As Get me 2 the Top 2019 reaches its deadline, students have until 5pm today (28 June) to submit their end-of-year projects in either Residential Design or Public Space Design to win an internship with leading London-based design practices, 1.61 London and Crawford Partnership. SBID caught up with Tacan Ibrahimoglu; previous Get me 2 the Top Winner 2018. The interior design student from the University of Central Lancashire completed her 3-month internship with 1.61 London in October last year, so we got in touch to find out what she learnt and how her internship experience has helped grow her career in interior design.
Dr Vanessa Brady OBE with Tacan receiving her certificate at the House of Lords, October 18
What did you learn from your internship with 1.61 London? I can honestly say that I learned and developed a lot in 3 months; mainly about the interior design business and the design industry throughout London and the rest of the world. Specifically, I developed my knowledge about materiality, suppliers, client relationships, architectural details, software tools, visualisation and design technologies, as well as how to find the best design solutions, ergonomically and aesthetically. I was involved in all stages of the design process within the busy design studio which taught me how important teamwork is when it comes managing a design business appropriately.
What was your favourite aspect from your time interning? I enjoyed each step of my involvement with the projects I worked on whilst interning with 1.61 London – from creating colour schemes, material boards, design concepts and zoning, to attending site visits. At each stage, attention to detail was key!
Did you face any challenges during this placement? Yes, I did face some challenges, but luckily, all the challenges reached a happy resolution. I didn’t know London very well when I first started the internship and beginning a new journey always presents new challenges - for me, all the challenges that arise are worth it because it's my dream to become a successful and experienced creative designer.
Was there a particular project you enjoyed working on? I can say that my favourite project to work on during my placement was the Eaton Square Project which I was able to create 3D visualisations for. I admired the whole design of the property; the chosen furniture, the extension feature and the French-style garden, so it was a real pleasure for me to be involved in!
What advice would you give to other students about to undertake an internship? Interning is a perfect way to understand every aspect of a job and what the key points and responsibilities are; especially if the student is sure of the subject they have chosen to develop their expertise within – it’s a great way to gain further insight. Interning will lead you to the next step, giving you confidence about running or understanding a business, or even starting your own!
In my opinion, it’s useful to consider if the company matches your own concept and styles, as well as align with your own values as a designer. It’s also good to try and find out what kind of availability or level of training the designers within the company can offer you during the internship to see what kind of value you can get from it.
During your internship though, I think it’s good to try and focus your attention to think about which area of the design process you really want to be involved in; whether practical side or management – as this will help you to streamline your development within a specific area.
Tacan receiving her certificate at the House of Lords, October 2018
How has this work experience helped you on your career journey? Effectively! Starting a design career in London made me decide that I want to stay here. London is a city I feel happy and productive, that I can be myself. The freedom of expressing myself has always helped me during my journey; to become a better designer every day.
What are the next steps for you now? I will continue to design, create, develop further and work hard to reach successful and beneficial outcomes. I have recently decided to start specialising in quality furniture design alongside interior design. Having studied a Fine Art Foundation Degree, I have a massive interest in art and design. I always like to keep track of contemporary and historical art as much as I can! The art and design industry is like an ocean for me, which I have a deep passion for — it's always evolving with lots of varieties and styles globally.
With this in mind, I am also working on curating art and design around the world - I'm a designer and an artist who also supports other designers and artists; I aim to always be very good at what I'm doing and evolve my career within this diverse industry.
I am extremely thankful to SBID for providing such fantastic opportunities for new designers!
Click here to enter Get me 2 the Top 2019
This month we're all about the kitchens and bathrooms. As essential areas of the home, it's becoming increasingly important to make sure your kitchen and bathroom interiors make optimal use of space with a balance of modern design features and functional efficiency. Bringing the newest products, technology and finishes into your kitchens and bathrooms can give your designs that innovative, yet practical edge which complement contemporary lifestyles and tastes.
THG Paris partners with Pierre-Yves Rochon for its latest collection, Le 9
THG Paris, the leading French atelier for the bath, partners again with celebrated designer Pierre-Yves Rochon for a sophisticated new collection that represents the same luxury and refinement characteristics of the renowned French atelier. Le 9 will be on display at 2019 Decorex international fair. Following nine other emblematic partnerships between the celebrated designer and THG Paris, Le 9 combines Rochon’s creativity with THG Paris’ know-how. Le 9 is a study of pure form and a contemporary interpretation on the Art Deco style while reflecting an alluring blend of defined contours and refined materials.
