With June being Employee Wellbeing Month, our focus turns to interior wellness and how interior design can aid in mental and physical wellbeing. We’ve brought together views and opinions from across interior design to discuss the thought process, its importance at the early stage of planning and how these processes create positive environments for employees and in-turn generating better business.
Design factors such as colour, lighting, acoustics, air quality, furnishings and architectural design can have an impact on the health, performance and engagement to those occupying the space. “Designers are masters of subliminal communication” says Michaela Jones, Director of Chroma Flooring . . . .
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Every once in a while, an old problem, a new technology, and a big idea turns into an innovation!
Technology has been imperative in the relentless drive to increase efficiency whilst saving time and money. It has left no industry untouched, and that includes interior design - albeit a little later to the party. Online mood board creation, virtual reality and easier access to products from around the globe has changed the landscape of the interior design industry. Of course, there was a danger that new innovations could prove to be something of a double edge sword when it came to this creative industry. A service once reserved for those of higher social standing, would now become more widely accessible with cutting edge interior services offered at low cost prices. However, it proved to be a creative curveball that industry professionals were not only ready to run with, but use to their own advantage. As a result, we at Abitant are changing the game again, with an online procurement hub, designed to streamline purchasing, payment and everything in-between.
Smarter homes need smarter interior solutions!
Design Online: The rise of online design apps and electronic pinning boards has fuelled the consumer appetite for professional interior design services. By sharing aesthetic desires over well known platforms, clients can access interior services from all over the globe and enjoy privileged prices on products passed on from the industry professionals.
VR: Virtual Reality enables consumers to see how their room will look before work even begins. VR is a tool which needs specific computer programmes with powerful capabilities. Whilst one day it will be accessible to everyone, currently it is largely reserved for those working within the interior industry in a professional capacity. A coveted service that consumers want to access.
3D Print Tecnology: Communicating design ideas and concepts to consumers has been a frequent challenge for interior designers. 3D technology solves that problem, as clients can get touchy-feely with their new interiors in miniature form.
Every successful new business solution starts with a problem. For interior designers, one of those problems is procurement. The process has been traditionally arduous and there has been a growing need for a streamlined solution which acts as a hub, allowing easy communication between manufacturers, logistic companies and payment platforms. This is where Abitant comes in. A one stop solution to the problem.
From the comfort of a shabby chic Chesterfield sofa, consumers begin their interior design process and now, so can you.
"Abitant is the procurement solution made for interior designers, by interior designers." - Abitant UK
With extensive industry knowledge, the Abitant creators understood the need to develop an efficient platform, which not only plays host to the largest online catalogue of EU manufacturers, but also facilitates price negotiations and manages payments and logistics. With over 500,000 plus products to browse through, the user can create product wish lists and easily generate product specifications for their clients. The system promotes ease of communication and allows interior designers to spend more time doing what they enjoy... designing!
For more information about Abitant.co.uk, click here.
Written by Mr Michael Danieli
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features Bamboo Pavilion, a tearoom located in Honey Lake, Shenzhen, situated in a secrete setting hidden in a verdant bamboo grove in the bustling city. Based on the concept of a poetical life which contemporary literati and scholars dream of, the Bamboo Pavilion presents a natural art form by adopting new Chinese garden techniques, to help visitors relax and put them in touch with a deeper sense of harmony and serenity with the natural world and their spiritual selves. The designer understands that in order to achieve the value of culture in life, the project should be a place to relax from body and mind with all redundancies being cast away.
Company: Tsingda Environmental Art (Shenzhen) Design Consultants Co
Project: Shenzhen Nord Club
Project Location: Shenzhen, China
What was the client's brief?
Shenzhen Nord Club is a tearoom located in Honey Lake, Shenzhen, which situates in a secrete setting hidden in a quiet and verdant bamboo grove. Representing natural art and beauty, its' surroundings help to create a refreshing little sanctuary amidst the busy, bustling city. Based on the concept of a poetical life which contemporary literati and scholars dream of, the Bamboo Pavilion's brief was to present a natural art form by adopting new Chinese garden techniques, taking people back to the distant poetic realms where they can relax their bodies and souls.
What inspired the design of the Project?
The project and the project's name - Bamboo Pavilion, is inspired by the great ancient Chinese thinker Zhu Xi’s 'New Bamboo': "In front of the window, there are bamboos that I planted, while now they have sprouted. Being freed from the troubles of secularities, I just sit quietly and enjoy the secluded forest." Reading between the lines, we can find the kind of aloofness and loftiness which were typical to many ancient scholars.
