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      Norway's remote Hotel Finse 1222 undergoes subtle update by Snøhetta

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      Architecture firm Snøhetta has carried out a sensitive refurbishment of this hotel in Finse, a tiny mountain village in Norway that can only be reached by railway.

      Built in the shadow of Norway’s Hardangerjøkulen glacier, Hotel Finse 1222 sits 1,222 metres above sea level and started life as a humble lodge for railroad workers before becoming a fully-fledged hotel in 1909.
      Hotel Finse 1222 is located in a tiny Norwegian mountain villageOver the decades, the establishment attracted a steady stream of visitors but its interiors grew tired.
      When Snøhetta was tasked with bringing the hotel up to date, the firm steered away from major structural changes and instead settled for making a few aesthetic tweaks.
      Snøhetta introduced colour to the hotel’s reception and lounge”We wanted to ensure we preserved the historical qualities of the place by attentively adjusting and upgrading the existing building mass, only adding new elements where it was absolutely needed,” said Heidi Pettersvold Nygaard, senior architect at the firm.

      “Bringing back to life the long and diverse history of Finse’s heydays was a delight, ensuring that also new visitors could become aware of this completely unique nature and hotel experience.”
      Floral-print William Morris wallpaper covers surfaces in the dining roomThe firm wanted to foster a “warm and hearty” ambience in the hotel’s reception and lounge area so that arriving guests feel instantly at ease.
      Here, surfaces are painted tangerine orange while the soft furnishings are different hues of red.
      Just beyond the lounge, Snøhetta designed a new wooden terrace to match the building’s original carpentry.
      The room’s original ceiling was preservedIn the dining room, floral William Morris wallpaper now blankets the walls. This is a nod to some long-forgotten furnishings Snøhetta found in the hotel’s attic that were upholstered in a similar fabric by the prominent British textile designer.
      The room’s decorative plaster ceiling was preserved and complemented with ornate brass-stemmed lamps, which the studio says are historically appropriate.
      Photographs of famous guests that have passed through the hotel are mounted on the walls, including portraits of Prince Charles and Norwegian figure skater Sonia Hennie.

      Snøhetta designs library in Beijing to resemble a ginkgo-tree forest

      A moodier atmosphere reigns in the hotel’s lounge, where surfaces are rendered in a deep shade of indigo to amplify the dazzling blueish light of Finse’s winter sunsets.
      Guests can sit back and observe the day drawing to a close on the room’s plump blue sofas or bench seats lined with furry throws.
      The hotel’s lounge is filled with shades of blueThe most dramatic intervention made by Snøhetta as part of the refurbishment involved elevating the hotel’s roof to make way for two more guest suites beneath its peak.
      Both suites come complete with expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that offer uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. Even the bathtubs are positioned to overlook nearby mountain Lille Finsenut.
      Draped over the beds are bespoke woollen throws depicting an abstract image of the Hardangerjøkulen glacier.
      Two new guest suites were created beneath the hotel’s roofSnøhetta currently has a number of projects in the works.
      Earlier this month, the firm released plans to extend the Hopkins Centre for the Arts at Dartmouth. It is also erecting a library in Beijing that will feature a “forest” of pillars on its interior.

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      Ten kids' rooms with space-saving loft beds and bunk beds

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      Our latest lookbook features 10 compact children’s bedrooms that use bunk beds to conserve precious space and make more room for play.

      By stacking two beds on top of each other to form a single unit, bunk beds can free up floor space and create a greater sense of privacy in shared rooms. Loft beds, which are raised high above the floor, can help to achieve a similar space-saving result.
      Examples in this lookbook include a three-tiered bunk bed in a rural Chilean cabin and a birch plywood unit in London’s Barbican that integrates not just two beds but also a fold-out desk for doing homework.
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing kitchens with social seating nooks, statement skylights and living rooms with sculptural furniture.
      Photo is by Ståle EriksenBirch and Clay Refugio, UK, by Rise Design Studio

