Hotel Design Inspired by the Principles of Mindfulness

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a hotel design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, PLD Paul Liu Design Consultants.

Located in Shanghai’s seaside district Fengxian, this new urban oasis hotel offers warm and welcoming luxury experiences for the body and mind in Hangzhou Bay. The sense of design creativity is carried throughout the experiences one has at the hotel, unveiling layer after layer.

Dining options at JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Fengxian include three distinctive restaurants and a bar. The overall design of all-day dining outlet JW Kitchen is modern and clean-lined where show kitchens are distributed around the restaurant, strongly expressing the hotel's unique identity. Fine dining restaurant Yan Xuan, with 15 luxurious dining rooms for private events, has an elegant design with upscale detailing, while each private room has its own unique design elements. Signature restaurant Shanghai Crab & Co. offers a casual and maritime overall feel. Earth tones indicate the down-to-earth nature of a Mediterranean meal, while pastels and cool colours create a more upscale seaside atmosphere.

What was the client's brief? 

The brief was to design a new contemporary JW Marriott-branded hotel, inspired by the principles of mindfulness to allow guests to focus on feeling whole - present in mind, nourished in body and revitalized in spirit. To enable the hotel design to articulate Marriott’s international luxury portfolio brand strategy, philosophy and globally consistent image.

What inspired the design of the project?

JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Fengxian was designed with an architectural point of view and a focus on authentic materials and space shaping. Millwork, tactile materials, thoughtful details, lighting, and furnishings all contribute to the design concept in a holistic way, reflective of the property's unique sense of place.

The hotel's style narrative was inspired by its natural surroundings and Jinhai Lake, with its exterior resembling the legendary bird Roc, from the fable of “Roc hopping into the sea”. The design elements incorporate natural materials such as wood and marble in undulating, curvilinear forms that reflect the waves of the nearby East Sea. The hotel’s 265 guestrooms and suites offer luxurious comfort in restful shades of sable and blue, echoing the beaches and sea with clean modern lines and every thoughtful amenity for guests' comfort and convenience. Inspiration stems from the simple beauty of the natural world. In addition to visual design elements, guests experience nature in a tactile way through carefully-curated sensory experiences.

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

With nearly 45000 sqm design area, the hotel design process was very sophisticated and functional, involving planning, schematic design, developed design and construction documentations stages. Due to the diversity of functions within a hotel building, a large number of specialists like architects, structural engineers, lighting, signage, AV consultants, contractors, suppliers were involved and required to coordinate with during each critical design stage. The design had to meet the requirement of Marriott’s international brand strategy while take the owner’s operational, budget, timely and aesthetic requirements into consideration.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The project was highly recognized by the hotel management groups and the owner. Special attention was paid to hotel’s spatial relationships to ensure that spaces were used efficiently. The most efficient space planning solutions were given by the designer to make use of each corner to create more interesting spatial sequence, to keep a minimum amount of circulation and service space and also to give the guest a greater connection to the site and enhance the sense of privacy.

It became a sophisticated and luxurious sanctuary designed to let guests relax and rediscover a sense of balance in mind and body, as well as a convenient gateway to Shanghai and nearby cities.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards are recognized as the most prestigious interior design awards in the world. Winning the SBID International Design Award would be a high achievement.

Questions answered by Bo Liu, Founder & Chairman, PLD.

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features an astonishing residential villa design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Chains Interior.

Every quarter in this home has its corresponding scenery that narrates the daily life of the family like a Chinese handscroll painting. Along with changes of the outdoor view, the scroll unfurls to tell stories of the dynamic interaction and relationship of family members in each space.

The narrative begins with a standing lamp at the entrance of the home. Silver as the moon, the lantern emits gentle halo to welcome the homeowner’s return. A screen curtain tinged with ink then slowly unravels the landscape of the home. In the living room there are bright windows to invite the riverside view into the space, transforming the interior into a splash-ink landscape painting. The fret-patterned carpet on the floor also blesses every step of the residents with heartfelt wishes of prosperity.

