As this series continues, it spotlights global innovators who are original, known, lesser known and some perchance even already highly regarded and respected within their areas of expertise. The common thread is style and fashion; whether it takes its form in interiors, apparel, accessories, retail, photography or any of the related professions that surround fashion and style. Please note that some of my “cast members ” have chosen to follow a path than includes utilizing the “tools” of the past thereby rendering a new and modern vision for today’s climate of fashion and style. These “createurs” are at the vanguard of design and style!!
With concerns such as size constraints, environment, color, style, proportion, materials, lifestyle, and visual appeal, one might think the topic was fashion … and it is, just not in the conventional sense of the word. The topic today is about creators/designers who are architects, so in essence instead of designing a dress or a suit these designers design the “outfit” that clothes or encapsulates your life or business.
These talented architects fulfill dreams the same way an Haute Couturier fulfills a dream for the penultimate dress. Sometimes, they are building a stand-alone structure to fit in with the environment of a “wardrobe” if you will and sometimes they are designing a singular world, think wedding gown, which reflects the owner and not just the firm’s particular esthetic. The concept is quite the same as apparel just tweaked by what materials are used and what the end result will be but the modus operandi is quite similar
SPG has 2 principals, based in NYC, and yet their body of work is global. Caroline N. Sidnam, aka Coty, has led the firm to undertake paid and pro bono projects. Her extensive travel experience has guided her role as lead architect on a variety of long distance projects both in the US and abroad. Then there is Eric Gartner, aka a friend, who has worked to broaden the firm's range of project types and nurtured it in order to expand its national and international presence. SPG Architects' built work is now located not only across the US, but also throughout Latin America and in Africa, and has been published worldwide.
The roster of client includes including residences, corporate offices and retail establishments. Fashion clients include Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Corneliani, Catherine Malandrino, and Bill Blass New York, Coty, Hartmann Luggage, Time Warner, American Online, Kemado Records and Palm Pictures. Of course these are the marquee names but there is another world outside that of the recognized names and it is those anonymous entities that shape an international business. Again this is much like the celebrity game of who is wearing your dress and yet that designer never singles out the clients who in fact support these businesses on a daily basis.
Meet them and maybe you will be the next owner of an SPG original!
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