Arches

Subterms

    Latest story

    125 Shares169 Views

    Estudio Estudio unveils “hidden architectural treasures” in Mexico City house

    by

    Arched doorways and a rooftop studio feature in the Y.27 House, which has been overhauled by architecture firm Estudio Estudio in a way that honours the historic building’s original character.

    Located on a 195-square-metre site in Mexico City’s Hipódromo Condesa neighbourhood, the project serves as a full-time residence for a client who is a social entrepreneur and collector of Mexican craftwork.
    The house been overhauled to honour the historic building’s original characterOriginally built in the 1930s, the stucco-clad dwelling had endured years of neglect, said local firm Estudio Estudio.
    The design team set out to revamp the home’s interior, aiming to restore its original charm while enhancing its functionality.
    Estudio Estudio set out to revamp the home’s interiorThe project involved removing walls, reconfiguring the layout and making structural improvements, in addition to adding new finishes. Moreover, a small storage room on the roof was replaced with a 43-square-metre studio building.

    “The main goal was to unveil the hidden architectural treasures beneath layers of past modifications, meticulously restoring them to their original state to reveal the essence of the time,” the team said.
    In the rear, one finds a kitchen”Architectural interventions aimed to preserve the authentic character of the house, rejuvenating ornamental elements while avoiding unnecessary embellishments.”
    Rectangular in plan, the home has a mix of communal and private spaces spread across three levels. Curves and arches – many of them original – create a “harmonious flow”.
    Curves and arches create a “harmonious flow”On the ground level, the layout “seamlessly integrates daily living requirements”. The front portion holds an entry hall, garage and office, while in the rear, one finds a kitchen, dining area, service rooms and a patio.
    At the heart of the ground floor is an airy living room with a 5.9-metre-high ceiling. A tall shelving system with a metal-and-wood ladder acts as a focal point.
    A tall shelving system acts as a focal point in the airy living roomA gently curved, skylit staircase leads to the first floor, where the team placed a primary bedroom, two bedrooms and a family room.
    Atop the building is the new studio, which was constructed using pine. In addition to the studio, the building contains an onsen room with a barn-style door.
    The building contains an onsen room with a barn-style doorThe studio opens onto a terrace with terracotta flooring. Rainwater is collected on the roof and channelled to a reservoir below.
    “The roof terrace serves as a space to gather but also works as a rainwater collector, where rain travels throughout the house into a water reservoir and filter system beneath the back patio,” the team said.

    Taller David Dana stacks concrete house on Mexico City hillside

    Throughout the home, the team used earthy materials and neutral colours. The lighting design – created in collaboration with lighting expert Luca Salas – is meant to balance “ambiance, functionality and aesthetics”.
    Notable finishes include oak parquet flooring and closets faced with cotton-canvas. Oak was used for window frames, kitchen cabinets and other elements.
    Pisos de pasta flooring features in the kitchenIn the kitchen, the team took a sample of existing checkered tiles, made of pigmented concrete, to a local craftsman, who then replicated them.
    This style of flooring – called pisos de pasta – is very common in older homes in Mexico City and southwest Mexico, said Estudio Estudio.
    The stucco-clad dwelling had endured years of neglectOverall, the house is meant to balance historic elements with a contemporary lifestyle.
    “This house proudly stands as a harmonious blend of past and present, inviting residents to embark on a captivating journey of refined and simple ways of living,” the team said.
    Other projects in Mexico City’s Condesa district include a renovated house by Chloé Mason Gray that embraces its lack of natural light, and an apartment block covered in small, wooden squares that were inspired by vegetable crates.
    The photography is by Zaickz Moz Studio.

    Read more: More

    More stories

    • 150 Shares169 Views

      in Rooms

      OHLAB celebrates historical details at Can Santacilia apartments in Palma de Mallorca

      by

      Architecture office OHLAB has renovated a historical apartment building in Palma de Mallorca introducing contemporary elements including a meandering wooden walkway that contrast with the original features.

