This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an urban resort that offers sweeping lake views, located on the shore of Lake Chao; one of the largest lakes in China. The hotel is a hillside building in the Neo-Huizhou-style with 206 guestrooms. Each room has a balcony from which guests may enjoy 180-degree views of the beautiful lake. The interior design features white walls, black tiles and grey bricks, all of which are typical of Hui-style architecture. Respect is also paid to Huizhou’s aesthetic style of order and symmetry. A core design feature of the guestrooms embraces the ideas of the ‘Four treasuries of the Chinese Study’ including study space with writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper. This has great local and cultural significance in expressing the ‘Impressions of Huizhou’ design theme.
Company: Wanda Hotel Design Institute
Project:Wanda Vista Hefei
Project Location: Hefei, China
What was the client’s brief?
Our client is our parent company, Wanda Hotels & Resorts. Founded in 2007, Wanda Hotels & Resorts has been achieved through integrated business resources including hotel design, hotel construction and hotel management.
As the capital of Anhui province, Hefei is the economic and cultural centre with a profound history. Our purpose is to build the most luxurious and high-end urban resort in Hefei, which can meet both business and vacation demand. That’s why we choose Wanda Vista, the highest brand among Hefei hotels group. As the hotel is located near city, it owns the convenient traffic without too much noise and disturbance from city centre. We hope Wanda Vista has complete supporting facilities, breath-taking landscape scenery as well as high-quality service. In addition, we wish the cultural elements of Anhui is embodied in the interior design of the hotel, to give our guests deeper understanding of Anhui culture during their stay here. Also, as Vista brand is not commonly seen the east area of China, we hope Vista Hefei has stronger characteristics.
What inspired the design of the project?
Anhui is situated next to Huizhou, which is renowned for Hui-style architecture – a school of Chinese architecture. For another, Anhui is a combination of exquisite scenery and distinctive cultural features. In short, the above two factors – architecture and cultural characteristics – are our inspirations for this project. Other inspirational resources derive from the white wall, black tiles and grey bricks of Hui-style architecture, the order and symmetrical aesthetics, local decorative materials and the art of Huizhou carving (e.g. Brick carving, wood carving and stone carving).
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
Well, the greatest difficulty lies in how to express classic aesthetics using modern techniques. If we adopt traditional techniques to manifest these Hui-style characteristics, we will be confronted with great difficulty when it comes to spatial considerations; especially with a large space like the hotel lobby. Interior spaces were not as expansive as this in the past, so all the architectural components such as brick carving, roof overhang and folding screens were produced according to their actual dimension. It would therefore be impossible for us to enlarge the past material and craft it to today’s space, that’s why we needed to think about the kinds of modern materials and techniques which could be used for these creations. For instance, we designed four screens of 12 metres high to increase the levels of layer. When investigating the folk embroidery craft, our designers were inspired to replace the base fabric of embroidery with metal, and embroider Huizhou scenery on the metal net. In this way, we were able to realise the same effect with the same impact, which wouldn’t be achieved by using traditional metal or other metal materials.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
Well, I think the highlight for me is the hotel lobby. The spatial vastness of the area integrates the exquisite features of Hui-style architecture and strong sense of decoration manifested through modern techniques. The lobby covers an area of 700 square meters, preserving the top structure of the original building with the highest height of near 20 metres. For the interior design, we embodied the traditional Hui-style wood carving technique into the decoration of wooden circular columns, beam and wall surfaces, focusing on the design theme; ‘Huizhou Impression’. For colour use, the combination of grey brick, black tile and white wall from Hui-style architecture which represent the nature is put into use in the whole colour adoption. The lintel decorated with hanging flowers is made from bronze, and it implements with the wharf wall harmoniously.
Also, speaking of Huizhou culture, what first comes into our mind must be the Chinese ‘Four Treasures of the Study’, which includes writing brush, ink stick, ink slab and paper, which are expressed by different techniques in the hotel space. For example, we designed a 20-metre high Chandelier in the shape of a writing brush, to give the appearance of it pouring down from the roof; the pool carved from black stone is the integration of ink and ink stone; the ten-metre high scroll painting ‘Huangshan Scenery’ looks like wash painting on Chinese Xuan paper. Through the design of a ten-metre high ground glass window, the hotel lobby connects with a borderless lake view perfectly, inviting the glorious views and lake scenery into the hotel.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
SBID is a renowned international award. Participating in the award is a test on our design ability. We will be more thankful and honoured if we were to win an award because it will be an honour both for the design team and for a single designer. On the other hand, if we unfortunately fail in winning an award, it still offers us a precious opportunity to compete with other design teams in the world and allows us to learn from each other.
Questions answered by Haonan Zhen, Design Director at Wanda Hotel Design Institute
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a private luxury oasis comprising of villa and pool house in southeastern France, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Wanda Hotel Design Institute | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a local luxury oasis comprising of private villa and pool house located in southeastern France, bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea. Built using the warm, honey-toned local stone, the interior design scheme was designed to reflect the authentic and characterful charm of the villa’s exterior with a subtle palette of restful colours throughout, finished with highlights of silver, lavender and turquoise to bring in the colours of Provence. The 21st century home acts as a sanctuary, but also an inviting family home so it had to be well-thought-out, sympathetic with its glorious surroundings and suitable to the needs of everyone spending time in it. This meant open-plan areas for socialising and entertaining, with cosier, more intimate spaces to provide solitude when required. To achieve the quality required by the client, and for the furniture to fit both the generous space and the colours requested, the majority of pieces were individually designed by Juliettes Interiors as bespoke items.
