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    Buckingham Palace’s chinoiserie interiors revealed following five-year renovation

    Porcelain lions, nine-tiered pagodas and a lotus-shaped chandelier feature in Buckingham Palace’s newly refurbished east wing, which has opened to the public for the first time in its 175-year history.

    The east wing at London’s Buckingham Palace, which opened this month, houses a series of decadent interconnected rooms including the centre room, which leads to the palace’s famed balcony overlooking the Mall.
    Buckingham Palace’s east wing has opened to the public for the first time in its historyOriginally built by Edward Blore between 1847 and 1849 to “provide space for Queen Victoria’s growing family”, the wing encloses what was previously a U-shaped courtyard, according to the Royal Collection Trust.
    After five years of restoration work by the trust’s curators and conservators, involving the temporary removal of over 3,500 artworks and other objects, the wing has opened to the public as part of the palace’s State Rooms tours that take place every summer.
    The centre room features a lotus-shaped chandelierIt reveals an interior filled with King George IV’s 18th-century chinoiserie designs, which were transferred to Buckingham Palace after the 1850 sale of his seaside retreat – Brighton’s Royal Pavilion. Prince Albert oversaw the original decoration.

    The centre room features an oversized lotus-shaped chandelier finished in glass and lacquer, illuminating a large carpet with geometric floral patterns. Visitors can also find a pair of 18th-century Chinese imperial silk wall hangings.
    Nine-tiered Chinese pagodas feature in the yellow drawing roomA duo of Chinese pagodas with nine ornate tiers characterise the yellow drawing room, named for its sunny drapes and sofas, which includes hand-painted wallpaper that was “painstakingly” cleaned and conserved by the team.
    A “kylin clock” – complete with turquoise porcelain lions and a tiny Japanese hotei, or god of luck – also sits on the room’s gold-trimmed mantlepiece.
    There is also a clock decorated with porcelain lionsElsewhere in the wing, the 240-foot principal corridor spans the entire length of the palace and has a bright red carpet. Ebonised cabinets feature Japanese panels, which contrast with the various royal paintings by historical European artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Franz Xaver Winterhalter.
    Striking motifs including dragons and gilded curtain poles can be found throughout the wing.
    Ebonised cabinets line the principal corridor”The pavilion’s contents – which reflected King George IV’s love of Asian art and design – were transferred to the east wing, inspiring the Chinese-themed decor of its principal rooms,” said the Royal Collection Trust.
    Visitors to the palace’s state rooms can also see the recently unveiled portrait of King Charles III, painted by Jonathan Yeo in bright red hues, housed in the ballroom.

    Opposite Office redesigns Buckingham Palace as co-living space for 50,000 Londoners

    The refurbishment is part of a longer 10-year reservicing programme at the palace, which includes improvements to the palace’s electrical cabling, plumbing and heating systems that have not been updated since the 1950s, according to the Royal Collection Trust.
    Architect Thomas Heatherwick designed a sculpture containing 350 trees and erected it outside Buckingham Palace to mark the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in 2022.
    Visitors can also see Jonathan Yeo’s recent portrait of King Charles III in the palace’s ballroomAfter her death, writer Stefan Simanowitz and architect Antonio Pisanò also proposed a memorial garden that would have seen part of the palace’s gardens converted into a “natural sanctuary” for the public.
    The photography is by Peter Smith. 

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    Estudio Ebras and Hause Möbel create live-work concept with VR and desert-influenced spaces

    This space with futuristic “virtual reality” style LED strip lighting was designed by Argentinian firm Estudio Ebras and furniture brand Hause Möbel to be used as both a home and an office.

    The temporary Green Home Office project was created for the Casa FOA 2024 architecture and design exhibition in Córdoba, Argentina, inside an under-construction building complex named Pocito.
    At the Green Home Office, an immersive workspace features a grid of LED lights to mimic a virtual reality environmentEstudio Ebras was presented with a windowless space to transform into a flexible environment designed to facilitate both living and working, using furniture from Argentinian brand Hause Möbel.
    Entry to the 110-square-metre space was through a low, warmly lit antechamber that offered options to turn left into a compact workspace, or right into the larger central area.
    Entry to the exhibition was via a compressed, warmly lit antechamberThe dark, “immersive” office was panelled with wood veneer squares between strips of LED light that formed a grid across the walls and floor.

