This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the pristine, paradise destination and beautifully designed luxury resort on the picturesque Vommuli Island in the Maldives. An island destination recognised and designed by four ecological zones, the beach, the jungle, the coastal and the lagoon area. In order to satisfy the client’s brief and also to fulfill the aspiration to create something truly unique, the exterior and interior design establishes a strong eco-awareness, expressed through a modern and contemporary architecture and interior design. Balanced by design elements which act as a respectful nod to the tradition, local culture, and the values of St Regis. The whole resort is emotionally and intellectually experienced and enjoyed, but with a profound awareness of the complex relationships of the eco systems being inhabited. Through the experience of each space and place, and the stories it tells, we hope to inspire our guests to understand more about themselves and the precious world we live in.
Company: WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design
Project: St Regis Maldives Vommuli Island
Project Location: Maldives
What was the client’s brief?
To build a leading resort in the Maldives that will be sensitive to environmental issues but yet be a luxury resort destination that will justify the development expense without sacrificing superior guest experience.
What inspired the design of the project?
The inspiration for the interior design stems from the natural pristine beauty and ecology of the atoll and the desire to create eco-awareness to conserve and protect as much as possible the existing island. We think that nature itself is the source for design and not simply the man made world.
What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?
The toughest hurdles are logistics and associated time and costs issues to build in the middle of the ocean. The longer the time, the higher the costs and the greater the environmental damage. We worked hard to holistically control these issues and yet build with quality and precision.
What was your team’s highlight of the project?
Without doubt the highlight of the project was the opportunity to come so close to the raw elements of nature and the local culture. We are so delighted that upon completion our guests have a similar encounter that makes Maldives as a destination a real eye opener.
Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?
We entered SBID awards to seek recognition and exposure to the international design world as an endorsement of the highest calibre.
Questions answered by Wong Chiu Man, Managing Director of WOW Architects | Warner Wong Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the proverbial bar for one of chef Vivek Singh’s latest additions to the Cinnamon brand family, click here to see more.
We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire
WOWArchitects | SBID International Design Awards 2018
Throughout time, as society, industrial processes and the architectural landscape has evolved, the complexity in the design of interior environments has increased. The efficient use of space, user well-being and functional design has each contributed to the development of contemporary interior designer’s practices. The industry has therefore demanded interior designers with more focused expertise. With skill-sets pertaining to the consideration of interior structures, materials, cabinetry, spatial planning, ergonomics, regulatory compliance, facilities management, lighting, as well as plumbing layout and fixtures within the built environment. Interior designers must therefore be conversant in a variety of disciplines across architecture and decoration; alongside being well versed in dealing with plumbers, electricians, contractors, architects, woodworkers, furniture manufacturers, city planners and government officials, to name a few.
Historically, interior design relied heavily on drawing skills, intuition and the costly process of trial and error. Time-consuming constructions of physical scale models, room ‘staging’ and painstakingly hand-drawn plans were all stages which increased time, effort and cost whilst decreasing efficiency and accuracy. Hand-in-hand with the developing scope and sophistication of interior design as a profession, technology has unsurprisingly furthered the evolution of the interior designer’s role and design process. With the birth of augmented reality, 3D virtual landscapes, new styles, expectations and standards of interior design, designers need to stay abreast of advanced technologies to prepare for the prosperous and thriving future of this diverse industry. . .
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This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the proverbial bar for one of chef Vivek Singh’s latest additions to the Cinnamon brand family. Cinnamon Kitchen in Oxford is his first restaurant outside of London and offers all day dining in a stunning setting. The sister restaurant was designed by DesignLSM, the hospitality design specialists behind the award-winning Cinnamon Bazaar and most recent launch of Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea Power Station. The decor combines a contemporary and pared back aesthetic with subtle elements reflecting the intricacy and elegance of Indian architecture. The new establishment includes a large destination bar on the ground floor, an openplan kitchen, chef’s table and a semi-private ‘Pagoda’ room. The 4,000 square foot restaurant serves modern-Indian cuisine with British influences. A focal feature is the impressive bar made from Caesarstone’s cutting-edge quartz surfaces; 5143 White Attica. Framing the space is a vibrant array of green ‘beetle’ style seating, creating a social and inviting setting for patrons to enjoy pre & post dinner cocktails.
