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We interviewed the SBID International Design Awards sponsor for the Restaurant Design category. Adam Hout, International Director at Perennials and Sutherland speaks about how the brand has developed since 1944 when founder, David Sutherland embarked on a mission to transform the outdoor furniture industry. From Sutherland furniture to the launch of Perennials fabrics, the brand now showcases the best of its luxury performance fabrics and rugs, as well as high grade outdoor furniture.

What are the origins of your brand?

The story begins over 40 years ago with David Sutherland who opened with his first multi-brand showroom in Houston. This was followed by a flagship showroom in Dallas. He was the first to bring high-end designs from the New York and Los Angeles markets to the booming Texas market. In 1994 David embarked on a mission with friend and collaborator John Hutton to transform the outdoor furniture industry by creating a collection of teak performance with a level of luxury and comfort never before seen outdoors. Sutherland pioneered tailored “deep-seating” cushions and was the first company to introduce fully upholstered outdoor collections. For David and John, it was time to bring indoor comfort and design to the outdoors which was revolutionary at the time. Only in recent years have others embraced this trend.

Creating the best outdoor furniture came with a problem, there were no outdoor fabrics luxurious enough! David partnered with his wife Ann to create outdoor fabrics which looked and felt natural, complementing nature and yet bringing luxury feel to the space. Perennials began as an outdoor fabric brand, but now it is a Luxury Performance fabric and rug brand, with much of its sales attributed to indoors, contract, and hospitality use. Perennials has grown substantially in that time and rightfully sits as the leader in luxury performance.

The company expanded its showrooms across the US and in 2017 opened a direct subsidiary in London UK; showcasing the best of Perennials performance fabrics, rugs, and Sutherland furniture. The strength of this company is in its multi-channel dynamic business model. P&S is a manufacturer, direct wholesaler to the trade industry, and private / white label manufacturer. It owes its success to the designers that it serves, and they remain the main focal point of the business.

How do you work with interior designers?

We manufacture and wholesale highly technical products, therefore specification of our product by a qualified individual or company is the focus of our company. We want the end users to use and enjoy our products in the correct format, setting, and design – for this the designer becomes of paramount importance. We sell direct to the trade and collaborate with them to fulfil their requirements. We educate, train and support our professional clients to get the most out of our products. We believe in one to one relationships and always strive to individualise the service to our clients.

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

It was never Ann Sutherland’s initial intention for the outdoor fabrics to become indoor / contract fabrics. It was the designers themselves that began using Perennials fabrics for that purpose and this developed the brand into what it is known and respected for today. This shows that performance is important to designers and end users alike. The issue with performance fabrics is that more often than not, luxury feel will be compromised, usually encouraging the client to go with an indoor fabric for those spaces. That is where Perennials fabrics comes in. We manufacture velvets, linens, silks, bouclets; in complex designs and weave structures which look and feel convincingly natural. The compromise becomes negligible, the client can enjoy the feel of a luxury velvet whilst not worrying about stains.

This is possible through the Perennials yarn technology which is known as 100% Solution Dyed Acrylic. The colour is embodied within the fibre which makes it very difficult to separate the colour from the yarn, unlike traditional yarns where the dye is added later on. Think of a carrot that, when peeled, remains orange – the same can be said about the Perennials fibre. The fabric is inherently resistant to water, mould, bleach, UV, and almost any stain you can think of. The use of bleach allows the user to remove most stains. Our fibre also has an inbuilt Nano-seal technology which adds repellence, with liquids splashing off.

Many other fabrics in the industry are also called Performance fabrics: Polyester and Polypropylene being two examples. They do not perform anywhere near as well, the colour does not hold and the quality and feel is not comparable. Many brands will add performance through using chemical top sprays which simply do not last and are not desirable. Customers often ask about sustainability: my answer is that Perennials is highly sustainable because it lasts an extremely long time and can easily be re-purposed.

What makes Perennials so special is that we have over 130 fabric lines, qualities, and over 1000 SKU’s of fabric using this technology. Whatever the project; whether a restaurant, a yacht, or a residential sofa, the client does not have to compromise to get luxury and performance together: a strong value proposition indeed.

SBID Awards Sponsor Perennials and Sutherland featuring high-performance textiles

How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?

