Podcast Summary: The Grand Tourist Introduces: Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, BoND

Release Date: October 16, 2024

In this enriching episode of The Grand Tourist with Dan Rubinstein, host Dan Rubinstein delves into the vibrant worlds of contemporary design by introducing three distinguished emerging design practices: Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, and BoND. Each guest brings a unique perspective, blending history, creativity, and cultural influences to redefine the landscape of design.

1. Charlap Hyman & Herrero: Crafting Soulful Spaces

Guests: Adam Charlep Hyman (Interior Designer) & Andre Herrero (Architect)
Firm Established: 2014
Locations: Los Angeles (Andre) & New York (Adam)
Key Themes: Collaboration, Soulfulness in Design, Historical Inspiration, Bicoastal Creativity

Collaboration Genesis: Adam and Andre's partnership began serendipitously when Adam requested Andre to photograph his senior year apartment project—a homage to a 1950s fashion editor. This collaboration, which involved using various cameras and times of day to document the space, laid the foundation for their enduring friendship and professional synergy. (00:27 - 04:46)

Design Philosophy: Describing their portfolio as "soulful," Adam emphasizes their focus on creating spaces that evoke emotional reactions rather than being bound by contemporary aesthetics. They deliberate on history-inspired motifs and shapes that transcend time, enabling their work to resonate across different eras. (04:46 - 08:11)

Notable Projects:

• IM Pei House: A townhouse previously owned by the renowned architect IM Pei on Sutton Place, showcasing their ability to honor historical architecture while infusing modern elements.
• Stanford White House: An octagonal house from the turn of the century, demonstrating their skill in sympathetically renovating and reimagining existing structures.

Andre highlights the diversity of their portfolio, noting that in the same month they were featured for maximalist and minimalist designs, underscoring their versatility. (10:56 - 11:10)

Bicoastal Operations: With separate teams in Los Angeles and New York, Charlap Hyman & Herrero draw inspiration from both coasts, allowing them to infuse a blend of West Coast ease and East Coast sophistication into their projects. Their global reach extends to Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, showcasing adaptability and cultural sensitivity. (11:10 - 14:31)

Design Process: Their client onboarding involves a comprehensive proposal, extensive reference image collection, and iterative 3D spatial explorations. They prioritize understanding client personalities and building trust through a collaborative process, ultimately presenting clients with multiple design options to refine their vision. (14:31 - 20:16)

Inspiration Sources: Travel plays a pivotal role in fueling their creativity. Adam recounts visiting James Ivory's Greek Revival octagonal house, while Andre shares his fascination with Frank Gehry's sculptural pieces. Their shared passion for cataloging images and immersive experiences enables them to continuously draw fresh ideas. (20:16 - 26:14)

Upcoming Ventures:

• Restaurant Design in Hudson, NY: Their inaugural restaurant project initiated from scratch.
• Exhibition at MARTA Gallery, LA: Featuring their innovative lighting designs.
• 160,000 Square Foot Bio Lab in Missoula, Montana: Highlighting sustainable mass timber construction.

Describing Their Practice: Andre succinctly encapsulates their approach with three words: soulful, artistic, rigorous. This triad reflects their commitment to creating emotionally resonant, aesthetically pleasing, and meticulously executed designs. (27:14 - 27:28)

2. Sophie Lou Jacobsen: Blending Heritage with Modernity

Guest: Sophie Lou Jacobson
Background: French American, born in Seattle, raised between the USA and France
Design Focus: Ceramics, Glass Objects, Tabletop, Lighting
Notable Collections: Bouquet, Flora, Ripple Cup
Collaborations: Commonwealth Lighting
Upcoming Projects: London Design Festival Showroom Installation

Cultural Influences: Sophie’s bicultural upbringing in Seattle and France instilled a deep appreciation for both American and French aesthetics. Growing up amidst nature in Seattle and experiencing cultural shifts in Paris at 16 enhanced her adaptability and cultural sensitivity, which she integrates into her designs. (30:11 - 33:39)

Journey into Design: Initially drawn to architecture, Sophie transitioned to design through art school in Paris. A pivotal mentorship with an industrial designer inspired her to pursue a career in design, leading to her first glass collection for New York Design Week in 2018. Her early work focused on creating functional yet emotionally engaging objects, such as glassware designed for making cleaning products attractively. (33:39 - 37:21)

