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    Ten bathrooms with double sinks for couples who prioritise personal space

    Nobody likes knocking elbows while brushing their teeth. In this lookbook, we collect 10 bathrooms with interesting takes on double sinks from the Dezeen archive.

    Sometimes called his-and-hers sinks, double sinks immediately introduce a luxurious feel to the bathroom. The 10 examples below feature varying contemporary interpretations of this classic design flourish.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with colourful toilets and sinks, timber cladding and lots of concrete.
    Photo by Megan TaylorLouisville Road apartment, UK, by 2LG Studio
    London design firm 2LG Studio fitted a bespoke coral-orange vanity unit with luted-lacquer-coated doors to form the double sink in this house in Tooting.

    The unit contrasts with baby-blue taps that match the floor tiles and the bordering around the large bathroom mirror, as well as the shower screen.
    Find out more about this Louisville Road apartment ›
    Photo by Mel Yates/24mm PhotographyHouse in York, UK, by Studio Ben Allen
    A utilitarian theme pervades Studio Ben Allen’s extension to a Victorian terraced house in York, including in the first-floor bathroom.
    Twin basins feature taps stripped back to their base brass and exposed copper piping, while the two curving mirrors above them continue an arch motif used throughout the project.
    Find out more about this house in York ›
    Photo by Jeremie WarshafskyCandy Loft, Canada, by StudioAC
    The double sink in this Toronto loft conversion by local firm StudioAC is housed inside a wood-clad unit that is fixed to the wall and lit from underneath.
    It features in a minimalist bathroom with borderless shower screen and mirrors, white walls and subtly patterned tiling.
    Find out more about Candy Loft ›
    Photo by Alex Forsey PhotographyThe Triangle extension, UK, by Yellow Cloud Studio
    A free-standing bathtub separates two sinks in the en-suite bathroom of this Victorian house in Hackney, extended and renovated by London practice Yellow Cloud Studio.
    The bath fits into what was formerly a fireplace, with the original chimney stack providing a symmetrical layout for the concrete basins and pastel-green vanity units.
    Find out more about the Triangle extension ›
    Photo by Youri ClaesensCasa Campo, Ibiza, Spain, by Standard Studio
    Casa Campo is an off-grid home nestled in a mountain range in northern Ibiza by Amsterdam firm Standard Studio.
    In the bathroom, a concrete partition forms a low wall around the double sink, contrasting with the rustic stone walling and timber counter.
    Find out more about Casa Campo ›
    Photo by Felipe FontecillaCasa Hualle, Chile, by Ampuero Yutronic
    Pale plywood walls and a dark concrete floor give the bathroom in this house in Chile’s volcanic Araucania Region a rustic feel.
    Architecture studio Ampuero Yutronic raised a pair of circular sinks on a simple wooden stand in line with a window above the bathtub.
    Find out more about Casa Hualle ›
    Photo by Evan Joseph130 William show apartment, USA, by David Adjaye
    British architect David Adjaye used serrated grey marble tiling to line the walls and floors of the bathroom in this model apartment for his first Manhattan skyscraper.
    This extends to the bathtub and double sink, contrasted with black tap fixtures and a black wooden vanity unit.
    Find out more about this 130 William show apartment ›
    Photo by Matthew WilliamsWorkstead House, USA, by Workstead
    This home in Charleston, South Carolina was created through the renovation of a building formerly used as a store for selling blockaded goods during the US Civil War.
    In the darkly painted en-suite bathroom next to the master bedroom, design studio Workstead built a pair of sink units standing independently of each other and looking out through large double-sash windows.
    Find out more about Workstead House ›
    Photo by Pedro KokAML Apartment, Brazil, by David Ito Arquitetura
    David Ito Arquitetura put a different spin on the double sink inside this apartment in São Paulo.
    The two vanity units face each other from opposite walls, their wooden cupboards contrasting with the black fittings and floor tiles and the white wall tiles and marble in the sinks and the two-person bathtub.
    Find out more about AML Apartment ›
    Photo courtesy of VoraVallirana 47 apartments, Spain, by Vora
    A more modest approach to the double sink is on display in these Barcelona apartments designed by Architecture studio Vora.
    The pale marble sink is divided into two basins, sharing the same white vanity unit and grey marble counter.
    Find out more about these Vallirana 47 apartments ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bathrooms with colourful toilets and sinks, timber cladding and lots of concrete.

