Client-Focused Office Design Creates Strong First Impression

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features an office design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist SHH Architecture. Luxury interior and architecture design practice SHH has completed new top floor headquarters for leading Chinese developer, KWG Group holdings, in Shanghai, China. The 32,500 sq ft project unfolds over two floors in a twenty-storey building at an office campus just west of the city centre of Shanghai. The premises have been designed by SHH to be client-focused, making a strong first impression, while reflecting the quality of KWG’s existing offices in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

SBID Awards Category: Office Design Sponsored by Schneider Electric

Practise: SHH Architecture & Interior Design

Project: KWG Headquarters Shanghai

Location: Shanghai, China

The office space on level nineteen provides the main reception, boardroom and meeting rooms boasting views over the Huangpu River. Cellular offices for senior staff are located around the perimeter of the floor with uninterrupted river views.  Level twenty is largely dedicated to executive facilities including VIP offices and suites for the company CEO and President. It also accommodates smaller areas of general workspace, a secondary reception and lounge, along with an additional breakout area.

The design is sophisticated and welcoming throughout. The materials palette includes timber, stone, leather, fabrics, laminate glass, mesh and brass highlights. Suspended from ceilings are feature planters with integrated lighting which define circulation routes and provide visual interest at a high level.

What was the client's brief? 

The brief formulated by KWG called for a solution that would make a statement about the company’s design-led approach to their property developments and impress this upon their clients as the company expanded into the Shanghai market. Accommodating executives, senior management, building professionals and designers this messaging was also important for staff, instilling a sense of collective pride and confidence within them all.

What inspired the design of the project?

KWG are one of the top ten developers in Mainland China and their portfolio consists of commercial office developments, five-star hotels, luxury residential developments and shopping centres. So the occupants of and visitors to this office might be involved in any of these market sectors. Our design approach was to cross boundaries and create a hybrid of hospitality, hotel and workplace in terms of character. This was achieved through the use of quality materials and thoughtful detailing set alongside functional efficiency and consideration for how company employees inhabit and use the space.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

This project is just one of more than half a dozen we have undertaken with the client. Having worked so many times with them we have established a great understanding with each other and there are very few hurdles that we have to overcome as a result. If there was one particular challenge with this project it was time. The design and development of projects in China is so much quicker than what we’re accustomed to in the UK. KWG set a very ambitious programme for completion, however, our designers rose to the occasion and delivered what was required of us on time.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

In all honesty, the highlight is working with the people at KWG. As a group, they understand design and appreciate what it can contribute to the quality and success of a project. We have developed a mutual respect between us and as a result, the whole process is really enjoyable. It’s been a meeting of minds and characters. A number of us at SHH have had the good fortune to travel to China on multiple occasions to meet directly with KWG and visit construction sites. And I think we’re all sorely missing these face to face encounters with the current travel restrictions that are in place.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID provides a great platform for recognition to practices that wish to showcase their work to a talented global audience by bringing together high standards of work from across the world.

Questions answered by Brendan Heath, Director of Hospitality & Commercial Interiors, SHH Architecture.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a classically modern kitchen design, click here to see more.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a residential design by 2020 SBID Awards Finalist Cronin Kitchens. The New Zealand kitchen design company was tasked with creating a modern, open-plan kitchen for a family holiday home.

SBID Awards Category: KBB Design Sponsored by Garrett Leather

Practise: Cronin Kitchens

Project: Queenstown Kitchen

Location: Queenstown, New Zealand

What was the client's brief? 

The client was looking to create a classically modern, family kitchen that would sit at the heart of a new holiday home. The kitchen would include an island large enough to accommodate seating for up to five people, along with a separate drinks preparation and storage area.

Working with a deceptively small area, a cantilevered, L-shaped element was seamlessly integrated into the marble benchtop – raised slightly above the rest of the benchtop to demarcate the seating area. For continuity, the same marble was used in the cooking zone and for the splashback, above which sits a custom, acid-etched glass extractor box. Two columns of black-stained oak cabinetry containing the pantry and integrated fridge/freezers flank this area.

Adjacent to the kitchen, a custom built-in sideboard was installed, containing the requested drinks station, plus storage for crockery, etc. Matched in the same black-stained oak cabinetry, this unit is fronted with smoked, black-glass doors, which bring an additional dimension to the space.

What inspired the design of the project?

