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SODA explores office-to-residential conversions with Roco in Liverpool

London studio SODA has converted a 1970s office block in Liverpool city centre into a residential building that includes co-working and wellness facilities.

The adaptive reuse project sees the 10-storey block, which spent decades as an office for HM Revenue and Customs, transformed into rental homes managed by operator Livingway.

Ground floor of Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — Communal spaces take up most of the ground floor

Roca contains 120 one- and two-bedroom apartments, plus two floors of co-living-style amenities for residents. These include workspaces, a large kitchen, cinema room, gym and treatment rooms and a planted roof terrace.

Russell Potter, co-founding director at SODA, believes the project can serve as a model for office-to-residential conversions in city-centre locations.

Lounge in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — The design includes mix of flexible lounge and workspaces

“The leaps that office design has made over the past decade or two have meant that certain period properties from the 1960s and 70s are perhaps not the most desirable from a commercial point of view,” he told Dezeen.

“But if they occupy prime city-centre locations, they can offer amazing opportunities to adapt and re-use, to reinvigorate city centres with genuinely flexible and crafted spaces.”

Desk in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — A timber “activity wall” provides surfaces, seating and storage

Livingway’s model is a version of co-living. By offering Roca residents access to communal spaces, in addition to their apartments, it aims to foster a sense of community.

Many of these shared spaces can be found on the ground floor. Here, various work, lounge and dining spaces are organised around a timber “activity wall” that provides surfaces, storage and seating.

Kitchen dining room in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — A communal kitchen is often used for cooking classes and demonstrations

Other interior details, such as folding screens, curtains and fluted glass windows, allow the space to be casually divided into different activity zones when required.

Sometimes these spaces host workshops or classes, allowing residents to engage with local businesses.

“We’re introducing an element of communal activity to act as a hub at ground floor, in a similar fashion to what’s been happening in other co-living arrangements,” said Potter.

“It means you have the opportunity to create a genuine sense of community within a city centre.”

Former office building in Liverpool — The building was previously an office block

On the apartment floors, the existing floorplates made it possible to create larger homes than typical co-living units, arranged on opposite sides of a central corridor.

Apartments come fully furnished, with bedrooms and bathrooms separate from the living areas.

Apartment kitchen in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — The renovation provides 120 apartments in total

“Office buildings typically have slim floor plates with decent floor spans and high proportions of glazing-to-floor area, so make ideal opportunities for residential conversion,” Potter explained.

“Likewise, floor-to-ceiling heights don’t tend to pose an issue for residential,” he added. “Typically, commercial floor heights are higher than what you expect in residential, meaning that you get better aspects of light into the spaces.”

Apartment bedroom in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — The apartments are larger than is typical for co-living

Livingway offers five of these units as hotel rooms, available for short stay. But guests don’t have access to all of the communal facilities; most are reserved for residents.

Technology plays an important role in the building management. An app allows residents to book certain rooms or sign up for workshops and classes, while digital locks allow access to be controlled.

Red armchair in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — The communal spaces feature colours and patterns that reference the 1970s

The interior design approach reflects the building’s 1970s heritage, with furniture and finishes that don’t shy away from colour and pattern.

Standout spaces include the cinema room, an all-red space featuring large upholstered chairs, tubular wall lights and art-deco-style mouldings.

Across the rest of the ground floor, the exposed concrete waffle-slab overhead brings an industrial feel that contrasts with the warmth of the wood surfaces and soft furnishings.

Cinema room in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — Standout spaces include a cinema screening room

The homes feature a more subtle palette, with muted tones rather than white, to allow residents to bring their own personalities into the design.

A similar level of care was brought to the outdoor spaces. These include an informal courtyard on the ground floor and the seventh-floor roof terrace, which incorporates a trio of hot tubs.

Roof terrace in Roca living in Liverpool by SODA — A planted roof terrace includes three hot tubs

The project builds on SODA’s experience of designing shared spaces. The studio has designed various spaces for workplace provider The Office Group (TOG), including Liberty House and Thomas House.

The collaboration with Livingway came about after the company reached out to the studio via Instagram.

“It is amazing to see what a beautiful result has been produced and how much our residents truly enjoy calling Roco their home,” added Samantha Hay, CEO for Livingway.

The photography is by Richard Chivers.

