.Wonder Book | Projects & Hospitality Book | International | Fall Winter 2022

EUR 35.00 | USD 45.00 | wonder.ifdm.design

Projects & Hospitality | Fall Winter 2022

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

Fall | Winter 2022

SAINT-GERMAIN SOFA, DESIGN JM MASSAUD

POLIFORM.IT

Create, innovate.

Design.

www.kettal.com

#A R G OALU CO LLECTIO N DESIGNED BY LUDOVI CA + R O BERTO PA LO MBA www.t ale nt ispa.com

cu s to m er s e r v i ce @ t a l e n t i s pa .co m

STAY TUN ED

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

FEATURES

YEAR VII

26

Color Trend 2023: the future is already here

Interviews

46

PEOPLE André Fu

32

WONDER

Color stories

Focus on cultural authenticity

PEOPLE Filippo Pagliani

20 Nanjing, China | Deji Plaza Shopping Mall

Phase I, Floor 6 Washroom | X+Living

22 Caracas, Venezuela | Ferrari Service Facility

& complex repair area | Atelier Caracas

94

Team-based strategy

PEOPLE Dodds & Shute

146 Green design is possible

24 Amsterdam | Valley | MVRDV Piet Oudolf | Edge

Projects review

88 Chongming, China | Golden Barnyard: Cockaigne of Everyman | Wutopia Lab

House of Music Budapest

38

90 Le stanze del vetro, Venice

Venini: Light 1921-1985 | Marino Barovier

92 Zhengzhou, China | FAT & COI Restaurant/tea room | S5design

The experience of music

The Julius Prague

46

A new side of hospitality

Van Cleef & Arpels Seoul

140 Milan | Fondazione Luigi Rovati

52

MCA Mario Cucinella Architects

142 Paris | Cafe Nuances | Uchronia

Natural luxury

Saint James Paris

144 Rome, 167 Via Giulia | The Mirror

58

192 Milan | NH Collection City Life

64

of Wonders | Fabio Mazzeo Architects

Layered, maximalist style

Contempo Hong Kong

Quattroassociati

194 Olang, Italy | Hub of Huts | Hotel Hubertus Spa 196 Prague | Institute of Natural Medicine,

WunderLocke Munich

70

Cellularium | Formafatal noa* network of architecture

An office/house/gallery to work and dream in style New expression in tune with nature

180 East 88th Street New York

76

100

Contemporary craftsmanship

Ca’ di Dio Venice

82

The poetics of hospitality

Dior Paris

100 A refuge of wonders Furla Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Italy

110 Made in Chianti Casa Cipriani New York

116

A hotel with a view

Hyde Hotel Dubai

120 Italian appeal 8 | IFDM

02 Fall | Winter Publisher

Paolo Bleve bleve@ifdm.it

Editor-in-Chief Ruben Modigliani ruben@ifdm.it

Deputy Editor

Alessandra Bergamini alessandra@ifdm.it

Editor-at-Large Veronica Orsi orsi@ifdm.it

Editors

Alessandro Bignami, Matteo De Bartolomeis, Manuela Di Mari, Elena Franzoia, Elena Luraghi, Antonella Mazzola

International Contributors New York | Anna Casotti

London | Francesca Gugliotta

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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FEATURES

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152

Akris Washington DC

126 Authenticity against ostentation ModernHaus Hotel New York

130 A breath of fresh air Genesi Holding Milan

136 A confident atmosphere Hotel Terrestre Puerto Escondido, Mexico

152 Back to the essentials Shangri-La Shougang Park Beijing

160 Creative connections in a “found” space Wunderkammer Bressanone, Italy

166 A music school that interprets the city Base4Work Bratislava

176

170 Resilient workplace architecture Ling Ling Mexico City

176 At marvelous heights BSP 20 House Barcelona

180 Visual and conceptual daring Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze Milan

184 Vertical elegance Mercer Torre del Remei Bolvir, Spain

188 In the footsteps of Spanish Modernism

Short Stories

199 A wide view on major international projects

Design inspirations

223 A selection of the most innovative products

for the contract sector by international brands

Next

233 A preview of the upcoming global projects NEXT IN THE WORLD

240 New top hotels: the Far East surpasses Europe

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Italian Masterpieces Let it Be divano design by Ludovica + Roberto Palomba poltronafrau.com

Yak Sofa, Sinua Coffee Table, design Matteo Nunziati - rubellicasa.com

EDITORIAL

ALESSANDRA BERGAMINI Deputy Editor

Time and architecture

T

he clear theme and widespread practice that emerges from this Fall edition of Wonder Book is the will (beyond the mere need) to recover architectural structures on different scales, in complementary indoor and outdoor spaces, and in diverse geographical locations. These works interpret and re-interpret the existing context – built, historical, cultural, and social – becoming “a challenge to seek new meanings and new uses,” in the words of Piuarch’s Monica Tricario, guest on the White Box page of this publication, together with Massimo Iosa Ghini, Roberta Pasinetti, co-CEO of Manifattura Tabacchi, and Daniele Villa, Engineering, Maintenance & Energy Department Italy and NYC Coordinator NH Hotel Group.

This means preserving while transforming for the present and the future alike. A heating plant becomes home to offices (Base4work in Bratislava), disused industrial buildings come back to life as hotels (Shangri-La Shougang Park), design studios (Contempo in Hong Kong), and aparthotels (Wunderlocke Munich). Pieces of Italian and international architectural historical heritage have been rehabilitated as hotels, residences, and flagship stores (Ca’ di Dio in Venice, The Julius in Vienna, the Battery Maritime Building in

New York, Dior Montaigne in Paris, and the Hotel Torre del Remei in the Pyrenees). These transformations mean awareness and sustainability in more than one sense, while creating hybrid building types and flexible spaces, ready for their next metamorphosis.

There is also plenty here that is “new” (such as Park Associati’s architecture, André Fu’s interiors, the Musikschule in Bressanone, Furla’s Headquarters, Budapest’s House of Music, and Mexico’s Hotel Terrestre), seeking solid relationships with the natural and built context as well as the passage of time in a wide variety of building types.

These too are actions situated between the present and the future.

Enjoy the read.

IFDM | 13

WHITE BOX MASSIMO IOSA GHINI Architect

MONICA TRICARIO Architect and Piuarch’s co-founder

“M

anifattura Tabacchi is an experiment in urban re-

generation and transformation

W

based on relationships and connections. There

W

hen we think of a quality redevelopment project, the name of Carlo Scarpa comes to mind along with that of Gae Aulenti to a different extent. With Scarpa, I looked at the challenge of the powerful impression of the Castelvecchio museum in Verona, especially the unexpected inclusion in Cangrande of the projecting stairway on a daring structure.

To this day, it still gives me the idea of the design’s ability to add value while still being a creator. And while being a creator, it maintains a highly respectful approach to the existing structure at the same time as valuing the needs of the new intervention.

Scarpa tends to clearly separate the pre-existing from the new, which gives both of them importance and makes those who use the spaces very aware of the passage of time and the history of the architectural work. In terms of sustainability, this way of working is essential, as, in my opinion, time is the true core of sustainable design. The basis of conscious design is considering the architecture over time, for the entire duration of its life cycle. This is all the more so when it is a restoration project where the element of time is very strong and clear. I believe that it is important in such cases to enhance its history and intervene with respect by forging a harmonious dialogue between present and past.

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is the relationship between the factory’s history, its architecture, and its people, and the current dynamic world that is productive, young, and cosmopolitan.

There is the relationship between the large spaces of manufacturing production and the new spaces for homes and offices that divide and enhance the great heights and bright windows. There is the relationship between an economy based on tobacco production and new economic systems based on the mix of the functions located here, including art, craft, schools, offices, hospitality and food, residential, and recreation. The reconstruction of the economic and social fabric is the true driver of the restoration and conservation of the historical complex, which is to be protected and preserved not as it is but for the value and quality that it brings to the lives of the people who experience it.

ROBERTA PASINETTI Head of Project & Construction Management and Co-CEO of Manifattura Tabacchi

M

onica Tricario, architect and Piuarch’s co-founder, has designed a contemporary architectural work strongly rooted in its place, which came out an analysis of the urban, historical-social, and cultural context and was designed in a harmonious relationship with it. The theme of reusing and converting the existing buildings is central to our design approach. It is an opportunity to interact with

the roots of the city setting, a challenge to seek new meanings and new uses, and

a tool for urban renewal to improve the architectural quality of our cities while reactivating their social fiber, making the well-being of people central.

In a careful balance between the uniqueness of places and modernity, our intent is to design buildings that affirm their iconic nature while preserving the identity of the original context. The dual goal is to recover the existing architectural heritage while giving life to a complex that can respond to all the needs of a modern headquarters.

e have always given prime importance to the sustainability of the buildings home to our hotels. In our hotels opened in the last five years, there are examples that join locations in art cities – Verona, Murano, Venice, and Milan – with high-tech designs that add value to the historical and architectural heritage of the buildings to create a minimal energy impact.

The wealth of Italian construction gives the hospitality industry a major responsibility. Its systems must live up to heritage, to give new life to accommodations that offer guests a journey through history but with modern comforts.

The same care given to high levels of sustainability continues in attentive management of operations.

NH Collection Milano City Life is a prime example of excellence; in early 2023 it will receive the prestigious BREEAM In-Use certification, the ISO 50.001 and the ISO 14.001.

DANIELE VILLA Engineering, Maintenance & Energy department Manager NH Hotel Group

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WONDER. NANJING, CHINA | DEJI PLAZA SHOPPING MALL PHASE I, FLOOR 6 WASHROOM | X+LIVING “There are many things I want to express through this project, the challenge of the traditional aesthetic mode, and the re-examination of the refined decoration and its connotation in the field of decorative

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© SFAP

aesthetics. But in the end, my only hope is that after stripping away the layer of mystery, it will long exist to become a ‘sanctuary garden’ within the reach of every urban traveler”, Li Xiang

IFDM | 21

WONDER. CARACAS, VENEZUELA | FERRARI SERVICE FACILITY & COMPLEX REPAIR AREA | ATELIER CARACAS © Outer Vision (Saúl Yuncoxar)

In the surrealistic space the perception of the machine is altered by an artifact made up of a great lamp: stainless steel arms come out supporting convex mirrors, both illuminating and reflecting the car.

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WONDER. AMSTERDAM | VALLEY | MVRDV | PIET OUDOLF | EDGE

© Ossip van Duivenbode

The geology-inspired, high-rises combine offices, shops, cultural facilities, apartments and extensive planting. As the 13,500 young plants and trees mature over the years, they will make Valley a manifesto for a greener city.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

COLOR STORIES

Color Trend 2023: the future is already here From Generation Z to Geoengineering: trends in 2023 look to a distant future made of change and action. And colors tell the story

W

hat should we expect in 2023?

It’s impossible to answer the question, almost. But it is possible to outline glimpses of the main trends that will have an influence on our society. This is what the team at ColorWorks™ does, in order to identify the chromatic outlooks for the coming year. The process that guides the social and color trend experts of ColorWorks™, from all over the world, begins with research to discern four global leanings that can influence the responses of consumers in the next few years. Every trend is treated as a ‘Story,’ to which the team assigns five hues or color effects that represent the key elements of any emerging movement, for a total of 20 colors that go into ColorForward™. The answer to our initial question is then resolved in the pursuit of psychological and digital escapism in the emerging movements of Generation Z, and in the new solutions to the climate crisis that call engineering into play. The themes touch on various latitudes and fields distant from one another, but which already reveal their importance, since they are destined to explode and to have a decisive impact in the months to come. They are perfectly reflected in tones of interference, ambiguity and mystery – drawn from the Stories Mare Tranquillitatis and Meet-your-verse, presented in the Spring edition of the Wonder Book. But there are also bright tones and – oppositely – muted, ‘earthy’ shades, such as those used to interpret the Stories Cataly t and Code Blue, the last duo of ColorForward™ 2023, as narrated by Roberto Romanin, senior designer of ColorWorks™.

Author: Veronica Orsi

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Trend

CoSTier a By ChriSToPhe PilleT

Ph Bernard Touillon

eThimo.Com

Showroom

m i l a n / Pa r i S

rome / london / CanneS / Cologne

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

COLOR STORIES

Trend

THIRD STORY.

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Aesthetics

Todes nosotres

Snorkelerz

Fil bleu

HODL

躺平 Tǎng píng

CATALY T

Make way for Generation Z! The trend identified

by ColorWorks™ puts the spotlight on the growing importance of Generation Z, which will increasingly be a catalyst (hence the story name) for future changes, with a strong influence on other generations as well. Generation Z involves pragmatic, optimistic and motivated people. From an academic standpoint, they are considered the ‘most well-educated’ generation, with more training than their predecessors, but they are also the first generation of digital natives.

Collaboration and digitalization are fundamental values in their identity. This is demonstrated by protests like Fridays for Future or Black Lives Matter, cases of unified action; or even more by the operation GameStop, in which a group of young people literally saved the GameStop video game chain through the digital platform Reddit. The vocabulary of this generation includes terms like ‘gender equality’ and ‘diversity,’ involving direct supportive actions. The far from ordinary character of this generation is also revealed in an unexpected territory like that of China.

Here, in a historical moment when young Chinese have serious doubts about the traditional work program of the country, known as ‘996’ (9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week), a sort of soft rebellion has emerged, a countercultural movement known as ‘Tang ping’: a totally passive reaction to what comes from the outside, which can be translated in English as ‘lying flat.’

This generation couldn’t help but be assigned a palette of bright hues. A red that leans towards pinkish tones (colors that interpret the lofty humanity of history), with multicolored internal elements to indicate the themes of diversity and equality, is represented by TODES NOSOTRES. This is followed by the vivid green of SNORKELERZ which reflects the positive attitude of this generation, while the name of the color plays with the tendency to be multi-specialized.

The energetic blue of FIL BLEU (a take on the term fil rouge) indicates that this is a cross-generational theme. While the technological side of the story is embodied by HODL, an interference color ranging between green and violet. Finally, 躺平 (Tang Ping) uses rose-tinted beige with gold glitter inside to convey the cautious protest that is happening amongst young Chinese, to step back from the demands of work and the society.

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

FOURTH STORY.

COLOR STORIES

Trend

CODE BLUE

In hospital jargon “Code Blue” is close to code red, a situation of extreme emergency. The term has recently been used to indicate the present condition of Planet Earth. At COP26 last year, to which not all the countries signed on, a program was defined to build on the Paris Agreement, setting a new limit and a new deadline: to avoid surpassing a level of +1.5°C of global warming by 2050. Faced with this emergency, many techniques have been proposed by Geoengineering: deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change. This engineering applied to the Earth has prompted widespread debate, split between those who support it as the last feasible strategy, and those who see the danger of side effects that can put global ecosystems at risk, since the systems are unknown today. The divide is between Solar Radiation Management (SRM), to handle the sun’s rays arriving on the Earth (raising its temperature), using mirrors positioned outside the planet’s atmosphere, or the creation of cloud masses at the center of the ocean to block solar radiation crossing the atmosphere; and Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR), which is already more plausible, driving the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere with specific plants, one of which is now operating in Iceland: the plants take in air through fans, capturing the CO2, which is then mixed with water at high temperature and with other gases, and pumped underground where it solidifies over a period of a few years, generating terrestrial mantle. But an equally effective solutions comes from the cultivation of seaweed, in the so-called ‘algaefarms’ – which the US government is subsidizing on its territory. The algae have excellent properties of CO2 absorption; in the years to come, a remarkable increase of such cultivation on a large scale can be expected. The Story involves correlated, earthy, dirty and muted colors.

Like the dark blue of Bloop, not bright, based on the depths of the seas. Or the pearly white of GO S.A.M., GO!, connected to the concept of marine cloud brightening, with artificial clouds that should block the sun’s rays. There is also a shade of green, to reference the algaefarm concept: CHLORELLA VULGARIS is a green influenced by a large yellow portion. Then comes warm black (with a touch of red) in Plan G, the color of the maximum expression of geoengineering. Finally, to bring warmth to the palette, POWER UP! is a metallized violet that suggests the clean energy derived from renewable sources; the violet hue links back to the human touch, in a palette takes a wink at nature.

Bloop

Go S.A.M., go!

Aesthetics

Chlorella vulgaris

Plan G

Power up!

IFDM | 29

MILANO PIAZZA VELASCA 6 BERGAMO VIA SUARDI 7 BRESCIA VIALE VENEZIA 1

ROMA VIA PO 1H PESCARA VIA G. MAZZINI 133 TORINO C.SO TURATI 82

NAPOLI VIALE KENNEDY 415/419 BARI P.ZZA GARIBALDI 75/A REGGIO CALABRIA C.SO GARIBALDI 545

TABLE SABINO, GREEN BURGUNDY CERAMIC TOP/ CHAIRS GIÒ SIDEBOARD ONDA / MIRROR DIAMOND ARMCHAIRS SOFIA / COFFEE TABLE LUMIERE / WALLCLOCK SANREMO

riflessi.it

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

FOCUS ON CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY “Being born in the East and raised in the West, I aim to express my authentic lived connections and experiences with both cultures in my work,” says André Fu

A

fter studying architecture at Cambridge and gaining experience in Europe, in 2004 André Fu returned to his native Hong Kong, moving his interior design studio here that he had founded in London. The year 2009 was one of opportunity and a turning point in his career as an interior architect with the Upper House hotel project in Hong Kong. For this client, in 2021, about 10 years after his first project, he completed the André Fu Suite. The signature residence on the 48th floor covers about 180 square meters and perfectly embodies his design ethos of “relaxed luxury, “which, as he explains in this interview, means “creating a space that resonates with people as they spend time or pass through. The real sense of relaxed luxury is not about physically what you see. It is that feeling of entering into a place and knowing it has been designed around you. You feel good, you feel relaxed, you feel comfortable. As a designer that focuses on the essence of experiences, I always believe an environment ought to be genuine and specific for its consumer, and not about creating mere spectacles.” Since 2009, his firm has earned the trust of prestigious clients in hospitality, including Collective, Villa La Coste in Provence, The St Regis Hong Kong, Artus K11 Hong Kong, The Berkeley London, The Mitsui Kyoto, Andaz Singapore, and The Waldorf Astoria Bangkok. The firm also launched André Fu Living (AFL), a holistic collection of lifestyle products.

author: Alessandra Bergamini portrait photo: André Fu Studio projects photo: Knightsbridge Pavilion Penthouse (The Berkeley), Sezanne and Maison Maronouchi, The Maybourne Riviera (André Fu Studio), The Upper House (The Upper House)

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André Fu

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

André Fu

IFDM | 33

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

André Fu

What would you tell us about the beginning of your career?

After I completed my Bachelor of Arts at Cambridge University, I took a year off to work before returning for my two-year master’s degree in architecture. The years I spent in Cambridge and afterward working in London have been highly influential on my insights towards culture and design. During this period, I took the time to see many of the museums around Europe and immerse myself in the local lifestyles.

I really fostered my perspectives and admiration for art and culture, which established the contextual ethos I use in my design process to this day.

What about the project you can consider a milestone in your career?

The Upper House was a major milestone early on in my career, as it was the first hotel I was propositioned to design. At the time, I only had a staff of three working in my studio and was just several years out of Cambridge, making it an incredible opportunity to be given. It was an exacting but truly career-changing experience.

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Top, André Fu Suite on level 48 of The Upper House, Hong Kong.

Sézanne, Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

You’ve grown up and lived between two countries and two cultures, which is your idea of cross-cultural modernity now?

From my perspective, cross-cultural modernity focuses on the essence of experiences. It means taking the time to absorb and reflect on the nuances between different cultures to achieve an authentic representation of craft and heritage from both places.

