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Ciudad del Carmen is a city on the southwest end of Carmen Island in Campeche, Mexico. Located in the Laguna de Términos on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, it has a population of nearly 170,000. The city was a small fishing neighborhood until the 1970s, when oil discovered in the region caused it to grow and develop substantially.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3cLVUI9

18.633333°, -91.833333°

Source imagery: Airbus Space
© CNES 2020, Distribution Airbus DS

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This family heirloom of a home dates back to the early 20th century, featuring a myriad of styles and materials that embody the lives of the previous inhabitants. Tasked with giving the interior a much-needed facelift, Turin-based architecture and interior design firm Marcante Testa were careful to preserve its legacy, striking a delicate balance between joyful nostalgia and the functions of contemporary life.

Originally owned by Ascanio Sobrero (the inventor of nitroglycerine), today it is home to a man in his forties who re-inhabits the places of his childhood and adolescence where he once lived with his parents and grandparents. Many features – from the old wallpapers to the tiles from the 1970s, the chandeliers and the old wood panelling in the living area – have been preserved and incorporated into the project with this latest refurbishment being treated as another layer in the home’s storied past, binding them all together.

Related: Extraordinary Heritage Apartment Renovation in Venice by Marcante Testa.

Located in the northwest Italian town of Cavallermaggiore, the explosive mixture of materials, furnishings and finishes from past eras all unify under one roof. The external entrance and staircase have been updated with a metal framework inspired by chicken coops sitting atop a brick base that takes its cue from rural buildings and barns. Leading to the first floor, the metal detailing follows into the interiors with a burnt clementine structure that weaves through the internal space, connecting elements between the various rooms and defining new furnishings and functions.

A strip of blue resin connects the kitchen, entrance and living area, and leads to the bathroom. The solid colour contrasts with the designs of the old ceramic floor tiles. Walls and fixtures, like the bathroom sink and powder room toilet seat, are colour matched enhancing the visual narrative. Original wainscotting remains, engaging with new furniture and objects while a small theatre with updated curtains playfully hides the television. The metal clementine structure plays a crucial role throughout, framing the old wallpaper; it is at once a suspended ceiling, a coffee table and a partition wall.

Related: French Metal Rack: Restored Paris Apartment by Marcante-Testa Features a Clever Zoning System.

Marcante Testa have long desired to create an interior where elements from the past could be kept and enhanced without any judgement of their aesthetic value.

“Today, perhaps, the approach to refurbishing of homes tends all too easily to produce a tabula rasa,” explains the team. “This eliminates what exists and thus loses the chance to investigate – without prejudices or nostalgic sentiment – whether a possible added value can be derived from the presence of an echo of the lives (even unknown to us) that previously unfolded in the rooms we now want to take over.”

Bold and brave, this latest refurbishment shows that change is often good but sometimes a renaissance is even better.

Explore other projects by Marcante Testa on Yellowtrace. 

| The article Good Things from Bad Taste: House Renovation in Cavallermaggiore by Marcante Testa. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

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Sydney Airport in New South Wales, Australia. At the top of this Overview, we see a Boeing 747 (left) and an Airbus A380 (right) parked in front of blast deflector fences, massive structures that protect people and property during engine tests. As the busiest airport in Australia, the facility handles more than 42 million passengers each year.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3cGqPWd

-33.927265°, 151.177861°

Source imagery: Nearmap

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Talk about a wavy project. Architectural firm ASKA has redesigned leading haircare brand Maria Nila’s head office and salon in Stockholm. Pastel hues of pink, peach and turquoise have been injected into the space, imprinting the brand’s visual identity into the DNA of the building while highlighting original details of the existing interior.

The magic starts upon entry with a spectral sense of arrival. A unique art installation by ASKA, made out of form cut plexiglass, drips down from the ceiling playfully resembling beads of shampoo. It’s a signifier of what’s to follow with a scheme of pastel colours referring back to the different haircare lines of Maria Nila, paired with a soft architectural language. Inspired by elements found in nature, such as forests, oceans, coral reefs and caves, these undulating, organic shapes all link back to the green and nature-friendly approach of the company itself.

Located in a four story townhouse in the central part of Stockholm, the interior is articulated around public and private zones. A reception, salon, beauty bar, conference and meeting areas can be found on the entrance level as the spaces then gradually become more private and workplace oriented as you continue upwards through the building.

Elements of the existing architecture like a green chequered marble floor and a wooden staircase have been preserved, layered with the new interior details. “Here we wanted to draw the visitors’ attention straight to the core of the company – their product,” says ASKA co-founder Madeleine Klingspor. ”But the search for the essence can also be about the building and architectural qualities itself, for instance by choosing a light green wall paint we were able to highlight the original checked marble floor.”

With up to 30 rooms spanning the 650 square metre premises, each area feels distinct while the consistent design language forms a cohesion across the four floors. Most of the furniture has been designed specifically for the new head office, bolstered by objects and art by up-to-date creators like furniture designer Gustaf Westman, LED artist Josefin Eklund and artist My Zachrisson.

With creativity and innovation present in even the smallest of details, ASKA has captured the essence of Maria Nila while defying the expectations of a conventional workspace. Not a bad place to clock into work every day.

| The article Making Waves: Maria Nila Salon & HQ in Stockholm by ASKA. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

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The post What Is Motivation? You’ve Probably Been Thinking About It All Wrong appeared first on Nir and Far.

