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    Women’s contribution to mid-century modern design is “not challenged as much now” says Pat Kirkham

    Many female designers from the mid-century modern movement are more celebrated now than when they were producing work, says design historian Pat Kirkham in this interview for our mid-century modern series.

    US designer Ray Eames, French designer Charlotte Perriand and architect Lina Bo Bardi are some of the women recognised today for their contributions to the mid-century modern movement, which spanned the mid-1940s to early 1970s.
    Kirkham, a design history professor at Kingston University who has authored books on designers Charles and Ray Eames and 20th-century female designers in the US, argued that a revived interest in mid-century modernism has brought some of these women’s names to the forefront of design again.
    “There are still some architects who don’t see them of value”
    She explained that although they gained commercial success with their designs in the decades after world war two, many of the designers faced adversity in the industry.

    “There were many routes these women took to becoming what they were, and they didn’t come without sacrifices and frustrations – I think they’re very empowering,” Kirkham told Dezeen.
    “The possibility that these women were really good and did some important work is not challenged as much now, but there are still some architects who don’t see them of value, and equally, seeing areas that they hold as women’s work, like interior design, as not as valid as other areas of design.”
    Ray Eames designed furniture with her husband, Charles. Photo courtesy of the Eames OfficeAccording to Kirkham, it was common for women not to be credited for their designs in the mid-twentieth century. These included Ray Eames, who is known for the work she created with her husband Charles Eames.
    The Eameses were prominent figures in the mid-century design movement. They met in 1940 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where Ray had joined as an abstract painter looking to expand her artistic practice and Charles was an architect on an industrial design fellowship.
    Ray and Charles married in 1941 and established the Eames Office in Los Angeles. Together, they became influential designers in architecture, furniture, graphic design and film, but Ray was often given less credit than her husband.
    Herman Miller furniture sold under Charles Eames’s name
    They designed numerous pieces for furniture brand Herman Miller, including the iconic Eames Lounge Chair in 1956.
    “Undoubtedly, a lot of stuff went out in Charles’s name,” said Kirkham, “Herman Miller furniture was sold for donkey’s years as ‘by Charles Eames’.”
    “Now, Ray seems to almost be as much a household name as Charles Eames used to be.”
    Kirkham also said that Ray, who she interviewed before the designer passed away in 1988, had talents outside of her partnership with Charles. These were often overlooked, but are now being discovered posthumously as mid-century modernism and the Eameses’ work continues to inspire.

    Mid-century modern design “embraced a more human aesthetic while remaining aggressively forward-looking”

    “You get a very different picture if you focus in from the woman’s angle,” said Kirkham. “Just by researching Ray, there is a ton of stuff nobody had bothered with.”
    “Ray’s influence was really strong with interiors – the importance of her to their aesthetic was really crucial.”
    “He was quite an arty type of architect, but he was also hugely interested in the technology,” Kirkham continued. “Ray often said that she felt that one of the things wrong with American education when she was young was women weren’t taught technology – she felt it would have been handy for her.”
    Charlotte Perriand worked with Le Corbusier for 10 years. Photo by Jacques Martin/AChP courtesy of Scheidegger & SpiessPerriand is another designer whose designs have been miscredited. Between 1927 and 1937, she collaborated with architects Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret on furniture designs, including the LC2 Grand Confort chair and Chaise Lounge, but as a woman, she was not given as much recognition as her male counterparts.
    After 10 years working for Le Corbusier, Perriand “stepped out of his shadow into a successful career of her own,” The New York Times said.
    Perriand continued designing into the mid-century and developed a particular interest in creating shelving. One of her most notable designs is the Bibliothèques modular storage system, produced by French architect Jean Prouvé’s eponymous atelier.
    Perriand furniture allegedly falsely credited as co-designed with Prouvé
    She created further iterations of the shelving under the title Nuage, which were produced by Galerie Steph Simon until 1970.
    Perriand’s family later became embroiled in a lengthy legal dispute over the authorship of Nuage, which they allege had been falsely credited in part to Prouvé after his death.
    Although her collaborations with male designers had, in some cases, left her overshadowed and miscredited, Kirkham believes her ties to Le Corbusier mean Perriand is now more easily discovered than other female mid-century modern designers.
    “In the European modern movement, you often have designers not getting due credit,” said Kirkham.
    “With Charlotte Perriand’s designs for Corbusier in the 1930s, she got reclaimed from history because she was working with a really famous architect.”
    Lina Bo Bardi spent most of her career in Brazil. Photo courtesy of Instituto BardiExtra attention should be focused towards discovering more about the female designers who worked in Central and South America, said Kirkham.
    She explained that people’s interest in modernism often leads them to the designs of prolific European and North American men from the movement, but this could be directed elsewhere.
    “The interest in modernism is still often what drives most of the interest in the male designers, so my sense is that there is still a tonne of women to be discovered,” she said.
    “The work from Central and South America needs much more interest, but the modernism interest comes first.”

