtle tones of grey and beige.

Four further projects were joint third most popular – Dumbo loft by Crystal Sinclair Designs, House by the Sea by Of Architecture, Torres Blancas apartment by Studio Noju and Domūs Houthaven apartment by Shift Architecture Urbanism – each receiving nine per cent of the vote

2023 review

This article is part of Dezeen's roundup of the biggest and best news and projects in architecture, design, interior design and technology from 2023.

The post Dezeen readers name Casa Tres Árboles best home interior of 2023 appeared first on Dezeen.

A curvilinear thatched hut has been paired with terracotta-hued tiles at the Amsterdam store for homeware brand Polspotten, which was designed by local studio Space Projects.

The studio created the store to straddle a shop and an office for Polspotten, a furniture and home accessories brand headquartered in the Dutch capital.

Characterised by bold angles and arches, the outlet features distinctive terracotta-coloured walls and flooring that nod to traditional pots, Space Projects founder Pepijn Smit told Dezeen.

"The terracotta-inspired colours and materials refer to the brand's first product, 'potten' – or pots," said Smit, alluding to the first Spanish pots imported by Erik Pol when he founded Polspotten in the Netherlands in 1986.

Located in Amsterdam's Jordaan neighbourhood, the store was arranged across a series of open-plan rooms, interconnected by individual geometric entryways.

Visitors enter at a triangular opening, which was cut away from gridded timber shelving lined with multicoloured pots that mimic totemic artefacts in a gallery.

The next space features a similar layout, as well as a plump cream sofa with rounded modules and sculptural pots stacked in a striking tower formation.

Travelling further through the store, molten-style candle holders and Polspotten furniture pieces were positioned next to chunky illuminated plinths, which exhibit amorphously shaped vases finished in various coral-like hues.

Accessed through a rectilinear, terracotta-tiled opening, the final space features a bulbous indoor hut covered in thatch and fitted with a light pink opening.

The hut provides a meeting space for colleagues, according to the studio founder.

"The thatch, as a natural material, absorbs sound as well," explained Smit.

Next to the hut, Space Projects created an acoustic wall illustrated with "hieroglyphics" of Polspotten products, which references the gallery-like theme that runs throughout the outlet.

"The store was inspired by Polspotten's use of traditional techniques combined with a collage of their reinterpreted archetypes," said Smit.

Elsewhere in Amsterdam, Dutch practice Studio RAP used 3D printing and algorithmic design to create a "wave-like" facade for a boutique store while interior designer Linda Bergroth created the interiors for the city's Cover Story paint shop to streamline the redecorating process for customers.

The photography is by Kasia Gatkowska.

The post Space Projects creates Amsterdam store with thatched hut for Polspotten appeared first on Dezeen.

Already thinking about your next getaway post-Christmas? Here is Dezeen's pick of 2023's top 10 hotels, put together as part of our review of the year.

Our selection of the most popular and noteworthy hotels featured on Dezeen this year includes what is possibly the world's skinniest in Indonesia, the grand conversion of a 1940s bank building in Rome and a place in Tbilisi that aims to make guests feel like they're inside a movie.

Read on for the full list:

PituRooms, Indonesia, by Sahabat Selojene

This seven-room hotel in Central Java is just 2.8 metres wide. Each compact room contains a double bed and bathroom pod with a toilet and shower.

"Aside from the technical difficulties, the biggest challenge was the typical mindset surrounding the hospitality industry that is used to superlative words: biggest, tallest, most luxurious," Sahabat Selojene studio founder Ary Indra told Dezeen. "Here we are skinniest."

PituRooms was not the only skinny hotel to capture readers attention in 2023, with 324Praxis' Sep'on Heartfulness Centre in Vietnam similarly slender.

Find out more about PituRooms ›

The Rome Edition, Italy, by The Edition

Dramatic seven-metre-high ceilings, full-height windows with green curtains and travertine surfaces grace the lobby of The Rome Edition.

Created by Amercian entrepreneur Ian Schrager's hotel group The Edition, the 91-room hotel opened this year in a 1940s bank building. Other highlights include the intimate Jade Bar, which is fully lined in deep green antique marble and furnished with emerald-coloured velvet seating.

