New York architecture studio BoND has used tubular lighting to create a bright yellow glow inside this men’s apparel store on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
The first flagship for cult fashion label Le Père occupies a 1,000-square-foot (93-square-metre) corner unit on Orchard Street.
The flagship store for Le Père is largely painted white to allow the bright clothing to stand out
Utilising the store’s large exposure to the street, BoND opted to create an interior that would be just as impactful from the exterior as it is once inside.
“BoND designed the store to feel like a canvas, highlighting the design elements of the clothes while ensuring the space is a place that creators feel encouraged to spend time in,” the team said.
A central column is encased in a translucent yellow box
The firm’s approach was to leave the majority of the space white, allowing the boldly patterned clothing to stand out, then highlighting the fitting rooms using bright yellow lighting and surfaces.
A structural column in the centre of the store encased in a translucent box is also fitted with lights to give off a sunny glow.
Yellow lighting installed in the fitting rooms emits an inviting glow
This yellow aura is immediately apparent from the street and is meant to entice passersby to step inside.
Neon lighting has seen a resurgence in retail and other commercial interiors of the past year, appearing everywhere from a Brooklyn cafe to a Calgary chicken shop.
The tube lights were installed on either side of mirrors in the fitting rooms, which are also yellow
At Le Père, other elements like the tops of vintage Artek furniture are coloured red and black, to borrow from the street signs across the neighbourhood.
Floor-to-ceiling curtains along the back wall create a soft and neutral backdrop for the apparel, which is displayed on industrial metal racks.
Custom furniture pieces were designed by BoND and fabricated by Lesser Miracle
Wide-plank wood floors are laid across the main shop floor, which doubles as a space for gatherings, conversations, exhibitions and events.
Custom furniture pieces including a curved bench were designed by BoND and fabricated by Brooklyn design and art studio Lesser Miracle.
“The design scheme blurs the lines between a store, a home and an art studio – a space that is both aspirational and livable, combining contemporary and historic elements as a playful strategy,” said the studio.
On the exterior, a generous portion of the facade is given over to a giant billboard that Le Père will use to present its seasonal visual campaigns and artwork by the brand’s collaborators.
A large portion of the facade is given over to a billboard to display the brand’s campaigns
The debut placement for Fall/Winter 2023 was titled And Sometimes Boys and influenced by the work of Korean visual artist Nam June Paik.
BoND was founded by Noam Dvir and Daniel Rauchwerger, who previously designed the global headquarters and showroom for the Brazilian brand PatBo in New York.
The glow from the yellow lighting is designed to entice in shoppers on the Lower East Side. Photo by BoND
The duo earlier overhauled an apartment in Chelsea for themselves, turning the dark, divided space into a light-filled home.
The photography is by Stefan Kohli, unless stated otherwise.
Vibrantly coloured tiles and textiles feature in this house renovation in Oslo, Norway, designed by locally based duo Familien Kvistad.
The Yellow House in the Apple Garden is a 1950s house in Oslo’s Voldsløkka area, home to a family of four and their cat, “the rambunctious Caspian”.
Familien Kvistad has renovated a Oslo home
Familien Kvistad founders, married couple Astrid and Ziemowit Kvistad, have completely remodelled the interior using a palette that also includes solid ash joinery and lightly speckled terrazzo surfaces.
“When they bought the house, the family envisioned painting some walls, moving the kitchen and building two new bathrooms,” the pair told Dezeen. “Over time, things naturally escalated, resulting in a complete change of layout, roof windows, new insulation, siding… absolutely everything was replaced.”
The kitchen features solid ash cabinets
The three-storey house has an enviable setting in a large garden filled with fruit trees. It was this that primarily attracted the owners, rather than the building itself.
“The house was relatively old, not architecturally distinctive and outdated inside on all levels,” said the designers.
The house was originally built in the 1950s
However, shortly after they bought the property, the council enforced new conservation zone restrictions that made it impossible to alter the building’s exterior in any way.
The task for Astrid and Ziemowit was to modernise the house without changing or extending its structure.
“This is obviously a costly project; it would have been cheaper to build a new house,” they explained.
“However, the outer structure had to remain.”
A terrazzo floor and ochre sofa are installed in the conservatory
The renovation removed many of the old internal partitions, creating a more open layout. This gives the ground floor a broken-plan feel, made up of various separate but connected living and dining spaces.
The old loft was also removed and replaced with small mezzanines, revealing the sloping roof beams and increasing the ceiling height in the first-floor bedrooms and bathroom to up to four metres.
Wooden ceiling joists are exposed throughout
The colour scheme was based on “earthy shades” of the owners’ favourite colours.