Reference

Interior Design

Uchronia founder designs own home as “love letter to French craft”

By Zarkon Group,03/04/2024

Glossy walls, ruched curtains and oversized flower-shaped cushions characterise this eclectic 1970s-style Paris apartment, designed and owned by Uchronia founder Julien Sebban.

Called Univers Uchronia, the apartment is in the city’s 18th arrondissement, close to the Uchronia office – a Parisian architecture and interiors studio known for its bold application of shape, colour and reflective surfaces.

Orange desk in Univers Uchronia apartment — Julien Sebban designed Univers Uchronia as his home

Sebban designed the dwelling as his home, which he shares with his husband and Maison Royère artistic director Jonathan Wray.

The Uchronia founder created the apartment as an extension of his studio – “it’s truly a manifesto of our universe,” he told Dezeen.

Colourful living room with pink curtains — Colourful interiors anchor the apartment

Sebban worked with local studio Atelier Roma to create all the walls and ceilings, which are either lacquered and glossy or made of matte pigmented concrete, respectively reflecting or absorbing light throughout the day.

Finished in hues ranging from cloud-like pale blue to lemony yellow, the walls and ceilings complement the poured-in-place resin floor that spans the apartment and features a bold motif that “waves and moves in relation to the architecture”.

Open-plan kitchen in Univers Uchronia — A metallic island features in the open-plan kitchen

The home is anchored by a predominantly pink living space, which includes Uchronia-designed pieces such as low-slung interlocking coffee tables made from walnut burl and orange resin.

Translucent and gathered pink curtains were paired with a geometric vintage bookshelf and a blocky but soft sofa finished in purple and orange.

Onyx dining table — A bespoke onyx dining table was created for the home

“The apartment is very colourful with ’60s and ’70s inspirations and a mix of our contemporary pieces and vintage objects,” said Sebban.

In the open-plan kitchen and dining room, a veiny Van Gogh onyx table was positioned next to a metallic kitchen island, illuminated by a blobby seaweed-shaped table lamp.

Home office with orange and yellow walls — Ornamental jellyfish decorate the home office

A portion of the otherwise orange wall was clad with tiny, mirrored tiles. Reflected in the gleaming ceiling, the tiles have the same effect as a shimmering disco ball.

Opposite the dining area is Sebban and Wray’s home office, characterised by a bright orange, built-in day bed topped with silk flower-like cushions and a wave-shaped backrest.

Bathroom with pink bathtub — The dwelling’s bathrooms follow a similar design

Above the bed, ornamental jellyfish were suspended like planets against a constellation of gold stars, which decorate the ombre orange and yellow wall that nods to the colour-drenched interior of the city’s Cafe Nuances – also designed by Uchronia.

The dwelling’s bathrooms follow a similar design. Accents include dusty pink alcoves and ceramic tiles depicting underwater scenes, as well as a lily pad-shaped rug and a mirror resembling a cluster of clouds.

“The apartment defines the codes we have tried to develop at Uchronia over the last four years,” concluded Sebban.

“It’s a play on colours, textures and materials, and a love letter to French craft.”

Pink-hued bathroom by Uchronia — Univers Uchronia is “a love letter to French craft”

Uchronia was named emerging interior designer of the year at the Dezeen Awards 2023. The studio previously renovated a Haussmann-era apartment for a pair of jewellery designers with multifaceted furniture pieces created to mirror the appearance of precious stones.

Various architects have designed their own homes, such as John Pawson, who created this minimalist second home in the Cotswolds in the UK.

The photography is by Félix Dol Maillot.

Reference

Interior Design

Jean Prouvé’s Maison Les Jours Meilleurs shown at Galerie Patrick Seguin

By Zarkon Group,02/04/2024

An exhibition at Galerie Patrick Seguin in Paris allows visitors to experience the Jean Prouvé-designed Maison Les Jours Meilleurs in both real life and virtual reality.

The gallery is exhibiting the most significant element of the demountable prefabricated house, its load-bearing service core, in a full-scale installation that doubles as a virtual reality (VR) experience.

Interior of Maison Les Jours Meilleurs house by Jean Prouvé — The load-bearing service core is key to the design of the original Maison Les Jours Meilleurs (above and top image)

Prouvé, the French architect best known for applying mass-production principles to both buildings and furniture, developed the design for the 57-square-metre house in 1956.

