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    Eight bold showers that add a pop of colour to the bathroom

    Showers enclosed in dichroic glass and wrapped in speckled terrazzo are featured in our latest lookbook, which showcases eight unique showers that bring a touch of colour to the bathroom.

    Bathtubs often hold the spotlight in a bathroom, but this round-up proves showers can be just as showstopping – and luxurious.
    From an all-pink shower in Taiwan to a minty-green shower in an Antwerp apartment, these colourful showers add a bold touch to brighten up the surrounding space.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring pared-back loft conversions, lattice screens and outdoor showers.
    Photo is by Dylan ChandlerCrosby Studios apartment, USA, Crosby Studios

    Crosby Studios founder Harry Nuriev and partner Tyler Billinger outfitted their New York City apartment in a palette of purple and grey.
    The bold colour scheme was carried into the bathroom, where the shower was clad in grey tile and enclosed with a purple shower screen.
    Find out more about the Crosby Studios apartment ›
    Photo is by Christian HarderThe Siren Hotel, USA, Quinn Evans Architects
    The Siren Hotel in Detroit was originally built in 1926 by architect Robert Finn before being refreshed by design development firm ASH NYC with the help of Quinn Evans Architects in 2018.
    The renovation included the addition of pastel hues and an assortment of rich textiles, while the hotel’s showers were updated with red-speckled terrazzo and a glass-brick divider.
    Find out more about The Siren Hotel ›
    Photo is by Maxime BrouilletUnit 622, Canada, Rainville Sangaré 
    Unit 622 by Rainville Sangaré is located inside architect Moshe Safdie’s famous brutalist Habitat 67 in Montreal, Canada.
    Sangaré updated the apartment to include walk-in showers enclosed in dichroic glass that appears to change colour when viewed from different angles.
    Find out more about Unit 622 ›
    Photo is by Hey! CheeseCats’ Pink House, Taiwan, KC Design Studio
    Not only does the Cats Pink House by KC Design Studio include an entire room dedicated to the owner’s cats, but it also contains a spacious pink bathroom.
    Large pink tiles cover the walls and floor of a walk-in shower, which is also outfitted with a stand-alone tub.
    Find out more about Cat’s Pink House ›
    Photo is by Karen Van der BiestSpinmolenplein penthouse, Belgium, Jürgen Vandewalle
    Located on the top floor of the tallest residential building in Ghent, Belgium, the 60-square-metre Spinmolenplein penthouse updated by Jürgen Vandewalle was designed to maximize space.
    A bathroom unit clad in white wood panels opens to reveal a colourful shower stall finished with a micro-cement in a muted red.
    Find out more about Spinmolenplein penthouse ›
    Photo is by Luis Díaz DíazReady-made Home, Spain, Azab
    Located in an apartment building in Spain built in the 1960s, the Ready-made Home by Azab features a colourful palette of soft pinks, blues and yellows.
    A corner bathroom in the main bedroom is partitioned by a light blue curtain, while a deeper shade of blue was carried into the tiles that cover the floor and walls of the bathtub and shower.
    Find out more about Ready-made Home ›
    Photo is by Piet-Albert GoethalsApartment A, Belgium, Atelier Dialect 
    While an en-suite shiny steel tub makes quite the statement in this Antwerp apartment updated by Belgian design studio Atelier Dialect, the shower is equally intriguing.
    Contrasted by the stark white and black palette of the surrounding bedroom, the shower was wrapped in minty green, with a single shelf cut into the wall for toiletries and a bench installed opposite.
    Find out more about Apartment A ›
    Photo is by Megan TaylorLouisville Road house, England, 2LG Studio
    Located in Tooting, south London, interior design studio 2LG overhauled a period home with blue tilework and coral-orange cabinetry.
    The walk-in shower features baby blue floor tiles and matching hardware, as well as sky-blue bordering that surrounds the fluted-glass shower screen.
    Find out more about Louisville Road house ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring basement apartments, mid-century homes and textural kitchens.