Opposite to the tearoom is the restaurant which is squarely shaped in a balanced manner. The beauty and elegance of bamboos is presented in front of the dining table by way of creativity and the utilization of wood materials, exquisite details and lightweight design, which is unexpected but natural and harmonious.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The highest form of culture is art. Artists create a line, within which everything can express itself with no restraint. According to Zhong Yao, a famous calligrapher in ancient China, “beauty comes from mind”. Beauty comes from “mind” reflects the rhythms implied in the images of everything. The designer understands that in order to achieve the value of culture in life, this should be a place to relax from body and mind with all redundancies being cast away. Balancing these notions of Chinese traditional literacy, culture and art whilst maintaining the designers vision and meeting the project brief to create a space to bring these sentiments together was the biggest challenge.
The tearoom is laid out in the traditional way of enclosing. Modern-style dark-hued sofa and finely ornamented tea table render balance and comfortability in proportion and sentiment. A Chinese ink and wash painting with poetic and lively imagery introduces artistic quality into the space. Through the hollowed-out back ground wall, bamboos appear in sight, dancing in the wind airily. All of these help to present the gracefulness and aesthetic charm of new Chinese landscape styles so that both the environment and the soul achieve an inspiring and peaceful state and are fulfilled to artistic endeavor.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
With borrowed view (a landscape technique usually used in traditional Chinese garden) introduced, uniquely shaped scenery is checkered with sunlight and shadow, by which the designer creates the artistic conception of “layered doors stand still in deep court, grass grows green in front of the steps”. Seeing the design vision come to fruition to embrace the poetic nature and serenity of the property's unique landscape was the most rewarding aspect of bringing this project to life.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
As an impartial international interior design award, SBID has a worldwide effect on interior design industry including China. We firmly believe in SBID and the profession and hope to make our design known to more people in and outside of China.
Questions answered by Bin Long, Chief Creative Director of Tsingda Environmental Art (Shenzhen) Design Consultants Co.
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If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the contemporary workspace with a fun, fresh and flexible co-working concept in Paris, click here to see more.
The 2018 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is now officially open for entries! Click here to register or enter your project!
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
Tsingda Environmental Art (Shenzhen) Design Consultants Co | SBID International Design Awards 2018
Today, the design industry can take a sigh of relief as the SBID Awards has just announced its' official deadline extension! Designers now have until Friday 6 July 2018 to get their projects submitted for the chance to receive international recognition of design excellence. Continuing on from last week's Category Winners Part 1 from 2017, we continue to reflect on last year's worthy winners from the more commercial aspects of the interior design industry, whether it be an ultra luxurious spa, a Michelin-starred restaurant or a high-end medical centre.
Company: Wanda Hotel Design Institute
Project Title: Wanda Reign Chengdu Hotel
The hotel is situated in the heart of Chengdu's exclusive CBD, at the affluent intersection between Renmin South Road and the Jin River. This spot was also historically a point of convergence for goods and merchants setting off on the Ancient Tea Horse Road. The hotel's sky lobby is located on the 41st floor, overlooking Chengdu's landmark Tianfu Square to the north and boasting pleasant views of the Jin River to the south. Guests are treated to a panoramic view of Chengdu's urban landscape. The hotel's interior design concentrates on giving voice to local characteristics. Another name for Chengdu is “Confederate Rose City” so, from the very beginning, the designers were intent on having the city's official flower as a theme running throughout the hotel space.
Company: LXA
Project Title: Intersect by Lexus
Conceived in Tokyo, Japan, Intersect by Lexus is a concept store located in DIFC, Dubai. The space offers a relaxing yet stimulating space for people who are seeking diverse luxury lifestyles enriched by design, art, fashion, culture, film, music and technology. Devised by renowned Japanese designers Wonderwall for Toyodo, the concept is described as ‘neither a dealership, nor a traditional retail space, INTERSECT BY LEXUS is a third space between home and work for our guests to experience the Brand without getting behind the steering wheel of one of our cars.’ LXA successfully partnered with Wonderwall Inc, and Al Futtaim Motors to deliver the second Intersect concept, in DIFC, Dubai.
