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    Studio Tarea creates “90s fever dream” inside pink Richmond eatery

    Pink walls, carpet and upholstery define this intimate restaurant and cocktail bar in Richmond, Virginia, designed by locally based Studio Tarea.

    Pink Room was created in a former studio apartment, transformed into what Studio Tarea describes as “a 90s fever dream where you can have a cocktail made from concrete”.
    A studio apartment was transformed to create the compact Pink RoomThe team renovated the space for chef Brittanny Anderson, creating an 18-seat restaurant in which she can cook a weekly updated menu while conversing with her guests.
    “Between the short timeline, the tiny footprint, and the client’s vision of bright colors and funky textures, it was a test for us,” said studio co-founder Nolan Beck Rivera.
    The restaurant’s large windows are veiled with silver-bead curtainsWith partner Cameron Billinghurst, the studio looked to girls’ bedrooms in the 1990s that featured Spice Girls posters and fluffy bedding as primary references.

    The aim was to elevate this nostalgic aesthetic with materials including glass and polished metal to offset the bright colours and plush textures. “We found a nice balance between our modernist tastes and Brittanny’s maximalist vision,” Rivera said.
    Glass and metal tables were chosen to offset the all-pink paletteThick-piled carpet with colour-blocked patterning forms a soft covering across the floor, helping to dampen acoustic echoes
    Across the ceiling, a collage created by artist Monsieur Zohore depicts women in pop culture with food.
    Food is plated and served from a small open kitchen, from which the chef can converse with her guestsFrom the compact kitchen, food is plated and passed to a peninsula with bar seats for four, or served to the five glass and metal tables.
    Two four-tops are positioned in the centre of the room, while three two-tops share a cushioned and upholstered banquette along the wall.
    Several pop-culture references are sprinkled throughout the interiorLarge windows are veiled in silver-bead curtains that partially conceal the view from the street.
    Smoked polycarbonate sliding doors disguise the powder room, in the apartment’s former bathroom past the kitchen, where a vintage mirror hangs above basin.

    Akin Atelier designs JAM Record Bar to feel like being “inside a giant speaker”

    A trio of polished nickel sconces are mounted on the dining room wall, while three glossy ceramic pendants hang above the peninsula.
    Additional cove and under-shelf lighting glow orange and pink as the evening service draws later, adding to the experience.
    The mood is set by lighting that includes nickel-plated sconces”Part of the experience of eating there is looking around at the unique light fixtures, trying to find the hidden Miss Piggies, spotting pop-culture references,” said Rivera.
    “Obviously Brittanny’s food is the centrepiece, but the interiors really complement it.”
    The apartment bathroom was upgraded to a powder room, which includes a vintage mirrorPink in its many shades is a popular choice for restaurant decor, from Ken Fulk’s pastel-hued Swan in Miami to the bold monochrome JAM Record Bar in Sydney by Akin Atelier.
    Meanwhile, other eateries that have taken a different monochromatic approach include the all-blue Only Love Strangers in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and the buttery yellow San Sabino the West Village.
    The photography is by Nolan Beck Rivera.

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    Seven bathrooms elevated by stylish shower curtains

    Our latest lookbook showcases the myriad of ways shower curtains can create visual impact in bathrooms, from bold pops of colour and pattern to elegant, long drapes that add a sense of serenity.

    Practically, shower curtains provide privacy and prevent water from splashing outside showers and bathtubs, but they are also an opportunity to add decoration to a bathroom interior.
    The examples below showcase how curtains can introduce material variety to the hard, sterile surfaces usually found in bathrooms.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with conversation pits, kitchens with metal details and kitchens with brick floors.
    Photo by Lorenzo ZandriNelson Terrace, UK, by Paolo Cossu Architects

