Ten Archives

Ten Bauhaus interiors that draw on the principles of design school

A hotel that pays tribute to early German modernism and an apartment within a ski resort designed by architect Marcel Breuer are among the projects collected in our latest lookbook, which explores interiors informed by the Bauhaus.

The most influential art and design school in history, the Bauhaus’ was established in Germany in 1919 and although it closed just over a decade later continues to influence interior designers today.

Work produced by students and teachers during the school’s 14-year history, centred on founder Walter Gropius’ ethos that art and craft should marry to create a new architecture.

The below projects feature distinctly Bauhaus elements including chrome tubular chairs, geometric shapes, primary colours and abstract textiles.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring living rooms that use warm neutrals to create a cosy ambience, bedrooms with wardrobes that are disguised as walls and contemporary living rooms in Georgian and Victorian homes.

Interiors of Flaine holiday apartment, revamped by Volta — Photo is by Arthur Fechoz

Cassiopeia Apartment, France, by Volta

Tasked with reviving the “Bauhaus spirit” of this apartment set within a Breuer-designed ski resort, architecture studio Volta added soft furnishings in mustard yellows and royal blues, referencing the colour palette of movement.

Armchairs with steel frames that resemble Breuer’s Wassily Chair have also been used to decorate the living room.

“The Bauhaus movement was predominant in the design of the project,” said the studio. “It has influenced its history, its choice of materials and its furniture. The challenge was to revive its influences in a contemporary context.”

Find out more about Cassiopeia apartment ›

De Maria by The MP Shift — Photo is by Nicole Franzen

De Maria, US, by The MP Shift

Design studio The MP Shift wanted De Maria, a contemporary American restaurant in Manhattan’s Nolita neighbourhood to look like an artist’s studio, complete with white brickwork and pink-tinted plaster.

The studio paid tribute to Bauhaus and 1970s Soho style by adding sofas upholstered in tan-coloured leather, orb-shaped pendant lamps and simple pieces of art with triangular shapes.

Find out more about De Maria ›

Nadzieja restaurant designed by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio — Photo courtesy of Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

Nadzieja, Poland, by Agnieszka Owsiany Studio

Design influences from the Bauhaus collide with Israeli flavours at Nadzieja, a restaurant in Poznań, Poland designed by local studio Agnieszka Owsiany Studio.

Filled with brown-leather chairs with tubular steel frames, high granite ivory counters and spherical pendant lights, the eatery has a bright and warm interior that draws parallels with the large number of Bauhaus buildings found in Tel Aviv.

Find out more about Nadzieja ›

Schwan Locke hotel Munich by Fettle — Photo is by Edmund Dabney

Schwan Locke Hotel, Germany, by Fettle

Influenced by the work of proto-Bauhaus association Deutsche Werkbund, design studio Fettle wanted the interiors of aparthotel Locke to be at once nostalgic and distinctly contemporary.

Its 151 apartment rooms feature a combination of light timber, raw plaster, chrome, steel and mohair materials set against a colourful yet muted pink and green backdrop.

Find out more about Schwan Locke hotel ›

A living room with a geometric rug — Photo courtesy of Kasthall

Quilt by Ellinor Eliasson

In this living room, Swedish designer Ellinor Eliasson’s tufted rug acts as a centrepiece and gives the space a warm and richly textured look.

The graphic, modernist rug recalls the work of renowned Bauhaus weaving workshop teacher Anni Albers, who is best known for her textiles and recognisable lines, colours and forms.

Find out more about Quilt ›

Members' Club areas divided by metal shelving — Photo is by Andrew Joseph Woomer

Soho House Nashville, US, by Soho House

At the Soho House in Nashville, guests can enjoy a taste of the city’s musical heritage while uncovering the building’s industrial past as a knitting mill.

Designed to feel warm and rich, much like the rock and roll, jazz and blues music that Nashville is known for, the accommodation features bespoke lamps, brassy industrial finishes and plenty of tubular decor to create an industrial interior that still feels modern.

Find out more about Soho House Nashville ›

53 West 53 by Andre Fu 36B — Photo is by Stephen Kent Johnson

53 West Apartment, US, by André Fu and AFSO

Architect André Fu and his Hong Kong studio AFSO referenced the geometric designs of the Bauhaus school for 53 West Apartment, a model unit set within architect Jean Nouvel’s New York tower block.

The two-bedroom apartment is peppered with sculptural pieces of furniture such as a room divider comprised of dark wood and rods, which compliments the existing walnut doors and oak floors and cabinets.

Find out more about 53 West Apartment ›

RP House by Estudio BG — Photo is by Fran Parente

RP House, Brazil, by Estúdio BG

Inside this stripped-back two-storey residence called RP House, black steelwork, bare walls and simple white volumes stacked on top of each other come together to create a sparse yet light-filled Brazilian home.

São Paulo studio Estúdio BG said that the design referenced the principles of repeatability and standardisation advocated by designers of the Bauhaus.

“This 1920s movement was characterised by the replication of design in an industrial format,” the studio said. “The simple geometric volume, the elimination of decorative elements and the use of the roof as terraces reinforce the principles adopted in the project.”

Find out more about RP House ›

Dome House by Pavlina Williams — Photo is by Krista Jahnke

Palm Springs Dome House, US, by Pavlina Williams

Los Angeles-based architect Pavlina Williams added multiple windows and knocked down several walls in her renovation of this Californian house, transforming it from a gloomy residence into a desert sun trap.

In the open-plan living area, a caramel leather Wassily Chair by the Hungarian architect and designer Breuer sits alongside a spiral stainless-steel staircase that leads up to a loft.

Find out more about Palm Springs Dome House ›

KaDaWe department store in Berlin — Photo is by Derek Hudson

KaDeWe, Germany, by India Mahdavi

French architect India Mahdavi borrowed from the Bauhaus’ preoccupation with strong graphic lines and shapes in her renovation of department store KaDeWe by adding sweeping black, white and grey stripes of Santa Margherita to the floor of the womenswear section.

