Q&A with Kossmanndejong: Immersive and Accessible Museums

In this week's interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Public Space category, Kossmanndejong, Pauline Fer explains the concept of the design, how they displayed the information in an accessible way, and developed custom-made solutions to fit the project's narrative.

At Beezantium, integrated architecture and scenography transform what initially appears as a small, wooden building on the outside into a thriving beehive on the inside.

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

Our scenography transports visitors into a thriving beehive by surrounding them with giant honeycombs made of a material mimicking wax.

The information in each of the honeycomb’s hexagonal cells contributes to the larger story. The narrative begins with a close focus on the bees. Visitors can watch living colonies in the observation hives, witnessing how these superorganisms organise themselves. With each honeycomb layer, the narrative’s perspective slowly broadens. We see the bees interact with their surroundings and discover how human actions affect bees. Gradually, visitors become aware that everything in our ecosystem is connected and that bees play a vital role in it.

To share this information in an accessible and intuitive way, we minimised text and worked with a multisensory combination of images, infographics, interactives, animations and audio. Each cell contains a piece of information waiting to be harvested by visitors. For example, visitors feel the warm temperature at which bees regulate their hives, learn about the tools used to artificially inseminate the queen bee, and consider a drop of honey that represents how much a bee produces during its entire lifetime (1/12 teaspoon). And in the audio guide, the estate’s beekeeper Paula Carnell shares her fascination with bees.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

We started working on the project with the expectation that we would create an exhibition about bees. But we ultimately developed a story about how everything in our ecosystem is connected. It was fascinating to dive into the world of bees and discover how much we depend on them.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

We strive to create impactful experiences that inspire and move visitors. We are honoured that our design resonated with and left a lasting impression on industry leaders and the public.

How was the process of arranging the display in a quite small and open space? Did you encounter any difficulties?

Our client wanted a space suitable for exploration and contemplation. The 50 m2 space was the perfect size to create a human-size hive. And we embedded a lot of information in the honeycomb’s hexagonal cells without overwhelming the space. These cells function like mini exhibits, partly hidden behind doors, peek holes and in drawers. They invite visitors to actively explore the content and draw them into the bees' world.

Given the observational hives on display, we developed a low-tech exhibition. Bees communicate and navigate using vibration, so we limited our use of technologies, like WIFI, that can disturb this.

The furniture and accessories used in the project probably couldn’t be found in a store. Did you commission any of the pieces? How did you find working directly with manufacturers and using made-to-order furniture in the project?

Our design is content driven, and we develop custom-made solutions unique to each project’s narrative. We have an extensive network and always look for the best partner for the project. Our shared trust encourages us to push ourselves and innovate, researching and experimenting until we find the right solution. For this exhibition, we worked with Kloosterboer Decor to find the perfect material that mimics wax’s structure, texture and opacity.

Even The Newt estate’s bees contributed. They coated a wood panel with propolis for visitors to touch. Propolis is a glue-like substance inside the beehive that the bees use for protection and repair. Another display features honey samples that show how different flowers produce different honey colours.

What is the most important thing to keep in mind when working on a design for a public space?

A public space must engage visitors with diverse expertise, experiences and interests. There should be something interesting for everyone to discover. That’s why we create layered stories. The main messages in this exhibition are easily accessible and yet every honeycomb cell enables visitors to explore more detailed information. Whether you’re in for a quick visit or stay longer and dig deep, you will always have a meaningful experience.

Questions answered by Pauline Fer, Spatial Designer, Kossmanndejong.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a contemporary hotel's public space design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Paul Liu Design PLD.

Located in the core area of Dinghu New District, Zhaoqing City, this new Sheraton hotel is integrated with the beautiful landscape belt of Changli River, wetland park and other waterfront landscapes. It is designed to showcase new experiences, leading guests to work, relax and party in a comfortable social atmosphere during their stay. With 398 guest rooms, this hotel has 1,700 square meters of banquet and meeting space, including 1 grand ballroom, 6 conference rooms and 1 multi-function hall. All venues are equipped with high-speed Internet connections and modern audio-visual equipment. The 715 square meters column-free grand Ballroom can be flexibly divided into 2 independent Spaces. It is ideal for events of all sizes, such as large conferences, romantic weddings and social gatherings. It also offers a range of leisure facilities including a fitness center with cardio and fitness equipment, an indoor heated swimming pool and a jacuzzi and sauna.

What was the client's brief? 