Signature Aesthetic: Sophie’s collections are characterized by their graphic, colorful, and playful designs. Over time, her work has evolved to maintain its emotional depth while embracing a more nuanced aesthetic. Her Ripple Cup gained viral popularity, blending traditional tumbler forms with modern, vibrant colors. (37:21 - 41:53)

Collaboration with Commonwealth: Sophie collaborated with Commonwealth Lighting to create the Flora Collection, a 22-piece lighting ensemble. This partnership merges old-world glasscraft techniques with contemporary design, resulting in pieces that complement both historical and modern interiors. The collection's success is attributed to its craftsmanship and versatility across diverse settings. (41:56 - 46:04)

Views on Decorative Arts: Sophie advocates for the term decorative arts, emphasizing its role in adding soul and functionality to everyday objects. She argues that decoration is integral to human-focused, functional design, bridging aesthetics and practicality. (46:04 - 48:25)

Upcoming Projects:

• London Design Festival: A showroom installation at De Gournay, featuring new lighting designs, mirrors, and sconces. This project highlights her expansion into independent lighting production and collaboration with antique dealer Christopher Colley for space curation. (48:25 - 51:08)

Describing Herself: Sophie describes herself as curious, optimistic, and evolving, reflecting her continuous pursuit of creativity and adaptability in design. (51:08 - 51:16)

3. BoND: Redefining Queer Spaces through Design

Guests: Noam de Vere & Daniel Rauschwerger
Firm: BoND (Bureau of Noam and Daniel)
Origins: Transitioned from journalism in Tel Aviv to design after studying at Harvard
Key Themes: Queer Design, Cultural Integration, Revitalizing Fire Island Pines, Collaborative Partnership

Background and Transition: Noam and Daniel, both former journalists from Tel Aviv, transitioned into the design world after pursuing graduate studies at Harvard. Their diverse backgrounds in media and architecture fostered a unique approach to design, blending storytelling with spatial creativity. (53:52 - 60:09)

Formation of BoND: Inspired by their experiences and the vibrant cultural scene in New York, they established BoND with a mission to create designs that reflect queer lifestyles and modern desires. Their work emphasizes the intersection of culture, gender, and history, particularly within the Fire Island Pines community. (60:09 - 65:37)

Company Gallery Project: One of their flagship projects, Company Gallery, involved transforming a dilapidated warehouse in Bowery into a dynamic art space. The design preserved the building's historical grit while introducing playful and vibrant elements, such as a lesbian bar with pink neon lights. This project epitomizes their philosophy of balancing modernist minimalism with edgy, vibrant cultural expressions. (67:21 - 71:02)

Focus on Fire Island Pines: BoND has become synonymous with the revitalization of the Fire Island Pines, a predominantly queer community known for its unique blend of modernist architecture and vibrant nightlife. They have undertaken numerous projects in the Pines, from renovating existing homes to designing new structures that reflect the community's progressive and inclusive ethos. Their upcoming ground-up project on the island emphasizes sustainable design and a deep understanding of the community's needs and cultural significance. (71:43 - 77:46)

Design Philosophy: Noam and Daniel advocate for a blend of high and low culture within their designs, ensuring spaces are both functional and expressive of the community's identity. They prioritize creating environments that foster connection, visibility, and inclusivity, aligning with the dynamic and evolving nature of queer culture. (71:43 - 83:27)

Advice to Aspiring Designers: The duo emphasizes the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and maintaining a high level of design integrity while managing the commercial aspects of running a design firm. They encourage young designers to stay true to their creative visions and to embrace diverse cultural influences. (78:30 - 83:27)

Future Aspirations: While BoND remains rooted in New York, Noam and Daniel look forward to expanding their horizons through international projects and sabbaticals in Europe. They aim to continue evolving their practice by embracing new challenges and fostering global connections. (83:27 - End)

Conclusion

This episode of The Grand Tourist elegantly showcases the evolving landscape of design through the lenses of Charlap Hyman & Herrero, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, and BoND. Each guest exemplifies the fusion of historical inspiration, cultural sensitivity, and innovative creativity, reaffirming the essence of a well-lived life enriched by thoughtful design. From soulful architectural spaces and playful ceramics to redefining queer environments, Dan Rubinstein's featured guests inspire listeners to appreciate the intricate tapestry of modern design.

Note: Advertisements, introductions, and outros have been omitted to focus solely on the content-rich discussions with the guests.