Elsewhere in the 2,000-square-metre shopping space, pink carpeting is set off against triple-tiered, brass clothes rails and olive green and dusty pink velvet curtains.

Find out more about KaDeWe ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms where the sink takes centre stage, homes with arched openings that add architectural interest and bookshops designed to enhance the browsing experience.

Reference

Interior Design

Ten living rooms that use warm neutrals to create a cosy ambience

By Zarkon Group,06/11/2022

As the days get darker in the northern hemisphere, our latest lookbook spotlights 10 living rooms rendered in warm yet discrete colour palettes, proving that neutrals don’t have to feel clinical.

Mixing tactile natural materials with toasty shades of chocolate brown, creamy beige and blush pink can help to create a sense of homeliness in a room without being overbearing.

From a São Paulo apartment filled with Brazilian modernist design to a converted biscuit factory in Los Angeles, here are 10 American homes that show how it’s done.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with statement sinks, homes with Eames chairs and contemporary living rooms in Victorian and Georgian houses.

Formal lounge in Twentieth house by Woods and Dangaran — Photo is by Joe Fletcher

Twentieth, USA, by Woods +Dangaran

This Santa Monica home features two separate living areas – a family room (top image) and a formal living room (above) – which flank a central courtyard housing a decades-old olive tree.

Despite being framed by glazing, the rooms maintain a homely atmosphere with the help of an earthy material palette ranging from the travertine fireplace to a rose-gold cashmere rug and club chairs finished in tactile chocolate-brown corduroy.

Find out more about Twentieth ›

A living room inside Amity Street Residence with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Sean Davidson

Amity Street Residence, USA, by Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas

Architectural designers Selma Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas used warm oak floors and cream-hued walls, contrasted against dark stone and stained-wood bookshelves, to enliven this “neglected” apartment in a 20th-century building in Brooklyn.

“A dialogue of opposites was the main theme behind the creation; minimal but warm, understated yet rich,” Muqaddas told Dezeen.

Find out more about Amity Street Residence ›

Hygge Studio by Melina Romano — Photo is by Denilson Machado of MCA Estúdio

Hygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano

A black fireplace is suspended from the ceiling in this living room to contrast with the otherwise soft colour scheme of the interior, reflected in everything from the cream sofa and woven rug to the cobogó block screen that acts as a room divider.

Walls and floor throughout the São Paulo apartment are covered in terracotta tiles, chosen by local designer Melina Romano to strike a balance between “modern and bucolic”.

Find out more about Hygge Studio ›

Living room with full storage wall with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Nicole Franzen

East Village Apartment, USA, by GRT Architects

New York-based GRT Architects used warm tones and materials to modernise this renovated East Village apartment – set in a Beaux-Arts building on Second Avenue – while “preserving its turn-of-the-century disposition”.

In the lounge, this was achieved by adding a storage wall backed with sienna-coloured panels and complementing it with a geometric, art deco-style rug rendered in muted shades of sage green and dusty rose.

Find out more about this East Village Apartment ›

Kelly Wearstler's interiors for Santa Monica Proper Hotel — Photo is by The Ingalls and Matthieu Salvaing

Santa Monica Proper, USA, by Kelly Wearstler

Although not technically a living room, the lounge of the Santa Monica Proper hotel features all the trappings of a cosy den – timber bookshelves, creamy-white Soriana lounge chairs and a Coulmier limestone coffee table with three orbs for legs.

Interior designer Kelly Wearstler used natural materials and neutral colours throughout the hotel to reference its seaside setting.

“Organic materials, neutral colour stories, everything has a texture,” Wearstler told Dezeen. “There’s a patina, there’s a hand, there’s something that feels very warm.”

Find out more about Santa Monica Proper ›

Olivier Garcé apartment with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Sean Davidson

West Village apartment, USA, by Olivier Garcé

American interior designer Olivier Garcé found a creative outlet during last year’s coronavirus lockdown by working remotely with friends and colleagues to transform his West Village home into a show space for contemporary art and design.

His lounge now houses a vintage Axel Einar Hjorth rocking chair, paired with a lava-stone coffee table and side chair upholstered in alpaca wool by New York designer Ian Felton, complementing the terracotta-coloured tiling on the building’s original fireplace surround.

Find out more about this West Village apartment ›

Living room of 20 Bond apartment by Home Studios — Photo is by Brian Ferry

20 Bond apartment, USA, by Home Studios

Curves feature liberally throughout this family apartment in New York’s NoHo neighbourhood, from its copper-edged skirting to the rounded oak-and-brass shelving unit in the living room, which was made bespoke by interior practice Home Studios.

The muted tones of the timber are complemented by a set of antique Danish armchairs with woven leather seats and a blush-coloured version of designer Sabine Marcelis’s Candy Cube side tables.

Find out more about 20 Bond apartment ›

Gale Apartment living room with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Fran Parente

Gale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio

Furnishings are coloured in grounding, earthy hues inside this lounge flanked by two double-height statement walls – one housing the owners’ art collection and the other clad in a broken-edge stone mosaic.

“Furniture has been reupholstered to match the new colour palette, inspired by the autumn and the sunset colours found in the horizon,” said design practice Memola Estudio, which was responsible for renovating the São Paulo apartment.

Find out more about Gale Apartment ›

Biscuit Loft, USA, by OWIU Studio

Japanese design informed this apartment in a converted 1920s biscuit factory in Downtown Los Angeles, with a guest room modelled on a traditional Ryokan inn that also functions as a space for hosting gatherings and tea ceremonies.

Local practice OWIU Studio added Noguchi pendant lights to bathe the room in a warm glow, while a convertible platform made from pale wood conceals extra storage and functions as a base for a futon when guests are staying over.

Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›

Sao Paolo apartment by BC Arquitetos with warm neutral colour palette — Photo is by Denilson Machado

DN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos

Walnut wood panelling and soft furnishings upholstered in caramel-coloured leather help to temper the chunky concrete columns of this apartment, housed in a 1970s building in São Paulo’s traditional Jardins neighbourhood.

Local practice BC Arquitetos describes the home as a “gallery apartment” as it houses an extensive collection of mid-20th century Brazilian art and design, ranging from the net-backed Janguada armchair by Jean Gillon to Jader Almeida’s Verde Corvo sofa, which is finished in a faded olive green.

Find out more about DN Apartment ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten bedrooms with wardrobes that are disguised as walls

By Zarkon Group,05/11/2022

This lookbook rounds up 10 bedrooms where architects have designed discreet built-in wardrobes to conceal clothing and clutter, creating the illusion of a seamless wall.

Built-in wardrobe walls are an efficient way to supersize storage and utilise every centimetre of space in a bedroom, unlike freestanding units that often leave dead spaces around their edges.

When finished with a minimalist design, they can also blend into the background, helping to create spacious and serene interiors that are suitable for sleep.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with arched openings, bathrooms with statement sinks and living rooms in Victorian and Georgian-era homes.

Built in wardrobes at Function Walls apartment, designed by Lookofsky Architecture — Photo is by Mattias Hamrén with styling by Hanna Tunemar

Function Walls, Sweden, by Lookofsky Architecture

This wall of storage surrounds the doorway of a bedroom in the Function Walls apartment, which was recently renovated by Lookofsky Architecture in Stockholm.

The pale grey units contain a mix of different-sized cupboards without handles, forming a neutral backdrop to bright yellow bedroom furnishings including a 1970s IKEA floor lamp.

Find out more about Function Walls ›

Wooden wardrobe wall in Matthew Giles Architects London townhouse — Photo is by Lorenzo Zandri

Wakehurst Road, UK, by Matthew Giles Architects

Matthew Giles Architects designed a series of white-oak storage units for the Wakehurst Road house in London, including this pared-back wardrobe wall in one of the bedrooms.

Its deliberately simple design ties in with a calming colour and material palette of stone, concrete and brick that runs through the updated Victorian residence.

Find out more about Wakehurst Road ›

House at the Pond, Austria, by Hammerschmid Pachl Seebacher Architekten

The compact bedroom in House at the Pond is lined with wooden walls – two of which double as storage.

Disguising the wardrobes helps keeps the interior details to a minimum, which in turn retains focus on the large window and prevents the small space from feeling cramped.

Find out more about House at the Pond ›

Minimalist Methodist church bedroom by West Architecture — Photo is by Ben Blossom

Bavaria Road Studio, UK, by West Architecture

Plywood panels are used as fronts for both the tall wardrobes and the doorway of the bedroom at Bavaria Road Studio, helping them to blend in with the rest of the space, which is lined with the same material.

According to designer West Architecture, the goal was for them to “read as a single wall of flush panelling, effectively disappearing and allowing the room to be read as one seamless, minimalist environment”.

Find out more about Bavaria Road Studio ›

Bedroom of Maison Pour Dodo by Studio Merlin — Photo is by Richard Chivers

Maison Pour Dodo, UK, by Studio Merlin

Designed to minimise clutter and visual noise, these understated built-in wardrobes are part of the “spectrum of storage” that Studio Merlin created for this flat in London.

The seven wardrobe doors blend in seamlessly with the grey-hued walls of the main bedroom, while their wooden knobs complement the pale Douglas fir floorboards that run throughout.

Find out more about Maison Pour Dodo ›

Bedroom in Xerolithi house by Sinas Architects — Photo is by Yiorgos Kordakis with styling by Anestis Michalis

Xerolithi, Greece, by Sinas Architects

White grooved doors line the built-in wardrobe wall in this bedroom, which Sinas Architects created at the Xerolithi house on the Greek island of Serifos.

Aligned with a door to an ensuite bathroom, the wardrobes create a unpretentious backdrop to the space, drawing the occupant’s attention to the uninterrupted view of the sea outside.

Find out more about Xerolithi ›

Wardrobes in Narford Road house by Emil Eve Architects — Photo is by Mariell Lind Hansen

Narford Road, UK, by Emil Eve Architects

Emil Eve Architects lined the nook of this monochromatic loft extension in London with bespoke wardrobes, which appear to extend up to meet a skylight overhead.

Finished with wooden handles with brass caps, the units are complemented by a matching window seat with two in-built drawers and pale wood floors that help them blend into the background.

Find out more about Narford Road ›

Bedroom of Mountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel by Klopf Architecture — Photo is by Mariko Reed

Mountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel, USA, by Klopf Architecture

A pair of built-in wardrobes have been incorporated within a walnut wall unit in a bedroom of this 1960s residence in Silicon Valley, recently remodelled by Klopf Architecture.

The same wood has been used for the headboard and plinth for the bed, helping them to read as a single piece. The wardrobes are only distinguishable by two subtle leather handles placed on the front of each one.

Find out more about Mountain View Double Gable Eichler Remodel ›

Wardrobe wall in Kennington House loft extension — Photo is by Andy Stagg

Kennington House, UK, by R2 Studio

These bedroom cupboards follow the sloped edge of a giant corner window, introduced to Kennington House in London as part of a renovation and loft extension project.

Designed by R2 Studio as one of many storage facilities for the house, they help residents keep the room clutter free and have white-coloured fronts that are disguised as part of the wall.

Find out more about Kennington House ›

Wellington Street Mixed Use wardrobe wall by Matt Gibson Architecture and Design — Photo is courtesy of Matt Gibson

Wellington St Mixed Use, Australia, by Matt Gibson

Drawers and full-height wardrobes are incorporated into this floor-to-ceiling storage unit, which runs the length of a bedroom in the Wellington St Mixed Use house in Melbourne.

