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      Jakob Sprenger embellishes Aesop store with salvaged plaster medallions

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      Austrian architect Jakob Sprenger has installed 1920s plaster medallions above a large sculptural sink as the centre of skincare brand Aesop’s store in Paris.

      Located within a residential neighbourhood in the district of Ternes in Paris’ 17th arrondissement, Sprenger designed the store to “create a feeling of simple domesticity”.
      The space was designed around four 19th-century painted gypsum ceiling medallions that the team found during the initial stages of the project.
      The flooring was made from reclaimed French tomette tilesThe baroque-style medallions were originally made in 1923 for the now-demolished Hotel de la Guilonniere in central Paris.
      They were placed directly above a sculptural sink that sits at the centre of the triangular store.

      “At first, we weren’t sure how to incorporate them, but their artistic quality and provenance immediately caught my attention,” Sprenger told Dezeen.
      The medallions were attached to the ceiling and one of the wallsAs is typical of most Aesop stores, the sink can be used by customers to trial and test the brand’s products.
      Above the sink, a large elliptical cut-out in the ceiling was designed as a frame for both the sink and the medallions above.
      “The triangular floorplan with a wide south-facing facade has a rather unusual geometry but allows for an impactful arrangement of functions and exciting perspectives,” explained Sprenger.

      JamesPlumb fuses bulrush and hemp elements at Cambridge Aesop store

      The design team organised the space into two “differently proportioned” sections, with the primary sales area at the front of the store and the billing and checkout nook at the back.
      Sprenger explained that the two sections were “flanked by softly rounded geometries, harmonising the visual tension of the triangular room with narrow corners”.
      Millwork and accent walls across the store were painted in burgundy-red lacquerBurgundy-toned window bays were created at either end of the space, where there is seating for customers.
      Adjacent to one of the windows is a fragrance armoire, where customers can test the brand’s perfume range.
      The checkout nook has a curved counterThe billing and checkout nook was created as an intimate space painted in burgundy red lacquer, featuring visible brush strokes.
      Candles and incense are displayed on recessed shelves on one side of the nook.
      Recessed shelves display the brand’s candles and incense rangeAccording to Sprenger, the main design challenge was amending the facade, which was added in the 1990s.
      The design team aimed to create an “inviting ambience” by adding textile awnings and lacquered paneling above a plinth clad in lutecian sandstone.
      An alabaster-coloured Aesop street sign contrasts the dark background of the facade.
      The facade features a plinth of lutecian sandstoneSprenger previously designed Aesop stores in Rome and Salzburg.
      “Our mission is to create lasting values that resonate meaningfully with their surroundings,” he explained.
      “We approach every project as a unique entity embedded in its historical, architectural and cultural context,” Sprenger said.
      Aesop stores recently featured on Dezeen include an outpost in Seoul informed by traditional Korean pavilions and another covered in mint green materials in Los Angeles.
      The photography is by Ludovic Balay.

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      Archmongers celebrates “raw beauty of brutalist concrete” in Trellick Tower apartment refresh

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      Newly exposed concrete walls are paired with a matching terrazzo in this sensitive home renovation by London studio Archmongers in North Kensington’s Trellick Tower.

      Led by architects Margaret Bursa and Johan Hybschmann, Archmongers reworked a duplex apartment on the 23rd and 24th floors of the listed 31-storey tower block.
      Archmongers has renovated a Trellick Tower apartmentThe design stays true to the original layout and materials palette but some small adjustments help to emphasise the building’s brutalist character.
      Bursa and Hybschmann chose to expose the coarse concrete aggregate walls, while new fixtures and surfaces are made from industrial-style materials in complementary tones.
      Materials were chosen complement the newly exposed concreteThe effect is most striking in the kitchen, where the speckled brown and cream terrazzo sits alongside brushed stainless steel counters, white cabinets and matt-black linoleum flooring.