    “The immersive space features a luminous grid that simulates the grid of virtual reality,” said Estudio Ebras. “On one side is a desk, and on the other, a chaise lounge for resting and transporting us to a natural environment in virtual reality.”
    The space was divided into the immersive office and a larger room decorated in desert huesReached via a short cork-floored corridor, the living space featured peach, orange and rust hues that created a contrasting desert-like aesthetic.
    “Upon entering the central area, a change in scale is perceived due to its dimensions and height,” Estudio Ebras said.
    The larger space was designed for both living and working, and echoes the desert-like climate of CórdobaIn place of windows, the designers worked with a light artist to install illuminated, elongated pill-shaped panels behind translucent floor-to-ceiling curtains.
    The light panels displayed sunset colours, while soil and dried plants ran around the perimeter to evoke “a mountainous, wild, and arid landscape typical of the area”.
    Suspended over a dining or meeting table was a light fixture with rings of LEDs insideCurved-edge surfaces flowed into one another, such as a kitchen counter that swooped down from one wall and extended along another.
    In the centre of the room was a large table that could be used for either dining or meetings, accompanied by four orange chairs on castors.
    A separate space with sliding glass partitions was intended for video calls or quiet contemplationOverhead, a rough-textured fixture housed concentric rings of LEDs that gradually ascended inside the structure.
    At the end of the room, a bench was suspended from the ceiling, shaped to frame the trio of “window” lights behind.

    Eight home offices with stylish set-ups for remote working

    A separate space for quiet contemplation or taking video calls was tucked behind the entry corridor wall and closed off by sliding glass panels.
    This small room was lined with cork and furnished with a purple two-seater sofa. “The acoustic box allows for privacy to make a call, work with a laptop, or, within a home-like setting, provides recreational space,” said Estudio Ebras.
    The installation also included a bench that hung from the ceilingAs the project’s name suggests, it was designed with sustainability in mind, and a carbon footprint analysis was conducted throughout the design, exhibition and dismantling processes.
    To offset the installation’s footprint, native trees were planted in nearby Cerro Champaquí with the help of local nonprofit organization Fundación Sembradores de Agua.
    In place of windows, panels illuminated to mimic a sunset were installed behind translucent curtainsRecently completed projects in Córdoba include a house with weathering steel screens, a home lifted above a sloped site and  an office building wrapped in perforated metal.
    The photography is by Gonzalo Viramonte.
    Casa FOA 2024 took place 3 May to 2 June 2024 in Córdoba. For more events, exhibitions and talks in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.

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    Ten interiors with exposed structural ceiling beams

    Living spaces that make a feature of pre-existing beams are the focus of this lookbook, which includes examples of apartments and homes that showcase integral structural elements made from wood and metal.

    Beams are parts of a building’s structure that serve as support for ceilings, roofs and upper floors. Depending on the area’s vernacular and the structure’s age, they manifest in a variety of shapes and materials, from wooden beams that still resemble logs and tree trunks to machined steel beams.
    While beams can be concealed by installing dropped ceilings, contemporary designers often choose to celebrate and highlight them, incorporating them into interior design schemes as a reminder of a building’s origins.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring interiors animated by shimmering zellige tiles and living rooms furnished by statuesque pieces of furniture.
    The photo is by Roberto RuizPalau apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture

    Hefty trunk-like wooden beams span the ceiling of this apartment in Barcelona by local studio Colombo and Serboli Architecture.
    Their rustic presence is accentuated by the otherwise sleek and polished interior, with uplights installed on top of the wardrobe literally highlighting them in the bedroom.
    Find out more about Palau apartment ›
    The photo is courtesy of Colleen Healey ArchitectureRenovation on Logan Circle, USA, by Colleen Healey Architecture
    A ceiling composed of X-shaped, white-rendered braces crowns this kitchen in a Washington DC house renovated by local studio Colleen Healey Architecture.
    The unusual, original feature provides support to the floor above, and adds to the industrial atmosphere created by the raw and painted brick walls.
    Find out more about Colleen Healey Architecture ›
    The photo is by Alex BaxterBarn at the Ahof, the Netherlands, by Julia van Beuningen
    Architectural designer Julia van Beuningen installed a plywood spiral staircase into the open-plan living space of this barn conversion.
    The naturally patterned plywood element joins a combination of both squared-off, machined wooden beams and age-warped timber beams, which support the first floor and thatched roof.
    Find out more about Barn at the Ahof ›
    The photo is by Salva LópezCasa Vasto, Spain, by Mesura
    Spanish studio Mesura turned this industrialised factory building in Barcelona into an apartment-cum-gallery space, dominated by an undulating vaulted ceiling.
    The fins that make up the structure are an example of vernacular construction techniques developed in the 19th century and create a sculptural effect that chimes with the new function of the space.
    Find out more about Casa Vasto ›
    The photo is by Yevhenii AvramenkoKyiv attic apartment, Ukraine, by Yana Molodykh
    Wooden planks and steel beams intercross on the ceiling of this attic apartment in Kyiv by Ukrainian designer Yana Molodykh.
    Despite the heaviness of the materials above, the interior has a light, airy appearance thanks to warm wooden furniture, neutral upholstery and diaphanous curtains.
    Find out more about Kyiv attic apartment ›
    The photo is by Fabian MartinezCasa Tres Árboles, Mexico, by Direccion
    A succession of dried fronds arranged in a chevron pattern is visible between cylindrical exposed beams in this house in Valle de Bravo by Mexican studio Direccion.
    The ceilings contribute to the sepia-like colour scheme apparent throughout the interiors, which is broken up by dark grey and terracotta elements.
    Find out more about Casa Tres Árboles ›
    The photo is by Lorenzo ZandriHouse by the Sea, UK, by Of Architecture
    Designed by London-based practice Of Architecture, this lofty open-plan living space in a house in Cornwall has a bright and airy atmosphere
    The whitewashed beams are studded with spotlights, light fittings, exposed services and square skylights, creating a functional yet clean ceiling scape.
    Find out more about House by the Sea ›
    The photo is by BoysPlayNiceMasná 130, Czech Republic, by ORA
    The 500-year-old chamfered wooden beams were retained in this Renaissance-era house renovated by Czech architecture studio ORA.
    The carved beams have a glossy, polished finish and are intersected by a thicker central beam decorated by more elaborate carved detailing, including a centrally-positioned roundel.
    Find out more about Masná 130 ›
    The photo is by Yevhenii AvramenkoDzen House, Ukraine, by Shovk
    Japanese and Ukrainian aesthetics meet in this house designed by architecture studio Shovk situated on the outskirts of Kyiv, which has a cosy living room capped by a series of slimline wooden beams.
    Wooden planks sit atop these structures, and together they match the thick window surround and create a grounded and cosy interior brightened by a broad, pale sofa and cool-toned walls and floors.
    Find out more about Dzen House ›
    The photo is by José Hevia105JON, Spain, by Vallribera Arquitectes
    Inside this modernised terraced house in Barcelona, Spanish studio Vallribera Arquitectes created a contrast between original features and newly inserted elements.
    The old roof, which is covered in red-coloured tiles, and the new mezzanine, lined with oriented strand board, both feature prominent structural beams – the former is supported by whittled tree trunks and the latter with metal struts picked out in blue paint.
    Find out more about 105JON ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring interiors animated by shimmering zellige tiles and living rooms furnished by statuesque pieces of furniture.

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    Lucas y Hernandez Gil adds playful shapes and “warm and friendly” colours to Madrid apartment

    Local studio Lucas y Hernandez Gil has renovated and decorated this 19th-century Madrid apartment with their own colourful furniture.

