Displaying posts labeled "Brick"

Two Arches Apartment in Ljubljana

Posted on Wed, 2 Nov 2022 by KiM

The client of an apartment renovation project holds a mini-competition and chooses Riba Architects’ solution, where no square metre goes to waste: there are enough rooms, no corridors – the space itself is breathing. We connect the street and courtyard sides to the living space and create a circular floor plan around the kitchen island to establish a sense of grandeur. We make sure the lines are long and elegant. While removing the roughcast surface, we get an unexpected gift: the rooms formerly connected by doors were actually divided only by two huge brick arches 100 years ago. The seals under the arches are removed, while the arches are cleaned and used as a basis for the overall design. At every step, we seek to enrich the ambience with unexpected details and colours: thermally treated wood is introduced, and a mirror in the bathroom pierces a peephole from an old front door while another mirror is given an imposing massive frame from the wing of the same front door. The retro white square tiles are complemented by the intense dark turquoise colour of the walls and the ceiling above. The wall by the kitchen island is the colour of the morning dawn and so are the velvet curtains in the bedroom. Top ceramic designer Bojana Ristevski from Studio Juha created unforgettable ‘tableware’ carrying the motif of dark blue grain. The ‘two arches’ apartment on Francetova Street is a modern classic. Everyone who visits it says: this is where I would live.
I would live there too! Those arches are absolutely incredible. And the glass walls with curtains in front are a brilliant solution for keeping the space bright and spacious whilst adding privacy when needed. No wonder Riba Architects won an award for this project. (Tableware photos: Maruša Maze. All others: Janez Marolt)

The designers knew they had a gem in the rough. The apartment in a functionalist building was derelict but as they stripped it back they discovered a ribbed ceiling and massive concrete columns. Reconfiguring the layout the main public area is an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area that embraces its industrial elements while softening them ever so slightly for family living. Apartment N1M by Bratislava-based Benko Benkova.

 

Photography by Nora and Jakub Čaprnka

Another World

Posted on Thu, 20 Oct 2022 by midcenturyjo

“A grand heritage home was transformed combining vintage and contemporary signature pieces from Australian and international designers, resulting in a showcase home that whilst exciting and arresting is still comfortable and inviting. An eclectic collection of furniture fittings and finishes was curated to produce a stunning result.”

The designer Christian Lyon calls this project Another World. Another world indeed. I’m transported to a land of luxury and style. A chic and sophisticated home in my dreams.

Working on a Saturday

Posted on Sat, 15 Oct 2022 by midcenturyjo

It’s like I say week in week out. If you have to drag yourself into work on a weekend it helps if it’s somewhere stylish. Sessùn Madrid by Cobalto Studio.

Photography by Pablo Zamora

Shaking the rainbow

Posted on Fri, 14 Oct 2022 by midcenturyjo

Hands up who is tired of beige-on-beige monochrome rooms? Hands up who craves colour and fun? Justine Guillermou of Rainbow Shaker is a French interior designer who recently moved to the UK. Her work is colourful and playful incorporating raw and industrial materials like wood, metal and construction materials like OSB. She shared one of her recent projects Bow Brook, an apartment in a converted schoolhouse. What a transformation! Tired, nondescript spaces are now vibrant and fun.

Photography by Justine Guillermou of Rainbow Shaker