The project was inspired by modern design, and the goal was to design a kitchen that would appear larger and grander than its footprint would allow. The overall palette is dark and moody, and we worked closely with the interior designer from the outset, so these hues could be complemented in the rest of the living space.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

I only visited the house for a final inspection once the house was completed. The design and detailing of all of the cabinetry needed to be highly detailed and very specific. The kitchens design is such that the overall dimensions are not too critical, it does not fit between walls or go up to the ceiling like all of my other designs do.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The oak frame that surrounds the cooking area, I used 38mm thick oak panels to give the kitchen a more classic aesthetic. I extended a panel over the top of the cooking area to create a box-like surround. This connects the pantry on the left to the integrated fridges on the right making the kitchen appear more substantial then it is.

The raised seating bench which is wide on the front side of the kitchen to maximise seating but is also checked out on the inside of the kitchen to give plenty of practical working space, either side of the sink.

The visual symmetry, the centre of the islands cabinetry is centred on the dining rooms cathedral-like peaked ceiling. On the front of the Island, there are 3 doors on either side of the centre, 6 doors in total. This is also the line where the benchtop steps up from thin to thick. It is also the centre of the tap, sink, hob and extractor.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

This is the first time I have entered the SBID Awards. In New Zealand we have lots of good kitchen designers, we really only have one Kitchen Design Awards though. This year I had multiple kitchens that I was very proud of, two of which made the SBID finals. I really wanted to give all of these kitchens an opportunity to be judged by International judges and compared with other designs outside of New Zealand.

Questions answered by Morgan Cronin, Owner/Director/Designer, Cronin Kitchens.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a residential design inspired by its surrounding harbour views, click here to see more.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a high-end residential design by Barclay Interiors. The principal concept for the interior was to use the surrounding estuary and unspoilt harbour of the River Yealm as inspiration. The curvature of the building, floor to ceiling glass and open plan living space, allows for the most incredible view, a key element of the design. Barclay Interiors was involved in all aspects, from flooring and walling finishes to lighting layouts, from joinery design to staircase detailing. Each space was furnished in line with the chic, modern concept that was desired, whilst also introducing splashes of colour and texture to ensure the space felt like home.

Practise: Barclay Interiors 

Project: Devon Project

Location: Newton Ferrers, Devon

What was the client's brief? 

The brief was to design a fully practical yet modern and aesthetically chic interior for her re-location to Devon. When our client decided to move to Devon, she wanted a complete change in surroundings, both from an exterior perspective (city life to harbour life!) and also from an interior angle. Modernity, simplicity and elegance were at the pinnacle of my clients brief and it was this in addition to the surroundings that inspired the concept.

What inspired the design of the project?

As mentioned above, the main source of inspiration came from the surroundings, namely the River Yealm and Estuary. The view was at the forefront of all space planning decisions and the colours that infiltrated into the space from the outdoors led to choices in colour palettes and finishes. Timber flooring, a cladded staircase and a bespoke decorative screen were designed specifically to add warmth and sophistication to my client's entrance hallway whilst allowing for maximum amounts of natural light to bounce through the space, once again relating to the exterior surroundings.

Photography credit: James Balston Photography

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Some contractors can be a little anti-change so this was the biggest hurdle; however, after substantial hand-holding and clear guidance, a collaborative effort was achieved.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

As with all of our projects, we are lucky in that visually our role is extremely rewarding. Seeing the design come together on the final days of installation and seeing how we achieved the conversation between the surroundings and the interior so well, felt quite magical.

Questions answered by Megan Loughborough, Senior Designer, Barclay Interiors.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a Manhattan Hotel Design with Central Park views, click here to see more.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a design by SBID Awards Finalist, Jeffrey Beers International. For the Manhattan Sky Suite, Jeffrey Beers designed and decorated the interiors to frame the incredible wide views of Central Park. With the wonderful scale of the open living room and dining room, they were able to play with grand and stately furniture, such as a 10 person dining room table with wide and plush dining chairs. The mix of warm and cool tones paired with contemporary arts as well as rich wood finishes make the home a home but do not disrupt the wonderful and impressive open layout.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Sponsored by Schneider Electric

Finalist: Jeffrey Beers International

Project: Park Hyatt's Manhattan Sky Suite

Location: New York

What was the client's brief? 

New York City hotels are renowned for their speciality suites, but nothing in the city measures up to this new suite's overwhelming sense of luxury and unparalleled views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline.

What inspired the design of the project?

