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    Figure and Studio J Jih perform “stair gymnastics” inside Boston rowhouse

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    American firms Studio J Jih and Figure have overhauled a historic house in Boston, which now revolves around a sculptural “hairpin” staircase influenced by the twists and turns of mountain roads.

    Locally based Studio J Jih and San Francisco studio Figure collaborated on the transformation of the four-storey rowhouse in the city’s South End.
    Studio J Jih and Figure have renovated Hairpin HouseThe owner, a Boston native, desired more useable space in the 15-foot-wide (4.6-metre) home, which was only achievable by entirely reorganising the floor plan.
    The hefty existing staircase took up a third of the building, so it was removed and redesigned to be more efficient and help define the remaining programme while adhering to Boston’s strict building codes.
    A new staircase cuts a diagonal path through the houseThe result is a new white oak staircase that “unspools diagonally through the home” around a 40-foot-high (12-metre) atrium, increasing the useable floor area by 20 per cent.

    “Aptly named Hairpin House, the project takes the tight, unpredictable, and ultimately poetic switchback turns of a mountain road as inspiration for the overall renovation – and in particular a new unravelling central stair,” said the team.
    Lime plaster was applied to the walls throughout the homeOther rooms were adjusted around this new element so that the most-used ones – like the dining room, living room and primary bedroom – were increased in size while ancillary spaces such as the foyer, powder room and bathroom shrunk.
    “We performed a sort of stair gymnastics where each flight was distinct from the others, because of its necessary interface with the unique programmatic and circulatory conditions on each floor,” said James Leng, partner at Figure.
    Windows on the south facade were enlarged by 200 per cent to let in more light”Like how a mountain road derives its form from the slope it rests on, this central stair was truly shaped contingently through the pressures of its interior context,” he added.
    The stair flights were fabricated by hand individually off-site before being assembled into a singular element, connected by a continuous rounded handrail.
    The kitchen and dining room on the ground floor are anchored by a travertine islandMaterials throughout the rest of the house were chosen to match or complement the staircase.
    White oak and French limestone cover the floors while lime plaster is applied directly onto the brick walls.
    The dining area opens onto a bluestone patio enclosed with cedar panelsThe main entrance to the home is on the second of its four floors, where the main living room is also located.
    Downstairs, on the ground floor, the open-plan kitchen and dining area are organised around a monolithic island carved from a single piece of travertine – similar to the fireplace on the level above.

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    A trio of French doors open onto the bluestone back patio enclosed with cedar panels and enlarged windows continue up this south-oriented facade to bring in the maximum amount of natural light.
    “Each was increased in scale by over 200 per cent, creating a rear facade graced with daylight, views and which elegantly blends into the age-old brick of Boston’s historic architecture,” the team said.
    Large windows run up the south facadeThe building’s third floor is occupied solely by the primary suite – comprising a bedroom, bathroom and closet – and the uppermost storey accommodates an additional bedroom, bathroom and lounge area.
    “A great deal of the joy we found in this project was in the process of shaping it from so many dizzying constraints,” said Leng. “But it also needs to be said that the project could only have been sculpted from the intensely productive collaboration between our two firms.”
    The rowhouse is located in the South End of BostonBoston has no shortage of historic brick houses, many of which have undergone significant renovations to make them more suitable for modern living.
    Examples include a heritage-listed Victorian home that was extended and updated with minimalist interiors by local architecture studio OverUnder.
    The photography is by James Leng.
    Project credits:
    Design architect: J Jih (principal: J Jih) and Figure (principals: James Leng and Jennifer Ly)Structural engineer: Team EngineeringLandscape design: Pate Landscape ArchitectureGeneral contractor: Evergreen Group CompanyMillworker: Kenyon WoodworkingStair fabricator: Stairworks of BostonPlastering: Trowel Inc. Plastering

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      Cho Thompson unearths Boston building’s history to inform office interiors

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      US studio Atelier Cho Thompson has redesigned the shared spaces for an office building in Boston, borrowing shapes and materials from its history for new interior elements.

      The project involved reimagining the communal areas at 179 Lincoln Street, a full-block building in the city’s Leather District that was constructed as a shoe factory in 1899.
      Arched motifs on the facade of 179 Lincoln Street were reinterpreted as grooves in the lobby’s plaster wallsAtelier Cho Thompson looked to this history to guide the design of areas at the margins of the building, including the under-utilized lobby space, a dark central core, and empty pocket spaces on each of five floors – all totalling 8,000 square feet (743 square metres).
      “We unearthed and amplified the building’s rich history while creating a space that is responsive to the needs of the post-pandemic workplace,” said studio founder Cho Thompson.
      Finger-shaped backrests for a bench are wrapped in leather to nod to the building’s shoe-making pastWork began with removing the layers of previous renovations, including vinyl tile and commercial carpet, which had left areas “dark and generic”.

