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      Ten eclectic eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo

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      From a pink-hued Ottolenghi restaurant in London to a muted pizzeria in Beijing, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 eateries from around the world that feature terrazzo elements.

      Terrazzo is a flooring material that consists of uneven pieces of marble or granite set in concrete, which is then polished to give it a smooth finish.
      Architects and interior designers often use the sturdy material in their projects to create practical floors, but also to give walls or other surfaces a speckled and decorative appearance.
      We have collected 10 eateries that use terrazzo, such as on the tabletops of a fish and chip shop in Australia and to make up the floors of a Chinese teahouse.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing steely kitchens, green bedrooms and gardens with swimming pools.

      Photo is by Niveditaa GuptaRosie and Tillie, India, by Renesa
      Local architecture studio Renesa set terracotta tiles against smooth terrazzo surfaces at Rosie and Tillie, an all-day cafe in New Delhi.
      Squat curved booths create sculptural seating throughout the eatery, which is located within a former Indian restaurant at a shopping mall in the Indian capital’s Saket neighbourhood.
      Find out more about Rosie and Tillie ›
      Photo is by David SieversSmallfry Seafood, Australia, by Sans-Arc Studio
      Smallfry Seafood is a chip shop in Adelaide, Australia, that takes cues from the aesthetics of Japanese seafood markets.
      Sans-Arc Studio created a communal bar and curved tables from narrow slabs of light blue terrazzo. For the rest of the interiors, the studio chose mottled grey travertine and stained wood accents that are illuminated by globular pendant lights.
      Find out more about Smallfry Seafood ›
      Photo is by Oculis ProjectDrop Coffee, UAE, by Roar Studio
      A decorative terrazzo floor mirrors a mural created from broken ceramic tiles at this Dubai cafe that was designed by Roar Studio at the city’s Dar Al Wasl Mall.
      Drop Coffee has a colour palette of greys and whites, chosen to maintain focus on the cafe’s mix of industrial materials such as stainless steel and concrete.
      “We aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel by using broken tiles – our idea was to form a counterpoint to the terrazzo effect porcelain flooring as though the chips of the broken tiles were used in the flooring,” Roar Studio founder Pallavi Dean told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Drop Coffee ›
      Photo is by Jovian LimOdette, Singapore, by Universal Design Studio 
      Mosaic-like terrazzo floors formed from pale pink and white take centre stage at Odette, a restaurant in Singapore created by British practice Universal Design Studio.
      A range of soft and smooth materials make up the interiors, from plush grey velvet benches and chairs to sleek nickel fixtures and statement planters.
      Find out more about Odette ›
      Photo is courtesy of Alex MeitlisOttolenghi Chelsea, UK, by Alex Meitlis
      London deli and restaurant chain Ottolenghi has opened a branch in Chelsea that features interior styling by designer Alex Meitlis, who created exposed plaster walls interspersed with pink terrazzo tiles.
      The eatery includes slinky banquettes in red upholstery and low-slung rattan chairs, which are arranged around sculptural white tables.
      Find out more about Ottolenghi Chelsea ›
      Photo is by Tom BlachfordPenta, Australia, by Ritz&Ghougassian 
      Terrazzo was used to create subtle geometric seating at Penta, a minimal cafe in Melbourne designed by local architecture studio Ritz&Ghougassian.
      Jet black cushions and chairs contrast the grey speckled benches, while delicate native ferns add a touch of greenery to the otherwise monochrome interiors.
      Find out more about Penta ›
      Photo is by Jonathan LeijonhufvudLievito Gourmet Pizza, China, by MDDM Studio
      Another eatery with a muted atmosphere, Lievito Gourmet Pizza by MDDM Studio features blocky custom-made tables and a central bar formed from powdery grey terrazzo.
      The Beijing restaurant was designed with this layout in order to incorporate both open and more intimate dining spaces, which are arranged across three subtle levels.
      Find out more about Lievito Gourmet Pizza ›
      Photo is by Dirk WeiblenTingtai Teahouse, China, by Linehouse
      Situated inside an old factory space in Shanghai, Tingtai Teahouse is characterised by its intimate seating areas contained in elevated boxes positioned above a multi-level landscape of green terrazzo.
      “We paired smoked oak and brushed darkened stainless steel with the green terrazzo to bring warmth into the space,” explained Linehouse founder Alex Mok.
      Find out more about Tingtai Teahouse ›
      Photo is by Samara ViseB-Natural Kitchen, USA, by Atelier Cho Thompson 
      A rounded bar and service counter with a multi-coloured terrazzo top and tamboured wood siding features in B-Natural Kitchen, a pastel-hued restaurant in New Haven, Connecticut.
      Atelier Cho Thompson juxtaposed soft and bold finishes for the interiors, which include plant-themed graphic wallpaper that nods to the eatery’s menu of fresh ingredients.
      Find out more about project B-Natural Kitchen ›
      Photo is by Tom BlachfordMiddle South East, Australia, by Biasol
      Design studio Biasol took cues from Middle Eastern architecture for this Melbourne restaurant that juxtaposes deep blue and terracotta tones.
      A tiled water station with terrazzo shelving features in the centre of the room, while clusters of dining tables and a bar are topped with the same speckled material.
      Find out more about Middle South East ›
      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 white bathrooms, light-filled extensions and homes with statement windows.

