Studio Archives

And And And Studio brings 1970s elements to Century City Law Office

And And And Studio has overhauled the offices for one of LA’s top entertainment law firms, opting for a look that’s “more akin to a hotel lobby”.

The firm, which represents several Hollywood actors, tasked And And And Studio founders Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin with designing interiors for its offices in Century City, a commercial district south of Beverly Hills.

Reception desk wrapped in glossy oxblood-coloured tiles — Visitors to the law offices in Century City are greeted by a desk wrapped in glossy oxblood-coloured tiles

The design studio convinced the clients to stay in their current building rather than move – a decision that required a complete redesign of the 22,000-square-foot (2,044-square-metre) space and the gutting of the interiors to make room for a brand-new layout.

The clients required over 30 private offices within the floor plan, so it had to compromise on the size of the rooms to leave enough area for lounges and other communal facilities.

Wood-panelled seating area with two slingback chairs and a marble table — The wood-panelled reception area sets the tone for the rest of the interiors

“The goal was for Ritz and Rabin to make the space feel airy, open and more akin to a hotel lobby than an office,” said the studio.

“[The lawyers] traded slightly smaller private offices in order to provide the entire office with inviting and functional communal spaces.”

Lounge area with teal-coloured bookshelves, two armchairs and a coffee table — And And And Studio drew references from a variety of design styles, most noticeably the 1970s

Visitors arriving at the wood-panelled reception area are met by a counter wrapped in glossy oxblood Rombini tiles from Mutina, which also surround curved columns in meeting spaces.

Bassam Fellows sling lounge chairs and an Angelo M Marble Table from Alinea Design Objects were also placed in reception, setting the tone for the rest of the interiors.

Kitchen featuring green marble countertops, backsplash and shelves — In the kitchen, green marble forms countertops, backsplash and shelves

Furnishings found throughout pull references from a variety of design styles, including art deco and 1970s, as seen in the Brasilia chairs by Menu, sofas by Arflex, and a Phillipe Malouin sofa for SCP.

Brown and yellow velvet upholstery in the lounge spaces also nods to the 1970s, while in the kitchen, green marble forms the countertop, backsplash and open shelving.

“The 1970s-inspired design transcends through warm wood tones, and bold-hued gold and green fabrics,” said And And And Studio.

Designing and executed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the team was met with various hurdles during the project, which resulted in multiple last-minute changes.

Conference room — The red tiles from the reception area are repeated in conference rooms

“[Our] approach to the re-design of this office embraces the goals and ethos of this law firm, giving a unique design to the space that is distinct,” And And And Studio said.

“This goal was met with several challenges due to the pandemic, creating delays and changes, specing and re-specing products, all while balancing a tight timeline.”

Meeting rooms with chairs around a circular table — The interior is designed to look more like a hotel lobby than an office

Ritz and Rabin’s studio has offices in both Los Angeles and Toronto.

Other law office designs include one created by Studio Arthur Casas for a firm in São Paulo with a chocolate-coloured space that’s brightened by hundreds of books, while Vladimir Radutny Architects used minimal white partitions to divide a lawyers’ office in Chicago.

The photography is by Chris Mottalini.

Reference

Interior Design

JUJU Studio creates flagship for Miss Circle in New York

By Zarkon Group,10/05/2023

Pools of red carpet spill across the floor of this women’s fashion boutique designed by JUJU Studio in New York City.

For fashion brand Miss Circle, New York-based JUJU Studio created the interiors of its 2,600-square-foot (242-square-metre) store on West Broadway in SoHo.

Rows of arched colonnades displaying garments on both sides of the store — The Miss Circle flagship in occupies a long, narrow space designed by JUJU Studio

The space has a long, narrow footprint, so studio founder Jing Ju devised a variety of display techniques for the brand’s womenswear garments.

“Unlike typical fashion retail spaces, the Sensorial Flagship Store is inviting and relatable, encouraging customers to engage with the brand in a fully stimulating way,” said the studio.

Minimal sliding counter — At the front of the store, a sliding counter can be used for multiple purposes

The majority of surfaces are finished in beige plaster, providing a neutral backdrop for more dramatic moments.