Company: Juliettes Interiors
Project: Provence Villa
Project Location: Provence, France
The brief was straightforward: to create a light, airy pied-à-terre using the finest European furniture and incorporating the colours of Provence. Above all, it was to be comfortable, relaxing and sociable with a focus on quality. This was to be a sanctuary but still a place to share with family and friends. The client’s architects had already specified finishes for floors and walls so, for Juliettes Interiors, it meant coming into the project part way through. Taking this in our stride, we quickly got ourselves up to speed, working seamlessly with contractors and taking the project through to completion and final snagging.
Initially, the client intended to design and project manage this renovation himself but ran into problems with communication, space planning, design and trying to pull everything together. He later admitted that he felt as though he was drowning in the project management of a villa that had been bought to provide a respite from the hurly burly of everyday life.
He originally came to us simply to source a couple of bedside tables but this proved to be a turning point for the project. Talking through his ideas with Design Director Micaela Rossi, he realised that, as well as sourcing the items he was looking for, we could provide a complete interior design service as well as taking on full responsibility for procurement, product design, space planning, installation and project management. From a couple of bedside tables, Juliettes Interiors ended up specifying and sourcing new bathrooms as well as all interior furniture, outdoor and pool furniture, fabrics, finishes, lighting, bed linens, curtains and accessories.
This was a beautiful, traditional Provence villa on the outside, constructed using the warm, honey-toned local stone. However, none of this character followed through to the bland, dated interior. Using this local stone throughout the interior brought warmth and texture to every part of the villa and its pool house. We also used the soft greys, greens and lavenders of the spectacular Provence countryside as our base colour palette to create the calm, restful and welcoming space the client craved as a retreat from his hectic day-to-day lifestyle.
The main house comprised 4 en-suite bedrooms plus a housekeeper’s apartment, and a large hallway leading into an extensive, open plan living area. Together with a further 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a large kitchen/living space in the pool house, this gave us plenty of scope to transform the tired, uninspiring interior and turn it into a well-thought-out and functional 21st century home, sympathetic with its glorious surroundings and to the needs of everyone spending time in it.
The finished villa, pool house and pool area blend beautifully into the surrounding countryside, with natural, local materials, honey-coloured stone, thoughtfully-landscaped gardens and restful colours designed to reflect the tones of the encompassing hillside. Inside, the design team used clever lighting and coordinating colours in shades of lavender, grey and turquoise to bring in elements of the Provençal landscape. They have made the most of the expansive, open plan living area, creating open spaces for socialising, dining and entertaining, along with cosy nooks and more intimate spaces, plus a TV snug and library. The pool house is perfect for visiting guests with its 2 cool and airy bedrooms, stunning contemporary bathrooms and a fresh, open plan living and kitchen area.
The client could not have been happier with the finished project. Every item of furniture was exactly as he had envisaged. Skilled project management meant that delivery and installation all went off without a hitch and snagging was minimal. Set in its extensive, spectacularly landscaped gardens, the villa is now a sanctuary of peace and harmony, an oasis of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle. Originally intended as a bolt hole for brief visits, the client instantly fell in love with this gorgeous home and admits that he now spends most of his time there.
Due to the client’s hectic international schedule, much of the day-to-day communication was carried out online. There were only 3 further face-to-face meetings at the showroom to finalise furniture layout, agree technical drawings for the many bespoke items, and to choose colours, fabrics and finishes for furniture, light fittings, curtains and linens. Almost every item of furniture was fully bespoke or at least customised, meaning a lot of research into special finishes and an exceptional level of detail. Throughout the project, we made visits to the property to take accurate measurements, to appraise the villa and its pool house, and to explore its surroundings.
This has been one of the most interesting and exciting projects we have worked on and we loved every minute of it. Obviously, we were delighted at the client’s reaction and the fact that he now considers this his main residence. However, we have to admit, for our design team, winning a 5 star award for our design, skills, creativity and the standard of our service was a key highlight for the outcome of the project.
Questions answered by Micaela Rossi, Design Director and Juliette Thomas, Director at Juliettes Interiors
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a boutique hotel juxtaposing the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders, click here to see more.
Juliettes Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a boutique hotel which juxtaposes the austere beauty and fiery drama of Iceland’s natural wonders with the City Center district by using natural materials in their most organic form and monochromatic colour schemes that mirror Icelandic nature and culture. Sustainable materials native to Iceland provide the perfect touch for this unique and eco-conscious hotel. Conveniently located in the heart of Reykjavík, Iceland, the hotel was originally a hostel for Reykjavík backpackers which was renovated to offer a sustainable and tranquil refuge to its guests.
Inside one instantly feels transported to the pristine countryside of this otherworldly isle of fire and ice. In the lobby sits a glacier-like front desk and infinity hallways connecting guest quarters mimic hot lava floes zigzagging across a vast blackened field. Each private bath even features geothermal hot water, sourced from the surrounding natural springs. Design elements are also oriented to take maximal advantage of natural light and ventilation. A profusion of natural light streams through the expansive guestroom windows with sweeping views of the North Atlantic sea and snow-capped mountains to the North. Sustainable heating was introduced and LED lighting is utilised throughout to decrease electricity usage by up to 75%, with hallways using motion detection. Not only does the guest feel a sense of magic when the lights turn on, but the hotel saves energy when there are no guests in the hallways!
