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Construction

From mill to modern loft: photos of este’r partners’ project

Este’r partners designed a high-end apartment for their client in the exciting industrial environment of Budapest’s 11th district. In an interview, interior designer Csilla Szabó shared some interesting details about the project.

What is so special about this industrial part of Budapest, where the newly planned apartment is located?

As the historical records show, in the second half of the 19th century the milling industry developed significantly in Budapest, and several large steam mills were built. It was during this period, in 1879 that the Gizella Mill was built on Soroksári Street in the 9th district of Budapest, designed by Károly Bachmann, commissioned by the Krausz-Moskovits family. After the change of regime, the mill was listed as a historical monument, the interior was demolished in 2000, and then in 2009 office buildings, a hotel and residential apartments were built inside the remaining walls. This is where our client bought a loft apartment, which was designed by the team of este’r partners and where we worked on the interior design execution all the way to the handover of the project..

What was the client’s request and what was the starting point for the project?

The structural design of the apartment with exposed brickwork inside, ground floor and mezzanine floor, stairs, terrace was suitable for a small office; the owner requested a change of function to convert it into an apartment for himself. In terms of design, simple, modest interiors were the main focus, which was a real joy for us, as we could keep the emphasis on the space. However, the most important aspect was to achieve a unique look with subtle elements in the space. The spatial structure provided us with a fantastic basis for our work, the challenge was to create residential functions along the inner gallery (an area without frontal windows).

Tell us about the spatial structure, the division of the space, the room layout.

We planned to keep the original spatial structure but develop the apartment function: the windows on the double level illuminate the living room, we did not plan a wall in the open space structure, the owner requested the kitchen function on the ground floor to be created with windows, so the ground floor guest room/study room was designed without windows, and on the ground floor there was also a utility room and a bathroom with sauna. Opening up the interior room, connecting it as much as possible to the large space, and defining it with large sliding glass doors were also important design considerations.

The upstairs guest bedroom is also designed as an interior room and although the upstairs bedroom has a small window facing the Danube, both rooms have been designed to maximize the amount of light from the gallery through a glass wall.

In the design of the corridor with walk-in closets connecting the rooms, transparency and the maximum amount of light from the gallery were also key factors.

What exciting solutions did you implement in the living room? What makes this space unique?

On the one hand, the internal glass and lamella wall system on the gallery level, which encloses the upper level and enriches the original spatial structure.

In the original space, which was bordered by exposed brick walls, a single large white painted partition wall seemed strange in the space, so a mural was painted on this surface to break through the wall and extend the space.

The lighting was the most exciting task in the vast space of the living room, replacing the previous industrial lamps and designing lamps that are rarely used in residential spaces due to the lack of ceiling heights. These lamps are delicate, light, airy and blend almost imperceptibly into the space.

How does a special spiral staircase and brick wall transform the apartment?

The original staircase was retained for cost-effectiveness reasons, and it also functions well, being comfortable, wide, and good at breaking up the angularity of the space, as well as having a sculptural effect. The brick wall in its original condition was not suitable for the owner, so we replaced and repaired the missing and damaged elements, and impregnated the surface. In the completed apartment, it became a prominent and dominant element of the space, which no longer required the use of other decorative interior elements.

Tell us about the unique solutions for storage and lighting.

With a restrained, more geometric use of architectural lamps, the principle of less is more works throughout the whole concept, including the lighting. In the interior room on the ground floor, we designed a carpet with custom-made graphic illuminated with adjustable lighting on the ceiling.

In the living room, the suspended linear lighting from the vaulted ceiling appears as a bracket on the brick wall surface, but there are no fixtures on the unique brick wall, we installed them on the floor.

Storage solutions include a number of exciting elements, such as wall-mounted hall and kitchen furniture, or custom storage units covered with full length mirrors in the bathrooms – these do not actually look like furniture in the space.

What makes this apartment truly a ‘Budapest home’ and gives it an ‘este’r partners style’?

We have utilized the existing elements of the renovation of the historic industrial mill, focused on its structure and finishes, while preserving its architectural character, and this has been supported by the interior design from start to finish with unique elements and solutions to create a cozy atmosphere for our client in this exceptional space. We agreed to complete this project with the contractor, keeping a constant eye on costs, preparing and delivering this apartment during the most difficult period of the construction industry in recent years, so I can honestly say that this is our work as the team of este’r partners in every aspect.

