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    Sella Concept adds “classic theatrical flair” to Locke am Platz hotel

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    London design studio Sella Concept has designed interiors to balance modern and classical elements for the latest Locke hotel in Zurich, Switzerland.

    Called Locke am Platz, the hotel in Zurich’s Enge neighbourhood is surrounded by parks and botanical gardens, with Lake Zurich nearby.
    Sella Concept co-founder Tatjana Von Stein aimed to reflect the area’s cultural identity through her design, which draws upon Swiss Riviera aesthetics combined with modernism.
    Sella Concept completed the interiors for Locke am Platz in Zurich”Zurich has so many layers, an old school elegance mixed with brutalist modernist architecture,” Von Stein told Dezeen.
    “Everything pointed towards a very layered concept, juxtaposing modernism with a classic theatrical flair.”

    Each studio apartment has its own living areaSet across six floors, Locke am Platz contains 80 units, including 40 hotel-style rooms for shorter stays as well as studio apartments, each with their own living area and kitchenette alongside a bedroom and en-suite.
    With warm red and yellow tones, strong patterns and rich upholstery, apartment interiors have been curated to resemble a series of boudoirs – the traditional term for a woman’s bedroom or interior space.
    Red bedspreads match velvet-lined decorative curtainsRed velvet bedspreads were paired with matching decorative curtains that frame the bed.
    “It is important to create a little sense of drama, moments of subtility to moments of indulgence,” Von Stein said.
    Kitchenettes are fitted with red cabinetsKitchenettes were designed with contrasting red cabinets and petrol-blue marble backs.
    Wooden shelves are decorated with books, sculptures and ornaments, while parquet wooden flooring is arranged in a mosaic-like pattern.
    Staircase walls are clad with stainless steel panelsDownstairs, the reception area continues the juxtaposing material palette with deep orange velvet drapes and carpets alongside stainless steel, wood and high gloss finishes. According to the designer, materials were chosen as part of a careful “balance between hard and soft”.
    “We clad the existing staircase walls in stainless steel in contrast to its warm terracotta-coloured carpet, traditional statues and marble plinths,” Von Stein described.
    Bespoke furniture designed by Sella Concept and manufactured by Parla features throughoutShared social spaces include a lounge, bar, restaurant and private dining area. Velvet-lined curtains wrap around the lounge area, which sits on a raised, carpeted platform overlooking the wider common area.
    “When planning the spaces on the ground floor, I introduced various apertures between the spaces, a typical modernist character trait,” said Von Stein.
    “My aim is always to create a sense of intimacy while still being connected.”
    A wood-panelled bar is paired with green velvet stoolsA central bar connects the lounge and restaurant spaces.
    Taking cues from the modernist era, the front of the bar was decorated with geometric wood panels and topped with a marble surface. It was paired with stools upholstered with green velvet.
    Yellow and green finishes by Yarn Collective appear in the hotel restaurantChoupette, the main hotel restaurant, echoes the wider interior scheme and includes yellow curtains and green velvet-skirted banquettes by London textile company Yarn Collective.
    The restaurant and lounge areas incorporate bespoke furniture designed by Sella Concept and manufactured by Parla.
    “Designing bespoke furniture makes it so unique to the project, allowing us to work perfectly into our space, and for our materials and forms to reflect the narrative set,” Von Stein explained.

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    Connected to the restaurant, a separate private dining area was adorned with a classical mural on the ceiling by decorative painter Magdalena Julia Gordon.
    “We commissioned Magda to create the ceiling mural to bring this dark room to life through artistry and a little touch of humour,” said Von Stein.
    A mural by Magdalena Julia Gordon adorns the ceiling of the private dining roomSince its first location opened in 2016, Locke has expanded to include 15 sites across the UK and mainland Europe.
    Other projects by Sella Concept recently featured on Dezeen include office interiors for a tech company in New York and the London headquarters for fashion brand Sister Jane.
    Photography is courtesy of Locke and Sella Concept.

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      Birch Selsdon hotel takes over 19th-century mansion in Croydon

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      British hotel chain Birch has opened an outpost in south London, with grounds rewilded by designer Sebastian Cox and interiors conceived by local studios A-nrd and Sella Concept.

