US studio Atelier Cho Thompson has redesigned the shared areas for an workplace constructing in Boston, borrowing shapes and supplies from its historical past for brand spanking new inside components.
The mission concerned reimagining the communal areas at 179 Lincoln Road, a full-block constructing within the metropolis’s Leather-based District that was constructed as a shoe manufacturing unit in 1899.
Atelier Cho Thompson seemed to this historical past to information the design of areas on the margins of the constructing, together with the under-utilized foyer house, a darkish central core, and empty pocket areas on every of 5 flooring – all totalling 8,000 sq. ft (743 sq. metres).
“We unearthed and amplified the constructing’s wealthy historical past whereas creating an area that’s conscious of the wants of the post-pandemic office,” stated studio founder Cho Thompson.
Work started with eradicating the layers of earlier renovations, together with vinyl tile and business carpet, which had left areas “darkish and generic”.
The crew uncovered unique terrazzo flooring in some areas and labored with specialists to revive any sections that had been broken.
In addition they seemed to the arched geometry and detailed ornamentation of the constructing’s historic facade for inside design cues.
The arches are repeated within the foyer as grooved patterns throughout the hand-troweled plaster partitions, and once more at a smaller scale across the white oak entrance of the marble-topped reception counter.
“With a contemporary sensibility, we developed a language of element that introduced components of the outside into the constructing’s core,” Thompson stated.
“In that transformation, we introduced a playful spirit, bringing huge kinds all the way down to human dimension and creating juxtapositions of supplies, patterns, and scales.”
Shiny black flooring distinction the pale color palette used throughout all different surfaces, whereas brass – chosen to match the constructing’s mail chute – supplies a shiny accent on railings, drawer handles and different particulars.
Lighting by Lam Partners comprise globe-shaped parts hooked up to skinny brass helps, in a wide range of linear configurations.
In different “in-between” communal areas, pink brick partitions and columns are uncovered beneath skylights.
A collection of brass-topped counters are scattered via these areas, creating spots for informal dialog between colleagues.
Banquettes and benches additionally present alternatives for group and collaborative work outdoors of typical assembly rooms.
These are upholstered in dusty pink leather-based as a nod to the constructing’s shoe-making previous.
“This mission responds to the altering panorama of workplace life by providing alternatives that transcend what we will expertise in solely working from house,” stated Thompson.
“With a hospitality method, the areas of the mission supply a recent, welcoming, and inclusive place to spend time with colleagues.”
Reimagining historic buildings as up to date workplaces is a standard problem for architects and designers, and refreshing communal or public-facing areas is often an impactful place to start out.
Equally, GRT Architects overhauled the doorway to the artwork deco Trend Tower in New York, restoring its facade and modernising the foyer.
The images is by Jared Kuzia, until said in any other case.
Challenge credit:
Consumer: EQ Workplace
Architect: Atelier Cho Thompson
Lighting designer: Lam Companions
