Tarkett Launches NYC Atelier
Co-Creation Workspace Designed by Huntsman Architectural Group
Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, launches the Tarkett Atelier in New York City at 440 Park Avenue South, adjacent to one of the main design districts on Madison Avenue.
Designed by Huntsman Architectural Group, this 10,000 sf space will be a sophisticated, co-creation workspace and a source of inspiration for the A&D community. The modular Atelier will be functional, inspire collaboration and creativity, and encourage the design community to visit the space and use it as a destination for hosting events and presentations. Through a partnership with trend studio Edelkoort Inc., the space will also be a destination for a series of curated exhibits. With a larger footprint in NYC, the Atelier offers the opportunity to experience all Tarkett solutions in one space and will house a variety of flooring platforms, including LVT, Broadloom, Modular Carpet, Powerbond, Rubber, Lino, VET, SVT and Vinyl Sheet.
“We listened to the NYC A&D community about what they wanted out of a space,” said Chris Stulpin, chief creative officer for Tarkett North America. “They wanted a space where they could be inspired and perhaps learn something (Edelkoort revolving exhibits), they wanted a space where they could work and lay out projects (co-working area), they wanted a space to socialize (communal dining table, open kitchen and staircase), that was really flexible (mobile conference rooms), and they wanted a space where they could easily interact with our brand (accessible samples—help yourself). All these considerations were embedded into the design for our customers’ experience. You can come to our space to work, play, meetup and be inspired.”
Tarkett will celebrate the grand opening of its New York Atelier on October 30th with an invitation-only panel discussion called Circular by Design, curated by trend studio Edelkoort Inc. and featuring Jessica Schreiber of Fabscrap, Dhruv Raina of Tarkett and designers Suzanne Tick and Zero Waste Daniel, moderated by trend analyst Philip Fimmano of Edelkoort.
As in all industries, the interior design sector is in a period of change, responding to the ecological challenges of our times by seeking more conscious strategies and the production of less waste. As a worldwide leader of innovative and sustainable flooring, Tarkett is committed to addressing these issues and has invited three New York-based designers to discuss circular systems within their practice. The panelists will talk about what we can do with waste – from the fashion, interior and textile industries and beyond. Multiple ideas emerge as examples to live and design by, instigating change and inspiring creativity one scrap at a time.
THE DESIGN
Huntsman Architectural Group was tasked with creating a space to highlight Tarkett’s focus on design collaborations and the maker community, and also integrate a variety of customizable “zones” denoted by floor color and product, color temperature tunable lighting fixtures, textural drapery and access to natural light. The resulting design is a timeless space that offers unique moments and lasting experiences, highlighted by a range of Tarkett innovations for all projects.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Tarkett by pushing the envelope of what is expected in a product showroom. We sought to tell Tarkett’s authentic brand story in fun and unexpected ways within a welcoming environment that supports the creativity of its users,” states Sandra Tripp, IIDA LEED AP, Principal | Managing Director, Huntsman Architectural Group.
Upon exiting the elevator on the 2nd floor, the tone, inspired by the energy of NYC, is exemplified by a large neon light that says “Let’s Dance” from Let There Be Neon. Visitors are encouraged to come into the space and enter any of the many areas that are given the names of dance moves. Guests can sashay to an office called The Floss, a phone room called The Hustle, a meeting room called Hip Hop, the IT Room called The Robot and the Workstations featuring various names such as Lindy Hop, Jive, Salsa, Rumba, Tango, Jitterbug, Swing and Cat Daddy.
ZONES
Furniture and lighting throughout the Atelier help define each space and offer comfortable seating areas and easy flow to the workspace. The majority of the products used are contract products combined with a few locally sourced pieces.
Entryway: The entrance is home to the concierge desk, and is designated by an eye- catching pattern of black flooring in various platforms (LVT, Rubber, Lino, Modular tile, Powerbond®, Vinyl Sheet, VET) and XAL direct suspended linear lights in an impactful runway design.
