Bank Vault turned Restaurant in Hong Kong Grabs World Interior of the Year at INSIDE

October 7th, 2014

Tags: Inside 2014 results, INSIDE awards, INSIDE World Festival of Interiors, joyce wang, MOtt32

Top image: World Interior of the Year – MOTT32, Hong Kong by Joyce Wang

Joyce Wang’s career has been on the rise since she completed AMMO restaurant a few years ago. Notable project after project have made her a household name in Hong Kong. And after bagging the top prize at INSIDE – World Festival of Interiors for MOTT32 in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore last week, she’s cementing herself as a name to watch in Asia.

World Interior of the Year – MOTT32, Hong Kong by Joyce Wang

Located in a former storage facility, which once housed expensive family heirlooms for wealthy Chinese immigrants, MOTT32 is now an atmospheric underworld dining experience. Taking inspiration from the heritage of the site, the restaurant is littered with forgotten heirlooms, Chinese propaganda and industrial materials doubling as furniture and light fittings. Joyce Wang Studio took a decaying space and combined traditional Chinese décor with industrial design elements, already popular in New York and London. Located underground, with no natural light, the designer embraced the constraints of the venue and used them to create a theatrical and exclusive experience as guests are guided downstairs through a long, snaking corridor.

Joyce Wang also won the top prize in the Residential category for Xintiandi Penthouse, China

“Winning the World Interior of the Year will mean so much to the team,” says Joyce Wang, upon receiving the award, “We are a practice of ten people and the project was very personal to the entire team. It was a Hong Kong project, it explored Hong Kong culture both past and present, which makes the project such a special one and winning this award even better.”

Winner in the Display category – IDC Space: research and display for the International Design Centre, Singapore by Sawako Kaijima

David Kohn, winner of last year’s World Interior of the Year award and judge for this year, had this to say: “Joyce Wang Studio took a constraining location and maximised what was possible, using the existing structure to create a sophisticated and detailed project.”

Winner in the Hotels category – Tama Hotel Phnom Penh [D22H22], Cambodia by FHAM

All in all, projects from Asia made a strong showing at this year’s INSIDE, with five out of the nine awards going to works from this region.

For the full list of winners, visit insidefestival.com

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