Is This the Most Beautiful Architecture School Project Ever Designed?
CategoriesArchitecture

Is This the Most Beautiful Architecture School Project Ever Designed?

“Artisanal” is a word one hears a lot these days, especially in Brooklyn. Consumers are getting tired of the same old same old and long for one-of-a-kind products, preferably those made by hand. Artisans themselves are looking to escape a mainstream workforce where workers rarely get to take ownership over their own projects.

When she was an architecture student, Joanne Chen seized on this trend in an imaginative manner, designing a factory where master craftsmen could work alongside one another. Her drawings are the kind that would be perfect for Architizer’s inaugural Vision Awards, a competition that gives talented creators — including architectural photographers, filmmakers, visualizers, drawers, model-makers and more — a chance to showcase their work. With categories for students and professionals, the awards recognize emerging and established talent.

Pre-launch Registration is open today — sign up for the Vision Awards to be the first to receive updates and begin preparing your entries:

Register for the Vision Awards

In Chen’s vision, artisans would not only ply their trades but would also have access to recreational and educational facilities. It is a unique facility designed for those who wish to find enjoyment in their work.

“The project raises a critique on the contemporary view of work as compensatory toil rather than fulfillment and pleasure,” said Chen. “The building adopts an interwoven spatial language, interspersing production spaces with gardens and waterscapes to create a multi-orientational experience while preserving the building’s sense of transparency.”

The proposal places the factory on the picturesque banks of the river Thames in London and includes workshops for stained-glass-makers, weavers, furniture designers and more. Courtyards featuring pensive lily ponds are laced throughout the scheme. Although this is a workplace, beauty is integrated into the functional spaces. Decorative doorways connect rooms with stunning glazed ceilings, and walls are lined with wallpaper featuring intricate vegetal motifs.

“The ornate design is a reaction against the minimalist Scandinavian design that is ubiquitous in today’s homes thanks to furniture manufacturers like Ikea,” explained Chen.

Readers might be surprised to learn that disenchantment with mass production is nothing new. In Victorian England, members of the Arts and Crafts movement called for an integration of the arts with everyday life.

They privileged the handmade over the factory-made and wrote treatises that romanticized the medieval guilds of centuries past, an age in which the products of daily life were built by master craftsmen who honed their skills over a lifetime.

One of the most interesting figures of the Arts and Crafts movement was the writer, textile designer and socialist thinker William Morris (1834–1896). In essays like “Art and Life,” Morris outlined his proposal to transform society in a way that would eliminate drudgery.

His dream was a world in which work was a sphere of life where people could feel independent, creative and fulfilled. “The true secret of happiness,” he once wrote, “lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.”

Morris’s idealism was a major inspiration for Chen, whose factory is modeled on design principles set down in one of Morris’s texts. Like Morris, Chen wishes to reimagine the factory as a space for joy and exploration, rather than mere industrial efficiency. Many of the details of her proposal — including the striking wallpaper designs — are inspired by Morris’s own sketches and textile designs.

In terms of architectural inspirations, the project possesses a resemblance to Carlo Scarpa’s Brion Cemetery, a moving project defined by pristine concrete forms and reflecting pools.

Chen’s project was completed as part of her Masters program at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. She worked in collaboration with the architect Niall McLaughlin as well as Michiko Sumi and Yeoryia Manolopoulou.

Architizer’s Vision Awards seeks to honor theoretical works that, like Chen’s imaginative drawing, might never result in a built project, but deserve recognition for the inspiration they spark. From fantastical renderings to intricate drawings, conceptual works tell powerful stories about architecture and form a creative catalyst for the profession:

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All images courtesy of Bartlett School of Architecture

Reference

Khaite flagship store designed as a “tribute to the cultural legacy of SoHo”
CategoriesInterior Design

Khaite flagship store designed as a “tribute to the cultural legacy of SoHo”

American fashion brand Khaite has opened its flagship store in SoHo, New York City – a cement-trowelled and steel-lined interior with an evergreen tree planted into its shop floor.

The store was designed by Khaite‘s founder and creative director, Catherine Holstein and her husband New York-based architect, Griffin Frazen.

Interior image of the Khaite store
The Khaite flagship store is located in SoHo, New York City

It occupies a Corinthian column-fronted building in SoHo, capped with Italianate cast-iron modillion cornices, designed by German architect Henry Fernbach in 1871.

Holstein and Frazen wanted to encapsulate the cultural legacy of the SoHo location with the area’s connection to the founding of the brand.

Interior of the Khaite store
It was designed by Khaite’s founder and her husband

“Every element of KHAITE is shaped by New York, and we set out to make this space a tribute to the cultural legacy of SoHo,” said Holstein.

“When I moved to New York twenty years ago, this block of Mercer was my entry point to the city, and SoHo is where KHAITE was born. Our first design studio was just down the street.”

Interior image of the Khaite store in SoHo
The couple looked to encapsulate the legacy of its location

The entire 371 square metre ground floor of the store was dedicated to retail space while the building’s basement was reserved for back-of-house workings as well as a private meeting area.

Holstein and Frazen’s approach saw the store clad in city-characterising materials such as steel, glass, poured concrete, troweled cement and plaster, which bring an industrial and monolithic look to the space.

Photo of the Khaite store
Cement, concrete and steel were used throughout the store

Four curving steel partition walls meander through the length of the retail space and are used to conceal and frame Khaite’s ready-to-wear collections that are displayed on curved display rails.

The four steel walls are visually separated by a channel of light from one of two skylights at the rear of the store that was exposed during its renovation.