      The team uncovered original terrazzo floors in some areas and worked with experts to restore any sections that were damaged.
      Arches are also hewn into the white oak counter front in the receptionThey also looked to the arched geometry and detailed ornamentation of the building’s historic facade for interior design cues.
      The arches are repeated in the lobby as grooved patterns across the hand-troweled plaster walls, and again at a smaller scale around the white oak front of the marble-topped reception counter.
      Brass details including handrails match the building’s original mail chute”With a modern sensibility, we developed a language of detail that brought elements of the exterior into the building’s core,” Thompson said.
      “In that transformation, we brought a playful spirit, bringing massive forms down to human size and creating juxtapositions of materials, patterns, and scales.”
      In other communal areas, original red brick walls and terrazzo floors are exposedShiny black floors contrast the pale colour palette used across all other surfaces, while brass – chosen to match the building’s mail chute – provides a bright accent on railings, drawer handles and other details.
      Lighting fixtures by Lam Partners comprise globe-shaped components attached to thin brass supports, in a variety of linear configurations.
      Multiple counters are provided for group work and conversations between colleaguesIn other “in-between” communal areas, red brick walls and columns are exposed beneath skylights.
      A series of brass-topped counters are scattered through these spaces, creating spots for casual conversation between colleagues.

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      Banquettes and benches also provide opportunities for group and collaborative work outside of typical meeting rooms.
      These are upholstered in dusty pink leather as a nod to the building’s shoe-making past.
      These casual meeting spaces are designed to respond to the changing needs of office workers”This project responds to the changing landscape of office life by offering opportunities that go beyond what we can experience in only working from home,” said Thompson.
      “With a hospitality approach, the spaces of the project offer a fresh, welcoming, and inclusive place to spend time with colleagues.”
      Polished brass is also used for signage and wayfinding. Photo by Samara ViseReimagining historic buildings as contemporary workplaces is a common challenge for architects and designers, and refreshing communal or public-facing spaces is typically an impactful place to start.
      Similarly, GRT Architects overhauled the entrance to the art deco Fashion Tower in New York, restoring its facade and modernising the lobby.
      The photography is by Jared Kuzia, unless stated otherwise.
      Project credits:
      Client: EQ OfficeArchitect: Atelier Cho ThompsonLighting designer: Lam Partners

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      Glossier Boston store features pastel green mouldings

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      Decorative architectural mouldings are recreated in pastel green to frame openings at the Boston store for the cosmetics brand Glossier.

      Designed by the company’s in-house team, the permanent Glossier Boston location on the city’s bustling Newbury Street follows a pop-up at the Seaport in 2019.
      Mirrors positioned to face one another create infinite reflections at the Glossier Boston storeFor the space, the designers took influences from historic local architecture and Boston’s status as a college student hub, with Harvard University and MIT located just over the Charles River in Cambridge.
      “With our 10th Glossier location, we wanted to bring something special to the city that honors its metropolitan and scholastic personality,” said the team. “Our influences for Glossier Boston’s design include collegiate fashion and the decorative characteristics of Boston’s local architecture.”
      The brand’s signature pink hue covers the wallsThey also cited the “blush pink stucco, verdant green stone and verdant plant life” of the nearby Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which is modelled on a Venetian palazzo, as a source of inspiration for the store interior.

      Glossier’s signature Millennial pink shade covers the walls, while cased openings are framed with stylised versions of architectural mouldings found on neighbouring buildings.
      Products are displayed on wavy traysMirrors are positioned to face one another in order to create infinite reflections of customers testing makeup and skincare products.
      The merchandise is displayed on the wavy trays, cylindrical displays and rectangular tables found in many of Glossier’s stores.
      The store is Glossier’s 10th permanent retail locationPale wood floors contribute to the soft colour palette, while bright lighting is designed to be flattering.
      On the exterior, the tall windows and brass doors are surrounded by marble panels and bronze detailing.

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      These details contrast the pale hues inside.
      “There is also a large step-back from the curbside, filled with lush trees that invite visitors to connect and hang out,” the team said.
      Stylised versions of historic architectural mouldings frame cased openingsWhen Glossier launched in 2014, it became known for its pop-up stores that opened across the US.
      The temporary spot that the company installed in Seattle, which was filled with plant-covered mounds, was named small retail interior of the year at the 2020 Dezeen Awards.
      The store’s marble and bronze exterior contrasts the interior colour schemeThe brand has since opened permanent locations in cities including Seattle, Los Angeles and London.
      All of these share a similar aesthetic and colour scheme, with subtle differences that nod to the specific location and context.
      The photography is by Brian W Ferry.

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