Materials Study

Eight firms expose the nuts and bolts behind their projects

Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 3/1/2005 12:00:00 AM

Lewis Tsurumaki Lewis

Xing restaurant, New York

For this project, we made a custom box that embraces the selected materials and relates to the architecture. It reflects both the fabrication of the built space—the steel frame mirrors the steel structure of the acrylic doors—and the progression through the space, starting with the durable materials near the street entrance to the softer materials used in the restaurant's back rooms. The materials are surface and substance, with the box juxtaposing gravity and weight against light and transparency.

Smith Group

Shark Lagoon at Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California

Our goal was to create an island-themed environment without resorting to fake shipwrecks or tropical huts with thatched roofs. We began by identifying the zones and materials of an island and its landscape—forest, beach, tide pools, rocks, and the open ocean. The technical challenge was shading the tanks to protect the sharks from the sun. In the wild they escape by diving deeper, not an option in a shallow tank. Shade also saves energy as it keeps the water cool. There were only two suppliers in the world that met our criteria and budget.

Envision

Aveda, Washington, D.C.

Many manufacturers are willing to work with designers for more eco-friendly products. For example, we asked Objectile to make their cut wood panels out of Forest Stewardship Council–certified wood, which is not a standard, and they have been most accommodating. We also asked 3Form to have their plastic-panel material made from a minimum of 40 percent recycled plastic, which they will do upon request. Hopefully this will lead to more green-product options for other designers in the future.

Pugh+Scarpa Architecture

Davie-Brown Entertainment showroom, Los Angeles

One of our design goals is to reveal the extraordinary from within the ordinary. This is done by using materials with a history as something other than a building material. For the showroom, we employed shrink-wrap technologies and nylon fabrics. We built changing-room models not only to understand the physical form of a space but also to determine how certain materials will respond to the form.

Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz

A hotel, Vieques, Puerto Rico

The materials, inspired by the natural Puerto Rican surroundings, bring the outside in. A custom sequined material on the ceiling fixtures provides movement and sparkle, like light dancing off the sea. The terrazzo flooring and custom colored concrete matches the local sand, allowing the exterior to flow seamlessly into the space. The chairs are both reductive and sublime—they have a modest beauty. The onyx, placed atop lighted acrylic cube tables, is magical.

Specht Harpman

Offices for Focus Features and Oasis Advertising, New York

We love to infuse a design with elements that are outside the architectural and interiors world; they expand a project's range of material and textural possibilities. Items such as old button molds or truck parts break up the insular quality of a fully designed space. We collect such industrial supplies from all over, including the streets of New York, and wait for the right application in which to use them. We also have catalogs in our office from companies that provide everything from sailboat fittings to taxidermy supplies.

Roderick N. Shade

Residence, New York

A certain aesthetic tension arises when the hand-wrought and earthy is contrasted with the highly stylized and polished. It keeps the eye and intellect interested in a room. I love these differences—my work harmonizes them.

Alison Spear, AIA

Residential bathroom, Miami

My inspiration was the TWA terminal by Eero Saarinen at John F. Kennedy International Airport—I've always been intrigued by its organic forms. For this project, an experimental bathroom, it was interesting to extrapolate the precedence of a public space and apply it to an intimate one.

Labworks Sources

Lewis Tsurumaki Lewis

1. Ipéby Rosenzweig Lumber. circle 348 801 East 135th Street, Bronx, NY 10454; 718-585-8050; rosenzweig lumber.com.

2. Inca Grey stone with Scarpaletta finish by Design Supply Stone Source. circle 349 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010; 212- 979-6400; stonesource.com.

3. Acrylic strips 2111 in fluorescent green and blue by GE Polymershapes. circle 350 9930 Kincey Avenue, Huntersville, NC 28078; 800-333-0534; ge.com.

4. Bamboo floor by Teragren. circle 351 12715 Miller Road Northeast, Suite 301, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; 800-929-6333; teragren.com.

5. Pietra Bedonia with honed finish by Design Supply Stone Source. circle 352 As above.

6. Sandblasted acrylic by GE Polymershapes. circle 353 As above.

7. Stainless steel.

8. Mohair velvet 7400 wool in Ruby by Donghia. circle 354 485 Broadway, New York, NY 10013; 212-925-2777; donghia.com.

9. Black-lacquer plywood.

Smith Group

1. Custom solid-bamboo fencing by Safari Thatch &Bamboo. circle 355 2056 North Dixie Highway, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33305; 954-564-0059; safarithatch.com.