What was the client's brief? 

The client is a couple with two children. The program required independent bedrooms and an intimate family room. Chen’s design started from a garden and then gradually moved from the lobby to the public zone then moved to the upper floor and private quarters. The rhythm of spatial movement follows a virtual trip in the natural landscape like scenes unfolding in a Chinese scroll painting and each view guides the twists and turns that join together in a continuous flow.

The first floor is the public zone. The main door along the car path was slightly converted to guide the twisting turns until the path hits a vista wall illuminating by a standing lamp. The sharp turn that passes the wall then meets a silky screen which allows visual penetration to the living room. Large windows invite inside ample natural light and project a long picturesque canal view.

What inspired the design of the project?

Suzhou has more than 2500 years of history, and is considered to be the oldest city in China. Its unique geographical feature of water canals has given the city the nickname of Eastern Venice. Right along the main channel is a district restricted to only residential purposes so its construction had to follow the toughest guidelines and local codes to protect its long cultural heritage.

The residence sits along main Suzhou cannel and immediately joins with a century old canal while the other side of the residence meets another river conduit. Designer Lien Wu Chen imagined this work as totally integrated into the site and eventually be pictured as a landscape painting projecting a daily life not much change from medieval times.

Designer was moved by local culture and the unique river life inspired him to use local iconic colour like black ink and motifs like a labyrinth loop and herring bone pattern and even modern artistic work has transformed this from a traditional lucky motif to be used extensively. The furnishing objects appeared in this residence have unique features which is dominated by round shapes; lighting fixtures, furniture pieces, art work and small furnishing pieces which have all adopted the round shape as the basic form. Chen has said the round shape signifies prosperity and blissful happiness and is an eternal symbol as a family gathering.

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

This project is a huge villa in China. The first problem we faced was how to perfectly express the image of the trade which is a symbolic part of the owner; how to show the concept clearly and integrate it into modern Chinese lifestyle? Second, our company is located in Taipei and the project is far away from us so we couldn't always supervise the decorating process. We looked for local professionals to help us complete this difficult project.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The first floor is the public zone. The main door along the car path was slightly converted to guide the twisting turns until the path hits a vista wall illuminating by a standing lamp. The sharp turn that passes the wall then meets a silky screen which allows visual penetration to the living room. Large windows invite inside ample natural light and project a long picturesque canal view.

Behind a herring-bone patterned glass screen is the dining room wrapped by two partitions covered by a landscape painting. On another side appears a tea platform which is easily accessible to an outdoor river view and can look towards the husband’s childhood house.
The second floor is the second page of the picture books. The space starts from a family room and four functionally different rooms surround the family room and each plays an independent role yet can be joined together as a single space. The family room allows the two kids freely play, read, and sleep. The third floor is the master bedroom, housed under a pitched roof. The perfect position of the reading room window directly confronts canal view and tree top meets the window edge to give a romantic fair-tale fantasy.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

First of all, this award has always been a very indicative and international certification, so we want to let more people see our work by participating in this competition. Secondly, we reached the finals in 2017, 2019 and 2020 competition.

In the 2020 competition, even three of our projects have entered the finals. We hope that we have a chance to win the grand prize this time.

Watch the tour of the residence.

Questions answered by Lien Wu Chen, Design Director, Chains Interior.

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features a museum design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Huidrom Design Studio.

Imphal Peace Museum is dedicated to the indomitable human spirit which was so abundantly evident in the Manipur manner, as what can only be described as an epochal catastrophe, emerged. These spectacular hills and valleys are no stranger to violence but they had never before seen violence of such industrial-scale as WWII brought to their doorsteps. Though fought on their soil, the Manipuris always knew it was not their war, therefore had no enemies. In the true humanistic tradition the Manipuris, amidst their own misery, harboured no bitterness against any of the warring sides and extended humanitarian help to any soldier in need. This Museum is a Chronicle of the Heroism of the ordinary Manipuris.