    The studio headed by Cristina Domínguez Lucas and Fernando Hernández-Gil Ruano redesigned the interior of the historic property for a young couple with two babies and two dogs.
    The apartment had been renovated previously and had lost its original character, so the studio aimed to add personality while meeting the specific needs of its current owners.
    Lucas y Hernandez Gil arranged the home around a library that also acts as an entrance hallThe adapted floor plan organises the spaces into areas that overlook either the street or an internal courtyard at the centre of the apartment block.
    A small entrance hall leading to a long corridor was replaced with a large library that forms the new heart of the home. This space was a request from the clients who are keen readers and have a large book collection.

    The library provides access to the living room, kitchen and bedrooms, with its location at the centre of the plan with no external windows creating a protective environment for the books.
    The main living space is connected to the library by a pair of doorsLarge openings leading from the library to the connecting rooms emphasise the transition from one space to the next while removing the need for internal hallways.
    The doorways were lined with a bold wood veneer created by designer Ettore Sottsass for ALPI in the 1980s.
    Materials include wooden parquet flooring, whitewashed walls and bold wood veneer liningAccording to the studio, the portals playfully reinterpret “the solemnity of the doors of bourgeois houses”, with their scale and materiality creating a focal point whilst maintaining an open and fluid connection between the spaces.
    “The openings provide a representational element to signify the importance of the space one enters,” Lucas told Dezeen. “They also reference palatial houses that gave much importance to the transitions between rooms.”

    Núñez Ribot pairs cork with mass timber at Casa Pádel in Madrid

    There are a total of five doorways around the library’s perimeter, including one that leads to a cloakroom and study by the entrance and two angled openings that connect with a large living and dining room.
    Two further doorways at the far end of the space connect with the principal bedroom and with a small hallway that provides access to the children’s bedroom, a toilet, bathroom and the kitchen.
    The pale green kitchen contains the studio’s furniture
    The material palette applied throughout most of the house comprises wooden parquet flooring, whitewashed walls and joinery that lends the spaces a traditional feel.
    These familiar elements contrast with contemporary details including curved and folding shapes that add visual interest to the interior.
    “We used curves to avoid sharp edges in the circulation areas,” Lucas explained. “They are friendly shapes that express seclusion and comfort in order to balance small rooms.”
    A wooden unit has a stainless steel worktopColour is used to differentiate spaces within the home, including the green kitchen and bathrooms featuring pink Portuguese marble set against a render chosen to evoke the colour of skin.
    The pale green hue used in the kitchen is described by the architects as “a warm and friendly colour that is balanced by the cabinets”.
    A bespoke wooden unit topped with a stainless steel worktop is suspended from the wall to give it a lightweight feel, while a curved red dining table and accompanying chairs were chosen from the studio’s chosen own furniture brand, Kresta Design.
    “The kitchen is designed as a play of opposites between materials and shapes,” explained Lucas. “It’s as if the whole kitchen were a large cooking utensil, combining a friendly wooden handle with a technical metal finish.”

    The children’s room has an undulating wall and a curved ceiling panel that add character to the space.
    Bespoke cabinetry was decorated with a hand-painted wallpaper featuring imagery of the eldest daughter and pineapples and trees.
    Bathrooms display pink Portuguese marble chosen to evoke the colour of skinLucas and Hernández-Gil Ruano founded their architecture and design practises in 2007 after graduating from Madrid’s ETSAM school of architecture. The studio’s recently completed projects include a bar with colour-blocked areas designed to create different atmospheres and the transformation of a 1970s bungalow into a kitsch home incorporating a multipurpose greenhouse.
    The photography is by José Hevia.

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    Sophie Goineau adds “wave-like” timber ceiling to Malibu beach house

    Interior designer Sophie Goineau has renovated a family beach home in Malibu, California, adding a wave-like ceiling and maximising the panoramic ocean views from the living spaces.

