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    Bude Architects uncovers historic clay bricks for Kyiv cosmetics showroom

    Ukrainian studio Bude Architects has designed a minimalist showroom and salon for cosmetic company Pleka in Kyiv.

    As the first step in a brand transformation for Pleka, the studio designed the showroom in an early 20th-century building to showcase natural materials with a neutral and inviting colour palette.
    Bude Architects has taken a minimalist approach to the showroom interiorHistoric yellow bricks made from local clay, which are characteristic of architecture in Kyiv during the 19th and early 20th century, were exposed throughout the interior.
    The studio showcased the material as it was keen to create a space that resonated with the architecture of the building, with other materials selected to complement this brickwork.
    Exposed yellow brick has been incorporated as a key feature throughout the interior”The choice of materials was influenced by the space background,” Bude Architects co-founder Julia Shataliuk told Dezeen.

    “We wanted to showcase the historic yellow brick, so we were looking for good companions for it.”
    The multifunctional showroom incorporates a retail space and a beauty salonThe studio combined the brickwork with natural woods, travertine and an earthy shade of decorative plaster, with the aim of creating a warm environment to reflect Pleka’s brand identity.
    “The brand’s core value is a careful and attentive attitude towards its customers,” Julia Shataliuk explained. “They manifest the importance of each person taking care of themselves.”
    “It was important for us to create a space that would convey the brand’s openness, create a special atmosphere, and improve the customer experience,” she continued. “This is reflected in the spatial solutions and materials.”
    Pared back, neutral tones have been used throughout the space to create a calming environmentBude Architects designed the space to encourage customers to interact with staff and test the products as well as utilising the beauty services on offer.
    “Pleka had a request to give customers more attention and an individual approach,” said Julia Shataliuk. “The result of the cooperation is a hybrid space where they comfortably unite a store and an express beauty salon in a small area.”
    Designated seating areas were incorporated into the scheme to create a comfortable customer experienceSet in a sunken ground floor, the showroom’s entrance space has a large reception desk, a client meeting area and a large, feature shelving unit. The studio designed the space to draw people in from the busy street.
    “It was crucial for us to use the shape of the room and its content to attract the attention of passers-by from the street through the windows,” explained co-founder Denys Shataliuk.
    A large dining table adds a homely element to the interiorThe shelving unit on the far wall functions as a focal point within the space to highlight the retail products – made from aluminium and mounted onto a mirrored surface, the unit was intended to contrast with the earthy tones of the interior.
    This section also contains a large meeting table, which acts as a designated area for clients to meet with staff and emphasises Pleka’s aim of building lasting customer relationships.

    Glass bricks divide spaces in Suprematism apartment in Kyiv

    “When we researched the brand to reflect its identity in the interior, we learned that the company establishes warm and long-term relationships with its customers,” said Denys Shataliuk.
    “It was important to express this friendliness through the space by creating an atmosphere of trust and comfort.”
    The large shelving unit acts as a focal point to showcase Pleka’s cosmetic productsAt the rear of the showroom, the second room has a more private atmosphere, with “a functional double-sided island with a built-in-sink” utilised for product testing and Pleka’s beauty salon services.
    Small hearts have also been incorporated throughout the interior scheme to reflect the brand identity, featured on custom clothing hooks and metal inlays in the worktops.
    The double-sided island is used for product testing and beauty salon servicesBude Architects was founded by Ukrainian couple, Denys and Julia Shataliuk. Originally from Kharkiv, the architects were forced to relocate to Kyiv due to the ongoing conflict. Other recently completed projects in Kyiv include a Nastia Mirzoyan’s renovation of a Stalinist-era flat and a colourful industrial-style interior created by design studio Dihome.

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    Studio Empathy and Praxes design library at Korean Cultural Center New York

    Traditional Korean architecture influenced the layout and shelving design in the library at the Korean Cultural Center New York, designed by Studio Empathy and Praxes.

