Samantha Tong, Interior Designer at Interiors Angel has given her insights into the industry.
I began my career in hotel conference and events, working for companies such as Hilton and De Vere, securing high profile clients such the Liberal Democrats and The Police Federation. I always had an eye for detail, space planning and time management, working as part of a wider team to deliver events tailored to the client specification in hotels nationwide.
I reached a point in my career where I wanted to spread my wings and venture into real estate. Which was when I secured a role with Hoburne Development, as right hand lady to the Director of Development. Supporting him on building sites, liaising with potential buyers and managing a portfolio of properties.
I quickly established key information from potential buyers as to what was important to them when searching for their new home and was fortunate to be trusted to make interior alterations and changes to the aesthetics that elevated the homes, helped sales, and grew local reputation. Thereafter, my role rapidly changed and I soon lead the interior design for the company, from examining each floor plan prior to building, drawing electrical layouts and negotiating with suppliers to staging show homes and styling for photography.
I invested in training, attended trade shows, CPD events and attended networking events to learn from other professionals. Since then, my career has grown with projects from my first phase of new build family homes and Help to Buy apartments, to a new, award-winning holiday park and senior living apartment building with communal lounges.
I always loved playing Tetris as a child, drawing, painting, pulling pictures out of the Index and Argos catalogues to create room sets and my favourite coursework was designing and creating a model of a playground as part of my graphic design GCSE. I never knew interior design or even architecture existed back then. We were told about service jobs; being a teacher, a lawyer or a nurse. And girls weren’t considered to have a place on building sites. When this world was opened to me at Hoburne Development, I felt like a child again. I get to do all my favourite things; problem solve, be creative and draw. And get paid for it!
Understanding a client’s lifestyle, desires and pain points and translating that into an environment that they love, that works for them and improves their way of life, not just for now, but their future too. For example, designing a client’s dream bar and lounge on the ground floor of their new extension, whilst also placing services that enables them to easily transform the room to a bedroom with en-suite should they need to as their life evolves.
I enjoy working on floor plans to maximise the space, using colours to influence mood and improve wellbeing and a huge fan of being resourceful, re-purposing objects in aspects of the new design if I can. For example, I recently arranged for a disused architect model of a development to be transformed into a modern coffee table. It’s a great talking piece to showcase the developer in their new office reception waiting area.
Finch House is a beautiful, listed building in Salisbury that used to be the largest private mental hospital in England. Recently redeveloped by AHH for the over 55’s market it comprises 21 apartments with communal lounges over 2 floors, a carefully restored greenhouse, rose garden and stunning water fountain.
Residents feeling at home as soon they enter, whilst honouring the property and the needs of the demographic was important to me.
This was achieved by increased, layered lighting and considering light reflectance values between surfaces for aging eyes, LVT flooring with recessed, low pile carpet to imitate rugs for moveable equipment and specialist yet stylish furniture for comfort and support. Art from local places and by well-known artists such as Salisbury Cathedral by John Constable, colours with yellow undertones and William Morris wallpaper, bring the space to life and offer talking points for the new community.
The pièce de resistance was the chandelier. Unable to find a light fitting suitable to fill the space whilst not blocking the smoke vent, I designed my first light fitting where 2 soft gold rings with decanter style pendants join, cascading through the void.
I love to work on challenging assignments that involve problem solving, where space and technical details need to be carefully considered. Manufacturers couldn’t generate a floor plan or specification that the executive team desired for their new holiday lodge park, Hoburne St Mabyn. I took control, working closely with the manufacturer, operations, and sales team to create our first, unique range of holiday lodges. A hit at the trade show, the development won Hoseason’s Diamond Award and the park is a great success.
Another project I worked on was for a retired couple who had always renovated houses. This project was to be their last and to offer space for a live in carer, should they need it in the future. I sought advice from an occupational therapist to create a layout and specification that serves them now, as they continue to age and that can easily be adapted without costly alterations.
The budget for the interior design element of a project is usually well considered and agreed before starting. However, as build costs accumulate during the programme, that budget slowly decreases, and this can be detrimental to the outcome.