THG Paris CEO, Michel Gosse, said “With Le 9, our partnership reaches new heights by showing just how easy it is to bring an evolved and urbane aesthetic to the bath.” The cylindrically-shaped howlite handles of Le 9 feature contrasting quadrants in the same finish as the spout. The juxtaposition of materials further yields a multidimensional feel that showcases the high-quality craftsmanship of all THG Paris products. As with every THG Paris collection, Le 9 is offered in various configurations for basins, matching bath tub and shower systems and a range of matching accessories.
Click to shop
Martini launches new colour combinations and finishes in its popular range of kitchen furnishings
Passionate about kitchen living, Martini's contemporary approach to high-end kitchen design takes on board a modern style geared towards luxury design, without neglecting the value of fine craftsmanship. After strong demand from some of their best clients, Martini has launched a new alternative finishing for their popular kitchen programme, Project ESSENZA – NUMERO 5. This composition presents 'Bianco Platino Perlato' and 'Canaletto Gray' with polished stainless steel inserts. The new colour combination is stunning and will soon will be displayed in some of the most luxurious and opinion leading kitchen showrooms around the world.
Introducing Wet Room Materials' newest addition to the Reframe Collection
The Reframe Collection by Unidrain is an exclusive and unique series of bathroom accessories grounded in Scandinavian design and quality. Each product is designed with innovative, unique and intelligent features to improve functionality. This product range can be adopted into your contemporary bathroom space and invoke a subtle essence of class and elegance.
The latest member of the Reframe Collection is the new Corner Shelf. This item continues the functional, minimalist and simplistic concept behind the collection with its clean lines and innovative design. By using an adjustable mounting set, the shelf offers perfect placement into corners that are equal to, more or less than 90 degrees. The drainage channels and laser-cut ‘anti-slip’ barrier, allow for water to fall from the shelf and prevent bottles from sliding off the surface.
Five different colour options offer the possibility of matching all metal details, conveying a subtle feeling of luxury. The coating of these colours is done by a PVD process that provides a high quality, durable and consistent finish. Reframe the existing with unique and exclusive bathroom accessories.
Bringing Gira's smart kitchen solutions to Poggenpohl Wigmore
Gira, one of the world's leading full-range suppliers of intelligent system solutions collaborate with fellow German superbrand, Poggenpohl, to offer 'partner products' that introduce Gira smart solutions to Poggenpohl's market leading kitchen furniture, as a standard. Fulfilling the fastest growing trend for smart home design, Gira is now on display at the newly designed Poggenpohl flagship showroom in London's upscale Wigmore Street, exhibiting a host of smart lighting systems and solutions that enable connection, communication and power supply - in the kitchen! Whether designed with reactive or sensitive operation, remote access, programming and control or quite simply, offer improved utility and convenience, smart lighting is extremely valuable to both the overall design and function of a kitchen.
Regaining its position as the hub of the home, the kitchen is once again the epicenter of family life. Kitchen designers are therefore required to create modern shapes and design with innovative functionality however, kitchen planners often lack practical experience when it comes to technical innovations, which derive from the field of Intelligent Building Control. Both Gira and Poggenpohl aim to remove this potential hurdle, designing furniture that accommodates these types of solutions at the manufacturing stage. By fabricating the furniture to accommodate Gira smart solutions as standard, they are collectively making it possible for designers and planners to integrate all types of intelligent build applications in one single KNX installation.
Visit the showroom
Bette’s new sculptural washbasin, the BetteCraft, wins Red Dot Award for Product Design
Bette’s new circular, counter-top washbasin, the BetteCraft, has been awarded a Red Dot Award 2019 for product design. This is the second award for the basin, which was launched at ISH in March and won a Design Plus Award powered by ISH 2019. The basin combines the sculptural aesthetics of the finest porcelain with the perfect material for the bathroom: glazed titanium steel. In addition to an elegant white, Bette also offers the basin in a range of colours, including exclusive matt shades and in Bette’s new Effect colours, such as sparkling Midnight, velvety Blue Satin and iridescent Forest.