    Changhaak Choi of Studio Empathy and Jiyoung Kim from Praxes worked together to complete the 1,600-square-foot (149-square-metre) library, located on the third floor of the Korean Cultural Center New York’s new venue in Midtown Manhattan.
    The library is arranged to from a central courtyard formed by bookshelvesThe space houses a collection of over 10,000 books, periodicals, government publications, and multimedia resources in both Korean and English.
    It acts as a resource for research on Korea, introduces Korean writers to the New York audience, and provides educational materials for young Korean-Americans and those interested in Korean culture.
    The shelves are fabricated from plywood elements and joined to resemble traditional Korean architectural details”This new library aspires to be a cultural hub, promoting information exchange and enhancing mutual understanding of Korea among the Korean-American community and the broader New York population,” said Choi.

    “The design seamlessly blends archaic forms with a minimalistic and contemporary aesthetic, which incites a biophilic space.”
    The central space is populated with cube-shaped stools for visitors to sit and readTo enable easy circulation, the bookshelves were arranged in a rectangular plan with a pathway around the perimeter and a courtyard in the centre, with openings to allow movement between the two.
    The layout is akin to a traditional Korean han-ok house, which is similarly organised in a loop around a central space.
    The shelves sit away from the building’s glass walls so that visitors can circulate around the perimeterHere, the “courtyard” serves as the reading area and includes cube-shaped wooden stools upon which visitors can sit.
    “This design enables visitors to continuously explore the diverse scenery of book stacks and enjoy views of the rooftop garden through glass walls, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor elements,” Choi said.
    The library’s children’s section is housed within a lower storage moduleThe bookshelves were also modelled on the typical post-and-lintel assembly and joining techniques found in han-ok homes.
    They were fabricated as modular units using thin plywood panels, slats and metal components to be efficient and cost-effective.

    Studio Hinge creates library spaces beneath tree-like wooden columns

    Along the tops and sides of the storage modules, a wooden lattice is coloured in five bold hues to enliven the design.
    “This design resonates with the vibrant book spines, creating a dynamic visual contrast with the monochromatic, bright wood shelves, and light grey stone floor,” said Choi.
    Wooden latticework is also installed across the ceiling and behind the reception deskThe aim is for the library to become a community hub for Korean-Americans and others New Yorkers, and host events like book launches and other group activities.
    “This project showcases how cultural heritage can be preserved and celebrated through thoughtful and contemporary design, creating a unique and enriching environment for all visitors,” said Choi.
    The tops and sides of the shelves are coloured in five bold huesPlayful shelving solutions have become a hallmark of contemporary library designs around the world.
    At a space in São Paulo, MAB3 and Zénite created forest of books where shelves encircle tree-like columns, while Studio Hinge took an arboreally informed approach to storage at a library in Mumbai.
    The photography is by Michael Moran and Changhaak Choi.

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    Seven transparent bathrooms for households who share everything

    In this lookbook we collect bathrooms with see-through walls, best suited to those who take a more relaxed attitude to privacy in the home.

    In most homes the bathroom is designed as a private space. But as the interiors listed below demonstrate, deciding against encasing the washroom in opaque walls can bring in natural light, act as a space-saving device or even create an unusual focal point in the home.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, subway tiles and double sinks.
    Photo by Yosuke OhtakeHouse in Kyoto, Japan, by 07Beach
    The bathroom inside this house in Kyoto, designed by architecture studio 07Beach, sits alongside a skylit central courtyard-like living space to give the residents the feeling of “open-air bathing”.