Being adaptable and value engineering can help achieve the design intent without compromising on the result, but when items are stripped out completely either due to cost or lead times affected by world events, it can be demoralising.
Ultimately, you’re judged on the final finish and people forget that these adaptations were made to complete a project on time and within budget. And where you may have designed one element in that has been removed, it was part of an overall picture, which can also jar the aesthetic.
I’m fortunate to have been exposed to working on a construction site and have a great understanding of the processes of a building site. I can stand my ground when a tradesperson is saying something isn’t possible when I know it is. For example, I had an electrician tell my client he couldn’t have a chandelier in his bathroom. When we all know, you can, with the correct IP rating.
However, what I was not prepared for, was how many wallpapers and fabrics there are available! I would meet with other interior designers who would reel off these brands and styles, and I’d have no idea what they were talking about. Thankfully, once I had immersed myself in tradeshows, visited places like Chelsea Harbour and Clerkenwell, I quickly picked them up!
Never stop learning and growing. There are always new styles, trends, brands and ways of working. Attending tradeshows, CPDs, networking, doing online workshops or courses provides you with new opportunities, new relationships, new ways to adapt in a fast-paced industry and new services to offer your clients keeping you ahead of the game.
I feel virtual reality will help designers offer more immersive experiences for clients. 3D modelling plays an important role in helping my clients to visualise their project, particularly space planning and they always make alterations before the build commences as a result. Virtual reality already happens in-store for many high street chains and I can see studios growing this way too.
I also believe we will see more sustainable products that benefit the environment we design becoming available. For example, Crown recently launched Clean Air paint – a paint with air purifying technology. I used it on a recent office project – it’s currently available in ‘whites’ – and there was a noticeable difference in smell between that and the usual product I used on other walls. I hope to see more of these products and colours become available over the next year.
As you will have learned, the route into interior design was a career change for me. It required significant investment in training, most of which took place with a new baby at home, and years of making the most of the opportunities that arose to allow me to learn and grow quickly within the industry.
Being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer acknowledges this investment and recognises that I have succeeded in offering high standards of practice too. The ongoing support and CPD and tradeshow opportunities available also help to keep at the top of my game.
About Samantha Tong
Accredited interior designer with extensive experience in leading projects within the hospitality, property development and construction industry. And certified home staging and styling professional. Experienced in pre-build interior design and technical co-ordination, I tailor each project to the customer profile to maximise space and can assist with value engineering to help keep within budget. A keen eye for detail and understanding of Lifetime Homes, I specialise in designing for family life, senior living and lettings.
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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a fun and photogenic restaurant design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Quadrant Design.
Quadrant Design was commissioned to design and specify the finishes for EL&N London in Atelier La Vie.
SBID Awards Category: Restaurant Design
Practice: Quadrant Design
Project: EL&N, Atelier La Vie
Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The brief focuses on creating a completely unique concept in each EL&N cafe, allowing the customers to experience something different when visiting different branches across the globe. EL&N cafe’s want a fun atmosphere that encourages customers to take photos and share these on social media, which the brand has become recognised globally for. EL&N want to create special ‘instagrammable moments’ in each of their cafes and create an environment where customers feel that every seat is the best in the house.
The brief for every EL&N restaurant is that each should be unique in its own way, linking to the location, so we based our inspiration for this site on the French Riviera, with the development in Jeddah being fondly named Atelier La Vie taking inspiration from the French Riviera as it is positioned within a warm, large and captivating development in Jeddah. Inspired by coastal colours, geometric shapes, iconic, bespoke patterning and bold architectural arches, we created a two storey oasis where every seat is the best seat in the house.
We used a mixed palette of materials which were bright and bold in tone and texture, mixing Fabrics, solid surfaces, florals, metal chains and bespoke terrazzo finishes throughout. Many materials used for this location were created as bespoke finishes to create a truly unique space, including bespoke wall coverings, fret cut metal screening with bespoke geometric prints, custom poured terrazzo tiles, printed metallic chains which span 6m in length. We also worked with Panaz fabrics to create bespoke fabrics especially for this project, creating custom patterns and prints which linked to the styling and colour ways of the French Riviera.
