The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

Employees at web consultancy Netlife Research in Oslo can take a moment for contemplation inside one of three wooden rooms dedicated to silence.

The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

Designed by Norwegian architects Eriksen Skajaa, the birch veneer-clad rooms are punctured on every side by arched doorways, windows and recesses.

The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

Potted plants are housed inside the smaller recesses, while others are large enough for a person to climb inside.

The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

We’ve also published offices for other internet companies – why not check out our stories about offices for AOL, Google and Dreamhost?

The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

Photography is by Ivan Brodey.

The Monastery by Eriksen Skajaa Architects

Here’s some more information from Eriksen Skajaa Architects:


The user-experience consultancy firm Netlife Research commissioned Eriksen Skajaa Architects to rethink their offices to create new spaces for reflection and creativity.

When faced with the challenge of how to create three spaces for silence and the occasional phone call the ar- chitects proposed a Monastery with a monastery garden.

The room partitioning is based on the remains of existing brick walls, while the outer walls are white pigmented birch veneer that form an enclosed box.

Some of the niches are places to put the plants of the monastery garden, while others are windows with a window sill to maintain visual contact with the office outside. One of the niches outside is even just a bench to sit and read or relax.

Architect: Eriksen Skajaa Architects
Project Team: Arild Eriksen, Joakim Skajaa
Project Year: 2011
Client: Netlife Research / Thon Eiendom

Chalet Béranger By Noé Duchaufour Lawrance

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Designer Noé Duchaufour Lawrance has fitted out an alpine ski lodge in the French Alps with a trunk-like hearth, curved fir walls and a floating bed.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

The chunky fireplace is anchored to the centre of a family living room, located beneath the sloping timber eaves on the three-storey Chalet Béranger’s top floor.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Desks, chairs and other objects by Duchaufour Lawrance are placed around each room alongside other designer furniture pieces.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Wall and floors of both fir and Vals stone surround a Jacuzzi on the first floor, while concrete floors can be found in rooms elsewhere.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

We’ve also recently featured designs for a lodge with a sloping roof you can ski over – take a look here.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

See also: our story about a Paris gallery with a white Corian interior that Duchaufour Lawrance designed in 2010.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Photography is by Vincent Leroux.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Here’s some more text from Noé Duchaufour Lawrance:


Chalet Béranger

Far from the geometric construction methods of a traditional chalet, the interior architecture of this family home is a domestic landscape whose forms emerge from the ground like small functional mountains rising from a valley.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Resolutely fluid and modern, the result is a set of lines and organic forms composed around a wooden ribbon.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

A large, main room is set above the whole construction, defining the central point of the chalet where the family comes together around a warm hearth.

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

St Martin de Belleville (French Alps)- 2011

Chalet Beranger By Noe Duchaufour Lawrance

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Sugary treats are arranged like ingredients for potions inside this dimly lit patisserie in north Athens.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Greek firm Kois Associated Architects designed the shop, named Sweet Alchemy, for celebrity pastry chef Stelios Parliaros.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Some of the sweets and pastries on sale are contained inside neatly labelled jars, while others are divided up on large storage tables.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Sets of old-fashioned scales are positioned around the shop for weighing precise quantities.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

In the shop window, more jars and containers are displayed within a floor-to-ceiling bronze shelving grid.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

If you’re partial to pastries, you may want to check out the other patisseries we’ve featured, including a shop dedicated to macaroons.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Photography is by George Sfakianakis.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Here’s a little more text from Kois Associated Architects:


The project is the design of the new ‘Sweet Alchemy’ pastry shop in Athens Greece.
The store is located in the up market suburb of Kifisia in the northern region of Athens. The client is Stelios Parliaros who is considered to be the best Patisserie in Greece, author of many culinary books and host of a very popular patisserie show in Greek TV.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Alchemy a notion associated with darkness mystery and mysticism practiced in laboratories full of peculiar enigmatic devices, rare distils crystals and potions. These images were the starting point for the development of a central idea, the recreation of this atmosphere in a contemporary outtake.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

The space is characterised by the high degree of transparency which was manipulated in order to diffuse the light and filter the optic penetration. The role of light was highly regarded and thoroughly studied since the beginning in order to create a unique solution for the particular location and user. Light and shadow change throughout the day giving the space a unique atmosphere every moment. Serenity is followed by tension and drama.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

The punctured bronze skin of the main facades creates the impression of the chamber of treasures, of the golden cage which encloses the precious, the rare commodity, the sin of the pleasure of the forbidden fruit.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

The philosophy behind the choice of materials was in tune with the philosophy of our client. Selection of the raw materials and no substitutes, Iron, bronze, copper and wood were selected for their natural characteristics and were only processed but not altered in order emulate an appearance.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Our purpose was not the stenographic representation of a mystic environment but the formulation of the spirit of the place, the ‘genius loci’, the atmosphere that will saturate the space and will transform it to a true place with its very own distinctive character.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

The sense of mythical, the mysterious discovery and the transition to an other reality were the characteristics of the ‘Sweet Alchemy’ of Mr. Parliaros and those we wanted to transfuse to the new store.

