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    Ten beautiful brutalist interiors with a surprisingly welcoming feel

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected 10 brutalist interiors from the UK to Brazil and Indonesia that show how textiles, plants and colours can be used to soften monolithic concrete spaces and create a cosy atmosphere.

    Brutalism as an architectural style often makes use of concrete to create large, sculptural buildings. These interiors in brutalist buildings feature plenty of concrete and hard angles but still manage to feel both warm and welcoming.
    Colourful tiling, wooden details and tactile textiles as well as an abundance of green plants were used to create inviting living rooms, bathrooms and even workspaces in these brutalist buildings, which include the Barbican in London and Riverside Tower in Antwerp.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring granite kitchens, terrazzo eateries and atriums that brighten up residential spaces.
    Photo is by Tommaso RivaA Brutalist Tropical Home, Indonesia, by Patisandhika and Dan Mitchell

    Designer Dan Mitchell worked with architecture studio Patisandhika to create this brutalist home in Bali, which features a double-height living room filled with books, records and green plants.
    The house has a split-level design that was modelled on modernist architect Ray Kappe’s Kappe Residence. Inside, colourful objects, textiles and furniture draw on the work of Clifford Still, Ellsworth Kelly and the Bauhaus movement to make the house feel homely.
    Find out more about A Brutalist Tropical Home ›
    Photo is by Niveditaa GuptaHouse of Concrete Experiments, India, by Samira Rathod
    As the name suggests, House of Concrete Experiments features sculptural concrete walls. Warm wood detailing offsets the grey hues, while the concrete floor has been inlaid with black stones to create an interesting pattern.
    Large windows and geometric skylights help make the room feel bright and inviting.
    Find out more about House of Concrete Experiments ›
    Photo is by Olmo PeetersRiverside Tower Apartment, Belgium, by Studio Okami Architecten
    Studio Okami Architecten stripped the walls of this flat in Antwerp’s Riverside Tower to let its original structure take centre stage.
    Colourful details such as a turquoise table and baby-blue spiral staircase and a playful, sculptural lamp make the home feel contemporary, while plenty of green plants give more life to the otherwise grey interior.
    Find out more about Riverside Tower Apartment ›
    Photo is by PhotographixBeton Brut, India, by The Grid Architects
    Designed as a “neo-brutalist” house, Beton Brut in India has a number of dramatic features, including a skylit atrium that extends through the home.
    The Grid Architects described the home as “typified by bare concrete, geometric shapes, a monochrome palette and a monolithic appearance”. Wooden flooring and furniture and plenty of textiles soften the house’s brutalist interior and potentially stern appearance.
    Find out more about Beton Brut ›
    Photo is by Anton GorlenkoBarbican flat, UK, by Takero Shimakazi Architects
    This flat in the Shakespeare Tower of London’s brutalist Barbican estate was overhauled by Takero Shimakazi Architects in a nod to the client’s strong ties to Japan.
    Details such as gridded timber panels and timber joinery were added throughout the flat, which also features Japan-informed details including an area lined with tatami mats.
    Find out more about the Barbican flat ›
    Photo is by Joana FrançaConcrete home, Brazil, by Debaixo do Bloco Arquitetura
    Debaixo do Bloco’s design for this sculptural house in Brazil is divided into three sections to provide a clear distinction between the various programmes.
    Inside, the interior has a mid-century modern feel, with gleaming wood parquet flooring and a glass PH table lamp by Danish designer Louis Poulsen decorating a side table.
    Find out more about the concrete home ›
    Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriSmithson Tower office, UK, by ConForm
    The brutalist Smithson Tower in Mayfair is the location for this “homely” office designed by ConForm Architects. The studio split the space into eight zones defined by the strong structural grid of the existing building, and added low-level joinery.
    The result is a design that softens the stark office spaces and makes the rooms feel more intimate.
    Find out more about the Smithson Tower office ›
    Photo is courtesy of The StandardThe Standard London, UK, by Shawn Hausman
    Designer Shawn Hausman created the colour-drenched interior of hotel The Standard in London, which is located in a brutalist building, to contrast “the greyness of London”.
    “I would say with this property we were a bit more colourful than usual, and I think part of that is acting in contrast to the brutalist building that the hotel’s in,” explained Hausman.
    In the bathrooms, stripy pink-and-black tiled walls and pops of pale mint green give the room a fun, playful feel.
    Find out more about The Standard London ›
    Photo is by Casey DunnPreston Hollow, US, by Specht Architects
    The long corrugated concrete volumes of Preston Hollow in Dallas were designed to reference brutalist Texan architecture from the 1950s and 60s, but the house was built to wrap around courtyards, creating a lively, open impression.
    Inside the low-slung buildings, mid-century modern-style furniture nods to the home’s architectural references but the interior is brought up-to-date with the addition of modern art.
    Find out more about Preston Hollow ›
    Photo is by Gilbert McCarragherBarbican apartment, UK, by John Pawson
    British architect John Pawson created this flat in London’s Barbican building using his signature minimalist aesthetic.
    The flat, which overlooks central London and has a small concrete balcony, has been kept almost empty with just a smattering of furnishings and pale wooden surfaces. Three artworks, a Buddha sculpture and a grandfather clock are the only decorative elements in the space.
    Find out more about the Barbican apartment ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring granite kitchens, terrazzo eateries and atriums that brighten up residential spaces.

