Zarkon Group, Author at Zarkon Group Real Estate Builders & Developers

Ten calm interiors with natural clay wall finishes that don’t need painting

In this special lookbook sponsored by natural finishes brand Clayworks, we’ve selected 10 interiors from our archives that feature walls finished with the brand’s clay plaster.

Clay finishes are a healthy, breathable alternative to paints or wallpaper on internal walls and ceilings. Naturally pigmented and free of toxic ingredients, they are made of natural materials, do not require painting and are compostable.

Clayworks‘ plaster finishes are manufactured in Cornwall, England. Here are 10 homes, restaurants and offices that showcase their products.

Porteous’ Studio, Edinburgh, by Izat Arundell

Design studio Izat Arundell converted this former blacksmith’s workshop in Edinburgh into a compact apartment with a muted material palette.

Clay-based plaster was applied to the walls to create a calm tone, with a simple palette of stone and wood used to create an overall natural feel.

Find out more about Porteous’ Studio ›

Birch and Clay Refugio, London, by Rise Design Studio

As its name suggests, this renovated and extended London flat called Birch and Clay Refugio makes extensive use of clay finishes.

The kitchen features light grey plaster walls, while a calming light grey-green shade was used for the master bedroom and a light pastel pink in the children’s bedroom.

Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›

Sticks n Sushi, London, by Norm Architects

This London sushi restaurant by Danish studio Norm Architects was designed to have a series of spaces each with its own atmosphere.

Light clay finishes were used in the larger, more open restaurant spaces, with darker tones applied to create a more intimate feel in the private dining areas.

Find out more about Sticks n Sushi ›

Devon Passivhaus, Devon, McLean Quinlan

This low-rise Passivhaus home by McLean Quinlan is set behind a red-brick wall that obscures the textured interiors and art-filled hidden courtyard.

The studio aimed to create a “serene” environment inside the home by pairing rough sawn oak flooring with clay plaster walls and charred wood cabinetry.

Find out more about Devon Passivhaus ›

Dulong store, Copenhagen, by Norm Architects

Norm Architects combined natural materials to create a calm finish for this jewellery showroom in Copenhagen, which was informed by modernist artists’ studios.

The studio used a light clay plaster with a smooth finish as the backdrop for the store that has oak flooring and travertine furniture.

Find out more about Dulong store ›

Barbican apartment, London, by Takero Shimazaki Architects

Takero Shimazaki Architects was informed by a client with strong ties with Japan for the interiors of this apartment in central London’s Barbican estate.

Throughout the flat, the studio aimed to balance Japanese architectural language with the concrete structure of the brutalist Barbican complex. Walls finished with clay were combined with tatami mats and numerous timber finishes.

Find out more about Barbican apartment ›

Hoof cafe, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, by Bone

Design studio Bone used rustic clay plaster for the walls of this cafe in the United Arab Emirates as part of its design that aims to recall horse stalls.

Named Hoof, the spartan cafe was furnished with blocky hand-brushed steel counters to contrast the naturally finished walls.

Find out more about Hoof cafe ›

Highgate home, London, by House of Grey

Interiors studio House of Grey chose the furnishings and finishes of this London home with the health of its occupants and the health of the planet in mind.

Along with custom-designed timber furniture and a bed upholstered using coconut husk fibres, the home’s walls are finished with natural clay.

Find out more about Highgate house ›

Leaf House, London, by Szczepaniak Astridge

Designed to be a peaceful retreat in south London, this loft extension contains a master bedroom focused on a wooden bath with views across London.

Japanese interior design, as well as sustainability, was important for the choice of materials used in the loft, which has clay covering its roof and walls.

Find out more about Leaf House ›

Clay House, London, by Simon Astridge

Architect Simon Astridge uses layers of coarse clay to line the walls of this one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a Victorian mid-terraced property in London.

Appropriately named Clay House, the material was used to give an unfinished appearance to the walls and ceilings of the open plan living space and create a calm atmosphere in the bedroom.

Find out more about Clay House ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing green kitchen interiors, peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

This lookbook was produced by Dezeen for Clayworks as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

Reference

Interior Design

Watch our video roundup of living rooms with statement shelving

By Zarkon Group,21/06/2021

This one-minute video showcases ten living rooms with statement shelving, as featured in a recent Dezeen Lookbook.

The video rounds up examples of bespoke shelving that are both beautiful and practical, including a bookcase with cubby holes for cats and a sculptural blue staircase with built-in storage.

Dezeen Lookbooks is a new section featuring roundups of home interiors and decor trends to help designers and design lovers plan their projects.

Published each Saturday, each lookbook presents images of contemporary interiors selected from Dezeen’s vast archive of over 750,000 images.

