DESIGN FOR MEN

While reading this  old issue of Dwell, I found this gem, Hoagie’s Heroes.  Best friends since middle school, Casey Patten and David Mazza opened Taylor Gourmet, a Philadelphia style deli in 2008.   In September 2009, Dwell featured their first location on H Street NE between North Capitol and 15th Street NE in Washington, DC.  Their goal is to make the best “damn” sandwich in the district.  Due to the popularity of their first store, they recently opened a second deli on K Street NW nestled into the City Vista development in Downtown D.C.  The friends and now business partners moved to the DC area after graduating from Penn State and worked in real estate and construction for several years before buying the building in 2007.  The two decided to place the deli on the ground floor and live in two  850-square-foot, bachelor pads on the second and third floor.

Patten and Mazza hired local architecture and interior design firm, Grupo 7 to realize their space.  They were up front with their vision for a blending of industrial and rustic style and of course achieve their goals  on a limited budget.  The pair challenged the architecture firm to design using cheap materials in innovative ways.   Wood from salvaged shipping pallets are used throughout the deli on walls and cladding the cash wrap.  Chain-link fence poles serve as vertical supports for the shelving in the market.  Another charming and cost-effective solution comes in the bouquet of incandescent lights creating a chandelier in the rear of the deli.  The roll-up doors on the facade at Taylor Gourmet is perhaps the most eye-cathcing feature that differentiates this hot spot from other stores in the area.  The design of the facade and the interior  of the H street store is mimicked in the City Vista location.

A similar palette and sensitivity to rustic and industrial elements carries into the bachelor pad apartments above.  The demolition of the existing apartments revealed brick walls which they choose to expose.

The two one-bedroom apartments are basically identical.  The two also chose to create similar kitchens created by customizing IKEA kitchen cabinets.  The missing element from the homes is a defined dining area which hits home for me.  I really have no need for a dining table and chairs at the moment – particularly because I tend to eat while perched on the sofa in front of my flat screen TV.  So, I totally understand the omission.

The similar layouts will be certainly help with resale and the NE  neighborhood is on the rise.  As their business grows, the two can find others to take over their homes.

I must say that I am a bit jealous – it has always been my dream to own a small store and live above it…and I am thrilled to see that their decisions despite having a tight budget were driven by  sustainable design and enhancing the neighborhood.

IMAGE CREDITS: Dwell

I finally had the chance to check out the Eastern Market Flea Market yesterday in D.C. I was a little disappointed by the lack of true antiques and my fave, mid century and industrial pieces. But the area is beautiful and as a professional shopper, I managed to find some great items. The following are my favorites from the trip.  Above Thonet side chairs and Industrial stool.

Handmade wood cutting boards – Just amazing!

Handmade Tea Set with Pussy Willow Detail

African Mask and Ebonized table

David Adjaye is only 43 and this rising starchitect has not slowed down since he opened his London based practice 8 years ago.  Born in Tanzania, Adjaye’s father was a Ghanaian diplomat and he and  his family lived in Jeddah, Cairo, and Beirut during his childhood.  Adjaye’s design style draws from experiences, especially in residential projects placing significance on privacy and the home as a retreat.  While his public works are more accessible and open.  Adjaye has not let his success go to his head, still managing large commissions along with socially conscious low-budget work.

In April,  Adjaye won the $500 million commission to design National Museum of African American History & Culture in D.C., a collaborative effort between Adjaye, the Freelon Group, and Davis Brody Bond.  The museum, located near the Washington Monument will most likely be the last addition to the National Mall.  The competition for the museum was steep to say the least.  Among the finalists were Moshe Safdie & Associates, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Foster + Company.   Check out the finalists work here.  At the presentation to the selection committee, Adjaye set himself apart from the pack by addressing the past as well as hope for the future for Black Americans.   “I spoke about celebration. How do we make a building that says ‘Look at where we are!’ not just ‘Look at where we came from’ or ‘Look at what we went through’?” according to Fast Company’s featured story which profiled the designer in their October 09 issue.  Elements of the struggle of Black Americans are expressed in the architecture and materiality of the spaces.  In addition to the museum, Adjaye also submitted a proposal to rebuild two inner-city branches of the  D.C. Public Library.  Adjaye believes that high design should not be just for the large budget projects but everyone.  He went on to say, “The world is changing in a certain way…I’m seeing a design industry — not just architecture — that has more diversity, more new voices and different references coming into the canon.”  Let’s be honest, recognized designers and architects are predominantly white and this can be quite discouraging to young people of color.  I hope that Adjaye’s work can not only change the way people view architecture but inspire the architects and designers of the future.

IMAGE CREDITS:  Picture of David Adjaye from Robert Goldwater Library Online, Images of National Museum of African American History & Culture from Fast Company

A friend told me to stop by Ben’s Chili Bowl.  I somehow forgot how widely publicized it was that President Obama enjoyed eating there.  I must admit, I was a little excited to go to an establishment that the president frequents.  I planned on grabbing a quick bite but something about the space and the friendly staff made me want to linger.  As a designer, I find myself being obsessed with the latest and greatest in design, the up-to-date finishes, architectural innovations and the creative use of materials and furnishings.   The red and white color scheme, the open kitchen, the banquets repaired with duct tape, the lack of any sort of natural finishes.  At Ben’s, all the things as designers we are taught to scoff at, were so appealing.  Why? This place exudes a simplicity that elegantly reflects a past that often gets overshadowed by the new.

While I was enjoying my fries (sorry I don’t eat chili), I realized that we were all fortunate that places like Ben’s open themselves up to the broader community, people of every ethnicity were represented while every staff member was Black.  And I appreciated that on the menu, I read, “Black owned and operated since 1958”.  On August 22, 1958, Ben and Virginia Ali opened Ben’s Chili Bowl.  Reading the rich history of Ben’s sent chills down my spine knowing that the U street corridor was once considered the “Black Broadway”.   Many Black celebrities and visionaries like Martin Luther King, Jr, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole hung out at Ben’s.   Envisioning this rich history made it all the more appropriate that the owners have preserved this very special place.  I enjoyed reading the comments posted as a certain warmth, humor and appreciation of the customers has also been retained.  Some of the coments are listed below:

On the menu, near the hot dog selections:
Welcome to ben’s chili bowl
Our chili will make a hot dog bark

Posted on the kitchen equipment:
Who eats for free at Ben’s?
Bill Cosby
The Obama family
But he paid (hand written)

In the bar and banquet seating area in the front as you leave:
We love our customers
You are the best

Usually when I leave most places, I think about all of the things that I would change about the design, but not here. I am just glad that my friend suggested I drop by.  And I highly recommend that you do too when you visit D.C.  Ben’s is located at 1213 U Street Northwest, Washington, D.C.  Go to the Ben’s Chili Bowl website to find out more about this landmark.  Next time I visit I plan to check out Ben’s Next Door, the Ben’s high end spin off which is located, you guessed it, next door to Ben’s.