Dezeen Promotion: developer Hang Lung Properties has unveiled the 23–39 Blue Pool Road development designed by architecture studio, Kohn Pedersen Fox, to “offer a unique lifestyle that combines urban buzz with residential comfort”.
The site includes 18 semi-detached three-storey residences that are each equipped with a private rooftop, courtyard, five en-suite bedrooms, balconies and a garage.
According to Hang Lung Properties, “The crown jewel of the development is undoubtedly House 31”.
House 31 totals 850 square metres and is made up of two adjacent semi-detached houses with interiors designed by international studio Hirsch Bedner and Associates (HBA).
A custom hand-blown glass chandelier emphasises “the verticality of the double-height living and dining area, which enjoys ample natural light”
“From the very early stages of the design, we agreed that this was a great opportunity to create a timeless, modern yet opulent and comfortable interior,” said HBA Hong Kong associate director Paulo Dias.
“And who were the clients they imagined this one-of-a-kind home for? A well-travelled, cosmopolitan couple, avid art collectors and patrons.”
The artwork in House 31 is sourced from private collectors and galleries
The house’s ground floor includes an Italian Boffi kitchen, courtyard and island bar for entertaining, while its landscaped rooftop garden features a barbecue and bar.
House 31’s master-chamber floor is designed for privacy and includes a master suite and second suite, both equipped with walk-in wardrobes. The residence also has a wellness and spa quarter, study, games room and theatre. The interiors of the home incorporate Italian and local Hong Kong-made fabrics.
Dias and his team chose furnishings to create “different layers that add interest and enhance the overall level of luxury,” according to the brand.
Wooden and green coloured designs feature on the rooftop of 23-39 Blue Pool Road
“HBA is known for developing bespoke finishes that make each project one of a kind,” said the developer.
“Unique touches include custom-dyed wood veneers, unique glass and lacquer finishes and custom-designed carpeting,” it continued.
“Other exclusive materials include exotic marbles, like South African gemstone tiger’s eye for the bar and cow horn in one of the millwork units.”
The home is designed by Hirsch Bedner and Associates (HBA)
The artwork across the home was curated by the in-house HBA team, sourced from private collectors and galleries worldwide. The living room includes works by Andy Warhol, Kazuo Shiraga and DanHôo in a “bold salon-style display”.
“Elsewhere in the home are works by the likes of Damien Hirst, Lai Chi Man and Elsa Jean de Dieu,” said the developer.
The home’s interiors are made up of Italian and locally sourced materials
“The result is a living experience that is about “simplicity, elegant detailing and beautiful bespoke finishes, accentuated by unique art,” Dias said.
“The overall impression is one of drama and luxury, but that is still welcoming.”
For more information about 23-39 Blue Pool Road and House 31, visit the development’s website.
Partnership content
This article was written by Dezeen for Hang Lung Properties as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
An aquarium designed to protect marine biodiversity and a healing centre using horticultural techniques to help treat mental illness are included in our latest school show by architecture students at the Academy of Art University.
Other projects include a “public living room” that blends neighbourhood life with areas for privacy and a residential hub designed to enable economic self-sufficiency for residents.
School:Academy of Art University, School of Architecture Courses: M.Arch M.Arch2 B.Arch MA and BA Tutor: Mark Mueckenheim, David Gill, Nicole Lambrou, Sameena Sitabkhan, Eoanna Harrison, Philip Ra and Mini Chu
School statement:
“We are a progressive design laboratory of highly passionate students and a distinguished faculty of practising architects who work together to explore the boundaries of architecture. Our interactive onsite and online studio experience harnesses digital tools to mentor students throughout our rigorous curriculum.
“We offer an excellent design education by developing each student’s capacity to synthesise critical thought, architectural vision, and technical comprehension. Our programmes engage with current global issues, empowering students to be change-makers and leaders advocating for social equity. Our diverse international community enables us to propagate a unique cultural response to build a better world.”
Outer Mission Ramp Library – a knowledge connector for rapidly changing communities by Yi Hsien Rachel Wang
“The typology of library buildings has evolved throughout history, reflecting the changes in information systems and learning activities. By combining social, functional and environmental benefits, the thesis is projecting a new sustainable library typology as a prototype for a public learning infrastructure.
“The main conceptual idea is to design the library as a continuous ramp, connecting previously separated areas in the diverse local city fabric. The architectural intervention shortens the neighbourhood’s physical and social distances by combining pedestrian bridges, casual and formal learning infrastructure as a public living room for residents to gather, work, exercise and entertain.”