These include areas where red carpet appears from the walls in fluid forms and spreads across the floor to look like pools of liquid.

Carpet on walls, floor and ceiling beside the entrance — Red carpet extends from the floor to the ceiling beside the entrance

“The smooth yet durable surfaces add texture and visual interest to the space, while the beige hue creates a sense of lightness and spaciousness,” the studio said.

“This helps to create an accommodating atmosphere in the closed retail environment, where customers are likely to take their time browsing through the store’s selection of clothing and accessories.”

Ribbed red seating and carpet on the wall — Matching the carpet is a curvaceous red sofa

At the front of the store, carpet also extends up the wall behind a curvaceous sofa of the same colour and seeps onto the ceiling.

A sliding counter can be used for checking in guests during events, or for displaying accessories at other times.

View of the store from the front — Garments are displayed in niches formed by arched colonnades on either side of the store

“The sleek and minimalistic design of the counter complements the overall aesthetic of the store and demonstrates a thoughtful and efficient use of space,” said the studio.

Along both sides of the store are arched colonnades, with cove-lit niches that each display a selection of clothing designs.

More outfits are presented on chrome railings and mannequins in the centre of this double-height space, above which a long skylight is positioned.

Towards the back of the boutique is a carpeted staircase that leads up to a mezzanine level, where the fitting rooms are located.

Red furniture in the fitting room area — Fitting rooms and a lounge area for customers is located upstairs

Red satin furniture, designed by Thehighkey, forms a seating area for customers to relax beneath another skylight, while plenty of mirrors are provided for those trying on garments.

“The warm lighting adds to the overall golden atmosphere, and the use of red provides a poetic and romantic sensation, making for a truly captivating experience,” the studio said.

Store exterior on West Broadway — The Miss Circle store is on West Broadway in SoHo

SoHo is renowned as a shopping destination for both fashion and furniture, and new stores are always appearing in the neighbourhood.

Recent openings include a Khaite flagship with a tree planted in the centre, an outpost for Road to Awe that includes red fitting rooms and a lofty Moroso showroom.

The photography is by David Luo and Justin Missner.

Reference

Interior Design

Studio Vaaro reconfigures House M using built-in storage volumes

By Zarkon Group,04/05/2023

For the renovation of a house in Toronto’s West End, local firm Studio Vaaro added minimally detailed millwork to form kitchen cabinetry, the staircase and a feature bookcase in the living room.

Studio Vaaro‘s overhaul of House M, a three-storey detached property that had been renovated and extended multiple times over the years, involved reconfiguring the layout to remove the awkward subdivided spaces.

Ground floor divided by pale blue storage volumes — The ground floor of House M is partitioned by storage volumes laid out in a diamond formation

“Our clients were a professional couple with two young children, who were looking for flexible and resilient spaces that could accommodate their home offices, overnight guests, and the changing needs of their growing children,” said the studio.

“We, therefore, developed a spatial concept based on ‘functional volumes’, in which well-proportioned spaces are partitioned by blocks of storage and service functions.”

Kitchen separated from dining room by pale blue partition — The pale blue-grey volumes provide additional storage space for the kitchen

These built-in storage blocks partially partition four rooms on the ground floor while keeping an open flow between them.

Laid out in a diamond formation, all are coloured pale blue-grey to highlight their function against the otherwise white walls.

Kitchen with oak cabinetry and marble countertops — In the kitchen, oak cabinetry contrasts with the marble countertops

“The large amount of built-in storage ensures the rooms themselves are free of clutter and ready for use,” said Studio Vaaro. “In line with the family’s personalities, colour and playful details abound.”

In the entryway is a coat closet that hides the view of the living room behind, where an oak bookcase sat atop a teal powder-coated fireplace covers almost an entire wall.

Oak staircase with built-in bleachers and white guardrails — Bleachers are built into the oak staircase, offering a display area or extra seating

A powder room is placed between this space and the kitchen, also forming additional cabinet and counter space within its volume.

Further kitchen storage sits in front of the dining room, and another closet is tucked under the doglegging staircase.

