Roman and Williams

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Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors is a Manhattan-based American design firm founded by Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch in 2002.[1]

Recipients of a 2014 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design, Roman and Williams has been called "one of the most sought-after design outfits" by W Magazine[2] and was named one of America’s 50 Most Influential Designers by Fast Company in 2011.[3]

Known for what the Wall Street Journal has named "slow design," with its emphasis on craft and substance,[4] the firm undertakes building design, interior design, branding, as well as the design of custom furniture, lighting, and plumbing fittings and fixtures.

Principals

Robin Standefer was born in New York City and studied at the Art Students League and the Academia di Belle Arti di Firenze. During this time, she also apprenticed with Robert Mapplethorpe and James Rosenquist[5] Standefer attended Hampshire College and Smith College before moving to the City University of New York to study art history[2] under the direction of Linda Nochlin. In 1993, she was hired by film director Martin Scorsese to work as a visual consultant for several of his films[6] which led to a 15-year career in film design.

Stephen Alesch is a designer, draftsman, photographer, painter, illustrator, etcher, and printer[7] who studied engineering and philosophy at Northern Arizona University. He left the university for an architectural apprenticeship and worked for architecture firms Bahram Nashat, Quentin Dart Parker, and Venice Atelier, all in Los Angeles.

Robin and Stephen met in the 1990s while working in Hollywood as production designers and art directors.[8] Together, they designed more than 20 Hollywood films including Practical Magic, Addicted to Love and Zoolander.

The couple are married and live in New York City; they also spend time at their residence in Montauk, New York.

Firm history

Robin and Stephen's first residential design project was for Ben Stiller, who hired the pair to design his family's Los Angeles home after working with them on the set of his film Duplex,[9] leading to the founding of their firm, Roman and Williams.[10]

The firm's first office was located on the lot of Paramount Pictures, before they came back to New York in 2004 and established their offices on Lafayette Street.[11]

After the launch of their firm, Roman and Williams designed major residential projects for A-list celebrity clients including Kate Hudson, Elisabeth Shue and Davis Guggenheim, and Gwyneth Paltrow.[12][13][14][15] Other residential projects include the renovation and expansion of one of Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian Houses.

Standefer and Alesch view their own homes, in Manhattan and Montauk, as perhaps, the purest expression of their interests and the homes act as design laboratories and inspirations for the firm’s projects.[16] The New York Times called their East Fourth Street loft, "an appealing hybrid, as if an apartment from the Apthorp had been reassembled by the furniture designers Pierre Chareau or Jean Prouve."[17]

The firm completed its first ground-up residential building at 211 Elizabeth Street, in NoLiTa, renowned for its use of traditional, hand-laid brick.[18]

Among the firm's completed commercial projects are: the renovation of the Royalton Hotel,[19] the interiors of the Standard Hotel (including The Standard Grill and the 18th Floor Club, also known as the Boom Boom Room),[20] for hotelier Andre Balazs, and the Ace Hotel,[21][22][23] for hotelier Alex Calderwood – including The Breslin and John Dory[24][25] restaurants, created by celebrated chef April Bloomfield and restaurateur Ken Friedman,[26][27] and Stumptown Coffee Shop.

Additional Manhattan projects have included Roman and Williams' 2015 design of Stephen Starr's Upland Restaurant and Andrew Carmellini's SoHo restaurant, The Dutch, followed up by Lafayette, which launched in 2013 and has been called "The Great Gatsby of restaurants" by the New York Observer.[28]

From 2013 to 2015, Roman and Williams finished several hotel projects in the United States including in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Connecticut and Chicago as well as the Freehand Miami in Miami Beach. The firm is the interior designer for the Freehand brand, which now includes hotels in Miami Beach, Florida and Chicago, IL with plans for future Freehand hotel openings in Los Angeles and New York.[29] During this period the firm also completed the interiors for the Award-winning Chicago Athletic Association, located on Millennial Park, which has been named the best new hotel in America by Men's Journal. Additional hotel projects include Viceroy Hotel New York, which opened in Midtown New York in October 2013 and features a Roman and Williams-designed exterior and interior, as well as custom designed lighting and furniture by the firm in the guest rooms.[30]

The firm's other completed projects include the design of the goop mrkt pop-up store, working with goop Creative Director Gwyneth Paltrow and featuring the designs of Valentino.[31] Other projects include a mess hall on the new Facebook campus in Menlo Park, California, and the HuffPost Live studio set and offices in New York, which debuted Spring 2012.