Student:Yi Hsien Rachel Wang Course: Master of Architecture Thesis Tutor: Mark Mueckenheim
Self-generating Architecture: Pier 28 by Valeryia Haletskaya
“The design for a hybrid aquarium and research-development centre at Pier 28 on the San Francisco waterfront employs organic, metabolic and self-generating materials. Artificial organisms – protocells that in time grow into artificial limestone – help to decrease levels of carbon dioxide while reinforcing the existing structure and building its sea-wall reef, skeleton, and envelope.
“Researchers, students and visitors share spaces for learning, interaction, and collaboration. The scheme offers protection for marine species and enhances biodiversity. The living architectural intervention is aimed as a long-term solution for coastal cities and other areas at risk from storms surges due to climate change.”
Student: Valeryia Haletskaya Course: Master of Architecture Thesis M.Arch Tutor: Mark Mueckenheim
Outer Mix Investigating mixed-use development as a means to fostering a healthy year-round community on the Outer Cape by Christian Fish
“A lack of affordable, year-round housing has become an urgent crisis on Cape Cod, afflicting low and middle-income families depending on a largely seasonal economy. Outer Mix imagines a new residential, social and economic hub on a 10-acre area in the Eastham Corridor Special District.
“Organised into four blocks repeated throughout the site, 95 residential units are combined with nearly 30,000 square feet of economic and social programming. This includes artist studios, co-working spaces, cafes, a library, daycare and community greenhouse. This programme mix enables economic and sustainable self-sufficiency and a community for residents.”
Student: Christian Fish Course: Master of Architecture Thesis Tutor: Nicole Lambrou
Eco-Tecture – Unifying Ecology with Architecture by Kevin Brady
“How can architecture enhance, improve and support educational and public awareness of the conservation and preservation of our local natural resources? Exposure and access to the elements of nature enliven the spirit, inspire curiosity, and encourages a ‘critical thinking’ response while promoting a healthy interactive lifestyle.
“This thesis seeks to determine how architecture could positively impact an ecological setting that strengthens community health, productivity, conservation and ecological awareness. This design approach engages user groups with the natural environment while preserving the ecological habitat.”
Student: Kevin Brady Course: Master of Architecture Thesis Tutor: David Gill
A Living Architecture by Aishwarya Naidu Bobbili
“This project is a healing centre incorporating earth and plants into its form and structure to create a holistic, sustainable space for wellness and rehabilitation. Farming, nature and architecture form a dialectic relationship. Horticultural techniques such as pleaching aid in the treatment of mental illness and serve as a therapeutic strategy.
“Located in Bakersfield, near Oil City in Kern County, California, the site is near the highest polluted city in the United States. The project aims to aid in healing people with a tranquil environment that incorporates sustainable and biophilic design.”
Student: Aishwarya Naidu Bobbili Course: Master of Architecture Thesis Tutor: Mark Mueckenheim
Unity Pavilion for Northridge Cooperative Housing by Naomi Rojas, Shunyi Yang, Dylan Ingle, Rhonuel Domingcil, Fabio Lemos, Corona Xiaohuan Gao, Malak Bellajdel, Kenta Oye, Jacob Delaney, Harikrishna Patel and Daniel Cervantes
“A design-build project by the B.Lab group, the pavilion fosters cooking, eating and storytelling within a community garden in the Hunters Point neighbourhood of San Francisco.
“Due to a lack of access to healthy, affordable food in the area, the pavilion integrates counters, benches, and a movable kitchen table for cooking demonstrations using produce directly from the garden, while a series of frames offer shade and a vista of the bay.
“The design was derived from several communities and youth workshops together with feedback from garden volunteers, and the pavilion was measured and tested on full-scale prototypes before construction.”
“The project investigates the relationship between the sacred and the political, and the role of the autonomous citizen therein. Sign-up sheets are simple yet contractual.
“Where public services are exchanged, they are activating devices bringing citizens together to achieve common goals. Sacred architecture has been a beacon of alternative governance by becoming places of refuge and political action.
“This thesis frames those events as distinct from the economic agenda of neoliberalism. Sign-Up Sheet reimagines the site with an urban sanctuary in San Francisco’s Tenderloin where non-profit staffs and community members live and work in a hub of collective activity.”
Student: Daniel Joonhee Lee Course: Bachelor of Architecture Thesis Tutor: Philip Ra and Mini Chu
Kid of Parts for the Bayview Commons Apartments by Adam Nuru, Markish Siojo, Dylan Ingle, Fabio Lemos, Xiaohuan Corona Gao
“Through a series of community events at the Bayview Commons Apartments, an affordable housing community in San Francisco, we learned that residents wanted an active, intergenerational, and flexible space that allowed for relaxation, interactive play and community events.