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      Nameless Architecture creates “artificial valley” at base of Gyeryongsan Mountain

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      Architecture studio Nameless Architecture has completed the Café Teri bakery in Daejeon, South Korea, in a pair of buildings that flow into a central courtyard.

      Located at the foot of the Gyeryongsan Mountain in Daejeon, Nameless Architecture designed the two buildings to frame the entrance to a hiking trail that continues up the mountain.
      The cafe’s courtyard leads onto a hiking trailThe two rectangular buildings were angled, creating an outdoor space that narrows towards the mountain path. The three-storey building contains a cafe and the two-storey building opposite is a bakery.
      “The artificial valley, where the distinction between the wall and the floor is blurred, creates a flow towards the forest and becomes the yard to the cafe and a path for walkers,” Nameless Architecture co-principal Unchung Na told Dezeen.
      “We intended the building to become a path and courtyard that guides the flow of nature and visitors rather than blocking the promenade.”

      Concrete brick walls slope down into the floor of the courtyard at Café TeriThe 900-square-metre project was finished in concrete bricks, creating a rough texture on the exterior walls.
      “The concrete bricks used to construct the architectural topography emphasise the continuity of the flowing space,” said Na.
      “On the other hand, the facade wall made of rough broken bricks creates a difference of boundaries through the change of light, shadow, and time.”
      Nameless Architecture used concrete brick for the interior of the cafe as well as the exteriorThe flowing exterior walls of the project are replicated inside the ground floor of a cafe, where the back wall of a double-height space curves down into stepped seating.
      The floor, curved wall and stepped seating inside the cafe were finished in concrete bricks, and the remaining walls were finished in polished concrete.

      Stacked felt sheets create seating inside South Korean cafe

      “The fluid wall is continuous not only in the yard but also in the interior space, connecting the inside and outside scenery through a stepped space,” Na explained.
      A backyard area features uplifted terrain that mimics the curved concrete brick walls of the cafe and bakery, which Nameless Architecture designed to provide a spatially interesting place for people to enjoy food outside.
      Nameless Architecture used curved walls to create a distinct “architectural topography”The architecture practice designed the curved elements that appear to emerge from the ground with the aim of blurring the lines between what is wall and floor.
      “The basic elements of architecture can be reinterpreted to induce various experiences and actions of people,” said Na.
      “In particular, the two elements, wall and floor, are defined as fundamentally different architectural elements, but we tried to reconsider this strict relationship.”
      The project aims to reinterpret how walls and floors are used as architectural elements”The mutual relationship in which the wall becomes the floor, and the inside becomes the outside can be interpreted in various ways through the experience of the place,” Na continued.
      Other projects recently completed in South Korea include a department store in Seoul with an indoor waterfall and skyscrapers with red-painted steel columns designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners.
      The photography is by Kyung Roh.
      Project credits:
      Architect: Nameless ArchitecturePrincipals-in-charge: Unchung Na and Sorae YooProject team: Taekgyu Kang, Changsoo Lee and Jungho Lee

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      Dezeen reveals the world's 57 most striking interiors shortlisted for Dezeen Awards 2022

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      Dezeen has announced the interiors shortlist for this year’s Dezeen Awards, which includes interiors by Kelly Wearstler, Cox Architecture and Studio MK27.

