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Rockwell Group creates “cathedral of fried chicken” for NYC restaurant

Arches of light warmly illuminate this Korean fried chicken restaurant in New York’s Flatiron district, designed by Rockwell Group.

Coqodaq is the brainchild of restauranteur Simon Kim’s Gracious Hospitality Management, the group behind the Michelin-starred and James Beard-nominated COTE Korean Steakhouse.

Glass and bronze modules form an arch of light over a dining booth — At Cododaq, glass and bronze modules form arches of light over diners

The new restaurant offers an elevated take on traditional Korean-style fried chicken, encouraging diners to indulge in nuggets topped with caviar and to pair its “bucket” dishes with champagne.

“Designed by Rockwell Group as ‘the cathedral of fried chicken’, the restaurant design delivers a daring, yet refined dining experience that skillfully integrates Korean and American influences, placing them at the forefront of this enticing culinary adventure,” said the restaurant team.

Restaurant interior with moody material palette and warm lighting — The restaurant’s moody material palette and warm lighting set the tone for an elevated take on Korean fried chicken

To create the right atmosphere for this experience, Rockwell Group opted for a dark and moody interior of rich materials and low, warm lighting.

“Our goal was to capture the essence of this unique concept and innovative approach to fried chicken and translate it into a memorable dining experience,” said founder David Rockwell.

Booth seating with crackled plaster wall panels above — Plaster wall panels feature a crackled effect akin to fried chicken skin

Upon entry, guests are invited to wash their hands in leathered soapstone basins, above which a row of pill-shaped light bands glow within a bronzed mirror that also wraps onto the side walls.

Past the host stand, an area with four high-top tables offers a space reserved for walk-ins in front of garage-style windows.

A long bar topped with black soapstone and fronted with tambour wood — The long bar is topped with black soapstone and fronted with tambour wood

The main dining area is formed by a series of green leather and dark walnut booths on either side of a central walkway.

A series of illuminated arches soar overhead, formed from rippled glass and bronze modules that resemble bubbling oil in a deep-fat fryer.

Champagne collection displayed in glass cases with bubble-like lighting — The restaurant’s extensive champagne collection is displayed in glass cases with bubble-like lighting

At the end of this procession, a mirrored wall reflects glowing arches and creates the illusion of doubled space. Meanwhile, plaster wall panels feature a crackled effect, nodding to the crispy skin of the fried chicken.

“The material palette was driven by a desire to surround diners in an envelope of warmth, creating a joyful place to be at any time,” Rockwell said.

Rockwell Group creates atmospheric interiors for Perelman Center in New York

Additional booth seating to one side is followed by the long bar, topped with black soapstone, fronted by tambour wood and backed by a luminous black liquor shelf.

The restaurant’s extensive champagne collection – which it claims is the largest in America – is displayed inside glass cabinets installed with globe-shaped lights that look like giant bubbles.

Area with high-top tables reserved for walk-in diners — At the front of the restaurant is an area with high-top tables reserved for walk-in diners

“Simon and I share the belief that the most important thing about restaurants is how they ritualise coming together for a shared, celebratory experience and Coqodaq provides the perfect template for that,” said Rockwell.

Since Tony Award-winning designer founded his eponymous firm in New York 40 years ago, the studio has grown to a 250-person operation with additional offices in Los Angeles and Madrid.

Hand-washing station with leathered soapstone basins and rings of light above — Upon arrival, guests are encouraged to wash their hands in leathered soapstone basins

Among Rockwell Group’s recent hospitality projects are the Metropolis restaurant and lobby spaces at the Perelman Arts Center (PAC NYC) and Zaytina inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

We’ve featured a few fried chicken restaurants recently, including a 1960s-influenced spot in Los Angeles and a neon-illuminated eatery in Calgary.

The photography is by Jason Varney.

Reference

Interior Design

Rockwell Group creates atmospheric lobby and restaurant at PAC NYC

By Zarkon Group,20/12/2023

Ribbons of light guide patrons from the lobby to the restaurant inside the Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center, where the interiors are designed by New York-based Rockwell Group.

The studio founded by designer David Rockwell recently completed the public spaces that include the Metropolis restaurant and adjoining lounge areas within the cube-shaped building, which local architecture studio Rex wrapped in thin marble panels.