This is a 6500 sqft. gallery where WWII archaeological finds are allotted appropriate contextual spaces in the narrative of a cataclysmic historical trajectory Manipur found itself in because of a peculiar turn of the geopolitics of the period. These artefacts from the past are reconnected to the activities which once gave them meaning, by materially and symbolically remaking the world they came from.

What was the client's brief? 

We received a detailed project brief with a reference museum being Haebaru Town Museum in Japan. The display space of the museum was supposed to be divided broadly into two equal sections. The first showing the intensity of the war. The second, which is further divided into two sub-sections (“post-war” and “life & culture”), representing the resilience of these hills and valleys, and the people who made them their homes.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design took into consideration numerous factors such as functionality, scientific rigour, economic concerns, authenticity, and, above all, it was inspired by the collective character of the people of the state.

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

Our aim in this project was to leverage the material qualities and cultural connotations of wood, to achieve an orderly logic and authenticity, and thus harmonise design, nature and culture.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of this project was playing with natural textures in the design of the space. Some of them include the entrance wall where rice straw and mud clay are blended, and the exposes patterns of unpolished wood. Another great example of this is a bamboo bridge in a passageway.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Recognition. As the Imphal Peace Museum (IPM) exhibits continue to develop over time, there is hope that the museum itself will serve as a lasting symbol of peace and reconciliation. IPM is a building with local sensibility and stands as a Symbol of Reconciliation after WWII. So, winning or being shortlisted for the SBID Awards would show acknowledgement of all our hard work.

Questions answered by Suresh Huidrom, Senior Designer, Huidrom Design Studio.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features joined office and night venue designs by 2021 SBID Awards Finalists Teodora Panayotova & Max Baklayan.

The designers received one of the most unusual briefs for Tavex's new home Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde - to transform one space to incorporate two areas that completely contradict each other. The challenging project was a great success with the team achieving outstanding results upon completion of the brief.

What was the client's brief? 

The clients' desire was to create a two-purpose space – a functional, convenient office during the day and a party venue in the evenings, but without the need to actually move anything around. This puzzle made the brief irresistible to the designers.

What inspired the design of the project?

The space itself created many challenges due to its position on the ground floor and the single space layout. However, it was simultaneously the biggest inspiration. "From the moment we set foot in the office, it screamed at us – Industrial Minimalism." Teodora Panayotova says that as a designer, she could not ignore the scream.

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

The office presented two problems - one was obviously the duality of its purpose, the two could not be further away on the spectrum. The second was the fact they needed to increase the office area by about 150 square meters, yet keep everything airy and minimal. Since the space is on the first floor, with no panoramic views and no full day of sunlight, nothing was walled off, and only glass, OSB, and metal rails were used. We are particularly proud of the two balconies on each side of the office and the tall ceiling in the middle of the office, interrupted only by the mirroring meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The project's highlight is the 6-meter marble bar that greets you when you walk into the office. With just a flick of the switch, the purpose of the bar changes instantly. It is the place where you get your morning cup of coffee, your 5 o'clock tea in the afternoon, and a sip of London Dry after 7.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Teodora sincerely believes that what they created here is unique. Countless offices have game rooms, pool tables, relaxing zones, and lots of areas for different purposes. This project incorporates two of the most opposite use cases possible. It does so in a single space, without one interfering with the other. It contains everything that an office needs and so much more yet stays true to the industrial minimalism the designers set off to achieve.

Questions answered by Teodora Panayotova, Interior Designer, Teodora Panayotova & Max Baklayan.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a renovation project of a Victorian Eatery by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Blue Sky Hospitality.

MAGENTA restaurant, bar, and private dining, have been created from the conversion of a 19^th century bank building, located on the corner of Euston and Belgrove road, just across St Pancras and Kings Cross train stations.

What if… in 1880, British engineers and scientists from the St Pancras Coal, Steel and Gas industries had decided to create their own eatery? Enlisting help from the large community of Italian immigrants based around Kings Cross, they would have built a venue celebrating ‘La Dolce Vita’ with an authentic, local British identity. A place for libations and celebrations of everyday life, until it closed, swept away by the turmoil of time.