      Archmongers designed the home for a client who divides their time between London, Italy and Switzerland.
      “Our client was looking for a refurbishment which was true to the simplicity and modesty of the original fit-out,” Bursa told Dezeen.
      Matt-black linoleum provides flooringThe aim, she said, was to embrace “the raw beauty of brutalist concrete” and emphasise “the use of honest materials in every intricate detail”.
      “The contemporary update is drawn from the original architecture,” she said.

      Trellick Tower apartment revamped to resemble “cool concrete loft”

      “We exposed the in-situ cast concrete walls in the living spaces and on the stairs, adding material richness to the interiors and linking to the course aggregate concrete of the exterior facade.”
      Completed in 1972, Trellick Tower was designed by Hungarian-British architect Ernö Goldfinger and famously features a separate staircase tower connected to the apartment floors by enclosed bridges.
      A secondary doorway was replaced with an internal window to create extra storageArchmongers made few changes to the apartment layout, which they described as “very efficiently designed”.
      The largest intervention closed up a secondary doorway that previously led through to the kitchen, instead creating an internal window above additional storage and counter space.
      The same material palette features in the living roomAn adjustment was also made on the upper level, where some of the space from the cloakroom was reallocated to make room for an extra shower.
      In bathrooms on both floors, tap and shower fittings sourced from Italian manufacturer Fantini Balocchi provide flashes of bright red and yellow that reference the coloured tiles found throughout Trellick Tower.
      Bathrooms feature white tiles with putty-coloured grout and brown terrazzo”The communal hallways of Trellick Tower each have a different tiled colour theme, which inspired our use of colour,” Bursa explained.
      Warm tones emanate from other surfaces in these rooms, including a terrazzo with the tone of walnut wood and white tiles outlined by putty-coloured grout.
      Tap and shower fittings provide flashes of bright red and yellowThe Trellick apartment is the latest in a series of mid-century renovations that Archmongers has completed and not the first to feature in a famous estate.
      Past projects include reworks of a duplex in the 1950s-built Golden Lane Estate and an apartment in the Barbican, as well as a revamp of a 1960s terrace.
      A new hand-carved walnut handrail was added to the staircaseHere, the building’s Grade II* listing meant that Archmongers was required to retain the original metal lightswitches, even though they couldn’t be certified after the electrics were rewired.
      “There are now two sets of light switches; one new and one original but no longer working,” Bursa said.
      Other sensitive additions include a new hand-carved walnut handrail for the staircase, which runs parallel to the modernist-style metal and timber balustrade.
      The duplex is located on the 23rd and 24th floors of Trellick Tower”Preserving the architectural integrity of the building was paramount,” Bursa added.
      “The Trellick Tower project serves as both an homage to the building’s historical significance and a timeless update that elevates its legacy to new heights.”
      The photography is by French + Tye.

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      JEB Group unveils partitions “optimised for acoustics”

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      Promotion: acoustic partition brand JEB Group has enclosed a wood-lined meeting room with a sliding partition system, forming the centrepiece of an office in Hong Kong.

      Named “Summit Partition Systems”, the set up features a slim frame with a curved design, intended to integrate with the overall interior design. The project also uses the company’s Summit sliding door with a lightweight design and pared back extrusions.
      JEB specialises in acoustic partitions and furniture for commercial interiors, where clients want to reduce noise and minimise disruption.
      JEB Group supplied and installed single glazed partitions with a matching sliding door in this Hong Kong officeJEB said its Summit sliding doors are hung and constructed using a specially designed technique using gaskets to minimise sound when opening and closing.
      The company said it is also able to achieve smooth access through a custom made track at the base and heavy rollers capable of bearing loads up to 300kg.