    Neutral-toned curtains were suspended from an elliptical rail over the freestanding bathtub at Nelson Terrace, a Georgian home in north London that local studio Paolo Cossu Architects overhauled.
    The curtains add texture to the muted colour palette in the bathroom and provide an enclosure when using the ceiling-mounted shower head.
    Find out more about Nelson Terrace ›
    Photo by Christoph RokittaBerlin Mitte apartment, Germany, by Atheorem
    Local architect Atheorem updated an apartment in Berlin, creating a wet room with a serene and ethereal quality by adding all-white finishes and minimal fittings.
    A pair of floor-to-ceiling curtains close off the shower area, adding texture to the white material palette and filtering in soft natural light.
    Find out more about Berlin Mitte apartment ›
    Photo by Kensington LeverneEmber Locke, UK, by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré
    Striped shower curtains were chosen to jazz up the bathrooms of the Locke Hotels’ outpost in west London, designed by local studios Atelier Ochre and House of Dré.
    The simple yet striking pattern adds visual interest to the hotel room interiors, which were decorated in a mix of rich, warm tones.
    Find out more about Ember Locke ›
    Photo by JC de MarcosMinimal Fantasy, Spain, by Patricia Bustos Studio
    An iridescent pink shower curtain hangs in the monochromatic Minimal Fantasy apartment in Madrid, which was designed by local interior design practice Patricia Bustos Studio.
    The practice applied 12 shades of pink across the home’s interior, including on the bathroom tiles and sanitary ware.
    Find out more about Minimal Fantasy ›
    Photo by Mariell Lind HansenCanyon House, UK, by Studio Hagen Hall
    For this London home renovation, architecture office Studio Hagen Hall added muted purple curtains against a shower screen in the cork-tiled bathroom.
    The curtains add a sense of privacy and separation between the bathroom and the adjacent bedroom, which was decorated in a complementary dusty pink colour palette.
    Find out more about Canyon House ›
    Photo by Federico CairoliHouse in Cunha, Brazil, by Arquipélago Arquitetos
    Copper piping outlines the shower area and hangs the curtain in this wet room, located in a countryside house in Brazil that was designed by São Paulo studio Arquipélago Arquitetos.
    The metal details complement the home’s earthy material palette, which features straw-coloured bricks from a local pottery studio.
    Find out more about House in Cunha ›
    Photo by French + TyeMo-tel House, UK, by Office S&M
    Local studio Office S&M overhauled a Georgian townhouse in London with bold colours, including a bathroom with bright yellow accents.
    The studio matched the bathroom’s shower curtain to the yellow-painted window frame and colourful grout between the white square tiles.
    Find out more about Mo-tel House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring homes with conversation pits, kitchens with metal details and kitchens with brick floors.

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    White-washed Mondrian Ibiza hotel perches above Cala Llonga bay

    Spanish studios Beades Architects and Cuarto Interior have revived a 1970s hotel property overlooking a bay in Ibiza, using local materials and mid-century furniture to transform its interiors.

    The Mondrian Ibiza is perched on a steep hillside above the beach and turquoise waters of Cala Llonga, on the Balearic Island’s east coast.
    Sculptural furniture forms lounge areas in the Mondrian Ibiza lobby”The building was initially constructed as the first purpose-built hotel in the region in response to the growing number of bohemian tourists on the island,” said the hotel team.
    “Despite the launch of super clubs in many central hotspots, Cala Llonga, with its lush greenery, remained an oasis of slow living and authentic island life.”
    Tonal decor is used throughout the hotel’s communal areasFirst built in 1972, the whitewashed structure steps back as it rises, creating spacious balconies for the front south-facing rooms.