Theater: The entry runway leads visitors straight to the theater with stadium-style seating covered in a variety of Tarkett products. The theater will be used for presentations, events and casual meetings.
Co-Working Space: A long table made up of 10 trapezoid-shaped work surfaces and colorful Fan seating (both from Inscape) define an area where visitors may drop in to work and get creative with Tarkett samples.
Conference Area: Framed by dual-layer sheer curtains from Wolf Gordon, this modular space can be made larger or smaller, based on whether the walls are open or closed for privacy. It features Tatami System flooring, tables from OFS and chairs from Davis.
Lino Lounge: Framed by a large wall made of Lino that says “Move”, the Lino Lounge is a relaxing space adjacent to the Shh! phone room. It features Geiger Crosshatch Chairs, Uhuru’s Stoolen table and Foscarini decorative pendants.
Exhibition Space: A flexible space designed to host special events and design installations, the exhibition space is large enough to lay out floor samples for new projects. It is adjacent to the Conference Room for more space as needed and features Finelite tunable white suspended linear lights, Wolf Gordon sheer drapery fabric, steel rod Circuit chair from TJ O’Keefe and custom CYL table made with Tarkett’s Lino from local maker, Slash Objects.
Sampling Area: The samples library is easily accessible and features Tarkett flooring of all commercial styles, the Bahn Work Island from Watson and ANDlight Button Pendants.
Shh! Room: This soundproof phone room features Vibia lighting, Geiger Wingback Chairs, Swell wall panels from DFB and Woven flooring.
Café: An open kitchen with counter seating is perfect for socializing and has Color Play LVT on the floor, Wever & Ducre decorative pendants and Fabricoil metal mesh drapery.
LOCAL ARTISAN: SLASH OBJECTS
Office Space: Workstations from Teknion are featured in an open workspace for Tarkett staff, and include Turf Design Acoustic Baffles and Nulite Sero suspended linear fixtures. Sit/stand desks were chosen to promote health, wellness and ergonomics for people working in the space.
Huntsman tapped local design talent Arielle Assouline-Lichten of Slash Objects to create a custom piece that takes flooring to a new level. Slash Objects is an exploration of material and juxtaposition in furniture and objects – by pairing unexpected materials together to create beautiful and functional pieces.
“The CYL tables that we create are about the fusion of materials. By casting concrete together with brass and the Tarkett flooring that we used for this piece, the table showcases the materiality at work, and plays with the textures that exist next to one another. We paired LinoFloor in Veneto Grizzled with our natural concrete surface finish of the CYL table, and cast it together with our signature brass inlay. The material uses a sustainable recipe that is in line with our ethos to elevate sustainable building materials in this new way! This is our first time working with linoleum, and this material proved to work really well with our technique for casting and creating the piece,” says Arielle Assouline-Lichten from Slash Objects.
Arielle continues, “Our original Rubber CYL tables use recycled rubber flooring so while this is not the first time we are using flooring, it is an extension of our vision that these materials can be used in more ways than one. Part of the beauty of these pieces is that it takes the durability of the material that is built for longevity, and applies that to a new type of surface and use case. Working with Tarkett’s Lino opened a new avenue for bringing sustainable building products to life in another type of life cycle.”
More information about all of Tarkett’s products can be found at www.tarkettna.com.
About Tarkett
With a history stretching back 135 years, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative flooring and sports surface solutions, with net sales of more than €2.8 billion in 2018. Offering a wide range of products, including vinyl, linoleum, rubber, carpet, wood, laminate, artificial turf and athletic tracks, the Group serves customers in over 100 countries across the globe. Tarkett has 13,000 employees and 36 industrial sites and sells 1.3 million square meters of flooring every day, for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields. Committed to “Doing Good—Together,” the Group has implemented an eco-innovation strategy that is based on Cradle to Cradle principles and promotes a circular economy, with the ultimate goal of contributing to people’s health and wellbeing, and preserving natural capital. Tarkett is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A, ISIN: FR0004188670, ticker: TKTT) and is included in the following indices: SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60 www.tarkett.com.
