By Sarah Amelar.

Though our editors never come to Record Interiors with a preconceived theme, one often emerges, as it has this year: A pale yet nuanced palette characterizes all six of the issue's featured interiors, evoking serenity and, simultaneously, a sense of drama. Almost contradictory, this duality seems to suggest a contemporary desire for calm refuge—but not without a hint, however subtle, of excitement.

From a Czech monastery to an eyeglass boutique in Japan, these six diverse projects gradually reveal themselves—all light-hued yet remarkable in their experiential intensity.

Click on the images below for more on each project. Plus, see our exclusive Web-only interiors here.

Photography credits (from left to right) – top row: Elizabeth Felicella , Gus Wüstemann Ma Eth Sia, Daici Ano; bottom row: Fotoworks, Benny Chan, Hisao Suzuki, Daici Ano

For the complete story on any of these projects, please see the September 2007 issue of Architectural Record.

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