Table of contents for 2025 Special in Frame

The jury wanted to send a message with this year’s Emerging Designer of the Year: sustainable solutions should be the way forward. ‘This category celebrates someone who’s young and fresh in the industry,’ said member David T’Kint, founder of DTK Studio. ‘I want us to recognize that even though she’s at the beginning of her career, she’s provocative. She’s not just going for industry standards; she’s pushing the boundaries.’ ‘She’ is Bonnie Hvillum, founder of Natural Material Studio in Copenhagen, which champions sustainable material innovation by integrating design, biology, chemistry and art. Hvillum’s work emphasizes the interconnectedness of humans and nature, using bio-based materials to create dynamic, living designs that respond to their environments. Through bespoke objects, installations and collaborations with global brands such as Adidas, Snøhetta and Noma, she…

MONTEREY Responding to an urgent need for mental health services in California – ones that don’t feel like prisons – the Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health, designed by NBBJ, focuses on healing rather than isolation. Leveraging neuroscience research from University of Washington professor and NBBJ Fellow Dr John Medina to create a new kind of healthcare environment for Montage Health and the surrounding region, the design draws on the proven wellbeing benefits of immersion in nature – for both patients and staff. The majority of its spaces offer direct outdoor views, a rare feature in healthcare facilities. ‘The sweeping views and expansive windows that provide visual access to the nature beyond are not only healing, but inspiring,’ said jury member Abby Scott, design director of interiors at…

SHANGHAI Designed by Atelier Forth Force, Muji’s 400-m2 temporary brand space at the China International Import Expo 2023 in Shanghai was made up of 7,524 interlocking pieces of wood. Over the course of the six-day exhibition, the pavilion gradually disappeared as each of the 1,254 visitors took a piece of the structure home as a souvenir. These wooden pieces were made to fit Muji’s existing furniture cabinets, allowing visitors to reassemble them into new storage systems at home. ‘Bringing a sustainable idea like this into a trade show environment, paired with clean execution and the beautiful spectacle of the repeated planes, is something to applaud in this project,’ said jury member Jason Immaraju, SVP and executive design director at NVE Experience Agency. ‘The story of existence to non-existence is so…

SEOUL The Tamburins Seongsu flagship won the FRAME Award for Single-Brand Store of the Year (see page 38), but its lighting concept also secured the project’s victory in the Best Use of Light category. Considerable attention was paid to lighting, with Sfeel Korea serving as the primary lighting fixture provider for this project, to make the underground space feel open and inviting. The goal was to fill the central space with soft yet powerful lighting capable of penetrating the three-storey height of the structure while maintaining a cosy ambience. A profile louvre luminaire was installed along the lower edges of the glass structure to provide uplighting without direct glare. This design allows light to sweep up the glass façade, highlighting the void within the structure and visually extending the underground…

When judging the Accessory of the Year category, the jury agreed that the switchgear sector has long been lacking in innovation. Which is why its members were drawn to the work of Bright Little Things (BLT), which designs and produces novel, high-end finishing components for electrical switchgear using durable and versatile Solid Surface materials. At the heart of its ‘BLT menu’ is the universal model 5101, a modular finishing component that supports switches, pulse switches, dimmers and integrated USB ports or power outlets. Eliminating the need for excessive plastic parts, the BLT components fit seamlessly over many existing stainless steel built-in parts, reducing waste and enabling easy upgrades. They can be installed vertically or horizontally, are attached with powerful magnets and are easy to clean. Jury member Zhang Ye, founder…

French footwear and accessories brand Veja has been around since 2004, but it’s only in recent years that it has truly exploded onto the scene – helped, no doubt, by the string of celebrities spotted sporting the now-iconic V logo on their sneakers. Credited with scaling sustainable sneaker production, Veja uses organic cotton, wild Amazonian rubber and recycled materials, all sourced through fair trade practices. Its stores – the first of which opened in 2021, 17 years after Veja’s inception – are designed to reflect the brand’s sustainable ethos. Surfaces are often left bare to minimize the use of paint and artificial decor, only essential furniture is included and many stores feature repair bars – such as the recently opened Paris location, which focuses entirely on repairs. Jury member Carmelo…

ZHANGJIAKOU After picking up a monthly award in the 2022 FRAME Awards for revitalizing a Hangzhou bookstore for Common Reader, Atelier Tao+C affirmed its prowess in the category this year. Its 420-m2 bookstore for publisher Naïve – a comforting space ideal for wintry respite in the Northern Chinese skiresort area of Aranya Chongli – scored high marks with the jury for the way it’s ‘perfectly integrated into the landscape, with large windows that bring in light and nature’, said jury member and head of design at Norco Interior, Anette Skeie. The bookstore-café plays on the icy natural environment, providing shoppers with a warm-toned interior in which to read, relax and enjoy coffee. The judges complimented the use of materials, praising their ‘simplicity’ (John Naranjo, associate principal and creative director at…