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    This week we unveiled the Dezeen Awards 2023 shortlists

    This week on Dezeen, we announced the architecture, interiors, design and sustainability shortlists along with the designers of the year for the 2023 Dezeen Awards.

    We revealed the 85 buildings shortlisted in the architecture categories, which included Studio House by William Samuels Architects (above) along with buildings by Zaha Hadid Architects, Olson Kundig and Open Architecture.
    The interiors shortlist featured 47 designs by studios including Omar Gandhi Architects and Universal Design Studio, while the 47-strong design shortlist included creations by Muoto, Luceplan, Fuseproject and Tom Dixon.
    Alexander Burton designed an affordable electric car conversion kitIn design news, Australian student Alexander Burton unveiled an affordable electric car conversion kit.
    Named REVR (Rapid Electric Vehicle Retrofits), the kit, which won the country’s national James Dyson Award, was designed to provide a cheaper way to convert petrol cars into electric cars.

    Thomas Heatherwick said Le Corbusier was to blame for a “global blandemic”Speaking on a BBC radio series this week, British designer Thomas Heatherwick said that 20th-century architect Le Corbusier was responsible for architecture’s current “global blandemic”.
    “I think we’re living through a global ‘blandemic’ in building design,” said Heatherwick. “This age of boring has resulted in soulless, inhuman urban environments.”
    Prada is designing a space suit for NASAAlso this week, fashion house Prada revealed that it was creating lunar spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III mission – the first crewed moon landing since 1972.
    Developed with commercial space company Axiom Space, the suits are called Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) and will give astronauts “advanced capabilities for space exploration”, according to the brand.
    Carl Philip Bernadotte and Oscar Kylberg launched their brand this weekWe also spoke to design duo Carl Philip Bernadotte – who is Prince Carl Philip of Sweden – and Oscar Kylberg, who launched a brand this week.
    Speaking in an interview, the duo told Dezeen how public scrutiny had kept them on their toes.
    A thatched extension was one of the most popular projects this weekPopular projects this week included a thatched extension to a house in Flanders, an aluminium-clad micro home in Germany and a renovated Ibizan finca.
    Our latest lookbooks featured living rooms with low-slung furniture and restful bedrooms decorated in the colours of autumn leaves.
    This week on Dezeen
    This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week’s top news stories. Subscribe to our newsletters to be sure you don’t miss anything.

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    Beata Heuman designs colour-drenched Hôtel de la Boétie in Paris

    Saturated greens and blues contrast pale pink sheets and playful flower details at Hôtel de la Boétie in Paris, which Swedish designer Beata Heuman created to be “a bit like a stage set”.

    Set in a 19th-century building, the 40-room hotel in Paris’ 8th arrondissement was designed with Heuman’s signature colourful interior style.
    Beata Heuman’s Dodo Egg Light hangs in a lounge area at Hôtel de la BoétieWhile it was a renovation of an existing hotel, the designer was able to make large changes to the interior as the building had been altered numerous times since it was completed.
    “The building didn’t have any original features left and has been re-configured over the years,” Heuman told Dezeen. “We spun off the simplicity of the bones that were there, working with strong, simple ideas.”
    The hotel’s reception area has a warm red colourGuests are met by a reception room with a vibrant, bright-red nook for the front-of-house staff and two lamps designed like winding red-and-yellow flowers. A dark-blue leather seat complements the room.

