Markus Andrews

More stories

  • 150 Shares159 Views

    in Rooms

    Tabitha Isobel completes “warm and inviting” Regent Street store for Carl Friedrik

    Interiors studio Tabitha Isobel has designed a gallery-like store in central London for luxury luggage brand Carl Friedrik, featuring a rich and inviting palette comprising dark wood, metal and draped fabrics.

    Carl Friedrik approached studio founder Tabitha Organ to design the company’s first physical store, located in a Grade-II listed building on Regent Street just off Piccadilly Circus.
    Tabitha Isobel has designed Carl Friedrik’s Regent Street storeOrgan and her team developed a scheme for the 65-square-metre space that references the pared-back look and materiality of the company’s products, which combine heritage details with modern styling.
    “The brand style of Carl Friedrik is quite minimalistic and they wanted that to come across in the interiors,” Organ told Dezeen.
    Drapes provide a theatrical backdrop for the products”The brief was to design a space that emulated an art gallery and concept store whilst also being practical, warm and inviting – a space where the products could take centre stage, be admired and have space to breathe,” she added.

    The building’s listed status meant that only minor alterations could be made to the existing interior, which retained several of its original features including ornate cornicing and rich Versailles oak flooring.
    Lamps by &tradition and display trays by Tiger Nicholson introduce a metallic touchThe previous tenants had painted the walls a cold shade of grey and the space featured shelving in a traditional style that didn’t reflect Carl Friedrik’s more contemporary values.
    Organ chose a lighter, warmer shade for the walls that makes the most of daylight entering through windows on two sides. She also used calico fabric throughout the interior to soften the overall aesthetic and give it a more welcoming feel.
    Due to the short-term nature of the lease on this space, everything in the store was designed to be easily dismantled and reused in an alternative venue if required.

    Tabitha Isobel gives London townhouse a “surprising and bold” makeover

    Drapes hung in front of two of the walls conceal the existing cabinetry and provide a theatrical backdrop for smaller bags and items displayed on aluminium shelves.
    Fabric suspended from the ceiling also surrounds a central column, helping to partition the large space and create a layered effect that draws the customer’s eye through the room.
    Bespoke plinths designed to display larger luggage items are finished in a consistent minimal and monolithic style to ensure attention is focused on the products.
    Midcentury armchairs and a marble coffee table form a small lounge areaThe plinths were made in the north of England by fabricator Studio Tuesday using stained oak or wood lacquered in Carl Friedrik’s brand colour.
    Throughout the store, Tabitha Isobel used aluminium and chrome to introduce reflective accents that catch the eye. The plinths are set on recessed aluminium bases that lighten their visual mass and create a floating effect.
    Brushed aluminium was also used for the base of a custom-made display table featuring an inset panel made from the same chocolate-coloured leather as some of the brand’s products. There are no tills in the store as all orders are taken using handheld devices.
    A Philippi bowl adds further metallic detailsA corner of the space is designated as a cosy lounge area organised around an existing fireplace. It features a woven bench positioned opposite a pair of mid-century armchairs and a marble coffee table chosen to complement the scheme’s material palette.
    Portable lamps by Danish brand &tradition and a bowl by German firm Philippi add further metallic details, while the display trays positioned around the store are made by Organ’s brother Tiger Nicholson, a stonemason based in Henley-on-Thames.
    To enhance the gallery-like feel, artworks including photographs by Daniëlle Siobhán and paintings by Melanie Anne Haynes provide focal points on some of the walls.
    Decorative flowers provide a pop of colourCarl Friedrik’s longer-term vision is to open additional stores that will utilise the same minimalistic style and rich material palette as the Regent Street store.
    Tabitha Organ established her studio in 2023 after a decade of working in the industry for studios including Conran and Partners and Tatjana von Stein.
    The Carl Friedrik store is her first retail project after working predominantly on residences including a London townhouse that combines natural materials with futuristic details.
    The photography is by Daniëlle Siobhán.

    Read more: More

  • 138 Shares99 Views

    in Rooms

    Insulation made of discarded sheep wool used for Argentina guest house

    Local studio DUB Arquitectura has created a metal-clad house called Casa La Escocesa, which features “insulating blankets” made of sheep wool that otherwise would have been incinerated.