“Our final design incorporates a set of flexible, movable furniture that can be set up in different configurations. Intergenerational play, imagination, and socializing are emphasized through the design of different panels on the modular pieces. The colourful groundscape is coded to give clues for spatial use and provide a vibrant surface that complements the colours of the wall mural.”
“Urban planning in San Francisco has confined ethnic neighbourhoods to inhuman spaces. My ancestral heritage includes the repeated displacement of the Japanese community to unwanted or forgotten territories.
“The design reveals the lost layers of the site – where the first Japan town took root in 1900 – by activating the alleys, offering a cultural centre that borrows from museum and immigration centre programmes.
“The act of making was the catharsis that enabled this community to cope creatively. Ceramic, wood, and sewing galleries are paired with adjacent workshops, providing spaces to congregate, exchange ideas and share experiences through craft.”
Student:Kenta Oye Course: Bachelor of Architecture Thesis Tutor: Philip Ra and Mini Chu
Urban Living Room by Zoe Qiaoyu Zheng
“The project brings neighbourhood life into public space while blurring boundaries and creating conditions of privacy. Public programmes and varied open spaces blend traditional library and private spaces with adjacent buildings.
“The design responds to natural light, wind, and views but also create opportunities to block visual contact with adjacent residences. People are welcome to celebrate their time here, and the architecture makes invisible boundaries to protect their personal space as needed.
“This is not just a library or another place to hang out; the proposal also provides opportunities for people to safely interact in acceptable proximities.”
Student: Zoe Qiaoyu Zheng Course: Bachelor of Architecture Thesis Tutor: Philip Ra and Mini Chu
Partnership content
This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the Academy of Art University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.
For our latest lookbook we’ve selected ten examples of interiors enlivened by contrasting or analogous hues and colour-blocked walls.
The chosen projects all make use of colour theory, some by using analogous colours – colours that are close or next to each other on the colour wheel – while others use complementary colours, which are on opposite sides of the wheel.
The latter approach is often referred to as colour-blocking, a technique first attributed to Dutch artist Piet Mondrian and which later spread to fashion and interiors.
This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series feature interiors with internal glazing, relaxing courtyards, outdoor seating areas with firepits and decorative printed wallpaper.
Bun, Italy, by Masquespacio
This Milanese burger restaurant was created by Valencian creative studio Masquespacio, which used a lilac and avocado-green colour scheme to give it a youthful feel.
The colour-blocked interior features two complementary colours which were cleverly used to mark different functions. The purple colour is used for the serving area and the pale green for the restaurant’s dining space.
Find out more about Bun ›
Haussmann-era apartment, France, by Sophie Dries
Designed for clients who are “really into colour,” French architect Sophie Dries chose strong colours as the backdrop for this Paris apartment filled with street art.
The kitchen is a mix of grey cabinets and soft orangey-red floors, ceilings and walls. The designer used the colour-blocking technique of pairing orange with a darker colour, but swapped out the blue that is its traditional opposing colour on the wheel for the dark grey hue.
Find out more about this Haussmann-era apartment ›
London townhouse, UK, by R2 Studio
R2 Studio transformed this 19th-century terraced house in the London area of Kennington into a set of colourful, light-filled rooms.
The London-based studio wanted to create a spacious and uncluttered living environment, livened up with splashes of blue, orange, yellow and green.
In the kitchen, the studio used colour-blocking by combining complementary bright yellow and bright blue cabinets for an example of how opposing colours can go well together.
Orange Miura bar stools take centre-stage against plainer concrete countertops and match the green colour of the floor and walls for another colour-block touch.
Find out more about this London townhouse ›
Rooms for Yale University’s student-run radio station, US, by Forma
New York firm Forma used blocks of grey and orange to create colourful spaces in the Yale University rooms that house the student body’s radio station.
Forma painted its recording studio and performance space in segments of grey and vibrant orange, while bright chairs in a similar orange hue nod to the colour theme.
Find out more about the rooms at Yale University ›
Resa San Mamés student accommodation, Spain, by Masquespacio
Another project by Masquespacio, which designed the interiors for student accommodation in Bilbao with baby pink seating and floors set against dark red walls.
Red and pink are traditionally not used together but instead of clashing, the analogous colours give the room a warm, inviting feel.
Designed as a welcoming community-led environment, the entire Resa San Mamés accommodation featuring various bright shades of colour.
Find out more about Resa San Mamés student accommodation ›
Mo-tel House, England, by Office S&M
This London townhouse by local studio Office S&M features a multicoloured staircase, complete with a bright yellow banister that complements its dark blue hue and is livened up by bold pink accents.
The studio injected an abundance of vivid hues into Mo-tel House, a property with previously dark and cramped spaces in the London area of Islington.