Check out the lookbook to find out more about all the projects ›

Reference

Interior Design

Eleven stylish home-working spaces that complement the decor

By Zarkon Group,21/06/2021

Home offices don’t have to look like work offices. For this lookbook, we’ve rounded up eleven remote workspaces that don’t compromise on style.

Our selection, all of which come from the Dezeen archives, includes compact setups from homes and hotels as well as more generous, dedicated home offices.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, calming green kitchens, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.

Roksanda Ilincic penthouse apartment in London's King's Cross

London penthouse, UK, by Roksanda Ilincic

Fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic designed the interiors for this apartment in London’s King’s Cross filled with saturated colours and geometric shapes.

A quiet work corner has a grey oval table, black steel-framed tubular chairs and a wooden stool that functions as a small side table. A warm red curtain and table lamp and sculptural, abstract accessories add a friendly feel to the room.

Find out more about London penthouse ›

Strandhotel Zoomer in the Netherlands designed by The Other Season and HK Living

Strandhotel Zoomers, the Netherlands, by The Other Season

This bedroom in the Strandhotel Zoomers was designed in a natural, sandy colour palette that evokes the beach dunes beyond its walls.

A shallow wooden desk sits in front of a window with views of the ocean and is complemented by a thin, steel-frame chair with a decorative wicker seat, creating a small but practical workspace.

Find out more about Strandhotel Zoomers ›

Casa Ventura, Mexico, by Tatiana Bilbao

A concrete house on a forested hillside in Mexico is the setting for this panoramic home office, which has an elegant, solid wooden desk and shelving and cabinets in lighter wood.

An Eames lounge chair by the floor-to-ceiling window and a domed metal floor lamp function as a peaceful reading corner in the minimalist office.

Find out more about Casa Ventura ›

Television Centre apartment, UK, by Waldo Works

Waldo Works’ colourful interior design for this penthouse apartment inside London’s Television Centre includes a luxurious office space with a metal desk on graphic steel legs. Its gold colour creates a warm contrast against an eye-catching turquoise wall that has been hung with colourful prints.

A natural-wood bookshelf with asymmetrical shelving is filled with magazines, boxes, and decorative vases while a printed rug with yellow applique detailing makes the room feel inviting.

Find out more about Television Centre apartment ›

Autor Rooms, Poland, by Mamastudio

Pieces by local designers feature in the Autor Rooms hotel in Warsaw, including this small, clever wood-and-steel desk.

The streamlined, minimal design of both the desk and the chair is perfect for a discrete workspace, while the large mirror they face makes the room feel bigger. A metal lamp and plant in a woven basket are the only two accessories in this office corner.

Find out more about Autor Rooms ›

2LG Studio home and workspace, UK, by 2LG Studio

This clever, compact solution by 2LG Studio sees full-height white cupboards conceal a built-in computer desk. The cupboards’ bright, Klein-blue interior helps demarcate the space as a separate work area.

A shallow desk shelf is just big enough to hold a computer screen and keyboard, with drawers below providing storage. Practical filing folders share a shelf above the desk with glass vases and ceramics.

Find out more about 2LG’s workspace ›

Still Room in Antwerp is a silent refuge

Still Room, Belgium, by Studio Corkinho

The monastic interiors of this 19th-century Antwerp building include a wooden writing desk facing an arched window, creating a suitable space for contemplative creativity.

The desk has a matching wooden chair and a patinated leather chair sits next to it. Underneath the table, a selection of books on silent meditation and sacred architecture provide apt reading material.

Find out more about Still Room ›

Study of the Knightsbridge Mews House by Echlin

Knightsbridge mews house, UK, by Echlin

Echlin’s design for this London mews house includes a built-in study made using bespoke joinery.

Dark wood was used for both the desk and its discrete drawers, and continues above the desk where it forms roomy shelving and a wooden overhang that frames the compact home office. Brass detailing adds a luxurious touch and contrasts nicely against the wood.

Find out more about Knightsbridge mews house ›

Stockholm house, Sweden, by Förstberg Ling

Sometimes the simple solutions are the best, like in this small work nook in a house in a former blacksmith’s workshop in Sweden. A corner space has been given an added floating desk to take full advantage of the space.

A matching wooden chair creates a practical space for working or studying, which has been decorated with a stone bust and matching bookends.

Find out more about Stockholm house ›

The Audo, Denmark, by Menu and Norm Architects

Norm Architects and Menu’s design for The Audo hotel in Copenhagen filled the concrete interior with wood, straw, stone and other natural materials.

This work area uses the material palette to create an elegant, calming feeling. A wooden desk can function either as a writing desk or as a display space for the numerous decorative items that are strewn around the area. Storage is hidden in a matching cabinet with rattan doors.

Find out more about The Audo ›

Agate Pass Cabin by Olson Kundig Architects

Agate Pass Cabin, US, by Olson Kundig

When Olson Kundig Architects principal Alan Maskin renovated a 1938 beach cabin to turn it into a house for himself, he added a study space on a former porch.