    The Mondrian group collaborated with Beades Architects and Cuarto Interior to reimagine the 154-room resort, which has an unusual layout that operators Ennismore had to rethink.
    In the guest rooms, textured plaster walls provide a backdrop for woven leather headboards”Opposite to most guest journeys that are about getting you up to the roof, for this property you arrive on the higher level and gradually make your way down through the spaces to end up four floors lower on the beach,” Ennismore’s global VP of design Mark Eacott told Dezeen.
    Arrival at the hotel brings guests into a whitewashed reception area on the fourth floor that’s “inspired by the area’s natural caves”.
    Mid-century-style furniture is used in the bedroomsA gallery of contemporary art pieces and ceramics gently slopes down to a niche enveloped in indigo blue, which forms the check-in area.
    A variety of mid-century-style furniture pieces forms lounge areas, while a giant patterned rug leads to the main Sun & Moon bar framed by four chunky rounded columns.
    Sliding windows are angled to face the best viewsApproachable from all sides, the bar counter front is carved with reliefs and inset with circular lights designed to emulate the silver bracelets sold at the island’s markets.
    Guest rooms on the upper levels are arranged either side of a long corridor, and oriented at an angle so that their sliding windows face the best views and balconies don’t overlook the neighbours.
    Guest room balconies offer private spaces to relax outdoorsIn the guest rooms, the decor continues the Mondrian’s neutral scheme while incorporating accents like woven leather headboards and textured linen curtains.
    Slatted wood cabinets are designed to evoke the fisherman’s dry docks found on the coves and beaches across the island.
    The white-washed building stands in contrast to the verdant surrounding hillsMondrian Ibiza is connected to a sister property, Hyde Ibiza, and shares several common facilities across the lower terraces.
    These include a swimming pool, bar and lounge area, while another pool is reserved for Mondrian guests – both surrounded by cabana beds.

    The Standard designs island hotel to reference “golden age of Ibiza”

    Between the two hotels, guests have access to seven restaurants and bars, including Mexican eatery Cuyo on the Hyde’s upper terrace, and a Japanese dining experience called Nico on the Mondrian’s third floor.
    For casual fare during the day, the poolside Bungalow bar and grill offers bites and cocktails in a tropical-themed space that spills outdoors.
    Mondrian Ibiza shares a main pool area with sister property Hyde IbizaArt placed throughout the hotel is curated by London-based collective Gone Rogue, and includes resin sculptures by Corine van Voorbergen in the lobby.
    “The hotel bears all the aesthetic hallmarks of a Mondrian, yet there is a softness, and an element of movement conveyed through structural curves, organic shapes and sculptural fluidity that speaks to the island,” Eacott said.
    The hotel occupies a renovated 1970s property that was one of the first in the areaIbiza offers a wealth of options for tourists looking for a relaxing getaway, as well as those arriving to enjoy the famed nightlife.
    In Ibiza town, the Montesol Experimental and The Standard hotels cater to a younger crowd, while countryside retreats like Aguamadera and Campo Atelier provide guests with a slower pace.

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    Patricia Urquiola and Keiji Ashizawa among judges to decide Dezeen Awards 2024 winners

    Eighteen leading architects and designers met this week to decide the winners of Dezeen Awards 2024, which will be revealed at the Dezeen Awards 2024 party in November.

