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 28 April and 5 May 2023.
LEFT COFFEE COMPACT STORE
Mannal
Located in a lively university area in Seoul, South Korea, this 13-sq-m café, designed by Mannal, manages to serve its customers within a covered niche of just 2 sq-m in the building’s outer wall (6.31; Single-Brand Store). Service is made efficient and hassle-free, taking advantage of a kiosk-ordering system that considers people’s changing lifestyles post-covid. The café’s simple forms and sleek design give it a prefabricated feel, an idea Mannal are eager to explore in the future with mobile, nomadic kiosks suited to dynamic city life.
See more here.
MILK BUN
Rabih Geha Architects
The dining experience is made vibrant and exciting in this MILK BUN restaurant in the Place Vendome Mall in Doha, Qatar, designed by Rabih Geha Architects (5.31; Colour). Pastel pink fills the space, with its intensity softened through the playful mixing of tiling and cementitious textures. Raw concrete, dark marble tables and black details visually contrast the lavish use of colour while generating a contemporary atmosphere. The space feels grand, emphasized by the restaurant’s open-plan layout and clever layering of oversized lighting, vents and wall finishes.
See more here.
LETU CHAOWAN
Balance Design
This restaurant in Fujian, China, realized by Balance Design, respects the building within which itis housed and gives prominence to its customers and surrounding environment (7.51; Restaurant). Perforated metal plates fold around and into the building, generating a sculptural form that doesn’t damage the existing structure. The industrial aesthetic of the restaurant’s interior, developed by its dark colour scheme and use of steel and cement, is also present outdoors, blurring the interior-exterior boundary and fostering a greater connection between the user and nature.
See more here.
MIRAI HOUSE OF ARCHES
Sanjay Puri Architects and Nina Puri Architects
An understanding of the hot climate of Rajasthan, India, drives the design of the sculptural Mirai House of Arches by Sanjay Puri Architects and Nina Puri Architects (7.45; House). The house, intended to accommodate a family of 3 generations living together, has 3 levels with 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a gym and a study, with large arches acting as doorways between these spaces. A massive envelope enwraps the structure, pierced by curvilinear openings. This produces a layered external wall that supports the passive cooling of the home. Local materials have been used in the building’s construction, further demonstrating the architects’ sustainable design approach.
See more here.
SKY LANTERN HOUSE
Proctor & Shaw
The Sky Lantern House, a refurbishment and extension project by Proctor & Shaw in South London, United Kingdom, optimizes natural light with its spacious, uncluttered interior and use of double-height voids (7.78; House). Stacked volumes emerge from the existing building but remain sensitive to neighbours’ views. Timber has been employed internally, adding a warm quality to the space that complements the elegant use of white plaster, marble and glass. Consideration has been given to the environment, with the demountable glass system allowing for windows’ circular reuse and landscaping benefiting the surrounding ecosystem.
See more here.
