© Pierre Soulard

© Pierre Soulard

© Pierre Soulard

The different materials and inclined planes create a particular atmosphere using all the senses, helped by giant screens: walls and sloping floor modify the perception of space. Located at the back of the restaurant, dogs’ room is visible for the customers and mostly to provide a link between the dog and his owner.

© Pierre Soulard

© Pierre Soulard

Special thanks to v2com.biz

© Claude-Simon Langlois

© Claude-Simon Langlois

THQ, a multi-national video games company, opened their largest development studio in Montreal in 2010, occupying 57,000 sq. ft. on 2 floors in a historic building: the former headquarters and printing press of the Montréal Gazette newspaper.This massive studio with a 400–person capacity includes all sorts of disciplines that serve as THQ’s creative engine. The client’s objective was to maximize the number of people in a collaborative workplace setting and social zones.The large floor plates were divided into 2 distinctive zones: a darker atmosphere was designated for the artists, a brighter outdoor setting in honeycomb-shaped workstations and wooden “skate park” platforms, for the other disciplines.

© Claude-Simon Langlois

Over-sized metal poles, feed the electrical and communication cabling, and create an abstraction of trees or lampposts. Connecting these 2 zones is a giant-sized white tunnel incorporating social gathering spaces and offices.Complimentary rooms took on a theme of their own; the lunchroom turns into an outdoor rest stop, the screening room exposes its theatrical side and conference room tables transform themselves into ping-pong tables.The space emulates the very nature of the organization, each zone plays out as series of screen shots underscoring the culture of the multi-media industry, work at play.

© Claude-Simon Langlois

© Claude-Simon Langlois

About id+s Design

id+s design solutions inc., founded in the year 2000, brings together more than 50 years combined design experience of its principals, Susan Silveri and Joanne Imperatori. Their vision for the company, based on their well honed industry experience was and remains above all an exemplary service and design quality. At the heart of this service is their own involvement in all aspects of their projects. Today id+s is a multi-disciplinary team of 12 designers and technicians of acknowledged merit. Successful from day one, their exhaustive list of projects encompasses office design of all types of businesses, as well as the design of public and commercial spaces.

© Claude-Simon Langlois

© Claude-Simon Langlois

Services range from consultation through to managing all aspects of projects from planning through design to moving coordination. Efficiency, creativity, functionality, intelligence, resourcefulness and simplicity are the principles which guide the organization and its design philosophy. Clients are their best testimony. Id+s design has won the Shaw Contract Group “Design is …” award in 2010 for the law firm of Heenan Blaikie in Toronto and in 2011 for the offices of Astral Media in Montreal.

Special thanks to v2com.biz

© Fran Parente

© Fran Parente

© Fran Parente

The Agency also needed to be divided in two different pieces. On one piece, they had to be more flexible: the creation area. They need to change the tables layout from time to time to serve the client better with his special needs.On the other piece was the edition area, the traditional work area that doens’t have to change.

© Fran Parente

© Fran Parente

On the square block, its located the creation area. An big open space where the tables were design to be a single work base that can move around.  While in the long rectangle was projected one table only that goes through the rectangle making an more rigid layout.Both of the blocks has a really high height that made it possible to have an second floor where was located all the rooms that had to be closed, such as computer room, administration room, and meeting rooms on different sizes.

© Fran Parente

© Fran Parente

© Fran Parente

© Fran Parente

Whenever was possible, the meeting rooms where designed with glass walls that allows a nice natural light through the circulation area. Since the project just use part of the higher floor, all the meeting rooms have a nice view to lower floor or to the neighbourhood outside.

By enclosing a small portion of outdoor terrace into a glass pavilion in the center of the penthouse, Kokaistudios create the new core of the apartment in an impressive double height atrium with the opportunity to bath by the natural light.This new core space, with walls removed from original layout, increasing the kitchen and the dining area conceived as dynamic spaces. Surrounded by the amazing outdoor swimming pool, it is able to be divided by semi transparent glass partition to satisfy various scenarios.

