studios Archives

New York-based Crosby Studios has piled office equipment around a long metallic table as part of a pop-up installation for fashion brand The Frankie Shop in Los Angeles.

The month-long installation titled The Office was launched to coincide with LA Art Week and the Sag-Aftra film festival and marked the New York label The Frankie Shop‘s first presence in the Californian city.

The brand’s founder Gaëlle Drevet and Crosby Studios creative director Harry Nuriev met at his studio, talked for 2.5 hours and decided to work together.

The resulting installation occupies a trapezoidal building on Sunset Boulevard wrapped in metallic film on all sides.

Equipment like printers, office chairs and water coolers arranged around a room — Equipment like printers, office chairs and water coolers were arranged around the perimeter of the space

Inside, the warehouse-like space features a long table also covered in a reflective material, with matching cube-shaped stools set along either side.

Articulated desk lamps, microphones and bottles of water were arranged on the table as if set up for delegates at a convention.

Metallic table with water bottles and microphones on top — The central table featured microphones and water bottles as if set up for a meeting

Around the perimeter, Nuriev placed recycled office equipment, such as a large printer, a stack of binders and a pile of plastic-wrapped office chairs.

A row of water coolers was lined up along one end of the room, encircled with glowing light boxes to create sharp silhouettes of the equipment in front.

Pile of office chairs silhouetted against a bright light box — Light boxes that encircle the space create sharp silhouettes of the office furniture placed in front

“It’s not really about the office, it’s more about what happens after the office,” Nuriev told Dezeen. “I was thinking it’s time to officially move on from the office and consider the future. However, in this project, we’re uncertain about what the future holds exactly.”

A selection of apparel by The Frankie Shop is interspersed among the vignettes, while a “storage” area in the back serves as a fitting room.

Plastic-wrapped silver furniture — Some of the furniture is plastic-wrapped, appearing as though just installed or ready to be shipped away

Together, the industrial style of the building, the silvery materials, the lighting and the equipment served to highlight the brand’s reinterpretation of businesswear.

“The pop-up design blends a dynamic combination of fashion and nostalgia, where the power suits of the past seamlessly align with the modern attitude of The Frankie Shop,” said the team.

Metallics are commonplace in Nuriev’s interior projects, appearing prominently in a Berlin jewellery store, a Moscow restaurant and his own New York apartment amongst others.

However, he is vague about the reasons or intentionality behind this recurring theme.

Exterior of a building on Sunset Boulevard covered in reflective film — The exterior of the building on Sunset Boulevard is also covered in reflective film

“I don’t really think about ‘why’; it’s just my instincts, and I prefer to follow my feelings,” said Nuriev. “For this project, I had a vision of silver, and I think it works perfectly.”

Originally from Russia, the designer founded Crosby Studios in 2014 and is now based between New York and Paris.

Zoomed out view of The Frankie Shop building in LA — The month-long installation marks The Frankie Shop’s first presence in LA and was timed to coincide with the city’s art week

He recently completed the interiors for New York nightclub Silencio, based on the original location in Paris designed by film director David Lynch.

Nuriev frequently collaborates with fashion brands, on projects ranging from a virtual sofa upholstered with green Nike jackets to a transparent vinyl couch filled with old Balenciaga clothing.

The photography is by Josh Cho.

The Office is on show in Los Angeles from 23 February to 24 March. For more events, talks and exhibitions in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.

Reference

Interior Design

Isern Serra completes “serene” office for eyewear brand Gigi Studios

By Zarkon Group,13/03/2024

Sculptural custom-made furniture adds artistic flourishes to this otherwise minimal showroom and head office, designed by Spanish interiors studio Isern Serra for eyewear brand Gigi Studios.

Isern Serra was tasked with creating a holistic scheme for the 900-square-metre headquarters, occupying one floor of a building in the town of Sant Cugat del Vallès just north of Barcelona.

Isern Serra has filled the Gigi Studios headquarters with custom furniture

The brief called for a design that creates a sense of spaciousness and comfort while reflecting founder Patricia Remo’s vision of Gigi Studios as a brand.

“It is also serene, warm and elegant and conceptually close to the idea of a studio and away from the concept of a traditional office, without losing the practicality and functionality,” Isern Serra explained.

Rows of desks were replaced with more intimate work areas

The building’s rectangular floor plan features a central service core housing the lifts and toilets, with the workspaces, meeting rooms, kitchen and showroom occupying the surrounding O-shaped open space.

Serra and his team positioned the kitchen and showroom at one end of the plan and placed the meeting rooms and client areas at the other, leaving the longer sides open to optimise circulation.