Company: Bluehaus Group
Project Title: Orbi Dubai
Orbi is conceptualised to offer an amazing digital experience to its visitors and the entire space revolves around interactive technology. The space is designed for people of all generations and different walks of life to share the fascination with nature, and Orbi will astound them. Orbi Dubai fuses BBC Earth’s world-renowned Natural History content with SEGA’s innovation and plunges visitors into the heart of the natural world! From the heat of the Dubai desert, visitors can experience the chilling temperatures of Mount Kenya at -25°C. This multi-part experience takes the guest who dares, into freezing Polar environments where they experience the sensation of Antarctic cold and blizzard conditions. The space is equipped with real time thermal image of guests as they react to the freezing Polar conditions, all displayed on a monitor.
Company: Virtual Resolution
Project Title: DeVere Tortworth Court Hotel Re-Development
Tortworth Court is an elegant and sophisticated hotel surrounded by enchanting scenery just outside of Bristol dating back to the 11th Century. Over 12 months the hotel had undergone a lavish refurbishment as part of the DeVere property refurbishment programme. Virtual Resolution was working alongside DeVerve and its design/development teams to visualise the proposals for Tortworth Court, Wokefield Estate, Latimer Estate and Wotton House.
Company: Elkus Manfredi Architects
Project Title: Potamus Trading
The design of the new, 15,000-square-foot Potamus headquarters supports the firm’s intensive, collaborative culture and serves as a recruitment tool, all while embodying the mix of sophistication, energy, and spirit unique to Potamus. At reception, a life-sized fiberglass hippo – the Potamus symbol representing strategic edge – greets visitors. The hippo’s sub-Saharan habitat inspired the materials, textures, and colors, which converge with safari-style furnishings to make a relaxed but professional environment. At the heart of the office, the trading floor – lined with oversized windows offering views to Boston Harbor – provides varied seating options near trading stations, from private conference rooms and offices to comfortable living-room-like seating areas, to support different individual work styles. The sunlit residential-style kitchen is in constant use for meals, impromptu parties, and client entertaining. A wall-size video screen, reception desk that doubles as a DJ booth, and acoustically separate gaming room help employees unwind.
Company: Hirsch Bedner & Associates
Project Title: Ultima
The designer was tasked with designing a clubhouse for a leading local developer as part of a package that also included standard provisions for lift lobbies, bathroom and kitchens in the six tower complex and adjacent houses. The clubhouse, a three storey, 3,995 square metre space, is situated in the podium below the towers. The programme encompassed front of house areas including a lobby, fitness centre, spa, indoor ball court, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, library, bar, billiards room, private dining rooms and all supporting back of house areas. The clubhouse’s position on a hill in southeast Kowloon commands unobstructed views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong island beyond.
Company: External Reference
Project Title: Alkimia
The restaurant, Alkimia, is located in the city center of Barcelona, on the main floor of a modernist building (dating back to 1864) left unoccupied for 40 years. The project design has been carried out taking into consideration two elements: the pre-existing architectural context (including its old patina and typology) and the specific gastronomic offer of the Michelin-starred restaurant Alkimia (which is 80% based on fish). The design was conceived of as a continuous scenography fostering a seamless sensory experience. The different parts of this scenography feature sea life-inspired skins, art installations and custom-made furniture which establish a unique relationship with the surrounding space.
Company: Csiszer Design Studio
Project Title: Apheresis Centre
The Apheresis Centre in Székesfehérvár was designed by Csiszér Design Studio to contribute to the welfare of countless people with severe illnesses. Platelets are collected here during a special type of blood donation called apheresis. The interior design of this 800m2 health care institution focused on hygiene and attracting donors. Spotless with a friendly ambience but without the rigorous atmosphere of usual health care spaces were the demands, which were fulfilled in the choice of colours, materials and spatial qualities. Colourful seats, glossy lockers arranged in a tetris shape, and the 28 therapy chairs of vivid colours are all in the service of welcoming and making people comfortable.
If you're interested in entering a project, make sure you enter before Friday 6th July for the opportunity to showcase your projects to an international audience, and receive global recognition for interior design excellence. Register to submit an entry or view all of our award categories before it's too late!
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the first global co-working concept for new office brand, Deskopolitan, which has launched at 48 rue Chateau d’Eau, Paris. The space offers a diverse and progressive work environment to appeal to start-ups and small businesses – a revolutionary concept for the French market. MoreySmith were entrusted to establish the global design strategy for Deskopolitan’s new brand concept. The strategy enables the brand to evolve in different locations throughout Europe, and offers a range of workspaces to cater for its members. These include a range of assigned workspaces and flexible work settings to support drop in sessions, as well as artist studios, health & beauty suites, and spaces for open group collaboration and networking events. This contemporary approach to workspace design brings a fresh new look to the European market.
