This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the flagship store for retail brand, The Fold. British womenswear label The Fold asked Kinnersley Kent Design to create its first ever flagship store. Based on the idea of a private members’ club, the stylish, hardworking concept turns the traditional idea of the store on its head. Like The Fold’s clothes, the flagship is designed to take the customer from 9am to 9pm. By day, it acts as a showroom, store and VIP consultation space. By night, it transforms into an events venue, hosting The Fold’s regular networking events for its diverse customer base of professional women.
Company: Kinnersley Kent Design
Project: The Fold
Project Location: London, United Kingdom
What was the client's brief?
Kinnersley Kent Design were approached by Founder and CEO of The Fold, Polly McMaster, to design a first flagship retail store who could translate the company’s aesthetic and brand ethos into a physical space. Housed in a beautiful Grade II listed building the design needed to be respectful and relevant to the building’s historic features, enhancing rather than competing with them. Initially sold online only the flagship marked a key milestone for the brand and it was important to introduce a new customer to the brand whilst catering to the existing Fold Woman.
What inspired the interior design of the project?
We believe that retail is no longer about creating something static. It is about designing flexible spaces that change throughout the day, and that grow and evolve with a brand. The concept we designed for The Fold was based on the idea of a members’ club, turning the idea of a traditional ‘store’ on its head. From the outset, the flagship needed to be dual functional – serving as a relaxed shopping space by day and transforming into an events space in the evening where the brand can hold networking or press events. In essence, the flagship store we designed does what the clothes do – takes the customer from 9am to 9pm.
We also chose materials that reflect the brand’s attention to detail and its tailored, quality fabrics. The interiors palette is graphic and quite masculine, with a monochromatic base that reflects The Fold’s work wear roots, juxtaposed with an eclectic and slightly unexpected tactile mix of materials. The herringbone pattern flooring is reminiscent of heritage fabrics, while brass highlights add a glamorous touch that’s suggestive of clothing details such as brass zips and fastenings.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
It is never a straightforward process when designing in listed buildings due to the restrictions imposed, however at the same time we were also very conscious of allowing the beautiful historic features shine through in our scheme. This, paired with the fact that we wanted the space to be multi-functional and serve as a meeting and event space as well as a retail store, led us to design a concept with modular fittings and fixtures. By day, the central bar, equipped with oversized iPads and power sockets, provides clients with a comfortable space to catch up on emails, or simply grab a water or coffee. Come evening, the bar can be transformed to hold drinks and canapés during The Fold’s networking events.
From the outset, our strategy was to create an ownable three-dimensional design language and philosophy – one that can be articulated differently to suit the architecture of individual buildings, locations, and market nuances as the brand evolves and grows.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
The Fold flagship was a fantastic project for us to work on as it was a true collaboration between our team and the client. The highlight, however, has been the wonderful feedback we’ve received from Polly and her customers as they have gone on to enjoy the space. Multiple networking events have been hosted since the launch (on International Women’s Day 8th March 2018) and, proving that the flagship is more than just a showroom, sales doubled in the first two full months of trading.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
The SBID Awards are understood to celebrate some of the best international work in our industry and it is an honour for us at Kinnersley Kent Design to be recognised amongst the industry leaders who inspire us.
Questions answered by Jill Higgins, Partner of Kinnersley Kent Design
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the refurbishment of a historic hotel to enhance the unique character of the building, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Kinnersley Kent Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the refurbishment of a historic hotel, located in Bristol, boasting 71 bedrooms and six suites. Offering spectacular views of the famous Grade I listed Clifton Suspension Bridge, the project aimed to enhance the unique character shaped by the architecture, history and location of the building as well as providing comfort, relaxation and a sense of luxury for guests to experience. Classic period features are retained yet interpreted in a contemporary manner to offer a unique twist on timeless interiors with an intriguing story inspired by the location’s history alongside the Hotel du Vin brand, with touches of irreverent British humour.
