ISTO: Creating an Elegant and Bionic Private Villa Design

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an elegant and bionic villa design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, ISTO.

ISTO Architecture and Design Studio, originating from Ukraine, has crafted a private villa in Dubai spanning an area of 1210 sq. m. on Pearl Jumeira Island. The client of the private villa is an elegant woman. She traveled a lot and lived in Europe for a long time with her family. Inspired by the elegance and aristocracy of European lands, she wanted to strive to convey this atmosphere in her personal villa. The interior is dominated by voluminous, non-standard decorative elements, dynamic bionic forms, curvilinear shapes, and natural materials. Designers landscaped the house and created a spacious villa.

What was the client's brief? 

The client of the private villa is an elegant woman. She traveled a lot and lived in Europe for a long time with her family. Inspired by the elegance and aristocracy of European lands, she strived to convey the atmosphere in her villa on Pearl Jumeirah Island in Dubai. One of the woman's key requests was to create a home that is comfortable to live in, but where you can invite friends and organise parties at the same time. "There should be a luxury hotel lobby feel on the ground floor." The ground floor is divided into two zones. The first zone is for family, and the second zone, which occupies most of the floor, is designed for a pleasant time spent with friends. The customer is also a connoisseur of bionic, curvilinear forms and materials. She strived to green her home and fulfill it with furniture and textures that would resemble natural figures. In addition, she has a passion for volumetric decorative installations of non-standard shapes and water, so the entrance area of the house is surrounded by water.

What inspired the design of the project?

We approached the project as the development of a new clothing collection. Our team was inspired by the best examples of world-famous fashion houses: Dior, Chanel, Hermes, Givenchy. Therefore, I can safely call this interior "haute couture". All of the above listed luxury brands are of French origin. It was not for nothing that we pushed away from them, because our clients are tightly connected to this European country. But the phenomenon is that the villa itself will be located in the Middle East, as an elegant pearl on the Pearl Jumeirah Island, Dubai.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

We never set ourselves easy tasks. Each of our projects is a manifestation of unique personalities (our clients). And the Monsella project was no exception. Therefore, in some sense, we were an obstacle to ourselves. Plenty of non-standard solutions, custom finishing materials, furniture and lighting. All these positions required meticulous work, time and effort from the team in order to get an impressive result.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

All conceptual and creative solutions must be developed as organically as possible so that the design project can be implemented later. We do not only create concepts, we also calculate and consider the possibility of realisation to all the ideas. I guess that this moment was crucial.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The international SBID Awards attracts with its prestige, status and main mission of researching new ideas and manifestations in design industry. It seemed that it was a great opportunity to showcase the Monsella project. This was the main driving force that motivated to apply for the competition. In addition, the participation was due to the desire to depict a subtle approach to the client. We at the ISTO studio pay special attention to personalised communication. It is like a session with a psychologist, where the client immerses you in his/her life, tells you what is important to him/her, and the design team listens to the subtleties and relays everything in every square meter.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

The moment of realisation that your efforts are appreciated on the international stage by judges from all over the world. This is recognition, confirmation of your importance and expertise. Of course, you should not become conceited, but simply continue to work: improve your professional skills, meet new obstacles, overcome them, learn new things and reach new heights of design development.

Questions answered by Oles Honcharenko, Lead Designer at ISTO.

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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a natural, tree top villa design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Kimble Roden Architects.

Kimble Roden were engaged to design 25 luxury holiday homes in an exceptional location. Hall Wood Forest, near Looe in Cornwall, is an ancient woodland with steep slopes and undulating ground conditions, requiring a very considered and sensitive approach. The solution was to create tree top villas on stilts, designed to become an intrinsic part of the landscape, promoting a relationship between the inhabitants and their natural surroundings whilst minimising their impact on the environment. The interiors of the villas are sympathetic to the external landscape, using timber panelling, natural stone and a palette that reflects the forest.

What was the client's brief? 