The ground floor was designed as an external garden space with custom made concrete blocks to create the striking bar and cake counter, geometric flooring tiles and garden flower wall linking in with the Riviera coast. The 6m tall hanging chains with printed illustrations grabs the attention of visitors and features EL&N founder, Alexander Miller. We wanted to bring the outdoors inside by creating the ground floor terrace space which in turn allowed us to create a unique space on the first floor. We designed the space so that every single seat is the best seat in the house, with every cover having a unique and striking Instagram backdrop.
We wanted the two areas to offer a different experience, with the first floor providing a luxurious dining space with plush seating, opal lighting, custom Instagram garden swing and neon wall paneling all accessed by a floral lined staircase. We created bespoke wall coverings which adorned the staircase wall and first floor, along with a bespoke geometric fret cut brass screen which encased the stairwell.
Being positioned along the boulevard with a strong vista to the facade from the roadside, we accentuated the double story shop front facade by creating vertical illuminated portals to all of the window apertures as well as highlighting the secondary double height arches we installed within the space to really make the building sing at night time. The whole building glows proudly on the boulevard and can be seen from afar both from the road and within the development. The space also boasts of a large external dining terrace which seats 40 covers, encased with floral displays and air conditioning units & parasols to create the perfect al fresco experience.
Working between the UK and KSA, we remotely managed the project using video conferencing facilities and keeping great communication throughout the project lifespan. The most challenging element to coordinate was the ceiling custom Kriskadecor chains which needed to be coordinated with existing M&E services and structural fixing details. With the chains also being supplied from Europe, the coordination was tricky but great communication and commitment between us Quadrant Design, Kriskadecor and the local team we were able to deliver and install and beautiful feature ceiling!
We absolutely love working with EL&N, as each restaurant across the world features completely unique design and finishes. The team loved working on Atelier La Vie, creating the design concept based specifically on its location, taking inspiration from the French Riviera creating a space which feels authentically European.
We got to work with exciting colours, patterns & materials, such as Kriskadecor metal decorative chains in which we printed a bespoke illustration of EL&N’s founder, Alexander Miller and suspended it from the 6m high ceiling void. The chains also sweep across the width of the store, creating a unique waved ceiling feature made from a selection of 4 types of pink metal links.
All of the upholstery materials throughout the space were all created as bespoke graphic patterns which we then had printed to create our very own Riviera fabric collection. We wanted all of the interior elements to be customised to suit the localisation of the site as much as possible, so as well as creating our own patterns and prints for the fabrics, we also created our own wall coverings which feature bespoke illustrations and prints to link in with the EL&N brand.
The SBID Awards is a huge celebration of global talent for interior design projects and we knew it would be a privilege to be shortlisted alongside some great designer studios in a number of categories. We worked on some amazing projects last year so we entered in the hope we would get the opportunity to celebrate the teams’ achievements, and reward individuals for their hard work. This was a very large space for EL&N and their first in Jeddah, the finished result is a very striking restaurant that we’re very proud to have been involved with. The restaurant has been a huge success locally and has also gained global attraction from Bloggers and Design enthusiasts who have celebrated the design from afar.
It’s been fantastic to be recognised for this project, and two other projects in different categories, at the SBID Awards. We were so proud to have created the concept for this unique project, so being shortlisted for restaurant design at the SBID Awards is the cherry on the cake.
Questions answered by Sonia Brown, Head of Design at Quadrant Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a rustic and sleek restaurant design by 4SPACE Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a rustic and sleek restaurant design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, 4SPACE Design.
Jun’s is the brainchild of eminent chef Kelvin Cheung. 4SPACE Design created Jun’s concept to celebrate community. The inspiration is drawn from horse stables, and the vibe reflects the natural materials that are simple, sleek, rustic, and refined. The soothing interiors are of a sand-colored palette with natural materials and various interesting textures, including timber, marble and white bricks.
