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    Falken Reynolds applies beach-toned palette to Cadboro Bay House interiors

    Bringing the ocean inside was the primary goal of interiors studio Falken Reynolds when designing this waterfront home on Vancouver Island.

    The modern house at the southern tip of the island in British Columbia, Canada was completed by architect Chris Foyd of local firm Bo Form for an active couple with three sons.
    Maximising views of the ocean was Falken Reynold’s principal focus for the interiorsThe family relocated to Cadboro Bay from prairie city Edmonton, and wanted to maximise their coastal location after living so far from the sea.
    “The client had a clear vision for the house – a very pared back, durable and minimalist interior but with warmth and subtle sophistication,” said Falken Reynolds principal Chad Falkenberg, who led the design of the interiors.
    Low furniture helps to prevent blocking sightlines to the outdoorsMeasuring 5,400 square feet (501 square metres), the house appears like a bungalow from the street, while its lower level is tucked underneath and faces the ocean.

    Upstairs is an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, a primary suite and two more bedrooms, as well as a study, powder room and mudroom.
    A selection of Danish and Italian midcentury pieces are placed throughout the homeDownstairs, at pool and beach level, are two further bedrooms, a large home gym, a media room and a rec room.
    The expansive views of the bay through huge floor-to-ceiling windows on both floors are the focus of every space.
    The neutral colours and materials echo the tones of the beach”We wanted to bring the peacefulness of the natural environment inside,” Falkenberg said. “When it came to the detailing we drew a lot of inspiration from modern Belgian architects who are masters at warm minimalism.”
    Low furniture, neutral tones and natural textures together create a casual and serene mood in harmony with the scenery outside.
    The primary suite is located on the upper level and overlooks the water”The palette is an extension of the beach: grays, whites and wood – light and desaturated for the oak millwork and hemlock ceilings – including the oak furniture in the dining room, living room and bedroom,” said Falkenberg.
    The pared-back materials, most of which were sourced locally, also help to highlight the family’s collection of mid-century Canadian art.

    Falken Reynolds gives Saint George House in Vancouver a “Canadian Nordic” feel

    Paintings displayed throughout the home add bold splashes of colour, along with pieces like a glass chandelier by Bocci over the dining table and green marble in the bathroom.
    Along with a selection of Danish and Italian modernist furniture designs, these details help to give the spacious home a more intimate feel.
    Green marble adds colour in the bathroom”The large open spaces and expansive views could easily have felt vacuous with the minimalist approach,” Falkenberg said.
    “The trick was to balance the clean lines with subtle details that add just the right layer of warmth to the spaces.”
    The house was designed by Bo Form and is positioned on the southern tip of Vancouver IslandBased in Vancouver, Falken Reynolds has completed several minimal residential interiors in and around its home city.
    They include a historic townhouse renovation, a house with 11 skylights and a loft apartment with a hidden sleeping nook.
    The photography is by Ema Peter Photography.
    Project credits:
    Interior design: Falken ReynoldsArchitect: Bo Form Architecture, Christian FoydLandscape design: Demitasse Garden Design

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    Ten pop-up shop interiors featuring memorable designs

    Our first lookbook of 2023 collects 10 pop-up shop interiors from around the world, from a swimming-pool-style store by fashion brand Jacquemus to a playful supermarket stocked with groceries made of felt.

    Pop-up shops are temporary retail spaces created as locations for brands to sell their products, generally installed for only a matter of weeks or months.
    Due to their fleeting nature, these stores often feature statement interior designs to capture the attention of their audiences, especially if their aim is to promote new or limited-edition goods.
    Showcasing a variety of material and colour palettes, here are 10 pop-up shops featured on Dezeen.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring suspended fireplaces, homes with sliding doors and interiors informed by Bauhaus principles.