Our performance fabrics and rugs are not only an item of beauty, quality, and soft touch – but they bridge the gap into being a technology product. This enhances our client’s ability create a value proposition to their client. If something is beautiful, great, if it also more durable, cleanable, and will last longer than anything else, then even better!

Sutherland offers a unique aesthetic of understated luxury, combined with a focus on high grade raw materials, and comfort. The brand is world renown for bridging the gap between outdoor and indoor, not compromising on the outdoor area. Sutherland offers designers full customisation of product at a dedicated custom workshop. Whether you look to start from scratch or merely tweak an existing Sutherland piece, our product development team will partner with designers to create custom outdoor furniture guaranteed to be the perfect fit for your project.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

The autumn trends appear to be embroidery, flowery prints, jacquard effects, and natural wool blends in fashion; and this has crossed over into the interiors industry.  The Timothy Corrigan for Perennials collection reflects these trends well as do some of our longstanding natural weaves.

Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?

We want to give back to the industry and SBID is the perfect partner and platform for that. SBID is a shining light in the industry and is a strong facilitator for the the various participants.

The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2019 will be announced on Friday 25th October! 
Tables to attend this year's SBID Awards are now sold out, but a limited number of individual tickets are still available. Book a seat now!
To find out more about sponsoring the SBID International Design Awards next year, email [email protected]

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a clean and minimal kitchen design, evoking the fresh and inspiring environment that is Scandinavia. Taking inspiration from Sweden, Norway and Finland, Mark Taylor Design produced a kitchen design scheme that was both practical and beautiful to complement the client's taste and lifestyle.

Sector: KBB Design

Company: Mark Taylor Design

Project: Scandinavian Inspired Kitchen

What was the client's brief? 

The clients wanted a large kitchen and entertaining space, where the children could have their playroom and sitting area, leading into the dining area, and then onto the kitchen.  The kitchen needed to feel large but take up only enough space to allow the rest of the living area to feel spacious and fluid - the garden also needed to be very accessible from the kitchen and dining area, as this would also form an important part of the living space in the summer.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

We talked to the wife and husband together. She is Scandinavian and likes simple, clean, light spaces, uncluttered. She and her husband are interested in fresh food and entertaining, so lots of space was required for fresh food storage and preparation, while they didn’t want a long worktop run. We needed to find a space for the walk-in larder and extra large double-width fridge, so we changed the building plans to incorporate them. This allowed us to build the rest of the kitchen around these core features. The space needed to be as free-flowing as possible at worktop level. The clients were very keen to have a large island and we used this as the metamorphosis between the dining area and the kitchen.

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

The hardest part was positioning the tall units so that they didn’t impinge on the rest of the space.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The horizontal dividing bi-folding doors with hidden magnets that keep them in an open position when required is our highlight of the design features. Also receiving our clients glowing report, "We absolutely love our MTD kitchen, down to the last detail. After working close with the MTD design team, we now have the kitchen that we feel perfectly fits our wishes and the style of our house. Aside from the look, what we enjoy the most is the quality of the workmanship which is outstanding! The MTD team were a pleasure to deal with throughout. They were responsive to what we wanted, creative and gave us some well needed advice on the design and layout. We were grateful that they were flexible to our timelines and coordinated well with our builders. Also, the installation team were great; meticulous, tidy and enjoyable to deal with."

Residential kitchen design by Mark Taylor Design
Residential kitchen design by Mark Taylor Design

Questions answered by Mark Taylor, Managing Director of Mark Taylor Design

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a super stylish, yet exquisitely comfortable interior for a residential development in Berkshire, click here to see more.

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

Photography Credits: Jonathan Bond Photography.

We interviewed the SBID International Design Awards sponsor for the Residential Design Over £1M category. Alexandra Lewis-Singer, UK Managing Director at THG Paris shares insight into the history of THG as a growing family venture lead by three successive generations. Since 1956, THG has evolved its designs and product lines, but their ethos remains the same. Representing timeless luxury and celebrating the art of living with a high-end collection of bathroom fittings and accessories.

What are the origins of your brand?

Since 1956, THG Paris has established itself as the brand for high end bathroom fittings and accessories. THG Paris resulted from the meeting of three men, André Tétard, Julien Haudiquez and Alexandre Grisoni, who in 1950 created “Robinetterie de la Poste” in Béthencourt-sur-Mer. A few years later the company moved to new premises and changed its name to THG. The brand was active at that period in standard tapware. In the 1970s, THG turned to design valves and has since developed a large range of collections and a extensive catalogue which today, three successive generations continue to work on.

