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      Marcel Wanders draws on Dutch history for overhaul of Schiphol airport lounge

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      References to Dutch culture and history are woven throughout the VIP centre of Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, which has undergone a maximalist revamp by designer Marcel Wanders.

      The airport lounge comprises a sequence of rooms including a library, drinks bar and smoking room, all designed by Marcel Wanders and his studio to have a distinct theme.
      “We wanted each room to be able to exist on its own,” explained Gabriele Chiave, the studio’s creative director.
      Replicas of famous Dutch paintings are displayed in Schiphol’s VIP centre”Of course, the main thread throughout is Dutch heritage and culture,” he continued. “But we decided on main themes like art and innovation that inspired generations of designers.”
      “This travellers’ lounge offered an opportunity to share Dutch culture with the world,” Wanders added. “It introduces people to our history and our masterpieces.”

      As travellers enter the VIP centre, they come into a relaxed lounge area designed to loosely resemble the national Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
      The workroom features trompe l’oeil wallsDisplayed on the walls are replicas of paintings by different Dutch masters, set against backlit glass walls that were installed a decade ago during the last renovation of the lounge by local practice Concrete Architects.
      Across the room are banks of coffee-coloured sofas, which like the rest of the furnishings throughout the centre were selected in collaboration with Dutch design brand Lensvelt.
      One of the seating areas was designed as a celebration of Deft Blue potteryMore reproductions of significant Dutch artworks are found in the centre’s workroom, where travellers can sit down with their laptops or take private phone calls.
      Here, a trompe l’oeil effect on the walls creates the impression that the room is finished with traditional boiserie, half-varnished in a rich yellow ochre hue.
      Another lounge area showcases digital portraits of famous Dutch cultural figures – both real and fictional – including artist Vincent Van Gogh, violinist Andre Rieu and cartoon bunny Miffy.

      Marcel Wanders uses mismatched patterns and oversized furnishings for Doha hotel

      Guests can also retreat to the VIP centre’s Deft Blue Salon, which takes its name from a style of Dutch tin-glazed pottery that’s typically adorned with intricate blue-and-white designs.
      Living up to its name, the room was fitted with patterned blue wallpaper panels and dotted with a few Deft Blue vases.
      The smoking room hints at the Netherlands’ connection to the tobacco tradeElsewhere in the VIP centre, there’s a smoking room that nods to the Netherlands’ historical ties to the tobacco trade and a seating area designed to reference Amsterdam’s canal houses, with a streetlamp-style light and fake stained-glass windows.
      Other amenities include a library, drinks bar, games room and a serene sleeping room.
      Amsterdam’s canal houses informed the look of this loungeWanders is known for his striking maximalist aesthetic, which can also be seen in his interior design for Doha’s Mandarin hotel with its mismatched patterns and oversized furnishings.
      Stateside, the designer has previously created a diamond-patterned facade for the Louis Vuitton store in Miami, referencing the brand’s iconic monogram logo.

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      Jorge Almazán creates minimal broken-plan interior for House in Honjo

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      Suspended ceilings and unnecessary partition walls were removed in this minimalist revamp of a house in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture, designed by Jorge Almazán Architects.

      House in Honjo was previously divided into rooms and corridors, which made it feel small and cramped.
      Removing walls created a more open ground floorArchitect Jorge Almazán and his team designed a new ground-floor layout that removed as many partition walls as possible, creating a continuous living space that offers a greater feeling of spaciousness.
      The new layout is broken-plan rather than open-plan; the space is loosely divided up into different zones by the few remaining partition walls, and a few custom furniture pieces.
      The remaining partition walls create a broken-plan layoutAs well as creating extra head height, the removal of the suspended ceiling boards reveals the steel structural beams and wooden joists, giving the home a more utilitarian feel.

      House in Honjo is home to a fashion critic who recently relocated from Tokyo for work.
      Although the 163-square-metre property did not meet her requirements, the location was convenient for her job. She asked Almazán to redesign the 97-square-metre ground floor, leaving the rest of the building intact.
      A suspended ceiling was removed to reveal structural beams”Her home had to be spacious and filled with natural light, as well as a place where she could hold family and friend gatherings,” explained Jorge Almazán Architects.
      The new broken-plan living space incorporates an entrance hall, a lounge, a dining space and a kitchen organised around an island.
      Privacy can be created by placing more items on the shelvesInformed by the client’s interest in fashion, Almazán added different material textures to each space. The kitchen features a stainless steel worktop, the dining area centres around a marble table, and the lounge features white leather upholstery.
      “Each element is ‘dressed’ with a distinctive tactile and visual experience,” said the studio.
      A new window was added in the loungeWood features heavily throughout. The flooring is birch wood, while plywood lines the walls and provides furniture, including shelves and sideboards that act as space dividers.
      More or less privacy can be created by adding or removing elements from the shelving that separates the lounge and the dining area from the entrance hall.

