Tabla de contenidos para November 2022 - January 2023 en Frame

For retailers, footfall is in crisis, with post-pandemic numbers still failing to reach 2019 levels. UK retail trade association BRC found that retail footfall decreased as much as 23.5 per cent in France and 51.5 per cent in Germany in December 2021, compared with the same period pre-pandemic. But reigniting store spaces won’t only provide benefits for retailers. After long periods spent shopping through flat e-commerce websites, customers, too, are expecting brands to enhance their everyday experiences with spaces for connection, emotion and inspiration. These values will be integral to luring them back to high streets and shopping malls, which once centred on one activity only: selling. According to Shopify, 32 per cent of global consumers are likely to engage with in-store experiential moments in the next year. ‘In-person selling…

From shelter-in-place-induced home dining to the delivery craze spurred by the likes of Deliveroo and Uber Eats, the restaurant scene has experienced a few years of upheaval. While some lockdown legacies remain – the company Zoom meeting, for one – there’s a reason why dining in didn’t ultimately trump dining out for high-end establishments. ‘A creatively stimulating experience at 101 Gowrie requires a lot of interaction and engagement from our guests,’ says chef Alex Haupt of Amsterdam-based restaurant, who picked up 2021’s Michelin Young Chef of the Year Award. ‘I did not and do not feel that that experience can be translated into a takeaway/pick-up offering.’ And there he says it: experience. It’s something with which your home dining table – perhaps with a view to a stack of work…

In a post-Covid-19 world, guests are more aware of their health than ever before. Several years of disruptive stressors coupled with a news cycle dominated by vaccinations, ventilators and variants have seen the mildest symptoms amplified to a cause of concern. Indeed, data from care platform Vida Health shows users are spending more time tracking, monitoring and fine-tuning their habits – average minutes spent exercising are up 42 per cent, those keeping food logs has risen 49 per cent and the use of mood and mental health trackers has increased by 186 per cent. The impact of such sharply escalated awareness can be seen in the surging trend of ‘healthification’, and the infusion of sectors from beauty and fashion to F&B and consumer technology with health-oriented form and function. But…

The momentum behind cocreation is growing as companies try to keep up with the changing needs of the workforce. It encourages a long-term view of office design, making successive iterations in consultation with staff and building users. Technology is also evolving to help employers and landlords form a more nuanced idea of their community’s needs. With the current jobs market tilted in favour of the employee, here are some ways we’ve observed businesses attracting talent by building workplaces from the ground up. The power of listening In any type of organization, people feel valued when they are heard. Flattened hierarchies give staff a sense of purpose and deliver useful insights for a company. Where better to demonstrate an inclusive mindset than workplace design? For the headquarters for Publicis Groupe in…

It’s official: the climate crisis is here. The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change proves that we are set to pass the 1.5ºC global warming threshold by 2040. Although the gravity of the crisis largely depends on how drastically we reduce emissions, overall, the question is no longer about stopping the climate crisis in its tracks. Instead, it’s about adapting to whatever may come as swiftly and fluidly as possible. This challenge isn’t lost on the architecture and construction industry: our urban environments and homes will be affected by climate change – and many are already starting to feel the pressure. We know, for example, that the climate crisis will intensify the occurrence of extreme weather events. We’ll see increasing heatwaves, droughts, floods, rainstorms and more –…

This year, 28 July was a significant day on the climate crisis calendar. Unfortunately, it didn’t mark a moment of progress but rather Earth Overshoot Day, the date when humanity has exhausted all the biological resources that the Earth regenerates during the entire year. And that date has been getting earlier each year. According to the Breakthroughs report from UN campaign Race to Zero, to reach net zero by 2050, all new buildings need to operate with net-zero emissions while reducing the buildings’ embodied emissions by 2030. ‘Given the lag time of around five years between design and completion of a large building, change must start now.’ While we know the issue is highly complex and doesn’t involve only new buildings, nor the buildings themselves – in the UK, for…

In partnership with the UN’s Environment Programme, the International Energy Agency produced a report in 2019 stating that globally, the buildings and construction sector accounted for 36 per cent of final energy use and 39 per cent of energy and process-related CO2 emissions in 2018. In the context of the climate crisis, this statistic was another wake-up call for the need for urgent change, especially in the architectural world. While harnessing the sun’s power as clean and renewable energy has been in progress for several years, there have still been drawbacks to the implementation of solar panels due to aesthetic challenges as well as cost and setup implications. However, thanks to the introduction of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and innovative, visionary and future-focused architects and manufacturers, we are seeing a rise…

