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    Middlesex University spotlights 12 interior design and architecture projects

    Dezeen School Shows: an animal therapy support centre that aims to benefit people’s mental and physical health and a scheme that converts empty high street shops feature in Dezeen’s latest school show by students at Middlesex University.

    Also included is a “Gamer Station” and a safe house for survivors of domestic abuse.

    Institution: Middlesex UniversityCourses: BA Interior Architecture, BA Interior Design and MA InteriorsTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House, Gavin Challand, Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Jason Scoot and David Fern
    School statement:
    “At Middlesex University we run two undergraduate programmes and one postgraduate programme dedicated to studying the richly variant inscape.

    “Interior Architecture operates within the existing architectural fabric and context, remodelling space through architectural intervention, and questioning the idea of interiority relative to a variety of scales – from rooms to buildings and cities.
    “The programme speculates on the possible futures for buildings and environments that have reached the end of their current lifespan.
    “Interior Design is concerned with the creation of new interiors that are inserted or installed into existing buildings or other places, relatively independent of their site contexts, for short-term use. Design projects may therefore be generic and applied to many different sites.
    “MA Interiors continues to challenge and redefine what constitutes the ‘interior’.
    “The programme places emphasis on processing a personal design approach based on individual interests, through the compilation of three portfolio volumes of analysis and project development.
    “Common to all three programmes is the importance we place on intertwining theory and practice and the obligation, in this social media age, to prioritise real sensory human experience in the place-making process.
    “Although student achievement is predominantly assessed against individually produced outputs, we acknowledge that designing interiors in practice is inevitably interdisciplinary – often crossing the domains of humanities, cultural studies, history, philosophy, psychology and anthropology.”

    Communal Scape by Yinjun Shen
    “Communal Scape is a development strategy that looks at reintroducing public space within commercial environments to help unlock new high street typologies.
    “This idea considers a new approach to rebuild inner London high streets using communal spaces, reserved typically for private gated developments, to become new territories that cut into and weave under existing buildings, creating new hybrid shopping, working and social spaces.
    “This newfound common ground helps to re-establish place, cater for new ways to engage with the high street and develop new mechanisms that encourage connectivity in an ever-growing space crisis.”
    Student: Yinjun ShenCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: muyunfengliu[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern

    House of Soul by Ieva Karaliute
    “House of Soul is a proposed community centre that celebrates diversity and gives people a platform to have a voice within their own community.
    “Through careful design decisions and adaptive reuse strategies in the existing Elephant House in Camden, the project explores the importance of performance, collaboration and skills exchange.
    “The project involved designing spaces focused on their needs for inhabitation and rehabilitation.”
    Student: Ieva KaraliuteCourse: BA Interior ArchitectureEmail: sigurna[at]gmail.comTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Okuvlig by Irma Signe Linnea Vesterlund
    “Okuvlig means something or someone who cannot be subjugated, controlled or restrained. The project aims to give voice to the survivors of human rights violations.
    “These survivors are offered a safe space to live and re-integrate with society – a space that is inviting and warm and encourages them to be bold and independent.
    “The project involves transforming an existing building in Camden to create an open public space with private areas, which creates new connections between the survivors and the wider community.”
    Student: Irma Signe Linnea VesterlundCourse: BA Interior ArchitectureEmail: irma.westerlund[at]outlook.comTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Salvage Community Centre by Daryna Chobitko
    “The project presents a salvage community centre run by volunteers in an existing building on the Regent’s Canal in London.
    “The main adaptive strategy is to reinstate the building as a wharf – as it was when it was built – to use the canal to transport goods in a sustainable way.
    “The programme provides spaces to process and consume salvaged food and workshops that collect and rework salvaged building materials, to produce sustainable temporary structures for events.”
    Student: Daryna ChobitkoCourse: BA Interior ArchitectureEmail: chobitkodaria[at]mail.ruTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Revolut Bank by Alexandra Stroe
    “Today the world is confronted with inflation, energy crises and wars that are creating a domino effect that is influencing the world’s economy.
    “To be prepared for these kinds of events, the financial system should offer more support about money knowledge.
    “This project takes Revolut as a bank that is shaking up the norm and builds a space where users can gain knowledge and build strong connections within the financial community.
    “It is a space where people will be informed and trained to deal with challenging times, in order to better manage their money.”
    Student: Alexandra StroeCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: alexandra.elena_stroe[at]yahoo.comTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    A Fitness Hotel by Andrea Pereira
    “My project is a space designed to gently encourage physical and mental fitness. The space takes people in as a place to stay and encourages the idea of a healthy lifestyle.
    “The design will mainly be focused on expressing unintentional forms of fitness so that the guests can use the space without feeling too overwhelmed.
    “The idea is to gently introduce them to a healthy lifestyle, making them realise that it is not as hard as they thought to change their bad habits.”
    Student: Andrea PereiraCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: andreape[at]hotmail.co.ukTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    The Gamer Station by Ieva Marija Eid
    “The online gaming world is becoming a competitive sport. However, a lingering disconnection can be present between professional gamers, fans and undertakers of esports.
    “The Gamer Station is a facility open 24/7 where professional gamers, fans and the esports entourage can go. It creates an original space where like-minded people can come together and celebrate the digital joy of esports.
    “The space requires a new design language to reconcile the physical/digital divide.”
    Student: Ieva Marija EidCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: ee389[at]live.mdx.ac.ukTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Calan Women’s Safe House and Cafe by Emily Marzocchi
    “This project aims to contain all the parts of the rehabilitation process in one structure. Responding from the ‘first rescue’ to a rehabilitation process through a long-stay use of the facility, ending with the reintegration of the guests back into society.
    “The facility is designed like a retreat rather than a clinical environment. The key design trait is the adaptability and movability of the space that empowers the guests, allowing them to comfortably find their own personal way to heal.”
    Student: Emily MarzocchiCourse: BA Interior DesignEmail: em1065[at]ive.mdx.ac.ukTutors: Jon Mortimer, Michael Westhorp, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Off Space by Miranda Cela
    “Off Space is a project that aims to introduce new working, making and learning environments inspired by how the public now work and engage with the high street following the Covid-19 pandemic.
    “The strategy uses existing redundant shops and inserts new access points to upper levels where it enables both private and shared spaces to co-exist.
    “Connections and proximity are promoted via communal and independent spaces that reintroduce psychological and physical connections lost through the pandemic.
    “It promotes visual and physical experiences via a variety of geometric, transparent volumes on multiple levels and trajectories, enabling a variety of different uses that help reinvigorate the high street.”
    Student: Miranda CelaCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: mirandacela03[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern

    Farm Therapy by Nigar Hasanzade
    “Farm Therapy is a project that looks at new ways in which local communities can cope with mental and physical health conditions via an animal therapy support focus centre.
    “It provides a social sanctuary for both rescue animals and people to escape and seek support following diagnoses.
    “Four key services are proposed – a veterinary clinic, formal and informal therapy spaces and a city farm.
    “Fields and grazing paths enable the animals to interact with each visitor, creating a health service that seeks to provide support through alternative, qualitative interaction.”
    Student: Nigar HasanzadeCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: nhasanzadehh[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern

    The midnight furnace by Seongmin Kim
    “The project aims to turn an existing carwash building into a public bathhouse for night workers.
    “The idea of taking care and using water to cleanse and transform is shifted from cars to night workers, a very niche and often neglected category.
    “Using adaptive reuse strategies, the key elements of this building were retained and a new public space connecting internal and external activities and spaces was inserted.
    “The act of cleansing, which already existed in this building, is transformed into a sequence of spaces where night workers can find their own identity, heal and socialise.”
    Student: Seongmin KimCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: seongmin93uk[at]gmail.comTutors: Francesca Murialdo, Naomi House and Gavin Challand

