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    Ten self-designed studios by architects and designers

    From a forest cabin to a converted chapel, our latest lookbook features ten workspaces from the Dezeen archive that were created by architects and designers for their own use.

    Highlights include Benjamin Hubert’s design for his studio Layer, the Lisbon practice of Portuguese architects Aires Mateus and a colourful couple’s office for the duo behind interiors firm 2LG Studio.
    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 homes with clever built-in furniture, plant-filled hotel interiors and residences with decorative vaulted ceilings.
    Photo is by Rui CardosoAtelier Cecílio de Sousa, Portugal, by Aires Mateus
    Architecture practice Aires Mateus restored four storeys of an 18th-century building in Lisbon to create its studio, retaining and restoring many original features including the decorative plasterwork and elaborate ceiling murals.

    The converted office contains two model-making areas as well as several work- and meeting spaces. These include the grand Noble Room, where simple wooden chairs and a pared-back workbench made from pale timber contrast with the otherwise elaborate interior.
    Find out more about Atelier Cecílio de Sousa ›
    Photo is by Mikey EstradaYa Vsesvit, Ukraine, by Yakusha Design
    Black brick partitions divide up the monochromatic studio of Ukrainian designer Victoriya Yakusha to create a number of smaller offices, the grandest of which is centred on a chunky desk crafted from a single block of sandstone.
    Most of the furnishings and ornaments in the interior were made by Yakusha’s furniture brand Faina, allowing it to double up as a showroom.
    Find out more about Ya Vsesvit ›
    Photo is by Iwan BaanOffice in the Woods, Spain, by SelgasCano
    Set in a woodland near Madrid, the office of Spanish architecture studio SelgasCano (top and above) is semi-sunken into the forest floor, with a transparent north-facing wall providing views of the tree canopy above.
    Parallel banks of wall-mounted desks are lined up on the other side of the tunnel-like space, where they are shielded from the direct sun.
    Find out more about Office in the Woods ›
    Photo is by Simone BossiAMAA, Italy, by Marcello Galiotto and Alessandra Rampazzo
    Venetian practice AMAA inserted a steel-framed two-storey glass volume into an abandoned plumbing factory in Italy to house its own office, which accommodates not just workspaces but also a small library.
    A sunken level that was once used for pump testing now houses a wood-fronted staff kitchen that can be accessed via a poured concrete staircase, designed to be in keeping with the building’s industrial material palette.
    Find out more about AMAA ›

    Another Studio, Bulgaria, by Andrey Andreev and Petya Nikolova
    In a bid to encourage teamwork, Another Studio removed all of the non-bearing walls in its office in Sofia and replaced them with customised plywood shelving, which maintains sightlines throughout the office while providing crucial storage.
    Translucent white cotton curtains can be used to further divide up the space, while removable boxes integrated into the storage system provide additional seating and side tables when required.
    Find out more about Another Studio ›
    Photo is by Toon GrobetThe Waterdog, Belgium, by Klaarchitectuur
    Klaarchitectuur left the original walls of this heritage-listed chapel in Limburg largely untouched when converting the space into a studio, choosing instead to insert a number of crisp white boxes into the interior.
    This stacked, standalone structure now houses separate offices for the practice’s different departments, alongside monochrome meeting rooms and casual work areas.
    Find out more about The Waterdog ›
    Photo is by Annette KislingSauerbruch Hutton studio, Germany, by Sauerbruch Hutton
    Sauerbruch Hutton renovated a former Prussian military uniform factory in Berlin and added a third floor to its roof to accommodate the practice’s office alongside a studio for conceptual artist Karin Sander.
    Roof lights allow sunshine to filter into the new top floor, which accommodates a reception and conference room, as well as a gallery leading to a library and a series of smaller offices and meeting rooms.
    Find out more about Sauerbruch Hutton’s studio ›
    Photo is by Megan Taylor2LG Studio, UK, by Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe
    Married design duo Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe of London’s 2LG Studio managed to integrate a shared workspace into their four-bedroom home by knocking down the walls around their kitchen.
    The resulting open-plan office area is centred by a pill-shaped jesmonite table that the studio made in collaboration with artist Olivia Aspinall, surrounded by velvet chairs from Danish furniture brand Menu.
    Find out more about 2LG Studio ›

    Layer studio, UK, by Benjamin Hubert
    The converted warehouse that is home to London design studio Layer functions not just as a workspace but also as a gallery, with recent product designs, samples and prototypes on show in colourful display boxes to serve as inspiration for the team.
    All rooms are open-plan save for a translucent black plexiglass cube that functions as a private conference room and is centred on a bright red Ripple table, designed by the studio’s founder Benjamin Hubert for Canadian manufacturer Corelam.
    Find out more about Layer studio ›
    Photo by Sam NoonanTree Top studio, Australia, by Max Pritchard
    Nestled into a tree-covered slope behind his house in Adelaide, Australian architect Max Prichard has built a six-metre-tall cylindrical cabin to house his own mini-studio.
    The structure is clad in sheets of locally sourced hoop pine, while dark hardwood batons laid across the walls and floors mirror the radiating roof beams and line up with the wall of built-in storage.
    Find out more about Tree Top studio ›
    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 sleek co-working spaces, homes with clever built-in furniture, plant-filled hotel interiors and residences with decorative vaulted ceilings.

