INTERIOR DESIGN
FOR OUR LATEST SNAPSHOT OF THE INTERIOR DESIGN SECTOR WE INVITE SIX LEADING PRACTITIONERS OF THEIR CRAFT TO GIVE US THE INSIDE TRACK ON WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE ONLY PROFESSION TO MARRY ART, FASHION AND ARCHITECTURE. THEY SHOW THAT IN AN AGE OF GLOBAL COMPETITION GOOD DESIGN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE TO THE FORE.
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Q&A Ross Hunter, Director, Graven
Craig McKie, Creative Director of Interior Design, ICA
What has been your stand-out work of the past year? The best things that we have done in the last year are still unbuilt and still secrets! But the projects that have completed that stand out are the emerging environments for Radisson Red, a brand that we’ve been developing for around three years now. The first hotel to open will be in Brussels, with Glasgow and Cape Town following soon afterwards. We’re also very proud of our contribution to the City of Glasgow College projects, with Reiach and Hall and MLA. Elevator is just over a year old now and that has been very effective in opening up opportunities in the design of creative environments – we’re really pleased with that.
What has been your stand-out work over the past year? We had many stand-out projects last year, but probably the most satisfying was the completion of the DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands Riverside refurbishment. The team were involved in designing every aspect of the hotel from the 378 bedrooms and suites to the Ballroom, Meeting Rooms and destination restaurant ‘Columbia’. The site has a rich maritime history and it was fun to delve into that to influence the design. The finished product is unique amongst Hilton’s London hotels and both the Client and the brand were delighted with the design, a great project on every level.
How do you achieve differentiation in a crowded marketplace? I think that the breadth of our offer differentiates us – we really understand how to evolve brands in 3-dimensions. Indeed sometimes the environments lead the branding process in advance of naming and graphic branding. Our team is very well versed in pattern making and the technology involved in manufacturing carpets and wall coverings. It’s really satisfying to design bespoke finishes that can’t be found elsewhere in the market.
How do you achieve differentiation in a crowded marketplace? We have always felt that the key to setting ourselves apart in the marketplace is to stay true to our specialist subject, Hotels. The practice was built on our ability to understand what Hoteliers and Hotel brands want, whilst at the same time knowing how best to build Hotels in an efficient and cost effective way. This knowledge spread across a brilliant team of people who continually push the boundaries of design ensures our clients keep coming back to us.
Are high property prices fostering an interior design renaissance as occupiers make do with what they have? Perhaps in the domestic market and in London but I don’t really recognise the idea that there is a renaissance going on. When was the golden age? Budgets are tighter than ever and, apart from some international exceptions, post-recession fees are still constrained. What design trends do you see for the year ahead? It will take more than a year to work its way through but you can already see the decline of bling, and the death of fake authentic neo-Finnieston-ism. Infantile Google-inspired offices are on the way out too. I think there will be a return to rationalism, and much more white. URBAN REALM SPRING 2016 URBANREALM.COM
What design trends do you see for the year ahead? Design has been firmly entrenched in the upcycled industrial aesthetic for a few years, particularly in the hospitality sector. I hope we are finally seeing this come to an end with a movement towards simpler softer interiors, which focus on the quality of materials. We have started moving away from bold vibrant colours to focus on a palette of pastels contrasted with dark navy and charcoal. I think mixing up Mid-century Modern with pared down Art Deco motifs to create interiors which feel more residential and sophisticated will be a feature of the year ahead.