Carly Zaver, Senior Designer from DesignLSM says; “The technical qualities of Caesarstone’s quartz makes it an ideal fit for bars and hospitality design. Being extremely durable and stain resistant compared to natural marbles, Caesarstone quartz is a perfect solution for applications that demand a beautiful, high quality finish. As quartz is non-porous, it is well matched to food preparation and service areas. This was key for the restaurant’s kitchen pass, where hygiene is paramount.”
Read what else she had to say about this exciting restaurant project…
Company: DesignLSM
Project: Cinnamon Kitchen
Project Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
Our brief was to bring Chef Vivek Singh’s popular Cinnamon Kitchen brand to the city of Oxford, creating a relaxed all-day Indian dining destination on the rooftop gardens of the new Westgate shopping centre. The restaurant offers a social and inviting setting complete with an exotic garden terrace, which allows diners to take in resplendent views of the City’s famous spires.
What inspired the design of the Project?
Inspired by the intricacy and elegancy of Indian architecture, the interior design combines a contemporary and paired back aesthetic – featuring decorative whitewashed wall paneling, bespoke pendant lighting and luxurious marble finishes; harmonizing together to create a refined ambience that strongly reflects the ethos of the Cinnamon brand.
Despite the site being in a prominent location, it was important that we created a point of difference to other restaurant offerings within the area. We achieved this by designing an enticing outdoor terrace conjuring the exotic essence of an Indian garden with exquisite arrays of rich and greenery and relaxed alfresco furniture.
Working with Vivek and the amazing Cinnamon team is always a joy, we have loved helping them expand their portfolio with their first debut outside of London; along with the openings of Cinnamon Bazaaar and Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea. This project was a great challenge for us to create a refined and elegant dining environment. Cinnamon Kitchen Oxford offers a different feel to its sister restaurant whilst still in keeping with the true persona of the brand.
Questions answered by Carly Zaver, Senior Designer at DesignLSM
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the ideal destination designed to provide relaxation and entertainment for the residents of a prestigious development in Shanghai, click here to see more.
DesignLSM | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This month we’re sharing another selection of products that will be sure to enhance your interior (or exterior) designs! Whether that be introducing the finer details when it comes to contemporary bathroom spaces with elegant tapware, solid brass handles to add an industrial-style finishing touch to your cabinetry; or maybe you’re looking for more of a statement piece to modernise a garden scheme or brighten up a staircase in a bold and beautiful way.
Inspired by the process of gem cutting and setting, the Lapis side table draws on the concise forming, positioning and clasping of the stones. An elegantly crafted teak array is seized by a sinuous structure, presenting the table surface in the same manner a ring presents its precious stones. This unique side table is truly transitional perfect for both exterior and interior environments. The Lapis side table aims to excite and inspire interior designers to consider the outdoors as an extension of their stylish interiors.
Click to shop
The brand new Kingsheath Collection from Armac Martin is manufactured from solid brass in their Birmingham-based factory. The collection is made up of one size of knob, a t-bar handle, three sizes of cabinet pulls and an appliance pull. Perfect for all interior cabinetry, the design has a simplicity that exudes a modern and industrial look. Stocked in polished nickel finish but available to order in twenty-one different finish options, ranging from burnished brass (as photographed) to antique copper and american bronze.
Perrin & Rowe’s new collection for bathrooms is elegant and refined, defined by a slim spout and soft, curved lines. This fresh take on contemporary design is complemented by a traditional approach to manufacturing, enhanced by state-of-the-art technology. A true blend of old and new. The Hoxton range offers a sleek and stylish bath-shower mixer, shower set, basin mixer and accessories including a robe hook and towel rails. Customers can choose from three luxurious finishes – chrome, nickel and pewter, with four other special finishes available to order, including timeless on-trend satin brass and opulent 24 carat plated gold.
