It is our passion to design compelling and evocative spaces and places that stir the imagination and stand as precedents of design excellence.
In our approach, we blend innovation, sustainability strategies, ecology and biology, economics, architectural detailing, engineering, and identity of place - all in one discourse.
We work across the globe, conceptualizing and realizing public and private projects of all sizes. These include small intimate gardens, residential developments, private estates, urban master plans, public realms, parks, streetscapes, waterfronts, commercial developments, institutional campuses, the outdoor spaces of museums and recreational facilities, as well as other civic and cultural destinations.
Our attitude is collaborative, positive and optimistic, and we truly work across disciplinary boundaries while embracing unrestrained creativity.
For us, every project deserves a holistic approach in order to achieve the best possible outcome - socially, culturally, economically, and environmentally. We also consider what our design will mean for the adjacent context, as often our projects are found within historic settings. What impact will our design have on the identity of the place as a whole? What is the experience? And most important, how will our design work for people?
As dreamers and pragmatists, we are driven to come up with bold ideas that are rooted in functionality, meticulous detailing, and constructibility.
Our objective is to create designs which have embedded immersive and alluring qualities - that are refreshing, comfortable, and welcoming - spaces that are original and have never been seen before, that exude an inherent positive spirit and carry elements of surprise.
Our goal is always to establish an appropriate and unique character, ultimately resulting in a place that is memorable, frequently used, and loved.
Client: Vornado Realty Trust - Project Partners: Rafael Viñoly Architects
61 Ninth Ave - New York
Project Info
61 Ninth Avenue is in the heart of New York City’s Meatpacking District. For this project, !melk designed a series of outdoor terraces as well as a semi-public roof garden that overlooks one of the area’s busiest corners.
The 10-story mixed-use building, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects prioritizes outdoor space. Taking cues from RVA’s architectural language, !melk’s landscape design utilizes fractal geometries to establish a framework for the flexible use of outdoor space.
With the individual tenants in mind, the terraces of the building are equipped with a modular kit of planters and benches which can be used to create different layouts. !melk’s planting design consists of native plant communities that change from level to level and features seasonal interest. This gradient is inspired by the ecology of the hills that once covered the site.
The roof design includes topographic planters with lush vegetation, creating an immersive environment suspended over the Meatpacking District. The rectilinear planters are juxtaposed with custom CNC-cut wood benches, which are fluid and continuous in form, and allow for a myriad of possibilities for activity & use, from meeting to lounging.
61 Ninth Avenue is in the heart of New York City’s Meatpacking District. For this project, !melk designed a series of outdoor terraces as well as a semi-public roof garden that overlooks one of the area’s busiest corners.
The 10-story mixed-use building, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects prioritizes outdoor space. Taking cues from RVA’s architectural language, !melk’s landscape design utilizes fractal geometries to establish a framework for the flexible use of outdoor space.
With the individual tenants in mind, the terraces of the building are equipped with a modular kit of planters and benches which can be used to create different layouts. !melk’s planting design consists of native plant communities that change from level to level and features seasonal interest. This gradient is inspired by the ecology of the hills that once covered the site.
The roof design includes topographic planters with lush vegetation, creating an immersive environment suspended over the Meatpacking District. The rectilinear planters are juxtaposed with custom CNC-cut wood benches, which are fluid and continuous in form, and allow for a myriad of possibilities for activity & use, from meeting to lounging.