    Lina Bo Bardi wins Venice Architecture Biennale’s Special Golden Lion award

    Bo Bardi is one of the better-known South American designers of the mid-century. Born in Italy, she moved to Brazil with her husband after a trip to Rio de Janeiro in 1946.
    Based in São Paolo, Bo Bardi became a Brazilian citizen in 1951. In the same year, she completed her first built architecture project with her own home, Glass House, and designed the iconic Bardi’s Bowl Chair.
    Kirkham named Cuban-born Clara Porset as another designer of particular interest. Porset spent time studying in Paris and the US and although she returned to Cuba, she was forced to leave the country in 1935 because of her involvement in the Cuban general strike.
    Clara Porset was the only woman to work with Mexico’s most established modernist architects. Photo by Archivo Clara Porset Dumas via Wikimedia CommonsFinding refuge in Mexico, the country’s culture and vernacular furniture influenced many of her designs, including the wood and woven wicker Butaque chair.
    The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) described Porset as a “design trailblazer” and claimed she was the only woman known to have worked with the most high-profile Mexican modernist architects, including Luis Barragán, Max Cetto, Juan Sordo Madaleno and Mario Pani.
    “New names are being uncovered every day”
    Kirkham believes it is important to correct the errors of the past that allowed some women’s mid-century modern designs to be overlooked.
    With widespread interest in mid-century modernism today, she explained that some people are revisiting old documents and discovering more female designers from the movement.
    “One of the interesting things is that mid-century modern was not popular in the 1980s,” said Kirkham. “There is a huge revival of interest at the moment.”
    “It’s an important legacy, and new names are being uncovered every day,” she continued. “They’re very empowering, and I think they’re very empowering among young design students.”
    The top photo of Kirkham is by Casey Kelbaugh courtesy of the Bard Graduate Center.
    Illustration by Jack BedfordMid-century modern
    This article is part of Dezeen’s mid-century modern design series, which looks at the enduring presence of mid-century modern design, profiles its most iconic architects and designers, and explores how the style is developing in the 21st century.
    This series was created in partnership with Made – a UK furniture retailer that aims to bring aspirational design at affordable prices, with a goal to make every home as original as the people inside it. Elevate the everyday with collections that are made to last, available to shop now at made.com.

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    Diandra Maselli Architect renovates historic red-brick home in Montreal

    Montreal architect Diandra Maselli has overhauled a century-old house in the city for herself and her family, modernising the residence while retaining some historic character.

    The founder of Diandra Maselli Architect acquired the property a week before the Covid-19 pandemic caused global lockdowns, and faced an uphill battle during the renovation of the historic structure.
    The 100-year-old home was fully modernised inside, including a new kitchen”The house had its fair share of obstacles – including structural decay, carpenter ants, mice, water infiltration, foundation holes, and asbestos abatement,” said Maselli.
    “However, amidst these challenges, there was a silver lining – the extensive demolition and incorporation of a steel structure paved the way for a tailor-made renovation, envisioned to meet modern needs and newly unfolding realities.”
    Architect Diandra Maselli played with boundaries and thresholds throughout the homeWith the structural work on the 3,512-square-foot (326 square metres) building complete, the architect was able to tailor the interiors to her family’s needs.