Its design means it doubles as a tactile wooden wall for the room, which forms a part of a large multi-generational home by architect Matt Gibson. The other bedrooms have similar wardrobe layouts, ensuring plenty of storage for inhabitants.

Find out more about Wellington St Mixed Use ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten homes with arched openings that add architectural interest

By Zarkon Group,23/10/2022

In this lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 home interiors that use archways to punctuate spaces and elevate the transition between rooms.

An arch is a curved structure that spans over an opening, typically to distribute the weight above it. Because of their structural effectiveness, arches were used as early as Roman times for the construction of bridges and aqueducts.

Arches have been reinterpreted throughout history and are often used to evoke classical or traditional architecture.

They can add charm and architectural detail to doorways, entrances and passageways in residential spaces, and are often framed with ornate mouldings to create a sense of grandeur.

Arched openings can also be used to mark transitions between rooms and punctuate otherwise plain walls in contemporary interiors.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with statement balustrades, interiors that feature the Eames chair and living spaces with decorative use of tiles.

Conde Duque apartment by Sierra + De La Higuera — Photo is by German Sáiz

Conde Duque Apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera

Spanish architecture studio Sierra + De La Higuera refurbished this Madrid apartment by organising open-plan living and dining areas on either side of a wood-panelled entrance hall.

The studio added two arched openings in wooden frames central to the hall, creating an intimate buffer zone in the open apartment.

Find out more about Conde Duque Apartment ›

A white curtain in front of a bedroom — Photo is by Andrew Snow

Broadview Loft, Canada, by StudioAC

Canadian firm StudioAC inserted a millwork box with a large arched cutout into this open rectangular apartment in Toronto, separating the bedroom from the living space.

The impactful entry and lowered wall height of the box help to mark the transition from the open living space to the cosy sleeping nook.

Find out more about Broadview Loft ›

Diplomat's House in Rome by 02A — Photo is by Serena Eller

Diplomat’s Apartment, Italy, by 02A

This one-bed flat in Rome was designed by architecture and interiors studio 02A to adequately display the owner’s extensive collection of antique furniture and objects.

An arched passage with an integrated bookcase leads from the lounge to an intimate dining area. The change of space is also indicated by the change in pattern on the solid-oak parquet flooring.

Find out more about the Diplomat’s Apartment ›

Arched openings in Greetings from Rome apartment in Vilnius by 2XJ — Photo is by Darius Petrulaitis

Greetings from Rome, Lithuania, by 2XJ

Three arches punctuate a structural stone wall that separates social and private spaces in this family apartment in the old town of Vilnius, designed by local architecture firm 2XJ.

The arches reminded the architects of the Colosseum in Rome, lending the project its tongue-in-cheek name – Greetings from Rome – and leading the studio to clad the wall in the material used for the landmark’s external walls, Italian travertine.

Find out more about Greetings from Rome ›

Casa Mille, Italy, by Fabio Fantolino

For his own apartment, Italian architect Fabio Fantolino overhauled the 1930s extension of a 19th-century palatial building in Turin by introducing accents of bright green and blue colours.

In the living room an opening with curved corners looks through to a dining area, which is complemented by the rounded corners of the taupe sofa.

Find out more about Casa Mille ›

Arched opening in bedroom of Upper Wimpole Street apartment by Jonathan Tuckey Design — Photo is by Ståle Eriksen

Upper Wimpole Street Apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design

Architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design introduced MDF storage walls with built-in cupboards and arched niches to this townhouse apartment in London.

The studio also added tall arched openings into the joinery, which were informed by 15th-century oil paintings depicting biblical figures under soaring archways.

Find out more about Upper Wimpole Street Apartment ›

Interior of house in Akishima by Office M-SA — Photo is by Kazuhisa Kota

House in Akishima, Japan, Office M-SA

This house in Akishima, Tokyo, was arranged by Japanese architecture studio Office M-SA around a series of exposed concrete elements, including a staircase that runs over an archway that separates the kitchen and dining area from the study.

The concrete elements were designed to be permanent anchor points for the home’s timber wall construction, which can be altered or extended in the future to suit the owner’s needs.

Find out more about House in Akishima ›

Room for two by Studio Ben Allen — Photo is by Michael Sinclair

A Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen

Built inside a flat in London’s Barbican Estate, this plywood structure designed by architecture firm Studio Ben Allen transforms the room into a pair of bedrooms and studies for two children.

The cut-out arches, which mimic the barrel-vaulted shape of the housing estate’s terrace apartments, indicate the entrances to each child’s space.

Find out more about A Room for Two ›

Arched opening in Maison à Colombages by 05AM Arquitectura — Photo is by Adrià Goula Sardà

Maison à Colombages, France, by 05 AM Arquitectura

Spanish studio 05 AM Arquitectura aimed to incorporate a contemporary aesthetic while maintaining the traditional features of this 19th-century house located near Paris.

The studio removed partitions in the archways between the kitchen, dining and living spaces to connect the spaces and improve natural lighting while retaining the ornate wall mouldings that frame the openings.

Find out more about Maison à Colombages ›

Arched openings in interiors of penthouse apartment designed by PMAA — Photo is by José Hevia

Penthouse, Spain by PMAA

Architecture studio PMAA divided the living space of this Barcelona apartment with partition walls punctuated by a series of arched openings.

A large modular sofa dominates the living space and morphs around the columns of the archways. The geometric repetition of the arch was informed by the apartment’s vaulted ceiling and arched windows.

