These are 10 of the world's finest spaces.
The world’s most impressive architectural and interior design projects are going head-to-head to compete in this year’s INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, an annual three-day event dedicated to celebrating the world’s finest interiors.
Five hundred projects from across the globe were entered across nine diverse categories, ranging from hotels, bars and restaurants to residential homes and commercial buildings across the health and education sector, and now the awards have announced their shortlist of the best 77 projects – including a Lego house, transparent pharmacy and Orient Express train carriage, all competing to be crowned World Interior of the Year 2018.
The overall winner won’t be announced until the 30th November, but in the meantime here are 10 of Livingetc’s favourites designs in with a chance of winning.
1. Belmond Venice-Simplon Orient Express
Who said train journeys can’t be glamorous? The Orient Express is synonymous with Art Deco glamour, and the recently updated carriages by WATG and Wimberly Interiors (also competing in the Civic, Culture & Transport category) are simply fabulous. Wimberly Interiors renovated three ultra-luxurious private suites aboard the train. Drawing inspiration from the heritage and style of each of the destinations the train weaves through – Paris, Venice, and Istanbul – Wimberly Interiors has used ornate detailing, hand-beaded embroidery and lavish fabrics to reflect each city’s unique character.
2. The Department Store, London
Offices and co-working spaces are getting increasingly stylish, as this project by Squire and Partners attests. Known for their edgy, urban designs, their latest project is an ex-warehouse co-working space by Ministry of Sound.
3. Nocenco Cafe, Vinh, Vietnam
Competing for the Creative Re-Use title, the Nocenco cafe by VTN Architects (Vo Trong Nghia Architects) showcases clever design that blurs the indoors and out. This renovation project includes a café on the rooftop of a 7-floor middle-rise concrete building which has been transformed into a local landmark in the city centre of Vinh City, north of Vietnam. Unlike other post-war buildings in the local area, bamboo has been used extensively throughout the café and to the exterior of the existing building due to its accessibility, weight and durability as a building material.
4. Interloop, Sydney, Australia
Australian practice, Studio Chris Fox, has been shortlisted in the Display category for their innovative ‘Interloop’ design, which sits above the main entrance of Wynard station, Sydney. Made from re-used 1930s OTIS escalator treads, the Interloop measures more than 50 metres in length, weighs more than five tonnes, and weaves in 244 wooden treads and four combs from the original escalators. You don’t get more Instagrammable escalators than this.
5. Jurong Library, Ju Rong, China
Competing in the Civic, Culture & Transport category, the hyper-organised and linear Beijing Fenghemuchen Space Design for the Jurong Library is an OCD dream.
6. Armadale Residence, Melbourne, Australia
Rob Mills Architecture & Interiors have seriously upped the ante on modern kitchen design with this stylish brass number.
7. Hisvahan Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey
When it comes to travel, we’re certainly not short of designer destinations, and now we can ad the Hisvhan Hotel to our bucket list.
8. Dharmawangsa House, Jakarta, Indonesia
With that to-die for glass pool, this contemporary new build in Indonesia by Genius Loci looks like it’s come straight out of The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes.
9. Playland, Taipei, Taiwan
Believe it or not, this sculptural design – by Wei Yi international design associates – is for a residential home.
10. Australian Embassy, Bangkok, Thailand
Also competing in the Civic, Culture & Transport category, this embassy design by BVN is clearly inspired by the calming effects of water.