Company: Minarc Inc
Project: Ion City
Project Location: Reykjavík, Iceland
To design a functional, urban, aesthetically pleasing space that would accommodate all amenities necessary for a great experience for future guests.
Icelandic nature was the main influence to the interior design of the hotel. The concept story of the hotel design was to bring the nature inside, in the form of materials and colour schemes to experience and get the sense of the austere Icelandic nature, without getting out of the city. We wanted to create an experience for the guests that will live in their memory.
The challenges to work with the existing building, local regulations along with the essential amenities needed to accommodate a happy stay for the hotel guests. The hallways were a challenge as they were short and small so we wanted to utilise them to their full potential. The design is inspired by the countryside’s rugged terrain, with cuts of light illuminating to the guest rooms and mirrors on each end of the short hallway, they play with perspective creating a memorable experience like walking through infinitive lava fields.
There are many items and elements of the interior design we are especially proud of and have personal meaning to us, including the bathroom works on the walls, which are custom handmade by Erla. The illuminating hallway connecting the guestrooms imitate the flowing lava fields; the white Corian lobby desk inspired by the surrounding glaciers; the Dropi chair in the lobby that suspends from the ceiling in the intentional shape of a raindrop; the Nest chandelier hanging above diffusing light through it’s intertwined form along, with the overall cohesion and outcome of the design as a whole.
The SBID International Design Awards is one of the most prestigious awards celebrating interior design and architecture today, we consider it an achievement to receive an SBID International Design Award and we would be honoured to win one for our designs. We have previously won for a house we designed in Iceland, Big Little Rock and nominated for our Ion Adventure Hotel.
Questions answered by Tryggvi Thorsteinsson and Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdóttir, Principal Designers at Minarc Inc
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring an American neoclassical design concept with comfort and function, click here to see more.
Minarc Inc | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an American neoclassical design concept which lays a keynote of both comfort and function, executed with grandeur and sophistication at its helm. Borrowing the traditional Chinese ideas of aesthetics depicted in the Tang Dynasty poem, ‘with lengthening daytime, the scenic landscape emanates plant aroma amid the spring breeze,’ the design adopts modern, fashionable elements to brighten the space and create the feature of squareness and beauty. The villa has a spacious and grand structure, which strives to represent the classic Western approach of axial symmetry in a 3D view, as well as a balance of size and proportion. The lifted building structure and the supporting framework deliver a sense of bold heroism exclusive to the first-generation pioneers. It can be traced back to architectural form in ancient Greece since it highlights clear lines and graceful decoration. Meanwhile, it integrates the concept of European luxury and elegance, American freedom and progressiveness, and Chinese solemnity and exquisiteness – all of which showcase a fresh, smooth and bright style.
Company: David Chang Design Associates International (DCDA)
Project: China North Island B Type Villa
Project Location: Tianjin, China
The client’s belief was to build a villa which reflects an exquisite and elegant lifestyle.
The inspiration came from the verses of an ancient Chinese poet named Du Fu, ‘over a beautiful scene, the sun is lingering, alive with birds and sweet with the breath of early spring’. The design is based on the traditional Chinese aesthetics, combined with the neoclassical interior architectural elements. Wallpaper with hand-painted flowers and birds and modern oil paintings, portraying mountains and rivers, are extensively applied in several areas of the villa. Together, they translate a beautiful Chinese vision of reunion in a nice season, set off in an elegant style.
At the early planning stage, the existing villa structure needed to be studied and modified thoroughly to have the floor layout optimised on the basis of the traffic circulation and flow. This includes swapping the elevator and the main staircase location, and adding a service elevator to the existing villa.
Although urbane residences bayside, seaside or in the mountains are among the beloved lifestyle choice for the famous and the rich, this no longer meets the need of high-end customers. A new ‘island of residence’ lifestyle has emerged to attract the attention of these elites. The villa surrounded by a 520,000 sqm lake in the heart of Tianjin city, with a well developed ecological environment and neoclassical architecture has become an excellent paradigm of a new lifestyle in the city. This project is the only downtown island-style villa development in northern China and one of the world’s most luxurious island-style developments. The villa is configured in a classical symmetrical layout to achieve harmony of the space. The archway and the powerful interior architectural framework convey the sense of luxury and comfort. Tracing back to the Greek architecture, the design not only emphasises the application of lines and elegant details, but also displays the sense of European luxury as well as the touch of Chinese elegance and delicacy.
SBID is the most competitive, prestigious, and unadulterated international award in the global interior design award field. The jury panel consists of gurus from a wide array of professions from design and fashion, to hi-tech. In addition, we love to share our design with people from different parts of the world. SBID both serves as a direct channel and an influential medium to expose our talents and creative designs to the world. The ability to be shortlisted in SBID is an honour, whereas the ability to win in SBID is a prestige.
Questions answered by the David Chang, Founder and Chief Design Director of DCDA
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a luxury residence which echoes the Renaissance elegance of the Château de Chambord, click here to see more.
