May Issue of Designer

THE DESIGN HEROES ISSUE MAY 2021 249

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INSPIRING PROJECT CREATIVITY

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NATURAL UNION Glass and steel, grace and strength, connected to perfection in MING bowls

PHOTOGRAPHER

BRYAN ADAMS kaldewei.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021 / ISSUE 249

Welcome to the May issue of Designer.

Slowly but surely, normality is being restored all around us. Shops, bars and restaurants are re-opening, trials for sporting events are taking place, and at last, some of the freedoms that have been suspended for much of the past year are again within sight.

Across the design sector, the picture remains a little hazy. For residential projects, there is plenty of scope for optimism. Some designers, retailers and builders report steady spending from homeowners, many of whom appear to be diverting funds that might otherwise have been spent on an overseas holiday to various forms of home improvements instead.

It is still too early to say how the office and commercial sector will shake down, not least since many employers are still some way from finalising how and where their working process will be taking place going forward. What’s almost certain though is that big office floors are likely to give way to smaller, more agile workspaces. Already, designers and architects are being tasked with developing new solutions to suit the fresh needs of office tenants following what has been the most seismic of resets.

Of course, a sector that has been hit worse than most has been hospitality, but as restrictions for travel ease – domestically at least – so the opportunities arise for a fresh take on this industry too. This month, we ask some of the experts about the vital role that design will play in steering hospitality brands through the current choppy sea into altogether calmer waters.

e: martin@thedsgroup.co.uk w: designerati.co.uk

We also seek some inspiration from some of the world’s star designers, checking out some of their latest projects as they share with us how the pandemic has affected their own creative flow.

Martin Allen-Smith Editor, Designer

designeratiUK @designeratiUK

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021 / ISSUE 249

CONTENTS

62 8 SOURCE Our monthly round-up of the people, products and events that matter from across the design sector 16 SHOWROOMS VitrA makes a splash with its new London show space in London’s creative Clerkenwell district 18 TO THE RESCUE As we emerge from the toughest of times, we find out what the pandemic has meant to some of the design world’s most influential names, and take inspiration for the future from some of their most recent work

58 34 WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE Italian designer Gabriele Chiave, Creative Director of Marcel Wanders studio, on a life with few boundaries, and how the studio’s eccentric approach is more relevant than ever 41 ART NOUVEL Fifty years after launching a career that has propelled him to the heights of his profession, architect and designer Jean Nouvel’s quest for uniqueness shows no signs of abating 46 DESIGNING RECOVERY In the first of a two-part series looking at conditions for the flight path out of Covid, we consider what the past year has meant for creativity in the hospitality sector

54 FEEL THE HEAT If ever a design scheme played to the strengths of its surroundings, it’s this bold and eclectic hotel in Florida’s magic city 58 OPEN SEASON Flexibility of design is key to this new furniture range aimed at creating highly versatile living spaces 62 CENTRE OF ATTENTION A striking centrepiece to a bold piece of contemporary architecture, this eye-catching kitchen island matches function with its unique form 66 EXIT Iconic landmarks reimagined through a biophilic lens

THE SHOWROOM LED DESIGN EVENT TAKING PLACE ACROSS THE CITY OF MANCHESTER REGISTER FOR TICKETS ONLINE WWW.DESIGNCRAWL.CO.UK #JOINTHECRAWL 19-21.OCT.2021

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021 / ISSUE 249

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EDITORIAL EDITOR MARTIN ALLEN-SMITH martin@thedsgroup.co.uk PUBLISHING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR CLARA DEEKS clara@thedsgroup.co.uk MANAGING DIRECTOR ALLISTAIR HUNTER OPERATIONS DIRECTOR TRACY MEAD ADVERTISING PORTFOLIO MANAGER STUART SINCLAIR stuart@thedsgroup.co.uk

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To subscribe email subscriptions@thedsgroup.co.uk or phone 020 3538 0268. Only those who meet the terms of our controlled circulation are eligible to receive a free copy of Designer Magazine. If you do not reach the criteria, subscription rates are UK £35, Europe £70, Worldwide £115

Designer Magazine is published monthly by The DS Group 7 Faraday Close, Oakwood Industrial Estate, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex CO15 4TR thedsgroup.co.uk Tel: 020 3538 0268

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Choose the design and the finish to match your high standards.

Bathroom Engineering Ltd. is a joint venture and the sole U.K. trading division of TECE GmbH

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021

Moss Appeal Made with natural, stabilized lichen, Benetti Moss has been created to add a ‘green’ element to home, office or commercial interiors, including for use as a zero-maintenance vertical garden on the wall. Now, the Italian company has teamed up with Portugal-based Brazilian artist

and designer Tiago Curioni to introduce this material to various furniture items.

It is a partnership that particularly suited Curioni, since as well as working as a designer, he has also previously spent five years as a landscape architect and designer.

The new range – The Life Collection

– is made up of a variety of furniture items and includes lighting and a coffee table.

Curioni said: “With this project, I felt the desire to convey – just looking by at it – the aesthetic pleasure of green made up of the 100% stabilized lichens used

by Benetti for Moss, and the vision

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021

designerati.co.uk

Benetti / benettihome.it Tiago Curioni / tiagocurioni.co.br of flying over a green forest, imagining the view of a wood from an airplane window.

“We are working with Benetti to continue our collaboration and I hope that new projects will gradually and increasingly express the potential of working with this material.”

Master of Disguise

With the likelihood of hybrid home/office working continuing far beyond the current pandemic restrictions, new products are emerging to help deliver practical and versatile working spaces in the home.

New from furniture brand Sven is the Folding Console Table which, at 300mm deep, is slender enough to fit in a hallway or unobtrusively in a living room, but can be folded out to provide a practical desk space measuring 1200 x 600mm. The furniture is available in a choice of 40 finishes.

