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 spaces between 15 and 22 April 2022, shared with comments left by this month’s jury members.
1. FATFACE COFFEE POP-UP SHOP
BaiCai
Fatface Coffee held a pop-up in Shenyang, China designed to merge coffee and beer culture. Designed by BaiCai, the 80-sq-m space (7.45; Pop-Up Store) showcased the modularity of beer crates as a design material – the commonplace box was used as the basic unit for all of the furniture, including the central long bar (which also doubled as an exhibition stage) and its seating. ‘Well designed for a pop-up and with such a small budget,’ says Alexandra Cuber, director at Fogarty Finger Architecture. ‘[It’s] sustainable because of its simplicity which is key when it comes to pop-ups.’
See more here.
2. THE.H
Salone del Salone
Xi’an restaurant (6.75; Restaurant) The.H nods to beer-brewing culture, combining traditional symbols with a futuristic design aesthetic. Its retro-futuristic material palette – green terrazzo, stainless steel, copper, mosaic tile and thick brown leather – is inspired by Dior’s AW22 fashion show. ‘The minimal variety of material, colours and products used reduce the “design noise” – usually a welcome reprieve in this kind of space,’ notes design strategist Jocelyne Sacre of the Salone del Salone project. ‘It also goes a long way in creating an immersive atmosphere.’
See more here.
3. LOVIVO GALLERY
BaiCai
The second BaiCai project to make this week’s most-viewed list, Lovivo Gallery is an exhibition space for a tech company in Shenyang. A sleek, monochromatic environment, the two-storey gallery – submitted in the category of Window Display (6.29) – evokes a feeling of exploring the unknown. ‘The design concept is well executed,’ explains Mirvac retail design manager Victoria Stiles. ‘However, the ground floor does not seem flexible. ‘For a tech company, I would have thought a socially and environmentally adaptable design that engages with savvy retail customers would be a big opportunity.’
See more here.
4. 15-2 WINDOW
BaiCai
A third BaiCai work was frequented heavily – another Shenyang project, 15-2 Window (6.64). This space is in fact the small office of the design studio itself: spanning 206 sq-m, the white-and-grey interior inhabits the first floor of a 20-year-old residential building. ‘It is a space for free thinkings and exchanges, and where periodically we will host exhibitions and workshops with our friends,’ the designers say, explaining that the content they produce is the office’s identity. ‘Great mixed-use space,’ notes Stiles. ‘The design can be appreciated from different scales and angles.’
See more here.
5. THE SYNERGIST OFFICE
The Synergist
The Synergist’s small office (7.52) in Seoul raises the importance of buffer, ‘transitional’ spaces to the same level as the work areas. Employees can adopt various modes of work, benefitting from amenities like a tearoom. The interior plays with light and shadow, clad in a range of natural surfacing including volcanic rock. UXUS strategy director Asell Yusupova calls it a ‘thoughtful, multifunctional space that celebrates craftsmanship and natural materials.’ ‘The contrast between textures gives the space a strong character, but also makes it feel welcoming and comfortable.’
See more here.
