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

Interior Design

Eight interiors that strike a balance between rustic and contemporary

By Zarkon Group,09/07/2023

For our latest lookbook, Dezeen has selected eight examples of rustic yet contemporary interiors, including but not limited to an apartment in Sao Paulo and a Tuscan boutique hotel.

Rustic interiors have a strong focus on natural and aged materials as well as traditional wooden or stone furnishings.

These material choices are often used to create a homely and welcoming atmosphere that is somewhat reminiscent of a farmhouse style.

From an inn with nautical-leaning decor to a mid-century home in Joshua Tree, here are eight examples of how interior designers are bringing rustic design tropes into the 21st century.

This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring wood-panelled dining rooms, statement headboards and homes with pergolas.

Villa Kurno, US, by Mini Inno

Los Angeles interior design studio Mini Inno renovated this mid-century ranch-style home in Joshua Tree National Park and converted it into a holiday home.

The studio opted for a neutral interior scheme that serves as the background for various wooden furnishings and fixtures.

Wood beams were left exposed across the ceiling of the living area while wooden barstools, shelving and cupboard doors are contrasted against the white-painted walls and floors.

Find out more about Villa Kurno ›

Monteverdi Tuscany boutique hotel by Michael Cioffi and Ilaria Miani

Monteverdi Hotel, Italy, by Michael Cioffi

Located in a hamlet in Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tuscany, Monteverdi Hotel was transformed from a crumbling building to a 29-room hotel over a 14-year renovation.

Materials and finishes throughout the interior were chosen for their textural quality and walls feature uneven surfaces with indents and niches. Salvaged wood was used for ceiling beams, timber archways and closet doors, which were constructed from old farm doors.

Find out more about Monteverdi Hotel, ›

Captain Whidbey Inn — Photo is by Alexander Ribar

Whidbey Inn, US, by Mike and Matt French

Mike and Matt French collaborated with friends and local designers to update this historic inn on Widbey Island near Seattle.

The team renovated the property, which was built in 1907, and decorated the interior with a contemporary yet rustic approach with subtle nautical influences. Wood panelling in various shades was used across the interior and paired with timber furnishings.

Find out more about Whidbey Inn ›

Carriage House by Workstead — Photo is by Jeff Holt

Carriage House, US, by Workstead

This home is set inside a converted kitchen house in South Carolina – a small outbuilding that was originally used to prepare food for the main residence.

Workstead decorated its interior using an imperfect approach that saw the US studio make a feature of exposed, paint-splattered brickwork and crumbling plaster walls.

In one of the home’s living areas, cypress and woven cane cabinets with an integrated window seat were built around a window, extending from the wooden floors up to the white-washed ceilings.

Find out more about Carriage House ›

Interiors of La Ganea restaurant, designed by Studio Mabb — Photo is by Carola Merello

La Ganea, Italy, by Studio Mabb

A material palette of plaster, timber and iron defines the rustic interiors of this restaurant in Brescia, Italy, which was designed by interiors practice Studio Mabb.

The former farmhouse dates back to the 16th century and was renovated to have a simple aesthetic with earthy components. Large wooden beams stretch across the ceiling above a tiled floor and grey-washed walls while dark wood and iron furnishings complete the moody atmosphere.

Find out more about La Ganea ›

Japanese tea house, Italy, by Lorenzo Guzzini

At this home on Lake Como, which was informed by Japanese architecture, materials were chosen for their likeness to the surrounding nature and the vernacular architecture of the historic village of Dizzasco.

Textural wall finishes in earthy tones and stone-lined floors were combined with exposed wooden ceilings, pine skirting boards and doors in an effort to reference the rustic look of traditional tea houses.

Find out more about Japanese tea house ›

House V designed by Martin Skoček — Photo is by Matej Hakár

House V, Slovakia, by Martin Skoček

Slovakia-based architect Martin Skoček used salvaged and time-worn materials in the interior of this gabled home near Bratislava.

Bricks walls are exposed in the open-plan living area at the centre of the home beneath a wood-gabled ceiling that spans the entire length of the space.

Contemporary additions such as a steel breakfast island and oak storage wall anchor the kitchen area, providing a contrast with the raw brick walls and wooden ceiling.

Find out more about House V ›

GM Apartment by NJ+ — Photo is by Fran Parente

GM Apartment, Brazil, by Nildo José Architects

Brazillian studio Nildo José Architects highlighted many of the existing architectural features when renovating this two-bedroom apartment in a condominium tower in Sao Paulo.