Bedrooms viewed through deep portal doorways coloured dusty pink — On the first floor, the bedrooms are accessed through deep portal doorways

“A ‘mixing bowl’ at the centre of the plan, at the base of the stairs, visually and physically connects all four spaces,” the studio said.

Both the entry and the dining room volumes are pulled away from the home’s exterior walls, allowing additional views between rooms.

Kid's room with patterned wallpaper and writing on a closet door — The portals are coloured dusty pink and the kids rooms are also colourful

The remaining built-in furniture is oak to match the flooring that runs throughout, including kitchen millwork and the staircase, which incorporates oversized bleachers for displaying kids’ artwork or creating extra seating during a party.

A white metal “picket” guardrail, softened with rounded details, allows light to pass down from the upper levels.

On the first floor, two parallel volumes separate the children’s rooms at the front of the house and the primary suite at the back from the central corridor.

These create both storage for the rooms, and deep doorway portals that are highlighted in dusty pink.

Bathroom vanity with an angled skylight above — Skylights in the stepped angled roofs bring extra light into rooms at the rear, including the primary bathroom

Carefully considered details include recesses for the door handles, allowing the doors to open the full 90 degrees without banging into the wall.

Work and study spaces in the attic are minimally furnished, though feature built-in desks that step up to form shelves behind.

Study area with built-in oak desk — Study spaces in the attic also feature built-in furniture

Skylights in the stepped, angled roof planes on all three floors bring extra light into the dining room, primary bathroom, and the stairwell.

Other Toronto homes that have undergone extensive renovations to make them better suited for their occupants include a 14-foot-wide house where pale woodwork forms storage to make more space, and another “disguised as a gallery” – both designed by StudioAC.

The photography is by Scott Norsworthy.

Project credits:

Team: Aleris Rodgers, Francesco Valente-Gorjup, Shengjie Qiu.

Reference

Sustainable News

Natural Material Studio creates “flexible” bio textile from waste bricks

By Zarkon Group,19/04/2023

Copenhagen-based Natural Material Studio and designer Zuzanna Skurka have created an installation at Milan design week from soft bio textiles made from surplus bricks.

Called Brick Textiles, the project is on display at Alcova – a travelling exhibition platform for independent design that is held at a different disused site in Milan each year.

Hanging textiles made from waste bricks and bioplastic — Natural Material Studio and Zuzanna Skurka created textiles from waste bricks

Natural Material Studio worked with Polish designer and researcher Zuzanna Skurka to create the textiles from highly porous repurposed bricks that were classified as waste after demolition projects.

“Rule one is, you should work with materials that are already there,” studio founder Bonnie Hvillum told Dezeen in Milan.

Slabs of biomaterial at Alcova 2023 in a former slaughterhouse, by Natural Material Studio — The project is on display at Alcova in Milan

The textiles were made from a combination of crushed bricks bonded together with Procel – a home-compostable, protein-based bioplastic of natural softener and pigments developed by Natural Material Studio.

Featuring a distinctly reddish hue, the textiles were divided into large, roughly-cut slabs that hang suspended from the roof on metal bars in a room at Alcova to form a dramatic installation illuminated by skylights.

Swirly pattern on reddish-hued Brick Textiles by Natural Material Studio — Swirly patterns made by the crushed bricks characterise the textile

Natural Material Studio and Skurka drew upon traditional weaving techniques to create the textile, which was made by incorporating bricks and Procel into a “biomaterial matrix”, according to Hvillum.

The material owes its strength, colour and texture to the bricks, which create unique swirly patterns on each slab that are produced randomly during the “fluid casting process”, she explained.

Hanging textiles that form a "biomaterial matrix" on display at Milan design week — Hvillum described the product as a “biomaterial matrix”

“We were very curious about this question of how can architecture be flexible, more simple and translucent even? added Hvillum. “It’s all the opposite aspects of a brick.”

“When we think of brick it’s like a solid, rigid, structural wall,” she continued. “But how can we make more flexible and fluid architecture today?”

Hanging textiles and old bricks at Alcova — Examples of the bricks the designers used are positioned underneath the textiles

Holes were pierced into the corners of the slabs so that they can be linked together.