Here, the laidback bohemian feel of the house continues. A desk and cabinets made from Glulam wood match the wooden ceiling beams, while a rough-hewn chair adds a rustic note to the bright room.

Find out more about Agate Pass Cabin ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing children’s bedrooms, outdoor living spaces, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten architect-designed kitchens with terrazzo details

By Zarkon Group,21/06/2021

The terrazzo trend shows no sign of slowing down, with the decorative speckled material cropping up in residential projects as well as in restaurants and workspaces. For this lookbook, we’ve rounded up ten playful and practical terrazzo kitchens.

Terrazzo is a composite material made by mixing marble, granite, quartz or glass chips with a binder such as cement or resin. The rough mixture is applied to walls and floors before being polished.

The protruding stone pieces create an irregularly flecked surface that adds a fun, organic feel to interiors. Alternatively, terrazzo can be pre-cast into tiles, surfaces or objects such as vases and basins.

White Rabbit House by Gundry + Ducker — Terrazzo has an irregularly flecked surface, seen here in the kitchen of White Rabbit House

The material originated in Italy, where it was developed as a way of using up stone offcuts. Its popularity has grown over the past few years and today it comes in many different colours and designs.

The material is hardwearing and easy to wipe down, making it suitable for heavily-used areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

These ten terrazzo kitchens from the Dezeen archive all feature clever takes on how to best use the eye-catching material.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.

White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

When architecture studio Gundry & Drucker gave this 1970s house in London an overhaul, it used terrazzo both for the exterior and the interior, decorating the house’s facade as well as its floors with the material.

In the kitchen, a white terrazzo slab lines the floor and is matched with a green kitchen island with a black-and-white terrazzo top. The whole kitchen has been painted a vibrant green, creating a colourful contrast to the more subdued terrazzo.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›

Black kitchen island with oversized terrazzo

Glyn House, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio

In Glyn House (above and top), designers Yellow Cloud Studio used a playful, oversized terrazzo for the kitchen island, which is inlaid with colourful chunks of aggregate.

The furniture piece adds a graphic, almost Memphis-style touch to the otherwise traditional kitchen.

Find out more about Glyn House ›

Galla House, Spain, by Cavaa

A pale-blue terrazzo floor with darker chips marks the kitchen area in this compact apartment in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Spain. The flooring continues into the hallway to cleverly connect the two rooms and create a surface where the owners and guests can store shoes without creating a mess.

The speckled pattern adds interest to the otherwise pared-down flat, especially in combination with the turquoise wooden detailing used throughout the space.

Find out more about Galla House ›

Mài Apartment in Vietnam designed by Whale Design Lab

Mài apartment, Vietnam, by Whale Design Lab

Whale Design Lab’s design for Mài apartment was informed by modernist architecture, and especially the work of Louis Kahn. The studio used terrazzo to create this striking kitchen area as it was a big trend in southern Vietnam in the 1960s.

“Modernist architecture was introduced into the south of Vietnam in the mid-20th century,” explained the studio.

“The popular construction materials of modern buildings in the United States such as exposed-aggregate surface, terrazzo and cement became trendy in Saigon.”

Find out more about Mài apartment ›

Melbourne apartment, Australia, by Murray Barker and Esther Stewart

Another project to pay homage to the 1960s is this Melbourne apartment that was renovated using the same colours and materials as its original mid-century interior.

Here, the architects used terrazzo floor tiles that were salvaged excess stock from a larger project to complement the original terrazzo flooring that still remains in the bathroom. The tiles feature unusually large stone chips in a brownish hue against a flecked black-and-white background.

Find out more about Melbourne apartment ›

Liberty House, UK, by SODA

It’s not just in residential projects that terrazzo has become popular, but also in workspaces and restaurants. In London office building Liberty House, designers SODA chose terrazzo from London-based producer Altrock to create the oversized patterns used for the practical kitchen splashback.

The studio also collaborated with Altrock to create custom-made surfaces with colours that match the rest of the design.

Find out more about Liberty House ›

Kitchen at Frame House by Bureau de Change

Frame House, UK, by Bureau de Change

Terrazzo is everywhere in Bureau de Change’s design for Frame House. A terrazzo floor in different shades unites the ground floor and upper stories of the split-level house, going from a pale taupe in the kitchen to darker hues.

The white kitchen island was given a red, white and black terrazzo with an almost marbled effect that adds a luxurious touch of colour and pattern to the space.

Find out more about Frame House ›

Coffeebar, US, by Walker Warner Architects

This American coffeebar in the San Francisco Bay Area has a back wall and service area entirely clad in classic black-and-white flecked terrazzo.

Simple wooden shelving and cups and jugs in monochrome ceramics complement the practical terrazzo to create a simple yet stylish design.

