The Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences and a committee of Philosophy Professors collaborated in the selection of Steven Holl Architects to design the complete interior renovation of a 1890 corner building at 5 Washington Place for the consolidation of the NYU Department or Philosophy within a concept which organizes the new spaces around light and phenomenal properties of materials. A new stair shaft below a new skylight joins the 6-level building vertically with a shifting porosity of light and shadow that change seasonally. The Ground level, utilized by the entire University, contains a new curvilinear wooden auditorium on a cork floor. The upper level floors contain Faculty Offices and Seminar Rooms which are done in different shades and textures of black & white, according to the texts in Ludwig Wittgenstein’s book “Remarks on Colour”.

Source : dezeen, myninjaplease, Steven Holl Architects

Hotel design is currently an exciting area of architecture. New trends in hotel design are currently coming about as a result of the modern desire to travel, increase our range of experiences, and utilize our precious leisure time more effectively. Today, I will show you about Palace of the sea or the Palau de la mar in Spanish.

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The Hospes Palau de la Mar is a new addition to the cultural and creative scene of one of Spain’s most lively cities Valencia. Continuing a tradition of fine cuisine and hospitality, the Palau de la Mar (Palace of the Sea) is a modern remodelling of two palace residences in the centre of the city. An immaculately developed and advanced concept, the hotel is the work of prestigious interior designers Isabel Lopez and Sandra Tarruella.

Hospes is known for restoring historic buildings while successfully updating them into workable and luxurious properties.

Under natural light pouring through a stained glass skylight, the grand loggia stairway with an intricately carved wood banister has been made all the more striking by simply painting the surrounding areas a stark ivory white.

Once a carriage passageway, the vaulted foyer is accented by using interesting textures such as black leather padding atop the banister rail and a long cowhide runner in the foyer’s hallway. The casual and contemporary interior patio pairs well with the classical nobility of the façade and interior architecture. Covered by a glass-and-steel balcony, which leads to the guestrooms, the patio’s raised boxes are lushly filled with fragrant Mediterranean plants and herbs.

Though the design concept remains consistent throughout, the original architecture of the two mansions has brought about innovative uses of space. As for interior design, principles of modernity reign rather than historicism. Carefully co-ordinated design elements, mainly using wengé wood, have been chosen for the rooms: The joinery work on the wardrobes complements the floor pattern, which is again mirrored in the wengé headboards, tables and stools placed throughout. Some guestrooms feature oversized bathrooms where large bathtubs are either sectioned off from or opened up to the main living and sleeping space via a folding wooden screen.

Source : Design Hotel, Interior Design