While the water-resistant textile is already being used by interior architects as room dividers, Hvillum said that the studio hopes that one day it could form whole walls.

“The way we build and how we live in the built environment shapes us, so if we can build a more flexible and organic biomaterial, we want to start the exploration of what that experience is,” she continued.

This year, the Alcova exhibition takes place at a former slaughterhouse in Porta Vittoria. The formation of brick-based textiles hangs from metal bars where meat once hung at the site.

“There’s something funny and a little bit rough about that image,” acknowledged Hvillum.

Hanging reddish hued bio textiles by Natural Material Studio — The textiles hang where meat was once suspended in the former slaughterhouse

The materials specialist explained that Brick Textiles intends to salvage something from the past and propose fresh ways of thinking about an existing resource.

“It’s new materials we’re developing, so we still don’t know everything about them,” she reflected. “And that’s the beauty and honesty of it.”

Established in 2018, Natural Material Studio has created a number of repurposed materials for wide-ranging projects. These include crockery for a seafood restaurant made from leftover scallop shells and clothing created with algae, clay and foam.

Brick Textiles is on display at Alcova from 17 to 23 April 2023 as part of Milan design week. See our Milan design week 2023 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.

Reference

Interior Design

Ringo Studio completes colourful store for Our Place in Los Angeles

By Zarkon Group,17/04/2023

Brooklyn-based Ringo Studio designed a store for kitchenware brand Our Place that features colourful tile displays and expressive drapery that hangs from the ceiling.

The Our Place Melrose store is the brand’s second location in Los Angeles, following the inaugural shop in Venice, and is situated in West Hollywood’s busy shopping district.

Our Place pots and pans displayed on a tiered stand covered in cream tiles — The Our Place store is designed to showcase the brand’s colourful cookware

The interiors by Ringo Studio are based on the identifiable colour palette of Our Place cookware sets, which are known for in a variety of pastel, neutral and jewel-toned hues.

“It retains the warmth and intricacy of Our Place’s first store in Venice, concepted by Mythology, while also taking Our Place’s design ethos into new and unique expressions,” said the team.

Cookware displayed on three shelves and cabinets below, against a tiled wall — Many of the surfaces are covered in long rectangular tiles laid in a straight stack pattern

Elements derived from classical architecture were included, from fluted columns that support a wavy-topped table to arches that curve over shelving units and form punctured openings for showcasing small items.

Storage cabinets have rounded corners, as do the doors that front them, and many of the built-in elements also feature filleted edges.

An entirely terracotta-coloured space with a dining table laid with Our Place products — At the back is a space coloured entirely terracotta, which features a table displaying the brand’s products

Long rectangular tiles laid in straight stack patterns cover several of the walls and display stands.

Each tiled block or surface is a different colour, with large panels including terracotta, lilac and cream, and smaller sections in pale blue and green.

An area towards the back is decorated entirely in terracotta, which covers the floor and walls, as well as matching strips of fabric hung in rows from the ceiling.

There’s also a side room where Our Place products are laid out on a dining table with mirrors on three sides, creating infinite reflections intended to “welcome everyone to have a seat at the table”.

A small room with a dining table and two purple chairs, with mirrors on three sides — A side room features mirrors on three sides to create infinite reflections of a dining table setup

Covered in mosaic tiles and with an undulating front, the table is accompanied by a pair of purple velvet chairs, and from the ceiling hangs purple drapery.

“Infused with the cozy feeling of home, the streamlined suite of products are artfully displayed throughout the store, making them feel like chic, sculptural objects,” said the Our Place team.

The exterior of the Our Place store on Melrose Avenue — Our Place Melrose is located in West Hollywood’s busy shopping district and is the brand’s second location in LA

Ringo Studio was founded by architectural designer Madelynn Ringo, who has created retail experiences for companies such as Glossier, Studs and Funny Face Bakery.

Last year, the studio completed a store for fitness brand Bala in New York City, which includes scaled-up versions of its products.

The photography is by Jenna Peffley.