Categories
Events

The stone is eternal, the stone remains – MARMOMAC exhibition in Verona

Eszter Radnóczy was invited by the Italian Trade Agency to visit the Marmomac exhibition in Verona. During the unique trip, besides the finished design products, the professional team could also get an insight into the stone processing process and even visit the quarries above Verona, which are still the cradle of stone production in Italy. Eszter Radnóczy, lead designer, wrote a short report on the trip.

“Marmomac is the world’s most important world fair for the stone industry, dedicated to the entire stone production chain, from the quarry to the processed product, from technologies and machinery to tools. It is no coincidence that Marmomac is being held in Verona, as the area is one of Italy’s most important quarrying and processing areas with a long history, and has been considered a raw material base since Roman times.

The training course included a solid professional programme. We attended lectures on the history of the earth, geology, stone formation and classification, igneous to senimentary and metamorphic rocks (crystallized from the previous two). We learned about the process of stone processing, highlighting and credibly analyzing its environmental impacts and the international regulations and sustainability requirements introduced to avoid  such impacts. We deepened our knowledge of the methods of use and treatment of stones. The industry in Italy places great emphasis on innovation and training and this was well reflected in what we saw at the exhibition.

We met directly with representatives of the quarries as well as many manufacturers who use the purchased material to create not only cladding, but also complete domes, facades and consumer and design products. It was good to get an insight into the international business as a whole and to learn about the processing and the commercial chain.

We visited the long-established Margraf factory, where, despite robotisation, manual processing and carving is still used for unique pieces. The factory is involved in major architectural projects on all continents of the world. There are still several active quarries in Italy. If there is no longer any production or usable rock, the owners have to rebuild the terrain to the original topography and vegetation.

We traveled to the valleys above Verona which were covered by the ocean 180 million years ago, and some undersea currents formed surface rocks allowing humans easy access to them. At the Grassi Pietre quarry in Pederiva, a very porous yellow sedimentary rock is excavated, the perfect material for Palladian buildings and their carved sculptures. The deep underground quarry is now a museum where we could try our hand at stone carving. We also visited the excavation of the red stone, rosso di verona, also much used in Roman times, at Cava Fasani in Luogo di Grezzana.

Words cannot describe the wonderful journey, but the pictures speak for themselves when it comes to the grandiose moments and experiences.”

Categories
Our partners

The world of the Hungarian Opera House inspired the designers: Réka Cserveny is announced as winner of the textil design competition

The Budapest Design Week, which is 20 years old this year, provided the framework for the textile design competition, which was announced by Estorio showroom and Italy’s leading textile company, Flukso. The three prize winners were able to present their applications on 13th October for the audience, Eszter Radnóczy, interior designer and Estorio founder and Raul Scruzzi, Head of Business Development of Flukso appreciated the first-placed Réka Cserveny’s work.

The goal of Estorio, which launched the tender, was to inspire graphic designers to create a textile pattern, in which the magical world of the Hungarian State Opera and the Hungarian opera music also plays a prominent role. Their partnerin the tender was one of Italy’s leaders textile company, Flukso, which produced high-quality fabric and unique printing provided them with technology.

The winner textile will be exhibited with the name of the winning designer in the Estorio showroom together which is located in Dalszínház street, in the neighborhood of the Opera House. The design also had to take into account the colour scheme and style of the showroom, and it was important to ensure that the series of patterns or designs would fit into the Estorio space.

Second prize winner Krisztián Balogh’s work was inspired by the sphinx sculpture in front of the Opera House, combining it with soft colours and eye-catching india patterns. The third place winner, Enikő Balogh, transformed the dancers’ movements into a repetitive graphic pattern. The first prize winner presented a very exciting piece of work: Réka Cserveny took the architectural floor plan of the Opera House and creatively transformed it into a textile pattern that showed playfulness and met high aesthetic standards.