The use of recycled materials led the design of the project, which was completed for a client who works in sustainable fashion.
Find out more about Mo-tel House ›
Wine and Eggs, US, by Adi Goodrich
Wine and Eggs is a Los Angeles grocery store with a checkerboard green and blue floor, designed by Adi Goodrich.
The hardwearing floor’s tones are echoed by a bright green wall featuring a circular window, and a bold blue roof, both of which were designed “as a monument to colour,” said Goodrich. The analogous colours also pick up the greenery that’s dotted around the store in the form of plants and vegetables.
The shop’s interior was informed by eclectic European grocery stores. In particular, Italian tabacchis, or tobacco shops, and Parisian cafes and Portuguese storefronts.
Find out more about Wine and Eggs ›
Minsk workspace, Belarus, by Studio11
In a more discrete example of how you can decorate with blocks of colours, Belarusian design firm Studio11 added strips of muted colour to the interior of their own workspace in Minsk, the country’s capital.
Flashes of plum and teal blue line the architecture and design office, which also features a pale pink kitchen island and rough concrete screed floors painted in a delicate shade of grey.
Find out more about Studio11’s workspace ›
His House and Her House, China, by Wutopia Lab
Chinese firm Wutopia Lab renovated two houses in Dameisha Village, an urban slum, into pink and blue buildings designed to explore gender constructs for an architecture biennale in Shenzhen.
The houses themselves became separate blocks of colour, a theme that was also replicated in each building’s interiors. Inside the blue building, analogous green walls and blue ceilings were informed by the work of French artist Henri Matisse.
Find out more about His House and Her House ›
Nagatachō Apartment, Japan, by Adam Nathaniel Furman
A formerly “claustrophobic” Tokyo apartment was transformed by designer and colour-lover Adam Nathaniel Furman into a space defined by a sugar-sweet palette of shapes.
Complete with a lilac carpet informed by icing on a cake, the pastel apartment uses complementary colour-blocking for the bright, light yellow doors with a pale pink border.
Find out more about Nagatachō Apartment ›
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 spa-like bathrooms, terrazzo kitchens and lush rooftop gardens.
For this lookbook, we’ve chosen ten kitchen interiors featuring kitchen islands that are both practical and sociable.
Kitchen islands are freestanding counter-height units that are usually rectangular in shape and offer additional storage and preparation space.
They work particularly well in open-plan spaces, providing a clear line of sight between the kitchen and dining areas and offering a place where people can gather.
Here are ten architecture and interior projects that feature kitchen islands including one utilising a repurposed carpenter’s bench and another informed by the work of artist Donald Judd.
This is the latest roundup in our Dezeen Lookbooks series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous kitchen-related posts feature green kitchens, terrazzo kitchens and kitchens with skylights.
Casa Aguantao, Chile, by Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados
Santiago studio Guillermo Acuña Arquitectos Asociados used pale pine for this linear kitchen, with the multi-functional island drawing the eye down the length of the narrow, glazed dwelling towards the living area and terrace beyond.
The kitchen island features a large stainless steel sink and a hob at one end, with the other end serving as a dining table. The far end of the island incorporates a wood-burning stove that faces the lounge.
Find out more about Casa Aguantao ›
White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker
For the revamp of a 1970s house in London, British architecture studio Gundry & Ducker added this kitchen island painted a striking shade of absinthe green.
The countertop, which features a large cantilever on one side to create a breakfast bar, is made of dark terrazzo set with white stone chips. With full-height storage behind it, the island faces a generous-sized room with two glazed double doors that open onto the garden.
Find out more about White Rabbit House ›
Rylett House, UK, by Studio 30 Architects
Studio 30 Architects repurposed an old carpenter’s workbench into a quirky island for this Victorian home renovation project.
The vintage wooden bench contrasts with the contemporary white kitchen units that line two walls. It serves as a sculptural bar that links the food-preparing area to the dining area on the other side of the spacious garden-facing room.
Suspended white Aim lights by the Bouroullecs hang above the island.
Find out more about Rylett House ›
Glyn House, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio
Striking black terrazzo surface with large, colourful aggregate clads all but one side of this minimalist kitchen island designed by Yellow Cloud Studio for a home extension project.
A double layer of oak drawers with bronze pull-tab handles sits below the kitchen-facing side of the counter, which has a flush hob. The other side of the island overhangs to create a narrow breakfast bar, beyond which is a dining table with bench seating set against an exposed brick wall.
Find out more about Glyn House ›
Hass House, USA, by Feuerstein Quagliara
Architecture firm Feuerstein Quagliara designed not one but two parallel islands for the open-plan kitchen, dining area and living room in this house in rural New York state.
