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Fettle channels Soho’s “grittier” years at 1 Warwick members’ club
CategoriesInterior Design

Fettle channels Soho’s “grittier” years at 1 Warwick members’ club

By Zarkon Group,

Interiors studio Fettle drew on the neo-baroque architecture of this Edwardian building in London’s Soho when converting it into a members’ club, as well as nodding to the area’s colourful history of the 1950s and 60s.

Owned by Maslow’s, the group behind Fitzrovia club Mortimer House, 1 Warwick features mid-century furniture and lighting along with bespoke designs that reimagine the furniture of the period.

Lounge of 1 Warwick members’ club
Fettle has designed the 1 Warwick members’ club in London

The mix includes jaunty elements such as splayed-leg easy chairs and scallop-edged rattan lighting.

“During this period of history, Soho was much grittier than we find it today, so we wanted to underplay the more elevated finishes that you would typically find in a members’ club,” Fettle‘s director Andy Goodwin told Dezeen.

“We have referenced the less polished nature of Soho in this period with raw plaster wall finishes and exposed brick.”

Yasmin restaurant by Fettle
The club has a rooftop restaurant called Yasmin

Fettle juxtaposes these references with some influences from the neo-baroque mansion itself, reworking its sense of assured comfort in a contemporary way with richly toned wood panelling and elaborate chandeliers.

“We wanted to ensure that we referenced this period within the final design,” Goodwin said. “We simplified a traditional Edwardian baroque skirting and architrave style within the bespoke joinery that was designed for the ground and first floors.”

“Typically, buildings of a similar age had common features, including bold geometric floor patterns within the entrances. And as such we reimagined a pattern from the period in the lobby of 1 Warwick.”

Balcony of Yasmin restaurant at 1 Warwick members’ club
Its wraparound roof terrace offers views across Soho

While drawing on the history of the building and the area, Fettle worked hard to ensure that the club feels fresh, welcoming and contemporary.

“We have mixed furniture, lighting and accessories from a variety of different eras and curated a space that feels relaxed and residential in its aesthetic,” he continued.

“When designing furniture specifically for the project, we referenced more traditional designs, however. We looked at the details through a modern lens to make the space feel familiar yet contemporary.”

Set over six floors, the crowning glory of 1 Warwick is the rooftop bar and restaurant Yasmin with its wraparound roof terrace and views across Soho.

Here, pink mohair-upholstered bar stools nestle against a wood-clad marble-topped bar while the menu is Middle Eastern, inspired by executive chef Tom Cenci’s time in Istanbul.

Two lounge spaces – the Living Room and adjoining Den – are at the heart of the club, where Fettle used an earthy-toned palette, along with exposed brick walls and geometric patterned rugs to bring a sense of warmth to the interior.

Shared workspace in 1 Warwick members’ club
The club has several co-working areas

“We wanted to let the existing architectural features be visible within the final design to create a more neutral backdrop, onto which we layered playful choices across the furniture and fittings,” said Goodwin.

“We used deep, saturated, colourful fabrics for the upholstered pieces and we have looked to mix mohairs and velvets with more vibrant leathers and patterned fabrics to give an eclectic feel to the space,” said Goodwin.

In the daytime, 1 Warwick offers spaces to suit different kinds of working styles, from private studies and rentable desks to the Pied-à-Terre – an open-plan workspace featuring long, library-style tables and comfortable lounge seating.

Office space by Fettle
Members can also work in private meeting rooms

At ground level, there’s the neighbourhood bistro and bar Nessa, open to all and offering a playful take on British classics while the more intimate, horseshoe-shaped bar serves up its own menu of small plates.

With a colour palette of warm, autumnal tones and a material mix of exposed brick, wood panelling and marble-topped tables, the atmosphere here is welcoming and down-to-earth.

Nessa restaurant at 1 Warwick members’ club
The Nessa restaurant is set on the ground floor and open to the public

Founded in 2013, Fettle has a long history in hospitality design with previous projects including the Schwan Locke Hotel in Munich, which was conceived as an homage to early German modernism.

Elsewhere in London, the studio was also responsible for designing The Gessner apartment block to resemble a hotel, complete with a cafe and co-working area.

