Design Brief: Take inspiration from American composer Steve Reich’s minimalist piece, Clapping, to re-design the bookstore, café, wellness clinic, performance venue and offices for the new Housing Works Headquarters.

Execution: This project explored the relationship between sound and reverberation and object and shadow. This relationship, taken from the two performers in Clapping, inspired the decision to develop the building with two skins: one glazed, the other providing solar protection. The voids in the building envelope were then used to furnish the interior — bookshelves, work surfaces, and office furniture.