Concrete bases for the work tables were cast in situ

Various bespoke furniture pieces, conceived by Isern Serra as “small works of art”, bring a distinct personality to the different formal and informal spaces.

These interventions were designed to embody Gigi Studios’ design ethos while standing out against the warm and minimal backdrop.

“The project aims to experiment with the limits of the workspace and seek a new concept that goes hand in hand with the idea of domus and museum,” Isern Serra explained.

Curtains can be used to cordon off the lounge area

A large circular sofa framed in stainless steel provides a bold statement in one of the reception areas.

The sculptural piece fulfils a dual function as a seating area and a space for working, with tables and book storage integrated into the backrest around the perimeter.

Similarly, the building’s central core is wrapped in a layer of built-in storage units including circular stainless-steel niches that incorporate shelves for displaying books and materials.

Rather than a typical office layout with rows of workstations, the large open spaces are separated into more intimate zones with a more domestic scale.

A Boa Pouf by Sabine Marcelis provides informal seating

Next to the lobby is a design area featuring tables made from concrete that was cast in situ. Task seating surrounds the work table and a taller table is accompanied by stools, while lenses for the different glasses are stored in a custom-made unit.

The second workspace features a large C-shaped sofa with a concrete base that was also cast in situ. Custom-made tables and one of Sabine Marcelis’s Boa Poufs complete this lounge-style space, which can be visually separated from the rest of the office using curtains on either side.

The showroom is visible from the office through a circular window

A circular window with rounded edges provides a glimpse of the showroom, which is dominated by two sculptural tables with concrete tops supported by rough chunks of travertine stone.

A built-in tiered display is used to highlight different Gigi Studios’ eyewear. The rest of the collection is housed in a backlit cabinet, while a mirror-fronted unit conceals a large screen used for presentations.

The kitchen is located next to the showroom so that the two spaces can easily be used together for events. Here, a homely, Mediterranean feel is created via a five-metre-long sharing table, custom-made alongside the accompanying stools.

Display tables in the showroom are held up by rough chunks of travertine

The sizeable kitchen island is finished in micro-cement and features a curved base that enhances its sculptural presence.

A curved corridor incorporating a sofa niche on one wall provides access to offices and a meeting room positioned to have the best views of the surrounding countryside.

Internal columns are used to support one end of concrete tables built in each of the workspaces, furnished with classic designs including Marcel Breuer’s Wassily and Cesca chairs.

Large sharing tables allow for communal eating in the kitchen

Interior designer Isern Serra founded his self-titled studio in Barcelona in 2008 and works across architecture, interiors and industrial design.

Previous projects including a rose-coloured shop for Barcelona’s Moco Museum that was based on a computer-generated image and a minimalist office for digital artist Andrés Reisinger, which was named small workplace interior of the year at the 2023 Dezeen Awards.

The photography is by Salva López with art direction by Aasheen Mittal.

Reference

Interior Design

Home Studios refreshes The Wren pub on NYC’s Bowery

By Zarkon Group,09/03/2024

Brooklyn-based Home Studios has remodelled a bar and restaurant in New York’s East Village, using dark wood and velvet seating to retain a “worn-in and aged appearance”.

The Wren on the busy Bowery thoroughfare has become a neighbourhood staple since opening in 2012, but was ready for an interior revamp.

Home Studios refreshed both levels of the upscale pub, including the upper-floor dining and drinking area, and private lounge downstairs.

“Despite the changes in the city and the evolution of the neighbourhood, The Wren has maintained its timeless appeal, offering visitors a glimpse into the past and an authentic pub experience,” said Home Studios, led by founder Oliver Halsegrave.

L-shaped bar with a marble counter and surrounded by wooden stools — The L-shaped bar has a marble counter and is surrounded by GAR Products stools

Across the main level, dark and moody materials have been used to retain the pub-like quality of the spaces, assisted by the exposed wooden ceiling beams and columns, and hardwood floors.

Either side of the entrance, black-painted, booth-style benches are installed against the walnut wall panelling, creating cosy nooks for pairs or small groups to occupy.

Chocolate-coloured velvet banquette featuring ribbed cushions — Towards the back, a chocolate-coloured velvet banquette features ribbed cushions

The bar area features an L-shaped marble counter surrounded by GAR Products stools, opposite black wainscoting that runs below vintage-looking wallpaper.

Towards the back, a long banquette is dressed in ribbed cushions that form the seating and backrests, all wrapped in brown velvet.

Row of custom mirrors alternated with disk-shaped sconces above tables — Custom mirrors alternate with disk-shaped sconces by In Common With

Custom arched shaped mirrors mounted on the walls alternate with disk-shaped sconces by In Common With, against a beige textured plaster backdrop.