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Graven have developed a new retail banking concept for Royal Bank of Scotland
Emma Franks, Senior Interior Designer, ISA What has been your stand-out work over the past year? The conversion of the former 104 bedroom Marks Hotel in Glasgow to a deluxe Apex Hotel. As a contemporary piece of architecture, the rippled facade and powerful oversailing roof of the existing building is immediately recognisable on Bath Street, however the more traditional interior design caused something of a disparity. The brief from Apex was to retain the existing layout but to completely update and revitalise the interior. The challenge was to work out how to improve both physical appearance and operational efficiency whilst working with the limitations of the existing building and to produce a unified and equally bold interior to synergize with the architectural language. How do you achieve diff erentiation in a crowded marketplace? We are about more than the look of the finished product. We strive to understand the client’s functional needs first and foremost and then design a solution that achieves
these as elegantly and simply as we can. We try to avoid trends or create interiors that follow fashion and believe that if we get the fundamentals right, the design will transcend short term trends. Being able to offer our clients a one stop service, taking a project from initial feasibility stage right through to the finished concept, graphic identity and dressed interior, allows us to have full control of the aesthetic and to successfully realise our client’s expectations. Are high property prices fostering an interior design renaissance as occupiers make do with what they have? Not so much property prices but a strong rise in public expectation and design awareness driving improved design at every level. This has been led by some great design in high street retail and hospitality, rippling out from London and across the country. Coupled with both the positive and negative effect of on-line media and Trip Advisor for example, our clients are increasingly aware that they need to stay ahead of their competitors and must offer an enhanced service and experience for the end user. This has certainly seen an increase in exciting and ambitious refurbishment projects with realistic > budgets to match.
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Michael Laird Architects have created a collaborative workspace environment at Building Nine, Edinburgh BioQuarter
Marie-Louise Dunk, Director and Chartered Architect, JAMstudio Ltd What has been your stand-out work of the past year? Commercially it would be the office refit we have recently completed for Aubin Group Ltd, who are based just outside of Aberdeen, in Ellon. Completed in a little over 10 weeks, involving a complete strip back to shell for the main office spaces, we are extremely pleased with the outcome, as is the client. How do you achieve differentiation in a crowded marketplace? High Quality design work and personal integrity. Given the turbulent times we are facing in Aberdeen at the moment, this becomes even more important – when budgets are tight we need to be careful not to get caught up in the inevitable race to the bottom, that has already started as practices become more desperate when pickings are slim. Are high property prices fostering an interior design renaissance as occupiers make do with what they have? URBAN REALM SPRING 2016 URBANREALM.COM
Right now in this part of Scotland, not so much – in fact if occupiers find themselves in the unusual position of being able to negotiate much better deals than they are used to! The commercial office market is presently much oversupplied, and there is a mountain of new office space being built even now. As landlords become more eager to fill empty office spaces we expect to see the downward spiral of rent, which should hopefully mean tenants might have a few quid spare to upgrade their premises when the oil price does start to recover. What design trends do you see for the year ahead? Acoustics will continue to play a big part of a trend towards everyone working in open plan, and there are some great new products coming on stream to help with sound absorption in open plans spaces. We are seeing more and more firms offer flexible working to their staff, and this isn’t limited to them being able to work from home – more so by allowing staff to have a good variety of work spaces that they can choose from depending on the task they are trying to achieve. In terms of finishes, strong contrasting colours and materials still seem to be a favourite theme – no change there for us - the brighter and stronger the better!