A transitional space distributes the functions between first and second floor and at the same time to prelude the entrance to the living room and to the guest bedroom located on the first floor to guarantee privacy from the family area located on the second level. The staircase has been designed with a great sculptural attitude with a deep study of details making it a prominent symbol of the space. The multi-function living room originally divided by a partition that does not allow for a connection between the north and the south view has been reconfigured by locating a fireplace in the middle of the space to create a dynamic layout for social flexibility. The concept of fluid and dynamic spaces the mainstream of the entire project and has been applied in the second level in both master bedroom and study room separating a mood of tranquility and activities yet allowing continues journey between the spaces.

Thanks to the great opportunity created by the architectural approach to the design, a bridge connects the staircase to the family room, which is designed for relaxation and meditation, on the second level allowing the view of the entire apartment and the amazing perception of the double height space of the core of the penthouse.Particular attention is given to the selection of materials, Kokaistudios choice being driven both by the desire to choose environmentally friendly materials and finishing techniques, as well as by the desire for a strong architectural aesthetic and feeling for the project.

The penthouse personality is defined by the core materials and workmanship rather than by the finishing decorations. The texture and surface characteristics of the materials stimulate all the senses of the guests; oak timber floors from north east China treated with natural oils are combined with white cream Spanish stones finished with ancient hand hammered techniques and the walls are finished with luxurious Venetian “marmorino” plasters which are hard and glossy as is marble but able to transmit soft and warm mood by distributing the light as no other material is able to.

Kokaistudios have a deep study of the lighting possibilities that maximize the use of natural sunlight and create a flexible lighting system that transforms the space and the mood according the social or private functions.With its unique location at the boundary of the fast growing Central Business District in Shenzhen on the north and nature landscape of Hong Kong on the south, the result is a stunning penthouse occupying a privileged point of living between the nature and the city.The end product stands as an example of Kokaistudios vision of luxury living with timeless-chic taste; defined by a connection to nature, a connection to fine materials and craftsmanship, while meeting the demands of a modern way of living.

© Marisol Paredes

© Marisol Paredes

© Marisol Paredes

The grand curved wall that penetrates the living and dining room is covered with wainscoting made from walnut wood chips, which form a membrane that appears to be floating along the wall.

© Marisol Paredes

© Marisol Paredes

Location: Bosques de las Lomas, México
Architectonic project: Art Arquitectos
Interior project: Art Arquitectos
Photography: Marisol Paredes

The apartment is on rent and studio 8 ½ had only one month to create a new eco and intelligent modern space for living and working.

The furniture is designed and made by studio 8 ½. The architects presents their vision about contemporary living and pure “low-cost” design.

The main materials are recycled paper tubes, old painted furniture in new meanings, an old wooden palette and wood panels.

Architect: Studio 8 1/2
Client: Private
Build cost: 500 euro
Project area: 50 m2
Year of completion: 11.2010

© Jaime Navarro

© Jaime Navarro

In the lobby natural materials such as marble, stone and wood were used to generate a monochrome environment where the features of each element stands out.  The marble´s vein creates a pattern that interacts with the furniture, contrasting with the white floor and ceiling surrounding, making the architectonic elements look like sculptures and attract the attention. The main elements of this space are a fireplace located at the end and respecting the interior angle of the column that is recovered in ebony wood. A grand bookcase that seems to be floating against the wall, creating a library ambience giving warmth to the space and the reception desk made of a single piece of black limestone. Indirect lighting shines in the space by the use of black chandeliers that were hanged at different heights.

© Jaime Navarro

© Jaime Navarro

For the circulations were used continuous stripes on the walls to bathe with indirect light the corridor with a mellow blue aqua color that contrasts with the white floors, plafonds and walls. The signaling of the apartments and mailboxes area has the same blue shade. The gym has a continuous stripe in red color that unifies and gives personality to the space, and subsequently transforms into furniture. Rectangular niches are the main sources of light giving perspective and motion. For privacy to the interior of the space a specially designed screen was done amplifying the shape of the branches of a tree. The floors are of dark wood and the partitions were done with aluminum and great dimension glass to take advantage of the magnificent views.

