When Italian faucet, shower and sink producer Gessi began searching for a location for its first-ever US showroom, the team had a quintessential New York real-estate experience, scouting more than 150 buildings before deciding on a spot in Manhattan’s SoHo district. The reason for the wide-ranging search: it was critical that Casa Gessi New York City be a place where the narrative of the products on display could blend with the surrounding architecture, enhancing its elegance and beauty.
The 1909 building, originally a power station, had a long and eclectic history that embodied the creative soul of the neighborhood. It was industrial, artsy, cinematic, and unexpected yet very consistent and very New York. These qualities resonated with the Gessi sensibility as well as the company’s search for a building that would mirror the spirit of the city.
Each Casa Gessi around the world – in Milan, Singapore, Riyadh, Dubai and London – is distinctive, tied to the city and culture that host them. In New York, the progression of the ambiance follows the different functions that the space had to perform as well as the original architectural layout of the building.
Inside Casa Gessi New York City
The heritage of the building is on display throughout the interior: exposed copper pipes, cross-vaulted ceilings, a 19th-century wood balustrade brought from France and even an indoor pool from the previous tenant, a film director who also left behind a few movie props such as two giant gilded clocks.
While all the areas connect through a similar theme – floral motifs in amber, rose, burgundy, and dark green shades – each floor has been designed for a different experience and use.
At the entrance floor, LED walls project an imaginative natural world and set up the mood for the experience. On the second floor, a 50-foot indoor pool adds a touch of unpredictability and freshness to the space. On the same floor, a jewelry-like room with leather and velvet booths highlights the plumbing products displayed against magnetic panels. This space is tailored for designers and architects to play with the different parts of the ensembles and create compositions from the various collections.
The third floor is “la piazza”, a lofty, immersive space where Gessi’s world deploys its aesthetics and ethos. The faucet collections, from the core models to the higher-end series, are showcased in lacquered trunks that are symbolic of the brand’s high level craftsmanship and luxury design. “It’s a flowy and mighty space where clients can enjoy and compare the products in relaxation and comfort,” said the design team.
The upper floor features ancillary lounges and a bar that extends to a breezy rooftop used for private events and offers memorable views of SoHo and the New York skyline.
Throughout the interior, the use of color was inspired by the “painter’s palette”; intertwined color transitions lend a dynamic sense to the showroom. Bold burgundy, octane blue and forest green enliven the display space, while floral motifs inspired by British artist William Morris infuse a sense of delicacy. Each shade refers to and belongs, in one way or another, to the brand’s history. More than in other Casa Gessi locations, experiments with graphics emphasize the art’s concept and create color harmonies and connections among floors.
Sources
Design: Gessi Style Studio; Photography: Courtesy Gessi; Cabinets, Cabinet Hardware, Faucets & Fittings, Sinks, Tubs, Fixtures: Gessi; Countertops, Furnishings: Poliform; Lighting: Artemide
