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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a spacious hotel lobby design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Bishop Design by Paul Bishop.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Public Space Design 

Practice: Bishop Design by Paul Bishop

Project: The Sky Lobby, SLS Dubai Hotel

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

What was the client’s brief? 

SLS Hotels are renowned for breaking stereotypical molds, in sophisticated fashion, and The Sky Lobby at our Dubai destination is no exception. The brief itself was to create a world of true luxury, something that would leave guests overwhelmed with awe.

What inspired the design of the project?

Our creative concept became inspired by the story of Midas, infused with the SLS spirit and excessive glamour of Dubai. This narrative translates through the design and artwork, which perfectly capture these sentiments in a subtle tongue-in-cheek way, enforcing unforgettable connections with guests.

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

Our toughest hurdle started when we inherited the project late on and the construction had already started off the back of the previous design. It was a race against time to redesign the whole project without compromising the construction programme. There was minimal guidance from operations in terms of brand or standard hotel requirements forcing us to create one.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Even with the restrictions of the build being carried out during covid, it is known that we have now set a new benchmark for all SLS hotels going forward. An undeniable highlight for us and testament to the standard of work that was carried out.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

SBID Awards celebrate the best in design and it is events like this where validation surfaces in recognition that what we are doing is right and that our designs are of global standards.

Questions answered by Paul Bishop, Owner & Founder, Bishop Design by Paul Bishop.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a residential design by Ana Engelhorn Interior Design, click here to read it.

Project of the Week

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the complete transformation of the lobby area of a 30-year-old office tower. Once a series of dark, awkward spaces lacking in a clear axis or flow of movement, the lobby is now a bright and airy volume defined by a graphic screen that emphasizes 30-foot-high ceilings. Toronto designers Bartlett & Associates were commissioned to reimagine the space as a welcoming amenity that would attract a stable of noteworthy new tenants. The design team took an architectural approach to the project; removing a disused storage space made way for a public café, while the custom-designed screen was added to anchor the front desk and delineate the elevator bay. The striking black sculptural screen plays off against a dazzling white wall with a surface of subtle peaks and architectural texture.

Practice: Bartlett & Associates

Project: Crown Lobby – 5255 Yonge Street

Location: Toronto, Canada

What was the client’s brief? 

The mandate from our client, Crown Realty, was to reposition a dated office tower’s lobby for the 21st century. The building is right on Toronto’s north Yonge Street, a prime location that offered the potential to create a significant destination. Crown wanted a space that would inject new vitality into this rather tired building and position it as a desirable location for a more vibrant class of tenant. Our design transformed the lobby from an uninspiring entrance to an energetic amenity that makes a compelling impression on visitors – including prospective leaseholders.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

It’s the challenges of a project that typically inspire the best ideas and in this case we were dealing with a modest budget and an awkward space that was completely covered – all the floors, all the walls – in a very dated and dull granite. Tearing it out was cost-prohibitive, so the new surfaces were something we put a lot of thought into. Nature is also a constant source of inspiration for us and adding biophilic elements is something we try to do with all of our projects. As we spend more and more time in our urban office buildings, immersed in digital worlds, it feels increasingly important to make those connections to nature wherever possible. This is often achieved through very subtle interventions, but with this project the scale of the space presented an ideal opportunity to do something big – something a bit more direct, really impactful. So of course that was the screen, and beyond that we used a lot of wood- and stone-look low-profile surfacing that was applied right over the granite to avoid spending a lot of time and money on demolition and to avoid creating a lot of waste.