How do you work with interior designers?

We endeavour to assist with providing expert knowledge, quality products and outstanding service. We also provide advice on specification for private properties & larger projects.

SBID Awards Sponsor THG Paris featuring luxury tapware in Hotel de Crillon bathroom

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

The bathroom has become one of the most important areas of a home. It is now the only room that remains private as open plans appear everywhere. As a result, clients turn that room into a Jewellery box and our luxurious brassware allows for bespoke designs.

How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?

Our sales consultants’ knowledge is both technical and aesthetic, and designers can rely on the service provided. It brings them peace of mind that nothing will be missed. Also, the vast range of products we offer (150 ranges of taps available in over 20 finishes!) goes from the most classical style with crystal and semi-precious stones to cutting-edge and contemporary.

What are the latest trends you’ve noticed in your client’s requests?

Gold is back, but with a twist. A lot of bronzes, brushed finishes - and our pale gold is this year’s best seller!

Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?

We wanted to support the design industry and champion magnificent interiors. Craftsmanship is why we are in this industry and without these properties, we wouldn’t be able to manufacture these goods.

The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2019 will be announced on Friday 25th October! 

Tables to attend this year's SBID Awards are now sold out, but a limited number of individual tickets are still available. Book a seat now!

To find out more about sponsoring the SBID International Design Awards next year, email [email protected]

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a four-bedroomed, new-build residential property in Berkshire. Allison Pidgeon Interiors worked together with the developer on the specification design throughout. Using their many years of expertise to uniquely tailor the interior design to flow seamlessly with the specification, reflect the aspirations of the purchaser profile, and also the Client’s vision for the development. This resulted in the delivery of a super stylish, yet exquisitely comfortable interior through a stress-free and enjoyable process enhanced by the collective commitment of trusted tradespeople, meticulous project management, and outstanding service. These carefully managed interiors were delivered on time and within budget without compromising on quality, craftsmanship or superior design.

Sector: Residential Design

Company: Allison Pidgeon Interiors 

Project:  Oak Apples Drive

Location: Berkshire, United Kingdom

What was the client's brief? 

We offered a uniquely personal service to our Client, drafting suggested furniture layouts for all plots on the development. These enabled him to plan functional heating, lighting and electrical layouts for all plots. We also assisted in specification selections throughout, ensuring a nice flow of palette and a high quality of finishes. We joined our Client in numerous meetings at various show rooms to select kitchen and bathroom products and finishes, floor and wall tiling, carpets and hard flooring, paint colours and internal doors and door furniture. We even selected paint colours for the front doors.

Once all these selections were made we used our extensive expertise in residential design, and our research in understanding the target market, to curate timeless interiors which reflect the high quality specification on the development.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

The choice and quality of the specification, the purchaser profile, local competition and the Client’s own vision inspired the remainder of the project. We avoided whimsical trends, garish patterns and colours, and instead focused on providing tactile, comfortable interiors in a muted soothing palette, which are aspirational and sophisticated. We believe this direction was correct for the target market.

Many of the items we supplied were made bespoke for the project including upholstery, soft furnishings, window treatments, furniture, artwork and florals, and we sourced beautiful objects with which to complete dressing of the property.

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

To be honest the project was a dream with a delightful Client and we didn’t have any major hurdles.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We were delighted to see the property installed and complete, but this was surpassed by our Client’s sheer delight when we handed the property over to him (a day ahead of schedule). The positive feedback we’ve received from the selling agents and interested buyers and the fantastic testimonial our Client has written have all been highlights of the project.

Questions answered by Allison Pidgeon, Director of Allison Pidgeon Interiors

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a lavish interior for an new residential development, click here to see more.

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

Image Credits: Photography by Chris Snook

This year, the SBID International Design Awards became the first interior design award scheme to be accredited to GOLD standard by The Independent Awards Standards Council. Further cementing its position as one of the most prestigious interior design Awards in the global design calendar, The Gold Trust Mark is just another endorsement to the value that an SBID Award generates for the deserving winners.

Aside from the announcement of the highly anticipated SBID Awards winners for 2019, the Awards ceremony is a prestigious and glamorous affair. Bringing together the world’s most reputed interior designers and design practices to celebrate the past year of global design excellence. The winners across 15 SBID Awards categories will be presented with the beautiful SBID International Design Awards 2019 trophy, expertly crafted by Czech glass specialist, Sans Souci Glass Deco.

