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    Eight basement apartments that are subterranean sanctuaries

    In this lookbook, we select eight apartments that prove basements are the new penthouses, from an art deco flat in Paris to a sci-fi-style hideaway in Madrid.

    Often associated with limited space and poor natural light, basement homes have not always been particularly coveted.
    But as the world’s cities get more expensive, busier and hotter, below-ground living can be a relatively affordable, private and temperate option.
    Below are eight of the best basement apartments previously featured on Dezeen.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cave-like interiors, residential entrance halls and pocket doors.

    Photo by Jim StephensonUnearthed Vault, UK, by Daab Design
    Architecture studio Daab Design turned a former art storage vault in London into a two-bedroom basement flat.
    Georgian period features were meticulously restored as part of the renovation and paired with a soothing colour palette of creams, greens and blues, turning what was previously a dark and cramped interior into a modern living space.
    Find out more about Unearthed Vault ›
    Photo by Simone BossiThe Whale, France, by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard
    The Whale takes its name from the huge structural elements that punctuate this home in the basement of a Parisian apartment building, which reminded architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard of being inside an enormous animal.
    Lesnoff-Rocard stripped back the apartment to reveal the chunky concrete beams, while extensive mirrored glass, brass and geometric shapes inject an understated sense of art deco.
    Find out more about The Whale ›
    Photo by José HeviaYurikago House, Spain, by Mas-aqui
    Architecture studio Mas-aqui used half-levels in its renovation of this semi-basement apartment in Barcelona to maximise space.
    The previously unused bottom level was excavated to create a staircase down to a new guest bedroom featuring a structural arch above the bed and an exposed-concrete retaining wall.
    Find out more about Yurikago House ›
    Photo by by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis (also top)Ilioupoli Apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme
    Sunken into the ground at the bottom of an apartment building in Athens, this small, one-bedroom flat was previously a storage space.
    Point Supreme sought to retain the interior’s “magical-cave-like” feeling by leaving raw concrete surfaces exposed and using floor finishes, curtains and sliding partitions rather than walls to separate the space.
    Find out more about Ilioupoli Apartment ›
    Photo by Hey! CheeseHouse H, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
    The basement of House H in Taipei leans into its underground setting with a dark and moody colour palette provided by concrete flooring, loosely rendered grey plaster walls and black or grey fixtures and fittings.
    To filter more natural light and fresh air into the basement, KC Design Studio carved several openings into the ceiling, accommodating a staircase and an indoor courtyard.
    Find out more about House H ›
    Photo by José HeviaApartment Tibbaut, Spain, by Raúl Sánchez
    Architect Raúl Sánchez converted a vaulted basement beneath a house in Barcelona into a subterranean apartment using curving panels of laminated pine.
    The partition curls around a central living area, separating each of the rooms but stopping short of the ceiling to ensure the building’s original architecture remains visible, as well as allowing natural light to spread throughout the space.
    Find out more about Apartment Tibbaut ›
    Photo by José HeviaCasa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
    This semi-basement Madrid apartment features fun, Stanley Kubrick-esque features such as shiny silver curtains, cobalt-blue accent walls and an indoor courtyard with orange grass.
    Lucas y Hernández-Gil designed the space to be a “world of work and leisure” where the homeowners can escape from the street above.
    Find out more about Casa A12 ›
    Photo by Jérôme FleurierStudio LI, France, by Anne Rolland Architecte
    A secret room sits beneath this sunken studio apartment created by Anne Rolland Architecte in a long-abandoned space in a 17th-century Parisian townhouse.
    Accessed via a mechanical trapdoor and granted natural light by a window in the kitchen floor, the former slurry pit was restored to create a music room and home cinema.
    Find out more about Studio LI ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring cave-like interiors, residential entrance halls and pocket doors.

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    Frederik Molenschot presents debut solo sculpture show at Carpenters Workshop Gallery

    Sculptures crafted from recycled BMW airbags and oak railway sleepers feature in artist Frederik Molenschot’s Atlas 2000 exhibition, which is on display at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Paris.

    Marking the Dutch artist’s first solo exhibition, Atlas 2000 features hand-sculpted works that are directly influenced by natural landscapes, Molenschot said.
    The show’s title refers to the visual diary the artist has created since his studies at Design Academy Eindhoven in 2000.
    Buoy Airbag is a sculpture made from recycled BMW airbagsSpread across the minimalist ground floor at the Paris branch of Carpenters Workshop Gallery, the sculptures were crafted from various materials and range from functional to abstract.
    Buoy Airbag is an amorphous, pale blue-hued hanging sculpture created from recycled airbags sourced from BMW vehicles.

