Every week we highlight the FRAME Awards submissions that have been frequented most by our readers and jury. Below are the five most-viewed projects between 23 and 30 August 2024, shared with feedback left by the jury.
Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness
Eness
Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness is an exhibition designed by Eness that brings AI to life (Exhibition, 8.35). Originally designed around the alcoves, vaulted ceilings, and beams of a 12th-century chapel in the Centre D’Art Les 3 CHA contemporary French gallery, the exhibition has been subsequently adapted for other locations across the world. The experience comprised 50 connected inflatables in the form of various characters and was complemented by an 8-m LED screen. AI was used to produce interactive messaging. Inflatables ensured the projects reduced environmental footprint and all fabric used can be recycled, processed and returned to raw plastic for reuse in packaging as textiles and other products. ‘An interesting and story-rich exhibition, visitors won’t feel bored when walking in this space; it’s like a wonderland that has so much to explore,’ says Zizhao Li, cofounder and chief designer at DSC · Design.
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Jade Apartment
Matrix Design
Jade Apartment is a show flat for developer CR Land Shenzhen (Show Flat, 7.35). Matrix Design headed the project, adopting a ‘less is more’ approach and employing a simple material palette of translucent jade, wood and metal. Tactile furniture and textiles balance the hard material choices. A reception area and VIP room complement the show flat area, providing a holistic experience for prospective buyers. ‘The style is clean and the layout feels open and inviting,’ notes Xuechen Chen, architectural designer at X.C Studio. ‘The use of both natural and artificial lighting enhances the space and elevates the overall experience.
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Leysen Jewelry Fashion Store
Kene Design
The Leysen Jewelry Fashion Store, designed by Kene Design in Hangzhou challenges conventions of traditional fine jewellery retail (Single-Brand Store, 5.56). A light colour palette, dominated by light blue ombre, is complemented by lightweight materials that contrast the heaviness of the jewels on display. The store’s open layout encourages potential customers to explore the products on display and is punctuated with seating for employees to give attention to those trying out the products. ‘Good selection of materials and the displays are well-designed,’ says Arthur Guimarães, CEO at Arthur Guimarães Architects.
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Veiled Imbibe
Create+Think Design Studio
Veiled Imbibe is a restaurant located in Taipei, Taiwan, which serves as a specialized storage space for wine and a venue for tasting and fine dining (Restaurant, 6.28). Create+Think Design Studio was behind the realization of the multi-use space. The stated red façade is an ode to the design of traditional Chinese aristocratic palaces. Inside, the interior follows a more minimalistic, modern design scheme through blocked colours and wooden furniture among other elements. Continuity from the façade is present through exposed original beams painted the same shade of red. ‘Carefully crafted retrofit,’ says Josse Popma, partner at Popma ter Steege Architects. ‘Tasteful and original way of designing with the existing qualities.’
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Aesop Diagonal
Mesura
The Aesop Diagonal store in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Mesura was developed in close collaboration with master stonemasons, the Barbany family (Single-Brand Store, 8.86). The architect approached the project with the idea of anastylosis, a term that describes the architectural conservation of ancient monuments by reassembling their original pieces as precisely as possible. In this space, the purpose was to instead craft a new structure from the discarded stone recovered from the family's quarry. Complementary to the stone structures, the walls are covered in textured stucco. ‘A highly creative use of discarded rocks as a feature, key display and testing area,’ thinks Mark Eric Magno, principal at Aedas Interiors. ‘The raw feature installation provides contrast to minimalist product display walls.’
See more here.
