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    Seven cosy living rooms with industrial material palettes

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    Living rooms with tactile brick, concrete and wood surfaces feature in this lookbook, which shows that opting for industrial materials doesn’t have to sacrifice cosiness.

    Typically informed by old and unrefined factories, lofts and warehouses, industrial-style interiors are a go-to for many contemporary designers.
    Homes of this style are often characterised by a combination of man-made and natural materials, including brick, wood, concrete and metal, and the exposure of details that are usually concealed, such as ductwork.
    While, for some, the image of industrial spaces can conjure up feelings of being cold and unwelcome, this list of living rooms proves that with the right finishes, the style can actually be warm and inviting.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

    Photo by Mariell Lind HansenSt John Street, UK, by Emil Eve Architects
    Emil Eve Architects retained the raw aesthetic of this former warehouse while transforming it into a warm and inviting home.
    In the living room, old brick walls, metal window frames and a rough concrete ceiling form a tactile backdrop to contemporary wooden furnishings and an abundance of tall plants.
    Find out more about St John Street ›
    Photo by Mike SchwartzMichigan Loft, USA, by Vladimir Radutny Architects
    A suspended black-metal fireplace is the centrepiece of this lofty apartment, which is located in Chicago and dotted with floor furnishings including a Toga sofa.
    The fireplace is complemented by exposed black ducting and hanging lights, which pop against the surrounding brick, warm wood and concrete elements.
    Find out more about Michigan Loft ›
    Photo by Fran ParenteGale Apartment, Brazil, by Memola Estudio
    Exposed services, ducting and concrete help achieve an industrial look in this living room, which is located in a Brazilian apartment designed by Memola Estudio.
    To add warmth to the space, these finishes are balanced with natural details including dark wooden floorboards and furniture, suede chairs and a textile wall tapestry.
    Find out more about Gale Apartment ›
    Photo by Andrey Bezuglov and Maryan BereshRelogged House, Ukraine, by Balbek Bureau
    This living room belongs to a Ukrainian cabin, designed by Balbek Bureau with a utilitarian aesthetic that aims to challenge conventional cabin interiors.
    Concrete is the predominant material, but stainless steel and wooden elements such as horizontally stacked logs also feature throughout. To add warmth, a giant fireplace takes centre stage and is positioned opposite a modular sofa on which visitors can cosy up.
    Find out more about Relogged House ›
    Photo by Casey DunnSouth 5th Residence, USA, by Alterstudio Architecture
    In this lounge, the stripped-back material palette helps to draw attention to the “dramatic vistas” over a valley in Austin, Texas.
    Rough-textured concrete forms the walls of the space, while polished concrete lines the floor. Window frames made of wood and steel add to the room’s industrial look, and colour is introduced through furnishings including a tubular pink-metal armchair.
    Find out more about South 5th Residence ›
    Photo by JAG studioA Forest House, Ecuador, by Aquiles Jarrín
    Aquiles Jarrín married dark Chonta wood with black-steel beams and rough concrete for the design of this textural living room, found in A Forest House in Quito.
    The wooden elements help break up the open-plan interior, carving out cosy nooks and storage spaces for the owner. The seating area is warmed by a cowhide rug and tan butterfly chairs.
    Find out more about A Forest House ›
    Photo by Joe FletcherAnalog House, USA, by Olson Kundig Architects
    A tactile material palette of metal, concrete and glass tones was used for the living room of Analog House, a home in a Californian forest created by Olson Kundig Architects with the ​​founder of Faulkner Architects – the client for the project.
    In the lounge, these materials are paired with light wooden floors and minimalist furnishings including hanging lights, a sleek black sofa and tubular chairs.
    Find out more about Analog House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring interiors with furry walls, sculptural wooden staircases and rustic Italian interiors.

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      Projekt Praga creates bar with self-service beer fountain for 16th-century Tenczynek Brewery

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      Polish design studio Projekt Praga has overhauled the taproom of a centuries-old brewery outside Kraków to accommodate a new bar and restaurant, inserting bold contemporary elements into the historic brick-vaulted space.

