Contract - November 2013 - (Page 68)

sources By Michael Webb Photography by Frank Oudeman FEATURE: UNITED NATIONS U.N. North Delegates' Lounge The United Nations complex is in the midst of a five-year extensive renovation after sixty years of intensive use that has taken a toll on the Manhattan headquarters. Each of the 193 member nations was invited to contribute to the makeover. The Netherlands government chose to adopt the Delegates' Lounge adjoining the General Assembly Hall, and selected one of four competing teams to execute the project. Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA, graphic designer Irma Boom, artist Gabriel Lester, and theoretician Louise Schouwenberg collaborated closely to infuse the old lounge with a fresh new look. It is a showcase of Dutch creativity that builds on the idealism of the postwar era, in which leading architects including Oscar Niemeyer and Le Corbusier created an enduring symbol of international cooperation. "This was the first interior I have done, because I don't feel comfortable working at that scale," says Jongerius, who is best known for her ceramics and furniture. Her apprehension was well-founded: the soaring, twenty-three-foot-high space is lit by floor-to-ceiling north-facing windows that capture views of the East River, and the designers had to accommodate the many concerns of the U.N. and the Dutch Foreign Ministry. There could be no barriers in the room obstructing views. "The delegates had to have a clear view of who is in the room, and all the art works donated over the years had to remain. We had to revise our original designs to meet the U.N. requirements," Jongerius says. Hella Jongerius customdesigned the wheeled UN Lounge Chair for the lounge renovation. It can be easily moved to accomodate informal meetings between delegates. The Polder Sofa, also positioned throughout the space, was designed by Jongerius for Vitra in 2005. The blue and green upholstery tones allude to the lushness of the Dutch landscape. All existing large-scale artwork had to remain in the space. 38 RETAIL Design interventions within constraints At the outset, the design team made a close study of how the room had been used, and had six meetings to define goals and allocate responsibilities. OMA removed a mezzanine that had been inserted contractdesign.com NOVEMBER 2013 contract By Michael Webb Photography by Jacopo Spilimbergo The contrast between rough and smooth surfaces and sinuous forms heightens the drama of the space. Ambient lighting flatters customers, while cove fixtures keep the focus on the shoes. 44 A skylight was retrofitted to have a faceted, geometric form. Brass panels lining the walls reflect both natural and LED lighting within the linear space. Custom steel planters create a hanging garden. RETAIL Stuart Weitzman Milan Flagship Dutch creativity revives an informal meeting space for diplomats at the United Nations contractdesign.com Marc Jacobs Beauty A sleek, monochrome backdrop allows for products to take center stage Mattison By Russell Fortmeyer Photography by Spencer Lowell contract 48 contractdesign.com Exuding civility in the middle of a hectic city, the men's clothing store Mattison is a study in refined understatement. With a vine-covered facade, diminutive sign, and black-trimmed windows and door, Mattison fits well within a relatively quiet block of high-end retail establishments located where Melrose Avenue meets Melrose Place in Los Angeles. That restrained, elegant sensibility is what Los Angeles-based, multi-disciplinary design firm Commune focused on in realizing the vision of Derek Mattison, the designer behind the eponymous menswear line that launched in 2012. Commune had developed a rapport with Mattison while renovating his house. "Derek's idea was that the store would be Christian Dior meets California, so we started NOVEMBER 2013 looking at Big Sur and how Dior could become more handmade, warmer, and earthier," says Pamela Shamshiri, a founding partner of Commune. Hard edges transition to softer surfaces Shamshiri says Commune was inspired by Mattison's use of precise details in his clothing-buttons, lapels, stitching, and seams-and the strict color palette of grays, deep blues, and blacks. To begin, the walls and ceiling were painted matte black, with the existing wood floor refinished and painted a low-sheen black. This created a neutral space that also played on Mattison's interest in the darker side of California- think David Lynch-rather than a beach vibe. The focal point of the store is a black granite table with scalloped edges that provides a work surface for makeup artists, contains storage, and serves as the point of sale. The architects customdesigned the table, chairs, and chandelier fixture with local fabricators. Joseph Dirand couldn't have landed a more perfect