A variety of other sconces throughout were sourced from lighting brands including O’Lampia, Shades of Light, Allied Maker and Rejuvenation.

U-shaped both below two windows — Guests can choose from a variety of booths, two-tops or standing areas

“With a worn-in and aged appearance, the space now exudes a moody winter-like atmosphere,” said Home Studios.

Downstairs, the mood is even more “sultry” and intimate, thanks to darker surfaces and a variety of dim, warm lighting sources.

The bar counter is made from Black Portoro marble and the wood floors are also stained black, while the banquette upholstery is a lighter tone than found on the upper level.

Between the two floors, guests can choose from a variety of seating or standing spots for enjoying their beers, cocktails and bar food.

Banquette below walnut panelling and candle sconces — In the private area downstairs, the mood is more sultry and the banquette upholstery is lighter in colour

“Home Studios has seamlessly blended nostalgic and rustic charm throughout The Wren’s interior, creating an inviting and distinctive ambiance that pays homage to the bar’s storied history,” said the team.

Home Studios is no stranger to refreshing beloved establishments, having completed interiors for The Bird in Montauk and The Pearl in Nantucket.

Downstairs area featuring dark-stained floors and a black marble bar counter — The downstairs area features dark-stained floors and a black marble bar counter

The firm also recently turned a conference centre in Northern California back into a luxury hotel, as originally intended by the property’s founder: the inventor of the radio.

The photography is by Brian W Ferry.

Reference

Interior Design

Home Studios uses local materials to renovate Northern California hotel

By Zarkon Group,10/02/2024

Brooklyn-based Home Studios has turned a conference centre in Northern California back into a luxury hotel, as originally intended by the property’s founder: the inventor of the radio.

The Lodge at Marconi sits on a 62-acre site next to Tomales Bay, within the picturesque Marconi State Historic Park – a 1.5-hour drive up Highway Route 1 from San Francisco.

Designed for Nashville-based company Oliver Hospitality, the hotel occupies a historic property that was first built by Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian physicist who invented the radio in 1896.

“Home Studios found inspiration in the property’s storied history – particularly in the pioneering spirit of Guglielmo Marconi, who worked with a New York-based engineering company to build the property’s initial building, a luxury hotel, in 1914,” said the design team, led by Oliver Haslegrave.

Hotel reception counter clad in oxblood-coloured tiles — The reception counter is clad in oxblood-coloured tiles from Heath Ceramics

It took 17 months to overhaul the complex of blackened-wood buildings, which are topped with mono-pitched roofs of different heights and opposing directions.

The architecture is similar to that of The Sea Ranch Lodge further up the coast, which reopened in 2022 after its own extensive renovation.

Dining room featuring brick flooring, blue-green tilework and eclectic contemporary furniture — The Redwood Dining Hall features brick flooring, blue-green tilework and eclectic contemporary furniture

Home Studios looked to the iconic site – famed for its modernist style and sensitive land planning – for cues when developing the Lodge at Marconi’s 45 guest rooms and suites, which occupy freestanding buildings across the wooded site.

“Borrowing design language from Sea Ranch’s ‘living lightly on the land’ credo, the rooms blend into the environment and boast a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere,” the team said.

A series of coloured wooden cubes mounted on a wall above banquette seating and dining tables — Artworks in the restaurant, including a series of coloured wooden cubes, were created in collaboration with Lukas Geronimas Giniotis

The hotel complex is made up of eight indoor and outdoor spaces, laid out “like a summer camp” to accommodate different activities in each area.

In the reception block, guests arrive to a series of lounges and other communal spaces that create a more informal setting than a traditional hotel lobby.

Bright guest suite with a double bed, day bed and blue lounge chair — The bedrooms are bright and airy, with materials and colours that subtly reflect the hotel’s natural surroundings

A check-in counter is fronted with oxblood-coloured tiles by Heath Ceramics, which was founded in nearby Sausalito.

More of the company’s tiles, this time in blue-green hues, line the lower walls of the restaurant known as the Redwood Dining Hall.

Shower with colourful patchwork of tiles from the 1960s — Three of the guest room bathrooms feature original tiles that date back to the 1960s

Red bricks are laid in a basketweave pattern across the floor, contrasting with the bright blue bases of the custom dining tables, while warm cedar panels and beams cover the ceiling.

A mural comprising four-panel linen screens and a series of wood cubes mounted on a wall was made in collaboration with California-based artist Lukas Geronimas Giniotis.

The guest rooms are bright and airy, with the colours of the natural surroundings subtly reflected in the furnishings.

Some have cosy loft spaces, while larger suites feature a dedicated workspace and sitting area.