The interior designer is commissioned to convert an existing building and rebuild it into a new design Sheraton-branded contemporary hotel that can articulate Marriott International's brand strategy, philosophy and globally consistent image while take the owner's operational, budget, time schedule requirements and aesthetic issues into consideration.

Since 2018 Marriott International announced plans to reinvent its Sheraton brand for a new generation of travelers. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts have been transformed under new version that guests can appreciate a sense of timelessness balanced with a refresh, modern feel that's ideal for working, meeting and relaxing during their stay. Beside the client's requirement, this property design also needed to follow the Facility Criteria given by the Brand guideline.

What inspired the design of the project?

The Zhaoqing Sheraton Dinghu Hotel design details inspired from its unique geographical location. The designers also used Oriental Aesthetic Duan Inkstone as a nursery of ideas in style. The fundamental core values of Chinese cultural philosophy were applied to design technique to emphasize the unity and harmony.

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

Due to the diversity of functions within a hotel building, a large number of specialist consultants were required to coordinate with during each critical design stage that made the design process very complicate and challenging. Another challenge facing is how to make the most efficient floor plan configurations and energy intelligent within the limitations of the existing architectural condition.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The new Sheraton brand's new design approach draws on the hotels' roots as community hubs for locals and guests alike with aims to create an intuitive and holistic experience, integrating areas to connect, be productive and feel part of something special during their stay.

In the new design elements of Zhaoqing Sheraton hotel, the integration of work and enjoyment is at the heart of the design, using the concept of open shared space in the lobby of the hotel. The integrity of the space makes it vibrant and belonging, with open spaces for guests to socialize or spend time alone. Adhering to The Sheraton brand concept, Zhaoqing Sheraton incorporates many of the brand's new signature elements, including a shared community table, that is compatible with form and function, it was designed for guests to work efficiently, and for flexible meeting space for team members to collaborate in a relaxed atmosphere. Add vitality to the entire public space, as well as small meetings and private dining. The hotel also has 3 original restaurants and a specialty bar, serving a range of local and international cuisines, that can let the guests enjoy the wonderful environment while focusing on their work.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

SBID AWARDS is one of World's most prestigious and influential design awards, which honors excellence and provide global recognition.

Questions answered by Bo Liu and Hank Xia, Founder & Chairman and Director, PLD.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a renovated vibrant hotel design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Hirsch Bedner Associates.

Canopy by Hilton Hotel in Qujiang Xi’an conveys the splendid leisure and carnival entertainment of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The central premise of the design stems from the Chinese idiom 鲜衣怒马 xiānyī nùmǎ, which loosely translates to “wearing beautiful garments and riding powerful horses”. With this concept in mind, the interiors celebrate the vibrant fashion and design of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that for centuries has been integrated into the spiritual language of Xi’an’s neighborhoods, and now blends exquisitely with the opulent aesthetics of the Canopy brand.

The xiānyī nùmǎ motif is unraveled throughout the hotel style through the use of joyful colors and patterns inspired by Tang-era fabrics and artwork. By fusing the ancient with the modern to create a unique design story, the hotel creates a fresh perspective on historical elements, allowing people to enjoy traditional culture in a rejuvenated, vibrant, and fun way.

What was the client's brief? 

The initial brief received by clients was to bring the rich historical, traditional and cultural background of the place into the project renovation, and to align it to the hotel brand style and feeling.

Canopy by Hilton conveys the brand lifestyle that offers the guests comfort, thoughtful details, an energizing atmosphere and a uniquely local experience, as extension of the local neighbourhood.

Storytelling has been used to design the hotel allowing guest to discover the delightful neighbourhood as an ‘explorer’, and reinterpreting the traditional design language for modern appreciation.

What inspired the design of the project?

Canopy by Hilton Xi’an is located in the Qujiang New District, a new cultural hub and economic center of the historic city. The hotel is connected to the Grand Tang Mall, a fabulous pedestrian street with myriad cultural sights and recreational activities.

The central premise of the design stems from the Chinese idiom “鲜衣怒马 xiānyī nùmǎ”, which loosely translates to “wearing beautiful garments and riding powerful horses”. With this concept in mind, the design team set out to celebrate the vibrant fashion and design of the prosperous Tang Dynasty that for centuries has been integrated into the spiritual language of Xi’an’s neighborhoods, and now blends exquisitely with the opulent aesthetics of the Canopy brand.