      Rise Design Studio used bespoke birch plywood joinery to help maximise the space in this London garden flat, which the practice remodelled and extended to accommodate a family of four.
      In the kid’s room, the material was used to create an intricate bunk bed, which sits perched on a platform housing a small play area and numerous drawers.
      Find out more about Birch and Clay Refugio ›
      Photo is by Michael SinclairA Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
      In this children’s bedroom, two beds are stacked on top of each other within an architectural plywood structure, which bisects the room to conserve both space and privacy.
      The result are two “miniature houses”, each with its own arched doorway and built-in desk, while the steps leading to the upper bed double as shelving.
      “Inspired by the painting St Jerome in His Study by Antonello da Messina, our departure point was to create an installation that is as much a small piece of architecture as it is a piece of furniture,” said Studio Ben Allen.
      Find out more about A Room for Two ›
      Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenAlbergo Miramonti hotel, Italy, by Boxx Creative
      Albergo Miramonti is a renovated 1950s hotel in the Alpine village of Corteno Golgi that was overhauled by London studio Boxx Creative to maximise the space provided by its poorly organised floorplan.
      Family suites now house roomy single and double bunk beds, designed to prove that compact living doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or taste.
      Find out more about the Albergo Miramonti hotel ›
      Photo is by Bruce DamonteMylla Hytte, Norway, by Mork-Ulnes Architects
      Pinewood lines both the interior and exterior of this home, which overlooks a lake in the Nordmarka woodland north of Oslo and was designed to resemble a traditional Norwegian “hytte” cabin.
      The same plywood used to panel the walls and ceilings also forms a number of built-in furniture pieces, including a bunk bed for the family’s two children as well as benches, shelves and a dining table.
      Find out more about Mylla Hytte ›
      Photo is by Stephen Kent JohnsonOne Manhattan Square apartment, USA, by Jamie Bush
      American designer Jamie Bush made bold and liberal use of colour to help liven up an off-the-shelf bunk bed from Casa Kids in this mustard-hued room.
      This helps the interior blend in with the rest of the apartment and its sculptural 1970s furnishings, set on the 60th floor of the luxury residential skyscraper One Manhattan Square on the Lower East Side.
      Find out more about One Manhattan Square apartment ›
      Photo is by Felipe UgaldeBL1 and BL2, Chile, by Umwelt
      Chilean studio Umwelt designed this home with expansive windows for a young family that just moved from Santiago to the beach town of Cáhuil in order to help bring them closer to nature.
      The kid’s room houses a three-tiered bunk bed that looks out over the rolling countryside, while other rooms offer sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
      Find out more about BL1 and BL2 ›
      Photo is by French + TyeRoom For One More, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
      In order to add an extra bedroom to the beloved flat of a growing family in the Barbican estate in London, Studio Ben Allen inserted a full-height timber volume at the centre of the plan. This houses an office area with a fold-out desk on one side and a bunk bed on the other.
      The new kid’s bedroom can be separated from the rest of the apartment using a sliding door, and the teal-coloured steps leading up to its bed can be pushed back to form another small desk for doing homework.
      Find out more about Room For One More ›
      Photo is by Olivier-Martin GambierHouse for a Photographer, France, by Alireza Razavi
      All of the floor space in this kid’s room is designated for playing, as double-height ceilings allow the sleeping area to be raised up in the form of an oversized loft bed for two.
      Architect Alireza Razavi also installed a similar mezzanine level over the home’s dining area that houses a post-editing room for the owner, who is a professional photographer.
      Find out more about House for a Photographer ›
      Photo is by Jeff CateHudson Woods home, USA, by Magdalena Keck
      New York interior designer Magdalena Keck recruited a cast of American makers and artisans to design custom furniture pieces for this holiday home in the Catskill Mountains.
      Among them is a chunky timber bunk bed that blends in with the wood-panelled walls and pays homage to the property’s natural setting.
      Find out more about Hudson Woods home ›
      Photo is by Maxime BrouilletFahouse, Canada, by Jean Verville
      Jean Verville nestled a double-width loft bed inside the steep gable of this cottage, set in a forest near Quebec.
      Wooden ceiling beams are left exposed and matched to the light wooden bed and the floor, which stand in stark contrast to the home’s blackened steel cladding.
      Find out more about Fahouse ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing kitchens with social seating nooks, statement skylights and living rooms with sculptural furniture.