Small stage with low lounge seating in front — The lobby of the PAC NYC venue includes a stage for programmed performances

The volume holds three flexible and interchangeable theatres that can be infinitely customised for different performance styles, artistic expressions and viewing experiences.

These are accessed via the elevated lobby level, reached by climbing a grand exterior staircase that draws visitors under the building’s cube form and up through its base.

A bridge with seating behind a translucent marble facade — A bridge behind the building’s translucent marble facade accommodates seating

This dramatic entry sequence culminates at a lobby lounge and restaurant that form a new 9,120-square-foot (847 square metres) “community space” for Lower Manhattan, according to Rockwell.

“The restaurant is intentionally woven throughout the public experience,” he told Dezeen. “There is no hard line between the lobby lounge, restaurant, and terrace, with one space melting into the next.”

Entrance to Metropolis restaurant at PAC NYC — The lobby flows into the Metropolis restaurant, located the other side of angled trusses

The designer’s primary aim was to provide “a celebratory, communal atmosphere; connecting guests, whether you’re the first party there for dinner or the last one there post-show”.

Rockwell’s combined experience in hospitality and performance design – he has won multiple Tony Awards for his Broadway sets – helped him to craft a seamless experience between these connected functions.

LED lights within wooden ribbons across the ceiling — LED lights within wooden ribbons follow pathways and form “nodes” above gathering areas

“Creating a magical journey up into PAC NYC and intertwined with the lobby was a thrilling challenge, especially because the lobby and Metropolis will be host to many free performances on the small stage there,” said the designer.

This stage will feature a varied program of performers who will entertain diners from a carefully placed vantage point, which allows sightlines from all corners of the lobby and restaurant.

The highlighted gathering spaces include the bar

Lounge seating for up to 30 positioned closest to the stage is intentionally low-slung, so as not to obstruct the views for those further away.

A bridge that runs along the inner side of the translucent stone facade holds additional seating, overlooking the grand entry staircase through huge panes of glass.

Dining tables between leather chairs and banquettes — Jewel-toned fabrics and textured surfaces warm the interiors

The Metropolis restaurant is helmed by Swedish-Ethiopian chef Marcus Samuelsson, and serves an elevated, eclectic menu billed as “a love letter to New York City” to both performancegoers and the general public.

Beyond the host stand and the diagonal structural trusses that flank it, the layout is split down the middle, with soft seating arranged on either side of the central axis.

Wide view of Metropolis restaurant — Rockwell Group designed the restaurant and lobby to act as a “communal space” for Lower Manhattan

“The furniture is designed for flexibility and comfort, defined by several smaller areas with lots of seating variety, made up of banquettes and loose furniture and organised around a collection of vintage area rugs,” said Rockwell.

Glowing bands within sapele wood ribbons trace curved shapes across its ceiling, beckoning guests into the space and also highlighting key areas for gathering such as the bar with chandelier-like “nodes” overhead.

Jewel-toned upholstery pairs with rich walnut panelling for a warm and inviting feel, and the fabrics and other textured surfaces soften the polished concrete flooring.

A 70-seat outdoor terrace at the back of the building will also offer al fresco dining during the summer months, visible from the interior through a huge glass wall.

Outdoor dining terrace in front of marble building facade — There’s space for 70 al fresco diners on the outdoor terrace

There’s also a speakeasy-like private dining room for intimate gatherings of up to 16.

PAC NYC is one of the final pieces in the 16-acre World Trade Center redevelopment masterplan, joining skyscrapers by SOM, RSHP, and SANAA, the transit hub and a church by Santiago Calatrava, and a 9/11 Museum by Snøhetta.

Seating on outdoor terrace with New York skyscrapers in the background — Rockwell aimed to create “a celebratory, communal atmosphere” both inside and out

Celebrating its 40th anniversary next year, Rockwell Group has designed interiors for restaurants all over Manhattan, including Zaytinya, Katsuya, Casa Dani and Wayan.

The firm also worked on The Shed venue at Hudson Yards, which also hosts performances along with exhibitions and other events within a highly flexible space beneath a giant “telescoping” cover.

The photography is by Adrian Gaut.

