This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious residential villa design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Emara Design.
We still remember the joy of the customer and his family when they saw the design; only then did we feel that we did what we had to do. Emara Design worked on the architectural design and the interior decoration of a residential villa with a 250 m2 total floor area in the heart of the Dyar park compound, which consists of a reception space, a living area, a master bedroom, and three bedrooms for children. We used natural materials such as wood and marble and mixed them with warm lighting in addition to using simple straight lines on the ceiling that gives a sense of luxury mixed with warmness. Our philosophy is that design is not just a piece of art but it should represent the house owner and meet his needs.
SBID Awards Category: Residential House Under £1M
Practice: Emara Design
Project: Villa El-Atik
Location: New Cairo, Egypt
The client’s requests of the re-design of the villa were so that it contains 3 bedrooms for the children and the expansion of the living area on the last floor, as well as creating a roof garden for summer sessions and barbecues.
One of the most important requests which the client focused on was the use of natural materials such as wood and marble with the addition of luxury and warm lighting in the place.
After some sessions and discussions with the client, we have agreed on using marble on the floor and on some walls and bathrooms, and grafting wood in the ceiling and on walls with hidden warm lighting which gives a sense of warmness for the family members.
The use of large glass surfaces in the main reception area on the ground floor overlooking the landscape gives a sense of spaciousness and visual connection with the landscape of the villa and the compound.
One of the most important parts that we have taken into account is the use of technology to achieve a sustainability criteria. From the use of the power generation system to solar cells and the use of the smart systems to control all power sources, to water sprinklers and irrigation of trees and grass in the garden, where Smart systems work according to set times of the day to save energy and reduce electricity consumption.
The smart systems also helped solve the customer’s problem of traveling abroad. He can fully control the villa and the garden through an application on his iPad. He can not only control the power and the garden, but he also has full control of the surveillance cameras and door locks.
Questions answered by Ahmed Fathi, Designer, and Osama Eltaweel, Site Engineer, Emara Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a unique bar design by Adam Hunt Ideas and Gemma Lin, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a luxurious hotel suite design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Kristina Zanic Design Consultants.
Kristina Zanic Consultants has designed a royal welcome for guests of the presidential Amiri Suite at St Regis Kuwait hotel. Newly rebranded from its previous Sheraton brand, the property has been the hotel of choice for royalty, diplomats and celebrities in the Middle East since 1966.
The Amiri suite features a 450sqm area that includes a reception area, lounge, dining/ boardroom, meeting rooms, master bedroom and bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, gym, barber/hairdressing station and spa suite.
A striking palette of royal blue and cream greets the guest. Blue accents in the furniture, art, carpeting and wall panels add the right amount of ‘oomph’ to the otherwise restrained palette.
Brass fretwork together with lacquered wall paneling and a sunburst timber detail create a luxury residential ambience. A bespoke embossed leather headboard offers the perfect backdrop in the bedroom, serving as a neutral but richly textured piece of art. The flooring features a multitude of luxury material and patterns, basket-weave timber parquet, bespoke carpet designs, and layered inlaid marble tile.
Sophisticated furniture with rounded forms, rich fabrics and accessories blend luxury with comfort and practicality, reflecting an attention to detail and personal touch. Bespoke crystal chandeliers layer on the luxury, while art pieces play with abstract geometric and arabesque graphics, with no two pieces alike.
The result is an elegant space, with a restrained neutral base palette with injections of colour, and quiet opulent finishes.
SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design
Practice: Kristina Zanic Design Consultants
Project: St Regis Kuwait – Amiri suite
Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
The Sheraton hotel in Kuwait was very much in need of a makeover due to its very outdated interiors. The client was looking to find the right balance in creating a reinvented luxurious hospitality space while staying true to the hotel’s 50-year heritage.
The property was the first five-star hotel in the Middle East, and has enjoyed landmark status for the past five decades. The design needed to be sensitive to its history and to deliver a high-end luxury interior that would be appealing to its distinguished clientele, while also aligning with its new St Regis brand identity.