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      Ten living rooms that use floor-to-ceiling glazing to bring the outdoors in

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      In our latest lookbook, we spotlight 10 homes with living rooms enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glazing and window walls that create seamless connections to their natural surroundings.

      The use of large panes of glass on the exterior of a dwelling is a popular trend in residential architecture as it is an effective way to make living spaces feel bigger and brighter.
      Another major benefit of using expanses of glazing and floor-to-ceiling windows is maximising outward views, which can help connect occupants to the outdoors and, in turn, boost wellbeing.
      This is the latest in our lookbook series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement skylights, welcoming terraces and living rooms with sculptural furniture.
      Photo is by Miranda KimberlinThe Watchman Cabin, USA, by Imbue Design

      Sweeping views of the Utah desert are enjoyed through the window wall of this living room in The Watchman Cabin, a remote home created by Imbue Design for a nature-loving client.
      The interior is finished with a restrained grey palette, helping to retain focus on the colours of the dramatic vista beyond.
      Find out more about The Watchman Cabin ›
      Photo is by Rory GardinerBilgola Beach House, Australia, by Olson Kundig
      Architecture studio Olson Kundig used floor-to-ceiling glazing and sliding doors to provide the living spaces of this house with fresh air and sightlines over Sydney’s Bilgola Beach.
      Outside, the glazed areas incorporate retractable louvres, allowing the dwelling to be sealed off from the beachfront in inclement weather.
      Find out more about Bilgola Beach House ›
      Photo is by David BarbourNedd, UK, by Mary Arnold-Forster Architects
      Mary Arnold-Forster Architects designed two floor-to-ceiling windows for the lounge of Nedd, a house built from cross-laminated timber in the Scottish Highlands.
      According to the studio’s founder, the goal was to “avoid a wall of glass” but to frame the expansive undulating landscape that surrounds the rocky site.
      Find out more about Nedd ›
      Photo is by Kevin ScottWhidbey Island Farm, USA, by MW Works
      Views of woodland through floor-to-ceiling windows animate the pared-back living spaces of Whidbey Island Farm, a country retreat in the Pacific Northwest by MW Works.
      The home is divided into three volumes that are positioned across the gently sloping site, providing each room with unique viewpoints of the surrounding landscape.
      Find out more about Whidbey Island Farm › 
      Photo is by Adrià GoulaCalders House, Spain, by Narch
      Glazed panels slide wide open to create seamless links between the lounge and the park on the doorstep of this concrete family home in Spain.
      According to the studio, these large portions of glazing are intended to make the residence feel “more like exterior garden than interior, a space in which furniture and plants are placed directly under the blue sky”.
      Find out more about Calders House › 
      Photo is courtesy of Aidlin Darling DesignHigh Desert Retreat, USA, by Aidlin Darling Design
      High Desert Retreat’s living room has floor-to-ceiling windows that Aidlin Darling Design incorporated to celebrate the home’s elevated vantage in California’s Palm Desert.
      Some portions of glazing also open up the room to the outside, leading down to a swimming pool that runs almost the entire length of the house.
      Find out more about High Desert Retreat › 
      Photo is by Markus LinderothSommarhus H, Sweden, by Johan Sundberg
      Giant panes of glass were used by Johan Sundberg to break up the simple exterior of Sommarhus H, a Swedish house lined with larch battens.
      On one side of the living room, the glazing is opened to create a link to a decked area outside. Minimal furniture and finishes retain focus on views towards the Baltic sea.
      Find out more about Sommarhus H › 
      Photo is by Ivar KaalVilla Aa, Norway, by CF Møller Architects
      This window wall forms the main facade of the Villa Aa dwelling that CF Møller Architects sunk into the ground on a Norwegian farm.
      In the living room, the doors provide access to a large terrace that is built from concrete to match the internal flooring and “blur the boundaries between inside and outside”.
      Find out more about Villa Aa › 
      Photo is by Alex Shoots BuildingsTerrace With a House by the Lake, Poland, by UGO
      Giant windows in the lounge of this Polish holiday home disrupt the otherwise blank exterior, which architecture studio UGO clad in corrugated metal.
      The living room is finished with materials chosen to reflect the colours and textures of the adjoining terrace and adjacent woodland, establishing a connection to the outside.
      Find out more about Terrace With a House by the Lake ›
      Photo is by Jonas Bjerre-PoulsenPavilion House, UK, by Norm Architects
      Pavilion House is a holiday home in rural Suffolk that has almost entirely glazed walls, including those in its pared-back living room.
      According to its designer, Norm Architects, this is to acknowledge “that the big-ticket item in the setting is indeed the countryside” and ensure views of it throughout the dwelling.
      Find out more about Pavilion House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing statement skylights, welcoming terraces and living rooms with sculptural furniture.

