The Residence by General Assembly

Colin Stief and Sarah Zames of New York-based design studio General Assembly have curated a shoppable design gallery in Brooklyn, fittingly dubbed The Residence.

The space is now open by appointment and is housed within an apartment at 144 Vanderbilt, a new multi-residential project in Fort Greene by local architecture firm SO – IL and developer Tankhouse, set for completion in 2025. Comprising four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the two-storey space features a curated selection of handcrafted and bespoke furniture, lighting and objects from General Assembly’s shop on nearby Atlantic Avenue, Assembly Line. “It definitely feels like a home, but we didn’t want to accessorise too much – we wanted it to feel more like a gallery, so you have room to stand back and appreciate the pieces,” says Zames.

“It definitely feels like a home, but we didn’t want to accessorise too much – we wanted it to feel more like a gallery, so you have room to stand back and appreciate the pieces,” says Zames.

The collection represents an exciting cross section of local and international designers and makers. There are timber pieces from Evam with woven cotton seats, benches and stools expressing Japanese design cues by Sugihara Fine Furniture, a playful, wavy-edged coffee table by General Assembly, low-lying bed frames from Danish brand Rye, sculptural lighting by Bowen Liu Studio and Pat Kim, and much more. It’s a layered and intentional palette that creates an enveloping yet ultimately refined atmosphere – a sentiment that embodies General Assembly’s sophisticated and material-driven approach to interiors.

The ability to present the work of Assembly Line’s designers in-situ was appealing to Steif and Zames. “People like the idea of bespoke furniture, but it can be complicated, and seeing everything placed together like this helps to simplify the process,” says Zames. It was also an opportunity to showcase their new collection of limewash paints for Ressource. The natural, earthy hues drive tone-on-tone palettes, amplified by Armadillo rugs and linen curtains in complementary hues, making way for an effective colour blocking concept throughout.

Minimal and beautifully detailed, the apartment prioritises light and space.

SO – IL’s existing design, which features exposed concrete ceilings and natural oak floors, provided the perfect canvas for creative exploration. “It’s very architectural, and I think we softened and warmed things up a lot,” says Stief. Minimal and beautifully detailed, the apartment prioritises light and space; expansive windows with sage green frames capture the leafy tree canopy as well as views of Downtown Brooklyn and the Manhattan skyline, connecting the dwelling to its immediate context and allowing nature and light to fill the interiors.

This project is a pleasing example of architecture, interiors and styling working in complete harmony. Even the artwork has been curated with the help of Paris-based gallery Amélie, Maison d’Art, which recently opened a gallery space in Soho. And despite the calibre of work and diversity of mediums on show, the experience of visiting and shopping at The Residence is anything but austere; it’s homely, just as the name suggests.

Architecture by SO – IL . Interior design by SO – IL  and General Assembly. Landscape design by Watson Salembier. Development by Tankhouse. Lighting Design by Office Natalia Priwin. Furniture, lighting and objects by General Assembly, Christopher Merchant, Fort Standard, Sugihara Fine Furniture, Armadillo, Ravenhill Studio, Evam, Bowen Liu Studio, Sophie Lou Jacobsen, Spaces Within, Danny Kaplan Studio, Rye, Pat Kim, Frama, Fern, Gray Gardens Plant Studio. Artwork by Amelie, Maison d’Art.