Oculus - Fall 2016 - 31
Authenticity + Innovation: Architecture Repurposed
©LEESER Architecture
©LEESER Architecture
and we felt there needs to be a design that
is not just a run-down old factory, but
has energy," he says. "We wanted it to be
dynamic and contemporary."
A new pair of dramatically angled,
origami-like steel staircases form the
centerpiece of the renovation. They weave
together the space's three levels, which
contain a mix of private offices, communal worktables, conference rooms, and
other amenities. Near each staircase are
kitchens and seating areas, to promote
social interaction.
The outside walls of the staircases are
cloaked in eye-grabbing Yves Klein-blue
paint - a color chosen to contrast strongly
with the muted browns and reds of the
original architecture. Inside the staircases
is vibrant teal paint, with matching rubber tiling underfoot, edged with glowing
bands of LED lighting. On the ground
floor, the teal path also extends along the
floor to link the two staircases, bringing
clarity to the circulation. The LED lines
appear elsewhere, too, tracing the angled
forms of a kitchen countertop or outlining
the volumes of communal spaces like "3D
drawings," as Leeser describes it. The unexpected forms of the staircases and the
LEDs intentionally bring a jolt of surprise.
"There's this sense of otherness," he says,
"something new."
Small alterations to the existing architecture were needed to cut the staircases
through and add a skylight, but the design
team otherwise left the existing structure
almost untouched, out of respect for its
beauty and a desire to emphasize the
contrast with the staircases.
Initially, the slick, contemporary elements were a hard sell to the client company, which had in mind a more homey vibe
in keeping with the company slogan "At
Home At Work." Coworkrs CEO Shlomo
©Keziban Barry
©Keziban Barry
(opposite page) Brightly
colored stairs outlined
with LEDs connect the
three floors.
(left) A kitchen outlined
in LEDS reflects the
angularity of the stairs.
(above left) A new skylight brings natural light to communal work tables in the basement level.
(above right top) One of many communal "hangout" spaces.
(above right bottom) A glass-enclosed conference room anchors the second floor, lined with enclosed offices.
Silber recalls, "We had many debates. It
took me a long time to warm up to a lot
of the ideas Leeser wanted to do." But they
managed to strike a delicate balance with
welcoming touches like large, comfortable
couches offsetting the sleek, sculptural
elements. "We were able to work together
so I could add my little flavors, and he
could add his 'shock elements,' like that
staircase," Silber explains. As a result, it's
"a very interesting space, not just your
standard industrial Brooklyn space."
Since the Gowanus location opened in
January 2016, the positive response from
Coworkrs' customers has helped validate
the choice to take design risks. "I haven't
met anybody yet who has walked through
the space and hasn't been wowed by it,"
Silber says.
For a fairly small, low-budget project,
it has also drawn a surprising amount of
media attention from around the world,
Leeser says. He attributes the design's success not to the new elements alone, but to
the deliberately strong contrast between
the new and old. That "tension" boosts the
design's impact: "The contrast is exactly
what gives it energy," he says. <
LISA DELGADO is a freelance journalist who has written for e-Oculus,
The Architect's Newspaper, Architectural
Record, Blueprint, and Wired, among
other publications.
Client: Coworkrs
Architect:
LEESER Architecture
Design Team:
Thomas Leeser, RA,
Simon Arnold, RA,
Anja Misic Pavlin
Structural Engineer:
Structural Engineering
Technologies
M/E/P Engineer:
Guth DeConzo
Consulting Engineers
General Contractor:
Titan Realty &
Construction
Fall 2016 Oculus
31
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Oculus - Fall 2016
First Words Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Center for Architecture
One Block Over
Opener: Authenticity and Innovation
Civic Purpose Repurposed: Brooklyn
Civic Purpose Repurposed: Bronx
A Study in Contrasts
WeLive on Wall Street
A Preservation Paradox
Industrial Strength
Innovation Rooted in History
In Print
97-Year Watch
Last Words
Index to Advertisers
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover1
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover2
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 3
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 4
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 5
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 6
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 7
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 8
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 9
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 10
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 11
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 12
Oculus - Fall 2016 - First Words Letter from the President
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 14
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Letter from the Editor
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 16
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 17
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Center for Architecture
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 19
Oculus - Fall 2016 - One Block Over
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 21
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 22
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 23
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 24
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Opener: Authenticity and Innovation
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Civic Purpose Repurposed: Brooklyn
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 27
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Civic Purpose Repurposed: Bronx
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 29
Oculus - Fall 2016 - A Study in Contrasts
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 31
Oculus - Fall 2016 - WeLive on Wall Street
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 33
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 34
Oculus - Fall 2016 - A Preservation Paradox
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 36
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 37
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Industrial Strength
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 39
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 40
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 41
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Innovation Rooted in History
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 43
Oculus - Fall 2016 - In Print
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 97-Year Watch
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 46
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Last Words
Oculus - Fall 2016 - Index to Advertisers
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 49
Oculus - Fall 2016 - 50
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover3
Oculus - Fall 2016 - cover4
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