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    Eight cherry red interiors that make colour their primary focus

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve picked eight interiors that are blanketed in shades of red that include an office in Belgium, a bar toilet in London and a mansion in Mexico.

    The colour red is most commonly associated with activity, passion, sexuality, love and joy. In this lookbook Dezeen has highlighted ways in which interior designers and architects have used the colour in different interior settings.
    Red terracotta tiles cover the interior of a home in Barcelona and red-tinted glass creates a glowy magma-like hue within the interior of a home located at the base of a volcano.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring terraces and balconies, marble-lined bathrooms and cave-like interiors.
    Photo by Knut BryBarn House, Norway, by Jon Danielsen Aarhus 

    Oslo based-architect Jon Danielsen Aarhus designed a gabled shed that sits on the grounds of a retired couple’s home in Lillehammer, Norway, which is used for painting, sculpting, craft and as additional living space.
    The entrance hall of the gabled shed was covered entirely in red, including its window frames. The colour was chosen specifically to contrast against the structure’s raw timber exterior.
    Find out more about Barn House ›
    Photo by Hannelore VeelaertAEtelier office, Belgium, by Studio Anton Hendrik Denys
    In Belgium, Studio Anton Hendrik Denys and Steen Architecten transformed an industrial office building and added colourful graphics and bold hues to define areas across the interior.
    The kitchen-cum-bar of the office was blanketed in an orangey-red hue, including its floor, walls, ceiling, fixtures and furnishings, which signifies and zones areas of the interior without the need for partition walls.
    Find out more about AEtelier office ›
    Photo by Tim Van de VeldeSocial House, Brussels, by WAW Architects
    A vibrant red covers cabinet doors, drawers, floors, walls and the ceiling of a shared staff kitchen at a social services centre in Brussels, which was designed by WAW Architects.
    The centre is located within a former orphanage and was converted into offices by the architecture studio. Bright hues were used throughout the interior to colour code the office space with red extending from a kitchen to an adjoining corridor.
    Find out more about Social House ›
    Photo is by Felix SpellerSOMA, UK, by Cake Architecture and Max Radford
    Located within a basement in London’s Soho, speakeasy-style bar SOMA was designed by Cake Architecture and Max Radford.
    The restroom of the underground bar was painted bright red and paired with wooden fixtures and trimmings that were used to surround doorframes and recessed shelving in each of the cubicles.
    Find out more about SOMA ›
    Photo is by José HeviaHouse in Sant Antoni de Vilamjor, Spain, by Arquitectura-G
    Red was used as a running theme across this family home on the outskirts of Barcelona. It was designed by local studio Arquitectura-G and sits directly on top of a pre-existing garage.
    Red features both inside and outdoors with many materials used across the exterior similarly used to decorate the interior, such as red bricks, red corrugated panelling and clay tiles.
    Find out more about House in Sant Antoni de Vilamjor ›
    Photo is by Genevieve LutkinCollective/Collectible, Mexico, by Masa
    Rich tones of red blanket the walls and floors of this abandoned mansion in the Lomas neighbourhood of Mexico City, which was used as the setting for an exhibition by gallerist Masa.
    The 1970s home was decorated with furniture designed by 16 Mexico City-based designers and architects, including Esrawe, EWE Studio and Frida Escobedo. The interior features a grand staircase that was topped with a red runner.
    Find out more about Collective/Collectible ›
    Photo is by Joe FletcherLookout House, US, by Faulkner Architects
    Although this room has no physical red elements Lookout House was fitted with red-tinted glass that provides the interior with a glowing red hue when light penetrates through the home.
    The home is located in Truckee, California at the foot of Lookout Mountain volcano. It was designed by Faulkner Architects who wanted to mimic the colour of cooling magma within the home.
    Find out more about Lookout House ›

    Fox Head Inc, US, by Clive Wilkinson Architects
    A bright red interior was selected as a focal feature for the offices of a motocross apparel company in California. The headquarters was designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects which transformed a 7,600-square-metre warehouse into a flexible workplace.
    A conference room at the headquarters was enclosed with red-tinted glass and fitted with a deep red carpet. A large white table and matching chairs, which have a bright red upholstered seat, were placed at the centre of the space.
    Find out more about Fox Head Inc office ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring terraces and balconies, marble-lined bathrooms and cave-like interiors.