    Next to the reception area, Heuman created an all-silver lounge that was designed to have a theatrical feel and is brightened by an orange velvet sofa and a forest-green coffee table.
    Guests can relax in a silver lounge areaThe colour palette was very deliberately chosen by Heuman, who thought about the wider impact it would have on the space.
    “It’s about contrast and balance,” the designer said. “When you work with rich colours my instinct is to off-set that using simpler materials around it to complement and enhance.”
    Woven headboards create striking centrepieces in the bedroomsThe bedrooms have a saturated colour scheme, with lower-level floors that feature dark blue walls, which change to shades of brown on the ascending floors.
    The two top levels have pale, airy blue hues, with classic French cast-iron balconies providing views of central Paris from the top floor.
    A grassy green carpet was used throughout the hotel to create a vibrant contrast to the blue and brown hues.
    The bathrooms feature pale pastel coloursSome bedrooms have been decorated with oversized headboards that were woven as rugs and then upholstered, creating an unusual and eye-catching centrepiece.
    These were informed by the inlaid marble floor of the Medici Chapel in Florence and sit above the solid-ash beds, which have been made with pale-pink satin sheets that add to the vibrant feel of the room.
    In the bathrooms, Heuman used pale blue and green pastel hues juxtaposed with pink towels to give the rooms a luxurious retro feel, while checkerboard-patterned tiles in yellow and green add a fun touch.
    bedrooms on the lower levels have dark-blue wallsThe designer also used her own products to decorate the hotel, including her Dodo Egg Light – an egg-shaped light with green fittings designed to resemble planet leaves.
    This decorates one of the ground floor lounge areas, which also features posters for art exhibitions by artists Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee.

    Luke Edward Hall stirs print and colour inside Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris

    The designer used mainly natural materials for the hotel, including wood and brass.
    “The solid ash furniture used in all the rooms have a humble quality which anchors the more theatrical elements of the schemes such as the headboards, ensuring the expression stays true to the nature of the building,” she said.
    Heuman aimed to use natural materials throughout the spaceHeuman also created the branding for the hotel, which was made for French hotel group Touriste.
    “A hotel is about having an experience for a day or two, which means that we have been able to explore a concept and a mood to a greater extent,” Heuman said.
    “We can treat it a bit like a stage set, which is not the approach I would take when it comes to someone’s home.”
    Flower lamps decorate the reception areaThe project fulfilled a long-time dream for the designer, who had previously never designed a hotel and works more on private home interiors.
    “I’ve been wanting to do a hotel for ages and it has been a fantastic experience,” Heuman said.  “I am drawn to the theatrical, although that is often not appropriate for a residential setting.”
    “A hotel is an experience for a few nights, therefore you can exaggerate and do more of a ‘look’,” she added. “In a residential project the design is centred around the personal preferences of an individual client.”
    Previous hotels by Touriste include Hotel Les Deux Gares in Paris, which has an interior that was created by British designer Luke Edward Hall. Also in Paris, local studio Uchronia created a colourful Haussmann-era apartment as a “chromatic jewellery box”.
    The photography is by Simon Brown.

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    Renovated Ibizan finca retains rustic charm as Aguamadera hotel

    A 19th-century farmhouse hidden away in the mountains of Ibiza has been converted into a hotel, where guests stay inside earthy, minimalist suites with interiors conceived by creative director Carlota Sarda Caralps.

    The remote Aguamadera resort opened earlier this year and was designed as “a secluded hideaway home” with a focus on nature, wellness and food.
    A 19th-century farmhouse has been converted into a boutique hotelThe brainchild of Pacha Group co-founder Iria Urgell and hospitality entrepreneur Pablo Fernández-Valdés, the hotel was designed under the creative direction of Sarda Caralps.
    Positioned atop a hill near the beach resort of Cala Llonga, the finca – or farmhouse – and its outbuildings constructed in 1888 were converted to accommodate seven guest rooms and four suites.
    The pink flowers of a large bougainvillea tree contrast the whitewashed buildingThe renovated whitewashed structures sit among 27 acres of pine forests, olive groves and terraced agricultural land, from which much of the produce used in the hotel’s restaurant is sourced.