Find out more about Penthouse ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten bookshop interiors designed to enhance the browsing experience

By Zarkon Group,22/10/2022

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

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

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

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

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

Deja Vu Recycle Store, China, by Offhand Practice

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

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

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

Find out more about Deja Vu Recycle Store ›

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

New Mags, Denmark, by Norm Architects

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

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

Find out more about New Mags ›

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

Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore, China, by X+Living

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

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

Find out more about Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore ›

Bookshop in Italy — Photo is by Žiga Lovšin

Book Centre Trieste, Italy, by SoNo Arhitekti

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

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

Find out more about Book Centre Trieste ›

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

They Said Books, Georgia, by Lado Lomitashvili

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

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

Find out more about They Said Books ›

Pulse On cinema and lobby — Photo is courtesy of Pulse On

SFC Shangying Cinema Luxe, China, by Pulse On

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

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

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

Find out more about SFC Shangying Cinema Luxe ›

Libreria bookshop — Photo is courtesy of SelgasCano

Libreria, UK, by SelgasCano

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

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

Find out more about Libreria ›

Wutopia Lab Books in Clouds — Photo is by CreatAR Images

Duoyun Bookstore, China, by Wutopia Lab and Office ZHU

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

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

Find out more about Duoyun Bookstore ›

MUDA Architects bookshop — Photo is by Arch-Exist

Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore, China, by MUDA Architects

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

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

Find out more about Xinglong Lake Citic Bookstore ›

Sao Paulo bookshop — Photo is by Fernando Guerra

Livraria Cultura, Brazil, by Studio MK27

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

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

Find out more about Livraria Cultura ›

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

Reference

Sustainable News

Ten energy-saving homes that meet Passivhaus standards

By Zarkon Group,19/10/2022

As the cost of gas and electricity soars globally, we take a look at 10 highly-insulated Passivhaus homes that are designed to minimise energy consumption.

Passivhaus is an internationally recognised energy-performance standard that originated in Germany in the 1990s. It certifies low-energy buildings with high levels of insulation and airtightness.

Buildings of this kind often make use of triple glazing, solar heat gain and energy recovery ventilation systems. This means they can maintain an almost constant temperature, requiring little energy for heating and avoiding high energy bills.

In 2019, London studio Mikhail Riches and architect Cathy Hawley won the Stirling Prize for a social housing scheme in Norwich that helps tackle fuel poverty by meeting Passivhaus standards. At the time, sustainable architecture studio Architype said the win “puts Passivhaus in the spotlight – exactly where it needs to stay”.

Read on for 10 examples of Passivhaus homes:

Brick Passivhaus by McLean Quinlan — Photo is by Jim Stephenson

Devon Passivhaus, UK, by McLean Quinlan

A linear red-brick wall distinguishes this low-rise Passivhaus home, which was designed by McLean Quinlan within a sloped walled garden in Devon.

It features substantial amounts of insulation and triple-glazing, as well as air source heat pumps, a heat recovery system, solar panels and battery storage that provide over 100 per cent of the required energy for the home.

Find out more about Devon Passivhaus ›

White exterior of Saltbox Passive House — Photo is by Raphaël Thibodeau

Saltbox Passive House, Canada, by L’Abri

The vernacular architecture of Quebec informed the appearance of the Saltbox Passive House, which is the third house in the Canadian city to obtain Passivhaus certification.

It was designed by L’Abri to align with the standards of PHIUS, which is the largest Passivhaus certification system in North America. The studio also made use of wood siding and cellulose insulation to help lower the building’s embodied carbon.

Find out more about Saltbox Passive House ›

stained cedar-clad house in Utah — Photo is by Cityhome Collective and Kerri Fukui

TreeHaus, USA, by Chris Price

Architect Chris Price staggered a series of stained cedar-clad volumes down a slope in a Utah forest to create this Passivhaus residence for his own family.

The dwelling, aptly named TreeHaus, has a highly efficient envelope to ensure it stays warm during cold winter months when snowfall is frequent. Surrounding bedrock also helps to maintain warmth.

Find out more about TreeHaus ›

House clad in recycled spruce — Photo is by Adrià Goula

Casa GG, Spain, by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes

Casa GG is a prefabricated Passivhaus home near Barcelona that is covered in recycled spruce wood sourced from the surrounding landscape. It was built in just four months.

The home is divided into six modules, which Alventosa Morell Arquitectes aligned with the sun path to maximise solar heat gain. Its low-energy envelope means that it can be heated using a single radiator in colder seasons.

Find out more about Casa GG ›

Passivhaus home by Robert Arlt and Charles MacBride — Photo is by Vondelinde

PH01:BRK, USA, by Robert Arlt and Charles MacBride

This low-energy dwelling in South Dakota was created by architects Robert Arlt and Charles MacBride with a group of local architecture students to draw attention to the possibilities of sustainable construction.

According to the team, the PH01:BRK house is the first in the area to produce more energy than it consumes thanks to its energy-saving envelope and technologies including photovoltaic panels and a ventilation system that heats fresh air with the stale air leaving the house.

Find out more about PH01:BRK ›

Zinc-clad house by Paul Archer Design — Photo is by Andy Stagg

Day House, UK, by Paul Archer Design

This zinc-clad mews house was designed by Paul Archer Design to replace a poorly insulated and leaky 1970s house in London.

The four-storey building, which looks like a two-storey home from the front, is super-insulated and complete with a heat recovery ventilation system that retains warmth to ensure it performs to Passivhaus standards.

Find out more about Day House ›

Old Water Tower home by Gresford Architects — Photo is by Quintin Lake

Old Water Tower, UK, by Gresford Architects

Located on the outskirts of a village in Berkshire, the barn-like Old Water Tower is a self-sufficient home designed and owned by Gresford Architects’ founder Tom Gresford.

Among its features are triple-glazed windows and external blinds that automatically close on the east, south and west elevations in hot weather to prevent overheating. The studio said its Passivhaus energy performance means it “costs virtually nothing to run”.