David Cole, sales director at Perrin & Rowe says, “Hoxton showcases Perrin & Rowe’s credentials in contemporary design and engineering. It’s a graceful and elegant bathroom range, with soft curves rather than harsh angles which reflects light beautifully. We believe it offers something new in bathrooms: a fresh take on modern luxury; designed, engineered and manufactured in the UK. We’re tremendously proud of it.”
Find a distributor or browse collections online
Nulty Bespoke design bespoke handcrafted luminaires for exceptional spaces. The Flora Pendant is one of their latest bespoke designs, a tailor-made contemporary stairwell chandelier which would create a dramatic statement feature, while adding warmth to the reception room of the luxurious family home on Lonsdale Road in the heart of Notting Hill. Their role was to take the interior designer’s concept for the stairwell’s statement installation and turn it into a reality.
Inspired by natural forms, a spiral of light from 24 petal-shaped shades now gently cascades through the three-storey stairwell. The floating, sculptural quality of the chandelier adds visual interest, complementing the muted backdrop of polished plaster walls, wrought iron balustrade and oak handrail, bringing a bold and beautiful dimension to the hallway for welcoming guests.
With their experience in luminaire design and in-depth understanding of manufacturing processes, Nulty Bespoke offer beautiful lighting solutions of the utmost quality.
Click here to discover more and make an enquiry
Cosentino is a global, family-owned company that produces and distributes high value innovative surfaces for the world of design and architecture. It works together with its clients to provide solutions that offer design and value, and inspire the life of many people. Their technologically advanced surfaces allow the creation of unique environments and designs for the home and public spaces.
The colours of the new Eternal series are inspired by the world of natural stone. For this reason each slab includes a personal variation of veins and colour to turn every slab into a unique piece. This collection gathers the magnitude of natural resources associated to Silestone attributes. Eternal represents the endless beauty and elegance in time, presenting the exclusivity and originality of nature itself. Designs within the collection include Classic Calacatta, Calacatta Gold, Bianco Calacatta, Serena, Classic Calacatta, Desert Silver, Marfil, Emperador, Statuario, Marquina, Charcoal Soapstone, Pearl Jasmine.
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the idyllic residential destination designed to provide relaxation and entertainment for the residents of a prestigious development in Shanghai, as part of an overarching design concept of art and culture within the region. Using ‘flora’ as the primary source of interior design inspiration for this 3500 sq metre clubhouse, the project is complete with lounges, private rooms, indoor swimming pools, and even an indoor basketball court to cater to the luxurious and artistic lifestyles of the local residents.
Company: A.RK Interior Design
Project: Gallery Clubhouse
Project Location: Shanghai, China
Gallery Clubhouse is designed to provide relaxation and entertainment for residents in a residential development in the upcoming district of Hong Kou, Shanghai. This development is one of the most prestigious developments in Shanghai with an overarching design concept of art and culture, so creating a luxurious, art gallery-esque type design scheme essential.
We looked no further than towards nature for our design inspiration for this project. Throughout the entire clubhouse you can find elements of flora inspiration; from the mosaic wall patterns on the changing room feature wall, the floral patterns and colours used in the lobby area rug to the bespoke, hand-blown crystal chandelier in the entrance lobby. Every piece of furniture, light fixture and custom rug is treated like a piece of art would be in a gallery; all drawing design inspiration from various flowers and natural forms.
The ground floor lounge complete with 250 pieces of hand crafted crystal leaves that shimmer from the ceiling is one of our proudest achievements. The aim was to mimic the style of a luxurious hotel lobby, with groups of comfortable seating and a coffee bar. The stunning ceiling details light up with different colours and each crystal twinkles to exude the essence of luxury we wanted to capture.
SBID International Design Awards is not only a very prestigious award to be part of, it is also an honour and a testimony of the great minds of peers in the design industry.
Questions answered by Agatha Teng, Creative Director and Founder at A.RK Interior Design
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a lavish villa apartment in the coastal province of Southeast China, click here to see more.
