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      Fettle designs apartment block The Gessner to resemble a private members' club

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      Interiors studio Fettle took cues from hospitality spaces when fitting out this contemporary residential block in London, which houses 164 apartments alongside a co-working area and an in-house cafe.

      Managed by property developer Way of Life, The Gessner is set in a former pencil factory in the rapidly regenerating industrial area of Tottenham Hale.
      The Gessner’s lounge doubles up as a workspace for residentsFettle created refined and cohesive interiors for the development, informed by its experience in designing hotels such as The Hoxton in Boston and Schwan Locke in Munich
      “Most of our work as a company currently is hotel-based, so we have a strong understanding of what makes these kinds of spaces special,” co-founder Andy Goodwin told Dezeen.
      There’s also a cafe inside the apartment block”A lot of the other commercial clients we work with are aiming to achieve a very layered, somewhat residential feel to their spaces so there is a lot of overlap,” he continued.

      “We utilised many of the same suppliers we use within members clubs, hotels and restaurant projects.”
      As well as apartments, The Gessner includes guest suites for temporary visitorsAfter coming through the ground floor entrance of The Gessner, residents arrive at a lobby that’s richly furnished with sofas, patterned armchairs and a mix of vivid artworks curated by art consultant Kate Anniss.
      During the day this area serves as a communal workspace, while in the evenings it can be used as an oversized living room where residents can convene and chat.
      Nearby, there’s a cafe with wood-lined walls, tan leather seating and a terrazzo service counter inlaid with orange aggregate.

      Fettle designs Schwan Locke Hotel in homage to early German modernism

      Furnishings and fabrics found on The Gessner’s ground floor are also incorporated throughout the apartments, which are available furnished or unfurnished, as well as in a pair of guest suites located on the building’s 13th floor.
      These can be reserved by residents who have friends and family coming to visit, or by other travellers hoping to stay in the area.
      Residents can make meals in the building’s communal kitchenThe 13th floor plays host to a number of other communal facilities, which were designed to encourage socialising among residents.
      This includes a large dining room and kitchen with wooden cabinetry and a greenery-filled gantry that stores pots and pans.
      The kitchen adjoins a private dining roomThere’s also a lounge and a spacious outdoor terrace complete with sun loungers, beach-style umbrellas and a BBQ station set beneath a shady pergola, where residents can while away the warmer summer months.
      “One of the key things with both hotels and apartment buildings is having some synergy between the public and private spaces, which was successful at The Gessner as they feel like a continuation of each other,” Goodwin said.
      Residents can also make use of The Gessner’s roof terraceFettle was established in 2013 by Andy Goodwin and Tom Parker.
      The Gessner isn’t the only project to come from the studio this year. Last month, the duo finished work on The Malin, a homely co-working space in New York with loft-style interiors.
      The images are courtesy of Way of Life. 

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      Archmongers uses eco-friendly materials in colourful Bakken & Bæck office

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      Materials like cardboard and recycled rubber are paired with softly contrasting colours in the London office of Bakken & Bæck, designed by local architects Archmongers.

      The ambition was to create a distinct identity for the Norwegian tech design agency’s London team, but to achieve this in the most eco-friendly way possible.
      A red conference table contrasts with mint-green wallsArchmongers founders Margaret Bursa and Johan Hybschmann felt the best way to make a bold statement was to develop a playful palette of colours, similar to Bakken & Bæck’s offices in Oslo, Amsterdam and Bonn.
      They selected muted shades of red, yellow and green, creating subtle but memorable colour contrasts.
      Cardboard tubes create a scallop wallpaper effect”The space is flooded with daylight, which helped us choose strong colours to work against the neutral background,” Bursa told Dezeen. “We worked with various combinations until we arrived at the right one.”

