In the summer of 2008 SO-IL was asked to envision fashion designer Derek Lam’s new center of operations, in their move from West-Chelsea to a the more fashionable location in a landmarked loft building on Crosby Street in Manhattan. The fluid and spontaneous nature of Derek Lam’s operation, which we discovered during our first visits to their office, juxtaposed with the quintessential block-deep SoHo loft immediately presented us with the opportunity to imagine a productive connection between seemingly unrelated spaces; between the stable and the flexible.

Location.

Through stripping the loft building - previously used as a boxing gym, above the SANAA designed Derek Lam boutique - down to its bare essence, and introducing a few measured architectural elements, we were able to create an environment where the existing subtly gets embedded in the new. The initially contradicting desire for both an open spaces and substantial privacy is achieved by devising a series of adjoining realms - gently separated through slender walls - connected through a sequence of large portals.

Axon.

Framed with thin steel tubes, the 2-1/2” thick wall is finished with bee waxed plaster to reflect light. This creates a calibrated environment of sheens and shades, where designers, administrative personnel and production staffs collaborate. Egress, storage and other support program is organized in a monochromatic zone along the southern parti-wall behind a single continuous polyurethane partition. Its dark reflective surface bounces daylight deep into the space to further emphasize the extraordinary span from Crosby to Broadway.

2008年夏天时装设计师德里克·拉姆（Derek Lam）邀请SO-IL为他的新运营中心进行室内设计。这个新中心位于曼哈顿区克劳斯比街上的一个地标性建筑内。在第一次参观他的办公室时，我们便发现了其空间结构上并置着的两大特点：流动的自然性和经典的宽敞幽深的60年代纽约SoHo区经典的复式结构。这立刻启发了我们对新空间的构想：如何能在看似毫无联系的静态空间与灵活空间之间建立起一个高效的连接？

通过简化原有的曾作为拳击房的复式空间至其最本质的结构并引进少许经过考量的建筑元素，我们创造出一个让旧有风格隐约内嵌于新环境的设计。原本自相矛盾的两个要求——开敞空间和高度私密——也通过我们设置的一系列链接区域和轻薄的隔墙而实现。

2英尺半英寸（62cm）厚的强由钢条框架起来并粉刷上一层封釉石膏以产生反射的效果。这样的墙面处理使整个空间光影明晰，让设计师，管理人员和生产工作人员能更高效的合作。消防通道，储物空间等都一个单独的分隔墙规整在被建筑物南部界墙的一侧。这面墙深色且反光的表面让充足的日光反射进工作室，在光影上跟深刻的强调了这个空间横跨两条主街的尺度。

Photography Dean Kaufman / Iwan Baan