BENGALURU Enter Projects Asia designed 12,000-m2 of retail, hospitality and relaxation space in Kempegowda International Airport’s new departure terminal, whose overall framework was conceived by SOM. The space incorporates over 9 km of sustainable, biodegradable rattan, showcasing the use of handcrafted techniques on an unprecedented commercial scale. Inspired by the 20th-century Garden City urban planning movement on which Bengaluru is based, the client wanted a welcoming, nature-centred space for the Indian airport’s 20 million annual visitors – a stark contrast to the conventional, corporate airport aesthetic. The departures lounge features a series of sculptural rattan pods – some as tall as 8m – housing hospitality, retail and relaxation areas. Each section was handwoven by traditional Thai artisans, providing them with economic support. ‘A truly sustainable project that combines craftsmanship, innovation…

Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness was created to raise questions about wisdom, happiness and spirituality in the age of AI. Conceived by Eness, the exhibition was originally designed around the alcoves, vaulted ceilings and beams of a 12th-century chapel at Les 3 CHA, a contemporary art centre in Châteaugiron, France, and has since been adapted for other venues around the world. Bringing AI to life, the installation took visitors on an immersive journey through a landscape of inflatable ‘mountains’ in psychedelic patterns that chanted incantations, chimed and blinked at passersby through digital eyes. Inflatables were used to reduce air miles, and all the fabrics can be recycled, processed and turned back into raw plastic for reuse in packaging, textiles and other products. ‘I don’t know what drugs…

CHANGSHA From former sewage disposal facility to bar: that’s the transformation that earned Republican Metropolis Architecture the Bar of the Year award for its Rust Jazz Club on the Liuyang River in Changsha, China. Especially because the designers managed to preserve the characteristics of the original structure – such as two giant water tanks and 36 structural columns – to create a ‘singular and powerful aesthetic’, said jury member Arthur Guimarães, CEO of his eponymous architecture firm. Retaining traces of the past was an important part of the brief from the client, who took on the building after it had sat abandoned for 20 years, becoming what the designers referred to as ‘useless and unsightly ruins, forgotten by the world’. Guimarães was impressed at the designers’ bold solution. ‘A really…

SI SUNTHON Tree O'Clock Villa Qabalah by Studio Locomotive reflects the designers’ commitment as Phuket locals to co-creating community spaces amid the area’s rapid urban sprawl. The 1,380-m 2 mixed-use building in Phuket’s Thalang district focuses on aspects such as restoring vegetation and space-sharing. Versatile architecture supports the building’s diverse uses, such as dining, cultural events and wellness activities, enhancing the community’s ability to adapt. Jury member Arthur Guimarães, CEO of his namesake architecture firm, commended the designers for their ‘smart use of geometries’. ‘I loved the transitions between the different levels and the integration with nature and the surrounding context. Additionally, the openings, fills and voids provide ample natural light, reflecting a well-considered design solution.’ Pooja Shah-Mulani, partner and design director at LW Design Group, also praised the architectural…

TEL AVIV Baranowitz + Kronenberg’s design for a 47-m2 apartment in Tel Aviv transforms a compact space into a harmonious, functional residence inspired by cave dwellings. Located in a historical Art Deco building in the lively Levontin neighbourhood, the apartment is envisioned as a seamless combination of workspace and home. Using a continuous palette of Douglas fir wood, the L-shaped space offers a respite from the bustling urban environment by creating an intimate atmosphere that lives up to the project’s name. Many members of the jury highly appreciated the consistent – and expert – use of Douglas fir wood for both its warmth and cohesion, and felt that the simplicity of the project created an almost lavish richness. ‘The monochrome theme throughout the space looks very luxurious and well considered,’…

PORTO A cylindrical co-living space in Portugal took home first place in its category, and its form drew many comments from the judges. ‘Designing circular buildings poses inherent challenges, yet this approach demonstrates an adept utilization of space and form,’ said Harkaran Singh Boparai, Space 5 founder and principal architect. OODA’s design for the Hoso student accommodation on Porto’s largest university campus was born out of a desire to find the ideal formula for optimization, multiplication and spatial flexibility. The designers found their answer in a cylinder with a prefabricated concrete structure. ‘What particularly captures my attention is the meticulous and thoughtful internal layout, which exhibits a high degree of sophistication,’ continued Singh Boparai. Wayne Turett, founder and principal of The Turett Collaborative, also praised the layout, calling Hoso ‘a…

