inaba williams + kyle may create a pared-back interior for brooklyn office

situated in new york‘s brooklyn navy yards, inaba williams and kyle may architect have collaborated to realize an office for design agency, hush. the project focuses on revealing the basic architectural elements of the space, resulting in an unfussy and pared-back interior, which is characterized by white-washed walls and minimal decoration. 

conference room walls zig zag around columns

all images © naho kubota

to complement hush’s digitally intensive work, the design by inaba williams and kyle may focuses on people’s very basic experience of architecture. in a work environment where staff construct models, code, and communicate on digital platforms, and visitors view projects on flat panel displays, the team concentrated on the 3D world using just movement, material and light.

the conference room

the entry was relocated to one end of the 8,600 ft2 interior to form a path across the space. visitors enter through a 40-foot long white walled tube. above hangs a series of stainless steel panels that reflect movement and light. past the gallery visitors walk along a procession of interactive panels, animated mock-ups, workstations and meeting rooms that show the inner workings of hush’s immersive designs. 

conference room detail

the design team developed the points where people come into immediate contact with the space by applying materials and details. often the first point of encounter, the frameless meeting room door pulls are made of one-of-a-kind rounded mirror polished stainless steel plates.

conference room walls zig zag around columns

the meeting room tables are covered in forbo with curved edges to soften the feel of the work surface. the same edge detail runs the length of the 30-foot lounge table, which is made of smooth sanded ‘pink oak’ – oak planks treated with multiple layers of paint and stain. meeting room area rugs that zig zag around columns and walls absorb ambient sound to reduce reverberation.

the gallery with bent stainless steel panels attached to the ceiling, made in collaboration with jonathan olivares, zahner metals and united factory productions

other materials were chosen for their visual effects. sheer red curtains line the large conference room to minimize daylight and screen glare while creating a translucent border around the space that’s visible throughout the office. the meeting tables’ translucent cast resin leafs transmit light and are meant to contrast the tables’ opaque forbo tops.

gallery ceiling with bent stainless steel panels

gallery ceiling detail

‘pink oak’ table by inaba williams fabricated by kyle may, architect

detail of ‘pink oak’ table by inaba williams fabricated by kyle may, architect

resin and forbo table detail designed by inaba williams and fabricated by kyle may, architect

frameless door and door pull detail

meeting rooms

project info:

project name: hush studios

project location: brooklyn navy yards, brooklyn, new york

design: inaba williams architecture

architect: kyle may, architect

completion year: 2019

gross built area: 8,800 ft2 (818 m2)

design team:

design: jeffrey inaba, inaba williams

architect: kyle may, architect

project designer: sharon leung, inaba williams

designer: nabila morales perez, inaba williams

client: hush studios

collaborators: the gallery ceiling was made in collaboration with jonathan olivares, united factory production, zahner metals

engineering: tan engineering

table fabrication: kyle may

architect general contractor: raymond chow

photography: naho kubota

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.