The SBID Master of Design 2019 will also be presented with an award which serves to recognise professional interior designers who have, across their career, made significant contributions to the global interior design industry through innovation and expertise; raising the overall standards of design. Last year saw David Chang, Founder and Chief Designer of David Chang Design Associates International take to the stage to claim this coveted Award for international design services to the highest level.

SBID International Design Awards event image during ceremony
SBID International Design Awards event image during ceremony

Consistent in the quest to recognise, reward and celebrate global interior design, this year’s edition will also be celebrating the 10th anniversary of SBID with a captivating ceremony held in the Ballroom of the Grosvenor House hotel, Mayfair. Serving up a 3-course luncheon throughout the day, the food menu has been produced by the Executive Chef, Paul Bates.

Attendees of the Awards can also expect a special surprise guest who will be revealed on the day to host the event as the announcements unfold. Previous Awards presenters include a celebrity line up with the likes of Julian Clary, Gyles Brandreth and Ken Bruce. What’s more, each guest will receive their own complimentary copy of the SBID Global Interior Design 2019 coffee table book. This 360-page hardback publication will feature the breath-taking design projects from the 2019 shortlisted finalists and category winners.

The annual SBID International Design Awards also represent a unique opportunity to network with other design professionals and connect with peers from around the world. So, get the champagne at the ready and dress to impress with this year’s ‘Designer Glamour’ dress code to take full advantage of the Instagram hot spots - and make sure you capture your memories of the day with SBID’s GIF photobooth, courtesy of Momentous Photo Booth.

Where: Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London

When: 12-5pm, Friday 25th October 2019

Dress code: Designer Glamour

Can nature really increase our health and wellbeing? SBID Council expert, Oliver Heath is a qualified Domestic Energy and Green Deal Assessor who founded an architectural and interior design practice combining sustainability, consumer engagement and communications to inspire the uptake of future thinking in the built environment. He promotes happier, healthier places to live and work through his projects as designer, writer, and TV presenter. Oliver shares his thoughts with SBID on how Biophilic Design in interiors can impact health and wellbeing. 

There is a growing body of evidence to suggest spending time in nature can increase our health and wellbeing. In fact, healthcare experts are now prescribing time in nature to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. However, we are spending less than 10% of our time outside,[i] and most of the time we do get to spend outside is still in the urban environment. So, what can we do when our day to day lives don’t support getting out into nature?

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Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a lavishly designed interior for an exciting, new residential development in India, providing luxury living in the heart of Mumbai. Elicyon designed this beautiful three-bedroom apartment, due for completion in late 2019, to blend a premium London aesthetic with the eclectic, Art Deco heritage of the city. Contrasting chevron marble flooring, brass details, bold colours and vibrant prints reflect the property’s tropical positioning and complement its surroundings.

Sector: Residential Design

Company: Elicyon

Project: Mumbai Development

Location: Mumbai, India

Residential bedroom design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development

What was the client's brief? 

The client’s vision here was to create a ground-breaking project in Mumbai – a luxury apartment building which is on the same level as the world’s leading residential developments. We therefore brought our vast experience in working on such developments - One Hyde Park, Chiltern Place - and combined it with my personal knowledge of the local surroundings in Mumbai. We were brought on board to design the show apartment, so it was our role to create insight into how spaces within the development could be used and to tell its story to future residents.

Residential dining room design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

We were inspired by both our previous work on some of the world’s leading developments - selecting the best suppliers and designing for a global, discerning client in mind – as well as the architecture, colours and textures of Mumbai. A fusion of bold, vibrant colours and tropical prints contrast a striking chevron marble floor with brass details, blending a sophisticated London aesthetic with the Art Deco heritage of the city. The luxurious and eclectic scheme is designed in perfect harmony with its setting.

Residential bedroom design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development

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

As sometimes happens with longer-term projects, changes within government and building regulations presented a significant challenge on this project.  The local authority in Mumbai amended the fire regulations and so fundamental changes to the layout of the building needed to be made. We are accustomed to such speedbumps and know how to work around them – either the current design can be transposed to the updated layout, or we simply have to start the story again.  We work closely with our clients in these situations to ensure that the process is handled as smoothly as possible.