    The Dezeen Awards master jury took place at the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel in London and included architect Keiji Ashizawa and designers Patricia Urquiola and Lee Broom.
    Designers Peter Mabeo and Pilar Zeta, as well as interior designer Claudia Afshar and architect Alexandra Hagen also joined to finalise the 46 award winners.
    A dedicated panel of industry experts including Mina Hasman and Pooran Desai met to determine the winner of the Bentley Lighthouse Award, a special award supported by Bentley 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 Dezeen Awards 2024 party in London with shortlist announcements made in October. Guests at the party will be the first to find out who has won the prestigious project of the year awards across architecture, interiors, design and sustainability.
    Also unveiled at the ceremony will be this year’s Designers of the Year, where we asked readers to put forward designers for consideration who have been finally shortlisted and selected by Dezeen’s editorial team.
    White Arkitekter CEO Alexandra Hagen was on the architecture master jury panelThe master jury discussed 225 shortlisted entries selected from 4,000 projects from just under 100 countries around the globe.
    Joining Ashizawa and Hagen on the architecture master jury panel were Saudi-based architect Sumaya Dabbagh, Spacon & X co-founder Nikoline Dyrup Carlsen and Reddymade founder Suchi Reddy.
    Hagen was joined by Japanese architect Keiji Ashizawa”Design is a powerful tool to achieve change and it’s clear much of the creativity in architecture today is directed towards building more sustainable societies,” said Hagen.
    “It gives me hope for the future.”
    Patricia Urquiola was one of the master jury judgesUrquiola and Afshar were joined by Carolina Maluhy + Partners founder Carolina Maluhy, and Bentley head of design collaborations Chris Cooke.
    On judging the interiors winners, Urquiola remarked “we were all connected to interior design but with very different perspectives”.
    “Yet, in the end, there was a shared sensitivity”, she continued, “it confirmed that we are a community with diverse ways of exploring, driven by a shared vision, even where our approaches differ.”
    Lee Broom discussing a design project with Pilar ZetaBritish industrial designer Tej Chauhan, who was part of the panel to decide the winners of the design categories, concurred.
    “Evaluating the unique sensitivities of each was incredibly interesting,” he said. “While our perspectives differed at times, we all came to a joint decision on very deserving winners.”
    “A really enjoyable day of judging”
    Chauhan continued, “we had to wrap our minds around some exceptional projects across a wide range of sectors. It was a really enjoyable day of judging projects that ultimately left us feeling nourished and inspired.”
    Deliberating alongside Chauhan to decide the winners of the design categories were Broom, Mabeo and Zeta and Parisian designer Inga Sempé.
    Botswana-based designer Peter Mabeo joined the design master jury panelHenrik Taudorf Lorensen, founder and CEO of Copenhagen-based furniture design studio Takt, and Malin Orebäck, design strategist and senior advisor at the Research Institutes of Sweden’s (RISE) Circular Business Lab, were on the sustainability panel alongside Hasman and Desai.
    “The imagination this year’s entries embody is truly an inspiration,” said Desai.
    “It is exactly what we need to put our society back on a track to build a better world for us all.”
    Dezeen Awards judge Alessio Nardi and Human Nature chief impact officer Joanna Yarrow, joined for dinnerFollowing the day of judging, an exclusive drinks reception and 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 the Dezeen Awards community including judges past and present.
    These included product designer Jasper Morrison, Design, Bitches co-founder Rebecca Rudolph and multidisciplinary designer Bethan Laura Wood.
    Dezeen Awards winners’ party tickets on sale
    Following the shortlist announcements in October, the next big date in the Dezeen Awards calendar is the pinnacle of this year’s programme – the Dezeen Awards winners’ party, which will take place on Tuesday 26 November at Hackney Church in London.
    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. We also invite the wider architecture and design community to join us for this special occasion.
    Guests will be treated to a night of drinks, food, live entertainment and music, and Dezeen Awards winners will be able to collect their trophies and certificates on stage.
    Tickets are available at a 20 per cent discounted rate of £216 for all studios that entered this year’s Dezeen Awards, and £270 for everyone else. Plus, save an additional 10 per cent on the standard ticket price when you book a package of five or more tickets. Subscribe to the Dezeen Awards newsletter to keep up to date with the latest announcements on the party.
    The photography is by Mark Cocksedge.
    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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    Schemata Architects transforms 145-year-old townhouse into Le Labo flagship

    Tokyo studio Schemata Architects has combined Japanese and Western designs inside a traditional wooden townhouse in Kyoto to create a store for perfumery brand Le Labo.

    The building, otherwise known as a machiya, is located in the Kiyamachi area and has been revamped to incorporate Le Labo’s typical finishes while respecting its 145-year-old architecture.
    The flagship store is located in an old Kyoto townhouse”How can a brand born and loved in the USA, a country with a culture of shoes-on, be in step with the values of traditional Japanese architecture, a culture of shoes-off, and blend in with Japanese culture?” Schemata Architects founder Jo Nagasaka told Dezeen.
    “The project was a struggle between the two.”
    Schemata Architects’ design respects the original interiorLe Labo stores are normally located in pared-back modern concrete buildings, but here, Schemata Architects kept the feel of the old townhouse, while making concessions for Western customs.