      Can Santacilia is a 3,300-square-metre residential development containing 15 apartments and common areas distributed across two adjoining buildings in the heart of Palma de Mallorca’s old town.
      A main central courtyard is included at Can SantaciliaParts of the existing building appear to date back as far as the 12th or 13th century, although the main building as it stands was erected in the 17th century and was subsequently modified in the 18th and 20th centuries.
      Local architecture and design office OHLAB was tasked with overseeing a modernisation project involving repairs to the existing structure, as well as the sensitive restoration of key original features including the main central courtyard.
      OHLAB oversaw a sensitive restoration process”The building was abandoned and in a really bad shape with some parts about to collapse, while the best parts did not meet the most basic living conditions,” OHLAB directors Paloma Hernaiz and Jaime Oliver told Dezeen.

      A carefully conducted restoration process placed emphasis on maintaining the historical integrity of the building whilst adapting it to meet the needs of its new occupants.
      A wooden coffered ceiling was uncovered during the renovation”We had to do a thorough and intensive renovation of the whole building,” the OHLAB architects explained.
      “The distribution was changed and reorganised, new partition walls and layouts were added to accommodate the housing proposal and new installations were required to adapt the apartments to contemporary comfort and energy-efficient standards.”
      An indoor pool is framed by arched openingsThe project preserves the original features that make the building unique, such as the wrought-iron balustrades, stone columns, traditional courtyard and a wooden coffered ceiling that was uncovered during the restoration.
      The courtyard was enclosed in the 20th century, with blank walls used to conceal a parking area. Based on other traditional buildings in the city, the architecture studio restored this space to how it might have looked in the early Baroque period.
      The courtyard’s typical staircase and porched gallery were retained and two arched openings were added – one alongside a new indoor pool and the other in front of the entrance, supported by a pair of ionic columns.
      A meandering wooden walkway contrasts with the original featuresInternally, the common areas of the two buildings are connected by a wooden walkway that mitigates a height difference of approximately 90 centimetres.
      The studio said the walkway was designed to take users on a journey, “as if discovering an archaeological ruin”, leading them past some of the building’s key historic features, including a fireplace, a stone arch, a tiled floor and ornate plaster mouldings on the ceiling.
      The same light oak forms a staircase elsewhereArchitectural interventions were implemented using a material palette that clearly separates them from the existing structure. The walkway was made from light oak that was also used for other circulation areas including a staircase and the lift interiors.
      “We added pieces that are always clearly new and contemporary,” explained Hernaiz and Oliver, “with shapes and materials that in no case want to imitate or hide the ancient ones.”
      Sculptural mirrored boxes act as partitions in the apartmentsThe contrast between old and new is also evident in the apartments, some of which feature modern mirrored volumes used to partition the existing spaces whilst maintaining their overall proportions.
      The mirrored boxes never reach all the way to the ceilings, ensuring the original wood-beam construction or decorative mouldings remain visible and uninterrupted.
      Wooden beams and decorative ceilings are left uninterrupted”The mirror box disappears in its reflection, giving back the space stolen by its presence and returning a complete image of the room,” the OHLAB architects added.
      “Only when you get closer, do you realise it’s a contemporary partition that lets you enter into another space, made of stone.”
      High-quality fixtures give the apartments a premium feelOne of the most surprising discoveries made while stripping back the dilapidated interiors was an ornate medieval ceiling made from painted wooden beams and coffers, supported by a central stone pillar.
      OHLAB claimed that this find prompted the redesign of 40 per cent of the total project, including six of the 15 apartments, in order to persevere the integrity of the coffered ceiling and incorporate it into one of the living spaces.
      The palette used throughout the public and private spaces favours natural, local materials chosen to emphasise the building’s history and Mediterranean character.

      White cut-out panels create displays at Miami boutique by OHLAB

      Stone and timber structural elements was combined with plaster and wood mouldings, mortar and lime coatings and floors in ceramic and wood finishes.
      High-quality fixtures and details in local stone, bronze, porcelain and textiles including local linen and cotton enhance the premium feel across the interior spaces.
      A palette of natural, local materials permeates throughoutHernaiz and Oliver originally founded OHLAB in Shanghai in 2007 before moving to Madrid and eventually settling in Palma de Mallorca, where they head up a team of 18 architects, interior designers and engineers.
      OHLAB’s previous projects include an apartment block in Palma de Mallorca covered with thin wooden slats that shade the interiors, and a standalone villa at a hotel on the island with a window designed to frame a panoramic view of the landscape.
      The photography is by José Hevia. 