The basin’s organically-inspired design forms a rounded shape that tapers towards the top and bottom which is very unusual for extremely strong and durable glazed titanium-steel; the design is usually associated with soft clay at the potter's wheel. Not only aesthetically pleasing, the design is also practical as the elegant taper towards the top acts as a practical splash guard. To achieve the design, every BetteCraft basin is individually made by hand, and then glazed on both the inside and outside.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a unique public space design for Triumph Motorcycles. Studio MB collaborated with Triumph Motorcycles to create a world-class visitor facility within the heart of its Hinckley factory in Leicestershire. The Triumph Factory Visitor Experience is a site of pilgrimage for motorcycle enthusiasts and the general public, offering an inspiring and informative 1,200-square-metre exhibition and factory tour, including café and shop. The exhibition presents a chronology of Triumph's historic and contemporary achievements in motorcycle design, engineering and manufacture. It offers visitors a deeper appreciation of the authentic heritage and ongoing success of this genuine British icon and international super brand. The exhibition connects with existing riders and captures the imagination of new customers, telling a passionate story of Triumph Motorcycles by the people who make them and by the people who ride them. Studio MB was responsible for delivering this brand experience, from master planning to onsite completion as a design and build package.
Sector: Public Space Design
Company: Studio MB
Project: Triumph Factory Visitor Experience
Project Location: Hinckley, United Kingdom
What was the client's brief?
Triumph Motorcycles approached us with a view to creating a factory tour and visitor experience that would be a world-class, built for purpose ‘home’ for the brand and a destination to welcome the ‘pilgrimage’ of motorcycle enthusiasts and the general public from all over the UK and around world.
The visit was to include an inspiring, involving and informing 1,200m2 exhibition set over two floors plus two distinct styles of factory tour - one tour Monday to Thursday when the line is operational, and one special ‘behind the scenes’ tour at weekends when the factory line is not running. There was also to be an excellent café serving quality food and drink plus rider appropriate visitor facilities.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
Put simply, Triumph did. There is so much to Triumph - from its genuine racing pedigree, engineering and technological precision to a real sense of ‘Hollywood cool’. There’s also a rebellious side to the brands DNA which has propelled its popularity and coupled with a history of iconic design has led to the bikes being favoured for customisation. The new bikes have proven no exception with sublime detailing and qualitative finishes. So it really wasn’t difficult to find inspiration for the design of this new, inspiring public space in all of that.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
It was sometimes difficult for the client to understand the bespoke nature of what we do and the process we undertake. Triumph have a very talented team who live and breathe their trade, spending a lot of time in research and development before they release a bike to the public. They look for fully resolved designs and hard data to back their process for rider focused products. We are rarely given the time frames or the budgets to do R&D for projects and our process is not only user-centric but also narrative-driven so it was important to ensure the project didn’t lose sight of this. We always look to provide bespoke projects for our clients, yet our vision for a project is still informed by past experience. We use this to guide our decision-making and detailing without always reflecting this progression in up-to-the-minute visualisation and sampling. I think this was a struggle for them to understand at times, so we had to ensure we reassured them on that front.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
It was really satisfying seeing the client’s reaction to the finished project and the how well it was received by the public. As you can imagine they pulled out all the stops for the opening and the reaction from everyone was really positive right from the off. Creating displays for some true icons such as Steve McQueen’s Triumph TR6 from ‘The Great Escape’ was definitely a highlight - you don’t get much cooler that that!
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
It was an award we had never entered before and as SBID has an international standing we thought it would be good to see how our work on the Triumph Factory Visitor Experience fared on an international stage.
Questions answered by Ally Hickson, Senior 3D Designer at Studio MB
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the restoration of a dilapidated department store for an inspiring design practice, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's public space design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Studio MB | SBID International Design Awards
Haven’t completed your entry for the 2019 SBID International Design Awards yet? Perhaps you're still considering why you should be entering the SBID Awards this year? Here are ten great reasons why you should submit your entry before the deadline.
1) Be recognised by one of the UK interior design industry standard bearers At SBID we set the standard for interior design through accreditation. Our strict criteria for membership ensure all SBID members possess the knowledge and experience to work to a high professional standard. Furthering professional knowledge and skills to promote the value of professional interior design across the industry, we work across many sectors, from government to higher education and international business.
2) You won’t be hit by hidden fees or conditions In the SBID Awards, it’s impossible to buy your way to the top. Many competitions reel entrants in before hitting them with hidden costs in order to progress in the competition. Our T&Cs are transparent so you’ll never be asked to pay for extras. All information is on the website so it’s clear from the start what is involved. This means you can enter with confidence and know that only the most talented go far!