A focal feature of the store is an evergreen Bucida Buceras tree, which was named the Shady Lady and planted into the floor beneath the rear skylight.

As light enters and flows into the space from the skylights the rough and textural quality of the cement-trowelled walls is revealed.

Photo of the interior of the Khaite store
Skylights were uncovered during its renovation

“The design was conceived in terms of material – choosing the right materials and working with them in the right way to satisfy the programmatic requirements,” said Frazen.

“We leaned into elemental qualities like natural light, preserving the scale and openness while creating intimate spaces.”

Photo of a tree in the store
A tree was planted into the floor of the store

“We embrace the change of materials like steel and concrete just as you would leather and cashmere, honoring them by allowing them to wear in gracefully,” said Frazen.

“Each piece has unique textures, and rather than polishing away or painting over them, we preserved imperfection.”

Photo of the concrete store
It has an industrial look

Three fitting rooms were designed to contrast the brutalist details of the store and were blanketed in a deep red, fitted with plush red carpeting and warm lighting.

Minimal furniture was placed throughout, such as a Sing Sing chair by Japanese designer Shiro Kuramata that sits beside a twisted, low-lying shelf used to display the brand’s accessories.

Interior image of a red fitting room
The basement contains back-of-house operations

Before opening to the public, the store was used as the setting for Khaite’s Autumn Winter 2023 show which was presented in February.

Nearby in SoHo, design agency Aruliden completed a store interior for fashion brand Jonathan Simkhai that incorporated cut-out shapes from Simkhai’s clothing into partitions and furniture.

Design firm Crosby Studios teamed up with AR technology company Zero10 to create a pop-up store also in SoHo that allows people to try on virtual clothes.

Reference

Resimercial Architecture: Workplaces that are Designed to Feel Like Home
CategoriesArchitecture

Resimercial Architecture: Workplaces that are Designed to Feel Like Home

Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter.

While you may not be familiar with the term, “resimercial design” is something we see frequently but very rarely take the time to analyze. From the comfy couches in the office lounge to the cozy rugs and ambient lighting in the conference room, resimercial design is all about bringing the comforts of home into the workplace (that’s resi-mercial, get it?). By prioritizing employee wellbeing, this design philosophy not only enhances the aesthetics of a workspace but also boosts productivity and overall job satisfaction. It’s a win-win situation that incorporates natural light, comfortable furniture and elements that evoke a sense of homeliness, such as warm lighting, soft textiles and plants, alongside seamless technological integration. This fusion approach has captured the attention of employers looking to create a dynamic and appealing work environment.

As companies strive to attract and, just as importantly, retain top talent, resimercial design has become an increasingly popular choice for optimizing workspaces. Combining the best residential and commercial design strategies, these six resimercial spaces are great examples of the welcoming and comfortable environment at the forefront of modern office design.


The Vibes

By Infinitive Architecture, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

Jury Winner, 2022 A+Awards, Coworking Space

Photographs by Infinitive Architecture

The Vibes by Infinitive Architecture is an office building that perfectly combines bioclimatic design with resimercial elements. With various open spaces and lush greenery, this building provokes tranquility and relaxation in the middle of a bustling city. The multi-zoning masterplan of the coworking space is developed to centralize the garden space to promote natural views.

The building is naturally ventilated, and the workplace areas receive ample natural light from the outdoor intersections, while the bamboo skin that makes up the façade also features integrated percussion balls that produce interactive vibration sounds in light breezes, adding a unique sensory experience to the office spaces. The Vibes is a remarkable example of how understanding the human experience when undertaking tasks can create a sustainable, comfortable and creative work environment that prioritizes employee wellbeing.


Venture X

By Studio+, Naples, FL, United States

Popular Winner, 2022 A+Awards, Coworking Space

Photographs by Seamus Payne

Venture X, Naples, is a coworking space that merges the comforts of home with the productivity of a professional office environment. Designed with a resimercial approach, the space features luxurious finishes and stylish furniture, making it feel more like a bougie apartment than a traditional office.
Gone are the drab cubicles and empty white walls. In their place are living gardens, moss walls and botanical table art that provide a beautiful, verdant backdrop to the coworking space.

The furniture is carefully chosen to complement the design aesthetic, with fabrics, finishes and materials all speaking the same design language. Venture X, Naples, is a coworking space that breaks the mold of traditional office design, offering a resimercial approach that promotes wellness, creativity and productivity in equal measure.


The Coven

By Studio BV, Saint Paul, MN, United States

Photographs by Corey Gaffer Photography

A coworking space that empowers women and non-binary individuals, The Coven is a space designed for inclusivity and comfort. Its flagship location in St. Paul, MN, was developed to encourage collaboration, creativity and community. The goal was to transform a dark, historic space into a bright and empowering environment that reflects the organization’s mission. The reception and open lounge area take advantage of the high ceilings and natural light, with bespoke features that reflect the historic character of the building.

Upholstered in soft blue fabric, the custom reception desk provides a cozy welcome. Color and material choices reflect the individuality of the members and guests, with unexpected pops of color and unique design elements that create a sense of personality and identity. A custom wall tile application in the coffee bar featuring The Coven’s mantra of “do the most good” serves as a bold and empowering statement. The space features murals, weavings, paintings, tapestries and other curated objects created by local female artists that express diversity and community, bringing a real sense of home decoration to the spaces.


Smart Design Studio

By Smart Design Studio, Alexandria, Australia

Jury Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Office Interiors <25,000 sq ft

Photographs by Romello Pereira

Smart Design Studio is a sustainable and sculptural building that fits seamlessly with the brick warehouses of this inner-city conservation area. It embodies the essence of industrial buildings in its aesthetics, functionality, economy and innovation.