Find out more about Old Water Tower ›

cantilevered house in Spain — Photo is by Adrià Goula

Casa LLP, Spain, by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes

Another Passivhaus project by Alventosa Morell Arquitectes is this cantilevered residence that overlooks a mountain range near Barcelona.

Passive solar gain and highly insulated walls help keep the home warm and contribute to the building’s low energy consumption. Its space heating requirement is 9 kilowatt-hours per square metre – exceeding the level required to receive Passivhaus certification from the UK’s Passive House Organisation.

Find out more about Casa LLP ›

Wood-clad Forest Lodge by Pad Studio — Photo is by Nigel Rigden

Forest Lodge, UK, by Pad Studio

This low-energy prefabricated home in the New Forest was designed by Pad Studio to meet stringent planning regulations in the area, which aim to prevent damage to the site.

It performs to Passivhaus standards but is also largely self-sufficient, making use of rooftop solar panels, an air-source heat pump and on-site sewage treatment facilities.

Find out more about Forest Lodge ›

Student-designed Passivhaus in Kansas — Photo is by Studio 804

New York Street Passive House, USA, by Studio 804

Students in a design-and-build programme at the University of Kansas designed this house to offer “an example of the way housing can be done more responsibly in the future”.

The rectangular building is orientated to make use of passive solar gain and lined with insulation that performs nearly three times the minimum required by city code. It also makes use of eco-friendly materials and technologies including photovoltaic panels and an energy-recovery ventilator.

Find out more about New York Street Passive House ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten homes with staircases that have statement balustrades

By Zarkon Group,16/10/2022

In our latest lookbook, Dezeen has rounded up 10 home staircases that incorporate contemporary and non-traditional balustrades from circular perforations to bold colour blocking.

A balustrade is a railing that runs alongside a staircase and prevents a person from falling over its edge. Balusters are vertical posts that typically support a bannister or handrail above, balusters traditionally have a lathe-turned form that results in a bulbous and curving profile.

Although often focal points of interior settings, balustrades can be relatively similar from home to home. In this lookbook, we have highlighted 10 alternative balustrades that bring a non-traditional and statement look to homes.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, homes that use tiles as a decorative feature and interiors with ornate ceilings.

Private House in Cologne by SMO Architektur — Phot by Rainer Mader

Private House in Cologne, Germany, by SMO Architektur

This perforated balustrade complements the rigid and cubic form of this house in Cologne, which was designed by architecture practice SMO Architektur and informed by Le Corbusier’s Plan Libre.

A staircase that runs through the home was bounded by a seamless, perforated balustrade that is constructed from a singular sheet of material. The perforations within the balustrade contrast against the square and angular shape profile of the staircase.

Find out more about Private House in Cologne ›

Mo-tel House by Office S&M — Photo by French + Tye

Mo-tel House, UK, by Office S&M

This brightly coloured staircase sits within a Georgian townhouse in the London borough of Islington, which was renovated by London studio Office S&M.

Titled Mo-tel House, the home has a brightly coloured interior scheme with a geometric and boldly coloured staircase. Its vertically slatted balusters were painted pink while a bright yellow handrail folds over and into the staircase’s end post.

Find out more about Mo-tel House in London ›

Tel Aviv townhouse by David Lebenthal — Photo by Tal Nisim

Tel Aviv townhouse, Israel, by David Lebenthal

In Tel Aviv, architect David Lebenthal suspended a staircase behind a wall of vertically organised steel rods that function as the staircase’s balustrade.

The home was designed for Lebenthal and his family and was organised around an exposed concrete party wall that hosts the metal staircase that runs through the home. Steel rods stretch between each floor of the home and were fixed to and intersect with the outer edge of the metal-folded tread.

Find out more about Tel Aviv townhouse ›

White Rabbit House by Gundry & Ducker — Photo by Andrew Meredith

White Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker

Architecture studio Gundry & Ducker fitted a cantilevered staircase into this 1970s house in London.

Its balustrade is comprised of green-painted vertical rods that run the entire length of the staircase and a one-piece wooden bannister that was placed on top of the green balusters and pierces through an overhanging lip on the tread of the base step.

Find out more about White Rabbit House ›

Bonhôte House by AOC — Photo by Tim Soar

Bonhôte House, UK, by AOC

Angular brass rods, arranged in a zigzagging formation, flank the sides of this staircase that ascends above an open-plan living and kitchen area in a north London townhouse.

The home was designed by architecture studio AOC within a contemporary family home. It has an open-plan design with its brass-wrapped staircase used to divide the ground floor living spaces

Find out more about Bonhôte House ›

Hearth House, UK, by AOC

Architecture studio AOC incorporated a negative relief-style balustrade into the staircase at Hearth House in Golders Green.

On the upper levels of the staircase, the profiles and silhouettes of traditional spindle balusters were laser cut into plywood sheets creating voids where ornamental spindles would sit. Elsewhere, a lamp extends from the handrail of the bannister.

Find out more about Hearth House ›

O12, Germany, by Philipp von Matt

German architect Philipp von Matt fitted a golden-hued, perforated-brass bannister to a solid concrete staircase at O12, an artist’s home in Berlin.

The mesh brass bannister zigzags along the side of the concrete stairwell from the front door of the home through to its first and second floors. As a result of its perforations, light can travel through the bannister and filter into the monolithic stairwell.

Find out more about O12 ›

Ash House by R2 Studio — Photo by Andy Stagg

Ash House, UK, by R2 Studio

A full-height ash bannister, which was pierced with circular cut-out openings lines a wooden stairwell that connects two storeys of an Edwardian house in Lewisham, London.

Architecture studio R2 Studio mimicked the stair profile when creating the hole pattern across the ash bannister, incorporating larger holes at eye level for both adults and children. A groove was cut into the opposite side to form an inset handrail.

