Stories On Design // Pink Perfection.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past little while (pffffft – AS IF – you guys read Yellowtrace, which means you are the coolest, most switched-on homies around), I’m sure you would have noticed the omnipresence and dominance of colour PINK. Pink is pretty much everywhere you look these days – from interiors, to products, graphics, fashion editorials & clothes, and everything else in between. Why this recent madness for Pink, you ask? It’s a good questions, and I’m certainly not going to pretend I know the exact answer, but I would suspect it has a lot to do with our desire for reinvention. We live in a time where “Everything Old is New Again” and Pink and it’s traditional meanings are being pushed and pulled in new directions by clever designers the world over.

Pink is a delicate colour, usually associated with charm, politeness, sensitivity, tenderness, sweetness, childhood, femininity and romance. BUT… there’s always a BUT, isn’t there? Today’s Story explores pink in it’s many manifestations, ranging from projects that feel sweet and innocent, to those that slide to the other side of the ‘toughness scale’, sitting in that elite hard-core super-cool territory. Forget images of bubble gum and fairy floss – at least in some of today’s examples – and brace yourself for the ultimate tour of Pink that ranges from innocence to pure seduction. Grrr, baby.

Today’s Story is divided into 5 distinct categories, ranging from Retail, Residential, Hospitality, Commercial to Events & Cultural projects. Together we will explore 38 – YES – Thirty Eight pink projects ranging from Interiors, Architecture and Temporary Events.

Let the mega-scroll begin!

See More ‘Stories on Design’ Curated by Yellowtrace.

RETAIL INTERIORS.

Images courtesy of REDValentino.

REDValentino Store in Rome, Italy by India Mahdavi // The newly reopened REDValentino on Rome’s via del Babuino has been designed with the spirit of the REDValentino girl in mind. The interior is dreamy and elegant, with vibrant, versatile and multiform spaces that show off the clothes. The colour scheme of pink, white and gold, alongside primary geometric shapes and vintage-inspired mirrors, has earned this baby the opening spot in our Pink Perfection story.

Photography by Cyrille Weiner.

Repossi Boutique at Place Vendome Paris by OMA // Rem Koolhas’ led architecture firm OMA has designed the flagship store of high-end Italian jewellery brand Repossi, recently opened on place Vendôme in Paris. Visual drama is achieve by OMA’s signature use of exploring and mixing unconventional materials that allows for the store to synthesise architecture and display. Tinted mirrors and surfaces were developed, introducing contrasting degrees of reflections and colour refraction. At the heart of the scheme, the staircase in aluminium cladding folds over the volume and subtly expands onto each floor. Controlled splashed of perfect pink tones add the touch of femininity to this hard-edged interior. So cool, it hurts.

Images courtesy of Universal Design Studio. Photography by Charles Hosea.

J&M Davidson London Store by Universal Design Studio // Barber and Osgerby’s Universal Design Studio have unveiled a new London boutique for the fashion brand J&M Davidson. Spread across two floors, the architects wanted to convey the brand’s signature shapes and colours by employing soft and feminine colour palette. Decked out in a muted palette of dusty taupe, earthy grey and blushing pink, the interiors are anchored by clean, minimalist lines, stone flooring, and brushed brass fixtures.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Rodebjer.

Rodebjer Store in Stockholm // Rodebjer recently opened a 300sqm flagship store at Norrmalmstorg, in Stockholm, Sweden. The philosophy behind the store was to create a palace for the Rodebjer woman and her clothes. Organically shaped sales counter in polished pink plaster takes centre stage in this slick and artful retail interior. L.O.V.E.

Images courtesy of Framework Studio. Photography by Peter Baas.

New Market showroom in Amsterdam by Framework // A contemporary tribute to all things modernism, the New Market showroom in Amsterdam by Framework Studio takes cues from all the elements that make Palm Springs in the ‘50s such an enduringly appealing and sexy time in design history. Occupying an old warehouse space, the bright interior features textured breeze blocks, a David Hockney pastel palette, plenty of plants in brass pots and directional colourful runners to guide people through the space. Sculptural marble slabs in grey, white and blue tones elevate the design to the present, giving it a contemporary edge.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Yusuke Seki. Photography by Akumi Ota.