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      Balenciaga wraps London store in pink faux fur to celebrate its Le Cagole “it-bag”

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      Fashion brand Balenciaga has transformed its Mount Street store in London, creating a maximalist look to launch its Le Cagole collection by blanketing the interior in bright pink faux fur.

      To celebrate its popular Le Cagole bag, which references Balenciaga’s maximalist It Bags of the past, and launch the line’s collection of accessories and shoes, the entire interior of the store has been covered in fur.
      Balenciaga’s Mount Street store was lined in faux furThe brand removed its accessories, ready-to-wear collections and permanent shelving from the store and installed temporary, metal fixtures – taken from the brand’s previous projects and installations – throughout.
      Balenciaga wrapped these temporary fixtures and displays in a fluffy, bright pink faux fur chosen for its maximalist look to tie with the Le Cagole bag identity.
      Pink faux fur was used across the walls, floors and surfaces”The line, which now includes multiple bags, wallet, and shoe styles, reinvents Balenciaga codes in the tradition of maximalist It Bags of another era,” said Balenciaga.

      “Le Cagole pop-ups are in keeping with this spirit, covered entirely with bright pink fake fur. Shelves, displays, floors, seating, and even racks in the open-plan kiosks are lined in pink.”
      Le Cagole bags were placed across the fur-lined temporary displaysThe Le Cagole, which Vogue has dubbed the “new it-bag”, was designed by Balenciaga’s creative director Demna, who reinvented one of the house’s most iconic bags – the Balenciaga Motorcycle bag.
      First released in 2001 by Nicholas Ghesquiere, who led a 15-year tenure as creative director at the house from 1997 to 2012, the Motorcycle bag quickly became a staple of the 2000s.

      Balenciaga dedicates Autumn Winter 2022 show to the climate crisis and the war in Ukraine

      Demna’s Le Cagole collection, which was first launched as a collection of handbags, has now extended into a number of different bags, shoes and purses. It takes its name from French slang that refers to an “over-the-top attitude”.
      The pieces employ the same detailing, hardware and rivets as Ghesquiere’s 2001 Motorcycle bag, which have been applied across a number of accessories including knee-high stiletto boots, mini-purses and oversized rhinestone-embellished handbags.
      The fur-lined Le Cagole pop-up is open at Balenciaga’s Mount Street store in London from April through until June 2022.
      The pop-up offers limited edition bagsBalenciaga told Dezeen that the metal fixtures and displays would be reused for future projects, and it is looking into ways in which the fur can be repurposed and reused in different contexts.
      “Each Le Cagole pop-up fixture base was made of reused metal from previous projects. After the faux fur is removed, the metal will be reused again for future projects,” it said.
      “We are currently researching the best way in which we can donate the faux fur so that it can be reused in manufacturing toys, for example.”
      The pop-up is open until JuneFor the fashion brand’s Autumn Winter 2022 collection, the house created a “snow globe” where models walked the runway in a blizzard as a comment on both the climate crisis and the Ukraine war.
      In late 2021, Balenciaga renovated its flagship store in London and debuted its “raw architecture” store aesthetic.
      Photos are courtesy of Balenciaga.