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Lisa Morgan, Director, Morgan McDonnell Architecture Ltd What has been your stand-out work of the past year? We have worked on many exciting projects over the past year from office reception refurbishments, to a number of bars and also high end residential developments, so it’s difficult to select one single project. However a couple of stand out projects that have been received particularly well by clients and purchasers are The Beer Kitchen, Edinburgh for Innis & Gunn and Woodcroft in Morningside. We worked on the Interior design of both of these very contrasting schemes which were for great clients who we are continuing to work for. The real joy in a project comes when you get to see people enjoying what you have designed! How do you achieve diff erentiation in a crowded marketplace? Our job is to design interesting, unique and well considered solutions for each and every client and so by working closely with our clients and developing strong relationships we can produce some fantastic interiors. This allows our clients in the residential sector to sell properties quickly. In the commercial world we produce environments that nurture and foster a happy workforce and in the leisure market, we are able to create vibrant bar and restaurant spaces which are busy every night of the week. Are high property prices fostering an interior design renaissance as occupiers make do with what they have? The popularity of interior design shows on tv and the accessibility of interior products and furniture at very reasonable prices on both the high street and the internet, encourage private home owners to take an interest in updating their homes. If you employ talented designers then you can achieve a lot at a competitive price. We pride ourselves on being clever with design to maximize the finished result within budget. If you understand what your commercial or private client wants and needs, then you can design a solution which saves them the upheaval of moving workplace or home. What design trends do you see for the year ahead? Interiors are such a massive market now that we are constantly exposed to new products in everyday media not just trade publications. The big trends will continue to be unusual finishes for floors and walls, with eco and reclaimed products influencing this trend also, 3D tiles in a variety of shapes. The scandi and mid century vibe is still continuing to be strong, showing no sign of
disappearing, however we predict the industrial aesthetic may develop to become more luxurious and refined but still showing it’s hard edge. Technology in products will only get stronger where operating your entire home’s technology via your iphone will become common place. Kenny Fraser, Director, Michael Laird Architects What has been your stand-out work of the past year? Over the past year we have been working on a very exciting, multi-practice collaboration project with RBS at their Gogar HQ in Edinburgh. MLA were part of the team that designed the Gogar Campus over a decade ago and a design practice very rarely gets the chance to revisit one of their stand-out projects from the past and enable the buildings and their spaces to adapt and evolve to the users’ current needs. Budgets and timescales are tight but the project has involved RBS engaging their staff at every stage to fully realize the potential of their HQ building ensuring a flexible, innovative, inspirational and collaborative workplace to suit their ever changing requirements. The first of these workplace projects is now complete (which Scotland’s First Minister recently opened) and we look forward to RBS unveiling the remaining projects throughout 2016. Are high property prices fostering an interior design renaissance as occupiers make do with what they have? I wouldn’t call it a renaissance and, in our experience, not really linked directly to property prices but there is certainly a drive towards organisations looking inwards and seeking out exciting opportunities within their existing properties. They are also taking the time to listen to their staff and re-evaluate how they work within those buildings. At MLA we firmly believe that this holistic ‘taking a step back to look’ approach is crucial in the reworking of any workplace environment and can ultimately create a happier, more productive, workplace. Design trends for the year ahead. Freedom and choice in the workplace continues to grow as the dominant design driver for us at MLA. The ongoing, seamless integration of communications technology into our buildings and more importantly, the furniture provides us with very exciting opportunities. It is now possible to create a myriad of carefully considered worksettings (away from the typical workstation) tailored to suit the many, varied workstyles of any individual, team or organisation throughout their working day (with reliable connectivity).
