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      Ten beautiful brutalist interiors with a surprisingly welcoming feel

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve collected 10 brutalist interiors from the UK to Brazil and Indonesia that show how textiles, plants and colours can be used to soften monolithic concrete spaces and create a cosy atmosphere.

      Brutalism as an architectural style often makes use of concrete to create large, sculptural buildings. These interiors in brutalist buildings feature plenty of concrete and hard angles but still manage to feel both warm and welcoming.
      Colourful tiling, wooden details and tactile textiles as well as an abundance of green plants were used to create inviting living rooms, bathrooms and even workspaces in these brutalist buildings, which include the Barbican in London and Riverside Tower in Antwerp.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring granite kitchens, terrazzo eateries and atriums that brighten up residential spaces.
      Photo is by Tommaso RivaA Brutalist Tropical Home, Indonesia, by Patisandhika and Dan Mitchell

      Designer Dan Mitchell worked with architecture studio Patisandhika to create this brutalist home in Bali, which features a double-height living room filled with books, records and green plants.
      The house has a split-level design that was modelled on modernist architect Ray Kappe’s Kappe Residence. Inside, colourful objects, textiles and furniture draw on the work of Clifford Still, Ellsworth Kelly and the Bauhaus movement to make the house feel homely.
      Find out more about A Brutalist Tropical Home ›
      Photo is by Niveditaa GuptaHouse of Concrete Experiments, India, by Samira Rathod
      As the name suggests, House of Concrete Experiments features sculptural concrete walls. Warm wood detailing offsets the grey hues, while the concrete floor has been inlaid with black stones to create an interesting pattern.
      Large windows and geometric skylights help make the room feel bright and inviting.
      Find out more about House of Concrete Experiments ›
      Photo is by Olmo PeetersRiverside Tower Apartment, Belgium, by Studio Okami Architecten
      Studio Okami Architecten stripped the walls of this flat in Antwerp’s Riverside Tower to let its original structure take centre stage.
      Colourful details such as a turquoise table and baby-blue spiral staircase and a playful, sculptural lamp make the home feel contemporary, while plenty of green plants give more life to the otherwise grey interior.
      Find out more about Riverside Tower Apartment ›
      Photo is by PhotographixBeton Brut, India, by The Grid Architects
      Designed as a “neo-brutalist” house, Beton Brut in India has a number of dramatic features, including a skylit atrium that extends through the home.
      The Grid Architects described the home as “typified by bare concrete, geometric shapes, a monochrome palette and a monolithic appearance”. Wooden flooring and furniture and plenty of textiles soften the house’s brutalist interior and potentially stern appearance.
      Find out more about Beton Brut ›
      Photo is by Anton GorlenkoBarbican flat, UK, by Takero Shimakazi Architects
      This flat in the Shakespeare Tower of London’s brutalist Barbican estate was overhauled by Takero Shimakazi Architects in a nod to the client’s strong ties to Japan.
      Details such as gridded timber panels and timber joinery were added throughout the flat, which also features Japan-informed details including an area lined with tatami mats.
      Find out more about the Barbican flat ›
      Photo is by Joana FrançaConcrete home, Brazil, by Debaixo do Bloco Arquitetura
      Debaixo do Bloco’s design for this sculptural house in Brazil is divided into three sections to provide a clear distinction between the various programmes.
      Inside, the interior has a mid-century modern feel, with gleaming wood parquet flooring and a glass PH table lamp by Danish designer Louis Poulsen decorating a side table.
      Find out more about the concrete home ›
      Photo is by Lorenzo ZandriSmithson Tower office, UK, by ConForm
      The brutalist Smithson Tower in Mayfair is the location for this “homely” office designed by ConForm Architects. The studio split the space into eight zones defined by the strong structural grid of the existing building, and added low-level joinery.
      The result is a design that softens the stark office spaces and makes the rooms feel more intimate.
      Find out more about the Smithson Tower office ›
      Photo is courtesy of The StandardThe Standard London, UK, by Shawn Hausman
      Designer Shawn Hausman created the colour-drenched interior of hotel The Standard in London, which is located in a brutalist building, to contrast “the greyness of London”.
      “I would say with this property we were a bit more colourful than usual, and I think part of that is acting in contrast to the brutalist building that the hotel’s in,” explained Hausman.
      In the bathrooms, stripy pink-and-black tiled walls and pops of pale mint green give the room a fun, playful feel.
      Find out more about The Standard London ›
      Photo is by Casey DunnPreston Hollow, US, by Specht Architects
      The long corrugated concrete volumes of Preston Hollow in Dallas were designed to reference brutalist Texan architecture from the 1950s and 60s, but the house was built to wrap around courtyards, creating a lively, open impression.
      Inside the low-slung buildings, mid-century modern-style furniture nods to the home’s architectural references but the interior is brought up-to-date with the addition of modern art.
      Find out more about Preston Hollow ›
      Photo is by Gilbert McCarragherBarbican apartment, UK, by John Pawson
      British architect John Pawson created this flat in London’s Barbican building using his signature minimalist aesthetic.
      The flat, which overlooks central London and has a small concrete balcony, has been kept almost empty with just a smattering of furnishings and pale wooden surfaces. Three artworks, a Buddha sculpture and a grandfather clock are the only decorative elements in the space.
      Find out more about the Barbican apartment ›
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring granite kitchens, terrazzo eateries and atriums that brighten up residential spaces.

