Boutique Design - April 2019 - 46

Establishing easy access to the streetscape and a genuine
feeling of connection to Spain itself provided the perfect platform for Lionel Ohayon, founder of ICRAVE, to stand on when
he partnered with Capella Garcia Arquitectura, JULi and
Anthony Mrkic Architect, Inc. to create the 35,000-sq.-ft.
Mercado Little Spain - chef José Andrés' ThinkFoodGroup's
debut New York project. This market and dining destination
serves as an immersive hub for exploring its namesake country's rich culture.
Being "authentic" starts with the layout, which was
inspired by "the organized chaos typical of a Spanish town's
'old city' neighborhood. The floorplan for the market and
three restaurants (Leña, Mar and Spanish Diner) mimics the
web of interwoven streets, squares and quirky spaces that all
converge at a central town square. To make it all easier to
navigate and to cater to a mixed clientele of shoppers and
restaurant goers, the project is divided into two distinct but
interconnected spaces for the restaurants and market that
can be accessed by three different entrances with the Plaza
Mayor at the center of The Mercado-an open area for sitdown dining and events.
In this massive space, everything is vying for attention. And,
it's important that there's something to see everywhere. Eyecatching design elements direct the inner tour, but a connec46

boutiquedesign.com APRIL 2019

tion to the surrounding neighborhood keeps the entire project
relatable and grounded. "We created the Spanish Diner with
floor-to-ceiling retractable garage doors that open the entire
restaurant to the street, directly in front of the High Line,"
explains Ohayon. "We filled the sidewalk with outdoor furniture, inviting people to flow in and out."
The Plaza is crowned by a large sculptural lamp, handcrafted from wood in Valencia. Patrons are then swept away to
another world thanks to the décor, almost 100% of which was
commissioned from Spain's most compelling artists and visionaries, such as Madrid's Oscar Mariné who designed the
graphics and logo for Leña, and a mural of the Spanish seaside
in Mar by Valencian artist and graphic designer Javier Mariscal.
It all adds to an authenticity that purposefully lacks pretension,
enhancing the guests' experience and driving them to return
for new ones in different sections of the venue.
As if all this weren't enough, Hudson Yards has more tricks
up its sleeve: further transportation connections are being
built; the world's first Equinox Hotel will open in June; and the
Edge, the highest outdoor observation deck in the western
hemisphere, is expected to debut early 2020. Watch to see
how it all unfolds and what effects future development will
have on the design of not only spaces within the neighborhood but the Big Apple's hospitality scene at large.

LIONEL OHAYON
ICRAVE

PROJECT
PARTICIPANTS
CLIENT
ThinkFoodGroup: José
Andrés and Rob Wilder,
founders; chefs and creative
collaborators Albert and
Ferran Adrià
DESIGN FIRM
ICRAVE: Lionel Ohayon,
founder
JULi
ARCHITECTS
Anthony Mrkic Architect, Inc.
Capella Garcia Arquitectura

C O U R T E S Y O F M E R C A D O L I T T L E S PA I N ( M E R C A D O L I T T L E S PA I N ) ; C O U R T E S Y O F I C R AV E ( O H AYO N )

MERCADO LITTLE SPAIN, HUDSON YARDS, NEW YORK

http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - April 2019

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