Every week we highlight the FRAME Awards submissions which have been frequented by our readers and jury. Below are the five most-viewed projects between 26 April and 3 May 2024, shared with feedback left by the jury.
SUETOMI AOQ CAFE STAND
Ryohei Tanaka/ G Architects studio
The AoQ coffee stand is located on the ground floor of a two-storey wooden building at an intersection surrounded by hotels and office buildings, close to Kyoto's main station (Material, 7.86). With a depth of only 1 m, the kitchen and the seating area are adjacent to each other, along the main street. As the coffee stand belongs to Suetomi, a renowned local confectionary, a rusty blue hue was used to align with the brand’s identity. Claude Saos, head of interior architecture and design at LISAA Strasbourg describes it as a ‘minimalist, raw, uncompromising architecture-sculpture’.
Read more here.
BRILLAMONT PLAYSPACE
JDE Design Driven Consultancy
Located in Mexico and designed for the preschool area of Brillamont Institue by JDE Design Driven Consultancy, the Brillamont Playspace playground explores play within the educational realm (Learning space, 7.54). While playgrounds in educational settings usually prioritize safety over adventure, this approach aims to serve as an equally safe and stimulating environment. Its design encourages exploration through inviting organic and geometric elements and uplifting colours. Bold shapes, such as vast arches, and long bridges evoke curiosity and promote a sense of achievement, cooperation and the development of fundamental motor skills. Servaas Vehmeijer, partner and managing director at The Invisible Party, hopes that this project can lead to further exploration and transformation of the archetypal playground ‘into more formative and memorable experiences’.
Read more here.
CASA MEZCAL
Barde vanVoltt
Located in the bustling neighbourhood of La Condesa in Mexico City, Casa Mezcal is a private residence blending innovation, functionality and sustainability (House, 7.98). Transforming an older property into a residence, Barde vanVoltt's design prioritized the residents’ experience. The house is flooded with natural light, as the original roof was replaced with sliding glass panels. For its construction, locally sourced materials were used and innovative techniques were implemented to significantly reduce its environmental footprint. ‘A beautifully considered project,' says Judy Dowle, associate design director at StudioXAG. 'The execution and attention to detail and material choices elevate the feel of the house.'
Read more here.
CHARLES AZNAVOUR CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC, DRAMA AND DANCE
Dominique Coulon & Associés
The music, drama and dance academy building in Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France, takes advantage of the triangular shape of the site to maximize clear views of the town and the interior (Learning Space, 7.52). The building is split across four levels with spaces including drama rooms, a large black-box auditorium, a variety of music rooms, a recording studio, three dance rooms with changing rooms, and an underground car park. The thermal comfort strategy was essential for the design team, which was achieved with sunlight control, proper insulation, and a thermo-acoustic screed on the floor. ‘Interesting use of natural light and colour to accentuate the volume in the space,’ says Ronnie Belizaire, studio practice leader and principal at HKS Inc.
Read more here.
MAISON M-I-D 1985
Curiosity
Located in Umeda, a vibrant district of Osaka, m-i-d's new concept store, Maison m-i-d 1985, reflects the bold character of the city’s fashion scene (Single-Brand Store, 6.97). With the use of bright colours, the store functions like a lighthouse, to attract the attention of shoppers on the fourth floor of Hankyu Umeda department store. The vibrant yellow translucent glass creates the unique identity of the store. The monochrome environment emphasizes the brand’s mostly black and white garments. The labyrinth-like layout offers customers plenty of space to browse at their own pace. Leendert Tange, creative partner at Storeage-Group, believes that the design would have benefited from some softer touches ‘to become truly dreamy and immersive’.
Read more here.
