Thursday, 21 October 2021

Usonian architecture informs Sereneco restaurant in Greenpoint by Carpenter + Mason

Sereneco restaurant interior

Elevated planting, earthy tones and natural materials are all found inside a restaurant designed by New York studio Carpenter + Mason in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighbourhood.

The all-day restaurant serves New American fare in a ground-floor space inside the historic Pencil Factory building on bustling Franklin Street.

Interior view towards the entrance
Sereneco occupies a double-height space in a former pencil factory

Sereneco means "serenity" in Esperanto, a language developed for international communication in the late 19th century.

The auxiliary language has associations with the Usonian architecture movement heralded by Frank Lloyd Wright – Usono is the name for the United States in Esperanto, which also informed design decisions for the restaurant.

Bar counter with ficus tree growing through
Customers are greeted by a ficus plant growing through a marble counter

Owner Billy Van Doelson and partner Jim Nawn worked with Carpenter + Mason and Cocozza Group on the design and construction.

Much of the original industrial building was preserved, including exposed brick walls and concrete floors.

Sereneco dining room
The restaurants provides seating for 70 diners

The double-height dining room benefits from 20-foot-high (six-metre) ceilings, punctuated by skylights that provide natural illumination.

Large spherical paper pendants are also suspended from the ceiling, hung at the same level as wooden planters installed around the perimeter – a nod to the Usonian value of incorporating of nature into architecture.

Dining tables and terracotta tiled wall
Wooden furniture and terracotta tiles add warmth to the formerly industrial space

Upon arrival, guests are immediately met by a tall ficus tree, which grows through a hole in a green marble bar counter.

Pale wood chairs, stools and tables offer seating for 70 diners, including five at the marble chef's counter at the back of the room.

Light-green stools also provide casual spots along the main bar, which runs almost the full length of the space.

"Across from the dining room sits a welcoming 25-foot (7.6 metre) white oak bar that provides a place for guests to unwind and commune over Sereneco's food and beverage offerings," said the restaurant owners.

Marble chef's counter with wooden stools
A marble chef's counter faces the kitchen through glass blocks

Dark green surfaces, terracotta-hued tiles and biscuit-coloured plasterwork create a warm palette to offset the cool concrete flooring.

Russet tiling and plaster line the bathroom, matching the tones of the original brickwork.

Russet-hued bathroom
Russet tiles and plaster match original brickwork in the bathroom

On the exterior, the entrance is marked by a hemlock wood door and planter above, and a column clad in green tiles both inside and out.

A small outdoor seating area around the corner allows customers to dine al fresco.

Brick exterior of Pencil Factory building
Sereneco also has a small outdoor dining space

Graphic design and branding for Sereneco was created by Oyay creative director Jennifer Lucey-Brzoza.

Carpenter + Mason has designed several bars and eateries around New York City, including a speakeasy in NoMad, a Japanese restaurant in Midtown and a sake brewery in Brooklyn's Industry City.

The photography is by Nicole Franzen.

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