11.24.14 | New York, NY | 353 West 46th Street is a renovated brownstone that was purchased by the owners fourteen years ago (2000). It’s very first event was a release party for the musician T-Pain, which is about the time renovations on the building started from the first floor.

The building: purchased for a radio promotion company called S.I.N. which stands for Street Information Network. S.I.N. has been serving the music industry for over 30 years with specialized marketing, promotion and artist development campaigns. SIN- originally a club promotion company and was involved with the launch of some of the biggest music artists in the 80's and 90's. As the music business changed so did S.I.N., transitioning into a radio promotion company to launch artists, like Lady Gaga.

Five years ago S.I.N. finished construction for the first floor event space which was used as a place for showcases and listening parties.

The top floor renovation: designed by Cecilia Dupire as a flexible, multi-use space to promote creativity, team unity and proficiency. To be able to modify from a professional environment to a more relaxed vibe, while retaining relevance to both. Needed for a wide range events, transformation had to be easy, fast and seamlessly, while retaining functionality.

The owners wanted to have the ability to shift from a panel discussion, to a gym, art exhibition or cocktail reception easily and in a cost-efficient manner, while also being innovative and inspirational.

The project: To take an old, unused office space and turn it into a creative, versatile, multi-functional, modern and innovative space. With a small budget, the environment had to be as flexible and multi-use as possible.

We created walls that could serve many functions: a mix of magnet and dry erase as well as rolling boards that could reconfigure the space instantly. The interior was opened up by removing old partition walls and the use of lighting fixtures to maximize the architectural details and further exaggerate the spaciousness by using a variety of lighting effects. The street-facing wall of windows is the focal point of the interior.

Furniture, such as table and shelving systems, were custom-designed to be lightweight and slender and accommodating, depending on the event or the client. The kitchen was originally very outdated and drab, but by spray painting everything black, it was converted to a sleek and minimalist all-black wall.

To enhance the communication between the inside and outside spaces, we gave the terrace a stronger identity using a lot of greenery. The different volumes give the environment interest. An artificial lawn was placed to turn the space into a more embracing space and offer a bit of texture.

The skylight on the terrace was turned into a light feature/sculpture, and around it, a bar, which maximizes otherwise lost space. This is the focal point of the entire terrace, especially when combined with dramatic lighting, which gives the area a dynamic energy.

Designer: Cecilia Dupire/ Cezign

About Cecilia Dupire Principal of Cezign:

Dupire is Principal of Cezign and renowned interior architect/designer (including furniture). As a designer her accomplishments span from being invited to the Swarovski Crystal Library, working on projects for W Hotels & Equinox, and being mentored by Philip Michael Wolfson former head of design for Zaha Hadid.
 
www.cezign.com