3) Winning is only for the best Victory only has value when you’ve truly earned it. We’ve witnessed competitions where every entry is awarded a prize, which devalues the honour of winning. In the SBID Awards there is one Overall Winner and 14 Category Winners. Competition is stiff and not everyone walks away with one of our coveted awards; this exclusive approach means that owning an SBID Award is a true accolade. We’re proud that our awards don’t collect dust on a shelf – they are proudly displayed, widely recognised and internationally sought after!
4) Have the chance to be published in print Each year, the SBID Awards finalists and winners are featured in the beautiful SBID Global Interior Design coffee table book. We don’t charge a fee for this (unlike some competitions) as we believe the worthiest projects earn recognition. As a record of the world’s best interior design, the book is a true showcase of global talent and your chance to be featured among the greats.
5) Design talent recognised at every scale The SBID Awards welcome entries from practices of all sizes by keeping entry fees low and ensuring T&Cs are transparent. We know it’s the mix of small and large organisations that enriches the interior design industry; we do not see practice size as a barrier to success. We showcase the best talent and that’s why the SBID Awards are a platform for celebrating the breadth of professional interior design.
6) Showcase your work to peers, potential clients and the press Since the launch, the SBID Awards have grown in reach and reputation around the world. Each year our list of finalists and winners reads like a ‘who’s who’ of international design expertise. The Awards are featured in globally consumed media brands such as the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times. Entering gives you have the chance to become part of our global community and connect with new audiences around the world.
7) Creativity counts over budget Our judges are looking for technical and creative achievement which is not dependent on budget. We know that the bottom line is no indicator of great design, which is why the judging process is carefully controlled to ensure all projects are assessed fairly and independently. We feature great projects at all scales, from dazzling opulence to simply brilliant solutions – what they have in common is the ability to impress our expert judges.
8) You’ll be assessed by the best Our three-tier judging procedure ensures only the best go all the way. All entries are assessed by a technical panel of experts while the judging panel consists of high-profile figures in the creative industry. This means recognition in the SBID Awards is a sign of true design excellence and creative achievement. The final tier is the public vote; in 2018 over 250,000 individuals cast their vote – what a great way to show off your best work!
9) Boost your contacts and find new clients The Awards are an important opportunity for designers to network and make valuable contacts. Each year, we host an international community of designers during Awards Week. They come to London to meet potential clients at the Awards ceremony and the invitation-only House of Lords networking event. These occasions underpin our commitment to promoting the business of design.
10) Get global recognition Standing out from your competitors is a vital part of running a business but can be hard to pull off when everyone’s fighting for attention. The SBID Awards are the perfect platform for showing the world who you are. They can also give your own marketing a digital boost. Appearing on the Awards website offers invaluable exposure and ups your brand's visibility. You can benefit from all the work we do to promote the Awards and you’ll be in great company.
Convinced? The deadline for submissions is just over 2 weeks away; click here to submit an entry.
As the design industry begins to settle into the swing of Summer and event activity seems to take a breather for the upcoming month, we're sharing some exciting design events on the agenda to consider adding to your calendar this July. If you want to uncover the latest and freshest talent to hit the UK design scene; make industry connections with leading suppliers at B2B networking events; or take an exclusive factory tour with SBID's South Coast Stone Summer Open Day, scroll to discover more.
3rd - 6th July
New Designers 2019 Part 2 - London, United Kingdom
Full of disruptive thinking, ambitious ideas and fresh approaches, New Designers presents the work of 3,000 hand-picked graduate design talents from around the country. Hosted at London’s Business Design Centre 26 June – 29 June & 3 - 6 July, the show explores every discipline of modern making. The event has become one of the industry’s most integral design events which gathers the brightest and most radical new creative minds under one roof to launch the next generation of thinkers, makers and disruptors into the UK design scene.
New Designers has been championing the work of young designers for over 30 years and its long-standing reputation attracts a high-profile audience of nearly 20,000, all hoping to establish relationships with young emerging designers.
3rd July
Turkish Building Materials - London, United Kingdom
Turkish Building Materials is a “meet the supplier event” that introduces 11 Turkish manufacturers to the British architecture, design and construction industry. The event is sponsored by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Trade. The participation is complimentary to invited buyers and all Quality in Construction Summit delegates. The participation includes one-to-one meetings with suppliers that can supply the high-quality materials for all construction and interior design projects and a networking lunch organised within the Quality in Construction Summit.