Company: MoreySmith
Project: Deskopolitan
Project Location: Paris, France
Deskopolitan, a new lifestyle focused serviced-office company based in Paris, selected MoreySmith to establish their global design strategy and concept, demonstrated in its first venture, Château d'Eau. At the heart of the brand is the vision to host a likeminded community of people, sharing both space and values, in a flexible and inspiring environment with a unique range of on-site facilities promoting work/life wellbeing.
The interior design brief included the following key challenges and opportunities:
Château d’Eau spans 13,500 sq ft over three floors (ground with mezzanine, first and second), with 120 hot desks, 45 open desks, six club offices, and five meetings rooms. MoreySmith worked closely with Deskopolitan to develop the company’s global design strategy and concept, and establish the branding for the building –a graphic inspired by the circular geometry found within Deskopolitan’s flagship venture, Voltaire (located in the 11th arrondissement and due to open in 2018) which translates throughout.
MoreySmith’s redesign has transformed the former factory building into a lifestyle focused co-working environment which challenges the traditional office concept, with innovative and interactive spaces supported by state-of-the-art facilities.
The main entrance at street level opens into a light and airy double height space featuring a vibrant café with access to an external courtyard and informal touchdown positions at mezzanine level. Each floor offers co-working members a range of flexible working environments including open-plan desk areas, private phone booths, touchdown work positions, video conference and AV meeting rooms, collaborative informal meeting and social spaces. The double height space is purposely designed to promote “collision” culture and allow members to interact across the community building networks and connections. Movement and transparency are also key to successful collaboration, so MoreySmith designed the space to maximise natural light and encourage the flow of people around the building.
The upper floors offer open, light and modern workspace, with flexibility to adapt to client requirements. The first floor provides dedicated enclosed spaces for small businesses, and the second floor provides an open plan environment. Quiet rooms and phone booths allow focused working and privacy for calls. The on-site facilities include a café, concierge, heritage style barbershop, nail bar, and bike store with shower and facilities.
MoreySmith enjoy the challenge of working with heritage buildings for the creative opportunities and sense of transformation that can be achieved. The interior design aesthetic is a contemporary take on the building’s industrial history, mixing materials such as glazed brick tiles, exposed concrete, reclaimed timber, plywood, terrazzo and burnished brass, and complementing this with fresh, bright colours. This is juxtaposed with the addition of plants throughout the space, which provide balance, calm and comfort.
This interior design scheme of this fresh space challenges traditional perceptions of office culture, successfully blending modern life/work and lifestyle aspirations.
Questions answered by Nicola Osborn, Design Director at MoreySmith
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the Art Deco inspired restaurant with a quirky, contemporary and traditional design aesthetic in Manchester, click here to see more.
MoreySmith | SBID International Design Awards 2018
An impressive 34,060 visitors from 73 countries descend upon the heart and home of London’s design destination in Clerkenwell for arguably the most important commercial design festival that the capital city has to offer. The ninth edition of Clerkenwell Design Week (CDW), sponsored by Armourcoat Acoustic, delivered huge benefit to London’s creative hub with over 65,757 new business leads generated during the three-day festival – a 14% increase on 2017. With more than 200 brands exhibiting across the 7 venues and 100 showrooms, CDW injected life to the area from 22 -24 May and further cemented the festival as a key event on the international design calendar. We’re sharing a few of our favourite festival finds, initiatives, or new designs which emerged at Clerkenwell, starting with the most must-see installations.
The design industry at large is increasingly acknowledging the global sustainability crisis, so it comes as no surprise that sustainability initiatives became another hot topic at Clerkenwell Design Week as the pursuit of sustainable solutions becomes the focal point for many.
