Avenue Archives

Martin Brudnizki designs Gilded Age-interiors for Fifth Avenue hotel

Martin Brudnizki Design Studio has designed the interiors for a 1907 Renaissance-style palazzo building in New York, which has been turned into a luxury boutique hotel by architecture studio Perkins Eastman.

The Fifth Avenue Hotel sits on the site of what was once one of the last mansions of The Gilded Age.

Throughout the late 19th century, the home of Charlotte Goodridge at 250 Fifth Avenue hosted receptions and musical evenings as part of New York’s social season.

Green classical screen separates bedroom spaces — Classical fixtures contrast a contemporary colour palette in the hotel’s rooms

Perkins Eastman added a 24-storey glass tower, designed with PBDW Architects, to the five-storey brick and limestone building.

This was originally designed by McKim, Mead & White as the Second National Bank in 1907, replacing Goodridge’s 19th century home.

Drawing on the history of the neighbourhood and heritage of the building, Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS) aimed to create an aesthetic for the new hotel that would embrace “Bohemian romanticism and the glamour of the gilded age,” while maintaining contemporary styling.

Green walls and ornate fittings and fixtures — Martin Brudnizki has employed colour and texture to reflect global travels

“One of the biggest challenges was that we were working with both an existing and a new building at the same time, which each presented their own challenges architecturally,” studio founder Martin Brudnizki told Dezeen.

“We worked with the architects to marry the historic narrative with the contemporary tower addition, which reflects New York today, and the concept of the modern traveller,” he said.

Yellow curtains in The Fifth — A corner bedroom features yellow curtains

Rooms feature a rich colour palette of garden greens, buttercup yellow and peony pink with gold accents.

Bold patterns and textures jostle each other in a “harmonious and fun way, juxtaposing modernity with the classic finishings,” the designer said.

green walls and bespoke coffee tables at The Fifth Avenue hotel — The hotel’s walls host an extensive art collection

“The intersection of interiors with architecture is so important. The mansion is a much more classical response to the history and details of the building, whilst the tower enthuses a more modern touch,” Brudnizki explained.

“Both are unified by the choices of colours and certain furniture, fixtures and equipment that carry between the two sites.”

Bedrooms feature a global blend of references, including Pagoda-style table lamps, custom wardrobes informed by traditional Chinese cabinets, antique inlaid side tables, Murano glass chandeliers and star-like ceiling lights.

The double-height entrance lobby features walls panelled with faceted antique mirrors, marble floors and grand arched windows – which echo throughout the hotel bedrooms as room dividers between sleeping and sitting areas.

Rich colours evoke the gilded age — Rooms have been designed to have a residential feel

“We loved the idea that all these great characters had once walked along the boulevard of Fifth Avenue and the fabulous parties hosted within the mansions of Fifth Avenue; the people and the conversations that took place,” said Brudnizki.

“We wanted to create a space that felt as though its interiors had been brought together over time, pulling items from our muse’s travels and adventures from across the globe.”

Double height lobby at The Fifth Avenue Hotel manhattan — Antique glass panelling and modern mirrored artworks fill the double-height lobby

“It is a truly eclectic and layered project that is intended to feel as though it has been around since the days of The Gilded Age,” the designer concluded.

Other boutique hotels recently published on Dezeen include Christian Louboutin’s hotel Vermelho in Portugal and Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, by Keiji Ashizawa Design and Norm Architects.

Photography is by William Abranowicz.

Reference

Architecture

Seamless Integration: The Revitalization of 712 Fifth Avenue Lobby

By Zarkon Group,16/08/2023

712 Fifth Avenue Renovation – Returning to one of our projects more than 30 years later, we were challenged with how to reimagine the entry and lobby to a prestigious postmodern building. This led to bigger questions; how do we engage with the discourse of history today? And how do we discuss postmodernism through built work? Our response was to generate a fundamental dialogue between glass, stone, and human occupation; to utilize advanced modern technology to fabricate the materials in a way that is both futuristic yet grounded in traditional historic construction methodologies; and to change everything without changing anything.

Architizer chatted with Hugh Trumbull, Design Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Hugh Trumbull: Without changing the program or layout of the space, we countered the original proposition of placing ornate objects within a room with the concept of making space that integrate people and room.

Originally, the lobby was designed with postmodern ornamental columns clad in many types of stone, objects within a grey granite room. The object-ness of these elements restricted the ease of movement in and out of the building.