Set at ninety degrees to the full-height storage along one wall, the islands’ bases are made of the same plywood as the cupboards and are topped by slabs of polished concrete.
One island is inset with a deep sink and an induction hob and features a breakfast-bar niche for two adjustable-height Camp Stools by Chicago designer Greta de Parry.
Find out more about Hass House ›
Lake Geneva Residence, USA, by Collective Office
Chicago architecture practice Collective Office created a sharp, monolithic island to divide the kitchen and dining area of this contemporary take on a farmhouse in Wisconsin.
The island is made of a solid-surface material by Caesarstone that resembles rugged concrete and has pale wood-fronted cupboards underneath.
The colour palette complements the silvery shingles of Alaskan yellow cedar that clad the home’s exterior. An extra sink is set into the countertop and there are handy electric outlets at one end.
Find out more about Lake Geneva Residence ›
Step House, UK, by Grey Griffiths Architects
A grey, altar-like island sits in the middle of the open-plan kitchen-diner of this London extension project by Grey Griffiths Architects.
Deep timber shelves provide storage and display space along the side that faces the dining table, with a sink with an angled mixer tap set in the middle of the kitchen side.
Find out more about Step House ›
Ritson Road, UK, by Gresford Architects
Pink is the theme of this kitchen extension built by Gresford Architects from rosy-hued coloured concrete in London’s Hackney neighbourhood. The vintage-style room has units along opposite walls, with a traditional Aga cooker on one side. The dining table is in an adjoining but separate space.
The narrow kitchen island, which sits in the centre of the room, has pink cupboards with slot handles. The apricot-coloured marble counter is cut away to make space for a traditional ceramic butler sink.
Find out more about Ritson Road ›
Shallmar Residence, Canada, by StudioAC
Canadian architectural practice StudioAC referenced the work of artist Donald Judd with this sculptural kitchen island for an art-filled house in Toronto.
The island is formed of four grey cubes made by kitchen materials brand Neolith and is topped by an offset white slab, which is interrupted only by a small recessed sink.
Find out more about Shallmar Residence ›
Barcelona Extension, Spain, by Bonba Studio
A simple wood-clad kitchen island provides extra surface space and a breakfast bar with bar stools in this kitchen extension by Bonba Studio.
A plain white countertop contrasts with the deep red terracotta tiles that lead out to the patio, creating a functional and spacious-feeling open-plan kitchen diner. It is illuminated by three pendant lights.
Find out more about Barcelona Extension ›
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.
Google has opened its first physical retail space in New York’s Chelsea, designed by architecture studio Reddymade to include cork furniture and recycled materials.
Welcoming its first visitors on 17 June 2021, Google Store occupies a ground-floor space in the former Port Authority Building – a vast art deco structure that is home to the tech company’s NYC headquarters.
The large windows of the first Google Store look out onto Ninth Avenue in Chelsea
Located on the corner of 15th Street and Ninth Avenue, the store’s glazed facade looks onto the entrance of the popular Chelsea Market situated opposite.
Architect Suchi Reddy of Reddymade worked with Ivy Ross, VP of design, UX and research for Google Hardware, to create a retail experience based on their collaboration during Milan’s Salone del Mobile in 2019.
Google Store’s interior features warm materials and lighting
Elements of the exhibition, A Space For Being, including the core principles of neuroaesthetics – a branch of science that examines how visual aesthetics can impact our bodies and minds – informed the design of the store.
Warm and tactile materials like wood panelling, and cork furniture by Daniel Michalik, were chosen to create an inviting mood in the main area. “Reddymade’s design puts the visitor at ease, welcoming those seeking help alongside those pursuing their curiosity,” said a statement on behalf of the studio.
Cork furniture by Daniel Michalik is dotted around the space
At the entrance, tubes of extruded glass are suspended between the floor and ceiling to form the Imagination Space, where visitors are invited to interact with Google products and technologies via a series of screens.
The intention is to “re-awaken visitors to the childlike wonder found in the technology and digital innovation on display”, the statement said.
Around the store, a thin black metal line traces a fluid path, drawing the eye between the various product displays.
A central circular counter that acts as a support desk has a neon halo, spelling out “Here to help” multiple times in a ring.
Casual seating is provided for customers seeking product support
Casual seating in the form of benches, poufs and stools can be used by shoppers and those seeking product advice or assistance.
In the windows, illuminated “discovery boxes” showcase Google products and allow passersby to interact with them using augmented reality technology.
