Design Wonders: Exploring Unique Spaces across the globe
Embark on a captivating journey through the globe’s most innovative and distinctive spaces, where design seamlessly intertwines with cultural excellence. From the tranquil elegance of Kengo Kuma’s Suzuki in Singapore’s Mondrian to the historic transformation by Patricia Urquiola of Rome’s Six Senses hotel, and the grandeur of Beijing Parade restaurant paying homage to the Tang Dynasty, these locales redefine the boundaries of architectural brilliance. Join us as we explore how these spaces, from bustling marketplaces to bespoke club environments, beautifully marry tradition with modernity, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of global design wonders.
Suzuki at Mondrian Singapore Duxton
Kengo Kuma
Singapore
Suzuki, a sushi bar named after head chef Yuichiro Suzuki and designed by Kengo Kuma, graces the Mondrian in Singapore. Seating 12 at the open-kitchen counter and additional guests in a private room, it embodies Kuma’s blend of elegance and simplicity.
Kuma’s design creates a serene Japanese glen illusion, with a floating bamboo platform over the kitchen and a nakaniwa garden. The stone-lined passage, glass façades with Kyoto bamboo, and internal courtyard add to the natural ambiance. The 12-seater sushi counter, made from 150-year-old hinoki timber, combines tradition and modern sophistication, transporting guests from Singapore’s bustling scene to a tranquil Japanese haven.
‘There are two touchstones in all my designs – simplicity and materiality. With Suzuki, I really wanted to create a harmonious balance where these two elements could co-exist. I’m very pleased that in such a small space as this, we’ve been able to capture the essence of Japanese culture,’ shares Kengo Kuma.
Six Senses
Patricia Urquiola
Rome, Italy
Designer Patricia Urquiola, based in Milan, has transformed a historic palazzo in Rome into the Six Senses Rome, a hotel and spa adorned with circular elements and traditional Italian materials. Located near iconic landmarks like the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, the Palazzo Salviati Cesi Mellini dates back to the 15th century, later updated in the 18th-century baroque style by architect Tomaso De Marchis. Studio Urquiola led the renovation, preserving period details like the UNESCO-listed facade and an impressive central staircase.
The entrance to Piazza di San Marcello leads to an open lobby with various seating areas, blending Urquiola’s designs with classic Italian pieces. Circular motifs dominate, from rugs to tables, creating a connection with nature while respecting the palazzo’s history. A green marble bar, forming an incomplete circle, adorns the lobby, complementing the courtyard’s matching counters. Bivium, the trattoria-style restaurant connected to the lobby, offers all-day dining in the courtyard, featuring circular elements and additional seating. The circular theme extends to the Six Senses Spa and Roman baths on the first floor, where travertine-lined pools await. Shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2023, the Six Senses Rome combines innovation with respect for Roman heritage.
The Beijing Parade restaurant
Ao Han
Beijing, China
In Beijing, China, a remarkable Belt and Road-themed restaurant pays tribute to the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty. The design captures the essence of ancient Chinese life, meticulously crafting living scenes to recreate the world of the Tang people. The space seamlessly blends various feasting styles within a concise and refined ambiance, subtly alluding to the historic nodes of the Silk Road.
While spatial design often contends with commercial constraints, this project strategically addresses flaws by prioritizing private rooms and corridors, bypassing the need for a conventional lobby. In the antehall, an elaborate display showcases the unparalleled prosperity of the Tang Dynasty, featuring axe-split stone, aged copper logos, red shelves, an original stone tea table, and wine racks. Twisted trunks and branches adorn precipitous rock cliff installations, where mosses quietly climb and sparse flowers blossom in the warm air. The resplendent view across rolling peaks unfolds like a panoramic painting, vividly capturing the glory of the Tang Dynasty’s heyday within the restaurant’s harmonious setting.
Longfor Origin Sales Center
Cindy Jin
Wuhan, China
The Longfor Origin undergoes a transformative shift from a traditional sales center to a bespoke club space, blending art, technology, humanities, health, business, entertainment, and private banquets. The dynamic spiral chandelier, synchronized with music, bathes the space in captivating lights and shadows, offering an immersive experience. A stylish spiral staircase, adorned with a curry and metallic texture, connects the two stories, while the astrolabe design enhances the ambiance with a celestial touch, encouraging imaginative exploration under a simulated starry sky.
Challenging the homogeneity of the real estate market, the de-sales center concept redefines the purpose of Longfor Origin. By day, natural light interweaves with curves, illuminating the space, and at night, it frames the area with starlight. The design seamlessly integrates beauty and meaning, exemplified by the fitness area with a clear cityscape view, providing a space for both physical and mental relaxation. Nestled in Heping Bay, Shenyang, this project thrives on the city’s developmental dividends, emerging as a symbol of pride, prosperity, and a hub for high-end living.