Buildings clad in blackened wood and topped with monopitched roofs — The accommodations are split across several buildings clad in blackened wood and topped with monopitched roofs

“Northern California’s rugged environment served as a design influence, and is reflected in the natural woods and earth-tone textiles that adorn each room and weave together a cohesive connection throughout the property,” Home Studios said.

“Three guest room bathrooms feature original tile dated to the 1960s when the hotel served as a rehabilitation facility known as Synanon.”

Wooden chairs surrounding a fire pit with blackened wood buildings in the background — The property includes multiple outdoor areas for gatherings and events

Across the property, the indoor spaces are afforded scenic views of the forest and the water through large windows.

A variety of gathering and event spaces are available to guests both inside and out, including wooden chairs positioned around fire pits among the landscape designed by Bay Area firm Dune Hai.

View through the trees to Tomales Bay at sunset — Lodge at Marconi sits atop a hill overlooking Tomales Bay in Northern California

This is Home Studios’ third hotel project, following the Mediterranean-influenced Alsace hotel in Los Angeles and the boutique Daunt’s Albatross motel in Montauk.

The firm’s other recent projects include a revamped bar and restaurant on Nantucket, an Italian eatery close to Harvard University and a townhouse renovation in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

The photography is by Brian W Ferry.

Reference

Architecture

Hamptons artist studio by Worrell Yeung is tucked among the trees

By Zarkon Group,06/01/2024

Architectural studio Worrell Yeung has completed a two-storey, black-coloured home extension called Springs Artist Studio that is meant to offer the “experience of being perched in the trees”.

The Brooklyn-based firm was tasked with designing the 800-square-foot (74-square-metre) addition for a Long Island house belonging to a florist and a painter.

The couple has an extensive collection of art and special objects. Their home is located in Springs, a hamlet in East Hampton that is popular with artists.

“The hamlet of Springs has a strong history of painting,” said Max Worrell, co-founder and principal of Worrell Yeung. “We were drawn to that lineage; Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler and Jane Freilicher all painted out here.”

Artist studio interior by Worrell Yeung — It is an addition to a Long Island home

The team conceived a two-storey addition that contains a painting studio on the upper level and an exhibition space down below that doubles as a garage.

The ground floor also has a powder room.

Artist studio interior featuring a gabled roof — The building has a gabled roof

In response to strict zoning rules and environmental sensitivities, the studio created a small-footprint building that preserved existing trees and minimised the overall impact on the landscape.

Rectangular in plan, the building has a gabled roof and walls clad in pine boards that were stained black to match the main house.

Birch plywood interiors — Interior finishes include birch plywood

Different-sized boards were used “to create a sense of shifting, lateral scale that counters the vertical massing of the structure”.

The lower portion of the building is covered in 12-inch-wide boards (30 centimetres), while the upper areas are clad in 4-inch and 1-inch versions (10 and 2.5 centimeters).

In the power room, the birch plywood has been stained blue

“From afar the studio reads as an abstract volume,” the architects said.

“Up close, the textured wood and varied-sized planks break down the scale of the building to something more accessible and rich with detail.”

The black cladding is interrupted on the upper level by a band of ribbon windows.

The architects worked with Silman Structural Engineers to create the continuous windows, which are supported by steel-rod cross bracing and slender steel columns that match the mullions.

Within the building, the four-foot-tall (1.2-metre) ribbon windows offer immersive views of the landscape.

“Natural light streams in while unique views appear from each direction, framed by unobstructed glass corners,” the team said.

Ribbon windows in extension by Worrell Yeung — These offer immersive views of the landscape

“We wanted to create this experience of being perched in the trees – a retreat for working,” added Jejon Yeung, cofounder of Worrell Yeung.

Interior finishes include birch plywood, which was used for flooring, walls and cabinetry. In the powder room, the plywood is stained a rich shade of blue.

The decor includes vintage Eames molded fibreglass chairs and a vintage chandelier by David Weeks.

Black cabin in the woods — The siding was painted black to match the main house

The addition is connected to the main home by a glazed passageway that brings in the natural surroundings while “providing a moment of respite between home and the studio/work environment”.

Other projects by Worrell Yeung include a series of gabled timber buildings on a New York farm and a refresh of a cedar-clad dwelling on Long Island that was originally designed by famed US architect Charles Gwathmey.

The photography is by Naho Kubota.

Project credits:

Architecture: Worrell Yeung
Design team: Max Worrell, Jejon Yeung, Yunchao Le Structural Engineer: Silman
Contractor: Fifth and Dune

Reference

Colourful interior of studio for Method Architecture

Interior Design

Method Architecture outfits own Houston studio with vibrant mural

By Zarkon Group,04/01/2024

Texas studio Method Architecture has completed an office for itself in Houston with maximalist design, vibrant colours and a mural at its centre.