      Read more: More

    • 113 Shares189 Views

      in Rooms

      Ten homes with arched openings that add architectural interest

      by

      In this lookbook, we’ve rounded up 10 home interiors that use archways to punctuate spaces and elevate the transition between rooms.

      An arch is a curved structure that spans over an opening, typically to distribute the weight above it. Because of their structural effectiveness, arches were used as early as Roman times for the construction of bridges and aqueducts.
      Arches have been reinterpreted throughout history and are often used to evoke classical or traditional architecture.
      They can add charm and architectural detail to doorways, entrances and passageways in residential spaces, and are often framed with ornate mouldings to create a sense of grandeur.
      Arched openings can also be used to mark transitions between rooms and punctuate otherwise plain walls in contemporary interiors.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with statement balustrades, interiors that feature the Eames chair and living spaces with decorative use of tiles.
      Photo is by German SáizConde Duque Apartment, Spain, by Sierra + De La Higuera
      Spanish architecture studio Sierra + De La Higuera refurbished this Madrid apartment by organising open-plan living and dining areas on either side of a wood-panelled entrance hall.
      The studio added two arched openings in wooden frames central to the hall, creating an intimate buffer zone in the open apartment.
      Find out more about Conde Duque Apartment ›
      Photo is by Andrew SnowBroadview Loft, Canada, by StudioAC
      Canadian firm StudioAC inserted a millwork box with a large arched cutout into this open rectangular apartment in Toronto, separating the bedroom from the living space.
      The impactful entry and lowered wall height of the box help to mark the transition from the open living space to the cosy sleeping nook.
      Find out more about Broadview Loft ›
      Photo is by Serena EllerDiplomat’s Apartment, Italy, by 02A
      This one-bed flat in Rome was designed by architecture and interiors studio 02A to adequately display the owner’s extensive collection of antique furniture and objects.
      An arched passage with an integrated bookcase leads from the lounge to an intimate dining area. The change of space is also indicated by the change in pattern on the solid-oak parquet flooring.
      Find out more about the Diplomat’s Apartment ›
      Photo is by Darius PetrulaitisGreetings from Rome, Lithuania, by 2XJ
      Three arches punctuate a structural stone wall that separates social and private spaces in this family apartment in the old town of Vilnius, designed by local architecture firm 2XJ.
      The arches reminded the architects of the Colosseum in Rome, lending the project its tongue-in-cheek name – Greetings from Rome – and leading the studio to clad the wall in the material used for the landmark’s external walls, Italian travertine.
      Find out more about Greetings from Rome ›

      Casa Mille, Italy, by Fabio Fantolino
      For his own apartment, Italian architect Fabio Fantolino overhauled the 1930s extension of a 19th-century palatial building in Turin by introducing accents of bright green and blue colours.
      In the living room an opening with curved corners looks through to a dining area, which is complemented by the rounded corners of the taupe sofa.
      Find out more about Casa Mille ›
      Photo is by Ståle EriksenUpper Wimpole Street Apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      Architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design introduced MDF storage walls with built-in cupboards and arched niches to this townhouse apartment in London.
      The studio also added tall arched openings into the joinery, which were informed by 15th-century oil paintings depicting biblical figures under soaring archways.
      Find out more about Upper Wimpole Street Apartment ›
      Photo is by Kazuhisa KotaHouse in Akishima, Japan, Office M-SA
      This house in Akishima, Tokyo, was arranged by Japanese architecture studio Office M-SA around a series of exposed concrete elements, including a staircase that runs over an archway that separates the kitchen and dining area from the study.
      The concrete elements were designed to be permanent anchor points for the home’s timber wall construction, which can be altered or extended in the future to suit the owner’s needs.
      Find out more about House in Akishima ›
      Photo is by Michael SinclairA Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
      Built inside a flat in London’s Barbican Estate, this plywood structure designed by architecture firm Studio Ben Allen transforms the room into a pair of bedrooms and studies for two children.
      The cut-out arches, which mimic the barrel-vaulted shape of the housing estate’s terrace apartments, indicate the entrances to each child’s space.
      Find out more about A Room for Two ›
      Photo is by Adrià Goula SardàMaison à Colombages, France, by 05 AM Arquitectura
      Spanish studio 05 AM Arquitectura aimed to incorporate a contemporary aesthetic while maintaining the traditional features of this 19th-century house located near Paris.
      The studio removed partitions in the archways between the kitchen, dining and living spaces to connect the spaces and improve natural lighting while retaining the ornate wall mouldings that frame the openings.
      Find out more about Maison à Colombages ›
      Photo is by José HeviaPenthouse, Spain by PMAA
      Architecture studio PMAA divided the living space of this Barcelona apartment with partition walls punctuated by a series of arched openings.
      A large modular sofa dominates the living space and morphs around the columns of the archways. The geometric repetition of the arch was informed by the apartment’s vaulted ceiling and arched windows.
      Find out more about Penthouse ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring homes with statement balustrades, interiors that feature the Eames chair and living spaces with decorative use of tiles.