Known as Maison Les Jours Meilleurs, or “better days house”, the house was designed to tackle a homelessness crisis in the French capital.

Exhibition on Maison Les Jours Meilleurs by Jean Prouvé at Galerie Patrick Seguin — This core is the centrepiece of the exhibition at Galerie Patrick Seguin

In the winter of 1954, temperatures dropped so low that a woman and child died from the cold.

After being denied a request for funding to provide emergency housing, Abbé Pierre – a Catholic priest who was the founder of the Emmaüs movement against poverty – put out a plea on the radio for aid.

Prouvé responded immediately and, in a few weeks, had developed a design he felt could offer the solution.

The design centres around the service core, a steel cylinder painted olive green. This provides all the kitchen and bathroom services and carries the weight of the building’s roof.

Prouvé first exhibited a prototype of the Maison Les Jours Meilleurs on Quai Alexandre-III in February 1956.

This was described by fellow architect Le Corbusier as “the handsomest house I know of, the most perfect object for living in, the most sparkling thing ever constructed”.

However, the model never made it to production and only a handful were ever built.

Maison Les Jours Meilleurs by Jean Prouvé in virtual reality — A VR headset transforms the scene into a 3D visualisation of the house

Galerie Patrick Seguin owns the world’s largest collection of Prouvé houses, which it has installed in exhibitions around the world. In 2015, it commissioned architect Richard Rogers to put a new spin on one.

This exhibition marks the first time the gallery has allowed a Prouvé house to be experienced in virtual reality.

The installation places the service core inside a full-scale sketch floor plan that reveals the house’s layout.

A VR headset transforms the scene into a visualisation of the house, placing it back on the spot where it was installed in 1956, on the banks of the Seine.

The photography is courtesy of Galerie Patrick Seguin.

Jean Prouvé, Maison Les Jours Meilleurs is on show at Galerie Patrick Seguin from 14 March to 20 April 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

Reference

Interior Design

Destudio inverts day and night zones at redesigned Valencia apartment

By Zarkon Group,01/04/2024

Architecture office Destudio has remodelled an apartment in Valencia for a couple of empty nesters, swapping the positions of the living and sleeping areas so they perform better for the owners’ lifestyles.

The clients, who recently worked with Destudio to design their pharmacy in the Spanish city, invited the studio to oversee the renovation of the 150-square-metre apartment that had been their home for two decades.

The couple’s grown-up children no longer live with them and Destudio saw this change in circumstances as an opportunity to create an entirely new and more appropriate layout.

Interior of Casa Inversa by Destudio — Destudio swapped the positions of living and sleeping areas in Casa Inversa

“We worked with the owners to convince them to make a ‘tabula rasa’ of how they lived in this house for the last 20 years and find a better distribution for their actual needs,” Destudio creative director Gabi Ladaria told Dezeen.

“It was tough for the family to recognise that every wall had to be demolished,” he added, “but when they saw the first plans and 3Ds they realised there were better ways to live in their house, being more honest with their needs in the coming years.”

An initial survey of how the existing spaces were used informed the decision to switch the position of the private and communal areas so the main living space receives the best of the available sunlight. This act gave the project its name, Casa Inversa.

Dining room in Casa Inversa by Destudio — The dining area was positioned in the corner of the living room

Conversations with the clients revealed that they wanted the kitchen to be the heart of the house as this is where they spend a lot of time preparing and eating meals throughout the day.

This informed the decision to reduce the size of the dedicated dining area by incorporating it into a corner of the living room.

Grey kitchen in a Valencia home — The kitchen was designed as the heart of the home

A cantilevered bench minimises the floor area used so the adjacent lounge feels more generous.

“We use this strategy in our restaurant projects to maximise the number of diners,” Ladaria pointed out, “but here it is used to maximise the space in the other part of the corner bench where the living room is located.”

The studio added that the table is likely to be used infrequently, mostly when friends or family come to visit, so it was designed like a restaurant booth to make the dining experience feel like eating out.

The kitchen opens onto a terrace with outdoor seating, while on the opposite wall a wine display backed with semi-opaque glass provides a visual connection with the adjoining utility space. Sliding glass doors can be closed to separate the kitchen and the adjacent sitting room if required.