    The 150-square-metre project is located on a farm in Argentina’s subtropical Pampas region, which consists of agricultural fields that stretch over flat plains. The building site is surrounded by crops, sheep and polo horses.
    DUB Arquitectura has designed a metal-clad house with insulation made of sheep’s woolLong and rectangular in plan, the building sits atop a platform and is covered with a gabled roof. The house was designed by DUB Arquitectura, a studio based in Buenos Aires, to follow the site conditions and to allow for future expansion.
    The interior is divided into four main areas: a kitchen and dining room, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a multi-purpose attic space. A breezeway lies at the centre of the plan.
    Plywood was used abundantly within the house”The central patio serves as an outdoor distribution hall and a space for meeting and contemplation of the surrounding and eternal landscape,” the team said.

    When choosing the building’s materials, the team opted for low- or no-maintenance options, to minimise the project’s operational energy.
    The insulation thickness varies around the houseFacades are clad in corrugated metal sheets, and plywood was used abundantly within the house.
    Discarded sheep wool was used for insulation, making use of a local product. The team said 4,000 tons of sheep wool are discarded yearly in the province of Buenos Aries.
    Solar panels line the gabled roofThe insulation thickness varies around the house, depending upon the orientation to the sun.
    “The house was used as a case study to implement the first insulating blankets made from discarded wool from this particular region, which is usually burnt,” the team said.

    Five products that use wool in new and unexpected ways

    “Now, the house is measured every season to test the evolution of the material, which is showing great performance.”
    Glazing was minimised in certain areas, yet the home remains filled with natural light. Above the bathroom and the main corridor, the team introduced skylights to reduce reliance on artificial light.
    Special vents provide ventilation in the atticAll rooms feature cross-ventilation and sun protection on windows, including the attic, where special vents provide ventilation during warm months.
    Other projects involving sheep wool include an English sauna by Architects Holiday that has red shingles and insulation made of recycled plastic and wool, and a Chilean house by Team Citic that consists of three gabled volumes with sheep wool insulation.
    The photography is by Fernando Schapochnik.
    Project credits:
    Architect: DUB ArquitecturaArchitect in charge: Angie DubCollaborators: Belén Butler, Tabatha Walter

    Read more: More

  • 113 Shares109 Views

    in Rooms

    Loewe store in Seoul designed as “art collector’s home”

    Spanish fashion house Loewe paid homage to its own craft history in this Seoul store, which features artwork including a multi-level bamboo sculpture and a basket woven entirely from horse hair.

    The store is located in Seoul’s Gangnam district and is the first Casa Loewe branch in South Korea.
    Loewe has opened a new shop in Seoul’s Gangnam districtA gleaming monolithic facade characterises the exterior, covered in handmade ceramic tiles in a verdant shade of green.
    “With tiles crafted in Spain, the facade is a bold volume of colour and texture that sits in dialogue with the store’s urban context and surrounding greenery,” said Loewe.
    Tile-clad plinths and shelving features insideThe interior spans three floors and also features a selection of brown, green and blue tiles, which clad blocky plinths and shelves displaying garments, bags and footwear.

    By incorporating art throughout the store, Loewe aimed to reference its origins as a leather-making collective in the 19th century, as well as nodding to its annual craft prize.
    Eclectic artwork characterises the storeThe collection of pieces includes a multi-level bamboo sculpture by Japanese artist Tanabe Chikuunsai IV. The bamboo was used to form a duo of cylinders resembling tree trunks, which stretch from the ground floor’s central atrium up onto the first floor, where they intertwine.
    Among the other artwork on show is a delicate vessel by 2022 Craft Prize winner Dahye Jeong, who wove an intricate basket out of wispy strands of horse hair.
    The collection includes a multi-level bamboo sculpture by Tanabe Chikuunsai IVAccording to Loewe, the brand conceived the store as “a place where a blend of fashion, art, craft and design furniture creates the eclectic feel of an art collector’s home”.
    Furniture pieces are finished in a selection of materials ranging from custom felt to black walnut and canvas.

