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      Ten homes with staircases that have statement balustrades

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      In our latest lookbook, Dezeen has rounded up 10 home staircases that incorporate contemporary and non-traditional balustrades from circular perforations to bold colour blocking.

      A balustrade is a railing that runs alongside a staircase and prevents a person from falling over its edge. Balusters are vertical posts that typically support a bannister or handrail above, balusters traditionally have a lathe-turned form that results in a bulbous and curving profile.
      Although often focal points of interior settings, balustrades can be relatively similar from home to home. In this lookbook, we have highlighted 10 alternative balustrades that bring a non-traditional and statement look to homes.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring maximalist interiors, homes that use tiles as a decorative feature and interiors with ornate ceilings.
      Phot by Rainer MaderPrivate House in Cologne, Germany, by SMO Architektur

      This perforated balustrade complements the rigid and cubic form of this house in Cologne, which was designed by architecture practice SMO Architektur and informed by Le Corbusier’s Plan Libre.
      A staircase that runs through the home was bounded by a seamless, perforated balustrade that is constructed from a singular sheet of material. The perforations within the balustrade contrast against the square and angular shape profile of the staircase.
      Find out more about Private House in Cologne ›
      Photo by French + TyeMo-tel House, UK, by Office S&M
      This brightly coloured staircase sits within a Georgian townhouse in the London borough of Islington, which was renovated by London studio Office S&M.
      Titled Mo-tel House, the home has a brightly coloured interior scheme with a geometric and boldly coloured staircase. Its vertically slatted balusters were painted pink while a bright yellow handrail folds over and into the staircase’s end post.
      Find out more about Mo-tel House in London ›
      Photo by Tal NisimTel Aviv townhouse, Israel, by David Lebenthal
      In Tel Aviv, architect David Lebenthal suspended a staircase behind a wall of vertically organised steel rods that function as the staircase’s balustrade.
      The home was designed for Lebenthal and his family and was organised around an exposed concrete party wall that hosts the metal staircase that runs through the home. Steel rods stretch between each floor of the home and were fixed to and intersect with the outer edge of the metal-folded tread.
      Find out more about Tel Aviv townhouse ›
      Photo by Andrew MeredithWhite Rabbit House, UK, by Gundry & Ducker
      Architecture studio Gundry & Ducker fitted a cantilevered staircase into this 1970s house in London.
      Its balustrade is comprised of green-painted vertical rods that run the entire length of the staircase and a one-piece wooden bannister that was placed on top of the green balusters and pierces through an overhanging lip on the tread of the base step.
      Find out more about White Rabbit House ›
      Photo by Tim SoarBonhôte House, UK, by AOC
      Angular brass rods, arranged in a zigzagging formation, flank the sides of this staircase that ascends above an open-plan living and kitchen area in a north London townhouse.
      The home was designed by architecture studio AOC within a contemporary family home. It has an open-plan design with its brass-wrapped staircase used to divide the ground floor living spaces
      Find out more about Bonhôte House ›

      Hearth House, UK, by AOC
      Architecture studio AOC incorporated a negative relief-style balustrade into the staircase at Hearth House in Golders Green.
      On the upper levels of the staircase, the profiles and silhouettes of traditional spindle balusters were laser cut into plywood sheets creating voids where ornamental spindles would sit. Elsewhere, a lamp extends from the handrail of the bannister.
      Find out more about Hearth House ›

      O12, Germany, by Philipp von Matt
      German architect Philipp von Matt fitted a golden-hued, perforated-brass bannister to a solid concrete staircase at O12, an artist’s home in Berlin.
      The mesh brass bannister zigzags along the side of the concrete stairwell from the front door of the home through to its first and second floors. As a result of its perforations, light can travel through the bannister and filter into the monolithic stairwell.
      Find out more about O12 ›
      Photo by Andy StaggAsh House, UK, by R2 Studio
      A full-height ash bannister, which was pierced with circular cut-out openings lines a wooden stairwell that connects two storeys of an Edwardian house in Lewisham, London.
      Architecture studio R2 Studio mimicked the stair profile when creating the hole pattern across the ash bannister, incorporating larger holes at eye level for both adults and children. A groove was cut into the opposite side to form an inset handrail.
      Find out more about Ash House ›
      Photo by James RetiefMaryland House, UK, by Remi Connolly-Taylor
      A red metal staircase at designer Remi Connolly-Taylor’s home in London has a weightless look. It has a red folded tread that sits on top of the home’s stone floors. Besides the tread, a tubular, pipe-like hand rail-cum-balustrade has a similarly weightless look and protrudes from the ground and follows the profile of the steps below.
      The staircase is encased within a glass block-clad stairwell that Connolly-Taylor explained was used to bring light into the interior while also providing privacy from neighbours.
      Find out more about Maryland House ›
      Photo by Johan DehlinCoastal House, UK, by 6a Architects
      A wooden staircase sits at the heart of this home, which was renovated by London-based architecture studio 6a Architects. Thin tapering spindle-shaped balustrades were organised at alternating angles creating a wave-like rhythm across the entire staircase.
      The bannister and balustrade were made from oak and have an unfinished, rustic quality that ties the staircase to the home’s original beams and textural stone walls.
      Find out more about Coastal House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring deliberately unfinished interiors, maximalist interiors and walk-in wardrobes.