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    Brazilian architects renovate Brigadeiro Apartment for themselves

    Architect couple Leandro Garcia and Amanda Dalla-Bona have renovated a 1970s apartment in Curitiba, Brazil, for themselves, reconfiguring the layout and choosing eclectic furniture.

    All of the electrics and plumbing needed to be replaced, and the floor plan was rethought to create “a place to pause and retreat”.
    The couple remodelled the apartment to suit their needsThree bedrooms were replaced with two to make room for a larger living and dining area, which could be integrated with the existing kitchen.
    Original features including the window frames and the imbuia parquet floor were retained and restored, while a variety of new materials were introduced.
    The living space with brightened by white walls, large rugs and translucent curtainsThe Brigadeiro Apartment has been in Dalla-Bona’s family since the 1980s – it was her parents’ home as newlyweds and where her older sister was born.

    After moving out when they planned their second child, the parents rented out the 108-square-metre space for 30 years.
    A concrete column was exposed while reconfiguring the floor planDue to its central location, Dalla-Bona always discouraged them from selling it, as she had intentions to move in herself one day.
    When that time came recently, she and her partner Garcia decided to remodel the interiors to better align with their needs.
    The architects custom-designed a 4.5-metre-long dining table for themselves”From the apartment the view is expansive, a rare characteristic in the city centre, and we were both captivated by the natural light, the sun and wind streaming in through the windows,” said the couple.
    “Walking a few blocks, we arrive at our favorite cafes and restaurants and in our studio, where we work together,” they added.
    Removing a bedroom allowed the living space to be opened up to the kitchenTerrazzo countertops and a backsplash of hydraulic tiles were added in the kitchen, while a concrete column in the living room was exposed.
    The remainder of the lounge area is brightened by white walls, textured rugs and translucent curtains.
    Terrazzo countertops and hydraulic tiles were introduced in the kitchenAn assortment of vintage modernist and newer furniture pieces – mostly by Brazilian designers – add colour and character to the interiors.
    Mid-century seating by Percival Lafer, Flavio de Carvalho and Geraldo de Barros are among the couple’s choices, along with a collection of lamps, stools and tables.

    Leandro Garcia renovates compact flat in Curitiba for hosting guests

    “In the living room, the furniture – not only the armchairs, but also the carpets, must be soft to sit on the ground – was chosen, thrifted and positioned for conversations and readings,” they said.
    Garcia and Dalla-Bona also custom-designed a 4.5-metre-long wood dining table to accommodate their various daily activities, and host their friends and family for meals.
    A variety of vintage furniture pieces were sourced for the interiorsBesides the cabinetry in the kitchen and bathroom, all of the storage and furniture is moveable.
    In the bathroom, the floor and walls are covered in small white mosaic tiles, affixed with matching grout for a clean, minimalist appearance.
    White mosaic tiles and grout create a minimalistic look in the bathroomCuritiba, in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, is the site of several projects completed by Garcia, Dalla-Bona and their team, including the renovation of a compact apartment renovated for a journalist.
    The studio has also overhauled a family’s holiday home near the beach in Matinhos, and filled it with vintage Brazilian furniture.
    The photography is by Fran Parente.

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    Six renovated Parisian apartments in historical Haussmann-era buildings

    Period details are mixed with contemporary interventions inside these renovated apartments in Paris, built in the mid-19th century during Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s reconstruction of the French capital.

    In his role as the prefect of the Seine département under Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann was responsible for creating the network of boulevards that still define the city’s urban landscape today.
    The homogenous apartment buildings flanking these boulevards were designed to strict guidelines, all made from cream-coloured stone with a steep four-sided mansard roof and no more than six storeys.
    Although Haussmann was less prescriptive about the building’s interiors, they generally feature high ceilings and parquet floors alongside elaborate mouldings and boiserie.
    Read on for six examples of how architects and interior designers have brought these apartments into the 21st century, including a book lover’s loft and two flats combined to form a family home in the Marais.