      Nanometer Architecture takes advantage of extra space in Nagoya flat

      Flexibility was considered throughout. The lounge furniture can be easily moved to create room for exercise or, in the future, children’s play space, while the dining table is designed to also function as a workspace.
      Underfloor heating ensures that the space will stay comfortable during Saitama’s notoriously cold winters, while the more open layout creates more opportunities for cross ventilation in the warmer summer months.
      A plywood sideboard creates a natural space dividerA new window was installed to increase the volume of natural light in the lounge space, with a window sill that is deep enough to allow space for pot plants, while a skylight was added in the hallway.
      A new toilet and utility room was also created as part of the renovation, which helps to rationalise the layout at the rear of the ground floor.
      Plywood also lines the walls of the renovated living spacesHouse in Honjo “has proved to be especially suited for the new domestic conditions imposed by the pandemic,” noted Jorge Almazán Architects.
      “The comfort of natural light and ventilation, the rich tactility of its surfaces, and the spatial openness and versatility have allowed this renovated house to become an enjoyable interior oasis.”
      Plants can be displayed on the deep window sillsHome renovations are less common in Japan than other countries, as rebuilding is usually the preferred option.
      Japanese real estate firm Goodlife recently set out to change this, with the renovation of a compact apartment in Tokyo. Other recent examples include a minimally furnished flat in Nagoya.
      Photography is by Montse Zamorano.
      Project credits
      Architect: Jorge Almazán ArchitectsDesign team: Jorge Almazán, Javier Celaya, Gaku Inoue, Rumi Okazaki.Contractor (interior and furniture): Shibata Kenchiku Design RoomElectricity: Uchimura DenkiKitchen manufacturer: Kitazawa Kitchen

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      Ten sleek co-working spaces that provide an escape from home working

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      As the world starts emerging from coronavirus lockdowns and many people begin returning to offices and shared workplaces, we have rounded up 10 co-working spaces for our latest lookbook.

      Whether a freelancer, small start-up or larger business, co-working offices can be a convenient and flexible solution for those looking to work in a collaborative environment.
      These 10 co-working sites combine domestic features such as cosy armchairs and sofas with sophisticated work areas furnished with modern desks, private partitions and well-equipped facilities.
      The co-working spaces also provide employees with networking opportunities, spots to socialise in, places to dine and even areas to exercise.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing bedrooms with smart storage solutions, residences with vaulted ceilings, and peaceful holiday home interiors.