Company: Dexter Moren Associates
Project: The Avon Gorge Hotel
Project Location: Bristol, United Kingdom
Dexter Moren Associates were selected for the refurbishment and interior design of the Avon Gorge hotel, including the 72 bedrooms and 6 suites. The historic hotel, set above the site of a listed pump room and spa, first opened in 1898. Located in Bristol, it has spectacular views of the famous Grade I listed Clifton Suspension Bridge. The client, Hotel du Vin, requested a design that would enhance the unique character shaped by the architecture, history and location of the building that would also subtly incorporate the essence of the Hotel du Vin brand while giving the hotel an identity of its own. Bedrooms and suites should have a residential feel: comfortable, relaxing and luxurious. Classic existing features should be retained yet interpreted in a contemporary manner and provide a timeless interior and intriguing story.
The initial concept was inspired by the building itself and the surrounding areas: the intention being to bridge the old and the new, the brand story and the locale. Dexter Moren Associates took the central concept of wine inspired by the Hotel du Vin brand and looked at the factors involved in making it: nature, represented by flora and fauna such as local birds, and time. Inspiration came from the views of the Gorge, the history of the Clifton suspension bridge and modern Bristol city.
An understanding of the hotel’s clientele was of utmost importance to the design. Hotel guests include business travellers, meeting attendees and those on weekend getaways. The hotel is also popular as a wedding venue so it was also important that the guestrooms and suites were designed with this in mind.
Nine different schemes were designed for the guestrooms: six standard and three suites. Dark-coloured walls act as a backdrop for feature wall coverings and bright splashes of colour in headboards and upholstery. All metal work is in slick satin brass or matt black. The bathrooms have bright white metro tiles lifted by a flash of turquoise green. Many rooms feature a luxury roll top bath either in the room or ensuite; the Laurent Perrier suite has two baths within the bedroom, ideal as a bridal or honeymoon suite. Workable desks in all rooms lend themselves well to the business traveller while tourists will be charmed by the retention and highlighting of the original architecture. Lighting is used as a practical tool to enhance the guest experience - as the lighting changes so too do the focal points of each space. The inside of each wardrobe is painted a feature colour to add an element of surprise for guests. The pièce de résistance is the artwork adorning the walls. Beautiful classical paintings at first glance, upon closer inspection they reveal irreverent modern elements: a man dressed for a formal occasion holds an iPod; a well-dressed lady wears a heavy gold chain adorned with a dollar sign instead of more typical diamond or pearls. These give the rooms a finishing touch of quirky British humour to appeal to locals and tourists alike.
In terms of designing it was a challenge to bridge the old with the new. The intent was to maintain existing features wherever possible in order to celebrate the building's history, and this created challenges along the way as they were discovered during opening up. The concept of time was translated by way of laying contemporary design over a classic backdrop.
Memorable moments include discovering original stained glass in the reception, grand stair and basement areas which we managed to restore and incorporate into our design. Another highlight was the successful opening of the White Lion Bar which has been received really well by the local residents.
SBID Awards are prestigious, world renowned, and enable global recognition among our peers and the design industry as a whole. Recognition for the team on the project for their talent, passion and hard work.
Questions answered by Neil Andrew, interior designer and Partner of Dexter Moren Associates
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a modern-day luxury home that combines both old-school opulence and contemporary cosiness, click here to see more.
Dexter Moren Associates | SBID International Design Awards 2018
January is coming to a close, so it's time to shake off those January Blues and look for new inspiration and fresh motivation for the month ahead with our round-up of design industry news and the upcoming events that should be on your radar as we enter into February.
5th - 7th February
Surface Design Show - London, United Kingdom
For architects and designers the Surface Design Show has become an essential date in the calendar. Billed as the only event in the UK that focuses solely on interior and exterior surfaces, the Surface Design Show is an opportunity to meet suppliers and experience innovative and exciting materials. For this years exhibition, Porcelain Tiles Ltd will be showcasing their TAILOR-MADE Collection and demonstrating the versatility of porcelain as an exciting and practical surface material!
Discover more
5th - 9th February
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair - Stockholm, Sweden
The Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair is brimming with the latest innovations within interior design and lighting for both homes and public spaces. New products, new materials, new knowledge, new trends and new environmental and technological solutions are displayed in a both informative and inspirational manner.