    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with minimalist interiors, concrete kitchens and marble-lined bathrooms.
    Photo by Salem MostefaouiWood Ribbon apartment by Toledano + Architects
    Original details such as parquet floors and ornate ceiling plasterwork were retained in the renovation of this apartment, which had been left largely untouched since the end of the 19th century.
    But local studio Toledano + Architects tore down several partition walls to create a more open floorplan, traversed by a snaking plywood wall that roughly divides the apartment into three zones while providing tactical storage in the living room and kitchen.
    “I really wanted to enhance this dichotomy between ancient and contemporary,” founder Gabrielle Toledano told Dezeen. “It’s very relevant in a city like Paris where both are in a constant dialogue.”
    Find out more about Wood Ribbon apartment ›
    Photo by Giulio GhirardiApartment Canal Saint Martin by Rodolphe Parente
    French interior designer Rodolphe Parente made only a few minor architectural interventions when overhauling this apartment in Canal Saint-Martin, exposing long sealed-off doorways and creating a hybrid dining room and kitchen.
    Instead, he modernised the apartment by contrasting original details such as mouldings with unexpected contemporary details, colours and the “radical” art collection of the owner.
    In the bedroom, a vivid purple rug clashes with caramel-coloured walls while in the living room, period wall panelling highlights the modernity of the sofa and the glossy coffee table.
    Find out more about Apartment Canal Saint Martin ›
    Photo by Olivier Martin GambierApartment XIV by Studio Razavi
    With several partition walls removed, French office Studio Razavi created a new layout for this apartment by slotting a multi-faceted furniture block made from wood-fibre panels into the remaining gaps.
    Its staggered profile creates sightlines between the different areas of the house while framing some of the building’s original Hausmann-style ceiling mouldings.
    Painted in a muted slate grey, the furniture block performs a different function in every room – acting as a storage cabinet in the kitchen, a TV mount in the living room and a desk in the study.
    Find out more about Apartment XIV ›
    Photo by Stephan JulliardMarais apartment by Sophie Dries
    Two flats become one 100-square-metre residence in this renovation project that French architect Sophie Dries completed in trendy Marais for a family of four.
    Period details were painted in simple white, providing a contrast with new additions such as the Hans J Wegner chairs and the dyed linen curtains in the living room
    “The Haussmannian style was refined and pared down, in order to introduce minimal lines better suited to a modern family,” Dries explained.
    Find out more about Marais apartment ›

    Enter the Diamond by Atelier 37.2
    An additional bathroom is housed inside the three-metre-high birchwood volume at the centre of this residence in the French capital, designed by local studio Atelier 37.2.
    The sharp lines of the diamond-shaped structure contrast with the apartment’s ornate ceiling mouldings and white-painted walls.
    “This tension generates a fictional potential that plays with the imagination of the inhabitants,” said the studio.
    Find out more about Enter the Diamond ›
    Photo by Stéphane ChalmeauArsenal loft by h2o Architectes
    This three-room loft is set inside the mansard roof of a Haussmann-era building in the Arsenale district, which originally served as servant’s quarters for the apartments below.
    Parisian firm h2o Architectes opened up its floor plan to make the most of the top-floor views while installing wooden bookshelves to define different areas and house the extensive library of the apartment’s book-loving owner.
    Their timber construction creates a visual connection with the original parquet floors, while the white paint used to brighten walls and other structural elements continues onto some sections of the floor.
    Find out more about Arsenal loft ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring bedrooms with minimalist interiors, concrete kitchens and marble-lined bathrooms.

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    Raúl Sanchez Architects divides Barcelona apartment with 21-metre-long wooden wall

    A lengthy walnut-panelled wall runs through the bright white living spaces inside this Barcelona apartment, renovated by local studio Raúl Sanchez Architects.

    The Girona Street apartment is set within a 19th-century building in Barcelona’s affluent Dreta de l’Eixample neighbourhood and belongs to a design-savvy couple with two young children.
    A 21-metre-long walnut-panelled wall runs the length of the Girona Street apartmentPrior to the renovation, the apartment contained a warren of small, dark living spaces bookended by an indoor patio and a sitting room that overlooks the street.
    Raúl Sanchez Architects connected these two rooms with a 21-metre-long wall that stretches from one end of the floor plan to the other. While the majority of surfaces in the apartment were rendered in white micro-cement, the wall is crafted from walnut wood.
    Spaces throughout are rendered in white micro-cement”I thought of a material, which could contrast the whiteness with elegance and warmth while also adding texture and ruggedness,” founder Raúl Sanchez told Dezeen.

