New York-based architecture firm Lissoni Architecture has completed a hotel in Manhattan’s NoMad district whose minimalist interior combines Scandinavian and Japanese influences.
The studio, led by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, designed AKA NoMad in a building that formerly housed the Roger New York Hotel.
Located in NoMad – north of Madison Square Park – a neighborhood rife with design showrooms and dining options, the project is Lissoni’s first hotel in NYC since opening his US-based architecture firm last year.
“Do you know the film New York, New York with Liza Minnelli and Roberto De Niro?” said Lissoni. “For me, this is AKA Nomad, my idea of a New York that encompasses music, life, silence, snow, traffic and energy, but always accompanied by a marked elegance and diversity.”
“It’s not formalized – it’s a hotel that tells and speaks with a touch of style, a touch of Art Deco, a touch of the 1950s… and we’ll see what else comes,” he added.
The double-story lobby is anchored by a bronze-colored metal staircase that spirals past a backlit volume to a mezzanine level that houses a cozy lounge.
On the other side, benches with velvet cushions in sage green stand in front of the illuminated panels, paired with tables with white tabletops and dining chairs in various designs.
“The often filtered light creates soft and cozy environments where natural materials such as wood and stone are flanked by fabrics in light and neutral tones, and bespoke furniture is juxtaposed with contemporary design and iconic objects,” said Lissoni Architecture.
In the lower ceiling space below, soft lighting and comfortable seating create areas where guests can relax next to the floating blue reception desk.
At the front, a bar area benefits from the high ceilings and elongated windows facing the street.
A glossy black bar counter reflects the minimalist liquor bottle shelves, which are also backlit, while ribbing on the counter front and a glass light accentuate the height of the space.
On both communal levels, dark herringbone tiles are laid as flooring and the exposed brickwork is painted beige to create a uniform interior design.
The guest rooms and suites retain the same neutral tones and materials, but the emphasis is on lighter tones.
Oversized fabric-upholstered headboards, fluffy rugs and textured wallpaper give the bedrooms a cozier feel, while the bathrooms are lined with dark stone and tiles.
Lissoni has lent his clean, minimalist style to several of Italy’s leading design brands, including Lualdi, Boffi and Salvatori, and recently expanded Design Holding’s flagship store in New York City.
He was also artistic director of the yachts B&B Italia and Sanlorenzo and was a judge at the 2023 Dezeen Awards.
Photographs by Veeral Patel.
Project credits:
Design team: Piero Lissoni with Stefano Giussani, Christine Napoli, Antonio Rinaldi, Vincent Chen, Tania Zaneboni, Roberto Berticelli.