      Birch Selsdon is housed in a 19th-century mansion in the borough of Croydon and accommodates 181 rooms alongside a wellness space and lido, co-working facilities and a medley of restaurants and bars.
      Birch Selsdon takes over a 19th-century mansionThe building was first turned into a hotel in the 1920s, with slapdash extensions and modifications added over the following century.
      Local studios A-nrd and Sella Concept took a “restorative approach” to the interior works, stripping back much of the existing fit-out to allow the building’s original architecture to come to the fore.
      The building’s original stone walls and bas-relief ceilings can be seen in the lobbyRestoration was also the focus for Sebastian Cox, who developed a woodland management plan for the hotel’s grounds as well as a rewilding strategy for its 18-hole golf course.

      This will involve introducing grazing pigs and ponies, which can naturally distribute seeds and shape growing vegetation. The former fairways of the golf course will become wetlands, while the sandy bunkers will eventually attract small reptiles and other animals.
      Timber from the grounds was used to create the shingled reception desksCox has also turned trees harvested from the grounds into a series of furnishings for the hotel, creating affordable, locally produced products while providing ecosystem benefits for the woodland.
      “Managed woodlands have higher biodiversity because when you harvest the trees, light gets onto the woodland floor and other vegetation can grow,” Cox explained during a recent episode of Dezeen’s Climate Salon podcast.
      “So we can categorically say that our furniture actually makes a net contribution. It doesn’t just harvest materials, it actually contributes to the spaces that the materials come from.”
      An arched nook discovered during the hotel’s renovation is now a dining spaceAmong Cox’s furniture contributions is a pair of shingled timber reception desks in the entrance lobby, backed by an ombre curtain that mirrors the shifting seasonal hues of the landscape around Birch Selsdon.
      The lobby’s floral bas-relief ceiling was preserved alongside the original masonry walls, which peek out from behind the curtain.
      Peach-coloured surfaces appear in Birch Selsdon’s Meadow BarDotted throughout the space are moss-green velvet sofas as well as wicker armchairs, potted plants and vintage petal-shaped pendant lamps made from Murano glass.
      When guests are hungry, they can head to the hotel’s all-day restaurant Vervain, which serves a farm-to-table menu.

      Red Deer and Jan Hendzel Studio combine ceramics, beaten copper and recycled plastic for hotel valet stands

      The space is anchored by two huge, arched banquettes featuring seat cushions upholstered in an abstract camouflage print and sawn-timber backrests, which were also sourced from the hotel’s woodland.
      Oversized rice paper lanterns hang from the ceiling overhead, which is painted a rich apricot shade to highlight the existing ornate bas-relief.
      The hotel includes another bar called The Snug with wood-panelled wallsFor drinks, guests can head to the hotel’s peachy-hued Meadow Bar or to the Snug, which has a slightly more grown-up aesthetic thanks to the dark, wood-panelled walls that are original to the building.
      The space is dressed with vintage travertine coffee tables and an array of lounge chairs in sumptuous colours like ochre, olive green and damson purple.
      Chequerboard flooring in The Orangery nods to the Victorian periodTo one side of the room lies a curved seating nook that was uncovered during the renovation works. Its interior was rendered in blush pink to foster a warm, intimate dining ambience.
      There’s also the option to relax in The Orangery, a light-filled space centred by a wiggly cobalt-blue sofa. Terracotta tiles are arranged in a traditional checkerboard pattern across the floor in a nod to the building’s Victorian past.
      Bedrooms are filled with textural details like linen curtains and sisal rugsThe aesthetic of the hotel’s communal spaces is maintained in the guest bedrooms, which are finished with textural decorative elements like linen curtains and hand-blown glass lamps that cast dappled light across the limewashed walls.
      Larger suites come complete with lounge areas, dressed with plump armchairs and sisal rugs.
      Timber from the hotel’s woods was also used to produce 352 bedside tables for the rooms, all crafted in Cox’s Kent workshop.
      The bedside tables are also made with timber from the hotel’s groundsThe launch of Birch Selsdon comes just three years after the opening of the inaugural Birch branch near Hertfordshire.
      It was designed by architecture studio Red Deer to challenge the notion of a luxury hotel and features a series of pared-back rooms with quirky, unfinished details.
      The photography is by Adam Lynk.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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      Sella Concept brings retro feel to Sister Jane Townhouse in London

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      Fringed furnishings and velvet walls feature inside the west London headquarters that design studio Sella Concept has created for fashion brand Sister Jane, which includes a showroom, restaurant and roof terrace.Sella Concept said it drew upon “untapped maximalist style” to design Sister Jane Townhouse, which takes over a prominent corner property on Golborne Road in the affluent neighbourhood of Notting Hill.
      Having outgrown their old studio on the nearby Portobello Road, the fashion brand had been keen to move into a larger space that could offer a more immersive retail experience.