The interior scheme draws on a more contemporary idea of rustic, using exposed concrete elements combined with bleached wood and glazed tiles.

“The kitchen is open and funky, blending rustic and modern with colours, design and materials,” the studio said.

Find out more about GM Apartment ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring wood-panelled dining rooms, statement headboards and homes with pergolas.

Reference

Sustainable News

Sustainable packaging keeps perishable produce cool

By Zarkon Group,09/07/2023

Spotted: Home delivery grocery shopping in European countries is expected to double in value by 2030. And, in the United States, researchers expect sales to be double 2021 levels by 2025. All those shipments require packaging, and many of them require temperature-controlled packaging for cold foodstuffs and other products.

Wanting to eliminate the polluting Styrofoam that would likely go along with many of those food shipments, US-based TemperPack has created a compostable packaging material suitable for shipping pharmaceuticals, groceries, meal kits, flowers, and more. Not satisfied with simply providing a Styrofoam alternative, the company seeks to improve efficiency and reduce waste along the entirety of the cold shipping supply chain with its insulation production station.

Called WaveKraft, the platform provides suppliers and distributors with on-demand packaging customised to the current temperature demands – of both the goods being shipped and the external weather conditions. Businesses buy the paper required to make the insulated packaging, and then fill the required sizes and shapes of paper forms with as much or as little air needed to maintain the required temperature.

ClimaCell thermal liners help maintain correct temperatures within the packaging. Made from paper and cornstarch, the liners are also recyclable, and, as a direct replacement for Styrofoam, they meet certified performance requirements.

Green Cell Foam is TemperPack’s third product, a compostable material that quickly breaks down in water and flushes down the kitchen sink. Made from corn, it provides both cushioning and temperature regulation, and for disposal, it can be fed to plants as a healthy supplement.

Biobased packaging is an exciting area of growth, with innovations in Springwise’s archive including a recyclable waterproof coating and single-use bags that dissolve in water.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Architecture

Zaha Hadid Architects’ New AI Tool Takes You From Sketch to Rendering With a Click

By Zarkon Group,09/07/2023

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.

2022 was the year AI broke through to mainstream attention. But 2023 might be the year deep learning technology begins to really change how architects work.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Zaha Hadid Architects is behind LookX, a digital tool that allows architects to put AI to work in a meaningful way. Dubbed “the Midjourney for Architecture” by Dezeen, LookX is a software program that can take a wide variety of inputs — anything from a detailed sketch to a group of squiggly lines — and instantly transform them into high-end architectural renderings. Zaha Hadid designer Tim Fu made headlines with a Gehry-esque rendering created from a crumpled piece of paper.

Unlike Midjourney — or any other AI tool for that many — LookX was specifically trained on an architecture dataset called ArchiNet. The fact that LookX has been trained on this data sets it apart from other tools and allows its outputs to be of real use to architects.

“Because it’s trained specifically on architecture models, it has a lot more capabilities in producing finished results and resolved geometry, as opposed to what you would typically get from Midjourney or DALL-E or Stable Diffusion,” Fu told Dezeen.

In short, the program is able to quickly grasp different architectural typologies, distinguishing residential structures from commercial or public buildings. It can also fill in details that really make sense and could be useful in later phases of the design process. These outputs, in other words, are not simply impressionistic digital sketches of buildings. Their utility extends beyond the initial “wow” factor.

The LookX platform includes three sections: Generator, Model Training and Sharing Community. This last section, the social dimension, allows different models to cross-pollinate, enabling sparks of innovation to fly in unexpected directions.

In addition, the image generation is split into Render Mode, where the machine re-interprets sketches into architectural form, and Explore Mode, which allows for flexible customization. Even Render mode is more flexible than one might think; users can upload reference images to give the program visual guidelines. Something is reassuring about these features; they make it clear that using LookX does not mean handing over creative control to the machine!

As LookX is a deep learning program, its generating capabilities are constantly improving the more that it is used. That might sound eerie but it is true; the power of these kinds of programs lies in their ability to learn.

There is a certain significance to the fact that Zaha Hadid Architects is the firm to release this tool. The late Dame Zaha Hadid was well-known for her loose and impressionistic sketches. She had the remarkable ability to think in terms of large shapes and curves and then translate these general ideas into real-life buildings.

LookX will allow more architects to work like Hadid, beginning with the big picture. As a brainstorming tool, this is very exciting. We can’t wait to see what buildings result from this technology!