Kolmio+LIM Nail Salon by Yusuke Seki in Japan // Kolmio+LIM in Osaka, Japan is an extension of the popular Less Is More (LIM) hair salon in the same area, offering basic nail and beauty services. The finishes palette of basic timber and white has been designed to reflect the essential colour of natural skin tones. In fact, the space itself is intended to symbolise the process of nail colouring. The zigzag screen and natural light refraction reference the twinkling glitter reflection of a nail polish, and the entire colour palette represents the various layers of nail colour applied one on top of another.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

[Images courtesy of Framework Studio.

The Pelican Studio in Amsterdam by Framework // Amsterdam recently welcomed the launch of The Pelican Studio, a fresh new retailer that intends to bridge the gap between high fashion and street-wear. Designed by the team at Framework Studio, the interiors offer a playful scheme where the colours are the hero, and strength in simplicity is the prevailing achievement.

The lower level uses a calm palette with soft pastels of pinks, yellows and greens. Here, shoppers tread a cream carpet and get changed behind luxuriously long, bubblegum pink curtains with matching stools. Whilst adhering to the store’s simple, linear form, the lower-level references geometric shapes in unique proportions.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Toby Scott.

Ginger and Smart by Flack Studio // A little bit of polished, a little bit of playful for the recently opened Ginger and Smart store at Pacific Fair, Gold Coast, Australia by Flack Studio. Stay tuned for an exclusive reveal of this gorgeous retail interior next week on Yellowtrace. Hooray!

Image courtesy of Nendo. Photography by Takumi Ota, Masaya Yoshimura/ COMPOLUX.

Nendo Designs New Women’s Fashion & Hat Floor for Seibu Shibuya, Japan // Japanese studio Nendo have revamped the women’s fashion floor and millinery section at Seibu Shibuya department store in Tokyo. Nendo took a different approach in the hat department, using cylindrical structures across the ceiling to hide uneven surfaces created by protruding beams. The circular elements are designed to look like clouds above the display areas, where hats are displayed on umbrella-like stands projecting from dusty-pink walls.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Studiopepe.

Instant Panorama by Studiopepe at Spotti Milano // Spotti Milano has revealed their renovated space in Milan’s Viale Piave with Instant Panorama, the new concept curated by Studiopepe. Instant Panorama portrays a sophisticated and timeless interior, where lights, colours, textures and shapes come together in harmony to depict the unending dialogue between tradition and contemporary design. The layout is characterised by a palette of bright colours, ranging from rust to green, and blue to pink, mixing with the black and white graphic elements of custom fabrics and the brilliance of vintage Berber carpets.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

RESIDENTIAL INTERIORS.

Image courtesy of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design.

Remodel of a 1950’s House by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design // This project is a thorough remodel of a mid-century house in Portland, originally designed in the 1950’s by architect William Fletcher. The team at Jessica Helgerson Interior Design were tasked with the interiors of the remodel, while Dale Farr, William Fletcher’s former partner, designed a garage and an addition to the front of the house in conjunction with interior designers’ work. Helgerson describes the design process for this project “like creating a delicate layer cake without letting any of the ingredients lose their flavours and personality.”

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of CN10 Gianluca Gelmini Architetto.

17th Century Villa San Valerio Albiate, Italy // Behold this beauty tucked away in Albiate, Italy – Villa San Valerio. This villa is one of the finest examples Lombard-baroque styles and reflects four centuries of history. If you think the villa is breathtaking from the outside, take a peep inside and try not to lose it. Here’s what’s in store: grey and pink marble floors, terrazzo tiles, brightly coloured stucco walls and 5 meter high wooden coffered ceilings! Then there are the bathroom spaces which are out of control. Clearly we need more pink bathrooms, am I right?

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images © Sadie Snelson Architects. Photography by Rory Gardiner.

Clapton Warehouse Conversion by Sadie Snelson Architects // Sadie Snelson’s Clapton warehouse is anything but crazy. This living and working space is sophisticated, laid back and simply stunning. The architects have used a refined material palette of steel, timber, concrete and pale lime washed walls. The combination is spot on and the result is a home that feels cohesive and inviting.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Dan Gayfer Design. Photography by Dean Bradley.