    The name Aguamadera is derived from the Spanish words for water and wood, in a nod to the fact that the hotel hopes to promote healing through nature in its rural setting.
    A covered porch features built-in seating for loungingThis translates into the design through the use of natural materials like clay plaster walls, wooden furniture, linen textiles and jute carpets.
    Simplicity reigns throughout the resort. The textured plasterwork forms organically shaped surfaces and the cement floors complement the neutral palette.
    Small pendant lights hang from the exposed ceiling beams in the casual dining areaThe main building is minimally decorated with locally crafted furniture, objects and a rotating series of works by Ibizan artists.
    “Our venue serves as a vessel between artists and guests,” said the operators.
    “Aguamadera presents pieces of art for a limited time only where paintings, sculptures, environmental art and rare objects are integrated within the hotel experience.”
    Furniture, objects and works by local artists and artisans are displayed throughoutTowards the back is the restaurant, where the kitchen and its wood-fired oven are completely open to the casual dining area.
    Small pendant lights suspended from the exposed wooden ceiling beams softly illuminate the tables, which are set with tableware by British artisan and artist Sarah Jerath.
    The old farmhouse accommodates seven guest rooms”Cosy, easy-going and fresh, the space allows you to explore the valley from within with sunset views,” the team said.
    “In the essence of the winter season, a colossal fireplace evokes nostalgic charm.”
    The rooms have a monastic quality and are furnished with only the essentialsSpread over two floors, the guest rooms in the farmhouse have a monastic quality, with the earth-toned furnishings and decor elements reduced to only what’s necessary.
    Larger multi-room suites are located in corrals – the outbuildings that formerly housed livestock – and have the same visual language as the other spaces.
    Cushioned loungers surround the swimming pool, which overlooks the valley beyond”Rustic wood finishes, built-in furniture, quality materials and soft textures are highlighted through sculptural silhouettes, the cornerstone of our design,” said the team.
    Across the site, several terraces facing the surrounding valleys offer outdoor spaces for guests to eat, drink and relax.

    Five hotels in Ibiza that combine farmhouse living with contemporary design

    A covered porch is lined with built-in seats for lounging and is further shaded by a bougainvillaea tree, whose pink flowers starkly contrast the building’s white walls.
    The pool terrace below features chunky cushioned loungers placed on terracotta tiles and is wrapped by a low dry-stone wall.
    The hotel’s larger suites are housed in the outbuildings formerly used for livestockSunset is best enjoyed from cushions and mats placed under a huge tree on the opposite side of the building to the pool, where a large al fresco dining area is also located.
    Details include hollow bricks with patterned faces embedded into the walls, which glow softly at night to help guests navigate around the site.
    The suites have their own outdoor areasAguamadera hosts a variety of activities for guests and the local community, from exhibitions and workshops to wellness offerings such as sound meditations, rituals and ceremonies.
    Ibiza is renowned the world over as a party destination but visitors are beginning to appreciate its natural beauty and rural charm, too.
    Multiple terraces wrapped by dry-stone walls can be used by guestsSeveral of the island’s old farmhouses have been converted into hotels or private villas, including a 200-year-old stone building that was turned into the members-only retreat La Granja.
    The historic port city of Eivissa has also seen a recent renaissance, with locations from international groups The Standard and Experimental both opening within the past couple of years.
    The photography is by Lekuona Studio. The main image is by Mateo Sánchez Garcia De La Cruz.

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    Bentley presents oceanfront residences in Miami featuring a patented car elevator

    Promotion: Bentley Motors’ first Bentley-branded residential tower will include a vehicle lift that allows residents to seamlessly travel from the road up to their homes without exiting their cars.

    Located in Sunny Isles Beach, Miami, the Bentley Residences tower will contain 216 luxury homes designed in collaboration with Bentley, architectural firm Sieger Suarez Architects and US property developer Dezer Development.
    Bentley Motors’ first Bentley-branded residential tower in Miami will include a vehicle liftStanding 61 stories high, the 749-foot building will be completed in 2027 and aims to be an iconic figure on Miami’s Sunny Isles Beach coastline.
    The brand says that the building will have a focus on indoor-outdoor living spaces exemplified by its cylindrical form and floor-to-ceiling windows, which are designed to ensure each of the residences enjoys uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean and the intracoastal waterways.
    The vehicle lift will allow residents to travel from the road up to their homes inside their carsBentley’s design language is integrated throughout the design. For instance, Bentley’s signature diamond motif – a shape used across all of the brand’s products and cars – is echoed in everything from the meticulous diamond-shaped glass facade panels that are carefully angled to create the natural light refraction, to the elegant diamond-shaped tiles adorning the floor of the lobby.