      To minimise the carbon footprint of the design, the architects chose some natural and recycled materials.
      Fast-growing Douglas fir provides the frames of glazed partition walls, while recycled rubber was chosen for the flooring. Cardboard tubes were also used, to create an unusual scalloped wallpaper effect.
      Recycled rubber provides an acoustic flooring”We found some cardboard tubes that are used for concrete formwork, but we used them to give parts of the space definition and warmth,” said Bursa.
      The studio occupies two floors of De Beauvoir Block, a workspace community in east London.
      The lower level offers conference and lounge spaces, while the upper level contains an office and three smaller meeting rooms.
      Ceiling beams and surfaces are painted the same colour as the wallsCurtains and colour-blocking help to create definitions between different zones.
      On the lower level, the red conference table stands out against the mint-green walls, while the two lounge spaces are characterised by deep purple tones.

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      Upstairs, the same shade of red draws attention to the meeting rooms. The effect was achieved using natural wood stains.
      In the office, ceiling beams and surfaces are all painted the same shade as the walls, while a small kitchen features dark fronts and a monochrome terrazzo surface.
      Glazed screen made from red-painted Douglas fir define meeting rooms”We focused our efforts sourcing a materials palette that is sustainable and hardwearing, but also enduringly beautiful,” said Hybschmann.
      The Archmongers duo often use colour to add an extra layer of interest to their projects, with examples including a renovation in the modernist Golden Lane Estate and a tile-clad house extension.
      Here, acoustics were also an important consideration. The rubber floor and textile wall panels help to dampen sound.
      Textile panels improve acoustics in meeting roomsOther details include angled ceiling mirrors, which provide visual connections between spaces, and furniture by designers including Alvar Aalto, Verner Panton, Barber Osgerby, and the Bouroullec brothers.
      “Our design evokes a homely environment rather than a conventional workspace,” added Hybschmann.
      “We were mindful of the need to coax people back from their home offices, through providing attractive, comfortable spaces that encourage collaboration.”
      The office houses the London studio of tech design agency Bakken & BæckBakken & Bæck describes the space as “our shared home-away-from-home”.
      “It plays a huge role in how we socialise,” said the team. “We gather daily for lunch around the bespoke table on the ground floor, use the snug as a place to connect with other BB offices over a game of Mario Kart, and on the first floor we are lucky to have a plant-filled space with a lot of natural light where we get the work done.”
      Photography is by French + Tye.

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      Kelly Wearstler renovates swimming pool for suite in Downtown LA Proper Hotel

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      American designer Kelly Wearstler has refurbished a pool for a suite in the Downtown LA Proper Hotel, which opened earlier this year.

      As part of her studio’s extensive refurbishment of the building, Wearstler took the 35-foot (10.6-metre) pool from its previous use as a YWCA and turned it into a feature for the Pool Suite on the seventh floor.
      Kelly Wearstler remodelled the swimming room as part of a standalone suiteWith Omgivning as the project architect, the 2,777-square-foot (258-square-metre) room is one of 148 that she renovated for the launch of the hotel in February 2022. It is the only location in the Proper Hotel group chain thats feature an in-suite swimming pool.
      The room’s interior takes art deco influences from the club that the building was originally designed for in the 1920s.
      The Italian marble tile continues into the kitchen”During our initial research into the landmark building, we discovered this pool room originally shared a floor plate with guest rooms and so thought it would be a novel idea to transform it into an iconic suite with a private pool,” said Wearstler.

      Over the pool is an ivory ceramic mirror mural that covers the whole wall, created by artist Ben Medansky, who also worked with Wearstler on the Proper hotel in Santa Monica.
      The bedroom has a Kelly Wearstler-designed Matador bed”It was important to me to avoid a repeating pattern and instead treat each tile as its own canvas – no two are exactly alike,” said Medansky.
      “I drew inspiration from my Los Angeles-to-Arizona road trips over the years, and incorporated motifs of tire treads, traffic signs, and cacti, which were then minimized, abstracted, and put back together in a puzzle formation.”
      A mustard yellow shade covers the bedroom wallsIn the pool room, there is also an expressive wooden statue that sits in front of a window that naturally illuminated the space. Against the mosaic, Wearstler has placed a thin black metal bench.
      The floors surrounding the pool comprise multicoloured marble tiles – contributing to the 136 unique types of tile used across the hotel.