    “The house was designed as one big space, placing the double height living room at the centre so they can see who does what,” said the studio. “Although a curtain rail was set up in the bathroom just in case, it seems the family got used to the exposed bathroom, and still use it without a curtain.”
    Find out more about House in Kyoto ›
    Photo by Miguel de GuzmánBathyard Home, Spain, by Husos
    Madrid architecture studio Husos went further than merely making the bathroom visible in this apartment, instead removing partition walls to make it the main communal area of the home.
    “The bathyard is a space whose character can be negotiated and altered by the users by sliding transparent partitions and opening out a folding bench,” the studio said.
    Find out more about Bathyard Home ›
    Photo by Hey! CheeseCats’ Pink House, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
    This holiday home in Taiwan was designed by KC Design Studio as a place for the owner to have fun with her three cats.
    The bathroom adjoins the cats’ playroom via a wall composed of a terrazzo plinth topped with pink glass, affording a view of what’s going on next door. For moments when additional privacy is desirable, the glass can be dimmed.
    Find out more about Cats’ Pink House ›
    Photo courtesy of Suppose Design Office (also top)House in Nagoya, Japan, by Suppose Design Office
    This house was completed by Japanese architecture studio Suppose Design Office all the way back in 2009 but is too good an example of a transparent bathroom not to be included on our list.
    The main living space looks straight through glass walls to the bathroom via a landscaped area filled with rocks and plants.
    Find out more about House in Nagoya ›
    Photo by Tomooki KengakuThe Life, Japan, by I IN
    Tokyo studio I IN overhauled an apartment for Japanese developer Smarg in an attempt to change perceptions of renovation projects.
    The flat has an open-plan layout and a restful ambience. Reeded glass partition walls allow light to penetrate into the windowless bathroom, as well as distorted view of the other side.
    Find out more about The Life ›
    Photo courtesy of Blueberry NightsBlueberry Nights, Georgia, by Sandro Takaishvili
    Georgian architect Sandro Takaishvili wanted this hotel in Tbilisi to make guests feel like they’re inside a movie.
    In the bedrooms, designed to evoke David Lynch’s visual style, the bathrooms are only separated by a slight change in level and the introduction of white tiles.
    Find out more about Blueberry Nights ›
    Photo by Torben EskerodVibo Tværveh, Denmark, by Valbæk Brørup Architects
    The bathroom at this summer cabin designed by Copenhagen studio Valbæk Brørup Architects takes the form of a tiled wet room that can be opened up to the elements.
    Located at one end of the long building, it opens through glass sliding doors onto an outdoor bathing area – which is fenced to avoid giving any passers-by a nasty shock.
    Find out more about Vibo Tværveh ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with sunken baths, subway tiles and double sinks.

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    Studio Collective completes The Hotel at The Moore in Miami Design District

    Design firm Studio Collective has created a boutique hotel inside The Moore building in Miami Design District, completing the landmark’s transformation into a multi-functional hospitality venue.

    Recently opened, The Hotel at The Moore occupies the building’s fourth floor and includes 13 suites designed by Studio Collective to feel like private residences.
    “The hotel suites are a new addition to the fourth floor, but were designed to fit the building’s original footprint within its historic interior,” said the hotel team.
    Each room inside The Hotel at The Moore has a unique design conceptThe rooms range from 700 to 1,000 square feet (65 to 93 square metres) and each is designed differently to create a unique experience for guests.
    One suite is decorated primarily in light neutral tones, where textured plaster walls allow walnut bed frames and furniture to stand out.

    Another features wood-panelled walls and woven textured ceilings, complemented by details like rattan lampshades, while colour is introduced through rugs and throw pillows.
    One suite features wood-panelled walls and a woven ceilingThe rooms include art and custom furnishings by makers such as Dallas-based furniture brand Mous and sustainably-focused Brazilian company Sossego.
    The Moore building’s central atrium features a sculptural installation by architect Zaha Hadid, titled Elastika, which was added in 2005 when the space was used as an events venue.
    Colour is subtly introduced through rugs and other detailsThe artwork has lent its name to a public restaurant that now occupies the space, where diners can enjoy a menu by chef Joe Anthony beneath the sinuous white forms that span across and up the four-level void.
    Interiors for the Elastika restaurant were created collaboratively by operators Woodhouse and design firm Icrave, and include velvet banquette seating and an 18-cover bar.