Reference

Bottle shop informed by Wes Anderson with central wooden counter and displays on either side

Interior Design

Eight retro interiors that capture the mood of a Wes Anderson film

By Zarkon Group,08/07/2023

Following the release of American filmmaker Wes Anderson’s eleventh motion picture Asteroid City, we have collected eight interiors that embody his distinctive cinematic style for our latest lookbook.

Anderson is known for his retro pastel colour palettes and use of symmetry, as seen in the sets from his latest feature film that are currently the subject of an exhibition at London’s 180 the Strand.

From a Milanese cafe designed by the director himself to a quirky makeup store in China that was styled to mimic 1970s offices, here are eight interiors that were either directly influenced by Anderson or look as if they are taken straight out of one of his films.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with bathtubs, Parisian apartments and striking art gallery interiors.

Boisson, USA, by Studio Paul Chan

Local firm Studio Paul Chan took cues from the opening scene of Anderson’s 2021 film The French Dispatch when designing the interiors for this bottle shop by non-alcoholic drinks brand Boisson in Los Angeles.

Elements of mid-century Hollywood design and art deco were combined in a space that includes walnut-stained wooden wall panelling, dusty green accents and a bespoke glass-block counter.

Find out more about Boisson ›

A yellow and orange store interior — Image is courtesy of AIM Architecture

Harmay store, China, by AIM Architecture

A colour palette of muted yellow, orange and brown characterises this shop by makeup brand Harmay, which is set across the renovated second floor of a business park in Hangzhou.

Chinese studio AIM Architecture designed the space to mimic a 1970s office by using rows of yellow desks to display stock and incorporating a retro woollen carpet and frosted-glass sliding “meeting room” doors.

“Creating an ‘old fashioned’ physical retail experience in an actual office space just seemed a fun way to translate this duality of space and time,” the studio’s founder Wendy Saunders told Dezeen.

Find out more about this Harmay store ›

Shelves and a fridge inside a cannabis dispensary — Photo is by Alex Lysakowski

The Annex, Canada, by Superette

The vivid colour palettes and geometric shapes often associated with Anderson’s cinematography also feature at The Annex, a marijuana dispensary in Toronto that was modelled on Italian delis.

Green and beige checkerboard flooring was paired with deli props, tomato-red stools and hanging pendant lights while various cannabis paraphernalia was laid out like groceries.

Find out more about The Annex ›

Bar Luce by Wes Anderson — Photo is by Roland Halbe

Bar Luce, Italy, by Wes Anderson

Created by Anderson himself, Bar Luce is located within the OMA-designed Fondazione Prada in Milan.

Pastel colours and veneered wood panelling were applied to the space, which was designed to reference iconic city landmarks and cafes – particularly those dating back to the 1950s and 60s.

“I tried to make it a bar I would want to spend my own non-fictional afternoons in,” said the filmmaker, who stressed that the bar was not designed as a set but rather as a “real” place.

Find out more about Bar Luce ›

Interior of Cafe Bancado with colour palette informed by Wes Anderson — Photo is by Mikael Lundblad

Cafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA

Cafe Banacado is an all-day breakfast cafe in Stockholm designed by local architecture studio ASKA.

ASKA followed “a strong symmetry” when creating the interiors, which feature checkerboard flooring, arched mirrors and a sunny colour palette that was specifically chosen to evoke the dreamlike atmosphere of Anderson’s films.

Find out more about Cafe Banacado ›

The Budapest Cafe by Biasol — Photo is by Derek Swalwell

The Budapest Cafe, Australia, by Biasol

Local studio Biasol designed this salmon-hued cafe in Carlton, Melbourne, to reference Anderson’s 2014 feature film The Grand Budapest Hotel – in particular its symmetrical compositions and “nostalgic” colour palettes.

Stylised steps to nowhere decorate the walls, while a curved archway frames a glossy point-of-sale counter with a tubular base finished in terracotta.

Find out more about The Budapest Cafe in Melbourne ›

Budapest Cafe informed by Wes Anderson — Photo is by James Morgan

The Budapest Cafe, China, by Biasol

Biasol also designed another outpost for The Budapest Cafe in Chengdu, China, that references the titular film.

Here, Biasol combined pastel shades and marble surfaces with similar chunky elevations to those found in the Melbourne cafe. The centrepiece of the room is a tiered terrazzo seating area topped with a pink ball pit and an original Eero Aarnio Bubble chair.