The photography is by Simon Brown.

Reference

Ember Locke hotel channels Kensington’s decadent heyday
CategoriesInterior Design

Ember Locke hotel channels Kensington’s decadent heyday

By Zarkon Group,

Warm saturated colours and maximalist touches are combined inside Locke Hotels’ latest outpost in west London, designed by local studios Atelier Ochre and House of Dré.

Occupying an imposing Victorian mansion block in Kensington, the Ember Locke hotel was designed as a homage to some of the area’s historic architecture.

Bedroom and mirror in Ember Locke hotel
Atelier Ochre and House of Dré have designed the Ember Locke hotel

Among the references brought in by the designers were the art deco Kensington Roof Gardens and the now-defunct Biba department store, which rose to popularity in the Swinging Sixties.

“We wanted to create interiors that are an extension and interpretation of the neighbourhood, a space that reflects the cultural heritage of Kensington but also somewhere that shows the area’s evolution over time,” Atelier Ochre founder Pauline Dellemotte told Dezeen.

“We wanted to delve into the world of bold patterns, rich colours, eclectic furniture and art deco details, to tap into the sense of opulence that once dominated the Kensington scene.”

Kitchen and seating area in Kensington hotel by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré
The hotel accommodates 121 serviced apartments

Instead of traditional guest rooms, Ember Locke accommodates 121 serviced apartments over eight floors, alongside a bakery, restaurant and conservatory cocktail bar, a stage for live performances, a co-working space, a gym and a garden.

Its interiors were designed to offer a contrast to the hotel’s location on bustling Cromwell Road – home to three of London’s most important museums including the V&A and the Natural History Museum.

Seating area of guest room in Ember Locke hotel
Velvet banquettes in the rooms are trimmed with ultra-long fringing

The building’s original arch-topped windows are mirrored in the arches and curves found in each room, from tubular-backed banquettes and chairs to the sculptural meandering clothes rail of the deconstructed wardrobe.

“The curved edges of the banquette, the rotating mirror and the wardrobe rail are attempts to combine the unlikely trio of playfulness, comfort and practicality,” said House of Dré founder Andreas Christodoulou.

“We’ve introduced some bold furniture and sculptural objects to spark a sense of curiosity and playfulness, and to allow guests to interact and reflect themselves within the space,” Dellemotte added.

Kitchenette in guest room of Kensington hotel by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré
Each apartment also has a small kitchenette

The velvet banquettes are trimmed with ultra-long fringing, echoed by the fringed pendant lights that hang low above the circular table in each room to zone the seating area.

Brass detailing across coat hooks, wall lights and clothes rails adds to the sense of opulent modernity.

An intense colour palette, which layers red, orange and mustard tones, is offset by the deep green of the apartment kitchenettes, highlighting the more practical nature of this area.

“With the fringing and warm earthy colours, the rooms flirt with maximalism but still possess the calm and contemporary sophistication that one would expect from a Locke hotel,” said Christodoulou.

Bed and kitchen in Kensington hotel by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré
The bed is separated from the kitchen via a cotton curtain

Heavy recycled-cotton curtains in a claret colour, custom-created by London textile company Yarn Collective, track around the walls and create a flexible room divider, separating the bed and kitchen areas when needed.

Many of the communal spaces feature art by local and up-and-coming artists alongside specially created works by House of Dré.

Bathroom with striped shower curtains in Ember Locke hotel
Striped shower curtains jazz up the bathrooms

The project was a close creative collaboration between Dellemotte and Christodoulou.

“We are old friends who met at a previous practice,” said Dellemotte. “Our friendship grew to include exciting collaborations across hospitality projects, where we combined our passions for design and art.”

“At Ember Locke, we’ve been given the opportunity to blend the interior aesthetics and art curation of the spaces with the overall branding of the hotel in a holistic way.”

Bathroom sink in guest room of Kensington hotel by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré
Surfaces are finished in a salmony peach colour

Locke Hotels already has a number of other outposts in London. Among them is one in Bermondsey – with interiors designed by Holloway Li to echo sunny California deserts – and one near St Paul’s Cathedral that is housed in a converted 1970s office block.