      The 57 shortlisted projects, which are in the running for awards in 11 different interiors project categories, are located in 24 different countries including Ukraine, Japan, Canada, South Korea, and Sweden.
      The top three represented countries are UK with 12 shortlisted entries followed by China with seven and both USA and Australia with four.
      Five projects are shortlisted in each interiors category except the small workspace interior and apartment interior categories, which have six, including a multi-storey skatepark in a seaside town in Kent and a refurbished cinema with pistachio-green arches in the heart of Berlin.
      The shortlist also includes a renovated hotel in a Beijing hutong, a micro-apartment in Belsize Park wrapped in translucent panels and a restaurant with a granite gravel floor in São Paulo.

      All shortlists announced this week
      The shortlists were scored by our interiors jury which includes London-based interior designer and creative director Charlotte Taylor, French architect India Mahdavi and Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto of Milan-based Studiopepe.
      The architecture shortlist was announced yesterday, the design shortlist will be revealed tomorrow, the sustainability and media shortlists on Thursday and the studio shortlist on Friday.
      Above: The Hideaway Home by ACOS has been shortlisted. Top: The Hoxton Poblenou by Ennismore was also shortlistedAll shortlisted architecture projects are listed below, each with a link to a dedicated page on the Dezeen Awards website, where you can find an image and more information about the project. All shortlisted projects will also feature in their own dedicated Dezeen post.
      The winner of each project category will be announced online in November. All 11 winners will then go on to compete for the title of interiors project of the year.
      Vote for your favourite project next week
      For the third year running, Dezeen Awards is holding a public vote after the shortlist announcements, meaning readers will be able to choose their favourite projects from 12 September onwards.
      Projects with the highest number of votes in their category will win a public vote award. Winners will be announced in mid-October, ahead of the Dezeen Awards event in November.
      Continue reading for the full interiors shortlist:
      West Bend House by Brave New EcoHouse interior
      › Barwon Heads House, Melbourne, Australia, by Adam Kane Architects› West Bend House, Melbourne, Australia, by Brave New Eco› House in Marutamachi, Kyoto City, Japan, by Td-Atelier› Twentieth, Los Angeles, USA, by Woods + Dangaran› Clear Oak, Los Angeles, USA, by Woods + Dangaran
      Browse all projects on the house interior shortlist page.
      Flat 6 in São Paulo by Studio MK27Apartment interior
      › The Hideaway Home, Gdańsk, Poland, by ACOS› Tribeca Loft, New York City, USA, by Andrea Leung› Iceberg, Tel-Aviv, Israel, by Laila Architecture› Shoji Apartment, London, United Kingdom, Proctor and Shaw› Earthrise Studio, London, United Kingdom, by Studio McW› Flat 6, São Paulo, Brazil, by Studio MK27
      Browse all projects on the apartment interior shortlist page.
      Koffee Mameya Kakeru by Fourteen Stone DesignRestaurant and bar interior
      › Koffee Mameya Kakeru, Tokyo, Japan, by Fourteen Stone Design› Spice & Barley, Bangkok, Thailand, by Enter Projects Asia› Dois Tropicos, São Paulo, Brazil, by MNMA Studio› Connie-Connie at the Copenhagen Contemporary, Copenhagen, Denmark, by Tableau and Ari Prasetya› Terra, Vynnyky, Ukraine, by YOD Group
      Browse all projects on the restaurant and bar interior page.
      Schwan Locke by LockeHotel and short-stay interior