The 8,612-square foot (800-square metre) studio was completed in 2023 with a reception area, open office plan, private and collaborative meeting spaces and staff lounges.

Located in the mixed-use East River development, designed by architecture studio Page, the office was designed to serve as an inspiration source for the studio’s clients.

“Our approach was to pursue maximalism with the goal of creating an environment where our clients would feel safe expressing their bold and innovative ideas with us,” Ashley Bettcher, Research and Design Specialist with Method Architecture told Dezeen.

Table tennis table in Method Architecture's studio — The office was designed to serve as an inspiration source

“Creativity has no limits and great design doesn’t necessarily need to cost more. Method’s new Houston office perfectly encapsulates that mantra.”

The “ego-free” focus of the design is a nearly 50-foot multi-wall mural by local artist David Maldonado, known for creating nearly 20 pieces of public artwork throughout Houston.

Multi-wall mural by David Maldonado — David Maldonado created a multi-wall mural for the studio

With pops of magenta, cobalt, and yellow, the mural features icons from the city and state like the skyline, a rocket for Johnson Space Center, a bluebonnet as the Texas state flower, and the neighbouring Buffalo Bayou.

The artwork also slips in custom motifs representing the studio, such as Method’s rubber duck mascot.

Acoustic baffles suspended from the ceiling — Light grey flower-like acoustic baffles hang from the ceiling

“This feature piece of artwork helps set the tone for the remainder of the office including bold colors, geometric patterns and shapes and a secondary mural designed and installed by Maldanado featuring drip paint in mirroring colorways located at the back of the office,” the team said.

The mural is complemented by a 3D-printed wall installation behind the reception desk composed of the studio’s signature “M” logo and the raw ceiling with exposed mechanical lines all painted a vibrant shade of fuchsia.

Half-arched portal at Method Architecture office — Clients pass through a half-arched portal

Light grey flower-like acoustic baffles hang from the ceiling adding to the maximalist design. Light blue bicycles are mounted on one wall as another unique installation.

From the reception area lounge, clients pass through a half-arched portal – created with custom millwork and embedded lights – into the main office space which includes rows of desks over custom greyscale carpet.

Desks and geometric carpet in self-designed studio — Hotel desk stations accommodate hybrid work styles

Hotel desk stations accommodate hybrid work styles for both in-office and at-home work.

“Cozy architectural work booths are nestled amid the bustling breakroom and office areas, offering a quiet refuge for more private work, private conversations or meals with coworkers,” the team said.

The workspace is flanked by six meeting rooms: a large creative conference space, three medium-sized conference rooms and two smaller huddle spaces.

The all-white conference room was left intentionally blank to showcase the client’s material selections with tunable white lights to adjust the light temperature for each project.

An M-shaped window cutout opens the conference room to the rest of the office.

In the break room, bright blue suede fabric adorns the walls to provide an unexpected texture and pale blue lamp shades – reminiscent of the shape of inverted cupcake liners – serve as a geometric juxtaposition to the rounded banquette boxes.

Bright blue-walled break room — Bright blue suede fabric adorns the walls in the break room

“Plush, psychedelic-inspired fabrics in meeting booths and distinctive light fixtures keep the space feeling light and fun to inspire creative design,” the studio said.

In addition to being designed for flexible workflows and teams, the space features multiple sustainable and WELL features like ample daylighting, repurposed materials and ergonomic furniture.

Other recently completed projects in Houston include Nelson Byrd Woltz’s grassed park that bridges a six-lane highway and Modu’s design for a wellness building with a self-cooling exterior.

The photography is by Ana Larranaga, Method Architecture.

Project credits:

Architecture: Method Architecture
MEP: Telios Engineering
General contractor: Burton Construction
Furniture: AGILE Interiors, MDI, OP,
Flooring: Interface, Shaw Contract
Tile: Trinity Surfaces, La Nova
Textiles: Knoll Textiles
Masonry: Upchurch Kimbrough
Demountable partitions: DIRTT
Countertops: CAMBRIA
Mural: David Maldonado
Lighting: Lighting Associates Inc.
Signage: ARIA Signs

Reference

Hotel lounge with dark blue walls and amber lighting

Interior Design

Adean Studios’ overhauled High Country Motor Lodge nods to astronomy

By Zarkon Group,28/11/2023

An old roadside motel on America’s iconic Route 66 has been renovated by San Francisco-based Adean Studios to reflect the culture and enviromnent of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Adean Studios worked with local architecture studio Synectic Design to overhaul the High Country Motor Lodge, which is operated by Marc & Rose Hospitality.