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    Ten sleek co-working spaces that provide an escape from home working

    As the world starts emerging from coronavirus lockdowns and many people begin returning to offices and shared workplaces, we have rounded up 10 co-working spaces for our latest lookbook.

    Whether a freelancer, small start-up or larger business, co-working offices can be a convenient and flexible solution for those looking to work in a collaborative environment.
    These 10 co-working sites combine domestic features such as cosy armchairs and sofas with sophisticated work areas furnished with modern desks, private partitions and well-equipped facilities.
    The co-working spaces also provide employees with networking opportunities, spots to socialise in, places to dine and even areas to exercise.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing bedrooms with smart storage solutions, residences with vaulted ceilings, and peaceful holiday home interiors.

    Photo is by Nikolas KoenigNeueHouse Bradbury, US, by DesignAgency
    Canadian studio DesignAgency added “graceful flourishes” such as linen drapes, soft furnishings and rose-coloured stools to NeueHouse’s co-working location in Downtown Los Angeles (above and top).
    While a number of the building’s existing elements were preserved including the brick fireplaces and large oak-framed windows, the studio added Versailles parquet flooring to give the workspaces a more contemporary look.
    Find out more about NeueHouse Bradbury ›
    Photo is by Jeroen VerrechtFosbury & Sons Boitsfort, Belgium, by Going East
    Belgian interior design studio Going East took cues from the original building’s modernist style to create this space for co-working provider Fosbury & Sons.
    Designed to look more like a residential home than an office, the 7,000 square-metre workplace in Brussels has comfortable leather seating, marble tables and a statement chandelier that hangs above the central staircase.
    Find out more about Fosbury & Sons Boitsfort ›
    Image is courtesy of The WingThe Wing Brooklyn, US, by Chiara De Rege
    The third site created by female co-working club The Wing, this cosy space in the Dumbo area of New York was designed by Chiara De Rege.
    De Rege designed the social areas to feel like living rooms, complete with an eclectic range of chairs and sofas in contrasting pastel and bold tones. The walls of the office spaces were tinted with the company’s “wing pink” colour while pale oak flooring was used to add warmth.
    Find out more about The Wing Brooklyn ›
    Photo is by Francisco NoguieraFosbury & Sons Amsterdam, the Netherlands, by Going East
    Designed by Belgian studio Going East, this Fosbury & Sons co-working space is set within a converted 19th-century hospital overlooking Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht canal.
    The studio aimed to create an upscale ambience throughout the space, while one of the building’s operating theatres was transformed into a dramatic boardroom with a marble-topped table surrounded by puffy, tan-coloured chairs.
    Find out more about Fosbury & Sons Amsterdam ›
    Photo is by Luis BeltranCabinette, Spain, by Masquespacio
    Retro furniture and pastel colours were used to create a Wes Anderson-like feel in this whimsical co-working office designed by Spanish studio Masquespacio in Valencia.
    Aimed at creative millennials, Cabinette has quirky elements such as silver curtains and chintzy stools. The studio used a light blue colour throughout the different office areas to add a sense of cohesion.
    Find out more about Cabinette ›
    Photo is courtesy of The Office GroupDouglas House, UK, by Note Design Studio
    Stockholm-based firm Note Design Studio contrasted neutral colours like ochre with bright furniture including armchairs in royal blue hues to to create invigorating spaces for  the Douglas House co-working members club.
    Spanning six floors, Douglas House by The Office Group has space for 700 to work along side a plant-filled chill out room, gym, cafe and a special room for nursing mothers.
    Find out more about Douglas House ›
    Photo is by Wai Ming NgReplica House Studios, UK, by Weston, Surman & Deane
    British studio Weston, Surman & Deane transformed a Victorian church in north London into a bright and colourful open-plan workspace that doubles as the architecture studio’s own office.
    To reference the church’s original use, the studio added diamond-patterned panes of stained glass in muted green, blue, orange and red colours above the main staircase and between the beams of the gabled roof.
    Find out more about Replica House Studios ›
    Photo is by Mariell Lind HansenUrban HQ, Ireland, by Kingston Lafferty Design
    Interiors studio Kingston Lafferty Design aimed to create warm and welcoming interiors for this eight-storey co-working office in Dublin.
    The studio used a palette of inviting materials, including stone, leather, slatted wood, velvet and brass, to create the homely atmosphere, with each floor designed to have a distinctive feel.
    Find out more about Urban HQ ›
    Photo is by Joe FletcherCanopy Jackson Square, US, by Yves Behar, Amir Mortazavi and Steve Mohebi
    Located in San Francisco’s downtown area, Canopy Jackson Square is a shared workspace created by designers Yves Behar, Amir Mortazavi and Steve Mohebi.
    A dark green colour palette and blackened wood flooring was used to create a decadent atmosphere in the private rooms while the public spaces are adorned with lighter green and pink tones.
    Find out more about Canopy Jackson Square ›
    Photo is by Nacasa & PartnersDigital Garage, Japan, by Snøhetta
    Lengthy ribbons of cedarwood form the desk surfaces and benches of this co-working space in Tokyo, which was created for a Japanese technology company by architecture firm Snøhetta.
    Above the desk, the studio added 534 pendant lights that create dazzling patterns when switched on. Chairs and stools in the same dark tone of the floor make up the rest of the furnishing in the stripped-back space.
    Find out more about Digital Garage ›
    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 homes centred around interior courtyards, kitchen extensions and interiors by Ukranian designers.

