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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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      Home Studios' Laurel Brasserie and Bar brings European dining to Salt Lake City

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      This bar and restaurant in Salt Lake City is designed by Brooklyn-based Home Studios as an updated, American take on the brasseries of Europe.

      The Laurel Brasserie and Bar opened in February 2022 inside The Grand America Hotel, a palatial building on South Main Street in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City.
      Laurel Brasserie and Bar is designed as an American take on European brasseriesThe hotel was built in 2001 with interiors based on classic European styles. Home Studios retained these influences for the brasserie, but with a contemporary spin to create bright and colourful spaces for casual family-style dining.
      “The menu is fueled by the client’s love for European food, culture and design, filtered through a decidedly American sensibility,” said Home Studios founder Oliver Haslegrave.
      The main dining room features cherry-red leather banquettes”So we sought out to create that environment and treat it like an extension of the client’s home, where a collection of European heirlooms and treasures have been passed down from generation to generation,” he added.

      The establishment is split into several rooms, each of which has a distinct design and colour scheme.
      An adjoining patisserie, Bonne Vie, serves to-go treats from a pastel-toned spaceFor grab-and-go coffee and pastries, Bonne Vie features duck-egg-blue millwork, a checkerboard marble floor, and crushed velvet chairs in pastel tones.
      Opal globe lights mounted on brass fixtures continue from the patisserie into the main dining room, where cherry-red leather covers banquette seating that forms a strip down the centre.
      The bar faces both the restaurant and a separate area for cocktailsA symmetrical procession of columns with chamfered corners are wrapped in reclaimed tile and connect with sculptural ceiling beams.
      The wood-panelled bar faces both the restaurant and an adjacent seating area for enjoying cocktails, surrounded by tall arched windows framed with green marble.
      Marble frames the large windows of The Grand America Hotel, in which Laurel is located”Laurel is grounded in the present but full of history — and thoroughly unique,” Haslegrave said.
      “We incorporated a wealth of materials to elicit an upscale brasserie with approachable warmth.”

      Wisconsin train station becomes The Harvey House restaurant by Home Studios

      An additional dining space is decorated in a spectrum of blue hues. A bold floral-patterned carpet and illustrated wall coverings are joined by velvet chairs and walnut-topped tables.
      This room also features a green blown-glass chandelier and olive trees placed between the windows.
      Reclaimed tiles, wood panelling, and opal and brass lighting all add to the contemporary flairAntiques and vintage pieces are also scattered through the interiors, overall creating a “transportive guest experience that feels right at home within the context of the Grand America Hotel”.
      “We sought to create a distinctly modern and American spin on the classic all-day brasserie, built to delight and inspire locals and tourists alike,” said Haslegrave, who set up Home Studios in 2009.
      Another dining space is decorated in blue, including illustrated wall coverings and a floral-patterned carpetThe firm has a growing portfolio of hospitality projects across the US, with recent additions including the Alsace LA hotel with Mediterranean influences and The Harvey House restaurant in a Wisconsin train station.
      The photography is by Brian W Ferry.

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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”.
      Find out more about The Bryant apartment ›
      Photo is by Sean DavidsonWest Village apartment, US, by Olivier Garcé
      Designed by New York-based interior designer Olivier Garcé, this contemporary show space is set within a pre-war brownstone building in the West Village, New York.
      The designer aimed to turn his apartment into a gallery space for his friends’ work, which includes a coffee table with three carved wood legs and Ian Felton’s Kosa Side Chair.
      Find out more about West Village apartment ›
      Photo is by Nicole FranzenAmagansett House, US, by Athena Calderone
      A cosy, intimate feel was incorporated into this mid-century Long Island dwelling Amagansett House by way of linen fabrics, vintage finds and plaster walls.
      New York designer Athena Calderone, who owns and lives in the apartment, revived the interiors with a pale palette and a combination of contemporary and vintage pieces that include sculptural ornaments, urns and candle holders.
      Find out more about Amagansett House ›
      Photo is by Denilson MachadoDN Apartment, Brasil, by BC Arquitetos
      A walnut coffee table with triangular legs framed by a curved sage green sofa is the focal point for this São Paulo apartment by Brazilian studio BC Arquitetos, which houses a collection of mid-20th century art.
      Designed for a landscape architect client, the 230-square-metre apartment is wrapped in natural walnut wood, interrupted only by original faceted concrete columns.
      Find out more about DN Apartment ›
      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 compact bedrooms, basement conversions and interiors with innovative room dividers.

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      Sella designs “post-pandemic” offices for Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners in Brooklyn

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      London studio Sella has created office interiors for tech company Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners in Dumbo, New York City, with a focus on flexible and collaborative space to entice employees back to the workplace.