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      Ten residential interiors illuminated by statement skylights

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      A New York townhouse with elliptical openings features in our latest lookbook, which collects 10 residential projects brightened up by skylights.

      A skylight is a window placed on a roof, which is generally positioned at an angle so that natural light from the sky can illuminate the interior space below it.
      Architects and designers often use skylights in their projects as an alternative to traditional windows, whether it is for the purpose of giving a building a greater sense of privacy or simply as a decorative source of light.
      A similar effect can be reached by installing clerestory windows, which are windows that sit very high up on walls.
      From a weekend retreat in Norway to an Australian island home, we have collected 10 residential interiors with striking skylights.

      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing compact bedrooms, innovative room dividers and self-designed studios by architects and designers.
      Photo is by Michael MoranOculi House, USA, by O’Neill Rose Architects
      Local office O’Neill Rose Architects transformed this New York City brownstone, which was previously characterised by dark interior spaces, using two elliptical skylights.
      The curved openings were carved out of the property’s white plaster ceiling, while rectilinear glass doors also contribute to the home’s airy atmosphere.
      Called Oculi House, the project was shortlisted for a 2019 Dezeen Award in the house interior of the year category.
      Find out more about Oculi House ›
      Photo is by Einar AslaksenWeekend House Fredrikstad, Norway, by Line Solgaard
      The pyramid-shaped skylight that tops this coastal holiday home illuminates its interior spaces, including an oak-lined dining room with vast windows that look towards the sea.
      Norweigan studio Line Solgaard added darker cabinets and flooring to the kitchen, which contrast with the shafts of natural light that flood the space and create dramatic shadows.
      Find out more about Weekend House Fredrikstad ›
      Photo is by Peter ClarkeCasa X, Australia, by Branch Studio Architects
      A mid-century armchair and rounded Muuto coffee tables sit beneath clerestory windows at Casa X, a home on Australia’s Phillip Island by Branch Studio Architects that also has a number of large skylights.
      “Three ‘pop-up’ high-level windows or light-catchers allow northern light to penetrate deep into the house throughout the day,” explained the studio.
      Find out more about Casa X ›
      Photo is courtesy of Fala AtelierHouse in Lisbon by Fala Atelier
      Porto architecture firm Fala Atelier converted a windowless garage in Lisbon into a bright living space that was opened up by placing skylights on the roof and painting the walls white.
      Pops of colour brighten up the spacious interior. In the kitchen area, a teal-hued, funnel-shaped extractor fan is suspended above a long marble counter.
      Find out more about this Lisbon home ›
      Photo is courtesy of Yoshihara McKeePhotographer’s Loft, USA, by Yoshihara McKee
      Natural light enters this Chelsea apartment via an angled skylight that illuminates the dwelling, which is located on the ground floor despite its name, Photographer’s Loft.
      Architecture studio Yoshihara McKee removed the apartment’s existing full-height partitions in order to make the most of the skylight, which frames sculptural furniture in neutral shades.
      Find out more about Photographer’s Loft ›
      Photo is by James FlorioADU, USA, by Tres Birds Workshop
      Architecture firm Tres Birds Workshop created an operable skylight from dichroic glass in this accessory dwelling unit (ADU), which is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
      The multicoloured glass was added to the building’s triangular timber roof in a position that means that light is cast all over the interior spaces.
      “As the angle of the sun changes throughout the day and season, so do the visual effects within the living space, creating a vibrant show of coloured light throughout,” explained Tres Birds.
      Find out more about this ADU ›
      Photo is by Aryeh KornfeldMogro House, Chile, by Rodolfo Cañas
      Morgo House in Santiago features a protruding stainless steel volume with an oversized skylight that gave the property its nickname, Skylight House.
      Chilean architect Rodolfo Cañas also inserted a floating metal staircase into the volume, which leads to the roof. Monochrome furniture was chosen to mirror the palette of steel and exposed concrete used throughout the house.
      Find out more about Mogro House ›
      Photo is by Katsuya TairaHouse with a Light Void, Japan, by FujiwaraMuro Architects
      Privacy is achieved in this home in Japan by FujiwaraMuro Architects through a series of geometric skylights that replace traditional windows.
      Each of these openings is arranged above five cement-clad volumes that are positioned within the minimal project, which is aptly named House with a Light Void.
      Find out more about House with a Light Void ›
      Photo is by José CamposCasa Boavista, Portugal, by Pablo Pita Architects
      Casa Boavista is a Porto townhouse located on a busy street, which was renovated to include skylights on multiple levels to afford the property a sense of privacy.
      Pablo Pita Architects added an extension to the back of the house as well as a new storey on top of it, while a trio of skylights illuminate the neutral interiors in three different places.
      Find out more about Casa Boavista ›
      Photo is by Andy StaggHouse in London by R2 Studio
      A bold colour palette takes centre stage in every room of this Victorian London home that was livened up by local practice R2 Studio.
      Central to the renovation is one of two feature staircases, which has a bright orange hue accentuated by a skylight that adds warmth to the already colourful interiors.
      Find out more about this London home ›
      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 basement conversions, co-working spaces and residential interiors with plaster walls.