      The partitions systems were customised by JEB with curved glass and matt black finishes for a financial planning company’s Hong Kong office.
      Designed to “optimise acoustics and seamlessly blend charm and functionality”, Summit partitions provide a private space suitable for meetings, according to the company.
      The meeting room has single glazed glass partitions and doors”One of the standout features of this workspace is our Summit partitions systems and matching sliding doors,” said the brand.
      “These partitions are a perfect example of how thoughtful design can enhance the modern office environment. They offer a sleek and stylish appearance with a slim frame that complements the overall interior design,” the company continued.
      The switchable “smart glass” can be left transparent for visibility or “misted” when privacy is needed”Their acoustic capabilities ensure that the workspace remains peaceful and free from distractions, creating an environment conducive to productivity,” added JEB Group.
      Summit partitions system and matching sliding doors, like all JEB acoustic partitions, undergo ISO certified and third party laboratory testing, and can achieve an STC rating of up to 37 with their double glazing solutions, the company said.
      “What’s more, the elegant curved feature of these doors adds a touch of sophistication to the space.”
      The curved glass was specified by the client for a contemporary lookAccording to the company, the Summit partition system is lightweight, ensuring “smooth and effortless operation”.
      The switchable single glazed glass panes can be left transparent for visibility between meeting spaces or “misted” to maximise privacy when needed.
      In addition to the Summit sliding doors, JEB Group curated a selection of modern and ergonomic furniture for the client.
      “By prioritising comfort and functionality, these carefully chosen pieces added the perfect finishing touch to our client’s commercial space, catering to the modern needs of businesses in workstations and breakout areas,” said JEB Group.
      The room is designed to be a private, near silent spaceJEB said it is committed to promoting sustainability practices striving to “repurpose unwanted furniture and relocate partitions to new sites” where possible.
      The company aims to provide an array of design services: acoustic partitions, office furniture, bespoke facades and circular office fit-out solutions.
      Other projects by JEB Group featured on Dezeen include glazed acoustic partitions and furniture created for UOW College Hong Kong.
      To find out more about JEB Group, visit jebgroup.com.
      The photography is courtesy of JEB Group.
      Partnership content
      This article was written by Dezeen for JEB Group as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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      Max Radford Gallery opens London showroom to get people “in front of real objects”

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      Max Radford Gallery has opened a permanent space in east London that shows collectible designs from its past shows, including pieces by Carsten in der Elst and Amelia Stevens.

      Located in Hackney Downs, the showroom displays works that the gallery first showed at Belgium’s Collectible design fair, as well as pieces from earlier exhibitions.
      The showroom is located in east LondonBy combining works from different stages of its designers’ careers, the gallery aims to showcase how the artists it works with have developed over the years.
      “It’s a privilege to be able to track a designer’s development and change in their practice across a few pieces in the same space,” founder Max Radford told Dezeen.
      It features pieces by 15 designersThe gallery, which launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, focuses on emerging artists. By opening a physical space, it hopes to also help them reach a bigger audience.

      “The Max Radford Gallery seeks to platform emerging creatives who are working in the grayscale between art and design with a London-centric focus,” Radford said.
      “This has always been the particular area that the gallery has been engaged with and stems from a need for physical spaces to see these types of works in London, rather than just on social media – as the only option was when the gallery was beginning.”
      Collectible furniture designs are on display at the galleryAmong the artists showing in the space are In der Elst, whom the gallery had previously included in its Hard Knocks show, and Stevens, who took part in Max Radford Gallery’s exhibition at the Aram Gallery.
      The new space also showcases furniture and accessories by designers Georgia Merritt, Fred Thompson, Grace Prince, Nic Sanderson, Inga Tilda, Eddie Olin, EJR Barnes, Ty Locke, LS Gomma, Natalia Tifantilyi, Andrew Pierce Scott, Louie Isaaman-Jones and Matthew Verdon.