      Photo is by Nikolas KoenigNeueHouse Bradbury, US, by DesignAgency
      Canadian studio DesignAgency added “graceful flourishes” such as linen drapes, soft furnishings and rose-coloured stools to NeueHouse’s co-working location in Downtown Los Angeles (above and top).
      While a number of the building’s existing elements were preserved including the brick fireplaces and large oak-framed windows, the studio added Versailles parquet flooring to give the workspaces a more contemporary look.
      Find out more about NeueHouse Bradbury ›
      Photo is by Jeroen VerrechtFosbury & Sons Boitsfort, Belgium, by Going East
      Belgian interior design studio Going East took cues from the original building’s modernist style to create this space for co-working provider Fosbury & Sons.
      Designed to look more like a residential home than an office, the 7,000 square-metre workplace in Brussels has comfortable leather seating, marble tables and a statement chandelier that hangs above the central staircase.
      Find out more about Fosbury & Sons Boitsfort ›
      Image is courtesy of The WingThe Wing Brooklyn, US, by Chiara De Rege
      The third site created by female co-working club The Wing, this cosy space in the Dumbo area of New York was designed by Chiara De Rege.
      De Rege designed the social areas to feel like living rooms, complete with an eclectic range of chairs and sofas in contrasting pastel and bold tones. The walls of the office spaces were tinted with the company’s “wing pink” colour while pale oak flooring was used to add warmth.
      Find out more about The Wing Brooklyn ›
      Photo is by Francisco NoguieraFosbury & Sons Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by Going East
      Designed by Belgian studio Going East, this Fosbury & Sons co-working space is set within a converted 19th-century hospital overlooking Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht canal.
      The studio aimed to create an upscale ambience throughout the space, while one of the building’s operating theatres was transformed into a dramatic boardroom with a marble-topped table surrounded by puffy, tan-coloured chairs.
      Find out more about Fosbury & Sons Amsterdam ›
      Photo is by Luis BeltranCabinette, Spain, by Masquespacio
      Retro furniture and pastel colours were used to create a Wes Anderson-like feel in this whimsical co-working office designed by Spanish studio Masquespacio in Valencia.
      Aimed at creative millennials, Cabinette has quirky elements such as silver curtains and chintzy stools. The studio used a light blue colour throughout the different office areas to add a sense of cohesion.
      Find out more about Cabinette ›
      Photo is courtesy of The Office GroupDouglas House, UK, by Note Design Studio
      Stockholm-based firm Note Design Studio contrasted neutral colours like ochre with bright furniture including armchairs in royal blue hues to to create invigorating spaces for  the Douglas House co-working members club.
      Spanning six floors, Douglas House by The Office Group has space for 700 to work along side a plant-filled chill out room, gym, cafe and a special room for nursing mothers.
      Find out more about Douglas House ›
      Photo is by Wai Ming NgReplica House Studios, UK, by Weston, Surman & Deane
      British studio Weston, Surman & Deane transformed a Victorian church in north London into a bright and colourful open-plan workspace that doubles as the architecture studio’s own office.
      To reference the church’s original use, the studio added diamond-patterned panes of stained glass in muted green, blue, orange and red colours above the main staircase and between the beams of the gabled roof.
      Find out more about Replica House Studios ›
      Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenUrban HQ, Ireland, by Kingston Lafferty Design
      Interiors studio Kingston Lafferty Design aimed to create warm and welcoming interiors for this eight-storey co-working office in Dublin.
      The studio used a palette of inviting materials, including stone, leather, slatted wood, velvet and brass, to create the homely atmosphere, with each floor designed to have a distinctive feel.
      Find out more about Urban HQ ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherCanopy Jackson Square, US, by Yves Behar, Amir Mortazavi and Steve Mohebi
      Located in San Francisco’s downtown area, Canopy Jackson Square is a shared workspace created by designers Yves Behar, Amir Mortazavi and Steve Mohebi.
      A dark green colour palette and blackened wood flooring was used to create a decadent atmosphere in the private rooms while the public spaces are adorned with lighter green and pink tones.
      Find out more about Canopy Jackson Square ›
      Photo is by Nacasa & PartnersDigital Garage, Japan, by Snøhetta
      Lengthy ribbons of cedarwood form the desk surfaces and benches of this co-working space in Tokyo, which was created for a Japanese technology company by architecture firm Snøhetta.
      Above the desk, the studio added 534 pendant lights that create dazzling patterns when switched on. Chairs and stools in the same dark tone of the floor make up the rest of the furnishing in the stripped-back space.
      Find out more about Digital Garage ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes centred around interior courtyards, kitchen extensions and interiors by Ukranian designers.

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      Cara Mela by Casa Antillón is a dual-colour pastry shop in Madrid

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      Two rooms – one white and one green – make up this striking colour-block pastry shop that architecture and interiors studio Casa Antillón has completed in Madrid.

      The layout of Cara Mela naturally lends itself to having distinctly different coloured rooms, according to local studio Casa Antillón.
      Cara Mela’s first room is finished completely in white”From the beginning, we had a vision of a spatial cascade of rooms separated by colour-contrasted openings on the walls,” the studio told Dezeen.
      “It was very suitable with the architecture of the existing building, since the floor goes down from the entrance to the back of the shop.”
      A stainless steel unit accommodates different functional elementsUpon entering the pastry shop, which is located in Madrid’s Chamberi neighbourhood, customers are welcomed into an all-white room.

      The space is dominated by an angular stainless steel unit, incorporating a high counter where customers can stand and eat, a handwashing station and a glass display case that shows off Cara Mela’s sweet treats.
      The back room features sea-green surfacesThis front room narrows slightly before opening up to reveal a seating area at the back of the shop. Casa Antillón nicknamed the two spaces after the different phases of a heartbeat – systole and diastole.
      “Systole and diastole are the heart’s movements of contraction and expansion,” explained the studio. “For us, it refers to this spatial game where one space contracts and drags the visitor in, while the other expands letting the same visitor relax in the lounge.”