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    Denniston Architects converts 1920s skyscraper into Aman New York hotel

    Denniston Architects has converted New York City’s Crown Building in the heart of bustling Midtown into a space for the Aman Resorts luxury hotel group.

    Aman New York hotel opened in August 2022 in a beaux-arts building at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue completed in 1921 by Warren & Wetmore – the architecture studio behind Grand Central Station.
    Fabric umbrellas cover the Aman New York’s outdoor terrace bar, which enjoys views of ManhattanJean-Michel Gathy and his studio Denniston Architects, which is frequently tapped for Aman locations, restored and converted the 25-storey tower to create 82 suites and 22 residences.
    To create a feeling of quiet and relaxation in the middle of New York City, elements like glass soundproofing were combined with a muted, minimalist colour and material palette throughout the building.
    The hotel is designed to capitalise on its location at the corner of 57th Street and Fifth AvenueGold details were also added throughout as a nod to its ornamental spire.

    “Every detail of the design effortlessly contributes to Aman New York’s aura of rarefied calm,” said Aman Resorts.
    A circular fire pit sits within a square reflecting pool on the garden terraceOak, walnut and cinnamon woods are used for finishes, floors, doors and custom furnishings, while bronze, brass, and stainless and blackened steel add warmth.
    Japanese influences are found in elements including textured stone floors laid in a pattern reminiscent of woven rattan baskets.
    Suites feature pivoting doors that allow guests to open and close off their spacesEach suite features a large mural inspired by the 15th-century Japanese artwork Pine Trees by Hasegawa Tōhaku.
    Pairs of pivoting louvre doors with backlit rice-paper panels can be angled by guests to open up or contain the spaces within their rooms.
    A minimalist colour and material palette is used throughout the hotelThese doors envelop the bathrooms, which are fitted with free-standing oval bathtubs, marble rain showers and twin vanities.
    All of the guest rooms and residences also have a working fireplace to help occupants feel cosy.
    The pivoting doors wrap around the suite bathrooms, which include freestanding tubsHotel guest amenities include a 20-metre swimming pool on the 10th floor, a fitness centre, and a 650-square-metre outdoor terrace that can be covered with a retractable glass roof.
    An atrium on level 14 hosts a series of giant paper and bamboo sculptures by Peter Gentenaar that float between four stone columns.
    Double vanities are also provided in the bathroomsOf the two restaurants within the building, Italian-influenced Arva is arranged around a central open kitchen and surrounded by floor-to-ceiling wine cabinets.
    Meanwhile, Nama serves traditional Japanese cuisine and features a hinoki wood counter for omakase-style dining, as well as staggered ceilings and pendant lights influenced by the work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
    Asian influences seen in the decor and artwork nod to the Aman brand’s rootsThe Aman Spa is open to the public and is spread over three storeys and 2,300 square metres.
    “Active spaces including the pool and fitness centre feature light timbers and grey tones, while passive spaces where treatments are enjoyed at the very core of the building are more nurturing, with curves and warmer hues,” said the Aman Resorts team.