Staging a spectacle Saint Laurent’s SS23 Menswear show in the Moroccan desert was one of the most poetic spatial experiences in recent fashion history. The Es Devlin-designed runway encircled a water-filled pond, from which a ring of light and mist emerged as darkness fell. Notably, the presentation was not livestreamed, indicating a direction that ensures exclusivity for the in-person audience (220 people on this occasion). Still, the brand must answer to justified post-show questions about the environmental impact of the audience’s transportation and the complicated production, especially considering its ten-minute duration. esdevlin.com ysl.com Social simulation AMO turned Yin An Palace – which is situated in the centre of the 400-year-old former royal Prince Shuncheng Mansion in Beijing – into a magnificent container of light for Prada’s AW22 show. The space…

01 SURPRISE!? The more experiences we’re exposed to – whether in reality or by proxy – the harder it is to surprise people. But surprise is only one drawcard of experiences, so consider the ultimate goal. A spectacle that amazes for one visit? Or something meaningful and enjoyable enough that people continually return? 02 EXTEND THE EXPERIENCE Yes, a physical experience can sometimes be extended online, but it can also be extended physically. Can the journey to that remote hotel in the woods become part of the offer? Can the addition of a green park or hotel turn a shopping trip into a full-day or overnight affair? Or can experiencers take something (intangible) away with them after the event, like learnings from an educative workshop? 03 ENGAGE THE SENSES Multisensory…

01 PICK THE RIGHT CHANNEL While one benefit of physical spaces for wellbeing is the therapeutic element of the environment itself, digital media can offer other advantages, such as accessibility. If both aspects are needed, perhaps a hybrid model is the best fit. But not all digital media are created equal, so consider your intention. Immersive gaming-style portals, for instance, can tailor spatial experiences to a specific context. 02 DESIGN FOR DIVERSITY Consider the diverse and divergent demands of end users, from introverts and extroverts to neuro- and physically diverse individuals to an ageing population. Some people might opt for a physical or mental outlet to feel rejuvenated, whereas others will choose rest – and we all need both, at different times. Alternatively, personalization can play a role in ensuring…

01 CONSIDER – AND CONSULT – THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE Today’s emphasis on human-centric spaces requires them to meet their occupants’ wants and needs, and suit their cultural identity and habitat. User-led design approaches – ensuring spaces are built by or with, rather than just for users – are a key tool in achieving this goal. They don’t only take the guesswork out of getting future spaces right (both functionally and culturally appropriately) but grant users and locals a sense of ownership over the spaces they inhabit, too. 02 FOSTER AND FACILITATE TOGETHERNESS While consumers are placing greater value on fellowship, brands are increasingly expected to act as community organizers. To live up to this new role, their (physical and digital) spaces, as well as their services, should focus on…

The term ‘agile working’ has been around since 2015, but the rapid changes of the past two years have tested the adaptive business mindset like never before. Current expectations of the workplace are incredibly complex and the functions it needs to fulfil are constantly shifting. Here are some key strategies we’ve noticed businesses using as they try to keep up with a world in flux. Demountable architectures and kits of parts Without a crystal ball to predict what employees need in the near future, the smartest workplaces are embracing scaled-back fitouts, reconfigurable floorplates and even wholly demountable structures to deal with rapid change. Waugh Thistleton’s London office building 6 Orsman Road has a low-key interior with structure and services left exposed, and finishes deliberately kept raw in anticipation of changes…

Our lives are surrounded by surfaces, which is why it’s crucial that our floors, ceilings, walls and façades are not only functional but also create ambience. This is particularly true for hospitality environments, where heavy use is a given and meeting guests’ expectations is crucial. Neolith, the world’s leading brand in sintered stone surfaces, is an ideal solution for use throughout hotels and restaurants. Due to its composition and material properties, the surface will remain practically unaltered by outside influences. Scratch- and stain-resistant, it has near-zero porosity, making cleaning simple. It can also withstand the high temperatures demanded by the professional kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants and top-rated hotels around the world. What’s more, because Neolith surfaces don’t require temporary treatments, they’re extremely low maintenance and retain their brand-new look for…

Back in 2014, a report from Eventbrite and The Harris Poll did the rounds. Millennials: Fueling the Experience Economy revealed that 78 per cent of this demographic would rather spend money on an experience or event than buy a desirable item, while 55 per cent of millennials said they were spending more money on events and live experiences than ever before. Backing this up – and by a party that, unlike Eventbrite, is not in the experience business – the 2016 McKinsey Millennial Survey showed that there was an increase in spending on experiences across all demographics, with millennials ‘leading the charge’. Bear in mind that millennials now represent the largest spending group. While the term ‘experience economy’ dates back to 1999 – it was coined by James H. Gilmore…

‘Balance is the key motive,’ said Henrik Müller, founder of 1zu33, as he showed us around A Statement of Form, the installation he and his team designed for luxury kitchen appliance brand Gaggenau on the occasion of Milan Design Week. Nestled inside the glass conservatory of the city’s historical, Art Decostyle Villa Necchi Campiglio – which offered a respite from the hustle and bustle of the massive design event – Gaggenau’s presentation indeed reached a state of equilibrium through its spatial design. The site was chosen for its avant-garde yet traditional character, an identity strongly aligned with the Gaggenau brand, with its heritage and principled regard for craft and materials. Says Dr Peter Goetz, Gaggenau managing director: ‘Entering Villa Necchi, you see the garden, you see the pool, you see…