What if… 141 years later, the premises were renovated and updated with a modernist sensibility and reopened… transformed into a giant art installation? A bar and restaurant within an indoor pergola of Victorian industrial architecture, dressed in a palette of coal, steel and oak, upholstered with magenta wool and anthracite leather. An evocative space where thousands of butterflies, flutter overhead, in shimmering hues of pink and silver, to a cinematic soundtrack punctuated by atmospheric bird songs. The result might look, taste, and feel like what “MAGENTA” is today.

What was the client's brief? 

The brief was to convert an existing bank within a 19^th century building into a restaurant and bar with a design that will optimise the internal volume and reduce impact of constraints, draw inspiration from its location, provide a joyful environment for staff and customers, offer a unique, memorable social space and enhances the neighbourhood of Kings Cross- St Pancras.

What inspired the design of the project?

The main inspiration for the design was a story about Kings Cross in 1880 - blending facts and fiction.

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

The most challenging part of the brief was optimising the internal layouts to make it efficient to operate and provide a pleasant customer experience…while respecting the period architecture of the façade.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The most exciting part of the project was the creation of a ceiling art installation using 5,000 metal butterflies.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is always an exciting experience to enter awards, however given the calibre of work and entries into these global awards, it makes it even more special.

Questions answered by Henry Chebaane, Creative Director, Blue Sky Hospitality.

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features an open plan residential space design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Nicola Burt Interior Design.

The company was tasked with transforming a tired separate kitchen, living and dining room into a warm, slightly opulent open plan space, that reflected the 1930s built of the house.

They achieved this by removing the structural wall separating the kitchen from the living area, and installing a new emerald green kitchen and island to integrate the spaces together whilst still retaining the separate zones. The warm, opulent feel was enhanced by the orange, green and blue velvet tones of the upholstered furniture together with the wood parquet floor.

Wherever possible Nicola Burt Interior Design team reused existing furniture and accessories, to minimise waste and the impact on the environment.

What was the client's brief? 

The brief from the client was to transform a tired and awkward separate kitchen, living and dining room into an open plan kitchen/dining/living space.

The client wanted a room where she could entertain as well as cook and relax. She also wanted to be able to look out onto her garden, so our team installed a wall of glazed Crittall Bifold doors, which retained that 1930s feel.

What inspired the design of the project?

The client wanted to be bold and use colour - she has some artworks by Louis Turpin in the space which are incredibly vibrant and colourful, so I drew inspiration from those for the scheme. The artwork inspired the choice of emerald green for the kitchen cabinetry.

We then paired the green kitchen with an orange velvet scalloped sofa and armchair, and a blue-green swivel chair and bar stool to enhance the vibrancy and opulent feel. I was keen to re-use existing furniture where possible - we retained the client's colourful Christian Lacroix rug which worked perfectly with the scheme, and the client's existing dining chairs. Our team also upholstered her piano stool in a beautiful vibrant offcut of woven Ghanaian fabric.

The Crittall Bifold doors to the garden, touches of gold in the handles and tap, scalloped furniture, Tristan and Isolde table lamps, all referenced the warm Art Deco feel the client wanted in her 1930s home.

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

A major challenge was working with COVID restrictions, something that I had never encountered in my 16 years working as an interior designer. We began planning the project in March 2020, but then almost immediately the first complete lockdown came into force. I had to pivot really quickly to ensure we could keep working, so I advised the client that we could continue to plan the new space remotely until we were allowed to meet face-to-face on site. This would mean we would be ready to go as soon as restrictions were lifted.

As soon as we were permitted, our team appointed an architect in to survey and draw up plans, a structural engineer to survey and do drawings for the steels, contractors to price for the work, and Building Control to inspect. After the client signed off the kitchen design we could then place the order for the furniture, with fingers crossed there would be no delays due to COVID disrupting supply chains.