    Yabu Pushelberg designs The Times Square Edition as “ultimate counterpoint to its surroundings”

    Founded by Indonesian hotelier Adrian Zecha in 1988, the Swiss-headquartered company operates 34 properties in 20 countries.
    All are known for offering privacy and seclusion, and each is designed as a unique experience that pays homage to its location.
    The Aman Spa is open to the public and includes a retail spaceOthers in the portfolio include Amanyangyun near Shanghai, which was created by moving an area of threatened historic houses and forest 800 kilometres, and Aman Kyoto, named Hotel of the Year at the AHEAD Asia 2021 awards.
    The Aman New York joins myriad hotels in Midtown Manhattan, with high-end options including the Edition Times Square, and more affordable alternatives like the AC Hotel and Moxy Times Square.

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    This week we revealed Wild Wonder as 2023's Colour of the Year

    This week on Dezeen, the Colour of the Year 2023 –  a pale yellow that is described as “a soft gold with hints of green” – was announced.

    To mark the announcement by paint company Dulux, we created a lookbook that showcases interiors that have used the pale yellow hue.
    Selldorf Architects has proposed a redesign of the Sainsbury WingThis week, architects, critics and academics raised concerns about the plans to remodel Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown’s postmodern Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery in London. They described the plans, which have been drawn up by Selldorf Architects, as an “act of vandalism”.
    In an opinion piece for Dezeen, Catherine Slessor wrote that “history now seems to be repeating itself at the Sainsbury Wing”.
    Workers at Atomik Architecture are balloting to strikeAlso in London, staff at architecture studio Atomik Architecture announced a “historic strike ballot”.

    Workers at the studio notified their employers that they were initiating a strike ballot to demand improvements to both their pay and working conditions.
    Lightyear developed “the world’s first production-ready solar car”Continuing our Solar Revolution series we interviewed Emanuele Cornagliotti, who is the lead solar engineer at car company Lightyear, which developed “the world’s first production-ready solar car”.
    Solar cars will be “normal within 20 years,” he told Dezeen.
    No 1 Poultry was the result of a King Charles interventionFollowing King Charles III becoming Britain’s new monarch, we took a look back at his impact on architecture while he was the Prince of Wales.
    In his previous role, Charles exerted significant influence on the built environment through campaigning, building traditional towns and torpedoing modernist projects.
    Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote opened this weekThis week we opened the Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote to allow readers to pick their favourite projects and studios. Readers can now vote for the best projects shortlisted in the architecture, interiors and design categories, as well as our media and sustainability categories.
    Voting closes on 10 October with winning projects receiving a special Dezeen Awards 2022 public vote certificate.
    Indian studio PMA Madhushala designed a brick and stone housePopular projects this week include an Indian home wrapped in a perforated wall of brick and stone, a hotel resembling an upside-down village in the Alps and a rammed-earth retreat in São Paulo.
    This week’s lookbooks showcased eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.
    This week on Dezeen
    This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week’s top news stories. Subscribe to our newsletters to be sure you don’t miss anything.

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    Ten sunny interiors that make use of the Colour of the Year 2023

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve curated 10 interiors decked out in Wild Wonder after paint brand Dulux named the pale yellow hue as its Colour of the Year for 2023.

    Dulux describes Wild Wonder as a “soft gold with hints of green” that speaks to people’s desire for a closer connection to nature and better mental health in light of the recent period of upheaval.
    “As people search for support, connection, inspiration and balance in the world today, they’re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it,” the brand explained.
    “Wild Wonder is a positive, natural tone that, by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes.”
    The optimistic hue, reminiscent of “fresh seed pods and harvest grain”, is particularly suited to brightening up living spaces – as seen below in an all-yellow Barcelona duplex and a renovated 19th-century apartment in Stockholm by Note Design Studio.