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      Ten sunny interiors that make use of the Colour of the Year 2023

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      For our latest lookbook, we’ve curated 10 interiors decked out in Wild Wonder after paint brand Dulux named the pale yellow hue as its Colour of the Year for 2023.

      Dulux describes Wild Wonder as a “soft gold with hints of green” that speaks to people’s desire for a closer connection to nature and better mental health in light of the recent period of upheaval.
      “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,” the brand explained.
      “Wild Wonder is a positive, natural tone that, by connecting us with the natural world, can help us feel better in our homes.”
      The optimistic hue, reminiscent of “fresh seed pods and harvest grain”, is particularly suited to brightening up living spaces – as seen below in an all-yellow Barcelona duplex and a renovated 19th-century apartment in Stockholm by Note Design Studio.

      But the colour can also be used to give a homely feel to commercial interiors, from a floating spa to a church-turned-coworking space, where it is often contrasted against shades of dusty pink or deep red.
      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 atriums, floating staircases and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.
      Photo is by Note Design StudioHidden Tints, Sweden, by Note Design Studio
      Set in a 19th-century building in Stockholm, this kitchen envisioned by Swedish practice Note Design Studio is entirely enveloped in buttery yellow paint – covering everything from the walls and mouldings to the window frames.
      “Colour helps to emphasise the splendour in the detailing of the architecture,” interior architect Sanna Wåhlin told Dezeen. “In fact, the approach to colour in architecture in the old days was much braver than we see today. It deserves its place again!”
      Find out more about Hidden Tints ›
      Photo is by Felix SpellerCubitts Belgravia, UK, by Child Studio
      Child Studio reinstated many of the Georgian design features found in this 19th-century Belgravian townhouse when turning it into a shop for eyewear brand Cubitts.
      The London design firm painted its walls in a chalky yellow hue that was typical of the period and uncovered the original floorboards to create an “intimate and domestic atmosphere”, complete with a cast iron fireplace installed in the front room.
      Find out more about Cubitts Belgravia ›
      Photo is by José HeviaDuplex in Sant Gervais, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
      To make this duplex apartment in Barcelona with its convoluted floor plan and shadowy living spaces feel more bright and spacious, local practice Arquitectura-G introduced an all-yellow colour scheme that features throughout the home.
      It was even chosen for the metal grating used to form shelving in the kitchen, which was designed to provide storage without obstructing sunlight from reaching every corner of the space.
      Find out more about Duplex in Sant Gervais ›
      Photo is by Mikael LundbladCafe Banacado, Sweden, by ASKA
      Swedish architecture firm ASKA aimed to create a warm and peaceful atmosphere inside this all-day breakfast cafe, using sunny hues across its nostalgic checkerboard floors, storage walls and custom-made tables with integrated cutlery holders.
      “In order to create an environment that feels harmonious, we work with subtle layering and tone-in-tone methods,” said ASKA co-founder Madeleine Klingspor. “The same yellow is used on the walls, lamps, tables and floor but in different scales and intensity.”
      Find out more about Cafe Banacado ›
      Photo is by Jérôme GallandVilla Noailles gift shop, France, by Pierre Yovanovitch
      When overhauling the gift shop of the Villa Noailles arts centre in Provence, French designer Pierre Yovanovitch created a series of colour-block alcoves to “dramatise” the presentation of the products on offer.
      The mellow yellow backdrop of these wall niches stands in stark contrast to the salmon-pink walls and cobalt blue trims, nodding to the villa’s “cubist” garden designed by Armenian architect Gabriel Guevrekian.
      Find out more about the Villa Noailles gift shop ›
      Photo is by Dylan PerrenoudOrigin spa, Switzerland, by Bureau
      Blocks of pastel-toned tiles overlap across the different surfaces of this float spa in Geneva. The colour-blocking was specifically designed to evoke the vague spots and flashes of colour that can sometimes be seen behind closed eyes after looking at a light source.
      The interior was designed to reflect the visuals that guests experience in the spa’s sensory deprivation tanks, which are filled with warm salt water but completely devoid of light to create the feeling of floating weightlessly in space.
      Find out more about Origin ›
      Photo is by Rei Moon13 Square Metre House, UK, by Studiomama
      Custom-made plywood furniture fringes this tiny 13-square-metre home set in a former mini cab office, which “might be London’s smallest house,” according to architect Studiomama.
      Beyond providing crucial storage, the light wooden elements help to create a cohesive interior, while functional zones such as integrated sliding doors are highlighted in swatches of soft yellow, pink and blue.
      Find out more about 13 Square Metre House ›
      Photo is by Mikael LundbladMaria Nila salon, Sweden, by ASKA
      Undulating shelves of hair products wind their way around the perimeter of this salon by Swedish haircare brand Maria Nila in Stockholm to evoke dripping shampoo.
      The storage is rendered in pastel gradient colours informed by the brand’s packaging, which fade from ballet-slipper pink to a pale coffee colour and finally a washed-out yellow.
      Find out more about the Maria Nila salon ›
      Photo is by Carola RipamontiImarika boutique, Italy, by Marcante-Testa
      Another interior that showcases the perfect match between yellow and pink is this boutique in Milan, designed by Italian studio Marcante-Testa.
      Here, an understated daffodil-colour covers the walls, while pink clay was used to render partitions and rose-gold rails hold up the glass shelves displaying accessories.
      Find out more about Imarika boutique ›
      Photo is by Cándida WohlgemuthThe Ruby Street, USA, by Francesca de la Fuente and Working Holiday Studio
      An abstract wall mural by Los Angeles artist Dakota Solt ties together the baby blue, pink and tan furnishings in this co-working space with the pale yellow of the wood-panelled walls and the rattan pendant light.
      Called The Ruby Street, the shared office and events space is set in a former church in the city’s Highland Park neighbourhood, whose stained-glass windows were retained and paired with simple, contemporary furnishings.
      Find out more about The Ruby Street ›
      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 atriums, floating staircases and kitchens with polished granite surfaces.

