Nordic functionalism informs Stockholm beauty clinic by ASKA

Swedish architecture studio ASKA has drawn on the existing 1930s architecture for its refurbishment of Stockholm beauty salon MBS by Malika, adding arched shapes and oak veneer panelling.

The beauty clinic in central Stockholm is located in a building designed in the Scandinavian modernist style known as Nordic functionalism – or simply funkis in Swedish.

Doorways were given subtle arched shapes

ASKA, which is led by Polina Sandström and Madeleine Klingspor, made a number of structural changes to the space as part of the refurbishment, but wanted to keep the interior design both functional and stylish.

The studio tore down most of the interior walls in the 70-square-metre salon to make more space for private rooms for its beauty therapists.

The designers used oak veneer in reference to modernist designs

Additional walls were designed with the building's modernist architecture in mind.

"The new walls were designed in a way so they would go hand in hand with the rest of the architecture with oak detailing and structured glass, which also helps the daylight to get through the whole space," Klingspor told Dezeen.

"The centrally-placed dividing wall with the pseudo three arch was also an addition by us," Sandström added.

"From a functional aspect, it helps separate the public part of the clinic from the more private one."

A pale blue shade lines doorways and skirting boards

Wood was used throughout the space, with oak veneer chosen as it was popular during the era when the building was constructed.

The material added "the right nostalgic association" to the interior, while balancing out the otherwise clinical aesthetics and the salon's cool colour scheme.

ASKA aimed to create a light, clean atmosphere for the salon and chose to work with blue and white hues, with a pale blue shade lining the wooden skirting boards and door frames for a stylish contrasting detail.

Colour was used to contrast against the abundant wood

"We chose to add the popping blue colour because it works as a good contrast against the warm oak adding a fresh and clinical touch, while at the same time being a somewhat unusual choice for a beauty salon – adding a surprising element to the design," Klingspor explained.

In addition to changing the layout of the space, the studio also created a new showpiece for the salon, a tile-clad reception desk that greets visitors and references Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto.

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"The reception desk is something of a key element that captures the essence of the concept in one piece – a homage to the functionalist era with a modern twist," Sandström said.

"The white tiles were inspired by Aalvar Alto's interior designs and help define the shape of the desk-corners thanks to their slightly rounded aesthetic."

A tiled desk with a contrasting laminate tabletop was designed for the reception

Both the shape of the desk and the materials were also chosen to evoke the era.

"The compact laminate was also a material choice that is true to the mid-century design era, whilst the blue colour and dark blue grout add a bold, unique element to the expression," Sandström added.

"The different heights of the desk helps to create two different areas in a true 'form follows function' manner."

Cream-coloured manicure tables are dotted throughout the space

ASKA also designed cream-coloured lounge tables and nail manicure stations for the salon.

The studio has previously created a hair salon in Stockholm that features an undulating ceiling installation that looks like dripping shampoo, as well as a pastel-coloured cafe that references Wes Anderson's film aesthetic.

The photography is by Mikael Lundblad.

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#all #salonsandspas #interiors #stockholm #sweden #salons #minimalistinteriordesign #aska

Swedish forest retreat by Norm Architects is "designed for a simple life"

Norm Architects has converted a traditional timber cabin, hidden away amongst pine trees in a forest in Sweden, into a pared-back holiday home for families.

The Copenhagen-based studio took a "back-to-basics" approach when it came to remodelling the two-floor building, which is positioned on top of a ridge.

Norm Architects has converted a traditional cabin into a minimalist holiday home

"Creating homes is often an exercise in restraint," explained Norm Architects co-founder Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen.

"And while the creation of a simple, authentic and welcoming space might seem effortless and natural once completed, the journey to simplicity and the exercise of finding essence is often rather complex and not an easy task."

The ground floor houses an open-plan living and dining area

On the home's ground floor, a cosy sitting room is dressed with a couple of plump greige sofas and a sheepskin-covered lounge chair, created by the practice in collaboration with Danish furniture brand Menu.

