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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a neutral and biophilic salon design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Cocoon & Bauer.

Additional Lengths, a leading hair extension and hair care products brand based in Teesside, sought to relocate their salon and store from their original site on the outskirts of Stockton to a more central location in the town centre. They approached Cocoon & Bauer with a straightforward yet powerful brief: to create a unique and awe-inspiring ‘Super Salon’ that had never been seen before in the region. The client wanted their new building in Wellington Square to be stripped back to its bare bones, creating a breath taking and unforgettable environment which would leave customers in awe the moment they walked through the door.

SBID Awards Category: Retail Design

Practice: Cocoon & Bauer

Project: Additional Lengths Super Salon

Location: Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom

Cocoon & Bauer - Additional Lengths Super Salon

What was the client’s brief? 

Our client approached us with a brief of bringing their vision to life and designing a space that was functional for Additional Lengths. Previously, Additional Lengths had a retail store and a salon, but these spaces were separated. Our task was to combine the two spaces, allowing them to expand their retail and salon space.

Photo backdrops were an important factor to the space, which will be changed every season and will allow clients to get their photographs taken in front of different backdrops for social media with their new hair. Lighting was an important feature that the client requested, as it was important for the space to be appropriately lit for purpose, but also to allow each bespoke element to become a feature. The overall aesthetics needed to hit the brief of being modern, clean, and neutral but reflect pops of colour from the branding.

Cocoon & Bauer - Additional Lengths Super Salon

What inspired the design of the project?

The beginning of any project is so exciting – it’s the stage where we can lay all our initial ideas on the table and start sketching on a blank plan. We got the layout to work and then we started to add some meat to the bones. To keep the space neutral, we used a lot of oak in the space, which compliments the neutral tones and allows the pinks and purples throughout the interior to pop. With the space having high ceilings, we knew the display and salon area had to make a real impact. To contrast the neutrals, the design also features greenery and introduces biophilic design. Quirky features such as the ‘Fuel Bar’ and the ‘Additional Lengths’ phone box added a fun element – (unfortunately, if you call AL the phone box doesn’t ring).

Cocoon & Bauer - Additional Lengths Super Salon

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

Due to the concrete flooring of the space, we couldn’t move the services or amend the fall of the pipe work. We added a step up to the backwash area, so this coincided with the plumbing. The backwash area sits on a step up, which zones off this area and makes it a real feature.

Cocoon & Bauer - Additional Lengths Super Salon

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

I have a few highlights, there were a lot of bespoke elements (pretty much everything) to this project and seeing this project stage by stage, was so exciting! Our team going in at the end and cleaning, staging, and making final touches just made the whole project complete. Seeing the Additional Lengths team’s reaction was also a highlight, as this had been kept a secret from most! Having happy clients is one of the best feelings.

Cocoon & Bauer - Additional Lengths Super Salon

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We wanted to showcase this project and enter the SBID awards to show off our hard work that we are very proud of.

Cocoon & Bauer - Additional Lengths Super Salon

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being a finalist is a huge deal for all of us – we were all so excited when we got the news. We’re very thrilled to attend the awards and be part of this opportunity.

Casey Hall, Interior Designer at Cocoon & Bauer

Questions answered by Casey Hall, Interior Designer at Cocoon & Bauer.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a traditional and tranquil retail design by Aurora Design, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a traditional and tranquil retail design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Aurora Design.

By using bamboo as the main theme, Jin Tea creates a modern retail environment for tea. The projection of bamboo leaves sets a serene atmosphere, while varying heights of bamboo leaves and slabs and bamboo shadow glass walls, adding texture and an oriental charm. Transitioning through the bamboo shadow creates a deep landscape, with the design integrating modern and traditional elements, hidden functionalities, and an enhanced sense of dimension. Jin Tea embodies the dynamic vitality and charm of traditional culture.

SBID Awards Category: Retail Design

Practice: Aurora Design

Project: Jin Tea

Location: Kunming, China

Aurora Design - Jin Tea
Aurora Design - Jin Tea

What was the client’s brief? 