Sven / sven.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021

African Adventure

Tile specialist Ceramique Internationale has extended its collection of Moroccanstyle tiles with the addition of Zellige by Italian producer Marazzi.

Traditional zellige tiles are handmade from natural clay and glazed in a huge variation of vibrant colours, creating flawed, irregular finishes which produce a myriad of alternating tones. The Zellige collection consists of 100mm square tiles with irregular edges, glaze variations and life-like flawed surfaces.

They are available in a range of 12 colours and are suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, sunrooms, conservatories and other applications.

The collection is part of Italian manufacturer Marazzi’s Crogiolo range – which translates from Italian to mean ‘crucible’ or ‘melting pot’.

Ceramique Internationale / tilesandmosaics.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE M AY 2021

Brandt Design / brandtdesign.co.uk

BLACK TO BASICS

Emphasising the strength and simplicity of an allblack interior, the main furniture in this contemporary kitchen by Brandt Design is in rich Black Oak, which offers a deep rich texture and works in combination with the Marquina surfaces.

Brandt paired the black laminate kitchen furniture with 20mm Silestone Eternal Marquina worktops in a scheme that also includes Blanco sink, Quooker Pro3 Fusion Square tap in black, and appliances from Miele, Siemens and Liebherr.

Reaching Out 12

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Office equipment brand Dataflex has added Viewprime to its range of flexible workspace products. It consists of two dynamic monitor arms, for single or dual set-ups and has been designed to take up the minimum amount of space. It can also be placed flush to the wall or partition to free up even more space for the user, as well as versatility for hotdesking or collaborative work areas.

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Scan the QR code to book a live virtual experience with a Quooker expert. You control the appointment and what you see. For further details and to book your own personal appointment visit www.quooker.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

VitrA

Photography: Gareth Gardner

Bathroom brand VitrA has opened its new 5,600 sq ft showroom in London’s Clerkenwell. Intended to be a creative hub and a social space for architects and designers, the venue has dedicated areas for product specification, events and workshops.

Designed by the architectural practice TP Bennett, VitrA London occupies two floors of the Turnmill Building and will serve both the local and international architecture and design community. At the heart of the showroom is the VitrA talks area which will host exhibitions, social events and talks once guidelines allow.

The ground floor also features the brand’s designer bathroom ranges including those created in collaboration with designers such as Ross Lovegrove, Terri Pecora, Claudio Bellini and Arik Levy. There is also a functioning brassware display, where visitors can experience the manufacturer’s basin taps in action.

A dedicated specification space is on the lower ground floor, demonstrating the wide range of WC and basin options, as well as showcasing other important elements of bathroom design, including flush plates and accessories. There is also an immersive 4D theatre where visitors can use a virtual reality headset to visualise and walk around their bathroom as they design it.

VitrA London / Turnmill Building, 64 Turnmill Street, London, EC1M 5RR / london.vitra.co.uk

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE SHOWROOMS

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

With the difficulties of the pandemic gradually giving way to waves of optimism, we take inspiration from some of the world’s most inspiring designers, and ask how the challenges of the past year have shaped their ways of working – both practically and creatively…

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

KARIM RASHID

“Staying home during the pandemic is for many a moment to slow down and reconsider one’s existence, and to reflect and reconsider ones meaning and contribution to the world.

With few obligations and a completely open schedule I have had a constant personal need to create. It keeps me sane. I draw every day for about two hours. I sit at my small humble home office surrounded by colour and visual energy, I pull out a bunch of paper and if I don’t have a project to work on then I invent projects. In fact, in the last 12 months, I have designed eight homes just as experiments.

Ideally this epidemic is a wake-up call from mother nature for us to think about consuming less, to slow down and enjoy and appreciate our existence, to clean up the world, to manufacture locally, to farm locally and responsibly, to stop livestock farming, to have less children, to digitally work with far less travel, to eradicate toxins, to end political turmoil, to prioritize political spending, to end using paper, to end wars and military investments, to respect the earth and not take anything from it anymore like oil or trees, and to respect and love each other.

To spread ‘Globalove’, not just for each other, but for our environment and our ecosystem.

Photography: Oscar Valle

Despite our distance, we are becoming more collaborative and a kinder society and industry. Virtual meetings allow for a more personal connection with my clients and staff that didn’t exist when you’re communicating from behind the veil of an email.

In this sense, collaboration feels more personal.”

Karim Rashid / karimrashid.com

Spektrum mirror design for Belgian brand Deknudt

Bubble basin for Glass Design

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

Jaime Hayon’s colourful cafe design at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, France

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

JAIME HAYON

“I was used to traveling 3/4 of my time and until very recently, this had come to a full stop. At times it was very frustrating for me, as I take a lot of energy from travel and the places and people I visit.

In a better sense, I have taken the time to get to know the world immediately around me and take advantage of the slower pace to explore.

I am impressed as to how when projects are truly committed, this time of crisis has not stopped them or slowed them down and we have found very creative ways to connect and work together. There is a message of new possibilities together with the challenges of these recent times.”

Hayon Studio / hayonstudio.com

Photography: James Mollison

Bathroom products from the TOTO by Hayon range

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

SIEGER DESIGN

(Christian and Michael Sieger) “As in other industries, communication with partners has changed distinctly. We now ‘travel’ to clients around the world by a single click. For digital meetings and presentations, we make use of extra cameras and new technologies to share 3D models, VR data for architecture and AR for our design projects. It works well, but we still love meetings in real life even more.

From a creative perspective, we also devote ourselves to new topics. Last year in spring – at the beginning of the pandemic from today’s point of view – we shaped a new brand around the hygiene focus together with a client and created hygiene stations and solutions. We brought them to life within a very short time, just a few weeks.

Beyond that and next to other products that especially enrich people’s lives within their homes where they feel safe and where they regenerate, we recently created a rocking glass collection that is great fun and bring a positive focus on life.”