      Aram and Max Radford Gallery showcase emerging designers in Now 4 Then exhibition

      Max Radford Gallery is now located in a minimalist studio, which its founder intends to keep as a paired-back space.
      “The showroom is a beautiful white-painted studio space with just over half of the floor plan having triple height up to skylights, producing beautiful changing light across the day,” Radford said.
      “We haven’t made any architectural changes to the space and are not sure that we will, potentially with the exception of some sort of temporary mezzanine in the triple height space for an exhibition-specific installation,” he added.
      Max Radford Gallery focuses on emerging designersBy opening a permanent gallery, Radford wants to support London’s community of emerging designers.
      “It’s for the community aspect that is introduced by the communal use of creative space; there is a burgeoning community of designers and artists in London with lots of crossovers through universities and workshops that support and raise up its members,” he said.
      “Facilitating a space for communities like this to express and interact seems like a key aspect to supporting what is going on here in London currently,” he added.
      The showroom features pieces from previous exhibitionsHe also hopes that the physical aspect of the space will encourage people to see design pieces in person.
      “It’s as simple as getting people in front of real objects, not just heavily retouched or rendered images of them,” Radford concluded.
      The photography is by Richard Round Turner.

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      Omar Aqeel brings “sensory fantasy” to NYC bar Only Love Strangers

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      Cobalt blue surfaces line this bar and restaurant in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, designed by Brooklyn-based Studio Omar Aqeel as a “retro-futuristic oasis”.

      On the corner of East Houston and Allen streets, Only Love Strangers is a two-level cocktail lounge, restaurant and live-music venue that draws influences from 1960s and 70s surrealism.
      Guests arriving at Only Love Strangers are greeted at a cantilevered host stand within a limewashed spaceStudio Omar Aqeel blended references ranging from Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey movie and Eileen Gray’s E-1027 villa to the sculptures of Alexander Calder for the interiors.
      “A site of sensory fantasy – especially for discerning creatives – Only Love Strangers boasts a unique aesthetic that encourages endless discovery,” said the team.
      An arched opening leads into a bar area lined floor to ceiling with cobalt blue tilesGuests who enter the 6,300-square-foot (585-square-metre) space are greeted at a cantilevered, brushed-aluminium host stand.

      Straight ahead, through an arched opening, is a bar area enveloped in floor-to-ceiling cobalt blue tiles with blue grouting.
      Banquettes are upholstered in Verner Panton’s 1969 Black and White Optik textileA brushed-aluminium bar counter has rounded ends echoed by a light fixture above, and industrial-style bar stools provide seating for seven.
      Banquettes are upholstered in Verner Panton’s 1969 Black and White Optik textile, adding space for eight more guests.
      Cobalt blue continues as an accent on seat cushions in the main dining spaceIn the main dining space, left of the entrance, the walls are covered in earthy limewash that contrasts the bright blue cushions of built-in seats.
      “Here, a voyeuristic egress allows guests to peek into the subterranean lounge, while domed dining niches with blue crescent-shaped booths provide a more intimate dining atmosphere,” the team said.
      The private dining space is decorated with a mural inspired by the Bauhaus abstract gridThe private dining space for up to 10 guests is decorated with a wall-to-wall, hand-painted mural inspired by the Bauhaus abstract grid.
      With its own entrance, this space includes Ant chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, a vintage Makio Hasuike for Seccose metro dining table, and Maru pendant lighting by Ingo Maurer.

      Bird feathers and burls inform New York restaurant by Polonsky & Friends

      Cobalt blue reappears across the basement-level lounge, where almost every surface is dressed in the bold hue.
      Aluminium accents continue in this space too, along with a variety of playful lights that add a warm glow to the cool-toned space.
      The basement-level cocktail lounge is also lined almost entirely in cobalt bluePieces by New York-based artists and designers can be found throughout Only Love Strangers, including Max Simon, Blue Green Works, Yuyu Shiratori, Nico Anon, Superabundance, Gregory Beson, Adriana Gallo, Ash Allen, and Lucas Willing Studios.
      The lounge also offers a live music program of local jazz talent in the evenings.
      The lounge features aluminium furniture and hosts live music performancesThe lively Lower East Side neighbourhood is packed with bars and restaurants, such as Italian spot Una Pizza Napoletana with “deco meets industrial” interiors.
      Boutiques that have recently opened in the area include the Le Père menswear store by BoND and the Awake NY streetwear shop by Rafael de Cárdenas.
      The photography is by Ori Harpaz.