    For example, they needed two home offices – one on each floor – that could also transition into family areas during evenings and weekends.
    A variety of custom doors were added, including a glass and steel design between the living area and home officeThe old building’s compartmentalised layout was restrictive, so Maselli explored playing with the public and private boundaries.
    She did this by introducing a variety of custom doors, using different designs and materials so that “each threshold assumes a distinctive purpose”.
    Although contemporary furniture was inserted, details like the fireplace mantles and bay windows were restoredA glass and steel door separates the ground-floor home office from the kitchen and living area, allowing light and views to pass between the two spaces.
    To conceal the laundry room from the kitchen, a nine-foot-tall (2.7 metres), flush-mounted door was installed, while a large sliding partition was added to open the kitchen to an outdoor patio.
    “By bestowing unique characteristics upon these transitions, the house’s dynamics shift responsively,” Maselli said.
    Built-in furniture made from white oak is found throughout the houseUniting the majority of the spaces is the use of white oak for millwork, built-in furniture and other details, providing visual consistency throughout the home.
    The most expansive application of the material is in the kitchen, forming a front for the cabinetry, a central island and a coffee station opposite.

    Atelier L’Abri renovates trio of apartments for a family in Montreal

    White oak also wraps walls and closets in the primary bedroom, where it is detailed with rounded corners and almost invisible door pulls.
    A half-height partition divides the sleeping and dressing areas, providing a view through mirrored double swing doors to the second-floor office.
    Upstairs, the primary bedroom separated from a dressing area by a half-height partitionThe renovation also provided the opportunity to modernise the home’s heating, ventilation and electrical systems.
    This included repurposing the original cast-iron radiators to support a dual-energy heating system.
    White oak millwork is used for the closets and features rounded cornersAll of the window shades, lighting and under-floor heating are automated to sync with the family’s daily routines.
    “The essence of the project is to blend the legacy of a century-old house with the needs of today, ensuring that its historic charm is retained while seamlessly integrating modern functionalities that respond to our new unfolding realities,” said the architect.
    The red-brick home in Montreal also received a full exterior restorationMaselli founded her eponymous studio in 2020 and has since also completed a single-family house in Lasalle, Quebec.
    Other recently renovated Montreal homes include a mid-century dwelling overhauled by Atelier Chardonnat and Salem Architecture, and a triplex residence reimagined by Atelier L’Abri.
    The photography is by Maxime Brouillet.

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    Eight eclectic pizzerias that take the slice-shop to the next level

    For our latest lookbook, we look at the interiors of contemporary pizzerias across the globe, including a pink vegan restaurant in London and a Mexico City space informed by a neighbouring church.

    From New York City to Italy, its country of origin, pizza is a beloved delicacy across the world. As a result, the humble pizzeria is trafficked by many, with some visitors whisking away a two-dollar slice and others packed into a booth to convene around a shared pie.
    The pizzerias below showcase a wide variety of styles, each boasting unique and eclectic features that display a careful consideration for a space often held in high regard by its customers.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring soothing cabin interiors, versatile futons and daybeds and stylish shower curtains.

    Humble Pizza, UK, by Child Studio

    Pink tables and furniture contrasted with a dark green hue fill the interior of this vegan restaurant in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
    Local practice Child Studio designed the space to resemble the city’s workmen’s cafes of the 1950s, which typically featured pastel-coloured Formica surfaces and no-frills food and drink.
    Find out more about Humble Pizza ›
    The photo is by David DworkindVesta, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind
    Located in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood, the wood-panelled walls and marble table tops of Vesta take cues from New York pizzerias of the 1970s.
    “In its own contemporary way the design of Vesta evokes the spirit of Italian family restaurants common in North America during the 1970s,” Ménard Dworkind said.
    Find out more about Vesta ›
    The photo is by Nicholas VeneziaLala’s Brooklyn Apizza, USA, by Bench Architects
    Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza by Bench Architects is located in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighbourhood, atop a brewery that was formally an industrial space.
    Lightwood picnic benches were used on the interior and attached terrace, while bright, solid-coloured tiles and magenta curtains line the space.
    Find out more about Grimm
    The photo is by Patrick SchüttlerDough Pizza, Australia, by Ohlo Studio
    The “rustic sophistication” of Italy was evoked with red-toned tiles and light woods for Dough Pizza in Perth, which sits in a shopping centre.
    “It needed to evoke a distinct atmosphere and personality reinforcing the cultural heritage behind the food,” said Ohlo Studio.
    Find out more about Dough Pizza ›
    The photo is by Simone BossiMyrto, Italy, by Studio Wok
    Studio Wok created this pizzeria on Sardinia to reflect the island’s natural surroundings, such as its earthy tones and granite rocks.
    The winds of the area erode and carve out the granite rocks, which the studio reflected in the walls covered in pink plaster, a concrete floor and arched openings.
    Find out more about Myrto ›

