Archi-Tectonics

Inscape’s Meditation Studio opened in Chelsea in 2018 as the first PROTO-Space for the meditation wellness center. Seamlessly integrated within Inscape’s multi-faceted approach toward self-care, Archi-Tectonics designed the first 4,500 sq ft space as a curated transition between the busy New York City street and the studio’s two specially formed meditation spaces, the Dome Room and the Alcove Room.

Upon entering the Chelsea studio, guests pass through a Living Room with relaxed seating, scents and sounds, and sip tea as they wait for guided group meditation sessions. A curated collection of wellness products sits on modular, custom bamboo shelving while phones and headsets give guests a look into Inscape’s app for at-home or on-the-go mindfulness experience.

The primary meditation space, the Dome Room is a fully immersive environment of light, sound, and air formed by a parametrically modelled spiraling bamboo ceiling emerging from an ellipsoid bench enveloping the user in a warm embrace. Soft colored LED lighting is guided through a light-transmitting fabric enclosing the dome, and a low ring of light mimics a horizon, aimed at settling the mind. Every detail within the Dome Room allows guests to fully concentrate on one’s self: the space is highly engineered and soundproofed, yet appears simple, seamless and calm, devoid of all technology. A grid of concealed micro speakers creates an optimized, soothing ambient soundscape, in tandem with carefully orchestrated LED lighting that adjusts in intensity and color depending on the selected meditation.

All aspects of the Chelsea studio are comprised of natural, recycled, and renewable materials; and by utilizing local sources and off-site prefabricated production, Archi-Tectonics minimized waste and transportation costs. Dome Room proportions and connections were tested via a full-scale mockup fabricated by Aria Group in Irvine, California. Pre-fab construction was engineered in collaboration with Tietz-Baccon of Long Island City, NY. Beyond being a diverse, intensive collaboration between design, retail, branding, prototyping, and manufacturing, the result is a wellness-driven meditation brand that can be distributed internationally: with its app and online presence and the optimized packaging of the meditation rooms’ CNC-milled forms and natural materials, Inscape is fully localized and adaptable.

Credits

Year: Completed 2018

Location: Chelsea, NYC

Client: INSCAPE

Project Type: Meditation Concept and Space

Size: Groundlevel: 4500 sq ft Meditation, Lower level: 3400 sq ft Headquarters

Design Team: Principal in charge: Winka Dubbeldam, Assoc. AIA | Archi-Tectonics Team: Thiebaud Noll, Boden Davies, Chong Gao

Photography: Christian Harder | Hans Fonk | Frederica Carlet | Archi-Tectonics

Architect of Record: Randall Collins, Architect

Videography: MSNBC

Credits

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