On the ground floor, this resulted in a feature fireplace clad in mustard-yellow Kaufmann tiles, a lounge sofa upholstered in a plum-coloured Kvadrat textile and a storage bench topped by forest-green cushions.
A storage bench topped with green cushions lines the main living space
An abundance of wood brings balance to this bold palette, with Douglas fir flooring from Dinesen and solid ash kitchen cabinets matching the exposed ceiling joists.
This level also includes a sunken conservatory featuring large plants, a terrazzo floor, an ochre-toned sofa and electric-blue cushions. On the wall, an expressive painting displays similar colours.
Custom-designed wall carpets adorn the primary bedroom
“During the renovation, the family sold most of what they already owned,” said Astrid and Ziemowit. “This meant that all the furniture was purchased new.”
“However, they did have some art from before,” they added. “Much to our delight, they fit perfectly into both the colour palette and the style.”
In one of the children’s rooms, a staircase doubles as a shelving unit
Upstairs, the primary bedroom features a pair of tufted wall carpets designed and made by Familien Kvistad, depicting abstract landscapes.
One of the two children’s bedrooms features a playful storage unit that doubles as a staircase, while the other has a ladder to provide access to the mezzanine loft above.
The family bathroom combines green tones with terrazzo
The bathroom has a more mellow character, combining terrazzo sanitaryware with calming green tones. The basement floor mainly serves as a utility area, although it does include an extra bathroom and a living room that doubles as a guest bedroom.
Other recently completed homes in Norway include a “house of offcuts” by Kolman Boye Architects and a villa on piloti by Saunders Architecture.
One-palette rooms and statement staircases are featured in our latest lookbook, which explores the best yellow interiors from the Dezeen archives.
From soft, buttery hues to vivid primary colours and deeper mustards, these residential and commercial spaces have challenged the use of traditional shades to create unique, eye-catching yellow interiors.
The use of yellow has been incorporated into bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and facades, whether it is contrasting with brighter colours, blending with other honey tones or standing out against neutral materials.
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 lime plaster walls, Barbiecore pink aspects and retro nods to Wes Anderson.
Photography is by Peter Landers
Beresford Road property, London, by Russian for Fish
This London-based apartment features a statement yellow kitchen that was used to brighten the basement and complement the other colours in the space. Russian for Fish used the same vivid shade throughout the entirety of the kitchen, which also continues to the staircase.
Plant pots are added to the area to create dimension, with the green tones adding more colour to the otherwise yellow and neutral home.
“Yellow is a great colour – it brings out the ochre tones of the natural concrete floor, compliments the off-white walls, and creates warmth throughout the flat, even on the dullest of days,” says architect and founder at Russian for Fish, Pereen d’Avoine.
Find out more about Beresford Road property ›
Photography is by Eugeni Bach
Seven Lives, Spain, by Anna and Eugeni Bach
Spanish architecture studio Anna and Eugeni Bach built this apartment block in Barcelona, adding primary yellow features to the facade that add a vibrant touch to the interiors.
The building has yellow window frames and grills, balconies and blinds that are all visible from the apartments, as well as yellow internal doors to the balconies. These statement attributes contrast with the grey stucco and internal walls.
The shade – which was selected as it was approved by the area’s regulators – is also used in the communal staircase.
Find out more about Seven Lives ›
Photography is by René de Wit and Pim Top
Residential complex, The Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism
A variety of bright colours were used to decorate this residential complex designed by Shift Architecture Urbanism in Amsterdam. The 235 apartments feature shades of yellow, green, blue, red in the furniture, fixtures and appliances to create a playful atmosphere.
The homes feature laminate floors, white walls and concrete ceilings that create a neutral base for the additional colours used for the modular units, cupboard-style bedrooms and ceramic tiled walls.
Find out more about the residential complex ›
Photography is by Jesper Westblom
Apartment, Sweden, by Westblom Krasse Arkitektkontor
This apartment in Stockholm uses plenty of primary colours, with reds, blues and yellows used on the walls and on the furniture.
A butter shade decorates the walls of the main and children’s bedrooms, and is complimented by a sunshine hue on the ceiling. Soft yellow shades are also used to contrast maroon tiles and doors throughout the home.
Yellow accents can also be found on its accessories, such as lamps, crockery and artwork.
Find out more about the Stockholm apartment ›
Photography is by Del Rio Bani
Casa Collumpio, Spain, by MACH
MACH designed this industrial-style house in Barcelona with lemon-yellow steelwork used on the interior and exterior.
Used as a focal point among grey concrete and wooden cladding, a bright yellow staircase with a protective mesh panel connects the upper floors of the building. To complement the feature, yellow stripes are added to the white kitchen cupboards.
The colour continues on the steelwork around the door, forming a decorative statement around the windows at the front and back of the home.