    Frederik Molenschot’s debut solo show is on display at Carpenters Workshop Gallery”The piece delves into the intricate connection between cargo transport and climate change, with recycled airbags symbolising a melting arctic ice rock floating in the sea,” the artist told Dezeen.
    “I want to explore how luxury materials are used and how they become what they are,” he added. “[So] I processed the used airbags in a ‘couture’ way, to get a very high-quality finish.”
    Gingerblimp is a bronze LED light sculptureMolenschot also designed Gingerblimp, a bulbous bronze LED light sculpture characterised by a silver patina and a gold-brushed interior.
    The artist explained that the sculpture is a playful take on ginger root from the natural world and also nods to the manmade blimps that form part of New York City’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
    Recycled oak railway sleepers were salvaged to create furnitureRecycled oak railway sleepers were salvaged to create a chunky dining table and chair, which were named Bridge Beat to “pay homage to the captivating structure of bridges”.
    Also part of this series is a black bronze desk and chairs formed from gridded lines arranged in triangular formations.

    Carpenters Workshop Gallery presents design exhibition on heritage, place and identity

    “Each material was selected purposefully, offering unique properties and textures that complement the conceptual aspects of the artworks,” explained Molenschot.
    “Every piece is hand-sculpted in our studio.”
    Molenschot also created oversized clothingAccording to Molenschot, the pieces’ forms vary as much as their material palettes. In one corner of the gallery, a bobbly bronze glove was positioned underneath a branch-shaped textured lamp while oversized clothing also features in the exhibition.
    “This solo show holds a special place in my heart, as it represents my entire artistic journey since my time at the Academy,” reflected Molenschot.
    “It’s an invitation to explore my vision of our world. My ‘atlas’ is a compendium of research, pictures, designs, and sketches that have shaped me as an artist.”
    The exhibition runs until mid-SeptemberKnown for his large-scale bronze sculptures, Molenschot has been represented by Carpenters Workshop Gallery since 2008. The galley, which also has locations in London and the US, previously exhibited an all-denim furniture show by designer Harry Nuriev.
    The late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld also debuted his first sculpture exhibition at the Paris branch.
    Atlas 2000 is on display at Carpenters Workshop Gallery from 1 June to 16 September 2023. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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    ATRA outfits Olson Kundig-designed house in West Hollywood

    This townhouse in Los Angeles by US firm Olson Kundig is outfitted by furniture brand ATRA with “the best that Mexico has to offer”.

    The Garden House, which sits between West Hollywood and Beverley Hills, was designed as one of eight single-family homes that form the Rosewood Houses development.
    The interior of the Garden House is divided into two areas by a central void, which contains the staircaseEach of the two-storey residences was designed by Olson Kundig with a unique look and layout while retaining a cohesive language across the set.
    For this particular house, which is decorated for a fictional future client, Mexico City-based design studio and furniture brand ATRA used many of its own products to create an environment that complements the architecture.
    To decorate the house, ATRA used several of its own products including the dining table, along with pieces by Mexico-based artists and designers”We wanted to sublime the minimalist architecture and the simplicity of the volumes by keeping the home versatile – imagining that the owner could be a young family as well as a Hollywood actor or a tech entrepreneur and that the design should not only fit but inspire all the above,” said the ATRA team.

    From the street, the house presents as austere – comprising dark cladding materials and emphasised horizontally by an extended flat roofline and porch cover.
    The volcanic stone desk in the study is also designed by ATRAThe building is entered into a double-height space from the side, effectively splitting the plan into north and south areas.
    A staircase with open risers and glass balustrades rises up through the central void, its transparency allowing views from one side of the house to the other.
    Earth tones are used throughout the ground floor, including in the kitchenThe living room to the north is anchored by a large bronze feature that frames a fireplace, while ATRA’s Egge velvet sofa and pair of armchairs face one another across a low stone coffee table.
    On the other side of the staircase is the dining room, where the brand’s sculptural Pebble dining table sits below a branch-like chandelier by Isabel Moncada, and beside a highly textured artwork by Julio Rizhi.
    Upstairs, bolder colours are used to appear like “happy accidents””We curated the best that Mexico has to offer to enhance this house with unexpected artworks and thoughtful designs,” said Gabriella Kuti, ATRA’s lead designer.
    Earth-toned furniture and textured finishes are used prominently throughout the ground floor, including a volcanic stone desk in the study and warm wood cabinetry in the kitchen.