Interior designer Eszter Radnóczy said, “We were impressed by Réka’s work, the way she turned a creative idea into a very usable, unique design. The usability of the pattern was very well thought out, in the high level textile design represented by Flukso such a design is very applicable, it feeds on a specific motif system, but can also function as an abstract pattern.”

The afternoon continued with a round table discussion announced as part of the Budapest Design Week programme. The invited guests, András Almási-Tóth, Artistic Director of the Opera House, Móni Kovács, founder of Komonka textiles and Adrienn Nagy, Assistant Professor and founder of the Rienne brand, were guests of Eszter Radnóczy, who discussed the relationship between art and interior design.

It was pointed out that interior design cannot be separated from art, and traditionally they have been closely co-existing fields. András Almási-Tóth shared with the audience that after the renovation, the Opera House wants to offer a complex experience on all levels (from arrival to departure), not only the space but also the mindset has become more open. Eszter Radnóczy explained in detail how their showroom, opened a year ago, is connected to the elegant world of the Opera House, and what are the sophisticated features that make the space suitable not only for design lovers, but also for celebrating with a glass of prosecco in the apartment overlooking the Opera House before or after an opera performance. Further analysing the relationship between interior design and art, Móni Kovács spoke about the biggest changes in the textile industry in Hungary, the decline of weaving mills and the decline of the manufacturing background, and told that abroad it was considered a speciality that he was able not only to design but also to realise textiles. Adrienn Nagy added that in this country it is difficult even for university students to meet the quality that even a woman’s costume could offer in the great era of textile art. Sustainability was a prominent theme in the discussion: circular thinking gives us the chance to reintroduce into our lives the works of previous eras that need to be revisited.

Among the visions for the future, all the interlocutors stressed that supporting art, finding artists can only be the first step, the aim is to create higher quality works, unique artistic expressions, designed for realisation in domestic conditions, in interior design – the intention, openness and connection of designers and creators is already a given, a joyful starting point.

Categories
About us

Hotel Oktogon in Design Street Magazine

There are milestones in every company’s life. Our work, the interior design of Hotel Oktogon, Budapest in Design Street is one for us: a magazine that we have loved and followed every since, a voice in design we have always found worth listening to. What an honour – thank you!

L’Hotel Oktogon di Budapest, tra storia e design

 

Categories
Construction

All about steel! A visit to Kaldewei

A professional experience of visiting KALDEWEI factory in Ahlen, Germany, creator of shower trays, bathtubs or washbasins. Steel enamel is not only their material but also passion that moves them with maximum precision, timeless design and technological innovation.

Thank you for organizing this trip for us, David Várkonyi!

Categories
Events

Celebrating women designers at World Design Week

World Design Day was celebrated by Budapest Design Week in a very inspiring milieu: Hungarian female designers and CEO’s from the design and architecture sector had the chance to discuss the future of design – from a woman’s perspective.

As part of this conversation, Eszter Radnóczy shared her opinion on woman leadership in design, the need for resilience and the possibilities AI holds for the creative sector. As Eszter said: building your creative dreams has never been so challenging, also, never so exciting and full of possibilities.

Categories
Our partners

Celebrating 275 years of Villeroy&Boch

Every year we are happy to join the beautiful brand, Villeroy&Boch’s summer party, but this time it was very special. 275 years of history, elegance and timeliess design was someting to celebrate: excellence in ceramics was cherished by este’r partners team, too. We enjoyed a presentation of the Villeroy&Boch factory’s history and also was mesmerized by their surprise – a piece of history of 275 that vwe could take home.

Categories
Events

5+1 trends of the ISH exhibition in Frankfurt by Réka Harkay-Farkas

At the end of March, the largest trade event in the field of modern heating, ventilation, air conditioning and smart water use, ISH 2023, was held in Frankfurt, which this year could be visited both in person and in digital form. Este’r partners’ colleague, Réka Harkay-Farkas was on site, and we asked her about the latest technical innovations.

Every two years, ISH presents smart solutions and technical innovations in the application of heating, ventilation and water use. Why was it important for you to participate in this event?

In the life of our company, it has always been very important to obtain first-hand information about novelties, technical developments, and the latest trends. Unfortunately, ISH was delayed for years due to the epidemic, so it is a great pleasure that we were able to return here again after 4 years! Unfortunately, several manufacturers canceled the exhibition due to cost reduction considerations, but those who exhibited set the bar very high. Lots of technical innovations, development, time and energy saving as well.