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair has also initiated 25h Design, a new design festival open to the public. Starting on Friday 8 February at 4:00 pm, Stockholm’s design scene will offer events and workshops for the public. Mingle and be inspired together with other design enthusiasts. On Saturday 9 February, the fair will open its doors to the public, offering everyone the opportunity to come see the newest products before they arrive in stores.
Get me 2 the Top UK competition for first and second year design students will launch with new categories!
The Society for British & International Design will be opening their annual ‘Get Me 2 The Top’ internship competition – offering students the chance to work in one of three leading London Interior Design studios for 3 months this summer! Get Me 2 The Top, now in its third year, was developed to find innovative and talented first and second year University students. The competition has been created to offer students the opportunity to develop key relationships and give them the tools and advice they need to kick-start their careers whilst studying.
The categories have now been split into specialised sectors of the Interior Design Industry and students will be asked to complete a 'project task', selecting the project brief from either Residential Design, Public Space Design or Product Design. Each task has been set by this year’s judges; Hospitality Designer, Hans Galutera;; Healthcare Interior Designer, Diana Celella; and SBID Founder and Interior Designer, Dr Vanessa Brady, OBE.
21st February
Mailbox by Design - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Mailbox by Design is a series of design and architecture events that brings together leading industry professionals based in the West Midlands. Register to attend on 21st February to hear Interior Designer and Project Manager, Suzanne Barnes from SBDP Ltd discuss relationships between Client, Architect, and Contractor to realise a residential project. Using a particular case study, she will identify the pitfalls and show how good collaboration can achieve a project to finish on time and on budget. The event will take place at Home at the Mailbox, Birmingham’s premiere destination for interiors and homes.
Register now
The UK Government opens up Tier 1 Visa for Architects
Architects now have the alternative option of applying for the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa which had previously only been open to migrants working in digital technology, science, engineering, humanities and the arts. Fashion designers were recently added to the list and now architects can begin applying from 10 January 2019. RIBA chief executive, Allan Vallance said the move will allow the architecture industry to attract the international talent it needs and hopes that “architects across the world will seriously consider looking at applying to work in the UK on this route.”
SBID are pleased to offer SBID Members fast-track services when applying with the Immigration Advice Service if they are eligible for the Exceptional Talent / Promise visa category!
Read more about the visa or find out how to apply
20th - 22nd February
International Exhibition of Leather and Accessories - Milan, Italy
LINEAPELLE is the most important international exhibition dedicated to leather, accessories, components, synthetics and models for footwear, leather goods, garments and furniture. Launched in 1981, it has become the most qualified international exhibition of its kind. The event takes place twice a year, in February for the summer and September for the winter collections, at the Milan exhibition centre with the upcoming exhibition on Wednesday 20th February.
27th February
SBID Breakfast Meeting with Perrin & Rowe - London, United Kingdom
SBID Business Breakfast Meetings aim to bring together relevant industry professionals to facilitate business networking and partnerships. The upcoming Breakfast Meeting will be hosted by Perrin & Rowe; specialist manufacturers of the finest Kitchen and Bathroom Collections, designed with cutting-edge precision engineering, on the Wednesday 27th February.
Find out more or email [email protected] to register your interest in attending.
The 8th edition of Roca's jumpthegap International Design Contest is now open for registrations
Jumpthegap is a biennial competition launched in 2004 by bathroom brand Roca in collaboration with the Barcelona Design Centre. The aim of the contest is for architects, designers and students to showcase their talent and submit new, innovative and sustainable concepts for the bathroom space of the future. Entrants are encouraged to use their vision and create conceptually futuristic and innovative bathroom solutions, whether it’s a new product, new space or even new uses and functions for the bathroom. This international design competition is open to students under 30 and professionals of architecture and design under 40. The three awards include €10,000 each for the professional and student categories and €6,000 for the special We Are Water Foundation prize.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a modern-day luxury home that manages to combine both old-school opulence and contemporary cosiness under the same roof. Superior air ventilation incorporated into the interior of this property allows it to feel larger and more spacious. A stark contrast to the dark and cramped image of a pre-war house. The house is equipped with three bedrooms, which are hosted on the upper levels. Sticking to the modern European theme, the first bedroom features a soft, neutral palette, enhanced with soft blue furnishing & a semi open wardrobe. The second bedroom comes with a softer, baby blue accent, a sleek, custom-made wardrobe / dressing table as a nifty space saving highlight, as well as a hotel-like bathroom with arabescato marble feature wall. Warm, earthy tones blanketed the final bedroom with a restful atmosphere, a clear glass door wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom.