Sieger Design / sieger-design.com

Viu bathtub for Duravit

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Hygiene station for hygn.me

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OPAL Q U I Z

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

Products from the new White Tulip range designed by Philippe Starck for Duravit

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

PHILIPPE STARCK

“I do not see a big revolution coming as a direct result of Covid-19. Instead, I see perhaps a big social revolution coming from the economic and societal crisis which will in the end be accelerated by the impact of the virus. It could be a very big change, but we don’t know yet whether it will be based on an intelligent approach to improving things for humankind around the world, or if it will be a stupid, reactionary set of actions – there are many ways to make an omelette after all.

But one impact of the pandemic is that it has made us realise that we are all together, we are connected, that our lives depend on the actions of others, and that our world is very, very small. It has taught us that a virus discovered on the other side of the world can be in your own body just a week later and that we are not perhaps the masters of the world that we thought we were; viruses and microbacteria are perhaps the masters of the world, and that should serve as a big lesson in humility for us all to remember.”

Starck / starck.com

Photography: James Mollison

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

ROBERTO PALOMBA

“For a designer like myself, one positive thing that’s come out of this year is that people have realised that their houses have to change. For so many years, people just saw their house as a place to sleep. But if you design a house with the correct materials, you can create a sense of home.

Moving forwards, I think we all need to make a conscious decision to not select materials based on price, or style. Instead, we must choose materials based on how they make us feel in our homes. Selecting the right material can create a sense of comfort, safety and belonging, something we all need right now.”

Palomba Serafini Associati / palombaserafini.com

The Conca bath from Ideal Standard’s Atelier Collection. There will be new Palomba-designed additions to the range over the coming months

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

MATTEO THUN

OKI SATO

Photography: Nacho Alegre

Photography: Daisuke Yoshinari

The striking Nendo-designed showroom in Milan for marble brand Marsotto Nendo / nendo.jp

The Hilow LED pendant light designed for Panzeri Matteo Thun & Partners / matteothun.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

PATRICIA URQUIOLA

KONSTANTIN GRCIC

The Lud’o Lounge chair designed by Patricia Urquiola for Cappelini Patricia Urquiola / patriciaurquiola.com

The Citizen armchair designed

by Konstantin Grcic for Vitra Konstantin Grcic / konstantin-grcic.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE DESIGN HEROES

ARIK LEVY

“I think the first issue is the limitation in meeting with partners, reviewing prototypes together and the flexibility that comes from being able to move around and travel freely. At the same time, the pandemic has significantly reduced the amount of travel that can be avoided, which is a good thing. So overall I see it as a good experience to learn how to work remotely, improve communication and dedication.

The second problem is the fact that the market is inert, and so are fairs, construction, interior design, architectural events, etc. it’s a big slowdown in the design industry that has created a lot of cancellations for ongoing projects as well as for the introduction of new products to the market. But I’m a positive person so I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”

Arik Levy Studio / ariklevy.fr

Photography: Peggy Schmidt

System brassware collection

by Arik Levy for THG Paris

Voyage bathroom collection for VitrA

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PLAYLISTS

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW – GABRIELE CHI AVE

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE

Italian designer Gabriele Chiave, the Creative Director of Marcel Wanders studio, speaks to Anna-Marie Casas about a life with few boundaries, the acclaimed Amsterdam-based protagonist being a rarity in the design world, and how the studio’s approach is more relevant than ever

DESIGNER: What inspired you to become a designer?

Gabriele Chiave: I was born in France into a family of diplomats, so I had the chance to visit many different cultures. My family collected antiques – from the 17th century to the 1950s. In all these countries, we would collect items from different cultures and periods of time. My home became the objects I was travelling with each time.

It was great to grow up in this environment. It made me love what I do. I was also sketching a lot and then I went to Milan, the capital of design. I loved archaeology and restoration and when my parents moved to Syria, I visited and spent four months in the desert exploring objects from 3000BC. It was amazing to see how a beautiful object created so long ago could carry and tell a story centuries later.

DESIGNER: Your mission at Marcel Wanders studio is to bring the human touch back to design for a new age in which designer, craftsperson and user are reunited. What are the key elements to this approach and why does the design world need it?

Gabriele Chiave: We want to uplift the human spirit, to humanise design, to bring a bit of poetry to an expertise that has for far too long been very much characterised by function. Aside from function – which has to be there – we want to really bring a human touch that connects to that irrational side of all of us.

It’s not a technocratic type of approach, but a more romantic one. Craftsmanship is something we look at, of course, but also traditions, heritage and cultures in general, as they are all super-important factors to bring to design to make it more human. To connect to our past, but in a new way today

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW – GABRIELE CHI AVE

to create a future; we aim to connect from people to people – it goes hand in hand.

We celebrate craftsmanship as much as possible. In our world today, industry doesn’t always allow craftsmanship to be present literally in the project, however, we can still celebrate the idea of craftsmanship and the beauty of it. The first design heroes were craftspeople, so it’s nice to embed them in our projects as much as we can or take a bow to the beauty that craftsmanship created.

DESIGNER: Has this approach taken on even more meaning after the experiences of the last twelve months during the pandemic?

Gabriele Chiave: The last twelve months have been, I believe, a great accelerator to something that was already in the air; the need for change. How we have to respect our planet, how we need to change the way of consuming, to change the way we design and produce. It also made us stop and consider doing things in a different way. We can travel less, we can produce locally, we can produce less.

Aside from being more sustainable with materials, process and innovation, it’s also important to underline the need for time. More time for the right projects – more and less, not more is less. We should embrace the ticket in our hands.

Le Roi Soleil chandelier for Baccarat (photo: Laurent Parrault)

DESIGNER: Many regard Marcel Wanders studio as an anomaly in the design world – do you think the world needs more like you and where does your inspiration come from?