    Image courtesy of SelfridgesLe Bleu, UK, by Random Studio and Simon Jacquemus
    Experience design firm Random Studio created a series of pop-up installations at London’s Selfridges department store that served as temporary shops for French fashion label Jacquemus between May and June last year.
    Titled Le Bleu, the surrealist installations included a pale blue tiled space that was informed by swimming pool changing rooms, complete with dark blue lockers and cubicles holding a series of smaller installations within them.
    Find out more about Le Bleu ›
    Photo by Calle HuthA Better Place to Think, Norway, by Snøhetta
    A Better Place to Think was an Oslo pop-up store designed by architecture studio Snøhetta for tablet brand reMarkable, which looked to the tranquility of libraries for its interior design.
    Warm-hued reading lamps positioned on divided wooden desks illuminated curved leather banquettes where visitors were invited to sit and read. A squiggly neon overhead light took cues from the shape and energy of handwriting.
    Find out more about A Better Place to Think ›
    Image courtesy of Lucy SparrowThe Sparrow Mart, USA, by Lucy Sparrow
    Sushi rolls, pork chops and a playful ATM machine all made entirely out of felt featured in a makeshift supermarket installation in Downtown Los Angeles by British artist Lucy Sparrow.
    The Sparrow Mart was stocked with 31,000 purchasable plush renditions of grocery staples, which were arranged along aisles in colourful rows that took cues from 1980s American supermarkets.
    “As a child, I was obsessed with the exotic, turbo-charged technicolour glow emanating from across the Atlantic,” the artist told Dezeen.
    Find out more about The Sparrow Mart ›
    Photo by Gray HamnerSKKN pop-up shop, USA, by Perron-Roettinger
    Design studio Perron-Roettinger adopted a minimalist colour and material palette when creating the first pop-up shop for SKKN, Kim Kardashian’s skincare and homeware brand.
    Located in a Los Angeles shopping mall until the end of last year, the store’s curved alcoves and sculptural counters were clad in raw plaster and cement, which acted as shelving for the reality TV star’s pared-back products.
    Kardashian opened another pop-up shop in 2021 to promote her underwear brand SKIMS, featuring glossy display units designed by Willo Perron.
    Find out more about this SKKN pop-up store ›
    Photo by Jasper FryMugler Bodyscape, UK, by Random Studio
    Random Studio recently dressed the interior of Corner Shop, Selfridges’ ever-changing retail space, with chrome-effect fragments designed to mimic women’s body parts. The pieces formed an installation celebrating 30 years of fashion brand Mugler’s fragrances.
    Called Bodyscape, the striking large-scale fragments were made from painted wood, while a drop-shaped sculptural centrepiece dispensed Mugler scent intermittently, and also produced undulating lighting when visitors approached it.
    “Seen from the street, the sculptural installation forms an abstract side view of a woman elegantly reclining,” said Random Studio.
    Find out more about Bodyscape ›
    Photo by Benoit FlorençonTiffany & Co pop-up shop, France, by OMA
    Pieces from jeweller Tiffany & Co’s 185-year history are currently on display at a pop-up shop in Paris designed by architecture studio OMA, which will be edited throughout this year until its dismantling in May.
    The labyrinthine store includes a dramatic blue rotunda showcasing designs from Tiffany’s extensive archive, which are encased within pyramidal glass plinths mirrored by gigantic images of the jewellery – blown up to give visitors a closer look at the pieces’ delicate features.
    Find out more about this Tiffany & Co pop-up shop ›
    Photo by Jonathan HökkloSelf-Portrait pop-up shop, USA, by Storey Studio
    Luxury fashion brand Self-Portrait showcased its ready-to-wear Autumn Winter 2019 collection at a New York pop-up store in the city’s SoHo neighbourhood designed by Storey Studio.
    An immersive setting was created by hanging drapes of translucent pink-and-white lace that the studio attached to a concentric circular wooden structure, while suspended tubes of LED lighting illuminated the interior.
    Find out more about this Self-Portrait pop-up store ›
    Photo courtesy of Axel Arigato”Upside-down” Axel Arigato pop-up shop, UK, by Avoir
    Axel Arigato footwear is currently for sale at this “upside-down” pop-up shop in Selfridges, designed for the streetwear brand by French studio Avoir to recall an inverted office.
    Trainers fitted with magnets stick to the walls of the space, which features familiar polystyrene grid ceilings and other office-like materials such as strip lighting and exposed wires.
    “The concept was to flip the script both physically and figuratively on what customers expect from a pop-up, turning all elements upside down through an industrial office lens in which the ceiling becomes the floor and vice versa,” said Axel Arigato.
    Find out more about this “upside-down” pop-up shop ›
    Photo by GlossierGlossier pop-up shop, USA, by Studio Lily Kwong
    Landscape designer Lily Kwong looked to the topography of Capitol Hill, Seattle, to create a local pop-up shop for beauty brand Glossier.
    Conceived in collaboration with Glossier, the store contained moss-topped mounds referencing rolling hills and covered with the region’s native plants.
    Pink and purple accents featured throughout the space and nodded to the brand’s brightly coloured make-up collection, which was displayed on white plinths.
    Find out more about this Glossier pop-up shop ›
    Photo by Topia VisionFatface Coffee, China, by Baicai
    Fatface Coffee was a pop-up coffee shop designed by architecture studio Baicai and presented for a month at Shenyang’s Window Gallery in China.
    The focal point was 300 forest-green beer crates forming a central rectilinear bar and cork-seated stools – an installation that intended to blend the city’s fondness for beer with a local coffee culture that is emerging.
    Bacicai opted for this central seating area to create an open space encouraging free circulation and challenged the conventional floor plan of a cafe.
    Find out more about Fatface Coffee ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring suspended fireplaces, homes with sliding doors and interiors informed by Bauhaus principles.