The client wants to create a wonderfully blended tea retail space infused with Eastern culture, offering a harmonious integration of tradition and modernity, and providing visitors with a tranquil and emotionally resonant experiential environment.

Aurora Design - Jin Tea

What inspired the design of the project?

Eastern Elegance and Balance:
We emphasize the infusion of Eastern elegance into the design, utilising elements like bamboo shadows and green lighting to create a sense of beauty rooted in Eastern culture. Simultaneously, the article underscores the significance of balance by integrating ancient civilisations with modern aesthetics, thereby crafting a romantic and joyful space that offers urban dwellers a relaxing environment.

Feminine Perspective and Emotional Expression:
We have honed an ethereal beauty from a feminine perspective, projecting emotional perception. The design strives for simplicity and understated elegance, conveying a sense of inner calm and contentment while resonating with the modern urban dweller’s yearning for nature and tranquility.

Modern Interpretation of Tea Culture:
We endeavor to draw inspiration from Yunnan’s rich tea culture, intertwining traditional tea heritage with contemporary space to present fresh design concepts. By eschewing conventional embellishments in the tea space, we create a pleasant and tranquil ambiance, allowing individuals to experience serenity and relaxation amidst the bustling cityscape.

Aurora Design - Jin Tea
Aurora Design - Jin Tea

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

The design challenge lies in seamlessly integrating traditional tea culture with modern aesthetics while catering to diverse market demands. Among these, the material aspect challenge involves identifying materials that can effectively depict bamboo leaf shadows and bamboo silhouettes, as well as combining the bar counter’s slate and the green bamboo shadow glass wall, ensuring texture and a natural effect. On the other hand, understanding market demands requires us to fully consider consumers’ experiential and emotional triggers in the tea space, while providing personalised shopping experiences. Timing and communication are also challenges, seizing the right timing in design execution and thorough communication with clients to ensure alignment between design direction and expected goals. In facing these challenges, creativity and innovation will be key factors for success.

Aurora Design - Jin Tea

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The innovation of this project lies in its ingenious fusion of traditional tea culture and modern design. Through the projection and interplay of bamboo leaf shadows, an ethereal and tranquil atmosphere is crafted, imparting consumers with the serene and distant tranquility of nature. Moreover, the bar counter combines rock slabs and green bamboo shadow glass walls, infusing an Oriental charm that enriches the space with tactile richness and natural variation. Expansive installations of bamboo-mimicking hard materials envelop the surroundings, creating a deep and immersive scenic arrangement that imparts a sense of dimensionality and dynamic “illusions.” Utilising a minimalist approach with concise leaf-like contours and gradient green lighting, an aesthetic of understated simplicity is established between reality and illusion. This distinctive design combines tea culture and modern aesthetics, yielding fresh outcomes in the market and captivating consumers seeking unconventional experiences.

Aurora Design - Jin Tea
Aurora Design - Jin Tea

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID International Design Award is a highly regarded international design awards, participation allows our work to gain broader international recognition and exposure. It enables our design creations to undergo professional evaluation, offering feedback from experts and peers. This helps us understand the strengths of our design and areas for improvement, fostering personal growth and enhancement. SBID International Design Award’s ceremony, exhibitions, and events also provide designers with a platform to engage with peers, industry professionals, and potential clients. This can lead to the emergence of new business opportunities and collaborative partnerships.

Aurora Design - Jin Tea

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

The shortlisted entries are showcased globally, offering an opportunity to capture the attention of industry professionals, media, and potential clients. Winning this award can serve as a source of pride for the team, boosting confidence and bestowing us with honor. By shortlisted in high-level design competitions like SBID International Design Awards, we can set an example for the entire design industry, propelling its advancement and elevating design standards.

Yang Xuewan, Chief Designer and Founder of Aurora Design

Questions answered by Yang Xuewan, Chief Designer and Founder of Aurora Design.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a whimsical apartment design by Chains Interior, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a whimsical apartment design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Chains Interior.