Company: NEVERMORE
Project: The Irrawady House
Project Location: Penang, Malaysia
For this project, our objective is very clear, we wanted to make the 15 foot wide pre-war terrace house open plan, to break away from the traditional pre-war house layout. Therefore we divided the space into 2 zones; the common area for the ground level and then personal and private spaces for the first floor. With this chosen layout we were able to maximise the usage and fulfil all the needs and requirements of the clients.
On the ground floor, as we enter from the main entrance, we are greeted with the pantry and bar counter clad in beautiful Italian marble, complete with a pair of Reza Feiz's Bride's Veil bar stool; the space serves as a pantry / bar to offer space for storage and entertainment as one of the client’s needs and requirements for the design.
The living space is housed further in the middle of the house; to be some distance away off the main road. The dining is located beside the living space right under the skylight; where ample day light is cast into the interior; perfect for energy saving through-out the day. As for the kitchen, all necessary facilities of a fully equipped kitchen are held within the smallest possible footprint at the end of the open layout. A hidden door leads towards the back yard which consist of the laundry and powder room. The room also features a sculpture-like spiral staircase fabricated in mild steel and finished with special rust.
On the first floor, with the chosen layout, we are able to maximise the bedroom sizes, equip with bathroom for each room which typical pre-war houses do not have. Generous panes of glass are utilised to turn ordinarily opaque walls transparent, providing generous views in some surprising places. In one of the bedrooms, the bath is rendered in the manner of a boutique showcase, with generous stretch of windows putting the freestanding tub on display in the air-well with a fully imported Italian arabescato marble feature wall as the backdrop. For the guest bedroom, we wanted created a sense of privacy, it is located 10 feet away from the other bedroom and can only be access via the spiral staircase located at the far end of the house. The monochromatic basis of this bedroom is enhanced for eye pleasing variety with the introduction of greater range of wood tones in fabrics and architectural finishes.
The elongated living room is connected with the kitchen, dining area and open bar area as the decor features a modern twist to classical European designs. Fitted with a daring open staircase, this bold design is further enhanced with the selection of large circular pendants & imported Italian marble counter. Gold finishes are thrown in to the interior design to elevate the overall look with a hint of glitz. Meanwhile, the living room, dining area and kitchen enjoy the warm glow derived from the skylight feature, giving the space a natural comfort, bathed in natural light.
Dealing with structural issues which related to the creation of the column-less, open plan interior within a typical pre-war terrace house; to resolve this, we came up with an "i" beam steel support to withstand the weight of the cast concrete flooring on the first floor. Also, the spiral staircase was not installed without difficulty as it had to be pre-fabricated at the workshop and then reinstalled at site.
For me this is definitely the results of the open plan layout! Also other elements of the interior design like the cantilever bath tub, the use of skylights throughout, the spiral staircase finished in rust paint, and a gorgeous moooi smoke chair!
We wanted to see where would stand on an international level and thought the SBID Awards would be the best platform for this!
Questions answered by Chuah Say Yang, Creative Director and Chong Su Min, Design Director of NEVERMORE
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a unique and inspiring home that pushes boundaries with a sophisticated balance of layers, click here to see more.
NEVERMORE | SBID International Design Awards 2018
2019 is well under way as we enter into February, so make sure you check out the latest products, collections or innovations on the market from the past month. From new textured wall coverings and distinctive ombre painted radiators, to bespoke boiling water taps and contemporary but functional furniture designs.
