Specialising in residential interiors, Diego Correa, SBID Accredited Designer & Founder of Diego Correa Interior Design, shares his approach to successfully integrating art within interior design schemes to capture the client’s narrative and enhance interior environments.
One of the most important things I have learned regarding understanding art is a comment made by an art curator friend, who said: “Diego in art there is such thing as multiplying by Zero”.
He explained, “When artworks are being displayed in a room, if you place them incorrectly, for example, a very strong piece next to a subtle one, or two very bold pieces too close to each other, it will be very difficult if not impossible to appreciate them. The tension will be too strong between both pieces, hence each of them will annul the other: Multiplied by Zero.”
Since then, when working with artworks either in a gallery, residence or in a public space this awareness has helped me to be attentive to what the artwork tries to say and how the setting can help to allow that communication between “it” and the viewer to be possible and even enhanced.
And that “setting” in a home is its interior design.
The first step to making it right when placing artwork in a home is to understand the relation of the owner with art: Is it decorative? Is it an intellectual/passionate relation with its meaning and expression? Is it pride for having many pieces he/she have accumulated? or Is it the display of a well-shaped collection?
All reasons are valid but every one of them will demand a different approach to positioning. Other important aspects include: dimensions, theme, technique, fragility and very importantly the story you want to tell; not just about your artwork, but about yourself too.
Due to the fact that interior design is going to generate a visual, intellectual and emotional response in the occupants and visitors alike, it will become the frame in which the artwork will sit, hopefully comfortably, and tell its very own story with freedom and easiness.
If you are lucky enough to have one of Monet’s waterlilies or a Rothko (let’s dream) you want to be able to immerse yourself in the expansion that these artworks offer, one of beauty and nature, the other of eternity so the position chosen for them has to be one that allows contemplation, that removes distractions, with the right lighting and a space from which you can imagine, think and feel.
Art helps us to appreciate the tangible and intangible from different perspectives allowing ourselves to expand our horizons while we enjoy it visually; Interior design has the duty to understand this, incorporating them wisely, thoroughly and sensitively in the design scheme and flow of the space. We cannot forget that Interior design can be either the frame that enhances communication or the zero-multiplying factor; for an art lover, the latter should not happen.
About the Author
Founder of Diego Correa Interior Design, Diego specialises in residential projects. With 14 years in the interior design industry and a degree in architecture, his approach stems from a combination of his professional training and experience together with his ethics and vision.
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This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a residential design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist Chains Interiors. The Taiwan-based design practice worked on this high-end project which was inspired by a song written by the owner.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M Sponsored by Vectorworks
Practise: Chains Interiors
Project: Write A Song For You
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
What was the client’s brief?
Our client is a professional Musician. Since music is such a big part of his life, he wanted music to flow in all corners of the home, while remaining functional.
What inspired the design of the project?
The concept of this design is inspired by a song that a house owner wrote for his beloved wife. While the tunes and tempos of the song transform into lines on the walls, the spontaneous melodies also turn into colours in the space and the twists and turns of the notes into topographic curves on the ceiling. Together these elements become a manifestation of the tenderness conveyed by the song.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
Finding a balance between aesthetics, design concepts, actual usage requirements and budget. We also wanted to make the intricate ceiling lines perfect, so we made several versions to make sure the final design achieved this.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
The highlight of this project was successfully fitting the final design with every part of the song that the house owner wrote.
Why did you enter the SBID Awards?
The SBID Awards have always celebrated international certification and we wanted to showcase our work to a wider audience by participating in this competition.
Questions answered by Lien-Wu Chen and Yi-Lun Wu, Design Directors, Chains Interiors.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Gatsby-inspired hotel bar, click here to see more.
Hitzig Militello Architects share the inspiration and process behind their high-end Buenos Aires cocktail bar and restaurant project; Osten.
Osten, the high-end cocktail bar and restaurant, is located in Puerto Madero’s distinguished neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. The generating idea and initial design concept stems from the era of the economic crash in 1929. Inspired by the novel The Crack-Up by Scott Fitzgerald, and the decadence of glamour from The Great Gatsby.
At first glance, a large corridor is built with scaffolding and the name Osten hangs on perforated metal located in the main entrance that also functions as a waiting room. This sets the scene and atmosphere in an alluring effect to inspire desire to discover the space step by step.
The corridor has 6 different accesses to the general space – this was fundamentally designed so each of the areas can be made independent to divide the areas as private spaces when required.