    Loewe presents 24 lamps characterised by “unexpected interactions” with light

    Bespoke Loewe leather benches provide seating for trying on shoes, while black terrazzo and burnt wood were used to create tables and podiums respectively.
    Artisanal wool carpets were patterned with abstract interpretations of tapestries by British textile artist John Allen that depict expansive landscapes.
    Wool carpets were finished with abstract interpretations of tapestries by John AllenThe rest of the interior is defined by swathes of concrete that contrast with the eclectic artworks on display, as well as oak, brass and marble accents.
    This May, Mexican ceramicist Andrés Anza was named the seventh winner of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize for her “arresting” human-sized ceramic sculpture. Elsewhere in East Asia, the fashion house recently opened a store in Osaka, Japan, specifically dedicated to the repair and preservation of Loewe leather goods.
    The photography is courtesy of Loewe. 

    Read more: More

  • 125 Shares169 Views

    in Rooms

    R & Company highlights seven “archetypes” of American collectible design

    New York gallery R & Company has curated collectible design work by 55 contemporary artists and designers based throughout the United States.

    The exhibition Objects: USA 2024 is the second instalment in a series of triannual exhibits by the gallery surveying the current state of collectible design practices in the country.
    The show touches on topics such as revived craft traditions, material experimentation, political instability, environmental degradation, and cultural re-appropriation.
    R & Company has showcased 55 designers and artists from across the United States. Works by Dee Clements, Justin Favela, Luam Melake, and Coulter FussellDesigners that represent different generations and backgrounds are on show, including Minjae Kim, Chen Chen and Kai Williams, Roberto Lugo, Katie Stout, and Hugh Hayden.
    “In recent years, collectible design has increasingly entered popular consciousness, in part, thanks to the diversity of individuals embracing handmade processes and propelling them in new directions,” R & Company said.

    “Objects: USA offers an incisive exploration of the formal innovations and conceptual motivations that shape the distinct and varied landscape of today’s object-making.”
    It was organised according to seven “archetypes”. Works by Trey Jones, Nicole McLaughlin, and Kim MupangilaïAccording to the gallery, many of the artists and designers defy easy categorisation and challenge the understood boundaries between art and design.
    The show was guest-curated by writers and historians Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy and Kellie Riggs, who chose to present works thematically through several “archetypes.”
    “After a long period of examining what we believe to be some of the most compelling work being made today, we took on the daunting but exciting task of finding the throughline between 55 unique practices,” Vizcarrondo-Laboy said.
    “What emerged were seven archetypes that provide a dynamic way to explore object-making, not only within this group but also in the future.”
    Designers and artists working across the United States were represented. Works at centre by Brian Oakes, Matthew Szösz, Carl D’Alvia, and Hugh HaydenThe groupings are organised under the headings Truthseekers, Codebreakers, Betatesters, Doomsdayers, Insiders, Keepers and Mediators.
    Showcasing talents that uphold and find new purpose for long-established handicrafts, the Truthseekers section includes pieces by Los Angeles wood artist Nik Gelormino and New Mexico-based ceramicist Lonnie Vigil.
    The exhibition was curated by Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy and Kellie Riggs. Works by Cammie Staros, Ryan Decker, Liam Lee, and Francesca DimattioThe Betatesters grouping presents artists and designers who experiment with these techniques and push the limits of material.
    On view as part of this “archetype” is Houston designer Joyce Lin’s Wood Chair concept, which was created using MDF, epoxy, and oil paint. It shows her ongoing exploration of how the lines between what people think of as natural and artificial can be blurred.
    The Doomsdayers section touches on how talents are addressing today’s political polarisation and dystopian angst.
    The work under this dystopian heading includes Brooklyn-based designer Ryan Decker, who creates graphical works out of materials like fibreglass, resin, and aluminium – like Leaky Bladder – to comment on the rise of technologies like VR and the role video games play in our lives.
    The groupings were chosen to showcase the wide scope of the collectible design world in the US. Works by Minjae Kim and Jolie NgoThe Insiders grouping explores how design can address domestic space and how that impacts the human experience, especially during the lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic. Designers in this category included Hugh Hayden who presents “unexpected interventions” into everyday objects such as cribs.
    Brooklyn-based Congolese-Belgian designer Kim Mupangilaï’s Bina daybed was grouped under the Codebreakers section. It demonstrates how designers incorporate distinct forms from different cultural sources.
    “[Mupangilaï’s] distinct body of furniture is imbued with personal narratives, embracing materials symbolic of her Congolese heritage and childhood in Europe,” R & Company said. “Her elegant, organic forms reveal historical and contemporary complexities of identity and experience as the viewer revels in the details.”
    The Keepers section includes one-off designs, sculptures, and installations by artists and designers that utilise these mediums to explore how people establish cultural and interpersonal connections.
    The Mediator “archetype” highlights designs used to help people negotiate with their surroundings and heritage – such as those by Chicago-based Norman Teague.
    “Norman Teague’s multi-faceted practice [architecture, installation, and object design] is inspired by his Chicago South Side neighbourhood and broader African aesthetics,” R & Company said.
    The works range from futuristic to traditional. Works by Misha Kahn, Venancio Aragon, and Ryan DeckerMade using ebony-finished basswood and leather as well as traditional carving and stitching techniques, the Africana Rocking Chair combines references to both his Western and African upbringings but Teague distils them in a contemporary form.
    Also exhibited as part of the Mediator section, Las Vegas-based artist Justin Favela re-appropriates the piñata as an important symbol of Latinx identity in both still-life paintings and painted life-size objects such as low-rider bikes.
    Bright colours were used for backdrops. Work by Nicki GreenAccording to Riggs, the idea was to use these groupings as a way of highlighting the full complexity of American collectible design and offer fresh insights on how conceptual and self-expressive objects fit in the larger cultural conversation; how these designs can be both functional and used to comment on different aspects of contemporary American society.
    The photography is by Logan Jackson.
    Objects: USA 2024 is on show from 6 September 2024 to 10 January 2025 in New York City. For more exhibitions, talks and fairs in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide. 