Reference

Architecture

North Arrow Studio designs a playful, birdhouse-like ADU in Austin

By Zarkon Group,12/04/2023

North Arrow Studio has completed a compact, corrugated metal accessory dwelling unit in East Austin’s Chestnut neighbourhood featuring a custom, circular pivot window that is reminiscent of the round opening in a birdhouse.

Aptly named the Birdhouse, the 900-square foot (84-square metre) ADU shares a narrow 5,900-square metre (550-square metre) lot with a 1939 single-storey house and three large protected pecan trees.

North Arrow Studio’s principal architect Francisco Arredondo described the two-bedroom, two-bath house as “simplicity carried to the extreme”.

“There’s simplicity in the footprint, the massing, and the material palette throughout,” Arredondo said. “But it’s also a smart little house that makes me smile.”

The home was strategically placed around the trees to create a courtyard between the main house and the ADU while providing privacy for the separate living quarters.

The L-shaped plan features a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room featuring a roll-up garage door on the ground floor, all wrapped around an external pecan tree.

Upstairs, the main suite sits within the vaulted ceiling of the double-gabled form. Four five-foot (1.5-metre) diameter circle windows sit under each gable and use the surrounding tree canopy for privacy.

“They create a resemblance to a traditional birdhouse and bring a sense of whimsy to the design,” the studio said.

One of the custom-fabricated steel windows serves as the required egress for the room.

“We began with a pivot design and worked our way towards a final swing design that opened up to the pecan tree’s canopy,” the team explained.

The rounded-window motif carries throughout the house with miniature custom steel circle windows.

“Strategically selected walls are curved to soften edges and draw you into the spaces,” the studio said. “Interior finishes are simple and restrained apart from a few accent walls that give life to each room.”

The monotone ADU is wrapped in light corrugated metal that “is a nod to the many metal sheds and accessory buildings already found throughout the neighborhood, but with a modern and playful twist”.

The soft, rounded edges and neutral colour complement the existing house and provide an accent along the alley, and the metal runs up the walls and becomes the roof material as well.

In the courtyard, a curved polycarbonate wall brings light into the hallway and creates a softly glowing, semi-transparent effect.

Corrugated metal was selected for its sustainability and resilience as the envelope is 100 per cent recyclable, repels sun and heat in Texas summers and is durable and low-maintenance, according to the studio.

“Working with a tight budget and constrained footprint can be very helpful in creating a story for the design,” the studio said. “The constraints begin to guide you and lend opportunities to be creative with traditional materials and spaces in ways that typically wouldn’t be considered.”

In 2014, North Arrow Studio created a stilted home in the Texas Hill Country that references Mies Van der Rohe’s glass Farnsworth House.

The photography is by Chase Daniel.

Project credits:

Builder, developer, owner: Brita Wallace, Digs ATX
Styling: Ben Newman Studios

Reference

Interior Design

Studio Plenty designs Byron Bay diner to feel like “a warm hug”

By Zarkon Group,12/04/2023

Asian diner chain Light Years has renovated its restaurant in the Australian surf town of Byron Bay, with interiors conceived by local practice Studio Plenty in collaboration with home-grown artists and designers.

The team behind Light Years wanted its flagship eatery to mirror the playful visual identity established across its three other venues on Australia’s East Coast while refining and elevating their aesthetic.

Overview of dining room in Light Years Asian Diner — Studio Plenty has renovated the Light Years diner in Byron Bay

“We were asked to reimagine the Byron Bay restaurant, taking cues from its sister diners but with greater restraint in composition,” Studio Plenty founder Will Rathgeber told Dezeen.

“We were looking to achieve something refined without letting go of the relaxed culture behind the brand, with satisfying colours and patterns, and playful shapes and materials.”

Dining room of Byron Bay restaurant by Studio Plenty — Terracotta tiles were used to finish the walls and floors

Soft corners and gently curving walls help to create a sense of intimacy, according to Rathgeber, while the restaurant’s colour palette of soft pink and terracotta tones “embraces you like a warm hug”.

Underpinning the playful feel of the eatery is a careful focus on the practicalities, with arched openings and material thresholds helping to define three distinct spaces – the main dining room, a curved bar with counter seating and a private dining area for larger groups.

