Harklinikken by Søren Rose is a Manhattan hair-loss clinic styled like a home

Design firm Søren Rose Studio has used a muted palette in this clinic in New York City designed "to make women and men struggling with hair loss feel comfortable".

The Copenhagen- and New York-based studio renovated a space three stories above 5th Avenue in the Flatiron District for Harklinikken, a hair-loss clinic that first opened in Copenhagen.

The New York outpost has a rectangular floor plan and comprises several zones and workspaces within a 5,000-square-foot (464-square-metre) space.

Overlooking 5th Avenue is a main consultation area, styled like a home with a dining area and lounge, used for showcasing methods and hosting events.

Søren Rose Studio opted for a gentle palette of cream and grey tones, paired with wood, marble and soft textiles to create a cosy, natural feel throughout.

"Subtle colour tones combined with brass, marble and soft fabrics are the key to why this space feels nothing like a hospital or doctor's office," said studio founder Søren Rose.

"Instead, it's a safe haven that was meticulously designed to make women and men struggling with hair loss feel comfortable, cared for and at ease despite their less-than-ideal circumstances."

Windows are covered with sheer curtains, and a long slab of Statuarietto marble from Italy runs along the bottom as a shelf and doubles as seating.

Floors are white-oiled oak and Kvadrat drapes also feature around the clinic, in either plush grey or sheer white.

"Rooms were designed with a home-like interior," Rose said. "Furniture pieces were carefully curated in leather, wood and paired with soft woven rugs and long drapes to evoke a relaxed environment."

Furnishings from Denmark are used prominently in Harklinikken. In the dining room-style setting, the long oak table is custom-made from homeware company Kbh Møbelsnedkeri, while dining chairs are designed by mid-century Danish designer Hans J Wegner.

Danish studio Menu designed the chandelier that hangs overhead with bulbs from British brand Tala.

"A keystone of the project, and a big wish from the Danish client, was the use of design classics from Denmark," said the designer.

Also featured is Wegner's CH25 lounge stool from Danish furniture company Carl Hansen & Son, metal bar stools by furniture maker Overgaard & Dyrman., an Arne Jacobsen chair on wheels from Fritz Hansen and a grey sofa from furniture brand Living Diviani.

Accent pieces that are not from Scandinavia are a black Mantis lamp by British designer Bernard Schottlander and a cream wool carpet from French brand Serge Lesage.

Upon entering is a reception desk clad in Tundra grey marble with a brass Thin Suspension light from Juniper, and walls covered in movable, dark grey drapes.

The counter also serves as the in-house lab where specialists hand-mix formulas tailored to each individual client. White cabinets and metal bar stools are also located here.

"Harklinikken is all about natural ingredients, as each extract is comprised of nutrient-rich proprietary ingredients from plants, fatty acids and plant proteins," Rose said.

"This being a core value and pride of Harklinikken, we worked with a design approach of honouring the scientific DNA of the brand as an accent in the interior, yet creating a calm spa-like atmosphere, making clients feel more like guests than patients," the designer added.

Rounding out Harklinikken's New York space is a staff room, storage, another consultation room and two bathrooms. Access is provided via an elevator and a stairwell.

Elsewhere in New York's Flatiron area is doctor's clinic Parsley Health, which is similarly designed like a home.

Photography is by Monica Steffensen.

The post Harklinikken by Søren Rose is a Manhattan hair-loss clinic styled like a home appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/2M0qXlT

Interview: Magnhild Kennedy Shares the Story Behind her Lavish and Mysterious ‘Damselfrau’ Masks

Magnhild Kennedy, who works as ‘Damselfrau‘ (previously) crafts ornate wearable artworks using found, vintage, and modified fabrics, trims, and even recycled grocery packaging. The Norway-born, U.K.-based artist shares the behind the scenes process of sourcing and interpreting her raw materials into eye-catching, genre-defying masks with Colossal contributor Laura Staugaitis. Get to know Magnhild in our new Interview series for Colossal Members. Learn more about Membership and join here.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/2RXcH1d

Color-Blocked Animals and Geometric Shapes Transform Neglected Home in Installation by Okuda San Miguel

All images © Justkids, shared with permission

Spanish street artist Okuda San Miguel is bringing vibrancy once again to a formerly untended area of Fort Smith, Arkansas. His recent project, “The Rainbow Embassy,” was curated by global creative house Justkids for the Unexpected, an effort to revitalize dilapidated areas in Arkansas through a series of immersive arts initiatives. For the installation, Okuda painted a neglected house that occupied a lot adjacent to Darby Junior High School with a series of multi-colored geometric shapes and lines. The structure even has two faces resembling animals painted on its sides.

“This project gave me the possibility to expand on my previous work, adding in more architectonic dimension and completing my vision of mythical animals,” Okuda says. He wants his work to bring “a touch of imagination and play into the daily lives of the neighboring community and students and Darby Junior High, as they will get to enjoy the installation and watch as it evolves through the seasons.”

Okuda is known for his metamorphic projects, including his work on churches in Morocco and Spain and on a 19th-century French castle. If you’re in Fort Smith, head downtown to check out the permanent installation. Otherwise, find more of the artist’s vibrant transformations on Instagram.

from Colossal https://ift.tt/35pFGic

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland offers "a better understanding of nature"

Design Group Italia chief design officer Sigurdur Thorsteinsson explains how The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland immerses guests in nature in this video produced by Dezeen for the AHEAD Awards.