Find out more about Coffeebar ›

Alfondac guesthouse, Spain, by Aixopluc

When Catalan architect Aixopluc created an experimental apartment above its office in Reus, it chose brown-and-white-speckled terrazzo surfaces for the kitchen and bathroom areas.

The slabs are made by tile brand Huguet from recycled glass and marble aggregate mixed with “green label” cement, which is meant to emit 35 per cent less carbon than standard cement.

Find out more about Alfondac guesthouse ›

House P, China, by MDDM Studio

Colourful terrazzo fixtures decorate this Beijing apartment, with both the kitchen, bathroom and playroom clad in an off-white terrazzo with large chips.

“We wanted to use a material that could bring together the cement finishing of the floor and ceiling with the yellow walls,” designer Momo Andrea Destro told Dezeen.

“The colourful terrazzo is produced in the south of China by a specialized manufacturer who assisted us on a careful selection of the stones.”

The kitchen cupboards were painted turquoise to pick up the colour from the terrazzo slabs.

Find out more about House P ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms, inspiring outdoor living spaces, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.

Reference

Interior Design

I IN revamps Tokyo apartment to change Japanese view of renovations

By Zarkon Group,21/06/2021

Reeded glass partitions, stucco walls and red walnut joinery feature in this renovation of a compact apartment in Tokyo by local studio I IN.

Created for Smarg, the renovation arm of Japanese real estate firm Goodlife, The Life concept apartment was designed to reframe the way that Japanese homeowners perceive renovated apartments.

Built-in walnut wood wardrobe with decorative vase in The Life concept apartment — Red walnut joinery features throughout the apartment (top and above)

“There is a common image of renovated apartments in Japan, which is not always positive,” said I IN.

“The majority of people prefer new buildings and spaces because of their appearance and reinforced structures as we have earthquakes.”

Kitchen with walnut wood shelves in Tokyo flat interior by I IN — The kitchen cupboards are rendered in the same wood

To combat this preconception, I IN was commissioned to turn a 56-square-metre one-bed in a 1980s residential building into an understated luxury residence.

Set within Tokyo’s eastern Suitengūmae neighbourhood, the flat features an open-plan layout with the kitchen, living room and bedroom all located in one connected space.

Reeded glass partitions and wood cupboard in The Life concept apartment — Reeded glass partitions separate the bathroom from the living area

The kitchen sits at one end of the flat while the bedroom sits at the other, with the bed hidden from view behind a built-in walnut sideboard that the architects said serves as a “soft separation”. To separate these two domains, the living area was placed at the centre of the space.

I IN incorporated a palette of neutral colours and subtle textures throughout to create a light, restful and calming ambience.

Bathroom entrance with glass walls and decorative vases in The Life concept apartment — The screens allow light to filter into the windowless bathroom

Reeded glass partition walls allow light to penetrate into the windowless toilet and bathroom while red walnut joinery, polished chrome lighting fixtures and off-white stucco walls were chosen to evoke a sense of luxury.

“We wanted to show the wooden architectural essence from old Japan through the texture of the wood and the three-dimensional layers of light, which you see in sci-fi movies,” I IN told Dezeen.

“The soft ambience from the slit light and textured glass was also important.”

In the future, the studio says the plan is to roll the design out to other buildings in central Tokyo.

I IN, which was founded by interior designers Yohei Terui and Hiromu Yuyama in 2018, was previously shortlisted for small retail interior of the year at the 2020 Dezeen Awards.

Bedroom with built-in wooden wardrobe and reeded glass partitions in interior by I IN — The bedroom is hidden from view thanks to another glass partition

Other renovated Tokyo flats featured on Dezeen include an overhauled 1960s apartment by design studio Minorpoet, which has its kitchen hidden behind folding wooden doors, and a refurbished flat by architect Masatoshi Hira where a family of four shares one bedroom, living space and wardrobe.

Photography is by Tomooki Kengaku.

Reference

Interior Design

Covid-19 to cause four “macro shifts” for future workplaces, finds Steelcase

By Zarkon Group,21/06/2021

Dezeen promotion: working from home during the pandemic has changed people’s expectations of their workplaces, according to research from office design leader Steelcase.

The Steelcase Global Report finds that issues concerning safety, productivity, comfort, control and a sense of belonging – all stemming from experiences over the past year – will lead to changes in the way that offices are designed in the future.

“After spending months at home during a crisis, workers have never been more in touch with what they want from their work and workplace,” reads the report.

“They have new and increased expectations of their employers and workplaces — desiring a dramatically different and better experience than the one they left.”

The report identifies four “macro shifts” that it believes organisations will need to address as employees return to working at the office.

These trends were already developing before the impact of Covid-19, the research suggests, but have been accelerated as a result.

