2011 Recipient | AIA Institute Honor Awards for Interior Architecture- Conga Room By Belzberg Architects

The Conga Room is a new Latin club designed by Belzberg Architects in LA. Description by architects, "The Conga Room, in its new location at LA LIVE in downtown Los Angeles across from the Staples Center, is the city's premier Latin nightclub. The space will feature today's hottest Latin performers in its 14,000 square feet live venue space, which includes a restaurant, three distinct bars, patio seating and a VIP lounge and private room. In addition, the club will host LA TV and world-renowned DJs adjacent to the stage and above the crowd, adding even more excitement to the ambiance. Perhaps the club design's greatest intent is to be the energy of the Latin community, to play homage to its roots and deep history while infusing it with Los Angeles' fervent modern lifestyle."

In an effort to meet the clients aesthetic desires for a ceiling that reflected the vibrancy and dynamism of the Latin culture, a pattern was developed made of diamonds from the rumba dance step. The ceiling also boasts a state of the art LED lighting system, which required lighting analysis and optimization, using various building performance software. Patrons ascend the staircase wrapped around this glowing spectacle. Its pattern morphs into the pedals and flowers, and responds to the varying conditions of program and space.

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2011 Recipient | AIA Institute Honor Awards for Interior Architecture-Alchemist By Rene Gonzalez Architect

More than just a boutique located on the fifth floor of a building, this unique setting has much to do with the inspiration and central thrust of its design. This ingenious and sparkling glass box of retail is situated on the fifth-floor edge of a parking garage, yet somehow conquers impossible challenges: integrating the shop into the aesthetic of the parking structure and establishing connection and dialogue with the pedestrian environment below.

What makes this project such a tremendous success is its ability to captivate both the store patrons and those meandering the streets of Miami Beach. It achieves this effect through a variety of tactics. First, the enclosure’s composition of twenty-two foot high Starphire Glass allows for expansive, crystal clear views into the space, allowing the play of light both inwardly and outwardly. Second, such haunting transparency gives the project the appearance of being perched calmly, like a radiant cloud or jewel box above the city. The choice of such light and unobtrusive materials also provides a peaceful, fitting relationship between the shop and the larger parking structure.

In addition to this transparent glass, reflectivity comes into play to draw a connection to the outside world. A complex system of mirrored walls and ceilings not only allows a glimpse of the boutique to onlookers below, but subtly captures the street goings-on in reflective views for the patrons. Such dialogue achieves a connection more attune to a street-level shopping experience than what one would expect from a fifth-floor retail operation. Finally, the reflective ceiling provokes even more intrigue through interactive mirrors, operated on sensors which ripple in sync with the occupants' actions within the shop. The ceiling morphs and "mimics" the motion of the patrons, stopping its motion when they stop. Such interaction furthers the boutique’s absorbing performance viewed from street-level as well.

The complex kinetic mirror installation is composed of forty-four mirrors, ranging in size from 15”x 6” up to 33”x 28”. There are two adjacent bands running a length of forty-three feet along the west edge of the ceiling. The mirrors are attached to a sub-structure with individual pistons calibrated for each mirror. The pistons allow each mirror to rotate along a hinge independently and are actuated by pneumatic lines fed from a compressor connected to a computer. The movement is generated in two separate ways: by the occupant via motion sensors, or by preset animations designed for periods of time when the store is closed or holds no shoppers. Additionally, the shop’s floor layout is designed in tune with the ceiling, and mannequins or clothing racks can be maneuvered to various positions for diverse effects in this interactive commercial experience.

Additional Credits

General Contractor: Aaron Builders & Development
Engineer: Vidal & Associates (MEP Engineer); Optimus Engineering (Structural Consulting)
Lighting Consultant: Brand Lighting
Kinetic Mirror Installation: rAndom International
Photo Credit: © Michael Stavaridis

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zaha hadid and suprematism

 An exhibition curated by Zaha Hadid for Galerie Gmurzynska Zurich, completely transforming its gallery space and juxtaposing her designs with masterpieces of the Russian Avant Garde.

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MYBAR Beirut

Designed by PSLAB, MYBAR is a bar/restaurant whose space is functionally divided into 3 areas; an entrance corridor, a drinking area, and a dining area. The entrance corridor leads to the drinking area which is separated from the dining area by an irregular shaped staircase extending from a rugged wall starting at the end of the corridor.


PSLAB used a line of uplights to light the entrance pathway and connect it to the drinking area. The uplights continue parallel to the rugged wall and stairs producing a play of shadows created by the different layers in the wall.