      Read more: More

    • 138 Shares139 Views

      in Rooms

      Preen designs Prime steakhouse for a casino in the Arizona desert

      by

      Designer Alexis Readinger of US studio Preen has incorporated earthy hues, wide arches and textured plaster into an Arizona eatery and bar that is part of a casino owned by a Native American community.

      The restaurant, Prime, is located on the top floor of an 11-storey tower at a casino and resort complex just south of Phoenix. The site, called Wild Horse Pass, is owned by the Gila River Indian Community.
      fThe restaurant features wide archesThe space was designed by Preen, a Los Angeles-based studio led by hospitality designer Alexis Readinger.
      Given that American casinos can often be ostentatious or kitschy, the design of Prime is meant to “challenge the traditional concept of a casino restaurant”.
      A “French aesthetic” permeates the spaceReadinger took cues from the surrounding landscape, which is dotted with cacti, shrubs and other vegetation found in the Sonoran Desert and the Estrella Mountains, located to the west of the site.

      “The design originates with the desert and is created intentionally to frame, to view and to honor the sacred land,” the designer said.
      The restaurant also exhibits a “stylised, lightly French aesthetic”, the designer added.
      Dining spaces are arranged around a central bar and loungeRectangular in plan, the eatery consists of multiple dining spaces that are arranged around a central bar and lounge.
      Rooms are divided by wide arches that reference those found at Arcosanti, an experimental, 1970s housing complex in the Arizona desert that was designed by architect Paolo Soleri.
      The bathroom features sink basins made of glazed lava stoneIn addition to the arches, the designer created a large, inverted pyramid that hovers over the main dining space. The pyramid is coated with textured “slagged plaster”.
      Throughout the restaurant, the team used earthy materials and colours.
      Preen added an inverted pyramid to the dining spaceIn the main room, seating areas are enclosed within half-walls made of rainbow limestone – a reference to “the desert moiré of sediment, horizon and time”, the designer said.
      Banquettes are wrapped in ultra suede in a reddish-orange hue. Chairs from Stellar Works are made of ash and oak.

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

      Other elements include round tables with steel edges and mirrored tops, and globe-shaped pendants by John Barlow of Lightspeed.
      The globes have a finish that looks like a pockmarked moon, and are counter-weighted by long rods. “Another moment of time and suspension,” the designer said.
      Beyond the dining rooms, the restaurant has two waiting areas that are monochromatic. One is has an earthy red hue, while the other is a deep shade of green.
      The restaurant has two monochromatic waiting areasBoth spaces are fitted with leather chairs designed by Preen and built by the fabricator Jecco. Small, rounded tables are from Blu Dot.
      The bathroom features a vanity with a powder-coated countertop and sink basins made of glazed lava stone. Motion-activated faucets come down from the ceiling. Affixed to a wall are sconces from Rich Brilliant Willing.
      Outdoor terraces provide views of the surrounding landscapeThe eatery also has outdoor terraces where guests can take in the scenery. One setting features iroko wood furnishings and sculptural, built-in shelving that holds an array of candles.
      Other hospitality projects in Arizona include the Mountain Shadows resort, which features interiors by Mark Zeff that were inspired by desert mid-century modernism, and the Hotel Valley Ho, an iconic 1950s hotel that was brought up to date by architect Edward L Varney.
      The photography is by Brandon Barré.