A.RK Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018
4th – 7th July
One of the largest London design events bursting with ambition and radical ideas, New Designers 2018 unveiled the imaginations set to shape the design world of tomorrow. Spanning every discipline in modern making, the event presented the work of more than 3,000 design talents in education. Every year, many of the world’s most respected brands flock to New Designers in search of the fresh minds that will fuel their creative futures. Fashion brand, Joules, has drawn many of its design team from the exhibition’s textiles and fashion graduate pool.
“Over the years the exhibition has proven pivotal in helping us to find brilliant up-and-coming designers who have gone on to work with us for many years, so it’s great to give something back.” – Laura Douglas, Head of Concept at Joules
New Designers design events also acts as a platform for the Top 100 new design businesses in the UK with the showcase, One Year In, curated by Rheanna Lingham – gathering the most promising and intriguing designers, studios and entrepreneurs who have recently launched their own businesses. This year, once again, designers are seen to be developing and implementing new ideas in sustainable production – including Robert Hunter Ceramics, whose hand-fired vessels are glazed using self-sourced local materials such as seaweeds, plants, rocks, ashes and clays; Manchester textile artist Kate Whitehead, whose work protests against today’s throwaway fashion by returning to traditional methods of making and repair; product designer Kuniko Maeda, who transforms discarded single sheets of paper into digitally designed, hand-finished lampshades in a zero-waste process; and YSD Design who designed a collaborative time piece using discarded marble slabs to minimise marble waste with an aesthetically pleasing solution.
19th – 22nd July
Décor + Design 2018 – Melbourne, Australia
Decor + Design is established as Australia’s No. 1 interiors trade event! This year the leading interior design event celebrates it’s 15th year of providing the industry with a wealth of interior inspiration at their infamous design events. Bringing together interior designers, decorators, retailers, architects and manufacturers, last year’s event attracted over 11,500 trade personnel over the four-day event, all in search of the latest interior products and furnishings from over 300 of Australia’s leading brands. Décor + Design aims to inspire visitors, source the latest products, stay up to date on the trends and developments in the industry and network with peers.
The event boasts an extraordinary list of exhibitors. A few which caught our keen eye for design include About Space, known for their creativity, decorative design & new lighting styles, encompassing the very latest in sustainable LED technology; Easygreen Interior, dedicated to bringing the outdoor indoor with no constraint as they specialise in the preserved mosswall and vertical gardens; INARTISAN, harnessing a strong commitment to creativity, the environment and ethical production by valuing individual craftsmanship and artistic integrity over mass-production; Kachet, incorporating modern technology with nature, achieving complex forms from bamboo plywood using CNC (computer numerically controlled) routing; and many more. View the full exhibitor list.
For more information, click here or register to attend now!
30th – 31st July
The Hotel UK Forum 2018 – Manchester, United Kingdom
The Hotel UK Forum is the leading business forum for the UK’s leading hotels. Set to be held at The Midland Hotel in Manchester and attract hotel purchasers from across the UK, the forum allows senior buyers to meet with key suppliers of the industry to discuss supply arrangements, potential cost savings and establish fundamental business relationships.
For more information, click here.
Designjunction has announced it’s move to London’s South Bank for September 2018!
The eighth edition of the award-winning designjunction will transport to the cultural hub of London’s South Bank, presenting more than 200 of the world’s most iconic design brands alongside some of the world’s most iconic architectural landmarks. Across three key areas – the Doon Street site, Riverside Walkway and Oxo Tower Wharf – designjunction will showcase a series of show-stopping installations, hundreds of product launches, a curated mix of pop-up shops, bespoke bars and eateries, as well as a stellar talks programme.
Expect to discover leading international furniture brands such as New Tendency, Erik Joergensen, Deadgood, Nolii, Petite Friture, Northen, VitrA, Icons of Denmark, Lammhults and many more. Also expect to see stunning lighting displays by brands such as Wästberg, Catellani & Smith, Bethan Gray, AND Light and Ochre. Unique to London Design Festival, designjunction also presents a dedicated retail area with more than 70 boutique pop-up shops selling homewares, ceramics, textiles, accessories, prints and jewellery. See the full directory of exhibitors.
