The Citizenry Bunkhouse

The Citizenry, a socially conscious home décor brand that partners with artisans from across the globe, just opened their holiday pop-up shop on Bleecker Street in the West Village. The curated collection of handcrafted items includes bedding, pillows, chairs, vases, and throws that are not only beautifully made, but help support the more than 2,100 artisans the brand works with worldwide.

Co-founders Carly Nance and Rachel Bentley travel from country to country to invest in various artisan communities—spawning beautiful collections from each namesake country. As Bentley says “Less than 1% of the world’s textiles are produced in fair trade conditions—22 million people work in this harsh reality every day. The Citizenry is committed to creating handcrafted home goods with new standards for quality, transparency, and social responsibility.”

What results is guilt-free shopping and unique items made with materials local to each community. Who wouldn’t love a luxurious throw hand-loomed by master weavers in the Peruvian Andes? The pop-up, dubbed The Citizenry Bunkhouse, is open through December 22^nd and offers free gift wrapping on all purchases and complimentary craft coffee. For a list of fun events, location, and hours, see below.

The Citizenry Bunkhouse Location:

379 Bleecker Street between Perry and Charles Street.

The Citizenry Hours:

Monday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Saturday Maker Series

Each Saturday, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., The Citizenry will be hosting some of their favorite NYC makers to help customers get holiday ready. This includes artist Linda Colleta showcasing her artwork on December 8^th, and award-winning author and baker Sarah Owens making baked goods in the shop on December 22^nd.

Sunday Sundowns!

Every Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., The Citizenry will be serving beer and wine, spinning records, and offering shoppers cookies and treats.

Champagne Send Off

Date: Saturday, December 22^nd

To properly say farewell to their last night in The Bunkhouse, The Citizenry is offering shoppers bubbly from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The Citizenry Bunkhouse offers free gift wrapping on all purchases.

Last week, Interior Design hosted the 34th annual Hall of Fame gala at the River Pavilion at Javits Center. The black-tie event is the Academy Awards of the interior design industry. This year, the ceremony honored five distinguished individuals selected by Interior Design editor-in-chief Cindy Allen and a committee of previous “HoF” members. Says Allen, “This year’s Hall of Fame inductees have the uncanny ability to push beyond, and their talent is matched only by a desire to create the new and the next. Their collective work is also grounded in a deep sense of humanity, that has impacted their clients, communities, and the greater world.”

Let’s take a look at this year’s inductees:

Marcel Wanders

Legendary Dutch industrial and interior designer Marcel Wanders is a pivotal figure in the industry, continuing to challenge the boundaries with unique creations marked by a playful, quirky, and whimsical character. Wanders’ extensive repertoire encompasses more than 1,900 projects and product designs for Baccarat, Cappellini, Christofle, Flos, Kartell, KLM, Louis Vuitton, Morgans Hotel Group, Poliform, Puma, and Swarovski. His eye-catching designs are also featured in the most prestigious cultural institutions and museums throughout the world including the Centre Pompidou and MoMA. “I want to change design as an idea. We have created a throwaway society and I think that’s what we have to fight within the context of design. I want to create a world that’s more durable, that’s just more romantic – more human.” – Wanders.

Mondrian Doha, a five-star hotel in Qatar, designed by Marcel Wanders. Courtesy of Marcel Wanders.

Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott of IwamotoScott

Lisa Iwamoto and Craig Scott are the work and life couple who have been powerhouses in the San Francisco design and architecture arena with massive projects on the workplace scene. Their recent completed work includes Pinterest, Bloomberg Media, and Twitch. The fluid and organic designs of Iwamoto and Scott transform any space into a living and breathing organism – one that not only serves as a perceptual experience but interacts with its environment. “When we approach interiors, we do it with an architectural eye. We like to think about it really spatially and formally – and abstractly. You know, light and proportion – they’re such classic drivers of architecture for so long – but it’s the space that we occupy that allows us to perceive all those relationships.” – Iwamoto and Scott.  

Voussoir Cloud, an installation for the Southern California Institute of Architecture gallery in Los Angeles in 2008. Courtesy of IwamotoScott.