Which relationship and connections do you aim to create in your work between East and West?

Being born in the East and raised in the West, I aim to express my authentic lived connections and experiences with both cultures in my work.

My goal is to always go deeper than stereotypical concepts from these contrasting aesthetics, juxtaposing specific design elements from both to build a relationship that evokes a harmonious sense of relaxed luxury, beauty, and warmth. I want to show that combining deeper aspects of Eastern and Western design can create unique journeys and more genuine experiences for guests. These connections in my projects aim to establish their own narratives that retell specific cultural contexts.

PEOPLE

You think that “True luxury is in the experience and not just the aesthetics”. Could you explain what you mean by relaxed luxury?

“Relaxed luxury” is creating a space that resonates with people as they spend time or pass through.

The real sense of relaxed luxury is not about physically what you see. It is that feeling of entering into a place and knowing it has been designed around you. You feel good, you feel relaxed, you feel comfortable. As a designer that focuses on the essence of experiences – I always believe an environment ought to be genuine and specific for its consumer, and not about creating mere spectacles.

André Fu

Spa at The Maybourne Riviera, France. Below, Knightsbridge Pavilion Penthouse, The Berkeley, London

And between “East and East”, given that Eastern culture is quite multifaceted.

The connections I look to make between “East and East” are similar to those of East and West, as whenever I work with various cultures, I am looking to build overarching relationships of harmony, beauty, and warmth that are imbued with refined, understated sophistication.

IFDM | 35

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

How important is to create the sense of place within the realm of hospitality? How do you achieve it?

In accordance with the needs and desires of today’s travellers, cultural authenticity has become a key focus for architects and designers. Increasingly, travellers and diners are looking to experience hotels and restaurants that genuinely reflect the cultural context of their location, avoiding the homogenised, global hotel ‘blueprint’ in favour of more thoughtful, culturally-considered designs. In order to achieve an authentic sense of place, architects are engaging with local communities and architectural practices in increasingly meaningful ways. I personally think there is nothing more rewarding than to create spaces with their own narrative, a story that evokes a genuine retelling of a city’s cultural context. Furthermore, cultural considerations have always been central to my design ethos. I seek a genuine aesthetic that responds to its surroundings, and so I am naturally happy to see a wider industry trend for this kind of design.

Estro restaurant, Hong Kong

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Please describe your design approach and work phases.

From the initial phase of project selection, I always begin by asking myself one key question: is there a story to tell? My work is a form of visual storytelling that draws inspiration across different times,

André Fu

places and cultures. I always start my research process by placing the project in context. This includes the planned location - I will be interested in how I could respond to a specific sense of place. With my architectural background, my approach to design always starts with the articulation of the space and its layout. The objects within, and the palette, textures and finesse of touches will follow if the integrity of the space is well-considered and intact. I also explore the intended vision for the project, and consider how I can interpret it through my own design lens, and develop it further.

What kind of role and value have both customization and craftsmanship in your design approach?

Craftsmanship and customization are a key part of my work – I always believe in the authenticity of each experience and the human touch is always a critical element reflected throughout my projects.

Recurring elements in your work versus diverse inspirational and cultural sources each single project spring from. How complex is to melt them together?

The curation process, and the balancing of the old and the new, is one of the most challenging aspects of melting together both recurring elements and cultural sources in each project.

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

André Fu

What is social and cultural dynamism like in Hong Kong today?

Hong Kong is a hugely dynamic and transient city.

The juxtaposition of the old and the new is always a fascinating highlight of the city with everything coexisting in a rather awkward, yet intriguing way.

Which is your idea of or relationship with Italy?

To me, Italy represents a genuine heritage of knowledge in craftsmanship. I appreciate Italian producers in their pursuit of craftsmanship and their pursuit for new materials and techniques. This level of innovation can stimulate the design processes and appeal to new customers.

Tell us about your ongoing and future works.

In the upcoming months, I will be working on and announcing a number of exciting, diverse projects including a hotel spa in London, an extension of a long-standing hospitality relationship with a prominent hotel in China, and a residential development.

Additionally, my lifestyle brand André Fu Living has continued to add new pieces with the release of its newest collection, Traces of Nature.

The Mitsui Kyoto

IFDM | 37

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

The experience of music In Budapest, Sou Fujimoto designed the House of Music, rendering it an experience of immersion in musical culture and in its setting dominated by a large, wooded park

T

he House of Music in Budapest bears the unmistakable signature of Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. The roof is designed like a giant umbrella with undulated edges and curving, organic forms supported by a forest of pillars. It protects a glazed structure spread over three floors made for the greatest possible interaction with visitors, including an underground exhibition area, a ground area for concerts and shows, and an upper level for musical education, naturally including music classes. The House of Music clearly aims to become a new, iconic symbol for Budapest, part of a broader European cultural development project, the Liget Budapest Project. It accentuates its function both as a container and driver of creativity, giving a total experience in which the landscape, architecture, and interior design flow together through the interaction of sound, light, and nature.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

The building pays tribute to Hungary’s long tradition of classical and popular music, as well as the close attention to sounds and the natural world typical of Japanese sensibilities. Fujimoto took profound inspiration from the park where the building is set. The roof seems like a large, porous fossil from above and creates a deep cantilever roof whose pillars echo the archetype of a forest. Over 30,000 decorative tree leaves are set in the suspended ceilings through a special steel structure of honeycomb elements. The large irregular openings of the cantilever roof also make room for several trees to grow up through it, interspersed by bearing pillars. Comparable openings of smaller size by the built parts let natural light stream inside.

The completely translucent glass roof that covers the building is made up of 94 custom-made, thermo-insulated panels, up to 12 meters in height, underscoring the intent to blur the boundaries between inside and outside. Fittingly, the building is equipped with an innovative air conditioning system that primarily uses geothermal energy combined with renewable sources. The large roof does not rise higher than the foliage and suggests

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CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

the variability of sound waves in its undulating forms. “We were enchanted by the multitude of trees in the City Park,” says Fujimoto. “Whilst the thick and rich canopy covers and protects its surroundings, it also allows the sun’s rays to reach the ground. I envisaged the open floor plan, where boundaries between inside and outside blur, as a continuation of the natural environment.” Its

CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

hemispheric sound dome, an example of uncommon technological excellence, is inspired by that created for the 20th-century composer Karlheinz Stockhausen at the Universal Exhibition in Osaka in 1970, which gives 60 audience members a three-dimensional, immersive sound experience.

Thirty-one speakers disseminate sound in every direction, creating an evocative “sound hologram.”

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

CULTURAL CENTER

Budapest

Clients: The Museum of Fine Arts Budapest, The Városliget Zrt. 100 % owned by the Hungarian State Architects: Sou Fujimoto Architects Local architect partner: M-Teampannon Architects Architect of record: Bence Varga Main Contractor: Magyar Építő Zrt. Structural engineer: Arup, RC Structure Kenese, Steel Structure Terraplan Mechanical Engineer: Lanterv& Körös-Consult Electrical engineer: Hungaroproject Interior design: Sou Fujimoto Architects, T1&Sandroza Landscape architect: Gardenworks Lighting design: Sirius Lighting Office Lighting: Design&Light Acoustic engineer: Nagata Acoustics Acoustician: Arató & Józsa Glass structures: Stokplan Building structures: FRT Raszter & Farsang-Dudinkszky Local sustainability: Abud Scenography: Animative Author: Elena Franzoia Photo credits: Liget Budapest, Palkó György

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

A new side of hospitality One night, one month, or more: The Julius Prague combines the freedom of living in an apartment with hotel services in the Czech capital. The first of a series, it was designed

by Matteo Thun & Partners

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APARTHOTEL

J

ulien Meinl VI, the co-founder and CEO of Julius Meinl Living, declared his intention from the start to create a new future by drawing on his family’s skill, experience, and enthusiasm. After six generations producing and distributing foodstuffs, now its attention is turned to this new realm of hospitality, with a new audience and new purposes. These are the founding intentions for The Julius Praque, a luxurious accommodation that merges the advantages of living in an apartment with those of a hotel. The brand plans to expand internationally to new locations. The first Julius is located in Prague, a few steps from the gates of the old city in a neoRenaissance building, restored, expanded and

Prague

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

APARTHOTEL

Prague

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designed by Matteo Thun & Partners. The partnership between the client and the designer began over 15 years ago. Now it aims to “establish the highest possible standard setting in the hospitality sector.” “The House of Julius Meinl is one of the most well-known Austrian brands with its origins dating back to 1862. I have been working with the Meinl family on various projects for over 15 years. The in-depth knowledge of the history and the strong connection with the family were invaluable in the design and branding concept for The Julius Prague – bringing together tradition and a contemporary lifestyle. With The Julius we wanted the historic palace in the center of Prague to become a temporary home,” says Matteo Thun. This aparthotel is a homey nest made of freedom, technology, and flexible services. Set up for a variety of customized needs – such as having an individual address for long stays – with generously sized spaces, a comfortable atmosphere, and common areas where guests can network or simply 48 | IFDM

APARTHOTEL

Prague

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

APARTHOTEL

Prague

Owner: Julius Meinl Living Hotel operator: Julius Prague Interior design: Matteo Thun & Partners Furnishings: custom made Coatings, tiles and surfaces: AGC Glass, Florim, Kaufmann Keramik, Matteo Brioni, Mutina, Sikkens, Steel Colour, Vescom, Vogue Ceramics Fabrics: Abitex, Dedar, Kvadrat, Rubelli Carpets: Hammer Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: Gionata Xerra

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unplug. There are 168 residences in all, many of which are complete with a living room, a bedroom, and an open-plan kitchen. For the interiors, the team carefully chose a palette of colors inspired by the Czech Republic’s deep artistic heritage, celebrating artists like Alphonse Mucha and František Kupka. Sober colors mix with natural materials and inviting, elegant features, such as handcrafted rugs, oakwood floors, and soft linen sheets. The result is a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. Custommade, specially designed furnishings abound both in the private areas and the common ones and restaurants, such as benches running along the walls and the beds with upholstered headboards paired with nightstands in the bedrooms. The Emporium bistro and bar are in the middle of the property, making them a central gathering space, featuring elegant metallic finishes, modern tiles and colorful chairs, immersing guests in a warm, homey feel.

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APARTHOTEL

Prague

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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RETAIL

Seoul

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RETAIL

Seoul

Natural luxury In Seoul, the French-Canadian studio Jouin Manku designed the new Van Cleef & Arpels flagship store, conceived as a cultural intersection between Western luxury and Eastern sensibility

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heongdam-dong is one of the liveliest neighborhoods of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Here on the Hangang River, the famous Parisian fashion house of high jewelry Van Cleef & Arpels chose to build its flagship store. Confirming its long-standing ability to attract the Asian market, this new location joins the very few, exclusive boutiques in luxury capitals like Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. The French-Canadian studio Jouin Manku was commissioned to design it. “This project offered us the opportunity to imagine a whole new building, a structure that would establish Van Cleef & Arpels as a prominent feature in the Seoul landscape. Over five levels, we designed a dreamlike natural decor with spaces suited to hosting artistic functions – exhibitions and conferences – along an itinerary in which lively spaces alternate with intimate islands of tranquility.” As much as 35% of the total area IFDM | 53

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RETAIL

Seoul

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RETAIL

Seoul

Client: Van Cleef & Arpels Architectural concept, interior architecture, design: Studio Jouin Manku Executive architect: DPJ & Partners - David Pierre Jalicon Lighting design: Voyons Voir - Stéphane Carratero Landscape design: STL - Seo-Ahn Total landscape, Jung YoungSun Main architectural contractor, facade with celadon ceramic by Maison Objet: Jlcom Main interior design company: Join Furnishings: bespoke design by Studio Jouin Manku; Pedrali, Starset Stairs: Join Author: Elena Franzoia Photo credits: Yongjoon Choi

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RETAIL

Seoul

is for greenery, planted with about 55 different types of flowers and shrubs with a design sensitive to the changing of the seasons, designed by the Korean landscape architect Seo Ahn. Nature has always been a major source of inspiration for Van Cleef & Arpels. Here brought into direct contact with the Maison’s fine jewelry. Other powerfully distinctive features include the main stairway, with 77 steps crossing four of the five floors, which is a custom-made, high-tech masterpiece, and the facade with 120 lights lit in the night by almost 4,000 aluminum pieces made in traditional Korean ceramic, Yeoju Celadon. The result is a perforated effect that gives a glimpse of the interiors, especially the large garden on the ground floor, which evokes interweaving reeds, wrapping the building like a drape with diamond shapes in tribute to the Maison’s famous logo. Jouin Manku created an elegant mixture by pairing traditional artistic crafts and cutting-edge technology, using a strong, lightweight metal clad in local ceramic with nuances of green conveying a sense of depth and volume. The furnishing is another tribute to nature and Asian sensibility.

The water lily rugs on the floor border the display and counter spaces, and the great windows afford breathtaking views of the large garden.

“We wanted to blur the boundaries between this interior space and the outside, fashioning an enchanting, almost unreal environment, a grandiose secret garden where Van Cleef & Arpels creations could coexist with nature, a central dimension of Korean culture.” Vertical counters and display cases dominate on the first floor. A tribute to the local culture is seen in the use of 634 square meters of hanji paper with sophisticated patterns as decoration. The building’s floors are punctuated with classics from the Maison’s history with a large specialized library, and a second floor fully dedicated to the Maison’s heritage, which will host a series of exhibitions. The top floors have exclusive spaces including a private salon with a lounge area and a spacious terrace on the top floor, naturally designed as a lush, changeable roof garden.

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wallanddeco.com

adv D+ / ph Marina Denisova design Christian Benini

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Paris

Layered, maximalist style Custom-made furniture, French craftsmanship, bucolic colors, and decorative contrasts convey a rare elegance. Interior designer Laura Gonzalez has made the Saint James Paris seem more like an art collector’s home than a hotel. Its romantic soul is echoed in the magnificent, peerless 5,000-square-meter city park that surrounds it

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HOTEL

Paris

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ocated in the heart of the 16th arrondissement, the St. James is the only châteauhotel in the French capital: part royal residence, part aristocratic villa. Built in 1892 on an old hot-air-balloon field as a home for former President of the Republic Louis Adolphe Thiers, it was later turned into a school and foundation run by his widow until the 1980s when it became a gentlemen’s club. The richly layered maximalist style of interior designer Laura Gonzalez marries beautifully with the elaborate neoclassical architecture and the references to Greek antiquity and Art Deco. True to her adventures in detail and pattern, Laura Gonzalez blends historical periods, fusing a romantic spirit with the soul of a gentlemen’s club and mixing colors, prints, and fabrics to create an elegantly eclectic atmosphere.

For this project, she partnered with talented French artisans like Pierre Frey for the toile de Tours fabric, entirely custom woven in the north of France; Manufacture Pinton for the rugs and IFDM | 59

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carpets designed in the style of Villa Kérylos; Patrice Dangel for the plaster chandeliers; and Jean Roger for the ceramics. Fifteen-meter-high neoclassical frescoes decorate the walls, and a monumental staircase adds drama to the lobby. In a revival of the Golden Age of Parisian interiors, the rooms are decorated with Chinese antiques, modern fittings, handcrafted furniture, and spectacular, striped and Japanese-floral-themed Iksel wallpaper. The hotel’s 48 rooms were designed according to four distinct themes in which materials, patterns, and textures interact in different ways. Decorated in a palette of four colors ranging from cream to sage green, the rooms and bathrooms evoke the apartments of collectors who live amid their books and works of art. The legendary Bar Bibliotèque revives the spirit of the gentlemen’s club with a subdued, British atmosphere created by soft lighting, wooden bookcases, and sofas and armchairs in leather and velvet.

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HOTEL

Paris

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Paris

Owner: Relais & Châteaux Interior design: Laura Gonzalez Landscape design: Xavier de Chirac Furnishings and fittings: custom made; Atelier Roma, Frey, Jean Roger, Laura Gonzalez, Manufacture Pinton, Pierre Sofrastyl Lightings: custom made; Jean Roger, Patrice Dangel Bathrooms: custom made; Jean Roger Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: Matthieu Salvaing

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Such timeless elegance is also evident in the Guerlain spa, where it is paired with contemporary touches. Landscape architect Xavier de Chirac redesigned the 5000-square-meter garden surrounding the property, creating a park in true 19th-century romantic style with “sculptural plants to dialogue with the building’s majestic architecture” and a pergola that doubles as a delightful outdoor space for gourmet restaurant Bellefeuille. The interior dining room also evokes a winter garden with large panoramic windows, a period fireplace topped by a vintage mirror, seats covered with fine fabrics, marble and wood tables, and Imperial Garden wallpaper whose all-over pattern immerses guests in an Asian-style setting.

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HOTEL

Paris

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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OFFICE

Hong Kong

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

OFFICE

Hong Kong

Contempo, an office/ house/gallery to work and dream in style The via. firm designed its new offices in the Kwun Tong neighborhood of Hong Kong, rendering it a creative and working hub with public and private areas, cafes, shops, and a gallery for exhibitions and events

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ontempo is a hybrid working and creative space set in a former industrial building.

“We’d been looking for a new location for a while,” explains Frank Leung, founder of via. firm. “We had certain criteria in mind: a larger area for the team, and apart from desks, we wanted to incorporate spaces that were more flexible and fluid allowing for both individual work and

collaborative work. When we came across this two-story space on Contempo Place, it reminded me a lot of New York’s Chelsea neighborhood.

Something clicked in us and we knew that this would be the perfect place.” This enormous NewYork-style brick building – covering almost a thousand square meters on two levels – was reimagined to foster a sense of community where Interior design: via.

Lighting consultants: Spectrum Design & Associates Lighting supplier: Zodiac Interior fit-out: Alpha Contracting Limited Furnishings: vintage and on design by the architects; Allermuir, Artek, B&B Italia, Blu Dot, Hay, Jørgen & Nanna Ditzel, Karimoku, Kieran Kinsella, Muuto, Nikari, Pedrali Fabrics: Kvadrat Kitchen and bathrooms: AluBlu, B.S.C Group, The Madison Group Author: Francesca Gugliotta Photo credits: Kenneth Chao, Tan Hai Han, Frank Leung

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ideas and relationships can take bloom. The office merges versatile, fluid working areas with a myriad of spaces for socializing, drawing on a palette of sober and natural colors to create a relaxed atmosphere. The work hub is on the lower floor, framed by galvanized steel partition walls and large windows that let in natural light. Individual workstations are combined with large tables to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, an approach deeply rooted in the studio’s holistic culture. It has a plethora of decompression areas to relax and get inspired, including a lush outdoor terrace and a cafe featuring a dynamic set-up to adapt to informal meetings, dinners, seminars, and even film screenings. On the upper floor, a multi-purpose gallery and shop unexpectedly open up. Events and exhibitions are organized here and it features the one k edition brand, the artistic heart of via.’s product development.

Many of the furnishings and accessories were designed in-house, from the shelves to the kitchen,

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OFFICE

Hong Kong

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

OFFICE

Hong Kong

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the wardrobes and handles. These are joined by furniture with a distinctively artisanal flair, such as contemporary classics from Artek in the conference room, the Caementum table by Pedrali for the outdoor terrace and the Erica 19 and TST4 table by B&B Italia, and Kvadrat textiles.

“The pandemic greatly influenced our decision to move to this office. Though technology has made remote work possible, our industry still requires a lot of communication and personal dialogue.

People like to see and touch materials and imagine a design through physical samples, models, and conversation. A lot of ideas can emerge from a quick lunch, a cup of coffee, or a break on the terrace. That’s why we gave so much space to the common areas and creative zones with different types of workstations; there’s a mix of openness, privacy, and team-oriented environments.”