      Read more: More

    • 125 Shares169 Views

      in Rooms

      Batek Architekten renovates historic cinema in pastel and earth-coloured hues

      by

      German studio Batek Architekten has refurbished Yorck Kino Passage, one of the oldest cinemas in Berlin, adding a foyer bar with pistachio-coloured arches and covering its screening rooms in saturated colours.

      The local studio wanted the renovation to pay respect to the original neoclassical style of the 1908 cinema, while still giving it a contemporary feel.
      Decorative arches nod to the arched windows in the building’s facadeThe basic structure of the foyer in the 325-square-metre cinema, which has decorative stucco elements, is the original, as are the staircases and large cinema hall. Other rooms had been renovated and refurbished over the years.
      Batek Architekten drew on the building’s large arched windows when designing the new foyer bar, which has pistachio-green arches that contrast against the original linoleum floor’s reddish-brown colour.
      A pale pistachio-green hue elegantly contrasts dark wood”The brown floor colour was specified due to monument protection and our resource-conservative approach,” Batek Architekten founder Patrick Batek told Dezeen.

      “This led to the general choice of earthy tones, but we chose the pistachio as a surprising addition.”
      Batek Architekten chose cork cladding for the cupboardsThe studio also added a natural cork covering to the cupboards in the foyer, which has a number of practical advantages.
      “The natural cork wall cladding was installed for acoustic reasons, it conceals the drinks storage and staff room spaces and allows for the hanging of posters and notices,” Batek explained.
      Velvet fabric in green hues decorate the foyerIn addition, existing materials were reused as part of the renovation. Corten-steel cladding from the cinema’s old bar was upcycled and reinstalled as panelling, edging and fitting elements of the new bar.
      The studio also restored Yorck Kino Passage’s brass light fittings and plaster moldings.

      Batek Architekten transforms Berlin arthouse cinema with saturated colours and neon lights

      As well as making interventions in the foyer, which now also features seating covered in forest-green and spring-green velvet fabric, Batek Architekten renovated two of the cinema’s smaller auditoriums.
      Here, the team added intense, deep colours that they felt were suitable for the ambience of the screening rooms, using blue for one and red for the other.
      A dark Prussian blue creates a dramatic auditorium”The auditoriums are in the basement of the building, and we wanted to create a more intimate atmosphere than in the original large lighter-coloured auditorium,” Batek said.
      “That’s why we clad it in dark Prussian blue fabric which contrasts nicely with the warm glow of the yellow-upholstered seating rows.”
      The studio added a deep red colour to the second screening roomA more traditional colour was chosen for the second room.
      “The other screening room is an interpretation of the classic cinema interior with a range of reds from rust to crimson covering walls and seating alike,” Batek explained.
      The studio also installed new podiums in the two auditoriums to create optimal visibility.
      One screening room nods to classic cinema interiorsBatek Architekten has a history of designing cinema interiors – having previously completed the Kino Delphi Lux cinema for the same client and refurbished the historic Blauer Stern cinema in Berlin.
      Among the studio’s other designs in the city is a duplex townhouse comprised of stacked cubes.
      The photography is by Marcus Wend.

      Read more: More

    • 100 Shares149 Views

      in Rooms

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

      by

      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.

      Snark Park provides Snarkitecture with permanent exhibition space at Hudson Yards

      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.

      Read more: More

    • 113 Shares199 Views

      in Rooms

      Masquespacio puts colourful spin on traditional Italian restaurant concept

      by

      Colourful marble accents and looming arches characterise this restaurant by Spanish studio Masquespacio, which takes cues from traditional Italian eateries.

      Called Piada, the restaurant sells Italian flatbreads and is the second of its kind to be designed by Masquespacio in the French city of Lyon.
      Piada is a restaurant in LyonThe interiors of the latest Piada blends retro design elements borrowed from traditional Italian restaurants, such as marble and gold finishes, with colours and materials that were chosen to echo the eatery’s healthy food menu.
      “First, we investigated ancient Italian restaurants and bars to bring the traditional concept into the design,” Masquespacio co-founder Christophe Penasse told Dezeen.
      Masquespacio took cues from traditional Italian eateries”Then, we sought elements that could represent a sort of healthy aspect, which at the same time have a splashy and young colour concept that represents the brand’s identity,” he added.