The readapted industrial building houses a purpose-designed studio for tenants, Smart Design Studio, that combines traditional workplace design with a hint of resimercial design. On the upper level, a mezzanine overlooking the light-filled space encapsulates and comforts with soft furnishings and a familiar living room. Having multiple areas that can provide what workers need is an excellent way of meeting the needs of individuals.


GoodRx Headquarters

By RIOS Santa Monica, CA, United States

Jury Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Office Interiors >25,000 sq ft

Photographs by Jasper Sanidad

GoodRx Headquarters has undergone a stunning transformation from a start-up to a vibrant and inclusive workspace in the heart of Los Angeles’ tech scene. The combination of commercial and residential elements has been masterfully utilized to create a warm, inviting, and functional space. The design approach incorporates aspects of urban planning to accommodate GoodRx’s growing workforce, with social programs creating private moments in vast warehouse spaces.

The use of upcycled materials and an industrial palette adds an earthy, raw quality that’s visually striking and tactile. The space includes unique features, such as a speakeasy, a doctor’s room and a meditation and yoga facility, providing opportunities for employees to come together and connect. Overall, the GoodRx Headquarters embodies resimercial design, creating a welcoming, community-focused workspace that reflects the company’s evolving mission.


Office Brabant

Studio Piet Boon, NB, Netherlands

Jury Winner, 2020 A+Awards, Office Interiors – Low Rise 1-4 Floors

Photographs by Thomas de Bruyne

Studio Piet Boon was tasked with designing a Dutch office space that is both timeless and functional. The resulting structure draws inspiration from traditional farms in the surrounding area while incorporating a modern interpretation of a barn space, creating a one-story office that feels like a comfortable and inviting residence.

The main spaces of the building feature pitched roofs and brick walls adorned with coal-black wooden slats that open up the interior to the surrounding gardens. The use of brick ‘boxes’ with flat roofs connects the three distinct areas of the building, while the Fitness Center and Spa occupy a separate building that encloses a symmetrical patio with a tranquil water feature for privacy.

The building’s shape and large windows provide panoramic views of the surrounding golf course, while the windows overlooking the patio create a more intimate and cozy feel. The interior is designed with natural stone and light wooden floors, creating a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor living. Soft, unsaturated colors are used throughout the building, and the plastered walls highlight the natural color of the wooden beams. With a focus on creating a warm and welcoming environment that seamlessly blends work and relaxation, this Dutch office space embodies the principles of resimercial design.

Browse the Architizer Jobs Board and apply for architecture and design positions at some of the world’s best firms. Click here to sign up for our Jobs Newsletter.

Reference

Seven homes with discrete cleverly designed lifts
CategoriesInterior Design

Seven homes with discrete cleverly designed lifts

A converted showroom in London and a São Paulo penthouse with a wood-wrapped elevator are included in this lookbook of homes with smart residential lifts.

Lifts, also known as elevators, are mechanical shafts that carry people, cars and loads between multiple levels and are typically used in tall buildings.

But they can also be found in residential buildings, where they can be used to quickly move between floors and ensure that people with mobility issues can easily access the different levels of their homes.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring beige interiors, cosy cabins, space-saving pocket doors.


Syncline by Omar Ghandi Architect
Photo is by Ema Peter

Syncline, Canada, by Omar Gandhi Architect

Canadian architecture firm Omar Gandhi Architects built this three-storey home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The home was named after a syncline – a type of rock formation – and comprises two white volumes that flank a double-height glazed core at its centre.

A lift was added to the home and set within locally-sourced spruce housing. This elevator is located at the corner of the home and leads to its open-plan kitchen from behind a white door.

Find out more about Syncline ›


Espirit House by Apollo Architects & Associates
Photo is by Masao Nishikawa

Espirit House, Japan, by Apollo Architects & Associates 

Espirit House was designed by Japanese architecture studio Apollo Architects & Associates for a client who works in landscaping.

The main bulk of the home has a blocky concrete form and is suspended above a garage. An elevator leads to the interior of the home,  where it is located next to the staircase in the main dining area. Floor-to-ceiling windows flank each side of the home, bringing light to the wood-clad interior.

Find out more about Espirit House ›


Cole Valley Residence by Jensen Architects
Photo is by Joe Fletcher

Cole Valley Residence, US, by Jensen Architects

Completed by San Francisco-based practice Jensen Architects, this home was built for a couple who wanted a home with a serene feel that had views of San Francisco.

Totalling five storeys, the home is composed of a number of stacked boxes with cantilevered areas. Jensen Architects added a simplistic interior palette of white oak, plaster and polished concrete.

An elevator was added to the home so that its owners can enjoy the space and its views as they age. On the fourth floor, it is located within a white-painted volume and opens up towards an outdoor terrace.

Find out more about Cole Valley Residence ›


São Paulo penthouse by Tria Arquitectura
Photo is by Fran Parente

São Paulo penthouse, Brazil, by Tria Arquitectura

At this São Paulo penthouse, which was designed by Brazilian studio Tria Arquitectura, an elevator shaft was wrapped in vertical strips of slatted wood.

Other textural materials were used throughout the home, including travertine floors, fabric and wood-panelled walls, which contrast against the home’s stark white walls.

Find out more about São Paulo penthouse ›


Danish Mews House by Neil Dusheiko
Photo is by Rachael Smith

Danish Mews House, UK, by Neil Dusheiko

In this west London home that was converted from a showroom to a residence for its elderly owners, British architect Neil Duskeiko installed a lift so that its residents could gain access to the upper floors of the home with ease.