Our brief was to obtain planning permission for 25 luxury holiday homes set in a unique site – a woodland valley in Cornwall. The homes were to range from 3 to 4 bed dwellings that responded to the uniqueness of the context. The site is an ancient woodland with steep slopes, that required minimal impact on the surrounding environment. The aim was to seamlessly blend leisure, luxury and relaxation into the fabric of these homes, utilising the natural attributes of the site to enhance the experience.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our response to the project brief was to develop the concept of the dwellings as structures that embraced and respected the forest setting. We developed the concept of treetop villas built on stilts, allowing the dwellings to be immersed in the natural environment. By making the decision to elevate the homes, it became essential to consider the external spaces as much as the internal to enhance the sense of connection with the surrounding forest and capitalize on the uniqueness of the setting by bringing the outside in.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The planning constraints we faced when designing were considerable and required our careful response. We had to really consider the impact on the ecology of the site (the trees, the fauna, the site conditions) and limit light pollution from the dwellings. This led to a greater articulation of each space - vertical slot windows were indented deep into the buildings plan to illuminate the central circulation along with the balconies deep overhang and the timber shutters. Every space has access to glimpses of the forest, each framed in different ways with balconies and horizontal and vertical slot windows; the interior layouts of these rooms were then orientated to around these focal points.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing our designs come to life with the CGI images was definitely a highlight and helped us develop each space and its relationship with the forest. And of course achieving a successful planning decision was also a highlight!

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Entering the SBID Awards was an opportunity to showcase our work in the context of a professional environment – we are proud to SBID accredited and this gave us the chance to promote the great work SBID does and gives us a stage to further promote our achievements.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

We have really enjoyed the positive interaction we have received from our clients, professional network and followers, especially on social media. It has given us the platform to reach out to a new audience and highlight the professional interior design service we offer alongside our role as architects.

Questions answered by Edwina Kimble, Director at Kimble Roden Architects & Interior Designers.

In this week's interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the CGI & Visualisation category, II BY IV DESIGN, Dan Menchions talks about working on sustainability-focused projects, integrating sustainable initiatives into the design, as well as making wellness the main priority of the space.

In a world threatened by the climate crisis, The Residences at Central Park offers a better future. Nestled between Toronto’s protected ravine and one of the city’s hip urban areas, it is a vibrant nexus—focused on wellness and sustainability.

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

Central Park is an ambitious 12-acre master-planned neighbourhood in Toronto that promises a connected, healthier future. Focused on wellness and sustainability, it connects the urban and natural worlds, raising the bar for design excellence. Green initiatives are integrated throughout the complex. We worked collaboratively with the entire project team to align the interior design with the development’s vision: refining the contemporary lifestyle, using natural materials and framing views of the ravines, extending the harmony of the natural world inside. This strategy is also implemented in the design of the permanent Presentation Pavilion, where a composition of natural materials and future-forward immersive experiences emulate the proposed lifestyle for the prospective inhabitants of Central Park.  

Designed holistically, the Presentation Pavilion for Central Park is built as a permanent space with the potential to transform into a multi-purpose cultural hub for the community. Wrapped in a soaring 4-storey window façade, this architectural glass box is positioned on the site as a billboard to sell the development and its breathtaking views. With an orchestrated, powerful retail experience, we weaved culture and lifestyle stories, thoughtful moments of theatre, and a series of vignettes, creating the forthcoming environment at Central Park for the prospective residents while they visually merchandise the selection of future-forward finishes, furniture, and products. 

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

Witnessing the positive reaction of those who visit the site—and the pavilion—has been a joy for us since completing the project. We are pleased to see the formation of a community that cares about wellness and sustainability; and have come to appreciate how significant the integration of nature and natural elements (including natural light) plays a part in creating a healthy, future-forward residence. It is also encouraging to gain insights about how much the prospective residents of Central Park delight in someday living where they have ease of access to the nearby ravines, urban living, public transit, and robust indoor/outdoor amenities. We aim to incorporate these insights into our future projects, designing healthy, wellness-focused, and connected residences for our clients.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

Since its inception in 2009, SBID has been instrumental in propelling the interior design industry forward. As a global platform—attracting entries from across the world—it is truly an honour to win an SBID award. It is a sign of industry recognition for our project to get evaluated by leading experts for technical content and aesthetic creativity. Together with our clients, team, and collaborators, we get the boost of encouragement to continue designing beautiful spaces that connect and elevate people. We also love that the design-conscious public has a say in voting for the most inspiring projects.

What is the most important thing to keep in mind when working on sustainability-focused projects?

When designing a sustainability-focused project, the design principles of functionality, accessibility, and aesthetics revolve around environmental considerations, so in a way, the project is both eco-centric and human-centric, which includes humans too. The longevity and durability of the finishes are key, especially for high-traffic areas. It is also important to work collaboratively with the entire project team to accommodate for systematic Green features that are new in residential developments. For Central Park, we reached further and emphasized the significance of integrating the natural world into everyday life by incorporating natural materials and views of the surrounding ravine areas and using energy-efficient technology throughout the interiors.   

The development’s vision is to refine the contemporary lifestyle. What does contemporary lifestyle mean to you? How do you think our lifestyles and, therefore, design choices are changing?