We provided the interior design consultancy for the full refurbishment of the hotel. The first phase involving guestroom and suite floor refurbishment was completed in November 2021, and the second phase of refurbishment for public areas of the hotel is expected to be completed in 2024.
The direction we chose was to ‘look back in order to look ahead’. In the 1960s, the hotel defined luxury hospitality in the region, catering to the local high society and reflecting a progressive country to visitors. Working within the new St Regis brand guidelines, we set out to reinforce that position and reflect what luxury means today in Kuwait.
The concept centers on creating a home away from home, a place to indulge in every sense. The aim was to create a bespoke and timeless look, with opulent finishes and classic details in the suites.
The biggest challenge lay in remotely managing the project at the peak of the pandemic crisis. Following initial visits to the site before lockdown, the major part of the project involved lots of online coordination with the client and virtual site visits and material inspections.
We had to be extra careful with monitoring the project and faster with our responses, but thankfully had plenty of support from the client and contractor who regularly shared photos and videos of the site’s progress.
There are a number of features that stand out in this project. The first is the smooth flow that was achieved within the various spaces in the suite, really creating a sense of home for the guest.
The suite also features a generous use of sophisticated materials and finishes, like inlaid marble, leather and timber wall panels, hand-blown crystal lights, and curated art.
The suite’s lavish amenities offer guests the ultimate experience of relaxation and indulgence. Of particular note is the bathroom and spa area that developed into an oasis of luxury and comfort, with double vanities in grey marble, double jacuzzi, grooming station, sauna, spa treatment room, and gym.
It’s always gratifying to get industry recognition for the immense effort that goes into our work, especially a large and complex project like the St Regis Kuwait.
We took a very studied and sensitive approach to the renovation of the hotel, and couldn’t be happier to see our work resonating with the judges.
Being selected as an SBID award finalist among hundreds of entries is really an acknowledgement of the team’s hard work, as well as a fantastic opportunity for international exposure for the hotel.
Questions answered by Lara Elhani, Design Director, Kristina Zanic Consultants.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a light and airy kitchen design by Bocchetta Interiors, click here to read it.
In this week’s interview with SBID Awards Product Design judge and Founding Partner of Oliver Burns, Sharon Lillywhite shares her approach to creating unique design narratives, enhancing user experience through design, and talks about finding the balance between beauty and functionality.
When we are designing a space, I spend time getting to understand what environment and atmosphere the client wants to create. As Coco Channel once said, ‘An interior is the natural projection of the soul’. To achieve this, our design studio always uses a multi-sensory approach to enhance any surroundings. A powerful design tool to achieve this is colour, which plays a central role in influencing our moods and the atmosphere within a space. In one of my projects for ‘Veterans Aid’ I used colour psychology to transform the existing space into a warm and inviting home for 55 former members of the British military who were in crisis. The result was a warm, welcoming space with elements of discreet luxury that inspires confidence in the residents.
Our designs are born out of a story that either the property or the client wants to tell, making it a space with a unique narrative. This concept drives the requirement for bespoke pieces with the highest level of craftsmanship and design. Our clientele are seeking exclusivity and exceptional quality, and this is where we enlist the skill of artisans and craftsmen to create something extraordinary. From hand-painted wallpapers to embroidered linens, we feel very proud to work alongside these specialists to deliver something truly outstanding.
At Oliver Burns, our ethos is ‘Thoughtful Luxury’, where design goes much deeper than just the aesthetic to reflect deeper values and meaning. The concept of Thoughtful Luxury underpins everything we do. It is reflected in our designs, from the concepts we develop, and is demonstrated in the unique understanding we have of our discerning clients and translated in our vision of client care. From concept to completion, this approach ensures that all of our projects are thoughtfully designed, thoughtfully built and thoughtfully finished.
A space is to be enjoyed and lived in and I don’t believe that there should be a compromise when it comes to beauty and function. If there is a piece that I know will work well aesthetically but may not be the most functional, then I will always try to work with designers to create something bespoke that I know will deliver on both elements.