    Built to suit the needs of luxury car owners, each residence boasts an in-unit multi-car garage with storage for up to four cars per home, with convenient access to a state-of-the-art patented car elevator nestled in the core of the building.
    Bentley’s signature diamond motif is echoed in the designNamed the “Dezervator” after Bentley’s partner Dezer Development, this innovative lift will allow residents to travel directly up to their residences inside their cars.
    An RFID sticker placed in residents’ cars will be automatically scanned on arrival into the building. This triggers a sophisticated lighting system to guide the driver to the correct Dezervator to reach their own floor.
    The technology recognises this ID and takes them directly to their residence, without the driver having to step out of their vehicle or press a button.
    The building will have a focus on indoor-outdoor living spacesEach lift features a hydraulic system that gently secures a car by its tyres to smoothly bring it on top of a robotic shuttle system, which in turn transports a car up or down to the correct story. The lower floors of the elevator shaft are enclosed by glass, granting passengers a full panoramic view of the shared spaces of the building.
    Each of the Bentley Residences will additionally feature an oversized private balcony, a swimming pool, sauna and an outdoor shower. The building’s amenities will include a gym, spa, pet spa, whisky bar, a resident-only restaurant, wellness centre and cinema.
    All homes will include a private swimming poolDesigned in accordance with the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) certification to ensure maximum protection of the local environment and its wildlife, the tower’s architectural design incorporates environmentally safe building materials and reduced coastal lighting, safeguarding the habitat of endangered sea turtles.
    The interiors of Bentley Residences will be made from sustainably sourced, natural materials and finishes such as wood, leather and glass, thoughtfully curated to create a calming colour palette that reflects the residence’s coastal surroundings.
    The building is scheduled to be completed in 2027In the lobby space, structural pillars are veined with wood that has been ingrained with copper dust to add a subtle, metallic finish. This technique was used in Bentley’s concept car, the EXP 100 GT.
    In order to appeal to a luxury consumer, the design team, led by Chris Cooke, head of design collaborations at Bentley, ensured that the residences were designed with the same unwavering dedication to detail found in every Bentley car.
    Prospective buyers have the opportunity to explore a full-size 6,000-square-foot replica unit luxuriously appointed by Bentley Home within the on-site beachfront sales gallery”One of the biggest achievements when we design a car, is to have a whole group of designers working together, but to make it look like it came from one person’s hand,” said head of design collaborations at Bentley, Chris Cooke
    “We have the same exciting challenge with Bentley Residences Miami but on a 61-storey scale.”
    The tower has been designed by Bentley in collaboration with Sieger Suarez Architects and Dezer Development”In reality, each element has been considered, understood and designed by the Bentley Design Team, by our partners at Dezer Development and by Sieger Suarez Architects, but the overall effect is seamless,” Cooke added.
    “We have applied the same attention to detail that goes into our cars into this very building.”
    Bentley Residences also includes an oceanfront gym as one of its distinguished featuresFor example, Bentley’s design DNA is subtly woven into communal amenities, epitomised in such as the cinema, which is designed to mimic the concept of a Bentley car interior.
    “A cosseting sofa wraps around the back of the rear three walls, embracing residents in the space,” said Cooke.
    The whisky bar will reference the matrix grille of Bentley’s cars and feature a bar suspended from the ceiling to appear weightless and floating.
    The tower contains 216 luxury homesWhile the building completion is slated for 2027, potential buyers can view a full-size 6,000-square-foot replica residence, lavishly appointed by Bentley Home, within the on-site beachfront sales gallery.
    The sales gallery can be found at 18325 Collins Ave, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160.
    To learn more about the development visit Bentley Residencies Miami’s website.
    Partnership content
    This article was written by Dezeen as part of a partnership with Bentley. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    Eight restful bedrooms decorated in the colours of autumn leaves

    In this lookbook, Dezeen has selected eight bedrooms that feature shades of green, yellow, orange, red and brown to create cosy environments with an autumnal feel.