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    Ten plant-filled hotel interiors that feel close to nature

    A greenhouse-cum-dining room and a miniature forest in a skyscraper are among the verdant hotel interiors featured in our latest lookbook.

    Whether tiny succulents or fully-grown trees, plants can help connect an interior to its surroundings, provide an oasis of calm away from city life, or act as living space-dividers to break up an open-plan interior.
    These ten hotel interiors from the Dezeen archive show how adding greenery to public spaces can help give them a friendlier, more organic feel.
    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 bedrooms with clever storage solutions, escapist holiday homes and interiors by Ukranian designers.
    Photo is by Katsumasa TanakaShiroiya Hotel, Japan, by Sou Fujimoto

    Tiled floors, wooden furnishings and a plethora of plants create a piazza-like feel in the skylit atrium of this hotel in Maebashi (top and above), which serves as a reception, restaurant and lounge.
    To create the giant four-storey space, Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto dismantled all of the walls and floors of the original 1970s building, while a number of new guest suites and a Finnish sauna are housed in a grass-covered extension.
    Find out more about Shiroiya Hotel ›
    Photo is by Edmund DabneyBermonds Locke, UK, by Holloway Li
    Interiors studio Holloway Li drew on the sun-scorched landscapes of California when designing this London hotel, in order to provide guests with a sense of escapism.
    Mirrored ceilings in the reception create the impression of shimmering desert mirages, while huge planters filled with cacti and succulents separate the co-working area from the cocktail bar and restaurant.
    Find out more about Bermonds Locke ›
    Photo is by Feng ShaoIntercontinental Chongqing Raffles City, China, by CL3
    Located on level 42 of a 250-metre tall skyscraper complex, the lobby lounge of Chongqing’s Intercontinental hotel was designed to resemble a “mountain landscape in the sky”.
    Here, guests can take in views of the surrounding city from a number of curved wooden seating boots, nestled amongst the trees sprouting up from the glossy stone floor.
    Find out more about Intercontinental Chongqing Raffles City ›
    Photo is by Chase DanielLine Austin, USA, by Sean Knibb and Michael Hsu
    Architect Michael Hsu and interior designer Sean Knibb turned a mid-century tower in Austin into a modern hotel by stripping the structure back to its bones and opening it up to views of the nearby Colorado River.
    In the lobby, hanging plants are suspended from the ceiling in golden vessels and help to reinforce this connection to the outdoors, while walls and furnishings are finished in muted hues of duck egg blue and ballet-slipper pink.
    Find out more about The Line Austin ›
    Photo is by Simon UptonNoMad London, UK, by Roman and Williams
    The first international outpost from American hospitality chain NoMad is set in a former magistrates court and police station in London’s Covent Garden.
    A former yard at the centre of the building was transformed into a glass-domed restaurant, filled with freestanding trees and climbing plants that wind their way down two tiers of columns.
    Find out more about NoMad London ›
    Photo is by Spencer LowellDurham Hotel, USA, by Commune Design
    LA studio Commune Design drew on wide-ranging references when designing the retro interiors of this North Carolina hotel, ranging from the work of Bauhaus designers Josef and Anni Albers to the arts and crafts aesthetic of the state’s pioneering art school Black Mountain College.
    The converted mid-century bank now houses 54 guest suites, a rooftop lounge and an eponymous restaurant, where towering greenery surrounds leather-upholstered banquet seats.
    Find out more about the Durham Hotel ›
    Photo is by Adel FerreiraBabylonstoren, South Africa, by Malherbe Rust Architects
    Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and turmeric are among the aromatic plants found in the greenhouse-cum-dining hall of the Babylonstoren farmhouse hotel in South Africa’s Cape Winelands.
    An eight-metre-long granite dining table with water running down its centre takes up the centre of the space, where guests can sample foods infused with different spices while learning about their historical value.
    Find out more about Babylonstoren ›
    Image courtesy of Kelly WearstlerDowntown LA Proper, USA, by Kelly Wearstler
    Guest enter the Proper hotel in Downtown LA via an ornate archway, which is flanked by column-like cacti in rustic pots and decorated with a hand-painted mural designed by local artist Abel Macias that draws on the flora and fauna of Latin American folktales.
    The 148-room hotel combines 136 different kinds of tiles and an eclectic mix of stylistic references, informed by Mexican, Moroccan, Spanish and Portuguese design.
    Find out more about Downtown LA Proper ›
    Photo is by Philip VileHotel Castello di Reschio, Italy, by Benedikt Bolza
    Count Benedikt Bolza and his family lived in a 1,000-year-old castle in the Umbrian countryside for a decade while working to convert it into a sprawling hotel and creating custom furniture for its 36 suites.
    The verdant Palm Court is a new structural addition modelled on iron-and-glass Victorian conservatories, which is intended as a space for reading and conversation.
    Find out more about Castello di Reschio ›
    Photo is by Brooke ShanesyPalm Heights, Cayman Islands, by Gabriella Khalil
    Flea market finds from Paris, Los Angeles and Mexico populate this boutique hotel in Grand Cayman, including collectible design pieces like Mario Bellini sofas, Ingo Maurer lights and an Ettore Sottsass rug.
    The interior is styled to look like a 1970s-era Caribbean mansion, with verdant palm trees and other foliage brought inside in a nod to its location on the well-known white-sand Seven Mile Beach.
    Find out more about Palm Heights ›
    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 bedrooms with clever storage solutions, escapist holiday homes and interiors by Ukranian designers.