    One Wall Street skyscraper completes conversion from offices to apartments

    A slightly different colour palette was employed upstairs, where grey sheen walls and burgundy-hued chairs are found in the primary bedroom.
    “Some unusual warm and vibrant colors were introduced like a happy accident,” said ATRA.
    Works by international artists in the home include a wall piece by Ghanaian artist Serge Attukwei Clottey made from a patchwork of yellow gallon containers, and bold-striped paintings by French artist Edouard Ng.
    A private patio at the back of the house features a plunge poolTucked out of view at the back of the property, a small outdoor patio features a square plunge pool and sculptures by Pablo Arellano.
    The eventual owners of the house will also have access to the amenities of the adjacent residential tower 8899 Beverly, including a pool, a covered dining area and gardens, an indoor fitness centre and a yoga studio.
    The architecture by Olson Kundig comprises dark materials and exaggerated horizontal planesATRA also provided furniture and decor for a show apartment in New York’s One Wall Street designed by FrenchCalifornia, and launched its Nerthus-Sofa modular system in 2020.
    The company was founded by Alexander Díaz Andersson, who is also its creative director and works across furniture, sculpture, interiors and hospitality projects.
    The photography is by Michael Clifford and Nils Timm.

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    Eight interiors that use lattice screens as walls and room dividers

    For our latest lookbook, we have selected eight interiors that use lattice screens to conceal and divide spaces without blocking sightlines.

    Lattice screens can come in a variety of materials and provide a versatile alternative to solid walls and room dividers, offering a way to create privacy between two spaces while still maintaining a connection between them.
    From concealing bathrooms to establishing connections between interior and exterior spaces, this lookbook presents eight different ways in which lattice screens have been used in residential, hotel and restaurant interiors.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring period home renovations, open-plan interiors characterised by bold dining tables and interiors with reclaimed materials.
    Photo by Denilson MachadoDendê Duratex House, Brazil, by NJ+

    Brazilian architecture studio NJ+ took cues from Bahia, the Brazilian state that studio founder Nildo José grew up in, to create the interior of Dendê Duratex House. Here, it integrated a white latticework structure that separates the living space from the bedroom.
    The volume encompasses the one-bedroom apartment’s bathroom and kitchen amenities while introducing texture to the monochrome minimalist home.
    Find out more about Dendê Duratex House ›
    Photo by Amit GeronP Duplex apartment, Israel, by Pitsou Kedem Architects
    The second floor of this apartment in Tel Aviv was transformed into a mezzanine that overlooks a double-height living and dining room by local practice Pitsou Kedem.
    A black metal guardrail wraps the upper level, tracing the route from the staircase to the upper floor and offering security while allowing views of the floor below. The see-through lattice design features triangular shapes compiled into rectangular modules.
    Find out more about P Duplex apartment ›
    Photo by Pedro PegenauteSulwhasoo Flagship Store, South Korea, by Neri&Hu
    This five-storey flagship store, designed for Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo, is characterised by large expanses of brass rods that form a lattice network. Used throughout the store, the latticed walls form see-through room dividers as well as shelving.
    The framework continues from the exterior into the interior of the store, guiding visitors through the five floors. Architecture studio Neri&Hu’s concept was informed by lanterns and their role in illuminating journeys in Asian culture.
    Find out more about Sulwhasoo Flagship Store ›
    Photo by Andrii ShurpenkovVirgin Izakaya Bar, Ukraine, by YODEZEEN
    Timber screens and red metal webbed structures conceal and divide spaces within this Japanese restaurant in Kyiv, designed by Ukrainian architecture and design studio YODEZEEN.
    The wooden lattice screens were introduced to soften the restaurant’s cold material palette, consisting of raw concrete and brick surfaces.
    Find out more about Virgin Izakaya Bar ›
    Photo by Luis Garvan, Luis Young and Maureen EvansCasa Octavia, Mexico, by PPAA
    Thin latticed timber screens shield this hotel’s interiors from harsh sunlight and cast intricate shadows throughout the day.
    The screens aim to serve as a mediator between hotel guests and passerbys, fostering interaction between residents of the La Condesa neighbourhood in which its is located and the hotel itself, while maintaining a level of privacy.
    Find out more about Casa Octavia ›
    Photo by Tom FergusonManly Pacific, Australia, by Luchetti Krelle
    Sliding lattice screens separate the reception from the bar in this hotel in Sydney, which was renovated by Australian studio Luchetti Krelle.
    The partitions allow the two distinct spaces to blend together without losing their individual character, which is defined by contrasting material and colour palettes.
    Find out more about Manly Pacific ›
    Photo by Maha Nasra EddéMimi Kakushi, Dubai, by Pirajean Lees
    London studio Pirajean Lees was informed by Japan’s jazz age, combining a variety of materials and textures such as beaded curtains, stained-glass windows and sliding gridded screens in this restaurant in Dubai.
    The flexibility of the moveable lattice screens allows the restaurant to host events of varying crowd sizes, partitioning the open-plan layout into a variety of smaller spaces.
    Find out more about Mimi Kakushi ›
    Photo by Amit GeronHiba, Israel, by Pitsou Kedem Architects
    A combination of solid and hollow oakwood components forms a gridded screen that allows visitors to glimpse between the dining area and the entrance of this restaurant in Tel Aviv.
    Alongside oakwood, the restaurant’s interior features granite slabs and concrete. Designers Pitsou Kedem Architects aimed for the raw material palette to reflect the restaurant’s use of fresh ingredients.
    Find out more about Hiba ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring period home renovations, open-plan interiors characterised by bold dining tables and interiors with reclaimed materials.