Patrick Tighe of Tighe Architecture

As one of Los Angeles’s preeminent architects, Patrick Tighe has a unique vernacular for design. His philosophy, that architecture can profoundly impact one’s experience of and in this world, influences every project he works on. Tighe has not only completed large-scale commercial and retail projects, but he has also worked on projects that reach out to local marginalized communities by creating housing for the homeless and LGBT and creating an all-accessible playground on Malibu beach. His works in varying social contexts have truly made him a leader in the industry. “You can’t do a great building without thinking about the interior. And you can’t do a great interior without thinking about how it connects to a larger idea.” – Tighe

Trahan Ranch, a residential project in the rolling hills landscape of Texas Hill Country. Courtesy of Tighe Architecture.

Kengo Kuma of Kengo Kuma and Associates

One of the pioneering figures of contemporary architecture today is Kengo Kuma. His practice is unique in its exploration of everyday materials and use in different unconventional ways. Kuma mixes traditional Japanese ideas with that of modern-day techniques, creating unprecedented structures with the same appearance of lightness and softness but with unexpected materials like stone in place of wood or glass used in traditional Japanese architecture. Kuma continues to explore the limitless boundaries of materiality in his designs. “Design is about the relationship between the material and us. The most important thing is to create intimacy between me and every element of the building.” – Kuma

A yakitori bar on the outskirts of Tokyo, decorated with a web of colored cables. Courtesy of Erieta Attali.

Table by M Moser at DIFFA’s 20th annual Dining By Design. Courtesy of Marion Curtis.

Today is the first day of December, and it is World AIDS Day. In the spirit of giving during this holiday season, we would like to share a note from our friends at DIFFA (Design Industries Fighting AIDS), about this cause that needs continued support:

On this 30th annual World AIDS Day, DIFFA commemorates the 500,000 people in the United States whose lives have been tragically cut short by HIV-related causes and celebrate the progress in new diagnostic methods and antiretroviral medicine that are saving lives. There are more than 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States today and nearly 40,000 people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States in 2016. These staggering statistics are representative of REAL PEOPLE who are impacted within our communities and highlights the urgent need to join hands to end HIV/AIDS and stop new diagnoses.

The fight to end HIV/AIDS requires global collaboration and a multi-pronged approach that includes unbiased access to treatment and targeted education and prevention methods to communities most at-risk. More than 22 million people living with HIV worldwide are without treatment. Increased cross-sector partnerships are needed to support widespread treatment to prevent illnesses, death and avert new infections.

DIFFA is in full support of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 strategy to end AIDS by 2020. UNAIDS 90-90-90 relies on global solidarity to ensure that at least 90% of people know their status, receive adequate treatment, and achieve viral suppression. With less than 2 years to actualize this goal, DIFFA grantees are working daily to ensure treatment, education and direct services are offered to key groups who need it most. Our grant making efforts supports dozens of organizations nationwide and guarantees they have the funds and resources needed to continue their work.

Grantees like Boom!Health, GMHC and North Idaho AIDS Coalition provide educational outreach; Callen-Lorde, Hetrick-Martin Institute and AID Atlanta offer prevention and PrEP methods to at-risk population; and Housing Works, SAGE, and Planned Parenthood provides case management and testing services. Collectively, DIFFA grantees address the critical needs of the UNAIDS strategy to end AIDS by 2020.

This World AIDS Day, join us in pledging your support; help us meet our goal to end AIDS. Get tested, get treated and contribute to the efforts of so many others to fight HIV/AIDS across the nation. Visit www.diffa.org/donate to make a difference.

There are a handful of events that set the stage for defining the world of design each year. Cersaie – the international exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings – is one such tradeshow, where over 100,000 designers, installers, and buyers travel to Bologna, Italy each September to learn about cutting edge products and technologies in the tile industry. These are seven of the biggest tile trends as seen in the hundreds of new collections from Ceramics of Italy member manufacturers at the 36th edition of Cersaie.