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      Domino Architects divides reusable sales showroom with fabric walls

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      Sheer curtains that look like translucent walls were used to divide up the structure of this temporary showroom space in Japan created by Domino Architects.

      Shortlisted in the large retail interiors category of Dezeen Awards 2022, PROUD Gallery Gotanda aims to offer a solution to the wasteful practice of producing condominium showrooms – temporary structures near new developments that are used as a base for sales teams.
      The showroom was created by Domino ArchitectsThe showrooms, which are usually built and then demolished within a matter of years once the units are all sold, typically contain a customer reception and seating area, as well as rooms for meetings and presentations. These are all styled with the target customer in mind.
      “It’s like a theme park with effects to motivate people to buy,” said the architecture studio.
      “As entertainment, it is very interesting, but we wonder if this method of spending a large amount of energy each time is really appropriate for this age.”

      Arches were constructed using mesh curtainsDomino Architects worked with HAKUTEN and Nozomi Kume from Studio Onder de Linde to create a more sustainable alternative for Nomura Real Estate Development and its PROUD condominium brand in Tokyo.
      Built using the prefabricated skeleton structure of an existing Nomura showroom, the layout of PROUD Gallery Gotanda is easy to change, expand and reconstruct.

      Beyond Space drapes one kilometre of fabric across Amsterdam office

      The steel structure is wrapped with light curtains while the partitions inside the business meeting space are made from “foldable walls”, which are curtains with a wall-like thickness.
      These foldable walls have arched openings and can be repositioned so that the layout can be easily changed according to purpose.
      “By carefully examining the sheen, curves, and colour overlap of the curtains, we were able to create an elegant and light space that does not feel like a rugged prefabricated structure,” the studio said.
      The arches can be moved and repositionedThe materials and samples used in the planned condominiums are subtly incorporated into the interior as part of the showroom’s furniture and fixtures.
      The idea is to allow the buyer to imagine a space rather than be entirely dictated to.
      In Amsterdam, design studio Beyond Space has created an office interior in Amsterdam that uses rippling laser-cut fabric to form cave-like spaces for working.
      The photography is by Gottingham.

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      Fabric arches divide Jonathan Simkhai store in SoHo by Aruliden

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      Design agency Aruliden has created a retail space for fashion brand Jonathan Simkhai in New York City, translating cut-out shapes from its clothing into architectural partitions and furniture.

      For New York-based womenswear brand Jonathan Simkhai, Aruliden designed a temporary installation within the space on Mercer Street in SoHo – a prime shopping area in Lower Manhattan.
      A series of metal structures wrapped in translucent fabric divide the Jonathan Simkhai storeThe geometric shapes and signature cut-outs of the brand’s clothing were translated into a variety of spatial interventions and furniture pieces, creating a store in which the brand can present new collections and host events.
      “Translating Simkhai’s identity into a vision for a spatial environment required a clear and strategic idea that was not just shoppable, but also memorable and visually iconic,” said Aruliden’s senior director of industrial design Erik Kreider.
      “We wanted visitors to be fully immersed in this world, but at the end of the day it was also important that we celebrated and showcased the products the right way.”