      The ground floor of Sister Jane Townhouse has a restaurant called Cha Cha’s
      The three-storey townhouse incorporates a restaurant, a showroom and an office where employees can plan and design future clothing collections. On the roof there is also an outdoor terrace where visitors can gather for drinks.

      When it came to developing the interiors, Sella Concept sought to reflect the retro style of Sister Jane’s billowy blouses and dresses. The studio’s co-founder, Tatjana Von Stein, particularly found herself referencing the aesthetics of the 1970s.

      Furnishings in the restaurant feature fringed detailing
      “I must admit that I am always inspired by the ’70s forms, shapes and use of space,” Von Stein told Dezeen.
      “There is a movement and warmth in its design history that I love to employ with a contemporary twist.”

      A collage wall in the restaurant displays campaign photos by Sister Jane
      On the ground floor of Sister Jane Townhouse is the restaurant, called Cha Cha’s, which serves up a roster of Latin-fusion brunch dishes.
      The space has peach-coloured walls and is dominated by a huge hexagonal, brass-edged bar counter. It’s surrounded by a series of Deja Vu stools by Masquespacio that boast tiers of mauve, cream and beige fringing.

      Sister Jane’s clothing showroom is on the townhouse’s first floor
      Fringing also skirts the burnt-orange seating banquette that winds around a corner of the room, and runs along the edge of the six-sided dining tables. Mustard-yellow lamps with fringed shades have additionally been dotted throughout as decor.
      Cha Cha’s includes a collage wall which will be plastered with different striking images from Sister Jane’s fashion campaigns.
      The wall runs directly beside a brass-tread staircase – the steps had previously been closed in by a partition wall, but Von Stein knocked this down to encourage diners to explore the showroom on the first floor.

      Garments hang from bespoke walnut rails in the showroom
      Upstairs in the showroom, surfaces take on a pinkish hue.
      Some clothes are displayed within a veiled pod that sits at the centre of the room, enclosed by sheer white curtains. Other garments hang from custom-made walnut rails or are presented on mannequins which perch on a curvaceous platform covered in teal-blue carpet.

      An adjacent showroom will display Sister Jane’s Ghospell clothing line
      A short walkway leads through to a room that showcases Sister Jane’s Ghospell line, which offers pared-back clothes with sculptural silhouettes.
      This space has aptly been given a slightly more minimal finish – walls here are either clad in steel or upholstered with buttery yellow velvet, while the changing room is entirely lined with mirrored panels.
      Wooden flooring that runs throughout the rest of the townhouse has also been replaced here by micro cement.

      Walls in this showroom are clad in steel and yellow velvet
      Above the showrooms are the offices for Sister Jane staff, followed by the roof terrace dressed with comfy cushioned benches and green wire-frame chairs.
      Guests can alternatively relax in the secret ground-floor garden room, which is accessed via a door disguised as an antique armoire.

      The customer changing room is entirely lined with mirrored panels
      “We have a true inclination for concept spaces which indulge in all the senses and offer the design challenge to seam together a variety of experiences and brands,” explained Von Stein.
      “But it was tricky – in essence, we had 2-3 clients on one building.”

      An antique armoire hides a door leading to Sister Jane Townhouse’s secret garden room
      Sella Concept was established by Tatjana Von Stein and Gayle Noonan. Previous projects by the studio include Public Hall, a plush co-working space that occupies the former office of the UK secret intelligence service, and Night Tales, a pink-tinged cocktail bar.
      At the end of last year the studio also debuted its first furniture collection, which comprises a series of curvaceous stool seats.
      Photography is by Genevieve Lutkin.

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