More stories

  • in

    Freadman White completes Napier Street apartments in Melbourne

    Architecture practice Freadman White has created an apartment block in Melbourne’s Fitzroy neighbourhood, finishing its interiors with gleaming brass accents.The Napier Street apartments were designed by Freadman White for property developers Milieu. It is situated directly beside Whitlam Place, another residential block designed by the practice.

    The Napier Street apartment block has a simple off-white facade
    Whilst Whitlam Place has a green-hued exterior clad with corrugated panels of oxidised copper, Napier Street features a plain off-white facade punctuated by wide windows.

    Freadman White creates new layout for extended 1930s house in Melbourne

    Freadman White says the building’s pared-back aesthetic draws inspiration from Heide II – a modernist Melbourne home designed in 1963 by Australian architects David McGlashan and Neil Everist, which has masonry walls and expansive panels of glazing.

    Rooms feature concrete ceilings and oak floors

    An equally refined material palette has been applied throughout the interiors of Napier Street’s 14 apartment units. Each home boasts oak flooring and exposed concrete ceilings, which rise up to 2.9 metres in height.
    Kitchens have been finished with wooden cabinetry, white-tile splashbacks and countertops crafted from pale Elba stone.

    Brass shelving and door handles have been incorporated throughout
    There are some decadent touches in the apartments – for example, some of the bedrooms are closed off by glossy, full-height black doors.
    Golden-hued brass has also been used to create door handles, shelves and vanity units inside the bathrooms, which are otherwise lined with grey terrazzo tiles.

    Glossy black doors conceal the apartments’ bedrooms
    Elements in the apartment block’s communal areas such as the front gate and mailboxes are also made out of brass.
    “Napier Street is a symphony of robust materiality displaying organic, muted beauty carried from the exterior through to the interior experience,” concluded the practice, which is led by Ilana Freadman and Michael White.

    More brass detailing appears in the terrazzo-lined bathrooms
    Freadman White’s Napier Street and Whitlam Place projects both made it to the longlist of this year’s Dezeen Awards. The practice has previously renovated a 1930s home in Melbourne’s Elsternwick neighbourhood to include an angular grey-brick extension.
    Photography is by Gavin Green.
    Project credits:
    Client: Milieu PropertyBuilder: Atelier ProjectsStyling: Hub Furniture

    Read more: More

  • in

    Franklin Azzi Architecture completes The Bureau co-working space in Paris

    French practice Franklin Azzi Architecture took tips from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright to design this Parisian co-working space, which features open areas for working, dining and lounging.The co-working space can be found along Rue du Quatre-Septembre in Paris’ second arrondissement, joining two other branches of The Bureau in the capital’s eighth arrondissement.
    This new location is set inside a Hausmann building that dates back to the 19th century, but when it came to devising the interiors, Franklin Azzi Architecture had a more modern point of reference – mid-century homes created by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

    Top image: The Bureau’s restaurant. Above: one of the building’s communal work areas

    “Those houses are manifestos because Frank Lloyd Wright broke free from unnecessary partitions to reveal open areas largely bathed in light, which was very innovative for the beginning of the 20th century,” the practice’s eponymous founder, Franklin Azzi, told Dezeen.
    “For me, they are timeless works that reflect a real desire for integration into their environment through horizontality.”

    An oak partition is inbuilt with private work booths
    In keeping with Llyod Wright’s architecture, The Bureau’s ground level has been made to have a largely open layout.
    The floor plan is interrupted by just one oak-lined partition, which is inbuilt with deep-set bookshelves and private booths where members can escape to take calls or do more focused work.

    The concierge desk can be screened off by heavy green curtains
    Adjacently lies an expansive workroom that features a long communal desk. Dangling above is a chandelier composed of glass spheres and silver-metal spokes.
    Towards the front of the room is a concierge desk, which can be screened off by floor-to-ceiling green curtains if necessary.

