Spaced Agency references "iconographies of Chinatown" for New York social hub
US studio Spaced Agency has created a headquarters for non-profit Welcome to Chinatown in New York City, divided by one long curtain and mobile wooden "carts" to make the space flexible for a variety of events.
The Small Business Innovation Hub is located in New York City's Chinatown neighbourhood and was formerly a plumbing fixtures store before Spaced Agency converted it into a community centre and co-working space.
Spaced Agency founder TK Justin Ng told Dezeen two primary design concerns were working with the narrow, deep, windowless space and making the space adaptable to serve a variety of uses.
To address this, the studio implemented three main components: a curtain that stretches the length of the space; mobile, wooden carts; and two large shelving units.
"The arrangement of the carts and the curtain allows for more ways of laying out the space, which was super important because of the limitations of the space and the very, very diverse range of activities that they want to have going on," said Ng.
The curtain begins in the back of the space, curves outwards towards the centre, and hugs the wall nearest to the entrance. It divides the Hub's deep-blue meeting rooms and lounge from a gallery space and open space in the entryway.
The curtain covers the gallery wall in case of a larger event, as sometimes the entire space may be rented out.
Ng also said that these main elements have cultural significance and draw upon elements from the surrounding Chinatown, as well as Chinese culture in general.
"These carts also map very directly back to iconographies of Chinatown, with the carts being like dim sum carts, but also street-side street vendor carts [and] the silver of the curtain echoes the metal gates that form storefronts of Chinatown," he said.
The deep blue of the walls was also used to offset red furniture and red objects, as the colour is prevalent in Chinese culture and is associated with major holidays such as Chinese New Year, signifying good fortune.
Ng chose Cherry wood for the large shelving units, for its prevalence in Chinese furniture construction. The wood darkens quickly when it's exposed to sunlight, but the depths of the Hub protect it.
"If this shelf were out in daylight, within a few months it would be fully darkened," he said.
"Because there's no natural light, the time span of the project can feel longer – it stretches out the ageing of it."
The space was also designed to be added onto organically, with shelves that can serve as receptacles of objects.
"The Hub can sometimes feel a little bit blank, and it's not blank because of nothingness, but rather in anticipation of the filling in by the community."
"It's a characterful framework that allows and encourages accumulation and expression by the people who use it."
Welcome to Chinatown works to "bolster small businesses, foster economic resilience, and drive community-led placemaking" in support of the Chinatown neighbourhood.
Spaced Agency is an East Coast-based studio founded in 2022 by designer TK Justin Ng that specialises in "using artful research to design places rooted in context and possibility".
Design company Vitra recently opened a showroom nearby in Chinatown.
The photography is by Naho Kubota
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