The photography is by Kensington Leverne

Reference

Daytrip channels Margate beach in revamped Turner Contemporary store
CategoriesInterior Design

Daytrip channels Margate beach in revamped Turner Contemporary store

By Zarkon Group,

Design studio Daytrip looked to Margate’s dramatic beach landscape when designing this shop for the Turner Contemporary gallery, which sits perched on the town’s seafront.


The David Chipperfield-designed gallery, distinguished by its opaque glass shell and expansive ocean views, recently reopened after a renovation project that included the shop along with a new cafe and common areas.

Store with panoramic view of ocean and vases on display shelves in interior designed by Daytrip
The revamped Turner Contemporary store looks out over Margate beach (top and above)

Located in the lobby, the shop’s existing retail shell was designed to be highly flexible and to reflect the building’s gallery spaces, with poured screed flooring, linear glazing and a prominent ribbed concrete ceiling.

Daytrip designed a new fit-out for the store that reflects both the building’s architecture and the lifelong admiration that the gallery’s namesake, landscape painter JMW Turner, held for Margate and its surrounding landscape in southern England.

Interior of Turner Contemporary
Pigment-dyed timber panels were inspired by Margate beach

“As we began putting materials together for the scheme, we wanted to capture the light and patterning of the beach,” Daytrip studio co-founder Iwan Halstead told Dezeen.

“Margate beach and its seafront changes dramatically from season to season. As the tide pushes out, the beaches transform into radical landscapes of striation and patterning,” he added.

“On a sunny day, the rippled beaches are captured with shadows and glistening pools of water. We also noticed the effect of the salt spray and rainwater on the metal architectural elements – a dappled weathering effect that adds natural patina and cloudy lustre to the exterior.”

Magazine display and low tables with vases in Turner Contemporary Store
Display stands are backed with clear, textured fibreglass

This natural texture is referenced in the mottled grey veneer panels that line a portion of the walls.

Their unique, painterly pattern was created using a method developed by Berlin studio Llot llov, which involves covering pigment-dyed timber with salt crystals that absorb a portion of the colour.

“It felt naturally appropriate and subtle enough to line the display wall of the gallery and a number of the tables’ surfaces,” said Halstead.

“We paired this with textured cathedral glass shelving, chosen for its fluid, water-like appearance that allows light to transfer dappled shadowing on the veneered surfaces and the existing Chipperfield concrete floor.”

Overview of shop interior by Daytrip with simple grey display tables
All of the elements in the store can be moved to make space for events

A vertical shelving system, which showcases artworks, prints and posters, is backed with a translucent layer of fibreglass.

“Its inherent gossamer nature when illuminated by the sunlight creates beautiful patterning and highlights its fibrous textures – cloudy and ethereal – like many of JMW Turner’s artworks,” Halstead explained.

The store’s furniture was constructed from “humble” materials such as grey Valchromat – a wood fibreboard that is treated with several coats of lacquer to create a high, reflective sheen. This is paired with matt, white-oiled oak, which the studio chose for its sandy hue.

Fibreglass-backed shelf displaying artwork in Turner Contemporary Store
Rippled glass shelves reflect the light streaming in through the panoramic windows

Daytrip’s renovation also includes the creation of a merchandising system based on the approach of a magazine editorial.

The display tables and plinths can be organised into formations that create narratives with and around the products, linking back to Margate’s wider creative community and its makers.

Shop interior by Daytrip with low display tables and a row of shelves
The building’s ribbed concrete ceiling is left exposed

The display system also includes a workbench that is used for group discussions and workshops and invites visitors to congregate. All of the fixtures can be moved to accommodate large-scale events and talks.

Previously, Daytrip has created an eclectic office for a media company in London’s Clerkenwell and renovated a five-storey townhouse in Clapton.

Photography is by Ståle Eriksen.



Reference

Child Studio channels Soho’s peep show booths for Cubitts eyewear store
CategoriesInterior Design

Child Studio channels Soho’s peep show booths for Cubitts eyewear store

By Zarkon Group,

Featuring linoleum floors, Formica-clad walls and a deep red basement, Soho’s peep show booths served as inspiration for the atmospheric interior of this London eyewear store by Child Studio for spectacle-maker Cubitts.