Why are face-to-face meetings important?

Such a large-scale exhibition is always a good opportunity to meet the representatives of the manufacturers, who are ready to show us the novelties and interesting things, for example, what is worth paying attention to when designing, with a complete stand management. On such occasions, we also gather important arguments why it is worth recommending a particular company’s product to our customers. They always report on the use of materials and the quality requirements of the products, so the knowledge expands, and we can see live what we could see before through the monitor or from the catalog.

What novelties, trends, technical innovations have you come across?

I would summarize it in points, because the current ISH was definitely interesting from several points of view.

  1. Companies distribute in new segments“: it is an important trend in recent years among manufacturers that new product segments are added to their portfolio. Villeroy&Boch introduced a complete faucet segment to its portfolio. Laufen offers a pre-wall installation system. Duravit has 3 new faucet families. Hansgrohe’s stand was a big surprise for me. We can furnish a complete bathroom with Hansgrohe products: in addition to faucets, ceramics, mirrors and furniture. Kaldewei, for example, also offers a shower drain. The goal is to be able to furnish a complete bathroom from one manufacturer, without having to look for separate manufacturers, and it presents manufacturers with a lot of competition, which I don’t think has ever happened before.
  2. Sustainability: The bathroom has never been so “green”. The products save energy and water. First of all, faucets, for example, start with cold water, not immediately with mixed water, and there are even more serious aerators (which mix air with water). Another trendy term for ISH is “circular economy”. For example, at the Hansgrohe stand, I saw a faucet made entirely of recycled plastic. However, the topic of sustainability does not end here: The wood raw material of the furniture comes from sustainable cultivation, the packaging is made without plastic and everything can be recycled after the end of its useful life. And in production, factories are very careful to follow the “zero waste” principle, many factories can prove that the production process is CO2-free. In addition, in order to boost this even more at home, it is worth placing plants in the bathroom as the latest bathroom accessories, so that we can feel in nature.
  3. Colors: The new trend color in the bathroom is clearly black and matte. The brave go one step further and find different versions of white matt, gold, rosegold, chrome, for example, at Axor you can actually get all bathroom products in black. In addition to its colorful faucets, Duravit also offers the furniture handles and the drain in the same color. Interesting fact: everyone has different shades of color, so we won’t be able to put products from two different factories in one bathroom if we think in terms of color.
  4. Simplification of assembly: the goal of almost every factory is to have as few products as possible for craftsmen to install. A good example is the new Bette “Level” assembly system for shower trays. I was able to try it out, I managed to level a shower tray in 1.5 minutes.
  5. Another product category that every factory pays a lot of attention to is anti-slip, which is especially important for the elderly and for those of you in hotels. The technology is refined every year, we all still remember the “dotted” shower trays, which were made non-slip with this technology. The Bette Anti-Slip Sense coating is unnoticeable and completely non-slip. It was also possible to try it out, so I will confidently recommend it to customers.

+1 Eye-catching elements: for example, I saw a completely new siphon system at the Geberit stand: finally, you don’t have to cut out a piece of the drawer under the sink for the siphon, because the siphon slides completely under the sink. Kaldewei presented a shower drain with heat recovery. At the Laufen stand, I saw a bathtub with a transparent bottom and light, we can combine the experience of bathing with light therapy through an LED system. At Hansgrohé, the true hero of the stand that was presented is a bathroom that saves 90 percent of energy and water. And it’s also ISH: Villeroy and Boch’s wonderful new sanitary ware colors worthy of its 275th anniversary are captivating.

This year’s ISH watchwords were sustainability and comfort. What have you experienced, how does this come across in the exhibitors’ offers?

As I mentioned before, everyone strives for sustainability, saving energy and water. There was also a huge selection of heating systems, the goal being sustainability and energy saving.

Did you have a personal favorite among the novelties, what stuck out the most?

The stand of the three big ceramic manufacturers was a great experience. Villeroy&Boch’s concept with its colorful sanitary ware and new faucets captivated me, the reformation of Laufen’s Alessi product line is truly eye-catching in terms of colors and shapes, Duravit’s new furniture line with glass doors and simultaneously operable lighting attracts the eye not only with its design, but also simplifies use in terms of function.

