courtesy Manic Design

For our very first large-scale wayfinding project, we were tasked to revamp a cinema + shopping mall’s carpark. A total of 6 parking floors — out of which only 4 had direct access to the shopping mall — presented us with a unique set of problems.

courtesy Manic Design

We solved this by carefully tweaking the language on the feature walls, stairs and doors of every floor. oupled with bold new type and separate LED lightboxes for drivers and shoppers, we are confident that people will no longer have any excuse to get lost!

The Cathay Carpark
Creative Director: Karen Huang
Art Director: Adeline Chong
Designers: Benjamin Koh, Wong Chee Yi
Photography: John Nursalim (VisualMind Photography), Benjamin Koh

+ All images courtesy Manic Design

courtesy Alberto Apostoli | Photo by Maurizio Marcato

In Brenzone, on the Venetian side of Lake Garda, the Consolini Group decided to give the Belfiore Park Hotel a decidedly ayurvedic dimension by opening a new wellness centre spread along an entire floor of the hotel and named the Dhara Wellness. The project aimed to create a balance between the classical elements of the SPA by carefully studying spaces, forms, materials, colours and lights.

courtesy Alberto Apostoli | Photo by Maurizio Marcato

The architect Alberto Apostoli, responsible of the project, commented: "The space is very homogeneous from an aesthetic point of view but it is also full of innovative solutions, and small details that were constructed with. I care and respect for the territory combined with a new cultural approach".

By taking advantage of the local materials, the particularities of the location and a natural spring that was discovered during the construction, the SPA obtains a sensorial environment that is alive with every construction detail and material that was specially designed for it. Following a characteristic horizontal element made with bamboo canes that run along the entire floor leading to the SPA, one enters, or rather "filters in", a socializing room that is neutral and contemporary.

courtesy Alberto Apostoli | Photo by Maurizio Marcato

A final element is the large olive tree that was placed within the structure during the intervention; it was originally from the land adjacent to the Hotel. The geometrical and emotional core of the SPA is a basin of water that is constantly replenished by the natural spring whose waters are utilized almost as a lining as it flows directly onto the bare stone. Within the basin, there is a shower that is made by a particular element that is the local stone and a special Kneipp treatment composed by single pools that are also made in the local stone. The sauna, another strong element of the centre, is created entirely in stone and is characterised by a large glass partition for the unusual transfer to the basin of water.

courtesy Alberto Apostoli | Photo by Maurizio Marcato

Alongside the sauna is a vapour bath, covered by a special mosaic in esin whose parts "digitally" recreate the intertwined branches of the lemon trees. The relax area is positioned at the end of the centre and offers a magnificent view of the lake that is only a couple of meters away.

Design: Alberto Apostoli
Photos: Maurizio Marcato

+ All images courtesy Alberto Apostoli | Photo by Maurizio Marcato