2. Duracane acrylic-impregnated-vinyl bamboo poles by Safari Thatch &Bamboo. circle 356 As above.

3. Polyester in Suncast Blue by Canvas Specialty. circle 357 7344 East Bandini Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90040; 323-723-8311; can-spec.com.

4. GFRC Long Last synthetic stone by Larson Themed Construction. circle 358 5212 North Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson, AZ 85750; 800-527-7668; larson-usa.com.

5. Saf Dek floor by Pathway Surfaces. circle 359 15556 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70810; 800-232-7766; safdek.com.

6. GFRC Long Last rock panel in brown by Larson Themed Construction. circle 360 As above.

7. GFRC Long Last stone panel in gray by Larson Themed Construction. circle 361 As above.

8. Synthetic shark by Larson Themed Construction. circle 362 As above.

Envision

1. Antique American Chestnut by Mountain Lumber Company. circle 363 P.O. Box 289, Ruckersville, VA; 800-445-2671; mountainlumber.com.

2. Wide Angle K223/3 recycled polyester in Dots by Knoll. circle 364 76 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011; 800-343-5665; knoll.com.

3. Vellutopelle 587 blue leather by Spinneybeck. circle 365 425 Cross Point Parkway, Suite 100, Getzville, NY 14068; 800-482-7777; spinneybeck.com.

4. Milestone recycled polyester-polyester blend in 037 by Maharam. circle 366 251 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010; 800-645-3943; maharam.com.

5. Sequenza Trevira CS in 302 by Création Baumann. circle 367 114 North Centre Avenue, Rockville Centre, New York 11570; 516-764-7431; creationbaumann.com.

6. Extreme Velvet K679/13 Trevira CS polyester in Tidal Wave by Knoll. circle 368 As above.

7. Connection Points broadloom from the Visio collection by Lees Carpet. circle 369 500 Town Park Lane, Kennesaw, GA 30144; 800 523-5647; leescarpets.com.

8. Eco-Series ceramic tile in Pearl White by Dal Tile. circle 370 7834 Hawn Freeway, Dallas, TX 75217; 214-398-1411; daltile.com.

9. Eco-Series ceramic tile in Kiwi by Dal Tile. circle 371 As above.

10. Eco-Series ceramic tile in Chocolate by Dal Tile. circle 372 As above.

11. Objectile Diffused Panel in Natural by Cor-Products. circle 373 20 Standish Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052; 973-731-9292; corproducts.com.

12. Origins 505 in Cool Splash by Yemm &Hart. circle 374 1417 Madison 308, Marquand, MO 63655; 573-783-5434; yemmhart.com.

13. Pure Crush with patent front and back by 3Form. circle 375 South 2300 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, UT 84119; 800-726-0126; 3-form.com.

14. Step 2 in white with front and back patina by 3Form. circle 376 As above.

15. Starting Ground broadloom from the Visio collection by Lees. circle 377 As above.

Pugh+Scarpa Architecture

1. Sundance 9946 Silversmith/BR5-36 exposed fastener panels in corrugated metal by Centria Architectural Systems. circle 378 1005 Beaver Grade Road, Moon Township, PA 15108; 800-759-7474; centria.com.

2. Bent-steel changing-room model by Hype Arc. circle 379 141 Nevada Street, El Segundo, CA 90245; 310-333-0898; hypearc.

3. K3-8465 Sky Glass by Avonite. circle 380 1945 South Highway 304, Belen, NM 87002; 800-245-6028; avonite.com.

4. Recycled natural-cotton jean fabric used for insulation by Ultra-Touch. circle 381 411 East Ray Road, Chandler, AZ 85225; 480-812-9114; bondedlogic.com.

5. Stacked plywood changing-room model by Pugh + Scarpa.

6. Fern-green Lithochrome concrete stain by L.M. Scofield Co. circle 382 6533 Bandini Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90040; 800-800-9900; scofield.com.

7. Seafoam and aqua lightning Spandex by Rose Brand. circle 383 75 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10011; 800-223-1624; rosebrand.com.

8. Sequentia corrugated panel in clear by Kemlite. circle 384 P.O. Box 2429, Joliet, IL 60434; 800-435-0080; kemlite.com.

Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz

1. Silhouette series Lucite dining chair by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz. circle 385 75 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012; 212-343-9709; bnodesign.com.