Gabriele Chiave: I think we need to give our projects a bit more love, more connection to people in a different way – less technocratic, more romantic, more passionate, more poetic, more irrational. Design is a form of art. All the other forms of art are compared to love while design tends to be compared to function. I think we have enough

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW – GABRIELE CHI AVE

function and we cannot revise function constantly. We have to add something – a layer which makes our projects more special and connected on an emotional level.

I think Dutch design leans more towards art, so it’s more inspiring and stimulating; it trains designers to be more poetic and conceptual – most of the time it’s produced by their own hands or in limited edition series, and there are far less boundaries. It has an edginess. It’s extremely liberal and inspires the design world in a way others don’t.

DESIGNER: Tell us about your working relationship with Marcel and the dynamic – how does the design process between you work?

Gabriele Chiave: We are very complementary – I mean we have worked together for 14 years.

Marcel is my master – I came from Italy to The Netherlands when I was 26 years old and was openminded about creativity. He also needed a designer maybe with an Italian mindset. The combination of cultures has been very fruitful, and it’s a very organic process. We understand each other very well.

DESIGNER: Which part of the design process do you enjoy the most?

Gabriele Chiave: All of them!

The first encounter with a company… brainstorming with the

team, of course. Design is a very small path that you have to walk along – there’s only one, not ten thousand, and if you manage to get to the end, it means that you have a great design. For me, that moment is when the circle closes and everything makes sense. When you see the final piece, it’s so magical – the knowledge that an object will go on to live in the hands of thousands of people.

DESIGNER: Which projects do you enjoy working on most?

Gabriele Chiave: It’s very different.

Product design is like a violin – you have to play it and master it in all its detail. Interior design is more like an orchestra – you can’t pretend to know how to play every instrument, but you need to know how to put them all together. Art direction is a step even further – it’s an even bigger picture with components like branding, product design, interior design, strategy, visual communication, photography and advertising. It’s micro to macro.

Chair and (above) grandfather clock for Cristofle in engraved stainless steel

DESIGNER: Which projects are you most proud of at Marcel Wanders studio?

Gabriele Chiave: I think the ones that excite me most but are also most complete and comprehensive, so mostly art direction because it embraces all

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE INTERVIEW – GABRIELE CHI AVE

the work we do. Projects like [Japanese luxury skincare company] Decorté, where you’re given as many tools as possible and it’s like being in a playground.

DESIGNER: Who are your design heroes?

Gabriele Chiave: Aside from the usual suspects, design heroes to me are really those people in the past who created the first objects for humankind. Today, my design heroes are all the amazing people I work with – all the people behind the scenes; the great minds, the innovators, the engineers, the craftspeople that believe in you and make your ideas possible.

Without them, we’d be nothing.

DESIGNER: Which project by another designer do you most admire?

Gabriele Chiave: I really like the work by Professor Neri Oxman,

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Retail interior design for Japanese skincare brand Decorté

who works with architecture and art looking through the lens of biology, computational technology and artificial intelligence. Her Silk Pavilion stands out as a homage to nature – it’s really amazing and inspiring work.

DESIGNER: What would be your biggest piece of advice to a new designer starting out?

Gabriele Chiave: We are basically here to serve people more than ourselves, but mostly I think that you need to be passionate, dedicated, open-minded and, very importantly, curious. We are explorers and creators – that’s not possible without curiosity.

DESIGNER: Tell us about some of your recent work that has made you particularly excited as a designer.

Gabriele Chiave: We had a briefing and then it stopped at the beginning

of 2020 because of the pandemic, but we decided to continue with the design anyway as a beautiful, new experience for the studio and team.

We created these five villas, which are focused on biophilic design and new ways of building architecture to be less impactful, and the approach is from outside to in. Each one represents a different territory and culture with a story to tell. We’re still at the concept stage, but we hope to see them built in 2022.

DESIGNER: What’s new and coming up for Marcel Wanders studio in 2021?

Gabriele Chiave: This is a special year because we celebrate ten years with several clients – Christofle, Decorté and Baccarat (who are celebrating 180 years of their Harcourt crystal). And, most importantly in my life, I’m expecting a little girl, my first child!

Marcel Wanders / marcelwanders.com

22/04/2021 22:32

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE

ART NOUVEL

Fifty years after launching a career that has propelled him to the heights of his profession, architect and designer Jean Nouvel’s quest for uniqueness shows no signs of abating, writes Anna-Marie Casas

H

is reputation in the field of architecture and design is as towering and formidable as the spectacular skyscrapers and magnificent structures that spill out from his illustrious portfolio.

Jean Nouvel has won numerous international awards, from the Aga-Khan Prize for his work on the Arab World Institute in Paris, the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Royal Gold Medal, to the prestigious Pritzker Prize and a prolific series of international ‘Best Tall Building’ accolades.

Born in Fumel, France in 1945, Nouvel studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, graduating in 1971. Assistant to architect Claude Parent and inspired by urban planner and essayist Paul Virilio, he started his first architecture practice

in 1970. He went on to become a founding member of the ‘Mars 1976’ architectural movement and the country’s first labour union for architects.

Nouvel’s quest to create a ‘unique concept for a singular combination of people, place and time’ has driven his designs, continually pushing the boundaries of his own creativity.

Recently completed projects by his Atelier Jean Nouvel architecture company include: the National Museum of Qatar, Doha; Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, Paris; 53W53 Tour de Verre, New York; and CEVA railway station, Geneva.

In the field of design, Jean Nouvel made his first furniture projects in 1987 as part of VIA’s (Valorisation de l’Innovation dans l’Ameublement) ‘Carte Blanche’ series and created the

dedicated company, Jean Nouvel Design (JND) in 1995.

He developed several collections in conjunction with his architectural projects, including: the Elementary chair for the Congress Centre of Tours (Matteo Grassi, Arflex 2015); the St James armchair for the Saint-James hotel in Bouliac (produced today by Ligne Roset); the Figueras theatre chairs for the Opera de Lyon; and the Less tables and shelves for Unifor and the Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris.