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    Ten well-organised bedrooms with clever storage solutions

    For our latest lookbook, we have rounded up 10 bedrooms from the Dezeen archive that make use of smart storage solutions, including custom-made headboards and floor-to-ceiling wall units.

    From basement one-bedroom apartments that use bookshelves as room partitions, to a plywood insertion in a children’s bedroom that combines work, play and sleep, these interiors all feature clever storage.
    Small cupboards inserted into headboards, below stairs and even within bed frames are also used to provide discreet additions to traditional storage units.
    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 interiors by Ukranian designers, coastal hotel interiors and self-designed homes by architects and designers.
    Photo is by Yiannis Hadjiaslanis and Point SupremeAthens apartment, Greece, by Point Supreme

    Greek architecture firm Point Supreme transformed a basement storage space in a suburban neighbourhood in Athens into a one-bedroom home.
    The 56-square-metre sunken space only receives light from above on one side. In order to make the space to feel as bright and big as possible, Point Supreme used curtains, sliding doors and open shelving units as wall partitions.
    The studio also added smart shelving below the ceiling of the bedroom, making full use of the height of the room.
    Find out more about Athens apartment ›
    Photo is by French+TyeTwo and a Half Storey House, UK, by Bradley Van Der Straeten
    Bradley Van Der Straecten Architects added a half-storey extension to this home in London’s Stoke Newington.
    The studio lined the interior of the extension in plywood and incorporated built-in wardrobes, bookshelves and a platform bed frame to maximise the space in this children’s bedroom.
    Find out more about Two and a Half Storey House ›
    Photo is by Draper WhiteGammel Dam, US, by CCY Architects
    This holiday home in Colorado by CCY Architects features floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the hilly terrain.
    The interiors are lined in pale wood and include clever storage solutions throughout. Wooden cupboards were built into the bed frames to maximise the use of the space, while keeping the minimalist feel of the interior.
    Find out more about Gammel Dam ›
    Photo is by Rafael SoldiWhidbey Dogtrot, US, by SHED
    Named after its location on Whidbey Island, which is just north of Seattle, this single-storey home was designed by American firm SHED for a couple that is soon to retire.
    In the bedroom, a large reading nook, fitted with rows of shelving, opens to the sleeping area and offers views across the serene landscape. Fixtures and architectural elements were painted black and provide a striking contrast against the white walls.
    Find out more about Whidbey Dogtrot ›
    Photo is by Ståle Eriksen.London apartment, UK, by Jonathan Tuckey Design
    Architecture studio Jonathan Tuckey Design overhauled this Marylebone apartment in London, adding pastel storage walls that curve and dip between each room.
    Instead of standard shelving, the studio opted to use built-in furniture throughout the space in the form of MDF storage walls.
    The primary bedroom was divided in two by storage walls to house a walk-in closet and sleeping area, which is now accessed through a pistachio-hued arch.
    Find out more about London apartment ›
    Photo is by Michael SinclairA Room for Two, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
    Studio Ben Allen built a wooden structure inside a London flat to create a shared bedroom for two children.
    The structure, which was constructed using pale birch plywood, features arched openings, steps fitted with shelving beneath, a fold-down desk and a desk-cum-platform.
    The plywood insertion provides the children with a place for sleep, work and play, without compromising on tidy storage.
    Find out more about A Room for Two ›
    Photo is by Shannon McGrathCentral Park Road Residence, Australia, by Studio Four
    Australian practice Studio Four used dark surfaces and large storage volumes throughout this Melbourne family home.
    In the primary bedroom, a full-height storage unit doubles as a headboard and includes a horizontal opening that serves as a shelf for a single row of books.
    The dark-painted volume, which was placed in the centre of the room, conceals a walk-in wardrobe as well as an ensuite bathroom.
    Find out more about Central Park Road Residence ›

    Smolenka Apartment, Russia, by Peter Kostelov
    Russian architect Peter Kostelov renovated this apartment in Moscow, adding a raised living room in a wooden capsule as well as built-in furniture units.
    The bedroom was finished in oak and divided into sections that have smooth, rounded passages between the ceiling, floor and walls forming shelves, closets and a bed. A television was neatly tucked into the wall unit opposite the bed.
    Find out more about Smolenka Apartment ›
    Photo is by Lisbeth GrosmannFlinders Lane Apartment, Australia, by Clare Cousins
    Clare Cousins Architects inserted a timber box and mezzanine platform into this one-bedroom apartment in Melbourne to create three additional sleeping areas.
    The 75-square-metre flat includes a hoop-pine plywood volume that houses two small bedrooms – each the length of a bed.
    Inside the volume, recesses in the walls form shallow shelves for small items, while hooks are spread across the panels for hanging clothes and personal items.
    Find out more about Flinders Lane Apartment ›
    Photo is by João Morgado.Musico Iturbi, Spain, by Roberto Di Donato
    London-practice Robert Di Donato used a large pair of wooden storage units in this Valencian apartment to complement the aged and weathered interiors.
    One wooden unit divides the bedroom from the main living area and extends to the full height of the space. It features sliding doors that can be closed to provide the sleeping area with complete privacy.
    Find out more about Musico Iturbi ›
    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 modernist living rooms, interiors by Ukranian designers and homes designed by architects and designers.