Bisque, the London-based pioneer of luxurious radiators for stylish interiors, has introduced its latest new finish; a distinctive, ‘dip-dyed’ ombre style. As a brand already widely recognised for offering the widest selection of colours and finishes around, this latest new style only further strengthens Bisque’s colour portfolio. The new ombre finish invites Bisque customers to choose between 4-6 shades. These are carefully applied from light to dark to each Classic during a special application process. This new finish also takes advantage of Bisque’s colour-matching service, where it can cater to popular paint brands such as Farrow & Ball and Little Greene.
Available in both horizontal and vertical models, the Classic is by far Bisque’s most versatile design. Fondly referred to as the old school-style radiator, the Classic has an enduring appeal and a fantastic heat output, and suits a wide range of interiors, from cosy cottage to contemporary townhouse. In addition to thirty-eight stock sizes, it can even be made-to-order when only a particular size will do.
Click to shop
Arper Collections furnish the new library, Oodi, recently inaugurated in the heart of Helsinki and designed by the Finnish firm ALA Architects. Among the bookshelves, the trees and the break rooms, Arper collections interact with the surrounding architecture and blend in seamlessly with the different areas. This ever-changing space develops underneath the undulated ceiling on an equally irregular wooden surface, lit by skylights and the surrounding glass walls. Positioned along the whole library area, the Saari and Catifa 80 sofa and armchair collections create cosy urban living rooms where people can sit down and read. The Catifa Sensit seats, arranged alongside the glass walls, invite people to unwind and enjoy the views, while young readers can take a seat on the colourful Pix ottomans in the children’s area.
Heikki Ruoho, Designer at ALA Architects describes their choice of Arper collections as follows: "These functional products can bear the intense use they are meant for; they are extremely versatile for the comfort of guests of all ages with varied needs. Flexible products that cater to the wishes that rapidly change over the day and depending on the areas; they are light and jolly to express the playful side of this project".
Newmor introduced three new designs to their collection. Woven, terrazzo and textured backgrounds with on-trend prints and smart tailored embosses in contemporary colourways. All are available in commercial quality wide-width fabric backed vinyl, suitable for high traffic areas.
Seminato is Newmor’s take on the terrazzo look. Twelve matt backgrounds and one shimmering copper are embellished with a pared-back flecked metallic print, enhancing the quartz effect. A soft-hued mineral palette is both on-trend and classic. The result is a clean, elegant surface with enduring appeal.
In the shade of the familiar foliage in lush exotic gardens that filter the sun, the Yves Delorme 2019 Summer Collection offers a rich palette of organic colours, evoking the summer’s atmospheres. From seasonal heat to cooler temperatures, the designs transport us from familiar places to faraway lands, from leaves to flowers, between dreams and reality. The designs highlight the colour green in all its variants... mint, lime, sage, emerald. Associated with white, these designs enhance the coolness of long summer nights, and married with a fruity peach colour, they integrate the most fashion-forward interiors of the season.
Featuring Quooker’s Nordic square boiling water tap finished in Jaguar Blackberry; design inspiration taken from the Clients car! You can bring a unique experience to your projects with the beautifully-crafted bespoke Quooker Hot Tap with Kuche and Bagno. They can tailor any Quooker tap model including the new Flex model and offer an array of finishes to create a unique focal point within your designs.
It is no coincidence that Fashion Designers eventually, once recognised as a ‘Designer Luxury Brand’, merge into interior design beginning with stylising and décor products. The super luxury homes of London will be adorned with the most exquisite bed throws of mink, backed onto richly woven Burberry fabric and wallcoverings in a heavily damask print from Roberto Cavalli.
These luxurious items are décor, they are not interior design although some fashion models have also added their names to design properties such as ‘Kate Moss in the Cotswolds for Yoo Developments’ and even Bulgari in Knightsbridge adding the jewellers name to the five-star hotel; The Bulgari. Where does this leave interior design? It demonstrates how much value society at the luxury end of the market place on a designer of interiors. I have been looking around the super apartments in London and seeing the names of well-known manufacturers to the design profession internally, but perhaps less so to buyers.
Interior design companies are also a luxury, those that are best-known have clients who don’t want to share them, so the cream of interior design quality is less known than perhaps they could be. This year I want to focus on the designs of some of the best at the top end, as well as featuring some fast and simple ways to achieve a ‘designer quick fix’ if you are preparing to sell your property so that you can show the potential of a property in need of refurbishment to potential buyers looking for a challenge which can be easily moulded for personal tastes.