    Life Pods by Burak Ozturk
    “My project seeks to address responsibly in food consumption in relation to sustainability, health, community and the environment.
    “Life Pods provides at a new supermarket typology that uses current technologies in vertical farming to co-produce food locally.
    “The ambition is to introduce a new offer, one that helps reduce product carbon footprint via cooperating with local and existing supermarket supply chains, tackle obesity and nurture new, healthier ways to eat.
    “The design is powered by innovative methods of harvesting energy and resources through solar and rainwater capture.”
    Student: Burak OzturkCourse: MA InteriorsEmail: arch.burak.ozturk[at]gmail.comTutors: Jason Scoot and David Fern
    Partnership content
    This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Middlesex University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    Matteo Thun draws on Czech art heritage for design of The Julius Prague

    Italian architect Matteo Thun looked to the work of Czech artists Alphonse Mucha and František Kupka for the interior design of this Prague hotel, which features pastel colours and natural materials.

    Located in an art deco building in the city centre, The Julius Prague has apartment suites with kitchenettes as well as smaller hotel rooms that were designed to have the feel of a home-away-from-home.
    Matteo Thun used soft colours for the guest rooms at The Julius Prague”In exploring new forms of living, we had to think about how to create that home-away-from-home feeling – providing privacy and independence, whilst also offering flexible communal spaces such as co-working areas, meeting rooms, and open lounges,” Thun told Dezeen.
    “The rooms are designed as apartments, and the public areas are conceived as an extension of the rooms.”
    Rooms overlook a central courtyardThe interior design of the colourful hotel was influenced by the way in which Czech Art Noveau painter Alphonse Mucha and Czech abstract painter František Kupka used colours.

    Mucha’s soft, pastel hues were used for the guest rooms, many of which overlook a central courtyard with a light-filled conservatory, while Thun looked to Kupka’s brighter colour palette for the communal areas.
    The hotel’s lighting was informed by bohemian glass work”Inspired by Mucha’s work, we selected a pared-back palette and pastel hues for the guest rooms, working with natural materials and soft textiles to create a calming and welcoming atmosphere,” Thun said.
    “Meanwhile in the communal areas we chose a more vibrant colour palette, drawing on Kupka’s abstract pieces, for a more energetic atmosphere,” he added.
    “For lighting, we were inspired by the bohemian art glass work, emitting a warm ambient glow.”
    More vibrant colours were used in the communal areasTactile natural materials were used throughout the hotel, including in the bathrooms, which are clad in a striking marble-effect ceramic tile.
    “We used ceramic tiles with a marble effect from a leading Italian tile producer for the floorings of the public areas and the kitchens and bathrooms of the residences,” Thun said.

    Matteo Thun and HDR Germany create new wing with “hotel-like” patient rooms for Waldkliniken Eisenberg hospital

    “We love to work with natural materials and have used oak-flooring for the serviced residences, featuring spacious living environments with open kitchen and generous smart-working spaces,” he added.
    “Throughout The Julius, custom-made furniture and pieces ensure every space arouses curiosity.”
    Bathrooms were clad in ceramic tiles with a marble effectThe Julius Prague is the first hotel from the Julius Meinl family, a gourmet-food retailer and manufacturer based in Vienna that Thun has previously worked with.
    “We have enjoyed a rewarding relationship over the last 15 years and their flair continues to be invaluable in channelling design towards authentic, novel and inspirational projects,” Thun said.
    The hotel was designed as a “home-away-from-home””In this case we have contributed our experience to their first hospitality project, designing a timeless scheme in tune with new expectations: a contextually aware nomadic way of living,” he added.
    Other recent projects in Prague include a pop-up market with a turquoise scaffolding design and a spa with curved-cement walls and glass detailing.
    The photography is by Gionata Xerra.

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    Wild Wonder named Colour of the Year 2023

    Paint brand Dulux has revealed Wild Wonder, a pale yellow paint colour that it described as “a soft gold with hints of green” as its Colour of the Year for 2023.