1. SYSTEMS

For years, Italian tile manufacturers have been expanding the definition of a product, offering specifiers a whole suite of surfacing tools around a single idea or design. At first, it was a range of colors, finishes, and sizes as well as complementing decors and trims. Now, with continued investment in production equipment, many companies are expanding their range of thicknesses – and thus applications – with tiles ranging from 3-30mm including a new 12mm thick porcelain tile specifically designed for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, tables and outdoor kitchens. Examples include: Ariana Bath Design, Atlas Concorde Atlas Plan, Blustyle Yosemite, Emilgroup Level, FLORIM stone, Gigacer Pietre, Keope Plus, La Fabbrica, Ca’ Foscari, Lea Bio Select, Mirage Esprit 2.0, Panaria Context, Serenissima Magistra, Sicis Vetrite, and Supergres Stoorm.

Pictured Clockwise: Emilgroup Level, Atlas Concorde Atlas Plan, Ariana Bath Design, FLORIM stone, LaFabbrica Ca’Foscari

2. TILE PLAY

From three-dimensional tiles that look like giant Lego bricks (Marca Corona Bold) to popular cartoons illustrated on ceramic (Del Conca Felix the Cat), when projects call for playfulness, Italian tile answers in full. Companies are continuously experimenting with color, size and patterns to create one-of-a-kind surfacing for architects and designers. They also offer tailor made solutions like Ornamenta’s ability to print large porcelain slabs in any Pantone color. Additional examples of this trend include: ABK Wide&Style Dark Edition, Appiani Denim, Atlas Concorde Boost, Caesar Core, Ceramica Francesco di Maio Puntini, Del Conca Sorrentina, Fioranese Liquida, Fuoriformato Tropik, Gardenia Orchidea Make, Gigacer Avantime, Leonardo Ashima, Marazzi D_Segni, Rondine Swing, Mosaico+ Diamond, Naxos Lumiere, Tonalite Joyful, and Unica Remix.

Pictured Clockwise: Caesar Core, Del Conca Felix the Cat, Leonardo Ashima, Marca Corona Bold

3. LUNAR MARBLE

Moving beyond common varieties of stone like carrara, statuario, and travertine, Italian tile producers are scouting quarries throughout the world to find obscure marble full of color and character or digitally manipulating the look of natural stone to create something that is literally out-of-this-world. For Sicis’ ever-evolving Vetrite collection, the enchanting magic of 13 gemstones are captured and amplified in between giant sheets of glass to create lunar-like landscapes for the Gem Glass line. Meanwhile, Refin Stardust combines the nebulous veining of alabaster with elegant metallic surface effects to create a line of porcelain tiles inspired by the nighttime sky. Other collections include: Atlas Concorde Marvel Edge, Ava Preziosi, Casalgrande Padana Onici, Ceramiche Piemme Majestic Valentino, Cercom To Be, Cotto d’Este Vanity, Edilgres I’m Italian Marble, Emilceramica Tele di Marmo, Fire Transalp, Fondovalle Shards, Imola The Room, Italgraniti Mega, LaFaenza Bianca, Lea Delight, Marazzi Grande, Novabell Imperial Michelangelo, Panaria Eternity Zero.3, Rex Etoile di Rex, Stile Italia Extra, and Supergres Purity of Marble.

Pictured Clockwise: Ceramiche Piemme Majestic Valentino, Cotto d’Este Vanity, Emilceramica Tele di Marmo, Fire Transalp, Atlas Concorde Marvel Edge

4. THE BLUES

Whether soft or electric, blue is one of the hottest hues in tile design this year, offering a revitalizing pop of color to a variety of interiors. Some, like Cedit’s Rilievi sculptural ceramic wallcoverings, are the kind of hyper blue associated with contemporary artists Yves Klein and Frida Kahlo. Others, like Refin Creos and Provenza Vulcanika, conjure the feeling of vacation and the shallow teal waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Additional collections include: Appiani Denim, Casa Dolce Casa Artwork, Ceramica Colli Fes, Ceramica Francesco di Maio Blu Ponti, Ceramica Sant’Agostino Vita, Ce.Vi. Ceramica Vietrese Happy Days, Cerasarda OT07026, Cir Miami, Fap Pat, Level Raku, Made+39 Acquerello, Tonalite Provenzale and Vogue Dekorami.