The elevator runs from the ground floor to the living area and finally to the primary bedroom, which was decorated with floral wallpaper. The elevator has a wooden door with a decorative grain that matches the ceiling.

Find out more about Danish Mews House ›


Case Room by Geoffrey von Oeyen
Photo is by Kyle Monk

Case Room, US, by Geoffrey von Oeyen

A glass door fronted elevator was added to the ground and first floor of this Malibu home that was designed by American designer Geoffrey von Oeyen.

Von Oeyen extended the home and incorporated a paired back interior palette that was comprised of light wood panelling, dark stone floors and white walls. The elevator, which is located to the right of the front entrance, allows visitors with limited mobility to easily access the home’s renovated media room.

Find out more about Case Room ›


Amsterdamsestraatweg Water Tower by Zecc Architecten
Photo is by Stijn Poelstra Fotografie

Amsterdamsestraatweg Water Tower, the Netherlands, by Zecc Architecten

A former water tower in Utrecht was converted into a series of apartments that have 360-degree views of the city. Dutch studio Zecc Architecten retrofitted the building and added the largest of its apartments, a six-level home, to its very peak.

A private elevator, located within a white volume and beside a floating staircase, provides access to the six-floor apartment and opens out to an entrance space that features a rusted metal convexed ceiling constructed from the tower’s former water tank.

Find out more about Utrecht Water Tower ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring beige interiors, cosy cabins, save-saving and pocket doors. 

Reference

Green Solution House 2.0 is CLT-framed hotel designed by 3XN
CategoriesSustainable News

Green Solution House 2.0 is CLT-framed hotel designed by 3XN

Timber provides almost all the building fabric of Green Solution House 2.0, a hotel on the Danish island of Bornholm completed by architecture studio 3XN.

Located in the town of Rønne, the modular building consists of a structural frame of cross-laminated timber (CLT), an exterior of timber boards and a layer of wood fibre insulation.

Modular facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Green Solution House 2.0 has a modular CLT frame

The design was developed by 3XN with its sister studio GXN, which specialises in circular architecture, and is intended as a model for sustainable construction.

As well as specifying natural materials, the design team planned the hotel so that it could be built quickly and efficiently, with minimal waste.

Side view of timber-framed hotel by 3XN
Timber clads the exterior above a layer of wood fibre insulation

Its CLT frame was designed as a kit of parts and manufactured off-site. Material offcuts were carefully calculated and then used to create bespoke furniture elements within the building.

The building also incorporates granite surfaces made using waste material from local quarries.

Balcony of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
The structure was designed as a kit of parts and built off-site

“The widespread use of timber is both good for the climate and gives a particularly warm atmosphere,” said Lasse Lind, partner at GXN and project lead for Green Solution House 2.0.

“The building itself is an expression of the hotel’s ambition to make green solutions an attractive element for guests.”

Staircase and atrium of 3XN-designed hotel in Denmark
Hotel rooms sit on either side of a central atrium and staircase

Green Solution House 2.0 is an extension of Hotel GSH, also designed by 3XN, which opened in 2015.

The three-storey building contains 22 single bedrooms, one double bedroom and two dedicated meeting rooms.

Its interior is organised around a linear atrium, sandwiched between two rows of rooms on the ground and first floors.

A generous staircase rises up through its centre, leading up to a terrace and spa on the uppermost floor.

Bedroom in Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
CLT offcuts were used to create bespoke furniture

A sheltered balcony or terrace fronts each room, helping to naturally shade floor-to-ceiling glazing while also providing guests with private outdoor space.

Inside the rooms, the CLT structure is left exposed to create a warm cabin-like feel.

View from balcony of Denmark hotel
Each room has its own balcony or terrace

Modularity was key to minimising waste in Green Solution House 2.0.

The building is formed of repeating box-like modules, arranged in a staggered formation to capture as much natural daylight as possible.

This standardised approach meant that offcuts were of the same size and dimensions, making it easier to utilise them for multiple furniture elements.

Top floor of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
A spa is located on the uppermost level

Timber is a recurring material in 3XN projects, with recent examples including the Klimatorium climate centre, also in Denmark, and the planned extension to the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

The extensive use of the material for Green Solution House 2.0 has led to the project being named a 2022 winner of Årets Byggeri, a prestigious architectural award in Denmark. Hotel GSH received the same award in 2015.

Wooden facade of Denmark hotel by 3XN
The facade is staggered to maximise natural daylighting

“We are very proud to receive this award, which focuses on the impact that architecture can have on society,” said Lind.

“As an office, we seek to inspire through our projects, and we hope the Green Solution House 2.0 will inspire people to build with biogenic materials, use local and upcycled resources, and make holistic sustainability the main design driver.”

Facade of Green Solution House 2.0 by 3XN
Green Solution House 2.0 forms part of Hotel GSH in Rønne

The building also incorporates rooftop solar panels and water recycling to reduce its energy footprint.

The studio expects the building to have a very low carbon footprint across its lifespan.

The photography is by Adam Mørk.