      › The Hoxton Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain, by Ennismore› Well Well Well Hotel Renovation, Beijing, China, Fon Studio› Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, United Kingdom, by Holland Harvey› Schwan Locke, Munich, Germany, by Locke› Downtown L.A. Proper Hotel, Los Angeles, USA, by Kelly Wearstler Studio
      Browse all projects on the hotel and short-stay interior page.
      Design District Bureau Club by Roz Barr ArchitectsLarge workspace interior
      › Midtown Workplace, Brisbane, Australia, by Cox Architecture› Victoria Greencoat Place, London, United Kingdom, by Fora› Dyson Global HQ St James Power Station, Singapore, by M Moser Associates› Design District Bureau Club, London, United Kingdom, by Roz Barr Architects› Generator Building, Bristol, United Kingdom, by MoreySmith
      Browse all projects on the large workspace interior page.
      Samsen Atelier by Note Design StudioSmall workspace interior
      › Alexander House, Sydney, Australia, by Alexander & Co.› The F.Forest Office, Linbian, Taiwan, by Atelier Boter› Asket Studio, Stockholm, Sweden, by Atelier Paul Vaugoyeau› HNS Studio, Nanjing, China, Muhhe Studio Institute of Architecture› Samsen Atelier, Stockholm, Sweden, by Note Design Studio› OTK Ottolenghi, London, United Kingdom, by Studiomama
      Browse all projects on the small workspace interior page.
      XC273 by Dongqi DesignLarge retail interior
      › Proud Gallery Gotanda, Gotanda, Japan, by Domino Architects› XC273, Shanghai, China, by Dongqi Design› Kolon Sport Sotsot Rebirth, Cheju Island, South Korea, by Jo Nagasaka / Schemata Architects› Deja Vu Recycle Store, Shanghai, China, by Offhand Practice› An Interactive Spatial Design and Scenography for Jacquemus at Selfridges, London, United Kingdom, by Random Studio
      Browse all projects on the large retail interior page.
      Aesop Yorkville by OdamiSmall retail interior
      › Haight Clothing Store, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Aia Estudio› The Market Building, London, United Kingdom, by Holloway Li› Durat Showroom, Helsinki, Finland, by Linda Bergroth› Monc, London, United Kingdom, by Nina+Co› Aesop Yorkville, Toronto, Canada, by Odami
      Browse all projects on the small retail interior page.
      Wan Fat Jinyi Cinema by One Plus PartnershipLeisure and wellness interior
      › Barlo MS Centre, Toronto, Canada, by Hariri Pontarini Architects› Wan Fat Jinyi Cinema, Shenzhen, China, by One Plus Partnership› Patina Maldives Spa, Fari Islands, Maldives, by Studio MK27› Self Revealing, Taipei City, Taiwan, by Studio X4› Bath & Barley, Brussels, Belgium, by WeWantMore
      Browse all projects on the leisure and wellness interior page.
      F51 Skate Park by Hollaway StudioCivic and cultural interior
      › Yorck Kino Passage, Berlin, Germany, by Batek Architekten› Stanbridge Mill Library, Dorset, United Kingdom, by Crawshaw Architects› Designing Ecole Camondo Méditerranée’s Interior, Toulon, France, by Émilieu Studio› F51 Skate Park, Folkestone, United Kingdom, by Hollaway Studio› The Groote Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands, by Merk X
      Browse all projects on the civic and cultural interior page.
      A Private Reading Room by Atelier Tao+CSmall interior
      › OHL Cultural Space for the Arts, Lisbon, Portugal, by AB+AC Architects› A Private Reading Room, Shanghai, China, by Atelier Tao+C› Fatface Coffee Pop Up Shop, Shenyang, China, by Baicai Design› Sik Mul Sung, South Korea, by Unseenbird› Relaxing Geometry with Pops of Yellow, Antwerp, Belgium, by Van Staeyan Interior Architects
      Browse all projects on the small interior page. More