Email [email protected] to register your interest in attending
4th July
James Latham x XYLOCLEAF Launch Event - Manchester, United Kingdom
Italian design is renowned the world over - unique, stylish, refined and subtle. This July, James Latham introduce a new collaboration with a collection of finishes from the exclusive XyloCleaf decorative surfaces range. All designed in Milan to the highest quality standards, it can be used for any kind of interior furniture and furnishings. To celebrate, James Latham and XyloCleaf will host a preview event in homage to one of Italy's favourite traditions - aperitivo. Enjoy an evening reviewing the portfolio in James Latham's Manchester Showroom from 4pm - 7pm on Thursday 4 July.
RSVP to [email protected]
17th July
Designs from the Past, Inspirations for the Future (SBID Accredited CPD Talk & Tour) - Maidenhead, United Kingdom
Interested in textiles and prints? If so, join this CPD talk and guided tour on the origin and history of the Textile Design Archive held by the John Lewis Partnership in their Heritage Centre based in Maidenhead. Starting at 11am, this talk focuses on historic textile printing techniques, the work of reputable designers and how these have inspired more recent designs and products. This is followed by a Q&A session with a John Lewis Partnership Archivist then a guided tour of the Heritage Centre including the textile gallery where the original artworks for many designs from c1800 onwards are displayed.
18th July
SBID South Coast Stone Summer Open Day - Poole, United Kingdom
SBID Regional Director and Design Director of KTM Design, Katie Thomas will be hosting an event in collaboration with South Coast Stone on Thursday 18 July at 1pm. Specialising in the importation, fabrication and installation of all types of natural and engineered stone and ceramic tiling, South Coast Stone have worked on many technically challenging and creative commercial projects for some of the country’s leading enterprises. Offering attendees a guided tour of the full working factory, the event provides a chance to network and meet stone suppliers; as well as the opportunity to view all the finest and highest quality slabs and materials on offer at South Coast Stone. Food and drinks will also be available throughout the day.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series took a dilapidated former department store from 1906 and re-imagined it to create an inspiring and multi-disciplinary architecture and design practice. The building was stripped of years of incremental additions to reveal original features. Existing interiors were assessed to ensure that elements such as 111-year-old Burmese teak flooring, a grand tiled-staircase and historic colours were preserved, as well as artworks created by squatters dating from the 1990s.
Voids cut through the building, provided volume and connections between levels. A striking reception and model-shop animate the ground floor, while a large basement event space includes cycle storage, changing-rooms and showers. Open-plan office design concepts were used to create workspaces and meeting areas which are also located on first to third floors. Topped by a new rooftop bar/restaurant for staff and the public, comprised of a series of oak-framed pavilions and a bespoke glazed dome that marks the end of a south-facing terrace.
Sector: Office Design
Company: Squire and Partners
Project: The Department Store
Project Location: London, United Kingdom
Our brief was to take an unoccupied, dilapidated former department store from 1906 and re-imagine the building to create a series of inspiring office design which serves as work and social spaces for our multi-disciplinary architecture and design practice.
We sought to sensitively restore the Edwardian building, retaining and recycling as much of the building fabric as possible to bring it back to life, whilst also delivering a workplace that meets current and future needs in its offering of excellent facilities, with a forward-thinking approach to sustainability and wellbeing.
Stripping the building back to its raw state revealed a decayed grandeur and an extraordinary commitment to craft and detail by the original artisans. We looked to reveal and highlight these elements, in their found state, as well as exposing remnants left by more recent inhabitants, whilst adding a series of contemporary interventions in order to re-purpose the building as an inspiring modern workspace.
All aspects of the building’s history have been revealed, from its grand beginnings through to periods of misuse and decay, including a decade of use as a squat. Original graffiti sits alongside high end finishes, and modern furniture pieces co-exist with antique retail display cases in a highly curated interior filled with crafted curiosities which span the lifetime of the building.
Working with an existing building that had remained unoccupied (aside from squatters) and neglected for 40 years was challenging given its state of dilapidation. However, the building was of a robust construction, and after investigations it was decided that enough of the original fabric and character remained to provide a glimpse of its illustrious past and inform the approach of the new design, where possible embracing and capturing the building’s mistreatment over the decades.
