Interior design firm Gala Magriñá Design is pleased to announce the completion of The NRP Group’s new Union Square office. Utilizing holistic interior design principles, this new workspace will cater to the property management companies’ expanding team within the New York area.
Tapped by the NRP Group, Gala Magriñá Design was brought on to the project early last year to turn a 1,000 square foot space in Manhattan’s hip Union Square into a youthful, modern office. Always guided by the principles of holistic design, the design team transformed the space into a cool, contemporary environment, complete with on-trend mid-century modern and art-deco touches, geared towards the company’s youthful and energetic staff.
“We started this project just before the global pandemic hit, which was a challenge of its own,” says Gala Magriñá, founder and principal of Gala Magriñá Design. “This small 1,000 square foot space needed to have an innovative layout to be able to fit all of the NRP Group’s employees, an executive office, a conference room, and a kitchen. Through a fantastic collaboration with the NRP Group’s Vice President of Development, Jonathan Gertman, we were able to navigate this unique design process, ensuring comfort and productivity for employees.”
Photo credit is: Courtesy of Claire Esparros
When approaching the design for the project, Magriñá and Gertman worked together to define style, needs, and color palette—all while keeping holistic interior design principles in mind. With the knowledge that company consultants and partners would frequent the office, Magriñá ensured the space was fresh, youthful, and modern, while still retaining a hint of elegance. In addition, Magriñá embraced both the corporate identity of NRP Group and the regional location of the office, melding brand-constants with New-York flair. To do so, the design team contrasted rich colors like deep greens, blues, and crimsons with light pastels, abstract art work, and plants to create a juxtaposition of playfulness and sophistication.
All within the limited available square footage, Magriñá designed an open office, meeting room, single personal office, and a reception area, with a multifunctional kitchen encompassing the meeting space and private office. The office’s layout allows for the open section to be viewed from the kitchen/meeting room/private office area. One particular tactic used to counteract the small space was the use of a café style round table in the kitchen area conducive to both meetings and lunch breaks. The table is strategically positioned adjacent to an LED screen that can be used for presentations, as needed. A more traditional conference table for larger team brainstorms or collaborative work was added to the open office space. An additional multifunction space is the reception area, which doubles as a lounge for company employees. Magriñá ensured stylistic cohesion throughout each area, as all spaces are exposed to one another.
Photo credit is: Courtesy of Claire Esparros
The space is adorned with tall ceilings and large windows, emanating an old New York loft-like feeling. In keeping with her firm’s holistic interior design philosophies, Magriñá embraced these characteristics of the space, maximizing natural light throughout the office. Additionally, Magriñá utilized colors that evoke “yang” energy, as opposed to “yin” energy, promoting focus and activity—perfect for fostering a productive office environment. Finally, plant-life was incorporated into the design, following the tenets of biophilia, where natural elements lead to wellness-supporting environments.
Further incorporating respect for nature and sustainability into the overall design, Magriñá sourced the products and materials for this space with intention. She used the Broom Stacking Chair by Philippe Starck, from Emeco, made entirely of recycled, repurposed materials. She also installed a stunning and sustainable cement terrazzo kitchen counter from Concrete Collaborative, emphasizing the nature of the space as a focal point in the office. Using this material, as well as a single slab for the counter and backsplash created a timeless wow-factor that was also environmentally preferable. Finally, Magriñá used low VOC paint for the space.
For this project Gala Magriñá Design partnered with O’Hagan Group Limited.
About Gala Magriñá Design
Raised in New York City and Barcelona, Gala Magriñá is a multidisciplinary, multicultural force to be reckoned with. Building on the success of her Event Design + Production Agency, M Crown Productions, Gala launched Gala Magriñá Design in 2017, a New York-based commercial interior design agency. Gala’s goal is to change the world one space and conversation at a time, bringing mindfulness to the forefront of our daily lives and design practices and as a result living happier and more successful lives. Gala’s belief is that if we create mindful environments that have the power to heal and push us to be better versions of ourselves, in doing so we are elevating individual consciousness and in turn, the collective consciousness. For more information please visit www.galamagrinadesign.com.