Access to the bar is at the end of the corridor, crowned by metal perforated structures to frame the identity and design of the bar. The corridors separate the entire space into two large areas of use against the backdrop of this large, statement bar.
The presence of scaffolding acts to support the design theme, representing the era that could no longer support itself. The essential characteristic of scaffolding devices throughout the scheme is ultimately the temporality of their use, and it is this word “temporality” that defines the end of that era of over indulgent elegance. These scaffolds underpin large sheet metal arches painted in gold, but without the glitz or bombast, their appearance is instead rather aged.
The language of the arches is carried throughout and used house all the most representative areas with the bar at the epicentre; the access through a large corridor, the bar itself and its setting, as well as the staircases and perimeter seating area. Knots hold each encounter of the aged scaffolding with old bronze paint.
Modernity is essentially represented by the inner skin, built with cementitious plates and marble organised in pieces in different areas. These marble slabs are arranged in between the scaffolding structures, seeking a relationship between the elegant and the temporary. All Carrara and dark green marble slabs are arranged linearly and held in an ethereal way.
Modernity also makes an appearance through the acrylic tubes that are part of the lighting system where the two worlds are combined; the modern and its acrylic packaging with art deco drawings. In the same way, large lamps that simulate spiders, hang with acrylic tubes and chains representing the beads.
The graphic identity developed from the naming typography was applied in different spaces, in the form of a stencil on walls and through cut-outs in plates to achieve devices that function as dividers. As a result of typographic development, graphic pieces of feminine profiles have been developed and applied in the form of artistic paintings held by the scaffolding system.
The scaffolding system extends to the outdoor spaces to support the seating area, with a large mural designed by the branding team through the development of the typeface family. The tonality of the old bronze, dark green, light and blue was the result of a sober and elegant composition.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a retail design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist 4SPACE Design. The Dubai-based design practice was tasked with bringing to life the 140 square metre fashion retail store Tutus Kurniati.
SBID Awards Category: Retail Design Sponsored by Garrett Leather
Practise: 4SPACE Design
Project: Tutus Kurniati
Location: Dubai, UAE
The client wanted to develop her e-commerce platform with its first flagship store, for a more intimate shopping experience. It was important that the design reflected the brand as a luxury resort wear. The client envisioned the space to be modern and very feminine.
Since the logo speaks highly of the character of the owner, 4SPACE focused on the featured colours; pink and beach-sand. The interior design was inspired by the waves on the shoreline, rocks, and seashells.
Completing the project on time for the grand opening of the Mall. We had a hard time with our terrazzo floor as it was installed manually, placing the terrazzo aggregates one by one to ensure that the outcome will be the same as the design.
The Instagram booth inspired by the beach showers with a neon sign and perfect lighting for an insta-worthy status – a notable design concept that is totally chic and canny.
Steps seating lounge that would appeal to social media-savvy females who enjoy retail culture.
In a cash-free COVID future, Tutus Kurniati was designed with no cash desk where technology works at its best.
We’ve been participating in the SBID Awards since 2016 and we’ve heard nothing but praise. The process for submitting the entries has always been easy and all the coordinators are very helpful. Having a good review and been very consistent in promoting the interior design profession makes us a keen follower and member of SBID. Our founders and Interior Architects of 4SPACE started becoming Accredited professionals of SBID. We’ve also won the “Overall Winner” for SBID Awards 2018.
Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Design Director, and Amjad Hourieh, Managing Director, 4SPACE Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an office renovation in a pre-war building, click here to see more.
Women In Entrepreneurship: Considerations For Impactful Change with Giovanna Melfi
In this Digital Discussion, SBID CEO & Founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE is joined by Giovanna Melfi, Founder of Metamorphosis Biz, in a discussion about women in entrepreneurship.
With over 20 years of experience managing top luxury brands worldwide, such as Marc Jacobs, Ermenegildo Zegna, Burberry, and Yves Saint Laurent, Giovanna offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship.
In 2016, Giovanna founded her consultancy firm, Metamorphosis Biz, and has since guided many start-ups and SMEs to success. She is also a strategic advisor for the Women’s Forum for the Economy & Society in Asia; she sits on the Asian University for Women Support Foundation’s Mentoring Steering Committee in Hong Kong.
In this discussion, Giovanna shares her experiences working for global luxury brands, how the corporate landscape has evolved in relation to women and what changes she hopes to see moving forward.
Giovanna also describes her association with The 30% Club, a global campaign led by Chairs and CEOs taking action to increase gender diversity at board and senior management levels. She shares her insights on how impactful change can be made, and which considerations are vital in order for progress to be achieved.
Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.
With newly adapted lifestyles and shifting consumer attitudes towards how our interior environments should feel and function, SBID hosts an insightful webinar and panel discussion with global design experts on the opportunities and challenges facing the interior design and architecture industry in 2021. From the design and business implications of Covid-19 restrictions, to leveraging global opportunities overseas.
Discover unique global insights on the future of the interior design profession with SBID founder, Vanessa Brady; global principle of HBA Residential, Chris Godfrey; senior associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, Bidisha Sinha; co-founder of Albion Nord, Ben Johnson; and founder of Design Haus Liberty, Dara Huang.
Chris Godfrey | Global Principle of HBA Residential
Chris has over 23 years experience creating highly considered and finely crafted interiors for the residences of the most discerning clients. Chris cultivated his holistic design approach; combining Architecture and Interior Design to create beautifully conceived and exquisitely delivered residences for clients who appreciate the value of design excellence. In 2018 he received the coveted Master of Design Award from SBID and is also an award-winning Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Chartered Architect.
Bidisha Sinha | Senior Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects
Bidisha finished her first degree in New Delhi before moving to London for her Masters at the Architectural Association. She has had an architectural career spanning over 18 years, delivering projects in India, UK and Hong Kong. In her role within Zaha Hadid Architects, over the last 15 years she has personally delivered projects which have made a positive difference to the revitalization agenda of the programs that were associated with them.
Ben Johnson | Co-founder of Albion Nord
Equipped with a First-Class Honours degree in Interior Design, Ben began his career at Candy & Candy, followed by Heatherwick Studios, and quickly built a strong foundation of experience in high-end residential design, public spaces and retail projects around the globe In 2010, Ben joined design practice 1508 London, leading a studio of 40 interior designers and appointed Creative Director and Partner in 2014. In 2017, Ben co-found Albion Nord, building an impressive of portfolio of both international and domestic residential projects.
Dara Huang | Founder of Design Haus Liberty
Dara Huang is the founder of Design Haus Liberty; an international architecture, interiors and design practice established in London in 2013, with global offices in both London and Hong Kong. She holds a Masters degree in Architecture from Harvard University and started her career at Herzog de Meuron, Basel and Foster + Partners, London. In the company’s short time, Dara has received numerous awards and honours including Property Weeks 40 under 40, BBC China’s 100 Women, and Prestige Hong Kong’s 40 under 40.
From Zoomtable panel discussions and online interviews, to Accredited CPD webinars, SBIDPro provides access to exclusive industry content. Email [email protected] to get involved and share your professional views on the interior design profession!
Nicholas J. Hickson and Manuela Mannino, founders of THPD, lead us on a trail that winds through the new tendencies of Hotel Design.
The hotel and tourism industry rest on an ever-changing canvas and today more than ever – also considering the pandemic period – the customer and traveller requirements express themselves through novel brushstrokes.
“If we were to identify the new directions our work is heading in, the necessity to conceive and design projects as authentic travel experiences and stone narrators of the place housing them, that is to say, destinations worth admiring and living would be the at the first place” – Nicholas Hickson says.
New frontiers of hotel design open up and the positions that recently come out during “Designing New Hospitality” – the digital conference fostered by Elle Décor Italia – seem to meet Hickson’s philosophy. “Emotional hotels” capable of offering stories, experiences and emotions and “story-teller interiors” wherein the city itself may be to some extent retained and enclosed are – according to the industry experts surveyed last January by Il Sole Ventiquattrore – the new hôtellerie avant-garde (Pierotti, Paola).
Today, according to THDP, hotels are places of enchantment for travellers and local inhabitants, rather than mere ports of passage. Modern sanctuaries far from the hectic pace of the city or refined niches where divorcing from reality, contemporary hotels are the background to unique experiences and places to appreciate the rare flair of the inside spaces. Two fundamental reference models may be cited. The Indigo Verona Grand Hotel Des Arts, largely inspired by the Arena di Verona theatre and based on Romeo and Juliet second act, and the Hilton Frankfurt City Centre, where the welcoming atmosphere of Manhattan – the New York district that lends its name to Frankfurt city – informs the magnificent construction.
“Designing the Indigo Verona Grand Hotel Des Arts has been just like writing poetry ” – the architecture Mannino explicates.