The Imagination Space creates an enclosed area for shoppers to experience Google products and technologies
Many of the materials across the Google Store were selected for their sustainable credentials, enabling the project to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
Among these are flooring made from 100 per cent recycled factory waste by Swedish company Bolon, and acoustic panels with a felt-like finish made from 100 per cent PET plastic, and containing at least 60 per cent post-consumer content, by US manufacturer Kirei.
Discovery Boxes in the Google Store windows allow passersby to interact using augmented reality technology
Ross spoke to Dezeen in 2019 about how companies like Google “have an obligation” to be more sustainable.
She is also responsible for the creation of the Google Design Lab at the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters, as well as the expansion of its hardware line, which she has overseen since 2016.
Photography is by Paul Warchol, courtesy of Google.
Project credits:
Architect: Reddymade Contractor: Michilli MEP engineer: Rosini Engineering Structural engineer: Stratford Engineering Accessibility and LEED consultant: Steven Winters Associates Lighting designer: Reveal Design Group Acoustic consultant: Lally Acoustical Consulting Expeditor: Ganci & Logozzo Millwork/fabricator: Bednark Studio Millwork: Viridis Glass fabricator (Magic Space): AMG Glass Technik Cork furniture: Daniel Michalik Furniture dealer: EvensonBest Upholstery: The Work Room Neon: Let There Be Neon
Child Studio has used a glass block wall, dark cherry wood panelling and a soft blue coffered ceiling to channel 1960s London in this sushi restaurant.
Located in a former post office, Maido is an eatery in London’s Saint John’s Wood neighbourhood with interiors designed to honour the heritage of the late modernist building.
A curved glass brick wall divides the space
“We were fascinated by the unique story of this building and aimed to capture the nostalgic atmosphere of 1960s London, paying tribute to the modernist public spaces of the era,” said Child Studio founders Alexy Kos and Che Huang.
“The design evolved around the bold geometry of this period and the juxtaposition of simple materials: wood, glass, clay and steel.”
Maido is anchored by a steel-panelled bar
The walls across the entire space are clad in cherry wood while shallow alcoves are decorated with a rotating selection of artworks.
A suspended coffered ceiling hangs overhead, its grid pattern echoed in the black quarry tiles on the floor and the semicircular glass brick wall that divides the space.
The curved partition wall also forms a generous, leather-upholstered seating booth at the back of the space.
Shallow alcoves are decorated with a rotating selection of art
The focal point of Maido’s interior is a central island bar clad in reflective curved steel panels.
Here, the sushi master prepares and serves authentic Japanese dishes while customers perch on polished aluminium bar stools by Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa.
“It was important for us to create a range of different seating scenarios and balance the convivial atmosphere with more intimate nooks and crannies,” Che explained.
To complete the space, the studio sourced a selection of classic midcentury furniture pieces. These include antique MR10 tubular steel chairs by Mies van der Rohe and moulded plywood armchairs by Norman Cherner.
Pipistrello table lamps, designed by Gae Aulenti in 1965, sit on the island bar and on a large communal dining table while antique wall sconces produced by Italian manufacturer Stilnovo create a cosy ambience.
Mies van der Rohe’s MR10 chair was used throughout the interior
Founded in 2017 by Che Huang and Alexy Kos, Child Studio has previously completed a 1950s-style interior for a vegan pizzeria in west London, which was shortlisted in the 2019 Dezeen Awards.
All photographs are by Felix Speller and Child Studio.
A zigzagging plinth that accommodates seating, steps and planters weaves its way through this terracotta-coloured salad bar in Valencia by local design practice Horma Studio.
Located in a protected heritage building in the city’s L’Eixample district, the 140-square-metre space belongs to the BeGreen Salad Company.
For its interior, the brand wanted a non-prescriptive layout that could be used in a multitude of different ways.
A zigzagging plinth integrates planters and seating
“They asked us to design a comfortable and singular space,” Horma Studio told Dezeen.
“It needed to be representative of BeGreen as a place that should be honest, natural and sustainable but at the same time should rethink the concept of a typical cafe and restaurant with chairs and tables. They were looking for something flexible that could be used without any rules.”
The plinth runs along one wall of the 30-metre-long space
Finished in micro cement, terracotta and timber, the interior is laid out over an awkward long and narrow floor plan.
To maximise the eatery’s small footprint, the design team inserted a simple seating “plinth” that zigzags along one wall of the 30-metre-long space.
“We realised that the angular furniture allows us to get in more seats and contributes to creating a pleasant space, making this combination the best for our design,” the studio explained.
Finished in micro-cement, the plinth is set at different levels of up to 90 centimetres in height. It divides the plan into different seating areas including booths, benches and steps for casual seating, alongside areas for planting.
The plinth is decorated with locally-produced terracotta elements such as wall tiles and integrated cylindrical table legs. Matching upholstered seat cushions were used to pad out the bench and seating.