Chelsea College of Art is no exception; conversely to the nationwide mission to combat the plastic pandemic which has been headlining the news since the government introduced a law for large retailers to charge for all single-use plastic carrier bags, the Your Tote Counts campaign instead attempted to address the overwhelming surplus of tote bags which are intended to replace the excessive and unsustainable use of plastic bags. Interestingly, and surprisingly, canvas bags may cause more detriment to the environment than the plastic ones they are designed to replace. In 2008, the UK Environment Agency (UKEA) published a study of resource expenditures for various bags: paper, plastic, canvas, and recycled-polypropylene tote bags whereby cotton tote bags exhibited the highest and most severe global-warming potential since they require more resources to produce and distribute. The study revealed that the ecological footprint of a cotton tote bag is actually 327 times worse than a regular plastic bag. A Screen Press installation at CDW encouraged the upcycling of tote bags and allowed visitors to bring unwanted totes to be customised with designs created by graphic design students from Chelsea College of Art, in collaboration with the Print Club London. Re-purposing unwanted totes with a fresh new design intended to enlighten audiences and address the issue whilst encouraging us to reuse and recycle when we can. Visitors could also make donations with the proceeds going to CDW’s official charity partner, Maggie’s.
In the theme of confronting misleading discourse about sustainability and shedding light on common misconceptions about what materials are considered sustainable and which ones are truly harmful to the environment, TDO Architecture, Studio 8Fold and Studio DA were commissioned to create way-finding sculptures in polystyrene to be situated around Clerkenwell during the week. The sculptures were produced by Bakers Patterns who specialise in polystyrene model making and manufacturing.
Creative Director of CDW Max Fraser says,“Polystyrene is considered one of the ‘bad’ materials of our time as it can’t be recycled through regular municipal recycling schemes. However, if the material is sent back to the manufacturer, it is 100% recyclable (98% of it is air). So we are commissioning these beacons at CDW with their end-of life destination fully diverted from landfill.”
The Dutch bespoke wood manufacturer Hakwood and Shape London collaborate to create an interactive installation. Hakwood’s ‘Behind Closed Doors’will be a 3.2m high installation designed and fabricated by Shape London. A miniature street-scape was constructed to that draw inspiration from the Dutch townhouses, with each house including a small door which reveals a series of miniature interiors designed by various architects from Shape’s Dragon Fly Place Collective. The installation was designed to demonstrate that any interior design or form of décor is an open door for creative inspiration.
For the third consecutive year, Scale Rule gave St. James’ Churchyard a new focal point by implementing a pavilion design conceived by GCSE students from around London. This year’s winning concept responded to the theme of sustainability by proposing a sensitive metaphor: layers representing past, present and future will create a kaleidoscopic oculus, inviting visitors to take a moment to direct their eyes up an become more aware of the key natural elements around them.
Loll Designs
Modern eco-friendly furntiure manufacturer, Loll Designs, showcased the most popular pieces, from the classic Adirondack lounge chairs to the new outdoor furniture Fresh Air collection. Not only does their modern outdoor furniture add a unique and contemporary aesthetic to outdoor spaces, but all of Loll's products are mindful of the environment, using 100% recycled and recyclable material – mostly from discarded plastic milk bottles. To date, Loll has helped upcycle over 70 million milk bottles!
The Cabinet
Mark Saward, founder of The Cabinet debuts 'The Sideboard' which takes it’s influence from nature, contrasted with contemporary materials and construction techniques. Raw smoked oak veneer is inlaid on to stone textured Valchromat to stunning effect. Adopting a minimalist approach with maximum impact by showcasing nature in it’s natural state. Each piece is bespoke as no one tree-cut edge veneer is the same. Utilising a soft close vertical lift hinge system, the opening of The Sideboard adds to the overall drama of this standout statement piece.
Light
London based Leather Architectural Ironmongery and Leather Products Design firm with a pro
This year saw a new, exciting exhibition dedicated to light. The brick vaults of nightclub, Fabric, featured an exhibition of top international lighting brands unveiling their latest cutting-edge collections and innovative new products presented as spectacular stand-alone lighting installations. Exhibitors included Bert Frank with a striking range of luxury, mid-century inspired lighting, which has already won a string of industry awards. Rich Brilliant Willing, Brooklyn-based studio that designs and manufactures LED fixtures for hospitality, workplace, and residential projects. Marc Wood Studio presented its debut lighting collection, Pleated Crystal which comprises of ceiling pendants, a side light and a floor standing lamp. Handmade in Bohemia and London, the collection draws upon Marc's love for Czech artisan glass work and British engineered detailing.
Elements
Also new this year, CDW brought together a leading selection of ironmongery, hardware, switch plates and architectural accessories within a street-market style pavilion on St Johns Square, becoming the go-to destination for designers looking for the perfect finishing touches. Brands included the London-based leather ironmongery and product design firm House of Eroju, and the specialists in decorative metalwork and door hardware solutions for luxury hotels and residences, Carrson International, among many others. British light switch company, Forbes & Lomax introduced the Aged Brass light switch to their existing Invisible range. The new collection which adopts an antique aesthetic has been left unlacquered, allowing it to patinate even more over time for an aged and rustic effect.