Upon entering, the reception and the hotel lobby feature an evocative counter inspired by the stone masonry of Juliet’s renowned balcony in Via Cappello. And not only that. “The rear panels behind the newly designed reception take cues from the staggered wings of the theatre. Given the renown of Verona’s signature Roman arena, it would have been a pity not dedicating him a tribute…” – the architecture Mannino explains.
The burnt bronze and the deep indigo blue colours are complemented by terrazzo sophisticated finishes, thus rendering the whole place a postcard-worthy spectacle to be admired in every single detail. The lightning is entirely made in Italy and conceived to enhance the Roman arches on the reception pod front. “The café façade is a homage to the Hotel Des Arts – namely the hotel prior to becoming Indigo – and consists of frames in varying shades”. The most precious Italian marble completes the ambience with a further hint of elegance. “The selected furnishings feature soft shades of blue and aquamarine with rattan and orange hues, manufactured by the Italian firms Miniforms and Tehkne”. The former hotel’s art masterpieces and the mirrors have been carefully tended and maintained, with the intention of providing the atmosphere with modern touches.
“We wanted them to merge with works already part of the heritage of the hotel, belonging to Classical periods and mid-century. Sustainability is a priority for us and recycling is a valuable resource we have at our disposal. We wanted to give the existing works new life rather than throwing them away”. And the resulting effect is astounding.
Indeed, GlobalData’s “Luxury Hotel Market to 2024” 2020 report has revealed an upward tendency as regards the tourism industry sustainability. Paperless counters, refillable dispensers and recycled materials are trends likely to gain increasing popularity over the next years, thus leading to greater competition in the market. A further aspect highlighted by GlobalData’s report is the key role technology will play in the near future as a consequence of the pandemic restrictions, as luxury hotels are expected to redefine their design towards a more contactless experience, (GlobalData, November 2020).
“The new Hudson Yards Bar at the Hilton Frankfurt Centre resembles a typical New York café, with brass gantry shelving, custom counters, brass foot stops and a Rancilio coffee machine realized ad hoc” – Hickson explains. The ideal place for relaxing during the day or in the evening. “The bar is designed to work day and night. We have installed swing doors so that, besides hosting a ‘day’ focus section for coffees and sweet treats, the night discloses an unedited set-up, with cocktails and liqueurs”. The guests find themselves wholly immersed in the New York atmosphere, albeit with a local food menu. The spaces combine urban and chic vibes, with green marbles and brass elements. To top it all, a parquet reminiscent of the asphalt colours. “We have worked with a four-colours palette: we wanted the guests to feel as though they were standing at the very heart of Manhattan.”
Article written by Stella Manferdini.
We hope you enjoyed this look inside the hotel design sector. To read about how Heritier Founder, Julien Bonzom, is pushing the boundaries of product design click here.
In this SpeakEasy digital discussion, Legendary designer, and founder of Ledbury Studio, Charlie Smallbone sat with SBID CEO & Founder Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, to discuss the world of kitchen design. With over 40 years in the industry, Charlie places the emphasis of his designs in smooth functionality and space.
Filmed in The Ledbury Studio showroom in Notting Hill, Charlie takes us through some of the materials that are used, as well as giving insight into how each step in the creative process is carefully considered. From inception, Ledbury Studio was intended to offer a truly bespoke experience, working very closely with the client to create a custom final product.
Vanessa and Charlie reflect on the evolution of kitchen design, discussing how the collaborative process of working with a client has transformed over time. “We always like the process of working with people that are sensitive and passionate about the designs that they’re doing” Charlie explains, “because, they’re going to live in them at the end of the day.”
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an office design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist Urban Soul Project. The architectural design of the Prodea office, a 3500 sqm building, had three main goals: to intervene in a pre-war building with a listed façade while maintaining its significant decorative features, to convert it in order to meet the highest standards of modern office spaces and to meet the design specifications of LEED and WELL, two of the most prominent international design standards for buildings.
SBID Awards Category: Office Design Sponsored by Schneider Electric
Practise: Urban Soul Project
Project: PRODEA
Location: Athens, Greece
The client’s quest was to renovate the building in a way that highlights its unique characteristics, respects its identity and its legacy. At the same time, it should represent PRODEA’s profile as a company, its character and its values: respect and learn from the past, looking towards the future. The brief was to create a state-of-the-art building in the shell of an old one.