Make sure that your project stands out and has a unique element to it. It needs to be inspiring and innovative, presenting something that we have not seen before. I am always looking for attention to detail, so make sure that every product and finish counts.
Questions answered by Sharon Lillywhite, Founding Partner, Oliver Burns.
Sharon Lillywhite is Founding Partner of Oliver Burns, a multi-award-winning architectural interior design studio that thoughtfully designs the world’s finest homes. Working across an exclusive portfolio of international turnkey projects, the team has a world- class reputation for bespoke commissions, super-prime developments and elegant spaces that are synonymous with a luxury lifestyle. Their exceptional architectural, creative, and development credentials together with the highest levels of personal service, enable them to act as trusted advisors to discerning private clients, developers and luxury brands.
In this week’s interview with SBID Awards Product Design judge and Creative Director at Casa Forma, Carolina Sandri defines contemporary luxury, and shares how approaches to design differs around the world to compliment client lifestyles.
All nationalities have their own culture that shapes their lifestyle preferences, while in university to get my architecture degree I enjoyed reading about people’s history and their cultures, how they lived and worked.
In my studio in Brazil, I learned that Interior Design and Architecture is about much more than designing for aesthetic appearance. It has to consider communication and the key user experience – from how people move around space and interact with objects or people, to how the spaces work according their cultural choices.
When I moved to London, which has been home for me for the past 17 years, I was very proud to be working in the centre point where international design and vision comes together. London is the place where the biggest window to design is!
Most of our clients are global citizens and have homes in many different places, the majority have the same “international” taste when it comes to design, but what we always take in consideration is that, despite having a taste that focuses on unique items of high quality, they are also individual people that have their own cultural preferences that need to be taken in account.
During the years we developed a well-selected supplier database of the best craftsmen and artisans that can bring things from different parts of the world to help us transform our visions into reality. We live in a world where you can go all over and come back with the most amazing materials and fabrics – its remarkable of what we can do.
The most important characteristics that we look for in a product is the superior quality, intrinsic durability, and uniqueness that the product has.
One of the most important steps in the design process is to spend time with the client at the beginning of the project to fully understand the brief, listen to the client’s journey and history so we can be assured that he design decisions that we will help them make along the way are the correct ones.
These decisions are very important as they have the power to influence the users’ experiences and compliment their lifestyles. Through furniture choice and layout, lighting, finishes and acoustic design, we can influence how people will be using the spaces.
Integrating elegance and technology in a well-resolved balance that culminates in a space that is both stylish and usable is contemporary luxury to me. I believe that expectations of luxury are very individual, as each person have their own taste and style, so they also have their own definition of luxury. What may be considered as luxury for one person may not be for another.
Everybody is unique and to ensure a client-driven approach to our projects, we focus on fully understanding the life and needs of a particular space, concentrating entirely on what’s important to the client and their lifestyle.
Trust your vison and listen to learn. We live in a world of inspiration and creativity and if you work with passion, you can create a design that is truly special and will be well recognised.
Questions answered by Carolina Sandri, Creative Director, Casa Forma.
Carolina has more than a decade of experience on the design and implementation of high-end interior design and architecture projects in London and around the globe. She is the Creative Director at the award-winning luxury design studio Casa Forma and is responsible for delivering leading-edge residential schemes for international high-net-worth individuals and property developers. Her passion for design excellence and extensive knowledge in the luxury global market, makes it possible to transform any client’s aspirations into a truly bespoke and luxurious space. Her architectural background gives her a combination of creative design skills with a wide range of technical knowledge.
When thinking of the use of crystal in the home both as an architectural feature and decorative item, there is no better example of its use than at Villa Rene Lalique, the former family home of Rene Lalique and now a 5 star hotel and 2 Michelin star restaurant which celebrates 100 years this year (2020). A celebration and showcase of Lalique from the wine glasses to the door handles, and Damien Hirst artworks lining the cellar can be bought or made bespoke to suit your schemes from Lalique’s London boutiques.