Practice: 4SPACE Design
Project: Jun’s Restaurant
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The client’s brief for JUN’s, designed by 4SPACE, was to create a bold, modern, and inviting restaurant that harmoniously blends Asian and North American flavors. Chef Kelvin Cheung and Kings Group Ventures sought a contemporary venue that would capture the essence of community and connection over food. The restaurant was envisioned as a warm and welcoming environment, reflecting the culinary expertise of Chef Cheung and inviting guests to gather and celebrate.
The design of JUN’s was inspired by the concept of community and coming together. 4SPACE created a space that celebrated the importance of life, drawing inspiration from the imagery of horse stables. The design concept embraces natural materials, reflecting simplicity, rustic elegance, and modern refinement. The sand-colored palette, textured surfaces, and use of timber, marble, and white bricks contribute to a soothing and inviting ambiance.
The main challenge overcome during the JUN’s project was merging two separate units to create a cohesive space, while respecting the residential condominium above and minimizing disturbances to residents. Additionally, the challenge of seamlessly blending the different design elements, such as the incorporation of the unique I-mesh material and the suspended installations, required careful planning and execution.
The highlight of the JUN’s project for the 4SPACE team was the successful creation of an environment that celebrates community and culinary excellence. The innovative use of I-mesh installations and the integration of various design accents throughout the interior added vibrancy and dimension to the space. The elevated dining experience at the chef’s table, where special menus are prepared under invitation from Chef Cheung, stood out as a unique and exclusive feature.
The decision to participate in the SBID Awards was driven by the desire to spotlight the innovative and cohesive design of JUN’s. The project’s seamless fusion of both rustic and refined elements, its emphasis on fostering a sense of community, and its capacity to provide an exceptional dining experience positioned it as a candidate for acknowledgement and acclaim within the design realm.
Being an Award Finalist in the SBID Awards held special significance for 4SPACE and their business. The recognition affirmed their ability to translate Chef Cheung’s vision into a captivating reality, merging different design influences into a cohesive and inviting dining space. The acknowledgement from the awards highlighted their expertise in creating immersive environments that enhance the dining experience.
Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Co-Founder and Design Director at 4SPACE.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an Italian styled, modern residential design by Harmony World Consultant & Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an Italian styled, modern residential design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Harmony World Consultant & Design.
Harmony World Consultant & Design was commissioned to design the interior spaces for Shenzhen Oct The One project.
SBID Awards Category: Residential Apartment Over £1M
Practice: Harmony World Consultant & Design
Project: Shenzhen Oct The One
Location: Shenzhen, China
The project chooses the coastline of Shenzhen Bay. The unique geographical advantage of the peninsula endows the project with a natural landscape surrounded by the sea on three sides. The design of all floor to ceiling windows maximises the view. Every stay in different outdoor corners will be accompanied by mountains and seas outside the window. Every moment is romantic.
We extract humanistic ideas and spiritual pursuits from the project area, strive for natural, artistic and humanistic design concepts, inject romance and elegance into the coastal life, and create an era image with unique characteristics of the bay area city with diversified scenes.
In the design, we need to think about how to maximise the functionality of the space, and at the same time, have artistic aesthetics, so that the design can reflect the characteristics of the city, show the classic design model of coastal luxury houses, and create a comfortable space that integrates multiple attributes such as living, social, and aesthetics.
The overall space is dominated by Italian style. The simple and elegant tone of the living room is blended with retro orange, adding romantic Italian style to create a romantic comfort in the warm sun, which makes people sit down quietly and release a relaxed and fulfilling life state. The integrated design is adopted between the reception hall and the dining room, creating a sense of space integration, open and comfortable. The restaurant should be a place of comfort from the beginning of vision. Therefore, the restaurant is placed next to the seascape, and the whole floor to ceiling windows are used for lighting, so that the space is full of light and shadow vitality, while introducing endless scenery outside the window, and offering a feast of food. In the master bedroom space, the Italian style artistic atmosphere is fully displayed. With gray white as the bottom and warm caramel color as the decoration, the modern atmosphere spreads and grows, and the space becomes interesting. The master bedroom is equipped with independent cloakroom and master bathroom, so the master’s taste can be properly placed. The master bathtub facing the sea, with a design full of ritual and privacy, feels the daily life with the sea, pure and quiet.