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Graven 175 Albion Street Glasgow G1 1RU Tel: +44 (0)141 552 6626 info@graven.co.uk www.graven.co.uk @GravenHQ Graven is a cross-disciplinary design consultancy specialising in branding, interior design, graphic design and communications design. For 30 years the multi-award-winning studio has been working internationally designing brands across all dimensions including interior and exterior spaces. Graven has a proven track record working collaboratively with architects, contractors and developers delivering integrated design solutions on complex projects. Local work includes social/leisure environments for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Crieff Hydro with Denholm Partnership, Drygate, Martha’s, The Corinthian, The SSE Hydro, Tinderbox, workplace environments for BBC, Clydesdale Bank, Elevator, IFDS, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, G1 Group, RBS, Standard Life, Student Loans Company, educational environments for University of Strathclyde, University of the West of Scotland, City of Glasgow College City Campus and Riverside Campus with Reiach and Hall and MLA, Kirkintilloch Community Hub with Anderson Bell Christie, Seventeen Acres student accommodation with Stallan-Brand and the redevelopment of Kelvin Hall with Page\Park. International work includes hotels in USA, Middle East and Ghana as well as designing British Airways hospitality lounges worldwide. Graven uniquely combines a highly creative approach to workplace, educational and hospitality environments with in depthbrand expertise, pragmatism and analytical processes. The cross-over of 2D and 3D expertise helps to connect building users to their environments and delivers spaces that people like to spend time in! Services đƫ Branding and place branding đƫ Interior design đƫ Graphic design đƫ Communications design đƫ Signage and wayfinding URBAN REALM SPRING 2016 URBANREALM.COM
Top - Centre for Entrepreneurship, Elevator Aberdeen Above left - Banking Hall, 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh Above right - 3D visualisation for Radisson Red Photography © Renzo Mazzolini Photography
Project: Elevator, Client: Elevator, Location: Aberdeen Graven designed a £1 million state-of-the-art “business accelerator” environment in Aberdeen for Elevator. Graven created the brand name ‘Elevator’, and accompanying visual and environmental brand providing an exciting, original and flexible working space. Graven transformed a typical, bland office into a dynamic interior arranged around a wedge-shaped central structure containing shared meeting spaces and equipment. Project: 36 St Andrew Square, Client: Royal Bank of Scotland, Location: Edinburgh Graven worked in collaboration with MLA to deliver the extensive restoration and refurbishment of the flagship RBS Banking Hall at 36 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh. The proposals are respectful to both the well-loved exterior and highly ornamental interior of the building and designed to enhance its historical features using high-quality materials and sympathetically designed details. Project: Radisson Red, Client: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Location: Worldwide Graven has been developing brand approaches for Radisson Red, delivering new concepts globally and are now in the process of designing and delivering the first Radisson Red Hotel to open in Brussels, with other locations currently under development including Cape Town and Finnieston Quay in Glasgow.
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ICA Email: info@weareica.com Web: http://weareica.com/ Twitter: @weareica Tel: 0141 552 2194 We are a 50 strong studio, dedicated to hotel design and delivery. With our head office in Glasgow’s Merchant City and an office in London we work throughout the UK and internationally. The ethos of the practice is derived from the three Directors who founded our studio; combining their individual strengths in design, technical expertise and business acumen to create a strong well rounded team. Our Architects and Interior Designers approach design in a holistic manner, working collaboratively to produce design that is fresh, creative and well considered.
DoubleTree by Hilton, London Docklands Riverside. Rotherhithe ICA were responsible for designing every aspect of the hotel from the 378 bedrooms and suites to the Ballroom, Meeting Rooms and destination restaurant ‘Columbia’. The Thames port of Rotherhithe has had a far reaching influence across the globe. A centre for shipbuilding, exploration and world trade since the Mayflower started its journey to America there in 1620 until the last ship was launched in 1870. Nods to the rich maritime and trade history of the area are woven throughout the interior design, fitting perfectly with the ethos of the DoubleTree brand, which focuses on giving each hotel its own local story creating a truly unique product within the Hilton framework. The restaurant is housed in a Grade II listed warehouse building whilst the majority of the bedrooms are housed in modern blocks built in the 1980s making it important to ensure the design was sympathetic to both styles of building without losing the overarching narrative. ICA established close working relationships with the client, brand and design team steering the project until the new hotel was launched in May 2015. Guest, Client and Brand feedback has been very positive and the hotel has been nominated for a design award.