    Members will be able to dine at an in-house restaurant called The Comptoir
    The Bureau’s in-house restaurant, called The Comptoir, has been created in a corner of the ground floor. A grey seating banquette winds around the wall, accompanied by brass-edged tables and wooden dining chairs.
    Surrounding surfaces, including the structural columns and part of the ceiling, have been lined with slim mirrored panels.
    Just in front of the restaurant is a striking, 70s-style decor feature – a sunken conversation pit complete with a plush, deep-green sofa and carpeting to match.

    Franklin Azzi Architecture converts Nantes warehouses into art school

    “In terms of inspiration, I position myself as an assembler, picking uninhibitedly from different periods and several registers,” explained Azzi.
    “We immersed ourselves in the 1970s world of American offices, as well as the colours and material codes infused with Oscar Niemeyer’s work to create a unique hybrid identity for The Bureau.”

    A sunken conversation pit lies in front of the restaurant
    The upper levels of the building play host to more private work areas and meeting rooms, which boast original fireplaces and ornate ceiling cornicing.
    Here, as well as downstairs, are a number of furnishings and ornaments sourced by French decorators The Socialite Family.

    Meeting rooms upstairs showcase the building’s original features
    The pandemic may have put co-working on hold for now, but shared offices are still continuing to pop up. Earlier this year, architect Caro Lundin opened the doors to ARC Club in east London, which is specifically designed for those tired of working from home.
    Photography is by Valerio Geraci.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Grand Cayman beach hotel Palm Heights is styled like a 1970s Caribbean mansion

    Interior designer Gabriella Khalil has created Grand Cayman’s first boutique hotel, the beachfront Palm Heights, filled with collectible design pieces like Mario Bellini sofas, Ingo Maurer lights and an Ettore Sottsass rug.Khalil is the creative director and founder of Palm Heights, located on the well-known, white sand Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, the largest of the three Cayman Islands in the Caribbean.

    Palms Heights hotel is designed to be like a 1970s mansion
    Working with designers Sarita Posada and Courtney Applebaum, the London-based interior designer developed the design aesthetic to be like a 1970s-era mansion. The trio sourced suitable designs to decorate the property from Parisian flea markets, Los Angeles and Mexico.
    “The design concept was inspired by the idea of a 70s era Caribbean mansion featuring collectible unique design pieces from Marcel Breuer, Mario Bellini, artworks by Pierre Paulin, and Vladimir Kagan to name a few,” said the team.

    Guests rooms are decorated in an eclectic mix of materials

    A number of these can be found in the guest lounge, which is intended as the heart of the 50-bedroom hotel, including a chequered Sottsass rug hung on the wall like a piece of art and a series of Maurer’s Uchiwa wall lamps behind the curved reception desk.
    Pieces by a range of European designers and architects like Hungarian-born Marcel Breuer, French furniture designer Pierre Chapo, Italian designers Massimo and Lella Vignelli, and Italian architect and designer Mario Bellini also decorate this space.

    Each features artwork selected by Gabriella Khalil
    Khalil travelled through North Africa to research textiles for the project and has included a range of patterns and materials throughout.
    Woven fabrics with black outlines cover the walls in a sitting area, providing a contract to blush lime-green sofas running underneath. They face wooden tables and white-painted wicker chairs with green trims.
    The 50 bedroom suites are similarly decorated with unique artwork and pieces from designers including French furniture designer Pierre Paulin, American furniture designer Vladimir Kagan, Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Italian architect Gae Aulenti and Dutch jewellery and industrial designer Gijs Bakker.

    Earthy and blue hues are reminiscent of the beach
    Sandy yellows and bold blue tones, reminiscent of the beach, run throughout each room. Details include pale stone flooring sourced from Italy and pale brown sofa upholstery and curtains.

    Kasiiya Papagayo has tented guest rooms that peek from a tropical forest in Costa Rica

    The suites open onto the balconies at the rear of the property, which is designed to stagger down towards Palm Heights’ slice of the beach. Some of the suites have outdoor spaces with dining tables and sun loungers, where guests can laze and enjoy the sea views.

