"Less, but Better": Kelly Sawdon of Atelier Ace Explains the Design Behind Sister City Hotel
由專築網小R，王雪純編譯
Ace工作室在紐約高聳的塔樓和狹窄的街區之間開發了一個獨特的項目，該項目位於曼哈頓Bowery區，建築師在原有的10層空間上又進行了4層的擴建，並且對內部空間進行了全新改造。室內空間的設計靈感來源於斯堪的納維亞和日本建築，在紐約的繁華街區給使用者帶來一片寧靜。
Ace工作室兼Ace酒店集團的合夥人Kelly Sawdon接受了ArchDaily的採訪，談到了Sister City酒店項目的設計策略與靈感。
Between New York's towering buildings and cramped streets, Atelier Ace developed a project unique to its surroundings. Located in Manhattan's Bowery neighborhood, the Sister City Hotel project included a four-floor extension to an existing 10-storey structure, as well as a complete renovation of the interior space. The interior design draws inspiration from Scandinavian and Japanese architecture, providing visitors with complete tranquility within New York's bustling neighborhood.
In an exclusive interview with ArchDaily, Kelly Sawdon, Chief Brand Officer and Partner at Atelier Ace/Ace Hotel Group describes her take on minimal design and explains the approach and inspiration behind the Sister City Hotel project.
Dima Stouhi（下文稱為DS）：設計師常常會在項目的所在空間中找到靈感，而你選擇了另一種方式，可是你的設計靈感來自芬蘭，而非紐約。
Kelly Sawdon（下文稱為KS）：Sister City項目由我們Ace工作室構思設計，和我們其他的項目一樣，我們直接從建築物和城市中尋找靈感。這座建築具有歷史特徵，位於世界上最繁華的城市之一，因此我們通過美學價值來表達“少，但是更好”這樣一個理念。我們希望去掉多於的部分，保留安靜的空間，專為人們的體驗而設計，而不是為了設計而設計，因此我們結合了斯堪的納維亞、北歐、日本的風格。舉例來說，我們應用了芬蘭桑拿房的功能和細部設計特徵，在極簡化的空間裡表達功能需求。
Dima Stouhi: Designers usually draw inspiration from the city the project is situated in. You chose to go for a different approach. Why did you choose a Finnish design (or inspired by Finnish design) rather than NYC?
Kelly Sawdon: Sister City was designed entirely in-house by our creative studio Atelier Ace, and like all our projects, we looked directly to the building and city to inform our path of inspiration. The building is historic, and situated in one of the busiest cities in the world, so we chose a constellation of aesthetic values that spoke to us: less, but better, and at the intersection of simplicity and beauty. We wanted to strip away excess to provide a space mindful of quieting the noise of the Lower East Side and the stress of traveling — to design for human experiences, rather than around them — and looked to the masterful work of Scandinavian, Nordic and Japanese design. For example, we turned to Finnish saunas for their functionality and attention to sensory detail, how it nurtures you within a minimal, purposeful space.
DS：那在紐約這樣一座繁華的城市當中，極簡化設計策略有多重要呢？
KS：紐約是一座充滿活力且人口眾多的城市，極簡化設計策略能夠讓人們保持清醒與思考，而Sister City酒店則是一個可以為人們提供這種體驗的場所，你會在整個環境中進行內在的深刻思考，構成自主意識。在這個項目中，我們和Headspace合作，在人們的入住期間，他們可以使用相關的冥想應用程序，我們也會通過設計的策略讓人們注意到建築的空間細部，比如干淨的牆體、彩色的玻璃天窗、意大利櫻桃木傢俱，以及定製的水磨石構件。
DS: How crucial is it to have a minimally-designed space within a very dynamic/busy city like New York?
KS: In such a vibrant, densely populated city like New York, a minimally-designed space can be restorative and help travelers stay present and grounded. Sister City is a place that gives to you, rather than takes from you, offering the tools within a thoughtfully designed environment that fosters a sense of autonomy and mindfulness. We partnered with Headspace to provide their meditation app during their stay, and kept our walls as clean as possible by focusing our attention to every design element, from the muted stained glass skylight, to the Italian cherry wood modular furniture, to the custom terrazzo vanities.
DS：你認為極簡主義的出發點是經濟性、情感性還是健康立場？
KS：對我而言，經濟並不是其出發點，極簡主義的目的是為城市中的人們帶來平靜且能夠思考的空間場所，簡約並不是簡單，在極簡主義中，我們仍然可以通過一些有形、熟悉、溫馨的方式來吸引到人們，觸發人們情感上的共鳴。酒店的房間傢俱幾乎全部由意大利櫻桃木製作而成，有著溫暖舒適的特徵，而水磨石構件也成為了房間的另一種代表。酒店大堂裡樺木製品構成了良好的引導作用，同時讓自然光線能夠進入室內，我們並沒有考慮經濟性，重點在於給人們的幸福感受。
DS: Do you think the need for minimalism was derived from a financial or emotional/health standpoint?
KS: For us, it wasn’t a financial decision, but a way to provide a calm and considered space for travelers in the city. Simplicity doesn’t necessarily mean simplistic, and a lot of thought and care went into considering the disparate ways minimalism could impart something tangible, familiar, warm and inviting to elicit emotional respite. The rooms are almost completely built out of Italian cherry wood, imbuing warmth and comfort, and the terrazzo vanity was custom built as a way to anchor the room. The crafted birch woodwork in the lobby helps orient guests in the space while still letting natural light filter through. Rather than work from budget restrictions, we looked to the ways design can provide a sense of well-being.