The xiānyī nùmǎ motif is unraveled throughout the hotel style through the use of joyful colors and patterns inspired by Tang-era fabrics and artwork. By fusing the ancient with the modern to create a unique design story, the hotel creates a fresh perspective on historical elements, allowing people to enjoy traditional culture in a rejuvenated, vibrant, and fun way.

By adopting the easy-going lifestyle of Xi’an and the cultural elements of the city’s historic legacy, the hotel acts as an extension of the local neighborhood.

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

As most of the projects, the team had to deal with a tight timeline on redesigning the whole hotel without compromising the construction programme.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Canopy by Hilton Xi’an conveys the splendid leisure and carnival entertainment of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

The hotel creates a new perspective that allows people to reveal the traditional culture in a way that is vibrant, fun and young, it adopts the easy-going Xi’an characteristic that enhance the vibe of the area it resides in.

When guests check in at the arrival lobby, they are surrounded by artwork that tells the story of stylishly dressed ancestors taking a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood. The wooden roof and the reception canopy are accented with brass details, evoking a sense of prosperity and opulence of the city’s ancient East and West markets.

Every Canopy by Hilton is built around the Canopy Central atrium, which acts as the hub of the hotel’s main public areas. The different spaces flow naturally into one another through the use of a flexible design plan so that all of the public spaces are welcoming and adaptable to guests' needs. The use of a consistent design language and ample natural light creates a sense of unison as guests move from the reception area to the bar to the lounge and the multifunction areas.

The IN TOWN Café features a delectable éclair LAB where signature eclairs are decorated to-order in front of the guests. The design draws on elements from the Shangsi Festival, when royals, literati, and commoners alike would travel to the Qujiang area to enjoy a pageant of music, song, and dance. To reflect the joyful mood of the festival, the café makes ample use of bold colors accented by brass metal details and detailed vibrant Tang-era patterns in the artwork. The wall behind the éclair LAB is adorned with a mural depicting contemporary illustrations of colorful tea and coffee cups against a backdrop of Tang Dynasty buildings in the style of a traditional Chinese painting.

The Restaurant Ambrosia is designed in an unapologetically bold and eccentric style, has a nostalgic feel with a nod to ancient traditional elements cleverly integrated into the contemporary interior design. This creates the explorable vibe and flavor that will create memorable moments to their journey. One wall of the restaurant is adorned with a stunning mural depicting bustling scenes of work and leisure in the ancient capital, painted in a traditional Tang Dynasty style.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards are a prestigious recognition of excellence within the interior design industry across products, interiors and fit out.

Over a decade on, the Awards has firmly established itself as one of the most prestigious interior design Awards in the global design calendar. It represents the outstanding industry achievements and top quality design services that continue to inspire the profession.

Questions answered by Flavio Patino, Associate, HBA Hong Kong.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a fun and colourful youth centre design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, Fogarty Finger.

New Heights, the basketball-based after-school academic program for children in fourth through twelfth grade, has its new permanent home in the Bedford-Union Armory, now known as the Major R. Owens Health and Wellness Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. New Heights is the anchor tenant of this massive armory that was long vacant and is now reimagined and restored as a community resource for the Crown Heights neighborhood and beyond.

Partnering with New Heights, Fogarty Finger, a key player in the renaissance of residential and office construction in Brooklyn, volunteered to develop the interiors, signage, and branding elements behind the non-profit’s new home. Together their goal was to make a dynamic visual environment inspiring the youth of the city to feel hopeful, encouraged, and courageous.

The Fogarty Finger team set out to immerse themselves in the rich and vibrant historic Crown Heights neighborhood and surrounding area of Brooklyn, tapping local makers and artists to bring the space to life. Renowned and local artist Efdot painted an expansive hallway mural in the student lounge that tells the story of New Heights’ journey to its new forever home in Brooklyn, while a series of fireplace murals were painted by Brooklyn-based artists Peach Tao, Dek, and Stephanie Costello.

The result is a vibrant space that conveys a strong sense of place and inspires the community’s next generation.  This new home feels unmistakably New Heights, celebrates the architecture of the Armory, and acknowledges the diversity of the neighborhood.

What was the client's brief? 

Partnering with New Heights, Fogarty Finger was asked to develop the interiors, signage, and branding elements behind the non-profit’s new home within the Bedford-Union Armory. Their design goal was to make the space a dynamic visual environment that would inspire student-athletes and staff alike. The program consists of reception, student lounge, classrooms, library, pantry, administration wing, staff offices, and boardroom.

What inspired the design of the project?