David Chang Design Associates International | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a luxury residence with an exterior which echoes the Renaissance elegance of the Château de Chambord. The interior design scheme draws its inspirations from the history of the Silk Road and the cultural interactions it enabled; this ancient network of trade routes was essential in connecting the East and West, so an interplay of Asian influences and European Renaissance style details became a recurrent design theme throughout the property. From imperial gold, elegant blues, translucent glass, refined silk and sumptuous satin… Every interior decision aims to convey a language that speaks of both a classic era and that of the modern day.
Company: Chains Interior
Project: The Silk Road
Project Location: Chongqing, China
The client’s career map is spread all over the country, so he hopes to combine and elegantly blend different kinds of cultures in his new residence, as well as showcase the most exquisite tastes, designs and the character of himself.
Nestled in the city, the project’s symmetrical arch windows and angled roof resonate with the Renaissance elegance of Castle Chambord in France. Inside the castle are glass-cuts and curtains whose patterns derive from Chinese octagon motifs and a fascination of Chinese textile, an evidence of cultural interactions nurtured by the Silk Road. The project concept, with silk being an integral design element, is therefore inspired by those reciprocal exchanges between Eastern and Western thinking as well as aesthetics brought about by the ancient trade route.
This project is a huge villa in China. The first problem we faced was how to perfectly express the image of the trade which is a symbolic part of the owner. How to show the concept clearly and integrate into modern Chinese lifestyle? Second, our company is located in Taipei and the project is far away from us so we can’t always supervise the decorating process. We search local professionals for help to complete this difficult project.
The satin, shimmering like pearls on the vertical façade, is like the golden sand which whirled across the Silk Road by sweeping winds. The arches decorate the basement like ribbons as well as divide it into spheres serving various functions, a light bar and recreational use, mahjong and games, guzheng performance… The extravagant gold colour imbues the bar with a contemporary charm, while the glass mosaic unfolds into continuous, symmetrical damask patterns that emanate aristocratic elegance.
The fine silk conveys a tinge of allure in the grand living room. The glass railing winds up the staircase as if dancing to a tune with the air current. The dome-shaped ceiling hovers above like a scarf in midair, forming a collage of hexagons in three metallic shades that allude to French glamour. Walking up to the second floor, intricately embroidered flowers, birds and mountains in resplendent colours in the master bedroom show magpies perched on plum trees. This motif, symbolic of everlasting happiness, is an offering of goodwill to the owner.
Thin as cicada wings, the silk screen that divides the space seamlessly is resplendent, yet light and cosy, as if veiled by ancient blessings. Meanwhile, refined glass and metal reflect the morning light as they caress the European broad-leaf plants on the carpet and curtain. Life, can be a delightful dream. Imperial gold, elegant blue, translucent glass, refined silk… felicity is woven into warps and wefts to convey a language that speak of both a classic era and the modern day.
SBID is one of the most representative Awards in the world. Our project is highly acknowledged in Asia competitions and we want to know if it is also appreciated by an international audience.
Questions answered by the Lien Wu Chen, Design Director at Chains Interior
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a heritage conversion property rich in original detailing and upscale interest, click here to see more.
Chains Interior | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a heritage conversion property rich in original detailing and upscale interest. Situated opposite the Dutch Royal Palace and once a bank, Hotel Indigo The Hague – Palace Noordeinde wears its prestigious heritage proudly. Complete with underground speakeasy which was once the banks vault, the hotel is a true icon of the city, and exemplifies The Hague’s prestigious royal and political connections. Portraits inspired by royalty adorn the walls, and original mouldings and light fittings have been carefully restored by local craftspeople. Art Déco stained glass, aged brass lamps and original green marble columns evoke the luxury world of private banking. A carefully curated selection of bespoke furniture choices cater for both hotel guests and well-heeled locals, be they there for a fresh morning coffee in the all-day Stocks & Bonds brasserie or a late night cocktail in The Gold Bar.
Company: HUGO interior design
Project: Hotel Indigo, The Hague
Project Location: The Hague, Netherlands
Hotel Indigo The Hague needs to communicate the unique cultural and historic offerings of this unique Dutch city of power, wealth and government. A sense of prestige and exclusivity should be celebrated within the hotels design.
HUGO interior design was inspired by the most unique and important buildings in the neighbourhood, such as the Royal Palace, Dutch government and International Court of Justice. The hotel is situated on Noordeinde street, directly opposite the Royal Palace. As a result, hotel rooms on Noordeinde side have a unique view on the palace. The chic Noordeinde district is primarily known for its distinctive fashion boutiques, galleries and art and antiques dealers, located in beautiful art nouveau buildings. With this neighbourhood story the design of the hotel should be sophisticated and high-end, where guests experience a royal and wealthy feeling. Wealth and royalty were key words in the design of Hugo Broeders, since the Royal family and the Nederlandsche Bank are inextricably linked to the history of this building. One of the most important starting points in the design was the building itself, with its historical and architectural elements such as the various marble, glass, mosaics, ornaments and woodwork. Characteristic materials for that time for buildings with a purpose like this. Hugo Broeders: “We have had the beautiful panelling disassembled, because we wanted to make headboard of this. We reused cupboards and steel doors, especially in the public areas where guests can experience them. We have implemented the patterns of the old woodwork in the new interior components such as the doors and carpets. Artwork is mostly inspired by coins and banknotes. And because the vault plays such an impressive role in the building, we have designed a multifunctional safe that will have a place in every room. We wanted all guests to have their own safe, so we designed a multi-functional steel safe that is positioned in each room. The safe contains a safe (of course), a minibar, coffee and tea making facilities and storage space. It seems and works like a real vault, you have to turn the wheel to open it. It is a feature that embodies the history of the building.