Find out more about The Rome Edition ›

Blueberry Nights, Georgia, by Sandro Takaishvili

Georgian architect Sandro Takaishvili wanted Tbilisi's Blueberry Nights to make guests feel "like they're inside a movie, where everything feels slightly familiar but otherworldly at the same time".

With a theatrical colour scheme and cinematic moody lighting, its design evokes the visual style of directors such as Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch, while film projectors feature in all 16 rooms.

Find out more about Blueberry Nights ›

Boca de Agua, Mexico, by Frida Escobedo

Wooden guest quarters perched on stilts characterise Boca de Agua, a resort in the Yucatán Peninsula designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo

The villas – including one with a private pool and terrace – were raised up to reduce the environmental impact of the ground plane and to raise guests into the leafy jungle landscape.

Find out more about Boca de Agua ›

Borgo Santandrea, Italy, by Bonaventura Gambardella and Nikita Bettoni

Overlooking the historic fishing village of Conca dei Marini on the Amalfi Coast, the 1960s Borgo Santandrea hotel was restored by architect Bonaventura Gambardella and interior designer Nikita Bettoni.

The hotel incorporates the atmospheric medieval stone fortifications carved into the cliff below, with some of the guest rooms built into the old ramparts.

Find out more about Borgo Santandrea ›

Maison Brummell Majorelle, Morocco, by Bergendy Cooke and Amine Abouraoui

Located next to the famous Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech, this boutique hotel was designed by New Zealand studio Bergendy Cooke in collaboration with Moroccan architect Amine Abouraoui.

With its sculptural, monolithic aesthetic and recurring arched openings inside and out, it was intended as a playful contemporary twist on the site's history and the city's traditional architecture.

Find out more about Maison Brummell Majorelle ›

The Lodge, Spain, by Pilar García-Nieto

From Único Hotels, The Lodge occupies a 500-year-old farmhouse in Mallorca on a 157-hectare estate filled with almond and olive trees, lavender fields and hiking trails.

Interior designer Pilar García-Nieto kept the interiors mostly clean and minimal but left traces of the building's agricultural past visible – most spectacularly an old stone mill for pressing olive oil, which stands in what is now the hotel reception area.

Find out more about The Lodge ›

Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore, by WOHA

Large, elevated garden terraces are cut into the form of this tall hotel building in Singapore designed by architecture studio WOHA, including one 18 floors up.

The studio wanted the hotel to have verdant views on all storeys despite its urban location, while the terraces also provide passive cooling in the humid climate.

Find out more about Pan Pacific Orchard ›

Vermelho, Portugal, by Christian Louboutin and Madalena Caiado

Fashion designer Christian Louboutin teamed up with architect Madalena Caiado to create this 13-room hotel in the Portuguese village of Melides.

Its traditionalist architecture meets maximalist interiors, with the rooms containing furniture from Louboutin's personal collection as well as objects produced by local craftsmen. Louboutin talked to Dezeen about design process behind the hotel in an exclusive interview.

Find out more about Vermelho ›

Château Royal, Germany, by Irina Kromayer and others

Berlin's renovated Château Royal references the German capital's heyday at the turn of the 20th century through abundant oak panelling, art nouveau tiles, sisal carpets and hardware in brass and nickel.

The 93-room hotel comprises two buildings dating from 1850 and 1910, in addition to a newer building and roof extension designed by David Chipperfield Architects.

Find out more about Château Royal ›

2023 review

This article is part of Dezeen's roundup of the biggest and best news and projects in architecture, design, interior design and technology from 2023.

The post Dezeen's top 10 hotels of 2023 appeared first on Dezeen.

Merry Christmas! We'll be back tomorrow – in the meantime read our review of 2023 and enjoy this Christmas tree designed by British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori.

The review of 2023 rounds up the most interesting and popular architecture, design and interior stories from the past year. It includes roundups of the the year's rebrands, innovative materials, restaurant and bar interiors, controversies, US architecture, cabins and more.