    As the northern hemisphere settles into the autumn season and the days get colder, this roundup showcases examples of how to create serene and restful bedrooms by using colours similar to the changing hues of leaves.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring airy loft conversions, kitchen islands with waterfall countertops and art-filled living rooms.
    Photo by David ZarzosoLa Casa de los Olivos, Spain, by Balzar Arquitectos
    Spanish studio Balzar Arquitectos designed a copper-toned home in rural Valencia with an interior colour palette informed by the colours of the surrounding landscape.

    Taking cues from the leaves of the surrounding olive trees, green cupboard doors feature in the bedrooms and kitchen, while terracotta-toned flooring throughout the home mimics the colour of the reddish soil.
    Find out more about La Casa de los Olivos ›
    Photo by Mariell Lind HansenZero House, UK, by Ben Garrett and Rae Morris
    Informed by the mid-century period this London home was built in, recording artists Ben Garrett and Rae Morris renovated Zero House with a warm-toned material palette.
    Timber ceilings were stained a dark red hue, while the walls were stained a lighter yellow tone.
    A rusty red carpet covers the floor in the main bedroom, complementing the orange velvet upholstery on the dark wood bed frame.
    Find out more about Zero House ›
    Photo by Derek SwalwellSomers House, Australia, by Kennedy Nolan
    Australian studio Kennedy Nolan finished the interior of Somer House in Victoria with shades of dark down and pops of red, mirroring the dark timber cladding and red-hued render used on the exterior.
    A range of textures in the tactile flooring, curtains and wood-lined walls create variation in this deep-brown bedroom, which is accented by red bedding.
    Find out more about Somers House ›
    Photo by Giulio GhirardiCanal Saint-Martin apartment, France, by Rodolphe Parente
    A palette of warm neutrals was chosen to enhance the classical heritage of this 19th-century Parisian apartment, which French interior designer Rodolphe Parente renovated in a contemporary style.
    Caramel-coloured walls and a leafy green throw in the bedroom create a warm and inviting environment, which is juxtaposed by a vivid purple rug and lavender-hued bed sheets.
    Find out more about the Canal Saint-Martin apartment ›
    Photo by Fabian MartinezColonia Condesa house, Mexico, by Chloé Mason Gray
    Local interiors studio Chloé Mason Gray renovated a mid-20th century house in Mexico City, embracing the lack of natural light in the home by flooding the walls with deep shades of brown and green.
    The bedroom has a moody atmosphere, with brown textured plasterwork walls accompanied by a leather headboard and green linen bedding and curtains.
    Find out more about the Colonia Condesa house ›
    Photo by MCA EstúdioHygge Studio, Brazil, by Melina Romano
    Named after the Danish word describing a sense of cosiness and contentment, Hygge Studio is a São Paulo apartment designed by Brazilian designer Melina Romano.
    Creamy brick walls, terracotta flooring and warm-toned accents feature throughout the home, including in the oversized upholstered headboard in the bedroom.
    Romano also added nature-inspired elements to the bedroom in keeping with the cosy, bucolic feel of the home, including branches speckled with lichen and insect-shaped wall art.
    Find out more about Hygge Studio ›
    Photo by Purnesh DevHybrid House, India, by Sketch Design Studio
    Architecture firm Sketch Design Studio used vernacular building techniques from both north and south India to create the three-bedroom Hybrid House.
    The house was made from pink-toned rammed-earth walls, which were partly covered with lime plaster in the interior, and terracotta floors feature a kolam inlay created using rice flour.
    Find out more about Hybrid House ›
    Photo by Fabian MartinezCasa Tres Árboles, Mexico, by Direccion
    Varying shades of brown define the interior of Casa Tres Árboles, a holiday home in Valle de Bravo designed by Mexican studio Direccion to be a “monastic sanctuary”.
    Darker, cool-toned shades were used for the bedrooms to create a tranquil atmosphere and counterpoint to the warmer tones in the exposed timber ceiling beams.
    Find out more about Casa Tres Árboles ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring airy loft conversions, kitchen islands with waterfall countertops and art-filled living rooms.