To see more from Clerkenwell Design Week 2018 or find out about next years event, click here.
As we approach the deadline to enter the SBID Awards 2018 on Friday 15 June 2018, our attention turns to last year's event as we take a look back across some of the category winners from 2017. With a total of 14 categories designed to encompass the broad spectrum of the interior design profession and welcome diverse projects from all realms of interior design, we're sharing last year's worthy winners from the residential side of the industry whether you're looking for project inspiration for your kitchen, bedroom or bathroom.
Company: Bernard Interiors
Project Title: Park Terrace
Bernard Interiors was appointed by a private client in 2014 to oversee all interior renovations of a Category A Listed building in the heart of Glasgow’s Park District. The imposing five-storey sandstone townhouse, situated in one of Glasgow’s most sought after areas, majestically overlooks Kelvingrove Park with stunning views across the city. The townhouse had lain derelict for over 5 years, used as office space throughout the 90’s, and fallen into disrepair. Bernard Interiors were challenged to create a design, which was contemporary yet sympathetic to the historic and period features which run throughout the building. Bernard Interiors also worked alongside the developer for three years to win planning permission to convert the building back to a residential dwelling.
Company: DAR Designs
Project Title: Parkview Residence
DAR Designs completes the interior design of a luxury apartment in New Cairo, successfully integrating home automation technology with a sophisticated modern design. Seeking to create harmony between the traditional and contemporary worlds, the apartment prides itself on its high-end ritzy look while maintaining its cultural connection with its Arab roots through displaying local handcrafts. This residence is also made to cater to its client’s active social lifestyle by creating an interactive public space which includes the kitchen, guest living room, and dining room all as one zone. Overall, the apartment was designed to be a huge step forward in the sustainability and energy efficiency, with its advanced home automation system designed to automatically shut off lighting and air conditioning when occupants leave a room
Company: Fenton Whelan
Project Title: Greybrook House Penthouse
Fenton Whelan designed a multi-unit, boutique, residential development in Mayfair blending the art déco style of the building with contemporary living to deliver a timeless legacy. Entering into the living space, bespoke furniture is framed by stained glass windows. Adjacent, the Bulthaup kitchen juxtaposes with the cool green breakfast room upholstery creating an iconic entertaining space with a sumptuous bar area with backlit onyx. The refined elegance of the master suite can be seen in the lacquered finished wardrobes and the Alcantara upholstered headboard. The master ensuite is framed by the Noir Saint Laurent book matched feature wall and marbled pattern flooring. A beautiful marble staircase leads to access to a private roof terrace with views of London’s iconic skyline framed.
Company: Oakeve Interiors
Project Title: Hurlingham
Oakeve Interior Architect Design Practice were involved in every aspect of the interior design of Hurlingham in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. This imposing, new build ‘Manor House’ style country home married together a traditional façade with a contemporary and sumptuous interior, comprising of over 9,239 square feet of living space. This magnificent residence of grand proportions effortlessly combined opulence with practicality and comfort, responding directly to the design brief. The integration of sensible, user-friendly technologies, combined with a luxurious interiors scheme, which included statement pieces of iconic artwork and sculptures, created a home that sold to clients that bought into the ‘aspirational lifestyle choice’
Company: David Chang Design Associates International Ltd. (DCDA)
Project Title: Grand Influx Presentation Center
The Grand Influx Presentation Centre is located in the city of Foshan in the central Guangdong Province of southeastern China. This thriving metropolis is steeped in the history and culture bequeathed from the Ming Dynasty and Foshan’s renown ceramic artisans. Balanced symmetry, bold clean architecture and cultural referencing are fused together in this 1460 square meters Presentation Centre to captivate prospective purchasers. Artful contemporary duplications of iconic Ming Dynasty furniture, motifs and patterns are selectively distributed throughout the project, helping to establish “sense of place” geographically and historically.
Company: BAR Studio
Project Title: Grand Hyatt Hong Kong - Ambassador Harbour View Suite
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong has a loyal following of guests and the hotel forms a part of many people’s history and memories. The brief required BAR Studio to retain what was great from the original hotel, thereby preserving the hotel’s appeal to the people who already love it, but also redefine the hotel in order to appeal to the next generation of visitors. The challenge of the brief was to weave the old and the new threads together. Consequently, the finished Ambassador Suite is a contemporary design but one that is underpinned by the spirit and history of Grand Hyatt Hong Kong.