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      Eight gallery-like living rooms with sculptural furniture pieces

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected living rooms that feature sculptural furniture in homes from São Paulo to London.

      An undulating sofa, a lamp made from towering columns and a wiggly chair are among the sculptural furniture pieces in this lookbook, which showcases how they can be used to add more interest to living rooms.
      In pared-back interiors, these furniture designs can add a playful touch and make the rooms feel more special, while also giving them a gallery-like feel.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring rooms dominated by dark-wood furniture, well-designed hallways and contemporary green bathrooms.
      Photo by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio

      Local firm Memola Estudio renovated this São Paulo apartment with a combined living-and-dining area containing furniture in earthy hues.
      Among the sculptural pieces used are a low, pill-shaped coffee table with a decorative indentation and cosy, velvet-clad lounge chairs.
      Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
      Photo by François CoquerelHaussmann apartment, France, by Hauvette & Madani
      The interior of this Parisian apartment in a Haussmann building (above and main photo) was created by design studio Hauvette & Madani to have a gallery-like feel, inspired by the owner’s art collection.
      In the living room, two slow-slung curved sofas add a sculptural touch and are complemented by round chairs and tables.
      Find out more about Haussmann apartment ›
      Photo by by Genevieve LutkinLondon townhouse, UK, by Tabitha Isobel
      A stylish metal chair with a graphic fabric adds design interest to the living room of this London townhouse, where it matches a mushroom-shaped steel lamp.
      A textured painting in earthy tones hangs above the home’s marble green fireplace, while small sculptures add to the decorative atmosphere.
      Find out more about London townhouse ›
      Photo by by Denilson MachadoDN Apartment, Brazil, by BC Arquitetos
      The living room of this 230-square-metre apartment has a Petala table by designer Jorge Zalszupin that functions as a sculptural centrepiece.
      A velvet sofa and chairs with polished wooden globes are among the other sculptural furniture pieces on show in the apartment, which was designed for a landscape architect.
      Find out more about London townhouse ›
      Photo by by José HeviaCasamontesa, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández Gil
      Spanish studio Lucas y Hernández Gil drew on 1970s aesthetics for the interior of this Madrid bungalow.
      In the living room, a sculptural wavy stool, an arched fireplace and a round tadelakt coffee table add a fun touch.
      Find out more about Casamontesa ›
      Photo by by Jake CurtisChancery House, UK, by Norm Architects
      The only non-residential building on this list, the Chancery House workspace in London has a number of living-room-like spaces for relaxation.
      In one, design studio Norm Architects added floor-to-ceiling wooden screens to create a sheltered space, where soft, monolithic armchairs are contrasted against a low, geometric wooden table.
      Find out more about Chancery House ›
      Photo by Margarita NikitakiEsperinos, Greece, by Stamos Michael
      Numerous geometric shaped pieces by designer Stamos Michael fill the living room of this Greek guesthouse, including a lamp made from two towering, rust-brown columns of powder-coated steel.
      Also featured is a sculptural chair by Michael that features a metal pole running through its backrest and a brown-leather edition of designer Konstantin Grcic’s Traffic lounge chair.
      Find out more about Esperinos ›
      Photo by Helen CathcartThe Maker’s Barn, UK, by Hutch Design
      A concrete pig farm outside London was turned into a rural retreat by architecture studio Hutch Design, which decorated it with bespoke fittings and handmade furniture.
      The sculptural furniture in the living room include a metal table with triangle-shaped legs and a wiggly lamp.
      Find out more about The Maker’s Barn ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring rooms dominated by dark-wood furniture, well-designed hallways and contemporary green bathrooms.

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      Ten Adam Štěch photographs of “one-of-a-kind” architecture and interior designs

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      Architecture historian Adam Štěch highlights ten images from his recent exhibition Elements: Unique Details of the 20th Century Architecture and Interior and explains the stories behind them.

