Every week we highlight those submissions which have been frequented by our readers and jury, in the lead-up to the reveal of Interiors of the Month winners and honourable mentions. Here are the five most-viewed projects between 14 and 21 July 2023.
KIRIKO TREE
Hakuten
For shopping centre Tokyu Plaza Ginza’s Christmas campaign, Hakuten designed a 15-sq-m installation titled Kiriko Tree at the corner of a high-traffic intersection (Exhibition, 5.41). The designer borrowed patterns from Edo Kiriko, a traditional craft technique endemic to Tokyo. Conical forms resembling pine trees were adorned with carved patterns. The trees were backlit to illuminate the intricacies of the pattern. After the Christmas period, the trees were moved to another area of the shopping centre to ensure their reuse.
See more here.
DI + RE PRODUCTS
Takasu Gaku Design and Associates
Takasu Gaku Design and Assosciates collaborated with a local woodturning factory in Shizuoka, Japan, to design the Di+Re Product line (Furniture, 7.46). The furniture collection’s name is an abbreviation of ‘disassembly and recreation’, the two methods which lead its design and manufacture. Each piece gets its unique form from the intentional manipulation of the material during manufacturing. By using tilts, rotations and reversals during the crafting process, the line of stools and tableware is born. ‘In letting the material and craftsmanship do the talking, the forms are allowed to sing with perfect simplicity,’ says Lucy Bagshaw, project director at Tp Bennett.
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ARTIFACT
NC Design & Architecture
Located at BaseHall, one of Hong Kong’s newest food and beverage destinations, Artifact is a speakeasy bar designed by NC Design & Architecture (Bar, 7.00). The cistern-inspired space is intended to transport guests from the busyness of the surrounding food hall into the intimate setting. The experience begins before entry where the space is accessed via a concealed corridor lined with circular windows and industrial pipes. Inside, the vaulted ceilings are extended with mirrors. ‘The design concept impresses with a mirrored ceiling which creates floating volumes, organic architecture and custom acoustic walls that add interest,’ says Gilbert Khalil, director of design and technical services at Sunset Hospitality Group.
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ACE HOTEL TORONTO
Shim-Sutcliffe Architects
Set in the heart of Toronto’s Garment District, Ace Hotel Toronto builds on the historic character and industry of the neighbourhood (Hotel, 7.74; Material, 7.58). Shim-Sutcliffe Architects and Atelier Ace designed the space to capture its surroundings despite occupying a new space. A restrained material palette of wood, ceramics, stone and concrete was applied to invoke the industrial feel while still imbuing a sense of warmth. ‘A radical and frugal space that shows how the use of few raw materials can create an immersive experience,’ says Nicolas Delefosse, founder and creative director at NDDO.
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MILK BUN
Gastronomica
Fine dining group Gastronomica ventures into fast food with Milk Bun, a tech-forward joint for burgers and fries in Kuwait (Colour, 6.44). The space utilizes the brand’s pink hue in combination with a neutral grey palette to curate an interior which appeals to the Instagram generation. The layout was designed to maximize footfall with decisions like placing the cookie oven and counter near the entrance made intentionally. Customers can place orders via tablets, which also impacts the brand’s bold visual identity. ‘The transition from natural grey terrazzo to the more vibrant rose dust at counter height is a clever way to draw attention to the branding and visual identity of the store and its products,’ says Anne-Rachel Schiffman.
See more here.