      A garland of lush plants and flowers is suspended above the entrance to the two-storey restaurant, under which floor-to-ceiling arched windows were designed to draw visitors in from the street.
      Bold blocks of colour define the spaceInside, guests are met with a collection of booth-like tables that offer a mixture of built-in seating, including banquette benches and rounded wooden stools.
      This area is defined by a bold palette of sugary pastel colours, ranging from pale lilac seat cushions to mint-green walls.

      Stucco walls and terracotta tiles form a winding pathway through Huesca restaurant

      Piada’s external arch motif is also continued in its interiors, where curved alcoves have been outlined with columns of bulbous sconce lights that resemble oversized Hollywood-style mirrors.
      “We used five elements to represent the traditional Italian bar and restaurant – arches, light bulbs with gold finishes, marble and mirrored menus,” explained Penasse.
      Piada’s design is also influenced by its healthy food menuIn a nod to Piada’s healthy food concept, Masquespacio added clusters of plants that spill out of backlit rounded nooks behind the seating areas both upstairs and downstairs.
      The studio also incorporated stucco on the walls and tiles with a handmade effect to create a more organic feel to the restaurant interior. All of Piada’s furniture was custom-made by Masquespacio to match the restaurant’s eclectic themes.
      The restaurant is the second of its kind in the French cityFounded in 2010 by Penasse and Ana Milena Hernández Palacios, the Spanish studio has completed a number of other interior projects with designs rooted in bright colour.
      These include a playful burger joint in Turin, multi-hued student housing in Bilbao and a colour-clashing phone repair shop in Valencia.
      The photography is by Gregory Abbate.

      Read more: More

    • 163 Shares189 Views

      in Rooms

      GS Design repeats arch motifs throughout Sumei Skyline Coast hotel on Hainan Island

      by

      Cresting ocean waves served as a blueprint for the arched forms found on the interior and exterior of this beachside hotel that GS Design has created in Sanya, China.

      Located on the tropical island of Hainan, the Sumei Skyline Coast hotel was designed to reference its immediate environment.
      Arches feature on the interior and exterior of the Sumei Skyline Coast hotelThe building’s facade is punctuated by curved windows and balconies that suggest rolling waves, and is painted in a crisp shade of white to contrast the rich blues of the surrounding sea and sky.
      “We worked to craft the space into a timely and sophisticated art piece with a long lifespan of usage by adopting this classic colour,” explained Chinese architecture firm GS Design.
      Sculptural white furnishings decorate the lounge areaOn the ground floor, a series of upside-down arches runs along the wooden decking adjoining the infinity pool.

      More spots for swimming are found on the expansive roof terrace as well as in the first-floor lounge, where stepping stones lead over a curvy-edged indoor pool.
      The light-filled room is otherwise dressed with a couple of potted plants and an array of sculptural white armchairs with matching side tables.
      Stepping stones lead over the curvy-edged poolThe curved shapes seen on Sumei Skyline Coast’s exterior are echoed throughout its guest rooms, which are accessed via vaulted corridors.
      Some rooms have circular skylights or huge round headboards that project over the beds. Others feature arched recesses accommodating cushioned bench seats or vanities.

      Anonimous and JAHS repurpose historic Querétaro villa as a boutique hotel

      All bathrooms come complete with a standalone tub, positioned next to the windows to give guests optimum views of the island beyond.
      In keeping with the rest of the hotel, the guest rooms are finished completely in white with textural interest provided by tufted beige decorative cushions that are scattered over the soft furnishings.
      Arched or rounded forms are incorporated into the guest roomsGS Design was established in 2014 and is based in Shenzhen.
      The studio’s Sumei Skyline Coast project joins a number of hotels that have recently opened across China. Among them is BAN Villa, which was designed to look like a “floating village”, and Grotto Retreat Xiyaotou, a hotel modelled on ancient cave dwellings.
      The photography is by Ao Xiang.
      Project credits:
      Architecture, interiors and furnishing: GS DesignDesign directors: Liangchao Li, Yuanman HuangDesign team: Chao Li, Zigeng LuoFurnishing director: Yu Feng

      Read more: More