Five decades after launching his career, Nouvel’s contextual approach and ability to inject authentic individuality into all his projects continues to transform landscapes, enhance skylines and revolutionise interiors the world over.

Here, we look at two of the latest projects from this French master.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE

Photography: ©Dolce&Gabbana / Ateliers Jean Nouvel / Jean Nouvel Design

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE

Dolce & Gabanna, Seoul, South Korea

The new Dolce & Gabbana boutique at Cheongdam-dong, just completed in Seoul’s Gangnam District, is an architectural ode to the confluence of love for tradition and ceaseless innovation.

The flagship store bearing Nouvel’s unmistakable signature features an imposing glass cylinder, set between four pillars of black granite, offering passing city shoppers a glimpse of the luxury brand’s latest collections.

Light transparency of glass contrasts with intensely dark granite.

Inside, the journey begins via a large, spiral, vortex-like ramp, clad in mosaic Nero Marquina marble, seamlessly connecting each floor.

Black dominates the minimalist interior design in numerous shades

and finishes; glossy black glass, grey concrete and black anodized aluminium interact with the warm and refined nuances of mango wood.

The main display system, which unfolds over the entire spiral ramp, harnesses a succession of modular elements, providing an evocative swirl of items that appear to float.

Corners and loggias created inside the black granite volumes offer additional space for displaying products and intimate dressing areas.

The experience continues to the terrace where the lounge welcomes guests in an environment offering a strong contemporary feel, surmounted by a large semi-circular canopy that caps off the journey.

Elegant black metal seats and a granite bar counter contribute to making the space both convivial and relaxing.

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Aquarela, Quito, Ecuador

New renders have been unveiled for Aquarela – Nouvel’s eco masterpiece that takes inspiration from the lush Tumbaco Valley, which flanks the Ilalo volcano in Cumbaya, east of the Ecuadorian capital, Quito.

This sustainable residential project comprises nine-storey towers grouped together in a design that echoes the surrounding steep mountains. Flora native to the region will be used to create vertical gardens enveloping the stone-clad facades and terraces that will provide owners with panoramic views over the valley.

Work on the project began in 2017 with the first phase, consisting of three terraced towers, completed at the end of 2020. The remaining six towers are scheduled for completion in three phases between 2021 and 2023. The 130,500 sq m biophilic development will provide 573 apartments arranged around a courtyard brimming with

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greenery, creating the illusion of a mountain pass.

The ambitious project is a collaboration between Ateliers Jean Nouvel and architecture studios Alberto MEDEM and Humboldt Arquitectos, while Uribe Schwarzkopf is creating the interiors that will bring the outside in.

Amenities will include an ice rink, bowling alley, gym, yoga and spinning rooms, cinema, racquets courts, mini-golf course, rooftop pools, swimming pool, spa facilities and business centre.

Sustainability is at the heart of the project, with rainwater collected to replenish the gardens, wastewater from the apartments filtered and recirculated, and solar panels generating power to heat water. Ten trees will be planted for every tree removed to make way for the development and, thanks to Aquarela’s eco credentials, owners will have access to ‘green’ mortgages.

Ateliers Jean Nouvel / jeannouvel.com/en/ Jean Nouvel Design / jeannouveldesign.fr

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE ARCHITECTURE

Photography: Architect: Jean Nouvel – Ateliers Jean Nouvel / Associated architect: Alberto MEDEM – Humboldt Arquitectos S.L

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE P O S T- P A N D E M I C D E S I G N

DoubleTree Hilton Roma Monti by THDP (completed March 2021) Photography: Janos Grapov

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE P O S T- P A N D E M I C D E S I G N

Designing Recovery

In the first of a two-part series looking at conditions for the flight path out of Covid, we consider what the past year has meant for creativity in the hospitality sector… and assess how bumpy the rest of the journey may be

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nyone who has stayed in a hotel for work purposes during the various stages of lockdown during the last year will probably have experienced a somewhat eerie and lonely stay. In many venues, the usual life, buzz, and sense of welcome has evaporated as occupancy rates are necessarily tiny, hotel services are drastically scaled-back, and spaces temporarily reconfigured to ensure appropriate social distancing.

There is an urgent desire on the part of both the hospitality sector and guests to return to a more familiar state of play, so how will the hotel and hospitality sector adapt as many of the restrictions are eased? Is ‘back to normal’ a realistic expectation any time soon?

Alicia Sheber, design and hospitality ghostwriter at Read Thread and Marketing Director of hospitality network NEWH

UK, believes that many of the changes we have seen will be here to stay in some form or another: “The ‘old’ normal is old-fashioned. People will be living their lives differently as a result of the pandemic, so several of the changes introduced by hotels during this time will remain. Some hospitality spaces that were altered due to restrictions will continue to be used in ways not originally intended because they offer hotels additional revenue streams.”

She adds that employees have embraced flexible lifestyles, and their employers have realised money can be saved without sacrificing quality when team members work remotely. At the same time, hoteliers have realised they can make up for fluctuating occupancy rates through flexible, mixed-use room allocation, plus business workers will meet clients and colleagues in public areas and F&B spaces to further keep revenue in-house. “So guest rooms will continue to be rented by the day as individual offices, or a series of workspaces for employees from the same company. Some hotels introduced schools for families living and working remotely, and

Alicia Sheber, design and hospitality ghostwriter at Read Thread, and Marketing Director of hospitality network NEWH UK

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London Stock restaurant project in Wandsworth, London, by Avocado Sweets

these may remain as well, especially in countries offering year-long residency permits.”