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    RooMoo integrates local materials and traditions into Som Land Hostel near Shanghai

    Thatched roofs, recycled bricks and bundles of sticks were used to construct this hostel on Shanghai’s Chongming Island, which Chinese studio RooMoo has organised around two existing buildings.

    The site is surrounded by water and forests, creating a secluded rural environment on the island that’s located across the Yangtze River estuary from the vast metropolitan area.
    RooMoo completely transformed two existing buildings using materials found on-siteThe Som Land hostel was designed to integrate with this natural landscape and respect the local customs and traditions.
    “The resort’s name Som Land comes from the traditional Chinese colour, the warm green between the mottled gaps in the tree shadows, representing a state of relaxation and slow-paced life,” said Shanghai-based RooMoo.
    “In terms of overall space arrangement and planning, Som Land focuses on nature and humanistic traditions.”

    The buildings are clad using recycled bricks in a pattern based on a local clothThe architects revived two old houses on the site, manipulating their existing forms and layouts to meet the new requirements while adhering to planning restrictions.
    The larger two-storey structure that acts as the accommodation block was overhauled and extended to include an additional floor – now totalling 552 square metres.
    In the larger of the two buildings, the staircase was moved to the north side”Because the original building has problems, it is necessary to adjust the old and inappropriate space layout and add new design strategies to provide reconstruction to match the new requirements,” said RooMoo.
    While its perimeter footprint remained the same, the building was transformed both internally and externally.
    The rooms are decorated with neutral tones and natural materialsPlanning codes limited the height of the eaves. So to provide extra space, RooMoo steepened the pitch of the roof so that the extra storey could tuck inside.
    Large dormer windows create even more space on this upper floor, while balconies were added to the lower levels to extend these, too.
    Wood furniture and woven textiles connect the interiors to the rural settingThe staircase was also relocated to the north of the building, allowing three guest rooms per floor to fan around the glass-topped circulation core.
    Each room has its own bathroom facilities, and some suites include a bathtub that overlooks the balcony and the forest beyond.

    He Wei adds portable plastic rooms to youth hostel in a converted Chinese house

    Neutral tones and natural materials decorate the interiors, which feature wooden bed frames, tables and chairs, plus woven textiles and lighting.
    Tree branches gathered from the site are framed into panels that cover parts of the ceilings in both the rooms and corridors, while bamboo poles partition the staircase flights.
    The second building was extended on the west side with a glazed addition”The guests staying can feel the space environment of non-machine standardised production, so most of our material selection is from nature and the local site,” said RooMoo.
    The second single-storey building that was originally a tool shed was also completely rethought, becoming a reception and communal space where crumbling walls and a tiled roof once stood.
    This building is used as the reception and a communal space for guestsAs with the larger structure, the roof pitch was increased to its maximum allowed height and its boundary was also pushed outward.
    The top of its gabled form was cut off and the flat plane turned into a window to allow plenty of natural light into the interior.
    A central brick fireplace divides the open spaceOn the west side, a wood-framed glass addition is extruded from the building’s profile to face the water.
    Inside, thin strips of wood swoop down and curve outward from the skylight, helping to distribute the light.
    A variety of local products are displayed in the reception buildingA curvaceous brick fireplace and chimney stack are positioned in the centre of the open room to separate the reception area from a lounge and dining space.
    Both buildings were re-clad in bricks recycled from the original structures, in a pattern based on local cloth that casts shadows across the facades.
    Strips of wood curve from the ceiling to funnel in sun from the skylightThatched roofs were also added as a nod to the region’s historic building traditions. “In our practice, we tried to recall the traditional way of manual binding to build a roof of reed poles,” said RooMoo.
    “Therefore, we hope to bring out the first impression of the sustainable concept and practice of earth materials returning to nature,” the studio added.
    “The design treatment is to provide hotel guests with a warm and relaxing vacation with a deeper understanding of the local style of the environment.”
    The top of the gabled roof is cut off and covered in glassSom Land is longlisted in the hotel and short-stay interior category for the 2023 Dezeen Awards, becoming the latest hostel in China to receive recognition from the program.
    Previously, the Capsule hostel and bookstore by Atelier Tao+C in a small rural village was named interiors project of the year at the 2020 Dezeen Awards.
    The photography is by Wen Studio.
    Project credits:
    Design team: RooMooConstruction: Shanghai Guixiang Decoration EngineeringLighting consultant: Shanghai Yiqu Laite Lighting Industry