 

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About us

A new inspirational space: Estorio launches its pop art concept

Astonishing. Charismatic. Bold. Entertaining. Introducing the concept of a new apartment designed by Eszter Radnóczy and the team of este’r partners as a continuation of the Estorio showroom. The extraordinary apartment was based on a pop art style, it shakes you up and spins you around, it’s a whole new approach to the metropolitan milieu.

“From the very beginning, the Estorio showroom was a unique, creative space and an inspiring venue: our aim was to show what happens when we design without a client, for our own pleasure, with our imagination running wild and boldly combining design brands and ideas we believe in,” explains interior designer, Eszter Radnóczy. “The goal is still the same: to create a space for our highly sophisticated clients that represents the highest aesthetic standards and quality in every detail.”

The impressive design solutions are once again provided by Estorio’s partners: the showroom, opened in 2022, has already introduced and represents nearly 30 international design brands, mainly Italian, Dutch and German ones, to Hungary.

From the moment you enter, the stunning red terrazzo tiles create a classic atmosphere in the entrance hall and the deep blue color is inviting you into the home. The unique barisol print attracts the eye while the giraffe of Queeboo Giraffe in Love is playing with the light in the light shaft.

The centerpiece of the kitchen is Valcucine’s deep blue kitchen, which can easily be transformed into a closed design box. Erba Italia’s dining table, made of small gold leaves, is supported by animal legs reflecting the mood of the apartment. The playfulness is enhanced by the Artemide designer lamp floating above the table.

The sand-colored living room, with its soft, rounded shapes and lights, relax the eye; it is visually a place that is perfect for recreation. The living room is spacious and the design emphasizes the bourgeois apartment’s ample space with the Italian Erba Italia sofa taking center stage.

The Italian-made Foglie d’Oro wood flooring provides an exciting contrast to the graphic designer’s ‘wild game’ rug, which sits beautifully at the foot of Black Tie’s blue bed. Behind the bedroom there is a hidden wardrobe, tailor-made by the Italian brand, Cosy International.

For designers, pop art means to create an experience, not in a museum-like way, but to add a sense of playfulness with surprising contrasts, bold colors and to elevate familiar objects to a new level. Estorio’s new pop art-style concept is designed for everyone who is looking for a high quality, inspiring and creative home.

Categories
Events

Eszter Radnóczy and este’r partners win the Hotel Interior Designer of The Year award at Klasszis Top Design

Este’r partners received another professional recognition: the jury of the Klasszis Top Design 2022 competition gave the Hotel Designer of the Year award to Eszter Radnóczy and the este’r partners team. This year, este’r partners has worked on interior design solutions for hotel projects such as the Emerald Residence&Suits on Szervita tér and the Hotel Oktogon, that opened this summer, also the art’otel located on Bem tér, which was created in international cooperation. The renovation of the public space of one of the popular hotels on the Balaton shore is also happening, just as the construction of the hotel and restaurant called the General’s House in Tokaj, which is being built with a special wine chapel – este’r partners are working with great enthusiasm on the new spaces of the hotel industry.

“I received the award with great pleasure, as our team has been working on the interior design of hotel spaces since the founding of este’r partners. Hotel design is always unique and exciting, as we always try to show something elegant, cool or trendy and interior, while at the same time understanding and knowing what provides travelers with comfort is essential. Without my team at este’r partners, these complex projects of many years would not have been possible, I am so grateful for their work!” – said Eszter Radnóczy after the award ceremony.

The award was received by lead designers Eszter Radnóczy and Csilla Szabó on behalf of our team at the ceremony held at the Mystery Hotel. At the award ceremony, Johannes Westreicher, the owner of the Grand Hotel Lienz in East Tyrol, greeted the finalists in a short video message on behalf of the international jury, Zsuzsanna Ács, managing director of the Klasszis Group, which launched the competition, and designer Zoltán Varró, the president of the jury, also spoke. This year, for the first time, Klasszis Top Design awarded creators who provide unique solutions in the hospitality and hotel industry in the Hungarian Horeca industry.