2. Roxy vinyl in Milk by Larsen. circle 386 111 Eighth Avenue, Suite 930, New York, NY 10011; 212-647-6900.

3. White Satin by Benjamin Moore & Co. circle 387 51 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ 07645; 201-573-9600; benjaminmoore.com.

4. Sequined textile by And Bob's Your Uncle. circle 388 511 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001; 212-627-7702; andbobsyouruncle.com.

5. Vieques seashells and sand.

6. Serengeti acrylic in Okapi by Donghia. circle 389 485 Broadway, New York, NY 10013; 212-925-2777; donghia.com.

7. Pinata Sunbrella acrylic in Azucar by Donghia. circle 390 As above.

8. Cement 05 by Custom Cement Studio. circle 391 1 Charles Street, West Orange, NJ 07052; 973-731-7585.

9. Terrazzo tile L0605 7136G by Bisazza. circle 392 3540 Northwest 72nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33122; 305-597-4099; bisazzausa.com.

10. White onyx from Worldwide Stone. circle 393 234 Banker Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222; 718-389-8360; worldwidestone.com.

11. Acrylic.

Specht Harpman

1. Paint samples, Florida Key Blue, Salmon Stream, Shadow Grey, and Deep Space, by Benjamin Moore &Co. circle 394 51 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, NJ 07645; 201-573-9600; benjaminmoore.com.

2. Air filters by Hastings. circle 395 P.O. Box 6006, Kearney, NE 68848; 800-887-8836; hastingsfilter.com.

3. Clear plastic mailing tube.

4. Prefinished maple plywood.

5. Derrytown 185 cotton-rayon blend in Lawn by Unika Vaev. circle 396 607 Norwich Avenue, Taftville, CT 06380; 800-237-1625; unikavaev.com.

6. Carpet tile in gray-brown by Interface. circle 397 1503 Orchard Hill Road, LaGrange, GA 30240; 800-336-0225; interfaceinc.com.

7. Ipo Cork unwaxed cork sheet by Wicanders. circle 398 586 Bogert Road, River Edge, NJ 07661; 877-312-1462; wicanders.com.

8. Woven Marrakech by Formica. circle 399 10155 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241; 513-786-3400; formica.com.

9. No-nonsense Yellow by Benjamin Moore & Co. circle 401 As above.

10. Workrite anti-fatigue rubber mat by Northern Safety. circle 400 P.O. Box 4250, Utica, NY 13504; 800-631-1246; northernsafety.com.

Roderick N. Shade

1. Celestial Mylar wallpaper in champagne/gold by Yangki. circle 402 1026 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117; 415-626-5009; yangki.com.

2. Kuba Print 2643320 cotton-jute in Ebony by Decorators Walk. circle 403 Through F. Schumacher, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, 800-332-3384; fschumacher.com.

3. Casablanca chenille cotton in ebony by Decorators Walk. circle 404 As above.

4. Vine Linen Print linen-cotton blend in ebony by Decorators Walk. circle 405 As above.

5. Mud Cloth acrylic-cotton blend in ebony by Decorators Walk. circle 406 As above.

6. White goatskin rug by Patterson, Flynn &Martin. circle 407 979 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022; 212-688-7700; fshcumacher.com.

7. Designer's own 19th-century sconce.

8. Ithononxpi 12 honey onyx with polished finish by Artistic Tile. circle 408 79 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003; 877-528-5395; artistictile.com.

9. Travertine Noce Barbieri Framenti border by Artistic Tile. circle 409 As above.

10. Mazzanine Mink Opera Glass in glossy by Artistic Tile. circle 410 As above.

Alison Spear, AIA

1. Plain sliced teak veneer with clear satin finish by R.S. Bacon Veneer. circle 411 6951 High Grove Boulevard, Burr Ridge, IL 60527; 800-443-7995; baconveneer.com.

2. Cirque with super-matte finish by 3Form. circle 412 South 2300 West, Suite B, Salt Lake City, UT 84119; 800-726-0126; 3-form.com.

3. Rubber resin in Mediterranean blue by Robin Reigi Art &Objects. circle 413 48 West 21st Street, Suite 1002, New York, NY 10010; 212-924-5558; robin-reigi.com.

4. Corro Mezzo in white with self texture by 3Form. circle 414 As above.

5. Glacier White Corian by DuPont. circle 415 800-426-7426; corian.com.

6. E Mote automatic faucet in polished chrome by Dornbracht. circle 416 1700 Executive Drive South, Suite 600, Duluth, GA 30096; 800-899-8527; dornbracht.com.