In 2014, Roman and Williams expanded beyond the United States with Cantinery, a restaurant located in the heart of Istanbul's Zorlu Center,[32] followed by the opening of Replay - The Stage,[33] the brand’s flagship store in Milan which also includes a full-service restaurant, also designed by Roman and Williams.[29]

The firm has designed two ground-up residential buildings. The first, at 211 Elizabeth Street, in NoLiTa, was praised for its use of traditional, hand-laid brick.[34] The second, The Fitzroy, was designed for JDS Development and is located in Chelsea, near the High Line.[35]

In May 2016 The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors is collaborating with The Met’s Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts and other staff on an ambitious renovation project to create a "spectacular, narrative-rich, and profoundly sympathetic setting for the works of art".[36] Ten galleries devoted to British decorative arts and sculpture of the early 16th through 19th century will be reimagined and reinstalled, including three historic interiors.

Product design

Roman and Williams launched a product design division in September 2012, and since then have designed several product and furniture lines, including their R.W. Atlas line for Waterworks, released in September 2012.[37] Their furniture designs for MatterMade premiered at ICFF in May 2013 and the line was praised by the New York Times for having a "laserlike attention to details."[38]

Such work includes a custom-made credenza, The Eater, which debuted in Milan, Italy during Salone del Mobile as part of Wallpaper Magazine’s Handmade Project.[39]

In celebration of their tenth year, the firm released a monograph, Things We Made, with Rizzoli, in October 2012, followed by the release of a Japanese edition in May 2014 with Graphic-Sha.[40] The book shows the firm's work from the past decade, as well as the principals' previous work in film.

Works

Major residential projects by the duo include a refurbishment of the Usonian House.[41] Commercial works include the design of the Facebook cafeteria.[42] The firm has also designed the interiors of several hotels for the Sydell Group, including the NoMad Hotel in Manhattan, and the Freehand Hotel in Miami.[43]

Product

  • Waterworks – "RW Atlas" line of fixtures, bath furniture, and tiles (launched Fall 2012)[44][45]
  • Rizzoli International – Things We Made monograph (published Fall 2012)[46]
  • Matter – "Roman and Williams+MatterMade" line of furniture and lighting (launched Spring 2013)[47]
  • Waterworks – "R.W. Atlas" line of fixtures, lighting, and hardware (launched September 2014)[48]

Awards

  • 2009 – Ace Hotel New York: Interior Design's "Best of Year-Boutique Hotel"[49]
  • 2009 – The New York Times "Nifty Fifty"[50]
  • 2010 – 211 Elizabeth Street: Palladio Award[51]
  • 2011 – Architectural Digest's "AD100"[52]
  • 2011 – The Wallpaper* 150[53]
  • 2011 – Fast Company's FastCo Design's 50 Most Influential Designers[54]
  • 2012 – Architectural Digest Top 100 Designers[55]
  • 2013 – Elle Décor A List Designers[56]
  • 2013 – Lawrence Israel Prize Winners[57]
  • 2013 – Lafayette: Winner of "Stone Cold Stunner" in NYC Eater Awards[58]
  • 2013 – Architectural Digest Top 100 Designers[59]
  • 2014 – Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design category[60]
  • 2015 – Replay the Stage: EuroShop Retail Design Award for Best Store Design[61]
  • 2015 – Chicago Athletic Association: Gold Key Award for Excellence in Hospitality Design, Best Upscale Hotel[62]
  • 2015 – Architectural Digest Top 100 Designers[63]
  • 2016 - Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business[64]

Work for film

Robin Standefer film credits

Year Film Role
1989 New York Stories Fine arts curator
1990 Goodfellas Art department researcher
1991 The Rapture Production designer
1992 Mac Production designer
1993 The Age of Innocence Video research consultant
1994 The New Age Production designer
1995 Search and Destroy Production designer
1996 The Pallbearer Production designer
1997 Commandments Production designer
Addicted to Love[65] Production designer
1998 Illuminata Production designer
Practical Magic[66] Production designer
1999 The Invisible Circus Production designer
2001 The Caveman's Valentine Production designer
Get Over It Production designer
Zoolander[67] Production designer
2002 The Guru Production designer
2003 Duplex[68] Production designer

Stephen Alesch film credits

Year Film Role
1993 Matinee Set designer
1994 Cabin Boy Set designer
New Nightmare Set designer
Stargate Set designer
1995 Galaxis Set designer
Search and Destroy Art director
1996 The Pallbearer Art director
1997 Commandments Art director
Addicted to Love[65] Art director
Gattaca Set designer
1998 Illuminata Art director
What Dreams May Come Set designer
Practical Magic[66] Architectural consultant
1999 The Invisible Circus Art director
2000 Gun Shy Art director
2001 The Caveman's Valentine Art director/visual consultant (New York)
Get Over It Art director
Zoolander[67] Art director
2002 Issaquena Production designer
The Guru Production designer
2003 Duplex[68] Production designer

References

Notes
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  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [31]
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 162–171
  42. ↑ Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 228–239
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 288–301
  45. ↑ http://www.waterworks.com/collections/waterworks/rw-atlas/761
  46. ↑ Alesch et al. 2012
  47. ↑ http://mattermatters.com/products.asp?id=512
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 264–271
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 280–285
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 254–263
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Alesch et al. 2012, pp. 272–279
Bibliography
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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