By 1920, the Rene Lalique the artist had become a master glassmaker of some renown. He decided to build his new factory at Wingen, having been accorded the right to occupy a plot of state-owned forestry land. The location had two advantages: the village was on the rail network, and there was a local charcoal producer to supply the necessary fuel for his furnaces.
In addition to the land accorded by the municipality for him to construct the factory, René Lalique was also offered a plot on which to build a house. This would enable him to live nearby and supervise the progress of construction work. René Lalique paid increasingly frequent visits to the house in Wingen, while maintaining his apartment in Paris.
Today, the façade has not changed in a hundred years; the shutters are still painted peacock blue. The house reflects the traditional architectural features of Alsace: studwork, wooden balcony, apron walls shaped like curule seats beneath the windows, French windows framed in Vosges granite, and three chimney stacks on the roof. Inside, a living room, a kitchen, an imposing central staircase leading to the bedrooms and René Lalique’s study: an ensemble that constitutes an imposing family residence in classic style.
On 14 February 2008, Mr Silvio Denz purchased Lalique. In 2011, Silvio Denz, who had been aware of the existence of the house in the village without ever having taken a particular interest in it, had a closer look. He found it virtually intact, aside from some minor leaks in the roof. How could he resist its charm? Silvio Denz decided to refurbish the house for his visits to Wingen. But very soon the idea of turning it into a haven of luxury, worthy of the most elegant stately homes, made perfect sense. The bedrooms were transformed into lavish suites, complemented by an excellent gourmet restaurant. What better setting in which to present the world of Lalique? As much as it had captivated Silvio Denz, the project appealed to lovers of fine cuisine and the decorative arts, as well as collectors. The interior was all about “living Lalique”, and doing so in a contemporary context, amidst rare and fabulously beautiful objects.
The Villa, a veritable showcase for the Lalique art of living and savoir-faire, was unveiled to the public on 18 September 2015.
The exterior of the building was restored to its original state, remaining faithful to its appearance in the epoch of René Lalique; the interior was refurbished down to the finest detail to turn it into a magnificent treasure trove. The interior designers Lady Tina Green and Pietro Mingarelli pulled off with aplomb the feat of retaining the authenticity of a family residence while transforming it into a luxury boutique hotel.
Inside the entrance, a selection of crystal pieces from the Lalique collection and new creations from the factory capture the light that enters with the guest, giving a remarkable sense of clarity and purity, the whole illuminated by a magnificent chandelier. This first impression of projected light is an extraordinary experience.
Every detail of the Villa’s interior provides a reminder. From the door handles to the adornments on the armchairs in the lounge, from the cushions of the sofas decked with pieces of crystal to the ebony lacquer of the bar, the view from the dining room to the salon… All is an interplay of light and transparency in the Art Deco style.
To explore Villa René Lalique is to follow in the artist’s footsteps. Six suites are decorated to reflect his various creative periods. The Zeila suite is the sole exception, taking its name from the panther modelled by Marie-Claude Lalique. Guests wishing to spend the night in the bedroom occupied by René Lalique choose the Hirondelles suite, which is reached via a replica of the original black staircase. The Rose suite is decorated in soft powder tones; while Dahlia, with its beige-ivory furniture, is an insistent appeal to relax. All the bathrooms are magnificently decorated,from the made-to measure crystal panels to the crystal taps.
On the second floor, a beautiful balcony belonging to the Dragon suite gives onto the park. The Masque de Femme suite offers spacious family accommodation. This duplex comprises two bedrooms and a salon, a real bijou of the Lalique art of contemporary living.
The five-star hotel, a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection, is run with great commitment and meticulous attention to detail. The renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta designed an extension to the Villa that is an ideal space for a restaurant. It consists of a rectangle of glass, supported by columns of Vosges sandstone, discreetly linked to the hotel’s reception area.