Perched on the corner of Marshall Street in London’s Soho neighbourhood, the store occupies one of the early 19th-century buildings that form the area’s narrow streets.

Checked linoleum floor and wood-panelled walls in Cubitts eyewear store
Black and white checkered linoleum flooring features throughout the store

The store is spread out over a small ground floor and basement space lined by a narrow staircase.

In terms of practical requirements, the store needed to incorporate a display of the 100 different coloured acetate chips that customers can choose from to create bespoke frames.

London-based Child Studio designed a space for Cubitts that aims to reflect the history of the local area and create a customer journey that would encourage people to explore the basement space.

Wood-panelled walls and acrylic display stands in eyewear store by Child Studio
A wall-mounted display case holds 100 different coloured acetate chips

“Cubitts wants each of its shops to have a unique design reflecting the history of the local neighbourhood,” Child Studio co-founder Alexy Kos told Dezeen.

“The brand has a strong connection to London, where its glasses are made, and to Modernism as the guiding principle to its design aesthetic.”

Checkered floor, black stool and wood-panelled walls in Cubitts London shop

To design the interior, the studio drew upon Soho’s colourful history as a destination for massage parlours, adult cinemas and sex shops in the postwar era.

“Gambling, drinking, religious and political dissent, clubbing and prostitution were all, at varying times, peculiar Soho specialities,” said the studio.

“We have focussed our research on Soho’s heyday in the postwar era, looking at the interiors of the neighbourhood’s iconic venues, such as the Formica-clad Bar Italia and the legendary jazz venue 100 Club, with its all-red interiors.”

Desk nook with clock and glasses display in eyewear store by Child Studio
Formica laminate partitions with aluminium trims divide up the space

Referencing the peep show booths of Soho, the store incorporates low partitions clad in a wood-effect Formica laminate and trimmed with aluminium to form a maze-like environment.

Display areas with illuminated acrylic shelving that showcase the spectacles and the colourful acetate chips are recessed into the walls. Lightbox signage integrated into the metal-trim cladding and black and white checkered linoleum flooring add to the store’s nostalgic ambience.

An antique Caori cocktail table designed by Vico Magistretti in 1961 serves as a focal point on the ground floor.

Featuring a brushed aluminium tabletop and several concealed compartments for records and magazines, the piece was specially sourced by Child Studio and adapted to include a raised podium so that it is better serves the retail environment.

Leather chair with red glasses display in Cubitts store
The basement is saturated with a deep red colour

“Every project tells a unique story and we always look for rare and unusual furniture pieces to add depth and authenticity to the narrative,” said the design team.

“The desk lamp is another mid-century find, created by the Czech designer Josef Hurka for the manufacturer Napako in the 1960s.”

Acryclic glasses display with red velvet curtain in eyewear store by Child Studio
Limited-edition sunglasses are displayed on shelves clad in aluminium-effect Formica

A narrow staircase leads to the basement, which is saturated in a deep red colour. Customers are guided to an eye examination room concealed behind a velvet curtain by neon signs.

Cubitt’s moody basement lounge area is lit by the Conelight floor lamp by the British designer Ronald Homes and furnished with chrome and leather chairs designed by Giovanna Modonutti.

A collection of limited-edition sunglasses is displayed on illuminated shelves clad in aluminium-effect Formica that create a theatrical effect in the dark red surrounds.

Neon peep show sign in Cubitts Soho store
A neon peep show sign hangs at the entrance to the eye examination room

Previously, the studio run by Kos and Che Huang has channelled the look of a 1950s cafe inside a vegan pizza restaurant in west London and transformed a former London post office into a sushi restaurant with a 1960s interior.

“We like to use the word ‘cinematic’ to describe the spaces designed by Child Studio,” Kos told Dezeen. “With every project, we aim to capture a particular mood and atmosphere, rather than trying to recreate an interior from a specific era.”

Photography is by Felix Speller and Child Studio.

Reference