Arched opening leading through to private dining area in Light Years Asian Diner — Arched openings separate the restaurant’s different dining areas

The restaurant’s material palette incorporates handmade terracotta tiles with a rustic brushed finish and a rusty colour that is also picked up in the restaurant’s floors and the Fibonacci terrazzo bar counter.

In the main dining room, the ceiling was treated with an acoustic spray to absorb sound while contributing to the earthy, vernacular look of the diner thanks to its bumpy texture.

Wooden reception desk of Byron Bay restaurant by Studio Plenty — Rattan acoustic panels cover the ceiling near the entrance

Since the acoustic spray does not adhere to pipes, Studio Plenty specified a motorbike exhaust wrap for the pipes to achieve a harmonious ceiling plane.

In the bar area, ceilings are clad in rattan acoustic panels by local product designer and interior stylist Sarah Ellison, who also worked with Studio Plenty to design the restaurant’s custom furniture including the chunky tables and bistro-style chairs.

Artist collective Studio of the Sun created two colourful murals for the restaurant, with one featuring playful illustrations laser-printed onto a section of glossy white tiles.

“The client was committed to a locally focussed project, hence approaching Studio Plenty to design the restaurant and Sarah Ellison and Studio of the Sun to collaborate,” said Rathgeber.

Bar of Light Years Asian Diner — A curved terrazzo bar provides counter seating

Rathgeber founded his Byron Bay practice in 2020 after cutting his teeth working for architecture firms Woods Bagot and Jackson Clements Burrows in Melbourne.

“We believe happiness is achieved through sensible design, not excess,” he explained of his studio’s ethos. “We have an appetite for rational design and an obsession with functionalism.”

Private dining area of Byron Bay restaurant by Studio Plenty — The private dining area is defined by a Studio of the Sun artwork

Elsewhere in Byron Bay’s bustling bar and restaurant scene, Australian studio Pattern has designed the interiors for an eatery serving South America-style small plates and cocktails.

Its patchy grey surfaces and concrete fixtures were designed to reflect the “raw beauty” of late-night eateries in Mexico.

The photography is by Jessie Prince.

Reference

Architecture

Earthscape Studio adds sweeping vaulted farmhouse to Kerala forest

By Zarkon Group,04/04/2023

Locally produced bricks and recycled materials feature in this vaulted residence in Kerala, India, named The Wendy House.

Designed by Bangalore practice Earthscape Studio, the home is located within eight acres of dense forest and was designed to stand among the trees without disrupting the existing nature.

Exterior photo of The Wendy House — The Wendy House was designed by Earthscape Studio

“Our main aim was to not harm nature by cutting down the trees and other existing natural features on the site,” lead architect Petchimuthu Kennedy told Dezeen.

“When we visited the site, there were lots of trees such as mango, coconut, nutmeg, and teak. Since we didn’t want to disturb them, we made a grid on site and determined the shape of the house according to the placement of existing trees.”

Photo of The Wendy House — It was constructed using recycled materials

Aiming to draw from the surrounding nature, Earthscape Studio used locally sourced materials throughout the building, including recycled rods, broken tiles and earth from the site.

The studio also used traditional sithu kal bricks – small bricks constructed of three layers – sourced from within 50 kilometres of the site and joined by local workers to create the building’s vaulted form.

“The bricks that we used are small sithu kal bricks, which were previously used along the south side of Tamil Nadu for the famous technique called Madras terrace roof,” said Kennedy, referring to an Indian roofing system that involves creating a series of sloping roofs to encourage rainwater drainage.

“Nowadays, the technique is no longer used and the community members who produce these bricks have become unemployed,” he continued. “We wanted to bring them back by engaging the local community with work.”

The Wendy House is split across two separate vaulted volumes each comprising three layers of bricks along with a fourth recycled waterproofing layer made from broken tiles from factories.

“We wanted no steel or concrete to be on our building structure and we don’t want to cut down any trees,” said Kennedy. “This timbrel vault technique is a catenary-based vault that requires no steel or concrete.”

“The catenary form is self-stabilising since the forces of the vault are transferred directly to the footing.”