Find out more about The Budapest Cafe in Chengdu ›

Hotel Palace restaurant, Finland, by Note Design Studio

When Note Design Studio renovated a restaurant within Helsinki’s Hotel Palace, the Swedish firm set out to honour the history of the modernist building, which was opened in time for the city’s 1952 Summer Olympics.

Teak panelling, luxurious teal carpet and expansive windows lend themselves to a cinematic atmosphere, while white tablecloths add a touch of glamour to the space, where visitors can imagine Anderson’s characters dining.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with bathtubs, Parisian apartments and striking art gallery interiors.

Reference

Sustainable News

Microforests return degraded lands to productivity

By Zarkon Group,08/07/2023

Spotted: Tropical East Africa and the region’s coastal forests are considered some of the world’s most important areas of biodiversity. At the same time, Africa’s economic growth is increasing the demand for wood so quickly that current supplies cannot keep up. Like many other areas in the world, consumer demand drives deforestation, leaving behind low-quality soil tended by subsistence farmers.

Kenyan forestry company Komaza has big plans for little trees. The company identified a way to improve the stability and health of both the land and subsistence farmers’ finances. The organisation’s nursery in Kifili County produces around two million seedlings a year that are designated for smallholders’ fields. The seedlings are provided free of charge to farmers willing to set aside some of their land for reforestation, and in partnership with Komaza, farmers plant the trees for harvest in three to 15 years.

Microforesty restores nutrients to the soil while the growing trees sequester carbon. Richer soil helps to increase local biodiversity and improve the yield of other crops that benefit from the improved growing conditions. Komaza provides three types of trees – two eucalyptus and Melia Volkensii – that are all fast-growing, hardy, and drought-resistant, making them perfect for many regions of Africa.

Field Extension Network managers use Komaza’s tech platform to monitor tree growth and conditions across the more than 25,000 different parcels of land being cultivated. If the seedlings grow enough to be thinned, farmers receive their first payment. The second payment comes after the harvest and sale of mature trees. That could occur in as few as eight years or as many as 15. Some of the trees regrow after harvest, producing multiple yields from a single planting.

Komaza’s goal is to plant one billion trees across the continent by 2030 and generate $125 million (around €115 million) in annual income for farmers by 2050. Already, the company and its smallholder farming partners have replanted more than 9,500 hectares of land in Kenya with microforests.

Reforestation is crucial to the long-term health of the planet, and the innovations in Springwise’s archive, like self-drilling wooden seed carriers and drone-managed replanting programmes, highlight the diversity of solutions being applied to the problem.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Architecture

Humble Roots: 6 Contemporary Architecture Projects Grounded In Vernacular Design

By Zarkon Group,08/07/2023

Architects often strive for innovation and seek to push the bounds of design into uncharted territory. But there is much to learn from the ground already trodden. Revisiting the typologies of the past through a contemporary lens can yield exciting, fresh perspectives.

Vernacular architecture is a product of its locality. It’s a patchwork of design languages, native materials and building traditions informed by centuries of lives before us. This distilled knowledge is part instruction manual, part storybook — it summons rich cultural tales and imparts the blueprints for building on unique, regional terrain. Evoking the vernacular is a form of time travel — a way of colliding the past and present.

These six A+Award-winning projects each draw inspiration from historic, localized design and reimagine the vernacular spirit for the 21^st century.

Komera Leadership Center

By BE_Design, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda

Popular Choice Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Community Centers
Jury Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Architecture +Community
Jury Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Architecture +For Good
Jury & Popular Choice Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Architecture +Low Cost Design

Komera Leadership Center by BE_Design This remarkable women’s community and health center in Rwanda’s rural eastern province is as dynamic in its design as it is in its plight. Set against a mountainous backdrop, the building itself is an architectural topography of angular peaks, shaped from patterned brickwork and woven eucalyptus screens. This graphic silhouette was inspired by the region’s traditional imigongo art, which emphasizes bold, geometric shapes. Deeping rooted in the cultural landscape, the vernacular art form has become a powerful symbol of resilience thanks to its resurgence in recent decades.

At the core of the center is a succession of airy, vaulted halls. Hinging translucent panels segment the spaces and offer impressive multifunctionality. When closed, they carve out three classrooms for more intimate teaching and mentorship. When the panels are retracted, the interior transforms into a vast meeting hall for large community gatherings and events.