    Goineau initially set about helping a young family that she met in Mexico incorporate stylish spaces for their kids into the house, but the project quickly turned into a full overhaul.
    Sophie Goineau took advantage of the Malibu home’s vaulted ceilings to create a wave-like wooden feature overheadBuilt in 1965 and remodelled at the turn of the millennium, the house’s exterior had to remain untouched in accordance with strict Malibu zoning laws.
    Inside, however, multiple walls were opened up to allow light from the expansive windows and skylights to flood all of the spaces.
    The main living space was opened up and can now fully utilise the sliding doors onto the terrace”Some rooms were divided by walls, there was no light coming through,” said Goineau. “We had to use all existing openings — sliding doors and skylights in vaulted ceilings — but there was no rhythm. What could we do here to create a harmonious vibe?”

    With the main entry points reconfigured and many of the internal partitions removed, the offset T-shaped building now benefits from more light and improved flow.
    The lounge area features black seating by ATRA and a media unit that echoes the slatted ceilingThrough the main volume of the dwelling, Goineau installed a dramatic curved ceiling composed of thermally modified ash wood in four layers.
    The effect is designed to mimic a “breaking wave” and not only directs the eye to the ocean view but also partially obscures the skylights from the bright overhead sun.
    A skylight over the entryway is partially shaded by the ceiling slats”The light here, while beautiful, is very strong, but we didn’t want to ruin the existing skylights with shades,” said the designer.
    This ceiling feature is most prominently expressed in the spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, which has large windows on two sides and glass doors that opens onto a terrace.
    A large, teak front door continues the same visual language as the ceilingNeutrally decorated with white oak floors, clay plaster and micro-cement wall finishes, the social space is dotted with several black accents.
    These include the large Beluga sofa and armchairs from ATRA, the Gio Ponti dining table and chairs, and metal shelving suspended from the ceiling over the kitchen island.

    Kelly Wearstler’s Malibu Surf Shack is adorned with “rustic and raw” decor

    “It is all a visual reference of naturalist materials,” Goineau said. “The dark materials chosen highlight the contrast between dark and light in nature, and all the pieces marry so well with everything else in the house.”
    A media unit that disguises the TV echoes the wooden strips of the ceiling and the kitchen cabinetry at the other end of the room.
    The primary bedroom at the end of the main volume opens onto the terraceAt the opposite end of the building’s T is the primary bedroom, which also opens to the terrace furnished with various soft seating options.
    Rather than a full dividing wall, a tall partition acts as a headboard extension and separates the sleeping area from a large dressing room.
    A tall partition separates the primary bedroom from the dressing roomThe entrance hall sits at an angle to the home’s main volume and continues the striped effect again across the teak front door positioned below another slatted skylight.
    Contemporary sculptures by Sébastien Léon and paintings by Damien Chabauty are displayed in this space and along the corridor that connects the remaining rooms.
    The terrace features multiple soft seating areas for the family to enjoyMalibu’s beachfront is lined with impressive properties, including Kelly Wearstler’s home adorned with “rustic and raw” decor and a building by Tadao Ando that musician Ye recently stripped back to its structure.
    Goineau is based in nearby Los Angeles and has previously refurbished a mid-century house in Beverly Hills in collaboration with Enclosures Architects.
    The photography is by Virtually Here Studios.

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    Eight home interiors brightened by clerestory windows

    A collection of distinctive new builds and carefully crafted residential extensions have been rounded up for our latest lookbook, which gathers home interiors enhanced and brightened by clerestory openings.

    Clerestory windows typically refer to a strip of glazing situated at the very top of a wall, or above eye-level, positioned just beneath the roof to draw in daylight. While traditionally coined in reference to the highest storey of clear glazing in a church or cathedral, clerestory windows are increasingly used in residential projects.
    Alongside their primary use for daylight access, clerestory windows may also offer privacy for ground floor residential spaces without limiting natural light, while operable clerestory glazing can also help to ventilate a home’s interior.
    Included these projects is a brick extension topped with a vaulted ceiling and arched clerestory window and a skinny concrete home wrapped with clerestory glazing for increased privacy in Japan.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring stylish nightclub interiors, relaxing beach houses with panoramic views and gallery-like living rooms with sculptural furniture.

