mercure bsd

Project type : Installation

Project year : 2019

Professional work under Larchdecor – Individual Project

Installations

The client’s first brief was to add plants and details to elevate the lobby. They had an industrial, farmers market theme and wanted to balance it with plants. With a ceiling of 8 meters in height, the challenge is to create installations that measure up to the scale. First, I proposed a moodboard of lighting fixtures with moss and plant elements. But the client wanted something more unique.

I was inspired by potted plants and got an idea to make a circular configuration of pots. Then, I stack the pots and create variations of height to up the scale. Knowing that a clay pot was much too heavy to hang on the ceiling, I played with the idea of using copper bowls to match with the earthy color palette.

In the process, the interior concept for the restaurant changed completely to cater for younger potential visitors. Thus, the hanging installation’s design became more playful. As discussed with the interior stylist, we came up for woven bowls, green glass, the kind of tidbits you get from an antique shop on an island to give it a more bohemian feel.

The backdrop for the bar’s first concept was a vertical garden combined with rattan. In the process, the client changed their mind, knowing that it would take meticulous maintenace. There was a phase where the client wanted blue-violet artificial flowers but knowing it would clash with the theme, we suggested an artificial moss wall.

With the interior design becoming more feminine and light to contrast the masculinity and heaviness of the bar and reception area, the concept changed into something more transparent and light. We suggested to keep the bowl shape and change the material into steel, and make it feel more like a cage.

Because of the ceiling height, I have to create tall silhouettes, thus the pots have to be custom. I designed a set of cement pots with various shapes. Black and copper are the two colors for the pots, taking cues from the materials in the reception and bar area. The lobby area features plants like Alstonia scholaris and Pachira aquatica to fill the space.

In contrast, white and light green are the main colors for the restaurant area. Plants like Dieffenbachia big ben, Schefflera actinophylla, and Dracaena reflexa was picked for its endurance in indoor spaces. We also suggested zz plant, monsteras and various types of philodendron for the smaller pots.