Reference

Interior Design

Gin Design Group completes The Lymbar restaurant in Houston

By Zarkon Group,18/02/2023

Houston-based Gin Design Group has combined various mid-century references at a local restaurant, which celebrates its chef’s family history and is “a tribute to all grandmothers”.

Located at The Ion business centre in Midtown Houston, The Lymbar‘s design was heavily influenced by the upbringing of chef David Cordúa, whose menu is based on Latin-Mediterranean cuisine.

Bar with painted mural by Carissa Marx — The Lymbar’s bar features a mural by Carissa Marx influenced by the colours of the chef’s family home

The 4,000-square-foot (370-square-metre) establishment is named after Lymbar Drive, the street where Cordúa’s grandparents settled in Houston from Nicaragua.

It was designed by Gin Braverman of Gin Design Group, who was the chef’s childhood babysitter.

The Lymbar dining room — Tones used for the plush furniture were taken from the bar mural

“The Lymbar is my grandmother’s house,” Cordúa said. “The house stayed in our family, and it’s where we perfected our family’s hospitality.”

“It’s a tribute to all grandmothers,” he added of the restaurant, which is intended to feel both elevated and cosy, achieved through warm lighting, deep red curtains and plush furnishings.

A life-like tree in the middle of the dining room — Greenery is introduced by a life-like tree in the centre and globe-shaped planters above the bar

“We wanted to capture the bustle of a hotel lobby, the polish of a private club and the hospitality of the Cordúa family in the design,” Braverman said.

“Mixed with a confluence of Latin American, Lebanese and Mediterranean textures and art layered over a backdrop of classic mid-century materials such as warm woods, earthy colors and lush greenery.”

Shelving above banquette seating — The shelving above the banquette seating displays mementos from the chef’s childhood

The colour palette for the interiors was drawn from the Cordúa family home.

Orange, red and olive hues were used as a starting point for a mural painted on the front of the bar by local artist Carissa Marx.

Dining tables and a collage by Vernon Caldera — Artworks in the space in include a collage by Vernon Caldera, while the scalloped floor pattern was hand-painted by Carissa Marx

Influenced by the work of Brazilian modernist Roberto Burle Marx, no relation to Carissa, the mural then informed the tones chosen for the lounge-style furniture.

Marx also hand-painted a black and white scalloped pattern across the concrete floor.

Red velvet curtains and warm lighting evoke the appearance of a hotel lobby

Other nods to mid-century design in the restaurant include the shelving at the main bar, which was inspired by Gio Ponti’s Planchart Villa in Venezuela.

The shelves display a collection of nostalgic objects and mementos from Cordúa’s childhood.

Greenery is introduced through a life-like tree that sits at the centre of the dining area and large globe-shaped planters above the bar created in collaboration with locally based Nicaraguan artist Vernon Caldera and The Flora Culture.

Caldera also helped to curate The Lymbar’s art collection, and one of his collages hangs in the dining room.

Private dining room — A private dining room is decorated entirely in a red-purple shade

The restaurant’s open kitchen is framed by a concrete counter and faceted breeze blocks that incorporate lighting. There’s also a private dining room decorated entirely in a red-purple shade.

Gin Design Group focuses on hospitality interiors primarily in the Houston area. The studio recently completed a barbershop in the Southside Place neighbourhood, which features a radial layout and a hidden cork-like bar.

Other restaurants to open in the city over the past year include cosy Japanese spot Uchiko Houston and lively smokehouse Loro Heights – both designed by Michael Hsu.

The photography is by Leonid Furmansky.

Reference

Architecture

DF Creative Group transforms former heating plant into cultural centre

By Zarkon Group,20/01/2023

Slovakian architecture studio DF Creative Group has converted a former heating plant in Bratislava into a cultural centre, complementing its industrial structure with a series of contemporary additions.

The heritage-listed Jurkovič Heating plant, originally designed in the 1940s by Dušan Jurkovič, was formerly part of the Apollo Refinery.

While the rest of the refinery was demolished, the former heating plant now sits at the centre of the Sky Park Masterplan by Zaha Hadid Architects, which completed its first phase in 2020.

