Brisbane-based interior designer and architect Renee Popovic has been announced as the winner of the Victoria + Albert 2018 International Design Awards with her project unveiled at last month’s Salone del Mobile.Milano.
Responding to the brief that invited designers to create a 3 x 3m boutique hotel bathroom that “inspires, relaxes and reinvigorates the guest”, Popovic fought off competition from more than 140 interior designers and architects from around the world.
Popovic was invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to Milan for the unveiling of the winning bathroom, which was recreated to scale at Salone del Mobile, using imitation materials. The award was presented during a cocktail reception at Victoria + Albert’s exhibition stand at the show, where guests were invited to meet the designer and explore the bathroom.
The boutique hotel bathroom is inspired by natural beauty and is carefully planned to lead guests on a journey to tranquility. The pure materiality of the QUARRYCAST® Vetralla 2 freestanding bath and Drayton 40 basins are complemented with honed marble, seamless limewash render, Terrazzo and brushed brass accents. Clever “pods” contained a WC and shower. The judges commended the original layout and use of curves within a square space. They considered the design “retro-future” and perfectly fitting for a boutique hotel.
“My design approach is based on formal principles, but with a modern twist”, Popovic said of her interior design ethos. “I was faced with a relatively compact space, so felt it was important to utilise symmetry to create a coherent bathroom.
“I also chose to mix modern and traditional elements in the bathroom, opting for a modern bath with more traditional basins. Adding the Stone Grey exterior paint finish to the products was also an important detail. I was particularly inspired by the brief for boutique hotel design as it gives the designer the chance to create something truly unique that the guest wouldn’t usually experience at home. I’m absolutely delighted to see my design come to life at Salone del Mobile.”
Marketing Director Jonathan Carter commented “we’ve been amazed to see the calibre of entries this year; it just keeps getting better. Renee’s design was truly original and it created a lot of conversations at Salone del Mobile about the nature of compact space design and how innovative interiors can shape a guest’s experience in a boutique hotel. It was a pleasure to welcome Renee to Milan and to celebrate the best of global design.”
Three highly commended entries were also highlighted at Salone del Mobile; Marie-Claire Holden and Jessica Tosh of Australian design company Cottee Architects’ “Luxe Boutique” scheme; Brazilian designer Carina Fontes’ serene modern bathroom, and Latvian designer Guljnara Hasanshina’s unique “Kaleidoscope” experience.
For the Victoria + Albert 2018 International Design Awards, a global panel of interior designers were invited to judge the submissions:
- Beat Huesler, Director, Oppenheim Architecture –Switzerland
- Simon Kincaid, Director, Conran + Partners –London
- Richard Felix-Ashman, Director of Interiors, Handel Architects LLP –San Francisco
- Alexandria Champalimaud, Owner, Champalimaud Design – New York
- Laura Bielecki, Senior Designer, Ellington Design – Dubai
For more information visit vandabaths.com/aus/australasia/