The main design inspiration for New Heights Youth Inc. was creating a space to “Inspire Ascension” – as soon as the student-athletes walked through the doors and up the stairs into their new home, Fogarty Finger wanted them to feel empowered to be their best selves and know that this is a space where they are supported.

The design team initially asked themselves how the branding could engage with the existing historic architecture to communicate the idea of reaching new levels of success in the classroom, on the court, and in everyday life. The use of gradients in some of the added design elements (entry wall, donor wall, and the tiers of the pennant installation) pair with the existing architectural details throughout the space – all which draw the eye upward + create the feeling of ascension.

Fogarty Finger held monthly check-ins before and during the design process to ensure the space would resonate deeply with those who made New Heights the program that it is today. The meetings included parents, students, alumni, and coaches to get a better sense of what kind of space they wanted and how to truly make it feel like home. Taking the time to listen and understand how the community wanted the space to feel was a major inspiration for the design team throughout this project.

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

The New Heights organization was a very unique client for Fogarty Finger, being a non-profit company with a variety of stakeholders. The space needed to appeal to a variety of users and serve for many different functions—a place where student-athletes feel comfortable to learn, is practical for the daily needs of teachers and coaches, and impresses and inspires potential investors. During the design process, there were many key players involved, and the design team wanted to ensure that everyone felt heard and valued. This is something Fogarty Finger prides themselves on with office and commercial spaces, and the New Heights project was a welcomed challenge to the norm.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Fogarty Finger wanted to honor the history of the Bedford Union Armory by recreating some of the original gilded signage techniques found throughout the space. This technique was a key design element implemented when the building was constructed in 1903.The design team wanted to ensure this signage technique was featured in a fresh way within the new signage and branding scope of the project.

To keep that story alive for those experiencing the space today, Noble Signs, a local hand-painted signage company, was a perfect fit. Noble Signs was an amazing partner that allowed New Heights’ new home to honor the architectural history of the Armory building while allowing Fogarty Finger the opportunity to support local businesses and craftsmen.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

Fogarty Finger entered the SBID Awards to showcase our interior design and collaboration work on the New Heights Youth project. All of the collaborations were done with local makers and artists based in Brooklyn to pull in the surrounding community as much as possible. Creating such a vibrant space that allows for people to come together was such an exciting and rewarding opportunity.

Image credits: Connie Zhou

Questions answered by Taylor Fleming, Interior Designer, Fogarty Finger.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a renovated soft and subtle hotel design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Elkus Manfredi Architects.

The design of the intimately scaled, 32-key White Elephant Palm Beach is a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean revival architecture that lovingly honours its history while introducing a new design voice to Palm Beach. Airy, casually elegant, and gracious with a touch of wit, White Elephant Palm Beach debuts a fresh aesthetic for Palm Beach that is deeply attuned to today’s global guest.

White Elephant Palm Beach opened in 2020 in the former Bradley Park Hotel, built in 1924 and designated a historic landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission of Palm Beach in 1980. Now owned by New England Development, the hotel underwent a “down to the bones” reimagining by Elkus Manfredi Architects, which was responsible for the comprehensive design vision, including exterior and interior architecture, furnishings, landscape, and art curation. Sister hotel to Nantucket's legendary White Elephant, White Elephant Palm Beach reflects the same meticulous standard of service while capturing the essence of contemporary Palm Beach.

The hotel’s collection of museum-quality original art, specifically curated for this project, is found in public spaces, guestrooms, and even bathrooms, adding another dimension of authenticity to the personal, layered experience that White Elephant Palm Beach offers its guests.

What was the client's brief? 

New England Development asked Elkus Manfredi to create a new perspective for the emerging wave of international travelers to Palm Beach, a design that would embrace the unique history of Palm Beach and the architectural significance of the Bradley Park Hotel, while introducing a new aesthetic – soft, subtle, intimate – that is a departure from the grand, strong, colorful aesthetic generally associated with Palm Beach. The hotel also needed to embody the service promise of its sister, White Elephant Nantucket.

What inspired the design of the project?