    “We were discussing all the time how much of the existing weathered textures should be retained,” Nagasaka said.
    A craftsman room is located on the second floorThe first floor, which showcases the brand’s products, feels more like other Le Labo stores, while the second, which houses offices, a craftsman room and a “fragrance organ”, has a more traditional feel.
    “The first floor was furnished as a place to spend time standing up with shoes on, and products were displayed,” Nagasaka said.
    “The second floor, on the other hand, was designed as a place to go up without shoes due to the height of the floor and the structure of the floor, so it consists mainly of low furniture.”
    Antique and vintage furniture is used throughoutAs the store is located in an ancient city – Kyoto has been a city since 794 – Schemata Architects wanted the interior fittings to adhere to the traditional style of a machiya.
    “The countertops, wall shelves, staircase, and other architectural elements are composed using the language of the machiya, and the paint scheme is consistent with the existing one, using antique colours of bengara, red earth pigment, and shown, pine soot,” the studio said.
    Schemata Architects designed a pine staircase for the interiorThe studio has used mostly antique Japanese furniture pieces for the display cases and vintage Western metal lamps for the lighting design.
    Schemata Architects also designed a staircase and shelving in pine wood for the interior, dying them to match the building’s existing structures.

    Schemata Architects clads Komaeyu bathhouse in “patchwork” of turquoise tiles

    “We wanted the staircase and shelves to be as close to the existing structure as possible, so we applied an ‘old colour paint’ over the common type of wood, the same as is applied to the existing structure,” Nagasaka said.
    “Old colour paint is a colour-controlled mixture of persimmon tannin and soot of burnt pine.”
    Walls are left bare with products displayed on pine shelvesThe store, which also has a cafe in an adjacent building across a small courtyard, now embodies the “spirit of Le Labo,” according to Schemata Architects.
    “By carefully connecting and blending the machiya building with new fixtures, furniture, and products, it embodies the spirit of Le Labo, which treats time, age, craftsmanship, handiwork, and textures with great care,” the studio concluded.
    Other recent projects by Schemata Architects include a concrete-and-brick gallery in Seoul and a public bathhouse clad in turquoise tiles.
    The photography is courtesy of Le Labo.

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    22RE takes “deconstructivist” approach to menswear store in LA

    Los Angeles-based studio 22RE has combined metal grids, black and mirrored surfaces, and bold splashes of colour inside this men’s multi-brand boutique in the city’s Arts District.

    The second Departamento location is situated in the Signal retail enclave, which occupies a series of warehouses southeast of Downtown LA.
    The Departamento store features custom elements like a green fibreglass and resin jewellery displayUsing the building’s industrial bones to inform design decisions, 22RE took styling sensibilities of 20th-century modernists like Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra.
    “Inside, 22RE leans into the original architecture’s industrial elements through a deconstructivist lens,” said the studio.
    From inside a coffee shop, visitors pass through a concealed entrance and a mirrored portal to access the storeThe store’s entrance is concealed inside a Concierge Coffee, leading to a mirrored portal that opens onto the shop floor.

    While the layout follows a typical grid, the designers have inserted a variety of partitions, volumes and displays that “disrupt” the flow and encourage shoppers to explore.
    A triangular niche with mirrored walls creates infinite reflections”This non-linear layout challenges the traditional browsing experience and provides an unconventional yet effective approach to shopping,” said 22RE.
    A pair of curved metal-clad walls that evoke a Richard Serra sculpture form a narrow corridor from one area to another, while also displaying garments on their concave sides.
    Partitions and volumes are strategically placed to frame views and encourage explorationBlackened wood panels form an enclosed space, inside which bright white walls and repurposed wooden framing contrast dramatically with the rest of the store interior.
    “The space, entered via a slatted, sliding door, invites guests to experience the collection in a ryokan-inspired setting, evoking the traditional Japanese inn,” said 22RE.
    A red cylindrical element acts a fitting roomThis shop-in-shop was designed in collaboration with fashion brand Taiga Takahashi, and also features shelving made from tatami mats and flooring intended to resemble pebble stones.
    Another triangular niche features mirrored walls that create infinite reflections of the apparel and the aubergine-coloured carpet on the floor.