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      Ten kitchens with polished granite surfaces

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      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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      Ten eclectic eateries that showcase the potential of terrazzo

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

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

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

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      Ten atriums that brighten and expand residential spaces

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

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

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

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

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      Eight homes with characterful floating staircases that appear to defy gravity

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

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

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

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      Ten residential interiors bolstered by exposed wooden beams

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      From a refurbished apartment in Barcelona to the home of an architectural designer in London, our latest lookbook rounds up 10 interiors that celebrate the tactility of exposed wooden beams.

      Beams are joists that support a building’s ceiling or roof. Rather than covering the interior beams, the designers below have left them as they were originally constructed, giving the homes a rustic yet industrial feel.
      Interior designers from Japan to Australia have incorporated exposed beams and columns in their projects, often integrating the existing wooden structures with contemporary elements such as cabinetry, shelving units and lighting fixtures.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing gardens with swimming pools, steely kitchens and interiors with a natural and calming organic modern design.

      Photo is by Alice GaoMorehouse, US, by James Veal and Christine Stucker
      Renovated by Brooklyn studio Stewart-Schafer for the company’s co-founders, this home in Connecticut is designed to reflect the 18 acres of woodland that surround it.
      The studio opted to fill the home with Japandi style decor and a natural, woody colour palette to complement the existing wooden floors, ceilings and other joinery.
      Find out more about Morehouse ›
      Photo is by Ulysse LemeriseThe Barn, Canada, by Louis Beliveau
      Nestled into a hillside in Mansonville, Québec, The Barn is a three-storey building that Montreal designer Louis Beliveau of La Firme studio converted from a decrepit building into a holiday home for two city dwellers.
      The 418-square-metre, light-filled interior has white oak floors, white-washed wood walls and exposed wood beams throughout, which the designers chose to keep the property’s “rustic character”.
      Find out more about The Barn ›
      Photo is by Nieve I Productora AudiovisualBookcase, Spain, by Nook Architects
      This Barcelona apartment refurbished by Nook Architects was designed to allow light to flow through the entire space. A central lightwell casts daylight into the bathroom, kitchen and storage rooms while Crittal glass partitions bordering the master bedroom give the occupants some privacy while they sleep.
      The apartment’s original colourful tile flooring, which the studio uncovered during the restoring, completes the space.
      Find out more about Bookcase ›
      Photo is by Eric PetschekChelsea Loft, US, by Worrell Yeung
      Timber columns, beams and ceiling joists were left raw and exposed in this Manhattan loft that Worrell Yeung renovated for an artist with an eclectic art collection.
      Part of the playful overhaul also involved installing new pieces of Cassina furniture, painting the walls and ceiling white and adding reclaimed pine wood floors.
      Find out more about Chelsea ›
      Photo is by Adrian GautVipp Studio, US, by Vipp