    A range of fabrics and materials are used throughout
    Eateries in the hotel include The Coconut Club, a casual beach bar, and the main restaurant Tillies, which has an outdoor area overlooking the sea and an indoor dining room.
    There are two swimming pools divided by green hedges to provide privacy for the guests – one of the pools is flanked by palm trees and extends towards the sea. Guests can also relax on the hotel’s sun loungers on the beach, which have yellow- and white-striped umbrellas, or play ping-pong at branded tables.

    The hotel has two swimming pools
    Khalil is currently working with architect Dong-Ping Wong, who runs New York studio Food, to complete an outdoor wellness space called The Garden Club, which is set to open later this year.
    Palm Heights is billed as the first boutique hotel in Grand Cayman.

    The building staggers down towards the beach at the rear
    Other recently completed boutique hotels in spectacular settings across the world include Kasiiya Papagayo, which has tented guest rooms that peek from a tropical forest in Costa Rica, and Casa Grande Hotel in Spain, which occupies 18th-century stone manor house.
    Photography is by Clement Pascal.

    Read more: More

  • in

    BLUE Architecture Studio adds U-shaped glass box to Shanghai coffee shop

    Beijing-based BLUE Architecture Studio has renovated the % Arabica West shop in Shanghai’s Xuhui district, adding a glass box and a courtyard to open the cafe up to the surrounding neighbourhood.The studio’s aim for the 50-square-metre renovation was to break the boundary between the commercial space and the street.
    To do so it designed a U-shaped glass box, which contains the coffee counter, till and preparation area, in place of a regular facade. The box is surrounded by a courtyard-style seating area.

    Top: a glass box instead of a facade opens the cafe up. Above: trees in the cafe courtyard make it blend in with the street

    “The space is completely opened up to form a small courtyard around a U-shaped glass box,” the studio said.
    “Curved glass doors that can be completely opened, and ground materials that extend in from the outside.”

    Customers sit on built-in cement benches
    BLUE Architecture Studio also took the minimal style of % Arabica’s shops into consideration when creating the design, which has been shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2020 in the restaurant interior category.
    “The use of materials continues the brand’s consistent minimalist style, using white paint and plain cement as the keynote,” BLUE co-founder and architect Shuhei Aoyama told Dezeen.
    “Green plants become the protagonist of the space, blurring the boundary between indoor and outdoor.”

    The studio used white and grey hues to create the minimalist design
    Built-in cement benches along the walls provide seating space, while green plants were used to enhance the courtyard feel and create a dialogue with the Chinese parasol trees that line the street.
    “The shops make part of their commercial space outdoor and contribute to the city street,” Aoyama said.

    The coffee shop is located in the Xuhui district in Shanghai
    “Although the commercial area of the shops is smaller, they create a rich three-dimensional street space experience, so that people’s life can truly relate to the urban space,” he added.
    An air conditioning system was installed at the outdoor lounge area, as well as an air curtain machine at the entrance, to create a “more pleasant experience” in both winter and summer.

    DooSooGoBang restaurant in South Korea references Buddhist practices

    BLUE Architecture Studio was founded by Japanese architects Yoko Fujii and Shuhei Aoyama in Beijing in 2014.
    The % Arabica West coffee shop will compete against four other restaurant interiors in the restaurant interiors awards category, including the Embers restaurant in Taipei that features a “vortex” of cedar planks and South Korea’s minimalist DooSooGoBang restaurant.
    Photography is by Eiichi Kano.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Archmongers uses primary colours to revive a home in the modernist Golden Lane Estate

    London studio Archmongers has renovated a duplex flat in one of the city’s most influential housing estates, using shades of red, yellow and blue to complement the modernist materials palette.The three-bedroom home is located within Hatfield House on the Golden Lane Estate, a complex designed and built in the 1950s by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, the same architects responsible for the Barbican.