The mid-century property is accessed directly off the historic, cross-country Route 66 highway that runs through Flagstaff – the city that provides a base for visitors to the Grand Canyon, the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort and miles of hiking trails through the surrounding wilderness.

Almost 7,000 feet (2,100 metres) above sea level, the city is also home to the Lowell Observatory where Pluto was discovered in 1930.

Self-check-in desk as viewed in a mirror — The hotel was renovated by Adean Studios to reflect the landscape and history of Flagstaff

All of these elements were combined as influences for the hotel’s design, which lands somewhere between a mountain lodge and a retro motel.

“Our goal was to incorporate the rich astronomical history of Flagstaff, while also creating an environment that blends elements of a retro 1960s lounge with modern mountain design,” said Adean Studios principal Alexa Nafisi-Movaghar. “The entire property showcases a darker colour palette accented with rustic woods and 1960s-inspired fixtures and furnishings.”

Guest room with double bed, blue wainscoting and white upper walls — Guest room interiors are a cross between mountain cabins and retro motel rooms

Painted midnight blue, the hotel buildings form a U shape around a central lawn and a large swimming pool, which was also renovated as part of the project.

The lobby, restaurant and other public areas face the highway, while the majority of guest rooms are located in perpendicular two-storey blocks behind.

Guest room with low cushioned seating beside a double bed — Low furniture and cassette players add to the nostalgic atmosphere

On the west side of the site, three new shingle-clad cabins were constructed to house larger suites, bringing the total number of keys to 123.

The dark facade colours continue inside the lobby, lounge and bar areas, where a variety of seating types and configurations allow guests to dine or relax as they choose.

Dark green bathroom with lighting above a mirror, shelves and sink — Dark green and blue hues throughout the property nod to the forested surroundings and night sky

Amber-hued glass light fixtures emit a soft, warm glow in these spaces, while velvet curtains and blankets were included.

The bar and lounge opens onto a stepped outdoor terrace, where more dining tables and low chairs are arranged around a series of fire pits.

Motel rooms surrounding a central lawn and swimming pool — The property is arranged around a central lawn, which public events are held, and a large renovated swimming pool

A general store off the reception area sells a curated selection of snacks, merchandise and other locally sourced gifts.

In the guest rooms, navy blue wainscoting wraps the lower portion of off-white walls, and dark wood floors and low furniture add to the mid-century aesthetic.

Shingle-clad cabins beyond wooden tables and chairs — Three shingle-clad cabins that house suites were built as part of the project

Each is equipped with a cassette player and a set of three tapes, which play tracks that evoke nostalgia for the road trip era.

High Country Motor Lodge also boasts a Nordic spa, comprising two private wood-lined saunas that guests can reserve for one-hour sessions.

These cabins are accessed from an enclosed courtyard with an outdoor shower and fire pits, and have direct access to the hot tub for further relaxation, or the swimming pool for a cold plunge.

“Inspired by the local lifestyle of adventure-seekers, day-sleepers, and night-watchers, the great lawn, private cottages, and the Nordic Spa have been designed to enhance the outdoor experience, constantly reminding guests of the beautiful nature that surrounds,” Nafisi-Movaghar said.

Arched gateway with "The Sauna at HCML" written above — The hotel has a Nordic spa that guests can book for private experiences. Photo by Landon Kroeger

The hotel’s branding was created by Charleston-based SDCO Partners, and also plays up the retro and astronomy themes.

“Nestled between the Grand Canyon and Barringer Crater, the High Country Motor Lodge is at once both celestial and earthly, and the brand design honors both,” said creative director and founding partner Amy Pastre.

Hot tub with steam coming off it — The sauna cabins are located close to the hot tub. Photo by Landon Kroeger

“An eclectic family of hand-rendered typographic and illustrative graphic elements celebrate the motor lodge’s vintage style, contemporary design, and the love of high desert adventure.”

A range of public programming is organised at the location throughout the year, including theatrical performances, and a folk music festival in the fall.

Wood-lined sauna with benches and a water bucket — The private saunas can be reserved for an hour. Photo by Landon Kroeger

Many former motels and motor lodges across the US have been bought up and renovated into boutique accommodations over the past decade.

From Hotel Joaquin in Laguna Beach and The Drifter in New Orleans, to Scribner’s in New York’s Catskills Mountains and Tourists in the Berkshires, these hotels are often designed with a location-specific twist.

The photography is by Werner Segarra, unless stated otherwise.