To mitigate the climate crisis, we need to refine our current lifestyle as a global society. We need to become more efficient and eco-conscious, mainly for our benefit.

The Residences at Central Park connect the urban back to nature. The design and development team has integrated Green initiatives like reflective solar panels, Green roofs, and a thermal building envelope. A next-generation mechanical system incorporates advanced airflow and filtration for the entire building. Moreover, there is direct access to public transit, on-site bicycle/car-share service, and EV (electric vehicle) charging stations for every spot in residential and visitor parking spaces, promoting safe, clean travel—free of emissions. As interior designers of Central Park, we decided to reimagine how we can live better: what aspects of today’s lifestyle could be refined for a better tomorrow. We then reflected our insights onto every part of the project and delivered a robust amenity program, spa-inspired bathrooms, energy-saving light fixtures, and everything in between. The Presentation Gallery for this development even confirms the team’s commitment to sustainability, designing it as a permanent building. Envisioned as a multi-purpose cultural hub in the future, it is suited up in a composition of natural, enduring, high-quality materials and high-tech features for posterity.

What makes an interior design project wellness-focused? How do you account for it as a designer?

By its nature, interior design projects are always focused on wellness as we create spaces that improve the human experience through ergonomics, style, light, layout, and finish palettes/materiality. When designing vertical living projects, like The Residences of Central Park, we include activities for wellness in the amenity program. Moreover, a timeless composition of elements, materials, and furnishings in warm tones and delightful textures creates a harmonious feel for wellness. The attention to detail and quality cohesively begins at the entrance, continuing to the resort-like amenities and offering an urban oasis in each suite, including low water—and electrical—systems/appliances. There are also available provisions for cutting-edge automation, enabling residents to control temperature, lighting, or other items from their smartphones that make life more efficient and convenient, contributing to the quality of the residents’ everyday experience and, therefore, their wellness.

Questions answered by Dan Menchions, Partner, II BY IV DESIGN.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a minimalist monochrome residential design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, MOON bureau.

What was the client's brief? 

"THE HILLS" is a home project for a young family of programmers who love to travel around Africa. The main design challenge was to create a barrier-free space with plenty of natural light. The clients wanted the atmosphere of their home to be reminiscent of their travels in Africa. They also wished for a monochrome interior with natural materials in mind and a minimum amount of furniture.

What inspired the design of the project?

We were inspired by photographs and stories about the magnificent nature of Namibia, where the endless ocean borders the desert. Our team has recreated this mesmerizing atmosphere within the interior design. The entire interior is made in pastel colors that resemble dunes and do not distract from the beautiful view outside the window. An original palette of natural shades, materials and panoramic glazing has erased the boundaries between the living room and the surrounding landscape. In this endless space, we have located a cozy lounge area, combining it under the dome of an ultra-stylish, modular Pole lamp.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We used kitchen model Artematica. Materials such as decorative plaster, glossy glass facades, brushed metal and natural stone were used. The central part of the working surface is closed by a lifting mechanism. In the center of the kitchen is a multifunctional island. We represent how pleasant it will be to meet the first rays of the sun with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

In the bedroom in we used textured travertine and decorative plaster, and in the dressing room - transparency changing smart-glass panels. Smart glass is a multi-layer product in which the middle layer is made of a liquid crystal film. When the smart glass is impacted by electricity, the glass instantly becomes transparent.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

I decided to take part in the competition because I wanted to show the creativity and talent of Ukrainian designers to a wider audience. It was an internal challenge to compare myself with modern European designers, to see how my work stands in the context of the current world design.

Questions answered by Tetiana Sytova, Founder and Chief Designer, MOON bureau.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a colourful and design-led kitchen design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Pikcells.

What was the client's brief? 

To create a 'Kitchen of the Year' focusing on current trends such as working from home. With the kitchen space being the hub of the home and centre of different social activities, it must be suitable for not only cooking, but the kids doing homework and serving as a multifunctional entertainment space.

What inspired the design of the project?

We did research into the current use of kitchen space, how work from home areas are being adapted from other spaces (in our case we used what would have been a boot room). Colour and pattern trends also inspired the design using green and pink hues, chequered terrazzo tiles, marble worktops and backsplashes, as well as internal crittall doors creating a 'broken-plan' space and pantries.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Working within a more attainable size setting whilst still being able to incorporate all of the design features we just mentioned.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Creating a bold, impactful colour palette for the scheme, and also successfully incorporating a functional desk area into the design to improve the client's lifestyle and use of their kitchen space.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We felt the design was strongly influenced by current trends and consumer needs for kitchen environments, designed for modern living. Also it showcases that luxury-looking bespoke kitchens can still be attainable and affordable.