    Wild Wonder was selected for its close association with nature. The brand said this echoes the global shift toward sustainability, reconnecting with the outdoors and wanting to be more grounded, particularly following the recent period of uncertainty.
    Wild Wonder is a golden green paint colour”Our relationship with the natural world feels more precious and precarious than ever,” said Dulux UK.
    “Wild Wonder is a soft gold with hints of green inspired by fresh seed pods and harvest grain,” the brand added.
    The colour was selected for its association with natureAs well as its affiliation with nature and raw materials, Wild Wonder is also intended to capture the collective quest for better mental health, which has become increasingly important in light of global events such as the climate crisis and coronavirus lockdowns.

    “As people search for support, connection, inspiration and balance in the world today, they’re diving into the wonders of the natural world to find it,” said the brand.
    “Wild Wonder is a positive, natural tone that, by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes,” it continued.
    “As well as understanding the value of nature more keenly, with climate change becoming a reality for all of us, we also feel the urgency of reconnecting with nature and the necessity of working with rather than against it.”

    Bright Skies named Colour of the Year 2022

    According to the brand, the colour can be used to add colour to areas in the house, such as living rooms, that require warmth and light. The brand also said that the hue is suitable for commercial spaces across all sectors including schools and hospitals.
    “Wild Wonder and four complementary, versatile colour palettes can be used to create stunning spaces across all sectors,” explained Dulux.
    The paint colour is suitable for all commercial sectors as well as residential interiorsDulux’s parent company AkzoNobel decided on the shade, which is the 20th colour to be chosen as a Dulux Colour of the Year, after a three-day workshop with a panel of industry experts from across the globe and months of researching with the paint company.
    Wild Wonder is a slightly more upbeat hue than Brave Ground, an earthy beige that Dulux selected as its colour of the year for 2021 against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.
    The colour is a marked change from last year’s sky blue colour Bright Skies, which the brand said captured collective desires for a fresh start.
    The images are courtesy of Dulux.

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    FADAA uses bio-concrete screens to shade D/O Aqaba retail space

    Crushed shells were used to form the bio-brick partitions at this store for a decor brand in Aqaba, Jordan, by architecture studio FADAA.

    Designed by the Jordanian studio for Decoration One, the D/O Aqaba retail space is a flexible showcase for the local brand’s craft-focused homeware and ornaments.
    Bricks made from crushed shells act as sun shades and spatial dividers in the D/O Aqaba storeTo protect the interior from the harsh south sun, the studio implemented partitions of stacked hollow rectangular bricks based on the traditional mashrabiya screens found in Islamic architecture.
    These bricks are made from the shells of oysters, mussels and clams left over as waste from the coastal city’s seafood restaurants.
    The bio-bricks are stacked into gridded screensThe shells were crushed and used as aggregate for a bio-based concrete that sequesters the carbon from the molluscs’ protective calcium carbonate coverings.

    This material is pressed into a mould to form the brick shapes, dried to harden, and finally assembled into the gridded screens.

    As well as shading the shop, the partitions help to divide the boutique and guide customers around the interior.
    “Working alongside Decoration One’s craftspeople, a materiality-driven approach created the concept of a flexible retail store that embraces craft and low-carbon materials,” said the FADAA team, led by architect Bisher Tabbaa.
    Colour is introduced through blue zellige ceramic tiles cladding the sales counterLime-plastered walls and native plant species also feature in the store to create a “healthy indoor environment”.
    To accommodate Decoration One’s ever-changing collections, modular oak tables and sheer curtains can be moved and rearranged to organise the space as desired.