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    Space Popular reinterprets Aldo Rossi's architectural theories for the metaverse

    Architecture and design studio Space Popular has unveiled Search History, an exhibition at the MAXXI museum in Rome that applies the writings of Italian architect Aldo Rossi to virtual worlds.

    The installation features bold and colourful images envisioning a metaverse city, with doorways that appear to be gateways between different virtual spaces.
    Search History features a physical installation exploring virtual architectureThe aim of Space Popular founders Lara Lesmes and Fredrik Hellberg was to show how Rossi’s ideas about the experience of real-world cities can be reflected in the immersive spaces of the metaverse.
    “The project Search History began as part of our research on issues of the virtual city,” says Lesmes in a video about the project.
    The project draws parallels with the urbanism theories of Italian architect Aldo Rossi”We have been studying how we move between virtual environments, basically places on the internet that are three-dimensional,” Lesmes said.

    “We found a lot of connections to theories of Aldo Rossi,” she added. “Even though he didn’t develop them thinking about the virtual realm or virtual worlds, we feel they are extremely applicable.”
    Multilayered images of virtual environments are printed on overlapping curtainsSearch History is the fifth edition of MAXXI’s Studio Visit, a programme that invites contemporary designers to reinterpret the work of iconic architects from the museum’s collections.
    The starting point for the project was Rossi’s seminal text The Architecture of the City, which describes urban areas as a multilayered sequence of spatial experiences.
    The colourful imagery suggests gateways between different virtual spacesSpace Popular believes that virtual environments should be equally multilayered, and that special attention should be paid to the way people move from one space to another.
    “What does it mean to click on a hyperlink? Do we open a door or do we slide something up?” Hellberg says in the video.
    A lamp within the installation is reflected in the printed imageryThe exhibition comprises a doughnut-shaped pavilion formed of overlapping curtains, each printed with multilayered imagery.
    Inside, Space Popular created the feeling of standing in a city plaza by adding a circular bench topped by what looks like a street light.
    A similar lamp is depicted on one of the curtains, alongside other pieces of street furniture that include a litter bin and a drain cover.

    Space Popular sets out its vision for digital portals made of virtual textiles

    The curtains also depict architectural elements like roof profiles and columns, as well as references to computing such as a keyboard and a search window.
    “This piece is a sort of simulator, a representation of what it could be like, the experience of browsing through immersive, digital environments,” said Lesmes.
    The images also depict architectural elements like roof profiles and columnsThe project builds on the manifesto that Space Popular presented for the Dezeen 15 online festival, which proposed using portals made of digital textiles to navigate virtual worlds.
    The duo have also created other works that explore the design of the metaverse, which they call the immersive internet. These include Value in the Virtual at ArkDes and The Venn Room at the Tallinn Architecture Biennale.
    The images also show virtual interfaces like search windowsSpace Popular: Search History is curated by Domitilla Dardi, senior design curator at MAXXI, and is sponsored by textile manufacturer Alcantara, which provided the material for the curtains.
    Previous editions of Studio Visit have seen Neri&Hu explore the world of Carlo Scarpa and Formafantasma examine Pier Luigi Nervi.
    The exhibition photography is by Matthew Blunderfield.
    Space Popular: Search History is on show at MAXXI from 7 December 2022 to 15 January 2023. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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    Dezeen Debate features a “clean” and “simple” revamp of a 1920s house in Prague

    The latest edition of our weekly Dezeen Debate newsletter features No Architects’ “seamless” renovation and extension of a 1920s house in Prague. Subscribe to Dezeen Debate now.