The benefit of interior design is that it travels well, it lasts a long time and it is nimble enough to address all budgets, just like fashion! London is the city of design, it is where everyone wants to be so, watch this space for the year ahead as we bring you ideas, trends, products and tips for London property design.
Forget the one colour emulsion throughout the property, it’s time to be bold. Make a statement with colour. Warmth works. Knowing which colours will work in a small space as well as a large area is essential – the SBID Colour Council will be revealing its diverse and adaptable colour pallet for 2019 within the coming month to give you industry-informed and expertly-selected colour recommendations to achieve versatility in your upcoming projects.
Written by Dr Vanessa Brady OBE. Award-winning Interior Designer, CEO & Founder of the Society of British and International Design
Click here to discover more about the SBID Colour Council
(Images by Design Studio of Yuriy Zimenko)
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a unique and inspiring home that pushes the boundaries with a sophisticated balance of layers. The interior design introduced exciting layering, intriguing textures, contrasting materials as well as sophisticated finishes and fine detailing. Each space features bespoke furniture pieces, designed and finished in luxurious velvets, flocked velvets, fine wools and antiqued leather. These were complemented with timber and high gloss tables, European rugs, mirrors and accessories. The use of beautiful exquisite chandeliers in various rooms is prominent, along with accent tables and floor lamps. The careful and experimental layering of this projects injects the home with interest, detail and timeless elegance.
Company: Trenzseater
Project: Prosser Residence
Project Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Our brief for this prestigious project was to present something that was new and exciting, something that had not been seen before or expected. To bring intriguing layers of texture and design to all elements of the interior whilst creating a space that was useable, not precious and could easily be lived in by the clients. As part of our brief we were to present a full interior design package which included some architectural elements with a marble entrance wall, we were to offer design on the kitchens and bathrooms, door hardware, lighting, flooring, window furnishings, wallcoverings and obviously the furniture and interior furnishings.
We delivered an interior which was inspiring, it was layered with intriguing textures & materials, sophisticated finishes and details which offered the client something personal and curated. To achieve this, we featured throughout our design the use of natural stones in flooring, bathrooms and kitchen, brushed brass tapware and door hardware, Oak parquet flooring and the use of dark chocolate American oak timbers were used in the joinery, doors and furniture. We also featured a lot of natural seagrass wallpapers from Ralph Lauren with metallic backgrounds along with flocked velvet and glass beading details. In all spaces we designed bespoke furniture pieces for, finished in luxurious velvets, flocked velvets, fine wools and antiqued leather, complimented with our timber and high gloss tables which all were then finished with our extensive use of European rugs, mirrors and accessories. The use beautiful exquisite chandeliers in various rooms is prominent, along with accent table and floor lamps.
With all our projects we ensure we have a sophisticated balance of layers to give interest, detail and timeless elegance. We believe it’s the details which offer refinement, personality, balance, character and luxury.
I am continuously inspired each day by design, through architecture, interior design and classic furniture design where there classic detailing provided a signature style. I also enjoy, and are inspired by fashion, art and antiques. Natural materials inspire me for their uniqueness. The classic qualities of marbles and stone and the character you get from solid timbers. All of which contribute to this projects inspiration.
The most challenging part of the project was pushing the boundaries for the client to challenge them to do something unique and different.
Presenting to the client our proposal as a full presentation and watching each step evolve on site to the finished result which the client absolutely loved!
I believe such a competition as prestigious as this is, celebrates those who excel in interior design and gives inspiration to those who are new to the industry, a competition like this fosters growth and excitement.
Questions answered by Ben Lewis, Interior Designer and General Manager of TRENZSEATER
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a contemporary three-bedroom home with an idiosyncratic style, click here to see more.