Living room in Casa Inversa with a glass partition wall — Sliding glass doors separate the living area and kitchen

The apartment’s three bedrooms were relocated to the opposite end of the floor plan, where they overlook the building’s internal courtyards.

The principal bedroom and one of the guest rooms are accommodated in an angular corner that previously housed the living room. The main bedroom’s dressing area features cupboards that extend along one wall, making the most of the space.

A material palette consisting of clay-rendered walls, oak joinery and porcelain tiles acts as a warm backdrop for the clients’ art collection.

Bedroom in Casa Inversa Valencia apartment — Clay render covers the walls

Where possible, Destudio specified furniture from local brands, including the sofa, armchairs and the living room’s library shelving.

Destudio was founded in 2014 by architects Gabi Ladaria and Nacho Díaz, who studied together at Valencia’s Polytechnic University.

Other recent residential projects in Valencia include the renovation of a former fisherman’s house using geometric blue-and-white tiling and a copper-toned home in an olive grove.

The photography is courtesy of Destudio.

Reference

Architecture

Overhanging roof shelters Markolfhalle Markelfingen by Steimle Architekten

By Zarkon Group,01/04/2024

Local spruce wood is used throughout Markolfhalle Markelfingen, a multipurpose hall that architecture studio Steimle Architekten has added to the edge of a lake in Germany.

Located on the northern shore of Lake Constance in the Radolfzell district, the timber building contains sports courts and a stage for events, unified by a cantilevered roof overhead.

Markolfhalle Markelfingen multipurpose timber hall by Steimle Architekten — The Markolfhalle Markelfingen hall is embedded into the sloping landscape

Due to the natural slope of the site, Steimle Architekten embedded the Markolfhalle Markelfingen hall into the landscape, with a stepped plinth on one side that offers access to the upper level from the outside.

The two-storey building is crafted from spruce sourced locally from forests in the region, nodding to traditional buildings nearby that are made from the same wood.

Multipurpose timber hall in Germany by Steimle Architekten — The building is largely made from spruce wood

“The Lake Constance region is characterised by its rural structures,” studio architect Michaela Afife told Dezeen.

“Wood has always been a traditional building material in this region too. With its tranquil appearance, timber construction blends in with the traditional settlement landscape around Lake Constance,” she continued.

Rhythmic timber facade of a multipurpose hall — Vertical timber battens sit between the building’s columns

Externally, rhythmic timber columns animate each elevation, infilled by tightly arranged vertical timber battens.

“The consistently homogeneous outer shell with its vertical timber louvre structure gives the building a uniform appearance on all four sides,” said Afife.

Multipurpose timber hall in Germany — An overhanging roof crowns the hall

Inside, Markolfhalle Markelfingen holds a large double-height sports hall with two courts that can be separated by a netted divider.

Around the edges of the main space, the studio incorporated additional facilities including a raised stage, which is recessed into the timber-panelled wall.

Wooden panels line the bottom half of the walls inside, helping to conceal doors that open onto an outdoor playing field.

Slim windows are arranged at regular intervals around the top half of the walls to illuminate the space, while the ceiling has an exposed gridded timber structure.

Timber sports hall in Germany — Markolfhalle Markelfingen contains two sports courts

“The powerful and contemporary timber construction of the multi-purpose hall is the centre of cultural community life for citizens, clubs and schools,” said Steimle Architekten.

“As a multifunctional building, the hall with its one and a half sports fields and adjoining stage area fulfils the requirements of both sports use and an attractively designed event hall.”

Performance stage in the timber-lined Markolfhalle Markelfingen hall by Steimle Architekten — A stage is recessed into the timber wall

On the upper level is the entrance foyer, accessed through four glazed doors and offering views of the multipurpose hall below.

Most of the foyer level is left open, excluding a green-painted kiosk that holds a reception area.

Interior of the Markolfhalle Markelfingen multipurpose hall by Steimle Architekten — The entrance foyer overlooks the hall below

Other spaces in Markolfhalle Markelfingen include changing rooms, toilets, storage rooms and a kitchen for venue catering, all of which sit under the first-floor foyer.

Steimle Architekten is a German architecture studio founded by Thomas and Christine Steimle. Its previous projects include a library built within an existing traditional barn and a crystal-like house made from board-marked concrete.

The photography is by Brigida González.