    The photo is by Blaine DavisSIMÒ Pizza, USA, by Büro Koray Duman
    Located in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York City, SIMÒ Pizza is lined with shelving made of Italian volcanic stone and wallpaper printed with a flour graphic.
    Its pizza ovens sit in a centre block, which is lined in patterned wood and a green tiled countertop.
    Find out more about SIMÒ Pizza ›
    The photo is by Arturo ArrietaPizzeria Della Madonna, Mexico, by Sofía Betancur
    The pizza oven of Pizzeria Della Madonna sits in full view, surrounded by tiled and plaster walls and wood flooring.
    Architect Sofía Betancur took cues from the Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia church, which sits next door, for the space.
    Find out more about Pizzeria Della Madonna ›
    The photo is by Mikko RyhänenPopolo, Finland, by Studio Joanna Laajisto
    Studio Joanna Laajisto designed Popolo to be a cosy retreat on the slopes of Pyhä Ski Resort in northern Finland.
    Leather benches, wooden tables, copper lamps and candleholders were used to evoke a sense of warmth and were paired with slate flooring and dark wood panelling.
    Find out more about Popolo ›

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    Bernadotte & Kylberg unveils own-label furniture in nature-inspired Arken hotel

    The design duo of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Oscar Kylberg have designed landscape-like interiors for a hotel in a Swedish nature reserve, featuring their first own-label furniture collection.

    The Bernadotte & Kylberg founders have created three unique suites at Arken, part of the Eriksberg Hotel and Nature Reserve in Blekinge, southern Sweden, which is Scandinavia’s largest safari park.
    The three suites include the grey-toned Urberg, which refers to mountain landscapesThe scheme includes custom-designed furniture pieces that the duo have now released under their own lifestyle brand, also named Bernadotte & Kylberg.
    The Eriksberg furniture collection features a bar cabinet, a writing desk and a chair, produced from solid oak wood, diabase stone and polished brass.
    Bernadotte & Kylberg designed furniture, lighting and carpets for all three suitesThe three Arken suites take cues from different parts of the Eriksberg reserve, a 925-hectare park that is home to mouflon sheep, minks, wild boars and various species of deer.

    The grey-toned Urberg suite refers to mountain landscapes, while the green-hued Skog suite is named after the Swedish word for forest. The third suite, the pale-blue Himmel, references the sky.
    The green-hued Skog suite is named after the Swedish word for forestBernadotte & Kylberg also set out the design palette for the other 23 rooms of the hotel, which feature matching colours and textiles to the suites.
    “Eriksberg is a unique and beautiful place in Blekinge. It is an experience totally on nature’s own terms,” said Carl Philip Bernadotte.
    “It is precisely this encounter with nature that we want to capture by blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors,” continued the prince.
    Martin Bergström designed wallpaper for each suiteBernadotte & Kylberg designed many of the details in the three suites, including the textural, multi-tonal carpets that dictate the three different colour schemes.
    The furniture, including beds, coffee tables and armchairs, was custom-produced by Älmhult-based manufacturer Specab. Bespoke lighting pieces were meanwhile developed with glass artists Simon Klenell and Rasmus Nossbring.
    The pale-blue Himmel suite references the skyThe duo also commissioned print designer Martin Bergström to design wallpaper for each suite, which he based on plants and other elements he collected on walks through the reserve.
    Other standout details include the floor-to-ceiling tree-trunk columns in the Skog suite and the large boulders in the Urberg suite.

    “Everything we do is going to be looked at more” says Prince Carl Philip as studio launches own brand

    “We were tasked with creating and realising a total interior design vision,” said Kylberg, describing the ambition to reflect “the soul and natural diversity of Eriksberg”.
    “We hope and believe that guests will enjoy the suites as much as we enjoyed creating them,” he added.
    Bathrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windowsFor the Eriksberg collection, Bernadotte & Kylberg have developed new colourways for the furniture pieces. The designs come in bold red or green finishes, as well as natural oak.
    The diabase used for these designs was sourced from the Kullaro Stone quarry in nearby Skåne.
    “The diabase stone quarried at Biskopsgården, in the northeastern part of the Swedish region Skåne, is truly unique, impressing not only with its rarity but also with its exceptional character and composition,” Kylberg said.
    The Eriksberg furniture collection includes the writing desk and chair designed for Arken suitesPrince Carl Philip is the only son of King Carl XVI Gustaf, and fourth in line to the Swedish throne.
    He and Kylberg founded their Stockholm-based studio in 2012. They initially focused on product design, but started moving into interiors after being commissioned to create a suite at Sweden’s famous Icehotel.
    They launched the Bernadotte & Kylberg design label in 2023, with a launch collection of scarves and blankets embellished with the B&K logo.
    The collection also includes a bar cabinet with a polished brass interiorIn an exclusive interview with Dezeen to mark the launch, the duo said that public scrutiny has kept them on their toes.
    “We know that everything we do is going to be looked at more,” said Bernadotte. “In the first years, it took a lot of energy from us, but today it’s something that is just there,” added Kylberg.
    As well as the Eriksberg furniture, Bernadotte & Kylberg have added a brass tealight holder called The Tulip to their own-label collection.
    The photography is courtesy of the Eriksberg Hotel and Nature Reserve.

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    Office of Tangible Space redesigns Brooklyn Museum Cafe

    New York studio Office of Tangible Space has refreshed the interiors of the cafe at the Brooklyn Museum, ahead of the institution’s 200th anniversary next year.

    The Brooklyn Museum Cafe is located in the building’s light-filled entry pavilion, which was added to the original beaux-arts building in 2004 by Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects).
    Furniture at the redesigned Brooklyn Museum Cafe is laid out like “islands and streams”Serving a menu by local restaurateur and sommelier André Hueston Mack, who runs the neighborhood restaurant & Sons, the redesigned cafe is intended for locals and museum-goers to enjoy light bites and drinks.
    “Playing off the mission of the museum, [we] envisioned the cafe as a Brooklyn stoop where all are invited,” said Office of Tangible Space. “The space embodies the playfulness, creativity, craft, and expression that make Brooklyn and Brooklynites so unique.”
    The cafe occupies a portion of the building’s light-filled entry pavilionThe locally based studio created a fluid layout that allows visitors to meander through the space.

    Furniture is arranged in “islands and streams” that can accommodate diners in varied group sizes, as well as those stopping for a casual coffee.
    Periwinkle-hued tables with angled sides form snaking shapes through the space”The space is anchored by large islands of seating and undulating streams of custom tables indicating the walking paths,” said Office of Tangible Space.
    Aluminium chairs with seats and backs perforated with large holes accompany tables, including circular wooden designs for up to six guests and dark green two-tops.
    Dark green two-top tables are accompanied by aluminium chairs perforated with large holesOther tables made from folded sheets of thin periwinkle-hued metal have angled sides, allowing them to form snaking shapes when lined up in a row.
    Round cushioned poufs upholstered in pale blue and green are placed around the perimeter, which is demarcated by a set of freestanding wooden dividers and potted plants.

    OEO Studio uses materials in a “playful way” for Designmuseum Denmark cafe and shop

    “The incorporation of bold color and material add to playfulness and tactility of the space,” the studio said.
    For the new space, the museum and Office of Tangible Space commissioned 10 local artists to design one-off stools that are peppered through the cafe.
    Large round poufs are provided for more casual seatingThe handcrafted wooden seats, manufactured by Sundays, have been customised by Minjae Kim, Chen Chen and Kai Williams, Ellen Pong, Kim Mupangilaï and more.
    “These handcrafted pieces not only complement the cafe’s design but also echo the philosophy that food, like art, is an immersive experience – engaging the senses, sparking conversation, and creating a connection between the creator and the audience,” said Office of Tangible Space.
    The cafe was redesigned ahead of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversaryThe Brooklyn Museum’s building, designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1895, will host a variety of exhibitions and events planned to celebrate its bicentenary.
    These include Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200, a showcase celebrating the institution’s collection and legacy that opens in February 2025.
    Founded by Michael Yarinsky and Kelley Perumbeti, Office of Tangible Space was longlisted in the emerging interior designer of the year category of Dezeen Awards 2020.
    The photography is by Matthew Gordon.

