Working with historically designated buildings of New York City is always a challenges. In this project, a land marked bank building was converted into a carpet showroom.

Since the interior, as well as the exterior is a New York landmark, the design approach here was to do as little as possible, treating the new use as temporary and removable.

In designing the carpet display systems, detailing became the center of the project. A free-standing braced rack system was developed, removed from the perimeter walls and separate from any part of the original building. A new stair and mezzanine were added, bearing on the floor and not the walls.

Thanks to the sensitive restoration work, creative design of details and humble placement of retail elements, the rich and lavish past of this space is as alive as ever, New York landmark.