Terracotta

In designing the Tattoo Studio, it was important to first conceive of a concept that captures the materiality and sensuality of the experience of the world of tattoos, particularly that of designer Noam Yona.   Noam is a gifted tattoo artist who works with precise and unique language characteristic of his fine line tattoo style.   The world of tattoos is comprised of elements of creative expression, layering, pain, exposure and depth. For this reason, we chose unprocessed raw materials- materials in their natural state, with the thought that in time, life will bring to them the wear and tear of change. Every piece of material will ultimately embody its characteristic texture, coloration and visibility.   At first, we "u... More

This building is a private residence at an organic farm located in rural Maharashtra, near the city of Mumbai. The site is eleven acres in size, undulating with steep contours and terraces. The lack of locally available skilled masons in the area posed quite a challenge. We responded to these circumstances by taking on the contractor’s role ourselves, working directly with villagers from the nearest settlement. To our delight the enthusiasm displayed by these locals was extraordinary.   In order to provide structural integrity, allowing for the building to be disaster resistant; this building’s rammed earth foundation is capped with a plinth beam, tying the whole base together. A water channel moat is integrated with the... More

The Espresso Lab Abu Dhabi is located at the Qasr Al Hosn cultural park, a masterplan developed to preserve the cities oldest building, the Qasr Al Hosn Fort. Similar to the first branch, the coffee shop’s concept focuses on the coffee bar that sits center of the space to highlight the coffee making process. Cladded in the striking Rosso Persiano stone, the eye is imminently drawn to baristas producing the brands award winning coffee.   The furniture is reminiscent of traditional oriental coffee houses, adding a nostalgic cue to the experience. The natural beech finish of the furniture compliments the warm palette of the space, framed by the black patina steel details.   While this location embodies the specialty coffee... More

A vibrant bar and fusion restaurant in the heart of Hong Kong, Morokok puts together contemporary interpretations of Moroccan architecture and Mediterranean motifs, offering a surreal get away in the city. The interior design highlights traditional Moorish elements including arches, distinctive colors, plants of various sizes and patterned flooring tiles.   Upon arrival, one would be welcomed by palettes of white and green with a hint of brass. The play of light and shadow on the white abstracted arcade stretches the journey for stepping into the wonderland. The central dining area is defined by wood furniture, beech trimming, rattan surfaces, and a vaulted arch ceiling, further lightened up by pouring daylight. On the side, a series... More

The first contact we had with the couple, who were seeking to convert their old flat in the Eixample district into their new home, was through a descriptive dossier that they had prepared. On the cover was a family photograph: the two of them and their two children riding bikes. Although they enjoyed outdoor sports and ventured into the countryside on the weekends, what they wanted was an urban refuge. Until then, they had lived in a small flat with two large terraces, which was why they wanted to trade the urban exteriors for additional space inside.   With this information in mind, we paid the home an initial visit. The flat is located on the fifth storey of one of Barcelona’s typical Eixample-style buildings. It was not, how... More

Task  To create a cozy and minimalist interior for Pan-Asian gastronomy with a casual bar like “Izakaya”. Traditionally “Izakaya” is a Japanese pub and casual place for sake drinking.   Challenges  The small area of the gastropub had to fit 58 seats, with 19 of them at the bar. The owners also wanted to use Falconnier glass bricks, which had to be worked into the modern concept.  Idea Inspired by the Japanese “Izakaya” style, we created the interior, minimalist in its colors, decorations, and materials, and sophisticated in delicately thought-out designer solutions, interesting to explore and decode.  Solution  We used the legacy of the old space and accentuate the co... More

This holiday home is designed on the hills of Sirumalai, Tamil Nadu to employ its sloped context, the incredible valley views, and the wilderness that surrounds it, blurring the line between man and nature. It was built on an existing foundation to minimize impact and cantilevers slightly over the edge. Large terrace and deck areas ensure the experiential fixity of nature. Building finishes are an amalgamation of rubble masonry, straw, thatch, terracotta, hand plaster, and laterite, all of which are sourced within close proximity of the site. Interiors are a cohesion of raw aesthetic, natural materials, and finishes that are contextually sensitive. Repurposed stems of old guava trees act as natural safety markers around the house. Apart fro... More