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    Ten escapist holiday homes with peaceful interiors

    Cavernous summer houses in Santorini, a minimalist Canadian ski chalet and a Cape Town clifftop dwelling are among the tranquil holiday homes we have collected for our latest lookbook.

    Holiday houses are designed to provide a relaxing getaway and often located in remote settings, such as peaceful countryside villages or coastal locations.
    These 10 examples highlight how designers have tried to reflect the relaxing nature of the homes’ locations within their interiors, incorporating details such as retractable walls that flood sunlight into living spaces and soothing Japandi-style furniture.
    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 retro eateries, modernist living rooms and decorative parquet wooden flooring.

    Naia I and Naia II, Costa Rica, by Studio Saxe

    Architecture firm Studio Saxe designed a pair of beach houses in Costa Rica with rustic wooden screens and overhanging roofs, which intend to integrate the surrounding jungle into the homes’ interiors.
    Called Naia I and Naia II, the latter house features a double-height living space that is left mostly open to the elements, except for a minimal kitchen tucked within a geometric alcove.
    Find out more about Naia I and Naia II ›

    Falcon House, UK, by Koto
    British studio and prefab specialists Koto created this black timber-clad Cotswolds holiday home formed from twisted and stacked volumes that result in cantilevering canopies.
    Falcon House’s upper storey is a single, open space with a wood-burning stove in one corner, which also includes a delicate, olive-green sofa framed by exposed cross-laminated timber walls that integrate the home with its peaceful outside views.
    Find out more about Falcon House ›

    Bundeena House, Australia, by Tribe Studio Architects 
    Retractable walls were inserted into this New South Wales weekend beach retreat to connect its U-shaped rectilinear volumes with the outdoors.
    The founder of Tribe Studio Architects took cues from the area’s modernist fisherman cottages when designing Bundeena House for herself, using “durable and honest” finishes.
    Open-plan interiors include a mixture of materials, such as structural plywood and statement colourful chairs. Concrete flooring was purposefully left unpolished to allow for post-beach wet and sandy footprints.
    Find out more about Bundeena House ›

    La Fraternelle, Canada, by Atelier Pierre Thibault
    La Fraternelle – or The Brotherly – was designed by Quebec City-based Atelier Pierre Thibault as a shared weekend house for two brothers in Charlevoix, a popular Canadian ski destination.
    The architecture firm chose a palette of minimalist, built-in or custom furniture, which was subtly inserted into the project in order to draw more attention to the surrounding landscape than the interiors.
    “The large glazed openings and restrained interior furnishings facilitate contemplation,” explained Atelier Pierre Thibault.
    Find out more about La Fraternelle ›

    Summer houses, Greece, by Kapsimalis Architects
    Two underground caves of an old property in Santorini were converted into summer houses by smoothing out and finishing their interiors in earthy tones that contrast with the houses’ bright white facades.
    Kapsimalis Architects added elegant furniture made by local craftsmen to the cavernous rooms, which also feature minimalist light fittings and built-in storage framed by vaulted ceilings and arched doorways.
    Find out more about these summer houses ›

    La Extraviada, Mexico, by Em-Estudio
    Mexico City-based firm Em-Estudio chose “materials thought of as elements that blend with the mountain” for La Extraviada, a holiday home made up of volumes that perch on a steep hillside in Oaxaca.
    Inside, a dining and living space designed by Gala Sánchez-Renero is flanked by sliding doors that open out onto a patio, while black rattan pendant lights are suspended over a low-slung wooden dining table.
    Find out more about La Extraviada ›

    Bowen Island House, Canada, by Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects + Designers
    Described as a “contemporary cabin in the woods” by Vancouver studio Office of McFarlane Biggar Architects, Bowen Island House is a black-stained cedar and glass holiday home in British Columbia.
    Hemlock wooden floors match the ceilings, which frame open-plan living spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows that are designed to allow the dwelling to recede into the surrounding rainforest.
    “The house is made from a palette of local materials primarily, all chosen for their inherent beauty, toughness and refinement,” said project leader Steve McFarlane.
    Find out more about Bowen Island House ›

    Archipelago House, Sweden, by Norm Architects
    Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics blend together in Archipelago House on the coast of Sweden, an interior trend known as Japandi design.
    Danish studio Norm Architects and Japanese brand Karimoku Case Study dressed the home’s double-height lounge with minimal furniture that adheres to the style, including a pebble-grey sofa, curvy cream armchairs and a muted stone-topped coffee table.
    Find out more about Archipelago House ›

    Rural House, Portugal, by HBG Architects
    A staircase with steps that double as a bench, table and fireplace takes centre stage in a converted granite community oven turned into a holiday home in Portugal, which is located in the village of Aldeia de João Pires.
    Inside, HBG Architects left the dwelling’s granite walls exposed to maintain the house’s history and contrast with the space’s more contemporary interiors. The home is defined by a material palette of concrete and timber and was described by the studio as “loft-like”.
    Find out more about Rural House ›

    Icaria House, South Africa, by Antonio Zaninovic Architecture Studio and Tara Bean
    Icaria House is a four-storey holiday home on a clifftop in Cape Town, which was renovated by local office Antonio Zaninovic Architecture Studio and interior designer Tara Bean.
    Originally built in the 1960s, the house’s interiors fuse eclectic elements such as a red Berber rug from Morocco with soothing white walls and large windows that provide views of the surrounding sea.
    Find out more about Icaria 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 coastal hotel rooms, kitchen extensions and homes centred around interior courtyards.