Interior photo of The Wendy House — There is a courtyard at the centre

The vaulted forms were topped with a sweeping roof made from locally sourced, recycled mudga tiles.

Inside, the home has an open plan with a bedroom, bathroom and storage space in one wing, along with a living room, dining space, and pantry in the other.

Photo of the interior of the home — The home has an open-plan design

A courtyard with a small pond in its centre runs between the two blocks, punctuated on either end by curved rammed earth walls.

Framed with recycled rods, glass walls on the inner facing walls of the vaulted buildings offer views from the interior into the central courtyard.

Photo of a living space — It has built-in furniture

The recycled rods were also used alongside waste wood to create the frames for built-in furniture, including a bed, sofa, and kitchen counter.

Other Indian homes recently featured on Dezeen include a cylindrical house designed to collect rainwater and a home with large terraces sheltered by a jagged metal canopy.

The photography is by Syam Sreesylam.

Reference

Interior Design

Coil + Drift opens lighting studio and showroom in the Catskills

By Zarkon Group,18/03/2023

Lighting studio Coil + Drift has opened an office, showroom and production facility in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York that places modern elements in a barn-like building.

Coil + Drift founder John Sorensen-Jolink, who relocated to the area in 2021, has created a new home for his brand in a barn-like structure surrounded by nature.

Furniture arranged on raised platforms across the showroom — Coil + Drift’s new space in the Catskills showcases the brand’s products

“By relocating their queer-owned design business to the countryside, Coil + Drift is sparking a visceral conversation between people in a thriving rural creative community about how what we make defines who we are,” said the studio.

The building encompasses 3,000 square feet (280 square metres) and boasts tall ceilings, which are painted white along with its plywood-panelled walls.

Glass-topped metal desk positioned on a brown rug — The showroom includes an office space, defined by a chocolate-brown rug

The space is divided between a combined office and showroom, and a production facility where an in-house team now creates all of the company’s lighting designs.

In one corner of the showroom sits a black wood-burning stove, with a flue that extends through the roof, next to a pile of chopped logs used to fuel it.

Wood table on a plinth with brass light above — Furniture is displayed on stepped plinths, accompanied by lighting above

Chocolate-brown area rugs contrast the pale concrete floors, defining the entrance, the office space and a spot by the fire in lieu of walls or partitions.

Plinths are used to raise furniture designs, arranged in styled vignettes along with lighting, plants and small accessories.

More objects are displayed on wooden shelves of varying lengths, held up at different heights on thin golden rods.

Industrial-looking metal and glass doors mounted on rolling tracks separate the showroom from the workshop, which is located in an adjoining room.

Daybed presented on a raised plinth — The showroom features a white ceiling and walls, and a pale concrete floor

On show are several new additions to popular Coil + Drift collections, such as a floor version of the Yama table lamp and a “mobile-like” chandelier that joins the Atlas series.

Also to coincide with its move and expansion, the company has launched a trade-focused online platform for its products.

Wide shot of the showroom with yellow chair in the foreground — The building also houses a production facility behind industrial-style doors

Coil + Drift’s previous projects have included styling a townhouse in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighbourhood for Hatchet Design.

Sorensen-Jolink, a former dancer, is one of many creatives that moved from New York City to nearby rural areas, either during or following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Exterior view of the Coil + Drift showroom facing the door — Coil + Drift founder John Sorensen-Jolink relocated to the Catskills in 2021 before opening the new studio

Upstate New York, and particularly the Hudson Valley and Catskills area, was already growing in popularity as a destination for artists and designers before the lockdowns, thanks to its reputation for vintage furniture shopping and art institutions.

Then low property prices and high demand for space and fresh air sparked an exodus to the region, when many bought second homes or relocated permanently.

The photography is by Zach Hyman.

Reference

Interior Design

MEE Studio creates wood-and-copper interior for Nikolaj Kunsthal cafe

By Zarkon Group,10/03/2023

Architecture firm MEE Studio has designed the interiors and bespoke wooden furniture for a cafe and boutique in the Nikolaj Kunsthal art gallery within an old church.

The municipality-run gallery, which is set in a deconsecrated church in central Copenhagen, asked MEE Studio to design a “lively and functional” space.