      Six bakeries and sweets shops with delectable interiors

      The rear room was finished entirely in a rich sea-green hue save for the steps leading down into the space, which are clad in white tiles to create the impression of the front room “spilling” into the back of the shop.
      Dotted throughout the space are a few wriggly-edged tables balanced on slim metal legs, which are also sea green.
      Furniture and fixtures have wriggly edgesRight at the back of the room is a small window that looks through to the kitchen. Its ledge and inner frame are coated in a glossy, bright-red paint reminiscent of caramelised apples – one of the most popular offerings on Cara Mela’s menu.
      The same shade of red was also applied to the shop’s front door.
      A red window offers views of the staff kitchenFounded in 2019, Casa Antillón is led by architects Marta Ochoa, Ismael López, Emmanuel Álvarez and Yosi Negrín.
      Cara Mela isn’t the first project the studio has completed in its hometown of Madrid. Elsewhere in the Spanish capital, the studio has designed Mood, a trendy hair salon with a galvanised steel facade.
      The photography is by Imagen Subliminal.

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      Roz Barr designs co-working club Bureau in Greenwich Design District

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      Roz Barr Architects has designed a co-working members’ club for London’s new design district, featuring a bright red salon, stairs you can sit on, and a workspace that doubles as a dinner table.

      Bureau offers a range of co-working and social spaces designed specifically for those working in the creative industries.
      It occupies two buildings in the recently opened Greenwich Design District: the concrete-framed D1 designed by Architecture 00 and the ripple-facaded C3 designed by HNNA.
      The ground-floor restaurant functions as a meeting space. Photo is by Ruth WardArchitect Roz Barr and her London-based team designed a series of playful interiors for Bureau, hoping to create a distinct identity that extends across both buildings.
      The buildings’ raw structures are left exposed but contrasted by bold flashes of colour, so that spaces feel characterful but open to adaptation. Bureau describes them as “elegantly utilitarian”.

      “The brief we developed was about offering a home for creatives, which allowed them to bring their own identity to how they occupied the spaces,” said Barr.
      “A language of elements and materials form a rhythm between both buildings,” she told Dezeen.
      Members have access to shared facilities including meeting rooms and phone booths. Photo is by Ruth WardThe C3 spaces were the first to open, as part of the Greenwich Design District’s official launch in September.
      Occupying four floors, the offer here includes private studios, a mix of fixed and hot-desk workspaces, plus a range of shared facilities that include a restaurant, a lounge, meeting rooms and phone booths.
      The salon is a red-toned lounge that doubles as an events space. Photo is by Joe HowardThe recent addition of D1 broadens the variety of space available. Its five floors include both indoor and outdoor workspaces, plus flexible spaces that can be used for a variety of events and group activities.
      In both buildings, the ground floor is designed to offer spaces where members can come together and share ideas.
      C3’s all-red salon can host talks and film screenings, while the restaurant functions as a gathering space.
      A long table offers opportunities for group collaboration or dining events. Photo is by Alex UptonMeanwhile, D1’s ground floor contains a 14-metre-long table that can be used for group collaboration or dining events.
      D1 also includes a space known as the forum, a lounge that can also be used for presentations. A staircase-like furniture element made from recycled plastic creates casual tiered seating.

      London’s Design District officially opens to the public

      “We understood we were creating a place for the creative industries to work, meet and relax,” said Barr.
      “Bureau is the centre of design district, so it was seen as a place where members of the community would join and form a sort of collective.”
      Felt screens help to improve the acoustics. Photo is by Alex UptonMaterial finishes throughout the interiors would be more typically be found in industrial workshops than offices, emphasising the creative nature of Bureau’s members.
      Floors are either bare concrete or covered in colourful marmoleum, while wall finishes include cement boards and corrugated metal, and perforated metal screens function as space dividers.
      Perforated metal screens allow light to filter through. Photo is by Ruth WardThese details are softened by textiles and lighting. Recurring elements includes globe lighting pendants, floor-to-ceiling curtains and digitally printed carpets and rugs.
      “We used a palette of materials that worked across both buildings, using metal stud walls that were clad in perforated metal sheets, acoustic felt, and doors and tables clad in furniture linoleum,” said Barr.
      “This language offers a soft backdrop for users to personalise however they want.”
      The terraces of D1 allow for outdoor working. Photo is by Alex UptonBarr chose contemporary furniture designs to accompany the custom elements, with designs from the likes of Richard Lampert and Philippe Malouin.
      With so many external terraces in D1, Hay’s Palissade outdoor furniture, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, features both inside and out.
      “As ever, flexibility is key,” added Barr. “For larger events, rugs can be rolled up and furniture moved out onto the terraces.”
      Bureau occupies two buildings in the Greenwich Design District. Photo is by Taran WilkhuGreenwich Design District is London’s first dedicated design district.
      It includes 16 new buildings, including a transparent bubble-shaped canteen designed by Selgacano and an entrance building by David Kohn Architects with the words “design district” spelled out on the roof.
      Created by developer Knight Dragon, the district offers workspace for up to 1,800 people and a range of specialist facilities.
      Bureau members have access to other facilities in the design district, including photography studios, post-production suites, a sound studio and a pottery workshop.
      Photography is by Alex Upton, Joe Howard, Ruth Ward and Taran Wilkhu.