LinkedIn Atlanta
Gensler Architecture
Atlanta, Georgia
LinkedIn Atlanta’s workplace is a harmonious reflection of company values and the distinctive spirit of the City in the Forest. The goal was to craft an inclusive environment, marrying familiar elements with a sense of perpetual discovery. Central to this vision is the use of brand experience and storytelling to cultivate a strong community ethos among LinkedIn Atlanta’s team.
Inspired by Atlanta’s urban landscape, the office design guides individuals through a series of connection points, where shared experiences echo the local community and align with LinkedIn’s mission to connect people. Divided into four distinctive neighborhoods, each offers a unique work setting, creating a diverse menu of spaces that cater to the varied needs and workstyles of employees and visitors. Drawing inspiration from local features like roads, bridges, schools, and the Beltline, LinkedIn Atlanta’s office becomes a vibrant, optimistic workspace that not only celebrates its surroundings but also establishes a distinct identity within the broader brand framework.
Wushang Drean Mall International Cinema
One Plus Partnership
Wuhan, China
The design theme, ‘The City,’ for this cinematic space draws inspiration from bustling metropolises seen in aerial views. Rectangular and trapezoidal ‘boxes’ on ceilings and walls, mimicking skyscrapers, create a dynamic cityscape. Concealed luminaires cast light through the gaps, resembling illuminated city streets. The lounge area mirrors the ceiling’s shape, providing staggered seating for filmgoers.
Marble dominates the interior, with its mottled pattern extending across floors, walls, seating, and the bar counter. The ceiling replicates stone patterns via metal panels for cost-effectiveness and weight reduction. Extensive efforts in Shuitou, Fujian Province, centered on finding stones aligning with the design theme and capturing their textures for metal panel printing, achieving a seamless blend of real and faux marble.
City road intersections inspired the space division, resulting in a geometric interplay of ceilings, walls, and floors. To mitigate sound transmission, marble-patterned cloth replaces natural marble, meticulously printed to resemble the real stone. This innovative design not only captures the essence of a bustling city but also incorporates practical considerations for acoustics and cost efficiency.
Emerald bay Marketplace and Café
Blur Workshop
Kissimmee, FL
Nestled within the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, the Emerald Bay Marketplace & Café emerges as a vital addition to the hotel’s vibrant atmosphere. Consolidating three existing retail spaces in the central grand atrium, this multifunctional hub optimizes efficiency by merging diverse offerings under one roof. This not only streamlines operations and enhances the array of choices but also creates space for novel venues with varied items and price ranges.
Drawing inspiration from Florida’s art-deco heritage and the lively ambiance of modern open-air markets, the design incorporates elements like woven wicker, custom mosaic flooring, art deco terrazzo, handmade tiles, natural marbles, and cerused white oak millwork. This blend fosters a playful yet sophisticated identity for the marketplace.
Functioning as an all-encompassing spot, the central marketplace & café caters to diverse needs, whether it’s a quick bite before poolside relaxation or a gourmet to-go meal and craft coffee during conferences. The adaptable layout with moveable tables and baskets easily transforms to accommodate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With additional offerings such as snacks, wine, pre-made cocktails, frozen yogurt, and a fully staffed coffee shop, the Emerald Bay Marketplace & Café becomes the ultimate one-stop-shop for hotel guests.
References:
Cinema (no date) GOOD DESIGN AWARD. Available at: https://www.g-mark.org/en/gallery/winners/17652?text=one%2Bplus%2Bpartnership&years=2023 (Accessed: 24 December 2023).
LinkedIn Atlanta: Projects (no date) Gensler. Available at: https://www.gensler.com/projects/linkedin-atlanta (Accessed: 24 December 2023).
Projects (no date a) BLUR Workshop. Available at: https://www.blurworkshop.com/projects#/emerald-bay-market-place/ (Accessed: 24 December 2023).
Projects (no date b) Kengo Kuma and Associates. Available at: https://kkaa.co.jp/en/project/ (Accessed: 23 December 2023).
Purquiola (no date) Six senses rome: Patricia Urquiola, patriciaurquiolastudio. Available at: https://patriciaurquiola.com/architecture/six-senses-rome (Accessed: 24 December 2023).
Wushang Dream Mall International Cinema (no date) Frameweb. Available at: https://frameweb.com/project/wushang-dream-mall-international-cinema (Accessed: 24 December 2023).
