Perforated metal

With a prime location right on north Yonge Street, this 30-year-old Toronto office tower held great promise for new owners Crown Realty. But if the building was going to live up to its potential – and attract a stable of vibrant, youthful companies as tenants – the interiors would need to be brought into the 21st century. Prior to its redesign by interiors studio Bartlett & Associates, the tower’s lobby was dark and claustrophobic, with granite-clad bulkheads wrapping the upper reaches and an imposing black reception desk overwhelming the entry. The B|A team achieved a complete transformation of the space through a careful reconfiguration of the architecture and the insertion of a few statement-making elements. &ldquo... More

The project is the renovation of an existing 1980s rigid steel frame warehouse building. Existing interior partitions were removedand three distinct program elements of classic car showroom, entertainment area and spec. offices, were inserted into the large open volume.  The showroom programhas an industrial aesthetic that compliments the cars andutilizes the prefabricated building system. A perforated metal screen starts as a floor material, curves into the wall and continues into the ceiling.It wraps the cars in a single, continuous, monochromatic, membrane that selectively reveals the existing structure and accents the color and design of the cars.   The floor, wall, and ceiling of the entertainment area aresheathed in natura... More

The architectural concept of the project is based on a crystal—not only is it an attractive symbol that can be identified with success, light and solemnity, but it is a many-sided element too. Each edge of the crystal catches the light and reflects its own reality. Chkalov is a hotel complex showroom that will combine several functions. It will have a trading segment and residential apartments and will offer the visitors an opportunity to come in touch with modern art. In addition to considerable capabilities of the hotel complex, one of the edges of the crystal reflects its economically advantageous location: proximity to a transportation hub (several subway stations are nearby), an artistic pool (ArtPlay and Winzavod), and trading f... More

The newground up 25,523 square-foot office building was designed to house all LGE operations. Located on a 96,909 square-foot site, the building is comprised of stack bond CMU, metal accents, deep overhangs and energy efficient glazing giving a mid-century modern feel with industrial roots. Primarily constructed from CMU with integrated full- height glazing interspaced along the exterior walls, the shell is durable and sustainable for our arid desert environment. Solar exposure is carefully considered, with a dramatically cantilevered, black metal oxide and wood, entry feature shading the building’s entirely glazed south entrance. An equally generous expanse of glass on the naturally shaded north side is surrounded with a perfora... More

When established accessory repair company Leather Spa was invited to open a corner inside the prestigious Saks Fifth Avenue mall, they knew they needed a new design concept to match the mall’s overall renovation. Sergio Mannino Studio proved to be the perfect match, allowing the small, 126 sq ft space to instantly catch the eyes of any customers. While matching the modern renovation by OMA was key, it was also important to maintain the original Leather SPA branding. Mannino Studio accomplished this by using the classic brand orange color, as well as implementing a white perforated metal mesh as the main wall finish. Not only did this make for a striking visual, but it also allowed for a practical, flexible method to layout merchandis... More

The project is located on the outskirts of the Plaine des Bouchers Business Park, in the very heart of the Meinau district. Particularly visible from the Avenue de Colmar, the project makes a singular and qualitative mark on the district while ensuring the liveliness of the avenue. The organization of the three buildings on the plot allows for visual breakthroughs in the heart of the block while offering a transition between the Plaine des Bouchers, the Avenue de Colmar and the surrounding residential areas. The typological distribution is varied, favouring a mix at the scale of the building. The balconies, either long or independent, are clad with perforated metal railings or full-height white panels in order to give rhythm to the differe... More

Founded in 1903, The Commonwealth Club provides national audiences with impartial programs on politics, economics, culture and the environment featuring world-renowned speakers with weekly national broadcasts in the longest running U.S. radio program. The Club’s first permanent home is centrally located to regional transit with iconic views along the Embarcadero.   The building is a designated City Landmark as the site of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Union Hall and the location of the 1934 General Labor Strike - Bloody Thursday, where two protesters were shot by the police outside the ILA Hall. The historic Steuart Street façade (site of the shootings) has been preserved and a public display o... More