The process of building a home is like the story that began with the rabbit leading Alice into Wonderland. It is a journey of self-exploration, to fall into one’s own subconscious in ever-shifting cosmoses, and being there is to realize one’s deepest desires in life.

SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Under £1M

Practice: Chains Interior

Project: Macaron Wonderland

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland
Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland

What was the client’s brief? 

The client is a family of four, the hostess is elegant and enthusiastic, hoping that the home will be full of beautiful energy.

Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland

What inspired the design of the project?

The concept for this project was inspired by “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Alice’s continuous and extraordinary encounters within Wonderland, as well as her observations and experiences, made us feel that it was a perfect fit for this house full of continuous surprises. In this design, we aimed to capture the whimsy and magic of Wonderland by infusing the space with elements of surprise, curiosity, and playfulness. Different atmospheres blend harmoniously, each element emanates a unique radiant energy, it is the home of dreams.

Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland
Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland

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

To me, the toughest part would be balancing creativity and practicality well. Interior design requires a balance between creative ideas and practical considerations. Innovative design concepts also need to consider factors such as functionality, safety, building codes, and budget limitations.

Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The highlight of this project lies in the diverse range of soft furnishings from various brands and the unique way they are combined, bringing a rich and distinctive style to the space. This mix-and-match and diverse design approach not only emphasizes the uniqueness of the living area but also showcases the residents’ creativity and individual tastes.

Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland
Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID is one of the most representative award in the world. The project is highly acknowledged in Asia competition and we want to know if it is also appreciated by an international audience.

Chains Interior - Macaron Wonderland

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being listed in a world-renowned award enhances the company’s credibility and prestige within the industry. And also, the awards often generate extensive media coverage and attention, leading to increased visibility and exposure for the company. This exposure can attract new clients, partnerships, and projects.

Flora Mao, Lead Designer at Chains Interior

Questions answered by Flora Mao, Lead Designer at Chains Interior.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a playfully futuristic cafe design by KLID, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a playfully futuristic cafe design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, KLID.

Art Toy Cafe is an immersive coffee, art and internet celebrity cafe club designed as a social utopia for Generation Z. Taking the ROBBi art as the subject of the space, customers pretend to be space walkers who are both users and explorers. The designer took the space capsule as the design idea and extracted design elements to create a trendy cafe in terms of texture, lighting and colour. The whole cafe is like a living room in the vast universe and has a concept unlike any other cafe.

SBID Awards Category: Club & Bar Design

Practice: KLID

Project: Art Toy Cafe

Location: Cangzhou, China

KLID - Art Toy Cafe
KLID - Art Toy Cafe

What was the client’s brief? 

This case will be a combination of coffee and art toy Internet celebrity cafe. To create a social utopia for Generation Z. Taking the ROBBi art as the subject of the space, customers pretend to be space walkers, who are both users and explorers. The designer took the space capsule as the design idea and extracted design elements to create a trendy cafe in terms of texture, lighting and colour. The whole cafe is like a living room in the vast universe, here to rest, chat. The new space is different from the same type of commercial space. The designer create an immersive experience.

KLID - Art Toy Cafe

What inspired the design of the project?

The designer took the space capsule as the design idea and extracted design elements to create a trendy cafe in terms of texture, lighting and colour. The whole cafe is like a living room in the vast universe, here to rest, empty, daze, chat, and dialogue with the space. The arc design symbolises the beauty of the curve of celestial bodies. The different splicing methods of the built-up sofa create different social atmospheres. Metallic tone not only has a strong science fiction attribute, but also brings infinite extension of mechanical aesthetics.

KLID - Art Toy Cafe

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

Our biggest challenge was the integration of contemporary art and space. The art toys are endowed with more artistic attributes. Through the joint name and re-creation of the brand works with artists, the toys become the art toys with multiple attributes, not only the single piece of fun, but also the integration of the trend and art. The art toys are endowed with more artistic attributes. Through the joint name and re-creation of the brand works with artists, the toys become the art toys with multiple attributes, not only the single piece of fun, but also the integration of the trend and art. The new space is different from the same type of commercial space. Art toy to meet the spiritual world of the younger.