In a gesture that captures the playfulness of the brand, the client named their first White Elephant hotel, located in Nantucket, in response to an islander’s initial fears (later assuaged) about the prospect of a new hotel on his island. The inspiration for the design of that hotel’s sister was the result of that brand mixed with other elements, which all together produced the very singular and serendipitous alchemy that is the White Elephant Palm Beach. Major inspirations included:

• The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore and modernize the Bradley Hotel’s classic Addison Mizner-influenced Mediterranean Revival architecture was a foundational inspiration.
• We wanted to embrace the DNA of the brand by bringing a fresh new design perspective to Palm Beach. So instead of leaning into the typical patterned, strong Palm Beach aesthetic, we developed a very textural, neutral palette to create a soft-spoken, elegant, more contemporary aesthetic that gently embraces the guest.
• The idea of continuously surprising and delighting guests is another central inspiration. Designers layered subtle, unexpected design surprises for the guest at every turn in the hotel.
• The collection of original art specifically curated for the hotel – and found everywhere, including corridors and bathrooms – was another high-impact and inspiring layer of the design.

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

• Restoration and redesign of the building needed to be accomplished while satisfying the historic criteria of both the Landmarks Preservation Commission of Palm Beach and the National Park Service.
• Working in a hundred-year-old landmarked property required creative, flexible design schemes that could accommodate the surprises that inevitably come with opening up century-old walls.
• The original center axis of the hotel’s design was a focus of the historic preservation agencies responsible for reviewing the plans in light of the building’s designation as a historic landmark. While designers moved the main entry off-center to allow the full activation of the courtyard with a pool, lounging area, and an indoor/outdoor restaurant, they maintained elements of the original axis and incorporated them into the new design in homage to the history of the building.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The reaction and recognition from guests.  As an example, one guest wrote: “Amazing stay all the way. Great rooms, fantastic amenities and super friendly staff. Well done White Elephant Palm Beach, our new home away from home. We will come back and surely enough we will recommend this hotel to all our friends and family.”

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

From the start, the client tasked us with designing for a new wave of travelers to Palm Beach – to bring new perspectives and clientele to the resort destination. So rather than being driven by the classic Palm Beach aesthetic, the design introduces a global point of view to this American resort that we believed would resonate with SBID’s international audience.

Questions answered by Elizabeth Lowrey, Principal and Director of Interior Architecture, Elkus Manfredi Architects.

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a Rome inspired hotel design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, THDP.

DoubleTree by Hilton Rome Monti is interiors and decorations and the lushness of an internal lobby garden – where guests can immerse themselves in the light of the eternal city from morning to evening.

The main entrance is located on the main façade of the historic building overlooking Piazza Esquilino, on the corner with Via Urbana. The hotel features a rooftop bar and terrace, bar and café with an entrance on Piazza dell’Esquilino, three meeting rooms, a fitness centre and Mamalia restaurant, serving reinterpreted traditional cuisine.

What was the client's brief? 

To convert the two pre-existing buildings, with the aim of combining the Roman rhythms and lifestyle with the functionality of a hotel and establishing a continuous dialogue with the city.

What inspired the design of the project?

Rione Monti, once popular and dilapidated, today it is a place to discover, a central and young meeting point that live in harmony with the ancient, made of narrow medieval streets and hidden trattorias, alternative shops, and trendy bars. Without a doubt a cosmopolitan area where the atmosphere of an ancient community and the boutiques and clubs not to be missed during your stay.

The Monti district is an authentic area where working-class Rome once stood, where the elderly maintain tradition and where young entrepreneurs open trendy galleries.

This atmosphere with a retro flavor, combined with the climbing on the terracotta facades, the pots of plants left simply along the sidewalk of the streets with the typical Roman San Pietrini, was the greatest inspiration for the interior design concept, created by the THDP studio with Italian roots and designers.

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

Designing case good furniture by carefully sampling all custom finishes for the project and project managing the execution on site was challenging during 2020 because of the first Covid lockdown.

Another challenge was planning the entrance of the hotel, which follows the Esquilino hill, gently rolling down. The lobby and the bar are at two different levels, which required to insert staircases and a lift.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

This was the first THDP’s project in the Italian Capital. It was also a new way to push the boundaries of the Double Tree brand, by creating a more authentic experience for the guest where there was an accurate research of the neighbourhood areas, thanks for part of the internal local THDP team.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID awards are unmissable, as they select original projects from around the world. It is quite an exciting award as there is a combination of projects and a very glamorous award ceremony in London, where our company is.

Questions answered by Manuela Mannino, Partner and Founder, THDP.

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.

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.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features a minimal sales gallery design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, A.RK Interior Design.

Park Vera is by far the most iconic of Rainbow City’s project in Shanghai. It is also the last lot of residential development in the district of Ruihong, Shanghai. Shui On Land’s vision was 20 years in the making. Their aim for Park Vera gallery is to use this sales gallery to showcase their commitment to the community, transforming and developing this district into the most sought after postal code in Shanghai.