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OFFICE

Hong Kong

www.fantoni.it

Acoustic room: when privacy matters

JOIN SUSTAINABILITY Acoustic Room solves the need for socialisation and privacy in the workplace: an acoustically comfortable space for one or more people, installable anywhere.

One system, six sizes.

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

APARTHOTEL

Munich

New expression in tune with nature WunderLocke: an office building in Munich that Holloway Li studio made into an “aparthotel” serving all hospitality needs, centered on circularity and reuse approaches that protect the environment and people in the long term

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his dynamic destination for locals, tourists, and business travelers is in Obersendling in Munich, a neighborhood where a community of artists, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs congregate. WunderLocke is among the new aparthotels at the forefront of 70 | IFDM

the Locke brand. Here what matters is a connection with nature and with a past, made through a multi-parted sequence of symbols and meanings, rather than a literal approach. WunderLocke is set in a former industrial complex that held Siemens’ offices, now renovated and turned into about 360

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

APARTHOTEL

Munich

Client: Edyn Main Contractor: TM Ausbau Hotel operator: Locke Architectural design: Drees & Sommer Interior design: Holloway Li Artwork consultant: Access Art, Amelie Maison D’art Furnishings: Coordination, Dodds & Shute Lightings: Dodds & Shute Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: Edmund Dabney

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APARTHOTEL

Munich

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

APARTHOTEL

apartments by the London design studio Holloway Li. The architects opted for a low-impact adaptive reuse approach. The raw concrete frame is revealed in its resilient, rough dignity, with a few other minimal layers of adornment. The artist Wassily Kandinsky spent a significant period of time in Munich in the early 20th century; his deep aesthetic theory becomes the conceptual filter for this entire interior design. Kandinsky based his poetics on a relationship with nature

Munich

through abstraction, in pursuit of the Inner Klang (inner voice) of things in order to reveal the natural essence of objects and materials. Holloway Li’s design explores the tension between the rough structure and amorphous masses of color, minimizing the fixed elements to allow the layout to be updated as needed. The bright, airy lobby extends around a curved wooden reception desk, and the inviting elegant lounge area blends subtly with a co-working area on one side and a IFDM | 73

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rounded bar overlooking the outdoor heated pool on the other. The German design studio Coordination and the London-based company Dodds & Shute made the custom furnishings, all based on responsible, sustainable design principles. A stairway in terrazzo originally from the 1960s was meticulously restored and new stainless-steel fixings and handrail give it a distinctively contemporary vibe. The architects added abundant plants between the unmovable concrete columns and a particular palette of natural materials, such as wood and raffia used for new finishes and furniture, earthy tones, botanical greens and marine blues. The Wunderlocke apartments come in three categories and sizes, seeming a continuous extension of its elegant public spaces, featuring a sophisticated balance between an industrial feel and a handcrafted environment with cement and black metal surfaces softened by the use of light oak and a myriad of green plants. Close attention is paid to circularity and returning to nature in the Mural Farmhouse, with a restaurant, coffee shop, and bar services spread over seven floors.

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APARTHOTEL

Munich

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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RESIDENCES

New York

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RESIDENCES

New York

Contemporary craftsmanship An enchanting new lifestyle in the heart of the Upper East Side, 180 East 88th Street.

A luxury building inspired by 20th-century New York has arrived on the scene

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mid the skyline of an ever-changing New York, soaringly high glass facades reflect a residential tower in stone designed by architectural firm DDG in partnership with Global Holdings that embodies a new idea of exclusivity. Inspired by the grandiose New York buildings of the early 20th century, the enchanting 180 East 88th Street reinvents residential living. Overlooking Central Park in Carnegie Hill, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods on the Upper East Side marked by high society mansions and some of the city’s best museums — including the Cooper Hewitt, the Metropolitan, the Neue Gallery, and the Guggenheim — its design concept pays homage to the finest traditional craftsmanship. Over 600,000 bricks handcrafted by Danish company Petersen Tegl combine to create an original IFDM | 77

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interplay of colors and textures that results in a supremely modern structure. This link between old and new is also reflected in the interior design of the 47 private residences where every detail has been meticulously selected. The suites come in different sizes and layouts, including duplexes and three-floor penthouses with breathtaking views. Enveloped by skyscrapers rising into the Manhattan sky, the private homes of 180 East 88th Street are a vision of excellence with their coffered ceilings, custom-made wainscoting, Austrian white oak floors, and majestic windows that flood each room with light. The furnishings were chosen with absolute care, with the kitchens featuring lacquer cabinetry made for DDG

by Italian brand Molteni&C|Dada, including bronze hoods, polished marble tops, Gaggenau appliances, backsplashes with brass inlays, and Fantini fixtures. Every detail exudes exclusivity, including the eight floors of amenities like the game room, the wine room, the basketball court and soccer pitch, the Technogym-equipped fitness studio, and the wellness areas. The majestic tower is a veritable citadel of experience.

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RESIDENCES

New York

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RESIDENCES

New York

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Client: DDG Development: Global Holdings Furnishings: Fantini, Gaggenau, Molteni&C|Dada Art installation: Jan Hooss Author: Anna Casotti Photo credits: Sean Hemmerle, Alex Stein, Jonathan Morefield, Field Condition, March Made, courtesy of DDG

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RESIDENCES

New York

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

The poetics of hospitality With grace and deep respect, Patricia Urquiola’s refined touch on a building of great historical value in Ca’ di Dio in Venice renders it a luxurious 5-star hotel of VRetreats, a VOIhotels brand dedicated to the Alpitour Group’s high-charm accommodations

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ts every part, starting from its walls, is imbued with its natural-born purpose of hospitality. It originated in 1272 first as an ecclesiastical complex and then in the 16th century, after the work of the architect Jacopo Sansovino, to welcome pilgrims and women in difficulty. Its inviting, open spirit can still be felt today in the building overlooking the lagoon on the Riva degli Schiavoni, now a luxury 5-star hotel Ca’ di Dio, the fourth in the VRetreats brands of exclusive historic accommodations. Patricia Urquiola, awardwinning architect and designer, understands the powerful cultural connection with the city fabric and the essential role played by the buildings over the centuries. She served as its interior designer and artistic director and brought this aspect to every detail of the project. The site was carefully chosen by the group’s management, part of Alpitour World, which invested €16 million here. The renovation of the entire property with its 4,000 square meters gives Venice an exceptional location with 66 rooms and junior suites, two restaurants, a spa, two private gardens, and ancient cloisters.

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HOTEL

Venice

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Venice

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HOTEL

Venice

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Venice

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Precision and austerity coexist in its style with the refinement of noble homes, creating an intimate, peaceful realm that surrounds its guests.

Bringing together these two seemingly irreconcilable essences is the choice of austere materials and soft colors in shades and transparencies that suggest the reflections of water. Each space came out of in-depth study of materials including fabrics, glass, stones and marble processed in keeping with local craft traditions. The architecture is not just in a corollary role but becomes the key player in spaces that fully respect the location. For example, the lobby was originally a church and a single double-height space. The floor is still in Iranian travertine, running along the entire ground floor, and the walls still have a marble finish in a neutral shade that carries the eyes up towards the ceiling. Hanging spectacularly from the ceiling, though without detracting from the sacredness of the space, is a large chandelier-sculpture made of 14,000 Murano glass crystals made in LP 86 | IFDM

HOTEL

Glass glassmaker designed by Lorenzo Panisson, joined by sconces and floor lamps made to Studio Urquiola’s design. The textile pieces in general play an essential role in making for intimate atmospheres. Tapestries and curtains frame shrines, altars, and niches on the walls, which give the spaces definition without overwhelming them.

Another example is the fabric ceiling of one of the restaurants (Vero), which was custom made to the designer’s design with natural elements and references to local cuisine. A major contribution made by Molten&C, which provided the furnishing that enhance the hallways, such as wooden false ceilings, fabric upholsteries and benches, and also furnished the interiors of the 66 rooms with custom-made pieces. A contemporary approach was also taken to sustainability and environmental impact. The renovation project included infrastructure that uses lagoon water for multiple purposes, reducing energy consumption by 20% and CO2 emissions by about 100 tons every year.

Venice

Owner: Alpitour World Interior design: Studio Urquiola Craft supplies: Vetroarredamento Stuccoed and painted parts: Calce del Brenta, Impresa Edlia Restoration of all plasters and stone, wood, and plaster parts: Seres Restauri Venetian terrazzo floors: Europavimenti Wallpaper: Jannelli&Volpi (custom made) Furnishings: Aproject, Acerbis, AgapeCasa, Cassina, Glas Italia, Kartell, Kettal, Kvadrat, Midj, Molteni&C, Moroso, Olivari, Pulpo, Tirolo, Varaschin, Very Wood Lighting: Brokis, Flos, Il Fanale, LP Glass, Oluce, Venini, Vistosi, Salviati Bathrooms: Agape, Ceramica Cielo, Rubinetteria Fantini Rugs: Warli Fabrics: Rubelli Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: Patricia Parinejad

Premium Interior Fabrics

www.marzotto-interiors.com

WONDER. CHONGMING, CHINA | GOLDEN BARNYARD: COCKAIGNE OF EVERYMAN | WUTOPIA LAB “What is associated with the barnyard is the farm lifestyle and certain material fantasies of the time. In any case, the expression of the barnyard is simple and direct. So I decided to use the golden color to

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© CreatAR Images

symbolize the harvest field, the harvest that never ends. I simply wanted the Cockaigne to be a place of “eternal leisure, superb food, and edible buildings”, Yu Ting.

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WONDER. LE STANZE DEL VETRO, VENICE | VENINI: LIGHT 1921-1985 | MARINO BAROVIER

© Enrico Fiorese, courtesy Le Stanze del vetro

As a tribute to Carlo Scarpa the monumental polychrome chandelier designed for the Veneto pavilion at the ‘Italia 61’ exhibition in Turin in 1961, made of 4,000 polyhedrons, has been especially recreated.

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WONDER. ZHENGZHOU, CHINA | FAT & COI RESTAURANT/TEA ROOM | S5DESIGN

© Chen Ming

As the architects state, inspiration came from mahjong, its collision of gray-green and orange. The highlight is the combination of mirrored ceiling and light, which is emitted from the ‘light pillars’.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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PEOPLE

Filippo Pagliani

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

Filippo Pagliani

TEAM-BASED STRATEGY Filippo Pagliani, who founded Milan studio Park Associates with Michele Rossi in 2000, discusses changes in the architecture profession and the demands of corporate identity design, Park’s core business

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ith listening, intuition, and experimentation as its three main guides, Park Associates has established itself as an authoritative, influential presence in Italy and beyond, especially in corporate design, from designing the branches of Crédit Suisse in Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin to creating headquarters for the likes of Salewa, Luxottica, Nestlé, and Accenture. Park Associates is also involved in urban renewal projects and the diversified world of interiors, having designed student residences on the first redevelopment lot of the former Falck industrial area in Milan and currently developing master plans for Milan’s Bovisa area and Catania’s waterfront. Since 1996, Filippo Pagliani has also paired his design work with teaching at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the School of Construction Engineering/Architecture.

author: Elena Franzoia portrait photo: Paolo Zambaldi projects photo: Oskar Da Riz (Salewa Headquarters), Andrea Martiradonna (Accenture Headquarters, Luxottica Digital Factory)

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How did Park Associates get its start?

Michele Rossi and I opened the studio because we wanted to challenge ourselves professionally after apprenticing for ten years in important architecture firms in Italy and abroad. We both had significant experience behind us having worked with Michele De Lucchi here in Milan, in addition to my time with Renzo Piano in Paris and Michele Rossi’s stint with David Chipperfield in London. Our first fifteen years in business were tough, as it often is for young people starting companies from scratch. We started off focusing on single projects before adopting a more strategic approach. We named the company Park because we weren’t yet in the game, so we didn’t want to use our own names. That choice ended up being spot on, considering how strongly we believe in the value and power of teamwork. At first, we were just two people; now there are 85 of us. A common thread emerged as the studio grew, a design philosophy that eventually turned into the strategic model that we now apply to all our jobs.

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PEOPLE

Filippo Pagliani

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

Filippo Pagliani

What are the cornerstones of your work?

Listening to clients is our priority. Significantly, this is one of the three core concepts defining our business: listening, intuition, and experimentation, which we believe perfectly expresses our genetic make-up. Obviously, we also listen to the site and its environment. And our intuition is the spark that makes each design new and different. After all, we’re of the Vitruvian belief that architectural designs originate from clients and designers in response to specific, preferably complex, needs and requests. We know we need to be curious and dig deep to stay contemporary and up-to-date on the many facets of the design world.

Luxottica Digital Factory, Milan

Below and opposite page, Salewa Headquarters, Bolzano

What do you mean by ‘strategic model’?

Basically, producing a design by coordinating all the ‘minds’ involved, promoting collective design, and creating the kind of team that allows everyone to express themselves in the best way. I think we’re moving away from an individualistic idea of design in which the single architect decides everything and more so valuing individuals’ ability to merge and select their ideas within a unified design. We view designs as all-encompassing syntheses of multiple attempts to work with forms, materials, and types, which is why we eventually felt the need to create Park Plus, a research unit within Park Associates. Park Plus focuses on forms, materials, and structural systems. It also led us to co-author the book Inlegno. Cambiare prospettiva per costruire il futuro (Inwood: Changing perspectives to build the future) with German engineering firm Bollinger + Grohmann, published last year by Letteraventidue. The book resulted from nearly two years of studying wood’s potential and technical-structural advantages by comparing one of our designs made using traditional techniques with a hypothetical reconstruction in wood. It was a way for us to improve how we use and understand wood. We believe research gives you the intellectual, scientific, and structural confidence to open new doors. Of course, when it comes to a strategic model, management is also key. Park has become the kind of company whose organizational structure responds as efficiently as possible to designs, costs, and timelines.

Your work focuses on companies. How do you deal with the subject of corporate identity?

We didn’t seek it out initially, but we were given some important chances to create something ad hoc, like our assignment to design the headquarters for Salewa in Bolzano in 2011 with the studio CZA. To this day, that design is one of the best demonstrations of our ability to interpret a client’s needs. It’s also an interesting case study in terms of communication since it’s the opposite of what usually happens. The company identified so much with our design that they changed their logo from an eagle drawn in the 1930s to a more stylized symbol that precisely follows the shapes of our building. This meaningful, formative experience led to many more opportunities, like our partnership with Luxottica.

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Accenture People Hub, Assago, Milan

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PEOPLE

How is the office changing in the wake of the pandemic?

Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen important developments in this sector that Covid-19 made speed up three times as fast. We’re applying processes now that 15 years ago we thought would come at a much slower rate. So, the pandemic has been a powerful accelerator. Many offices now have outdoor areas so users can leave the walls of the traditional ‘container,’ and collective, social

Filippo Pagliani

spaces are increasingly appreciated. More mobility has made us more agile and freed us from having fixed work stations, a trend showing no signs of stopping. Because Covid-19 was worldwide and paradoxically ‘democratic,’ it has led an already global world in the same direction, without exception. There used to be pronounced regionalisms, with places like Silicon Valley where we tried accelerating these processes that later became homogeneous and horizontal.

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PEOPLE

Filippo Pagliani

Accenture People Hub, Assago, Milan

Open 336, Milan Any significant examples of your work in this area?

I think what we’ve done over the last three years, like our work for Luxottica, embodies these dynamics well. But, on second thought, it all started with the Salewa company headquarters in Bolzano, where we dealt with the major issue of sustainability when it was not yet a legislative approach.

Our building respected ESG requirements before the concept existed. We even won the Casaclima Work&Life Award for our focus on energy efficiency, livability and user wellbeing, aided by the interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces.

All our designs are now solidly anchored in this twofold approach to sustainability. Today I was on Viale Sarca, here in Milan, for a project we want to complete by year’s end, Open 336, in which we used red concrete, which is a bit of a break from our past work on office spaces. This design is interesting since we made a completely open plan that the tenants can organize according to their needs. Even the outside of it reflects our investigation of forms and materials that are in some ways domestic, following an increasingly prominent trend in office design. Luxottica’s two headquarters in Milan, the Digital Factory on Via Tortona and Palazzo Litta in Piazzale Cadorna, are two other forward-looking designs that help people work together much more effectively.

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A refuge of wonders Monsieur Dior’s dream is brought back to life at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris.

More than a boutique, this is the quintessence of the Dior world as told by works of art, design masterpieces, lush gardens, a cultural space, a bakery, a restaurant, and an exclusive private suite. All withing the legendary Parisian “hôtel particulier”

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“It had to be 30 Avenue Montaigne. I was going to settle here and nowhere else!” Christian Dior. On December 15, 1946, in the charming setting of a “hôtel particulier,” Monsieur Dior opened his famous boutique, a place of refined elegance and creativity, ensconced in the savoir-faire of a brand that

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revolutionized fashion codes. Everything from the New Look to its Miss Dior fragrance was born at 30 Avenue, “a beehive in perpetual effervescence” as Dior called it. The sophisticated location with its neoclassical façade was the site of the Maison’s haute couture fashion shows and quickly became the “it” location of Parisian haute couture.

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This emblem of magnificence has been given new life through a meticulous restoration that lasted over two years. Peter Marino conceived the project, becoming the interpreter of Christian Dior’s vision and his love for art, nature, flowers, food and architecture. Each of the three floors of 30 Montaigne is imbued with art, with works that

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were chosen or specially commissioned. In the center of the Rotonde, which features wooden moldings and exposed beams, Bourasque by Paul Cocksedge stands out, a poetic work that seems to be floating in the empty space; on the ground floor, a video installation by the artist Jennifer Steinkamp, creates a dynamic floral explosion; IFDM | 103

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and Alberto Bertoldi’s oil paintings adorn the dressing rooms. Among the compositions envisioned by Joël Andrianomearisoa for Dior scarves, there are floral paintings by Azuma Makoto, a rose designed by Isa Genzken and photographs

by Brigitte Niedermair. Peter Marino called it “a kind of theatre or installation where many different shows can be put on at once.” 30 Montaigne revives Christian Dior’s dream with open spaces and styles from different eras, translated into sophisticated features like the Versailles parquet, a reference to Louis XVI classicism. Fashion meets architecture and the past dialogues with the present. Among the pieces shaped by master artisans are an extraordinary selection of over a hundred materials, including stones and fine fabrics, clear masterpieces of the history of design, such as the tables by Gio Ponti, Ado Chale, Claude Lalanne, Delos & Ubiedo, Gabriella Crespi, and chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro and Hans Olsen.

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Monsieur Dior’s beloved nature and flowers appear in the lush outside gardens studded with tropical plants and in the interior design, translated into roses prominent in the fragrance area, in the elevator decorated by Sophie Coryndon and in the abstract representations by Nancy Lorenz, impressed on the sliding panels in the jewelry area. The visionary audacity of Christian Dior and his successors — including Yves Saint Laurent, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri — is celebrated in La Galerie Dior, a cultural and exhibition space about the Maison’s history, including original sketches, archival documents, silhouettes, and original pieces and accessories that tell of its grandeur in a setting designed by Nathalie Crinière. In a fascinating journey through time and taste – the couturier considered himself a gourmand and liked to give his clothes names borrowed from the culinary arts – 30 Montaigne also invites those with refined palates. In the Restaurant Monsieur Dior,

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headed led by chef French Jean Imbert and his long-time collaborator Antony Clémot, Claudia Wieser’s grandiose mirror made up geometric panels and paintings specially commissioned to Guy Limoni make for an impressive, imaginative installation. The Pâtisserie Dior overlooks the lush rose garden. Contemporary celebrations of Dior’s love of nature, the gardens were designed with Peter Wirtz with Peter Marino as genuine green sanctuaries in the heart of Paris. These are places to stop and think, punctuated by lush plant life including tropical plants, winter gardens, apple trees, and rose gardens. Immersed in an experiential art de vivre, the unique Dior Suite is set in the treasure case of 30 Montaigne, featuring beautiful coverings in maple wood, onyx, leathers and feathers, in dialogue with furnishings by Thierry Leproust, Yves Klein and Ethno Eames.