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      Snarkitecture designs Manifest “self-care” club in Washington DC

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      Design studio Snarkitecture incorporated tiled walls and arches into a club in the US capital that offers a barbershop, a coffee bar, a boutique and a speakeasy.

      Open to the public, the Manifest club occupies a slender, four-story building in Washington DC’s Adams Morgan neighbourhood.
      Manifest is entered through a courtyard lined with wooden wallsMeant to put “a sophisticated spin on self-care”, the club was conceived by the entrepreneur KJ Hughes, along with his partners Brian Merritt and Susan Morgan.
      The aim was to create a distinctive location where people could get a haircut or beard trim, grab an espresso, buy upscale streetwear and enjoy a cocktail.
      Tiled walls and arches were incorporated into the clubThe owners turned to New York’s Snarkitecture to design the project.

      “When we set out to design Manifest, it needed to be a new kind of barbershop, inviting to all people,” said Alex Mustonen, a firm partner.
      Snarkitecture added a barbershop to the project”Simultaneously, we wanted to create a sanctuary, a community space, an institution, a one-of-a-kind experience that still feels like home,” he said.
      Set back from the street, the Manifest building is entered through a courtyard lined with wooden walls.
      The studio used a largely restrained palette of materialsThe outdoor space is adorned with pockets of greenery and curved concrete benches. At the base of the benches are illuminated reveals made of LED strips with an acrylic diffuser.
      Inside, walls are clad in white tiles, and the floor is covered in large-format cement squares. For the millwork, the team used white oak with a natural finish.
      White oak was used for the millworkThe barbershop – which encompasses four stations and an area for washing hair – is fitted with chairs wrapped in buttery leather. The coffee bar features a counter with a fluted wooden base and a terrazzo top.
      In the retail zone, clothing by brands such as Engineered Garments and Homme Pliseé is displayed within arched, wooden niches. The store also sells apparel from Manifest’s own line, Of US.
      Chairs wrapped in leather feature in the barbershopStretching across the ceiling are wooden beams with embedded LED strips – a design element that contributes to the interplay of straight and curved lines in the space.
      “Unifying details throughout the space include archways – which are meant to represent the sloughing off of the old and moving into a new phase of life – while linear elements symbolise a sense of community and connection,” the designers said.

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      A “secret staircase” leads up to the speakeasy, which seats up to 30 guests. In contrast with the lower-level space, the bar has a moody atmosphere.
      Walls are sheathed in a custom green plaster, and floors are finished with dark-stained oak. Seating areas are adorned with green velvet banquettes and leather chairs from Nikari.
      The speakeasy has a moody atmosphereOverhead are arched forms that help create a sense of intimacy while also drawing a visual connection to the arches in the lower level. The arches are finished with mosaic green tile and safety glass with wire mesh.
      Throughout the club, Snarkitecture aspired to create an environment that was both comfortable and stimulating.
      Walls are sheathed in a custom green plaster”Every single element was designed to create a welcoming, intimate atmosphere that will invoke conversation and appeal to all the senses,” the team said.
      Later this spring, Manifest will expand to include a rentable apartment with a retractable glass roof and a terrace.
      Throughout the club, the atmosphere was designed to be both comfortable and stimulatingThis is not the first project in Washington DC by Snarkitecture. In 2018, the firm created a Fun House installation in the National Building Museum’s great hall that featured a white gabled house and a kidney-shaped ball pit.
      Other projects by the studio include a shop for streetwear brand Kith within a Parisian mansion, and an installation in a Manhattan gallery that consisted of 168 white spherical orbs that changed colours when touched.
      The photography is by Michael Grant.

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      Theatrical curtains drape around Dame bar by Bergman & Co

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      A “rather fabulous” fictitious muse influenced the design of this richly decorated bar and restaurant in Melbourne by local interiors studio Bergman & Co.