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

Resolving the awkwardness of the space while keeping the budget in check was huge. Originally the effect of the high ceilings was all but obliterated by this bulkhead wall that sort of cinched the walls inwards about a third of the way up. It loomed over the elevator bay, feeling very heavy with its stone cladding, and made that space feel a bit ominous. And then the corridor running off the east wall was this dark, narrow tunnel – it was all very uninviting. In the end we tore out a single short, angled wall to open up the corridor and make space for a public café. Then the screen was an amazing solution that both masks that bulkhead and transforms the elevator bay into a cozy little annex. Walking behind the screen to access the lifts offers this sense of discovery, which is a much nicer way to start your work day than trudging through a dark hall. Overall it feels like a cohesive sequence of usable space now, rather than a patchwork of hallways that were strictly for moving through, not for stopping or spending time in.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The screen is definitely the highlight for us – it won an award for the project before the space was even finished and it was also reimagined as an installation piece for the Design TO festival, which is part of Toronto’s Design Week in January. It’s obviously a stunning feature that is also functional, but there is a bit of hidden genius going on there as well: Not only does it hide that awkward bulkhead, but it’s actually supported by a mounting system originally installed for the granite cladding. Most of the granite was left intact and simply covered with low-profile materials, but by removing a bit of stone from the bulkhead, we were able to avoid creating customized brackets to hold the screen. That was a big cost-saver and just one of those eureka moments that you want to have on every project.

Questions answered by Inger Bartlett, lead designer and president, Bartlett & Associates.

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

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a contemporary loft apartment situated above the famous Soho Theatre, click here to see more.

Project of the Week

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the beautifully bespoke, authentic and consciously curated interiors for the re-design of Miramonti; a luxury boutique hotel in Brescia, Italy. Located just over two hours away from Milan, the hotel is surrounded by stunning natural beauty and is popular for seasonal activities including: skiing, ice climbing, hiking, fly fishing, porcini mushroom picking and wine-tasting at the vineyards nearby.

The London-based, proactive and purposeful design studio, Boxx Creative completed a timeless design for the hotel’s new minimalist contemporary interiors. Inspired by the scenic Italian mountains, the interior design provides a tranquil place where guests can experience total relaxation, reconnect with nature and re-balance.

Defining a new standard of boutique hotel design for the local area and beyond, Miramonti celebrates the achievements of conscious design, showcasing the spectacular results that can be achieved when design is fully considered from all aspects; aesthetics, functionality, innovation, social and environment impact.

Practice: Boxx Creative

Project: Miramonti 

Location: Brescia, Italy

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

What was the client’s brief? 

Originally built in 1958, Miramonti is a family-owned hotel that had recently passed onto the third-generation. The hotel’s new owners had a clear vision for what they wished to achieve, great design style and taste, an appreciation for quality, timelessness and longevity, as well as a desire to support the local community and minimise the environmental impact of the project.

The hotel was to be totally transformed, with space maximised to increase bedroom numbers, flexibility of room use and defined room types created for couples and spacious suites with connecting bunk-bed rooms for families with children. The existing bedrooms provided for self-catering with kitchenettes and dining tables, which were to be removed. In the ensuites, small shower cubicles and bidets were to be replaced with walk-in showers.

The hotel was to be fully modernised, offering guests something completely different in terms of room layout, furnishings, lighting and materials. The design had to be a real game changer and ensure that Miramonti could continue its proud legacy and be enjoyed by future generations of guests and locals.

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

Miramonti, meaning mountain view, draws its name from nature. Its holistic design was also inspired by the beauty of its surroundings and every design detail was thoughtfully considered to reflect this connection, including the colour palette, hard finishes, bespoke furniture, textiles, artwork and accessories.

The deep terracotta facade evokes the changing seasons and rich natural Italian colour palette. In the twenty-one guest bedrooms, the complementary green and blue colour schemes are both balanced and calming.

The design concept draws on the natural elements of earth, fire, air, water, wood and metal. Materials were selected for their authentic properties and link to the surrounding environment and feature in the natural stone wash basins, solid trunk coffee tables, round metal bedsides and soft natural fabrics of the sheer linen blinds and cotton bed throws.

Consideration was also given to all elements of the hotel’s design to ensure quality, longevity and minimising environmental impact. Everything was designed and built-to-last. Locally sourced, sustainable materials were used wherever possible and carpet made from recycled fibres line the corridors.

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

The majority of the furnishings were made completely bespoke by the contractor and his team of talented artisans in his local Tirano-based workshop. The bedrooms feature headboard panelling and wooden beds, metal framed open cabinetry storage and sturdy desks, wooden flooring, panelled doors and shuttered windows, each thoughtfully hand-crafted.

The build contractor was chosen for his energy saving principles and employment of workers within the area. All the wood chips left-over from his workshop were burnt in a furnace to heat houses in the village.