When Silvio Denz was looking for a chef capable of rising to the culinary challenge in this prestigious setting, history smiled upon him once more. Jean-Georges Klein, chef at L’Arnsbourg, where the purchase of Lalique had been celebrated on that fateful evening in 2008, is one of the best French master chefs, holding three Michelin stars for 13 years. In 2014, he decided to leave the family-run restaurant that he owned with his sister. A happy coincidence led him to cross paths once more with Silvio Denz. The chef dropped all his plans to take on a new challenge: launching the restaurant at Villa René Lalique. The gourmet restaurant was awarded two stars by Guide MICHELIN in January 2016, within just three months of opening.
Lalique table settings are the perfect framework for serving dishes of such delicacy. The tone is set by Masque de Femme napkin rings and the replica 1924 crystal pepper and salt mills. Wine glasses and decanters are quickly filled with the finest crus selected by Romain Iltis, named Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2015, who has worked with Jean-Georges Klein for several years to create perfect pairings of food and wine.
The choice of wine on offer is vast: beneath the restaurant Mario Botta has created a cellar with a state-of-the-art design to house the extraordinary collection of vintage wines amassed by the Denz family.
To travel there now is to immerse oneself in a fabled world of creativity and culinary excellence with crystal at its heart, in the universe of Lalique that is waiting to offer passionate explorers from far and wide the height of excellence.
About the Author
Frederick Fischer is the UK Managing Director of Lalique. Lalique is a French glassmaker, founded by renowned glassmaker and jeweller René Lalique in 1888. Lalique is best known for producing glass art, including perfume bottles, vases, and ornaments
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Art In… announces a new partnership with international award-winning interior designer Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID).
Art In… represents an international portfolio of multi-disciplinary artists and will partner with SBID’s Vanessa Brady to provide art for the yacht, hospitality and private homes of discerning clients. Art In… provides a bespoke ‘white glove’ art service. They match the most suitable artist with a client’s requirements in order to ensure a seamless process from the initial design brief and art selection through to delivery and curation.
Art In… says: “The collaboration is a really exciting next step for Art In… In true 2020 style, we started the conversation during the height of the lockdown on Zoom and during our many video calls realised there was a real synergy.
We believe that integrating art at the earliest stage possible in the design process significantly enhances the overall result. Whether we are working with interior designers on a hotel or a superyacht, a private collection for a family office, or a luxury hotel or members club, art should never be an afterthought. The collaboration with Vanesa Brady offers us a real chance to achieve our vision.”
Vanessa Brady says: “It is very important to dress a space with complimentary art to really set off what is often a neutral canvas, art focuses the eye and sets a theme. I would like to see the selected artist and designers coming together with an owner more at the beginning of a project so that the final result is truly a 360-degree design.
Art should relate to the space in which it is installed and the lifestyle of the people using it. It should also link with the function the space is used for, such as a wine cellar, a bedroom etc. making each interior as unique as the owners, their guests and the design. It is important not to leave stylising to chance at the end of a project. Quality art pieces should be considered as part of the overall installation from the concept of the design process.
It is SBID’s role to source unusual providers of interior products that are efficient, as well as beautiful to adorn such exclusive interiors – the final design presentation always requires a very special piece of art to ‘dress’ the design, and so we seek equally adventurous and exclusive partners to provide the broadest selection of art. As soon as we met, we knew it would be a perfect match”.
Cover image credits: SBID Awards Finalist 2020; Rockwell – 15 Hudson Yards
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a lavish villa apartment in the coastal province of Southeast China which strives to harmonise people, space and nature by connecting the interior and exterior environments for the ultimate luxury vacation. A design which balances indoor and outdoor space; plays with light and shadow; combining neutral tones with dark accents; whilst juxtaposing decorative, oriental style elements with clean, modern lines and simple, yet sophisticated structures to incorporate themes of contemporary design, embody Southeast Asian craftsmanship and evoke a sense of exotic elegance.
Company: Daosheng Design Co.
Project: Poly Beiluo Villa C1 Apartment
Project Location: Guangdong, China
What was the client’s brief?