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      Ten atriums that brighten and expand residential spaces

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      A Montreal home with a trapeze net, a warehouse conversion in London and an Indian home with a monolithic marble facade are among the residences in this lookbook, which feature atriums as a central aspect of their design.

      Atriums – large spaces, surrounded by a building, that are either open-air or feature skylights – were originally used in Roman homes, where they functioned more like a courtyard.
      Modern atriums typically feature in larger buildings and are cavernous spaces that stretch up for stories.
      For residential architecture, architects who want to include atrium spaces have to scale down the size, but that doesn’t mean that homes can’t have the loft ceilings and ample light provided by atriums.

      In these homes, the central space is open, with skylights and glass ceilings bringing light into the heart of the structure.
      Atriums provide an option for airiness when confronted with constructing homes on busy city streets where exterior views are not always desirable.
      Often, the other rooms and spaces are all accessed from the atrium space, and many times trees feature in these lofty spaces.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing floating staircases, calm green bedrooms and organic modern interiors.
      The photo is by Adrien WilliamsAtrium Townhome, Canada, by Robitaille Curtis
      When dealing with limited space in city buildings, an atrium can open up the inside of the home. For this Montreal Townhome, Canadian studio Robitalle Curtis oriented the white-walled interiors around a triple-height atrium.
      The atrium is in the centre of the house and extends up from the open-layout kitchen upwards. A skylight brings light into the void and the open space is punctuated by a trapeze that forms a children’s play area on the top floor.
      Find out more about Atrium Townhome ›
      The photo is by Yohei SasakuraMargin House, Japan, by Kohei Yukawa
      Kohei Yukawa of Yukawa Design Lab designed this home for himself in Ibaraki City, north of Osaka. The corrugated-metal-clad home features a central atrium with a small tree.
      Instead of being completely topped by a skylight, the atrium fits into the slanted volume of the home. A wall of glass accompanies it on one side and at the top two clerestory windows bring light into the void.
      Find out more about Margin House ›
      The photo is by Glen GeryLa Clairière, USA, by Studio PHH
      Brooklyn-based Studio PHH connected two wood-and-brick-clad volumes with a double-height atrium that serves as the living room for this New Jersey home.
      The space has floor-to-ceiling glass on two sides where it faces the outdoors and is filled by a central staircase that leads to a mezzanine. Two large circular skylights brighten the space from above.
      Find out more about La Clairière ›
      The photo is by Rory GardinerBethnal Green warehouse apartment, UK, by Paper House Project
      UK studio Paper House Project’s design for this London home saw the studio turn an open-office space in an old warehouse into a residence. In order to add bedrooms to the space while still maintaining natural light on the first floor, the studio incorporated an atrium topped by skylights.
      The double-height atrium is lined with gridded windows that also bring light into the bedrooms above. Instead of a tree, the void of the atrium is filled by a sculptural chandelier.
      Find out more about this warehouse conversion ›

      Tawainese home, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
      KC Design Studio was tasked with bringing extra light into this 50-year-old home in Tawain. In order to do so, an atrium-like central void was created.
      A metal stairway follows the atrium up three levels, creating a central flow through the home and bringing in plenty of natural light. Plants have been hung from the exposed structural rafters to take advantage of the sunlight and add life to the design.
      Find out more about this Taiwanese home ›
      The photo is by Hiroyuki OkiHouse for Daughter, Vietnam, by Khuôn Studio
      This house in Ho Chi Min City by Khuôn Studio features a massive triple-height atrium that splits the two sections of the home, one of which is used by the full-time residents and one by their daughter.
      The atrium features public spaces, a tree and a series of skylights that bring in light to the cavernous volume. The edges of the rooms on either side protrude into the area and are rounded, adding a softness to the atrium space.
      Find out more about House for Daughter ›
      The photo is by Photo André Jeanpierre Fanthome and Suryan//DangCleft House, India, by Anagram Architects
      This New Delhi house by Anagram Architects features two monumental marble blocks that are split by a massive atrium. The four-storey atrium is topped by a glass ceiling and even has a glass-lined elevator shaft on one wall.
      A massive spiral staircase fills the void and plant-filled public areas are arranged throughout the space. Balconies for rooms on the upper floor have been positioned to look out over the atrium, giving the impression of an open-air space.
      Find out more about Cleft House ›
      The photo is by Andres Garcia LachnerJungle Frame House, Costa Rica, by Studio Saxe
      Studio Saxe oriented this steel-framed home in Costa Rica around a “tropical atrium”. The three-storey atrium is lined by glass and wooden louvres so that the jungle is visible from much of the home.
      Because of the wooden slats, the ground floors have shadows similar to the floor of the jungle with the shadows of the overstory. At the bottom of the atrium space is the living room, which extends outside into a wrap-around patio.
      Find out more about Jungle Frame House ›
      The photo is by Hey!CheeseHouse H, Taiwan, by HAO Design
      The atrium was achieved in this home in Kaohsiung by removing the interior staircase and putting it outdoors. HAO Design decided that orienting the home around an atrium was the best way to take advantage of the space left by the staircase.
      A skylight at the top illuminates the kitchen and a variety of other living spaces are positioned as mezzanines on the upper floors. The home now serves as a cafe and furniture store.
      Find out more about House H ›
      The photo is by Albers StudioThe Lomas House, Mexico, by Arqueodigma Studio 
      Because of the busy area of Guadalajara where this home is located,  Arqueodigma decided to orient it inwards. The central public areas of the home are arranged around a triple-height atrium covered by a skylight.
      In the space are trees that rise up into the open area left open in the wooden ceiling. The public spaces on the ground floor were left mostly open so that the atrium can diffuse light through much of the home.
      Find out more about The Lomas House ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing floating staircases, calm green bedrooms and organic modern interiors.