Questions answered by Tanya Bailey, Senior Interior Designer, Pikcells.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a CGI design of a transformable restaurant-bar venue by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, 4SPACE Design.

PAPA Dubai is an exciting 1,580 square meters dining and entertainment destination in the vibrant Atrium complex, the epicenter of riverside Al Habtoor City. PAPA Dubai will take its visitors on an extraordinary culinary and mixology journey through nine glorious bars, each themed with a unique concept. Comfort and soul food are at the very heart of the dining experience. The fascinating bars have been developed in collaboration with Moscow and Dubai's top bartending figures.

The venue transforms from a sophisticated and immersive dining experience to a chic nightlife venue with DJs and entertainment as evening moves to night. From a quiet dinner with friends to one of the city’s best vibes - feel the energy of this unrivalled sensory-driven experience. PAPA Dubai will host some of the world's most courageous bartenders vying to show off their avant-garde skills throughout the year.

PAPA Dubai is made up of little ‘boulevards’ including the Rum Station, Champagne Avenue, Gin Point, Vodka Lane, Tequila Road, Mezcal Street, Sake Alley, Wine Square, Whiskey Square, and a VIP Lounge called High gate. Each of the nine distinctive bars has been carefully considered and designed by inimitable 4SPACE in a collaboration with Papa's founder Natalia Freys.

What was the client's brief? 

To design a dining and entertainment destination as a Sensory experience, an urban playground of avant-garde cocktails, world-class cuisine, and irresistible beats.

• 9 bar concepts with avant-garde mixology under one roof and to host world’s top bartenders.
• Space with a mood that changes with its visitors, from a quiet spot with friends to a non-stop party venue offering hand-selected music by its internationally-renowned DJs.
• A venue which is able to evolve as the energy rises and the tempo picks up.

What inspired the design of the project?

The Arched boulevard. To create a cohesive Bar-village feel and to achieve one narrative that wraps around the venue, archways in different finishing are used throughout the expansive space. They create a unified design between each of the bars to form little ‘boulevards’.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

4SPACE allowed two months for the design and another five months for the fit-out and transformation. There were various challenges because of the sheer variety of materials required for each bar, the complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) requirements, and the acoustic challenges that take the bars from soulful eateries to exciting night venues.

Another challenge that 4SPACE had to overcome are the different terrazzo surfaces that were designed and installed throughout Papas. Cleverly, designers sourced authentic materials and graffiti artists to allow for fully cohesive individuality. The piece de resistance is the nine thoroughly different concepts within one narrative.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The Entrance. It has an impressive, eccentric entrance with red pipe and greenery installation that hangs from the ceiling and customized carpet below.

The transformation. The venue is designed with the ability to transform. As the evening draws to a close, you can dine in style at a chic restaurant. As night time falls over the city the restaurant metamorphoses into an elegant party venue.

Integrated into the design are both architectural lighting and entertainment lighting, providing the ability to have 5 different scenarios of the lighting ambience based on time and experience required.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We've been participating in the SBID Awards yearly and it has been our practice ever since. We trust SBID for its ethics and transparency. We believe that through the SBID platform, our designs gain global recognition and give us the chance to connect with peers, press, and potential clients around the world. We became part of the international design community with new audiences on a global scale.

The CGI project and photos from the completed venue, compared:

Questions answered by Mr. Firas Alsahin, Co-founder and Design Director, 4SPACE Design.

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a spacious penthouse design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Lori Dundas Interior Design.

Imagined during the early lockdown days of COVID-19, “The Sweet Life” is a series of conceptual 3D renderings, of a 303.6 m2 penthouse located minutes outside the downtown core of Edmonton, Alberta.

With the rest of the building mostly finished and occupied, the owners strategically took their time to decide on how best to build out the unfinished space. By doing so, the 3D models evolved into case study of sort, showcasing an experience-based design which would live well regardless of outside circumstances.

What was the client's brief? 

The client’s primary concern was that the design would ultimately be a space that would function equally well supporting intimate family & friend gatherings, as it would larger social events. The brief also asked for the layouts to make the most of the nearby river valley and treed neighbourhood views.

What inspired the design of the project?

Friendship and finding a way to design a space that reflected the uniqueness of the clients. Turns out what the clients valued most is a common thread that connects us all - entertaining, showcasing things you love and that bring you joy, finding moments to sit with others, be with your thoughts and observe nature. Creating space for these moments to occur was the greatest inspiration for the designers.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The time spent to get the vibe right. The feeling you get when you look at the renderings is so important. And it takes a lot of time to get the materials and lighting to reflect accurately on the screen as well as in print.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Taking the original project and rendering it again only at night-time light levels. Not only did the camera angles improve, but there were a couple areas where additional lights were found to be needed. Doing this extra bit of work it made the overall design even better.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Purely an impulsive act. I was proud of the project and wanted to share it with the world.

