Studio Sofield Works - (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

An extraordinary work of bookmaking, this is the first and only book from one of the most sought-after architecture and design ateliers in the world.

For more than three decades, Studio Sofield has brought unalloyed excitement to the practice of design and architecture, creating spaces that reshape the boundaries between art and craft, reality and fantasy, history and the present moment with exceptional elegance and wit. The Studio's projects, which range from homes, retail experiences and hospitality to multistory apartment towers, the seating in their lobbies and the hardware on their doors, invite us to connect--not only with each other, but with the places that bring us joy.

Studio Sofield Works is the landmark first book from the New York City firm.
At 656 pages, this slipcased volume is a visual journey through scores of projects that underline the Studio's distinctive approach, including thirteen featured chapters illustrated with 730 full-color photographs. The book opens with a chronology of highlights, tracing the culture and mood of past decades with beguiling candor and spotlighting the inspiration that William Sofield and Emma O'Neill have taken from the times. The Studio's very first office, above a slaughterhouse in the Meatpacking District, gives rise to ideas for Ralph Lauren's Japanese-inspired estate in Montauk. In Laurel Canyon, the Studio's West Coast home conjures decorative experiments only a Hollywood dream factory could match. And Sofield's endless commuting for fashion clients--among them Gucci, Tom Ford, Bottega Veneta, and Yves Saint Laurent--informs a client's nose-to-tail private plane redesign.

Throughout the book, a series of essays--by Jack Bankowsky, Paul Goldberger, A.M. Homes, John Oakes, Tim Rodgers and Joel Silver--celebrates Studio Sofield's unique gifts for teasing a delectable future out of the past with a touch so light, so deft, you have to see it to believe it. No wonder clients get hooked. As Tom Ford writes in his foreword, "I always imagine that I am not going to sell a house, buy another, and then go through what can be an exhaustive exercise in creating a new home, but I'm afraid that I am addicted to houses. I am also addicted to Bill and Emma."

Studio Sofield has made a book in the same way it makes spaces, with artistry and a meticulous eye for detail. As the first and only book on the firm's seminal oeuvre, Studio Sofield Works is a volume to cherish and an essential addition to every contemporary design library. A valuable resource and a beautiful object, the book is printed in Italy on the highest quality stock for a sublime statement that defines the Studio's opus.

Review Quotes

"Take a look inside the archive of Studio Sofield, one of the most notable architecture and design firms at the height of luxury. "Studio Sofield: Works," by William Sofield and Emma O'Neill ($250), encompasses three decades of Sofield's multidisciplinary approach. The portfolio includes luxury residential projects, from houses to skyscrapers, as well as retail experiences for brands--think Gucci, Harry Winston, Tom Ford, Yves Saint Lauren and more. With photographs, sketches, drawings and textile samples, the book details how design narratives are created. The book, being published in mid-October, is produced with the same quality and care as a design project, making it a luxe object as well as an incredible resource. " -- MANSION GLOBAL (NYC)

"Run by William Sofield, a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award honoree, ELLE Decor A-List Titan Studio Sofield unveils high end retail and hospitality projects in this new book. The firm is best known for designing shops and offices for brands like Bottega Veneta, Harry Winston, and Gucci, along with hotspots like the SoHo Grand and Zero Bond. --Annie Goldsmith" -- ELLE DECOR

"This monograph covering more than three decades of Studio Sofield's work is itself a work of art, befitting the extraordinary care, scholarship, creativity, and craftsmanship that the Studio has imbued in each of its many noteworthy projects. This 664-page tome covers a broad swath of projects, from private townhouses and homes to hotels, boutiques for Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent, and Gucci to an entire residential building on the Upper East Side stunningly detailed with old-world artisanry. The book interweaves gatefolds, sketches, textiles, and more into one beautifully bound volume with slipcase." -- FREDERIC

"In addition to his expansive residential portfolio, Sofield has shaped global design for decades through collaborations with fashion houses, like Tom Ford, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren. His interiors have become synonymous with elevated restraint and textural detail. His studio continues to tackle projects of all scales, including a steampunk-inspired townhouse, a sustainable artist colony in Mexico, and even a custom yacht. A magnus opus of the firm, Studio Sofield Works will be published by Rizzoli this October." -- ROBB REPORT

About the Author

Studio Sofield is an award-winning design firm whose work embodies the deepest understanding of classical and modern design principles and their application in contemporary life. The New York-based firm is a member of the AD 100 Hall of Fame and has received the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Interior Design; the Excellence in New Design by the Upper East Side Historic District in New York; and twice the Architectural Commission of Beverly Hills's design award. Tom Ford is a world-renowned fashion designer and long-time Studio Sofield collaborator. Mayer Rus is West Coast editor of Architectural Digest.