Here an exclusive space is created where you can stay and, at least for one night, hold the keys to the kingdom of haute couture.

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Client: Christian Dior Couture Interior design: Peter Marino Architect Landscape design: Peter Wirtz / Wirtz International Landscape Architects Author: Anna Casotti Photo credits: Adrien Dirand, Kristen Pelou; (page 2) Rose II © Isa Genzken / VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn Courtesy the artist, David Zwirner and Galerie Daniel Buchholz, Cologne

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HEADQUARTERS

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Italy

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HEADQUARTERS

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Italy

Made in Chianti The new Furla site in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, near Florence, exemplifies the design approach of the Friulian GEZA Architettura by attentively setting the architecture within the environmental context

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ince 1999, when Friulian architects Stefano Gri and Piero Zucchi founded their firm GEZA, their hallmark has been the special attention they give to fitting contemporary architectural designs within their landscape contexts.

This skill is especially clear when the architecture’s intended use is for manufacturing. The new headquarters of Furla, the fashion leather accessory company, in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, in the Chianti region not far from Florence, is the latest

testament to it. The geography of the area is at the origin of a story of winemaking excellence with a hilly landscape that is the quintessence of Tuscany.

GEZA’s design is guided by merging architecture and landscape, with three functional buildings (one for offices and two for workshops and logistics), conceived, in the architects’ words, “to fit into the landscape as non-invasively as possible, following the natural progression of the hill, almost camouflaging into the surrounding environment

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HEADQUARTERS

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Italy

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in harmony with its aesthetic effect.” Consisting of one vertical and two horizontal buildings, the three staggered blocks use the land’s natural slope in order to distribute a variety of functions on the underground and semi-underground levels, limiting the complex’s vertical extension while giving extra value to the open spaces that are joined three basic elements: the entrance path, the terraces, and Piazza Furla. Its thoughtful inclusion in the landscape also entailed saving a large group of centuries-old oak trees, now in the parking area, and the cypress-lined path leading to the Furla Headquarters’ entrance. The cypress is one of the most iconic elements of the Tuscan landscape, a tree so well-known that it is almost an international brand itself. Piazza Furla is at the core of the project, “the panoramic focal point of the line that marks the arrival and main entrance,” according to the architects, as well as the connection area between the offices and workshops, which are in different buildings but linked by internal paths.

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HEADQUARTERS

High flexibility in the layout was a guiding concept of the interior design. The offices afford views on the open spaces through both a double-height reception and a large open atrium, as well as patios and green terraced roofs. The meeting rooms, break areas, and the showroom punctuate the regular lines of the administrative areas. GEZA also naturally developed the landscape theme to enhance energy sustainability. The buildings’ facades are protected by sunbreaking filtering blades that control the internal heat and lighting, 114 | IFDM

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the advantage of thermal inertia. Energy savings is provided by the photovoltaic system that covers the production area, and thermal solar panels ensure sanitary hot water production, which is also used for heating. Other sustainability features include LED lighting, rainwater recycling for irrigation, the use of inorganic mineral powder paints for the production building facades, and the use of innovative technology to provide high level of reflection, significantly reducing the facades’ heat absorption.

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Client: FC Immobiliare Architecture design and creative direction: GEZA Architettura Structural design: Biagini Studio di Ingegneria Landscape design: LAND Italia Structural plan: Consilium Servizi d’Ingegneria Acoustic consultant: Ing. Sacha Slim Bouhageb Geologist: ProGeo Engineering Outodoor and green roofs: Frassinago – Gardens and Landscape Prefabricated components: Baraclit Facades and fixtures: Pichler Projects Waterproofing: Impernovo Construction and finishings: Fabbri Services Structures: Ing. Ferrari System walls: VetroIn Ceramics: Graniti Fiandre Concrete products: Deana Lifts: Baglini Group Furniture: Della Chiara, Multitema Lighting: ZR Light Signs: Graphic Service Author: Elena Franzoia Photo credits: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG fotografia de arquitectura

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A hotel with a view For its New York hotel and club, Casa Cipriani chose an iconic location, the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan

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he adventure began on May 13, 1931, when Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry’s Bar in St. Mark’s Square in Venice. The bar immediately became a landmark, and he went on to open restaurants and hotels throughout the world. The newest member of the family is Casa Cipriani in Lower Manhattan, in the magnificent Battery Maritime Building from the early 20th century, where ferries left for Governors Island. That multi-story cast iron structure is decorated with original zinc and copper inserts, rolled steel, glazed tiles, rose windows and stucco walls, and it was listed as an official historic place in 1976. As of last year, it has a Members Only Private Club at Casa Cipriani, with bars, a spa, a sitting room, a restaurant, a jazz cafe, and an event space. The small hotel has 47 luxury rooms and suites facing the water. The New-York based Studio Marvel was in charge of the restoration work, collaborating with Thierry Despont (who also restored the Statue of Liberty) and gave a second life to the building that had been partly abandoned

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and was in very poor condition. Its original components were kept as far as possible. Acoustic insulation and mechanical components were improved, underfloor heating was included, and a fifth floor was added, consistent with the original design of the building which had a magnificent rooftop, which had been replaced in the 1950s by an anonymous office space. Rooms and suites are arranged in the hotel, which covers the existing third floor and part of the new fourth floor.

They open on covered balconies that evoke 1930s cruise ship cabins, from which guests cheered their arrival in New York. The spa is a white space covered in white oak, and the Members Club area features refined polished mahogany that again recalls a transatlantic ship with Art Déco elegance.

The comparison is not coincidental given that Casa Cipriani faces a truly iconic skyline, sweeping from Brooklyn Bridge to Governors Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Developer: The Cipriani family with partners Midtown Equities and Centaur Properties Architectural restoration: Marvel Architects Design: Thierry W. Despont Engineers: Silman Main Contractor: MJM Associates Consultants: Criterion Acoustics, Frank Seta Associates, Higgins Quasebarth & Partners, Schwinghammer Claddings: Carlisle, Sto, Thomas Manufacturing Roofing: Soprema Doors and windows: ArchMills, Assa Abloy Glazing: Galaxy Glass, Guardian Ceilings: Armstrong Interior finishes: Benjamin Moore, Brinton, Loro Piana, Tedeschi Lighting: Madson Black Elevators: Precision Author: Elena Luraghi Photo credits: Courtesy of Casa Cipriani

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Cabiate (Como) Italia - Tel. +39 031 766215 - info@porada.it | MILANO - Via Borgosospeso 18 - Tel. +39 02 49700 896 - milano@porada.it | LONDON - Design Centre Chelsea Harbour - London - Ph: 020 3155 3065 - enquiriesuk@porada.it | PARIS - 252 Blvd St. Germain 75007 - Paris - paris@porada.it

PORADA.IT

SOFTBAY letto - bed REGENT comodino - bedside table EKERO RACK servomuto - valet stand EKERO MIRROR specchio - mirror

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Developer: Emerald Palace Group Hotel operator: Accor / Hyde Dubai Hotel and Resort Architectural project: National Engineering Bureau Dubai Projects Art direction, general plan, interior design and furniture: Ciarmoli Queda Studio Furhishings: on design; Annibale Colombo, Uno Contract Textiles: Metaphores, Rubelli Walls and floors: Bardelli, Tabu Wallpaper: Fromental, San Giorgio (custom made) Carpets: Leloy (custom made) Lighting: Aggio Light, Flos Author: Elena Luraghi Photo credits: Matteo Lavazza Seranto

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Dubai

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Italian appeal In Dubai, the first Hyde Hotel outside the United States features a sophisticated, tailor-made elegance. The Milan-based firm Ciarmoli-Queda designed the interiors

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n the heart of Business Bay – near Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world – is a hotel that “speaks” Italian. In this 20-floor building with an interior designed by the Milanese duo Simone Ciarmoli and Miguel Queda of Ciarmoli Queda Studio, every detail is carefully considered, from the overall concept to the furnishings of the 276 rooms (including 8 suites and 1 presidential suite), the lobby, restaurants, bar, ballroom with mirrors, and Rubelli textile boiserie that bring to mind a cross between the Peacock Room and Alice in Wonderland. “This was a complex, but exciting project in a tall, narrow building that we inherited in an existing outer envelope with the interiors to be completely invented,” says Simone Ciarmoli. A clear stylistic distinction was made between public and private areas in adorning the interiors. The 10-meter high lobby is a profusion of white Carrara marble, brought to life with two fountains with black concentric circles on the floor – of black Marquinia marble – drawing a perfect ellipsis as if from a stone thrown into a pool of water. “We envisioned this space like an urban oasis, not just a mere place of passage but an inviting, almost homey atmosphere. Marble creates a feeling of freshness and repose, framing the furnishings of the Uno Essential, designed by us and made by Uno Contract in a customized version,” the designer continues.

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The true stars here are snaking cognac-colored sofas and armchairs flanked by plastic ottomans and coffee tables in brass and fine Azul marble. There is a second lobby that is cozier, with walls clad in wood and carpets that evoke the movement of water, a foretaste of the halls that are covered in palm wood boiserie – fully certified and sustainable wood – crafted by a Brianza-based company, the perfect background for the brass sconces, also designed by Ciarmoli-Queda. Palm wood covers the doors of the rooms as well, and amber wallpaper breaks up the material continuity along with refined cement-based paint on the ceiling, treated with a contemporary stucco finish. In the rooms, colors and materials change depending on the room type, from the deluxe rooms in hues of sand, to the presidential suite where marble reigns supreme (with a whirlpool tub in front of a large window to admire the view) and red carpets.

Some furnishings are also red, designed to evoke the color of sedimented earth, along with sand and caramel colors on the walls and sofas.

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AD Designwork – Photo concept Eye – Copywriting Carter&Bennett

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Washington DC

Authenticity against ostentation In the Akris boutique in Washington DC, David Chipperfield Architects Milano devised a display concept that pits sincerity against ostentation, in keeping with the core values of the Swiss brand

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he concept of “Swissness” best defines the Akris fashion house. Created in 1922 in Saint Gallen, Switzerland, the label’s name contains the name of its founder Alice KriemlerSchoch and stands for high quality precision, perfectionism and tradition. David Chipperfield Architects Milano deftly infused these values into the Washington DC boutique through a sober and sophisticated architectural language. The project was developed working closely with Albert and Peter Kriemler, the creative director and CEO of Akris, respectively. Having delved deep into the history of the brand and its intrinsic artisanal nature, the concept was expressed with sophisticated lightness, letting materiality and crafting take center stage. The display elements are deliberately kept minimal, consisting of a series of taut cables that hold shelves and hangers, displaying the collections as if they were magically suspended. This reference to Bruno Munari’s tensile structures is about the contrast between tension and IFDM | 127

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compression, for an overall effect that is clean-lined and broad-ranging. A neutral backdrop is formed by panels in pre-formed white maple that cover the walls, and the gray limestone floor. The team sought to create fluid movement by conveying a sense of transparency, inserting several stainless steel metal mesh partitions hung from the ceiling, which act as a filter and divide the boutique. Also without obstructing views, they strategically positioned natural anodized aluminum display tables. The spacious dressing rooms highlight the space’s depth through the ivorycolored horsehair fabric – Akris’s signature material – and a gray melange felt on the walls and ceilings, with an ivory-colored wool carpet covering the floor.

The absolute coherence of the design by David Chipperfield Architects Milano was conceived to adapt to different locations, molding itself to different sizes and configurations, as seen in the newly opened boutique in Tokyo, Japan.

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Owner: Akris Architecture and Interior design: David Chipperfield Architects Milano Furnishings: Custom made and designed

by David Chipperfield Architects Milano; Vitra Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: Alberto Parise

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HOTEL

New York

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New York

A breath of fresh air The new ModernHaus Hotel is rising from the “ashes” of a previous hotel to give New York and its neighborhood of Soho, a lifestyle in step with contemporary needs. Design by Palette Architecture

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ollaborative design and a careful selection of materials have been the cornerstones of design for the founders of Palette Architecture studio since they first met as students at the Graduate School of Architecture at Columbia University. This was the origin of the new

ModernHaus hotel in the heart of New York’s Soho, a luxury boutique hotel with 114 rooms, formerly known as The James New York. Guided

by Palette Architecture, the renovation project involved all stakeholders, including the building owners, interior design firms Wilson Associates

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and M. A. Bowers Inc., and the hotel’s food and beverage suppliers. The rough original materials of the building, which was built in 2010, were softened and it was brought into a full connection with the neighborhood. Its essence was carefully preserved, highlighting the finishes in precast concrete and steel, balanced by the choice of natural materials, contrasts of chiaroscuro nuances – both on wood and metal – the use of soft fabrics and bright colors (such as Calder-style carpets), a new style with a powerful contemporary feel. The team embarked on a transformation process, infusing coherence and character in the project by adding elements that evoke the neighborhood’s rich cultural history, such as geometric patterns and selected artwork. It also adapted a number of underused or obsolete areas to give more space to common areas. For example, for the restaurant it made use of the great potential the roof ’s square

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footage and made a completely glassed-in section – protected by movable screens as needed – which creates a new lively, dynamic space, completely immersed in the neighborhood. Renovation was also done to the popular nightclub The Jimmy, a rooftop bar on the 18th floor of the property that is a poolside bar by day. Keeping its existing feel, the bar was reconfigured, highlighted by a DJ booth, improved acoustics, and redesigned furnishing based on the existing one, but with new patterns.

The layout of the rooms was kept largely intact for the breathtaking views they afford, which was among the strengths of building’s original layout, with the room floors starting from about 18 meters above ground level. Only for the presidential suite, which has been continuously modified with renovations and improvements, the architects created an inner-facing orientation to create an intimate feel while making use of its size and power. John Sunwoo, a founding partner of Palette Architecture, is happy with the results, “We’re very proud of what was a truly collaborative project, and the final result is that every major space of ModernHaus now features a dialogue between the original design and the contrasting intervention.”

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New York

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Client: Thor Equities Architecture: Palette Architecture Interior design: Wilson Associates Creative direction: M.A. Bowers Interior design collaborator: Jack J. Sitt, director of Thor Equities Structural engineer: DeSimone Consulting Engineers Main Contractor: Hidden Hill Hospitality Landscape architect: HM White Lighting designer: Dot Dash Lighting: Aldabra, Bold Lighting, Elemental, Modulightor, Tech Lighting, Trov Glass supplier: Vitro Architectural Glass Storefront and entrance systems: Assa Abbloy, CR Laurence Doors: Ceco Door Door hardware: DormaKaba, Hafele Bathroom fixtures: Kohler, Moen, Watermark Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: Pavel Bendov

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OFFICE

Milan

A confident atmosphere Feeling at ease in work spaces, achieved through stylistic harmony, a contemporary vocabulary of elegance, and luxury furnishings – this is the essence of the expansion project for the offices of Genesi Holding in Milan

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t work, we get our best results in an atmosphere of physical and mental ease, which supports performance and fosters ideas. Lorenzo and Marco Riccardi, founders of Genesi Holding, understand this well. They are top-level managers who about a year ago founded a new holding company. Now they are renovating their offices and seek the same values of excel-

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lence, passion and expertise at the foundation of their business. This expansion involved the fourth floor of a historic building in Corso Venezia 37, in Milan, the renovation of historical elements – fixtures, doors, frames – and the redistribution of spaces. In total there are 250 sq. m. between the reception, executive office, four operational offices, a meeting room, a lounge, and two bathrooms.

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Milan

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The primary goal was to create a “confident,” prestigious and social atmosphere, keeping in mind that the group’s companies are forward-looking and have a particular taste for excellence and luxury.

The executive office holds a bookcase and fine furnishings to receive the most important visitors. The large lounge room for employees is equipped with a modern marble kitchen featuring an impressive wine rack and spirit bar to create refined cocktails.

A sofa in shades of gray and a table football game are here for fun and relaxation. It is, after all, a known fact that playing reduces stress and is key in decision-making processes. Innovation is also here with the creation of a spacious meeting room – of which the managers are very fond – complete with TV, audio systems and an LG Digital Signage board. Nothing is left to chance in the choice of materials and top-quality finishes by the excellent furnishing and design brands. At the clients’ request, the contract furnishing division of Medea 1905 made an extraordinarily eye-catching wainscoting 138 | IFDM

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paneling along the hall walls. There is a grand sculptural table, inspired by a model of the company. The bathroom is also impressive with washbasin units clad in translucent and backlit onyx from Antolini combined with Bongio brass taps. The “feel at ease” ethos also extends tables with marble countertops and velvet-covered armchairs by Opera Contemporary, the Smania leather sideboard with mahogany finishes, and the Gallotti&Radice chairs. Leather seats by Alias and carpets by Rugiano follow suit. Luceplan’s decorative lighting and Castaldi’s architectural lighting make the overall effect all the more alluring. “Genesi is the home

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where we want to grow as a company, as managers, and as a team,” says Lorenzo Riccardi, Chief Executive Officer. The holding company reflects our character as practical innovators whose intuition is recognized as out of the ordinary. We wanted to make this identity clear. These offices are the perfect embodiment of our idea of business. All the spaces are conceived to convey the idea of a solid, innovative business, elegant in a style both classic and contemporary. Neutral tones combined with bronze details convey the prestige and history of a company originally founded in 1997, now organized as a holding company that keeps on growing.”

Owner: Genesi Holding Furnishings and fittings: Alias, Gallotti&Radice, LG, Medea 1905, Moroso, Opera Contemporary, Rugiano, SKS, Smania Flooring and surfaces: Antolini, Flaminia Ceramiche, Florim, Marazzi Ceramiche Lighting: Castaldi Lighting, Luceplan, Penta, Rugiano Bathrooms: Antolini, Bongio Rubinetteria, Flaminia Curtains: Nalesso Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: Simone Fiorini

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WONDER. MILAN | FONDAZIONE LUIGI ROVATI | MCA MARIO CUCINELLA ARCHITECTS The underground floor of the museum is accessed through a staircase carved in pietra serena. A space in the half-darkness is wrapped in 30,000 stone ashlar blocks extracted by Tuscan-Emilian quarries

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© Giovanni de Sandre

and deftly built and assembled, giving it formal continuity. The stones create horizontal stripes for an effect of suspension, contrasting with the shiny points of the mica chips in the stone mixture.

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WONDER. PARIS | CAFE NUANCES | UCHRONIA

© Felix Dol Maillot

A coffee roasting house set in a jewel box, a space that acts as a prism made of tiles, marble walls, wrought iron, space-age colours, mirrors with bevelled designs and a ceiling made of eglomised glass.

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WONDER. ROME, 167 VIA GIULIA | THE MIRROR OF WONDERS | FABIO MAZZEO ARCHITECTS

© Bianca Puleo

The large mirrored wall surface is broken down into several sections to catalyze the many angles and perspectives of the space, re-situating unexpected fragments of the scene in a kaleidoscopic image.