      The 3,000-square-foot (280-square-metre) office has a prime waterfront location at 10 Jay Street, inside a former sugar refinery overhauled by ODA Architecture in 2019.
      Sella designed the Sidewalk Infrastructure Projects offices with a focus on communal spaceDesigned during the coronavirus pandemic, the workspaces for Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners are open and flexible — more akin to a members club than a traditional office.
      “Sella sensitively evolved the design to create the first-generation post-pandemic office space, championing the merge of the workspace and membership culture within private office environments,” said the studio.
      The interiors are more akin to a members club than a tech startup officeTravel restrictions also meant that Sella had to execute the project from the UK, in collaboration with the New York office of architecture firm Gensler.

      Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners is a startup backed by Google’s parent company Alphabet, and a spin-off of smart cities initiative Sidewalk Labs.
      A kitchen area is arranged around a curved plaster wallAt its offices, the building’s industrial heritage is celebrated through exposed brick columns and poured concrete floors.
      A large area in the centre of the plan, for both employees and guests to congregate, is arranged around a tree.
      Taps are built into the wall for a minimal effectCustom banquettes, upholstered in fabrics by Dedar and Maharam, offer casual seating against the wall and beside the greenery. Opposite, the kitchen area is set against a gently arced partition between two brick columns.
      The curve is continued in the shape of walnut-fronted cabinets and a white, oval island that reaches bar height. Beer and kombucha taps and other hardware are plumbed directly into the wall for a clean, minimalist finish.
      Another curved wall leads to private work areasAnother new textured-plaster wall curves behind the kitchenette, leading employees to the more private work areas.
      “These casual break-out spaces linking with the more private, formal moments within the office were sensitively considered by Sella to push the brief of an office based on connection, born out of the pandemic,” said Sella.

      Sella Concept applies “cocoon of rich materials and colour” to interiors of east London office

      Meeting rooms are positioned along the glazed facade, overlooking the East River.
      An engineered bronze conference table with a leather-like top can be rolled along a track in the concrete floor, to facilitate larger board meetings when needed.
      Meeting rooms overlook the East RiverWarm neutral colours in all of the spaces are complemented by lighting from American brand Allied Maker, while quirky details include cabinet handles by UK-based Swarf Hardware.
      “With the ease of working from home, an office now needs to work harder to entice employees to connect with each other and with clients – thereby Sella’s design aims to incentivise behaviour with connectivity at its heart,” the studio said.
      A brass floor track allows conference tables to be joined together for large meetingsSella was founded by Tatjana von Stein and Gayle Noonan, and works across interiors, furniture, branding and set design.
      Interchangeably known as Sella Concept, the studio has also completed the London headquarters for fashion brand Sister Jane, a co-working space in the UK capital and a collection of curvaceous furniture.
      The photography is by Sean Davidson.

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      Sulkin Askenazi arranges yellow school interiors around wooden tree

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      Splashes of bright yellow, round openings and a giant timber tree are among the playful touches Mexican design studio Sulkin Askenazi has included in Ikigai Sisu, a school in the Dominican Republic.

      Sulkin Askenazi arranged the elementary school around a central wooden tree in the lobby, which provides a playful feature for the children to sit on when learning indoors.
      Sulkin Askenazi has added yellow hues inside Ikigai SisuCalled Ikigai Sisu, the 500-square-metre school opened in September 2021 and is located in the town of Punta Cana on the eastern coast of Dominican Republic.
      Sulkin Askenazi was informed by Finnish schools, where shared recreational areas are given par with traditional learning spaces such as classrooms. The school is designed to encourage learning through play and exploration.
      Rooms are arranged around an artificial tree in the lobby”The origin of the project is aligned with the Finnish educational model, where recreational spaces play an important role in the development of children by providing a stimulating and inclusive place that fosters ties, curiosity and interaction,” said Jack Sulkin, co-founder of Sulkin Askenazi.

      “We wanted to design a school where the entire space felt connected and flexible and not too divided or fractioned into isolated spaces,” he told Dezeen.
      An area for physical education is at the back of the buildingAt the heart of Ikigai Sisu is a trunk made from locally sourced white oak slats that children can sit on. Also in the lobby is a reception desk, a climbing wall and soft stools clad in yellow and grey fabric.
      Classrooms with wooden tables and chairs line the front of the building while at the back there is a soft play area for physical exercise lessons. A kitchen can also be found in one of the main classrooms.
      Classrooms are coloured in the same yellow schemeSulkin wanted the colour yellow, which is the school’s colour, to act as a sensory stimulus. Yellow tiles are found in the bathrooms while sunny hued paint continues the colour theme in the classrooms.
      The yellow is countered with grey accents which appear on soft furnishings such as rugs, pouffes and activity mats.