FUKUSHIMA In last year’s FRAME Awards issue (FRAME 155), we discussed the end of abundance and posed the question: Should designers respond in kind by producing the bare minimum? In other words, should they ‘undesign’ by using and adding as little as possible? It was certainly a successful strategy for Schemata Architects in the design of the Human Hub Tenneiji Soko in Fukushima, Japan. The jury praised the minimal intervention approach; in the words of Maarten Jamin, founder of Bs;Bp: ‘Reuse is sustainable by nature. There is not much in terms of design, but it looks good.’ Schemata Architects transformed the 54-year-old factory of lacquerware company Sekibikodo into a hub for cultural exchange to keep traditional craftsmanship alive. The first floor houses a workshop, store, shared kitchen and café, while…

MILAN The immersive experience of colour – as jury member Orlando Marques, founder and director of OMstudio Lighting Design, said: ‘The experience brings you inside the colour’ – made Straordinaria the standout for Best Use of Colour, in addition to its FRAME Awards title as Set Design of the Year (see page 70). Presented during Milan Design Week 2024, the installation by We+ drew inspiration from Elica’s latest cooking appliance. Around 1,300 translucent mesh fabric tubes, each dyed in a gradation of hues and suspended from a grid, mimicked the dynamic interplay of hot and cold air, creating a cloud-like visual effect. While the jury found the chosen colours unsurprising – ‘like a cross between a lava lamp and the latest iOS screen scheme’, said Marques – they still considered…

We+ scored a hat-trick at this year’s FRAME Awards, taking home not only the prizes for Set Design of the Year (see page 70) and Best Use of Colour (page 132), but also the prestigious title of Designer of the Year. The Tokyobased studio was founded in 2013 by Hokuto Ando and Toshiya Hayashi, who describe their designs – which aim to foster a deep coexistence with the natural and social environment – as ‘alternative’. We+ prioritizes overlooked values in a world dominated by convenience and rationality. Its multidisciplinary team of designers, engineers, researchers and writers initiates projects inspired by daily research in Japan and abroad. These projects inform work in diverse fields, including R&D, branding, spatial design and installations. Recent efforts, such as Urban Origin and Nature Study, explore…

HANGZHOU An effort to explore the relationship between food and land, the Cycle&Cycle portable bakehouse has been travelling to cities across China. F.O.G. Architecture’s modular, prefabricated timber structure is based on the form of a barn, drawing on traditional agricultural architecture. The judges praised the use of grain sacks as a façade feature, with Anette Skeie, head of design at Norco Interior, appreciating their combination with the timber structure. ‘The concept is warm and inviting,’ she said. ‘It really stands out in its surroundings while also blending in. A quiet stop in everyday life.’ Openings between the sacks offer a peek of what’s going on inside while integrating natural light. The placement of the sacks can vary depending on the location – these details are decided upon on site by…

ROTTERDAM ‘Building the future’ was the guiding theme in the Langeveld Building, an addition to Erasmus University Rotterdam’s Campus Woudestein. The 8,748-m2 learning space was designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects, whose team worked with contractor BAM Bouw en Techniek to put the university’s ambitious sustainability goals at the forefront of the construction process. The building generates its own energy using solar and wind power, supporting a new type of ventilation system that circulates fresh air throughout the building with 85 per cent less energy than conventional systems. It was this innovation that most impressed jury member and AB+AC Architecture cofounder and lead architect Arianna Bavusa. ‘What makes this project stand out is not its spatial experience, but its mechanics,’ she said. ‘The implementation of the “Powered by Nature” ventilation…

MILAN Designed to capture the philosophy of Elica – an Italian company specializing in cooking appliances – Straordinaria (also winner of Best Use of Colour (see page 132)) invited viewers to connect with their surroundings. Located in the courtyard of Palazzo Litta during Milan Design Week 2024, the installation was inspired by Elica’s latest cooking appliance, and featured sleek materiality and vibrant hues that contrasted with the building’s baroque architecture. Some 1,300 translucent mesh fabric tubes, coloured in gradients and suspended from a grid, created an ethereal flow, simulating the delicate ‘clouds’ produced by the collision of hot and cold air. ‘Very poetic,’ said Jason Immaraju, SVP and executive design director at NVE Experience Agency. ‘It really captures the subtle beauty of airflow.’ Mátyás Simonyi, creative director at Tom Postma…