Pictured Clockwise: Casa Dolce Casa Artwork, Francesco de Maio Blu Ponti, Cedit Rivieli, Colli Fes

5. BIG PATTERNS

Italians are known for their rich artistic heritage, which are now rendered on big porcelain slabs with minimal grout lines to create the alluring effect of wallpaper with the technical benefits of ceramic. In fact, some companies are even marketing their products as ceramic wallpaper, offering an expansive catalog of patterns digitally printed on tiles up to 5.25’x10′. One example is ABK who introduced Dark Edition as a capsule collection inspired by the Gothic side of nature for its ever-expanding Wide&Style line. Another company is Fuoriformato who offers an explosion of color and pattern on large ceramic surfaces that can also be used as furnishing elements. Additional examples include: 14oraitaliana Tahiti, Casalgrande Padana Onici, Fioranese Liquida, Keope Eclectic, Mirage Bottega, Ornamenta Operae, Panaria Even, Rondine Swing, Stile Italia Extra, Unica Garden, and Vallelunga Sospiri.

Pictured Clockwise: Casalgrande Padana Onici, Stile Italia Extra, Vallelunga Sospiri, Unica Garden, Panaria Even

6. NEU SURFACES

This year, it wasn’t just the patterns and sizes that impressed with their seemingly endless variety and sense of inventiveness. Tile producers have completely upped the ante in terms of surface design, which can be seen in dozens of awe-inspiring, new finishes and textures designed for aesthetics as well as functionality. Two collections that artfully demonstrate this trend as well as ceramic tiles’ chameleon capabilities include Ceramica Sant’Agostino Lakewood that conjures oiled wood planks with a hand planed surface and Vallelunga Cava whose marble design and satin finish looks like an ancient European church floor. Additional collections include: 14oraitaliana Slice, Campani Divinae, Bardelli Pittorica, Coem Moonstone, Decoratori Bassanesi Tartan, Cerdisa Espirit, Cir Paris, Ergon Woodtouch, Fap Lumina, Imola Blue Savoy, Italgraniti Icône Bleu, Made +39 Cube, Marazzi Eclettica, Marca Corona Arkistone, Piemme Shades, Supergres Met-All and Viva Yaki.

Pictured Clockwise: Made+39 Cube, Marazzi Eclettica, Fap Lumina, Ceramica Sant’Agostino Lakewood, Campani Divinae

7. TRADITION

From ancient forms and 18th century patterns to tiles inspired by charming places seemingly stuck in time, Italian tile manufacturers are finding creative ways to make the old feel new again. Mixed and matched patterns, like those of 14oraitaliana’s Folk and Ceramica Sant’Agostino’s Vita collections, evoke the imagery and vibrant colors of Italy’s most famous and beloved territories. Fioranese’s Liquida slabs resemble 1950’s-style wallpaper, while the earthy tones and textured surfaces of Provenza’s Terraquea collection recall traditional terracotta ware. Designed with nostalgic sentiments, each of these collections combine the aesthetic and cultural qualities of the past with the technological innovations of today. Other collections include: ABK Dark Edition, Ceramica Colli Fes, Ceramica Vietri Antico Mediterranea, Cerasarda OT07026, Cir Miami, Faetano Sorrentina, LaFabbrica Space, Marca Corona Ossidi, Rondine Swing, Serenissima Magistra, Tonalite Aquarel, and Unica Pece.

Pictured Clockwise: Ceramica Sant’Agostino Vita, Rondine Swing, Marazzi D_Segni

More so than ever before, this year’s Cersaie show demonstrated that Italian tile manufacturers lead the industry in digital manufacturing, sustainability, and of course, design – continuously pushing the boundaries to ensure that they are always providing cutting edge products of the highest quality. Many of these and other new tile lines available in the U.S. market will be showcased at Coverings – North America’s preeminent event for the ceramic tile industry – taking place April 9-12, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. The next edition of Cersaie – a must for tile lovers from all over the world – is scheduled for September 23-27, 2019 in Bologna, Italy.