© Jaime Navarro

© Jaime Navarro

The multipurpose room combines the white plafonds and wooden shades. The accents in this space are given by the green shades of the vegetation and furniture. A special bar was designed based on the lounge concept to give the space the flexibility and movement required for the different events. It has also excellent views of the city. In the playroom different combinations of colors and organic shapes were used. The floor is also a big collage of colors made of a vinyl material that is soft, resistant and highly hygienic for the children to have total freedom and let their imagination fly away with all the diverse activities that can be done in the space.

© Jaime Navarro

The organic shapes were also used in the gardens creating an interesting puzzle that combines stone, grass and plants. Decorative lighting was placed to make the path nice and safe, as well as some benches that are work as lamps in the night. In the SPA stone materials were used such as black slab for the walls and flamed granite for the floors. The bathroom doors are in temperate glass and the furniture was designed specially with a contemporary design to resume a health care space that also has sensational views. It also has a relaxation area with Jacuzzi and resting hall. The tour ends in the swimming pool area that has a grand structure made of tempered glass that protects de access without blocking the view. The swimming pool has a rectangular shape and has a terrace protected by a canvas with a daring geometry. The lighting and furniture are special for outdoors and are the perfect addition to this area that also has fantastic views.

© Natalia Berowska

© Natalia Berowska

Originally the interior was supposed to be divided into hall, two small rooms and kitchen. This division made the apartment even smaller and had strengthen the feel of small amount of space. The architects proposed opening whole area by demolishing walls in order to create so-called “open space” without any noticeable divisions.

© Natalia Berowska

© Natalia Berowska

Their main intention was to create interior which could reflect the character of young couple and at the same time could provide effect of integrity and neutrality. They decided to use simple and modern forms, subdued colors which they broke with dominant red sofa. It took a lot of time and energy to find material that would complement our idea and could provide appropriate character to whole project. Finally they used OSB board of which they made kitchen cabinets and desk top.

© Natalia Berowska

© Natalia Berowska

Cheap building material after varnishing became noble and perfectly fitted in white interior. Due to such a small space available all of the furniture were designed specially for that apartment and were manufactured by carpenter. Next step was to match proper lighting. Cubist plafonds were main source of light, lit working area downlights and industrial kitchen wall lights.

In small interiors it is crucial to act with moderation when you are choosing accessories and how many of them you want to use.

Guest can find Crystal object which is image of Aztec God kukulucan, snake with wing. Height 5m, made Python pattern by 6 millions of crystal.

The image of this object is that kukulucan going down from the heaven.

By another technique “Glass mosaic”, we made bar counter by Python pattern. At the main dining hall, we designed cement tile arrange by Mexican textile design which is common carpet in Hacienda (Large farm). Highlight of the restaurant is terrace lounge that guest can enjoy 270 degree of Tokyo view with resort style sofa seats and standing bar.

The architects create space depend on situation and direct an ordinary atmosphere.Latin luxury lounge base in white and bronze color is mainly made by marble and lose wood to enhance texture and provide rich, cozy and comfortable space with BGM of bustle of 9th floor.Composed by 2 sort of space, Dining & Terrace loungeon 9th Floor and Lounge on 10th Floor.

Bringing on a new breeze in this ensemble, SAQ’s intervention is minimal: the particular atmosphere is created with a limited amount of elements.

The length of the space is emphasized by both the padded side-wall and the sculpture hovering over the dining tables. This 30 meter long sculpture is a creation of Arne Quinze and erupts from the bar at the end of the room almost like a living and articulated organism. Floating above, the installation gives the seated customers a sense of protection and intensifies the notion of gathering.

The upholstered wall not only functions as a perfect acoustic absorbent for the ambient conversations, it houses all the essential technical elements and infrastructure: the heating and ventilation system, the electrical installations, but also the annex rooms such as the kitchen, the toilets, and the lounge. The wall is garnished with an irregular pattern of dots as if formed by the shadow of the moving sculpture.

One color prevails, the glossy copper present on the sculpture’s skin as well as on the crackled surface of the side-wall openings reacts magnificently with the incoming daylight offered by the generous large-front windows. On summer days, the accordion windows are opened up, making the view over the Brussels ancient centre below an intrinsic component of the scenography.