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    Ten living rooms with warming fireplaces to keep the cold out

    As the weather gets colder in the northern hemisphere, this lookbook compiles ten living spaces where log burners and fireplaces take the chill out of the air and provide a cosy centrepiece.

    Despite increasingly sophisticated household heating technology, traditional fireplaces remain a popular way to warm homes.
    From freestanding stoves to built-in wood burners that incorporate storage for logs, the following selection shows how architects and designers make a feature of fireplaces.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring versatile daybeds, distinctive shower curtains and metallic kitchens.
    Photo by Pierce ScourfieldQueen’s Park House, UK, by Daytrip

    A glass enclosure crowned by a chimney flue, camouflaged to disappear into the surrounding walls, features in this fireplace in a west London house by local studio Daytrip.
    It is supported by a thick shelf that appears to float and provides storage for logs. Tucked away in the corner of the room, the fireplace provides a cosy and intimate area for relaxation.
    Find out more about Queen’s Park House ›
    Photo by Yevhenii AvramenkoDzen house, Ukraine, by Shovk
    Ukrainian architecture studio Shovk created a wood-fired stove with soft, curved corners for the living room of this house on the outskirts of Kyiv.
    Made from dark grey metal, the fireplace matches the metallic furnishings found in the space, while contrasting with the wooden beams and window frames.
    Find out more about Dzen house ›
    Photo by Magnus Berger NordstrandThe Yellow House in the Apple Garden, Norway, by Familien Kvistad
    Clad in glossy, sunny yellow tiles, this monolithic fireplace sits in the middle of the interior of a Norwegian 1950s-era house renovated by Familien Kvistad.
    The purpose-built burner featured cutouts for vents, a glass enclosure for the fire and integrated log storage, and its vibrant exterior adds to the energetic colours found throughout the interior.
    Find out more about The Yellow House in the Apple Garden ›
    Photo by Petr PolákWeekend House, Czech Republic, by New How
    The log burner in this Czech house is nestled between two wooden posts that form part of the building’s cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure.
    The ground floor is arranged around the centrally placed fireplace, which enhances the cosy atmosphere fostered by the wooden walls and furniture.
    Find out more about Weekend House ›
    Photo is by Brad FeinknopfBully Hill House, USA, by Studio MM Architect
    The living area of this home in rural New York centres around a hefty Corten steel panel, which is home to a log burner and firewood storage.
    Echoing the exterior cladding of the building, the steel has a warm rusty-brown patina that creates a rustic aesthetic.
    Find out more about Bully Hill House ›
    Photo is by Matthew MillmanWasatch House, USA, by Olson Kundig
    American architecture firm Olson Kundig concealed a fireplace behind a pair of metal screen doors in this Utah house.
    Doors are placed on both sides of the metal-clad chimney breast, allowing both the living area and the study to benefit from the fire’s warmth.
    Find out more about Wasatch House ›
    Photo by Doublespace PhotographySmith Residence, Canada, by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple
    Symmetrical openings in a colossal stone hearth house an open fireplace and log store, which serve to warm the living room of this coastal Nova Scotian home.
    It is made from chunks of granite sourced from a quarry close to the site, and its warming appearance is united with a dining table made from locally felled trees.
    Find out more about Smith Residence ›
    Photo by Giedrius MamavičiusHouse and the River, Lithuania, by After Party
    Adding to the playful nature of this interior, created by Vilnius-based studio After Party, this log burner is perched atop a small stone boulder in place of a conventional base.
    It sits within its own purpose-designed, gold-lined niche, which stands out against the white expanse of the rest of the wall.
    Find out more about House and the River ›
    Photo by Monique LovickPark Lane, Australia, by PW Architecture Office
    A raised platform covered in square terracotta-coloured tiles creates a base for this log burner that sits between this home’s dining and living zones.
    The stove features glass on both sides to allow the flames to be seen and heat to be experienced when lounging and dining.
    Find out more about Park Lane ›
    Photo by Rory GardinerCasa Alférez, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
    A stove with a dramatic double-height flue warms the lofty concrete-built living room of this Mexican house by local architect Ludwig Godefroy.
    Flanked by stacks of firewood, the fireplace warms a sunken conversation pit populated with dark green bolster cushions.
    Find out more about Casa Alférez ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring versatile daybeds, distinctive shower curtains and metallic kitchens.