      The fabric partitions are installed to fit around existing architectural elementsTowards the front of the building, a double-height space is painted entirely white and further brightened by the glass facade.
      This long, narrow room is divided by a series of tall structures, comprising translucent fabric stretched over metal frames.
      Mannequins flank a staircase that leads to the store’s lower levelFitted around existing architectural elements, the temporary walls wrapped in white, peach and pink fabric are punctured with archways that curve asymmetrically at the top, forming a passage from one end of the store to the other.
      Shoppers are led through the archways and down a flight of stairs, flanked by mannequins positioned on larger steps along one side.
      Units of a flexible display system are shaped similarly to the arched openings in the partitionsOn the lower level, where the ceiling height is considerably lower, podiums for displaying products and decorative accessories are shaped similarly to the archway cut-outs.
      At various sizes and heights, these beige-toned units form a flexible display system that can be moved around when needed.

      AMO cocoons Jacquemus store in pillows to create “bedroom-like” interior

      “Clothing and products break the cadence of the fabric arches,” said Kreider.
      “Together with the graphic cutouts, this creates a natural flow to the back area where more products, seating and changing rooms are located,
      The archways, furniture and podiums are based on the cut-out shapes of Jonathan Simkhai’s clothingThroughout the store, garments are presented on identical sets of hangers along minimal white rails.
      The minimalist interior is also enlivened by simple floral displays, presented in a variety of crafted vases.
      The minimalist interior is enlivened with simple floral decorationsAruliden, which was founded in 2006 by Rinat Aruh and Johan Liden, is headquartered in New York City with offices in San Francisco and Amsterdam.
      The agency has several products shortlisted for this year’s Dezeen Awards, including the Whoop 4.0 fitness wearable and the Series One Desk 27 video-conferencing device. It has also designed a series of mirrored structures to be built in a forest in Ontario, Canada.
      The photography is by Sharon Radisch.

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      Ten homes where classic Eames chairs add a mid-century modern feel

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected 10 interiors featuring some of Charles and Ray Eames’ best-known chair designs, including the couple’s Shell chair and lounge chair.

      The Eames designers were known for their iconic mid-century modern furniture, which is still widely appreciated and can be seen in a number of contemporary interiors.
      Among the most popular Eames designs are their chairs, many of which are still in production. Original chairs have become sought-after vintage finds, and the designs are often copied, 60 years after they were first released.
      Here, we have collected 10 projects on Dezeen that feature Eames chairs, ranging from a penthouse in Belgium to a narrow house in London and the designers’ own home.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tiled living spaces, decorative ceilings and ornate plasterwork and homes with deliberately unfinished interiors.

