This article was originally published on Domus 1056, April 2021
Chelsea is on the Hudson River, not far from a train depot on Manhattan’s west coast, a kilometre from the Lincoln Tunnel joining Manhattan to New Jersey. All low-rise buildings and art galleries, it has Chelsea Market, one of Manhattan’s most famous food halls. It also has Hudson Yards, the biggest private building project in the United States, with the skyscraper designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, all steel and glass rising 51 storeys with generous views of New York’s river and skyline. The Milbank law firm has been based at 55 Hudson Yard since last autumn, with 700 professionals comprising partners, associates and staff. Its interiors were designed by the American LSM practice, which gave the ten floors of the building occupied by the firm (27,000 m2 in total) an imprint remote from the law-firm stereotype.
The aim was to foster togetherness and a community feeling, also with New York itself embraced by the large windows. Distinctive features of the project include two double-height terraces on the 36th floor, on the east and west sides of the building. Defining fluid and continuous transitions between interior and exterior was crucial. A large staircase at the centre of the perimeter connects the ten floors, home to reception, offices and conference rooms. The furnishings are important in creating the firm’s refined and rational interiors. LSM designed some, plus there are iconic industrially produced pieces like the D.154.2 armchairs and D.155.1 coffee tables designed by Gio Ponti for Molteni&C. The private offices of partners and associates all have bespoke furnishings. The partitions are from the RP series by UniFor, as are the conference tables, reception areas and cabinetry.
- Project:
- Milbank law firm
- Place:
- Manhattan, New York
- Completion:
- 2020
- Interior design:
- LSM Studio