The 62-room resort hotel is embedded in the lava formations and turquoise geothermal pools of Iceland's Blue Lagoon complex, which is situated within the UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland was awarded in the Resort Hotel category at the AHEAD Europe hospitality awards, which took place in London in November.

Design Group Italia handled the project's interiors, in collaboration with Icelandic firm Basalt Architects who were responsible for the architecture of the resort.

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland is a resort hotel at Iceland's Blue Lagoon spa complex

"The brief here was to make something that would fit very well into nature" explains Thorsteinsson in the video interview, which was shot by Dezeen at White City House in London on the day of the AHEAD Europe ceremony.

"We wanted basically to have continuity between nature, the interior and exterior," he continued.

The project won the Resort Hotel category at the 2019 AHEAD Europe hospitality awards

The interiors of the resort feature colours and materials that reference the striking landscape of lava, vivid green moss and bright blue water that surround the Blue Lagoon complex.

"We have very tactile surfaces," said Thorsteinsson. "We brought lava blocks into the building, and we treated it as a building material or as a furniture material."

Design Group Italia used natural materials in the building's interiors

Thorsteinsson stated that the resort has been designed to offer guests an experience of tranquility and isolation from the outside world.

"When you come to the hotel, this world opens up to you, a bit otherworldly almost," he said. "When you enter the building, you're passing into a sanctuary."

The hotel features a spa with indoor and outdoor baths and treatments

The centrepiece of the hotel is its spa, which offers a series of indoor and outdoor baths and treatments that make use of the site's mineral-rich geothermal waters and naturally occurring materials, including silica and algae.

According to Thorsteinsson, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland aims to reconnect visitors with the natural world and instil a humbling impression of nature that he feels is lost on city dwellers.

"Apart from relaxing, we wanted people to come away with more respect for nature, and a better understanding of what nature is and how wonderful it is," he explained.

The hotel's designers aimed to reconnect guests with nature

"When you live in big cities, you don't see nature and you don't think it is stronger than you," he continued. "In Iceland it's very easy to get connected, because nature is so strong and you're aware of it and you know it's stronger than you and we wanted people can get into that mood."

"You want to go somewhere where you experience something different and something you can take home with you as a memory."

This video was produced by Dezeen for AHEAD. It was filmed at White City House in London. Photography is courtesy of AHEAD and Design Group Italia.

The post The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland offers "a better understanding of nature" appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/2rTIMfD

Mira unveils hands-free camera system that enables "perfect selfie"

Design studio Mira has invented an automated camera system for museums, sports arenas and other public venues that enables visitors to get the perfect shot for social media without the use of their personal devices.

The Mira Cam was created by Mira, an offshoot of the design firm Cactus, which works at the intersection of digital technology and physical architecture. Mira is based in Brooklyn and Miami.

Mira describes itself "as the world's first automated photography platform" designed to produce high-quality images of people in entertainment and cultural venues, along with other public spaces.

The system enables people to capture the "perfect selfie" for social media without using their personal cameras. Mira's ultimate aim is to encourage people to put down their cameras and be more mentally present in an experience.

The design team sought to invent a system in which "moments could be captured in a simple way, without disrupting the experience itself".

"The 'aha' moment for Mira came to us when we observed people inside amazing entertainment venues," said Noah Waxman, Mira co-founder and chief brand officer, in a media release. "They were so busy trying to capture the perfect Instagram shot that they failed to fully engage with their surroundings."

The Mira Cam system is designed to be "intuitive and simple". The automated, electric-powered cameras are affixed to walls, ceilings, floors and other surfaces, in areas where visitors would want to take a photo. The company also offers a freestanding version, noting that the cameras can be placed "just about anywhere".

The cases are customised so that they blend into each setting. To ensure good lighting conditions, professional-grade flashes are incorporated throughout the space. Their positioning is informed by 3D studies of the environment.

"Mira installations are individually tailored to each environment and composition, and can even be branded with company logos or watermarks," the company said.

Visitors activate the camera using a wireless "trigger" device – either a QR code imprinted on a card or a bracelet fitted with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology. Markers on the floor indicate ideal spots to snap a photo or shoot a short video.

"They can use their trigger to activate Mira in any space where the camera system is set up," the company said. "When the trigger is activated, a preview screen engages with a countdown that allows the visitor to set up the perfect shot."

The camera can generate photos and videos, including gifs and time-lapse videos. The images and videos are instantly sent to the guest's email address or mobile phone, in addition to being saved in a private, online gallery for later viewing.

"The digital album is a reminder of how you enjoyed the experience, rather than how much time and effort you had to spend documenting it," said Lucas Werthein, Mira co-founder and chief technology officer.

The system has already been installed in several venues, including New York's Slime Institute, a slime-related play space for kids, and the Color Factory, an interactive exhibition that has been on view in multiple cities.

Other image-capturing technologies include the hands-free Clips camera from Google, which uses artificial intelligence to learn when to take a good shot, and the Shonin bodycam, which was designed to aid violent crime victims. The personal security camera is affixed to clothing and automatically uploads videos to the cloud.

Photography is by Mira.

The post Mira unveils hands-free camera system that enables "perfect selfie" appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/34rxNHq