    “We made several samples and trials until we got the right wood and the right porosity of walnut.”
    A blue-painted dining room lies next to the loungeA series of rooms run parallel to the wall, beginning with a dining area.
    Here, a section of the rear wall was painted dark blue and fitted with a built-in bench seat, while the floor was inlaid with a square patch of patterned hydraulic tiles.

    Four-storey spiral staircase forms focal point of BSP20 House in Barcelona

    Further along the hallway, a sitting area was created just in front of a pair of stained glass windows. This is followed by two bedrooms that are partially painted blue to match the dining area.
    One of them is fronted by a huge pivoting door that, like the apartment, is split into two sides. One half is clad with stainless steel and the other in brass.
    A sea-green kitchen is hidden behind doors in the walnut-wood wallMore rooms lie concealed behind the long walnut wall, each accessed via a discrete flush door. This includes a U-shaped kitchen, which was almost entirely painted a sea-green hue.
    There’s also a storage area, the family bathroom and the principal bedroom, where a floor-to-ceiling cream curtain helps conceal en-suite facilities.
    Other rooms in the Girona Street apartment are concealed behind flush doorsThe apartment’s indoor patio was freshened up, as was the street-facing sitting area. It now features a mint-green sideboard and bookshelf, as well as a decorative wall panel that mimics the brass-and-steel pivot door.
    More hydraulic tiles were also incorporated into the floor, this time in mismatch prints.
    Hydraulic floor tiles and mint-green furnishings feature in the living roomRaúl Sanchez Architects is behind a number of striking homes in Barcelona, aside from the Girona Street apartment.
    This includes BSP20 House with its towering spiral staircase and the Tamarit Apartment, which is decked out with clashing materials.
    The photography is by José Hevia.
    Project credits:
    Architecture: Raúl Sanchez ArchitectsTeam: Valentina Barberio, Paolo Burattini, Flavia Thalisa Gütermann, Dimitris Louizos, Albert MontillaStructure: Diagonal ArquitecturaEnginering: Marés IngenierosTextile design: Catalina Montaña

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    Another Seedbed is a Brooklyn apartment that doubles as a performance space

    In this renovated loft in Brooklyn, the owner both resides and hosts public art performances within a space divided by a variety of inserted volumes.

    The loft is located in a late 19th-century cast iron building in Williamsburg that once served as a hat factory, and was renovated by a team of architects.
    A team of architects renovated the loft, inserted volumes to conceal private areasIgnacio G Galán, Jesse McCormick, Khoi Nguyen and Julie Tran of Future Projects collaborated to turn the industrial space into a residence that could also serve as a venue for artistic performances and other public events.
    Named Another Seedbed, the project recalls the use of lofts in New York City by artists in 1960s to 1980s for developing experimental works.
    The bedroom is hidden behind red-stained plywood panels and accessed through a concertina doorThe owner and activator of this apartment began organising parties, performances and other events in a similarly industrial space in Bushwick.

    He then decided to create a dedicated space for himself to live and work, as well as host other artist friends who needed square footage to bring their ideas to life.
    Hand-troweled earthen clay plaster covers the bathroom volume”Neither just a private studio nor an art gallery, the space is equipped to welcome gatherings that operate between a dinner party and a public performance,” said the project team.
    “Artists appropriate the space and become hosts themselves, expanding the communities which the project brings together.”
    Inside, the bathroom is lined with blue penny-round tilesThe apartment is organised as a largely open-plan space, with private areas concealed inside inserted volumes.
    Red-stained pine plywood panels hide the bedroom, which is accessed via a concertina door, and also contain storage.
    Moveable furniture helps to arrange the apartment for performancesThe bathroom occupies another volume that’s covered in hand-troweled earthen clay plaster outside and lined entirely is blue penny-round tiles inside.
    An open kitchen with grey cabinetry sits below a framework of coloured wood, featuring smokey polycarbonate panels that are lit from behind.

    Vipp Studio in Manhattan functions as both showroom and apartment

    This frame extends into the living area to form a floor-to-ceiling shelving unit, on which books and objects are displayed, and a projector for screening videos onto the opposite wall is housed.
    A variety of moving furniture pieces, including an ochre-toned sofa on wheels, help to choreograph the events and arrange the apartment as desired by whoever is using it.
    The owner and his artist friends are able to transform the space to present their work”The space will not advertise its performances,” said the team.
    “Some neighbors might not know of its existence. Others will hear about an event through friends. Some might find themselves there often and will develop networks of neighbourliness within it.”
    Performances are open to the public but not advertisedBrooklyn has both a thriving arts scene and a wealth of defunct industrial buildings for hosting exhibitions, performances and events.
    Herzog & de Meuron recently completed the transformation of a derelict power plant in the borough into arts centre, while the Public Records creative venue added a bar and lounge on an upper floor of its former warehouse building earlier this year.