    No Architects’ extensive revamp aimed to retain the character of the house, which was built in the 1920s in a romantic style that references arts and crafts-style English villas.
    “Our addition refers to the original facade details and is hardly recognisable as separate to the original house,” the studio’s co-founder Jakub Filip Novák told Dezeen.
    Commenters had nothing but praise for the project.

    “Love the clean lines, the simple gestures, the quiet flourishes,” wrote one. “With the historic muted greens and blues complementing the wood, it reminds me of Shaker modernism here in the States. Really beautiful spaces.”
    Sumu Yakushima is a co-operative housing project that supports humans and nature Other stories in this week’s newsletter include a “superbly configured” co-operative housing project in Japan, a roundup of the architecture projects not to miss in 2023 and a Zaha Hadid Architects-designed modular tent classroom for refugees.
    Dezeen Debate
    Dezeen Debate is a curated newsletter sent every Thursday containing highlights from Dezeen. Read the latest edition of Dezeen Debate or subscribe here.
    You can also subscribe to Dezeen Agenda, which is sent every Tuesday and contains a selection of the most important news highlights from the week, as well as Dezeen Daily, our daily bulletin that contains every story published in the preceding 24 hours.

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    Interior design trends for 2023 reflect “anger in the world” and post-covid community focus

    Interiors will get weirder in 2023 with bolder colours, mushroom materials and less birch plywood, designers have told Dezeen.

    As the new year begins, Dezeen asked 12 interior designers and architects about their predictions for the interior design trends that will dominate in 2023.
    Interiors to feature maximalism and weirdness
    British interior designers Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead of 2LG Studio believe interior design this year will be wilder and weirder.
    “It’s a violent time we are living in,” the duo told Dezeen. “There is anger in the world and design needs to reflect that dynamism and not shy away from it. The deco period has been important to design for several years and we are now looking to expressionism and cubism for bold inspiration.”

    “Weirdness has always been there and we’ve always been here for it. Think Haas Brothers. But now it feels like we are in such a wild historical moment that weird is becoming the norm. See Nicolas Devlin and Charlotte Kingsnorth.”
    “When the world gets too weird to comprehend, the designs of the moment reflect that. Let’s all get weird and express our wonderfulness.”
    2LG Studio believes we’ll see more weirdness in design, such as in this Haas Brothers project. Top image of Hotel Les Deux Gares by Luke Edward HallOne of the overarching design trends this year looks to be maximalism, as the world gradually moves on from the more pared-back interior designs that have been popular over the past two years.
    “Last year saw a shift towards maximalism, experimenting with patterns and rich colour schemes,” Sanchit Arora of New Delhi studio Renesa told Dezeen.
    “This year will continue this trend with a fresher fervor. There will be bold and forward designs that give increased personality to the space. For both commercial and residential areas, clients are opting for customized patterns and colours rather than going for conformable products that suit just any space but compromise on standing out.”
    Bolder colours and prints will take centre stage
    While interiors last year often bore a discrete, natural colour palette – as evidenced by the homes in our list of top 10 home interiors of 2022 – 2023 looks set to be colour-drenched.
    “I think I am seeing, after a few years of mostly conservative approach to colour, a more fresh and daring use of colour,” Raúl Sánchez, founder of Barcelona studio Raúl Sánchez Architects, told Dezeen.
    “We are leaving the haven of neutrals and stepping into a rainbow!” added interior designer Pallavi Dean of Roar.
    “The safe beige, grey and white walls are on their way out and we are experimenting with bold hues and darker tones to add depth to the space,” she added.
    “Tread with caution when you choose your shade; it can impact your mood and change your perception of the size of your space.”
    Different colours contrast each other in Adi Goodrich’s design for the Dreams store in Los AngelesSpatial designer Adi Goodrich thinks the use of colour will be especially prominent in kitchen interiors.
    “I think people are finally embracing colour and will choose to redesign their kitchens in a wash of colour,” she told Dezeen.
    According to interior designer Kelly Hoppen, neutrals will still be going strong but will be increasingly complemented by bold prints.
    “The way we use our homes has evolved over the last few years as we appreciate the comfort and warmth of our own spaces, especially as many people are still in part working remotely or hybrid working,” she told Dezeen.