The Client’s main hope was to create a luxurious villa apartment which generates a relaxing vacation environment which connects people with nature in a simple and well balanced way, embracing the relationship between people, space and nature.
What inspired the design of the Project?
As the project is close to the seaside, the sound of the sea breeze can be heard in the distance and the smell of salty water hangs in the air, so visitors instantly get the feeling of returning to nature. Combining a simple, neutral colour palette throughout to evoke a calm atmosphere, with dark accents of wood and marble on selected surfaces and furnishings helps to balance the neutrals to exude a deep natural flavor. The project abandons complex decorative lines, replaced by simple structures and neat styling, balanced with subtle inclusions of more exotic elements such as Thai inspired cushions and oriental ornamental features.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
1.Using a small selection of simple, natural materials and a harmonious layout throughout the project to create a comfortable life between people and nature; people and space; and also between people and people. Striking a complimentary balance of each of these core components of space, nature and people was the main challenge. Each space needed to be in touch with nature, create communal areas for socialising, as well as spatial divisions for privacy, allowing visitors personal time to reflect and connect with nature.
2.Because the project is near the sea, selecting the right materials required careful consideration to prevent any corrosion from the salty atmosphere.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
Seeing the careful marriage between indoor and outdoor, as architecture and garden combine to become an organic whole. Creating a space that will be in sincerity with Southeast Asia, through elements of solid wood and rattan to express and bring a heavy sense of culture, whilst incorporating themes of modern life with the essence of freshness and simplicity to reconcile the whole space and create a haven away from the hustle and bustle; returning to nature, inside and out. Every detail considered, even down to the white drapes hanging on the bed frame to give a therapeutic, dream-like vision of the gentle sea breeze fluttering as the space appears light, lazy and gorgeous. Also, seeing the play of light and shadow change room by room, so that each space transforms with the phasing of the day from dawn to dusk.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
The SBID International Design Award is the World’s leading design award and enjoys wide popularity in the design world at home and abroad. We participate in the SBID International Design Awards in the hope that our design can be seen and shared with more people, so that ideas can collide across the continents and inspire globally with beauty and design excellence.
Questions answered by YongMing He, Design Director at Daosheng Design
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If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a stunningly stylish SieMatic kitchen design in the opulent Alderley Edge, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Daosheng Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features Bamboo Pavilion, a tearoom located in Honey Lake, Shenzhen, situated in a secrete setting hidden in a verdant bamboo grove in the bustling city. Based on the concept of a poetical life which contemporary literati and scholars dream of, the Bamboo Pavilion presents a natural art form by adopting new Chinese garden techniques, to help visitors relax and put them in touch with a deeper sense of harmony and serenity with the natural world and their spiritual selves. The designer understands that in order to achieve the value of culture in life, the project should be a place to relax from body and mind with all redundancies being cast away.
Company: Tsingda Environmental Art (Shenzhen) Design Consultants Co
Project: Shenzhen Nord Club
Project Location: Shenzhen, China
Shenzhen Nord Club is a tearoom located in Honey Lake, Shenzhen, which situates in a secrete setting hidden in a quiet and verdant bamboo grove. Representing natural art and beauty, its’ surroundings help to create a refreshing little sanctuary amidst the busy, bustling city. Based on the concept of a poetical life which contemporary literati and scholars dream of, the Bamboo Pavilion’s brief was to present a natural art form by adopting new Chinese garden techniques, taking people back to the distant poetic realms where they can relax their bodies and souls.
The project and the project’s name – Bamboo Pavilion, is inspired by the great ancient Chinese thinker Zhu Xi’s ‘New Bamboo’: “In front of the window, there are bamboos that I planted, while now they have sprouted. Being freed from the troubles of secularities, I just sit quietly and enjoy the secluded forest.” Reading between the lines, we can find the kind of aloofness and loftiness which were typical to many ancient scholars.
Opposite to the tearoom is the restaurant which is squarely shaped in a balanced manner. The beauty and elegance of bamboos is presented in front of the dining table by way of creativity and the utilization of wood materials, exquisite details and lightweight design, which is unexpected but natural and harmonious.