Reference

Interior Design

Portal House by Svima features brass details and curved oak ribbons

By Zarkon Group,31/03/2024

Brass ribbons line the asymmetric portals that connect the kitchen and dining room of this Toronto residence, renovated by local architecture and art studio Svima.

The Portal House was designed for a couple who had wanted to refresh their home for 10 years, but have very different aesthetic tastes.

Portal House by Svima — Two portals connect the renovated kitchen and dining areas of this Toronto home

Toronto-based studio Svima found a compromise by combining his desire for “tenebrous minimalism” and her love of “bright French country kitchens” into the design.

The resulting “denlike cosiness” pairs dark oak across the lower half of the ground-floor spaces and clean white surfaces on the upper half.

Brass-edged asymmetric portal looking into a kitchen — The curved, asymmetric portal over the deep counter acts as a pass-through

The snaked kitchen layout is tight, so Svima curved the corners of cabinetry and counter surfaces to steal extra space for circulation.

This theme continues to the living room millwork: a bookcase is filleted at the corner and meets the wall at an angle, while a built-in sofa beneath the window also softly angles inward.

Open doorway with brass edges looking into the kitchen — The other portal, mirrored in shape, forms a doorway between the two spaces

“The design hinges on ‘ribbons’ flowing through the space, guiding the motion through the rooms,” said Svima.

“The ribbons curve in areas where sharp corners would not fit, or would stop the flow of movement.”

Detail of a brass-lined portal with a kitchen counter behind — Brass edges around the portals were artfully installed to perfectly fit the curved drywall

In the kitchen, the curved oak doors were handmade by a cabinetmaker who created a special jig to kerf-bend the oak into a radius.

Tiles that offer a contemporary take on Dutch Delft porcelain form the backsplash, adding small touches of blue to the otherwise neutral space.

Kitchen with white upper cabinets, blue and white tiled backsplash, and dark oak lower cabinets — To add touches of colour to the dark oak and bright white palette, tiles influenced by Delft porcelain were added to the backsplash

Two portals provide connections between the kitchen and adjacent dining room, both with a mirrored asymmetric shape and edged in brass.

One acts as a doorway, while the other over the deep counter is used as a pass-through for food, drinks and tableware.

“It was an artful process for the contractor to lay the brass into the wall, as it had to fit into the curved drywall perfectly with no tolerance for error,” the architects said.

The living room, located at the front of the house, was furnished with mid-century pieces such as a chair, a coffee table and a media console.

Hallway with dark oak flooring and a staircase — Dark oak flooring throughout the home’s ground floor matches the other millwork

The closed and open shelving unit organises the family’s books and possessions, and its shape allows more light to enter from a side window.

Opposite, the built-in sofa helps to resolve an awkward space under a bay window and orients the sitter towards the TV to one side.

Living room featuring a dark oak storage unit with a filleted side — In the living room, the curved kitchen cabinetry is translated as a storage unit with a filleted side

“The custom sofa sweeps into the space to provide seating at precisely the right sideways angle for viewing the media unit, for lounge reading, and for gathering,” Svima said.

The floors throughout the home match the other millwork, grounding the spaces with a rich dark hue.

A built-in sofa under a living room bay window — A built-in sofa under the living room’s bay window similarly features softly curved angles

Svima, founded by architects Anamarija Korolj and Leon Lai, is not the only studio that’s had to get creative with a tight Toronto floor plan.

When Studio Vaaro overhauled a house in the city, the firm created a series of volumes with minimally detailed millwork to form kitchen cabinetry, the staircase and a feature bookcase in the living room.

The photography is by Scott Norsworthy.

Reference

Interior Design

Rockwell Group creates “cathedral of fried chicken” for NYC restaurant

By Zarkon Group,30/03/2024

Arches of light warmly illuminate this Korean fried chicken restaurant in New York’s Flatiron district, designed by Rockwell Group.

Coqodaq is the brainchild of restauranteur Simon Kim’s Gracious Hospitality Management, the group behind the Michelin-starred and James Beard-nominated COTE Korean Steakhouse.

Glass and bronze modules form an arch of light over a dining booth — At Cododaq, glass and bronze modules form arches of light over diners

The new restaurant offers an elevated take on traditional Korean-style fried chicken, encouraging diners to indulge in nuggets topped with caviar and to pair its “bucket” dishes with champagne.