    The renovation celebrates the original design of the Golden Lane flat
    Archmongers’ refurbishment is designed to celebrate the flat’s key features – the bright and open living spaces, the efficient organisation of spaces, and material details like the terrazzo stairs and tiled surfaces.
    Referencing historic photos of original Golden Lane flats, architects Margaret Bursa and Johan Hybschmann sought to reinstate details that had been removed or covered over in an earlier remodelling, which they described as “mundanely neutral”.

    Wooden frames create subtle separation between kitchen and living spaces

    The architects added chunky wooden frames to recreate separation between the kitchen and lounge space, without losing the visual connection.
    Bespoke steel storage cabinets were installed, while original hardwood window frames and parquet flooring were uncovered.

    Details are picked out in primary colours
    “The biggest change was, in many ways, bringing it back to what it once was,” Hybschmann told Dezeen. “Not because we had to, but because it made a lot of sense.”
    “The original palette of materials felt very modern and we wanted any new element or surface to be as relevant for many years to come.”

    These bright colours also feature in the bedrooms
    Bursa and Hybschmann chose to apply primary colours to various details in the renovated flat, referencing some of the historic exterior details on the Golden Lane Estate.
    Shades of red and yellow highlight the front door and entrance area. The same hues feature in the first floor bedrooms and bathroom, along with blue tones – the idea was to give every room its own colour, in a high-gloss finish.

    Each bedroom has its own colour
    “We’ve tried as best as possible to colour match the red, yellow, blue and dark blue exterior panels of each of the blocks making up the estate,” explained Hybschmann.
    “They work very well together and it’s a nice reference to bring into the interiors of the building.”

    The colours reference details on the building’s exterior
    Other material details also help to tie spaces together. The granite surfaces in the kitchen echo the terrazzo of the staircase, while the new black quarry tiles in the kitchen match up with those in the external hallways.

    Studio Ben Allen makes Room for One More inside Barbican flat

    The bathroom was given an upgrade too, to make it more suitable for modern living. It now includes a Japanese-style bath and a walk-in shower, with a new internal window that allows more daylight in.
    The home is brought to life by the addition of the clients’ midcentury furniture and large book collection.

    The bathroom was updated with a Japanese-style bath and walk-in shower
    Archmongers has previously worked on other modernist refurbishments, in the Barbican and The Ryde in Hertfordshire, along with various council houses in London. The architects’ ongoing aim is to show the inherent potential in these midcentury buildings.
    “Being able to work on another of London’s iconic modernist estates was a privilege,” added Bursa.
    “Our experience helped us to deliver spaces sympathetic to the original vision while also creating a home that will intrigue, invite exploration, and provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy, and deepen their engagement with modernist architecture.”
    Photography is by French + Tye.

    Read more: More

  • in

    Warm beige hues update Résidence Esplanade in Montreal

    Design pair Michael Godmer and Catherine Lavallée created a sequence of meditative, beige-tone spaces in the partial renovation of this home in Montreal. Résidence Esplanade is situated in Mile End, a trendy area of Montreal host to various eateries, coffee bars and vintage stores.
    The property was originally built as two separate apartments, but five years ago was converted into the two-floor house it stands as today.

    The colour beige has been applied throughout Résidence Esplanade

    Much of the property’s unique decor details were eliminated during the renovation works. Its new owner, a young professional who collects furniture and works of art, tasked Michael Godmer and Catherine Lavallée with designing a slightly more distinctive interior.
    “We wanted to add identity to the house’s soul,” Godmer told Dezeen.

    Michael Godmer and Mathieu Turgeon renovate their Montreal design studio and home

    He and Lavallée have, for now, overhauled the home’s upstairs landing, study and one of its bedrooms – the rest of the rooms will be worked on at a later date.