      Kelly Wearstler’s “fiercely local” Santa Monica Proper Hotel named AHEAD Americas Hotel of the Year

      A small lounge area with pink chairs by Michael Felix is placed in the entryway that separates the pool from the rest of the suite.
      The pool deck leads into an open kitchen, with similarly tiled floors and pink plaster walls by Studio One Plaster.
      The bathroom tile design was completed in houseA marble backsplash, custom millwork made with light wood, and an island with Lostine barstools also feature in this space.
      Meanwhile, a small dining table is accompanied by a set of Kelly Wearstler Martel Chairs.
      Much of the furniture in the suite was sourced from vintage outlets in the US and EuropeA bedroom and lounge area have dark-stained wood floors and walls painted a rich yellow colour that surround windows overlooking Downtown LA.
      The bathroom was lined with bronze and black tile made in house by Wearstler’s team.
      The LA-based designer is also behind a third Proper hotel in California, located in San Francisco and featuring an as the “eclectic” interior filled with vintage and European furniture.
      The photography is by The Ingalls.
      Project credits:
      Design: Kelly WearstlerArchitect: OmgivningCompany: McGuire BuildersHospitality: Group Proper HospitalityDeveloper: The KOR Group

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      The New Work Project is a monochrome co-working space in Brooklyn

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      A shared workspace for creatives has opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with minimalist black and white interiors and gold-toned accents.

      The New Work Project is the brainchild of The New Design Project, a studio founded by Parsons graduates Fanny Abbes and James Davison.
      The stark colour scheme of The New Work Project becomes apparent upon entering the reception areaHaving worked in finance for a time, the duo returned to their design roots to set up the co-working space in a converted foundry building, and craft its interiors.
      They describe it as “a place for like-minded people to come together in an environment that is personal and intimate, and designed for collaboration”, adding that the space is “individually designed to inspire, stimulate, promote creativity and facilitate fluid working”.
      Members can choose from a variety of seating options in the open-plan spaceA largely monochrome theme is followed through the space — from walls and door frames to furniture to artworks — with light fixtures, flooring and decorative plants adding some colour.

      “Bold accents of black and gold are carried throughout the space with an overall modern approach to the design,” said the founders. “Clean lights are beautifully accentuated with track lighting against the white interiors.”
      Caned modernist chairs accompany a large meeting tableThe stark palette is evident immediately upon entering into a vestibule painted black on its three sides and ceiling.
      A reception desk has a pale marble top cut into an angular shape, and is lit by a thin linear fixture that runs up the wall and across the ceiling to form a 90-degree angle.
      Desks are arranged in U-shape configurations opposite a marble barBeyond is a lounge area, where four black-framed modernist chairs with caned backs and seats face a large upholstered ottoman.
      The dark central seating sits on a pale grey rug, as do a pair of styled coffee tables on either side.
      Private conference rooms can be booked for meetingsA larger meeting table surrounded by the same caned chairs is positioned in front of a series of private conference rooms, which are available for members to book for meetings.
      There’s also a trio of phone booth-style rooms from which individuals can take calls.
      Phone booths offer privacy for individual calls”The intimate ’boutique’ space creates a community environment while also creating a place for work and productivity,” the founders said.
      The remainder of the co-working space is open plan, with light wood flooring throughout and white on all of the walls except those painted black at each end.

      The Malin is designed as a vibrant but homely New York co-working space

      Tables are laid out in U-shape configurations, divided by black-tinted glass partitions where they face one another.
      Three-branched brass lights hang overhead, while lamps with globe-shaped bulbs are placed on each desk.
      Gold-toned accents are found throughout the spaceA marble bar, accompanied by a line of black stools, separates this work area from a kitchen for members to prepare and eat food.
      Some of the building’s original steel columns are left exposed, their rough surfaces contrasting with the white walls and marble counters.
      The monochrome scheme continues down to artworks and stylingNew York City has no shortage of co-working spaces. Many are similarly using design to entice members, like The Malin that recently opened in Soho.
      Our latest lookbook rounds up 10 shared workspaces around the world that offer a reprieve from the home office.