Interior of Jurkovic Heating Plant transformation by DF Creative Group — DF Creative Group transformed the industrial building to contain workspaces

Following an invited competition, DF Creative Group, led by architect Martin Paško, was awarded the project to convert the plant into a space that would combine co-working offices with public exhibition, events and hospitality areas.

Looking to celebrate the original industrial structure of the plant, DF Creative Group approached its retrofit as the creation of distinct contemporary structures within its original, historic shell, organised around the full-height turbine hall at its centre.

Between the vast, exposed concrete volumes of the former hopper heaters, steel-link bridges and glass walls create new routes and lines of sight through the building.

Exterior of Jurkovic Heating Plant transformation by DF Creative Group — The historic exterior was maintained

“The architectural solution uses the void interior space in the boiler room and the turbine hall for the construction of new independent structures, while creating new areas and floors consistently offset from the original building,” explained the practice.

“This concept makes it possible to separate and distinguish historical constructions from new ones, while simultaneously embracing and respecting history and harmony,” it continued.

The ground floor of the building has been reimagined as a “living square”, focused around a skylit atrium that extends the entire height and length of the building.

A restaurant, cafe, contemporary art gallery and multi-functional hall are all organised around the ground floor atrium, in between the existing columns of the original structure.

Above, five floors of co-working spaces occupy a newly-created glass envelope that overlooks the central void, with black steel-link bridges connecting spaces between the large concrete hoppers.

The office interiors have been finished with minimalist, contemporary detailing to create a contrast with the historic backdrop of the plant, with lighting fitted directly to existing trusses or walls and complemented by simple furniture and planting.

“The intervention highlights many historical construction details, including the structure’s original rugged columns and three cominant hoppers,” explained the practice.

“The reconstruction created an original representative space with materials in their original ‘roughness’ and colour,” it continued.

At the top of the building, a roof terrace provides visitors with views out over the newly developed Sky Park, where three new apartment towers by Zaha Hadid Architects sit within a green landscape.

“The new design is a symbol of the former plant, a symbol of Sky Park, and a symbol of the capital, Bratislava, itself,” said the practice.

Exterior of Jurkovic Heating Plant transformation in the Sky Park Masterplan — The project is located within Zaha Hadid Architects Sky Park Masterplan

The project is one of several recent schemes across the world transforming former power plants into new cultural spaces that celebrate their industrial heritage.

In China, ARCity Office adapted the concrete frame of a power plant into a new, glazed community hub, while in the UK, London’s iconic Battersea Power Station recently re-opened following its transformation into shops, offices and apartments.

Reference

Architecture

Vermilion Zhou Design Group Transforms ‘green massage’ into an Alice in Wonderland-Inspired Fantasy Forest

By Zarkon Group,19/11/2022

‘green massage’ Shanghai Madang Road store – Entering ‘green massage’ Madang Road, is like entering the “Rabbit Hole” in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Inspired by the Mad Hatter’s quote “There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery…”, your reality shrinks and shifts as you enter this fantasy forest. The process gradually disconnects your tired body from reality.

Architizer chatted with Creative Director Kuang Ming(Ray) Chou and Lighting Design Director Vera Chu at Vermilion Zhou Design Group to learn more about this project.

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

Kuang Ming(Ray) Chou & Vera Chu: Massage services are very common in China, but the experience space always looks similar. We tried to jump from the typical oriental design and based on the brand thinking, with a new way to give the consumer a different atmosphere to experience massage service in every “green massage” space. In the end, to relax and treat every tired body and soul.

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

“green massage” is a chain brand based in Shanghai that has many experience spaces, some being very close to each other. The client’s demand was to keep the same brand DNA and exploring new customers.

“green massage” Madang Road is located in “THE ROOF”, the architecture was designed by Jean Nouvel, and the architecture attracts many people who visit. But “green massage” is on the second underground floor, we have to stand out to attract consumers. That’s why we create the “rabbit hole” entrance. “Curiosity”, and “exploratory” to the new consumers, also a freshness to members.

What drove the selection of materials used in the project?

“green massage” is on the second underground floor so the humidity is a problem, and also fire prevention is what we are concerned about. And we still want guests to feel relaxed in the whole environment, so the material must be the sense of soft, even visual.

What is your favorite detail in the project and why?