Super Paradise beach club

By Omniview Design, Mykonos, Greece

Popular Choice Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Bars & Wineries

Super Paradise beach club by Omniview Design The landscape of Mykonos is bristling with new development, however, this enigmatic beach bar harks back to the Greek island’s architectural roots. Its crisp white form, articulated in organic, flowing lines, is reminiscent of the Cycladic vernacular. Allusions to historic motifs are playfully incorporated — recessed pockets in the walls have been reincarnated as presentation spaces for the work of local artists, as well as storage nooks for the bar.

Traditional materials abound throughout the scheme, yet their handling is deftly modern. The project’s curvilinear geometry, seamless and sophisticated in its finish, is a product of cutting-edge design technology. The result is an aesthetic the architects call future retro. It’s a space that straddles different temporal plains, and in doing so, finds itself somewhat timeless.

The Kaleidoscope

By Inrestudio, Quang Binh Province, Vietnam

Jury Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Low Rise (1 – 4 Floors)

The Kaleidoscope by Inrestudio Constructed on a remote factory site in central Vietnam, this pioneering live-work project has a wonderfully whimsical inspiration. Capped with a conical roof, the building was modeled after a traditional Vietnamese farmer’s hat, known as a nón lá. Vernacular fashion is something of an unconventional architectural influence, yet the unusual form was mindfully chosen.

The surrounding region is known for its fiercely hot winds in the dry season. Consequently, the structure’s walls are placed perpendicular to the undulating roof periphery, creating channels of natural ventilation throughout the building. Intricate perforated block walls, a common design feature in tropical regions, help to moderate the extreme temperatures too. Constructed by a diverse team of experienced craftspeople and inexperienced farmer-builders, the project itself facilitated a valuable exchange of regional construction knowledge.

Marlboro Music Reich Hall

By HGA, Marlboro, Vermont

Jury Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, High Education & Research Facilities

Marlboro Music Reich Hall by HGA Nestled on the historic Marlboro College campus in the foothills of Vermont’s Green Mountains, four newly constructed gabled volumes stand harmoniously amid a collection of centuries-old former farm buildings. With its rectangular box structures and pitched roofs, the Reich Hall complex is a stunning modern iteration of a historic Cape Cod cottage. This classic vernacular has been sensitively reimagined with crisp, minimalist lines and contemporary vertical cladding.

Respectful of the site’s organic terrain, the stepped forms follow the natural incline of the hillside. Inside, the new lofty rehearsal spaces are enveloped in warm-hued wood to clarify the acoustics. Vast, floor-to-ceiling windows merge the stripped-back interior with the rugged mountains and woodlands beyond. The project’s simplicity pays homage to the architectural past, while celebrating the vitality of the landscape.

Locust Grove Event Pavilion

By de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop, Louisville, Kentucky

Jury Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Pavilions

Locust Grove Event Pavilion by de Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop Located on the grounds of Locust Grove, an 18^th-century agricultural estate and National Historic Landmark, this experimental pavilion is an artful interpretation of the surrounding acreage. The structure was conceived as a sweeping, large-scale porch, an exaggerated feature of the nearby Georgian farmhouse. In keeping with its vernacular inspiration, the pavilion has been masterfully positioned to frame picturesque views across the grounds. The project is anchored in stone and timber, reinforcing the material connection with the property’s historic buildings.

The pavilion is a porous space, simultaneously offering shelter yet open to the elements. Fittingly then, domestic symbolism is balanced by articulations of the external environment. The structure’s roof is coffered with a tangle of glulam beams, an allusion to the sinuous bark of the surrounding black locust trees, the farm’s namesake. Meanwhile, restrooms and storage spaces are concealed within volumes clad in a herringbone limestone skin. The undulating design recalls the repetitive stonework of the historic ha-ha walls that delineate the estate.

Hub of Huts

By NOA, Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy

Popular Choice Winner, 11^thAnnual A+ Awards, Spa & Wellness

Hub of Huts by NOA At first glance, this wellness complex manifests as a floating village, reflected in a covert mirror line in the clouds. Looming in mid-air, the extraordinary cantilevering structure subverts perception. The project was envisaged as a traditional Italian hamlet in the mountains, pared back to its simplest gabled form — and turned on its head. These simplistic silhouettes conjure up childlike notions of shelter and protection, though their purpose is two-fold.

While the open upper-level cabins house two jacuzzis, outdoor showers and a changing room, the inverted lower level hides the swimming pool’s water purification system and the sauna’s tiered seating, along with other amenities. The complex is fantastical in appearance, yet the cabins’ light brown aluminum panels channel the hues of the surrounding valley. It’s at once a masterpiece forged in the mountains and a product of an otherworldly realm. Here, the humble vernacular form has been elevated to dazzling new heights.