PRODEA HQ comprises of a basement, ground floor, mezzanine, two typical floors, two setback floors, a terrace and a rooftop overlooking Acropolis. The interior of the building was modified to achieve an integrated rather than segmented operation, highlighting at the same time its distinctive features, such as the marble staircase with the handrail, the old elevator with the wooden booth and the plaster decorations of the ceilings. The new opening creates an atrium that allows visual communication between floors. An innovative organic model of cluster desks has been implemented in the open-plan area. The design approach is defined by a balance between contemporary and timeless features in the arrangement, layout, materials, innovative technology applications, creating an environment both aesthetically exceptional and technologically advanced.
The guide through the whole project was the building’s existing architectural characteristics. We listed them and we tried to emphasise them and reproduce them by using modern materials and simplified contemporary forms. We also introduced a system of organic forms that define the circulation, the open offices setting and all additions made to the building.
The main hurdle we faced while working in this building was the process of embodying new technologies in an existing structure without disrupting it. The building’s design and the standards specified by LEED and WELL certifications demanded a large variety of new technologies and in many cases, we had to be very creative in order to combine them with the building’s dimensions and materials.
The project in its entity was a highlight for our office since it was our most demanding project so far. However, were we to point out a highlight during its progress, we would point out the week when the artworks were added in the building. The artwork selected is a statement for the relationship between PRODEA and the Contemporary Greek Art and artists, which in certain cases were commissioned to create art especially for the company. This allows for the artwork to be integrated into the architectural design, rather than constitute a post hoc addition.
The reason we presented PRODEA HQ in the SBID Awards is that they are among the most prestigious international awards. Their presence among the participations was already an honour, let alone a distinction. SBID Awards offer the opportunity to present our work to a wide international audience among many other projects of very high standards and qualities.
Questions answered by Urban Soul Project.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a client-focused office design, click here to see more.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an office design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist SHH Architecture. Luxury interior and architecture design practice SHH has completed new top floor headquarters for leading Chinese developer, KWG Group holdings, in Shanghai, China. The 32,500 sq ft project unfolds over two floors in a twenty-storey building at an office campus just west of the city centre of Shanghai. The premises have been designed by SHH to be client-focused, making a strong first impression, while reflecting the quality of KWG’s existing offices in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
Practise: SHH Architecture & Interior Design
Project: KWG Headquarters Shanghai
Location: Shanghai, China
The office space on level nineteen provides the main reception, boardroom and meeting rooms boasting views over the Huangpu River. Cellular offices for senior staff are located around the perimeter of the floor with uninterrupted river views. Level twenty is largely dedicated to executive facilities including VIP offices and suites for the company CEO and President. It also accommodates smaller areas of general workspace, a secondary reception and lounge, along with an additional breakout area.
The design is sophisticated and welcoming throughout. The materials palette includes timber, stone, leather, fabrics, laminate glass, mesh and brass highlights. Suspended from ceilings are feature planters with integrated lighting which define circulation routes and provide visual interest at a high level.
The brief formulated by KWG called for a solution that would make a statement about the company’s design-led approach to their property developments and impress this upon their clients as the company expanded into the Shanghai market. Accommodating executives, senior management, building professionals and designers this messaging was also important for staff, instilling a sense of collective pride and confidence within them all.
KWG are one of the top ten developers in Mainland China and their portfolio consists of commercial office developments, five-star hotels, luxury residential developments and shopping centres. So the occupants of and visitors to this office might be involved in any of these market sectors. Our design approach was to cross boundaries and create a hybrid of hospitality, hotel and workplace in terms of character. This was achieved through the use of quality materials and thoughtful detailing set alongside functional efficiency and consideration for how company employees inhabit and use the space.
This project is just one of more than half a dozen we have undertaken with the client. Having worked so many times with them we have established a great understanding with each other and there are very few hurdles that we have to overcome as a result. If there was one particular challenge with this project it was time. The design and development of projects in China is so much quicker than what we’re accustomed to in the UK. KWG set a very ambitious programme for completion, however, our designers rose to the occasion and delivered what was required of us on time.
In all honesty, the highlight is working with the people at KWG. As a group, they understand design and appreciate what it can contribute to the quality and success of a project. We have developed a mutual respect between us and as a result, the whole process is really enjoyable. It’s been a meeting of minds and characters. A number of us at SHH have had the good fortune to travel to China on multiple occasions to meet directly with KWG and visit construction sites. And I think we’re all sorely missing these face to face encounters with the current travel restrictions that are in place.
SBID provides a great platform for recognition to practices that wish to showcase their work to a talented global audience by bringing together high standards of work from across the world.
Questions answered by Brendan Heath, Director of Hospitality & Commercial Interiors, SHH Architecture.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a classically modern kitchen design, click here to see more.
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