A challenge during the restoration process was communicating to the build team the level of rawness and the overall aesthetic we wanted to achieve, as it was a non-standard finish and often a process of trial and error. During construction it was harder to see when surfaces were at their desired level of finish – we had a strong presence on site throughout the process and would stick signs to walls saying ‘this is finished’!
Re-activating the street level, which comprises a series of creative and retail units for local businesses, including an independent coffee roastery, café and record shop and a new home for the community Post Office. The café/bar at The Department Store’s apex is in the spirit of Café de Floris in Paris, which supported the original Bon Marché.
Squire and Partners’ own windows are utilised as a platform for creative arts within the local community, with a rolling programme that ranges from work by established and emerging artists to collaborations with local school children, as well offering views into the dedicated Downstairs events space used year round. These animated uses have transformed the building’s existing impermeable and hostile frontage into a friendly and open part of the community, bringing the building back into their hands following years of neglect.
The chance to be recognised by the SBID International Design Awards is a chance to be recognised internationally, by industry experts, and alongside the world’s leading designers of interiors.
Questions answered by Tim Gledstone, Partner at Squire and Partners
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a traditional Cape Dutch style house inspired by South African street art, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's office design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Squire and Partners | SBID International Design Awards
We spoke with Alan Crawford, Chair of RIBA North London Architects Group and Managing Director of London based architecture and interior design studio, Crawford Partnership; a company that regularly provides internship placements, and is also one of our inspiring design practices who will be offering a 3-month internship to the public space category winner of Get me 2 the Top UK 2019. Alan shared his thoughts on what young design interns should be considering as they start their careers in a profession and industry that will look radically different in 10 years.
Crawford Partnership – Stonechat Mews
As Chair of RIBA North London Architects Group, Alan’s personal concerns over the future of academic education and practical training to address this changing future within architecture and other design professions, also forms part of his NLAG group ongoing discussions to ensure that students and their mentors fully appreciate and are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge base to deal with new technologies, automation and robotics that threaten to marginalise those without the necessary training.
Starting out his own career in architecture by spending 2 years working in several design and construction companies across the UK and gaining valuable practical experience in between his 5 years of academic studies, Alan considers internships as an effective way of introducing aspiring young designers to the increasingly complex world of design as a ‘business’.
There are many benefits in completing an internship, and as founder of Crawford Partnership, Alan has mentored countless architecture and interior design students who have worked at the firm on short 2 – 3 month internships or have spent a year working during their periods of practical training. Helping students gain invaluable experience at his office, transferable skills and confidence in the work environment; building a solid portfolio of credible work experience whilst studying. All of which can enhance a student’s CV and make it stand out in front of potential employers.
In today’s competitive global economy, an internship is an invaluable addition to any CV. There are however a host of factors which you should bear in mind when you consider undertaking an internship. Alan shares valuable insights on how he believes students can make the most of their internships to impress employers, summarising some of his thoughts on topical subjects that interns in the design world should aim to learn about in order to give them that competitive edge.
In the 21st century, the business of design across all areas is experiencing a profound evolution as new digital technology supersedes more traditional methods of working that have existed in design studios for decades. Students seeking internships today and progressing their career with interior design firms can no longer simply rely on CV’s that promote well-crafted hand drawing skills, some CAD drafting ability, and a basic knowledge of materials, fixtures and fittings.
Interns must now be familiar with the many new digital technologies that are being introduced in the workplace intended to enhance and replace some of the more traditional skills. Knowledge or experience of these new technologies will provide interns with an opportunity to stand out amongst employers who may not already have these skillsets ‘in-house’, and who are increasingly aware of the necessities of implementing them within their own businesses in order to be more competitive in the design world.
In only scratching the surface on where technological innovation is already advancing in the design professions, it’s clear that the impact of these new technologies in design also requires a new breed of designers to plan for the dramatically changing future of design, and this new breed of designers are the interns and students of today. These young designers will be multifaceted, able to juggle many skills at once, from programming of algorithmic code and data in production and analysis of design options, to injecting an intuitive understanding of spatial awareness to produce three dimensional designs further enhanced by augmented reality to sell their ideas.
This new breed of individual is already appearing today in the design world, and in concluding, Alan would recommend that in order to better appreciate and prepare for this changing future of design, that all young design interns and students should read Superusers: Design Technology Specialists and the Future of Practice by Randy Deutsch to more fully understand what it means to be a designer in the 21st century.