      Dame recently opened in the IM Pei-designed Collins Place, a mixed-use complex in the East End of the city.
      Dame is located in IM Pei’s Collins Place complexThe concrete development was completed in 1981, so Bergman & Co looked to this decade for inspiration when devising a concept for the bar’s interior.
      “The narrative of Dame is centred around a fictitious 1980s muse; a powerful, well connected and rather fabulous woman,” said the team, led by director Wendy Bergman.
      A curvaceous pink marble bar counter sits in the centre of the spaceThe fictional character’s power and femininity are reflected in elements like the curved bar counter, made from blush-toned marble.

      Her portrait, painted by local Melbourne artist Stacey Rees, hangs behind the bar to tie the concept together.
      Blush curtains provide a backdrop for communal diningPale pink curtains divide the space from the building lobby and are draped dramatically to create an entryway.
      Diners are presented with multiple seating options around the restaurant’s glazed periphery.
      Glass block table legs nod to the building’s gridded architectureCommunal tables feature dark wooden tops and glass block supports, nodding to the gridded architecture of the setting.
      Above, pendant lights created in collaboration with Melbourne design studio Please Please Please are delicately suspended like pieces of jewellery.

      Pink marble and patchy concrete emulate ancient Rome in Melbourne’s Pentolina pasta bar

      Banquette seating wrapped in dark textured fabric creates cosy booths, while more casual round tables are paired with wicker-backed chairs.
      “A sumptuous banquette setting finished in rich, earthen tones creates a subtle sense of nostalgia, warming the building’s otherwise restrained palette of architectural finishes,” said Bergman & Co.
      Upholstery for banquettes was chosen to create a “sense of nostalgia””Quilted upholstery and 1980s-inspired furniture complete the aesthetic tableau, offering an elevated, all-day dining space,” the studio added.
      Glossy red table lamps and pendants are also scattered through the space, uniting a palette that feels rich and warm against the building’s grey terrazzo flooring.
      Pink marble tables are accompanied by wicker-backed chairsPink marble is similarly used at Melbourne’s Pentolina restaurant, designed by Biasol.
      Other dining and drinking establishments with notable interiors around Australia’s second-largest city include Studio Esteta’s Via Porta and Three Blue Ducks by Pattern.
      The photography is by Eve Wilson.

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      Valentino Architects transforms Malta art studio into modern home

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      Valentino Architects has converted the studio and home of late post-war painter Frank Portelli in Malta into a contemporary residence for his granddaughter.

      The home, named La Serenissima, is located in the village of Attard in the centre of the Mediterranean island.
      La Serenissima now features an open-air sun terracePortelli, who is known for his cubist artworks and murals, originally designed the house in 1995 and incorporated numerous windows and skylights throughout the building so that it could serve as the ideal place to paint and live.
      Local practice Valentino Architects was tasked with transforming the existing structure into a home for the artist’s granddaughter, starting with adding a raised sun deck to the southernmost point of the house.
      Adjacent to the terrace is a modern kitchen with black cabinetryThis was achieved by removing the glazing from a number of the angled skylights and adding timber decking, creating a kind of open-air terrace that is separated from the interior using sliding glass doors.

      A short flight of wooden steps doubles up as seats and leads down into the kitchen, which features jet-black cabinetry and a large open-fronted island for storing tableware.
      The study is finished with petroleum green wallsJust across from the kitchen is a dining area. Here, Valentino Architects preserved one of Portelli’s original plywood mood boards, with some of his hand-written annotations and markings still intact.
      On the east-west axis of the home lies a small indoor courtyard and a blue-painted study surrounded by pointed archways.
      Geometric tiles nod to Portelli’s cubist paintingsMost of the mid-century furnishings and light fixtures featured in this space were Portelli’s own, before being carefully restored by Valentino Architects.
      The floor was also inlaid with geometric tiles in reference to the cubic shapes that frequently appear throughout the artist’s paintings.
      The bedroom and bathroom are tucked behind sliding doorsOn the northern end of the home is a huge gridded window that extends outwards from the building and then tapers to a point. To one side of the window lies a bedroom and to the other a white-tiled bathroom.
      Both spaces are closed off by sliding doors, punctuated with cut-out handles that nod to La Serenissima’s diamond-shaped window.
      At the northern end of the home is a huge pointed windowValentino Architects was established in 2015 and is based in Malta’s capital Valletta.
      Other striking homes on the tiny Mediterranean island include Casa B with its glass-bottomed rooftop pool and The Coach House by AP Valletta, which features a “woven” stone facade.
      The photography is by Ramon Portelli.

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