Lupetto by Parts and Labor Design

Located within New York’s iconic Townsend Building, Lupetto – meaning little wolf in Italian – is a strong addition to the Flatiron district’s evolving hospitality offering. Created by Jeremy Levitt and Danu Kennedy of Parts and Labor Design, it serves as a reminder of the value in spirited spaces for gathering, drinking and dining.

Stepping inside, the eye can’t help but to dance around the space, moving from the squiggly mosaic floors in cream and blush tones to the fluted walnut panelled walls and chiselled Alicante marble countertops. The design takes clear cues from the building’s heritage, with restored crown mouldings and Art Deco-inspired motifs, yet it ultimately feels upbeat and contemporary. As Danu says, “if a building or space is rich in historic details, it adds a touch of nostalgia to enrich a new concept, so draping those historic moments with a contemporary veil felt like the right approach to take.”

The design takes clear cues from the building’s heritage, with restored crown mouldings and Art Deco-inspired motifs, yet it ultimately feels upbeat and contemporary.

The curated selection of artwork gives the venue a softer, more domestic sensibility, and the vast array of custom lighting designed by Jeremy and Danu brings a distinct ingenuity. “For us, creating custom pieces is as important as defining the overall palette and language. It’s all about executing a whole, and utilising custom design – in furniture and lighting – allows everything to work together in that dance more

seamlessly,” says Jeremy. What’s more, Lupetto doesn’t take itself too seriously; the gold inlay paw prints on the green marble stairs (which lead to the underground bar, Sotto, also designed by Parts and Labor Design) are a charming nod to the venue’s namesake and an illustration of the practice’s playful edge.

There are booths tucked into deep window alcoves; bar stools and a fixed high-top table for perching and chatting; and a private dining room to settle into with friends.

Given the site’s soaring ceilings and expansive windows, it required deft spatial planning to bring contrasting moments of intimacy and openness. In response to this, Parts and Labor Design introduced dynamic seating options that help to direct the experience without feeling overly strict. There are booths tucked into deep window alcoves; bar stools and a fixed high-top table for perching and chatting; and a private dining room to settle into with friends. Plus, there’s always 1980s-esque Sotto – think burl wood, tassels and metallic sconces – for those who want to escape the street-level buzz and hide out for a negroni or two.

Most notably, Lupetto goes from day to night exceptionally well. In the afternoon, the sun traverses the space from east to west, bathing long lunches in a golden hue, and at night – with the pizza oven ablaze and lights dimmed just so – it glows from within, no doubt attracting passers-by for food, wine and a clandestine cocktail.

Interior design by Parts and Labor Design. Engineering by TSP Engineering. Brand design by Love & War. Lighting design by Reveal Design Group and Parts and Labor Design.