Find out more about Ash House ›

Maryland House by Remi Connolly-Taylor — Photo by James Retief

Maryland House, UK, by Remi Connolly-Taylor

A red metal staircase at designer Remi Connolly-Taylor’s home in London has a weightless look. It has a red folded tread that sits on top of the home’s stone floors. Besides the tread, a tubular, pipe-like hand rail-cum-balustrade has a similarly weightless look and protrudes from the ground and follows the profile of the steps below.

The staircase is encased within a glass block-clad stairwell that Connolly-Taylor explained was used to bring light into the interior while also providing privacy from neighbours.

Find out more about Maryland House ›

Coastal House by 6a Architects — Photo by Johan Dehlin

Coastal House, UK, by 6a Architects

A wooden staircase sits at the heart of this home, which was renovated by London-based architecture studio 6a Architects. Thin tapering spindle-shaped balustrades were organised at alternating angles creating a wave-like rhythm across the entire staircase.

The bannister and balustrade were made from oak and have an unfinished, rustic quality that ties the staircase to the home’s original beams and textural stone walls.

Find out more about Coastal House ›

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

Reference

Interior Design

Ten homes where classic Eames chairs add a mid-century modern feel

By Zarkon Group,15/10/2022

For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected 10 interiors featuring some of Charles and Ray Eames’ best-known chair designs, including the couple’s Shell chair and lounge chair.

The Eames designers were known for their iconic mid-century modern furniture, which is still widely appreciated and can be seen in a number of contemporary interiors.

Among the most popular Eames designs are their chairs, many of which are still in production. Original chairs have become sought-after vintage finds, and the designs are often copied, 60 years after they were first released.

Here, we have collected 10 projects on Dezeen that feature Eames chairs, ranging from a penthouse in Belgium to a narrow house in London and the designers’ own home.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tiled living spaces, decorative ceilings and ornate plasterwork and homes with deliberately unfinished interiors.

Apartment in Riverside Tower in Antwerp — Photo by Olmo Peeters

Riverside Tower Apartment, The Netherlands, by Studio Okami Architecten

The interior of this Belgian apartment in a brutalist concrete building was livened up by tactile furnishings in organic materials and features a number of design classics.

In the home office area, the Eames Aluminium office chair by Vitra, designed in 1958, adds an elegant touch to the room and is contrasted by an abstract red chair.

Find out more about Riverside Tower Apartment ›

Light loft apartment with modern furniture — Photo by Justin Chung

Biscuit Loft, US, by OWIU Studio

OWIU Studio drew on Japanese style when designing the sun-dappled Biscuit Loft in Los Angeles, and also added a number of mid-century modern furniture pieces.

A white Eames lounge chair with a matching ottoman sits in pride of place in the living room, matching the white sofa and coffee table as well as the room’s other classic piece, the Knoll Wassily lounge chair designed by architect Marcel Breuer.

Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›

Catching Sun House by Studioshaw — Photo by James Brittain

Catching Sun House, UK, by Studioshaw

A collection of the Eames DSR chairs adds colour to the open-plan kitchen and dining room in this Walthamstow home built on a hidden infill site.

Exposed blockwork was used for both the interior and the exterior, with a plywood ceiling giving the space a cosy feel.

Find out more about Catching Sun House ›

Eames House Conservation Management Plan — Photo by Leslie Schwartz and Joshua White

Eames House, US, by Ray and Charles Eames

The Eameses’ own house embodies the couple’s design aesthetic and is filled with their furniture, books, fabrics, art, shells, rocks and straw baskets.

In the study area of the modernist house, the chosen task chair is naturally one of the duo’s own designs – a Soft Pad armchair that was designed in the 1960s and produced by ICF.

Find out more about Eames House ›

An open plan office and living room — Photo by Lit Ma

Grosvenor Residence, China, by Lim + Lu

Multidisciplinary design practice Lim + Lu refurbished this Hong Kong family apartment to give it the feel of an “elegant yet quaint summer home”.

Neutral colours were used throughout, with green plants adding life to the rooms and matching the wood detailing on the furniture, which includes a stylish black leather and rosewood Eames lounge chair.

Find out more about Grosvenor Residence ›

Slot House in Peckham, London, by Sandy Rendel Architects, working with Sally Rendel — Photo by Jim Stephenson

Slot House, UK, by Sandy Rendel

A disused alley in Peckham, south London, was transformed into the aptly named Slot House by Sandy Rendel Architects and Sally Rendel.

The 2.8-metre-wide house has an upstairs study area clad, like the rest of the house, in spruce plywood and with a cork floor. An Eames Shell chair makes for an eye-catching office chair.

Find out more about Slot House ›

Irwin Caplan’s Laurelhurst House by SHED — Photo by Rafael Soldi

Seattle home, US, by SHED

This house on the Pacific West Coast, originally built for cartoonist Irwin Caplan, was refurbished by American studio SHED.

The studio gave the home, designed in 1951, a refresh with a more open layout but kept its mid-century modern feel with an interior that features numerous design classics.

In the kitchen and dining area, a set of the Eamses’ Shell chairs create a striking white contrast to the wood-panelled walls.

Find out more about Seattle home ›

Fireplace in Penthouse BV by Adjo Studio — Photo by Renaat Nijs

Penthouse BV, Belgium, by Adjo Studio

Warm autumnal colours were used in this living room in a penthouse in Belgium designed by Adjo Studio. An earth-coloured rug and rust-coloured seating contrast the greenery outside the window, with the colours picked up in a set of decorative tealight holders.

Wooden panelling above the fireplace, sand-coloured curtains and an Eames lounge chair with a wooden frame complete the interior.

Find out more about Penthouse BV ›

6M House by Jannina Cabal in Ecuador — Photo by JAG Studio

6M House, Ecuador, by Jannina Cabal

The DCW Eames plywood chair is less well-known that the duo’s Shell chairs, but no less of a design classic. The chair was designed in 1945 from moulded plywood and features a rounded seat and backrest and arched legs.