Trenzseater | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a bespoke contemporary three-bedroom home, which replaced a double garage on an 80 square-metre site. The idiosyncratic style serves to enhance the context of the street-scene with a bold architectural statement, contrasting with the context of traditional Victorian houses. Filling the footprint of the site and set over three floors, the project was delivered on a limited budget but exceeding the client’s brief. The three-bedroom home, bathed in natural light, uses a minimal palette of materials to unify the design language internally and externally. The materials used include dark brickwork, externally and internally, dark burnt larch cladding and birch-faced plywood throughout the interior for bespoke kitchen, bathroom and stair joinery elements. The result is a bright, bold comfortable design, confidently articulating a contemporary language of architecture used to transform the site into a unique new family home.
Company: Crawford Partnership
Project: Darling House
To design a new build contemporary three-bedroom family home on a small constrained urban infill site, formerly a double lockup garage purchased at auction, with high-quality bespoke architecture and interior design that would feel spacious and bright and would incorporate sustainable construction technologies and renewable energy installations, and all a limited budget.
Our design inspiration comes from many sources, however, having an engaged client with enlightened ambitions was our main inspiration on the project. This resulted in many productive discussions about their aspirations and style preferences for the new home, which sought to challenge conventional ideas to address the many constraints of the existing Victorian surroundings and create a home suitable for 21st century lifestyle. The practice’s design approach is unapologetically contemporary; providing bold and ambitious design solutions particularly when working in a sensitive Conservation Area context.
Achieving planning consent for a contemporary design within a Conservation Area is a major hurdle, as is working constantly to ensure that all neighbours whose homes adjoin the boundaries of urban infill sites do not experience any loss of their existing amenity during the construction works, however, the main hurdle for a designer to overcome is often providing a Rolls Royce for the price of a Mini, especially when working with a shoestring budget.
For us, it is paramount to completely understand the cost implications of every decision in order to not only achieve but to elevate the client’s aspirations for their project without compromising their budget. Continued collaboration and communication throughout the initial design stages between the designers and the client, and thereafter with the contractor and sub-contractors during the detailed design stages and works on site has made it possible to attain the quality of finish and fitting out we desired, whilst adhering to the client’s budget.
Maximising the feel of space and light within this very compact three-storey home has been the rewarding highlight for us, and was achieved by careful studies of the internal volumes and limited scope for placing windows, and then by simplifying the main backdrop of finishes, both externally and internally, which are uniform and monolithic and provided at minimal cost, allowing us to then spend more of the construction budget on interior features that elevate and focus the attention on the ambiance of spaces, such as the slender, curved glulam timber roof beam structure, the sculptured open riser staircase, the bespoke kitchen and bathrooms designed by us, the geometric and monochromatic lighting fittings, and especially the variety of glazing elements incorporated that contribute to the surprising levels of natural light and sunlight that filters within all levels of the interior, providing kinetic patterns of light and shade throughout the day on the canvas of walls, floors and ceilings.
As a ‘boutique’ architecture and interior design practice, we relish the challenge of working on these extremely constrained projects, and we are constantly pushing to achieve more with less, applying the knowledge and expertise gained from smaller projects into larger commissions. The SBID Awards are recognised globally as a benchmark for the highest quality in interior design and architecture, and having been shortlisted as finalists in the Awards in four of the last five years, we are very proud of this accolade which continues to inspire our efforts on every new project.
Questions answered by Alan Crawford, Founder and Managing Director of Crawford Partnership
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a modern and fashionable family home which serves as a place to escape from the city bustle, click here to see more.
Crawford Partnership | SBID International Design Awards 2018
Little over three months remain until Article 50 meets its deadline. Yet with Parliament in consistent dispute over the finalities of the UK leaving the EU, businesses up and down the country have been waiting anxiously for clarity over the UK’s future trade deal and immigration policies. The months leading up this pivotal moment have seen many recruiters fearful over their already shrinking talent pools. Architects have been at the forefront of this concern since a ‘no deal’ Brexit would mean the mutual recognition of qualifications across the Channel would no longer apply. Many firms have been encouraging staff to register with the Architects Registration Board in a bid to curb the 60% of working EU architects that claimed they have considered leaving the UK. . .