As one of the most prestigious awards in the world, SBID has attracted the attention and participation of many internationally renowned designers with its strict selection criteria. From a professional perspective, SBID focuses on exploring, summarising and exploring the latest trends in the field of design. It also has high standards and requirements for the design works participating in the awards. Every year, authoritative experts in the industry assess the technical content and aesthetic creativity of the entries, and is committed to commendation, reward and publicity of various excellent designs.
The SBID Design Award has a very high competitiveness and influence in the international design industry. Being shortlisted for the SBID Design Award is not only a recognition of designers’ professional ability, but also a recognition of their design achievements in the world.
Questions answered by Hongjun Lin, Managing Director at Harmony World Consultant & Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a characterful and bold home design by Oakley Moore Interior Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a characterful and bold home design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Oakley Moore Interior Design.
Oakley Moore Interior Design was commissioned to carry out a full refurbishment and redecoration of this Victorian terraced house in the heart of Fulham in London. The brief was to bring the property to life with a focus on the client’s art collection, using creative layering of textiles, materials and bold colours to deliver an expertly layered and characterful home. Kate Aslangul of Oakley Moore lead the design for the interior architecture, soft furnishings, bespoke furniture pieces and the hanging of all artwork.
SBID Awards Category: Residential House Under £1M
Practice: Oakley Moore Interior Design
Project: SW6 Terraced House
Location: London, United Kingdom
Mandated to oversee a full refurbishment and redecoration of this Victorian terraced house in the heart of Fulham, our brief was to improve the flow of the property and breath new life into it with a focus on the client’s art collection, using creative layering of textiles, materials, and bold colours.
Inspiration for the design of the project came from the client, his love of art and his collection; he has many interests and has not only lived in the UK but also in the USA and France, so it was important to find creative ways to reference this and weave the threads to tell a story. He’s collected throughout his travels, so we had some strong pieces and colour references to use as starting points for the design.
To infuse sunshine and Provencal colour all year round I decided to make a feature of the kitchen/dining room wall which is a key siteline throughout the ground floor by designing a mural inspired by the work of Etel Adnan, a Lebanese/American artist who lived in Paris whose work I admire. The spare bedroom has a distinctly traditional French feel and using bright, modern colour and unusual fabrics makes it feel more contemporary.
The toughest hurdle was getting supplies and artisans as we started work during the Covid pandemic, so logistics and planning were incredibly important for the smooth running of the project to ensure that we delivered on time and on budget.
This was such a special project for me as the client wanted something very layered and beautiful and allowed me the freedom to play with colour and fabric. His trust in me was a real highlight.
I’m honoured to be an accredited SBID designer and it’s always wonderful to be recognised within one’s industry.
It is thrilling and a huge honour to be singled out within one’s industry. These prestigious awards are internationally recognised and provide a rare platform to gain recognition in a competitive industry for all the work involved in interior design projects. The awards not only put designers in the spotlight, but they give value to the craft and the industry.
Questions answered by Kate Aslangul, Founder and Creative Director at Oakley Moore Interior Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an ocean-view residential design by Katja Kessler Kreation, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an ocean-view residential design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Katja Kessler Kreation.
The client owned a vacation home which was only an empty shell and asked for an interior design concept. The empty shell turned out to be a seven-metre-high postmodern recently built concrete building.
Practice: Katja Kessler Kreation
Project: Das Kulm
Location: Greifswald, Germany
My client dreamed of an interior design, that would bring together regional heritage and modern vibes, creating a powerful and emotional yet stylish space. A place to sense the refreshing breeze of the Baltic Sea during the day; a place to cuddle in front of the crackling fire, listening to the raging waves at night.
Entering the shell of the building I had the sensation of standing inside a modern, concrete-formed cathedral – an overwhelming feeling. One central idea was spiraling in my head: Why conceal anything here? The rough cold DNA of the building’s structure should be palpable at every point!