    Bio-bricks made from human urine could be environmentally friendly future of architecture

    More tables, made from hand-chiselled local basalt and limestone, contrast the wood furniture and offer alternative ways to display the products.
    A splash of colour is introduced by the zellige ceramic tiles that clad the curved sales counter.
    The bio-bricks are formed in moulds and feature hollow centres”Embracing the craft nature of the project as well as economically supporting local industries, materials such as zellige and mother of pearl inlaying were used throughout the design,” FADAA said.
    D/O Aqaba is shortlisted in the Sustainable Interior category for this year’s Dezeen Awards, along with projects including a restaurant in London and an office in Tokyo.
    The crushed shells form aggregate for the bricks and are visible across the surfacesBio-bricks are growing in popularity as a sustainable building material and a variety of compositions have been trialled over the past few years.
    Bricks made from mushroom mycelium, sugar cane, charcoal and even human urine have all been put forward as environmentally friendly options.
    The photography is by Bisher Tabbaa.
    Project credits:
    Team: Bisher Tabbaa, Sarah Hejazin, Qussai Yousef

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    Ten kitchens with polished granite surfaces

    The durable, stain-resistant qualities of granite make it a choice material for kitchens. Our latest lookbook showcases 10 kitchens on Dezeen that celebrate the light-coloured stone.

    Waterproof and scratch-resistant, the igneous rock granite has been used in construction and interior design for centuries.
    Today, the versatile material is often used as an alternative to marble to top kitchen counters and work surfaces, as well as in bathrooms or on floors.
    From a large grey granite kitchen island in a Mexican apartment to a chevron-patterned granite floor in a London house, the examples below showcase the many ways in which the stone can be used to furnish kitchens.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks homes with characterful floating staircases that appear to defy gravity, atriums that brighten and expand residential spaces and calm green bedrooms that showcase the power of natural colours.

    Photo is by Federica Carlet403 Greenwich, US, by Stefano Pasqualetti
    A mix of materials including steel, marble, granite and wood were peppered throughout this New York residence, which Italian architect Stefano Pasqualetti aimed to make feel “soothing and timeless”.
    In the open-plan kitchen, which offers views onto Tribeca’s West Historic District neighbourhood, walnut cabinets are fitted with granite worktops while a standout blackened metal staircase runs through the property’s core.
    Find out more about 403 Greenwich ›
    Photo is by Ståle EriksenGrove Park, UK, by O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects 
    Designed for a client with a keen interest in the outdoors, Grove Park is a terraced house that offers expansive views of the greenery and wild woodland outside.
    London-based studio O’Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects paired the ash-lined kitchen interior with creamy Shivakashi granite countertops and splashback and polished concrete flooring, which was cast in situ.
    Find out more about Grove Park ›
    Photo is by Denilson MachadoDN Apartment, Brasil, by BC Arquitetos
    Located in a 1970s building in the Jardins neighbourhood of São Paulo, this 230-square-metre apartment was designed for a landscape architect by local studio BC Arquitetos.
    The apartment comprises a primarily warm natural walnut interior that is complemented with harder materials, such as concrete columns, stone flooring and granite countertops. A collection of mid-20th century art adds the finishing touch.
    Find out more about DN Apartment ›
    Photo is by Joana França308 S, Brazil, by Bloco Arquiteos
    Brazilian architecture studio Bloco Arquitetos transformed 308 S, an apartment in Brasília, by removing several walls and reconfiguring the challenging layout to make it more open plan.
    To add to the stripped-back look, the architects opted for a neutral colour palette, while pale granite was used for the kitchen and bathroom countertops and flooring.
    Find out more about 308 S›
    Photo is by José HeviaVillarroel Apartment, Spain, by Raúl Sánchez Architects
    The three main areas inside this apartment in Barcelona are distinguished by contrasting materials rather than traditional walls, making it appear more spacious and flexible.
    Wooden floors and white-washed walls define the living area while functional spaces such as the kitchen – where a granite breakfast island takes centre stage – are completed in shades of grey.
    Find out more about Villarroel Apartment ›
    Photo is by Onnis LuqueCasa Nicté-Ha, Mexico, by Di Frenna Arquitectos
    A large granite kitchen island with an adjoining wooden counter is positioned in the middle of the double-height kitchen and dining area inside Casa Nicté-Ha, a home designed by Di Frenna Arquitectos in Colima City, Mexico.
    Elsewhere in the three-bedroom house, the studio mixed dark and light decor including white-painted walls, warm wood and concrete floors and exposed steel beams.
    Find out more about Casa Nicté-Ha ›
    Photo is by Serena EllerDiplomat Apartment, Italy, by 02A
    Antique and mid-century furnishings join sleek, contemporary cabinetry to create this one-bedroom flat in Rome by local architecture and interiors studio 02A.
    The stateless diplomat who owns and lives in the dwelling wanted to make his home a sanctuary filled with items he collected during his trips abroad.
    Find out more about Diplomat Apartment ›
    Photo is by NosheArt-Apart, Germany, by Raum404
    Swiss-based studio Raum404 chose to keep the interiors as minimal, white and spacious as possible in its renovation of Art-Apart, a 19th-century apartment-cum-gallery in Berlin.
    The artist owner tasked the studio with creating a space that could be opened up to the public for exhibitions, which resulted in furniture that could be folded up and plenty of white cupboards that could conceal personal belongings.
    Find out more about Art-Apart ›

