LOCATION
Manhattan, NY

SCALE
900 sf

DATES
2024

STATUS
Completed

Located in the Garment District of New York City, Sopo is the first location for a new Korean fast casual restaurant. Occupying 900 square feet on the ground floor of The Arsenal Building—completed in 1924 and designed by architect Ely Jacques Kahn—the space draws inspiration from Dosirak, a traditional Korean compartmentalized platter. A suspended box, featuring separate compartments, mirrors the layout of the space below, with each section serving a unique function. The box’s outer shell is designed to reflect the surrounding urban environment, while its interior is lined with acoustic plaster, softening the texture and reducing the noise from the bustling 7th Avenue beyond.

^{A suspended compartmentalized box mirrors the program of the space below.}

A compartmentalized ceiling is made up of a series of compartments and baffles, concealing utilities and providing opportunities for sound absorption and indirect lighting. 

^{A ceiling that tunes our spatial experience.}

^{An exercise in minimal intervention for maximum impact.}