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      Bill Amberg Studio creates ribbon-like leather ceiling for London office lobby

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      Padded leather panels twist their way across the ceiling in the lobby of the 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper in London as part of an installation developed for the office building by leather specialist Bill Amberg Studio.

      The atrium spans the ground and first floor of the 62-storey skyscraper, which was designed by PLP Architecture and completed in 2020.
      This lobby, known as The Library, serves as the centre point between the building’s two entrances and doubles as a gallery showing temporary art exhibitions.
      Bill Amberg Studio has created a ceiling installation for the 22 Bishopsgate lobbyThe brief called for an installation with visual impact to draw people into the space from outside of the building.
      Working closely with PLP Architecture over the course of three years, Bill Amberg Studio created a ceiling installation made from twisted leather panels that resemble pieces of ribbon.

      The padded panels rise up from the escalator soffit at ground level and twist across the ceiling before returning to floor level on the opposite side of the entrance hall.
      It consists of flat and twisted leather panelsBacklit by a Barrisol ceiling system, the installation was designed to add a “warm heart” to the building, the studio says.
      Its construction consists of a two-part shell that was designed and developed at the studio, with the leatherwork carried out by specialist craftspeople in the Bill Amberg Studio workshop in Park Royal, north London.

      Enter Projects Asia enlivens Belgian office with “fluid” rattan sculptures

      The studio developed a heavily drummed and naturally grained leather especially to upholster the installation and complement the office’s internal finishes of stone and steel.
      Its soft tan finish has natural tonal and textural variations, helping to create a sense of warmth while differentiating the panels.
      Leather-clad panelling was also added to the walls of the atrium across both the ground floor and the first floor, creating a sense of continuity within the building.
      Leather panelling was added to the walls to create a cohesive look”It was a challenging project but immensely satisfying to see the final installation, showing that leatherwork can enhance and bring warmth to large open spaces on a grand scale,” commented Bill Amberg, founder and director of Bill Amberg Studio.
      Previously, the specialist leather studio has teamed up with well-known designers including Marcel Wanders and Timorous Beasties to digitally print cowhides with close-up fractal patterns and colourful splatters resembling Rorschach tests.

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      Makhno Studio celebrates Ukrainian craft in all-beige home near Kyiv

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      Kyiv-based Makhno Studio has paired soft, bumpy textures and intricate ceramic walls inside this all-beige home in Ukraine, which was completed right before the Russian invasion.

      Located in Kozyn, a rural town just south of Kyiv, Mureli House is a celebration of summertime and Ukrainian design, with mureli being an old Ukrainian word for apricot.
      Intricate ceramics feature throughout the Mureli House interior by Makhno StudioThe home, which was completed just two months before the start of the invasion in February 2022, comprises an open-plan living room and kitchen, three bedrooms with three bathrooms, a guest bathroom, a laundry room and a garage with a terrace.
      The clients – a local Ukrainian couple with a large family – requested from the outset that Makhno Studio should work with as many Ukrainian manufacturers and craftsmen as possible to create bespoke products for the house.
      A bulbous sculpture decorates the fireplace mantel in the lounge”All materials in the home are natural,” the studio’s founder Serhii Makhno told Dezeen. “The team used almost all Ukrainian brands and worked with several local contractors to minimise the distance and logistics.”

      The clients wanted a neutral, beige interior across all of the rooms to create a cohesive look. As a result, the house’s second floor is finished mostly in wood while the entire ground floor is decorated with beige-coloured plaster.
      Makhno designed the pendant lights in the lounge to resemble seed podsMakhno Studio emphasised the generous volumes and curved staircase in the home’s entrance hallway through a wall of three-dimensional ceramic tiles and a dramatic cluster of pendant lamps made of clay and polystyrene foam.
      References to the natural world are integrated throughout the interior. Highlights include a cluster of Makhno-designed pendants in the living room that resemble seed pods and washbasins that appear like hollowed-out boulders.
      The entire ground floor including the kitchen is finished in beige-coloured plasterThe only exception to Mureli House’s monochrome colour scheme is the main bathroom, which features pink accents including ombre shower doors and scale-shaped concrete tiles that can be tilted away from the wall to double up as hooks for hanging towels and bathrobes.
      “Ceramic craftsmanship is an ancient Ukrainian tradition,” Makhno explained. “At the end of the 1920s, the ceramic tradition began to be restored in various parts of Ukraine. At Makhno, the tradition is continued today to highlight its uniqueness and naturalistic appeal.”