Although wellbeing is an ancient concept, the wellness movement feels like a modern phenomenon. Indeed, it gained ground towards the end of the 20th century – when it began to be taken more seriously in the medical, academic and corporate worlds – before completely exploding in the 21st. Now, social media is flooded with wellness influencers, workplaces have comprehensive wellness programmes and wellness tourism is booming. The global wellness market is currently valued at €4.75 trillion with an annual growth rate of 10 per cent, and there’s no indication it’s slowing down. As wellness as a movement has expanded, so too has its umbrella. No longer does a wellness-oriented workplace merely include a fitness space, for instance, but we can now discuss health more holistically, from a physical, mental and…

Somewhere amid a pandemic that simultaneously forced us outside to socialize and into our homes to isolate, the desire to incorporate nature more holistically into spatial design firmly took root. A new appreciation for the many health benefits of connecting with the great outdoors, the increasing urgency to build better for the environment and the ongoing mass migration into cities are the key driving factors of a biophilic design movement that continues to grow. Florim makes a thoughtful and aesthetically captivating contribution to this movement with Nature Mood. The fine porcelain stoneware collection’s floors, wall surfaces and furniture coverings are intended for use beyond simply furbishing interiors and façades. Each element holds a mirror up to the intricate and varying patterns and colours found in natural materials, bringing the out-doors…

Most spaces are designed for people, so who better to ask about the requirements of such spaces than the users themselves? Sounds simple, but for the longest period architectural projects were driven by the commissioner and executor, rather than the future occupant. Fortunately, change is underway. ‘Gone is the era of starchitects and super designers, seen by clients and the general public as creative geniuses capable of grand designs that solve all problems,’ says Frame director Robert Thiemann. ‘The reality is that all forms of spatial design are becoming increasingly complex, because the creation of spaces must simultaneously address a growing number of deepening crises while dealing with evermore demanding clients. It forces designers to work out solutions together with specialists and users, transforming creatives from “gods” to conductors, curators…

The Marvel Travertine porcelain tile collection is the product of two companies marrying their extensive experience from different corners of the design industry. It combines Atlas Concorde’s expertise as a leader in ceramic tile surfaces with the knowledge accumulated over nearly four decades by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), one of the world’s leading firms in prestigious hotel and resort design. ‘After listening to HBA’s vision of architecture and hospitality design, as well as the projects that inspire them, I immediately sensed that our organizations shared similar values,’ says Maurizio Mazzotti, CEO of Atlas Concorde. Both Mazzotti and Ian Carr, CEO of HBA, emphasize the passion for design excellence inherent in both their companies, and the desire to maintain a sustainable production process. The central inspiration for the collection, travertine, has…

To better weather variability in the future, ensuring spatial fluidity should become the norm within the industry. Today, architecture must proactively reckon with fluctuations in functions and usage. This means it’s now key to embed agility into the design of our environments. What we’re witnessing across sectors as a result is a shift towards open-ended structures and transformable interiors that allow for endless modifications. Within the residential sphere, for example, we’ve seen an increase of homes with the ability to oscillate between private and communal functions, as well as between living and performance (think work, wellness and exercise) spaces. On top of that, modular and kit-of-parts-inspired architectural systems have enabled housing projects to adapt to the changing family compositions and life stages of their occupants. The work sector, in turn,…

01 ANTICIPATE ALTERING AUDIENCES From families adopting multigenerational forms of living to vacationers that turn into working nomads and workforces that expand and contract: as user lifestyles change, their surroundings should be equipped to follow suit. To achieve this, agility should be embedded in (interior) architecture from the offset. 02 BECOME CLIMATE-RESILIENT Buildings don’t just have to deal with their occupants – their environment, too, should be a key consideration in their design. As we’re increasingly having to deal with extreme weather conditions, architects and designers should adopt more climate-responsive approaches. 03 HYBRIDIZE SPATIAL PROGRAMMES As the hybrid-space revolution gains momentum, assigning a sole function to a space – and equipping it just for that – has become an outdated and unsustainable concept. To accommodate fluid programmes, spatial schemes across…

01 START SOMEWHERE To borrow an already well-worn quote from Anne Marie Bonneau, aka the Zero-Waste Chef: ‘We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.’ And a good place to start? The three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle – in that order. 02 GET SPECIFIC, NOT (NECESSARILY) CERTIFIED The diversity of potential solutions is proof that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to sustainability. Designers should instead assess each specific project: its location, materials and even its cultural context. According to designer Lucas Muñoz, this process is much more important than seeking standards and certifications. As he told us in Frame 137: ‘Sustainability in design should not be measured, it should be thoroughly understood.’ 03 JOIN FORCES The responsibility certainly doesn’t lie…