    22RE invokes “stillness” inside green Miami golfing boutique

    “Collections are hung and displayed via monolithic and sculpturesque forms that divide up the space, creating a fluid but juxtaposing dichotomy between the heavier wood forms and the lighter metallic elements,” 22RE said.
    A red cylindrical volume is used as a fitting room, while further dressing areas are tucked away behind silver curtains.
    22RE collaborated with Taiga Takahashi on a blackened wood shop-in-shop spaceCustom elements include a green fibreglass resin-and-foam jewellery case and a chiselled aluminium side table.
    A white aluminium ceiling grid stretches across the entire store, extending over all of the freestanding elements, with lighting embedded behind creating futuristic glowing patches.
    Influenced by Japanese ryokan inns, the space features white walls and repurposed timber framing22RE was founded by principal Dean Levin in 2021, and has since completed a range of interior design projects across the US.
    The studio recently wrapped up the offices for a creative music agency in LA that include a 1970s-style sunken meeting room and a golf clothing boutique in Miami lined with pale-green stucco.
    The photography is by Erik Stackpole Undehn.

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    Eight characterful kitchens with sleek metal details

    Our latest lookbook focuses on eight homes fitted with metal kitchens, from a flat in London informed by fish-and-chip shops to a 19th-century apartment with period details in Paris.

    While stainless steel has long been a material associated with restaurant kitchens due to its durability and functionality, it can bring a sleek, modern feel to residential kitchens and many now opt to integrate metal kitchens into their homes.
    Here, we spotlight eight homes that make use of metal in residential kitchens in various ways.
    Included in this collection of projects is a fish-and-chip-shop-inspired kitchen in London, a live-work apartment space in a brutalist building in Quebec City and a 24-square-metre micro apartment in Melbourne.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring conversation pits, living rooms with autumnal hints of red and orange and members’ clubs with lavish interiors.

    Photo is by Edmund DabneyHighbury apartment, UK, by Holloway Li
    Local studio Holloway Li renovated this apartment set in a converted Victorian house in north London, creating a single-storey home with an open-plan layout for its co-founder Alex Holloway.
    Designed to reference materials found in London’s many fast food outlets and fish and chip shops, its custom-built kitchen was clad in circle-brushed stainless steel with a curved splashback.
    Find out more about the Highbury apartment ›
    Photo by Maryse Béland, Maxime Brouillet and Antoine MichelBrutalist apartment, Canada, by Jean Verville
    Metal surfaces were juxtaposed against bright yellow wall lamps within this live-work apartment space that architect Jean Verville designed for himself as a “creative laboratory” inside a residential tower in Quebec City.
    Stainless-steel commercial restaurant furniture was used for the kitchen, blending in with the raw concrete walls of the 1970s brutalist building.
    Find out more about the brutalist apartment ›
    Photo is by French + TyeTrellick Tower apartment, UK, by Archmongers
    Surfaces and fixtures made from industrial-style materials were paired with newly exposed concrete aggregate walls in this home renovation by London studio Archmongers in North Kensington’s Trellick Tower.
    In the kitchen, speckled brown and cream terrazzo was incorporated alongside brushed stainless steel counters, white cabinets and matt-black linoleum flooring.
    Find out more about the Trellick Tower apartment ›
    Photo is by Giulio GhirardiHaussmann-era apartment, France, by Rodolphe Parente
    Set within a 19th-century Parisian apartment, French interior designer Rodolphe Parente balanced cabinet finishes of stainless steel and pastel pink with a frame-like marble splashback for the kitchen.
    During the overhaul of the Haussmann-era apartment, Parante set out to preserve and restore some of the classic features while improving the sense of flow by connecting the dining room with the kitchen.
    Find out more about the Haussmann-era apartment ›
    Photo is by Félix Dol MaillotUnivers Uchronia, France, by Uchronia
    Named Univers Uchronia, this eclectic Paris apartment was designed by Uchronia founder Julien Sebban as his home, intended to be an extension of his studio – known for its bold application of shape, colour and reflective surfaces.
    A metallic island was incorporated in the open-plan kitchen, topped with a blobby seaweed-shaped table lamp, alongside an array of contrasting materials and colours.
    Find out more about Univers Uchronia ›
    Photo is by Yevhenii AvramenkoStalinist-era apartment, Ukraine, by Mirzoyan Studio
    Partition shelves and built-in furniture were used to distinguish open-plan spaces in Ukrainian architecture practice Mirzoyan Studio’s renovation of this Stalinist-era flat in the historic centre of Kyiv.
    Fitted in the corner of the open-plan living and dining room, the cabinets and countertops in the primary working area of the kitchen were finished in polished stainless steel.
    Find out more about the Stalinist-era flat ›
    Photo is by Pier Carthew Kerr, Australia, by SSdH
    Metal surfaces were combined with wooden cabinetry in this mezzanine-style apartment by local studio SSdH, located in a warehouse building in Melbourne that once housed a chocolate factory.
    Part of an open-plan living space, the kitchen was fitted with geometric cabinetry made from local spotted gum timber, as well as brushed stainless steel and nickel fixtures.
    Find out more about Kerr ›
    Photo is by Peter Bennetts Microloft, Australia, by Studio Edwards
    Australian architecture practice Studio Edwards remodelled this 24-square-metre micro apartment on the top floor of a 1980s apartment block in Melbourne.
    A horizontal raw aluminium surface was used for the angled wedge-shaped countertops in both the kitchen and dining area, designed to seamlessly merge the two spaces.
    Find out more about Microloft ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring conversation pits, living rooms with autumnal hints of red and orange and members’ clubs with lavish interiors.