Read the review of 2023 ›

The post Merry Christmas from Dezeen! appeared first on Dezeen.

Several restaurants and a hotel have opened within Detroit's historic Book Tower as part of a years-long restoration project of the building undertaken by its developer and architecture studio ODA.

The 1920s skyscraper has undergone extensive restoration work over the past seven years by local developer Bedrock, which has transformed the former office building into a mixed-use space.

A collaboration with Method Co has led to the first phase of restaurant and bar concepts, which were introduced through the course of 2023.

"We have been ever-mindful of what the restoration of Book Tower means to this city," said Randall Cook, CEO and cofounder of Method Co, "and we've worked hard to create hospitality concepts that will excite and reconnect Detroiters to Book Tower once again, and at the same time honour the heritage of this magnificent property."

Located on Washington Boulevard in Downtown Detroit, the 38-storey neoclassical building was designed by Louis Kamper – a prolific and celebrated architect in the city during its Gilded Age.

New York architecture firm ODA was hired to update and expand the programming and existing structures, resulting in half a million square feet (46,450 square metres) of mixed-use space.

The work included restoring the exterior windows and stonework and bringing an ornate domed glass ceiling back to life.

Method Co was then brought on to conceptualise several restaurants and bars, as well as a hotel, and operate each of these venues within the building.

Dining options include Le Suprême, a classic French brasserie that offers an all-day menu and both indoor and outdoor seating at street level for up to 210 guests.

Designed in collaboration with Stokes Architecture + Design, the 6,200-square-foot space features a traditional zinc bar top, hand-made art nouveau tiles, mosaic marble flooring and oxblood leather booths.

Furniture and decor were chosen to reflect Detroit's cultural heritage, and photos on the walls of the Le Mans car race tie to the city's automobile legacy.

On the 14th floor is Kamper's, a rooftop cocktail bar designed with ODA comprising an indoor lounge that opens onto an expansive outdoor terrace via large French doors.

The cosy interior has exposed brick walls and dark wood accents, complemented by marble mosaic flooring, antiqued mirrors and velvet drapery.

Bar Rotunda sits below the glass dome and acts as an all-day lobby cafe and bar, with 70 seats surrounded by ornate architectural details that recall the grand eateries of early 20th-century Paris.

"The space is canopied by a beautifully restored 100-year-old Keppler Glass dome that features more than 7,000 individual jewels and 6,000 glass panels making it an architectural centerpiece," said Method Co, which also worked with ODA on this space.

Also planned to open soon within Book Tower are sake pub Sakazuki, and izakaya and omakase-style dining spot Hiroki-San.

The hotel component of the building, Roost Detroit, offers short and long-stay accommodation in contemporary apartment-style spaces, alongside The Residences that are purchasable as permanent homes.

Roost Detroit is the latest iteration of Method Co's apartment hotel brand, joining multiple outposts in Philadelphia – including the Morris Adjmi-designed East Market – along with Tampa, Cleveland and more across the US.

The company also operates The Quoin boutique hotel in Wilmington, Delaware, which offers 24 guest rooms within a converted bank building, and the Whyle extended-stay property in Washington DC that was longlisted in the hotel and short-stay interior category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Downtown Detroit's revitalisation has taken shape over the past few years, and a handful of new hotels have opened to accommodate visitors who are returning to witness its cultural and creative rebirth.

They include The Siren Hotel, designed by ASH NYC to recall the city's glamorous past, and the Shinola Hotel, which Gachot Studios designed for the local watch company of the same name.

The photography is by Matthew Williams unless stated otherwise.

The post Restored Book Tower in Detroit features hospitality venues by Method Co appeared first on Dezeen.

Continuing our 2023 review, we revisit the most popular lookbooks of the year – from minimalist bedrooms and biophilic homes to marble-lined bathrooms and kitchens with tiled worktops.

This year, the most-read lookbooks included wood-panelled dining rooms, homes with space-saving pocket doors and rooms with beautiful and practical bookshelves.