      Photo by Olmo PeetersRiverside Tower Apartment, The Netherlands, by Studio Okami Architecten
      The interior of this Belgian apartment in a brutalist concrete building was livened up by tactile furnishings in organic materials and features a number of design classics.
      In the home office area, the Eames Aluminium office chair by Vitra, designed in 1958, adds an elegant touch to the room and is contrasted by an abstract red chair.
      Find out more about Riverside Tower Apartment ›
      Photo by Justin ChungBiscuit Loft, US, by OWIU Studio
      OWIU Studio drew on Japanese style when designing the sun-dappled Biscuit Loft in Los Angeles, and also added a number of mid-century modern furniture pieces.
      A white Eames lounge chair with a matching ottoman sits in pride of place in the living room, matching the white sofa and coffee table as well as the room’s other classic piece, the Knoll Wassily lounge chair designed by architect Marcel Breuer.
      Find out more about Biscuit Loft ›
      Photo by James BrittainCatching Sun House, UK, by Studioshaw
      A collection of the Eames DSR chairs adds colour to the open-plan kitchen and dining room in this Walthamstow home built on a hidden infill site.
      Exposed blockwork was used for both the interior and the exterior, with a plywood ceiling giving the space a cosy feel.
      Find out more about Catching Sun House ›
      Photo by Leslie Schwartz and Joshua WhiteEames House, US, by Ray and Charles Eames
      The Eameses’ own house embodies the couple’s design aesthetic and is filled with their furniture, books, fabrics, art, shells, rocks and straw baskets.
      In the study area of the modernist house, the chosen task chair is naturally one of the duo’s own designs – a Soft Pad armchair that was designed in the 1960s and produced by ICF.
      Find out more about Eames House ›
      Photo by Lit MaGrosvenor Residence, China, by Lim + Lu
      Multidisciplinary design practice Lim + Lu refurbished this Hong Kong family apartment to give it the feel of an “elegant yet quaint summer home”.
      Neutral colours were used throughout, with green plants adding life to the rooms and matching the wood detailing on the furniture, which includes a stylish black leather and rosewood Eames lounge chair.
      Find out more about Grosvenor Residence ›
      Photo by Jim StephensonSlot House, UK, by Sandy Rendel
      A disused alley in Peckham, south London, was transformed into the aptly named Slot House by Sandy Rendel Architects and Sally Rendel.
      The 2.8-metre-wide house has an upstairs study area clad, like the rest of the house, in spruce plywood and with a cork floor. An Eames Shell chair makes for an eye-catching office chair.
      Find out more about Slot House ›
      Photo by Rafael SoldiSeattle home, US, by SHED
      This house on the Pacific West Coast, originally built for cartoonist Irwin Caplan, was refurbished by American studio SHED.
      The studio gave the home, designed in 1951, a refresh with a more open layout but kept its mid-century modern feel with an interior that features numerous design classics.
      In the kitchen and dining area, a set of the Eamses’ Shell chairs create a striking white contrast to the wood-panelled walls.
      Find out more about Seattle home ›
      Photo by Renaat NijsPenthouse BV, Belgium, by Adjo Studio
      Warm autumnal colours were used in this living room in a penthouse in Belgium designed by Adjo Studio. An earth-coloured rug and rust-coloured seating contrast the greenery outside the window, with the colours picked up in a set of decorative tealight holders.
      Wooden panelling above the fireplace, sand-coloured curtains and an Eames lounge chair with a wooden frame complete the interior.
      Find out more about Penthouse BV ›
      Photo by JAG Studio6M House, Ecuador, by Jannina Cabal
      The DCW Eames plywood chair is less well-known that the duo’s Shell chairs, but no less of a design classic. The chair was designed in 1945 from moulded plywood and features a rounded seat and backrest and arched legs.
      In the 6M House in Ecuador, two DCW chairs can be found in the living room, where they blend in well with the wooden bookshelf and panelling.
      Find out more about 6M House ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherMoore House, US, by Woods + Dangaran
      Moore House in Los Angeles was originally built in 1965 and given an update by local firm Woods + Dangaran in 2021. The studio used both vintage and contemporary pieces for the interior, including the Eames lounge chair in one of the bedrooms.
      On the bedside tables, vintage Akari lights by designer Isamu Noguchi also nod to the house’s mid-century origin.
      Find out more about Moore House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring tiled living spaces, decorative ceilings and ornate plasterwork and homes with deliberately unfinished interiors.

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      Timber joinery “gently cocoons” inhabitants in compact Gdańsk apartment by ACOS

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      Polish studio ACOS has used timber joinery to conceal the functional elements of this apartment in Gdańsk, with the aim of creating a calm and tranquil interior.

      Located at the edge of one of the few remaining green spaces in the city’s heavily urbanised historical town centre, Hideaway Home is a family apartment that was designed to make the most of its 70-square-metre footprint.
      ACOS has designed the Hideaway Home apartment in GdańskACOS, which is a collaboration between architect Anna Stojcev and designer Stanisław Młyński, began the project by mapping out the existing space to create the most efficient layout.
      “The optimal arrangement was achieved by carefully analysing each square centimetre and redesigning the infrastructure,” the studio said.
      “As a result, we’ve managed to unclutter the original layout and benefit from a more generous volume. This resulted in a solution that seems very shy and modest at first but becomes more interactive once one starts to explore its layers.”

      Routed timber screens conceal the kitchen’s food storage and preparation areasThe apartment is split into “day” and “night” zones. An open-plan living, cooking and dining area occupies one half of the apartment while the bedrooms and bathrooms are located on the other.
      ACOS used blocks of timber, stone, concrete and a mineral surfacing called microscreed to define the different spaces, softened by neutral fabrics and brass accents.
      The entrance to the living room is framed by a timber portalThe joint kitchen and dining area revolves around a large custom-made wooden dining table and a utilitarian concrete trough sink. The space is framed by routed timber screens that completely conceal the food storage and preparation areas.
      Eager to combine new technologies and materials with time-honoured crafts, the studio custom-designed furniture pieces such as the dining chairs, which were made using digital 3D modelling and traditional carpentry techniques.