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    Traditional Korean pavilions inform open-sided Aesop store in Seoul

    Skincare brand Aesop has collaborated with designer Samuso Hyojadong to create a store in Seochon, Seoul, that features an open facade and an oversized stone plinth.

    Positioned in one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Seoul’s Jongno-gu district, the Seochon outlet was created to “fit harmoniously within its local context”, according to Aesop’s design team.
    Aesop designed the Seochon store with Samuso HyojadongWhen designing the store, Aesop and Hyojadong took cues from the architecture of jeongjas – traditional Korean pavilions with no walls, which serve as spaces for resting and taking in the surrounding views.
    The street-facing facade was created with mesh metal screens that can open out entirely to create a storefront with no walls. Once closed, the woven metal backing creates translucent windows through which passersby observe the softly lit silhouettes of uniform rows of bottles.
    Reclaimed timber features on the interior”Samuso extended the floorplate outwards to create a threshold that conveys a generous sense of hospitality,” the Aesop design team told Dezeen.

    “One [jeongja] in particular that inspired us was the Soswaewon in the Damyang region, which was built in the sixteenth century and is surrounded by a verdant garden.”
    An oversized stone plinth displays Aesop productsFor the store’s material palette, the designers referenced the timber and stone that are typically used to build traditional Korean houses known as hanoks.
    A large, rough-edged stone plinth displaying clusters of products was positioned at the entrance while various wooden accents were created with timber reclaimed from salvage yards and an abandoned house.
    Copper was used to create geometric cabinetsThe store was also built on a raised stone platform, which nods to the traditional architecture.
    Hanji paper created from mulberry tree bark sourced from South Korea’s Gyeongnam province features on the store’s walls, which frame central geometric cabinetry and sleek taps made of locally produced aged copper.

    Aesop store in south Seoul is a cosy red-brick retreat

    The designers were restrained in their use of sanding, sealants and coatings when treating the materials, opting to embrace their “natural imperfections”.
    “Sensitivity to texture in this store is superlative,” reflected the design team. “Samuso wanted each material to express itself directly, without too much human intervention,” it continued, referencing the roughness of the stone and the reclaimed timber’s undulating texture.
    The metal was also used to design sleek tapsRosewood was used to create the store’s signature fragrance armoire, which is hidden from view until opened out and was conceived as a traditional Korean jewellery box, according to the design team.
    “Throughout the store, we were compelled by a desire to dissolve the boundaries between inside and outside, between the naturally occurring and the human-made,” concluded the designers.
    The store’s signature fragrance armoire was informed by Korean jewellery boxesKnown for stores that pay homage to their varied locations, Aesop has an outlet in Cambridge defined by handwoven bulrush shelves that nod to the nearby River Cam and a Sydney store furnished with domestic items to evoke 1960s Australian homes.
    The photography is courtesy of Aesop.

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    Last chance to be listed on Dezeen’s digital guide for London Design Festival 2023

    This is the last opportunity to be featured in the Dezeen Events Guide for London Design Festival 2023, which highlights the key events taking place in the UK’s capital city in September.