Design for Safety

Safety has emerged as the primary cause of change in office design going forward.

Companies will need to reassure their employees that the office is a safe environment, by enforcing measures that minimise risk of infection.

“Pre-pandemic, when organisations addressed safety in the workplace, their focus was primarily on occupational health and safety standards,” reads the text.

“Now, they will need to take a multifaceted, systemic approach that prioritises mitigating the spread of disease.”

Steelcase’s research found that offices will likely become multi-functional environments

Social distancing measures, such as spaced-out furniture and partition screens, could form part of a long-term safety strategy, while advanced HVAC systems can monitor and maintain safe levels of humidity, filtration, air dilution and air movement in a contained space.

Companies will also need to optimise cleanability, by specifying materials that reduce the spread of infection. Sensor technology could also be introduced, to identify high-traffic areas that need to be cleaned more regularly.

Design for Productivity

During the pandemic, many suggested the office would develop into a social hub, primarily centred around group work and meetings, while focus work would primarily be carried out in the home.

However, the research indicates that the office is more likely to develop into a multi-functional environment.

In all 10 countries surveyed for the report, employees identified “collaboration” as one their top five requirements for their workplace. However, eight out of 10 also listed “focus”.

“Moving forward, organisations will benefit from creating multimodal spaces that support collaboration and focus work equally,” reads the report.

“The workplace can’t simply be a social hub that brings people together with the expectation that individual work will happen at home. Research tells us this is not an inclusive strategy since many people struggle to focus at home.”

It is recommended that workspaces provide spaces that support four types of activity: in-person collaboration, virtual collaboration, privacy and movement.

Design to Inspire Community

In every country surveyed, people identified connection to others and a shared sense of purpose among their top reasons for wanting to return to the office.

Although working from home offered some benefits, many also found it to be an isolating experience.

Going forward, the indication is that the most successful offices will promote community amongst their employees.

“Organisations will need to rethink the purpose of the office from simply a place to work to becoming the infrastructure for building social capital and fostering a sense of purpose and belonging,” reads the report.

Design for Flexibility

The research identified a clear need for comfort and control in the future workplace.

Those who have been comfortable working from home, in terms of their physical, cognitive and emotional needs, will demand the same from the office. Whereas those who have been uncomfortable at home will be more acutely aware of their comfort needs.

Similarly, people report being more able to reconfigure their home environment to suit their needs, whether that means moving furniture or changing the temperature.

As a result, flexibility looks likely to become more important than ever in the office.

“Organisations need to design spaces that can be easily adapted, especially as more flexible work policies are implemented,” reads the report.

“The workplace must be designed to provide individuals and teams greater control over their environment so they can change it on demand.”

Steelcase’s Design Principles

Additionally, Steelcase has compiled four design principles for workspaces that meet new employee needs. These include Me + We, Fixed to Fluid, Open + Enclosed and Braiding Digital + Physical.

Me + We involves balancing the needs of individuals and teams. It aims to create environments designed for both focused and collaborative work to ensure a professional working environment.

Fixed to Fluid encourages greater flexibility and mobility, championing spaces that can change to fit individual and organisational needs.

Open + Enclosed provides both enclosed “me” and open “we” spaces. According to Steelcase, individual workers may require shielded working environments “to control privacy and safety”. It also references how teamwork may require increasingly flexible spaces that can change based on their activities.

Braiding Digital + Physical advocates enhancing human experiences with technology. It aims to create solutions for group and individual video interactions – not constrained to phones or laptops – to support artificial intelligence-guided or data-driven experiences.

The full report is available to read or download on the Steelcase website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Steelcase as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten bright kitchens that are flooded with natural light

By Zarkon Group,20/06/2021

In the first of a trio of spring lookbooks this Easter weekend, we’ve selected ten bright kitchens that are flooded with light from wide windows, skylights and full-height glass doors.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature inspiring outdoor living spaces, calming green kitchens, and living rooms with beautiful statement shelving.

Kitchen in Tibur House by Paul Archer Design

Tibur House, UK, by Paul Archer Design

This 15-square-metre addition to the rear of a house in north London contains a bright, open-plan kitchen and dining area.

Architecture studio Paul Archer Design topped a side extension with a skylight that runs the length of the kitchen while full-height glass doors let light into a dining area.

Find out more about Tibur House ›

Akari House, Spain, by Mas-aqui

Mas-aqui renovated an apartment near Barcelona into a light-filled home named Akari House after a Japanese term for light.

The apartment has a large skylight built into a roof terrace above that provides the kitchen with light.

Find out more about Akari House ›

London kitchen extension with green details

Overcast House, UK, by Office S&M

Designed for a colour consultant, this kitchen extension by Office S&M in London combines several on-trend colours including Millennium Pink and Mint Green.