What is design in the 21st century, how is it defined, or is there even a way to define it? How does design play a role in our day-to-day lives and how does it impact the way we interact in society? DesignMiami/ addresses these questions and presents the ongoing ever-evolving discipline of culture, art, and architecture when it makes its return this December (on view December 5-9, 2018)!  Over the past 13 years, DesignMiami/ has quickly evolved to become one of the foremost design and architecture fairs in the world bringing together a global spectrum of people including collectors, gallerists, designers, curators, and critics. This year, DesignMiami/ is bringing together another spectacular roundup of leaders for the Design Talks program. These industry leaders have been actively influencing the design discourse and production and they will be addressing and discussing the most compelling current topics of design.

The very core of DesignMiami/ is a marketplace for collectible design, attracting the highest level of private and public collectors of historical and contemporary design. Featured works are by pioneering modernists to cutting edge contemporary designers of the 20th and 21st century. In addition, DesignMiami/ collaborates with partners such as Airbnb, Audi, Douglas Elliman, Fendi, Maison Perrier-Jouet, and Louis Vuitton in order to present new works of design. These collaborations take the form of immersive installations, curated exhibitions, and exquisite objets d’art.

Airbnb installation from DesignMiami/ 2017

Audi installation from DesignMiami/ 2015

Fendi installation from DesignMiami/ 2017

Curio, Design Miami/’s newest exhibition platform is a series of special installations on display throughout the fair that showcase cabinets of curiosity. The program includes works from the 20th and 21st centuries, and embodies thought-provoking installations of scientific and technological research alongside handcraft and creative production.

Design Curio: Gallerist Patrick Parrish collaborated with MIT’s Self-Assembly Lab and Christophe Guberan to present the Lab’s Rapid Liquid Printing technology.

Design Curio: Oatmeal bowls by Brazilian designers Fernando and Humberto Campana. “Me and my brother teach primary school kids to work with their hands, making things from the leftover materials around them – things like slats of wood and plastic toys.”

DesignMiami/ also partners with museums, foundations and schools to support the cultivation of design. Every year, DesignMiami/ commissions rising architects to design the expo’s entrance. Last year, the award was given to “Basel-based architecture and design firm Christ & Gantenbein” to design the Mwabwindo Series, a series of furniture to donate to the Mwabwindo School. The firm created simple wooden blocks that could be interlocked like Lego pieces to create stools and tables for the Mwabwindo School. The firm was selected because of the precision of the design on its contextual terms. The making of the pieces would support the Zambian economy since the pieces would be produced locally and delivered for local assemblage. Furthermore, the furniture proved to be economical and sustainable as it could be arranged in an array of configurations, adapting to the changing needs of the classroom.

Furniture prototypes that display the lego-like feature for diverse arrangements

Blueprint of the Mwabwindo School

DesignMiami/ is located at Meridian Ave., and 19th St., just adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center. Get your tickets here when they are available for sale. 

It’s already mid-November and yesterday we had our first snow of the season! It seems as if October flew over us, so we wanted to highlight some of our favorite events from Archtober! This year marked the 8th annual Archtober celebration, a month-long event that takes place throughout the month of October. Organized by the Center for Architecture, Archtober celebrates New York’s architecture and design through various curated activities, programs, and exhibitions.

Some of the most interesting events are the building/ site tours that take place each day. Take a look at some of our favorites from the tour:

Domino Park, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn opened June of this year. The site was actually the home of Domino Sugar Factory which closed in 2004. For years, the 11-acre land lay dormant while talks over development flung back and forth between community members and city officials. Finally in 2012, the land was acquired by real estate development firm Two Trees Management Company. Redevelopment began and Domino Park opened this summer. The redevelopment of the space poses an interesting juxtaposition between the past and the present, showing the evolution of spatial areas over time. And from this project, we can see the development of an entire community – the development of Brooklyn’s east waterfront community – and the evolution of what once was a largely industrial community to what it is today: a lively community of vibrant synergies. But the legacy of the people that shaped the community, and the community that shaped the history remains. And it is through the architecture of the park we can see the merge of the past with the present.