Services Architectural services Interior Design Services Hotel Consultancy Hotel Brand Prototype Design
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ISA 4-5 Blenheim Place, Edinburgh EH7 5JH Tel: +44 0 131 229 6444 1 Seething Lane, City of London EC3N 4AX Tel: +44 0 207 977 9590 Email: mail@isarchitects.co.uk Web: www.isarchitects.co.uk ISA, formerly Ian Springford Architects, is based in Edinburgh with work throughout the UK. The practice works on a broad range of building types but is best known for its expertise in complex conversions and refurbishments of historic and 20th century buildings. ISA has a particular track record in the hotel sector and offers a coordinated architectural and interior design service. This unified approach to interior and exterior allows ISA to resolve technical, operational and logistical challenges for clients in a sustainable and cost effective manner. Services: Full architectural and interior design services from feasibility to completion Planning and risk assessment Project management, coordination and design of FF&E and branding. Hotel & Leisure Residential Commercial
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Apex City of Glasgow Apex City of Glasgow is a sympathetic conversion of the existing eight storey Marks Hotel in Bath Street into a deluxe 4-star product. Works involved a full interior refurbishment, plus external fabric repairs and upgrading of building services. The challenge for ISA was to strip back the dated interior and reconfigure the dark public spaces and warren of corridors to produce a light and unified interior that matched the strong architectural language of the external building. The previously divided restaurant and bar has been opened up with changes in tone to create a definitive boundary between the lighter front brasserie and the cosy intimate lounge area, rationalising the existing low level ceiling to the rear. Sloped glazing on the Bath Street elevation results in light, airy bedrooms. Simple palettes of grey tones and textures were complimented with oak furniture and a splash of bold colour to enhance the bedroom schemes and the double-height duplex suites. Textured grey tiles, with hints of mustard and oak in splashback reveals enhanced existing bathroom pods, while extended vanity basins and clear glass shower screens maximised the small space, creating an uncluttered feel. The continuation of textured patterns and key colours is evident throughout the hotel, in fabrics, furnishings and carpets, with patterns repeated in the bold feature graphics on each level.
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JAMstudio Country Office: The Steading at Moss Side, Fetternear, Inverurie, AB51 5JX City Office: 5 Golden Square, Aberdeen AB10 1RD www.jamstudio.uk.com Email: info@jamstudio.uk.com Tel: 01224 646450 Twitter: @jamstudio_ltd
Aubin Group Full office refit for their HQ in Ellon. The project was completed in around 10 weeks. The brief was funky not fancy, with a particular focus on improving acoustics within the existing office spaces and dealing with a number of ergonomic issues, not least of which was a client who was 6ft8 tall! He was delighted with his sit/stand fully height adjustable desk! Wilkhahn Full refit of ground and basement level office space in the heart of London’s Clerkenwell for International German furniture manufacturer. The project was completed in a little over 6 weeks. JAMstudio were appointed lead consultant/architect and undertook both the interior design including joinery packages together with space planning for the project. The interior brief was to be light, bright and flexible, to allow them to showcase an ever changing range of products. Douglas Dickie Full refit of retail space for existing Optician practice, in Aberdeen. The brief was to open the retail space up to make it more client friendly and easier to see the full ranges of products in stock. The project was completed on site in a very tight timeframe of 3 weeks. JAMstudio were appointed lead consultant/architect and designed the interiors including joinery packages together with space planning for the project and full contract administration services.
Top - Aubin Group Above left - Douglas Dickie Above right Wilkhahn ALL IMAGES ŠNEALE SMITH
JAMstudio is an award winning RIBA & RIAS chartered architectural practice based in Aberdeen & Shire. We are passionate about great design and its power to create amazing spaces, whether for a one off family home or for an inspirational workplace. Whether you need to expand your office or design a new distillery, we have a vast array of experience in the commercial building sector. Our Commercial design services include architectural and interior design, furniture procurement and project management. Our expertise in residential and house design means we are very well placed to assist on domestic projects of any size. This has been reflected in a number of awards, both regionally and nationally, as well as numerous recommendations from highly satisfied clients. Services All aspects of Architectural and Interior Design for any size and category of project both commercial and residential, including feasibility studies, planning and warrants, project management, 3D visualisation, specialist conservation and listed building projects, sustainability reviews and passive house design.