      Danish design company Vipp’s pared-back aesthetic characterises this showroom-cum-apartment in Tribeca, which serves as the founder’s pied-à-terre when they visit New York.
      Set in a former factory that dates back to 1883, the showroom is clad in a neutral grey-beige paint that matches the grey soft furnishings in the fully functional living room and bedrooms.
      Find out more about Vipp Studio ›
      Photo by James BrittainCollage House, England, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
      Architectural designer and founder of Jonathan Tuckey Design, Jonathan Tuckey chose “simple and everyday” materials in his renovation of this 19th-century steel workshop to create a characterful London home for his family and their dog.
      The designer decided to restore the original beams in the ceiling and left the bare brick walls tarnished with black marks to add to the weathered look.
      Find out more about Collage House ›
      Photo is by Yago PartalEnd of the Roc, Spain, by Nook Architects
      Situated within an apartment building in the gothic quarter of Barcelona, End of the Roc features a number of quirky designs including geometric patterned floor tiling, a 40-year-old wall covering and original wooden ceiling beams.
      Other surfaces and furnishings that Nook Architects chose to flesh out the apartment have been crafted from oak or painted black to create a sense of cohesion.
      Find out more about End of the Roc ›
      Photo is by Joe FletcherGowanus Loft, US, by General Assembly
      New York studio General Assembly deliberately left the chunky timber columns and beams exposed during the renovation of this apartment in Brooklyn, sanding them down to expose more of the original woodwork.
      While an effort was made to retain the character of the former textile mill, the studio added lighter touchers to the space through grey tilting in the kitchen, polished concrete flooring and rift white oak cabinetry.
      Find out more about Gowanus Loft ›
      Photo is by Koichi TorimuraY House, Japan, by Studio Kwas
      Several striking sets of angular spruce wood columns protrude like tree trunks throughout Y House, a two-storey city dwelling in Kamakura designed for a family of five. Three sets fill the open plan living area, which has a dining room, lounge and kitchen.
      The open plan design continues on the second floor of the house, where pine beams and diagonal columns create playful partitions that divide the sleeping and play areas.
      Find out more about Y House ›
      Photo is by Suzanna Scott PhotographyCalistoga Residence, US, by Wade Design Architects and Geremia Design
      The vineyards, barns and farmhouses of northern California’s wine town Napa Valley informed this wood-clad home designed by American studios Wade Design Architects and Geremia Design.
      Awash with white walls and pale tones set off against darker tiled flooring and black window frames, the home is filled with antiques that the client collected over many years.
      Find out more about Calistoga Residence ›
      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 parquet flooring, terrazzo flooring and wood-clad kitchens.

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      Ten living spaces with glossy surfaces that create depth and dimension

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      Mosaic tiles, red-lacquered wood panelling and sleek resin floors feature in this lookbook of 10 living spaces proving that high-shine surfaces don’t need to feel clinical.

      Glossy finishes – whether in the form of reflective paint, stone or simple sheet metal – can help to add polish and contrast to living rooms, which are traditionally heavy in plush textiles and upholstery.
      In particular, they shine in dark, compact spaces where they can mirror the light to make the room feel brighter and more expansive.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing residential swimming pools, steely kitchens and bookshelf staircases.
      Photo is by Michael SinclairHelios 710 apartment, UK, by Bella Freud and Maria Speake