Tough times present opportunities too of course. Recovery from the mental, emotional, and physical distress endured during lockdown means guests will crave wellness experiences more than ever. Sheber said: “Some hotels have already addressed the increased demand by reimagining guest rooms as spa treatment spaces so they can offer more services and better cater to locals. The healing power of nature will be increasingly valued, too. Hotels are turning their landscaped areas into outdoor dining experiences and will continue using their green spaces in unanticipated ways.”

THE PACE OF CHANGE Architect Manuela Mannino and interior designer Nicholas J Hickson are co-founders of hotel design specialist practice THDP. They see the pandemic effect as one that in many ways speeds up changes that were inevitable. “Covid-19 has taught us that we can meet, share ideas and be creative in a virtual

setting – perhaps accelerating the direction that meetings were going to take in any case, by five years or so. Many companies are now more comfortable with staff working from home, and as workers we are more used to presenting professional solutions from our home.”

They warn that it may not be sustainable in its current form however. With the blurring of home and work, many now are working at irregular times, suffering from stress, sleep issues and are generally learning that the new normal has an emotional cost.

“We think as individuals we will wish to seek every opportunity to return to a new ‘new’ normal, which will not be the same as pre-March 2020 but will see us returning to the workplace as far as possible.

How these offices change and how hospitality changes will respond to how people and business want to use their time. Travelling and meeting outside the office or home will become more focused and companies will use these meetings to re-energise and re-engage with their employees – meetings will become fun focused.

Memorable meetings will become the norm, as these meetings are less learning focused and more centred on events.”

Mark WilliamsJones, Project Leader at architects Apt, believes that a key driver for what comes next will be our fundamental wish to get back to business as usual: “I think people crave pre-pandemic ‘normality’ – humans are incredibly resilient and sociable creatures and are ostensibly creatures of habit. We are already witnessing this with the easing of lockdown, with people trying to reclaim their previous lives in any way they can.”

ADDRESSING THE BALANCE But he believes one significant shift is in peoples’ attitude towards their life/work balance, with a greater sense of being ‘tired of living at work’. This desire to clearly delineate between ‘work time’ and ‘leisure time’ could prove to be especially pertinent to hotel and hospitality. “Holidays and dining out are possibly the thing people have missed the most, much more so than getting back to the office full time and I think we are going to see a more significant shift in work patterns as people try to take advantage of the new found

Manuela Mannino and Nicholas J Hickson, Co-founders of hotel design specialist practice THDP. Photography: Linda Scuizzato

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Above right Mark Williams-Jones, Project Leader at Apt

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE P O S T- P A N D E M I C D E S I G N

flexibility in remote working – this rebalancing of work/life balance will only see increased interest in hotel and hospitality.

“Remote working has also opened the possibility of working anywhere in the world, and this means that working effectively and efficiently for longer in hotels on business travel (or even vacation travel) is going to increase. Business centres in hotels will need to adapt, becoming more sophisticated, more akin to coworking spaces.”

Williams-Jones adds: “Before the pandemic, we were already witnessing a significant shift towards ‘mixed use’ buildings as the lines between office, hotel and coworking were blurring and I only see this trend strengthening as architects, planners and developers look to ‘reboot’ urban centres to reflect a post-pandemic world.”

Evros Agathou, Creative Director, at Avocado Sweets Design Studio, sees the long-term changes coming in stages, with a shift from city centres to ‘local’ bars and restaurants and a relaxation in operating hours likely to lead the changes. “At the higher end of the market, the new ‘hybrid working’ which sees employees spending more time will continue to drive neighbourhood dining. This location shift was already starting pre-pandemic with operators realising the untapped potential.

Here in London, people feel a real connection to their little niche within the capital. Being able to eat top quality food a stones-throw from home is always a bonus. It reinforces our sense of self-worth and pride in our area.”

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Terma di Saturnia Natural Destination project with interiors by THDP (completed September 2020) Photography: Giorgio Baroni / Test Srls

Evros Agathou, Creative Director, at Avocado Sweets Design Studio

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Agathou expects large centralised kitchens with smaller ‘outposts’ in the boroughs to further impact on design, as cost savings drive the neighbourhood expansion, adding that we are also likely to see new concepts from the US seizing the opportunities of newly vacant premises: “If venues are allowed to stay open longer, all-day dining will continue to thrive. We’re likely to see an increase in the brunch culture.

Want fried chicken on waffles at 7am or pancakes and cocktails at night? No problem!”

SETTING THE NEW STANDARD So what will constitute ‘best practice’ in the sector going forward?

Agathou said: “Sustainability is likely to be even more important as we look to a world future that respects and cares for our limited resources. Hygiene too will always be a part of the design process – looking to surfaces that inhibit the spread of bacteria and a customer journey that allows for some elements of social distancing.”

Mannino and Hickson of THDP envisage the hotel sector really ramping up digital integration throughout an organisation. “The digital acceleration will increase, and will lead hotels to think how they use technology for various functions, such as check-in or room services, as these are moved directly online.”

They believe that hotels could start to realise the power of their digital platforms, their brand apps and create new direct markets not just focused on the accommodation itself, but also monetising these connections with new opportunities.

These could include direct selling of food and beverage services (like Just Eat or Deliveroo for example), direct selling of merchandise, and direct selling of rooms as work spaces.

“Big players move big but move slow, they have the resources to implement changes but often are slow to react. Smaller hotels are learning that their clients are making ever more sophisticated choices, and are looking for quality and an exceptional, authentic and 360-degree experience – nothing less will please them especially at the luxury end. Smaller hotels now realise the power of a happy guest and enthused guest. That this directly feeds back through social media, and mainstream media will likewise react to this empowerment.”

Apt’s Williams-Jones is confident that despite the challenges, we will get back to normal – with a twist.

“Things will eventually be largely ‘as we were’ but perhaps with an added layer… the ability to ‘react’ to a future pandemic, rather than live as if we are always in one. Hospitality relies on the buzz and energy of full venues, the communal experience of eating and being together, and this could be lost if we are permanently socially distant.