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      Ten basement conversions that make use of subterranean space

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      Our latest lookbook features 10 homes where basement conversions create extra rooms and more liveable space underground.

      Basement conversions can be a practical way of providing homes with additional space. They are often found in UK townhouses where floor space is at a premium, such as in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian homes in London that were often built with basements to accommodate house staff.
      While their subterranean setting means these spaces run the risk of becoming dark, damp and unpleasant, smart solutions such as light wells and excavations can help to bring light into the space and turn them into useful extra living areas.
      In this lookbook, we’ve taken a closer look at a range of different basement conversions, including basements that are now host to swimming pools, kitchen diners and even entire apartments.
      This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing bedrooms with clever storage solutions, interiors that use mirrors to maximise space and compact bedrooms.

      Casa Fernandez, Argentina, by Adamo-Faiden
      This 1970s townhouse in Buenos Aires was refurbished by local studio Adamo-Faiden to include a large glazed enclosure at the rear. It extends to the home’s lowest level, which was converted into additional living space.
      The basement is connected to the home’s outdoor space by a gravelled patio that bridges the indoors and outdoors and forms an interior extension of the garden.
      Find out more about Casa Fernandez ›
      Photo is by Jake Curtis and Elliot SheppardPowerscroft Road townhouse, UK, by Daytrip
      Before a renovation that was completed by design studio Daytrip, the basement of this London townhouse was dark, damp and “unloved”. The studio excavated the lower level of the home to raise the basement’s ceiling height and added an open-plan kitchen-diner in its place.
      The interior walls of the converted basement were painted white to match the walls of the sunken garden, in order to create continuity and visually extend the interior.
      Find out more about Powerscroft Road townhouse ›