The building work was booked to start in September 2020 and when it began the contractor discovered that the original frame of the property had been constructed from poured concrete, which was incredibly solid and heavy to remove. This delayed the work slightly, but we completed the project at the end of October.

It was stressful but we were incredibly lucky to get the major building work done and completed in between the various lockdown restrictions.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The first highlight was seeing the client’s joy when the scheme came together and how thrilled she was with her new space.

The second was being nominated as a finalist in the SBID Awards. There was such a great reaction to this project in the press and social media so I thought I would enter it into the awards. I never thought for a minute it would be nominated and I am so thrilled. It just confirms to me that you should be brave and trust your instincts with your design ideas!

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

I entered the SBID Awards as they are so prestigious in the industry, and the judges are of the highest calibre. To be nominated as a finalist has been such a boost to my confidence, reputation and business, and to (hopefully!) win would be even more amazing, not only for me but as an inspiration to all the interior design students I teach.

Questions answered by Nicola Burt, Interior Designer, Nicola Burt Interior Design.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features refurbishment of resort's suites and guestrooms by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, LW Design.

Le Royal Meridien Club Tower is one of the most premium resorts in the United Arab Emirates. As an incredible height of luxury, it has solidified itself as one of the major attractions in the beautiful city of Dubai. LW design received an offer to work on many of the guestrooms and suites at Le Royal Meridien Club Tower, and our team took the offer in stride.

Despite being constructed and decorated beautifully, Le Royal Meridien Club Tower was looking for a much lighter and softer touch to their rooms. Specifically, something that would better resonate with the luxurious beachside feeling of the view outside the rooms, and LW Design team of designers knew exactly what to change in those rooms, so they felt all the more inviting.

What was the client's brief? 

The client brief stated that Le Royal Meridien Club Tower was looking to refurbish the suites and the guestrooms in a way that would keep the overall feel and look of the main tower intact. The brief also mentioned that the rooms should have a beach-like vibe to them, further emphasizing it as the premium holiday destination. The tower stood tall among the many skyscrapers of the city, which means that every visitor would have a great view of the city and the beach. Therefore, much of our team’s efforts would go into subtly solidifying that summer holiday feel.

What inspired the design of the project?

The LW design team that was overlooking this particular refurbishing project understood that there were limitations as far as creativity was concerned. They had to bring the right beachside touches to the rooms while keeping the overall aesthetic of the Club Tower. Despite being a challenging task, it was a test of design potential, and LW Design definitely emerged victoriously.

The Club Tower project was unique because of its circumstances and different requirements - the brief emphasized that the rooms have to appear much lighter and more welcoming, with a feminine yet modern touch.

The narrowed down criteria of soft, light, feminine, and modern, saved the designers a lot of time and helped them jump straight to the crux of the project. The team decided that they would use lighter timber around the room that would help reflect more natural light towards the centre. This accentuates some details while highlighting others, such as the natural rattan, which was among the materials to give a luxurious yet sustainable aesthetic. The room also features subtle blush pink accents throughout to create a feeling of feminine comfort.

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

As with any project that LW Design takes over, there came a few obstacles when refurbishing the many guestrooms and suites of Le Royal Meridian Club Tower. One physical challenge was the incredible lack of space in the bathroom.

Since the bathrooms were much smaller, it was considerably harder to give it that lavish look and feel. However, with the help of a sliding door between the shower area and the bathroom, the team was able to make the bathrooms feel more spacious and luxurious without having to compromise much.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

What makes this project special is simply the clever use of standard finishes. These gave the rooms a much-deserved lavish feel while still keeping the design style in line with the main hotel and guest rooms. Moreover, the team contrasted white oak timber against the black metal, which complimented the blush pink and turquoise colours.

Overall, the Le Royal Meridian Club Tower was an exciting venture for the LW Design portfolio. The unique look of the rooms and the precise requirements of the project made it one of their finest works to date.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

It is always an exciting experience to enter awards, however given the calibre of work and entries into these global awards, it makes it even more special.

Questions answered by Jacqueline Craft, Senior Interior Designer, LW Design.