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Michael Laird Architects 5 Forres Street, Edinburgh EH3 6DE Tel: 0131 226 6991 Email: edinburgh@michaellaird.co.uk 53 King Street, Glasgow G1 5RA Tel: 0141 553 5867 Email: glasgow@michaellaird.co.uk Web: michaellaird.co.uk MLA is an award-winning architectural practice with a strong reputation for high quality, enduring design of buildings and spaces. We are drawn to understanding how people use their environment and how buildings and spaces influence our sense of well-being and happiness. A long term and sustainable view influences our decision making at every step of the design process. We promote a creative, collaborative and proactive approach, in order to maximise the best possible solutions, adding value and expertise at every stage of a project. Above all we listen and seek to understand the specific needs of every client and project brief. Services Workplace and Interior Design Services: đƫ +.',( !ƫ +*/1(0 * 5 đƫ +* !,0ƫ !/%#*ƫ * ƫ ! /% %(%05ƫ/01 %!/ƫ đƫ *0!.%+.ƫ !/%#*ƫ đƫ , !ƫ ( **%*#ƫ đƫ 1%( %*#ƫ /!ƫ * (5/%/ƫ đƫ 1.*%01.!ƫ !/%#*ƫ * ƫ +*/1(0 * 5ƫ đƫ .+&! 0ƫ !(%2!.5ƫ
URBAN REALM SPRING 2016 URBANREALM.COM
Collaborative Workplace Environment for the Farr Institute / ADRC / IPHSI for Scottish Enterprise Opened in 2011, Nine is a 90,000sqft speculative (BioIncubator) laboratory and office development for Scottish Enterprise at Edinburgh’s BioQuarter. In 2013, Scottish Enterprise commissioned the team to design a collaborative workplace environment for the Farr Institute on the top floor of Nine. The Farr Institute, the final phase of which opened for business during 2015, is a consortium of seven organisations; the Universities of Dundee (lead institution), Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, St Andrews and Aberdeen and NHS National Services Scotland. The role of this new organisation is to carry out groundbreaking research into information handling in the life science and health sector. During the very early design discussions, two similar organisations were beginning to show interest in joining the Farr Institute on the top floor, the Administrative Data Research Network Scotland and the Institute of Population Health Sciences & Informatics. It therefore became imperative that the adopted design principles were flexible and open-ended to ensure these organisations could be easily incorporated into what became known as the Farr ‘Research Hotel’.
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Morgan McDonnell Architecture Ltd 5 Advocate’s Close, Edinburgh EH1 1ND Tel: 0131 332 4200 Email: mail@morganmcdonnell.co.uk Web: www.morganmcdonnell.co.uk Twitter: @MM_Architecture Morgan McDonnell Architecture is a multi-award winning Architecture and Interior Design practice based in Edinburgh. Established in 1996, we will celebrate 20 years in business in 2016. As recipients of the prestigious RICS Scottish and UK Project of the Year awards 2015 and the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2014, we pride ourselves on creating intelligent and interesting design solutions for our clients. We work to deliver the finest possible Architecture and Interior Design to make our clients’ buildings the best they can be. We continue to work with all our clients on repeat projects.
Woodcroft, Client name: Queensberry Properties Location: Pitsligo Road, Edinburgh EH10 4RY Woodcroft is a residential development in the heart of one of Edinburgh’s leafiest suburbs, Morningside. The site is divided into 3 phases, the first phase of 81 units consists of 6 townhouses and 21 apartments. Our client Queensberry Properties wanted an Interior Design solution that would exploit these properties to their fullest potential, creating both luxurious well appointed homes with a design edge to ensure they stood out from the competition. The interior scheme has been designed throughout to enhance the spacious feel of the architecture, where floor finishes flow from one space to another and glass doors to the main spaces allow views both through, and out to the leafy surrounding gardens. The design of the contemporary Leicht kitchens in a bold dark graphite palette was streamlined to allow the kitchen to become part of the living space without compromising the relaxed feel of the home. Bathrooms and ensuites followed the same ethos with Villeroy and Boch sanitaryware and freestanding limestone baths in the master ensuite, the purchaser was always kept in mind when designing, to ensure every last detail had been accounted for. The spaces are beautifully lit by natural light from the large floor to ceiling windows, this is seen nowhere more so than the master ensuite within the Townhouse, which recently won the ‘UK Designer Award for Best Bathroom in 2015’.
Services Redevelopment Refurbishment Residential Interior design Commercial Conservation Masterplanning Sustainability House extensions/renovations