Reference

Bowler James Brindley transforms 19th-century palace into W Budapest

Interior Design

W Budapest hotel occupies 19th-century Drechsler Palace

By Zarkon Group,07/07/2023

Interior design studios Bowler James Brindley and Bánáti + Hartvig have transformed a 140-year-old neo-Renaissance building in central Budapest into the latest outpost from hotel chain W Hotels.

W Budapest is set inside the 1886 Drechsler Palace designed by architects Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos, previously home to a grand cafe and the headquarters of the Hungarian State Ballet Academy.

Working with local studio Bánáti + Hartvig, London-based Bowler James Brindley (BJB) wanted to draw out the glamorous history of the building, which had stood empty for 15 years before being acquired by W Hotels’ owner Marriott International.

BJB aimed to “playfully modernise” the interiors while drawing on the architecture of the surrounding area on Andrássy Avenue – a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s also home to the Hungarian State Opera House.

Alongside 151 rooms and suites, the building now houses a restaurant, lounge, spa and speakeasy.

“The challenge from the outset was not to be overawed by the beauty and strength of the building,” BJB partner Ian Bayliss told Dezeen.

“Many original details of Drechsler Palace were studied and re-imagined, as were original colours and textures. Protected architecture has been carefully restored and celebrated, and original glazed tiles have been reused.”

Central to BJB’s conversion was the re-establishment of the palace’s two original entrances. This allowed the studio to free up the spaces bordering Andrassy Avenue and create a “living room” within the building’s light-filled inner courtyard, which has been enclosed by a glass roof.

Tasked with modernising the building’s interiors while adhering to heritage protection rules, BJB made what it calls “second skin” interventions, which included the creation of new “corridors” within the palace’s ornate arches using freestanding, fret-cut installations.

The bathrooms in W Budapest reference a chessboard — In the bathrooms, checkerboard tiles reference Hungary’s affiliation with chess

“We wanted to respect the fabric and ‘skin’ of Drechsler Palace so we set about designing spaces, which created a new atmosphere while not touching the beautifully restored fabric,” Bayliss explained.

The studio took the same approach to the restoration of the palace’s vaulted basement spa, which uses “Houdini-inspired” mirror illusions to create a feeling of never-ending space.

Curving bronze metal installations follow the vaulted ceilings, while dimly lit treatment rooms were inserted within the natural spaces left by existing columns.

“In homage to Houdini, the treatment rooms are completely mirror-clad and essentially disappear, literally reflecting the existing architecture and the new second-skin installations,” Bayliss said, referencing Hungarian-born magician Harry Houdini.

In the guest rooms, turquoise wall panelling is contrasted with the gold-toned screens that wrap the beds, while mirrored checkerboard doors with brass details nod to Hungary’s long ties to the game of chess.

The chess theme continues in the bathrooms, where monochrome checkerboard tiling is offset by handmade terrazzo-lined double sinks and lightbulb-framed Hollywood mirrors that pay tribute to Hungarian-American socialite Zsa Zsa Gabor.

“The combination of a beautiful free-standing French Renaissance-inspired building by a famous local architect with a modern, idiosyncratic interior inserted into it could only happen in Budapest,” Bayliss said.

Set to open later this month, W Budapest follows the opening of the brand’s Rome outpost in 2021.

Previous projects by Bowler James Brindley include several guest rooms at the W Barcelona and apartments on the lower levels of Herzog & de Meuron’s One Park Drive skyscraper in Canary Wharf.

Other hotels recently featured on Dezeen include a “thoughtfully designed” brutalist hotel in Mexico and Capella Hotels’ Sydney outpost, which is housed within a heritage-listed former government building.

The photography is courtesy of W Budapest.

Reference

Sustainable News

Robotic waste collection for green spaces

By Zarkon Group,07/07/2023

Spotted: You may have seen pictures of parks or nature areas after a sunny day with rubbish strewn everywhere. More than an annoyance, rubbish in nature is also a hazard for animal and plant life. However, German company Angsa Robotics has developed an efficient and ecologically friendly way to pick up that litter.

Angsa has developed a robot named Clive that acts like a Roomba for natural spaces. The autonomous robot uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify litter and leave nature alone. It is able, for example, to distinguish the difference between a leaf and an empty crisp packet. Objects such as bottle caps or cigarette butts are targeted for collection, but insects and stones are spared.