With just under 2 weeks to go, find out how to enter now for your chance to win a 3-month internship with Crawford Partnership this Summer!
The deadline to enter this year's Get me 2 the Top interior design student competition is Friday 28 June.
For the interior designer, the first step when working with clients is establishing a vision — to understand the client’s intent for the space. First, ask: what deficiencies are they trying to address? What attributes do they desire? We often refer to this as “space planning” and the goal is to generate efficiency for the final design.
Once you determine how they’d like to use the space, work to understand the client’s aesthetic desires. Here, it’s about creating the client’s vision, which involves so much more than just selecting paint colours, sofas, and chairs. It should be a back-and-forth to ensure the client trusts you. They should know you’re wholeheartedly considering their wishes.
This is where it's essential for designers to utilise software for interior design. With Vectorworks, this kind of collaboration is not only obtainable, it’s a prime feature of the software.
An interior rendering extracted from a panorama. Image courtesy of Vectorworks.
In the latest software update, Service Pack 3 (SP3), Vectorworks introduced an immersive panorama feature for viewing interiors. It’s an interactive, 360-degree model. It feels like you’re actually there, and you can invite the client to experience the rendering with you. The 3D views are photo-realistic and change in real-time as the designer makes edits. Once you make a change, it reflects everywhere in the project.
This feature is incredibly useful — it means the designer can incorporate the client’s feedback in a matter of seconds, then send a shareable web link whose file size is even compatible with social media.
It comes as part of an ever-rising design trend of cloud technology workflows — where data exists in nebulous space, accessible to anyone with permission. It’s simultaneously practical and feasible, with a reasonable learning curve. It makes working with clients easy, and makes realising their visions even easier.
Written by Wes Gardner
Vectorworks Architecture Industry Specialist in the US
(Cover image credits: A rendering of the Parramatta City Centre, a design by McGegor Coxall. Image courtesy of McGregor Coxall.)
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a typical Cape Dutch style house with a traditional thatch roof in the village of Franschhoek with a quirky, residential design. The vast white walls in this sunny Cape Town home takes full advantage of the abundance of sunlight to create and accentuate the feeling of space, letting the light flood throughout the property. With the bright, white freshness of this stunning holiday home, ACID+ integrated the client's love of street art to inject the property with personality. Using authentic South African artworks and hand painted murals by South African artists to punctuate this white-washed home with vibrant splashes of colour.
Sector: Residential Design
Company: ACID+
Project: Franschhoek Cape Winelands
Project Location: Cape Town, Africa
To create a comfortable, creative interior and make good use of the fabulous outside space and views. The house was purchased on a whim by the clients when they visited Cape Town and the Western Cape for the first time and saw it advertised on their way to the airport to fly home. They fell in love with the area.
The house is a typical Dutch Cape style house with a thatch roof in the village of Franschhoek - beside the fabulous DeLaire Graff wine estate and extraordinary Babylonstoren wine farm in the Cape Winelands. The house also comprises of a separate guest suite with its own entrance, garden, terrace and even its own kitchen for guests to use, so they are able to enjoy privacy and meet up with other friends for sundowners [South Africans are avid Sundowners. Meeting up to drink the fabulous local wines and craft gins in the evenings while the sun sets]. The house is named ‘Rehoboth’, meaning a place to flourish. It was therefore important to balance social spaces whilst also offering privacy throughout the interior design scheme.
It’s really all about the views and the garden. The garden was designed by the previous owner and the renowned, late landscape architect Anne Sutton when the house was built 12 years ago. Fragrant Lemon blossom, lavender, Iceberg roses, Murraya exotica, rosemary and snowdrift Thyme make for a perfumed Mediterranean garden.
The weather lends itself to almost year-round alfresco living, and that's exactly what appealed to the clients; a Mediterranean climate in beautiful surroundings with excellent food and wine. The garden wraps around all sides of the house with various sitting, lounging, sunbathing and dining options to be used at different times of the day. The owners inherited the full-time gardener whom has cared for the garden since its creation. The house and gardens get sun all day from early morning to sunset and the separate entrances to the bedrooms means there is no post pool dripping through the house.
The client is a lover of street art, so we wanted to integrate this into the design of the home - bringing this concept throughout the interior, as well as on the exterior. The mural in the front garden was executed by a local street artist Wayne Becks. The mural in a guest bedroom is by Ana Kuni, a Ukranian model and artist living in Cape Town. Both artists works captured the owners eye instantly.