Lighting was a key part of the project where the clients wished to make an impressive statement. Layers of lighting with iconic FLOS feature pendants and Scandi-inspired statement wall lights make strong visual impact and create focal points in the guest bedrooms and ensuites. For the light switches, electrical sockets and ironmongery, Buster+Punch’s architectural hardware was the perfect companion with its strong design edge.

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

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

We experienced three main challenges with the project – time, distance and language barrier.

Time: The project had a quick turnaround, once the project got the go ahead, we had just over one month to do all the design work and produce all the technical drawings. The build work had to be completed within a 3-month time frame during the low season and finish on time for the start of the busy December ski season. We flew out in the final week to snag the build, install the furniture and artwork, then dress and style all the rooms for the professional photoshoot, before the hotel opened its doors to welcome guests. It was an extremely tight schedule, however the project was successfully completed and delivered on time.

Distance and Language Barrier: Unlike all our other projects where do regular site visits during the build phase, for Miramonti we worked remotely from London. Unfortunately, we can’t speak Italian and the Italian contractor couldn’t speak English, so we developed different ways of working and communicating. We setup a WhatsApp group, which was great for quick questions and sending pictures and used GoogleTranslate to translate each other’s messages. These smart phone apps were invaluable to us working together on the projects.

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

In the guest bedrooms, one of the highlights for us is the intricate details of the wooden furniture and joinery hand-crafted from our bespoke designs by the contractor and his team of skilled local artisans. Two of our favourite design details are the elegant curves of the wooden bed frames and the rippled effect of the under-sink cabinets, which are replicated in the ensuite pocket doors with reeded glass panes. These small, thoughtfully considered and beautifully made details may easily go unnoticed, however for us these are a great delight to see and experience.

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

Questions answered by Nicola Keenan, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Boxx Creative

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

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a memorable hotel public space with playful and immersive design, click here to see more.

Image credits: Mariell Lind Hansen

Project of the Week: SBID Awards Finalists 2019

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a vibrant, cinematic inspired design for a memorable hotel experience in Dubai. Unleashing an unprecedented dimension to Studio City in Dubai, the aptly named Studio One Hotel sits perfectly within its demographic as its entire narrative plays tribute to nostalgic touches and cinematic expressions. Bishop Design crafted a dynamic interior scheme, boasting an intoxicating arrival experience where guests are greeted with playful features such as an old-school vintage TV installation and unique lighting solutions in the form of figurines carrying umbrellas. Along with an eclectic mélange of loose and fixed furniture and vivid artworks, the hotel lobby and public space reinvents people’s expectations of how a hotel should feel, look, and function, while complying with local standards; casual, comfortable, ultimately stylish, somewhat provocative, memorable to all and a hybrid between art and function through its visually striking interior and subliminal messaging.

SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Practice: Bishop Design

Project: Studio One Hotel

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

What was the client’s brief? 

The Studio One Hotel as prescribed in the Client Brief was to create and establish a new language and philosophical approach to a modern, current, 4-star hotel environment. The hotel was to feature 5 different room types, which would include a selection of extended stay studios and apartments. Creating a comfortable and homely environment was at the heart of the projects conception with careful consideration dedicated to self-service pantries on each floor, in-house launderette and a grab & go counter. Space allocation was paramount to best utilise the area available still adhering to DTCM standards and guidelines, however, playful, cheeky and diverse in its application and design styling. The clients desired to create a fresh hotel offering unique to the region and to the star offering in spirit yet establishing an individual identity as a home-grown brand that would set the precedent of subsequent future outlets to follow. The approach taken was to create something fresh, original, multi-faceted in its function allowing the guest to stay either on a short-term or long-term basis. We were also commissioned to design two F&B units within the hotel.

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

Encompassing guests in its strong narrative, Studio One has become a real home-from-home environment through its immersive cinematic character, naturally enforcing an authentic connection to every guest. The narrative has resulted in a cozy space that everyone can relate to and feel comfortable within. Nostalgic senses exude from the entity’s cinematic expressions right from the old school TV feature that greets guests from the onset of their experience through to the playful “on air” lighting features that illuminate whenever a room is occupied. This thematic continuity enhances an effortlessly loveable charm between guests and the hotel, and is what sets the guest experience far beyond other hotels in the region.

