Interior Design Announces 2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2008 inductees include Steven Harris, Lucien Rees Roberts, Gwynne Pugh, Lawrence Scarpa, Takashi Sugimoto, and Erwin Hauer.

Laurel Petriello -- Interior Design, 11/17/2008

As December approaches, Interior Design magazine is poised to induct six new members of the design community into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees, chosen after careful consideration, include the following designers who have displayed continued excellence in their careers: Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts of Steven Harris Architects and Rees Roberts + Partners; Gwynne Pugh & Lawrence Scarpa of Pugh + Scarpa Architecture; Takashi Sugimoto of Super Potato; and Erwin Hauer of Erwin Hauer Studios.

Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts, co-partners of Steven Harris Architects and Rees Roberts + Partners (their interior and landscape division), completed their first project together in 1988: a Florida guesthouse with Juan Gris-inspired, violin-shaped swimming pool. Today their New York-based, full-service firm works extensively in the residential and hospitality markets designing private homes, condominiums, and resorts across the globe.

 
Steven Harris and Lucien Rees Roberts; Photography by Lisa Hancock.

Gwynne Pugh and Lawrence Scarpa launched Pugh + Scarpa in 1991, opening their first office in a renovated Santa Monica creamery. Making the most of their location, the pair got their start in the entertainment industry designing offices for studio production companies in the Los Angeles area. Their credits include Reactor Films, Dektor Films, and Click 3X LA, among other residential, institutional, and mixed-use projects.

 
Lawrence Scarpa and Gwynne Pugh; Photography by Luke Wooden.

Takashi Sugimoto is the founder and principal of Tokyo-based Super Potato, often noted as Japan’s first commercial interior design firm. Thoughtful about the design of each of project, Sugimoto carefully considers the creation of every environment and the communication that will flow within it, as well as the incorporation of natural elements. Super Potato clients include commercial, retail, and hospitality.


Takashi Sugimoto; Photography by Yoshio Shiratori.

Erwin Hauer, this year’s Hall of Fame Special Award winner, is an architectural sculptor and founder of Erwin Hauer Studios. Born in Vienna in 1926, Hauer’s career began post-war after receiving a Fulbright grant to study sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1957, he was awarded a position at Yale University where he taught for 33 years while simultaneously designing architectural installations for commercial properties around the world. Today, Hauer continues to craft with business partner and former student, Enrique Rosado.


Erwin Hauer; Photography by John T. Hill.

This year’s 2008 Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a black tie affair hosted by Interior Design at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on December 3. The event is graciously sponsored by Kohler Interiors, Artistic Tile, Coverings, Crossville, Edelman Leather, Elkay, Interiors from Spain, Mannington, NYDC, and Ultron. Tickets for the dinner are $600, and proceeds benefit the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (former known as FIDER). To purchase seats or tables, please contact Regina Freedman.