The interior of the sales gallery for the residential development Park Vera is designed to reflect the journey taken over 20 years to bring about this dramatic transformation. Design inspiration has evolved through the years and one might say they have come full circle. Targeted for younger demographics whose life ethos is very much different from their parents - they seek personal fulfilment and socialising is a very important part of their lives, their manner is filled with enthusiasm and creativity.

For inspiration for this project designers looked to one of the happiest regions in the world - Scandinavia. To pursue contentment and well-being is the Danish way of life and here A.RK Interior Design inspire to inject some Lagom and Hygge into our lives.

What was the client's brief? 

Being the apex and the last lot of development for Rainbow City (mix-development), the client’s goal and wish was to put their best foot forward, to instil the buyer’s confidence in their development and to have bragging rights of having one of the best residential development in this area.

What inspired the design of the project?

We looked at the demographics and the evolving needs of the population and gave the client a couple of design concept proposals. Finally settled with a Scandinavian theme, we injected elements of Danish lifestyle concept of ‘hygge’ and Swedish way of life ‘lagom’ to showcase simplicity and minimalism, embracing the Scandinavian mentality that moderation and happiness are intertwined.

The extensive presence of seagulls in this sales gallery reflects the developer’s pursuit of perfection, as inspired by Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a Richard Bach book.

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

We have to say the pandemic was the biggest hurdle we faced during this project. With a design team in Singapore and the project in Shanghai, we had to pull all the stops and get used to travel and working with restrictions of not being able to supervise the build in person. The client's design team was very understanding and has come to quickly realise that working remotely might be the new way forward. The availability of technology hugely alleviated the lack of in-person consultation.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

Going above and beyond solving design challenges, the highlight of this project speaks volume of the inter-city, cross border collaboration that was only possible with technology and the trust given by our clients. The shared visions that the client and designer team have is only possible with a multi-disciplined teams that work well and have the same end-goal in mind.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

SBID awards is one the industry’s most respected and sought after accolade. Being part of this prestigious award raises the credibility of our company and our brand. This award will also further enhance our standing with our client.

Questions answered by Agatha Teng, Creative Director and Partner, A.RK Interior Design.

This week's instalment of Project of the Week interior design series features an art deco inspired design for hotel rooms and public spaces by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Atellior.

Atellior was appointed by Starboard Hotels to design the interiors of the Hampton by Hilton Park Hotel Royal. The project scope involved the design of 164 rooms and all public spaces of the hotel. The specially commissioned furniture and artworks by local manufacturers and artisans contribute to a relaxed and stylish ambience. Atellior’s design respects the building’s heritage and imaginatively references its situation, while demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.

What was the client's brief? 

To create a contemporary and fresh hotel interior that made connection with the original Art Deco building and West London location. The client was particularly keen to create comfortable ground floor open lobby, bar and restaurant with guests relaxing, working, socialising, eating and drinking in the space throughout the day and late into the night.

What inspired the design of the project?

Inspiration for the design has been taken from the nearby Art Deco Park Royal tube station and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and are revealed in the stylish geometric and botanical touches found throughout the interiors.

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

There was no particular hurdle that we would single out. Like all projects, there were challenges on site, when some things didn’t quite work out in line with the drawings and design intent. But we worked really close with the contractor to ensure that all hurdles were overcome successfully and without any detriment to the client and the end result.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The client specified an ‘open lobby’ and to achieve this Atellior’s innovative solution was to remove the loadbearing walls on the ground floor while retaining the historic façade. There was also the challenge of the ground floor windows, which, once the entire floor had been lowered for access, were now too high. As the façade was listed the windows could not be enlarged. To solve this issue, Atellior worked with Jackie Callingham, a local artist to create five backlit stained-glass panels which were mounted beneath the existing apertures, giving the illusion of larger windows and adding light and interest to the space.

Atellior is particularly proud of the accessible public restrooms, and in consultation with the client, it was agreed that rather than being an afterthought, these should be generously sized and pleasurable to use, with Tektura feature graffiti wallpapers in bold colours. Brass and sanitaryware by Hansgrohe and Vitra was carefully selected to showcase the best product design, including stylish grab rails by Hewi to aid accessibility.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We are really honoured to be shortlisted for the SBID Awards as they are a real benchmark of forward-thinking design within Interior Design industry. Even to be shortlisted is a huge accolade and recognition!

Questions answered by Una Barac, Executive Director, Atellior.

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.