    Dezeen’s top 10 home interiors of 2022

    “This will continue to reflect our colour choices and so for multifunctional yet homey rooms, calming neutrals will be favoured including cosy greys to classic beiges and taupes,” Hoppen added.
    “That said, bold prints are making a resurgence and the asymmetrical feel in rooms is going to be huge. Wallpaper, which is also having a comeback, will be used through 2023 decor. For example – textural walls being used as a backdrop for artwork or asymmetrical wallpaper borders being used to add contrast.”
    Rich and tactile materials to dominate
    Tactile, rich materials will be especially popular in the coming year, according to the designers.
    “We are craving a ‘multi-sensory palette’,” said Dean.
    “The recent pandemic deprived us of one of our most ‘human’ senses: touch. In response to that, I feel it will become increasingly important for designers to make use of materials that bring tactility to the interior scheme and to devise spaces that provoke an emotion in its users.”
    “In the post-pandemic space, the wellbeing of the end user is considered more than ever,” agreed interior designer Tola Ojuolape.
    “Humble materials and finishes that give rise to a relaxed sophistication will continue to dominate the interiors landscape. Lime plaster walls and finish, brick, natural wool will be visible.”
    Humble materials such as lime plaster will be popular. Image is of a London extension by Emil Eve ArchitectsMeanwhile, an increasing appetite for bold designs could lead to some currently popular materials falling out of favour.
    “I think the era of birch plywood might be coming to an end,” Goodrich said. “I believe richer woods like walnut, cherry and red oak will be seen more in interiors moving forward.”
    “Bold, colourful marbles balanced with neutrals will be particularly trendy,” predicted Hoppen. “People will be eating in a lot more in 2023, so table tops (especially marble) and dining spaces will make a huge comeback–perfect for those looking to entertain.”
    Studios are also open to working with new materials this year as they strive for more sustainable designs.
    “Materiality excites us as a studio,” 2LG said. “Mushrooms are going to become more important. Brands like Mylo Unleather are making waves and getting us excited about the possibilities mushrooms offer as an ethical and sustainable alternative to animal skin.”
    Designers think interior brands will follow fashion houses in using mushroom leather from brands such as MyloInterior designer Kelly Wearstler agreed, saying: “Sustainability will continue to live at the forefront of all design conversations and innovations. I have been very interested in the rise of mushroom leather.”
    “This fabric innovation has already been revolutionary for the fashion industry, offering a sustainable alternative,” she added. “I expect we will continue to see its presence grow within interiors and design.”
    Sustainability becoming a “necessity”
    Designers are also more focused on sustainability than ever before and wary of greenwashing.
    “Sustainability is an evolving subject in the interiors space; this will continue in 2023,” Ojuolape predicted.
    “Designers will continue to find ways to ensure it is considered and adapted into the life cycle of an interiors project from the onset.”
    “Intentional and deliberate education will continue to ensure resourceful materials selections, upcycling and reuse of furniture and smart reduction of plastics and waste,” she added.
    “Sustainability is an evolving subject” says Tola Ojuolape, who worked on the interior of the Africa Centre”As we confront ourselves with the ever-increasing issues of energy consumption and global warming, interior design projects will be greatly affected in many aspects,” Japanese designer Keiji Ashizawa predicted.
    “I believe projects that trace the context of sustainability will become a necessity, and it will no longer be something that is merely spoken about as an idealized concept,” he added.

    “Maximalism is a manifestation of a desire for a different world”

    “I think it’s safe to say we are all sensitised to greenwashing,” Dean said.
    “Designers and clients are both better educated about the impact their work will have on the environment and are steering clear from box-ticking certification goals. Instead, the focus is on long-term strategies – waste disposal, efficient MEP systems and better construction methodologies.”
    Human connection important after pandemic
    The importance of working together as a community was also highlighted by many of the designers Dezeen spoke to.
    “Due to the pandemic we have all been more or less isolated – so what we see is a longing for truly connecting and interacting with the world around us again,” said Norm Architects partner Frederik Werner.
    “Translate that into the field of interior design – and we see how we as humans seek tactility, sensibility and natural materials in the constant pursuit of wellbeing.”
    Australia-based designer Danielle Brustman agreed, saying: “There seems to be a sculptural and more organic design trend growing in interior design. There is a return to the soft curve and using more organic materials. We have all been rocked by the Covid pandemic and I think people are in need of some nurturing.”
    Organic and collaborative design is set to grow after the pandemic. Image is of Forest Retreat by Norm ArchitectsThis theme of community will also play out in the production of design projects, predicts Ashizawa.
    “After experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic, I believe that there will be more opportunity to reflect on the community – along with the cost of import and logistics leading to a slower progression of projects,” he said.
    “This would spur the expansion of community-based projects that focus on cultural values of local production for local consumption.”
    Similarly, Alex Mok of interior design studio Linehouse believes the difficulty of the past year will enhance the need for collaboration.
    “2022 was a difficult year for many countries and cultures so we look towards 2023 with a focus to human connection, authenticity and social interaction,” she told Dezeen.
    “We’re seeing a greater consideration on the use and purpose of spaces beyond form and instead activating communities. We hope to see more projects that revitalise existing buildings or connection to local crafts.”