    Photo by Tom RossSunday, Australia, by Architecture Architecture
    Australian studio Architecture Architecture used hollow breeze-blocks to blend the interior and exterior areas of this cottage extension in Melbourne.
    The new extension is topped with a mono-pitched roof and lined with large, translucent clerestory glazing to draw light into the home.
    Find out more about Sunday ›
    Photo by Ståle EriksenHeath House, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
    A blocky extension defined by a material palette of wood and white brick was added to this Grade II-listed villa in north London by Proctor & Shaw.
    In order to maximise light, floor-to-ceiling openings complemented by clerestory glazing were added to the ground floor kitchen and dining area.
    Find out more about Heath House ›
    Photo by Pedro KokSítio Rio Acima, Brazil, by Denis Joelsons
    A series of brick structures comprise Sítio Rio Acima – a residential complex near São Paulo, which was renovated by Brazilian architect Denis Joelsons.
    Among the interventions was the addition of a vaulted ceiling and arched clerestory window in the main home that becomes “a lantern at night”.
    Find out more about Sítio Rio Acima ›

    Photo by Ooki JinguForest of Pillars, Japan, by IGArchitects
    Two family homes framed by slender timber columns form Forest of Pillars completed by IGArchitects in Fukushima, Japan.
    To limit overlooking from the surrounding context, the homes were surrounded by a ring of clerestory windows positioned beneath the roof.
    Find out more about Forest of Pillars ›
    Photo courtesy of K59 AtelierDi Linh House, Vietnam, by K59 Atelier
    Architecture studio K59 Atelier used local materials such as rammed earth and timber to build this home located on a remote site in Di Linh, Vietnam.
    On the home’s west facade, a strip of clerestory glazing sit above small windows to encourage privacy and sun shading.
    Find out more about Di Linh House ›
    Photo by Tom FergusonHidden Garden House, Australia, by Sam Crawford Architects
    Australian studio Sam Crawford Architects renovated this home in Sydney to brighten its dark interior and transform it into an urban “sanctuary”.
    On the ground floor, the studio added a spacious kitchen featuring a concrete ceiling that curves upwards to draw in winter sun and provide shading, and is coupled with operable clerestory windows.
    Find out more about Hidden Garden House ›
    Photo by Vivek EadaraPott House, India, by Kiron Cheerla Architecture
    Pott House in Hyderabad, India, features a lantern-like roof designed by Kiron Cheerla Architecture to draw light and natural ventilation into the home.
    Built from a gridded timber structure, the home is organised around a full-height living space and dining area, which sit beneath the roof’s exposed timber trusses.
    Find out more about Pott House ›
    Photo by Ooki Jingu2700, Japan, by IGArchitects
    Built onto a narrow plot in Japan, this two-storey home by IGArchitects features a slim structure defined by exposed concrete walls and layered living spaces.
    To increase privacy on the ground floor, as well as draw light into the interior, a row of windows were placed at clerestory height.
    Find out more about 2700 ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring stylish nightclub interiors, relaxing beach houses with panoramic views and gallery-like living rooms with sculptural furniture.

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    Linehouse defines Shanghai office with “unexpected combinations of materials”

    Interior design studio Linehouse has renovated an office in Shanghai using numerous materials and art from a local gallery.

    Linehouse refurbished the ground floor of a three-storey building in Shanghai that The Independents global marketing group have occupied in Shanghai for numerous years.
    The office is located in a three-storey building in ShanghaiThe 374-square-metre space was designed as a communal area for the staff working on the floors above.
    It includes a reception area, meeting rooms, pantry and communal eating space as well as a flexible deskspace for twenty people.
    Metal curtains are used to blur the boundary between different functional spacesAdditionally, an art installation area has been integrated, taking advantage of the high lofty ceiling of the space, which will be used for monthly rotational curation.

    Linehouse aimed to create a destination by presenting art from a local gallery, which will be rotated monthly, in the space. Combined with numerous materials and abstract furniture pieces, the studio forms what the studio called an “unexpected collection”.
    The entrance features a circular seating installation wrapped in metal curtain”The support of the client to design an office that pairs unexpected combinations of materials was refreshing and a challenge,” said Linehouse.
    “The result is a space that allows art to breathe and creates a welcoming, natural and open place of work.”
    The workstations are located in a sunken seating areaThe spaces are each defined by different materials. Marine plywood was used for the wall of the reception and pantry area, separating them from the meetings rooms. The same plywood was used for to the workstations located in a sunken seating area.
    A circular seating area was wrapped in a metal curtain, with five-meter-high curtains used to divide other spaces.