      Tenczynek Brewery dates back to 1553, although parts of the building were destroyed during world war two and only reconstructed in 2014.
      The Taproom bar is set inside the 16th-century Tenczynek BreweryThe original taproom spans an area of 250 square metres, with a little under half of the space devoted to the bar and eatery. The remainder was allocated to the kitchen and the alembic, where spirits are distilled behind a glass partition.
      Projekt Praga opted for a minimal-intervention approach in order to respect the existing architecture and reduce the project’s environmental impact.
      Alembics for distilling spirits are on display behind a glass partitionThis included exposing the original brick walls from behind a layer of tiles, leaving them “raw” in a bid to minimise construction waste and emissions.

      The new elements were made from a palette of natural materials – including oak, ceramics, steel and glass – in collaboration with Polish artisans and craftspeople.
      Customers can pour their own drinks from a central fountain”In Tenczynek, we understood the importance of the local character of the brewery,” Projekt Praga co-founder Marcin Garbacki told Dezeen. “Here, the production of beer and vodka is carried out using traditional methods.”
      “The place has a unique atmosphere and energy that works well with individual craftsmanship,” he added. “The design elements are intricately tied to the brewery’s artisanal nature, seamlessly integrated into the existing space without attempting to transform it.”
      Glasses are displayed on red metal shelves nearbyThe principal focal point of The Taproom is a central self-service drinks fountain, set inside a column clad in handmade ceramic tiles by family-run workshop Ardea Arte.
      Their warm burgundy tone layers with the original brickwork and the rich reds used across shelving and table legs to create an intense and immersive atmosphere.

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      The dispenser allows visitors to pour themselves any desired amount of beer or vodka using 14 different taps.
      “Since this element defines the modus operandi of the venue – it’s a taproom – we decided to turn it into a centrally located mini-rotunda, the heart of the space,” Garbacki said.
      “It defines the logic of the space and facilitates accidental meetings of different users, serving as a social tool.”
      The bar’s solid oak furniture is by Artur CzajkaThe oak floor was designed to act much like a carpet to delineate space, stopping short of the walls at a distance of around ten centimetres in order to draw a clear distinction between old and new.
      At the same time, the flooring helps to ground several of the bar’s other oak elements, including the benches and tables by designer Artur Czajka.
      “Part of our intention was to make a bold gesture in the space, a single fundamental intervention that will encompass all the other changes made and serve as a canvas for them,” Garbacki said.
      Andrzej Bero and Piotr Linca handmade clay lamps for Tenczynek BreweryTo counter the narrow, elongated nature of the space, Projekt Praga made strategical use of mirrors and other reflective finishes both to illuminate and to extend the sense of space.
      “The reflecting mirrors placed in the arcades across from the windows add depth to the space and multiply the impressive brick arches,” the studio said.
      “Watched from a certain angle, they multiply natural light coming in through the windows, which is important as the natural light is quite restricted.”
      The building’s original vaulted bricks ceilings are left exposedHandmade clay lamps suspended low over the tables enhance the venue’s intimate atmosphere.
      Created in collaboration with ceramicists Andrzej Bero and Piotr Linca, they feature a colour palette that links to the original brick as well as to the new materials used on the project.
      By using a range of different shapes and sizes of lampshades, each table’s setup is subtly different.
      Red brick also features across the floors”The soft shapes of the smooth clay lamps are a bridge between the new interior decoration and the existing structure of the rough walls and arches,” Garbacki said.
      Tenczynek Brewery project has been shortlisted for this year’s Dezeen Award in the restaurant and bar interior category alongside a seafood eatery with a vaulted-wood interior and Ikoyi by David Thulstrup, which is decorated with copper walls and a curved metal-mesh ceiling.
      Projekt Praga, which was established by Marcin Garbacki and Karolina Tunajek in 2010,  previously converted another historic brewery in Poland into minimalist apartments.
      The photography is by ONI Studio.

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      Mind Manifestation lines self-designed studio in Pune with perforated bricks

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      Indian practice Mind Manifestation has set up its studio in a converted apartment in Pune and designed the interior to reflect how the local landscape changes colour from season to season.