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    Ten homes with decorative parquet wooden flooring

    Our latest lookbook highlights 10 homes with decorative parquet flooring including a Victorian terraced home and 1930s apartment feature in Portugal.

    Parquet flooring is a traditional style of hardwood flooring, that is used to create decorative and mosaic-like patterns in homes and interior settings.
    The decorative hardwood flooring is made from short wooden battens that are slotted and placed together in often intricate, geometric and mosaic arrangements.
    Parquet flooring rose in popularity during the 1600s as it became a favoured option with European aristocracy, offering an alternative to decorative marble floors that required less maintenance.
    It can be installed in a number of different patterns including, herringbone, Versailles, chevron and chantilly.

    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 cavernous interiors, bright-white kitchens and self-designed homes by architects and designers.

    1930s apartment, Portugal, by Aboim Inglez Arquitectos
    Portuguese studio Aboim Inglez Arquitectos incorporated parquet flooring, stone surfaces and a bright sunroom in its update to a 1930s apartment in Lisbon (above and top).
    Hardwood, parquet flooring uncovered during the renovation was restored across the home. The floor is comprised of blocks of different tones which are arranged to create a checkerboard-style pattern that is framed by strips of light wood.
    Find out more about the 1930s apartment ›

    Apartment Basta, Russia, by Blockstudio
    A mixture of different textures, materials and time periods were all combined within this Moscow apartment by Blockstudio, which aimed to recreate the look of a Parisian apartment.
    To create a lived-in feel within the new-build structure, reclaimed-oak parquet flooring sourced from Italy was used throughout the living and dining room.
    Find out more about Apartment Basta ›

    Charred House, UK, by Rider Stirland Architects
    Rider Stirland Architects remodelled this Victorian terraced home in south London and added an extension clad in blackened wood to the rear.
    To juxtapose with the extension’s charred exterior, materials were chosen to provide the interior with warmth. Parquet flooring stretches across the home and was paired with bespoke joinery.
    Find out more about Charred House ›

    Leith apartment, UK, by Luke McClelland
    Scottish architect Luke McCellard renovated the interior of this Georgian apartment in Edinburgh, creating a bright, light and contemporary home for a formerly dark space.
    McClelland blanketed the floors of the 19th-century apartment in warm oak parquet flooring which was arranged in a herringbone pattern. The wood complements the stark white walls throughout the property.
    Find out more about Leith apartment ›

    Victorian terraced house, UK, by Matthew Giles Architects
    This Victorian terraced home in Wandsworth, London, was updated and extended by Matthew Giles Architects.
    On the ground floor, parquet flooring in a herringbone pattern was designed to draw the eye from the entrance through to the garden at the rear beyond the newly added dropped-level kitchen diner.
    Find out more about the Victorian terraced house ›

    Hatfield House, UK, by Archmongers
    Located on the iconic Golden Lane Estate in London, local studio Archmongers renovated the duplex flat using bold colours that aimed to complement the home’s modernist look.
    The studio uncovered parquet flooring which was restored and made a focal feature of the home.
    Find out more about Hatfield House ›

    Portland Residence, Canada, by Atelier Barda
    Black furniture and fixtures sit on top of the chevron-patterned oak parquet flooring in this Montreal home by Canadian architecture studio Atelier Barda.
    The studio added a rear extension to the existing stone house and reconfigured the floor plan to create open-plan living areas and a better flow between spaces. The home’s original rounded walls and mouldings were preserved and highlighted by the oak flooring beneath.
    Find out more about Portland Residence ›

    Dutch townhouse, The Netherlands, by Antonia Reif
    This early 20th-century townhouse in The Hague was renovated by Dutch architect Antonia Reif. The home was previously divided into two apartments which the architect reversed to reconnect the building’s four floors.
    Reif fitted the interior with herringbone-patterned oak flooring to create continuity between the home’s different spaces.
    Find out more about Dutch townhouse ›

    Apartment Vilnius, Lithuania, by Kristina Lastauskaitė-Pundė
    Original features at this apartment in Vilnius were spotlighted and paired with grey-painted joinery and brass accents.
    The overhaul was completed by interior designer Kristina Lastauskaitė-Pundė who wanted to give the home a contemporary update that still spotlighted its historic and original features. Muted chevron flooring spans the interior of the apartment to visually connect its different rooms.
    Find out more about Apartment Vilnius ›

    1970s apartment, Portugal, by Aurora Arquitectos
    Wooden panelling lines the walls and ceiling of areas of this apartment in Lisbon which was refurbished by Aurora Arquitectos.
    The home was defined by its use of wood seen through its vast pale herringbone-patterned parquet flooring and blonde panelling that frames skylights across the ceiling. Wood and marble were arranged in a herringbone pattern to define the apartment’s different zones and spaces.
    Find out more about the 1970s 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 cavernous interiors, bright-white kitchens, and self-designed homes by architects and designers.

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    Ten coastal hotel rooms with calming sea views

    For our latest lookbook, we have rounded up 10 hotel rooms and holiday homes on the coast that provide unspoiled views of the surrounding seas and oceans.