      The exhibition brought together an edited selection of nearly 3,000 photographs from Štěch’s archive of buildings and interiors and their bespoke details.
      Elements: Unique Details of the 20th Century Architecture and Interior was created for Milan design week and provided a welcome respite from the week’s influx of new products.
      It was displayed in one of the previously abandoned warehouse tunnels behind Milan Central Station, as part of the Dropcity series of exhibitions.
      Over more than 15 years, Štěch estimates he has photographed about 7,000 projects in 45 countries, capturing buildings and interiors that were completed between 1910 and 1980.

      “It’s hard to count them all,” Štěch told Dezeen when asked how many photographs are in the ever-evolving archive.

      Eight Alastair Philip Wiper photographs that turn architecture into fantasy

      For this exhibition, he focused on ten specific elements from his archive, grouped according to certain details ranging from entrances, windows and handrails to furniture, lighting, fireplaces and surfaces.
      “All of these elements were created by architects as one-of-a-kind and bespoke design solutions for specific houses and buildings all around the world,” Štěch said.
      “The ultimate selection of elements celebrate the modernist idea of the total work of art, the so-called Gesamtkunstwerk, and tell stories about the versatile skills of modernist architects from Art Nouveau to modernism and beyond.”
      The paper-printed photos in the exhibition were folded simply over an aluminium construction, making the show quick to assemble and lightweight and compact to transport.
      “The images were freely divided into typological sections in which visitors could explore various formal similarities and analyse modernist architecture in its differences and transformations,” explained Štěch.
      “My ambition for this project is to create the biggest database of one-of-a-kind designs from specific buildings and interiors captured by a single person and survey a never before seen chapter in the history of applied art.”
      Below, Štěch highlights ten featured photographs, one from each of the typological sections of the exhibition:

      Schlegel and Brunhammer Apartment by Valentine Schlegel, Paris, France, 1970s
      “Valentine Schlegel’s vases from the 1950s are among the pinnacle of French post-war artistic ceramics. Despite the fact that her work was largely forgotten, interest in her has increased again recently.
      “I visited her own apartment and studio in Paris, which she shared with her friend Yvonne Brunhammer, writer, curator and director of Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. I was there just a few weeks before its interior was completely emptied and sold at auction.
      “Designed during the 1970s, her apartment and studio were conceived as an artificial cave, organically modelled by plaster. It was created at the time when she specialised in designing private apartment interiors, which she transformed into organically shaped spaces. I was amazed by the leather-covered door she designed for the space.”

      Grand Hotel Minerva by Carlo Scarpa and Edoardo Detti, Florence, Italy, 1957-1964
      “If you talk to architects, many are celebrating Carlo Scarpa as an ‘architect of the detail’. It is also why I focused on his work and have visited almost all of his projects.
      “The one which is not so well known is the Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence, which he designed together with the architect Edoardo Detti. The hotel is located in the historical building close to Santa Maria Novella church.
      “The architects created public spaces spread around the external patio which you can look at through this exceptional double window. I enjoyed an amazing breakfast there while photographing this great detail of Scarpa’s.”

      Chamber of Commerce, Work and Industry by Jože Plečnik, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1925-1927
      “Two years ago I was commissioned to photograph a collection of Jože Plečnik’s buildings in Ljubljana.
      “This was an amazing opportunity to experience the work of Plečnik who I find to be one of the most important European architects for his ability to combine all historical architectural styles together with absolutely original results.
      “This staircase and metal handrail is located inside Plečnik’s first project after he came back to Ljubljana from his stay in Prague. This robust metal handrail beautifully shows Plečnik‘s sensitive approach to details and his skills with metal craft.”

      Casa Carcano by Ico and Luisa Parisi, Maslianico, Italy, 1949-1950
      “It took me more than two years before I was finally able to arrange a visit to the unique Casa Carcano designed by my absolutely favourite Italian architects and designers Ico and Luisa Parisi.
      “They built it near the famous Lake Como in 1949-1950 at the beginning of their rich career. Parisi was born in Palermo, Sicily in 1916 and settled in Como in the 1930s. Together with his wife Luisa, they designed exceptional houses from the late 1940s to the 1970s.
      “I have already visited five of them since 2011. Casa Carcano is their early masterpiece with much bespoke furniture including this wonderful built-in sofa in the middle of the stairs, which is housed in the spectacular entrance hall.”