Sweet Alchemy by Kois Associated Architects

Principal Architect: Kois Stelios
Design team: Patsiaouras nikos, Marielina Stavrou. Philipos Manolas
Construction: Korfiatis Kostas

Singel by Laura Álvarez Architecture

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

A staircase at the centre of this Amsterdam apartment has risers that are almost but not quite at right angles to the treads.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

Added during a renovation by Dutch studio Laura Álvarez Architecture, the white steel stairs climb up between the kitchen and lounge areas of an open-plan living room.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

The staircase leads up to a bathroom and two bedrooms that feature exposed wooden eaves and an 11-metre-long shared closet.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

You can check out all our stories about staircases that are a little out of the ordinary here.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

Photography is by Ewout Huibers.

Here’s a full explanation from Laura Álvarez:


Apartment Singel by laura alvarez architecture

Dutch firm laura alvarez architecture has completed the renovation and interior design of a two-floor apartment in Amsterdam. The building is catalogued as a national monument.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

Architect Alvarez says: The main idea was to transform the dark and claustrophobic existing apartment into a bright loft and at the same time bring into view special elements of the ancient building.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

A 70 m2 living area is located on the first floor. It is conceived as a continuous space capable to host different living activities without dividing them into different rooms.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

A light steel staircase creates a transition between cooking and dining area. A series of satin-glass walls have been introduced in the upper floor to bring natural light into the lower level and the bathroom.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

An oak grey-painted window bench provides a seat to enjoy the beautiful view towards the Amsterdam channels. It is also thought as storage cabinets.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

A nut-wood sliding door gives the possibility to close off the entrance hall from the living space. As the clients enjoy very much cooking, the kitchen has been designed with special kitchen appliances to fulfil all their needs.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

On the upper floor we can find a guest room and the main sleeping room . Both spaces are experienced as one large room that can be split into two in case of need. The bathroom is situated between these two rooms. Existing plaster walls have been removed in order to bring the old roof-beams into view.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

An eleven meter long closet has been designed to be used as storage and as wardrobe. An existing colourful closet is been used to define the height of the closet and to break the long white line of the new furniture.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

An indirect light is been placed above the closet to accentuate the continuity of the space. Lighting has been carefully chosen and indirect light has been designed to allow different possibilities to the apartment.

Frameless doors and plain plinths contribute to perceive the space asa secuence of pure and sharp surfaces. The bamboo floor gives a warm feeling upstairs whereas on the first floor a gray epoxy floor creates a balanced contrast with the nut wood elements.

Singel by Laura Alvarez Architecture

Location: Singel, Amsterdam
, The Netherlands
Architect: laura alvarez architecture
Constructor: Smart Interiors
Woodworks: Kooijmans Interieurs
Project Year: 2011-2012
Area: 120 m2

Lightning: Foscarini, Rotaliana, Tom Dixon, Arturo Alvarez, Delta Light
Furniture: Piet Hein Eek, La Palma, Fernando Jimenez
Kitchen appliances: Boretti
Bathroom: AET, Hansa, Villeroy & Bosch

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

London studio Gundry & Ducker have added oak booths and stencilled tree-like graphics to the interior of an Italian chain restaurant in Hertfordshire, England.

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

Bauble-shaped pendant lights are clustered in each of the three dining rooms of ASK Hertford, two of which feature deep green walls.

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

Oak tables and chairs are either laminated or painted in green and white, arranged randomly around the restaurant.

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

Wine bottles displayed on the walls behind the wooden bar appear to have bright white shadows.

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

The restaurant is one of a few ASK outlets that the architects are upgrading.

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

You can see a couple more projects by Gundry & Ducker here, including a pub inside a cardboard box.

ASK Hertford by Gundry & Ducker

Photography is by Hufton + Crow.

Here’s some more text from Gundry & Ducker:


Ask Italian Hertford

As part of a major refurbishment program Gundry & Ducker were asked to re-design Ask Italian in Hertford.