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      Daytrip transforms east London terrace house into understated apartments

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      Design studio Daytrip has taken a less-is-more approach to the renovation and extension of this Victorian terrace house in London’s Clapton, which is now home to three separate apartments.

      The 250-square-metre Reighton Road development was designed as a “minimalist sanctuary” that could act as a blank canvas for residents’ belongings.
      A two-bedroom flat takes over Reighton Road’s ground floor and two basement levels (top and above)”A good home should be flexible and speak of its owners,” explained Hackney-based Daytrip. “The ability to cultivate and populate it over time with art, objects and personal items makes the home unique.”
      The largest of the flats has two bedrooms and takes over the building’s ground floor as well as two new subterranean levels, which are illuminated by a number of lightwells.
      Another apartment is self-contained on the building’s first floor and a third occupies the second floor and a new loft extension.

      Walls in the apartment’s kitchen are finished with tadelakt plasterIn the bottom apartment, the first basement floor accommodates a pair of spacious bedrooms, both of which were finished with poured concrete floors.
      Below that, the second subterranean level is meant to serve as a versatile studio-like space, where the residents can do home workouts or indulge in artsy hobbies.
      The kitchen’s rear wall is finished with grey bricksThe ground floor houses the apartment’s main living spaces including a new kitchen suite with handleless alabaster-white cabinetry.
      Save for a grey brick wall at the rear of the room, surfaces were washed with creamy tadelakt – a traditional lime-based plaster from Morocco.
      “It’s a purposely minimal and subdued kitchen, reserving the chaos to the cooking,” the studio said.
      The living room features white-oiled oak flooring and restored cornicingAt the front of the kitchen are wide glass doors that can be slid back to access the garden.
      London-based landscape design studio Tyler Goldfinch was brought in to give the paved outdoor space a wild, textured look using tiered planters overspilling with different types of grasses.
      There is also a silver birch tree surrounded by a circular bed of pebbles.

      Daytrip digs beneath east London townhouse to create contemporary living spaces

      Unlike the rest of the apartment, the living room was finished with white-oiled oak flooring while the ceiling’s original cornicing was restored. These same features also appear throughout the other two apartments on the upper floors.
      To create a sense of cohesion, all three flats were styled by East London galleries Beton Brut and Modern Art Hire, which carefully curated a mix of Italian and Japanese furnishings for the development.
      The other apartments on the upper floors also feature white-oiled oak flooringMany of the pieces were crafted from velvet, boucle or raw timber, bringing a sense of warmth and tactility to the interiors.
      With this aim, all of the bathrooms were also finished with tadelakt walls and limestone floors.
      All furnishings were selected by Beton Brut and Modern Art HireThis is the second residential project in Clapton from Daytrip founders Iwan Halstead and Emily Potter.
      In 2020, the duo overhauled a five-storey townhouse in the east London district by turning its dated 1970s-style rooms into serene white-washed living spaces.
      The photography is by Jake Curtis.