Before designing the interior spaces, which feature warm and tactile materials such as copper and wood, the rooms in Nikolaj Kunsthal first had to be restored.

Wooden bar in Nikolaj Kunsthal by MEE Studio — The gallery is located in a former church

“The spaces had been used for various purposes since the 1980s including art installations and other changing uses,” MEE Studio founder Morten Emil Engel told Dezeen.

“This has left the spaces with remnants of ad-hoc electrical wiring, bricked-up arches, blocked-off windows and arbitrary lighting. Additionally, there was no water supply or plumbing in the spaces that now have the cafe.”

The studio reestablished the grand door and window openings in the space and replaced the old acrylic paint with breathable lime-based paint, while also adding acoustic plaster to improve the acoustics of the spaces.

Copper splashback and oak bar in Danish cafe — Untreated copper was used as a backsplash for the bar

At the centre of the cafe, Engel created a long bar that also functions as a ticket counter and is made from solid oak wood.

Wood was also used for all the other furniture, including benches, tables and sculptural shelves, which Engel designed specifically for the project using European oak from sustainable forestry.

“I wanted the benches to reference church benches – a bit chunky and heavy,” he said. “The church architecture is very robust with the church tower having two-metre thick walls. So the furniture had to have some substance to them.”

Wooden furniture by MEE Studio — The furniture complements the “robust” church architecture

Engel also aimed to give the pieces a contemporary feel by fusing their “heavy look” with more contemporary elements.

“All the furniture has visible joinery and tectonics in fumed oak, which allows the user to see how they are made and assembled,” he said.

“I added some decorative inlays in the bar counter and boutique shelves. Inlays were traditionally used as a way of repairing wood and I wanted to symbolise that repair can be beautiful and sustainable,” he added.

“In this way, it is sending the message that the furniture should have a long life and be repaired if it ages.”

Furniture in Nikolaj Kunsthal by MEE Studio — Artworks decorate the walls, here Pull by Martha Hviid

Behind the central bar, a copper backsplash adds an eyecatching material detail together with the matching sink and worktops, which were designed in reference to the roof of the old church.

“As many traditional buildings in Copenhagen, the roof of St Nikolaj Church is made with traditional copper roofing, which has aged to a rich green patina over time,” Engel said.

“I wanted to reference the existing material palate of the church but use it in a new way. So the kitchen features worktops, sinks and backsplash in raw untreated copper, which will evolve beautifully with time.”

Copper details in Nikolaj Kunsthal cafe — Lime-based paint was used for the walls

The white walls of the cafe and store were contrasted with not just the copper and wood but also a burgundy red fabric designed by fashion designer Raf Simons for Kvadrat, which was used for the cushions and backs of the sofas and chairs.

The colour was a nod to some of the space’s original colour but could also help disguise red wine spills in the cafe.

“Oakwood was already used throughout the church so it seemed natural to use oak as a material,” Engel explained.

“There was also the burgundy red paint which had been used originally for some woodwork, for instance, the stairs in the tower and the ceiling in what is now the cafe,” he added.

“So it seems natural to work with an interpretation of the burgundy red for the color of the cushions. I matched the burgundy red to a fantastic Kvadrat textile designed by Raf Simons and it worked in providing vibrancy, but also as a practical colour in a cafe where red wine is served.”

Artwork in Nikolaj Kunsthal — Red fabric was used for the seating, with the artwork Mercury (socks) hanging above

As well as the bespoke furniture pieces, the space was also decorated with carefully chosen artworks that have ties to the city of Copenhagen.

“Mercury (socks) is a photograph by the famous Danish/Norwegian artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset from a series of classical sculptures by the world-famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen,” Engel explained.

“The Thorvaldsen Museum is located only a few minutes away from Nikolaj Kunsthal, so the work relates both to art from the 19th century and contemporary art from the 21st century which is what you find in Nikolaj Kunsthal.”

Other recent interior projects in Copenhagen include Space10’s headquarters, which has a kiosk-like design library, and the cafe and shop design for Designmuseum Denmark by OEO Studio.

The photography is by Paolo Galgani.

Reference

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