Cafe Tondo: A Vibrant Culinary and Community Hub in LA's Chinatown
Cafe Tondo, a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles' Chinatown, has been meticulously crafted by Mouthwash Studio and Aunt Studio to serve as a welcoming community hub. Drawing inspiration from casual Mexico City cantinas, its interiors blend warmth and generosity, offering coffee, wine, small plates, and live music. The design emphasizes custom Mexican furnishings and ceramics, creating a space that encourages social connection and lingering.
Ste Marie Transforms Residential Tower into Vibrant Hospitality Hub in Edmonton
Canadian design firm Ste Marie has masterfully crafted three unique hospitality spaces—Va Caffè, Olia, and Mimi—within the Citizen on Jasper residential tower in Edmonton, Alberta. Each venue offers a distinct culinary and social experience, from a bright daytime cafe to a sophisticated Italian restaurant and a vibrant lounge. This ambitious project aims to invigorate the urban landscape, transforming the tower's base into a dynamic cultural destination that fosters community engagement and enhances walkability.
Innovative Bathroom Designs: Blending Texture, Material, and Color
This compilation showcases inspiring bathroom designs that break away from traditional sterile aesthetics. Featuring diverse projects from a New York farmhouse to a South African lodge, these examples highlight innovative uses of texture, materials, and color to transform bathrooms into captivating and design-forward spaces. Discover how architects and designers are challenging conventional notions to create unique and dramatic interiors.
Mentze Ottenstein's design for Tekla's first UK outpost in London embodies a tranquil aesthetic, skillfully merging Scandinavian design principles with distinct British influences, resulting in a retail environment that encourages peaceful exploration.
The store, situated on Marylebone High Street, is characterized by its thoughtfully selected material palette of clay plaster, cherry wood, and wool, which collectively evoke a sense of calm and natural elegance. The design, spearheaded by Mathias Mentze and Alexander Ottenstein, who have a history of collaborating with Tekla, including their Modern Romance exhibition, aims to infuse a unique Scandinavian interpretation into the British retail landscape. This approach emphasizes clean lines and functionality, characteristic of Nordic design, while cleverly incorporating elements reminiscent of Victorian-era 'cabinets of curiosity' through features like glass-fronted display cases. The space is further defined by flexible partitioning, utilizing custom-built cherry wood cabinetry and soft wool screens, to create a dynamic yet serene backdrop for the brand's offerings. A prominent cedar wood chest, drawing inspiration from traditional Swedish bridal chests, adds a touch of heritage and narrative to the storefront display.
Beyond the structural elements, the store's interior is enriched with carefully curated furniture and objects that narrate Tekla's inspirations and provide cultural context. Original oak parquet flooring, meticulously restored and complemented by polished concrete where necessary, underpins the space, while neutral clay plaster adorns the walls. Iconic pieces, such as an Alvar Aalto lounge chair paired with a Pierre Chapo bed, craft a domestic ambiance, making the retail space feel more like a home. Additionally, a collaboration with Irish ceramicist Sara Flynn is showcased through a collection of vessels within a bespoke glass cabinet, further enhancing the store's artistic and curated feel. The overall design philosophy fosters a stage-like setting where furniture and screens act as 'characters', allowing for an ever-evolving and engaging customer journey.
This innovative retail space not only serves as a showcase for Tekla's homeware but also stands as a testament to the power of thoughtful design in creating immersive and inspiring environments. It celebrates the synergy between different cultural design philosophies, demonstrating how respect for tradition, a commitment to natural materials, and an appreciation for craftsmanship can culminate in a space that is both welcoming and forward-thinking, enriching the urban landscape with its quiet beauty and functional artistry.