“Designed by Rockwell Group as ‘the cathedral of fried chicken’, the restaurant design delivers a daring, yet refined dining experience that skillfully integrates Korean and American influences, placing them at the forefront of this enticing culinary adventure,” said the restaurant team.

Restaurant interior with moody material palette and warm lighting — The restaurant’s moody material palette and warm lighting set the tone for an elevated take on Korean fried chicken

To create the right atmosphere for this experience, Rockwell Group opted for a dark and moody interior of rich materials and low, warm lighting.

“Our goal was to capture the essence of this unique concept and innovative approach to fried chicken and translate it into a memorable dining experience,” said founder David Rockwell.

Booth seating with crackled plaster wall panels above — Plaster wall panels feature a crackled effect akin to fried chicken skin

Upon entry, guests are invited to wash their hands in leathered soapstone basins, above which a row of pill-shaped light bands glow within a bronzed mirror that also wraps onto the side walls.

Past the host stand, an area with four high-top tables offers a space reserved for walk-ins in front of garage-style windows.

A long bar topped with black soapstone and fronted with tambour wood — The long bar is topped with black soapstone and fronted with tambour wood

The main dining area is formed by a series of green leather and dark walnut booths on either side of a central walkway.

A series of illuminated arches soar overhead, formed from rippled glass and bronze modules that resemble bubbling oil in a deep-fat fryer.

Champagne collection displayed in glass cases with bubble-like lighting — The restaurant’s extensive champagne collection is displayed in glass cases with bubble-like lighting

At the end of this procession, a mirrored wall reflects glowing arches and creates the illusion of doubled space. Meanwhile, plaster wall panels feature a crackled effect, nodding to the crispy skin of the fried chicken.

“The material palette was driven by a desire to surround diners in an envelope of warmth, creating a joyful place to be at any time,” Rockwell said.

Rockwell Group creates atmospheric interiors for Perelman Center in New York

Additional booth seating to one side is followed by the long bar, topped with black soapstone, fronted by tambour wood and backed by a luminous black liquor shelf.

The restaurant’s extensive champagne collection – which it claims is the largest in America – is displayed inside glass cabinets installed with globe-shaped lights that look like giant bubbles.

Area with high-top tables reserved for walk-in diners — At the front of the restaurant is an area with high-top tables reserved for walk-in diners

“Simon and I share the belief that the most important thing about restaurants is how they ritualise coming together for a shared, celebratory experience and Coqodaq provides the perfect template for that,” said Rockwell.

Since Tony Award-winning designer founded his eponymous firm in New York 40 years ago, the studio has grown to a 250-person operation with additional offices in Los Angeles and Madrid.

Hand-washing station with leathered soapstone basins and rings of light above — Upon arrival, guests are encouraged to wash their hands in leathered soapstone basins

Among Rockwell Group’s recent hospitality projects are the Metropolis restaurant and lobby spaces at the Perelman Arts Center (PAC NYC) and Zaytina inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

We’ve featured a few fried chicken restaurants recently, including a 1960s-influenced spot in Los Angeles and a neon-illuminated eatery in Calgary.

The photography is by Jason Varney.

Reference

Interior Design

Collcoll hides stairs in pixellated wooden structure at Pricefx office

By Zarkon Group,29/03/2024

Thousands of wooden cubes inspired by the computer game Minecraft conceal utilities and create casual seating areas at this office in Prague designed by architecture studio Collcoll.

Having previously designed one floor in the Meteor Centre Office Park for pricing software company Pricefx, Collcoll was tasked with outfitting the floor below as part of the client’s commitment to flexible and creative working practices.

Pixelated wood interiors Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — Collcoll has added a pixellated wooden structure to the Pricefx office in Prague

“The management and employees of Pricefx use their offices primarily for meetings that stimulate creative dialogue,” said Collcoll.

“By their very nature, they are an open space for variable use, not subject to the stereotypes of work cubicles or traditional open space.”

Minecraft interiors of Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — The wooden feature was informed by the computer game Minecraft

The need to link the two levels presented an opportunity to do something interesting with the circulation and service core at the centre of the floor plan.

Collcoll chose to enclose the staircase with a wooden structure that conceals staff lockers, changing rooms and utility spaces. It also contains a slide that can be used as an alternative to the stairs.