commission for his first restaurant than Monsieur Bleu, the modern brasserie inside the new wing of the Palais de Tokyo that includes a second-floor private area and terraces. The building is the designer's favorite in his hometown of Paris, and he fondly remembers the frequent childhood visits he and his photographer father made there when it housed the Centre National de la Photographie. And, as evidenced by his spare, black and white residential, hotel, and retail interiors, Dirand is attracted to minimalism. "[The Palais de Tokyo] combines minimal with massive," he says. "It's very straight-everything is square, but also with rounded shapes." When he begins a project, Dirand first comes up with a storyboard to imagine the space and how people will relate to it. The Palais de Tokyo opened in 1937, so the designer started with the architecture of the 1930s. "It was a time in between Art Deco and Modernism," he says. "Designers still had an 'Art-Decorative' way of working, but a new era was starting where everything was direct and pure." Dirand was inspired by photos of Adolf Loos' composed, black and white interiors, warmed by luxurious materials. "For me," he says, "that was the link to the architecture of the building." Vertical zones delineate intimacy and drama Dirand found another piece of the puzzle during his travels. He noticed a certain kind of restaurant-a modern and monumental brasserie-that can be found in New York and London but had been missing in Paris. "I didn't set out to create something fashionable," he 56 contractdesign.com NOVEMBER 2013 By Caroline Tiger Photography by Adrien Dirand Joseph Dirand designs a sublime Parisian brasserie within the Palais de Tokyo A central fixture houses multiple functions To create the timeless interior that Duffy desired, Jaklitsch and his team drew inspiration from classics such as the movie La Dolce Vita and retail interiors from the 1930s by French designer Jean-Michel Frank-as well as Jacobs' concept for the beauty products' packaging. contract 52 By delineating wall surfaces within the restaurant's tall interior, Dirand created an intimate feel for the lower zone, wrapped by velvet banquettes and wood paneling painted black. FEATURE: RESTAURANT Monsieur Bleu Designer Marc Jacobs is known for his edgy fashion collections, theatrical runway shows, and his colorful personal life. But the interiors of his brand's stores are typically subdued to keep the focus on the products-which range from high-end to affordable men's, women's, and children's clothing, as well as fragrances and accessories. One recently opened store is the first brick-and-mortar location devoted to the new Marc Jacobs Beauty line. Produced by Sephora, the line includes more than 120 products. The 425-square-foot corner space on Bleecker Street in Manhattan's West Village-which had previously housed several Marc Jacobs brand iterations, most recently the accessories line-opened in August to become the fifth brand store within a few blocks. Like most of the 300-plus Marc Jacobs stores located in more than 30 countries, the beauty store was designed by New York-based Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects. Fourteen years ago, Jacobs' business partner Robert Duffy hired the firm based on a contractor's referral to design his apartment, and subsequently, several more residences. Then he asked Jaklitsch/ Gardner to design San Francisco's first Marc Jacobs store, even though the firm had no retail design experience at the time. Their business relationship blossomed based on shared values. "Robert and I both resist easy consumption, and he's always looking for something that is timeless and classic," says Stephan Jaklitsch, a principal at Jaklitsch/ Gardner. "The cycle of fashion is such that things get consumed every six months, but architecture lasts longer and needs to be able to stand on its own." A menswear boutique by Commune captures Southern California's edgier side Zaha Hadid creates a dynamic showcase for the shoe and accessory designer NOVEMBER 2013 By Murrye Bernard Photography by Paul Warchol RETAIL contractdesign.com contract NOVEMBER 2013 contract u.N. North Delegates' Lounge (page 38) Mattison (page 48) Marc Jacobs Beauty (page 52) Monsieur Bleu (page 56) who Architect: Rem Koolhaas/ OMA. Designer: Hella Jongerius. Graphic designer: Irma Boom. Artist: Gabriel Lester. Theorist: Louise Schouwenberg. what Carpet: custom by Hella Jongerius in cooperation with Desso. Information desk: custom by OMA. Information desk chairs: Charles and Ray Eames Aluminum Group Side Chair. Coffee bar: custom by OMA. Chairs: Knoll; Peacock Chair by Hans Wegner; UN Lounge Chair by Hella Jongerius. Sofa: Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius. Tables: Sphere Table by Hella Jongerius. Café and side tables: AVL Workbench by Joep van Lieshout. Café chairs: Fauteuil Direction by Jean Prouvé. Floor lamps: Max Abramovitz and Wallace Harrison. Curtains: Knots & Grid Curtain by Irma Boom; Knots & Beads Curtain by Hella Jongerius. 