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      Ten living rooms with sculptural furniture pieces

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      For our latest lookbook, we have selected 10 living rooms from the Dezeen archive that feature sculptural furniture, from plump and rounded sofas to reclining wooden chairs.

      The interiors in this lookbook are filled with curved forms, soft angles and artistic shapes, giving them a gallery-like feel.
      Each living room has a unique collection of sculptural pieces, with some playing host to lightweight minimalist items that echo their pared-back interiors while others house fluffy, dense items that reflect the tactile home in which they belong.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks of homes with welcoming terraces, sleek co-working spaces and well-organised bedrooms.
      Photo is by Scott Frances6A, US, by Brad Ford

      This double-height living room with expansive windows is situated within Cast Iron House, a historic building in New York’s Tribeca neighbourhood that is being turned into apartments by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban.
      Directly beneath a sculptural hanging mobile lies a low slung bench-style seat in tan leather and a low coffee table showcasing a selection of homeware items.
      One of 13 residential spaces inside the building, the show home is kitted out by interior designer Brad Ford who hoped to compliment Ban’s striking work with vintage furnishings and neutral tones.
      Find out more about 6A ›
      Photo is by Ishita SitwalaMumbai Apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
      In this high rise flat in India’s capital Mumbai, spherical curved tables and orbed shaped sculptures are dotted all over, punctuating the otherwise minimalist space.
      In the open-plan living room, a circular coffee table surrounded by curved benches provides a playful element that contrasts with the neutral-hued tones, wooden materials and soft curtains.
      Find out more about Mumbai Apartment ›
      Photo is by Sean DavidsonAmity Street Residence, US, by Sarah Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas
      Three pieces of seating furniture take centre stage in the living room of this apartment on the fourth floor of a building in Brooklyn, with a circular lamp and marble table acting as supporting characters.
      Architectural design studios Sarah Akkari and Rawan Muqaddas transformed what was once a neglected apartment into a “minimal but warm” residence typified by creamy colours and soft furnishings.
      Find out more about Amity Street Residence ›
      Photo is by Simone BossiMA House, France, by Timothee Mercier
      Architect Timothee Mercier built what he refers to as an “intimate refuge” for his parents in Vaucluse, France, in what was previously an old farmhouse.
      Tasked with converting the ruined and dilapidated building into a light and airy residence aligned with the rural landscape, Mercier chose rustic furnishings in neutral tones and natural materials like oak wood and raffia.
      In the central living room, he added a pair of cane armchairs with high backs and a round wooden coffee table that was sourced in a Parisian flea market.
      Find out more about MA House ›
      Photo is by Stephen Kent JohnsonOne Manhattan Square, US, by Jamie Bush
      American designer Jamie Bush packed this New York apartment full of eclectic furnishings in a kaleidoscope of styles, colours and textures.
      Bush’s mix of old and new elements is particularly evident in the living spaces where items such as a black 1972 Hoop chair by Piero Palange and Werther Toffoloni is paired with an undulating rust-coloured sofa.
      Find out more about One Manhattan Square ›
      Photo is by The Fishy ProjectThane Apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
      Thane Apartment was designed by The Act of Quad anf is easily distinguished by its cobalt blue accents seen on the furnishings and fittings.
      Located in the Indian city of Thane, the 101-square-metre home has a number of bespoke items including a grey L-shaped sofa, a padded swing and a quartz-topped dining table.
      The striking blue colour scheme is continued in the living room, where the shade crops up on rounded piping and bead-like attachments on the stools.
      Find out more about Thane Apartment ›
      Photo is by Paula Abreu Pita for Standard ArtsThe Bryant apartment, US, by Standard Arts
      Constructed inside British architect David Chipperfield’s residential tower The Bryant, this two-bedroom model unit is furnished with playful decor and colourful artwork.
      In the living room, curatorial firm Standard Arts added sculptural foam and plywood chairs and a curving, acrylic floor lamp from Objects of Common Interest. Like the rest of the interior, the studio wanted it to “appeal to the uniquely curious mind”.
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      Photo is by Nicole FranzenAmagansett House, US, by Athena Calderone
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      Yinka Shonibare and India Mahdavi bring “a warm feel of Africa” to London restaurant Sketch

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      British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare and architect India Mahdavi have redesigned the Gallery dining room at London venue Sketch, adding site-specific artworks, warm golden colours and textured materials to its interior.

