Kamakura Coastal Retreat: A Fusion of Fashion and Architecture
I IN studio transformed a former office into Lulla House, a holiday home and showroom in Kamakura, Japan. Overlooking the ocean, the design emphasizes the stunning views and integrates the owner's fashion brand aesthetic through custom furniture, rattan elements, and a distinctive pink bathroom, creating a collective experience of the landscape and style.
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.
In a remarkable architectural endeavor, the collaboration between Nikjoo, an architectural practice, and Fare Inc, an interior design studio, has breathed new life into a historic South London edifice. This once-thriving Jones and Higgins department store, erected in 1897, lay dormant for a decade and a half before its rebirth as the dynamic Peckham Palais nightclub. This transformation meticulously preserves the building's rich legacy while integrating cutting-edge design and functionality to create a vibrant cultural destination.
The meticulous renovation process was orchestrated under the guidance of Night Group, a specialist in nightlife venues. Nikjoo's team took on the significant challenge of converting the dilapidated structure into a multi-purpose cultural hub, ensuring all modern acoustic and fire safety standards were met. Concurrently, Fare Inc was instrumental in shaping the interior aesthetics, layouts, and furnishings, deliberately crafting an environment that acknowledges the building's past while simultaneously echoing the lively spirit of the original Palais nightclub established in the 1980s. Annie Harrison, founder of Fare Inc, emphasized their philosophy of enhancing existing elements rather than erasing them, striving for a space that felt inherently rooted in its location, vibrant and enduring.
Visitors to the revamped venue are greeted on the ground floor by a lobby and box office, where deliberately retained elements like peeling plaster and chipped paint evoke a sense of bygone allure. In stark contrast, the first-floor Ballroom bar presents a more polished aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the sophisticated interiors of the 1980s. Harrison highlighted the intentional tonal and layered design, where materials appear to have always belonged, creating a sense of discovery. The bar's design incorporates deep-raspberry walls, leather and PVC upholstered banquettes, and a striking backlit linen gantry, all contributing to a warm, playful ambiance. Furthermore, the preservation of original graffiti-adorned windows and the unique diagonal flooring pattern, augmented with slate tiles, underscore the design team's commitment to honoring the building's historical narrative. The basement houses a state-of-the-art 470-capacity nightclub, featuring a bespoke Funktion-One sound system, ready to host an array of local and international DJs. This project is a testament to sustainable design, where historical integrity and contemporary entertainment seamlessly converge.
The successful revitalization of Peckham Palais showcases how architectural vision and interior design expertise can transform historical structures into contemporary cultural landmarks, proving that preserving the past can indeed pave the way for a dynamic future.