    Read more: More

  • 138 Shares169 Views

    in Rooms

    Intervention Architecture hides fold-out furniture behind walls of Florin Court flat

    British studio Intervention Architecture designed bespoke plywood joinery to conceal furniture including a pull-down bed and a collapsible dining table inside this micro apartment in north London.

    The flat is located within Florin Court, a nine-storey art deco building overlooking Charterhouse Square that was designed by Guy Morgan and Partners and built in 1938.
    The 24-square-metre flat at the rear of the building was previously the servant quarters for a larger residence facing the garden at the front.
    Intervention Architecture has designed the interiors for a London micro apartmentIts current owners, a couple of young artists, commissioned Intervention Architecture after seeing images on the studio’s website of another tiny flat it designed in London’s Barbican Estate.
    Similarly to this project, the Barbican flat featured reconfigurable joinery that allowed for optimal use of the compact space.

    “The brief here was to create joinery for lots of storage and to have it all hidden behind doors to make the apartment feel more spacious,” Intervention Architecture founder Anna Parker told Dezeen.
    Furniture in the Florin Court flat is concealed behind built-in joineryA storage wall lining one side of the living area houses a bed that folds down to rest on a moveable bespoke sofa. Shelving above the bedhead provides space for books with built-in reading lights positioned on either side.
    The sofa, which can also be used as a daybed, was built to contain four bespoke flatpack stools. These can be arranged around a dining table that can be broken down and stored within the wall.
    The living area houses a daybed that transforms into a moveable sofa when foldedA focal point of the space is the open shelving that functions as a library along the end wall.
    Here, a recurring arch motif that references the building’s art deco architecture is used to frame the book-filled niches.
    The puzzle-like construction of the shelving was also informed by Florin Court’s claim to fame as the residence of Agatha Christie’s fictional detective Hercule Poirot in the popular ITV television series.
    Open shelving functions as a library with art deco-style arch motifsIntegrated into the storage units in one corner of the room is a study nook featuring a bespoke seat and a built-in drawing board that can be raised and adjusted to provide an ergonomic work surface.
    Joinery throughout the space was constructed using a single material – poplar plywood with a white oiled finish. The floorboards were sanded and given the same treatment to reinforce the cohesive aesthetic.
    “We wanted to retain a sense of calmness and singular surface tone of one natural material in the apartment to create an even tone of light from the one main window opening,” said Parker.
    Joinery was constructed using poplar plywood with a white oiled finishThe ceiling, walls and window frames are painted a simple off-white shade that helps to brighten the space. This hue is complemented by the tactile boucle upholstery chosen for the sofa.
    The room is illuminated by a single bulb above the study area and a central cluster hung at different heights from the ceiling. A pair of matching bedside lamps provides additional task lighting.