Find out more about Casa Collumpio ›
Photography is by José Hevia
Apartment, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
Arquitectura-G designed the interiors of this apartment in Barcelona with pastel yellow tones to create a lighter, more open space. The walls and floor of the space are covered in glazed square tiles, with the metal kitchen units matching in a similar tone.
Yellow furniture, such as a sofa and cupboards, complement the apartment’s colour palette.
“We prefer to use the same colour in the whole project, in order to give a strong visual impact and make it an essential part of the house’s identity,” sids Arquitectura-G.
Find out more about the Spanish apartment ›
Photography is by Mikael Lundblad
Cafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA
ASKA has created a picturesque cafe in Stockholm informed by film director Wes Anderson’s aesthetics, using shades of mustard, cream, pink and brown to adorn the space.
The yellow checkerboard floor was influenced by traditional Cuban styles of interiors and mirrored by similar tones in the tiled table tops.
“In order to create an environment that feels harmonious we work with subtle layering and tone in tone methods,” said ASKA co-founder Madeleine Klingspor. “The same yellow is used on the walls, lamps, tables and floor but in different scales and intensity,”
Find out more about Cafe Banacado ›
The photography is by Jose Hevia
JJ16, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
Citrus yellow offsets petal pink in this Madrid apartment by Lucas y Hernández-Gil, with a yellow built-in bookshelf lining the length of the corridor.
The hallway leads to the kitchen, which features a contrasting soft pink floor and walls and matte grey units.
The rest of the space has been decorated with similarly vivid colours and prints, including neon orange storage hidden by white doors, blue checkerboard flooring and an aubergine wardrobe.
Find out more about JJ16 ›
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 lime plaster walls, Barbiecore pink aspects and retro nods to Wes Anderson.
Local studio I IN has renovated two toilets in a Tokyo shopping centre, using lights that “propose new colours for genders” to create vivid interiors.
The interior design studio completely renovated the two toilets, which are located on the restaurant floor of the shopping centre Shin-Marunouchi in Chiyoda City, Tokyo.
It began by wrapping both restrooms in white tiles to give them a clean feel that would also function as an unobtrusive background for the coloured lights.
The bathrooms are marked by bright green and yellow light
“We used a mosaic tile by Dinaone that is made in the Tajimi area, which is famous for tile-making in Japan, and it has a special non-slip treatment on its surface,” I IN told Dezeen.
“We wrapped the space in tiles to express the feeling of cleanliness; we think public restrooms need to offer a sense of purity so that this whole space can be cleaned easily,” the studio continued.
“Our aim was also to create a continuous floor, wall and ceiling using one material so that people can experience entering an unrealistic space.”
Stainless-steel sinks contrast white tiles inside
The all-white interior was then enhanced by hidden light fixtures that colour the female bathroom entirely yellow, while the male bathroom is all green.
“The main aim was to propose new colours for genders,” the studio said.
“The universal toilet signage is usually red and blue – we wanted to bring them closer together. In rainbow colours, which define diversity, yellow and green are next to each other.”
The bathrooms are located in the Shin-Marunouchi building
The colours of the toilets can be changed for seasonal events, but will otherwise remain yellow and green.
The studio also designed sinks especially for the toilets, in which almost all the functions are hidden away to help create tidy spaces with a futuristic feel.
“We used silver metal – stainless steel – to create original sink designs for both the women’s and the men’s room,” I IN said.
“Here, you do not see typical equipment such as faucets, soap dispensers and hand dryers; these are designed inside the counters but you can easily find and use them,” it added.
“As the space is all about new restroom experiences, we designed a new experience for washing hands as well.”
The spaces were designed to be “extraordinary”
I IN collaborated with architecture and engineering studio Mitsubishi Jisho Design on the design.
The studio hopes that the washrooms will create a memorable experience for visitors.
“The sensation of being saturated by the color of light transforms all elements of the restroom experience into something extraordinary, leaving a powerful lasting impression on the visitor,” the studio concluded.
I IN was longlisted for emerging interior design studio of the year at Dezeen Awards 2022 and has previously overhauled a 1980s apartment in Tokyo to give it an understated luxury feel.
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The color red has been a part of residential architecture in Sweden since the 16th century when Falu red paint was first created from the residue found in copper mines in the country’s Falun region. Locals realized that this reddish sludge, when treated correctly, formed a paint that was very affordable, durable, weather-resistant and also helped mimic the appearance of brick houses that were owned by wealthier families.
Now, that particular shade of red is iconic and is knowingly used to help houses stand out in the verdant landscape. Today, the tradition continues evolving. Shades of Falu red now coats a variety of Swedish structures ranging from small homes and barns to large-scale university and apartment buildings. Here are a few buildings that illustrate the timelessness and exuberance of the color.