Reference

Modular offices with timber frames and glass walls

Interior Design

KKDW Studios creates offices for a yoga teacher in Austin

By Zarkon Group,25/03/2023

Austin-based KKDW Studios has designed the headquarters for a yoga subscription app called Find What Feels Good, including a space for filming instructional videos.

KKDW Studios founder Kelly DeWitt collaborated with yoga teacher Adriene Mishler – who became well-known through her Yoga With Adriene instructional videos – to create a base for Find What Feels Good, the platform she co-founded that offers video tutorials for at-home workouts.

Located in East Austin, the 5,000-square-foot (465-square-metre) space was previously an empty shell with blue walls and a high-gloss, yellow-tinged concrete floor.

DeWitt’s team described an intention to create “a space to evolve in and experiment with, a place to be inspired and inspired others.”

Open workspace featuring large wood tables — Communal workstations are positioned in front of private offices

“The space should feel welcoming with a warm, homey ambiance that makes you want to take a deep exhale,” the team added.

To add this warmth, the majority of the interventions were made with wood, which forms wall panelling, louvred partitions, frames for glass walls, and furniture. The concrete floors were refinished in matte grey.

Bright kitchen with a moveable island — A bright kitchen includes an island mounted on castors, which can be moved when needed

Designed for a quickly growing team and to be multi-functional, all the elements of the interiors are either bolted together or mounted on wheels, so they can be easily moved if needed.

The linear space is divided up along its fenestrated facade. At one end is a cosy lounge area for receiving visitors or communal work, while a bright, fully equipped kitchen is located at the other.

Beige sofa in front of glass-walled offices — Warm-toned materials were chosen for the space

In between, the modular timber-framed glazed walls form a row of private offices, while an open workspace with large tables is positioned in front.

Facing the windows is an uninterrupted wall that stretches 80 feet (24 metres), which is used by Mishler and her team as a backdrop for filming yoga videos for their app and Youtube channel.

Air ducts and other visual obstacles had to be moved to ensure that the shot is unobstructed, while the vertical slat in the lounge partition pivot to ensure the lighting is just right.

“Natural light can be inspiring, but when filming, sometimes what they need is control – this allows them the best of both worlds,” said KKDW Studios.

Welcome lounge in a corner of the office — Slats in a partition can be adjusted to control light levels when filming in the space

Cushions for sofas and armchairs are wrapped in tufted, textured beige fabric in a variety of tones that are echoed in the rugs.

From the exposed, angled ceiling hang a series of spherical pendant lamps, as well as power outlets on retractable cords for use at the workstations.

Find What Feels Good founder Adriene Mishler holds a yoga pose next to her dog — An uninterrupted wall provides a backdrop for Adriene Mishler’s instructional yoga videos

“All furniture is completely custom, designed after getting to know Adriene and her team, their needs, workflow, etc,” said KKDW Studios, which also acted as general contractor for the project.

Yoga – a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices – continues to grow in popularity around the world, and demand for at-home workouts like those facilitated by Find What Feels Good skyrocketed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Here are 10 homes with dedicated spaces for practising yoga and meditation.

The photography is by Andrea Calo.

Reference

Architecture

stilt studios’ prefab treehouse complex treads lightly on the lush landscape of bali

By Zarkon Group,21/11/2022

treehouse studio by stilts studio

Treehouse Studio is Stilt Studio’s latest hospitality addition in Bali, Indonesia. Tucked away in the coastal village of Canggu, the elevated treehouse complex overlooks a vast landscape of rice fields, connecting travelers with the natural surroundings while also providing a memorable design experience with a unique indoor-outdoor living concept. The project is built as part of an ensemble of four prefabricated buildings on a site of 745 sqm, and is designed with the intent to create an elevated hospitality and retreat space, that becomes a sanctuary outside of the constraints of daily life.

the elevated treehouse complex overlooks a vast landscape of rice fields | all images courtesy of Indra Wiras

a refuge amidst Bali’s lush surroundings

The Treehouse Studio is designed as a refuge amidst Bali’s lush surroundings, an ideal place to pause, retreat and relax. In keeping with Stilt Studios’ ethos ‘treading lightly on earth’, the architects used prefabricated building elements, relying on a conscious choice of materials from responsible sources, and using as much wood as possible to minimize the carbon footprint of the project.