    Hackney House, UK, by Applied Studio
    Black timber decor and plenty of windows were installed in architecture and interior design studio Applied Studio’s overhaul of this house in east London’s Hackney.
    Afterward, the studio fitted the glass extension that houses the kitchen and dining table with chevron-patterned granite flooring.
    Find out more about Hackney House ›
    Photo is by French + TyeGolden Lane, UK, by Archmongers
    Quirky modernist elements such as pops of primary colours and glossy furnishings were reinstated by Archmongers in its renovation of this 1950s flat in an inner city London estate.
    In the peninsula kitchen, which is separated from the dining area by chunky white door frames, white cabinets are topped with steel, while grey terrazzo with granite chips highlights the counter end and splashback.
    Find out more about Golden Lane ›
    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 residential interiors bolstered by exposed wooden beams, living spaces with glossy surfaces that create depth and dimension and gardens with swimming pools that are made for summer.

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    Balenciaga opens tinted-glass couture store beneath historic Paris atelier

    Fashion house Balenciaga has opened a couture store with smoked-glass-panelled walls in the same building as its original couture salon in Paris.

    The store is located beneath Balenciaga’s historic atelier at 10 Avenue George V, which was recently renovated to exactly replicate the interior of the original couture salon that was first opened in 1937.
    The interior of the store was clad in tinted glass”The newly renovated space at 10 Avenue George V is dedicated to preserving Balenciaga’s heritage in its original couture location, first opened in 1937, as well as creating a couture for today,” said the brand.
    The design of the store beneath the couture salon was created by long-time Balenciaga collaborator Sub, a Berlin-based architecture studio that was founded by Niklas Bildstein Zaar and Andrea Faraguna.
    The store is located in the same building as Balenciaga’s original couture salonThe boutique’s exterior is marked by oversized serif Balenciaga signage, a nod to Balenciaga’s 20th-century branding that also forms a distinction from the narrow, sans serif typeface that currently identifies the brand.

    Beneath the signage, four arched openings frame swooping curtains that are given a golden hue by the brown-tinted glazing.
    Grey curtains zone spaces throughout the storeThe interior of the couture store echoes Balenciaga’s raw architecture concept, which was applied internationally across the interior of its stores, but this edition has been clad in panels of tinted glass instead of concrete.
    Between the unfinished but glass-clad walls, ash-hued curtains conceal carpeted areas while wrinkled-leather ottomans were placed throughout the two-storey store.

    Balenciaga transforms former aviation fuel tanks into couture salon in Shanghai

    Wrought iron balustrades and a curving marble staircase, with glass panelling slotted around it, hint at the building’s history and the former decor and interior scheme of the atelier above.
    “The concept of the couture store is a gateway to couture, which remains a very closed universe, especially for new generations,” said Balenciaga CEO Cédric Charbit.
    Remnants of the store’s history were incorporated into the design”In this new store, products, made-to-measure services and retail excellence are a reinvention of the Balenciaga client experience,” said Charbit.
    “It is exciting to be able to present this level of craft, creativity and made-in-France savoir-faire in our historical address.”
    Balenciaga’s couture atelier is located above the storeMetal shelving was decorated with couture items, ranging from artisanal to technological, from the brand’s most recent Autumn Winter 2022 couture show.
    Items on display include its speaker bag, which was created in collaboration with Danish audio brand, Bang & Olufsen.
    Earlier in 2022, Balenciaga wrapped its Mount Street store in London in a bright pink faux fur to celebrate its Le Cagole bag.
    Photography is courtesy of Balenciaga.