The design is intended to create a warm and relaxed dining environment for both the evening and daytime, whilst maintaining a sense of the simple white restaurant interiors that typified Ask’s early restaurants.

The restaurant is sited within a sequence of interconnecting spaces, Victorian shop, covered courtyard & Edwardian showroom, which with their differing volumes together provide the framework for the design.

The first space is light and addresses the street, The floor is striped in contrasting grey tiles, bespoke pendent lights hang low over a mix of white and timber tables, projecting a silhouette onto the ceiling at night that are echoed on the walls. The openness of the space is contrasted with a sense of enclosure created by high backed benches, with rich green interiors and a new bar and back display.

The second space is a vertical volume with a vaulted ceiling and central lantern light. This dark green volume is dominated by the a chandelier, a version of the brass and glass bespoke lighting that runs throughout the restaurant, The walls are decorated with murals in light green inspired by the out line of trees, in turn influenced by the history of the town.

The third space, previously a draper’s showroom, is the largest and lowest of the three. Here the space is sub divided into “a space within a space”, where walls are cut away to form castellated screens and booths green on the insides, clad in oak on the outside.

Throughout the scheme the oak flooring is manipulated to form the furniture, turning the boards through 45° and up the face of key elements within the space. Interior reveals and lit elements are picked out in greens from a pallet that runs throughout the restaurant. The tabletops are a mix of sharp white and laminated timber the laminated chairs are finished in Oak and greens from the recurring pallet.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch and Rune Fjord

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

The best escape route from a meeting at the Denmark office of toy brand Lego is down a metal slide.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Completed by designers Rosan Bosch and Rune Fjord in 2010, the open-plan office in Billund incorporates block-like display stands, model-building tables and a library of Lego pieces.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

The eight glass-fronted meeting rooms, each painted a different colour, are located on a first-floor mezzanine that wraps around the building’s perimeter.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

On the ground floor, circular holes punched through a wooden table in the coffee area create both leg room and planting beds, while lounge areas are dotted between workstations and display cabinets.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

If you like Lego, you should also check out our earlier story about a greenhouse made from the building blocks.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Photography is by Anders Sune Berg.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Here’s some more text from Rosan Bosch:


LEGO PMD

LEGO’s designers are the luckiest in the world – they get to play with LEGO all day long! Now, the designers of LEGO’s development department, LEGO PMD, has a physical working environment that corresponds to its playful content – a working environment where fun, play and creativity are paramount and where the physical design gives the adults a chance to be part of children’s play.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

With the values ’fun’, ’unity’, ’creativity & innovation’, ’imagination’ and ’sustainability’ as basis for the design, LEGO PMD has become a unique de- velopment department where the designers can become part of the children’s fantasy world.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

LEGO doesn’t just create fun for others – at LEGO PMD working is fun!

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

In order to create a design that corresponds to the focus on play, innovation and creativity, imagination has been given free rein.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Across the room, an existing walkway has been transformed into an oversized sitting environment, where a light-blue padding turns the walkway into a light and soft cloud.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

The cloud unfolds and expands into sofas, sitting space and a slide that connects the two floors in a fun and playful way.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

The idea of scale is challenged with design elements such as huge grass wall graphics and a giant LEGO man and tables with built-in bonsai gardens, thus playing with perception and scale – who is big and who is small? Where does work stop and imagination start?

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Through the physical design, the children’s fantasy worlds become part of the everyday, creating the setting for the creation of new design for new games and play.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Furthermore, the design of LEGO PMD makes it possible for the designers to work closer together. At ground floor, the open space at the centre of the room creates a dynamic flow where informal meeting pla- ces create a setting for social interaction and exchange of information.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Towards the sides, there is room for concentrated work, and specially designed means of exhibition such as the show-off podiums and the model towers give the designers a chance to display their work to each other, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and ideas across the department.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

On the first floor, an expansion of the balcony has made room for five small and three large meeting rooms in each their own colour with glass facades and a view of the large, open space.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

A Fun Zone with a yellow table bar creates room for relaxation and social interaction, where a number of building tables for children make it possible for LEGO’s youngest employees to test the newest models and products.

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Click above for larger image

The new LEGO PMD is the children’s universe where imagination reins free – for children and designer alike!

Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Click above for larger image

Project Title: LEGO PMD
Clients: Lego System A/S
Designers: Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

Location of project: Lego System A/S
Address: Systemvej 6
Postal code: DK- 7190
City: Billund
Country: Denmark

Year: 2010
Project: Design and interior decoration
Scope: 2000m2
Materials: Polyurethane floor, carpet, dry wall, acoustic bats w. graphic print, glass partition walls, acoustic ceiling, furniture

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

A neat row of wooden louvers conceals a small sleeping chamber inside the attic staffroom of a hair salon in Hamamatsu, Japan.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

Japanese firm 403architecture started the renovation by stripping the walls, ceiling and floor of the loft bare, before laying the roof rafters as floorboards.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

The former floorboards were recycled to create the walls and ceiling of the louvered bedroom, which is propped up on one side where the floor level changes.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

The ceiling overhead is left unfinished, with exposed lighting fixtures and ventilation ducts.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

This is the third unusually titled interior we’ve published recently from 403architecture – see the first two here.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

Photography is by Kenta Hasegawa.

Here’s a description from 403architecture:


The Grid of Santen

This project is the staffroom of the hair salon in Hamamatsu, Japan.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

The client needed a space to take a nap and meal. Fortunately, there is a timber deserted loft at the rooftop of the same building.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

So we aimed at solving this contradictional demands  by using materials from this rooftop loft.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

At first we wrecked this loft, then calculated all of materials. Then, we begun to study on the CAD, which means that we constructed the actual measure and materials in the virtual space.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

Also in the construction term, we used the huge parking to spread lots of materials as if in the virtual space of the CAD. We choose the “site prefabrication”.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

We converted “ex beam”  to the new floor, and  “ex floor board” to the new columns, and “ex joist” to the new beam for the structural system of layering miner grids.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

Ex floor board which become columns works as double louver controlling eye view, keeping air flow.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

And this louver solve that contradictional demands “nap” and “meal”. With each louver, one side was painted white, the other side was not painted.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

So we can see this volume as white, light one from the entrance, in the other hand, we can see as massive wooden volume from the cutting space. We wanted to propose an alternative distance.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

Inside is white space but actually it looks soft yellow because the light from outside moves around and reflects with the non-painting louver.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

The surface of each material painted white has a marbled pattern because we wanna use existing pattern of the each materials which consist of the loft.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

And this volume hanged out from the ceiling to simplify each connection by canceled the weight of itself.

The Grid of Santen by 403architecture

Though out this project, we reconstructed every topic of the architecture such as structure, program, study, construction, window, volume, surface by converting the structure which had already constructed to the new system.

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

Competition: Dezeen and interior designers Candy & Candy have teamed up to offer readers the chance to win one of five copies of their new book The Art of Design, which documents their luxury projects over the last ten years. 

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

The 200-page book showcases a broad range of projects at different scales including homes, private jets, yachts and commercial environments.

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

Photographs and drawings show projects at various stages from conception to completion and are accompanied by text describing the inspiration, thought processes behind the designs and quotes from the designers.

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

To enter this competition email your name, age, gender, occupation, and delivery address and telephone number to competitions@dezeen.com with “Candy & Candy” in the subject line. We won’t pass your information on to anyone else; we just want to know a little about our readers.

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

Read our privacy policy here.

Competition: five books by Candy & Candy to be won

Competition closes 14 February 2012. Five winners will be selected at random and notified by email. Winners’ names will be published in a future edition of our Dezeenmail newsletter and at the bottom of this page. Dezeen competitions are international and entries are accepted from readers in any country.

Subscribe to our newsletter, get our RSS feed or follow us on Twitter for details of future competitions.

Here are some more details from Candy & Candy:


Candy & Candy – the brand that has become synonymous with the world’s most luxurious interiors – has launched a new book which, for the first time ever, offers a glimpse into the innovative designs, intricate attention to detail, and fine craftsmanship which have defined this globally celebrated brand over the past decade.

This new book demonstrates the depth and breadth of design talent behind Candy & Candy, showcasing over 200 pages of the company’s design projects from sumptuous homes across the world, to private jets, yachts and commercial environments – highlighting the varied and diverse design styles of the Candy & Candy portfolio unknown to many people.

Lighting, furniture and conceptual architecture, through to the finer finishing touches such as embroidery and pattern, also feature throughout, illustrating the ground-breaking originality and limitless design skills of the team.

The book also unveils the meticulous behind-the-scenes design process behind these creations and seeks to clarify why Candy & Candy has been such an influential force in luxury interior design and how it remains at the forefront of the industry.

‘Candy & Candy: The Art of Design’ is available to purchase from www.candyandcandy.com priced at £75 + p&p.