Residential design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development
Residential design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Having grown up in India and retaining strong roots, working in my home country had been a long-cherished ambition. It was wonderful to combine my knowledge of the city, culture and way of living to the project with a strong influence from my design studies, which are European in origin. The project’s vision represents a moment in my personal design journey, a confluence of east and west, celebrating both without detracting from either.

Residential bedroom design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development

Questions answered by Charu Gandhi, Founder and Director of Elicyon

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a warm and welcoming co-working space with a unique approach to office design, click here to see more.

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

Residential design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development
Residential design by Elicyon for Mumbai Development

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a warm and welcoming co-working space with a unique approach to office design and the structure of workplace environments. Beyond Design Architects designed a diverse space for a client who is in the business of operating co-working spaces. Although an office space at heart, the ambience feels more like one of hospitality. The use of beige, ivory and light brown, coupled with warm lighting throughout help to create this friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Elements such as the decorative white screen dividing the space, work-bays, plants, planters, wall graphics, artefacts and the use of Italian marble for column cladding enhance the warmth of the space. A meticulous mix of seating styles and various types of seating arrangements – conventional, pods, high tables, community tables and loungers – give a varied choice to the end user depending on their needs for the space.

Sector: Office Design

Company: Beyond Design Architects

Project: Redbrick

Location: Hyderabad, India

What was the client's brief? 

The client wanted to have a contiguous space for reception, waiting, hot desking and cafe. This will mean that right at the entry space, the 'mood' of the place is set in the user’s mind which is then carried forward in the bays and workstation area that follows this space. Also, the space had to be welcoming and warm, not dull and cold.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

The design team came with with the idea of treating this space on the lines of a hospitality project look rather than a typical office reception space. Hence the entire colour scheme was based on a beige and light brown theme rather than the usual greys or whites. Also in terms of use of materials, it was Italian marble cladding, wooden flooring, use of decorative screens, texture paint on the exposed ceiling etc, giving it more of a cosy, welcoming feeling.

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

Integration of the look and feel of the front, reception area with the back of the house area - which was the pure co-working space, was a challenge. However, this was achieved by continuing the wooden flooring in the passages connecting bays behind, thereby visually connecting two seemingly different functions.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The successful amalgamation of two distinct look and feel areas, was the highlight of the project for us.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We won the Best Office Design Award in the SBID International Design Awards 2016 and we are aware about the immense recognition that it gets worldwide.

Questions answered by Alhad Gore, Managing Partner of Beyond Design Architects.

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring an immersive exhibit designed to create sensory experiences to simulate a body's heartbeat, click here to see more.

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

SBID International Design Awards 2018 Finalist  |  Office Design category sponsored by KI Europe

SBID caught up with this year's SBID International Design Awards sponsor for the Public Space Design category. Dominik Cienciala, Business Development Manager at Sans Souci talks about how the Czech provider of tailor-made light fixtures use their refined skill, expertise and drive for innovation in the art of decorative glass fixtures to deliver superior lighting and glass solutions for interior designers.

What are the origins of your brand?

Sans Souci is a Czech designer, solution maker and producer of decorative glass lighting fixtures, glass objects and architectural features. Our know-how combines many years of experience, knowledge of blending traditional production of crystal installations with latest technologies such as nano-coating, as well as 3D printing. Our bespoke installations can be found across the world, from the USA to Japan, either in hotels, private residencies or super yachts.

How do you work with interior designers?

We closely cooperate with interior designers from the beginning until the end of a project. The company has representatives across the world, who are experts in glass objects, lighting and delivering the best solutions. Our aim is to collect information about a project through personal meetings and discussions over mood boards. Our internal designers work alongside with clients and we develop visualisations and concepts together. Then we deliver drawings, final solutions and moving to our production. We focus on smooth and effective cooperation which leads to stunning installations and the client’s satisfaction.

SBID Awards Sponsor Sans Souci featuring lighting design in lobby interior image
SBID Awards Sponsor Sans Souci featuring lighting design in lobby interior image

What value does your sector add to the interior design industry?

Sans Souci is understood as an explorer and visionary in the glass industry. Our vision is to deliver great and quick service with innovative solutions. Therefore, we educate designers and partners about our capabilities as well as latest technologies. For instance, our nano-coating technology uplifts the characteristics of glass with practical features such as anti-reflex properties and unique colour finishes.