The space also doubles up as an area for the consultant to work and meet with clients, so it was essential that the kitchen was evenly lit.

Find out more about Overcast House ›

Vikki’s Place, Australia, by Curious Practice

Curious Practice used birch plywood throughout the interiors of this multi-generational home in the Australian city of Newcastle.

In the kitchen, which is bookended by sliding glass doors, birch plywood was also used to make simple open-face cabinets that were paired with countertops clad in stainless steel.

Find out more about Vikki’s Place ›

Light-filled kitchen with full height glass walls

House in Los Vilos, Chile, by Office of Ryue Nishizawa

Designed as a retreat on the Chilean coast by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Ryue Nishizawa, House in Los Vilos has a spectacular kitchen flanked on both sides by full-height glass walls.

Set under the home’s wavy concrete roof, the kitchen has expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.

Find out more about House in Los Vilos ›

Apartment in Brasilia with lattice-like wall to let in light

Brasília apartment, Brazil, by Bloco Arquitetos

Brazilian studio Bloco Arquitetos stripped back this 1960s apartment in Brasília and divided it up using translucent partitions.

At the front of the apartment, the kitchen is backed by a lattice-like wall with square cutouts that provides natural light and air to the apartment.

Find out more about Brasília apartment ›

Casa Aguantao, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados

This rural house in Chile occupies a pair of structures elevated on stilts and topped with grooved-metal roofs.

Placed at the end of one of the raised buildings, the long kitchen is enclosed by a wall of full-height glazing to give views across the surrounding countryside.

Find out more about Casa Aguantao ›

AR Residence, UK, by DeDraft

Architecture studio DeDraft added a kitchen extension clad in green aluminium panels to this house in London.

The compact addition contains a small dining area alongside large windows and a glass door next to a kitchen that is topped with a skylight.

Find out more about AR Residence ›

Wyoming house, USA, by Olson Kundig

In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, US studio Olson Kundig designed a house with large windows that can be covered in wooden shutters.

On the ground floor, the kitchen was positioned alongside one of the large windows so that it receives plenty of light.

Find out more about Wyoming house ›

Burrows Road, UK, by Rise Design Studio

Rise Design Studio created a large kitchen-cum-dining room at the rear of this mid-terrace house.

To bring plenty of light into the space, an extension made almost entirely of glass was added to the side of the home with full-height glass doors at the rear.

Find out more about Burrows Road ›

This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing peaceful bedrooms, calm living rooms and colourful kitchens.

Reference

Interior Design

David Thulstrup revamps Donum Home at Sonoma County winery

By Zarkon Group,20/06/2021

Granite, oak and rattan are among the materials found in a California winery’s hospitality building that has been refurbished by Danish designer David Thulstrup.

The Donum Home facility is part of the 200-acre (81-hectare) Donum Estate, which sits within the rolling hills of Sonoma County, just north of San Pablo Bay.

The Donum Home is in Sonoma County — The Donum Home winery building features rattan elements

Founded in 2001, the winery is well known for its pinot noirs, along with the dozens of distinctive sculptures that dot its estate. The collection features work by famed artists such as Doug Aitken, Yayoi Kusama and Ai Weiwei.

Donum Home – which functions as a venue for tastings, dining and entertainment – opened in 2017 with a design by Matt Hollis of MH Architects in San Francisco. The modern-style building has a crisp profile and white cladding.

Oak features in the project — Sonoma County’s hills can be seen from the winery

In advance of the winery’s 20th anniversary this year, designer David Thulstrup – who leads an eponymous studio in Copenhagen – was brought in to freshen up the interior.

The project entailed adding new finishes and decor, along with reconfiguring the space to form three new tasting rooms. The aim was to create an environment that felt refined yet relaxed through a careful use of light and local materials.

“The outcome is an honest, simple and not over-designed place that reflects its surroundings, while also paying an ode to my Scandinavian roots without any Nordic clichés,” said Thulstrup.

Rooms feature neutral colours and earthy materials, such as oak-and-rattan screens designed by Thulstrup, and walls and floors covered in oak.

Rooms in the Donum Home feature earthy tones — A rounded walnut table is surrounded by woven chairs in a tasting room

In one room, a rounded walnut dining table by e15 is surrounded by woven chairs by Thulstrup. An exuberant light fixture from Louis Poulsen hangs overhead.

In another room, a streamlined walnut table by Thulstrup is paired with a row of simple pendants designed by architect Peter Zumthor for Viabizzuno.

Pendant lights are part of the home's design — Original artworks feature all through the building

For the building’s great room, where skylights usher in soft daylight, Thulstrup created a table made of California granite.

Floating near the ceiling are three mirrored-glass balloons that were created by Danish artist Jeppe Hein. The sculpture, called Three Colours for Donum, moves gently with the wind and refracts sunlight.