      Makhno Studio designs conceptual settlement within Martian crater

      Mureli House currently stands empty since the owners were forced to flee to safer areas in the west of Ukraine following Russia’s attempts to storm Kyiv in the early days of the war.
      The exact condition of the home is unknown. But Makhno Studio says a Russian military plane and several missiles were shot down over the surrounding area in Kozyn.
      Russian troops were forced to retreat from Kyiv at the start of April but left behind a trail of destruction in the city’s outskirts and have since carried out a number of airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital.
      The monochrome colour palette extends into the home’s three bedroomsIn total, more than 143 significant cultural sites have been damaged in Ukraine since the start of the war, including the Ivankiv Museum in Kyiv and several second world war memorial monuments in the surrounding region.
      Serhii Makhno says he currently remains safe in Ukraine, while the rest of his team is scattered throughout Europe and is working mainly on international projects.
      Boulder-like sinks and scale-shaped tiles feature in the main bathroomThe studio is among a number of Ukrainian practices that have told Dezeen they are now looking for support and commissions from foreign clients.
      Previous projects from the studio include Makhno’s own thatched-roof house in Kozyn and his duplex apartment in Kyiv.
      The photography is courtesy of Makhno Studio.

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      Eight homes with characterful floating staircases that appear to defy gravity

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      A staircase with an in-built swing and a metal structure hung from a ceiling are among the eight floating staircases featured in our latest lookbook.

      A floating staircase is a flight of stairs that appears to defy gravity. They often cantilever from one wall to create overhanging steps that jut outwards and look as if they are suspended in mid-air.
      They often have open risers, which means that the treads are not connected but might be attached by central stringers.
      From a granite house in Spain to a light-filled home in Canada, here are eight residential interiors that feature floating staircases in their designs.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing garden swimming pools, exposed wooden beams and organic modern interiors.

      Photo is by Marcos MiguélezCasa VMS, Spain, by Marcos Miguélez 
      A floating steel staircase with cantilevered treads features in Casa VMS, a granite-clad house in the Spanish town of Magaz de Abajo by architect Marcos Miguélez.
      Connecting the library and the living room, the staircase includes dark wooden steps that mirror a low-slung timber dining table, which sits within an open-plan living space.
      Find out more about Casa VMS ›
      Photo is by Simon KennedyIdunsgate Apartment, Norway, by Haptic
      Idunsgate Apartment in Oslo includes a powder-coated steel staircase that is suspended from a ceiling beam creating a sculptural stepped formation.
      The floating staircase is completed by blocky wooden steps at its bottom, which also double as built-in seating in an open-plan kitchen and dining space.
      Find out more about Indunsgate Apartment ›
      Photo is by Karina TengbergSturlasgade apartment, Denmark, by Jac Studios
      Copenhagen practice Jac Studios designed a staircase in two parts for this Sturlasgade apartment with pale-toned finishes and natural light.
      Suspended from steel poles, a flight of smoked-oak stairs leads to a set of light-coloured, tapered terrazzo steps that provide access to an open-plan living space.
      Find out more about this Sturlasgade apartment ›
      Photo is by Jack HobhouseKenwood Lee House, UK, by Cousins & Cousins
      Architecture office Cousins & Cousins inserted a central floating staircase into Kenwood Lee House – a dwelling in Highgate, London, that is characterised by concrete and marble finishes.
      Complete with light oak treads, the staircase features an indoor swing that hangs underneath it and adds a playful touch to the minimal interiors.
      Find out more about Kenwood Lee House ›
      Photo is by A AvdeenkoHeat 360 House, Ukraine, by Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects
      The two storeys of this house in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, are connected by a chunky cantilevered staircase that juts out from a concrete wall and rises up through an opening in the kitchen ceiling.
      Local studio Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects also added full-height windows to the refurbished property, which includes various quirky features including a hay-bale seating area.
      Find out more about Heat 360 House ›
      Photo is by Ronan MézièreEscher House, Canada, by Naturehumaine
      A labyrinthine steel and wood staircase informed by the architectural paintings of Dutch artist MC Escher travels through the levels of this Montreal home renovated by local firm Naturehumaine.
      “Imposing and phantasmagorical, the staircase with its crossing of flights enlivens the space and personalises the entire house,” said the studio.
      Find out more about The Escher House ›
      Photo is by Josée MarinoLazard House, Canada, by Kl.Tz Design
      Canadian studio Kl.Tz Design renovated this light-filled family house in Montreal to include a staircase defined by suspended wooden steps and a floor-to-ceiling metal balustrade.
      Designed by furniture brand De Gaspé, the minimal structure intends to create a sense of lightness and openness between the home’s two levels.
      Find out more about Lazard House ›
      Photo is by Ben HoskingOgimachi House, Japan, Tomoaki Uno Architects
      Tomoaki Uno Architects added a central flower-like staircase to Ogimachi House, a Japanese home built almost entirely out of cedar and cypress for the materials’ calming properties.
      The staircase features petal-shaped treads that have a generous amount of space between each other, which are designed in wood like the rest of the interiors.
      Find out more about Ogimachi House ›
      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 bookshelf staircases, white bathrooms and homes with hammocks.