68 stuart Weitzman Milan Flagship (page 44) who Architect/Interior designer: Zaha Hadid Architects. Project team: Paola Cattarin, project architect; Alessio Costantino; Jorge Mendes-Caceres; Vincenzo Barilari; Zetta Kotzioni; Maren Klasing. Contractor: Tecnolegno Allestimenti Srl. Local Executive Architects: Milano Layout. Lighting: Pollice Illuminazione. M&E: Studio Planning. Structure: Biesse Consulting. what Back-painted and frosted glass: Vetreria Re. GRC finishes: Scenic up. 3D geometry: Mecubo. Shelves: Corian manufactured by Tecnolegno Allestimenti Srl. Hard flooring: Resin HD. Carpet/carpet tile: Stepevi. GRC geometry: Scenic up. Lighting screens: Barrisol. Benches: Fiberglass. who Interior designer: Commune Design. Interior design project team: Pam Shamshiri, principal; Christopher Cahill; Anna Pomerantz. Contractor: Luxe Built. Lighting: Sean O'Connor Lighting. Landscape: Matthew Brown Landscape Design. what Hard flooring: refinished existing floor. Carpet/carpet tile: custom by Niba Rugs. Recessed lighting: Lucifer Lighting. Fluorescent pendants: Axis Lighting. Floor/table lamps: vintage floor lamp, JF Chen. LED Strips at fitting room: LED Linear. LED Strips at brass walls: Celestial Lighting. Door: custom steel sliders. Window treatments: custom ripple fold velvet drapes, linen sheer. Workstation/task seating: vintage Dan Johnson chair. Reception desk: Alma Allen custom table. Shelving: Valchromat custom millwork. Planters: custom steel hanging planters, E.R. Butler. Plumbing fixtures/fittings: Duravit. who Architect/Interior architect: Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects PC. Architecture and interior design project team: Stephan Jaklitsch, AIA; Mark Gardner, AIA; Christopher Courtney, Project Architect; Margaux Schindler, Designer; Jacqueline Shaw, Designer; Lauren Larson, Interior Designer; Jon Wilson, Product Designer. Contractor: BNY Construction, Inc. Millworker: Erik Cabinets Ltd. Lighting: Cooley Monato Studio. Engineering: Evan Akselrad, Structural Engineer. what Paint: Benjamin Moore. Hard flooring: White thassos. Recessed lighting: Eklipse. Cove Lighting: Eklipse. Pendants/ chandeliers: custom designed by Kacper Dolatowski of Axon Design Inc. Other decorative lighting: Feelux; OptoLum; Eklipse; Visual Lighting Technology; Louisville Lamp Co. Lounge/reception seating: benches by Christian Liaigre in satin stainless steel and leather. Makeup stools: custom by Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects PC in satin stainless steel and leather, manufactured by Wainlands Inc. and S.S. Furniture Masters Inc. Makeup table: custom by Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects PC in polished black granite. Upholstery: Christian Liaigre. Display shelving: custom by Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects PC. Drawers/case goods: makeup fixtures and vitrines custom designed by Jaklitsch/Gardner Architects PC, manufactured by Erik Cabinets. who Architect and interior designer: Joseph Dirand what Wallcoverings: whitewashed fluted walls with painted wood panelling, and marble frames. Floor: green Connemara marble, green St. Laurent marble, oak parquet painted white, white Ariston marble stairs. Sideboards: blackstained wood and polished brass by Joseph Dirand Architecture. Bar: brass. Bar stools: Joseph Dirand Architecture. Banquettes: green Connemara marble and velvet by Joseph Dirand Architecture. Tables: enamelled legs and black-lacquered top with brass by Joseph Dirand Architecture. Brass table: Joseph Dirand Architecture. Chairs: Zanuso Galerie Stilodrom. Armchairs: ARP Galerie Yvan Royer; ERTON galerie Artefact Design; Eero Saarinen for Knoll. Sofas: Charpentier Galerie Artbrokerdesign. Reading lamps: Louis Kalff Galerie Mis'en scène 40. Alcove wall lamps: Luigi Caccia Dominioni. Ceiling light: fitting by OZONE based on a design by Michel Boyer. contractdesign.com november 2013 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - November 2013

Contract - November 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Implementing an Ownership Transition: I Built a Firm—So How Do I Get Out?
Highlights from HD Americas
Breakthrough Design at 100% Design in London
Product Focus: Beyond the Plank
Product Focus: Hands-On Shopping
Product Briefs
U.N. North Delegates’ Lounge
Stuart Weitzman Milan Flagship
Mattison
Marc Jacobs Beauty
Monsieur Bleu
Bricks Over Clicks: Enhancing the In-Person Shopping Experience by Design
Designers Select: Tables and Casegoods
Sources
Ad Index
Small Project: A Sales Gallery Previews Zaha Hadid’s 62-Story Condo Tower in Miami

Contract - November 2013