MADRID Building on the spirit of its first Madrid restaurant initiative Mo de Movimiento – a design by Lucas Muñoz Muñoz that won Best Use of Material in the 2021 FRAME Awards – Proyectos Conscientes’ Tramo restaurant prioritizes the upcycling of materials mined directly from the site itself, right down to tableware crafted using sand extracted during the demolition phase. Architecture firm Selgascano transformed the former garage into the restaurant, with designer Andreu Carulla responsible for the modular furniture and lighting. The result isn’t just any old restaurant, but one that’s almost energy self-sufficient. Selgascano consciously minimized the introduction of new elements, embracing the existing industrial interior. ‘This project has a strong sustainability story that emphasizes doing no harm to the planet while uplifting the human experience,’ said jury member…

LONDON Matching the energy and pace of London life was Studio RHE’s goal for Third Space’s Moorgate location, a 2,500-m 2 futuristic fitness facility that embodies high-tech luxury. Studio RHE used adaptable lighting to set a motivational mood in the workout spaces and a calming, spa-like atmosphere in the changing rooms and wind-down areas. This was a stand-out feature for jury member Ronnie Belizaire, studio practice leader and principal at HKS Inc., who described the lighting as ‘just right’ for offering tranquillity in a high-performance environment. Arthur Guimarães, CEO of Arthur Guimarães Architects, admired the bold contrasts in materials and lighting. He also commended the ‘really smart floor plan that provides exceptional spaces’. These include everything from a food bar at the entrance to a members’ lounge. The designers also…

MADRID Covering apartments over 80 m2, the Large Apartment of the Year category was won by 95-m2 Casa Nube near Madrid’s Retiro Park. Studio Animal transformed an awkward, disjointed 1970s layout into a fluid open-plan interior that maximizes space and natural light. The white living, dining and kitchen spaces are juxtaposed with two distinctly coloured bedrooms – symmetrical spaces whose palettes reflect each resident’s preferences. The jury appreciated Studio Animal’s creative approach to the project, with Matteo Ferrari, architect at Matteo Ferrari Studio, admiring the resulting ‘bold and innovative solutions’. ‘The result is not obvious,’ he added. ‘Shapes, textures and colours accentuate the relationship between space and user.’ Harkaran Singh Boparai, Space 5 founder and principal architect, also highlighted the colours and forms. ‘It’s a beautiful colourscape that immediately transports…

SHENZHEN Jade Apartment, a show flat within CR Land’s Super Center in Shenzhen’s Longhua district, was conceived by Matrix Design as a tranquil retreat within the bustling city. An open, high-ceilinged public area features a cross-sectional grid, allowing daylight to flow through and giving visitors a sense of time passing. Inside the apartment, glass walls and semi-transparent elements give the spaces an open, airy feel, while premium materials – such as polished translucent jade for the coffee bar – were chosen for their elegance and contrast. In the VIP room, a living tree and partial courtyard views blend privacy with openness. ‘This is a very well done modern Zen space,’ said jury member Wayne Turett, founder and principal of The Turett Collaborative. ‘It looks very inviting, as if it’s just…

BERLIN ‘What at first glance appears to be a simple and pleasant project reveals layers of sophistication and delight upon closer inspection,’ said Agata Kurzela, founder of Agata Kurzela Studio, when judging Relaxound’s 490-m2 Berlin office. At the heart of the project was the development of a balanced environment that encourages collaboration while providing space for retreat and focus – a sensory approach that makes particular sense for Relaxound, which is in the business of supporting the curation of relaxing environments through sound. To cater for different neurological needs, Ester Bruzkus Architekten used the principles of colour psychology, as well as tactility, acoustics and lighting, to create different atmospheres. Smaller rooms are darker and cosier, while the main work area is more mellow. Social spaces, meanwhile, are marked by bright…

Located beneath one of two new buildings designed by Herzog & de Meuron as part of the redevelopment and restoration of Tai Kwan in Hong Kong, the Laundry Steps have become an impromptu outdoor amphitheatre for gatherings, events and performances. But the concrete steps weren’t designed for this purpose, making them uncomfortable for prolonged periods of sitting, and their materiality created a cold, uninviting atmosphere. To remedy this situation, Arta Architects introduced an ergonomic seating system crafted from FSC-certified wood in a gradient of warm tones. The design prioritizes comfort, flexibility and efficient installation through a bespoke locking mechanism that allows quick layout adjustments for various uses – from large events to solitary seating. Stackable for space-efficient storage, the chairs feature a curved shape inspired by the site’s blend of…