Inaba Williams has composed a children's playroom in New York City, drawing on colourful architecture and abstracted, geometric shapes. The new space is located within Cast Iron House, the minimalist luxury condominium building in Tribeca.
The recent move that saw many of us switching to working from home has only highlighted the need for more and better spaces for children to play, argues the practice's co-founder Jeffrey Inaba. Designing places to foster human connection is key, in and outside a pandemic. Responding to this, the architects created a minimalist, yet highly efficient and varied interior to support both the children's but also their parents' needs within a domestic environment.
‘One answer is a small gathering spot for focused time with a few people,' says Inaba. ‘That’s how our recently completed Playroom is used. Toddlers crawl around while parents exchange advice. Kids have playdates. Tweens meet to work on school assignments. A parent and child enjoy one-to-one time.'
The design appears simple but is created with great attention to detail. Specifications feature product by suppliers such as Spinneybeck Leather, Louis Poulsen and Fitzfelt. Spanning some 60 sq m, the interior occupies a floorplan that is subdivided into zones' by the use of block colours. There's an area for remote learning and a part where abstracted structures create tunnels and configurations that encourage gross motor skill development play. Storage and seating nooks are also included.
‘A space for people to connect can be created anywhere there’s a little bit of room,' adds Inaba. ‘In this case, it’s located in a leftover area on the common level of a renovated multi-unit building. Residents are able to get out of their apartments during bouts of cabin fever without leaving the quarantine bubble of their home.'
INFORMATION
-
Aesop’s Salone del Mobile 2024 installations in Milan are multisensory experiencesAesop has partnered with Salone del Mobile to launch a series of installations across Milan, tapping into sight, touch, taste, and scent
-
Dial into the Boring Phone and more smartphone alternativesFrom the deliberately dull new Boring Phone to Honor’s latest hook-up with Porsche, a host of new devices that do the phone thing slightly differently
-
Berlinde De Bruyckere’s angels without faces touch down in Venice churchBelgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere’s recent archangel sculptures occupy the 16th-century white marble Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore for the Venice Biennale 2024
-
A Petra Island house rises from Frank Lloyd Wright's original drawingsBased on Frank Lloyd Wright drawings, the cantilevering Petra Island Massaro House, located in New York’s Hudson Valley, is now open to visitors
-
An Upper West Side apartment by General Assembly nods to its historyAn Upper West Side apartment in New York, born out of the reimagining of two neighbouring units, is refreshed by General Assembly for a young family
-
New York's Leica store echoes the brand's blend of heritage and innovationLeica store throws open its doors in New York's Meatpacking District, courtesy of Brooklyn based Format Architecture Office
-
Hudson Valley Residence is a low-lying retreat that seamlessly blends into the horizonDesigned by HGX Design, Hudson Valley Residence is a scenic home offering unobstructed views across the Catskill Mountains in Upstate New York
-
Boise Passive House’s bold gestures support an environmentally friendly designBoise Passive House by Haas Architecture combines sleek, contemporary design and environmental efficiency
-
At the Hilbert Museum of California Art’s expanded home, art and architecture convergeThe Hilbert Museum of California Art expands its home, courtesy of Los Angeles architecture studio Johnston Marklee
-
Pearlman Cabin by John Lautner is an organic Californian mountain retreatJohn Lautner’s midcentury Pearlman Cabin, tucked away in the Californian mountain resort of Idyllwild, is a striking example of organic architecture
-
Albert Frey’s Aluminaire House is reborn in Palm SpringsAluminaire House, designed by legendary modernist Albert Frey, has been reconstructed outside the Palm Springs Art Museum
