Formal dining offers plenty of seating for dinner parties.
A second story view of the living area and historic tree
River Play, Memphis
Winter in Detroit
Winter in Detroit - light installation/maze
Summer in Detroit
Philadelphia - Celebrating the riverfront, the existing infrastructure was reimagined into a summer park on the Delaware River. Inspired by the iconic boardwalks of the Jersey Shore, the project repurposed three barges to create a floating restaurant. Since its inception, the park has been running for more than six years, welcoming millions of visitors and serves as a flagship example of Groundswell Design Group’s work.
Tampa, FL - A picturesque channelside amenity, this mixed-use public space features food and beverage options with a standalone bar, all made of repurposed shipping containers, wood, steel and vegetation allowing for a flexible outdoor space for vendors.
Memphis - An underutilized space on the Memphis riverfront was transformed into a lively elevated treehouse and pavilion to surprise and delight guests. Utilizing repurposed shipping containers, the team designed the space to promote and maximize the sweeping river views. The team designed a large meadow on either side of the play area to add a landscape element that completes the park-like feel.
Philadelphia - An adaptive re-use of a historical shipping shed turned public space/incubator for entrepreneurs in the arts, the pier features 14 tenant studios with food and beverage offerings, artists’ studios, flexible public spaces and a beer garden.
Beyond the spa facilities, the center promotes corporate activities and functions with a focus on harmony with nature, such as art making, reading and relaxation.
The 1,000 square meter wellness center is more than just a spa, with an indoor pool, fitness studio and spa suites all catering to the well-being of the guest. The expansive building is an invitation to disconnect from distractions of daily life and soothe the inner soul.
The sole culinary offering is a bar on a large platform with an outdoor space that visually connects with nature on all sides.
Accessories decorate the spaces and add to the casual feeling overall.
A global approach was taken to the building design to ensure more is offered beyond the expected hotel facilities.
“This is a one-of-a-kind project, unique in so many different ways. Not just a hotel – an experience – driven by remarkable architecture that is not just about design. All the buildings somehow embrace the natural surroundings and each unit is unique and has its own narrative,” concluded T’Kint.
The complex is managed by Artyzen Hospitality Group, whose operating philosophy of embracing "art, culture and emotional wisdom" echoes throughout the architecture and design of the project.
HBA designers were challenged with an architectural envelope that was extremely powerful; they could not simply copy them or make them dramatically different, rather they had to analyze Sottsass' work and his unbelievable achievements throughout his long career. Using geometry, primary shapes, stripes, primary colors, black and white, the main characteristics of his most recognizable work, designers created an interior program that would seamlessly integrate to it.
Taking all of these items into consideration, HBA developed interiors that married Sottsass’ exterior architecture. Everything is based on geometrical volumes and touches of color without being overwhelming and blended with the softness required to make this space the wellness center it was intended to be.
The building's interiors celebrate the architectural language without mimicking it.
The visual impact rests on the views toward the surrounding nature.
With 22 unique rooms designed for this property ranging from 43 square meters to 79 square meters, the emphasis was placed on the light atmosphere creating a sense of space with generous walk-in wardrobes and five fitting bathrooms featuring freestanding bathtubs.
The floors are rhythmed by woolen rugs, designed as geometrical forms. The furniture is an eclectic mix of bold contemporary items, with the right balance of neutrals and colors.
HBA Partner David T’Kint designed the interiors for the recreation centre, which is one of the 22 buildings placed around a lake nestled in the mountains.
Notably, the recreational centre within the complex was designed by famed Italian architect, Ettore Sottsass, and his architectural practice, Sottsass Associati. The architect’s enduring legacy is most remembered for his industrial design work, such as the famous Olivetti Valentine Typewriter and the Carlton bookcase. His architecture, like his product design, is instantly recognizable by bold primary colors and prominent geometrical structures.
The project is comprised of 22 buildings designed by nearly two dozen of the biggest names in international and Chinese architecture, among them New York architect Steven Holl, dissident artist Ai Wewei, Chinese Pritzker prize winner Wang Shu and UK-based David Adjaye.
Artyzen Sifang is part of CIPEA, the China International Practical Exhibition of Architecture located in the capital of China’s eastern Jiangsu province, Nanjing and is one of the architectural world’s most highly-anticipated openings.
The “Tea Khade” created for the lobby is a typical chai point where people gather on the roadside for a quick conversation. The lighting detail over the reception was inspired by the street lighting in the Cantonment area, while the styling and artefacts were all curated from local designers, handicraft vendors or items from the Shivajinagar markets.
Additional design touches inspired by the woman are bathroom tiles, the baroque furniture details inspired by the Indo-Saracenic era, the colourful hand painted trunks, the globe lights inspired by the street lamps in the British cantonment and the blue and white striped fabric throws pulled from the stripes that enliven the streets as one drives by.
The design team further envisioned the how the woman’s personality was influenced by the neighbourhood and how it acted as a lens for her environment –the things she saw, collected or found significant. It was important for the design process to maintain the idea of this metaphor, the constant juxtaposing of old and new, the nostalgic with the playful.
Upon further exploration, the team uncovered a stencilled piece of street art of a traditional elderly Indian woman riding a Harley-Davidson Chopper. This piece of art served as the ideal metaphor for the city and the hotel’s personality – it embodied the zeitgeist of modern Bangalore. The woman in the photo is visibly at peace – her layered history allows her to embrace change and constantly look to the future. The design team began to craft a narrative around this image and expanded it in to the design of the hotel.
A five-metre-high ceiling is filled with ivy and ferns – a full-height sliding glass door creates a harmonious balance between the indoor and outdoor. In a city that was once a laboratory for botanical gardens, this space aims to connect its patrons to nature at a podium in the heart of the city.
The hotel restaurant is a contemporary all-day-dining concept that comes alive through its hanging plants and biophilic connection to the outdoors.
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