    Walls in the bedroom have been loosely limewashed
    The three revamped areas have been completed in various shades of beige, a colour that the design pair says is “reminiscent of the soft winter light” that they saw on the first day they visited Résidence Esplanade.
    In the bedroom, walls have been loosely rendered with lime paint that leaves behind an eggshell-coloured finish.
    A tall wardrobe inlaid with cane panels has been set towards the rear of the room, while a white-oak sideboard has been set beneath the window so that the owner can display personal trinkets or ornaments.
    In the corner of the room is also a blush-pink slouch chair.

    In the study, a work desk has been set into a niche in the wall
    Limewashed surfaces continue into the home’s study. An oak work desk has been built within a niche in the wall, accompanied by a simple black tub chair and a spherical pendant lamp that dangles from the ceiling.
    Textural interest is added by the corrugated panelling that has been set at the back of the niche.
    Finally, fluted glass doors with buttermilk-coloured framing have been fitted in front of each of the rooms on the first floor.

    The back wall of the niche is corrugated
    Godmer and Lavallée say they plan to apply a similarly calming aesthetic throughout the rest of the home when they start the second phase of the renovation.
    “We are also looking at adding a mezzanine and a rooftop terrace for [the owner] to enjoy summer days having views of Mont-Royal mountain,” added Godmer.

    Fluted glass doors have been installed on the home’s first floor
    Résidence Esplanade is one of several homes that Michael Godmer has designed in his home city of Montreal. Others include Elmwood Residence, a Victorian-era townhouse in the Outremont neighbourhood which Godmer updated by creating a sequence of monochromatic living spaces.
    Earlier this year, Godmer also made over the Montreal home that he shares with his partner, Mathieu Turgeon and their two poodles. Inside, it boasts fresh white walls and an array of wooden fixtures and furnishings.
    Photography is courtesy of Catherine Lavallée.
    Project credits:
    Design: Michael Godmer and Catherine LavalléeConstruction: Frédéric LalondeCabinetmaking: Il Fabrique

    Read more: More

  • in

    Eight comfortable living rooms with inviting interiors

    With winter approaching in the northern hemisphere, Dezeen has selected eight snug living rooms with cosy features including fireplaces and wood-lined walls.This is the latest roundup in a series providing visual inspiration for the home. Previous articles in the series showcased colourful kitchens, bedrooms with statement walls and domestic bathrooms designed by architects.

    Villa Weinberg, Denmark, by Mette and Martin Weinberg
    The inviting living room inside this 1940s cottage in Aarhus is almost entirely lined with oiled oak boards.
    Although it is devoid of sofas, the seating bench that runs around the room’s periphery has been topped with comforting tan-leather cushions and woolly throws. There are also a couple of beanbags for inhabitants to relax on.
    Find out more about Villa Weinberg ›

    Ocean House, Australia, by Rob Mills
    Concrete isn’t typically associated with cosiness – but architect Rob Mills has applied it throughout the living room of this house on Australia’s Great Ocean Road, adding homely details like a plump sofa, a shaggy rug and a fireplace.
    “I don’t see the design as being stark,” Mills said. “The interior is organic and tactile, and incorporates neutral fabrics.”
    Find out more about Ocean House ›

    Carriage House, USA, by Workstead
    Exposed-brick walls smattered with remnants of paint and plaster lend a cosy, lived-in quality to this lounge, which sits inside a Charleston home that dates back to the 1800s.
    Cane cabinetry, red-leather armchairs and an olive-green sofa provide extra touches of warmth.
    Find out more about Carriage House ›

    Avalanche House, New Zealand, by Intuitive Architects
    Pitched ceilings and plywood-lined walls make this holiday home in Wanaka feel much more like an intimate cabin.
    Intuitive Architects have finished its lounge with more cosy decor elements like fluffy cushions, a wood burner and even a trio of tree branches, which have been stood in the room’s corner.
    Find out more about Avalanche House ›

    North Bank, UK, by Elliott Architects
    Walls washed with pale-brown plaster give a rustic warmth to this living area, despite its lofty proportions and large windows which look out to the countryside of Northumberland.
    Tucked in the corner of the space is a daybed dressed with a patchwork blanket, fur throws and plush cushions, forming a perfect spot for inhabitants to snuggle up.
    Find out more about North Bank ›