The time of year the interior fit out was being done was over the Christmas holidays which was - unknowing to us - the only time of the year when everything closes down. It's like Europe in summer when factory orders close. Everything closes down in October to February. It was their summer holiday! The time when everyone goes home to visit their families. This meant we had to ship furniture into Cape Town from Hong Kong which was fraught with difficulties and not something we would wish to repeat. This caused an ongoing saga for about 5 months!
When the furniture finally arrived it was in perfect order. Not a single scratch and everything fitted in perfectly. All the art used to punctuate the property with pops of colour was purchased in South Africa and is by South African artist, filling the home with unique and colourful art which they loved. Again - everything came together in the end and worked together perfectly!
Questions answered by Anji Connell, Design Director at ACID+ Anji Connell Interior Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a contemporary and environmentally-friendly design for a sustainable family home in Mexico City, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's residential design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
ACID+
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a contemporary and sustainable design for a family home in Mexico City. The project employed the concept of re-architecture; a concept that defines the re-use of buildings, through a contemporary and often environmentally-friendly design, to rescue architectural objects that otherwise would be obsolete. The ALD2 House project consisted of stripping an existing house, respecting a large part of the exterior due to rules of the complex where it is located, and from that skeleton rethinking the use of the materials and finishes in the design of the new version of this house.
The client, a lover of cars, art and literature, wanted a contemporary style but cosy, that would showcase his taste and those of his three children. A house where he and his children can enjoy themselves and grow. The project was planned with a variety of “monotone” materials and colours with a masculine emphasis in the use of colour and exploiting the use of iconic pieces of furniture like Barcelona chairs or Eames lounge chair.
Company: SpAce Arquitectura
Project: ALD2 House
Project Location: Mexico City, Mexico
It was important to the client that the house would strike a balance between modern architecture and a cosy home. With 3 small children, the owner wanted to achieve 'transparency' throughout the design so they would be able to see the kids all the times. The client also wanted a sustainable house, with emphasis on water and energy consumption. The design of the house therefore needed to be carbon neutral, with solar panels and work off the grid. It's one of the first off the grid houses in the country that follow LEED standards. Part of the brief was also to factor in enough car garage space for the owner to store the classic cars they collect.
The inspiration came from the intersection of two volumes; one made of glass and the other one made of wood. Cuernavaca, the city where the house is located, benefits from amazing weather so we wanted to give the house the ability to be opened up, blending the interior and the exterior. As the owner has a love for cars and art, these two elements needed to be integrated into the interior design scheme. All design aspects, from the main elements to the smallest detail use the golden ratio as a guide, almost like there is an invisible grid connecting everything that is important in the house. In the same lines we decided to incorporate a mixture of finishes and materials. With all of this considered, the overarching concept of the house was to implement self-sufficient and sustainable initiatives. All architectural inspirations therefore had to merge with its concept of sustainability, from figuring out the correct angle to position the solar panels to designing a system to concentrate the rain water to be treated and used within the property.
The toughest hurdles we faced stemmed from the balancing of two differing ideals; designing very modern house without creating an environment which feels too cold as well as achieving transparency, whilst also maintaining a level privacy - all of which needed to be realised with a relatively tight budget. To design and build an off the grid house in a country where sustainability is not integrated as a standard on residential projects was also a real challenge. To combat this, a group of interdisciplinary experts were part of the team, to analyse the land, the sustainable solutions and the design. Fortunately, a positive aspect of this challenge became the client's understanding in giving us enough time to the design which enabled us to spend time conceptualising and researching to ensure the right design and sustainable solutions could be achieved.
There are a few. One of them has to be achieving the successful integration of sustainable solutions which is a factor that much of the time, people don’t even see or notice. Another highlight to this, is that the house doesn't necessarily scream that is 'green' meaning we were able to incorporate these solutions subtly and seamlessly.
We think that the project has exceed the client’s expectations in creating a cosy environment with a clear contemporary feeling; the house could act as a good example of how design can accomplish aesthetics and sustainable design with a relatively tight budget and in a country with an emerging sustainable design culture. Hopefully this project will be a source of inspiration for other designers wanting to achieve a similar outcome.
Questions answered by Juan Carlos Baumgartner, Founder and CEO at SpAce Arquitectura
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the BBQ-themed restaurant design for a new dining destination in Dubai, click here to see more.
SpAce Arquitectura | SBID International Design Awards
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