Studio a+i

AIDS Memorial Park, 1st prize

2012-01-30T09:47:05+00:00

THE MEMORIAL
The act of memorializing the AIDS epidemic with a physical gesture goes beyond remembering and honoring the dead. AIDS is not a war, nor a disease conquered. There are no definite dates or victims. In our design process, we emphasize the changing and varied ways through which AIDS affects us personally and as a society. It is important to create a space that conveys our sense of solemn respect, remembrance and loss, without resorting to symbolism around a date, image, or names.

THE PARK INSIDE
An infinite forest, generated by having 3 facing mirror walls along each side of the triangular block, defines the park and the memorial. There are no separate statues, sculptures or plaques. The memorial lives within the infinite reflection of the white birch trees. We hope this park will be all things to all people: the children playing in the bounds of the mirrored forest, the weary commuter seeking a respite in the midst of the city and those visitors coming in memory of their loss.

THE IN-BETWEEN CENTER
The walls isolating the park from the city act as light wells and access to the Learning Center below. By bringing sunlight into the basement via skylights, the raw utilitarian space can be transformed into a welcoming and open area for exhibition, learning and performance. The walls also taper in width, housing stairs and ramps. The main entrance is located along Seventh Avenue, continuing the now lost storefront and bringing pedestrian activity to the street through the inclusion of a bookstore and café.

THE OUTSIDE
Along the sidewalks, three walls clad in slate create a forum for the voice of many. Through an ephemeral nod to the chain link fence at Greenwich and 11th Street, visitors are able to give life to the stone walls through messages and images written in chalk, creating an ever-changing mural which is refreshed with every rain.

Malabia Condominium

2012-01-16T11:28:43+00:00

This development re-investigates the urban space of the typical Buenos Aires block and in the process of design, created a new building typology that takes the row-house that opens to the street and inverted it. The increased density in half the lot allows an inner-street, turning the focus away from the busy street into a private interior corridor. The design also nestles smaller units into the forms of larger one, creating open larger living areas with soaring ceiling, while still maximizing building area.

Ash flagship store Soho

2011-05-19T20:09:08+00:00

2,300 square foot retail space in the heart of New York City’s fashion forward Soho neighborhood will reflect the glamour, edginess and originality of the shoes and accessories that are always at the base of the philosophy of the brand. With high ceilings, plaster walls and a mix of wood and metal displays and furniture, the New York flagship store’s modern, architectural design allows customers to focus on the product.

Renderings: by-encore

SG House

2010-12-01T22:28:46+00:00

Completed in late 2010, this corner terrace house was demolished to the structural elements and extensively renovated. The entire bulk of the existing footprint was cladded with wood louvers to provide privacy, shading and to minimize the visual chaos of the existing structure. A back extension is marked by a solid form with round windows. The project also allows for large parts of the living area to be completely open to the elements to make full use of the year-round summer weather of Singapore.

VPL

2010-10-18T10:35:05+00:00

VPL’s very first flagship store consists of a 800sf retail space inspired by a 1920’s gymnasium. With the use of hanging manila ropes, stretch bars and exercise rings, the space has a playful spirit with a vintage feel mixed in with some modern elements like the plywood lightbox signage and the Donald Judd inspired cashwrap table. The remaining 1000sf is split into an office space and a showroom in the back.

Photos by Timo Kuhn

Zadig & Voltaire Soho

2010-06-16T22:58:36+00:00

This is our second project working with the French high end casual wear brand Zadig & Voltaire. The new store, that opened in June 2010, is their second New York store located in the heart of SoHo on Mercer Street.

The store design consists of Zadig & Voltaire’s signature style, featuring series of polished white lacquer millwork display units and collages of graphic images, within a raw New York loft style backdrop with exposed brick perimeter walls, exposed ductwork and track lighting.

West Village Residence

2010-05-12T20:15:41+00:00

This is a thorough renovation of a loft space in the West Village. The 2200 sf space was completely gutted and redesigned with a contemporary feel. The living/dining/kitchen area which occupy half of the floor plan was designed with exposed brick walls and wood structure in an open plan layout to keep with the loft living concept. The rest of the apartment in the private quarters was designed with materials and colors unique to each rooms. Each rooms have extensive built in millwork for various storage needs to preserve the modern minimalist look.

Stephen Talasnik’s Stream

2010-05-12T20:00:06+00:00

Stephen Talasnik’s Stream: A Folded Drawing, commissioned by Storm King Art Center on the occasion of it’s 50th anniversary. A site-specific construction consisting of about 3,000 bamboo poles tied together to form a monumental yet delicate structure some 12 feet high by 90 feet long, which appears to be rolling down the hill on which it is sited. studio a+i in collaboration with Structural Engineer Carlos Soubie provided constructability services.

Photo 1 from stormking.org

Steven Alan Flagship Store

2010-04-14T20:10:39+00:00

This renovation for the Steven Alan Flagship store in New York gives a facelift to a well loved shopping destination in the TriBeCa neighborhood. The design balances the “found-objects” with selected new, clean displays, all within the context of a flexible retail space with distinct designer wares.

Zadig & Voltaire Meatpacking

2009-10-06T19:54:27+00:00

This is the first store in New York for the frenchy and arty brand Zadig & Voltaire. This high-end store keeping with the design philosophy of all the other ZV stores worldwide is a perfect white box with the feel of an art gallery. All custom millwork, large display areas and oversized center table covered by floating mirror box ceiling are the main features of the design.