The highest form of culture is art. Artists create a line, within which everything can express itself with no restraint. According to Zhong Yao, a famous calligrapher in ancient China, “beauty comes from mind”. Beauty comes from “mind” reflects the rhythms implied in the images of everything. The designer understands that in order to achieve the value of culture in life, this should be a place to relax from body and mind with all redundancies being cast away. Balancing these notions of Chinese traditional literacy, culture and art whilst maintaining the designers vision and meeting the project brief to create a space to bring these sentiments together was the biggest challenge.
The tearoom is laid out in the traditional way of enclosing. Modern-style dark-hued sofa and finely ornamented tea table render balance and comfortability in proportion and sentiment. A Chinese ink and wash painting with poetic and lively imagery introduces artistic quality into the space. Through the hollowed-out back ground wall, bamboos appear in sight, dancing in the wind airily. All of these help to present the gracefulness and aesthetic charm of new Chinese landscape styles so that both the environment and the soul achieve an inspiring and peaceful state and are fulfilled to artistic endeavor.
With borrowed view (a landscape technique usually used in traditional Chinese garden) introduced, uniquely shaped scenery is checkered with sunlight and shadow, by which the designer creates the artistic conception of “layered doors stand still in deep court, grass grows green in front of the steps”. Seeing the design vision come to fruition to embrace the poetic nature and serenity of the property’s unique landscape was the most rewarding aspect of bringing this project to life.
As an impartial international interior design award, SBID has a worldwide effect on interior design industry including China. We firmly believe in SBID and the profession and hope to make our design known to more people in and outside of China.
Questions answered by Bin Long, Chief Creative Director of Tsingda Environmental Art (Shenzhen) Design Consultants Co.
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If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the contemporary workspace with a fun, fresh and flexible co-working concept in Paris, click here to see more.
The 2018 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is now officially open for entries! Click here to register or enter your project!
Tsingda Environmental Art (Shenzhen) Design Consultants Co | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the first global co-working concept for new office brand, Deskopolitan, which has launched at 48 rue Chateau d’Eau, Paris. The space offers a diverse and progressive work environment to appeal to start-ups and small businesses – a revolutionary concept for the French market. MoreySmith were entrusted to establish the global design strategy for Deskopolitan’s new brand concept. The strategy enables the brand to evolve in different locations throughout Europe, and offers a range of workspaces to cater for its members. These include a range of assigned workspaces and flexible work settings to support drop in sessions, as well as artist studios, health & beauty suites, and spaces for open group collaboration and networking events. This contemporary approach to workspace design brings a fresh new look to the European market.
Company: MoreySmith
Project: Deskopolitan
Project Location: Paris, France
Deskopolitan, a new lifestyle focused serviced-office company based in Paris, selected MoreySmith to establish their global design strategy and concept, demonstrated in its first venture, Château d’Eau. At the heart of the brand is the vision to host a likeminded community of people, sharing both space and values, in a flexible and inspiring environment with a unique range of on-site facilities promoting work/life wellbeing.
The interior design brief included the following key challenges and opportunities:
Château d’Eau spans 13,500 sq ft over three floors (ground with mezzanine, first and second), with 120 hot desks, 45 open desks, six club offices, and five meetings rooms. MoreySmith worked closely with Deskopolitan to develop the company’s global design strategy and concept, and establish the branding for the building –a graphic inspired by the circular geometry found within Deskopolitan’s flagship venture, Voltaire (located in the 11th arrondissement and due to open in 2018) which translates throughout.
MoreySmith’s redesign has transformed the former factory building into a lifestyle focused co-working environment which challenges the traditional office concept, with innovative and interactive spaces supported by state-of-the-art facilities.
The main entrance at street level opens into a light and airy double height space featuring a vibrant café with access to an external courtyard and informal touchdown positions at mezzanine level. Each floor offers co-working members a range of flexible working environments including open-plan desk areas, private phone booths, touchdown work positions, video conference and AV meeting rooms, collaborative informal meeting and social spaces. The double height space is purposely designed to promote “collision” culture and allow members to interact across the community building networks and connections. Movement and transparency are also key to successful collaboration, so MoreySmith designed the space to maximise natural light and encourage the flow of people around the building.