When it came to the hospitality design, we imagined that the suite was a private residence.  We first created a separation of space between public areas (the living room and dining room) and the private space (bedrooms and bathrooms). We then favoured open-plan living for the public areas. With careful attention to layout, materials, and art we created fluidity between your kitchen, dining area, and living room. The overall effect is warm and social; a perfect destination for entertaining.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the questions we were faced with was how to separate the dining space from the living room space without disrupting the overall open plan of the main area. We, therefore, custom-designed an open shelving unit to act as a divider between the living area and the dining area. As well as integrated lighting, the shelving unit has a custom double-sided glass fireplace that looks modern and yet feels warm and inviting.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

To create a warm and sophisticated master bedroom, we chose naturally beautiful architectural materials. We used fumed eucalyptus wood millwork panels to create a dramatic backdrop for the headboard. The centre has upholstered panels with antique brass metal reveals and integral light grazes to give it a bit of softness while remaining sophisticated.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We entered the SBID awards because of the international connection to the global design industry.

Questions answered by Jeffrey Beers, Founder & CEO, Jeffrey Beers International.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxury hotel design, click here to see more.

When thinking of the use of crystal in the home both as an architectural feature and decorative item, there is no better example of its use than at Villa Rene Lalique, the former family home of Rene Lalique and now a 5 star hotel and 2 Michelin star restaurant which celebrates 100 years this year (2020). A celebration and showcase of Lalique from the wine glasses to the door handles, and Damien Hirst artworks lining the cellar can be bought or made bespoke to suit your schemes from Lalique's London boutiques.

The origins of Villa Rene Lalique

Transforming the villa for luxurious living

On 14 February 2008, Mr Silvio Denz purchased Lalique. In 2011, Silvio Denz, who had been aware of the existence of the house in the village without ever having taken a particular interest in it, had a closer look. He found it virtually intact, aside from some minor leaks in the roof. How could he resist its charm? Silvio Denz decided to refurbish the house for his visits to Wingen. But very soon the idea of turning it into a haven of luxury, worthy of the most elegant stately homes, made perfect sense. The bedrooms were transformed into lavish suites, complemented by an excellent gourmet restaurant. What better setting in which to present the world of Lalique? As much as it had captivated Silvio Denz, the project appealed to lovers of fine cuisine and the decorative arts, as well as collectors. The interior was all about “living Lalique”, and doing so in a contemporary context, amidst rare and fabulously beautiful objects.

Every detail of the Villa’s interior provides a reminder. From the door handles to the adornments on the armchairs in the lounge, from the cushions of the sofas decked with pieces of crystal to the ebony lacquer of the bar, the view from the dining room to the salon… All is an interplay of light and transparency in the Art Deco style.

To explore Villa René Lalique is to follow in the artist’s footsteps. Six suites are decorated to reflect his various creative periods. The Zeila suite is the sole exception, taking its name from the panther modelled by Marie-Claude Lalique. Guests wishing to spend the night in the bedroom occupied by René Lalique choose the Hirondelles suite, which is reached via a replica of the original black staircase. The Rose suite is decorated in soft powder tones; while Dahlia, with its beige-ivory furniture, is an insistent appeal to relax. All the bathrooms are magnificently decorated,from the made-to measure crystal panels to the crystal taps.

Luxury living with culinary excellence

When Silvio Denz was looking for a chef capable of rising to the culinary challenge in this prestigious setting, history smiled upon him once more. Jean-Georges Klein, chef at L’Arnsbourg, where the purchase of Lalique had been celebrated on that fateful evening in 2008, is one of the best French master chefs, holding three Michelin stars for 13 years. In 2014, he decided to leave the family-run restaurant that he owned with his sister. A happy coincidence led him to cross paths once more with Silvio Denz. The chef dropped all his plans to take on a new challenge: launching the restaurant at Villa René Lalique. The gourmet restaurant was awarded two stars by Guide MICHELIN in January 2016, within just three months of opening.

Project of the Week

This week's instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a hotel suite design by SBID Awards Finalist, Stonehill Taylor. The 563-room Conrad New York Midtown hotel is located in the heart of Manhattan on West 54th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. Hospitality design firm Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the property, previously known as The London New York, into a new luxury destination through their vision for its interior design. The firm’s design exudes calm and elegance, reminiscent of the upscale Midtown residence of a contemporary art collector, with an emphasis on art throughout the property. While the décor is sleek and modern, it aims to achieve a timeless feel.

SBID Awards Category: Hotel Bedroom & Suites Sponsored by Schneider Electric

Finalist: Stonehill Taylor

Project: The Conrad New York Midtown

Location: New York

What was the client's brief? 