Images by Johan Fowelin
The Pavilion by Marge Arkitekter, Stockholm, Sweden
Unlike traditional pavilions, this Stockholm structure is stacked like a building. It is conceived to become the focal point of the redesign of the city block around it. The different levels help accommodate the slope of the site and provide access to visitors from both sides. The rouge tone helps it stand out among the beige and brown hues of the buildings around and also acts as a beacon for the citizens. The patterned exterior, created in collaboration with artist Gunilla Klingberg, is made of red-dyed concrete. The language is kept consistent by painting the awnings and window frames as well.
Späckhuggaren / House for a drummer by Bornstein Lyckefors Arkitekter, Kärna, Sweden
Coated in the traditional Falu red color, this house was designed for a single father of two. At one point, the site housed an old farm stall and a warehouse that was destroyed in a fire. The form of that warehouse is what inspired the design of this house. While the home appears heavy and solid from the outside, the interiors are open and airy. The spaces inside vary in height and there are mesh-covered gaps between levels to allow light to penetrate diagonally across floors.
Images by Ulf Celander
Uppgrenna Naturehouse by Tailor made arkitekter, Uppgränna, Sweden
This café and event space is a remodel of a red barn that was extant on the site. The red base, reminiscent of the previous structure, is given a modern facelift with the addition of a large greenhouse on top. The addition of panels to the base and doors not only helps maintain the barn aesthetic but also helps reduce heat radiation. On top, the greenhouse is equipped with a sewage and waste recycling system that also aids the growth of plants within. This eliminates the need to be connected to the municipal sewage system.
Images by Åke Eson Lindman
Passive Townhouses in Vallastaden by Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture AB, Linköping, Sweden
The townhouse is broken up into four different apartments, with each one showcasing a slightly different personality. The continuous volume is broken up into four parts using separate roofs and façade patterns. These patterns are created using a mix of black, bright red and brick-toned tiles. The individuality of the apartments is also reflected in the kitchens and bathrooms inside. Additionally, this building features a courtyard, garden and storage space.
Tower on the Ting by Wingårdh Arkitektkontor AB, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Niklas Nyberg, a local builder, bought a courthouse that was built in 1967 after discovering it was rarely used and hoped to construct an apartment building on top of it. Taking inspiration from one of his favorite artists, Bengt Lindström, the architect set out to design a multidimensional apartment block. The square plan of the building is broken up into nine parts like a hashtag. Each level of the structure is made up of five apartments placed around a central block. The exterior is covered in glazed ceramic tiles in colors found in Lindström’s artwork.
Images by Tord-Rikard Soderstrom and Åke Eson Lindman
Kuggen by Wingårdh Arkitektkontor AB, Gothenburg, Sweden
The colorful glazed terracotta panels on this university building almost make it appear as if it is in motion. The red tones are a nod to the wharves and the harbors in the region and the other tones help add dimension and contrast. The structure is shaped like a tapered cylinder to shade the lower floors and increase floor space. The upper levels of the southern portion of the building project a bit further than the others to provide more shade throughout the day. Similarly, the triangular windows emerged from lighting considerations; they are designed to draw in sunlight from the ceiling and ensure that it reaches the building’s core. Meanwhile, motion-activated lights and ventilation systems help to conserve energy.
Moderna Museet Malmö by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter, Malmö, Sweden
The new branch of the Swedish Museum of Modern Art stands is a remodel of an old electricity station. The remodel is marked with the addition of a bright vermillion cubical extension with a perforated façade placed right next to a traditional entrance. The larger perforations on the lower level help the museum’s sign stand out as well. The floor is glazed to filter the sunlight coming in and the same vibrant hue is painted across every surface as well as the furniture inside the café. The other exhibition spaces are painted white or other neutral tones, intentionally creating a contrast.
Fire House by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA), Stockholm, Sweden
After the previous outhouse burned down, the architect decided to rewrite the story of its demise in the replacement design. The client’s requirement for a red shed was taken up a notch by adding recycled beads, arranged to mimic a burning blaze, on the walls. This was paired with lights to bring this composition to life. In addition to being a point of conversation, the faux fire also helps keep the deer and rabbits away. The effect produced was so realistic that the owners had to inform their neighbors that it was art and not actual fire when they called the fire brigade.
Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletter.
Späckhuggaren / House for a drummer by Bornstein Lyckefors Arkitekter, Kärna, Sweden
Tower on the Ting by Wingårdh Arkitektkontor AB, Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Moderna Museet Malmö by Tham & Videgård Arkitekter, Malmö, Sweden
Fire House by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA), Stockholm, Sweden