Pixelated wood interiors in Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — Collcoll concealed utilities behind the “pixels” and created casual seating areas

“Vertically connecting two floors tends to be problematic if the natural flow of the space is to be maintained,” Collcoll explained.

“The two floors are tectonically connected by a structure composed of thousands of wooden pixels, which modulates the space around it and becomes its internal landmark.”

Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — A slide can be used instead of the stairs

The composition of 40-centimetre-wide cubes references the blocky, pixellated world of the video game Minecraft. Its external surfaces form semi-enclosed alcoves and amphitheatres that can be used for informal work and presentations.

The cubes are wrapped in wood veneer that intentionally does not align so the pixels can be arranged in a completely random configuration.

The pixel motif is continued by a lighting grid that covers the entire office ceiling and by a projection screen incorporated into a bar counter that also functions as a reception desk.

The LED light fixtures, which are clearly visible from the street, can be dynamically adjusted to provide optimal lighting during working hours or create a party atmosphere for events.

Wood structure and LED lighting in Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — The pixel motif continues into the office’s lighting grid

The entire office floor can operate like an open conference hall containing pockets of dedicated functional space such as the cafe with its professional kitchen, bar counter and informal seating.

A large conference room at one end of the space is equipped with a long table that can seat up to 50 people. The table and the room itself can be divided to form smaller hot-desking spaces or meeting rooms.

Lighting on the wood structure of Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — Lighting can be adjusted to create a party atmosphere for events

A sliding acoustic partition enables the space to function as a recording studio, while transparent walls along one side can be turned opaque to provide privacy.

The office has no corridors and instead includes various unprescribed zones and circulation areas containing casual seating or lounges with amenities such as a pool table and a punchbag.

Table and concrete interiors in Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — A large conference room integrates with a table for up to 50 people

A range of presentation spaces are scattered throughout the floorplan. These include dedicated conference rooms and tiered amphitheatres with retractable screens.

Collcoll chose a neutral material palette comprising concrete, grey carpet tiles, light-grey plasterboard and black-painted ceilings to lend the office a modern, industrial aesthetic.

“The heavy black-metal tubular furniture corresponds with the concept of technological wiring,” Collcoll suggested.

“In contrast, the ephemeral changing grid of light chips and sensor systems embodies the direction of industrialism towards the world of software and information.”

Pixelated wood in Pricefx office by Collcoll in Prague — The studio added amenities such as a pool table and a punchbag

Collcoll’s name stands for “collaborative collective” and reflects the collaborative approach of its team of architects, designers and researchers.

Other recently completed office interiors featuring wooden structures include a workspace in Edinburgh by Kin and a design office in Melbourne that aims to be zero-waste by using recycled materials.

The photography is by BoysPlayNice.

Reference

Architecture

Michael Hennessey Architecture clads renovated California house in cedar

By Zarkon Group,29/03/2024

US studio Michael Hennessey Architecture has revitalised an ageing suburban house near San Francisco, adding black cladding and bright finishes to form a family home that bridges the past, present and future.

The residence is located in Mill Valley, a town just north of San Francisco that is known for its natural terrain and cultural offerings.

Black house by Michael Hennessey Architecture — Michael Hennessey Architecture created Courtyard Hous

Designed for a couple with two young children, the budget-conscious project involved the renovation of a suburban-style house that was “in sore need of upgrades”.

The aim was to create a dwelling that supported the family’s current needs while being mindful of what might be needed in the future.

Courtyard House living space — The home is U-shaped in plan

“The home was thought not only as a shelter, but also as a bridge: from past to present, from one landscape condition to another, and from what a family wanted to what they could have,” said Michael Hennessey Architecture, which is based in San Francisco.

Built into a hillside, the home is U-shaped in plan, with gabled volumes organised around a central courtyard.

Vertical cedar siding that adds a sense of gravitas

The team opted to preserve certain elements while adding contemporary interventions.

The building’s beige exterior was replaced with black, vertical cedar siding that adds a sense of gravitas, the studio said. The roof is covered in standing-seam metal.

Open-plan kitchen — Inside there is a clear division between public and private zones

Inside, the 1,870-square-foot (174-square-metre) house features a clear division between public and private zones.

