Inspiration in the landscape

Dynamism and simplicity are the core values of the U.S. investment firm Spark Capital, which are fully reflected in Desai Chia Architecture’s design for its second office in New York City. Spark Capital, known for its strategic and financial role in companies like Twitter, Wayfair, Slack, and Warby Parker, has its headquarters in Boston and opened its first outpost in New York a dozen years ago (Spark Capital Spring Street), entrusting the project to Katherine Chia and Arjun Desai back then as well. The newly completed offices were carved out from a redeveloped former industrial building on Mercer Street in the SoHo neighborhood. In both projects, the studio chose to combine typical workplace furnishing elements, largely in neutral tones, with the warmth of wooden surfaces, which are integrated harmoniously into the spaces to create a stimulating atmosphere and a unique character, inspired by Japanese gardens. 

The project located in the heart of the SoHo district occupies a single floor with an area of 370 sq. m and includes various functional spaces for individual work and company meetings, including with teams from the Boston and San Francisco offices. Each person in the office is guaranteed a multifunctional and flexible space, suitable for any type of work activity.

At the entrance, an inviting welcome area is flanked by a spacious lounge area, furnished with designer rugs and couches, offering guests a place to relax before attending a work meeting or business appointment. The space is enclosed by three glass rooms, which are used for meetings, and a full-height wooden element that divides the reception from the area reserved for staff, while maintaining visual contact between the two zones thanks to the glazed portions. This sort of dividing backdrop features circular motifs milled into the wood, which evoke ocean waves and symbolize the beauty and balance of the Japanese landscape. Every circle contains a porthole, allowing light to enter in the various rooms and illuminate them evenly.

Wood, a natural material par excellence, is also found in the chandeliers, which are shaped in different sizes like concentric ripples of water of varying depths. Designed to house the lighting fixtures, they create a dynamic effect that contrasts the rigidity of the walls and the concrete floor. 

The actual work area is organized as an open space surrounded by private offices, which are dedicated to coworking and group projects. The room is furnished with tables and couches, as well as a wooden counter that echoes the oval shapes and light wood finish of the hanging lamps in the entrance. Colleagues can share meals or simply take a break from the daily routine while seated at the dining table, which is equipped with wooden and metal stools with an industrial flavor.

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Spark Capital Mercer Offices | © Paul Warchol, courtesy of Desai Chia Architecture

The Soho offices represent the second location of Spark Capital in New York. The investment society, which has its general headquarters in Boston, opened its first office in the Big Apple a dozen years ago in Spring Street. The interior design, also done by Desai Chia, is inspired by the image of a roof garden. The various spaces develop around a central lounge area, illuminated by a large skylight.

Spark Capital Mercer Offices | © Paul Warchol, courtesy of Desai Chia Architecture

Spark Capital Mercer Offices | © Paul Warchol, courtesy of Desai Chia Architecture

The work area consists of an open space designed for coworking, around which there are private offices, bordered by full-height glass walls. There is a tall wooden table in the center of the room, which echoes the oval shape and finish of the hanging lamps in the entrance and is surrounded by metal and wood stools. This creates a corner dedicated to break and social moments during the workday.

Spark Capital Mercer Offices | © Paul Warchol, courtesy of Desai Chia Architecture

The wall that separates the lobby from the offices features concentric carvings in the wood, each of which encloses a porthole, allowing light to enter uniformly into the different rooms. Wood is also present in the chandeliers of different sizes, shaped like concentric ripples of water of varying depths.

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