15 watts brings the arts and culture back to soho at this chic hospitality lounge inspired by artist salons in the golden age of soho it nods to the loft scene that once defined new york s downtown where painters musicians writers filmmakers and designers blurred together to create an unspoken creative vibe if you know you know this isn t a membership club or a velvet rope it s a return the atmosphere is intellectual but effortless romantic but real art music and hospitality converge here creating a rhythm that feels both familiar and new the design of 15 watts lives in contrast refined yet raw tactile yet restrained it draws from the soho lofts where art and life shared the same air the stage is part of the architecture a quiet anchor within the flow of the room materials are honest patina over polish warmth over perfection light moves like sound soft revealing and alive every element has a purpose but nothing feels staged the design doesn t perform it participates it s a space that breathes romantic minimal and human the stairwell is expansive taking up the entire wall on the right side of the image and landing on the stage imagine casually descending the long stairwell with a single curve and just arriving where performance is inevitable on the stage at the center of the space 2700k warm light washes the space from 20 arched old factory windows historical context 15 watts street was originally completed as a new york edison substation in 1928 through the design process research the history of the building and draw inspiration from its original use do not change the placement of the architectural features in the image do rethink the staircase and do address all materials to make sure they align with the design ethos this should be a design vision rendering the furnishings should be beautiful surprising and functional simplistic and sculptural in the space tactile fabrics natural materials clean lines and a juxtoposition between old and new hard and soft romantic and brutalist above all else the space should be chic a new york hot spot worth of a feature in architectural digest be sure to replace the light fixtures our design for the interiors can be guided and inspired by the history of the building the 7 story building was originally completed as a new york edison substation in 1928 the materials and textures of the original building provide a rich context for the design and serve as bridge between the building s historic role in electrifying new york city and its future place as an iconic social hub in soho by celebrating and amplifying the structure finishes and materials of the original architecture and contrasting them with newer and refined finishes the space can become a physical expression of the dialogue between an industrial past and a bright future for soho