The drinking area features floor to ceiling poles carrying small cups' stands. To accentuate the curvature of these poles, PSLAB set downlights at the top end of each creating a vertical beam of light detached from the rod.

 

The dining area is characterized by visible white ducts covering the ceiling and maintained over a two-level bar connecting the dining area to the drinking area. The furniture layout in this area follows the layout of those ducts. PSLAB chose to use the visible ducts in order to create a lighting system unifying the two main sections of the space (drinking/dining). Hence, they developed lighting fixtures in white finish, fixed to the ceiling on the sides of the ducts. To have a rectangular horizontal beam of light centered over the tables, a gap created by the circular opening of the duct defines the shapes of the objects.

Continuing over the bar, the light objects are set on one side of the duct and in opposite directions in order to light the path behind the bar. Similarly for the sushi bar in the other end of the space.

 via dexigner

 

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Centauro Concept Store by AUM Arquitetos

The project for a concept store for Centauro at Shopping Cidade Jardim in São Paulo, Brazil, exploit some strong elements that the brand already has. The idea started from a design that shows, somehow, similarity to the existing brand and not a complete rupture.

The use of the red and white colors, which are characteristics of the brand, and exploring the race track, which exists in all stores, were important elements in the new project.

The fundamental concept that guided the work was the creation of continuous areas that could be deformed and turned into structural elements of the store or even product supports, breaking the regularity of the space.

For the coating of walls and ceilings, we used successive rings of white aluminum composite material of 1.25 m, arranged diagonally both vertical and horizontal, forming no parallel plans. These plans support products and allow an indirect lighting, creating a large box of light. The inclination of the panels also gives a better view of products behind glasses.

The red track is another prominent element of the project. We treat it as an area that spreads through the store and becomes unusual and impressive elements. At the junction of the two axes, practically in the heart of the area, appears in the lining of the mezzanine, emphasizing the strength of the brand and becoming a corporate identification element. From this centre it covers the walls at the background of the store, turning on to a ladder. The red area surrounding the mezzanine, showing up in the upper deck and the lining in the lower deck, becomes part of the counter box and a vertical plan that set the limits to the fitting room area.

Source : ArchDaily, Aum Arquitetos

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Nat. Fine Bio Food Restaurant Interior by eins:eins Architects

Concept:
The purpose of the newly-founded chain, nat. fine bio food, is to make fast food healthy, to offer delicious organic food in a timely manner – and this in a contemporary environment. nat. brings together Organic and Lifestyle, and with this follows the increasingly-important LOHAS-Trend (Lifestyle of Health and
Sustainability).

The claim, “nature comes to the city” guided the design concept. Motives from nature were made so abstract that they can be only vaguely discerned. The ceiling allows association with cloud formations; the columns remind one of tree trunks; backlit walls dissolve the spatial boundaries through oversized, blown-up plantand herb-panoramas.

The main contradiction of a “natural” restaurant in an artificial urban environment becomes the core of the design. This is reflected in the contrast between natural form and disciplined, geometric abstraction, as well as in the coming together of nearly dematerialized and overly tactile, sensuous surfaces.

Organization:
The non-detachable furniture was also developed specifically for nat. It separates the restaurant into three different areas (see the bird’s-eye-view rendering):

1. In front of the kitchen area, high, counter-like tables are situated for the guest who’s on the run – evoking the feeling one gets while eating at the kitchen counter.

2. The main area of the restaurant invites customers to stay longer. The space is defined by two rows of diner-like booths. Between them, free-standing chairs and tables offer seating arrangement flexibility. All furniture pieces form a mutual horizon by being the same height – creating a scenic, landscape-like space.

3. The lounge area consists of individual green islands, allowing for varied seating configurations. Although it was planned to appeal to the typical inner-city Happy Hour constituent, the lounge has evolved into a terrain for baby carriages and crawling toddlers. Within the city, it has become an oasis for young parents.

The highlight of the restaurant is the floating To Go counter, which merges into the lounge bar, which in turn merges into the water plant panorama.

Lighting and Color:
The lighting changes continually. While daylight is simulated from late-morning to late-afternoon, the atmosphere in the evening transforms into a warm, sunset-mood. The ceiling cut-outs are then illuminated only from the west. The prevalent, ephemeral white of the furniture lies in contrast to the rustic oak floor. The columns are umbra-grey in color; to accentuate, the upholstery is a fresh, light green.

eins:eins architekten
Christoph Roselius & Julian Hillenkamp
Eimsbütteler Chaussee 37
20259 Hamburg, Germany
tel \ 040 650 466 81

Photography by Studio Uwe Gärtner

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