KLID - Art Toy Cafe
KLID - Art Toy Cafe

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The white bar is made of artificial stone, and its smooth lines and gloss reflect the characteristic streamline of space furniture. The polished stainless steel furniture presents a mirror effect, and the coloured transparent gel furniture expresses the space atmosphere of future science and technology.

KLID - Art Toy Cafe

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The reason for our participation in the SBID Awards is because it is a highly recognised international design accolade that focuses on celebrating innovation, excellence, and contributions to the design industry. As a design team, we have always strived to achieve higher levels of accomplishment within the field of design, and the SBID Awards provide a platform to showcase our work and engage with other exceptional designers. Additionally, participating in this award also helps to expand our influence, allowing more individuals to become acquainted with our design philosophy and style.

KLID - Art Toy Cafe

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an Award Finalist has significant implications for both me and my business. Firstly, it signifies recognition for the sustained efforts and unwavering dedication we have put into our work, affirming our achievements within the design realm. This honor not only validates my personal endeavors but also acknowledges the collective contributions of our entire team. The finalist status has brought heightened exposure and awareness to our business. This exposure offers more people the opportunity to grasp our design philosophy, creativity, and professional caliber. As finalists, we are poised to establish a stronger reputation within the industry, solidifying our brand identity and attracting potential clients and partners.

Questions answered by Kris Lin, Founder of KLID.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a sustainable desert home design by Daniel Joseph Chenin, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a sustainable desert home design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Daniel Joseph Chenin.

Perched atop a rocky outcropping with views to surrounding canyons, Fort 137 was designed as a sustainable home using passive and active strategies. Large, operable fenestrations on the north and south facades extend the living space beyond the architectural perimeter and provide cross-ventilation and daylighting, along with expansive views. Louvered roof overhangs minimise heat gain during summer months while allowing natural light to permeate in the winter. Thick stone clad walls regulate thermal transmission.

SBID Awards Category: Residential House Over £1M

Practice: Daniel Joseph Chenin

Project: Fort 137

Location: Nevada, United States of America

Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137
Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137

What was the client’s brief? 

There wasn’t a brief, so to speak, or a strong directive from our clients, but through our pre-design conversations, we learned our client’s priorities which included sustainability, generous space for family connections, and integration with the surrounding natural environment.

Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137

What inspired the design of the project?

The client’s site sits at the most remote edge of the Las Vegas Valley, with unobstructed views of the surround federally protected desert and canyons. This intentionally remote location, coupled with our client’s desire to be immersed in the landscape with an environmentally conscious home, served as our inspiration. The ‘Old Mormon Fort’, one of the oldest remaining structures from Las Vegas’ early settlement days, immediately came to mind. Dating back to the 1800s, this historic structure serves as a case study on passive design for the desert. With thick walls, comprised of regional stone, deep-set fenestration, trellis shade structures, and a courtyard configuration, Fort 137 reclaims the vernacular architecture of the American frontier. The exterior material palette is compatible with the contextual desert environment and is terraced into the hillside, appearing to emerge from the rock-strewn desert.

Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137

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

At first glance, the undeveloped site presented a challenge. While situated on a hillside, the site itself was in a crest that blocked many of the views of Red Rock Canyon that our clients wanted to capture. Recognising the importance of the views and sightlines, our design elevated portions of the home by 1.5 meters through a subtle grading approach. Ultimately, we were able to deliver the spectacular desert views that originally drew our clients to the site with no steps or level changes inside the residence.

Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137
Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The entry rotunda is one of the stand-out elements of the design. It is the lone round element in an otherwise orthogonal structure, so it an anomaly from a form perspective, but it is even more unique functionally and conceptually. Outwardly unassuming, the cylindrical volume acts as a point of reflection and transition. A bubbling water feature located at the center of the darkened space transports visitors from the fast-paced world outside with the sounds and smells of a desert monsoon rain. The portal serves as palette cleanser of sorts, setting the scene for this modern interpretation of a fort.

Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The SBID Awards is an opportunity to showcase our designs to an international audience along with a highly respected panel of judges representing a cross section of the industry.

Daniel Joseph Chenin - Fort 137

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

As a designer, it is always extremely gratifying to have your work recognised by peers and industry leaders alike. My team and I invest so much of ourselves in our projects – each of which take years to bring to fruition. We are grateful and honored to be an SBID Award Finalist.

Daniel Chenin, Founder of Daniel Joseph Chenin

Questions answered by Daniel Chenin, Founder of Daniel Joseph Chenin.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a serene spa design by Rodrigo Vargas Design, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a serene spa design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Rodrigo Vargas Design.

This Spa is the first of its kind, complete with personalised treatments, immersive facilities and approachable wellness offerings. The modern, warm space draws upon the principles of the golden ratio with rounded rooms, curvilinear walls and intuitive design to promote a transformative and holistic experience. Rich texture and luxurious materials embrace the client, while unexpected elements create moments of surprise and delight. Lighting sparkles in hushed golden passageways, leading to an immersive oasis, transporting the mind and body through design. Earth- borne finishes of stone, cerused wood, grass cloth and linen bring the soothing serenity of nature to one’s fingertips.

SBID Awards Category: Healthcare & Wellness Design

Practice: Rodrigo Vargas Design

Project: Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

Location: Nevada, United States of America

Rodrigo Vargas Design - Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

What was the client’s brief? 

There was no brief but the following directive: work within existing planning and programming and time sensitive delivery.

Rodrigo Vargas Design - Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

What inspired the design of the project?

We wanted to create a transformative experience that transports you to a different place. A full departure from the wild aesthetic of a casino hotel. Juxtapose the high energy and colour saturated world above to a quiet spa space, a completely calming and rejuvenating experience.

Rodrigo Vargas Design - Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

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

The project was in the basement of the casino hotel, and the ceiling above received all of the mechanical from the entire operation above. Heights were low and long, at moments, claustrophobic. We shaped, contoured and divided the ceiling and spaces into a path of discovery and movement.

Rodrigo Vargas Design - Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Collaboration with the other teams and ownership, they were understanding and encouraging of our vision.

Rodrigo Vargas Design - Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

To be part of the greater design community and acknowledge what our community does.

Rodrigo Vargas Design - Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

We are honored to be considered as part of a larger group including both our clients, vendors and peers, who are interested in the process of creating beautiful spaces. It’s wonderful to have our design as part of a whole and not just stand alone.

Rodrigo Vargas, Principal at Rodrigo Vargas Design

Questions answered by Rodrigo Vargas, Principal at Rodrigo Vargas Design.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a modern penthouse design by Fenton Whelan, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern penthouse design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Fenton Whelan.

Situated on Kensington Gardens, Park Modern by Fenton Whelan is an extraordinary £550m residential development, showcasing 55 exquisite apartments. The crown jewel of Park Modern is the 9th floor marquee penthouse, meticulously designed by Fenton Whelan’s in-house design studio. This five-bedroom penthouse offers expansive lateral living of over 6,800 ft2. The innovative design and meticulous attention to detail bring forth unrivalled quality, surpassing the standards of London’s super-prime marketplace. Park Modern Penthouse sets a new benchmark by offering unparalleled design features, lifestyle amenities, and a truly exceptional living environment overlooking one of the most well-known parks in the world.

SBID Awards Category: CGI & Visualisation

Practice: Fenton Whelan

Project: Park Modern

Location: London, United Kingdom

Fenton Whelan - Park Modern

What was the client’s brief? 

The client’s brief was a compelling challenge – to craft an exceptional aesthetic that seamlessly merged modernity, international influences, and a timeless allure, creating a living space that resonates uniquely with each individual resident.

Fenton Whelan - Park Modern

What inspired the design of the project?

The project’s design narrative is an homage to London’s alluring charm and the awe-inspiring Hyde Park. The essence of this iconic location served as the catalyst, infusing the design with a sense of grandeur and tranquility.