    Studio Est adds “brutalist elements” to Battersea Power Station apartment

    While the living area is minimal in its use of colour, the adjoining bathroom and kitchen are saturated in bold hues that introduce an expressive element to the scheme.
    “As the clients are two formidable artists, where the use of colour is intrinsic to their work, we wanted to reference a singular use of two colours in the two spaces ancillary to the main studio,” Parker added.
    The bathroom is clad with blush-pink tiles chosen to evoke a hue that might be found in a 1930s ocean liner. All-white aluminium taps, sanitaryware and a Japanese-style bathtub contribute to the clean and simple aesthetic.
    Blush-pink tiles cover the bathroom, contributing to a clean and simple aestheticThe kitchen is entirely painted in a vibrant shade known as International Klein Blue after the French artist Yves Klein, who used it extensively in his artworks.
    According to Parker, the use of saturated colour creates an “immersive experience” within the tiny two-square-metre space, which manages to squeeze in a hob, oven, dishwasher, fridge, sink, spice rack and concealed bin storage.
    The two-square metre kitchen is painted in International Klein BlueIntervention Architecture was founded by Parker in 2015 and is based in Birmingham, England. The interdisciplinary practice adopts a collaborative approach to its projects, resulting in bespoke solutions with their own unique personality.
    The studio has previously worked on several projects in its home city, including an extension clad in cedar battens and a brick extension featuring arched windows that resemble a colonnade.
    The photography is by Tom Bird.

    Read more: More

  • 150 Shares129 Views

    in Rooms

    Mirzoyan Studio renovates Stalinist-era flat in Kyiv with oak and stainless steel

    Architecture practice Mirzoyan Studio has renovated an apartment in the historic centre of Kyiv, Ukraine, adding reflective surfaces and built-in oak furniture.

    The studio updated the two-bedroom apartment, which is within a Stalinka – a type of building characteristic of the architecture of the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin in the 1930s – to turn it into a rental property.
    Mirzoyan Studio renovated the Stalinist-era flat in KyivMirzoyan Studio founder Nastia Mirzoyan explained that the building’s historical character posed certain structural limitations, requiring “careful planning to avoid compromising its integrity”. To create the rental property, Mirzoyan opened up the apartment, which was originally the client’s family home.
    “To create a more spacious environment, we decided to merge the living room and kitchen into one common area,” explained Mirzoyan.

    A shelving unit divides the kitchen and the living roomThe practice used partition shelves and built-in furniture to seperate the spaces. A wooden shelving unit takes centre stage in the main space, dividing the living room from the kitchen.
    The dining table extends out from the shelving unit towards the kitchen. Cabinets and a countertop finished in polished stainless steel are fixed in the primary working nook of the kitchen.
    The kitchen cabinets and countertop are finished in polished stainless steelNear the entrance, the team installed a full-height mirrored closet, creating a distinct entryway.
    Leftover broken marble was sourced from a local supplier for the flooring of the entryway and the bathroom.

    Ukrainian studios “doing what we can, and sometimes what we can’t” after two years of war

    The studio’s colour choices were influenced by the fact that the apartment is oriented towards the northeast and receives limited natural light.
    “We opted for light and warm background colours to counteract this, creating a brighter and more inviting space,” said Mirzoyan.
    A mirrored closet is installed in the entrywayThe property is dotted with reflective materials such as mirrors and stainless steel, which were chosen to “enhance the perceived depth and brightness”.
    The living room and kitchen are lined with French windows opening into a quiet courtyard.
    A warm and light colour palette is used across the apartmentThe use of materials such as wood and terrazzo across the space is a reference to the building’s heritage, aiming to add a “sense of historical continuity”.
    Mirzoyan’s design philosophy is focused on striving to create “spaces that blend local history with contemporary elements, balancing eclectic decisions to produce environments that feel both timeless and modern”.
    The bathroom floor is covered in broken marbleOwing to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the practice faced significant challenges in completing this project.
    “Sometimes builders simply could not come to the site, and sometimes they came and sat in a shelter for hours,” Mirzoyan told Dezeen. “There were times when construction was halted for months, and the project budget was cut in half.”
    “This experience has reinforced the importance of practical and durable design solutions that can withstand unpredictable conditions.”
    Moreover, Mirzoyan foresees a trend towards “using locally sourced materials and supporting local craftsmen, contributing to the resilience and self-sufficiency of the community”.
    Recently, Mirzoyan Studio also completed a hotel bar in Kyiv’s historic Podil neighbourhood.
    Elsewhere in the city, Modektura has renovated an apartment featuring a balcony-turned-conservatory and Dihome has created a colourful industrial-style interior for a young couple.
    The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