      The project, which is the latest in a string of artist collaborations from Sketch, features a series of 15 artworks by Shonibare dubbed Modern Magic. These were designed specifically for the space.
      The Gallery at Sketch is now covered in warm yellow huesMahdavi incorporated sunshine-yellow and golden colours to the interior alongside textured materials informed by Shonibare’s installation, including a copper skin on one of the walls.
      “Yinka’s artwork was a real inspiration and enticed me to work differently,” Mahdavi told Dezeen. “Textures have transcended colours by using a strong palette of materials.”
      “I used elements that have allowed me to extend Yinka’s artistic exploration of culture and identity, and bring a warm feel of Africa to the space and furnishings.”

      Artworks by Yinka Shonibare decorate the wallsMahdavi was also responsible for choosing the colour that previously dominated the interior of Sketch’s Gallery – a pale pink hue that became an Instagram favourite and remained in the room for eight years.
      “The Gallery at Sketch has been linked to the colour pink for such a long time that it was very challenging for me to overcome this success,” she said.
      This time, Mahdavi aimed to change the focus away from just the colour.
      “I didn’t want everybody to ask me what the new colour at the gallery is and therefore, I really worked on textures and materials that are evocative of the richness of Africa,” she explained. “Warmth is the new colour at Sketch.”
      Designer India Mahdavi worked with different textures for the interiorShonibare’s Modern Magic installation includes five hand-carved wooden masks as well as 10 framed quilts, which replicate African masks collected by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso.
      “Picasso was interested in appropriating from another culture and I also appropriate from European ethnic art,” Shonibare explained.
      “Cultural appropriation can be a two-way street,” he added. “This collaboration with Sketch has given me an opportunity to expand my creative process – creating a different environment to encounter and experience my art in a fun and relaxing setting.”
      Pieces were designed especially for the spaceThe artworks are complemented by tactile furniture pieces and accessories designed for the Gallery.
      “I chose yellow fabrics and leather to cover the banquettes,” Mahdavi said. “It is the colour of sun and happiness.”
      “The subtle shades of yellow vary from one piece to another carrying different patterns of weaved raffia, which were chosen within Aissa Dione’s collection of fabrics and specially woven for the project in Senegal.”

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      “The walls are covered in metallic copper paper by De Gournay to radiate the room and the wall lights are made in Ghanaian wicker by artist Inès Bressand,” she continued.
      “It was my way of helping Yinka take over the room without interfering with his work.”
      A copper wall reflects the lightMahdavi believes the new Sketch interior is more suitable for a post-Covid world.
      “The pink Gallery at Sketch lasted eight years instead of the two years initially planned,” she said.
      “I really believe that the pink room belonged to the pre-Covid era,” Mahdavi added. “It was fun, feminine and there was a certain lightness to it. The new Gallery at Sketch has more depth, the textures imply the feeling of togetherness.”
      “Textures have transcended colours,” Mahdavi said of the designSketch’s most recent artist collaboration was with UK artist David Shrigley, whose black-and-white drawings stood out against the pale pink colour of the Gallery and were also emblazoned on a collection of ceramics.
      Mahdavi, who is one of this year’s Dezeen Awards judges and will sit on the interiors design jury, was recently among a group of designers who reinterpreted Dior’s Medallion Chair at Salone del Mobile.
      Among Shonibare’s recent work is a set of bespoke stamps designed for the Royal Academy’s 250th anniversary.
      The photography is by Edmund Dabney.

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