Conventional sweeping machines are designed for flat asphalted surfaces, but Clive can clean both grass and gravel areas, which traditionally need to be cleaned manually. By automating some of the clean-up process, Clive saves money and time, as well as reducing the negative impact of rubbish on the environment.

Angsa is focusing on use cases including festival clean-up and the daily cleaning of parks and other green spaces. Lawnmower manufacturer Husqvarna is a major investor, having recently invested €2.5 million in the company. The funds will be used to accelerate the development and commercialisation of Angsa’s robotics platform.

Robotics, in combination with AI, is delivering an ever-increasing number of innovations focused on sustainability and aiding the environment. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted developments such as robots that clean ships to improve their efficiency and robots that provide chemical-free treatments to plants.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Architecture

KAAN architecten’s poort workspaces to rise from belgian woods

By Zarkon Group,07/07/2023

dutch design by KAAN Architecten to arrive in belgium

Dutch studio KAAN Architecten takes to the Flemish Valley near Ghent, Belgium, to design a sustainable new expansion for the De Prijkels business park, which is currently home to over sixty businesses. Developing an entrance for this collection of workspaces, KAAN Architecten has collaborated with developer Steenoven, contractor Alheembouw, DENC-studio, DELVA Landscape Architects, and artist Paul de Kort to design Poort van de Prijkels. Once built, the project will take shape an ensemble of three buildings located in Karrewegstraat, Deinze.

Integration with the Historical Landscape

Designing the master plan of the Poort project, the team at KAAN Architecten works with local architects DENC-STUDIO to carefully consider the historical significance of the surrounding landscape. The intention is to revive the Flemish Valley, depicted in old maps as a mosaic of agricultural fields and wooded lots. Central to the project is the captivating land art installation called Het Karrenspoor, created by Paul de Kort. This installation brings back to life the elliptical tracks of the historic cart road within a field, resembling the shape of wheat. The tracks are meticulously maintained through regular mowing, and a path runs through the field, bordered by latticed screens that provide dynamic views reminiscent of wheel spokes.

transparent Design with Sustainability in Mind

In contrast to conventional closed-box industrial buildings, the Poort ensemble stands out with its predominantly transparent design. The buildings boast floor-to-ceiling glass facades and wooden galleries along their perimeter, offering exceptional viewpoints to observe the ever-changing colors of the surrounding landscape throughout the seasons. Dark-stained oak cantilevers extend further on the sun-facing sides, serving as both terraces and structural sun protection.

Solar control glazing effectively manages heat gain and optimizes natural light, while slender columns and central circulation cores ensure unobstructed views on all floors and allow for future adaptability. The structure’s high thermal inertia contributes to temperature regulation. The ground floors feature spacious double-height halls that facilitate interaction among occupants through open sight-lines and interconnected spaces, serving as meeting areas and entry points.

kaan architecten aims to Enhance Employee Well-being

The new buildings have been thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of businesses within the estate, offering various office facilities and employee amenities such as child daycare, a bank, a fitness center, and other commercial services. Each building incorporates underground parking facilities on two levels, utilizing excavated earth to create adjacent slopes adorned with natural greenery, including diverse trees and shrubs that enhance the area’s landscape. This lush greenery not only promotes the well-being of employees but also acts as a natural carbon sink, absorbing nearly 16.5 tons of CO2 annually.

The project employs ground heat exchangers, utilizing soil as temporary energy storage. Additionally, the roofs are equipped with photovoltaic installations to generate renewable electricity and enable greywater recovery. Runoff is effectively managed through the integration of above-ground bio-retention systems known as wadis, contributing to ecological balance and efficient water usage.

Poort van de Prijkels not only transforms an ordinary intersection into a welcoming zone but also ensures continued access to the business estate. The project prioritizes the use of renewable resources, minimizes energy requirements, and employs rational management of surplus demands, resulting in a BREEAM Excellent score. With their height and functionality, the buildings create a distinctive entrance area while preserving the serene pastoral environment, complete with dedicated green paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

Reference

Interior Design

Chinese designers can “bring something different to the world”

By Zarkon Group,06/07/2023

Architects and designers in China are poised to have a greater global influence as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Dezeen Awards China judges at a talk at Design Shanghai.

Hosted by Dezeen’s co-CEO Benedict Hobson, the panel discussion marked the launch of Dezeen’s new regional edition of Dezeen Awards to celebrate architecture and design in China, which is open for entries now.