    Read more: More

  • 125 Shares119 Views

    in Rooms

    Snarkitecture overhauls New York law offices using “elevated” stud walls

    Architecture studio Snarkitecture has updated the New York offices of legal firm Jayaram Law, adding elements with wavy cutouts and furniture from a new collection with Made By Choice.

    The overhaul of Jayaram’s 3,800-square-foot (353-square-metre) space in Manhattan’s Flatiron District forms part of the company’s artist residency program and continues a longstanding relationship with Snarkitecture.
    A continuous, wavy wooden edge forms a portal into the Record Room at Jayaram Law’s officesThe studio, founded by artist Daniel Arsham and architect Alex Mustonen, reimagined the offices as a collaborative space for creative work and made multiple interventions to the layout.
    “Our approach was to unify the space and create a layout emphasising openness, flexibility, and scattered moments of reflection and privacy,” said the team.
    Snarkitecture reinterpreted “the ubiquitous stud wall as an elevated millwork piece” to create the freestanding structureA key decision involved bringing warmth to the industrial-style space, which features exposed ceilings and concrete tile flooring.

    This was achieved by introducing wood, acoustic panels, rugs, curtains, and upholstered pieces “that added more comfort and softness to the space”.
    A window provides a view from the workspace into the Record Room, which displays various Snarkitecture ephemeraAt one end of the floor plan, Snarkitecture built a room using a simple wooden framework to create a library and display area.
    “One of our key design moves is reinterpreting the ubiquitous stud wall as an elevated millwork piece,” the team said.
    In the centre of the offices is a lounge area known as The CommonsThe semi-enclosed space, named the Record Room, has a window that looks onto the open-plan workspace and is accessed via a portal with a continuous wavy outline.
    “We wanted this room to feel unexpected and immersive, thus creating a theme around a ‘Listening Lounge’, featuring an environment with wood shelvings, a record player, and vinyl records,” Snarkitecture said. “Its shelves also host archival items, publications, design objects, and ephemera from Snarkitecture and Jayaram.”
    The open workspace is furnished with long desks that together create room for 24 to 32 peopleOther stud-wall elements with amorphous cutouts form moveable display cases and room dividers, used particularly to define a central lounge known as The Commons.
    Wavy edges are also found on the Autex acoustic panels hung vertically in rows from the white-painted ceiling above the seating area.
    A conference room was created by merging three smaller private offices”It is a comfortable spot with low lounge seating, lush greenery, and an area rug that creates a space for collective gatherings and intimate conversations,” said Snarkitecture.
    On either side, communal workspaces with 15-foot (4.6-metre) custom birch plywood tables accommodate 24 to 32 people.
    Acoustic panels were added above the lounge area to dampen the sound in the industrial-style spaceAlong the perimeter is a glass-fronted conference room that was created by combining three private offices into one space.
    Built-in millwork provides a TV niche for conferencing and stores general office supplies, while a curtain wraps the space to dampen echoes.

    Snarkitecture uses recycled materials for Pharrell Williams’ streetwear brand store in Miami

    Throughout the Jayaram offices, Snarkitecture included furniture from its new collection in collaboration with Finnish brand Made By Choice.
    Pieces including dining chairs, lounge chairs, small round tables and a large conference table all feature the studio’s signature wavy edges and cutouts.
    Several furniture pieces from Snarkitecture’s collection with Made By Choice can be found throughout the officeSeveral works from Snarkitecture’s Broken & Sculpted Series created with the Italian brand Gufram are also dotted around the office.
    The pink, broken mirrors introduce hints of colour, while the studio’s Slip chairs with wonky legs and a slanted seat for Portuguese brand UVA add even more whimsy.
    Pink mirrors from a collaboration with Gufram introduce hints of colourSince starting Snarkitecture in 2008, Arsham and Mustonen have worked with brands including Kith, Billionaire Boys Club, COS and Caesarstone on retail interiors and immersive installations.
    In New York City, the studio has previously filled a gallery with lights that resemble “large lollipops” and created an exhibition space at Hudson Yards to allow the public to explore its experiments.
    The photography is by Harlan Erskine.