    Esme Hotel in Miami draws on the “bohemian grandeur” of its past

    Constructed in 1921 to as a showroom for Moore and Sons furniture, the neoclassical-style building now also accommodates a private members club, which has its own restaurant and dining room.
    Members also have access to a karaoke room, hidden cocktail lounges, game rooms, a library, various dining rooms with distinct themed decor, a photo booth, sun room and a late-night speakeasy called The Rabbit Hole.
    The Moore building’s lobby is outfitted with black and white flooring, and contrasting colourful furnitureThe Club spaces are populated with furniture and accessories in muted red, blue and green hues, and many have rounded shapes that echo the architectural details through the building.
    Lower levels have terracotta floor tiles, which are swapped for wooden planks on the upper storeys.
    The building’s Elastika restaurant sits within an atrium housing a Zaha Hadid-designed sculpture of the same nameBolder colours are used in the lobby area, where black and white marble flooring contrasts the bold tones of paintings and furniture.
    A grand black and honey-toned stone staircase connects the ground level with the open balconies that overlook the atrium and Elastika.
    Many of the furniture pieces in the building’s private members club are rounded to echo the architectural featuresMiami Design District continues to add distinctive architecture and retail interiors as it develops, from a sculptural block of buildings planned by Kengo Kuma to a Louis Vuitton store wrapped in a diamond-patterned facade completed by Marcel Wanders.
    Boutiques that have recently opened in the area include a Nodaleto shoe store, a Diesel store, and locations for PatBo and Cult Gaia.
    The photography is by Kris Tamburello.

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    Eight London house extensions that maximise space and light

    For our latest lookbook we’ve gathered eight London homes that have traded in unused garden space for contemporary and light-filled living areas.

    Rear extensions are a popular option for transforming the pokey side returns and galley kitchens of Victorian and Edwardian housing, abundant in many areas of London.
    The eight examples below showcase how extensions can bring contemporary flair to a more traditional home and optimise living space for entertaining, relaxing and cooking.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring soothing cabin interiors, kitchens with sleek metal details and living rooms with warming fireplaces.
    Photo by Jim StephensonVictorian terrace house, UK, by Oliver Leech Architects

    Oliver Leech Architects retained this late 19th-century building’s character while opening up the “disconnected and dark” interior of this Victorian terrace house in Herne Hill.
    Prioritising natural light, the studio expanded the ground floor to include an open living, dining and kitchen space, meeting the existing building with a large skylight and window seat.
    Find out more about Victorian terrace house ›
    Photo by Jae W V KimSunny Side Up, UK, by THISS Studio
    THISS Studio approached this extension in east London as though it were a piece of furniture rather than a conventional structure.
    “We wanted to think of the new addition at a domestic scale and more like a piece of furniture that you can sit within and enjoy, rather than a typical extension of the existing spaces,” THISS Studio told Dezeen.
    The practice reconfigured the dark interior of this interwar house which features timber joinery and a light-filled dining space.
    Find out more about Sunny Side Up ›
    Photo by Helen LeechMoroccan inspired house, UK, by Merrett Houmøller Architects and All & Nxthing
    The client’s extensive travels to Morocco and the Mediterranean inspired this rear extension in London.
    Merrett Houmøller Architects and interior designer All & Nxthing renovated and extended this Victorian home with clay-plaster walls, exposed brickwork and tile floors to evoke the feeling of a Moroccan home.
    Find out more about Moroccan inspired house ›
    Photo by Ståle EriksenHeath House, UK, by Proctor & Shaw
    A dilapidated conservatory and awkwardly sized rooms were swapped for a light, wood-filled interior at this Grade II-listed villa in Highgate, north London.
    Architecture studio Proctor & Shaw prioritised natural light and a natural material palette of wood and white brick for the above and below-ground extension in north London.
    Find out more about Heath House ›
    Photo by Tim CrockerMagpie House , UK, by DGN Studio
    DGN Studio extended the kitchen of this east London terrace house by three metres to create “a more cohesive and seamless sequence for living, dining and cooking”.
    The extension is illuminated by skylights between wooden beams and features a concrete window seat overlooking the garden with the client’s furniture and fittings incorporated throughout.
    Find out more about Stoke Newington house ›
    Photo by Jim StephensonVictorian maisonette, UK, by Nimtim Architects 
    Douglas fir timber screens, exposed brickwork and rough plaster characterise this extension of a Victorian maisonette in Camberwell, south-east London.
    Nimtim Architects responded to a brief calling for greater connectivity and openness in the home to create a “place of reflection and sanctuary from the city”.
    Find out more about Victorian maisonette ›
    Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Christian BraileyEdwardian home, UK, by Architecture for London 
    Architecture for London transformed this Edwardian home in Muswell Hill, which had been untouched for 40 years, using only sustainably minded interventions and natural materials.
    Created for the studio’s founder Ben Ridley, the house was renovated and extended to create a minimal interior characterised by oak wood, stone and lime plaster.
    Find out more about Edwardian home ›
    Photo courtesy of AOCForest House, UK, by AOC
    Gillian Lambert and Geoff Shearcroft of architecture firm AOC wanted to add personality and a connection to nearby Epping Forest when designing the front extension of their Victorian house in north London.
    A single-storey garage was removed to create a series of interconnected, playful living spaces featuring tactile materials, exposed block work and bold colours.
    Find out more about Forest House ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring characterful kitchens with sleek metal details, soothing cabin interiors and living rooms with warming fireplaces.  