Every space, every room is not only unique in size, but also in form. Working on a property like this, you have to detail everything because every part of the building is unique and different from another part. Although you have the most wonderful materials to work with, you’re limited in possibilities. What you see is what you get, so you have to be very creative to make sure you get the most out of what’s available. You need to create spaces and add materials that are complementary and meet up to the standards of modern day regarding comfort, look and feel. To celebrate this uniqueness and work with the challenges, the idea was that guest should have a unique experience, even if they visit the hotel multiple times. That means three room types were designed, all different in atmosphere and appearance: Royal Residence – street facing rooms with Palace view, experiencing the feeling of residing in a prestigious street in a room with stained glass windows, high ceilings, wood panelled walls and headboards and a dark red and blue grey colour palette with warm velvets and antique brass details. Court Capital – the feeling of wealth comes across in these (some split-level) rooms. Using leathers and a light and dark green colour palette with polished brass details, guests feel the power and history of the building and the city. Loft Living – more contemporary rooms on the top floor and in the attic, combining old beams and slanted ceilings with concrete flooring and rooms in the newly build part of the hotel with large glass curtain walls on the backside of the hotel. Adding variations in grey and an ocre colour palette, soft fabrics and satin brass details, this room feels like modern Dutch living in the city. The combination of this property and the concept of diversity in rooms was challenging. Procurement was difficult, chances of making errors are big and it took a lot of time to make sure the results are as intended.
When the bank closed its doors in 1994, it was impossible to remove the massive doors from the vaults where the gold stock was previously kept. The round safe door is still one of the most impressive elements in the building. The vaults are in the basement, if there is no need to go down they are not seen by guests. Wanting to make sure that guests would experience these special spaces, a speakeasy was created here. The story goes that the bank was once connected to the Palace through a corridor. Everything indicates that this came out in the space that we transformed into this speakeasy. From the lobby you have easy access to the speakeasy, making it possible for everyone to have a drink at this very special “Gold Bar”.
Questions answered by the Founders of HUGO interior design, Hugo Broeders and Debby Wentink.
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring an innovative hotel design which strives to redefine the concept of luxury, click here to see more.
HUGO interior design | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an innovative hotel design which strives to redefine the concept of luxury, five-star hotel experiences by connecting with the neighbourhood which surrounds it. In a world increasingly congested with fussy design, this project demonstrates a new type of luxury. A refreshing perspective, celebrating the Kaohsiung harbour and all of the creative energy of the commercial surroundings delivered with wit and charm. The Hotel Indigo, Kaohsiung Central Park is located in the heart of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The neighbourhood and its dynamic port served as the inspiration for the design. Located in a vibrant suburb within Kaohsiung near the bustling commercial harbour, the hotel experience was conceptualised as the journey of goods from the harbour to the shelves of Kaohsiung’s boutiques and emporiums.
Company: Hirsch Bedner Associates Hong Kong
Project: Hotel Indigo Kaohsiung Central Park
Project Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
The client owned an old shopping mall in an area near the Kaoshiung port and wanted to convert it into a hotel, but wanted the hotel to somehow relate to the previous history of the building and to the neighbourhood that was deeply connected to the nearby harbour and undergoing a process of urban renovation. The brief was therefore to redefine the concept of a five-star hotel experience, shifting the notion of luxury, as it’s commonly envisioned. The objective was to connect with the local area, allowing the hotel to become an energetic part of the urban fabric and distinguishing itself from other large five star hotels.
As a consequence of the context in which this project came to life; the commercial aspect of the building and the evolution of the neighbourhood from an industrial harbour to a gateway to the world, became the main inspiration. The Kaohsiung neighbourhood and its dynamic port was the central inspiration for designing key areas of the hotel. Located in a vibrant suburb within Kaohsiung near the bustling commercial harbour, the hotel experience was conceptualised as the journey of goods from the harbour to the shelves of Kaohsiung’s boutiques and emporiums. Inspired by the humble local emporiums where products such as soft drinks, canned and picked food are part of everyday life for Taiwanese, beautifully designed feature walls depict the tops and bottoms of cola bottles with fun messages. Digitally printed wall coverings featuring opened jars and tins of food adds a splash of colour, character and provincial flavour.
Due to the trade barriers between Taiwan and Mainland China most of the finishes had to be locally sourced or engineered from scratch. The process was difficult but extremely gratifying. Thanks to this project, new products and finishes are now available in Taiwan!
The reaction of guests and visitors; some thought it was brilliant and told us they felt the connection to the neighbourhood, others found the project was at the limit of their comfort zone and didn’t like it entirely. That to us is a good sign, it means we succeeded at giving to the hotel a distinct personality and when it comes to personality, we simply just don’t all feel the same!
The project was very appreciated in Taiwan but to some it felt like it was pushing the boundaries of their comfort zone. So we were curious to see how it would have been received by an international audience and the SBID Awards was the perfect platform to do this!