    The guide includes a range of exhibitions, installations, talks, workshops, open showrooms, product launches, pop-up shops and design fairs taking place across London.
    This year’s edition of London Design Festival takes place from 16 to 24 September 2023, with the 21st edition spanning across 13 districts in the city.
    Dezeen Events Guide’s live digital guide showcases events that explore a variety of design mediums, including architecture, biodesign, furniture, lighting, interior accessories, fashion and materials and textiles design.
    Last chance to get listed in Dezeen’s digital guide to London Design Festival

    Get in touch with the Dezeen Events Guide team at [email protected] to book in your listing or to discuss a wider partnership with Dezeen. There are three types of listings:
    Standard listing: for only £100, we can include the event name, date and location details plus a website link. These listings will also feature up to 50 words of text about the event. Standard listings are included at the discretion of the Dezeen Events Guide team.
    Enhanced listing: for £150, you will receive all of the above plus an image at the top of the listing’s page and an image in the listing preview on the London Design Festival festival guide page. These listings will also feature up to 100 words of text about the event.
    Featured listing: for £300, your listing will feature everything as part of an enhanced listing plus inclusion in the featured events carousel and social media posts on our @dezeenguide channels. This includes one post per channel: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and up to 150 words of text about the event. This text can include commercial information such as ticket prices and offers, and can feature additional links to website pages such as ticket sales, newsletter signups etc.
    About Dezeen Events Guide
    Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year. The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.
    Inclusion in the guide is free for basic listings, with events selected at Dezeen’s discretion. Organisers can get standard, enhanced or featured listings for their events, including images, additional text and links, by paying a modest fee.
    In addition, events can ensure inclusion by partnering with Dezeen. For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide and media partnerships with Dezeen, email [email protected].
    The illustration is by Justyna Green.

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    Giulio Cappellini and Sabine Marcelis among judges to decide Dezeen Awards 2023 winners

    Twenty-three leading architects and designers from more than 10 countries met last week in a final round of judging to decide the winners of the Dezeen Awards 2023.

    The Dezeen Awards master jury took place at hotel One Hundred Shoreditch in London and included architect Sanjay Puri and designers Giulio Cappellini and Sabine Marcelis, among others.
    Interior designers Colin King and Tola Ojuolape, designer Patrizia Moroso and architect Andrea Cesarman also joined to finalise the 50 award winners.
    They include the winners of the inaugural Bentley Lighthouse Award, a special award supported by Bentley Motors that rewards an individual whose work has had an overwhelmingly beneficial impact on social and environmental sustainability.
    Winners will be announced in November

    Winners will be announced at the end of November at the winners’ party in London. Longlist announcements will be revealed next week, followed by the shortlist in October.
    Dezeen Awards 2023 architecture master jury (L-R): Andrea Cesarman, Sanjay Puri, Sumele Adelana, Lara Lesmes, Cristóbal Palma, Kevin CarmodyThe master jury discussed 235 shortlisted entries selected from 4,800 projects from over 90 countries around the globe.
    Judges also included Kevin Carmody and Titi Ogufere
    Joining Cesarman and Puri on the architecture master jury panel were Lara Lesmes, co-founder of architecture and art studio Space Popular, Chilean-based photographer Cristóbal Palma, SketchUp architectural designer Sumele Adelana and Kevin Carmody, co-founder of London-based studio Carmody Groarke.
    Dezeen Awards 2023 interiors master jury (L-R): Eny Lee Parker, Philippe Brocart, Patrizia Moroso, Tola Ojuolape, Colin KingEny Lee Parker and managing director and head of Material Bank Europe Philippe Brocart joined King and Moroso on the interiors master jury.
    Dezeen Awards 2023 design master jury (L-R): Sabine Marcelis, Giulio Cappellini, Erwan Bouroullec, Titi Ogufere, Chris Cooke, Rossana OrlandiThe design master jury panel included the founder of Design Week Lagos Titi Ogufere, Spazio Rossana Orlandi founder and curator Rossana Orlandi, Paris-based designer Erwan Bouroullec and head of design collaborations at Bentley Motors Chris Cooke.
    They joined art director and founder Cappellini and artist and designer Marcelis.
    Dezeen Awards 2023 sustainability master jury (L-R): Pragya Adukia, Piet Hein Eek, Siân Sutherland, Kate Goldsworthy, Kelly Alvarez Doran, Maurizio MontaltiDesigner Piet Hein Eek, MASS Design Group senior director Kelly Alvarez Doran and A Plastic Planet co-founder Siân Sutherland were on the sustainability panel.
    They were joined by professor of circular design and innovation Kate Goldsworthy, founder and creative director of Officina Corpuscoli Maurizio Montalti and director of design at Brookfield Properties Pragya Adukia.
    An exclusive judges’ dinner took place on the night of the master jury day in the One Hundred Room at One Hundred Shoreditch, where the master jury was joined by other Dezeen Awards 2023 judges.
    These included Jayden Ali, co-curator of the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2023, CEO of the Design Council Minnie Moll and Raw Edges co-founders Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay. The dinner featured glassware by Nude Glass.
    Dezeen Awards winners’ party
    Following the longlist and shortlist announcements, the next big date in the Dezeen Awards calendar is the culmination of this year’s programme – the Dezeen Awards winners’ party, which will take place on Tuesday 28 November in London.
    Dezeen Awards winners will be able to collect their unique trophy at the event and it is a chance for everyone who was shortlisted for Dezeen Awards, or who judged the entries, to celebrate and network.
    Tickets will be available to purchase later this year. Subscribe to the Dezeen Awards newsletter to keep up to date with the latest announcements.
    The photography is by Mark Cocksedge.
    Dezeen Awards 2023
    Dezeen Awards celebrates the world’s best architecture, interiors and design. Now in its sixth year, it has become the ultimate accolade for architects and designers across the globe. The annual awards are in partnership with Bentley Motors, as part of a wider collaboration that will see the brand work with Dezeen to support and inspire the next generation of design talent. More