High House in Fitzroy, North Victoria by Dan Gayfer Design // High House is the end product of a significant renovation to a five-metre wide inner city terrace in Fitzroy North, Victoria. The owners were intent on taking inner city terrace living to a new level, wanting the convenience of the location without compromising on space, function, interaction, flexibility and light. The design of interior and exterior elements are tailored towards the client’s everyday living and movement patterns, including custom seating on the rear and rooftop terraces.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photography by Fernando Guerra.

NANA Apartment in Lisbon by rar.studio // Minimalism meets pink marble and heritage tiles at NANA Apartment in Lisbon, proving that the Portuguese always have, and always will have, a very special way with materials. The marble was used in full slabs to create complete shower cubicles, sinks and splash-backs – a visually strong solution that sings against the crisp, minimal backdrop.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images & sketched courtesy of Guillermo Santoma. Photography by Jose Hevia.

Casa Horta Barcelona by Guillermo Santoma // Casa Horta, designed by the enormously talented interior and product designer Guillermo Santomà is one of those rare but very particular projects that has us feeling a little speechless. A combination of strongly assured minimal geometry and a bang-on saturated palette make this space feel more like an artfully constructed set than somebody’s home. The geometric forms are highlighted with colour making the space feel like one immersive artwork – somewhat reminiscent of Ricardo Bofill’s La Muralla Roja. Shit. Hot.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of Studio David Thulstrup. Photography by Peter Krasilnikoff.

Peter’s House in Copenhagen by Studio David Thulstrup // Peter’s House is a private residence in Copenhagen, designed for renowned Danish photography Peter Krasilnikoff by the masters at Studio David Thulstrup. Studio David Thulstrup managed the interior design process, from ideation, planning, concept and design development of architecture and interiors, to construction management and furniture selection. The material palette includes concrete, terrazzo, oak timber from Dinesen, original brick work, Kvadrat textiles in rich hues and blackened steel – both plain and perforated.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

HOSPITALITY INTERIORS.

Images courtesy of Studio Tate .

Fancy Nance Salon by Studio Tate, Melbourne // Famingo tea parties and baguette-shaped lounges are among the quirky design features of Adriano Zumbo‘s new salon, Fancy Nance. Designed by newly formed interior architecture practice Studio Tate, Zumbo’s latest venture features his signature pink accents in a bespoke interior. Having previously noticed the practice through a quirky Instagram competition, the celebrity pâtissier of MasterChef fame approached Studio Tate to transform the South Yarra shopfront into a hybrid cafe and cocktail bar.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of AKZ Architectura.

Naive Champagne Bar in Kiev, Ukraine by AKZ Architectura // Ukranian studio AKZ Architectura paired a blushed-pink colour palette with Art Deco-style furniture for the interior of this champagne bar in Kiev. The designers were asked to create a space that felt “fundamentally different” from other bars in the Ukrainian capital, which typically feature rustic brickwork, metal and wood. With this in mind, they based their design for Naïve bar on the sparkling wines it will serve – combining pastel-toned pink walls with Art Deco-style details.

Image courtesy of Circle Line.

Pink Room in Kiev by Circle Line // The designers at the Kiev-based Circle Line transformed the 60sqm space under the stairway of the old movie theatre into a bar inspired by the times of black-and-white movies and serious romance. The interior combines dramatic pink plush with shabby mirror surfaces and other less-than perfect looking finishes. An eclectic mix of vintage furniture, a row of pink old movie-theatre seats, copper accents and pink-velvet upholstered bar completed the slightly seedy picture. Tick.

Photography by Maarten Willemstein.

Bar Basquiat in Amsterdam by Studio Modijefsky // Completed recently by Studio Modijefsky, Bar Basquiat is an American-style diner in the multicultural neighbourhood of Indische Buurt in Eastern Amsterdam. Inspired by famed American poet and painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, the design features references to his naïve style, approach to rich earthy tones and trademark collage-like layering of colour-sketch-text. Bar Basquiat excites us for two reasons: the meticulous way in which the designers have paid homage to the building’s past use, and the rich and layered use of colour and material. The exposed concrete ceiling, dusty red floor, soft pink tiles, dripping milky paint, bare plywood, meshing and riveted brass plates all work in harmony to create a rich and layered interior.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Sketch Gallery.