Domino Park 2018. Courtesy of Curbed NY.

Before becoming Domino Park, the site was the home of Domino Sugar Factory. Courtesy of Paul Raphaelson.

Domino Park 2018. Courtesy of solepsizm / Shutterstock.com.

Five Manhattan West was another point of interest to us. Though it boasts its modern appearance today, its history actually dates back to 1969. With its first inception in 1969, the building was applauded for being the paradigm of the late Brutalist architecture. But over the years, it had become more of an ancient artifact and many people began to consider it an eyesore because of its hard, formidable structure. Even talks over its demolition took place. Eventually, the building underwent a massive facelift and today, it showcases a brilliantly modern structure with a glass facade that zig-zags down like a magnificent manmade waterfall.

Five Manhattan West 2018. Courtesy of Brookfield Property Partners.

Before the renovation. Courtesy of REX.

123 Melrose was another site that caught our eyes. At first sight, the residential building can almost be mistaken for a museum or a gallery, with its seven-story murals on the walls which can be seen from the outside through its glass-lined corridors. The building displays the theme and the current trend of bringing art and culture into communal spaces. 123 Melrose is a dynamic space that ignites curiosity and brings the community together. According to the Principal Architect Eran Chen, “The present wave of urban renewal in Bushwick gives us not only the opportunity but the responsibility to adjust old modes of living to our current ways of life… creating a strong sense of community and providing the kind of housing forms we all dream of.”

Courtesy of Denizen.

If you didn’t have a chance to check out these buildings from Archtober, make sure to check them out some other time. There are also a multitude of other structures totally worth exploring!

At Design-Calendar, we love to celebrate influential women in the design industry. Organized by top B2B design publications, which includes Hospitality Design, design:retail, Healthcare Design, Environments for Aging, and Contract, the inaugural Women in Design program spotlighted many such female movers and shakers. On October 30th, their names were announced at a special luncheon celebration. Keynote presenter Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, cofounder of Vera Bradley, spoke at the event.

This year’s inaugural Women in Design honorees included:

Deborah Berke

Partner, Deborah Berke Partners, New York

Ava Bradley

Creative Director and Global Senior Vice President of Design, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, San Francisco

Lauren Geremia

Principal, Geremia Design, San Francisco

Dina Griffin

President, Interactive Design Architects, Chicago

Robin Guenther

Principal, Perkins+Will

Suzen Heeley

Executive Director, Design and Construction, Facilities Management Division, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York

Cindi Kato

Vice President and Global Retail Business Development Director, CallisonRTKL, Seattle; President, PAVE Board

Margaret McMahon

Senior Vice President, Managing Director, Wimberly Interiors, New York

Jane Rohde

Principal, JSR Associates, Maryland

Roya Sullivan

National Director, Window Presentation, Macy’s, New York

Photo Courtesy of Hospitality Design

Every fall, The Salon Art + Design opens with the world’s most prestigious galleries presenting their exquisite collections of historical, modern, and contemporary art, design, and furniture. This year, The Salon is scheduled to take place on November 8th-12th at The Park Avenue Armory, New York. 56 galleries from 11 countries will exhibit their dazzling collections of decor that span from the early modernist Nouveau to the late 20th century – works by the masters to the young and upcoming talents.

Book signings, design discussions, and talks and screenings, are just some of the plethora of events scheduled for The Salon. Several special installations from leading brands will also be on view throughout the event. Maison Goyard will present an exclusive installation with the theme,“In Praise of Slowness,” which will showcase a snail pulling a net of Goyard trunks – a playful and poetic metaphor for slowness as the epitome of grand craftsmanship and design. Another installation will be from Eileen Fisher, which will highlight the blurred boundaries of design in today’s world. The installation will feature wall hangings and interior decor made from stitching together old garments, effectively showing today’s dynamic, circular economy in which art, design, textiles, and activism intersect.

Goyard at The Salon 2017. Courtesy of Maison Goyard.

Exhibition from Milan, Salone de Mobile 2018. Courtesy of Eileen Fisher|DesignWork.