    But the colour can also be used to give a homely feel to commercial interiors, from a floating spa to a church-turned-coworking space, where it is often contrasted against shades of dusty pink or deep red.
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential atriums, floating staircases and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.
    Photo is by Note Design StudioHidden Tints, Sweden, by Note Design Studio
    Set in a 19th-century building in Stockholm, this kitchen envisioned by Swedish practice Note Design Studio is entirely enveloped in buttery yellow paint – covering everything from the walls and mouldings to the window frames.
    “Colour helps to emphasise the splendour in the detailing of the architecture,” interior architect Sanna Wåhlin told Dezeen. “In fact, the approach to colour in architecture in the old days was much braver than we see today. It deserves its place again!”
    Find out more about Hidden Tints ›
    Photo is by Felix SpellerCubitts Belgravia, UK, by Child Studio
    Child Studio reinstated many of the Georgian design features found in this 19th-century Belgravian townhouse when turning it into a shop for eyewear brand Cubitts.
    The London design firm painted its walls in a chalky yellow hue that was typical of the period and uncovered the original floorboards to create an “intimate and domestic atmosphere”, complete with a cast iron fireplace installed in the front room.
    Find out more about Cubitts Belgravia ›
    Photo is by José HeviaDuplex in Sant Gervais, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
    To make this duplex apartment in Barcelona with its convoluted floor plan and shadowy living spaces feel more bright and spacious, local practice Arquitectura-G introduced an all-yellow colour scheme that features throughout the home.
    It was even chosen for the metal grating used to form shelving in the kitchen, which was designed to provide storage without obstructing sunlight from reaching every corner of the space.
    Find out more about Duplex in Sant Gervais ›
    Photo is by Mikael LundbladCafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA
    Swedish architecture firm ASKA aimed to create a warm and peaceful atmosphere inside this all-day breakfast cafe, using sunny hues across its nostalgic checkerboard floors, storage walls and custom-made tables with integrated cutlery holders.
    “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 ›
    Photo is by Jérôme GallandVilla Noailles gift shop, France, by Pierre Yovanovitch
    When overhauling the gift shop of the Villa Noailles arts centre in Provence, French designer Pierre Yovanovitch created a series of colour-block alcoves to “dramatise” the presentation of the products on offer.
    The mellow yellow backdrop of these wall niches stands in stark contrast to the salmon-pink walls and cobalt blue trims, nodding to the villa’s “cubist” garden designed by Armenian architect Gabriel Guevrekian.
    Find out more about the Villa Noailles gift shop ›
    Photo is by Dylan PerrenoudOrigin spa, Switzerland, by Bureau
    Blocks of pastel-toned tiles overlap across the different surfaces of this float spa in Geneva. The colour-blocking was specifically designed to evoke the vague spots and flashes of colour that can sometimes be seen behind closed eyes after looking at a light source.
    The interior was designed to reflect the visuals that guests experience in the spa’s sensory deprivation tanks, which are filled with warm salt water but completely devoid of light to create the feeling of floating weightlessly in space.
    Find out more about Origin ›
    Photo is by Rei Moon13 Square Metre House, UK, by Studiomama
    Custom-made plywood furniture fringes this tiny 13-square-metre home set in a former mini cab office, which “might be London’s smallest house,” according to architect Studiomama.
    Beyond providing crucial storage, the light wooden elements help to create a cohesive interior, while functional zones such as integrated sliding doors are highlighted in swatches of soft yellow, pink and blue.
    Find out more about 13 Square Metre House ›
    Photo is by Mikael LundbladMaria Nila salon, Sweden, by ASKA
    Undulating shelves of hair products wind their way around the perimeter of this salon by Swedish haircare brand Maria Nila in Stockholm to evoke dripping shampoo.
    The storage is rendered in pastel gradient colours informed by the brand’s packaging, which fade from ballet-slipper pink to a pale coffee colour and finally a washed-out yellow.
    Find out more about the Maria Nila salon ›
    Photo is by Carola RipamontiImarika boutique, Italy, by Marcante-Testa
    Another interior that showcases the perfect match between yellow and pink is this boutique in Milan, designed by Italian studio Marcante-Testa.
    Here, an understated daffodil-colour covers the walls, while pink clay was used to render partitions and rose-gold rails hold up the glass shelves displaying accessories.
    Find out more about Imarika boutique ›
    Photo is by Cándida WohlgemuthThe Ruby Street, USA, by Francesca de la Fuente and Working Holiday Studio
    An abstract wall mural by Los Angeles artist Dakota Solt ties together the baby blue, pink and tan furnishings in this co-working space with the pale yellow of the wood-panelled walls and the rattan pendant light.
    Called The Ruby Street, the shared office and events space is set in a former church in the city’s Highland Park neighbourhood, whose stained-glass windows were retained and paired with simple, contemporary furnishings.
    Find out more about The Ruby Street ›
    This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential atriums, floating staircases and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.