Fenton Whelan - Park Modern

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

A paramount challenge was defying spatial conventions to preserve the openness and panoramic view of one of the world’s most celebrated parks. This meant artfully avoiding the intrusion of walls, while also orchestrating an intricate dance between materials. The fusion of metal and solid wood, accentuated by the opulence of natural stone, was a technical puzzle that required meticulous craftsmanship.

Fenton Whelan - Park Modern

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Amid the array of accomplishments, the spotlight undoubtedly falls on the featured floated marble fireplace. Positioned at the heart of the space, this architectural marvel transcends conventional boundaries. The fireplace stands as a testament to our innovation, where it levitates gracefully, enveloped by marble on two sides, and adorned with transparent glass elements. Its presence not only offers warmth but also bestows an exquisite blend of design and functionality that is truly captivating. This singular element epitomizes the seamless fusion of aesthetics and engineering in our project. Among the many triumphs, the contemporary artwork stands out as a masterpiece of finesse. This piece serves as both a focal point and a harmonious complement, exuding an aura of elegance and an artistic ambiance that elevates the space.

Fenton Whelan - Park Modern

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

Entering the SBID Awards was a quest for excellence and an aspiration to bring home the coveted trophy, an acknowledgment of our creative dedication, and a testament to the remarkable results we’ve achieved through our passion for design.

Fenton Whelan - Park Modern

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being selected as an Award Finalist is an immensely gratifying affirmation of the passion and dedication that have gone into these projects. This recognition on such a prestigious platform amplifies our sense of achievement, motivating us to continue pushing boundaries and redefining interior design standards.

Questions answered by Arta Marku, Creative Director at Fenton Whelan Design.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Japanese inspired restaurant design by Filipao Nunes, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a Japanese inspired restaurant design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Filipao Nunes.

Señora Tanaka, a project of extroverted personality and energy, offers a unique and avant-garde design concept. Its interior design with a look towards the Japanese architectural tradition and an urban air, is developed on a single floor; combines the use of lines with clean and simple volumes, textures and materials. Textures play a fundamental role in Señora Tanaka’s design. Natural materials like wood and stone are used in wall and floor coverings, adding warmth and an organic look.

SBID Awards Category: Restaurant Design

Practice: Filipao Nunes

Project: Señora Tanaka

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Filipao Nunes - Señora Tanaka
Filipao Nunes - Señora Tanaka

What was the client’s brief? 

They were looking to represent a homage to the restaurant Señor Tanaka, inheriting the passion of Nikkei Food. The personality of this project is a sophisticated and energetic female figure, the perfect harmony of a new generation and evolution of the Señor Tanka. Reflecting a fusion of the gastronomy and the architecture of Japanese culture.

Filipao Nunes - Señora Tanaka

What inspired the design of the project?

From the serene and pure textures of Japanese culture, architecture, and interior design. This inspiration guided the overall aesthetic and atmosphere of the space.

Filipao Nunes - Señora Tanaka

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

Our main challenge was the location of the project, since it is located in one of the main streets of Mexico City inside a building. Our goal was to promote and highlight the restaurant in a way that wasn’t overwhelming.

Filipao Nunes - Señora Tanaka

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

In the selection and application of lighting and textures. We pay special attention to the details of textures that define Japanese culture. We wanted lighting to play a vital role, taking the space to new heights, using strategic natural elements and raw materials, together with the ingenious manipulation of light.

Filipao Nunes - Señora Tanaka

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

It is an incredible opportunity to show the innovative and creative work that my team and I have worked on. It also allows me to compare my project with other featured designs, learn, and contribute to the advancement of the design.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

It is incredibly validating and rewarding for us. A testament to the work, creativity and dedication that we have put into the project.

Filipao Nunes Founder of Filipao Nunes

Questions answered by Filipao Nunes, Founder of Filipao Nunes.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a colourful office design by spAce, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a colourful office design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, spAce.