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    Dezeen Awards 2024 reveals 35-strong sustainability shortlist

    Dezeen has announced the sustainability shortlist for this year’s Dezeen Awards, which includes designs by Mater, Tengbom, Kvadrat and Kirkby Design.

    The 35 shortlisted studios, in the running for awards in six different sustainability project categories, are located across 19 countries, including Brazil, Thailand, Spain, Poland and Switzerland.
    Shortlisted projects include a modular seating system made from old cork wine stoppers by Paul Crofts for Isomi and a spiral installation made of algae bricks for Chicago Architecture Biennial.
    A collaboration between Dutch studio’s MVRDV and Hirschmüller Schindele Architekten saw firms retrofit an office building into a bright yellow workplace with a zigzagging outdoor staircase in Berlin, is also shortlisted.
    Dezeen Awards 2024 shortlists revealed this week

    Dezeen Awards 2024, in partnership with Bentley, will reveal all shortlisted projects this week. The architecture, interiors and design shortlists were announced earlier this week.
    This year’s nomination-based Designers of the Year and Bentley Lighthouse Award shortlists will be announced tomorrow and next Monday respectively.
    “The calibre of this year’s sustainability shortlist demonstrates the invaluable and pioneering work that is pushing the industry forward,” said Chris Cooke, head of design collaborations at Bentley.
    “The breadth of innovation is fantastic,” he continued, “ranging from hyper-local to industry-wide solutions that address key issues around waste.”
    Aesop Diagonal by Mesura. Photo by Maxime DelvauxThe shortlisted projects were scored by our sustainability jury which includes Henrik Taudorf Lorensen, Noella Nibakuze, Mina Hasman and Jonas Pettersson.
    All shortlisted sustainability projects are listed below, each with a link to a dedicated page on the Dezeen Awards website, where you can find an image and more information about the project.
    The winner of each project category will be announced live at our annual Dezeen Awards party on 26 November at Hackney Church in London. All six winners will then compete for the title of sustainable project of the year.
    Buy your Dezeen Awards party tickets now!
    Tickets for the Dezeen Awards 2024 party are now on sale! The event will be a chance for everyone who entered this year’s Dezeen Awards to celebrate their achievements alongside fellow nominees, winners and our esteemed Dezeen Awards judges.
    Click the link here to find out more and secure your tickets before they sell out!
    Read on for the full sustainability shortlist:
    Angsila Oyster Scaffolding Pavilion by Chat Architects. Photo by W WorkspaceSustainable building
    › Angsila Oyster Scaffolding Pavilion, Angsila, Thailand, by Chat Architects› Praia JK Sports Complex, São Paulo, Brazil, by Soek Arquitetura› Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, Gashora, Rwanda, by MASS Design Group› Sporthallenprovisorium Gloriarank, Zurich, Switzerland, by Itten+Brechbühl AG› Tuusula High School and Cultural Centre, Tuusula, Finland, by AOR Architects› Zhengxiangbaiqi Grassland Community Center, Hohhot, China, by Inner Mongolia Ger Culture and Technology
    This category is sponsored by Urban Future.
    Browse all projects on the sustainable building shortlist page.
    Maison Melba by Atelier L’Abri. Photo by Alex LesageSustainable renovation
    › Alsterschwimmhalle, Hamburg, Germany, by Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner› Haus 1, Berlin, Germany, by MVRDV› Maison Melba, Frelighsburg, Canada, by Atelier L’Abri› Park Street, Melbourne, Australia, by Breathe Architecture› The Blue by Just Inn, Taipei City, Taiwan, by Tszwai So› Wuzhen Rural Brewery Renovation and Renewal, Tongxiang, China, by Lichao Architecture Design Studio
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    Plantonia Vegan Aparthotel by Kreatina. Photo by ONI StudioSustainable interior
    › Aesop Diagonal, Barcelona, Spain, by Mesura› AWM Münster, Münster, Germany, by Urselmann Interior› Gachard 88, Brussels, Belgium, by Ncbham› Plantonia Vegan Aparthotel, Krakow, Poland, by Krea.tina› Sustainable Workspaces, London, UK, by Material Works Architecture› Tengbom’s Office, Stockholm, Sweden, by Tengbom
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    Alder Collection by Patricia Urquiola for Mater. Photo by Nicklas HemmingSustainable design (consumer)
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    Heritage Portland Stone Bricks and Darney Heritage Natural Stone Bricks by Albion Stone. Photo by Ivan JonesSustainable design (building product)
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    Bio-Based Tiles by StoneCycling and Biomason. Photo by StoneCyclingMaterial Innovation
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    Dezeen Awards 2024 in partnership with Bentley
    Dezeen Awards is the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The seventh edition of the annual awards programme is in partnership with Bentley as part of a wider collaboration to inspire, support and champion design excellence and showcase innovation that creates a better and more sustainable world. This ambition complements Bentley’s architecture and design business initiatives, including the Bentley Home range of furnishings and real estate projects around the world. More