      Former Czechoslovak Embassy in New Delhi by Karel Filsak, Karel Bubeníček, Zdeněk Dvořák, Jan Kozel, Karel Filsak and Zbyněk Hřivnáč, India, 1966-1974
      “As my diploma project at the Art History department at the Charles University in Prague, I focused on the work of interior designer Zbyněk Hřivnáč. He collaborated with the best of Czech architects during the socialist time from the 1950s to 1980s, designing mostly bespoke interior furnishings.
      “These projects included Czechoslovakian embassies all around the world. Back in my student years, I did not have any chance to travel to see these buildings. Finally, now I have resources that allow me to travel worldwide.
      “I was finally able to visit two of the Czechoslovakian embassies (now divided into Czech and Slovak) in Cairo and New Delhi. The one in India is an amazing brutalist building with all of the original furnishing details still preserved.
      “Hřivnáč also designed this series of wooden lamps including balloon shades.”

      The Box by Ralph Erskine, Lovön, Sweden, 1941-1942
      “Not far from the Drottningholm Royal Castle on the island of Lovön near Stockholm, there is a miniature house that Ralph Erskine built as a starter home in the early 1940s. Its architecture is synonymous with frugality and minimalism.
      “If you want to see Ralph Erskine’s house, you must first pick up the keys at the reception of the ArkDes architecture centre in Stockholm. After paying the deposit, they will entrust you with the keys and you have nothing else to do but go to the island of Lovön and open this unique house yourself.
      “I did the same to visit this masterpiece by the famous Swedish-British architect who was a pioneer of Scandinavian modernism. He designed this organic fireplace as a centrepiece of the minimal functional interior.”

      Bossard House (Kunststätte Bossard) by Johann Michael Bossard, Jesteburg, Germany, 1911-1950
      “One of my many specific interests with 20th-century architecture is totally-designed interior environments. These are spaces where all the surfaces are given the attention of the designer.
      “This kind of interior can often be found in Germany. They were created by artists influenced by the expressionist movement, very often by painters or sculptors and not architects.
      “This is also the case of Johann Michael Bossard who created his own world in the middle of forests in Jesteburg, close to Hamburg. His own house is completely painted inside by mixing mythology and his original visions of the future. I called these interiors ‘3D paintings’.”

      Maison Wogenscky by André Wogenscky and Marta Pan, Saint-Rémy-Lès-Chevreuse, France, 1952
      “I was desperate to visit this house, built near Paris by Le Corbusier’s disciple André Wogenscky and his wife, sculptor Marta Pan.
      “Despite the house only opening to the public a few times a year, it was one of the most challenging visits because I did not get any answer from the foundation for years. Finally, I made it there in 2022.
      “The bathroom, with the beautiful mosaic-clad curve, presents the essence of postwar French interior design.”

      Girard House by Wolfgang Ewerth, Casablanca, Morocco, 1954
      “Casablanca boasts a rich collection of art deco architecture, as well as modernist and brutalist. That’s why I decided to go there in 2019. With the help of architects from preservation group Mamma, I was able to visit some exceptional houses.
      “Originally German architect Wolfgang Ewerth was a follower of progressive modernist tendencies after the second world war and built several remarkable villas in Casablanca. I was lucky enough to visit House Girard, which Ewerth completed in 1955.
      “The spacious terraces, glass facades and open living space stand in bold comparison with the best contemporary examples of Californian modernism by Richard Neutra, Raphael Soriano or Craig Elwood, who, like Ewerth, used simple steel frames to allow for freely articulated interiors.
      “But unlike his American colleagues, Ewerth also designed more sculptural features including this massive boomerang-like planter.”

