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 23 and 30 June 2023.

NANA COFFEE ROSTERS BANGNA

Idin Architects

This coffee shop, located in Thailand and designed by Idin Architects, offers its visitors an environment to indulge in coffee-making and tasting (Restaurant, 7.83). Simple, white geometric forms define the internal spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows blur the boundaries between inside and outside, providing a moment of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. Tables have been laid out to encourage contemplation rather than socialization, emphasizing the drinking experience within the space. Undulating table tops force visitors to consider the placement of their cups after every sip, keeping the focus on the café's product.

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POMPEII – DYING IN BEAUTY

Northernlight

For the Dying in Beauty exhibition at the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands, Northernlight employed a contemporary design vocabulary not often seen in historical exhibitions (Exhibition, 5.82). Concrete plinths form a rigid grid across the space, divided into three areas by colourful internal walls. The ombre colour palette is complemented using tinted glass and playful lighting, further juxtaposing the ancient with the contemporary and generating a digital feel in the space. These choices aim to showcase the similarities between society then and now, particularly regarding the fundamental values of beauty and order. The exhibition was constructed using upcycled materials from previous displays, and care has been taken to ensure these elements can be reused in the future.

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SPARKS

Cobra Studios

Housed in the art deco Shell building in Brussels, Sparks Meeting by Cobra Studios is a co-working space emphasizing collaboration and versatility (Co-Working Space, 6.19). The building's existing materials, which include travertine, marble and concrete, have been contrasted with latex, acrylic, velvet and aluminium. The design studio took a playful approach to help mitigate the drawbacks of a limited budget, transforming chromed pipes from brooms into wall finishes and recycled car vinyl wrap into a writing board. Conventional furniture has been reinterpreted in order to encourage flexibility, producing a variety of spaces and layouts that maximize efficiency in working.

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MAISON SPECIAL AND PRANK PROJECT

Atma Inc.

Atma Inc. captures the dynamic and commercial atmosphere of Hakata Bay, a maritime port in the city of Fukuoka, Japan, in the design of this two-storey shop (Multi-Brand store, 5.71). Maison Special and Prank Project both cohabit the building, with the former on the ground floor and the latter taking up the mezzanine above, overlooking the double-height space. The ground floor has been designed to minimize its impact on the original building, using as many original elements as possible. The wooden floor, for example, was removed in some areas and used to make furniture pieces. The floor above strips back on the use of colourful furniture and instead relies on more muted tones, against which a massive curved timber wall can stand out.

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WUSHANG DREAM MALL INTERNATIONAL CINEMA

One Plus Partnership

The metropolitan city has been embedded in the design of this monolithic cinema in Wuhan, China, generating an enigmatic movie-viewing experience for its visitors (Entertainment Venue, 7.52). Geometric volumes jut out from the ground, walls and ceiling, leaving narrow gaps from which light enters the space. This tectonic language is evocative of urban blocks in a busy city, with a lattice of streets dividing them and glowing at night. The main material used in the building is marble, which was sourced from Shuitou, China. Its patterning was replicated on metal panels, and these were used to construct the ceiling, making it virtually impossible to distinguish between real and pastiche marble. This produces an immersive experience driven by the imposing material's unified visual qualities and forms. Inside the auditorium, the dark colour scheme has been elaborated on, allowing the architectural journey to spill into the dynamic art of film. 

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