“However, perhaps how we configure spaces so they can be ‘thinned out’ easily may become more typical, enabling businesses to react quickly to local outbreaks.

This may manifest itself in the way we plan internal spaces – movable and adaptable furniture layouts for example. More fundamentally, it could also affect how circulation is laid out, to ensure there can be one way visitor flow if required: inside & outdoors to help separate people flow; self-contained unisex toilets; and at least two lifts to give hotels resilience.”

NATURAL SOLUTIONS He suggests that perhaps the largest change will come in terms of ventilation. “The latest research is showing the most effective way to

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Moto Pizza project in Chelmsford, Essex, by Avocado Sweets

prevent the spread of Covid is good ventilation, rather than wipe clean surfaces. Tie that in with the UKs commitment to reducing carbon by 78% by 2035, the steady reduction in pollution and improved air quality, and I think we will see a slow but steady move away from entirely mechanical ventilation to openable windows and lots of fresh air.”

The number and scale of challenges thrown up by the pandemic in a short space of time is what has made things so tough personally and professionally for us all. Looking ahead, will designers and architects have to re-evaluate their skillset in order to be equipped to support clients through the next couple of years or are these new design considerations simply one more facet of a client brief?

Agathou said: “Good designers should always have one eye just beyond the horizon and this situation is no different. Of course, predicting customer behaviour is much trickier post-pandemic, but there are some fundamentals that won’t change – namely the ability to communicate the client brief through the physical space and push the boundaries

enough to create talking points that won’t date quickly or look like copycat imitations.

“Adding localisation needs careful handling as well. It’s a really delicate balance to get under the skin of a neighbourhood without looking either aloof or sycophantic.

After months of being cooped up inside, customers will be hungry for an exciting hospitality experience, with a genuine feel. Designs that excite and entice will be more important than ever.”

Sheber believes that designers and architects already have the skills to meet these needs, but feels that an understanding of biophilia will help them create the kinds of spaces guests want, adding that they may need to work with health and sanitation specialists to learn how to integrate antimicrobial materials and emerging technologies such as Far UVC 222 light that kills airborne viruses.

“Elements of nature should be incorporated into every space as they increase guests’ sense of wellbeing, which in turn leads to a greater sense of satisfaction and positive impressions of a hotel.”

Jo Littlefair, Co-founder and Director of Goddard Littlefair, adds that such natural components can be used for very practical spatial planning purposes: “We’ve become aware that the natural world is a very strong force and obviously it’s got power to force its will on us as humans. Will we have to design spaces in the future that have sort of natural barriers or are organic solutions to creating more distance between guests as they arrive and transition between spaces? These are just some of our initial thoughts.”

“I think we’re all going to come out of this with a new re-set of values.

That will then hopefully come out in how we design, develop and look after our guests in the future.”

Apt’s Williams-Jones concluded: “Architects and designers are innovative – every brief and site has its own set of constraints and opportunities, so we are generally good at finding solutions to unique problems and have to be quite agile to keep up with a constantly changing world. As such, I think this will just be one further facet to our skillset.”

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE HOTEL INTERIORS

FEEL THE HEAT If ever a design scheme played to the strengths of its surroundings, it’s this bold and eclectic hotel in Florida’s magic city

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE HOTEL INTERIORS

N Photography: Michael Kleinberg

ew York-based architecture and design firm Rockwell Group has unveiled the interior design of Moxy South Beach in Miami, a seven-story boutique hotel with 202 rooms that draws on its vibrant context to create a rich fusion of style and culture. The design references Miami culture, from 1950s glamour to the romance of cruise travel to Havana, creating a blend of evocative spaces and experiences throughout the hotel, including several site-specific installations.

Moxy South Beach’s amenities include a 22m pool on the second floor, a fitness centre and a rooftop lounge with ocean views over Miami Beach. A blend of colourful Havana textures and distinct deign touches tie these elements together for a playful yet refined feel.

Guests enter the hotel either through a modern porte-cochère at the east entrance, or the main walkway on Washington Avenue, passing through the preserved Art Deco façade into the terrazzo lobby.

The focal point of the lobby is Bar Moxy. Above the bar, an infinity mirror installation contains the phone number of El Floridita, the legendary Havana watering hole, a nod to Miami’s Cuban heritage and is furnished with retro-inspired swivel bar stools.

Surrounding Bar Moxy is a relaxed seating space with quartzite tables and brightly coloured metal and upholstered armchairs overlooking the open-air courtyard. Adjacent is the Los Buenos, an all-purpose tiled taco stand and bodega inspired by the newspaper, coffee and convenience kiosks of Little Havana.

The lobby features patterned tile flooring, an assortment of plants and a monumental site specific abstract architectural screen designed by Rockwell Group. Past the lobby,

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE HOTEL INTERIORS

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guests encounter a selection of amusements, activities and tabletop games enhanced by colourful seating and bold terrazzo flooring.

In the nearby studios, sliding glass walls, custom tables and modular furniture on casters can transform the space from a conference room environment to an evening lounge.

Guests can book private meetings in partitioned micro lounges or relax among a layering of textures and patterns. Toile bird wallpaper and rectangular Art Deco vitrines feature in the space, and tropical greens, pinks and mauves complement the blackened metal light fixtures and smooth leather curved-back sofas in black and white upholstery.

On the approach to the side stairwell, which leads to the second floor, guests can roam freely through the oasis of the courtyard, an indoor/outdoor space layered with coloured tile work, hanging plants, and modernist planter boxes sectioned off from the pathway and an adjacent dining area by large breezeblock screens.

The second-floor pool area features a large circular window that looks out onto the lobby, creating a sense of openness.

In the evenings, the pool area features local DJs and live music.

A stairway on the north side opens by key card, allowing guests to enjoy walks on the beach.