      Caroline Place, UK, by Amin Taha Architects
      Amin Taha Architects extended the basement level of this 1950s brick terraced home in London’s Bayswater neighbourhood, incorporating the home’s rugged concrete soffit within the design.
      Prior to the renovation, the home’s layout had been adapted and changed to reconfigure the original floor plan, which was informed by typical Edwardian homes.
      Amin Taha Architects updated the home to include open-plan living area framed by a number of different materials and finishes.
      Find out more about Caroline Place ›
      Photo is by Alexandria HallRydon Street, UK, by Moxon Architects
      A rear basement extension was added to this Victorian townhouse in London, which was gutted and renovated by British architecture studio Moxon Architects.
      The studio created a full-width white interior that opens up onto a similarly crisp-white sunken, split-level garden. White concrete brick walls and white resin floors were implemented across the lower level of the home to achieve a clean, minimalist look.
      Find out more about Rydon Street ›
      Photo is by Jim StephensonHouse in Primrose Hill, UK, by Jamie Fobert Architects
      Travertine-lined walls are host to a basement swimming pool, lit by a lightwell, that forms part of the two-floor concrete basement of a Primrose Hill home.
      Jamie Fobert Architects maintained the north London home’s traditional Victorian exterior, but completely renovated the interior using travertine, concrete and wood to create an open plan contemporary interior. The studio added an additional floor to the basement, which now hosts the stone-lined swimming pool.
      Find out more about House in Primrose Hill ›
      Photo is by Hey! CheeseHouse H, Taiwan, by KC Design Studio
      A dark and gloomy aesthetic was channelled by KC Design Studio when overhauling the formerly neglected basement of this apartment in Taipei.
      The studio carved several openings into the ceiling of the basement to filter light into the interior. One large rectangular opening at the front of the apartment allows light to funnel from the ground floor’s facade while also hosting a staircase, while an L-shaped opening at the rear was topped with gridded sheets to circulate air between the ground and basement floor.
      Plants were added below to create pops of colour.
      Find out more about House H ›
      Photo is by Jose HeviaApartment Tibbaut, Spain, by Raúl Sánchez
      Circular pine walls were used to divide and zone rooms in this vaulted basement of a Barcelona home that was converted into a subterranean apartment.
      Architect Raúl Sánchez fitted a stone and pine staircase at the entrance to the subterranean, 55-square metre space. Circular laminated pine walls weave between the vaults of the ceiling, while structural octagonal columns were used to separate and form the living areas and create a monumental look.
      Find out more about Apartment Tibbaut ›
      Photo is by Noortje KnulstMatryoshka House, the Netherlands, by Shift Architecture Urbanism
      Formerly a derelict four-storey residence, Matryoshka House was overhauled by Shift Architecture Urbanism after neighbours of the home were troubled by its neglected condition. The studio divided the home into two flats, one of which occupies the two lower levels.
      Shift Architecture Urbanism removed the rear walls of the home and replaced them with a full-height glazed wall that opens the basement level living areas onto the garden.
      It used industrial and raw materials throughout the renovation, incorporating concrete across the floors and unstained wood panels across the walls and inserting steel-wrapped volumes.
      Find out more about Matryoshka House ›
      Photo is by Alexander SeverinPaulus Hook Residence, US, by Fogarty Finger
      Located within a defunct industrial building in New Jersey, this single-family home was converted by New York studio Fogarty Finger.
      The studio transformed the home while preserving its original character which previously housed a propellers workshop. It converted the basement into a bright and liveable space fitted with a tranquil pool that adjoins a small courtyard.
      Find out more about Paulus Hook Residence ›
      Photo is by Ed ReeveMole House, UK, by Adjaye Associates
      This home in north London was once owned by a retired civil engineer, who was dubbed the Mole Man by the press for digging a labyrinth of tunnels and burrows beneath it. It underwent an extensive renovation by Adjaye Associates.
      The architecture practice converted the home into a live-work space for artist Sue Webster, which included a double-height basement artist’s studio.
      Find out more about Mole House ›
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing bedrooms with clever storage solutions, interiors that use mirrors to maximise space and compact bedrooms.

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      Preen designs Prime steakhouse for a casino in the Arizona desert

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      Designer Alexis Readinger of US studio Preen has incorporated earthy hues, wide arches and textured plaster into an Arizona eatery and bar that is part of a casino owned by a Native American community.

      The restaurant, Prime, is located on the top floor of an 11-storey tower at a casino and resort complex just south of Phoenix. The site, called Wild Horse Pass, is owned by the Gila River Indian Community.
      fThe restaurant features wide archesThe space was designed by Preen, a Los Angeles-based studio led by hospitality designer Alexis Readinger.
      Given that American casinos can often be ostentatious or kitschy, the design of Prime is meant to “challenge the traditional concept of a casino restaurant”.
      A “French aesthetic” permeates the spaceReadinger took cues from the surrounding landscape, which is dotted with cacti, shrubs and other vegetation found in the Sonoran Desert and the Estrella Mountains, located to the west of the site.

      “The design originates with the desert and is created intentionally to frame, to view and to honor the sacred land,” the designer said.
      The restaurant also exhibits a “stylised, lightly French aesthetic”, the designer added.
      Dining spaces are arranged around a central bar and loungeRectangular in plan, the eatery consists of multiple dining spaces that are arranged around a central bar and lounge.
      Rooms are divided by wide arches that reference those found at Arcosanti, an experimental, 1970s housing complex in the Arizona desert that was designed by architect Paolo Soleri.
      The bathroom features sink basins made of glazed lava stoneIn addition to the arches, the designer created a large, inverted pyramid that hovers over the main dining space. The pyramid is coated with textured “slagged plaster”.
      Throughout the restaurant, the team used earthy materials and colours.
      Preen added an inverted pyramid to the dining spaceIn the main room, seating areas are enclosed within half-walls made of rainbow limestone – a reference to “the desert moiré of sediment, horizon and time”, the designer said.
      Banquettes are wrapped in ultra suede in a reddish-orange hue. Chairs from Stellar Works are made of ash and oak.

