The Suffolk is a new 30-story residential building located in the Lower East Side, or LES, of Manhattan. We sought to mirror the richness of the surroundings in our design in order to create a vibrant modern space connected to the urban environment. Given the neighborhood’s kaleidoscopic diversity, we used complexity and layering as a tool to connect to our surroundings. Contrasting forms, furniture, and art come together into a unique series of spaces that are nonetheless linked to the historical continuum of the LES.

The design palette is evocative of the neighborhood’s age – it is contemporary and will weather well without being overly modern or minimal. We used rough, textured, monochromatic materials as a background to allow faded colors, furniture, and art to stand out.

The program for the lobby derived inspiration from classical elements of civic spaces in the neighborhood – the vaulted arch and Gaustivino detailing. We began with a pristine and symmetrical form, then carved out asymmetric niches to achieve the desired complexity and experience.

Located on the 7th floor, the main lounge conveys a similarly layered approach and an awareness of space creation. A feature stair serves as a focal point for the required amenities to organize around, including conference rooms, study carrels, a lounge, and kitchen bar. The materials used echo the neighborhood’s history (e.g., the stair’s red Brescia stone) but are detailed in a contemporary way. In the same vein, archival images as well as artworks from local galleries decorate the walls. An interior scheme is stitched together, where some furniture pieces are cutting edge, but also some are reclaimed and vintage.

Through a palimpsest of new forms, furniture, objects, and art, and a contrast of materials that are at times even cacophonous, we establish new spaces that contribute to the mosaic of the context. Our design is, therefore, deliberately, and joyfully disjointed.