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

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

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

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

    Studio Hinge creates library spaces beneath tree-like wooden columns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Eight eclectic pizzerias that take the slice-shop to the next level

    For our latest lookbook, we look at the interiors of contemporary pizzerias across the globe, including a pink vegan restaurant in London and a Mexico City space informed by a neighbouring church.

    From New York City to Italy, its country of origin, pizza is a beloved delicacy across the world. As a result, the humble pizzeria is trafficked by many, with some visitors whisking away a two-dollar slice and others packed into a booth to convene around a shared pie.
    The pizzerias below showcase a wide variety of styles, each boasting unique and eclectic features that display a careful consideration for a space often held in high regard by its customers.
    This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring soothing cabin interiors, versatile futons and daybeds and stylish shower curtains.

    Humble Pizza, UK, by Child Studio

    Pink tables and furniture contrasted with a dark green hue fill the interior of this vegan restaurant in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
    Local practice Child Studio designed the space to resemble the city’s workmen’s cafes of the 1950s, which typically featured pastel-coloured Formica surfaces and no-frills food and drink.
    Find out more about Humble Pizza ›
    The photo is by David DworkindVesta, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind
    Located in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood, the wood-panelled walls and marble table tops of Vesta take cues from New York pizzerias of the 1970s.
    “In its own contemporary way the design of Vesta evokes the spirit of Italian family restaurants common in North America during the 1970s,” Ménard Dworkind said.
    Find out more about Vesta ›
    The photo is by Nicholas VeneziaLala’s Brooklyn Apizza, USA, by Bench Architects
    Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza by Bench Architects is located in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighbourhood, atop a brewery that was formally an industrial space.
    Lightwood picnic benches were used on the interior and attached terrace, while bright, solid-coloured tiles and magenta curtains line the space.
    Find out more about Grimm
    The photo is by Patrick SchüttlerDough Pizza, Australia, by Ohlo Studio
    The “rustic sophistication” of Italy was evoked with red-toned tiles and light woods for Dough Pizza in Perth, which sits in a shopping centre.
    “It needed to evoke a distinct atmosphere and personality reinforcing the cultural heritage behind the food,” said Ohlo Studio.
    Find out more about Dough Pizza ›
    The photo is by Simone BossiMyrto, Italy, by Studio Wok
    Studio Wok created this pizzeria on Sardinia to reflect the island’s natural surroundings, such as its earthy tones and granite rocks.
    The winds of the area erode and carve out the granite rocks, which the studio reflected in the walls covered in pink plaster, a concrete floor and arched openings.
    Find out more about Myrto ›

    The photo is by Blaine DavisSIMÒ Pizza, USA, by Büro Koray Duman
    Located in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York City, SIMÒ Pizza is lined with shelving made of Italian volcanic stone and wallpaper printed with a flour graphic.
    Its pizza ovens sit in a centre block, which is lined in patterned wood and a green tiled countertop.
    Find out more about SIMÒ Pizza ›
    The photo is by Arturo ArrietaPizzeria Della Madonna, Mexico, by Sofía Betancur
    The pizza oven of Pizzeria Della Madonna sits in full view, surrounded by tiled and plaster walls and wood flooring.
    Architect Sofía Betancur took cues from the Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia church, which sits next door, for the space.
    Find out more about Pizzeria Della Madonna ›
    The photo is by Mikko RyhänenPopolo, Finland, by Studio Joanna Laajisto
    Studio Joanna Laajisto designed Popolo to be a cosy retreat on the slopes of Pyhä Ski Resort in northern Finland.
    Leather benches, wooden tables, copper lamps and candleholders were used to evoke a sense of warmth and were paired with slate flooring and dark wood panelling.
    Find out more about Popolo ›

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