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    Renesa completes “grotto-like” interior for Tin Tin restaurant

    Indian architecture and interiors studio Renesa has completed a restaurant in Chandigarh with curving walls, ceilings and countertops blanketed in mosaic tiles.

    Tin Tin is a pan-Asian dining venue with an experimental menu, which New Delhi-based Renesa was asked to reflect in its design for the restaurant’s interior.
    The Tin Tin restaurant features curved walls and countertopsThe studio aimed to create a rich and engaging experience for guests, unfolding gradually as they move around the space.
    This is achieved by breaking up Tin Tin’s floor plan with curved walls and built-in furnishings that combine to from various different seating nooks and zones.
    A gridded mosaic covers surfaces across the restaurant”Sweeping arches, contoured ceilings and a juxtaposition amidst solid and voided structures dot the layout,” Renesa said.

    “These conjure focal nodes and morphing vistas as one lets the eye take in the space, only to reveal that no two sights within the interior volume can be identical.”
    Renesa designed the restaurant interior to reflect Tin Tin’s experimental menuThe fluidity of the restaurant’s internal surfaces is accentuated by the mosaic tiles that are arranged into a rough grid pattern across its walls, floors and openings.
    The surfaces were cast on site using terrazzo combined with slices of Indian stone in shades of jade, umber brown, veined white and greige.
    Renesa says Tin Tin’s “minimalist grotto-like feel” is a result of this homogenous materiality, which took a team of stonemasons and plasterers more than six months to complete.

    Renesa uses contrasting terracotta and terrazzo materials to create all-day cafe in New Delhi

    The built-in elements are complemented by a range of custom-made furniture featuring similar curvilinear silhouettes and a matching colour palette.
    The restaurant’s entrance flows into an open space containing a range of freestanding high tables and communal seating areas, offering an array of dining experiences.
    Custom-made furniture separates different dining zonesTin Tin also provides varying degrees of privacy, allowing it to be transformed from a fine dining space during the day to a lively lounge in the evening.
    A large terrace featuring the same decor as the internal dining space provides additional seating in the daytime, while at night the tabletops and bar areas are illuminated by spotlights from above to create an intimate atmosphere.
    The curved elements contrast with their gridded surface patternRenesa was founded in 2006 and is led by architect Sanjay Arora and his son Sanchit.
    Previous projects from the studio include an all-day cafe in New Delhi that juxtaposes terracotta and terrazzo surfaces, and a brick manufacturer’s showroom in the same city that is clad entirely in earthy-hued masonry.
    The photography is by Niveditaa Gupta.

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    Norm Architects creates warm yet minimalist interior for Y9 sailing yacht

    Wood-lined walls meet supple suede furnishings inside this restrained interior, designed by Danish studio Norm Architects for a luxury yacht.

    Manufactured by German shipyard Y Yachts, the Y9 sailing yacht is almost 30 metres long and designed to be used by families and bigger groups, leading Norm Architects to strip the interior down to its essential features.
    Norm Architects has applied its signature minimalist aesthetic to the Y9 yacht”This way, the pared-back interior has room for the life lived within – a simplified space, yet still rich in details and thoughtful in terms of material choices,” the practice explained.
    The starboard side of the Y9 houses an intimate lounge, which has a built-in corner sofa topped with oatmeal-coloured cushions.
    The yacht’s lounge has a comfy corner sofaAdjacently lies the dining area, anchored by a large wooden table that can host up to eight guests.