Bukiya by Archiee

Bukiya by Archiee

The display system at this Japanese souvenir shop in Paris is just key rings hung on screws in the walls.

Bukiya by Archiee

Japanese architects Archiee, who are based in the French capital, designed the Bukiya shop.

Bukiya by Archiee

Key rings are clipped onto each product so that they can be hung from the undulating walls in vertical or diagonal rows.

Bukiya by Archiee

Each of the 377 screws is numbered for reference.

Bukiya by Archiee

The counter is located within a rectangular room at the shop’s centre, which also conceals two structural columns.

Bukiya by Archiee

If you like this project, you might also be interested in a bicycle shop where recycled paper tubes display products.

Bukiya by Archiee

Photography is by Ryo Suzuki.

Bukiya by Archiee

Here’s a little more explanation from Archiee:


Continuous-discrete (Japanese Souvenir Shop)

This is the renovation project for a boutique, located in Paris, that displays and sells traditional Japanese products.

Bukiya by Archiee

Simple grid

The project is based on a simple grid of Phillips screws that form the system for displaying the merchandise. There are a total of 377 screws, each having been individually screwed by hand in its allocated point. Each screw is accompanied by a simple clip, which allows the merchandise to be hung to the wall.

Bukiya by Archiee

Flexibility of the layout

The grid enables the boutique great flexibility with regard to the display of the merchandise. Depending on the scale of the object to be displayed, a single screw or a cluster of screws can be utilized. The products are to be displayed in specific, yet fluid, categories in order to convey a narrative to the customer.

Bukiya by Archiee

Composition of the space

In order to fulfill the grid, the project comprises of expansive and continuous wall surfaces. There are twodiscernible surfaces. The first surface is a smooth undulating surface that, being placed over the strange existing shape of the boutique, plays two fundamental roles, that of creating a minimal internal surface and that of directing the customer around the space. The second surface is a planar intervention that covers an existing concrete column and a steel column which are awkwardly close to each other. This makes use of what would otherwise be wasted space and also simplifies and facilitates the circulation around the boutique. To maximize space further, the cash register for the boutique is found within this planar intervention.

Bukiya by Archiee

Facade

The façade of the boutique has been kept as minimal as possible in order to create a dialogue between the interior and exterior space. As such, the facade becomes the initial boundary of the continuous undulating surface.

Bukiya by Archiee

Merchandise control

In order to identify the merchandise on display, each screw has a unique identification number printed next to it. This allows the boutique to keep track of the display, stocking, and selling of each item of merchandise. This identification number is purposefully kept visible on the wall as delicate decoration.

Bukiya by Archiee

Date: 2011
Area: 60m²
Type: interior
Programme: shop
Architects: Yusuke Kinoshita and Daisuke Sekine (Archiee)

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

A room dedicated to ironing is at the centre of a renovated Barcelona apartment with yellow doors and a spinning mirror.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

Architect Sergi Pons claims that the owner spends a lot of time ironing, so created a large aperture facing out from the laundry area into an open-plan living and dining room.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

The spinning mirror is positioned on a low partition in the bedroom, separating the bed from the yellow doors and screens that conceal the bathroom behind.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

The city centre apartment, named An Urban Refuge, also features pine floors and surfaces in each room.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

We’ve featured a few projects in recent months with bright yellow walls and details – see our stories about a yellow concrete gymnasium, an apartment with a yellow storage wall and a canteen with a yellow-spotted ceiling.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

Photography is by Adrià Goula.

Here’s some more text from Sergi Pons:


An Urban Refuge

This project sets out to alter and improve an apartment situated facing away from the road in a 1980’s building on carrer Casanova, on the left side of the Eixample in Barcelona. In defining the new use of space in accordance with the client’s needs, attention has been given to maximising the entry of daylight and the visual interrelationships between the different parts of the house, each with its own identity.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

The aim is to give the occupant a permanent awareness of the entire space from each part of the house. The visual space flows in the same way as does the layout.The heart of the house is the ironing area where the owner spends a lot of time. An effort has been made to freeze this moment of intimacy and to use a large window to frame an undervalued yet daily activity.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

Pine is used for the floors and some of the walls, and the colour yellow for the movable objects.The clean, well-defined design is intended to work without ornamentation. The functional objects, such as folding tables, hangers, portable mirrors, etc. give the space life, meaning and a sense of domesticity. These objects are the decor of the space.

An Urban Refuge by Sergi Pons

Architect: Sergi Pons
Collaborators: Anna Giralt
Situation: Barcelona, Spain
Project year: 2011