AvroKO

After meeting as students William Harris, Greg Bradshaw, Kristina O’Neal and Adam Farmerie, came together from their respective consultancies to form AvroKO in 2001. Today the agency has its feet firmly in the hospitality sector.

Adding to their NY HQ, they now have three further studios, San Francisco, Bangkok and London with their work taking them all around the world. Here we share just a select few of their projects.

Their design for the environmentally conscious 1 Hotel by New York’s Central Park is a stunning example of the thoughtfulness of their work. The soft tones of reclaimed and found timbers, marble and stone and planting create a calming atmosphere, complemented by planting and feature furniture made by local craftsmen. From the reception to the restaurant and the bedrooms the tactile space draws you in to examine the beautiful aesthetic of each surface.

Situated in Hong Kong’s nightlife district, Socialito provides three distinct offerings; street side dining, fine dining and a nightclub. From the vibrant neon energy of the street side dining with its playful graphics, customers pass through the stainless steel corridor within the kitchen storage room to the contrasting and darker tones of the intricately carved wooden panel detailing of the cosy restaurant, with a very different atmosphere.

Interestingly through the AvroKO Hospitality group they own and operate a number of restaurants and this helps give them an innate understanding which feeds directly into their concepts. Saxon + Parole is one of these with branches in NY and in Moscow, where s with many of their concepts they’ve not only designed the interior but have created the branding and all of the graphic material.

It’s AvroKO’s ability to create these seemingly juxtaposing spaces within a concept that intrigues us. In some projects the contrast is quite stark, in others the tonality continues throughout the spaces, but the physical design is different in each, so even when it appears that a space has been given the same look and feel, there will be a corner when you suddenly realise it’s just that little bit different. It’s clever design, and which ever route they take, it’s appropriate and it works, and in each space their attention to detail, use of materials, lighting design and graphics is second to none.