The outdoor patio of the complex opens to a vast view of rice fields, providing striking visuals while creating intimacy in the natural landscape. ‘Thoughtfully positioned for unobstructed views of the glorious western sunsets, the iconic Treehouse Studio reimagines the idea of a two-story indoor-outdoor living concept, allowing for two contrasting experiences for the guests,’ mentions Therresa Shannen Budihardjo, Architectural Design Lead at Stilt Studios (find more here). When guests arrive at the treehouse, they are invited to descend and relax in a private plunge pool, stretch out on a terrace furnished with comfortable sun loungers, or gather around the dining table. They slowly ascend a spiral staircase into the treehouse and enter the warm, wooden interior, complemented by bright colors and houseplants.

the Treehouse Studio is tucked away in the lush landscape of the Canggu village

non-specific, versatile living environment

In the living room above, large sliding glass doors open the interior to a large wooden balcony that extends the horizon into the natural surroundings. The 6×6 interior space extends to a 9 sqm balcony and offers a total of 45 sqm of living space. The open layout of the studio divides the main programs into two floors: sleeping, living, and bathing upstairs, dining, lounging, and swimming downstairs. The plans and drawing set can also be purchased from the designers to be built anywhere in the world.

With a nod to Japanese sensibilities and Balinese culture, the interior is designed to inspire guests and provide a space for contemplation and leisure. The furniture was carefully designed to make efficient use of the limited space. The L-Sofa, the centerpiece of the space, is designed for multiple functions, including lounging, storage, recharging and working.

‘For the interior of the upper level, we designed a non-specific, versatile environment that encourages a variety of small-space interactions,’ explains Cokorda G. B. Suryanata, Product Design Lead at Stilt Studios.

the prefabricated structures are elevated above the 745 sqm site

the architects used prefab building elements, relying on a conscious choice of materials from responsible sources

the structure treads lightly on the earth, following Stilts Studios’ ethos

Reference

Istanbul architects' studios by Marc Goodwin

Architecture

Photographer Marc Goodwin captures Frankfurt architecture studios

By Zarkon Group,16/11/2022

British architectural photographer Marc Goodwin provides a look into architecture studios in Frankfurt in the second edition of his three-part series documenting architectural offices in Germany.

The series offers a look into eight architecture studios based in Frankfurt including the office of Schneider+schumacher, Crossboundaries, Apd architektur+ingenieurbüro and Max Dudler.

“This was a follow-up to the previous story in Berlin,” Goodwin told Dezeen. “The German market is interesting because it is large and produces work of such a high standard but is perhaps less well known outside of Germany than might be expected.”

“My next stop is Vienna to be followed by Swiss studios,” he said. “The goal is to finally publish the book which I was on track for prior to Covid by the end of 2023.”

When asked about the project, Goodwin told Dezeen that this three-part series in Germany was one of his longest trips, compared only to his work capturing 27 Nordic architecture offices in 2016.

“It was one of the longest trips I have taken, comparable only to the Nordic studio’s story that started me off on this adventure,” he told Dezeen.

Goodwin is the founder of the architectural photography studio Archmospheres and has captured behind-the-scenes looks into architectural studios worldwide – including in Berlin, Dubai, Panama City and Beijing.

Goodwin and Archmospheres have also recently photographed a lakeside sauna and restaurant in Finland as well as Hopkins Architects’ Khor Kalba Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary in the UAE.

Read on for a glimpse into eight architecture studios across Frankfurt:

Schneider+schumacher

In this space since: 2009
Number of members of staff: 160
Size: 1650 square metres
Building’s history: former post office

Apd architektur+ingenieurbüro

In this space since: 2015
Number of members of staff: 25
Size: 240 square metres
Building’s history: former clothing factory and fur warehouse, now occupied by creatives, artists and architects

FRANKEN Generalplaner Gmbh

In this space since: 2009
Number of members of staff: 25
Size: 250 square metres
Building’s history: former factory for cardboard envelopes

Max Dudler

In this space since: 2022
Number of members of staff: 14 staff members of 134 total
Size: 300 square metres
Building’s history: former 20th-century German type-foundry used by D. Stempel AG

Turkali Architekten, Prof. Zvonko Turkali

In this space since: 2008
Number of members of staff: 20
Size: 400 square metres

Crossboundaries

In this space since: 2014
Number of members of staff: 8 to 10
Size: 120 square metres
Building’s history: former apartment

MEIXNER SCHLÜTER WENDT

In this space since: 1997
Number of members of staff: 42
Size: 1000 square metres
Building’s history: former commercial and industrial building

HGP Architekten Leben Kilian PartG mbB

In this space since: 2017
Number of members of staff: 23
Size: 300 square metres
Building’s history: former Society for Psychoanalytic Social Psychology e. V.

Reference

studios

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KKDW Studios creates offices for a yoga teacher in Austin

stilt studios’ prefab treehouse complex treads lightly on the lush landscape of bali

treehouse studio by stilts studio

a refuge amidst Bali’s lush surroundings

non-specific, versatile living environment

Photographer Marc Goodwin captures Frankfurt architecture studios

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