Questions answered by Federico Masin, Partner at Hirsch Bedner Associates Hong Kong
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a hotel design which delicately balances timelessness and tradition with industrial modernity, click here to see more.
HBA Hong Kong | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an elegantly timeless, yet industrially modern and edgy hotel interior design based on the narrative of two Turkish sisters – one who lived in New York City and the other in Paris. Envisioned as a portal between two worlds, the Fairmont Quasar Istanbul’s hotel lobby leaves a lasting impression to those who walk through it, beckoning passersby to explore and engage. White marble floors found at the entrance contrast against warm wood floors covering the reception area, crafting a carefully balanced procession. Guests check in at the bespoke reception desks showcasing wood, metal, and stone. Oversized, locally crafted lanterns accent the corner of the lobby and signify the entrance of the bridge connection to the business centre. Similarly, a dark and striking carved stone wall flanks the side of a “runway” that connects the lobby with the Great Room. The design team used the walkway to echo the overall project’s interior design concept of merging two different narratives into one, by blending urban culture and industrial flair with traditional features and a strong sense of place.
Company: Wilson Associates
Project: Fairmont Quasar
Project Location: Istanbul, Turkey
This project is developed by joint venture company, Viatrans Inc. – Meydanbey. The multi-complex encompasses a hotel, serviced apartments, and offices set on the site of Turkey’s first liquor factory that was designed by the Parisian Art Deco Master, Robert Mallet Stevens in the 1930’s. This is his sole masterpiece, the only one ever built outside of France. This is the first project by Viatrans Inc. – Meydanbey and they had a vision to create the most innovative and luxurious development in Istanbul. They also had a vision to turn the liquor factory into an epicentre for arts, fashion and culture — transcending the level of luxury in Istanbul to new heights. Rising above the slopes of The Bosphorus, Fairmont Quasar Istanbul serves as a hub for the well-travelled, fusing the sophistication of modern Istanbul with the unique lineage of its location and centuries of history. A new icon for the vibrant Mecidiyeköy district, Fairmont Quasar sits at a crossroads in Istanbul – where eclectic neighbourhood bazaars and colourful side streets meet modern shopping centres and commercial properties. This will be the first hotel for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Turkey, and the fifth property of parent company AccorHotel’s luxury brand portfolio within Istanbul. Situated inside the Quasar Istanbul complex, Fairmont Quasar Istanbul occupies two 40-story towers that sit atop a four-story office podium comprised of fitness facilities and luxury retail. The towers include Fairmont Hotel and Residences, as well as the Quasar Residences and offices, also managed by Fairmont. Opened March 2017, Fairmont Quasar Istanbul provides 209 guestrooms including 25 suites.
Robert Mallet Stevens was our inspiration for the interior design concept. The hotel is set on the site of Turkey’s first liquor factory that was designed by the Parisian Art Deco Master Architect. Built in 1930, the factory was and remains both an important political statement of the modernity of Turkey and a unique piece of Istanbul’s architectural history. Robert Mallet Steven’s design of flowing concrete and glass, the industrial feel of the distillery equipment lent to the fervour of the Bauhaus design trends of the time. The factory itself emanated feelings of progress, positivity, hope, industry, and advancement encapsulating the birth of a new nation. Form following function, yet Robert Mallet Stevens never forgot the human touches through Art Deco details, intimate scaling, and compression versus expansion. This was the very same spirit that we wanted to transport into 2017 and into Fairmont Istanbul— To bring this sophistication into the millennium. The hotel is purposely designed to echo this bygone industrial age but interpreted in a new luxurious and relevant manner. Spaces are both intimate and expansive, filled with light; the materials used tactile and even nostalgic; all composed to recapture that ‘magic’. This design strategy is further enhanced with a more human story: We created a unique tale of two Turkish sisters, one living in New York and the other in Paris, both returning to Istanbul and bringing home with them the design sensibilities of the two cities to Istanbul. This tale is a story of souls bound together through time; timeless yet modern. These sisters, having lived in such rich and vibrant cities wanted to return to Istanbul with their adopted communities of Paris and New York, adding yet another rich layer to the fabric of the city. Istanbul is the perfect synthesis between East and West as Paris-New York are the shining beacons of the old and new worlds. This sets the perfect stage for the sisters to converge and star in a performance of life, love, and expression. This was our inspiration for the Fairmont Istanbul. This is our tale of old and new souls, bound together through the ages.
The main design challenge for us was to create a sense of place without being overly colloquial; the owners wanted the hotel to be modern yet timeless with a true sense of nostalgic elegance. The imposing glass and steel architecture of the towers also presented unique challenges to crafting this look. Furthermore, the structural grid left for the interior spaces that were somewhat compartmentalised into rooms of varying sizes also posed a design challenge for us. By echoing Robert Mallet Steven’s spirit of both compressive and expansive spaces, intimate yet grand, and merging influences of Parisian chic with New York industrial flair, we created harmonious design concept that helped mitigate these challenges. The result was a very interesting design with a variety of “feelings” and moments within the hotel. The creation was a multi-layered fabric of experiences much like the fabric of the city of Istanbul.