How does your offering enhance an interior designer’s projects?

We are flexible and quickly responding to the demands. In close cooperation with our production in the Crystal Valley in the Czech Republic, we give immediate answers about the production feasibility. Also, our trained representatives are capable of delivering immediate solutions and benefits of crystal finishes. We also believe that crystal and natural light plays a significant role in lighting up the spaces and designers/clients can benefit from our know-how, uniqueness, flexibility and follow the latest trends in natural settings of interiors.

Why did you want to become a sponsor for the SBID Awards?

Our cooperation started 7 years ago and its an honour for us. Through this opportunity we believe we can raise the visibility of Czech crystal production beyond the Czech republic and educate the world about our heritage, tradition and innovation.

The SBID International Design Awards winners for 2019 will be announced on Friday 25th October! 

To book a table to attend this year's prestigious Awards, click here

To find out more about sponsoring the SBID International Design Awards next year, click here

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the immersive metaphor for managed forests and the future of renewable construction designed in a collaboration between STACKLAB, Community Agency, and Great Gulf.  This public space design presents an abstracted representation of a house being gradually overgrown by a nascent pine forest. At the centre of the 60-square-metre exhibit, a twig-wrapped base-building column acts as the figurative tree trunk. Suspended around it were the ‘leaves’: 4,085 glass test tubes, filled with soil and pine saplings, hanging from a CNC-milled birch plywood trellis bolted to the existing concrete ceiling. The Lightframe display system integrates programmable multi-colour LEDs within reconfigurable structural aluminium modules, allowing for infinitely customisable spatial forms and lighting patterns. That attribute was exploited to make Wild Abode an immersive, multi-sensory experience, with slowly undulating waves of light from the LEDs timed to simulate a body’s breathing and heartbeat.

Sector: Public Space Design

Company: STACKLAB

Project: Wild Abode 

Location: Toronto, Canada

What was the client's brief? 

The Wild Abode is a collaboration between Stacklab and a Community Agency in Toronto for visionary developer, Great Gulf. It was Launched at the inaugural EDIT festival; The Expo for Design, Innovation, and Technology in Toronto from 28th September to 8th October 2017.

Great Gulf asked our partnering firms to demonstrate their leadership in efficient, and environmentally-sustainable-construction systems.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

This was an immersive metaphor for managed forests and the future of renewable construction - a living, breathing, growing attraction, beautifully and starkly contrasted by an efficient, integrated building system.

The Wild Abode features the first public launch of Stacklab project’s prototypic “Lightframe” system, which they developed in collaboration with architect, and University of Waterloo professor, Jonathan Enns in 2015 and 2016. Wild Abode used the Lightframe system to present an abstracted home being gradually consumed by a nascent pine forest. Arrayed around a central, sculptural tree trunk made of salvaged twigs, were 4870 pine saplings and soil in test tubes, ready to be planted for later use as a renewable building material. The Lightframe prototype was programmed with slowly undulating waves of light from the LEDs, timed to simulate a body’s breathing and heartbeat. The scale of the Lightframe module’s 8 by 8-foot bay relates comfortably to the human body. The dimensions permit easy, flat-pack shipping, and hauling inside a standard elevator. All of the Wild Abode exhibit components fit inside an 18-wheeler truck.

STACKLAB'S public space design with immersive exhibit, Wild Abode
STACKLAB'S public space design with immersive exhibit, Wild Abode

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

Lightframe is a modular, structural lighting system – a design that strategically alters an existing, pre-engineered German-made aluminium extrusion. These modifications took over a year to develop successfully. Once designed, they enabled the creation of a new series of four standard modular lightbars, each embedded with complex wiring runs and LEDs. Each lightbar is individually addressable and is programmed from a central computer.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We wanted to see a genuine confidence in an informed return to the basics. Our audience reported that they felt energised about the future of smart, sustainable building systems and encouraged by the scope of the research surrounding it.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We feel that SBID is committed to recognising meaningful design innovation, and often brings industry leaders together to engage in provocative discourse that is relevant across many disciplines.

Questions answered by Jeffrey Forrest, Founder of STACKLAB.

If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring an office overflowing with inspirations to help spark the imaginations of clients in search of creative ideas, click here to see more.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's pubic space design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

SBID International Design Awards 2018 Finalist  |  Public Space Design category sponsored by Sans Souci

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