Skylights feature in the Donum Home's great room — Skylights bring soft light into the building’s great room

“Their mirrored surfaces reflect the surroundings and you at the same time, so you become a part of the artwork,” said Hein.

The Donum Home also features a custom, hand-blown-glass vase by Danish artist Lene Bødker, and artwork by Chinese artists Yue Minjun and Liu Xiaodong. There also is a neon piece, titled Surrounded by You, created by UK artist Tracey Emin.

A neon artwork by Tracy Emin — A neon work by Tracy Emin can be seen through a doorway

Studio David Thulstrup has designed a wide range of spaces and decor, including a photographer’s studio inside a former factory building and the Michelin-star Noma restaurant in Copenhagen.

Last year, the studio teamed up with Danish furniture brand Møbel to create a pair of tables – one made entirely from ceramic and the other from powder-coated steel.

Photography is by Eric Petschek.

Project credits:

Designer: David Thulstrup
Styling: Dung Ngo
Client: The Donum Estate

Reference

Interior Design

Domestic interiors with statement plants that bring nature indoors

By Zarkon Group,20/06/2021

If your home doesn’t have a garden or a balcony, a well-chosen houseplant can bring the natural world inside. The second of a trio of spring lookbooks this Easter weekend showcases 10 domestic interiors with carefully chosen plants.

The projects feature plants ranging from full-sized trees to smaller houseplants such as aloe, peace lilies and ferns.

The Gymnasium by Robbert de Goede

This ground-floor apartment in Amsterdam was once a gymnasium. Converted by architect Robbert de Goede, the airy dwelling features a couple of statement potted plants.

A narrow-leafed fig (Ficus maclellandii Alii) is located next to the glass doors that lead to the terrace while a large fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is placed beside the staircase.

Find out more about The Gymnasium ›

Orange apartment interior with a large peace lily

Trevi House by Studio Venturoni

A peace lily (Spathiphyllum) in a raised silver planter complements a Nemo chair by Fabio Novembre in this one-bedroom apartment in Rome designed by Studio Venturoni. The room also features a corn plant (Dracaena Fragrans).

Find out more about Trevi House ›

A white-walled bathroom with a snake plant

Yurikago House by Mas-aqui

Architecture studio Mas-aqui transformed this Barcelona apartment into a multi-level home featuring a variety of materials including ceramic, plywood, terrazzo and steel.

A single plant, a snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Dracaena trifasciata), guards the entrance to the bathroom.

Find out more about Yurikago House ›

A bedroom overlooking a plant-filled courtyard

A Forest House by Aquiles Jarrín

This spectacular apartment in Quito by architect Aquiles Jarrín features several large, architectural plants. Swiss cheese plants (Monstera Deliciosa) are clustered around the indoor pool while an internal courtyard is filled with umbrella trees (Schefflera), ferns and more Swiss cheese plants.

The apartment also features hanging baskets planted with a chain of hearts (Ceropegia woodii).

Find out more about A Forest House ›

A white-walled apartment with a large Kentia palm

Apartment in Lavapies by Leticia Saá

Architect Leticia Saá’s conversion of a Madrid apartment features a plant in every room. A large Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana) occupies a bright corner in the dining area while a giant white bird of paradise plant (Strelitizia nicola) is a key feature in the living area.

Smaller plants are dotted around the rest of the apartment (although it looks as if the photographer has used the same specimen in several of the photos).

Find out more about Apartment in Lavapies ›

A white kitchen with plants and wooden cabinetry

Newry House by Austin Maynard Architects

Austin Maynard Architects transformed a narrow Melbourne house by adding a raised indoor bed beneath a glass roof over the dining area.

Planted with a range of species including a philodendron and ferns, the border creates a leafy, living backdrop to the built-in banquette.

Find out more about Newry House ›

A minimalist apartment with a giant cactus

Apartment A by Atelier Dialect

Atelier Dialect chose a spectacular cereus peruvianus as the finishing touch to its elegantly minimal conversion of an Antwerp apartment.

The giant cactus is the only plant in the home, which is otherwise finished with materials including cement, exposed-aggregate concrete and mirrored steel.

Find out more about Apartment A ›

A white-walled living room with indoor plants

Casa SD by Escribano Rosique Arquitectos

There are more plants than furnishings in this spartan house near Valladolid in Spain by Escribano Rosique Arquitectos.

Arranged around an open courtyard and featuring open-sided living spaces, the white-brick interior is dotted with including various species of ficus including a rubber plant (Ficus elastica) as well as a snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata).

Find out more about Casa SD ›

A concrete living room with a large screw pine tree

Brutalist Tropical Home by Dan Mitchell and Patisandhika

A large screw pine (Pandanus utilis) grows out of the living room floor in this brutalist home in Bali.