It featured Dezeen Awards China judges Alex Mok and Frank Chou, alongside Neri&Hu managing director Jerry del Fierro, who stood in for Dezeen Awards China judge Rossana Hu, who had to pull out due to illness.

According to Chou, who is one of the most established product designers in China, the country has a huge amount of untapped design potential.

“In Europe, there are so many design firms,” he said.

“In China, we have a population of 1.4 billion, but how many designers are there? There’s really a huge potential for Chinese designers to bring something different to the world.”

Sofa by Frank Chou — Frank Chou designs furniture under his own brand

Chou believes that emerging Chinese designers are cultivating a unique, contemporary design language that draws from China’s rich history without being overly deferential to it.

“We need to shape the real modern Chinese culture,” he said.

“When we talk about culture, many people equate this to history, to something in the past. But we should also be thinking about the culture of the future. What will be China’s future culture?”

Jerry del Fierro portrait — Jerry del Fierro is managing director of Neri&Hu

One firm that has successfully created a contemporary Chinese design identity is Neri&Hu, one of China’s best-known architecture and design studios.

According to managing director Del Fierro, the practice’s co-founders Hu and Lyndon Neri have been highly influenced by cultural theorist Svetlana Boym and her concept of “reflective nostalgia”.

“Reflective nostalgia is not a nostalgia that recreates the old, it respects the old but projects something new, something inspiring,” he said.

“It’s not about feeling sad about something that’s lost, but rather to taking elements from the past and making them fresh and new.”

Recent Neri&Hu projects include The Relic Shelter teahouse in Fuzhou, China

He believes that the conditions are right in China for architects and designers to push boundaries.

“If you work in America, and I worked in America for many years, some of the developers are very conservative,” he said.

“A lot of the Chinese developers are actually ready to try something more innovative. I think there’s something to be said about the culture here that allows for innovation.”

Alex Mok portrait — Alex Mok is co-founder of Linehouse and a Dezeen Awards China judge

Mok, who is co-founder of Shanghai- and Hong Kong-based architecture and interior design studio Linehouse, agreed.

“Transitioning from working in the UK to China was a revelation,” she said.

“At first, I was a bit shocked. But very quickly I just embraced how fluid and fast it is here. We now have the opportunity to be working globally, but our heart is still in China.”

Taking place as part of the Forum programme of talks at Design Shanghai 2023, the first edition of the annual trade show that has taken place since China relaxed international travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, the panel discussion explored how China’s architecture and design scene has been impacted by the pandemic.

Gaga's Coast restaurant in Shanghai designed by Linehouse — Recent Linehouse projects in China include the Coast restaurant in Shanghai

According to Mok, Covid-19 forced many architecture and design firms in China who previously relied on foreign workers to nurture and cultivate local talent instead.

“Everything had to be more local, which I think was a positive thing,” she said.

“It became a bit more about Chinese creativity. When we were hiring, we kept getting all these CVs from foreign architects, but it was impossible [to hire them]. This meant we ended up fostering more local Chinese talent.”

Del Fierro said that Neri&Hu experienced something similar, with many of the firm’s foreign workers returning to Europe or the US and working remotely. According to Fierro, this had the unexpected but welcome consequence of increasing the practice’s international projects.

Covid-19 pandemic created “new opportunities” for architects and designers

“Our practice is very different from three years ago,” he said.

“When the pandemic happened, there were a number of our staff who wanted to return to Europe. We now have about 50 per cent of our projects diversified. Fifty per cent of them are still in China, but 50 per cent are now outside of China.”

According to Del Fierro, the global acceptance of remote working will provide more opportunities for firms based in China to work on projects abroad.

“The concept of remote working is now very commonplace and we are not limited by physical travel anymore,” he said.

“So suddenly, we have all these new opportunities. We are based in Shanghai, can we work in Cape Town? Absolutely! And we don’t have to go there every month. So I think the pandemic caused an interesting situation to create new opportunities.”

Dezeen Awards China 2023 in partnership with Bentley

Dezeen Awards China open for entries until 24 August

Chou, Mok and Neri&Hu co-founder Hu are among the first judges to be announced for Dezeen Awards China, which launched in Shanghai on 8 June in partnership with Bentley. Further judges will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dezeen Awards China is open for entries now until 24 August 2023, but studios can save money on their entry if they enter before 13 July 2023.

There are 17 project categories to enter across architecture, interiors and design. The winners of these project categories will go head to head for the chance to be crowned one of three project of the year winners across architecture, interiors and design.

Reference

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