      Pale green lime plaster and perforated bricks transform the 120-square-metre flat into a workspace that is both compatible with Pune’s tropical climate and reflective of the grassy hillside on which it is set.
      Perforated bricks line the reception area of Mind Manifestation’s studio”The material palette has been tastefully chosen so as to match with the different shades of the hill throughout the year,” Mind Manifestation explained.
      “Thus nature flows through to the indoors and the space becomes part of nature.”
      Seating in the reception area is crafted from recycled cardboard tubesThe office is fronted by a small reception area, where both the floor and desk are lined with perforated bricks.

      Here, visitors can sit and wait on a bench that curves around one corner of the space, fronted by recycled cardboard tubes.
      Just behind the reception desk is a door that leads onto a small terrace, which is also floored with bricks to foster a seamless connection between the studio and the outdoors.
      The window seat looks out across a hillsideBeyond the studio’s entrance area are a few rows of oakwood desks with cane-backed office chairs. There’s also a deep-set window seat that offers views over the sunny eastern side of the hill.
      Walls here and throughout the rest of the office are washed with lime plaster, specifically selected by Mind Manifestation for its breathability. The floors, on the other hand, were poured over with terracotta-coloured concrete to match the bricks.

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      To one side of the plan is a large meeting room centred by a wooden table. The same cardboard tubes that feature in the reception were used here to clad the table’s cylindrical base and to create a textured wall feature.
      At the back of the space is a chunky concrete ledge where staff can recline as well as a shuttered window.
      Green lime plaster covers the meeting room’s wallsAdditional work areas can be found towards the rear of the floor plan, along with a more casual meeting room where staff can gather for brainstorming sessions or team lunches.
      This room is fronted by a series of perforated brick screens that allow cooling winds to pass into the interior. Bricks were also used to build a block of tiered seating at the back of the room.
      Perforated bricks also create screens in a secondary meeting roomArchitecture and design studios often take on the responsibility of creating their own offices.
      In London, the couple behind local practice 2LG Studio established a workspace in their four-bedroom home, while Esrawe Studio set up its Mexico City office inside a former dance hall, taking care to preserve the building’s weathered ceiling trusses.
      The photography is by Hemant Patil.
      Project credits:
      Architecture: Mind ManifestationLead architects: Anand Deshmukh, Chetan LahotiDesign team: Pranjali Ekre, Dipti Kanade, Vidisha Paltewar

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      Stitched brick wall welcomes guests to Uchi Miami restaurant by Michael Hsu

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      Masonry bricks are tied together to form a curved entryway at this sushi restaurant in Miami’s Wynwood neighbourhood, by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.

      At Uchi Miami, the American firm aimed to create a “perfect contrast” between the materials, techniques and styles of Japan and Florida.
      Uchi Miami in Wynwood is fronted by a white structure wrapped in slats”Uchi tells a story of tactility, honoring Japanese tradition, but has been infused with local notes,” said Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.
      “Wrapping, layering and stitching, inspired by native art forms, apply sophisticated design to simple objects to elevate ordinary materials found in daily life.”
      A wall of woven bricks by Vas Bets greets guests upon entryFlanked by troughs filled with tropical plants, the entrance is surrounded by a pure white frame wrapped with vertical slats.

      Once through the glass doors, guests are guided around to the host stand by a curved wall of concrete blocks created by locally based artist Vas Bets.
      A chalk mural by Sam Angus Jackson is found above the sushi barThe blocks are tied together with rope, which weaves through their holes in a repeated pattern that is reflected in the polished floor.
      In the main dining area, a mix of banquettes, bar seating and high-top tables offers a variety of configurations for parties of different sizes.
      Warbach’s woven light fixtures create patterns across the ceilingThe wooden banquettes feature curved woven back panels and grey upholstered cushions – in a bouclé fabric for the backs and leather for the seats.
      Walnut table tops and ash chairs match panelling on the walls and ceiling, while other surfaces are lined with bright red and orange wallpaper.