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    Andrea Leung conceals “secret spaces” within renovated Tribeca Loft

    A dividing wall that’s part transparent, part mirrored separates the public and private spaces of this loft apartment in Manhattan, which architect Andrea Leung has renovated for herself.

    New York-based Leung discovered the 1,600-square-foot (150-square-metre) Tribeca Loft within a historic building, and gut-renovated its interiors to suit her needs and tastes.
    The Tribeca Loft is divided by a partition that runs the full length of the space”One look at the raw space, and I knew exactly the sort of refuge I wanted to create,” said Leung. “One that unfolds and reveals itself slowly, that wows you initially with its grandeur and then capitalises on your curiosity.”
    The architect used the hidden spaces of her grandmother’s Vancouver apartment as a precedent for the project, which she completed during the Covid-19 pandemic while living in the space throughout.
    The building’s original cast-iron columns contrast white walls and oak floors”Secret spaces fascinate me,” she said. “My grandmother’s penthouse pied-à-terre was full of them. Push on the correct mirror, and it opened into a hidden tatami room. Lean on the right bookcase, and a dimly lit hallway led you to her own personal oasis of calm.”

    Work to update the tall, sun-drenched corner unit involved removing a mezzanine level to relieve areas squashed below.
    Leung custom designed several pieces of brass and walnut furniture for her apartmentIn its place, the private rooms were grouped and neatly organised along one side, leaving the public space for entertaining completely open.
    An entrance hall, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a closet and a bedroom are now enclosed behind a partition that stretches the full width of the apartment, and can be accessed through swinging and folding panels.
    The bedroom is visible from the living area through transparent panels, while the primary bathroom is only revealed when mirrored doors are folded backWhile the bedroom remains visible through floor-to-ceiling, transparent glass panes, the other smaller rooms are concealed by mirrors and reduced in height to help with spatial proportions.
    “The wall of mirrored doors allows the main living space to transcend its physical limitations and appear to double in size, while the generous windows with their original wavy glass are also reflected, bathing the walls with soft refracted light,” Leung said.
    A freestanding oval tub is surrounded by pale grey stoneThe building’s original cast-iron Corinthian columns remain exposed and stand out against the minimalist colour scheme of white walls and wide-plank oak floors.
    In the living area, the furniture includes several brass and walnut pieces that Leung custom designed, including the dining table, credenza and console.

    Raad Studio turns two Tribeca lofts with exposed arches into huge apartment

    Brass accents are continued in Lee Broom’s Eclipse Chandelier and a custom coffee table designed by Leung while an associate at Steven Harris Architects for the now-shuttered Barneys Chelsea Flagship.
    The kitchen is lined with marble and patinated brass millwork, while the primary bathroom features a freestanding oval tub framed by surfaces of softly-veined grey stone.
    The kitchen features marbled walls and patinated brass millworkDecor in the bedroom is also restrained by a greyscale palette, whereas the second bathroom accessed from the entryway is enveloped in veined marble with bright metallic accents.
    Tribeca, a Lower Manhattan neighbourhood defined by and named after the triangle below Canal Street, has an abundance of loft spaces in formerly industrial and warehouse buildings.
    Bright metallic accents enliven the otherwise minimal second bathroomA large number of these have been converted into residences and later renovated, with examples including an apartment where walnut cabinetry and sliding doors replace walls, and a duplex connected by a hanging, blackened steel spiral staircase.
    Leung’s Tribeca Loft is shortlisted in the Apartment Interior category for the 2022 Dezeen Awards – see the full Interiors shortlist here.
    The photography is by Sarah Elliott.

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    Ten eclectic eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo

    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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