Reference

designed from the inside out, ‘keturah’ reserve in dubai immerses occupants into bio-living
CategoriesArchitecture

designed from the inside out, ‘keturah’ reserve in dubai immerses occupants into bio-living

introducing ‘Keturah’ bio-living Reserve in Dubai

 

Keturah Reserve is an innovative new luxury residential project in Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Dubai that immerses occupants in nature through the principles of bio-living. Designed by Taiwan-born, South Africa-raised architect Charlie Wu, the development is the first of its kind in the Middle East and consists of several townhouses, villas, apartment blocks, as well as public parks and activity zones surrounded by lush nature. The result is a reserve that combines interior design, architecture and landscape, while respecting the surrounding ecosystem and placing the emotional, physical and spiritual balance of the residents at the heart of the project. The AED 3 billion (US$ 817 million) project is scheduled for completion in Q2 2025.

designed from the inside out, 'keturah' reserve in dubai immerses occupants into bio-living
the courtyard of the reserve | all images courtesy of Keturah Reserve

 

 

DESIGNED FROM THE INSIDE OUT

 

The Keturah Reserve (find more here) is designed from the inside out, utilizing the golden ratio to create harmony in space. Both the interiors and architecture are crafted from the same raw materials and colors to blend the architecture with the surrounding desert landscape subtly. Travertine, wood, and bronze connect the interior to the exterior. The understated color palette of bleached bone, champagne, and bronze brings the natural landscape inside the home. Lush nature is visible from all sides, including olive trees, palm trees, green walls, balcony plants, and roof gardens.

 

The residential units are designed with double-volume interiors that increase the flow and circulation of naturally cooled air. Open spaces without corridors and hallways optimize transit. Furniture and fixtures are individually designed and manufactured for each space. They fit perfectly into the interior, freeing the flow of movement and increasing the physical and mental well-being of residents. The homes are oriented to capture and optimize natural daylight, diffusing it gently into the interior without heat or glare. As daylight fades, architectural lighting optimizes the body’s circadian system, improving mood, well-being, and alertness, and enhancing sleep quality, while creating a subtle and healing atmosphere in the home.

designed from the inside out, 'keturah' reserve in dubai immerses occupants into bio-living
the bridge connecting the different residential units

 

 

The Keturah Reserve is designed to create a thriving and harmonious community with common areas such as the park, outdoor pool, men’s and women’s gyms, and spas. The facilities are easily accessible on foot via cool, tree-shaded paths. Like the architecture, activities such as the Pilates studio, WaterBike pool, Silk Rope classes, rooftop meditation and yoga space are designed to develop and strengthen the body’s core from the inside out.

 

The Kids’ Zone is designed for mindful, educational play activities tailored to all ages, from babies to toddlers, preschoolers to school-age children, pre-teens to teens. Facilities include a nursery, educational daycare and summer camps, Montessori classes, a music and dance academy, a wading pool and outdoor play areas, a children’s spa, an organic living farm, a fitness room and an activity center.

designed from the inside out, 'keturah' reserve in dubai immerses occupants into bio-living
exterior view of the townhouses

designed from the inside out, 'keturah' reserve in dubai immerses occupants into bio-living
view of the courtyard

Reference

Instead Of Stairs, A Spiraling Ramp Was Designed For This Office Building
CategoriesInterior Design

Instead Of Stairs, A Spiraling Ramp Was Designed For This Office Building

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.

PAULO MERLINI architects has designed the offices of E-GOI & CLAVEL´S KITCHEN in Portugal, and one of the main design features central to the interior is a spiraling ramp.

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.

The former warehouse, which has now been transformed into offices that span multiple floors, includes a ramp that replaces the need for a staircase.

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.

The elegantly curves of the concrete form is accentuated by the use of white bars and edges.

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.
A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.

The circling ramp connects the floors of the office and adds a sculptural element that doesn’t block the light from traveling throughout the interior.

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.
A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office and adds a sculptural element.
A white frame and supports connect the top of a spiraling ramp with the ceiling.

Here’s a glimpse of the ramp looking down from the top floor, and up from the ground.

A spiraling ramp replaces the need for stairs in this modern office.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the office…

The exterior of the office has walls of glass providing a glimpse of the interior for the pedestrians on the street.

The exterior of this modern office has walls of glass providing a glimpse of the interior for the pedestrians on the street.
The exterior of this modern office has walls of glass providing a glimpse of the interior for the pedestrians on the street.

There’s a variety of different seating areas in the office interior, including spaces for casual meetings in house-shaped alcoves.

There's a variety of different seating areas in this modern office interior, including spaces for casual meetings in house-shaped alcoves.

More private work rooms with glass walls that keep the sound in or out.

A modern office interior with a variety of work areas.

A larger meeting room with a blue curtain that’s filled with beanbags and has LED lighting in the ceiling.

A large meeting room with a blue curtain that's filled with beanbags and has LED lighting in the ceiling.

Other more traditional work spaces exist too, with desks that include multiple work stations.

A modern office with floor-to-ceiling windows.

There’s also a photo studio with a minimalist white kitchen with floating wood shelves. Adjacent to the kitchen are tall wood shelves filled with photography props and kitchen equipment.

A modern office has a photo studio with a minimalist white kitchen with floating wood shelves. Adjacent to the kitchen are tall wood shelves filled with photography props and kitchen equipment.
Wood shelves frame a spiraling ramp in the center of this modern office.

When it’s time to take a break from working, there’s a communal area with long wood tables, a kitchenette, seating by the windows, and an outdoor space.

A modern office with a communal break room.
A modern office with seating by the windows that take advantage of the natural light.
A modern office with plants that hang from a metal detail.
Photography by Ivo Tavares Studio | Architecture Office: PAULO MERLINI architects | Main Architects: Paulo Merlini/ André Santos Silva

Ten bookshop interiors designed to enhance the browsing experience
CategoriesInterior Design

Ten bookshop interiors designed to enhance the browsing experience

A second-hand bookstore styled like a greengrocer and an outlet modelled on old libraries are among the projects collected in our latest lookbook, which explores bookshop interior designs.

