Sheep Inc.'s Inaugural Store: A Natural and Tactile Retail Experience in London
Interior designer Mark Brown has crafted a distinctive retail environment for clothing brand Sheep Inc.'s first physical store in London. Utilizing cork and wool extensively, the design emphasizes natural materials and tactile experiences, aiming to immerse visitors in the brand's sustainable ethos. The store, dubbed the 'flagsheep store' on Carnaby Street, integrates elements like a shearing shed-inspired timber structure and bespoke furniture from locally sourced wood, all contributing to a warm, inviting, and environmentally conscious space.
Motorino Restaurant: A Fusion of Retro Aesthetics and Modern Dining
North End Design's latest creation, Motorino restaurant in London's Fitzrovia, blends 1980s Japanese boardrooms, 1960s British car companies, and wood-paneled recording studios into a vibrant and intimate dining space. Featuring a unique cutout revealing Fitzrovia Chapel, the interior boasts a rich color palette and diverse materials, creating a sibling-like connection to chef Stevie Parle's other establishments.
Athens Townhouse Renovation: Blending History with Modernity
Local Local architecture studio has breathed new life into a 19th-century neoclassical townhouse in Athens, Greece. The renovation, led by architect Sofia Xanthakou, skillfully combines minimalist interiors with vibrant furnishings and playful touches. Restricted by conservation laws, the project focused on enhancing livability and integrating modern family life while respecting the building's rich historical character and eclectic surroundings in the Plaka neighborhood.
A Modern Gleam on Historic Foundations: Jihlava's Silver House Unveiled
A Renaissance Gem Reimagined: The 'Silver House' Emerges
Architecture firm Atelier Štěpán has brought a contemporary vision to a notable edifice situated in the ancient core of Jihlava, Czech Republic. This initiative, christened 'Silver House,' breathes new life into a Renaissance-style merchant's dwelling on the prominent Masaryk Square. The redesign embraces a palette of silver hues and stainless steel, subtly referencing the town's storied history as a center for currency minting. This thoughtful approach ensures the building, once a private residence, now serves a multitude of public roles.
Layered Functions: A Journey Through Time and Purpose
The extensive refurbishment by Atelier Štěpán was conceived to imbue the long-unused structure with renewed public significance, allocating distinct functions to each of its four levels. The subterranean area now showcases archaeological artifacts uncovered from the site, offering a tangible link to Jihlava's past. Ascending to the ground floor, visitors are greeted by a tourist information hub and a charming teahouse, fostering community engagement. The upper levels host a 50-seat performance hall and intimate salons adorned with original frescoes, alongside provisions for local enterprises and cultural groups, complemented by a modest residential unit overlooking the square.
Echoes of History: Silver Accents and Grey Palettes
The chosen moniker, 'Silver House,' directly alludes to Jihlava's 13th-century minting heritage, a theme elegantly translated into the building's interior design through a pervasive use of silver tones set against a backdrop of various grey shades. The design philosophy posits silver as a unifying element that bridges the historical and contemporary architectural languages. Stainless steel features signify modern additions, while artisanal tin-coated details pay homage to traditional craftsmanship, creating a harmonious blend of old and new.
Metallic Flourishes: Detailing a Heritage-Inspired Interior
Throughout the Silver House, metallic accents are meticulously integrated to enhance the aesthetic and thematic coherence. Notable examples include a lustrous, pearlescent finish within the concert venue, a sleek curved-steel kitchen, and custom-designed paneled doors that reinterpret historical styles. These elements not only contribute to the building's overall allure but also underscore the narrative of Jihlava's silver-rich past, crafting an immersive experience for those who traverse its spaces.
Ascending Through Eras: The Innovative Staircase and Roofline
A striking metal-clad staircase leads to the attic, its self-supporting structure prominently displayed with treads visible from various angles. The original 1893 roof truss, found to be structurally unsound, necessitated a significant overhaul. Atelier Štěpán ingeniously replaced it with a new truss system, slightly elevating the roofline. This modification retains the roof's traditional silhouette while creating a subtle ribbon window just above the historic masonry, allowing natural light to flood the attic, further enhanced by discreet skylights integrated into the standing-seam metal roof.
The Vertical Tapestry: A Lift as a Historical Crossroads
A central elevator, installed to ensure universal accessibility across all floors, acts as a dynamic exhibit in itself. The lift shaft's untreated walls expose a cross-section of the building's construction over time, vividly illustrating its historical layers. Architect Marek Štěpán aptly describes the Silver House as a 'historical sandwich,' where each floor represents a distinct era, from the Gothic basement to the 21st-century attic. This vertical journey, compressed into a single elevator ride, offers a unique historical narrative.
Unconventional Spaces: The Apartment and Annex Addition
Among the building's distinctive features is a second-floor apartment boasting an extraordinary bathroom. This space showcases a silver mosaic floor and functional areas ingeniously enclosed within a glass box, thoughtfully preserving the room's meticulously restored historical murals. Furthermore, a new annex, constructed from blackened concrete and stainless mesh, has replaced the original courtyard wing at the rear of the building, providing additional service areas and a winter garden for the teahouse, seamlessly connecting the old and new structures.
A Palette of Authenticity: Materials Reflecting Heritage
The material selection for the project thoughtfully references traditional construction techniques, incorporating lime-washed plaster surfaces, wooden windows, and roof trusses. Flooring options include stone, wood, and terrazzo, each chosen to complement the building's historical context while offering durability and aesthetic appeal. This careful curation of materials underscores Atelier Štěpán's commitment to both historical authenticity and contemporary functionality.