    From beachside retreats in Tulum to guesthouses dotted along rugged patches of Icelandic shoreline, these hotel rooms are designed to make the most of their coastal locations.
    As well as offering a contemplative place to watch calming waves, many show how ocean or sandy hues can be incorporated into an interior space and how water can act as a source of inspiration.
    This is the latest in our series of Dezeen Lookbooks series providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with terrazzo floors, retro eateries and kitchens with bright white interiors.
    Photo is by Francisco NogueiraBarefoot Luxury, Cape Verde, by Polo Architects and Going East

    Belgian studio Polo Architects and Going East matched bumpy stone walls with sandy-hued interiors to embed this cluster of guest villas within Cape Verde’s jagged terrain.
    Drawing on the textures and tones of the surrounding landscape, the studios filled the hotel with shades of brown, ochre, red while floor-to-ceiling glass doors provide views onto the deep blue Atlantic ocean on right on its doorstep.
    Find out more about  Barefoot Luxury ›
    Photo is by Thibaut DiniCasa Santa Teresa, Corsica, by Amelia Tavella Architects
    French studio Amelia Tavella Architects transformed a ruined Corsica residence into a breezy home for holiday-makers by using simple, comfortable furnishings.
    An outdoor terrace that runs along the outside of its bedrooms has unspoiled vistas of the Route des Sanguinaires on the Gulf of Ajaccio – a rugged strip of coastline dotted with villas and upscale hotels.
    Find out more about Casa Santa Teresa ›
    Photo is by Read McKendreeMarram Hotel, US, by Bridgeton and Studio Tack
    The 96 rooms in this Montauk hotel overlook a freshwater pool and, a little further in the distance, the Atlantic Ocean and New York’s Long Island can be spotted.
    Hospitality company Bridgeton and Studio Tack chose interiors and materials that evoke the wild grass and sandy dunes that the building sits atop.
    Find out more about Marram Hotel ›
    Photo is by Nick SimoniteHotel San Cristóbel, Mexico, by Lake Flato
    Whitewashed walls give this Mexican hotel a bright and airy feel that matches its sunny beachside location as well as providing the backdrops for cacti and frame ocean views.
    Austin architecture studio Lake Flato and designer Liz Lambert aimed to use the natural surroundings to create a laid-back atmosphere Most rooms open onto their own outdoor spaces, with patterned tiled floors matching the bathroom surfaces.
    Find out more about Hotel San Cristóbel ›
    Photo is by Elke FrotscherMonte Uzulu, Mexico, by Taller Lu’um and At-te
    Situated in a small fishing village on the beach of San Agustinillo, Mexico, Monte Uzulu is just a short walk away from the Pacific Ocean. All 12 suites have a terrace that overlooks the forest and ocean.
    Mexican studios Taller Lu’um and At-te designed the boutique hotel to showcase local craft with earthen walls, doors made from local wood and a thatched roof.
    Find out more about Monte Uzulu ›
    Photo is by Taggart SorensenCasa Xixim, Mexico, by Specht Architects
    Bedrooms inside this villa hotel in the Mexican resort of Tulum spill out onto expansive terraces overlooking a nearby mangrove marsh and beach.
    Conscious of its position on a protected bay, New York studio Specht Architects designed it to be fully self-sufficient and to work in unison with its unique site.
    Find out more about Casa Xixim ›
    Photo is by Brooke ShanesyPalm Heights, Caribbean, by Gabriella Khalil
    The same sunny yellows and bright blues that recall the Caribbean seaside run throughout the rooms in this hotel designed by Gabriella Khalil.
    Each suite in the boutique hotels opens onto a balcony at the back of the property, where visitors can enjoy the sea views.
    Find out more about Grand Cayman beach hotel ›
    Photo courtesy of Block722 ArchitectsOlea Hotel, Greece, by Block722 Architects
    Every room in this coastal hotel is set within a rectilinear volume and fronted by large windows, which frame different views of the pool, gardens, or distant Ionian Sea.
    Athens-based practice Block722 Architects wanted to blend the lodging into the natural Grecian landscape by using earth-hued linens, light timber furnishings and offcuts of wood.
    Find out more about Olea Hotel ›
    Photo is by Giovanni De RoiaGuesthouse Nýp, Iceland, by Studio Bua
    This cosy bed and breakfast is located on Iceland’s west coast, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve – a place remarkable for its extreme weather conditions.
    A corrugated metal skin and an extension that houses three guest suites are some of several changes that Studio Bua made in its renovation of Guesthouse Nýp. From these suites, guests can look out onto patches of shallow seas, small fjords and bays.
    Find out more about Guesthouse Nýp ›
    Photo by Felix MooneeramHarlosh, Scotland, by Dualchas Architects
    Tasked with enhancing the way guests experience the surrounding scenery, Dualchas Architects decided to incorporate floor-to-ceiling windows on both ends of the building, which is perched on a peninsula in the northwest of the Isle of Skye.
    A pair of terraces as the front and rear of the building can be used by guests looking to catch the sunrise and sunset, or simply take in the grasslands, sea lochs and inlets that characterise the area.
    Find out more about Harlosh ›
    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 modernist living rooms, kitchen extensions and homes designed by architects and designers.

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    Ten cavernous interiors that swap corners for curves

    A nursery by Junya Ishigami and MAD’s Cloudscape of Haikou feature in our latest lookbook, which highlights 10 softly contoured interiors from the Dezeen archive that were modelled on the sinuous shapes of clouds and wind-smoothed caves.