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    Arent & Pyke designs Sydney hair salon to be “best appreciated from seated height”

    Triangular slabs of terrazzo and a vintage chandelier frame Sydney’s Koda hair salon, which local studio Arent & Pyke has conceived as an eclectic mishmash of old and new.

    Located on the upper mezzanine level of the city’s George McRae-designed Queen Victoria Building, the salon was created for Australian hairdresser Koda.
    Arent & Pyke created terrazzo tiling for the floorArent & Pyke created the interiors to “be best appreciated from seated height”, placing wide quartzite-rimmed mirrors at angles in front of the curved black styling chairs to offer a contrast with the salon’s tall ceilings.
    The move was made “given that clients are accustomed to looking up and down” when getting their hair done, the studio explained.
    The studio painted the ceilings in an “energising” gold hueTriangular slabs of dusty pink and forest green terrazzo line Koda’s floors, which Arent & Pyke chose to mimic the marble flooring of Villa Planchart – a house in Caracas, Venezuela, completed by architect Gio Ponti in 1956.

    Ceilings were painted an “energising” shade of gold and fitted with delicate timber battens that conceal various services while in one corner, a geometric 1970s chandelier illuminates the space from above.
    Koda’s interior was designed to “be best appreciated from seated height””Both nostalgic and futuristic, Koda is a majestic work of sculpt fiction,” Arent & Pyke said.
    “Four elongated windows crowned with coloured glass pool light from within, so the built spine intentionally reaches approximately half of the rear salon’s 4.5-metre ceiling height, enabling appreciation of their beauty from every vantage point.”

    Danielle Brustman creates yellow highlights in sunny Melbourne hair salon

    Brightly coloured accents were paired with burlwood mid-century furniture including a low-slung credenza topped with glossy cobalt-blue display shelving.
    The studio aimed to rid the space of “transactional” clutter, replacing traditional tool trolleys with cylindrical styling stands with aged brass details designed by Arent & Pyke.
    Arent & Pyke aimed to rid the salon of “transactional” clutterCurving light-hued timber cabinetry was also mounted to the blush-toned walls to create eclectic storage.
    A translucent pale pink curtain was suspended from a rail to create a layer of privacy for the wash bay, which was positioned on a raised platform.
    A translucent pale pink curtain creates a layer of privacy for the wash bay”Koda is a crafted tale of artisanal vision balancing angled poise with organic shapes and undulating forms,” said Arent & Pyke.
    Founded by Juliette Arent and Sarah-Jane Pyke in 2007, the studio previously renovated a 1930s Sydney home with a monochromatic interior.
    Other notable hair salon interiors include a minimalist Swedish outlet finished in pastel colours and a US barbershop with a cavernous cork lounge.
    The photography is by Prue Ruscoe. 

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