Architects and designers across the globe have created bookstores with striking interiors that offer more than just a place to buy things.

From a hall of zigzagged staircases in China to a yellow-hued grotto in east London, here are 10 bookshop interiors that provide immersive and unusual browsing experiences.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring brutalist interiors, light-filled atriums and walk-in wardrobes.


Supermarket-style shelves holding books in Deja Vu Recycle Store in Shanghai by Offhand Practice
Photo is by Hu Yanyun

Deja Vu Recycle Store, China, by Offhand Practice

Chinese architecture studio Offhand Practice designed a second-hand bookshop in Shanghai to mimic the interior of a greengrocer by displaying items in familiar supermarket-style crates.

Created to counter the “shabby” image commonly associated with second-hand retailers, Deja Vu Recycle Store features a light interior defined by stone off-cut mosaic tiles and natural pine.

“[The project] breaks the stereotypical image of a second-hand store and erases the ritualistic impression of a traditional bookstore full of full-height bookshelves,” said Offhand Practice.

Find out more about Deja Vu Recycle Store ›


Stone sculpture in wood-panelled bookstore
Photo is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen

New Mags, Denmark, by Norm Architects

Coffee table book distributor New Mags commissioned Norm Architects to design the interior of its flagship store in Copenhagen, which nods to the serenity of old libraries.

Natural oak panels were used to create towering display walls for books. Various publications are also presented on stone plinths that echo a looming, organically shaped stone sculpture by local artist Josefine Winding.

Find out more about New Mags ›


Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore by X+Living
Photo is by Shao Feng

Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore, China, by X+Living

A maze of intricate staircases, amplified by a mirrored ceiling, forms a dramatic backdrop for this bookshop in Chongqing by Shanghai-based studio X+Living.

Thanks to their wide treads, the stairs double as reading nooks for customers, while the overall stepped outline created in the central space intends to reference Chongqing’s urban skyline.

Find out more about Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore ›


Bookshop in Italy
Photo is by Žiga Lovšin

Book Centre Trieste, Italy, by SoNo Arhitekti

Another store interior that takes cues from its setting, this Trieste bookshop features boxy shelving that was informed by the diamond brick patterns of the nearby Trieste National Hall.

Slovenian studio SoNo Arhitekti repeated this motif on the shop’s two sofas, which have grid-patterned upholstery. It also reserved space for chunky display podiums and a children’s reading corner.

Find out more about Book Centre Trieste ›


Interiors of They Said Books shop, designed by Lado Lomitashvili
Photo is by Nakanimamasakhlisi

They Said Books, Georgia, by Lado Lomitashvili

They Said Books is a bookshop-cum-cafe in Tbilisi with an interior characterised by Tetris cube-style shelving, yellowed terrazzo tiles and bubble-shaped reflective wall sculptures.

Georgian designer Lado Lomitashvili created the store, which is housed inside a 1930s building, to support the “cultural development” of the country’s capital city.

Find out more about They Said Books ›


Pulse On cinema and lobby
Photo is courtesy of Pulse On

SFC Shangying Cinema Luxe, China, by Pulse On

Hong Kong-based firm Pulse On was informed by the strings of musical instruments when designing the delicate interior of this Shanghai bookshop, which is also the lobby of a cinema.

Thin metal slats extend vertically from floor to ceiling to create bookshelves, while integrated lighting bathes various seating areas in a soft glow.

“We wanted to create a zen resting space for the guests through the mix of ‘strings’ and ‘books’,” explained the designers. “All of this boils down to simplicity and purity of lines – no highly-contrasting colours are used.”

Find out more about SFC Shangying Cinema Luxe ›


Libreria bookshop
Photo is courtesy of SelgasCano

Libreria, UK, by SelgasCano

Author Jorge Luis Borges’ 1940s tale The Library of Babel informed the winding, cavernous interior of Libreria, a London bookshop designed by Spanish studio SelgasCano.

Handmade shelves were crafted in irregular shapes by artists from the Slade School of Fine Art using unfinished recycled wood. They house the store’s many books, which are arranged thematically rather than categorised traditionally, in order to encourage “chance encounters while browsing”.

Find out more about Libreria ›


Wutopia Lab Books in Clouds
Photo is by CreatAR Images

Duoyun Bookstore, China, by Wutopia Lab and Office ZHU

Five different colours delineate the zones inside this Huangyan bookstore, which includes reproductions of rare books exhibited in a tall, wood-panelled stairwell.

Duoyun Bookstore was designed by Wutopia Lab and Office ZHU to feature layers of perforated metal on its facade – a move that saw two disused buildings renovated to create the shop.

Find out more about Duoyun Bookstore ›


MUDA Architects bookshop
Photo is by Arch-Exist

Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore, China, by MUDA Architects

Chinese studio MUDA Architects topped a lakeside bookstore in Chengdu with a roof shaped like an upturned book that creates a sweeping ceiling on the interior.

Large rectilinear windows are positioned at the edge of the lake to offer views of the surrounding scenery, while the glass extends beneath the waterline to create a peaceful and immersive setting for reading.

Find out more about Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore ›


Sao Paulo bookshop
Photo is by Fernando Guerra

Livraria Cultura, Brazil, by Studio MK27

The Livraria Cultura – or Culture Bookshop – was designed by Studio MK27 in Brazil’s São Paulo to be “a bookstore of the 21st century” that encourages social interactions.