If you're interested in entering a project, make sure you enter before Friday 15 June for the opportunity to showcase your projects to an international audience, and receive global recognition for interior design excellence. Register to submit an entry or view all of our award categories before it's too late!
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the original CAD visualisation of an interior design scheme designed by YA Interiors to aid their clients visual understanding of the Art Deco inspired restaurant project which is currently in development. The Sheridan suite is a venue that hosts a diverse range of corporate and private events for up to 1800 people with 2323 square meters of space. Based on the ambience of Harrods food hall, the flexible venue was designed to capture the quirky, contemporary and traditional aesthetics which is a regional favourite for Indian Brides and Grooms located in East Manchester.
Entering through the brass curved reception area, the calm atmosphere of the cocktail lounge is the focal point with its illuminated columns. The 14 meter bespoke bar features a brass wine gantry and scallop fret work panels accessorised with teal blue velvet stools. Atom chandeliers hang above the lounge area by Portuguese designer Delightful, brass fret work screens separate the cocktail lounge from the formal dining area. The fine dining room walls are clad in beaten copper panels with space-age pebble lights suspended on the ceiling by Italian designer Artemide.
Company: YA Interiors
Project: Sheridans
Project Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Our interior design brief was to capture the essence of the original Art Deco inspired style of the iconic Harrods food hall whilst creating an elegant, modern and stylish fine dining destination.
For the interior design, furniture selection and styling we looked at the fashion plates of Couturier Paul Poiret at the turn of the 19th century. The French couturier was the most fashionable dress designer of pre-World War 1 Paris. Poiret was particularly noted for his Neoclassical and Orientalist styles. One of his great achievements was to free the female form from the rigid corseted structure. Inspired by the designers illustrations in the Gazette du Bon Ton (below) we decided to incorporate the opulence of the sketches into the interiors styling. Creating a stylish and feminine design aesthetic with signature touches alluding to Mr Poiret’s orientalist fantasies.
Winning the client over with our proposal of Paul Poiret and his orientalist fantasies was the biggest hurdle - eventually a Poiret/orientalist light aesthetic got the client on board. In addition the budget constraints for the project have been challenging as we're having to maintain design integrity and also manage the clients expectations.
Seeing endless discussions and design development finally coming to fruition. Sheridans is going to be unique to the area - there really is nothing quite likes it in Manchester.
The SBID award is a fantastic platform for designers to showcase their work to the industry and to other fellow creatives. We felt the design and visualisation for Sheridans is a proud moment for us as a design practice, we feel we have designed and cultivated something very unique here and wanted to tap in to our fashion backgrounds in designing and implementing this beautiful scheme.
- Questions answered by Aseef VAZA, Creative Director at YA Interiors
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring aquatically inclined Australian luxury spa inspired by the serene blues and tranquil textures of underwater landscapes, click here to see more.
YA Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
It has recently been difficult to escape the current high profile trend for fashion brands to enter the homewares market. From Dior to Zara, the high street and the luxury boulevards are showcasing textiles, accessories and furniture alongside jackets, shoes and skirts. The integration of the home divisions of these globally recognised marques is tremendously variable in terms of the level of connection to the DNA of the brand. Much like fashion, the addition of a badge or logo to a simple shape or silhouette may be the only distinguishing feature of a brands influence. The best known names in the industry, those with a heritage of over twenty years or so have established a precedent of ready made “trend” or “taste” simply by the addition of the brand to an interior. Fashion is a fast paced, transient and reactive sector whereas furniture has traditionally been firmly rooted in heritage, time and to a certain extent, craft. The speed of change in the fashion marketplace is greater than ever before and the homewares sector has had to raise its' game to keep up.