The OuiJ’aime Hotel is a wholly unique building, the direct result oflimitations in space combined with the unusual dimensions of the property.   This new destination for visitors to Chachoengsao is owned and operated by the same family that runs Tang SengJua, a famous pastry shop there that sells kanompia, a Chinese-style treat stuffed with mung-bean paste.   With its metal structure, the narrow and long rectangular building is bold and outstanding, its appearance softened by the facade of rusted metal sheets. The overall effect is almost like that of an art exhibition. The artsy facade doubles as a vast partition maintaining the guests’ privacy and as a sunshade during the day. And, because the large su... More

When the owners of several beloved Seattle beer institutions (The Dray and The Yard) wanted to expand into a new part of town, they approached the design team with a vision: design a beerhall style taproom that was contemporary, yet distinctly Pacific Northwest in character, and that captured the spirit of its light industrial Ballard neighborhood location.  The result is Trailbend Taproom, a spare, materially rich bar that feels part workshop, part living room.  The bar gets its name from its close proximity to the Burke-Gilman Trail and location which is nestled at the “bend of the Ballard ale trail.” Haris Kenjar Occupying 1,700 square-feet of the ground floor of the new mixed-use Klotski building — also... More

Any architect can vouch that the design process starts with a brief. Client restraints of finance, frills and fancies present a starting point. But when designing for one’s self:unending explorations, inspirations and observations by the inner critique add on to the endlessness of the project. And it was the same with us.   We began with selecting this particular space for our new office because it overlooked two magnificent trees from the balcony. And these trees have commanded the narrative since.   Instinctively drawn to the freshness, the divide between ‘room’ and ‘balcony’, ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ was torn down along with a window on the wall that was creating it (the d... More

Interior renovation of town house on Upper West Side of Manhattan. This was a project where we worked closely with the Owner who was very involved in the design process especially with the finishes.   The overall design approach called for retaining much of the industrial core & shell feeling of the restored row house as a backdrop for the design.The brick was exposed on the exterior walls. Plumbing risers were often exposed or veiled with a perforated metal wrap.  A perforated metal ovoid closet stands out as an industrial sculptural object in the parlor level entry. The industrial black steel stairs carry the industrial feel from top to bottom of the 5-story building.   The office space for the owners continues the... More

Designed to be a low-cost house, but with refined rooms and concepts regarding the distribution of spatial functions and visual aspects, the Casa Bloco was conceived as a single-story residence from an oriental bias. The use of concrete blocks and wood, without external coating, exposed crudely in essence, are part of the compositional intention of the house.              The whole project was conceived with sophisticated yet simple solutions, easy execution and monitoring at the construction site.The house forms itself around an inner courtyard, carefully designed to create a contemplative environment. It was composed with ornamental plants, a koi pond and a green wall made with stee... More

The Lencioni Construction Company’s newly acquired office building with its warehouse identity and retro architectural elements offered a strong potential to explore the dialectic between a rugged industrial shell and a sensitive modern intervention.   The father and son team aspired to create an interior remodel that speaks to the high-end residential work that the company is reputed for. Their passion and direct engagement with the architects has resulted in the successful rejuvenation, yet honest interpretation of an old building with great bones.   Set in the industrial center of San Carlos, the nondescript exterior facades have been pared down to simplify and unify a few chosen elements. New storefront windows repla... More

The objective was to design a facade for the parking garage that not only seems light and transparent, but also surrounds the S-shaped curved structure with a poetic-organic shell that gives it a light plasticity. The uniformly designed facade does not seem ornamental – instead, it is designed like a big organic structure that gives the impression that it breathes.   The P22a parking garage (design: schultearchitekten, Cologne) at the Cologne Trade Fair is located at the Zoobrücke bridge and offers 3,260 parking spaces on 5 levels. Our task, on behalf of the Trade Fair and the city of Cologne, was to design an innovative and emblematic facade for the existing S-shaped curved plan.   To carry out this task, roughly 3... More