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    Emil Eve Architects designs small kitchen with space-saving Neff appliances that can be easily hidden away

    Dezeen has teamed up with Neff to commission London studio Emil Eve Architects to design a small contemporary kitchen using the German brand’s space-saving appliances, including an oven with a fully retractable oven door.

    To coincide with the 20th anniversary of the brand’s Slide & Hide oven, which features an oven door that slides away under the appliance, Neff and Dezeen teamed up with Emil Eve Architects to develop a design for a modern kitchen for city homes where space is limited.
    The Slide & Hide oven features a door that can “disappear” under the appliance to gain easy access to foodThe design aims to balance smart and functional design that saves space in an imaginative and contemporary style.
    “Smart and functional design doesn’t have to mean boring. We love to bring an element of fun to cooking with our appliances,” said Neff.
    “Space in city centres comes at a cost, so when that space is limited, design and functionality is essential to love the home you live in.”

    The kitchen was designed to optimise space in smaller city homesEmil Eve Architects developed the design with the vision of creating a kitchen space for preparing and sharing food, where cooking and eating is a social experience to leisurely spend time.
    The guiding principle behind the design was to combine efficiency and ergonomics and to maximise space for smaller city homes. The design features generous shelving for storage and displays, using products that have the ability to seamlessly slide everything away – even the appliances.
    “We have greatly enjoyed the challenge of working with Neff to develop a kitchen design for a city centre home, where space is at a premium, but design does not need to be,” said the studio.
    The kitchen features ample shelving for storage and displays and appliances that can be compacted awayNeff describes its Slide & Hide oven as the “only oven with a fully retracting door” that not only frees up space in the kitchen, but also enables users to get up close to the food to add last-minute additions and allows users to safely retrieve dishes without risk of getting burns.
    The built-in oven features a sliding door designed to “disappear” in one swift motion via a rotating handle. It comes in stainless steel or graphite grey with the option of adding steam functions, eco-clean, touch screen displays or be linked with Neff Home Connect app, which enables users to control home appliances remotely via voice commands.
    “It’s more than just a technical object, it has a sort of playful component, and it’s simply fun to use,” said Neff vice president of design Ralf Grobleben.
    The design centres around a kitchen island with easily accessible storageThe kitchen features a central island as a contemporary take on a traditional farmhouse kitchen table. The island is equipped with a series of drawers and open shelves where everything is easily accessible.
    The traditional kitchen garden is replaced with a richly planted balcony, designed to be a small but productive space elevated above the city.
    The architects combined high-quality materials including vibrant stained solid timber fronts that contrast with exposed powder-coated steel and stainless steel work surfaces.
    Founded in 1877, Neff develops and produces built-in home appliances for modern kitchens. Its products range from ovens, hobs, extractor hoods to refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers and coffee machines.
    Dezeen x Neff
    This article was written by Dezeen as part of a partnership with Neff. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    Crosby Studio and Zero10 launch fashion pop-up that lets people “try on” virtual clothes

    Design firm Crosby Studios has teamed up with augmented reality technology company Zero10 for a pop-up store in Manhattan that aims to provide a virtual retail experience.

    The pop-up, which is located in Manhattan’s SoHo neighbourhood, lets visitors digitally try on a selection of outfits in interiors designed by local studio Crosby Studios.
    Crosby Studio designed a store oriented around AR fashion technologyThe physical space of the pop-up was designed to complement the augmented reality (AR) experience and be a “physical entrance into the metaverse”, according to the team.
    “This is my first experience working with digital clothes and rather than try to blend the digital with the physical — to soften the virtual reality aspect of it if you will — I instead sought to celebrate the digital nature of the collection,” said Crosby studio founder Harry Nuriev.
    The interiors are covered with a pixelated designThe facade of the store features a classic pillared SoHo storefront painted over with grey-and-white checkers to suggest the integration of the physical and virtual.