    Central Park Road Residence, Australia, by Studio Four
    Studio Four orientated the design scheme of this Melbourne home around the concept of hygge – a Danish term used to describe feelings of cosiness, comfort and general contentment.
    Its living area rather aptly features a warm mix of blackened timber surfaces, copper light fixtures and tan-leather armchairs. The focal point of the room is a huge fireplace topped with a five-metre-high steel flue, where inhabitants can gather on chilly winter evenings.
    Find out more about Central Park Road Residence ›

    Cottage in Hai Zhen, China, by Sun Min and Christian Taeubert
    The creative pair behind the renovation of this cottage on the rural outskirts of Beijing opted to retain the property’s rustic features, while introducing slick contemporary elements.
    In the lounge, cracked plaster walls, worn ceiling beams and an old wood burner have contrastingly been paired with wire-frame chairs and steel cabinetry, forming a cosy yet balanced space.
    Find out more about the cottage ›

    Seaside Abode, Denmark, by Norm Architects
    Weathered beams of dark-stained timber clad the central gabled wall of this living room. Just in front are a couple of marble side tables, a thick fringed rug and taupe-coloured sofas.
    These earthy, tactile details are meant to foster a sense of warmth within the space, but also reflect the rugged coastal landscape of Denmark’s North Zealand region, which can be seen through the home’s expansive windows.
    Find out more about Seaside Abode ›

    Read more: More

  • in

    This week we looked at 30 architect-designed kitchens

    This week on Dezeen, we continued our series of pieces focused on visual inspiration for the home, with a roundup of 30 architect-designed kitchens.

    The roundup includes a huge variety of kitchens designed by architects including John Pawson, Amin Taha, Ryue Nishizawa, John Wardle Architects and Note Design Studio.
    Previous pieces in the series focused on design for the home include 30 bathrooms designed by architects and seven bedrooms with statement walls and 10 colourful kitchen interiors.

    Demolition of Tadao Ando-designed wall in Manchester begins

    In architecture news, this week saw demolition begin on part of Japanese architect Tadao Ando’s only building in the UK. The six-metre-long concrete wall in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, forms part of a pavilion, which will remain.
    In Barcelona, the city council announced its plans to create numerous squares by transforming a third of the street in its central Eixample district into green car-free public spaces.

    Hack Care is an IKEA-style catalogue of DIY adjustments for dementia-friendly homes
    In design news, Lekker Architects and Lanzavecchia + Wai created a manual filled with tips on how to hack IKEA products to better serve people living with dementia.
    Also focused on the home, Zaha Hadid Design released a range of door handles that can bring the studio’s characteristically sinuous style into interiors.

    The Crown costumes move “from forensic accuracy to flights of fancy” says Amy Roberts
    We interviewed The Crown costume designer, Amy Roberts, who explained how she used the wardrobes of Princess Diana and Margaret Thatcher to reflect their complex relationships with the Queen in the latest series of the television show.
    Roberts achieved this by creating costumes that combined “forensic accuracy” with “flights of fancy”.

    LG Display and Dezeen launch €46,000 OLEDs Go! design competition
    This week also saw Dezeen team up with LG Display to launch a  global design competition called OLEDS Go!
    The contest, which has a prize fund of €46,000, challenges contestants to create beautiful designs that make innovative use of OLED technology.

    Century-old Japanese dwelling transformed into minimalist guesthouse
    Popular projects on Dezeen this week include a 100-year-old townhouse in Kyoto that was converted into a moody and tranquil guesthouse, a bakery in Copenhagen with off-white walls and terrazzo floors and five terraces of brick housing in London designed by Peter Barber Architects.
    This week on Dezeen is our regular roundup of the week’s top news stories. Subscribe to our newsletters to be sure you don’t miss anything.

    Read more: More