    Read more: More

  • 163 Shares169 Views

    in Rooms

    Material & Memory exhibition responds to “raw materiality” of Brinkburn Priory and Manor

    Tutors and researchers from Northumbria University have filled a derelict manor house, nestled in a curve of the River Coquet in Northumberland, with objects informed by the site’s rich history and materiality.

    The exhibition titled Material & Memory is being held at Brinkburn Priory and Manor, a former 12th-century monastery that fell into ruin and was restored in the 19th century, when the manor house was built alongside it.
    Northumbria University faculty has designed products for Brinkburn Priory and Manor. Top photo is by Brian Morris and above by Jennine WilsonAround 20 faculty members and researchers from Northumbria University’s School of Design and Department of Architecture created works that reference the fabric and atmosphere of the historic buildings.
    Co-curator and assistant design professor Anthony Forsyth said the pieces created for the show were influenced by the “tranquil and atmospheric” spaces at Brinkburn, as well as by the multiple layers of history evident in the empty rooms.
    Josh South’s Nook candleholders replicate the form of a shouldered door arch”The raw materiality of the spaces is a rich source of inspiration, while the span of history informs an approach that is contemporary yet acknowledges the past,” he explained.

    Several contributions reference architectural features that were exposed as part of English Heritage’s efforts to stop dry rot from destroying the manor, which had fallen into disrepair before the preservation charity took over responsibility for the house in 1965.
    Anthony Forsyth’s Mullion plinths are shaped like the manor’s stone window mullionsForsyth’s Mullion plinths feature forms derived from the tapered profile of the building’s stone window mullions, while the Nook candleholders created by design lecturer Joshua South replicate the form of a shouldered door arch in patinated sand-cast bronze.
    In collaboration with woodworker Johnny Hayes, South also developed the Quatrefoil tables, which are based on a pattern of overlapping circles commonly featured in medieval emblems and found in the stained-glass windows of the Priory at Brinkburn.
    South’s Quatrefoil tables are based on the priory’s stained-glass windowsPhilip Luscombe, who teaches on the university’s Furniture and Product course, created a lamp with an oak structure that evokes the robust construction of church furniture.
    The Monk lamp’s paper diffuser references religious texts and creates a warm glow when the light is turned on.

    IM Pei retrospective shows “architecture and life to be inseparable”

    Forsyth also developed the Assemblage floor lamp, constructed using off-the-shelf components and parts retained from other projects.
    The design is informed by the state of the interior at Brinkburn, where layers of construction have been exposed and the reuse of materials is evident.
    Phil Luscombe has created a lamp with an oak structure that references church furnitureBen Couture, assistant architecture professor and co-curator of the exhibition, created a geometric yellow bench that intentionally contrasts with the architectural style of the manor house.
    The bench responds to the dimensions of the adjacent windows, through which visitors can look out towards the river.
    The exhibition includes various other works in mixed media, ranging from etchings to printed textiles, photomontages and wallpapers. Each of the pieces was created following repeated visits to the site and through conversations with experts at English Heritage.
    Ben Couture designed a geometric yellow bench. The photo is by Brian MorrisThe charity previously worked with Northumbria University on a similar exhibition of objects displayed at Aydon Castle, also in Northumberland.
    According to Frances McIntosh, a curator at English Heritage, the Material & Memory exhibition makes good use of the normally empty rooms, encouraging visitors to reconsider the past, present and future of these historic spaces.
    “Brinkburn Priory Manor House is like a blank canvas and exhibitions like this are a great way to use the space and allow visitors to think more deeply about the complicated layers of the building they can see,” she said.
    The photography is by Phil Luscombe unless otherwise stated.
    Material & Memory is on show at Brinkburn Priory and Manor until 3 November 2024. For more events, exhibitions and talks in architecture and design visit the Dezeen Events Guide.

    Read more: More