The Gallery at Sketch, London by India Mahdavi // Celebrated British artist, David Shrigley, has transformed the Gallery at Sketch with 239 works that line the restaurant’s walls, forming the largest group of original drawings Shrigley has ever exhibited. India Mahdavi, who has created an interior backdrop for David Shrigley’s artwork, conceived a soothing, monochromatic and strikingly layered space, and one of the first (and still one of the best) Pink Perfections we’ve seen in the recent years.

Whitegrass Restaurant in Singapore // Local outfit Takenouchi Webb has transformed the space, once the home of a magistrate’s office built in 1840, into a gorgeous interior with soft pastel-hued mid-century inspired furniture, burnished brass and angular patterns that’s straight out of the Mad Men playbook. Did someone say salmon granite? So wrong, but oh-so-right!

Images courtesy of Universal Design Studio. Photography by Jovian Lim.

Odette Restaurant in Singapore by Universal Design Studio // Feminine and refined, Odette Restaurant, is as elegant as the French grandmother it is named after. Designed by Universal Design Studio, the restaurant is located within the National Art Gallery, the home to Singapore’s art collection. Here, the materials are used in simple and authentic ways, respecting their integrity and purity to create a soft and feminine space that celebrates craftsmanship. The light ambience is achieved with a soft pastel colour palette, natural oak timber, marble terrazzo with pastel pink grout, pink marble, and accents of nickel and brass.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of Lucas y Hernández-Gil. Photography by Jara Varela.

Ham Sandwich & Champaign Bar in Madrid by Lucas y Hernández-Gil // Our friends from Lucas y Hernández-Gil strike again, with a killer interpretation for a gastronomic concept Bocadillo de Jamón y Champán – a celebration of the Spanish tradition that elevates the humble ham sandwich into a gourmet experience. Located in Madrid’s trendy Malasaña, the restaurant/ bar serves nothing but killer ham (Jamón) sandwiches and high quality champaign. Booya!

The designers build on the aesthetic of the late 19th Century Madrid building by introducing volumes and shapes inspired by the modernist era. The ceilings are painted blue (tick), the luminous gold surface of the back bar pays homage to champagne (tick, tick), while the accents of baby pink shift the overall mood into the good-old unexpected territory (tick, tick, tick!).

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.

Images courtesy of Pedevilla Architects. Photography by Gustav Willeit.

Rose Tinted Concrete Fire Station by Pedevilla Architects // Giving the term ‘fire engine red’ a delightfully tonal and refined new meaning, this minimal structure, designed by Pedevilla Architects, serves as the local fire station for the town of West Tyrol in the Austrian Alps. Sitting 1,130 meters above sea level, the structure is built with a lightweight rose-tinted concrete, which just may happen to be our new favourite material – sturdy, subtly simple and oh-so-beautifully textured.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Emil Dervish.

Office P in Kiev, Ukraine by Emil Dervish // The peachy colour is the hero feature of an 88 square-metre office space in Kiev, Ukraine. Designed by Kiev-based architect Emil Dervish, Office P is otherwise completely neutral and unassuming. And although the pinky hue climbs from floor to ceiling and even onto the exposed air conditioning, it still leaves us wanting more.

Photography by Eugeni Pons.

André Malraux Schools in Montpellier by Dominique Coulon & associés // French architect Dominique Coulon and his Strasbourg-based team have completed a three-storey school in Montpellier, composed as a series of stacked volumes. Located on a relatively small, triangular plot of land, the compact ‘André Malraux’ school is part of the city’s ongoing regeneration. Each volume is designed as an autonomous element, displaying a range of colours and materials – but the colour pink remains prevalent throughout the building’s interior and exterior.

Grand Exclusive Fitness Studio in NYC by NIKE // Housed in a former metalwork shop in Lower Soho, New York, 45 Grand is NIKE’s exclusive fitness studio, event space and a NIKE+ services hub. The studio can only be accessed by prior invitation, and is usually reserved for the media and other VIP guests. The space, designed by Rafael de Cárdenas and art director Jen Brill, brings together NIKE+ running and NIKE+ training club digital services, live experiences, and expert training and coaching to serve media and other guests of the brand.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Photo by Evgeny Evgrafov.

