Stephan Weishaupt, founder of Canadian furniture brand Avenue Road, has a knack for juxtaposing emerging and established talent in ways that create a collective allure. His discerning eye takes centre stage in his latest project, Avenue Road 8A, designed in collaboration with the firm, C McKeough Unltd.
Situated above the brand’s New York showroom in Manhattan’s Flower District, it’s a concept space that feels and functions like a home — outfitted with objects from Avenue Road’s portfolio so visitors can see them in action. ‘We wanted to create a special environment that caters to people on a completely different level,’ Weishaupt says.
In addition to hosting events and installations, the by-appointment-only space provides a more personal, private mode of engaging with the objects on view, inspiring ideas for how to make them your own.
The eclectic, sophisticated spirit of 8A (named for its location, on the eighth floor) fills the 5,000 sq ft space. A dazzling kitchen, designed by Bruno Moinard for Obumex, greets visitors upon arrival. Its pink-and-black aesthetic is created by bold copper details, which contrast with brushed oak in dark and light finishes.
A fluorescent Plexiglass work by Regine Schumann
Self-taught French designer Christophe Delcourt created the space’s sprawling dining table, supported by tree branch-like legs. A Richard Serra painting, from Weishaupt’s personal collection, hangs nearby, as do pieces by German artist Regine Schumann, who forms minimal, geometric objects from fluorescent Plexiglass.
A glass door – textured on one side, smooth on the other – by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia reveals a hallway, which leads to the bedroom and two well-appointed bathrooms. Tableware, designed by Michaël Verheyden using noble materials like marble and brass, line a shelving system in the dressing room.
The back of the space, a generous salon, holds two sofas: one, by Christophe Delcourt, features modules that connect via magnets; the other, by Yabu Pushelberg, was one of the first pieces Avenue Road opened with more than a decade ago.
As in any great New York apartment, the objects in 8A will stay put for awhile — unlike the furniture in the downstairs showroom, where pieces rotate constantly. Weishaupt opened the latter in 2012, five years after launching the company in Toronto; a showroom in Vancouver is slated for completion later this year. Weishaupt, who was born in Munich to design-loving parents, worked in marketing at BMW before starting Avenue Road.
Today, he acts as its main curator, seeking out objects characterised by top-tier craftsmanship and ingenuity in form and materials. For him, building deep, authentic relationships with clients and designers is paramount (and one of his favourite parts about the job).
‘Ten years ago, I didn’t know what this would morph into – I just wanted to show things that are beautiful and unique,’ Weishaupt says. ‘Now my vision is so much clearer. I hope this new space reflects how far we’ve come.’
A dazzling kitchen, designed by Bruno Moinard for Obumex, makes use of bold copper details and brushed oak
Left, the space mimics a great New York apartment. Right, Avenue Road founder Stephan Weishaupt
The concept space feels and functions like a home
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Avenue Road website
ADDRESS
Avenue Road 8A
145 W 28th Street
New York, NY 10001
-
First look – Bottega Veneta and Flos release a special edition of the Model 600Gino Sarfatti’s fan favourite from 1966 is born again with Bottega Veneta’s signature treatments gracing its leather base
-
We stepped inside the Stedelijk Museum's newest addition in AmsterdamAmsterdam's Stedelijk Museum has unveiled its latest addition, the brand-new Don Quixote Sculpture Hall by Paul Cournet of Rotterdam creative agency Cloud
-
On a sloped Los Angeles site, a cascade of green 'boxes' offers inside outside livingUnStack, a house by FreelandBuck, is a cascading series of bright green volumes, with mountain views
-
A celestial New York exhibition showcases Roman and Williams’ mastery of lightingLauded design studio Roman and Williams is exhibiting 100 variations of its lighting ‘family tree’ inside a historic Tribeca space
-
Brooklyn furniture studio Stillmade unveils its first collaborative design seriesStillmade brings to life the designs of four New Yorkers – Pat Kim, Danny Kaplan, Michele Quan and Mignogna Studio
-
Blue Green Works's lighting champions a new aesthetic in American designManhattan-based design studio Blue Green Works fuses sensuality and masculinity to create mellow, mood-enhancing lighting with visual impact
-
Blue Green Works introduces alluring new lighting collectionInspired by iconography, American design studio Blue Green Works introduces five new lighting ranges
-
First look inside Centurion New York by Yabu PushelbergCenturion New York is an expansive new space for American Express’ ‘black card’ members. Its interior designers Yabu Pushelberg give us a tour
-
‘If I Were a Carpenter’: Ron Arad chairs revisited with AlpiRon Arad chairs are revisited with Italian wood-composite specialist Alpi, giving the ‘Big Easy’, ‘Oh Void’ and ‘Southern Hemisphere’ a new look
-
Exclusive peek at artfully curated home in Jean Nouvel’s 53 West 53RR Interiors' latest furnishing project – 61A at 53 West 53 – highlights art, architecture and city views inside Jean Nouvel's monumental New York skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan
-
Industrial elements are imbued with elegance in Holly Hunt’s new Los Angeles showroomHolly Hunt and architects Johnston Marklee have created a warm and tactile space in a 1940s building
