A recently remodeled office building in New York City’s Financial District features a lobby-turned-oasis, utilizing the space for various gathering and co-working activities. Two creatives not only revitalized the public section at the entrance, but transformed it into a respite for tenants.
As employees head back to the office, they want areas that help foster a sense of calm after the chaos of the COVID era. “The lobby is the first experience a person has after being stuck at home and working remotely for the past two years. So, we really wanted it to be inviting, but also serene,” said Laetitia Gorra, co-founder of ROARKE Design Studio.
As the former head of interior design for the women-focused co-working space collective, the Wing, Gorra designed 13 10,000-square-foot commercial spaces around the world in under three years. This invaluable experience made her uniquely qualified for the project, which is located at 100 Pearl Street. “I have always juxtaposed functionality with inspiration, and here I wanted to go beyond the typical corporate lobby and create something a little more special.”
Gorra previously collaborated with designer Katrien Van Der Schueren, CEO of Voila! Creative Studio, conceptualizing and fabricating custom furniture and art for the Wing, and she was eager to work with her again.
Van Der Schueren wanted to bring nature indoors, with an emphasis on greenery and organic materials. “I envisioned a magical garden, a setting where people could relax.” Existing elements served as inspiration. “The light fixture above the seating area and the green wall were already in place, and they became the basis for the shapes,” she said.
The pair conceptualized a showpiece for the lobby called the Amoeba banquette. Named after the organism which has the ability to alter its shape, and characterized by flowing movements, this artistic version is made of Venetian plaster, with a mirrored top that reflects the natural light streaming into the space.
For Gorra, it was the perfect complement to what was available. “We worked off of the existing raw material palette, the concrete and wood. Then we added in vinyl and velvet to create an ideal mix of hard and soft.”
Gorra and Van Der Schueren decided that unique planters would enliven the lobby area. But rather than have a vertical orientation, they were designed off-kilter, with tilted components. “These planters double as sculptures, and tie in with the garden element. They also kind of play with the idea of balance, which you need at work as a way to control stress,” Van Der Schueren noted.
Gorra added that the pieces have an equilibrium that people are seeking now. “It was interesting to create these planters that look like totems. They seem to be falling over, yet actually have this symmetry. They echo what we all went through during the pandemic, and it makes sense when you look at them.”
Van Der Schueren’s team fabricated the vessels using a concrete clay made from waste, and the wood of the Empress Splendor tree, sourced via her partnership with World Tree. The organization develops forestry projects for the purpose of native forest protection, renewable timber production, and carbon sequestration. The group and material make a positive impact. “This specific tree absorbs 30% more carbon, so it’s very environmentally friendly.”
Gorra was quick to approve the choice once she learned about World Tree’s mission. “Katrien and I are both passionate about bringing sustainability into the interior design world. There is a tremendous amount of waste that goes into our landfills. We have seen the furniture being thrown away when offices are cleared out or spaces that we have done are torn up. It was a logical direction for us, and it just felt good to use this incredibly sustainable wood.”
Gorra wants to ensure comfort in any interior that she designs. “It just comes naturally to me to incorporate a variety of seating to suit different people. And it is often an afterthought when a designer is working on a lobby. They tend to select one chair and repeat it. I want to provide as many options as I can.”
Gorra is working on the design and amenities for the rooftop of the building, which is on track to be completed in the fall. Pleased with the progress so far, she said her design is about bringing people together. “It’s a lobby, it’s a space to work in, and it’s a place for community. It feels like an elevated extension of the home, and I think that’s really important moving forward.”