Project of the Week

Oktra worked closely with adidas to develop their new London headquarters in Clerkenwell’s iconic Herbal House. The new space equips the adidas teams with the environment they need to perform and the visual identity they need to thrive. The workspace uses an aesthetic embodiment of both the adidas brand and Herbal House’s design history to create a new visual identity unique to the London team. The original architecture of the landmark building is constantly visible, rooting the commercial powerhouse in the rich creative history of their new home. Designed to unite and inspire their creatives - this headquarters is a physical manifestation of what it means to be a London creative for one of the most recognisable brands in the world.

What was the client's brief? 

The concept of ‘one adidas’, a unified team with a strong sense of personal and brand identity, was the driving force of the design for their new London headquarters. London is a key city for adidas in terms of their growth, so it was imperative that the office make an impact and create a strong sense of identity for the London team.

What inspired the design of the project?

The workspace uses an aesthetic embodiment of both the adidas brand and Herbal House’s design history to create a new visual identity unique to the London team. The design activates this newfound identity by establishing sightlines into and out of the centre of the space, creating three distinct channels of movement and connecting the hub’s creative heart with its supporting architecture and legacy. The fully agile floorplate gives employees the flexible space they need to maximise their potential, allowing them to redefine what’s possible in terms of productivity, efficiency and collaboration.

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

Working with a brand as iconic as adidas naturally comes with a lot of pressure as the client already has a very strong brand identity that needs to be honoured in their new space. We wanted to make sure that we got to know their brand inside and out, as well as understanding the unique working requirements of their teams, in order to develop a design that supports and represents their identity. We held a series of workshops with the adidas design influencers which allowed us to study their brand identity in a comprehensive way. Then we used the insight from these sessions to directly influence the design development of the project.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Seeing the space take shape and the impact it made on the client team was a highlight for us. The adidas story is embedded in the new space, with their hallmark products standing as physical reminders of their journey. World Cup footballs line meeting room walls, iconic running shoes adorn lounge areas and versatile storage spaces are built-in for day-to-day use or product display. We recognised the opportunity to weave stories of adidas’ sustainable products throughout their workspace, starting with their Parley range which is made from repurposed ocean plastic. The Mater Ocean Chair and Mater Nova Chair in the adidas HQ are made of 100% recycled fishing nets and recycled pieces of veneer – even the teapoint is made of recycled yoghurt pots.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards is one of the most prestigious design awards in the industry. We hold ourselves to standards of excellence with every project we do and we aim to enter the SBID Awards each year. As soon as we saw the brief for the adidas project we knew it was going to lead to an incredible creative partnership, and the client team’s open-minded approach to the design development of their new space ensured we were able to push the boundaries of their existing corporate environments, ultimately delivering a space that’s unique to the brand’s presence in London. We entered the project because of the outstanding final result, but also because its conception and completion are a perfect representation of what we do. The new space is built to support the unification of the adidas teams, bringing them together in a creative environment that sets them up to perform.

Questions answered by Jemma Harrison, Design Director, Oktra.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a lavish apartment design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist, Cheng Chung Design. The skyscraper One Sanlitun is already a valuable addition to Beijing's skyline, and the luxurious apartments furnished by CCD are a feast for the eyes.

Cheng Chung Design (CCD) used inspiration from international brands of the highest level, such as Armani, Aston Martin, Chanel, Hermès, Bottega Veneta and Fendi, for a series of luxury apartments in this skyscraper. CCD is known for introducing Western artistic forms into Oriental concepts. The apartment we see here takes characteristic elements from the Italian luxury fashion brand Fendi bringing the classic style of Rome to Beijing.

For the apartment One Sanlitun - Fendi, CCD was inspired by the philosophy where a balance is sought between the classical and the modern, the sophisticated and the playful. It integrates Italian history and humanity with Fendi's brand story as the design inspiration, and presents Fendi’s art, fashion and lifestyle in an elegant way.