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    FMA creates flexible offices within former Mexican convent

    A meditation room and an outdoor work area are available to employees at this office in Mexico, which was remodelled by architecture firm FMA within a 17th-century convent.

    The GO Headquarters is located in the historic centre of Morelia, a city in the state of Michoacán, and is arranged around a cloister at the heart of the building.
    The GO Headquarters takes advantage of a cloister space that is used as an outdoor work and dining areaThis central courtyard offers employees a space to work or relax outside, while surrounded by five planters with orange trees set against the old stonework.
    “The primary challenge of the project was to honor the original architectural elements of the building while maximizing available space,” said FMA founder Francisco Méndez.
    A coffee bar wrapped in clay tiles anchors a space for employees to relax”Moreover, careful recognition of the alterations that the convent had undergone over time was needed, distinguishing between those that were appropriate and those that were not,” he added.

    All of the interior office space is on the level above, accessed from the main entrance via the courtyard and a stairwell.
    Larger rooms feature long conference tables for desk-style workingOn this upper floor, interconnected rooms open onto the colonnaded central space overlooking the verdant enclosed garden below.
    “Moving upstairs, the work areas were conceived as living spaces with a disruptive approach,” said Méndez. “While the architectural program remains straightforward, the diversity and multifunctionality of each area are striking.”
    A variety of clay elements made by local artisans are incorporated throughout the officesLarger rooms accommodate long oak tables that offer more traditional desk-style workspace and meeting areas.
    Meanwhile, a library with lounge furniture and a large shelving system the covers a full wall acts as both a reception and a casual work area.
    A library has a full wall of display shelving and casual furnitureAnother room features a horseshoe-shaped coffee bar fronted with clay tiles and a wooden ping-pong table, where team members can gather and socialise.
    There’s also a dedicated meditation room, nicknamed “the nest”, which acoustically optimised with oak panelling and a padded floor for comfort.

    RootStudio transforms former Oaxaca convent into culinary centre

    “This tranquil space is dedicated to introspection, providing a sanctuary for individuals to rejuvenate their minds and break away from routine, thus emphasising the significance of mental and physical well-being, ultimately enhancing the quality of life and productivity of workers,” Méndez said.
    Throughout the building, lighting was upgraded to an intelligent system that adjusts according to the circadian cycle and saves energy.
    Sand-coloured plaster walls and white oak stave flooring complement the historic buildingMaterials including sand-hued plaster walls, white oak stave flooring, and furniture in warm, earthy tones complements the existing building’s palette.
    Clay lamps, planters and decorative objects crafted by artisans from Michoacán are also incorporated.
    “An emphasis was placed on natural and regional finishes to sustain a sense of warmth and harmony within the project, as well as to support local artisans and commerce,” said the architect.
    Employees have access to a meditation room lined with white oak panelsCompanies and organisations across Mexico are finding a variety of new uses for abandoned or unused convent buildings.
    In Oaxaca, RootStudio converted a historic building into a centre for celebrating the rich culinary legacy of the region – earning the project a spot of the Heritage Project shortlist for the 2023 Dezeen Awards.
    The photography is by César Belio.

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