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    Dezeen and SketchUp are launching Design Workshops with Uchronia and Tola Ojuolape

    Dezeen is teaming up with SketchUp to launch the Design Workshops video series in which leading designers describe how they created especially commissioned interior environments.

    The series will launch in two weeks with the first of two videos hosted by Uchronia founder Julien Sebban, who will explain how he used SketchUp’s design software to create a fantasy bar interior.
    Across two videos, Sebban will describe his practice’s approach to hospitality design projects, and demonstrate how SketchUp’s software allowed him to create and visualise a 70s-themed space characterised by colourful gradients, curves and soft edges.
    Uchronia designed a 1970s themed bar for the Design Workshops video seriesSebban’s first workshop will focus on form, while the second will explore the theme of texture.
    Sebban’s Paris-based practice Uchronia, known for its bold application of shape, colour and reflective surfaces, was named emerging interior designer of the year at last year’s Dezeen Awards.

    Julien Sebban is an interior designer and the founder of UchroniaFollowing Sebban’s workshops, the series will continue with a two-part video workshop delivered by London-based interior designer Tola Ojuolape.
    Ojuolape, who is the founder of eponymous design practice Tola Ojuolape Studio, has designed a library in SketchUp especially for this project.
    She will deliver a two-part video workshop on the design, which is a proposal for Clerkenwell in London, an area known for design and makers.
    Ojuolape was shortlisted at last year’s Dezeen Awards for emerging interior designer of the year. Her practice is characterised by its use of natural materials and an emphasis on narrative.
    Interior designer Tola Ojuolape will also contribute to the Design Workshops seriesSketchUp is 3D design software used to model architectural and interior design projects, product designs, civil and mechanical engineering and more. It is owned by construction technology company Trimble.
    Dezeen collaborated with the brand last year on Climate Salon, a podcast series exploring the role that architects and designers can play in tackling climate change.
    Partnership content
    This video series was produced by Dezeen in partnership with SketchUp. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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    Gustaf Westman hosts Brooklyn pop-up modeled on “museum experience”

    Swedish designer Gustaf Westman displayed existing and new objects including a colourful “puzzle” shelf during a three-day pop-up event in New York City.

    Named Gustaf Westman in New York, the show was located in an industrial storefront in Williamsburg and displayed the designer’s colourful objects and furniture on a meandering pink and orange pathway.
    Swedish designer Gustaf Westman held a New York City pop-up that gave nod to a museum experienceSmall descriptions were placed on the ground in front of the objects, as “a nod to a museum experience”, while printed pamphlets similar to museum guides were available to visitors.
    “The decision was very organic,” Westman told Dezeen. “When we came here, it was like a gallery space. It’s also a bit ironic, because I’ve only been doing this for four years and I’m not really ready to do a museum.”
    A brightly coloured pathway weaved through the space, which was divided by Westman’s screens and a larger display wall towards the front.