So, I left the seven-meter-high concrete walls completely unplastered and used them as a backdrop for a historic church staircase, proudly displaying its 200-year-old scarred woodworm patina skin. 150-year-old weathered iron windows from a nearby decommissioned distillery, repurposed as kitchen walls, also pay homage to past times. In contrast postmodern XL window fronts that can be folded open across their full width like an accordion serve as bridges between the past and the present, as well as between indoor and outdoor. These windows bring in sunlight, wind, and the calls of seagulls, turning the expansive terrace into an additional living room on beautiful days. A ceiling mounted 360-degree swiveling XL fireplace accentuates the cathedral-like height of the building’s structure, though sitting in front of the crackling fire, it simultaneously provides a cave-like ambiance.
Moving and fitting the old 1000 kg spiral staircase into the shell required the assistance of five hard-trained carpenters and the same amount of champagne bottles to celebrate what we had achieved.
Sitting on the ocean-view terrace for the very first time with the entire crew gazing beyond the horizon on a quiet Sunday afternoon, resembled the cathedral like spirit I had experienced when first visiting this place. It was a moment of reward for what we had accomplished together.
I’ve been following the SBID Awards for a long time and have repeatedly been inspired and impressed by the submitted projects. This year, I thought now or never and submitted my own application.
So many people congratulated us for the nomination via social media. It feels like participating in a kind of interior Oscar. That alone has been a great compliment for me and the rest of my team.
Questions answered by Dr. Katja Kessler, Interior Designer and Founder of Katja Kessler Kreation.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a minimalist laundry service design by 4SPACE Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a minimalist laundry service design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, 4SPACE Design.
Whites sets the benchmark as a next-generation premium dry-cleaning and laundry service, known for its unwavering commitment to the highest standards of garment care. The design of the shop is pivotal in attracting customers and providing a comfortable and functional space. It plays a crucial role in creating an inviting atmosphere that reflects Whites’ commitment to excellence while ensuring customers feel at ease during their visits. The design embodies a refined and thoughtful approach creating Whites a modern and functional space that is both inviting and inspiring.
SBID Awards Category: Retail Design
Project: Whites
The client’s brief for Whites was to create a distinctive dry-cleaning and laundry service located within Dubai Hills Mall that defies conventional expectations. The aim was to design an environment that encourages visitors to embark on a conceptual exploration while utilizing garment care services.
The design of Whites was inspired by a fusion of modernity, tranquility, and sustainability. The carefully curated color palette of pristine white and serene sky blue imparts a harmonious and open ambiance. The mesmerising epoxy flooring, with its gradient of blue, mirrors the transformative nature of Whites’ services. Sustainability was a driving inspiration, evident in the selection of state-of-the-art equipment and a commitment to minimising environmental impact.
The toughest hurdle our team overcame during the project was achieving the delicate balance between minimalism and functionality. Ensuring that every chosen element held significance and purpose while maintaining a clean and uncluttered space required meticulous design and planning.
The highlight of our team’s journey with Whites was the creation of the main counter, a sophisticated blend of Corian and acrylic accents. This elegant centerpiece, illuminated by gentle, indirect lighting, symbolises the intimate connection between our knowledgeable staff and valued patrons.
We entered the SBID Awards driven by the exceptional standout of Whites’ design. The project’s unique combination of conceptual exploration, sustainability, and its transformative impact on the garment care experience we believe in the project’s unique standout.
Being chosen as an Award Finalist in the SBID Awards is a testament to the remarkable standout of Whites’ design. It reaffirms our commitment to innovative and purposeful design that leaves a lasting impression. This recognition elevates our reputation in the design community and underscores our dedication to sustainability and excellence, enhancing our appeal to potential clients and partners.
Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Co-Founder and Design Director at 4SPACE Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an urban jungle club design by Harmony World Consultant & Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an urban jungle club design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Harmony World Consultant & Design.
HWCD design was commissioned to design interior space for The Catania Club Chengdu. The project is an exclusive multi-dimensional social space, with a greater emphasis on diversified and artistic design, presenting a new contemporary vertical living system. The club has created multiple spatial scenes in different fields, which are closely connected and also private, aiming to create a highly vertical and permeable life, work, and social scene.