      Walls with integrated furniture and yellow nooks encourage play in Madrid school

      “We wanted the project to have a more vibrant monochrome look and feel; an aesthetic that alludes to the school’s philosophy,” Sulkin explained.
      “The vibrancy of yellow, applied to our ever-flowing spaces through the school design, unquestionably triggers imagination and the ever changing minds of young children who roam the space.”
      Cubby holes and rounded openings are dotted throughoutAccording to Sulkin, the other “main character” in the school is the use of wood.
      “The project has two main characters, the first one is the colour yellow, and the second is the low thick wooden ribbon that organically flows throughout the project,” Sulkin explained.
      “We tried to instil a free-flowing, interactive, energy invigorating space with Ikigai,” he added.
      The bathroom is clad in bright yellow tilesDotted throughout the low slung school are little wooden cubby holes set at different heights and cushioned nooks that allow children to hide and peek through.
      This same wood forms an array of shelving units to display learning material and cabinets for storage.
      Bright colours are a popular feature in contemporary educational architecture around the world.
      Dezeen rounded up 10 colourful kindergartens that encourage kids to crawl, jump and learn including a pastel coloured learning centre in Melbourne by Danielle Brustaman and a hot pink kindergarten in China by Crossboundaries
      Photography is by Thiago da Cunha.

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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.”

      Lore Group creates seafood restaurant with “playful sense of nostalgia” within One Hundred Shoreditch hotel

      “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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      Amity Street Residence is a “minimal but warm” New York apartment

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      Interior design studios Rawan Muqaddas and Selma Akkari have renovated an apartment in a 20th-century building in Brooklyn, New York, adding warm and natural materials to the residential space.

      Amity Street Residence is located on the fourth floor of a stone building that was built in 1910, overlooking a quiet but central corner of the city at the intersection of Amity and Clinton street.
      Amity Street Residence has been renovated into an open plan apartment. Photo by Clement PascalNew York studio Selma Akkari collaborated with London studio Rawan Muqqadas on the 1,400 square-foot interiors, which have been updated from a “neglected” apartment into a space filled with warm colours.
      As part of the renovation, the studios rearranged the rooms to create space for an additional third bedroom if required.
      Rawan Muqaddas collaborated with Selma Akkari to create a warm interior”A dialogue of opposites was the main theme behind the creation; minimal but warm, understated yet rich,” said Rawan Muqaddas, founder of eponymous studio Rawan Muqaddas.

      “We wanted to retain the essence of the 1910 building by reinterpreting the original traditional details, which we were excited to build on,” she told Dezeen.
      “The previous owners of the apartment called this their home for decades, leaving behind layers of history and some areas that were left neglected.”
      Stained oak shelves line the back of the dining areaThe two studios transformed the single floor apartment into an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area. A handful of original features, such as the decorative cornice and bold skirting, were preserved.
      The living space now boasts views across the street from the two large bay windows, which had previously been obscured.
      Cream coloured paint lines the walls. Photo by Clement Pascal”The first thing that caught our eye was the 30-foot apartment frontage composed of the width across both bay windows,” recalled Muqaddas.
      “As it stood, the windows felt shy and in hiding; we wanted to do the opposite and celebrate the curve.”
      Large bay windows were made into a focal pointFloors in the apartment have been covered in warm wood, while the walls were painted in a creamy neutral colour. A couple of contemporary chairs frame the window and let the inhabitants enjoy the street views.
      “A warm colour palette was deployed to unify the spaces by way of gentle oak floors, cream-hued walls that contrasted with dark stone, and stained wood inset bookshelves,” said Selma Akkari, founder of Selma Akkari.
      A study area sits at the back of the room and could easily be swapped for a third bedroom if necessary, the designers said.

      Rawan Muqaddas designs Sloane Street Deli to be a “classic neighbourhood spot”

      The studios also retained the apartment’s curved interior arches that run through its core. These openings help create a feeling of space.
      “To encourage a dialogue between the interior and exterior, we wanted to carry through the historic curved facade into the curved interior arches,” Akkari told Dezeen.
      “This was the guiding theme throughout the process: opening up the front area as the living and dining space and dedicating the quieter area to the more private spaces at the back.”
      The apartment has oak flooringThe apartment now has an airy aluminium-clad kitchen with an island counter and a long marble shelf in place of overhead storage cabinets.
      “We were very attracted to contrasting and unexpected colours and textures, in particular, the brushed metal counter topped with a veiny marble, with a backdrop of dark smoked oak shelving,” said Akkari.
      The same warm palette is continued in the bedrooms. Photo by Clement PascalThe warm material palette continues in the master bedroom and second bedroom, where the same flooring and beige furnishings can be found.
      More Brooklyn interiors include a townhouse with a striking staircase by New York studio Space4Architecture and a family-friendly townhouse called Bed-Stuy by Brooklyn studio Civilian.
      Photography is by Sean Davidson unless stated otherwise.

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