Our new proposition embraced a more tactile approach. The columns and wall are unified with one material, a soft welcoming stone detailed in a curving shape so that its vein and form are its sole ornament. Walls seamlessly transform into benches and a reception desk, inviting people to interact with one another and the architecture. At the entry, the sinuous structural glazing promotes a clear view and a seamless, organic flow in and out of the space.

This project won in the 10th Annual A+Awards! What do you believe are the standout components that made your project win?

We’re thrilled that our work has been recognized in the A+ Awards. There are so many beautiful components of this project, but I think the way they work together is what makes this project truly stand out. The combined effect of the sinuous glass wall and unified stonework creates a clean and elegant space that simultaneously feels light yet solid. And I think the use of advanced technology to manipulate classical material is particularly successful.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

By engaging in advanced technical fabrication for the stone and glass, we were able to engage in a dialogue between the future and the past and examine the postmodern condition in a new way.

For the stone, the challenge was the fabrication of very large pieces. We utilized modern CNC milling techniques, yet also relied on age-old craftmanship of stereotomy found in medieval gothic construction. To ensure a seamless grain flow from one stone to the next, pieces were rotated ever so slightly in three dimensions.

For the glass, the challenge was to build a high-performance double wall cavity that utilized the inherent structural capabilities of large curved panels while simultaneously defining an artful threshold that immerses the user into the architecture. The 14- foot-tall panels encase a mechanically isolated conditioned space that mitigates temperature differentials and humidity.

How did the context of your project — environmental, social or cultural — influence your design?

An interesting aspect of the context is that we were returning to work on a building that our firm designed. I think that touches on a really powerful idea, that buildings need to evolve and change with the cities around them, and it is up to architects to help achieve this goal. When presented with the project, we had to determine how we wanted to interact with the style today, and how to make this a more usable space without undermining the integrity of the original building. Because of the postmodern aesthetic, albeit fairly minimal version of postmodern work, this was a loaded problem full of historical references and thought history.

What drove the selection of materials used in the project?

We selected Magny Le Louvre limestone for the interior as a continuation of the tower’s Indiana limestone exterior. We wanted the interior to offer a sophisticated take on stone and give people the opportunity to touch and engage with it directly.

For the exterior wall, we shaped glass to create an immersive experience for the user as they pass through. They become part of the building as they enter or exit, and that process is completely visible, though distorted, to others passing by or pausing in the lobby. We also removed metalwork to unify the experience between the spaces.

What is your favorite detail in the project and why?

It’s always hard to pick a favorite anything when it comes to one’s own project, but one the things I think came out best here is this dialogue between materials that we’ve created. I think the way both the stone and glass are shaped and formed ergonomically enables the project to achieve its goal of serving as a point of engagement with users. Similarly, I think the contrast we’ve created between these materials – the solidity of the sedimentary veined stone and the transparency of the sculpted glass. Notably, both materials are created from sand, linking them in an essential way.

How important was sustainability as a design criteria as you worked on this project?

Sustainability is a key aspect of all of our firm’s work. In this case, as a renovation project, we were starting out with an existing structure. We upgraded mechanical systems in the lobby to be more efficient, and we designed the new a high-performing façade for the entry.

How have your clients responded to the finished project?

We’ve been fortunate to work with a great and truly supportive client, Paramount Group, on this project. Since we first brought them our design concept all the way through construction and project completion, the Paramount team believed in our vision and remained dedicated to seeing it through. It has also been exciting to see the positive reaction from the building’s tenants as they experience the new space.

What key lesson did you learn in the process of conceiving the project?

Creating an architectural dialogue with the past, present, and future, though challenging and ever-evolving, is a great foundation for developing new designs, particularly within existing projects.

How do you believe this project represents you or your firm as a whole?

I think our work on this project represents KPF’s commitment to the evolution of cities and urban spaces. By reimagining this space, working within its constraints and addressing its challenges, we have enhanced the usefulness of this entire office building and met the needs of its current users. And, as a renovation, this project also reflects a commitment to sustainability and which is a core aspect of our work.

Team Members

Design Principal: Hugh Trumbull / Managing Principal: Richard Nemeth / Project Manager: Greg Mell / Team: Chris Dial, Xi Chen, Alex Lightman, Parker Russo

Consultants

AECOM Tishman (Construction Manager) / ETMA (Stone Fabricator) / Front Inc. (Facade Consultant) / Wilkstone (Stone Installation)

Photographer credit: Michael Moran / OTTO

Products and Materials

Magny Le Louvre limestone, Cristacurva glass

For more on 712 Fifth Avenue Renovation, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

712 Fifth Avenue Renovation Gallery

Reference

Architecture

Walk-Up Avenue is a public space for locals in Edinburgh by New Practice

By Zarkon Group,23/10/2022

Architecture studio New Practice has transformed an unused site in the town centre of Craigmillar, Edinburgh, into a multi-purpose public space for the local community.