NGRS Recruiting Company HQ by Crosby Studios // What’s not to love about a shiny pink floor? Ummm – nothin’! Exactly. This sunny office belongs to NGRS Recruiting Company, and is one of the happiest, quirkiest yet highly sophisticated spaces we’ve seen in a while. Located in the centre of Moscow, near the Kremlin and Red Square, this workplace is set in a former factory of the famous Russian entrepreneur Savva Mamontov. Crosby Studios sought inspiration from the theatre and Wes Anderson movie sets, creating a monochrome interior with delicious cotton-candy-like pink screed floors. Yes!

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of Campari.

Campari Offices in Toronto, Canada // Campari has recently opened its 24th global office in Toronto (I wonder if my dedication to Campari has contributed to the brand’s success? Hmmm… Anyway!) Toronto design firm IV was in charge of designing the space that used to be a film studio and before that, a foundry. The open plan allows for maximum flexibility and lets the overall minimalist white environment serve up the yummy pastel furnishings including the peachy sofas from the Spanish brand Sancal. And let’s not forget that pink terrazzo bar. Too good!

EVENTS & CULTURAL PROJECTS.

Photography by Jose Hevia.

Spieces of Spaces by Maio // The exhibition ‘Species of Spaces’ at the MACBA: Museu d’art Contemporani de Barcelona, based on Georges Perec’s homonymous book, aims to transform the generic space of a museum into a special zone. The walls were painted in a subtle pink gradient that desaturates towards white as the installation gets nearer to the end of the room.

No Sex by Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari // This year at Milan Design Week, Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari took their dissection of contemporary obsessions one step further – if last year’s BODY BUILDING project was Volume I, then NO SEX is Volume II of their chronicles. In this age where virtual sex is taking over from physical sex and the body is an object of ever more manipulation and excess, Biagetti and Baldassari have created NO SEX, a pink-clinic designed to reestablish the individual’s inner equilibrium regarding sex, in a transcendental and futuristic paradise of liberty and of clean, fresh unprejudiced equality.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Lexus Sensing Innovation Milan Design Week 2016 by FormaFantasma // Inspired by the hydrogen-powered Lexus LF-FC, the installation by Formafantasma used advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to light a kinetic sculpture inspired by the shape of a hydrogen atom, anticipating a future with clean technology that generates electricity while producing clear water as its only emission. The sculptural objects were mounted on a highly reflective pink platform, with tanks located under the platform supplying the hydrogen used to produce electricity to light the kinetic lights.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of Bureau Betak, Dior & style.com.

Dior Spring 2015 Couture Collection // Our love of Dior couture shows under the (now previous) creative direction of Raf Simons, with impeccable creative prowess of Bureau Betak‘s set designs is well documented. The Dior Spring 2015 show, held in the garden of the Rodin Museum in Paris is no exception. Mirrored surfaces, kaleidoscopic scaffold structure and a perfect shade of pink carpet set the scene for a devastatingly sophisticated spectacle.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Image courtesy of Peter Zimmermann. Photography by Bernhard Strauss.

Peter Zimmermann’s Walk In Art Installation // German artist Peter Zimmermann is an exemplary champion of conceptual painting. In his recent solo exhibition ‘Freiburg School’, Zimmermann radically transformed the rooms in the museum to create a single integrated, walk-in work in which the floor become a canvas, the exhibition venue a colossal spatial frieze.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.

Images courtesy of June Kim & Michelle Cho.

Architecture Meets Perfect Colour Palettes in June Kim & Michelle Cho’s Captivating Images // There is a strong sense of duality at play in all of these images – although perfectly composed and deliciously captivating, a heightened sense of intrigue and drama is achieved thanks to the subjects who almost always have their faces turned away from the camera. Add to the mix some pretty epic architecture, like Ricardo Bofill‘s iconic La Muralla Roja (The Red Wall) housing project located within the La Manzanera development in Spain’s Calpe, and you’ve got yourself a killer photography series that will stay in my mind long after the ongoing internet vortex sucks it away from my screen.

Read the full article about this project & see more images here.