Created by designer Dan Mitchell and architectural studio Patisandhika, the concrete dwelling sits amid lush tropical vegetation and features a terrace planted with palms.

Find out more about Brutalist Tropical Home ›

A White House, A Growing Home by RIGI Design

An aloe plant in a raised planter has been paired with a white Hee dining chair by Hay in the bedroom of this converted Shanghai home by RIGI Design.

The succulent is one of many plants artfully placed around the home, which also features a courtyard scattered with more plants in containers.

Find out more about A White House ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten lush rooftop gardens that serve as tranquil oases above the city

By Zarkon Group,20/06/2021

In the third of a trio of spring lookbooks this Easter weekend, we’ve rounded up ten verdant rooftop gardens including a penthouse garden in Australia and a stepped vegetable garden in Vietnam.

This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature terrazzo kitchens, stylish home offices, children’s bedrooms and inspiring outdoor living spaces.

Sydney penthouse garden, Australia, by CO-AP

The luxurious garden of this penthouse in Darlinghurst, Sydney, is made up of raised beds filled with indigenous plant, tree and shrub species.

Designed by landscape architect Matt Dillion, the plants were carefully selected to suit harsh rooftop conditions. The garden surrounds a pavilion-inspired penthouse with large windows.

Find out more about Sydney penthouse garden ›

Casa Verne, Mexico, by Zeller & Moye

This Mexico City rooftop garden was created as a getaway within a crowded neighbourhood in the bustling city.

Walkways made from white marble pebbles meander through different leisure areas, which feature plots of vegetation carefully planted to make the space seem bigger. Curved lines, artificial hills and dense planting add to the spacious feel.

Find out more about Casa Verne ›

San Francisco Residence, US, by Jamie Bush

A series of rooftop gardens were added to this stepped San Francisco building.

Los Angeles architect Jamie Bush used a landscape firm to choose plants to suit the California climate, which can quickly change from very hot to very cold. Among these are ornamental grasses, which are both attractive and hardy enough to thrive in windy conditions.

Find out more about San Francisco Residence ›

Veranda Roof Studio, India, by Studio Course

Studio Course revived this penthouse in Pune, west India, which opens up to a rooftop space. The local studio connected the apartment’s library with its courtyard garden where a raised patio makes for a perfect space for reading and relaxing.

Practical gravel lines the ground while shrubs and trees in wide terracotta pots add touches of green to the stone walls and floor.

Find out more about Veranda Roof Studio ›

The Red Roof, Vietnam, by TAA Design

This house in Vietnam is named after the large red bricks that make up its stepped roof, which is covered in an abundance of roof planters filled with vegetables for the local community.

The garden was designed to function as a closed cycle of growth, harvest and consumption, and grows a number of different vegetables in its raised plant beds and a number of terracotta pots.

Find out more about The Red Roof ›

Green roofs of the Forest House in Bangkok

Forest House, Thailand, by Shma Company

Bangkok’s Forest House has over 120 trees planted on its green roofs. As the roof terrace receives the most sunlight, it has also been planted with fruits, herbs and vegetables for the family who lives here.

Shma Company, which designed Forest House, believes that plant-covered buildings can help to mitigate many of the effects of climate change.

Find out more about Forest Roof ›

Maggie’s Centre Leeds, UK, by Heatherwick Studio

Heatherwick Studio’s design for Leeds’ Maggie’s Centre for cancer patients has a grassy rooftop garden as well as a plant-filled interior.

The studio wanted to immerse the building in “thousands of plants” to make it feel soulful and welcoming. The rooftop garden uses species native to Yorkshire’s woodlands, with evergreen shrubs and trees to provide colour throughout the year.

Find out more about Maggie’s Centre Leeds ›

Tokyo home, Japan, by Suzuko Yamada

Permanent scaffolding containing garden spaces encapsulates this Tokyo home.

Though it’s not a traditional rooftop garden, the different levels of the scaffolding allow the owners to experience a wide variety of plants, from a large tree on the ground to smaller potted plants higher up.

Find out more about Tokyo home ›

Rooftop garden, USA, by Piet Oudolf

Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, the designer of the High Line in New York, used herbaceous perennials ranging from flowering plants to decorative grasses for this rooftop garden.

The plants are placed in fibreglass planters with built-in benches and were used to frame four different zones on the rooftop, including a piazza and a dining area.

Find out more about Rooftop garden ›

House in Nha Trang, Vietnam by Vo Trong Nghia

The roof of this house in Vietnam is formed by a large tiered garden that was created to offer the owners as much outdoor space as possible. Trees, plants and flowers have been planted in rows on the staggered roof.

“The client wanted a large house with a large garden,” architects Vo Trong Nghia and Masaaki Iwamoto said. “Answering this request, a single roof is designed as a hanging garden to plant numerous trees and plants on.”

Find out more about House in Nha Trang ›

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