A vast double-height room is defined by wooden bleachers that span the 21-metre width of the space, where customers are invited to stay and read or meet up even after they have bought their books.

Find out more about Livraria Cultura ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring colourful living rooms, decorative ceilings and deliberately unfinished interiors.

Reference

Don’t Worry Darling set designed as a “debaucherous take on the 1950s”
CategoriesInterior Design

Don’t Worry Darling set designed as a “debaucherous take on the 1950s”

Production designer Kate Byron used vintage “treasures” and referenced key modernist architecture to create the set of psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, which was shot in California’s Palm Springs.

Byron drew on the architecture and interior style of the many modernist buildings that dominate the landscape in the desert city to create Victory – a fictional, utopian 1950s-style society where the film takes place.

A row of houses on set of Don't Worry Darling
Katie Byron referenced modernist architecture for the film

“We wanted to build a playful and debaucherous take on the 1950s, when there was this illustrious progressive, mid-century modern movement happening,” Byron told Dezeen.

“The world of Victory is supposed to be alluring, it’s supposed to be beautiful and sultry and sumptuous and opulent.”

Two characters on a film set on grass lawns
It was shot in Palm Springs, a Californian city famous for its modernist architecture

Directed by actor and director Olivia Wilde, Don’t Worry Darling follows fiery couple Alice and Jack – played by British actor Florence Pugh and musician and actor Harry Styles – as they go from living in an idealistic paradise to a troubled world fraught with secrets, control and manipulation.

The characters move across a quintessential Palm Springs backdrop of low-slung buildings with clean lines by architects including Richard Neutra, Harold Bissner Junior and Albert Frey.

A character standing in a modernist house
Kaufmann House was one of the filming locations

Several scenes, such as a cocktail party hosted by the leader of Victory which took place in Neutra’s Kaufmann House, were shot in real modernist buildings, while the home of protagonists Alice and Jack was built in a Los Angeles studio.

“We’re really lucky in California to have access to this architecture and in my history of being an architecture student and a production designer, I’ve gotten to visit a lot of these houses in person,” Byron said.

“I was interested in Neutra, but also Frey was a huge inspiration for us because of that playful wholesomeness that he embodied,” she said.

A woman vacuum cleaning
Alice and Jack’s house is filled with locally sourced props

Byron, who studied architecture at University of California, Berkeley, threaded more subtle modernist details into the interiors of Don’t Worry Darling through devices such as colour.

“A colour we used quite a bit was Frey’s favourite colour – this Frey blue – which is like a robin’s-egg blue that he puts in all of his buildings,” explained Byron.

“There’s also a colour that Kaufman House has quite a bit of; Neutra put this really, really, really dark brown that almost feels black, but it has this warmth to it,” she continued. “We weaved that throughout the film as well.”

A woman cleaning a bathroom
Byron used lots of glass and mirrors throughout the set

Byron sourced vintage products from shops and prop houses in LA for Alice and Jack’s home, which recalls “cookie-cutter” houses – rows of identical homes found in idyllic depictions of 1950s suburbia.

Much of the furniture seen was built from scratch, in part because the film was shot during the autumn of 2020 when many vendors were unavailable or had long lead times as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

“When you’re in Palm Springs, they just have these antique stores and even in thrift stores and Facebook marketplace you can find really special things,” the designer recalled.

“That’s also one of the most amazing things about Los Angeles – there are infinite prop houses here so we shopped quite a bit at all the local prop houses,” she continued.

“The television in Alice and Jack’s house is from this vendor called RC Vintage, which is just like a treasure trove place of antique electronics.”

Harry Styles on set of Don't Worry Darling
Much of the furniture was made from scratch

Other smaller references were embedded into Byron’s material choices, primarily glass, stone and brick.

Meanwhile, the designer paid homage to Neutra’s storage cabinets, which the production team filled with items such as business cards, cleaning supplies and photographs of Alice and Jack to make the set feel more real for the actors.

“Keeping with Neutra as our design inspiration, the house is designed with a lot of storage in mind – we wanted all of this stuff to be cleanly kept behind doors,” Byron said.

Cars driving through a desert
The desert setting is designed to look like a utopia

Byron hoped that by incorporating playful elements throughout the set she could “subvert” the sense of normalcy in Victory and play with the audience’s expectations of a thriller.

“The thriller follows a formula often, and I thought it could be really great to just subvert that,” she said.

“I think the level of play helps viewers feel like they want to be there and if it wasn’t for the playful aesthetic, I think we would be expecting something to go wrong,” she added.

Don’t Worry Darling is not the only film that draws on a key architectural movement to inform its set. Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs film sets were heavily informed by metabolist architecture, while Black Panther’s “voluptuous” sets recalled works by architect Zaha Hadid.

The photography is courtesy of Warner Bros.



Reference

Ten airports designed with sustainability in mind
CategoriesSustainable News

Ten airports designed with sustainability in mind

With a growing focus on the environmental impact of aviation, architects are designing a new generation of airports focused on sustainability. Here is a roundup of 10 recent projects designed to have reduced carbon emissions.

The examples collected below include airports that use timber, solar panels, modular construction and even a giant waterfall in an attempt to limit their impact on the planet.

They have emerged amid criticism levelled at several major architecture firms over the last few years for their involvement in airport projects due to the significant emissions associated with flying.

In a particularly high-profile example, UK studios Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects withdrew from the climate action network Architects Declare in 2020 following a row about their work in the aviation industry.

Foster + Partners founder Norman Foster later accused architects who walk away from airport projects over environmental concerns of hypocrisy, arguing that the profession should be seeking to help cut aviation’s carbon footprint by building more sustainable airports.