Some of the team highlights for the Fairmont Quasar Istanbul project include the hotel lobby and the luxurious Presidential Suite. Inspired by local Turkish culture, the 1930’s liquor factory and The Borphorus Strait, and the tale of two sisters, the lobby includes a fireplace, angled ceiling panels, eclectic groups of seating and a custom Turkish-inspired carpet by Golden Hali. The area is imbued with timeless, modern and local design such as large windows that look out onto the lobby garden – commonly found in Turkish architecture. These windows effortlessly create a sense of light and openness, and are bordered by floor-to-ceiling black metal geometric screens. All of the interior design details merge together to create a great public space for guests to sit, relax, and even enjoy a drink if they so choose. Fairmont Quasar Istanbul’s most luxurious room is the Presidential Suite. This space is a multifaceted and dynamic design with details ranging from the custom carpets and leather-upholstered casegoods to Turkish accessories and artwork that create an elegant and modern décor. Inspired by the industrial elements of the Robert Mallet liquor factory, rooms at the Fairmont Quasar Istanbul are a mix of Turkish design with bespoke, custom-made pieces such as the desk which has been created as a multi-functional space for work, dining or relaxing. The space includes blue leather-tufted headboards, mini-bars in the style of vintage travel trunks and custom carpets by Ottoman Hali and Stepevi. The bathrooms feature showers that resemble a traditional Turkish hammam, offering a local experience. The dining room makes the suite a truly luxury place for guests to stay. The interior design elements include dark walnut millwork, patterned wooden floors and crackled accent wall covering as well as the sparkling orb chandelier and angular mirrored wall sculpture.
SBID is a trusted industry voice and highly regarded by the interior design community. Wilson Associates is very proud to be recognised by SBID and be able to showcase our latest projects on a global and influential platform. The projects submitted to the awards program gets better, and better every year, which encourages us to push the creativity envelope further and deliver even better work. To see the talent we’re up against and to be able to walk away as category finalists or winners is an incredible honour. And, it’s always a lovely feeling at the awards ceremony when the design community is united, there’s a real buzz!
Questions answered by the Wilson Associates, New York team; Joanne Yong, Principal Designer; Dan Kwan, SVP and Managing Director; Seiichi Mori, Design Director; David Dorfman, Project Manager; Keiko Matsumoto, Senior Project Designer; Kevin Caulfield, Senior Design Manager.
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a new casual dining concept and London’s first dedicated Avocado bar, click here to see more.
Wilson Associates | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the ultimate office design created by the workplace design and build specialists, Interaction for financial comparison company money.co.uk, transforming their unique and characterful office in The Castle, Cirencester, UK. A space where you can sneak through a secret door in a bookcase, put your feet up in a ski chalet, traipse through an ice cave, battle against suits of armour and experience a cinema in a galaxy far far away…
The work on the 10,000 sq ft project began in March 2016. There were 38 rooms to design in The Castle and for 6 of these, Interaction collaborated with designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, who provided initial concept sketches and a choice of finishes. An important part of creating the ultimate office meant focusing on the functionality of the workplace, designing a space that would allow the team to work effectively. Interaction explored the needs of the individuals and created a multitude of flexible work settings to enable people to work the way they want. This included creating spaces such as the ice cave, ski lodge, and ‘hightech’ room which can all be used to have informal meetings, socialise, or simply relax. This project is a perfect example of how by placing employee wellbeing at the centre of the brief and design you can use your workplace as a tool to incite a positive culture and enhance productivity, creativity and collaboration. The Castle is finally fit for the kings and queens of the tech world.
Company: Interaction
Project: money.co.uk – The Castle
Project Location:Cirencester, United Kingdom
Ranked as the UK’s 2nd fastest growing business in 2015 by The Sunday Times, financial comparison website money.co.uk needed their workplace to support this recent exponential growth. The Grade II listed Victorian ‘castle’ that money.co.uk occupied, having had no major alterations in years, did not illustrate their current standing and vision for the future.
The team therefore needed a workplace that reflected their success, but also one that continued to attract and retain talent in their competitive industry. Representing their success through their workplace was important, but at the heart of the decision for the refurbishment was rewarding staff with the best place to work.
Money.co.uk’s people, in combination with Grade II listed building itself, lay at the heart of the project’s design. Not only did we want to create an environment where the team could flourish, fulfil their potential and feel happy, but we wanted to juxtapose the traditional architecture of The Castle with a contemporary finish. The unique building provides a characterful and quirky setting for an office, and the interior needed to reflect the eccentricity of the exterior.
We had to be conscious and considerate to nurture the listed building. We were excited to work with (and accentuate) several original features of the building. This included the windows, archways and some original doors – all of which have become real statement features that hark back to the rich history of The Castle.
The building continuously revealed new and hidden secrets that kept us on our feet and provided us with unique design challenges. The damp was severe – by the time we were finished we had practically re-built The Castle.
Other than successfully bringing past and present together by breathing new life into the space, the moment we held up the “snag free” board was incredible for everyone involved. As a company, we always aim to deliver our fit-out works with absolutely no snags (or defects). To achieve this on such a complex refurbishment project was a great feeling!
We knew that the SBID is highly regarded internationally and that the awards promote design excellence. We entered because we thought The Castle raised the bar in terms of office design – it has been featured in numerous news articles worldwide and has become known as one of the “world’s coolest offices”.
As well as wanting to give the project team the recognition for all of the hard work that went into the 9-month project, we were also keen to prove that workplaces can be tools for change. Rather than hindering a business, they can inspire people, promote collaboration, and increase overall productivity and output – just as The Castle has done for money.co.uk.