      Studio McW transforms London warehouse into live-work space for Earthrise Studio

      The adjoining living area has a more generous footprint, with its entrance framed by an oakwood portal and a timber window seat running along one of its walls.
      The space between the day and night zones, where the apartment’s entrance is located, is finished with veneered panels that support a textile ceiling.
      Textile panels cover the ceiling in the hallway”The simplicity of details and forms aims to bring back the value of honest design and craftsmanship,” ACOS said.
      “Whether it is a large surface of an oak coffee table or textile soffit or curtains – those elements are purely a means to frame the volume gently cocooning the user.”
      Full-height carpentry provides storage in the main bedroomThe bedrooms were conceived as simple and compact volumes, with walls finished in natural lime and marble plaster while the floors and skirting boards are pale timber.
      Custom full-height carpentry provides storage in the main bedroom and integrates seamlessly with a timber entrance portal.
      The apartment’s main bathroom is finished in white microscreed surfacing paired with custom-made terrazzo slabs.
      The bathroom is accented by custom-made terrazzo slabsHideaway Home is among six projects shortlisted in the apartment interior category of this year’s Dezeen Awards.
      Also in the running is a renovated Tribeca loft with a half-transparent, half-mirrored wall and a live-work space in London belonging to the founders of environmental communication agency Earthrise Studio.
      The photography is by Pion Studio.

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      FOG Architecture creates kinetic display for Super Seed's Hangzhou store

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      Chinese studio FOG Architecture has added over a hundred moving display boxes to skincare brand Super Seed’s latest retail store in Hangzhou, China.

      The studio installed 168 kinetic semitransparent acrylic boxes in the main product display area of the 300-square-metre store.
      Its aim was for the boxes to help create a variety of different display combinations, while also encouraging more interactions between the visitors and the products.
      Over one hundred movable acrylic display boxes are installed at the storeAn electric motor moves the boxes, which were programmed to move vertically in two different ways.
      Under the static mode, the boxes can move up and down to one of three height levels, while under the dynamic mode, seven height levels can be selected.

      FOG Architecture uses steel ropes and stranded wires to hang the boxes from the ceiling and selected 20 millimetres per second as their moving speed after multiple tests, to ensure maximum security and smooth movement.
      The boxes can move up and down at various heights”It challenges the divorce between fixtures and furnishings in traditional spaces by softening the borderlines between itself and the walls, floor, ceiling, and lighting,” FOG Architecture said of the installation.
      “This novel installation redefines the formal expression of the functionality of shelves, producing a unique spatial experience,” it added.
      Display areas can be easily transformed for different purposesThe studio has also designed a series of modular chairs to go with the display boxes. These wooden chairs can be placed next to the acrylic boxes when they’re at floor level, helping to create a seating and display area.
      “Unique shopping experiences rely on the creative interpretation of conventional spaces and the innovative application of everyday functionalities,” said the studio.
      “In this case, we envisioned a retail method different from packed shelving units, and proposed a multipurpose, interactive, and interesting display structure.”

      FOG Architecture creates “modern cave” for ToSummer’s Beijing store

      Next to the product display area, there are five “labs” where visitors can try out the products. FOG Architecture used metal counters to give this area a futuristic feel that would highlight Super Seed’s technology and research background.
      At the entrance of the store, an inflatable wall adds softness to the otherwise hard space where metal, glass and acrylic are the main materials.
      Metal counters are used to make the space feel like a labVarious plant exhibitions can be found throughout the store in a nod to the fact that the skincare brand is plant-based.
      Dried plants were placed in capsule-shaped containers, while green plants were mixed with the beauty products in the acrylic display boxes, creating an intriguing visual effect through the frosted semitransparent boxes.
      An inflatable wall installation is used to soften the spaceFOG Architecture was founded by Zheng Yu and Zhan Di and has offices in London, Shanghai and Chongqing.
      Its recently finished projects include fragrance brand To Summer’s flagship store in Shanghai, which was longlisted in the large retail interiors category of Dezeen Awards 2022.
      The photography is by SFAP.
      Project credits:
      Design team: Deng Ye, Zou Dejing, Hou Shaokai, Zhang Wanyi, Jiang Lu, Zhan Di, Zheng YuLighting design: Zhang Xu (LB Design)Installation Design: Shanghai Faithture Props Co., Ltd.Structure Consultant: Tao XinweiManaging Contractor: Youlong Jinsheng

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      Ukrainian studio Bogdanova Bureau's Kyiv office damaged in missile attack

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      Kyiv architecture studio Bogdanova Bureau has vowed to make its office “even more beautiful than before” after it was damaged in a Russian missile attack.