SBID Awards Category: Residential House Under £1 Million Sponsored by Sans Souci

Practise: Cheng Chung Design

Project: One Sanlitun - Fendi

Location: Beijing, China

What was the client's brief? 

Beijing Topwin investment group was founded in 1996. The company adheres to the concept of quality to rejuvenate areas such as real estate, hotel, golf court, energy investment and management, among other diverse sectors. Topwin Group is the owner who pursues aesthetics and hopes to lead in the high-quality domestic real estate, using art and design works.

What inspired the design of the project?

It is the unique charm of the Fendi brand. Fendi stems from the history, art and aesthetics of Rome. CCD combines Fendi's brand concept with the interior design of luxury apartments in the bustling business district of Beijing to create a brand-new experience, where guests can interact with Fendi's furniture and accessories more intuitively and deeply, along with the artistic appeal brought by artworks.

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

The most difficult part of the design is the integration of the huge cultural differences. Fendi is based in Rome, the eternal city of Italy, while Beijing is famous in the oriental cultures and history. Therefore, it is hard to balance the collision between the two cities. The design needs to maintain harmony between classic and modern, elegant and stable, without losing the focus on space.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The focal point of the design is the combination of practicality of space and the classic Fendi's brand style. Returning to the examination of this exquisite living space, we focus on the juxtaposition of decorative materials, Fendi's ultimate luxurious aesthetic, and the display effect.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the design industry. Winning the SBID International Design Award symbolizes high achievement and honour. We think that the unique design and ambience of the space, which reflects functional and aesthetic consideration, thoughtful material selection, technology, light and shadow make One Sanlitun – Fendi a brilliant piece of interior design, that is worthy of this award.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a luxury residential design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist, ET Design & Build.

Situated next to the Macau Jockey Club and nearby International Hotel Resorts, this residence has an outstanding view. The owners, a 50-year-old married couple, requested a classy clubhouse style home to accommodate their friends and family. Thus, the luxury of leisure space, the superiority of materials and the quality of finish were important elements of this project.

SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M Finalists Sponsored by Vectorworks

Practise: ET Design & Build

Project: Oscar Crescent

Location: Macau, Macau S.A.R.

What was the client's brief? 

The client requested to restructure the floor plan to maximize the leisure space area (include the living/dining area) along with the balcony and full-length windows to take full advantage of the natural light and the day & night scenery.

What inspired the design of the project?

As part of the owner’s hobby, we incorporated a custom-made pool table and a birdcage to house the owner’s pet parrot as part of the design. As for the owner’s private area, they needed a master bedroom fully equipped with a walk-in closet, make-up table, dressing area and bathroom to endorse a comfortable leisure lifestyle. Also, a multi-purpose room to serve a study or guest room, as needed. The entire house needed to be equipped with a smart house system and electronic curtain system for the owner's convenience.

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

To achieve the design goal, besides matching the colour palate with suitable materials to portrait a luxurious look and feel, the designer put in much effort to source a great number of decorations, including the paintings, different art pieces, floral arrangements, etc to enhance the overall design effect. All furniture and lighting requirements were thoroughly discussed and agreed upon by the client to integrate with the design.

The construction team did a great job in executing a quality finishing of the project. The selection of materials was also the key to a perfect finished project. There are more than 3 types of marbles used in this apartment; the material that represents luxury and glamour and pairing marble with Golden/black mirror/brush steel made the pieces cutting edge and classic at the same time. The choice of wallcoverings and the soft shade of grey stone materials boards were also unique.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Aside from the luxurious clubhouse concept, the use of the birdcage element is the highlight of this design. The idea was inspired by the owner’s request for a birdcage to house his pet parrot. The designer extended this thought to not only transform the cage into a golden art piece but also placing 6 golden birdcage lightings, with different sizes and heights above the owner’s custom-made pool table as a functional and decorative item. The combination of these items with the sunset painting background has become the selected corner of the overall design and focal attention point upon entering the apartment.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

This Award for design standards attracts entries from across the world, making it truly an honour and a sign of industry recognition that is second to none for the deserving winners.