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      Snarkitecture overhauls New York law offices using “elevated” stud walls

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      Architecture studio Snarkitecture has updated the New York offices of legal firm Jayaram Law, adding elements with wavy cutouts and furniture from a new collection with Made By Choice.

      The overhaul of Jayaram’s 3,800-square-foot (353-square-metre) space in Manhattan’s Flatiron District forms part of the company’s artist residency program and continues a longstanding relationship with Snarkitecture.
      A continuous, wavy wooden edge forms a portal into the Record Room at Jayaram Law’s officesThe studio, founded by artist Daniel Arsham and architect Alex Mustonen, reimagined the offices as a collaborative space for creative work and made multiple interventions to the layout.
      “Our approach was to unify the space and create a layout emphasising openness, flexibility, and scattered moments of reflection and privacy,” said the team.
      Snarkitecture reinterpreted “the ubiquitous stud wall as an elevated millwork piece” to create the freestanding structureA key decision involved bringing warmth to the industrial-style space, which features exposed ceilings and concrete tile flooring.

      This was achieved by introducing wood, acoustic panels, rugs, curtains, and upholstered pieces “that added more comfort and softness to the space”.
      A window provides a view from the workspace into the Record Room, which displays various Snarkitecture ephemeraAt one end of the floor plan, Snarkitecture built a room using a simple wooden framework to create a library and display area.
      “One of our key design moves is reinterpreting the ubiquitous stud wall as an elevated millwork piece,” the team said.
      In the centre of the offices is a lounge area known as The CommonsThe semi-enclosed space, named the Record Room, has a window that looks onto the open-plan workspace and is accessed via a portal with a continuous wavy outline.
      “We wanted this room to feel unexpected and immersive, thus creating a theme around a ‘Listening Lounge’, featuring an environment with wood shelvings, a record player, and vinyl records,” Snarkitecture said. “Its shelves also host archival items, publications, design objects, and ephemera from Snarkitecture and Jayaram.”
      The open workspace is furnished with long desks that together create room for 24 to 32 peopleOther stud-wall elements with amorphous cutouts form moveable display cases and room dividers, used particularly to define a central lounge known as The Commons.
      Wavy edges are also found on the Autex acoustic panels hung vertically in rows from the white-painted ceiling above the seating area.
      A conference room was created by merging three smaller private offices”It is a comfortable spot with low lounge seating, lush greenery, and an area rug that creates a space for collective gatherings and intimate conversations,” said Snarkitecture.
      On either side, communal workspaces with 15-foot (4.6-metre) custom birch plywood tables accommodate 24 to 32 people.
      Acoustic panels were added above the lounge area to dampen the sound in the industrial-style spaceAlong the perimeter is a glass-fronted conference room that was created by combining three private offices into one space.
      Built-in millwork provides a TV niche for conferencing and stores general office supplies, while a curtain wraps the space to dampen echoes.

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      Throughout the Jayaram offices, Snarkitecture included furniture from its new collection in collaboration with Finnish brand Made By Choice.
      Pieces including dining chairs, lounge chairs, small round tables and a large conference table all feature the studio’s signature wavy edges and cutouts.
      Several furniture pieces from Snarkitecture’s collection with Made By Choice can be found throughout the officeSeveral works from Snarkitecture’s Broken & Sculpted Series created with the Italian brand Gufram are also dotted around the office.
      The pink, broken mirrors introduce hints of colour, while the studio’s Slip chairs with wonky legs and a slanted seat for Portuguese brand UVA add even more whimsy.
      Pink mirrors from a collaboration with Gufram introduce hints of colourSince starting Snarkitecture in 2008, Arsham and Mustonen have worked with brands including Kith, Billionaire Boys Club, COS and Caesarstone on retail interiors and immersive installations.
      In New York City, the studio has previously filled a gallery with lights that resemble “large lollipops” and created an exhibition space at Hudson Yards to allow the public to explore its experiments.
      The photography is by Harlan Erskine.

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      Stòffa opens New York City flagship with “calming backdrop”

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      The in-house design team of New York menswear brand Stòffa has mixed vintage and contemporary furniture for its flagship store in SoHo.

      Fashion brand Stòffa focuses on “championing a shift toward quality, sustainability, and individuality” through made-to-order clothing and predominantly operated out of pop-ups before opening up a 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) retail space in New York City.
      The internal design team at Stòffa has created a flagship shop in SohoThe team focused its design on “natural materials” – often used for the brand’s clothing.
      “We use all-natural materials in our collection, often highlighting existing fabrics no longer in production, and carried this ethos into the design of the store,” said the team.
      The team mixed contemporary and vintage furniture in the space”The space is outfitted with a mix of vintage and modern fixtures that highlight the beauty of diverse cultures and periods,” it continued.

      The space consists of a front showroom that displays a seasonal collection, while a narrow passageway covered by linen lace curtains leads to a large private area for made-to-measure fittings.
      Over four months, the team stripped back the space to reveal original elements such as concrete floor slabs, and brick and plaster walls then outfitted the interior in a palette of neutrals and a deep brown to provide “a calming backdrop” for visitors.
      The front of the shop is “gallery-esque”The shop is organised to “encourage a thoughtful approach to wardrobe building” according to the team, with a large, open room at the front and a more “home-like” space in the back.
      “The front room is gallery-esque. It’s deliberately merchandised sparsely, giving each garment room to breathe,” said the team. “As you transition to the private room, the space feels more intimate and home-like.”

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      At the front, the space is divided almost symmetrically, with four, slender hanging racks placed on either side of the room in front of small changing rooms.
      On one side, a vintage wooden desk and mirror, paired with a metal sitting chair with curving armrests, sit between the clothing racks. A large glass planter, wooden stool and warm-toned boulders sit in the corner.
      The back room was designed to be “home-like” for fittingsA floor-length mirror sits on the other side and between the, two ash wood benches topped with light pink circular cushions.
      In the back room, a large custom solid ash table made in collaboration with Brooklyn-based Studio POA, founded by Guatemalan designer Giovanni Valdeavellano, sits beneath a skylight, framed by a large built-in closet made of the same wood.
      Ash wood furniture was used throughout the shop”This anchors the space and serves as the meeting point for our made-to-measure appointments,” said the team.
      Geometric MM chairs by Milanese designer Mario Milana finished in lamb suede were placed throughout the space and a wavy, wooden privacy screen provides a changing area.
      Tall ash closets were fitted into the passageway between the two rooms and contain storage for the store.
      The palette is dominated by neutrals and a deep brown”The store reflects the brand’s refined aesthetic sensibility and provides a calming backdrop for the elevated shopping experience,” said the team.
      Founded in 2014 by designer Agyesh Madan and Nicholas Ragost, Stòffa is a New York-based clothing brand that designs made-to-order clothing in the pursuit of creating more sustainable and individual menswear.
      Nearby in Soho, fashion brand Kith placed olive trees in the centre of display units and architecture studio Al-Jawad Pike used an assortment of marble to create a second flagship store for Athletic Propulsion Labs.
      The photography is by William Jess Laird

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      General Assembly creates “comforting and quiet palette” for Manhattan apartment

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      Design studio General Assembly has used a wide material palette to transform an apartment on New York City’s Upper West Side, decorating it with marble and travertine stone and adding wood for a lighter feel.

      The studio completely transformed the layout of the 3,050-square-foot (284 square metres) flat, which was designed for a young family.
      Social spaces are located at the centre of the home”The floorplan has been completely reimagined,” General Assembly co-founder Sarah Zames told Dezeen.
      “We moved all the walls and most of the plumbing in order to better accommodate the needs and lifestyle of the clients – we felt it was important to organize the spaces based on the way they used the space.”
      A travertine side table contrasts a wooden table in the living roomOne side of the flat was designed to be quieter and family-focused and houses the bedrooms and family room, while social areas can be found at the centre of the apartment.

      Guest spaces are contained in a third area, which was designed using warmer materials and has a more intimate scale.
      The bedrooms are located on a “quieter” side of the flatLocated in an early 20th-century stone building by Italian-American architect Gaetano Ajello, the studio drew on the surrounding architecture when designing the apartment interior.
      “We were inspired by the grandness of the New York pre-war building,” Zames said.
      “We loved its deep columns and beams and wanted to work in a way that honored these kinds of details while balancing them with softer textures and quieter moments.”
      The kitchen features a marble islandGeneral Assembly worked with many different materials for the apartment, whose walls are clad in Venetian plaster in a nod to the fact that it’s the material that would have been used for the original walls.
      “We chose to finish many of the spaces with Venetian plaster because it created a subtle shadow and depth on the walls and ceilings,” Zames explained.

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      “We liked the way it reflected the natural and decorative lighting without overwhelming the space – the movement and texture of the wall is so minimal, that on first glance you may not realize that it is even plaster,” she added.
      “But, as you watch the day progress, the light shifting becomes more apparent.”
      Wood was used throughout the flatThe studio decorated the kitchen and bathrooms with dramatic marble surfaces and also placed a side table in solid travertine in the living room.
      “We felt that stone, a material that lends itself to the nature of the pre-war building, was such a natural choice for this project,” Zames said.
      “We wanted to emphasize its weight, designing voluminous pieces and detailing to emphasize these qualities.”
      Brass and metal details add texture to the living roomTo contrast the stone, wood was used for much of the furniture and for the sliding doors leading into the kitchen.
      “The wood was just as important in the design because it provided a counterpoint to the heaviness of the stone and the architecture of the building,” Zames said.
      “Not only was the wood lighter in color, but the details in the wood finishes feel lighter to the touch and slightly more delicate.”
      General Assembly added built-in features to the apartmentThroughout the flat, built-in shelves and cabinets maximise storage and reference the original design of the flat.
      To create the right ambience within the apartment, General Assembly used earthy colours for the interior.
      “We drew predominantly on earthy hues complimented by jewel-toned accents,” Zames said.
      “We wanted to go with a comforting and quiet palette that evoked feelings of permanence. We always use natural and living materials in our projects, wherever possible – so many of these finishes will patina over time and add further to the depth of the design.”
      Swirly marble clads one of the bathroomsPieces by independent designers were also used for the space to give it more character and personality.
      “The clients were really open to bringing in more independent designers, many of whom we also carry at our shop, Assembly Line,” Zames said.
      “That gave us the ability to do a lot of customization and freedom in how we designed and outfitted the space.”
      General Assembly has previously updated an apartment inside a brutalist Manhattan tower and decorated a Bergen Street apartment with brass.
      The photography is by William Jess Laird.
      Project credits: 
      General contractor: ALL ConstructionStructural engineer: Jim Moore and AssociatesA/V and lighting: Fiks Consultants for AV and Lighting InfrastructureUpholstery & window treatments: Fernando Guaman for Custom Upholstery and Window treatments

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      Lissoni Architecture designs moody, minimal interiors for AKA NoMad hotel

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      New York-based Lissoni Architecture has completed a hotel in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood, featuring minimalist interiors that blend Scandinavian and Japanese influences.

      The studio, led by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, designed the AKA NoMad inside a building that formerly housed the Roger New York hotel.
      A bronze-painted spiral staircase anchors the lobby of the AKA NoMad hotelLocated in NoMad – north of Madison Square Park – an area with many design showrooms and hospitality venues, the project marks Lissoni’s first hotel in NYC after opening his US-based architecture office last year.
      “You know the film New York, New York with Liza Minnelli and Roberto De Niro?” Lissoni said. “Well, for me that’s AKA Nomad, my idea of a New York that encompasses music, life, silence, snow, traffic and energy, but always accompanied by a distinct elegance and diversity.”
      An intimate mezzanine-level lounge is housed within a glowing volume”It’s not formalised – it’s a hotel that narrates and speaks with a touch of style, a touch of art deco, a touch of the 1950s… and we’ll see what else,” he added.

      The double-height lobby is anchored by a bronze-painted metal staircase that spirals up past a backlit volume to a mezzanine level that holds an intimate lounge.
      The lobby bar takes advantage of the tall ceiling height and elongated street-facing windowsBanquettes with sage green velvet cushions sit against the illuminated panels on the other side, paired with white-topped tables and various styles of dining chair.
      “The often filtered light generates soft and cocooning environments, where natural materials such as wood and stone are flanked by fabrics of light and neutral tones, and bespoke furnishings are juxtaposed with contemporary design and iconic objects,” said Lissoni Architecture.
      Fluting on the bar counter front and a glass light fixture accentuate the ceiling heightIn the space below, where the ceiling height is lower, soft lighting and comfy seating create areas for guests to relax beside the floating blue reception counter.
      At the front, a bar area takes advantage of the tall ceilings and elongated windows facing onto the street.

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      A glossy black bar counter reflects the minimalist liquor bottle shelving, which also glows from behind, while fluting on the counter front and a glass light fixture accentuates the height of the space.
      On both communal levels, dark tiles laid in a herringbone pattern cover the floors and exposed brickwork is painted beige to create consistency.
      Oversized fabric-upholstered headboards and textured wallpaper soften the bedroomsThe guest rooms and suites continue the same neutral palette and materials, but the balance is tipped towards a lighter tone.
      Oversized fabric-upholstered headboards, plush carpets and textured wallpaper soften the bedrooms, while the bathrooms are lined with dark stone and tiles.
      Guest bathrooms are lined with dark stone and tilesLissoni previously has leant his clean, minimalist style to several of Italy’s top design brands, including Lualdi, Boffi and Salvatori, and recently expanded the Design Holding flagship in New York City.
      He has also served as artistic director of B&B Italia and Sanlorenzo yachts, and was a Dezeen Awards judge in 2023.
      The photography is by Veeral Patel.
      Project credits:
      Design team: Piero Lissoni with Stefano Giussani, Christine Napoli, Antonio Rinaldi, Vincent Chen, Tania Zaneboni, Roberto Berticelli.

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      CO Adaptive overhauls Queens home to meet Passive House standards

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      Brooklyn studio CO Adaptive has retrofitted a terraced house in Queens, New York to meet Passive House energy efficiency standards.

      The 1,152-square-foot (107-square-metre) brick townhouse was originally built in 1945 and has undergone a considered “deconstruction” process during its recent renovation.
      Throughout the home, CO Adaptive removed perimeter flooring to install a membrane, then replaced it with reclaimed boards at an angleRather than throwing out the contents of the existing structure, all of the removed materials were separated by type and sent to new homes.
      The renovation work revolved around the goal of the unit becoming a Passive House – or Passivhaus – a certification that recognises outstanding energy efficiency in buildings.
      The kitchen was fully replaced using maple-faced plywood for millworkThis is the first project undertaken by CO Adaptive Architecture’s construction management arm, CO Adaptive Building.

      “We believe building to Passive House standards is the future of ensuring resilience for our cities, particularly in the restoration and upgrade of the older building stock,” said CO Adaptive co-principal Ruth Mandl.
      “We want to work on simplifying and scaling this endeavor; ideally ensuring that we can bring the cost down on Passive House for our clients, and make it a solution that is more affordable and available.”
      Counters and backsplash are made from blue porcelain with coloured specklesChanges to the layout of the compact two-storey, three-bedroom home were kept to a minimum since the room program was already efficient.
      The perimeter of the existing wood floors and subfloors was removed, enabling the team to install an airtight membrane that seals the wood joists – which were in good condition – to prevent heat loss.
      Bright blue was chosen for new window and door framesWhere the flooring was removed, reclaimed red oak planks that matched the originals were laid at an angle to highlight the minor intervention.
      Larger windows were added to bring more light into the dining room, which overlooks a new rear deck.
      Upstairs, features include a built-in ladder that provides roof access via a skylightThe home was refitted to be fully electrified, powered by a solar canopy from Brooklyn Solarworks on the roof, and is now net positive, according to the studio.
      “The solar array provides more than enough energy to cover the significantly reduced heating and cooling loads of the building, in addition to heating water, cooking with an induction stovetop and charging an electric vehicle,” said CO Adaptive.
      Through-wall AC units were replaced with an energy-recovery ventilator systemAny holes in the exterior previously used for through-wall air conditioning units are now occupied by an energy recovery ventilator system, which helps to control the interior humidity.
      All changes to the facade are denoted by a checkerboard brick infill pattern, similar to the approach taken inside.
      Black-and-white details, such as the bathroom tiles and fixtures enliven the minimal interiorsSouth-facing openings are shaded by Hella operable Venetian blinds, coloured bright blue to match the new window frames.
      Natural materials were prioritised inside, such as a lime and sand-based plaster layer that allows the masonry walls to breathe.

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      The kitchen millwork is maple-faced plywood, while the countertops and the backsplash are blue porcelain with coloured speckles.
      The red kitchen floor is made of solidified linseed oil, pine resin and sawdust, which forms a natural linoleum that’s soft underfoot.
      On the south-facing front of the house, openings are shaded by Hella operable Venetian blindsOther details include a ladder built into the wall on the upper-floor landing that provides access to the roof via a skylight.
      “This project prioritises careful deconstruction rather than demolition, to ensure that whatever is removed is either reused or sorted for down or up cycling,” said CO Adaptive co-principal Bobby Johnston.
      A solar array added to the roof provides more energy than the house needs to runAmong the firm’s previous renovations is an industrial building in Gowanus converted into bright and spacious theatre rehearsal spaces, which was shortlisted in the rebirth project category of Dezeen Awards 2022.
      Passivhaus is a popular standard for achieving energy efficiency in residential and other buildings, with other recent examples to have achieved this certification including a stucco-clad, cube-shaped holiday home in Mexico, and a house in the UK with an undulating green roof and timber cladding.
      The photography is by Naho Kubota.
      Project credits:
      Architect: CO Adaptive ArchitectureConstruction management: CO Adaptive BuildingMEPS engineers: ABS EngineeringStructural engineers: ADoF Structural EngineersConstruction manager: CO Adaptive BuildingSolar panel installation: Brooklyn SolarWorksKitchen millwork: ArmadaWood flooring, stair and other millwork: Trilox

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      Marmol Radziner creates club space in modernist Park Avenue skyscraper

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      The third floor of the iconic Lever House skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan has been renovated by architecture firm Marmol Radziner to complement the building’s original modernist design.

      Marmol Radziner completed the interiors for the Lever Club within the office tower at 390 Park Avenue, which was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in the International style and completed in 1952.
      The entrance to Lever Club is lined with green marble flooring and soapstone wall panelsSOM finished restoring the building last year, after it was purchased by developers Brookfield Properties and WatermanClark in 2020, and Marmol Radziner worked on updating its communal spaces that had fallen into disrepair.
      “Lever House is a globally renowned architectural marvel, symbolising the era’s shift to modern skyscrapers,” said Marmol Radziner.
      The green hues used through the interior nod to the colour of the building’s curtain wall facade”Recognised with the prestigious Twenty-five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the building remains an icon of architectural excellence,” the studio added.

      Originally a cafeteria and repurposed several times over the years, the third floor now serves as a lounge, bar and dining space that continues onto a terrace projecting from the tower’s elevated base.
      The club’s layout revolves around “a series of paneled volumes”Design cues were taken from SOM partner Gordon Bunshaft’s own residence, and other modernist masters, to create an interior that feels in keeping with the building’s history and architecture.
      “From the beginning, we felt that the design of Lever Club should feel like a sympathetic insertion within the iconic curtain wall of the building,” said Marmol Radziner partner Ron Radziner.
      The bar is bookended by rosewood volumes and backed by a screen from John Lewis GlassThe club is entered via a lobby area where floors and walls are covered in panels of green marble and soapstone, contrasted by a simple cuboid reception desk made from wood.
      Inside, the layout revolves around “a series of paneled volumes set within the glass perimeter, taking advantage of the views and access to the most superbly sited outdoor terrace in the city”, according to Radziner
      The dining area overlooks an expansive terrace on top of the building’s elevated baseThe marble flooring, which echoes the green hues of the building’s pioneering facade, extends into the lounge area where tone-matched carpet demarcates soft seating areas.
      Many of the armchairs and sofas are upholstered in a complementary green hue, while chocolate-coloured leather is used to cover other seating options such as bar stool and banquettes.
      The curved banquettes are wrapped in chocolate-brown leather”The furnishings, largely bespoke, respond to and soften the hard edges of the architecture with plush texture and rich tones most often seen in a residential setting,” Radziner said.
      Rosewood tables match the large vertical elements that bookend the bar, which is backed by a John Lewis Glass patterned screen.

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      Aluminium also appears as table bases and chair frames that echo the slender window mullions.
      “It was important to us that the design respond intelligently and reverently to the building while also creating a real sense of comfort, warmth, and luxury,” Radziner said.
      Aluminium chair frames echo the slender window mullionsThis isn’t the first time that Marmol Radziner has created interiors for a SOM-designed skyscraper – the firm was also behind the penthouse at Fifteen Fifty in San Francisco, which was temporarily turned into a collectible design gallery in 2021.
      Earlier this year, Marmol Radziner completed California’s tallest residential skyscraper in Downtown Los Angeles.
      Lever Club can be used by the building’s tenants during the day and at nightLever House is one of several Manhattan office towers from the mid to late 20th century to have been retrofitted in recent years, aiming to attract new tenants.
      Among them are the postmodern AT&T Building by Philip Johnson, which was rebranded as 550 Madison after it was overhauled by Snøhetta and its lobby was transformed by Gensler.
      The photography is by Scott Frances.

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      Xanadu is a “fun and maximum” roller disco in Brooklyn

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      Local entrepreneur Varun Kataria has unveiled a venue with a mix of colourful, retro details that contains the only permanent roller rink in New York City.

      Set in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Xanadu occupies a former industrial warehouse, which was converted by Kataria and his team, who also run the nearby restaurant and venue Turks Inn and Sultan Room.
      Xanadu is a multi-functional space with a massive roller rink in BrooklynThe multi-functional space now contains a roller rink, stage, bar area and large bathrooms, one of which can be converted into a smaller “club within a club”.
      According to Kataria, the space originally had columns throughout, but to make a large enough surface for an uninterrupted roller rink the ceiling needed to be supported without columns.
      It includes a mix of colours and patternsWorking with a local architect friend, Kataria created a structure around the existing structure, suspending the ceiling from the superstructure in order to support the weight, essentially creating a second ceiling.

      This allows for a wide space centred around the hand-painted, maple-wood rink, but without sacrificing details for the attendant spaces.
      Plentiful seating lines the leisure spaces around the rinkThe result is a “fun and maximum” space that contains a dizzying mix of patterns and colours.
      At the entrance, a desk was placed to rent out custom skates. From here, a walkway passes under an archway anchored by a sofa that wraps around a pole. Guests pass a long bar and on the wall across from it are raised seating areas.
      Banquet seating wraps the far side of the space and throughout, multiple entryways have been placed to give access to the massive rink.
      It has a massive maple wood roller rinkThe ceiling has incongruous shapes cut into it with track lighting. Kataria said that the Memphis Group design movement in part influenced the shape, giving the space the sense of an “elevated adult day care.
      “It’s not afraid to be playful,” said Kataria. “And the relationship with color became a real joy.”
      A stage sits adjacent to the ringHe added that the combination of many influences and time-periods was meant to have an “uncanny” effect on the visitors.
      Details such as infinity mirrors in the long sloping bar, colourful patterns in the carpet and vinyl surface coverings – almost every vinyl surface has a different pattern – create a mix of historical time periods that Kataria said work together to “push nostalgic buttons”, while being contemporary.

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      He said that the idea was to revive a entertainment form that people often associate more squarely with the past.
      “I’m not gonna say it’s an industry in decline, but the spaces themselves are in decline, right?” Kataria told Dezeen.
      “They’re usually old. But there’s more skaters than ever now. So I think as a cultural practice, it’s exploding, you know, with new energy.”
      One bathroom can be converted into a mini clubThe bathrooms are mostly monotone – one red and one blue. The red one has a hidden DJ set up so that it can become Club Flush.
      Other recent rinks include an ice skating rink built in Canada by architecture studio Lemay, which it says is the largest in the world.
      The photography is by Matt Harrington.

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      ANY designs New York showroom and research library for Vowels

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      New York studio ANY has designed the first physical retail space for streetwear brand Vowels, including an 18-metre-long “library” that holds a rotating collection of design books.

      The appointment-only showroom at 76 Bowery in Manhattan opened to coincide with the launch of Vowels’ debut “made in Japan” capsule collection.
      The Vowels showroom in Manhattan contrasts raw concrete and crisp white wallsCreative director Yuki Yagi worked with ANY co-founder Nile Greenberg to create a multi-functional environment that can display apparel, host events and offer customers access to a curation collection of books.
      The narrow space features exposed concrete surfaces and exposed services, contrasted by a minimalist white volume inserted on one side.
      The space includes a compact exhibition area called the Study that will feature rotating displaysAt the front, this box forms an exhibition space named the Study that’s visible from the street through the fully glazed facade.

      Hosting a rotating display of objects and artworks, the exhibitions will inform the collection of printed materials displayed in the store.
      The opening exhibition features Edo-period Japanese furniture sourced in the Yamanashi PrefectureA large wooden door swing over a hole in the clean white wall that allows access into the showcase, while the same richly grained material forms a sales counter at the other end of the showroom.
      Meanwhile, the rare books, magazines and periodicals are stored and presented within a long, glossy black case that stretches 60 feet (18 metres) through the centre of the showroom.
      A custom case filled with hundreds of rare design books stretches through the centre of the showroom”The curated selection, categorised by the Vowels team of researchers and designers, is organised using a system that follows the letters A, E, I, O, and U,” the team said.
      “This archive of printed materials is part of Yagi’s personal collection, serving as reference and inspiration throughout his career.”

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      Visitors are encouraged to peruse the collection, and use computers equipped with high-resolution scanners to make digital copies of materials.
      “The space at once recalls both a clean working environment and a comfortable reading room,” said the brand.
      Vowels’ debut capsule collection is displayed towards the rearTowards the back of the showroom is a wider area where a platform with bleacher seating and speakers built into mesh boxes is used for programming like film screenings, talks, panel discussions and music performances.
      Coffee service with beans sourced from Japan and the Vowels capsule collection are also accommodated in the rear space, while photos of the campaign shot by renowned Japanese photographer Takashi Homma are displayed alongside the library.
      Both the showroom and exhibition space are visible through the fully glazed facade on BoweryThe Vowels showroom borders the Lower East Side neighbourhood, where many streetwear brands have physical shops and showrooms.
      Other recent additions to the retail scene in the area include the yellow-hued Le Père store by BoND and the checkerboard-wrapped Awake NY space by Rafael de Cárdenas.
      The photography is by Dean Kaufman.

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