Register now for your free trade pass.
Sue Whimster Curtains, the specialist providers of bespoke window coverings, have assisted in the creation of beautifully designed, hand-made curtains, blinds and accessories on behalf of interior designers, private clients and property developers across London, Kent and Surrey since 1989. SBID spoke with Sue Whimster herself as she offers her valuable advice to designers when it comes to installing curtains into their interior design scheme.
“We work with interior designer’s day in and day out and our vast experience in creating custom curtains for their projects means that we’ve come across the many ups and downs that can affect their work, not to mention ours. As much as it’s helpful to give top tips for success, it also pays to bear the potential pitfalls in mind that can seriously hinder the success of any project. With that in mind, we thought we’d share our top mistakes that could cause problems or setbacks, and hopefully help us all work better together to get the very best results for everyone!”
Here are Sue Whimster’s top 10 mistakes that interior designers should try to avoid when ordering curtains. . .
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a lavish villa apartment in the coastal province of Southeast China which strives to harmonise people, space and nature by connecting the interior and exterior environments for the ultimate luxury vacation. A design which balances indoor and outdoor space; plays with light and shadow; combining neutral tones with dark accents; whilst juxtaposing decorative, oriental style elements with clean, modern lines and simple, yet sophisticated structures to incorporate themes of contemporary design, embody Southeast Asian craftsmanship and evoke a sense of exotic elegance.
Company: Daosheng Design Co.
Project: Poly Beiluo Villa C1 Apartment
Project Location: Guangdong, China
The Client’s main hope was to create a luxurious villa apartment which generates a relaxing vacation environment which connects people with nature in a simple and well balanced way, embracing the relationship between people, space and nature.
As the project is close to the seaside, the sound of the sea breeze can be heard in the distance and the smell of salty water hangs in the air, so visitors instantly get the feeling of returning to nature. Combining a simple, neutral colour palette throughout to evoke a calm atmosphere, with dark accents of wood and marble on selected surfaces and furnishings helps to balance the neutrals to exude a deep natural flavor. The project abandons complex decorative lines, replaced by simple structures and neat styling, balanced with subtle inclusions of more exotic elements such as Thai inspired cushions and oriental ornamental features.
1.Using a small selection of simple, natural materials and a harmonious layout throughout the project to create a comfortable life between people and nature; people and space; and also between people and people. Striking a complimentary balance of each of these core components of space, nature and people was the main challenge. Each space needed to be in touch with nature, create communal areas for socialising, as well as spatial divisions for privacy, allowing visitors personal time to reflect and connect with nature.
2.Because the project is near the sea, selecting the right materials required careful consideration to prevent any corrosion from the salty atmosphere.
Seeing the careful marriage between indoor and outdoor, as architecture and garden combine to become an organic whole. Creating a space that will be in sincerity with Southeast Asia, through elements of solid wood and rattan to express and bring a heavy sense of culture, whilst incorporating themes of modern life with the essence of freshness and simplicity to reconcile the whole space and create a haven away from the hustle and bustle; returning to nature, inside and out. Every detail considered, even down to the white drapes hanging on the bed frame to give a therapeutic, dream-like vision of the gentle sea breeze fluttering as the space appears light, lazy and gorgeous. Also, seeing the play of light and shadow change room by room, so that each space transforms with the phasing of the day from dawn to dusk.
The SBID International Design Award is the World’s leading design award and enjoys wide popularity in the design world at home and abroad. We participate in the SBID International Design Awards in the hope that our design can be seen and shared with more people, so that ideas can collide across the continents and inspire globally with beauty and design excellence.
Questions answered by YongMing He, Design Director at Daosheng Design
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If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring a stunningly stylish SieMatic kitchen design in the opulent Alderley Edge, click here to see more.
Daosheng Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018
This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features a stunningly stylish kitchen design in Alderley Edge, Cheshire curated by ArtHouse Creative Interiors. With an exciting full house renovation taking place, their client wanted an elegant SieMatic kitchen that would harmonise with the new open plan living space. Not your typical kitchen designers, ArtHouse are an interior design company who specialise in luxury kitchens. As an exclusive SieMatic dealership the focus is on kitchen design which not only provides a solution to your needs from a performance point of view, but is an investment for your home and looks fabulous too. The client lived locally to the SieMatic showroom in the affluent Cheshire village of Alderley Edge and worked closely with the designers at ArtHouse for the kitchen design, from the client’s first consultation, through the whole design process, to the installation and aftercare of the SieMatic kitchen.
Company: ArtHouse Creative Interiors
Project: Alderley Edge
Project Location: Cheshire, United Kingdom
When we work with residential clients, we need to take into account their individual needs, style and the architecture of their home. The brief from this particular client needed to ensure that the kitchen design synchronised well with the modern architecture of their newly refurbished home. Large, double height windows at the front of the house welcome you in to the open plan living space of the kitchen, dining and lounge areas. The kitchen area needed to be family friendly and we had a deadline to keep to as the client was due to have a baby, therefore the project needed to be finished before the arrival of their little girl.
As a starting point, we needed to be mindful of the architecture of the property. The external glazing which ran all the way up the property created a dramatic design which also complemented the farmhouse style building. The proposed interior design of the ground floor also influenced the key features of the kitchen design, with the dark wooden floor that was going to be installed throughout the kitchen space was a clear break point from the rest of the open space. The full height ceiling in the dining area allowed for dramatic lighting and a feature wall detail which is a contrast to the rest of the cosy lounge area.
Balancing SieMatic’s handle-less style in the Lotus White Lacquer finish with subtle elements of smoked oak in the open shelving units and the interiors of the tall nickel gloss cabinets create style elements of symmetry and asymmetry which harmonise together with seemingly opposing styles. During the design process we were concerned that the main back wall may look too heavy and over power the room. So we came up with a design where we incorporated two long slim windows either side of the sink run. This was greatly received by the client as it broke up the expanse of the wall and created specific zones for: refrigeration, sink/ dishwashers, larders and cooking area. The introduction of the grey mirrored glass to the back wall of the sink run was another specific design feature that concealed away the TV behind and the grey mirror to the left hand side of the sink.
During the installation of the kitchen, we came across a few obstacles along the way with the Neolith Estatuario worktops, which brings a stylistic connection between past, present and future that combines the classic and the elegance of marble with the revolutionary Neolith technology. Due to the size of the island we needed this to book match the main worktop, vein match the side panels and table top and the 50mm downturns to all areas, this was a difficult detail for our fabricators but these fine details really add an element of luxury and symmetry.
Now that the project has come to an end, ArtHouse Creative Interiors are proud to see the finished kitchen design in its element, taking centre stage to the open plan living of the family home. We are immensely proud of the work that we have created and we pride ourselves on customer service and building excellent reputations and relationships both in the industry and with individual clients.
We believe that the SBID awards are one of the most influential Awards as they have high expectations and a wealth of industry experience in all areas of design. We entered this project into the KBB- SBID Design Awards because we knew that it was something special, not only to the client but to us as interior designers as well.
Questions answered by Julie Otulakowski, Managing Director and Emma Furber, Designer at ArtHouse Creative Interiors
If you missed last week’s Project of the Week featuring the refined and sustainable hotel experience with QO Amsterdam, click here to see more.
ArtHouse Creative Interiors | SBID International Design Awards 2018
1st – 30th June
The world’s largest annual architecture festival. Occupying the month of June, the London Festival of Architecture has been hosting over 500 events across the city. Exhibitions, family events, walking tours, debates and stunning architectural installations were designed to explore the theme of ‘identity’. Nadia Broccardo, Team London Bridge Chief Executive, commented on this year’s thought-provoking theme.