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    Eight calming bedrooms with minimalist interiors

    For our latest lookbook, we’ve gathered ten minimalist bedrooms with peaceful designs, ranging from a Mexican bedroom with a concrete bed to a cosy space in a former girls’ school in Puglia.

    Natural materials including wood and stone were used to finish these eight bedrooms, which also feature muted colour palettes and little in the way of decoration.
    Leaving walls bare and keeping the amount of artworks and personal items to a minimum can help create a more soothing and clutter-free bedroom.
    Beige, grey and warm brown hues, meanwhile, make for relaxing spaces free from eye-catching colours.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring terraces and balconies, marble-lined bathrooms and cave-like interiors.

    Photo by Fabian MartinezCasa Tres Árboles, Mexico, by Direccion
    Designed to resemble a “monastic sanctuary”, this weekend retreat in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, aims to celebrate the contrast between shadow and light in its interior.
    In the pared-down bedrooms, the walls were painted in dark colours to contrast the warm wooden ceiling beams. A wooden bench at the end of the bed and tactile linen textiles give the room a slightly rustic feel.
    Find out more about Casa Tres Árboles ›
    Photo by Aaron ChapmanCabin House, India, by Taliesyn
    Cabin House’s interior was informed by the vernacular architecture of its location in south Bangalore’s Jayanagar neighbourhood.
    Earthy finishes were used for the home, which features bare concrete walls and plenty of wood details. A wooden bedframe and flowers create a friendly atmosphere in the mezzanine bedroom.
    Find out more about Cabin House ›
    Photo by Anson SmartPacific House, Australia, by Alexander & Co
    Australian studio Alexander & Co aimed to create contemplative spaces inside Pacific House in Sydney.
    In the minimalist bedroom, walls were rendered in concrete and matched with carpet in a darker grey colour. Sculptural bedside lamps and transparent floor-to-ceiling curtains add a softer feel to the spartan interior.
    Find out more about Pacific House ›
    Photo by Tomooki KengakuHiroo Residence, Japan, by Keiji Ashizawa
    Custom-made wooden furniture and art pieces are dotted throughout Hiroo Residence. Designer Keiji Ashizawa used muted tones to make the most of the sunlight in the central Tokyo apartment, which has several large windows.
    In the bedroom, wood panels cover entire walls and hide away technical functions behind the beds. Organically shaped ceramics add discrete decorative touches.
    Find out more about Hiroo Residence ›
    Photo by Gavin GreenFisherman’s Cottage, Australia, by Studio Prineas
    The bedroom in this Australian home is located inside a concrete extension to an old fisherman’s cottage.
    Here, a solid-stone bath doubles as a bedhead and mirrored walls were used to make the small room feel bigger. To not clutter the space, accessories were restricted to a few glass trays and vases as well as a striped throw.
    Find out more about Fisherman’s Cottage ›
    Photo by Rory GardinerCasa Alférez, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
    A bedside nook sits underneath a high window inside this brutalist holiday home, which features wooden floors and walls made of board-formed concrete.
    Architect Ludwig Godefroy also designed built-in concrete furniture for the house, including a concrete bed. A pale grey version of designer Verner Panton’s classic Flowerpot lamp adds a glossy detail to the room’s rough texture.
    Find out more about Casa Alférez ›
    Photo by Salva LópezCasolare Scarani, Italy, by Studio Andrew Trotter
    Architecture practice Studio Andrew Trotter converted a girls’ school in Puglia that dates back to 1883 into a grand family home with plenty of decorative arches.
    In the cosy minimalist bedroom, a jute rug covers the stone floor made from crushed rocks and mortar, while the colour palette was kept to creamy whites as well as warm brown and tan hues.
    Find out more about Casolare Scarani ›
    Photo by Roberto RuizPalau apartment, Spain, by Colombo and Serboli Architecture
    “Imperfect” original features were highlighted during the renovation of this apartment in Barcelona, which features white-washed walls and wooden floors.
    In the mezzanine-level bedroom (above and top image), wicker doors front an entire wall and cover the closet. An organically shaped mirror and an orange chair make the calm space feel more playful.
    Find out more about Palau apartment ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring terraces and balconies, marble-lined bathrooms and cave-like interiors.