      British fashion designer Bella Freud and Maria Speake of reclaimed furniture studio Retrouvius worked together to create the interiors for this two-floor London apartment, which is set in the former BBC Television Centre.
      In a nod to the building’s history, the duo worked to incorporate the “bold colour, eclecticism and glamour” of the 1970s, pairing glossy black sofas with burnt orange seat cushions, emerald green carpet and hessian-covered walls.
      Find out more about Helios 710 apartment ›
      Photo is by Robert RiegerThe Village apartment, Germany, by Gisbert Pöppler
      Living spaces in this renovated Berlin apartment by local interiors studio Gisbert Pöppler are demarcated by different surface materials.
      The entryway is panelled in red-lacquered wood, a geometric limestone relief wall distinguishes the kitchen and reflective stainless steel panels are fitted to the living room ceiling to make the room appear taller.
      Find out more about The Village ›
      Photography is by Simone BossiThe Whale, France by Clément Lesnoff-Rocard
      Architect Clément Lesnoff-Rocard aimed to create a modern take on art deco inside this apartment in a period building in Paris’s 16th arrondissement.
      This is reflected in the brass-fronted storage cabinets, columns clad in baby-blue marble and mirrored doors leading through to the sleeping quarters.
      Find out more about The Whale ›
      Photo is by Joshua McHughSleepy Hollow Residence, USA, by Lexi Tallisman
      Glossy paint was used to cover the walls and ceilings in this cosy snug in a renovated 1990s home in New York’s Hudson River Valley to create a feeling of spaciousness despite the tight floorplan.
      American designer Lexi Tallisman complemented the deep army green of the walls with an equally decadent material palette, introducing a brass-and-oak shelving unit, a blue velvet sofa by designer Steven Gambrel and a vintage chair reupholstered in creamy white leather.
      Find out more about Sleepy Hollow Residence ›
      Photo is by Giorgio PossentiCasa Mille apartment, Italy, by Fabio Fantolino
      Italian architect Fabio Fantolino only preserved a few original features when converting parts of this 19th-century palazzo into his own home in Turin.
      Instead, Fantolino used colour and texture to add character to the rooms as evidenced in this dining area, where polished concrete floors are paired with a lacquered cherry-red tabletop and a gridded partition made of smokey-grey and petrol-green glass.
      Find out more about Casa Mille ›
      Photo is by Ricardo LoureiroApartment on a Mint Floor, Portugal, by Fala Atelier
      Mint-green epoxy resin – so glassy it looks permanently wet – covers all of the floors including the terrace of this Porto apartment, designed by local practice Fala Atelier.
      “The goal was to unify all the spaces of the project, inside and outside, somehow compensating for the overall complexity of the plan,” the studio’s co-founder Filipe Magalhães told Dezeen.
      Find out more about Apartment on a Mint Floor ›
      Photo is by Pion StudioPuro hotel Kraków, Poland, by Paradowski Studio
      Polish practice Paradowski Studio proved that tiles don’t need to be constrained to the kitchen or bathroom in its design for the lounge of the Puro hotel in Kraków’s Old Town.
      Informed by the modernist murals of the 1970s, the studio commissioned local artist Tomasz Opaliński to create an intricate mosaic of lacquered tiles for the space, which is paired with soft furnishings and patterned rugs.
      Find out more about Puro hotel Kraków ›
      Photo is by José HeviaCasa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
      Shiny silver curtains and corrugated metal wall panels help to amplify the sparse natural light that filters into this duplex basement apartment in Madrid, envisioned by local design duo Lucas y Hernández-Gil.
      The studio also created a fake courtyard at the centre of the flat, complete with artificial skylights, orange grass and tall leafy plants to foster a connection to nature despite the building’s deep floorplan.
      Find out more about Casa A12 ›
      Photo is by Ishita SitwalaMumbai apartment, India, by The Act of Quad
      Polished marble floors provide a tactile contrast to the muted furnishings in this communal living room, designed by Indian duo The Act of Quad for a three-generational family in Mumbai.
      The studio added playful design elements such as spherical sculptures and undulating columns to break up the minimalist architecture of the home, which was formed by combining two flats in a suburban high-rise.
      Find out more about this Mumbai apartment ›
      Photo is by Prue RuscoeBudge Over Dover, Australia, by YSG
      Glossy travertine floors, a forest-green velvet rug and a dropped ceiling finished in reflective aubergine-coloured plaster create an “interplay of polished and raw finishes” inside this home, which Australian practice YSG has renovated in Sydney.
      This helps to create distinct zones within the otherwise open-plan interior, created by knocking down the majority of the home’s existing rabbit warren of partition walls.
      Find out more about Budge Over Dover ›
      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 swimming pools, steely kitchens and bookshelf staircases.

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