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This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a modern and fashionable family home which serves as a place to escape from the city bustle and be immersed in a harmonious, relaxed lifestyle; offering a sense of protection. The interior design is rooted in the exquisite simplicity, elegance and the beauty of everyday life. The creation of clean shapes has been a guiding principle while the presence of natural wood also influenced the design style. The designer, Danhor, has created a house made of eco-materials, surrounded by genuine nature and a river – a home that is alive, breathing and free. The interior is unified by clear, modern, minimalist shapes and clean lines and colours; there is a gentle colour spectrum for walls and furniture in neutral beige and greys. The space is not overloaded with furniture and the bespoke furniture harnesses textures such stone and concrete which complement the wooden elements.
Company: Danhor
Project: River Side
Project Location: Kiev, Ukraine
Determining this project was its location. When I first got into the Family Club River Side, I realised that I was not just in a beautiful cottage town on the banks of the Dnipro. This place captivated me with its atmosphere and the architecture of the houses - for me, as a designer, this is very important, because it immediately inspires me and helps to shape the style of the future interior. This is a place of relaxation in which I wanted to create a harmonious homely atmosphere, a sense of security and peace, a home in which I want to live, a place where I can escape from the city bustle, from the cramped and stuffy environments and plunge into the calm routine of being. This was the main idea of the project. I am lucky that the clients are also good friends of mine. So first of all, I wanted to display their inner world: a love of travel, jazz music, literature, gourmet food, working in a creative profession with a wonderful sense of humour. In short, I wanted to capture their taste for life. Also, because the client is a well-known person in our country of Ukraine, who works in television, I did not want to declare her famous lifestyle but rather try to make her life at home as quiet as possible and closed to society. The home will inhabit a family with two children, which immediately gave me the idea to make the interior delicate, calming and neutral, whilst adapted to life with children. I wanted to avoid pretentiousness, and focus on a dominant position in the surrounding environment in which I saw serenity, comfort and warmth.
The presence of natural wood certainly influenced the design style. A house of ecological materials, surrounded by living, real nature and the river, could not be plastic and artificial inside. At first, we gathered together pictures and objects seen in cinema, magazines or in some interesting places, put everything together - and the story began to develop by itself. We talked a lot, then paused, tried to hear each other and persuade each other on certain things; I, from a professional standpoint, and Lena (the client) from the viewpoint of the customer who will live there and wants to rejoice in every corner of her house. For me, the most inspirational element in this house is the overall holistic concept of the entire interior design concept. This is when, step by step, a new picture opens up for you, a new premise, but also a continuation of the previous one. The style of this house is difficult to determine. The approach to design was a lot of intuition, based on the knowledge and the wishes of the client. This interior combines clear, modern, minimalist forms and clean lines with calm colours of neutral beige and grey shades throughout the walls and furniture. This is the interior for life! And the value is in the emotions and the story, which became an integral part of life for Lena and her family.
Difficulties are always present... In this project it was a time frame. The clients were so eager to call in as quickly as possible and tell us they were keen and ready to sleep on their new mattresses, and to feel themselves their new, beautiful sanctuary.
The highlight for me is just in the tranquillity and simplicity of this interior. “Simplicity is the essence of elegance” - in this I agree with Coco Chanel. The most interesting in this interior design are the individual wallpapers that reflect this family; the wall mural of their children in the nursery or even their Georgian ornament in the living room, which the client brought back from Georgia, reminding her of fond memories of travelling. I wanted to create a basis for this family, which they could then fill with their favourite objects, paintings, photographs and decor, which they bring back from different countries.
For me personally, this is an opportunity to discover a new look for myself against the level of design in Europe and the world; to meet new specialists and professionals. I worked for an international company and for me it was the best experience. The experience to see and learn from people from other countries, discover something new, imbued with their culture and technology, as well as their views, thoughts and ideas. Design has such a broad outlook and worldview that we simply cannot stand still and not evolve, not look ahead and not try to make our design in Ukraine more successful, more accessible and understandable to the masses. SBID and the SBID Awards is a step towards this and the door to the future.
Questions answered by Tatiana Danilevych, Lead Designer at Danhor
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring a waterfront home with manor-esque proportions and contemporary lines, click here to see more.
Danhor | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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