One corner of the room is occupied by a wood burner in the same off-white colour as the walls, which were coated in dolomite plaster.

Oakwood was used to craft the flooring and cabinetry

On the other side of the ground floor lies a dining area, anchored by a large timber table. Just behind is the kitchen, housing a series of handleless low-lying cupboards crafted from oakwood.

Oak was also used to form the flooring and all of the doors throughout the cabin, which were designed by Norm Architects to act more like slender cabinet fronts so they don't take up too much space.

The doors are finished with circular brass knobs and extend all the way up to the ceiling, in a bid to make the rooms appear loftier.

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A number of new windows were inserted into the cabin's facade to allow more natural light into the interiors and reveal views of the towering pine trees outdoors.

Distributed across the rest of the holiday cabin are enough bedrooms and wash facilities to accommodate two families, as well as a small sauna.

Slim oak doors lead through to the bedrooms

For larger groups, the project also saw Norm Architects build a new self-contained annexe that can house a third family.

Here, a raised daybed-cum-window seat was set up directly next to a vast wall of glazing, providing occupants with a place to recline and take in the scenery.

"Designed for a simple life during both summer and winter months, the cabin is rustic yet refined, only equipped with the necessities when opting for a slow living," the studio said.

A large window with an integrated daybed provides views of the forest

Sweden's lush natural landscape makes it a popular location for holiday homes.

Dezeen has previously featured a number of other cabins in the country including Sommarhus T by Johan Sundberg, which takes cues from traditional Japanese architecture, and a seaside villa by Studio Holmber with serene plywood-lined living spaces.

The photography is by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects.

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#all #interiors #residential #sweden #holidayhomes #normarchitects #cabins #minimalistinteriordesign

McLaren Excell unveils minimalist London headquarters for Samsung Design Europe

Only a handful of spruce partitions carve up the pared-back interior of this London office, which McLaren Excell has created for Samsung's European design studio.

Set inside a 21-storey tower known as the Can of Ham building, Samsung Design Europe is one of the tech company's seven product design hubs across the globe, with other outposts located in the US, China, Brazil, India, Japan and South Korea.

Local architecture studio McLaren Excell said it devised the minimalist interior for the London headquarters to "consign the formality of the workspace to the past".

Spruce wood partitions break up the Samsung Design Europe headquarters

"[The office] instead embraces a more relaxed, informal and experiential place of work," explained the firm's co-founder Luke McLaren.

"We want the Samsung office to have all the qualities that are enjoyable about your home – a softness, a sense of calm, a high degree of tactility, spaces to congregate, spaces to which one can withdraw – but all the while nurturing that sense of welcome, of belonging, of enjoyment."

As a result, the office features just a handful of glue-laminated spruce partitions that loosely split the floor plan into private meeting rooms and communal zones where staff members can engage in more collaborative work.

Spruce fins also run along the office's windows

Spruce glulam also forms a series of vertical fins, which appear at intervals along the office's windows.

In the breakout area, the same pale-toned timber was used to craft the dining table, counter and benches.

Furnishings in the breakout area are made from spruce

Grey linen curtains that hang from tracks on the ceiling can be used to further divide up the open-plan office while bringing a sense of tactility to the interior.

In an effort to make the HQ seem more relaxed and inviting, planters overspilling with foliage were embedded into the top of the desk banks.

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McLaren Excell also abandoned a traditional lighting grid in favour of fitted lamps, which illuminate pockets of the office in more targeted and intimate ways.

The architecture studio was founded by Luke McLaren and Robert Excell in 2010 and is based in London's Chelsea neighbourhood.

Planters are embedded into the office's desk banks

Recent projects by McLaren Excell include a bathroom showroom in Los Angeles with arched doorways and altar-like tables reminiscent of a church.

_The photography is byLorenzo Zandri. _

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#all #interiors #london #uk #england #samsung #mclarenexcell #minimalistinteriordesign #officeinteriors #spruce