“Becoming a hub for the London Festival of Architecture 2018 provides the perfect opportunity for the city to reflect on the identity of this important, historic area and celebrate the capital’s ability to interpret local character and contexts..”
APE Architecture and Design hosted a tour for ‘A Case of Mistaken Identity‘ as they explore iconic London buildings that have appeared in film as buildings in other cities including Moscow, New York, Milan, Gotham City, and Hong Kong. Through a series of conversations, debates and workshops, ‘Decolonizing Architecture‘ by The 204 Design Collective confronted societal conflicts of identity. Exploring new and alternate forms of urbanisms that challenge the direct and indirect effects of colonialism to help to “reconstruct/restructure conventional approaches to urbanisation, in an effort to dismantle inequality in our cities, and promote cultural integration and social cohesion.”
11th – 13th June
The world’s largest and most important event for the commercial interiors industry was brimming with captivating events, activations, and cutting-edge displays to mark the milestone 50th edition. NeoCon 50 was a particularly vibrant, featuring a week of dynamic experiences and festivities, dozens of engaging installations, and stunning lounges in celebration of presenting half a century of commercial design. The annual event, held at The Mart in Chicago, has served as a launchpad for innovations that have influenced how we live and work. When NeoCon started back in 1969, the U.S. office furniture industry was roughly $830 million. In 2017, it was estimated at $13.4 billion. (U.S. Dept of Commerce, Bureau of the Census and BIFMA).
This year saw a host of textile and workplace design offerings which indicated essential new directions in commercial designs from noise reduction and privacy, to comfort and aesthetics, with an emphasis on ergonomics to encourage wellbeing and efficiency in workplace environments. For example, furniture specifically designed to anticipate and accommodate users needs – acknowledging the coexistence comfort, relaxation and productivity.
To find out more about next year’s 51st edition on 10th – 12th June 2019, click here.
21st – 23rd June
With the theme of ‘Blueprint for Better Cities’, the AIA Conference 2018 attracted 23,000+ attendees and harnessed some of the most creative architects, designers, and firms, all sharing how they’re creating their own blueprint and making a difference in cities all over the world. With the discourse leading to more critical thought regarding health and resilience, and about taking care of each other and the environment, the event was designed to deliver actionable insights designers can use on their next project or to make a difference in to communities, by covering core contemporary topics:
Diversity, equity, & inclusion; everything designers create should be for everyone. Affordable housing, green spaces, healthy places, and safe neighbourhoods can all contribute to the creation of access and opportunities.
Materials; every material has an impact. Knowing where materials come from, what’s in them, and their life expectancy gives us greater control over projects and product decisions.
Energy & carbon; buildings are the biggest carbon polluters, but what if they weren’t? If designers can work together, new buildings, developments, and major renovations can become carbon neutral.
Resilience; rapid population growth, climate change, intentional attacks, and natural and manmade disasters require new design approaches.
Design & health; forward-looking design can profoundly impact the health of people and communities. It’s time to move past the “do no harm” design ethos to focus on holistic health, by design.
26th June
In an event supported by Interface and Orangebox, the SBID Education Council hosts a discussion about how improving wellness in learning environments can improve attainment. The Head of Design and Wellbeing at Orangebox, Jim Taylour, talked about the findings from his recent publication, ‘Mobile Generations’, exploring Agile Smartworking and the emerging health and productivity challenges affecting the workplace. Discussing the ‘wireless well working’ initiative, a workplace strategic design tool to help organisations shape their environments to support their own wellbeing and collaborative initiatives, Jim shared his recommendations and basic rules for selecting furniture for classroom environments to improve the quality of interior design in education.
Interface Partner and Biophilic Design expert, Oliver Heath, focused on the human’s innate attraction to nature and natural processes. Biophilic Design uses these ideas as principles to create a human centred approach that when applied improves many of the spaces that we live and work in today, with numerous benefits to our health and well-being. Oliver spoke about studies which demonstrate the benefits of Biophilic designs and how Biophilic educational spaces have the ability to improve performance and the wellbeing of both staff members and students.
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