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    Neon lighting illuminates Strip Joint Chicken by Amanda Hamilton

    Canadian studio Amanda Hamilton Interior Design has used bold colour-blocking and neon lighting to give this Calgary chicken shop a “1990s meets Memphis” feel.

    Strip Joint Chicken in the city’s East Village neighbourhood is a fast-casual restaurant that serves “chicken fingers with a twist”.
    A dark entrance vestibule sets the tone for Strip Joint Chicken’s dining space beyondThe brand is fun, playful and cheeky, so the interiors of its 2,200-square-foot (204-square-metre) space needed to reflect this.
    Working with a return client, Amanda Hamilton Interior Design leant fully into the “offbeat” concept, creating an elevated interpretation of a seedy bar or nightclub that founder Amanda Hamilton described as “1990s meets Memphis”.
    A trio of colourful stripes is used to guide customers to the ordering area, and also spells out the brand’s name on the wall”At times subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) design elements take a nod (or a big ol’ bow) playing to the restaurant’s name,” said the designer. “In a market saturated with options for fast casual, standing out was key.”

    The main entrance vestibule is painted midnight blue and illuminated by vertical bands of neon lighting that connect wall-to-wall across the ceiling. This immersive passageway sets the tone for the main dining area, which is similarly lit with neon.
    Tangles of fluorescent-blue neon tubes are suspended above the service counterTangled fluorescent-blue tubes are positioned above the bar and service counter, while pink and yellow glow from LED strips within large colour-blocked arches that accommodate built-in seating for a row of dining tables.
    “Coloured lighting is used extensively to feature architectural details, enhance volumetric space, ground the bar and highlight seating areas,” Hamilton said.
    LED strips illuminate colour-blocked arched niches, which accommodate bench seatingPart of a larger retail space that was divided into four units, the chicken shop is accessible from both sides of the building.
    Therefore, close attention was paid to the flow of people through the space, and wayfinding tools were implemented to assist both dine-in and take-out customers.
    The arched niches provide space for dine-in guests to enjoy their chicken out the way of take-out customersA trio of thin, coloured stripes are inlaid across floors to guide hungry patrons to the ordering area.
    The same triple-line motif spells out the brand’s name in large letters across a wall, above a pink scallop-topped bench accompanied by small tables and terrazzo stools.

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    Custom-designed feathery wallpaper adorns the back of the central arch and inside the “tender neutral” bathrooms, which are tucked behind bright pink doors.
    For guests wishing to stay longer, a private dining area named the Hens Den is obscured from view by gauzy drapery.
    Custom feathery wallpaper adorns the bathroom interiorsThis monochromatic room features a brass pole in the centre of its dining table, around which a lazy susan for sharing food rotates.
    “As an extension of the space, the predominately custom furniture is equal parts playful and sculptural, creating a conversation-worthy addition to the space,” Hamilton said.
    Located behind bright pink doors, the bathrooms are designated as “tender neutral”The designer founded her eponymous studio in Calgary, where she’s based, and also operates a second location out of Vancouver.
    A trend for bright psychedelia in hospitality and entertainment spaces has been gaining pace recently, with other examples found in Seattle’s Supernova nightclub and the Resonant Head music venue in Oklahoma City.
    The photography is by Joel Klassen.

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