Changes in technology, the supply chain and distribution have allowed the interiors market to become more in tune with the cycles of the fashion world and this is where the newest additions to the list are beginning to take advantage. The major barometer of the interiors market comes every April in Milan at the Salone del Mobile. There may be bigger shows in terms of sq ft in the USA but in terms of fashion and trends in the industry, Milan is still the overarching benchmark. The number of high end luxury fashion brands working either directly with or in association with manufacturers is steadily growing. Certain furniture manufacturers have also even taken their leads from the fashion industry and re-branded using the same methodologies as clothing brands
Kings of Chelsea has the great pleasure of working alongside Roberto Cavalli Home Interiors as the sole UK dealership. Launched as recently as 2013 the furniture and furnishings division is inextricably linked to the fashion side of the business. At the head office in Florence Paul Surridge, the incumbent creative director, works alongside a team of specialists who provide technical detail of how to apply print, shape and form to furniture, tableware, linens, tiles and wallpapers. The Roberto Cavalli Home division offers a fully immersive lifestyle experience, directly linked back to the DNA of the brand. Unlike other fashion furniture brands the creative process is fully rooted in the design studios of the Maison itself.
Of course this creates huge pressure on the process, as keeping up with the fashion seasons cycle means being ahead of or at least equal to the collection launches. The solution is to create capsule and classic collections so that the ranges are available to both those who value contemporary trends and those who require something more timeless. Within the ranges are the possibilities to specify finishes, leathers and fabrics until the piece is unique to the individual. When a brand is new to the market this invariably means this will be the very first time each order has even been produced. Just like the very finest fashion, these orders are in effect “couture” furniture. With an increasingly demanding, knowledgeable market, this is an incredibly valuable feature. Bespoke and fully personalised goods and experiences can now be found within most luxury categories (watches, automobiles, holidays, hotels) and it was only a matter of time before interiors stepped up and took their place at the table. Recent additions to the roll call have included Bottega Veneta, Hermes and Gucci so it is clearly a trend that is unlikely to end soon.
Fashion brands carry enormous value to a global HNW (high net worth) community and add both an increase in selling and rental values to real estate. Cavalli is currently working with developers in both Dubai and Saudi Arabia on fully branded projects, and the trend seems to show no sign of slowing down with Versace, Fendi, Bulgari and Bentley amongst a number of brands also involved in current schemes. Predominantly, from Middle Eastern and Asian interests, the arrival of these type of developments in the UK is a growing market and likely to be more and more noticeable in the next few years as the purchasing power of these nations investing in real estate in the UK shows little signs of diminishing. Fashion brands are seemingly craving the way for prosperous future in the realm of interior design as the two worlds are continuing to merge at an unprecedented rate.
Written by Theo Mance, Managing Director at Kings of Chelsea.
This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a luxury Australian spa inspired by traditional Roman bath houses where circular vestibules connected the private and public spaces; the feature vestibules punctuate the journey through the spa at key nodes providing feelings of connectivity and flow offering different treatment zones designed to help guests unwind with indulgent La Prairie and Subtle Energies treatments in sumptuous rooms rehydrating the body and soothing the soul in a selection of deeply relaxing Aqua Retreat facilities which include a sauna and steam room, therapeutic rain shower and luxurious vitality pool. The interior design scheme was based on the concept of an imaginary underwater landscapes with subtle, serene hues of blue throughout to evoke feelings of tranquillity, resonating with the calming connotations of a rippling sea surface or gently running water.
Company: Blainey North Interiors
Project: Crown Spa Perth
Project Location: Perth, Australia
To create the Best Spa in Australia.
The interior design plan was inspired by the interactive planning of traditional Roman bath houses where circular vestibules are connected to private and public spaces, providing a social connection between different functions. The linking of these spaces creates beautiful intimate thresholds carved by the joining of the geometric forms. The concept has been based on the idea of creating the feeling of an imaginary underwater landscape. It is inspired by those refractions of light you see on the surface of the water when you look up from underneath. The interior has been created in concentric shades of blue, like those of the sea and is structured around a central axis.
The complexity of working within a space with little to no natural light meant we had to shift the focus to create visual intrigue and connectivity via highly detailed special moments whilst in tandem creating a very calm yet sophisticated place to relax.
The Foyer. It makes people gasp as enter this very sublime and glamourous space creating an entirely unexpected feeling sparked by the level of detail and quality, unseen within any other Australian hotel to date.
As we are traditionally recognised as a leading Luxury Interior Design Firm within Australasia much of our work is highly secretive and exclusive. Working with super high-net worth individuals means confidentiality is crucial therefore press coverage is often limited. That said our involvement with several international hotelier brands has enabled luxury travellers and international press an inside look into the World of Blainey North Interiors, which is always very exciting!
Questions answered by Blainey North, Founder of Blainey North Interiors
If you missed last week's Project of the Week featuring the 21 bedroom Georgian Manor House boasting extraordinary views of the Devonshire countryside, click here to see more.
Blainey North Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
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