DS：你認為哪些因素對於客戶的影響最大？是室內空間還是傢俱本身？
KS：在思考室內和傢俱的設計方案時，我們的主要出發點仍然是“少，但是更好”，通過以人為本的理念來表達高效和美感，同時結合產品的工藝形勢和材質，設計方案相互協調，它們相輔相成，並不是一味地疊加，比如我們提出的“Lobby Score”概念。，我們與微軟公司的Music x Technology項目、電子音樂家Julianna Barwick合作創作了一首酒店大廳專專用背景音樂“Circumstance Synthesis”，“Lobby Score”的設計是酒店設計的一部分，應用了微軟公司的人工智能技術，對Julianna原有的構思進行了改造，表達了屋頂天窗中所構圖的內涵。我們希望構成具有凝聚力的空間，在這裡各個元素都十分協調、平衡，有著和諧的美學特徵。
DS: What do you think has a bigger impact on clients, the interior architecture of a space or the furniture?
KS: While "ideating" and designing both the interior architecture and furniture, we started from the ethos of “Less, But Better,” distilling hospitality down to its most beautiful working parts and championing efficiency and beauty through the lens of human-oriented technology, attention to craft, form and materiality. Everything was designed to work in concert, rather than layered atop each other, including the generative Lobby Score. Titled Circumstance Synthesis, it’s an original soundscape created in collaboration with Microsoft’s Music x Technology program and electronic musician Julianna Barwick. The Lobby Score was designed as part of the hotel, and uses Microsoft AI technology to shift and change Julianna’s original composition as informed by the things our rooftop sky camera sees. We wanted to create a cohesive space where everything worked hand-in-hand to provide balance, aesthetic harmony and moments of surprise and delight, too.
DS：那麼在極簡化的空間之中，客戶擁有屬於自己的個性化場所嗎？這也是客戶選擇這個場所的原因吧。
KS：當然了，我們希望設計這樣一個畫面，客人可以自己操縱應用各種功能性傢俱，其中包括貼心的服務和智能解決策略。Sister City酒店項目尊重每一位客人。其中的模塊化傢俱體系讓他們能夠自主地應用各個空間，例如一些適應性強的定製服務。同時，在線系統還能夠滿足客人提出的個性化需求，自助服務也提升了操作的效率，這座酒店專為使用者的貼心服務而建造，而非單純的居住體驗。
DS: Do you feel like clients can add a personalized input to a minimally-designed space? Perhaps this is why clients lean towards such spaces?
KS: Absolutely. We wanted to create a canvas that’s animated directly by the guest, offering useful furnishings like the valet or clever storage solutions. Sister City appeals to any guest who appreciates a confident sense-of-self that respects autonomy, intuition and self-guided experiences. Our modular furniture allows them to utilize the space as they see fit, including the built-in valet whose parts are flexible and customizable as needed. Our online system also lets guests make requests to personalize their room like a blanket or white noise machine, and our self-check kiosks minimizes the need for unnecessary human interaction. The hotel was built for guests to animate, rather than dictating their experience for them.
DS：極簡主義是否只是一種流行趨勢呢？它能永久流傳嗎？
KS：我們認為極簡主義超越了潮流，同時也是對於當代過度飽和和視覺疲勞的呼應，這個設計方向讓人眼前一亮。Sister City項目的設計靈感來源於許多舊的理念，這就說明了簡單的東西反而歷久彌新，我們同時仔細研究了建築的形式、材料，以及功能，這些元素也推動了我們的想法不斷向前，並且在未來也充滿了希望。
DS: Do you believe minimalism is a “trend” or do you see a potential for it to become a permanent design approach?
KS: We think of minimalism as transcendent of trends, but a direction that becomes refreshingly significant as a response to over-saturation and visual fatigue. A lot of our inspiration for Sister City was culled from older sources, which is a testament to the enduring nature of simple, considered and useful design. We looked closely at form, material and function, letting those key elements push our ideas forward, and are excited to expand on the possibilities for any other future opportunities.
DS：縱觀你的整個設計，你認為最具突破性的東西是什麼呢？
KS：最具突破性的東西是如何以最高效的方式來設計家庭和家庭社區，當其中結合了生態意識和美學理念之後，對發展有極大的促進作用。諸如丹麥等社會意識強烈的場所促進了社區的依賴性，共享資源也留有一席之地，而諸如俄勒岡州的家庭社區則推動了高效的設計方式的發展，這種發展方向既具有現代特徵，同時也有很強的適應性。
DS: Throughout your work, what have you found to be the most “ground-breaking” minimal living trend and why?
KS: It’s been incredible to see how tiny homes and tiny home communities have approached design in a way that’s impactful, thoughtful and future-forward. The creative ways they combine eco-consciousness with aesthetic balance have been inspiring to watch develop. Socially-conscious places like Denmark have embraced interdependent communities, sharing resources while maintaining a small footprint, and — even closer to home — tiny home communities in Oregon have really pushed the needle for efficient, livable design that’s contemporary and elastic.
© Lindsay Byrnes
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