“The project aims to be as sustainable and honest as possible, so we simplified our decisions and used as few materials as possible,” said Horma Studio.
The serving counter is finished in micro-cement
Other terracotta-hued eateries include this Mexican restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles, where Wick Architecture & Design chose materials “that could be found on a construction site”, and a cafe in Melbourne in which Australian practice Ritz & Ghougassian used the worn red brick facade as a reference point.
The King’s Cross outpost of London restaurant BAO features a wood-panelled interior designed by Macaulay Sinclair based on the Western-style cafes of Taiwan and Japan.
Set within a mixed-use building in Pancras Square, the 188-square-metre space includes a restaurant and bar, a baked goods counter and a workshop as well as a management head office.
The double-height restaurant features a wood-panelled mezzanine
Its menu and interior was informed by Taiwan’s oldest Western-style cafe, Bolero, as well as Japanese kissatens, a type of tearooms that were popular in the middle of the 20th century.
Kissatens serve Yōshoku cuisine, an interpretation of western food seen through an Asian lens. Typical dishes include katsu sandwiches, omurice omelettes – made with fried rice and fried scrambled eggs – and hamburger steak.
A pastry counter next to the entrance extends into a bar
“It’s the type of place that is disappearing fast, similar to the pie and mash shops in London,” BAO founder and creative director Erchen Chang told Dezeen.
“But it’s a heritage that is growing a new wave of nostalgia. The restaurant, Bolero, was the first and now oldest Western-style cafe in Taiwan and it’s got such a history to it. It feels as though time has been frozen – in a good way. I love the decor, the old waiters and mostly the old menu.”
Bespoke timber and glazed screens provide views into the kitchen
Chang and the team at BAO worked with Nottingham-based Macaulay Sinclair to create an interior that evokes the “nostalgic domesticity” of traditional Taiwanese kitchens, houses and eateries.
“All our restaurants are interpretations of culture in Taiwan,” said Chang, who founded the restaurant chain alongside Shing Tat Chung and Wai Ting Chung.
“We like to use this as a starting point and point of reference for our restaurants and whilst our aim is to create that experience that transports you, it’s not to create a direct copy of the references we take.”
Baked goods are displayed near the front of the space
When customers enter the restaurant, they are greeted by a baked goods counter showcasing a range of handmade pastries that they can take away or enjoy in the restaurant.
The counter extends into a bar and overlooks the dining area, which is set with simple square tables and dining chairs by Finnish brand Artek.
Light streams in through large floor-to-ceiling windows and a white-accented staircase takes diners upstairs to a mezzanine level overlooking the double-height restaurant.
On the upper level, guests can learn how to make the steamed buns that give the restaurant its name in classes led by BAO bakers.
Diners can watch the chefs at work
The double-height space is wrapped in wood panelling, polished plaster surfaces and bespoke timber screens with glazed panelling.
On the ground floor behind the bar, the screens separate the kitchen from the restaurant, while on the mezzanine level they allow diners to peek into the workshop space.
Solid and veneered iroko wood is used throughout the restaurant, finished with a mix of timber stains and lacquer sheens, while the floor is finished with red epoxy paint in a gloss finish that BAO refers to as “Bauhaus red”.
Paper lanterns by Isamu Noguchi hang in the dining area
“The bespoke timber and glazed screens are intended to be a playful yet functional barrier between kitchen and restaurant trading space,” said Mike Sinclair, who founded Macaulay Sinclair alongside John Macaulay in 2003.
“Glazing provides considered sightlines into the theatre kitchen whilst flexible, openable apertures assist operational communication.”
The floor is finished in red epoxy paint
All joinery featured throughout the restaurant and workshop space is bespoke and the paper lanterns that hang above the dining area are by Japanese designer Isamu Noguchi.
A museum-style glass display area under the staircase showcases some of the restaurant’s bao buns and restaurant merchandise.
A white-lacquered staircase leads up to the mezzanine
Macaulay Sinclair also worked on the nearby Dishoom restaurant in King’s Cross, which is located in a former railway transit shed and channels mid-20th-century Bombay.
Swedish architecture studio ASKA has refurbished haircare brand Maria Nila’s headquarters and salon in Stockholm, creating an undulating ceiling installation that looks like dripping shampoo.
The Stockholm-based firm used a palette of soft pink, peach and turquoise colours that reference Maria Nila’s products to transform its headquarters in a four-storey townhouse.
A plexiglass installation decorates the entrance
“The interior space before the renovation had a very neutral, impersonal feel to it and followed a white and grey colour scheme,” ASKA co-founder Madeleine Klingspor said.