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    Eight concrete kitchens with raw and tactile surfaces

    Kitchens with exposed concrete surfaces take centre stage in this lookbook, which includes homes in Mexico, Japan and Ireland.

    Concrete is a ubiquitous material in architecture, but it is less commonly used in interiors – particularly in residential spaces such as kitchens.
    However, its durability and impermeability make it an ideal surface material for cooking and food preparation, while its raw aesthetic can create a striking backdrop for dining and entertaining.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase airy balconies, marble bathrooms and gallery interiors.
    Photo by Toshiyuki YanoHouse in Jiyugaoka, Japan, by Airhouse Design Office

    Airhouse Design Office created this kitchen as part of its renovation of an apartment for a fashion fanatic in Nagoya, Japan.
    Like the rest of the home, the kitchen’s walls, floor and ceiling have been stripped back to expose the concrete beneath. While some areas were left with chipped edges and plaster, others have been polished for a smooth finish.
    Find out more about House in Jiyugaoka ›
    Photo by Daniela Mac AddenCasa H3, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk
    This open-plan kitchen and dining room sits on the ground floor of a holiday home by architect Luciano Kruk in Mar Azul.
    Blending seamlessly into the home’s concrete structure, it features geometric shelving and kitchen counters that extend from the walls and floor. Its industrial look is complemented by an enamel pendant light and a pair of wireframe chairs.
    Find out more about Casa H3 ›
    Photo by Rory GardinerCasa Alférez, Mexico, by Ludwig Godefroy
    In a pine forest in Mexico, architect Ludwig Godefroy created a brutalist cube-shaped home that is built from concrete cast in situ.
    This includes its kitchen, where the shelving and worktops are also all cast from concrete. Here, their raw finishes are juxtaposed with delicate ceramics and Danish designer Hans Wegner’s Wishbone chairs, visually softening the space.
    Find out more about Casa Alférez ›
    Photo by João FerrandFlower House, Portugal, by Ezzo
    The concrete worktops of this sunken kitchen double up as a smooth floor for the dining room at Flower House, a renovated dwelling in Porto.
    Wood-fronted cabinets slot in beneath the flooring, which was hand-poured on site and has been covered with a waterproof coating to give it a polished look.
    Find out more about Flower House ›
    Photo by Onnis Luque and Fabian MartinezToad’s House, Mexico, by Espacio 18 Arquitectura
    Throughout the minimalist Toad’s House on Zapotengo Beach in Oaxaca, architecture studio Espacio 18 has left the concrete structure unfinished and exposed.
    In the bar-style kitchen, the board-marked walls are teamed with glass ornaments and woven baskets, while a central island has been topped with a wooden countertop.
    Find out more about Toad’s House ›
    Photo by Toshiyuki YanoHouse T, Japan, by Suppose Design Office
    This concrete kitchen is among the purposely dark and cave-like living spaces in the monolithic home that Suppose Design Office designed for its founder in Tokyo.
    Its concrete walls and worktops have tactile finishes, which stand against a backdrop of large stone floor tiles and wooden furnishings.
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    Photo by Aisling McCoyHollybrook Road, Ireland, by TOB Architect
    Irish studio TOB Architect designed this concrete kitchen extension to evoke the feeling of “being a child under a very robust table”.
    It was cast in situ as one geometric form with the goal of creating a seamless and cavernous look inside. The architect chose an otherwise restrained material palette of terrazzo, walnut and Accoya wood in an effort to retain focus on the texture of the concrete.
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    Photo by Daniela Mac AddenCasa Golf, Argentina, by Luciano Kruk
    Another concrete kitchen by architect Luciano Kruk is found in Casa Golf, a holiday home on the Argentinian coastline.
    Paired with black cabinets and extractor ducting, its dark-grey surfaces add texture to the space without distracting from the outward views framed by the variety of windows that line the space.
    Find out more about Casa Golf ›
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. Other recent editions showcase airy balconies, marble bathrooms and gallery interiors.

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