      Staff at Bogdanova Bureau arrived at the office on Monday to find the windows blasted into the room and debris and broken glass scattered across the floor.
      Windows were smashed into the room by the blastRussian forces had fired a barrage of missiles into the Ukrainian capital and other cities early that morning, killing 19 people and injuring many more.
      None of Bogdanova Bureau’s employees were harmed, though some of their possessions were destroyed, the studio told Dezeen. By Tuesday, the team had cleaned up the office and returned to work in the studio.
      The team cleaned up the office and returned to work the following day”In some time we will repair all that is broken and make our place even more beautiful than before,” said studio spokesperson Nadia Sheikina. “As designers, we know how to do it.”

      “As well, we are going to rebuild all the destroyed cities and villages, all the schools, homes and ambulatories that were ruined in Ukraine,” she continued. “We already had started working on it.”
      Broken glass and debris was scattered through the office”We were scared on February 24 when the war started, now we are not,” she added. “We know that the mean enemy wants to invade our land and appropriate our culture, but it will never happen.”
      Bogdanova Bureau only recently refurbished its office, completing the project five months before the Russian invasion began.
      The office, pictured before the blast, was refurbished five months before the war began. Photo by Yevhenii AvramenkoThe office is in the heart of Kyiv next to Shevchenko Park, and is surrounded by a university, libraries, museums, and a cultural centre, as well as apartments and office buildings.
      A missile struck the middle of the park close to a children’s playground, with the blast wave destroying windows across the building housing the studio’s office.
      The missile struck a park outside the office building next to a playgroundThe bombardment of central Kyiv was part of a series of attacks launched in retaliation after a key bridge linking Russia to the annexed region of Crimea was heavily damaged by an explosion.
      In April, Bogdanova Bureau spoke to Dezeen for a piece about how Ukrainian design and architecture studios were dealing with the war.

      Russian shelling destroys constructivist landmark in Ukraine

      At the time, its founder Olga Bogdanova urged international clients to trust Ukrainian studios to deliver despite the turmoil of the conflict.
      “We thank the international society and especially the international design community for all their support and all their attention,” Sheikina said this week.

      Windows of the building were left damaged”But after eight months of the war, we feel that some of you got used to the war. Please do not be! It is understandable, no one can be stressed for such a long time and everyone deserves to experience their own life and focus on some normal things around them,” she continued.
      “We ask you not to get used to war and pay your precise attention to Ukrainian designers, architects, and artists. Please raise your voice and stand with Ukraine. It can make things different!”
      The photography is by Yulia Bevzenko unless otherwise stated.

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      Three hundred beer crates form furnishings of Shenyang's Fatface Coffee shop

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      Bottle-green beer crates are stacked to construct a long counter and matching stools in this pop-up coffee shop in Shenyang, China, designed by architecture practice Baicai.

      Installed in the city’s Window Gallery for a month, the pop-up shop belongs to local cafe Fatface Coffee. Its interior makes use of 300 beer cases to create a central bar and stools with cork seat pads.
      Shenyang’s Fatface Coffee pop-up uses beer crates as furnitureShortlisted in the small interiors category of the 2022 Dezeen Awards, the design hopes to merge Shenyang’s love of beer with its emerging coffee culture.
      “Shenyang is a city beaming with a love for beer,” local studio Bacai explained. “The city’s fondness for beer is expressed in its popularity across the streets and its ever-presence in the daily converse of the residents.”
      “How can the coffee culture respond to the city’s attachment to beer? This pop-up shop aspires to explore the energising dynamics between the two seemingly opposite cultures.”

      Cork was used to form seat pads for the stoolsThe studio says it chose to work with beer crates as they are economical, modular, reusable and help to create a strong visual identity inside the Fatface Coffee shop.
      Custom-made cork seat pads sit on top of the beer cases to form the stools, while a glass panel was cut into shape to create the bar’s countertop.

      Sik Mul Sung

      “The strategy explores the endless possibilities of what a beer case could be: a bar counter, seating of various heights, an exhibition stage or a screen to hide the frameworks for water and electricity,” said Baicai.
      “The project experiments with the confluence between beer and coffee, bridging meaningful dialogues between what is local and what is imported.”
      The bar counter is topped with a glass sheetFatface Coffee’s large central bar was designed to challenge the conventional floor plan of a cafe, and according to Baicai creates a more open, democratic space where baristas and guests can circulate freely.
      Other projects shortlisted in the small interiors category at this year’s Dezeen Awards include a yellow attic conversion in Antwerp and a serene timber and travertine reading room in Shanghai by Atelier Tao+C.
      The photography is by Topia Vision.

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