The guiding idea of the project was to create a NAOS Universe where different environments or “planets” would be formed through the use of colors, textures, and furniture, based on the concept of humanising the workspace. Within it, reflection, serenity, and creativity are achieved through architectural design elements that create an oasis of inspiration and motivation. Behind every space created in this organisation, there are reasons that inspire growth as a consequence of a different, more empathetic, flexible, and above all, more creative work model.

SBID Awards Category: Office Design Under 2,000 SqM

Practice: spAce

Project: Naos

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

spAce - Naos

What was the client’s brief? 

The client was looking for an office that responded to the changes resulting from the pandemic in which they had started to work in a flexible and hybrid way and the office had to function as a social hub.

spAce - Naos

What inspired the design of the project?

The inspiration of the design is closely linked to the products manufactured by the client being in the skin care business, the sensory aspect was very important. Additionally, Naos is a company that exploits the use of color a lot and we decided to make the offices very colorful, creating monochromatic spaces.

spAce - Naos

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

Like many corporate projects, the schedule and costs were very tight. The challenge of the project was largely to match the expectations of those involved with the constraints.

spAce - Naos

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We loved the result in the employees who use the space. People are extremely excited to return to the offices and the new office has become a tool for the organisation that has helped it work better, putting the human being at the centre.

spAce - Naos

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

There are many international design awards but I think in particular the SBID awards are among the most professional and recognised.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Space is not an architecture firm that has a particular interest in receiving awards, our priority is to create spaces that transform people’s lives in a positive and long-term way. However, being finalists in awards of this caliber is a recognition of the effort of all those involved in these projects. We are very happy.

Juan Carlos Baumgartner Founder of spAce

Questions answered by Juan Carlos Baumgartner, Founder of spAce.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a multi generational family home design by Stripe Design Services, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a multi generational family home design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Stripe Design Services.

This Californian home was transformed from a standard house builders’ specification into a showcase for the owners. The multi generational Indian family who lives here now has a home which unites the living and cooking areas with the outside space which reflects their way of life. The introduction of a sweeping staircase connects the first and second floors and celebrates the triple height entryway. Guests experience an open floor plan with generous vistas throughout the house with a multitude of surprise elements such as pops of charm delivered via playful wallpaper and decorative tile.

SBID Awards Category: Residential House Over £1M

Practice: Stripe Design Services

Project: Singh Residence

Location: California, United States of America

Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence
Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence

What was the client’s brief? 

The client wanted a multi generational home that incorporated their collection of traditional artifacts, embraced their love of cooking and yet still had a modern aesthetic.

Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence

What inspired the design of the project?

The inspiration for the design came from engaging the client in conversations around their culture and traditions. We wanted to deeply honour their historic roots. The use of saturated colour, pattern and wallpapers give the home a sense of familiarity.

Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence
Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence

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

The staircase in the original layout was secreted behind a wall, absolutely hidden. It was evident upon entry that there was a second story and the entry boasted a triple height vault. Redesigning the space to incorporate a sweeping elegant staircase was challenging both design wise and structurally. The result unites the two spaces. We intentionally created a simple design so that the staircase felt graceful as opposed to ostentatious, the flat underside of the curve afforded us the opportunity of a sweep of burgundy paint, a nod to the owner’s love of wine.

Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We all love different parts of the house but giving the family a very ergonomic, functional kitchen was probably one of the most rewarding moments. Everybody engages in the cooking process in this home and food is central to their family experience. The wallpaper in the powder room is also sincerely delightful.

Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence
Stripe Design Services - Singh Residence

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We thought that this project might be noteworthy. The bay area is very multicultural because of the huge amount of technology companies. The project all at once celebrates the success of it’s owners and pays homage to their cultural roots. It does not follow any trend and it does not feel like an algorithm from Pinterest. It is unique.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

We are all tremendously excited. It feels a little surreal actually but I think that we all feel vindicated for the time and effort that we put into creating special environments for clients.

Questions answered by Suna Lock, Creative Director of Stripe Design Services.

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

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an idyllic villa design by Balan and Nambisan Architects, click here to read it.

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