      Snarkitecture designs Manifest “self-care” club in Washington DC

      Other elements include round tables with steel edges and mirrored tops, and globe-shaped pendants by John Barlow of Lightspeed.
      The globes have a finish that looks like a pockmarked moon, and are counter-weighted by long rods. “Another moment of time and suspension,” the designer said.
      Beyond the dining rooms, the restaurant has two waiting areas that are monochromatic. One is has an earthy red hue, while the other is a deep shade of green.
      The restaurant has two monochromatic waiting areasBoth spaces are fitted with leather chairs designed by Preen and built by the fabricator Jecco. Small, rounded tables are from Blu Dot.
      The bathroom features a vanity with a powder-coated countertop and sink basins made of glazed lava stone. Motion-activated faucets come down from the ceiling. Affixed to a wall are sconces from Rich Brilliant Willing.
      Outdoor terraces provide views of the surrounding landscapeThe eatery also has outdoor terraces where guests can take in the scenery. One setting features iroko wood furnishings and sculptural, built-in shelving that holds an array of candles.
      Other hospitality projects in Arizona include the Mountain Shadows resort, which features interiors by Mark Zeff that were inspired by desert mid-century modernism, and the Hotel Valley Ho, an iconic 1950s hotel that was brought up to date by architect Edward L Varney.
      The photography is by Brandon Barré.

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      Ten interiors that use innovative room dividers instead of walls

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      A pastel-pink wardrobe and a theatrical silver curtain feature in our latest lookbook, which highlights 10 creative ways to split a space into different sections by using room dividers.

      Whether they’re lightweight and movable such as screens, fixed yet adjustable like curtains, or built into the framework of a building like a shelving unit, room dividers can be a practical and inexpensive solution to break up a space and provide more privacy.
      The interiors in this lookbook, which range from homes in Spain and Australia to hotel rooms in Japan and exhibition spaces in Brasil and the US, showcase innovative solutions for how to partition a large room.
      This is the latest in our series of lookbooks providing curated visual inspiration from Dezeen’s image archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks showcasing homes with parquet flooring, compact bedrooms and self-designed studios by architects and designers.
      Photo is by Luis Díaz DíazReady-made Home, Spain, by Azab

      Pale blue curtains slice through the middle of this whimsical home in Bilbao, designed by architecture studio Azab.
      Challenged with a floor plan in the shape of a semi-circle, the studio decided to section off the two bedrooms and the bathroom using sheathes of the vibrant fabric, injecting a playful element into the apartment.
      Other colourful features include a pink extraction hood above the cooking stove, a yellow lacquered steel storage unit and an exposed wall.
      Find out more about Ready-made Home ›
      Photo is by Denilson Machado of MCA EstudioCasa Alma, Brasil, by Studio Melina Romano
      This exhibition space looks more like a cosy apartment than a traditional exhibition hall, thanks to an array of homely features including gauzy curtains, low-slung coffee tables and mossy gardens.
      Brasilian practice Studio Melina Romano hoped to create a sensorial atmosphere by using rounded elements and tactile materials for attendees of Casacor, São Paulo’s annual festival of architecture and interior design.
      Find out more about Casa Alma ›
      Photo is by Elsa YoungMetamporhic Wardrobe, UK, by Studiomama
      East London-based design studio Studiomama devised a pastel-coloured wardrobe called Metamorphic, which has a set of large doors that open out into a partition.
      The closet features a rail to hang clothes on, drawers in varying sizes and a set of doors that can be unfurled into a screen. The design showcases how room dividers made from furniture can be used as an innovative solution for creating private spaces in open-plan interiors.
      Find out more about Metamorphic Wardrobe ›
      Photo is by Yikin HyoK5 Tokyo Hotel, Japan, by Claesson Koivisto Rune
      A converted bank building in Tokyo, which survived bombing during world war two, was turned into a boutique hotel by Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune. The practice aimed to transform the lodging into a warm, cosy place to stay by adding bespoke elements and furniture in deep brown hues.
      In each of the 20 rooms, delicate blue ombre curtains surround a wooden desk and cabinet, which guests can use as a private space for personal activities. Similar hand-dyed curtains in blue and white colours also frame the beds.
      Find out more about K5 Tokyo Hotel ›
      Photo is by José HeviaCasa A12, Spain, by Lucas y Hernández-Gil
      An indoor courtyard, bright orange furniture and a series of shiny silver curtains are some of the quirky features that Spanish studio Lucas y Hernández-Gil added to enliven the basement of this Madrid apartment.
      In an effort to counter the lack of light and space on the lower level, the studio painted the walls white and used dramatic full-height curtains that can be pulled back to seal off the bedroom suite.
      Find out more about Casa A12 › More