Read on to discover 10 of our most popular lookbooks of 2023:

Eight homes with beautiful and practical bookshelves

This lookbook for booklovers was our most-read lookbook this year. It showcased homes where designers have created stylish bookshelves – both wall-mounted and built-in.

Among the projects on show is an apartment in Madrid, Spain, which was designed by Spanish studio Zooco Estudio and features white shelving units that span two floors and provide plenty of space to store reading materials.

See more homes with beautiful bookshelves ›

Eight kitchens with tiled worktops that are pretty but practical

There's plenty of kitchen inspiration to be found in this lookbook, which explored kitchens with tiled worktops.

Among the examples is a New York apartment that features a kitchen island covered in oxblood-coloured tiles (above), as well as a pastel-hued Belgian kitchen and a colourful Spanish kitchen in a former motorcycle workshop.

See more kitchens with tiled worktops ›

Eight calming bedrooms with minimalist interiors

The bedrooms in this lookbook range from a Mexican bedroom with a concrete bed to a cosy space in a former girls' school in Puglia, all in a colour palette that mainly features beige, gray, and warm brown hues.

To create soothing, calming bedroom spaces, walls were left bare and the amount of artworks and personal items were kept to a minimum in these projects.

See more calming bedroooms ›

Ten modern homes with interiors informed by biophilic design

Biophilic design, which aims to create spaces in which humans are more connected to nature, has been a trend this year and looks set to continue its ascent in 2024.

Homes with indoor trees, aquaponic systems with live fish, green roofs and verdant courtyards filled with plants are among the biophilic interior design examples in this lookbook.

See more homes with biophilic design ›

Ten residential interiors that make the most of narrow spaces

Narrow interior layouts can be hard to decorate, but this roundup gave plenty of examples of how to work with tight living areas, kitchens wedged into corridors and interiors in skinny Japanese houses.

Tips include adding split-level floors, using built-in furniture to add visual depth and using glass doors to allow more light to penetrate the house.

See more residential interiors with narrow spaces ›

Eight tidy kitchens with slick storage solutions

This lookbook presented eight well-organised kitchens, where smart storage solutions help to hide clutter and create a more pleasant cooking experience. The projects, which range from compact apartments to home extensions, use hooks, nooks, racks, shelves, cubby holes and display units to make the best use of space.

Featured kitchens include the above example from London, which uses multifunctional plywood partitions with arched openings and alcoves for storing belongings.

See more tidy kitchens ›

Ten earthy bedrooms that use natural colour to create a restful environment

Dreamy bedrooms from Mexico to Thailand were showcased in this lookbook, which gathers interiors that use earthy colour palettes and natural materials to evoke a sense of calm and tranquility.

Earthy browns, neutral beige and tan colours are complemented by terracotta and green hues to create bedrooms with a peaceful atmosphere, while materials include stone, timber, linen, clay accents and limewash finishes.

See more earthy bedrooms in neutral colours ›

Ten bathrooms where marble lines the walls

Carrera and Verde Aver marble, as well as similar natural stones such as travertine and quartzite, decorate these 10 bathrooms.

Whether it's a renovated 1920s Stockholm apartment clad in Swedish Ekeberg marble, or a bathroom in an art-deco building covered in green Verde Aver marble (above), this lookbook showcases how the durable material can be used to create elegant interiors.

See more marble-lined bathrooms ›

Ten homes with space-saving pocket doors that disappear into the walls

Pocket doors – sliding doors that are designed to slot into a wall cavity so they can stay hidden from view – were the subject of this lookbook, which was one of the most popular of last year.

The solution is especially useful for rooms where there isn't enough space for a door to open outwards and for locations where it makes sense for the door to integrate into surrounding joinery.

See more homes with pocket doors ›

Eight welcoming wood-panelled dining rooms

The cosiness of a wood-panelled dining room was the focus of this lookbook, which collected eight examples of homes where wood took centre stage.

Among the examples is this house in Chile, above, which features an open-plan kitchen and dining room with a vaulted ceiling that is clad in laminated pine.