We were asked to design a hotel befitting the clientele of the New York Midtown location – specifically the executive traveller, the affluent family, and the celebrity guest; and develop five keywords to guide the design direction. The words we selected were “welcoming”, “connected”, “elevated”, “Invigorating”, and “stylish”. These words were carefully chosen to embody the patrons of The Conrad Midtown, who are not merely hotel guests – but worldly travellers with their New York City home at The Conrad Midtown - and their home should reflect their lifestyles.

What inspired the design of the project?

For this project, we were heavily influenced by residential design. We sought to immediately transport guests from the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood as soon as they enter the grand yet serene lobby.  We envisioned each suite as an upscale Midtown residence of a contemporary art collector, infusing the rooms with art and constructing thoughtful layouts with separate living and sleeping spaces. Take one of the grandest examples, the Penthouse suite, located on the 53^rd & 54^th floors: it has 180 degrees of expansive city views. We laid out each space in this suite to take advantage of these views—being able to soak in the bath while overlooking Central Park creates an unforgettable moment for a guest.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

There is a fine balance to having a luxury suite feel residential while making practical decisions to stand the test of time. If your design is beautiful the day it opens, but a year later the hotel is having to replace everything due to wear and tear, then we haven’t done our job. Our challenge was to source furnishings that create the beautiful first impression that we wanted to make, while also being durable and resilient.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

This project is truly a standout for its spotlight on fine art and it’s unique offering as an all-suite hotel. In the lobby, guests are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole A. Feuerman. Museum-style lighting contrasted with dark surrounding walls highlights this special piece while emphasizing it as a gallery space. To the right of the hotel’s entry is an intimate library nook, with a curated selection of art and mythology books lining the shelves. Additional lounge areas are found in the mezzanine, overlooking the lobby and feature artwork by contemporary British artist Amy Judd.

The all-suite rooms provide guests with the sense of being in a private pied-a-terre. They feature dark herringbone wood floors, hand-tufted wool rugs with floor-to-ceiling, cream-coloured drapery complements the soft, neutral palette of greys and caramel. The project includes several special suites including Sky Suites, Atrium Suite and a split-level Penthouse Suite.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

We value the contributions that SBID makes to the field of interior design, both in its native Britain and internationally. The Awards, of course, are one extension of that mission, and we are honoured that this hospitality effort is among the recognized projects. Our Interiors Division is central to the work that Stonehill Taylor does. It is with great pride that we design spaces for people to live, work, and play, and it’s always a delight to have our projects spotlighted by such a prestigious organization as SBID.

Questions answered by Bethany Gale, Interiors Associate, Stonehill Taylor.

We hope you feel inspired by this week's design! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire.

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a luxury New Zealand kitchen design, click here to see more.

Mineral and graphene technology paints company Graphenstone, are reporting unprecedented demand for its' sustainable range of air-purifying, CO2 absorbing, VOC free hygienic paints. Patrick Folkes, CEO & Founder of The Graphene Company - Sole Distributor of Graphenstone, UK shares insight behind the increasing desire for more purposeful paint specification.

Wider implications of paint selection

Greenwashing in the industry

Art In… announces a new partnership with international award-winning interior designer Dr. Vanessa Brady OBE, CEO of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID).

Art In... represents an international portfolio of multi-disciplinary artists and will partner with SBID's Vanessa Brady to provide art for the yacht, hospitality and private homes of discerning clients. Art In… provides a bespoke ‘white glove’ art service. They match the most suitable artist with a client’s requirements in order to ensure a seamless process from the initial design brief and art selection through to delivery and curation.

Vanessa Brady says: “It is very important to dress a space with complimentary art to really set off what is often a neutral canvas, art focuses the eye and sets a theme. I would like to see the selected artist and designers coming together with an owner more at the beginning of a project so that the final result is truly a 360-degree design.

Art should relate to the space in which it is installed and the lifestyle of the people using it. It should also link with the function the space is used for, such as a wine cellar, a bedroom etc. making each interior as unique as the owners, their guests and the design. It is important not to leave stylising to chance at the end of a project. Quality art pieces should be considered as part of the overall installation from the concept of the design process.

It is SBID’s role to source unusual providers of interior products that are efficient, as well as beautiful to adorn such exclusive interiors - the final design presentation always requires a very special piece of art to ‘dress’ the design, and so we seek equally adventurous and exclusive partners to provide the broadest selection of art. As soon as we met, we knew it would be a perfect match”.

Cover image credits: SBID Awards Finalist 2020; Rockwell - 15 Hudson Yards