Questions answered by Lori Dundas, President, Lori Dundas Interior Design.

Project of the Week: SBID Awards Winners 2019

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features stunning residential CGI visualisations from the SBID Award winners for the CGI & Visualisation category with their cool, skyscraping penthouse project in London. Straddling the border between the Square Mile and Old Street, the Atlas Building takes in the best bits of both the City and East London. At 152 metres tall, it is Tech City’s newest and tallest residential addition, towering over all its surrounds. Ken Shuttleworth’s award-winning architecture practice MAKE has designed the building around nine enormous architectural blades, with a staggered design which creates a series of balconies and terraces.

Angel O’Donnell were commissioned by their client to design the incredible penthouse on the 38^th floor. The design needed to be art-deco inspired whilst remaining current and cool, fit for the tech-titans that would be living in the building and working nearby. The client requested that Angel O’Donnell create CGIs in order to visualise the design within the space that would then also serve for marketing the apartment for letting purposes. Teaming up with the tech geniuses at Intermarketing, the team created CGIs that were truly astonishing, completely realistic and then topped off with a 360 degree walk through the penthouse.

SBID Awards: CGI & Visualisation Winner sponsored by Vectorworks

Company: Angel O'Donnell 

Project: The Atlas Building 

Location: London, United Kingdom

What was the client's brief? 

Whilst the client had a very strong idea of their design aspirations, the penthouse was ultimately to be a rental investment, so AOD needed to use as much commercial insight into the designs that they were producing as possible, to ensure it was fitting of the penthouse setting but equally that the fit-out cost was affordable whilst commensurate to a high-value rental property.

Given the long lead time before the building’s construction was due to be finished, the client requested that Angel O’Donnell produce CGIs that would provide complete clarity on the designs AOD had produced, featuring the exact furniture, colour schemes and fabrics as they would need to serve for marketing purposes.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

We started with the idea New York City and the Great Gatsby, inspired by our client's love of art deco and being a Shoreditch sky scraper, it really was London's answer to New York! The view is like no other in a tall building in London, you really can see an entire London cityscape, North, South, East and West, completely panoramic! So of course, if one thinks Gatsby design, they think retro Gatsby scales and we wanted to have this as a feature in the master bedroom headboard but how we could incorporate that in a modern sky scraper in East London was a challenge, to go all out art deco wouldn't be right and it very much had to be a modern interpretation. Then on a trip to South of France, we were inspired by the all-round arches of the Pont Du Gard bridge near Nimes and felt by rounding off the Gatesby scales into arches, it gave the more modern look we were after! From there the design flowed, mixing modern, art-deco inspired loft with edgy Shoreditch penthouse.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Builders! Once the client had seen the fabulous CGIs and 360 degree walk through we had produced on our virtual reality goggles, he wanted the project complete as soon as possible. The challenge, however, was the main contractor who was struggling to finish the building so they could handover to the client and in turn to ourselves. We ended up having to work around the contractors which had impacts on snagging, the number of people on site and of course damage to our very expensive FF&E. However, at Angel O’Donnell, we take the view that there is no such word as “can’t” and everything is resolvable, so we put in some long shifts finishing at gone 1am to get the project finished and meet the client’s high expectations.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The comparison between the CGIs and the real thing! The CGIs were so realistic, it was easy to think that they were actual photographs, and when wearing the goggles, to believe you were in the actual apartment! Everyone was thrilled with the result and Intermarketing were able to add finesse to the visualisations that you just wouldn’t achieve from a typical render.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Between Ed O’Donnell and myself, we’ve got 20 years’ experience within the design and real estate industry but always working for others. Having established Angel O’Donnell only a year ago, we wanted to enter an awards where just being shortlisted would be a huge honour and provide us with industry recognition of our own. We never imagined that in this short space of time we would be recognised for our talent and being shortlisted (let alone actually winning!) is testament to the hard work and long hours we’ve been putting in over the last 12 months!

Questions answered by Richard Angel, Co-Founder of Angel O'Donnell

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the SBID Awards' Overall Winner 2019 with the non-invasive and nature-inspired property in Mexico, click here to see more.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's CGI & Visualisation design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

SBID Awards 2019 | CGI & Visualisation Winner sponsored by Vectorworks