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      in Rooms

      Five “quirky” sleeping pods top Watchet's East Quay arts centre

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      UK studios Pearce+ and Fægen have designed the interiors of five sleeping pods that stand on top of the Invisible Studio-designed arts centre on the dockside in Watchet, UK.

      The studios aimed to design the pods, which were created to provide interesting accommodation for people visiting East Quay and the town, to align with the ethos of the arts centre.
      The sleeping pods are located on top of Watchet’s East Quay arts centre”The whole of East Quay is about culture, purpose and imagination – it is a hub of creativity, opportunity, artistry and ideas,” explained Pearce+ founder Owen Pearce.
      “It is also most importantly about community – multiple hands and many eyes,” he told Dezeen.
      “We wanted this to be captured in the pods also, providing inspiring, exciting, different, unusual spaces and involving as many hands as possible in the design, from artists to makers to kids.”

      Two pods are raised on stiltsThe five pods are located in a series of metal-clad boxes on top of the East Quay arts centre, which was designed by Bath-based Invisible Studio with Ellis Williams Architects acting as executive architect for the local social enterprise Onion Collective.
      Two of the pods stand on stilts above the building.

      East Quay arts centre in Watchet takes cues from ad-hoc harbour buildings

      “All the pods are linked to their surroundings by fantastic views of the Bristol Channel, the Quantocks, the marina and the town,” said Pearce.
      “The form of the buildings feels rooted in the area as they jut and protrude as if continuously added to like some of the old houses in the town.”
      The walls of pod two were CNC etchedEach of the five pods is designed by Pearce+ and Fægen to have a different character and involve local artists and the community.
      The first sleeping pod, which was built with reclaimed furniture and materials, was designed as a “living museum” where guests are encouraged to leave an item and take one away.
      Etched illustrations cover the walls of pod two, which is designed by artist Isabelle Mole and aims to tell the story of the town.
      Pod 1 contains a “living museum””Our overarching aim was to provide a connection between guests and the local community,” explained Pearce.
      “This is done, for example, through direct object transfer in pod one as guests donate objects of meaning and take something in return or, in pod two, by visually exploring the stories and myths of the town in CNC etchings on the walls.”
      Pod four contains a cargo netThe third pod aims to evoke the feeling of a 1920s ocean liner, while pod four “is about play” and has semaphore signals painted on the walls. Here there is also a cargo net for sitting, which is reached by a staircase hung from the ceiling.
      Bristol graffiti artist Andy Council worked with local schoolchildren to create the interior of the fifth pod, which will be redecorated each year by an artist chosen by the Onion Collective.
      Bristol graffiti artist Andy Council decorated the fifth podIn line with the ethos of the project, Pearce+ and Fægen moved to Watchet for a year to act as contractor and fabricate the interiors of the pods with the help of a small team.
      Pearce hopes that the pods will provide fun places for visitors to stay and bring income into the community.
      “The brief for the competition was quirky places to stay,” he explained. “The client wanted to have fun with the pods and to provide an opportunity for inventiveness from architects.”
      “The building’s aim is to support a local artistic community and provide opportunities that weren’t available before. A key part of the economic strategy of the building is to attract guests from afar to bring in much-needed income, which in turn supports cultural and education work,” he continued. “The designs are then targeted to create a cool place to visit in order to do that.”
      Pearce+ previously collaborated with UK studio Hugh Broughton Architects and artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent to create the inflatable Martian House, which is currently installed in Bristol.
      The photography is by Joseph Horton.

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