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

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

The desired design direction was to be ultimately cost-effective, considering materials which were unique, recycled with a strong use of graphic and visual connectivity throughout, thoughtfully provocative however synonymous with its demographic yet also possessing the versatility to be rolled out within different regions on a global level.

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Studio One was designed to unleash an unprecedented dimension to the city’s DNA which would eagerly entice residents and tourists alike, from surrounding residential areas and Dubai as a whole. Now fully established, Studio One compliments yet stands out from its surroundings through its cinematic context and striking personality, instantly becoming a desirable hotel and F&B hotspot in Studio City, which was somewhat previously absent from many alluring traits. It is an honour to have introduced something so unique and vibrant to the region that brings the community together.

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Showcasing projects of the highest calibre all over the world, the SBID Awards stand as a desirable platform for every designer to share their work. It truly is a privilege to be able to submit a selection of our projects, as we become inspired year on year with the unprecedented talent and expertise that that the awards influence.

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

Questions answered by Pail Bishop, owner & founder, Bishop Design by Paul Bishop

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

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring decorative details and oriental architecture for an innovative Chinese classical style, click here to see more.

SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Image credits: Alex Jeffries

Project of the Week: SBID Awards Finalists 2019

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a striking yet stylish boutique hotel design in Germany’s fifth largest city; Moxy Frankfurt City Center emulates the exciting nightlife and eclectic scene of downtown Frankfurt with neon play area, modern guest lounge, urban aesthetic, vibrant wall murals and cool, artistic flair.

JOI-Design created Moxy’s new European guestroom brand standards and implemented them into this new-build project. This rethink led JOI-Design to also develop Moxy’s next generation of public areas featuring clean-lined, industrial architecture with a more “grown-up” vibe than previous locales. Multi-functional public areas fuse the urban with the urbane, picking up on the street culture and warehouse aesthetic prevalent downtown. Visible ceiling pipes and exposed concrete walls create “industrial chic” with a coordinated mix of stylish furniture, loud beats, humorous touches and textured details discovered upon second glance. Typeset artwork along with bear and bull references allude to the nearby stock exchange and the site’s former life as newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau‘s headquarters.

SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space Design finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Practice: JOI-Design

Project: Moxy Frankfurt City Centre

Location: Hessen, Germany

Moxy Frankfurt City Centre, Germany. Image credits: SV Hotel

What was the client’s brief? 

Our brief was to fully understand the Moxy spirit and create a world that would allow it to flourish. We were initially commissioned to develop new guestroom brand standards for Moxy hotels in Europe, and then also to bring these to life through the Frankfurt property. It was important that our design would let guests soak up local culture.

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Hotel public space design by JOI Design for Moxy Frankfurt City Centre hotel

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

Many things! Moxy’s target market is moving towards a digital nomadic lifestyle. The flexibility of mobile working has led to a greater mix between work with play, with short stays lasting one or two nights. These are travellers who fit everything into carry-on luggage and make the most of travel adventures with party nights out. At the same time, they also remain conscious of their health and wellbeing. As a result, the guestrooms are a relaxing retreat for sociable guests, places where they can rebalance with calm and organized interiors designed for maximum efficiency and minimal wastage. Closets aren’t needed, since travelling light means minimal storage is required, so we designed the latticed “functionality wall”.

In the public areas, influences from the site’s former life as newspaper Frankfurter Rundschaut’s headquarters appear through allusions to typography and journals. The nearby stock exchange also comes into play with bull and bear motifs referencing the rise and fall of market shares. A geometric bull sculpture hangs on a bare concrete wall, while a gigantic teddy bear welcomes guests with a wink. Located at the hotel entrance to attract the attention of passersby is a graffiti mural by Herakut, an internationally acclaimed artist duo with roots in Frankfurt.

Moxy Frankfurt City Centre, Germany. Image credits: SV Hotel

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

Marriott initially asked us to design guestrooms in line with the existing brand standards. As the project progressed, they asked us to develop the new Moxy identity, which of course we were very happy to do. The challenge came when they asked us to apply it to the new-build Frankfurt hotel at a very late stage in the project. The building was already under construction with the layout, power points, etc… for our first design, so we needed to work around these restrictions and make the guestrooms function as best possible with the new guidelines.