“At ASKA, to the contrary, we always strive to create strong and flavoured environments by defining and highlighting the unique essences within each project.”
The chequered marble floor was preserved
The studio preserved some of the original details in the building, including a green chequered marble floor and a wooden staircase, while the rest of the space was fully refurbished.
“To add a layer of the uniqueness of Maria Nila as a brand most other parts of the interior was changed,” Klingspor said.
“Some thinner interior walls were torn down, most surfaces were repainted, new flooring was partly added as well as all bathrooms fully renovated.”
Pastel shelving with undulating shapes decorate the salon
The 650-square-metre building has 30 rooms, including five bathrooms, and houses both Maria Nila‘s public and private spaces.
Though each room has a unique look, all were designed to create a coherent relationship between the existing architecture and the new interior details.
The colour scheme was informed by the brand’s product packaging
“The program is distributed in a way where the entrance floor is the most public and then gradually the spaces become more private and workspace-oriented the higher up that you get,” ASKA co-founder Polina Sandström said.
“The reception, salon, beauty bar, conference and meeting areas make up the first floor while the second floor is well adjusted for larger gatherings and events including a kitchenette, a viewing room and a bigger break-out space,” she added.
The four-storey townhouse has 30 rooms
At the entrance, ASKA installed a pale-pink art installation made from form-cut plexiglass designed to resemble shampoo dripping from the ceiling.
Much of the furniture was specially designed for the project, including product shelves, sofas and a beauty bar made from wood and MDF.
“Besides that, we chose to bring in products from companies that use sustainable materials, for example, a custom-made tabletop from Smile Plastic, a company that only uses waste materials in their products,” Klingspor said.
The new interior design was informed by the haircare brand’s own products, an influence that is most notable in the pastel colour palette.
Existing architecture was incorporated into the design
“The colour scheme chosen for the different spaces throughout the building refers to the different haircare lines of Maria Nila,” Sandström said.
“These pastel colours are one of the main identities of the brand and we decided early on that this was one of the unique essences that were important to bring to the surface through our design.”
Playful tables by Gustaf Westman add a fun touch to the lounge space
ASKA also designed numerous undulating wall shelves to hold haircare products. Painted in matching gradient hues, these were informed by nature.
“The organic shapes are inspired by elements found in nature such as the forest, ocean, coral reefs and caves,” Sandström said.
An upstairs hallway has modern furniture in soft peach hues
“This soft and playful architectural language together with the pastel colours gives the interiors a unique visual identity,” she added.
Other playful hair salon interiors include Studio Roslyn’s design for a salon that is the “lovechild of art deco and Cyndi Lauper” and an avocado-green Beijing salon informed by space-age design.
Architecture firm Snøhetta has created a library-informed respite from the digital world with A Better Place to Think, an Oslo pop-up shop for tablet brand reMarkable.
Located just off the city’s main shopping street, the temporary store was made to showcase the brand’s tablet, which has a paper-like surface.
The reMarkable pop-up store is informed by libraries
Snøhetta looked to libraries for the design, which features divided timber desks, leather banquets and small domed reading lamps.
The Norwegian studio wanted to encourage contemplation and concentration through the spatial qualities of the pop-up.
It features bespoke oak furniture in a quiet environment
“In today’s fast-paced and digitalised society, finding places for focused thinking can be a challenge,” Snøhetta founder Kjetil Trædal Thorsen told Dezeen.
“For the reMarkable pop-up store, we wanted to echo the serene environments of libraries – the clean and open spaces, somber aesthetics, tidy structures, and focused reading zones.”
The central light installation is inspired by a handwritten line
A Better Place to Think features two concentric rings of desks and seating, with the inner ring made up entirely of standing desks and the outer ring featuring blocks of seated desks, benches and sofas.
A handmade light installation overhead was inspired by the energy and movement of a line of handwriting.
The walls and ceiling are painted in a “calm and sober” dark blue, with white acoustic panels and shelving covering most of the wall space.
The matt finishes across the walls, panels and on the bespoke oak furniture are meant to echo the material qualities of paper.
The store features matt finishes inspired by the feel of paper
The design of the pop-up aims to emphasise the enduring value of bricks-and-mortar shopping.
“Although consumers are becoming increasingly digital in their shopping habits, especially during the pandemic, we see the value of letting our customers experience that ‘wow’ moment of writing on one of our paper tablets for the very first time,” said reMarkable founder and CEO Magnus Wanberg.
White pulp acoustic panels line the walls
Founded in 1989, Snøhetta has offices around the world.
Its recently completed buildings include the shimmering Le Monde Group Headquarters in Paris and the El Paso Children’s Museum, which has a barrel-vaulted roof resembling a cloud.