    Linehouse transforms Shanghai swimming pool into office space

    A customised table, made from different shaped pieces of marble and laminates, is used for meetings and dining.
    Other tables in the meeting room features unique surfaces — one being a patchwork of timber textures and the other a gradient of glass transparency, from solid black to transparent.
    “The design challenges the traditional notion of an office to promote a healthier and creative mindset to collaboration and communication, with emphasis on openness and autonomy for how staff use and occupy the spaces,” Linehouse concluded.
    Marine plywood is used on the walls of the pantryLinehouse is a Hong Kong and Shanghai-based architecture and interior design studio established in 2013 by Alex Mok and Briar Hickling.
    The duo won the emerging interior designer of the year category at the 2019 Dezeen Awards.
    Meeting rooms feature custom made tablesThe studio has also recently designed a greenhouse-informed food market in Shanghai and the facade of a shopping centre in Bangkok.
    The photography is by Dirk Weiblen.

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    Xanadu is a “fun and maximum” roller disco in Brooklyn

    Local entrepreneur Varun Kataria has unveiled a venue with a mix of colourful, retro details that contains the only permanent roller rink in New York City.

    Set in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Xanadu occupies a former industrial warehouse, which was converted by Kataria and his team, who also run the nearby restaurant and venue Turks Inn and Sultan Room.
    Xanadu is a multi-functional space with a massive roller rink in BrooklynThe multi-functional space now contains a roller rink, stage, bar area and large bathrooms, one of which can be converted into a smaller “club within a club”.
    According to Kataria, the space originally had columns throughout, but to make a large enough surface for an uninterrupted roller rink the ceiling needed to be supported without columns.
    It includes a mix of colours and patternsWorking with a local architect friend, Kataria created a structure around the existing structure, suspending the ceiling from the superstructure in order to support the weight, essentially creating a second ceiling.

    This allows for a wide space centred around the hand-painted, maple-wood rink, but without sacrificing details for the attendant spaces.
    Plentiful seating lines the leisure spaces around the rinkThe result is a “fun and maximum” space that contains a dizzying mix of patterns and colours.
    At the entrance, a desk was placed to rent out custom skates. From here, a walkway passes under an archway anchored by a sofa that wraps around a pole. Guests pass a long bar and on the wall across from it are raised seating areas.
    Banquet seating wraps the far side of the space and throughout, multiple entryways have been placed to give access to the massive rink.
    It has a massive maple wood roller rinkThe ceiling has incongruous shapes cut into it with track lighting. Kataria said that the Memphis Group design movement in part influenced the shape, giving the space the sense of an “elevated adult day care.
    “It’s not afraid to be playful,” said Kataria. “And the relationship with color became a real joy.”
    A stage sits adjacent to the ringHe added that the combination of many influences and time-periods was meant to have an “uncanny” effect on the visitors.
    Details such as infinity mirrors in the long sloping bar, colourful patterns in the carpet and vinyl surface coverings – almost every vinyl surface has a different pattern – create a mix of historical time periods that Kataria said work together to “push nostalgic buttons”, while being contemporary.

    Fendi creates oversized “pinball machine” for Autumn Winter 2023 runway show

    He said that the idea was to revive a entertainment form that people often associate more squarely with the past.
    “I’m not gonna say it’s an industry in decline, but the spaces themselves are in decline, right?” Kataria told Dezeen.
    “They’re usually old. But there’s more skaters than ever now. So I think as a cultural practice, it’s exploding, you know, with new energy.”
    One bathroom can be converted into a mini clubThe bathrooms are mostly monotone – one red and one blue. The red one has a hidden DJ set up so that it can become Club Flush.
    Other recent rinks include an ice skating rink built in Canada by architecture studio Lemay, which it says is the largest in the world.
    The photography is by Matt Harrington.

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