Named Walk-Up Avenue, the site comprises a flexible events space, green-roofed stage, communal garden, cafe and play areas that residents and community groups can use freely.

Walk-Up Avenue colourful timber batten — A tall timber structure marks the entrance

The space was constructed for the City of Edinburgh Council to support small businesses and become a recognisable meeting point in the area.

“Walk Up Avenue aims to create a welcoming and colourful space for the local community to come together and take ownership of for many years to come,” said New Practice.

Green-roof stage and event plaza in Craigmillar — Walk-Up Avenue includes a stage and events space for locals to use

The site of Walk-Up Avenue is located next to a retail park, set back from the main road behind an existing play area.

Its entrance connects the plot to the playpark and guides visitors away from the road towards a planted area with picnic tables.

Colourful entrance structure made from timber battens — The “beacon” entrance is made from timber battens

According to New Practice associate Maeve Dolan, Craigmillar’s high street had become disjointed with stretches of inactive frontage.

To remedy this, the studio designed a brightly-coloured nine-metre-tall “beacon” made from timber battens to mark the entrance to Walk-Up Avenue.

Entrance structure and steel-clad cafe of Walk-Up Avenue by New Practice — A steel-clad commercial unit was added to help activate the high street

“We needed something big, bright and intriguing which clearly signalled a community use,” Dolan told Dezeen.

“It’s been labelled as the ‘beacon’ on our drawings since the beginning because that’s what we wanted it to act as to passersby, both those on-foot and moving at speed on the busy main road.”

Stage and events space designed by New Practice — The plaza includes seating and box planters

Also at the newly transformed site is a steel-clad structure with a flexible interior and cafe amenities, which New Practice designed for local businesses to help increase activity on the high street.

The building is leased to the Trade Unions in Communities (TUIDC), which intends to run the cafe and use the space to organise educational and employment programmes.

Further into the plot are a green-roofed stage and a plaza with box planters and seating, which neighbourhood groups are encouraged to use to organise their own events.

“Walk-Up Avenue is about creating a lively town-centre gathering place,” said Dolan.

“It is not a prescriptive space but instead provides the foundational infrastructure that invites the community to make use of it as they require, whether that be for rest, socialising, play, exercise, performance, small-scale retail or growing and gardening,” she continued.

Beacon timber entrance at Walk-Up Avenue by New Practice — The project was designed for the local Craigmillar community and visitors

With funding from the government agency NatureScot, infrastructure that helps to create wildlife habitats and prevent flooding was incorporated into the landscaping, including rain gardens, swales, sustainable drainage systems and deep gutters that double as a drinking source for animals.

“The blue-green infrastructure was funded by NatureScot with the aim to produce an educational space where people could see all of these items working together and understand their benefits,” said Dolan.

View of play area in Craigmillar — The entryway connects Walk-Up Avenue with the neighbouring playpark

While offering a public space for local businesses and community groups to flourish, the space is hoped to support the wider regeneration of the Craigmillar area.

It also contributes to Edinburgh’s 20-minute neighbourhood strategy, a scheme that aims to provide all local residents with access to amenities within a short walk or cycle from their homes.

Colourful timber batten structure with seating by New Practice — Seating is added throughout the project

The opening of Walk-Up Avenue coincided with the Craigmillar and Niddrie Community Festival, which saw the plot being used for music and theatre performances and a craft market.

“During this day the most interesting thing was watching how local residents accessed the site, coming through both the formal entrance under the beacon but also filtering in via the soft boundary to back lanes and their private back gardens,” said Dolan.

Another project recently completed by New Practice is the renovation of Kinning Park Complex, a former school building in Glasgow that was saved from demolition.

The photography is by Will Scott.

Project credits:

Architect: New Practice
Landscape architect: Liz Thomas
Construction contractor: Bridgewater building solutions
Quantity surveyor: Currie & Brown
Structural engineer: Will Rudd
Building services engineer: Max Fordham

Reference

Avenue

Martin Brudnizki designs Gilded Age-interiors for Fifth Avenue hotel

Seamless Integration: The Revitalization of 712 Fifth Avenue Lobby

712 Fifth Avenue Renovation Gallery

Walk-Up Avenue is a public space for locals in Edinburgh by New Practice

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