Also, the public areas floor area is not actually very large, but we needed to accommodate four zones as specified in Moxy’s standards: the library/work space; the welcome section; the F&B facilities; and the lounge. We created a layout with a natural, open feel that flows well from one space to the next.

Feature wall painted for hotel design by JOI Design for Moxy Frankfurt City Centre

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Moxy Frankfurt City Centre, Germany. Image credits: SV Hotel

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Creating a new destination in a style that is different for Frankfurt hotels, and within the exciting building designed by the respected Hamburg-based architect Hadi Teherani, was inspiring.

Herakut’s graffiti mural is one of our team’ favourite parts of the interiors. We specified the art should relate to the bull and bear theme and the stock exchange, while also instilling an impression of the locale. The result is a street art-styled mural that shows two children playing in bear and bull costumes – a young-spirited approach that hints at German fairytales and helps establish the lively, light-hearted atmosphere that attracts not only guests, but also locals wishing to work, relax or meet others.

Hotel public space design by JOI Design for Moxy Frankfurt City Centre hotel

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards celebrate imagination, talent and commitment to interior design excellence across many types of projects around the world. It’s an honour to have our creativity and passion recognised by a highly respected professional organisation, the impressive award judges and our colleagues in the global design community.

Moxy Frankfurt City Centre, Germany. Image credits: SV Hotel

Questions answered by Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk and Peter Joehnk, Co-managing Directors of JOI-Design

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

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring fluid architectural curves with the V Line Cosmetic Center in Hong Kong, click here to see more.

SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space Design finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Hotel public space design by JOI Design for Moxy Frankfurt City Centre hotel

Image credits: Courtesy of Christian Kretschmar for JOI-Design

Project of the Week: SBID Awards Finalists 2019

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a timeless hotel design that has been created through quality details and distinctive furniture. Designed around a contemporary interpretation of Arabic patterns, calligraphy and Omani culture, the Mysk Al Mouj is an internationally branded hotel operated by Shaza Hotels Group. Godwin Austen Johnson designed the hotel public spaces with a sense of location as the main theme. By distilling the essence of the surroundings, the aim was to create a contemporary four-star hotel with a sense of belonging. The sights, sounds, light and materials of the marina together with the Muscat coastline were studied and referenced throughout the interior design. 

SBID Awards: Hotel Public Space Design finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Practice: Godwin Austen Johnson

Project: Mysk Al Mouj

Location: Muscat, Oman

Hotel design by Godwin Austen Johnson featuring hotel lobby interior

What was the client’s brief? 

The operator’s development objective was to help in the activation of the Central Plaza District of Al Mouj in Muscat and our approach was to create a highly attractive destination point in the heart of this contemporary mixed-use development. Mysk Al Mouj is the flagship hotel for the Mysk by Shaza hotel group and the brief was clear – to design a contemporary hotel that would appeal to both business travellers and leisure guests.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

The local Omani culture was the main inspiration for this hotel design and we drew on the country’s rich traditions and tastes; ornate jewellery, elaborate embroidery and traditional dress to guide the design. These enduring traditions have been thoughtfully translated into a number of elements throughout the hotel, from authentic floor coverings inspired by the patterns of local dress, to artwork on the walls featuring imposing forts and woven textiles. We have taken these inspirations and implemented them into the design narrative in a contemporary approach to create unique and appealing public spaces.

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

During the design development the challenges we faced were largely positive and constructive creating opportunities for design improvement. Trying to source materials and furniture locally was testing but the outcome was successful with the acquisition of a number of pieces and a selection of materials to complete the design intent.  Most of the furniture pieces had been manufactured locally and many of the fabrics, where possible, were selected from a local mill to help reduce the carbon footprint.

Hotel design by Godwin Austen Johnson featuring restaurant interior

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The feature chandeliers located in the hotel lobby atrium were designed as a unique, custom made and timeless design featyre inspired by Omani jewellery. The aim was to celebrate local artefacts in a contemporary way where humble materials such as brass, opal and rare stones were chosen and displayed in the magnificent double height atrium. The effects of the lighting fixtures reflecting on the vertical atrium panels were expressed in a perforated geometrical pattern.