The nearby indoor/outdoor fitness centre has been created to look like an art installation. Bathed in a muted pastel palette, with fitness equipment and additional lounge seating offset by Art Deco tile work, the space also provides a setting for morning rooftop yoga sessions.

The rooftop offers a large lounging pool with slightly submerged wire and cord lounge chairs and daybeds for sunbathing and a custom freestanding screen that allows for outdoor rooftop movies. The open, cabana-style concrete roof reveals 360-degree views of the ocean and Miami Beach and communal daybeds, game tables and a dining area provide quiet places to escape the bustle of Miami life.

Brooklyn-based artist Edward Granger was commissioned

by Rockwell Group to create a multi-faceted, custom ceiling mural, prominently displayed beneath a giant canopy. It is a reference to Wynwood, Miami’s thriving street art scene, while a custom boat-shaped mobile mini bar adds a playful element to the space.

As a nod to Miami’s glamorous past with Clyde-Mallory cruises to Havana, the ‘state rooms’ take their inspiration from the cruise ship experience. Each bedroom has floor-to-ceiling windows, while some rooms on the higher floors offer unobstructed ocean views.

Guest rooms feature terrazzo floors and vanities and custom light fixtures. A system of peg wall storage provides functional space for living and dining accessories, including trays, hooks and hangers.

The space also contains builtin charging stations with wood panelling and matte black powdercoated metal accents.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE KITCHEN DESIGN

Open Season Flexibility of design is key to this new furniture range aimed at creating highly versatile living spaces 58

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE KITCHEN DESIGN

French kitchen brand Schmidt has launched its new L’Épicerie collection, designed for maximum flexibility within open-plan spaces, loft living and extensions. The contemporary furniture collection is available in a wide range of configurations and colours, including Coral and Black, shown with accents of a characterful Alabama wood finish and industrial-style Grillage wire mesh effect.

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE KITCHEN DESIGN

Above A central island creates the hub of the kitchen, combining space for food preparation and casual dining with storage solutions and hob top cooking with a hanging extractor hood above. L’Épicerie has both concealed and open storage, with cabinetry doors available in a choice of 26 lacquer colours, including Coral as shown.

Right Functional crate-style pull-out drawers are intended for crockery, tall bottles, pots and pans. Other storage options include hooks, rails and shelves for herbs and spices, built-in wine storage, and larder units for dried ingredients such as pasta, pulses and cereals.

Above Grillage wire mesh panels can be used as cabinet door fronts, end panels and freestanding storage with the added benefit that products are allowed to breathe while users can see the contents inside. Along with the main furniture options, there are also worktops, sinks, handles, dining tables, chairs and stools to complement..

Schmidt Groupe UK / home-design.schmidt

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE RESIDENTIAL DESIGN

Centre of Attention A striking centrepiece to a bold piece of contemporary architecture, this eye-catching kitchen island matches function with its unique form

Photography: Marco Sieber

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ASA MI is a home with a futuristic design which draws design enthusiasts to Herrliberg, near the Swiss city of Zurich. The glazed façades look like rectangular telescopes pointing at Lake Zurich.

Inside, the newly built eight-room house brings a radical room design to life over its 685sqm. With wide staircases, large open areas and open-plan rooms, the three floors appear to merge into each other.

The kitchen and dining areas are also open-plan. A wide staircase – in which the Poliform kitchen

island is integrated – links the two areas and leads to the kitchen area in the northern part of the building. Because of the open, organic integration of the kitchen space into the overall architecture, it was particularly important to keep the surrounding areas free of odours, so the design was specified with a BORA Professional 2.0 extractor in an ‘all black’ finish to provide an effective contrast to the dark and light kitchen surfaces around it. The extractor is available in a set with two surface induction cooktops.

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A significant architectural feature is the extensive glass façades offering a fascinating view of the lake and the distant Alps from different perspectives and with the kitchen island made of black glass elegantly integrated into the staircase.

Brightness and light play a central role for the architect duo Daluz Gonzalez, who designed CASA MI. “In the past, people used to be out and about in the open air

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every day and only came home in the evening,” said Designer Juan González. “Small windows gave them a feeling of security. Today most people spend all day in closed rooms and enjoy natural light and ample views at home.” According to the two architects, lifestyles have also changed considerably in terms of cooking and eating. “A separate kitchen is no longer in keeping with the times,” added Rubén Daluz.

Daluz Gonzalez / daluzgonzalez.ch BORA / bora.com

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DESIGNER MAGAZINE EXIT

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Creating healthy spaces that improve our physical and mental wellbeing is at the top of the interior design agenda now more than ever. With this in mind, online florist Bloom & Wild teamed up with several architects and graphic designers to reimagine some of the world’s most famous landmarks using biophilic design principles.

Among the refreshed buildings is London’s Tower Bridge, with its iconic towers covered in bushes and topped with ivy, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, given a whole new appearance with a field of lavender at its base and level upon level of sunflowers on the tower itself, reflecting two of the countries most loved blooms.

One last thing from this month’s magazine…

New York’s Statue of Liberty is shown covered in moss so that it changes appearance with the seasons in the same way as the American countryside.

The Great Pyramid, Sydney Opera House, the Taj Mahal, and Sagrada Familia are the other landmarks given an imaginary biophilic makeover.

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German Kitchen Specialist in the North East Award Winning Design & Service www.haus12.co.uk # a lw ay s d i f f e r e n t

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360° VIRTUAL TOUR

VISIT CROWN IN DAVENTRY...

View the new Crown in Daventry 360° virtual tour, an invaluable online marketing tool for retailers to share with customers the inspirational 15,000ft2 showcentre. Interactive, easy to navigate with one click, it offers the perfect introduction to the versatile Crown Imperial range. Customers can browse at their leisure the entire showroom to view the latest design and interior configurations, all ready to kickstart their next furniture project.

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Click & go navigation Over 50 furniture displays Interactive floorplan Virtually any device No software required VR headset compatible

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