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    Dezeen’s Global China exhibition spotlights cultural collaboration

    Models, sketches and photos of works by architects and designers including Neri&Hu, Büro Ole Scheeren, Paul Priestman and FOG Architecture feature in Dezeen’s Global China: Connecting The World Through Design exhibition in Shanghai.

    Taking place during the World Design Cities Conference (WDCC) in Shanghai last month, Global China: Connecting The World Through Design showcased work by both Chinese and international architects and designers that bridge east and western ideologies.
    The exhibition space is designed by FOG ArchitectureThe exhibition features the work of six architecture and design studios, which were selected by Dezeen to demonstrate the breadth and depth of interesting work being completed in China.
    Featuring models, sketches, photography and films, the exhibition aims to demonstrate how international collaboration and cultural exchange can foster innovation while showcasing China’s influence as a growing design power.
    FOG Architecture presented a model of To Summer flagship store in BeijingThe exhibition space, designed by FOG Architecture, featured a series of architecture models on a central table, with hanging graphic boards hanging from a curved rail for visitors to look through.

    Three models from Chinese architecture studio Neri&Hu occupied the centre of the table, including Waterhouse at South Bund, Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat and Nantou City Guesthouse, that focus on adaptive-reuse and historic preservation.
    Neri&Hu presented three of their most well-known projects”We believe that urban fabric and architectural memory should be preserved with a critical approach that exemplifies the zeitgeist within the specificity of context,” said the Shanghai-based studio.
    “Our built works show the possibility of creating unexpected spatial experiences in historic buildings, giving them new life.”
    The twisted Tencent Helix is one of Ole Scheeren’s highlighted projectsBüro Ole Scheeren also presented three models, the Axiom, Tencent Helix and Shenzhen Wave, that best represent the studio’s futuristic vision for China’s urban landscape.
    AIM Architecture created AIM City, a curated collection of the studio’s projects that form an experimental city concept for renewal and innovation.
    AIM Architecture created an utopia urban city focused on renewal and innovation”Every street and building are reimagined, offering unexpected moments and fresh possibilities, embodying our vision of continuous urban evolution,” said the studio.
    “Past, present, and future merge in a dynamic landscape of regeneration and sustainability.”
    Paul Priestman showcased his latest Viewpoint conceptBritish transport designer Priestman presented his latest work Viewpoint, a sightseeing ship where all passengers would have undisrupted views of cityscapes. Also on display are hydrogen powered locomotives concept Inter-Freight as well as his previous designs for China high-speed trains.
    Chinese furniture designer Min Chen presented a bench called A Piece of Wood, that used Chinese traditional kite frame made of bamboo with the shape informed by airplane wings. His work is known for its modern expression in traditional materials and craftsmanship.
    Min Chen presented a bench that utilises Chinese craftsmanshipFOG Architecture presented ToSummer Flagship in Beijing Guozijian, which was crowned Interior Project of the Year at Dezeen Awards China last year. Others on display are HCH Showroom for Shanghai Fashion Week and Cycle Cycle Portable Bakehouse, which was longlisted at this year’s Dezeen Awards.
    The photography is by Xiaobin Lyu.
    Global China: Connecting The World Through Design exhibition ran from 27 to 30 September on the third floor of Dingbo Building as part of World Design Cities Conference 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
    Media partnership
     
    Dezeen curated the Global China: Connecting The World Through Design exhibition for WDCC as part of a media partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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