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      Other artist collaborations within the restaurant include a hand-drawn chalk mural of jellyfish by artist Sam Angus Jackson, found above the sushi bar.
      Hand-woven wall hangings by Miami artist Elan Byrd decorate the series of private dining areas, which run along one end of the restaurant behind black-framed glass panels.
      Bright red wallpaper offers a contrast to the natural materialsPositioned over the bars and dining tables, lighting studio Warbach’s bespoke fixtures continue the woven motif.
      “The overhead large, custom basket light provides a warm glow to illuminate the wall’s shapes and textile-inspired characteristics,” said Michael Hsu’s team.
      The studio aimed to blend a variety of textures and materials throughout the restaurantMichael Hsu Office of Architecture has previously completed a restaurant with a curved wooden ceiling in its home city of Austin, Texas.
      The studio has also designed a remote home in Texas Hill Country and the interiors for Shake Shack’s headquarters in New York City.
      The photography is by Chase Daniel.
      Project credits:
      Owner: Hai HospitalityArchitect of record: Form Group ArchitectureGeneral contractor: City Construction GroupProject management: Amicon ManagementKitchen consultant: Trimark USAMEP: RPJ EngineeringLandscape designer: Plant the Future

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      Cheng Chung Design creates restaurant within brick art installation in China

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      Hong Kong architecture studio Cheng Chung Design has created a restaurant and exhibition space within the cavernous interiors of a brick art installation in Mile City, China.The restaurant, named 50% Cloud Artists Lounge, occupies one of several distinctive structures in Dongfengyun Town that evoke a giant cluster of termite mounds.
      Cheng Chung Design’s (CCD) interior is deliberately pared-back to retain focus on this unusual building, while also forming a backdrop to the artwork that is exhibited throughout it.

      Top image: the restaurant occupies a cavernous brick building. Above: it resembles a giant cluster of termite mounds

      “It was to be not only a restaurant but also an art space with an exhibition area,” said CCD’s founder, Joe Cheng.
      “It aims to serve as an exhibition hall for various cultures and arts, providing a space for the public to get close to and enjoy art,” he told Dezeen. “You can see original art throughout the entire space.”

      The entrance is marked by a curving steel doorway
      The brick structure within which the restaurant is located was created by local artist Luo Xu and made without any steel reinforcements or nails.
      The interiors of the other buildings in the cluster, also designed by CCD, have been transformed into a multi-functional hall, an art gallery and a hotel.

      Steel panels guide visitors inside
      CCD marked the entrance to the restaurant by a trail of curving steps that lead to an arched door and a series of curving steel panels.
      This is modelled on the nearby Honghe Hani Rice Terraces – a system of historic terraces used to grow rice – and designed to add an “artistic touch” that is complementary to the colours and sinuous form of the building.

      The restaurant layout responds to overhead skylights
      Inside, the layout of the restaurant’s bar, chairs and tables responds to the curves of the structure and the positions of round openings carved into its roof.
      As the walls of the building could not be decorated, this is intended to draw visitors’ attention to the light that filters in through the skylights and onto the bricks and creates patterns throughout the course of the day.

      Patterns of light across the brick walls are the focal point
      “Light is an essential element in the space,” said CCD. “Guests can experience the change of light in every minute.”
      “All design elements are arranged based on light and under skylights. Natural light tells the passage of time throughout the day, and creates diversified spatial experiences,” the studio added.

      Woven lampshades help softly filter light
      Furniture is kept simple throughout, with cool colours and curved bodies that complement the form of the building.

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      These are teamed with large woven lampshades that softly light the room, alongside art-deco style partitions that were used to loosely divide the space.

      Furniture is kept simple throughout
      The artwork throughout the restaurant ranges from bespoke furniture to larger sculptures designed by CCD and produced by an artist called Qi Songtao.
      This includes an abstract, cloud-like piece and a metallic, woven artwork that mimics a human head.

      A cloud-like sculpture is among the featured artwork
      Elsewhere in China, Studio Zhu-Pei also created a series of sweeping, red-brick structures to house the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum.
      Located in the city of Jingdezhen, the museum’s cavernous buildings are all unique in size and are designed to recall the forms of traditional brick kilns.

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