Hotel design by Godwin Austen Johnson featuring atrium public spaces

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

This was the first year we entered the SBID Awards and we chose to do so because we believe this is an important opportunity to not only highlight our projects but also, celebrate our team’s talent and accomplishments.

The SBID Awards are highly respected within the design industry because they set a standard for design excellence internationally – inspiring design professionals to continue to raise the bar. Thus the finalists are recognised as the very best in the world of interior design.

Questions answered by Rochelle Mojica-Beligon, Associate at Godwin Austen Johnson

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a luxurious, open-plan entertainment space, click here to see more.

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

SBID Awards 2019 | Hotel Public Space Design finalist sponsored by Viva Lagoon

Project of the Week

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features stunning CGI visualisations for a 12-apartment residential building located 100 metres from the sandy coastline of the Baltic Sea. Neoklasika designed a welcoming entry lobby and hallways for the project; enclosed by the pine forest, the glass facade of the building lets nature flow in through the windows. The elegant proportions, nuanced colour palette and natural materials give the gallery-like interior a timeless touch. The lobby will work as an in-house library and host temporary art exhibitions and installations to give a dynamic atmosphere. The 3D model includes full interior visualisation of three floors and the surrounding landscape. The masterful and accurate representation of the interior project and the visualisation of the lighting scenography in both day and night-time views invites the viewer to imagine the future lobby in great detail and at different times of day.

Sector: Public Space Design

Company: Neoklasika 

Project: ER Clubhouse

Project Location: Jurmala, Latvia

What was the client’s brief? 

Neoklasika was commissioned to design a welcoming entry lobby and hallways for a twelve apartment residential building located hundred meters from the sandy coastline of the Baltic Sea. The lobby is planned to function as an in-house library and to host temporary art exhibitions, providing a dynamic creative ambience and contemporary space.

What inspired the interior design of the project? 

Being enclosed by a pine forest, the glass facade lets the nature enter through the windows. The inspiration of drawing visual parallels to the shapes and textures of the surrounding coastline landscape came quite naturally. The elegant proportions, nuanced colour palette and natural materials give the gallery – like interior a timeless touch. The wooden wall panels and the metallic structural beams resemble the tree trunks in the nearby forest, the mirror and glass reflections resemble ever-changing water surface and the light stone floor brings the feeling of seaside into the interior. Passing through the lobby, the art-déco-inspired leather furniture is reminiscent of seashells washed up on the shore.

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

We wanted to reflect the dynamics between the inside and outside to the maximum, showcasing the essence of the project. An intricate 3D model was created to visualise the multi-layered composition of materials, interior elements and colours. It includes full interior visualisation of three floors and the surrounding landscape. The representation of the interior project and the visualisation of the lighting scenography in day and night-time views invite to imagine the future lobby in the greatest detail.  Detailing and modelling the vast amount of interior details, custom-made elements and furniture in our in-house rendering studio was a time-consuming but very rewarding part of the project.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Achieving the balance between the grand scale of the lobby with a light and welcoming atmosphere was a personal success. One of the main project goals was to create a space which acts as a platform for  highlighting the dynamics of the surrounding nature. The large mirror panel was used strategically to reflect the changes in seasons and the weather, creating an ever-evolving live painting.

Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?

Neoklasika has been taking part in the SBID International Design Awards since 2015 and over the years seen SBID become a truly global, diverse and highly professional institution uniting the best industry experts. Each year the awards competition showcases the best of the interior design world and we are honoured to be a part of this community. Last year’s event was remarkable in its warm and welcoming atmosphere and the attention to detail in all the networking events was exceptional. The number of world-class companies that have taken part is an indicator of the quality and reputation of this event in the design world.

Neoklasika, ER Clubhouse public space design project images for SBID interior design blog, Project of the Week

Questions answered by Karina Abike, Founder of Neoklaika

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a unique public space designed to create a world-class visitor facility for Triumph Motorcycles, click here to see more.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s CGI visualisation for public space design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

Neoklasika  | SBID International Design Awards

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