Questions answered by Egle Kairele, Creative Lead at Interaction
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a spectacular residence set across two buildings and garden apartment in London, click here to see more.
Interaction | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series comprises of a spectacular penthouse set across two buildings and a charming garden apartment. The Eaton Place residence offers an unparalleled level of luxury and sophistication; with a fusion of opulent style and functional design, this period property has been thoughtfully re-designed to epitomise luxurious modern living. An iconic address in the heart of Central London, Belgravia is one of London’s most vibrant and prestigious destinations, with grand Georgian architecture surrounded by the green open spaces of both Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace Gardens. Working in close partnership with developer and interior designer, Fenton Whelan Design, Nulty Bespoke assisted with the completion and installation of several stunningly custom-made lighting pieces throughout this luxury residential apartment. The overall interior design skilfully mixes contemporary finishes with the building’s classical proportions, giving a homely yet truly inspiring sensation to each space. The sympathetic treatment of the listed building’s key rooms ensures that the historic grandeur of the property is not only retained but enhanced. Céline Gehamy, Product Designer at Nulty Bespoke comments,
‘We immensely enjoyed working on this residential project with its high spec and elegant design. From designing a creative, beautiful and practical solution for a chandelier in the tall, thin stairwell, to overseeing the colour combinations of the glass pendants within the dining room, this was just the kind of project that the Nulty Bespoke team thrives upon. Throughout the design, manufacture and installation every detail was diligently considered – from the positioning of each individual element in the design stage to the threading and fastening of every tiny crystal’.
We interviewed Celine Gehamy and Ollie Yates, Product Creation at Nulty Bespoke about their collaboration with Desariot Ademaj, the Creative Director at Fenton Whelan Design to produce bespoke lighting solutions for a project of this luxurious magnitude!
Company: Fenton Whelan Design & Nulty Bespoke
Project: Eaton Place
Project Location: London, UK
The client requested a selection of unique and individual luminaires designed for a luxury residential apartment in London. There were a number of spaces that we had to create bespoke pieces for ranging from the living room, dining room, entertainment space, stairwell and bedroom. The project was very high end and the design of the pendants had to reflect this, whilst supporting the individual style of each room.
Each space required its own identity, and this is reflected in the design of the luminaires. Such as the finishes, the shape, light source and colour temperature.
A light sculpture in the main entertaining space of the apartment, incorporates 22 mouth-blown dish-like glass shades made in London. Each shade is a combination of different hues of purple and white. The sculpture consists of two separate polished champagne-gold-coloured metal frames, which seamlessly blend together as one. Each section has two ceiling plates incorporating the same metal. The LED light source is housed in an oval-shaped detail accommodating the natural, variations of glass thickness. The underside of the glass resembles an oyster shell with a pearl nestled within.
Three large tailor-made Art Deco inspired luminaires add a stylish touch to the top floor entertaining space. The refined light fittings, each measuring 1.6m x 0.25m have been handcrafted with sandblasted reeded glass, a material reminiscent of the Art Deco era. Each luminaire exudes a diffused light, and a warm temperature of 2400k providing a soft radiant effect within the ceiling cove. The trio of elegant handmade luminaires brings a sense of perspective to the room and demonstrates that simplicity can most definitely be striking. The quality of the luminaires complements the rich materials used in the interior design, adding a classic touch to the gentleman’s club-feel of the room.
A statement cluster of 19 hand-blown glass shades made in England hang above the dining table, complementing the sense of drama in this opulent space. Dimmable filament bulbs, produce a warm colour and the shades have a variety of finishes (diamonds, ribbed, smooth) and colours (amber, grey, purple and light brown).
A handcrafted seven-metre chandelier is suspended from a precision engineered, polished nickel structure positioned directly below the elliptical skylight within the stairwell. The frame is purposely simple and open in a design to make sure the flow of natural light is not restricted. The impressive lighting installation resembles a waterfall and comprises over 100 handmade Italian glass twists and 1500 faceted crystal spheres. The glass twists have a rippled texture, an opaque centre and a pointed tip for added definition, and they complement the crystal droplets beautifully. Cascading through the centre is a spiral of 22 frosted glass lanterns housing LED lamps, which provide a soft, warm glow of light to the space, while highlighting the sculpture’s intricate glass work and sparkling crystals.
A glamorous chandelier hangs from the centre of the bedroom ceiling. Two bronze-plated rings form the base of the chandelier and over 100 triangular Italian glass prisms hang from the rings and refract the LED light within, producing a warm colour temperature. Dark brown fabric envelopes the cables leading to the bronze-plated ceiling plate. The entire piece has a drop of 400mm from the ceiling
Adapting to the construction constraints on site proved tricky at times but we managed to work closely with the client to provide quick and efficient solutions to deliver the project on time and to a high standard.
A highlight of the project for us lies within the attention to detail of each piece. Each luminaire was a labour of love from the initial design sketches to the final installation on site. To see our creations come to life and fit within each room perfectly brings a great sense of satisfaction as designers.
Questions answered by Celine Gehamy and Ollie Yates, Product Creation at Nulty Bespoke
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring an extravagant mansion in the gated ‘Karma’ compound overlooking the luxurious quarter in Cairo, click here to see more.
Nulty Bespoke | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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