    Gustaf Westman and Swedish Stockings transform nylon tights into “terrazzo-like” tables

    Among the new objects displayed was Puzzle Shelf, a shelving unit made of interlocking, stackable rectangular forms that conclude in puzzle-shaped feet. Westman noted that the shelf is 3D-printed and processed to resemble the material qualities of his other ceramic and metal objects.
    “I have an obsession with trying to test all different materials and trying to make them look the same,” said Westman. “Even if I work with wood or ceramics or glass, I want to keep the same finish, so [3D printing] is the next step.”
    The shelf was made in a host of bright colours such as red, pink, cream, and dark blue.
    Existing and new objects from the designer were displayedThe remaining space was filled with pedestals and shelving outfitted with existing glassware and objects such as a spiralling book stand and flower-shaped mirrors, along with furniture such as a coffee table that pinches wine glasses in place.
    The designer previously used nylon tights to create “terrazzo-like” tables and displayed his objects during Day Two from Stockholm Design Week 2024.
    The photography is by Kate Fatseas unless otherwise stated
    Gustaf Westman in New York was on show at 25 Fillmore Place, Brooklyn from 10-13 October. For more events, exhibitions and talks in architecture and design visit the Dezeen Events Guide.

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    Bindloss Dawes converts 18th-century pub into light-filled Michelin-starred restaurant

    Architecture studio Bindloss Dawes has renovated an 18th-century pub in Somerset, England, to create an “intimate” new home for the Osip farm-to-table restaurant.

    Helmed by chef Merlin Labron-Johnson, Michelin-starred Osip was located on Bruton High Street in Somerset until August of this year, when it was transferred to a nearby Georgian pub built in 1730.
    Bindloss Dawes has created a new home for OsipLocal architecture office Bindloss Dawes stripped the three-storey building back to its original shell by removing a series of recent additions. The studio also stabilised the pub’s existing stone walls and relayed its slate roofs.
    Rewashed in white lime, the textured facade is characterised by limestone door and window frames, which complement the surrounding planted garden that supports Osip’s seasonal menu.
    An open theatre kitchen features floor-to-ceiling glazingOn the interior, Bindloss Dawes sought to illuminate the ground-floor restaurant with natural light while retaining a sense of the pub’s former character.

    Low, beamed ceilings feature across the seating area, which overlooks an open kitchen framed by floor-to-ceiling glazing and crowned by a geometric skylight.
    Earthenware flooring was laid across the seating area”The original Osip had a road-facing window and a small serving hatch, giving diners a limited view of the kitchen,” studio co-founder Oliver Bindloss told Dezeen.
    “In the new restaurant, we have opened up new windows and the garden to create wide views of the surrounding landscape.”
    The kitchen includes chunky bar stoolsBindloss Dawes chose a palette of natural materials when dressing the interior spaces.
    A deep red, locally sourced earthenware floor was laid across the seating area in a nod to the pub’s original charred crimson clinker floors. The breathable material was also selected for its acoustically absorbent properties.
    Artist Max Bainbridge hand-carved a knobbly timber barArtist Max Bainbridge of Somerset studio Forest + Found hand-carved a knobbly central drinks bar out of local timber gathered from the neighbouring woods, while abstract artworks add subtle colour to the otherwise white-washed walls.
    The kitchen is defined by a mixture of stainless steel, timber accents and chunky bar stools upholstered in Somerset textiles. Dimmable lighting was fitted throughout the restaurant to enhance a setting where diners can “focus on the food”, according to Bindloss.

    William Floyd Maclean designs modular timber furniture that “considers a wider picture”

    “The interior design is intimate, filled with natural light and open to the landscape,” said the studio co-founder.
    “Osip’s materials and makers represent the same things as its food – locally sourced and representing the best of Somerset and the south west,” he added.
    Osip includes a garden for growing seasonal produceBindloss Dawes also restored the building’s first and second floors, which extend into the original roof rafters and house four double guestrooms with en-suite bathrooms, furnished to reflect the downstairs restaurant.
    The studio opened its Bruton practice in 2018 and has completed Somerset projects ranging from the renovation of a Grade II-listed house in Pitcombe with a contemporary timber extension to a car barn for a classic Porsche collector.
    The photography is by Dave Watts.

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