20 Questions with Tara Burnley

Madelynn Ringo, an architectural designer with an architectural master's degree from Yale and experience at firms like SO – IL and André Balazs Properties, discusses her career trajectory and design philosophy. Ringo grew up in Kentucky, influenced by her artist mother's vibrant home and the architectural forms of her hometown. These early experiences fostered her independent thinking and risk-taking spirit, leading her to discover a passion for architecture after encountering a student model at the University of Kentucky. She describes her childhood environment, particularly the diverse facades of Bardstown and the prominent brick structures linked to her father's bourbon industry work, as foundational to her aesthetic and disciplined approach to design. After graduation, Ringo moved to New York City, where she gained diverse professional experiences. At SO – IL, she was inspired by their academic and material-focused approach, which emphasized the significance of architectural drawings. Her subsequent role at The Standard Hotel with André Balazs provided insight into brand development and the importance of considering every detail in creating a 360-degree brand experience. These two distinct experiences, one focusing on materiality and form, and the other on comprehensive branding, shaped her design thinking. She highlights the collaborative environment at SO – IL and the opportunity to work on significant projects at The Standard, including a redesign for the Los Angeles hotel, as key learning experiences. Following her time in New York, Ringo pursued further education at Yale, attracted by an exhibition of conceptual model-making. Her studio work there allowed her to explore playful, material-focused renderings. She then returned to New York City, working with designers like Wendy Evans Joseph, and began freelancing, finding a niche in designing experiential spaces for the booming beauty industry. Ringo details her work with Glossier, where she was tasked with creating innovative retail spaces. She designed the Miami store as a theatrical set, drawing inspiration from Miami Art Deco and applying a unique color palette of pinks and peaches, which effectively connected architectural ideas to the customer experience. She emphasizes the importance of every touchpoint in creating an emotional connection to a space. More recently, she became the head of studio design for Modern Age, a wellness brand focused on beauty and aging through science, where she applies her understanding of customer journeys to design calming and distinctive in-person treatment spaces. The decision to start her own firm was driven by a desire to build a team and refine her process through collaboration. She seized an opportune moment at the end of 2020, despite the challenges of the pandemic, by connecting with clients who were forward-thinking about retail spaces. Ringo aims to create a new playbook for architectural design, focusing on rapid prototyping and building to accelerate learning from built projects. She discusses her work for Studs, where she collaborated on developing a retail strategy and a "kit of parts" for stores, focusing on visual merchandising challenges like lighting and displaying tiny jewelry alongside legible price tags. For Studs, she adapts palettes to maintain brand consistency while offering unique experiences in each location. Her collaborations with Bala and Funny Face Bakery illustrate a similar approach: understanding the product to celebrate its objects and narrate its story. She proactively reached out to Bala, driven by her admiration for their products, and Funny Face Bakery approached her after seeing her Glossier work. Both projects involved creating fun, bold spaces that combine architectural elements with playful colors. Looking ahead, Ringo expresses interest in expanding her practice into set design and theater, as well as designing customer experiences for the bourbon industry, which would bring her back to her Kentucky roots and childhood inspirations. #MadelynnRingo #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalDesign #RetailDesign #ExperientialSpaces #Glossier #SOIL #YaleArchitecture #BrandExperience

This article presents an interview with Parisian interior designer Rebecca Benichou, founder of Batiik Studio. Benichou, originally trained as an architect in Brussels, established her studio in 2014 after gaining experience at ChartierDalix. She explains her preference for interior design over architecture, citing a more direct connection to people's well-being and the immediate satisfaction of pleasing clients. Benichou's design philosophy emphasizes creating layered spaces that integrate materials, textures, colors, and forms in innovative ways. She attributes the prominent role of light in her designs to her upbringing in the South of France, which also influences her warm, sun-faded color palettes of pink, yellow, and green, as well as her use of organic, rounded forms. Despite not explicitly creating "Mediterranean" designs, a distinct warmth permeates her work. The interview delves into Benichou's career path, revealing that she initially pursued architecture due to her aptitude for math and attraction to art. She discusses her current work on condominium projects and her particular passion for designing small spaces. She views the challenge of fitting all necessary elements into a compact area, such as 10 square meters, as an exciting puzzle, a perspective rooted in her architectural background and focus on functionality. Looking ahead, Benichou expresses a desire to undertake more projects in the hospitality sector, including restaurants, bars, and hotels. She also dreams of designing a kindergarten, attracted by the imaginative potential of spaces for children and the opportunity to create environments full of positive energy. She cites Luis Barragán as a significant inspiration in the design world, admiring his minimalistic approach and bold color choices, which she likens to Le Corbusier but with added warmth through color. The article highlights a recently completed project, Bar Divine in Paris, which Benichou describes as chic yet welcoming. The design process for the bar involved incorporating existing elements, such as raw concrete walls discovered beneath wood paneling and original, slightly aged mirrors and a brass bar. These elements were polished, retained, and augmented with additional mirrors to enhance the sense of space and abundance. The aesthetic draws inspiration from the 1980s while respecting the found characteristics of the space. Benichou also shares insights into the design of her own apartment, which she envisioned as a completely open space, devoid of doors (except for the toilet and bathroom), to improve flow. She aimed to create a welcoming environment for entertaining friends and a feeling of being on holiday. Her apartment features a natural material palette, including a concrete pink floor, terracotta in the bathroom, and tiles in colors reminiscent of the South of France, complemented by curtains that contribute to a warm and cozy atmosphere. She particularly values her custom-designed dining room table and a vintage hand-painted 1950s lamp by Dante Baldelli, which she describes as an object she had a long-standing affection for. Her studio, Batiik Studio, located near Montmartre, is depicted as a comfortable, social space with a storefront, open to the street and even frequented by a neighbor's cat, contributing to a home-like ambiance that clients appreciate. #InteriorDesign #RebeccaBenichou #BatiikStudio #ParisianDesign #SmallSpaceDesign #ArchitecturalInfluence #HospitalityDesign #ColorPalette #Materiality