SBID Awards Category: Club & Bar Design
Project: The Catania Club Chengdu
Location: Chengdu, China
The project is composed of two ultra high towers with a height of 222 meters, and is a landmark of the core city of Chengdu. This project is an exclusive multi-dimensional social space, with a greater emphasis on diversified and artistic design, presenting a new contemporary vertical living system. The club has created multiple spatial scenes in different fields, which are closely connected and also private, aiming to create a highly vertical and permeable life, work, and social scene.
The entire space is themed with the theme of ‘Jungle Mystery’, presenting an exotic atmosphere, making people feel like they are in an adventurous world. The space is divided into six multi-functional areas, separated by arches, each step bringing a brand new scene. In a two-layer elevated space, curves are used as important visual clues to penetrate multiple spatial levels, breaking the square symmetry of horizontal and vertical planes, creating a transparent and varied visual and artistic picture.
The design of this project is very different from that of ordinary luxury houses. It needs to pay more attention to diversified and artistic design, presenting a new vertical living system in the contemporary era. A number of space scenes in different fields are created in the space, which are closely connected and private, aiming to create a highly vertical and multi permeable life, work and social scene.
Our team used a lot of arch cutting and arc modeling in the design of the space, creating the feeling of medieval Europe and European art museums. Precious Taihu stone works of art can be seen at the entrance, showing the elegant taste of residents. The elevator hall continues the arc shape used in the lobby space, and also uses rare red copper metal plate splicing, making the whole space more luxurious and grand. The metal handcrafted brushed panel with light leaking lighting design creates a feeling of mysterious urban jungle.
The design inspiration of the coffee bar comes from London Mondrian Hotel, which uses animal patterned furniture shapes and fabric fabrics, and integrates rich animal and plant elements, forming a echo with the garden landscape. It is worth mentioning that the design inspiration of the bar area came from the glorious period of the ancient Roman Empire, which was dominated by gold and turquoise gold, and often used gold, silver, copper and other metal elements to express luxury, power and dignity. On this basis, we have adopted the combination of gold and blue gold to create the bar counter in the bar area to create a luxurious and noble atmosphere. The inverted triangle metal wine rack wall is a highlight of the bar area, which not only echoes the grandeur and magnificence of the bar, but also has its own unique beauty and practicality.
Questions answered by Hongjun Lin, Managing Director of Harmony World Consultant & Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a captivating, Japanese inspired bar design by LW Design, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a captivating, Japanese inspired bar design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, LW Design.
Reminiscent of the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo, 7 Tales is a speakeasy cocktail bar where guests can experience urban Japan with a New York twist. An illustration of a man wandering through an archway into the unknown leads through a large pivot entrance door. Confused yet intrigued guests are transported into a small chamber entirely clad in mirrors; a second door opens, and suddenly, kanpai!, a flurry of colour, energy and mystery engulfs them. A glowing lacquered orange bar carved out of solid oak panels takes centre stage as they enter a nostalgic and mesmerising world of debauchery.
Practice: LW Design
Project: Seven Tales
The client’s brief for 7 Tales was to create a speakeasy cocktail bar that captures the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo with a New York twist. The bar was intended to be reminiscent of an ‘Izakaya-styled speakeasy,’ providing guests with an immersive experience of urban Japan. The design was expected to be playful, innovative, and inspired by Japanese culture, offering a unique approach to mixed drinks and a lively atmosphere that would appeal to guests into the early hours of the morning. Access was to remain through City Social restaurant on the 43rd floor of Grosvenor House, and the goal was to establish a nightlife hotspot on the 44th floor.
The dynamic culture of Tokyo nightlife and Japanese aesthetics inspired the design of 7 Tales. The concept aimed to blend traditional elements with a modern twist, drawing from various 1960s and 70s movements, including the Golden Age movement and Art Deco. The goal was to create a mesmerising world of debauchery that transports guests into a realm of energy, color, and mystery. The graffiti-style artwork on the walls and ceilings, referencing Japan’s cultural zeitgeist, along with the fusion of street art and traditional elements, brought a captivating and unique visual identity to the space.