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Check out this Overview of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, along the banks of Lake Michigan. The two neighborhoods shown here — The Loop and Near North Side — contain a majority of the city’s large commercial businesses, retail establishments, restaurants, hotels and famous attractions. Navy Pier, Grant Park, and the Cloud Gate sculpture (“The Bean”) are all visible from this perspective.

See more here: https://bit.ly/3wmxNaI

41.882686°, -87.623325°

Source imagery: Airbus Space
© CNES 2020, Distribution Airbus DS

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Jeremy Bull, Principal designer at Alexander &CO. will never be late for work again. Taking the best elements of working from home, the studio has designed Alexander House, an architectural residential showcase and a purpose-built live/work set up in the very next terrace adjoining his Bondi Junction home.

Described as “a home for working in” the project is a departure from the traditional office to a more artistic residential environment that can change and adapt to the evolving needs of their team and clients. The deeply personal space acts as an extension of home for Jeremy and his wife (and Alexander &Co’s Marketing director) Tess Gleeson, while introducing a new framework of “work” into the discussion with their clients.

Related: Interview: Jeremy Bull of Alexander &CO.

The flexible, purpose-built co-working space allows the design studio to showcase their design work “in the flesh” while providing a working environment that is healthier, not to mention more enjoyable, for their team. The ideals of the stuffy, utilitarian, commercial office have been thrown out the window and replaced with this calming abode.

It’s as if each project beforehand led to this moment, with Alexander House embodying a culmination of the studio’s technical and creative skills. Feeling a little like a relic, the house is robust but beautifully detailed. Structures are exposed; concrete slabs, beams, ceilings and walls. Where possible harvested timber linings and reclaimed material were consciously used. Layered materials of stone, concrete and solid brass were selected to their ability to age gracefully, adding the gravitas of an old church.

The new interior gave the team a chance to flex its green credentials with a large part of the design focused on ecological and social sustainability. Acting as a prototype for environmental innovation, the building has a built-in end of life plan to re-use, compost or repurpose all materials and strives to reduce its carbon footprint with solar power and a Tesla Powerwall to manage the constraints of their usage.

Engaging and sharing with the wider community is also on the cards, with Tess having organised a series of cultural conversations around reconciliation with Susan Moylan-Coombs from The Gaimaragal Group and talks of a ‘moving gallery’.

A testing ground that isn’t limited to the luxury residential market Alexander &Co have challenged preconceptions of home, land, family and work to conceive a new vision of the workplace that is kind to clients, the planet, their team and themselves alike.

| The article Creative Prototype: Alexander House by Alexander &Co. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

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Marseille is a port city in southern France, located on the Mediterranean Sea. It has been a hub of immigration and trade since its founding by the Greeks around 600 B.C., and today is France’s largest port for both commerce and cruise ships. Marseille is home to about 1.5 million people and has numerous theaters, art galleries, cinemas, museums and other cultural attractions.

See more here: https://bit.ly/31vPwOG

43.296400°, 5.370000°

Source imagery: Maxar

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The aquamarine water of Roebuck Bay rolls onto red sand in Broome, Western Australia. Broome is home to roughly 14,000 people, but in a typical year its population can grow to upwards of 45,000 per month during peak tourist season from June to August.

See more here: https://bit.ly/2SuXmrp

-17.969389°, 122.237861°

Source imagery: Nearmap

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Folks, the shower beer has been elevated. In a move that I would characterise as extremely Belgian, branding and interior design studio WeWantMore have designed Belgium’s first-ever beer spa Bath and Barley in Brussels.

While beer spas have been around in the neighbouring Czech Republic for quite some time, the vibe is often more beer than spa. Think dark and pub-like, with green or red neon lights included. The studio instead looked to intertwine bathing and Belgium’s infamous beer heritage with a more soothing wellness experience that focused on creating a sense of relaxation and intimacy.

Luxe from the get-go, the facade sets the tone. A curved copper installation, inspired by the ancient copper kettles used to brew beer allows a glimpse into the spa entrance and bar. Once inside, the arched shapes provide a sense of calm, their curved forms partition the room and extend to the ceiling where dried barley and hops hang within. The dangling branches soften the already warm interiors adding a textural depth to the enveloping space, while their scent enhances the spa experience with a sensorial element. The exposed walls, raw concrete and bluestone complete the earthy feel of the ground floor.

Related: WeWantMore Highlights Drag Legacy of Brussels’ Le Grand Café with Giant 3D Murals.

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Housing a beautiful vaulted cellar, the building is located in the old city centre. With the association to Belgium’s medieval beer brewing culture in mind, the downstairs area strictly worked with more traditional materials like copper, grain and stained glass. Details like the straw seating feel authentic and kitsch at the same time, sitting next to a very lush infrared sauna. Copper taps and beer barrel baths are true to form, toeing the line of elevation and novelty.

Stained glass screens have church-like illustrations depicting beer brewing monks and priests, offering spa guests some privacy during their treatment. Continuing the design language to the railing of the staircase spot the knights, kettles and beer barrels amongst its steel frame.

Come for the spa and stay for the beer – or vice versa! This playful beer spa straddles both wellness and pub in a design that gives Belgians a new way to appreciate their beloved delicacy.

| The article Bath & Barley: First Belgian Beer Spa in Brussels by WeWantMore. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |