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    Civilian draws on “grandeur” of early cinemas for Sandbox Films offices

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    New York studio Civilian has designed the headquarters for a documentary production company in Manhattan’s Flatiron District, which includes an art deco-influenced screening room.

    The offices for award-winning Sandbox Films are located in a landmarked 1920s neo-gothic skyscraper, and provide the company with its first dedicated workspace.
    Civilian’s interiors of the Sandbox Films offices draw upon multiple references, from old movie theatres to colours used by Danish modernist Poul HenningsenSpread across 4,200 square feet (390 square metres) of space, the program includes an open-plan reception area that doubles as an events space, a conference room, private and open offices, and production and editing suites.
    There’s also a 22-seat screening room with a Dolby Atmos sound system, in which the team and their visitors can preview the completed or in-progress cuts.
    In the centre of the reception area is a custom, double-sided sofa upholstered in velvet and boucle fabricsThe non-profit documentary production company makes cinematic science films, many of which have won or received nominations for prestigious awards.

    Among them are Fire of Love, which was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 95th Academy Awards in 2022; Emmy-winning Fathom; Sundance winner All Light, Everywhere; and Fireball, co-directed by Werner Herzog.
    Another custom design is the meeting room table, which has ash legs and a white lacquered top”Inspired by [our] clients’ love for the craft of storytelling, the space was informed by the grandeur of the amenity-rich yet intimate early movie houses of Stockholm and Amsterdam, art deco cinemas, the architectural colour gestures of Danish modernist designer Poul Henningsen, and the vanished world of interwar New York conjured by the project’s Broadway address,” said Civilian.
    The reception area revolves around a circular stone-topped bar, which demarcates a staff pantry area by day, and can be used for serving food and drinks for events.
    Vintage pieces sourced for the space include a pair of swivelling Milo Boughman chairs”With an active roster of screenings, events and a residency program for independent filmmakers, the space acts as an office as well as a dynamic center of gravity for New York’s nonfiction film community at large,” the team said.
    A custom double-sided, Pierre Chareau-inspired boucle and velvet sofa sits opposite a pair of refinished Milo Boughman swivel chairs.
    A bar area in reception acts as a pantry by day and is used for hosting events in the eveningMarquee lights are installed in rows along the sides of the existing ceiling beams, with additional sconces mounted on the plastered pantry wall.
    Structural columns have been wrapped in travertine cladding to highlight thresholds between the different spaces.
    Wood panelling and film posters hark back to art deco movie theatresOn either side of the reception, acoustic partitions with glass panels and mint-green frames cordon off the bright conference room and a private office.
    Furnishing the conference room is a custom-designed meeting table that combines a solid ash frame and a high-gloss curved lacquer top, surrounded by vintage Tobia Scarpa Sling Chairs.
    A communal workspace features sit-stand desks, oak dividers and plenty of ledges for plantsFrom reception, a neon-lit burgundy door leads into the screening room, where three tiers of seating face the large screen like in a mini movie theatre.
    The cushioned seats are upholstered in soft powder-blue fabric, which contrasts with walnut wainscoting, and sound-absorbing brown wool wall panels that conceal the equipment.

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    Each chair has an individual armrest table for placing drinks or writing notes, complete with a small light created in collaboration with Lambert et Fils.
    More private offices, sound-proofed editing suites and an open workspace are accessed via a short L-shaped corridor.
    A 22-seat screening room allows the team and their visitors to preview documentary filmsIn the communal work area, sit-stand desks feature white oak divider panels and are topped with a stone ledge for displaying objects and plants.
    “This project has given us an opportunity to draw from so many inspiring references, from its iconic Broadway location to historic theatre architecture, to create an elevated and layered space that supports the work Sandbox is doing to uplift documentary film talent,” said Civilian co-founder Ksenia Kagner.
    The screening rooms boasts a Dolby Atmos sound system, and includes chairs with individual armrest tables for drinks or note-writing”We also felt it was important to be responsive to the changing priorities of the modern workplace, creating open, multipurpose spaces that nurture interaction and foster a sense of community,” she added.
    Civilian was founded in 2018 by Kagner and Nicko Elliott, and the designers have since completed projects ranging from the transformation of Detroit’s historic Book Depository into a headquarters for tech company Newlab, to the renovation of a historic Bed-Stuy townhouse for themselves.
    The photography is by Chris Mottalini.
    Project credits:
    Client: Sandbox Films (Simons Foundation)Client rep: Cushman and WakefieldCivilian scope: Interior design, creative direction, furniture designArchitect of record: LB ArchitectsMechanical engineer: WB EngineersAV engineer: SpectraAcoustic engineer: WSDGProduction studio consultant: Tom PaulContractor: L&K Partners

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      Olson Kundig's New York office includes a timber cityscape table

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      Earthy tones and a wooden table in the shape of a cityscape feature in the Olson Kundig’s first New York office, which was designed with sensitivity to the 100-year-old building it occupies.

      Located in Midtown Manhattan, the office is spread across the 10th floor of a mid-rise tower constructed in 1923.
      The office features a central living room with a sculptural tableOlson Kundig – a studio with its primary offices in Seattle – created the interior to be its first New York City hub with a material and colour palette that responded to the building’s 100-year-old history.
      The open-plan office is defined by a central “living room” that features a 144-square-foot (13-square-metre) wooden table on wheels with a statement geometric cityscape.
      The cityscape was informed by the office’s New York locationCreated from raw timber offcuts, the table is divided into quarters for different configurations. It was designed by studio principal Tom Kundig and fabricated by Spearhead.

      “The design was the result of a conversation Alan [Maskin] and I had about our teacher, [the late architect] Astra Zarina, and our fond memories of gathering around the table at her home in the centre of Rome,” Kundig told Dezeen.
      “She always had a big pile of candles in the centre of the table, similar to the abstract masses at the centre of our table.”
      “We want to foster the same spirit of conversation and sharing between colleagues and collaborators in this new office space, so it was a natural place to draw inspiration.”
      An unenclosed kitchen is also located adjacent to the stationsA series of wooden workstations are arranged across the open-plan office, while conference rooms feature around its perimeter. An open kitchen is also located adjacent to the stations.
      Platforms are positioned above the workstations offering a display area for sculptures and models. According to the studio, this continues its tradition of integrating art into everyday life.

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      The office interior was designed to reflect its Manhattan location, rather than mirror the firm’s flagship office in Seattle, according to Kundig.
      “The existing shell of the office was largely concrete and glass. We added wood and warmer tones to soften the space, with natural materials to add texture and interest,” explained Alan Maskin, partner at the studio.
      Artwork is displayed around the officeA mixture of vintage and contemporary furniture was sourced locally from locations in Brooklyn and Tribeca.
      Like the Seattle office, the New York space will also host various art events, tying the otherwise-unique locations together.
      Wooden elements define the spaceOlson Kundig was founded in 2000. The firm has completed multiple international architecture projects including a beach house with louvred shutters in Sydney and a timber floating home in Seattle.
      Another practice that designed its own studio is Urselmann Interior, which created its office using only biodegradable and recycled materials.
      The photography is by Angela Hau.

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      Concrete dominates INC Architecture & Design's offices in NYC

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      The offices of INC Architecture & Design in New York City’s SoHo are filled with eclectic furniture and plants that contrast the primarily concrete interiors.

      INC, founded by architects Adam Rolston, Gabe Benroth and Drew Stuart, moved to a 1930s building on Varick Street after scaling up from its previous location on 19th Street.
      INC’s offices are located in a 1930s building on Varick StreetThe new space is dominated by concrete, which forms the walls, floors, ceilings, and nine mushroom columns that form square bays across the plan.
      “The space was peeled back to its essential architectural shell,” said the studio, which sandblasted the concrete to a raw finish.
      A grand marble-topped desk greets visitors upon arrivalMeanwhile, the flooring was polished to a soft sheen, to reflect the light pouring in from large windows along the west facade.

      Collaborative work areas are arranged along these windows. They range from a long communal table to informal lounges comprising an eclectic mix of vintage furniture.
      The studio stripped back the space to its concrete bones”The furnishings are decidedly residential in character and include antiques, custom upholstery, custom casegoods, custom raw silk rugs, polychrome raw leather, polished stainless steel, solid ash and polychrome marbles,” the team said.
      Upon entering the offices, a grand marble-topped desk supported on two polished-chrome cylinders is positioned in front of a dark green wall.
      Desks are lined up through the centre of the officeTo the right are conference rooms, divided by partition walls painted pale pink and lined with acoustic panels.
      A circular aperture provides a view from one meeting to a communal lounge on the other side.

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      “Simple secondary architectural elements were developed to provide for the more private functional requirements of the studio, and to define spatial subdivisions which break down the space but that maintain the open studio format so critical to our way of working together,” INC said.
      Wooden desks are lined up in rows through the centre of the office, running from the collaborative areas to an expansive material bank on the opposite side.
      An expansive material bank is displayed towards the back of the spacePlants are used abundantly throughout the space, adding life and offering a contrast to the grey and brown tones.
      “Our space is filled with greenery, collected materials, prototypes, objects and details drawn from our projects, our wanderings and our passions,” said the INC team.
      Polished concrete floors reflect the light entering from large windowsOther offices of architecture firms in NYC include BIG’s bright space in Dumbo, while we rounded up 10 self-designed studios by architects and designers in a recent lookbook.
      The photography is by Eric Laignel.

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

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      The Malin is a design-led co-working space in Manhattan that blends contemporary colours and textures with original architectural elements that are “quintessential to the iconic Soho loft-style”.

      Located at 32 Mercer Street in New York City, the workspace’s interior design was led by Jordan Trinci-Lyne and Jean Morana, in collaboration with Fettle Design.
      The Malin was designed with homely touchesDescribed as having an “adaptable floor plan”, The Malin is made up of 38 individual desks as well as a library, three office spaces, three conference rooms, four booths reserved for video calls and various other meeting areas, including a barista kitchen.
      According to its designers, the co-working space intends to maintain the building’s traditional elements – such as existing columns, high ceilings and large windows – and combine them with vibrant colour and material palettes that are designed to reflect the creativity of its members.
      Colour and texture are blended with pared-back, original elements”Architecturally, we kept several things intact that are quintessential to the iconic Soho loft-style,” The Malin co-founder Ciaran McGuigan told Dezeen.

      “The space is very open, with tons of natural light that is filtered throughout. We also incorporated custom arched doorways in solid oak and glass, which are a nod to windows that are typical to buildings in the neighbourhood.”
      White walls and hardwood floors form the backdrop of the workspaceFamiliar white walls and hardwood floors form the backdrop of the workspace, which is dressed with more colourful accents such as low-slung bouclé seating arranged in vibrant clusters, as well as touches of Calico Wallpaper.
      McGuigan explained that each of The Malin’s areas was led by “the psychology of colour, designed to inspire our members’ best work”.
      Blue-on-blue tones were chosen for the solitary libraryCalming, blue-on-blue tones were chosen for the library, which was designed as a refuge for silent work, while the remaining areas favour a palette of bright, bold and saturated hues that stand out against their neutral backdrop.
      “Energy equals productivity and that’s a fundamental output we want the design to facilitate,” said McGuigan. “Elevated materials like mohair, leather, and rare marble were included as an aspirational touch to contrast the typical work-from-home experience.”

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      Individual desks framed by Eames Soft Pad office chairs are crafted from solid oak and are subtly separated from each other with recycled crystal dividers.
      Pared-back, diner-style pendant lights are suspended above plump, emerald green booth-like sofas, which make up an informal space for The Malin’s members to gather.
      Individual desks are separated by recycled crystal dividersA curated art collection decorates the walls, while design elements from brands such as Flos and Orior – another of McGuigan’s ventures – also feature in the space. Charging outlets are positioned close to every piece of custom furniture to create an accessible working environment.
      The team explained that The Malin was created to encourage its members to return to a public workplace in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, balancing quieter areas with those built for socialising within an eclectic interior design.
      “It has all the functionality of an office space, but with the comfort of a home,” said McGuigan.
      Pendant lights are suspended above plump seatingThe Malin opened in October 2021, joining a host of other colourful co-working spaces around the world. These include Note Design Studio’s Douglas House, an office building in London with contrasting bright hues; and Spatial – a Montreal mint green and burgundy co-working space by Ivy Studio that features a zinc reception desk with a rainbow-coloured finish.
      The photography is by Thomas Loof.

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      Halleroed creates moody New York office with wood panelled walls

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      Stockholm studio Halleroed has paired carpet floors, dropped ceilings and wood panelling for a New York office evocative of a David Lynch movie. Located in Manhattan’s Garment District, the office is for a company in the creative industry that has almost all of the floors in the 17th-storey building. Halleroed, led by Swedish designer Christian Halleröd, […] More