H2R Design honours a Middle Eastern mother’s passion for cooking with the design of ASMA H2R Design, the award-winning design studio creating renowned commercial and hospitality spaces, had the opportunity to design ASMA, a Middle Eastern restaurant, inspired by the mother of three Emirati siblings(entrepreneurs). The design theme of ASMApays homage totraditional kitchens of the region with a modernized and contemporary twist. ASMA embodies the roots of classicMiddle Eastern home cooking and the restaurantis designed to look as homely and welcoming as possible.  With the idea to share their mother’s food to the world, the Three Emirati Siblings wanted the design of the restaurant to feel like ASMA; their mother and her ac... More

The notion of “place” is mentioned by Claude Levis Strauss when he told the story about his journeys to new lands .In that place,  the primitive life still exist in parallel with the development of the modern world. The “place” is noticed like settle, birth’s place , the tradition ,or roost.. “Place” associated with people, culture, living habits and natural conditions. Each region has their own images and unique characteristic.    From the beginning, settlement is the first conceptual architecture of people, a space that protects people from the bad weather conditions. Over the course of hundreds of years , traditional architecture has evolved from the dialogue between human and na... More

Vrindavan is a modest 1000 sq.ft farmhouse, nestled within a 2.5 acre farm, true to its mythological Sanskrit meaning - a grove. It is a retirement home for a couple in their 60s, in their native village, Ozram, Maharashtra, India, on a quiet farm treasured by them as a hobby over past 15 years with plantations of mango, cashew, chickoo, jackfruit, and palms. Their only brief was, a humble abode close to nature. Their only constraint, an exacting budget of Rs. 10 lacs (appx. 15000 USD), which meant building the house at 15 USD/sq.ft.   We aspired to design an indigenous cost effective house, relatable to the human scale, where experience of inhabiting was to be prioritized over a monumental form. On our first site visit, we found a... More

Mandy Graham is pleased to announce her recently completed (Jan 2019) personal residence in Palos Verdes, California. The home is a 4bd/4ba, 2,400 sqft 1928 Spanish cottage nestled under a canopy of eucalyptus trees and surrounded by rustic landscape including lavender, olive trees, and agave. Decomposed granite, flagstone pavers, terra-cotta tile roof and smooth stucco exterior suggest a Spanish/Mediterranean esthetic.   This was an extensive renovation down to the original framing. The original layout was honored as to embrace the warmth and charm of an older home. While keeping the existing footprint, two additional bathrooms were created as to maximize space and function. Virtually every element in this home was modified entirely... More

This transformation of an existing guesthouse into a student dormitory, for the French NGO “Toutes a l’ecole”, responds to the escalading real estate prices in Phnom Penh making it unaffordable for poor populations from the province to study in the capital city of Cambodia.   Two humble extensions integrate with the existing structure, by proposing sigle volumes, pitched roofs and walls finished white rustic lime render. Generous windows are enclosed with bespoke adaptable wooden shutters allowing students the flexibility to protect from the environment while keeping natural ventilation and views. A community space is created on rooftop level while the groundfloor annex are hosting management offices. A light metal... More

Celebrating the concept of Sattvik in Indian dietary culture, Chromed Design Studio brings in town this new hotspot for vegetarians, Sattvik. The notion was to completely transform the interior design scheme of the already existing brand. This sumptuous restaurant located in a prime location of the city is outlined with tranquil and earthy interiors and delectable cuisine. The notion was to design a modern yet regional fine dining experience that embodies the ‘Sattvik’ spirit based on holistic oneness with the elements of the universe. The material palette constituted maximum of indigenous raw material including wood, cane, terrazzo marble and concrete in compliance with the contemporary styled theme of the place.   The e... More

The Soto dental clinic renovation project, with more than thirty years in the field, aims to place the patient and their needs as the central axis on which the business revolves and develops. To provide a real holistic well-being, both physical and emotional, showing a very differentiated business in the field of independent clinics.The philosophy of the business focuses on honest treatment, aimed at caring for thepatient and solving their real problems in the least invasive way possible. This is thestarting point of the corporate interior design project carried out by Vitale, according to which all the elements and environments of the brand are designed, from branding to interior design. The new layout of the premises (150 sqm) expands fun... More