Mr. N at L-INES Studio
tanding 23 stories tall in San Francisco's South Financial District, 301 Howard St office building is a distinguishable landmark. Its entrance and lobby underwent a massive renovation in 2018, under the direction of Huntsman Architectural Group.
Upon entering the lobby, visitors are surrounded with quiet modernism: a serene sanctuary and contrast to the bustle of the city streets outside. Lead Designer Alaina Ladner and her team designed the lobby and amenity area to represent the progression of travel within a harbor. This theme is a fitting tribute to the fact that the surrounding Transbay Terminal area was itself once a harbor.
The lobby shows elements of tidal movements' “push and pull": scalloped layers in the ceiling; curved, sculptural benches stained the color of driftwood; floors twinkling with specs of glass. From the “shore” of the lobby, we can travel to the “docks” of the wood-wrapped elevator lobby or go straight “into the deep”: the oceanic amenity space.
The amenity space, whether utilized for working or relaxing, invites us to sit; although we may feel the urge to swim. References to the sea are plentiful, and the deep marine blue hues and stony greys achieve the feeling of being underwater. Koncept’s Gravy Wall Sconces, in this context, mimic clamshells, with their opened white discs. These award-winning sconces are interestingly mounted between slats of hardwood. As visitors wait or relax in marine blue chairs, they can easily direct the light by rotating or bending the sconce’s hinged light source. The Gravy Wall Sconce has gained global attention due to its unique shape coupled with a fun feature: the ability to change out the finish plates. Since the front and back plates are magnetically attached and therefore easily removed, users can match or complement surrounding decor with wood veneers, metallic, fabric or painted finishes. A primed-white, paintable option opens up even more opportunities for designers–professional or budding–to customize.
The Mr. n and Mr. n tall table lamps, selected for the side tables of a nearby lounge area, accentuate the curves and organic formations found in the ocean. Ladner selected the Mr n. family to stand against the dramatic aquatic backdrop to represent bobbing buoys in the water. The diffused light emitted from Mr. n’s arc-shaped housing can be dimmed by simply touching the Koncept logo at the bottom of the lamp. Mr. n tall features a discrete USB port for users to charge compatible devices.
Huntsman's Nathalie Pouzar was part of the design team on this project. She shares that “the overall intent was for the amenity area to feel like a soothing hospitality space. The lighting played a big part in making that ambience come to life.”
Project
301 Howard St, San Francisco, CA
Designed/Specified by
Huntsman Architectural Group
Product(s)
Mr. n Mr. N Tall Gravy Wall Sconce