See more wood-panelled dining rooms ›

2023 review

This article is part of Dezeen's roundup of the biggest and best news and projects in architecture, design, interior design and technology from 2023.

The post Dezeen's top 10 lookbooks of 2023 appeared first on Dezeen.

New York studio Civilian has designed the headquarters for a documentary production company in Manhattan's Flatiron District, which includes an art deco-influenced screening room.

The offices for award-winning Sandbox Films are located in a landmarked 1920s neo-gothic skyscraper, and provide the company with its first dedicated workspace.

Spread across 4,200 square feet (390 square metres) of space, the program includes an open-plan reception area that doubles as an events space, a conference room, private and open offices, and production and editing suites.

There's also a 22-seat screening room with a Dolby Atmos sound system, in which the team and their visitors can preview the completed or in-progress cuts.

The non-profit documentary production company makes cinematic science films, many of which have won or received nominations for prestigious awards.

Among them are Fire of Love, which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 95th Academy Awards in 2022; Emmy-winning Fathom; Sundance winner All Light, Everywhere; and Fireball, co-directed by Werner Herzog.

"Inspired by [our] clients' love for the craft of storytelling, the space was informed by the grandeur of the amenity-rich yet intimate early movie houses of Stockholm and Amsterdam, art deco cinemas, the architectural colour gestures of Danish modernist designer Poul Henningsen, and the vanished world of interwar New York conjured by the project's Broadway address," said Civilian.

The reception area revolves around a circular stone-topped bar, which demarcates a staff pantry area by day, and can be used for serving food and drinks for events.

"With an active roster of screenings, events and a residency program for independent filmmakers, the space acts as an office as well as a dynamic center of gravity for New York's nonfiction film community at large," the team said.

A custom double-sided, Pierre Chareau-inspired boucle and velvet sofa sits opposite a pair of refinished Milo Boughman swivel chairs.

Marquee lights are installed in rows along the sides of the existing ceiling beams, with additional sconces mounted on the plastered pantry wall.

Structural columns have been wrapped in travertine cladding to highlight thresholds between the different spaces.

On either side of the reception, acoustic partitions with glass panels and mint-green frames cordon off the bright conference room and a private office.

Furnishing the conference room is a custom-designed meeting table that combines a solid ash frame and a high-gloss curved lacquer top, surrounded by vintage Tobia Scarpa Sling Chairs.

From reception, a neon-lit burgundy door leads into the screening room, where three tiers of seating face the large screen like in a mini movie theatre.

The cushioned seats are upholstered in soft powder-blue fabric, which contrasts with walnut wainscoting, and sound-absorbing brown wool wall panels that conceal the equipment.

Each chair has an individual armrest table for placing drinks or writing notes, complete with a small light created in collaboration with Lambert et Fils.

More private offices, sound-proofed editing suites and an open workspace are accessed via a short L-shaped corridor.

In the communal work area, sit-stand desks feature white oak divider panels and are topped with a stone ledge for displaying objects and plants.

"This project has given us an opportunity to draw from so many inspiring references, from its iconic Broadway location to historic theatre architecture, to create an elevated and layered space that supports the work Sandbox is doing to uplift documentary film talent," said Civilian co-founder Ksenia Kagner.

"We also felt it was important to be responsive to the changing priorities of the modern workplace, creating open, multipurpose spaces that nurture interaction and foster a sense of community," she added.

Civilian was founded in 2018 by Kagner and Nicko Elliott, and the designers have since completed projects ranging from the transformation of Detroit's historic Book Depository into a headquarters for tech company Newlab, to the renovation of a historic Bed-Stuy townhouse for themselves.

The photography is by Chris Mottalini.

Project credits:

Client: Sandbox Films (Simons Foundation)
Client rep: Cushman and Wakefield
Civilian scope: Interior design, creative direction, furniture design
Architect of record: LB Architects
Mechanical engineer: WB Engineers
AV engineer: Spectra
Acoustic engineer: WSDG
Production studio consultant: Tom Paul
Contractor: L&K Partners

The post Civilian draws on "grandeur" of early cinemas for Sandbox Films offices appeared first on Dezeen.