McLean Quinlan Transforms Lisbon Townhouse with Douglas Fir and Intimate Spaces
British architecture firm McLean Quinlan has reimagined a Lisbon townhouse, originally a collection of apartments, into a cohesive family home. The renovation introduces smaller, more defined living areas, utilizing Douglas fir joinery and custom partitions to create a sense of intimacy and purpose within the previously expansive layout. The design seamlessly integrates an artwork by Anish Kapoor and includes a self-contained apartment for guests, a newly landscaped garden with a pool house, and a wellness area, all while maintaining a warm, natural aesthetic.
Colbo Next Door: A Fusion of Retail, Wine, and Vinyl in NYC's Lower East Side
Colbo, a New York apparel store, has expanded its Lower East Side premises to include Colbo Next Door, a wine and vinyl bar. Designed by Of Enso, the new space features stainless steel and stained wood, offering a cosy, community-focused environment. This extension integrates retail displays with an intimate bar and listening lounge, aiming to foster connection through design, music, and social interaction.
Schemata Architects Revitalizes Le Labo's Tokyo Store with Wood and Concrete Integration
Schemata Architects has completed a significant renovation of Le Labo's inaugural Tokyo store. The redesign, eighteen years after its initial opening, strategically integrates raw industrial materials like concrete with warm natural wood, reflecting the city's dynamic character. A key feature is the relocation of the fragrance lab to the storefront, offering passersby a direct view into the art of perfume creation, thereby enhancing the brand's commitment to craftsmanship.
I IN, a Tokyo-based design firm, masterfully reimagined a former commercial and residential structure in Kamakura, Japan, into Lulla House. This distinctive project functions as both a serene coastal getaway and a showcase for a fashion brand, brilliantly merging aesthetic vision with practical utility. The design philosophy centered on maximizing the breathtaking ocean vistas, crafting an environment where the natural beauty becomes a shared, immersive experience for all who visit.
Lulla House: A Coastal Architectural Transformation
Lulla House, conceived by I IN studio, represents a remarkable architectural conversion in Kamakura, Japan. Situated with sweeping ocean views, this property was previously an office and residential building. The design brief was to transform it into a holiday retreat that could also serve as a showroom for the owner's fashion label. The studio meticulously preserved the original steel framework while undertaking a complete overhaul of both interior and exterior walls. This extensive renovation aimed to seamlessly integrate the structure with its stunning seaside environment, using design elements that echo the coastal setting. The goal was to create a space that not only offers spectacular visual engagement with the landscape but also evokes a profound emotional and physical connection to it, turning the act of inhabiting the space into a collective appreciation of its extraordinary surroundings.
The comprehensive renovation by I IN studio focused on creating a deep connection between Lulla House and its idyllic seaside location. The architectural approach involved retaining the existing steel structure but completely rebuilding the internal and external walls. This allowed for the integration of large windows that frame the expansive ocean views, inviting the natural beauty inside. Nautical-inspired details were incorporated, most notably through the extensive use of rattan. This material, chosen for its permeability to air and light, imbues the house with a soft, ethereal atmosphere, reminiscent of sea breezes. Furthermore, the exterior features rattan ropes, symbolizing textiles and garment-making—a nod to the owner's fashion background. This deliberate choice avoids rigid materials, instead introducing flexible, fabric-like elements that reflect the softness and fluidity of textile design. The renovation thus transcends mere structural change, evolving into an artful expression that marries architectural form with a rich sensory experience, making the landscape an intrinsic part of the home's identity.
Interiors and Bespoke Furnishings Reflecting Fashion Sensibility
The interior of Lulla House, spanning three floors, each approximately 82.5 square meters, features an array of bespoke furniture pieces meticulously crafted by I IN. These custom creations are not only integral to the home's aesthetic but are also intended for sale through the owner's fashion brand. This dual purpose highlights the studio's commitment to designing tailored furniture for its projects whenever feasible, particularly when such opportunities align with the client's commercial ventures. The furniture, while cohesive, was designed with individual character, ensuring each piece contributes uniquely to the overall ambiance while harmonizing with others throughout the residence. This approach allows the interiors to reflect a refined sensibility where functionality meets fashion, creating an environment that is both luxurious and deeply personal.
The bespoke furnishings within Lulla House are a cornerstone of its unique interior design, conceived with both aesthetic appeal and practical integration into the owner's fashion brand. The furniture collection includes wooden tables with a brushed finish, offering a tactile experience that enhances the sensory quality of the space. Additionally, kitchen and closet doors are crafted from rattan, which serves a dual function as both practical enclosures and elegant decorative screens. A striking spiral staircase, with its pale white hue, acts as a central sculptural element, providing a visual contrast to the warm wooden finishes used elsewhere. On the first floor, a titanium volume deftly separates the living area from the kitchen, extending to an outdoor terrace. The second floor houses the bedrooms, where an open closet at the heart of the space symbolizes the essential role of dressing in one's lifestyle. This floor also boasts a distinctive open bathroom with panoramic ocean views, adorned with pale-pink tiles made from Japanese sand and accented with lime-green grout. This specific color scheme and material choice draw directly from the owner’s apparel design background, where pink is a signature color, treating the tiles like fabric and the grout like thread to express a fashion-inspired sensibility throughout the private spaces.