Refurbishment

To mark the twentieth anniversary of Helmut Newton’s first photographic calendar for Lavazza, the Group decided to renovate the Frankfurt offices, an important milestone as they were acquired at the beginning of the company’s international expansion. The offices are housed in a multi-storey tower, opposite the location where the fair Messe Frankfurt is held. The plan of the building is misaligned with a rectangular section joined, on the opposite side, to an elongated semi-circle. The refurbishment is thus an opportunity to extend the offices to the entire floor. This project transforms a vast section of the semi-circle into a single open-plan space, lined with uninterrupted glazing, facing west, and a curved wall which shapes... More

In 2015, Lavazza acquired the Danish group Merrild, a leading coffee manufacturer in the retail industry in both Denmark and the Baltic region. With the take-over came a desire to reorganise the company’s structure and image and to undertake the much-needed refurbishment of the Danish offices. So, the main intent was to draw attention to the fusion of the two conglomerates, although still granting visibility to Merrild and its respective culture. The refurbished building has typical Northern-European features, with 1800 sqms set in extremely pleasant and quiet surroundings. The client’s main requirement was to integrate, from the standpoint of style and image, the distinctive brand identities of Lavazza and Merrild, by combin... More

CONTEXTOF THE PROJECT Rehabilitation of an old eighteenth-century paper mill, located on the bed of the Bitlles river, in the context of a landscape of great natural and cultural interest. The building was in ruins and needed very urgent integral rehabilitation.   The mission consisted of several commissions which began with the development of a Master Plan for the building and its urban environment, with the objective of providing the built complex with a new use as an interpretation center about the local industry of paper. The project is part of a local strategy for urban revitalization of the old town and the river as a space for cultural and economic revitalization. The village and the river have a huge tradition in the paper i... More

It is an apartment for young newlyweds who are interested in arts. Before the refurbishment, they have lived in the 40-year house for 2 years. Since many basic types of equipment and functions were damaged that in need of a proper fix, they decided to let the house shine again and being more suitable for their way of living by the assistance of NestSpace Design.   The apartment size is around 105 sqm, integrated with expectations of an open bright kitchen, separate workplace for both people as well as an ideal space arrangement which takes care of storage requirements. After a series of consultation, the main design concept was to focus on how they make the most usage within a scale and also to present the multiple living spirit rais... More

The refurbishment is in one of the main floor apartments, which has access to three patios. They are filled with plants and have received a landscape treatment with the aim of creating a space of disconnection despite the crazy cosmopolitan rhythm. The intervention consists in renovating a dwelling using a contemporary program that keeps in mind the existing architecture and prioritizes the maintenance and recovery of primary building elements such as carpentry, shutters and hydraulic flooring. These elements, with their wounds and wrinkles, are the ones providing a clear added value. Their efforts concentrate on developing strategies and rigorous methods to create high-quality projects, providing services which add value and for the user... More

125 Murray Street is an exemplar for commercial refurbishment. The nine-storey CBD building had stood empty for many years, suffering poor levels of natural light, low ceilings and little visual connection to the city outside.   The refurbishment rebranded the building. Interior work was primarily carried out within the existing built form and fabric, allowing the budget to be directed towards key areas with an emphasis on quality materials, considered lighting and careful detailing.   The result is a unique, new commercial offering that delivers flexible floorplates supporting contemporary workplace models. A sophisticated entry plays against the exposed services and expressed concrete frame and brickwork on the floors above,... More

Following on from our successful work with Hewison House, the main administration building at St Michael's Grammar School, we were given the opportunity to design the refurbishment of Marlton House; the inaugural school building, circa 1895. After consultation with the teachers and students, we identified several key directives for the design. One of those, resulting in discussions with the students, was the desire to make the classrooms feel connected to the landscape. Typically, heritage buildings have small openings and apertures allowing limited natural light and can feel disconnected with their external environment. Such was the case with Marlton House. However, we sought to evoke a sense of nature with a palette of green hues, and a... More

Estonia is a nation that looks to the future. It is one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world. Nevertheless, alongside their love of the future and capacity for innovation, Estonians also have a profound love for their art and history, which is embodied in the oldest part of the capital, located inside the city walls. Tallinn is renovating one of the best-preserved medieval city walls in Northern Europe that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. In 2017, in view of the festivities that were being planned for the Republic of Estonia centenary celebrations the following year, a tender was launched for the refurbishment of the lighting system in Tallinn Old Town. The tender was won by the Finnish studio Lighting De... More

A Port Melbourne townhouse with city views was the new home of our young single male client. Our long-term brief was to convert this bachelor pad into a home more suitable for his ‘future wife & family”. Our short-term brief was to introduce a more contemporary ambience to reflect the owners’ personal style. We suggested a new front door and entry hall floor finishes, full gut and refurbishment of the kitchen and bathrooms including additional robe area to the master bedroom and reconfiguring the linen & broom closet as stage one.   Who doesn’t love a man who can cook! This bachelors’ life really does revolve around his kitchen, particularly at the moment, as he doesn’t own a dining table y... More

The Sebel Sydney Manly Beach, managed by Accor Vacation Club has completed a full upgrade incorporating a new “Coastal Series” design theme.   The stunning new design reflects the hotel’s enviable location on the southern end of popular Manly Beach – named Australia’s best beach in TripAdvisor 2019 Travellers’ Choice Awards.   Subtly infused textures, patterns and materials identify the essence of coastal chic and the relaxed quiet luxury synonymous with Penny del Castillo’s award-winning IDI style. The final result is a timeless, highly sophisticated, yet welcoming coastal ambience that has exceeded expectations.   In Design International and Cretive Director Penny del Castillo... More

Refurbishment of a 1970’s council house for an actressIn response to a small budget, the project concentrates on the thermal improvement and reconfiguration of a small drafty 1970’s council house in central London, by finding architectural potential in the responses to the required upgrades. All new interventions explore the architectural language of the infrathin, off-the-shelf sheet building materials found in the original house. Wherever possible, materials were retained, adapted and reused to minimise waste and reduce the carbon footprint of the intervention.   Our proposals celebrate the materials and details of mass-produced housing of this period, opens views across the house, and increases access to natural light.... More