Since their first STK restaurant in New York City’s Meatpacking District, ICRAVE has continued to challenge the classic steakhouse. ICRAVE’s designs for STK are known for going farther than reinventing aesthetic elements-- they entirely replace the overly masculine vibe of the steakhouse genre with a sultry and welcoming variation. The restaurant’s latest incarnation in the Grace Building is a unique blend of the brand’s signature look, deftly combined with the building’s hallmark design. This project takes cues from its sister restaurants, infusing STK’s original DNA into its newest environment.
Built in 1974, the Grace’s dramatically sloping concave form was a bold take on the ordinary skyscraper; its scale, gravitas and white travertine exterior caused it to stand out and look brighter than its surrounding buildings. The architecture of the building itself strongly influenced ICRAVE’s design approach for this new location.The same Travertine used for the Grace building’s façade and main lobby is pulled inside for the restaurant’s lobby and sculptural main bar. The interior lighting is reminiscent of street lamps peeled off of their mullions, making the restaurant feel like a continuation of its exterior.
The ceiling – a genesis of the cattle horn sculpture from the back bar of the first restaurant in the brand’s portfolio – mimics the lines of the Grace Building itself, incorporating the rhythm of the building’s front-facing colonnade. The uniquely curved rosewood banquette arrangement (a nod to the first STK’s design) encourages diners to interact with each other and neighboring tables. Overhead lighting takes cues from Robert Wilson stage sets, theatrically highlighting each table as a mini stage.
ICRAVE's work for STK Midtown goes farther than just incorporating the brand’s signature look into the design. The firm’s attention to the restaurant’s architectural surroundings brings elements of the building’s structure inside, distinctly identifying STK’s newest addition.