The upper floors offer open, light and modern workspace, with flexibility to adapt to client requirements. The first floor provides dedicated enclosed spaces for small businesses, and the second floor provides an open plan environment. Quiet rooms and phone booths allow focused working and privacy for calls. The on-site facilities include a café, concierge, heritage style barbershop, nail bar, and bike store with shower and facilities.
MoreySmith enjoy the challenge of working with heritage buildings for the creative opportunities and sense of transformation that can be achieved. The interior design aesthetic is a contemporary take on the building’s industrial history, mixing materials such as glazed brick tiles, exposed concrete, reclaimed timber, plywood, terrazzo and burnished brass, and complementing this with fresh, bright colours. This is juxtaposed with the addition of plants throughout the space, which provide balance, calm and comfort.
This interior design scheme of this fresh space challenges traditional perceptions of office culture, successfully blending modern life/work and lifestyle aspirations.
Questions answered by Nicola Osborn, Design Director at MoreySmith
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the Art Deco inspired restaurant with a quirky, contemporary and traditional design aesthetic in Manchester, click here to see more.
MoreySmith | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the original CAD visualisation of an interior design scheme designed by YA Interiors to aid their clients visual understanding of the Art Deco inspired restaurant project which is currently in development. The Sheridan suite is a venue that hosts a diverse range of corporate and private events for up to 1800 people with 2323 square meters of space. Based on the ambience of Harrods food hall, the flexible venue was designed to capture the quirky, contemporary and traditional aesthetics which is a regional favourite for Indian Brides and Grooms located in East Manchester.
Entering through the brass curved reception area, the calm atmosphere of the cocktail lounge is the focal point with its illuminated columns. The 14 meter bespoke bar features a brass wine gantry and scallop fret work panels accessorised with teal blue velvet stools. Atom chandeliers hang above the lounge area by Portuguese designer Delightful, brass fret work screens separate the cocktail lounge from the formal dining area. The fine dining room walls are clad in beaten copper panels with space-age pebble lights suspended on the ceiling by Italian designer Artemide.
Company: YA Interiors
Project: Sheridans
Project Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Our interior design brief was to capture the essence of the original Art Deco inspired style of the iconic Harrods food hall whilst creating an elegant, modern and stylish fine dining destination.
For the interior design, furniture selection and styling we looked at the fashion plates of Couturier Paul Poiret at the turn of the 19th century. The French couturier was the most fashionable dress designer of pre-World War 1 Paris. Poiret was particularly noted for his Neoclassical and Orientalist styles. One of his great achievements was to free the female form from the rigid corseted structure. Inspired by the designers illustrations in the Gazette du Bon Ton (below) we decided to incorporate the opulence of the sketches into the interiors styling. Creating a stylish and feminine design aesthetic with signature touches alluding to Mr Poiret’s orientalist fantasies.
Winning the client over with our proposal of Paul Poiret and his orientalist fantasies was the biggest hurdle – eventually a Poiret/orientalist light aesthetic got the client on board. In addition the budget constraints for the project have been challenging as we’re having to maintain design integrity and also manage the clients expectations.
Seeing endless discussions and design development finally coming to fruition. Sheridans is going to be unique to the area – there really is nothing quite likes it in Manchester.
The SBID award is a fantastic platform for designers to showcase their work to the industry and to other fellow creatives. We felt the design and visualisation for Sheridans is a proud moment for us as a design practice, we feel we have designed and cultivated something very unique here and wanted to tap in to our fashion backgrounds in designing and implementing this beautiful scheme.
– Questions answered by Aseef VAZA, Creative Director at YA Interiors
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring aquatically inclined Australian luxury spa inspired by the serene blues and tranquil textures of underwater landscapes, click here to see more.
YA Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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