On the main level, one side holds an open-concept kitchen, dining area, and living room, while the other encompasses three bedrooms. The ground level contains a family room and a garage.

South-facing deck — A south-facing deck features outside

“Clearly delineated programmatic areas work in harmony with each other, the outside and the family’s needs,” the team said.

Interior finishes include ash cabinetry, large-format porcelain floor tiles, and ceramic tiles around the fireplace. Lofty ceilings and large stretches of glass provide an airy feel.

The outdoor spaces include a spacious, south-facing deck that receives bright sunlight. Softer light flows in through the courtyard on the north.

Proving a connection to the forested, hilly landscape was a guiding concern for the team.

Outdoor showers were also included in the design

“Every part of the house is oriented towards the landscape thanks to carefully framed views of the lush immediate vegetation, as well as the more distant valleys, resulting in a comprehensive, thoughtful and sensitive approach to creating an extraordinary daily life,” the team said.

Other projects by Michael Hennessey Architecture include a townhouse with modern bay windows that was designed to offer alternatives to “conventional building strategies” and the refurbishment of a 1960s house that was originally built by Joseph Eichler, known for his modernist housing subdivisions.

The photography is by Adam Rouse.

Project credits:

Architect: Michael Hennessey Architecture
Architecture team: Michael Hennessey, Claudia Merzario, Jason Laudat
Contractor: New Dimension Builders (Dirk Von Rueben)
Structural engineer: Berkeley Structural Design (Bill Lynch)
Landscape architect: George Loew
Title 24 consultant: EnergySoft, LLC (Hayley Monahan)
Sustainability consultant: Arcturus HD (Jeff Aalfs)

Reference

Interior Design

Linehouse creates greenhouse-informed food market in Shanghai

By Zarkon Group,28/03/2024

Architecture studio Linehouse has wrapped a food market in a Shanghai laneway neighbourhood around a central atrium informed by Victorian greenhouses.

Named Foodie Social, the 2,000-square-metre food market is located within the Hong Shou Fang community – a residential area in Shanghai’s Putuo district known for its classic “longtang” laneway architecture.

Linehouse Foodie Social — The food market is in a two-storey grey brick building in Shanghai

The entrance to the two-storey market was framed by a double-height arrangement of stacked recycled red bricks, with a corten steel canopy added to provide shelter.

The same recycled red bricks sourced from demolished houses in China can also be found on the interior walls, stacked to create three dimensional patterns.

A large glass door can be pulled open on warm days, with patterned paving from the laneway outside extending to the interior of the market, fully connecting the interior and exterior.

The interior of the market was designed to resemble a greenhouse, with shops and cafe’s arrranged around a central, double-height atrium.

The glass pitched roof above the atrium was lined with gently curved metal truss, in reference to Victorian greenhouses, with three large fans hanging from the metal truss to improve the air circulation.

A cafe in the atrium, which contains an olive tree planted into the ground, integrates a metal staircase that leads to the upper floor.

A area describes as a “stage” is located by the staircase with a series of undulating balconies wrapped around the atrium on the upper floor.

Various typologies of food vendors are arranged in the open atrium on the ground floor, some of which are designed to be retractable, allowing flexibility for different types of vendors as well as a large open event space to be formed at the centre.

“This new typology brings together the local with more curated food offerings in a contemporary yet humble and sustainable way,” explained Linehouse‘s Shanghai team who are responsible for the design.

Smaller snack shops were positioned on the ground floor, while larger restaurants occupy the upper floor.

Each stall was assembled from a kit of parts, so that the vendors are able to create their own signage and layout, but maintain a consistent material and lighting palette.

Linehouse is a Hong Kong and Shanghai-based architecture and interior design studio established in 2013 by Alex Mok and Briar Hickling. The duo won the emerging interior designer of the year category at the 2019 Dezeen Awards.

The studio has also recently designed the facade of a shopping centre in Bangkok and the interiors for a Hong Kong residence that respond to coastal views.

The photography is by Wen Studio.

Project credits:

Design principal: Alex Mok
Associate-in-charge: Cherngyu Chen
Design team: Yeling Guo, Fei Wang, Wang Jue, Norman Wang, Aiwen Shao, Mia Zhou, Yunbin Lou, Xiaoxi Chen, Tom Grannells

Reference

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Linehouse creates greenhouse-informed food market in Shanghai

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