Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1405904
LOBBYING for S woon design firm has set a high bar for how smashing a high-rise lobby can look. The redesigned lobby at the W Residences takes notes from Swoon's work on the Adolphus Hotel's 110-year-old lobby and library, along with the transformation of a historic building in Charleston, NC, into the new Emeline hotel. Samantha Sano and Joslyn Taylor — the forces behind the DESIGN design and branding firm Swoon — were tapped by the building's design committee to update their lobby into a chic spot for residents to relax, meet, or work on laptops. The design team didn't simply bring in new furnishings and art; they completely rethought the function and layout. First visual when you walk in the door? It isn't a concierge desk, but a spacious living room with cozy areas for gathering, lounging solo, listening to music, or reading a book next to a fireplace. "The lobby is an elegant moment now before you go up to your apartment," Taylor says. People are usually glued to their phones in any setting, but the designers created enticing nooks for intimate cultural experiences, including an area with a retro turntable and collection of records. A handsome wall of built-in shelves holds books and publications on art and architecture, along with sculpture and handmade pottery. Paintings and works on paper are conversation starters for residents In the lobby, artisan- made sculptural chairs by Estudio Persona, L.A. Apparatus sconces. Custom Moroccan rug. Sofas from Croft House, L.A., in Kravet velvet. SWOON UNVEILS AN ARTFUL NEW COMMUNAL SPACE FOR THE W RESIDENCES. BY REBECCA SHERMAN. PHOTOGRAPHY MAX KUTZ. (Continued) 142