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PEOPLE

GREEN DESIGN IS POSSIBLE And the answer lives in Clerkenwell, where Stefan Dodds and Nick Shute have set up shop. In the London design district par excellence, since 2015 their design practice makes sustainability a responsibility and a mission, a modus operandi that starts from the heart, passes to the brain and becomes a method

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method that has attracted collaborators and clients in tune with the studio’s philosophy, and above all other design firms that rely on Dodds & Shute for consulting services in the field of concrete sustainability, which calls for specific specialization. The courage to believe in a direction, even when it doesn’t even seem to suggest survival: this is the attribute behind Stefan Dodds and Nick Shute, who thanks to inner energy and a healthy sense of social responsibility, decided to take a path no other design practice had ever hypothesized: the path of sustainability in this field. No dogma, no absolute thinking, no walls: instead, a balanced, cheerful trail blazed by two young men, through realism and a taste for solving problems.

author: Matteo De Bartolomeis photo: Amy Heycock Photography

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Dodds & Shute

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

Dodds & Shute

From 2015 to the present, how has the perception of the project market (ownership, developers, designers) changed (if indeed it has changed) with respect to sustainability?

When we started Dodds & Shute sustainability was not a topic of conversation with our clients, but over time this became of increasing importance to us. For example, in 2017 we launched our climate positive initiative and in 2018 we released our supplier sustainability audit. Around this time there was still very little appetite or interest from our clients on sustainability. Today this has changed. Dodds & Shute have become known as a leader in this space and is a key driver for many clients choosing to work with us.

Your practice is atypical: was it difficult for you to get beyond prejudices or fears regarding a hybrid role, and one that is also paradoxically against the trend?

I wouldn’t say that we play a countercultural role but both of us were passionate about bringing about change to our industry and setting a positive example for others to hopefully follow. We had concerns that focussing on sustainability may not be commercially viable, but we both felt guilty about the role we played in the industry’s consumerism. For example, we launched a new website during Covid which showcased only the innovative work being done by the most sustainable suppliers in our supply chain. In that economic climate, this was a huge risk, however we are delighted that an increasing number of clients share our values.

The boundary that divides business and sustainability is almost imperceptible – what is your position regarding possible compromises?

We are all on a journey. It’s not about changing everything about your business overnight - that’s impractical. We support our clients to make as many positive steps forward as possible. Each project involves some degree of compromise, but we set targets to ensure we are moving in the right direction year on year.

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You have selected certain brands with which you work; how does the procedure work, to bring a company into your roster of suppliers? Do you seek them out, or do they come to you?

We have a supplier audit that gathers data on our suppliers on 5 sustainability pillars; this is our way of quantifying and comparing the practices of our suppliers. When new brands approach us, we evaluate them closely before deciding on whether they are the right fit. The companies we are looking for are the ones truly innovating in their field, we view it as our role to champion companies doing things the right way.

How are you able to mediate between the request for a big trademark on the part of clients,you’re your own solutions?

At the end of the day, we are a service provider; the projects and budgets are not ours. We are doing our best to positively influence our clients’ decisions and show how sustainable choices are just as beautiful and commercially viable as the top-end designer brands that aren’t focused on sustainability.

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PEOPLE

Dodds & Shute

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

PEOPLE

Dodds & Shute

Among the selected brands there are a number of Italians (Pedrali, Lapalma, Bolzan Letti).

How did this relationship get started? Are you talking with other Italian companies at present?

We are interested in companies from any part of the world that can demonstrate to us that sustainability is fundamental to their business. The above mentioned companies, as well as others such as Magis, Flos and Passoni, are all examples of companies that have performed extremely well in our audit. Some of these relationships are historic but others, Bolzan Letti and Passoni, are companies that we have recently learnt about due to their strong environmental credentials.

In your profile you write: “The undertaking of significant research into the environmental impact of different furniture types, companies or materials is an unrealistic luxury”: this is a statement that might put many players in the value chain into crisis, and so you offer them “an honorable way out.” Is that the case?

We meant that statement towards interior designers and architects who have so much to do in very little time. A lot of our clients acknowledge the work we have done is extensive and they partner with us so our knowledge can be shared.

Some other supply chain players should not see our statement as an honorable way out. It is their duty to be more transparent and diligent with their supply chain.

Over the last 7 years of activity, has there been a project that makes you feel particularly proud, or one that has made you clearly understand that you were moving on the right path?

We can’t talk of specific projects or clients I’m afraid but one of our clients, a private real estate investment firm here in the UK, uses the sustainable ratings we devised as a way of helping them to choose furniture. When we hear of clients like this that are taking our research seriously and using it to help determine their decisions, it is music to our ears.

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What projects do you have for the future?

Where is your next success going to come from?

We want to propel our industry to a sustainable and responsible future and continue to positively influence our clients’ buying behaviour. For too long decisions in our industry have been made purely based on aesthetics and cost. We want to introduce new metrics around sustainability but to do this we need to get tangible data into our clients’ hands. For the last few years, we have been collecting all kinds of fascinating data about sustainable innovation and best manufacturing practices and our next goal is to report on this data in order to show clients the impacts their decisions have. We want the design sector to be beautiful both inside and out.

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PEOPLE

Dodds & Shute

Collection I Massivi Table Monti, By Matteo Bianchi

Oak Online industriale Borgo Plus.

Itlas – v i a d e l l a v o r o – n°35, 31016 C o r d i g n a n o, Tr e v is o – I t a li a p h. +39 04 3 8 36 8 04 0 — itlas.com AD – S t u d i o M a lis a n

I m a g e – N u d e si g n / Ric c a r d o M u n a r in

Ecos – sustainable circular economy The virtuous use of the wood.

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HOTEL

Back to the essentials Hotel Terrestre invites its guests to reconnect with nature amidst its angular lines, sustainable ethics, and its easy-going conception of luxury

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Puerto Escondido, Mexico

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espite being newly opened, the Hotel Terrestre is as if one with the earth, as if it has always been there. Nestled in the lush rainforest of Oaxaca, on a secluded stretch of beach north of Puerto Escondido, the hotel stands out for its rough, self-contained construction style, and its views of mountains and cacti soften its brutalist impact. Its jagged contours, reminiscent of a Mesoamerican step pyramid, with the descending stairs and the geometric openings on the fronts, create dramatic contrasts of lights and shadows, framing composed areas where the interior and exterior interface. The complex was designed by

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Puerto Escondido, Mexico

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HOTEL

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

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HOTEL

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

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Alberto Kalach – Taller de Arquitectura X (TAX) and consists of seven buildings with fourteen interdependent villas, each with a small garden, an outdoor shower, a spacious bedroom and a roof terrace with a private pool and panoramic views.

The careful interaction between architecture and nature creates an immersive, almost meditative atmosphere, connected with care to the land, sun and sea. Everything is open at Hotel Terrestre, from the doors and windows without panes to the large openings that connect the bedrooms to the terraces overlooking the ocean. The architect followed the principles of sustainable architecture, such as using locally sourced materials to limit the environmental footprint, solar panels to make it completely autonomous in terms of energy, and air conditioning methods through innovative construction techniques replacing dependence on air conditioning. The exteriors are clay, brick, wood, and concrete, and the interiors combine clay and sand, incorporated with shutters and doors made of tropical macuil wood, as well as furniture designed by Mexican designer Oscar Hagerman, which includes the iconic Ruiseñor chairs and completely new, custom-made pieces, selected for their timeless quality and references to rural Mexico. The service areas are located on the ground floor of each villa, and the upper floor has secluded, shady patios with hammocks, living areas, and swimming pools that stretch towards the ocean. Each villa also has a small section of books that complete the larger library by the reception. Its vibrant garden has a wellness area and separate outdoor restaurant where the Mexican culinary heritage joins the region’s lush eco-system. The wellness area includes a circular

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Puerto Escondido, Mexico

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

swimming pool open to the public, a long swimming pool for laps, and an appealing hexagonal spa with a cold-water pool and steam bath, as well as inside and outside showers. Not only is it near the pristine beaches of Puerto Escondido, the location also gives visitors the perfect chance to experience the best of Oaxaca’s deep heritage, from impressive archaeological sites and breathtaking landscapes to its world-renowned cuisine and craftsmanship. Terrestre is near cultural spaces such as Casa Wabi, a vast complex with a center designed

by Tadao Ando that includes residences and artist exhibitions; a 22-meter-high ceramic workshop space designed by TAX/Alberto Kalach; and a permanent large-scale outdoor artistic installation by the Mexican artist Bosco Sodi. Nearby there are also the Kakurega Omakase restaurants – also designed by Kalach – and small-scale mezcaleria such as Cobarde.

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HOTEL

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Owner & Hotel operator: Grupo Habita Architectural design: Alberto Kalach – Taller de Arquitectura X (TAX) Interior design: RB + K Fernanda Romandia, Diana Backal Furnishings: custom made

by Canto Artesanos/Oscar Hagerman Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: Ana Hop, Fabian Martinez, Jaime Navarro, courtesy of Grupo Habita

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In&Out living

daaitalia.com

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Creative connections in a “found” space Multiple eras, materials, proportions, and functions come together in the new five-star Shangri-La Shougang Park hotel designed by Lissoni & Partners near the sports facilities for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing

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ore than just a hotel, the Shangri-La Shougang Park evinces technical innovation and a bold approach to form that brings together a decommissioned building and an environmental revitalization project tied to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Milan design studio Lissoni Casal Ribeiro has created a contemporary, elegant hotel inspired by the city’s magnificent steel

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heritage that adds to Beijing’s urban revival while also participating in the cultural, industrial, and ecological rejuvenation of Shougang Park. The hotel comprises several interconnected structures divided between the Main Building with its common areas and the Guestroom Building with its 282 rooms. The integrated project includes the design of the facades, the external and internal gardens, and all the interior spaces.

Beijing

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HOTEL

Beijing

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The total effect is achieved through contrasting and comparing materials and volumes. The Main Building deliberately preserves and displays the existing structural framework, concrete walls, and steel trusses, a clearly industrial, emptied-out skeleton that has retained the patina and traces of time. A large glass facade covers the original structure, a transparent skin that calibrates the light and internal temperature without changing the style and renders the building into a large, contemporary winter garden full of vegetation. The architects took advantage of the building’s 20-meter height to divide the space into two levels. The ground floor was designed like a large public square, an area with bars and restaurants open to the city. A wood structure encloses the upper-floor mezzanine, a “nest” that makes the space feel more personal and intimate and contains a reception desk and spacious lounge areas. All the spaces are adorned with art installations, custom-designed furniture, and 162 | IFDM

HOTEL

Beijing

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HOTEL

Beijing

contemporary objects that link to the local culture or interpret it in new ways. A cantilevered volume, completely glassed-in and embedded in the existing industrial structure, houses the wellness area with pools and a gym. A new structure (though complementary in its design) extends off the main building, clad with black terracotta bricks and perforated by narrow vertical and horizontal windows. Technical components like the large ventilation pipes are exposed and are integral parts of the architecture, respecting and evoking the original structure’s industrial identity. The Guestroom Building with its 282 rooms is connected to the main building by an elevated bridge. Here the architects sought to mitigate the overall mass by dividing it into smaller volumes separated by vertical openings. They also chose a different vocabulary for this second structure, replacing industrial references with materials and colors inspired by local tradition to make guests feel as comfortable as possible.

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HOTEL

Beijing

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Beijing

Client: Shougang Group Hotel operator: Shangri-La Group Architecture: Piero Lissoni with Miguel Casal Ribeiro, Ricardo Hernandez, Mattia Susani, Francesco De Matteis Landscape: David Pouliot Landscape Interior design: Tania Zaneboni, Ilia D’Emilio, Sara Cerboneschi, Marco Gottardi, Tianzhou Chen, Iacopo Taddeo, Roberto Berticelli, Rodrigo Tellez, Patrizia Manconi Graphic design: Samuele Savio, Laura Cucchi, Mario Rizzotti, Santiago Villa Furnishings and lighting: on design by the architects and manufactured in China; Gubi, Living Divani, Stellar Works Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: Tsing Lim, Agent Pay

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SCHOOL

Bressanone, Italy

A music school that interprets the city The new Bressanone “Wunderkammer” music school – designed by Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli – closely dialogues with the city, serving as a space of relationship and connection

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he school is a microcosm in itself, but with a dual purpose, both practical and social. The new Bressanone music school is a project merging art, architecture and engineering, as well as collective and community processes, serving as a connector for the city as a whole. Designed by the Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli firm, the building is in the Priel area, on the city’s edge in a strategic position in the center of a municipal redevelopment plan that entails building a public underground parking

lot on two levels in the north, covered by an urban park crossing it. In the south, there is a square with another underground public parking level that connects the Brenner street level Road with the municipal swimming pool and the historic city. The building designed by Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli is in the western part of the larger project and features a recognizable, compact volume within which an empty urban space is created, enclosed by a fence. The school is a volume with three floors above ground, Client: Municipality of Bressanone Architectural design: Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli Main Contractor: Unionbau Furnishings: Arper, Poltrona Frau, VS, Wilde + Spite, Zeitraum; bespoke furniture Krapf Gottfried Wallpaper: Rubelli Curtains and carpets: Kvadrat Graphics and signage: Studio Mut Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: Marco Cappelletti

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SCHOOL

Bressanone, Italy

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SCHOOL

of which the highest is set back from the edge of the external facades, which blurs the perception of the building. “One of the unique qualities of the project is the ‘music garden,’ a beautifully decorated openair room, which dissolves the boundary between inside and outside. The ambition is to tame the urban space. This is the origin of the name “Wunderkammer” (room of wonders), a reference to the historical period in which private collections were opened to the general public, making accessible ‘mirabilia’ that had been available to the few”, say the architects Michel Carlana, Luca Mezzalira, and Curzio Pentimalli. This large collective outdoor space is bound by a wall enclosure, which is a two-floor structure that holds inside lift components and services for the city, including kiosks and warehouses. This means all present and future areas are connected and easily accessible. The powerful exterior facades – concrete walls of red porphyry aggregates and hand bushed pigments – contrast with the interior which features a marked pursuit of familiarity, drawing on the 168 | IFDM

Bressanone, Italy

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

SCHOOL

Bressanone, Italy

material and compositional character of historical buildings. The large entrance foyer and distribution spaces are like generous, welcoming public lounges, where visitors are oriented by openings and doors clad with fine light gray marble. Inviting upholstered armchairs are strategically placed near the service areas and in-between spaces, which are fully covered with neutral-colored wallpaper, evoking the tapestries that adorn the rooms of the Bishop’s Palace of Brixen. The vertical connections and furnishings integrated into the building, in dark stained oak wood, suggest the woodwork in the buildings of the historic center. Waved curtains in soft pastel colors, with sound-absorbing features, filter out natural light.

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OFFICE

Client: Penta Real Estate Architecture: DF Creative Group, Pamarch Interior design: Studio Perspektiv Furnishings: Classicon, Ferm Living, Hay, Lapalma, Normann Copenhagen, Pedrali, Sancal, Vitra; steel/custom made atypical furniture Lighting: Flos, Marset, Nemo Lighting, Wever & Ducré Floors and walls: Boen, Heradesign, Marazzi Art, Re:felt Carpets: Interface Author: Manuela Di Mari Photo credits: BoysPlayNice

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Bratislava

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

OFFICE

Bratislava

Resilient workplace architecture The new co-working spaces of Base4Work in Bratislava embody a spirit of adaptation within the old heating plant that houses them, which Studio Perspektiv and DF Creative Group redefined for the modern age without detracting from its identity

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t took three years to transform Bratislava’s former heating plant, designed by Dušan Jurkovič and a true national monument in Slovakia, into a stimulating, diverse 21st-century workspace that preserves its distinctive industrial heritage. The building was adapted to meet the present-day co-working needs of this second branch of Base4Work (the first is in Prague).

DF Creative Group designed the internal architectural layout and a new structure; Studio Perspektiv designed the interiors; and the firm Pamarch, which specializes in the protection and reconstruction of historical monuments, restored the existing buildings. This high-quality, flexible workspace mirrors the authenticity of its environment and spans 3,900 square meters over several floors with room for 450 workstations.

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DF Creative Group heightened this potential by using free space in the boiler and turbine rooms to incorporate new independent structures. There is a clear separation between the structure’s historical and new parts, with original details like the concrete hoppers and crane left on display. Ján Antal and Barbora S. Babocká of Studio Perspektiv also took advantage of the building’s complex structure to make it adaptable and spacious, for example by placing striking meeting rooms on the fifth floor inside the massive concrete hoppers originally used to store solid fuels. “This is where we experimented with glazing in parts of the floor,” they explain. “The result is an iconic space that everyone wants to see. Even those afraid of heights. “With their skillful choice of materials

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OFFICE

Bratislava

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

OFFICE

Bratislava

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OFFICE

Bratislava

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

OFFICE

Bratislava

and colors, the duo added warmth and comfort to this distinctly industrial context. The rooms feature varying shades of terracotta to recall the building’s exterior, complemented by deep tones of blue, green, and charcoal black. The ceilings are left open, with the steel structures softened by wood panels, while the floors in the common areas are enhanced by wood or ceramic slabs.

Possible acoustic problems were solved by using natural materials and eco-friendly panels made from recycled PET bottles. “We tried to use style and new structural details to both complete the space and dialogue with it,” explain the designers at Perspektiv. “We also wanted to clearly distinguish between the new and original parts — we didn’t want to imitate the original work.” The designers deliberately evoked Dušan Jurkovič’s work by using graphic details and motifs inspired by his style, deconstructing original decorative ornaments and turning them into light fixtures on the walls and engraved cupboards. Base4Work also includes an event space and a restaurant part of the Medusa culinary group, turning this important Bratislava icon into a multifaceted business and cultural hub.

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RESTAURANT

Mexico City

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RESTAURANT

Mexico City

At marvelous heights Sordo Madaleno has designed Ling Ling, an Asian restaurant in Mexico City. Based on a concept of sophisticated, unexpected beauty, it evokes the grand courtyards and terraces of Mexican architecture. Taking it all the way to the 56th floor

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ing Ling is an unexpected restaurant covering 1,000 square meters of the 56th floor of one of the three tallest skyscrapers on the Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, Chapultepec Uno, and despite its soaring height, recreating the atmosphere of a traditional Mexican courtyard. More than 700 feet above street level, the Sordo Madaleno architecture firm designed a space with structures and porticoes with lush plant life that takes advantage of its corner location to impress patrons with a 270° view of the city. Making use of a wide palette of plant hues and light, the entire design’s driving force, the restaurant opens as a place full of character, both inside and outside. Sordo Madaleno made use of a formal design approach, using structural elements and construction methods that served to render the boundary between architecture and interior design fluid. The unexpected style seduces patrons as soon as they cross the threshold. The cocoon-shaped lobby IFDM | 177

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is wrapped by a semi-circular wooden structure that holds the neon-lit contour of the Ling Ling logo.

A diaphanous backlit fabric cover helps create an atmosphere of suspense before guests are ushered into the surprisingly grandiose interiors. The internal lounge and dining room are enclosed within a wooden vaulted structure made with the technique of stereotomy and highlighted by subtle lighting, featuring custom furnishings. Under this protection, the Sushi Bar offers a view of the chefs at work, while the main bar incorporates a perfect frame of the city’s skyline with a dynamic furnishing component. But the true heart of Ling Ling is its terrace. The space is defined by a wooden portico and lots of natural light that pours into the triple-height atrium where the plants climb to frame a full-size tree and a mural depicting Xochitl, Aztec goddess of beauty, flowers and love, hand painted by the Mexican artist Paola Delfín, part of the Open Art Foundation, a program initiated by the founder of Sordo Madaleno.