Our friends at Architectural Digest think “The Salon is one of the few happenings of this sort that can’t be missed.” We couldn’t agree more!

The Alpha Workshops is back with its annual Masquerade Ball! This year’s theme, Alpha After Dark, invites guests to dress up as their favorite nocturnal creatures and dance the night away at Stage 48 in Manhattan. Garnering over 300 of New York’s most prominent professionals within the design community, including interior designers, architects, manufacturers, and press, the Masquerade Ball is one of the most anticipated design events of the year. For over a decade, this event has benefited the Alpha Workshops Studio School – the only school in the nation that professionally trains people with HIV/ AIDS in the decorative arts field. Alpha After Dark will be hosted on Tuesday, October 30th.  

Here’s a look at last year’s Exotic Aquatic-themed event which was co-hosted with Benjamin Moore and Drake Anderson.

Courtesy of The Alpha Workshops.

About The Alpha Workshops:

The Alpha Workshops is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 in Manhattan’s Chelsea area. It was modeled after Omega Workshops, the Wiener Werkstätte, the Bauhaus, and the American Arts & Crafts movement. It is the umbrella organization of: The Alpha Workshops Studio School (AWSS) and The Alpha Workshops Studio. AWSS is a vocational school formally licensed by the New York State Department of Education and the Alpha Workshops Studio is an acclaimed profession design studio staffed by AWSS graduates. The Alpha Workshops has rapidly grown over the years and has touched the lives of many along its path. It has received press coverage in Architectural Digest, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, Contract, Domino, ELLE DECOR, House & Garden, House Beautiful, InStyle Home, Interior Design, Metropolis, Metropolitan Home, Metrosource, Newsday, Newsweek, New York Magazine, New York Spaces, O at Home, POZ, The Daily News, The New York Times, The Robb Report, Time Out, Traditional Home, Veranda, and Vogue Living. Today, it is recognized as the nation’s one-and-only non-profit organization that provides a decorative arts education and employment to talented people of communities that are at-risk or with disabilities or other vulnerabilities, and it continues its dedication to “creating beauty and changing lives”.

The 10th season of the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) kicked off in New York Tuesday night with the World Premiere of Leaning Out, directed by Basia and Leonard Myszynski. This moving documentary tells the untold story of the World Trade Center’s lead structural engineer Leslie E. Robertson, the legendary man who oversaw the construction of the world’s tallest skyscraper at the time.

Image: Courtesy of Leslie E. Robertson.

The film begins with the tragic events of September 11, 2001 – the day the Twin Towers came tumbling down. Even today, 17 years later, we are still haunted by grief and sadness when we pass by the 9/11 Memorial, which stands exactly where the Twin Towers originally stood, tall and proud.

Leaning Out delves into the prolific life of Robertson, touching upon his early life and his successful career as a structural engineer, working on projects like the World Financial Center in Shanghai and the Lotte World Tower in Seoul. The film chronicles the story of the Twin Towers through Robertson’s eyes – from the innovations he brought to the Towers’ design, to the enormous sense of guilt he still carries over their collapse on 9/11.

The film also offers a unique lens into the Towers’ role in preserving lives. The structures were able to resist the impact of both crashes, thereby allowing people to escape through the stairwells, which remained largely intact until the buildings collapsed. And because the buildings collapsed vertically, rather than toppling over onto other buildings, thousands of lives in the surrounding areas were spared. Despite the many lives lost that day, and although Robertson is still burdened by guilt, Leaning Out shows us that his innovative designs actually helped to save many people who might have otherwise perished.

Photo: Courtesy of Leslie E. Robertson.

Ultimately, the directors take us on a journey to discovering a brilliant man who, in his post-war experience and in the wake of 9/11, became an activist and a pacifist. Leaning Out poses a juxtaposition between loss, survival, and healing through the intricate weaving of the storyline by the film’s directors Basia and Leonard Myszynski.

Photo: Courtesy of Leonard Myszynski.

Leaning Out is on view Friday, Oct. 19th and Saturday Oct. 20th. For more information, click here.