Below are 10 airport projects, both completed and upcoming, that claim to be more sustainable:


BIG's Dock A at Zurich Airport
Image courtesy of BIG

Dock A at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, by BIG and HOK

Danish architecture studio BIG and US firm HOK last week revealed their design for a mass-timber terminal and control tower at Zurich’s airport, set to open in 2032.

Large V-shaped columns made from locally sourced timber will form the main structure of the terminal, while wood will also be used for the floors and ceilings reflecting Switzerland’s alpine buildings.

Find out more about Dock A ›


Timber airport extension
Image courtesy of Woods Bagot and Miller Hull Partnership

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, USA, by Miller Hull Partnership and Woods Bagot

A grand central staircase and sculptural pillar clad in locally sourced Douglas fir will be the focal point of the Miller Hull Partnership and Woods Bagot’s 13,520-square-metre expansion of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as part of the city’s Sustainable Project Framework.

The two architecture firms claim the expansion, expected to complete in 2027, will have embodied carbon reduction strategies and biophilic design principles at its heart, with photovoltaic rooftop panels, electrochromic window glazing and non-fossil-fuel heating systems among the emissions-limiting measures.

Find out more about the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expansion ›


Orange gate at Aile Est airport
Photo is by Joas Souza

Aile Est at La Genève Internationale, Switzerland, by RBI-T

The recently completed Aile Est terminal, designed by a consortium including British architecture studio RSHP to replace an outdated 1970s facility, is intended to produce more energy than it consumes by using on-site renewable sources such as geothermal piles.

Its exposed modular structure reduced waste during construction and means the building can be easily disassembled, recycled or extended in the future.

Find out more about Aile Est ›


The terminal has a sweeping roof by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Image courtesy of RSHP

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, China, by RSHP

RSHP has also designed a terminal for an airport in Shenzhen that it said will seek to meet sustainability goals through a compact form, control of solar gain, low water use, and the harvesting of rainwater.

It will include vast green spaces, including a central 10,000-square-metre covered garden that can be enjoyed by the 31 million people expected to travel through the facility each year.

Find out more about the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport extension ›


Red Sea International Airport by Foster + Partners
Image courtesy of Foster + Partners

Red Sea International Airport, Saudi Arabia, by Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners is aiming for this airport, under construction in the Saudi desert to serve the huge Red Sea Project tourist development, to achieve a LEED Platinum sustainability rating and be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

The studio said the airport’s layout as a series of five dune-like pods around a central volume will reduce energy usage by allowing parts of the facility to be shut down during periods of low demand.

Find out more about the Red Sea International Airport ›


Delhi Noida International Airport
Image courtesy of Grimshaw

Delhi Noida International Airport, India, by Nordic Office of Architecture, Grimshaw and Haptic 

The under-construction terminal at Delhi Noida International Airport has been billed as “India’s greenest airport” by its design team, a collaboration between architecture firms Nordic Office of Architecture, Grimshaw, Haptic and consultants STUP.

The team claims the building itself will be carbon-neutral, removing as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it emits, helped by indoor trees and a landscaped interior courtyard.

Find out more about Delhi Noida International Airport ›


Terminal 2 at Guadalajara Airport by CallisonRTKL

T2 at Guadalajara International Airport, Mexico, by CallisonRTKL

Solar panels, shading and natural light and ventilation offered by a perforated wooden ceiling will combine to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of a new terminal for the airport in Guadalajara compared to other similar buildings, according to architects CallisonRTKL.

“Multiple environmental strategies reduce energy use by 60 per cent and the carbon footprint of the project by 90 per cent, equivalent to planting 27,300 trees every year,” said the US studio.

Find out more about T2 at Guadalajara International Airport ›


Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing, by Zaha Hadid Architects
Photo is by Hufton + Crow

Beijing Daxing International Airport, China, by Zaha Hadid Architects

Completed in 2019, the starfish-shaped Beijing Daxing International Airport designed by the late Zaha Hadid along with specialist firm ADPI is one of the largest in the world at 700,000 square metres.

It is powered by solar panels and recovers waste heat using a ground-source pump, as well as having a rainwater collection system.

Find out more about Beijing Daxing International Airport ›


Marseilles Provence Airport expansion plans by Foster + Partners

Marseille Provence Airport, France, by Foster + Partners

While still a member of Architects Declare, Foster + Partners was forced to defend the sustainable credentials of its glazed terminal building at Marseille Provence Airport after being challenged by France’s Autorité Environnementale.

“Our sustainable design proposal will exceed the existing French HQE standard to align with the new E+C- standard, ensuring further energy and carbon efficiency,” a spokesperson for Foster + Partners told Dezeen at the time, in reference to the E+C- certification for energy-positive, low carbon building projects introduced after the 2016 Paris Agreement.

Find out more about Marseille Provence Airport ›


World’s tallest indoor waterfall in Moshe Safdie's Changi airport
Photo is by Peter Walker and Partners Landscape

Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore, by Safdie Architects

A vast greenhouse surrounding the world’s tallest indoor waterfall brings unusually large amounts of carbon-sequestering plant life into Jewel Changi Airport, designed by Moshe Safdie’s architecture firm with the help of engineering firm Buro Happold, environmental designers Atelier Ten and Peter Walker and Partners Landscape Architects.

The 40-metre-tall waterfall, called Rain Vortex, funnels rainwater from Singapore’s frequent thunderstorms down seven storeys to naturally cool the air inside the building, with the captured water reused.

Find out more about Jewel Changi Airport ›

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