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RESTAURANT

Mexico City

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RESTAURANT

Mexico City

Owner: Hakkasan Group Interior design: Sordo Madaleno Arquitectos Furnishings: made to measure

Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: LGM Studio

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RESIDENCES

Architectural and Interior design: Raúl Sánchez Furnishings: Artefacto, Vitra Lighting: &Tradition, Flos, Gibas, Santa&Cole Bathrooms: Iconico, Ramon Soler Author: Antonella Mazzola Photo credits: José Hevia

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Barcelona

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RESIDENCES

Barcelona

Visual and conceptual daring BSP 20 House in Barcelona embodies different eras of its history through imagery and movements between the past and the future. This building, which is complex both for its structure and its protection restraints, was given a new life by Raul Sanchez Architects

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t was a run-down sliver of a building, a narrow and neglected interloper between the facades that flank it in the vibrant Borne neighborhood. This was the condition of the late 19th-century building distributed on four floors, only 20 square meters each. Raul Sanchez Architects managed to render its essence noble, grafting, with surgical precision, the complicated structure onto present-day home living needs. In so doing, they managed to render the ruins an inspired device that spawned a new design dynamic. The slow, complex process of rehabilitation ultimately led to its current form as the BSP 20 House, having to overcome bureaucratic obstacles and demolition “discoveries,” as well as adapt to the client’s family situation, which had changed in the meantime. “Once all the floors slabs had been demolished and the building was seen as a slender and tall prism formed by walls with a completely heterogeneous composition of all kinds of bricks and stones arranged without apparent order or composition, the idea of leaving all these walls exposed became conceptual,” the architects explain. In this way, those four walls, over 15 meters high shown in their full unconventional roughness, were made into a museum of the building’s history. They formed a kind of “spatialized time” that maintains the construction and residual traces including the remnants of mortar. The walls are supported by new IFDM | 181

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beams placed between the dividing walls that touch neither of the two facades. The walls of the main facade are separated by a pane of glass that gives the architectural volume lightness, letting light reverberate from the skylight from one floor to the next from the skylight.” towards the internal facade, the distance from the airy cylinder in which the sculptural, all-white spiral staircase unwinds, crossing the buildings entire height and never touching the walls, afford Piranesian views, heightened by the heterogeneous quality of the walls and the varied points of view. This defined the design and configuration of the residential areas, which from bottom to top, follows the sequence: entrance-kitchen-dining room, living room, bathroom-dressing room, bedroom, and then balcony. Connecting the floors and in con182 | IFDM

RESIDENCES

trast with the walls are seven stainless steel cylinders, holding installations and building systems, cutting through the entire height of the building, including the furniture and floors. Likewise, the window frames are left uncovered and the stones unpolished. The raw expressiveness of the exterior is balanced by refined, noble design choices, such as kitchen cabinets in satin-finished brass with a white marble top, bathroom furnishings in lacquered wood in a subtle cream color with black and brass details and the floors in microcement, oak and hydraulic mosaic. The decorative of the hydraulic mosaic, in a jumbo version, gives a vibrant, abstract quality to the large front section of the entrance door with an exploded view of diamonds and triangles in 3D finished with three types of aluminum.

Barcelona

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

RESIDENCES

Barcelona

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HOTEL

Milan

Vertical elegance In Milan’s fashionable Porta Nuova-Garibaldi district, a new Milanese jewel of a hotel is open to the city waiting to be experienced, aptly called Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze

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orta Nuova-Garibaldi is one of the most glittering areas of Milan. Iconic skyscrapers, elevated squares, contemporary parks, walkways, and flower beds are a backdrop to its vibrant nightlife, rendering what not many years ago was a semi-abandoned area into the new “place to be” for Milan. This is where Gruppo UNA, a leading Italian hotel chain with 48 hotels, resorts, and residences across 13 Italian regions, opened

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its new jewel of a Milanese hotel: Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze. The building is all glass and high design, stretching skywards with a secret street level garden and spectacular terraces on the upper floors affording views of the Alps. “Milano Verticale | UNA Esperienze reaches ultimate heights of excellence in hospitality, under the direction of Giovanni Testa. It came out of major, prestigious collaborations with top-of-the-line

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

professionals and brands; this synergy of hard work, values, and visions brings a new member to our portfolio of upper-upscale facilities,” says Gruppo UNA General Manager, Fabrizio Gaggio.

Among these prestigious collaborations are Asti Architetti, who created the overall design, giving a modern interpretation to the facades of the existing building (the former The Big residence), emphasizing the elegant verticality of the 12-floor high rise, creating continuity between the urban square, from which the hotel is accessed, and the garden of over 1,000 square meters. The interiors were designed by Vudafieri-Saverino Partners, focusing on Milanese and Lombard elegance and high craftsmanship. The lobby features beautiful polychrome marble, from Siena Yellow to Imperial Blue, a reference to Gio Ponti who made frequent use of this fine material in his designs. There is also Ceppo Lombardo, a stoneware that evokes the defining shape of the stone of Lake Iseo.

HOTEL

Milan

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The custom furnishings and famous brands in the 173 rooms and four top-floor penthouses have scenic terraces with Jacuzzis. The spaces are modular and can be adapted to guests’ needs and merged into a single space of 900 square meters with a sweeping view of Milan. But its connection with Milan goes far beyond the views. Moving past the traditional concept of a hotel just as a place to sleep, between Brera and Corso Como, the venue can become the site of unconventional installations, and the ground floor becomes like an extension of the neighborhood. Soft sofas mark the path between the lobby and the three restaurants with different culinary offerings: VertigoOsteria Contemporanea, open on the kitchen; the Urban Garden Bar; and the fine dining restaurant Anima, for intimate dinners where chef Michele Cobuzzi creates the menu and leads the troops under the watchful eye of chef Enrico Bartolini, who has multiple Michelin stars. Ending the evening in the garden is the natural choice that is an intimate, peaceful oasis but open to everyone, suggesting the courtyards of noble palaces in contemporary style. This is the perfect place to relax among pools of water, dark shale, well-kept lawns, and dozens of tree species.

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HOTEL

Milan

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Milan

General architectural design, facade design and works management: Asti Architects Milan General concept, interior architecture project, interior decoration, landscape and green design: Vudafieri-Saverino Partners Milano-Shanghai Interior contractors: Concreta Doors, windows, construction works: Tecnomont Marble: Graniti Fiandre Walls and ceilings: Fantoni, Mirage, Topakustik Bathroom: Agape, Catalano, Valdama, Zucchetti Technical lighting: Linea Light Author: Elena Luraghi Photo credits: courtesy of Gruppo UNA

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HOTEL

In the footsteps of Spanish Modernism In the picturesque village in the Pyrenees, Bolvir, a new hotel shines with a new light, the Mercer Torre del Remei is in a building from 1910, designed by Calixto Freixa, a follower of Gaudí

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n Bolvir, a picturesque village in the Spanish Pyrenees, surrounded by three hectares of garden with centuries-old redwoods, the Mercer Torre del Remei hotel shines with a new light, a five-star hotel included in the list of Catalan architectural heritage. A modernist building from 1910, designed by Calixto Freixa, one

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of Gaudí’s followers, was recently restored under the supervision of Amanda Molina, Mercer Hoteles Design and Project Manager. A magical place, commissioned in the early 20th century by the banker Agustí Manaut i Taberner as a gift to his daughter, it has come to this day thanks to a careful, well-considered renovation.

Bolvir, Spain

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

HOTEL

Bolvir, Spain

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HOTEL

Owner: Mercer Hoteles Interior design: Amanda Molina, Mercer Hoteles Design and Projects Manager Furnishings: Carl Hansen & Søn, Flexform, Walter Knoll Lighting: Bover, Gubi, Viabizzuno, Vibia Author: Francesca Gugliotta Photo credits: Eugeni Pons

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Bolvir, Spain

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

Here Catalan modernism mixes with French neoclassical elements in a fresh interior design that is both sophisticated and contemporary. The 24 suites feature varied details, finishes and materials, from linen curtains to soft leather headboards and marble tables. “When guests come in, we want them to recognize the architecture yet still be surprised by the atmosphere,” explains Amanda Molina. “We didn’t want to recreate an old environment. We sought to make a unique, warm decor through a mixture of references so guests can feel at home.” Mercer Hoteles is the hotel chain that has managed Torre del Remei since 2018 and is known for giving a new life to legends, such as Gothic buildings in Barcelona and Neo-classical ones in Seville. Here in the Pyrenees, Amanda Molina used her skill to meticulously restore the building without altering the fascinating interior architecture. Columns, stained glass, plasters and decorations with vintage plant motifs are brought to life with a contemporary twist in a mix of

HOTEL

Bolvir, Spain

mid-century and high-design furniture including by master designers like Gio Ponti, Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Josef Hoffmann, alongside Norman Foster, Antonio Citterio, Sami Kallid, Space Copenhagen, Gamfratesi, Note Design Studio and Neri&Hu, as well as local creatives Miguel Milá, Mario Ruiz and Martín Azúa. “It is a contemporary space created with the intention of becoming a classic. Time will be our ally,” Molina adds. Art also has a privileged place here, with paintings and sculptures by the Catalan master Agustí Puig alongside those of emerging artists such as Jesús Isnard. The culinary aspect has been at the heart of the project since 1989, when Josep Maria Boix, the creator of modern Catalan cuisine, and his wife, fell in love with the building and converted it into a luxury hotel. Now Michelin-starred chef Carles Gaig heads the kitchen, joining his wife Fina Navarro, as head of the dining room, in inviting guests to have the stay of their dreams.

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WONDER. MILAN | NH COLLECTION CITY LIFE | QUATTROASSOCIATI “We sought balance with what was already there, taking the original pilasters of the nave and repeating them everywhere, in the facade, the side partitions, the tower, and the terraces.

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© Courtesy of NH Collection

This recurring architectural motif lends the building a new verticality that is an elegant match for the 11-meter-high columns of the lobby,” says Michele Reginaldi, project manager.

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WONDER. OLANG, ITALY | HUB OF HUTS | HOTEL HUBERTUS SPA | NOA* NETWORK OF ARCHITECTURE

© Alex Filz

The concept aimed to materialise what one sees mirrored on the surface of water, as if the image were a transient rendering ready to be converted into reality. It plays with the horizon line, the perception of upside-down.

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WONDER. PRAGUE | INSTITUTE OF NATURAL MEDICINE, CELLULARIUM | FORMAFATAL © BoysPlayNice

The SPA has an intricately shaped floorplan where you can hardly find a flat wall. The simple though imaginative surfaces are emphasized through wallcovering, dark tones, smooth screed, and coloured lights.

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Short stories

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COMO | LA CASA SUL LAGO | BAXTER

Amid the peaceful scenery of Lake Como is La Casa Sul Lago, an early-20th-century villa that Baxter has brought back to life and fully furnished to convey its concept of home in a clear and concrete way. The villa is nestled on a hillside and surrounded by gardens in a place where beauty reigns inside and out. Iconic pieces of the brand’s production flank its new 2022 collection, including its newly launched outdoor furniture, absolutely beguiling in its overall impact. After coming through the front door covered by an Art Deco canopy, we’re surrounded by wallpaper with exotic motifs and various shades of caramel and air force blue, including in the study and small room with a fireplace to either side of the entrance. Then there are the living and dining rooms, followed by the bedroom area upstairs. Baxter left nothing to chance, carefully considering each detail of the furnishings and decoration. Lastly, we reach the terraces where the outdoor furnishings make their debut.

Here we find Narciso upholstered pieces by Studiopepe covered with new outdoor fabrics; Keramikè ceramic side tables that appear like little atolls between the vertical garden and the annex building; collections near the pool like Himba by Roberto Lazzeroni in ecru and ivory tones and Dharma by Studiopepe in sugar paper blue; as well as sunbeds, couches, and armchairs with soft fabric and leather cushions.

Photo © Gianluca Vassallo & Francesco Mannironi

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DELTA SKY CLUB | SICIS

Last year, Delta Air Lines launched an expansion of its Sky Clubs, first working with Sicis on the Metro Airport in Detroit, Michigan, and the International Airport of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Delta Sky Club in the international airport of Los Angeles was opened in April 2022, covering 2,700 square meters with a variety of spaces for dining, relaxing, and working. Everything was designed to create a unique experience, starting from the Coffee Grotto, a sophisticated coffee corner that recalls the Hollywood style of the 1950s and 1960s featuring a floral artistic mosaic. The most recent Sky Club opened in June 2022 in Terminal C of LaGuardia Airport in New York. The almost 3,000-squaremeter space makes it the largest Sky Club in the network. Its style and details evoke early 20th-century New York style with warm, golden colors, harlequin motifs, and artworks in various media. One of these depicts a view of the New York skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge and was made by Sicis in glass mosaic with a pixel technique. Sicis also made the polychrome marble floor and the columns and bar counter clad in Vetrite slabs.

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HALLANDALE BEACH, USA | 2000 OCEAN | BOFFI

Thirty-eight floors, full-length windows overlooking the Atlantic coast, spacious rooms, and private terraces. 2000 Ocean is more than a residential tower, it’s a way of life. This statement approaches Boffi’s design concept, leading to a natural partnership with developer KAR Properties. Rising high over Hallandale Beach north of Miami, 2000 Ocean is the result of an ad hoc design by TEN Arquitectos based on a sophisticated, exciting concept by Kobi Karp. Light fills the apartments and draws attention to their spaciousness (each one has three to five bedrooms), with views to the east and the west encompassing both the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. The scenery is breathtaking from the Boffi-designed open kitchen as well, which becomes part of the natural spectacle. The elegant combination of different kinds of stone and wood let the Boffi kitchen systems in the building interact seamlessly with the main room. The stand-out brand is Xila, which made Italian design history when it was originally designed by Luigi Massoni in 1972 for its innovative handle-free kitchen cabinets.

Photo © Marco Petrini, Petrinistudio

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ANTICA DIMORA LE MISURE | CERVIA | WALL&DECÒ

To feel at home, embraced by the familiarity of the environment, warmed by a refined, tactile interior, and reassured by the purpose driving Antica Dimora Le Misure’s entire design: “to create a space where guests can ‘step down’ and feel at home, be it for business or pleasure.”

These are the words of Christian Benini, owner and designer of this hotel project ‘born and raised’ in Cervia.

Benini says he created a “family design” to give concrete form to his life philosophy and to epitomize his artistic career as the founder and creative director of Wall&decò.

The walls play the leading role, and every architectural element, be it horizontal or vertical, is either painted or covered in one of the brand’s wallpapers in a profusion of color, pattern, texture, and charm.

Photo © Alessandra Ianniello

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MONTPELLIER, FRANCE | HÔTEL RICHER DE BELLEVAL | KETTAL

Chefs Jacques & Laurent Pourcel and Olivier Château of the Château-Pourcel Group envisioned a “cabinet of curiosities” for the site of their new business, the Hôtel Richer de Belleval, in the historic heart of Montpellier. In their large-scale version of this ideal, they preserved a carefully renovated old “hôtel particulier,” the deep history of a family building, and interior decoration spread throughout, while also making new permanent artistic additions and redesigning common and private areas in a refined, contemporary style with the help of architect Philippe Prost and interior designer Christian Collot. The dining areas were key to the design of this 20-room urban inn, including three-room restaurant called Jardin des Sens as well as a bistro called La Canourgue in the light-filled courtyard. Kettal furnished the indoor and outdoor areas of the bistro, located between the entrance and the grand staircase, with Roll chairs by Patricia Urquiola, Boma chairs by Rodolfo Dordoni, and a Cala love seat

by Doshi Levien. Soft and lightweight, with neutral-colored upholstery and frames, the furnishings blend well with the columns, chandeliers, and full-length windows.

Photo © Jerome Mondière

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NANJING, CHINA | THE ONE SKY VILLA | POLIFORM

The One SKY Villa residential complex in the new Hexi CBD district in Nanjing immediately stands out for its highly sustainable approach. Made of two plots designed to go together, the One Sky Villa brings together structural and aesthetic features inside and out to create an energy-saving, environmentally friendly, “green” building. Green walls, indoor gardens, and panoramic terraces are just a few of its more evident devices. Furnishing one of the apartments in the complex, Poliform helped create a dimension within this context aimed at residential comfort. Poliform Nanjing adorned the living room with both new products and bestsellers from the brand in a warm, neutral palette of similar colors. The suite’s architectural precision, echoed in the Creek central table, is softened by the gently curving lines of Le Club armchairs, a Saint-Germain sofa, an Orbit side tables, and a Mathieu desk. Color accents that create light-dark contrasts, like the midnight-blue Mad King armchair upholstered in quilted Gibson fabric, make the ensemble more dynamic.

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MYKONOS | COLLINI SUITES & VILLAS | PEDRALI

A stone’s throw from paradise.

This is the impression made

by Collini Suites & Villas, an exclusive resort in Fanari, Mykonos, with a breathtaking view of the crystalline blue Aegean Sea. Designed by Sofia Apergi and Matina Karava of AirTec studio, the complex is full of Mediterranean touches, including natural colors and materials peeking out from both the outer perimeter and the interiors. Signs of Italian inspiration are everywhere, from the resort’s overt ode to the ideal lifestyle of Italy, to the culinary experience in its restaurant “Il Segreto” where yet another Italian brand – furniture designer Pedrali – is showcased. The simple, airy, and relaxing dining area opens onto a panoramic terrace and is enhanced by the subtle presence of comfortable Tribeca chairs by CMP Design (the stool version at the bar, the armchairs in the dining area) to go with the Inox tables. All is in a delicate pastel pink that is a perfect match for the warm, dreamlike surroundings. By its nature, the Tribeca collection creates a soothing sense of familiarity, inspired by comforting echoes of the past, with its modern take on the classic 1960s patio chair made of steel with woven back and seat.

Photo © Vangelis Paterakis

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VENICE | PROCURATIE VECCHIE | MARGRAF

At 152 meters long, with a portico of 50 archways that line up with the 100 windows on the two floors above, it seems to go on forever. This spatial rhythm helped define St. Mark’s Square in Venice and turn it into an indelible image. Stretching from the Museo Correr to the Clock Tower along the square’s north side, the Procuratie Vecchie have been a symbol of the lagoon city for over five centuries. Once the seat of the procurators of the Venetian Republic, since 1832 they have belonged to the Assicurazioni Generali insurance firm, which financed a five-year restoration by David Chipperfield Architects Milan. The firm restored the integrity of the structure, which covers 12,400 square meters over three floors, making it more accessible and easier to use. Venetian inspiration is evident throughout, including in the materials like those used by Margraf. The Vicenza-based company oversaw the new cladding of third-floor portals (higher than in the original design) in reconstructed stone with a polished finish. Before being placed in the building, the portals were handcrafted and set up ahead of time at their headquarters in Chiampo (near Vicenza) to make sure each piece looked right. A row of arches on the third floor punctuates the 2,500 square meters of space designed by Studio Migliore+Servetto to house the new headquarters of The Human Safety Net foundation.

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MY ATTITUDE DOM133 | STEFANO VAFIADIS EZEQUIEL FARCA | BAGLIETTO

Perfect for trans-oceanic cruising, this 41-metre vessel stands out for her aluminium hull and limited draught (2.15 m - 7ft), that make her perfect for navigation even in shallow waters. As Stefano Vafiadis explains, “This series presents a distinctive family feeling by combining contemporary exterior lines inspired by automotive design with generous interior volumes and extensive open-air spaces”. With her 8.70 m (29 ft.) beam, she has very generous interior volumes and can boast original lifestyle solutions that are unmatched on yachts of this size. Interior designer Ezequiel Farca completely redesigned the interiors for this project adapting the layout and decor to the owner’s requirements. The main deck layout, for instance, has been conceived and designed to ensure a smooth, free flow between interior and exterior areas, while also enhancing a pleasant convivial atmosphere. The main salon, located on this deck, has floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that, once fully open, convert this area into a natural extension of the aft cockpit. The beach club, developing on two levels, features a magnificent infinity pool with lifting bottom that rises to make the already spacious cockpit even larger. A second pool can be found on the sun deck.