      University Library by Henry Lacoste, Leuven, Belgium, 1948
      “Last summer I had the chance to stay for three weeks in Belgium, supported by the Czech Centre in Brussels. I took advantage of this and visited dozens of Belgian modernist houses and interiors. Every day I woke up very early, travelling to different Belgian cities and documenting marvels of Belgian architecture and design.
      “Hidden behind the historical neo-Renaissance facade of the monumental Leuven University Library is the main reading room, which was one of my intended destinations.
      “It is a perfectly carved interior treasure, created by Belgian architecture legend Henry Lacoste after the second world war when the library was completely destroyed for the second time. The space is full of sculptural details and symbolic motives carved into oak, including this monumental wall clock.”
      The photography is by Adam Štěch. Main image by Piercarlo Quecchia.
      Elements: Unique Details of the 20th Century Architecture and Interior was on show as part of Dropcity during Milan design week from 12 to 21 April 2024. See Dezeen Events Guide for all the latest architecture and design events taking place around the world.

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      Working Holiday Studio adds hacienda-style twist to midcentury LA house

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      The founders of LA-based Working Holiday Studio have renovated a midcentury home for themselves and their growing family, transforming the interiors to echo a Mexican hacienda.

      Designers Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown chose to move from their previous ranch-style home to a larger dwelling after having a second child, knowing they would need more space.
      Working Holiday Studio added arched openings and handmade brick floors to the midcentury homeThe couple found another midcentury home built in 1962 in the Granada Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, which they set about remodelling in “an eclectic hacienda style with Mexican and Scandinavian influences”.
      “We renovated the house because it hasn’t been updated since the first owners bought it and was in much need of a refresh,” the duo told Dezeen. “The layout didn’t make sense for modern living and the house felt dark, cold and outdated.”
      Details like iron railings with wavy balusters add a “hacienda vibe” to the interiorsThe biggest change involved opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen, creating a large space for the family to gather and entertain under the dark-stained, mono-pitched ceiling.

      The kitchen was reimagined with swing-out French doors, dark green plaster across the walls, and warm millwork for cabinets and the central island.
      The kitchen was completely transformed with dark green plaster walls and warm millworkBricks across the floor in this space and the hallways were handmade in Tijuana, Mexico, and imported across the border.
      Together with arched openings that Working Holiday Studio added throughout the home, they add a “hacienda vibe” to the property.
      A formal living room features a variety of sculptural seats arranged around a marble coffee tableBeige plaster walls, iron railings with wavy balusters and various wooden furniture pieces also lend to the contemporary Mexican aesthetic, with hints of Scandinavian minimalism.
      “We always start with a palette of colours and materials,” said Naude and Brown. “We wanted [the interiors] to feel neutral, earthy, and warm with a few pop accents.”

      Los Angeles ranch house becomes Zen Den by Working Holiday Studio

      Also on the ground floor is a space for the family to watch TV together, which features a large cushioned sectional.
      A formal living room off the dining area has a whitewashed brick fireplace in the corner, and a variety of sculptural chairs arranged around a marble coffee table.
      Bedrooms are decorated with natural materials in neutral tones”We spend a lot of time in the family and TV room because it’s very cosy and comfortable, but love looking into the formal living room because each piece feels like an artwork or sculpture,” the couple said.
      Upstairs, the bedrooms are decorated with natural materials in neutral tones, while the bathrooms are playfully lined with checkerboard or thin straight-stack tiles.
      Playful touches in the bathrooms include checkerboard tilingAcross the exterior, the house was rendered in mid-grey stucco and black-framed windows and doors were added.
      A large covered veranda stretches almost the full length of the building and is used for outdoor lounging and dining in front of the backyard swimming pool.
      The house has a large veranda for outdoor lounging and dining in front of the backyard swimming poolOther properties designed and owned by the couple – the ZenDen in LA’s Woodland Hills and Casa Mami near Joshua Tree National Park – are available as vacation rentals for guests.
      The photography is by Carlos Naude.

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