The rippling shape of the ceiling in the reception area, which seems the story’s preface, leads people to enter the story.

In what ways did you collaborate with others, and were there any team members or skills that were essential in bringing this Award winning project to life?

We intend to create a fantasy space based on our concept, so we choose “Nan Paper Art” as our collaborator. The paper material gives a soft sense that can fit our design and also can be malleable to make a huge size floral garden.

And this is the first time that their creations added lighting design, for them that’s a new inspiration, and for us is a great experience to enrich the whole design.

Were any parts of the project dramatically altered from conception to construction, and if so, why?

Even though not everything is so satisfactory from conception to construction, embracing change and figuring out the solution is the designer’s mission. Finally, we are so lucky to have good results.

How have your clients responded to the finished project?

In the beginning, the client has their concern, but eventually, they trust our profession. The result shows the consumers, the actual space users had very good feedback and increased the business.

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

We have to believe what we do, dig into who is the actual user in every space then provide their actual need.

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

The design concept is the matter, every design is a new breakthrough, to observe, find out the key problem then solve them. The lighting design in this project was involved in the very early design phase, and it become the key design tone.

Team Members

Creative Director｜Kuang Ming(Ray) Chou, Interior Design｜Garvin Hung, Yue Hu, Reykia Feng, Chang Song Li, Yu Xuan Li, Ming Rui Gao, Lighting Design｜Vera Chu, Chia Huang Liao, FF&E Design｜Wan Lu Yang, Video｜Ming Shi, Ting Ho, Photographer｜Yunpu Cai,

Consultants

Nan Paper Art

For more on ‘green massage’ Shanghai Madang Road store, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

‘green massage’ Shanghai Madang Road store Gallery

Reference

Interior Design

YOD Group designs Terra restaurant interior to “mirror its surroundings”

By Zarkon Group,04/11/2022

Ukrainian design studio YOD Group dressed this restaurant interior in Vynnyky with terracotta tiles and slabs of green glass to reflect the earthy landscape outside.

Called Terra, the eatery features a colour and material palette that takes cues from the rolling hills and a lake that border the restaurant. It was completed in February 2022, just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Terra restaurant — YOD Group designed Terra’s interior to reflect the landscape outside

YOD Group created the interior across a single hall, which features clusters of plush, low-slung armchairs and sofas arranged around both meandering and rectilinear dark wooden tables.

These seating areas are interrupted only by large rounded columns clad in glass bricks, which are illuminated from the inside to create a watery green glow designed to echo the nearby lake.

Terracotta tile column — Waiter stations are clad in terracotta tiles

The largest of these columns houses a curved wine cellar within an internal spiral staircase, while the transparent glass reveals the ghostly silhouettes of stored wine bottles.

Textured terracotta tiles make up rounded waiter stations, which were designed to mirror the earthiness of the restaurant’s exterior setting.

The stations also nod to the Ukrainian tradition of covering furnaces and fireplaces with tiles, according to YOD Group.

Curved wine cellar by YOD Group — A curved wine cellar includes an internal staircase

“We aimed to extract colours, textures and impressions from the landscape to translate them into the interior design language,” explained the studio.

“Like the eyedropper tool in Photoshop, but on a real-life scale, we designed the space to mirror its surroundings.”

Another wall is covered in adjustable copper-hued glass slabs that feature decorative markings made by imprinting local grasses on their surfaces.

The moveable wall is intended as a metaphor to symbolise the way reeds sway in the wind, said YOD Group.

“Guests can not only touch the glass slabs but also interact with them and change the pattern on the wall, becoming co-creators of the design.”

Copper-hued glass slabs can be moved across a large wall

Bouquets of pampas grass are interspersed throughout the interior, in a nod to the restaurant’s lakeside terrace where visitors can dine outside.

Terra is shortlisted in the restaurant and bar interior category of the 2022 Dezeen Awards, which announces its winners later this month.

Last year, the category’s winning eatery was another restaurant in Ukraine – Yakusha Design’s Istetyka in Kyiv, which has an interior characterised by rough concrete, polished stone and smooth steel.

YOD Group also designed a coffee shop in Ukraine’s capital that features pixel-like mosaics in a hole-in-the-wall-style bar.

The photography is by Yevhenii Avramenko.

Reference

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