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      MAWD revamps lobby and atrium of Denver tower designed by IM Pei

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      Design studio MAWD has redone the interiors of an IM Pei tower in Denver, Colorado, including the lobby and an adjoining Philip Johnson-designed atrium.

      The London and US-based interiors studio redesigned aspects of the interiors at the 23-storey commercial tower 1700 Broadway in downtown Denver for Beacon Capital.
      MAWD updated the 27,000-square-foot (250-square-metre) lobby and atrium – the latter attached in 1983 by architect Philip Johnson, almost 30 years after the tower’s completion.
      MAWD redesigned both the lobby of the IM Pei tower and the attached atriumRebranded as the Atrium Campus, the extensive redesign of 1700 Broadway – which was the first skyscraper in the city – includes an update to the security desk, a lounge, and updates to the streetscape.
      Influenced by the mid-century architecture of the original design, MAWD included a massive communal fireplace with travertine accents. The coherence with the original was achieved through using repurposed stone from other parts of the building.

      The front desk was placed back and out of the way, and is surrounded by wooden louvres”We drilled into the mid-century details that were prevalent, authentic and ‘of-the-moment’,” said Elliot March, design lead on the project.
      The designers surrounded the fireplace area with long and short tables for gathering, as well as booths along the walls. Wooden louvres were placed over the welcome desk to highlight the green wall behind it.
      The seating around the lobby looks out into the atrium “streetscape”The lobby is framed by the black colonnades that define the structure from the street, which open up to the atrium.
      Johnson’s sloping atrium, which wraps around the lobby, was redesigned as an extension of the “streetscape” indoors. From the entrance is a walkway between the walls of the atrium and the open lobby, where benches, greenery and fixtures that imitate street lamps were placed.
      Steps were added in the atrium to increase social spaceThese elements lead up to an addition that the designers refer to as “Spanish steps”.
      This structure is pyramidal and works with the changes in elevation of the site to create more sitting and social areas in the atrium.

      “With IM Pei’s death, the last of the modern monument makers has passed”

      The steps climb towards a mezzanine that connects the atrium to a covered walkway over Broadway, as well as to the second floor of the building.
      On the second floor, MAWD revamped 9,300 square feet (863.9 square metres) for amenities including a gym, yoga studio, and conference rooms.
      MAWD added a lounge space on the second floorThe purpose of the design, according to MAWD was “to attract leading companies during the area’s tech boom, providing flexible and responsive spaces for the future of work”.
      The legacy of Chinese-American architect IM Pei, who died in 2019 aged 102, continues to draw interest; the Mesa Lab in nearby Boulder, Colorado, has become a focal point for architectural photographers. His structures that have received updates in recent years include Eskenazi Museum in Bloomington, Indiana, renovated by Ennead Architects.
      The photography is by Robert Benson.

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