    Visitors enter the space into a stark-white antechamber that leads into a hallway covered with a checkered fluorescent “pixel” pattern that features in many of Crosby Studios’ designs.
    The entrance hallway leads to a large lounge areaOn one side of this hallway is a bar area where the team provides boba tea to visitors.
    At the end of the hallway is a large lounge area with booths lining the walls, as well as plush stools and cocktail tables. The same pixelated pattern continues in almost every aspect of this room, and ceiling tiles have even been removed to suggest the pattern.
    The space is geared towards the digital fashion experienceFrom here, visitors can enter “changing rooms” equipped with QR codes that streamline the digital retail experience.
    A digital-only fashion collection featuring five different was also developed by Crosby Studios together with Zero10.
    The space has no physical clothingVisitors try the clothes on by downloading an app on their smartphones and then point the phone at themselves in the mirror to see how the clothes would look on them, or at another person to project the clothes onto them.
    The collection features a series of glossy, futuristic outfits that change size depending on the body type of the wearer.

    Crosby Studios designs virtual sofa upholstered with green Nike jackets

    The goal of the project was to make consumers more comfortable with digital fashion by integrating it with the familiar routine of visiting a physical storefront, according to the team.
    “Our project with Crosby Studios is a showcase of how the design and technology could co-exist in both physical and digital worlds that merge more and more,” said Zero10 CEO George Yashin.
    Changing rooms with QR codes allow visitors to “try on” the clothing”We wanted to create a new concept of pop-up space responding to retailers’ needs to attract a new generation of consumers but also evolving the format of pop-ups that are not about product display any longer,” said Yashin.
    Crosby Studios is based in New York City. Other of its design projects include a couch upholstered with Nike jackets and an apartment with industrial details and purple couches created for the founder.
    The images are courtesy of Crosby Studios.
    The pop-up is open to visit from 7 to 18 September in SoHo. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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    Middlesex University spotlights 12 interior design and architecture projects

    Dezeen School Shows: an animal therapy support centre that aims to benefit people’s mental and physical health and a scheme that converts empty high street shops feature in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at Middlesex University.

    Also included is a “Gamer Station” and a safe house for survivors of domestic abuse.

    Institution: Middlesex UniversityCourses: BA Interior Architecture, BA Interior Design and MA InteriorsTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House, Gavin Challand, Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Jason Scoot and David Fern
    School statement:
    “At Middlesex University we run two undergraduate programmes and one postgraduate programme dedicated to studying the richly variant inscape.

    “Interior Architecture operates within the existing architectural fabric and context, remodelling space through architectural intervention, and questioning the idea of interiority relative to a variety of scales – from rooms to buildings and cities.
    “The programme speculates on the possible futures for buildings and environments that have reached the end of their current lifespan.
    “Interior Design is concerned with the creation of new interiors that are inserted or installed into existing buildings or other places, relatively independent of their site contexts, for short-term use. Design projects may therefore be generic and applied to many different sites.
    “MA Interiors continues to challenge and redefine what constitutes the ‘interior’.
    “The programme places emphasis on processing a personal design approach based on individual interests, through the compilation of three portfolio volumes of analysis and project development.
    “Common to all three programmes is the importance we place on intertwining theory and practice and the obligation, in this social media age, to prioritise real sensory human experience in the place-making process.
    “Although student achievement is predominantly assessed against individually produced outputs, we acknowledge that designing interiors in practice is inevitably interdisciplinary – often crossing the domains of humanities, cultural studies, history, philosophy, psychology and anthropology.”

    Communal Scape by Yinjun Shen
    “Communal Scape is a development strategy that looks at reintroducing public space within commercial environments to help unlock new high street typologies.
    “This idea considers a new approach to rebuild inner London high streets using communal spaces, reserved typically for private gated developments, to become new territories that cut into and weave under existing buildings, creating new hybrid shopping, working and social spaces.
    “This newfound common ground helps to re-establish place, cater for new ways to engage with the high street and develop new mechanisms that encourage connectivity in an ever-growing space crisis.”
    Student: Yinjun ShenCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: muyunfengliu[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern

    House of Soul by Ieva Karaliute
    “House of Soul is a proposed community centre that celebrates diversity and gives people a platform to have a voice within their own community.
    “Through careful design decisions and adaptive reuse strategies in the existing Elephant House in Camden, the project explores the importance of performance, collaboration and skills exchange.
    “The project involved designing spaces focused on their needs for inhabitation and rehabilitation.”
    Student: Ieva KaraliuteCourse: BA Interior ArchitectureEmail: sigurna[at]gmail.comTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Okuvlig by Irma Signe Linnea Vesterlund
    “Okuvlig means something or someone who cannot be subjugated, controlled or restrained. The project aims to give voice to the survivors of human rights violations.
    “These survivors are offered a safe space to live and re-integrate with society – a space that is inviting and warm and encourages them to be bold and independent.
    “The project involves transforming an existing building in Camden to create an open public space with private areas, which creates new connections between the survivors and the wider community.”
    Student: Irma Signe Linnea VesterlundCourse: BA Interior ArchitectureEmail: irma.westerlund[at]outlook.comTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Salvage Community Centre by Daryna Chobitko
    “The project presents a salvage community centre run by volunteers in an existing building on the Regent’s Canal in London.
    “The main adaptive strategy is to reinstate the building as a wharf – as it was when it was built – to use the canal to transport goods in a sustainable way.
    “The programme provides spaces to process and consume salvaged food and workshops that collect and rework salvaged building materials, to produce sustainable temporary structures for events.”
    Student: Daryna ChobitkoCourse: BA Interior ArchitectureEmail: chobitkodaria[at]mail.ruTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Revolut Bank by Alexandra Stroe
    “Today the world is confronted with inflation, energy crises and wars that are creating a domino effect that is influencing the world’s economy.
    “To be prepared for these kinds of events, the financial system should offer more support about money knowledge.
    “This project takes Revolut as a bank that is shaking up the norm and builds a space where users can gain knowledge and build strong connections within the financial community.
    “It is a space where people will be informed and trained to deal with challenging times, in order to better manage their money.”
    Student: Alexandra StroeCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: alexandra.elena_stroe[at]yahoo.comTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    A Fitness Hotel by Andrea Pereira
    “My project is a space designed to gently encourage physical and mental fitness. The space takes people in as a place to stay and encourages the idea of a healthy lifestyle.
    “The design will mainly be focused on expressing unintentional forms of fitness so that the guests can use the space without feeling too overwhelmed.
    “The idea is to gently introduce them to a healthy lifestyle, making them realise that it is not as hard as they thought to change their bad habits.”
    Student: Andrea PereiraCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: andreape[at]hotmail.co.ukTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    The Gamer Station by Ieva Marija Eid
    “The online gaming world is becoming a competitive sport. However, a lingering disconnection can be present between professional gamers, fans and undertakers of esports.
    “The Gamer Station is a facility open 24/7 where professional gamers, fans and the esports entourage can go. It creates an original space where like-minded people can come together and celebrate the digital joy of esports.
    “The space requires a new design language to reconcile the physical/digital divide.”
    Student: Ieva Marija EidCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: ee389[at]live.mdx.ac.ukTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Calan Women’s Safe House and Cafe by Emily Marzocchi
    “This project aims to contain all the parts of the rehabilitation process in one structure. Responding from the ‘first rescue’ to a rehabilitation process through a long-stay use of the facility, ending with the reintegration of the guests back into society.
    “The facility is designed like a retreat rather than a clinical environment. The key design trait is the adaptability and movability of the space that empowers the guests, allowing them to comfortably find their own personal way to heal.”
    Student: Emily MarzocchiCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: em1065[at]ive.mdx.ac.ukTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Off Space by Miranda Cela
    “Off Space is a project that aims to introduce new working, making and learning environments inspired by how the public now work and engage with the high street following the Covid-19 pandemic.
    “The strategy uses existing redundant shops and inserts new access points to upper levels where it enables both private and shared spaces to co-exist.
    “Connections and proximity are promoted via communal and independent spaces that reintroduce psychological and physical connections lost through the pandemic.
    “It promotes visual and physical experiences via a variety of geometric, transparent volumes on multiple levels and trajectories, enabling a variety of different uses that help reinvigorate the high street.”
    Student: Miranda CelaCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: mirandacela03[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern

    Farm Therapy by Nigar Hasanzade
    “Farm Therapy is a project that looks at new ways in which local communities can cope with mental and physical health conditions via an animal therapy support focus centre.
    “It provides a social sanctuary for both rescue animals and people to escape and seek support following diagnoses.
    “Four key services are proposed – a veterinary clinic, formal and informal therapy spaces and a city farm.
    “Fields and grazing paths enable the animals to interact with each visitor, creating a health service that seeks to provide support through alternative, qualitative interaction.”
    Student: Nigar HasanzadeCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: nhasanzadehh[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern

    The midnight furnace by Seongmin Kim
    “The project aims to turn an existing carwash building into a public bathhouse for night workers.
    “The idea of taking care and using water to cleanse and transform is shifted from cars to night workers, a very niche and often neglected category.
    “Using adaptive reuse strategies, the key elements of this building were retained and a new public space connecting internal and external activities and spaces was inserted.
    “The act of cleansing, which already existed in this building, is transformed into a sequence of spaces where night workers can find their own identity, heal and socialise.”
    Student: Seongmin KimCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: seongmin93uk[at]gmail.comTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Life Pods by Burak Ozturk
    “My project seeks to address responsibly in food consumption in relation to sustainability, health, community and the environment.
    “Life Pods provides at a new supermarket typology that uses current technologies in vertical farming to co-produce food locally.
    “The ambition is to introduce a new offer, one that helps reduce product carbon footprint via cooperating with local and existing supermarket supply chains, tackle obesity and nurture new, healthier ways to eat.
    “The design is powered by innovative methods of harvesting energy and resources through solar and rainwater capture.”
    Student: Burak OzturkCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: arch.burak.ozturk[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern
    Partnership content
    This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Middlesex University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    in Rooms

    Matteo Thun draws on Czech art heritage for design of The Julius Prague

    Italian architect Matteo Thun looked to the work of Czech artists Alphonse Mucha and František Kupka for the interior design of this Prague hotel, which features pastel colours and natural materials.

    Located in an art deco building in the city centre, The Julius Prague has apartment suites with kitchenettes as well as smaller hotel rooms that were designed to have the feel of a home-away-from-home.
    Matteo Thun used soft colours for the guest rooms at The Julius Prague”In exploring new forms of living, we had to think about how to create that home-away-from-home feeling – providing privacy and independence, whilst also offering flexible communal spaces such as co-working areas, meeting rooms, and open lounges,” Thun told Dezeen.
    “The rooms are designed as apartments, and the public areas are conceived as an extension of the rooms.”
    Rooms overlook a central courtyardThe interior design of the colourful hotel was influenced by the way in which Czech Art Noveau painter Alphonse Mucha and Czech abstract painter František Kupka used colours.

    Mucha’s soft, pastel hues were used for the guest rooms, many of which overlook a central courtyard with a light-filled conservatory, while Thun looked to Kupka’s brighter colour palette for the communal areas.
    The hotel’s lighting was informed by bohemian glass work”Inspired by Mucha’s work, we selected a pared-back palette and pastel hues for the guest rooms, working with natural materials and soft textiles to create a calming and welcoming atmosphere,” Thun said.
    “Meanwhile in the communal areas we chose a more vibrant colour palette, drawing on Kupka’s abstract pieces, for a more energetic atmosphere,” he added.
    “For lighting, we were inspired by the bohemian art glass work, emitting a warm ambient glow.”
    More vibrant colours were used in the communal areasTactile natural materials were used throughout the hotel, including in the bathrooms, which are clad in a striking marble-effect ceramic tile.
    “We used ceramic tiles with a marble effect from a leading Italian tile producer for the floorings of the public areas and the kitchens and bathrooms of the residences,” Thun said.

    Matteo Thun and HDR Germany create new wing with “hotel-like” patient rooms for Waldkliniken Eisenberg hospital

    “We love to work with natural materials and have used oak-flooring for the serviced residences, featuring spacious living environments with open kitchen and generous smart-working spaces,” he added.
    “Throughout The Julius, custom-made furniture and pieces ensure every space arouses curiosity.”
    Bathrooms were clad in ceramic tiles with a marble effectThe Julius Prague is the first hotel from the Julius Meinl family, a gourmet-food retailer and manufacturer based in Vienna that Thun has previously worked with.
    “We have enjoyed a rewarding relationship over the last 15 years and their flair continues to be invaluable in channelling design towards authentic, novel and inspirational projects,” Thun said.
    The hotel was designed as a “home-away-from-home””In this case we have contributed our experience to their first hospitality project, designing a timeless scheme in tune with new expectations: a contextually aware nomadic way of living,” he added.
    Other recent projects in Prague include a pop-up market with a turquoise scaffolding design and a spa with curved-cement walls and glass detailing.
    The photography is by Gionata Xerra.

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