The toughest hurdle the team had to overcome was the installation of the intricate ceiling graffiti while managing and maintaining the integrity of all the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) fixtures. The technical challenge of coordinating the artwork with the necessary technical elements required careful planning and execution to ensure seamless integration.
The highlight of 7 Tales for the team was successfully creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere that combined traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary design elements. The focal point of the Negroni gaming table, where guests engaged in a unique dice game to determine their drink of the night, added an interactive and engaging dimension to the bar experience.
LW entered the SBID Awards to showcase the innovative and captivating design of 7 Tales, highlighting their ability to merge different design influences into a cohesive and visually striking concept. The unique approach to storytelling through artwork and the successful execution of the speakeasy’s atmosphere made it a strong contender for recognition within the design industry.
Being an Award Finalist in the SBID Awards held great significance for designer’s Pooja Shah-Mulani, Jesper Axel Petersen, and LW Design. The recognition affirmed their design expertise and ability to overcome technical challenges while delivering a visually stunning and immersive space. Being a finalist reinforced their reputation in the design community, validating their creativity and commitment to pushing design boundaries.
Questions answered by Pooja Shah Mulani, Partner and Design Director at LW Design.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a natural, tree top villa design by Kimble Roden Architects, click here to read it.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a natural, tree top villa design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, Kimble Roden Architects.
Kimble Roden were engaged to design 25 luxury holiday homes in an exceptional location. Hall Wood Forest, near Looe in Cornwall, is an ancient woodland with steep slopes and undulating ground conditions, requiring a very considered and sensitive approach. The solution was to create tree top villas on stilts, designed to become an intrinsic part of the landscape, promoting a relationship between the inhabitants and their natural surroundings whilst minimising their impact on the environment. The interiors of the villas are sympathetic to the external landscape, using timber panelling, natural stone and a palette that reflects the forest.
SBID Awards Category: CGI & Visualisation
Practice: Kimble Roden Architects
Project: Hall Wood Forest
Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom
Our brief was to obtain planning permission for 25 luxury holiday homes set in a unique site – a woodland valley in Cornwall. The homes were to range from 3 to 4 bed dwellings that responded to the uniqueness of the context. The site is an ancient woodland with steep slopes, that required minimal impact on the surrounding environment. The aim was to seamlessly blend leisure, luxury and relaxation into the fabric of these homes, utilising the natural attributes of the site to enhance the experience.
Our response to the project brief was to develop the concept of the dwellings as structures that embraced and respected the forest setting. We developed the concept of treetop villas built on stilts, allowing the dwellings to be immersed in the natural environment. By making the decision to elevate the homes, it became essential to consider the external spaces as much as the internal to enhance the sense of connection with the surrounding forest and capitalize on the uniqueness of the setting by bringing the outside in.
The planning constraints we faced when designing were considerable and required our careful response. We had to really consider the impact on the ecology of the site (the trees, the fauna, the site conditions) and limit light pollution from the dwellings. This led to a greater articulation of each space – vertical slot windows were indented deep into the buildings plan to illuminate the central circulation along with the balconies deep overhang and the timber shutters. Every space has access to glimpses of the forest, each framed in different ways with balconies and horizontal and vertical slot windows; the interior layouts of these rooms were then orientated to around these focal points.
Seeing our designs come to life with the CGI images was definitely a highlight and helped us develop each space and its relationship with the forest. And of course achieving a successful planning decision was also a highlight!
Entering the SBID Awards was an opportunity to showcase our work in the context of a professional environment – we are proud to SBID accredited and this gave us the chance to promote the great work SBID does and gives us a stage to further promote our achievements.
We have really enjoyed the positive interaction we have received from our clients, professional network and followers, especially on social media. It has given us the platform to reach out to a new audience and highlight the professional interior design service we offer alongside our role as architects.
Questions answered by Edwina Kimble, Director at Kimble Roden Architects & Interior Designers.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a soft and elegant kitchen design by Poggenpohl Hampstead, click here to read it.
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