    This is accompanied by a bench seat and a series of slender black-framed chairs which, when waters are rough, can be discreetly secured to the table with leather clips.
    Up to eight guests can gather to eat around the dining tableLeather handles were also fixed to the ceiling above so that passing guests and crew can steady themselves.
    “The security requirements are met in style through elegant, built-in furniture that appears unfixed to create a homely feel, ultimately accomplishing an understated luxury,” the practice explained.
    A short flight of steps leads up to a small study, separated from the dining area by a low wooden partition.

    Zaha Hadid Architects designs sinuous solar-powered catamaran

    The bow of the yacht accommodates the principal bedroom.
    Its bed is framed by a headboard upholstered in beige suede that extends to form a band around the lower half of the room, concealing built-in storage cupboards. The same suede was also used to cover the bed’s chunky base.
    A small study is tucked away behind the dining areaWhere possible, corners throughout the boat were curved or rounded off in order to create what the practice describes as “simpler, more coherent spaces with fluent transitions”.
    The walls of the Y9 are also lined with vertical wooden beams to make the rooms onboard appear loftier.
    Beige suede wraps around the yacht’s principal bedroomThis is the second time that Norm Architects has worked on the fit-out of a yacht, having completed another minimalist boat for Y Yachts back in 2019.
    The practice isn’t alone in turning its hand to boat design. Zaha Hadid Architects recently unveiled plans to create the sinuous solar-powered yacht Oneiric.
    Vertical wooden panels line the wallsAdam Richards Architects also built a 20-metre-long barge to accommodate a floating restaurant in London’s Little Venice, finishing it with a patinated aluminium roof.
    The photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects.

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    JamesPlumb fuses bulrush and hemp elements at Cambridge Aesop store

    London design studio JamesPlumb blended handwoven bulrush shelves with earthy hemp accents to create the interiors for this Aesop store in Cambridge, which takes cues from the nearby River Cam.

    Located on the city’s Trinity Street, the Aesop outlet was conceived as a “woven reading room” that provides a place to shop and leaf through books, according to the Australian skincare and cosmetics brand.
    The JamesPlumb-designed shopfront features a facade informed by leatherThe store’s understated shopfront is painted a dark brown hue informed by well-worn leather, which nods to antique book bindings in reference to Cambridge’s history of academia.
    Inside, a curved and slatted window seat doubles as a plinth for potted pelargoniums that frame the store’s light-filled, street-facing room featuring earthy-toned walls.
    Potted pelargoniums line a street-facing window seatThis space is defined by oversized, textured shelves created from freshwater bulrush plants – locally sourced and handwoven by rush weaver Felicity Irons of Rush Matters.

    “The city itself and the surrounding landscape were the starting point for our design,” studio founders Hannah Plumb and James Russel told Dezeen.
    “The River Cam plays a huge part in that – we were increasingly drawn to it and felt strongly that it sets the pace and the pulse of the city of Cambridge.”
    Hemp and bulrush form shelving and other cabinetryOther shelving in this room is made from hemp grown on the nearby Margent Farm, which was combined with bio-resin to form geometric slabs of cabinetry that display various Aesop products, as well as a large sink.
    “[The hemp] absorbs a huge amount of carbon as it grows, and to be so local to the project was wonderful,” acknowledged Plumb and Russel.
    “We wanted to use materials that were as local as possible, and bulrush being literally of the local waters made sense – both because of its beauty and tactility, and also because of the chance to use a material that would travel so few miles, and use so little energy in production,” they added.

    Aesop’s London store takes its colour from the red sandstone of Glamis Castle

    At the back of the store, another room features walls painted in a darker hue than the street-facing space, which takes cues from the brown flowers of bulrush plants.
    Visitors are invited to sit in a low-slung antique armchair upholstered in floral fabric or browse the various books displayed on the same hemp and bulrush cabinetry that exists throughout the store.
    The back room is dressed in darker huesOriginal nineteenth-century polished wooden floorboards also feature in both rooms and intend to echo the outlet’s emphasis on local history.
    “Each Aesop store has its own character, and for this one, we responded specifically to its location in the heart of Cambridge,” concluded Plumb and Russel.
    Similar shelving found in the front room features various books on displayThis Cambridge branch is not the first Aesop store designed by JamesPlumb. The studio also created one in London’s Bloomsbury where water runs from shelf to shelf and a stone-based store in Bath that celebrates the city’s architectural landscape.
    Other Aesop outlets worldwide include a Tokyo branch defined by plaster and steel and a Toronto store featuring Victorian balustrades.
    The photography is by Oskar Proctor. 

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