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NARBONNE, FRANCE | CHÂTEAU CAPITOUL | SCAVOLINI

The Château Capitoul estate is a refuge in terms of both time and space. Sitting atop a verdant hill, it looks out over vineyards and the Mediterranean atmosphere of the Languedoc lagoon below. Although the building dates to the 19th century, its renovation by Domaine & Demeure (a company that restores and improves wine estates and abandoned historic buildings) has resurrected its charm, which draws heavily on local style and culture. The estate is immersed in a hundred hectares of pristine nature not far from Narbonne in the South of France and provides all the services of a luxury resort.

Through the renovation by Karl O’Hanlon and Anita Forte eight hotel rooms and 44 independent villas were made measuring between 90 and 220 square meters. To furnish the kitchens, Domaine & Demeure partnered with Scavolini, with whom it had already worked for the interiors of Château Les Carasses (in 2013) and Château St. Pierre de Serjac (in 2017).

The clean, refined lines of the Carattere kitchen; the familiar, old/new allure of Favilla; and the timeless classicism of LiberaMente added a contemporary touch that ties in beautifully with the overall design scheme of the residences.

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CAPRI, ITALY | VILLA CASTIGLIONE | GIORGETTI

Set on a cliff above the Marina Piccola bay, Villa Castiglione rises on the ruins of one of the villas that once belonged to Roman emperor Tiber. In collaboration with Manfredi Fine Hotels Collection Giorgetti contributed to the refitting of several rooms, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere, highlighted by fine materials and textures, and a clever mix of contemporary elements with others inspired by tradition.

The conversation area in the veranda features the Hug armchairs designed by Rossella Pugliatti, accompanied by the Corallo bronze liquid metal coffee table, and the 90° Minuto table, in crystal glass and saddle leather. A composition of the Skyline modular sofa designed by Carlo Colombo, characterises the large living space, together with the Galet low tables by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba. The Janet armchairs designed by Umberto Asnago, with their generous and enveloping shapes, are matched with the Blend low tables and the Skyline walnut storage unit by Carlo Colombo. The Master Room welcomes the Reabed designed by Chi Wing Lo, with its winged shape, together with the soft Adam bench, with its graphic and substantial design. The bedside table and coffee table Romeo signed by Roberto Lazzeroni is a versatile furnishing accessories.Textile decorations and carpets, including Mirò, Stitch and Shighera, finish and enrich the rooms.

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TREPALLE, ITALY | DIMORA DEGLI DEI LUXURY HOTEL & SPA | CERAMICHE REFIN

Shared intentions and values informed the collaboration between Ceramiche Refin and Studio Olzer, who designed the Luxury Hotel & Spa Dimora degli Dei. The firm chose the ceramic products of the long-established Emilian company for all the covered floor surfaces, as well as the wall coverings for the toilets, corridors and some common areas of this hotel, set 2,200 meters above sea level. The Dimora degli Dei is nestled in the Alps, in Passo d’Eria between the valleys of Livigno and Vallaccia. This made it essential to form a synergistic relationship between the architecture and its natural setting, based on both style, and even more importantly, sustainability principles. Fittingly, porcelain stoneware solutions of Ceramiche Refin are made with natural raw materials making them 100% eco-sustainable. Foil, the collection chosen for the project, was used in three different colors (Aluminum, Titanium, and Burnish) and in different sizes. Its most distinctive features, such as its gloss and markings, suggest the bodies of vintage cars, exuding post-industrial, retro appeal.

The only exception is the spa area, which features porcelain stoneware with a stone effect from the Tune collection, in the Rock color. This is a combination of stone materials from different parts of northern Europe, selected and mixed to make patterns and hues for an impact both powerful and natural.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

MIAMI | VILLA POSITANO | MERIDIANI

The atmosphere is Italian, but the view is all Miami. Villa Positano, which pays homage to Italy in both name and design approach, is a gem of architecture and lifestyle on Biscayne Bay in the tony Coconut Grove district.

Three levels of terraces open directly onto the surrounding landscape, while the interiors are light-filled and spacious, with blue accents to offset the white palette.

Interior designer Hernan Arriaga styled the nearlythousand-square-meter estate by mixing classical references with clear modern flair, such as in the lobby where a Romanesque-inspired coffered ceiling is complimented by an elegant, minimalist design. Arriaga brought in Meridiani to furnish all the rooms. A Cole console with a Calacatta Gold marble top stands in the entrance to each suite. Two Plinto table grace the upper floor and the dining room, one in polished, sand-colored lacquer with an octagonal top and the other with a bronzed-brass base and a Calacatta Gold marble top. A pure-white James sofa and Lenny Fit armchairs occupy the large room while Louis XV pieces adorn the lounge. The master bedroom is furnished with a Tuyo bed and an Edward desk. To round things out, Meridiani seats, decor, armchairs, and side tables embellish the rooms with materials and shades that recall the landscape of Biscayne Bay. Photo © Paul Stoppi

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ANDRIANI SPA HQ | GRAVINA IN PUGLIA | PRATIC

The philosophy of wellbeing supported by Andriani S.p.A. Società Benefit – a leader in the innovative food sector – is embedded in the design of its new headquarters in Gravina in Puglia (near Bari). Studio ASP Progetti designed a smart building surrounded by greenery, that is fully automated and self-sufficient in energy and operation. Special attention was given to the workstations, including individual ones and meeting and training spaces, to let them foster flexible, cooperative work as well as health, happiness, and positive thinking. Six pergolas by Pratic are perfectly situated in this ecosystem, made in collaboration with the retailer Gravina Parquet.

In the company’s courtyard, three pairs of bio-climatic pergolas contain three spaces for working and relaxing, surrounded by a rose garden, a hydroponic garden with medicinal herbs, and a citrus grove of local plants. The pergolas are distinguished by a green hue specially created by Pratic. They make outdoor work spaces that can be used year-round, protected by tempered glass enclosures and an adjustable cover with aluminum sunshades (oriented through sensors to take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation). If it rains, the blades close automatically and send rainwater into the gutters built into the sections. This lets it flow to tanks under flooring, where it is collected and purified in order to reuse it to irrigate green areas with an approach of circularity.

Photo © Arnaldo Di Vittorio

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SHORT STORIES ALASSIO, ITALY | GRAND HOTEL ALASSIO BEACH & SPA RESORT | TALENTI

Full of retro appeal, this hotel stands out in the landscape of the Ligurian Riviera. The Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa resort epitomizes refined, cosmopolitan hospitality, evoking the Italian Dolce Vita ideal. This appeal dates from its origins in the early 19th century. Built by the sea in a neoclassical style, inspired by the buildings of the Côte d’Azur, the resort has recently undergone a restoration that enhanced its services and comfort, as well as a new interior design for a more contemporary style. The outdoor spaces were also renovated with the addition of new furnishing by Talenti. The outdoor company’s modern, sophisticated touch makes for welcoming, fun environments from which to enjoy the landscape en plein air. The lounge areas by the beach feature the Cruise Alu collection by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba with chairs and sofas with rounded lines and clear nautical references. Alongside them are the Milo tables by Marco Acerbis and the Tribal lamps (by the Palomba-Serafini duo), which create interplays of light and shadow through weaves of synthetic nautical ropes. These weaves are also seen in the Moon Alu collection by Christian Visentin, (combined with aluminum), which furnish the terraces, in an alternation of armchairs, sofas and tables.

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CARROLLTON, TEXAS | SAINT SARKIS ARMENIAN CHURCH | DAVID HOTSON ARCHITECT FIANDRE ARCHITECTURAL SURFACES

Consecrated on April 23, 2022, the new church building is modeled on the ancient Armenian church of Saint Hripsime which still stands near Armenia’s capital of Yerevan. Working with long-time collaborator architect Stepan Terzyan, Hotson developed a design that looks forward as well as backward, marrying Armenia’s ancient architectural and artistic traditions with contemporary digitally-driven design and fabrication technologies. The most striking of these contemporary innovations is the west façade of the church, which serves as a subtle but powerful memorial to the 1.5 million victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide. The façade depicts a traditional Armenian cross or “tree of life” composed of interwoven botanical and geometrical motifs drawn from Armenian art.

The overall façade design dissolves into 1.5 million tiny icons or pixels, derived from the circular emblems that recur throughout the Armenian artistic tradition.

Fiandre, a division of Iris Ceramica Group, fabricated the façade panels in their Italian factory to the exact pixel modules required and printed the intricate design through a proprietary process. The façade was installed

by Graniti Vicentia Façades utilizing the proprietary ventilated façade system of Granitech – the division of Iris Ceramica Group dedicated to Ventilated Façade Systems. In addition to the memorial façade, Fiandre supplied the full range of porcelain interior and exterior floor, wall and soffit finishes used throughout the Saint Sarkis Campus.

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA | ARABIAN CENTRES COMPANY HQ | FANTONI

“This is a living design, since a constantly changing environment is the soul of the shopping center and the retail market. This is also the first of many new regional and mall offices, which will be smaller in scale, of course, but will share the same identity, flexibility, and spirit of the headquarters,” says architect Nicolás Gaito, Head of Design for the new HQ of the Arabian Centres Company, the main owner and operator of shopping centers in Arabia. The company’s offices are in U Walk mall in Riyadh and were built to accommodate 265 employees in a flexible, efficient work environment covering 4,500 square meters over two floors, plus a 1,000-square-meter outdoor area. Fantoni’s contribution was key to the interior design of this contemporary workspace: “Fantoni’s extensive range – with workstations like Sistema 28, Framework, and Hub with actual trees inside; reception desks like Quaranta5; and the Acoustic Room boxes – played a big role in how the space was designed.” Materials, textures, colors, and finishes were all carefully chosen to create an inviting, comfortable environment that also facilitates daily office operations.

Photo © Courtesy of Arabian Centres Company marketing dept.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

AMALFI, ITALY | BORGO SANTANDREA | ETHIMO

After a major restoration that took about four years, designed by the architect Rino Gambardella, the 5-star luxury hotel Borgo Santandrea is reopening. It offers its guests 29 rooms and 16 suites, each with a view of the sea and the old fishing village of Conca dei Marini, with three restaurants, a fitness center, and infinity pool, and a private beach that can be accessed on foot or on a special elevator. Many pieces from Ethimo collections were chosen for the outdoor areas throughout the hotel, including Grand Life by Christophe Pillet, Rafael by Paola Navone, Knit and Swing by Patrick Norguet, Kilt by Marcello Ziliani, and the Carrè lamp collection by Niccolò Grassi.

Photo © Megapix & Umberto D’Aniello

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MEAT STORE MARFISI | LANCIANO, ITALY | CERAMICHE KEOPE

Designed by Archquadro Associati, the Marfisi Meat Store is an original space in which the design concept aims to combine tradition and modernity while conveying a “product culture.” The custom interior design includes local handcrafted furnishings for a store that brings together the diversity of the Abruzzo region. The architectural firm sought to evoke the marble of the first butcher shop owned by the Marfisi family in 1940 by choosing large Calacatta slabs from the Elements Lux collection, featuring a white background on which elegant gray veins stand out. Elements Lux marble, which comes in both lapped and matte versions, completely faithfully recreates the patterns and shades typical of the natural material. The Calacatta slabs were installed in the 120x240 size on the floors, and 120x278 size on the surfaces of the production counter, the cold room, and the administrative area.

Photo © Fabio di Carlo

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

VERONA | STAND ZENATO, VINITALY | ALIAS

Alias and Zenato’s collaboration at Vinitaly was inspired by their fluid, cross-discipline, functional approach. At the international wine and spirits fair held last April in Verona, Zenato had a stand as a wine producer in Garda whose production is focused on the Trebbiano di Lugana and Valpolicella grapes. Alias’s furnishings took their place in its new stand, which was carefully designed by the architect Edoardo Milesi & Archos to attentively manage visitor flows and marketing dynamics, translating the company’s values into a meaningful experience. The perimeter consists of interwoven white elastic ropes that vibrate at the passage and touch of visitors. The space extends lengthwise and revolves around a long counter where different activities unfold. From a reception desk, it becomes a standing wine pouring counter, then a guided tasting corner and an entrance to the private sitting rooms. Alberto Meda’s Biplane tables are found here, alongside the iconic Laleggera chairs

by Riccardo Blumer. At the opposite end, the lounge area is given perfect expression through the ample proportions of Patrick Norguet’s Gran Kobi Essentiel armchairs, together with Alberto Meda’s Biplane xs coffee table, and the flowing, soft design of Gabriele & Oscar Buratti’s Saen table.

Photo © Andrea Ceriani

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ALBAVILLA, ITALY | IL CANTUCCIO | PORADA

Two supreme Italian specialties – design and cuisine – are a match made in heaven at Il Cantuccio in Albavilla, a restaurant in the heart of Alta Brianza owned by Michelin star chef Mauro Elli, who brought in Porada to modernize its historic dining room, the great fireplace room. The restaurant is elegantly furnished with an atmosphere that’s cozy yet no-frills with the culinary experience is placed front and center. The furniture is complementary and beautifully balanced. While keeping historical features like the grand fireplace and stone details, the Porada design team created a contemporary ambiance using shades of gray in both the textiles and the ash wood, whose natural grains are visible.

They opted for the Quadrifoglio model for the tables, pairing its traditional solid-wood base with Abet Laminati’s Polaris top, which is resistant to scratches and heat and almost velvety to the touch. Evelin chairs pay tribute to the past, wood paneling enhances and warms the room, and Ziggy waiter stations stand out for their versatility. Several pieces, like the wardrobe and the purse stools, were entirely custom-made. Porada’s signature aesthetic is also on display in the small side room, which features an Infinity table with a Canaletto walnut base.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

MILAN | WELLIO DUOMO | DWA DESIGN STUDIO | ALPI

Offering multiple stimulating amenities to its guests, the new co-working complex opened in April 2022. The interiors by DWA Design Studio aim to strengthen the visual and natural link with the city by employing materials and colours that create unity. Soft, welcoming shapes, large, open rooms with corners full of greenery, and the careful selection of design elements make Wellio a place where people find motivating surroundings and enjoy a connection to the city. Xilo White Striped and Xilo Cherry Honey Striped from the Xilo collection by Piero Lissoni are the wood veneers chosen for the Wellio interiors. The focal point of the entrance hall, visible from the street through generous windows, is a modern, geometrically patterned wood-panelled wall that forms a backdrop to the reception area. The warm tone-on-tone colour and marked veining of the luminous Xilo Cherry Honey Striped greets guests and gives the atmosphere an intensely comfortable and natural feel. The same geometric subdivision is found in the wood panelling for the cafeteria, which is veneered with Xilo White Striped. Its lighter hues harmonise with the furniture, creating a Nordic design spirit.

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Design Inspirations

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DESIGN INSPIRATIONS

YOKO CORD OUTDOOR | INODA+SVEJE | MINOTTI

The Yoko seat evolves to become the Yoko Cord Outdoor project by Japanese-Scandinavian duo Inoda+Sveje, composed of an armchair, a small dining chair and an ottoman/bench, the series is available in versions with and without upholstery, all with a natural teak frame. The seat and backrests are strung with Ecru or Dark Brown polyester cord, on which to place soft cushions covered with fabrics from the 2022 Textile Outdoor Collection. The seat and top of the ottoman/bench are strung with a balanced weave that adds the natural allure of handcrafted workmanship, in line with the classic principles of stringing. A bronze detail adorns the wooden frame of these furnishing, embellishing while maintaining their silent elegance intact: it is a particular joint, located between the frame and the rear vertical legs, featuring a coated bronze-color button.

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS SKIN | LINEA LIGHT GROUP

Joining Linea Light Group’s diverse designs for lighting large architectural, urban, and industrial projects is Skin, an innovative outdoor lighting fixture that is both versatile and modular. Its distinctive elongated hexagonal shape facilitates creating continuous, complex compositions, suitable for following and lighting the contours of the complex, non-aligned perimeters found in contemporary architecture. They are equally suited to historical buildings with their irregular perimeters and sudden concave shapes. Skin’s advantages include semi-recessed options, making it almost invisible, letting only the light emerge.

LIA | MANERBA

Lia answers the need for comfort in contemporary office settings. Manerba’s new chair encapsulates numerous features meeting the new European standard for office chairs, EN 1335-1:2020. These include an integrated seat slider, lower back support that can be adjusted in height and depth set in the backrest, a synchronized mechanism for the two parts; plus adjustable armrests, height adjustment by gas piston, and a synchronized mechanism with side shift adjustment and seat sliding. No less importance was given to style, always still with a view to functionality. It has a 5-spoke swivel base on wheels, a padded seat with 35 color options for the upholstery, a backrest (padded or unpadded) supported by an elastic, proof mesh, and then the polyurethane shell in light gray or black.

Photo © Federica Bottoli

LEDA | DEBONADEMEO | KARMAN

In mythology, Zeus turned himself into a swan to seduce Leda, queen of Sparta. This was the inspiration guiding Debonademeo for the Leda collection of lamps, an exceptional combination of poetry and technology. The modular lighting system by Karman suggests the supple curves of a swan’s neck and their natural elegance. The structure of the lamps in different compositions alternates cylindrical bars and small spheres in bronze or black anodized aluminum, strung like pearls on a thread that supports an LED strip wrapped in a tube of transparent flexible silicone. Leda is ready to be installed in any direction and can be used in interiors or outdoor areas as a suspension lamp, a floor lamp or a complete lighting system.

IFDM | 225

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS SOFT CORNERS | LINDE FREYA TANGELDER | CASSINA

This is the first design born of a collaboration between Cassina and Linde Freya Tangelder, founder of the design studio Destroyers/Builders in Antwerp. It is part of a larger project aimed at cultivating young international talents. Their coming together spawned the Soft Corners furniture collection. Clearly inspired by architecture, it is an interplay of sculptural volumes and contrasting materials. Soft blocks create three kinds of ottomans made up of components that join in interlocking shapes, completed by a matching table, in an industrial style, made in steel (fully recyclable at the end of its lifecycle).

Photo © Valentina Sommariva

GRAN PREMIO | AGRESTI

The new Agresti collection pushes the design boundaries of the company into new areas of experimentation, markets and tastes. Gran Premio is a cabinet with strongbox that combines the passion for supercars with the love of timepieces, clearly appealing to a male audience with male preferences. On the outside it is covered in black leather with red leather details, while inside it contains a watch holder (made in Switzerland), a secret compartment, and drawers covered in leather and lined on the inside with ultrasuede. The opening system of the safe features a round knob with a built-in biometric device and a system of emergency keys. Captivating glamour and refined accessories make Gran Premio the ideal complement for a sophisticated lifestyle.

AZALEA | LANEROSSI

Lanerossi’s new F/W blanket collection is all about the softness of fine wool, substantial textures, and a focus on sustainability. These blankets were designed to enhance interiors and, significantly, the well-being of people, which also means protecting the environment.

They are made using energy from renewable sources with a vertical internal production process that allows for complete control of the production chain, down to the use of certified pre-consumer recycled fibers (recovered from in-house processing). A perfect example from the new collection is the Azalea blanket, which is green to the core, made of pre-consumer recycled wool and featuring an interplay of weaves in a kaleidoscope of colors inspired by tweed processing of yore.

226 | IFDM

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS

ROCK4 LEATHER, FIT | MARC SADLER | DA A

“Da a” means “from here to” in Italian. The name recounts the company’s path from heavy mechanical production to exploring design furniture. The end point is a line with distinctively handcrafted quality (seen in the welding, folding, finish of the metal, raw materials, and more) combined with new high-tech features. The Rock4 Leather armchair, for instance, is made with a square or round aluminum tube structure and an aluminum seat softened with a padded cushion and upholstered in leather. Another example is the Fit bookcase, which is modular and sectional, made entirely of steel with elements made by laser cutting and folding.