    Whether crafted from plaster, concrete or wooden panels, undulating walls can help to bring a sense of intimacy to otherwise large, impersonal spaces.
    Beyond just looking pretty, they can also be a practical solution to integrate everything from seating to storage into the fabric of the interior, while concealing unsightly mechanical and electrical systems.
    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 bright-white kitchens, cosy conversation pits and self-designed homes by architects and designers.
    Photo is by Joe FletcherSoftie, USA, by OPA

    Design studio OPA subverted the rational modernist grid of this house near San Francisco by overlaying a series of cloud-like architectural features on top of its existing structural shell.
    Its load-bearing columns are now enveloped by bulging white walls, while ceilings droop down to form a series of intimate seating nooks as well as a cove that surrounds the freestanding circular tub in the bathroom.
    Find out more about Softie ›
    Photo is by Paola PansiniFerrari flagship, Italy, Sybarite
    Going down a sleeker, more space-age-style route, London studio Sybarite carved out a sinuous display area at the centre of Ferrari’s lifestyle concept store in Maranello to house the carmaker’s debut fashion collection.
    The otherwise open-plan interior is cast in shades of glossy red and white and also incorporates touches of mahogany, which was used to make Ferrari’s original Enrico Nardi steering wheels of the 1950s and 1960s.
    Find out more about the Ferrari flagship ›
    Photo is by Lars Petter PettersenCabin at Norderhov, Norway, by Atelier Oslo
    Curved birchwood panels engulf the walls and ceilings of this cabin, turning it into a cosy refuge on the banks of Norway’s Lake Steinsfjorden while sweeping windows provide panoramic views over the natural landscape.
    Like a winding tunnel, the interior was designed as one continuous space, with the bedroom cordoned off from the open floor plan by a heavy grey curtain.
    Find out more about the Cabin at Norderhov ›
    Photo is by Yiorgos KordakisTwo Holiday Houses in Firostefani, Greece, by Kapsimalis Architects
    Three rocky vaulted caves, which once provided additional storage space for a traditional dwelling on Santorini, were smoothed out and finished with earthy-hued plaster to create this summer house by local practice Kapsimalis Architects.
    Colours, finishes and fittings throughout the interior were designed to reflect the building’s humble origins, incorporating arched niches and doorways, flush built-in storage and furniture made by local craftsmen.
    Find out more about Two Holiday Houses in Firostefani ›
    Photo is by CreatAR ImagesCloudscape of Haikou, China, by MAD
    Designed to evoke “a wormhole that transcends time and space”, the interior and exterior of MAD’s library on Hainan Island were cast as one continuous vessel without any right angles.
    On the inside, the sinuous white concrete shell forms small reading nooks and bookcases recessed into the walls, while concealing all of the building’s electrics and plumbing.
    Find out more about Cloud of Haikou ›
    Photo is by Tom FergusonNational Museum of Qatar gift shop, Qatar, by Koichi Takada Architects
    Around 40,000 slabs of wood were stacked on top of each other and assembled by hand to form the soaring walls and built-in shelves of the gift shop in the National Museum of Qatar.
    The interior, much like the Jean Nouvel-designed building, pays homage to Qatar’s desert landscape – particularly the crystal-crusted cavern of Dahl Al Misfir, which tunnels deep into the earth outside Doha.
    Find out more about the gift shop ›
    Photo is by Simone BossiMyrto, Sardinia, by Studio Wok
    Studio Wok looked to the way that the wind carves granite rocks on the Sardinian coast into sinuous, almost architectural structures when designing this pizzeria, set in the island’s port town of Porto Cervo.
    This erosive process is referenced in the restaurant’s curved, sandy pink plaster walls and arched windows, which are complemented by custom furnishings including a tiled counter in varying shades of green that echo the colours of local shrubs.
    Find out more about Myrto ›
    Photo is by Edmund SumnerCloud Garden, Japan, by Junya Ishigami
    Rather than covering up the bulky columns found in this high-rise office block in Atsugi, Junya Ishigami converted its former cafeteria into a nursery by inserting wiggly concrete partitions, creating archways and pathways as well as various spaces for play.
    “There are crevices that only children can pass through, and absent spaces that are considered large even for adults,” Ishigami said. “It is a space that softly ties in various objects and scales.”
    Find out more about Cloud Garden ›
    Photo is by 1988 Photography StudioTT Pilates, China, by Wanmu Shazi
    Designer Wanmu Shazi used micro-cement to cover up not just the walls but also most of the windows in the TT Pilates studio, which is located in a typical high-rise office building in Xiamen.
    Only a few organically-shaped openings allow visitors to catch glimpses of the sky while letting light dapple into the interior, in a bid to shut out the usual hustle and bustle of the Chinese port city.
    Find out more about TT Pilates ›

    Grotto, Canada, by Partisans
    Cedarwood panelling creates an undulating terrain inside this sauna in Canada, curving up from the floor to form stepped seating and skewed porthole windows as well as enveloping the wood-burning stove.
    Set on a craggy outcrop on the shore of Lake Huron, it was designed to resemble a seaside grotto carved out by the water, while its exterior was moulded perfectly to the rock formation using a 3D scanner.
    Find out more about Grotto ›
    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 bright-white kitchens, cosy conversation pits and self-designed homes by architects and designers.

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