In the 6M House in Ecuador, two DCW chairs can be found in the living room, where they blend in well with the wooden bookshelf and panelling.

Find out more about 6M House ›

Bedroom with wooden panelling — Photo is by Joe Fletcher

Moore House, US, by Woods + Dangaran

Moore House in Los Angeles was originally built in 1965 and given an update by local firm Woods + Dangaran in 2021. The studio used both vintage and contemporary pieces for the interior, including the Eames lounge chair in one of the bedrooms.

On the bedside tables, vintage Akari lights by designer Isamu Noguchi also nod to the house’s mid-century origin.

Find out more about Moore House ›

Reference

Interior Design

Ten living spaces that don’t relegate tiles to the bathroom

By Zarkon Group,09/10/202211/10/2022

Our latest lookbook rounds up 10 living spaces that take tiling from practical to decorative, applying it to everything from bars and fireplaces to entire statement walls.

Tiles in the modern home are often consigned to the bathroom or kitchen, where their durable finish can protect walls from water damage.

But a growing cohort of designers are using the surfacing much like they would rugs or wallpapers, as a means of bringing colours and patterns into living spaces.

Whether made from ceramic, stone or concrete, this can help to imbue an otherwise cosy interior with a much-needed sense of depth and dimension.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, kitchens with polished granite surfaces and brutalist interiors with a surprisingly welcoming feel.

Bar area of Dream Weaver penthouse designed by YSG — Photo is by Prue Ruscoe

Dream Weaver penthouse, Australia, by YSG

Spanish tapas bars informed the design of this penthouse in Sydney, which belongs to a couple of empty nesters.

In the open-plan living space, this reference was translated into an entire wall of glossy off-white tiles, providing the backdrop for a custom bar trolley made from white ash and blue granite.

Find out more about Dream Weaver penthouse ›

Conde Duque apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera

Vibrantly glazed tiles help to define the different zones in this apartment in Madrid, with green used in the kitchen, red and blue in the bathrooms and yellow in the living areas.

The traditional Moroccan zellige tiles are characterised by their tonal and textural variations, with imperfect surfaces that are moulded by hand.

Find out more about Conde Duque ›

Puro Hotel Stare Miasto Kraków by Studio Paradowski — Photo is by Pion Studio

Puro Hotel Kraków, Poland, by Paradowski Studio

Polish practice Paradowski Studio mixed and matched different kinds of tiling throughout this lounge, covering everything from the floor to the columns to an entire wall, designed by artist Tomasz Opaliński based on the modernist mosaics of the 1970s.

To soften up these hard, glossy surfaces and add a sense of warmth, the studio added plenty of textiles plus a stained oak bas-relief, which a couple of doors.

Find out more about Puro Hotel Kraków ›

Green-tiled bar — Photo is by Joana França

São Paulo apartment, Brazil, by Casulo

A bar clad in glossy green tiles forms the centrepiece of this living room, contrasted against the matt black slate on the floor.

Brazilian studio Casulo repeated this same material palette in the bathroom and kitchen of the São Paulo apartment, which the owners bought at a closed-door auction without seeing its interior.

Find out more about São Paulo apartment ›

Yurikago House by Mas-aqui — Photo is by José Hevia

Yurikago House, Spain, by Mas-aqui

Hydraulic tiling helps to create a sense of continuity across the various different floors and half-levels of this apartment, designed by architecture studio Mas-aqui.

The natural tonal variations of the reddish-brown ceramics help to create a sense of depth and texture despite using only one material.

Find out more about Yurikago House ›

Interiors of Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris — Photo is by Benoit Linero

Hotel Les Deux Gares, France, by Luke Edward Hall

Chevron marble floors, striped pink-satin armchairs and chintzy duck-egg blue wallpaper create a riotous clash of patterns and colours in this lounge by British designer Luke Edward Hall.

“I really wanted this space to feel above all joyful and welcoming and alive, classic but a little bonkers at the same time,” he explained.

House in Girona, Barcelona by Arquitectura-G — Photo is by José Hevia

Fireplace in Passeig de Grácia apartment by Jeanne Schultz — Photo is by José Hevia

Reference

Sustainable News

Ten airports designed with sustainability in mind

By Zarkon Group,09/10/2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find out more about Dock A ›

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

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

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

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

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

Orange gate at Aile Est airport — Photo is by Joas Souza

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

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

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

Find out more about Aile Est ›

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

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, China, by RSHP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Find out more about the Red Sea International Airport ›

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

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

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

Find out more about Delhi Noida International Airport ›

Terminal 2 at Guadalajara Airport by CallisonRTKL

T2 at Guadalajara International Airport, Mexico, by CallisonRTKL

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

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

Find out more about T2 at Guadalajara International Airport ›

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

Beijing Daxing International Airport, China, by Zaha Hadid Architects

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

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

Find out more about Beijing Daxing International Airport ›

Marseilles Provence Airport expansion plans by Foster + Partners

Marseille Provence Airport, France, by Foster + Partners

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

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

Find out more about Marseille Provence Airport ›

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

Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore, by Safdie Architects

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

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

Find out more about Jewel Changi Airport ›

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Reference

Ten

Ten Bauhaus interiors that draw on the principles of design school

Ten living rooms that use warm neutrals to create a cosy ambience

Ten bedrooms with wardrobes that are disguised as walls

Ten homes with arched openings that add architectural interest

Ten bookshop interiors designed to enhance the browsing experience

Ten energy-saving homes that meet Passivhaus standards

Ten homes with staircases that have statement balustrades

Ten homes where classic Eames chairs add a mid-century modern feel

Ten living spaces that don’t relegate tiles to the bathroom

Ten airports designed with sustainability in mind

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