ERA | DOLCE & GABBANA CASA

Versatile and refined, the Era table lamp from the new Dolce & Gabbana Casa line is based on a ceramic structure enhanced by handmade bas relief decoration, in a sophisticated interpretation of the classic basil pots made by Italian craftsmen. Available in different heights, the lamp fits smoothly into both domestic and contract settings, acting as the protagonist of an intimate, convivial corner and creating evocative focal points through a carefully gauged ensemble arrangement.

TWIRL | GORDON GUILLAUMIER | LACIVIDINA

Chair, desk, and shield in one. Twirl came out of a new collaboration between Gordon Guillaumier and LaCividina. Taking an irregular spiral form, it makes an alcove of privacy, hiding its potential inside, meant for public and work spaces. The design pivots on a small desk surface equipped with electrical USB outlets, from which a thin spiral (but 132 cm high) originates that wraps around a desk and seat, with the dual function of backrest and shield, providing visual and acoustic comfort at once. The curve, which is soft both in its form and to the touch, can be positioned to the right or to the left in order to create dynamic compositions.

IFDM | 227

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS AIR | ADAM TIHANY | CONTARDI

Air is the new suspension lamp designed by Adam Tihany for Contardi.

A lamp with an ultra light, airy design, its special geometric shapes give rhythm to its surfaces and amplify the light it spreads. Air is a particularly sustainable product, made of 100% ecological material “NPU GREEN,” extremely sturdy and high performing. It is 100% recyclable and 100% sustainable in being free of adhesives, dyes, and chemicals of any kind.

The finish is pearl white lacquer that is water-based and so non-toxic.

LA SELLE | WINCH DESIGN | POLTRONA FRAU

The exclusive collaboration between the Poltrona Frau Custom Interiors division and the London-based studio Winch Design (specialized in various creative disciplines and particularly active in nautical interior design) has produced the La Selle seating: a lounge chair and a dining chair inspired by English saddlery. Comfortable and elegant, the chairs rely on the contrast between the organic structure in curved wooden staves and the cowhide shell that folds to wrap the seating in a game of full and empty zones. There are many references to English culture – from the classic Windsor chairs to the accessories for riding, including stitching, straps, and the lateral pocket – which La Selle interprets in a contemporary way.

LA MURA | MARIO BELLINI | TACCHINI

Fifty years after the creation of the original, Tacchini is re-releasing its Le Mura sofa in a new version designed in unison with its creator, Mario Bellini. Its looks remain unchanged, but its comfort has been enhanced by a new generation of production techniques and high-performing, contemporary materials that make the sofa seat uniquely inviting. The result is a design that is unbound by time, always current and extremely adaptable to different settings. The original concept behind the project is a sofa made up of shaped modules that can be assembled in infinite configurations. Its inspiration comes from the boundary walls around historic cities, composed of large square boulders, which renders the system modular.

Photo © Operavisual

228 | IFDM

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

LE RIGHE FINELINE | ITLAS

Le Righe Fineline is the new 3D paneling by Itlas that can be installed horizontally or vertically to cover walls, but also to clad other surfaces, generating forceful optical and tactile effects. This creation stands out for its coherent, vibrant aesthetic approach, creating a dialogue between cladding and furniture, for a 360-degree interior design. But above all, it is also part of the ECOS project, an initiative with which Itlas sets the goal of reducing waste from the processing of the raw material to a minimum. The scrap is assigned value, giving rise with Le Righe Fineline to a sort of ‘wooden wallpaper’ made from small pieces, which are joined together to represent an ideal of circular economics.

IFDM | 229

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS

RETURN TO ARCADIA LUKE EDWARD HALL | RUBELLI

Luke Edward Hall’s extravagant, maximalist creative inspiration comes to Rubelli in the form of the Return to Arcadia. This is the first collection of textiles for furnishing

by Hall, an English designer, artist, and columnist for the Financial Times. Thirteen fabrics in varied colors (designed for upholstery, curtains, and cushions) adopt classical and mythological imagery (including busts, statues, and lyres), paired with roses and other plants as seen in English Arcadian gardens. Though the elements come from the past, Luke’s colors render the collection absolutely innovative, current, and energetic.

UNDERCOUNTER WINE COOLER | SIGNATURE KITCHEN SUITE

The greatest technology in the smallest space. Signature Kitchen Suite’s undercounter wine cooler features small proportions to let it fit in diverse settings (home, office, hotel, bar, or boats) while maintaining high-level storage performance: Wine Cave Technology TM ensures optimal protection from elements that could compromise the wine’s quality, such as light, vibrations, temperature shifts, and humidity. It has a capacity of 41 bottles and two areas that can be separately adjusted for temperature and humidity. Its materials are natural beech shelves, stainless steel shelves and darkened, matte triple glass. It is also WiFi ready with a Smart Diagnosis system (that can be activated by the Signature Kitchen Suite app), which lets you check that it is working properly just by placing your mobile device near the cooler.

SHANGAI SNACK | RIFLESSI

A furnishing piece as practical and simple as the casual social time it is made for. Shangai Snack from Riflessi is a high table (95 cm) to pair with bar chairs or stools near counters in home kitchens or open space living rooms to enjoy breakfast, quick lunches, and drinks. In contract furnishing settings, it can become a bar corner for cocktails and happy hours. Regardless of its purpose, its structural features are constant with sturdy materials such as aluminum for the base and beveled ceramic on glass for the top. Its name was inspired by the sophisticated design of its base with slanted, crossing legs. It comes in many sizes and shapes, including round, square with rounded or barreled corners or with large proportions, over 2 meters long.

230 | IFDM

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

DESIGN INSPIRATIONS PARTERRE | CRISTINA CELESTINO | QUINTI

Cristina Celestino designed the Parterre chair for Quinti as an ode to the Italian garden, echoing its elaborate ornamental geometric patterns. A plethora of combinations, interlocking components, and variations are born of the great flexibility of the individual components of varying heights. Large and small triangles, semicircles, and free or wall backrests, create a potentially infinite compositional “Tetris” for lounges, offices, hospitality and dining spaces. The extensive color options for the upholsteries can be used to make gentle or bold and intense combinations, accentuating its playful nature.

ADD SYSTEM | FRANCESCO ROTA | LAPALMA

The furnishing family designed by Francesco Rota for Lapalma expands. Now the ADD System includes the ADD modular collection of ADD seating, ADD T tables and ADD S cabinets, all sharing a single philosophy. Together they form a variegated and complementary proposal for modern workspaces, from offices to coworking facilities and open-plan areas. A high round top can be easily combined with the ADD S storage unit to create an additional desk, while the Jey portable table also permits comfortable working from the Plus sofa.

DSQUARED2 WALLPAPER LONDONART & DSQUARED2

Fruit of a collaboration between LondonArt and the twin brothers Dean and Dan Caten, founders of the DSQUARED2 brand, this original wallpaper capsule marries Canadian creative whimsy with refined Italian craftsmanship. In this co-design project, each pattern marks a defining aspect of the fashion brand, ranging from the picturesque Canadian forest to the iconic D2 Jack (i.e. the red and black check pattern), camouflage denim, and Vandalized Granny’s Flowers print, where the flower background is marked by graffiti, and Ceresio 7, with references to hotels in Milan and Mykonos.

A kaleidoscope of decorations, patterns, weaves, sensations and visions are filtered through an approach to home decor drawing from timeless classicism that favors symmetry and clean lines.

IFDM | 231

YOUR INVITATION CODE on equiphotel.com

Code : EPIIFDM

SOURCING. NETWORKING. INSPIRATION. EMOTION. FOODSERVICE

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WELL-BEING TECHNOLOGY & SERVICES

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IFDM | 233

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

NEKAJUI, COSTA RICA | NEKAJUI, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE | SB ARCHITECTS

The resort and exclusive collection of luxury-branded residences will be nestled in one of the most prized coastal locations of Peninsula Papagayo, a private club and resort community in Costa Rica’s northwestern region of Guanacaste, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Collaborating with landscape architect and land planner, EDSA, and a market leader in experiential lodging, Luxury Frontiers, SB Architects created a design reflective of the Guanacaste region and the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand. The Reserve will encompass 107 guest rooms and suites while the Residences will include 36 rare villa and estate homes. Honoring Costa Rica’s position as a prime ecotourism destination and one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, SB Architects’ site-sensitive design weaves tree-house type structures and tents alongside villas, with a light-on-land approach that allows the design to be guided by the natural, steep contours of the land. A “classic zone” at the heart of the resort draws from traditional, hacienda-style architecture and honors Spanish influences, while a “transitional zone” showcases an interpretation of architecture found in the local Guanacaste region across guest rooms, suites, and branded residences. An “organic zone” encompassing the guest lodging, beach club, and wellness spa features iconic treehouse-style architecture inspired by the natural environment and distinctive site.

Renderings © Courtesy of Gencom

234 | IFDM

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

NEXT PRAGUE | THE VLTAVA PHILHARMONIC HALL | BIG

Located at the intersection between the Vltava riverfront and Prague’s Cultural Mile, the Philharmonic Hall will connect the Old Town’s traditional cultural scene with the Holešovice neighborhood’s modern art scene and become a new civic heart for Prague and the surrounding public realm. The winning design envisages the construction of three halls, but it will also house the music department and the creative hub of the Municipal Library of Prague.

The roof will be a continuation of the public space of the square – the stepped form will allow those interested to climb to the top without having to enter the building, so everyone will be able to enjoy a unique panoramic view of the whole of Prague. The wooden ceilings will permeate from the exterior to the interior, symbolically highlighting the theme of the Vltava Philharmonic Hall’s openness to its surroundings. Emphasis will also be placed on the implementation of glass, another element typical of the Czech Republic, which dominates the facade of the building. The Vltava Philharmonic will be the home of two orchestras, the Prague Symphony Orchestra FOK and the Czech Philharmoni which will find adequate residential spaces and facilities for their public educational programs. The new building will help kick-start the transformation of one of Prague’s most important brownfield sites, the BubnyZátory, which will eventually become home to 25,000 residents in 11,000 apartments. Construction work is expected to start in 2027.

Image @ Mozses

IFDM | 235

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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MÉRIDA, MEXICO | LIGHT TOWERS | BRANSON DEVELOPMENTS | PININFARINA

“Bringing together our mission of translating human-centric values into beautiful design with Branson Developments’ commitment to sustainable and contextually driven communities, we are thrilled to be partnered on such an exciting project as Light Towers,” says Samuele Sordi, Chief Architect at Pininfarina. Located in the vibrant city of Mérida, along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, the structure will consist of two distinct buildings rising 15 and 17 floors high, connected by a five-story base to form a v-shape. Anchoring the heart of the concept, a green valley fills the open-air core of the vertical community extending upward from the base of the structure. The green valley will consist of strategically stacked, private terraces designed to blur the lines of the built environment and nature to curate a genuine connection between residents and the outdoors. Each of Light Towers’ 122 modular condominiums––ranging from two- and three-bedroom units to four- and five-bedroom penthouses––will feature its own terrace designed to act as an extension of the living room. These “skyvillas” integrate nature as a core lifestyle element; depending on the positioning around the biophilic core, between 25% and 75% of square feet per unit will be allocated to this greenspace. The building is slated to break ground in July 2022, and construction will commence in August 2022. Once complete, Light Towers will be Pininfarina’s first branded residential towers in Mexico.

236 | IFDM

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PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

ROME | NEXUM | ARES | ALVISI KIRIMOTO

The competition by invitation launched for a multifunctional management park on Laurentina was won by Alvisi Kirimoto. The project identifies the essential elements of a stimulating work environment through its intense relationship with nature and its recreational components. “Nexum is a place of connection, between people, the city, the world of work and that of innovation. Six open spaces, a transparent vertical hub for coworkers and digital nomads, and a network of 4.0 offices arranged around the green and connected to the hub: these are the elements we imagined for the project”, says architect Massimo Alvisi, co-founder of the studio. The offices are organized within three courtyard volumes, to which a vertical hub is joined – a fully glazed distribution slat that acts as a connector between the buildings. Under a large double height ceiling, there is the reception, common to all the buildings, and the two stair-lift bodies that connect all the levels. To the rear, the large window opens like a theatrical backdrop, onto the central courtyard, characterized by a large tree and a mirror of water. Construction is scheduled to start in 2023.

Renderings © Courtesy of Alvisi Kirimoto

IFDM | 237

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MASAI MARA NATIONAL RESERVE, KENYA | JW MARRIOTT MASAI MARA LODGE | BARAKA LODGES

Overlooking the famed banks of the River Talek and on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve, JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge will offer guests a distinctively elevated camp from which to discover the Reserve’s stunning vistas, abundant wildlife, and endless plains. Plans for the newbuild lodge feature 20 private tents, including one presidential canvas-topped pavilion and two interconnecting canopied suites, ideal for families, each with a private terrace overlooking the river. Interiors will be led by Kristina Zanic. Shared spaces will include a restaurant, lounge bar, spa, and a large outdoor terrace with fire pits. Conservation of the land and its inhabitants will be at the heart of JW Marriott Masai Mara, and guests can expect an authentic sense of place through artful design and architecture. The retreat expects to welcome guests in 2023.

Renderings © Courtesy of Marriott International

238 | IFDM

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

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BOSTON | THE RESIDENCES AT WINTHROP CENTER MILLENNIUM PARTNERS | HANDEL ARCHITECTS

The US$1.30 billion project consists of a new, mixed-use tower, which will rise 691 feet into the Boston skyline.

Once complete, Winthrop Center will set the new global standard for integrating health and wellness, sustainability, and technology in building design. In addition to offering 510,000 square feet of residential space, Winthrop Center will comprise 812,000 square feet of Global Class A office space and is the world’s largest office building to seek Passive House certification. The Residences at Winthrop Center, which will be LEED Gold certified, are located on Devonshire Street in the heart of Boston, just minutes from the city’s financial district and steps away from world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations. The 691-foot-tall building consists of 317 residences on the 35th to 62nd floors, with one, two, three and four bedrooms, ranging in size from 777 square feet to 5,880 square feet. Many residences include a flex room that can be used as a home office, gym, media room or guestroom. Residents will also have access to The Connector, an open downtown destination for entertainment, engagement, and education, connecting residents, office workers and the public.

Renderings © Courtesy of Millennium Partners

IFDM | 239

PROJECTS & HOSPITALITY

NEXT IN THE WORLD

Overview

New top hotels: the Far East surpasses Europe

T

top hotel

he Far East overtakes Europe in the number of projects for building top hotels while the sector slows in the Middle East. In the Far East, 2,844 projects are underway, compared to 2,767 a year ago, and almost two-thirds are already under construction. China maintains its clear leadership position with 1,737 projects, followed by India, up to 238, and Thailand, dropping slightly to 148. Japan’s numbers are interesting, rising from 84 to 101, while the Philippines and Sri Lanka keep steady. Construction is still underway on the area’s largest top hotel, the Eco-Resort in Mui Dinh, Vietnam, slated to open in the first three months of 2024. Europe has declined from 2,916 projects a year to 2,719, just over half of which are under construction, and 899 to open in 2023. Projects have declined in all of last year’s top-investing countries, especially Germany, from 965 to 798, the United Kingdom from 576 to 487, and France from 151 to 123. There was, however, surprising growth in Southern Europe: Portugal rose to be among the top ten nations, taking the position of Russia with 75 projects; Italy took over France’s third place by growing to 135; and Spain improved by far more than the others, growing from 101 to 212 projects. Fewer top hotels are being built in the Middle East, 596 down from 716 a year ago. Saudi Arabia, though only at 180 projects, 5 fewer than last year, has the highest investments in the sector, having taken over first place from the United Arab Emirates, where projects dropped sharply from 225 to 150. The numbers are stable in other countries in the area, excepting a clear drop in Turkey, with its 38 projects slipping it into fifth place. The most ambitious project is still the Abraj Kudai Towers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which is to open in the last part of 2023, with 9,760 rooms.

ONGOING HOTEL PROJECTS

Marriott International ONGOING HOTEL PROJECTS: 3,585 PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES: USA: 1,237 - CHINA: 689 - INDIA: 159 GERMANY: 101 - MEXICO: 85

NEW

NEW

NEW

2,719

596

2844

EUROPE

MIDDLE EAST

FAR EAST

IN

IN

IN

STATUS

STATUS

STATUS

VISION 67 PRE-PLANNING 372 PLANNING 1,033 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 803 PRE-OPENING 227 OPENED 217

VISION 11 PRE-PLANNING 63 PLANNING 102 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 312 PRE-OPENING 73 OPENED 35

VISION 40 PRE-PLANNING 335 PLANNING 776 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 1,619 PRE-OPENING 204 OPENED 125

NEXT OPENING

NEXT OPENING

NEXT OPENING

BY 2023 899

BY 2023 291

BY 2023 1,331

ONGOING HOTEL PROJECTS: 1,576

PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES

PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES

PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES

PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES:

GERMANY 798 UNITED KINGDOM 487 SPAIN 212 ITALY 132 FRANCE 123 AUSTRIA 114 SWITZERLAND 112 IRELAND 82 POLAND 79

SAUDI ARABIA 180 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 150 ISRAEL 63 QATAR 51 TURKEY 38 GEORGIA 34 OMAN 26 BAHRAIN 18 IRAQ 11 KUWAIT 10

CHINA 1,737 INDIA 238 THAILAND 148 VIETNAM 147 INDONESIA 126 JAPAN 101 MALAYSIA 78 PHILIPPINES 62 SINGAPORE 24 SRI LANKA 22

Hilton Worldwide ONGOING HOTEL PROJECTS: 2,544 PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES: USA: 1,112 - CHINA: 389 - UNITED KINGDOM: 111 RUSSIA: 61 - TURKEY: 49

AccorHotels

CHINA: 289 - GERMANY: 93 - AUSTRALIA: 72 SAUDI ARABIA: 71 - RUSSIA: 59

IHG Hotel & Resorts ONGOING HOTEL PROJECTS: 1,522 PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES: USA: 401 - CHINA: 333 - GERMANY: 109 UNITED KINGDOM: 92 - AUSTRALIA: 57

TOP PROJECTS

Hyatt Hotels Corporation ONGOING HOTEL PROJECTS: 967 PROJECTS IN TOP COUNTRIES: USA: 294 - CHINA: 256 - INDIA: 56 CANADA: 30 - MEXICO: 24

source: TopHotelProjects.com

240 | IFDM

EUROPE Pearl Hotel in Dubrovnik, Croatia Phase: Pre-Planning 5,000 rooms

MIDDLE EAST Abraj Kudai Towers in Makkah, Saudi Arabia Phase: Under Construction 9,760 rooms

FAR EAST Mui Dinh Eco-Resort Mui Dinh, Vietnam Phase: Under Construction 7,500 rooms

EUR 35.00 | USD 45.00 | wonder.ifdm.design

NEXT ISSUE: Spring / Summer 2023

Projects & Hospitality | Spring Summer 2023

In March, the Spring / Summer Spin-Off Projects & Hospitality by IFDM: you will discover the new color trends 2024 and international projects, interviews with major players and the new “Design Inspiration” through the products selection.

For a complete, up-to-date view on the contract and hospitality industry.

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Artistic Mosaic Panel based on the original Léon Bakst painting ‘Estrella‘, Drop Ceiling Lamps, Botero Modular Seating System, Odeon Floor Lamp.